Chapter one: Returned
It felt cold, the insides of the empty room, void of furniture, my mom's voice broke the silence that flooded my once cramped room. I looked at my mom, her head was poked in the room, her ebony hair hung around from her head almost down to her chest. I always admired my Mom's looks, her creamy pale skin was like porcelain, along with her chocolate brown eyes that were always full of love and warmth.
"Honey, come on I want to leave on time, we have a long drive ahead of us." Her soft voice echoed out into the empty room.
"I'm coming, just saying goodbye to this place," I responded before turning around picking up the last bag that sat next to the door. My Mom's eyes met mine they were full of sadness but also of hope and happiness. I smiled lightly at her, grabbing her hand gently. I ran my thumb over her knuckles, I stared at the connection between us for a moment burning it into my memory, I didn't want to lose this. We dropped our hands and went down the stairs, the rest of our stuff was already on its way to Washington, my mom's friend came to get most of our furniture with her truck the night before.
I slipped on my old worn out sneakers and put on my jacket, my Mom told me it would be cold in La Push by now it being early September, school would be starting again. I surely was going to miss my friends, but I missed La push a lot especially the weather and especally the woods. My Mom and I moved out of La Push seven years ago we left when my dad died… my mom after all this time still hasn't told me what happened to him. She barely could mention his name so I don't blame her for it, it was the main reason we left.
We hopped in my mom's blue jeep it was packed full of our suitcases and a couple of more valuable items. We pulled out of our driveway saying goodbye to our home once more before driving away towards Washington State. It felt strange going back there seeing all the people we used to know, and our old house, I smiled at the thought before putting in my headphones and leaning my head against the door drifting off to sleep.
"We're here!" Mom yelled as she put the car in park, I jumped slightly slapping my mom on the arm lightly. She giggled "Sorry!" before jumping out of the car, I followed.
The house was just as I remember, two stories painted a dark oak with a porch that wrapped around to the back and poorly made porch swing made by my father. The home was situated in a clearing surrounded by forest the only thing leading out was a gravel road.
My Mom's friend had arrived before us, the truck she drove was already being unpacked, buff looking dudes came in and out of the home carrying furniture and boxes into the house.
"Emily!" my Mom yelled as she ran up and hugged her friend, My mom pulled back and gestured a hand towards me, "This my daughter Eleanor, Eleanor this is Emily Young, Or Uley I should say." My mom said winking at Emily I stepped forward holding my hand out towards the copper toned woman.
"Please, call me Ellie," I said taking hold of Emily's hand softly.
"It's so nice to finally meet you, Ellie," Emily said her voice was soft and Motherly,as was her face she was beautiful despite the scar that reached up towards her brow, and down to her jaw it made her even more stunning.
"Boys, come meet Maddy and Ellie." Emily hollered at the boys bringing in the furniture,
they walked over, three of them all tan and muscular with different variations of cheeky smiles on their faces.
"Ellie, this is Embry, Quil, and Paul," Emily said pointing at each boy.
The first one Embry, was tall and slender, with russet skin, cropped black hair and brown eyes. Second in the line was Quil he was shorter than Embry, more muscular, with brown eyes, darker skin, and an impish grin. Finally, there was Paul tall just like the other boys, with brown eyes, and black hair. His stare was the least friendly, more of a glare than anything else.
I smiled at all of the boys most of them smiled and waved, " Hey, I'm Ellie." I said feeling myself shrink under their stares.
"Ellie, do you mind helping the boys finish up with the unpacking?" My mom asked, I smiled and nodded running over to my mom's jeep opening up the trunk pulling out two of our suitcases and started hauling them towards the front door. I looked over at the boys as I struggled to pull the suitcases up the stairs, my jaw dropped Embry was carrying the dining room table by himself, Quil had two large boxes, and Paul moved a piece of our couch by himself. I stared in awe as they walked in and out Embry snickered at me, and I picked my jaw up off the floor before continuing to bring the suitcases in the house. I sighed and wiped the sweat from my brow and took a look around my new room it was on the second floor, and the walls were painted a pale green the same color as my eyes my mom always said.
