Chapter 21
We rode in silence. I couldn't help but stare into the black forest. "Is her vision going still?" I asked, whispering to Jasper. He nodded and another wave of calmness came over me. I leaned back against my seat, aware of Emmett, who was standing on the back of the jeep.
"How are you holding up, Nyala?" Esme asked. "I'm O.K." I muttered, wondering what Jacob was doing right now.
Was he fighting with the nomad? Had the Pack even found the nomad yet? Questions floated through my mind endlessly. After ten minutes, Jasper said, "We're here."
I hadn't noticed the jeep was motionless. "Is her vision still going on?" I asked, surprised.
"No .It just finished." Alice said. "Oh," I mumbled. Her laugh trinkled back to me.
"Are we safe to go inside right now? Or is he waiting?' Emmett asked. "No, he is not ." Edward answered. I glanced over at him, forgetting he was even right next to me. "Lets go then," Emmett said, always the one to wanna do things quickly if they were boring. We all slowly made our way to the house doors. We went inside and I took off my converse and then sat on the couch.
"It'll be O.K. the Pack is scaring him off right now." Edward said, sitting down next to me. "They are?" I asked. He nodded. "Jacob found his scent and they're following him, trying to kill, but he keeps getting away just in time .They'll be able to scare him off." he answered.
"Come on, Nyala! You have to change into pajamas so we can have a total slumber party! I'm going to paint your nails and put makeup on you! It'll be rocking fun!" Alice suddenly enthused, as she bounced around. I slowly stood up and followed her to her room. 'Here," she said, and gave me polka dot pajamas that were black and red. I went into the bathroom and changed into them.
As I came out I saw the flowers that my friends and mom had given me. I picked them up and took in a breath. They smelled amazing. It was then I noticed the red tulip. I picked it up, remembering Alice's command, to tell her if I got one. What will happen if I don't tell her? Nothing that bad, Alice and Edward aren't flipping out right now, so it must still be safe. I won't tell her, it's no big deal….
"I want to put them in a vase for you, but I can't decide which one." Alice said as she popped up next to me, holding two vases. I quickly stuff the tulip in my pocket. One vase was clear, the other dark purple. "I like the purple one," I said, yawning.
"Oh, your tired! How are we suppose to do slumber party stuff?!" Alice whined, as she put the flowers in the vase. "Alice, we have tomorrow night to do the stuff too. I'm pooped out from the performance and everything that happened tonight. " I said. "Well…..O.K. But tomorrow we're going shopping too" she said. I nodded a little and started for the stairs.
I made my way down the stairs, my brain already almost asleep. I couldn't stay up late. I just wasn't a night person. I only could if I had coffee or something.
I got on the couch and suddenly I was floating in the air, someone holding me up by the waist. "Hey!" I said.
"Let Alice put down some blankets and pillows at least, if you are so set on not sleeping in a bed," Edward whispered. "I'm set on not sleeping on your bed," I muttered, rubbing my eyes.
"Alice," Edward growled.
"Just trying to move things along." she answered.
Edward set me back on the couch and I quickly snuggled into the covers, my eyes already closing. "Night Alice. Night Edward." I mumbled. "Good night!" Alice trilled.
After a few minutes of silence Edward spoke. "Nyala, you know so much about us and basically everything having to do with us, what else do you know? About the world? About our lives?" he asked.
I hadn't noticed he was in here with me still.
"You hate the fact that my blood smells so good to you. You hate having me interact with your family because you think your all damned and you don't want me to be damned. You worry sometimes if it's right for you to like me. You sometimes question your self control. Carlisle sometimes wonder if it was really a good choice to change you, Esme, Rosalie, and Emmett. But he doesn't regret his decision." I muttered. I gave him a second to take that in.
"Your favorite music is Claire De Lune." I added, just for the heck of it.
He chuckled slightly as I yawned again. "I am sorry for keeping you up, goodnight Nyala." he said . I saw his shadow stand up and I closed my eyes again.
I felt a light pressure on my forehead that was cold and smooth then it disappeared just as quickly as it came. I opened my eyes again to see Edward standing back up from the small kiss. I closed my eyes, frowning and drifted off to sleep.
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"Get up! Get up! Get up!" Alice chanted, in my ear.
