Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: Man I'm being really really prolific these days. ;) Hope you're enjoying the read, thanks for the awesome positive response. I love reading your reviews.

Keep 'em coming!

-S

Chapter 12: Animal

I got this feeling in my veins this train is coming off the track
I'll ask polite if the devil needs a ride
Because the angel on my right ain't hanging out with me tonight

-Animal, Nickelback

The rest of the day passed quickly and quietly after that, in the way that only Tuesday afternoon classes can and before I knew it I was outside, by my car staring wistfully at Jared's truck. Nina was sitting in the bed, her legs wrapper around his waist and he was rubbing soothing fingers up and down her spine as she sobbed into him.

And I remembered that touch, and for a moment it was almost like he was rubbing those fingers down my own back, and I closed my eyes, pretending and it soothed my own nerves. Not a whole lot but enough to let me peel my eyes away from the intimate scene and get into my car. I closed the door, eyes pressed firmly forward and backed quietly out of the lot. I didn't look in the rearview mirror.

The woods passed by me on the open road, the twining branches reach up and up and up. Their greens were blends of emerald and vermillion and it was soothing to watch the peacefully butter-yellow sunlight drift over the leaves. I let the car slow down a little as a few more cars appeared in my windshield.

There was some kind of disturbance up ahead. Police sirens started up a few meters ahead and I felt my heart pulse with them.

Something was wrong.

The cars and I had slowed to a stop now and I could see the women ahead of me lean her head of her window, trying to see what was causing the delay.

A man in his forties with pale skin and rich brown locks walked up to her car, the star on his uniform for Chief of Police blazing proudly in the light.

Chief Swan.

He spent a moment talking to the red Honda Civic up ahead and then headed down the line to me. His eye brows went up a little at the make of my car but nothing else about his face was literate.

"Afternoon, Miss." He tipped his cap a little before leaning down into my window. I back away a little out of habit.

"What's holding us up?" His lips tightened a little.

"There's been an accident, details are still foggy but it seems that one of the men was bitten by some sort of animal." Animal. That didn't sound right, but it couldn't be a—

"Nothing to worry about, just make sure you stay indoors tonight." I nodded faintly and smiled but my mind was on autopilot.

He smacked the top of my car as he stood up and directed me into the oncoming lane and motioned for me to go on. I passed the exit for my own house though and switched gears. I was going to pay the Cullen's a little visit.

The house was the same as it had been the last time I was here, the impressive wooden structure curving around windows and windows. I parked my car across the street and made my way up the serpentine pathway that was lined with graying cobblestones of various sizes.

I rang the doorbell but seemingly before it could even begin to ring, the door was opened.

A large, incredibly well built man with curly brunette hair cut boyishly short answered the door. His expensive Gucci polo reeked of wealth and I could only assume he was another Cullen.

"What up?. His eyes twinkled as he smiled brightly, revealing perfectly set white teeth.

"Hi, I'm here to see Dr. Cullen?" I took a step back; he was really, really big. I mean almost bigger than Jared big.

"I dunno, you're a little young for his tastes." He guffawed loudly and I couldn't help but be mildly amused. It had been a while since I'd been around someone so—so good humored.

"I'm Kim, Kim Connweller." He sobered up a little but the twinkle never left his eyes.

"I'm James, James Bond." I rolled my eyes at him and he waved me in.

"Just messing, I'm Emmet." He extended a hand and then swiped it back before I got grab it.

"Too slow, human, too slow." I smiled faintly but I started to realize how poor of an idea this was. A man was just killed and I walked right into the lion's den.

But I had to know if it had to do with my parents.

Dr. Cullen was already in the foyer.

"Excuse Emmet, Kim. He forgets his age, sometimes." He extended a hand in greeting and I shook it, don't my best to resist putting all my force into the marble-skin to see if I could bend it.

"He's endearing." I said, as diplomatically as possible but even Dr. Cullen cracked a smile.

"That he is. Now what can I do for you?" We sat down in the lounge; the expensive upholstery was surprisingly soft.

