Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. But I do own the story-line and Kyle Swan. Yup, that's right. I own him! Boo ya, Stephenie Meyer!
I suppose the only way to get this story out there is to post another chapter. So here it is. Hopefully, you guys don't find this one as confusing as the last. A few more things are explained here. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask and I'll be happy to accept suggestions.
Anything in the story that is italicized signals thought-speak, unless it is within a sentence. I think you'll understand once you're a little further into the chapter.
Enjoy!
BPOV
It was the first time I'd seen him, but it felt as though I'd know him for an eternity. He stood beneath the gnarled branches of an oak tree, shaded from the harsh sun. His dark eyes watched me as his hand rested above his brow line. The boy's pale complexion shone in the sun and his intense stare made me shudder.
The morning had started just like any other. Renee had set off the smoke alarm and the smell of burning toast had woken me. My harebrained mother may have been a college professor, but the simple science of cooking was beyond her. After dousing the flames I'd turned on her, "What were you thinking?"
She'd shrugged and mumbled something about wanting to cook me a nice breakfast for my first-last day of high school, before exiting the kitchen. If I thanked her for the effort, she'd attempt to wake me this way every morning, and I couldn't have that.
Usually, I was up before my mother. No matter how quiet Charlie was in the morning, he still woke me. But today, something had hindered my early morning.
"Bella, there's some cereal in the cabinet since I ruined your breakfast."
Renee had returned to the kitchen, holding an iron in one hand and her shampoo in the other.
"Where are you going with that?"
"Oh!" She set the iron on the counter and smacked her forehead with her now free hand, "If you weren't here, Bella, I don't know what I'd do with myself."
I offered her a weak smile because I knew what would have happened. Renee would have gone to work with a red splotch on her forehead. As her feet padded off down the hall, I retreated back toward my own room thinking about the night before.
We'd lived in the two-story house since I'd been born and I could walk through the halls with my eyes closed. Square windows along the walls of my bedroom allowed sun to filter into the hallway. As I walked toward the light my feet squished through the soft, blue carpet. The familiar lavender walls of my bedroom greeted me as I stepped over the gray and white shoes my brother had left in the hallway.
"Hey Bells."
Kyle grinned at me a toothbrush hanging from the corner of his mouth. His brown hair was mussed to one side and his chestnut colored eyes shone. A towel was slung across his bare shoulder, Kyle's way of informing me that he was about to shower. My brother looked different then me in his own way, but my mother had always told us it was because he took after a great uncle on her side of the family. Kyle could always get tan; I just burned, my skin transforming from white to an awful, blotchy red.
He was two years younger than me and his immaturity showed, "You weren't headed to the shower, were you?"
"No Ky, it's all yours." The cocky grin faltered as toothpaste dribbled down his chin. I giggled and turned away from him, as he swiped at the sticky white foam, "I hope none of your girlfriend's saw that."
The two of us got along, but there was an occasional moment where he refused to be harassed, however, that wasn't the case today. I could picture him rolling his eyes as he shuffled past me, using the towel to wipe off his lips.
I sighed and wandered into my room, shutting the door behind me. Posters didn't decorate my walls like most girls. The only framed objects in my room were photographs I'd taken over the years. As I stepped further into my room, I caught site of the picture from my dream, only the boy wasn't in it.
The tree's branches jutted out over the street where Kyle and I usually waited for the bus to pick us up for school and the dark silhouette of the plant shrouded the shot. I stroked the picture where he had been standing, wishing that I had captured his sturdy frame, "Wow Bells… If you like the tree so much, we could go cut it down."
Toothpaste no longer covered his chin as he watched me from the door frame that led into my room, and his formerly mussed brown hair was now in perfect disarray. His presence startled me, even though he'd entered my room from the shared bathroom since we were little, "God Ky! Do you have to scare me like that?"
Kyle sighed and stepped into my room, walking over to where I stood, "Sorry, Bells. What's gotten into you? I always come into your room after I shower…" He trailed off and locked his eyes on the picture, "But I guess this tree is so hypnotizing…Bella…" He dragged out the last part of my name and rolled his eyes back in his head. Kyle stretched his arms out in front of himself and staggered toward me.
"Kyle! Stop it, you're such a dork."
