Okay so I've had a busy week, or two I guess. But before you look up more ways to kill me here's the story:
________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 7
Legends
On Wednesday of the next week Jonathan and Andrew were talking excitedly at lunch. They said that the weather was supposed to be clear and warm all weekend. The beach trip they were all so keen on having was finally possible. They all asked if I would join them and I agreed. We planned to meet on Saturday at nine at the old sporting goods store, Newton's, right outside of town.
The week went by fairly quickly. Sophia reentered her state of ignoring me and I played right along. I woke up on Saturday to a strange, golden light glittering through my curtain. I stood up and pulled the curtain back. The sun was actually out. I got ready quickly, throwing on some jeans and a t-shirt. I pulled my tennis shoes on and hurried down the stairs. The weather was making me feel more at home. I scribbled my mom a note about where I was and reminded her what my cell number was incase she needed me.
I was in the Volvo driving, very slowly, to Newton's. I got there and saw Jennifer and Madison sitting in this huge white van. Andrew and Jonathan were looking at a map of some kind. I saw a couple other kids from school who I knew in passing. I cut the Volvo's engine and hopped out. I walked over to Jennifer and Madison. They both gave me the cold shoulder and pretended to be in a huge discussion about which wax was better for your surfboard. I turned away from them and went up to the guys. Jonathan looked up from the map and waved at me. Andrew turned, looked at me and scowled. Jonathan shrugged at the bewildered expression on my face. I looked over Jonathan's shoulder at the map. They were arguing about the route to get to First Beach, which trip was faster. I had no idea, so I just waited for one to give in and take the other's route.
Twenty minutes later the boys compromised. They decided to take one way down and one way back. Going the same speed both ways, we would find out which route was faster. We got into the van and got onto the 111 to where it merged into the 110, eventually becoming La Push Road. We drove in silence as the forest passed us, the green trees becoming houses and cars and stores as we got farther into the reservation. We got to the beach in thirty minutes. We hopped out right as the clouds started to roll in. Everyone groaned, but Andrew was determined to make this the beach trip. We played a million different beach games and passed the day away. The clouds drifted above us, never giving us any trouble.
It was about nine-thirty when we finally got the fire started. We were sitting around the fire, like in those corny camp out movies, when they showed up. It was a group of kids from the reservation. There were six of them, three girls and three guys, each with russet skin, black hair, and black eyes that reminded me of someone, but I couldn't place who. They greeted the other kids like old friends. I felt left out, but they greeted me with the same enthusiasm. I caught names here and there, but one girl stood out to me.
"Wait, Will? As in William Cooper?", she had questioned. I nodded tentatively. I didn't know how this girl knew me. She laughed and said, "I'm Layla White. Ours mom's grew up together. My mom hasn't shut up about her coming back since they ran into each other down at Second Beach the other day." I nodded, remembering my mom mentioning something about running into an old friend. She smiled at me and I marveled at how much it altered her facial features. She was nowhere near as beautiful as Sophia, but she was pretty. She kinda had that rugged, Pocahontas look. I motioned to the piece of driftwood next to me and said, "Do you wanna sit down?" She nodded and plopped down next to me. We chatted and joked back and forth for a few minutes. I found out that she was fifteen and was a Freshman at the school on the rez. She loved cars and wished that her mom would let her buy this 2037 BMW that she could rebuild. Her mom thought it was to boyish.
I looked up when I heard my name across the fire. Andrew, Jonathan and some of the La Push guys were looking at me.
"What?" I questioned. Andrew shook his head but Madison spit out, "They were talking about how you should have invited your girlfriend." She spat out the last word like it was some vile tasting medicine. I felt Layla tense at my side and I stared at them all incredulously.
"Who?" I asked, not sure I wanted to know the answer. "Sophia, who else?" Jennifer spit out. I tried not to let the thrill run through my body as she said her name but it was impossible.
I shook my head and said, "Cullen and I aren't dating." Yet, I added mentally, though probably never would be, judging by her reaction on last week. That had been the last contact we had, and things had gone back to an excruciatingly painful nothing.
Layla relaxed by my side. One of the La Push guys across the circle called out, "Good thing, too!" I looked his way and another guy shouted back, "Yea! The Cullen's are freaks." Another taller boy looked at me and said, "The Cullen's aren't allowed on Quileute land." I looked at Layla and she rolled her eyes. "Stupid legends." I heard her mutter under her breath.
Curious, I stood up and stretched. "Do you wanna go for a walk?" I asked her. She smiled at me, and stood, the fire dancing on her hair and teeth. I started walking towards the beach, ignoring the whistles and catcalls that were coming from the kids around the fire. I started to blush, but Layla brushed it off, laughing.
