Jacob's Pov
"Relax Jake. You're scaring the freshman." Embry observed my tense stance. I glowered over my friends heads scanning the student body making their way towards the school. The ones that accidently locked eyes with me ducked their head and scurried away. Easy for him to say he hadn't imprinted yet. I haven't seen her all morning.
"Come on. Let's head inside it's about to rain." Embry sniffed the air again and the guys circled with him. I lingered behind them taking my time in case I found her.
I didn't bother with my locker and stood out in the hall until the second bell rang. Seth saved me a seat. This was going to be annoying. I viewed Seth like a younger brother, and by the look on Embry's face he felt the awkwardness of being held back a year too.
Classes dragged on. I did my best to blend but I felt confined and rigid. I was so used to prowling around for hours and days. Staying seated and staring at a board of information took additional effort.
Another period later I began to worry if Layla was even in this school at all. Just because she was in our grade didn't mean that Layla was attending on the rez.
"You'll know by lunch. Who knows? This might be a good thing." Embry reasoned. I was getting annoyed with him. I shot him a look while a quiet low growl erupted from my throat. He stomped on my foot. I had to start coughing to cover up the inhuman sound.
"Do we have a problem Mr. Black?" "No." I frowned as Mrs. Goff turned back around for the remaining lesson.
"I mean for your studies idiot." Embry hissed a whisper.
Time ticked on. Each teacher was the same. Syllabus, class rules, lecture, lesson, repeat.
When lunch hour finally rolled around I practically bounded out of my seat.
"Jacob Black." The teacher called me back. Just like the others. Here came the lecture on the importance of attendance. Bonus irritation points for ask how I was doing since my face was plastered on all those flyers Charlie passed out to the public. The pack had repeatedly ripped them down, but I'm sure some floated around somewhere.
This time was no different. I tried to retain a complacent face.
"Don't expect my class to be easy. I don't want you sitting back there talking to Embry either. You'll be moving up here next to Molly tomorrow. Got it?"
"Sure, sure." "All exams have been rewritten and I'll be eyeing your work carefully for any repeats."
"Okay. Can I go now?" I impatiently inches towards the door. "Go ahead."
The next wave of students blocked my path to the cafeteria. I nearly ran over them on my way when I caught Layla's scent.
"She's here." I smiled relieved.
"Jeez Black." "If he keeps eating maybe he'll reach seven feet."
I ignored the passing jibes. Following the scent's trail I rounded the fruit stand then headed for the outside. Empty space.
Was I imagining things? Then I heard sounds of someone eating coming from around the corner.
On the ground against the wall Layla sat leaning and eating an apple. Surprised, she looked up at me with those large dark brown eyes. I froze just staring at how beautiful she was to me.
"Jake? What's up?" Embry interrupted. I glanced back irritated at him for a moment. Sam must have given him detail to watch me.
"She's here." I answered in Quileute. "Where?"
When I looked back she was gone. Nothing but the mostly eaten apple rolled on the ground.
I rounded the brick wall to find a fallen sweatshirt with the irresistible same scent.
Layla's Pov
The hunt for my classroom began. The woman at the main office took forever to create a schedule for me. I had made it just in time for Spanish. I placed a note on the teacher's desk without saying a word and took an empty seat up front.
The teacher seemed a little surprised to see me when he turned around from the board, but he didn't make a big deal about it.
During the remaining lecture, I could feel the gaze of my peers staring at the back of my head until the bell rang again. When they got up in a rowdy haste the realization struck. I had not been through enough classes to make friends yet. I wouldn't have anyone to sit with during lunch hour.
Was I doomed to sit awkwardly alone? I collected my things slowly following the masses to the lunch hall.
Was new girl syndrome real, like how I've seen it horribly depicted on tv? The image of eating lunch in the girl's bathroom seemed gross and unhygienic. Maybe I could hide in the library for a while longer. My stomach growled disrupting that plan.
I might as well see where the cafeteria was. Letting other students go ahead I hovered around the entryway peeking inside. The room was shaped like a giant trapezoid. The base opened up for seating, where the top had two angled lines into the serviced kitchen. The two lines are separated by the saddest excuse of a salad bar I've ever seen. It looked like a tiny, deserted island next to an abandoned fruit stand. That's what I would aim for.
Some students pointed in my direction whispering, I casually made my way across the spacious room. There were no cashiers here. Strange. I hoped the apple I took off the cart and the bottled water I plucked from the counter wouldn't be considered stolen.
