Jacob's POV
Late into the evening, we're ready to go.
I wish I could tell my dad goodbye, but he'll judge me for my choice. Heck, it's not my choice. The wolf within me chose Edward, then the human realized there's so much more to the leech. He's funny, sweet, caring, and so innocent. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he lived for a century and never ever touched himself that way.
Just wait, I'm going to teach you so much. I smirk to myself.
Oh, and he's started calling me darling, which makes my insides melt.
"Ready?" Edward asks, stepping into his empty room.
Yes. I incline my head, walking to his side.
He rests his hand on the small of my back, leading me downstairs. Every door is open, showing empty rooms as if no one has even lived here.
"Where is everyone?" I wonder.
"Outside, getting ready for the long trip. You're going to ride with me, of course. Any time you need anything—food, water, pee break, to sleep—stop me."
"Uh, really, it's okay. I can sleep in the car."
"Don't be stubborn. Anyway, you won't have to tell me. I will know." He taps his temple, grinning cunningly.
"I hate you!" I pout, stomping out of the house.
"Trouble in paradise?" Emmett asks, smirking. He's leaning against their huge truck. It has two long tows filled with their possessions. I can finally see why moving is fun for them.
"None of your business," I bark, continuing my walk to Edward's car.
"Aw, don't be like that!" the man in question whines behind me. "I promise not to read your mind more than necessary!"
"Freak," I mutter under my breath.
"What did you just call me, mutt?"
"Children, we don't have time to fight!" Esme reminds us, coming closer.
"Yes, kiss and make up. You have a long drive ahead cooped up in that all-American mother's car," Emmett adds, laughing.
Edward whirls around, jabbing his finger toward him. "Say one more thing against my car! I dare you!"
"I always thought you bought it as a mid-life crisis, or whatever you want to call it."
Edward growls and jumps on top of Emmett, knocking him to the ground.
"BOYS!" Esme rushes over, pulling them apart.
It's so freaking funny, I almost forget he insulted me moments ago. I thought we were over the whole mutt/leech thing.
"You still call me that in your head!" Edward quips.
"You shouldn't know what I call you in my head! I could call you asshole or fuck hot, it makes no difference. Stay the fuck away from my head!"
"Oh, but you love it when you have the advantage to communicate something embarrassing to me without the others hearing. Okay, have it your way. Watch me if I answer to anything you say in your head!" he snaps. He walks to the driver's side, snatching the door open and sliding inside.
Oh, hell! What did I just get myself into?
I'm sorry! I take it back. Edward?
I rush into his car. As I fumble with my seatbelt, he starts the engine, ignoring me.
Edward? I try again.
"Sorry," I whisper.
"Yeah, right."
I put my hand on his thigh. "You didn't mean it, did you?"
He looks at me and narrows his eyes, before battling my hand away. Sighing heavily, he adjusts the GPS, muttering, "I know, Carlisle. I'll try."
I guess Carlisle is trying to make us get along, but Edward seems to be extra mean.
Right then and there I decide to take advantage of this not paying attention to my thoughts. He'll regret promising that.
"Jacob, would you like to choose the music? You'll find a few iPods in the glove compartment, each has a different genre."
Of course, he has different iPods for each genre. I snatch the compartment open and find ten black, large gadgets. I don't feel like listening to anything particular, so I choose Pop. You can't go wrong with that, and I'm really curious of what he has there.
Sweet, he likes Michael Jackson.
Soon, we pull out of the driveway, and leave their house in Forks behind. I stare out the window, trying to stow away every memory I have about this place; when I was a kid, the beach, Bella, my friends, Dad, imprinting on Edward and slowly falling for him.
Imperceptibly, the car swerves a little, but when I glance at him, he's the picture of calmness, hands wrapped loosely against the wheel, slouched in his seat.
Huh, he doesn't know I'm falling? Interesting. I bet he is, too.
I've thought I made myself clear on my feelings for him. I've thought he realized what imprinting actually means—it's more than falling in love, it's being bond forever to that person: physically, emotionally, on every level.
Chancing another look at my companion, I see a frown between his brows.
"You have some food and drinks in the bag behind your seat. Esme took care of it. I guess it will cover you for a few hours," he says quietly.
To give me something to do, I check the contents of the bag. Yummy! Sandwiches, chips, chocolate bars, soda, and bottles of water. "It's more than enough. It should last me at least two days." I think. It depends on how hungry I get. Shrugging, I put away the bag and lean back my seat, folding my arms behind my head. "Do you mind turning the AC on? It's kinda hot in here."
"Sure." He immediately pushes a button, then turns the temperature lower. "Is this okay?"
"Perfect. Thanks."
He nods stiffly, turning to watch the road and humming along with the songs.
Are we really fighting?
