Chapter Play List:
-Slow Ride by Foghat
-Analyse by Thom Yorke (The Eraser Album)
-Maps by Rogue Wave (Original Artist Preferred)

Ada's POV

Holy shit it's cold. Now I wish I had paid a little extra to have the heater fixed in this damn thing.

The mist that had covered the roads all morning had begun to clear little by little as the day progressed. I was able to see the tops of the evergreens that lined the highway and the small shrubs that lived at their base. A light drizzle fell from the sky and the windshield wipers of my car squeaked back and forth across the window giving it all they had. The temperatures outside had dropped in the night and had only crept over the 45 degree mark. It was September, and in the north, winter started early.

I huffed loudly, annoyed with myself and my ignorance. No my stupidity is more like it. I had known I was going to head north and I knew it would be colder than what I was used to. However I couldn't help myself. I stole a quick glance to the passenger seat where the old leather case cradled my brand new vintage Canon Canonet camera. Sure it had been a tad bit over priced, and the battery compartment had a small amount of corrosion, but that could be easily fixed. It worked like a charm and I couldn't wait for my next stop to see the images it produced.

Shit. Who needs heat anyway? My baby could get me from point A to point B easily enough. Why ask for more?

My baby was a blue on blue 1965 Ford Mustang with a 2.8 liter engine and a hardtop, from Arizona.

Just thinking about it gives me chills.

I turned the music up, allowing my mind to be distracted. I listened to the tunes of Slow Ride flow through my ears.

I sighed.

My baby.

The guy that sold it to me was about a year older than me, and man was he sad to see it go.

"It's for college." He kept saying, like that would actually make him feel better.

I nodded politely trying to keep my distance as he showed me the different parts of the car. The seats were torn to shreds and as I looked at the huge Rottweiler, which was growling from the back yard, I suddenly understood why the dog was so pissed. I was taking his damn chew toy away. Seats were fixable. All I needed to do was buy a couple of black seat covers from the local super store, and I would be good to go. Hell, even the messed up leather dashboard I could stand. It was the engine and the purr of the car that would make or break this deal. I listened intently as he climbed into the driver's seat to rev it up.

Purred like a kitty cat.

I smiled.

I checked everything over as much as I knew how. It sounded the way a mechanic in Texas had told me it should. I didn't know a lot, just little know-how's I had picked up here and there. That was enough to get by so if anything was wrong other than the engine, I was pretty much screwed. The guy was not urging me to buy it which was a really good sign of a "non-scammer". This guy looked like a good guy, maybe too nice. He kept looking at me like I was some girl at the bar he could actually pick up.

"So how old are you?" He asked as he leaned against the hood of the car.

I mentally rolled my eyes, "About to turn 19." I lied. I was hoping that he would pick up my mood and back off. No such luck.

"Oh." He said pleasingly. "So are you going to college around here as well?"

"No." He was starting to make me nervous, "I am heading up north. Look. I am running a little late. I really need to finalize the deal today." I said bluntly.

"Okay." He said straightening himself. "6500."

I looked over the baby blue finish and patted the hood. I wasn't surprised. It was about $1500 over my budget; but it was going towards this guy's college fund.

Yeah. That seemed like a good excuse. Plus, I already had a name for her.

Lola.

I stroked the cherry wood steering wheel lovingly, and then drew my attention back to the road. My song was playing and I was going to enjoy this. My fingers began to drum along with the beats as I let my head rock with the music.

I remembered looking at the map earlier and did a quick estimation in my head of about how long it would take me to get to my next stop. I had just left Raymond and had been on US 101 for a while now, so roughly 2 or 2 ½ hours before my arrival in Forks, Washington. That meant when I got there I would have time to get my room, get started on my images, and head out in search of a job before everything closed down. I had already decided I would work there for a couple weeks, trying to put a little more cash into my account. After the camera I forced myself to stop at the next ATM to view my balance.

$5,734.22, I'd have to be more careful.

Even with me stopping in every state for a couple weeks, working Monday through Saturday, I only earned $650. Which basically paid for the gas, but I needed food too, lots of food. My appetite was outrageous. So to help out, I slept in my car more often and only stopped at hotels when I needed a shower. It got embarrassing when other people noticed the smell before I did, but you do what you have to in order to survive. I sighed loudly.

I shouldn't have bought that camera. I already have two canons. Why did I get a third!?

It was my weakness. It was my obsession, my therapy in a way also. I remember being a little kid and my mother buying my first camera. It was funny now looking back on how I was in love with that little pink disposable camera. How I had used up the entire roll of film on a pretty blue rock I had found in our backyard. When she took me to pick up the photos I was amazed at the glossy pieces of paper that contained images that I took. She noticed it then, how much I loved photography. Mothers are strange like that, they sense things before you do.

After that day she bought me some photography books with pretty pictures and a couple more disposables. I was hooked. I guess that's why in about every state I would stop at the local library and "check-out" a couple of books. It became a bad habit or … tradition that I needed to drop. I craved to learn more about the different techniques and lightings that could change each image. A little light hear could highlight this part and a little dark there could add drama.

Each time I stopped for my two weeks I traveled around in search of a job, camera in hand. Small towns were what I prefer; quiet, subtly and they always have the good stories. The old men who chat in front of the barber shop telling each other tales of their youth. The young woman drinking coffee at the small café and bakery; reading quietly to herself. The children playing on the playground their only worry being tagged "It". People were my thing. I guess because I knew I could never be a part of them. Not really, anyway. I kept my distance and only talked when I had to. It didn't stop me from snapping though.
That triggered it.

