Chapter 1 – Welcome to Forks!
As I was staring out the window of the small bus that was taking me to my new life I noticed that the sky was slowly darkening with rain clouds every mile closer. I had never imagined or thought to myself that I would be moving to one of the most anti-sun places in the States.
However, I am a guy that always tries to look on the bright side of things and that's exactly what I did. Looking for the silver lining in all of these dark grey clouds, for what seemed an eternity, I finally came across it. I was going to be able to observe, analyse, report and hopefully be able to come in close range of the local fauna.
Let me explain myself. My name is Mitchell. I am a transfer student from Fresno, California. It seems a bit ridiculous that I am transferring from one of the sunniest places to one of the most anti-sun in a matter of days. Even though I have lived in one of the sunniest places in the states I have always had a habit of avoiding the sun like it is the plague. This has left my skin very pale compared to pale people. There have been cases where I have actually been mistaken for an albino.
Finally arriving in Forks, Washington, I got off the bus and I had been expecting it to be quiet but nothing like what it was. I swear you could near hear a pin drop if you tried. The bus driver unloaded the three suitcases which were mine off of the bus. I thanked him and gave him a $20 bill bonus for driving me all the way out here.
"Mitchell? Is that you?" a female voice behind me asked.
As I turned around I saw my cousin Emily. I haven't seen her since I was about 7. Now being 16, we both had grown a lot. I didn't even recognise her when I turned around.
"Emily? Emily Young?" I asked awkwardly.
"Of course. Who else would it be?" She said as she came towards me to give me a hug.
"What happened to you?" I asked tears starting to well in my eyes.
"A very, very long story. Come on, we have to get a move on. Everyone can't wait to meet you," She said carrying the lightest of my suitcases.
It was a long drive to the reservation. While Em drives, let me explain about myself a bit better. As I said before, my name is Mitchell, Mitchell Young. Em and I are cousins by our mother's, they are sisters, well, were sisters. I got my complexion from my father, who was European, but I guess I got the build of the Quileute's. I stand at a good 6'4'' and am muscular. I don't pay attention to weight because I see it as too artificial. You should go by how your clothes fit. I am by no means fat but I'm not thin by any means. I work out daily so I am comfortable. I have dark brown hair and blue-green eyes; which I also got from my father.
"Well, here we are. Haven't been here in a long time, hey?" Em asked opening the front door.
"It hasn't changed a bit though. Still exactly how I love it. I love the smell around here, so fresh. A great change from the city," I said laughing slightly.
"Well, you will be staying with us, so I'll put your things in the spare bedroom," Em stated grabbing the suitcase from before.
"What do you mean us? I was told it was just you?" I asked following Em.
"Well, a lot has changed in the past 9 years Mitchy. I'm engaged now. You'll meet Sam this afternoon," Em chirped happily as we entered the small house. "Hungry?"
"Starved," I said as my stomach made its own remarks. "Do you have any salad stuff? I am dying for some fresh salad."
"Uh, yeah, I'll make you one. You get comfortable and settled in," Em said leaving the room.
As I sat on the bed I looked out the window and I was so excited. I couldn't wait to get back to my roots.
"It's ready Mitchy! Come on," Em yelled through the walls.
"Coming," I said getting up. As I got up I looked outside and I could have sworn I saw a big dog deep in the woods. I blinked and it was gone.
I sat down at the table and Em sat across from me just staring at me.
"Do I have something in my teeth?" I asked with a mouthful of lettuce.
"No. But how the heck did you stay so pale? Even here we Quileute's brown," She said feeling my spare hand. It tickled.
"I avoided the sun like it was the plague. I'm not much into tan skin either," I said eating 3 slices of cucumber in one go.
"Well, it'll be a shock to the gang when they see you. I reckon they won't even be able to recognise you," Em smiled getting up and grabbing two glasses. "Water?"
"Love some, thanks. Who do you mean by the gang?" I asked eating some tomato.
"You remember; Jacob, Quil, Embry, Leah and Seth. I'm sure you'll remember when you see them tomorrow at the reservation school," Em said handing me the glass.
"The reservation school? I'm not enrolled there; I've been enrolled in the high school. Guess I'm going to be a loner the first day of school then," I said as I rushed the water down.
"Really? You're a Quileute though, you should be going to the reservation school. Who enrolled you here?" Em asked cleaning up the bowl.
"You know Em. Who else. I only have one parent. And even then that's dicey," I said looking down at the wooden grain in the table.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. Everything alright with your dad? Why did you move down here?" Em asked sitting back down at the table but this time sitting next to me.
"Well, let's just say I don't really have a dad anymore. He found out something about me that he really didn't like and shipped me here," I started scratching at the wood grain.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked half hugging me.