When I turned for the empty tables a second wave of students descended into the room blocking my path. Then a neon red exit sign caught my eye. On the other side of the glass door beneath it held a small patio area. Luckily no one was out there, and it wasn't raining yet.
No one seemed compelled to stop me as I pushed the door open to the cool air. I took a seat on the metal-wired bench and consulted my cell phone. EJ had texted back. 'Thanks! I hope all is well for you too. My family wouldn't stop taking pictures this morning. It was embarrassing because no one else was doing it.'
I texted my new friends back. 'My grandpa Syd didn't need pictures to be embarrassing. Parental concern checks out.'
After a while, I felt eyes on me through the glass. I put my phone away in case any eyes belonged to a teacher. Feeling much like an animal trapped in a zoo I rounded the brick corner to sit down in the grass for some privacy. My folded-up sweatshirt acted like a cushion blocking the dew from seeping into the back side of my jeans.
The tree line past the open field behind the school looked enchantingly green. The canopy of moss-draped elegantly over the branches creates pockets of dark tunnels into the deeper parts. I let my imagination run wild to give me a short reprieve from the anxiety. There must be dozens of places to hike around here. Maybe it would be fun to explore and document each trail.
Ashley had been asking for pictures since my departure anyway. I wonder what she and our friend group were doing right now. I bet they were sitting outside too. In their case, it was in the sunny courtyard of Troy High. Sometimes we would sneak through the fence to meet the Mexican Food truck parked self across the street.
The apple in my hands suddenly seemed unappetizing. My vegetarian needs would not be so easily met here unless I lived on fruit alone. I would have to consult the cookbook I found in Port Angeles or pull some recipes offline. Then there was the matter of teaching myself how to cook. I forced another bite of the apple to fuel myself.
A long dark shadow covered me. I lifted my eyes to see a tall handsome boy. We held a gaze for a considerably long moment. He seemed familiar. What was his name?
Embry? No, that was the boy with the white truck. Quil? No, he was shorter and much more talkative. Maybe I didn't know him. This guy was most likely a senior. Of how he was built physically, he had to be some sort of athlete. My face flushed realizing I was scrutinizing him. I looked down to the grass immediately embarrassed by my lame arrangement on the ground too.
"Hey, Jake!" Another boy's voice caught his attention.
When the tall one looked at his friend I grabbed my bag and ran around the wall in the opposite direction.
I felt guilty for leaving my apple behind, but it was too late now. I'd find another entrance back into the school, and carry on with my day like he hadn't found me.
The empty biology lab was lined with black countertops and pine cabinets. I made my way between the double rows of blacktop tables to a middle seat by a window.
"Layla?" A timid husky voice called for my attention. My eyes widened into saucers to see the ridiculously tall and good-looking guy that found me outside not too long ago.
"Yes?" My voice squeaked uncomfortably.
"You left your sweatshirt." Jacob handed it to me His large warm hands grazed mine sending a magnetic warmth up my arm. I physically flinched tugging the cloth back with me.
"Thank you," I murmured.
"No problem." Jacob took a seat next to me. Out of all the open tables and chairs.
The inevitable question came. "What were you doing outside? It was about to rain."
"I can't get some fresh air?" I wished he hadn't asked.
"Are you not feeling well?" He asked more concerned than a stranger should. His black eyes didn't hold the judgment I thought they would.
"I'm fine." More students filed in around us as the change of classes came to an end. I looked away realizing I was staring again.
"You could sit at our table next time." Jacob offered. The acceptance made me lower my guard as I considered his offer.
With a loud clammer, a boy in front of me turned to lean on my portion of the table. He seemed to have a high opinion of himself as he intentionally flexed the muscles in his arms as he leaned in further.
"It's the new girl from Spanish. Didn't have a chance to say, Hola Bonita." He winked at me and then grinned broadly when he thought I was checking him out with my glance over. Overconfident jerk of a jock. What kind of person wore their jersey on the first day back? I thought I heard Jacob suck in a sharp breath.
"We didn't see you at lunch." His friend leaned over as well in a similar outfit. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Being new I didn't have the option of being rude to deflect attention.
"I decided to have a look around the school." I fibbed through a polite smile.
"I'm Chayton, this is-" "Elu, but my friends call me Rivers." Elu took over the conversation. He had longer jet-black hair woven back into a braid, and his nose was straighter and he had sharper features than Chayton's. All together he was pleasing to look at and I'm sure he knew it too.
