Edward wasn't there Friday, and neither was the thug looking one… Emmet. Harry said he heard they were going camping. Well I hope Edward gets eaten by something, mum said there's all kinds of animals in these forests. I joke, of course… but seriously.
A younger pupil interrupted out English lesson that day to bring the teacher a note to read out. We're expecting a new student, a Vladimir Count from Wales. I was especially excited because, although I am far from patriotic, it'll be nice speaking to someone from Britain again who isn't mum or dad. I think it'll feel like a bit of a break, because I always seemed to find myself straining to understand what people here mean by their body language and tone, and some of the words they say. Less so now, I suppose I'm used to it. It's like translating a language you thought you knew, only to find out you don't.
"He'll be here on Monday, so please try and make him feel welcome. I spoke to him yesterday and he's a sweet kid. Laura, how many times have I told you to stop chewing?"
When Saturday arrived, I was exited out of my mind to say the least! Dad wasn't sure if I was ok or not. He kept asking me about the amount of money I had, and if I was taking a coat and if I thought I was well enough. I'll be honest, I was so full of energy, I was a bit short with him.
We all trundled down to the beach in Beth's car. It was growing on me that little car was, in spite of the weird noise it makes. We were met by half of our year, all desperate for that little patch of sunlight, and a wave of embarrassment swept over me. Everyone was in bikinis. It may be sunny but warm it is not. It's not exactly the height of summer.
"Unless I'm losing my vision, you've gone even paler, are you becoming transparent just for today?" Eva asked me.
"I'm wearing a swimsuit, everyone else is in a bikini." I confessed, but she just shrugged it off.
"So what? I am too, they'll be the ones who are cold." Marty looked at her confused.
"You told me you bought a spare bikini just in case it got warmer. And by the way, how would you change exactly?" Eva just made a face at him.
"There are portable toilets there Marty, keep up. And I probably won't, it's not that warm." She looked outside.
"Yeah it's only like 12 degrees." I chipped in and Eva laughed.
"It's not that cold Izzy. It's more like 50." I looked at her confused.
"You do mean Celsius don't you?" I asked.
"No Fahrenheit." She opened her mouth and clicked her fingers at me "Ohhh! You meant Celsius didn't you? We're here!" Beth parked the car and we all got out, and got hit by wind. Thank goodness I was in shorts rather than a skirt, like some people. "Uh oh! Marylyn Monroe!" Eva giggled, holding down her skirt as we walked down to the beach. There was, indeed, a portaloo on the rocks.
Since our host for the day, Mike, had now arrived, the party began. I call it a party, because what else do you call a gathering that includes music, a barbeque, and a heap of snacks? Marty and a bunch of others went off to make a driftwood fire, while Eva set up the portable barbeque. A load of girls were lying on mats sunbathing, while a load more were trying to teach the lads how to play beach volleyball. Everyone seemed to be dotted about everywhere.
"Izzy!" Beth shouted towards me from the rocks.
"Yeah?" I called up to her.
"We're going for a paddle. Wanna join?" She asked, and I didn't hesitate to run over to her. I get that it's dangerous to paddle near rocks, but it's awesome. We went over to some rock pools, and Beth lay down at ones edge, looking in.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"A starfish." She breathed. Harry nudged me and put a finger to his lips. I was so confused.
"Don't move Beth!" He said loudly to her, making her freeze. "There's a crab on your back. It's only little so you probably can't feel it." He looked at me and nodded.
"We'll try and get it off, just don't move." I said, looking at her completely bear of crabs back. Harry started forwards and placed his hand on her back lightly.
"Oh my god oh my god, I can feel it now! Hurry up!" Beth sounded terrified. Harry pulled his hand away, clasping his hands together.
"Ok, I've got it." Beth sat up and turned to face him, sitting in the sand. Harry held his hands together in front of her. "Do you want to see it?" He asked.
"No! Just let it go back in the sand" Beth said, but Harry started to open his hands up before pretending to throw the crab at Beth, making her scream even though there was nothing there. Beth threw a handful of sand at Harry's arm, and before I knew it I was third wheeling a snog fest, so very slowly started to back away.
"Ooooooh!" A voice came from behind me and I turned round to see a group of people who were all part of the over 6 foot club. One of them wolf whistled and started to laugh.
"Shut up Paul" a girl elbowed the laughing boy in the side.
"Hey." Beth said waving. "How are you?"
"Hey Beth. I'm great. Who's the new kid?" One of the very tall ones asked, gesturing towards me. Hang on a minute, kid?
"This is Izzy, she's been around a while now, I'm surprised you didn't notice her Jared!" Beth called out.
"Well hello Izzy. These are the guys. And Leah of course" The "guys" all said hi to me.
"My God, she is tiny!" One of the boys said.
"For god's sake Embry, can you not?" The girl hit him on the shoulder.
"But she's adorable." Another said. Great, all those beautiful girls had better watch out because guess what? I'm adorable and everyone is after me!
"Seth, sweetie, she's like twice your age." Beth laughed. "Do you want me to introduce you to everyone?" she asked me, gesturing towards the La Push lot.
"No wait, let me guess, the tall dark one is Jared." I said, making Beth laugh even more.
"Right." Jared said.
"Come on Izzy, we're going back to get food… Harry, where are you going?" Beth asked, and I turned to see Harry walking away from us.
