Making sure all my stuff was secure I climbed into my truck and started down the road. I was tired of having to be the adult between my two parents. They always fought not just verbally either. I shook my head from the most recent fight and focused on the road. I wasn't sure where I was going, but I sure as shit wasn't staying in Arizona anymore. Knowing that the others would understand my reason for leaving I decided not to bother any one until I found where I was going. I put in my favorite cd of Bullet for my Valentine I set it for repeat, and turned it up.
I grumbled to myself stretching out and turned on the head lights, I knew I had to either pull over or get a room soon. I was on the other side of Vegas close to a little town called Ely, my mom and I had been there enough to know where I could get a room for less then a hundred dollars. Needing a new cd I pulled out Framing Hanley and started singing with that. An hour later I pulled into the hotel and grabbed a smaller bag, climbing out I locked my truck and walked to the front desk. Leaning on the counter I looked around for someone to help me without having to ring the blasted bell. "Hello?" I asked out hoping someone was right around the corner, then jumped when they responded. "I'll be right there." Was they said and moments later they appeared and smiled at me causing me to look away. "Uh yeah I need a room for tonight" I said finally looking back at him before he could ask anything. "Cash or credit ma'am?" "Cash." I mumbled pulling out my wallet. " I need to see your i.d." He told me as I pulled it out I could tell he was going to question me about nonsense things so I moved the non existent conversation along. "How much will it be?" I asked as nice as I could. "Oh, sixty five dollars." Was all he said. I handed over the money and he gave me the room card. Yes I said card. "It's room one twentynine and will be to your left." I smiled nodding at him and left for the room. Opening the door I set my bag on the floor and kicked off my socks and shoes and crawled into the bed, instantly falling asleep.
Groaning at the sun coming through the window and into my eyes I rolled over to look at the clock. 6:37 I groaned again kicking off the blankets and got out of bed. I grabbed my bag and went to the bathroom and turned on the water. As I waited I looked into the mirror and saw me, well my shell, the dark half circles under my eyes, my eyes a dark green rather then the normal lighter green, my skin whiter then normal. I couldn't help but be mad now... I let myself get like this. I always thought I was okay without friends. Turns out I was wrong. Yeah I had Kirshana but that was it, and I considered her my sister. Now I understood all the worried looks I got from everyone. Until now I didn't even bother with a mirror. Sighing I turned away and stripped down, stepping into the shower I let the hot water run over my back. I washed up and stepped out turning off the water I wrapped myself in a towel and walked out letting the bathroom clear of steam. I sat on the bed and turned on my phone. I rolled my eyes at my moms texts and voicemails, but my sister had only left one text. Be safe was all she said. I texted her back telling her I'd call her when I knew what I was doing. I got up and got dressed, visiting the bathroom to brush out my hair avoiding the mirror as much as I could. Packing my bag and making sure I had everything I came with, I left. Leaving the card in the room.
In my truck again I took the time to think about where I wanted to go. Figuring I wanted rain and an ocean I thought instantly about Washington. Agreeing with that I put in some Nirvana, and was on my way again. Only stopping for gas or food, I finally saw the welcome to La Push sign. Smiling at the ocean I parked and got out kicking off my shoes leaving them in the truck and started walking along the line where the water met the beach. My smile grew more as I saw how much forest there was around here, I decided I wanted to be here probably forever. Nature had that affect on me, well trees and the ocean did anyway. Sitting down on a tree log I took out my phone and took a picture of where the forest met the ocean and sent it to Kirshana and my brother with the caption of "My new home." knowing that they wouldn't respond for a while I got up and went back to my truck. "She looks new." I heard someone say from the other side of the lot, I looked up to see a group of men and one girl around a truck I smiled shyly and looked down. They must be locals I thought to myself grimacing. I shook the thought away. They might be nice, they might not care I'm not from here. I tried the new train of thought. I got in my truck and glanced over at them only to see one of them staring at me. I blinked and looked again only to see one of them coming over to me. Oh great. He's going to tell me off, tell me to go back to where I came from. All my good thoughts left as he came closer. I sighed and leaned over rolling down the passenger window when he got close enough. "You're new here, huh?" He said it I know he did but my mind wasn't registering that. I took in a breath and nodded my head waiting for something harsh but when I looked at him again he was just standing there. "I'm Paul." I blinked waiting for something else. "And you are?" He asked looking at me. "Oh, I'm Haley." I stated rather blandly. "Look I'm sorry if I'm on some kind of private property or something. I didn't mean to cause a problem." I said looking back out the windshield trying to stay calm. It was then I heard him laughing, I looked back over at him raising an eyebrow at him. "Oh man! No, no that's not why I came over here at all. My pa-friends noticed you were alone and thought you'd like to hang out with us." Paul said pointing over his shoulder still laughing a bit. I on the other hand couldn't think of anything to say. I stared blankly at him. Really? A group of friends notice a loner and they're going to invite them over. Snapping out of it I shook my head. "That's nice and all-" "Oh come on none of bite I swear." He cut me off raising his hands as if to signal he was telling the truth. Sighing I agreed. "Alright." And with that I got out still bare foot and walked around the truck and looked Paul in the eyes. "No licking either right?" I was trying to be serious but failed and instantly laughing at how serious he was with my question. He too after a few seconds started laughing. "I can't promise that." I stopped laughing as soon he said it and looked at him trying to find out if he was being serious with me or if he was pulling one over on me, and then we both started laughing. "Oh you should of seen your face!" He pointed laughing more almost on the ground. "Ha ha funny Paul." I said waiting for him to stop. He finally stood up fully and smiled. "You're okay Haley. The group will like you." He said as we walked to the group of people.
