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Chapter 9: Mystery Man

The weirdest thing happened to me this morning, I woke up cuddling Fifi; a childhood teddy bear of mine. How it made its way into my arms, I'm still trying to figure out. From what I remember, the very last time I cuddled it, I was eight years old. One of my friends found out I slept with it every night and well she laughed. So ever since then, I'd keep Fifi around, just not in my bed.

However, today she ended back up in my bed much to my confusion. But then again a lot of things confused me this morning, starting from how I got home last night. I hadn't got the slightest clue because apparently it's true- too much drinking results in complete wipe out of your memory from the minute the alcohol effects your brain.

My money was on Kara though, she must've found me in that deserted part of the beach by some sort of luck and out of the kindness of her heart, she also left me a reminder; a long, silky black hair which had been laying right across my chest ten minutes ago.

Digging into the pockets of my jeans (yes, I slept fully clothed. Comfortable eh?), I retrieved my mobile to find twenty-three missed calls by the one and only: KARA!

"Good morning," I said musically as Kara answered her phone.

"Good morning? You have got to be kidding me, where the heck where you last night! I looked everywhere and I mean everywhere, from First Beach to Second Beach! What the heck Nina! I nearly had a heart attack, I thought you were kidnapped or something. And so I phoned your-."

I cut through her frantic blabbering. "Okay slow down, you couldn't find me?."

"No! I phoned your parents-."

"What!," I screeched.

"Don't worry, they're not mad at you or anything. Want to know why? Because you were in bed when they peeped into your room! Like how did you get home? Don't tell me you walked, that's psycho."

"You mean, you didn't take me home?," I asked carefully. Blood draining from my face.

She sighed audibly. "No and if this is supposed to be funny, it's not."

A long silence followed as I tried to wrap my head around the fact that Kara— my best friend— was not the one who took me home. Now I know I did say that I couldn't remember a thing, but I'm almost certain that I didn't take myself home.

"Um Nina?."

"Who took me home Kara?."

"Well how in the world am I supposed to know the answer? I wouldn't be asking in the first place if I did."

I bit my lip. "Look I'm going to ask mom, I'll talk to you later."

"Right, just don't… run away or get kidnapped before later okay."

With a forced laugh I promised her I wouldn't before tossing my mobile onto the bed.

Mom was in the kitchen frying eggs, while Joey sat crossed legged on the floor of the sitting room watching TV. Dad was probably in bed considering it's his day off work and guess what? I was happy! Surprise, surprise.

As much as I hated mom for sticking up for dad, I knew that deep down she wasn't as bad as she made herself look. Yeah, I was still miffed by what she said about Jacob two days ago but I wouldn't be getting any answers if I ignored her.

"Morning," I mumbled. Slipping into a chair at the kitchen table.

"Good morning, sleep well?," she asked as she set down a glass of juice in front of me.

I shrugged. "I suppose."

"That's good." She smiled. Maybe she was happy I wasn't ignoring her? who knows.

"Hey mom?."

"Hmm?," she sounded. Opening up the fridge.

"Um… do you… who took me home last night?."

Spinning around on her heel to face me with a look of shock, she blurted. "Were you drinking last night?."

My jaw dropped. YES!. "No."

She cocked an eyebrow. "Be honest."

"Mom!." I never in my entire life took a sip of alcohol (before yesterday) and she knew that so for her to actually think I was drinking was quite offensive even if she was right. "I was tired, really tired and I fell asleep and next of all I'm in my room and I'm confused and I don't know how I got home."

Taking a seat across from me at the table, she started biting her nails— a bad habit of hers. "Kara phoned your father and I last night. She was worried sick about you, saying you walked away and when it was time to leave she couldn't find you. Of course we panicked, ran into your room and there you were. Sound asleep. That's all I know."

Suddenly, I remembered my car. "My car!."

"Your car is outside, saw it when I took out the trash."

I ran a hand through my hair in exasperation. "I did not drive that home last night."

"Maybe you did honey, you were tired and sometimes people forget things when they're tired." She offered.

"Mom, I'm not one those people."

