Strolling Forks

[elaine]

505 Bogachiel Way. Carly read the address once again that she had written on a piece of paper. This is the apartment where she will stay for the next five of ten years of her life. She was wearing a striped yellow and black sweater and a black jacket, a gray jeans and brown flat boots. She was driving her 1996 BMW 316i, all her luggage in the back seat. It was her dad's old car, she just had it all fixed up so she could use it in good shape. She had no plan in forgetting her parents, just the tragedy that happened to them. She was driving for five hours, non-stop when she reached Seattle. Carly stopped there for an hour to get a cup of coffee and then started driving again. After three hours she finally saw the Forks sign. Such a small town for the number of population but she thinks it's best to stay in a small town where she knows nobody.

Finally she saw the Oxford Apartment where she decided to stay. Carly parked her car and went inside to talk to the landlady. At last she had her key to her apartment and so she carried all her luggage in her room. Despite of not having enough sleep, it seems like she's all pumped up and decided to go out for a stroll. She can have all the sleep she needs at night and tomorrow's a great day since it's her first day in school.

Carly thought Forks was nice. Small and cozy. She loves the weather. Carly thought it's easy to get warm in a cold weather. It's just that, it usually rains in Forks which she's not so fond of. She saw wooden tribal statues which she thought is part of the legend somewhere here in Forks. She entered on store where they sell different types of Tribal accessories. She put on one tribal hat, she doesn't know what it's called but she thinks it's cool. She had never worn this before and it intrigues her.

[WHITNEY!]

He had been patrolling the area again, but this time it had been against Sam's own wishes. The need to add on extra protection around Forks might have overstepped Sam and his own boundaries set- against roaming near the Swan house. He felt ridiculous, turning up there when no one was home. Along with avoiding Bella's calls, it seemed rather idiotic of him. There was no amount of energy that could push him to approach her home when she was there, so why did he even bother with approaching when it was empty?

His patrol was cut short, by his own ability to chose the better path. Jacob Black did not need to regress into his depressed state. Very rarely did he have enough free time to explore the less-interested town of Forks. It was not boring, but it was certainly not the reservation or any part of La Push, but it was a different setting for him. Deep in his warm heart he almost wished he would run into her.

Strolling the sidewalks, he felt nearly awkward. Then again, he was totally out of place in Forks. He stuck out no matter what he did. His dark eyes searched for something to do, somewhere to go... Quickly he found refuge with in one of the mock-tribal shops, of which had been in Forks for the longest of times. It was the one place he did not feel out of place, of course, and would happily duck away from the stares of Forks population.

Brushing his fingertips over some of the little odds and ins on the shelves, Jacob grinned. Though they were not the same, unique, delicate tribal pieces, they were still well crafted. Enjoying seeing the works of others, Jacob nearly lost himself in his thoughts again, as he usually did. His gait was slowly and he carefully turned the corner. Chocolate eyes found a familiar figure with in the depths of the shop, putting on a nearly silly looking hat. His smile stretched up his face a little more.

"I don't recall the Reservation putting out a casting call for a model," He chuckled, only teasing her.

[elaine]

Carly watched herself in the mirror. Composed of pink-dyed deer hair, enclosing a panel of natural porcupine hair, tightly stitched to a blue wool yarn base, embellished with purple ribbon and a pair of large brass buttons.She'll definitely get this one. I think I'll add this to my collection,she thought. With the right clothes, she can probably wear it somewhere. She tends to buy stuffs everytime she visits a new town or country. Normally she goes for hats since it's light and small, easy to carry and hide in her bag but there's no way she'll let this ethnic looking head gear pass. Collecting snow globes are old fashioned, well it's very common. Her mom does that. She had tons of snow globes which Carly decided to leave in California. Once again she tried to get her mind away from the memory.

"I don't recall the Reservation putting out a casting call for a model," He chuckled, only teasing her.

Her moment of silence, admiring herself in the mirror, looking like a chieftain with hat she's wearing was disturbed by a husky voice. She turnaround and saw a young man who's probably four or five inches taller than her. She smiled awkwardly thinking how stupid she looked. Carly took off the hat in embarrassment. He was, however, smiling which made her think that he's laughing before he even approached her.

"Sorry." She smiled sheepishly. "Is this your store? I'm sorry for trying this out but I'll get this one though."

[WHITNEY!]

His mind was too involved with Isabella Swan. Suddenly he felt like a complete idiot. His cheeks burned more than they usually did, under the copper tone of his skin. He had mistaken this complete stranger for the only person he thought of. How pathetic, Jacob Black. He was mentally kicking himself as he lulled over the mistake he had just made. You are seeing things. The girl must have thought him as a complete fool.

