Chapter 6: Beach Trip
Before lunch had been a nightmare. Not only had Tyler asked me to ask him to go to the dance with him, but so did Mike, Eric and Ryan. Hadn't I told Jessica to tell Taylor to go with Mike? I sighed when I entered the cafeteria. Eric and Ryan had just finished asking me. I thought it was girl choice, I would tell them, but they blushed, and then said they thought the Seattle excuse was just to let Tyler down, nicely.
I searched for Edward's table. I smiled and walked over.When I sat down, Edward looked up at me from his uneaten food.
" Hello Miss Liza." He said. He was grinning. He offered me some food. " I'm not hungry."He explained. Yeah right! I had to keep that in mind, while I was trying to figure out his secret. He was never hungry.
"So...To what do I owe the pleasure of your company to?" Edward was grinning at me. I was in a bad mood, I hadn't slept all night, because I was up, trying to think of what Edward was hiding.
" I can't sleep. Thats why. You are keeping me from sleeping!" I told him.
" I'm not keeping you from anything. At all...Why can't you sleep?" He asked, now interested. " What, do you keep thinking of me? Is that why you're blaming your lack of sleep on me?"
" I was trying to figure out what the hell you are hiding from me." I whispered. He seemed to have heard it. He started chuckling.
" Any theories?"
" I have a few. But I won't tell you."
" How about, I give you two clues, and you give me two theories?"
" You give me two answers and I give you two theories." I told him. I was getting grumpier.
" Fine. You go first." He replied. He looked afraid of what I was going to ask him.
" What are you?"
" Next." He said, bluntly.
" No fair!"
" Next." He repeated.
" Fine...Why won't you tell me?"
" Because it'd dangerous. I don't want you in danger." He said this with true sincerity in his eyes. I blushed. He was observing my face.
" Okay...Um...Why would it be dangerous for me to know what you and your family were?" I was trying to get one hint, at least from his words.
" Because you can get killed. Even though it looks like you can do that with our "secret" or not. You're a magnet for danger." He smiled that perfectly beautiful crooked smile. My heart was racing. His words tempted me even more, to find out what he was.
" Now...Two of your theories." he grinned.
" Okay. But promise you won't laugh!"
" I won't laugh." He said, smiling.
" Promise!"
" I promise I won't laugh." He rolled his eyes.
" You and your family are evil scientists and when something went horribly wrong when you were mixing chemicals, you all became strong, beautiful, and fast."
" Nope. You're very unoriginal. That sounds like...what was that old little kid show?"
" The Power Puff Girls?"
" Yeah...Oh, And I wasn't bitten by a radio-active spider, and kryptonite doesn't effect me." He started to chuckle. I gave him a sour, disaproving look.
" Ok. You're Batman." I said. That was my last theory.
" No. But what if I'm not the super hero? What if I'm the villian? What if I'm the Joker?"
" I've always liked the Joker better, to tell you the truth. His whole personality. And his evilness." I said. I was telling the truth. Edward frowned. He looked at me, questioning my sanity. "What? It's true! I've always liked the Joker better. When I was young, I used to want to be the villian, trying to kill the Princesses. I liked Cruella De Vil! I wanted to be the Queen, in Snow White! And, I didn't like Cinderella and most princesses because they were blonde or red heads, and if they weren't blonde or red headed, they had to have a prince come and save them. I was a pretty messed up child." I explained. I had said too much. He was doubled over, laughing.
" You...are one messed up girl." He said, after he was done cracking up at how I had freaked out.
" I didn't like it that all the princesses were blonde. I didn't like it when the stuck girls would just wait for their Prince to save them. I liked Mulan, because she fought. She tried to get out of the mess by herself. She didn't need a man." I didn't know why I thought of this when I was younger. But I have always been an independent person. And more matured for my age.
" Wow...You really are different." Edward said. I had remembered the day that he had saved me from the van. I had tried to get away, to save myself. If he wasn't there though, I would be dead. At least I tried to get out trouble. I looked around the cafeteria. Everyone was leaving. It was time for biology, for Edward and me at least.
" We have to go." I said, stuffing down the red apple that was on Edward's tray- that he had offered me.
" I'm not going."
" You're skipping?" Even in New York, when Most of the school would do that, I was always afraid of getting caught.
" Yeah. It's healthy to skip once in a while."
" Why today?" I asked.
" There doing blood tests." He said. He looked away from me. I shuddered. I hated the smell of blood.
" So. You don't like the smell of blood either, huh?" I asked him. He looked at me confused.
" Humans can't smell blood." He said, confused by what I had said.
" I can. So you don't like the sight of it?" I asked him.
" Yeah..." He said, a bit confused.
" That's why you're skipping?" I asked him.
" Yeah." He answered. " Do you want to skip with me?" He asked.
" Well...I guess. I doubt Mrs. Medly will give me a nose plug. She'll probably think that humans can't smell blood too."
