A Jacob Black Love Story - True and Sharp

"So Theresa, how've you been?" Emily tried to make conversation with me as we drove down a drizzly, grey, forest road. I can't say I blamed her. I'd been in a foul mood the whole way from the airport, my head pressed against the window.

"Don't worry Ems," whispered her fiancee Sam, putting his arm around her in the front seat. "She'll loosen up in a few days. It must be hard for her with...ya know..."

"Sure," she shot me a quick glance filled with sympathy. I looked away from her, a cold stare set on my face. Only one year... I reminded myself. Then, I'll be 18. I'll go off... make a living like Mom, as a model. I'll move somewhere warm...

"You okay Theresa?" Sam asked, anxiously. He must have noticed my vacant, daydreaming expression.

"Yes I'm fine!" I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him.

"We're almost back now," Emily observed. "Pick up your bags. We'll have to make a dash through the rain."

Great I thought angrily. Hauling four great suitcases, filled with clothes across half a rainy, freezing forest.

"3, 2, 1, ... GO!" Sam cried, pulling two of my suitcases out of my arms and pelting through the rain leaving me and Emily to bring the rest. Every part of my body ached with sadness and coldness and as I struggled through the storm, dragging a suitcase, Emily by my side pulling my other one I thought about Mom, trying to fill my head with happy memories before this could take over.

"Jeez," I heard Emily moan as we reached the house. "These are frickin' heavy!"

"You can't pack your whole life into a suitcase you know," Sam said kindly.

"Yeah well, I just wanted as much of it as possible..." I muttered, looking at the floor.

"Are the guys here?" Emily said quickly, changing the subject. "PAUL? SETH? JAKE?" She called out several names that I didn't recognise. After a moment a tall, lean boy came out of a doorway, rubbing his eyes. He wasn't wearing a shirt and he looked around 15 or so.

"Hi Emily," he said. "I think they're all at Jake's. I fell asleep so they must've abandoned me... haha! Who's that?" He looked at me.

"This is Theresa," Emily said. "Something er...happened. Her Mom died so she's come to live with us."

"No kidding," he said. "Sorry 'bout your Mom. I know how you must feel."

"Seth's Dad, Harry died a few months ago." Sam explained. "He and his sister spend most of their time here now instead of home. Where is Leah anyway? I don't expect she's at Jacob's,"

"I'm not sure..." said Seth. "Hey Em, how 'bout a muffin?"

"Fine! Go on then."

"Theresa, you're lucky!" Seth grinned. "Emily's food is excellent!"

Lucky?! I thought sourly. Yeah right!

"Hey!" Suddenly, Seth's whole face lit up as if he had just had a brilliant idea. "How 'bout I take Theresa down to meet all the guys, and Leah of course?That could be fun. How about it?"

I shrugged, hating the attention. "Yeah...why not..." I would have given anything to escape from this cosy, stuffy kitchen.

"Off you go then," Sam said. "Come back at a reasonable time. You're starting School tomorrow."

I didn't want to hear that dreaded word again. I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my dark, grey parka jacket and slouched out after Seth, a terrible grimace on my face.