Well it surely has been a while. But I've got some fresh ideas, and I just couldn't waste them! So I'm back, writing more stories. I really hope you enjoy them. This one is set about six years after Breaking Dawn, just to let you all know. I don't own anything. Without further adieu, here's my latest story! Read and Review!
My hands moved down his neck, creating the sweetest sound I have ever heard. I closed my eyes, and let the sound fill my soul. I smiled, knowing that nothing could make me happier in life. When I opened my eyes, my mom was standing in the doorway of my room. She had her hands on her hips, with her long hair flowing way past them.
"Don't stop playing. I was just enjoying the music." I rolled my eyes as I placed Rick, my guitar, on my twin bed. She tried to make her way across the room to my bed, but there are piles of clothes scattered everywhere. I made a face at her, hoping for her to laugh, but she just glared at me.
"Hey, don't look at me like that! Rachel is taking me out tonight after work and I want to look cute. It is my birthday tomorrow after all, so you can cut me some slack." I got up from my bed, and jumped over piles to get to where my mom was standing.
"That doesn't mean your room has to be a mess, Keira," she raised her eyebrows, trying to discipline me.
"Mom, is my room ever messy like this? I was just trying to find something to wear. I'm sorry." I raised my eyebrows this time, wishing that she would just accept and drop the subject.
"It's fine. I've just been on ease the past couple of days. I don't want you to go away. Can you believe that you're going to be eighteen?" Her voice choked as she spoke, so I reached my arms and grabbed her as tight as I could. As much as I wanted to leave Forks and start my career, I was definitely going to miss my mom a ton. It's not like I won't be able to see her, right? I pulled myself back out of her arms, only to see tears streaming down my mother's face.
"Mom, we are not doing this now. I am not crying before I go to work. I have to go, but we'll talk tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? Why won't I see you tonight?" She looked concerned. I put a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm staying at Rachel's tonight. She finally got Paul to agree with her to have me over." My mom bit her lip.
"I still don't know about her, Keira. She's nearly thirty years old, she's married, and her husband is a little scary himself." I let out a loud sigh. How many times can we have this talk?
"She's my best friend, ma. There's nothing you can do about it. OK? I'm a big girl now, I think I know how to handle myself." She looked at me like she was going to cry again. Before she did, she stopped herself and reached into her pocket.
"Here. Take the car before you're late for work. Have fun tonight." I grabbed the keys from her hand and rushed out of my room. I grabbed my apron from the little coffee table in the living room. "Do you know where you're going?" I heard my mom shout from upstairs.
"Rach said something about a bonfire in La Push. I'll text you. Love you mom." I screamed back as I shut the door behind me. I walked down the pathway to our car. Most kids my age have their own cars by now, but not me. We don't have enough money for one. Instead, I get to drive around our '86 Toyota Corolla. I like to call her our little trouper. She has great gas mileage, but she's kind of falling apart. I opened the door, and just like every other time, a loud squeak shouted out.
A ten minute car ride later, and I'm in downtown Forks. Not that it's much of a "downtown" because there's about fifteen tiny family-owned stores. I pulled into the parking lot of Lenny's Pancake House, and parked my car in the back. I grabbed my apron, and checked my phone. It was only 3:15, but my shift starts at 3:30. So typical for me to be early. You know your car is ghetto when it still has automatic locks and windows. I locked my door and stepped out into the cold. I wish I would have grabbed a coat, it's like below freezing outside. I ran up to the back door of the pancake house, and the lights were off. I shut the door, trying to warm myself up, and flicked the lights on.
"SURPRISE!" I was attacked by someone, who I'm assuming was Rachel. I was right. She placed a crown on my head with the words "Birthday Princess" written on it.
"Oh, it fits my personality just perfectly." We both laughed.
"Happy Birthday, Keira!" She hugged me again.
"Thanks, Rach." She finally let go of me, and I saw the kitchen of the restaurant all decked out in princess decorations. Balloons were everywhere, and streamers were draped across the ceiling.
"This is just the beginning to an awesome day. I am so excited! How does it feel to be a legal adult?" I looked at her, about to cry.
"I'm not eighteen yet. And this is too much, Rachel. I can't believe you did this." I grabbed her and pulled her into another hug.
"What are best friends for? I just want you to have an awesome birthday party. You deserve it. I can't believe you've never had one before. That is just a disgrace." I laughed and walked back to the door where I had dropped my stuff when Rachel jumped on me. I pulled my apron on over my head, and then walked over to punch myself in.
