Chapter 4

Stephanie

"Okay what was that all about ?" I asked Bella.

"My car I guess, haha. I don't know Rosalie didn't seem to happy. Whatever she can deal with it." We bumper shoulders and entered the school.

I'm Amanda Rivers I have long blond hair with aquamarine streak in my hair, I have bright blue eyes. I used to be alone all the time until yesterday, my sixteenth birthday. Bella Wind came up to me and invited me to sit with her and her friends at lunch and since then we become close. Although I've only known Bella for a few days I feel like Bella is more then a friend, she feels like a sister to me. We get along great; we are both pretty quiet and we're not boy driven. She's really nice and sincere. She's challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and for once I felt confident.

Even though our birthday was yesterday it doesn't feel like I'm sixteen. I feel no different, look no different, well except I feel a little stronger in my element, but that's about it. I don't know why they call it a sweet sixteen, you're a year older then fifteen, let's call it sweet and give people a reason to throw a huge party.

"Amanda, Amanda. Hello?" My eyes focused to what was in front of me.

"Hey sorry, I kind of dazed off."

"I kind of figured that, I've been waving my hand in front of your face for almost ten minutes now." Bella laughed. I smiled at her.

"Bella, I'll be right back. I have to go to the washroom." She nodded and turned back to May and Clara. I entered the nearest washroom which was just off the cafeteria. I walked in to the stall furthest from the door. I did my business and was just about to exit my stall when the doors flew open.

"What the hell Rose?" I froze I knew exactly who that voice belonged to. Alice Wood, that meant the other girl was Rosalie Burns.

"What?"

"What ? What ? Rose I know you can be bitchy but I've never seen you this nasty." I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop but I couldn't see to make myself move. I peeked through the crack of the door.

"I'm sorry Alice but something about these people just ignite a flame within me." As Rosalie said this she snapped her fingers and a small flame appeared in her palm. A lighter, it must have bee one of those Zippo lighters that you can snap and light it.

"Put it out ! What if someone comes in and sees it ?" There was a pause and the light still shone from Rosalie's palm. I tried to get a better view but I couldn't risk getting caught, Quietly I sat down on the toilet seat and buried my face in my hands. All I wanted was to get out of the washroom and these two were making it impossible.

"Seriously Rose Stop."

"Why ? I have the power, why not use it ?" I rolled my eyes , talking about her popularity again. I heard her scream. My head shot up at her shriek, what did I miss ? I looked through the crack to see Rosalie massaging her temple. Whatever it was I missed it. Alice took her other hand and pulled Rosalie out the bathroom. I waited a few minutes just to make sure the coast was clear. I got out of my stall, washed my hands and went back to the three girls waiting at our table.

"What took you so long ?" I hated lying to Bella, but I wasn't sure if it was a story to share.

"Oh I had to make a call." She narrowed her eyes. She knew it was a lie. I shook my head, she sighed but dropped it. Lunch ended soon after and Bella and I went our separate ways.

"So how were your afternoon classes?" I asked Bella while getting into her car, trying to avoid the pink elephant in the car.

"Boring, I had a headache all afternoon. How were your ?" So Bella was going to ignore it for now.

"Mine was boring too. Mr. Machney didn't show up for Bio so we had a free period." I answered nodding my head, the tension growing.I heard Bella sigh as she started the car.

"Mandy?" She paused gauging my response for the nickname. I liked it. "Did you really have to make a phone call today at lunch ?" She asked me hesitantly, her eyes shifting back to the road. I sighed, there was no way I could keep this from Bella and I didn't feel like lying to her again, so I told her;

"Well I was in the washroom and just as I was about to leave my stall, Rosalie and Alice came in arguing. I didn't know what to do so I just sat there waiting for them to finish. They were arguing about how Rosalie being more bitchy then normal when Rosalie said that something about these people ignite a fire within her. And when she snapped her fingers a small flame was in her hand." I paused to catch my breath."I couldn't see clearly but I'm pretty sure she lit one of those Zippo lighters, the ones that you can snap and light it. But still it's dangerous to play with fire. Anyways, Alice said some words and they left. I waited a few minutes before going out to make sure they weren't coming back, then I washed my hands and went back to you guys." I finished huffing out my breath. By the time I was finished telling my story we had arrived at my house. I looked over at Bella who was wearing a frown. I knew she wanted to talk about what I had just told her but she already knew I couldn't hang out with her tonight.

