Chapter 2: Barfing in Bushes
I am now, speeding across unknown lands, in a giant, silver bullet. Last night's chicken casserole crawling up my throat, check! A little piss in my pants, check! And, my all time favorite, sweat accumulating in dark and unseen areas check and check!
Flying. Traveling in the sky. Call it what you will, but I hate it. With every second, I was getting further and further away from James. The only happy thought I've had since I was at the airport, I snorted. We were due to land in a few minutes, but I was still sick as every bit sick to my stomach, as I was when I first boarded this metallic devil-bird. Hi, I'm Lacey Tareaj nice to meet you.
Life couldn't suck anymore right now yet it couldn't be better. I only had a week until school started to finally be normal, but I could be a bum around my own house without the creeping thoughts in the back of my head about Mom or Dad or anyone else for that matter. Except that it wouldn't be my own home, it would be some strangers.
"Strangers that I will know very well by the time mom comes back for me." I grumbled, loosening my grip on the food tray after receiving a dirty look from the person next to me.
After landing, which was the worst experience I have ever encountered in my life only second to take off, I gathered my things and prepared myself to meet the family waiting for me at the airport near Forks. Forks is this little town only a mile away from the reservation, which is also where I would be attending school. Yay. Not.
My mouth felt sour from the day I spent sleeping in the sky, my hair was greasy, I could already tell, and my clothes rumpled. All in all, it would be an amazing first impression. I scuttled to the nearest bathroom and tried to compose myself. Washing my face and combing my hair deftly, I grimaced at my clothes. They were soo not clean right now; I couldn't be bothered to do anything about them. Looking one more time at my reflection in the mirror, I tried to smile. There were shadows under my hazel-green eyes, and you could tell the smile was fake. My brown waves were not so much wavy as they were stringy. Better then nothing, I thought walking out to meet the family.
I did a double take; it was as if a whole city was gathered beneath a banner that read 'Welcome LC'. LC? LC? I almost turned around to run right back to the bathroom. Feelings flooded through me, all different kinds but the one that struck me hardest was pain. LC was my dad's nickname for me. No one knew about that name, not even mom. Tears threatened to overflow.
"Shit." I let a curse slip.
I was in so much pain suddenly, so much pain. I could almost smell dad, he was right there, he was right there with me. Spots of black showed up in my vision, the mob of family members surged forward as the spots grew larger and suddenly the world turned pitch black.
…...
"LC! Wake up, get up."
I could hear my dad now. I could smell him, I could feel his unusually hot skin. Hot skin?
The world was light again, all light. I could see someone's eyes, the deepest shade of brown I'd ever seen. Russet skin, cropped hair and a musky scent. From the feel of his biceps, he was yummy.
"Wh-where am I?" I mumbled, confused that this stranger was holding me like we were lovers. As if I would mind. As if.
"You are in a car, driving to La Push. You were meeting us, the family you were supposed to stay with, when you passed out." He stuttered.
"Crud monkeys. Crud monkeys." I repeated the words like a mantra.
"Are you okay?" A voice from the front of the car asked.
It was a voice I recognized. Odd enough the face that went with it was new.
"Dandy. Um I'd feel even better if you would, kindly, let me go." I looked down at the space between us, which was none.
"Yeah, that's no problem." Hottie-with-a-body recovered from his momentary shock and released me from his death grip.
I mumbled thanks and tried to get off his lap. Tried as in, failed miserably.
"Here, let me help you with that." His hands, his incredibly warm hands, went to my waist and he tried to lift me off him.
Big mistake, big mistake. I started stifled a laugh, but it was too much. I burst into giggles, which gave me weird looks.
"I'm not weird. Just ticklish…" I trailed off, smiling like an idiot.
There was this awkward silence that spanned for ages until finally the kid on the other side of me broke the ice.
"I'm uh, I'm Embry. Nice to meet you." He held out a hand.
"Lacey. Nice to meet you too." I took his hand, which like 's was extremely hot.
"And I'm Jacob Black." Mr. Hottie finally said, also giving me a hand to shake.
I smiled sheepishly, as if apologizing for the random laughter from before.
"That's Billy, my dad, in the passenger seat and Emily driving." Jacob elaborated.
"Yeah really? I feel like I've heard your voice before Billy." I forced a smile.
