Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Twilight series by SMeyer.
AHHHH! HI EVERYONE! I had a venti iced coffee with milk yesterday and I slept TWO HOURS! WOOHOO! Seriously, I didn't get a freaking wink of sleep. But be glad! Because I spent the ENTIRE NIGHT going over this chapter, thinking of what to do with it! I'm SO HAPPY WITH IT!
Thanks SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! You guys just keep them coming and I barely know what to do with all of them! They are all amazing and so heart-warming! It's what keeps me so excited about this story.
REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT NOTE OVER HERE!!!!—Okay, I hate to hurt everybody's feelings but uh…damn it. I'm going to Portland, Oregon tomorrow for a God damn wedding. And I'm PISSED. Not only because I HATE weddings, but I hate everyone who is going to be at the wedding, and I won't be able to update like…AT ALL. And I'm not getting back until LATE Monday night! FIVE DAYS WITH NO UPDATE! I don't think I can handle it. I just…phew, it's going to be really hard. Hopefully I'll have SOME time to write, but no promises. I'm going to be kept busy. Being miserable. I'm SO SORRY you guys. Really. I feel horrible. I didn't want to go but the stupid bride was like 'wah, come take pictures' and I was like, God damn it, I have to be nice because she's getting married and SELLING HER SOUL TO THE DEVIL. Honestly, don't think I'll enjoy it. I hate marriage, large groups of people, and not being attached to my computer at all times. It's going to suck. Somebody just shoot me in the head. Okay, sorry. So yeah, I won't be back until Monday night, so probably no update until Tuesday. I'm SO sorry you guys, again. Please don't hate me! Just really enjoy this chapter and I'll make it up to you a thousand and one times!
I LOVE ALL OF YOU!
The Purple Sea Lion
~*~*~
"Oh my God! Did you hear that somebody destroyed the door on the janitor's closet in the east hall?"
"It was not destroyed, Sarah. Somebody just broke off the handle and…kicked it open. I think."
"It looked a lot worse than that."
"Maybe there was a wild animal in it."
"How would a wild animal get in a janitor's closet?"
"Maybe somebody brought it in."
"Yeah, because it's so easy to handle a squirming, screaming possum or something of the like."
"Maybe it came in on its own."
"Yeah, because the school doors are always held open."
"Well it was something really vicious and strong! It was like…blown from its hinges."
"Maybe it was a bomb."
"It wasn't a bomb, Sarah! Why would someone bomb the school janitor's closet?"
"I don't know! You had dumb ideas. I thought I would throw one out."
"It must've been Paul or Jared! They're the only ones big enough to do that to a door!"
"Oh, please, Maia. What would Paul Lansing or Jared Hopewell be doing locked in a janitor's closet? Maybe if they were with someone else."
"How do you know they weren't? They do get around."
"Puh-lease. Of all the places to do it. I still think it's a wild animal."
I tried to ignore them. I really did. But it was kind of funny. I glanced at Jared out of the corner of my eye. He was grinning maniacally.
"I cannot believe you broke the door off."
"You're the one who locked me in there!" He said with a shocked look on his face.
"I didn't think he was actually going to lock the door!"
"You should've said something!"
"And let him mock me for the rest of my life here? Hell, word might've gotten around and then I'd be done for."
"What, you didn't want to be known in a janitor's closet with me?"
"Uh, no, obviously. Then everybody would know that you can't handle what I got."
Jared stared at me with wide eyes. Then he grinned and chuckled.
"We should so go on a date this weekend."
"Ha. That was funny."
"I'm serious, Kim."
"I was, too."
"Don't you want to go out sometime?"
"Don't ask me that when I remember what happened last time."
"Ki-im! Come on! I said I was sorry! Anyway, if you would let me explain…"
"No."
"You make me miserable."
"Step number one is complete."
Jared pouted at me for some time, looking so lost and miserable and horribly so much like a kicked puppy that I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Finally I sighed and glared at him. He smirked, knowing he'd won. Ass!
"Under one condition."
