𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐧 & 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 [ 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 ]

2

SCHOOL was nothing but an annoyance to me; yeah, I knew education was important, but damn, waking up at seven every morning was kicking my ass. La Push High was small, but you'd be surprised how loud a bunch of teenagers could be this early in the morning. As I reached my locker, my nasty mood faded away as I caught Jessa's eyes.

"Hey, stranger," I greeted with a grin as I spun the combination lock. "Long time no see."

Jessa rolled her eyes playfully. "Please, like a few days counts as a lifetime. You know I practically live at your house."

I snorted, shoving a textbook into my bag. "You're in my bed more than I am."

Jessa playfully nudged me. "So, how's your secret admirer doing?" she teased

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the blush thatncrept onto my cheeks. "Oh, please. It's not like that."

Jessa raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh, sure. I've known you long enough to see that sparkle in your eye, Lennon."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You're ridiculous."

"It wasn't ridiculous when Cassandra said it!" Jessa giggled, thinking back to the last time our whole group was together. "God, we need to plan something soon. I miss Cass and Danielle."

I nodded, agreeing with her as we made our way down the small hallway of the reservation's only high school.

"Hey, have you seen Embry?" I asked Jessa, toying with the strap of my bag. "I haven't seen him in a few days."

"Yeah, he's been crashing at Sam and Emily's place. Weird, right?"

My brows furrowed. "Yeah, that is weird. Thanks, Jess."

Jessa Young knew what I thought about her sister's fiance, and the people he hung out with, and it hurt her heart when silence fell over us. My eyes grew distant as I got lost in my thoughts.

I walked into the bustling school cafeteria, my tray in hand as I scanned the room for my friends. I spotted Jessa, Jacob, and Quil sitting at our usual table, engrossed in conversation. With a smile, I made my way over to them."Hey, guys," I greeted as I set my tray down.

"Hey, Lennon!" Quil exclaimed, making room for me to sit.

Jacob offered a warm smile. "Hey. How's your day been?"

"Pretty good," I replied, taking a bite of my sandwich. "Math test wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

As we chatted about our classes, a guy from our grade, Jack, approached our table. He had a friendly grin on his face as he directed his attention to me."Hey, Lennon," Jack greeted, his tone casual. "I heard you're a pro at beach volleyball. We're getting a game together this weekend at La Push Beach. You should join us."Quil grinned, nudging me playfully. 

"You should totally go, Lennon. A day at the beach sounds like a blast."Jessa smirked and chimed in, "Yeah, and you'll finally get to show off that new swimsuit you've been talking about." I elbowed her, remembering the swimsuit I had bought recently because the Newtons had installed a hot tub I had full intent on using.

I looked at Jack, a bit surprised by the invitation. "Thanks for the invite, Jack. Beach volleyball sounds fun, but I'm not sure about the weather. You know how unpredictable La Push can be. It's usually pretty cold and rainy."Jack shrugged, undeterred. "Yeah, but we'll make the best of it. Come on, it'll be a blast."

I smiled politely. "I appreciate it, Jack, but I think I'll pass this time."

As Jack took the hint and walked away, I turned back to Jacob and Quil. I noticed Jacob's expression had shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing in his direction before returning his attention to his lunch. Quil nudged me playfully. "Beach volleyball, huh? You're a hot commodity, Lennon." I chuckled, though I couldn't help but feel a subtle shift in the atmosphere. "It's not a big deal. I'm not even that good at volleyball."

Jacob cleared his throat, his voice casual. "Yeah, plus, like you said, the weather at La Push beach can be pretty unpredictable." I nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Anyways, I've got work this weekend." The conversation flowed smoothly as we talked about various topics.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and interactions, and soon enough, the final bell rang. I made my way to my locker, my mind still spinning from the events of the day. I spotted Embry from a distance, leaning against a wall in the hallway, but he quickly averted his gaze when he saw me approaching.

"Embry?" I called out tentatively, but he just kept ignoring me. I frowned, concern gnawing at me. "Hey, are you okay?"

Embry's jaw tensed, and he turned away, his voice cold as he spoke without looking at me. "I'm fine, Lennon. Just leave me alone."

My heart sank as I watched Embry walk away, disappearing into the crowd. I turned back to my locker, frustration and hurt swirling within me.

"Hey, Lennon," Jessa began, her tone gentle, "forget him, he's a jerk," she said softly, giving my hand a squeeze.

I nodded, though my disappointment lingered. "I know, it's just... I wish he would talk to me."