Chapter 1
I awoke to my alarm clock blaring its god awful screech. I reached over and smacked the snooze button, hoping for five more minutes. I glanced at the clock, with the green glow staring at me. 3:30 AM. I pulled the comforter over my head, and tried to doze off.
"Hunter, wake up! We've got to go get your sister!" My dad said, knocking on my door.
"Five more minutes!" I groaned, rolling over.
"Now!" He said.
I groaned again, and rolled out of bed. I walked over to my vanity and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked awful, but I guess that's what you get for barely sleeping. I ran a brush through my curly hair and put on some concealer for the dark circles under my eyes. I grabbed my hoodie, and changed into my favorite pair of skinny jeans, and grabbed a black v neck shirt out of my closet. I pulled it on, grabbed my messenger bag, and shoved my wallet, iPad, iPod, headphones and notebooks in it. I shoved my iPhone into my back pocket. I glanced around the room one more time, and walked out the door.
I went out my door and smelled the chocolate chip waffles that Dad was making, and my stomach growled.
"Smells good Dad."
"Thanks. We have to hurry and eat, and then go."
I nodded while walking to the fridge and poured me a big glass of orange juice. He say my plate on the table and I grabbed the syrup out of the cabinet. I walked over to the table, sat down, and sat my glass on the table. I opened up the syrup and poured it over my waffles.
"What time does her plane get in?"
"She should be here in about a six, maybe seven hours."
I just nodded, cut up my food, and ate what I could. I got up and cleaned up my dishes, and downed the rest of my OJ, and put the cup in the sink. I helped Dad clean up the rest of the table, and walked to the pantry, and grabbed a bag of Munchies and threw it into my messenger bag.
"Alright Hunt, are you ready?" Dad asked, grabbing the keys to his police cruiser.
"Yeah, let's go." I said, grabbing the keys to the house. We walked out the door, and I locked the house. We walked over to the cruiser and got in. Dad fired the cruiser up and let it idle for a few minutes, and let it warm up. It was a chilly morning and there was a light frost on the ground and it was pitch black out. Dad revved up the engine a few times, and then backed out of the driveway. It wasn't too long before we were on the highway, headed out of town and to Portland.
I pulled my hoodie on, grabbed my headphones out of my bag, and plugged them into my iPod. I turned on my favorite music, and pulled up my hood. I laid my head back against the seat, and slowly drifted off.
I awoke to dad stopping the car in the parking garage, in a spot. We got out, and I shoved my iPod into my bag and left my bag in the car. I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and saw I had a message from Jake: Hey, when is Bella getting in? I can't wait to see her! We are going to head over to your house after you guys get back to drop off her present. I miss you! I sent back a quick reply:Her plane just landed, and then we will head back that way after lunch. I miss you too!
Jake is my best friend, and has been since we were little kids. My mom, Renee, moved away with Bella when I was just a few months old. I'm only four years younger than my sister. Her birthday is September 13th, while mine is October 17th. I grew up with Jake, and jumped houses between Dad's and Billy's. Billy was basically a second father to me, and took me when Dad had cases he had to solve, or when he had to go out of town for a convention. I didn't really get along with my sister, as I had only gotten to know her when she was here in the summers, but eventually she just stopped coming. I think that was what hurt my dad more than anything. Dad was always there for me growing up, but deep down I knew he favored Bella, because that was his first child. And that was okay with me. I would rather be on my own, than to take up someone's time. We got along great when we did spend time together. I'm more of a tomboy, sporty girl, while my sister is just slightly tomboyish. She can pull off a dress and skirts, where as I look like a newborn deer in the headlights with those on. I'd rather my jeans and converse, and t-shirts.
We walked across the walkway, and down the pickup zone, waiting for my sister. Dad scanned the crowd, and his face lit up when he saw her.
"Bella!" He waved so that she could see us.
She smiled and made her way towards us. "Hey Char-Dad!" she said, as she reached us. She had always called Dad, Charlie, but not to his face. She glanced over at me, "Hunter. How are you?"
I just nodded at her, "I'm okay. It's nice to see you again."
We made our way to the baggage claim and found her bags, and then took off to the cruiser. I know all eyes were on us as we got there, but I had gotten used to it. Bella, however, looked nervous. She wasn't used to riding in the cruiser as I had been. It's our only transportation at the house. Well, was.
We loaded her bags into the trunk, and without even asking, Bella hopped into the front seat.
