Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of the awesome Stephenie Meyer.
I would like to dedicate this chapter to Minschen and Nikki-Twilight Lover for reviewing once more. Thanks guys, you're fantabulous.
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So there were vampires at Forks High! Well that was new. Yeah, like anyone could believe that if they'd ever met the Cullens. It was history repeating itself and I didn't like the ramifications of this. Déjà vu it wasn't. I wasn't determined to repeat Bella's story. God no, I'd have to avoid those vamps as if my life depended on it.
My life did depend on it!
I had to keep these vampires at a distance; it wouldn't do for them to find out what I am. The vampire-werewolf brat. So with this in mind I sped back toward La Push.
I pulled up outside my house, parking my bike next to the porch. I removed my helmet and tucked it under my arm as I grabbed my things from the box. Then I made my away into the house which was fairly quiet apart from the hum of the TV. Billy was in the living room watching the flickering images on our small box.
"Hey Gramps." I sang as I floated up next to him and kissed him on his sunken cheek.
"Hello Essie." He said in his deeply mystical voice. "How was school?" He asked, breaking his gaze from the set.
"Same old, same old." I replied with a shrug. "School's school no matter which one you go to. Of course the pale faces being there didn't help none." I added as I slumped onto the sofa and kicked off my sneakers.
"Pale faces?" Billy inquired with his head on one side. "I didn't think you used such language."
"I do when I'm on about the really pale people." I said, pointedly raising my eyebrows. "You know, with the golden eyes and look like they haven't slept for a good while."
"Oh. Really? There are vampires in Forks High?" He sounded a little incredulous.
"Yeah. Ok they're vegetarian, but…you know." I shrugged.
"You have too be careful." Billy concluded.
I nodded my head as I lay on the sofa.
My stomach rumbled in anticipation of the food it was expecting at this time of the day. I rubbed it in soothing circles as I gazed up at the sealing.
"So where's Mom?" I asked, knowing she would bring an end to my hunger.
"She had to go into Port Angeles. There was a few things she needed to get before college starts back." Billy explained.
I sighed and lifted myself from the sofa.
"I guess that means I have to make dinner." I said in a forlorn voice.
"I think a snack will suite us until your mother gets home." Billy interjected in an urgent tone.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Gramps." I said in a flat voice.
"I know where my good meals come from and they're not from you." Billy replied.
And with that I could not argue. Everything culinary was a mystery to me. You'd think with the culinary prowess of Bella and Renesmee I would be a great cook, but I couldn't boil water without burning it. Billy had a point.
Didn't mean I wasn't gonna argue though. Maybe they should have named me Mary, cause I was all contrary like. Then I got contrary with myself, because I was hungry and I just wanted to eat anything as soon as.
"What's here to snack on then?" I asked.
Billy shrugged from his wheel chair.
I groaned and rose from the sofa, getting to my feet and making my way into the tiny kitchen. I opened the fridge, and as the cool air swirled around me I gazed in at the cold meats and cheese and the big, enormous, chocolate…fudge…cake…
I reached out a finger and picked off a big dollop of frosting before putting it in my mouth, it was heavenly. Of course that wouldn't do to satiate my hunger for now, it wasn't good snackage and Renesmee probably wanted it for something and would totally pitch a fit if I ate it. So with a sigh I pulled out the honey roast ham and went to the cupboard for the sliced loaf. With these two key ingredients I proceeded to make some ham sandwiches for Billy and me.
They were nothing special, just a couple of slices of ham stuffed in between two white slices. I handed one of my instant sandwiches to Billy while I took a bite out of the other, not even bothering to cut them in half, or put them on a plate.
Billy chuckled at my complete ineptitude in the kitchen as he broke off a piece of his sandwich with his fingers and placed it in his mouth to mush it between his gums.
I took another bite of my sandwich as I went rooting through the cupboards until I came across a bag of nachos, one of those big share size bags meant for parties. I opened it and stuffed a handful of cheesy chips into my mouth almost swallowing them back before I'd properly chewed them. I took another bite of my sandwich along with a few more chips as I sat in one of the kitchen chairs. I just loved the weird mix of the soft bread and meat mixed with the crunchy chips. I couldn't get the food into my mouth fast enough as my stomach growled in appreciation.
"Hungry?" Billy asked.
I nodded my head and swallowed the food I had in my mouth.
"I'm feeling very hungry today. Well lately really." I conceded before taking another bite of sandwich and another handful of chips.
"Really?" He asked in a humorous voice, but there was something in the way he was looking at me that made me feel self-conscious. It was as if he was looking for something that he could almost see there. I frowned and strained my mind, attempting to hear something from him, but it had been too long since I last fed my vampire side, my extra talents had dwindled to nothing.
"What?" I demanded irritably once my mouth was empty again.
"How are you feeling?" He asked so nonchalantly that I knew he was digging for something, and I knew exactly what it was.
