Chapter 1 - A New Beginning
Jacob's POV
As I lay there, hints of light trickle through my window to whisper that a new day is starting. I can't believe it's been two years since the last time I saw Bella. Had I really spent two years running around as a wolf? I loose track of time when I phase. I was back at my dad's house, I even enrolled into La Push College. Quil was the one who talked me into it, since him, Embry, Paul, and Jared were all going this year, they all thought I should too. I'm up for anything that would keep my mind occupied. I slowly sat up in my bed, scratching my head and stretching with a yawn. Turning my body slightly, I swing my legs and with a little effort, I'm on my feet. I shuffle my feet to the bathroom, pulling off my shorts and boxers to prepare for a shower. Once in the shower, I rest my head against the front shower wall, letting the hot water saturate my body. It felt nice to finally be able to take a hot shower instead of the cold bathes I took in rivers as a wolf. Grabbing the half used bar of soap, I run it all over my body, then quickly I work it into a lather. Then I grab the bottle of shampoo and start to work on my hair. Leaning forward again, I rinse off. I turn off the water and step out of the tub, grabbing the first available towel to dry off on. Wrapping it around my waist, I venture out of the bathroom in search of some clean clothes to wear. I spot some a top the dryer and after dropping the now damp towel, I pull on some boxers. After throwing on a pair of jeans, a tee-shirt, and a pair of mixed matched socks; I hunt around for my old sneakers... finding them in the corner of the small living room. By this time, my dad is wheeling himself out of his room.
"'Morning Jake, sleep well?" He asks while maneuvering his wheelchair down the narrow hallway.
"'Morning Dad. Yeah... I slept like a baby." I lied, while running my fingers through my wet hair, to sort of brush it a little bit.
"Ready for your first day?" Billy asks while turning towards the kitchen to scrounge up some breakfast.
"Sure, sure." I say as I grab an apple out of the big bowl on the kitchen table. "I'm not really hungry dad, so don't worry about fixing me anything." Billy turned to look at me with a bit of shock in his features. "My son, not hungry?" He says and then the corners of his mouth turn up, tugging a smile. "Are we in a hurry?"
"I just want to get there early, I haven't picked up my books yet." I explained with a grin.
"Always waiting til the last minute, you better get a move on then, I'll see you this afternoon." Billy turns to pay attention to the collaboration of food he'd thrown into a big frying pan.
"Sure, sure, see ya later." I say while walking out the front door.
The sun was so bright and the salty, dry smell of the sea filled the air. It was a beautiful clear and sunny day, instead of the usual cloud covered dreary ones that were most common here in Washington. Today just might turn out to be a pretty good day after all. I started down the main road in La Push, making the decision to walk to school was a lot easier to make as the sun shown down on my russet skinned face. As I walked, I whistled a merry tune, a bit too up beat for how I really felt, but maybe it would cheer me up. When I reached the school steps, I spotted Quil.
"Jake, over here." Quil yelled, waving his arms in the air to attract my attention. Even though I'd already seen him, I played it off like I didn't and casually strolled up to him.
"Oh, hey Quil, how's it going man?"
"Not too bad, ready for your first day?"
"Sure, sure... erm, right after I pick up my books."
"Yeah, me too, we can walk to the office together then."
I just nod and smile, glad that I wasn't the only one putting off things til they needed to get done. I could always count on my 'brothers' to be there for me... no matter the situation. Quil and I retreat into the small school and headed for the office. As Quil spoke with the woman behind one of the the three desks, she looked a bit annoyed that he had waited til now to get his books. I guess I could expect the same treatment. After Quil got his books, he turned to me, patting me on the shoulder saying, "See ya later Jake" before exiting to his first class. I looked at the lady behind the desk with an apologetic smile.
"Can I help you?" She asked, already leery of my smile.
"Yes ma'am. I'm here to get my books."
She let out a big sigh. "Name?" She asks a little more annoyed than with Quil. Maybe I should have gotten my books first.
"Jacob Black." I answered, still shinning my apologetic smile. As she gets up to search the next room for what I needed, the office door opens. I turn as a response, to see who just came in. When I focus my eyes, my mouth flies open. I was so shocked to see her standing there. She wasn't suppose to be here. I finally catch my mouth and slam it back closed just as she scans the room. Her eyes stop at me and I throw her a warm, yet confused smile. I turn my back to her, facing the desk the lady was sitting at. I thought quietly to myself...
She can't be here to attend, only Quileute Tribe can attend here. She doesn't appear to have any part of the Quileute genes.