"Mmm…" He replied, not knowing how to answer.
"So are you all related?" I asked Embry.
"In many ways." He shrugged.
"Oh, that would explain the extremely warm body temperatures. In a way." I bit my lip.
"Extremely warm body temperatures?" Jacob repeated dully.
"Yeah. Hot. You guys, well at least you and Embry, have really hot bodies. I- uh, not in that way. I mean not that your ugly, you are far from it wow, but I mean I wasn't trying to…" I groaned, stopping the embarrassing triad.
Everyone laughed anyways.
"I get it. We get it." Jacob said.
"Good. Great. So where are all the other people? I mean there was like a mob at the airport." I turned around, looking to see if there were other cars following us.
"They had, other means of transportation. We're meeting up at my place at the Rez." Billy answered.
I nodded, not fully understanding. The car fell silent soon after that. I didn't know what to say, nobody did. It was unbearable, especially since there was no scenery. Just miles and stretches of forest. It was beautiful in a creepy way, anyone could die or go missing out here and no one would know for days.
"Is all of La Push like this?" I murmured in awe.
"Like what?" Embry asked.
"A forest." I replied.
"Pretty much. But we're really into nature." Jacob grinned.
"That's kind of boring. Well, not that there's anything wrong with it but I'm not used to all this open space. Don't people get lost? Or killed or something?" I shivered thinking about the idea.
"City girls. You guys sure are a soft bunch." Embry lightly punched my arm.
"Don't blame me! But anyways, isn't it kind of scary?" I laughed.
"No. There have been some reports of a rogue animal killing a few people, but the reservation is probably as safe as it gets. We have protection." Emily finally spoke, breaking the tension.
"Protection?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah protection. But anyways, tell us how does New York compare to this?" Billy quickly changed the subject.
"Wow. Well it's nothing like this; La Push is a lot more clean and nature-y. New York has a whole bunch of scrawny trees planted, that's as nature-y as it gets. It's really dirty too, especially in the winter. La Push though, its breath taking." I gabbed, happy to have a lighter atmosphere for once.
"We're here." Emily pulled the car into a dirt road and I tried to hide the grimace.
The house wasn't a house; it was more like a shack. A big shack, but a shack all the same. It's not like the apartment is a mansion, I thought to myself.
"Come on." Jacob leaned in the car and offered me a hand.
I snapped out of my trance and realized I was the only one still in the car. Taking his hand was like sticking mines into an oven glove with a coal inside it. I dropped his hand like a hot potato, which is kind of what it was, and took my bag from him.
"Ouch. That hurt Lace, to the core." He laughed and feigned a groan.
I shook my waves quickly and felt them bounce across my shoulders and chest. That was the only thing remotely Indian about me, my hair. It was fine yet thick, long and this off brown color. The waves, which were a little greasy now, fell to my waist and needed minimal care except a good wash every day. I liked my hair in plaits especially, that was when I looked most like my dad. I had my mother's eye color, a mix of both my mom and dad's skin, but everything else was an exact replica of my dad. The hair, the nose, the eyes, the height all of it. I loved how I looked in the summer, when my skin was a little more tan and my eyes seemed a little more brown and a little less green.
"Wait, before you go in there. Do you know anything about your dad? Like about his heritage? His tribe? Any legends, stories?" Jacob grabbed my arm and pumped me for information.
"I knew that he was Native American, I know for some reason he didn't like talking about it and that he had some bad beef with some people in his tribe. I also know some kind of song thing but I don't know what it means. He told me that if I ever met his side of the family, that the song would help me to understand." I shrugged, not really knowing what else to say.
"Help you to understand? Can I hear the song?" Jacob asked.
I said it in monotone, trying hard to remember how to pronounce it without my English accent. A brief flash of recognition came across his face but he covered it with a furrowed brow sort of look.
"Wow. I don't know what that could mean…" Jacob lied smoothly; if I hadn't caught his expression I would have almost believed it.
"I honestly don't think it's that big of a deal. Probably some stupid kid song, my dad was mysterious like that though, he liked to elaborate on the meaning of things." I shrugged again thinking two could play this game.
"Let's get inside, it looks like it's going to rain." He walked ahead of me into the house.
