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Chapter 5: Awkward

Tuesday morning had got to be the worst morning of my time in La Push. I woke up with these two puffy eyes that just couldn't be hidden, even with a ton of makeup. My nose was of course red from all the crying I had done last night and I just looked like a mess. Or a ragdoll… or an ugly ragdoll.

My blood boiled at the thought of seeing dad today. He had been a jerk to me yesterday, he was an even worse jerk to Jacob. As usual he jumped to conclusions and wouldn't even hear us out. I hadn't got it in me to fight with him but today it was a whole other story.

I would ignore him, simple as that.

That didn't change the fact that I had to go to school and face Jacob again. I mean how bad can it get? Monday morning I was a nervous wreck because Jacob had seen me see him strip along with his friends as they raced off into the woods. Now Tuesday morning I'm in an even worse state with the embarrassment of my father.

How was I supposed to make friends with Jacob if retarded crap like this kept happening? Oh who was I kidding! We'd probably never become friends, just remain acquaintances. I seriously need to stop obsessing over him and get a life. It's becoming unhealthy.

"Like seriously Nina we really need to get outta here," Kara said as she washed her hands.

"Ugh I know! It's just-."

"You're mortified, I know. Too bad you felt okay this morning or you could have stayed at home, sick."

I gave her a look through the reflection of the mirror, "Is that your way of saying you don't want me here?."

"Oh shut up Nina," she chuckled, "You love taking things the wrong way don't u?."

"Yeah," I smiled.

A second later I was being dragged out of the bathrooms and out into the crowded halls of La Push High. Familiar faces passed me by considering it was such a small school and everyone knew each other, luckily I didn't see his face… yet.

Ten minutes later after hearing Kara squeal and gush over Nick as he chatted up some girls at his locker wearing a tight fitted navy t-shirt and dark jeans. His long hair flowing and his booming laugh echoing down the halls. I made it into my English lesson.

Jacob's seat was empty so giving a little sigh of relief, I took my seat next to it and tried my best to pay attention to the wonderful Mrs. Cook.

When the lesson was over, I started freaking out. He hadn't come in for the whole lesson, not that I wanted to face him after last night but I couldn't help but miss seeing him and his beauty. Hearing his husky voice. Smelling his earthy smell.

Only yesterday I was in his arms. Yes, in Jacob Black's arms! It had felt so good and despite him being over 6'6 and very muscular, he was soft. His skin was just so smooth, I could run my hands over his body all day.

What if he was avoiding me now? After the whole scenario with my dad. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw him at lunch, he was probably just skipping this class because I'm in it. I couldn't blame him though, my dad made me look like a freak.

Remind me to thank him for that… not.

"Nina he's not here, none of them are," Kara assured me as we sat in the cafeteria.

"It's because of me, I know it."

"Shut up already! Jeez, you're not that important Nina."

"Thanks a lot."

"No seriously," she started, sipping on her juice, "That wasn't meant to be rude but if a guy doesn't want anything to do with you anymore, you'll see him around he just won't speak to you. It's called ignoring. Jacob and his friends aren't ignoring you, they're just not in."

I sighed, "I hope so."

"You spend too much of your time obsessing over him Nina, it's getting a little scary…"

"Kara!." I slapped her arm across the table playfully as she laughed, "Like you don't obsess over Nick."

She blushed, "I really like him."

"Oh so I don't really like Jacob?."

"No," she shook her head, "You love him."

For the first time that day, I was completely and utterly speechless. Just yesterday I had almost told myself that I loved him but then got rid of the thought as quickly as it came. But having someone else say it to me made me think about it a little more.

In my heart I knew (even though its completely crazy) that I would do anything for Jacob. There was just something about him, something I can't put my finger on but love it anyway. He's exotic, so unique in his own personal way. He's just different… different to the other guys.

But how can you love someone if you barely know them? And, I had only seen him less than two weeks ago. It seemed impossible, I just couldn't understand it. Maybe I just had a really big crush on him.

"Earth to Nina, the bell has rung," Kara's voice interrupted my thoughts, pulling me out of my reverie.

"Oh sorry I-."

"Jacob, I know," she smiled, "Come on, before you miss class."

The next couple of classes were such a bore, I honestly don't know how I got through them. I could barely concentrate with my thoughts running away with me. My bottom lip was slit from all the biting I had done on it today, the salty taste of the blood in my mouth. I just couldn't help wondering where he was.

This didn't go unnoticed by my teachers though, I was constantly being told to pay attention and asked whether I got enough sleep last night. Although I was honest with them, saying I had gotten sleep they obviously didn't believe me due to my puffy eyes.

I didn't really care though.

"Honey, come in her a minute," mom called the instant I stepped into the house from school.

