Chapter 2: Friends

AN: Hey everyone who is reading this!! Okay, so if you haven't picked up each chapter begins with a flashforward. I just wanted to clarify some things. 1st: the Hanson twins don't have powers like the Cullens. 2nd: That's it for right now.... Enjoy!!


Carlisle and the Hanson twins walked towards the car in the hospital parking lot. The car was not as fancy as the other Cullen cars. Although Carlisle liked a fast speed he did not see the point to bragging about how much money he had. He had a nice car that's all.

"Nice car." Laynie said.

Carlisle nodded his head. He was still trying to justify his actions in his head. He looked at Laynie and Colin and he knew why he was taking them home right away. "Why don't we stop by your house so that you can pick up some clothes for tomorrow?" The twins exchanged an uneasy look. "Don't worry there is nothing that's going to hurt you two."

"I'm not scared." Laynie said. "I don't know what it means to be scared."

"Laynie." Colin said in a tone to calm his sister down. "Don't be rude."

"Sorry, nut it's the truth." Laynie said.

Colin looked at Carlisle. "If you don't mind, we'd appreciate it if we could drop by the house."

"Of course." Carlisle was used to Jasper's gift of calming everyone down in a room, but this was different. He figured it had to do with bond between the twins.

At the house, the twins gathered up clothes from their rooms. Colin sat on his bed looking at something in the corner of the room. Laynie saw Colin and sat down next him. "You should take it."

Colin ignored her comment. "Did you get everything that you need?"

"Don't have that much to care about." Laynie rested her head on her brother's shoulder. She gentle hummed a tune that Colin recognized. "Let's go. There is no reason to run the past over in your head." Laynie stood up and head for the door.

Colin stood up, grabbed the guitar case out of the corner, and headed down stairs. Colin never went anywhere, except school, without his guitar.

On the ride to the Cullen's, Carlisle purposely went a slower speed than usual. He did not want the Hanson twins freaked out by his driving. "You can close your eyes Laynie." Colin said.

"I'm not tired." Laynie said as she rested her head on Colin's chest.

"I did not say you were tired. Just close your eyes." Then Colin whispered in Laynie's ear. "You've done enough for the day. Now it is my turn."

Laynie nodded her head. "Promise me that if I hurt you in any way you'll wake me up."

"I promise. Now close your eyes." Soon, Laynie was asleep. Colin knew that she did not know when to stop running so sometimes he had to help her.

Carlisle looked at Colin through the rearview mirror. "She's very brave."

Colin scoffed. "It's more like she's stupid. She has no concept of pain or fear. She's irrational and brash." Colin let out a sigh and mumbled. "Laynie never knows when to stop."

"Is that what happened today?"

Colin was silent for a long time. He dropped his eyes. "That's what always happens. She's always protecting me and not caring how badly she gets hurt in the process."

"I don't think that's true." Colin looked up. "You watch over her. You protect her to."

Colin smiled down at his sleeping sister and gently pushed her over so that she wasn't laying on him. It wasn't that he was being mean. It was Laynie and her body reacted differently to people. "Sure." He mumbled.


The Cullens had accepted that the Hanson twins were different to say the least. The Hanson twins had avoided the Cullens at every able moment. Even in Physics, Colin refused to talk to Edward. Colin did his work, paid attention in class, or slept.

Edward had given up on trying to read Colin's mind. The only thing that came out of Edward trying to read Colin's mind was Colin glaring at him for the migraine. The biggest puzzle was Laynie. She did not react like every other human, but she clearly was human. She had a heart that beat just like everyone else. Edward could see the blood rushing through her veins. He just did not understand why she never reacted like the other humans surrounding him.

Laynie had a sandwich with a glass bottle of ice tea on her lunch tray. She was walking towards her table when someone bumped into her. Laynie fell along with the contents on her tray. The bottle shattered and glass flew on the floor. Colin carefully made his way through the broken glass over to his sister. "Are you okay?" Colin asked.

"I'm fine." Laynie said but her eyes suggested something different. Colin right away noticed that Laynie hid her left hand. "Help me clean this up."

After cleaning up the mess, the Hanson twins went outside. On the end of the cafeteria, Alice had a tight grip on Jasper, but that did not mean the smell did not bother them. The smell of blood can be overpowering to vampires. It can make them loose control. The Cullens gracefully got up and left the cafeteria to escape the smell. Being curious, Edward walked around the building, stood behind the wall, and spied on the Colin and Laynie.

"Oh my God Laynie! It's deep." Colin said.

"How was I supposed to know?" Laynie asked. "Can you just get it out?"

"Luckily, it's just a few thick shards. Do you still have the kit in the car?" Laynie must have nodded her head. Edward could not see around corner without giving away his hiding space. "I'll be back."

