Chapter Six - I'm A Mess
Disclaimer - I don't own anything Twilight related, that all belongs to one Stephanie Meyer.
Authors Note: Hello again everyone! It's been a while since my last update. This one is a bit on the shorter side, but the next chapter should make up for it. I'm super excited to write it! Thanks for all the favourites and follows. Hope you enjoy!
FourHorses - Thank you for another review! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far!
EchoInTheVoid - Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoy the concept, it's something I've wanted to explore for a while, so it's good to know other people are interested!
Guest - Thanks for leaving a review! It was important to me that Clara not be in High School like Bella, yet still have the two characters interact. I'm definitely looking to have them grow a sort of sisterly bond. I think it will make for some good scenes in terms of all the Vampire shenanigans. I'm glad you're enjoying!
neverlands-star - I'm really glad you're enjoying, and I'm glad you like the idea of my OC! Thank you for leaving a review!
Oh I'm a mess right now
Inside out
Searching for a sweet surrender
But this is not the end
I can't work it out
How?
Going through the motions
Going through us
I'm a Mess, Ed Sheeran
It didn't take long for any smug feelings I had to disappear, once I realised I was late for work. I cursed as I pulled up to the parking lot, grabbing my bag, and rushed inside.
"Joe!" I hurried up to the till, as he looked up, surprise on his face.
"Where have you been-" he started, looking panicked.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry! I just got so caught up… what?" I watched him confused as he began shushing me.
"Marian's here." He whispered furiously, "She's been looking for you all morning!"
"Oh, no. Where is she?"
"In the back-office I think, I've been telling her you're in the stock room, but she's been in and out of there about three times. She may be stupid, but I'll be very surprised if she hasn't caught on I'm bullshitting at this point."
"Oh," I moaned, "I can't get fired. My mom will kill me."
"Calm down-" He rolled his eyes.
"Joe!" I didn't need to see her to know that had been the voice of Marian.
I snapped my eyes to Joe's, scowling as I watched him hold back a laugh. He shooed me quickly in the opposite direction, and I moved as quickly as possible down one of the aisles, as Marian's impatient footsteps, approached Joe.
"Joesph, why is the cod-liver still in boxes? I told you and Addy to put them out before I left."
"No, one eats cod-liver, Marian."
"I do!"
I snickered, as I listened to their bickering, looking quickly toward the tills, before slipping into the office. I threw my coat up on to a hanger and slipped my apron over my head. Peaking around the office door, I closed it quietly behind me, making my way into the storeroom.
It was dark and quiet. I took a moment to breathe, leaning back against the door. The adrenaline that had filled me less than twenty minutes ago was long gone, and I counted to ten, breathing in and out at an even pace. I had not quite come to terms with what had happened. How could I possibly wrap my head around it, around them?
I closed my eyes and groaned. Why did I have to make a scene! I might as well have just written fresh meat on my forehead and throw myself to the wolves. Or in this case vampires.
Are they though? The assumption kept running through my mind, every time I imagined them in my head they took the form of blood sucking demons, fangs and all.
But I didn't know for sure. I needed proof.
How does one get proof that a supernatural story is a reality?
I opened my eyes, gazing around the stock filled room. Work. I needed to work, some time to think.
Anxiety filled me. Whatever the Cullen family was, they seemed dangerous, liars, maybe even unpredictable. And both my mother and Bella were in direct contact with members of said family. I had the sudden urge to rush into the office and make some phone calls, but I stopped myself.
They would be fine.
I bit my lip. I would just go about my day, as normal, pretend I don't know any more about the Cullens, than anyone else.
Easier said than done.
I rifled around the stock stockroom for a minute until I found what I was looking for. Composing myself, trying to push the stares from my mind, I left the room walking back toward the front of the store, were Joe and Marian still stood.
I held back a snort at Joe's exasperated face, as he leant his head on his hand. He blew out a breath.
"Joseph!" I said feigning shock. Marion's hawk-like eyes turning to look at me. "Why is all the cod-liver still in the storeroom! You know it needs to be out! Shame on you and Addy!"
Joe scowled at me, as Marian watched looked me up and down, appraisal in her gaze.
I plastered a fake smile on my face, showing every tooth, "You must be Marian! I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were here or I would have come straight out to find you."
She eyed me, "Joe said you were in the storeroom but I couldn't find you in there."
"Oh," I nodded, seriously, speaking in what I hoped was a convincing tone, "I was just really deep in there, you know. Really working hard."
She smiled, "Well, it's good to know we've someone else around here with some sense. Settling in well?"
"Oh yes," I flashed a smile again, "I'd love to stay and chat, but I really should get these out!" I shook the box slightly.
"Oh of course!"
