Amethyst Skies
Part 2
By Dog-Demon-Emiko
Chapter 28: Confessions
This was honestly the last place I wanted to be.
I looked up at the brick building with deep hate curling in my veins. Even as others were running past me in haste to get out the pouring rain I stared at the building, as if hoping it would cringe away and disappear.
'It'll be good for you,' Mom had said 'besides, you don't want to get too far behind!'
She didn't understand...she didn't understand the underlining fear in my words when I had refused. Edward had, but still he hadn't said anything; dam traitor. The bell rang, signaling the five minute warning before I was officially late for first period. I growled, Mom had had a point, I was already really far behind thanks to the Volturi. Maybe their ultimate goal was either I join them and rule the world or I get kept back a grade and become a stupid vampire.
"Ah, I see you've chosen to grace us with your presence once again Miss Cullen," sneered the blond secretary in the main office. I opened my mouth retort when she spoke again. "Dr. Carlisle called and explained so your absences are excused." She slipped a piece of paper to me over the desk and handed me a folder thick with papers. "Here are all your assignments and a note to show your teachers. I do hope you feel better." She tossed me a fake smile.
Probably pregnant. I knew she had something going on with that other boy, always so clingy
The corner of my mouth twitched and I walked out the office without another word.
Rude little bitch
I killed the growl in my throat before it got to loud. How I would love to hear her screams of an agonizing death as I sucked the blood-
I gasped and clasp a hand over my mouth as if I had spoke aloud. I ran down to the third building to first period, getting out of the rain. I couldn't do this, I can't trust myself. How do I know I won't throw one of these kids against a locker and kill them? Or corner one into the bathroom. The boys were large, and would certainly be willing to follow me. It would be so easy...
Rose
I gasped and stopped short, almost slipping on the soaked hallway floor. I glanced around to see if anyone had heard me and found that the near empty hallways ignored me completely. I darted into the girls bathroom and into a stall.
Breath Rose, and calm down
I recognized that voice.
Edward?
Yes. Your broadcasting your thoughts all of Forks. Your lucky I'm the only other mind reader around.
I was so relived to hear his voice.
I'm leaving, I can't stay here. It's to risky
Rose your going to have to go out into public some day. You need to nip this now while you still can. Don't let it become a habit now that will be unstoppable later. Now go to class and get all your work done
I knew he was right, and had this been any other situation I would have went at it head on. But this didn't just involve me, it was about someone else too. Maybe if I didn't stay with anyone alone then I'd be less tempted?
Fine.
I closed my thoughts after that. I didn't want him in my head all day. I took a deep breath and exited the stall.
Upon entering the classroom, I stiffened. My day had just turned to shit. Thomas was sitting in the back corner where Keith and I used to sit with the two other wolves that usually flanked them. The two wolves were staring at me as if not sure what to do. Thomas, however, was clearly loathing me.
"Excuse me?" I snapped to the direction in which the voice came. The teacher was standing behind the desk and looking at me expectantly. I plucked the note off the top of the folder the secretary gave me and watched her as she read it over. She looked up at me and nodded. "Very well, take your seat" Jaw clenched, I stalked to the closet seat and faced forward the entire class. I think that was the first time in the entire school year that I actually paid attention to the teacher. When the bell rang I was the first one out the door.
When I got to Anatomy I threw the teacher a quick smile and handed him the note. He glanced it over, wrote a note to himself in his grade book, and handed it back to me.
"I'm glad to see your back but you look...haunted." I shrugged, still staring at him. "You sure your feeling alright?" I pretended to glance down at my hand to give myself an excuse to lower my head a bit. I cut my eyes up at him and nodded. The look had its desired effect, for he backed off and motioned for me to take my seat.
I felt oddly alone and confused as I sat at lunch, picking at the lid to my soda. I could hardly remember the morning so far except that shock of adrenaline first period. Somewhere behind me girls giggled, boys threw food, and the doors to the cafe opened, sending a wave of rain smelling air through the place. My body stiffened at the other sickening scent that came along with it. Wet dog.
Squelch
Squelch
Squelch
They were coming closer.
Please don't come over here, please don't come over here! I chanted. My sour mood plus my weariness definetly made me not want to see them right now.
"Well well well boys look what we have here," purred a sour and disgusting voice that I didn't want to hear at the moment.