I took the bus home today considering dad's car broke down yesterday and mom let him take her car for the time being. The bus was pretty crappy with the two gossip girls down the back, otherwise it was alright. I preferred mom taking me home though.

"Please not let this be about last night," I muttered to myself as I walked into the living room.

Mom patted the space beside her on the sofa.

"I suppose you know what I want to speak to you about."

Oh great, it was about last night. Thank god dad isn't here.

"Yeah."

"Alright then straight to the point we go, who is Jacob Black and why were you with him last night?."

I sighed, "Jacob is a classmate of mine I bumped into last night at the movies."

"So tell me, how do you bump into a guy then end up in his car?."

"Mom," I looked her dead in the eye, "I left the screening room because I wasn't feeling well, I sat down on a bench, he saw me, asked what was wrong, I told him I wasn't feeling well so he offered to take me home. End of story!."

"Your father said this was a young man and not a high schooler."

I rolled my eyes, "He's just big for his age."

"Nina," she started, placing her hand over mine, "If there's something you'd like to tell me, don't be afraid-."

"MOM!," I roared, "I'm not pregnant okay? Me and Jacob did NOT have sex last night okay? He took me home because he's a nice guy. Happy now?."

My mom's mouth was hanging open by the end of my speech.

"Yeah… that about clears it up."

I could see it in her eyes, the disbelief. She really did think Jacob and I were up to something last night, like I'd be that lucky. Not that I'd jump into bed with him in an instant but you get what I'm saying.

Dad really got to her.

"Nina," a voice boomed into the room.

Oh no, dad.

"Hmm," I sounded. Like I said earlier, I'd try my best to ignore him.

"I meant what I said last night."

I looked over at him standing in the doorway, "You said a lot of things."

"Remember the part where I told that… man that I never wanted to see his face again? Yeah that."

"Dad he didn't do anything."

He shook his head, "I don't care Nina, he's way older than you."

"He's the same age as me!."

Folding his arms across his chest, he huffed, "You expect me to believe that?."

"Whatever dad."

To be honest I wasn't in the mood for this right now. He wouldn't believe me whether or not I told him a hundred times that Jacob was my age so what's the point in fighting a lost battle? The best I can do is ignore him.

"Anyway," he drew the word out, "Your mother and I have come to an agreement."

Mom smirked, "It's about transport."

"Okay…"

"So you know how I haven't brought my car to the repair shop?," dad asked.

"Yeah, thought that was weird."

He chuckled, "Well I've decided I'm going to buy a new car."

"And?."

"And so we've decided that if you repair the old car with your own money, you can keep it."

My jaw dropped, "You're kidding right?."

"Nope, basically it's just something to do with the engine so it shouldn't be that expensive. Find yourself a garage, pay them and there you go, no more riding to school with your mom anymore."

All thoughts other than this one pushed aside, I jumped up off the sofa and threw my arms around my dad. Yeah so I said I'd ignore him but really, I was basically getting a car and I badly needed it.

I gave my mom a hug after that and thanked them endlessly. It really was a big deal to me, Kara and I could head on out to Port Angeles and Seattle without the dread of asking our parents to take us.

Waking up in the mornings and knowing that I didn't have to ride with Joey in mom's car again would be fantastic, not to mention it wouldn't be embarrassing turning up at school anymore. This was just great.

Definitely made my day.

The only problem was, whereabouts I'd find a garage. Probably down the road, if not then in Forks. There just had to be one around.

"Hey Kara, what's up?," I asked over the phone, two hours after the great news.

"Nothing much, just watching TV."

"Well guess what?."

"What? Jacob's waiting in your room naked?."

"Kara!."

"Ha ha sorry, so what is it?."

"My dad said if I took his old car to a garage and paid for the repairs, I can keep it!."

"No way."

"Yes way! Isn't this awesome? I just need to find a garage now."

"Are you like seriously serious?."

"About what?."

"About finding a garage."

"Heck yeah! Do you know anywhere?."

Kara went into fits of laughter, "Nina you really are funny, I can't believe you don't know this."

"What?," I asked. Completely dumbfounded now.

"There's a really great mechanic in La Push, anyone come to mind?."

"Don't tell me its Nick."

"No you idiot, it's Jacob! You know that guy right? The one with the long hair, big muscles and out of this world height?."

"Oh my god, Kara are you serious?."

"Yeah! I don't know if he still spends his time working in his garage anymore but he used to… then again that was centuries ago."

"It doesn't matter anyway." My heart was erratic in my chest, "I mean you don't think I'm going to pay him a visit after last night?."

"No but at least I tried eh?."

"True."

"Bet you'd love to watch him work on your car, all sweaty and oily oooh."

"Kara I'm going to kill you tomorrow!," I laughed.

"You'll be thanking me next year."

"We'll see."