We walked down the beach for a few minutes in a comfortable silence. I jumped in on her a few minutes down the beach, when the kids talking was just a rumble in the background. "So what did your friends mean about the Cullen's being freaks and that they can't come here."
She exhaled icily and said, "You caught that? Well it's just the stupid old stories that the elders tell about the 'old days.'" I could hear the sarcasm in her voice; the quotes were almost visible around her last two words. I laughed and tried to step up my cool game.
"Well tell me." She looked me in the eyes and stopped for a second. She hesitated and then said, "Fine, but try not to get too scared." I rolled my eyes and kept walking.
"Well did you know that Quileute's are supposed to be descended from wolves? Like real wolves. I don't know, that's just the legends of our tribe. And apparently when there's a strong enough threat against the people of the tribe they can turn into wolves, well the men can. Well there's supposed to be an... enemy clan, I guess. Like a force against the Quileute boys, or something. The Cold Ones, they were called. The 'pack' found them hunting on the rez and tried to get rid of them, but they claimed to be different from what the legends said, so the elders and their leader worked out a treaty. It stated that they would stay off of the reservation and the Quileute's wouldn't expose them to the 'Pale Faces.'"
I shook my head still confused, " What does that have to do-"
"I wasn't finished" she quickly said. "About eighty years ago some Cold Ones came back. The elders of the tribe claimed that they were the same ones to have made the treaty. The only problem was there were more than there were before. That was when the freaky stuff started to happen. Apparently the legends are true and the Quileute males really can turn into wolves, when the threats presents itself. Well the pack grew and grew for defense against the Cold Ones. Only there was no need because they were still the good ones from before. When a human fell in love with one of them it became tricky. They couldn't attack them, for they had done nothing but it was a danger for the girl. When they left, leaving the girl behind, it killed her mentally. Well one of the La Push boys became her rock and he told her about the werewolves and they became best friends. The guy wanted something more but the girl was still grieving over her lost love. When they all came back, it caused great tension, the fact that an army of their kind was coming for the girl didn't help. When she chose the Cold One over the La Push boy it tore him to shreds, because she basically chose a fate worse than death in his book. He later did some freaky wolf magic on the Cold One and the girl he was in love with's child. Oh and on top of all that, the first time in all of history a girl became a werewolf." She kinda trailed off and rolled her eyes. "Now they're back and the scary thing is there is one more. It's a freaky legend, and basically a load of crap."
I was still so confused. "Wait so the Cold One's are supposedly the Cullen's?" She nodded and I continued, "So they are the Cold Ones in all of your legends? So how many were there to begin with? And how many were there when they came back the first time? Why are their numbers growing? And why-"
She cut me off then, "Whoa! Slow your roll, turbo!" She laughed, probably at some inside joke that I didn't get. "It's only a story. The Cullen's just don't come onto Quileute land and since that is such a big offense (A/N: so sorry! but she's being very sarcastic.) the kids put them into the legends. Come on, it's just a story." She turned around and started walking back to the campfire, that I could see was slowly dying. We got back just as the guys were dousing the fire and the girls were standing, finishing their conversations. We said goodbye to the La Push kids, me telling Layla that the next time my mom visited I would come down with her. We walked backed to the cars at a slow pace, not wanting the day to end. My mind was whirring with the legends that Layla had just put into my head.
We got to the store where we had left our cars around eleven thirty. I was so tired that I could barely keep my eyes open, but I knew I would have to be able to drive home. I got into the Volvo and the engines hum was not helping me stay awake. I got home without crashing my car and made it up the stairs without tripping. I knew mom was already asleep in her room so I didn't have to worry about running into any mom interrogations. I slipped my jeans and jacket off and fell into bed letting the dreams come eagerly tonight.
I was back in the meadow. It was sunny and smelled like rain. I looked and saw Layla standing across the green haven. She waved and I started to walk towards her. Her smile faltered and she was staring at something behind me with a worried expression on her face. It turned as she screamed, "Will look out!" I turned slowly and saw Sophia stalking towards me. She smiled and I saw her white teeth were stained red.
I felt that magnetic pull to her and stepped in her direction. As soon as I moved Layla was standing in front of me, trying to protect me from the amazing creature beckoning for me. Sophia and Layla looked at each other and both let out menacing growls. I felt a pull in the bottom of my stomach to protect and guard Sophia, like Layla was to me.
Layla lunged at Sophia, turning into a wolf midair. I tried to scream, to stop her but I was frozen. I could only watch as Layla hit Sophia and- I woke up.
