Poor poorJake. What fresh misery can befall the poor fellow?

I forgot to mention: Disclaimers are stupid, I'm obviously not Stephenie Meyer. But just in case anyone thought I was… You thought wrong, didn't you??! Thanks to those that reviewed!

Why the Hell Did I Open My Big Mouth?

I'd been crying for hours.

And Nessie didn't know why.

Hell, I didn't know why.

Was I crying because I loved her? Or crying because I was jealous? Jealous of stupid, stupid Evans.

He's not even that good looking.

I'm better looking and I'm the one subjected to life in a house full of gorgeous vampires - Nessie being one of them.

A knock at my bedroom door shook me out of my depression momentarily.

''Jacob?'' Nessie whispered. Her voice was like music to my ears.

''Yeah?'' I grunted. I pretended to be getting out of bed, like I'd been asleep for the last five hours. I stuffed her scarf under my pillow and stumbled to the bedroom door.

''Do you often fall asleep in your clothes or is this a bold fashion statement?'' she asked.

''Huh?'' I looked down at what I was wearing and started to laugh. And laugh. I hadn't gone to sleep wearing my clothes since… since Nessie was born. Nessie joined in the laughing, even though I was sure she did know what was supposed to be funny.

''Come in.'' I said eventually. Nessie bounded into my room and instantly began fiddling with the CD player. She'd inherited her father's obsession with 50's music. I flopped down onto my bed and patted the duvet beside me. Nessie curled up beside me, her slender frame fitting exactly along my side.

Made for me.

Nessie talked about her project with Evans, how she'd finished her half last night but was pretending she'd only started so Evans wouldn't suspect the whole supernatural vampire thing. And how he was really smart and nice and blah, blah, blah.

Forget Jacob Black: Eternal Babysitter. Just call me J.B.: Agony Aunt.

''But Ethan doesn't really mind the fact you hang around us all the time. He say's he's cool with it.'' Nessie was saying.

''Hanging around? What?''

''You're always there, Jake. You know, at lunch and stuff. And then in my room. But Ethan says he's cool with all my friends.''

Hanging around… I'd done that all her life. Stayed near her.

''All your friends…'' I echoed. That's what I was to her. A friend.

''Yeah.'' Nessie looked uneasy.

''So he doesn't mind that I sit with my friend at lunch time and hang out with my friend outside of school?'' I could feel my eyes narrowing and my tone becoming dangerously close to shouting.

''What's gotten into you Jake?'' Nessie demanded. So like her mom. You say something and BAM!. Mood swing.

''Me? What's gotten into me?''

Nessie stood, her chocolate-brown eyes narrowed.

'' I think we need to work on your communication skills, Jake. Like, what kinds of tones are acceptable to use when talking to your best friend.''

''Best friend? I'm fed up being your best friend. I don't want to be 'Jacob Black, Nessie's best friend' anymore.''

''What the hell are you saying, Jacob?'' Nessie demanded. She was shouting. I knew Edward was listening.

''I'm not playing second fiddle again for a girl I love. Especially not another Swan girl.'' I spat, leaping up off the bed and opening the window, getting ready to jump. My room was on the second floor but I didn't care. I felt the hot, angry shivers roll up my spine and I yanked my shirt off. Wolf-time.

''Jake?'' Nessie whispered. I could sense that her brain was working overdrive, trying to comprehend what I'd just said.

''What?'' I snapped.

''What do you mean, another Swan girl?''

I didn't wait to reply. I jumped.

***

My paws hit the ground and I ran full tilt towards the Reservation. I needed to see Billy. Or… Leah.

Leah.

I hadn't seen Leah in God knows how long. As far as I knew she was still hanging around as a wolf, only changing to eat real food.

Last I heard she hadn't imprinted.

Good. She'd understand how I felt. Sort of.

I ran, feeling the muscles in my shoulders contract as my paws pounded the pavement. I was running along a main road, a blur of russet-coloured fur. I wasn't supposed to run this close to civilisation, just in case. Wolves weren't exactly welcome in town. Let them hunt me down.

Though that last thought wasn't entirely logical. What the hell kinda person hunted at four AM?

In less than ten minutes I'd crossed the border into the Rez - we still had a vampire-werewolf border, for old times' sake - and was circling my house. My old house. Billy was still inside; I could hear him snoring. I considered waking him up, then changed my mind. Me and the old man didn't really have much in common. In fact, I was sure he was really glad when I'd moved out. He didn't need me around to break tables and eat all his food. Paul did enough of that for him, whenever he and my sister came home to visit.