"Bella, that's where I sit." I started to protest.
"Let her sit there. She hasn't gotten to sit there in a long time, and plus, you sit there every day almost." Dad said, shooting me a look.
"Fine."
Bella glanced back at me with an apologetic look on her face.
Dad started up the cruiser, and we were off. We didn't stop to eat, but we went through the drive through of a Wendy's. I ordered two grilled chicken wraps, fries, large water, and a large vanilla frosty. Bella said that she wasn't hungry, and Dad ordered two burgers, fries, and a large tea. He drove and the two of us scarfed down our meal.
I left Dad and Bella to sit in their awkward silence as he drove, and put in my headphones and started my music again. I pulled up my hood, and stared out the window as Dad drove. I could hear their mumbled voices every few minutes, but didn't bother listening. I sent off a quick message to Jake: Be there soon. Just left Portland. I sat my phone down, and stared out the window again, and dozed off.
When I woke up next, we had made it all the way to Ruby Beach, and had only a 30 minute drive left. I checked my phone to see if I had any missed calls or messages, but had nothing. I sent off another quick message to Jake: Just hit Ruby Beach. Be there in a few. Can't wait to see you! And then sat down my phone. Jake messaged me back almost instantly: Great! I'll gather everything up. I can't wait to see you guys! Going to be a great night! I just smiled.
Dad kept going, and thankfully, the time passed quickly. We got to the house, and got out, stretching our tired legs. Dad popped the trunk, and I helped lug in Bella's stuff, to her upstairs bedroom. Her and Dad got her other suitcase and bag, and lugged it up the stairs as well. I sat her smaller suitcase on the bed, and moved out of the way, as they came in the door.
"I cleared a shelf off for you in the bathroom. The lady at the store helped me pick out your sheets. You, uh, you like purple, right?" Dad said, trying to make some sort of conversation with her.
"Yeah, purple's great." Bella said, smiling.
"Alright, well I'm going down to my room for a bit, and then I will start dinner. You like chicken, right Bella?" I asked, stepping around Dad to her door.
"Oh, shoot. I'm sorry Hunt. I'm taking Bella out for dinner. I forgot to tell you."
"Oh, alright. That's fine dad. Jake and Billy will be here to keep me company. I hope you guys enjoy your night!" I said, smiling, and then walked down the stairs. I got down to the landing, and then walked through the living room, to my room.
My room was a smaller room, off the living room. Dad had it built on after Bella had started coming here for the summers, and we grew up. We each needed our own place, so Dad had a room built for me, along with a bathroom attached to it.
I got into my room, and sat my bag on my bed, and went to my vanity, grabbed a hair-tie and pulled my hair up into a messy bun. I glanced at myself in the mirror, and saw a pair of green eyes, surrounded by freckles, staring back. I wasn't bad looking. I had my mom's eyes, my dad's hair color, and freckles. I had a cute nose, and the wildest hair. I smiled, and looked at myself some more, noticing how the smile completed the look. I liked the way I looked, compared to my sister. She was more scrawny, and petite. I was a stronger build, but not heavy. I was a smaller girl, but I could hold my own.
I heard the truck pull up outside, and then a horn beep. I felt butterflies arise in my stomach. He's here! I excitedly ran out the door, to the front door, and then out that door. Jake jumped out of the truck, and turned towards me. He saw me coming and opened his arms wide as I jumped at him. He caught me just in time, but was off balance, so we went tumbling down, laughing.
Jake stood a good foot, to a foot and a half over me. He could easily pick me up and sling me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He's possibly done it once or twice. He's had to drag me away from fights at school, and hold me back. I hold my own, but with Jake there, I don't even get the chance to. He always pulls me back from the situation, before anything can be done.
"You are one crazy girl, Hunter." Billy said, rolling up next to us.
"A proud one too." I said laughing, and smiled at Billy. Jake sat us up in the grass, and just smiled. He stood once he saw Bella and my dad coming out the door.
"Hunter Kierra Swan! You had better not be getting all scraped up and bruised again. You know how I feel about you rough housing!" Dad said, scolding me.
"Dad, come on. We we're having fun." I said, looking up at him.
"Let the kids be kids while they can Charls." Billy said, scolding my dad.
Dad just puffed out his chest and stared at me. I got up and looked apologetically towards Billy, who just brushed it off. "You're fine Hunter. No need to worry."
I nodded as Dad looked at Bella, "So, what do you think?"