The sun was streaming in the window and my clock said that it was 7:45. Knowing I was to hyped up to go back to sleep. I got up and half walked half staggered to my computer and booted it up. I clicked on the internet browser button and typed "Quileute legends" into the search bar. I battled with my mind for a while, trying to decide if I really wanted to know or not. My curiosity won over and I clicked "send". I waited for the websites to pop up. I clicked the first link called "Quileute Legends". It was some website a kid on the rez had made for a final in some class. I went back and clicked on a website called "Quileute Legends-The Cold One". I read through the site. It told me what Layla had hit and missed last night.
It said that the Cold One was a vicious blood drinking creature. It was supposed to have pale white and freezing skin. My mind flickered to the Cullen's pale white skin and Sophia's cold touch. The Cold One's were also rumored to be indestructible. They were supposedly rock hard. My mind whirred with images of Sophia stopping the SUV with her hand, arm, and shoulder. Reading on, it said that along with their indestructibility, when becoming a Cold One, you froze at the age you were. And since nothing was strong enough to kill them and since they couldn't get sick, they were immortal.
I shook my head, squeezed my eyes, and read that again, thinking, hoping that I was wrong. No. It still said immortal.
The dangerous thoughts that had been dying to form, finally took place, and I remembered Sophia's odd way of talking... remembered thinking that she sounded like she belonged in a much earlier time. But it couldn't be because she was... a ... vampire, could it? I mentally spit the word out, causing chills to run down my back.
I shook my head and refused to let the thoughts plant themselves anymore. But they were like poison ivy- I had already scratched at the itch and now it would not go away until I knew the truth. I clicked on the last promising looking link. It was an old site very old. The graphics looked like they had to be early 2000's. I was surprised my computer could even load the site. I read through carefully and it stated with the same reverence the information the last site had just given me. I shook my head and powered down my computer.
I walked in a daze to my window. I stared out at the mountains, still in a dream like state.
The seeds had been planted in my mind. I le the images swirl around in my head. Sophia and her families pale skin... Sophia's cool touch when our hands bumped in Biology... Sophia stopping and crushing that SUV. The one thing I couldn't wrap my mind around was the immortality. If it was true... if everything was true... how old could that make Sophia? How old could her family be? And how did Jacob Black fit into the picture. He was the only one of the family that didn't have the pale skin or golden to black eyes. He didn't match Dr. Cullen and I guessed he didn't match the doctor's wife either. I let my thoughts drift to him and I realized why the La Push kids had looked so familiar.
It was because they looked exactly like Jacob.
There was nothing about him that didn't radiate La Push. But why would he be included in the Cullen's family when he was so obviously a Quil- he was the guy from the legend. He was the La Push guy who was in love with the girl who was in love with the vampire. And then when she chose the vampire over him it killed him... but then he did that "freaky wolf magic" on their daughter? Wait no that couldn't work out. He was with Renesmee and her parents were Dr. Cullen and his wife... but Renesmee did look like how it would look if you combined Bella and Edward. Like exactly. She had Bella's curls and Edward's hair color. She was Bella's height exactly but she held herself just like Edward. And she always seemed to be right by their side like a devoted daughter to her loving parents... but no. That would make Bella the girl from the story and Edward the... other guy. But there was no way that Jacob could have ever thought that Bella would choose him. I mean just look at the way that she looks at Edward and he Edward looks at her. And more than that- look at the way that Jacob looks at Renesmee. There was no questioning the absolute devotion in his eyes. It was like there was never, and will never be anyone else on the planet that could hold an ounce of attraction that Renesmee holds for him...
I couldn't let those thoughts take anymore shape in my head than they already had. It was crazy and I knew it. But it would give me a good explanation no matter how crazy... No! No more of these thoughts.
Tomorrow at school I would talk to Sophia and see what was really going on. She would give me a straight answer and stop with the ignoring me crap that was really starting to hack me off.
I showed up at school early. Really early. The sun had come shining through my window way to early. But I had embraced it. It had been the first time since I'd left Texas that it had been this sunny. I had even got away with wearing a short sleeved t-shirt. I still had my jacket in my car in case it got to cold. I sat on the hood of my car pretending to soak in as much Vitamin D as possible, when I was really just trying to find the Cullen's as soon as they pulled up.
