AN: I didn't do disclaimer before so now I am. I disclaim all.
Max POV-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I woke up in my skull and crossbones black and gray fuzzy pajamas. They were awesome. I pulled on my Skelanimals Bunnies slippers and headed downstairs. "Well, isn't that the oddest yet cutest picture you've ever seen?" Charlie commented as I came downstairs. Only then did I notice my hair was a wreck, my button-down pajama top was hanging off the shoulder and I was still clutching onto my Domo doll with the dripping fabric blood on its fabric teeth. Then a flash went off and I blinked. Ella! I glared at the poor dead sixteen year old girl. She only sighed in disappointment and held up the digital camera. Then she looked at the picture and squealed. I looked like a freaking three year old except gothic! "Delete," I growled at her. She shook her head, a mischievous smile on her face and ran upstairs. I ignored it and sat down in the chair across from my mom and Charlie. My mom was sitting in Charlie's lap. I swear it was kind of sick but sweet at the same time. I couldn't tell whether to gag or 'ah'. I had to get up though to get a bowl. Before I was even done pouring my Fruity Pebbles Ella came downstairs, fully dressed in a pair of skinny jeans, a purple button-down blouse with the sleeves up to the elbows, a bunch of necklaces and bangles and a pair of high heels with little matching purple bows above the toes. She looked like a freaking model. "Ella," I said. She looked at me at the sound of my groggy voice. I closed my eyes, raised my eyebrows and spoke the one word that brought her back to reality. "Saturday," I said. She looked at the calendar and groaned. "You mean I still have to wait another day for school?" She said, disappointed. "Why don't you go hang out with Bella and Edward?" Charlie suggested. Ella brightened up and nodded. He drew up a map and Ella snatched up our mom's car keys and left, happy to not have wasted her outfit. I sat down with my bowl of cereal but pushed it away and rested my head on the table. "Stupid," I muttered. My mom laughed. "You sound like a barbarian; say full sentences, Max," My mom laughed. I looked up at her, glaring mockingly. "Why don't you go with her?" Mom asked. I sighed and took the second copy of the map that Charlie scribbled on a napkin and went upstairs to change. When I came downstairs I was in a black Skelanimals T-shirt with a big cute Skelanimal bunny on the front in black, black and red arm-warmers with fingerless glove ends and a pair of black skinny jeans with a black and red studded belt. I pulled on my black and white high tops and my leather jacket and grabbed my helmet. "Are you sure about that bike, Valencia?" Charlie asked my mom worriedly. "Of course I am! I can't explain it but Max needs that rush. I'll explain later, sweetie." My mom answered. I nodded in agreement.
It wasn't very hard finding the highway to the house but finding the house? Since it was deep in the forest Lucy instantly became a mountain bike. I felt bad for it but I just let it go. "Max!" Ella cried out from the backyard as I pulled up in the front. "Mom and Charlie sent me; had nothing else to do," I said and shrugged. I heard a laugh that I bet girls would swoon over. "That's the longest sentence I've heard you say yet," Edward said in the doorway as he and Bella came outside. "Ella was just playing with Renesmee," Bella said. I nodded as I hung my helmet on the handle bar of Lucy. "Wait, wait, wait! I want to see it!" A sudden voice boomed excitedly. A big grizzly guy suddenly came tumbling outside, kneeling in front of Lucy. "She's in perfect condition, too," The guy said. "Her name's Lucy," I muttered as I crossed my arms stubbornly. "And I try," I added louder. "Well, good! She's a Nighthawk 250! I've been asking Carlisle if I could have one but he won't allow bikes!" The guy whined. I blinked at the guy. "Carlisle's our adoptive father. We all live with him and Esme, our adoptive mother." Edward explained. "And this is Emmett." Edward added, waving a hand in the direction of the guy. "He's a motor vehicle buff," Bella said and rolled her golden eyes. Gold eyes…. "Yeah, cool," I said absently. "Well, maybe you'd like to meet Renesmee as well," Bella said. Bella and I might be steps but that didn't relate any of her in-law family to me I've learned. I wanted to know what was going on. "Sure," I said as I followed them inside. I pulled off my jacket on my way. "Just toss it anywhere," Edward suggested. So I shrugged and tossed it on the couch, letting it land on someone's head. The girl turned to glare at me. She was blond and had gold eyes like everyone else but she kind of tried to intimidate me. But she only tried.