" Is that why you had a nose plug when we were disecting those frogs?"
" Yeah." I said, a bit surprised that he remembered.
" I thought that was because you smelled the frog...and the pus." Edward still looked confused. The cafeteria was now all empty-except for us.
" Are we going to skip, or not? Are we waiting to get caught over here?" I asked. I knew it sounded rude. But I was nervous about a teacher just walking in the cafeteria, and catching us. Us. That sounded nice in my mind.
" Yeah, sure. To my car then?" He asked if it was okay with me. I didn't see why it wouldn't be okay with me. Then,I realized, he must have thought that I might have interpreted it like he was coming on to me. But I knew Edward and the Cullens were not like that.
"Yeah." I took in a deep breath. That one car, the one I searched for everyday since I had first seen he owned it, was where I was going right now. To be with him. Well...to talk to him at least. I wasn't that slutty. I did like him. But I wouldn't throw myself at him. I had to shake the thoughts from my head. He probably didn't like me back, so why bother even thinking about him possibly liking me.
We arrived at the car just seven minutes later. We had dodged five teachers, Edward, somehow knowing exactly when they would come, where they would come from, and where we had to hide to keep out of their sight. He opened the door for me, I smiled politely and awkwardly, and he closed the door. A few seconds later, he was next to me, in the driver's seat.
" Can we put some music on?" I asked him.
" Sure." He and I both reached for the radio. But our hands didn't touch. Before I could blink, his hands were held back, as if he hadn't reached in the first place. I ignored it, and asked him what type of music he liked.
" I dunno. Rap is okay. But I'd rather have heavy metal or rock." He answered.
" Me too. I like classical too though." I told him.
" Classical?" He looked stunned.
" Yeah. Why are you surprised? You don't like it?" I looked at him. He was looking up from his long thick lashes, at me. Observing me.
" No, I like classical too. I just didn't think you'd like classical."
" Do I look like a girl who wouldn't?" I asked him, a little self concious. I wanted him to think I looked like what he liked. I wanted to look like what he wanted me too look like. I was very desperate, and I realized that just then.
" No...No, it's just that most people our age wouldn't like it."
" Oh. Well, that's true." I looked away. His eyes on my face were making it harder for me to breathe.
" I know that it is rude asking someone's age, especially a woman's, but how old are you, Liza?" Edward asked me. He seemed interested.
" Sixteen. Hardly a woman. I went through kindergarden early. I started at four."
" Oh." He didn't say his age. He wasn't going to volenteer his age. to me.
" So...how old are you Edward?" My heart jumped when I said his name. He grinned, again like he could hear it. His face then got serious.
" I'm eighteen." He said.
" Then you should be a senior, right?"
" Well...no. I started late." He smiled. His lips curved like it was an inside joke, something I wouldn't get. His teeth gleamed, perfectly white. I made sure to close my mouth more often when he was around. My teeth were okay, but were faintly tinted yellow. I frowned. His teeth were perfect and his sister's were perfect. He was used to being around perfection. I wasn't even close to any of their perfection.
" What are you thinking?"
" That I would never-" I cut myself off. I couldn't tell him the truth! What would I say then? Oh Edward, you and your family are so perfect! I want to be perfect too! I am so desperately wanting to catch your eye, even though I know it would never, ever happen! You're so perfect and I'm not! " Never...be able to get over the fact that this is my first time ever skipping." Nice save! I congratulated myself. He seemed to buy it.
" I'm your first?" The way he worded it sounded funny. He noticed as well. " I mean, the first person you've skipped with? First to convince you to skip?" He chuckled.
" Yeah." I chuckled too.
" Sorry. It's to easy to be with you. To talk to you." Edward told me. His eyes burned a hole in my face, his intense stare driving me mad. It was funny, because out of all the conversations we'd had, this was the first one where he had stumbled over his words. Was he nervous? I looked at his body, and his fist. His body was leaned away from me, his fists were clenched. He decided to open the window.
" Let's listen to some music." He said, reaching for a case on the floor, next to my foot. I grabbed it, and handed it to him. Our skin touched and the shock of electricity that I felt made my heart jump. His cold skin, against mine was incredible. He pulled it away, gently, and took out a CD. It looked familiar. I recognized it from my own car.
" Aerosmith? You like them too?" I asked him. He looked up at me.
" Yeah. They're cool."
" Yeah. My favorite is Walk this way. Some people like it, but most of the people I've met don't." I was talking to much. I tried to make a mental note to keep quiet. That would add to the awkwardness, but take away from him noticing I was nervous.
" I like that song too..." He let the song come on, and we listened to it. It filled the awkward silence, and it helped me to concentrate on what was really happening. So, Edward and I were in a car, alone...together. We're listening to music, and we have the same favorite song. I sighed. He wasn't hitting on me. Some part of me was relieved, I didn't want to deal with all this drama. Not real life drama anyway. The other part of me was very upset. I felt myself frown. He didn't like me. He never would. I would have to get the idea of him, with me, out of my head. The song ended. Another one of my favorites came on, and I moved my mouth to the words. He started humming to it, his sweet velvet voice making goose bumps rise on my arms. He was that good and he wasn't even singing. He noticed me shifting uncomfortably in my seat...his seat.
