LANA
School had been keeping her busier than usual lately. Being the top student didn't just mean having a perfect GPA—it meant standing out in everything, even in that dreaded PE class. But since it was pretty much the only chance she had to see her friends, she didn't complain too much.
What she did have a problem with was a History project that, unfortunately, had to be done in pairs. Morgan and Quinn had already decided to work together, and the rest of the class seemed reluctant to team up with her, no matter how brilliant her grades were. The whole thing put her in a foul mood.
What she did have a problem with was a History project that, unfortunately, had to be done in pairs. Morgan and Quinn had already decided to work together, and the rest of the class seemed reluctant to team up with her, no matter how brilliant her grades were. The whole thing put her in a foul mood.
On top of that, she had other stuff weighing on her mind: the disappearances that kept the town on edge, wolves being hunted in the woods, the scary stories Morgan had told her last week. Her head was a mess.
—What did that bush ever do to you to deserve that look?
Lana blinked and saw Jacob standing beside her. She was sitting on the school steps, so lost in thought she hadn't even noticed him arrive.
—Go away, Black. I'm not in the mood.
She answered in a soft, calm tone. Strange coming from her.
He sat down at a careful distance so as not to piss her off. Lana frowned.
—Actually, I can't. I'm here to cash in that favor.
—Didn't you hear me? I said I'm not in the mood— she snapped.
Jacob snorted.
—Could you stop acting like a rabid dog for just two minutes? Besides, this favor works out for both of us.
Jacob didn't know how Lana would take his blunt response, but when he saw her cross her arms with an inquisitive look, he seemed to understand he wouldn't get rid of her that easily.
—What's it about?
—The History project. I know you don't have a partner—seeing her open her mouth to protest, he rushed to continue—...And before you curse me out, let me tell you I don't either. Quil and Embry are doing it together. So we're both flying solo.
Lana blinked, her brow furrowed.
—Are you asking me to be your partner?
—Unless you've got someone else in mind.—He watched her. Lana seemed to be carefully weighing the situation. He liked the way she scrunched up her face whenever she was thinking. It made him smile.
—You'd be signing your own death warrant—she clarified, warning in her voice.
He shrugged, brushing it off.
—I think I did that the day I helped you with your spare tire.
Lana didn't want to give in, but doing this alone wasn't an option either. Defeated and muttering curses under her breath, she stood up in front of him and said:
—Five o'clock at La Push. Don't be late. I hate tardiness.
Jacob's brow furrowed beneath a slight smile.
—Is that a yes?
With her usual 'don't-mess-with-me' face, Lana stared him down and slung her backpack over her shoulder.
—See you, Black.
She walked off with her fiery attitude and heavy steps, feeling his gaze follow her all the way to her car until she disappeared. She couldn't believe what she'd just done.
●●●
Lana sat on a log facing the ocean until the sun started to set, watching the water shift from deep blue to leaden gray. She'd arrived early, but it was almost time.
She wasn't alone—along the beach, people were fishing, though from what she could see, the fish weren't biting. An hour ago, a young couple had shown up with sandwiches and a kite. She noticed the tenderness in the way they looked at each other. She figured they were in college, just a couple years older than her, but there was a quiet affection between them that she hadn't experienced yet. Yeah, she'd had admirers, but she'd never felt truly drawn to anyone, and sometimes she wondered if she ever would.
After her parents' divorce, she'd become somewhat cynical about the whole thing. Like most of her friends, most of their parents were divorced too, so maybe that had something to do with it.
She decided to stand up and stretch her legs when, suddenly, Jacob appeared a few steps away. And it wasn't even five o'clock yet. He opened his mouth to greet her, but Lana stopped him with a raised hand.
—We'll start with World War I. And if we're lucky, we'll move on to World War II.
Jacob made an exaggerated gesture with his hand, like saluting a captain.
—Whatever you say, boss.
