Friday couldn't come soon enough. I had a Hamlet essay due on Wednesday, and on Thursday Angela asked me to photograph and write a "very informative 300-word vignette" about the softball team's first week of practice for the yearbook.
I got everything done in time. I struggled with the Hamlet essay but I was able to finish it at 2 am on Tuesday, well technically Wednesday, and I went to softball practice on Thursday. Siobhan offered a few tidbits about the upcoming season and I got a team picture for the yearbook with a few fun candids for the newspaper. I drafted a "very informative 300-word vignette", well technically 308 words. I emailed it to Angela and Friday morning I got a text saying everything was all good and ready to publish.
I sat with the girls at lunch again, I mean what do you expect? Side note, Tala was sporting a pale pink hijab, a loose baby blue button up with red floral stitching, and flowy pale pink pants, absolutely immaculate.
"We're all going to see Miss Congeniality 2 tonight, want to come?" Maria asked me during lunch. Siobhan and Tala looked at me, waiting for my response.
"I'm so sorry, I have to go to a get-together on the Quileute reservation tonight." I said with a small frown.
"That's too bad!" Tala exclaimed, then she looked back and forth at Siobhan and Maria. "Are you free Saturday?"
"Yeah, unless Angela recruits me for some yearbook piece, newspaper feature, or photo-op." I mentioned, then Tala whipped out and began to type at the speed of light.
"Don't worry, I've handled that." Tala said with a confident smile. "Also auditions for Into The Woods start Monday, just a head's up."
"I got to ask Tala, where do you get all of these beautiful outfits?" I asked, staring at the red stitching.
"Oh, I have a lot of hijabs that I'll base my look around. I wore these pants last Tuesday, the blue shirt is vintage, from my mom, and Maria did the embroidery." Tala said, gesturing to each item of clothing.
"She's my muse!" Maria said, her voice was light and dreamy, she reached towards Tala for a side hug.
When school let out I met Bella at the school exit.
"Um, Charlie is picking you up to take you to the reservation." Bella said. I looked across the parking lot to see Charlie leaning against his cop car, staring off into space. Bella walked over to the red truck, and Charlie waved me over when he saw me. I walked across the parking lot, and when I made it to his car, I climbed into the passenger seat.
"Do you like Reba?" He asked as he popped a CD into the car's radio.
"Ummmm, I'm open to new music." I said with a shrug. Charlie smiled, but of course a Charlie smile simply meant you saw his mustache move, and turned the volume up. The drive was only like 25 minutes, and I knew we reached the reservation when we began to drive by small houses in the thick pine tree forest.
"We're here, now they know you're coming, and it's just the Clearwaters, Sam and his fiancée, and the Blacks." Charlie said. He pulled up a few hundred yards away from a small, wooden house, one floor and a small attic, with faded grayish blue paint and flat shingles.
When Charlie and I got out of the car, a beautiful Native American woman opened the door and leaned against the door frame, waiting for us to approach. She has a wide smile, and beautiful almond-shaped eyes.
"Hi, I'm Emily, Sam's fiancée, and you must be Lizzy!" She said with a sweet smile. Her voice was soft, warm, and melodic. "And it is so nice to have you back in La Push, Chief Swan." Charlie nodded politely. "Now Harry is stable but it isn't best to have people crowd him, so just keep a respectful distance and have fun, this is supposed to be a cheerful event!" Emily said as she placed her hands on my shoulders and led me inside the home.
"Lizzy! It has been too long!" A voice rang out. To my left, in the kitchen, I saw a familiar face, Sue Clearwater. She was busy chopping various vegetables, but she put the knife down when she saw me. Emily left my side to help her cook.
"Mrs. Clearwater, it's so great to see you again!" I said with a smile. "Do you need any help?" I asked as Sue continued chopping.
"No, just go have fun and relax." Sue said. I looked to my left, towards a living room with a two large couch, as well as an armchair, and what I saw surprised me. I saw Jacob, Mr. Black, and Mr. Clearwater, but there were at least five completely unfamiliar male faces. All of them were tall, very muscular wearing neutral-colored t-shirts, with short black hair.