"Alice, let her sleep." Edward said. "Nah, I'm up now." I mumbled, rubbing my eyes and sitting up. "YAY!" she squealed. I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm. "Here, you can wear this!" Alice said and chucked something at me.
A white hand flashed out and grabbed it before it hit me.
"Alice, your going to take her head off if you keep throwing objects at her." Edward scolded then handed me the clothes. "Thanks." I said to him, standing up. I shuffled after Alice as she danced her way up the stairs and into an unfamiliar room.
I glanced around and saw Rosalie lying on the bed reading a magazine while Emmett was at a computer, playing some shooting game that involved rabid squirrels.
"Hey Rosalie, can Nyala borrow pair of your heels?" Alice asked as she walked over to a closet. "Yes, as long as they're not my new ones. After your done wearing them burn them." Rosalie told me.
Alice dug through the closet and came up with a pair of heels that looked like the ones Rosalie first wore in Twilight. I took them and we walked over into Alice's room. I went into the bathroom, changed into the black skinny jeans and the white t-shirt that had lightening strikes on it. I grudgingly put on the heels
"AH!" I yelled as I started falling.
Kyala caught me and I stood back up. "Are you O.k.?" I heard Jasper ask from the other side of the wall.
"No, I'm not, Jasper. I'm gonna kill myself in these" I retorted as he laughed.
I opened the door and tried to walk over to the bed, but ended up starting to fall again. "Here," Jasper chuckled, holding me up by the elbow.
"Are you coming with us?" I asked as I quickly sat on the bed, and took off the deadly shoes of death.
"No." he answered gleefully. I stuck my tongue out at him. He laughed.
"What were you screaming about, Nyala?" Alice asked as she entered the room from wherever she was. "I'm not wearing these!" I said, standing up. She pouted, her arms crossed. "I want my converse," I said and started heading for the door.
"No!" Alice squealed and ran over to block my way. "Alice." I warned. "Please! You look rocking awesome when you wear the heels! Please! Just this once!" she actually got down on her knees in begging. I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"Fine." I muttered and went over and put the damn heels back on. "Yay! she sang and pulled me out of the room with Jasper in hysterical laughter behind us.
"I'm going to comb through your hair and put makeup on you. Choose a few bracelets from in here while I do it." she instructed as she motioned for me to sit in a chair. I did and she handed me a few bracelets in a box. I picked out two black with sparkles in them bangles and put them on my right wrist. After she finished I quickly brushed my teeth with a new toothbrush she got me.
I got up and didn't even glance in the mirror after I finished . "Who's coming with us?" I asked as I stumbled along next to her. "Edward." she answered. I nodded and immediately went to the kitchen to grab some food before we left.
"Where's Carlisle and Esme?" I asked as I got some jelly from the fridge. I shut it and then got a piece of bread then put that in the toaster.
I leaned against the counter while I waited for the magical transformation to toast.
"Carlisle is at work and Esme is at your mom's house." she said. Mom loves Esme, of course. The bread popped up and I quickly put the jelly on it then took a giant bite. Edward strode in and sat down at the table, watching me. I looked down and kept eating, feeling self conscious.
"Wow. You look amazing…." Edward said.
"Thanks," I mumbled, finishing the toast. "Doesn't she though?!" Alice chirped. I rolled my eyes and started for the garage.
"We're taking the Porsche!" Alice sang and skipped over to the driver's side. I got in the back, thinking Edward would want to sit up next to her. Wrong. He came in and slid into the back seat next to me. "Hello." he quietly said. "Hey. Why are you coming with us? It's going to be boring." I asked, snapping my seatbelt into place. "I like to spend as much time as possible with you." he answered, shamelessly.
I didn't say anything. After a few minutes Alice turned on the music. Jonas Brother's Just Friends came on. "Alice!" me and Edward warned. She sighed and turned it. How to Save A Life by The Fray came on and I started quietly singing along. Edward joined in. I didn't mind. Let him do what he wants.
We finished the song and I could see Alice smiling in the mirror. Me and Edward continued to sing the songs that came on and the drive went by fast. The next thing I know, we're in Port Angeles.