Later that day, Kara stopped by unexpectedly and asked whether I wanted to hang out on First Beach. Of course I said yes, just dying to get out of the house and away from my parents. Although I was thankful, I still hated spending time with them.

Heading out in my favorite jeans, light blue t-shirt along with a navy hoodie and converse. I felt really good, a complete change from my mood earlier that morning. However I couldn't help but still wonder where Jacob and his friends were today.

The beach was pretty much crowded with the teenagers from Forks and the La Push teenagers as well. It was around eight o'clock so they all started bonfires while music blared from their stereos and heavy laughter filled the air.

I had never met any of the kids from Forks but they seemed friendly enough. They didn't hold my attention any longer though as my eyes landed on four 'familiar' guys emerging from the woods just a little down the beach.

This of course went unnoticed by everyone else but me as the four boys/men started their own bonfire.

"What the heck are you staring at?," Kara asked. Looking over in the direction I was, "Oh Oh, mister lover lover."

"Shut up," I giggled.

Jacob looked… sexy. That was the only word which could describe him right now. It was the first of September and very cold yet he was only wearing one piece of clothing, jean cut offs. And these cut offs weren't just cut offs that fit you perfectly, no these hung very low on his waist and clung to him in all the right places.

To be honest, he had a nice butt.

"So are we just going to stand here and watch him like two stalkers?."

I rolled my eyes, blushing like crazy, "Where are we going to sit?."

"There." she pointed towards her cousin Phil and (oh no) those two morons along with another bunch of people.

"Why is he friends with them?."

She laughed, "They're really not that bad once you get to know them."

We headed over to them then as they waved over at us. Their bonfire wasn't too far from Jacob's but still not close enough. Although I would have been really embarrassed if it were next to his, especially since last night.

He looked wonderful though. His long hair blowing in the wind, the muscles in his arms flexing as he carried a log over for his friends to sit on as though it weighed nothing. The way his body glistened with sweat as the burning fire casted a glow over him. He was just perfect.

"Hey guys," Phil greeted as we approached them.

"Where are the drinks?," Kara replied.

I chuckled quietly to myself at her reply, sitting down on a log which faced Jacob and his friends bonfire.

"Nina," she called over to me as she held open a cooler box, "Pepsi or Sprite?."

"Sprite," I called back.

I thought I saw Jacob turn to look over at us but one of the morons decided to chat with me.

"So," he smiled, sitting down next to me, "You're not in a mood today are you?."

"Nope, as long as you don't say anything rude like last time," I said as Kara threw me a can and went to sit next to her cousin.

"Yeah sorry about that…"

"So are you Michael or Stephen? I forget."

"Stephen, you're Nancy right?."

"Nina."

"Oh sorry."

"No it's okay."

"Do you like cheese?."

I had been in the middle of drinking the Sprite when he asked me that randomly retarded question that I ended up choking on it. It was funny, I had to give him that.

"Ha ha, you okay?," he asked as I started coughing.

"Yes to both of your questions."

He laughed hard then, throwing his head back. Stephen was quite handsome, he had shiny black hair cut short and spiked up with gel. His eyes were what you would call big with thick eyelashes. He had the high cheekbones and tanned skin tone, his lips were on the thin side though.

"So are you a senior?," he asked.

"Yup, can't wait to finish up with school."

"I graduated last year but believe me it's not fun, you have to get a job and work your ass off. Parents refer to it as," he made quotation signs, "The real world."

"Tell me about it, so are you not going to college then?."

Stephen proceeded to tell me about his life. He was studying to be an accountant but at the same time working at some hardware store in Forks. I found out he was an only child living with his grandparents as his parents were away on business.

All in all he turned out to be a really nice guy and I found myself lost in conversation with him for over an hour. We talked about our likes and dislikes, interests and music. Too bad he was no longer in school or else me and Kara could have had more company.

"You see that guy over there? the really big one," Stephen said, pointing his chin in Jacob's direction.

"Yeah…"

"He keeps looking over here, it's starting to creep me out."

And then Jacob's words to me yesterday at school played in my head 'Don't be shy next time okay'.

"I'm just going to go say hello, give me a sec."

"What!," he screeched, grabbing my hand as I moved to stand up, "Are you crazy? Those guys are in some kind of cult or gang, I don't know but they're definitely bad news Nina."

I pulled my hand from his grasp and stood up straight, "I know them."

Without looking back I started towards Jacob's bonfire. There was much more of them now along with two girls. He was watching me as I got closer, his eyes burning into mine. His gaze had a certain intensity about it that I found myself shivering and looking away.

And no I wasn't confident heading over to them, I was a bundle of nerves. Shaking with fear of the unknown. What if they told me to get lost, what if he told me to just leave him alone? I was shy by nature and this wasn't what I was used to.

