A/N: Readers, I apologize. I'd uploaded and sent Chapter 3, and went to read it for myself, and boom! I couldn't find it. Then I started writing it again, and I found it, so I deleted the other one, 'cause I liked this one better. ;D Chapter four is almost ready. Be excited, and please invite people to read this! :]
Notes: the last bit about the campfire/meeting was copied and pasted from my original, but edited. :]

Chapter Three

D e s t i n y

Mother had given me to day to spend myself. I'd walked to the beach, bringing my copy of Spirit Bound, the latest addition to the Vampire Academy sequel. I'd hoped to spend the whole day under the tree and read until noon. I didn't hear anything except the calm whoosh of the waves.
"Who's she?" Someone mumbled from a few meters behind me. I grimaced, and sank deeper into the ground, trying to make it look like I was invisible, even though I physically wasn't. Mentally, maybe.
"Haven't seen her around," I heard a male voice answer the other, more feminine voice. I felt my heart accelerate as I felt their eyes bore into me.
"Probably just a tourist or something" the female seemed to not care though she was chuckling.
"Ah well." the male voice laughed as they turned. A lump had risen in my throat and I gulped the get the sickening feeling inside me away. I suddenly couldn't follow the story of Rose and Adrian, or even Dimitri. Tears had spilled over. I don't know why I was crying. I was being a drama queen over nothing. Had the thought of not being accepted hurt me so much? I knew the feeling well, but I'd never realized how much I wanted - needed - to be accepted. I stood up and wiped myself of any sand that had decided to stay with me. Picking up my book, I walked on the side walk, hands in pockets. My hair was not my Mother's natural ringlets, as Father had wavy hair, I'd gotten the mixture of the two. Wrapping my arms around myself, I allowed my eyes to stare at the ground, avoiding any bird scat and gum.
"Who's she?" another male voice asked. The voice was younger then the ones I'd heard before. I sighed, letting my hair cover my face.
"Dunno," yet another male voice answered. I heard footsteps behind me. I let my pace speed up a little. I could hear their steps, how they fastened, how with every step they took more distance then me.
I'd finally had enough after they'd followed me about two meters. I turned around, abruptly, feeling my anger thrive. "Okay, seriously! You don't follow people you bloody well want to know who they are! My name's Destiny Thomas, got it? Now go away." My mini - drama episode didn't make much difference. I saw a grin spread across their faces. I noticed they both had a tattoo on their arm, and both had dark brown, or even black hair with extremely dark brown eyes. Neither wore a shirt, only shorts. Not even shoes. I briefly wondered if they were so poor they couldn't afford them. Or they just couldn't find the right size. The older one was over six foot, while the other was probably around five eleven.
"Geez, relax," he laughed. "You're the one who was with Billy the last couple of days right?" the older one asked.
"Yeah, what of it?" I growled, fuming.
The older male sighed, "I'm Embry Call, and the one who hasn't said a word is Quil," Embry laughed. Quil snapped out of it and scowled.
"You can't talk," he argued, "You were the shy one before -." Quil paused, deciding not to go on when he saw me. "Never mind," he grumbled. I rolled my eyes.
"Well if you're done, leave me alone," I growled, walking again. They didn't follow. I'd arrived at Billy's house without noticing it. I was unsure of how I even knew how to get there. Billy didn't seem surprised when I stepped in.
"Hey Billy!" I smiled, reaching down to hug him. He grinned at me, wheeling back.
"I wondered if you'd come, though you're Mother didn't call," he laughed.
"Yeah, I wasn't going to," I admitted, "but, uh, some people don't know when to let you read." Billy's eyes followed my gaze, which was on my book.
"Let me guess," Billy laughed. "Embry, Quil, Leah and Paul," he rolled his eyes as he lead me to the lounge. He didn't bother getting onto the couch.
"You got the first two right, I don't know the others," I admitted.
"How do you know Embry and Quil?" Billy asked, curiously, though he was smiling.
"I, uh, yelled at them for following me," I admitted, laughing at the idea though it had been minutes ago.
"Ah, good call," Billy laughed, gruffly. Noticing the silence, he smiled, weakly this time, "thanks for helping out with Jake, kiddo. I think it helped." I'd had a feeling the story Billy had told me wasn't the full story, but now I was certain. Could the hurt he felt possibly be mental as well as physical?
"It's okay," I answered, gruffly, shaking my head at the idea. I sat, thoughtfully though.
"He actually ate the food you warmed for him. And yelled for more when you left," Billy laughed, seeming happy about this. I smiled, weakly.
"That's a good sign," I told him, my mood rising slightly.
"Yeah, it is," he seemed really, really satisfied with his son's improvement. I heard a shuffling in the kitchen, and turned, along with Billy to see. It was Jacob, haunched over, his good arm holding his weight for support, as he looked for something to eat.
"You won't find anything, Jake," Billy called, a glint of happiness in his eyes. I smiled.
"I can cook something up," I offered, mainly to Jacob then to Billy.
"You're the guest," Billy scoffed, wheeling himself into the kitchen. It was cramped, but it fit both of them. I had a feeling, if they tried, they could fit quite a few people in. I followed, standing outside of the kitchen, near the bench.
"You're staying for lunch, kiddo. I'll cook my famous chicken curry, passed through many generations," Billy grinned at me. I really didn't want to hurt his feelings but -
"Dad, the back of a cooking box doesn't count," Jacob rolled his eyes. I realized it was actually the first time I'd heard Jacob talk, though I'd been with him for two days. I didn't think his leg was broken, but he limped over to the dining table, pretty much using everything for support. Even my shoulder, though once he realized, he hobbled a bit to move away. Why? I had no idea.
"Jake, when you're my age, you go along with what you know," Billy scoffed.
Shrugging off all thoughts of Jacob, I smiled, grimly, "Billy, really, I can go home for lunch." I think my voice sounded pleading.
I was correct. He raised an eye brow, "you have something against curry, kiddo?" He smirked.
"Ah, Billy. . ." I sighed. Apparently I was going to have to tell everyone, "I'm a vegetarian."
I think that caught Jacob and Billy off guard. Billy got over it faster, shrugging, "Ah well. I'll make a vegetarian lasagna."
"Billy, you don't have to, really," I shook my head, but he put his hand up to stop me.

