Chapter 9
"Jacob Black! You get back in this house!" Sam yelled loudly.
Jake felt the anger start at his fingertips and simmer within his blood to every fiber of his body. He'd had enough! One foot moved after the other with every intention of barging back inside the house with specific instructions of where Sam could go and how Jake would like to help him get there.
"Samuel Uley, you are not his father!" Emily yelled in response. Her hands were firmly planted on her hips as she glared at him. "The role of alpha does not mean you dictate every move of his life. If you must know, Jacob is going to the grocery store with me."
Sam had a remorseful puppy dog look for doing something to upset his imprint. Paul had the good sense to at least cover his mouth as he laughed and Jared remained silent. As a fellow imprinted wolf, Jared understood how Sam felt and even if he thought it was humorous, he knew Sam wouldn't think so.
Jake jerked opened the front door and let the nasty response he had planned float from his mind. There was nothing he could say which would have had a bigger impact than Emily's words.
She grabbed her purse and listened to Sam's apologies, but said nothing more. Once out the door Jacob followed her to her car.
"Sorry," Emily said with a heavy sigh.
"It's okay. It was more effective than what I wanted to do. So, to the grocery store?"
"Something like that." Emily gave him a smile and started up her car. It sounded like something had died in there long ago and had slowly rotted out what was left of her car. Jake grimaced as black smoke billowed from the hood, screeching like the protests of a wet cat could be heard as the car tried to resurrect itself.
"Damn, Emily… Remind me to look at your car when we get back."
"Thanks, it has been on my to-do list for some time."
"Obviously."
Emily drove over the gravel roads which wound through the trees until they approached town and had the option of asphalt. However, she stayed on the back roads, making it obvious to Jake they were not going to the grocery store.
He was familiar with all of La Push and remembered riding with Bella on some of these same roads, so he wasn't worried about where they were going. While looking out the window, the sun peered through the dark clouds. There seemed to be a battle of wills between the rain and the sun, typically the rain won out, but the sun seemed determined.
The sky seemed reflective of Jake's life right now. Sam was the rain. Everyone could see it coming and since it rained so often, it was a sure thing most of the time. As much as the land needed the rain, too much and dirt roads became destroyed. It took the sun coming out to fix the damage the rain had done.
Jake's mother often called him "Sunshine" and Billy did the same from time to time. His smile could brighten the darkest of rooms and he wondered if Emily ever thought of him as the sun. Was it difficult for the sun to break through the clouds? Maybe it was the cloud's choice, and they actually divided in order for the sun to peek through.
Emily came to a stop under a canopy of tall pine trees and gave the wheezing car a break. Jake looked at her and patiently waited. He knew they would eventually get to saying what they needed to. Sam wasn't around to interrupt them. However, what if Emily was also waiting on him? Did he need to say something to get things started?
"So, uhm, you feel it, too?" Emily asked.
"I guess, I just, I don't understand what it is," Jake answered. "Think about it Emily, why would you give me the time of day?"
"Because you have given it to me. You have made me feel visible." Emily smiled appreciatively.
"You aren't invisible and we all think the world of you. Trust me, I have heard it all."
"Maybe you have, but I haven't. Mostly you all come to eat and hang out with Sam, and then you go home to your house."
"Going home would be nice," Jake mumbled softly.
Emily shifted in her seat as she placed her hand on Jake's. It was a simple gesture, but still appreciated, showing Jake what Emily meant by feeling neglected. Jake did not see anyone other than Sam touch Emily.
For a moment, he thought about what that would be like. Jake naturally hugged his friends and remembered the first time Bella visited he took her hand easily. Touching other people was a normal part of Jake's life and he wondered if Emily might be the same way.
When he remembered the moments with Emily which made him smile, they all involved touch such as playing footsie, spraying her with his wet hair, tickling one another, and then also kissing. His real memory of the event combined with his dream made him want to kiss her again, but that didn't explain why she also appeared to want to kiss him as well.
"I'm sorry you aren't happy, Jacob," Emily said, her eyes looked at him with compassion and tenderness.
"It hasn't been that bad. I get to be with you." Jake smiled at her.
Silence settled around them, which normally Jake found to be comforting, but they had too much they needed to say. This time the silence felt like avoidance and it settled between them like a sticky blanket, resulting in Jake wanting to change the situation quickly.
"Emily, I don't know if it is my overactive imagination or what, but I keep getting mixed signals from you. Sometimes…" Jake felt heat flutter over his cheeks, but he pushed through not wanting embarrassment to keep him from finishing his thought, "sometimes, I get the impression you might like me."
Part of him wanted to crawl into a hole and never resurface. He felt immature and uneasy, it was beyond innocent, but more like inexperienced which made the feelings tangle together into frustration.
"You aren't imagining it. Ever since we sat at the kitchen table and you told me you had never kissed anyone, not even Bella, for some reason all I have thought about is kissing you."
Emily had the same redness to her cheeks which matched Jake's. While the topic of their attraction was uncomfortable, neither regretted the conversation. Jake had a hard time believing he was actually reading her flirtation correctly.
