Enchanted | Jacob Black

sixteen

The past two days had been good. Really good.

Jake and I were talking like we used to. Joking, teasing, just being with each other. It almost felt like old times before everything changed.

But it was even better now. Because the last two nights, like clockwork, Jake would sneak through my window. And I'd fall asleep in his arms, his body heat sinking into me, his chest solid beneath my cheek. The weight of his arm draped around my waist, the way he pulled me closer in his sleep. I didn't think about danger or the supernatural chaos that surrounded us. I just felt secure and warm, like being wrapped in a blanket straight out of the dryer. Except the dryer was on maximum heat. I'd have to sleep without a blanket and the window wide open to let the cold air in so I wouldn't overheat next to him.

Now, I sat in my last class of the day, staring at the clock, watching the hand minute hand get closer and closer to the six so I could go home.

I tapped my pen against my notebook, trying to focus, but my eyes drifted a few seats over.

Nate.

He caught me looking and gently smiled.

He was acting like his usual self again, confident and relaxed, minus the flirting. I think he finally accepted that there would be nothing more between us. We'd sat together at lunch today and talked like nothing heavy had ever passed between us. It was easy. Except, of course, for the daggers, Kira had been glaring at me from across the cafeteria. That part hadn't changed.

The bell rang, and I quickly gathered my things and filed out of the classroom with everyone else. As I headed to my car, fishing my keys out of my jacket pocket, I heard a voice behind me.

"Harper,"

I turned, sighing inwardly the moment I saw Kira standing a few feet away, arms crossed tightly over her chest and a tight smile on her lips.

"What do you want?" I asked.

She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly, then tilted her head, her voice dropping. "Is something serious going on between you and Nate?"

I nearly laughed. "Seriously?"

Her expression hardened as if she were daring me to lie.

"Kira, do you even like Nate? Or do you just hate the thought of someone having something you can't?"

For a moment, she looked genuinely caught off guard, like she hadn't expected me to call it out so directly.

She leaned in just a little. "You think you're competition? That's cute."

I let out a dry laugh, crossing my arms.

"There's no competition," I said, stepping a little closer. "But if there was? I already won. I just didn't want the trophy, so feel free to take it."

Her smirk dropped, and her eyes narrowed. For a split second, her mouth opened like she wanted to say something. But instead, she turned on her heel and walked off without another word.

I couldn't help but smile.

"She's terrifying," Embry said as he and Quil suddenly appeared.

"Who cares? She's still hot," Quil added with a grin.

I raised an eyebrow. "You know Quil? I think the aggressive, bossy type might actually be a good fit for you. Since you're such a weak pushover."

Embry started laughing while Quil's jaw dropped slightly.

"Excuse me?" he scoffed. "Weak? Pushover? I don't think so, baby. If I had her, she'd be doing whatever I tell her to."

I scrunched my nose in disgust, "Ew, quil, don't talk like that."