The lady returns with my books, hands them to me, and looks around me to the girl that just walked in asking her, "Can I help you?" as if to hurry me out of her hair. I stand off to the side, allowing the girl room to step forward and continue their conversation. As I stand there, I fiddle with my books and schedule to conceal the fact that I was ease dropping. I had a sudden curiosity wash over me as to why this girl was here. She didn't show any traits of my tribe... instead of our dark straight hair, her hair was wavy and as yellow as the sun itself. Her light blue eyes didn't match our dark muddy brown ones. Her skin had no hint of a tan, it was so white that the florescent lights set it aglow. She started to converse with the lady behind the desk.
"Yes, hi, I'm here to pick up my books and schedule." So she was here to attend, then they must be taking more students on here, outside the tribe, for more money... I guessed.
"You must be Kaitlyn Brown." The lady assumed with a smile.
"Yes." Kaitlyn confirmed.
As the lady walked to the next room again, Kaitlyn shot a sideways glance in my direction. It was so sudden that I almost dropped my books and I fumbled to recover my grip on them. I took that as my cue that I'd over stayed my welcome, then headed out the door to my first class. I entered my first class, taking a look around to evaluate the best seat. I picked one in the back, since everyone else was sitting up front. I made my way to the spot I'd chosen and took a seat. I bent down to place my other books on the floor, under my chair. The door opens and you can hear everyone gasp in disapproval. I raise back up to see Kaitlyn enter the classroom and heading my way. She takes a seat in the back of the classroom as well, only one empty seat stood between us. I couldn't understand my sudden interest in this girl... maybe I was being protective of my tribe, or maybe her light skin reminded me of Bella. Whatever the reason, I shook it out of my head and turned my attention to the teacher. Throughout class, I noticed Kaitlyn was giving me looks from the corner of her eyes, I guess I noticed cause I was doing the same thing to her. After class was over, I fully intended on catching her outside the room to find out her story, but she moved extremely fast... when I got out the door, she was gone.
I walked to my next class, which I had with Quil. Once inside the room, Quil was waving his arms and saying my name again... looks like he's already picked our seats. As I said before, I could always count on Quil, no matter the situation. I walked to the back of the classroom and took a seat next to him.
"Hey man, my last class was so boring, I wish you would change classes so I'd at least know someone and have someone to keep me company." Quil said, a little distraught.
"Quil, only you would take a class on learning to manage your own business... like you'd ever have one." I informed him.
"Awe, come on man, change your class, we can hang out in the back together, least it wouldn't be so boring... besides, I know you don't really know anyone in your computer class. Why'd you take that class anyways? You've never even seen a computer, let alone, used one."
I just shook my head, he was right. "Ok, if it'll get you to shut up, I'll switch classes." Quil lit up like a Christmas tree.
After a couple hours, the teachers endless lectures, and Quil's mindless rambling... class was over and my favorite part of the day had arrived, not a moment too soon, might I add. Quil and I headed across campus towards the cafeteria. As we were preparing to round a corner, we heard voices. Quil looked at me and rolled his eyes, he knew as well as I did that two of the voices belonged to Jared and Paul. We couldn't make out what the conversation was about or who the third voice belonged to. As we got closer, my heart dropped to my feet, I knew who was arguing with Paul... it was Kaitlyn. As I rounded the corner, I saw Paul smack the books out of her hands. Her books hit the ground so hard that the clap echoed through campus. It looked as if Paul was about to take a swing at her. Paul was always the hot tempered one out of the pack, but she was a girl! Quil quickly grabbed Paul to restrain him, pulling him into the cafeteria. Jared just stood there staring daggers at Kaitlyn while she picked up her books. She didn't really look phased at all by what just happened, was she that confident that Paul wouldn't have hit her? I bent down to help her pick up her books, she quickly pulled the book I was reaching for out of my grasp, raising her eyes to meet mine...
"I don't need your help." She said to me in an angry tone. She had a look in her eyes like she was going to burst into tears at any minutes, but that look didn't reach her face. The expression on her face relayed that she was going to punch me if I didn't back off. I stood up, unable to say anything as I watched her gather her books and head off campus. Where was she going? School wasn't over yet. Jared relaxed some now and we both headed into the cafeteria to join Quil and Paul. Upon entering the cafeteria, you could hear Paul's voice thunder over everyone else's. I walked up to him, a bit annoyed.
"What the hell was that Paul?!" It was more of a statement of disapproval than a question. "How can you just walk up to some girl, knock the books out of her hands, and act like you're going to hit her?" My body was tense now, I didn't know why, but I wanted to punch Paul in the face right now.
Paul simply raised one of his eye brows and said, "Act?"
"You were really going to hit her?" Again, I made another statement as he just confirmed the answer. I repeated myself, "What the hell is wrong with you?!" The look of disgust seeps into my face.
Paul noticed my expression and got defensive, "You know Jacob, maybe she deserved it! You don't know what happened before you and Quil showed up! What's wrong with you?... rather back that outsider than your brothers?"
