Chapter 13 — Mind Over Matter

Jacob

I did not run far away as I had on the night that Bella died. Instead, I ran back to the reservation, to the last place I thought I'd end up. She was still at the funeral, so I paced her porch until she came back. Leah stared at me as she got out of the car, her husband and children staring too.

"She told you, huh?"

I said nothing, my fists clenched.

"Finn, take the kids to Seth's house. Tell him I've got tribal matters to attend to. He'll understand."

Finn looked confused, the kids looked curious. But they drove away, leaving Leah and I to face each other across the lawn.

"Well, let's go inside," said Leah eventually.

She led me inside to the kitchen, then reached up to a high shelf to pull down a bottle of whiskey. She poured us each a measure. I downed it easily and she poured me another. After the third, she said, "what the hell happened?"

"They were there," I said, my voice strained. "The bloodsuckers. Her — her parents."

"That was how you found out?" said Leah. "Shit."

I downed my fourth whiskey. My alcohol tolerance was high, but I was finally beginning to feel the warmth of the spirit.

"It doesn't matter though, does it," said Leah, finally. "Because you imprinted on her. You have to be with her."

"I don't have to do anything," I said, more loudly than I meant to. "I'm still my own person. I can still make my own decisions."

"Can you?" said Leahy, doubtfully.

"I have to," I said. "I can't be with a bloodsucker."

"Half bloodsucker," said Leah.

"Aren't you supposed to be on my side? You're the one who didn't like her in the first place. You're the one who realized what she was when I was too stupid to see it," I said, angrily.

"I didn't like that she was lying to you," said Leah. "I don't know, it almost makes sense to me now that you'd end up with someone weird. The point is, I didn't want you to be heartbroken again."

"You're a good friend, Leah," I slurred.

"You're drunk," she said, rolling her eyes. "Come on. It's time for you to go to bed. In the morning, you'll talk to Nessie."

"Her name is Renesmee," I said. "Remember that? That fucked up name Bella chose?"

"Yeah it is fucked up," said Leah, helping him up.

"I can't talk to her," I said, stumbling towards the couch. "I've never been able to talk to her without fucking her."
Leah burst out laughing at this.

"Maybe that'll help ease the tension."

"I love her so much," I groaned. "Why? Why is this happening?"

"Because you're you and you attract the crazies," Leah sighed, depositing Jacob on the couch. "Jesus, sometimes I miss my wolf strength. Hey, a good thing about being in love with her is that you guys can be immortal together, right? You don't have to worry about continuing to phase."

"Fuck," I said. "This is forever?"

Leah laughed again. "Goodnight, Jake. Worry about forever tomorrow."