"We need to get you a dress, the spring dance is coming up soon." Alice told me as we got out. I nodded, not caring. "Edward, are you coming with us, or are you going to look at some other stores?" Alice asked as she skipped over to me. "I am coming with Nyala and you." he answered as he came over to my other side. She nodded and started dancing over to the first store. After two stores I was already bored. Bored to death.
I swear, I actually dozed off for a while and woke up with my head leaning on Edward's shoulder.
An idea came to me suddenly. "Alice, there's a specific t-shirt I want to find, and it's not in this store, so I'm gonna go find it, I'll be back in a second." I said. I was going to get a Save The Wolf t-shirt.
"Do you want me to come?" she asked, glancing up at me. "Nope. I'm good." I said and proceeded to leave the store. I walked down the sidewalk, looking in shop windows. I did that for a while until I found a Hot Topic.
I knew the shirt probably wasn't in here, but I couldn't help it. I LOVE Hot Topic.
I walked in and was immediately drawn to the t-shirt section. I shuffled through the t-shirts until I noticed a guy, staring at me. I ignored him. I finally picked out a shirt that had a cute dog on it with big eyes the same color as Jake. I quickly paid for it and walked out. Crap, which was is the store Alice and Edward are in? I started down the left, hoping that it way the right way.
"Hey." a guy's voice said behind me. "Hey." I mumbled and kept walking.
"Saw you in Hot Topic, pretty cool store." he said. I nodded. Intuition hit me like lightening then.
Alone.
In Port Angeles.
Dress shopping.
Oh. Shit…..
I quickened my pace. The guy's steps didn't falter and he kept up with me. It's broad daylight. He wouldn't try. There are tons of people around us. He wouldn't try, I kept thinking to myself. As I turned a corner a hand grabbed my shoulder.
"Don't touch me," I practically growled.
Man, was the Pack making me like that? I'm not a wolf, but I've been around them so much that I act like one. Nice…..
"Come on, don't be like that, babe." the guy said. I started running. I was never a good runner and I was wearing heels, which, for me, was always bad. The guy caught up easily and grabbed me by the wrist. I noticed his skin was burning hot like Jacob's.
He spun me around and for the first time I got a good look at him. He was goth. About my age, and almost as handsome as Jake.
"Hey. Your that girl I saw on the rez." he said, surprised.
I, for one, had never seen this guy before, never on the reservation or in Forks.
"You hang out with The Pack, your…um…Jake's girl, right?" asked, not letting go of me. I slowly nodded. "How do you know about the Pack?" I asked. "I'm part of a traveling Pack, we passed by La Push, met their Pack and decided to stay there for a few months until we head off to hunt down other leeches. We got there just as they started leaving to hunt down some nomads, they said they'd be back by Monday so I decided to check out the city." he said, grinning at me.
He glanced down at his hands holding my wrists.
"Oh, crap, sorry." he said, letting go quick.
"Um. O.K. I have to go," I said and started walking again.
Rape avoided.
"No, wait. Let me apologize or something," he said, touching my shoulder. "It's O.K. I guess. But I seriously have to go before they come looking for me." I said, glancing down the sidewalk both ways, just waiting for Edward or Alice to come running down and flip out on me for hanging with yet another werewolf.
"It's true? You hang with leeches?" he asked, shock filling his features. "Yeah, and don't call them leeches, they're my friends." I said, slightly annoyed.
"I can find them for you, so you don't get lost again. There are dangerous creatures out here," he said.
"Yeah ,like you. I don't even know your name, so no thanks." I said, and kept walking away from him.
"My name is Alexander, and I'm really sorry, I didn't know you were Jake's girl-"
I cut him off.
"It doesn't matter that you didn't know I'm Jacob's girlfriend! You shouldn't be raping girls at all!" I snapped, really pissed now. He went silent. I walked away from him towards the direction of the lights where the cars were. I heard steps behind me.
"I swear, if you follow me, I'm going to throw you into a building." I warned. "And how exactly am I to believe you? Your just a human." he said. I turned to face him, concentrating. Alexander floated up into the air.
"Oh my fucking God, your not human?!" he shouted, flailing his arms around. "No, I'm human, I'm just a special one." I answered as I flung his body towards a building, but not making him hit it.
"O.k.! O.K.! Set me down! I swear, I won't rape girls or anything! I swear!" he yelled. I made him fall close to the ground and then dropped him. I continued on my way.
