The Path I Choose
Hi again! I'm super determined to get this story out there! Let the battle – I mean story – commence!
The next morning, Melanie awoke to unfamiliar sound of rain beating against the window. Rubbing the drowsiness from her eyes, she clambered out of bed and proceeded with her daily morning routine. After a quick shower she pulled her black hair into a lazy ponytail, and dressed in warm clothes. She was not going to freeze to death just because she needed to buy food, drink and some other essentials – like waterproof clothes.
After pulling on her favourite black coat, which would hopefully keep her warm and dry, she reached for the door handle. Only to be interrupted by two loud, rather brusque knocks.
Upon opening the door, Melanie was slightly surprised to see her father, soaked but looking like an angel, in all his Gancanagh glory.
She'd been expecting a visit, just not right then (which was probably why he showed up). His usually dark hair was even darker from the rain, his stance casual. It still held his easy arrogance, like he was invincible and no-one could harm him, which was most likely true. His lips twisted into a crooked smile.
"Hey kiddo, how ya been?" His voice was over appealing – like his actual appearance – even though Melanie's faery origins meant she was untouched by his glamour.
"Good," Melanie murmured, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
He nodded, satisfied with her answer.
His eyes flitted to the extra shadows that surrounded the two of them, then back to his daughter.
"You ready for Monday?" He asked nonchalantly, seemingly out of the blue. Melanie felt an inkling of hope as to what he meant, but kept it from her face.
"What do you mean?" She kept her hope from her voice, too.
His smile turned to a smirk, and he gave her a knowing look.
"School, of course. What else would you do on a Monday?" He replied. A shadow wrapped its intangible arms around his neck.
Ignoring the shadow, Melanie hugged Sebird – though it should be noted that she hugged his waist, not his neck.
"I can go!" She exclaimed in joy, ignoring his last question. She doubted he'd been expecting an answer. Melanie had worried he wouldn't let her go to school.
Sebird shrugged, casual.
"You seem pretty desperate to live a human life. I don't have the time – or the desire – to deal with a stroppy, stubborn sixteen year old." The reply was calm but hinted at trouble, as soon as Melanie realized this she tried to forget it. She didn't want to be dragged into court stuff. Into... faery stuff.
Melanie leaned back, letting him go. Her quiet demeanour returned.
"Thank you," she murmured, eyes on the green landscape behind him.
Sebird nodded and turned to leave.
Melanie watched his retreating figure until he vanished into the nearby forest.
Remembering her original objective, Melanie ran to her car – trying to dodge the rain – and drove to the nearest supermarket.
Once there, Melanie settled into the familiar task – the only shopping her mother, Lisa, could stand was for clothes, shoes and accessories – so she was often the one who would get the groceries.
Not only that, but she would be going to school tomorrow!
Melanie wondered if the other kids would like her, if she would be bullied – but the euphoria that she would actually finish high school, like any normal person, kept her from really worrying.
Ten minutes later she thought, why does the stupid jam have to be on the top shelf? The offending jar was standing smugly on a shelf well out of her reach. Melanie glared at in irritation. A husky laughter behind her snapped her back to reality. She glared over her shoulder, irritation not fully spent. In the end she had to turn around to look at the man – boy – behind her, because he was so freakishly tall. Looking up while looking behind yourself is difficult, and can be painful.
The tall freak was yet another russet-skinned Quileute. Melanie started to wonder if she was the only person in this town with pale skin. The boy grabbed the jam and handed it to her with a chuckle.
"Thanks," Melanie muttered. Another chuckle escaped his throat.
"Your welcome," he grinned, "I haven't seen you around before. You new?"
Melanie was flabbergasted. La Push certainly seemed to have a fast grapevine.
I wonder how many old ladies live here, Melanie thought to herself.
"Yeah, I'm new," she admitted. "My name's Melanie." She added, trying to be polite.
