A/n: guess who's back? :) And with an update too. I'm trying to get around to bringing all my stories up to date so please be patient with me.

Happy reading.

And sorry for the long wait!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, just the chaos that goes on in my head. (seriously, it's a mess in there)

"Sup Syd." Paul greeted as Rachel practically shoved me on the log beside him with strength that seemed ridiculous considering her heavily pregnant state.

I released a startled 'eep!' and would have landed in his lap if I hadn't shot my hands out to steady myself at the last second.

Which would have been beyond uncomfortable considering he was currently balancing a tray of chili-fries on his thighs.

She then promptly slid in after me, effectively caging me in. Her fiancé leveled her with a curious look, but ultimately shrugged it off, offering me some of his food with a jerk of his head.

I declined, figuring he was only being polite, and not wanting to interrupt his hog-a-thon. The tray really was massive and Paul didn't even seem close to being full.

He snorted as if to say more for me before tucking back into his plate savagely.

Rachel had seated us over by the campfire, closest to where Billy was currently settling in his chair as he instructed a few younger boys on how to light the incense. The scene was oddly familiar yet not, as I recalled him preparing for the telling of the Quileute legends on numerous occasions, sans the greying hair and wheelchair.

There were more Forks residents lined around the fire than locals I noticed. Though it made sense considering those on the reservation had probably heard the tales so many times they could recite them in their sleep.

I would have been counted among them had I not moved away. Now I could barely recall any, as my dad refused to speak of anything Quileute related when we got to California.

It had frustrated me to no end. I had pleaded, and begged, and sobbed for him to tell me, but he simply refused. For a long time, I had resented him for it. For ripping me thousands of miles away from all my friends and keeping a piece of myself and my mother away from me.

I had even told him I hated him on multiple occasions. It was wrong. I wasn't proud of my actions, but I was just so desperate and felt like the person I had been was slowly withering away. I was losing sight of who I was, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I forgot completely. So I dug out all of mom's old things and hid them around my room.

The tribal blanket she had knitted went under my bed.

Her favorite hats to the back of my closet.

Her photos in my drawer.

And her camera…

She had loved to film my dad and me. She said filming us was like her own real-life diary of our lives, and when she got old and grey they would be like the legacy of what we had cherished together.

It took me a long time to finally watch what she had recorded. There were tapes in the attic labeled with dates and times that filled up an entire box. I had sobbed for days.

But it had also made me remember.

As long as I had those tapes I wouldn't forget the important times I shared with her and everyone else on the reservation. Every time my memories would start to get hazy I whipped them out and watched all over again.

It was like she was still with me, helping me cope.

It was also the reason I decided to film moments I had here when I returned to La Push.

So I would remember everything when I left again.

Rachel's elbow jabbed into my rib excitedly, and that's when I realized Billy's tale had finally begun.

The incense smoke swirled around the blazing fire enticingly, looping and swirling in mesmerizing hues of purple and blue as a rich scent of sandalwood permeated my senses.

I found myself anxious to hear this tale. Restless even. It had been so long.

Billy began humming an old Quileute melody. A song that I remembered my mother singing after I'd had a particularly nasty nightmare. It was a lullaby about a young girl who couldn't fall asleep and how her mother told her everything would be alright because the wolves would protect her.

It was strangely comforting, despite the belief of wolves protecting being a little bizarre.

Wasn't the wolf always the bad guy in a story?

The Big Bad Wolf did try to eat Little Red after all.

And what about the three pigs?

Didn't he huff and puff and blow their house down?

The incense smoke seemed to shift and bend, forming shapes and patterns that seemed to go along with the tune. I could have sworn I saw a wolves' visage within the flames, staring back at me through the fire and smoke, but when I blinked, it was gone.

Weird.

Billy then launched into the story of our ancestors and the last great spirit chief Taha Aki. He spoke about how he had protected the tribe by taking the form of a wolf along with the other spirit warriors, and how their descendants would only take those forms again if a 'cold one' was near to offer the tribe more protection.

Several of the Forks guests 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at the tale and I caught Rachel rolling her eyes, muttering a peeved, "tourists." under her breath.

