"Welcome to Forks!" a sign tried (and failed) to excitedly notify me. Yes, joy be blessed for me to move to this no-name city in Nowheresville, USA.
I flew into the city, mindlessly dodging the trees and bushes all over. It was foggy, and this place was really green! It's like I entered a rainforest in southern Africa, minus the toucans and hanging vines. I threw my tantrum at the tropical and southern end of the continent after the Flock ditched me and I slept in the middle of the forest. Insects were all over me, but after a few days without showering, I began to smell and they all went away. It was amazing. I would just be walking through the forest and everything in my path and surrounding would leave. I was like Moses parting the Red Sea.
Just like the Flock. They left me, every single one of them. Even Fang. I don't even understand the reason to why they left! All they had said was put into a letter, saying that they really couldn't trust me with my Voice, along with Maya and Jeb down my throat. They seriously said that they thought I would lead them into a trap of their deaths! Damn it, we always got out safe, right? Didn't I protect them, always? Fang, Angel, Gazzy, Iggy, Nudge… even Dylan had went with them. I though, even through everything, at least Dylan and Fang would have my back. I guess not. I suppose you can't completely brush away all the evidence that was compiled against me.
I looked at the house that I was going to live in. It was Mom and Ella's idea that I stay with them while they moved, just to get over the Flock. Yeah, right. That was never going to happen. I still have nightmares at night, just imagining them disappearing, out of my sight. But the only difference was that now, it was reality.
The driveway was cobblestone, and I walked up to the doors with my head down, looking at my worn Converse. I got them on sale, so yes, they were hot pink. But they were broken into and I liked them.
As I reached the glass doors, I pounded my fist against a door. "Hello, Ella? Mom?"
I heard the tapping of footsteps and the maroon doors flew open. "Maxie-poo!" Ella yelled, embracing me by jumping into my arms.
"Don't call me that, Ella."
"Maxie-poo, Maxie-poooooo," she sang, and I grunted my annoyance. "Mom was just making some cookies."
My ears instantly perked up. "What kind?"
"You know what kind."
I stumbled into the kitchen, letting my senses take over. The smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, just lying on the counter, still hot from the oven.
I reached for the biggest one in the batch and had a spatula slap my hand. "Ouch!" I said, retracting my fingers.
"Let them cool, Max," my mom scolded. Dang, she always caught me.
I held my hand, and as she turned around, I swiped for it again. "Max," she said in a reprimanding tone.
I jerked my arm back, hanging my head slightly. She must have eyes on the back of her head.
"Instead of eating my food, you should get ready for school tomorrow."
"What?" I screeched, my wings flying out in my rage as my eyes darted up to the spawn of Satan.
"I know I said you wouldn't, but I changed my mind. It's good for you, Max. You should meet some new people. Also, control your wings. You can't do that in public."
"I meet plenty of new people each day," I growled in between my teeth, slowly pulling in my feathers.
"Yeah, the Erasers and the other robot clones don't really count in this case, considering that you meet them, glare at each other, and then fight to the death."
"I still meet new beings. Hundreds at a time," I said. "I'm really popular, you see."
"Upstairs, unpacking. Ella picked out some clothes for you in your closet."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, waving off her backside. Passing a counter, I snatched up a cookie. Whatever she says, my mom is still the best baker in the world.
I went up the marble stairs, devouring my cookie. When I reached the last of the baked dough, I hit my fist into my palm. Darn, I should have snagged another.
The doors were all white with crystal knobs. There was one labeled Ella, one labeled Mom, and another labeled Max.
Huh, I wonder which one's mine?
Wiping the melted chocolate onto my black v-neck, I pushed the door open. And then I closed it. Double checking the sign that said my name, I sighed and pushed it open again. This room can't be mine.
The walls were striped with a sandy crème and white. My bed was a queen with a crème headboard that looked stuffed but had buttons pushing down on the fabric in a diagonal pattern. I had two crème nightstands on each side with lamps to match. There were two large windows with a bench under them that had the same design as the headboard. The carpet was crème, my furniture was crème, and everything was crème! Freaking everything!
I headed towards my closet, thinking that all my clothes would be crème too. Sliding the doors into the walls, I realized I was right! Just kidding, everything was gray and pink. Gray and pink! I slid the door shut.
All in all, it was a cute room. All in all, it was a cute room for Ella. All in all, it was a cute room for Ella, not Max.
I sat on the bench. It hurt my butt. I was about to sit on the bed, but with all the throw pillows on it, it looked too complicated to sit on. I looked around and the moon chair in the corner looked like the fur would stick to my butt, so I settled on the floor. I had my remote in my hand and turned on the TV.
News. News. News. Family Guy. Spongebob. News. Gossip Girl. News. News. Little League Baseball. News. Pretty Little Liars. News- and I stopped.
The lady on the channel was talking about a picture that somebody shot and sent to the news center, and it was in the corner of the screen. I squinted and scooted closer so I could see.