"I apologize," He spoke through his grin. It was in his best interest to keep it; perhaps the grin would decrease his chances of being thought mentally ill. Perhaps he was truly losing his mind. "I honestly thought you were someone else."

That might have been the worst thing to say to someone; I thought you were something else. Hoping and nearly praying on hypothetical knees, Jacob's mind buzzed with prayers of forgiveness from the stranger, as well as requests that she not grow offended or angry with him. When she spoke to him, in her own apology, Jacob felt bad. "No, no!" Quickly he spoke to refute. "You didn't look stupid, and this is not my store."

There was need for an explanation right? There were only so many words he could divulge to her for about a half of an explanation. Girls did not want to hear about his sad self, moping over the loss of another girl, of which they probably knew, who had chosen someone else over him. There was no right way to put an 'I'm sorry, I thought you were the girl I am madly in love and slightly obsessed with.' He cleared his throat after a moment of silence between the two strangers.

"Really, I am sorry," He repeated. "I did not mean to offend you in anyway. I just have a friend that lives here and you looked kind of like her... so I just assumed. It was wrong of me." And I am a shape shifter from La Push. You aren't Bella. But he could not just discard the moment, and he would not turn on his heel to leave. Holding out his hand with an outstretched arm, he offered her his name. "I'm Jacob."

[elaine]

Carly has never been mistaken for anyone else before, but the funny incident didn't made her mad. In fact she thought it was a blessing since she doesn't know anyone around except for her landlady who's already in her seventies and going out on a cold night to hangout is not the best thing an old lady should do. His slightly flushing red cheeks was obvious and Carly finds it cute. Not that she enjoys other people's embarrassment, only the way he took the situation seriously as if she has been wounded badly. She saw in him a mix of surprise and shock. He went on talking apologetically, mistaking her for someone else. Carly slightly frowned, not because she was offended but because she's confused. He does not need to explain so much. It was clearly an innocuous mistake. However she thought it was so polite of him. She chuckled everytime he says sorry and for her not to get offended. "Don't worry, none taken." She looked at him, he's smiling but it seems like he's sad. But she doesn't want to go overboard and start asking him about his life, who's he thinking that made him mistaken her for somebody else, it would be completely inappropriate. "Unless what you did is a crime here in Forks, I think I'm not obliged to turn you in." Carly though of humoring him to ease the awkwardness between the two.

"Since you think I don't look stupid with this, I think I'll buy it." She took his hand to shake. His hand was huge, it's like it could wholly cover her hand, and he's hot. Well, he is good looking but it's not what she's referring to. It's his hand. Not steaming hot but warmer than the usual and normal human temperature. She reckoned it's the effect of cold weather here in Forks. The warmth she felt was nice especially for the weather in Forks, as he mentioned his name. "The supplanter. From the Old Testament, son of Isaac; brother of Esau; father of the twelve patriarchs of Israel. Wrestled with God and forced God to bless him, so God gave Jacob the new name of Israel, the one who has been strong against God." Carly stated. She cleared her throat and pulled away. "Sorry, I'm just into knowing the origin and meaning of names. I'm Carly by the way. The free man." She grinned.

[WHITNEY!]

His burning cheeks soon calmed down to his usual temperature. Her presence nearly and reassuring words calmed him as much as they could have. The nerves beneath his skin still twitched and turned with a certain worry- and it was still about Bella. No matter the things a normal human being would say upon first meeting someone, Jake could not think of one, single, appropriate thing.

Then her words soothed him back into reality once more. Russet eyes focusing on her again, Jacob continued to smile softly. A chuckle escaped him, upon hearing her bit on jokingly turn him into the police. The opportunity presented itself, and he quickly seized his next few words before they escaped him again. "Last time I checked there was nothing in written, approved law about it... but you never know, someone around here might just try to turn me in for mistaking them as someone else."

And as she spoke of the origin of his name, he felt more intrigued than before- not that he was not already. It was all over his head, or so he felt, as she spoke. Perhaps it was just because his mind was always too preoccupied these days. "Wow," That pair of Jacob eyes lightened up. "I'm impressed. And very pleased to have met you."

[elaine]

"Last time I checked there was nothing in written, approved law about it... but you never know, someone around here might just try to turn me in for mistaking them as someone else."

Carly chuckled. "Oh well, I guess I didn't get the memo. Besides why would I want to turn in the first person I've met here in Forks and a potential friend." She said to him. Jacob seems like a nice guy and cute despite of being absentminded. Her bubbly attitude seems to be working well with how he responds to her. She knew that Jacob looks much better when he's smiling than a distressing one.