"So you're absolutely sure you can't hang out tonight ?" She asked again. I threw her a half smile. I hated lying to Bella it made me sick to my stomach, it's why I never had friends. I never had to worry about cover stories about my family.

"Sorry Bella, family night. I'm never allowed out on fridays. We can hang out tomorrow though." She smiled and we said our goodbyes. As I walked toward my front doors I thought once again about having to lie to Bella, and I much as I hated doing it, there was a part of me that she could never know about. The truth is that I didn't have family night tonight. Instead it was my first night of training with my elemental powers. Ever since yesterday I felt a little stronger with my element.

"Hi mom, hi dad.I'm home." I said into the empty foyer. My dad walked in and hugged me.

"How is my little Manda?" He asked, teasing me. I giggled.

"Dad!" We smiled at each other and then were joined by my mother.I went over and gave her a hug too.

"What time do I start my training?" I asked anxiously.

"Three thirty." My mom answered.

"Manda come out to the garage with me for a second please." I followed my parents to the garage and they flipped on the lights. My jaw dropped, in the middle of the garage was a black Vanquish. I died on the inside. They got me my dream car! I squealed and hugged them both. My dad handed me the keys.

"Its a few minutes before three, go take her for a spin, just be back by three thirty okay ?" I nodded enthusiastically as I snatched the keys and jumped in the front leather seat." New car smell entered my nose as I took a deep breath. I pulled out of the garage and circled around our driveway and down the road to the gates. Once past the gates I headed right past the river that lead to our backyard and out of Forks city limits towards Port Angeles. Once I hit the primary highway I sped up. 100 km/h, 120, 140 , 160! The speed gave me a rush as I let out a laugh. I slowed down as I came close to Port Angeles. I just made a forty five minute drive in about ten.

I parked at a small bakery and got myself a cupcake. I moaned as the chocolate cake melted in my mouth. After I finished I got back in my car. I looked at the time on the dashboard. Three fifteen, time to get going. I blasted my music and made the same ten minute journey back to my house. I arrived a few minutes early so I go myself a glass of blood. Lions blood always tasted best after eating chocolate. As I downed my drink, my dad walked into the kitchen and asked if I was ready to start. I followed dad outside to the river. We kneeled beside it.

"Now Manda, I know you can already create a water ball so let's start with that. I also know you have never done anything by the river, but I believe that the water from the river will help strengthen your ball instead of you only using water molecules from the air. Try mixing both together." I nodded and started with the water molecules in the air. I concentrated my eyes flashing to different places in front of me as I talked to the element. Slowly blue spots showed up in my vision representing the water molecules. I kept mumbling my words of encouragement as they grouped together in my palm. I started to roll my hands above each other, twisting and turning the molecules as they fused into a small ball floating between my two turning hands. I released one hand and placed it in the river. The water from the river traveled up my arm and across my shoulder down my other arm to my palm. Although the water made soaked my marks on my clothes, I was dry. As the river water mixed with the water that was pulled from the air, a shot of energy surged through my body, allowing me to support the elements power for a little longer. I withdrew my hand from the river and went back to twisting and turning the water. Instead of the small baseball sized water ball that I usually made, was now the size of a small dodgeball and the water was twisting and turning at a now dangerous speed.

"Good Manda ! Now release it at a tree or large rock." I nodded and pulled my hands back into my chest, my palms touching. Then I snapped my arms forward and in a flash the lethal ball of my element clashed against the huge boulder that was about fifty feet away from us. A * CRACK * echoed through our yard. My father and I looked at the rock to see that my water ball had almost cracked it in half. I squatted on the ground feeling drained. I looked up at my dad with a smile.