Jacob was standing next to his father, who was in the wheelchair, and Mr. Clearwater was slumped in the armchair, clearly still in recovery. Then someone stepped in front of me, blocking my view.
"Hi, Lizzy, do you remember me?" He asked. The boy was much younger than me, more gangly than the other boys, but still very toned. His most prominent feature was his huge, angelic grin, and full cheeks.
"Seth?" I asked, excitedly before we both reached into each other for a tight hug. "Seth, you're nearly six feet! How can you be this tall? Aren't you like thirteen?"
"Boys, how rude of you, introduce yourselves to Lizzy." Sue said, looking up from the kitchen and towards the five of them.
"Sam."
"Jared."
"Paul."
"Embry."
"Quil."
I looked at each of the boys as they called out their names to me, Jacob simply waved to me, it was weird, he was the only young boy with long hair. When I looked back to Seth I could hear them all whispering.
"Um, where's Leah?" I asked Seth.
"She's upstairs doing schoolwork, I'll get her down." Sue said, my head whipping around at her. "Leah! Come downstairs we have guests!" Sue loudly called upstairs. Then I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. The stairs were fully visible from both rooms downstairs, and I saw her walking down the stairs.
She was my age, with copper skin, and she was probably around 5'10". Her straight, black hair was cut right at her jawline which was very sharp and square. Then she looked over to the kitchen, and we made eye contact.
The entire room melted away from me, I could only see her, her eyes. My heart started beating fast, my cheeks turned red, and I began to breathe heavily. It was as if nothing in the world existed, except for her. "Am I in love?" I thought to myself. Then, we broke eye contact, and everything formed around me again.
"Get a hold of yourself Lizzy, you're in public, you barely know any of these people. If this poor girl knew what just happened she would be insanely creeped out! You are so weird Lizzy! Wait, does this mean I'm bi! I could be a lesbian! Or pan! Geez, just act like everything is normal." The entire moment happened instantaneously, and when I broke my gaze, my eyes drifted to the living room.
Jacob, Seth, Sam, Jared, Quil, and Embry had their jaws dropped. They were all looking back and forth at me and Leah. I heard Sam give a sigh of relief, but Embry gave a sigh of slight disappointment. Leah whipped her head around and shot him a glare. Leah was shaking, but she took a deep breath and walked down the stairs.
"Lizzy! It's so good to see you!" She said, Leah threw her arms around me and squeezed me really tight. I almost couldn't breathe, but I didn't care. She was so warm, as if she had a fever, but it was comforting.
"Good to see you too, Leah."
"Go Leah." Seth said quietly under his breath, with his huge grin.
"What?" I asked, sort of confused.
"Nothing." He quickly reneged. Three seconds have never felt longer than they did when an awkward silence fell over the Clearwater house.
"Sue, Jacob, Leah, would you all please meet me outside?" Billy said, Jacob sighed, stood up and began to help his father's wheelchair to the door. Sue looked up from the kitchen, Emily looked at Sam. I don't know what face he gave her, but I saw Emily look at me with a huge smile on her face.
Leah looked into my eyes, and when she broke my gaze, I couldn't explain it, but I was nervous, sort of disappointed. The four of them left the house and they were all talking right outside the door. Poor Charlie, his eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. He was looking all around the room, particularly at the five boys.
"Um, they are probably setting up outside so we can eat." Emily tried to get the attention of the rest of the boys. They were all laughing to themselves. I could see Sam whip out his cellphone and began to furiously type.
"I'll go help them." Seth said, gesturing to the door with his thumb. He gave me a kind smile before going outside. I went to sit down in the living room with two couches, I decided to sit next to Charlie, and Quil was on the opposite side of him. Sam, Jared, Embry, and Paul were across from us.
"So, Lizzy, you just moved here, what do you do for fun?" Jared asked with a confident smirk.
"Oh, I'm part of the student newspaper and the yearbook club. I'm interested in too many things, so to be a part of every team, club, and activity school has to offer I write about all of them." I said with a shrug.