The boys and I finally finished bringing in all of the boxes, furniture, and luggage. After it was all over mom said her and Emily were going out to eat and catch up I told her I would stay and unpack boxes. I came down the stairs of the second story the guys were still in my house finishing things,
"Thanks for helping guys this would have taken me days otherwise," I said with a generous smile.
"It was no problem Ellie, You're going to the school in La push right?" Embry asked I nodded, he seemed the friendliest of the three.
"Yep, Final year of hell, you guys go there too right?" I asked rubbing the back of my neck slightly "Yeah, all three of us including some of our other friends." Embry stated
"Who?"
"Oh uh, Leah Clearwater, Jacob Black, and a few others,"Embry said while pulling his shoes on, "Oh cool I hope I get to meet them." the boy hung around for a little longer before they they needed to leave.
"We better get going Ellie, see you at school," Embry called out as all three of them exited the door. "Oh ok see you then Thanks again for all the help," I said waving at them before closing the front door. Now to try to get some of the unpacking in my room done.
Three hours passed of me unpacking and placing things, I grunted and stood up looking at my progress my room was half way done. I sighed and went downstairs, I then remember we had no food in the house, I placed a hand over my stomach and felt it growl. I should go out for food. My mom sent my car down here a little bit before we left she said that the keys were on top of the front right wheel. I wrote a short note for my mom and left it on the counter, I then threw on a pair of dark jeans and a black long sleeve shirt.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and stood in front of it glancing at myself a moment. My hair was long and curly which caused it to look unruly most of the time especially now I tried raking my fingers through the black tangly mop of hair that was curly and unruly in every way possible but gave up as it just made it worse. I got up close to the mirror and rubbed some of the sleep from my doe like eyes. I then proceeded to prod and squish my face around in the mirror my skin was soft and toned a light honey beige well that's how my mom described it to me at least. I pulled away from the mirror and slid on my fur lined denim jacket. It was slightly oversized and had a couple of holes in the sleeves all reminders to me of my father as this was his jacket before I found it.
I took one last look in the mirror my eye lingered at the jacket a moment but I moved on and grabbed my purse by the front door and went to the garage. I pushed open the garage door to reveal my 1995 evergreen Volvo wagon, I grinned and grabbed the key from the wheel and hopped in. I cruised the streets of La Push looking for a sufficient food place. As I drove down one of the dark streets a bright diner sign shown above, I smiled and pulled in. I pushed the door to the diner open, a woman's voice greeted me telling me I could sit anywhere, I looked around the restaurant was mostly empty except for a few locals and one or two regulars, they glanced over at me before returning to their coffee and cigarettes.
I noticed an empty booth next to the window and slid into the patent faux leather seat and glanced over the menu. Everything about the dinner was supposed to take the customer back to the 60's or something, with the red neon light overhead paralleled by a lime green neon light and the black and white checkerboard floors, it was cozy. The waitress came by and got my order, A burger with lettuce, no tomato, and pickles with a chocolate shake and large side of fries. I fiddled with my fingers as I waited and tuned my ears in to listen to the men sitting at the bar. One of them was talking about the bear attacks that had been going on of recent he kept saying that it wasn't the bears that were attacking but, something much more monstrous his buddies just laughed it off. The waitress setting my milkshake and food down on the counter broke me of my eavesdropping, the smell of the food was so enticing I could feel my mouth water. "Thank you," I said with a smile, the waitress nodded and walked off.
My stomach was stuffed, I had finished off the last of my shake when the waitress came over handing me the check I placed the cash and tip on top and headed out of the diner. I started my drive back home, my car being the only one out on the streets at the moment. My eyes wandered to the forest that lined the road, catching movement in the darkness of it almost like a bear, but it's head turned at the last second displaying a dark pair of eyes. I gasped before a horn turned my eyes away from the forest and back on the road. I swerved dramatically back into my lane and avoided hitting the other car head on I let out a small surprised yell and could feel my heart beating out of my chest "Ellie stop being so careless." I scolded myself aloud regaining my composure.