"My mom never had enough money. I'm lucky I even got a present and a cake each year." When I turned around, she was gone. Of course. I've worked in the coffee shop for a good year now, but Rachel doesn't really know about my personal life that much. We don't get into that kind of stuff. Our friendship is weird, but it's one thing that's kept me in Forks for this long. I pushed the swinging door open to the restaurant, and Rachel was standing behind the counter taking someones order. I smiled politely at the customer. I grabbed a rag from the sink, and walked to a table to clean up a mess.
As I was cleaning up, a song came on the radio that I love. I started singing along, unaware that I had a crowd watching me. I guess I got too into the song that I didn't hear the door open when he walked in.
"Wow. You never fail to amaze me." I turned myself around, already knowing who was standing there. Tommy and his crew liked to come to Lenny's for food. Rachel and I are convinced it's mostly because he's been in love with me ever since I broke up with him last year.
"Do you guys want a booth or table?" Someone whispered something that I couldn't hear, and the whole group laughed. "Look, I'm not in the mood today guys. So if you're going to be asses to me, you can just leave."
"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday? I would have worn my birthday suit just for you." Tommy looked serious when he said it, but his dumb friends thought it was a joke and they just laughed. I turned around and threw some menus on an empty table. I'm sure they followed me and sat down, but I didn't look back. I walked behind the counter and stood next to Rachel.
"You want to take them this time? They'll just ruin my perfect mood, and I don't need that."
"Yeah, that's fine. Next time though, they are all yours." I rolled my eyes and went back into the kitchen. I turned up the radio, and sang to myself as I started washing dishes.
Four and a half hours later, I was sitting in Rachel's living room. After work, I came straight here to get ready. I took a shower, did my hair and make-up, got dressed, and ate something for dinner. But Rachel was still getting ready. I sat on her couch, looking at the pictures everywhere of her and Paul. They seemed so happy together. How come all the guys I've ever attracted were complete douche bags?
"Rachel, hurry up! I'm getting pretty bored down here!" I heard her mumble something from upstairs, and I rolled my eyes. I was about to get up and charge her room, but she stepped down the stairs. She was wearing a tight red dress, her hair was straight down her back. She looked absolutely amazing. I looked down at myself. I was wearing jeans and a shirt. I thought that my shirt was cute, but looking at Rachel I felt under dressed. I had just left my hair to curl by itself, and my make-up was nothing special.
"Well, you look good!" Rachel said to me as slipped her coat on. I let out a loud chuckle.
"Are you kidding? You look amazing! I look like an idiot next to you." She grabbed her keys off of the hook next to the door, and I got up from the couch. I already had my coat on because I've been ready to go for an hour.
"Oh, I'm only dressed up for Paul. He likes...you know what? Nevermind. You ready to go?" She asked, but she already had the door open. I nodded and followed her outside. We decided to skip the humiliation of my car and take hers. The location of my party was a surprise, but she said it wasn't far. The car ride was silent. A couple of minutes later, we pulled into a parking lot full of cars.
"Rachel, why are there so many cars here? I don't have this many friends." I wasn't embarrassed to say that. No one really liked me in high school. I think they are just intimidated by my mad skills.
"I just invited a lot of kids from your school. It's no big deal. A couple of my friends are here too, I hope you won't mind." I shook my head. "Good. Time to put the blindfold on." She smiled. I grabbed it from her hands.
"Can I trust you to guide me? I don't know..." We both laughed as I wrapped it around my eyes. I heard her car door open, and two seconds later, she opened mine and took my hand.
"Alright, just be careful. There's a little step there. OK, now be careful when you walk." It felt like I was walking in sand because my heels kept sinking as I walked.
"Are we there yet?" Rachel let go of my hand. My heart started pounding. I couldn't hear a thing. Hopefully there weren't that many people here?
"Ready?" I nodded. And then I could see again.
"Surprise!" Wow. There had to be about a hundred people here. We were on some beach in La Push, I think I've been here before. So many people. I smiled and waved, then continued to walk through the crowd. Stringed lights were hanging above us, and I don't even know how they were staying up. I could see a bonfire down closer to the water, and a few of Rachel's friends surrounding it. Everyone had already continued their conversations, making it seem like this party really wasn't for me. I didn't see a single face that I recognized in the crowd.
"Hey, happy birthday, Keira!" A boy with a Coke in his hand said as he ran past me. I smiled and looked down at my feet. I got a feeling that this was going to be an interesting night.
"Hey birthday girl! What do you think?" Rachel came out of nowhere, handing me a water bottle.
"Rachel, this is too much. Thank you sooooo much!" I tried to seem happy, I didn't want her to think I didn't appreciate it. I really did, but I would prefer a small gathering with people I actually knew. She bought it. She smiled, grabbed my hand, and dragged me down towards the bonfire.