"I'm impressed. And very pleased to have met you."

"The pleasure is mine. That's not the usual reaction I get, it's either 'weird', 'odd', 'nerd'! She said, mentioning each word in different tones. The awkwardness between the two seemed to finally disappear. She wondered what else to tell him as she doesn't want to sound too desperate for a friend, although the thought of starting in a new school made her feel that she'll soon be desperate to find one. "So, do you live around here?"

[WHITNEY!]

Nodding to her wholeheartedly, Jacob continued is seemingly futile attempt at pushing any thought of Bella Swan out of his head. For once, could she not haunt him? Especially after the ridiculous stunt she had pulled- running off to Italy to save that poor, pathetic cold one. Subconsciously, his eyes rolled out of annoyance, but in reality he continued to look to Carly with nearly eager eyes. He found it surprising that she was new to Forks, but other than that, he felt as eager as he could to make conversation.

"Why would you get any of that?" Another chuckle escaped, but he hoped it would not offend her either. Shaking his dark head of hair, Jacob attempted to erase the words from the air between them. "I'm actually from La Push. I live on the Reservation. I was just in town to.. erm, see a friend, but she wasn't home- so I decided to see what was up in town." Good job bringing her up; now drop it.

Jacob felt as though he was drifting toward the topic of Bella and had to pivot away as quickly as possible. There was no sense in relapsing into something he had just crawled out of. It would be nice to have someone other than Bella to conversate with in Forks. Seeing it fit and right, he continued on with a totally human conversation- not to say he was not interested either way. "So you've only just moved in to Forks?"

[elaine]

Carly stick out her tongue like a little girl. "Haha. I know it's, well, yeah, weird, odd and nerdy. But hey, it helps at times. Like now, see? I got your attention." She smiled at him. She doesn't know why but she doesn't seem to find it hard being herself to a complete stranger. With him mentioning this friend again whom he had mistaken to be her, Carly questioned herself if it was his girlfriend not just a friend. Besides, who would come for someone, for a friend for that matter, unsure whether the person's home or not, if she's not that special. But she doesn't want to drive him away by asking inappropriate questions. "La Push? Is it the part where there are forests and beach?"

As he asked why she moved to Forks, the memory of her parents once again ran into her head. Why not tell him what happened, he doesn't seem to be the dangerous one. But for sure, he would think she's crazy. Who would believe her anyway. Humans eat or killed her parents, then big dogs. It was a crazy statement. According to the police. For once, she doesn't want to look and sound crazy in front of others. "Yeah, I arrived an hour ago and decided to be independent."

[WHITNEY!]

As her tongue left its home in the young girl's mouth, a feeling of utter relief covered him. Her ability to playfully toss off anything awkward soothed his nerves completely. Though Jacob Black had no trouble being himself around strangers, he thought it might have been a stretch for her. There were no questions asked, and there were no more thoughts on the subject as she continued on with another question. One of his dark eyebrows raised up to dance on his forehead for a moment. "First Beach is there, yes. And of course most of the Quilete village is surrounded by forest." Light laughter filled the space between them, and his smile came a little more naturally now. "It's a pretty good place to go if you want to get away from Forks, at least."

The Shifter's body weight shifted to his opposite foot as he stood talking with the girl. She was interesting, of course, and he now certainly felt bad inside for mistaking her for Isabella Swan. "Well, I certainly hope you enjoy your stay here, whether it be permanent or temporary," Jacob was unsure which status she would hold if she had stumbled upon the secrets of Forks- vampires, shifters... It would all be enough to scare any human off of the continent of North America. Though they were everywhere, activity had been stirring in Washington- thanks to those damn Cullens. With out letting the thoughts of those once-fairytale creatures and his brothers, Jacob flashed another smile to her. "If you ever find yourself wanting to go to La Push, I can totally meet you somewhere. I mean..." Extending this offer was only one step closer to freeing himself from Bella, though it was only another futile attempt to forget her. "I'm always looking for things to do."

[elaine]

Carly's interest in visiting La Push became stronger as she heard and confirmed that there's a beach and forest in La Push. Her undivided love for nature was something that made her and her parents closer than any other families. She's very much aware that forbidding herself going back to a place where they usually spend weekends and the last place they have been family would do her no good. She's not completely athletic but had no issues to go a little physical like mountain climbing, hiking, camping out besides, she wanted to be independent and doing such makes her feel stronger.