It turned out Billy was a really good cook. Way better then Mother. The lasagna was delicious, though I think they would have enjoyed it more if it had been a normal lasagna.
"You coming to the bonfire tonight?" Billy asked me while I was doing the dishes - the one thing he'd allowed me to do.
"I didn't know there was one," I laughed, softly. I wasn't really amused. Mother had only recently found her new love of talking to everyone.
"Yeah, there is. We have them on a little stage like thing, which was built for, uh, meetings and parties and things like that," Billy stuttered. I raised my eyes to meet his from the dishes, but he didn't speak.
"I'll ask Mother," I shrugged, smiling, weakly. I really hated that everyone seemed to be keeping something from me. No acceptance...

It was five o'clock when Mother finally got home. She agreed to the bonfire, and went upstairs to get change. Billy had called to explain the details. The get together started at seven thirty. The bonfire was a 'big' thing. Half the town would be there. Billy had told me not to bother eating, because they'd have cooked meals for everyone. My heart was beating at a much too fast beat as I strided in my bedroom. Which suddenly became ours as Grace walked in, raising an eye brow. I decided to wear jeans with my favorite white shirt, which had one long sleeve and one spaghetti string. I put a thick coat on my bed and tried to steady my nerves.

"You look nice," she complimented. I struggled not to let my mouth fall open. Smiling and thanking her I stared in the mirror, breathing slowly.
"What do you think I should do with my hair?" I asked my sister, my voice cracking.
Grace looked at me, then smirked, "Let me do it and I'll tell you." I stared at her for a moment, before nodding. She made me sit down and begin her new 'master piece'. I could see she was beginning to straighten it, which would take at least half an hour. My curls were not Grace - proof though. It was six o'clock when Grace finished my hair. It was actually straight, which surprised me. She brushed it out to make sure no curls decided to suddenly arrive. They stayed place. She'd left my fringe - the one part of my hair I liked curly - in a single ringlet, which didn't look quite right. Then Grace parted the top half of my hair and began braiding. By ten past seven, it was neatly braided from the top and finished in a lackey. It was one of those hair styles where the bottom half of your hair was free, and believe it or not, I looked pretty. I stood up and stared at my reflection, grinning. I turned and hugged Grace. She was caught off guard but wrapped her arms around me.
"You look beautiful," she promised me, seeing my panicked face.
"Thanks, Grace," I whispered, feeling another lump rise in my throat. I was an emotional mess today.
"Are you crying?" Grace laughed, pulling me to sit on the bed. She sat on the other.
"No," I sniffed, wiping the tear that had fallen.
Grace smiled, reaching for her large jewelery box. She pulled out a silver necklace, with a single diamond hanging from it, shaped the way a normal diamond would. I breathed a sigh as I stared at it. Then she did the scariest, and possibly the nicest thing she'd ever done for me before. She put it around my neck.
"You can have it," she smiled, seeing my face.
"No way, it was from your Father," I remembered the day Grace had gotten it. I'd been jealous he'd gotten a necklace for everyone but me. I'd only been eight, but it'd stung. He had gotten me a bracelet, but it'd been fake, and had fallen to bits when I'd tried to pull out my hair that had wound around the necklace.
"It's okay," she shrugged. "I've got another."
"Thanks, Grace. For everything." I whispered, choking on more tears. She laughed, shoving me out the door as she got changed. Not before I grabbed my book.
I'd brushed my hair once more, brushed my teeth and put a pair of black short heeled shoes on, and at twenty past seven, I'd gone downstairs to meet Mother. She stared at me and grinned.
"Honey, you look beautiful!" she complimented me.
"Thanks Moth-Mum. You look great too," I answered, blushing. I never had felt like I belonged with my family. They were better off being super models, but tonight, I did. She hurried me outside, having cooked the one thing she could actually make really nice - sandwiches - for the others, and into the car. My heart accelerated.