" What's wrong?" He asked me, from under his long and thick lashes.
" Nothing. You have a good voice. I was just thinking about...how much better your voice is than mine."
" You sing? Let me hear it!" He looked interested in me again.
" Well...I don't know..." It was his astonishing and eager face that made me do it. I sang a Christina Aguilera song ( I liked her songs, they were fun to sing,) and when I finished, I looked at him. His eyes were closed, his mouth in a smile. He opened his eyes when I stopped and looked at me.
" You're good." He complimented me. I smiled. I looked at my feet, and he put the music back on, looking outside of the window. The awkwardness was back. I felt like I had to fill the silence with him. It seemed like he wanted to do the same with me, but we both didn't know where to start. I was very nervous. I sang for him, and I had messed up five times, and had to start over twice. I knew he was being nice when he said I was good. And this was just making it harder to think of something to say.
It seemed like a teen movie. A very dumb one at that. Singing for you crush, and then the next thing I know, we'll probably be falling in love, and sing together in front of everyone, get tons of record deals. It seemed like a High School Musical thing. I hated that movie. I chuckled. It was a very dark version of that movie. Edward being so pale, so beautiful, and me being the complete opposite. What a happy ending, right?
" What are you laughing at?" I heard Edward's velvet voice ask. I looked at him, smiling. I could feel my face blushing, something you probably couldn't see because of my skin. He had caught me. The only part of my High School Musical that I liked was the part of thinking of Edward liking me back.
" Nothing really. Just was thinking that this was familar to a movie a hate."
" Which movie?"
" High School Musical." I felt my eyes roll. It was a reflex.
" And why were you thinking that? I don't look anything like Zac Effron, not nearly as attractive. Not as many girls want me. Why would it be so similar?" He was looking at me, intensity seeping through his eyes, dripping with a look that made my heart skip again. Not as attractive as Zac Effron? Was he kidding? He must have been, because if he was anywhere near a modeling agency, he would be hired and probably have stolen all the Zac Effron lovers. Zac was nothing compared to Edward. Edward is probably sex personified , compared to Zac Effron. At least in my mind he was.
He laughed. " Your right. You sang for me. Would you like me to sing to you now?" He joked around. I was sure that he was aware of how insecure I was.
" You'd beat me by a landslide." I smiled, " So, what's your next class?"
" Spanish." His velvet voice answered. He looked outside of his window, and then looked back at me.
" I have gym. I'm just afraid of what Tyler would say to me after. Since...you know, we both skipped."
" Ah...yeah, he's just dumb. How about, we go to the nurse's office, and you can act sick. I'll drive you home. If you don't feel like doing gym today." Edward looked at me. He was being risky. I could have sworn I saw a look of hunger in his eyes. He hid it very well.
" Yeah. That sounds good. " I heard myself say. My voice rang in my ears. It was quiet, because Edward had turned off the radio. It was my turn to look outside of the window.
" Okay then." He said, unbuckling his seat belt, and opening his door. I had only unbuckled my seat belt, when I realized the car door was open for me. Edward was holding it out. I chuckled nervously, and thanked him. He bowed.
In five minutes, we were at the nurse. I was telling her that I had a head ache. She went to take my temperature, and go to talk to Edward. I looked at them, and quickly took the thermometer out, rubbing it in my hands quickly, until it read 101 degrees. The nurse came to check on me.
" Oh dear! You should go home! Edward," She called, " Will you be kind enough to drive her home too. I don't think she'll be able to drive. She seems to...ill." She looked at me. I was thinking of mayonaise, and the smell of blood. The thought made my face get pale, and made me want to throw up. The nurse could see that. Edward nodded, and took my hand. We both pulled back for a brief moment, the electricity when our hands touched shocked us both. The nurse's back was turned, and Edward and I were both looking away.
" Sorry." He whispered, " I didn't mean to shock you."
" It's okay." My whisper was louder than his. The nurse turned around.
" I'm sorry dear, what did you say?"
I composed my face, the feeling of dread hitting me. My feelings seemed to change with what I was trying to act out. " Nothing." I said to her. She told Edward and told him to sign the release form, to get him and me out of school early. He winked at me when he signed his name, grinning ear to ear. And we left, his arm around my waist, my head at his perfect chest, groaning from the headache I was supposed to be suffering from. When we got to the parking lot, I started for the direction of my car.
" What do you think you're doing?" He asked, " You're not supposed to be driving in your condition young lady!" He joked.
" I think I can manage to drive home without my headache crashing me into a tree." I said, a bit confused.
" We have to convince them! Here, give me your keys, and I'll drop your truck off later."
" Why can't we just go in my truck?"
