Moving Forward - J. Black

xvi.

EDITED

Jacob had invited Eliza over the next night, hoping that she was no longer mad at him for kissing Bella and they could talk about what he said at the graduation party. Eliza was hesitant to just show up at the shifter's house since she knew Jacob's father was still weary of their bond. "Eliza, what a pleasant surprise." Billy Black had a small, yet forced, small on his face when he answered the door and saw the vampire. "Sorry, Jake asked me to stop by. I thought he would've told you." Eliza pursed her lips as she felt slightly uncomfortable under the older man's gaze. "He's in his room, go ahead back." Billy opened the door further, nodding his head straight back down the hallway. "Thanks." Eliza forced a small smile as she headed back to the way he nodded.

"You really don't own a shirt, do you?" Eliza tilted her head in amusement as she leaned against the entryway of Jacob's rather small room. "I wasn't sure you'd come." Jacob immediately sat up against the wall behind his twin-sized bed. "Well, after so many years living I'm not too great with grudges...unless it's Edward or Emmett." Eliza made a small joke. "You did good yesterday, I don't know if I should be scared or impressed." Jacob smiled as she mention the name of her opponent from the previous day. "Probably scared." Eliza shrugged as she took the offered seat on Jacob's bed, the shifter moving to sit closer.

"Guess that's my future if I mess this up again." Jacob let out an awkward laugh, not sure how to build a conversation with the vampire. "It wouldn't exactly be a fair fight." Eliza thought over the shifter's most sacred law. "But you're right, I would definitely win." Eliza boasted, a small mocking smile on her face. Jacob took a moment to actually look over the blonde, remembering how quick her movements were when she fought, how her hair shines under the sun. It was almost like he was finally seeing her as his imprint, his mind, and body fully craving her presence.

"What?" Eliza looked at Jacob confused as to why he was staring at her so intently. "You're beautiful." Jacob let the words slip out as he admired the blonde, the atmosphere suddenly shifting around them. "Jacob-" Eliza was taken aback by his words and worried about them having this conversation so close to the battle. "I know we said we were okay to just be friends, but like I said, I think..." Jacob struggled to find the words to tell Eliza what he wanted but the blonde already knew. Eliza's gaze softened as she stared at Jacob, taking a second to look into his eyes. Eliza had moved on from Edward but part of her will always love him and Eliza couldn't help but worry the same went for Jacob and Bella.

The two supernaturals just looked a each other for a few moments and Eliza suddenly noticed that Jacob had moved closer. "Do you trust me?" Jacob finally spoke up, his eyes almost sparkling. "Not with how you're looking at me right now." Eliza felt nervous as Jacob glanced away from her eyes to her lips. A small smile made its way to the shifter's face as he gently took Eliza's hand from her lap. Eliza went to shift away and Jacob used the movement to pull her closer, putting his lips on hers. The kiss was slow and hesitant as Jacob didn't want to push Eliza too far.

Eliza's hand slipped out of Jacob's and wrapped around his neck, their bodies moving closer as the kiss went deeper. Jacob's hand moved to Eliza's thigh and suddenly the vampire became aware of just how real the moment was. Eliza slowly retreated from the kiss, pulling away but leaving their foreheads gently set against each other. "What's wrong?" Jacob opened his eyes to see the emotions swirling around in her mind. "I-I don't know. I just-I don't think we should do this." Eliza pulled away from Jacob, but his hand hadn't moved from her thigh just yet. She wanted to blame her hesitancy for Jacob kissing Bella the week before but she knew that wasn't the real problem. As much as Eliza craved the love of another, especially her mate, she couldn't help but think that Jacob would soon find another, a better, option.

"I'm sorry, I think coming here was a mistake." Eliza went to leave, but Jacob quickly grabbed her hand to stop her. "Hey, wait. We-we don't have to do anything. If you're not ready to move on, it's okay. I can wait." Jacob tried to stop his imprint from running away. "I don't-I don't want-you shouldn't have to wait." Eliza shook her head as she was suddenly overwhelmed by all of her feelings. "Eliza." Jacob gently turned her chin so that she was looking at him. "I want to wait, I want to be with you. Just please don't run away." Jacob looked at the blonde, a little alarmed himself. Eliza looked at the shifter for a couple of moments before nodding her head, Jacob wasting no time to pull the blonde into his side. 

The morning of the battle was the next day and Eliza couldn't get her kiss with Jacob out of her head. Distractions right before battle were dangerous but Eliza felt horrible that her heart was so guarded, she couldn't even trust her mate, someone she knew she was destined to be with. "What's up with you?" Edward stopped outside the blonde's room when her thoughts became so loud he couldn't push them out of his head. "I'm just nervous about today, someone could get hurt." Eliza tried to shake off her feelings, but Edward wasn't buying her excuse. "That's not it, there's something else." Edward shook his head as he tried to figure out what was wrong without deciphering her thoughts. Eliza felt a shiver go down her spine as the images of Jacob and their kissing resurfaced again.

"You kissed Jacob." Edward let out a scoff as he couldn't help but let himself slip into her mind just for a moment. "Hey, out of my head, asshat!" Eliza's anger sparked as she threw a nearby book at her ex-lover. "Like I wanted to see you making out with that mutt." Edward rolled his eyes as he easily avoided the book that whirled past his head. "That mutt and his pack are helping keep your human girlfriend safe." Eliza narrowed her eyes at Edward as she crossed her arms. "Oh please, don't act as if he's doing it out of the kindness of his heart." Edward could not believe Eliza was acting so blind. "What's that supposed to mean?" Eliza got offended by Edward's accusation, not liking the doubt he was solidifying in her head.

"Why did you pull away?" Edward changed the subject as he now aimed to piss the blonde off. "You know what, fuck you! You find your mate and disappear for a whole month without any explanation, drop me for a human, and then stop the whole world to protect her after running away like a pussy! I find my mate and have one reasonable doubt and suddenly I'm the bad guy? How the fuck is that fair?!" Eliza went off as furry lit up in her eyes. Edward suddenly went silent when he realized just how far he had pushed Eliza and the blonde rolled her eyes as she calmed down, pushing him out of her way. "I hope Victoria rips your head off!" Eliza yelled at the vampire as she began stomping her way down the stairs.

"Boy, did you mess up." Emmett laughed as he watch the blonde storm down the stairs as well, the whole coven hearing the loud argument. "You picked Bella, you don't have to like Jacob, but at least be happy she found someone." Jasper's abilities overwhelmed him as he felt the anger of the blonde from all the way up the staircase, his journey through the house being paused by the argument. "I loved Eliza, but I picked Bella because she's my mate. Jacob has been in love with Bella this whole time, do you really think he's just going to pick her because of some weird werewolf bond?" Edward refused to admit that he was wrong. "That's not your problem anymore, it's hers." Jasper gave Edward little attention as he continued on his path outside.