"Layla. Now if you don't mind, I can't see the board so if you could…" I waved them apart so I could write down the semester exam dates, along with the field trips posted.
Chayton seemed somewhat discouraged as his friend took over the conversation.
"If you're not doing anything after school, I could drive you around La Push. Show you the sights."
"Yeah, we could show you around." Chayton wedged himself back in.
"That's nice of you, but I have my own car," I spoke without looking up. That much was true. I could drive myself. When I got my car back from Dowelling's.
Before they could try to rope me into any plans the teacher called for the class's attention.
"Let's get started going through class expectations..." Mr. Moore began the overview.
"Know what else I'd like to write down?" The annoyances were back at my table with more nonsense. I was just glad Chayton had removed his limbs.
"Your number," Chayton whispered sliding me an empty piece of ripped notebook paper. I thought I heard a grumble from my right, so I glanced over at Jacob who was clutching his pencil a little too hard.
I sighed, tapping my pen on the countertop I deliberated a good response. Then I lifted my pen smirking to myself.
Jacob watched me curiously through his peripheral.
I wrote down a number alright, but it wasn't mine. I hope this wasn't going too far. Writing overprotective Syd's number down I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Imagining him picking up the phone to one of Chayton's pickup lines almost sent me.
Jacob's pencil snapped when I passed it back. "Calm down Black." Chayton took the note looking smug.
"Anything you want to share with the class? Or does the field trip to the wolf sanctuary in a couple of weeks not exciting enough for you?" Mr. Moore asked the boys in front of me.
"Which one are we going to?" I asked, raising my hand truly curious.
"The main Washington State Reserve. It's almost two hours by bus ride so make sure you pack lunch." He continued informing the class.
I smiled to myself. That means Syd would be running things. I noted to stay behind to give Mr. Moore his information so our class could get a better exclusive.
"Why would we want to see a bunch of stupid dingy dogs?" Chayton snorted. "Have you seen the ones around here? They're huge." Elu raised a brow at him.
"Nah. Everyone's just making that crap up." "It's more than just our school mascot. Our heritage-" Elu was gaining my respect quickly having his own mind and a different opinion than his friend.
"You're not afraid of the wolves are you?" I didn't notice Embry sitting behind me until he leaned in between Jacob and me.
"Why would I be?" Chayton scoffed at him. "They're bigger than the bears around here." Embry grinned wildly. Jacob cracked a smile enjoying his friend's antics.
"The only thing bigger than a bear is that guy." Chayton pointed at Jacob who stiffened at the comment.
I didn't like the tension building up around them so I asked Elu a question.
"What do you mean? A part of our heritage?"
"Our heritage." Chayton rudely circled his finger to the boys around me. It suddenly made me nervous being surrounded by the young men. I had mostly girlfriends back home. So this sudden realization made me uncomfortable.
"Does being half Quileute not count?" I lowered my voice and my eyes meekly dropped to the desk.
Elu smacked Chayton upside his head and then ripped up his prized note from either. Saving him from Syd's scorn.
"That old man Syd of yours is just as ancient as these Quileute lands." Embry laughed reassuringly. I raised my head in relief.
"Of course you are." Jacob's voice was gruff like he had a hard time speaking, but I could tell he meant every word.
I whispered thanks to him when everyone turned back in their seats.
At the end of class Mr. Moore was grateful for my grandfather's information, and walking out the door I was surprised Jacob and Embry waited for me.
"We thought we could help you find your next class." Embry insisted.
"Okay... I have Geometry with Ms. Evans?"
"Looks like you're with Jake. I'll leave you guys to it." Embry elbowed Jacob's side and then headed off down the hall.
I followed the quiet giant to my next destination. He didn't speak at all and I wondered if I had said or done something wrong.
"So, um, why'd you give Chayton your number?" Jacob's husky voice sounded gravelly like before.
"Oh." I giggled to myself. "What?" He raised a brow.
"It's not the number I gave him." I looked up at him with a mischievous grin before passing Jacob into the classroom.
Even though Jacob didn't talk much. I was happy to have his and Embry's company in the classes I did have with them. The day seemed bearable now.
After school was chaotic. All the students still on mental vacation time bolted for the door. Several students almost knocked me over in the flood of limbs flying by.
Then I did slip on the wet floor near the entrance. I would have landed face-first if a hand didn't catch my backpack. The person carried me like a marionette outside.
