Chapter 5 - Dinner's ready, bitch!

I was officially lost. Totally lost. Every tree looked the same, every bush and leaf resembling each other. Why was everything so green? I had lost the path and was now moving through the woods without direction. And the reason for this was totally not that I had a movie moment, where I walked distressed and crying through the forest, waiting for some kind of rescue. Male rescue. Hot male rescue. Perhaps even multiple hot male rescuers. Or female, I don't discriminate. But then again, my name was not Bella, and I was not the main character.

Banana hated me; I could feel it. Every few seconds she turned around and looked at me. Now, it was more exhaustion than betrayal in her judging glance. Her glassy eyes seemed to bore into my very soul, urging me to turn around.

I would Banana, I would but I was an idiot who got us lost. Please forgive me and don't pee on my bed while I am at school.

It was cold, the wind was biting my cheeks and the wet ground was soaking through my shoes and sending shivers through my whole body. Lauren's hiking shoes were total garbage, did I mention? At least they were pink. I think I am going crazy.

Why was I so stupid? Why did I think it was a good idea to go for a walk in the dark, scary and unknown forest, when I didn't know how to navigate the fucking dark, scary and unknown forest? Why didn't Banana warn me? Urgh, what a drag, how am I going to find the way back? I will die here.

Sticks snapping, leaves rustling, steps? No, it was something else, it sounded more like an animal. I looked down to Banana and she had her tail tucked between her hind legs, panic in her eyes. Okay, if the dog is afraid and panicking, I am allowed to be afraid and panicking, right? Good, just making sure.

On the other hand, it seemed like she was an anxious dog and had her tail tucked between her legs as a past-time hobby. I chose not to question her wise ways in the dark, scary, and unknown forest.

I swept the little dog up into my arm, her front legs curling around my forearm, the claws digging into my skin. I could feel her shivering against my chest. No long thoughts, I just started running. I heard steps growing louder behind me, keeping pace and possibly growing closer. What kind of animal scent has such strong vibrations through the ground?

Did I mention that it is a bad idea to run through the woods, especially when you are not on a trail? No? Well it is a really stupid idea, especially when you are panicking. I got maybe 10 meters away before I tripped over a tree root. Luckily, I had the sense to let Banana go so I wouldn't crush her beneath me and my heavy body.

It was like time was stuck and I was truly living this very moment. I registered that my foot caught on the root, I heard something snap, but the pain hadn't reached my brain yet. I could feel myself fall forward. Why me, why can't I even walk, simple thoughts rushing through my mind. I let go of Banana and she used my chest to jump off. I stretched my hands out, they hit the wet dirt first. Then my head, I wanted to protect it. Seemed like it didn't work, damn, everything went dark.

A wet tongue was licking my cheek. It was slobbery and didn't smell very pleasant. My nose tickled; my right ankle started hurting.

"Stop it, you little sausage", I muttered because who else would be licking me? I tried to get the tongue away from my face since it hasn't stopped licking. My hand connected to the head; soft fur was running through my fingers. A large head, larger than most dogs would have.

I ripped my eyes open and sat up abruptly, there was a real wolf in front of me, a wolf that had been licking my face. A real fucking wolf. Oh my god, what did I do to upset the gods? It was maddening.

Before I could panic even further, I had the mind to take a deep calming breath. A wolf, in the woods surrounding forks. I could only assume for my own sanity and safety this must be one of the werewolves from La Push. Glancing in its intelligent brown eyes and doing a double take of the size of its massive head confirmed my suspicions. I couldn't say that, technically I was not supposed to know. I was just dumb little Lauren, remember?

Well, at least I hoped he was one of the werewolves and not some wild animal. Oh god, maybe it was licking my face to see if I was tasty. My head started spinning again. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down again, I couldn't panic, not now. It is not going to help me, in fact, it would do the contrary.

The wolf itself was really cute, with a button nose, the pink tongue hanging out of its muzzle, and soft black fur. I can't quite remember which one of them it was. I wanted to start squealing, but I bit my tongue at the last moment. Dogs excite me, what can I say.

I was supposed to be scared, wasn't I? There was a wolf in front of me, potentially dangerous. I was just any other teenage girl; I should be afraid. Okay, how does an angsty teenage girl behave? Good question, I would need to improvise.

"Oh no… a wolf! Please don't hurt me, wolf" I said, acting terrified yet not really feeling like I was selling it to my audience. Damn it. I need to at least try and invest in future acting classes. The wolf laid his head at an angle and looked me up and down. Was that wolf seriously judging me? Wow, just wow.

