Chapter VIII.

In which Jacob and Amelia make sandwiches and a deal.

Amelia's POV

I sighed as I tried to find something to feed all of us for lunch. This was just too much for me to process at once and still be expected to function. Everything they said was totally unbelievable, and yet, I believed. Well for the most part, I was a little skeptical about some things, but when Jacob and Embry spoke I couldn't find a way to disbelieve. I really liked them a lot. Especially Jacob. He probably thinks I'm a pushy nosey bitch though. I shouldn't have gotten all worked up about him not answering my question.

I heard a knock on the door, and I became nervous. Harper wouldn't be knocking, so I knew it was one of the boys. I smoothed my shirt and went to open it.

Jacob stood there, looking absolutely gorgeous of course. That wasn't really the best thing to be thinking at this point, but it was hard not to; he was really HOT!

"Can I come in?" Jacob asked. I realized I had just been staring at him, so I nodded and back up to let him in.

I closed the door and turned to him. "Umm…. Was there something you needed, Jacob?"

"I'm really sorry about being a jerk. I was acting childish; I hope I didn't upset you." He said. He thought he was the rude one? I was the one prying.

"No, really I was being nosey. I shouldn't have expected you to tell me everything about you and your life. We only just met after all. It was stupid of me to have gotten upset, we don't know each other that well, and you are entitled to keep secrets from random girls you meet in the woods." I answered.

"That may be," he smirked. "But I shouldn't have been so rude about it. It's just that that isn't really something I like to talk about." He said sadly.

"That's ok. I don't think I could have handled anything else today anyway. I'm still not sure what to think of all this." I told him.

"Don't you believe us? Or is it just hard to accept?" he looked sadder than when he was talking about whatever he didn't like to talk about.

"Neither." I answered. "I'm just a little overwhelmed. I have no problem with any of it. But it's a lot to take in at once. I mean werewolves, vampires, magical love connections; that's a lot to process in one sitting."

"Well what do you think about it all? If each thing was on its own, what would you think?" He asked, staring at me intently.

"For starters that fact that you and Embry and apparently a whole bunch of you are werewolves is kinda interesting. The legends of your people are fascinating; I'd love the opportunity to learn more.

"As for the existence of not only werewolves but other mythological monsters, is a little frightening. I actually used to watch Buffy: The Vampire Slayer." I giggled.

"So the idea that vampires actually exist is both scary and exciting." He looked a little disgusted by my enthusiasm for vampires.

"I mean, are they as funny as they are on TV? Some of those vampires were my favorite characters; they had some great one liners. But that's just my interest in performances coming out. You know the villains are always underrated. People don't seem to realize that without the villains there would be no story, no adventure for the hero's." This was an argument I'd had a lot, it was a habit to defend it, even if it was irrelevant. "And well I always loved playing the villain. It gave me a chance to be crazy, and bring out my evil side! And like I said, without the villains there would be no story." He just stared at me after my little rant. Ok, so he hadn't been disgusted with my villain appreciation, it must have been the fact that I showed interest in his "mortal enemy". Well we'll just tad that to the list of all the times Mia has made a fool of herself! Fabulous.

"Right." Was all he said, it looked like he was trying not to laugh. Well good, at least he's entertained by my foolishness.

"Well anyway," I continued. "Back to your question." I said attempting to pull attention away from my outburst.

"I actually don't know what to think about imprinting. I do believe in fate, but I also don't know if I'd consider it true love if it's magically induced. I just don't know." I said. Jacob looked thoughtful for a second, and then a wicked look came into his eyes. He took a step toward me and I instinctively took one step back. However, since I was in a camper, there really wasn't much room, and no where to go, so I ended up with my back against the wall. Jacob smirked and took another step forward stopping only inches from me. He put is hand on the wall next to my head and leaned down, he was so close I could feel his breath on my face. "What would you think if I told you, that you were my imprint, what would you do then?" He asked his already husky voice, becoming more so. My mind was fuzzy for a second, and I shivered involuntarily, he was such a cheater.

I decided that two could play at this game. I leaned forward and put my lips right up to his ear, ever so slightly brushing it with them, I asked, "What do you think I'd say?" using my most sexy voice, which wasn't actually that sexy, but as I had hoped he froze. I used his momentary disablement to try and side step him. I didn't want to think about the possibility that I could be his imprint; I didn't want to get my hopes up, to think that a fairy tale is possible outside of stories and shows. So I tried to get away. It would have probably worked if I hadn't tripped in my attempt to escape. Just before I hit the ground though, I felt two warm strong arms catch me. He pulled me up against his body. I gasped and I felt the air fill my lungs. I could feel my heart beating erratically. There was no more ache, and the chill I had had since last night had disappeared with it. I stared at him wide eyed, as he healed me with his presence, with his touch. The feeling of being this close to him felt so wonderful and it felt right.

