Breaking Boundaries | Jacob Black

Sesame Balls

"You look happy."

Leiana's comment made the asian girl flush to her toes, though she couldn't stop herself from grinning from ear to ear as she shoved her books into her locker and closed the door shut.

"I suppose Jacob is treating you right?" Leiana continued with a wriggle of her brows. The two girls made their way out of the hall and onto the front porch where the rest of the pack was waiting. It was the start of January and final exams season was slowly approaching, as were the college choices. Natalia still hadn't quite figured out what she wanted to do yet, decided that maybe this would have to be discussed with Jacob when the time felt right. But for now, she was content in living in that small rosy bubble of happiness that floated around her everywhere she went.

"He's been good to me," admitted Natalia, the blush on her cheeks a permanent fixture ever since she'd confessed to Leiana about the status of their relationship. They followed the flood of students out of the double oak doors, "it's going well."

"And what about Bella?" Having heard of her antics, it was no surprise that her friend was not the most fond of the said pale-skinned girl. Still, Natalia didn't want to have anything against her, not anymore, not when she was the one begging to get a second of Jacob's attention.

"She's still around, but it seems like she's sulking." Natalia's lips curled up into a grin despite her words.

"Well she already has a boyfriend," Leiana scoffed, "What more could she want?"

Natalia shrugged, "she and Jake have been best friends since she got back to Forks so I'm sure she's finding this a bit unsettling--"

"Unsettling and actually being upset because your best friend finally found someone to love are two different things."

Natalia knew that, but she didn't want to rub it in. as much as she didn't like Bella, she was trying really hard to see her good side, all because of Jacob.

But she wasn't complaining. Honestly, the last few weeks had felt like heaven. Her and Jacob had agreed to take it slow, without forcing the bond, and they'd gone on three dates since December where they'd now advanced to holding hands and giving hugs.

It was clear Jacob wanted more, much more. She sensed the impatience, the frustration within him whenever he'd glance at her for too long, or when his eyes lingered along her lips as they spoke. But nevertheless, he did not force anything nor asked to push, and for that she was grateful.

Not that she needed him to take it slow. It seemed that his own reticence came from his past miss-step in relation to Bella. He still, up to this day, blamed himself for the scars lining up the sides of her thighs like logical crosses.

"I'm sorry," he'd say when he caught glimpses of the marks carved into her forearm. His voice would be heavy, filled with the kind of weight that caused Natalia's heart to falter.

"Stop saying sorry Jacob," she'd answer, "it's not your fault."

He still thought it was. Still beat himself up about it and somewhere along the line, she thought him too kind for his own good, so kind that he'd gotten taken advantage of with the pale-skinned girl.

He met up with her by his car when school ended, grinning his wolfish grin that made his eyes crinkle and caused her stomach to flip inside out as she strode up to his side.

"Hey," his voice always softened to a raspy murmur as his head tilted down towards her face.

"Hey," Natalia replied with a grin of her own. He grabbed onto her bag, opening the car door so that she could swing herself inside.