My Unattainable
A/N: My thanks once again to everyone who has reviewed. Thanks also to everyone who added this to favourites/ story alert. Enjoy chapter four.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter Four (Jacob's POV)
I paced back and forth on the beach, trying to shake off the unbearable heat. I looked up at the sky. It was closed in with grey clouds, and the drizzle that fell down was icy against my skin, but I still felt like I was burning up. I'd given up attempting to wear a shirt; it was far too uncomfortable. I ran my hand over the back of my neck, expecting to find myself sweating, but there was no moisture except the rain. I felt my skin tingle like I was being watched, and sure enough, when I turned I saw Sam Uley watching me from further down the beach. I groaned, and kicked at the pebbles angrily. He was the last person I wanted to see. It was bad enough that he'd suddenly caught Embry up in his gang. He was not going to do the same to me.
Quicker than I thought humanly possible, he was right next to me, but a few feet away, as if keeping a safe distance. I felt some sort of growl rumble deep in my throat; the noise surprised me.
"Jacob," Sam said calmly.
"What do you want, Sam?" I asked in a gruff tone.
He paused for a moment. "How are you feeling?" he asked, ignoring my own question.
I snorted, the irony lost in my all-too-real panic. "How do I feel? Apart from the fact that you brainwashed one of my best friends? I feel awful, Sam. I'm burning up. I feel like I'm gonna explode!"
A wave of emotion flickered over his poker face – pity? Empathy? He reached out his arm as if to comfort me, but I recoiled automatically, stumbling and almost falling on the pebbles.
"Stay away from me."
I turned and stalked up the beach, away from Sam. When I could barely see him in the distance, I headed to the water's edge and let the icy water seep through my shoes to my hot skin. It wasn't nearly cold enough. I stepped deeper into the water, rational thought at the back of my head screaming at me, telling me that this was insane. When the water was up to my waist, I bobbed down, crouching against the gritty sea floor, the water lapping around my neck and shoulders. I didn't even shudder. I would have laughed at myself if I weren't so terrified. My skin was still burning despite the onslaught of cold, salty water. What was happening to me?
Time passed, and I was still in the water. Clouds moved, and Sam left the beach. The rain closed in and ruined my hair. And I knew I shouldn't have been able to feel my arms and legs by now, but there they were, still burning away with the invisible fire under my skin. The heat was starting to change: it no longer felt icy cold when I took a breath. It was like my body was readjusting it's normal temperature, finally accepting that this was right, while my mind, muscles and reflexes were fighting furiously against it.
It was getting dark by the time I dragged myself from the ocean. Reason told me I should at least have cramp, but there was nothing but the heat. My muscles throbbed from the burning rather than the cold, as I pulled myself up to the cliff top and headed for home. I was in sight of my familiar, little red house when my vision started to blur. I quickened my pace, desperate now to be inside, away from the onslaught of the elements. I crashed through the door, rummaged through a kitchen drawer until I found an old thermometer, and almost fell into my room onto my bed. I stuck the thermometer under my tongue and put a pillow over my eyes, trying in vain to cool down. A moment later, my Dad came into my room, watching me silently from the doorway.
"What's wrong, Jacob?" he asked quietly, with a knowing tone in his voice, his eyes sad as he watched me suffer.
"Too hot," I managed to mumble. My hand was shaking as I pulled the thermometer from my mouth, and tried to focus on the reading. 104. My eyes boggled. That couldn't be right. I threw it down on the bedside cabinet and buried my face in the cool sheets. I groaned.
"You'll be alright, son," my Dad murmured. "Eventually."
I didn't hear him leave, but I heard him pick up the phone when it rang a few moments later.
"Bella... no... yes, he's here, but... no, he's not well, he can't come to the phone... sure, sure, I'll tell him. Bye."
My heart lurched as I heard Bella's name: she must have been worried. I vaguely remembered I was supposed to call her earlier, but I was in no state to socialise. I could barely see. With Bella's worried face etched into my mind, I fell into a light and troubled slumber.
I dreamed. Bizarre dreams. I dreamt of the cliff tops, the forest, and all the places round La Push where I used to hide and play as a kid. They seemed strangely homely in these dreams, and I almost felt protective of the reservation. I saw the forest more than once, the familiar bracken and foliage disappearing behind me at an immeasurable speed – I must have been running. I saw the troubled face of my good friend, Quill, and my Dad, no longer in his wheelchair, strong and young and a born leader. I saw Sam, and Jared and Paul, their gang separate from the rest of the images, and with them my former friend, Embry. To my surprise, I saw another face beside his, and found myself staring into my own eyes with terror, as my dream persona joined Uley and his followers.
A sudden howling woke me from my confusing dreams, although whether the sound was real or conjured from my subconscious I couldn't be certain. I looked at the clock, and, although my vision seemed a little better, I had to squint, as the room had gone dark, the only light coming from the silver moon through the window. The clock said 03.20. I took a deep breath, my mouth feeling grotesque from lack of fluids, and reached for the thermometer again. 108. Woah!
"Dad!" I called, not caring that it was the middle of the night.
It took him a few minutes to appear, by which time I was shaking with panic.
"Jacob," he said, not sounding groggy at all. I wondered briefly if he had been asleep at all.
"I've gotta get to the hospital. 108! My temperature is 108! It's impossible...!"
I could barely speak, I was shaking so much. Tremors shook through my whole body, and I could feel my muscles rippling underneath my skin.
My Dad calmly shook his head, a sad, resigned look embedded on his face.
"You don't need to see a doctor, Jake. But maybe we'd better get you outside..."
I shook my head angrily. He wasn't making sense. Why would I need to go outside in the pitch black, when I was shaking so hard my teeth were rattling in my skull? I had never felt so terrified in my life. Suddenly, my bedroom, the whole house, seemed very small, and I barged past my Dad and burst out of the front door, gasping for air as my lungs shuddered along with the rest of my body. I dropped to the floor, my legs unable to support me.
"Dad!" I called feebly, my voice barely recognisable even to myself.
I took another breath of air, which felt like boiling water being poured into my chest.
And I exploded.
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A/N: A little short, I know, but I put a lot of effort into this chapter. I tried to imagine what it must feel like for poor Jacob, I felt so sorry for him!
Anyway, hope you enjoyed, please let me know what you think.
Look out for chapter five, when Edward returns.
Thanks for reading
MrsJacobBlack1988