Chapter Eight | Romy | It Begins
I guess most of the kids weren't too bad. I even got a hug today after turning a little girl into Sully (from Monsters INC). Today was an unceremoniously good day. From the sun shining down on my—oh shit! —I was burnt. My finger hesitantly ran down my shoulders and I swear I could hear my skin sizzle. No matter, I wouldn't let this ruin today. The brushes were almost dried against the brown paper towels I had laid out after washing the paint off the hairs. My jeans were predictably covered in paint which my mom would roll her eyes at, knowing better than to scold me for it. We have evolved beyond that. I was never good at keeping my clothes clean. It has only taken sixteen years for my mom to accept that I would never be a "girly-girl".
My ears were uncomfortably tired. I wasn't used to wearing jewelry. Most of the time jewelry got in the way of what I had planned. I was either working out, at practice, in the shower, eating, or napping. My god…I sound boring.
Although Seth did mention the beach. It would be unfortunate if I were to lose something so beautiful in the sand. I packed up the booth and waved at a few children that walked by faces covered in different characters that I had painted on. Making up my mind, I decided to stop by a couple of booths that were still open before heading back home to change for the beach.
There was a smoking pit near the open patch of grass up ahead, the smoky cedar wood created a welcoming atmosphere, dancing around that scent was the smell of baked salmon. It made my stomach rumble. It smelt amazing.
"You look like someone who'd appreciate a good fish bake." A small woman got up from her lawn chair, her smile bunching up her wrinkly cheeks until her eyes were half crescents. An eggplant-coloured shawl was draped around her narrow shoulders, two long greying braids framing her heart shaped face. "Here, please, we have so much left over." She gestured to the flayed fish, a beautiful orange-pink shade, on a stick angled towards the wafting smoke.
"T-thank you, it looks incredible."
She showed me how to take the pole from the ground and let the tender meat slide off into my fingers. Each bite had the cedar plank smoke seasoned into it. It was unlike anything I had ever tried. Within a few minutes the fish was gone.
"You have a good appetite." She laughed and patted me on the arm. "You kids, growing around me like trees! Eat! Eat more!"
"Hah-ch toe-CHOKE-tee-yuh," Tony came up from behind me, greeting the older woman, "ah-YAH-so- chid?" (Good afternoon, how are you?)
"HAH-ch-lee Ho," she responded with a toothy smile. (I'm doing well.) "Is this your daughter Tony? She looks and eats just like you!"
Her laughter was like an old truck starting its engine in the cold, but it was infections. I clapped a hand over my face in embarrassment and turned to look up at Tony through my straight lashes.
"Does she now?" He patted me on the shoulder, "this is Romy, she's Clara's daughter."
"Hello Romy," she took my hand and patted it three times with her soft, freckled, fingers. "It is genuinely nice to meet you. I've known Tony since he was running around my ankles. You can call me auntie, or Minnie."
"It's nice to meet you too, Minnie." I cupped my hand over hers and gave a light squeeze.
"Well, you two will have to bring Clara over some time and I'll have all your favorites waiting for you."
"Sounds like a plan auntie," Tony leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before he steered me away as I wiped my slickened fingers against my jeans.
My mother's fiery hair stuck out in the crowd like a lighthouse beam. When she saw us, her face glowed, her smile sweetly pressed as she embraced us in her thin arms.
"How was your day pumpkin?" She poked my sunburnt shoulder.
"Ow! Mom! It was okay…yeah, I got a little burnt. I thought this place was supposed to be perpetually rain soaked." I pouted as Tony chuckled into the crown of my mother's head.
"I guess your mother brought the sun with her when she arrived."
I rolled my eyes, I could feel the nerves strain.
"Anyways…" I pulled at my shirt nervously. "I got invited to the beach by a…friend, and I'm gonna run home and change…and most likely smother myself in aloe while I'm at it."
"Oh! That's exciting! Who's the friend!"
I couldn't help but laugh at my mom's childlike face. She was absolutely ecstatic, clinging to Tony's arm and practically on the verge of jumping up and down.
"Um…" I bit my lip, "Seth Clearwater?" My eyes flickered up at Tony's face.
There was a slight glimmer of stunned silence that waved over his face in a flash. Maybe it was the trick of the light, but I swear I could have seen the glint of worry near the corners of his eyes. He swiftly looked away from me and smiled down at the joy radiating from my mother.
"A boy?!" She giggled, "a boy, tell me more. What is he like? Is he nice? Is he cute?"
"Mom!" I groaned, kicking my converse shoes at a loose pebble.
"He's a Clearwater." Tony said in a matter-of-fact tone, "I knew his father. Great man…" his voice trailed off, lips parting slightly as if he had a 'but' to say. He coughed and patted me on the head, "I'm sure Seth is just as great. But uh…be careful."
