A/N So here's the next chapter in Iris's POV.
Again I do not own Twilight or any of its related characters, I'm just having some fun with the hotties.
Iris POV
I wake with a start as I vaguely remember the nightmare I was having involving lots of unwanted action with pale bloodsuckers and giant wolves. It takes me a while to get my bearings as I look around the room I somehow ended up in. It's a very bare minimum guestroom from what I can tell, since there is only a single bedside stand next to the full size bed I'm currently laying on with generic sheets. The sun is already low in the sky so it's clearly no longer morning or even mid day for that matter. What happened and where am I?
Then I remember, Paul's hateful words, too many of the undead around to even be remotely cool. And let's not forget, I hit Paul with my car! How the fuck do I explain that to the car rental company or my car insurance for that matter. Better yet who hits another person with a car on purpose?
I crazy person that's who.
I sit on the bed staring out the window listening to the sounds of the house and all I can hear is low voices from somewhere in the house. I quickly make out Seth and Leah's voices and it sounds like they are arguing.
I need to get out of here, this is just too much. I know what I did was crazy and a little overboard…. yeah only a little. But I wasn't going to dwell on my mistakes; I owned up to it and gave my apology. Now it's time to leave this fucking circus.
Granted there is a couple of bloodsuckers that want to do me in but fuck it no one says I have to go back. I can hit up a few antique stores find a few hidden gems and raise my own money and disappear somewhere to Europe or South America. I know Spanish…barely, but it's enough to get by.
If I learned anything in the past couple of days it's that fate has it out for me. So now it's time for me to form my own path. If that bitch wants to keep throwing up her roadblocks then I'll just keep taking detours.
All I need is a way to get back to the hotel for my belonging and Internet access to reschedule my flight and book another.
Where to? Who knows, but oddly I find this uncertainty and the adventure of it to be exciting. I figure I can book a flight to some place bright and sunny, like Florida or California about a week from now since any sparkly bloodsuckers wouldn't care to follow to those locales.
A week was enough to close up my life quietly in Utah before I spent a week tanning and figuring out my next step. My days just might be numbered so I was going to live each one to the fullest once I ensured Marie would be alright. Once safely settled somewhere new I would send all those I wronged what I made off of their precious family heirlooms and end that chapter of my life.
Granted this idea seems all clean cut and simple but I'm no fool, I know there will be unexpected problems but I wouldn't let that discourage me.
The truth is what do I have to lose?
Save for an old woman leaning on deaths door waiting patiently for him to open it, I had no one who would care if I disappeared.
I was tired of allowing my empathy to allow me to suffer for others who don't even know I exist.
This situation with Paul, my "soul mate", was the last straw. I didn't realize till yesterday just how much I was waiting around for a life that could be.
So fucking pathetic, I'm not 12 anymore with images of Disney happily ever after's running animated romantic montages through my head.
I want to know if Atlantis ever really existed. I want to know what's is underneath the Sphinx, or what really happened to the Mayans. I have the ability to find that out without having to spend billion of dollars on bribes and research. What the hell am I doing subconsciously waiting on someone to prove my worth through their love?
I determinedly get myself together righting my clothes and pulling my hair into a severe ponytail using the elastic band I always have resting around my wrist. I know I probably have some uncontrollable frizzy curls that escaped and I damn this area and it's horrible humidity. Cold and humid what I dreary combination, add in the monsters of myth lurking around and I most definitely can happily kiss this place goodbye.
Giving my appearance one last once over in an old mirror hanging behind the door I shrug in approval, realizing I didn't even pack strong enough makeup to remove the black circles suddenly taking permanent residence under my eyes… once again fuck this place.
I slowly make my way to what I assume is the living room and I hear the heated debate come to an end. On the center of a very long and worn leather couch sits a very repentant looking Seth giving Leah a bored glassy eye stare before turning to me with a warm smile.
Before I fully make it into the room Seth unfolds his massive frame to make his way towards me before Leah interrupts giving Seth a warning look. He gives a defeated sigh and rests his huge paw on my back giving it a soothing rub.
"Hey how're you feeling?" He asks cautiously.
"Fine" I reply. "What happened? Where am I?"
"What happened is you encountered the other 'gifted' leech Jasper," Leah answers using air quotes when she says gifted. "He has the ability to control emotions and he projected just a little too much calm to relieve the tension that was building and knocked out the mere mortals present, namely you and Emily. Thankfully Emily was already seated or Sam would have pitched a fit." She adds as an after thought.