Edward made sure to hide as Colin ran around the corner towards the parking lot. The smell of fresh blood hitting the air was intoxicating. Edward tried to calm himself down; he needed to keep himself focused. Edward held his breath as he walked around the corner and over to Laynie. "Hi."

Laynie looked at Edward, gently shifted her body, and hid her bleeding hand. "Hi."

"Are you trying to escape?" Edward asked with his smile that usual made girls melt into butter over him.

Laynie laughed. "Yeah." Her breathing or heart rate did not change. "What about you?"

"Sorry."

"Are you trying to escape to?"

"Something like that." Edward said. He had no idea why he was even doing this. He was going to have to pay hell when explaining himself to his family. Before the moment could get any more awkward, Colin came running around the corner. "I'll see you later." Edward said.

Laynie nodded her head and waited until he was gone to bring her hand out of hiding. Colin looked at the cut and opened the first aid kit. He took out the tweezers and pulled the shards out of Laynie's hand. Colin looked at his sister. "Sorry."

"It doesn't hurt." Laynie said annoyed.

"I know. I just…" Colin wished that he had kept his mouth shut. Colin pulled out the remaining pieces of glass before wrapping Laynie's hand. "After school, we are going to the hospital."

Laynie jerked her hand away. "Why?"

"You cut your hand. You could get an infection."

"I doubt that I'll get and infection from a bottle of ice tea." Colin coldly starred at his sister. "I'm not going." Laynie said before walking away.

What amazed Edward as he hid behind the wall, once again, was that Laynie had no reaction. She did not cry or whine as Colin pulled the glass out of her hand. Instead, she acted as if she was bored. Something was wrong if not different about her. Laynie did not act human, even though she was.


"Edward, you can't do it." Alice said as she stood at the bottom of the stairs.

"I can't do what?" Edward asked. Alice gave him that look that said she knew everything. "I'm not going to do anything."

"Good. Keep it that way." Alice started to walk away.

"What would happen if I did do it?" Alice looked at Edward and let her read his mind to see the results of what could and would probably happen.

"Happy now?" Alice said, a growl could almost be heard on her tone. Edward's eyes dropped as he nodded his head. "Good." Alice walked away. She needed Jasper to calm her down to keep her from killing Edward.

Edward did keep his promise to Alice, but he went to the neighborhood where he knew the Hanson family lived. He kept to the shadows as he watched Colin and Laynie. It was times like this that Edward could use his excellent hearing.

Laynie sat playing at a piano in the house. "When did you last check on her?"

"Ten minutes ago." Colin said as he sat at the kitchen table doing his homework. A timer went off and Colin went over to the stove. He stirred the contents in a pot.

"Do you need any help?" Laynie asked. She was now standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

"No."

"Look, I'm not useless!" Laynie yelled

Colin looked at his sister surprised. "I never said you were."

"Then keep treating me like I am." Colin's eyes dropped. Laynie came over to him. "I know that you worry about me, but haven't I proved myself enough already?" Colin looked at his sister, but refused to say anything. "I see." Laynie went and sat down by the piano.

Colin came over to her and sat down next to her. "I'm sorry. You're right, I worry about you too much, but you need to accept the fact that you are fragile." He put an arm around her shoulder. "I'm sorry. It's just that you never know when to stop or how to keep away from basic accidents."

Laynie did not look at Colin. She could not. "I'm not fragile. I am the opposite. Now get your arm off my shoulder. I don't want to overheat." Colin withdrew his arm. "Do you know how much I wish that I could feel like you? I want to be like you. I wish I could cry or just feel…anything. You have no idea what it is like to be numb. It sucks."

Colin sat for a long time. "Come on, help me make dinner."

"I don't want to." Laynie pouted.

"Come on. Being a baby won't achieve anything."

"I get to strain the noodles." Laynie said excitedly.

"Fine." Colin said giving in. He knew there was no reason to argue with his sister. "Just make sure that you don't burn yourself."

"I'll do my best."

"Good." Colin said with an undertone of a laugh.

Edward stood outside the house and completely confused. He had no idea what to make of the Hanson twins. He could have just hidden outside of the house all night, but he did not. It was not because he had anything else to do, he just knew that Alice would be giving him grief forever.


The Cullens had adjusted to Laynie and Colin. They kept their distance from each other, but one-day things did not go according to plan. Collin sat at a table in the cafeteria sketching as usual. As a tray was placed on the table, he thought it was Laynie. "How's the arm?" Colin said still focusing on his sketchbook.

"What?" Edward asked.

Colin looked up and was confused why Edward was sitting across the table from him. He quickly closed the sketchbook. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I go to school here. It's lunch time, a time when traditionally people eat in the cafeteria."