"Wow! Cool." She commented excitedly. She was thinking of asking him if she can go visit there and by means if he can hang out with her and she was glad that he offered first exactly what she was thinking which saved her from the stress. "That would be great." Carly handed the payment at the counter. "And I need things to do here. Is it safe to camp out in La Push or too many dangerous, wild and hungry animals to do so?" Her attempt to not directly ask him if there were killings in Forks like the one she got herself involved with.

[WHITNEY!]

Watching as her eyes nearly lighted up when he spoke of his lands, Jacob's heart felt freer at the moment. Completely unaware this instance of social interaction was aiding in his emotional health, Jacob continued on with the conversation. Like a breath of fresh air, Carly was giving him the best thing he could have asked for this day- an outlet from Bella. Clumsily stumbling into perhaps a new friendship, Jacob Black had helped himself out.

He walked with her to the counter as she purchased the hat, just as she had said she would. "It's a great place," Except for our late-night prowls and not to mention the most annoying vampire roaming our lands. The cashier mumbled something in attempt to politely interrupt their conversation- something about needing a few more cents. His hand dug into his jean pocket and pulled out the exact change and before Carly could move to hand any money to the man, Jacob nodded to him and placed it in his hands. "Have a good afternoon." He nodded again as they began walking toward the door.

"As far as being safe," Clearing his throat as he opened the door for her, Jacob told her the truth. "The only particularly safe place is around the Quileute village. The woods are kind of... well, troubled I guess you could say."

[elaine]

Conversing with Jacob had obviously gotten her unconscious to other things, like giving the exact amount for the hat. As Jacob, handed the man what he needed she grinned at him embarrassingly and muttered, "Thanks. Owe you one." She exited first as he opened the door and cold breeze drifted in her pale face. Carly breathed in the fresh air. But in a weather like this, jacket was always necessary, which made her wonder why Jacob seemed comfortable despite of not having one. She thought he was definitely so used with the weather in Forks.

Her eyes scanned her surroundings once more. She had never seen California, this clear. The streets in California were usually flooded people with their shopping bags in their arms as they walk their way to their car in the parking lot. It was nice to see almost everyone's walking, enjoying the cold and sometimes freezing weather.

"Quileute? Can we go there, too?" She asked without thinking. "I mean, you know, if I go and visit La Push." She frowned as he mentioned woods being troubled. She had been to different sorts of troubles as far as she knows. "Troubled huh? Like what? Like animals attacking people? Believe me, I've had worse. I'm not exactly princess living in a palace. Adventures are my thing, too."

[WHITNEY!]

"Nah," Quickly he refused to accept her offer. "It's on me."

They stepped into the muggy but slightly chilling air of Forks, though the temperature had absolutely no affect on him. Hopefully he could pass off the inevitability of his nonexistence need for sleeves if she inquired. Quite honestly, Jacob would do his best to convince her that the weather grew on people the longer they were there.

The inhabitants of Quileute Village usually kept to themselves- but only because of their nature. They were friendly, accepting peoples, and Jacob could not lie to her. There were no real problems in her visiting, but he would have to obtain the word of the Elders before he brought another outsider into their lives. There was always a large chance of something going wrong, hence their hesitation. "I'll have to ask," A chuckle danced from his tongue with his words as his hands found their way into his jean pockets. His dark Jacob eyes glanced around the town as they walked slowly. "Y'know.. 'Sacred lands' and all of that... Not just because you're new."

Noticing her frown, he quickly continued on with his bright essence. To counter the slightest hint of sadness or disappointment, Jacob continued to grin. "There have been continuous reports of wild animals attacking anyone who tries to go in those woods. No one has really been able to find out what it is yet." And then her bit about her title drew his laughter out.

"I did not mean to offend you in anyway," There was no nervous in this apology, and it was barely an apology. "You definitely don't seem like a princess. No offense meant of course."

[elaine]

"None taken. And by the way, my daddy believes I'm a princess." She smiled widely showing a prefect set of teeth which her mother took the liberty of taking care of. As Jacob said something about the Quileute being the sacred land, her curiosity grew fonder. How can a small town like this could have secrets. Well, technically it's no longer part of Forks. "Sacred land? Will I get shot if I step in to Quileute without permission?" The idea of sneaking into the village seems like a great idea but she definitely up doesn't want to disrespect the land and put up a negative reputation. She will not go into that kind of trouble. Another thing is that if she gets hurt, that would be her fault and no one else. That would be a stupid thing to do.

"Really? The animal attacks must have been massive. Have you heard the murders in Seattle? I just heard some folks talking about it." Carly caught the news as she made a stop in a cafe in Seattle. "One really needs to be prepared, you may never know what will happen. Do you go to Forks High School?" She remembered about school and the thought of not knowing anyone there. The thrill of first day.