Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters.
AN: Here's Chapter Nine- yay! I've been updating really quick lately, because I really want to get onto other things, and because the Reviews are amazing, and so encouraging that I just feel the need to write, so keep those coming because I love them! Oh, and some people asked about Hannah's cancer- first of all, she's in remission, and there are different cases of cancer, my grandpa has cancer and most days we forget because it's pretty unnoticable, and he's doing pretty good. Hannah's isn't a severe case or anything, and she's been going through a lot- dealing with Paul, taking care of Brady, having a mother who is never around, she tries not to dwell on the bad things, but there's some information on this in this chapter! So, please Read and Review! Thanks.
Chapter Nine
Library and Staring
It's been a month since the last time I had an actual conversation with Paul.
He had really listened when I told him not to talk to me anymore, which was more than surprising because he wasn't the sort of person to take anyone's orders to heart. He would still stare at me though, I had caught him at least a few times a day. Most of the time I tried to avoid being in the same room with him, because anytime I was within thirty feet of him, he would somehow know I was there, and it would end in a five minute staring contest with me being the first to look away.
I was so confused lately, but Brady and Kim had become the people I had depended on constantly when I was feeling depressed. Kim would talk about simple things, and she was really into meditating and being one with nature. She even bought me incense- which made me a bit sick to my stomach- and she got me a mat made of bamboo, and classical music CD's.
We also went for walks on the beach, and sometimes we would pass the 'La Push Gang'- or at least that's what they were called around here. So far it consisted of Sam Uley, Paul Walker, Jared Thail- Kim was extremely disappointed when she found out-, Embry Call, Jacob Black, and last week we caught Quail Ateara hanging around them.
People around the Reservation were starting to become concerned, but the Elders' brushed it off saying that they were protecting La Push and we should all be grateful to them.
The whole ordeal seemed suspicious to me, and especially Brady, because we both knew that Paul wouldn't waste his time doing something like protecting the area. And another thing that bothered me that was being left unexplained- what were they supposedly protecting us from? Maybe I'm just being nosy and over analyzing everything but, some things, very important things seemed to be missing from the equation.
It was a Saturday, in the late afternoon, and Kim and I were walking down the road towards the local library.
"Don't you just love libraries?" Kim breathed, her eyes twinkling.
From getting to know her over the past month I found out that she only got that look in her eye when she was excited or really cared about something.
"Yeah," I said, opening the door. "I like the library too, it's really peaceful."
"I used to come here all the time and just sit by the window, because Jared's family owns the shop across the street, and he would walk by sometimes." Kim looked a little embarrassed admitting this, so I just gave her an encouraging smile.
"What section are you going to be in?" I asked, hiking up some books that needed to be returned higher on my hip.
"Um, probably in the non-fiction, by health and body aisle, I'm going to try and see if there are any good books available about some calm breathing exercises. Would you like me to pick some up for you?" Her voice was so hopeful, and I knew she would love it if I was as into that zen stuff she was into.
So, I nodded, like a good friend that I was trying really hard to be, because from what I learned is that having Kim on your side, as an ally was an experience that I wished I had been able to have a long time ago.
Kim listened, and understood about Paul in a way that Brady couldn't. We'd stay up for hours on the phone sometimes comparing our situations with Jared and Paul. She told me that Jared's favorite color was brown, his favorite food was peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and he would only drink Cherry Dr. Pepper. Not that I really needed to know all that, but she was venting one day and it just all came out unexpectedly. "Sure, okay, that would be great, thanks Kim."
She gave a bright smile and headed off towards here section of favorite books, while I went towards the checkout to return my books.
When I reached the counter, I looked at the lady who was on the computer, running information through on the books that some girl was checking out.
She looked familiar, and when it was my turn she did a double take when she seen me before finally speaking. "Hannah? Hannah James?"
"Yes," I said cautiously, still not able to put my finger on who she was.
The women looked me over for a minute. "You don't recognize me do you sweetie? I'm Ms. Walker, the nurse at the hospital who would sometimes check up on you during the nights that you stayed there. You told me your favorite flavored popsicle was lime."
I almost dropped all my books on the floor. Mrs. Walker, my nurse at the hospital, the lady who held my hair back when I would throw-up after bouts of chemo, the woman who brought me popsicles and ginger ale when my stomach hurt and I was unable to eat anything else, the nice little older lady who had also gave birth to her son, Paul.
"O-h-h, right-t-t, I remember you now," I said quietly, and somewhat cautiously, not wanting anyone to hear, especially Kim.
I hadn't thought about cancer, the hospital, or treatments for a while not, I purposely tried not to.
Mrs. Walker gave me a concerned look. "I haven't seen you around the hospital in quite some time, and I know Dr. Cullen has mentioned that you were due for an appointment a few weeks ago. We tried calling your house several times, but there was no answer," she explained calmly, but her eyes held a critical look in them.
