Chapter 7: Trouble
The day went by excruciatingly slow. At lunch I looked over at the Cullens' table, where Alice grinned widely at me as she caught my eye, Jasper was smiling at her, Emmett was grinning-a playful expression on his face, and Edward and Rosalie were scowling. Idly, I wondered if they all knew that I knew about them. Judging from Edward and Rosalie's expressions, I could guess that they did.
When Bella saw Edward, she looked really surprised. I heard her murmur, "I'll just have a soda" from behind me. We sat down at our regular table, and Jessica started giggling wildly. "Edward Cullen is staring at you."
Bella and I both looked up immediately. He was staring at her; I breathed a sigh of relief. Bella looked down immediately. "Does he look mad?"
I laughed nervously, did Bella know too? Did she also know the secret of the Cullens? Did that mean she knew the wolves' secret as well? "No, why would he be mad?"
"No reason," she said quietly.
I glanced at Edward again; there was a small smile on his face. I rolled my eyes at him, and then my phone vibrated in my pocket and when I checked my caller I.D., I couldn't hide my idiotic grin. I got up and went out of the cafeteria, and rushed out to the hallway.
"Hello?" I asked, smiling into the phone.
"Hey," came Paul's husky voice. "How are you?"
"I'm good," I said, then took a deep breath. "I know why you can't come here, now."
There was absolute silence on the other end.
"How did you figure it out?" he asked quietly.
"It's hard to explain," I said, looking around at the crowded hallway.
"Try," he said. "Mel, this is serious."
"I know it is," I hissed. "But, it's just, I can't explain here, in the middle of the school hallway."
"Sam is going to be so angry," he said.
"Why?" I demanded. "What does it matter what I know? Does he think I can't keep a secret?"
"He just knows the consequences. He's scared for Emily knowing, and now I'm scared for you knowing," he said. "Who knows what they could do to you?"
I sighed. "I'll be okay."
"Be careful, Mel," he said. "I worry about you."
"Bye Paul," I said, hanging up. I groaned, and leaned against the wall. I know that I should feel good that Paul was worried about me, but it's not like the Cullens would do anything to harm me…would they?
"Are you okay?" asked a female voice from beside me. I turned to see Bella looking worriedly at me.
I smiled at her. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" she asked. "I could walk with you to the nurse or something."
"No," I reassured her with a smile. "I'm fine."
"You've been really nice to me since I came here," she said, biting her lip.
I laughed. "Everyone has."
"No," she smiled. "Some people are overly nice, it's like they're trying too hard to be nice, because I'm new. You're legitimately being nice to me, I can tell."
I smiled. "I don't really enjoy picking on new students, or making them think I'm being fake when I'm legitimately being nice to them."
"Thank you."
"No problem," I said. "Oh, and if Jessica ever says anything to you that upsets you, don't let it get to you."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," she said. "The girls' washroom is that way, right?"
"Right," I said.
"See you around, Mel."
"Bye, Bella."
Bella walked away to the girls' washroom, and I slid down the wall, sitting on the floor. What was I going to do about Sam? I knew Paul wouldn't have a choice in telling him, and even if Paul didn't tell him, Sam would find out. Well, if I just stayed in Forks, Sam would never be able to get to me. But, I knew there were problems with that.
First: work. I worked in La Push. I wasn't just going to quit because of Sam. Second, Paul. How could I hide out in Forks, when Paul wasn't allowed to come here? Third, Sam would probably still come over the border, rules or no rules. I decided to go out to my car. I figured hiding in there and listening to music would do my brain some good. I leaned back against the seat, smiling to myself as one of my favourite songs came on the radio. There was a small knock on my window; Alice was knocking on the passenger side window, grinning at me. I unlocked the door for her, and she hopped in.
"Nice car," she said.
"Thanks," I said.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine," I smiled.
"No, you aren't," she pointed out. "Something's bothering you, or you wouldn't be out here in your car."
"You read me well," I said. "Well…I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"My boyfriend's pack alpha," I said quietly. "He knows that I know about you guys now, and he thinks I can't keep the secret."