" Because, it looks like it'll break in five minutes. Can it even go over sixty?"
" No. But-"
" Come on." He said, already walking to his silver volvo. I followed, frowning. He opened the passenger seat's door for me, and he was at his door in a second. I was still going to sit down. He was at his seat faster than I was. I pretended not to notice, that he had gone at an incredible speed. I closed the door, and looked straight ahead. I then realized, after a minute, that we hadn't started moving. I looked at him.
" Seatbelt." He said. I reached for my seatbelt, and clicked it in. He then started to back out of his parking spot, and hit the road. I looked outside of my window. My eyes wandered for a few seconds, and then started to wander towards where Edward sat. I looked at how fast we were going, my eyes widened, and I smiled.
" Are we really going one-hundred and twenty miles per hour?" I asked. He looked at me, and smiled when he saw my grin.
" Yup." He answered. And we were home in a few minutes. I sat in the car, my head leaned back, as if I was looking at the ceiling, and my eyes closed.
" Liza?"
" I know. It's been nice skipping with you." I said, turning to open the door. Then, an idea hit me. " Do you want to come inside?" I asked him. He looked away, and looked back at me.
" Sure." He sighed. He swiftly got out of the car, and followed me. I took my key from my back pocket and he waited at the door. I shoved the key in and turned it to the left, then to the right. I heard the small click, and turned the door knob. The door opened, and I let myself and Edward in. He left the door open, and turned on the light, sighing like something was difficult for him. I went to the couch, dropped my bookbag on it,n and walked back to him.
" Um...Are you hungry?" I asked. I noticed a certain look come on in his face and his eyes. Like he was thinking of an inside joke.
" No, thank you. You have a nice house." He added. He looked like he had wanted to tell me that before, like he had seen the inside of it already.
" Oh. Um...We should probably get started on our homework." I said to him. I had a lump in my throat, and my voice had broken once. My stomach was nervous, and since I was alone with him, I felt like I should throw up. But at the same time, it was a good feeling. Strange, because I felt the bad feelings as good ones. He looked at me, and I glance away, looking at the stoves clock. School was already out. That was short. Had we really not talked for that long. There was a knock at the door, and Edward's jaw tightened. He glared at the door, and I walked to get it. Edward was behind me in a flash. He took in a deep breath, and I opened the door. It was Tyler.
" Hey Liza...Edward?" He said, confused. I could see a pang of jealousy hit his face, and Edward glared even harder, when I looked back up to see his reaction. " The beach trip is tomarrow. Make sure to meet at Mike Newton's parent's shop. Mike Tretly said that..." He looked at Edward. " That we should meet at around Ten or Eleven in the morning." He glanced back at Edward, and his face shown clearly of worry, that he had said to much.
" Okay Tyler. Sounds cool. I'll see you guys tomarrow." I said, smiling. He turned to go, and then looked at me again. Edward stiffened behind me, his arm was at the wall, almost leaning against it.
" There may not be enough room for some of us-" He looked at Edward again then back at me-" because someone had invited two of their friends. So, you know, just...not invitations." He looked back at Edward. " Unless you want to drive by yourself with them." He said, coldly. He looked down and turned away, walking to his car. I didn't know what to say. Saying bye may have just cracked him, made his rage at the idea of me and Edward alone, grow even more. If it was possible. I turned into Edward's chest by accident, forgetting that he was behind me. He grinned, his face inches away from me. I felt small, I was six inches below him. He went to move. But his lips seducted me. They were a perfect color of a faint, yet dark pink. Maybe red. But they called to me. I wanted so much to reach up, stroke his jaw line, and kiss him. But he had moved already. I forgot the thought and moved on.
" We're going to La Push tomarrow." I tried to explain. I looked at him, hopefully. " Do you want to come?"
" I don't think it was an open invitation, Liza." He chuckled. His velvet voice hung in the air. I tried to savor it.
" I don't care. I mean, I have room in my truck." I smiled, hoping that I didn't sound to desperate. He grinned.
" It's okay. I'm busy anyway, actually. I'm going to go camping."
" Where are you going camping?" I asked, casually. He smiled my favorite smile.
" Just south of Mt. Rainer." He said. He glanced at the time. " I have to go. School is out, and Britt, Alice, Emmett, and Jasper won't be happy that I'm not picking them up. I'll come by with your truck later." He said. I handed him the keys to my noisy truck, and walked him out. We were in his car within three minutes of the conversation.
" I know that you're very clumsy and all, Liza, but please...be careful. Try not to fall into the ocean ok?" He grinned, and I scowled at him.
" Whatever." I said, rolling my eyes. He started the car, closed his car, and rolled down the passenger seat's window. He leaned to tell me something, and I leaned in to hear it.
