Summary: AU. Bella never dove off the Cliff by herself in New Moon. Her and Jake ended up together. Things were good. Until the day Jacob imprinted. Jacob Black was not supposed to imprint. Ever. That is what he firmly believed. Because if he was supposed to, it would have been on his girlfriend, Bella Swan. So, he shut down the imprint at a cost. To who though. Surely just himself?

*Warning. I switch between calling him Jake or Jacob in this. Sorry but not sorry.

Note about the imprint in this story. My view on imprinting is based on what Mel. Wolfgirl (FF author) describes in book two of the Imprinted Chronicles. Love the series. Give it a read if you're a pack fan. I have had this one shot in my backlog for a while. Decided to post it because I can't access my other stories' chapters that are on my main house computer. Please enjoy and leave a review if you have any comments! P.s. this is a one shot story. Update - nvm. not a one shot. changed my mind .

Vindicated

Part I

Jacob Black was not supposed to imprint. Ever. That is what he firmly believed. Because if he was supposed to, it would have been on his girlfriend, Bella Swan.

Bella was his dream girl. After all his effort to put her back together when she was left by Edward Cullen, Jacob's efforts were rewarded. With time, Bella was able to fall for him like he always knew she should. He, Jacob Black, would always protect Bella. Love her. Cherish her. Worship her. She was his everything.

The weekend after Bella graduated from Forks High School, Jacob took her out to Port Angeles. He saved up money, requested time off from patrolling for the red head, and performed maintenance on his motorcycle. He was dead set on treating his girl. Proving to her that age was a number and he could be a man for her. Even if he was only 16. Landing an older chick was hot to Jake too.

Jacob and Bella had spent that Saturday exploring the town and enjoying each other's company. It was going perfect in Jake's mind. Bella was having fun. He was happy.

Over half way into their evening, Bella excused herself to the restroom. Jacob happily waited for her on a bench, trying to not count the seconds when her soft, delicate hand was back in his.

He was minding his own business sitting on that wooden bench. The sun was beginning to set. The pathway in front of Jacob was receiving heavy foot traffic. When Jacob was beginning to imagine what Bella may do with him later in the back row of a dark movie theatre, his wolf forced him to focus on his surroundings.

Look up. To the right. It whispered somewhere from deep inside him. Jacob's body tensed. His wolf never communicated with him. Jake was always in control. Something must have been wrong. Were he and Bella in danger?

Jake did as he was instructed. A tall girl stood out to him in the crowd. Possibly around his age. Round face, olive skin. Honey colored wavy hair that fell to her waist. She was pretty enough. But she was no Bella. Jacob looked up to her eyes. Her shy green eyes locked with his and Jacob froze. A bond was being formed. Over his dead body he thought. Not with some stranger. He had Bella!

Before the bond was hardened, he clamped down on it. Forcing it down. Making it disappear into somewhere deep in his soul. A whisper of it was left. Whatever he was beginning to feel towards this random girl was snuffed out to what he could. It cost him something though. A steep price. One this stranger would never know as she walked by him. His emotions were hijacked with what he buried with this unwanted imprint. He could feel, but it was only a candle's worth compared to a raging bonfire. If he could remain with Bella, he would make it work. He had to.

No one could ever know he imprinted. No one. His pack would find out immediately when he next phased. Panic rose in Jacob. It would ruin everything. They would know. Bella could find out. And she could never know. Jacob had to never phase again. Impossible...or? He could embrace his birth right as Alpha. You can't have two Alphas in a pack. If he separated from them all, no one would know his thoughts. It was genius. Jacob was willing to pay any cost to keep his dream girl. And today he paid a steep price. More than he could ever fathom.

Jacob began to feel a rising calmness in himself when he saw Bella approaching him with a soft smile on her face. God she was beautiful. She was Bella. His Bella. He was happy again. All would be right. He imprinted but it didn't matter. That stranger meant nothing to him and what was left of her was hidden in some small crevice of his soul he would never access again. Ever.

...

