This chapter is longer than I intended. I had a two-hour lull between classes today and started and wrote most of this. I wasn't sure how I was going to introduce Aria to the concept of vampires but as I typed it came about. Hope you enjoy. Any questions, comments, or concerns let me know. -Blackbird.
My aunt was right. The 'new shiny toy' affect did wear off. It only took a month. Grand it, I was hanging around the Cullen's. I was still sitting alone at lunch. Some days Angela would drop by for a few minutes. Others Alice would stop by before moving on to her table, the whole while Rosalie is glaring at me. I still haven't figured out why she doesn't like me. I got to see the Rez and meet Billy Black and his son Jake. After class, the day after my aunt got her truck we drove to the Rez so we could pick up the car she had to leave. We stopped by the beach first so she could show me where she and my mother used to spend their time. It's too cold now for the water but it is a pretty view.
Teachers are either trying to cram as much information as possible before break or have basically checked out themselves. Unfortunately, Math isn't one that checked out. Alice has been able to help me out a bit when we work in groups. She seems to have no problem understanding the topic at all. On the plus side, English is one of the classes that has basically checked out. We've been watching movies so we haven't been doing any work at all. It's nice not having Rosalie act like I have a contagious disease. She does though wait for her brother after History, all the while showing her disdain for me. The only Cullen's I don't have any interactions with is Emmett and Edward. I do see Emmett laugh at Rosalie sometimes though when her and Alice start arguing at lunch. Everything I see Edward, he looks confused.
"When's your birthday?" Alice surprises me when she sits at my lunch table.
"The, uh, 26th actually." Her eyes light up.
"The day after Christmas? That must be different. You should come over and we'll have a little party at my house." She seems so excited. I would label her as one of my friends, same with Jasper.
"Few things about that. One, your sister doesn't like me. Two, I only know you and Jasper. Three, I've, uh, never actually had a party for my birthday." Her excitement turns to surprise.
"You've never had a birthday part?" I shrug.
"Being born the day after Christmas doesn't really leave time for celebration. We've always just kind of shoved it into the day before. Instead of pie or whatever we have a birthday cake. My Christmas gifts bonus as birthday gifts."
"You must come over then."
"I repeat point number one. Rosalie doesn't like me."
"It's not that she doesn't like you. There are some things going on right now that she doesn't like. She needs to learn that she needs to get over it. Please, my family would love to have you over for your birthday." I take a minute to think about it. With a sigh, I respond.
"I'll talk to my aunt about it." She gives a little squeal and hugs me before bouncing off to her family. I open the book I typically have with me but am interrupted by someone kicking my chair on accident. I look up to see that it was Rosalie while she walked past me. Nope, wasn't an accident. I sigh and go back to reading my book.
"I'm sorry about my sister." Jasper says with a sad expression.
"Which one?" I try to clarify as I sit next to him.
"Both I guess. Alice can be pushy, but what Rose did was uncalled for." I shrug.
"No harm, no fowl." He smiles and goes to say something but the teacher shuts the door and the bell rings.
The rest of the school day is uneventful. I'm thankful that people are used to snow here and now how to drive in it. That's all it's done today is snow. At home, I see my aunt has an overnight bag packed by the door and I hear her rustling around in the kitchen.
"Aunt Sophie?" She peaks her head around the corner.
"Oh, good you're home. A friend of mine who lives in Olympia had an accident on his motorcycle. He knows better to drive it this time of year, but I'm going to head over there and help him and his wife out for a few days, she's freaking out but it doesn't sound serious. I should be home by Sunday night. Make sure to go to school tomorrow. They will call me if you don't. The fridge is full and if you have an emergency, your uncle's cell phone number is on the fridge." She tells me in a rush. It must be her friend Jeremy. He's the only one we know who lives in Olympia. "If it's a major emergency, like the house is on fire or you're dying, call 911 than call me. I can be home in about 4 hours."
"I'll be fine by myself for, what two and a half days? Don't worry." She gives me a big hug before grabbing her bag and heading out the door. "Drive careful!" She gives me a thumb up as I close and lock the front door. The house is oddly quiet. I've been alone before but something just seems off. I go up to my room and sit at my desk. I have two worksheets for math to do for tomorrow. This is getting old quick.
It's dark outside when I finish the worksheets. It's not that late, only 7. I pop a DVD in and stretch out in bed. Math was my only homework for tonight. My aunt and I moved the tv from her room to mine. She doesn't like to watch things in her room. She ends up getting too comfy and falling asleep, missing the whole movie. I go to hit play when a noise down stairs grabs my attention. It was faint but sounded like something falling. I get up and open my door to listen better. I don't hear anything else, but I am going to double check the doors are locked.
The whole house is dark. I suffer through that darkness while making sure the doors are locked, which they are. I didn't want to turn on the light too soon if there was a robber in the house. Flicking on the lights, nothing looks out of the norm. I must have imagined it. I turn on the kitchen light so I can get a glass of water. I freeze in my tracks. The window above the sink is open. We never leave any of the windows unlocked. We make sure they, along with the back door, is always locked. Hesitantly I walk over to the sink. The lock on the window was broken. It looks as if someone tried to pry the window up and broke the lock. Someone is in the house. Someone is somewhere in the house. I start to panic and quietly make my way to the living room where the phone is.
