Chapter Seven: Food Fight
Bella's POV
I looked around at the five pissed off, annoyed, bored faces of the Cullen's while I was eating dinner. Edward watched me intently to the point where I blushed and had to advert my gaze back to the food on my plate; if you could even call it food. I sat at the fold up table prodding the so called 'lasagna', which to me looked like a pile of goop.
Ever since receiving the dreaded news of me and the five vampires sitting with me were being put on kitchen duty, Rosalie had instantly gone into a sour mood, pissed off with the entire world. Alice on that note was not far behind. But Alice being Alice couldn't stay mad for long, especially when Jasper pointed out that he was going to be washing up too. She couldn't deny that she was happy he was going to be with her. Emmett had tried to cheer-up Rosalie but only ended up with an apple been thrown to the head from which Rosalie had pinched from the fruit basket to keep up appearances.
So now, the six of us were squishing around a tiny – well it looked tiny when three vampire guys were seated at it – table, I was the only one eating and the entire time we had been dreading for the moment everyone finished dinner.
I looked around the table glancing at everyone. To my left, Jasper and Alice were holding hands under the table and he was whispering into her ear while she leaned against his shoulder, Jasper's strong arm wrapped around her shoulders. Edward was sitting on the other side of the table staring, not really at anything, sometimes me, sometimes outside at the forest. Maybe he was listening to the jumble of thoughts from the many teenagers that were seated in the same dining room, or maybe the teachers, trying to find out what they had in store for us? I didn't know. Emmett was playing absent-mindedly with the end of Rosalie's gorgeous, thick, curly blond hair which at the moment, hung out loose, cascading down her back in waves of gold. Although she obviously enjoyed Emmett touching her hair – who was the only one who she would allow too – she was pissed off. Even an idiot could see that.
The doors of the dining room burst open suddenly and Jared, Paul, Quil, Embry, Collin, Brady, Seth, Leah and Jacob came walking in, droplets of water hanging to their hair. Heads held high, they walked past the many tables of teenagers, who like me, had stopped eating to watch their entrance. Girls constantly tried flirting with the boys and even some thick-headed guys tried the same with Leah, which always ended badly.
They seemed to walk in slow motion, like the actors did in movies. Jacob of course, was in the lead, Leah and Seth at his flanks and Quil, Embry, Jared, Paul, Brady and Collin followed behind. The guys were only wearing either cut off jeans or the full length ones, in faded or dark colours that complimented their dark skin and in the eye of every girl watching them like hawks, made them so much hotter. Their muscles seemed even bigger now they were only wearing jeans, not that it wasn't something they didn't do often. Paul grinned sexily at the 'hot girls' who giggled and whispered some even smiling back. Leah was wearing long jeans that hugged her hips and a white tank top. They all looked incredibly strong, sexy, powerful and maybe even dangerous. Jacob saw me staring at him dumfounded and grinned stupidly, walking towards our table, the pack following him obediently. They looked like they were walking in the way singers did in music videos and I swear I even saw Leah add more sway to her hips, as if to say 'Yeah, I'm totally hot. You so want this, but you ain't gettin' any.'
Jacob pulled out a chair from the empty table beside us, and sat on it backwards so he was facing me. Leah took a seat at the top of the table and the other werewolves sat down in the remaining seats, all of them wrinkling their noses in disgust as the potent smell of vampire washed over them. The Cullen's did the same, Rosalie even shifted her seat further away and towards Emmett until she finally just gave up, stood up and went and sat on Emmett's lap, much to his joy.
"Hey Bells. What's sup'?" Jacob asked, shaking his head to get rid of the small amount of water that had stuck to his hair, which was now sticking up in various directions.
"Nothing much, just waiting to start washing up so we can get it over and done with." I said, digging around in my dinner with my fork.
"Ha! That's right; you and the bloodsuckers are on kitchen duty. Have fun." He laughed.
Rosalie growled.
