Golden Hour: A Team Jacob Twilight FanFic

Nothing a Little Sunshine Can't Fix

"Liz... can we talk outside for a sec before I head out?" I leaned on the back of the chair across from her, balancing a wrapped-up breakfast plate Emily packed for Billy in one hand.

She broke away from Kim and Rach to look at me, a forkful of pancake frozen halfway to her mouth. "Now?"

Couldn't blame her for getting comfy at Emily's, but... did she seriously not notice anything weird around here? Like, I don't know, maybe the giant half naked guys coming in and out of the house all damn day? Or were the girls enough of a distraction?

"Yeah, just for a minute," I said, tapping the chair. "I know things kinda went sideways since we got here. Just need to see where your head's at."

Liz nodded a little too fast and put her fork down. "Oh. Okay, well, if it's about me being here...I don't want to overstay my welcome or anything." She looked over at Em by the stove.

"The one friend I make..." Kim mumbled as she chewed. She'd always been the quiet one, but Liz dragged the voice right out of her. It seemed like Liz took Kim on like a younger sister already.

Emily spun around, spatula in hand. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like, Liz. It's not a bother to us at all."

She didn't want her out of a place to stay and she saw her as a fellow imprintee now, sure, but I knew it was more than that. Sam wanted Liz to know. I bet him and Em hoped it'd help Leah move the hell on, too.

Keeping the secret was a pain in the ass, but I still didn't get how Sam couldn't agree with me and Leah that Liz would be safest back in Canada. Keeping Tiffany in the dark was already the fucking worst, so why make it more complicated? The old ass bloodsuckers could show up any day now and any human who knew too much was automatically at risk.

Sam just didn't see it that way. Thought it didn't apply to imprintees. Said sending Liz home would "defy nature" and make Leah unfocused.

It was weird, not having to obey Sam's orders anymore. To disagree. I could physically feel the rift between us now. Two Alphas in a small room. I didn't look at him though I'm sure if he had control over me still, I would've had to. I felt his stare burn through me.

Liz stood, wiping her hands on a napkin before taking a bite of her food. She followed me outside, her hair almost catching in the screen door as it slapped shut behind her. The sun finally broke through the trees–first time I'd seen it in a while.

"Do you want me to go home?" she asked, cocking her head.

"No, no. I'm just thinking. I mean, what about your house? Your... dad?"

She crossed her arms and looked away. Of course the purple on her eyelids matched everything else. Purple shirt, purple headband, purple bracelet. Committed to the bit as always.

"C'mon, you bugged me about the same thing," I said. "You were the one who convinced me to come back here."

"That's different. You have an amazing family here."

I sighed. "Look, I know he sucks, but does he know where you are? That you're good?"

"I spoke to him a few nights ago."

"And?"

"Well, we kind of got into a fight."

"Oh? About what?"

She looked embarrassed.

"You were right," she exhaled. "I heard a woman in the background. A child, too. He didn't even try to hide it this time. I guess I took that as a sign."

Shit. I didn't want to be right, but come on. It was obvious.

"I'm okay," she said quietly.

No, she wasn't. That much was obvious too.