Author's Note: Well, this one took slightly longer to come out than expected! Between Christmas shopping and homework, I didn't really have much free time. Anyways hope this chapter meets your expectations(: Enjoy and MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone out there!
Chapter 5
Bella POV
--
In an interstellar burst,
I am back to save the universe,
In a deep deep sleep of the innocent,
I am born again
-Airbag, Radiohead
--
I spent a better part of the morning convincing Charlie that I wasn't doing anything illegal or rule breaking, which was partially true since I didn't exactly know what we were doing or going. He had finally only let up because he had to go to the police station.
Not that I didn't deserve it. But still. Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence Dad.
The rest of the morning was spent cleaning out my room which had become somewhat of a junk yard in my recent negligence due to work commitments. I was in the middle of dusting the underside of my bed when Claude let himself in.
"Darlin', as much as I enjoy the view, we should really go while the good weather lasts." Claude spoke to my ass.
I blindly kicked a leg in the direction of his voice. And in typical fashion, I ended up flat on my stomach with my leg not even close to touching him.
I brandished the duster in his face, shooing him out of my room while I changed, grinning the entire time he coughed violently at the other side of the door.
A blotched sandwich and split coffee later, we were off. Claude said that we were going somewhere nearby the First Beach area. I had no idea what could we possibly be doing there that was remotely interesting but Claude has never disappointed with his excursions before. He insisted that I would love this one and it would be a surprise.
Like I was really dying of the suspense.
The weather was surprisingly cooperatively sunny, drenching the trees in a warm orange, causing the ocean sparkle in a myriad of colours in a distance. We drove along the deserted coastline for some time, soaking up the rare sunlight. Finally, turning around a bend, the entire beach front came into view and it was breath taking.
The water was an inviting mass of glistening sapphires as waves crashed into the rocks and cliffs lining the coast one after another in a never ending cycle. A swim-able distance away, a small rocky island protruded out of the waters, almost seven stories high. From various heights, people were throwing themselves off the cliff and into the ocean. At first glance, I had thought that they were committing suicide.
I gave a little yelp of terror as someone contacted with the water with a huge splash.
"My god! Are you insane Claude! You brought me here to die?! I like a little action but I never said I wanted to COMMIT SUICIDE!" I half-screeched, half-squeaked.
Claude gave me a what-the-fuck-are-you-talking-about look before starting to giggle like a ditsy school girl.
He took a sufficiently long while to calm his sudden bout of madness, while I send him withering glares the entire time.
"Relax darlin', they are not killing themselves. This is entertainment! Cliff-diving, the locals call it. See, guy there is fine." He pointed at the spot where said person broke surface "BUT, you're half-right! This is the surprise! Ain't it exciting?!"
I gave him a doubtful glance while he rubbed his palms together in gleeful anticipation, looking like a kid who's Christmas had come early.
We quickly parked the scooter near the beach and dismounted.
The last time I had been to the beach was with Mike and the other kids from school. It was also the first time I heard about 'Cold Ones' from the La Push legends. The weather wasn't as favourable then. In a certain way, I felt like I've gone through a full circle. It was a strange yet accomplished feeling knowing that I have made it through everything so far.
--
We started off at the lowest ledge where mostly middle school kids were concentrated. Claude pushed past the entire queue eliciting protests and grumbling while he wore an amused grin. I embarrassedly followed after him, somehow managing to step on countless feet. My face was a beet red when I finally stumbled my way to the slight clearing aka 'launching pad'.
Claude gave me a patronizing little wave and bow to the crowd before hurling himself off the ledge.
I moved closer to the edge for a peek, only to see him land ungracefully in a bellyflop, creating a huge splash. Several people frantically swam away, trying to avoid him.
I giggled uncontrollably, clutching my sides. Until I realized that the building up queue of people were looking at me expectantly.
I gave the kid behind me what I thought was a replication of a friendly smile and motioned for him to go ahead for his turn first. He just crossed his arms and gave me an evil smirk. I resisted the insane urge to throttle him.
Shit!
I shakily moved towards the edge, took one look into the ocean below and shut my eyes tightly, slowly retreating.
Taking a deeep breath, I made a run for it.
4 meters
3 meters
2 meters
1.5 meters
"Ompfh!" momentary silence as my toe caught under a pebble and I braced myself for contact with the ground.
Only, it never came.
Cracking open an eyelid, I find myself sailing past the solid ground and into the air. Flaying my arms about like a mad chicken trying to fly, I tried hopelessly to keep myself up.
"ARGHHHHHH!"
Staring incredulously as the ocean surface got nearer and nearer, I put my hands over my head. I caught a glimpse of Claude not far off in the water before my head made impact with the surface and water rushed up my nose.