(6 years later)

Jacob was happy. He was driving to his dad's house with his girlfriend (soon to be fiancé). Jacob was planning on proposing tonight to Bella at the cliffs in La Push. Where he first confessed he loved her.

It was all going according to plan. Jacob was surprised when he pulled up to the house and found a black Toyota Matrix in the driveway. Billy didn't drive. It wasn't Jacob's. It wasn't a typical Rez vehicle. Who was the owner? Didn't matter. They wouldn't be there long. They were about to have a family dinner after all. Jacob kissed Bella passionately on the lips prior to knocking on the door. He forgot his house key. Jacob's hands felt restless for some reason when he ceased knocking. His feet were beginning to shift around to.

"Shay would you mind getting that?" Jacob heard his father's voice behind the door. Not audible for human ears but he heard it.

The door opened and Jacob became paralyzed. Bella was uncharacteristically forced to drag Jake inside. Awkward. "Hi I'm Bella. Sorry I don't know what it wrong with Jake. Jake?"

Jake's face remained blank. He exerted all his effort to mask the horror crawling in him.

It was her. The honey blond tall stranger that cost him over half of his emotional spectrum. What the fuck was she doing here? Did she know? Worse. Did Billy know? The panic forming in Jake's eyes was only caught by one of the two females. Hoping to ease the tension of what Shay presumed was a son getting worked up about a stranger in his dad's house, Shay introduced herself.

"Hi, I am Shay Ortiz. Temporary house guest. I am waiting for the Clearwater's to get back in town to stay with them." To Shay, her voice sounded fine. Normal. To Bella and Jacob, she sounded robotic. Her voice carried no inflection of emotion. It was a steady stream of a monotone introduction.

This observation caused Jacob to raise his eyebrows. How the fuck did he imprint on this emotionless, tall robot?

Bella's smile was paired with confused eyes. Jacob squeezed her hand tightly. She was his only one. Fuck this imprint.

They both followed Shay to the kitchen table already set and adorned with a delicious meal. Steak, mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables and salad. Jake's mouth was watering. Bella looked at Shay in surprise. She assumed she was the chef of the meal.

Billy laughed as he observed the three. Billy Black sat at the head of the table with a wide, knowing grin. But he didn't really know what Jake knew. He knew what Bella was thinking. Jake wondered if his dad knew the truth. Before he could fish for more details about the imprint's presence, Billy spoke up.

"Glad you kids could make it! This is Shay as you have met. She is teaching on the Rez this summer. Apart of the program has her housed with a local for her time spent here. Sue volunteered but they are coming back later than expected from their trip. So, Shay is staying here until they come back."

Bella and Jacob looked at Shay. They must have expected a reassuring smile and a nod of the head. They observed neither. Instead, Shay's straight posture held in her seat and her face remained neutral. Billy coughed, as if hinting to Shay it was her turn to speak.

"What he said. Your dad was kind to host me in this interim. Saving all the money I can goes a long way for med school."

"Oh, are you in med school now?" Bella asked curiously. Her eyebrows knit together in confusion. She assumed an internship at a hospital was a more appropriate place for a future doctor then teaching in-between semesters.

"Starting in the fall. I didn't get the internship I wanted, so this was my fallback plan." No shame was detected in Shay's tone. Or embarrassment she called this her backup plan to the group present in front of her. She was upfront. Jacob felt his grip tighten on his fork. He wanted this night to be over and Shay to go away.

"Okay. Did you make this dinner tonight? It looks delicious." Bella diverted the conversation because she picked up on Jacob becoming annoyed. She inferred Shay's comment offended him. Bella wanted to smooth things over.

"All Billy, minus the salad. I did that."

"Sue's been teaching me to cook for myself more. Especially since Jake is not moving back here after graduating from college..." Billy trailed off. Guilt hung in the air. It spread from Jacob to Billy. Shay noticed. She said nothing. She felt nothing. No awkward family conversation was capable of ruffling her feathers. She served herself and watched the conversation unfold in front of her between father and son.

