✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter thirty seven

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

"Have a fun day at school, Aniya!" Nick called out with a wave as he drove off.

Aniya rolled her eyes as she adjusted the strap of her bag, muttering to herself, "How does one exactly have fun at school?" She shrugged her shoulders, trying to shake off the morning mood. Her feet hit the familiar pavement as she made her way into the school, giving casual waves and nods to the people she passed—classmates, friends, and acquaintances—all of them returning the gestures with smiles and murmurs of greetings.

As she walked, her mind was still caught in the haze of the strange feeling that had followed her from that dream. It gnawed at the back of her mind, but she pushed it away, focusing on the bustle of the school day.

"Aniya!" A voice called out, and she turned to find Jake making his way over to her, awkwardly navigating the crowd. A grin spread across her face as she spotted him, his usual clumsy energy impossible to ignore.

"I went to your house to pick you up," Jake said with a sheepish smile, a bit out of breath, "but Anthea said Nick dropped you off instead."

Aniya raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk forming on her lips. "Oh, did you say you were going to pick me up?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "Sorry, must've slipped my mind, Jake."

He chuckled, leaning in closer, his grin widening as he softly kissed her lips. "Well, then you better take me up on the offer after school," he said, pulling away just enough to speak. "What's the point of fixing rabbit together if her saviours don't ride together?"

Aniya raised an eyebrow and smirked, her voice playful. "Oh, her?" she teased, making him laugh as he draped his arm over her shoulder.

"Yes, her," Jake said, rolling his eyes in a good-natured way. "I won the bet, so she's officially mine now."

"You really made it complicated, Jake," Aniya chuckled as they began walking side by side.

"You know, I thought you might have reacted a little more when I cut my hair."

She leaned against the nearby lockers, giving him a mockingly casual glance. "Please, it's nothing to brag about."

Jake playfully huffed, crossing his arms. "Babe, it's—" he started to say, then stopped, raising his hands in mock surrender. "You know what? Fine, forget it."

Aniya smirked, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark. "I'll go and ask Juliet instead," Jake teased as if he were trying to get a rise out of her.

"Have fun with that!" she called out, waving her fingers at him. He pouted, clearly not expecting her response.

"Really?" he asked, his face a mixture of feigned indignation and amusement.

Aniya smiled, reaching over to grab his wrist, her touch gentle. "You look nice, but I think I liked the longer hair better."

Jake blinked, his expression shifting slightly as he took in the comment. "See, that's the compliment—" he started, but then suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his expression changing to one of realization. "Oh, wow... okay," he muttered, shaking his head as he began to walk away.

"I love you too, babe!" Aniya called out after him, cupping her hands to amplify the sound. Jake froze, then turned back around with a grin, making his way back to her.

"I love you too," he said, pulling her close, his grin widening as he planted a quick kiss on her forehead.

Aniya pushed him lightly, her voice teasing. "Okay, pal, keep your hands to yourself and get to class."

Jake sighed dramatically, but he didn't let go of her completely. "Fine, I'll see you at lunch," he said, kissing her forehead once more before finally breaking away.

Aniya hummed in response, watching him walk off, her thoughts momentarily distracted by the easy, familiar comfort they shared. But as she entered her next class, she felt the familiar wave of nausea creeping back, the unsettled feeling in her stomach intensifying.

By the time lunch rolled around, the dizziness hadn't gone away, and she felt a bit light-headed as she made her way toward the cafeteria. Halfway there, she spotted Juliet, who was animatedly talking about her parents' latest discovery.

"They kept talking about wolves," Juliet groaned, her face a mixture of frustration and disbelief. "I mean, really? We all know they're not real, right?"

Aniya nodded absently, trying to mask her discomfort as her stomach twisted. She forced herself to focus on what Juliet was saying, but her mind kept drifting back to the unsettling feeling she couldn't shake off. She hadn't eaten breakfast that morning, and the adrenaline of the day had worn her thin.

Juliet continued talking, but Aniya could barely keep her attention focused on the conversation. Her stomach churned as she tried to push the nausea away, willing herself to ignore it. Finally, after a moment of effort, the sensation subsided just enough for her to turn her full attention back to Juliet.

"Yeah," Aniya agreed, offering a small smile as she nodded, but her thoughts were scattered, and her mind couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had been lingering ever since she woke up. It was as if something wasn't right, like a quiet storm brewing just beneath the surface, threatening to break. She tried to push it aside, focusing on Juliet's words about her parents' strange obsession with wolves, but the tension in her chest wouldn't ease. Every little thing felt off, and it was hard to ignore the gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach.

As Juliet continued to ramble, Aniya's gaze drifted, half-listening but mostly lost in her own thoughts. Her heart beat a little faster, and she couldn't help but feel like there was something more to this day—something more important than the trivialities around her. Her body felt heavy, and her mind kept drifting back to those strange flashes and the dream she couldn't fully remember but felt deep within her bones. It was all too vivid, too real. She didn't know what it meant, but she couldn't shake the nagging sensation that something was waiting just beyond her reach, like an invisible door she couldn't find.