Instead I ran towards Leah's usual haunt. Which, scarily, is a cliff-face.

Leah?

I assumed she'd be in wolf-form.

Leah? It's Jacob.

No answer.

I couldn't change back to human form; I'd left my clothes strewn across the Cullen's front lawn.

Time to wake Billy.

***

''Son.'' Billy said, slapping me an awkward high five-hug. I'd climbed through my old bedroom window and grabbed an old pair of pants from the dresser, then gone to wake Billy.

''Dad.'' I replied, slightly embarrassed. The Prodigal Son, that's me. I hadn't come home in months; visits were sporadic and short-lived. And yet every single time Billy welcomed me back.

''How's… everybody?'' he asked.

''Good.''

''And how's little Renesmee?''

''Not so little anymore, Dad. And can we not talk about her? Please.'' I heard my voice crack at the end. Billy did too.

''Jake… You haven't told her anything yet, have you?'' Billy was almost reproachful.

''No. Well, yeah. Sort of. It slipped out, I didn't want to tell her this way and besides…. Never mind.'' I'd been speaking too fast, and I'd seen Billy's eyebrows shoot up in confusion.

''What's the problem? She's old enough now. I mean, did you hear about Quil and Claire?''

''Sure, sure, I did. It's just… Nothing. Never mind; forget I said anything.'' I stood. ''Look, I'd better go… I'm supposed to go see Leah.'' I was lying through my teeth and Billy knew it. I hadn't a clue where Leah was and he knew as well as I did that I had a slim chance of finding her.

''Bye, Jake. Come back when you get the chance.''

''Sure, sure.'' I nodded, already out the door.

''And bring Nessie with you next time!'' He shouted. He wheeled his chair over to the front door and waved sadly to me as I ran around the side of the house, back out onto the Rez.

For the second time in the space of about an hour I asked myself: Why the hell did I open my big mouth?

I had to find Leah. Leah would understand.

''Leah?'' I called. I ran through the trees and out onto First Beach. La Push was nice at this time of night. Or morning. Whatever way you looked at it.

I slowed to a walk, admiring the coloured stones that dotted the beach. I remembered Quil and baby Claire, years ago. Claire had thrown stones at Quil's head and Quil had just laughed. He'd loved Claire even then.

I spotted two figures strolling down the other end of the beach, hand in hand. That couldn't be -

''Leah?'' I called.

One of the figures put her hand over her eyes against the glare of the just-rising sun.

''Jacob?'' Leah's voice called back. She let go of whoever she was with and ran towards me, almost knocking me down with a hug.

''Whoa, Leah, get a grip. People might think you're actually nice.'' I laughed, trying to stay upright. Me and Leah hadn't parted on the best of terms - i.e., I'd just watched her leave - so the hug was unexpected. And unnatural.

A man walked up behind Leah and seized hold of her hand again.

''Hi. I'm guessing you're Jacob?'' The man said.

''Sure, sure. That's me. I'm guessing I'm kinda supposed to know who you are?''

The man laughed. ''Not at all. I went to your high school.'' He explained. ''I'm Dean.'' He proffered a hand and I shook it. Leah looked at him, her eyes all shiny. He stared back.

Ugh. Don't make me sick, Leah, please.

I coughed loudly. Leah jumped and turned back to me. Her hair was clean… and she was wearing a pretty dress…

''So, Jake. I'm sure you guessed already, but, well… I've finally done it.'' Leah said, smiling.

''You've… read a book bigger than twenty pages?''

Leah hit me.

''No, moron. Imprinted.'' She smiled happily at Dean.

''Oh, you… Oh. On?… Oh. Oh.''

''Great isn't it? So, listen, how's Nessie? She must be old enough by now. Oh, hey, did you hear about Quil and Claire?''

Somebody kill me now.

***

A/N: He's a bit livelier in this chapter. I think. Anyway, Nessie deserves to be punched in the face.

Up next: Let's see… More misery for Jake?? Maybe…. And maybe Nessie will get some sense knocked into her… Seriously, I mean, is she blind??!

Review please!

~ Carley.

Plus, a big, huge fangirl-hug to the people who reviewed the last chapters: Thank you. I love you all! xxx