"Cheer up Barbie. Just watch out for the heater, or you might melt." He turned his head sideways grinning at Rosalie but at the same time wrinkling his nose at the smell. What was with it and them thinking each other smelt bad? They smelt perfectly fine to me.
Rosalie was just about to open her mouth and insult Jacob when a whistle was blown in three short, loud burst, making both the werewolves and vampires flinch because of their sensitive hearing.
"Alright everyone, please bring up your dirty dishes and will the people on kitchen duty please come up and start their jobs." Debbie said looking at us.
As soon as she finished speaking, teenagers started standing up and walking towards the counter where they served the food and placed their plates, cups and cutlery down on the stainless-steel bench top, which was nearly overflowing with dishes already. Perfect.
They all filed out of the dining room, teachers included and it was soon only me, the Cullen's and the werewolves left in the large room. Jasper grabbed Alice's hand and dragged her towards the double doors that led into the washing up area. Emmett, who couldn't help himself, ended up skipping through the aisles of tables and chairs and into the room. A loud crash followed. Rosalie huffed and walked towards the washing up area muttering things like, 'slave labor' and 'idiot'.
The werewolves looked at us with amused faces, obliviously trying to hold back their laughter at the idea of the 'perfect' Cullen's doing kitchen duties and I didn't think they were going to stay behind to help us.
Edward stood up and gathered my plates before holding a hand out to me. I rose out of my chair and placed my hand in his and we walked down towards the kitchen hand in hand. Even before we entered I could hear arguing.
"I am not doing the washing!" I heard Rosalie yell.
"Well I'm not going to do it either!" I was surprised to hear Alice's voice raised in argument. I'd never heard her yell before.
We pushed the double doors open and entered what looked like hell. The kitchen was tiny, barely enough room for Jasper and Emmett to stand next to each other. If you kept walking when you entered, you'd enter the stuffy pantry where all the food was held. I looked around a saw one of those large manual washing up machine like the ones that were found in restaurants, a sink with a hose looking thing for washing the dishes, and many trays to put the plates on for them to enter the washing up machine. It definitely wasn't a dishwasher either.
Rosalie was standing near a bench, not leaning against it, probably scared at ruining her outfit, her arms crossed over her chest. Alice stood on the other side, and there was barely enough room for me to stand in between them. Not that I was going to. I'd learnt that you never wanted to stand in between two fighting vampires.
Emmett stood at the far end of the small kitchen, a grin on his face. He was amused by watching Alice and Rosalie argue. He was probably hoping it would turn into a full-on cat fight, or bitch fit as he called it. Jasper sent out calming vibes and Alice instantly became quiet and peaceful, while Rosalie on the other hand, still looked rather pissed.
After at least five minuet's of arguing, it was decided that Emmett would be rinsing the dishes with the hose thingy, Jasper would be placing the dishes on the cart/tray things, Edward and me were going to be wiping the dishes and Rosalie and Alice, who blatantly refused to go anywhere near the water, were going to be putting the dishes away. And there were more than one hundred dishes to wipe up. Not even mentioning the cups, knives, forks ect.
We started the treacherous task and soon got into a rhythm. Suddenly, Jacob pushed the door open with Paul and Jared on his flanks and stood in the door. Rosalie hissed and Emmett growled while Alice and Jasper bared their teeth. Jasper particularly, even though he hadn't growled like Rosalie and Emmett had, looked so much more terrifying just by baring his teeth which glistened under the lamp hanging above our heads. I took a small step away from him in fright. Edward put a hand around my waste but didn't retaliate the way his 'brothers and sister'' had. Paul grinned stupidly and crossed his arms but Jared took half a step back out the door and away from the hoard of angry vampires. Smart thinking.
"Hey leeches, Bella" Jacob said, nodding his head to us, "just had to come see how you guys were enjoying kitchen duty."
Rosalie through a wet wiping-up cloth at his face.
"Feisty." He grinned.
