Layla's Pov
I didn't get back until late. The sun had already set over the horizon casting a dim glow that emphasized the dark tunnel of trees.
Tryouts went better than I thought. Unlike my old school where we had to prepare our own routine, we just had to mimic the ones prepared. Toward the end the captains allowed us to show off any tricks we could pull off. Even after a long period of not moving, I was still able to perform a front handspring. It made me lightheaded, but I was glad I did it. I think it earned me a few points.
Camille had tried to persuade me to switch to cheer on the way to the parking lot, but I politely declined. Cheer movements were too stiff and structured, and more importantly, not what I was passionate about. I couldn't see myself jumping around in a short skirt or a bright red bow either.
Maybe it was the lack of food and water or the stunts, but I was feeling light almost buoyant. It was good to be back in my dance element. Whether things worked out or not. It didn't matter.
The twisted tree tunnel opened up into a wide field. I snaked along the trail of sand and gravel mixture horseshoeing around to the front of the house.
I noticed Syd was on the porch speaking with someone. What was Jacob doing here?
"There you are. Where the hell have you been?" Syd called out to me first. "Hello to you too." I stepped out of my car slamming the door behind me.
"What's the point of having a damn phone if you don't use it?" He continued with the lecture.
"Tryouts started today." I lifted my duffle bag as proof. "Is that something you really need to be doing?"
"I can't try out again until next fall if I don't make it now," I complained in my defense. "Kowlieshkah."
"Stop worrying." I passed them both.
"Jake?" His head lifted when I called him. No doubt. It was his face on the flyer.
The complex emotions I received when picking the flyer up resurfaced.
He was much taller now, and the childish flesh that once lingered in his face no longer hid his structured jawline. I wondered how long his hair had been before he decided to chop it all off.
My fitness high was dwindling down into exhaustion.
"He was worried when your car was missing in the lot after school." Syd crossed his arms as if I wasn't telling him the whole truth.
"Fine, I also ran into town. Happy?" "For?"
"To sign up for the book club. I told you this." I sighed.
Syd shook his head and passed me on the threshold. "Should have gone to the grocer too. We're running low on a few things." He muttered.
Great. All I had left were some veggie chips I knew Syd liked to sneak when I wasn't looking. I might have to crack open a lunch I was saving for later this week.
Jacob still stood out front. Keeping tabs on me like this felt a little intrusive.
I wasn't used to someone watching me so closely. I had to say something or set some sort of boundary.
"What are you doing Jake? Did you really need to come here?" I questioned taking to the steps where I could address Jacob face to face.
"I can't worry about you?" He glanced over me noticing my dance attire. Tight black leggings and a matching crop top.
I felt a little unsettled when his eyes lingered around my midriff for too long.
"Look, I know it worried you with the whole cliff-diving accident. But that wasn't your fault, and you're not responsible for my well-being."
I meant to sound stern, but the words came out pleading. I hoped whatever burden or false sense of responsibility he may be feeling would lift.
"Huh, worried." He scoffed as if that word didn't cover it.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't run to Syd to get me in trouble. Especially when I didn't do anything wrong." I clarified in a stronger tone after clearing my throat.
"Fine." I was about to head inside when Jacob spoke again. "My bike's almost tuned up. We could ride Sunday once the storm clears."
Was he asking me out again?
"I don't know." My decline seemed to confuse him. "Why not?"
"I skipped out on Aunt Mel twice. Sundays are supposed to be her 'thing.' And dance is very time-consuming. I don't expect you to wait up." I expected my viable excuses to deter him.
"I don't mind." He sounded like he meant it. I wasn't going to string him along over an unfounded schedule.
"Maybe some other time. Good night Jake." I retreated inside the house.
A warm meal and an hour-long shower was what I needed to decompress. I fell back into my bed and rolled into my sheets to get comfortable.
