Chapter 7:
Side Effects

Hunter's eyes snap open and she jolted forward. Her hands clutch her body, memories flooding in like the water she drowned in. She drowned, it was almost as terrifying as dying in the woods alone. Her eyes run across her arm and she looked down. The Quileute tattoo was there, healed and permanent. It worked.

She grimanced and finally scanned her surroundings. It was Jacob's room. She was tucked into his bed with nothing but a single pillow to rest her head on. It was awfully quiet, she could hear a pin drop. But instead, an ear piercing beep rang in her ears.

Her hands fly up to her ears and she groaned. The sound stopped seconds after it came. She glanced around the room desperately, itching to find the source. She looked out the window beside her, it was dark out which either meant, it was the same night of the ritual still or she slept all day.

The beep went off again but it wasn't as loud this time. It was the sound of her cell phone, the voicemail sound. The phone was lodged in her jeans pocket and she snatched it out, flipping it open to see dozens of calls from Bella and only three voicemails.

Her hand rubbed at her eye and she pressed the first voice message reluctantly. She knew Bella would be freaking out by now, having called her so many times with no response. It wasn't her fault.

"Hey, Hunter it's me. Edward is freaking out about you. He keeps telling me to check up on you. Call me back." Bella's voice was simple and calm, but Hunter could recognize the frantic nature behind it all. She clicked the next voicemail quickly, afraid of what to hear next.

"Hunter, please answer the phone. I need to know that you're alive. Cause if those hairy beasts put their hands on you, I'll kill-" It was Edward. He had called her from Bella's phone, knowing that if he called from his own cell, Hunter would never answer. His voice was stern, strong, and afraid. She bit her finger softly as she listened, his voice dropping lower out of fear of being heard. "I'll kill them all. Call us back."

The note ended and Hunter remained still. She could hear her own heart beat and it sounded like it would burst out of her chest any minute now. She knew he wouldn't lay a finger on any of the wolves, not out of fear, but because of Bella. She clicked on the final note. "Hey it's Bella again. We're worried about you. Alice said that you disappeared from the house. I hope you're okay."

There was a pause, one that made Hunter move to the edge of the bed. Her barefeet wince at the chilled wood floors but they adjusted quickly. Bella sighed on the other end, "Edward's making us fly back early. We'll be back in Forks either tomorrow afternoon or the day after. I have news and I hope you'll be there when we get back. Call me, please."

Hunter flipped her phone shut and tossed it behind her onto the bed. Her hands rub at her face angrily. She didn't want this, she didn't want them to come back yet. She wasn't ready for them to come back. That's what she kept telling herself; they and them.

It wasn't Bella she was afraid of, but she already knew that. Her body rocked back and forth on the edge of the mattress, hundreds of things flying in and out of her brain. But the one thing that stuck, was the thing she'd kill for.

She stood up and slid into her shoes before grabbing another one of Jacob's hoodies, and flying out the door. She could feel a scowl crawl onto her face and her feet nearly broke through the floors as she stomped out the small red house.

Multiple heart beats filled her ears and she instinctively inhaled. The scent was salivating, the sound alone made her vicious. There was laughter and her head turned to her left.

The boys were there, lingering near the forest like they always did, tossing one another around like a ball. Her hands form into fists and she marched towards them. The closer she got, the hungrier she became. The more she thought about Bella and Edward, the angrier she got.

It was a bad combination.

"Hey you're up." Jacob beamed. Though his smile along with the other's, wiped away once they found her glare. The darkness in her eyes was back and they all shared looks.

Hunter came to a stop before them and her fists stay at her sides, "The stupid ritual didn't work." Sam frowned and moved to stand in front of them all. His chin was tilted downwards, his tall figure looming over her's. "What do you mean it didn't work?"

She flared her arms, "I'm still hungry!"

"Have you eaten food?" Seth asked, a snicker leaving his lips. Everyone's eyes fly to him and his smile left. Sam turned back to her and he nodded to her arm, "Is the tattoo there?"

Hunter rolled her eyes, "It's there and it's just as ugly as your's. Now what do I do, because I still want to drain you all clean."

