28. Party

After returning Hannah's car Jason, Skylar, Nick and I went to our house. Of course there were police there, but I couldn't live without my car any longer. And because Nick and Skylar were with me we had to make a big scene that we would laugh at later. Then with Jason with us, we had to have had some sort of precaution. But sadly, Jason's done this kind of thing before so he didn't need to know too much. I was afraid to ask what he did.

We decided to ding-dong-ditch. That classic prank never got old, well at least to vampires it didn't. then once everyone was distracted I would sneak in the garage, rev the engine a little bit, give them enough time to see my smiling face, and then leave. Not even a cop car could follow my baby. The police in France was a different story.

"Ready?" Nick asked Jason as he was about to go up to the porch. "I mean if your too scared we could do it for you." Nick and Skylar shared a few snickers only to frown later as Jason did it with such stealth and knowledge I was really starting to wonder what he did before.

The door bell rung and there was a shuffling of the few Sunday morning papers and a few sighs as they got up. Lazy bums. The door opened and the officer looked around, only to get red faced as he realized what happened.

"Who was it?" a female voice asked. Right by his side was a tall African American. She had lovely brown hair and her skin was a little darker than a mocha color. She was very beautiful.

"Some darn kids trying to pull a prank." he shut the door with a grunt. That was my cue.

I walked over to the side of the house and opened the window gently. I slipped in like a cat-huh I guess that's where the name cat burglar came from-and looked at my viper. It was a little dusty, but the shiny red paint made me smile. I loved this car. It's been a long time since I've had a good one. Well, since the motorcycle at least.

I hit the unlock button on my keys and the lights flashed. I stepped into the drivers' side and put the key in the ignition. I pushed the opener for the garage. I could already hear them.

"Is someone supposed to come over?" the female asked.

"No." another man responded.

I smiled and turned the key sideways. I sighed as my car purred to life. Man I really missed this car. Now I know how Angel felt when she lost hers. Which reminded me I needed to get her another one. We were supposed tog et one last time we were in France, but then Cody showed up…

"Hey who's out there!" I heard footsteps coming over to the back door. I rolled my window down quickly. A bald man pushed the door opened and stared at my smiling face in shock.

"I don't believe it." he said beginning to go for the gun and hand cuffs.

"Sorry! I wanted my car back!" I out the car in reverse and pressed down on the pedal. The car pushed backwards as I pulled out of my house. I turned right and put it in drive and drove down the road. I could hear the faint sound of sirens, but I was already too far away and they knew it.

Skylar came up to the side of my window, carrying Jason who was smiling. I rolled my eyes and I pushed my car a little faster. It moaned since I hadn't driven my baby in so long. I turned the radio on and smiled as "Fireflies" by Owl City came on. I turned it up and sang to every word.

Well I'd get a thousand hugs, from ten thousand lightning bug as they try to teach me how to dance.

I looked at Skylar who had the look that said I was crazy. "Just wait till love drunk comes on, then the people in china will be able to hear it."

"That's not my ring tone is it?" Skylar raised one eyebrow. Jason looked sheepish. He must have hinted it.

"Nooo," I said dragging the word on, "Of course it's not." I winked at Nick who was on the other side of my car. Nick busted out laughing.

I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly. It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep, because my dreams are bursting at the seams.

"Finally, it's over. I don't know what it is, but I hate that song." Skylar was lucky he wasn't in hitting distance and he was holding Jason.

The with his luck the next song to pop up was "Love drunk".

"I give up." Skylar moaned as I turned it up even louder. I drove in silence the rest of the way, except for the radio. To where, I don't know.

We ended up bunking in a nice Victorian beach house in Florence, Oregon. Since it was Summer I couldn't escape the sun, but there wasn't too much of it to begin with. I was too close to Washington.

We picked rooms like the first time we got a house, but it had a hollow feeling. There were too many empty rooms here. There was just enough for my whole family, but Keith had to rip it apart.

Skylar went shopping with me and I had to remind him frequently that we were feeding on human, not a werewolf. He then pointed out that he was a guy so we had to get a bunch anyway. I got him some snacks, because he needed to munch on something every once in a while. Then I went for the ham and turkey, giving him some real food. I picked up steak and ribs. I would show him just how well this family liked to cook for Sam.

