La Push

We pull into a gas station that looks like it could be right out of a movie.

There's only one pump which is right in front of a little shack which is obviously this old man's home.

And when he speaks I have absolutely no idea what he's saying.

But apparently Kate does because she says, "Fill her up with regular unleaded."

"I'm going to . . ." I trail off, gesturing towards the ocean right down the hill.

She nods and waves me away.

I kick off my shoes in the sand, stepping forward until the water just reaches my toes.

What happens next?

I sigh heavily.

I don't even know what to do from here.

Obviously I'm going to be seeing Edward soon.

And I'm going to have to answer to my parents.

And then I'm going to have to write like two hundred apology letters to the family and friends that I just left behind at the restaurant.

Ugh.

Maybe I should have just stayed; pretended that my shock was actually a positive reaction instead of a negative one.

But really . . . what the fuck is wrong with this kid?

Does he not listen to a word I say?

"Hey."

I jump, not recognizing the voice.

I turn to see some guy with long black hair and brown eyes.

"Hi," I say shortly, turning quickly back around to face the water, hoping that he'll just walk away.

"I'm Jacob," he introduces, holding his hand out in front of us.

I don't take it. "Bella."

"Swan?"

I turn on him quickly, "How do you know my last name?"

His teeth shine in the dark, "Billy Black is my father; your bus driver."

"Oh."

"So I heard that you're not to sure about this whole mating thing," he tries to make conversation, rocking back and forth on his heels.

"I don't see how that's any of your business."

He grimaces. "You're right."

He looks down at his feet and for some reason . . . probably because now I actually see how much he resembles Billy . . . I feel bad.

"I'm sorry - I'm just not having a good day," I apologize, "I didn't mean to snap at you."

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"I've talked about it plenty; it's not helping," I scoff, rubbing my face. "I'm just . . . I'm so tired."

He nods as if he understands.

"Do you have a mate?" I ask him.

He shakes his head, "Nah."

I furrow my brows, "How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

Huh?

"But your dad . . . he has a mate."

"She's not my mother."

". . . What?" This doesn't make any sense.

He laughs, "I know. It's a bit odd . . . my father was seeing someone before he was sixteen . . . or sleeping with someone, I should say."

I don't know what to say. "But . . . people with the gene can only have children with their mate . . . I don't understand . . ."

"That's only true if both people in the relationship have the gene."

"So . . . what? It's recessive?"

"It would appear to be so."

Who knew?

"Oh."

We're quiet for a moment.

I look back up the hill only to see that the guy is only just putting the gas pump into Kate's car.

God damn he's slow.

"So what are you doing here?" Jacob asks.

"Trying to clear my head."

"Well . . . what's got it so messed up?"

Subtly asking me to talk about it.

Might as well. Maybe he's got some of his father's wisdom . . .

"Imagine going from someone whose never even been kissed to someone who is already planning their marriage in a second's time."

"Sounds tough."

I scoff, "That's the understatement of the year."

"So . . . you want to know what it feels like to kiss someone else?"

I furrow my brows.

Is that what I want?

"I don't . . . I don't know."

"Well . . ." he trails off.

I smirk.

I know where he's going with this.

"Let me guess; you'd be willing to give it a try?"

He laughs.

Hard.

"That way you say it makes it sound like I'm an ass."

"What you were about to say was going to make you seem like even more of an ass, so I was doing you a favor," I say with a smile.

Why is talking with him so easy, but talking with Edward . . . is not?

Maybe . . .

Maybe I . . .

"Jacob?"

"Yeah, Bella?"

"Not that I'm trying to encourage you to be an ass . . ." I trail off, unsure of myself.

". . . Okay . . ." he urges, starting to catch on.

". . . Could I take you up on your offer?" My eyes are closed as I ask the question.

He's quiet.

He offered . . .

"Sure, Bella."

I open my eyes, looking up into his.

He's really not a bad looking kid; I'm not taxing myself by doing this.

His hands run down my arms, and my stomach lurches.

I recoil.

What the fuck was that?

"Maybe . . . maybe you shouldn't touch me," I say tentatively.

"Okay."

He leans down and very, very softly . . . presses his lips against mine.

Fire.

And not the good kind.

The painful kind.

And it's not just on my lips; it's everywhere.

"Agh!" I shriek.

"Bella!" Kate screams from up the hill.

Jacob steps back, "Oh my god; I'm so - what did I do?"

"I -" I choke, "I need to go."

I run back up the hill.

"Bella what did you think you were-"

I cut Kate off, tears streaming down my face, "Please take me home."

A/N: This is a monster chapter, I know . . .

The monster will eat you if you do not review, though.

Keep that in mind.

~ Madison ~