"That's Rosalie," Edward said. "This is Max," Edward said. Rosalie's expression morphed into one of confusion and curiosity. Probably one asking why she couldn't intimidate me. I hope I amused her. "They don't live with their parents because they don't have enough money but because they can't find a better location." Ella explained to me as if reading my earlier thoughts. I nodded. "But they're not like what you're thinking, Max," Ella told me. I blinked at her. "They're not Erasers or any threats." Ella said. Edward glanced back and if I were fully human then I wouldn't have even caught it. But I did. But I didn't let on that I did. We came to the backyard finally and there sat a small girl playing with a rather large guy with tan skin and black hair. "That's Jacob," Ella told me. "He's odder than the Cullens but he's fine." She said. "I doubt he's odder than them," I mumbled. Ella smiled and rushed up to Renesmee and Jacob. "Jake, this is Max; Ella's sister," Bella said. Jacob stood up and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you," He said as I shook his hand. "Jake's a werewolf," Ella said. "Charlie already told mom and she told me while you were asleep," She said. Jake looked like he was regretting ever telling Charlie. "Charlie's family now so of course he would tell us. But he only told us because he thought it was necessary that we don't have any SECRETS!!" Ella said, practically screaming the last word in my ear. "Oh, hush, Ella," I snapped as I dropped down next to her. Ella huffed and turned away stubbornly. Everyone ignored that bit and went on. Ella and I played with Renesmee a while and then I went and let Emmett help me tune Lucy a bit. Rosalie watched for a while then she left. I rolled my eyes when we were finished. "Got to go," Emmett said after maybe a minute of glancing out the door at the angry Rosalie. They were a married couple, I knew it. "Yeah, I do too," I said as I stood up and went in to grab my jacket. Bella frowned as if she didn't want me to leave but handed me my jacket and helmet reluctantly. "I'll see you around," Bella said with a smile.
I nodded and headed out to grab Lucy. "Oh, Max, I can't wait to meet the others. The ones who'll be going to school with us weren't here. They were out on a camping trip with Alice and Jasper." Ella said excitedly. I nodded. Couldn't wait to meet the other Cullens. You caught the sarcasm, right? "We'll see them on Monday," I said to her as I mounted Lucy and pulled my hair into a ponytail. "Ooh, I know but still!" Ella whined as I pulled my helmet on. "Shut up and get in the car," I said and sighed, my voice muffled from the helmet. Ella groaned and climbed into the car. I let her go first then I started up Lucy. It was a bumpy road and after spending so long cleaning Lucy with Emmett I was kind of sad to get her muddy again. But I did.
"So, how was your day yesterday?" Charlie asked the next day at breakfast. I was in the same pajamas and it was the same scene except without Ella getting so hyped up about the wrong day. "Fine," I answered and brought a spoonful of cereal to my mouth. "Did you meet any of the kids?" Mom asked. "No, they were at a camping trip," I said. "Oh, the Cullens are very big on camping and such." Charlie said through a mouthful of mom's waffles. "I'm so lucky to have a grand-master chef here," Charlie cooed to my mother. I rolled my eyes and gagged. I went to take a shower. And when the water hit my back, so did everything from the past couple of years. I nearly screamed in agony as the past hit me. Tears mingled with the water as I braced myself against the wall and sobbed. The tears had been threatening so much and it hurt so much. It hurt too much! My sobs wracked through my body and I crumpled to a heap in the shower. I bit my tongue to keep myself quiet but it didn't help the sobs; they were overflowing and hiccups passed through my lips, making me draw blood from my tongue. I stopped biting my tongue after I drew blood so that I wouldn't cut of the tip of it. I hadn't. I sobbed on the floor of the shower for maybe an hour, allowing to water to grow cold. When I got out my eyes were puffy and red and my irises had changed color to a light lilac. It was irritating how much they changed color. I pulled myself into my fluffy black and grey bunny robe. I pulled my legs up to my chest as I sat on the toilet lid. I kept the robe covering me as I cried dry sobs now. I had used up so much and now I was dehydrated. I couldn't cry anymore. I couldn't. I had been so happy yesterday, forgetting everything and just remembering then. How could I have been so dumb?