Colin chuckled to himself. "Yeah, but you don't eat. Getting back to original question: are you lost? Your family is over there." Colin pointed to the other Cullens. "By the looks of it they don't agree with your choice of sitting arrangements."

Edward looked over his shoulder then back at Colin. "They'll get over it."

"Interesting theory." Laynie said as she sat down.

Colin smiled. "My sentiments exactly."

"Look, I was just trying to be nice." Edward said. When the twins blankly looked at Edward, he added. "I figured that we got off on the wrong foot."

"So, it has nothing to do with the fact that you can't hear Laynie or that I can block you out?" Colin asked.

"Those facts are just areas of interests, but otherwise not significant to my actions."

"Wow, that either a really good lie or the truth." Laynie said.

"Do you have a decision yet?" Colin asked Laynie while keeping his eyes on Edward.

"I'm going to say that our friend here is telling the truth." Laynie concluded.

"How did you know I can't hear Laynie?" Edward asked in a tone that suggested he had a secret weapon unknown to the twins.

Colin smiled. "You mind readers never hear Laynie. She blocks you all out, but then Laynie does not feel things like normal humans."

Laynie playfully slapped her brother's shoulder. "I'm normal."

"Normal does not exist." Colin said. "It's just what people say to get rid of the awkwardness and lack of confidence in a situation."

"Nice cover." Laynie said before looking at Edward. "I don't really get what all the fuss is about."

"Fuss?" Edward asked.

"Almost every girl here thinks that you are some mysterious and unbelievable guy. When in fact, your just a guy."

Edward had a smirk on his face. "Almost every girl?"

"Sorry, but your hypnotism doesn't work on me." Laynie smiled before taking a sip of her drink.

Colin laughed. "Play nice Laynie." Laynie simply rolled her eyes.

Edward smiled. This was defiantly going to be an interesting friendship.


Laynie and Colin had adjusted to Edward hanging around them. Of course, the Hanson twins ignored that everyone in the school was talking about them. Looking down the hall, Edward leaned against the locker next to Laynie's. Laynie looked to see what Edward was looking for and saw Alice. "You two still aren't talking?" She asked.

Edward shook his head. "She hasn't really forgiven me. None of them, except maybe Jasper." Edward had made up so bogus story to avoid the truth about why he and the rest of his family weren't talking.

"Just give it some time. They'll eventually come around."

Edward chuckled to himself. Eventually would not cover how long he'd be around for. "Come on, we're going to be late for English."

"Yes, that would be terrible. What would we do without Beowulf?" Laynie said referring to the latest epic poem they were reading in the class. Edward shrugged. "Let's ditch." Laynie said as she closed her locker.

"What?" Edward asked. He had never really ditched except on sunny days, but there was a reason for that.

"D-I-T-C-H. Come on, let go for once."

Edward shook his head and started to walk down the hall. "No, thanks."

Laynie got in his way and stopped him. "When's the last time you did something dangerous and crazy? Don't even try and claim that hanging out with me is dangerous enough cause that's just boring."

Edward couldn't find a response to that. Edward stopped at his locker and put his book in. "Fine. So, what's the plan for the day?" Laynie smiled.

Edward had offered to take his car, but Laynie insisted on taking her own car. The only reason Edward wasn't complaining about Laynie's driving in a New York City style. Laynie passed people at unbelievable rate as she was crazily speeding down the highway. However, to Edward her driving felt normal.

"So why don't you like Beowulf?" Laynie asked as she drove down the highway.

Edward hesitated before answering. In reality, he identified with the antagonist of the story. "I just don't get why the Grendel has to be so evil. Is there no hope left?"

Laynie blinked a few times. She was surprised by Edward's deep connection to the book. "Have you ever read James Gardner's Grendel?" Edward shook his head. "I have a copy you can borrow."

"I'm curious, what attracts you to Beowulf."

"Even though Grendel is a monster, his side of the story is never told. His pain is overwhelming and yet he never shows it." Edward looked at her. The way Laynie spoke about pain it was as if it was a foreign and mysterious emotion. "Okay, let's talk about something less depressing."

They talked about music and books until they got to Seattle. "Does it ever not rain in Seattle let alone the Pacific Northwest?" Laynie asked.

"Very rarely." Edward said. He secretly smiled about it in the inside. He liked the rain because it meant he could be around people without them knowing the truth. He liked the sun as long as he was not surrounded by anyone. "So what are we doing?"

"Well, I need to pick up paint for Colin or else he'll never forgive me…" Laynie stopped talk as she realized where the conversation was going.

Edward that there was something more to Laynie's comment, but her body language told him to not go there. "Okay, what type of paint does he need?"