"Please, at least let me make sure you get to the…vampires…safely! Man, how weird does it feel saying that, letting a teenage girl go to vampires." he chuckled slightly to himself as he walked next to me.
"No." I curtly said, staring straight ahead.
"I'll tell Jake the vampires let you almost get raped." he taunted. "Yeah ,by you." I said. I kept walking . Suddenly two dark figures appeared further down the sidewalk. A short one and a tall one. Alice and Edward.
"Nyala!" They both shouted, as if to prove my point.
"Shit, they're going to be pissed at me, huh?" Alexander asked. I nodded, smiling. Alice and Edward appeared suddenly in front of us. They took a breath and before I could blink, I was hidden behind Edward and Alice had Alexander up against the wall, trapping him. Alexander growled a little but didn't move.
"Alice,….let him down." Edward slowly said. She gave him a WTF?! Face, but did.
"Thanks so much, chica. You totally stopped them from harming me, you really were a help with all that intervening." Alexander chuckled at me.
"Who are you?" Alice demanded him.
"I'm Alexander, I'm a werewolf from a traveling Pack." he answered. Edward quickly told Alice all that had happened.
"You tried to rape my best friend?!" Alice screeched, prepared to kill him.
"Well…Yeah, at first .But I didn't!" Alexander said when Alice gave him a death glare.
"Why didn't the Pack tell us about you?" Edward asked, his face emotionless. But I could see the anger behind his eyes. He was seriously pissed at this guy.
"They left just after we met them." he shrugged. Edward grimaced at something.
"Who cares about that! He tried to rape Nyala!" Alice shouted, hands on her hips.
"If it makes you feel better I almost threw him into a brick wall." I said.
Alexander laughed and Alice smiled slightly. My cell phone rang suddenly. I fished it out of my pocket and clicked the on button. "Hello?" I asked.
"Hey, Nyala. I just want to let you know that we'll be back tomorrow instead. I- Shit! Embry! No! Stop you freakin idiot!" It was Jake and he was now shouting. The line went dead just as I heard Embry laughing hysterically. I smiled to myself.
"They're coming back soon?" Alexander asked. I nodded slightly. "Aw. One less day with you. No fair!" Alice complained, stomping her foot down. "Alice, you see me at school." I said.
"God, are you mental? Your best friends with leeches and your boyfriend is a werewolf." Alexander asked. I gave him a quick glare. I noticed Edward's body was tensed up. He wasn't comfortable with me being around my attempted raper. To tell you the truth, I didn't like being around Alexander either.
"Alice, Edward ,lets go, I'm hungry." I said. They both nodded. I turned on my heel and followed Alice. I glanced back and Edward was right behind me. "So, that's it? Your just going to take her away? Jake doesn't even know she's out on the streets with you." Alexander said, jogging a little to catch up. "I can do whatever I want, Alexander." I said. "Well, not unless I stop you." he said, chuckling. "Is that a threat, mongrel? Because if you touch her ever again I will rip your head off." Edward said, growling.
"I thought Jake was your boyfriend?" Alexander asked me, grinning.
Alice giggled a little bit.
"He is! Edward just gets…" I couldn't finish the sentence, unsure of how I could.
"Overly protective?" Alexander offers.
"I am not overly protective!" Edward yelled. I sadly nodded. "Yeah, yes he is." I muttered. Alice giggled again. Edward threw his arms up in frustration.
We reached a McDonalds eventually, even with Alexander purposefully trying to make Edward mad or something. Alice had been laughing hysterically the whole time. I got a fish sandwich and a strawberry milkshake, while Alexander got five or six…or seven, burgers. He finished them all before I even finished my one sandwich. "I haven't eaten McDonalds in SO long." Alexander told me as he had licked his fingers.
"Where have you been on your travels with you Pack?" Alice asked. "Every state and Canada, so far." he said, leaning back. "Wow." I mumbled.
"And ya know what's funny? You're the first girl that actually hangs out with mythical creatures I've met out of all those states." he said, grinning. "Yes, I'm abnormal." I admitted, slurping my milkshake. He laughed.
"Alice…" Edward suddenly said, his eyes full of horror. I turned to Alice.
