A/N: This is my baby, and was stopped after Breaking Dawn was written and after he imprinted. I loved this story with all my heart, and was the only one I wrote without encouragement from others. I still think about it, and hope that you find the same enjoyment out of this that I did. Please give me your thoughts on it, I do believe it would have been my best work.

Disclaimer: I own those characters you do not recognize, and the others, I must say, belong to the talented Stephenie.

Category: Books: Twilight

Genre: Romance/Drama/Action/Adventure/Suspense

Summary: The war is raging, the blood being spilled. Lines must be drawn. Which side are you on?

Midnight
by: Dark Huntress
Chapter Seven: Watch Yourself

Did I ever mention how much I despised spiders? I did? Oh, well, just in case you forgot, here's a reminder, I abhor them. Stupid, hairy, nasty things. Maybe that's why I detested Lauren so much, besides the other obvious reasons. I hated them, she loved the stupid freaking, right out of a horror movie, freaks.

Glaring fully at my smirking cousin, I chewed slowly on my warm poptart. She was the spawn of Satan.

After the rather big fiasco yesterday, my body had been drained. And so, when woke up this morning by a big hairy fly eater at four o' freaking clock, I'd been a tad bit upset. Plus the fact that I almost peed my pants, yeah, I wasn't happy. And now, now I was getting the feeling that the little 'accident', wasn't so accidental as she so played it out to be.

"Lauren, don't forget to stop by Mary's Drugstore after your classes, dear," my aunt announced, her sickeningly perfect hair once more in its classic bun.

"Yeah, I know, but I still don't know why you can't get it," she complained, turning away from me in a great whirl of blonde. Good, now I didn't have to look at her ugly face.

"Because dear, I'm busy today," her mother curtly replied and flounced out the backdoor, Satan's daughter and I were left in silence.

Finishing up my treat I washed the dishes, making sure to make extra annoying noises for my dear cousin.

"Would you shut up," she snarled, I responded my humming a nasty little nursery rhyme song, just to make her day sunny and bright.

"Fine!" she snapped and stomped out the door, awe yes, the place all to myself, life was really good. For like two minutes, then I realized I was going to be late for school. Joy.

Rushing out the backdoor I cursed whatever fate was deciding to play horrible practical jokes on me today, I was so not in the mood.

Halfway to my car, I realized I wasn't wearing a jacket. So I had to go back and get one, it was either that or pneumonia.

And then, of all things, my car wouldn't start.

"Stupid, freaking hand-me-down, piece of crap!" I raged and snarled, surely imitating the werewolves up at La Push or perhaps the vampires outside of town.

Jumping out and slamming my door I stomped my way back into the house, grumbling about miserable weather and unreliable vehicles. At this point, I was fully prepared to just throw all sensibility out the window and crawl back into bed. I had never skipped school before, but this, this just tempted me so darn much.

Sighing, I went and grabbed a raincoat and slid it over my damp hoodie, at least this way I wouldn't get anymore wet. And perhaps, maybe one of my fellow schoolmates would take pity on me and drive me to school. Yeah right.

Locking the front door behind me, I pulled the collar of the raincoat up higher and started off down the puddles that covered the sidewalks. I was glad that winter was still at least a month a way because if it froze now there would be some serious accidents. The poor police force wouldn't know what to do.

Puffing out a cloud of smoke I watched the vapor rise in the air before disappearing completely. It wouldn't be long though, before the even colder weather made itself present. Soon snow would be falling rather than rain, the ground would be covered in ice, and the green would fade into white. This place would truly turn into a winter wonderland, ice crystals hanging from limbs and spiraling frost lining window sills.

Smiling, I felt my cheeks flush and my body warm slightly, despite the rather dreary start, today was seeming to go on pretty well.

Jumping at the sound of a honk I let out a squeak as two trucks came tearing down the road, hitting a pothole full of water. Of course, I just happened to be standing by that large puddle of water, and thus my pleasant day was shot to hell.

