Hi everyone,
Sorry I haven't updated lately, but school was really busy! I've had 4 exams 2 days, 3 assessments and 2 assignments to hand in, plus ballet 2 times a week for 1 ½ hours each. So now that it's Friday, I can actually update :)
Thanks to pricel and ducky-luver11 for adding Changes to favourite story, and Rhoddy for reviewing! :)
The crash scene is mostly based on the movie, so instead of the crash happening before school, it happens afterwards. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, Midnight Sun or any references made to the Twilight saga here. I also don't own the movie (although I had to watch clips on YouTube to get this chapter perfect!). There are a few references to Midnight Sun in this chapter (Chapter 3, Page 58)
Changes
Chapter 8 – Absorption
***
Cassidy leant against the side of Edward's Volvo, waiting for Eden and Kirsten. There was ice on the roads today, and everyone was driving more carefully than usual. Of course, it hadn't bothered the Cullens, who had driven to school at the same pace, nearly giving her a heart attack. She glanced at Edward, as Bella drove into the parking lot. She'd seen what had almost happened in Biology and in the office, and was monitoring him. He wasn't aware of that, and frankly Cassidy was glad, especially since he was so annoyed at Alice for the same reason. Lost in thought, Cassidy only vaguely heard Alice gasp "NO!", before the vision flooded her mind. Half a second later, it became a reality. Cassidy watched in horror, as Tyler Crowley's van rounded the corner, his tires hitting the ice at the worst possible angle, headed, screeching, towards Bella's truck.
Still watching the vision, a new voice broke in. Not her! The voice yelled. Cassidy recognized it immediately as Edward's. Suddenly, Alice's vision shifted, and Edward had disappeared from beside his car. Her eyes widened, as she watched the outcome of the vision. Sighing in relief, she relaxed against the side of the car once more, although her eyebrows pulled together. She knew how much the Cullens wanted to stay here. And if Edward exposed them...
It all happened so quickly then. Cassidy didn't see what had happened behind the van, but she saw the windows shatter as the van settled on the ground with a groan. Then suddenly, everyone was screaming in shock, and running towards the crash site. Cassidy stayed back, knowing Bella was all right, and feeling safer away from the mob that now surrounded the cars. The EMTs arrived shortly afterwards, signaling their appearance with blaring sirens and light. The crash became a blur of activity, and Bella was wheeled onto the ambulance, her cheeks red. Only Cassidy and the Cullens noticed Edward rearranging the shape of the dent in a tan car. She smiled as she heard Emmett's mental promise to catch anything he'd missed. The crowd dispersed soon after, heading towards the hospital.
Alice beckoned to her, already inside the car. Climbing in, she noticed the frowns of his siblings. Only Alice was smiling. Cassidy cringed as the thoughts of Jasper and Rosalie hit her. Turning to them, she said, "You can't do that to her. Or to Chief Swan. Besides, weren't you the one that wanted to stay here Rosalie?" Rosalie scowled, while Jasper just looked out the window, planning. "Jasper! Stop planning! It's not going to make anything better!" she yelled. He turned to her, expressionless, but Emmett howled with laughter. "That's the first time you've ever blown up Cass! You're like a furious kitten that thinks it's a tiger!" Cassidy shot daggers at him, then turned back to face the front, her arms crossed over her chest.
***
Cassidy clambered out of the car, when it pulled up at the drive. Rosalie had decided to go back to the hospital, to give Edward a large chunk of her mind. The others melted into the trees, leaving Cassidy to walk. Today she wanted to be alone. Plugging her iPod into her ears, she sighed as her song came on. It was the song she'd danced to whenever it had come on, wherever she may have been. But her dancing days were over. Her 14th birthday was the last time she'd danced, almost 6 months ago. The longest she'd ever gone without it. Not dancing felt as if she'd lost someone, like she'd lost a piece of her. A movement of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She walked towards the edge of the forest, cautiously.
Placing her hand on a tree trunk, she brushed aside the ferns that grew around its base. Cassidy stepped further into the forest, forgetting everything she'd been warned about. Moving deeper into the forest, she let her hands trail along the leaves. There was something so liberating about breaking the rules. Turning around, she realized that she couldn't see the road anymore. Cassidy smiled. She was definitely alone now.
Stopping suddenly, her mouth dropped open. She was standing in a clearing. Unlike the forest, the sun lit it up, making it even more beautiful than before. It was flat here, with only a few rocks and fallen trees around the edges. Wildflowers were scattered in random bunches across the grass.
Spinning slowly, she took it all in, before rearranging her face. Then she noticed the sun's angle. If she didn't hurry, she'd be stuck in the forest overnight. Cassidy shuddered, frightened. Reality hit her then. She had absolutely no idea how to get back. The sun was setting fast now, casting long shadows across the ground. The forest around the clearing was growing darker. Cassidy started panicking; the forest looked the same, no matter where she turned. Another movement caught her attention, at the edge of the clearing, as something red dropped to the ground.
Although she was scared, curiosity got the better of her. Moving slowly, she walked forwards. At the edge of the clearing, lay a red wildflower. Picking it up, she looked into the forest. Another flower, also red, lay further onwards. She ran towards it, and picked it up. Looking around, she spotted another red flower, picking it up she began to run, picking the dropped flowers as she went. Suddenly the trail ended. Cassidy looked up, and saw a dirt path. Following it, the Cullens house soon came into view.
Sighing in relief, she sprinted towards it, her arms full of red flowers. Bursting through the door, she noticed no one was in the lounge. Tiptoeing upstairs, she heard voices in the dining room. Frowning, she laid a hand on the doorknob, about to turn it, and then decided against it. She made her way to the kitchen, looking for a vase. Plopping the flowers in a round vase, she filled it with water and carried it carefully to her bedroom. Positioning it on her bedside table, she smiled. Whoever left the flowers for her must have wanted her to get out safely. Why else would they have lead her to the path? Cassidy would have to remember to thank the Cullens for leading her out tomorrow. Still gazing at the flowers, she drifted off to sleep.
***
Watching from a tree near her window, he looked into Cassidy's room. He hadn't meant to follow her into the forest. Especially since her delicious scent was overpowering, and no one knew where she was. He could easily have killed her. But when she walked into the clearing and looked around in wonder, he knew he couldn't end her life. She had spent much longer than she'd realized walking into the forest, and in the clearing. When she'd realized this, he saw the panic in her eyes. This human was so fragile; he shuddered to think what would've happened if she'd had to spend the night in the forest. So he left her a trail. She didn't need to know it was him. She could sleep peacefully now. He would keep watch over her...
***
There's another chapter for you! The person at the end was not James, as you probably guessed. James would have no hesitation whatsoever about killing Cassidy. That was my OC, but I have everything planned out, so you'll have to wait to see who he actually is. My sister now thinks I'm a freak show, because I've been acting out future scenes in the bathroom, in front of the mirror, which involves having conversations with myself! :D
Anyways, Next Chapter – Questions
More James, more OCs and I will be skipping ahead a couple of chapters in Midnight Sun, because the scene I've been planning from the beginning HAS to happen soon, or I might just explode! :D