Holding the dark green pebble I found on the beach, I turned it around, the turquoise specs glimmered slightly in the dim light of my desk lamp. It had fallen out of the jeans when I shook out the laundry.
I desperately wanted to know what happened in those twilight hours. By how disappointed Jacob sounded it must have meant something.
Placing the rock on top of my oak-shelved headboard I adjusted it to its new home.
Then I reached over the side of my bed to fish for my phone inside my purse. It was most likely dead if I hadn't noticed Syd's call.
My fingers brushed over the folded flyer. I pulled that out too and carefully unfolded it.
Have you seen this boy? Run away. Jacob Black...six foot five, Quileute, age 16...If found please notify Sheriff Swan...
This was the proof I needed to convince myself to steer clear of him. Right? It confirmed all the gossip from various sources.
I stared at Jacob's younger-looking face committing it to memory. I had to admit he was pleasing to look at. He had a cheerful grin I'd only seen glimpses of.
My favorite part about this picture wasn't his handsome features or his beautiful long locks, but his black eyes. It was almost as if the dark color captured the light. He looked bright, and happier here. The neutral serious expression he rested in today didn't seem as natural on him after seeing this.
I excused the time I spent with the flyer due to the fact that I hadn't been able to keep much eye contact with him for very long. The picture enabled me to really look and see.
I frowned staring up at the ceiling, placing the flyer on my chest.
When I was around him Jacob was kind, quiet, and... there was something else about him. That was magnetizing?
Lately, I had been feeling like there was some sort of unmet expectation that I couldn't clue in on. It made me self-conscious. It drew me back to the bonfire and I tried hard to focus again... after several minutes nothing came up.
Am I just paranoid that might just want to be my friend? I turned over in my bed looking at his picture again.
No, if that was the case I'd be avoiding EJ too.
Did I really believe Jacob was up to no good? Or that he and his friends were dangerous?
Okay, Let's look at the facts...
Sam's gang ran off a drug dealer from Maca last year. No one could argue that was bad. Unless they were selling drugs too. Then that would be like a turf war, right?
I turned over trying to get comfortable for sleep.
Okay, so they are intimidating and buff. They might not hang out with a lot of other students. Being less social than others wasn't a crime. Kids can be cliquey.
The only questionable thing could be was when Tiffany said Embry used to sneak out all the time. To do what exactly? Did she ever find out what he was up to?
I turned over again dissatisfied that I couldn't come to a conclusion.
I groaned in frustration. Then there was the glaring fact that Jacob Black saved my life.
I sighed opening my eyes to look at the picture one last time.
"Jacob. What am I going to do with you?"
Tuesday the cafeteria was twice as loud. The rain echoed over the roof so students had to compensate for the noise.
If I didn't have to buy lunch today I wouldn't be in here. The dull ache pulsed in my temples.
"You did so well. Not a lot of girls could pull off both routines." Camille encouraged me. "I think Mrs. Fisk liked you too," Andrea added.
Mrs. Fisk was one of the teachers responsible for the dance and cheer teams. I think Andrea was right. She did take note of me with another sophomore, and maybe one freshman.
"That's good news." Tryouts always made me nervous. There were a couple more days to push through and not every girl was guaranteed a spot.
Plus I didn't want to assume a place for me was secured just because I was more experienced.
"It seems like there might be more dancers than cheerleaders this year. Maybe we could take over halftime." Andrea edged Camille competitively.
"Please." Camille rolled her eyes. They broke off into another discussion of what would make a better show.
When we edged up in the cafeteria line I went to pick up a red plastic tray.
"Hey, new girl." A girl behind me called for my attention. "Layla." I corrected not liking the snide tone.
"Elu's attention wasn't enough, and now you have Jacob Black walking you to class?" Molly towered over me.
I recognized her to be the flirtatious girl in gym who liked to occupy Elu's time.
"I don't know what you're talking about Molly." I moved to step forward but her friend caught my shoulder turning me around to face them.