"Looks like we've got a bloodsucker at our table." It was one of the others, I didn't know which one, but they were enemies to Keith and I and that was all that mattered.
He went to the other side of the table and put his foot up on a chair, leaning over onto one knee. One of the other wolves had his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall to my right, and the other leaned on his hands on the table to my left.
"What should we do guys?" Thomas sneered, staring me up and down like a piece of meat.
"Leave me the fuck alone before you piss me off," I suggested. Thomas's brows raised.
"Someone is snappy. Are we on our monthly? Wait, do you even get that?" His friends began to snicker. I gave a exasperated sigh. I can not believe he just said that to me.
"You would like to find out wouldn't you? I told you Thomas, I don't want you. Please, go away before you embarrass yourself more." I said loudly so the table behind me tuned in on our conversation. People walking by began to whisper. Thomas's face quickly went ugly.
"You wish bloodsucker." I let out a loud barking laugh.
"No thanks, I'm all set." The smile on his face quickly returned.
"Where's Keith?"
"Wouldn't you like to know." I opened my bottle and took a swig, daring one of the wolves to try and make me choke. Now I was itching for a fight.
"Actually I would. You see, he's wanted for treason and I'm in charge of looking for him. In case you don't understand what that means, I'll translate it. I get to find him, kill him, and take his place."
"Or it means your Jacob's little lap dog." I shrugged. Thomas began to growl but I only pierced his eyes with mine and laughed. "Do you really think that you can kill Keith?"
"He tucked tail and ran, which means that not only do I think so, but he thinks so too." A small, high pitched giggle that made the table behind me stiffen came from within me. I could feel the sparkle in my eye, the one that told everyone that I was on the brink of losing my sanity.
"Or he's just going to kill you in self defense so we can use your head as a center piece. It would save everyone the bother at your funeral. The casket can just stay closed!" I laughed a loud cackling laugh that would have made call the nearest mental home. From the sound of the screeching chairs and quick feet behind me, the Emos at the table behind me were on their way to do just that. Thomas banged his fists on the table, moving in close to me. "Temper temper wolf boy, higher pack members don't lose their cool." I smiled a menacing, I-dare-you smirk as the bell rang.
"See you in gym." I heard him growl under his breath. It wasn't until I got to the English building that I realized I was shaking with adrenaline. All throughout class I didn't pay attention. Instead I started out the rainy window while bouncing my leg on the floor. I needed to burn energy or else I would go crazy.
When gym came around my palms were itching with the thought of something to do. I changed my clothes and lined up with everyone else, waiting as the teacher looked us over to approve of our attire.
"Three laps, go!" She commanded. The class did as told. It felt awkward for me, not jogging with anyone. I had to pay extra attention so that I didn't start going too fast.
"It'll be soccer today folks!" She called behind her as she walked towards the ball closet. Many girls groaned but I purred in excitement. Soccer was not only my favorite sport but it burned a lot of energy. I felt like a thunder storm waiting to set off.
"Cullen and Black! I want you both as captains!" Burns shouted. I winced at the name. I could imagine Keith's face now, of what he would say at the thought of it. His dark eyes would spark and the muscle in his jaw would twitch.
"Black's not here!" Thomas shouted. I growled. Burns shrugged, twirling the soccer ball in her hand.
"You want to be the captain Sawkee?" Thomas nodded. She waved her hand to tell us to proceed and moved on to set up the goals. We stood in front of the class, a much needed six feet in between us.
"Ralkie!" he barked. One of the guys that had been on his dogdeball team walked over to him. Not knowing anyone's names, I pointed at one of the boys who had been on my dogdeball team, not wanting to be stuck with the two gossiping girls; the third one was sick with Mono.
Eventually it came down to the two of them. I picked the one who looked less snobby for the one who looked like she didn't know what soccer was. We moved to the basketball court.
"You," I pointed to one of the promising boys "take goalie. You two boys I want on defense, pick which ever side you want. You two -not you- you! Pay attention! Both of you take forward; you take left and you take right. You two can have midfield with me. Pick which ever side and fan out wide to cover the sidelines." I turned to face Thomas who looked like he was having no better luck with me with assembling his team. Once he was done Burns walked to the middle with the ball in her hands, muttering something about hopeless teens.
"Captains!" Thomas and I came forward, the colliding energies making even Coach Burns uncomfortable. "Shake hands." He reached out, evil glint in his eye.