"What? Are you expecting me to fursplode right here in the kitchen?" I demanded, slamming my sandwich and the half bag of chips down on the table, suddenly I wasn't hungry any more. "Not gonna happen Billy." I stated, before squeezing past his chair and storming into my room.
I slammed the door for good measure before flopping down onto my bed. The wooden frame groaned in protest to my sudden weight. I squashed my face into the pillow as I pushed against the heat as it threatened to rise up and take me once more.
"Not here. Not like this." I whispered, my voice muffled by the pillow.
Once I'd calmed down enough I realised I'd been rude to Billy. With a sigh I heaved myself off the bed and shuffled back along the corridor with my head down. I found Billy back in the living room watching a basket ball game.
"Sorry Gramps." I said from the doorway.
He half turned in his wheelchair to look at me over his shoulder. He smiled warmly at me with a quick nod of his head. All was forgiven and I smiled back.
"Guess I'd better make a start on my homework." I said, retrieving my bag from where I dumped it on the couch. "Got to keep up with the learning." I sighed.
Billy nodded unhelpfully, then turned his attention back to the TV.
I returned to the kitchen and finished off my sandwich before making a start on the huge pile of homework I already had. And this was only the first day!
It took me just over an hour to complete the work sheets and to read the chapter for English. Then after some consideration I returned to my room and took my laptop out from its home under my bed. It was sleek and silver and had been a gift from Bella and Edward in my freshman year.
I loaded it up and let the wi-fi connect before going on line. Even though I wouldn't do the research with Tobias it didn't mean I wouldn't do my part of the research.
I trawled the different sites, writing down interesting points until I was distracted by a knock at the front door. Guessing who it must be I sprung from the bed and flittered out into the corridor.
"I'll get it." I called to Billy as I walked the short distance to the front door and opened it with a flourish.
"Hey guys." I cried , elated beyond words to see my three friends standing there on my doorstep, suddenly this day wasn't so crap after all.
"What's with the bike?" Harry asked, nodding backwards with his head as they all three came in through the door.
"Aunt Alice sent it me." I beamed as I led them to my room. To be honest I wanted to get out, but I still wasn't sure if I was still house bound and I didn't want to push my luck.
"Alice sent you a motorbike?" Susie demanded. "Gee, I wish I had rich relatives."
"You can all have a go." I said, shutting the lid of my laptop and shoving it under the bed. "But I need to find out if I'm still grounded or not." I added as I sat down on my bed.
The others took their regular spots around me.
"So where are the 'rents?" Susie asked.
"Jake's at the garage and Nessie's in Port Angeles." I explained.
"So you don't know when she'll be back?"
"No." I said with a shake of my head. "Although I have been a good little girl this evening. I've finished my homework and was just doing some research for my Biology assignment."
"What type of assignment?" Sammy asked, eyeing my notes critically, my writing was terrible, as if a spider had stepped in ink and decided to dance across my paper.
"I have to give a talk in front of the class about evolution with my lab partner, Tobias." I answered. "Oh, and did I happen to mention Tobias is a vampire!"
They looked at me incredulously, as if waiting for me to confirm it as a joke.
"I'm not kidding you guys!" I declared, holding my hands up in defence. "Tobias is a freaking vampire, not to mention Marlin and Layla. Although I haven't actually met Layla yet, just saw her in the canteen. The only class I don't share with any of them is English, and that teacher gives me the creeps."
"Oh my god! Jake is gonna freak!" Susie exclaimed.
I cheered up suddenly at this thought.
"Hey, you're right. He will freak out. It might be just what I need to get him to transfer me back to the Res school." I sang, rubbing my hands together with glee. Suddenly the future was looking brighter.
"So apart from the leeches, how did your first day go?" Harry asked.
"What can I say, school's school." I said with a shrug, deliberately ignoring the leech remark. "Of course it was so much worse without you guys there."
"Tell me about it." Harry said with a roll of his eyes. "It was so boring today without our resident hell raiser." He teased.
I laughed and my friends joined in. We set about talking nonsense in my room until about six thirty when I heard the front door open and close and someone enter with a rustle of bags.
"Essie, are you home?" Renesmee called from the vicinity of the kitchen.
"Yes Mom." I called back, and made my way to the kitchen to join her. She was placing a lot of bags on the table.
"Hey." She said, looking up at me. "How was school?"
"Good." I replied, itching to have a nose at what she'd bought. I may not like shopping but that doesn't mean I don't like new stuff.
"But?" She prompted after regarding me critically for a moment.
"I'll tell you later." I promised. "Harry and the Twins are here."
"Oh. Ok." She replied as she began rummaging through her shopping bags.
"Mom?" I said in a slightly wheedling voice.
"Yes?" She said with a sigh, not looking up from what she was doing.
"Am I still grounded?"
Now she looked up biting her lip as she thought.
"Ok." She said finally. "You can go out, but only in the front yard." She instructed.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." I gasped, jumping up and down and hugging her.
"It's probation though." She added. "You break the rules once and it's strait back to being house bound." Renesmee warned.
"Yes Mom." I murmured, breaking away from the hug and shuffling my feet.
