Enchanted | Jacob Black

four

It has been 24 hours since I think Jake tried to kiss me, and I haven't seen him yet. He didn't show up for school today. I spent most of the evening at the Clearwaters' house after Dad found out I skipped again and made me go over there so Sue could keep an eye on me. It wasn't necessarily a punishment. I enjoyed being around Sue; she was like an aunt. It was always nice catching up with Seth; he was two years younger but a fun kid to have around. Leah, on the other hand, kept her distance. I didn't mind; she was older, so we never really hung out.

I looked at the ocean, watching the waves grow larger and smaller as they approached the shore. I sat with my knees drawn to my chest, hugging them closer to keep warm. The sun that had so graciously presented itself yesterday was now gone. It was just another cloudy day in La Push.

I didn't want to sit around at home replaying my moment with Jake over and over in my head. Instead, I would do it here at the beach.

Why would he do that? Why would he give me a sliver of hope when he had feelings for Bella? I witnessed all the times he would wait around for her to call; how excited he would get every time her rusty old truck drove up to his house, like a puppy waiting for its owner to come back.

I shook my head, wishing I could magically make it all disappear turn back time.

This would be a nice time to have a mom to talk to. I sighed, burying my face in my knees. It would strike at more random times that she was no longer around. I never got a real chance to even know her. What would she say if I told her about my feelings for Jake? Would she offer any advice?

I looked up just as Nate sat beside me with a grin. "What are you doing out here?" He asked. "Just thinking."

"About?"

"My mom," I answered honestly.

I watched his face relax; he didn't have to ask; he already knew why. Almost everyone on the reservation knew why. She had died of cancer; I was too young to remember any of it. But I would be constantly reminded of it every time I interacted with an elder who let me know how amazing a woman she was. All these people had known her before I ever got the chance to.

"I'm sorry."

I looked over at him. "Thanks."

He leaned back on his hands, looking out at the ocean. "My mom ran off when I was eight. I know it's different, but my mom is no longer in my life either."

Just as everyone knew about my mom, we all knew about Nate's mom as well. She became pregnant as a teenager and struggled with alcoholism after he was born until one day, her parents had enough and kicked her out. She ended up leaving Nate to be raised by his grandparents.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"It's not too bad. I really love my grandparents. Since they're older, they're more relaxed." He laughed.

I glanced at him, but my gaze lingered on him a second longer than it should have. He continued to look out at the water. I noticed how sharply carved his jaw was. His hazel eyes looked more brown under the cloudy atmosphere, but they were still warm and welcoming. Undoubtedly, he was good-looking, almost too pretty for someone who acted the way he did.

Nate was starting to grow on me. The more I got to know him, the more I realized he wasn't just some cocky boy with nice hair and a big ego.

He caught me staring.

"So, is this the part where we kiss?"

"Do you see how we were having a nice moment there, and you just went ahead and ruined it?" I playfully shoved him. "Stop saying stuff like that."