Chapter Five- One Way or Another
Disclaimer - I don't own anything Twilight-related, that all belongs to one Stephanie Meyer.
AN: Thanks again for all the favourites and follows everyone! And to Fourhorses for another review! Glad you're enjoying it!
I don't know if its necessary, but I'm paranoid so I just wanted to say this story will definitely lean more toward a humourous tone rather than a serious one. That's not to say there won't be serious moments, there definitely will, it's just that a lot of the writing will be from a weird, humourous approach! Just putting that out there in case that's not some peoples thing.
Hope you all have a great New Years wherever you are!
Happy reading!
One way or another, I'm gonna find ya
I'm gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya
One way or another, I'm gonna win ya
I'll get ya, I'll get ya
One Way or Another, Blondie
I struggled to sleep that night, my mind never able to settle the thoughts that consumed me. I was up at the crack of dawn on the Wednesday morning, pacing about the living room as quietly as possible. My mom had the day off, and after all of the wine, she had drunk the night before she wouldn't be out of bed for a few hours.
I kept glancing out of the window, looking over at Bella's house, waiting for Charlie to leave for work. Was my plan a good one? More than likely not, but I was running on excessive amounts of coffee and little to no sleep. My blood was alive with a strange anticipation. One part of me eager to pursue the answers I so longed for, and the other part screaming at me to stay away, it would only lead to trouble, as it usually did.
The resolve I had built up over the years to ignore my supernatural urges had quickly dwindled. Maybe small-town Forks didn't have enough excitement to keep my unreasonable side at bay.
I had a small bag packed, sitting by the front door. After my shift at work, I would be going straight to Addy's for a night of drinking and depending on how the day goes, I'll more than likely need it. That was hours away, however, and I jumped as I watched the door of the Swan residence open. Both Charlie and Bella exited the house, Bella seeming to talk fervently to Charlie, as they came to a stop beside her truck.
I threw the strap of my bag over my shoulder, quickly exiting the house.
"Good morning!" I internally cringed at the overly cheery way my voice sounded and quickly realised the last two people who would want to have an incredibly upbeat conversation, this early in the morning, are father and daughter Swan. I slowed my pace, trying to recover some cool, as I approached them. I smiled awkwardly as Charlie stared at me confused, hands on his hips.
"Uh… good morning, Clara," he said. "You're up early."
I glanced behind him at Bella who was staring at me slightly bewildered, and her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Be cool, be cool.
"Yeah, I've got work in a bit, early shift, you know?"
"Ah, okay." he nodded.
We stood in awkward silence for a minute, words seemed to fail me. I made eye contact with Bella who raised an eyebrow at me.
Charlie cleared his throat, "Well, we best be off-"
"Wait!" I said too quickly, causing Charlie's eyes to widen. "Are you taking Bella to school?"
They both answered at once,
"Yes."
"No"
They both looked back to each other again. God, they both looked so similar in that moment as they stared stubbornly.
"Dad, I'm fine! I can drive myself to school, nothing's going to happen."
Charlie scoffed, "Forgive me, if that doesn't ease my worries Bells. You were almost killed yesterday, I shouldn't even be letting you go to school. You should be resting."
My eyes flickered to Bella's truck, analysing the dent imprinted on its side, evidence of what had occurred the day before.
"Dad-!"
"I mean, I can take her if you want?" I interrupted. Two pairs of eyes flew to me, as they remembered I was there. "I don't mind," I continued, "I have time before work."
"Oh," Charlie contemplated my offer, "Well, I suppose…"
Bella shot me a frustrated look. I smirked slightly.
"Unless you'd prefer to go with your dad, in the cruiser?" I tried to sound innocent.
Bella's eyes flickered between her father and me. I knew she would hate showing up in the cruiser, it would draw even more attention to the situation than would already be awaiting her at school. At least no one would give my car a second look.
She let out a huff of breath, and I smiled victoriously.
"Okay, fine. But only for today, tomorrow I'm driving myself."
Charlie stared for a beat, before nodding slightly, "Okay. Good, I'll come to pick you up later then?" He seemed satisfied.
Bella followed me over to my car, and we both got in, the closing doors breaking the silence.
"Is spending time with me really that awful?" I asked as I turned the engine on.