Crush it
I smirked right back and grabbed his hand roughly. Almost no muscles flexed in my arm and the move was a fluid shake. I made sure I put pressure between his thumb and forefinger and by his pinky , preventing him from squeezing my hand.
"You alright there Sawkee?" Burns asked when we let go. Not only was he pissed but his hand was reddish. He nodded but never took his eyes from mine. "Alright." She put her whistle to her lips. "3, 2, 1!" She blew on the whistle and tossed the ball into the air. The two of us crouched and shot up. Thomas's chest pushed me back as his head bounced the ball backwards and into his team mates. I growled as we came down and snarled when we landed. His larger foot landing on my own. Even though I was a vampiress, so much weight coming down so hard shocked me. The muscles in my foot cramped and I fell backwards onto my ass. I caught myself before my head smacked into the smelly floor and stood, not wanting everyone to know what happened even though they probably already did.
"Pick someone who is playing the same position as you and cover them," I snarled at my team who pretended to be watching the ball. Thomas's forward had managed to get it by both my left forward and my midfield and was now trying to shake off my defense to score. At least I had one player who knew what he was doing. "Move in!" I yelled at my right field players who were standing like lumps. "Put some pressure on them-"
"Yes!" Thomas yelled. They had scored already. I rolled my eyes and slapped my hand to my cheek, pulling it down roughly. This was going to be a long ass hour.
Five minutes into the game the ball was ours. I kept an eye on Thomas as well as my own team members, making sure they had figured out where they were supposed to move. Without a stopper, we could go as far as the goal line as long as the ball was on their side of the field and I intended to use that to my advantage.
"Yo!" I yelled. I push passed the ball to my left. I darted around Thomas who was right on my heels, stopped short, and zipped behind him.
Give it back!
I looked to my left. The ball was rolling weakly back to me unexpectedly. I looked at the girl who I passed it to and she gave me a hopeless look. Thomas intercepted the pass and was trying to go around me. I stuck out my foot and pulled back, making it look like I was just trying to get the ball back. Thomas tripped and caught himself on his hands. He flipped over and grasped my foot with his, making it look like an accident. I pulled my leg up, trying to get it out of the lock but he had his foot hooked around mine. I pushed the ball with my elbow to get it away from the oncoming opposition.
"Hands!" Thomas yelled, picking himself up and pointing at me. He's such a fucking tattle tale! Burns looked up at him from some papers on her lap.
"I didn't see it," she shrugged. I smiled and nodded to her. It was time to play dirty.
Ten minutes and three would be bruises later, Thomas and his team had all my team members blocked. Thomas himself was standing in the middle while I stood back about four feet from his side. The goalie peeked from under the wolf's left arm, not able to see around his bigger form. Seeing the opening, I nudged the ball a bit towards my right diagonal from me and positioned my leg for a push pass. I let Thomas move forward a bit, preparing to intercept, and then brought my leg down with more force then what it looked like I had. The ball sailed through the air, whizzing past people with a whistle, and zoomed right past Thomas's shoulder. He had to dodge to avoid getting hit in the face. Scowling at me, he whipped around to his goalie who let out a big 'oughf!' as the ball hit him in the chest and sent him back into the net. The entire class looked over to Burns.
"It counts," she shrugged.
"No way!" Thomas growled. "That was a head shot!"
"I never said anything about head shots." Burns countered calmly. I was starting to really like this teacher.
"Just get over it mutt," I whispered under my breath. Thomas began to growl.
After making sure his goalie had nothing broken he had the ball again. I jogged backwards while shouting orders to my team and felt my body tense. I dived to the ground just in time to avoid getting hit.
"What the fuck!" He shrugged, rigid and slightly shaking.
"Just get over it," he mocked. I began to growl and turned away. "What's wrong Rosey, can't take the heat without Keith being here with you? Don't worry, I'll be sure to send you some of his fingers."
I turned around to find him right behind me. I looked more pissed then shocked.
"What the fuck is wrong with you? He was your best friend for crying out loud!" A sick smile cracked across his face.
"I'm an animal bitch, killing is what we do. Besides, your prince charming would do it to me if our roles were reversed." He was whispering; it made me realize how loud I was but I really didn't care.
"No, I would do if for him." I snarled.