"There was an accident on the highway, they said it was an animal attack." I watched Dr. Cullen's face but other than the widening of his bizarre golden eyes, there was no reaction.

"When?"

"Perhaps half an hour ago? I don't know the sheriff didn't say—" he stood abruptly, cutting me off. He was pacing, his steps even and silent but there was frustration evident.

"Esme." He muttered quietly, and she appeared in the room almost instantly. I shifted slightly as she reappeared next to me on the couch. She was nice but I was still a little wary of them.

"Go."

Carlisle exited the room speedily and I saw Jasper and Emmet follow him through the open door and another tall youth with burned red hair that was out of control.

"What's going on, Mrs. Cullen?" I turned to her and her luminous eyes passed over me with a great sadness in them.

I took her hand in my own and pressed mind against hers to warm it. She smiled at that and I felt better as if her sadness was tantamount to my own.

The serenity that had surrounded her like a cloud during my last visit returned slowly and then she let out a breath.

"Kim, I'm so sorry—I lost myself for a moment but you must be curious."

I nodded hesitantly and then blushed as my stomach growled.

"And hungry as well, how about we retire to the kitchen and I find you something to eat while I explain." I followed her mutely. I had missed this.

She seated me at the island and poured a glass of chocolate milk for me while she began to open the cupboards, fully stocked with food.

She started to make me a PB and J and I had to blink really hard to clear my vision.

"It wasn't an animal, was it?" I asked, slowly, knowing I didn't want to know the answer.

She shook her head and then looked up at me.

"Kim, it was one of our kind. You must be careful now, I cannot stress how important it is that you stay indoors and away from strangers."

"You're a stranger." I slipped in before I could help it but she just smiled at me warmly.

"I'm the good kind, remember?" She gestured to her eyes.

"Am I safe?" I asked, but she didn't say anything, just finished the sandwich and handed it to me. It wasn't until I'd finished eating and drinking that she started to speak again.

"There is no easy answer, not for you kind. You are always in danger but you are surrounded by good people, Kim. Even if you cannot see it now; we will be your family if you need us." Her hands on the counter trembled as she said it and I hastily rubbed at my eyes, trying to expel the moisture that was building up.

I hugged her then, suddenly and quickly before I could think about how foolish it was but Mrs. Cullen only wrapped her arms around me gently and firmly and rocked me back and forth.

"You are not so alone, Kim." Her voice was somber in my ear but I felt safe then, safer than I had been in a long time.

But there was a part of me that knew that as much as they wanted to help, I wasn't their responsibility.

I had to learn to take care of myself now.

The front door slammed shut then and Mrs. Cullen whipped us around faster than I could see, and I was behind her suddenly.

But it was only Carlisle. The other three were nowhere to be found.

He didn't look at me, only at his wife and the affection there was undeniable. But he didn't say anything, just nodded once and then moved to sit at the counter.

I walked out from behind her and sat next to him.

"Dr. Cullen, who was it?" He didn't look at me but he just shook his head as if he didn't know.

I knew he was lying.

But for the first time, in a long time, I didn't care. Something inside me told me that I didn't want to know. Didn't want to put a face to the monsters that haunted me at night.

Because then it would all be too real.

I left after that, taking the twisting road back down to the highway and into my own neighborhood. The sun was setting so I bypassed the woods, to scared to look for Billy, and too annoyed at my inability to take care of myself to do anything about it.

The house was quiet and empty and all the security cameras were in place and functioning. I doubled checked the windows and door and then climbed into bed, a flashlight gripped in my left hand and my phone in my right and slowly I fell asleep, terrified and alone.


The next morning dawned gray and foggy and the way to school was quiet. The highways were empty and I got to school in record time, parking my car a little closer this time, too nervous to leave it right by the woods.

Jared's car was absent from the lot but there were quite a few others parked here and there.

The hallways were basically empty but as I walked passed my locker I heard footsteps break out behind me.

"Paul, stop! You'll get in trouble again!" Tracey squealed from behind me and I heard him chuckle roughly. I hastened my pace, trying to get away from them as fast as possible. I knew I shouldn't have gone this way.

