I wonder what the big emergency is in La Push. Looking at the clock, I see that it's 11:30 PM and I should really be asleep since I have to be up at 6:30 for school. Maybe Mark is starting more trouble, but how could my Dad help? He's a Psychiatrist, and Mark is kind of screwed up in the head, but still,
I don't think that's why Jacob called him over there.
And what about Nick? Is he just being friendly or is he interested in me? I'm not sure which of the two I want. I mean, he's gorgeous with his dark brown hair and green eyes, but I only feel the friendship vibe with him. I rolled over to rest on my other side, hoping the change in position would help me to fall asleep. No, another hour passed and finally I heard my Dad close the door to my parents' bedroom.
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I woke up and followed my morning routine like a zombie since at 1:30 in the morning, I was still awake.. I brushed my teeth, got a shower, got dressed and brushed my hair. I went down stairs and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and sat at the table where my siblings were all eating cereal.
"You look like hell, Lil" Annie commented.
"Gee, thanks, Annie," I groaned. "Where's mom?"
"She's upstairs, I don't think she's awake yet." Adam said.
"Weird." My mom is always awake to say goodbye to us.
"Yeah, but I say let her sleep. We're old enough to take care of ourselves." Tom added.
Just then my mom walked around the corner, yawning. "Good morning," she smiled.
"'Morning" we all said at once.
"Mom, what happened last night with Dad and Jacob? Is everything alright?" I have to know.
"Yeah, sure. Mark's a little ill, but your Dad and Carlisle went to see him, he's okay. He probably won't be in school for the next week or so though"
She yawned again. Carlisle is my sort of "Grandfather," but he's only a few years older than my dad and his brothers and sisters since they're all adopted. He's really more like an Uncle and he insists we call him "Carlisle" and not anything like "Grandpa."
"Is it contagious?" Annie asked.
"I don't know, but I wouldn't worry." I know my Mom and her tone was holding something back, but I didn't get the chance to argue.
"Let's roll," Tom stood up and headed for the door. We all followed and I went to school, ready to face another day.
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It was 10 days before I saw Mark Black at school again. He returned on a Thursday and when I saw him in the hallway as I passed his locker on the way to mine, he stared at me. This time, he didn't show any signs of anger. His face seemed more friendly than before, his usual expression of indignation softer somehow. Maybe being so sick helped to get rid of his demons. I laughed at that, but only on the inside. On the outside, I kept my expression cool and walked passed without a word. If he had never been mean to me, I would've asked him if he were okay, but I'm not going to let him treat me like that then show concern.
"Hi, Elena!" I perked up as I saw her waiting for me by my locker.
"Hey, Lily," She smiled back at me. "Did you see the signs posted around for the Homecoming dance next weekend? Do you plan on going?"
"Hmmm, I hadn't really given it much thought. I know Annie and Javier are going. My Dad threw a mini-fit and insisted he drive them." We both laughed at that. "I think my mom might talk him out of that before next weekend though. What about you, do you want to go?"
"Yeah, but no one has asked me. Sarah and Beth are going without dates, so I think I'll join them," Elena said.
"I will too! Do you want to go dress shopping this weekend? I could get Annie and Eve to go with us." I paused for a minute and waited for her to reply.
"You mean, you'll go alone?" Elena seemed surprised.
"Yeah, why not?"
"I thought maybe you would ask Nick or something."
"No, I told you, I don't think he's interested in me like that." Nick and I had studied together a couple of times, but that's about it.
"I wish I had the guts to ask him myself." Elena paused. "Would you be mad if I did?"
"NO! Why didn't you tell me you liked him?"
"Because I thought you liked him." She blushed a little.
"Well I do, but not like that. So are you going to ask?"
"No, I'm too much of a chicken," she smiled, then her face looked concerned and overly excited. "Lily, please don't say anything to him!"
"Pinky swear," we hooked our pinky fingers together and went to math class.
After eating lunch, I excused myself from the table a few minutes early so I could stop by the bathroom before World History Class. I walked through the cafeteria doors where a sign was posted for the Homecoming Dance. I walked through, still reading the sign and once again, I ran smack into Mark Black.
I grimaced and without apologizing, I moved to the side and kept walking. "Lily, wait," his voice pleaded softly. A shock ran through my body and an indescibable pain wracked through my chest. It wasn't a hurtful pain, but a sort of aching. Despite what my mind told me to do, I turned and looked at Mark in the eyes. The aching intensified. What the heck is going on with my body.
"What?" I seethed. I know I'm mad at him for something, but I can't rememeber what it is at this moment.
"How are you?" He was being nice to me. What brought on this change?
"Fine, now excuse me." I suddenly remembered why I was mad at him.
I pushed passed him and kept walking. He caught up with me effortlessly. "Will you please talk to me?" My stomach started doing little flips, but my temper had already been ignited a few seconds ago.
"Go fly a kite, Mark." This time as I walked away, I couldn't resist turning around to look after I was at the other end of the hallway. Mark stood there, motionless, staring at me again. I kept walking.
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"Thanks for all of your help with Spanish. It's only been a couple of weeks, but I know I got an A on that test because of you," Nick smiled gratefully as we walked out of class.
"No problem, we should keep studying together. You've helped me too," I replied.
"Do you have a minute to talk?" Nick sounded nervous.
"Sure, Nick, what's up?" I opened my locker and put the books I didn't need back in and filled my bookbag with the ones I will need tonight.
"It's about the Homecoming Dance next weekend." Oh shoot. What am I going to tell him? I can't go with him, not after what Elena told me this morning. Maybe I won't go at all, I could cancel my plans and chill at home that night while my friends all went and had fun. Shoot, shoot, shoot.
"Yeah?" My voice cracked slightly.
"This is awkward... Um, do you think Elena would go with me if I asked her?" He spit the last part out quickly and looked at me hopefully.
I began to laugh and breathed a sigh of relief, but he must've thought I was laughing for another reason, because his face fell and he said "Oh, nevermind."
"Nick, I'm laughing because I thought you were going to ask me and I was going to tell you no." I still laughed a little.
"Why's that funny? I'm not that bad, am I?" His face was a combination of frustration and embarrassment.
"Because Elena told me this morning that she wanted to ask you, but she was too chicken. She made me promise not to tell, but now, it's appropriate."
"Oh, well then, I'm going to ask her tonight then! Thanks Lily!" He gave me a cheerful hug and jogged away. I walked out to the parking lot and noticed Adam's car was gone. What the heck. Did he leave me here? I glanced around and saw Mark standing by his Dad's Passat, waving to me. I rolled my eyes and swore under my breath. I apporached the car, unwillingly.
"Hi, Lily, my Dad told Adam he'd give you a ride since we're headed to your house anyway." I guess his attitude change was going to stick around. I still don't like how he treated me before though. I glared at him and didn't say a word to him.
Instead, I said "Hi, Jacob!" I climbed in the back and rode the whole way home asking Jacob random questions and telling him about school. Thank God he's really easy to talk to. When we got to my house, I jumped out and ran inside, avoiding Mark. After saying hi to my parents, I ran up to my room and shut the door, turning on the stereo. Less than two minutes later, I heard a soft knock on my door.
"Who is it?" I called.
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