Chasing Forever: Jacob's Story

"You're beautiful."

My arms ache, and sweat drips from my face but I continue to do the new workout that Julius taught me. Pushups, he called them.

 What do they do?  I'd asked him.

 They tighten your arm muscles, make it easier for you to lift more weight. He said, demonstrating exactly how to do it.

 I copy him exactly now, doing 150, just like he said. 75.. 76.. 77..  I breathe to myself. I'm only halfway through them, but I feel as though my arms are going to turn to jelly.

 When I finish I flip over and lay on my back, tempted to stop the workout and go to bed, but I know Julius would never approve of that decision, so I start doing crunches, my hair soaked with my sweat and falling into my face.

 A moment later my door opens and my little sister walks in and closes my door behind her, walking over and sitting on my bed. "No, don't worry Nichola. You aren't interrupting or anything, just come in. Make yourself comfortable." I snort, without pausing in my workout.

 "Hey, J." She says, quietly, her gray eyes staring at her hands, which she's wringing in her lap. My eyes narrow, she only does that when something's wrong. "Are you going to meet Chyenne tonight..?"

 I look over at her again. "Uh, yeah. Why do you ask?"

 She shakes her head, looking down and avoiding my gaze. "Oh.."

 I stare at her as I finish up, and suddenly I see a tear roll down her cheek. Immediately I'm up and kneeling in front of her. "Hey, sissy, whats wrong?" I say, gently pulling her face up, trying to make eye contact. "What happened?"

 "Jake what did I do..?" She says, sobbing freely, wringing her hands hard. "What's wrong with me?"

 "What are you talking about sissy? There's nothing wrong with you." I say, touching her hands and slowly pulling them away before her nails can draw blood. "I promise."

 "Yes there is!" Her voice cracks, and my chest tightens. As irritating as she can be, I'm fiercely protective of Nich. I hate seeing her like this. "There has to be!"

 "Sissy, what's this about?" I ask her quietly, wiping her tears away and trying to keep her eyes on mine. "Why do you think there's something wrong with you?"

 "He doesn't love me.." She sobs quietly, probably referring to Jason, Rose's older brother, who's looking to marry soon. "He loves Alexandra."  

 I sigh. "Jason?" She nods and I sit on my bed next to her. "Sissy, Jason is four years older than you. Father would never approve." 

 "That isn't the point Jacob!" She stands up, frustrated, and begins to pace. "You were a year younger than me when you met Chyenne and before that every girl in the pack wanted you to mate them. Your perfect to everybody and I'm just.. I'm just me.."

 She starts to cry again and I stand, pulling her back over to my bed and putting my arm around her shoulders as she cries. After a few moments, her sobs quiet and she stays still, just leaning against me. "Why can't boys like me like girls like you?" She whines and I start laughing.

 "Because I would kill them." I say, under my breath and she pulls away for a second to punch my arm.

 "Oh shush you. No you wouldn't." She says, putting her head back on my shoulder.

 "Wanna bet?" I laugh. "Look, sissy. You want somebody who wants you for you. Somebody who thinks your birthmark is beautiful and somebody who can deal with you always walking in like you own the place," She giggles when I grab her sides and I tickle her for a few seconds more. "Look sissy. You're beautiful. And one day you're going to meet a guy who knows that and isn't intimidated by it. And then everything will be worth it."

 She sits up. "You really think so, bubby?"

 I nod, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I know so." I say. "Now come on, you should get to bed, you have training in the morning."

 I walk her into her room and just before I can leave she calls out. "Bubby?"

 "Yes, sissy?" I say, turning back to her.

 "Sing to me?" She says, staring at me like she used to when we were younger.

 "Sure sissy." I say, walking back and sitting next to her and holding her hand.

 As I start to sing her eyes drift closed slowly and she nestles closer to me as she drifts off into sleep.