When dinner was over, Shay collected the dishes and began to wash them. Billy cooked most of the meal. She hadn't expected him to cleanup. The other guests for the meal hadn't offered to help her. That didn't bother her. Again, she just did what was the right thing. Wondering when the Clearwater's would be here. She had eight weeks until med school started. She could make it here because she could make it anywhere. She was a well-oiled machine that could do anything she put her mind to.

Billy's son and girlfriend soon left after she returned from washing the dishes. She could tell Billy was unhappy. Possibly because he expected them to stay later? It was possible her additional company put them off. She would be gone soon though. Then they could come back.

Shay went to bed early and for the 2200th night in a row, she didn't dream of anything.

...

When Jacob next returned to Billy Black's house, it was without Bella and Shay was no longer residing there. She was now at the Clearwater's. Jacob was there because he needed the truth. Did Billy know? Is that why he allowed Shay to stay there? To prevent Jake from proposing? Billy knew his son had intended to pop the question that night.

Jacob found his father sitting on the porch when he pulled into the driveway on his motorcycle. "Dad." Jacob greeted his father with a bitter tone as he approached him.

"Son." Billy's tone was warm. Unlike his son's. "Do I now have a future daughter-in-law?" Jacob tightened his grip on his keys. He was trying to figure out if there was more to what Billy was asking. Did he know or not know about Shay?

"Bella wasn't feeling well after dinner, so my plan didn't work out." Jacob lied. He wasn't sure why though.

"Oh…" Billy sounded disappointed. Was it real though? That is what Jacob questioned. He didn't want to be wrong and reveal the truth if his dad in fact didn't know.

"It will happen soon though," Jacob reassured his father. Jacob waited before he continued. He was studying his father's reaction. He didn't seem upset. Jacob concluded he must not know then. His secret was still safe. Billy nodded and smiled at his son.

"Shay is at the Clearwater's now. I know her presence was a surprise to you." Jacob suppressed his need to growl at his father. Did he know or not? Jacob needed to be put out of his misery!

"Sue really was panicked that Shay arrived early without the family being back from their vacation yet. I offered to help her out. I didn't mean to spoil the family dinner before you popped the question." Billy was disappointed in himself and Jacob's heart softened. His worry dissipated. His father didn't know and just felt bad he had a guest over before the "big night".

"She is an odd girl, but she was a good guest. She left her room cleaner than it was offered to her. You can't even tell she stayed over for the night. She is at Sue's now. So if you want a re-do, next time it can just be the three of us. Or four, if you want to invite Charlie next time." Billy winked at his son. Jacob smiled. All was right in the world for Jacob Black. He wasn't spending the summer in La Push anyways. He could avoid his imprint while she was around for the few times he would come by. Next time it would be as an engaged man though. Jacob halted his grin from turning foolish. He liked to save that particular smile for his Bella.

Jacob left his father genuinely pleased. A small part of him was tempted to visit his buddy, Seth. But Jacob didn't want to gamble with fate that Shay would be there. He didn't need the headache. The more distance put between them was better. He didn't want to provoke anything. For years he had a constant hold for shoving down the imprint. It would not be released today or ever. He was in control of his fate.

Jacob climbed back on his motorcycle and began to make his way back to Forks. To Bella. Only a few feet into his road trip, his eyes caught Seth popping out the front door of his house and his bike came screeching to a halt. Jake had to stop. It was just Seth. And Jake loved Seth as if he were his own brother and still pack to him.

Jake veered to the curb and parked his bike. Seth took notice of him and offered the Alpha a wide split grin. No love lost between the two. Ever.

"To what do we owe the pleasure, Jacob my man?" Seth bounded forward to maul Jake into a hug. Jake emitted a soft chuckle as he stood over Seth by six inches.

"Good to see you too, Seth." Jacob's smile fell short when he thought he felt a strange presence. Was it Shay? His head whipped up to the house, but he saw no one. It was just his imagination. He knew he shouldn't stick around long. It was too risky.

"Want to go to the beach for old times' sake?" Jake propositioned Seth. It would be a quick trip. But worth the time spent together.