I waited and watched, earning a good sunburn in the time. I never saw the shiny Mercedes or the Red BMW pull in though. I was almost ready to give up when I heard a motorcycle engine rev from down the street. I watched two glossy Harley Davidson motorcycles come spinning into the lot. One was orange and one was black. The girl on the orange bike parked the bike with perfect precision and hopped off. The guy on the black bike spun around the orange bike and then parked. They were both wearing dark helmets, worn leather jackets, both fitted, and dark jeans. I watched as Jacob and Renesmee pulled their helmets off at the same time. Jacob ran a hand through his hair and Renesmee shook hers out like she was a model for some magazine. She probably was. There was a subtle luminosity about her skin today, like she had put on makeup that had a glitter base in it. It was strange, but not unusual. I remembered a few years back when my mom had bought some stuff like that and she sparkled for weeks, even after she stopped using it.
I saw them stow their helmets inside of the bike seats and walk inside as people swarmed around the bikes. I had to admit, they were phenomenal. Nothing less than the best for the Cullen's I guess. I ignored the bikes and walked inside my mind drifting to where the other members of the family were.
The day went by in a blurry haze. I hardly noticed when the teacher had dismissed us for lunch. Andrew had woken me from my thoughts with a smack across the back of the head as he walked by. I jumped and realized that the class had cleared out except for Andrew who was leaning against the door, with an amused expression on his face.
"Coming? I mean I know that you hardly eat anyways but lunch is a good time for social interaction." He grinned at me as I shoved passed him. I knew something was up with him waiting behind - he normally would be chasing Madison down and claming the seat next to her before anyone else could.
"Andrew, what do you want?" Recognition flashed across his face as I saw through his facade.
"Okay, well the thing is Madison asked me to the spring dance, and I know she asked you before and I was wondering if it was okay if I said yes or if you just said no because you had something to do." His words had gotten harsher and meaner as he had finished.
I shook my head and said, "Yes. Yes you should say yes. I don't really think about Madison in that way, and for the record I don't think about Jennifer in that way either..." I let it trail off and he nodded, smiling. We had reached the lunchroom and I saw Jacob and Renesmee sitting at their usual table. It seemed empty without their family there to fill up the seats. It reminded me of what I had been dying to ask someone.
"Hey, Andrew?" I tried to sound as casual as possible but I couldn't help my heart going into overdrive when I started to think about her. "Is it usual for the Cullen's to miss school?"
He nodded and said, "When it's sunny the Dr. and Mrs. Cullen pull the kids out for hiking and camping and stuff."
"Then why are Renesmee and Jacob here?" I was confused. If I had the option of ditching school for camping and hiking, I know I would jump at the chance.
Andrew shrugged and said, "No idea. Sometimes they show, sometimes they don't. I'm guessing Renesmee has a test or something, cause she never misses anything important. Jacob could care less but... well you've seen the way he looks at her." I nodded in agreement. There was no way Jacob would leave Renesmee behind, anyone could see that.
Lunch passed in a daze. I refused to let my eyes wander over to the table in the corner, knowing that the one I wanted to see was not there. I rejoined the conversation just as I heard Jonathan saying, "Will? Are you with us? Dude, did you hear anything that I said in the last five minutes?" I shook my head and said, "Sorry, no. What?"
Andrew laughed and said, "We need to go to Port Angeles in the next week or else we won't have anything to wear to the dance. Do you wanna join us? I mean it's gonna be in and out of the department store, but the restaurants there are really good."
I nodded enthusiastically, letting the words bubble up, "Yes! I've been dying to get out of Forks."
They both laughed and Jonathan said, "Alright then, can we go tonight? I can't go any other time this week."
Andrew nodded and said, "That's cool. I'm not gonna have any homework tonight. Will, you in?" I was most definitely in. I would just call my mom and let her know.
The rest of the day passed without distraction. With the empty space next to me in Biology, I was able to get the assignment done and have time to spare. When the bell rang I went to gym, almost willingly, just ready to finish the day. I got through gym without hospitalizing anyone. I raced to meet the guys, with a serious case of road rage, that could only be satisfied with seeing the Forks sign disappear behind me. I dropped my car off at home and hopped into the back of Andrew's Ford and grew more and more expectant as we left Forks behind us.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Okay so I really liked it. I rewrote and rewrote and rewrote his interaction with Layla and I tried to combine Jacob's dialogue from the book and the movie and obviously I put my own spin on the newest part of the legends. But I thought it was good. My sisters liked it, but what do they know? So review please!
Meriie: Did I fix the dialogue enough? I hadn't even realized that I was doing that! Thanks for pointing that out. It would have drove me crazy too!
Oh and if you have a chance look up what Layla means. I was actually gonna use Jaclyn (which means the same thing as Jacob) but I thought I would throw some (hidden) oxymoron's in there for you. Also look up what William and Sophia mean. William has multiple meanings, try and figure out which one I was basing him off of.
Okay, I'm done ranting! Review please!!
*Madylynn*