I was stunned for a second before quickly swimming towards the surface. Gasping, I gingerly swept clumps of wet hair from my eyes.
Boy, that was electrifying, scary but totally worth it. The adrenaline rush was incredible. I swam towards the shore, clearing the area for the next person. Retrieving a pair of shades from Claude's scooter, I collapsed on the sand, soaking up the sunshine.
"Ahh darlin'! You were superbly entertaining out there! You ain't chickening out on me already, are you!" Claude exclaimed chirpily.
"Glad to be of service, asshole."
"You wound me darlin'! But y'know vampire-girl, you should really put some sunscreen before you are fried." Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, he continued "I'm sure there many volunteers around willing to help you."
Vampire-girl. Claude really struck a cord there. If only he knew I was this close to becoming one for real. I reminded myself that I am a changed person now and new Bella refuses to let the past catch up with her. Burying my feeling deep under a carpet of indifference, I give Claude the middle finger and continued lying lazily on the beach.
--
After lunch, Claude and I proceeded to try out the higher ledges. Even though the initial fear of heights had lessened, the feel of air rushing past one's face and hitting the water still maintained its exhilaration.
We tried jumping off in different positions and synchronizing our jumps for the fun of it. The local Quileutes laughed at us every time we landed ungracefully in the water and we laughed along with them.
By the late afternoon, storm clouds were starting to pull in and the weather was back in usual business. The water was becoming choppy and some people were starting to leave.
Claude insisted that we leave as well but I wanted to have a go on the highest ledge first and he obliged. By the time we reached the peak, only a few older teens were left.
This ledge was almost twice the height of the previous one, and coupled with the increasingly turbulent waters, it was an intimidating sight. Claude went first without hesitation.
"To infinity and beyond!"
And wham, he disappeared down the rabbit hole.
Once he safely emerged from the water, I readied myself for the jump, toes barely an inch away from the precarious edge. A slight drizzle was beginning to beat down on my shoulders but I couldn't bring myself to hurry. I wanted to savor every moment of this.
I looked around, enjoying the scenery from the peak; the smell of the crisp air, the dark clouds converging with the almost-black ocean in the distance, the magnificence of the surrounding cliffs. A slight dark spot marring the cliff adjacent to the 'island' caught my attention, causing me to shift my gaze.
It was a sleek black truck that though not overtly flashy, was still obviously not the usual small town fare that one is accustomed to seeing.
There was something strangely familiar to it that I couldn't quite put a finger to.
A heavily tinted window slowly rowed down as if answering my question and I immediately caught sight of a messy mob of blonde hair and gleaming ochre eyes, looking straight at me.
Shocks coursed through my entire being, causing me to tingle with a numbing sensation.
It didn't take a genius to figure of who it was.
It was almost exactly like a repeat of that night so many months ago, when he had come to say goodbye, to seek forgiveness.
I stared at him and he stared back, neither able to break the eye contact, nor affected by the distance or environment. My façade appeared to be calm. Yet inside, I was in emotional turmoil.
Is he real? Have I gone insane? Why had he come back? What did he want? Am I strong enough to face him? Is the entire family here with him?
Thoughts, assumptions, different scenarios were fleeting pass my brain at breakneck speed, rendering me unable to even process them before another idea would occur. Uncertainty and fear was beginning to leak out of my very pores.
Nonetheless, I didn't break eye contact, afraid that he would vanish should I even blink for a second.
Bright spots were starting to flicker in my vision, causing me to sway slightly on my feet. A few loose pebbles tumbled off the side of the ledge and he looked slightly concerned.
A strange worry sneaked through me and I threw any reminding doubt of his identity out of the window.
The bright spots were by then clouding my entire vision and I blindly groped around for support.
I could hear waves beating furiously against the sides of the cliffs while Claude was shouting noiselessly at the distant shore, arms waving frantically, trying to catch my attention.
My eyes instinctively seeked him out once again. He had exited from the truck in one fluid motion and was crouching tensely at the edge of the cliff.
Everything had started revolving at an alarming speed and looking downwards, I was sure that this was the end. Closing my eyes, I felt my face twist into a smile/grimace.
Then, I was falling.
Falling
Falling
As the wind whipped across my face, the caress of air resistance against by body, I stretched my hands out.
After what felt like hours, I suddenly felt a pair of icy arms snatched me midair, clasping tightly around my waist, entire body length spooning against my back.
With much effort, I tore open a heavy eyelid.
The same pair of yellow orbs was staring intently at my face, disregarding the fact that we were rapidly falling into a black abyss underneath.
The very essence of time itself seemed to slow down as I looked at him.
I blacked out with ochre burnt at the back of my eyelids.
A/N: Annnndd things are beginning to heat up! Please, do drop a review!