I pulled into the gravel driveway. My mom's car was already back she was probably sleeping by now. I locked my car and threw the keys into my purse then headed inside. I opened the door to see the lights off, I softly made my way upstairs. My room was half done, but I at least had my bed made up, I threw off my jeans and shirt putting on a baggy t-shirt then rolled into bed falling asleep thinking about the almost head on collision from earlier as well the strange figure in the trees.
I woke up with a groan and a light stretch, I sat up in bed and turned my feet, so they were dangling off the side. I got up and went into my bathroom to take a quick shower before getting breakfast. I got dressed in a pair of jeans, a black v-neck with a big black cardigan and leaving my hair down to dry. I fluttered down the stairs to see my mom unpacking things in the living room, I smiled and made my way over to her giving her a tight hug.
"I'm going to grab us some breakfast," I said
"Oh don't worry about it dear, I already went to the store."She said with a cheery tone, "Sweet, then... I'll make us breakfast," I said walking into the kitchen I pulled out what I needed for pancakes and began measuring and mixing. The dull sweet smell soon filled the house as my building of pancakes grew. I called my mom in and we both piled on some cakes and made our way to the couch.
"Only two more days till school are you excited?"Mom asked I sighed, "Well as excited as I can be for going back to school," I said stuffing my face with pancakes.
"We should go to Port Angeles tomorrow and buy you some new clothes and school supplies." She said, I smiled and nodded finishing my mouthful "That be great."
After eating I helped my mom with the rest of the unpacking and by the end of the day we had finished with all the unpacking all that remained was the pile of unfolded moving boxes. I smiled at my mom and hugged her "finally back and settled." I said looking around at the fully furnished room.
It was night time by now, and we decided to head off into our rooms, as soon as I was in my silent room the figure from the evening before sprung into my head it was so abnormal, like an unnatural being. I rubbed my face, maybe sleep would get them it off my mind.
I woke up groggily, checking my phone, 12:30 a.m. I sighed and rolled out of bed throwing on jeans, a gray sweatshirt and threw my hair up into a ponytail. I flew down the stairs and into the kitchen where my mom sat with two men. One in a wheelchair he had long hair and wore a cowboy hat, and the other was large and had shoulder-length gray hair.
When I walked in they turned their heads to look at me the wrinkles on their faces showed a lifetime of happiness, joy, and wisdom. My Mom smiled at me "Ellie, good you're up I want you to meet Billy Black and Harry Clearwater, good friends of your father and I ." She said gesturing first to the man in the wheelchair then the one standing next to him. I smiled and stepped forward, my hand out to Billy " It's a pleasure to meet you guys." I said, Billy shook my hand firmly with two hands and smiled "It's good to see you again Ellie even though you probably don't remember me." Billy said, I grinned at him "I'd lie and say yes but I don't remember you." I laughed "I like you, you're honest." his gravely warm voice was a comfort it made me want to have a bedtime story read by him.
I turned then to Harry he was a sweet man with big cheeks that were a slight dusty rose color framed by his ashen hair, I stuck my hand out to him as well "Daughter of James Holt, never thought I'd see the day when I'd get to see you again." Harry said with a light chuckle shaking my hand softly in his large calloused hands, my father's name... hearing it used so freely gave me a haunting feeling.
"Ellie I know I said we would go shopping but do you mind going alone today, I'm sorry I just want to catch up with these guys." My mom said sincerity in her voice, "Of course, no worries," I said waving her off, "It was great meeting you guys, love you mom " I said smiling at the two men once more before leaving.