It was easy to see - the fire was large and controlled, and people were laughing and sitting on stones. I grinned and pulled Mother along with me as we arrived. There looked like there was about thirty of them. It was really awkward at first. Mother and I had never really met anyone around town, since bother of Mother's husbands had been social freaks who really didn't trust anyone not into his business. Yet they seemed to get over it when Billy wheeled himself to me and reached up for a hug. I grinned and leaned down. It was easier with him then if Mother and I had been alone. Mother also hugged Billy and smiled.
"Hey Billy," she greeted, while I was too busy trying to move her from the center of the crowd.
"Hey Andrea," he grinned, then wheeled himself backwards, waving his hand to sit next to him. When we sat, I finally settled down enough to look around. I was surprised at some of the familiar faces.
"Now," Billy cleared his throat, and instantly everyone quietened down, "I hope you'll make the Reed's feel comfortable."
My head shot up as everyone's eyes shot to us. I looked down immediately. I was actually hoping my hair would cover my face, but Grace had made the braid tight. I felt Mother shuffle, avoiding meeting anyone's stares.
Through about fifteen minutes, people had come up to greet us. I now knew Sue, Leah (I recognized her voice at once), Seth, Embry and Quil (who I'd glared at), Mrs. Call, and a few others that I'd forgotten. Of course, there were several others who would probably introduce themselves over the night.
"What the hell are you doing Jake?" Quil had laughed. My head shot up, and I stared across the little circle. Of course, Jacob was there. He wore a shirt, and had pulled his broken arm through the sleeve. He looked almost normal, except for the pain that was pretty obvious. He'd given in and brought a crutch. I guess it was alright he hadn't come to introduce himself. I had a feeling, though I'd helped him earlier, he didn't really like me. I never met anyone's eyes after that, my excitement having dimmed. When the food was served, I took one of the vegetarian sandwiches Mother had made. A few people stared at me oddly.
"She's a vegetarian," Mother had told them, quietly. Twice in a day. A few chuckles. While I nibbled on my cut sandwich, I scrutinized everyone, slowly. I noticed most of the boys, and Leah, were much taller than anyone else. They were physically more muscular too. Sam, Emily's wife, who'd introduced themselves about half an hour ago, looked like the tallest of the lot, though Jacob (who I'd unhappily stared at for a few seconds too) was catching up. It was hard to believe none of them besides Sam was above the age of twenty. I was only 168cm, which is tall for my age (the normal people I mean), but these people had to be over 180cm, maybe even more. I felt eyes on me suddenly, and looked up to see who it was. It was all of the people I'd just been staring at. I shuddered, and put my uneaten sandwich on the ground and wrapped my arms around myself, pretending to be cold. Nobody was fooled. Billy had been good company for a while, though he constantly moved to talk to others.
"What's wrong kiddo?" Billy asked, softly, putting an arm around me. I smiled, weakly.
"Nothing." Lie. I was such a horrid liar. Billy waited. "Feeling a little left out I guess," it wasn't much of a lie, just a stretch. I spoke so quietly, Billy strained to hear. But he did.
He narrowed his eye brows. "I can introduce you to them if you like," he offered.
"No, it's alright, really. I know most of them anyway." I reached for Mother's hand bag, and grabbed my book, the same one as from this morning. Billy's hand yanked it off me and put it back in Mother's bag.
"C'mon kiddo. These things are for having fun and introducing the newbies," he pulled me along with him as he wheeled across the stage - balcony - thing.
"Billy, no, please, please, please, no." I begged, but we were close enough that the others looked up. I grimaced and turned to Mother for support. She grinned, crossing my arts. "Traitor," I mouthed.
