BACK AT IT AGAIN YOU GUYS. NOW IM GOING TO BE TRYING TO MAKE THESE CHAPTERS A BIT SHORTER. CAUSE IM NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS THINK MY STORY IS INTERESTING ENOUGH TO READ ALMOST 10,000 WORDS EACH CHAPTER. ENJOY CHAPTER 3
After what had happened at school grandma insisted, I stay home for a few days 'to make sure your cut heals nicely' but I feel it's mostly just to watch me to see if I don't go crazy again. I don't mind staying home, but it's already been 4 days since I been home all day and I've been itching to go outside and do something productive or mildly stupid. Or... I'm just itching to see Jake and his friends again and find out what they're hiding from me. Since I been home, they haven't called or texted or even came to see me. I was hurt and decided to make use of the many hours I had by myself. Spending the mornings doing homework grandma got from school on the days I missed and spending hours at night researching that wolf tattoo has left me with nothing but a sheet of paper and bags under my eyes. Also, the book I found in Jake's house. Kwaiti and Shamans. Nothing on Google as well. It was like it's been erased from the world or just a well-kept secret.
Also spending 4 days at home made me unpack all my clothes and boxes and now my room is complete. Most of everything that was here belong to grandma like the all the furniture, but the little touches came from me like my big throw rug I have from a Moroccan market, a Stonehenge poster from England, a necklace made from flowers (most of the flowers have died) from Hawaii, a Hello kitty plushy from South Korea, and the best jewelry I got from Africa because of their durability. Me and my family went when we I was 10 and at that age was my extreme girly stage. Nothing but makeup and jewelry to which Africa had a ton of the latter for a cheap price and I still have most of the jewelry now still looking like I just bought them. I gently grazed the soft round bead when a soft tap hits my door. It opened to show my grandma.
" I'm about to make lunch do you want anything specific?" She asked.
I haven't told her what happened in the bathroom. She did ask a few times but when I wouldn't give much of an answer. I don't know how she would take it. How she would react if I told her what happened, but how I wouldn't know if I never really tried.
"Grandma does schizophrenic run in the family?"
There was a twinkle of laughter, "No, honey. I think high blood pressure does."
"Grandma I'm talking about mental illness."
Grandma sat down on my bed and thought for a minute, " Well your mother did have really bad anxiety when she was little, but she got over the worst of it later on in life. Why do you ask?"
I sighed. Not exactly what I was expecting but I could be that rare case.
"It's about the other day. I just don't know what's wrong with me."
In a flash she walked over and kneeled in front of me, "Miracle you have to tell me what happened that day."
I chewed on my lips. Debating whether or not I should tell her the whole story. I've been keeping it contained for days and the internet has left me with nothing but cramped fingers and an empty piece of paper. Maybe she'll understand or at least try to understand what happened. The worst-case scenario is that she'll realize I'm too much for her and tell my parents to come and get me. Now that I do not want even thinking those thoughts almost made me chicken out and not tell her. Almost. The curiosity and the need to find out what happened won my mind over.
I took a deep breath and prepared myself to tell her. I opened my mouth but at the exact moment there was a knock on the door.
"Hold that thought for a sec." And she walked out of the room.
Well, there goes my nerve. I doubt I'll be able to have the nerve again. Before I decided on anything she came back.
"Your friends are here Nae Nae. We'll talk about this later okay." She said as she kissed my cheek.
Confused I got up and walked out of the room to find Jake, Seth, Leah, Embry, and Quil in the living room with guilty looks on their faces. Good considering that since I've been home, they haven't even come to visit me at all. At first, I was absolutely positive that they had ditched me at the worst time possible that they had showed their true colors and left me high and dry, and I told grandma just that. She told me that that wasn't the case. Saying that she had raised them better than that. Looking at the now I consider myself right.
"What do you want." My voice suddenly sounding small and frail.
They gave a start at hearing my voice but quickly composed themselves.
"We wanted to see how you were." Quil said.
"It took you 4 days to think of that." I said shakily.
"We're so sorry about that." Jake walked up closer to me, "but we had our reasons."
"Yeah, and what are they?" I demanded.
Silence radiated around the room.
I nodded, " That's what I thought."
"You know that's no way to talk to your friends, Miracle." Leah hissed.
"WHY NOT!" I exploded, " If you were my friends, you would tell me why they abandoned me."
"We didn't abandon you." Leah growled. Her eyes flashed.
"Then what would you call it then! Deserted, forsaken, cast aside. Take your pick."
Leah growl got louder as she started walking towards me with her hands balled but Seth stopped her and whispered something in her ear. She stopped but she still looked enraged. I felt tears prickling at the side of my eyes, but I was too mad to wipe them away as they fell. They went out of their way to make me feel welcome. Let me sit at their table and become their friend to have them throw it in my face.
"Miracle, you have to understand." Jake started but I interrupted him.
"The only thing I understand is that I can't trust you anymore. I honestly don't know why I thought I could. I rarely know any of you personally." At one point I thought I did.
"NO." Jake boomed making me jump. He walked up towards me, 'You do know me, Miracle and you can trust me. Remember when we spent the whole week together and we went to the beach, but you were too scared to go in the water. "
I do remember that. He tried to coax me to get in the water. My favorite candy in the whole world. Gummy Bears. They were my favorite candy from 5 all the way up till 11 and also a lot of countries had gummy bears of different varieties. He would dangle the gummy bears above the water and waited for me to walk towards it. Usually if I didn't, he would start dropping them in the ocean. Which that would result in me throwing pebbles at him. Until one day where he picked me up and walked into the water with me struggling in his arms and I had started crying. He had whispering reassuring words about how strong I was. Then for what felt like hours of being in his arms I went in the water. It felt good to conquer my fears and having someone to help me. For congratulations Jake had bought me a whole bag of gummy bears. It was the best day ever.