I stared at him wide eyed. He looked down at me, with an intense look on his face. "Well I'd hope you would believe me. And I'd hope that you would be willing to let me spend some time with you." Was he serious? I couldn't possibly be his imprint? He's just speaking hypothetically right? He let go of me and stepped back a step, he was still close enough that I could feel the heat from his body. I fought the desire to step right back into his warm embrace, and I won. Barely. I though of how it felt to be in his arms, how he seemed to take away all my pain. Maybe I could be his, if he was what I had been searching for to fill the hole in my life, in my soul; if he completed me, maybe it was possible he wasn't just speaking hypothetically. Maybe I was just as much what he needed as he was what I needed.

There I go thinking with my heart again, I could only imagine what Harper would say. But that didn't really bother me; I didn't want to let him know how much he had just affected me, so I smiled. "Well, why don't we start by getting to know each other? I know about your pack and what you do, but I don't know much about you personally. We can start there and I can tell you after what it is I would say if you told me that I was your imprint." I said, and I was pleased to hear that my voice was steady. I once again thanked my theater experience, and the many years I've spent hiding my feelings. "How does that sound?"

"Sounds good to me." He said, though he seemed nervous again. He had been so bold a moment ago; it was odd to see him looking scared again.

"So first I think we should get lunch made, so we can go save Embry from Harper." I said.

"Why would he need to be saved?" Jacob asked, looking confused. I laughed.

"Trust me if I know Harper, and I do, he's going to need rescuing. She is probably trying to convince him that he's crazy and needs to see a shrink as we speak. But not just any shrink, oh no, Harper will somehow find a way to blame his past relationships and his sex life on why he's gone off the deep end, so will offer to be his shrink, as she's happens to be a reproductive therapist in training." I said, shaking my head. Jacob just stared at me for a second and then burst out laughing.

"Embry? Sex life? HA!" he laughed.

I put my hands on my hips. "You know it isn't necessarily a bad thing to be a little conservative when it comes to giving love away. Let me guess, you have a very satisfying sex life." I said a little angrily. I didn't like the idea. And I was a little indignant about his reaction. There was nothing wrong with saving yourself.

Jacob stopped laughing and looked at me. "No actually, I don't. I guess I shouldn't be laughing since I have about as much of a sex life as Embry does. Which is none." He said seriously. I raised my eyebrows at him, and turned away to continue my search for food. I was leaning toward PB&J's because I didn't really have the energy for much else.

"What about you?" Jacob asked me.

"What about me, what?" I questioned, confused.

"How hot is your sex life?" he said completely calmly. I gaped at him and blushed. His face fell a little as he watched me.

"There isn't really one to speak of." I couldn't look him in the eye as I said this, but his face was brighter when I finally got the nerve to look at him. "You know that wasn't exactly what I meant when I said 'get to know each other'." I told him, as I spread peanut butter on a piece of bread. He just chuckled and started spreading the jelly (Or Jam depending on where you're from.).

Fourteen sandwiches later (one each for Harper and I, six each for Jacob and Embry). Jacob and I headed out to our best friends. I almost burst out laughing at the sight that met my eyes. Harper was circling Embry whose expression was quite funny. His face held nervousness, confusion, and happiness all together. Harper looked like she was appraising him, as well as looking for hidden wires or something. A giggle escaped my control and they both looked up at me.

"What are you doing Harp?" I asked.

"Trying to decide what to think about all this." She said, glancing at Embry again.

"Ah, I see. We just had this discussion but feel free to have it as well. And while you're at it I have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!" I said. Embry rushed forward and took the sandwiches Jacob handed him greedily. They both went straight to eating them. Harper continued to watch them. Especially Embry, with a slightly panicked expression. She turned to me with a wild look on her face. "Is this what you deal with all the time?" she asked.

"What? You know I don't have hungry werewolves around me all the time." I told her, thinking maybe this really was too much for her to handle and that she had lost it.

"No, I meant with your feelings. Is it always this hard for you to choose between what your head is telling you and what your heart is telling you? Because I'm finding it very difficult right now to ignore the one I know I should."

AN: So what did you think? Good? Bad? Average? Well let me know!

Mcuh love, Bridget