"Nina, listen to me, the only person who could've taken you home last night was Kara. So if it wasn't her, then it had to be you. Unless you were hit over the head which I doubt. Why would someone hit you over the head to take you home? Okay I sound ridiculous but you get my point. It'll probably come back to you later, it's early. Only nine in the morning."

I suppose mom did have a point. After all, who would've cared enough to take me home except Kara? No one. Yet, I still couldn't face the fact that I took myself home because… I didn't. I'm one-hundred-point-five percent sure I didn't, drink driving was very bad and illegal. And even in my drunken state, I'm positive a part of me would've refused to drive under the influence of alcohol.

Also, if I had gone home by myself, my parents would've heard me come in considering our hall door makes this loud squeaky sound when you push it open. Then again, maybe they wouldn't have and I did in fact get home by myself last night.

Still can't believe it.

"Whatever, you're probably right."

She smiled. "Mommy's always right."

Yeah, like I believe that.

At around three-thirty in the afternoon, I was making my way down to Kara's in my car. By the looks of things, dad wasn't taking my car from me unless he saw me with Jacob again. Which was mean, selfish and ridiculous, but at least I had the car.

Speaking of Jacob, it was all his fault that I ran off last night— okay it wasn't really. The feelings that erupted from within me the moment our eyes made contact was incredibly wonderful, something I would always cherish. And thanks to him, I didn't go through with the dare.

I still felt terribly guilty for what I said to him-

"Oh my god!," I screamed. Slamming on the brakes.

The guy from my English class, Embry Call (Jacobs friend) ran out in front of my car as I turned a corner. I had absolutely no idea what he'd be doing on an empty road with the woods on each side. From my point of view, it wasn't the safest area of La Push. But there he was, sprinting across the road, so close to getting knocked down. By me!

Once my car came to a halt, he shot me a worried look. "Sorry."

I rolled down my window. He was standing as still as a statue by the side of the road. "Sorry?," I repeated. "Jeez, I could've killed you Embry. What the heck are you doing out here in." I gestured to his half nakedness. "Nothing."

"I'll tell you some other time," he said quickly. "I have to go. Sorry."

Before I had the chance to say anything back, he ran into the woods. It was the weirdest thing I had ever seen— apart from the time when I saw Jacob running down the road, taking off his shirt as my mom drove Joey and I home. Wasn't Embry with him then too?

Which reminds me of the night I walked home from Kara's and thought I saw Jacob in the woods across the road from my house. I thought I was seeing things with all the obsessing I do over him, but now I'm starting to think that maybe I did see him.

That's be creepy though. Why would he be watching me? Okay, I was probably seeing things. However this whole Embry incident is quite a coincidence.

Weird.

"Okay so let me get this straight. You saw Jacob watching you one night, You magically appeared in your room last night and you almost killed a half-naked Embry Call… twenty minutes ago. What does that sound like?," Kara questioned.

I sunk deeper into the armchair in her living room. "It sounds… odd?."

She shook her head as she sat on the sofa across from me. "It sounds like you've lost your mind."

"Kara! I'm not making this up."

"I know, I know, but it's really weird. Not to mention that Jacob was also half-naked while he was watching you. You're not adding that part to spice the story up are you?."

"Story? Fine, whatever, forget it."

Switching off the TV, she watched me skeptically. "You really don't know how you got home last night?."

With a shake of my head, I sighed. "No."

"Do you want to call the police or something?."

"And tell them what exactly? That someone was kind enough to take me home?"

She chuckled. "Okay not the best idea. Was there anything odd in your room, in your car? Anything out of place?."

Zoning out for a minute, I thought deeply. The whole cuddling Fifi to me was odd, the fact that my window was unlocked was odd and… there was something else, something that I noticed when I woke up… oh my god!

"There was a strand of hair on my chest when I woke up!."

"And what's odd about that?."

"It wasn't mine! It was a long, silky black hair, I thought it was yours but it couldn't have been."

She rolled her eyes. "Nina that doesn't explain anything, you're just over-reacting now."

I sighed. "This sucks."

Wasn't there anything I could remember? Wouldn't I have remembered at least something? If I could remember even one second of last night it may be of some help to me, I might be able to put everything together. To make some sense out of all this.