Seth's expression soured. "Can't..." Seth craned his head over his shoulder to look at his house. "That girl staying with us. I have to show her around. Mom's orders..." Seth huffed and Jacob knew Seth was not pleased. He would have much preferred to spend time with Jake. Seth was a responsible son though and wouldn't disappoint his mother.

"Another time." Jacob remarked while attempting to not let his smile be tainted with disappointment. His eyes betrayed him though. Seth caught it.

"She's super odd. I cannot believe I have to put up with her for a whole summer. She gets Leah's room. Whatever though. I get the feeling she will keep to herself. She is almost like a robot." Jacob slapped his knee in agreement.

"I know, right?! Weird." Both wolves nodded together in agreement then laughed. What they missed was the girl inside the house. Hearing every word of their conversation through the cracked front window. She didn't mind though. She was used to this character assumption by others. She was odd. But her lack of emotions was her strength. She would become the best doctor because of it. Her drive was not diminished by her lack of feelings. It was fueled. She used logic and reason. She was top in her class in the Bio Department at Stanford. She would continue that streak at John Hopkins School of Medicine. Her path was clear. Being perceived as a robot therefor didn't bother her. If she could be bothered about it.

Jacob left Seth to get back to Bella. Seth went in his home with the dread of keeping company of the monotone guest. He looked all over for her in the house. Even checking his own room in case she pulled some weird stalker shit like perusing through his boxer drawer. He knew he was a good-looking guy, so he wouldn't have been too surprised if that was the case. She had that vibe. But he didn't find her anywhere. Seth's search for Shay finally ended outside in their backyard. Shay was kneeling on the grass and pulling weeds out of his mother's garden. Weird girl.

"Hey, uh, Shay." Shay looked over her shoulder and greeted Seth with a dull expression. Seth sighed. He was good with girls. Great, actually. He was too charming most of the time. It kind of got him in trouble. This girl however was unphased. Possibly a lesbian? Seth shook his head at himself. He shouldn't have assumed that just because she showed no interest. At all. He put his pride aside and bent to the ground next to her. He began to pull weeds as well. If Shay was surprised by his action, she never showed it.

Shay did wonder why this boy who found her odd would voluntarily give her his time. It was unnecessary. She just needed to do something for her idle hands before she went back to her room to read medical journals.

"You're really odd," Seth blurted bluntly. Seth's admission stemmed from feeling guilty for talking about her behind her back earlier. He was an upfront person. So, he at least should tell her to her face how he viewed her. Probably like most of the world. "Are you autistic?" It would have explained a lot to Seth if she was. Shay shook her head though which left Seth confused by her emotionless personality. He had known her briefly, but she seemed void of emotions.

"Thanks for telling me to my face. Most just stare and say it behind my back. I'm not blind. I know. And your assessment doesn't bother me, so don't feel bad."

Seth wrinkled his nose in protest. "I don't feel bad," he whined softly. But he did.

"Sure. You don't have to do this. I can keep to myself. I was planning on returning to my room shortly anyways." She uprooted more weeds while awaiting Seth's departure.

"My mom asked me to show you around."

"I can figure it out for myself. Don't feel obligated."

"No, I promised her. Can you oblige me and let me show you around? I don't want to lie to my mother." Seth wasn't positive, but he thought he imagined the right corner of Shay's mouth very slightly flick up. Shay stood up and Seth took notice for the first time that this girl was tall. For a girl. Possibly almost 6 feet. He was taller. Barely. But still. He just wasn't used to a woman being this tall.

As Seth was beginning to lead Shay to his car, Jacob Black was pulling into Billy's driveway. He forgot to grab something from his bedroom. He wasn't that far gone when he realized he could still make it back without it being too much of an inconvenience. When Jacob was leaving Billy's for the second time that day, his eyes caught a passing glimpse of Seth driving Shay into town in Seth's beat up truck. Something inside Jake was squirming but he pummeled it into submission. When he redirected his eyes on the road, he floored it to Forks.