"Don't look at me like that, you are not exactly what I would call scary," I said and stared right back. The wolf got up and made himself taller. His fur was standing up and he growled a little. If I had to translate, he would be saying "don't underestimate me."

"Aw, you really are cute. Such a cute, adorable button nose you have" I couldn't hold myself back. I only have two weaknesses: cute things and food. He was definitely classified for the former. I wanted to boop his nose to bad. It was calling me, calling to be booped.

"Well, if you are not going to answer, I will leave," I said, not wanting to subject myself to the critical eyes of the shapeshifter. I fully sat up and used my hands to push myself into an upright position.

A sudden unexpected pain shot through my ankle. A short scream escaped my lips, it was awfully shrill, and I could see the wolf wince. I collapsed again and fell onto my butt. Shit, that was the last thing I needed. I buried my face in my hands and groaned. Then, I noticed all the dirt and blood on my hands and groaned again. Now, my face was probably messed up as well.

"What am I supposed to do, wolf? Hm? I don't suppose you could get help for me?" I asked the wolf.

The wolf on the other hand didn't seem like he was listening, at least not to me. His ears were pointed forward and he seemed to hear something, what I didn't know. After he threw me a quick glance, he turned around and just ran away. Great, thank you to you too.

"Fuck you!" I screamed after him, frustrated because now I would have to starve in these godforsaken woods. Nobody knew I was going on that walk, Banana was lost, probably scared and in 10 years some hikers were going to find my bones, or what was left of it after the animals were done with it. What a rosy future.

"Do you mean me?" Someone said from behind me. I gasped in surprise. First, I wanted to cry happy tears, then I noticed the silk and soft voice, which rang like a melody. Then, I wanted to groan again. Why did Stephanie Meyer have to write these vampires so damn perfect? In the end, they were just sparkling tampons anyways.

"No, not really. There just was a giant wolf but it ran away," I answered but got quieter in the end. This sounded silly, even to my own ears. I finally turned around craning my head.

If I hadn't been in pain and desperate, I probably would have busted out in laughter. The hysterical kind where people ask you after a few minutes if you were alright.

There stood Emmett, tall and with broad shoulders. In his arms, he was holding Banana who looked terrified. Her eyes wide, her little body shaking, and her teeth bared. She was growling but it was very quiet, more of a warning than anything else. Obviously, she thought she was going to be his next meal.

"Banana!" I exclaimed, jumping on my feet. Instantly, I fell into myself again. Wow, Vivian, learn from your mistakes, goddamn. I may or may not have howled in pain and there might have been big fat tears in my eyes. I have never been good with pain.

"Hey, hey. Slow. You must have banged up your foot pretty well. And Banana, seriously?" Emmett said and let the dog down. He came closer to me and made movements to pick me up. I scrambled back.

"You want to pick me up?" I squealed. My thoughts and exact opinion of what I thought about it must have been obviously visible on my face. I didn't care.

"Well, how do you think you will get out of these woods otherwise? Do you want to crawl?" He asked me and looked at me expectantly. I shrugged. Maybe the wolf can come and carry me to safety. Perhaps it was a good idea to not say that out loud.

"I mean, I could definitely try?" I looked back at him, and he and I both knew that I wouldn't. I sighed deeply. My ankle was throbbing, and my hands still hurt.

Blood.

There was blood on my hands, blood on my head. How could he control himself around me? The answer that I was somehow just not delicious somehow offended me a little. But I am not complaining. I'd rather be alive and disgusting than dead and delicious. Just saying.

In a swift moment, he just picked me up. I yelped in surprise and threw my arms into the air. His grip was strong, and his arms felt like hard cold stones resting on my body, trapping me.

"What the fuck dude! Maybe a little warning would have been nice?" I said and glared at him.

"You were talking too much," he just answered and grinned. I rolled my eyes.

"What about the dog?"

"You call that a dog?" He countered. I hit him on his chest but remembered just in time to slow down before my hand connected. I didn't want to pull Bella here and break my hand. That was the last thing I needed in a situation like this.

"It is going to follow us, don't worry," now it was his time to roll his eyes. I doubted that but okay. He can go look for Banana if she wouldn't be able to keep up. Jerk, nobody gets to insult her except for me.

