09

*＊✿❀❀✿＊*Chapter Nine: JJ Shifts*＊✿❀❀✿＊*

"Don't cream yourself, J," Jules rolled her eyes as she listened to the excitement in her best-friend's voice. "It's not a date."

"Okay, first off, you're disgusting," Jules rolled her eyes again, this time with a hint of amusement. "Secondly, why can't it be?"

"Um, maybe because she invited the rest of her friends?" Jules said in a questioning voice, wondering if her best-friend had truly gone delusional. "Plus, and I'm sorry, J, but there's no way in hell she's over Edward. She was head-over-heels borderline obsessed with him. I wouldn't be surprised if she were still holding onto the hope that he was coming back, really."

"Are you trying to piss me off?"

"Not at all," Jules quickly denied. "I'm trying to let you down nicely before she has to."

"Why don't you let me deal with that?" Jacob asked and Jules rolled her eyes at her delusional best-friend.

In all fairness, Jules did try to put everything to do with Jacob and Bella out of her mind as she focused on her Math homework. It was going very well, too, until..

"Jake's not picking up."

Jules didn't even look up from her book. "Hello, Bella, how are you? I'm fine, thank-you for asking. What's up?"

"Juliana." Jules looked up at that (the pair very rarely called each other by their birth names unless it was serious) and took note of Bella's worried expression. "He was feeling sick at the movies. Stomach Flu's making the rounds," she explained. "He was supposed to call when he got home."

"And, he hasn't?" Jules guessed, causing her sister to nod. "He might've just passed out as soon as he got in," Jules shrugged. "J gets like this when he's ill."

"But nobody's picking up," Bella tried again, emphasising the word 'nobody' to try and get her point across. "What if something happened?"

"Calm down, Belly," Jules stood and brought her hands to her sister's shoulders. "Breathe. I'm sure he's okay. Do you want me to try him?" Bella nodded wordlessly. Jules picked up her phone from her bed and dialled to Black household.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Billy," Jules sighed a small sigh of relief, sending a small nod to her sister, who sighed heavily. "Sorry to interrupt your evening. Bell was at the movies with Jake and he was supposed to call when he got in. I told her he probably crashed and he was fine, but.."

"Can she hear me?" Billy cut Jules off quietly.

"No," Jules answered immediately.

"It's happening, Jules," Billy said. Jules plastered a reassuring smile on her face for Bella's sake, but internally she was worried. "He's Shifted. Don't let Bella come down here. You can't either. You don't want to deal with an out-of-control wolf."

"Of course, I understand. Take care, Billy," Jules eyes fluttered to Bella's nervous face so she added, "tell Jake we called, yeah?"

"He'll be okay, Jules," Billy promised. And, with that, Billy hung up.

"So," Bella's voice brought Jules out of her thoughts, "what's the word?"

"He's fine," Jules lied, but plastered on a reassuring smile as not to raise her sister's suspicions. "Well, not fine, but, you know, alive. I was right; apparently, he passed out as soon as he got to the sofa and he still hasn't moved. So, obviously, he's dying." Jules tutted and playfully rolled her eyes. "Billy said to not go down there, though," she added quickly, noticing the look in Bella's eyes. "Said there's no point. Said JJ can't keep his eyes open for more than five minutes at a time. I'm sure he'll be better before you know it."

Jules was reading in bed when it sounded like a stone hit her window. Jules furrowed her brows in confusion, but it wasn't until another clatter against her window that she stood up and headed over to take a look. A smile threatened to overtake Jules' lips when she saw who it was, but instead she simply lifted her window and sent him a pointed look.

"You know, we have things called phones nowadays."

The smirk on Sam's face was both attractive and annoying, "yeah, but, this is more romantic."

"You knocking out my window is romantic?"

"I didn't do shit to your window," Sam raised his hands in defence, but smiled when he saw Jules' grin. "I'm coming up." That was all the warning she received and she had only just gotten out of the way before Sam essentially jumped through her window.