"Break it up you two!" Burns yelled from the bleachers.
"As if you could." My fangs and nails were becoming harder, elongating in expectation of a kill.
"You wanna find out?" He laughed and suddenly pushed me. Both his large hands landed on my shoulders, making me feel like I had gotten hit with two rocks. With a wild yell I threw my shoulder at him, putting all of my body weight behind it. He stumbled backwards for only a second before regaining his footing. I moved towards him, planted my left foot on the ground, and swung my right foot through the air. His arm circled around my calf, catching it before it could do any damage. He locked his grip around my ankle and swung me around behind him, releasing me. I twisted in and air and landed in a crouch.
"Hey!" Burns shouted. I ignored her. She seemed to be moving in slow motion. Thomas moved towards me; I stayed where I was until I saw the delighted gleam in his eye. If he thought that I had submitted to him at that moment he had another thing coming.
"What's the matter Rosey, tired?" I gathered saliva mixed with a bit of venom in my mouth and spit at him, making it land on his leg.
"Ah!" he yelled, the venom burning his skin. I stood quickly and strode over to him, grabbing his hair and pulling his hand back. With a roar that was not very human he slapped his hand over my wrist and squeezed. The pressure would have crushed the bone had I not been half vampire. I couldn't believe I was admitting this but thank goodness for Edward's DNA.
The class had surrounded us by now, slowing the teacher down just a few seconds to give Thomas time to drop on his back, bringing me down with him and making my head crack against the floor. He pulled his hand back as if intending to slap me so I acted on impulse. I drew back my arm, curling my fingers the way my sensais had taught me, and sent it plunging down towards his face. I felt my middle knuckle meet his nose and heard his to-low-for-human-ears grunt of pain. Now his body had really started to shake, his eyes becoming clouded with bloody rage.
Hands ripped my hand away from his hair and yanked me back. I was lifted by the collar of my shirt and around the waist as Thomas was picked up off the floor.
"This won't save your boy-toy Rosey," Thomas growled. Burns, who had heaved him off the floor, looked shocked at his low tone. I felt the familiar pressure behind my eyes that told myself that if I could cry I would have. The rage that bubbled inside of me made a reappearence with an all new fury. A vicious scream tore from me as I scrambled to get back to him. I wanted to smash his smug face; to tear off his flesh and stomp on his organs. I didn't care for any human in the room at the moment, the sick fuck needed to die!
Rose get a hold of yourself!
Edward's voice gave me a brief flash of sanity and brought me back to reality but my anger did not subside.
"That's it Cullen, go to the main office, now!" I hadn't realized that it had been the wrestling coach that had a hold of me. His name escaped me, but I knew his rumbling voice anywhere seeing as he was also a hall monitor.
I moved to walk across the gym floor to the locker rooms but the teacher wouldn't let me go. "Let go!" I growled. He released me abruptly and I could smell the fear on him.
"Office!" Was this teacher really afraid of me? Good, then getting him to leave me alone shouldn't be a problem. My eyes tightened as I slowly turned around, letting the full extent of my pitch black eyes take a toll on him. Fear clouded my nostrils and the air as my aura expanded, letting him know that I was indeed a predator who could so easily take his life.
As I walked to the locker rooms I felt like I was floating on air. I don't remember crossing the gym floor, or breaking the lock on the locker room door with one easy yank, or even finding the curtained stall that I changed in. I only ripped my clothes over my head, not bothering to change my pants and grabbed all of my stuff. As I walked to the door that led to the stairwell back onto the gym floor I asked myself: What the hell am I doing? If I faced Thomas again I would kill him, thus breaking my promise with Keith. But Keith had never said anything about killing Thomas, just picking a fight; and I didn't pick the fight, I just finished it. Instead of going to the stairwell I walked straight by it and to the door that led outside into the pouring rain.
I was soaked in under a minute. Clad in navy terri-cloth sweats and a black shirt I had no protection from the rain. My rain jacket along with all of my books were in my locker, which I had went to before coming to gym. My hair, which had been wound up and tied to the back of my head, was already weighted down by the water that had collected in it. I hastily dug through my jeans in my hand and fished out my car keys, running over to my beloved car and hurrying to unlock it and get in.