"Could you please leave Jacob, your pack too." Edward said politely. "We are trying to work and you are distracting us and stopping us from doing so."
"Yes mam'." Jacob said, saluting him army style. Jasper growled at that and Alice placed a hand on his chest as a warning. Although somewhat calmed by Alice, Jasper was still growling silently and still bared his teeth. Jacob took one look at Jasper and practically bolted for the door, Paul and Jared hot on his heels. So much for being 'Mighty Werewolves'.
We all lapsed into a comfortable silence as we washed, wiped and put away the dishes until Alice's ear-splitting scream rang through the small kitchen, echoing against the walls. I turned around a saw Alice looking down at her designer shirt which was completely soaked in water, which probably cost more than my entire outfit and Emmett who had the hose held up to his face and grinning like an evil villain.
"Emmett!" Alice shrieked. Emmett took one look at Alice who was visibly getting angry and very, very pissed off and ran to hide behind Rosalie.
"You. Wet. My. Shirt." She growled.
Jasper calmed Alice down and she took a deep breath in.
"Let's just keep working." Edward said, trying to ease the tension in the room and trying to avoid Alice getting into a fight with Emmett because even though she was small, if anyone messed with her outfits they were a dead person – or whatever creature they were – walking.
"Why don't you go and start spraying and wiping down the tables Emmett?" Jasper said, more an order than a question.
"Sounds good to me." He said walking towards the door, where he stopped and turned to glance at Alice, who was still calming down and grinned and said, "Your shirt is see through you know."
Emmett had to duck because Alice had grabbed the nearest item to her, which conveniently had been a large cooking pot and threw it at Emmett's head. Jasper had to hold Alice back in a death grip otherwise she would've chased after Emmett and probably ripped him limb from limb.
Jasper sighed, shaking his head and releasing Alice after she had calmed down again and kissed her on the cheek and walked out the doors and into the dining room to help Emmett with the tables but most likely to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn't cause or get into any more trouble because there were more than enough opportunities at a camp and especially now that there were nine werewolves around somewhere.
I could hear Jasper tell Emmett how to wipe down the tables properly. because apparently he had never done it before. Every time Jasper told Emmett how to do it correctly Emmett would always argue saying that his way was better. Jasper sighed, getting rather annoyed with him, and I had to hold back a laugh. As if thinking the same thing as I was Edward leaned over and whispered into my ear.
"It's like trying to teach a three year old to sit still." He said with the crooked grin that I loved so much. Behind me, I heard Rosalie chuckle in agreement.
Because Emmett had been the one to wash the dishes, Edward stepped in his place, working at a much faster pace than I was able to keep up with. From outside, Emmett could still be heard declaring that he was better and he was smarter and then eventually becoming completely off topic and started talking about what seemed to be the Newton's. I had almost forgotten about them, being so engrossed about the little issues amongst our group I had barely took notice of him. Only once had he tried to flirt with me but Edward's death glare came in handy and he was soon off to bother someone else.
"Hey Jazzy, I gotta question." Emmett stated.
Jasper sighed. I did feel sorry for him. Handling Emmett was an enormous task to take on, and even greater to succeed in.
"What do you want Emmett. I already showed you how to spray it, wipe it down and collect any other dishes that might've been missed, what can you possibly want now?" I could hear the annoyance in his tone but also I knew he would be smiling at the same time. Jasper wasn't one to get worked up and he sometimes found Emmett's childish nature quite amusing at times, if he was in the mood to bare it that is.
"There is still food on this plate." Emmett said prodding at the mush (I still didn't know what it was) as if it was poisonous. He leaned and in took a deep breath, trying to smell the so called food. "Whoa! This smells funky! How can you humans it this? It smells like s–"
"Emmett! Just give me the plate." Jasper said impatiently holding out his hand.
