Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. The storyline is property of BatteryBlue.
No Rest for the Wicked
Chapter 1
BPOV
I walk through the arrival gate, rucksack thrown over my shoulder. It takes me a minute to spot Charlie. He's a blend-into-the-scenery kind of guy, leaning against a far wall with his hands in his pockets. I wave as I walk over.
"Hey, Bells. Good to see you." He gives me a hug and a pat on the back. Never one of the overly emotional, but I appreciate his attempt. And I can't blame him for being a little confused. I called two days ago out of the blue to say I was coming to live with him for a while.
"Hi, Dad," I muster up the best smile I can give which, judging from his concerned look, isn't all that great.
The car ride to his house is awkwardly silent. I lean my forehead against the window and watch the world blur by.
"So," he finally says, "how's Mom?"
I let out a hollow laugh. I guess that's as good a way as any to ask what the hell I'm doing here.
"She's Mom. Hasn't changed a bit." I can't hide the acid in my tone.
"Did you two have a fight?"
A fight. If what we had was a fight, then what Hitler had was a party. "Yeah, something like that." I force myself to turn and look at him. "Don't worry about it, Dad. I just need some time away. Clear my head, focus on school. That sort of thing."
"You're not in trouble are you?" He glances at me.
"No. I'm not."
He relaxes a bit and guilt churns in my stomach. I used to be a terrible liar, so he probably believes me. But I've gotten better at it. I had to.
I feel bad about lying to him, but I can't tell him the truth. Not about Mom or anything. He wouldn't understand it, that's not his world. If I'm to protect him from it, he can't know anything. And anyway, he'd probably have me committed. Not the most open-minded guy, Charlie. I'm surprised Mom was able to hide it from him for so long.
When we get to the house, I open the door and feel a rush of relief. This place has good vibes. The house itself is peaceful, mostly undisturbed. I can only feel a trace hint of Mom's presence, left over from years past. Nothing bad, back then she was sane. And I'm sure not going to add my own impression here. This place will be my sanctuary, free from magic.
"You want something to eat?" Charlie asks, peering in the fridge, "I can heat up some leftovers quick."
I shrug, "I had something on the plane." I didn't, but my appetite had all but disappeared in the last few days. "I think I'm just going to head to bed. Get a good night of sleep before school."
Charlie nods. "Sure, sure. I called the school today, told them you were coming. Hopefully you'll be all set tomorrow, even with the short notice."
I put my rucksack on the stairs and walk back into the kitchen. I lean against the wall and say, "I'm sorry about springing this on you. I just needed to get away. I hope my being here isn't too much trouble."
Charlie smiles, his mustache twitching. "Hey, kiddo, I'm always happy to have you, for as long as you need. I miss you when you're so far away."
I smile for real and move in to hug him. This time we're both a little less awkward. And it feels good to hug my dad. To have a parent who really cares.
"Thanks, Charlie," I mumble into his shoulder.
"Any time."
We brake apart and I pick up my bag and head up the stairs. "Night."
"Goodnight, Bells."
My little room is the same as the last time I was here two years ago. So much has changed for me since then, my whole world has been rocked sideways and bashed around. I breathe deeply and soak in the innocent feeling of the space. Sanctuary.
I throw my bag on the desk chair and flop down onto the bed. I feel like I haven't rested in a lifetime. I let the tension seep out of my limbs and sigh into sleep.
My first day of school arrives with heavy rain. I get up early to cook Charlie breakfast before work. There was a time when first days would make me nervous; new place, new people. But I'm really looking forward to the anonymity of Forks High. No one knows me, I can leave it all behind. Hello, high school mediocrity, it's been too long.
Charlie borrowed a truck from a friend so I could get to school without his cruiser. I crack the window on the way, relaxing in the melodic vibes of the green forests around me. I can already tell this place is just what I need. Everything's in balance here, harmonious and peaceful. I feel like singing.
I pull into the parking lot and shrug my hood up before bracing the rain. Other kids hurry from their cars into the school. No one stops to notice me. I feel free.
I find my way to the front office. A heavyset woman sitting at the front desk greets me as I enter.
"Hi, I'm Bella Swan. I think my dad called about me yesterday?"
The woman blinks and then lights up. "Isabella Swan! Of course, Chief Swan told me all about you." Knowing Charlie, that probably just meant my name and age. "Breezed right into town, didn't you, dear?"
I smile but don't answer. She rifles through a stack of papers, throwing me curious looks as she searches.
"Here we are, a schedule and map of the school. Do you need any help getting to your first class?"
"I'm sure I can manage, thank you."
"Alright, dear. You let me know if there's anything else you need, okay?"
I smile and turn to leave, her gaze following me out the door.
School passes slowly, but I have no complaints. Except maybe the been-there-done-that reading list for English. But I meet a really nice girl named Angela who sits next to me, so I'm pretty happy. She invites me to eat lunch with her and her friends, which I accept. No need to keep hidden here with these normal folks. I might even make some friends.
I pull my black hoodie around me as we leave for lunch. Angela asks me about Phoenix and my life there. I tell her what I can without lying through my teeth. Her friend Mike walks with us and he seems nice too, if a bit over eager. I smile, a real smile, when they complain about how uninteresting Forks is. If only they knew that was the best part about coming here.
The cafeteria looks like the one at my old school, except smaller and a little dingier. I get myself lunch and sit down, listening to conversations about school sports and upcoming dances. Everyone is polite to me, for the most part. A few of the girls eye me with distaste and one named Lauren is particularly unfriendly.
"So," she starts in an obnoxiously girly voice, "why did you just show up here? Did you get kicked out of your old school?"