A boy leaned out the window and laughed at my soaked form, and I glared back. He was a fellow senior at Forks High, a running back for the football team, and one of the more popular crowd that stalked the halls. His name was Jerry Tenner, and despite his cute boyish looks, he was one of the most cruel tormenters of the school. So far I had been lucky and made myself invisible enough to avoid his antics, and if this was the worst he did to me, I could live with it.

Grimacing at my soaked clothing, I knew today would be miserable. I would be chilled all day and forced to sit in freezing chair while the stares of my peers beat into my back.

A cold sharp laugh caused me to halt.

Looking up, my form trembled for an entirely different reason. Jerry and his posse had just exited their parked truck, the one that had previously just soaked me through. It was never good when you were on the receiving end of one of Jerry's famous looks, and by the glint in his eye, he had things planned for me that I didn't want any part of.

Backing away, I felt the scream rising in my throat, I hoped dearly that there was some housewife in the homes along the street that would be able to call Chief Swan or something. But if there wasn't, if this was one of the roads where everyone worked or went out for bridge tournaments, I was better off dead.

And I could mean literally.

Turning on my heel I took off, knowing it was useless the moment that my back turned to them. I was not athletic, in fact, my feet hardly ever did what I wanted them to do, and they were county known footballers. The chances were very slim of my getting away unharmed, the small town values were not part of these boys' upbringing, somewhere, their mothers' preachings had gone unheard.

In the town Forks, I realized, as his hand circled my wrist and I was flung through the air, there things that went on behind closed doors. Many things. Yet the ones most bizarre, were the ones not to fear, no, us mortals, humans, we were the scary ones.

Crying out as my back connected with the ground, I quickly jumped to my feet and tried to run off again, only to once more be yanked back. His breath smelled of some kind of smoke, and his clothes smelled like alcohol. It was strange that already they had started their parties, being it was neither Friday or at night, but perhaps that they were seniors, they didn't care anymore.

"Where you going, baby?" he slurred, his words were perfectly distinguishable, but each last syllable seemed to run into the first of the next word.

"Yeah, we just wanted to give you a ride," a nameless sidekick said, the others laughed heavily at his joke, Jerry, the one holding me, shaking my entire form.

Jerry was hardly taller than me, perhaps only by and inch or so, but his shoulders were much, much wider. There was no way I could overpower him, I sincerely hoped that this just be a few tossing arounds rather than one I feared most.

There had only been two girls that Jerry and his gang had gone after in his time, all of which had ended very badly. Marcus had told me as much as he could for his knowledge, and what he had said had not been good.

Monica Jenkins was fifteen when it happened, two years ago Jerry had cornered her in the school locker room that resided beneath the gymnasium. Marcus didn't know what happened exactly, but they all heard screaming, and when asked why they didn't go after him, they had said they were too afraid. She disappeared, her whole family did, no one knew what happened. One day they were interacting with the community, the next, the house was cleaned out from top to bottom. They were just...gone.

And then Mary Walkins, and she, she refused to talk about it. Marcus said she stayed around, and was still in school, but told me it was useless to try and hunt her out. She wouldn't be found. She had made herself more invisible than myself, the only way anyone knew she still existed was the fact that the attendance list still registered her name. The office saw her once a year at the beginning of the school term, and then she disappeared amongst the crowd once more. A chamaeleon.

"Let me go," I ground out, struggling against his hold, the air rushed out of my lungs as his arms tightened around my chest.

"Now, why would I do that?" he laughed, his breath screamed across my skin, scratches formed on my cheek, the blood leaking down. Something was wrong.

"What...what are you?" I shakily whispered, my breath was heaving, my mind zipping from one thing to another, what was going on?

He didn't seem to like that answer, for he quickly shoved me on the ground and kicked me in the side roughly. Coughing, I spit out a little blood, my stomach heaving at the sight and taste. How was I going to get out of this?