"Yeah?" He wondered.
"What happened to your face?" I pondered. I had been curious about the short-lasting monstrous bruise that took over one side of his face. It had looked horrible but was gone so fast. He didn't like he was the type of guy to stumble into a door and get that kind of marking.
"Uh…well…you see…" He shifted uncomfortably, twisting his face around. "You weren't the only one pissed off about how I acted Monday…"
"Uh huh." I said, my interest piqued. "Well?"
"Uh…well…Sam might've…seen what I did to you. And he got mad. Like really mad. Like, oh my fucking God mad." Jared said with wide eyes and a slack-jaw. "He doesn't have a lot of tolerance for that because…I'm not sure. I guess with his dad or something. Or maybe what happened to Emily. But it wasn't really…pretty…or funny…and it hurt. A lot."
"Huh." I said, my mouth twisting into a smile. "So Uley isn't as bad as I thought he was."
"You thought he was bad?"
"Eh, I just never had a lot of good things to say about a guy who dumps a girl like Leah Clearwater at the drop of a hat."
"Well if you go out with me tonight I could explain everything in greater detail." Jared said, giving me a meaningful hint with his eyebrows.
"I'll think about it."
"You just said you agreed!"
"I lied." I snorted matter-of-factly.
"Oh, Kim, you tear my heart out and stomp all over it!" Jared sighed dramatically.
"It's a great feeling, let me tell you."
Jared thankfully had not started stalking me early this morning, opting instead to meet me in first period. He had been polite and awkward for a few minutes until he gradually loosened up into the whining baby he was now. Lenora wasn't anywhere in sight, which made me suspicious she was with Paul, but I guessed I couldn't control everything.
Speaking of the Devil, the two came in the classroom together. God, their arms were practically super-glued together. Don't try peeling that apart. Lenora was laughing and beaming, and considering the fact that Paul was swinging car keys around his finger made me think he gave her a ride. Geez, she moves fast.
"Good morning, sunshine." I said with an intense look.
"Well hello." Lenora sighed, sinking into her seat.
"You make me sick."
"That's nice." She blinked, looking between me and Jared. "Is there something you want to tell me Kim?"
"Uh…no—oh wait! I forgot! Jared is the father of my child." I said sarcastically. Lenora gave me a bland look.
"Freaking hilarious. Why is he eyeing you with eyes like stars?"
"What a cute metaphor." I snorted.
"I'm serious."
"Why are you acting like somebody shoved daisies and lilies up your ass?" I wondered, eyebrow raised. "That is the million-dollar question my friend."
"Wow, usually you're in a better mood when everything's going right."
"I am in a better mood." I smirked.
"Wow. Then I'd hate to see your bad mood on this fine morning."
"Keep talking and you just might."
"Well, fine, whatever. You guys are back on top of the world?" Lenora wondered, referring to Jared and me with a nod of her head.
"I would be if you would go out with me." Jared grunted.
"Ha. Try taking her to that burger place in Port Angeles. She falls all over herself to go there." Lenora smirked.
"You mean Sylvester's?" Jared wondered.
"Bingo."
"Low blow." I grimaced at Lenora. "I was going to make him sweat it out a little bit. Thanks a bunch."
"Whoopsies, sorry!" Lenora grinned.
"You can come by at six." Jared said with a shrug, not the least bit perturbed.
"What do you mean I can come by?" I frowned.
"I thought that would make you happier. That way you know I won't stand you up—which I wouldn't do anyway and you can meet my parents."
Silence.
"Wait, what?" Actually that was Lenora who said that. "Meet your parents? It's a little early in the relationship for that."
"I already know your parents. It's only fair you know mine." Jared said with a shrug.
Lenora and I shared a wide-eyed look. I looked back at Jared and made a sound like a choking fish.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not?" He frowned.
"I don't do well under pressure."
"It's not pressure. You're meeting my parents. They're hardly anything to be worried about." Jared snorted.
"Other than the fact that they're some weird ass people." Lenora whispered to me. I nodded.