I passed the red and green Port Angeles sign and could feel the stress melt away due to the fact I had been lost for about 10 minutes. I found a place to park and decided I would get my clothes shopping done at the first thrift store I came upon as I walked around the city and the same went for eating. It was raining today of course so the only people I saw were locals and an occasional shopper. After walking a couple minutes I came upon sign that said City Thrift. Time to get clothes shopping over with just getting basic jeans boots and a variety of long and short sleeve shirts.
I left the store with three large orange plastic bags I lugged them back to my car before heading into an office supply store where I bought some school supplies and a backpack, while I was checking out I noticed a small sign with the big red letters," HELP WANTED".
"Excuse me, are you still accepting applications?"I asked looking up at the teenage girl behind the counter. She smiled at me her cheeks round and sprinkled with delicate freckles that paired with her auburn bone straight hair, " Yes... of course, here you go." she handed me an application I smiled at her, the look on her face made it seem like she wanted to ask me something. "Do you live around here?" she blurted out,"I actually live on the reservation, do you live around here?" I retorted jokingly "Well yes… sorry to be so forward I don't see many people my age around here." She said frankly, rubbing the back of her neck timidly her smile beaming again. "Oh no you're good, what's your name?"I asked still smiling at her awkward cuteness, "Eloise, but most people just call me El." her eyes went from me to the floor then back to me "It's nice to meet you, I'm Eleanor, but people also just call me Ellie." I said with an affectionate smile. After paying for my stuff I grabbed one of the store's pens that had a red rose taped to it and quickly filled out the application she gave me and then handed it to her. "Hopefully we can work together El." I stated she took the paper from me gingerly "That would be amazing, Ellie" she retorted her voice was barely above a whisper. I smiled at her once more before leaving the store my bag in hand as well the red rose pen, " Ellie...gah" I cursed myself.
I threw my bag into my car then leaned myself against it I let out a sigh of relief knowing all my shopping today was thankfully over. My stomach's gurgling was a reminder of my lingering hunger so I decided to continue walking till I found something that looked appetizing. It was 5 o'clock now some of the smaller boutiques that lined the town were already closed but in the distance, I could see a restaurant that was illuminated with yellow gold lights so I began making my way towards the glowing beacon like a fly to a light.
As I was walking, I noticed a girl ahead of me I couldn't see her face, but she had long wavy dark brown hair and wore a dark green hoodie with dark blue jeans. My attention from her was redirected to a group of drunk surely men who started to follow her, I felt my stomach churn as I saw them pursue her down an alleyway. I quickened my pace to catch up turning down the alleyway hastily as I watched them corral her in an open area behind the shops. I began running when the head psycho started touching her. I threw my momentum into him clenching my hand round his hoodie before using my weight to pull him away from her. I stumbled slightly and fell on my knees the sting of road rash was already in full effect. I clambered up and stood in front of the girl, she looked sorta clueless in her fearful deer in headlights kinda look. The guy I pulled away from her staggered and fell onto the brick due mostly to his low level of sobriety and a small part to me. The bottle he held smashed as it hit the brick pavement, one of the braver men lunged forward grabbing a piece of the broken bottle and he held it at me.
I backed up instinctively "Come here kitten." he charged us but was too drunk to make a precise movement I pushed the girl out of the way as he toppled onto me. At that moment I felt a heavy numbing weight upon me than a deep searing pain in the left side of my body that emanated from my upper thigh. A sound broke me from my pain haze a loud screech and the sound of a car door opening and slamming shut. Quickly the numbing weight was pulled off of me I looked down to my upper thigh, a pine green beer bottle shard was a quarter of the embedded in my flesh. I let out a panicked breath, instinctively placing my hands gingerly on the sides of my leg "I'll take care of this for you." I looked up to a snowy chiseled face staring down at me, he knelt down and placed a hand on the glass, before I could protest he pulled it out and tossed it aside. He stood and moved towards the other men, I couldn't see his face but it seemed like all he had to do is walk near them and the men fled it made me wonder what he had done to be so terrifying. With help from the girl, I stood the pain from my thigh cut subsided to a slow pulsing.
