Disclaimer: everything twilight associated besides Brooke, her family, and the plot belong to SM

Chapter 7

Jacob

I'm not going to lie; these past couple of days have been hard. But, surprisingly, not for the reason I thought it would be.

I thought coming back would mean I would have to finally live with the reality that Bella would never be mine. The fact that she chose him over me still hurts. It hurts every time someone just even mentions the Cullens. It was when I realized that she was planning to turn herself into one of them is when I cracked, the fact she would stop her heart just to be with her beloved leach just killed me.

But for some reason lately, when I think about Bella I don't hurt as bad. Not since I saw that white wolf in the forest and especially not since the first time I saw Brooke in 9 years. I just couldn't help but stare at her, taking in every little detail that I had missed. I felt drawn to her, and to make it worse I felt guilty about it. It was like I was letting Bella down somehow by letting her slip through my fingers so easily. I still loved her and I do not want her to be changed into a vampire. I don't want my best friend to become my mortal enemy. It's not how it's supposed to be.

But yet, since I've been around Brooke, it's been easier to let go, to not feel so much overwhelming pain all the time. My heart felt like it was instantly fixed when I first gazed into her striking green eyes.

The only problem is that she doesn't remember me at all. All I can do is just sit there and watch her; too afraid of what she might say if I tried to talk to her. I smile every time I think of all the memories we had together as kids. Our mothers had been best friends, practically sisters, and they had brought up Brooke and me together.

However, the last memory I have of her is not a happy one. It was from the last time I had ever seen her, right before she moved. It was of the car crash; the accident caused by a drunk driver and killed both my mother, Sarah, and Brooke's, Grace. It had left Brooke with a concussion that robbed her of her memories.

I can still remember the crumpled up form of Grace's car imbedded into the tree. I remember when I went to go visit her in the hospital right after I had heard the news that both our moms were now gone forever. I remember running in crying, thinking that Brooke was the one person who would never leave me, not ever. But when I shook her awake and she freaked out because she had no idea who I was, that hurt me the most. I never went back to see her after that and by the time she had moved a week later, I felt like I had lost more than my mother that night. I felt that all the memories were now gone, along with my mom, Grace, and finally Brooke.

But now she's back, bringing all those forgotten memories back with her, and is sitting right in front of me.

But I still can't seem to talk with her.

Embry, Jared, and Paul were talking in hushed tones about the mysterious white wolf still. They still think its Max, but so far he hasn't been showing the usual werewolf signs like having a huge appetite or a bad temper.

Max was over on the other side of the table, goofing off with Seth, Collin, and Brady like freshmen guys do. Brooke sat across from him, in between Seth and Kim. Kim was talking to her about something but it didn't look like she was listening. It was more like she was zoning out. It was odd because she usually tries to be occupied by chatting with mostly Kim or Max and I enjoy catching her occasional glances towards me.

Suddenly she looked up at me, matching my gaze, before abruptly standing up and walking out of the cafeteria.

Everyone stopped their conversations and watch her walk out. Max began to get up but Kim got up instead, "Don't worry Max, I've got it."

Max nervously sat back down, but once Kim had turned the corner into the hallway, he got up to follow her, "I'll be right back."

The silence started to fade away and conversations started to pick up. I really wanted to know what was going on, so I slowly slipped out while no one was noticing.

As I walked down the hallway, I saw Kim and Max outside but Brooke was nowhere to be found. Something was wrong. I could tell from the way Kim kept throwing her arms up and exaggerated her movements and how Max was trying to calm her down. I got close enough to hear them through the glass and hid behind the wall so they wouldn't see me listening in.

"I have to go tell the guys! I have to tell them that-"

"Brooke felt sick so she went home." Max finished for her.

"What?! Max, you don't understand-"

"Kim," He cut her off again, "you cannot tell anyone about Brooke."

"But Max-"

"Please, please, please don't. You have no idea how much we need to keep this a secret. Please Kim? I'm begging. Please."

She sighed, "Okay. For now. But I'm warning you, those guys will find out eventually. They know about everything that happens on the Rez."

By then they were walking back inside so I stepped around the corner so they wouldn't see me as they walked past.

Later, after school when I was hanging out in the parking lot with the guys, I got an idea.

"Hey, guys, Max doesn't have a ride home since Brooke left, right?" I asked them.

They looked at me, probably surprised that I actually talked for once.

"Um, yeah, I guess so," Quil shrugged, "one of us can just take him home though, it's no big deal."

"I'll take him." I said as my plan started to take shape, "I need to stop by and say hi to Jon anyway."

The guys looked wary, "Jake, are you sure. What about Brooke? You can't even go into the same room as her without going into that crazy trance of yours." Jared cautioned

I gave him a look, "I'm fine. I'm going to figure out this wolf problem once and for all."

"Hey guys," Max said, coming from behind, "So I, uh, kinda need a ride?"

"You're with me kid, come on." I said to him, turning to go to my car.

"Uh, okay" he followed behind seconds later.

Once we were out of the school lot, I decided to break the tension but he beat me to it.

"How did you know my sister that first day you came?" he asked, almost like it was nothing.

"Well…" I started, "I've known your sister a long time."

"What?" he turned sharply to look at me, apparently this wasn't the response he was looking for.

"I've known Brooke since the day she was born basically." I turned to look at his shocked face, "You too actually."

"I'm not surprised that you don't remember me, it was a long time ago." I added.

"No, wait….you mean you're that Jacob??"

I nodded. It went silent for a while, the only sound being the rattling of my car.

"Well that explains a lot." He said quietly.

"Now I have a question for you." I told him, "Do you have a secret that you're keeping from everyone?"

His face went pale all of a sudden.

"N-N-No. I don't." he stuttered nervously.

"Max….nothing unusual happening with you lately? Like are you always hungry? Or how about has your temperature ever spiked high and just hasn't gone down to this day?"

Max just shook his head no, denying everything.

"Okay then," I continued, "do you get angry easily?"

Max just shook his head no again, "Jake, I have no idea what you're talking about."

We pulled into his driveway and saw Brooke walking out the front door, keys in hand. She stopped and looked up when she saw us coming up the driveway.

"Well, thanks for the ride Jake. Got to go!" Max said in a hurry, already pretty much out of my car.

"Wait, wait, wait." I turned off the Rabbit and stepped out, slamming the door behind me "I thought I'd drop by to say hi to your old man first. I haven't seen him in a while."

Brooke just stared at me for a while before words came out, "What?"

Hey everybody! I just want to say thanks for reading! Let me know whatcha think!!

thanks again,

~dani :)