Jacobs grin seemed to grow, showing off pearly white teeth which contrasted with his dark skin.
"Hey. Welcome to La Push. Call me Jacob." He greeted, offering her his hand. Her smaller hand was lost in his wide, very hot grasp.
The sound of squelching wheels announced the presence of an older man with the same dark eyes as Jacob.
"This is my dad, Billy." Jacob introduced.
Gesturing for Melanie to follow, he walked towards the wheelchair in which Billy sat.
"Dad, this is the new girl Melanie."
The wrinkled man gave her a friendly nod.
Jacob turned to Melanie again. He looked like he wanted to say something else.
"Are you going to La Push High?" He finally asked.
Melanie lifted her head, proud, a smile on her face. A giddy feeling built up in her stomach.
"Yep," She popped the p.
"I go there," Jacob told her, shrugging one shoulder, like it wasn't a big deal.
Melanie raised an eyebrow, incredulous.
"You still go to high school?"
Jacob laughed again. It was a booming sound, it bounced off the walls.
"Yeah. I'll introduce you to my friends, you can hang with us. If you want." He offered.
Gratitude washed through Melanie.
"It'll be nice to know someone." She expressed it through her words.
A clock on the wall caught her eye. 11:45. Crap!
"I have to go, so sorry!" Melanie jogged to exit – having already paid for her shopping.
"It was nice meeting you. See you tomorrow, Jacob." She called back, guilty for leaving them there. Ink black hair flew out behind her as she ran towards her blue Toyota.
Back home, she unpacked the groceries, stuffing them into any available space.
Then she picked up the phone and dialled the familiar number.
"Mel! I was so worried, for a minute there I thought you weren't going to call." Melanie laughed at her mothers mock sad voice, but that didn't stop guilt clawing at her stomach.
"Sorry. I got sidetracked." Trying to lighten the atmosphere, she added:
"How's Hawaii?"
Lisa loved her, Melanie knew that, but her mother wasn't a settle down person. She'd stopped travelling for Melanie, and Melanie felt guilty for that. So when Marcel had offered to let her live here in La Push, she'd jumped at the offer. So Lisa could travel again.
"Hawaii's great. Palm trees, coconuts, cute guys. I think you'd like it here." Lisa encouraged. Melanie couldn't help but smile, typical Lisa.
"Actually, I kinda like La Push." She admitted. This was true, she felt mysteriously drawn to La Push. To the woods, to the beach, even to the people. Which was strange, for Melanie.
Possibly because this place was a faerie haven.
She could envision her mother's raised brow, as she struggled to comprehend a reason for liking a rainy, boring place like La Push.
"Really? You're a little weird, sometimes, Mel." Lisa teased, half serious.
Melanie snorted, "Yeah, yeah. Get back to your cute guys." She countered.
She could hear her mother's breezy laughter.
"I'll talk to you later, Mel. Love you."
"Love you too." Lisa hung up. Melanie sighed, placing the phone back on the cradle.
Back in the tiny kitchen, she was about to start dinner when Emily's cookies caught her eye.
Curious, she picked one up and took a bite. The cookie was eaten in seconds.
Melanie silently congratulated Emily on her cooking skills, slightly envious – if she could bake like that, she'd cook a whole batch of treats to offer to the other students as a friend offering.
Guess I'll just have to rely on my own skills. Melanie thought, preparing a plate of pasta.
After she'd eaten, she decided to read her worn copy of Stephen King's Firestarter, again.
It was late the next time she glanced up at the clock. After changing into some comfortable pj's, she settled down in bed.
Butterflies played havoc with her stomach as she wondered what tomorrow would bring.
Thanks for reading.
Gancanagh - A male faery from Irish Mythology. Known for seducing human women. An addictive toxin in their skin makes them incredibly appealing, and the person they seduce is literally addicted to them. They are inhumanly beautiful, and most seduced humans die from withdrawl (when the Gancanagh loses interest).