"I heard that." Jared rolled his eyes. "They're not any different from anybody else. Isn't it better to get it out of the way?"
"I cannot believe I'm agreeing to this." I frowned, shaking my head. "I'll be by at like…five-forty-five. We'll take your car."
"Cool." Jared beamed at me, his eyebrows in his hairline with excitement.
"I'm in a bad mood now so you better watch your tongue." I warned Lenora.
"You're the one who agreed to meet his parents. Do you have a death wish?" Lenora snorted.
"It can't be that bad, right?" I wondered.
Lenora gave me a look. It said "yes, yes it can be." I felt a little green in the face.
The rest of the day I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't eat at lunch at all. I knew I shouldn't be worrying that much and I was being a little over-dramatic but God! It was the first date and he wanted me to meet his parents! Why was he so dense? Didn't he have any idea what a thing meant? Just because my Dad thought he was mini-God didn't mean his parents felt the same. Ugh.
At least my general silence kept Jacob and Quil from knowing about Jared and me and being upset. My mood had sobered Lenora, so Jacob wasn't quite as irritated today with her. But he looked sick, too, a light sheen over his forehead. He didn't eat at all, just slumping over the table like some kind of depressed, red-brown Hulk. I wondered if he was sick, and this nausea I felt was actually me coming down with something. Talk about a major let-down.
"Jake, what is wrong with you?" Lenora demanded after a short time. "Is it Paul?"
Apparently he had been thinking rather hard, because he jerked and looked up at Lenora with wide eyes.
"No. I'm not mad about that." Well what a surprise.
"Then what's got you brooding?" Lenora hammered.
"It's Embry. We've seen him around town with Sam Uley's group." Quil frowned.
"He's become Sam's bitch or something." Jacob grunted. "I don't know what to do. He won't come near us!"
Lenora and I shared a look. I wondered if he had anything to do with werewolves. There was an obvious extremely high possibility. But I wasn't sure. I was still in the dark about most things. Hopefully that would change tonight.
"Are you doing anything tonight? Do you want to hang out?" I wondered, to be polite.
"Nah. I'm going out with Bella. We're going to see a movie in Port Angeles." He sighed.
"Dude, be happy. I hear she got really weird. You should be glad she's not carting bodies around with her truck and she's semi-normal." Quil snorted.
"Don't talk about her like that, Quil. She's not normally like that." Jacob glared.
"What happened to her?" I wondered.
"Her boyfriend left her." Jacob grunted with a sigh and a shake of his head.
"Wait. She got weird because her boyfriend dumped her?" Lenora snorted.
"It was like Sam Uley and Leah Clearwater. They were insanely close—like practically in some serious love or some shit like that. Then last year he just up and left with his family. But Bella didn't turn bitter and pissed off like Leah. She just fell into this depression that lasted for months. But she's doing better. Despite what Quil says." He cast another glare in Quil's direction.
"That's nice of you to look after her."
"She came to me about fixing up some bikes. Maybe something to take her mind off of everything." Jacob shrugged. "She's really fun. Just as long as you steer clear of any subject with her ex. Then she starts to freak out and hyperventilate."
"Uh huh." Lenora said, rolling her eyes. "She'll get it over it eventually. Everybody recovers from lost love."
"You call what happened to Leah Clearwater recovery?" I snorted. "The woman is like a reincarnation of the Devil."
"And her brother is like Jesus himself. They're polar opposites." Quil said.
"Guess that goes to show you what a broken heart can do to you." Lenora said with a shrug. "I do feel bad for her. She was too pretty, I think. Uley got insecure. Thought he couldn't keep her and it was best to break it off before she did."
"Emily Young used to be beautiful."
"Nothing like Leah Clearwater, though. Nobody is as beautiful as Leah Clearwater." Lenora said matter-of-factly.
"If only there was something decent inside her." Jacob grumbled.
"Well I hope you have fun tonight, Jake. What about you, Quil?"
