Johnson

We sat there in peaceful silence for a while after that. Somehow, impossibly, I was content. It felt so good to share my heartbreak with someone- and Caitlin was a perfect listener. Unlike my family, Caitlin didn't try to tell me everything was alright. It wasn't, and she knew it just like I knew it. Bypass the bullshit.

But besides that, something was bothering me. Before that talk, I had sort of thought Caitlin was shallow. Not hugely, but just a little bit smug and superior. I never gave myself time to really figure out her depth. When I found out that Caitlin was a caring, compassionate, selfless person who would give everything she has to keep others safe, it baffled me. Vampires, by nature, are not caring creatures. Self-preservation is always the most important trait in a fight. Humans are the same way. Being around Caitlin was strange, because I wasn't used to her selflessness. It was infectious, too. I felt strong around her; like even I could run into a fire to save a kid. Like I would, if I had too. It also worked in reverse- being around Caitlin was safe. She was a security blanket, a guardian angel, a watchman. I was almost jealous of her kind; she watched out for all of them. It must have been wonderful.

And then something triggered worry in my mind. "Caitlin," I asked, "what did you mean when you said 'we could both grow older'?" She only looked seventeen. Was there a way to grow old?

But she just chuckled. "I grew old with Brian. Then, when he died, I decided to go back and keep watching out for my people. This is how I looked when I was almost nineteen, and since I want to look almost nineteen, that's how it is." Teasing, she said, "I also am enrolled in high school- I've been through it nine times. Wanna know how my grades are?"

I just laughed, still shaken but my fears- and hopes- gone. "Nah, I'm sure mine would be better." I leaned forward. "So tell me about this school, Caitlin. It sounds great- like everyone is there." No, more than great- it sounded perfect. Wonderful.

Caitlin smiled, filled with true excitement. Her love for her people was obvious on her face. "It is the perfect place for those who don't want to be found. Or, those who need to stay hidden. We don't need to hide, and we get all the attention and help we need. No cover stories, no secrets, no lies. The only cover story we ever need is that it's Gregory T. School of the Gifted, for those with 'attention disorders and hyperactivity issues.'" She snorted good-naturedly. "Or, as we call it, Freak School. We take anyone with powers; they can be runaways or orphans. Sometimes, if the hybrid in question is too powerful but doesn't know it, we send a 'scout'- someone to go to their house and tell them 'we have an opening, come learn here.' Or, scouts to come looking for you, like how they found me.

"Everyone learns the basics- math, science, English, social studies. Then we have the choice of electives- home ec, music, art, that kind of thing. We also all take- and master- judo and krav maga, in case someone figures out how to neutralize our powers." She said this so normally, like everyone did it. I guess they did in her world, but I was baffled. She looked so breakable. "Everyone also has to train at least thirty hours in our hologram gym, and take at least two languages." She smiled with true happiness. "It's the best. It's the one place in the world we will never have to hide."

I felt a strange, hollow pang in my stomach. It sounded like my home, but there were no schools for vampires. Vampires aren't there for each other, besides my family. Vampires live by the rule "every man for himself." This life had no unity.

Suddenly, Caitlin's head snapped up. "Back to work." I sighed. This is good for you, this is good for you, I kept telling myself. But all I wanted to do was talk to her, get to know her. I wanted to be with her.

"Okiedokie, m'am. " I stood strait in mock salute. She rolled her eyes, and the woods were suddenly filled with the smell of humans. I took a deep breath and ran into the forest in search of the animals. When I got back to the clearing, her face was held in a strange way- pride and improvement and worry mixed together. But when I stopped, all she said was, "Again."

We kept at it all day. Caitlin's facial expression didn't change much through the entire course, and she didn't say much. We finally flopped down back in the same old clearing in exhaustion.

Caitlin changed a rock into a pizza, and silently began to eat. I watched her instead of speaking; one thing I already knew was that she told me what she wanted, when she wanted. After ten minutes of silence, Caitlin unexpectedly said, "Tell me about your family, Johnson."

This caught me off guard. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything. Hobbies, histories- the works."