"Please, I'm sorry," I pleaded, trying to get up on my hands and knees, the pain ripping through my side was nearly blinding.

"Wrong," he sneered and once again kicked out against my ribs, a scream hitched in my throat, my empty lungs the only thing keeping it in.

"I'm begging you, please, what do you want?" I cried, finally getting up on my hands and knees to crawl away a bit, putting a little distance between us.

"I just wanted to send a message," he said, and he lurched forward twisting my arm behind my back, pulling it up til my fist nearly touched my neck. The muscles in my shoulders screaming and the bones cracking and snapping. I hoped they weren't broken.

"Is there a problem here?" a deep growl shook the ground, and I looked up in happiness, nearly choking with tears at the sight of him.

Jerry smirked as he let me go and I dropped, my body rigid, waiting for the next attack. Sensing that there was none I stood shakily, looking him up and down. He looked normal, but the scratches on my face from just his voice told me otherwise. What exactly was Forks hiding?

My arm was throbbing, but not as much as my side, the bruises probably already coloring my skin a nasty purple. I would be in a lot of pain, really soon.

Looking at the two boys, I found myself curious to their appearance. In looks, Jerry looked more approachable with his boyish looks and wide rounded eyes. His mouth was always smirking, a mischievous quality to his every stance, yet he, he was the one willing to beat the living daylights out of people. And yet Jacob, whom had sharp, angular features with hard set eyes, was here at my rescue, and despite his rather frosty welcoming, he was good.

"I would suggest you leave," Jacob said, his voice never changed from the same growling tone, a deep timbre that thrummed in my chest.

Jerry never moved, but seemed to size the Quileute boy up and down, his smirking demeanor slipping away as a cruel smile twisted his once handsome features. He no longer looked welcoming, but cruel and sinister, a spawn of Satan.

"They're coming, I would suggest you keep her close, the next time you won't be so lucky," Jerry rumbled followed by a deep throaty chuckle.

"Is that a threat?" Jacob challenged, a slight tick had formed at the corner of his eyebrow, and his hands were clenched, I moved a little further away from the scene.

"No, just a warning, it won't be long," and after that, Jerry turned and climbed back in his truck with the others, tearing off down the street. I was shaking like a leaf.

Jacob didn't say anything for the longest time, simply stared off after their retreating figures in a contemplative silence. I stood there as well, unsure of what to do next. I wasn't entirely sure of what had transpired, all I knew was it was more than just a highschool bully.

Figuring that there was nothing left to say, I picked up my bag, wincing as the strap rested on my injured shoulder. Maybe if I hurried I could still make it in time for third period, it was a long shot, but my perfect record was not going to be broken.

"Where do you think you're going?" his voice caught me off guard and I jumped, jostling my bruises, wincing.

"To school," I said simply, I wasn't about to let a little pain stop me, now that I was used to throbbing I could deal with it and move on. "Shouldn't you be."

"I have the day off," he explained, shrugging his shoulders, I didn't ask why he did, not really sure whether he actually did, or he had more important things to do.

"Well, thanks, um, I better get going," I muttered, stepping back on the sidewalk I let me hair fall to cover my face, hiding the winces I went through with each step.

"You're not going there today," he said simply, which stopped me in my tracks, I wasn't about to let him order me around.

"Yes, I am," I argued, glaring at him, he didn't seem the least bit phased, already slipping the bag from my shoulder and throwing it in his truck.

"You're injured, and either dad and I look at them, or you could go to the hospital," he stated, leaning casually against the side of the pickup. "My place, I drive you, hospital, you walk, I'm not getting around those bloodsuckers."

Raising a brow, I mentally hit myself in the head, of course, Carlisle, there's no way he'd be going near that place if he could help it.

"I think I'm fine," I went on, I knew I had lost, but my pride refused to let me give in so easily.

"Get in the truck," and with that he crawled behind the steering wheel, and I grudgingly got in the passenger seat, my sides groaning.