The rocking of his body while walking was actually really relaxing. I started to enjoy it and closed my eyes, also because I didn't know where to look. But it meant that the adrenaline was leaving my body and the pain was getting worse.

Now, not just my ankle but my head was hurting as well. They both started to pulse in unison. Great. My sister was probably going to accuse me of attention-seeking again. I was not entirely sure why that bothered me so much.

"We are here princess," Emmett's voice pulled me out of my state of drowsiness. I opened my eyes and was blinded by the bright light. We were definitely not in a forest anymore. I was gaping at the giant house which was presenting itself before us. It looked so out of place among the trees. It was modern, but cold.

"I knew you must be well off, but this rich-ass looking mansion, however? I didn't expect this," I stated and tried to whistle but apparently Lauren wasn't well versed in the art. Just hot air was escaping through my teeth. I hope no one noticed.

Emmett shot me a weird glance; I am not sure if I deserved it for my comment or my non-existing whistling skills. I would be ashamed of myself as well. It is embarrassing not to know how to whistle.

Like the good vampire he was, he carried me up and into the house. From the inside, it is even more impressive. Bare walls, expensive antiques, and every single piece of furniture skillfully stylishly placed together.

"Close your mouth, one might think you have never seen a house from the inside," Emmett directed at me and walked me to the couch. He left me down, awkwardly but nevertheless unexpectedly gentle.

I closed my mouth and stuck my tongue out behind his back. That'll show him.

"Maybe I am some homeless hobo, you wouldn't know."

A wet towel smacked against the side of my head. I want to say that I took it with composure, but I shrieked a shriek no one ever before had shrieked.

"My poor ears, are you a banshee?" I heard Emmett's voice coming from the kitchen and finally saw him returning.

"For what was that? I could have had a heart attack," I accused him and gave him my death glare. It didn't seem to work on already dead beings.

"To clean your hands, dummy," he answered and gestured to my bloody hands. So maybe he didn't think my blood was disgusting. Maybe he just wasn't breathing. Didn't that happen to the best of us?

He sat on the unnecessary pretentious chair like a Greek statue. Skin pale as marble and features so perfect it was almost annoying. He looked human if somehow unnaturally flawless. His chest was still the little detail betraying him.

But that meant… that meant that that lunatic brought me into a house full of fucking vampires! While I am bleeding all over things, is he crazy? Even though I am miserable as Lauren I don't necessarily want to die, especially in these clothes. Would those be my ghost-outfit forever?

I promptly grabbed the towel and started scrubbing my hands. The dried blood did seem to come off rather good, but the harsh movement made the wounds bleed a little more. I sighed deeply, that was not ideal. Well, ideal if I want to continue living. I scrubbed more.

Time for damage control.

"Emmett, I think you really need to bring me home." I tried to put as much urgency into my voice as possible. I looked up and saw how he was staring at my hands. He didn't even blink and I could see from my seat on the couch that his iris was coloured dark and daunting.

"Emmett?" I asked hesitantly. His glance didn't shift at all. He seemed like he was in trance. Oh god, that couldn't be good. He is probably thinking about what cheese went best with Lauren's red brew. I myself would think perhaps Comté, but only the more aged one. What am I thinking? I am going to fucking die and I think about cheese? Now, I am also hungry, great.

I needed a plan, and fast. I wouldn't be able to outrun him. He would kill me. I could be dead in just a few seconds' time. Oh god, what do I do? Don't panic, please don't panic. Too late.

"Emmett, please don't kill me. I have family and kids! Well, technically I don't have any kids, but I do have a little sister. That must count for something, doesn't it? Oh, and I have a dog, she would miss me if I were to be gone," I started rambling and the words just kept pouring out of my mouth. This was my only option to save myself. I am pretty sure though the rat wouldn't miss me at all.

"Why are you so nervous princess? Stay for dinner, please." His voice was soft as silk and sweet as honey. He looked up; his eyes were darker than black. A smile was tugging on his lips, revealing razor-sharp teeth.

Needless to say, I screamed at the top of my lungs.

I would have run away but you know, not so easy with a messed-up foot. Oh, and by the way, could he have said something more cliché? He was alive for what, 80, 100 years and that was all he could have come up with was inviting me for dinner? I felt slightly offended at the low-effort phrase.

All I could do was to pinch my eyes together and to wait for cold lips to touch my skin and sharp teeth to break it. He would slurp me like a slushie. I wanted to cry. I was frozen in place, I couldn't move. Why couldn't I move?