" I'm serious. Please try to not fall." He rolled up the window before I could think of a snide comment. I saw him drive off, a grin on his face, and teasingly waving back at me. He turned the corner, and I turned to go back home. I kept on thinking of how nice he was today. How we talked. The feeling of wanting to touch his face...I shook my head, as if that would erase the memory of it. I went back inside, and started on my homework. When I finished, Jeanette had already gotten home. We talked over dinner, ( I avoided certain subjects like Edward) and I told her I was going on a beach trip with my friends tomarrow, and to Port Angeles on Sunday. I asked her if it was okay with her and she said it was. She was going to invite some friends over for dinner, none of them I would know. I would be bored, so it was better that I would be with my friends all weekend.
After dinner, I ran up stairs and went straight to bed. It was strange, because I always, for some reason, stay up late. But this time I felt like something was watching me. I looked in my closet, under the bed, and every corner that I couldn't see in to. Nothing was there. But I did smell the same smell that radiated from Edward. It was a good smell, not like regular people. Not like musk, or floral, or acidic or anything like that. It was better. But I knew it was probably my imagination. I smiled to myself, opened the window because it was getting to hot, and went to the bathroom to change and brush my teeth, and to do my face/skin treatment. I got back, and the smell was sweeter, more noticable. Again, I ruled my imagination, my desires, to be the cause for it. I turned off the lights and went to bed. But I couldn't stop the feeling of being watched. I recognized the smell from every night after the crash. But I could never put a name to it before. It did smell like Edward. But the possibilities of him sneaking into my room, when I was asleep, when Jeanette was downstairs, with a gun probably on her nightstand, without making a sound, was very improbable. I shook my head, as if it could make the thought disapear. At that moment, I ruled myself insane. Why should I care? I was so obsessed, it wasn't even funny. Though the idea of him sneaking in my house, risking Jeanette hearing him and shooting him...just for me...gave me a sick pleasure. But it was very, very improbable. Look at him, then look at me! He wouldn't like me, he was used to being surrounded by beauty. But I could dream...can't I?
I fell asleep with strange thoughts and desires filling my head. At one moment in my dream, it felt like I had woken up, and whispered Edward's name. I heard him whisper out to me.
" Liza? Are you-" The velvety voice silenced itself. I suddenly felt the sweet intensity that was always between us. The electricity in my face, his sweet smelling breath, and his voice. " Liza?" I heard him whisper. That was when I knew it was a dream. I had seen him infront of me, only a centimeter away, in my room? That was definately a dream. I closed my eyes again. And when I opened them for a second time that night, there was light outside.
About five minutes later, I was downstairs, dressed and ready. It was about Ten in the morning. I quickly took out the toaster and put two slices of bread in. I took the grape jelly out quickly, a knife as well, and waited for the toast. I decided that while I waited, I would do my hair. So I rushed to the bathroom, brushed my hair out again and tried to do french braids. Luckily, I made them look somewhat decent, and I ran downstairs to get the toast, that was probably ready ten minutes ago. I quickly spread my jelly onto the toast, and ate in a hurry. I looked at the clock. Ten-fifteen. I decided to eat quicker, the bread being pushed down into my throat so fast, it almost made me choke. Meanwhile this was happening, I thought I noticed the house was empty. My eyes skimmed the counter and the fridge's door for a note. I found it quickly, still chewing on my first bite of toast, I reached out for it, and read quickly. The note informed me that Jeanette was at a friend's house, somewhere in Port Angeles. My eyes searched for the clock again. Five minutes had passed. I tried to sigh, but my mouth was so full that the action almost choked me. As I started to finish my second, and last, peice of toast, I grabbed my keys, and walked for the door. But stupidly, seeing as this could only happen to me, I tripped over a rug infront of the door.
I landed on the floor, my knee bruised and my mouth still full. I was almost choking, but I was glad I hadn't swollowed with the fall. I slowly got up, and reached for my jacket, and bent down to get the keys. I was still chewing my last peice of toast. Talk about biting off a peice that I couldn't chew. I finally opened the door, and rushed to my truck. I jammed the keys in and started the car, suddenly remembering my invitation for Edward yesterday. I wished that he could be sitting next to me now. We could have had a good time. But he had to go camping with his family. Which was fine with me. If he was happy with it, that I was too. But I still wished he could come with me.
I found myself getting out of the car about ten or fifteen minutes later, at the Newton's store. I had finally made it.
Tyler and Mike Tretly greeted me immeadeatly after I had gotten out of the car.
" Hey Liza! How are you? You sleep well?" Tyler was looking around me, at my truck, to see if there was anyone behind me. I sighed quietly, and answered his questions. Mike Tretly looked at Tyler, and I heard him whisper.
" Are you sure he was there?"
" Yes! I'm sure. I guess she didn't invite him." Tyler answered Mike Tretly. I looked down. I did invite Edward, he just didn't come...
Mike looked at me. " Mike Newton is over there. He said there's only room for one more person. So, since you are alone, I guess the van is full now." Mike Tretly shrugged, and gestured for me to follow him to Mike Newton's van.