"Hey, you alright?" I asked she looked at me like I was insane and wryly smiled at me. "I should be asking you that," she exclaimed stressfully running a hand through her hair I smiled reassuringly and waggled my hand up and down "It's fine... nothing a bandage can't handle," I said sticking my free hand out towards her, "I'm Ellie."
"Bella." she shook my hand softly "Thank you so much I don't know why or how but thank you for saving me." she said her face flushed slightly, the ghostly looking man came back he looked panicky "It's nothing really those guys were scumbags." The man looked to Bella and to the car and back at her " Give me your phone." she stated and put her number in my phone before getting into his car, they pulled away in a hurry I grabbed my purse and made it back to my car quickly wincing with each step. I stopped at a drugstore on the way home to grab some bandages and since my jeans were dark the blood couldn't be seen wouldn't want to scare my mom or worry her.
When I pulled into my driveway, I pulled my phone out of my purse sent Bella a text. I slumped back in the seat, I was exhausted. I walked up to my room, my mom was fast asleep by now. After shutting the door behind me I slid onto the floor my shopping bags laid out around me. I laid there the Dull pain in my left leg was felt throughout my body. I sat up and took my shoes off and gingerly slid out of my jeans hissing as I peeled them away from the bloody gash. I grabbed the plastic bag from the drug store and pulled out the alcohol wipes, bandages, and antiseptic ointment. I forced myself to wipe away the dried blood caked around the wound I gritted my teeth against the pain of the alcohol deepening into the open wound.
Blood started to resurface and stream from the cut, I quickly placed one of the gauze pads over it. I watched as the ruby red staining came up through the cotton I removed the pad and replaced it with a new one and taped the edges of it to my leg. I let out a deep breath that I didn't even know I was holding and picked up the dirty gauze and wrappers I flushed them down the toilet as to rid of the evidence and put the extra supplies in a little box on one of the shelves in my room. I rolled into bed pulling my covers over me in one swift motion and sang my face into the silky soft pillow and closed my eyes graciously.
I woke up and was instantly met with a dull pain through my body, my muscles were sore from running into that guy last night, and the cut on my thigh was now only a constant throbbing dull pain rather than a constant burning pain. I laid there a moment the sun streaming in on my face, I opened my eyes quickly "School!" I flung out of bed and into the bathroom with each step of my left leg I could feel the pain like the shock of an electric fence. I peeled the bandage off my thigh, hissing quietly at the sight of the deep bloody gash. Last night it didn't hurt that much because of the adrenaline I suppose. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair before I grabbing the disinfectant and quickly doused the wound. I bit down on my lip to keep from screaming and slammed my free hand on the counter, the wound flamed from the pain but after a second calmed I wrapped my thigh with the remainder of my white gauze all the way around so it wouldn't slip while at school..
I left the bathroom and brought my mind back to what I was going to wear to school, I slipped on a pair of mid-calf skinny jeans and put a charcoal gray riot grrl shirt on. It was thin and holy, the front of it had a three-eyed anime girl with a text box that said "ballbuster". I pulled on my faded heeled Chelsea boots and put a fur-lined flannel on to keep from freezing I turned the light off in my room and I ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. my stomach was rumbling loudly for some food, to my surprise, my mom was already in the kitchen cooking up some eggs and bacon. I smiled brightly and ran over to her hugging her tightly from behind, even though I was seventeen I still hugged my mom like I was seven I loved her so much. "Good morning chickadee, sleep well?" My mom's soothing voice said, "I did actually, I dreamt I was in a world where I didn't have to get up and go to school, I was free from the chains of the public school system." I said my voice heavy with drama and sarcasm I even put my hand on my forehead for added measure. "Oh hush it won't be that bad, you already know some people that go there." She encouraged, I sighed and smiled at her I forgot about Embry, Paul, and Quil, maybe I could find Embry the friendliest of the three and ask him to show me to my classes.