"Let's just let her hunt." Jacob told Sam, "Animals only." Hunter scoffed and shook her head. Animal blood would only get thrown back up. She needed something strong and only strong.

"What." Jacob asked her, confused by her scoff. Hunter crossed her arms and leaned onto one leg, "My body rejects animal blood. I'll only throw it back up."

Sam huffed and looked to Jacob, nudging him for anymore ideas. "Blood bag?" Jacob quizzed, his own arms crossing across his chest.

Hunter shrugged, "They're good but not enough. I'll go through ten bags in three minutes. They only make me hungrier." Sam threw his hands up in defeat.

"The ritual only worked for her to be in the pack. It didn't say that it'd cure her hunger." Paul spoke up. He was right, the ritual was for werewolves, not vampires. Jacob slapped his forehead, Sam clenched his jaw, and Hunter practically growled. "So I practically died again, for no reason!?"

She let out a sarcastic chuckle and wiped over her face, finding a thin layer of sweat coating her forehead. The temperature rose drastically for her but she didn't think much of it. She only paced back and forth in front of them, stress fueling her body almost as much as her hunger did.

"Hunter, just relax-" Sam was cut off.

"Don't tell me to relax!" She yelled, her voice echoing around the field. "You tricked me." her finger pointed at Sam threateningly.

His chin raised, "I didn't know it wouldn't work." Hunter shook her head. She should've known, she wasted time and did things that weren't ever going to fix her problems. "Oh I'm sure." She mumbled, her eyes glaring holes into his own, "What would me joining your stupid pack have anything to do with curbing my appetite?!"

Jacob sighed heavily and moved forward, blocking her from Sam. "Okay, let's go take a walk." Hunter shoved his hands away from her but he didn't let up. "No, Jake, He lied to me."

   "I know, I know. Come on." He told her mindlessly. She glared at the alpha one last time before letting Jacob guide her away from the pack. There was a part of her that knew none of this was Sam's fault.
She was the one who killed Bethany and disrupted her blood consumption. She is the out of control one and she should've known the ritual wouldn't affect her vampirism.

All Sam did, was follow the steps and hoped for the best. He gave her the option to go through with it or not, and she did. But the majority of her refused to believe she had a choice. "Where are you taking me?" She asked Jacob.

He led her further and further into the forest. The darkness consumed them but they could see clear as day. "Somewhere to calm you down." Hunter huffed at his vagueness but listened nonetheless.

The leaves that crunched beneath their feet came to a stop and she was met with soft grass. Her eyes lift up and she immediately wanted to collapse. Jacob watched her reaction and he grew worried, though his face remained calm.

It was a field, an open one accompanied by a very wide pond. It was the same field her and Winston spent their time in. The spot she hasn't seen in months. "Why would you take me here?" Hunter whispered, tears slipping from her eyes instantly.

She could feel her heart breaking. She could feel it all and it felt terrible. Jacob stepped in front of her, "You need to find closure. This is step one."

His hands softly grab her's and he pulled her with him, the two nearing the pond. Her feet shuffled robotically, dread and regret filling her up. "Jake, please don't make me do this."

"If not now, then when?" He asked her, "You've got too much weight on your shoulders and I won't stand by while it crushes you." Hunter's stomach swirled continuously and it was getting harder and harder to hold in her sobs.

It didn't feel the same. The energy that used to flow through the field was gone, just like Winston. "Just go with the flow." He told her before pulling his shirt off.

Hunter's breathing slowed and she watched him undress. The water moved slowly and calmly, the moonlight illuminating the ripples that slid to the edges. She was frozen in place, wondering why stripping to nothing but her undergarments, with Jacob, would help alleviate her suppressed pain for Winston.

If anything, this felt disrespectful, as if she was cheating on him. Jacob turned back around and frowned. Her face was ridden with tears and her arms hugged herself tightly. "Hunter..." He trailed. There was a part of him that felt guilty for bringing her here, but he had good intentions. This wasn't to torture her, it was to help.

"Think of this as another one of our adventures." Jacob started, "You know? The ones we had as kids?" Hunter sniffled before nodding, his words somewhat helping. She missed those times too. Jacob smiled, "Come on."