"That's flattering, but it seems a little sudden," Jake admitted.
"It actually isn't sudden at all. You hinted at it when you asked about my life before Sam."
"I could tell me saying that upset you, but I don't understand why."
"Because it is all true. I had plans and things I wanted to do with my life. But now, none of it is an option anymore."
"It doesn't have to be, Emily, you can still do anything you want. Yes, Sam imprinted on you, but you control what happens. Literally, I have seen it."
"I know." Emily sighed and her eyes looked down in front of her. Two days ago Jake would have thought she was being shy, but her eyes had lost their sparkle and that was serious. Whatever was bothering her was very personal to her. She could keep her words to herself, but Emily couldn't keep her emotions from presenting themselves. It was often subtle, but Jake had learned what to watch for.
Emily wasn't happy.
Jake could see it, but he didn't know why. Moving closer along the bench seat he put his arm around her. Emily released a deep breath and leaned her head on his chest.
"Help me to understand," Jake whispered.
"Then I have to start from the beginning…"
Emily ran to her cousin Leah and the two girls squealed with delight. They had both just graduated from high school and were anxious to spend the summer together. Leah was Emily's number one go-to person when something exciting happened in her life, and Emily was the same for Leah. Every specific detail of their first kisses, first love, and first 'time' was shared with each other. When Emily learned Sam proposed to Leah at their prom she thought it was very romantic. The intimacy which followed that night made both girls swoon.
Though Sam and Leah had been together for over a year, it seemed Leah's family decided to go to the Makah reservation for holidays or Sam had been away when Emily visited. In the past month Leah had started to complain Sam wasn't spending time with her and would often disappear for long sections of time. Emily felt determined to meet this elusive boyfriend.
The two girls walked arm-in-arm to the beach. The clouds threatened to soak them with water, but neither girl cared.
"When are we meeting with Sam?" Emily asked.
"I don't know." Leah released a deep sigh and her mouth turned down into a frown.
"What's wrong?"
"I feel like I'm losing him, Em. He has really changed."
Emily didn't like the look on her cousin's face and tried to get Leah to remember the happy times she had shared about Sam. There were lots to choose from, but it didn't work at cheering up Leah. They let the ocean waves come and lick their feet and made plans for their extended stay together.
Scattered in the ocean were groups of friends who were excited for school being over. On the sand a large stack of wood sat anxious for the bonfire later that night. Emily saw Seth surrounded by a group of guys who hunched around a fire pit. One of those friends was Jacob. He was telling a story Emily couldn't hear, but an excited smile sat on his face and wide hand gestures exaggerated the story.
Leah followed Emily's line of sight and rolled her eyes.
"What? Don't roll your eyes at me. I have no idea why you find Jake to be so annoying. From all the stories you tell me, he seems like a fun guy."
"He is entertaining, I'll give him that," Leah conceided, kicking a chunky shell back towards the water.
"There was a time when I thought you and Jake might, you know, get together," Emily said and then giggled at the grimace which was evident on Leah's face.
"Seriously, Emily?" Jake questioned. "There is no way Leah and I would ever…" his body shuddered keeping him from completing his sentence.
Emily laughed. "Yes, but it apparently was just my imagination. Leah felt the same way you clearly do about her."
While Emily had been talking to him, they left the car and stretch their legs. They walked through the tall trees and Jake naturally took her hand as they roamed. The gesture felt completely natural and yet had a surge of excitement coursed through him.
"Good." Jake nodded, appreciating the confirmation. "Was it because of Leah that you knew where to tickle me?" He asked, laughing at the memory.
"Yes, Leah had told me about it. You went camping, or something, and were picking on each other."
"Yep, that we were," Jake confirmed. "I was going to ask you earlier, but I was too busy trying to breathe. And then got a little distracted." Jake blushed at the memory of kissing her, but also winked playfully.
Emily smiled. "You are so full of emotion Jake." She touched his red cheeks softly. "I love that you still have your innocence, but it doesn't hold you back. You are still playful and flirty."
"I knew you were flirting with me," Jake accused with a huge grin.
"Yes. I have heard crazy story after story about you for years and I really liked the idea of getting to know you better."
"You mean even before I phased?" Jake asked.
Emily nodded her head. "That is why I was so comfortable with you. I helped the other guys too right after they joined the pack, but it always felt awkward. With you, I felt at ease and I wanted more of that easy feeling."
"I know what you mean there. I feel like we connected easily."
The sunlight filtered through the leaves of the trees creating shadows on the natural ground. There was no set path for them to follow, but seemed to have natural flat patches of grass and fallen leaves which made for easier travel. Jake walked along without any specific destination feeling confident that him or his wolf would be able to keep them from getting lost.
"Anyways, what were you saying besides some bizarre theory about me and Leah?"
Emily shoved Jake's shoulder playfully. "It was not bizarre. Anyways, I'll continue…"
"I will be there, I promise." Leah said, trying her best to mimic Sam's voice. "I swear those were his exact words." Leah's growing frustration was getting harder for Emily to watch.