"My granddad is coming over. So now I have to play the darling grandson and repeat myself thirty times before he hears me. It's going to be great." Quil rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"You have to play to be a darling?" Lenora gasped, batting her eyelashes. "I thought you were already golden inside."
The banter kept up for the rest of lunch, which was good since it seemed to keep their minds off of Embry. It was difficult to determine exactly what had happened to him. He was acting like he'd killed someone. But…well, let's just hope he hadn't.
When I walked into fifth Jared beamed at me like he had become the sun in the past period I hadn't seen him. I winced at the literal brightness of it and scurried to my seat. Better to keep all interactions to a bare minimum. I would be spending enough time with him tonight. Ugh. And his parents. For some damn reason his parents.
After school Lenora was practically levitating she was so hyper.
"Calm down or I'm going to be sick." I said, opening my locker.
"I'm going on a date with Paul! I can barely contain myself!"
"I can tell." I snorted.
"Aren't you happy? You finally get a date with Jared, too!" Lenora frowned.
"And I get to meet his parents! Woohoo!" I said, giving a fake smile and punching a fist into the air.
"Okay, so maybe you should be a little upset. I would be okay with never meeting his family."
"Everybody would be, dear." I snorted.
"Well just think, several hours along with him? Who knows what could happen."
"I could gouge my eyes out with a spork? Oh no, I meant shove a pencil in my ear. If he chatters anything like he does at school…"
"Stop being such a sad little monkey. Let's get you home and pretty you up some."
"I am pretty."
"Yeah, if you call a used dish rag pretty."
"Wha—you whore!" I gasped, glaring at her. "I can't believe you just called me that."
"Did you even look in a mirror this morning? You're horrifying. Now let's go."
Lenora and I rode home with Tiffany and Brooklyn and in order to keep my date secret she ranted on about some movie in Port Angeles that she had heard great things about. Tiffany and Brooklyn seemed genuinely disgusted by the graphic scenes Lenora described, which was good. It meant they wouldn't ask about it later. This meant I didn't have to try to lie about stuff that happened. This was good once again because I sucked at lying.
Up in my room Lenora began pulling out clothing after clothing while I got a head-start on this weekend's homework. Let her worry over crap like this. I'd just wait until she was gone and choose what I wanted. I knew that she had to leave earlier than me. Apparently Paul was taking her down to Kalaloch Beach, which was about an hour and twenty minutes from here south. It was near a very expensive resort that I doubted I'd be able to afford in a million years but they seemed to be going just for the exquisite view.
After laying out the outfit I wouldn't be wearing, Lenora left at four to get ready to meet Paul. At five. Seriously, who needs an hour to get ready? I finished my homework, watched a little bit of TV, and it wasn't until five-fifteen that I ever considered getting ready. A little face washing, some eye shadow, mascara, and lip gloss and a simple outfit consisting of blue jeans, a flattering V-neck shirt, and a thin jacket over that. It's not like this was a little black dress event. With the flashy skirt and gaudy jewelry Lenora had laid out, she must've thought it really was.
At five-thirty I left the house and walked to Jared's house. In a town this small everybody already knew where everybody else lived, and it wasn't like it was hard to pinpoint his house.
For years there had been talk about the Hopewell family. I hadn't heard a lot, mostly because I wasn't a gossip person and it had died down a lot since my childhood. According to my memory both his parents were full-blooded Quileute but they were both immortalized for being some of the few who actually left the reservation. His father, Landon Hopewell, was supposedly a very successful chef in Seattle and his mother, Margaret, had been an editor for a Seattle journal. But something made them move back to La Push that no one really knew about. There was questioning as to whether it had been Landon's mother's failing health, but she had passed on a long time ago, and they were still here. They were more of the strangers in La Push. Which was kind of funny.
Their house had been remodeled about ten years ago, which was incredibly recent in La Push. The paint was still nice and new looking, probably sealed, and the porch was a rich dark wood that went nicely with all the greenery around. But it was one of the quieter homes. Nobody ever heard a peep from them.