Without waiting, he leaped into the pond. Hunter shriveled back, avoiding the large droplets of water that threatened to hit her. She had never actually gone into the pond, even on the hottest of days when the water always looked clean and refreshing.

Jacob's body emerged from the underwater and a smile graced his face. "Come on!" He yelled excitedly. Hunter didn't even feel a smile creep onto her face. Her eyes linger into the darkness of the woods for a little bit before she let out a heavy sigh. She unzipped the hoodie and kicked off her shoes, both objects flying aside. "Yeah!" Jacob cheered.

There was no part of her that felt pressured to do this. Winston was dead and he wasn't coming back. She needed to realize that instead of ignoring it. She hadn't gotten over it all summer, it was time now. Her shirt flew over her head and onto the ground, "It's time to live again." She mumbled to herself.

She slid her pants off and sucked in a breath. The pond water wasn't nearly as deep as the ocean, but her mind was still a bit skeptical. Having drowning only hours before seemed to have some affect on her. She could swim, but having that ability didn't ease her nerves. So instead of jumping in like Jacob, she walked into the water, her arms covering her chest as the chilled liquid licked her skin.

The higher the water got, the more her teeth chattered. Her skin is rough with goosebumps and her eyes find Jacob's. His face was beaming with happiness as he patiently waited for her to reach him. It felt good to spend time with her, without any distractions. It felt like old times.

Hunter's right foot went gliding down to the ground, only there was no ground. The shallow end of the pond had ended and the deep end was exposed. A gasp left her lips as her body went crashing down into the frigid water. Expecting to be engulfed in darkness, she got hands instead. "I got you." Jacob said, holding her steady.

Her eyes peel open and she sheepishly climbed out of his arms. For that split second where she thought she was falling, all she could think about was the burning of her chest, the lack of oxygen. "Sorry, I didn't know it got deeper." She mumbled, the water now licking at her chin.

Her body had adjusted to the change of temperature and she was warm now, but her jaw still trembled. "Don't apologize, I should've warned you." Jacob replied. Even as scared as she was, he still found her beautiful. The way the moonlight could be seen on her face, it graced her already perfect features and Jacob couldn't help but love her even more.

As for Hunter, she was praying to be back in bed, warm and cozy. "How long do we stay in here?" She asked, her legs paddling casually to keep her afloat. Jacob shrugged before splashing water at her. Hunter shut her eyes and attempted to shield her face. "Jacob!" She screeched, her body trembling even more from the shock.

His laughs echoed and she couldn't fight the giggles that climbed up her throat. This had to have been the first time she's genuinely laughed since she's been back in town and it felt good. With Jacob consumed in his own laughter, she swam over to him before rising up and pushing his head underneath the water.

Hunter backed away and watched Jacob breakthrough the surface, gasping for air. Water splashed crazily and she continued to laugh. His hair wasn't being affected by the water like her's but she didn't mind. The splashing wars continued for a few more minutes, the two loving the stress-free environment.

Hunter didn't even think about blood anymore, even Winston left her mind momentarily. The dull ache in her chest was still there, but she didn't acknowledge it. "Okay! Okay! Stop!" She yelled, shielding her face from the last of the splashes.

Jacob let out a content sigh and leaned onto his back, floating on the surface. Hunter joined his side, "Thanks." He glanced over at her and held back a smile, "You're welcome."

Silence fell but it wasn't awkward. She swam beside him, shamelessly staring at his face. With his eyes closed and his lashes laid out onto his cheeks, he looked peaceful, like nothing mattered. Jacob was always handsome to her and that was a big deal when they were kids.

"You're staring." He said, flicking one eye open at her. Hunter pursed her lips and swam away from him. She wasn't ashamed that she was caught, it was the fact that she wanted to keep staring at him. He was eye candy and her eyes had a sweet tooth. Her hands and knees find the shallow end and she twisted around to sit. The water still engulfed her figure but her muscles were now at rest.

It was then when she realized Jacob was following her. She hoped he wasn't going to ask her questions about her staring, but knowing Jacob, he'd take that interaction and run miles with it. "How you feeling?" He asked her and she released a deep breath.