The evening's bonfire had once been as tall as Emily, but now simmered to a reasonable level. Emily tried to roast the perfect marshmallow that was toasty-brown on all sides and carefully twirled her stick as the marshmallow nuzzled close to the embers.
"Then I am sure he will come," Emily said, trying to encourage her cousin.
"I think there might be someone else," Leah admitted.
"Now you are just being dramatic." Emily glanced at Leah and her perfectly crafted mallow caught on fire. "Dang it!" Emily blew quickly and gave the burnt sweet to Seth, who ate it happily.
"I am not," Leah wanted to have the conversation more privately and leaned Emily closer to her and whispered in her ear. "We haven't… you know… in months. He keeps coming up with excuses. What guy does that? Unless," Leah's voice broke and Emily held her cousin close in comfort, "unless, he has someone else on the side."
"I'm sorry, Lee." Emily turned towards Leah and hugged her tightly.
Looking over Emily's shoulder, Leah saw Sam approach. He was running from the trees in cut off shorts and no shirt or shoes. She didn't really expect him to dress up for a bonfire, but it would have been nice if he had given some thought to his appearance. Not that his chiseled chest and muscular arms weren't showcased nicely without a shirt, it still irritated Leah that his shorts were old and messy.
"Don't move, he's here," Leah whispered to Emily.
Emily stiffened nervously, wanting desperately to look, but also didn't want to upset Leah. She could feel two eyes boring into her back as Leah slowly sat up. Emily watched Leah's face, trying to read her emotions. Leah started with a frown and then a slow giggle escaped her lips.
"Mind if I sit here?" Sam's deep voice rumbled with affection for Leah as he watched her closely.
"Help yourself," Leah replied stubbornly.
Emily turned her face from Leah to look at Sam for the first time. He was extremely handsome with a strong body and arms which went around Leah. His lips pressed into Leah's forehead, which made her smile.
"I would like you to meet my cousin, Emily." Leah turned in Sam's arms and placed one hand on Emily's knee.
Emily smiled at them and looked into Sam's eyes.
"I've heard so much…" Sam stammered. If it were possible for his heart to leap out of his chest, it would have matched the startled expression on his face, "much… so much, about you."
Emily thought his reaction to be odd and gave Leah a quick look. Leah rolled her eyes and shrugged. Not wanting to be rude, Emily reached out her hand to shake his. "Same to you."
Sam's warm hand wrapped around hers and held it longer than socially acceptable for a handshake. His skin felt rough, yet smooth, as Emily instantly wanted to be consumed by his heat.
What on earth is wrong with me? Emily thought to herself.
She had read books which spoke of an instantaneous spark between two characters, but she had never experienced anything like it in real life.
The remaining hour at the bonfire was one of the longest of her life. She could feel Sam looking at her throughout the evening. Emily prayed Leah wouldn't notice.
"Leelee, would you get me another soda?" Sam asked her.
"Sure, why not?" Leah shrugged and took their empty cans to throw them away before getting more to drink.
"We need to talk," Sam whispered to Emily.
"No, we don't," Emily insisted.
"Yes, we do. Please." Sam's eyes reflecting the intensity of his desire.
Emily had never had anyone look at her like that. It made a blush spread over her cheeks, followed quickly by guilt for responding to Sam's shameful flirting. "You are not the man I thought you were, Sam Uley." Emily stood quickly and walked over to Leah. "If you want to stay, that's fine, but I'm going home."
"Are you okay?" Leah asked.
Emily saw Leah's eyes scan over her in concern. Emily was not a very good liar and knew Leah would read her like a book if she stayed any longer. Avoiding eye contact with her cousin, Emily hugged Leah tightly. "Yes, I'm just tired. Have fun." Emily hoped Leah believed her and ran towards the Clearwater's home where she was staying.
"That is when Sam broke up with Leah. Isn't it?" Jake interrupted.
"Yes," Emily confirmed. "Leah returned home late that night completely heart broken. For days we stayed together in her bedroom while she cried. I would leave the room for meals or to have a moment of relief from Leah's heartbreak. Sam tried to talk to me several times, but I didn't want to talk to him."
"How did you find out what happened?" Jake asked her.
"Uncle Harry encouraged me to talk to Sam, I agreed as long as he was there as well. I didn't want to leave Leah and agreed to meet Sam at the house. In hindsight, it was stupid. Learning about the legends and then that they were also true, it was all so insane. I could feel the truth behind the power of imprinting, but I didn't want it. I started crying and Sam held me against him. Leah saw us and accused me of stealing her Sam."
Emily placed her palm over her heart, like the memory was physically painful for her. They were near one of the many creeks in the area and Jake directed them to sit on a thick fallen tree. Keeping his arm around her, Emily leaned into his side. Her eyes watched the water rush over the smooth stones beneath and small fish wandered their way to the pond.
"I know she isn't exactly the most rational person, but what made Leah jump to it being you so quickly?" Jake asked.
"Maybe it was instinct, I'm not sure. I denied it to Leah because truly there wasn't anything going on. I still remember Sam looking wounded by my rejection. Leah saw it too and point blank asked Sam if he left her for me. I'll never forget his answer…"