"Sounds fun." Paul said, nodding his head.
"What have you done so far?" Embry asked, looking me in the eye.
"I just got here so I photographed and interviewed the softball team, and on Monday I'm doing a feature about auditions for the school musical." I said, a little bored from the fact I was just rehashing my week.
"We're ready out here." Jacob said when he opened the door. I looked outside to see a few fold up chairs and a large picnic table. Emily looked up and had five trays of food she had to haul outside.
"Let me help you." I said as I got up and took two of the trays of food and took them out the door. One tray had the most gigantic, delicious looking chocolate chip muffins I have ever seen, and the other one had strips of fried fish. I walked out the door and towards the picnic table.
I looked over my shoulder to see Harry Clearwater, being helped out of the house and supported by Sam and Paul. Sue, Leah, and Seth walked over to him to talk to him. I set down the trays of food and Emily smiled at me when she came up behind me.
"This is going to be fun." Emily said, and then she pulled her cell phone out. "If you have any questions or you just need to talk feel free to call or text." I pulled out my phone as well and we switched them. I put in my name and number and she did the same.
"Thanks, I really appreciate that." I said to Emily. She smiled as she skipped back to Sam, who gave her a kiss on the forehead.
By now everyone began to crowd around the picnic table. I quickly picked up a muffin and a piece of fried fish, not enough food but I wanted to avoid the crowd, and I scurried towards the folding chairs.
I saw Charlie sitting next to Harry Clearwater, they were talking. When I sat down next to Charlie he gave me a small greeting before continuing his conversation. Slowly, everyone began to sit in the circle of folding chairs. Seth looked at me with a smile before he sat next to me.
The very last people to sit down were Leah and Sam. Sam appeared to be lecturing Leah, who rolled her eyes. She seemed rather disappointed, and when she walked over to the circle. Leah began walking to my side of the circle, but Sam gave her a glare. Leah changed course, and she sat directly across from me. I have no idea why, but again I was disappointed, disappointed that she wasn't going to sit next to me.
I saw Embry walk in my direction, but Leah glared at him. Embry turned away from me and sat a few seats away from Leah. Embry playfully patted Leah on the shoulder, who rolled her eyes, and began to eat.
I looked up from my food, both Leah and I were silent while the rest of the party were talking. We kept looking up at each other, making eye contact before snapping our heads away from each other. I looked away because I was scared people would notice. I see the boys laughing quietly every time I made eye contact.
I finished my food, and I was still incredibly hungry. I was the only person to have left the circle of folding chairs so far. When I made it back to the picnic table, all five trays of Sue and Emily's cooking were completely cleaned, only crumbs remaining. I scoffed and walked back to the circle.
"Yeah, there's rarely seconds around here." Seth said with a small smile when I sat back down. I rolled my eyes and looked at my empty plate.
"Boys, what did we say about leaving some for everybody." I heard Emily say.
The entire night was filled with everyone talking with each other, but all I could think about was Leah. Every time I looked up and saw she wasn't next to me, it pained me. We were the only silent ones in the circle. Even Harry Clearwater would talk to Charlie or Billy.
"I got to go." Leah said, looking down at the ground. The boys chuckled softly and patted Leah on the back as she jogged back to her house. Leah was the first to leave the circle. That's when I noticed my forehead was growing warm. Harry Clearwater was already helped back inside the house by Sue, who came back outside.
People started leaving around sunset. First Jared left, we waved goodbye at me with a smile. He did something very strange. Jared ran to the outskirts of the dense forest, took his shirt off, before running in and disappearing. Embry followed, then Paul and Quil. They were all ripped, it was insane, and on their right shoulder, they all had a black, circular tattoo that I couldn't make out.
"They ought to be careful, there's been bear attacks in Forks." Charlie said to Billy.
What just happened? Why was I like this? Why was I feeling this way? Charlie and I walked back to the car, only the Blacks, Emily, and Sam were still at the party, and I sat in the passenger seat. I was beginning to sweat, and my eyes would unfocus every few minutes.