Bella leant forward playing with the radio, "I just hate all this attention over nothing. I'm capable of driving myself to school."
I glanced over at her quickly, before pulling the car out on to the road. Charlie had already left, and I took off at a leisurely pace.
"You know, Charlie means well. He was pretty rattled yesterday while he was waiting for you."
"I know," She ran a hand through her hair, "I just wish he would listen to me, rather than just assuming the worst."
"He's your dad. It would be weird if he wasn't even the slightest bit overprotective. My dad was the same." I smiled warmly at the thought, a sad pang hitting me. I brushed it away. "It means he cares. Trust me, that's a good thing."
Bella bit her lip, "I know you're right. And I do appreciate it... It's just annoying." She breathed out a laugh.
I joined in, smiling at her.
She seemed to relax a little, "So why did you really want to drive me to school?"
I feigned innocence, "Can't I just want to spend time with my favourite neighbour?"
Bella's expression told me she didn't believe me. I rolled my eyes.
"Fine, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Okay?" She watched me curiously.
I pursed my lips, thinking of what to say, "So, what exactly happened yesterday?"
Bella breathed in frustration so I quickly continued, "I just meant- well, yesterday you seemed as though you were going to say, Edward, stopped the van or something?"
Bella didn't respond for a moment, "Did I?" She bit her lip again.
"Yep," I said it with certainty, eyes narrowing slightly waiting for her reaction. She was stiff, tense, working hard to try and come up with something to say.
"I uh-, I mean it all happened so fast, but Edward, he was standing beside me. He pulled me out of the way before the van could hit me."
"What was he doing beside you? Are you two friends now?"
"Well, no. I mean we did talk on Monday, I don't know-" She stumbled over her words, almost sounding more confused about Edward than I was.
I hummed, before moving on, sounding casual, "He has siblings right?"
"Uh… yeah, Edward and Alice, they're juniors." My heart lurched at the name, but I kept my face calm, "Then there's, Emmett, whose a senior. Those three are all adopted by Dr and Mrs Cullen, and then there's the two Hale twins, Rosalie and Jasper. I think Mrs Cullen's their aunt or something. They're seniors too."
Had I entered a parallel universe, were the Cullens never came to Alberta and instead they decided moved to Forks? I could not understand how else a family, with the exact same names, could be in high school, just as they were seven years ago, with me, a now twenty-three year old.
Was I dreaming? Or was this an elaborate joke? Bella's serious expression told me otherwise.
"How old are they?" I spoke out loud shaking my head, and Bella looked at me confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Uh… nothing, sorry, forgot the age of high schoolers for a second." It sounded weak even to me, but Bella never said anything. "What're they like?"
"I mean, I've never spoken to any of them other than Edward. They mostly keep to themselves."
Of course, they do.
"They're very…" She thought of what to say.
"Strange?" I offered.
"Yeah. Definitely." She nodded. "Why are you so interested?" I could feel her eyes on me.
I turned and glanced at her, painting what I hoped was a reassuring smile onto my face "Just curious. Heard some things around town about them."
"Oh."
"Charlie said they moved here two years ago right?"
"Yeah, from Alaska."
"Oh right." Interesting. "How long did they live in Alaska for?"
"Uh… I don't know." I could feel Bella's gaze burning into the side of my head. "Do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Do you know something? About the Cullens?"
I look at her quickly, "Do you?"
"No."
"Well, me either."
We both stared forward, awkwardness filling the air. I let out a breath as I drew closer to the High School. "This is it here?"
"Um, yeah." I saw her nod in the corner of my eye.
There weren't many cars in the parking lot, so it was easy enough to find a spot. I reversed into one close to the entrance, in case I needed to make a quick escape.
"I can wait about for a bit if you want? It's still really early." I looked at her, with a small smile.
"Oh, no, it's okay."
"Are you sure? I have time. Wouldn't feel right to leave you alone." I frowned.
She gave me a half-smile, reaching in to her bag and pulling out a book. "I can find somewhere inside to wait. Honestly, I don't mind, people will start showing up soon anyhow."
I smiled, "Well, okay then. A book's probably, much better company than me anyhow." I laughed, and she shook her head smiling. "Do you want to do something this week? Maybe see a movie?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll text you later, and we work something out?"
"Sounds good." I smiled.
