Life, it's ever so strange

It's so full of change

Think that you've worked it out,

Then bang,

Right out of the blue

Something happens to you

To throw you off course

"Just a Ride"

-Jem

Chapter 16:

Stupid Maternal Vampire

After Seth didn't phase back, I had to force myself to go to the Cullen's. When I saw him happily sitting on the sofa and chatting with Bella, I growled. Happy little punk. Jacob was snoring loudly in the doorway. Looks like Seth had been right about Jake crashing as human.

Well, with Seth slacking off and Jacob sleeping, I really needed to focus on patrolling.

I ran longer than I had ever run in silence. Five straight hours. It was magnificent. Around five, I felt Seth phase back. He raced towards me, excited about some food that the vampires had cooked up. He trotted into view, all happy and wagging his tail. He had a basket in his mouth. He had truly become their little lap dog.

Have they taught you how to fetch yet? I asked sarcastically.

Seth dropped the basket at my feet, You have to try this, Leah. It's awesome. The cinnamon rolls are to die for.

Really? Because I'm sure that the Cullens can arrange that.

Come on, Esme wanted me to bring you something to eat. He nudged the basket towards me with his nose.

I'd rather eat roadkill. A dead raccoon on the side of the road smelled more appetizing than that vampire stench. Besides, if they wanted me to have it, it was probably poisoned. I turned my nose up at it. Seth wasn't going to push it.

I'll just leave it here with you, he shrugged.

Where are you going? I asked.

I immediately saw an image of Bella flash in his head. I groaned. If she gained one more boy to wait on her hand and foot, I was going to lose it.

Seth explained, She's having chills. Edward and I are switching off. I take over when she starts to shiver.

Interesting. What did Jacob think about that?

Seth immediately answered me, He's still asleep. I didn't want to wake him. He needs this rest. Wasn't going to argue with that. He had been running himself ragged.

Be careful, I frowned.

Relax, Leah, he said as he ran off. The Cullens are good people.

People, I snorted. That was Seth's problem. He had become so close with them that he had forgotten what they truly were. Seth ignored me as he phased out.

I stared at the basket full of food. It did look appetizing, but the smell of the vampires on it was unbearable. It lingered to the food so I couldn't possibly scarf it down without vomiting.

I grabbed the basket in my teeth and found the closest body of water that I could. I tossed it in the river and watched as it flowed downstream and sunk to the bottom. The smell quickly dissipated and I let out a relieved sigh.

Then I went back to running patrols. I appreciated the silence in my head. I could really get used to this. I bet this is what it had been like for Sam when he had first started the transformation. He must have been so terrified when he phased for the first time. I had a hard enough time even with him there to help with the transition. He didn't have anyone. For a moment I pushed the hate I had for him out of my heart. I could relate to not understanding who you were or where you belonged in the world.

I huffed angrily. Here I was, feeling sympathy for Sam that I didn't want to be feeling. I increased my speed, hoping to burn off my thoughts of Sam. I tried to think of anything other than my ex-boyfriend. I thought about my mom, my dad, and for some weird reason, high school algebra. Math did nothing but infuriate me. I had never understood any of it. It was pointless. It's not like you were going to use the formula to calculate the slope of a line in real life.

English is what I hate the most. I realized I wasn't alone anymore when Jacob interrupted my math rant. I hate writing all those damn essays. I didn't miss the present tense. I'd forgotten that Jacob technically hadn't finished high school. I was guessing that he'd had Billy come up with an excuse for all of his teachers. I wondered what it was.

I know when Jacob first started phasing, when he was going through the tougher period, Billy came up with an illness that I just know plagues every teenager: Mono. I laughed at his lame excuses.

Well, well, look who's awake. How are you doing this morning, Sleeping Beauty?

Fabulous, Jacob snorted sarcastically. I could tell that he was irritated with himself for falling asleep at the Cullen's house. He had let his guard down, and he felt bad. He also felt guilty that he had slept for so long. He was just as critical of himself as I was of myself.

We should start an "I hate myself" club, I suggested.

Can I be president? he questioned.

Sure. Because I hate myself so much that I would subject myself to you barking orders at me.

I don't think you hate yourself as much as I hate me, Jacob teased.

Fine. I call vice-president.

Edward can be the secretary. Jacob was suddenly reminded that as much as we might hate ourselves, we still didn't hate who we were as much as Edward seemed to.

No vampires allowed, I frowned. I laughed at how childish that sounded. Speaking of vampires, Seth still at the leeches place?

Yep.

I still couldn't believe how close my brother had become with a group of bloodsuckers. We existed to destroy them for crying out loud. I grunted. Seth could probably befriend a cardboard box.

Easy on the rage towards the Cullens, Jacob grumbled. I saw him pacing into view holding a basket.

Crap, not you too, I growled. Seth already tried to poison me once today.

I knew you wouldn't eat the food. Jacob didn't seem surprised. But there are some clothes in here, too. Esme feels bad about our…lack of a home.

I can go home whenever I choose to, I snorted.

Oh, really?

I guess he was right. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to make the journey back to La Push with so many of the pack being so anxious and angry. Plus, it wouldn't be fair to just breeze in and out of my mom's life.

Esme wants to take care of us…as strange as it sounds, Jacob explained.

Great, now we're a vampire charity case.