Shay watched Seth play with the stereo knob in his truck. Something in her wanted to share with Seth what music genres she didn't mind listening to. As she caught a passing glance of a familiar motorcycle fleeing by, the want died. Instead she realized she was fine with any music that played. She didn't really hear it anyways. It was all background noise.

...

Jacob managed to avoid returning to the reservation for about half of the summer. He did call his dad twice a week. And no, he still had not proposed to Bella. He was not sure why yet though. He always had the ring on him when he was not sleeping. In the front, right pocket of every pair of pants or shorts he wore. Things with Bella were good. No, great. Everything was great. Bella was happy. Jake was happy. He was. He really was happy. Shay was a stranger. A nobody who he only thought a little more of just because she was temporarily taking residence in his home town. Jake wondered how Seth was doing with robot girl. He should check on Seth, make sure Seth was doing okay. That's all Jake needed to think about before he told Bella he would be back home later and needed to visit a friend.

While parking outside of the Clearwater's home, Jacob questioned why the hell he drove out here on a whim. Seth had a phone. He could have called first. What was wrong with him? Jacob relaxed though after the initial worry passed through him. There was something calming about being back home.

A black matrix pulled up behind his motorcycle. Even Shay's unexpected presence couldn't diminish the calmness he felt for being home. He wouldn't continue to let her sour what feelings he was left capable of feeling. He sacrificed himself for both their happiness in this life. To not be bound together. Yes, even Jacob thought a robot such as Shay deserved love too. Whoever that oddball would be to want her.

Jacob clued into that Shay was not the only occupant in her car. He watched her exit the car before he took notice that Seth was her passenger. Seth? What was he doing with her? Once again, he was probably forced by his mom to be nice to her and pretend to be her friend. Knowing Seth, Jacob was sure that Seth was doing his best with the robot. He was one of the nicest people he knew Afterall.

Jacob's eyes focused on Seth's eyes. Seth's brown eyes were glued to Shay. Watching her every move. Jacob almost detected…longing in his eyes. There was no way that Seth liked her though. Jacob was wrong. Being near his imprint was really fucking with him apparently to think Seth would have eyes for this weird girl.

Jacob swallowed. "Hey guys, how's it going?" Seth's eye's broke their focus on Shay and took in Jacob's appearance. His eyes were dancing in delight. Jacob's heart swelled that the kid still looked up to him so much. Not that he deserved it as much after breaking away from the pack and never explaining why…but Seth stuck by him as a friend despite the drama and fallout with the rest of the pack.

"Jake! You're back!" Jacob noted that to his surprise Seth did not run up to him and hug him. It was very un-Sethlike. Was robot girl rubbing off on him? Stealing this kid's emotions too? Jacob's neck muscles twitched. Be calm, he reminded himself.

"For a bit. Had an errand to run. So…" Jacob's eyes shifted between the closing distance between Seth and Shay. Not done by Shay. All Seth's doing. "What are you guy's up to this Saturday afternoon?"

"Well Shay and I here," Seth wrapped his arm around Shay's shoulder. Her eyes narrowed before she shimmied her body out of his hold. Seth pouted before he continued. "One day you will fall for my charms, Shay." Seth winked at Shay before returning his attention to Jake. "I just accompanied Shay to the book store." Jacob noticed the three books in her hand. They looked like non-fiction titles. But of course. Jacob resisted the persistent urge to roll his eyes. He needed to be kind. In front of Seth at least.

"Because he has nothing better to do. You can take him off my hands, Jacob Black." Shay's words were flat, and Seth's pout returned. Seth dramatically slapped his right hand over his heart to fake the wound she just inflicted on it. Jacob found it unsettling that Seth warmed up so much to her in five weeks, but Shay didn't return the same sense of endearment.

"I can do that," Jacob replied confidently. Jacob couldn't hide his smile at the thought of solo time with Seth without that girl. It was preferred. Right?

"No." Jacob cocked his head to Seth in surprise. Was he being rejected by Seth Clearwater? "She has to come with us." Seth turned to Shay. Giving her his full attention. They were very close in height Jacob observed. "You promised you would do something fun with me this weekend. Going to the bookstore doesn't count. You rejected the award and by doing that you promised to do this."