"Food's that way right? Then that's the way I'm going." And he carried on walking away, leaving Beth a little open mouthed staring after him.
"Yeah, no that makes… erm… You guys can come too by the way. S'long as you don't get too close to Eva." She shouted over to the group, so we all hiked back round to the beach, where everyone was sitting round the fire and barbeque. We joined the others on the beach and I was handed a hotdog.
"It's Izzy isn't it?" One of the tall, dark haired boys asked me as he sat down beside me. "I did hear Beth right didn't I?"
"Yes, yes you did." I smiled at him and moved over so he could fit. He towered over me, even when sitting.
"Sorry for asking, but how old are you exactly? I'm only 15 myself" He asked and I sighed.
"Yes, I'm 16, but I'll be 17 in April. What grade are you in then?" I placed my hands in my lap and waited while Marty struggled with the marshmallows and Eva had to help him.
"10th grade." He replied "I look older though." He added quickly smiling at me.
"And I look younger, even back home I looked young, to me everyone here looks older than they are, so I can't tell how old anyone is. You all look about 19." I looked round everyone.
"That's just Sam who's 19." Jacob said, indicating the leader of the group, who looked about 25, "the rest of us are all a younger." Jacob seemed eager, but for what I couldn't tell. "How's Forks growing on you?" He asked cheerily.
"I love it here, but I miss home too. Everyone's really lovely, well apart from Edward." Jacob sneered when I mentioned his name "I take it you don't like him either?" I asked, internally laughing at the expression on his face.
"Don't like them? Our families and their family have an age old loathing for one another. The whole thing is based on legends though." He stopped talking quickly.
"I can't speak for most of them, but Edward's a vile git. Doctor Cullen seems nice though, he had to treat me after his adopted angel tried to "rescue" me." I found myself telling Jacob most of the story, missing out minor details. When I was done, we were given a toasted marshmallow each by a glowing Eva.
"Well, I'm not really supposed to tell anyone this, but these legends date back to Noah's ark, when our grandfathers clung to trees to survive." He started, and I burst out laughing
"I'm sorry" I said between laughter "but that's just the funniest thing! Clinging to trees? So, for plot convenience, the flood that covered the entire world left a couple of tall trees uncovered for a bunch of people to cling to for near enough half a year! Even though the flood was specifically designed to wipe out all life but that on the ark. The whole idea of a single boat holding two of every species of animal is already farfetched! I mean, it's the moral that's important, not the historical accuracy."
"You know, there are actually other stories about a huge flood at that time." Jacob said.
"Maybe there was a flood, but I imagine it was highly exaggerated for dramatic effect…"
"Religion aside," Jacob interjected, before I got too carried away, "I think the point of that one is we're supposed to be a really old family. And our Fued with the likes of the Cullens is supposed to date back to then too. That's one legend anyway, the other is that we're descended from wolves and still possess their traits." I looked at him and frowned.
"I think Noah's Ark sounds more likely." I said, "but I still don't understand why you hate the Cullens so much. I think after a thousand or so years of conflict, perhaps it's time to forgive and forget."
"They are a part of what we call "the cold ones". An old enemy of the wolves that turn into men, that's what the legend says we are. Werewolves, which means there's a kind of law in our family not to hunt wolves. Anyway, the cold ones are not allowed on our land, they're too dangerous, which includes the Cullen's."
"Do they know this?" I asked him. "If they knew this, Edward might leave. Oh that'll be the day!" I smiled.
"Well, considering they are the ones the treaty was settled with when my grandfather was still alive, I think they know." A chill went down my back.
"Exactly how long ago was this "treaty" settled?" I asked.
"The 1930's." Jacob seemed to be enjoying this.
"So what do you mean by cold? Heartless?"
"No, I mean they are vampires." I frowned.
"Ah, see, you almost had me then but I think you need to re-write that legend of yours. Unfortunately, daylight doesn't seem to turn Edward to dust." I said.
"Oh I know it's just a load of old superstition and everything. The Cullen's only moved here a few years back, so of course it is, but my dad is a huge believer in all of that, so he hates them. I don't like them because I've seen them before, they always look at us like we're something disgusting." Jacob pulled a face.
"Oh I know that look, I get that every time Edward sees me." I replied a little too happily.
"Oh and, you can't tell anyone I told you. I wasn't supposed to say anything." He added.
"Of course I won't."
"Hey Izzy, we're goanna pack up now. You can stay if you want or Beth's offering to drive us all back… do you want to stay?" Marty asked coming over, glancing at Jacob.
"I'll come now." I said, "Do you want any help packing up?"
"You sure? That'd be great." Marty walked away and a wave of guilt came over me.
"Sorry, did you want me to stay with you?" I asked a downhearted Jacob "You can come and help me if you like." Please do not have upset this child! Please do not have upset this child!
"No, it's ok. I'd better leave before Eva's mom comes anyway." He stood up and towered over me. "Nice meeting you Izzy, I'll add you on Facebook or something." He said.
"Facebook, yeah. I'm called Isabella Stevens by the way."
"Jacob Black."
A/N The title of this unfortunately long chapter is Duran Duran's very own, Hungry Like the Wolf, because I thought it was funny… I apologise for my sense of humour XD If there are any mistakes, please let me know, I've been over and over this chapter but I keep finding more every time. I think I've got them all now though.