Jacob walked up to me and dropped the basket in front of me. I just looked at him.

Well? he asked.

I already told you, I don't want any of that stinky junk.

Why can't you just accept it when someone does something nice for you?

Um, hello? Major trust issues? I quickly pointed out my past to Jacob.

Geeze, Leah, just get over it.

Starting to sound more and more like Sam every day.

Take it back, Jacob growled. I hadn't expected him to get that angry. He dove his nose into the basket and pulled out a cinnamon roll delicately with his gigantic teeth. Sure you don't want it?

I shook my head. I'll go hunting later.

Suit yourself. He gulped the cinnamon roll down. After a moment, I heard him let out a satisfactory moan. Mmm, Seth was right. These are delicious.

Good, enjoy it. I still had no interest.

Fine, I will. Jacob continued to feast on the food that had been meant for me. I watched as he scarfed down most of what had been prepared. This is what it looks like when someone accepts a gift. He pointed out.

You know, two days ago, you wouldn't have been caught dead eating vampire table scraps.

A lot's changed.

Indeed it had. I saw him thinking of Bella. He was really having a hard time letting her go. I tried not to think anything too unkind. She looked like she was doing worse again. Her weak human body was no match for the monster inside of her.

I'm sorry, Jake, I said softly. How is she doing?

He shook his head sadly. Carlisle seems to think it's only a matter of days. It's growing at an alarmingly fast rate. I felt a twinge of pain from him. He growled, She is so stubborn. I wish I could just knock her unconscious so we could yank the damn thing out of her.

I still can't believe she would do this to the people she loves.

Yeah, he snorted out a callous laugh. Edward thought she would listen to me after she pushed him away.

Yeah, that worked out well. I rolled my eyes, Maybe you and the vampire should team up and conspire against her.

Don't think it hasn't been discussed, Jacob said seriously. When it comes to protecting Bella, both Edward and I will stop at nothing.

I don't know why she chose either one of you to be honest. You're both idiots. I mean, really, I've never met two more manipulative jerks in my life...

Jacob seemed to take that as a compliment. It's just too bad that I wasn't able to manipulate her into being all pro-choice. If she'd just get rid of that stupid fetus, she…

Would still become a vampire, and you would still have to let her go. I interrupted him.

Maybe, Jacob drifted into thought.

I sniffed my nose a little. I was getting tired of smelling vampire odor. I grabbed the basket and took off running.

Where are you going with that? Jacob was curious as to what I would do with the basket full of clothes and the leftover food.

I've got a place to store all this crap. I made my way back to the same river I had been at hours earlier. I tossed the basket full of goodies into the water and watched as it joined the stuff I had disposed of earlier.

Oh, real mature, Leah, Jacob snarled. I was gonna eat the rest of that.

Are you still hungry? I questioned. How is it possible that he wasn't full after he'd ingested all of the food that he had just eaten?

May as well hunt with you. He took the lead.

So much for my quiet time. I shrugged and I raced after him. It was still better than what I had been doing two days ago. Not having to listen to Sam complain and order the pack around was great. One wolf in my thoughts was better than seven.

We spent most of the morning waiting on the elk to come out of hiding. When they finally did, I quickly bagged one. As my teeth tore into its flesh, I couldn't help but gag. I hated hunting as a wolf. Of course, it beat the alternative. I didn't need some Martha Stewart wannabe trying to stuff food down my throat. I'd rather take care of myself and not have to worry about the foul smelling food that a vampire had cooked.

Jacob quickly picked up on the fact that I had spoken to Embry. He wasn't angry. In fact, he was glad to know that Embry didn't hate him for abandoning the pack. I thought he would lay into me for talking to the enemy.

They aren't the enemy, Leah. He was quick to correct me.

They want to kill your best friend. I reminded him.

It's complicated. You know that, he frowned. Anyway, I don't like to consider them the bad guys. It's not their fault they have to follow Sam.

I grumbled. I had gone almost an entire five minutes without thinking about Sam. I was irritated that Jacob had muttered his name. I shrugged off the "angry" Leah, assuming it was just fatigue from the run setting in. I really had been pushing myself pretty hard for the past several hours. And now that I had some food in me, I could feel myself slowing down. Jacob suggested I rest. But I wanted to prove to him that I was just as dedicated to this cause as he and Seth were.

So, Embry was pretty torn up, huh? he asked.

Yeah. I don't get why he doesn't just pull away from Sam. I could tell he wants to follow you.

Did he say how everyone else is doing?

Quil's pretty upset. But I think everyone else is just pissed.

I do feel bad for leaving Quil and Embry. He paused. I still can't believe that Embry called Sam a dick after I left. I wish I would have stuck around to see that.

Yeah, it was pretty funny. Sam didn't know what to do. I've never seen him speechless before. Well, there had been one other time. When Jacob had refused to obey him, he couldn't think straight.

I never meant to cause him any pain, he sighed.

Well, I'm glad you did. Bout time somebody did. Sam needed to be put in his place.

Jacob responded with a disappointed sigh. I decided maybe I should shut up before I said something I really regretted.

He and I ran the perimeters for another six hours or so. It was when the sun started to get low in the sky that I gave in to my need to sleep. I had never run so much in my entire life. I went back to the little clearing I had found the previous day and completely zonked out.