I finally came out of the bathroom and into my bedroom. My mom was waiting inside, looking pained. I didn't explain or excuse; I just curled up under her arm and cried under it as she stroked my hair. "Hush, sweetie," She cooed. "But they're gone; it hurts," I sobbed. "It'll get better; I promise, sweetie, it'll get better," my mom cooed. After a while I calmed down with a final sniff. "I think I'm fine now," I told her in a quiet cracked voice. My mom nodded and stood up. "I'll let you get dressed," She said and left the room. The door closing with a click sounded so loud yet so quiet. It was a loud whisper. I stood up and walked over to my dresser, wiping my tears on the sleeve of my robe. I pulled out a pair of jeans a large black T-shirt. It was Fang's. I quietly pulled on a white long-sleeved shirt and then pulled the T-shirt over it. I bobby pinned the sides so it fit and cut a small crack down the center of the neckline. It looked nicer now. I closed my eyes and braced my hands against my dresser, leaning against it. "Do you miss him that much?" Ella's voice asked. I opened my eyes and looked towards her. I nodded silently. "I'm sorry," She whispered. Then she walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me from behind. "It's alright," I whispered back. "Oh, yes, 'cause you crying is perfectly alright," Ella said sarcastically in a tear-choked voice. I laughed quietly and sniffed and pulled her into my arms. "I'm not the one crying now," I laughed. "I'm not crying," She whined quietly and leaned against me. I laughed again and pulled over to the bed. There I kept her in my arms, just as my mom had done just moments before. Then she cried just as I had moments before. Why was today so sad?
It wasn't very hard to wake up on time, get dressed and then head back downstairs. My outfit Ella was going to approve of; a pair of skinny black jeans, a gray V-neck, fishnet undershirt going down to the fingerless glove ends and my black and white high tops. "Fantastic!" Ella cried out. "Somehow you turned drab to fab!" Ella laughed. It was a complete mood swing from yesterday when we were all crying. "Yeah, yeah," I muttered and sighed. I was back in my depressed mood but my eyes refused to change back. I quickly ate my cereal then headed out seconds after Ella. Somehow I was kind of excited. School. "Are you as excited as me?" Ella asked, well, excitedly. "Nope," I answered briefly, holding my poker face, before going to the back to grab Lucy. Ella ignored my spoiling attitude and kept on ranting about how she was going to make so many friends and ace every class and go to prom with the hottest guy in school. "Uh-huh, but you should at least be on time for the first day if you're going to do all that," I sighed. "Oh, yeah!" She cried out and hopped into mom's car. I pulled on my jacket and my helmet and tucked in my hair before whizzing off after Ella. I was becoming chattier by the day.
People stared. I didn't like it when people stared. Why did people stare? I had only parked Lucy and everyone was already staring. I sighed as I pulled off my helmet and took out the hair tie. I didn't like not having a cover and hair was a good cover for when your poker face fails you. I entered the school and came into the office right behind Ella. "Ella Martinez?" She squealed. I waited until everything was given and explained to her and then after she was gone. "Max Martinez?" I offered, showing an example of how I was the opposite of Ella. The secretary did everything and repeated everything she did or say to Ella. "Have a nice day," She concluded. I nodded and exited the office. I checked the map for where my locker was circled on it. I went directly to it, using my internal compass as my guide. "I got me a North star." I muttered to myself as I opened the locker. It was fully stocked with text books and a sparkly green Welcome sign going down the door lengthwise. I hung up my coat and helmet, checked my schedule and pulled out the appropriate books. "Class this is Max Martinez," The teacher said just as I opened the door.