"You're in our humble abode by the way" Eric's inputs as he spreads his arms wide to gesture to the room around him. A room that has a very clean cut, modern and uncluttered décor that I actually find very appealing. From the dark brown leather couch and love seat with matching lazy boy and cream colored accents with random splashes of bright solid colors found in a throw cushion or strategically placed flower vase or candle. I wasn't starting to think the whole tribe had that cheesy flowery country style breed into them.
"Nice place" I reply and Leah gives a genuine smile of pride.
"Yeah no fruit of flower patterns will be found here," she says and I give a chuckle at how she plucked that thought right out of my head.
"So how many of them have a gift? They are disturbing on their own add in extras and it can drive me to borderline paranoia" I admit honestly.
Seth guides me to sit on the couch but stays standing.
"All together 5 members of the main Cullen family have some extra abilities though they all have something they excel at" Seth explains. "Would you like something to eat or drink by the way, you've been out for a few hours. Which honestly I expected after the night you had"
"Yeah something to drink would be great, juice if you have it," I tell him and he nods as he leaves for what I assume is the kitchen.
"Hope you don't mind that we brought you here but the pack wants to keep you close to the reservation and you won't be bothered by the resident jerks here at my place, I've been told my bitchiness repels them" Leah states blandly but I still give a small smile at her comment.
"No that's fine, thank you for having me here, but I would like my stuff from the hotel if someone won't mind taking me there." I tell her cautiously. I need an opportunity to be alone to reschedule and schedule flights and if they hear me I'm sure they will try to stop me. I will play along for now but I will get out of here.
"I can take you" Seth offers as he returns with a glass of what looks to be apple juice.
I eagerly thank him as a gulp the glass down not realizing how thirsty I was, causing him to chuckle. For some reason it reminds me of Paul's chuckle with how it comes from deep within his chest. I give I swift shake of my head as if to rid myself of the thought. Why the hell would I be thinking about that jerk?
"Aactually," Leah interrupts with a slightly annoyed tone that's obviously focused on Seth's offer. "Eric and I were going into forks anyway to pick up something we ordered from the hardware store. We can just drop you off at the hotel to pack and freshen up then come get you afterwards."
Perfect!
"That would be great" I reply trying not to sound too eager and ignoring Seth's poorly disguised pout. I'm not an idiot; I know Seth is developing some sort of crush on me even if I'm doing nothing to encourage it besides being friendly. However, it would seem everyone else has noticed it too and I can use that to keep him away so I can have that privacy I so desperately need.
"I would hate to feel like a burden as I have been taking up every minute of your free time Seth and if I can do my part to avoid further drama I'm all for it" I say cheerily but Leah can read between the lines and her smug expression shows she understands that I know Seth's doting is causing grief so I want to stop it. Though in reality I take comfort in his presence but it's not really fair for either of us considering just our friendly activity causes so much drama. It's not like anything can come from it even if he is sweet and we have so much in common, not to mention he's smoking hot.
Not as hot as Paul though.
Wait! What? Where did that thought come from?
Again I find myself wanting to shake the thought loose from my head but refrain so I don't look like a dog or better yet an active member of the pack.
"Well we'll be leaving here in about 20 minutes so we can get to the store before it closes, are you hungry? I was about to make a few sandwiches for myself" Leah offers and my stomach grumbles in response causing the three of them to laugh and me to suppress a blush. "I guess that answers my question," she says and I just nod with a sheepish smile… stoopid stomach.
Eric follows Leah into the kitchen and Seth comes to sit next to me his arm up behind me on the back of the couch but not in the cheesy trying to get closer way but in a I'm too big for my own good way so I need to spread out.
We look at each other for a second before we both break out in an awkward chuckle.
"So I really did hit a guy with a car then?" I start shyly.
"Yeah you really did" He responds with another one of those deep chuckles that's so disarming since they are so masculine but it just strikes me as the wrong tone.
"We had your car towed into town by the way, into one of the shops that's run by members in the know, they'll cover it up and make it look like a normal deer hit before the insurance claim people come to look at it." He continues.
I let out a breath in relief "Thanks for that, I was so worried, how I was going to explain it."
Seth pauses and gives me a deep look before glancing towards the kitchen. In a much lower tone he leans in to talk to me, obviously trying to not include the other two into the conversation, though we can hear Eric and Leah talking clearly so they probably wouldn't be able to hear us anyway.
