Chapter 8: A New Kind of Different
Laynie went into Colin's room and laid down on the bed. He looked at her surprised. "You could have knocked."
"I could have." She rolled over and looked at him. "Does it really even matter?"
"No." Colin closed his laptop. "Scoot over." Laynie scooted over and Colin laid down next to her.
"Do you like being back?" Somehow, Colin had been able to convince Laynie to come back to New York with him.
"Yeah…You?"
Laynie shrugged his shoulders. "Yes and no. When we were in Portland, all I could think of was getting back home. Then dad showed up. I did not want to come home but…here I am. Now, I have no clue."
"You are a terrible liar." Colin said.
"How's Sarah?" Laynie asked to change the subject.
Colin looked up at the ceiling. "Fine. She's still as great as before."
"How was Edward?"
"It was nice to see him, but I can't…"
"Can't or won't?"
"Both."
"Do you think you'll ever?"
"Ever what?" Laynie looked confused.
"Get involved with another being."
"I don't know, but I don't want to be immortal. I know that." Colin nodded his head. "What are you thinking about?"
"Mom." Colin said.
"How is she?" Laynie asked. Colin had gone to see Mrs. Hanson in rehab since the twins had moved back. Laynie had refused to visit.
"Better." Colin looked at Laynie. "She asked about you. I told her you were doing better. She wants to see you sometime and apologize." Laynie did not say anything and looked at the ceiling. "I got offered a good packet from a college in Portland."
"So? Aren't you still waiting to hear from NYU?"
"I'm thinking of taking that offer in Portland."
"Oh…Wow…" Laynie said connecting the dots.
"Yeah… Have you decided where you are going to go?"
"Not yet." She sat up and walked to the door. She wasn't going to tell her brother the truth about her plans for next year.
"Be careful." Colin said.
Laynie looked back at her brother. "I will be." She went to her room and changed. Before the mirror, she looked at her body. All the bruises were nearly faded completed. Only one or two were still barely visible. She finished buttoning up her fitted white blouse. Then she put a vest over it. She pulled on jeans and black boots. Laynie fixed her hair, which meant curlers. Her makeup was light but her eyes were done with flashy tones.
She left the apartment and went down to a club down the street. The manager was sitting at the bar going over a list. It was still early and they had yet to open. She sat down on a barstool. They bar tender looked at her. "Piano is over on the stage."
"I saw it."
"What else do we need to talk about?"
"Nothing."
"I pay you to sing and play the piano. Do I need to get a new musician?"
"No. I was just thinking… How do you feel about hiring me on as your main musician?"
"I'll think about it."
"Okay, I'm going to go warm up." She hopped off the barstool and went over to the stage. She sat down at the piano and pressed down on the petal before playing the first couple of notes of a song.
Laynie put her packed bag on the bed in the Cullen's house. She was going back to New York with her brother and father. She had no idea why. She knew that she just had to. It was not because of her brother. Sure he had an effect on her but that was not it.
Edward was standing in the doorway. "I see you are all packed."
Laynie sat on the bed. "It would appear so."
"May I?"
"Sure. It's your house."
He came and sat next to her. "I want you to stay."
She looked at him and asked the question even though she already knew the answer. "Why?" He looked at her surprised. "You want me to stay because you like me. I need another reason."
"You are my friend. Why do I need another reason?"
"You just do."
He had to think. "I've never met anyone as unique, interesting, or amazing as you. I think my feelings for you could develop into something more if you would let me. By leaving you diminish that hope of something more."
"Edward, I will be your friend but I can never be your lover. I'm not that girl." Edward nodded.
"Your dad is here." Edward said as he heard a car door close in the driveway.
"I should get my stuff downstairs." She stood up and grabbed a CD out of her bag. "This is for you. It's just a mix."
"Thank you." Edward took the CD. "Laynie…"
"Yes."
"Can I kiss you?"
"Okay," Edward came up to her. He was gentle so not to hurt her. His lips brushed up against hers. She kissed him, but they both knew it did not feel right. "I'll see you around Cullen." She said before heading downstairs.
Laynie put her bag in the trunks next to Colin's. They both said their goodbyes and got in the car. As the car disappeared, Edward put the CD in and played the first song. He smiled and laid on his bedroom couch listening to the CD.
It had been years since Laynie and Colin had moved to Portland. It was years since they were teenagers with the weight of the world on them. Many things had changed since Laynie and Colin had met the Cullens. To tell the truth, it had been nearly eight years.
Colin had ended up going to college at NYU where he had majored in pre-med. He had just finished medical school at John Hopkins. He was currently doing his internship at a hospital in the northwest under Dr. Cullen. Over the years, Colin and Laynie still had a close relationship with the Cullens.
As for Laynie, she had gone to Julliard for a year and then dropped out. Now she was a singer. She loved being a musician. She was currently doing a show at a club down in Portland. Colin and the Cullens had driven down to see it. They were sitting at a table close to the stage where she could see them.
"How is everyone doing tonight?" Laynie asked after playing one of her songs. She received a decent reply from the crowd. "So this next song does not belong to me. However, I would like to dedicate this to a close friend of mine. Edward this is for you and thank you." She signaled to the band who came in on drums softly. However, she played the guitar.