"Not really. I just need some time to think. Do you mind if I go for a walk?" I asked standing up and pushing my chair in.
"Go for your life, just don't go too far. You need to be home in 30 minutes to meet Sam," Em smiled as I walked out the door.
I was walking straight to the forest. Entering the forest I felt a lot better, more grounded and at one with myself. I have always been into Yoga and meditation and I thought I would catch a little bit of inner peace. I strode through the forest and came to this small clearing. I sat down on the damp ground and crossed my legs. I started my meditation, taking in deep breaths and stretching my senses out to feel around me. About 10 minutes into my meditation I heard a rustle in the bushes. I looked into the bushes and there was a small white rabbit. I coaxed it out and just as I was about to pat it I heard this snarling, ugly sound coming from behind me. The rabbit had quickly sprinted away back into the bushes. I slowly turned around and behind me was this absolutely massive wolf. I didn't know what to do, I just started backing up on my hands and knees and the wolf advanced. I lost my balance and fell down the slight slope that was near the clearing. Feeling myself tumbling down, I put my arms up to protect my head and suddenly I felt hot searing pain in my right triceps. I went to nurse my arm when I blacked out.
"I am...idiot...should...realised...not...them," I heard someone saying.
I went to open my eyes but the light, I honestly believe there was one ray of sunshine purposefully boring into my eyes, was too bright so I kept them closed. I felt an intense heat near my head and I reached up to feel what it was. I was surprised to feel that it was skin. Lightly drifting my hand across the hot skin, I came across a nipple and then and there I realised someone was carrying me.
"Who are you?" I tried to ask which probably sounded more gargled.
"I'm getting you inside to get seen too. You took a really hard hit," He said steadily.
Breathing normally? He should have at least been puffing from carrying me. Who was this person? Where was he taking me? Was I really safe? Too much thinking made me black out again. Too much blood to the brain!
I woke up lying under the blankets on my bed. I could still feel a slight throb in my arm but it wasn't that bad. I leant up on my left arm.
"He's awake," I heard someone say from the kitchen.
How could they know that? My door was shut and I just woke up. I went to get out of bed when Em came rushing in.
"Mitchy? Are you okay? How do you feel?" Em asked checking my head and arm.
"Whoa! Slow down. I'm feeling kind of like shit really. How long was I out for?" I asked rubbing my bandaged head.
"You were out cold for about an hour," Em said sitting on my bed.
"I need a drink of water," I said getting up and walking into the hallway. I turned the corner to enter the kitchen and I stopped dead in my tracks. There were three totally gorgeous guys sitting around the table talking, but stopped when I entered the room, and they were staring right at me. I swear if I hadn't lost so much blood from the wound I would have been a lot redder than what I was.
"Uh, hi," I said getting a glass of water and slugged down three glasses of water.
"Do you want to slow down there? What's the rush? Wait, you're not like, half fish or something are you?" the guy on the left hand side of the table asked.
"Jacob! Be nice!" Em slapped him across the back of the head. So that was Jacob. He was definitely the best looking one out of the lot of them.
"Sorry Em," Jacob said looking at her with puppy eyes.
"Don't even try! I can say no to Sam," Em said glaring back at Jacob.
"Umm, not to be a bother or anything, but introductions would be nice," I squeaked out.
"What was that? I don't understand fish," the guy at the end of the table said smugly.
"Embry, I swear," Em said raising a hand.
"Introductions," I blurted out louder.
"Of course, I am Sam. The guy at the end of the table is Embry, and that's Jacob," Sam said putting his hand out. I shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you," I said shyly looking at his hand. There were blood stains on it.
"I was the one who found you. You took quite a nasty fall," he said chuckling a little bit.
"I'm a total klutz when I'm like that though," I breathed.
"So, the almighty Mitchell returns! How does it feel to be back home brother?" Jacob asked me.
I had a hard time looking into his dark chocolate brown eyes. "I, umm, don't understand. Who are you exactly?" I asked going a bit redder, from talking to Jacob or embarrassment of me not knowing who he was, I don't know.
"You don't remember me? I used to throw mud at you all the time whenever you were here when we were younger," Jacob said smiling. My knees buckled slightly and I collapsed on the ground.
"Mitch! Are you alright?" Jacob asked kneeling beside me.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a bit swooned is all," I said blinking hard. My vision was going blurry. "I think I need to get to a hospital."
"You'll be alright, just need to relax and have a bit of sleep," Jacob said placing his hand on my back to help me up. Even his skin was hot to the touch. As I stood on my feet I blacked out again falling into Jacob. "Well, welcome to Forks."