" Hold on, I need to get my jacket." I opened the truck's door and grabbed my jacket. It didn't look like it was going to get any better today, not sunny. Which was why I wondered why I was going to the beach.
I followed Mike Tretly to Mike Newton's truck. I tripped, and almost fell, but no one laughed. My mother had once told me that I was graceful, how ever clumsy I was, I was still graceful. She said it was my mannerisms. I doubted it.
" Hey, Jamie. It's nice to meet you! I'm Mike Newton." I made a face at him calling me my first name.
" It's Liza...It's nice to meet you too Mike." I would have to be careful and remember I had to address both the Mike's with last names too. I sighed. I really wasn't in the mood for this.
We arrived in La Push a bit later. Mike lead us to a fire pit. It looked like it was there to be used for visitors, like it had been placed there especially for that purpose. We all sat down around it. I sat next to Emily. She was nice and quiet. She wasn't like Jessica, who liked to be talking all the time. I liked the quiet once in a while. We sat there in silence, until some of the group decided to go on a little hike. I grimanced at the word hike, and declined politely. I was sure to fall. I did promise Edward not to get hurt...to be safe...to be careful. Emily and most of the other girls went with the guys. Except for Jessica and Taylor. Some of the La Push boys were coming down to see who the visitors were. I recognized one of the almost immeadately. Austin.
" Hey! I know you! Liza right?" Austin waved happily. Next to him were about three other boys. And a man. Austin sat next to me, and Taylor looked at me disgustedly, and continued to talk to Jessica. One of the other guys that had been next to Austin, went straight to Lauren and Jessica. He didn't look at all interested in me. Two of the other guys went around me, and the man went to go sit about five feet away from me, alone.
" This is my brother Jacob. And his friend Hayden." Austin introduced us to each other. We all shook hands.
" I'm Liza." I said to each of them, smiling. Hayden went to sit on the other side of me. Jacob nodded, and went to sit with the man. They started to talk, and it looked like they were getting angry at each other. " Who's that?" I said, looking at the man.
" His name is Sam. He's nineteen." Answered Hayden, a tone of disgust hidden in his voice. I heard Jessica talking about Edward.
" Hey, Liza? Why didn't you invite Edward? Tyler said he was at you house last night." I heard Taylor struggle to hide a laugh.
" Oh. Well, he didn't want to come." I heard a voice about five feet away from me comment.
" Good. He's not allowed anyway." A gruff voice said. It was from Sam. I felt my face form in utter confusion. Not allowed...
Hayden read my confusion, but ignored it. Jessica and Taylor wandered over to Jacob and Sam, and began to talk. They wondered away, talking together. Jacob looked like he wanted to stay with Hayden, Austin, and Me, but he went anyway. Sam told him to come.
" Hayden...Austin? Would you like to take a walk to?" I asked them. Austin looked at me.
" I can't. I have to go home actually. I'm grounded. I just had to make sure that...some people weren't here."
" Who do you mean?"
" Just some people." Austin shrugged it off, and headed back to his house.
" Hayden? Would you like to take a walk with me?" He looked different than all the rest. He had high cheek bones, and white skin, instead of the brownish color that Jacob, Austin, and Sam had. His eyes were round, and his eyes had a very light blue color to them. His look was intense, the black hair and pale skin, plus blue eyes, made him have a unique, and beautiful look. Well, not so beautiful to me. I had hung out with pure beauty yesterday.
" Sure." He answered, happily. He didn't have the childish roundness in his face that Austin had. He looked about...seventeen to me. I felt so young next to him. Though it may only be a year apart, I still felt young.
" So...Hayden right?" He nodded. " Sorry, I'm not good with names." I was putting on a show. I had some information to get now. Not allowed... The words rung in my head. " So, you live in the reserve?" I asked him.
" Yeah. I'm not fully Native American though. My dad is, and my mom is white." He explained the coloring of his skin.
" Oh. Well...I'm Colombian. And I'm pretty sure I have some French in me." I offered. " You must feel so...out ofn place?"
" Nah. They're cool with it."
" I feel left out. I'm the only one with color to my skin in Forks."
" That must be hard." He answered. He really wasn't giving me any material to work with. I had to flirt. I started to aquire the mannerisms of liking someone. I played with my necklace, and looked up from under my lashes. I hoped that I had the same effect that Edward had. I looked down and then looked at Hayden. He seemed to notice, and started to act nervous.
" Hey...What was that guy over there, talking about?" I asked him. I bit my lip. His back stiffened, and he looked back at me.
" You mean Sam?"
" Yeah...Him."
" Well...They're some stories, pure nonsense, but some of the elders take them seriously over here."
" Really. What kind of stories?" I started to twirl my hair, and blink my lashes alot. He lead me to an uprooted tree nearby, and sat on top of it. He patted the spot next to him, so I should go and sit. I had to jump to get on. Me and my shortness. " See...the stories are...well, kind of weird. Are you sure you want me to tell you? You may not be able to sleep tonight." He warned me.