"What award?" Jacob asked. The curiosity in his tone agitated him. Why did he care?

Seth attempted to prod Shay with his eyes to speak on it. She did not. So, he spoke for her. "They had a mid-term for the students in summer school. All the students in her class got top marks. All of them. The council was floored by the news! Even though the summer semester is only half-way through, they wanted to offer her an award for the accomplishment. I mean some of these kids failed horribly during the normal school year, Jake. Horribly. And she turned them around." Seth beamed at Shay like she was god's gift to earth. All Jake heard was that she improved some kid's score, so what? "Anyways, she refused to accept it. Since I did it on her behalf so they wouldn't push back, she promised to do something fun with me this weekend."

Jacob remained quiet, thinking on what Seth said still. He, however, did NOT think on the question that happened to leave his mouth. It just…came out. "Like a date?"

Seth's cheeks tinged to a crimson shade. Before he could answer, Shay chimed in. "No. He thinks I need to have more fun. It was just a bargaining chip." Jacob assessed Shay's face. He had yet to really allow himself to gaze upon it. She was pretty enough. Her face was less round when he first imprinted. Her cheeks protruded more, and her chin was distinct. Nothing like her younger, round face he first saw in Port Angeles. Her face was actually gorgeous. If Jacob had to admit through an unbiased eye. But she was no Bella, of course.

"We can all do something together then?" Shay shrugged and Seth's eyes lit up again. He was overly pleased. Jacob questioned if Seth was just being friendly with a hint of flirty, or if there was something more there.

They spent the rest of the day together. Shay rarely spoke. It was almost like she wasn't even there. But Seth knew. Jacob knew too. But he was less obvious about it than Seth. Somehow, that calmness he noticed when he first pulled into the Rez never disappeared even in front of the presence of his imprint. It was nice for Jacob.

When Jacob was ready to leave, it was just him and Seth outside by his bike. Shay had already retired to her bedroom for the night. Jacob noticed Seth fidgeting his hands in his pockets. He looked uncomfortable. What had changed? Was something wrong?

Before Jacob could inquire, Seth broke the silence first. "Do you ever get scared you will imprint on someone while with Bella?"

Jacob felt the imprint bond spark. It wanted to rise up from the depths it was accustom to inside him and whisper in Jacob's ear, "Not anymore." Jacob refused to listen to the whispering imprint and squashed it like the insignificant bug it was.

Seth and Jacob went rigid when a scream came from inside the Clearwater House. Shay! Before they could both break down the door to get to her, Shay opened the front door. She was panting. It was the first real sign of human life that Jacob saw in the robotic girl. "Sorry. Spider."

Jacob was reassured and lowered his shoulders. What he didn't notice was that it took longer for Seth to relax. Seth had seen Shay come across a spider before. She had not reacted like that. Maybe it was scarier or crawled on her? He would have to investigate later after Jacob left. They both waved at Shay in acknowledgment and she shut the door.

"No. If I did, I would fight it. But I know Bella is my girl. She is the one. Imprinting would never change that. But imprinting is rare. It may never happen to either of us." Jacob set his hand on Seth's shoulder.

Seth smiled softly in agreement. "I admire you for that. I keep debating if it's worth the risk to fall for someone if I could imprint. You've been doing it for six years and you and Bella are as strong as ever. No imprint for you either. I think I am ready to let go of the notion I should avoid romance in case I imprint. I think if you find someone special like you have with Bella, they are worth fighting for. To the end."

"Have someone in mind, Seth?" Jacob waggled his eyebrows in approval that Seth was going to enjoy his life and pursue love. Jake didn't regret what he had done one bit. Seth also may never imprint.

Seth looked to his house and Jacob's heart hardened. No. He could not mean…she couldn't be the exception to kind and sincere Seth Clearwater? This had to be a joke. Or this kid needed to get out more and see what OTHER possibilities there were NOT on the Rez.

Jacob lowered his voice to a harsh whisper. "You don't mean her, do you?" Jacob wasn't sure where the edge in his words stemmed from.

