The Darkness that Follows

by Jello174

My eyes stared at the edge of the woods, the can of spray paint still spraying away in my hand. Where had he gone? Was it just my imagination? Rachel watched me curiously, as if not realizing that I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing. The shadowed boy had been there, I knew he had. But he was gone. Maybe I was going crazy. What would angry shadowed boys want with me?

21. Chapter 19

California went by in a blur of cities and sunlight. Washington was green. Trees and leaves.

You'd never hear me admit that I was a city boy. I had seen and worked too much to be a city boy.

But I was no country bumpkin. This was a totally different ecological view for me.

Before you even ask, yes, I had seen trees before. But the rain, and the humidity, and even the air was totally different from what I was used to.

After a while longer of trying to get my lungs to adjust, we finally pulled into a driveway.

I practically dove out of the car.

I almost laid on the grass, before I noticed the water collecting on the blades.

"What is this place?"

Edward laughed.

"That's called dew, Dez. It'll be gone later." I stood and wiped myself off.

"I don't like it." Edward laughed again.

"You're not used to this, are you, Dez?" Jacob asked me.

"I live in California." I reminded him.

"You never had dew there?"

"Not that I ever noticed." Jacob shared a look with Bella.

I looked up at the house.

"Whoa." I breathed. The Cullen house was huge, and much more open than I'd expected. The colors were light and stood out in the greens and browns of the trees.

"Come on, Dez. We'll give you the tour." Bella and Renesmee led me into the house. I looked back at Jacob, who gave me a thumbs up, and Edward, who smiled the same wary smile that made me think he didn't really want this. I frowned, and so did he, confusion crossing his eyes.

I followed Bella and Renesmee.