The Wolf and The Lamb

6

The day dragged on as I moved from one class to another, trying and failing to focus. My mind kept circling back to the same things: Paul, Edward, and the dream that had thrown everything off balance. I went through the motions, taking notes, nodding when necessary, but I couldn't shake the overwhelming weight of it all.

At lunch, I sat down with Jessica and Angela. They were talking about some party over the weekend, but I could barely pay attention.

"Bella, you okay?" Angela asked, her brow furrowed as she peered at me.

I blinked, realizing I'd been staring off into space. "Yeah, just... didn't sleep well last night." It wasn't a total lie, but I wasn't about to explain why.

Jessica leaned in, smirking. "Did it have anything to do with Jacob Black? I saw him drop you off a couple of days ago."

I felt my face heat up, and I laughed awkwardly. "No, nothing like that. He's just a friend."

"Uh-huh," she said with a knowing grin, clearly not convinced.

Angela shot her a look. "Leave her alone, Jess. It's not like that."

I gave Angela a grateful smile and picked at my food. The mention of Jacob only reminded me of everything I was trying to figure out. I still didn't know what to make of the imprint with Paul, and now Jessica was hinting that people might think something was going on with Jacob. Everything felt too complicated, and I didn't have the energy to unravel it.

"Anyway, are you guys still going to the bonfire this weekend?" Jessica asked, changing the subject. "Mike's band is playing, and they're... well, trying, at least."

Angela smiled. "I think I'll pass, but it sounds fun."

They kept talking, but I zoned out again, my mind drifting back to the dream. Paul's wolf form, his eyes locked on mine. The imprint. Edward's absence.

The bell rang, breaking me out of my thoughts, and we all got up to head to our next classes. I waved goodbye to the girls, relieved to have a moment of solitude as I made my way to Biology.

Classes went by in a blur, and soon, the final bell of the day rang. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I gathered my things and headed for the exit. My mind was still heavy, but at least the school day was over.

As I walked out of the building, I spotted a familiar figure leaning against the side of an old red truck. Jacob. His face lit up when he saw me, and he waved.

"Hey, Bells!" he called, pushing off the truck and walking toward me. His wide grin was infectious, and despite the storm of emotions in my head, I couldn't help but smile back.

"Hey, Jake. What are you doing here?" I asked as I reached him.

"I came to give you a ride home," he said, nodding toward the truck. "But I've got something I wanna show you first."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's that?"

He grinned even wider, his excitement palpable. "You'll see. Hop in."

We climbed into his truck, and the engine roared to life. As we drove, I felt a strange sense of calm settle over me. Jacob had always had that effect on me, grounding me when everything else felt chaotic. I leaned back in the seat, letting the quiet hum of the road fill the silence between us.

We pulled up to Jacob's house, and I noticed something new sitting out in front. A motorcycle—rusted and old but clearly a project in progress.

Jacob hopped out of the truck, gesturing proudly to the bike. "I bought it off a guy in town. Needs some work, but I'm gonna fix it up. Thought maybe you'd wanna help."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You know I don't know anything about motorcycles, right?"

He shrugged, still smiling. "Doesn't matter. We can learn together."

I walked over to the bike, running my fingers along the chipped paint. Despite the rust, I could see why Jacob was excited. It had potential, and knowing him, he'd have it running in no time.

"I think it suits you," I said, glancing back at him.

His grin widened, and for a moment, the tension that had been weighing on me all day lifted. Here, with Jacob, things were simple. No imprints, no painful memories of Edward—just us, like it always had been.

"So, what do you think?" Jacob asked, crossing his arms and watching me with that familiar light in his eyes.

"I think you're gonna need a lot of help," I teased, giving the bike a gentle pat. "But it'll be worth it."

Jacob laughed, the sound warm and full, and I couldn't help but smile.

For the first time all day, things felt a little lighter.