Jared must have seen how close I was to knocking Paul through a window cause he then spoke up, "Jake, man, she started it... she's not suppose to be here in the first place, then she bumped into Paul with out apologizing, just pushed him out of the way like it was on purpose and kept walking. Of course, Paul spoke up and called her some names that maybe he shouldn't have and she continued to disrespect Paul... you know his temper..."
I cut Jared off, "Well then explain why you didn't step in to stop the argument."
"Well Jake, if she thinks she's big enough to run with the big dogs..."
This time my fist cut Jared off. It wasn't like me to resort to violence so easy, but I couldn't stop myself. I was on top of Jared, pounding him, giving him what he deserved and even some of Paul's punishment. Finally, when Jared's blood starting to flow, Quil grabbed me... pulling me off Jared and restraining me. Paul helped Jared up, checking him out. Jared snapped an aggravated look my way, bringing his hand up to his mouth to wipe the blood away asking, "What was that for? You know... ever since... Bella came into your life, your head's been really fucked!"
It took all Quil's strength to hold me back. Quil kept pushing against me, struggling to get me outside. Once I stopped pressing my way back in after Jared, Quil said, "Look Jake, I'm with you. I don't agree with what Paul did or what Jared said, but maybe you should go to First Beach and walk it off."
I let out a huge breath and relaxed my body, "Yeah, maybe you're right Quil."
As I walked off campus, I heard Quil shouting at me, "Don't worry about your stuff Jake, I'll drop it by Billy's later."
I walked to First Beach and tried to walk off my anger, but it wasn't helping much. I let out another big breath and tilted my head up slightly, just then something on the cliff caught my eye... it was Kaitlyn. Before my brain could register what my body was doing, my feet was already carrying me in her direction. Before I knew it, I stepped out onto the cliff she was sitting on. She didn't move, didn't speak... did she not realize I was standing there? I opened my mouth to say something... anything that would announce my presence, but nothing came out. A fine time to get tongue tied I thought to myself. I turned to retreat, just then, she spoke up.
"What do you want?" Her head still facing the ocean, gazing out at it, her voice guarded.
"I... um... well you see..." I couldn't think of anything to say, I felt utterly useless. I heard my mind's encouragement, but there was no response to say. I tried to finish my sentence I started with the only words that danced on my tongue, "I'm sorry." I was sort of apologizing for the way Paul and Jared acted and also for my sudden lack of communication skills.
I could feel her eyes on me now, so I turned to meet her gaze. One of her eye brows were raised and she asked, "For?" She didn't seem so angry now, she almost seemed relaxed, even the guard in her voice was gone.
I to relaxed a little, trying to figure out how to speak properly. When I finally regained control of my brain, I gave her a warm smile and sat beside her... ready to give her an answer.
"Well, for the way Paul acted."
"It's not your fault." Her face fell back to the vast ocean again.
"Well, no, but Paul really did hurt you, I saw it in your eyes when I was trying to help you. I don't know what got into Paul, I mean he's always had a short fuse, but still he shouldn't..." I trailed off realizing that I was now rambling.
It was silent for a few minutes, then she turned to face me again, smiling, "Thanks." The smile didn't reach her eyes and it was short lived, but it was a sign that she understood I was just trying to comfort her.
This was my chance to find out her story. I seemed to get excited by that fact. I started to speak and as I did she looked at me again, showing me that she was now interested in what I was about to say. "So... umm..." I ran my fingers through my hair to sooth my nerves, then continued, "What's your story, how'd you end up in La Push?"
Her expression changed to one that didn't look so good, at first... I wanted to erase what I just asked, but then her expression changed to a peaceful one as she let out a small sigh and began to speak, "Well, where else was I going to go? I mean, I didn't really have anywhere else and since Quileute blood runs through my veins, it seemed fitting I'd end up here." The look on my face must have spoke louder than any words I could have said cause her expression changed again as a question slipped through her lips, "Did you really believe that I'd be here if I wasn't at least part Quileute?"
"I didn't mean to offend you, it's just outside, you don't carry any hint of a Quileute trait. I guess I didn't really consider that one of your parents, or even grandparents were apart of my tribe."
"Yeah..." Her face turned hard, "Neither did your friend Paul."
"But Jared said that you plowed right through Paul and kept going like you were oblivious to him."
Her eyes became sad again, and she lowered them to her lap, "I know, but when I heard what he was..." She cut herself off with a look of shock, suddenly she pushes herself up. "I've got to go." Without another word, she turns and darted away. What was she about to say and why did it upset her like that? Did Paul actually start the fight and she just ran into him as a way of defending herself... her feelings? I was determined to find out. I pushed myself up as well and headed home... looking forward to class in the morning.