Vampires, Werewolves, and... Love? Oh My!

“Lizzy, what if I told you that you were Jacob’s imprint?” Complete and utter silence followed Leah’s question. My head was buzzing with ‘what if’s’.
“I-I’d say that you’re lying. There’s no way that I’m Jacob’s imprint.”
“Liz-”
“No, Leah. He deserves to have a girl that’s better than me. I’m a total wreck. We fight all the time and we just don’t get along. We’re- we’re just not compatible!”
“So? Lizzy, Jacob's a werewolf, okay? He's a mess, too. We pretty much all are but now he's found you. I haven't seen him this happy since before the Cullens came back to Forks."
"I already have a boyfriend." Lame excuse but I didn't want to get my hopes up. Making excuses just seemed easier. "It wouldn't be fair to anybody."
"Like that's stopped you before?"
I jumped and turned quickly behind us to Jacob's voice. How long has he been standing there? Please tell me he didn't hear this whole conversation. Oh god, what if he did. Great, more what if's. UGH! Suck it up, Lizzy!
"I'll leave you two alone," Leah said with a smirk. She got off the ground and dusted off her shorts.
Jacob took her place after a few seconds of awkward silence. I kept my eyes locked on the setting sun on the ocean's horizon. God, when did I become too cowardly to talk to a boy? Normally I wouldn’t care. I'd be talking with no problem to a guy whether I liked him or not. But now I was afraid to say the wrong thing and have Jake think I was some stupid little girl.
"So-" we both said at the same time. I giggled a little and continued before he could. "About what Leah said..."
"Yeah, about that. Um, Lizzy. I should have told you that sooner-"
"Please don't, Jake," I whispered. "I can't do this. You should be with someone who's not totally fucked up."
"Lizzy, don't say that. I wanted to tell you that I imprinted on you the second I saw you. But I was just scared. I love you, Elizabeth."
I hugged my knees close to my body and rested my chin on them. My eyes closed and a few tears escaped down my cheeks. "Don't say that. That doesn't mean anything."
"Yes it does. Why is it so hard for you to admit it?"
"Because I think I feel the same way about you. That's why I'm afraid. Look, Jacob, my parents thought they were in love and then they split when I was still little. I would stay up all night waiting for Dad to come down to Phoenix and be with Mom again. I had to watch my mom go out with endless streams of guys but some part of me always waited for my Mom and Dad to get back together. And then she married Phil and all I had left was Bella. Well guess what, she came here and left me behind."
"Well why didn't you come with her?"
"Because I was angry. I was angry at her for leaving. And I was angry at my Dad for never fighting to win back my Mom. I don't like getting close to people. I'm afraid they'll leave me." More tears were slipping down my cheeks and nose. I felt Jacob's warm arms wrap around me.
"What about all your other boyfriends? You let them get close."
"No, I didn't. I've never felt this way before. I never really loved any of them. All of my previous boyfriends were just a good time. But with you, it’s different. I care about you, Jake, and if it didn’t work out I would get hurt."
"Lizzy-"
"Jacob, please just forget about me. I don't want to get my heart broken."
He lifted my chin with his fingers so that I was looking right into his brown eyes. He kissed my forehead. "Elizabeth Margaret Swan. I will never hurt you."
My eyes dropped. "How do you know?" If Jacob's wasn't a werewolf, he never would've heard my question.
"I promise." With those two words, his lips locked onto mine. His kiss was gentle but so full of love. Chills ran down my spine and I felt myself kissing him back.

*JACOB'S POV*
Finally. I told her and we ended up kissing right there on the beach It wasn't like we were rolling over each other in the sand. But it still gave me goose bumps. Lizzy seemed so fragile, so vulnerable at that moment that I wanted to protect her from everything. I'd never seen her so open, not even with Bella.
I don't know how long we just sat together. Her head was resting on my chest and I held her close. After a while her breathing became even and she was asleep. I kissed her hair gently and carried her to the car. Bella smiled knowingly.

*BELLA'S POV*
Jacob and Lizzy looked so cute together. I felt like an intruder watching them together. Not even Sam and Emily seemed so perfect for each other. Jacob gently leaned to kiss Lizzy's hair gently and then picked her up to carry her to the car. I smiled at him and he rolled his eyes.
"Are you guys ready?" he asked me.
"Sure. I'll just go pry Emma away from Embry." It was already getting dark and a few people had gone already. The fire was slowly burning out and Emily was packing up the last scraps of food. That reminded me that neither Lizzy nor Jake had eaten. He must really care about her if he skipped dinner to be with her. I smiled slightly.
*Jacob, take care of her,* I thought.

*JACOB'S POV*
I dropped the girls off at the treaty line. Bella's bloodsucker was waiting there patiently. Lizzy was still sleeping. "Lizzy," Bella whispered shaking her.
"No, let her sleep. I'll carry her to Cullen's car."
Bella smiled gently. "Thanks Jacob. I'll bet that's uncomfortable for you."
I shrugged. "I'll plug my nose. Just wake her up before you get to the house."
She rolled her eyes. "Edward wouldn't hurt her if he had to carry her in. But fine. I'll wake her up a block before we get home. Happy?"
"Sure, sure. I'll see you later, Bells."
"Jacob? I'm glad you told her."
"Me too, Bella."
I said one last good-bye to Emma and drove off. I dropped my car at my house and shifted into a wolf for my patrol.
*It's about time you told her. I like Lizzy. She's really cool.*
*Wow, my sister made a friend? You sure know how to pick 'em.*
*Shut up, Seth. Yes, I'm friends with Lizzy. Now shut up and run your perimeter.*
*Yes ma'am.* Seth was quiet after that. He kept us updated but didn't say much.
*So you really like Lizzy?*
*Yeah, I do,* Leah answered. She smiled and then started thinking about something Lizzy had told her.
*No! I shouted mentally. *You are not taking Lizzy to get drunk. She's been through enough shit.*
*Chill out. Getting wasted was her idea anyway. Unless you'd rather her resort back to cutting when Bella's leeches are around the house every day.*
My eyes narrowed but I couldn't argue with her. I knew that Lizzy would do something and not listen when people told her it was bad. Somehow I would find a way so that she didn't need to do that crap to herself anymore.
*Oh how cute.*
*Shut up, Leah.*