"Lauren!" A curly haired girl named Jessica smacks her on the arm, but I can tell she's equally interested in my answer.
"What? It was a joke." Lauren rolls her eyes like that was obvious, but turns to me for an answer.
"I came to spend time with my dad," I answer, fixing her with my own look. If this girl thinks she can intimidate me, she better think again. I've gone up against much worse than the likes of her. My mother included.
Lauren sighs like my answer is subpar, but doesn't reply. I go back to eating my sandwich in peace, listening to Angela as she talks.
I could get used to this.
EPOV
Emmett pulls out the chair across from me and plunks down with his tray. I roll my eyes at the pile of food he has. He shrugs.
Got to keep up appearances. I'm a big guy, we eat a lot.
Yeah, yeah. Rose and Alice are discussing their dresses for the upcoming dance and I suppress a groan. There is no need for us to be attending a dance, but the girls insist. Alice rubs her temple unconsciously. She has been feeling off about her visions for a few days, having a hard time grabbing onto certain events. She's more worried than she's let on.
Jasper sits down next to her and jerks his head in the opposite direction.
New girl, just got here yesterday. They're all flipping out about her.
I smirk and shake my head. Jasper and I fit in the least with these children and their easily excitable natures. One new student can rock the boat of their entire semester. I glance over and see an addition to Mike Newton's table. A small girl sits with her back to me, slouched in her seat, brown hair falling halfway down her back. I see her face through Newton's eyes, and see he's already besotted. She's pretty enough, but I want to gag on his visions of the two of them tangled together at the dance.
"Newton found himself a victim to be his date for the dance," I say quietly.
Emmett grins evilly. He is much too interested in peer drama. Will she accept?
I reach for her mind to answer, but find myself...stopped. Where there should be a mind is a blank wall, no thoughts. I stare at the girl, confused and alarmed. This has never happened before. Is there something wrong with her? With me? I reach out and touch the other minds in this room, each as open and dull as usual. But not hers. I push, trying to see beyond. Nothing.
Abruptly, the girl flinches out of her relaxed slouch, her spine stick-straight and her shoulders hunched up. I try to see through to her mind, but can't get a grasp.
Slowly, she turns in her seat, all the way around until she is looking at our table. At us. At me. She stares, her eyes going wide and the flush of pink draining from her face and leaving it chalky white. She inhales sharply, her eyes darting from myself to my family. With a low muttered, "Fuck!" she jumps up from the table and hurries out of the cafeteria, ignoring Angela Weber's call after her.
As the doors swing behind her exit, I turn to my family. They're looking back at me, each with the same bewildered expression I must have on.
Finally, Rosalie leans in and hisses, "What the hell was that?"
Before I can answer, Alice gasps and puts a hand to her mouth. Jaspers hands are instantly on her, concern etched on his face.
"Alice, what's wrong?"
She shakes her head. Her mind is flying through image after image, each twisted and blurred, unrecognizable. "I can't see anything. My visions… are gone."
"What?" Emmett barks, too loudly, and then lowers his voice, "What are you talking about?"
"They're all mangled, I can't make anything out. This has never happened before." She looks to me, worry written all over her face.
What's happening? she asks.
I shake my head. "I don't know," I say, turning to watch the door the girl disappeared behind.
BPOV
I hurry down hallway after hallway until I can find an escape. The gym doors slam open as I hurry outside. I pace around, jumpy and unsure. My thoughts are scattered, bouncing off each other and colliding in a panicky sort of way. The only thought that keeps sticking in place is Fuck me, why here?!
Vampires. Goddamned mother-effing vampires. In Forks! I throw my hands up and growl in frustration.
"Was it too much to ask for a little break from all of that crap?" I say to no one in particular. If there is a God, he is laughing at me right now.
I lean against the brick wall and try to breath. Everything had been going great. Normal people, normal school, a place where I could get away from all of the darkness. Listening to Angela's stories about her little brothers and enjoying a nice PB and J.
Until I felt the very deliberate tap on my mind. Years of training, not to mention having to defend against my own mother, keep my mental defenses up out of habit. I never thought I would need them here. But that sharp tap was a not-so-subtle hint that, apparently, I can't run from my past.
Here I am sitting in a high school cafeteria in the middle of Nowhere, USA and then I turn around to find a table of five vampires. Five!
Memories that I've been trying to keep at bay for days flood my mind in panic. I've only ever met vampires who work for them. Did these ones follow me here? Did they come to drag me back to Arizona, back to Mom and… them? Or is it a coincidence?
I snort. That is one bullshit coincidence, if I've ever seen one. Because vampires regularly attend high school and eat in cafeterias.
I put my hands to my forehead. I'm fucked.
The bell rings from inside and I jump. I debate whether or not to run, then decide it's not worth it. If they're here for me, then running obviously hasn't worked so far. And if not, then I might as well get to class. I'll avoid them as long as humanly possible.
The worst part is that I can't escape from magic if there are vampires around. I have to be careful, which means riding that oh-so-fine line between cloaking myself with protection and tipping them off to what I am. Damn those vampires. My plan to swear off magic has been officially shot to hell.
I close my eyes and concentrate, controlling my breathing. Slowly, a light barrier forms around my skin, just enough to hide my scent. I've been told before that I smell delicious, and that's not a compliment from a vampire. It's a threat. Better not to give these ones any excuses to kill me.
I pull my schedule from my back pocket. Biology.
Okay, here we go.
Hi, all. This is a new story I've been cooking up. Let me know how you feel about it so far and I'll post some more soon.
Lots of love,
Evie