"Amanda, that was amazing! So powerful for your first try." He praised. Event hough water gave me energy, I felt extremely tired. We went up to the housed and I went up to my room. I quickly finished my homework before supper.

I awoke to the sound of my parents calling me down for dinner. I slowly rolled out of my bed and quickly went to my bathroom to splash water on my face. As I looked in the mirror I noticed my face looked tired and i had dark rings under my eyes. I bent down under my running sink and cupped my hands so I could catch water. As the water hit my exhausted face, I felt a glow. Instead of the water rolling off my face, my pores absorbed the water. As the water entered my skin the dark rings under my eyes disappeared and my skin glowed with this new found energy. I walked down to my parents who were just putting the finishing touches on my dinner .

"Dad..." I asked hesitantly. He looked up. "Can my element regenerate energy ?" His eyes widened.

"So it's true." He stated.

"What's true ?" I asked. My mother walked over to her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist. He looked down at her and she nodded.

"Well Amanda, there was this rumour that some vampires with elemental abilities can regain energy or heal them selves or even others with their element. But they would have to train really hard and for a long time before they are even close to obtaining that connection. Either that or their powers are stronger then the average vampire." My dad finished.

"But I'm not a full vampire, so do those rules still apply?"

"Well Amanda, apparently they don't because from what I'm guessing from your previous question, water gave you back the energy it took during your training lesson today. But I also believe that you will be extremely powerful in your element." My father smiled up at me. I was frozen in a happy stupor. I ate my food as my parents sipped on their cups of blood. After everything was washed I took an empty water bottle and a knife and went upstairs to my bedroom. I went straight to my bathroom. Was my dad right? Could water heal my wounds? I went to the sink, knife in hand. I sliced the knife through my palm. I silently gasped out in pain. I ran my hand under the sink, and the water ran red. I pulled my hand out from the water but it was still bleeding badly. A wave of disappointment hit me. I guess it can't heal my wounds. Dejected, I wrapped my palm in gauze and a bandage. I cleaned the knife and sink with bleach. Hopefully the bleach was enough to hide the salty smell of my blood and venom. I didn't feel like explaining things to my parents . I walked back into my room and turned on my T.V. I twisted the light switch, making my lights dim. Because of the winter season it was already dark at seven. I turned the volume of my T.V. Down and switched the channel to 520, Paranormal State, my favourite show was on. I loved this show because it was cool how the humans used machines to find ghosts and spirits. If you out a vampire in their places a lot ore would be seen and heard. I laid on my bed and watched the show until I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up the next morning and immediately took a shower. As I entered my bathroomI noticed that my skin still carried the glow of energy from yesterday. I then winced at the memory of my hand, how was I supposed to cover that cut up ? It isn't exactly small. I slowly unwrapped the bandage and pulled back the gauze. My jaw dropped as i gasped. My cut; instead of a disgusting scab as it should have been; was now a fading scar. I did a happy dance . Water could heal my wounds, it just took a whole twelve hours to do. Curiosity stuck me, and I put my hand under the sink and ran water over the scar. I stopped the water as I watched the remaining beads of water all drift towards my scar. Then my scar absorbed the droplets and within ten minutes my scar had completely disappeared.I opened and closed my fist, staring in astonishment. This power was so sweet. I frowned as a small wave of sadness washed over me. It was just another secret that I had to keep. What if I got cut and they wanted me to clean it with water ? What would I do then ? If it heals fast they'll think I'm an even bigger freak! I shook off the what ifs and hoped in the shower to continue my routine for school. Then I was off to play my part in a society where I knew I would never belong.

Omg I am so sorry this took much longer then I expected. My life has been really crazy and i couldn't find the time to type this chapter ! So because of my hectic schedule I'm pushing the update date to every second monday. I feel soooooo bad . but hopefully this is a good chapter.

R&R

PS HAPPY VALENTINES DAY !