A large grin crept across Emmett's face. To anyone else he probably looked really happy, but to us, the only people to know that this meant the little clogs in his brain were turning nearly out of control, coming up with his next best idea or prank, we knew that it meant danger, danger to us and possibly our belongings too. I looked at Edward beside me and he too, had a look of half amusement and worry. Rosalie and Alice shared a silent conversation, not like the ones Edward and Alice had but more of the best friend/sister kind, how they could tell each other different things we facial expressions and looks in the eye. I placed my tea towel on the bench as did the others, although Rosalie just let the plate smash on the bench with the force she "accidently" put behind it. We were standing in the door way in no time at all, watching the scene in front of us unfold.
Jasper was standing on one side of a large fold up table with Emmett facing him from the other side, the plate of food still in his hand. You could easily tell he was trying not to smash the plate, as he normally would when he forgot the strength he had. The evil villain smile was still on his face. Yep, he was definitely up to something.
"Emmett… What are you doing?" Jasper started to panic. He could feel the smugness and probably evil vibes rolling off Emmett in waves. Emmett just smiled more – If that was possible – and took one step forward towards Jasper. Jasper in return took one back.
Emmett looked down at the plate in his hand, turning it slightly side to side making the colourless mush wobble across the plate. Beside me, Rosalie was starting to smile. She probably already knew what was going on inside Emmett's brain because who else could read him better than his own wife, his soul mate. In front of me, Alice's eyes glazed over, a vision coming to her. Three things happened at once. Edward's strong, pale arm pushed me behind him, then he turned around and bent over me, my back to his chest. At a blinding speed, Alice ran to Jasper trying to protect him and Emmett's hand flicked forward, sending the plate flying through the air at such a speed, it would have become invisible to my eyes. The deafening sound as it hit Jasper, echoed around the large room, sounding much like a crack of thunder. Insignificant shards of glass shot through the air like bullets, going various directions and when they uncounted a vampire, they ricocheted off them, air born again. I soon realised why Edward turned me around, putting his back to Emmett, as pieces of glass hit Edward and the ones that didn't embedded in the wall in front of me. I put my arms around my head, protecting myself further in case any glass didn't go in the wall and instead came back at me, knowing my luck, it wouldn't surprise me if that actually happened.
The glass shards finally stopped their assault on the dining room and me but Edward still didn't release me. Standing behind me, when he released a breath he had been holding, it blew on my neck, sending a chill of pleasure from my head down to my toes, which tingled at the sensation. I suddenly became very aware of the places that his body touched mine, his hands wrapped around my torso to hold me to him, my back pressed against his stomach. I think I nearly forgot to breathe when he whispered in my ear.
"Are you okay my love?" He asked causing another chill to sweep through me and shoot my spin as his breath blew on the back of my neck and ear.
"Yes." I breathed out. I don't think I was able to form a coherent sentence just yet.
Knowing I was okay, he released me from his protective hold and stood back up to his full height. I felt the loss instantly, but only then did I take a real look of the damage that was inflicted on the dining room. The wall I was facing was splattered with tiny shades of glass and food. When I turned around I couldn't believe what I saw. Food was all over the floor and walls and even the ceiling. A fan was spinning lazily around; it too covered in food and pieces of glass was embedded in its metal frame. The fold up table that had been between Emmett and Jasper was now broken in a least five different pieces and the largest of those pieces was all the way at the end of the hall. Chairs were upturned all around the place, some even on top of other tables and it was obvious that there had been more than one plate involved. Who knew how many could've been thrown in a few seconds when vampires were the cause for the destruction.
But what shocked me the most was Alice. Covered from head to toe in food, she stood absolutely still in the middle of the room. Her eyes were closed, possibly trying to not to kill Emmett at that very moment. On the other hand, Emmett had somehow ended up at the end of the hall along with the piece of the table; he too was covered in the food. Rosalie was crouched next to Emmett but not so close because he was an absolutely mess of food and possibly some juice of water from the glasses that had been on the table before.