"Better actually. It feels good to not be boiling hot all the time." Hunter replied. Her legs lift before falling back down slowly. The water glided between them and it felt nice.

Jacob nodded, "I know what you mean." The silence returned and this time it was awkward. Hunter could feel the conflict in Jacob as he practically glared at the water. There was something he wanted to say but he debated if he should or not. Just the sight of that, made Hunter feel nervous.

"What's wrong?" She warily questioned. Jacob turned to her, his face hard with emotions. She wiggled her toes and felt how wrinkled they were becoming. "I don't know." He mumbled honestly.

He didn't know what was wrong with him, but he definitely wanted to kiss her. It was a yes or no thing, he didn't want to overstep his boundaries with her or make her upset. That wasn't even the last thing he wanted to do to her.

But when their eyes met, he could feel himself gravitating towards her. He knew she didn't love him back, but he couldn't resist. He leaned in closer until their foreheads touched. Hunter remained still, her chest rising and falling quickly at the close proximity.

The moment had to have been picture perfect, a scene out of a movie. Hunter even found herself wanting more, fighing the urge to seal the deal and kiss him. Their breaths mingled and Jacob couldn't ignore the fast rate of his heart. This was something he's wanted for so long, to have her to himself.

His lips brush against her's innocently but he shriveled back a bit, afraid. "Hunter..." He whispered softly. Her eyes lift up and she could see how vulnerable he was. His eyes were shut and his body shivered. She didn't feel anything for him, he was only her best friend. It'd be terrible to take advantage of his emotions just to appease her sexual needs.

So she pulled away. Jacob's shoulders slouched forward in defeat, the moment slipping through his fingers. "I can't do that to you." She whispered back. He said nothing, he didn't even look at her.

Hunter got onto her feet and climbed out of the pond, each limb feeling like a thousand pounds. She trudged over to her clothes and mental cursed. They didn't have anything to dry themselves with.
"Hey, we don't have a towel-"

She twirled around and her sentence fell short. Jacob was standing right behind her, a frown on his face and tears building up in his eyes. "Jake." She whispered, her hands landing on either side of his face. "Why are you crying?"

His hands find her arms and he let out a shaky breath, "I want to kiss you. I don't care if you don't want me like that. I just want to feel you." Hunter's hands slipped off his face and she sighed.

"That's wrong." She muttered, avoiding his eyes. She couldn't deny that she was extremely aroused. It felt weird to not be sexually active constantly. She had Mason to thank for that. But it was still wrong. Jacob was in love with her and she was just lustful.

Now Jacob's hands land on her face, forcing her to stare at him. Hunter searched his eyes and she could see how anxious he was. "I don't care. I won't hold it against you. I just want one kiss."

She exhaled, extremely disgusted with herself. Jacob only wanted to kiss her while she wanted to have sex. She has changed since she's last been here, terribly. "Right." She whispered, "A kiss."

Jacob nodded, a shy smile forming. "Okay." She told him, "Kiss me." He softly brushed her drying hair out of her face and shuffled in his step, leaning closer to her.

Hunter's eyes fluttered closed and it wasn't long before his lips met her's. It wasn't forced and one-sided like the first kiss they shared, it was soft and meaningful, even a little passionate. Jacob's lips molded with her's and his hand slid down to her hip, gripping it lightly as if he was afraid she'd disappear.

Hunter's breathing accelerated and her hands graze over his arms, desperate to deepen the kiss. She ran her fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest. Jacob shivered and pulled away, his forehead resting against her's.

She inhaled sharply, soft gasps squeezing out of her with each exhale. It took her everything to stop from pulling him back to her. She was hungry for a sensual touch, one that was just as strong as her bloodlust.

Jacob hesitantly looked down at her, his eyebrows raising when he could see the desire swimming in her eyes. "What?" He asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Hunter rolled her eyes and pulled his face back to her's, the kiss continuing. This time, Jacob matched her feverish tempo and they lowered themselves to the ground.

Their bodies were still cold and wet but they didn't care, the warmth would return soon.