They both sat between the logs and pulled out their stuff before getting to work.
It turned out to be a pretty strange day for her, since she didn't actually have that bad a time, despite the back pain and freezing cold. She didn't want to be cooped up in a library all day; she needed fresh air, and what better place than the beach. As for the company... she had already grown used to his presence, more than she should have.
She wondered if it was possible for someone to make you forget everything for a moment. And when she looked up to watch him, she realized it was possible. She'd even forgotten why they were there. Jacob's hands were too big for the delicate pencil between his fingers. When he was hunched over, or sitting like that, he looked graceful; not like when he was standing, with his six-foot-three frame.
—Take a picture, it'll last longer. —he said suddenly, locking eyes with her.
Lana blushed and put on her usual 'angry puppy' expression.
—I was just checking that you were doing what I told you. So keep going.— She dove back into her writing.
—That's what I'm doing. — he replied, enjoying the fact that he'd made her nervous.
She didn't say anything else. She didn't want to give him more ammunition to make her uncomfortable; it was bad enough having to share the space again, especially doing this project together.
The afternoon flew by and they had to pack up before it got too late. They'd made good progress and split up the remaining parts they'd have to finish on their own. Lana figured it could have been worse.
That's when she spotted a figure standing on the cliff. She squinted to focus and realized it was a woman. And then, without warning, she threw herself into the void.
—No!— Lana screamed, covering her mouth with her hand, horrified.
—What is it?—Jacob asked, alarmed.
—That girl just jumped off the cliff!
Jacob went still for a moment, staring into the distance. He seemed to be sniffing the air. Suddenly, his expression changed before he shouted:
—Stay here!
—What are you doing?—Lana watched him rip off his shirt and hurl himself into the water—Black!—But it was useless. He started swimming like a pro.
Nerves on edge, Lana tried not to lose sight of him. It felt like an eternity; all she could hear was the thunderous beating of her heart against her chest.
Finally, Jacob's dark shadow reappeared with a body in his arms, fighting against the dark, gray waters. Lana waded into the water to help him. When she saw the woman, she recognized her immediately: it was Bella Swan. And she was unconscious.
—She's not breathing!—Jacob warned desperately as he laid her on the shore. —Call an ambulance!
Her body moved almost by instinct toward her bag on the ground, searching for her phone. Her fingers were trembling and she breathed to calm herself. When she turned back, she noticed Black was performing CPR.
She approached them again, took off her coat, and said:
—Let me try.
He looked at her uncertainly. But before he could refuse, she insisted.
—The ambulance will take too long, and you're exhausted. Let me try.
Jacob noticed the determination and confidence in her gaze and knew there was no talking her out of it. He took her hands and placed them on Bella's chest.
—Keep your elbows locked, and position your shoulders directly above your hands. Press down on the chest, and every ten seconds do mouth-to-mouth— he explained quickly.
—I got it. Make some room.
Having someone's life literally in her hands wasn't pleasant. They were the longest five minutes of her life, but five minutes all the same. Bella opened her eyes, disoriented.
—Bella. Bella, can you hear me? The ambulance is on its way—Jacob told her.
Lana grabbed her hand-knitted sweater and placed it over her. His eyes turned to her.
—We can't let her get cold—she argued, meeting his surprised gaze—. She could catch a cold.
—Will she be okay if we move her?
—Did she hit her back or anything on the way down?
—I don't know—he hesitated.
Lana sighed.
—Then we'd better not move her. Let's let the paramedics handle that.
—Jake?—Bella croaked, making both of them turn. Jacob leaned in and gasped with relief seeing her respond.
Something inside Lana stirred at that reaction.
—Are you okay? Does anything hurt?
—J-just my throat—she stammered, her lips trembling from the cold.
The ambulance took no more than a couple of minutes. Jacob carried Bella to it, and they checked her out there, deciding it was best to take her to the hospital for a better check-up. But Bella flat-out refused; she said she just wanted to rest at home. So Jacob offered to drive her.