He smirked and dropped his arms to his side, "Yeah…I'm the dork…anyway, the shower's open, weirdo." Kyle turned and left the room, leaving my door open. After stealing one last glance at the picture, I grabbed my bathrobe from the closet and left the lavender walls of my sanctuary.
--
My parent's refused to buy me a car for my 18th birthday. And Kyle didn't get one for his 16th, so we were doomed to ride the bus until we could afford some other means of transportation.
I grabbed a light coat from the closet, as Kyle yelled out a goodbye to Renee, "Mom! We're leaving! Don't burn down the house." He snickered and reached above my head for his jacket. Forks' was known for being rainy and even early September was chilly.
The light blue material hugged my body as the wind blew past us. My brother had commented that it looked like there would be rain, making me giggle, "We live in Forks, Ky. It rains once every day."
He shrugged and once we reached the bus stop, Kyle leaned against one of the wooden telephone poles, "Oh look, Bells. There's your boyfriend…the tree."
"Ha-ha, Kyle Swan. You're so funny, my sides are about to split."
"Hey guys!"
I turned and grinned to see Angela walking toward us. My grin grew even larger when I saw her holding Ben's hand. I'd known the two were going to be together since he'd moved to Forks in sixth grade. Ben was a grade below us but he'd only had eyes for Angela.
"Hi Angie!"
She let go of his hand but he leaned in to kiss her cheek softly, before walking over to talk to Kyle. Even though my little brother was two years younger, he was only one grade below me. Not only did he have the looks (insert eye roll here) he also had the brains. And he was best friends with Ben.
"So when did this," I gestured toward Ben, "happen?"
"Last week! He finally asked me!" She scream-whispered and the excitement showed in her eyes. Ben glanced over at us and smiled. I grinned and listened to Angie chatter excitedly about Ben, until the bus pulled up. All of the noises were tuned out when the bus stopped just past the tree, and there he stood: The boy from my dreams.
EPOV
Her scent was overpowering, even from across the street, but my sister had assured me that nothing would happen. As the bus tires squealed to a stop, her eyes locked onto me and I smirked. Something told me that she felt as connected to me as I did to her.
I wonder if Bella's okay. She's looking at that guy but I swear he wasn't there before.
Ben is so cute. I can't believe he finally asked me.
Angie…you're like a breath of fresh air… I could take you anywhere…Oh God, that sounds awful.
I could hear their thoughts but when I focused on her, I heard nothing. Only dead air. I shouldn't be surprised. None of her thoughts had presented themselves to me when she was younger. I suppose part of me hoped that she'd grow out of it. It unnerved me that Bella could block me from her mind. I wouldn't know if something was wrong; if she'd need me.
Bella watched me carefully as she climbed up the bus steps. The brown haired boy who'd been standing close to her was watching me too, and I chuckled at the thoughts buzzing through his head. He'd never come remotely close to guessing why I was there, not unless Renee and Charlie had told him.
My pocket buzzed, alerting me back to the present. Once it was out of my pocket, I glanced down at the caller-id before selecting a key to answer the compact device, "Do you see something different?"
"Just you being late to school. Stop stalking her and get there."
I closed the phone as the bus' breaks squeaked and the body barreled forward. After exhaling and turning away, I started off down the hill to where my car was parked.
I allowed my hand to graze across the top of the Volvo. I'd picked it out because it wasn't as flashy as my siblings. Sure, the silver frame caught the sun's rays, but it wasn't a canary yellow Porsche.
I followed the bus on its route, until it stopped to pick-up another student. I couldn't stand being stuck behind the slow, yellow object, so once the road was clear, I sped past. The kids closest to the windows watched as I drove by, undoubtedly picturing themselves in my car rather than in a bus filled with barely awake students.
It was easy to find a parking space next to my family, as they were standing in the spot next to Emmett's red Jeep. I shut off the engine and braced myself. Another first day of high school, but this year would be different.
Every day of high school was my own personal purgatory.
I'd learned to accept this punishment: I was a monster, after all.
Sorry it's so short... I'm used to publishing stuff with the girl that's around 20 pages. Maybe I'll get the chapter page numbers up more, once I get into the plot.
I should be able to get the next chapter up soon. I just need to look it over and make a few corrections. But I need more reviews if I hope to keep posting quickly. I don't like begging, but maybe it will work? Or, I could pout…
See you soon,
Hayden