I said goodbye to Bella, watching as she walked up to the entrance of the school, and out of sight.
But I didn't leave. I sat in my car, waiting and watching. More and more cars pulled up to the school, I didn't know what I was looking for, but if it was anything like Alberta, they'd be pulling up in something flashier than all of the rest.
I don't know how long I sat there, watching as every car drove past. It probably wasn't as long as it felt. I noticed the teenagers that had been waiting for Bella in the waiting room of the hospital, as they climbed out of their cars and moved toward the building.
I sighed in frustration, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel. I shifted uncomfortably in the seat, getting lost in my thoughts. What would happen if they did arrive? What would I do? Do I just leave, or do I confront them?
I paused in my tapping. It was possible they maybe wouldn't remember me, or at the very least not recognise me. While seven years wasn't an exceptional amount of time, it was certainly enough time for me to look different.
I no longer had a mouth full of braces, which used to cause me to embarrassingly spit out my words. I now had shorter hair, which was richer in colour and not in constant tangles, hiding my face. And I was taller. Much taller. I had lost the baby fat around my face, and I had thankfully gotten through the spotty skin puberty stage (though the odd pimple occasionally haunted me). Even my voice had deepened slightly, more mature.
Should I use that to my advantage? Play it as though I was someone else, and I didn't know who they were? They weren't even in Alberta for a full year, and they had moved to a lot of different schools over the years. That's a lot of different faces and names to keep track of.
Would they even show up after yesterday? Something strange had happened, though Bella seemed intent on keeping whatever it was to herself.
I was biting my lip, so caught up in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed the car that had entered the parking lot until I heard the slamming of the car doors. I jumped from my thoughts and looked up, there were still some people walking toward the school, but I hardly noticed as they walked in front of my vision.
The Silver Volvo was parked a good length away from me, closer to the entrance of the school. Five figures had exited the vehicle. My eye's immediately snapped to Rosalie, despite the distance, I could see clearer now, and there was no doubt in my mind it was her. She curled under Emmett's awaiting arm, his large hulk-like figure leading her toward the school. My eye's then moved on to Alice, who walked beside Jasper, talking amiably, bouncing after the other two. I was scared to blink, worried she would disappear again, just as before. She looked almost same, they all did, it was like looking into a memory. My mind was blank, and I just stared as they walked further away from me. My gaze returned to the car as Edward brought up the rear of the group, the furthest from the school, and the closest to me.
I didn't register what I was doing. No thoughts ran through me, I was on autopilot. It could be the beginning of the end for me, and I wouldn't even have noticed.
I exited my car, and began hurrying toward the youngest Cullen.
Edward paused in his movements, so I stopped walking, though I had yet to speak. From the corner of my eye, I could see the others had yet to notice my presence, but I refused to turn and look at them. I shoved my hands into my coat pockets, as they curled into fists, nails biting against the inside of my sweaty palms.
"Edward?" I called over the light chatter that surrounded us. His family were so far away at this point that they shouldn't have been able to hear us, yet I could see them stop.
Edwards back tensed, before he turned slowly. He was the same, lanky and tall, messy bronze hair. His expression was blank, those gold eyes boring into mine.
And his weren't the only ones. I could feel the four other sets of eyes, burning into the side of my head; the eyes of five predators on my very human form. And I just knew, a feeling in my gut, they were predators.
No turning back now.
"Edward Cullen?" I took a few small steps forward, keeping a good distance between the two of us, but enough to try and hide my fear.
He seemed to hesitate with his answer, looking so intently at me as though he was trying to get into my head, "Yes?" His voice was steady, quiet.
Now what? I have their full attention. The ball was in my court at this moment, so I pressed forward, feigning ignorance.
"I just wanted to thank you." I felt a surge of confidence at the surprise that flashed across his face. I continued, my words sounding casual, "for what you did yesterday."
He just stared at me so I continued, "Bella Swan?" I could see his jaw clench, and if I hadn't been watching him so closely I might not have noticed. "She's my neighbour, so I was worried when I heard she had been in an accident. She told me what you did, saving her life."
I watched his face, gauging his reaction. I couldn't help but think back to what Bella had said -
'Edward Cullen. He stopped-'
Edward's eyes widened slightly, and mine narrowed. Had I said that out loud? I was certain I hadn't yet he reacted as though I had.