Paul snorted, though how he managed to hear her above his garish chomping was beyond me.

Rachel was bouncing impatiently in her seat, and I wondered amusedly if she had to pee before she declared loudly, "C'mon dad, get to the good part already!"

The outburst earned a few laughs, and Billy narrowed his eyes disapprovingly at his daughter.

"Patience Rachel." He admonished, to which the woman rolled her eyes.

Again, the smoke seemed to shift and twist, and this time they formed the shapes of a woman and a wolf, gazing into each other's eyes.

"It is said that when a man becomes a wolf he is to realize his perfect match when he gazes into her eyes." The elder Black began, and I vaguely wondered if I had imagined his pointed glance in my direction or not, "His imprint she is called, and they are what we would refer to today as soulmates."

The woman in the fire began embracing the wolf, and the beast morphed into a man, clutching at her form desperately. I got the sudden, insistent pang to see Jacob in my chest, and had risen to my feet without realizing, causing Billy to pause and Paul and Rachel to exchange knowing looks.

"Uh…" I fumbled when I realized everyone was staring at me.

My cheeks smarted.

This was so embarrassing.

Rachel was instantly at my side.

"Sydney has to piss." She stated and my blush burned brighter as she tugged me after her in the direction of the bathrooms.

"Thanks a lot Rachel." I hissed as soon as we were away from prying eyes.

Said woman scoffed, quipping smartly, "Oh, and standing there with your mouth hanging open like a fish was a better option?"

She had a point, and I grudgingly muttered a low "thanks" that she dismissed immediately with a flutter of her hand.

"Yeah no problem. So what made you so anxious to be on your feet anyway?" she enquired. Her tone was casual enough, but something about the way she was eying me out of the corner of her eye made me believe it was anything but.

I shrugged, far too embarrassed to admit I had longed to just see her brother's face. Still did, in fact. My chest felt as if someone had reached into it and was squeezing the life out of my heart, and somehow I just knew seeing him would alleviate the sensation.

Imprint, a voice whispered across my mind, and I shook the ridiculous thought.

It was just a legend Sydney. Get a grip.

There were no wolf-men running around La Push. That's crazy.

Rachel was scrutinizing me with a frustrated expression, almost as if she was on the verge to telling me something obvious but barely holding herself back.

It was then that two teenage boys came barreling towards us. One was tall and lanky with a baby-face, while the other was stockier and possessed hair nearly as chaotic as mine used to be. Both wore dismayed looks.

"Rachel, we have a major problem." Baby-face declared.

Rachel's eyes narrowed in an expression nearly identical to her father's.

Though if I told her that she would no doubt throw a hissy.

"What is it?" she demanded.

He leaned in closer, as is divulging a huge scandal.

"She's here." He whispered, before adding an obvious, "At the bonfire."

His counterpart rolled his eyes at the other boy, muttering a sarcastic "No shit" while Rachel's face scrunched in confusion.

"She?" she echoed, clearly lost.

Baby-face's dark eyes widened meaningfully. As if the mere act alone should have made her understand.

"Yeah, you know… she." He repeated pointedly.

I could have laughed at the look Rachel gave him.

Messy hair groaned.

"Collin," he snapped impatiently, "Quit acting like an idiot and tell her Swan's here!"

My throat seized.

Swan?

As in Bella Swan? The one Jake was in love with?

Here?

"Where?" I blurted, and three sets of eyes snapped in my direction.

"Sydney, I don't think…" Rachel began uneasily before being cut off by a scandalized Collin.

"You're Sydney?" he exclaimed, eyes darting across my form in disbelief "As in Jake's Sydney?"

"Obviously idiot." The other boy retorted, and I was left wondering exactly what they meant by 'Jake's Sydney.'

Did he tell them about me?

"Shut up Brady!" he snapped with a scowl. "How was I supposed to know when Quil and Embry described her as a four-eyed hag?"

My brow twitched.

Four-eyed hag?

Yup. Those two were definitely on my shit-list.

