I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
CH. 10
On Friday I was rudely awoken by someone pouncing on me while I was still asleep.
"Mary Alice, get off." I growled trying to burying myself back under the covers. I pulled my pillow over my head.
"Don't call me that, Grumpy." She bounced again. I rolled over suddenly making her fall off the bed with a thump. "Ow," she grumbled. She didn't really sound hurt but I peeked out from under my pillow and glanced over anyways.
"Serves you right." I yawned as I sat up in bed. Alice in the meantime bounced to her feet and started to tug on my arm.
"Come on. Come on, you have to see this." She pulled harder nearly pulling me of my bed.
"Alright. Alright, I'm coming." I slid out of bed and let her pull me to the stairs.
She didn't stop pulling me until we reached the living room. Charlie gave us a curious look as we passed him in the kitchen. She stopped in the middle of the room with a huge smile on her face. I glanced around not seeing anything that would've required Alice's exuberance.
"What am I looking for?" I asked. Alice let out a huge disappointed sigh.
"Hello, the sun. Look it is finally out just like I said it would be." She said with a flourish. She turned to face me again placing her hands on her hips. "Honestly, Edward, how can you miss the biggest, brightest planet we have?"
"Actually, the sun is a star. The brightest planet is Venus and Jupiter is the biggest planet." I corrected her while yawning.
"You know what I meant," Alice stuck her tongue out at me. I turned when I heard a chuckling behind me. Charlie was in the doorway looking highly amused.
"You'd think you never seen the sun before, Alice." He took a sip of his coffee.
"It feels like I haven't in such a long time." Alice twirled in a bit of sun that was on the rug. "It should be sunny all weekend, too."
"Sounds like a good weekend to take you kids fishing," Charlie suggested. Alice stopped mid-twirl and had an unsure expression on her face.
"Fishing?" Alice sounded very skeptical.
"Your mom use to love to fish," Charlie nodded pointing to the picture on the mantle.
Alice walked up and looked at the picture closely.
"That's mom?" she turned her head to the side a few times as if she was studying a masterpiece rather than a simple photo.
"Of course that's mom. Do you think he would keep photos of random strangers?" I snickered.
"Huh?" Alice mumbled, her eyes moved to the picture of our parents with Charlie.
"Count me in, Charlie," I started to head back downstairs.
"Alice?" Charlie asked.
"Um, sure… fishing. I'm sure it's going to be fun." Alice said brightly. I could tell it wasn't her idea of a good time. It may be for me though. Watching Alice having to touch a worm and possibly a live fish would be highly amusing.
"Good. Be ready to go tomorrow five AM." Charlie smiled heading backing to the kitchen.
F
We got to the school a little later than normal, but still not late. I glanced around the parking lot and ended up being disappointed that Bella's car was nowhere in sight. I brushed it off knowing it was possible she was running late too.
At lunch, most of the student body was outside. It was unseasonably warm with the temperatures close to approaching the sixties. I glanced around the courtyard and failed to spot Bella.
"They aren't here today." Alice appeared at my side.
"The Cullens are never here on sunny days. Their parents pull them out and go camping." Angela spoke up softly next to Alice. Bella had mentioned that and they must have left a little earlier to enjoy the weather.
"Must be nice." I turned to see Ben at a table with a boy whose name I believed was Austin. "I would love to get out of school on days like this."
"How many school days until summer?" Austin asked drumming his hands on the table.
"Something like seventy-five, give or take." Angela answered.
"Can we join you?" Alice asked and the boys shrugged. Angela seemed suddenly shy and took a step away. Alice hooked her elbow and guided her forward. She was up to something again. She caught my eye and gave me a look that told me not to ruin anything.
She gently pushed Angela into a seat next to Ben and sat down next to me. They both glanced at each other smiling before blushing. Interesting. If I didn't know any better I would think they liked each other.
"So how long do you think the weather will hold up?" Ben cleared his throat before asking.
"Should last all weekend." Alice said cheerfully. She tilted her head up to the sun.
"We should hit La Push. Do you surf?" He asked me.
"No, not much surfing in Chicago." I answered. I held my tongue to not mention the Pacific waters had to be frigid this time of year.
"Pity. What did you do in the summers for fun," Austin asked.
"I never had much of a summer's vacation. It was always filled with extra classes and internships at my father's firm to get me ahead," I explained. The two boys looked at me as if I was crazy. I had come to learn that others didn't have the same drive for academics like I was always trained to have. They were more laid back here. Most didn't even seem to care about their grades.
"Our father always pushed Edward to be the best. He didn't have much of a choice," Alice defended me. Our parents didn't push her as hard. She was expected more to marry rich and someone that would take care of her. Alice had her own resentment of that idea.