A flash blinded my mind and there I was again. In a room filled with family photos, blood splattered across their smiling faces. My hands were slick with wetness and my body trembling from the fear. The couch was stained with red and a woman screaming in pain at my feet.

I slammed on the breaks coming to a complete stop on the side of the road. A car behind me honked as they swerved around me. My breaths were heavy; my hands clutching the steering wheel for dear life and sweat began to bead down my face. I closed my eyes while drawing in a long deep breath. It allowed my mind to calm down while my body regained composure.

I closed my eyes as I whispered, "One… Two… Three…" releasing the air from my lungs.

Everything is okay. Everything is fine. Relax.

I shook my head, wiping away the unwelcomed thoughts. I looked up to see a sign that said "Welcome to Forks".

Holy crap. Two hours already? I looked at my watch, my hand still trembling just a little. Hmph. Guess so.

It took me a few more moments to compose myself. I pulled back onto the road and headed into the small town.

I can't believe I allowed my mind to wonder that far off. I have to get myself back in control. People's lives are at stake here.

I knew the hotel was on 101 from the directions the woman had given me over the phone. I had found this place online at the last library stop.

The Forks Motel was cute, much nicer than the dumps I had stayed in before. I checked out the ratings and what they had to offer. I felt confident about me finding a job so I opted for the tub/shower combo. I felt myself get excited about taking a bath. A long. Hot. Bath.

God, it's like having a whole body orgasm!

I finally saw it up ahead just to the right. I signaled and pulled up to the front doors under the awning. I could already smell the cold wetness of this place.

Perfect, my kind of weather.

I headed inside and up to the front desk where a rather round woman greeted me. Inside was rather cozy with a plush seating area and home style decorations. The wall near-by was covered in pictures that had to been collected over the years by the locals. They were candid shots, and all black and white. It was a nice touch.

"Hello, I'm Debbie. Do you have a reservation sweetie?" She asked me pulling me away from my distractions.

"Yes, my name is Ada Matthews; I called yesterday for a reservation." I smiled sweetly trying not to seem so nervous. Being around other people did that.

Hopefully she won't ask me for my I.D. I knew I looked older than what my actual age was, but I hated using my fake one. It was very well done, very believable, but it still made me fidget.

"Oh, of course, I remember, wow all the way from California huh?" She lit up like a frickin' Christmas tree. "Vacation?"

"Yeah, found this place online and thought it was just so cute! I just had to stay here for a couple weeks as I was passing through." I said trying not to sound like I had said it several times before, to several other receptionists.

Act normal. Act normal. Act normal…

She eyed me with a smile. "Well we are so glad you could come up and stay. We love to see people come in to visit. So you will be staying for two weeks?"

"Yes." I replied.

"Good, good. It will give you time to look around." She paused a moment to grab a key and type some things into the computer. It was obvious that they had just upgraded to the computer system, since she was using only her index fingers to type. I took another moment to look around and noticed a mirror behind the desk, my ungodly appearance frowning back at me.

Okay. Not my best moments.

My stringy coffee colored hair was bundled on top of my head in a traditional messy bun. Although you couldn't notice with it up, my hair had caramel highlights that I had done a couple weeks ago in a superstore. I was getting pretty good at it also. I couldn't help but notice the bags under my eyes.

Did I really look this tired?

The grey eyes that mirrored my own were rimmed in red from lack of sleep. I ran a hand over my face turning away from the mirror. The pleasantly plump woman was still slowly typing away.

Once she was done she smiled at the screen as though she had just accomplished something great. "Now how will you be paying for this?"

"Visa. Two weeks, upfront. " I said hesitantly. I hated using the card, but withdrawing a large amount was too risky to carry around in my pocket. Plus it would look weird dishing out over $700 in cash to the woman. That gets people involved that you don't want involved, aka Cops. Only people on the run would use that much cash and those people get asked questions. Sure, I was on the run. I just didn't want anyone else to know that.

"Okay, we have you in room 8. It's on the first floor just around the corner." The pleasant woman said handing me my card after swiping it. She pulled out a couple of pamphlets and handed them to me along with my key. "Here is some information about the local activities, restaurants, stores, and beaches we recommend you go to."

"Thanks." This would help out a lot in the search of a job.

"Alright, I think you are all set up. I hope you have a great stay and please feel free to let me know if you need anything." She added cheerfully, I nodded a thank you again and headed back out the door towards my car.

My room was literally right around the corner like she said it would be. I parked right in front and started to grab my things from the trunk. As soon as I opened the door I felt a sense of relief. The walls were a comforting pale tan with store bought paintings of beach scenes above each bed. The bedspread, along with the curtains, had a matching ugly commercial print. There was a small sitting area where I dumped my messenger bag and dropped a couple duffels into the chair.

Not too shabby.

I took another moment to take in the room but not a long one. I couldn't wait any longer. I hurried to the bathroom and froze as I peered past the porcelain toilet staring directly at the glorious white tub before me. I felt my whole body relax as I went to lock the room door, stripping on my way back to the bathroom. Tossing shoes one way and socks the other. My shirt and pants landed on top of the T.V. and my undies just outside the bathroom door. Soon I was soaking in a steaming tub of hot bubble water, with my long legs stretched out over the side.

"Heavenly." I whispered out loud, sinking even lower into the tub.