A new beginning

Tension part one

Jake's POV

It's been more than a month since I last saw her. At least she wasn't avoiding me anymore, we talked everyday. And that gave me some comfort. It feels like I really know her at this point, everything she did at work, her school projects, tons of stories about her siblings and grandparents, how much she loved Italian food, that she loved it as much as the Mexican kitchen - which Alex sometimes took as a personal insult. How much she hated seafood, and since she really wasn't picky that was the only thing she couldn't eat. I know a lot about her friends, about her music, I listened to every song she wrote... and even though they were played by other artists, I could sense her in the lyrics. I even had a stupid spotify playlist named after her, where I collected every song she wrote. She was incredibly talented in everything she did.

I needed to get to know her like this. And sometimes I still felt a pang of guilt for allowing us to sleep together so soon. Of course it scared her off.. we should have been friends first. Even though I still dreamt about that night, and always needed a cold shower in the morning. She was a beautiful, talented, mind-blowingly gorgeous genius. My mate.

I smiled at the thought. She was mine, even as a friend. Even if she needed years of friendship before we could have more... because we could have, that night, that fire we had was proof of that.

Dude, are you daydreaming about Nessie again? You have that stupid smile on your face. - Seth is grinning next to me, and I am suddenly dragged back to earth. I sigh. You are on your phone 24-7, like some stupid teenager, so I would shut up in your place. - I point at his hand for emphasis, which is currently texting to Izzy that our plane just landed. He sends off the text and grins at me. True.

We start to board off the plane.

I can't wait, it's been almost a month since I saw her. I am telling you dude, it' been real torture. - he complains. Izzy spent a week more in La Push after Nessie left. I just give him a deadpan look. Sorry, Jake. I know.. that you know it's hard, I mean... it must be worse for you since...Oh just shut up. - I roll my eyes, and start to walk faster so I could leave him behind. At least he has the decency to look ashamed.

Leah and Izzy invited Seth for a long weekend, and a day later I got an invite from Alex as well. It hurt a bit that it didn't came from Nessie, but I understood. I was thinking about refusing it, but I just couldn't. Not seeing her for a whole month really hurt, and even though we were just friends right now, I needed to be in the same place as her at least for a few days. The wolf in me was roaring, and it felt like the more I stay away, the imprint bond gets more tense, which makes my wolf part even more annoyed and angry.

In the parking lot, we meet Alex and Leah who hugs us both before we get in the car. I try to restrain myself as long as I can, which is like five minutes, before I ask:

Where's Ness?

Leah just smirks, but Alex clears his throat before he answers.

Home. They are cooking with Izzy. They are preparing for us? That's so kind. What are they making? - asks Seth excitedly. Lasagna I think. - says Alex, and Leah answers at the same time: They are sure to prepare for you Seth. - with the same annoying smirk on her face. Alex just sighs. What do you mean by that? - I ask. Alex looks a bit uncomfortable, and it takes a second before he answers.Nessie doesn't know you are here.

There is a beat of silence before I react.

What? - my voice is deadly calm. Easy, it was my idea not to tell her. - Leah rolls her eyes. Yeah, I did not agree. - Alex says and shoots Leah a look, which still looks way too lovey dovey for it to be angry. - But, she's been a bit.. hectic. She is a workaholic. - Leah nods. Yeah, and it usually gets worse when she is stressed about something... and I mentioned it a week ago, that it would be good for the pack if we had another meeting with you, and she kind of ... freaked out. So Leah thought, if she knew you came today, she would go back to work in LA. - Alex gives me a worried glance in the view mirror before he focuses back on the road.