"Bummer, all the more reason you should join us at La Push this weekend." Ben suggested.
"I will have to get back to you on that. Charlie wants to take us fishing tomorrow." I answered. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alice grimace slightly. "Are there any good trails around here, preferably suitable for running? I need to get conditioned if I'm going to run track." I asked. I had been running along the roads but I knew I need trail experience too.
"There's a trail if you follow the old 101 and stop where the pavement ends. Do you have a portable GPS? The trail is clear but hikers still have tendencies to get lost around here." Ben suggested.
"No, I don't. Is there anywhere local I can get one?" It would be a bad idea, the last thing I need is to get lost and come across another wild animal.
"Newton's, in town probably," Austin nodded his head toward where Mike was sitting a few yards away.
"I may take my chances with the wild. I wouldn't put it pass him to sell me a faulty one trying to get me lost." I scoffed.
"Yeah, he's pretty pissed that you're going to the dance with Isabella. He had been bragging that she was going to ask him. Though why he thought that she would ask him is beyond me." Ben laughed.
"But Mike asked her." Angela cringed as soon as she spoke. I don't think she meant to say that out loud. She had been so quite I almost forgot she was sitting there.
"Wait, he asked her to the girl's choice." Ben turned to her. The rest of the table, excluding myself, was looking at her. The poor girl turned bright red.
"Yeah, the other day in Bio. He asked her to go with him. The whole class heard it." I answered for her. She gave me a relieved smile.
"That is priceless. Hey, Tyler, guess what I just heard?" Austin called out getting up and heading to another student. News of Mike's stupidly was about to spread across the school.
"So, Angela, who are you asking?" Alice asked innocently.
"Oh, I don't know. I'm sure not too many guys would want to go with a girl taller than them." She mumbled looking embarrassed. She ducked her head and her cheeks turned pink.
"Nonsense. Right, Ben?" Alice asked. Ben had been starring at Angela and his head shot up when Alice spoke to him.
"What …of course not. I mean a guy would be lucky." He looked frazzled as he stumbled over his words.
"Shoot, I think I left my book for my next class in the truck. Edward, help me." Alice batted her eyes at me.
"Alice, there is no..." I got cut off when I was kicked in the shin. I winced as Alice gave me a pointed look.
"Right," I stood up and followed Alice away from the table. She headed back into the school towards her next class.
"Want to tell me what that was about." I continued to follow her. She turned and gave a tiny shrug.
"I think it's obvious that those two have a crush on each other. They just needed a slight push, that's all."
"I thought you were done meddling in others lives." I scolded her.
"I said I would butt out of yours and Bella's. I said nothing about anyone else." She gave me an angelic smile.
"Alice, mind your own business before you cause more trouble." I sighed. If I didn't stop her she would probably try to match up the whole school.
"Hey, it will work out this time." Alice started walking backwards. "See, you later."
Shaking my head I went on to my class.
F
I stretched after stepping out of the truck. Despite the sun just starting to rise the cold wind nipped at my face as I dug my hands into my coat pocket. I was starting to second guess this whole fishing idea. Alice hopped out her side and shuddered.
"Oh my god, it is cold." She hopped up and down. I grabbed the gear out of the back of the truck.
"This way, you two." Charlie directed. He brought his own car incase we wanted to leave earlier. He had the complete fishing hat and vest that had hooks and lures all over it.
We followed him down to a small dock where some small boats were docked. Billy and Jacob Black were waiting there with two other boys about his age with them.
"Looks like we have a group with us today." Charlie smiled.
"Are you as good a fisherman as your Ma, little lady?" Billy asked. He was already seated in a small row boat.
"I've never been," Alice answered. She frowned when Charlie tried to hand her a bright orange vest. "Um, no, thank you." She shook her head fighting to keep a disgusted look off her face.
"Alice, you barely know how to swim, you need to wear one." I caught the one Jacob tossed me.
"Do I have to? It so does not go with what I'm wearing at all," she gave Charlie a puppy dog look.
"Yes, dear, you should especially if you don't know how to swim." Charlie held it out again.
"Does it at least come in another color? Orange on me is just hideous, not that doesn't work for someone else, just on me. ick…yuck…no sorry. Do you have one in a pink or maybe a purple? Oooo how about sparkles?" she was on hyper speed per usual. The boys were starting to look at Alice as if she was crazy.
"Alice, quit complaining and just put it on." I groaned as I adjusted mine.
"That one may actually be too big for her. Jake, run up to the house and get the one you had from a few years ago." Billy looked at his son.
Jacob took off running through the woods.
"Well, while we wait let me introduce you to these two hellions," Billy chuckled.
"Alice and Edward, these two are Quil Ateara and Embry Call." Billy gestured to the two boys. "Boys, Alice and Edward Masen."