I shut the door behind me and sighed, shaking the cold feeling away. It was odd that I felt cold, to myself. Maybe because I'm hot on the inside? I stared the engine and turned on the fans, leaning my head against the steering wheel and listened to the pattering of the rain. For just one moment my world was peaceful.
Rose
Moment's over.
What!
Where are you?
Edward was a dip-shit sometimes.
Why?
Because I'm on my way to get you.
I snorted and pulled the scrunchy from my hair. I honestly wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have leather seats, because a wave of water fell from my hair and onto my back and the seat. I put the car in drive and pulled out of the space.
Don't bother, I'm already leaving
Don't go anywhere Rose
Was that him trying to be assertive? He could use some help. I blocked my mind. There was only one place...wait a minute, make that two places, that I wanted to be at the moment. And while one of those places was only about ten minutes away, the other was hours away...somewhere in Wyoming.
Something about Forks that I loved was the lack of inhabitants, meaning not that many people on the highway. I was free to speed if I wanted but most importantly I knew that I wouldn't be bothered. For once in my entire adolescent life, I didn't speed. Granted I was still going at least 70mph, but it wasn't my usual ninety.
I took the exit and was in front of my dojo in no time. It was only about two-fifteen in the afternoon. Even though the gym was closed today there was always someone here. I eased my foot onto the break, sliding into the parking space. Seeing no use in sitting in the car just to stare at the rain washing over windows, I pulled up my hood and popped the trunk. Closing the door quickly before it got too wet, I scurried to my trunk and hauled out my black duffel bag and ran to the door, locking the car after I was safely under the shelved roof. I banged on the glass door and waited only a moment before I heard the click of the lock and the door popping open.
My sneakers squeaked as I stepped onto the hardwood floor. The thought that flowed through his mind gave me a look at myself. I was soaked and a bit paler than usual. My hair was a dripping mass of curls along with my clothes and made a puddle on the wooden floor that I let my bag drop into. My eyes were still dark, now a chocolate brown, and they held a desperate kind of anger that was unsatisfied.
"Take four laps." He said simply, folding his hands behind his back. Secretly I was grateful for his bluntness. I took off my soaking wet shoes, socks, and sweatshirt, tossing them by the door and went to do as told. I was careful, examining the smells that the room held. I couldn't help my paranoia. The last time I was here I kidnapped, knocked out, and woke up chained in Italy. When I was done I sat in the middle of the room and did all of my stretches. The tension on my muscles and limbs was even more noticeable now.
Master Ludos stood in front of me once more, examining me calmly. My breathing was slightly heavy from stress as I stared him back in the eye.
He spun on his right foot and swung his right foot towards my head. I barley managed to dodge. I ducked under his leg and rolled forward before it could come back. With my left arm I struck out, still crouching, and stopped his right leg from coming down on me and took my right arm to hook behind his left leg and pull forward. His captured leg overpowered my 'fake strength' and wrapped around my torso. He pulled me back and applied enough pressure to let me know I was beat.
It's not usually this easy. something is bothering her
"Get your head in the game Rose," he warned me. I honestly think it's for the best that he pushed me right now. The stability that he provided always helped me in the past. He released me and we circled again, my eyes tight and searching for any sudden muscle movements which were nearly impossible to see under his loose clothes.
With swift steps he moved forward. He was going to rush me. I side stepped and kicked the inside of his ankle, hit the elbow opposite it, and motioned for his throat when his hand arched up and smacked my hand away from him. Doing so had left his center open. I spun and threw a right mid strike. He jumped back to dodge and did the same when I did one of my famous 'killa' roundhouses. In my narrow focus however, I had backed him into the weapons wall. He ripped a botan from the wall and swung at chest level. I jumped back to dodge and jumped to the side, towards the wall. I picked up a coiled rope, a tiny plastic ball on the end to represent the dart that have normally go on the end. I put the coiled part in my left hand and kept about four feet of rope in my right, swinging it around in a circle.
We stayed in stance for a moment before I shifted my weight and sent the weighted tip flying at him. My foot came up and tapped the tip up, skillfully veering it off its course. The move had made the end curve upwards so it went over his defense posture and hit him under the chin. I said nothing. I only jerked the rope back, letting it soar over my shoulder and began the swinging motion again. I had the feeling he let me do that, and that only fueled my anger.
"Don't baby me sensai," I warned. I needed a real fight to burn the image of Thomas from my mind.