Seth sighed longingly and nodded. But why? "Seth, but why her? I mean…she is a void of emotions. What could you even remotely fall for with that bland personality?"

Seth's posture shifted to a defensive mode. Jacob was alarmed by Seth's protective nature. If anything, Jake should have been the protective one. It was HIS imprint, after all, the boy was pining for. "You don't know her. You have only spent a couple hours with her. You don't see all the things I see, man. What she lacks in words she makes up in action. She is a good person. Smart, kind, ambitious, hardworking, driven and loyal." Jacob wanted to add in some other key personality traits Seth was omitting but he kept his mouth shut.

"She has had it hard, Jake. You should try talking to her about why she is the way she is. You may see her in a different light." Jacob knew he should say hell no and drive away. But he found himself agreeing with Seth and walking into the Clearwater's House.

Seth left the two alone pretending to run a late-night errand for his mom. While gone, Jacob was disappointed to learn how wrong Seth was. Sure, he could understand that Shay wanted to be a doctor since her sister died of leukemia at five. Shay really admired the doctors who worked on her sister's case. Her personality worked in her favor to become a great doctor that would not be held back by emotion. Jacob expected more of a sob story. He wasn't feeling that impressed when Seth eagerly awaited his departure from the Clearwater's by his bike.

When Jacob retold Seth what he knew, Seth's eyes widened. He knew something Jacob did not. But did Jacob want to know? Or care to? Probably not, but he found himself asking anyways.

"I am the exception," Seth commented to himself more than Jake. A stunning smile almost split his face in half over his elation. Seth was the exception. Exception to what? That was what Jacob was wondering.

"If she doesn't want to tell you the full truth, it isn't my place to say." Jacob grasped Seth's arms and lightly begged him to tell him. Why was Jacob doing this? Jacob should not care about what Shay hid from him.

Seth looked guiltily at his house and pulled Jacob further down the street, poorly lit by the flickering street lights. "She wasn't always like this." Jacob didn't have to prod Seth to continue. He would have is what he now realized if Seth decided to stop sharing there. "She used to be so full of emotion and life. Even after her sister's death. As she grew older, she realized her emotions would be a hinderance in the medical field if she couldn't keep them in control. But she said her heart was on her sleeve and she couldn't make it go away. So, she prayed every day to be able to reign in her emotions. Have more control. She wanted to be a good doctor one day. Then when she was in high school, a day came where she ceased having emotion. It all went away. Like some cruel genie took her wish and twisted it so she could never feel anything again. She was hollowed out of her feelings. She was a functional shell though. From that day on, her feelings never came back. While it makes her driven and focused, she has tried on many occasions to seek help. No therapists can understand what happened. No medication works. So, she just gets by being a good person and not being able to feel much of anything." Seth wrung his hands together in front of his chest.

"Since she first got here though, I have seen small glimmers of hope that maybe one day she can get them back. Those moments are everything to me. It's like the sun peeking out of the clouds for a brief moment. I like her how she is now too. Let's face it, I have enough emotions for the both of us. With me, she can get better. And I…I want to be with her. Like you I want to say, "Fuck imprinting". She is slowly warming up to me. I think this girl is the one for me, Jake."

Jake nodded and wished Seth the best. He would be in touch soon. Tell Shay he said bye. He could not get back on his bike soon enough. Jake didn't have to think too hard before the puzzle pieces fell into place. He was Shay's genie. What he shut down may only have stolen most of his emotions, but Shay…Shay was depleted. And it was ALL Jacob's fault.

Jacob's drive back to Fork's and to Bella was quick. His bike raced as fast as his mind did with guilt. All Jacob had hoped for was to be vindicated for his action on the fateful day he met his imprint. For so long he imagined he was in the right. But was he?

He still didn't know how to answer this question as he crossed the threshold into his shared apartment with Bella. He stopped feeling the outline of the round metal band lining the inside of his jean pocket. He had to make a decision here and now about his future. His decision impacted all three of them no matter what he decided. "Bella, you home?"