I had been calm and collected while Lenora was around and I had other things to occupy my head, but now that I was standing here, only seconds from meeting his parents, it made everything seem a lot more…real. Like he was serious about this relationship thing, which was absolutely preposterous at first glance. But surely his eagerness for me to meet his parents was a good thing, right? It meant he wanted me to "know" all about them, meet everyone, and "get along" with them. I hoped.
It was five-forty. Probably time to go up there and…face my doom? I tried not to be too pessimistic, but there was a reason people made meeting one's parents out to be hell.
The stairs were surprisingly un-creaky, which made me feel better. They wouldn't know I was coming. If I decided to chicken out—no way. I wasn't going to pull a Jared, for sure. No need to be a hypocrite and a pussy.
The polished door practically grinned at me. Which wasn't a good sign. Any time an inanimate object started to actually have human characteristics was a bad time. A time when you were really nervous. Yeah, I could feel it. I was practically trembling with anxiety. I hesitantly knocked once, twice…and a third time.
I tried to calm my nerves while I waited, so I didn't look absolutely terrified and flushed when the door opened. I didn't think I succeeded much, because once the door actually opened I wanted to just scurry under a rock.
I assumed the man standing in front of me was Jared's father, Landon. It was…easy to see where Jared got all his…brawn from. Landon was a nice six, three height but the muscles he had…were probably more appropriate for someone who was eight feet instead. They were monstrous, probably taking up the entire doorway. While Jared was lean and agile, his father was…well, a really buff guy. Like someone who spent all his time in a gym. His biceps along were probably as big as my head. Oh God…he could probably kill me.
The man stared down at me and I felt the equivalent to an ant. Was this how bugs felt when we stared down at them? I'd imagine as close as it gets.
"You're Kim?" His voice was…surprisingly soft. Clear, but not stern.
"Y-yeah, that's me." Woo, nice stutter. Moron.
He turned without another word and practically marched into the house. I could've sworn I felt a slight quake as he did so, and I daintily followed him, blushing so bad I was on the verge of bursting into flames. He turned through an archway that appeared to be a living room. The entire place seemed extremely sparsely furnished, with only the bare minimum furniture. There were practically no knick-knacks, only a few barely visible baby Jared photos on the fireplace mantle and the coffee table. They would've been adorable and interesting if I hadn't been so terrified.
Landon had incredible bone structure like he was chipped from marble, with a pronounced, wide jaw and wide, thin lips. His eyes were dark and shadowed by low brows. He could've easily passed for someone in the military. He then, however, disappeared into a swinging door on the other side of the room. I watched him go, wondering what I should do. Would it seem rude to take a seat?
"Don't you worry about him, dear. Why don't you come take a seat?" I jerked, surprised because I hadn't expected someone else in the room.
Turning, I saw a miraculously young-looking woman sitting on the couch. She was the epitome of elegance, with a long, thin body. A heart-shaped face, ruby lips, dramatic blue-black eye shadow, and a dress that was probably more suited for a cocktail party than hanging around the house. Dramatic, sure, but she was stunning. Every part of her just screamed model material. This had to be his mother. Which was kind of amazing. But it made sense about a lot of things. Jared didn't even have anything close to the rugged looks of his father. He was far more smooth and clean-shaven like his mother.
Margaret had her legs crossed daintily. Just another factor as to why Jared was so tall. The woman must've been six foot herself, and her legs seemed to go on forever. God, she was lucky. One arm was hooked over her stomach and under the triceps of her other arm. She was smoking, too, her fingers wrapped around a newly-lit cigarette. Her stunningly smooth hair was wrapped up tightly, displaying a long neck and dangly earrings. Wow.
"Hello there, dear."
"Hi." I said. My voice was weak and distant. I cleared my throat uncomfortably.
"Jared will be only a minute. I advised him not to sleep once he got home, but the poor boy has been so tired. All that damn late night running about, I'm sure. At any rate, he slept late and he's running a bit slow. I hope you don't mind."
Fuck.
"No, of course not." I said, clearing my throat again.