"She doesn't know what we're talking about." Molly scoffed. Oh, so now it was a 'we' versus me.
"So what did you do to get them glued to you?" I didn't know her friend, but she had an annoying trill voice with a pinched elfish face.
Compared to Molly who could star in a sports magazine this chick was almost her complete opposite. Short and slender with softer features.
Whatever, why bother me with this in the first place?
"Nothing," I stated. "Nothing." They repeated my word like a pair of disbelieving parrots.
"I'm not interested like that. Or whatever this, is." I eyed them up and down then quickly stepped off to rejoin Andrea and Camille who were almost out of line.
I was used to catty cut-throat dance moms and mean girls, but I never found it enjoyable to deal with them.
It was better to keep my distance myself from them from now on.
I blindly grabbed items from the kitchen line and headed to the table on the east wing.
Packed with new faces, juniors, and seniors too, we wedged ourselves in where we could fit. The girls got there first, forcing me to sit diagonally from them and next to some unfamiliar but friendly enough faces.
It seemed as though the junior girls were trying to get the table together this weekend. Their options were hanging out in Port Angeles, or going up to an abandoned baseball field for drinks.
"What's your vote, new girl?" Kayla, a senior with blond tips asked for my input. They seemed to need a tie-breaker amongst the girls.
"I'd say shopping in Port Angeles, but I'm visiting Seattle this weekend." I agreed in favor of the majority who wanted encouragement in their decision-making.
"Too bad. You should join us next time." Kayla carried on setting plans.
"What's in Seattle?" A senior sitting next to me who I wasn't paying attention to caught my attention. His shoulders brushed against mine as he twisted to look at me.
His hazel eyes, gold and green, were distracting. "Um, what?" He laughed enjoying my instant reaction.
"Oh, I'm visiting my dad." I averted my eyes from the table and grazed my gaze above the heads of other students.
"Is that right? Well, if plans change I hope you join us." "Sure." I glanced back at him one more time not to be rude.
"I'm Ahote." "Layla."
"I know." He was confident too. I smiled sheepishly and my face felt warm.
Feeling several eyes on me I scanned the cafeteria for the source. Tiffany and Paige seemed to be caught up in their own world while the rest of their table was occupied. Next to them was the supposed La Push gang. It seemed like Quil had a hand placed on Jacob's shoulder. He leaned forward speaking as if they were arguing about something. That's when Jacob's black eyes caught me speculating. I felt my face heat up again. This time for being nosey.
When I brought my eyes back to the table I caught sight of Camille and Andrea whispering, all smiley and glancing in my direction. Oh great.
I could only assume what they were thinking. It was nothing like that. So his looks just caught me off guard. Tall, dark, and handsome was always my type. A rarity to see in LA with all the spray-tanned frosted tip snobs.
Behind them, a staggeringly sharp glare briefly pierced me. Molly's angular features remained collected as she leaned back into her table.
What was her deal? Elu was right there sitting next to her, and I wasn't even close to Jacob Black.
The bell rang and bodies bolted up refreshed for class.
"It was nice meeting you." Kayla left me her number on notebook paper to keep in touch. Which was a pleasant surprise.
"Can I walk you to class? Brent and I are headed in the same direction." Ahote asked. Was my schedule that obvious? Then again, I was the obstruction among the students that have grown up together.
With Andrea's eager expression and Camille looking like she could melt...how could I say no?
"Okay." I expected them to walk with me but the girls trailed behind to observe our interaction. Anxiousness fluttered in my throat keeping me from speaking.
I nodded here and there listening to the conversation dominated by Brent. Something about basketball and the trip to Port Angeles.
Ahote looked like he was going to ask me something but I dipped into biology.
"This is me. See you guys." "Later, Moon." Ahote flashed a smile.
Andrea and Camille walked by grinning ear to ear. "Don't leave me like that again." I hissed from the door frame.