"Watch where you're going, Moon." Quil chuckled releasing me inched from the ground.
"Thanks?" He was obscenely stronger than he looked. Not that Quil didn't look strong, just not enough to carry me with one arm through a crowd.
"Want to hang out with us? We're headed to our friend Sam's place." Embry appeared on the steps with a girl with similar features to his.
Syd honked in his horn once on the curb behind the gathering pack of boys. "I have some unpacking left to do. Maybe another time." I skipped past them towards the old truck. I'd survived the day. I didn't think I could survive any more plans.
"How was your day?" Syd questioned me the moment we left the lot.
"Uneventful, and different. I guess." I shrugged. Syd kept glancing over at me.
"Different how? I imagine it would be but…" He asked. "Just LA things. I'm sure that I'll get used to things soon." I hoped, but deep in the pit of my stomach, the unsettling feeling stirred.
"Give it a chance. It's better here than those trash cans of cities your parents live in." Syd grumbled.
I sighed watching the trees and neighborhoods pass us by.
I didn't like the way Syd trash-talked about my parents or the way they chose to live their lives. Everyone was entitled to that much. Even so, it was hard getting caught in between those two. Especially when no one cared about my opinion. Nothing but my cooperation was necessary.
If the future didn't concern me so much, I would almost look forward to the countdown to my legal liberation in a couple of years. Maybe then they would find something else to fight about.
"Sorry kiddo." Syd had his opinions, but he also knew more than anyone else about my predicament. And he was probably the only one left who genuinely cared.
"I'm sure things will get better." I forced a practiced smile.
The remainder of the ride home was relatively silent. Syd was comfortable with silence. Which was sometimes a nice thing, like now. When I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts.
By the time we returned to Moon Ranch the drizzling rain had ceased. I wasn't ready to face my studies or the bigger dilemma of teaching myself how to cook. So I head through the house and out the back screen door.
"Where you headed?" "I wanted to check out grandma's garden and maybe the spot Zach and I used to play."
Syd nodded flicking on his tv for background. "Garden's empty, but the swing might still be by the brook. Past the blackberry bush-" "I remember." I acknowledged him.
"Be back before sunset. I don't want you out there in the dark." Syd warned. I shut the screen door and made my way past the giant field where my older brother and I would dig up old tribal artifacts. We'd collect arrowheads and carved beads in a jar over the weekends we'd visit.
The edge of the property was made of wooden beams propped up in a way to mark the edges of the territory. The actual ranch part next to the house hadn't been functional in a couple of years. I think Syd still had some chickens and a horse at one point, but all the livestock for harvesting leather and making pelts for various projects had been transferred to his friend's farm in Montana.
I stepped over the fence and ducked between another beam to enter an overgrown trail kept alive from deer trampling on it. I followed the path down along a vein of the Quileute River in search of old haunts.
Jacob's Pov
Embry and Quil ran through the woods with me for old time's sake. We all knew I should be in human form as much as possible, but it was still weird being on two legs.
"Anything interesting happens while I was away?" I asked them as we ran border patrol. I should have known some answers, but in those past months, I did my best to ignore them when they came to speak with me.
"Clare's entering middle school now, and she visits Emily a few times a month while her parents go on dates. I'm able to hang out with her there from time to time." Quil mentioned.
"Yeesh, that's got to be hard to navigate." I mentally cringed a bit. That had to be difficult not only with the age and physical distance but having to abide in the protector/friend stage for years to come until she wanted more.
"Not everyone can be as lucky as you." Quil rebutted. I didn't want to think of that. I hadn't made that much progress, so I didn't have room to talk. It made me want to run over to Moon Ranch right now.
"That's not a good idea." Embry heard my thoughts.
"I know." At least not yet. I need to stabilize myself a little more. Be in a place where I could use my voice again so we could have a real conversation.
"Showing up out of the blue when you guys aren't even friends yet could weird her out," Quil commented.
"I dunno Sam's situation was worse. It could work." Embry countered.
"We'll help you out as much as we can Jake." I could hear Seth's voice from miles away.
"But out kid," Quil grumbled. "But I was out here with Joseph first." Seth defended the new pack member he was mentoring.
"Tourist season is wrapping up so my mom's home more often. It's hard to slip away undetected. Anyways, what I wanted to tell you is that Sam and the elders wanted to throw a bonfire Friday for the tribe." Embry informed us
"What. So soon?" I circled back with them to La Push to meet Seth and the new kid.
