Sorry to be out for so long (damn summer reading), but I promised myself to put out a chapter before vacation. So here it is, I've hit the chapter 10 marker! Enjoy with the Goodie of the Day, apple turnover.

Oh, and by the way, I don't own "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". The Proclaimers do.

The small club we were in was exceptionally full that Saturday night. It was a tradition between Arden and a few friends of ours to go to Lydon's Bar the last Saturday of the month, when there was a live guitarist singing and playing old songs and some that he wrote himself. If we were lucky, the manager of the bar brought out a freshly killed bear or some other large carnivore, whose blood would be on the house for the whole bar. Other than that, it was usually wine or beer.

That night, when Arden picked me up from the house, I was ready to get out of the house. Since Christelle got over her cold and stopped spending her days out doors, I had hardly any time to myself. It was a slow process, but she began to really interact with everyone in the house, participating in every day activities or contributing to chores (though we often insisted that it was unnecessary). While I was happy that her mood was brighter, being around my family that long grew tiresome; I needed a night with my friends. Bella and Edward were out as well, celebrating their anniversary by traveling down to Spain for the weekend and relaxing along its beaches. Everyone else was busy in the house or relaxing for the evening.

"Well, Nahuel," Arden said when we sat down at our usual booth, "aren't you happy to spend the evening with us?"

"Yeah, it's about time I got out of the house." Arden sat to my right, while my old friend Sebastian sat to my left. To Arden's right was Emiliana, his arm around her shoulder. Next to Sebastian was David, and to his left were the twins Rebecca and Jillian.

"To Friday nights; one of many!" Arden said as he lifted his glass of red beer. Everyone lifted theirs and cheered, following by a simultaneous swig of the drinks. We all sat in our usual booth fit for seven in the corner of the club. Lydon's was dressed up like a traditional Irish pub. Everything was made up of dark wood, and the booths and chairs were upholstered with green dyed leather. All along the walls were ancient and rusting signs that said sayings like "Welcome to Ireland" or "In beer we trust". Several others were smoking the same fragrant, but most likely foul tasting, cigars that Arden always carried around.

"So, Nahuel," Rebecca said in a low voice, "You look awfully happy tonight. Do you have a new girlfriend or something?" For a brief moment of panic, I wondered if Arden had betrayed me. A quick look on his face reassured me that he didn't.

"Uh, no. Why can't I be happy just to have our traditional night?" I asked, trying as hard as I could to not sound nervous, though I felt like I was failing miserably. I was always terrible about telling lies.

"Well, you have that glow on your face, and the only time I ever see it is if you are working on a new project, or you have a new girlfriend." She leaned in closer, her eyes batting teasingly. "So, which one is it?" Everyone else leaned in.

"Yeah, Nahuel, tell us," they commanded in unison, smiling coyly. I hated being put on the spot.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a new girlfriend. I actually am working on a new project."

"Ooh, tell us about that," Jillian said. Crap, now I would have to spin an entire story.

"Uh, well, I guess I'm trying a full sized human sculpture again. I haven't done one in a while." They seemed to be satisfied with my response but were itching for more.

"Who is it? Anyone we know?" David asked. I needed something fast. If I were Christelle, I would have a whole layout of what I would say mapped out in my head already. Though, if I were Christelle, I probably wouldn't follow any pre-prepared dialogue.

"No, I'm just creating someone out of my head," I said. It would be better not to name anyone specific, lest they ask more about that person. This made my job much easier.

"Well, you'll have to show us when it's done, ok?" Emiliana added.

"I promise," I said.

Just then, a guitar strummed from the tiny stage. Everyone's eyes turned toward it.

"Is everyone ready for a good time tonight?" asked Andy, the guitarist. Everyone raised their glasses and cheered. He began to improvise a picking melody. "Well, shall we start with a request?" Before anyone could shout a song title, Sebastian was already up on the stage, whispering in Andy's ear. Without fail, he was always the first person to request a song, and it was usually a good rock and roll song that brought back nostalgia in each of us, and was always a great one to start off.

"Yeah, sure," Andy said, "I haven't played that in, what, twenty-five years!" Sebastian gave Andy a tip in the jar and sat back down next to me. Andy began playing a rhythmic, staccato song that sounded vaguely familiar. People began clapping their hands to the beat or tapping their hands on the table.

When I wake up, well I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you.

"Oh, nice pick, Sebastian!" Rebecca said, giving him a light punch on the shoulder. We all joined in now that we recognized the song.

When I go out, oh I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you

If I get drunk, oh I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you

If I heaver, well I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man whose heavering to you

At this point, the whole club was singing along, waving their glasses to the beat or stomping the floor. The manager was in the corner getting angry at one guy who accidentally dented the floorboards. When the chorus came about, everyone erupted in song.

But I would walk 500 miles

And I would walk 500 more

Just to be the man who walks a 1000 miles

To fall down at your door.

We were all singing along, leaving all the stress of our endless lives behind us. I briefly thought of Christelle, and how much she would have loved to have been there. She must have been so bored from being in the house all day. We continued throughout the rest of the song, further sinking into the moment and letting go.

When the song was over, everyone clapped and whistled.

"Hey, everybody," Andy said, "our good manager, Bob, has told me that he has a fresh bear that he caught only minutes ago." Everyone cheered again. It had been a while since most people had any large game, most of which was either hibernating or had migrated south for the winter. The bartenders ran out from behind the bar, carrying trays filled with glasses of warm, fresh blood. They began passing the glasses around, stopping last at our table in the farthest corner from the bar.