All of us even spent a few sunless days on the beach. We'd all swim and have our own little races. Too bad there wasn't a shark out. Nick wanted to wrestle. We did end up playing Marco polo, but it wasn't fair with Angel and Skylar. They couldn't help but use their gifts to their advantage. It was fun anyway. I think Jason did end up getting a tan that day too.

"He's fine." Angel came up from behind. I couldn't help but worry about Jason as he swam out there with other humans. It sucked to be trapped by something as little as the Sun.

"I know, but with both our luck put together, something is bound to happen." I sighed and looked at him and Trevor surfing. When I got them both a rental I had no idea they was that good. they coasted the waves with ease and grace and both weren't afraid to fall. They even met some other guys out there. That was nice, Jason needed some human contact other than Trevor or he might go mad. Then again, maybe not.

"Yeah I know what you mean." Angel took a seat right next to me. I looked at her for a moment. Her eyes were blacker than pitch. How had it been since she had hunted? How long has it been since I had hunted. Really until I thought of it just now I was fine, but it shoved it's way into every corner of my mind. I was thirsty and I needed to hunt…now.

"We need to hunt." she told me. Then she added, "As a family." I winced. I hated them watching me stalk my next human prey, but what was I to do? Just not hunt? That was very dangerous for Jason and Trevor. I would be just as wild as I was when I was a newborn. And I was pretty wild.

"Later when Jason and Trevor comes in. I don't want to leave until I bolt the door."

I didn't bolt the door, but I did tell them the rules.

"No parties while were gone, nobody is aloud out of the house unless of a fire, which I highly doubt there will be. Don't let anyone in and don't answer the door." Jeez, I felt like a parent.

"Sure, Mom." Trevor said. He and Jason exchanged glances of humor and then they let me finish.

"Don't do anything stupid please." I breathed, hugging Jason goodbye. "I don't need to run from anymore cops right now." Jason hesitated for a moment. He didn't breathe for a second, but before I could worry, he nodded quietly.

"No funny business, Trevor, I mean it." I glared at him, but not particularly in a mean or mad way. Just so he knew I was serious. He gulped.

"Right. Scouts honor." he held up his right hand before breaking down into hysterics. I shook my head. What was I doing?

"Some on." Cody told me and the rest headed out the door. I followed as we broke out into a run. Once we hit the trees it was a dead sprint. Jacob's words haunted me.

Of course she's not. What's a few humans to her? She kills them anyway.

I hated feeling like this. Jacob's words were way out of line, but I couldn't help feeling…well helpless. I mean can I really change who I am? Of course I can't. I'm a vampire and nothing could change that. Right? I shoved the thought out of my mind. I didn't need to think when I hunted. I need to rid myself of my problems if only for a moment and let the vampire in me take over.

We hunted some Elk first. I felt their life heading east as we followed the herd. Skylar was the first to jump. I saw in his eyes he wasn't thinking about it. Of course he didn't need to feel guilty, he was a "vegetarian" as the Cullens had put it. I pushed it out of my head again, needing to concentrate.

The smell of animal blood was repulsive, but I had to deal with it for now.

Nick and Skylar had some fun with two bears as Angel confused a mountain lion by popping here and there every time it leaped for her.

They filled themselves in about an hour, moving from place to place, not wanting to decimate the lands animals. Then it was my turn.

Again Jacob came into my mind, but I was tired of thinking about it. Instead of making it go away I used the harsh words to show Jacob wrong. I didn't hurt the humans. I killed them quick and painlessly. Some don't even know what's coming at them.

I ran out near the city where the sun was just about to be gone; the moon was already up. I saw a teenage girl who smelled good, but I chickened out at the last second. I guess it was easier to hunt guys because I wasn't one. Or maybe I was just sexist when it came to this. Nah, it was the first one. I killed Jason's mom hadn't I?

I scanned the deserted road for another person when a man in his mid thirties came by. I tensed up, coiled to spring. I leaped quickly. I snapped his neck before he knew what was going on and drained him. The warmth of blood trailing down my throat was a simple pleasure. My thirst was quenched a little, but I needed more.

I ran out of sight, aware of the rest of my family watching my every move. I spotted another guy. He looked emo, but I jumped unaware of the action myself. The smell was too great. After completely draining him I went back to where the others were waiting.