I turned quickly, walking around the store floor, looking for a spot to shove the small cans on to. I settled myself into a mundane day of stacking, taking as long as possible, walking back and forth to the stock room. I laughed when Joe walked past me, whispering 'kiss ass' from the corner of his mouth.
The upside of having shown up late meant there was a little less time to spend in work. Marian left soon after I had arrived, reassured that everything was in order. I was relieved that I didn't have to deal with her on top of everything else spinning through my mind; that would be another day's problem.
I managed to keep relatively sane, right up until the point a (probably) vampire walked up behind me.
"Hello again, Clara."
I paused, two of the three tins I had clutched in my hands, falling to the ground. I looked up into Esme's kind smiling face and continued to stare in silence. I'm pretty sure I was sweating profusely.
"Hi." I clutched the tin in front of me, as though that would somehow protect me.
"Are you alright?" She was concerned. Why was she concerned. Esme Cullen was polite and kind and didn't glare at everyone, like some other members of her family. It was almost more unnerving than the glares.
Is this how I die?
"Uh… yes, I'm fine." I squeaked. I held out the can to her, "Cod-liver?"
Esme looked to the can, then back to me confused, an amused smile growing on her face.
"Jesus, Clara, are you trying to kill her." Joe appeared behind me, causing me to jump. He pulled the can from my grasp. "Don't take anything she offers you, Esme, she's evil."
"Oh, stop your crying." I rolled my eyes, taking the tin back from him, tossing it into the box.
Esme laughed softly, the smile on her face almost infectious. I had to fight to keep a smile off of my face.
She's probably here to eat you.
I took advantage of Joe's casual chatter, to rise from the ground and take the cod-liver box back to the stockroom, ensuring I closed the door fully behind me. I spent far too long in the cold room but was pleased to find the golden-eyed beauty gone by the time I came back out to the store floor. Before going back to any sort of work, I made sure to stuff my pockets full of garlic, putting some extras into my bag, to take home.
I was jumpy for the rest of my shift, eager to leave. As I drove toward Addy's, Joe kept complaining about the garlic smell, and couldn't decide on a radio station.
"You're very annoying," I grumbled as the channel changed once more.
"I prefer to say I'm charming."
"Is that what your mother told you?"
"Wow, I am not okay with these attacks." He placed a hand to his chest. "You're just jealous you don't have this level of charisma."
I barked out a laugh, "you're not wrong." I pursed my lips, "where am I going again?"
Joe hummed, "you're going in the right direction, keep going, once you get over the bridge it's a pretty straight drive for a few miles."
This side of Forks was less populated and the houses were much bigger. I followed Joe's directions, watching as the trees grew denser, and the distance between houses growing wider.
After crossing the bridge, I drove for a mile or two, and following Joe's further instruction, I took a right down a smooth paved road. At the end of it lay Addy's home, a large modern building, double red doors under a stone archway, signifying the entrance.
"Holy shit," I said, closing the car door, hiking my bag onto my shoulder.
"I know, right." I followed Joe as he led the way to the front door. "It's even better on the inside." He pushed the door open with ease.
I felt awkward walking into the far too large home, as though I shouldn't have been there. I was nervous at the thought of meeting all of the new people, my hand aching to reach for one of the bottles of wine I had stashed away in my bag.
Joe was right, the inside was beautiful. Bright wood surfaces and floors, so clean, and the air smelled sweet and warming. I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment as I infected the immediate area with a garlic smell. I promptly emptied my pockets.
We entered a spacious living room, an overly large sofa taking up the space in front of a roaring fire.
Addy jumped from the sofa, glass in hand, a tipsy squeal leaving her lips.
"Finally!" She pulled me into a quick hug, careful not to spill any of her drink.
"God, woman, how many have you had?" Joe laughed, snatching the drink from Addy, downing it in one gulp.
"You shit!" She threw an arm out to hit him, as he danced away from her, laughing.
"Well, now I've got an excuse for another." She turned back to me, grinning and grabbed my arm as she moved to bring me back the way I had just come.
I gladly followed her from the room. I had noticed the small, jovial crowd filling the area, and my palms began to sweat from nervousness. We entered a large kitchen, sleek marble counters covered with various bottles and pitchers, some of which I assumed were Addy's cocktails.
"What's your poison?" She turned to me smiling.
"Surprise me." I glanced around me, letting out a whistle, as I removed the wine from my bag, placing it beside the others. "This place really is something else."
"Yeah," she laughed, pouring me a drink, "one of the redeeming things about living at home I suppose."
"Do you do this often then?" I thanked her, taking the glass, humming in enjoyment at the sweet taste on my tongue.
"When I can get away with it. My parents are that oblivious that they don't really notice if a bottle or two of something is missing."
Addy informed me of her parent's roles in the timber industry, and her hatred of the perfect image the constantly tried to push on to the world, as she made herself another drink.