He attacked again without warning. This time he had the beginning of the usual calculating precision in his eyes. I honestly wouldn't know what I would do if he and I fought to the death. I think he would have a very good chance of beating me even with my vampire strengths. I spun to my left to avoid a vertical slash and brought the rope around in a wide arc. He put his sword up, making the rope wind around the wooden blade. I pulled him towards me, putting most of my weight on my front foot. From this point I could manipulate his sword, but he could also manipulate me. He didn't fight the pull and came at me anyway. I wound the rope around my right hand to prevent myself from tangling it and ducked his move at the last minute. I put my hand on his back and pushed him as hard as I could, sticking out my foot to trip him. To avoid falling he would have to jump -and he did. I yanked back on the rope, jerking the botan in his hands and making the rope slip off.
We circled off and came at each other again, never really getting anywhere. I had to exaggerate my breathing after a while and keep myself from really crushing Master Ludos. A few would-be bruises later we stopped and he got into resting stance. I did the same, and we bowed to each other.
"Once again your endurance baffles me. I find your physical intuition better when you are angry. Now if you could keep that enthusiasm and keep your head on straight then I would have something to worry about." He placed the botan carefully back on the wall where it became a harmless stick once more. I coiled the rope evenly and hung it back on its hook, occasionally yanking it to make sure it hadn't been weakened.
"Bite me." I miffed. I admit, I do feel better. But the pride that he showed in me a lot always made me push him away. He chuckled, telling me that once again he took no offense to my tough girl attitude.
"I hope to see that at the competition." I blinked.
"Competition?" I questioned.
"If you had been here the last week you would have known about it. It's a two day competition. Because you are in the more older crowd I will only tell you that it is within the next three weeks. It starts on a Friday evening and will end Sunday evening if you succeed. Friday evening is the formal party that you were never allowed to before so I warn that you will need formal attire. I hope to see you at this competition."
Just as I saw Master Ludos look over my shoulder I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Edward standing in the doorway and walking to the edge of the dias. Even he knew that it was disrespectful to walk on a dojo floor with his shoes on.
"May I help you sir?" Sensai asked in his business voice.
"I'm Rose's father," Edward said clearly. His voice was hard, as if he was forcing himself to say it confidently.
He doesn't look much older than her. Must be good genes...
"Hello. I am Randy Ludos, Rose's teacher." He welcomed, walking to the edge of the stage and shaking his hand.
"Edward Cullen, nice to meet you."
"Likewise Mr. Cullen. Rose and I were just finishing." Edward nodded.
"Take your time." My eyes narrowed at Edward.
I didn't tell you to come here
And that's supposed to stop me?
I had to kill the growl in my throat.
"Rose," my gaze snapped back to Master Ludos. "Do you plan on entering this competition this year?" I took a deep breath.
"I'll have to get back to you on that." I moved to the edge on the stage, bowed to him, and then stepped off and put on my shoes, ignoring the fact that they were still wet. "Goodbye Sensai, and thank you." I said. He waved after me.
"Anytime," he called behind me. I went for my car, Edward getting in his own.
You want to talk about what happened in school?
No
I pulled out of the parking lot at forty, gaining speed as I turned onto the highway.
Why aren't you going to enter the competition?
In no time I was halfway to my exit.
Why does it matter?
I glanced in my rear view mirror. He was right behind me.
From what I saw you were pretty good even though you weren't using your full strength
I rolled my eyes and shifted into the far right lane.
That's exactly the point. I have to hold back. One strike and I might smash someone's sternum. I don't think so
There was no way I was going to be responsible for another human death. Not because I couldn't control myself. I pulled off the highway and did one hundred and ten all the way home. Edward gave me space, not wanting to ride me to closely. I blocked him from my head and concentrated on he road, trying to keep my mind preoccupied.
When I got home Mom was already cooking. "Hi Mom," I greeted.
"Hi hunny. I-" I put my things down by the door since they were wet. I moved to walk into the living room when I saw it was already full. I stopped short when I saw all of the faces staring back at me.