But apparently my brain could only remember the burning taste of the alcohol as it touched my tongue for the first time. In other words, I couldn't remember a thing and I doubt after all the time that's passed, I'll remember who took me home.

Why can't I just forget about it? Oh yeah, because it's way too bazaar.

"Um.. I need the bathroom, I'll be one minute," I said. Standing up to my full height.

"Okie dokie." Kara smiled. "You just better not be taking any pregnancy tests. God knows, you could've been with someone last night but you can't remember."

I chuckled. "Don't worry."

In the bathroom, I locked the door behind me and stood over the sink, looking at myself in the mirror— no, I wasn't checking myself out by any means whatsoever. Sometimes I'd just stare at my reflection when things were complicated.

Noticing a red mark on my shoulder (I was wearing a black tank-top, my hoodie was downstairs), I brought my hand up to touch it. That's when it happened.

Flashes of last night came rushing to the front of my mind: my hand brushing over warm skin; the sound of the sea disappearing; my cheek resting against a chest; warmth surrounding me; a wolf's howl in the distance; heat pressed against me as I lay in bed and the feeling of being wanted.

I quickly turned the tap on, splashing water over my face as I tried to make sense of everything. What was all that supposed to mean? I couldn't really make out anything because all I remembered were sounds and feelings, no images.

Someone had definitely… carried me home. Someone warm and strong. Someone who had made me feel special, for a reason unknown to me.

All I was sure of was that it was man.

It was nine o'clock at night and I was driving aimlessly around La Push, my mind focusing on what I'd remembered earlier in Kara's. I'd never remembered anything like that before, how it came flashing into my mind was strange.

I hadn't told Kara about it, there was something that felt wrong about telling her yet I didn't know why I felt that way. A part of me felt guilty for keeping it from her and another part of me— the more dominant part— felt I'd be making a mistake by telling her, which sounded like complete nonsense but I believed it.

Besides, she probably wouldn't have took it seriously.

Pulling over into the only parking space available nearby the local store, I hopped out of my car and headed over to buy some groceries mom had asked me to buy when I left for Kara's earlier today.

Memories of the day I told Jacob that I didn't want to be around him anymore came back to me as I entered the store. A friendly cashier smiled over at me as I picked up a basket, she went by the name Leona. I'd spoken to her a few times, I just hoped she hadn't seen or heard about Jacob and I.

Shopping for everything was easy, considering there wasn't much on the list and I was on my way out of the store in no time.

The cold air hit me as soon as I walked outside into the night. There wasn't a soul in sight, probably all cooped up in their warm homes with their families. In the distance, I could hear thunder. Nothing out of the usual for La Push.

So I walked back down the way I came from. My footsteps sounding louder in the deserted street. Glancing down at my watch, it read nine-thirty which meant my parents were probably wondering where I was, too bad I forgot my cell in the car-

"Oh!," I gasped as a large hand reached out, pulling me into an embrace I could only describe as a bear hug. Causing the paper bag to fall to the ground.

"Nina," he sighed. His arms wrapped tightly around me, lifting me off my feet.

The first thing that entered my head was warmth— wonderfully familiar warmth. Not; scream or a stranger just pulled me into an alleyway to hug me, which is what normal people would do. No, I stood there and let him hold me because I knew who he was.

"Jacob," I whispered against his clothed chest.

His fingertips dug into my back in a way that didn't hurt, it just felt right. Relaxing into his embrace, I breathed in his earthy scent. He smelt of; grass, wood and musk. There was also something familiar about that but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"I've missed you so much," he breathed against my ear just as a flash of lightening brightened the sky.

I pressed my hands against his abdomen, pushing him away slightly so I could look up into his handsome face. He obliged, setting me down on my feet before taking a step backwards. Leaving a small space between us. The heat emanating from his body overwhelming. Abnormal.

Looking up into his eyes in the darkness of the alley, I noticed the dark circles under them which I assumed were a result from a lack of sleep. He looked stressed out, miserable. I hated to see him like that, I wanted to put a smile on his face. I wanted to kiss his pain away…

"Jacob I-I… I don't know where to start," I said in a small voice. I couldn't just say 'I'm sorry', he didn't deserve two words.

He cupped my cheek in his warm hand. "You don't need to say anything, Nina."