Jasper was slouched against a wall to the left of the dining hall, also covered in food but not nearly as much as Alice and Emmett were. I thought that was the worst of the damage, until I turned to see Edward. I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my mouth when I saw him, opened mouthed, staring down at his body that was now covered in food. I quickly placed a hand across my mouth to stop more laughs that threatened to spill out from exploding into the room. That was last thing I wanted. He looked up into my eyes; the shock from being splattered in food was obviously there but also was a little sign of amusement.
"Do you find this funny do you my Bella?" He asked, the crooked grin starting to spread across his face. He stepped forward and I couldn't stop myself from stepping back just a little bit. Seeing what effect he had on me at that moment he was full out grinning like Emmett had just a short time ago. Oh no. I'm going to die.
Keeping his eyes trained on mine, he bent down at vampire speed and picked up a handful of the goo or so called food that was all over the floor. He wouldn't. He couldn't. Aside from Rosalie, I was the only who wasn't somewhat covered in food. But the look on Edward's face told me that wouldn't be the case in a moment. Instead of walking forward to me as he had done a little while ago, he stalked. He was the predator and I was his prey but his time, he had a weapon. My gaze flickered from Edward's face to the goo in his hand and back again, all the while I kept stepping backwards slowly. He matched my movements and started circling me slowly, getting closer and closer with each step he took.
"Edward." I warned. "Don't you dare."
"Do what?" He asked knowing exactly what he was doing. "All I want it to check if you're okay. That's all." He smiled again. I didn't buy it at all, but that couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face.
He stepped four feet closer to me at vampire speed. I was shocked he moved so fast and I could feel my heart beat starting to get faster. I slowly stepped back, there was more than enough food or goo as it should be called, around the dining room that I could trip on. I didn't need to get hurt on camp, not like I didn't get injured every camp I went to but that was beside the point.
He growled playfully but smiled innocently as he did so. He ran behind me at a blinding speed and kept running so fast I couldn't see him, appearing all around the hall. Alice had opened her eyes now and was watching Edward "stalk" me with the goo still in his hand. Jasper was by her side and was altering my emotions to make me more scared and excited and confused, laughing silently at my reactions. It kept going until he let them all unleash so I was feeling frightened by Edward, excited because I didn't know where he was going to be next, also confusion on that part too. But overall I was happy. A little bit of that was from Jasper but the majority of it was from me.
I loved seeing Edward so carefree and playful, it always amused me but didn't happen as often as I would like. From the other end of the hall I saw Rosalie and Emmett watching too, wanting to know what Edward was going to do next, but because I was paying attention to the others and not Edward I didn't see him sneak up behind me. I heard him before I saw him. Much like when he was protecting me only a short time before, his breath was once again on my neck, raising goose bumps. I was instantly dazzled against my willand when he placed a hand on my waist I think I even forgot my name.
"Gotcha." He whispered. I was snapped back to reality when I felt his hand press against my back and then the horrible feeling of something cold running down my back. I couldn't help but scream when I felt it run further down my back, soaking through my shirt. I jumped around trying to get it off before it travelled further down and into my clothes. Emmett who had gotten up off the floor now fell back down roaring with laughter. Alice laughed, the sound of tinkling bells filled the air and Jasper and Rosalie joined in until they were all laughing including Edward. I turned back around to face him getting caught up in his golden eyes which seemed to go on forever until they showed into his soul, the magic place of all his insecurities, flaws, perfections and honest emotions were held. His eyes asking if I was okay and if I wasn't upset. I smiled back, telling him without words that I thought it was as funny as everyone else did. Although he did grin when I jumped because of the cold food soaked through my shirt. Damn I love this man… Even though he just put food on me. I thought.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rosalie extend a hand to Emmett to help him back up. He was now covered in food as much as Alice was who took the full blow of it when he threw it. Before Alice could stop her or Emmett, Emmett had pulled Rosalie down to the floor next to him. She screamed as she landed in one of the large patches of food. Emmett roared with infectious laughter again and Alice, even though she tried not to laugh and even tried to stop it from occurring, erupted in a fit of giggles and laughter. Rosalie, at first looked like she wanted to rip Emmett apart, that was until he leaned in and whispered into her ear, to low that no one else could hear it but Edward did shudder because of one of their thoughts or probably both. Alice was still laughing, Jasper joining in when all of sudden, a huge handful of the goo flew through the air and landed straight in Alice and Jasper's faces. Edward and I laughed so much along with Rosalie and Emmett who were still on the floor. Alice screamed much like Rosalie had and Jasper just stood silently beside her, his face completely covered in the colourless mush. My laughter started to die down but when Jasper wiped the food away from his closed eyes and flicked it on the floor like people on T.V did, I started laughing so much more.