I did. I really minded. I didn't want to be stuck with these people for too long. They might beat me over the head with a rock and drag my body to the grinder in the backyard. Oh God. I shivered in terror.
"My you certainly are the cutest thing I've ever seen." I felt under-dressed, and as her harsh eyes raked down my bland attire, I felt insignificant.
"Uh…t-thanks." I said. I wanted to cry. This was horrible.
"Kim, right?"
"Yes, ma'am." I nodded.
"Oh please, just call me Margaret. We're all friends here." She smiled at me, flashing the whitest teeth I'd ever seen. She brought the cigarette to her lips and took a drag. I bit back a whimper.
"If you don't mind." I said respectfully. Maybe if I was polite she wouldn't kill me.
"Not at all." She smiled again. It was sickly sweet. "So tell me about yourself. Jared goes on and on about how wonderful you are but he never mentions anything about your life."
I'd imagine it's because he didn't know anything. I cleared my throat and shrugged helplessly.
"I'm sorry but I'm not that interesting. My…dad is on the tribal council and he makes me miserable every time he brings up the topic. My mom does a lot of non-profit. And I'm the youngest of seven children, all girls."
"Oh my. Seven children? It must've been miserable in such a small home."
"Well, there were several years where we had to triple up in our rooms. I can't imagine why they decided to have seven children. Maybe they kept hoping for a boy."
"It's a father's dream to have a boy and a mother's to have a girl."
"I'd think that by the third girl my mother would be done with them. Which I guess to a point they are. They are eagerly waiting the day the rest of us move out."
"I'm sure. They must want some peace and quiet after so many years of chaos." She reached forward and flicked her ashes into a glass tray on the coffee table. She was wearing a sparkling diamond bracelet and her nails were painted red.
"I think chaos is just all around them. It's not just us. Their jobs are pretty demanding. Well, as demanding as they can be in a town like La Push." It was okay to talk to her just as long as I didn't look into her eyes. I chose to examine the room. A calming sage green wall color, some very expensive art hanging on the walls, and a Persian rug that was so ugly I knew it had to be one of the most expensive I'd ever seen.
"You're uncomfortable around me, aren't you?" Margaret wondered, her voice lilting slightly. Like she thought it was funny.
"No, definitely not." I think I had made my discomfort rather clear.
"I can't say I blame you. If I had been told half of what they told you I'd be terrified of this place, too. We must look something like the Addams family. But I assure you we don't keep bodies under the floorboards or feed rat poison to puppies." She smiled ruefully and dug her cigarette into the ash tray, putting it out.
"I'm sorry." I said automatically. Wow. It really sucked to be caught in the act of…well…prejudicing someone? Was that what it was, technically?
"No need to apologize. You're the first to do just that, at any rate." She seemed to recall something and smiled again. This time it seemed…colder. "I'm sure you've heard about how Landon used to be a chef and I used to be a journalist. Well, when I became pregnant with little Jared, we decided maybe it would be best to come back here. It was a safe environment to have a child. When we got settled we would move back to Seattle. Well, the council didn't want any of that. They made this huge problem out of Landon leaving in the first place, how it was unsafe, and they needed him here. Here, in this miserable, tiny, boring little place. I could barely comprehend it. Apparently I didn't need to, since I wasn't the important one. Landon never had any like for this place either. We had Jared together and we were planning on leaving. But everything seemed to work in the council's favor.
"His mother became very ill and he didn't want to leave for fear he wouldn't be there for her last breath. It seemed plausible to stay for just a few more months. But after she died there were so many things to take care of. It was very costly and very time consuming. After that I lost my job and our household income became significantly smaller. It was a constant battle to keep our funds. We never had an opportunity to move away.
"I supposed after what's happened now it makes sense why they were so eager to keep Landon here. Keep it in the family, as they say."
"Pardon?" I wondered.
"The…phasing. The…werewolf-ness." She shuddered.
"Oh, right. I don't know much about it." I said.
