Chapter 20

Heaven Is Waiting

January 4th

Fay jogged through the forest waiting for her shift to start. She had been out there for hours, trying her hardest to avoid being home alone with Jacob; as soon as his shift would end she made sure to be out of the house. She was glad Paul was on night shift with her this week. Hiding all her thoughts at the moment would be near impossible. Normally running calmed her mind but today her thoughts were on overdrive.

"Hey Fay, wait up," Jared called from somewhere further back in the forest.

"I'm not slowing down for you Jared, catch up."

"I did a full shift today cut me some slack," Jared complained running faster to catch up.

"What do you need Jared?" Fay asked as he finally caught up to her.

"Can you cover for me tomorrow morning, I know your on night shift and all but I have to go with my parents to visit my Nan, she had a fall last night and things don't look too good. I've tried everyone else and they can't do it."

"Did you ask Sam?" Fay asked not looking at Jared.

"He said I had to ask you."

"Did he now... I guess I could do it," Fay agreed knowing this wasn't going to end well.

"Thank you, Fay. I owe you big time," he smiled widely.

"Yeah, definitely."

...

The sky was starting to lighten up as the sun began to rise up behind the clouds on a new day. The night had been uneventful. Paul had kept his mind blank as possible as they ran laps of the reservation which Fay was thankful for.

I hope you do a better job at hiding it from him then you did me, Paul thoughts drifted into her mind.

That doesn't help me Paul, she growled back.

Never said I was trying to help.

Paul just go already. Your shifts almost over anyways.

There's still half an hour until shift ends.

Nothing's going to happen.

You were almost killed this week Fay.

But I wasn't.

Are you going to tell him about the imprint?

I have to do a full morning with him no way can I avoid thinking for that long. Why couldn't you take Jared's shift?

Dad needs my help at the lumber yard, I'm already blowing off school if I don't show up to work as well, he's going to kick me out for sure.

Then go already! You're going to be late if you don't leave soon.

I really shouldn't.

Nothing's going to happen Paul.

Fine I'm going, best of luck with Jacob.

Fay knows his words weren't sincere but at least he was gone. Paul phased out almost immediately as he was close enough to his house to go the rest of the way on foot. Fay sped up, trying to focus on every other little thing around herself.

Hey where's Jared? Jacob said after he phased in and only found Fay's mind link.

He had to go visit some family so I'm filling in for him this morning," Fay concentrated on her feet trying to count every step she took.

But you just did a whole night shift? Jacob showed concern for Fay's health worries swirling in the back of his mind about sleep deprivation.

Yeah, but it's not like I had anything important to tend to, I really don't mind.

You need to sleep.

Trust me I'll definitely sleep this afternoon.

Why are you doing that?

Doing what? Fay asked confused.

Counting your steps?

Because I'm bored.

Okay, let's talk then. A mixture of questions ran through his mind and Fay fought back trying not to get lost in either of their thoughts.

I prefer to just count if you don't mind.

Oh, okay.

They ran with an odd mixture of thoughts passing between their minds. Fay was concentrating on counting every step she took and when that started to get too easy, she started counting every tree she passed not giving herself a break to think about anything else. Jacob thought her counting was odd, but he didn't dwell on it. He thought about all the new things in the forest he could smell and see with his improved wolf senses. After a while his thoughts turned to other things like his father and what Sam had said at breakfast the other morning. His thoughts eventually turned to Bella Swan and Fay started to slip up with her counting.

Fay tried to hold her mind back but the wolf in her growls as Jacob begins to worry about Bella.

What's wrong? Jacob asked, noticing the growling in Fay's mind.

Nothing, I just lost count is all.

Can I ask you something?

Sure.

Do you ever get use to it? You know, being a shapeshifter?

I guess I'm use to it now, but it was harder for the others, having to juggle a normal life and a pack life is hard. Having to hide something like that from your family is hard. Keeping the pack a secret was a lot harder for them.

If it's such a secret, why does Emily and Kim know. I understand the elders knowing but I can't work out how the girls are allowed to know. Are girlfriends allowed to know?

They're not just girlfriends.

Then what are they.

Imprints. The back of her mind screams imprint and an old memory of when Sam first told her about the meaning of the word bubbles up in her mind.

"It's like gravity isn't holding you to the earth anymore..."

What was that?

Nothing.

Didn't seem like nothing.

Leave it alone Jacob.

What did Sam mean? If gravity isn't holding you to the ground what is?

Jacob.

Fay couldn't help her thoughts then. A rush of feelings flooded her mind as she finally thought his name. The way she felt when she first saw him. How her heart pounded louder just hearing his name. The way her skin tingled when he touched her. The way her lips ached wanting nothing more than to kiss him.

Fay skidded to a halt as soon as she realised just how much she had thought about. Jacob had stopped running as well. She could see he was currently trying to decipher her thoughts and he was now more confused than ever. Fay phased out, she pulled on a long shirt that had been strapped to her leg and waited in place. Jacob appears to her left several minutes later dressed in some cut off genes, crease lines of confusion marked his face.

"What's going on Fay?" Jacob asks his face still looking shocked. Fay couldn't tell if he was angry or happy, she really hoped it would be the latter.

"I should have told you sooner, I just didn't know how..." Fays voice trailed off.

"Told me what?" Fay hesitated for a long moment and Jacob repeated the question. "Told me what?"

"You're my imprint."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I care about you. I'm always going to be there for you. Whether it's as a sister, a friend, or..."

"Or?" He asks. She can hear his heart beating just as hard as her own.

"Sam believes it's a way the spirits help pair up the best mates. Billy thinks that imprinting is designed to make shape-shifter stronger.

"And what do you think?"

Fay laughed dryly.

"You saw exactly what I was thinking Jacob, what more do you want?" Jacob took a step closer, so they were within reaching distance of one another. They stared at each other for a long moment, neither noticing just how much time was passing. Like two magnets their bodies slowly moved closer together until there was no longer a gap between them. Fay tentatively reaches a handout to run through Jacob's shaggy hair. In response he dropped a hand to her hip and tilted his head lower to meet hers. Their lips hovered over one another's until Fay finally stood on her tiptoes to close the gap. Jacob instantly kissed her back. His grip on her waste growing stronger.

Fay presses herself against him, trying to get as close as possible but it's still not close enough. He pulls her waist against his as tightly as he can, her heart raced knowing he was feeling exactly what she was feeling. The need, the want, the desire. She didn't know how long the kiss lasted, but to Fay it felt like it would have gone on forever if Sam didn't show up. He announced his presence by clearing his throat. Jacob instantly let go and Fay jumped away from him.

"Fay go home, I'll take over the rest of this shift. Jacob you're moving back in with your dad as soon as patrol is finished," Sam ordered.

"I'll meet you at your house this afternoon," Fay said to Jacob. "We'll talk then."