"Iris, despite the situation I've really grown to like you but I realize that showing that in any form is going to cause more grief then necessary and that's an extreme understatement. But I can honestly say any unmated wolf here would love to call you theirs. Paul's just an asshole so his opinion doesn't count. I've been ordered to keep away from you just so we can keep a little more peace but they said I can explain why so you don't think I'm just pushing you away for no reason."
I stay silent, as it seems he's not done and I watch him adjust himself so he's directly facing me as if he wants to tell me a secret so I adjust myself accordingly. Instead his hand gently grabs my chin, his heat is almost scalding but equally comforting and before I can react his head dips towards mine and his warm full lips cover my own.
It's a sweet kiss were I find my lips responding to his gentle nips and pulls. I don't find it passionate or overwhelming but I do regret when it ends not even 15 seconds later. He briefly rests his forehead on my own and I find myself leaning my weight into him. I can feel his longing and a part of me just wants to fulfill that call so badly but a bigger part screams it would be insincere and unfair since my affection isn't as genuine as his.
"I just wanted to imagine what it would be like if I was just a normal boy that simply wanted a sweet girl and had nothing standing in his way." He whispers before he releases his hold and moves to stand up.
Before he can, I swiftly move in to return his kiss just as sweetly but with a little more fervor though I still refrain from progressing it into an open mouth kiss. I pull away and hold his face between both my hands.
"That's me imaging I'm that sweet normal girl who can be everything you want" I whisper back giving him a quick chaste peck on his lips before releasing him.
He then stands up tall then looks down at me giving me that cute boyish grin he first gave me last night at the hotel as we discussed movies. Why does that feel like a lifetime ago?
"Well guess I'll see you around then, don't be afraid to call me if you need anything okay?" He says sounding much lighter than he did a few minutes ago.
I simply reply with a nod and equally honest grin as I watch him turn and hurry out the front door. I gently touch my lips after he walks out wishing I could feel more from it but realizing it's already leaving my memories… how odd.
As if waiting to hear him leave first Leah reappears less than a minute after Seth leaves proudly holding a plate with a sandwich and chips for me. She gives me a bright smile as I rove an appreciative eye over the meal, though the smile doesn't reach her eyes, something I choose to ignore. I'm pretty sure she heard it all but if she doesn't ask I won't tell. I thank her and take the plate to rest it on my knees as she goes to move to the love seat.
Suddenly Eric appears behind her as silent as a ninja, how the hell did he do that? I wonder as they both sit down on the love seat and flip on the TV before they dig into their much larger meals. I do believe that one of them is a normal human he shouldn't be capable of that. Does sleeping with a werewolf give you some of their abilities? Would I get some if I slept with Paul.
I slowly slap palm my forehead as I internally scream 'Why did that thought just enter my head? What the fuck is wrong with me?
I eternally groan as I think I must be a masochist or something. Just this morning before Paul started throwing his verbal knives I couldn't help my hormones from going into overdrive at his presence. He literally sucked out all atmosphere from around me and replaced it with his… essence? And hell if he didn't look good enough to eat wearing his overly masculine construction attire, dirt streaks on bulging biceps and all.
Then he spoke and I literally felt something in me crumble into a pile of dust, what that was I dare not explore. I wanted to escape but as soon as I got into the car something took over my motor skills, a part of me that screamed girl power and oddly looked and sounded like a spice girl, scary spice maybe.
It was like an out of body experience as I watched my hand push the shifter into drive and my other turn the wheel till I had Paul's massive back in my sight. It's like the time I took one pill too many of muscles relaxers for a sore back. My body responded to my request like I was drunk while my brain worked with sober clarity.
I flicked my foot off the brake and stepped on the gas and a moment later I felt the impact combined with what can only be described as fabric burn on my chin as the airbag deployed. The rest was a haze until I reached Sam's and I overheard Seth paint me as some unstable hero vigilante.
A little less than 30 minutes later, Eric's truck pulls up to the 'lovely' forks hotel. Leah jumps out of the passenger seat so she can push up her seat for me to get out of the back.
"Would you like my help to pack or anything?" She offers.
"Nah thanks for the offer though but it's only a couple of bags I'm going to take a shower and change while I'm at it if you don't mind."
"No take as long as you like, we wanna stop at the grocery store for food stuff anyway, we'll be back in about an hour. Is that enough time?"
"Yeah perfect", I reply eagerly thinking that should be enough time to rush through a shower before getting online.
"Well just so you know a couple of guys are here roaming around town so you literally need only to yell loud enough and one or two will respond. This business with your leeches has the alphas on alert so we've included Forks on our normal patrols till it's been resolved"
I frown thinking how much my coming here has affected their peace but Leah notices and comments.
