Chapter 21:

The Beach?

"So, we we're all going to meet up at my dad's hardware store and then we could take my mom's van. It carries 8 people with room still left it the back for all of our stuff. We were planning on leaving at about 5pm so we could enjoy the beach before the bonfire at night" Zach whispered eagerly.

"That sounds really cool" I said as the bell rang.

I packed up my stuff and walked out with them.

"You should come, it'll be fun" Andrea said.

"Are you sure, I mean, you've been planning this for weeks and I got here just 2 days ago" I said as we walked towards building number 3.

"Well duh! What am I going to say Nessie, no you have to be our friend for a minimum of 2 months before you can actually hang out with us?" Andrea asked and we both laughed. "We'll talk more at lunch, good luck!" Andrea said as I headed into Mr. Crout's class.

The morning passed pretty quickly after that. Mr. Crout yelled at me when I first walked in, something about my sweater, but then just let me sit down in peace, resigning to the fact that I was now one of his regular students and he couldn't 'torture' me anymore.

Literature and Economy didn't prove interesting. When you practically have a bachelor's degree in every field possible, it's pretty hard for something that we are 'taught' in school to be new to me.

"So Nessie, have you deemed yourself worthy to go to the beach with us tonight?" Andrea asked as she sat down with her lunch.

"Oh yeah Nessie, you should totally come, it's always lots of fun" Sara piped in.

I rolled my eyes but nodded.

"I'll ask my sis but I'm pretty sure I can" I said and they all cheered happily.

"Hey guys" Lucia said softly as she sat down.

"Are you okay? You weren't here this morning" I said and the other nodded.

"I was sick last night and I sort of slept straight through my alarm clock" she laughed as she took a bite of her sandwich.

"Someone's cheerful today" Ian said.

"Of course she is, today she gets to see Rick again" Abbey said and Lucia shoved her playfully.

"Hey, you have access to boyfriend 24/7. I haven't' seen Rick for a couple days" she argued.

"Is something wrong over there?" Zach asked.

"No . . . "she trialed off, an odd tone to her voice."He's just been really . . . busy . . . these past few days" she said.

"With what?" Josh asked but Lucia shrugged.

"He hasn't been able to tell me, we've barely been able to talk to each other. He said he'd explain everything tonight" Lucia said, her eyes flicking over to my family and then to me.

"Nessie, do you need a ride or anything for tonight?" Andrea asked but I shook my head.

"I'll meet you guys there" I said as the bell rang.

Andrea, Lucia, and Abbey followed after me as we all headed to the art room. Lucia was still a bit distant but she was talking more freely to me and standing a lot closer.

"Okay class, art is a very fine but time consuming ability, but it all starts with a sketch. All artists do a basic sketch, either simple or complex, of what they're going to draw or paint before they actually do it.

It helps them get a perspective on how they're going to draw what they're going to draw. Now, some artists only do a sketch in pencil and others add color to their finishes product. So, your assignment for this week is to pick an object in this room or a person or a scene and begin a complex sketch of it. At the end of this week, I ask that you bring in your colored pencils so you can begin coloring them" Mrs. Bonnet said.

I began thinking about what I wanted to draw but my mind always kept going back to last night. Eventually I gave in and began doing the basic outline of my sketch.

It was going to be picture of me and Jake sitting on the railing and talking as the snow swirled in front of us and the house shined warmly behind us. I got the basic shape of the house, the porch and the railing drawn before the period was over.

"Wow Nessie, that's really good" Lucia commented as I put it away.

"Thanks" I said as we headed off to gym

Almost everybody was almost there so we changed quickly before heading out. I found everyone seated on the bleachers, crowding around Ian.

"I'm just going to sit out today" Ian said just as we arrived.

"Oh come on dude, you show those Cullens they can't bring you down" Josh said and I laughed.

"I'm pretty sure they could bring him down if they wanted to" Lucia said and but something in her tone made my whole family whip their head towards her.

"I for one agree with Lucia" Ian said. "Besides, it's doctors' orders, I'm not to break my nose again before the first break has healed completely" Ian said and I glared at Emmett from across the gym.

He just smiled and shrugged. Gym turned out to be pretty harmless anyways. Because of Ian's accident yesterday, coach suspended dodge ball for a month, much to the disappointment of many people.

So, instead of hurtling deadly accurate dodge balls at other people, we got to run the track and play around with a soccer ball. It was a pretty pathetic excuse for Physical education but it was pretty good compared to other schools.

Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of school.

"Wow, you know, it's actually a little bit warmer than before" Zach commented.

I shrugged as we all headed outside.

"We'll see you at 5 then Nessie!" Andrea called as she got in the car with Josh.

I nodded as I headed towards Sophie's Mustang. I was the first one there so I just leaned against the passenger as I waited for them. The boys were the first one out but they were followed almost immediately by the girls.

They were all talking urgently, as if something was wrong. When Jasper passed by me, he gave me that 'look' but didn't say anything.

"Hey Ness" Sophie said as she unlocked the car.

I slipped in the passenger seat with Mel and Will while Alex slipped in the front.

"Hey Nessie, about your friend, Lucia" Sophie said as she pulled out of the parking lot.

"Uh, yeah?"

"Does she know about us . . . like vampires I mean" she asked.

"I'm not sure but I think so. I mean, I think her boyfriend is one of the wolves of La Push so I'd assume she'd know about vampires. I'm mean, how could she not, their relationship would've fallen apart if not" I said and Sophie nodded. "But I'm not sure"

"Ask her then" Alex said and I whacked his head rest.

"That's a brilliant idea Alex; I'm just going to go up to my friend and say, 'Hey Lucia, my family and I were wondering if you knew that we're vampires. Oh, you didn't? Opps'" I said and he rolled his eyes.

"It was just a suggestion" he muttered.

"I think you should try" Mel said and my mouth dropped. "I mean, it's better than us just popping up on her doorstep" Mel said defensively.

"Fine . . . I'll try and see if I can find a discreet way to do it" I muttered as Sophie pulled into the garage. "Now if you don't mind, I have to go get ready to go to the beach" I said as I jumped out