I trailed after him and found myself surprised for the millionth time that day. There were so many people scrunched into one room, it wasn't even funny. My eyes flitted to Emily's scar. Whoa, how could I have not noticed in the car? One side of her face was beautiful, untouched, while the other side had scars running down the length of it.
"Don't look." Jacob's hot breath tingled down my ear.
I jumped but looked away and almost gasped at the sight the guys in the room. They were all shirtless, muscles ripped and chests glistening, and all were barefooted with shorts. The same tattoo was inscribed on each right, muscular shoulder. I recognized the design but couldn't think of where I had seen it. Jacob left me with Billy and walked over to the group of boys, punching a few and getting his hair ruffled. There were few faces I could recognize and I felt myself shrinking. I hated this, it was like they were all one big happy family and I was just some stranger.
"Could I have everyone's attention?" Billy's voice boomed.
Everyone fell silent and all eyes were on him and on me. A few people scowled, some smiled and others still gave me curious glances.
"It is with great honor that we open our home up to a former friend's daughter. Taraej has passed onto to the next world, but his memory and daughter still lives on. Lacey here, is to be treated as an honored member of our tribe. With respect and with love in her time of need. Let us all rejoice in her welcoming!" A great cheer rose up.
"Do you have anything to say?" Emily whispered next to me.
"I am so grateful to all of you, for opening your home up to a stranger, for welcoming me into your family and for remembering and honoring my father. I know I made myself look pretty stupid at the airport and I hope in my time with you guys I uh- I can redeem myself!" I laughed as others laughed along with me.
"Boys, guys, men! I am so happy to have another woman in the house. Maybe you can learn some manners now that we have a female guest. I swear, it's like everyday I've become more like you guys. You are a fresh of breath air Lacey. And now…we eat!" Emily put her bit in and pointed to the fully stocked table.
I was practically trampled on my way there. Leaving my stuff in the messy living room, I bumped into another extremely warm, shirtless guy.
"Sorry." I mumbled, looking at the floor.
"S'okay, I'm Quill. You better hurry up, with Emily's cooking all the food will be gone." He grinned.
As I was about to protest to the invitation, my stomach growled. We both laughed and walked back into the living room together. Sure enough, everyone was attacking the food set out like a pack of hungry wolves. Laughing silently, I looked up at god to see if this was a joke. After getting manners beat into me, I was now in a place where they could be thrown out the window. But as I sat down, proper and elegant I remembered that old habits die-hard. I couldn't help myself, I set a napkin on my lap, murmured the song my dad taught me and then took a fork and knife and set to eating like a lady. There was so much food on the table, I took a little of each and cut up all my food into little pieces.
Everyone was done while I was still eating like royalty, out of place. The table was silent and I looked up to see everyone was holding in laughter.
"A knife? A fork?" A shirtless guy laughed.
"What? What?" I asked quizzically, not understanding the humor in the situation.
"Sorry, we're just not used to anyone behaving like a normal human with manners!" Emily chided.
The laughter abruptly stopped and I patted my mouth lightly with the napkin, got up and took my dishes to the kitchen. I could feel their eyes on me as I walked but I didn't care. Walking back into the dining room I offered to help do the dishes.
"No. No, absolutely not I refuse. It's your first night, I will not allow you to do the dishes." Emily got up and started clearing the table.
"I must insist." I held her hand lightly and smiled.
"Yeah she must, just let her do the dishes Ems. It would be a nice break for you." Embry joked and every guy laughed.
"Oh really? I need a break huh? You think it's funny? Tonight, all of you are doing your part." Emily pointed to them all.
They started to refuse and a few of them even socked Embry for prompting her.
"Nope, no. You guys are helping tonight. Quill and Jared you guys start washing the dishes. Paul you are on countertop duty. Seth and Embry you guys are to sweep and mop the floor. Jacob and Leah you guys can clear the table. Sam, I wouldn't mind a foot rub honey." Emily snapped, taking charge.
Everyone could tell from the tone of her voice that she meant business and they set to work. Her and Sam, one of the shirtless dudes, set off to the far side of the house giggling and groping the whole way there. I tried to call after her, not knowing what my job was.
"Wait, what should I do?" I asked the air.
Sighing, I sat back down and watched stupidly as Jacob and the only other girl in the house, besides Emily and I, set to work clearing the table.
"Enjoy your break while you can, young one. Pretty soon the guys will start treating you like guys." Billy laughed.