I wait and wait and wait. He doesn't answer.
Huffing, I kick my shoes off and plant my feet on the dashboard. As soon as I get comfortable, the car screeches to a halt, nearly choking me when the belt cuts into my throat.
"Get your feet off the dashboard this instant or else!"
"Or else, what?" I challenge, not moving an inch.
He leans closer, and for a wild second, I think he's going to punch me, or kiss me or…something. But in reality, he opens my door. "Get out. You're walking there, or hitchhiking."
"Are you fucking serious now?"
"Choose."
I let my feet slide off the dashboard. Sheesh! He's crazy.
"Close the door."
No shit? I slam it shut, making him cringe.
"I love Elisa, so if you harm her in any way, I will kill you!"
Who the fuck is Elisa? I wonder idly.
He huffs, annoyed, and pulls back on the main road.
Whoa! "You named your car…Elisa?" I laugh like crazy.
Grinding his teeth, he keeps his eyes on the road, but I can tell he wants to have a comeback on the tip of his tongue.
Hours pass and I grow unbelievably bored. To his credit, Edward starts asking me different things to get to know each other better, but the lower the sun gets in the sky, the more annoyed I get. We've stopped a couple times for gas and for my bathroom break, but it's not enough. Sitting there not doing anything is getting on my nerves.
Edward refuses to acknowledge anything I say in my head. I guess, by this point, I could curse him into oblivion and he wouldn't care. He's yapping away about one of his college experiences when he studied medicine for the first time. I don't pay attention; I don't care much about his story and how one of his colleagues slipped the knife over his hand and everyone stared in shock when blood didn't ooze out. He told them he had a condition.
Of vampirism? I snort in my head.
"If you're tired, we can stop at a motel. Or if you're opposed to that, the backseat is yours." He gestures over his shoulder.
Because I'm tired, I listen to him and crawl back between the front seats, so he doesn't have to stop the car for me. After a little snack, I coil on the bench and let the soft, classical music he inserts in the player lull me to sleep.
When I wake up, the sun is shining above us, pouring into the car through the side window onto my face.
I roll around slowly so I don't fall, and sigh. I wonder if we're still fighting. It hurts to know he's ignoring me.
Edward's hand reaches behind him and grabs my own hand, squeezing it. "I'm only trying to please you, Jake. I want to respect your privacy."
Oh, okay.
"We're stopping in thirty minutes for gas."
Good. I'll snooze. I hope you understand why I'm not talking aloud...still sleepy.
He chuckles despite himself, retracting his hand.
"We have thirty more hours of driving! We'll get there faster than the average human, considering we stop only for gas."
Super. Wake me up when you get to that gas station.
At the stop for gas, I use the restroom and wash my face. Also, I buy a few more things—Edward buys them, actually. It's nice how he takes care of me.
He wraps an arm around my shoulders as we walk to his car. Alice and Jasper have also stopped for gas, and join us. Jasper and Edward discuss the itinerary. Apparently, Alice has seen some incidents on I-94, so we need to take I-90.
As they talk, Alice comes closer to me, where I'm sitting in the passenger's seat, eating my sandwich.
"Nice. I wanted to warn you about the crumbs," she says, giggling.
I'm sitting on the edge of the seat with the door open, facing out of the car. I'm sure Edward will truly kick me out of the car if I leave crumbs. "Yeah, I know. He loves Elba...or whatever her name is."
"Elisa," Edward says over his shoulder. His eyes meet mine and there's a warm smile on his face.
"Whatever." I roll my eyes.
"Don't mind him. He's moody when he doesn't get his way," Alice tells me, waving her hand around.
"I doubt it. I'm starting to think he always gets what he wants."
"As flattering as that is, Jacob, no, it's not true. I'm forbidden to do something I want most." Edward approaches us, his eyes on me.
Gah! Such a deep honey color.
What he wants the most...Uh, I want it too, you know, right? To have sex.
He laughs heartily. "That's not what I want! Well, besides that." He gives me a bashful smile. "I wish you'd allow me to read your mind and comment on your amazing thoughts."
"You just did that," I point out.
"So, am I forgiven? Can I do it?" he asks eagerly.
"No, not if you're going to use it against me. Like the leech comment. I swear to you, I don't mean it that way. It's just I've grown used to thinking of you like that." I shrug. Please, tell me you understand.
"Yes. I didn't mean the mutt comment, either."
"Aww!" Alice gushes. "Just imagine how it would be to call each other mutt and leech as a term of endearment."
"Or not," I mutter at the same time as Edward.
We all share a laugh over that, before parting ways.
I barely get my seatbelt buckled when Edward peels off. "Oh, no, you don't!" he shouts, speeding toward Alice's car.
We're halfway through the story. :)