Jasper was the first one to recover. He bent down and scooped up a generous handful and threw it at Emmett. Emmett's laughter stopped abruptly when it hit him on the side of his head and Rosalie who had been sitting up fell back down when bits of food splattered off Emmett and towards her. I was now laughing so much now, that I could barely breathe.
Rosalie scrammed up on her feet, a rather difficult task when you're high heels. Crinkling her nose, she bent down and scooped up some of the food she had fallen in and with a blinding speed flung it across the room, aiming right for Edward's head. Even though he had read her mind he was laughing so much he didn't move fast enough and ended up with a face full of food. He shook his head and bits of food flung from his hair and I ducked out of the way of the flying mush, intent on landing on me.
"Food fight!" Emmett declared.
The air was suddenly full of flying food and drinks, coming from every directions. I could barely see any of it because of the force they were putting behind it but Edward came to my help crossing the floor and walking to my side, assuming the position of my team mate as we engaged in the war against the others. They too had coupled up with their mates and were viciously attacking the other team with food. Rosalie and Emmett had gathered the tables that had fallen down at the end of the hall and had set them on their side on the ground, crouching behind them while using them as a shield while Jasper and Alice did the same thing. Edward took one look at them and grabbed me under my knees and hoisted me up over his shoulder. I punched him in the back repeatedly trying to make him put me down, but I was having so much fun I didn't mind.
A quick, make shift shield was erected and Edward and I took our places behind the plastic tables, chucking handfuls of goo over at the other couples. The "bases" was positioned so they were in a large circle, a big amount of space in the middle, full of goo or in this case, ammo. I knew I had got Alice when I heard her terror filled shriek when the food landed directly on the top of head, running down the sides of her face. Rosalie wasn't in much of a good state either. Her hair was a mess and she had food all over her blood red, large V-neck designer top and all over her dark blue jeans. I risked a glance and peaked my head over the top of the table. Across from us were Rosalie and Emmett. Emmett had put to streaks of food on either of his cheeks and now looked like he was a real war. To our left, Jasper had done the same, thoroughly enjoying himself. Alice was intent on getting revenge on me so I was constantly ducking huge amounts of food. I screamed like a twelve year old when I didn't get out of the way fast enough and got hit. I turned to Edward to form a better plan of attack because the one we had wasn't working that well but was met with a panicked, worried look plastarded on his beautiful face, his eye full of seriousness.
"What's wro-" I started to ask but Edward interrupted me.
"We have to stop," He stood up and was hit with a face full of food by Emmett.
"Oops." Emmett grinned, not sorry at all but shut up when Rosalie smacked him on the back of his head.
"We have to stop," Edward repeated, "because the teacher is contemplating on coming to check if we are done yet. It's already getting much to near lights out time." He explained.
"How long?" Jasper asked.
"Not even ten minutes now."
Alice's eyes glazed over as another vision took over her but when it was over she started barking out orders to everyone, ordering Emmett to start putting the tables back together and Jasper, Rosalie and Edward to start cleaning. She left me out but probably because my lack of speed wouldn't be much of a help with our deadline so short.