After eating breakfast I kissed my mom on the cheek and left, the weather was perfect, slightly raining and super cloudy. I felt my stomach churn with anxiety as I sat in the La Push High parking lot, I drummed my thumbs lightly on the steering wheel as I watched students file into the building talking and laughing with old friends as they went. I inevitably stepped out of my car and made my way into the building, the main hall was alive with student chatter, I could barely hear myself think in the mass groups. I spotted the main office and went in, the sound from outside now became a dull noise in the stagnant office space. I walked over to the front desk where a middle-aged woman sat she looked persistently annoyed with her job as she mindlessly stared at her computer.
I cleared my throats softly, letting her know I was there she looked up at me with a dead expression I smiled at her "Hi I'm new to this school, and I was wondering if I could get my class schedule." I informed, my hands fidgeted awkwardly" name?" The woman sighed "Eleanor Holt" I answered she grumbled something under her breath before the printer next to her made a noise, she grabbed the paper from it and handed it to me "Here you go." She said flatly quickly returning back to her computer "thank you." I exclaimed before exiting quickly.
I stared down at the paper, first hour - American government, I quickly got Lost in the halls of the school desperately looking down at the piece of paper and back up at the number signs that marked each hallway, but nothing made sense.
"Need some help, new girl?" A deep voice behind me said, I turned and saw Embry smiling widely at me as he had seen me struggle. I giggled and ran a hand down my face "Is it that obvious?" I huffed he grabbed the paper from my hand "Yes very." He said with a cheeky grin "Ah, American government that sucks I'll show you where it is." He started walking and beckoned for me to follow "So how do you like La Push so far?" Embry asked, "I love it all the rain and cloudiness and the big beautiful forest I'm definitely happy to be back." I said with a slight smile on my face, " that's the first I've heard of somebody liking the weather here." He scoffed, then he turned toward me "Hey some of my friends and I are going to the beach to hang out and surf tonight wanna come?" He asked, I smiled and nodded "Yeah sure that be awesome." My body filled with excitement, maybe making friends here wouldn't be too hard, "Great I'll let the guys know. Anyway here is your class I'll see you tonight, oh by the way the beach is called First Beach, try not to get lost." he jested before walking away disappearing into the mass of students walking to class.
I playfully scoffed before entering my class, no one was in the room yet so I had a full range of seats to choose from. I sat in the farthest corner of the class trying my best not to be seen. After a few minutes, people started filing into the class. I kept my eyes locked on my paper as I started sketching a forest line, with mountains in the back I started getting really into it when a voice next to me broke my concentration. "That's really good," I turned to see who had said it, next to me was a boy that looked to be seventeen maybe eighteen, he had long glossy black hair that was pulled back with a rubber band to rest on the nape of his neck. His skin was gorgeous, a muted runny russet-colored; his eyes were dark and deep-set resting just behind the high points of his cheekbones. His face still held a small bit of adolescent roundness, he smiled at me it was soft and playful.
I pulled myself out of my daze "...thank you, I'm trying to get better but, I don't know." I said looking up at him then back down at the sketch. "Hey it's all about practice, if I gave up on every motorcycle or car that was above my skill level or was too hard I would never be better than I was." he said the same goofy smile on his lips, I giggled lightly "You're right, maybe I'll keep practicing and be able I'll draw you a masterpiece one day."I jested His face lit up, and he nodded "I would like that." I felt the blood rush to my cheeks as I looked at him, he was easy to talk to, he made it easy. We probably would have kept talking but the teacher starting class caused us to break from the conversation. I felt some feeling bubbling up in my stomach a feeling I couldn't describe, "Hey… what's your name?" he whispered softly from beside me, I smiled and leaned over toward him a bit " Eleanor Holt, but call me Ellie." I whispered back, I quickly responded with the same question "What's yours?" he smiled at me " my names Jacob Black, it's nice to meet you Ellie." he responded then turned his attention back to the teacher. Jacob Black I thought to myself, what a beautiful smile.