"Me neither. And I don't care to, for that matter. I want to stay as much out of it as possible." She sighed. "I blame myself for this. If we hadn't moved back here then nothing would've happened to my baby. He could've lived a normal life, like I had always hoped he would. He could've stayed out of this pathetic excuse for a town.
"Now I worry constantly. He spends all night out 'patrolling' with that Uley kid. I have a few choice words to say to that asshole. Jared barely has any energy anymore. He's skipping school left and right. Next thing I know he'll be repeating high school over and over again. He's never home, constantly off helping do this or looking for that. He's not like the teenager I used to have. Sure he had problems with being lazy and irresponsible and he had a tendency to fool around more than he should, but he wasn't a bad kid. He never had ill-intent or wanted to hurt anyone emotionally or physically. Now he's so withdrawn and secretive.
"The first time he phased he had come home early from school, supposedly sick. I was so sure he was just faking, as he had a tendency to do. I came in with groceries and made a comment, something like 'I can see your eager to get out of school' and next thing I know there's this enormous wolf in my living room! I screamed and screamed, and flung myself onto the floor, crying. I know I acted horribly. I know it was wrong. But I was terrified. I couldn't even comprehend something like this happening.
"Once the council explained everything to me I knew I was to blame. For a lot of things. Now Jared rarely talks to me. Like he thinks I can't handle it. He won't tell me where he's going, or what's he doing. He says 'I'm going out' and I can hear him come home at the break of dawn. He sleeps all weekend and I never hear a peep from him. It's like he doesn't want me to be his mother anymore. It's like suddenly we aren't even related or close.
"I know the only person to blame is myself. For bringing him here. For letting this happen. I should've stayed in Seattle, away from this place. I hated it but I thought a few years here wouldn't be bad. But now I'm stuck here, and I know Jared is, too."
She looked like she was going to start weeping. I felt like I might, too. Her stone cold, emotionless face had turned into a grimace ridden with guilt and depression. Her hands, previously likened to something like harpy claws, had become thin and bony, almost glass-like as she laid them over her face. Margaret took several long, deep breaths before finally uncovering her face.
"I apologize. I always get so worked up over it and go into this long rant. I didn't mean to spill everything like that. I probably look as crazy as they say I am." She said, relaxing back against the sofa again. I gave her a pained look. It was incredibly hard to see a mother so…broken looking.
"I don't think you're crazy. Any mother has a right to be…upset over what's happened. I'm upset for Jared and I don't even get along with him that well. No one deserves for this to happen to them. But I know a lot of people wish they had mothers who would stick with them even through something as insane as this." I said softly.
"Thank you." Margaret said, smiling and letting out a sigh. "It's still so hard to believe sometimes."
"And…uh, your husband? What does he think of it?"
"Oh, who knows. Landon seems to take everything in stride without the bat of an eyelash. He seems fine with it…as long as Jared doesn't wind up dead. Which I suppose is always a possibility when one is turning into a wolf and traipsing about in the middle of the night."
"I didn't know he was always going out at night." I replied.
"I'm not happy about it. I'm glad that Uley kid is bossing my boy around and sending him all over the place, but he's still just a teenager. He does have school, homework, and friends to meet with. His life does not revolve around being Sam Uley's bitch." I bit back a laugh. The exact words Jacob had used. "But I don't have any say over anything. The minute Jared phased everything about him came under Sam Uley's control. He tells Jared absolutely everything. When to go to school, when to patrol, how long, what he can and cannot say about his…situation. It's just never-ending. Jared's not even his own person anymore."
"Did he seem…okay with becoming a werewolf?" I wondered politely.
"Okay? Heavens no. The first days after he phased for the first time we weren't on speaking terms. He seemed afraid to come near the house, rarely ever home, usually when I wasn't around. When I did see him he looked so…defeated. I can't imagine this is what he wanted at all. Suddenly so much responsibility for a boy who grew up with no idea what the word meant." She sighed, rolling her eyes. "That's the only good thing about this whole thing. Now he knows what it's like to get up at an outrageous time of the day and be forced to do things you don't want to. It's not how I imagined he'd learn, but I suppose it's as good a way as any.