"Well?" She demanded, her eyebrows raised high.
"Well what?" I asked with a frown.
"Why are you still standing here? Go! Enjoy the fresh air." She commanded, almost shooing me out of the kitchen.
I nodded my head and quickly made my way back to my room.
"Hey you guys!" I called, leaning into the room while holding myself up with both hands holding either side of the doorjamb. "Do you wanna take this little shindig outside?" I asked casually.
"You're not grounded anymore." Harry whooped as realisation dawned.
"Let's just say my perimeters have been widened a bit." I replied with a smile.
"How far?" Sammy asked.
"The front yard." I said with a shrug. "But at least it's outside." I added and turned to leave with the others following close behind.
We didn't do much more than talk that night, but it was good to be outside again. I didn't realise I loved being outside so much until that very night. I liked it outside with the air cool against my burning skin, soothing the animal within.
At half nine they all went home and I went back inside where Nessie was serving up dinner on the kitchen table, steak and jacket potato, my mouth was already salivating in appreciation. I took a deep breath and let out a satisfied hum.
"I was just about to call you." Renesmee said with a smile as I sat down in my chair gazing down mesmerised at the food I knew would be freaking awesome.
"Now this is what I call food." Billy's deep voice cut across my musings as he rolled into his spot at the table.
I scowled at him, but in a playful way. He chuckled as picked up his knife and fork and began methodically cutting his steak into more manageable pieces. The front door opened and Jake entered just as Nessie was putting his plate down at his space.
"I'm going to need that tonight." He said in a grateful voice as he kissed Renesmee on the cheek.
I suppressed a giggle when I noticed that she blushed. You think she'd be used to these public displays of affection by now. It was only a peck on the cheek for goodness sake!
Renesmee took her seat opposite Jake and we all began eating.
"So how was school today?" Jake asked between mouthfuls of steak.
"It was good." I said. "I liked English until the teacher started blathering on about the Quileute legends and everyone started interpreting them wrong. I was enjoying Biology, thinking that I'd get to do a few experiments on my own, that was a comforting thought, until the vampire walked in…" I trailed off to allow the words to sink in.
I waited, suppressing the smile that threatened as I lifted more food to my mouth. I waited while I chewed, waited for the eruption of Mount Jacob. But there was nothing but the sound of him enjoying his food.
I looked up at him curiously, wondering if he was too enraged to shout, but his face was placid. I frowned, feeling slightly annoyed.
"Did you hear what I said?" I demanded. "There were vampires in the school."
"Heard you the first time." Jake said dismissively.
"But…what…aren't you angry? Aren't you worried about my safety?" I demanded.
"I take it these vampires are vegetarian." Nessie said calmly.
"Well yeah. Do you really think a carnivore could pull something like this off?" I scoffed.
"Then I'm sure you have nothing to fear." Renesmee conceded.
"What happened to, all vampires are dangerous including us?" I demanded.
"Essie, calm down." Renesmee counselled.
I looked down at my hands and realised I had been hearing the sound of my cutlery rattling against my plate for the last minuet or so. I forced my hands to release the cutlery then crushed them against my stomach to try and stop the shaking as I once again pushed back against the heat. Not here. Not like this.
"But aren't you worried for my safety?" I asked again, once I could feel the coolness descend over me once more.
"They're not going to try anything in school." Renesmee sighed.
"Just make sure you're never alone with them." Jake added.
I sighed in defeat. I couldn't believe how casual they were being over the whole Hannigan business when they freaked out whenever I went to the Cullen house. This was way beyond confusing, and really I wasn't hungry anymore. I stared at the food on my plate as if it were the most repulsive thing in the world. I swallowed back the burning bile that threatened to reach my throat.
"May I be excused?" I whispered.
"But you've hardly touched your food." Renesmee pointed out.
"I'm not hungry." I observed.
Renesmee sighed and looked to Jake. Jake rolled his eyes and shrugged. Nessie's eyes rested on me.
"Go on then." She said with a smile.
I nodded my head and rose to my feet and my body suddenly felt heavy. I trudged to my room without even looking at my parents. My nose wrinkled as I took in the hideous scent in my room, it was raw and feral as if some wild animal had been living in it for a year.
I pinched my nose closed as I stumbled to my window and threw it open wide. Cold wet air blasted in, swirling around my room and clearing the scents, and I could breathe again without gagging.
Despite the cold air circulating my room I suddenly felt very tired. I pushed the door closed and not even bothering to change out of my clothes I climbed under the covers and pulled them around me tightly to stave off the cold that had suddenly gripped my body. I lay there curled tight in a shivering ball trying to get the heat back into my body, the sensible thing would have been to get up and close the window, but I was too exhausted.
I lay there in my shivering ball my mind wandered to my parents' reactions to the news that there were no vampires in Forks. They didn't seem too phased by the idea and this made me angry. The heat of my anger served to warm me enough so that I could drift off to sleep.
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Thanks for reading,
Gemma x
