I do not own the Twilight Saga, or its Characters. Those rights go to Stephanie Meyers.
The grill roars to life and my mother brings out the burgers and I toss them onto the grill and begin my process of turning them into the best burger my family has ever had. And yes I have tried it before. They say I should be a cook, and put my specialty burger out there, earn some money off it. I did consider it for a while but it's not who I am meant to be.
There's that nagging feeling again. I can tell that I'm not supposed to be a professional burger chef. But there's a wall in my mind, and I can tell there's more behind it but I can't see it. And again, I can't do a bloody thing about it.
Before I know it the burgers are done and inside on the table. I did it on auto-pilot, which saved the burgers, but I probably looked bored or something. It happened often when I was deep in thought, and a lot of people, my friends and brother, have picked up on it.
"So when is your friend expecting you?" I am asked unexpectedly.
"I'm going to pop in when they get here. Be sure they got here alright. It all depends on how many friends will be there. But trust me, I'll be plenty careful, regardless."
" I know. I just feel better hearing you say it though. It's one of those dreaded after parties isn't it?" My mother asks.
'She knows?' "Yeah, I'm trying to keep my friends out of trouble. I wouldn't dare touch a drop of alcohol."
"Jonathan Stone, I know that is what you are doing. And yes I would prefer you didn't go, but you know your destiny. And I know your nickname, The Prophet of Phoenixville High."
"Who told you?"
"Mike's mom told me the nickname. And the after party I found out from a newspaper article. Well what happens at it."
"And you are fine with me going?"
"I would be happier if you didn't. But you have to do it. I can see it in your eyes. You don't know why, not yet, but you know you have to. So yes, I'm fine with it."
"I'm sorry for lying, but I wasn't sure you would let me go if you knew the truth."
"Go. Be a grown up for a night. Have fun." My mother says as we finish eating.
I finish up dinner and do the dishes and vacuum before I am ready to leave.
"Hey, Mom." I say to get her attention.
She snaps her attention to me.
"Yeah, honey?"
"I love you and nothing is going to change that. " I say somberly.
"I love you too, be safe." She told me with a sad smile. She was the only one in my family who understood the little I told her about my seemingly psychic gift.
She knew that I knew subconsciously that something would happen to tear us apart. It was already tearing her apart. I knew that if I stayed though, bad things could happen. I believed firmly that some events must always happen. This feels like it must happen.
I walk out the door and lock it behind me, ready to begin the long walk to the house that Mike rented. He won't be there for a few hours so I have time to practice my martial arts until he arrives.
As the dark of night falls and the air grows cold, I continue my practice in the low lighting. I slide fluidly from stance to stance, progressing through the motions of Tai Chi at an increasingly rapid pace. I bet if my teacher saw me, she would be proud.
As I am ready to begin the next cycle, I see a set of headlights approaching the house. I stop and stand in front of the house, tired yet so lively. Surely enough, it is the prom group led by Mike. The parade of illicit beer and drugs begins as I watch Mike unlock the door. I shake my head in disgust as I watch it pass me.
Mike walks over and smiles, "I'm glad you came around. Going to have a good time."
"If I can keep you out of trouble, yes. It will be a great time."
"No, I'm going to have a good time. You are going to be the voice of reason like I always expect you to be. You are the nervous, paranoid man who always keeps his eyes out for anyone trying to bust us. Why? You are too uptight to try to relax. If you just chilled, you might enjoy yourself. "
"You know that I can't. Not easily. You know in going to be here to keep you safe, but I won't feel comfortable until we all get home safe."
Mike nodded his head. He knew I wasn't lying and he put his arm around me.
"I love you for that. You always do what you can to keep us safe. And you never ask for anything in return. You have saved my life before. It's why I respect the fact that you are so uptight. It's who you are. If you weren't that way, I might not be around."
It is scary to think about but he is right, we think. I may have saved his life. But it's his story to tell.
"Hey you're tough. You would have pulled through." I tell him, clapping his shoulder.
"You think so?"
"Yeah. I know so. I'm not going to stop doing what I always have tonight. You know the rules, Mike."
"If you say stop, I stop. If you say run, I run. If you say jump, I ask how high." He said, giving me his wise-guy response.
"Yep, those rules. I would like to make sure that the others understand that I will do what I can to keep them from getting dangerously drunk too. Though anything else is up to them to know when to stop."
"Okay, I'll make an announcement then."
As the last of the beer and drugs enter the house, Mike and I walk in. The house grows quiet.
"Before we begin the wildest party of our lives, I want to hand the mike over to my friend and the person who may well be a friend to you, Jon Stone."
"You don't even have a mike, dingus. Hi guys, as Mike was saying, tonight is going to be a wild and epic night. But I want you to understand something. I'm not going to be getting drunk or high with you. I'm going to be the shoulder to cry on, the medic, the voice of reason. I'm going to do what I can to get you home alive. If you have too many, I'm going to cut you off. I'm not letting anyone die on me tonight because they are too drunk. So please, if I tell you that you are pushing it, please, sit down wait an hour or two and then come back. Go hit on someone, dance, have sex, just burn an hour or two. So I want you to enjoy tonight, but understand, what I'm doing is so we all go home alive. Thank you."
The crowd begins to clap and cheer. I wasn't expecting it, but it was nice.
"Now let's get this party started!" Mike yelled.
The music kicked on and people headed for the beers. I did what I would always do and get to one of the highest points in the room and watch.
As the night dragged on, people were getting drunk as I expected, but nowhere near as dangerously as I anticipated. Occasionally a fight would break out and I would have a few cuts and scratches to tend to. A couple of guys broke up with their girlfriends and the girlfriends came to me as I would listen to their stories. I always told them that it would always get better, though it may not be easier, but that they would always find someone who loved them and would care for them without judgment or deception. They gave me a kiss on the cheek and smile and walked away confident and happy.
As night turned to day, the drinking slowed and people fell asleep. I was one of them. Lying against the stairway railing, I close my eyes and slip off to sleep.
Please read and review. And Over one year after I officially ended the story, I'm planning on writing and adding an Epilogue, maybe more chapters to Twilight: New Family. Please go back and read and review it and get up to date on it.