"Don't worry, you're super-hot." He assured me, and I was torn between snorting and taking off in a sprint. Because Bella Swan was here.

And probably with Jacob.

"I want to meet Bella." I declared, causing Rachel to jolt beside me.

I had to meet her.

I had to see the type of person Jacob Black gave his heart to.

"I don't think now is a good time Sydney." Rachel reasoned, "The ho' probably came to get him to leave with her anyway. She always does."

But I was determined.

"Then we'll just have to catch them before they leave, won't we?"

We didn't make it in time.

We ran into a guy named Jared, who I remembered as one of Paul's friends, who told us that they had left the beach in her red truck.

I spent the remainder of the night in the company of Rachel and Collin, Brady having ditched us for a game of beach volleyball with a few other of the rez teens. Both were hilarious and had larger than life personalities, yet despite their humor I couldn't keep my mind from wandering to Jacob. And more importantly, Bella.

I hated it, and constantly fought to enjoy myself, but it was almost as if my mind wasn't willing to let me.

It kept bombarding with thoughts such as was she prettier than me? Or did Jake laugh more in her presence?

It got so bad I felt myself having to ask them to repeat themselves multiple times when they spoke to me, until Rachel decided to call it a night and got Paul to take us home.

Before we left Collin jogged up to the car, reaching into the window to grab a firm hold of my hand.

"It was nice to meet you Sydney!" he enthused, before bending to deliver a damp kiss to the skin of my knuckles. "And don't worry about Bella too much," he added, "She's so dull, and if you and Jake don't work out I'm totally interested."

He winked and blew me a kiss before jogging off into the night.

I was left dumbfounded.

…did he just?

Paul laughed so hard the car shook.

"That Collin…" he shook his head, still chuckling. "Such an opportunist."

Rachel snorted.

"At least he has good taste." mumbling quietly afterwards, "Unlike my idiot brother."

I just blinked.

Jake came home late again that night.

Except this time when he walked through the door, I would be waiting for him.

No matter how hard I tried I couldn't seem to fall asleep. My body was vibrating with the need to know.

I had to know about Bella.

I was going to learn about Bella Swan, and he was going to inform me.

It was irrational, not to mention annoying as hell, but I knew that if I didn't know at least something I was going to drive myself up the walls.

So I propped myself on the couch facing the entryway, pretending to occupy myself with a magazine while burning lasers into the door knob.

After what seemed like lifetimes the doorknob revolved slowly, the door quietly swinging inwards to reveal a large muscular shadow slipping into the house.

It was time to pounce.

"Hey." I greeted casually.

He stilled, eying me as if I were a snake.

"What are you doing up?" he asked gruffly, and though I couldn't see his expression, I knew he was annoyed. "Don't you start school in the morning?"

I cocked an eyebrow.

Careful Jacob, you might actually sound like you care.

"Don't you?" I countered.

He stepped further into the house, the light from the lamp illuminating his scowl and piercing eyes.

"That is none of your business." He retorted frostily.

"And this is none of yours." I volleyed neatly.

He seemed on the verge of saying something more, but snapped his mouth shut, muttering a low, "whatever" before breezing by.

He had just passed by where I was sitting before I pounced.

"I hope you had a good time with Bella." I said to his back and he froze, whirling on me with wild eyes.

"Don't you dare say her name." he hissed and I recoiled at his harsh tone.

What was that about?

"Why?" I challenged, ignoring the way my heart twisted, "Weren't you just with her?"

"Why?" he challenged back, dark eyes flashing, "You jealous?"

I scoffed.

"Just curious. Spend as much time with her as you like. Just don't forget about everybody else while you're at it. I think they feel like your abandoning them."

And by them, I meant me and it hurt like hell.

Was it really impossible for us to ever be friends again?

"I don't need you to tell me anything." he snarled, "You who abandoned everyone and didn't look back."

All the air seemed to leave my body in a single rush, my chest constricting at his accusing stare.

"That's not how it was Jake." I murmured, "I wanted to-"

"Save it!" he snapped and I could only watch helplessly as he stalked away from me.

I huffed.

Back to square one.