Lana looked from the motorcycle to her Lamborghini, parked side by side. She sighed, knowing she didn't really have any other option that would give her peace of mind than to drive them both. Frustrated, she cursed under her breath and spoke:
—I'll drive you. It's warmer than your motorcycle.
—Oh... Thanks, but Jake will take me on the bike—Swan said clumsily, surprised. Lana rolled her eyes in annoyance before walking to the car.
—That wasn't a question. So get in— she opened the door, motioning with her hand for them to enter.
Jacob smiled, looking at the ground; then he approached.
—Don't worry—he told Bella—She barks, but she doesn't bite.
Lana shot him a warning look.
—Say that again and it'll be the last thing you do, Black.—Then she got in the driver's side—Get in. Now!
Bella hurried, intimidated, while Jacob walked at a leisurely pace. Lana waited for both of them to get settled before starting; unfortunately for her, Jacob got in the front, wearing a smile she wanted to punch off his face.
The atmosphere was awkward and strange at the same time. This time, the roles had been reversed: she was playing chauffeur for Jacob Black. It felt like she'd crossed the threshold into an alternate world. Sure; an alternative alternate world because she didn't see any way to escape from him now.
—Jake told me you saved me.
Bella's voice snapped her out of her trance. Lana made a face, glancing in the rearview mirror.
—I didn't save you. God did. Thank Him.
—I didn't know you were religious.— Jacob commented with a furrowed brow.
Lana gave him a brief glare of hatred. Then she focused back on the road.
—Still, thank you. If it weren't for you... well, it was a stupid thing to do.
—Glad you recognize that.—Lana gripped the steering wheel tightly—Not everyone gets second chances, so please, don't go pulling any other crazy stunts. At least not while I'm around. I'm not giving statements to the police.
Bella frowned at that scolding and looked at Jake, who shook his head in a reassuring way.
—I won't.
—You better not. —Lana warned. Leaving her at her front door, she said: —Now, get out of here already.
Jake walked her to the entrance. She couldn't hear what they were saying, only caught small fragments of that conversation; things like "She's kinda weird" and "I'm grateful to both of you."
Then he got back in the car. Lana drove in silence down the highway. At least, for a while.
—I didn't know you cared about other people. — he admitted, staring at the road—I gotta say I'm impressed.
—I don't care about her, I care about myself. — she replied seriously—I don't want to witness another suicide, much less be part of one; thanks a lot.
Jacob frowned.
—She said it wasn't a suicide.
Lana let out a short laugh, looking at him for a moment.
—And you believe her? Come on, Black. You're smart enough to know that throwing yourself off a cliff only means two things: either you're crazy, or you want to die.
—I do it too.—he admitted, wanting to see her reaction.
However, Lana's face remained impassive.
—I know, that's why I think you're crazy.
—And not a suicidal person?
Lana thought about it.
—Both, actually.
He laughed as he turned his gaze to the window.
—Drop me off here. — he told her when his house appeared on the horizon. —It'll be easier for you when you turn around.
—Whatever. —she stopped the vehicle on the shoulder and waited for him to get out. But he didn't. She frowned—What are you waiting for? An invitation to get out of my car?
Jacob huffed before responding:
—What you did was brave.
—Me? You're the one who dove in.
He closed his eyes, like trying to calm himself.
—I know... I know... what I mean is... no one else would have done what you did. You didn't know how to do CPR, but... you took a chance. And that says a lot about you.
Lana laughed while rolling her eyes to the sky.
—Oh yeah? And what does it say?
There was a silence before he spoke, and his eyes pierced into her; just like all those times she ended up lost in his gaze.
—That you're a lot more than you seem.
She blinked as he got out of the car. Lana rolled down the window yelling:
—And what the hell does that mean, Black?!
But Jacob only turned around, giving her a smile, and kept walking. Without saying another word.