In less than two minutes the place started looking more like it had before Emmett had declared war, apart from the thousands of little wholes which dotted the dining room when the glass from the plates had flown through the air and embedded into every object they could. Although Emmett kept trying to restart the fight they managed to get the job done in less than five minutes and then in the remaining five finish the washing up which had been completely forgotten. I just walked out of the washing up room with Alice, Rosalie and Edward when Mr. Millers opened the doors to the dining room.
"Ah, I see you are all done! What a great job and the place is so clean!" He exclaimed.
I couldn't help but grin. If only he had been here ten minutes ago.
"Alright you six, time to go get showered and into bed. Light's go out at ten o'clock which in about three hours so you better get cracking." He held the door open for us as we piled out, wanting to get out of there as fast as we could.
"Ms. Swan, why do you have on your back?"
I froze. I guess I had missed some of it while we were trying to clean as much of it off as possible. My mouth went dry as I failed to come up with an excuse that wouldn't get him questioning what had gone on during our chores.
"Bella slipped over when she was gathering some plates, sir." Edward said placing a hand on my back despite the food.
Mr. Millers seemed to be thinking over what he had just been told but broke out in a smile and chuckled.
"Sounds like Bella. You be careful next time." He shook a finger in my direction.
"There's going to be a next time!" Rosalie turned around screeching. Alice poked her harshly in the ribs, trying to hush her but that did little to stop her fuming.
"I expect you all to be up early. Goodnight." Mr. Millers dismissed us turning and walking out the door and down the dirt path towards his cabin.
Nothing was said as we stepped out into the cold night air and walked down the wooden steps and across the gravel that crunched under my feet and across the grass that was slowly growing out of control, under the poorly lit camp grounds towards our cabins which were the furthest away from the meeting hall, edging their way closer to the fog covered forest that seemed to have taken on a bluish, greenish tint under the light of the full moon. Not a creature stirred as we made our way to the cabins, my hand in Edwards the entire time. Every time I breathed out, a cold mist would appear. Jasper and Alice were in front of us, Alice on Jasper back as she refused to walk on the grass in high heels. Rosalie had no problem with the offending object and was unaware of everything around her as she talked in hushed whispers to Emmett as they lagged behind the group, hand in hand, heads close together.
The guys bided us goodbye as they entered their cabin then again when they made their ways to the men's bathroom, only a short way away from the women's. Alice, Rosalie and I trudged up the creaky wooden steps and through the metal screen which banged closed when it was let go. Instead of gathering pajama's to sleep in, Rosalie and Alice assembled a new outfit each. We exited out of the cabin in a comfortable silence and walked over to the shower block. Rosalie and Alice didn't make much of a fuss about them but Alice did scream slightly when a toad jumped out from the shower she was about to enter. The floor of the large bathroom was concrete with one side lined with a row of toilets then the other a row of showers. I made quick work of scrubbing off the remains of food from my body and hair, as did Alice and Rosalie.
"What are you two going to do now, seeing you don't sleep and such?" I asked them as we walked back across the moonlit camp grounds.
"We'll probably go hunt with the guys, although I think Edward will be with staying with you until you go to sleep and then joining us." Rosalie answered.
Alice stopped suddenly and since I had been walking behind her, I'd ran into her hard back.
"What is it Alice?" I asked the little pixie while rubbing my arm. I'm going to have a bruise there tomorrow, I thought to myself.
Alice didn't reply to my question and instead it was Rosalie who had slipped back about six feet into the shadows that curled and danced along with the trees in the icy breeze.
"Dogs." Rosalie hissed silently.
Squinting my eyes, I searched the darkening path before us in search for the werewolves. The fading over head lamp did nothing to help my sight so I was standing blind, not able to see where they were.
Are they even there?