"Everybody raise your glasses," Andy said. The crowd followed his request. "Give me an 'oye'!"

"Oye!" everybody shouted in unison.

"Two oyes!" he shouted.

"Oye oye!"

"Three oyes!" he shouted.

"Oye oye oye!" everyone responded.

"Now sip it down," he said. As everyone did, they gave the customary "mmmmm" sound.

"Perfect, now the night has officially begun!" Andy started strumming the chords for "Free Falling". Everyone joined in as he strummed away and hummed on a harmonica.

"See, Nahuel, isn't this better than staying at home?" Arden asked me, his lips tinted red from the crimson drink in his glass.

"Definitely," I responded. I held up my glass and clinked it with his before sipping again. It was warm and homely, and undeniably fresh. I had to restrain myself from gulping all of the contents at once, hoping to make it last as I could.

The door creaked slightly, which made my head shoot towards the club's entrance. My stomach back flipped; it was William. He wasn't alone. Accompanying him were five other officers, cloaked in black uniforms, while he was dressed in his impeccably sharp suit and red tie. Andy didn't stop singing, but the voices singing in the bar grew quieter. Several people gave small coughs. William, taller than most men, surveyed the room with his analytical glare, until they rested on our booth. He gestured his men over, and they began walking towards our table. I felt sick.

"Citizens, please excuse yourselves from this booth," he said in his smooth and venomous voice. Everyone looked at each other, too smart to back talk to him. Everyone that is, except Sebastian.

"Sir, I hate to tell you, but we were here first." I could have punched off his jaw bone right then and there. Sebastian, unfortunately, wasn't afraid of authority and did whatever he wanted and to hell with everyone else. I nudged him hard in his ribs with my elbow.

"Now's not the time for this!" I whispered harshly in his ear. William smiled liplessly.

"Do you have something to say, you filthy half-breed?" he said to me. The words cut like a knife, but I had to keep a brave face.

"No sir, I have nothing to say. We'll be going now," I said, half pushing Sebastian and everyone else out of the booth. But as I was pushing, I overestimated how hard to push, and as Sebastian walked forward faster than expected, I half fell, right in front of everyone. Quickly as I could, I got myself up again, but the move was not missed by William and his people. They laughed cruelly.

"It's creatures like you that disgrace our race," he coldly whispered. My muscles tightened, as if to fight, but at the moment I felt two feet tall. The small scene didn't miss the eyes of other onlookers in the club. Some began to snicker as well; I hoped that it was only to gain favor with William. Someone in the back whispered "Disgusting", purposefully loud enough for me to hear.

"Come on, Nahuel, lets get out of here," Arden said. He put his hand on my shoulder, but I pushed it off.

"I'm fine. Don't let worry about me. I'm ruining the night as it is," I said as we all began to walk out the front door. "Go back in and have fun."

"What? No, we just got here, we're not leaving without you," Jillian protested. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, you guys, but I just some time alone, ok?" They looked at me in silence. "Please? There's another bar with music down a few blocks. Go on ahead; I'll catch up with you guys later." They looked at me for several seconds before deciding I wasn't going to change my mind.

"Fine, we'll head over there. We'll save you a beer," Arden said regrettably.

"Thanks, man," I said. "See you guys later." They waved goodbye and walked down the street. Every few seconds, one of them would look back, but soon they continued on down the snowy avenue.

I stood alone for a few moments before heading behind the club. There was a small torch light in the ally way, which wouldn't have really mattered anyway. I leaned against the wall.

That certainly wasn't the first time I had ever been humiliated in public for who I was, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Any time I encountered William, it was almost certain of him to bring it up. Sometimes, I felt incredibly lonely because of it. I mean, I had Renesmee and Jacob, who often received the same treatment from most of the community, but it still affected me. I was truly luck to have friends like Arden and Sebastian and Rebecca, who didn't give a damn about how I came into this world.

"Rebellion." The word was so quiet that I almost didn't catch it. It came from the other side of the wall, and I quickly realized that I was just on the other side of the wall from our booth. A rebellion? I pressed my ear against the wall, straining to hear. They were talking quietly, but I could still pick out their words.

"-assure you that there's been talk of an uprising," one of the men said. I didn't recognize the voice; it was obviously an officer.

"Where have you received this information? What sources?" I recognized that voice as William's.

"Just rumors that have been floating around. But there have been reports of people actually hearing conversations mentioning the possibility. However, we have no way of determining if any of these reports are true, sir."

"We cannot risk the possibility. If any more of these reports are submitted to us, take them seriously. The government cannot afford any rebellions at this moment. There's already the possibility of a recession, and-" William briefly stopped. Could he hear me breathing on the other side of the wall? I held my breath, but my heart beat traitorously. There was a moment of silence before the voices continued. I didn't catch what they said, as I immediately dashed out of the ally and into the street, where I was sure I wouldn't be heard.

Was there really going to be a rebellion? I hadn't heard of any rumors of such a thing happening, but the possibility filled me with both excitement and terror. If this was true, then my entire world could be changed. But who was planning such a thing, and why? If I, or anyone else I knew, had heard of such a thing, it either must not be a serious threat, or the police were obviously trying to quiet down the talk. Nevertheless, my mind filled with curiosity, imagining the possibilities. As I walked down the street to meet up with everyone at the bar further down the road, I couldn't help but be caught up in the thought of something new happening. Should I tell everyone at the bar? There was the danger that if I spoke of such things, I could be overheard and reported to the police. If I wanted to discuss it, it would have to be privately, without the risk of being detected.

From then on, I could tell that things were going to get very interesting.