"For the first week or so he was like this, coming and going, constantly sleeping and eating. Eating. Oh boy. He could eat an entire herd of buffalo if he wanted to. If you ever plan on cooking for him, think a third world country, then prepare for that many people. I guarantee every ounce of it will be eaten right up. When Sam Uley finally allowed him to go back to school he seemed only slightly pleased. Maybe worried about what could happen or what people could say. He learned very quickly nobody knew a word of it. But that Monday when he first went back he came home like the sun was shining for the first time! He was absolutely everywhere, practically skipping, actually sitting down and like a normal teenager talked to me while he did his homework at the table. I was absolutely stunned. I couldn't imagine what changed. Then he started to talk about this girl…well, I'm sure you know the rest. It's been like that ever since."
"I hardly doubt that. We've been fighting. A lot."
"Fighting? Now why is that?" She wondered, interested.
"He was trying to tell me about his werewolf capabilities and I wouldn't hear a word of it. I thought he was absolutely crazy. But I just recently came to the conclusion that he…might still have some marbles in him."
"I see." She chuckled, nodding agreeably. "It's not an easy thing to come to terms with."
"No, it's not." I agreed with a huff. "He's rather bad about going about and explaining things."
"Oh, don't I know it. I've never been so irritated and so left in the dark in my entire life. The only thing he ever does is pose more questions and leave me more confused. I can't seem to get a straight answer from him."
"Agreed. I'm hoping that tonight I may be able to get some real info. So I won't feel so in-between."
"If you do, please feel free to share it with me. I'd like to know what my son is doing all the time he's away from me."
"Mom, I can guarantee you I'm not doing anything illegal." I jerked, twisting around and peering at Jared. This house just didn't seem big enough for Jared and his father. And his house was considerably larger than mine.
"There are legal things that are still horrible and bad and I don't want you involved in them." She said matter-of-factly, standing up and smoothing out her dress.
"Mom, come on, I promise I'm not doing anything bad. I can handle myself anyway." Jared said indignantly.
"Of course you can, because you're a werewolf. Let's just forget that you're still only sixteen years old!" She said, grinding her teeth together. She was right. She did get worked up every time the topic came up. "I hope you have fun tonight. And it was wonderful to meet you, Kim."
"You too, Margaret." I smiled and nodded at her.
"Jared." She nodded at him. "Try to be respectable and keep a hold of the first decent girl you've brought home."
"I've brought home decent girls before. Right?" Jared snorted.
"Is Paris Hilton considered decent?" Margaret wondered.
"Well depends on what you mean by decent." Jared said.
"Intelligent, responsible, polite, modest, etc."
"Uh, Paris Hilton? Definitely not." Jared rolled his eyes.
"Then, sweetie, I think you just got your answer." Margaret sniffed at him and strolled into the kitchen without another word.
"That doesn't make me look very good, does it?" Jared wondered, glancing at me.
"Uh…no, definitely not." I couldn't help but laugh a little. "Paris Hilton? Really? You must bring home some really bad chicks."
"Brought home. I used to bring home chicks like that. Now it's just you." Jared smiled at me.
"Aw, how sweet. Your show of affection has left me hungry. Care to take the hint?" I wondered.
"Yes, ma'am." He chuckled, grinning vibrantly.
"Lead on, valiant warrior. Lead on."
~*~*~
Holy crap. This chapter was fucking hilarious. To me. I was reading through it and it was just…wtf funny. Which means nobody else will think it's funny but that's cool. Because I thought it was. I don't know why I made Jared's parents…weird. It just seemed like a cool thing to do. And I thought I would do a twist on the council WANTING the werewolves there. You know, so they felt protected. And that way the council doesn't look so awesome and all-powerful. They look like a bunch of old guys who are pussies, too. And need werewolves to protect them.
I hope you enjoyed this amazingly AMAZING chapter! See y'all Tuesday—MAYBE earlier. No promises though. Hugs and kisses!