I ran and ran until I was out of breath. I felt like I was losing something as I got further and further from place where Jacob was. The tears that had been welling up were gone and now I felt like I was left with nothing. Of course I wouldn't tell Amber, but I had to keep away from Jake from now on, at least until Amber doesn't like him that way anymore. I wasn't losing my only human friend.
I slowed my pace to a walk and the reaction that I should have gotten a few minutes ago. I wasn't going to lie, the kiss did feel nice, but now I was very guilty.
How did all this happen so fast? It's only been a week and now different feelings are just coming out nowhere. Of course this just had to happen to me…
"Nessie!" I whirled around when I heard the voice of the person I did not wish to see at the moment. He ran up to me and looked me in the eyes, "Nessie what was that all about?"
I slowly turned back around and considered my chances of out running him. I have to say, they were pretty slim.
"Come on at least talk to me!" He stepped around me so he was facing me again. I frowned and looked at the ground. He lifted my chin up with one finger. "Please?"
"Jake, I don't know! I'm sorry!"
"Well you don't have to be sorry…"
"Jacob, I don't know if you've noticed but Amber likes you a lot."
"Yeah, I've noticed, but I already told you-" I put one finger on his lips to stop him from going on.
"I know what you told me, but, um, I told you that I wasn't ready for a boyfriend."
"You just kissed me though!"
"I know, but that was a mistake."
He looked offended. "Mistake?"
"Well, I really want Amber to still be my friend-"
He interrupted, "So you did want to kiss me."
"Well…"
"Is that a yes?"
"Jacob that's not the point!"
"Then what is the point?"
"The point is that it was wrong!"
"How?"
"Don't do this to me Jake!"
"Don't do this to you? This morning you tell me you don't want a boyfriend then you kiss me then you run off!" I glared at the smug smile on his face. It was a long time before he added, "Nessie I'm not going to like Amber the way she likes me."
"How do you know? People can change."
"But I'm a werewolf."
"Your still a person."
"But I won't ever like her that way."
"Try."
"No."
"Why not?" This was really irritating me.
"Because, I like somebody else."
"Please say it's someone besides me." I begged.
"Then I'd be lying."
I couldn't say anything back to that. He still liked me… I don't know if this is good or bad… it's bad.
"I have to go…"
"Where?"
"Why do you need to know?"
"Just wondering. No need to get defensive on me."
"Bye."
"Why are you leaving again? You didn't even answer my question!"
"So?"
"So answer!"
"What question, again?"
"Nessie! Why did you kiss me?"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
"Okay, but I'll be waiting… whenever you decide to tell me the truth."
"I was."
"Were not."
"Go back home Jake. I'm not good for you, call Amber."
"No."
"Please!"
"No. I can't." I made a face at him.
"Why can't you?"
"I already like you!"
"Well stop liking me then!"
"Nessie, I can't. I never will." I waited for him to explain the ridiculous thing that he just said. Crushes can always change, right? It felt like ages before he said quietly, "Nessie, your dad might kill me for telling you this but…. I imprinted on you."
What? "Jacob what is imprint?" It sounded painful.
***
Jacob sent the next hour and a half explaining this imprinting thing to me. I couldn't believe this had happened. He seemed really stressed out or something. At first I thought imprinting was really creepy, but it didn't take me long to understand the cute side of it. I was lucky. What I didn't understand was the fact that no one told me all this time… I guess I could've probably figured it out but still.
Why wouldn't anyone have told me anything? Jake was staring at me anticipating my reaction.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Great… here comes another awkward silence. What, is this the fourth one today?
"Well….?"
"Your dad kind of thought it would be best for you to grow up not knowing…."
"How does this effect how I grow up?"
"I don't really know, he just told me when u were a baby that I couldn't tell you unless I got his "okay". But no, I just had to go and tell you anyways. I'm so stupid. Do you think I'm a stalker Nessie?"
"Um, no."
"Are you mad?"
"I don't really know…. This is kind of a lot to take in right now."
"Ugh! Why did I just tell you! Your dad is going to kill me!"
"No he's not Jake. He would kill me before he killed you."
"Why? Oh…"
"Let's just try not to think about anything that happened today around my dad, okay?"
"Sounds good to me. So… um… you don't think I'm a stalker?"
"No, I really don't. But now…. Wait what's going to happen now?"
"I have no clue…"
"Thanks for the help."
"Well I really don't know, this is all my fault."
Then there was a long pause. I guess I could just go on and pretend this was a normal day… well normal for my life.
"This isn't your fault. It's mine."
"Oh, really? How?"
"Well I shouldn't have…um…"
"Kissed me?" My face turned tomato red.
"Don't say it out loud!"
"Please Nessie, it was just one kiss no one cares…"
"That "no one" includes Amber and my dad."
"Oh, right."
"Exactly."
"Should we pretend nothing happened?"
"I think that's the best option."
"Alright…. Now I have a question for you."
"Shoot."
"You aren't even freaked out about this imprinting thing?"
"Not exactly…"
"Explain?"
"I don't know… I mean do you want me to freak out?"
"No, I just thought you would."
"Oh."
"Well I don't know, if it was me I would be a little freaked out."
"Why?"
"I don't know…"
"Right… See and that's why I'm not freaking out. I think it's kind of sweet." His face lit up and mine turned bright red again. This had been a very strange day. I couldn't take it all in right now.
"Really?"
"Really." Then he stepped closer to me slowly, probably trying not to freak me out or something. I smiled at him and then he pulled me into his warm hug. For those few seconds I forgot all about my big problem.