"You do understand that as much as my dad likes you, if he finds you up here, he will shoot you."

"I won't be here for long; I can be quiet." Jules raised her brows in disbelief. "Does that look mean I'm not getting a kiss?"

Jules chuckled and made her way over to him, circling her arms around his waist. "Well, since you asked so nicely.." Sam was already leaning down and Jules captured his lips in hers in a sweet kiss. "Hi," she whispered when the pair parted.

"Hi," he whispered back, pressing another kiss against his girlfriend's forehead.

"So, not that I'm not happy to see you but why are you here?"

"You know about Jacob." Sam said matter-of-factly.

"Billy told me," she confirmed with a nod. "I haven't said a word to Bella, if that's what this is. I kept up the story that he has stomach flu. I suppose it's lucky that he acts like he's dying with every illness he's ever had." Despite himself, Sam chuckled. "How's he doing? Billy said I can't see him yet."

"Not until he's under control," Sam shook his head. "It's dangerous when we first Shift. I won't risk him hurting you, even accidentally." Jules nodded in understanding: Sam would rather die than there be a repeat of last time. Sam sat down on the edge of Jules' bed, raking a hand through his thick hair before connecting their eyes. "He's doing as well as to be expected, honestly," he finally said. "The first initial Shift is rough on all of us, but he didn't do too bad. He holds a lot of anger, though."

"Because of Bella?" Jules guessed, sighing when he nodded. "Christ, she's gonna hate that. I understand, though," she added. "He's been in love with her since, like, forever, only to find out the love of her life was his natural enemy. It's gotta take a toll on a guy." Sam chuckled breathily at that. "He'll be okay, right?"

"Eventually," Sam promised. "And when it's safe, you can see him. But, promise me you'll wait til I tell you it's safe, okay?"

"I promise, Sam," Jules walked over to him and squatted in-between his legs, bringing a hand up to cup his cheek, smiling when she felt him lean into it. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Jules," Sam said affectionately before effortlessly lifting her up and placing her firmly on his lap. Jules laughed melodically and she wrapped her legs around his waist and looped her hands around his neck, interlocking her fingers. Sam's hands were securely holding onto her waist as he brought his lips to her own.

—————————————————————————

A/N Incredibly short chapter today, I know, apologies people but I'm just getting back into the swing of things!

Happy New Year! I hope your 2026 is full of love, happiness, and lots of laughter ♡Does anyone have any New Year resolutions? I am definitely trying to be more organised and productive🤣

Lastly, I'm aware I don't update this as often as I should but, as I say, I am getting back into the swing of things! Anyhoosies, that's my long-winded way of saying that I have some books in the works:

1. The Azalea Black Series =A Ron Weasley fanfiction Zay always knew that her father, Sirius Black, was in Azkaban although the reason, she was somewhat shielded from. For her own good, Remus would tell her.But, when it is reported that Sirius has escaped Azkaban, Zay is now faced with the truth; mostly.Will she be satisfied with whatever else she discovers?

2.Forever Young =A Steve Harrington fanfiction Four best-friends and their self-appointed babysitter were playing DnD one night before school. A night like many they'd had before. Except, it wasn't.November 6th 1983. The night that Will Byers went missing. The night that changed everything.Now Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Bex must do everything in their power to bring their friend home, overcoming obstacles together such as finding a strange girl with a shaved head in the exact spot where Will was last seen. Is it a coincidence?

3.{ TITLE TBD }=A Jamie Tartt fanfictionLily Green is just a normal girl from East Manchester. Well, this is until one bored day she posts a dancing video on TikTok. Lily's page absolutely blows up, to the point of receiving a very weird email asking her to interview for a position she had no real experience in.Who was Lily to refuse?

If any of these sound interesting to anyone, please let me know and I will be more than happy to get posting!!

Ta-ta for now xoxo