"Are you feeling alright, Lizzy?" Charlie asked, my breathing was shaky, I was staring off into space, in a trance. "You feel warm."
"Oh, I'm sure I'm fine." I said, momentarily shaking myself out of my trance.
"I'll check your temperature in the morning." Charlie said, a slight expression of worry on his face. Then he turned on the radio.
Bum bum badada bum bum "Let's go girls."
The car ride was silent, and I couldn't focus on anything, it was all beginning to blur. In the back of mind, I could see Leah, smiling at me. I tried to shake myself out of it, I felt so weird only thinking about Leah, and with such intensity.
"I'm really tired." I said when I stepped out of the car. I don't remember a single thing, except falling into my bed, where I began to sweat.
Then, I woke up. I wiped the sweat off of my forehead and tried to focus my eyes. When my vision cleared up I saw Charlie with a beep thermometer in his hand. He rubbed the back of his head, clearly nervous.
"We need to take you to the doctor, you're at 103." Charlie said with his hands on his hips.
"I can't move." I tried to stammer out, my muscles felt like rubber. "Where's Bella?"
"Uh, she got home pretty late, it was weird, that Cullen kid dropped her off. You know I don't trust that Cullen kid…" Charlie tried to say, but I started to violently cough. "Oh, sorry, Lizzy." Then he held up a tray with three large cups on it. "Ginger ale, peppermint tea, and chicken soup, the holy Trinity."
"Thank you." I tried to cough up.
"No problem." Charlie said, then he pulled out his cellphone and walked out of my room. After a few minutes, he swung the door open, looking a bit frantic. "I just got off the phone with Dr. Cullen, you should be fine, but if the symptoms last five days or more, he'll come to our house. However, there's an emergency down at the station, I need to go there now."
"It's fine, Charlie, Bella's here, right? I'll be fine." I wheezed out before coughing. Charlie, with a small frown on his face, walked out of my view. I couldn't move, all I saw was the room spinning around me, and sweat pouring down my face. I looked to my ceiling, and I saw Leah's face. I shook my head and she was gone.
About an hour of delirium later I got a text. I stretched my heavy arm to my bedside table and opened my phone. It was from Emily, thank goodness.
Emily: Hey, Lizzy, I heard you're pretty sick, I hope you feel better. :)
Me: Thanks, Emily. How did you know I was sick?
Emily: Your father told Mr. Black, who told Jacob, who told Sam, who told me.
Me: Ok, thanks for checking in on me. Also your muffins were delicious.
Emily: Thank you and no problem!
Then I remembered that I had plans to see Tala, Maria, and Siobhan at the movie theater. I'm sweating bullets and I haven't gotten out of bed since last night, so going out probably isn't in the cards for me. I might even be contagious!
Me: I have a fever, I'm so sorry but I can't make it tonight!
Tala: Oh my goodness no that sucks! If you're sick you need to stay home! Love you, we'll hang out soon.
Me: Thanks
Then I knocked out for the next two hours. Then I woke up to thirteen unread text messages. Charlie, Bella, Angela, Emily, Siobhan, and eight unknown numbers.
Charlie: Hey, Lizzy, just checking to make sure you're doing alright. I'm going to be really late at the station, there's been a situation.
Bella: Hey, I'm going to be here for most of the day, I don't want to bother you but text me if you need anything.
Angela: Hey Tala told me you're sick. Do you think you'll be able to report on the auditions on Monday? I really hope you get better.
Maria: I really hope you feel better, I hope we can hang out soon.
Siobhan: Feel better!
Unknown number 1: Lizzy, this is Sam Uley, Emily told me you're sick. I hope you get better soon.
Unknown number 2: Lizzy I heard you're at 103, that's pretty serious. Also this is Paul Lahote.
Unknown number 3: Hey Lizzy, this is Jacob, my dad said you're sick, I hope you feel better.
Unknown number 4: Lizzy are you dying? This is Jared by the way.
Unknown number 5: Lizzy, this is Seth, are you ok?!