They giggled in response. I glared at them in their general direction before taking my seat.
"Ahote seemed friendly enough," Embry commented as a grumpy Jacob sat down next to me.
"I guess," I muttered. Jacob didn't talk to me unless absolutely necessary today. Guess that's what I deserved for turning down the motorcycle ride.
I kept glancing at him though, who seemed hyper-focused on his work.
Ahote may have caught my attention for a moment, but if I were honest Jacob had the bigger influence on me.
Much more than I would like to admit, or let myself focus on. But for this moment I let my mind wander with my eyes.
I liked the way the muscles in Jacob's forearms moved when he scrawled his messy notes, and how his eyelashes were long for a guy.
He caught me looking. I stopped breathing. I expected him to still be upset, but his expression softened into something else.
"Everything okay between you and Quil?" I blurted out before he could address my stare. Jacob arched a brow.
"Yeah, why?" He went back to the lab. Without his gaze, I could breathe again.
"You seemed upset," I noted sounding more concerned than I should. His scrawl slowed to a stop.
"I'm glad things are okay then," I concluded going back to my notes.
I was eager to leave the lab and the hour-long torture of geometry behind.
English was up next. A subject I regularly enjoyed.
Today we were headed to the library to outline our upcoming report and swap out our old textbooks for some new editions that came in a week late.
Seth and Joseph flanked Andrea and me on the way there. Joseph was proving to be an outgoing guy who also enjoyed talking to anyone who would give him the time of day. Seth as always was sweet and sincere. Andrea seemed more shy than me which made me pull the conversational weight. I had always preferred my female friends, but Seth was making it easier to address the boys.
Class dragged on, and I thought my fingers would cramp up due to all my typing. At the end of the period, Mrs. Springfield had asked Seth and me to carry the new textbooks back as punishment for chatting too much. Not that we were loud, but it must have bothered her.
"I don't mind carrying them myself." Seth offered holding his stack single-handedly. We'd get in more trouble if Mrs. Springfield saw his balancing act that would graze the ceiling.
"I got it." I kept my heavy stack as penance and carried on far behind the other students. The tower blocked my vision well, but the stretch toward the classroom wasn't far of a walk. Just down some stairs and around the corner. Our peers without the burden of books were probably back in the classroom.
Seth went ahead of me down the stairs. Another class passed us coming up. I could hear their squeaky sneakers against the linoleum floor as they went. I was slowly stepping down the flight of stairs when a somewhat familiar voice called out to me.
"Hey, new girl." I turned my head in the direction of the hiss. "Watch out." Another nasally voice came from my other blind side.
When I reached for the next step my legs were kicked out from beneath me. Something hard had struck my ankle coming down at an angle from both sides.
I didn't have a chance to warn Seth. I tumbled forward. Unable to stop the books from flying into him.
I had to let them go in an attempt to catch myself in the fall, and I failed miserably.
The dropping sensation scared me more than the actual fall. I let out a short shriek as the feeling reminded me of the free fall off the cliff.
Laughter echoed down the stairwell at me as I lay in a pile of paper and binding.
"Layla! Are you okay?" Seth pushed the pile of debris off me. "Yeah." I was dazed, dizzily grasping after the pages of books to stack them upright.
"Are you okay?" I asked remembering the rain of books. "I'm fine." He assured me helping me restack the books on the floor.
Seth helped me up when we were done. He was stronger than he looked. With one tug he pulled me up from the floor landing me on both my feet with some force.
"Ah!" When the pressure hit my leg it buckled. Tears spring to my eyes. He caught me by the arm and lowered us to the bottom steps.
I pulled up my pant leg to inspect the damage. My ankle was undeniably swollen with two inflamed red marks angled and wrapping each side.
"Dang, that looks like it hurts. Leave the books. I'm taking you to the nurse." Seth informed me.
"No, you go Seth. I'll-" I looked back up the steps. "Take it slow."
