Wayward Son

Chapter 2: Jacob Black

Bella nearly had a heart attack when she turned the corner on her way to Forks High and saw someone standing in the middle of the road. She slammed on the breaks and leaned out her open window. "Are you fucking crazy?"

"Oh please," he scoffed. "Thanks, but the truck would've been in far worse shape than me."

Bella glared at him. "I was talking about the truck!"

Her blond warrior god-like boyfriend laughed lightly and bowed as he opened her door for her. "Apologies, darlin'."

She stared at him, waiting for her to take his hand. "What are you doing?"

"I thought I'd give you a ride to school."

"A ride to..." It was then she saw the sleek, shining, black motorcycle parked off the side of the road. "Shut up!  No way!  Are you serious?"

He felt her excitement bubble up in his own chest and knew immediately that it had been worth it to cut his hunting trip short. "Unless you don't-" he began to tease, but she was already leaping out of the truck and running over to the bike.

"Can I drive?" she grinned.

He handed her her helmet, having moved her truck into the forest where it wouldn't be found until they came back for it later. "Yeah. As soon as I can walk in the sun without sparkling."

Her face fell. "But it's my birthday!"

"Oh, so now we're acknowledging that?"

"Depends, is it working?"

He swung his leg over and straddled the bike, looking over his shoulder and patting the seat behind him. "Nope. Hop on."

Bella heaved a dramatic sigh. "Fine."

With her arms wrapped around his waist and her warm hands roaming across his chest, her chin on his shoulder, and her breath tickling his ear, it was all he could do to concentrate on the road stretching out before him. He could feel her shed her stress like a winter coat, tossing it in the air and letting it fly off in the wind behind them as they raced past the trees. She was absolutely exhilarated and he felt positively high off her adrenaline rush.

It's possible he may've taken the long way to the high school. It's also possible they missed first period.

Jasper pulled into the parking lot in time to catch a whiff of something sour. It was... odd, to say the least. He did a quick scan of the area to see who he assumed to be Jacob Black come jogging towards them, since he'd never actually met the kid. He was nearly as big as Emmett, but the nervous and excited energy he was radiating made him seem every bit of his sixteen years and not a minute older in Jasper's mind.  "Oh good," he chuckled darkly. "This should be fun."

"Be nice, he's a friend," Bella scolded, throwing her elbow into his ribs.

Jasper scoffed, taking her backpack for her and slinging it over his shoulder along with his own. "I'm always nice!"

Bella ignored him and waved to Jacob.

The teenager grinned. "Bella!"

"Damn, Jake," Bella laughed. "What are they feeding you on that rez, steroids?  You're huge!"

"Wouldn't seem so drastic if you came around more."

"I will soon," she said. "But isn't your school like ten miles that away?"

Jasper watched with piqued interest as Jacob held up the car part in his hand. Excitement and embarrassment warred for dominance hidden behind an over confident facade. "Just here buying this for the Rabbit. I'm almost done with the rebuild. Gotta come check it out when it's done."

Jasper snorted. Bella stepped on his boot. Jacob gave them both a weird look before remembering, "Oh yeah, happy birthday. Your dad told my dad, so..."

He handed Bella a dream catcher. Jasper could hear his heart beating wildly in anticipation. Interesting.

"I saw it the other day and thought of you.  It catches bad dreams," Jacob explained.

"This, I need. It's great."

There was an awkward pause which Jasper happily broke. "The bell's about to ring."

Right on cue, the school's shrill bell rang. "Ooh, look at you, all psychic," Jacob smirked, and Jasper could feel the challenge lying underneath it.

Oh. How cute.

"Nope," Jasper flashed him a grin, wrapping one arm around Bella's waist. He held up his wrist, showing off his watch. "I can just tell time."

Jacob gives him a tight smile. Jasper winked. Bella rolled her eyes. "We gotta go. Bye, Jake. And thanks!"

"See ya around, kid!" Jasper called over his shoulder as they headed inside.

"He's only like, a year and a half younger than me," Bella pointed out, putting the dream catcher in her backpack.

"And like, one hundred and fifty years younger than me," Jasper pointed out. "He's a kid. A kid who has quite the crush on you, may I add."

"What?  That's crazy.  It's just Jake."

"Whatever you say, darlin'. Whatever you say."