"Kids, be nice. And Des, eat something," I made my eyes as pleading as possible, biting my lip as I looked in the direction of the 'kids' and back at Billy. He shook his head and let go of my arm, wheeling back to his original place.
"So, uh, Destiny, where'd you get the accent?" Quil asked, as he made me sit down. I glared at him for a moment.
"Uh, I don't have one," I mumbled, sitting as far away from the group - without being rude - as I could.
I felt eyes on me. It was terrible. I regretted persuading Mother to come. "Jake, you look like a moron with your arm broken," Leah said sourly. I had a feeling it wasn't just me she didn't like.
"Your fault," he shot back. It was still surprising to hear his gruff voice. It had a teasing edge to it.
"Uncalled for," Leah grumbled. The whole time I was staring at my hands.
Seth had moved next to me, and grinned. "Hey. Sorry about them, they're not use to new comers," he laughed, quietly.
I smiled, weakly. "Yeah, I can see that," I mumbled to him. Seth reminded me of a child. He was so. . .tall that it seemed weird, but he had that way about him. He was my age, a little younger, but I had a feeling he was at least ten centimeters taller than me.
"C'mon, join in the conversation. You won't wanna miss the next ten minutes," he laughed as he stared at two of the older boys and Jacob. I hadn't met the others, who Seth introduced as Jared and Paul (I got why Billy suspected him for talking about me through the conversation. Billy was right.) I wasn't sure which was which. The one on the left smiled, and the one on the right winked. Seth rolled his eyes, mumbling 'Paul.' I got it from there.
What Seth had wanted me to see was absolutely horrifying, but at the same time hysterical. An eating competition. The only participants were Jared, Paul, Jacob and Leah. I had a feeling Leah wouldn't win. I lost count of how many hot dogs and hamburgers they ate, then they began on Mother's sandwiches. Before all of the food was taken, Seth grabbed a couple of Mother's sandwiches. One meat, one vegetarian. He offered them to me. I took the vegetarian one, and smiled a thank you. He gulped the other one.
"You have no idea what you're missing with meat," He grinned. I shuddered, looking away. He laughed, and put his arm around me, "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that." He removed his arm at my look of shock. I tried to recompose my face in a weak smile. By the time all the food was gone, Jacob, Leah, Paul and Jared looked like they were about to barf. Leah was a little green the whole time, and finally ran about a kilometer away in less time then it took me to eat my sandwich. She puked. I shuddered.
"Gross," I laughed. But I was having a good time. Finally. It was ten to ten by the time Mother stood, obviously ready to leave. I had my persuading face on, but she took out my book, and by the way she looked, was about to throw it out. I pretty much sprang up and bolted to Mother. I was so attached to that series.
"Mean," I laughed, but hugged my Mother. She grinned and hugged me back. I waved at the group, promising to see them tomorrow. They were nice. Well most of them. Leave Leah and Jacob out of it.
We walked back to the car, and that excitement I'd came here with boiled in me. Mother was starting the car, when I saw someone run to us. Well, limping. It was Jacob. He'd probably ran here from the end of the building - thingy - majigy but he didn't even pant, though he was injured. He was holding my jacket.
I was suddenly really shy, "uh, thanks." I took my jacket and put it on, letting my hair out. It was still straight. I pondered on the idea of Grace having a future in hair dressing. It was awkward for a moment. I nodded to him and sat in the car, opening the window to let out the cold air. He stepped towards me, and reached to my ear. I froze.
"Thank you," he whispered, too low for Mother to hear. I blinked, but he was already running back.

A/N: There you go readers. :] I wasn't going to add that last part about Jacob thanking Des, but I had a feeling I might as well. Who doesn't like romance? ;D