"No way." Seth turned around so I could climb onto his back. He noticed me pause.
"I can carry you either way. Your choice." Seth warned me seeing the stubbornness in my face as he glanced over his shoulder.
I grumbled wrapping my arms around his neck and legs around his waist for the piggyback ride.
Seth lifted me as if he was carrying his own backpack, leaping up the stairs two at a time. I would have found his agility and sound effects funny, but the throbbing in my ankle took away all enjoyment of the free ride.
"Here we are!" Seth set me down in the infirmary.
"I'm gonna go take the books back and tell Teach what happened." He was already out the door before I could tell him to be discrete.
"Having some bad luck?" The nurse circled her desk to meet me. Her gold-plated name tag was pinned crooked on her white coat.
Ms. McKenzie was a young, well-dressed woman in her late twenties. She pushed up her red-rimmed glasses and then helped me over to the patient's table.
"I guess you could say that." I rolled up my pant leg again for her to inspect.
"What happened?" Ms. McKenzie stretched my leg out and gently twisted it in her hands. I winced pulling back at her touch.
"I fell down some stairs," I explained. "These marks are incredibly swollen for 'some stairs." Her light brown eyes flashed up at me studying me for a moment.
"I'll get you an ice pack." She wheeled away in her office chair. The door to her office jarred open.
"Clearwater, is it urgent?" Ms. McKenzie scolded Seth while wheeling back over to me.
"I brought Layla's things for the next period. I didn't want you walking down those steps again." He thoughtfully set my things by the door.
"Thanks, Seth. I owe you one." "Don't mention it." He saluted leaving the office.
"What's the verdict?" I asked Ms. McKenzie.
"I'm afraid that I can't let you walk around school like this. It's indefinitely sprained and too swollen. There could be a possibility of a brake so I need you off of that foot until the swelling goes down." She explained.
"What?!" I have four more days of tryouts to complete. I've danced on broken toes and bleeding blisters before, I thought I might be able to pull through if it's not too bad.
I winced as she applied pressure with her fingertips along the bone. "Yes, it's too swollen to tell." She repeated to herself.
"Does that mean you're sending me home?" "Unfortunately, I need that leg elevated and iced. Be sure to see your health care provider, or see me first thing in the morning when the swelling has gone down."
I nodded once sliding off the patient's table. "Would you like to use my phone for a parent to pick you up?"
"I drove myself this morning. My right foot is still good." I hobbled over to grab my things.
Thunder clapped outside and rain began trickling down onto the cement. I limped through the hall to reach the glass double doors before the students flooded the halls in about a minute.
When I was going to push my weight into the door to open it I heard Seth's voice again. "Did Ms. McKenzie decide on sending you home?" The bell chimed and I had to wait for it to finish before I could respond.
"Yeah, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." "What's this about going home early?" Jacob had somehow overheard in the bustling hallway and made his way over to us.
Before Seth could give him a play-by-play I filled Jake in. "I twisted my ankle. The nurse wants to send me home."
"How'd you do that?" Jacob frowned looking down to decipher which one. "I just tripped down some steps." I pressed into the door again to escape.
"You'll stay in school if you fall off a cliff, but you'll go home over some stairs," Jacob laughed without humor.
I released my grip on the door, now planning on staying the rest of the day due to his comment.
"You can't tell me that's not sprained. She fell down two flights. I carried her to the infirmary myself." Seth piped in proudly. Jacob's eyes widened.
"Thank you so much, Seth." I spoke sarcastically and I narrowed my eyes backing up into the door again not wanting to deal with this.
"Oops, uh, see yah." Seth knowing he said too much slipped into the trickling crowd of students.
"Layla." Jacob followed me into the trickling rain. I ignored him gripping the handrail for support as I walked out.
He tugged my bag off my open shoulder. "Hey!" I swiped for it back but it was over his back now.