"I do.. you didn't deserve that.. you didn't deserve to be treated that way."

"It's okay," he said softly. His thumb running over my cheekbone.

I leaned into his touch. "I didn't mean what I said, I'm so sorry."

He pressed his free hand against the other side of my face as he looked deep into my eyes. "Nina, I understand."

"You're too good to be true," I smiled. Feeling emotional over the fact that he wasn't holding anything against me.

He chuckled before burying his face into the crook of my neck. Wrapping his strong arms around me, enveloping me in his heat. My body flush against his.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I rested my chin on his shoulder, just as the rain started to pour from the sky. But not even being poured on could ruin this moment, in fact it just made it all that more special.

Jacob's holding me, Jacob's holding me, Jacob's holding me, were the only words running through my mind. A small smile on my face at the whole feeling I had while we were together. It was incredible.

Before I chickened out, my shaky hands found their way into his long black hair. It was so smooth, so soft. I could run my hands through it all day and never get bored. As a matter of fact I could run my hands all over him all year and I wouldn't get bored— in my dreams.

We held onto each other for a long time after that. Our bodies drenched by the rain, his bodily warmth the only thing stopping me from shivering.

"I just want us to be friends," he whispered against my neck. His hands roaming up and down my back.

"My parents…" I trailed off. Clutching at his white t-shirt, never wanting to let go.

"What they don't know won't hurt them."

"It's not that easy," I sighed. Pressing my cheek to his shoulder, my eyes closing.

He pressed his lips to my ear, his hot breath making me dizzy. "Meet me at First Beach tomorrow at eight."

I froze. "Jacob I-."

Shushing me, he continued. "I'll prove to you that anything is possible. Just be there."

Footsteps sounded nearby, causing me to pull away from his embrace. He stared at me confusedly as I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering with the cold.

"Jacob!," a voice boomed down the alley. A tall half-naked man appearing. It was hard to make out his face in the dark and lashing rain.

Jacob turned to look at him. "Sam."

"Let's go, it's urgent," Sam ordered.

"But," Jacob started. Glancing over at me. "I-."

"Come on, we're wasting enough time as it is!."

"Alright, just… give me a minute."

Sam nodded before turning on his heel and running off. Wasn't the fact that they all ran around barely clothed, the weirdest thing?

Suddenly, I was wrapped up in Jacob's arms again. Flashes of last night came rushing to my mind: a hot body against mine; the feeling of smooth, warm skin; soft hair tickling my chest; the heat overwhelming.

"I have to go," he said softly.

The flashes left me confused. There was something I was missing. It was like my mind was trying to tell me something, yet I couldn't figure it out. Everything I remembered seemed so familiar. The fact that I couldn't put the pieces together frustrated me.

I answered Jacob anyway. "I k-know."

"You're freezing," he stated. Holding me closer, crushing me against his chest as my teeth chattered. "I'll take you to your car."

"No, I'll b-be fine. Sam n-n-needs you."

He pulled away, running the back of his hand down the side of my face. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I nodded. "Tomorrow."

"And Nina?."

"Yeah?."

His eyes melted into mine. "I can make you happy."

With one last smile, he gave me a dreamy look before running off down the alley, into the night. My heart hammering in my chest with the very last words he'd said to me. And a headache surfacing because I needed to understand what the flashes meant.

Meeting Jacob on the sly tomorrow wouldn't be easy, in fact it'd be quite difficult. But he was worth it.

He was always worth it.

That night, after another interrogation from my parents (this time was why in the world was I drenched. My answer? I couldn't find my car keys), I headed up to bed.

Kicking off my soaked jeans and throwing them into the hamper, I unzipped my hoodie. It was white in color, which made the tiniest little thing stand out, for example: Dust and stains. But those two weren't what caught my eye when I folded it.

No, what caught my eye was a long, silky black strand of hair.

The very same strand I found on my chest when I woke up this morning. A strand that belonged to the person who took me home last night. A person who had held me in their arms, saw me in one of my worst states and had the warmest, smoothest skin I'd ever touched. A person who made me feel wanted and secure.

A person who lay in my bed, against me, until I fell asleep.

Jacob Black.