"Well, Jessica, it seems that these birds are long and take on a form of humans. Their wings are exquisite and long, and they seem to be traveling in a flock. People have said to have spotted them a few times already."
They weren't birds. It was the Flock.
I turned off the television. I did not want to see that. How could they be so careless? Not just one person saw them, many did! If I were in charge, this wouldn't have happened… whatever. I should just forget about them.
In first period, I sat next to a girl named Isabella Swan. She was thin, had pale skin, and ebony hair.
"I'm Bella," she introduced. She fit right in with the Forks crowd.
"Max," I replied. I, however, was eternally tan, had blonde hair that fell into tangled ringlets with large amounts of contrast. I was 5'11" and would never find a boy taller than me that didn't look like he was about to fall over when he walked. Other than Fang, of course. Dylan was about my height.
Ugh, I was annoyingly Arizonian.
"Are you from California?" Bella asked, taking in my appearance.
"Close. Arizona," I sighed. Dear sun, I miss you. Sincerely, it's raining a lot.
"Really?" she said, lips curving to a smile. "I'm from Phoenix!"
"Oh," was all I could say.
"My mom's albino," she explained.
"At least you fit in well," I said. "Everybody was staring at me."
"Well, everybody here looks like they're dead, and you practically glow," Bella said, a smirk on her face. "And you're pretty hot."
"Um, hate to burst your bubble, but I don't swing that way."
Bella erupted in laughter. "Calm down! I have a boyfriend."
"If I glow, does he sparkle?"
She looked serious for a moment. "Yes he does. Literally."
"Okay. So either he wears glitter spray every day, or he's a psycho."
"It's natural!" she argued.
I dropped the subject. No need to step on a landmine if she thinks her boyfriend sparkles.
"What's his name?"
"Edward Cullen," she said dreamily.
"Sounds old," I said, without thinking.
"He's not old! He's seventeen!"
"He's old."
"How old are you?" Bella asked, brows furrowing in annoyance.
"Fifteen. I'm programmed to- actually, I skipped a grade when I was younger." I almost spilled the beans about having information programmed into me that didn't need me to go to school. I knew everything, and more than an average person. Obviously, Nudge knew even more. Nudge…
"Wow, so you're really young!" Bella exclaimed.
"I guess?"
The teacher walked in, and Bella's voice was hushed. She ripped a corner sheet of notebook paper and passed it to me.
I'm hanging out with Edward and his siblings after school. You want to come? Considering that you can't drive and all.
I glared at her, but nodded.
Sure, I'll join you and your Eddie, Bells. I smiled. Maybe making friends wouldn't be so hard, after all.
Bella was talking to Edward, and I stood away, awkwardly. We were inside the Cullen home, and none of Edward's brothers and sisters had arrived yet. Their house was huge, bigger than mine. Well, of course. They had seven people living in their home. I had three.
"I can't read her either," he complained. He really did sparkle. Legit deal. "It's annoying."
"You can't read mine, so am I annoying?" Bella demanded.
"No, love, of course not!"
The doorbell rang, and Edward said, "Sorry, Max. Could you get that?"
"Sure," I shrugged. I sauntered towards the wide door and opened it.
A tanned boy with hair blacker than Bella's stood at the front step. He had an intricate tattoo on his left bicep and he was really muscular for his age, which I am guessing is close to mine.
All Tan Man did was stare at me. Like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time.
"Hello, sir? Can I help you?" I asked, waving a hand in front of his face.
He just stood there, watching me.
"Uh, Bells, Eddie? This person's freaking weird," I called, eyeing him suspiciously.
The couple appeared, and Bella looked like she was about to run and hug him when she froze. Edward did too, and then everybody was frozen.
"Oh, hells no. Don't you freeze on me, too."
"Jacob, how could you?" Edward asked.
"I can't do anything! Imprints just happen," Tan Man, who was now Jacob, said. His voice was deep and kind of sexy. Which is ridiculous, because he looks the same age as Dylan. Who's voice is alright, it's not as low or sexy…
"What if she's not the one?" Bella asked.
"She has to be," Jacob said, gesturing to me. "Imprints only happen once."
"No more than that?" Bella looked like she might pass out.
"Not that I've heard of."
"Um, does someone mind telling me what is going on?" I asked, feeling a little strange, being the only one out of the loop.
"I'm Jacob Black," Jacob said, smiling at me and holding out his hand. "You can call me Jake."
"No thanks," I said, waving away his hand. "I asked you what was going on, and I expect an answer."
"Hey, she's like you!" Edward said to Bella, who slapped him in response.
"Of course," Jacob said. "I just imprinted on you, so you're my destined soul mate. I'm a wolf, and so this may be overwhelming, but what has happen has happened. Unless you want both of us to feel physical pain, I suggest you stay by me."
"Okay," I said slowly. "Maybe you should start from the beginning."