"About what?" she questioned.
"About you're homecoming present." He said, slapping the side of the beat up truck.
"No way! Are you serious? This is, this is perfect. Thank you!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah, I completely rebuilt the engine." Jake said, going around to the other side, as Bella opened the door and hit him in the shin.
"Sorry." was all she mangaed.
He got in on the other side, and started explaining the truck and how to make it go. Dad and Billy were out in the street messing around, so I went inside to make dinner for Jake, Billy, and I. I went to the fridge, and pulled out the chicken wings I put in the fridge last night, and sat them on the counter. I went to the pantry, pulled out the oil, brown sugar, and a brand new bottle of ketchup. I grabbed a frying pan and poured some oil in it, and heated it up. While I waited for the oil to heat up, I mixed the brown sugar and ketchup in a large bowl until it tasted just right. I set the oven to high, and then the oil started popping. I opened the bag of wings, and took a few out, and started to cook them. After I was done, I set the wings on a baking sheet and then covered them in the sauce, and placed them in the oven to keep warm, and let the sauce soak in. Jake and the rest of them finally came in, with Dad, Billy, and Bella heading to the living room, and Jake into the kitchen with me. Jake ruffled my hair, "Something smells good."
I looked at him and smiled, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just making some alfredo noodles." I pointed to the pot that I had started making.
He got up real close to my face and smiled, "You know damn well what I'm talking about Ki."
He likes to call me Ki, just because it's part of my middle name, and no one else calls me it. "I really don't Jake." I smiled a shit eating grin at him, and just stood there.
"Whatchya making?" He said, peering over my shoulder.
"I already told you, alfredo." He picked me up to move me, and I started laughing, "Jacob Black, you put me down right now!"
He spun on his heel and plopped me down into a kitchen chair. He turned back around and peered into the oven, "Is that what I think it is?"
I looked into the oven, "I don't see anything. What are you talking about?"
He smiled at me, "You know how much I have been wanting these again. Thank you!"
I just smiled back at him, and watched as he took over the noodles. It wasn't hard to follow the directions on the package, but Jake wasn't one for cooking. He seldom helped me in the kitchen, but would randomly start helping at times, without being prompted to by his dad. Dinner got done soon, and so I called out to Billy, "Dinner's ready!"
"Hey Hunt, Bella and I are off. We will be back in a little bit. Don't stay up too late, you've got school tomorrow. Is your homework done?"
I nodded, "Yeah, and I won't. We are just going to watch the game, and then possibly a movie. Then I will head to bed, promise."
He just nodded, thanked Billy and Jake for bringing out the truck, and then him and Bella hopped in the truck to take it out for a spin and to go eat. I started dishing up plates for us three, while Billy and Jake found the game. Jake helped Billy move into the big chair by the couch, so he was a bit more comfy while eating and watching the TV. We sat up a TV tray for Billy, and he thanked us. Jake and I took the couch. He sat in the middle, while I slung my legs over his lap. This was a normal way for us to sit, as this is how we always sat. We ate our dinner while watching the game, cheering on the team. Soon the game was over, and our team had lost. I got up, and gathered the plates, and put them in the sink and cleaned up dinner, while Jake put on a movie.
I went to the front door, and kicked off my shoes, and then went back to the couch. The movie had started and was about twenty minutes in, and Billy was already snoring.
"Switch me spots." Jake said, moving over to where I had been sitting. I sat back down in his seat, and leaned against his shoulder.
"Jake?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad were going to be going to the same school finally."
"I am too. It'll be nice having some female company, instead of the rough and tough boys." he said, laughing.
I watched the movie, and pulled the blanket from the back of the couch onto my lap. It was starting to get cold out. I watched the movie as much as I could, but eventually dozed off. The movie had ended, and I felt two strong arms under me. My eyes fluttered open. "Shh, its okay. I'm just taking you to bed." Jake said, as I leaned my head back against his shoulder.
He opened the door to my room, managed to pull back the covers to my bed, and sat me down. He pulled the covers back over me, shut off my lamp, and went to leave. I grabbed him by his hand, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Always being there for me. I'm glad to have you in my life."
He came back over and squatted down next to the bed, "Ki, I will always be in your life. You are my best friend. I'm not going anywhere. I'll pick you up in the morning, okay?"
"Okay." I said, shutting my eyes. He kissed the top of my head, and I was asleep before he had walked out the door.
