Disclaimer: I don't own anything, it all belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

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Distant

I woke the next day, the sun hitting me in the face. I'd forgotten the curtains. Great. The TV had been turned off, and there was a blanket carefully draped over me. There was even a pillow stuffed under my head. Beside me in the bed, with his hand resting lightly on my stomach, was Jake. He was breathing heavily, but not snoring. I studied his face. He looked so young and carefree when he slept, and I forgot that he actually was many years older than me.

I placed a finger on his cheek and showed him a memory of us from a long time ago. I was sitting on his back, and he was in his wolf-form. He was running through the forest, the trees flying by. The morning sun sneaking in from above the trees gave it all a magical glow. I was a little girl and I was laughing, willing him to go faster. He was elated, running with energy and joy. It was a good image, a happy one. He'd told me before it was his favourite to wake up to.

As I showed him the memory, slowly he began to stir. A smile spread on his lips. He opened his eyes slowly and sent me a smile so honest and happy that it erased every unpleasant feeling from last night. Out of pure instinct I leaned over to him and kissed his cheek. I dunno why I did it exactly, it just felt right. He was looking at me with warm eyes. When I leaned back he followed, as if he wanted to kiss my cheek too. I could feel his hot breath on my face. Suddenly he stopped, as if he'd just remembered something important. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and looked at me with uncertain eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked, sitting up next to him.

"It's nothing wrong" He smiled, but it was a forced smile.

"Jacob, I can tell something is wrong. You're acting all weird, and so you did last night".

This seemed to surprise him. He looked even... embarrassed? He drew his breath and gave a deep sigh.

"I have a lot on my mind, that's all. Don't think about it"

His tone was friendly, but made it clear that he didn't want to talk about it. Before I could even think about rephrasing another question, he continued.

"Come. I'll drive you to school".

He kissed the top of my head quickly and left the room. I was left feeling forlorn and utterly confused.

Things did not change. He drove me to school in silence. If he spoke it was only about trivialities like which classes I would have today or something else boring. It was like his mind were elsewhere. Again, I noticed him looking at me when he thought I didn't notice. I didn't understand it. Before I left he told me he had to meet the rest of the pack in the afternoon, and he didn't know how long it would take. He might not be able to come over until late, he said.

The day passed and my mood was low. That night I was sitting in the living room watching TV. I planned to confront him again. "I have a lot on my mind" was what he'd said. Not a valid explanation. What was he doing? Out with his pack? Or out with someone else? I got a lump in my throat. Maybe he'd met someone he didn't want me to know about. A girl. Someone. Hell, maybe he'd imprinted. I snorted. But then I thought about it again. What if he had. What if he did someday. Could I handle that? He would leave me empty. I would loose him. It grew darker and darker outside, and so did my mood. He didn't come.

I must have fallen asleep, because when I woke up it was light outside and I was laying in my bed. I didn't remember walking up to my room.

"Hi"

I turned around and saw Jacob sitting on the bed beside me. He was holding my hand in an awkward position, as if he'd been holding it close to his cheek. He quickly let it go.

"You carried me up here?" I asked him.

"Yes" he said "You were already sleeping on the couch when I came in last night, I thought you'd be more comfortable here" His gaze cut to his hands.

"I'm sorry I was so late last night." he continued. "I had a lot of catching up to do, it's been a while since the last time I saw the others".

"That was what you were doing?" I asked, allowing a tiny drop of scepticism into my tone.

"Yes" he said earnestly, meeting my eyes.

How could I doubt that?

This day wasn't any different though. He was silent and thoughtful, and I knew something was up. I asked him about it twice that day, and then I asked again the next. It was almost as if he was avoiding me. Visiting Sam, visiting Billy, never asking me if I wanted to join him. He pretended he didn't understand what I was talking about.

"Why can't you just tell me?" I said, trying to hold his gaze.

"It's nothing" he said quietly.

"My ass"

He smiled then. A little bit. A real smile.

"What's so funny?" I almost screamed. This was so frustrating!

"You" he said, walking up in front of me wrapping his arms around me and kissing my forehead.

I was speechless. How could he give me a cold shoulder for so long and then, out of the blue, do something like this. I realised how much I'd missed his arms around me.

Friday night I had a nightmare. My dreams had been uneasy lately, all thanks to a special someone, but not as bad as this. In my dream, Jake told me he didn't want to see me anymore. He would leave. I asked why, but he was gone. I was standing alone in a dark, unfriendly forest. Suddenly he was there again, his arm wrapped around a pretty blonde girl. He didn't say anything. He didn't see me. He only saw her. I was devastated. Then the ground started to shake and something noisy was heading full speed right to where I was standing. I tried to run, tried to move my legs, but I could only move in slow motion. I knew I had to run, had to get away, but I couldn't. I screamed for Jake to help me, but he didn't hear me, didn't see me. The ground was quivering and something was holding me down...

"Nessie!"

It wouldn't let go. I couldn't run. I fought as hard as I could, but it only wrapped itself around me, arms and legs, refusing me to move. Tears started to stream down my face.

"Nessie..."

The grip loosened a little bit, and I didn't fight any longer. Something soft stroke against my cheek, wiping away the tears. I realised what had been holding me down was Jacob. I opened my eyes.

He was there, his face just a few inches from mine. His eyes were huge and filled with worry. My room was dark. We were laying on my bed, his body pressed up against mine after the effort of holding me down. His hand lingered on my face, stroking my cheek soothingly. My breath was heaving. He didn't say anything, but waited until I got my breathing under control. Then he kissed me.

It was warm, soft and totally unexpected. At the same time it felt so right. It was like finally finding the place of the last puzzle, but not quite understanding the picture in front of you. His lips were so soft and warm, moving carefully against mine. His arms around me tightened and his breath became uneven. It was a short kiss, very sweet and tender. It surprised me that when he moved away, I didn't want him to.

He laid down on the bed beside me, never taking his eyes from mine. His eyes were glowing. I tried to think, to make it all fit, but I couldn't.

"I'm confused" I managed to say.

He smiled, his eyes turning sad.

"I know. I'm sorry I've been acting all strange on you. I just didn't know what to do."

I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. He reached for the blanket by the foot of the bed and wrapped it over me. I must have kicked it off in my sleep. He laid down beside me, taking my hand in his.

"First of all" he said, gazing into my eyes. "I'm not leaving. I'm not going anywhere"

"How did you kn..." I started. I didn't know my nightmare had been that easy to read.

"You showed me" he said apologetic, leading my hand up to his face. "Actually, you have the whole week."

Then I understood. He'd been watching my dreams. I didn't know if I was mad at him or not.

"Sick, I know. Feel free to be mad at me"

I'd forgotten my hand on his face, and how he could easily see all my thoughts. I removed my hand and laid it beside me on the mattress. He wrapped his own hand around it.

"Please, let me explain first. There is as reason for all this."

His voice became hoarse. I looked up at him, willing him to continue.

"Nessie, there's something I need to tell you."

Hour of truth.

A.N: Thanks to my (two) reviewers, ha ha:P Next chapter coming up in a few days;)