I shrugged and entered the class. "Max, you can sit right there by a Mr. Cash Cullen." The teacher said. "I'm Mr. Barnes, by the way," The teacher said and held out his hand. He seemed nice. I shook his head and nodded. Well, they usually do seem nice. I sat down next to the blond haired boy that Mr. Barnes had gestured to. Cash Cullen? Edward's brother? I gave him a brief nod. I quickly opened my book to the page indicated by Mr. Barnes. Cash had pale skin that nearly blended in with his blond hair that remained ruffled and those same golden eyes. All of them seem to have those golden eyes. Gold eyes… Cash wore a fancy leather jacket that was almost a replica of my own, a blue T-shirt and a pair jeans held up by a fancy brown leather belt with a large buckle in the shape of a flaming skull. He seemed the best of all these people. I smirked to myself and leaned back in my chair so that I had to hold the book out in front of me. When the bell rang, it did so noticeably. I had been so indulged in the book that I hadn't noticed the time. I'm guessing I like biology. "Nice to meet you, Max," Cash said to me. I nodded. "Ditto," I said. I stood up and gathered my books. "Max!" Ella squealed from the hall. She rushed into the classroom and indulged me in a hug. "Oh, who are you?" Ella said suddenly, departed and went into flirt mode. "Cash Cullen," He said and held out his hand. Ella slapped her hand into his and gave him that one flirtatious glare that she seems to have narrowed (AN: But Ella isn't meant for Cash *foreshadowing*) down. "Oh, that's great!" She said, returning to normal non-flirty Ella. "I was hoping to meet more of the Cullens." She said. I shook my head in frustration and began to walk away with my books under one arm. "Wait, Max," Ella whined, stopping me. "Yeah?" I called back. "We have our next class together I think. I was hoping you could walk with me." She said. "Well, then hurry; I got to get to my locker," I said. Ella noted the irritation in my voice and nodded eagerly. She said a quick "bye" to Cash and rushed after me as I exited the room.
The rest of the morning classes went fine. Then lunch came and I met him. Ella and I were on our way to our table. We had decided to sit alone so that people would know we're sisters and all; Ella's crazy idea. I then allowed Ella to go off to her own friends and I just sat there, eating my lunch like an idiot. Then he caught my eye. He was at the Cullen table; I had already met Cash, Brit and Elizabeth in that order. Here are your descriptions; Cash, quiet and brooding; Brit, protective of Cash (boyfriend) and like Rosalie; Brit, hyper and like Ella. Now I was trying to figure out Lyle. He just sat with his family, seeming like the loner that Edward described him to be. My table was all the way on the other end of the lunchroom but I saw it all perfectly. They all had gold eyes; Brit had long red hair and Elizabeth had long black hair. Lyle had short brown hair, pretty boy type. He wore a black dress shirt over a gray T-shirt and a pair of dark jeans. He was…perfect. He wore a small black feather around his neck on a dog-tag chain. I don't know how but he just seemed perfect to me. He suddenly looked up, probably feeling my gaze. He gave me a glance then he looked back down. But for the rest of the day I couldn't stop thinking about him.
Lyle POV-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liz was ranting about her day and how she and the new girl, Ella, immediately hit it off as "Best Buds". Oh, whoop-de-doo. Cash was commenting on how Ella seemed alright with him. Brit was being all protective of Cash and calling her a crazy flirt-bitch. I was just playing with my food that was just another prop. The camping trip had allowed me to be myself. But now I had to get back into the act. Acting normal required a few small roles but those few small roles…they were exhausting. Having to breathe, having to eat when it all tastes like dust and cardboard, having to move when it all seems like it weighs a million tons. The hairs on the back of my neck suddenly pricked and I looked up. The girl across the lunch room was staring at me. But there was something odd that cut her out of the crowd scene, away from other people; she was perfect. She wore a gray V-neck top with a fishnet undershirt so it came down to her hands in fingerless gloves. Her black jeans covered slender long legs and her long arms played with her food just as I was. She had a curtain of black hair that nearly covered those lilac purple eyes on her pale skin. I had to know her. But no! I couldn't. She smelt odd…appealing. I hadn't wanted to feed off someone for so long but this girl, despite the distance and the recent hunting, she made me tempted. This girl had to be the devil. A beautiful….gorgeous devil. A devil that confused me.
Ella POV------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I saw it even from my table with my friends, even with my human vision. Those two were, like, having a staring contest or something. But it wasn't a staring contest; those are competitive. This wasn't competitive; there was electricity crackling beneath the glares. It was odd but I have to say that I witnessed it first and my human eyes caught hold of the recognition. Max hadn't looked at someone like that since she came to live with mom and me. Max hadn't looked at anyone like that since….Fang. And she was in love with Fang. Did that mean she was in love with Lyle?