"Yes well," his voice had an edge to it, his face cold. "She was lucky I was standing beside her."
"Yeah, I guess so. She had told me about you getting off on the wrong foot on her first day of school. I'm glad you both seem to have made amends, sort of becoming friends. Perhaps I'll be seeing more of you?"
I was bullshitting and I knew it, maybe he did too, but I was desperate. For what, I didn't know. Just some sort of reaction that would confirm everything I had ever thought, to know that I wasn't crazy, despite what people would say.
"I doubt it." His eyes were dark.
I couldn't help but feel a bit smug at his reactions to my words, I felt as though I was cracking his calm persona.
But then-
I don't know what happened to cause it, but a sudden burst of overwhelming emotions clawed over me, into my body, my mind. Doubt, worry, fear. I should be scared, it screamed, and I was. I was looking into the golden eyes of this man, and I couldn't stop the horror that overcame me. My flight instinct was coming to a head, almost against my will. I didn't want to give up and walk away, yet my body could not stay any longer, else I broke down in a panic.
"Well, thanks anyway." I breathed out, almost a whisper, but I knew he'd heard it. I turned walking back toward my car at a fast pace.
"You never told me your name," he called after me.
Turning back around I caught the quickest glance of his family still stood in the same spot as before, having momentarily forgotten that they had been there, so consumed by Edward. I didn't let my eyes linger, despite an urge to stare. I met Edwards eyes again, and this time he seemed to be the slightly smug one, almost as though he knew why I had backed down so suddenly.
"Clara," I said, simply, the short silence that followed, suffocating me.
"Good to know."
It was a threat. I knew it was. A warning that he knew. Knew something.
Whether it was that he was aware of who I was or that I knew what he was, and what he had done with the van yesterday I wasn't sure. Perhaps it was both.
I didn't say anything after his words, turning back around and walking until I got to my car, aware of all the pairs of piercing eyes on my back.
I locked the doors immediately, happy my back was to them as I grasped the side of my car seat, gasping for breaths, tears filling my eyes. And then like someone flicked a switch, the feelings disappeared. I took a few deep breaths, steadying my lungs, my heartbeat slowing to its normal pace. Confusion filled me.
What just happened?
I had never experienced anything like it.
I couldn't stop to think, though, despite my calmer state, I still felt the urge to get out of there. I started the engine, preparing to drive away. I risked a look in my rearview mirror, knowing they would be directly in my line of sight. Edward was now standing by his siblings, all of whom were gathered around him talking quickly, fiercely, occasionally glancing in the direction of my car. All except Jasper.
It seemed as though our eyes had met in the mirror, but he was so far away it shouldn't have been possible. Yet his stare was so blank and intense, unblinking and terrifying. Predator and prey, facing off. He was staring into my soul and I wanted him to stop.
I tore my eyes away and turning on the engine, revving the car. Then I paused.
They had all wanted to scare me. Rosalie, Edward, and Jasper.
And I was. I was terrified, more than I'd ever been. More than when Rosalie Hale looked at me with her murder eyes. More than the day my dad never woke up, and I realised I would never hear his voice again.
Perhaps it was the sudden anger I felt at both this family and myself for allowing such fear to consume me, or perhaps it was the still lingering hurt from Alice disappearing and abandoning me (despite it probably being a result of my own actions).
But, I'd be damned if I would let them have their victory so easily, and I wasn't going to let them run away again. If my mom was here, she would be embarrassed, scolding me for what I was about to do, for acting in such a manner. It was petty and childish.
Unlike me, however, my mom didn't know there was a family of what was most likely vampires living in her home-town. And I always had to push things, push until the trouble was right on my doorstep, and it was too late.
I leaned over winding the windows of my car down, before rifling through my dad's old collection of 80's CDs, putting one into the CD player.
My ears protested as I turned the radio up as loud as it could go. I smirked as I looked in the mirror at the variety of shocked expressions from not just the Cullen's, but the remaining students that were hurrying into the school building.
I revved the engine a bit louder than before, pulling out of the parking lot as Blondie's voice screamed out the words of 'One Way or Another.'
I was surprised I wasn't run off the road by an angry rogue vampire.
I, Clara Miller, am such a dumbass.
I'm so going to get eaten.