Unknown number 6: This is Quil, I hope you feel better
Unknown number 7: Hey, Lizzy, this is Embry, hope you feel better
Unknown number 8: Lizzy, I'm really worried about you, please tell me you're ok!
What was happening?! I had to respond to all of these, even though I could barely lift my head. I chugged the ginger ale Charlie set next to my bed, I needed some strength. It was 1:06 in the afternoon.
Me: I feel around the same, pretty awful, thanks for checking on me. I totally understand that your job needs you.
Me: Thanks Bella, I'll be fine, I just need some time to relax.
Me: I hope I'll better by Monday, but have a backup just in case
Me: Thank you
Me: Thank you
Me: Thank you, Sam
Me: Thanks for checking on me, Jacob
Me: Yeah, but i'll be fine
Me: I'm not dying, Jared!
Me: Yeah I'll be fine, I'm just really sick
Me: Thanks, Quil
Me: Yeah me too
Me: Who's this?
Emily. Emily gave Sam my number, and I'm sure Jacob asked Sam because we know each other. Somehow my number spread to their entire group. I could feel myself growing weaker so I decided to text Emily quickly.
Me: Emily, do you know why all of Sam's friends texted me.
Then I knocked out again. The sweat was growing unbearable, my sheets and pillow were damp. I woke up again around thirty minutes later. When I felt strong enough again, I checked my phone to see two unread messages.
Emily: I gave your number to Jacob, who gave it to Leah. Let me just say there are no secrets in that pack. I hope you don't mind.
I responded by saying: It's not a problem, thanks for checking on me.
Unknown number: This is Leah
I swear when I read that text, the sweating stopped. My vision began to clear up, and I felt enough strength to sit up. I felt nervous, how was I supposed to respond to her? What if I said the wrong thing?
Me: Thank you, Leah, I'm really glad I got to see you again.
Then there was an almost instant reply.
Leah: You have no idea, I'm really sorry we couldn't talk more at the get-together. Please understand, there's a lot happening right now.
Me: I'm lost, what are you trying to say?
Leah: I just have a lot going on right now, I wish we could spend more time together.
Me: I wish we could too.
I remembered the moment we first made eye contact, how much it pained me to see her walk away from me. Leah was avoiding me, but I could tell by the way she looked at me, by our conversation, he didn't want to. What did Mr. Black tell her? Just then, my vision began to spin, and the sweating began again.
My ginger ale was empty, so I began to chug down the peppermint tea and chicken soup. That's when I knocked out. I remember fluttering my eyes open for a split second, by then it was dark. I saw vague outlines of Bella and Charlie standing in my doorway. Next time I woke up there was sunlight streaming through my windows.
"I'm sorry I had to leave last night." Charlie began, he was leaning against the doorframe, with prominent dark circles under his eyes.
"That's totally ok." I began to say, I also realized I had enough strength to sit up.
"Waylon was attacked by a bear." Charlie said, looking down at the floor. "I mean, I've known him for nearly thirty years. Just make sure you stay out of the woods."
"I'm sorry, Charlie." I said. My sweating stopped, my vision was clear, but I still felt very warm, and I don't know if I could get out of bed. Charlie nodded, sadness in his eyes, and he turned around and walked out of my door.
By Sunday afternoon I was symptom free. I got out of bed to use the bathroom. I was sweating so much I guess I didn't have much fluid left. I couldn't go to school on Monday because you have to be symptom free for 24 hours.
"Bella has the truck, she should be home soon, but I don't want you to be late so I'll drive you to school so you can report on the auditions. I got off work until Tuesday." Charlie said when I got dressed Monday afternoon.
"Thanks." I said, grabbing the camera the school loaned me, and my notepad.
Me: Hey Angela, I couldn't make it to school today, but I've been symptom free for 24 hours so I can report on the audition.
Angela: Perfect, I'm glad you're feeling better.
I had a few candids of students on stage, and Tala gave me some information about Into The Woods, the drama department, and where to buy tickets. Perfect for the newspaper. Tala was able to get me a ride home.