"Guys, Leah, this is Haley. Haley this is the group." Paul said waving his hands around. "Hello." I said waving a little. "Hi." They all said at the same time. "I'm Jared." One got up smiling a little. "I'm Seth." Another one more short with black studs in his ears and a smile across his face. "I'm Jake." One grumbled looking like he just woke up. "The one avoiding you now is Embry, he's a little shy but he'll come around. I'm Leah though." The only girl smiled at me. "It's nice to meet all of you." I said turning shy again. Paul elbowed my ribs causing me to jump a little bit, I looked up at him. "Yes Paul?" I asked a little annoyed. "Nothing." He said looking away, as I rolled my eyes at him. He acts just like my brother I thought to myself. "So what brought you here Haley?" Leah asked obviously aware of my being annoyed with Paul. "I needed to get away from my parents." I sighed hoping that was information to leave that subject alone. Embry looked at me with sadness in his eyes. "I think we all understand that." Paul said shuffling around. "Some of us more then others." He continued looking around. "So you wanted to come to La Push?" Leah asked changing the subject. "Actually, I wanted the ocean." I smiled looking out over the ocean again. "Well you came to the right place, we have like three different beaches." Leah smiled at me again. "So what do all of you do for fun around here?" I asked trying to get Embry to talk but failed. "We go cliff diving, play video games, watch movies. The usual basically." Seth smiled explaining. I just shook my head at them. I would never go cliff diving, the fear of heights had me there. "What do you usually do Haley?" They all looked at me making me shift around. "I usually watch movies or play video games, sometimes read or write." I mumbled looking down. "That sound cool, what do you usually write about?" Someone asked and I looked up to see Embry was the one who asked. "Oh usually just random things." I responded not sure if he'd really want to know. Everyone smiled at either him or me and I was lost as to why. I looked around and no one would look at me now. "Well guys I think I'm going to go to Sams." Jared spoke up. "Paul? You wanna come I think Quil might need your help." Paul just nodded and Leah jumped up too. "Yeah, I think I'm going to go help mom, come on little brother." And Seth jumped up following her. "Jake! Wake up man we gotta go to Sams." Paul said waking him with the boom of his voice, and all we heard from Jake, was sure sure.
"Well that's nice of them just to ditch you with a stranger." I said breaking the silence with sarcasm, I looked over at Embry who was blushing a little. "Actually we've all done it to each-other at least once." He chuckled a little making me look at him. He had the most amazing smile I've ever seen. I instantly snapped out of it before he caught me staring at him. "So how many of you are there?" I asked. "In the group I mean." I looked at him again waiting for his response, I couldn't help but notice his warm brown eyes and the way that they shine while he's smiling. "Oh there's just five more really, Quil, Sam, Emily, Collin, and Brady." He explained. "Oh and theres Kim too, Jared's im-girlfriend." He said blushing again. "That's cool you're all friends." I said smiling remembering the last time I hung out with a group that big I was in grade school. Shaking away the memories, I asked. "Have you guys always known each-other or is there a story behind all of it?" I asked hoping for the second choice so I could hear his voice more. "We basically always knew each other, but I grew up with Jake, Quil, and Seth, Leah of course, the others we finally met around four years ago." He explained shrugging like it was no big deal. "Oh that's cool." I said looking up at the sky wondering how it got so grey so fast. "It feels like rain." I mumbled looking out to sea, seeing the water too had turned grey. "Hey is there a motel or something around here?" I asked looking at him to find him already find him looking at me. "Uh no, but I think Emily might let you stay at her and Sams place." He suggested. "Oh no I couldn't do that I don't know them, and I'm sure they don't want a stranger in their house, I'll just go on down the road till I find one, it was nice meeting you though Embry." I said turning around and started back to my truck. "Haley! Wait! At least... At least stay for dinner, and meet them before you leave." He hollered after me. I turned around to see he was coming up behind me. "I really can't, it'd be rude." I say looking at him. "Well let's call ask, please?" He was pleading with his eyes causing me to agree. "Alright, fine." And as soon as I said the words he smiled and pulled out his cell phone. "Hey Sam." "Yeah it's true." "Listen I need to ask you something." "The pa-group and I met this girl today-" "yeah, anyway I was wondering if I could bring her over for dinner?" "Sweet! Thank you!" With that he hung up the phone and smiled at me. "Gimme your keys I'll drive us there." He said extending his hand out opening it. Sighing I gave him my keys and climbed into the passagener side sliding the back window open and put my stuff in the bed of the truck, before he could get in. He got in with ease and started the old girl and backed up turning us around and down the main road. Looking out the window I took in the sights, everything looked like a normal small town, a general store, a park, city hall and another park, which was kinda busy with people hanging out or playing baseball. "Embry who is that?" I asked him looking at the small family who was waving at him, well I'm pretty sure it wasn't me cause I've never seen them before. I looked over at Embry to see him shake his head looking frustrated. "They're really not supposed to be here without Jake." Was all he said as we turned down an unmarked road, with the forest on either side, and soon enough a cottage like house appeared on the end of the road.