" I think I'll be okay." I smiled, and looked back at him.
" Okay then. Can I ask you a question though? Really quickly?"
" Sure."
" When did you get here?"
" October. Three months after my birthday."
" Do you like the truck?"
" How did you-?"
" Jacob's dad gave it to your aunt. He said it was supposed to be a birthday present. Well...belated birthday present."
" Tell Jacob's dad that I love it. It's pretty good. Story?" I could tell he was trying to get off the subject. Was the story really that stupid?
" Okay. Fine. Let me warn you though, it's a really dumb theory." He warned me again. I could tell my eyes were dripping with curiosity. " Fine. We have...they have legends over here. Something about how the men were some how connected to the wolves. It's against tribal law to kill them. Anyway, so a long time ago, Jacob's grandfather, the cheif, made a treaty with...well...the cold ones."
" What are the cold ones?" I asked. I was truly interested now.
" Well...I guess you would call them vampires. They're supposed to be beautiful, strong, fast, and pale." I remembered the Cullens. " Well, see...they're mortal enemies to the wolves. They hate them. And the wolves hate them back. Well, a long time ago...a...coven or a family came here. The tribe didn't want them to kill anyone or anything. So, they made a treaty. The vampires couldn't come anywhere near the tribes land, and the tribe couldn't go anywhere near the vampire's land."
" Who were the vampires?" I was starting to get goosebumps.
" They say it was...the Cullens. The same ones. The doctor, his wife and the two teens."
" Don't you mean five teens? The kids?"
" They left. But they came back with more. The tribe is very superstious. They don't want the cold one's to even bite anyone, even on they're own land. And they're not allowed to feed on the people in La Push, or even in the cold one's own land, Forks."
" Is that what Sam meant? That they weren't allowed?"
" Yeah. Oh course it's a whole bunch of crap, but still, some of the people around here are still...touchy about it." He saw me shudder, and smiled. " I told you you wouldn't be able to sleep tonight." He smiled, and patted my head.
" You're good at telling scary stories." He had attempted to make his voice abit lower than its usual tone. I could tell my face had drained of its tan color.
" Liza?" I heard a voice from behind, and it made me jump, which made me almost fall off the tree. Hayden steadied me, and looked at where the voice was coming from. Tyler, who was now with Jessica, looked at Hayden. Tyler's eyes narrowed, and then looked at Hayden's hand, which was still at the small of my back, from him steadying me.
" Tyler! Hey, this is Hayden. Hayden, Tyler." I wanted to make Tyler see that it wasn't how it looked like.
" Oh." Tyler's voice filled with a sour tone. He could see that Hayden was older than I was, and it angered him. He was older than I was, so why was he mad at Hayden? It was probably because he could see that Hayden was attractive. Though, I couldn't see it, I was biased.
" He's one of the friends of the guy, who's father gave my aunt my truck." I explained it, knowing it sounded confusing. It confused me as well. Tyler made a face.
" Yeah. I helped Jacob fix it up. It was pretty fun."
" Well, Hayden, thank you for fixing my truck." I said, smiling. He nodded.
" Liza, it's time to go." Tyler told me. His jaw was locked. I was suddenly afraid of what he would do to Hayden, if Hayden wasn't as tall as he was. Or with a somewhat built body. Hayden did look stronger than Tyler. But his body wasn't as toned as Edward's. Edward's body wasn't really big like Emmett, but it wasn't as small as Tyler's. I had to stop thinking about Edward.
I looked at Tyler. " Oh, okay." I leaped off the tree, and turned back to Hayden. " It was nice talking to you. I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight though." Hayden smiled, and winked at me. I was sure he was teasing Tyler.
" I hope we can talk again." He said it in a way that made it sound like it had double meaning to it. I giggled, and looked back at Tyler for his reaction. It kind of was fun to tease around with Tyler. And it was nice to know that he and Jessica were together now. I was relieved to see that her and Tyler were holding hands. And when we got back to the fire, Emily and Ryan were together, Abby and Eric were now going to the dance together, and Taylor and Mike were holding hands. I assumed they were going together too. I was the only one without the date, and I liked it like that. I rode in the back of the car, and when we got back to Mike Newton's parent's store, I went straight for my truck. No one saw me leave. I would tell them on Monday that I felt sick. Really sick. Maybe I could cancel...no. Jeanette already had plans, and I would be left alone, all day to think about what I had found out.