"You got a fast car. I want a ticket to anywhere. Maybe we could make a deal. Maybe together we can get somewhere. Any place is better. Starting from zero got nothing to lose. Maybe we'll make something. Me, myself, I've got nothing to prove."
"You got a fast car. I've got a plan to get us out of here been working at the convenience store. Manage to save just a little bit of money. Won't have to drive too far. Just cross the boarder and into the city. You and I can both get jobs and finally see what it means to living."
"See my old man's got a problem. Lives with the bottle that's the way it is. He says his body's too old for working. Well his body's to young to look like his. My momma went off and left him. She wanted more from life than he could give her. I said, somebody's got to take care of him. So I quit school and that's what I did."
"You got a fast car. Is it fast enough so we can fly away? We got a make a decision: leave tonight or live and die this way? So, remember when we were driving. Driving in your car. Speeds so fast that I felt like I was drunk. City lights stay out before us and your arms felt nice wrapped around my shoulder and I… I…Had a feeling that I belonged. I…I…Had a feeling that I could be someone…be someone…be someone."
"You got a fast car. We go cruzing to entertain ourselves. Still ain't got a job. And I'll work in the market as a check out girl. I know things will get better. You'll find work and I'll get promoted and we'll move out of the shelter. Buy and bigger house and live in the suburbs. So, remember when we were driving. Driving in your car. Speeds so fast that I felt like I was drunk. City lights stay out before us and your arms felt nice wrapped around my shoulder and I… I…Had a feeling that I belonged. I…I…Had a feeling that I could be someone…be someone…be someone."
"You got a fast car. I got a job that pays a lot of bills. You stay out late drinking in the daylight in the bars. You know your friends better than you do your kids. I'd always hoped for better but maybe together you and I can find that you ain't got no plans of going nowhere. So take your fast car and keep on driving."
"So, remember when we were driving. Driving in your car. Speeds so fast that I felt like I was drunk. City lights stay out before us and your arms felt nice wrapped around my shoulder and I… I…Had a feeling that I belonged. I…I…Had a feeling that I could be someone…be someone…be someone."
"You got a fast car. Is it fast enough so you can fly away? You got a make a decision: leave tonight or live and die this way?"
It was late. The show had ended about thirty minutes ago. Laynie and Colin had a chance to catch up. However, he had work the next day and had to go. The Cullens had all left except for Edward who patiently waited until Laynie had a free moment. She finally did.
Laynie came and sat down next to Edward. "Hi."
"Hi. So hypothetically: we are married, have kids, I am a drunk, and you pay all the bills? That's so sad."
"That's not what I was trying to say."
"Then what were you trying to say?" Edward asked through a grin.
"Hypothetically?"
"Hypothetically."
"If we were married: you would not be a drunk. I'm not sure if we would have kids. We might have adopted."
"Two kids: boy and girl."
"At least." Laynie said and Edward looked surprised. Laynie laughed. "You haven't changed at all."
"No, I haven't." It was a bitter sweat moment. Laynie's hair was longer. It came down to her waist and was pure black. She was older but still looked like herself backing high school. "I'd be paying all the bills."
"What?" Laynie asked.
"I would be paying all the bills and you would be on the road performing."
"Could we split the bills?"
"I doubt it."
"Well if we didn't have kids we would probably end up fighting all the time."
"Probably end up getting a divorce."
"Probably." Laynie joked with Edward.
A slow song began to play in the background. Edward stood up and offered his hand. "Laynie Hanson, may I have this dance?"
"Yes you may Edward Cullen."
Edward led Laynie onto the dance floor and started to dance with her. At the appropriate time, he spun her. "So how have you been really?"
"I'm good." Laynie said. She knew that Edward had been referring to the fact that people with severe C.I.P.A. died earlier than later. It was amazing that Laynie had made it to her age let alone was so strong.
Edward spun Laynie and pulled her close. "If you ever change your mind."
"I'm not going to." Edward's eyes were sad, but he respected Laynie's decision. "In a couple more years we won't be able to do this. I'll be too old for you."
"You'll always be too young." Edward joked.
Laynie rested her head on Edward's chest. "Make me a promise."
"Anything."
She looked him in the eyes. "In my next life, if you haven't found the one… You'll find me."
"Next life?" Laynie nodded her head. "I promise."
The finished dancing out the song and went their separate ways.
It was a normal rainy day in Forks, Washington. After so many years, Edward was used to the rain. He did not despise it anymore. He was walking down the hall of the school. He kept hearing all about some girl named: Isabella Swan. However, she preferred Bella. He had yet to see her.
He went to his normal seat in Biology. He smiled at the memory of the first day Colin had walked into his Physics class in Portland. Edward looked up as a teacher mentioned his name. That is when he saw her. She was pretty, but what bothered him was not being able to hear her thoughts. She was not Laynie cause she was on tour in England. He took a deep breath and covered his nose as he was overwhelmed by her scent. Little did he know how much that scent and girl would change his life.
El Fin
A/N: Yes, that is the the end. It's been fun writing this and hearing what you think.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. I own nothing. Also, since there has been some confusion: I do NOT own any House MD lines. There is a disclaimer earlier but for anyone who did not see that disclaimer here it is: I own the story idea. I do not own C.I.P.A. or the lines explaining C.I.P.A. from House MD. Thanks!