"Hey it's been really boring around here lately and two measly leeches would never be a threat to us so it's sort of a welcome change don't think as yourself as burden okay?" she asks firmly expecting a response.
"Okay I won't" I say honestly before we both give a look to our watches as she gets back in the truck and I head to my room.
Once inside I work in a flurry to shower and get ready and pack my belongings before I'm seated in front of my computer 15 minutes later rescheduling my flight for the next afternoon. I overheard Eric and Leah discussing their work schedule and neither will be home in the morning so I should be able to call a taxi or car service and sneak out in that time. I take a little more time choosing my follow on flight and settle on Miami.
By time I'm done I have about 15 minutes till Leah and Eric are supposed to be back so I take my stuff and head down to the lobby to check out which leaves me with 10 minutes to wait while I sit on the bench outside in a deserted garden to the left of the lobby's door and check my emails on my blackberry.
Not even 2 minutes later a tall muscular shirtless Native American man sits next to me. We make eye contact and he gives me a warm playful smile that I kind of recognize from the bon fire last night.
"I'm just taking a guess here but do you turn into a large wolf when the mood hits" I ask playfully and he responds with one of those husky chuckles they all seem to have.
"Nah I'm more original, I choose the form of a Panda… when the mood strikes of course"
"Do you also practice Kung Fu?" I joke and he just smiles slyly.
"A true ninja never reveals his secrets" he retorts in mock seriousness.
"Oh you would make your sensei proud" I say dryly but with humor in my voice.
We enjoy a minute of comfortable silence and I find that peace I usually feel when I'm in the presence of one of the wolves.
"So what would the hot topic of the rez be doing out here by herself with luggage at hand?" He asks cautiously all joking gone from his tone. "You do know going back home would be a suicidal move?"
I try not to sound offended in my response but I can't help it. "I'm really not that helpless you know, they do find me beneficial so I see no reason why they would suddenly end me next opportunity they have"
"No but they aren't dumb and they will, if they haven't already, figure out where you've been and what that means. This is Cullen territory and their isn't a single one of their kind on this continent if not the world who doesn't know that."
"They probably wont question it much if I come back to them willingly and in the same condition I left, don't you think?"
"But why would you want to go back?" He asks his voice thick with confusion.
"It's not so much that I want to go back, I just don't feel the desire to be here"
"Why cause of Paul? If you want we can help you find a sturdier vehicle and you can run him over whenever he pisses you off if that helps" He offers with a smile.
"You guys will never let live that down would you?"
"Not a chance, that was the funniest thing that's happened this year. Though you may have given my wife Kim new ideas on how to put me in my place next time I piss her off. Hell, you have given most of the wolves more of a reason to tread lighter with our imprints" he teases and I just smile and roll my eyes.
"Just don't let Paul's hardheadedness drive you into a situation that will get you hurt. He wont be the only one to suffer from your loss, we all would, it would kill us to know we weren't able to protect one of our own." He says sadly holding my eyes with an intense and understanding stare that openly shows his worry. My stomach nervously flips at the realization that these people just may actually care about me and my safety.
Just then a car horn breaks the silence and Eric's truck pulls up to the curb by us.
"Hey Jared, didn't think they would rope you into a daytime patrol," Leah says casually as she hops out the trucks cab, obviously oblivious to the dour mood of our conversation.
"Normally they wouldn't but lil Jared hasn't been sleeping at night lately and I wanted to give Kim the opportunity to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time."
"Awe that's sweet of you, most guys would rather escape that situation" Leah says not unkindly as I grab my bags and move to put them in the bed of the truck causing Jared to cock his head and give me a reproachful look.
"What's that look about?" I ask innocently.
"You could have just said you were waiting for Leah," He says reproachfully though there's a smirk trying to break its way out.
"You could have asked instead of assuming. You know what they say about assumptions right." I say smugly as Leah moves to push her seat forward for me as she catches on to the meaning of our conversation.
"Oh you let him think you were waiting for a ride to the airport or something" She realizes as she gives a soft feminine laugh before winking at me and saying "I'll make a fine bitch out of you yet"
Jared shakes his head with a false look of pity, "It's going to be fun watching Paul grovel after you" he mumbles.
I ignore the comment before climbing into the back seat as Jared addresses Leah's earlier comment.
"And just so you know 2am is mine and lil Jared's ideal male bonding time, used to discuss sports stats and the latest hot actress finer qualities and what not."