I took a minute to figure out what I was going to say. "Well… I live with ten other people. My family- Edward and Esme, my 'parents', Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper, Edward and Bella- they're my brothers and sisters. Then my niece, Renesmee- Edward and Bella's daughter- and her husband, Jacob. Renesmee is half human, half vampire and Jacob is a wolfman." I paused. "It's sort of funny- Jacob was in love with Bella up until she had her daughter, then Jacob imprinted on Renesmee. He always knew he was supposed to be family." I looked at her again. She was on lying on her back, hands behind her head, eyes closed. She looked peaceful.

Caitlin noticed my stop in talking and prodded with a "Go on. What about hobbies?"

So, I did. "Well. Everyone is over two hundred years old, and as you guessed everyone has a hobby. Carlisle works in medicine- he's a doctor. Esme is into home decorating- she actually renovated our home. Rosalie- blonde and beautiful- like mechanics! It's crazy. Emmett…" This was difficult. Everything, really. "Emmett likes danger. Whatever puts him at risk- fighting, gambling, extreme sports. You name it. Jasper likes computer and web programming. Alice adores fashion and party planning. Edward loves music- composing, collecting, and study. Bella reads and writes like there's no tomorrow. Renesmee cooks! It's sort of cute, actually. Jacob likes the outdoors. He's the only one who really doesn't have a specific hobby. Hmm…" No one left. "Well, that's my whole family in hobbies. Anything else?"

She looked at me strangely. "What do you do, Johnson?"

"Me? Architectural design. It's the best."

She looked happy. "Hmm. Cool."

"Caitlin, what about you? What do you do?"

She blushed. "Well… I love art. Especially sculpting- clay is my favorite medium." She yawned.

I sighed. "Caitlin, you should sleep." I hated it; every second away from her was like torture. But she was so tired!

Caitlin was reluctant, but mumbled, "Yeah, you're right… I have no energy at all." She yawned again, and pulled out a small cell. "Laycee? Yeah, could you come pick me up? NO, don't you dare take my car… I don't know, take Jason's, he won't mind." She bit back a smirk. "The keys are in his room. Thanks so much!" She hung up, then turned to me. "Laycee has a really useful power- she knows where anyone is at any time." She rolled her eyes. "Of course, she lusts after my car, but there's no way she's driving it through the woods. Now Jason's Jeep, it's perfect for that…" Again, she bit back a grin. "Where were we?"

God, she was sweet. "What kind of car do you have?" I was morbidly curious, now, and it would be a great story to pass on to Rosalie. Her eyes glossed over; a dreamy expression covered her face. "It's my dream car, a 1963 Austin Mini Cooper. I just had it repainted by a friend- purple with cream and black stripes. It's the best car ever, and even though Laycee has a green Porsche, it's at her house in Oxford, PA. She's sent here, by her parents. There is no way she's taking my car on a drive through the woods, but Jason's Jeep is perfect for that." She tried not to smile for the third time.

I couldn't stand it anymore. "Why is the subject of his Jeep so funny?" It was killing me. I almost tapped my foot out of impatience.

She started laughing. "Let's just say, we don't bet against Sam anymore." She couldn't stop laughing. I wasn't sure why, but at that moment I felt completely whole. Like losing everything hadn't taken the effect it really had. "You'll see, just look at the west end of the clearing."

Still laughing, I turned toward where she was looking. I heard the roaring of a big engine, and suddenly saw why she was laughing so hard. Me, I couldn't stop. The car was monstrous, and had a great build, but it was pink. Bright, Pepto-Bismol, little-girl ribbons, bubblegum pink- and the owner was a self-respecting male. I was laughing so hard I was shaking.

Two bright, curious blue eyes were staring at me through the windshield- that must have been Laycee. I quieted down, raised my hand in a half-greeting, and turned back to Caitlin, suddenly unsure.

She was unbothered, of course. At least by that. "Do you want to stay at the mansion?" Huh. There wasn't much I could do up there, and I had no idea what they would all think of me. So I shook my head. "You know, I don't sleep and all… Thanks for asking." She yawned and nodded. "Same time tomorrow then, Johnny-boy." Emmett's name was strangely natural coming from her. I smiled and turned around, walking back into the forest.

She got into the truck, and they drove off.