"Geeze guys. I'm just going to hang out with him, you're not marrying me off. Don't start pulling together my dowery or anything."
I gave my mother a hug and winced as her face touched my burning shoulders. With a quick and shy wave, I told them that I wouldn't be home too late. They had more people to meet, and probably more houses to be invited to.
I did the best that I can, smearing the cool aloe gel onto the parts of my lobster-coloured skin that I could reach. I wasn't quite sure what Seth had planned down at the beach. The sun still hung in the sky, an orange, warm ball that was slowly lowering down to the tree line.
"Okay, okay…think…"
I pulled on my black bikini bottoms and jumped into my olive green, linen shorts. They were soft against my thick thighs, slightly loose where I had rolled the hem up giving way to my movements. My fingers pulled the strings of the matching black, scalloped cut, bikini top around my breasts, I jumped up and down in front of the mirror to make sure that they would stay put. Satisfied, I quickly plucked the baggy yellow and black striped rugby shirt from the closet, shoving the long sleeves up to my elbows. It wasn't the best-looking outfit, but my shoulders protested against any of the other tops I had skimmed over. My fingers trembled excitedly as they ran through my hair. I skipped out of my room only to double back to shove the large bottle of sunscreen and a towel into my bag, snatching a pair of sunglasses from my mother's bedroom on the way down the stairs.
My feet rushed to the front steps. I hadn't thought this part out. Should I run there and risk arriving a sweaty mess? I pulled the strap of my bag higher around my shoulders and cursed at the heated sting that pulsated against the weight.
"Need a ride?"
The voice chilled me. I could feel a lump catch at the back of my throat as my eyes gazed down at a beige, beat-up chevy. Orange rust spots bloomed near the rims of the tires, little specks like the tiny red spiders crawling out from decaying logs.
"Go away." I snapped.
Todd's bruise was beginning to fade. It had turned into a sickly gross yellow and green colour. Like vomit.
"I'm only being nice Romy. Where are you going?"
My hand grabbed the strap of my bag again, clenching it tightly, digging the edges of my fingers deep into the fibers.
"None of your business, now leave."
I could feel the rush of blood course up my neck, my cheeks flushing as my heart started to thump against my chest. The lump in my throat dragged itself down as I swallowed, calculating every possibility that could happen. He didn't seem drunk like he did at the party, he was huge, I wouldn't have any advantages besides screaming. I can't scream. I never screamed.
He got out of the truck then, a chilling smile on his face.
"Why you have to be like that? I know a great place where we can talk, let me apologize."
"Apologize over there and then fuck off."
The smile dropped.
Can I out run him? Can I turn my back to him and unlock the door before he gets to me?
A searingly warm arm pulled me tightly against a hard body. I inhaled involuntarily and a woodsy scent engulfed my senses. The arm shook as it held me.
"I think she told you to fuck off, Whitetree." His voice was low but threatening.
My eyes peeked up through my eyelashes, my cheek rubbing against his thin t-shirt, I could feel every muscle hiding underneath.
Brady's face was blank, his full lips parted slightly, breathing heavily as his honeyed eyes trained on Todd's stocky frame. I couldn't believe how tall he was, my cheek squished up to his narrow chest, I could feel his heart beating like a drum, a steady-fast-paced rhythm that vibrated through his ribs.
I glanced back at Todd. His face was blank, though his usual brown eyes had turned alarmingly dark as he watched me tug at my sleeves. Defeated, he retreated back in to his run-down truck and sped off, the smell of burnt rubber trailed behind him.
"You okay?" Brady squeezed my shoulder and I flinched at the burning sensation that lit up to his touch, "Jesus Romy, ever hear of sunscreen? You're ever burnt."
"To a crisp," I added trying to diffuse the tension that still buried itself inside my tendons. "Thanks…again."
"It's a good thing I came to check on you, you were taking too long." He ruffled my hair like a child, and I swatted his massive bear paws away.
"Hey!" I shook my head with humored irritation and pulled my long hair into a high pony tail until the tips of the strands grazed slightly at the nape of my neck. "How'd you know where I live?"
His smile dropped slightly before a goofy grin brightened his face once more, he threaded his fingers through the slight curls that had formed near his ears and shrugged a shoulder.
"Everyone knows where coach lives."
"Ah," was all I could muster. "Great," that's how Todd found me.
"Anyways lets go, everyone is waiting and I'm STARVING."
A/N: Sorry was taking a bit of a depression break, that turned in to a long hiatus. The lock down where I am from really got to me. Hoping to post another chapter this week. Thank you again for sticking around. I did some research on Quileute phrases but if I got it wrong PLEASE let me know and I will change it.
Hope you like it, sorry this is a slow burn. Love you all.