QUICKIE: Quick chapter for now. Enjoy...and review!
-Bella's POV-
"Bella, oh my God! Where have you been luca!" Jacob said, as he picked me up off the ground, giving me a big hug.
Charlie was right, Jacob had changed a lot. He had cut off his long, silky black hair and gained some major muscle. He looked like he was twenty years old, rather than seventeen, but he still had his boyish charm that I had always known.
"It's good to see you Jake, it's been a while." I said, hugging him back.
"We have so much to catch up on!"
"I'm sure you will be doing most of the talking, my life has been and is pretty boring."
"Come on kids, dinner is ready!" Billy yelled from inside the house.
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"So I hear you got yourself a girlfriend." Jake said as he closed his bedroom door.
"Who told you?" I asked.
"Leah Clearwater. She's friends with Alice."
"Oh."
"So how long have you been together? Details!" He demanded as he jumped on his bed.
"Wow, Jake...are you sure you're straight?"
"Don't change the subject!"
"Um...well, not long. We are still getting to know one another."
"Have you done anything yet?"
"Jake!"
"Just asking, geez."
"Well, we haven't done that...if that's what you are trying to ask. I don't just jump in bed with someone."
"Not ready to loose your v-card yet?"
"Believe me, I lost that a long time ago."
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After a million questions about Alice, he finally went into a story about his friends, while I looked around his room. It was much different from what I remembered, it's more...mature. His once baby blue bedspread was now shades of brown, matching the walls. A large dream catcher hung on the wall over his bed, with two big gray feathers hanging from it. A few scattered pictures hung on the walls of him and his friends. I lost track of what he was talking about when I ran my finger along the spines of his books on the shelf, reading the titles as I passed. Catcher in the Rye, Moby-Dick, Huckleberry Finn, Lord of the Flies, etc. Then he had a few small books on wolves, and one other that caught my eye. I slid the battered brown book out and looked at it closer. It had a beautiful dream catcher on the cover with Quileute Legends written in gold across it.
"And then there was this penguin that started to tap dance. Yeah, your definitely not listening to me..."
"What?" I said.
"I said you weren't listening to me?" He asked.
"Sorry, I got distracted." I said as I held up the book.
"Oh. Interested in learning more about us?"
"Maybe..."
"You can borrow it, if you want."
"Thanks, Jake."
"Anyway, now that I know you weren't listening to my story, I have to start all the way from the beginning again..."
Oh God...
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By the time we got back home, it was already ten o'clock, and I was bushed. It had been a long day, but it turned out better than expected. I reconnected with Jake, even if that meant sitting through a thirty minute story about the stupid things him and his friends did a few days ago. I brushed my teeth, slipped off my jeans and got into bed. I didn't even have the energy to change into a night shirt. I looked at the book sitting beside my bed, the gold lettering sparkled from the light shining in the window from the full moon. Curiosity got the better of me, even though I was tired. I turned on my lamp, opened the book, and started reading. It was more interesting than I thought it was going to be, I have to admit. The Quileute's believe that their descendants from wolves, and I don't mean this metaphorically in any way, they mean actual wolves. No wonder Jake had so many books on them.
The part of the story that interested me the most though, was about what they call 'the cold ones'. According to the legend, Jacob's great-grandfather actually knew some of them. The cold ones are the "natural enemy" of the wolves, but the pack that came int their territory during that time, claimed that they were different. They didn't hunt like others of their kind, and claimed they weren't dangerous to the tribe. So Jake's great-grandfather made a truce with them. The cold ones agreed to stay off Quileuete lands, and the tribe wouldn't expose what they really were to the pale faces. Even though they said they posed no danger, there was always a risk for humans to be around them. Because you never knew if they got too hungry, they may not be able to resist. Even if they were a civilized clan like these ones were. They claimed they didn't hunt humans, that they preyed on animals instead. The book never explained exactly what 'the cold ones' actually were, which made me very interested and I wanted to know more. But I had already eluded sleep for an hour reading, so it was time for bed. I turned the lamp back off, and I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow.
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The dark figure seemed to be getting closer and closer, no matter how fast I ran. It seemed to be playing with me, being closer, then further away in an instant. I tripped over sticks, but I got back up and kept going. I saw the meadow in the distance, shining bright like the first time I saw it. I felt as if I got there, I would be safe from whatever was chasing me. I ran faster, harder, my heart beating out of my chest...almost there. I looked back to see where the figure was, but it was no where to be seen. That didn't keep me from running though, It could be anywhere.
I finally made it to the meadow, tripping on the last step, I was flung into the light. I looked up, and the figure was standing just outside the light. I could clearly see the figure was in the shape of a man. It was if he was waiting for me, because eventually I would have to leave the meadow. That was when I heard a deep growl from behind me. Without even looking, I knew whatever it was, was trying to protect me. The man slowly backed away, then sprinted off at an alarming rate. I turned around to see what made the growling noise, and it was the last thing I expected to see.
"Alice?" I whispered.
She bent down to me, and helped me up off the ground.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
She just smiled at me, and I gasped when I saw her teeth. There were two fangs on either sides of her mouth. This didn't scare me though...I actually felt more safe. I smiled back as I wrapped my arms around her neck bringing her close. She moved her mouth next to my ear and whispered in her sweet voice...
"You're safe now."