"Yeah. Collins also imprinted on a girl who moved down from Maca over the summer, so they need to hear the legends again too."
"We also have two new wolves that need to hear the stories." Quil insisted to Joseph listening in.
"And Sue might be kind of, sort of, dating Charlie." Seth chimed in.
I stopped in my tracks at the mention of his name.
"What?" When did that happen and how many wolves were in the pack now?
"Sam agreed with the elders that Charlie should come for the storytelling. Yah knows, just in case he ever wants to know the truth." Seth spoke gently due to my deep growl.
Sam and I got along in a lot of ways but some calls he would make I just couldn't jive with.
"What's the point in that now?" I thought bitterly. "It's not like it would change anything."
"It's not your choice," Embry commented ruthlessly. I knew that. I just thought he ought to know before she married that bloodsucker.
I hated how a part of me still twisted away from anything Bella related. But I was incredibly thankful the majority of my ties had been broken. Like the bitterness and resentment that had been cut off a couple of nights ago. I never thought I'd be able to breathe again without that heavy weight. Layla restarted my heart and melted away all the depressive chains baring down on it. Then in that same moment, she became the one thing that was easier than breathing. The other half to my spirit.
"No doubt. He's got it bad boys." Quil teased bringing me back to reality.
"That's great Jake." Seth was pleased to hear this. So were the others listening in on our conversation now.
We were back in La Push and began branching off toward our own homes. It was almost dinner, and our families would be expecting us.
"See ya tomorrow." Quil's consciousness peeled away as he phased back by his house.
"Aren't you going home, Jake?" Seth asked watching me wander off.
"In a bit." I still had a wolf-sized stomach to fill and regular food still doesn't fully satisfy me yet.
"Got it. See ya tomorrow then! Come on Joe." Seth trotted off towards his house.
I prowled around the back woods slipping all too easily into the wolf's mind.
I caught the scent of some deer on the back side of the Quileute River. I ran northward alongside the trail where it branched off into several streams. The trees were thickened and I had to weave around them. Aiming not to knock a tree down, I let it run farther away from me so I could watch it bob over tall grass. I lowered myself to the Earth preparing to launch myself from between the trees. The deer's ears tilted back hesitantly looking around for me, the suspecting danger. A nearby twig snapped, and it took off with several others with me after them. I leaped to cut them off. I hit my mark. Breaking the deer's neck with my teeth then I tossed the body into the base of a tree to shatter its spine. A quick kill. A scream erupted beside me. My wolf mind dissolved and my heart raced fearfully to see Layla frozen in fear. I turned my head slowly to assess if she had been hurt.
Shock flooded her face and color drained from it. I pulled my teeth back closing my snout, and laid my ears back on my head. Letting out a low whine I begged her not to be scared of me. No, I couldn't make her scared of me.
"Bear." She blurted out backing away from me. Then she shook her head as if clearing it.
"No, a wolf! The bear-sized wolf." She corrected herself panic building in her voice.
Layla took another step back away from me and tripped backwards falling on her butt. She continued to scoot backward when I took a step forward.
Her heart was beating so fast you'd think she was the fawn from before. I winced at the accurate comparison.
"Please," Layla begged her eyes never leaving mine.
"Please don't eat me." How she trembled shook me to the core. I wished there was a way I could make things better. If I had shifted back now, I knew I would just make things worse. I stepped forward again carefully debating it. She forced herself to remain still, but her body still tremored.
"Please." She whispered, squeezing her eyes shut. A few tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Jacob, back off." Sam's voice rang in my head.
"But I-I…" I thought back to Sam. I wish I could tell her I meant no harm.
"Jacob." Sam was getting closer, and his thoughts were becoming clearer.
I turned back to look at Layla who stopped trembling.
"You have to be more careful. You wouldn't want to make the same mistake I did and regret it forever." Sam's thoughts echoed strongly.
I backed up slowly creating distance between us.
Layla's eyes reopened fixating on me. She stood up with caution and backed away slowly. Only to turn and run once she was far enough.
What had I almost done? Fear and dread washed through me in a tidal wave of guilt. I could have killed her. In seconds I missed her.
I scanned the deer carcass that I still had to finish but had no will to.
"You did the right thing." Sam stopped in his tracks and turned around. He left me alone to process the incident.
Picking up the fallen deer by its broken neck I dragged it deeper in the woods to satiate the wolf's hunger.