The boy with shorter hair ambled forward and held out his hand to Alice.
"Quil, Quil Ateara," He winked at her. I rolled my eyes and stepped forward.
"Nice to meet you, Quil," I took his hand and gave it a firm shake and a pointed look. He gave me a grimace like smile and let go.
"Nice to meet you," Embry spoke up, he seemed more quite and subdued.
"With this many people I thought we should take three row boats. We are borrowing the others from Old Quil and the Clearwaters. That reminds me, Harry gave me some of his special fish fry to take back with you." Billy explained the presence of the other two boats.
Jake reappeared moments later as we were loading up the boats.
"Here you go, short stuff. I borrowed Seth's old one since we were closer to the Clearwaters." Jake handed Alice a different life jacket that was clearly for a kid. It was yellow and blue and had fishes all over it.
"Oooo, much better. Aww look at all the cute fishies." She cooed. She slipped it on and zippered it up. "Okay, I'm ready. Which boat am I in?" she looked suddenly more enthused by the idea.
"Why don't you come in my boat," Quil gestured with a nod of his head. I rolled my eyes. This boy was laying it on thick. I hoped Alice could see right through him.
"Alright," Alice smiled as she stepped forward. He helped her in the boat and I quickly started to follow.
"Why don't you join Jake and Embry." He gave me a look. I raised my eyebrow.
"It is okay, Edward, go ahead." Alice smiled at me like she knew what she was doing.
I sighed heavily as I joined the other two guys in their boat. Jake started a small motor and followed the others out. I was pleased to see that he stayed closer to Quil's boat than Billy's. Charlie and Billy ended up at a spot away from us.
"This is a good spot. We usually have good luck here." Quil came to a stop. Jacob stopped our boat not too far from him, but still a few feet away.
Embry got out a can of what appeared to be soil and worms. I dug a good fat one out and picked up my hook. That was the easy part, I had no idea how to cast.
"Could one of you show me how to cast?" I asked the other two.
"Sure, just hold this down to unlock it. Bring your arm back and then let go when you bring forward with a flick of your wrist." Jake demonstrated.
I followed suit and my line went out not as far as Jake's but still a good distance.
"Not too shabby," he complimented.
Our attention was brought to the other boat by Alice's squeals.
"It's moving," she sounded so disgusted. I looked over in alarm afraid at first this joker was doing something to upset her.
"It's live bait," Quil was patiently trying to explain. I bit my back chuckle as the other two in my boat were laughing lightly.
"I'm not touching that. I thought we would be using cute little feathers or bread balls, like Laura."
"Who is Laura?" Quil looked confused. I looked at Alice because she had me lost too.
"Laura Ingalls." Alice explained.
"Should we know who that is?" Embry whispered to Jake, he just shrugged.
"It's from a children's book series." I explained when I realized what Alice was talking about.
"But it was based on her real life experiences." Alice responded in a duh tone.
"Sorry, I don't have bread and Billy and Charlie have the fancy lures. Here, I will bait the hook for you." Quil offered, he held out his hand for her pole. Alice released her pole to him without a second thought. He hooked the worm for her within a matter of few seconds.
"Want me to show you how to cast it?" he offered while the rod was still in his hand.
"I think I can get it. I watched Jacob, if Edward can do it so can I," Alice seemed insistent. I raised an eyebrow but kept my mouth shut.
She took the rod and tried to follow the same movements that Jacob showed us.
"Duck," Embry shouted as the hook came flying in our direction instead of the direction Alice was aiming. The three of us ducked out of the way avoiding getting snagged.
"Oppsy, so sorry. I thought it looked easy." Alice apologized.
"Hey, Quil, why don't you cast for Alice?" Jacob hinted. He looked like he was trying desperately not to laugh.
Alice pouted slightly as Quil took her rod and cast her line for her. He handed it back with a small smile and I wondered if he was second guessing getting in a boat with her.
Frankly, I was wondering how long it would take for one of them to end up in the water.
We sat in silence for approximately two minuets when Alice started to chatter about endless things. I would give Quil this much, he tried to appear interested, nodding his head in response. But his eyes soon glazed over. I seized the lull when Alice took a breath to ask Jake a question.
"So why does your father hate the Cullen's so much?" I tried to ask casually. I haven't met her adoptive parents but Bella and her siblings seemed fine. Well, Rosalie was still a bitch, but not to the extent that should warrant a reaction like that from Billy Black.
"Eh, ignore him. My old man is full of superstitions from some old legends." Jacob shrugged her shoulders.
"Legends like ghost stories?" Alice asked seemingly interested.
"Not really. More like myths about spirits, and wolves." Quil informed her. "Would you like to hear some?" He seemed eager to please her. I frowned and shook my head wonder what kind of shit he was going to try to fill her head with.