"He just needs a couple of colors." Edward's hand brushed against Laynie and she didn't even flinch or notice. Edward grabbed Laynie's hand. "Uh, what are you doing?"

"You don't feel that?" He asked stunned. The normal reaction people had to his skin were flinching away because he was so cold.

"What am I supposed to feel? It's your hand. Can I have mine back?" He let go of her hand. Laynie picked up the paints and headed up to the cash register. She paid for the supplies and headed to the door.

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable back there." Edward said. "It's just…"

"Don't worry about it." Laynie said. "You did not bother me."


Colin shook his head in disbelief. He could not believe that his sister would just ditch and leave him. He did not really mind, but still. Colin grabbed his books and started to walk towards the parking lot.

When Colin got to the parking lot he chuckled to himself. He was not the only one who had been ditched. Edward was missing from the group of Cullens. Alice was sitting on the hood of their car looking paler than usual. Jasper sat next to her and whispered something in her ear. Alice shook her head and looked at Colin.

"Do you need a ride?" Alice asked.

"Well, I think that you know the answer already but incase you are confused I'll tell you. No." Colin said sarcasm dripping on every word.

Alice hopped off the hood. "Get in."

"Excuse me." Colin was confused by the request made by Alice.

"I said, get in. We need to talk."

"I'd prefer to walk if you don't mind." Colin said.

"I think you should get in the car." Emmett said as he stood in Colin's way.

"Look, I grew up in the East Village. Therefore, nothing you say or do is going to be original. Now get out of my way."

"It's about your sister." Alice said catching Colin's attention.

Colin felt a shiver go down his back at the mention of Laynie. He looked at Alice then back at Emmett. "Fine. I bite if you lead."

Emmett grinned at Collin he was impressed by how unafraid the teen was. "My pleasure." Emmett said in a tone that left Colin confused.

Alice rolled her eyes. "Get in, were going to take you for a ride." Colin got in the back of the car. "You might want to buckle up. I'm a crazy driver."

"Honey, I'm from New York. Trust me, your driving will be a stroll in the park for me." Alice looked at Jasper and smiled as if trying to reassure him of something very private. Then she smiled at Colin.


"Turn here." Edward said pointing to his road.

"Wow. I would have completely missed that." Laynie turned up the road. "You really live out here."

"Yeah," Edward muttered. He had no idea why he had not argued about Laynie dropping him off at his house. He was confused by Laynie, no, he was confused at how he felt around her. He did not necessarily like her, as in romantically, but he liked hanging out with her.

"This is your house?" Laynie asked as she pulled up to the house. Edward nodded his head. "It's got a lot of windows."

Edward chuckled to himself. "It was my mother's idea."

"Cool." Laynie said.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, today was fun."

Edward smiled. "It was. Next time, were not going to ditch though."

"You are such a Goody Two Shoes." They both chuckled.

Edward got out of the car. "Have a good night."

"You to." Laynie said before Edward closed the door and walked towards his house.

"Don't say it." He warned Alice as he walked into the house. He could hear he thoughts from upstairs and they weren't pleasant.

Alice stood at the top of the stairs and looked at Edward. "Well, if you are going to read my mind. Read this." Alice unleashed the events of the afternoon to Edward, including part of the conversation with Colin. She left out some key information.

"What did you do?" Edward growled. Alice smiled.


"Where have you been?" Colin asked as Laynie walked into the house.

"I went to Seattle. How was school?" Laynie said as if nothing was wrong. "Okay, don't answer my question. How's mom?"

"She's asleep." Colin said his tone suggested that there more than he was saying.

Laynie moved towards Colin half of his face was hidden in the dark of the hallway where he was standing. She gently stretched out her hand and turned Colin's face to the side exposing his cheek to the light. "Is this her handiwork?" Colin winced in pain as Laynie's hand touched his cheek. "Sorry." She removed her hand. "Colin…"

"It was an accident."

"Right, an accident."

Colin looked at her. "We have a problem."

"What?"

"Edward's sister had a talk with me today."

"Alice." Laynie said surprised. "What did she want?"

"Apparently, we're having lunch with all the Cullens now." Colin said. He took Laynie's hands and looked at her palms. "You don't have any blisters." He dropped her hands.

"I'm getting better." Laynie said trying to lift her brother's spirits. "I got you something." Colin looked confused as Laynie handed him a plastic bag. He smiled when he saw the contents. "Thanks for the paint."

Laynie nodded her head. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning and I'll take care of that bruise for you."

Colin nodded his head and watched Laynie walk up the stairs. Colin sat on the couch and hummed a tune. He closed his eyes and fell asleep on the couch. He had been worrying about too much for one day.