Alice rolled her eyes. "Sam Uley, right?" I nodded. "He's been that way since he started phasing."
"Oh."
"Want to go shopping?" she asked, grinning.
"Now?"
"Why not?" she asked.
"Well…school."
"I think we both know that you aren't planning on going back in anytime soon, and I can miss a class once in a while."
"I have to be at work by four," I said.
"And you'll make it in time," she promised. "Now, let's switch seats. I'm going to drive." We switched seats, and Alice sped to Port Angeles.
"Oh!" I exclaimed going through my wallet. "I don't have any money! Can we go back to my place?"
Alice grinned. "I saw that coming."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.
"Because I'm paying for everything you buy."
"No, you can't do that," I objected.
"Yes I can," she said. "And I will."
"What if I don't pick out anything?" I asked smugly.
"I'll just pick out a bunch of stuff for you, and I'll make you try it on," she said. "Oh, and if you tell me nothing fits, I will force you into the clothes in the fitting room." I could tell she was completely serious. There was no way I'd win this one. Alice pulled into the parking lot of a small mall in Port Angeles. Okay, I have to admit it. I had fun shopping with Alice. People were staring at us-well, mostly Alice-through the whole mall, but Alice ignored them. I still didn't like that she paid for everything, seeing as I had just met her, but she picked out amazing clothes for me, that fit perfectly.
I eyed the amount of bags she was stuffing into my trunk.
"Didn't you buy anything for yourself?" I asked.
"Yep, I just put them on hold. I knew there wouldn't be enough room for both of our purchases," she said with a grin. "Where do you work?"
"In a grocery store in La Push."
She pursed her lips. "I can't drive you all the way, then. I'll drive you to the border, but then I have to get out."
"Couldn't you just drive to your place, and then I could drive all the way to La Push?"
She eyed the clock. "We wouldn't make it."
I stared at the clock. I could not believe the time. I rubbed at my eyes; I couldn't be reading it right.
"Fifteen minutes?!" I screeched.
"We'll make it," she tried to soothe.
"No we won't, Alice!" I exclaimed.
"With my driving, we'll make it," she said, and then floored it to La Push.
I gripped the dash board the whole way there. I had a feeling she wouldn't crash the car, but I was still scared for my life. When she whizzed past the "Welcome to La Push" sign, she swore quietly.
"What?" I asked.
"I drove over the border," she said.
"Pull over," I said. "I don't want you to get in trouble."
"We don't have time," she said, glancing at the clock that showed I only had five minutes to get to work. "I'll just be really careful, and if they catch me…well, we just won't talk about that."
"What could happen to you?" I asked quietly.
"They might want to start a war," she said.
"But, you were helping me-an imprint," I pointed out. "Couldn't that make a difference?"
"It might," she said, biting her lip.
"I'll see if they're in the grocery store," I said. "They hang out there sometimes. What's your cell number? I'll text you if they're there."
She gave me her number, as she pulled into my parking space.
"Thank you, Alice," I said, smiling at her as she handed me my car keys, and I got out.
"Don't mention it," she said with a wink.
I rushed into work, sending a quick hello at Johnny as I flew past him. I ninja'd my way through the store, trying to find my wolf. I was sneaking around the refrigerated section when I saw them in produce, laughing at each other. I sent a text to Alice: They're here, you should go.
The reply came automatically: Thank you.
I smiled. My job was done. Well, not in the literal sense, of course. I grabbed a broom, and started sweeping the floors, looking around for Paul. Well, I was mostly looking for Sam, since I was scared of how he would act when he saw me. I avoided them as well as I could, and tried to side-step going to my register.
I had a feeling they would probably be able to sniff me out, but I didn't care very much. So far, they hadn't approached me, and I was hiding in the women's washroom, feigning cleaning toilets. I had a feeling the boys were still in the store, probably waiting around for me so Sam could talk to me. I was really trying to avoid that.