"Well look who it is." His voice was gruffer than I remembered and against all my better instincts I turned. Dad had always told me to meet my problems head on.

Time to see if it would pay off.

He was closer now and Tracey was still wrapped around his arm, her fingers manicured and blue.

I stepped back from him.

"Kimmy, have you been avoiding me?" He was closer still and I could feel his hands on me, like before, the grip he had on my upper arms tightening and burning.

"No, I have no reason to." I stood my ground proudly, resisting the urge to back peddle as he leaned against my locker, taunting me to ask him to move.

"Somebody grew a backbone." He stepped a little closer, when another set of light footsteps rung out.

Nina. I breathed a sigh of relief. He wouldn't do anything in front of her.

Tracey and Paul stepped away, disappearing to the left and Nina came up, her face concerned.

"Kim, you okay?" I nodded quickly and planted a smile on my face.

"I'm fine, we were just—talking about the English assignment."

She gave me a disbelieving look.

"Don't tell Jared." The words were out before I could stop them and immediately her eyes narrowed and she took a step forward.

"I wouldn't." I could have hit myself. That was the last thing she needed to hear.

"Right, I'm sorry I wasn't thinking—I'll just go." She nodded imperiously and I scurried out of there.


I didn't see Paul again until lunch time. I was taking a note to Miss M. and he was pacing by my locker. He must have been waiting for Tracey but as it was the hallway was empty and it was just the two of us.

"Kimmy."

"Paul." I nodded quickly and tried to walk faster but he stepped into my path.

"I will report you." I said curtly, walking around him.

"I don't think you will. You know why, Kimmy?" He stepped in my way again.

I didn't respond, but instead tried stepping back and then around him but he seemed to almost know what I was thinking.

"I think Jared asked you not to."

"I think I already reported you." I said, bluffing because right now that was my only option. I tried to see past him, maybe someone was still on their way to lunch.

But I was empty.

"Somehow I don't believe you."

"Why are you doing this?" I asked suddenly, and he blinked at me lazily, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"I don't need a reason."

"So you're just into bullying little girls half your size. Great." I tried to get past him again but this time he just laughed.

"Jared tells me you're not so innocent." It wasn't true. Jared wouldn't tell him about us. There was no way. I mean it was nothing; there wasn't even anything to tell. But the gleam in Paul's eyes was too honest, too vindictive. He had to have found out another way.

"You're not good enough for him, Kim." He baited me again but I wasn't taking it, not matter how harshly those words grated against my ego, I wouldn't let it stick.

It didn't matter what he thought, I told myself again, and again. He was just in it for the sick pleasure of torturing me. But I had to find out why, then maybe I could gain some leverage.

Dad had always told me that my mind was my biggest advantage.

Think, Kim, think. Bullies took out their pain on others, so what weakness do you have in common. Paul thinks you have a thing for Jared so maybe he's suffering from his own bout of unrequited love.

And then it hit me, lighting up my mental canvas in gorgeous lavender. He was dating the wrong sister.

"I think maybe you're feeling a little insecure yourself, Paul."

He looked confused so I tried a more direct approach.

"Sure you're dating the right sister?"

His eyes darkened and I could almost shout for victory. Nina it seemed was everyone's favorite, Paul must be trying to keep Jared from hurting her by being with me, and he was dating Tracey for—well I have no idea but I had enough.

"It's not the same is it? Tracey's never going to be her." He stepped forward aggressively but I just skirted back and away from him, turning him around in his distraction.

Miss M's class was behind me, just a few more steps.

"Shut up, Kim."

"Only if you're real nice to me," I cooed, my back against the door now, and as I turned the knob and stepped into the classroom backwards, I let out my parting shot.

"Otherwise I might just let something slip."

He lunged but I was already safe inside.

Miss M. looked up from her desk at the disturbance but I just rolled my eyes dramatically.

"Teenagers and their drama."

She laughed, loud and full and ushered me forward and I held out the note for her from the front desk.

And as I sat down, I felt like things were finally, finally going my way.