Her face was blank. "Alice?" I asked, nudging her. She didn't move. "What's going on?" Alexander asked, glancing around as he noticed Alice and Edward where in some weireded out mode.
"Alice is having a vision" I answered. "Those rumors are true too?" he asked. I nodded, my focus on Alice. "You got the tulip." Alice stated, not turning to look at me. "Yeah, I did." I said. Her face was still in vision stance. "It was from him." she said, not looking at anyone in specific.
"Who?" Alexander asked me.
"The nomad." Edward said.
"It was from him?!" I said.
"Yes." Alice whispered.
"How do you know though? You can't see into the past!" I said. "No, she is seeing into the future, he's going to give you another. At some point….when your in danger….again." Edward murmured.
"Wait, he can see the future too?" Alexander asked about Edward, completely lost.
"No, he reads minds." I said.
Alice gasped suddenly, coming out of the vision. "You O.k.?" I asked her.
"Yes, I'm O.K. you little promise breaker." she said. "Sorry, I just didn't think it was important that you know I got the tulip…" I muttered. "Where did you find the tulip?" Edward asked.
"Umm…Your going to be mad…but….in the house!…." I admitted.
Edward and Alice went wide eyed.
"In Alice's room when she was gone!" I finished, putting my hands up in defense.
They both growled.
"O.K. what the fuck is going on?" Alexander asked. "Don't swear in front of ladies," Edward growled at him.
"Don't get your panties in a bunch, Nyala is use to it." he muttered. I laughed at the panties part.
"I am use to it also," Alice spoke up.
"Why do you keep taking his side?!" Edward asked.
"I take the side that is right, I am use to it, because Emmett swears all the time, and if I do recall it right, you swore a few days ago when Emmett took one of your belongings." she smirked at him. He rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"O.K. now that that is over, this is what is going on,…." Alice explained everything to Alexander and as she continued his eyes just got wider and wider.
"What are, you some adrenaline junkie? You get high off of danger?!" Alexander asked me.
I didn't answer. I guess you could look at it that way….Not really, but to an other's eyes it seemed like that .
"We need to get back." Edward said. Alice nods and we wall stand up. "You are not coming with us, mutt. " Edward said to Alexander. "Fine with me, I have to go to La Push to tell my Pack. We're staying in the Forks area for a while, so we might as well be informed on what's going on." he said. "See you later, Nyala." Alexander winked at me, then strode out of the restaurant.
"He's very….strange." I said.
"Yeah, he tried to rape you and now he's all like, "See you later." " Alice said, perfecting his voice. I smiled, nodding. "Lets get home." Edward said, clearly wanting to get off the subject of Alexander.
We walked back to the Porsche and when I got in Alice handed me a bag. I opened it up to find a dark blue dress, strapless. It had some sparkles in it an looked great. "I chose that dress for you." she said. "Alice, you didn't need to get me a dress, I could have worn the one from my performance." I said. "Wearing clothes more than once is a fashion no-no." she sang and started the engine. I sighed and leaned my back against the seat, gazing out the window at the falling sun. I saw shadows moving in the woods, about 7 of them.
"Edward," I started to tell him but he growled, cutting me off. "It's Alexander's Pack. He is very fast. He told them of you being with us and the leader wants to follow us to make sure we don't…kill you." he said.
"Alice, pull over." I mumbled, my hand on the door handle. "What are you planning?" she asked, slowing down.
"I already have you guys breathing down my neck and Jake too about my safety, I don't need a whole other Pack too." I said. She giggled and pulled over. I stepped out and immediately told them to stay in the car. Edward glared but agreed.
"Alexander." I growled, hands on my hips as I took a step into the woods. The shadows appeared suddenly in front of me. "Alexander, come here right now." I ordered. I heard chuckles from the other guys.
A shadow stepped closer and I saw it was him.
"I don't need you following me. So stop it. You should be somewhere else protecting people that need protecting. I am perfectly safe with the Cullens. It was a nice of you to try and protect me but I'm already safe." I told him. Another shadow stepped forward and a guy even taller than Alexander appeared.
"You must be Nyala, we've heard so much about you. I'm Darin. " he said, holding his hand out. I shook it quick and noticed the warmth of it.
"You're the Alpha?" I asked. He smiled and nodded.