Looks of awe were everywhere; I started to feel a bit self-conscious and irritated. "I meant to warn you about them..." Mom said quietly behind me. She took my hand and smiled at me. "They are your family." she said simply. I knew that, I had seen them in many pictures. Jasper sat in the corner, his eyes intelligent and knowing. I tried to control myself, I knew he was an empath. Alice sat next him, looking at me like a child in candy store. Rosalie was standing over the window, her eyes criticizing like some of the girls in school. Emmett really reminded me of a big brother. He looked proud and fascinated at the same time. Then there was Carlisle by the window with Esme, her aura warming and welcoming. She was the first one to say anything to me.
"Forgive us for our rudeness dear, but we simply can't help ourselves," she apologized. At first I didn't know what to say. There was a lump in my throat and my brain wasn't working. They were all so beautiful, so together, so welcoming. I almost felt as if I was intruding.
A hand pressed into my lower back. I jumped at the touch and glanced to my right to see Edward not looking at me, but his family with a strong demeanor. I almost wanted to smile. He was providing me with the stability I needed. He must have listened to my thoughts while I was at the gym.
"No problem," I managed to chock out. Esme stepped forward, her aura calming. In a few strides she was in front of me, smiling gently. Even though her body was restrained her excitement shined through her eyes. She opened her arms gently and I could sense Edward tense next to me. I could think of many reasons why he would. But I proved him wrong when my feet moved forward, bringing me into her embrace. I could feel the love through the hug. It was so much it made me cry. I tried hard to stop the dry sobs but the grandmotherly feeling that came off of her was so overpowering. I enclosed my arms around her, careful as if I would break her.
"Your more beautiful than I would have ever imagined," she whispered into my ear. I nodded in thanks, not trusting my voice. She gave me a slight dismissive pat on the back and I pulled away, breathing deeply. She gave me a gentle touch under my chin, letting me know to keep my head up. I smiled, it was such a motherly thing to do. Carlisle smiled at me from the window. I smiled and nodded.
A swoosh of material and I was swooped up into a bear hug. The breath left my lungs quickly and my back gave an odd feeling pop.
"Emmett your going to crush her!" I heard mom yell. Emmett put me down with humor filled eyes and then ruffled my hair.
"She can handle it." he beamed at me and winked. Mom was right, definetly big brother material.
"I don't think that was a great first impression Emmett," Edward said lowly. The growl was barley audible. I couldn't help but to smile.
"No worries, it's alright." I assured them. Emmett's smile got wider.
"My turn my turn!" I heard from behind Emmett. A tiny hand appeared on Emmett's arm and in flick of her wrist Alice pushed Emmett aside like a sliding door. My eyebrows raised not only at the power that came from such a tiny being but the tiny being herself. She was...tiny, at least four of five inches smaller than me. But she was clad in designer jeans, heeled boots, and a expensive looking purse under her arm. She looked like the classy girl in the daytime and a heavy partier in the night.
She looked into my face for a brief moment before flashing me a wide dazzling smile and throwing her arms around me and kissing my cheek.
"You look more like Edward than I thought!" She exclaimed. The excitement in her eyes was making me nervous. I only nodded a thanks as she hugged me again.
"Alright Alice, let her breath. She has to do that you know..." Mom chuckled slowly.
"Hey! Don't talk to me like I'm crazy, I'm not crazy you know!" Alice joked.
"Yea, you were voluntarily in a mental home before you were turned." Emmett joked. Everyone including Alice laughed at the pun. She stuck her tongue out at the brute and glided with amazing grace back over to Jasper. I had known that Alice had been in a mental home while she had been human, but I was more shocked that they joked about it so openly.
"It's nice to meet you all but I think I'm going to head up to bed. I'm pretty beat," I lied.
"Aw, so soon?" Alice whined. I smiled at her softly.
"Sorry. I wasn't really expecting visitors tonight. Not only that but I have school in the morning." Alice still looked downcast but nodded anyway.
"Goodnight dear," Esme bade. I got different versions of goodnight before I said it myself. Trying not to walk too fast I went up the stairs and into the bathroom for a shower.
I felt better after the shower, more refreshed. From the smell of it Mom had finished cooking. She had baked chicken and made mashed potatoes and french cut string beans on the side. A plate was set already on the counter. Mom had obviously expected me to get hungry. I crept in the kitchen quietly so not to disturb the small talk going on with my...family.
I hope we didn't overwhelm you to much
No Edward, only nearly giving me a heart attack but I think I'll live.I picked up the plate quietly and grabbed a bottled water from the fridge.