The living room is still shrouded in darkness and I'm scared to walk in incase the intruder is hiding in there. I can see the phone thanks to the slight light from the hallway and kitchen. It's all the way on the other side of the room. I take careful and quiet steps. Something flashes past me. I whip around to look back toward the hallway. What the hell was that? It was almost like a person ran in front of me. People can't run that fast though.
I feel a breath on my neck and I freeze. I'm pushed forward and I land flat on my face. I roll over and see no one. I slowly crawl back toward the light of the hallway. In the blink of an eye I see I woman with vibrant red crazy hair. Her smile scares me. She takes a deep breath through her nose and closes her eyes. I try to take this moment in getting up and running away, but she grabs my wrist.
"You smell absolutely delicious." What the hell? "I think I'll tender you up first." What? I'm thrown over the back of the couch and land hard on the floor. She's in front of me again. How is she moving so fast? I try to crawl backwards again but she grabs me by the hair and pulls me up. I can see her eyes illuminated by the hall light. They are even more red than her hair. She grabs my arm and throws me towards the hall. I'm stopped by something hard instead. Through my tears I look up and see that Emmett has caught me. What the hell is going on?
I turn back to the scary red head to see Rosalie, Jasper, and Edward surround her. In a moment, they all are gone. The light to the living room is turned on as Emmett sets me on the couch. Alice, along with two people I don't know, stand in front of me.
"It's okay Aria, you are safe now. This is Carlisle and Esme, our adoptive parents." Her parents both look kind.
"I know you are confused, Aria, but can you tell me if your hurt." Carlisle asks me. I remember Jasper once told me that he was doctor. I think about my body for a moment and realize I have a pain in my left wrist from catching myself after being thrown over the couch.
"My wrist." They are only words I can summon. He gingerly takes my hand and applies a small amount of pressure to my wrist. It hurts but not bad.
"Your wrist is sprained. I can give you a brace to wear for it for about a week okay?" I nod. "Anywhere else?" I shake my head 'no'.
"What just happened?" The Cullen's around me share a look.
"It would be best if we wait for the others." All I can do is nod as Alice sits next to be and puts an arm around my shoulder. We sit in silence except for Emmett in the kitchen. It sounds like he's messing with the window. A knock on the front door startles me. Esme opens the door and I see the missing Cullen's walk back into the living room.
"Does she know?" Jasper asks hesitantly. Doctor Cullen shakes his head.
"We wanted to wait for you three. Aria, to put it plainly a vampire broke into your house and attacked you." What? Okay, so, wait, what? They moved as fast as her. They could match her inhuman speed. That means they are what she is.
"That means so are you guys." Jasper looks away.
"Yes, but we are different than her. Did you notice her eyes?" I nod. "Her diet consists of human blood. Ours consist of animal blood." Doctor Cullen goes on to explain that their diet lets them have some semblance of a normal life. He explains more about his family and powers. He explains that Edward can read minds, but mine, how Alice can see the future, and how Jasper can feel and manipulate emotions. Alice's visions are what led to them arriving. Alice never leaves my side and Jasper doesn't look at me. Rosalie's anger glare is a sympathetic look. Emmett walks back into the living room at the end of everything.
"Your window is fixed; your aunt shouldn't know anything happened. When is your aunt going to be home" I nod a thank you.
"She's out of town until Sunday."
"Would you like if one of us stayed the night to give you some piece of mind?" Alice asks gently. I take a moment to think about it. They didn't say what the fate of that red head was or if she had friends. I trust the Cullen's. I trusted them before this.
"Jasper," His head shoots up and looks at me for the first time through this whole thing. "Will you stay?" He looks surprised and looks to Alice.
"I see no problem with that."
"Of course, Aria."
"I'll stay outside in the woods," Rosalie surprises everyone and Jasper looks to protest. "Someone should be making sure that woman doesn't return. I know you are capable of protecting her, but it wouldn't hurt to have someone outside." Jasper nods. My backyard is small but there are woods behind my house.
"Then it's settled. Are you sure you are okay, Aria?" Esme asks. She is such a mother and it's comforting since I don't have mine with me.
"Yeah. This is a lot, but I'll be okay."
"If it's any consolation you are handling this well. Jasper isn't manipulating you so you aren't panicking."
"That's a plus." Good to know I am handling this well.
"If you need us Aria, just call." Carlisle gets up along with Alice who hands me over to Jasper. I can feel his hand hesitating over my middle back. He seems so hesitant around me. Well, he is a vampire who source of life is what's keeping me alive.
"Let's get you moved back upstairs." I turn to see the others leave while we walk upstairs.
Once in my room, Jasper opens my curtains and cracks my window, I assume so he can talk to Rosalie easier if need be. Jasper see my tv on a DVD menu screen and suggests I watch the movie to think about something different. I agree and get under my covers, having changed into pajamas before putting the disk in. Jasper takes a seat at my desk after turning the lights off. Only about thirty minutes into the movie and I start to get very drowsy out of nowhere.
"Thank you." I whisper I realize why I'm falling asleep.