The drive back to his place was rough, the roads deteriorating to the point I knew there was no way my small car would make it. I was slightly nervous, I mean, I was in a small area with a very large werewolf, though I had never actually seen how big he was. But if his humanoid form was any indication, the picture I saw of Sam would totally be put to shame.

"Jacob, how did you know I'd be there?" I asked, it'd been bugging me, in real life the hero of the story did not just pop out of nowhere like that and save the damsel in distress.

"I didn't, I'd been searching for you," he said simply, I squeaked as the truck hit a pothole, this thing did not have good shocks.

"Why?" I gritted out, holding my side where I had slammed into the door.

"Sam wants you gone, so he wanted me to find you," he stated, and at that, fear raced through me, had he lied? Was he not going to help me but rather take me to my doom?

I didn't say anything, simply stared straight ahead, my heart racing. Moving my hand slowly towards the door, I gripped the door handle, ready at the next turn to leap out. I would wait til he slowed so I wouldn't be harmed as much as if he was still going at the speed we were.

"I'm not taking you to him," he said, and by the glance he gave me, I knew he had seen my silent attempt at freedom. "He told me to find you, which I did, he forgot to directly order me to bring you to him. At the moment he thinks we're on the same page, so he believes that me bringing you to him was understood. He did not directly say it, so I don't have to follow it."

"Jacob, why do you and your father want to help me?" I said, I wanted to know the truth, why were they going against their own? It just wasn't natural.

Jacob didn't answer, he just looked at me, a deep steady gaze that had me blushing very quickly. Those eyes were deep, and I felt like he was seeing every inch of me all at once. It was unnerving, like he knew what I was thinking, what I was feeling, my very core and being. It wasn't exactly upsetting, just extremely different.

We arrived at his house much faster than I had anticipated, and I felt somewhat relieved. The tension had been thick ever since I had asked the question, and now that we were here, with something to distract us, it dissolved.

Stepping out, I cringed as a cold gust of air hit me square in the face, it looked like winter was making an early call this year.

Billy came out on the front porch, a worried look in his eyes as he let us go on past and in through the front door. The air was warm, and my arms instantly chilled at the abrupt change in temperature. A small fire was burning in the fireplace that sat in the dining room, or where at least they sat an ate. It was really in a strange place, being that the dining area and the kitchen were both connected, it just didn't look right.

Taking off my jacket, I shivered, the damp clothes causing me to shake worse than before. At least this time my underwear had not gotten damp, though I'm sure it wouldn't be long.

"Well, guess I better get you some clothes," Billy chuckled, I was starting to notice a pattern, how come I always ended up like this?

I smiled and turned to Jacob, who once again had a strange look in his eyes, one that I couldn't discern. It wasn't anger, or annoyance, perhaps curiosity. Wait, he was curious, about what? Looking behind me, I frowned, not seeing anything of importance. Turning back to him, I noticed a small amused chuckle fall past his lips before he brushed past me and into the kitchen.

Cocking my head to the side, I followed his lead, trying to look over his shoulder to what he was doing. Again he laughed, well, a few chuckles that were very faint, but I considered loads of laughter for him.

It was chili, and it smelled wonderful. So either he or Billy could cook, either one I wanted to marry immediately, any man that could cook had to be the best thing ever. Figuring that Jacob had been out with me for most of this time, I had to assume that Billy was responsible for this.

Turning around, I went to stand near the entrance, where a banister of sorts was at. It was just a place for pictures to sit, two columns connecting it to the ceiling, the one up against the wall by the door.

Most were more current, Billy and Jacob fishing, them both on a Christmas morning, some of Jacob and the Pack sitting around the living room, and another of Billy and another man by a lake. But the final one made me stop. A woman was lying in a hospital bed smiling up at the camera, her skin was slightly red and her eyes drooping like she was exhausted. A tiny baby lay her arms, he was dark complexioned like her, obviously of Native American heritage, and covered in a light blue blanket.