I drove home, going as fast as my old truck would allow. The roar of the truck cleared my mind, it had startled me. I tried to focus on that. But I couldn't. The stories kept repeating in my head, like I was listening to Hayden tell them to me. His voice felt like it was right next to me. His words repeated over and over. I knew it wasn't a long trip from La Push to Forks, but it felt like it had taken years. I wouldn't have been surprised if I got out of the car, went to the bathroom and saw my refelection fifty years older than it is. Stupidly though, I did check to see if my face hadn't aged during the fifteen minutes or so, that I had been driving. I sighed with relief, when my reflection showed a sixteen year old. Jeanette wasn't home yet, so I decided to check my e-mail. The lap top took a long time to load, which was strange, but it may have just been because of how impatient I was now. I went downstairs to get a snack, and quickly took my french braid out. My hair flowed out from my head, the waves looked strange, maybe like the sea. It wasn't like my normal, frizzy, wavy, and curly-at-the-same-time-as-wavy hair. It looked more...like it had been in a french braid. I hurried upstairs. There was no e-mail from my parents, so I decided that they must've been enjoying themselves, having their fun in Europe. Seeing things that I wanted to see. I would much rather see France again, than have to be stuck here, in the cold, and dark rain.
I looked at the clock in the corner of the monitor. It wasn't that late. About three in the afternoon. I sighed. Could this day go any slower? Yes. It could. I heard the door open, and my name being called out. Jeanette was home.
" Yeah! I'm here! I'm on the computer." I sensed that she would ask what I was doing. I looked at the monitor again. An idea popped into my head. Vampires. They were supposed to be fiction. What if I could find facts, to rule out all possibilities of the Cullens being vampires? I tried to make a mental list of all the common stories about vampires. They drank blood. Were supposedly evil ( though the Cullens couldn't be evil. Edward had saved my life). They slept in coffins. Were pale, long nails, and fangs. Garlic and crosses made them shudder away. And the sun burned them, killed them or the day would. So did stakes through the heart. But now that I think of it, those things sound stupid! Why did they have to have long nails, pale skin, fangs, allergies to the sun? What was the reason for all of this?
" Doctors. They see blood everyday! Carlisle is a doctor! He couldn't be a vampire!" I whispered to myself. I sounded and felt crazy. But everything else would add up. That would explain why no one hung out with them, or invited them anywhere. Human instinct. And they were pale, and from what I felt of Edward's skin, very cold. Fangs and the long nails must've been from movies, and books. And the coffins? Why did they even have to sleep? They didn't eat either. The Cullens never ate, and they went out in the day. Movies and books told that vampires only were allowed to go out in the night. The ideas rushed through my head. I typed in a website that Edward himself had suggested. Google.
I searched, and searched. I heard the door bell ring, and smelt the aroma of pizza enter the house. How I could smell it, I didn't know. I just did, it seemed to climb up the stairs the second it entered the house. I looked at the clock again. It was almost nine at night. I sighed. Had I really spent that much time obsessing? I ran down the stairs, almost missing the last step, tripping and breaking my leg. Thankfully, I caught myself. When I walked to the table, Jeanette was there, her pizza and my pizza already served on paper plates. she eyes my suspiciously, probably wondering why I was in a hurry.
To tell you the truth, I felt safer in my room. For some reason, where Edward's scent was, stuck faintly in the room, it was more comforting.
" Did you have a good time at La Push?" I heard Jeanette asked. I looked up from my plate of pizza, and saw the she was still eyeing me, a pizza in her hand, bent in the middle with her hand clamped around it, just like how the rest of my family ate it. Probably like the rest of New York.
" Yeah. The guy who sold you the truck, his kids were there. Jacob and Austin."
" Oh, really? That's cool."
" One of their friends, Hayden, Was telling me some of the Quileute legends."
" Really? Which ones? They have told me some of them too. Maybe I'll know the one Hayden told you." Jeanette looked at me, hopefully.
" Um...the one about the Cold Ones." I said. Jeanette frowned, and looked away. " I had asked Hayden to tell me some."
" Did he say that they think it's the Cullens?" Jeanette looked at me, anger was clear on her face now.
" They said something about it."
" You don't believe it do you?" She rolled her eyes.
" No." I lied quickly. I looked down at my pizza. Then looked up. " It's a whole bunch of nonsense." At least that was true. But I knew why she would have grown angrier if I had answered her with a yes. My whole family was roman Catholic. We aren't supposed to believe in things mightier than God, or things from the devil's creation. But was a vampire mightier than God? Stronger than humans yes, but not mightier than God. And if the Cullen's were of the Devil's creation, wouldn't the world already be rulled by vampires? Wouldn't the world be filled with more choas than it already is? Wouldn't one of them have killed me by now? I considered these loop holes while I ate. Dinner was quiet after the conversation, and the room was full of a tense and angry atmosphere. The anger probably radiating from Jeanette.
As I got ready for bed, I couldn't help but having the feeling of being watched. It was possible, that maybe one of the Cullen's had climbed up the side of my house and snuck in, I did leave my window open. But I shook the thought from my head. Why would they be interested in me. Just because I had found out they were vampires, didn't mean they knew I knew. I sighed. I was going crazy, thinking that a vampire was sneaking into my room. Watching me sleep, watching me get ready for bed, watching me wake up. It was impossible. Vampires weren't real. And yet, throughout the whole night, I knew that they were.
