*Merry Christmas Eve! :)*
I woke up next to Jake in his bed. I rubbed my eyes as Jake began to stir. "Good morning." He said in a very morning voice way. "Good morning." I said with practically the same voice. He sat up slowly. "Did you sleep well?" I smiled. "Yes." "What do you want to do today Ness?" At that moment my phone rang. I grabbed it, seeing it said 'Dad'. I groaned. "Hello." I said.
"Nessie? Where are you?" Dad sounded angry. "At Jake's." I said. "You need to be in school in half an hour." Dad said. I practically fell out of the bed. "What?" "Just because you took a little vacation to Isle Esme last week does not mean it isn't Wednesday. I will pick you up in twenty minutes, which gives us ten to get there, if I drive fast." "You always drive fast." I said as I hung up and ran into the bathroom to fix my hair and brush my teeth with my finger. I showered, got changed into my same clothes and pulled my hair up in a ponytail. It was not willing to cooperate this morning.
I was putting on my shoes and socks when Jake wandered over. "Why can't you take another day off? It's not like it would kill you." "I know." I said hurriedly, pouring cheerios in a plastic bag and pouring milk in it. Jake stared at me disgustedly. "What?" "Who eats cereal from a bag?" "Me, I do. When I am in a hurry." I said grabbing a plastic spoon from a drawer. "Can I come over tonight?" Jake asked. "Yeah, sure." I said. "Just make sure I have finished my homework, call me first." "I will." he said as I heard Dad pull in the driveway. "Gotta go!" I shouted as I ran towards his car. "It's bonfire night tonight I realized! I'll pick you up from school. I love you!" Jake called. "You too!" I yelled while attempting a wave while the cheerios sloshed in the bag. I got in the car and closed the door. "Hi Daddy." I said, out of breath. "Did you bring my backpack?"
"Yes." He said backing up. "What? I took a shower." I said. "You still smell like him." Dad said. "Whatever." I said, making an attempt to get the spoon to my mouth without spilling anything on me. We got to school and as I opened the door he grabbed my arm. "Nessie. Listen to me. Don't talk to strangers. Don't talk to anyone you don't know, or anyone who doesn't look familiar. Do you understand me?" "Yes." I replied, swinging my backpack over my shoulder. I walked into first period and sat next to Lily, one of my best friends.
"Have fun at the party last Friday?" I asked sarcastically. "We aren't talking about that." She whispered harshly back. "Seriously, Lils? You were making out with Stephan Pomoroy on the couch." "Be quiet!" She said. Yes, I was pissed, but I had a reason to be. The party was supposed to be fun, not only was it not fun, I met some crazy girl there who wanted to test me for some weird reason. The day went on. I ate lunch with Rachel, Valerie and Toby. "So Rachel, when do you want to go shopping?" Valerie asked, giving a sideways glance to Rachel's clothes.
"Never." she said. "I like what I wear." Valerie and Rachel were friends purely because I was friends with each of them. It was an awkward friendship for them, I could tell. But Toby usually got them to get along. There was a school dance coming up and the whole school was abuzz with who was going with who. By math class it seemed almost everyone had a date.
But I already knew who I was going to invite. As I walked to english I stopped at my locker. I needed to grab some books. "Hey." I froze. My open locker door was the only thing separating me from the person on the other side. "I was wondering," the voice paused. "I was wondering if maybe you…" another pause, I slowly lifted my books one my one into my arms.
"Do you want to go to the dance with me?" It was said so fast. I closed my locker to find Toby standing there. He was hugging his books close, tight to his chest. "Toby," I said, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but I had always just thought we were friends. "Toby, I like you." His face lit up. "As a friend." I added. "Oh," his face fell. "Have you asked Rachel or Val?"
"No." He said looking defeated. "But they are already going with guys from the football team. "Oh you mean the guys they were making out with at the party?" "Yes." He said, looking at the floor.
"Walk with me." I said, and he followed like a lost puppy dog. We passed Lily. "Hey Lily?" "What?" "Are you going to the dance with anyone?" "No." She said as she continued. "There you have it! Ask Lily!" I walked faster, away from Toby so I wouldn't be late for class. Plus maybe he would chase after her and ask her. I smiled as I walked outside the doors of school and saw Jake standing there next to one of his bikes. I ran into his arms. He lay his chin on my head. "Hi beautiful." He whispered into my hair. I stood back. "Hi."
He handed me a helmet and told me to sit in the back. Just then I saw Valerie. "Oh! Is this Jacob?" She drooled. "Yes." I said. "Jake, Valerie, Valerie, Jake." Jake shook her hand and said it was nice to meet her.
She handed him a pink sticky note. "Call me." My mouth fell open. I turned to her. "You do know we are dating right?" "Oh," She said, covering her pink nail polished hand over her mouth, hiding a smile, "I had no idea." She walked away. What kind of friends did I have? I got on the back of the bike and as I wrapped my arms around Jake's stomach I saw a pink sticky note flying away.
Tonight was Wednesday which meant the wolves were getting together to hang out by a bonfire and eat dinner. I wanted to go but I felt bad for Leah so I asked her mom if she could go. She finally agreed and I wheeled Leah in her wheelchair to the bonfire. We sat down and were eating soup and laughing when I started getting the feeling that I was being watched. Jake didn't notice it and neither did any of the others but I did. And I knew it wasn't going to be good.