Leah rolls her eyes as she gets into the passenger seat. "I'm sure the only part about that conversation he can agree with is big boobs are a good thing considering he's still young enough to breast feed"
Both him and Eric nod in agreement and Leah huffs in annoyance before waving Jared off. Before they pull away I call out to Jared "Thanks for waiting for me" and he gives a smile and a nod before disappearing into the woods like the ninja he is.
We pull up to Leah's almost 30 minutes later after I convince them to let me buy dinner for the night, which we end up deciding on Chinese that we pick up on the way back.
Eric rushes out and grabs my bags before I can leaving me to haul in the several overfull bags of greasy Chinese as it seems those two normally eat as much as a full grown horse. Leah grabs a few bags of grocery from the back and together her and I make our way into the kitchen to put away the food.
Several hours later, 8 empty containers of Chinese food and Kill Bill 1&2 thoroughly watched and commented on and I'm falling asleep on the loveseat as the two love birds sickingly whisper sweet nothings to each other.
Leah has patrol in an hour, so of course they have to cuddle up as if she's deploying to Iraq tomorrow. The only reason I have yet to retire to the guest room is cause I need to stay awake till she leaves.
I had already called my insurance company and worked out the car issue but I need to wait till miss super hearing is gone before I call for a car service.
Finally she starts to get ready to leave and I bid them goodnight and escape before they start up on the goodnight kisses.
I listen by the bedroom door and I hear her tell Eric to make sure I don't sneak out. He confirms her request then leaves. I wait about ten minutes before I make the phone call. The only place that takes orders this late is pricy and far out. I'm looking easily at a $250 plus bill but I'm fine with that, I just want to leave.
I get ready for bed and pack up everything only leaving my clothes for tomorrow out and checking to make sure all my ID's are in my purse.
My ride will be here by 8 tomorrow and hopefully I can play off like I'm still sleeping till then so Leah doesn't feel the need to watch out for my escape.
Despite my nerves I barely get to go through my plan in my mind before I'm asleep.
Next thing I know I wake to my phone vibrating under my pillow and rain pounding on the roof. It's 7 am and I quickly slip out of bed and look out to the window to see that both Leah and Eric's vehicles are gone. I quickly pack up my sheets and PJ's and change into my clothes, forgoing make up or any semblance of a hairstyle.
I walk quickly thru the house first making sure it is empty before taking my luggage by the front door. I go back to the guest room to do a final sweep to make sure I didn't leave anything then grab my purse. I open it up to make sure I have enough cash when I realize that my wallet is open and… empty. What the fuck!
It is completely empty of not just money but my ID's and credit cards and the car will be here in 10 minutes. I drop to the ground hoping to find my belongings but know it's a fruitless effort I didn't drop it, it was taken. But by whom?
I rip off my gloves and grab my wallet quickly flashing past the memories that have no relevance till I come to the end and then it all slows down for me to view with furious clarity.
It's Paul! I see him looking down on the wallet with an equally smug yet frustrated expression on his handsome face. He looks behind him, which I guess is towards me on the bed before coming back to the wallet and yanking everything of value from within. He's grumbling to himself as his smug grin spreads across his face and all I can make out is "I'm one step ahead of you princess your not as clever as you think"
I realize I'm trembling in anger now before I throw my wallet down with a shriek. "That fucker! I'm going to kill him!"
I check my watch to see I barely have enough time but I know the car service's policy is they will wait 20-30 minutes after the schedule time before leaving and taking half their pay from the credit card I used to reserve the ride.
Well that's more then enough time to kill him I think as I slam the front door open as I make my way out. I stop on the porch consider going back in for a jacket or umbrella before I see my library card lying in the mud. He probably just took it thinking it was a credit card then either dropped or threw it out after he got out of the house. Just considering he may have done the latter inflames me more and I take off in the general direction of where I think his house is.
A/N: Poor Seth huh? And probably poor Paul too but don't worry she doesn't have a car available to hit him with.
I would like to thank Shelbron, Nikki-Chaos, happinie93 and LadyBlondeMary for their reviews, they make my day.
The last chapter alone gained more hits and visitors than my last 3 combined, plus several more favs and alerts but only 4 reviews :-( I'm at 13 chapters with over 60,000 words but only 50 reviews, that means when someone comes across my story in a search they are going to think "Damn this story must be crap"
If my silent readers out there think this story is crap then fine, I'm sorry... but if you don't I would appreciate a review even if it's just to say thanks and to validate that I don't completely suck at writing.