I smiled weakly as I approached him, "Hi."

"Hey." He smiled brightly, standing up to his full height. I barely reached his shoulders.

"I… I eh, just… eh d-decided to say hello," I stuttered like the nervous wreck I was.

He chuckled and I casted my eyes downwards, trying to desperately to hide my blush. What I completely forgot about was his half nakedness, my eyes landing right on the trail of hair that lead to his 'private parts'. Oh boy I was blushing like crazy now.

"Well at least you weren't shy like last time," he said.

I looked up into his eyes, "Yeah sorry about that."

"It's okay, so who are your friends?," he asked. His face took on a dark look, his jaw set and his lips drawn into a thin line.

"Oh um they're just friends of my friends cousin."

"Well," he said, his eyes meeting mine once again, "Walk with me?."

We took off down the beach then. There were no other bonfires down the end he took us to, just the sand, rocks and trees. Once we were far enough from everyone's hearing range, he spoke up.

"You feeling better today? You know with the sickness and all." His eyes showed concern and I was flattered that he actually cared. Well even if he didn't, he asked.

"Yeah, much better thanks." I smiled shyly as we neared a log.

Jacob sat down, patting the space beside him, "Don't worry, I won't bite," he grinned.

I giggled, sitting next to him, "Isn't that a vampires job?."

His expression hardened when I said that. Okay….. it's not like a vampire is going to randomly appear from the woods behind us with fangs and suck the blood out of us. That's just cheesy Hollywood stuff.

"So I guess we have to be discreet now…," he trailed off, his bare feet sinking into the sand.

"What… oh." He was talking about last night, "We're good as long as you don't drive me home."

He sighed, "This isn't right."

"I know, I'm so sorry Jacob." I placed my elbows on my knees and covered my face with my hands. This was awkward.

"No Nina don't be," he said softly. His warm hand on my back now, "I'm not mad at you or your dad, I just don't like this."

I turned to look at him, "We can just forget about it, it's not like my dad is going to watch my every move."

"We can't forget about it or things could get ugly."

"What do you mean?."

"Look at me," he groaned, "He'll never believe I'm eighteen."

I looked down then, not knowing how to answer him. There really was no answer to that unless I took my dad to school with me or brought him to Jacob's house and told him to ask his father what age he was but I wouldn't dare do any of that. That would be majorly embarrassing.

"Hey um Jacob?."

"Yeah?." The hand that was placed on my back fell lower. I knew he didn't do it intentionally but it was seriously making me dizzy. In a good way that is.

I met his eyes again, "Do you like… fix cars?."

"Well I used to, why?," he asked. His eyes melting into mine.

At first I didn't know what to say as I got lost in his gaze. It must have been around ten o'clock and just the thought of being with him that late was so exciting. The moonlight causing his russet skin to glow in the dark, his muscular body just calling out to me. I wanted to touch him… but I couldn't.

Oh well, good things come to those who wait.

"Nina?."

"Oh," I blushed, "Sorry, it's just my dad kind of told me that if I got his old car repaired I could keep it but it doesn't matter Jacob, I mean obviously you don't do it anymore. I shouldn't have asked, that was stupid."

He chuckled, his burning hand slipping lower, "I'd be more than happy to fix your car for you Nina."

My eyes widened, "Really? Like seriously?."

He nodded, "Yeah, absolutely. When do we start?."

"Oh my god!," I squealed, throwing my arms around his neck, "Thank you so much, you have no idea how much this means to me."

His strong arms wrapped around me as he laughed quietly into my ear, his hot breath sending me into a daze. I hadn't even realized I was hugging him until then, my cheek pressed against his chest and my hands on his shoulder blades. His body like fire against me.

I was embarrassed that I had hugged him like that but he didn't seem to mind so neither did I at that moment. Instead I enjoyed it.

After a couple of minutes I decided to pull way or else I might appear clingy.

"So." I tucked stray hairs behind my ears as I looked up at him, "Do I just drop the car off at your place then?."

He seemed uncomfortable a moment, shoving his hands into his pockets, his cut offs sliding down lower as he did so. My eyes bulged out of my head at the sight, not only was the trail of hair the only thing I could see but his cut offs were down so low I could see more darker curls of hair just above the waistline.

My legs had officially turned to Jell-o.

"I'll do it," he said blushing, "When you get home from school."

I honestly couldn't understand why he was blushing.

"But my dad." I bit my lip.

"Don't worry about it, he's not at home then is he?."

"No but mom is."

"We'll figure something out at school then."

I gave him a big smile then because not only was Jacob Black going to be fixing my car for me but we were going to talk at school tomorrow. The only problem was my dad. We'd have to be sneaky about it.

I guess this would be me and Jacob's little secret.