"There's some people I want you to meet." I rolled my eyes. When we got to her friends, they all stopped talking. They all looked at me. I looked at Rachel. I'm not one to get nervous, but for some reason this group made my palms sweaty.
"Hey guys. This is Keira, the beautiful birthday girl! Keira, this is Sam and Emily Uley," she said pointing to a couple sitting down. The man nodded his head towards me and the girl smiled at me. She stood up from where she sat.
"It's so nice to meet you. Rachel talks about you all the time."
"Really? I'd love to hear some of those stories." I smiled. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
"Emily, I told you not to say anything. Great. Whatever. This is Jared and Kim. You know Paul. Where's Seth and Quil?" Rachel walked towards Paul and they started making out. I saw Paul grab her butt, and that was enough for me. I looked at Kim. She was just as embarrassed as I was, but her face was showing it. It was completely red.
"Claire had an issue, so Seth took him over to her house. But Seth should be here any minute." Jared spoke, and his voice was so deep and masculine. He sounds and looks just like Paul and Sam. This was getting a little too weird for me.
"So, Keira. I hear you have an amazing voice." Emily was sitting next to Sam again, but now she was looking at me. Rachel dragged Paul to sit next to her, so I decided to take a seat.
"I guess it depends on who you ask." I don't like to admit that I think I'm good. I think it will only come back to haunt me later in life.
"Well, if you ask me, she's the best singer I have ever heard." Rachel reached over and placed a hand on my knee. She winked at me, and I laughed.
"Rachel tells us you got accepted to Julliard. I think that says it all," Sam smiled as he spoke to me.
"Yeah. It was pretty exciting. But I don't think I can go this upcoming semester," I looked down at my hands. I heard a car horn, and I looked behind me. The high schoolers were still in full party mode. Why can't I be normal and fit in with the popular crowd? I looked back to all of Rachel's friends, who were staring at me for a reason.
"New topic? OH! How about I go get your present? Sounds good to me! Wait here." My eyes grew wide. I told her not to get me anything.
"Paul, I thought I told you to make sure she didn't get me anything." I looked at him with sad eyes. I will feel awful, she has already done enough for me.
"She insisted. And I think you'll love it." He stood up and walked behind me. He placed a hand over my eyes.
"What are you doing? Was your hand too close to the fire? It's burning." I heard a laugh, but I didn't recognize it.
"OK, on three," Rachel was back. Oh dear lord. "One. Two. Three." Paul released his hand from my face. In front of me, Rachel was holding the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. A Taylor guitar. I could feel my cheeks getting wet from the tears.
"Rachel! How can you afford this?" I stood up and hugged her. I pulled back and touched the guitar to make sure it was real.
"I had a little help from some friends. Take it, it's all yours." She pushed the guitar into my hands, and before I could realize, I was actually holding my own Taylor guitar. I sat back down, and strummed the strings a few times.
"I can't believe this. This is the best birthday ever." I looked up to see everyone watching me. I seemed to be the common interest of these people.
"Well, aren't you going to play something?" Rachel clapped her hands like a five-year-old and her face lit up. I laughed and started playing on of my favorite songs that I know by heart.
"When you try your best but you don't succeed, when you get what you want but not what you need, when you feel so tired but you can't sleep, stuck in reverse,
"And the tears come streaming down your face, when you lose something you can't replace, when you love someone but it goes to waste, could it be worse?
"Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you." When I looked up, no one was watching me. Everyone was looking behind me, staring in shock. I was confused, so I looked behind me. There was someone standing there. He was huge, as in tall and really built. He had the same skin color as everyone else in La Push, but for some reason, his seemed to glow. His hair was short and brown, and his brown eyes were staring at me in awe.
I turned back around, and now everyone was looking at me. I looked at Rachel, and she just stared at me with her mouth open. I looked back up to the man towering over me.
"You have an amazing voice." His voice was energetic and playful, but it sounded soulful and raspy.
"Um, thanks?" I smiled, and a wide grin spread across his face. He stuck his hand out, and I stood up to shake it. I was a good foot shorter than him, and it made me smile.
"I'm Keira." I slipped my hand into his, and it was just as warm as Paul's. I didn't react this time, I was too mesmerized by him.
"I'm Seth. Pleased to meet you, Keira." His eyes never moved from mine, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged here, with this strange man I just met. Everyone else around us disappeared, and for that second I was shaking his hand, nothing mattered. He dropped my hand, and I had to stop myself from reaching for it again.
"Well, I'm glad you like your present. If you'll excuse us, we're just going to be leaving." Rachel grabbed my guitar and linked my arm in hers. She practically dragged me across the beach and back to her car. The whole time I was walking, my eyes stayed glued to Seth's.