"Yeah. I guess." I replied glumly.
"Come with me, into the den." He waved, wheeling towards a more quite part of
the house.
I shrugged and followed him.
"Your father, was a very wise and kind man. He wasn't apart of our tribe, he was actually a Makah Indian, but my father took him in as our own. Seeing you now, the daughter of the man I grew up with, is like seeing him all over again. You are like the spitting image of him. I know you didn't come all this way to hear about your dad but I can't help it. The resemblance is uncanny." He started.
"Actually, Mr. Black the main reason why I agreed to come here was to learn about my dad and my heritage. My mom, she's Norwegian, I know plenty about her side. But my dad's side has always been a mystery. He was so reluctant to tell us anything, he felt so much pain." I struggled to tell him.
"I am glad you embrace both sides of your family. After dinner is over, many of the people will leave for patrol. It will just be Emily, Sam, who she was with earlier, Jacob and I. Other members of the tribe hang around here but it's usually Jacob and I. Emily and Sam come here often also. Anyways, when they all leave for patrol, I will tell you a little legend about our people." Billy said.
"Okay." I nodded still confused.
"Some of it may be hard to believe, some of it may even seem impossible. But you have to trust us on this. Do you trust me?" He calmly asked.
"I don't know…" I sighed.
"You said earlier that my voice seemed familiar. Now that you know I was a close friend of your dad's, it was familiar because your dad used to call us. I used to talk to you when you were younger, you used to call me Uncle Bill. He stopped when you were around 6 because you started asking questions, but that's how I knew to put LC on the banner. I didn't think you would be so surprised though, surprised enough to pass out." He chuckled lightly.
"Really?" I stuttered.
"Yes really. Now do you trust me?" He asked again.
"Yes." I said, meaning it.
"Good." He nodded.
We waited in silence and soon enough, Jacob and Leah came in. Leah introduced herself and I shook her hand, which was also hot. Weird maybe it isn't limited to men, I thought to myself. Quill and his shirtless buddy were next to come in. He introduced himself as Jared and Quill told me to watch out for his anger, which prompted Jared to punch Quill in the arm. I laughed, sensing something old about this routine. Paul was next, I shook his hand, which was, surprise surprise, hot. Seth and Embry finally stumbled into the room, looking exhausted. Seth and Leah, I found out, were siblings children of recently deceased Harry Clearwater. I expressed my sympathy towards them both, I knew how hard it was to lose a father. They were the first to leave, realizing that if they didn't leave soon the weather would turn bad. Quill, Embry, Paul and Jared all left, much to Jacob's dismay, mumbling some excuse about patrol. Sam and Emily came out of the room and plopped down.
"So, are we telling her?" Emily asked, holding Sam's hand.
"Yes. Her father, even if she has only half his DNA, was a respected member of our tribe." Billy said fiercely.
"Emphasis on the half." Sam growled.
"Sam face it, she'll be here for a long time. We have no choice, the cat will come out of the bag anyways. Better now then later." Jacob pointed out.
"I give up." Sam sighed and ran his hands through his hair.
"Um excuse me, what's going on?" I piped up.
"The legend. I am about to tell you the legend. Do you trust me Lacey?" Billy asked one last time.
"Yes." I nodded furiously.
"Our people, the Quileute tribe, we aren't human. Put it plainly we are…shapeshifters." Billy finally sighed.
"Come again?" I asked, not quite understanding.
"The Quileute Tribe are not human, we are shapeshifters. We phase into werewolves." He repeated.
"Werewolves? As in fangs and teeth? Large animals that howl under a full moon?" I laughed.
"Is that funny?" Sam growled.
"Yes and completely unrealistic. I just can't believe you people believe in that. I mean I know it's your tribal belief and all but come on?" I grumbled.
"Come again little girl?" Sam mimicked teeth clenched and muscles tight.
"I said your tribal beliefs are simply a bunch of bologna." I stated, ready to defend my beliefs.
I was confident, confident that he wouldn't do anything. I mean I was a girl after all, but just the same Sam jumped. He raised a fist, ready to hit me but Jacob was in front of me as quick as lightning, his movement a blur. He grabbed Sam's fist and pushed him back, hard. Sam slammed into the wall, on the other freaking side of the room. On the other side of the freaking room, he just lay there crumpled against the wall. I shrieked as the drywall behind him crumbled and fell. Getting to my feet, I tried to run over to see if he was okay. But Jacob held me back and his large, warm hand blocked my way.