Hmm…I wondered if I just drove over the border, could he really do anything? I could call Alice and ask her to meet me there, bringing Edward or Jasper, of course. That way he would have no choice but to stay on his side.
A wicked grin spread across my face…but then I remembered I had to make it across the border. Surely, he would stop me before that happened. Would he? I mean, if there was a chance of me getting hurt, would Paul let him try and stop me? I hopped up on the sink counter in the bathroom, holding a toilet brush and some cleaner, just so if anyone came in they'd think I was actually working.
I couldn't help but think of ways I could avoid Sam. I didn't want to face him just yet. Then I thought my fears were stupid. Really, what could Sam do? What would Paul let Sam do?
But I knew Paul couldn't disobey his alpha…could he?
Would he disobey Sam for me? I doubted it. I sighed and checked my watch. I guessed I had pretended cleaning toilets long enough. I snuck out the washroom, and snuck over to the produce section. I glanced around, and turned around.
Right into Johnny.
"What have you been doing your whole shift?" he asked, scowling.
"I've been cleaning," I said. "Johnny, this place is totally gross."
"But you're a cashier," he pointed out.
"But this grocery store hasn't been cleaned in god knows how long," I shot back. Johnny and I got along well. He wouldn't fire me for talking back to him. "Look, you don't have to pay me extra, and you don't even have to pay me as much as you normally would." I glanced over his shoulder, to see Paul, Jared and Sam turning a corner towards us. "Crap!" I squeaked, missing what Johnny was saying.
"What's wrong?" he asked, looking over his shoulder. "Are they giving you trouble?"
"No, I said. I just, I need to, um…" I trailed off, looking around.
"Mel, are those guys trouble?"
I had to think about what to say. "No," I said carefully. "It's hard to explain, but don't kick them out of here. They haven't done anything wrong, okay?"
He pursed his lips. "Fine. But if they give you any trouble, let me know."
"Thanks, Johnny," I said, relieved. I practically bolted from where Johnny was standing to the pet section. I hoped this was the last place they'd look. I couldn't wait until my shift was over.
When my shift finally was over, I ninja'd my way to my car.
I couldn't help but burst out in laughter when I had made it to my car. I had spent my whole shift avoiding three werewolves, and I still got paid for it. I pulled out of my parking spot, and started driving back to Forks. I kept looking around, making sure there was no one walking down the street, shirtless.
That would be a dead giveaway that I was being followed. I kept checking my review mirror, making sure there was no one. When I sailed across where I thought the border was, I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. When I walked in the door of my house, my dad was already asleep. I grabbed a snack, and went up to my room. My phone vibrated in my pocket; I didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Melanie," Sam's gruff voice came from the other end of the line.
"Hi," I said, biting my lip, wishing I hadn't picked up and that I could just hang up on him.
"I know you were avoiding us today," he said.
"Why would you think that?" I asked nervously.
"Because anytime you saw us, you'd run the other way," he said.
Crap! "You were at the store tonight?" I asked, deciding on playing dumb. There was nothing wrong with that, right? "Was Paul with you?"
"Yes. He was," Sam said, obviously getting annoyed. I grinned wickedly, feeling powerful at pissing off Sam. "He was hurt when you'd run away."
Ouch. That sent a pang through my heart. "I'm sorry; I didn't realize you guys were there. Joh-my boss had me cleaning the whole place."
"I hear you know something," he said in a business-like tone. Here it comes…
"Yeah, and?" I asked, feeling brave.
"You never know when they might do something to you, to try and learn secrets from the pack," he said.
I rolled my eyes. "And how do I know you won't do the same thing to me?"
"You're an imprint," he said. "If we did anything that might even have the slightest chance of hurting you, Paul would flip."
"And if any of the Cullens tried to do anything to me, you could just come over the border and rescue me, right?" I countered. So there, Sam! He didn't say anything so I continued. "Look, they won't hurt me, and you can't hurt me. So can you just let me sleep, now?"
"Fine," he said. I could tell he wasn't happy. And to tell you the truth, I really didn't care.