"I do not need protecting, I know Jake and Sam probably told you that I do, but I'm safe. I trust the Cullens" I said. "So I've heard from Alexander, I heard how you have powers too….Alexander was paranoid though so he just wanted to make sure you got to La Push safety. We promise not to follow you again after this." he said.
"I'm not going to La Push, I'm going to the Cullen's house, when the Pack comes back I'm going back to La Push." I muttered.
"Your going to stay at the leech's house?" he asked, incredulously. I nodded as if that fact were obvious. He was speechless for a whole minute. "O.K. now that that's all settled, I have to go." I said and started backing up. I could see Edward standing outside of the car, leaning against it, watching.
"But, Nyala. We're at La Push now, you don't need to go back there." Darin said, grabbing my shoulder. I heard a growl and suddenly I was behind Edward
( As usual in 'dangerous' situations)
and he was glaring down Darin. "You will not touch her." he said. "Why? And I thought Jake was your boyfriend, Nyala?" Daring asked me.
"God! He is!" I shouted.
Alexander was laughing hysterically at the irony. He had asked the same exact thing.
Just because Edward was way overly protective didn't make him my boyfriend, yet that was the obvious conclusion people seemed to always jump to! It erked me. I could hear Alice laughing from the Porsche too.
"You can't touch her because I do not trust any of your Pack members to hurt her." Edward told him. "You just met us, except for Alexander." Darin said, confused.
"Yes, except Alexander ,but then again, Alexander tried to rape her." Edward said, clearly ticked off.
"Alexander!" all the Pack members shouted. Darin started scolding him with lots of swear words.
"Let go, Nyala." Edward mumbled and started pulling me away. I nodded and left them to fight. We got in the car and Alice quickly drove off. It was silent on the way to the Cullen house. As Alice pulled in I could see Emmett and Jasper outside on the back yard lawn wrestling.
Alice gasped, her eyes going wide.
"Jasper Whitlock Hale! Stop that right now! You are wearing designer clothes if you have forgotten!" she screeched getting out quickly.
Jasper and Emmett froze. Jasper stood up and ran into the house with Alice chasing him. I giggled.
"Hey ,Nyala! Wanna wrestle?" Emmett asked.
"Emmett,….a guy and a…girl….shouldn't be wrestling with each other…." I said, unsure of how to say that it would look VERY bad if a parent or adult happened to pass by.
"Aw." he said, his face falling.
"Besides, Emmett. Nyala promised me she would fight with me." Edward said, winking. "Oh yah!" I said ,remembering our deal. "You'll never catch me!" I added, smiling. "That is what you think, Nyala." Edward said, flashing me his crooked smile. I rolled my eyes and we walked to the middle of the yard.
"I'm SO watching this." Emmett bellowed already grinning. Alice and Jasper came back outside and sat down in chairs next to Emmett. "What's going on out here?" Rosalie hissed from a window upstairs.
"Nyala and Edward are fighting to see if Nyala would have a chance against a vampire attack!" Emmett called up to her. She smile evilly and jumped through the window, landing on her feet gracefully. "This, I must see." she said and sat on Emmett's lap.
"On the count of three, you begin. One…Two…Three!" Alice shouted. Edward growled low in his chest, smiled and jumped at me. I focused and was soon floating up in the air. Edward jumped up and grabbed my foot, trying to pull me down. I strained to keep myself up in the air, then once he had to let go I went even higher up. He gave me a small glare then in a blur ran over to a tree, climbed up it and jumped at me form his higher up point.
I flew to the side and he blew right past me and fell to the ground. He landed on his feet. Emmett and Alice were laughing. Rosalie was glaring at me for winning so far. Edward climbed a different tree that was taller than the last.
I turned just as he jumped at me again. "Ah!" I said as his arms enclosed me in a grip and we both started falling to the ground. I squirmed in his grip. He rolled us over as we were still in the air so that when we landed I was on top and he took the impact. He let go of me for a second so he could stand up and I took the chance to levitate him. "Hey!" he growled, flailing his arms around as he tried to stay upright. I smiled and spun him around. "Go Nyala!" Alice shouted.
"I think I have won." I declared. He glared at me a moment then his face softened and he smiled at me. "
Fine, you win this fight." he agreed. I set him back on the ground, smirking.