"Let me go! I need to see if he's okay! Why are you guys just standing there?" I shouted.
But to my surprise, Sam got up like it was nothing and even brushed off the white dust. The angry look was there but his body looked more relaxed.
"I told you. We shouldn't have said anything. This stupid girl is nothing like her dad, never has never will be. She has not a drop of his blood in her, she's wasted." He said disappointed almost.
It was my turn to be angry, but before I could do anything Jacob lifted me up and tossed me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Let go of me! Let me go right now!" I punched his back, hurting my hand in the process but determined.
"We're going for a little walk." Jacob's voice sounded final, obsolete.
I was still struggling as he kicked the door down and the last image I had before we left was Emily and Sam arguing and Billy Black, my father's closest friend, looking at me with pure disappointment in his eyes.
I calmed myself down and stopped hitting or kicking Jacob but he still wouldn't let me go. So all I could do was scowl, while I was being kidnapped to god knows where.
"Are we there yet?" I asked.
"No." His one word answer came.
"Are we there now?" I asked again.
I was lifted up and put down, not so nicely, on the ground. It was night by now, the sky was clear for once but the air was cold. All I had on was that stupid rumpled, green t-shirt and jeans. I wasn't just cold by now, I was on the verge of freaking hypothermia. Jacob however, looked cool and calm. He was looking at me though, looking hard.
"What?" I scoffed.
" Your tribal beliefs are bologna? Huh?" He asked, surprised and hurt.
"Um…yeah." I shrugged.
"Well guess what? My people are your people. Like it or not, those tribal beliefs are just as much mine as they are yours!" He shouted, angry for the first time.
"I can believe what I want to believe! And I, for one, refuse to believe that human beings can turn into wolves!" I shouted right back at him.
Before I could finish my sentence, I heard a ripping noise. Jacob's clothes were shredded, tossed into the air as if useless. In Mr. Hottie-with-a-body's place was a gigantic…beast for lack of words. It was like a wolf, only this thing on its legs was taller than a human being. His once brown, kind, eyes were now like steel. His russet skin replaced with russet fur.
I froze, fear and adrenaline taking over. My throat was dry, my hands sweaty and shaking. The thing came closer, until finally it broke into a grin. The grin was so human like, that I sighed in relief. I raised a nervous hand and started petting his giant head. He whined a little and nuzzled against my hand.
"You like that huh? A little more to the left?" I was still in wonder, amazement as Jacob the Wolf nodded.
I punched him in the head, hard. He yelped out and I winced, grabbing my hand. My hand was throbbing but seeing Jacob the Wolf in pain was enough for me.
"Next time give me a warning. Do you know how scared for my life I was? Huh? You think you can just morph into a wolf and I'll just sit here and pet you?" I laughed as Jacob the Wolf growled.
"Take us home." I tried to hop on his back but Jacob wouldn't have it.
"Okay, okay I guess you want me to apologize. I'm sorry for hitting you, overreacting, being a stupid ignorant girl, insulting our people and ancestors and most of all I'm sorry I didn't trust Billy." I said, sighing.
I tried again and this time Jacob the Wolf even helped me. I was on his back now, it was pretty frucking high off from the ground and he crouched ready to burst into a sprint. I leaned further down into his fur and held on for dear life as Jacob the Wolf leaped. I could feel the grass and ground tear apart with each paw's touch. It was the most terrifying experience of my life, second only to flying. Jacob the Wolf felt at home though, and we arrived home in a matter of seconds. He skidded to a stop and I slid off immediately running to a bush. I started heaving, throwing up Emily's cooking and the peanuts I had on the plane. In the time it took for me to do that, Jacob had become human and fully clothed again and his hot hands were holding back my greasy hair. I threw up until there was nothing in my stomach and still the heaves came. My hand was in so much pain and all that came out of my mouth was bitter tasting spit. I collapsed, exhausted from the day. The last thing I remember was being enveloped in a warm, muscle-y blanket.
A/N:
Reeaaallllyyy long update! Uber long. Most of them won't be like this but I just wanted to get the "secret revealing" over with. So I jammed it in. Hope you like it! Review?
xoxo
L.C.