As we walked back into the living room I felt my stomach twist with nerves. Every face turned in our direction, but as Addy went around the room, completing all introductions, and the smiles that met me, I felt the fear ebb away, helped along by my alcoholic beverage.
Addy had two siblings, an older brother Aaron, and a younger sister Sophie. All three siblings looked strikingly alike with their curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Alongside the Rowe siblings sat Grace, smooth dark skin and perfect black curls, a wine glass perched between her fingers, and Kate, fair-haired and loud, empty bottles collecting on the floor beside her.
I sat comfortably beside Joe, making small talk, enjoying the buzz around me, my face filling with heat from the many drinks I continued to consume.
And I drank a lot. Drank to make the fear disappear, to make the paranoia that had plagued me, vanish with each gulp. Yet it seemed like the more I drank, the more I could see the faces of the Cullens in my head, every look on their face in that school parking lot.
"Oh, now listen to this one." Kate pulled another CD from her bag, placing it into the high tech stereo, and pressing play. She drunkenly began moving along with the beat, beer bottle clutched in her hand. "Good right?" she grinned.
She had rattled on to me about her DJing career, which explained the seemingly never-ending CDs she had with her, determined to share every new song she had found.
"Come on Gracie, get up." She held her free hand toward her friend, dancing her way toward her as everyone quietly chuckled at the sight.
Grace shook her head laughing, reluctantly taking Kate's hand. They giggled, twirling each other around the carpeted floor.
"No!" I huffed defeated, throwing the playing cards in my hand to the floor.
"Joseph still reigns supreme! Your game is shocking Clara." Aaron cheered, clapping Joe on the back, as my work buddy grinned victoriously at me.
I grumbled insults under my breath, causing the two men to laugh, as I took another swing of the bottle I was drinking from.
"I tried to warn you, Clara," Addy shrugged, slurring her words, playing her own game of cards with Sophie (who was prone to breaking out in drunken giggles for no apparent reason).
"Yes, yes I know." I leaned my back against the plush sofa, running my finger around the bottle rim. I bit my lip, casting my eyes around the room.
"Any of you hear much about the crash at the High school?" I asked, begging my voice to sound calm.
Grace paused in her movements, looking to me, as Kate continued unperturbed. "Oh yeah, the one with Chief Swan's daughter right?"
"Yeah." I sat up straight, my head spinning slightly.
Grace walked toward me, grabbing her wine glass. Joe and Aaron had begun their own card match.
"Addy was telling me about it earlier." Grace sat across from me, and I turned to look at Addy curiously.
Addy glanced up from her cards, "I saw Esme the day it happened, one of her kids was involved or something, he was okay though."
"Edward," I said. It wasn't a question.
"Yeah."
"You live across from the Chief don't you?" She asked, cheering as she one-upped Sophie.
"Yeah, my mom had rung to tell me Bella was involved that morning."
"You know Bella well?" Grace asked, "She moved not that long ago didn't she?"
"Yeah not long before me." I nodded. "She's a nice girl, my mom thought it would be good to spend some time with her, she seems to be having a hard time getting settled in."
"It's Forks," Kate said, finally stopping her dancing, "I don't blame her."
I smiled, before turning back to Addy, "When did you see Esme?" I thought back to earlier, and Esme's warm smile.
"Well considering I had the most horrific hangover that day, I went into town to get as many different pain relievers as I could. She saw me walking when she was on her way home from work and offered me a ride. She gives me a lift sometimes if I'm about town or at the shop."
"Seems a bit out of her way."
"Nah, the Cullens live even further out this way than we do."
"Really? Where do they live?" I cringed, hoping I didn't sound too eager. Thankfully everyone seemed too intoxicated to notice.
Aaron spoke, "a good bit further down the road, it's really easy to miss the turn for it. They live well into the woods."
"Not that any of us have actually seen the house," Joe said.
"The Cullens don't really invite people around," Aaron said, "though that didn't stop mom and dad trying to get acquainted when they first moved."
"That's because mom and dad are nosey and shit."
Aaron put his hands up in defence to Addy.
"People say they're weird," Addy started, "and they are a bit. But Esme has always been really nice to me, so they can have a pass in my books."
The rest of the group continued to chatter with each other, but my mind was whirling. The Cullens lived close by Addy. Off in the woods. By themselves.
I'm not one for breaking the law, but having a look at their house would surely be a good way to suss out what they were. It would also be a good way to get killed if they were as dangerous as my gut screamed.
"Clara?" Grace asked me concerned, "are you okay?"
I looked at her for a moment, head thumping, stomach-churning. Then I was on my feet and running to the nearest bathroom, spilling the contents of my stomach into the toilet bowl.