As if somehow they had heard my pondering I saw movement in the darkness and eventually, three big shapes slowly emerged from the dimly light night and then the quite distinct form of Jared, Jacob and Leah was situated no more ten meters away from us. Jacob was in the lead flanked on either side by Jared and Leah. The rays of moonlight that filtered down from the trees above illuminated their skin and gave their shiny black hair the colour of soft silver. While their beauty was rivaling the Cullen's themselves, their eyes were black with hatred, the once care free joy that pooled in their eyes was now replaced and looked frozen over into a cold, hard mask filled with undeniable loathing for the two people who stood alongside me.
Uncomfortable silence filled the air, as neither groups wanted to make the first move. Leah's face contorted with the pain of her lifestyle and the pure hatred of the Cullen's who, in her opion, had destroyed her life with her curse because of their existence. Jared's face looked much like Leah's. Although his dislike for the Cullen's was still evident on his face, his expression was more reigned in and hid the majority of his feelings. But this wasn't the one I hated the most. It was Jacobs.
Like the unmentionable time that left me comatose, grasping for air as the last whispers of reality and sanity faded, flying away with the icy breeze that had lapped at my hollow, broken heart, Jacob's face was blank. He wore a hard mask, displaying no emotion whatsoever. His eyes were the only evidence that the old Jacob, the joyous, carefree child that I loved so much was still there, no matter how far locked down it was or how hard he was guarding it, trying to prevent its escape. Like small fires of hope burning faintly, I saw a bit of him in there and knew that he wasn't gone.
"We have come to deliver a warning for you to pass onto your family." Jacobs spat, his voice losing all of his previous taunting of the evening.
He waited, to see if Rosalie or Alice was going to interject with a crude comment but much to my surprise, not a single word was spoken in that short time. Rosalie's breathtaking face mirrored the werewolves and showed nothing, keeping the imagination guessing at her internal feelings. Alice stared expectantly at Jacob, obviously encouraging him to speak again. Jacob watched them for a minute before continuing with his message.
"You are forbidden to hunt on this land. If you must feed, go elsewhere. We are not to put these humans in danger because of your existence." He growled.
I flinched at the tone of his voice but either no one saw it or ignored it completely. I looked from Rosalie to Alice, waiting for them to reply. Alice nodded her head slightly, agreeing with these conditions while Rosalie continued to glare at them.
"I hope that you comply with these rules. This is the first and last warning you will get and if you are to ignore it, we will not be held responsible for our actions." Jared further more cemented the unspoken promise that at any chance they were presented, they would be happy to tear them limb from limb.
"We will be sure to pass on the message." Rosalie spoke quietly, nearly a whisper that was losing it sound to the wind.
Jacob's eyes travelled from Alice, to Rosalie and then finally to me. He held my gaze for longer than necessary and I knew he was silently pleading that we come with them. I held my head up high, stating without words that I was not going anywhere. His mask fell slightly and I saw the flash of pain and hurt before he locked it away and replaced it with the cold look again. I very nearly went to reach out and comfort him but I received a deadly glare from Rosalie. I knew better then to argue with her.
Jacob, Jared and Leah started to retreat back into the shadows that had darkened in our little confrontation. They exchanged warning stares, daring us to move and quickly turned and ran back towards the direction of their cabin. Jacob's eyes did not leave mine once.
Alice let out a sigh and continued walking, now in line with Rosalie and myself. The wind had picked up and the forest had lost its magic touch now feeling like a cold, distant world. Alice and Rosalie were unusually quiet while we walked, probably lost in their own little world of thoughts. I soon let myself be bombarded by all the questions and thoughts that had been spinning around my head, screaming to be answered. One question was stronger than the others and kept standing the most.
What next?
OMG, I am soooooooo sorry I haven't updated!!! It's been like what, four months? More?! Wow, talk about commitment issues. Haha! Okay, so what do you think is going to happen next my pretties? Care to tell? Got any ideas and what is going to be one of the big activities that are going to happen? What big activity will have the vampires and werewolves going head to head? Only time can tell and hopefully it won't be as long as last time. :D