"I got it." I continued down the steps one at a time. Jacob impatiently picked me up, and I stubbornly held onto the rail as he walked down the steps.
"Jac-ob." I gritted his name in two syllables. My hand slipped down the dewy rail with a squeaking sound.
"Let go or you're going to fall." He griped. "I didn't ask for your help!" I had no choice but to let go now.
Cool raindrops began to plummet around us harder. I regripped onto his shoulders tightly as he broke into a jog to evade them.
I buried my head under his chin until his pace slowed. I swear I could've felt a chuckled rumble inside his chest.
He lowered me enough so I could unlock my car. "Get in. I'll drive you back." I climbed inside the driver's side.
He circled around and adjusted the seat for his long legs letting the rain soak the leather seat.
I hummed my car to life and pulled back around to the front. "Enjoy your last hour."
"You're going straight home right?" He asked me. That wasn't any of his business. I had planned to go to the grocery store before the pain became too unbearable.
"It's like fifteen minutes away. I'm good." Jacob's black eyes tightened. He reclosed his passenger door. "Jake." I warned him.
"Should you even be driving?" He countered. "Forty-eight hours after the fall is fine." I heard his seat belt click in place.
"What are you doing?" I asked. "Going with you. To make sure you get home safely."
I took a moment to sit in my frustration. I couldn't believe he was treating me like a child.
After a sharp inhale of breath, I was able to real in my frustration.
"Look, Jacob, how are you going to get back here if I let you ride with me? I'm not making you run miles back in the rain." My anger faded into guilt at that thought.
He paused to think about it. "I can just borrow your car since you shouldn't be driving anywhere else." My mouth tightened at his jab.
"No." Hurt or not there wasn't anything edible at home. "I'll bring it back in an hour."
"No." "If you're worried about gas I'll pay you back."
"That's whatever. I don't know you well enough to just hand over my vehicle to you." I knew that this was a stupid argument, but it freaked me out to be without my only means of freedom. Especially since my only outlet of release was just ripped from me.
My ankle throbbed.
Dancing and hiking were now out of reach for who knows how long now.
We stared each other down with stubbornness waiting for other to cave. I pushed to park and turned the car completely off. My key chain swung dangling from the ignition in my swift movement.
"Get out." "Stop being stubborn."
I went to undo his seatbelt at the same time Jacob reached over one long arm to restart the car. Our heads collided.
"Oh!" I recoiled my hands flew up to my stitches. The seatbelt snapped back clattering.
"Are you okay?" Jacob's warm hand cupped my face. "Yeah." The collision made my eyes water and the pain brought back clarity of mind.
"Will you stop fighting me? If we don't leave someone's going to come out here." He leaned back exposing the office blinds facing the lot. The faculty was peering out.
"Am I making you play hooky again?" I inquired guiltily.
An increased wave of rain spattered on the roof and windshield.
"Looks like it." Jacob's impish smile was contagious.
Author's Note:
I just wanted to clarify a question a reader had. This story takes place post Bella leaving Forks after marrying Edward. This is not an alternate universe (or AU).
Per my first author's note, I stated the timeline would be shoddy for writer/plot convenience.
For the reader's imagination's sake, Eclipse Chapter 26 Ethic and 27+ Epilogue did take place.
In this story, Jacob had run around in wolf form since his recovery from the newborn battle (leaving around Father's Day weekend). He also showed up to Bella's wedding in human form like in Breaking Dawn, but then directly reverted back into wolf form until friends and family coaxed him to come back home.
At this point, Bella and Edward have not returned to Forks since their honeymoon. They may or may not be at Dartmouth University, currently traveling the world until she adjusts to her new vampirism, she could have also produced a half-vampire spawn by now, or she might be dead. Nobody knows.
I don't want to give away too much of the story yet. The timeline isn't supposed to be super specific.
I hope that helps alleviate any confusion, and that you'll be understanding.
Have a good night/day where you are. :)