Chapter 3

Ivy

Ivy shifted in her plastic seat, uncomfortable and embarrassed. Forks High was small and simple, with halls that were white and an office that hardly smelt sterile. She sat inside the main office, waiting for two ladies to come out of the Principal's office and seal Ivy's fate.

It was hardly startling why she was called in to the school that morning. Ivy was running late, while Maui hadn't woken her up and took the buggy while she knew Ivy worked only two hours later. Surprise, surprise, a half hour later as she was giving up on cell phone service and was ready to walk to work, Mrs. Cullen called.

Maui was never one for trouble. In fact, Ivy couldn't remember the last time she got into a deep situation for her wrong doings. She just got sucked in and was easily provoked by the wrong crowd. It was never Maui, it was just her who took the fall and stood by and they walked all over her. This time, however, Ivy knew it was different.

The fact that she was the only guardian sitting in the waiting room was a clue that Maui was single handedly to blame.

Just as Ivy was getting restless, a tall, beautiful brunette came walking out of the Principal's office. She looked no older than Ivy herself- hardly over the age of 18- let alone old enough to be a teacher. But there she was, wearing a business-like skirt and blouse, with small heels and long brown hair that contrasted her pale skin.

Ivy stood up as Mrs. Cullen looked at her expectantly. There was a tense, awkward silence in the air as Ivy walked into the principal's office, seeing the old, balding man behind his desk and Maui slumped in her chair. Maui looked pissed off, and not happy to see her cousin here to chew her out. But Ivy took a seat next to her anyways, under the watchful looks of the two teachers while she pulled Maui into a seated position.

"Miss McKinley…" The principal started, "I understand that Maui is currently under your supervision while here in Forks, is that correct?"

"Yes, Sir." Ivy replied, and Mrs. Cullen moved to his side, taking over for the older man.

"Well, Miss McKinley, do you know where Maui was this morning?"

Ivy snuck a stern look at her younger cousin, who was glaring at the wall. Looking back to the brunette, she answered with, "If she was in school, I wouldn't be here right now, would I?"

Mrs. Cullen gave a curt nod. "Now, I want you to understand I know what raising a young girl at such a young age is like. My adoptive daughter is already ten, and I'm hardly of age. I understand that sometimes their actions are out of our hands." Mrs. Cullen leaned against the desk in front of Ivy, looking at her with sympathy, "And in no way am I blaming this on you."

The Principal looked like he wanted to disagree, but Mrs. Cullen's face was completely sincere. Her golden-brown eyes were showing complete respect towards Ivy.

"So, what really went on?"

Mrs. Cullen sighed, giving Maui a knowing look. "This young lady was caught at First Beach on the reservation this morning. I got a call from Sam Uley, the maintenance worker who looks over the land. He found her surfing in the water, when the beach is visibly closed from 6-10 in the morning due to construction."

Ivy couldn't help but roll her eyes. Of course Maui would be there. Even after they promised to go together, she completely defied Ivy and went anyways, without her permission and during school hours.

"Now, this is a first offense, and none of her past school records show any behavior of the type. So I am letting Maui off with a warning." Maui was about to get out of her seat and leave, when Mrs. Cullen continued. "And a one day in-school suspension."

Mrs. Cullen led Maui out of the room and to her day in suspension, while the Principal tossed Ivy the keys to the buggy. "I confiscated these earlier. Now, all I need you to do is sign these papers stating you, her guardian, are aware of her punishment and agree with the actions taken by Mrs. Cullen." Ivy signed those, and was about to leave when the Principal called her back. "Oh, and Miss McKinley… Sam Uley would like to speak to you. He had some work to do at the beach this morning if you would like to head over there."

"Of course," Ivy replied turning and leaving the office.

…

Sam was exactly where he was supposed to be. He and another man who looked around Ivy's age were digging up sand by hand, pulling weeds and replacing patches of crusted beach. Both men looked up as Ivy pulled into the parking lot and made her way past the barricade signs.

"The beach is closed until 10, ma'am."

When Ivy got a good look at Sam, she realised that she knew him from somewhere. "Um, I'm here to speak to Sam. My name is Ivy McKinley."

The two men looked at each other before Sam dropped his shovel and came running over to Ivy. He looked sweaty and worn-out, but the smile on his tan face gave the impression that he was a hard worker. "I'm Sam Uley, nice you meet you, Ivy."

"Pleasure," Ivy replied, shaking his outstretched hand.

"You work at the vet, don't you?" Sam asked, and Ivy's eyes lit up in recognition. "I was there the other day with my wife, Emily, and our niece Claire."

"Yes, I remember." Ivy replied with a smile.

Sam cleared his throat. "Anyways, I'm sure you're here to talk to me about Maui McKinley? She your sister?"

"Cousin," Ivy corrected.

"Right. Sorry." Sam cleared his throat again, and gave an awkward look over his should to the man behind him, who was obviously listening in. "As my friend Jared pointed out to me earlier this morning when we saw Maui at the beach, this reserve can be very dangerous in the dark hours. Surely, you've heard about the animal attacks?

"Of course," Ivy replied. "There is talk all around town about it."

Sam nodded and continued. "There are a few of us who work during our off hours to make sure the animals stay in the woods and out of the streets. Maui is very lucky that we found her when we did. There was a very angry wolf out this morning. If he would've seen her on the water, she wouldn't have had a prayer. Wolves can track for miles. They never let their pray get too far."

Ivy was slightly disturbed by the thought. Honestly, she didn't know what to say. Sorry? "Of course, Mr. Uley. Maui was very irresponsible. I'll make sure she doesn't step foot out of the house during the morning until school times."

"Thank you, Miss. McKinley. But just know I don't wish to be rude or invasive when I say this: Maui is not allowed back to the beach until the attacks are over and done with. Her scent was captured this morning. Those animals will be back. Rogue wolves are never nice to deal with. They will remember her, Ivy. Please, make sure Maui does not come back until I say it's safe."

...

Ivy walked into the house after work with an angry stride and a red face. Maui was sitting at the table eating leftovers, and barely looked up when Ivy slammed her purse onto the table. "That was so embarrassing."

Maui shrugged a shoulder, looking up quickly before standing and walking to put her dishes in the sink. "You look like that every day. Don't be embarrassed."

The red faced woman got even more puffed, ready to slap her cousin with something big and heavy. Ivy wasn't really violent, but she definitely was thinking about a change. "With Sam Uley. I had to speak to him about your behavior today. And I'll have you know I'm not really ready for the whole 'parenting thing', and he totally knew it. I almost shit my pants on the beach when I heard you were almost hunted down by a wolf! A wolf! What am I supposed to do with a girl who is animal bait?"

Maui shrugged again, obviously not caring about the embarrassment Ivy had faced. "Hopefully be a good guardian and not leave her for dead."

"Really?" Ivy yelled, really wanting to throw something. "Because here I was thinking that might teach you a lesson."

"You should know me by now. I'm not really a 'learn by doing' kind of person."

"Well if you're grounded, you'll have plenty of time to learn by not doing anything. Cause you can't go to the beach until Sam Uley puts you in the clear. And besides school, you have no reason to leave the house."

Maui looked outraged, but Ivy wanted to feel like a good guardian and punish her accordingly, like Sam Uley expected her to. "What if I made friends?"

"You don't need friends. You're grounded now."