"Bro, wouldn't Old Quil be upset telling outsiders about our legends?" Embry spoke up.
"Naw, Jake's right, none of it's true." Quil scoffed.
Quil jumped into telling us all about legends of their ancestors being able to turn into wolves to protect the tribe. Not just to protect the tribe from everyday danger but apparently 'cold ones' which he then proceeded to explain were vampires.
As I thought, he was full of shit. What bothered me more thought was that Alice seemed to be listening intently to his every word. She was smarter than this to believe in things like vampires.
"So how do the Cullens fit in to all this?" I interrupt him.
"Get this, apparently the Cullens are 'the cold ones'," Jacob rolled his eyes.
Before I could respond Alice started screaming.
"Oh, it's moving. What do I do?" she started to panic.
"Just start to reel it in but not too fast. Not too slow either." Quil directed.
"Is this right?" she struggled with pole. I watched her nervously as the fish appeared stronger than her.
"Quil, don't just sit there. Help her out before…" Embry was cut off as Alice lost her balance and ended up in the water.
"Alice," I yelled out just as she resurfaced almost immediately.
"I'm fine. Just wet and cold." She shivered.
"Hold on, we will get you out." Quil promised.
Jacob had used a small paddle to get our boat closer to them so we were right up along the side of them. The three of us helped hold down their boat from flipping over as Quil leaned over the side to pull her into the boat. She took her seat again shivering in the cold breeze.
"We need to get back to shore so she can change." I frowned not wanting her to catch her death.
"Here," Jacob pulled off his jacket he was wearing and handed them to Alice. "Take your wet one off and put this on. It will help some until we get to shore."
"Thank you, but won't you be cold." Alice asked through chattering teeth.
"I will be fine." Jacob shrugged.
Alice pulled off her wet one letting it fall to the boat floor. Her wet shirt clung to her and Quil openly gapped, unlike the other two who had the decency to busy themselves bringing in their lines. I cleared my throat loudly and he looked at me with a guilty expression before he took care of his and Alice's lines. I took care of my line, so much for fishing.
We headed in passing by Billy's and Charlie's spot.
"You guys done already?" Billy looked up. Charlie looked over at Alice and his mouth dropped open.
"Alice, honey, what happened?" Charlie asked in concern.
"A fish decided to catch Alice rather than let her catch it?" I chuckled. Charlie's mustache twitched in amusement.
"Ha ha, you're so funny," Alice huffed. Her lips were slightly blue.
"Charlie, I'm going to bring her home so she can get changed." I told him.
"That sounds like a smart idea. I'm sorry you had a bad first time. I'm sure next time will be better." Charlie looked.
"Next time?" Alice tried hard not to groan. I think once was enough for Alice. "Sure. I'm sure that will be super." She plastered a huge smile on her face.
When we got back to the docks I jumped out quickly and helped Alice out.
"Here are the keys, go start the truck up and I will drive you home as soon as I help them clean up." I handed Alice my keys.
"Go ahead, we got it. We will put your poles and tackle box in Charlie's cruiser." Jacob called out to me. He tossed me Alice's wet coat.
"Thanks," I thanked him.
"Sure, sure." He shrugged. "Nice seeing you guys again. Feel free to come back again sometime."
"Yeah, Alice, bring your swim suit and I can show you how to cliff dive." Quil offered with a cheeky grin.
"I don't think so," I huffed starting to pull Alice towards the truck.
"Quil. You dummy she can't swim. Taking her cliff diving would suicidal," Embry smacked his friend off the back of the head.
"Oh, right, call me," I heard him shout from behind us.
"Slow down, Edward, my legs aren't as long as yours." Alice complained.
"Sorry, Allie, are you alright." I wrapped an arm around her, rubbing her arms.
"I'm fine. You would have thought I would've seen that coming." She frowned in disappointment.
I started up the truck and blasted the heat for Alice, although it had been sunny I'm sure the ocean waters were freezing cold. I drove out of La Push and home as quick as I could.
A/N:
So they learned about the legends. Edward doesn't believe in them since they don't believe in themselves. He thinks Quil was just trying to impress Alice.
As for Quil he's just a flirt. He's harmless and has served his purpose. Jacob was just being a nice guy.
I repeat no triangles in this story.
Thank You for All Reviews!
F Preview Alert
F
Preview: (a ch. most have been waiting for)
"Okay what war did your father fight in?" I was expecting Desert Storm to be her answer. Bella was quite for a moment then she gave me answer that I never expected.
"World War I," she said slowly. She glanced at my face. I knew I blinked a few times in confusion.
"I think I heard you wrong," I ran my hand through my hair tugging on the ends lightly.