She was beautiful, I was envious, she was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. She even rivaled Bella's beauty.

"Who's this?" I asked once I could feel his presence come up behind me, I turned around to face him and stopped, his eyes were far off, as if remembering something important.

"My mother," he said softly, and I stopped, suddenly fearful I would upset him, we had been doing so well. "She died along time ago, before I even turned ten."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, turning and touching his shoulder, he didn't shrug me away, but he didn't acknowledge me either. "She was beautiful."

He nodded his head towards me before walking into the living room, Billy came around the corner at that time and handed me the clothes. I smiled in thanks, walking to the bathroom to change.

Reentering , I moved to sit on the couch beside Jacob, who seemed like a statue, he moved as much as one anyways.

"Jacob said you were hurt Lyn," Billy said, and I turned to him. "Let me see."

I turned my back to him, showing him my right shoulder that ached with movement, changing clothes had been torture.

His rough fingers probed my shoulder blade, pushing in on the bruised skin and making my move my arm in all different ways. I winced with each new examination, watching myself so that I didn't cry out every once in awhile.

"Good, it doesn't seemed like anything there is broken," he said, and I turned back to him, holding my arm with my other hand. "Is there anything else?"

I really didn't want him look at my other injury, I was sure I was fine. Shaking my head, I rubbed my arm, hoping that Jacob wouldn't say anything. I was disappointed.

"Her side," he said, pulling up on my shirt quickly without giving me the chance to protest the movement, I instantly blushed.

I had never been comfortable with my body, my hip bones stuck out and though my ribs didn't show, it looked like I was anorexic. I despised my legs too, though these shorts were long enough to cover my knees, they were just too bony. I didn't even ever wear swimsuits when I went to the pool or beach, I didn't want anyone to see me like that. So to have myself displayed like this, it wasn't comfortable.

"I'm fine," I argued, trying to rip the shirt away from him, he was keeping it down far enough to cover my bra, but I still didn't like it.

"We can't be too careful, Lyn," Billy stated, and once again he prodded my injury, I winced even more on this one, it hurt a lot worse.

By the end of it we concluded that my ribs were not broken, might have been slightly cracked, but were still very much attached. I ended up with wraps around me though, just in case. I was thankful when I was able to put my shirt back down.

"Where did you learn to do that?" I asked Billy, remarking on his wonderful doctoring skills, he was pretty good for an amateur. "Did you go to school or something for it?"

"This? No, but having a son that comes home hurt every other day helps," he chuckled, and wheeled back into the kitchen with the supplies.

I didn't dare look at Jacob, I felt so embarrassed, here he was, a near God, and I had a body of freaking stick, it was humiliating. I had never wanted him to see me like that, didn't want anyone to see me like that, it was too horrible. I knew I was being childish, that I shouldn't care what others think, but I did.

"You know, you have nothing to be ashamed about," I jumped at his voice, turning to look at him through wide eyes. "I know you don't like how you look, but you have nothing to be embarrassed about."

He said, and then got up and left, a small smile spreading across my features. It wasn't exactly a huge compliment, but coming from someone as gorgeous as him, it made it all that much better. It was like handing a person stranded in the midst of a desert a nice cold glass of ice water.

Giggling, I stood and went into the kitchen, sitting myself down once I got a look from Jacob clearly stating he did not want my help passing out plates. Apparently my reputation with helping Emily was not good, and they valued their dishes somewhat.

As everyone sat down around the table, I had an odd sense of completeness. It was like at Emily's, intensified. At her place I was slightly overcome with the amount of people crammed together, but here it was just us three. I felt like I belonged, like things were going to be ok, and that Jerry was not a real threat. I knew that it would have to be talked about, but Jacob seemed reluctant to bring it up at lunch as well.

So we ate in a comfortable silence, every once in a while broken by Billy asking one of us a question. I smiled through the hole thing, only dimly wishing that my home life was like this.