It's a lot to take in
I understand
I snuck back up the stairs with my plate and ate quietly in my room. The food was delicious, as always. It's funny how Mom can cook good food even when she doesn't eat it.
I sat on my bed with my knees pulled up to my chest, one arm around my legs and the other swishing the water around in the bottle. A light glared off of the plastic; a light too bright to be a street lamp...I looked out my window and up into the sky. The moon was wonderfully bright tonight even though it was only partially full. Not only that, but it wasn't raining. I suddenly felt cramped in my room.
I opened the window and unhatched the screen from the frame, setting it aside. I clambered out the window and swung myself up onto the roof with expert grace. My feet itched a bit from the rough wet material that made the roof but it was bearable. I sat on the very top of the house, not trusting my satin-ish pajama pants to keep me from slipping.
"Makes you want to reach out and touch it doesn't it?" I jumped, nearly loosing what little traction I had. Rosalie was perched on the chimney, staring off into the dark sky. Leaning against the same structure was Jasper. I hadn't even noticed they were out here! And I thought I was good at the stealth stuff...
"I guess," I tried to hide my shock, but from the small smile on her face she knew about it anyway. "Why are you up here?"
"I could be asking you the same thing. I didn't know you slept on the roof." That was her trying to be funny? Wow Rosalie, stick to being bitchy will ya?
"I come up here to think all the time."
"Did you come to think about why your scared?" I blinked and locked my gaze on the blond mystery man leaning against my chimney. Having an empath in the house must be really annoying.
"Maybe," I snapped. If I wanted this guy to know what I was feeling I would tell him. There's no need for him to just blurt them out. Rosalie suddenly sighed and looked at me. I quirked my brow.
"The moon gets tiring," she explained. "The average human sees about one thousand full moons in their lifetime. I've seen...God I don't even know how many." I knew about Rosalie's dislike to the fact that she had no say in her change.
"Maybe it gets tiring for some people," I slightly agreed. I don't think I'll ever get tired of the moon.
"We're not going to bite you know," I smiled at the pun. At first glance you would think that Jasper was very quiet and reserved. But it seems to me that he is rather playful.
"The only thing I fear is fear itself," I whispered. I knew they had heard. I saw them glance at each other out of the corner of my eye.
"Stop looking at it from a humans point of view." My eyes snapped back to Jasper. How could he have understood that? And so quickly? Rosalie only folded her legs gracefully and watched us both, a curious look on her face.
"How-?" Jasper smiled, his pearly whites dazzling in the silver glow.
"I used to say that to myself all the time. It took everyone a while to figure out that when I said 'fear', I meant myself." He stepped closer to me and sat down next to me slowly, as if not to scare me. "To humans, we are their predators, their fear. And if looking at things in a humans point of view, your are fearing yourself. You can't look at it like that, you aren't human."
"But I still fear myself..." Apart of me hoped that he would understand, that he could help me. The other part of me told myself not to give my hopes up.
"I know, and although it's expected it's got to be overcome. You'll never be comfortable if your looking over your shoulder for your shadow all the time." I wanted to brush him off, tell him he doesn't know anything, and stomp back into my room where I could be confused by myself. But I couldn't. It was like he was reading me like an open book and I sort of hated it. How embarrassing was it when someone you just met knows you better then you know yourself? "I struggled more than you did with this. You had the privilege of being born with the thirst- you were a toddler able to accomplish what I couldn't after a decade. Fear is nothing but adrenaline and misguided thoughts. If you can control the thoughts, you can control your fear. Remember that." I looked up at him, my uncle, and saw a veteran. He had a fought a long way and was struggling his way home a bit but was making progress. I could feel myself open up to him as I thought 'he's alright' in the back of my mind. Maybe I wasn't so lost in the world after all. Maybe, just maybe there was some sort of hope.
Okay, to clear somethings up with the more narrow-minded people that are here, let me make this clear. I'm not dumb, I KNOW vampires can not get pregnant. The reason why I made this story was because I wanted to and so I did. If you don't like it then stop reading it, get on with your life, and leave me alone. I'm tired of all the e-mails complaining! I'm not going to stop this story until it is done, so get over it. Oh, and P.S, if you want to get technical, vampires don't exist AT ALL, never mind get pregnant. So think about that before you try and get all scientific on me.
Anyway, I thank all my reviewers, especially those who have been here from the start! Thanks!