Everyone of their eyes were a nice, warm butterscotch. I was so happy Skylar's eyes weren't red anymore. It drove me crazy looking into them. I knew mine were a bright blood red by the way they were looking at me.

I changed into new clothes that Angel brought me. No matter how careful I was I always got blood on me. I hated for Jason to see it. I hated to see the pain that it caused him, the pain to love a monster. What had Edward said when he was only newborn? You're only a monster if you let it consume your every thought. I couldn't believe how wise he was at such a young age. But he was right and that was what I needed to believe.

It was only nine o'clock and the sun had already dipped over the horizon. It wasn't too late.

"How about we get Angel a car?" I said. They each froze, surprised I said something. Normally I went all gloomy after I hunted, but I wasn't going to let it consume me as Edward said. I might as well take my mind off of it and do something fun.

"Really?" Angel's eyes lit up like a child on Christmas morning. She bounced up and down, forgetting she was 17 I guess. She ran in the other direction towards the town again, but away from where I had hunted. She was so smart when it came to my needs.

We followed.

"Way to go, Claire." Skylar sighed. "You know she shops like a human. Always has to have the best car with the best deal." he was right. If there was one thing Angel loved more then Nick was haggling.

After two longs hours of "What do you think about this one? I like this, but not the mileage. You call that a car?" but she finally found a nice Chevy Malibu. It was nice and it went pretty fast, but not as fast as her old car.

Let me tell you, it did have some room. But then again we didn't have that many people to take home. I was anxious to get home to Jason. I all but ripped the wheel form her to drive. Angel started to yell at me.

"Claire! NO backseat driving!" she snarled. She made a sharp turn and went past some honking horns as she ran a red light. We put the windows down and this time she had to stop for the red light. There was no way we could squeeze it through. The guys in the car next to us started to whistle at us. That is until they caught Nick's angry eyes as they tried to flirt with his wife. Nick cursed.

"Nicholas!" I turned around as the light switched to green. "Don't say that word." I hated that one. Sure I cussed every once in a while, but nothing would ever make me say that.

"Sorry." he grinned. Skylar gave him a high five.

"Don't encourage him." Angel said, laughing. I sighed. I was alone when it came to this.

We pulled up near the house.

"Oh no." I slammed my head to the back of my seat in disbelief. All around the house we currently lived in was filled with teenagers. And worse they were holding beer can and some had brought kegs. Then some were walking around drunk. I hopped out of the car, yelling at people to leave. They didn't need to be told twice with the look of raw fury on my face. Some people tried to get out of my way before I shoved them as lightly as I could.

I spotted Trevor making out with some girl. I pulled him away.

"Hey! Who do you think you are…" he trailed off as I lifted him by the collar.

"What do you think you're doing?" I saw my face in the reflection of his eyes. I looked terrifying to the human eyes. He didn't answer.

"Didn't I tell you not to have a party?" I was yelling at him now. He cringed as I put him down and tried to calm myself. It didn't work.

"Everybody out!" Skylar yelled. He was beyond furious. He hated this kind of thing as much as I did. Sure, this party wouldn't have been as bad if we were here. People scrambled to give him a wide berth to get out.

Angel began to clean up.

"Don't." I told her softly. I saw her face as she looked at me. It seemed everyone was on my side this time. "Leave it for both of them to clean up." then I looked around, realizing I was missing someone. "Where's Jason?"

Trevor pointed to the second floor, unable to speak to me. I took the stair five at a time. I followed his trail. I slammed the door open only to freeze at what I saw. There Jason was in our room making out with some blonde girl on our. Betrayal washed through me as I watched in horror as she sighed his name.

That was the breaking point.

I ripped the girl off the top of him and threw her onto the floor. I couldn't even speak I was so mad. I was literally shaking from anger. Sometimes the world was lucky I wasn't a werewolf. Her eyes went wide as she backed away slowly.

I turned to face Jason. He blinked as he looked at me.

"Heyyy, Claaire." Jason said slurring his words. Great. He was drunk too.

He smiled at me, but it was a drunken smile. Not the kind I liked. All my anger melted away. I was filled with sadness. I shook my head and walked away. I punched a hole in the wall before leaving the room and curling up in Skylar's arms.

Sorry if I didn't spell keg right or whatever. Like I would really know. Hope you liked this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!!! 3