I looked down, slowly placing the books onto the counter, trying not to meet her grey eyes that looked so much like Paul's as I spoke. "Well, I've been pretty busy lately, and I'm in reemission, I shouldn't have to go back there if I'm cured."
A small frail hand reached out and was placed on top mine. "Honey," her voice was soft, and smooth, like Paul's was sometimes when talked in a low voice. "I'm aware that you've been showing signs of being cured for a while now, and you're extremely lucky that you had a mild case and were able to be treated so quickly, but sometimes, dear, sometimes things come back. You should just go to get checked out, to make sure it's gone for good."
My breathing was shallow, and I met her eyes. "But what if it comes back?" I whispered, like a child.
Her hand patted mine a few times before pulling back and picking up the books on the counter. "I have a really good feeling that it won't. You look like a healthy teenage girl to me. I'm sure you will be fine, Hannah."
Her words were really reassuring, and oddly I felt better. "Thanks, Mrs. Walker, that means a lot."
Her gave a smile that was so similar to Paul's, but it lacked his usual arrogance. "Anytime, dear, and it's not Mrs. anymore, just Miss, actually."
"What?" Came out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
She hadn't really talked about her husband, but Paul did sometimes, and when he would mention him, his voice held such admiration that I knew he looked up to his father greatly.
Ms. Walker even seemed surprised by my sudden interest. "Well, yes, he left a little over two month ago, it nearly tore my poor son apart, he loved his dad greatly. I found out he was having affair though with some younger woman in Seattle, and confronted him, he left the next day without a good bye. I got the divorce papers in the mail not a week later."
"I'm so sorry," I breathed, unable to pinpoint my feelings at that moment. I felt strangely horrible for Paul, even though I didn't like him, I still knew that he shouldn't have to endure having a parent walk out on him like that.
Ms. Walker waved her hand away. "Don't worry about it, we were growing apart anyway, the divorce was coming eventually, I'm just sorry that my son is suffering. He's been acting different lately- sneaking out of the house at late hours of the night, and coming home exhausted. I've heard that's he's been hanging out with some strange people around town, Sam Uley for one, he seems to be a weird character that one." She looked up at me with a hopeful look. "Do you know my son, I think he goes to your school, Paul Walker? It would be such a relief to know that you two know each other. You seem like such a good influence, I know he would be a better person with someone like you in his life."
I swallowed, not knowing what to say to this declaration. "Um. . .I don't really know him that well, sorry," I half-lied.
Her face fell, and she started gathering some left over books in a pile. "What a shame, I just hope he gets his act together. I'm worried."
Kim came up from behind me, with seven books were being cradled in her arms. "I've got all the books I could find on breathing exercises and yoga positions. You ready to go?" She asked.
"Yeah," I responded somewhat enthusiastically, I really didn't want to continue talking to Ms. Walker about Paul, because sooner or later something would be bound to slip out.
After Kim checked out and handed me half of the stack of books we headed out of the library and down the street.
"You sure were talking to librarian for a long time," she commented timidly.
"Uh, yeah, she's um, Paul's mom actually."
She stopped walking and gave me a wide-eyed look. "Seriously? I've gone to the library for years, she looks so nice, I can't believe that,. . .well, Paul's her son."
"I know," replied, still freaked out by that fact.
"Did you want to come to my house? We could check out the books I got, and you could spend the night. Make a girl's night out of it," she said in that hopeful voice of hers.
I had to think about it for quite a few seconds because if I spent the night at her house that would mean I had to deal with her cousin, Dimitria, whom I still wasn't too fond of.
Finally I sighed. "Sure why not?"
We started heading in the direction of her house, when something caught my eye on the opposite side of the street. I stopped in walking in the middle of the sidewalk, and whipped my head around in the direction of the movement.
There only fifteen feet away, stood the entire La Push Gang. . . Paul and Jared included.
"What?" Kim asked, and turned her head in the direction I was looking.
All six of them were staring at us, like they knew something that we didn't.
"Why are they all looking at us?" Kim whispered nervously, probably feeling self-conscious from all the attention.
I was about to respond, but stopped when I noticed some thing weird.
Jared Thail was staring at Kim like he had just won the freaking jackpot. And then without even taking his off of her he started to cross the street, but before he was able to even get to the middle of the road, Sam Uley, Jacob Black, and Embry Call were gripping onto him and pulling him back.
Paul and Quail appeared to be discussing something frantically, but I noticed Paul had his eyes on me the whole time.
And then before I could even blink the whole group headed into the woods, pulling Jared forcefully along with them.
We both stood there shocked out of our minds.
Finally Kim spoke, her voice was shaking as were her hands. "D-d-did you see that?"
AAN: The next chapter might take some time to write because it's a really long and important chapter, and it will probably be two parts, I already got a title for it- The Phone Call, and Gone without a Trace. It's going to be suspenseful, and I can't wait to get working on it. Hope this chapter was alright, Review for me, please! Thank you - Anya!