"Yes, I remember that day Jake."
"You trusted me than. You can trust me now. Nothing has changed."
"You seriously think nothing has changed."
He paused for a moment, contemplating.
"Things have changed and you know it."
"Okay yes you're right. Things have changed, but you have to trust us that we aren't here to hurt you. Quite the opposite actually."
I walked away from Jake to sit on one of the couches. What did he mean by that? I don't know what to think, how to think. Ever since I came here things have been wonky and all out weird and it has something to do with Jake and his friends. Also me. Something changed inside of me when I came back here all those years ago. I looked over at my friends, not friends, sort of friends. At this point I just don't know what to call them. They had a mixture of emotions on their faces. Leah's anger, Seth's composed, Quil's frightened, Embry's confused, and Jake's. I can't place his emotions. I see anger, shame, hurt, fear and a lot of other emotions I just can't place. I turned away. Shame at myself for causing all these emotions to people who for the most part have been nothing but cordial towards me, but the secrets are piling up and I can't ignore that either.
I gently rubbed the almost healed cut on my face as I looked acrose room to the large cabinet that was always locked. Another secret hiding from me. My eyes gently grazed over the spines of the books trying to look anywhere other than the people around me until I saw gold. Gold and black. I squinted my eyes trying to make out the words on the spine, but my eyes weren't the greatest in long distance, but the one thing I know for certain is I see the symbol. The symbol on Mr. Uley's arm and on Jake and his friend's arm and on the book I saw on Billy's desk. Why does my grandma have that book? She plays a part in all of this? Somehow, I don't feel surprised. She has known Billy and everybody else longer than I have. She even said she raised them herself. But what does Jake's stupid wolf club have anything to do with my grandma?
"Miracle. Miracle are you okay. Miracle." Quil's voice threw me back in reality.
I turned to find everyone staring at me. Their face matching the same emotion. Worry.
"Umm, I'm fine. I was just thinking."
"You don't look so good. Do you want me to get Miss Athena?" Embry piped.
No, I don't. She's one of you.
"No, I just..."
Then a thought popped in my head. Everyone is hiding something from me so even if I do ask, they certainly wouldn't tell the truth and until Google gives me anything useful. They are all the information I have and to find out what I have to know I'm going to have to play nice. Act like nothing is wrong with me. Act like I'm not mad at them. Act like their secrets don't bother me at all.
I looked at the faces around me," I'm sorry you guys. It's just been so hard for me lately. With the move and what happened the other day and on top of that you guys didn't check on me and... and I just don't know. I thought I didn't have anywhere to turn too. I'm soo sorry"
They looked at each other. Leah had a wary expression but otherwise didn't say anything else. Until Embry came and sat next to me.
"You know we're your friends now Miracle. We don't know what happened in that bathroom but we're not going to press you until you're ready. Just know that we're here for you. Not to be mean to you or make you doubt yourself or anything."
The way Embry spoke. He spoke with a conviction of honestly that I almost believed. Almost.
"And we're sorry for nothing checking up on you. We were busy." Seth confided.
"I just don't like all the secrets and the weirdness." I commented.
"We're sorry for the secrets and the weirdness but believe me when I tell you that you'll find out soon enough." Jake pleaded, " Jut give it more time."
I nodded slowly. The way they acted had to be serious enough to not tell me. I doubt it's anything illegal but at this point anything is possible.
"I understand." I agreed.
I got up and hugged Jake. His body went rigged before he engulfed me with his warmth. It felt nice actually and I kind of did miss them. After I hugged Jake, I went and hugged the rest. Even Leah who still looked like she could rip my head off, but she still gave me a tight hug.
"How about we get you out of here and go to the beach. You know, to get some fresh air." Quil grinned. Happy that the conflict was over.
"Okay." I sighed, " Let me change my clothes."
"It's pretty warm out so you might want to dress a little loose." Leah announces.
I nodded as I headed for my room to change into some capris and a tank top. I don't know how I'm going to do this. Let alone find out what I'm looking for considering I don't even know what exactly to start, but I believe the best place to start is to figure out what that symbol truly stands for. There is a reason why Jake has it. Why Mr. Uley has it. Why is it on two books in Billy and my grandmother's house. The only connection that's visible to me is that they all know each other. I don't think my grandma has that tattoo and they seem to have it on their arms, and I've seen grandma's arms tons of times and have never seen the tattoo. So, I need to find another. The book. I need to try and steal that book and read it.
The walk to the beach took about five minutes. Quil was right though. The fresh air did make me feel better. My thoughts less muffled and groggily. My body felt better as well. Felt more energized. I breathed in the fresh salty air as the gentle roar of the waves got louder and louder. Until we came to the white soft sand of La Push beach. The beach was very clean for it to be overrun by tourist half of the year, but it's obvious that the Quileute love the land and its animals.
I sat down on the sand and took my shoes off to enjoy the scenery. Seth Quil, and Embry took off running and whooping. Leah started wadding in the ocean looking around for something. Maybe a starfish. Jake decided to sit next to me. We didn't speak for a while. Just watched our friends enjoying themselves on the beach. It was another few minutes before I heard him speak.
"Do you truly understand, Miracle." He asked.
I nodded perhaps a little too eagerly, " Yes, Jake I do."
He looked at me for a moment before a breathless laugh echoed through him, "Miracle I know we haven't seen each other in years, but that doesn't mean I don't know you."
Crap.
"You had that same look on your face before you coaxed me into getting all those frogs and grasshoppers into Dad's house." He raised an eyebrow.
I couldn't help it, but I laughed. I actually laughed. The type of laugh the catches you by surprise and hurts your sides. Which in turn made Jake laugh out loud. We laughed for what seemed like a long time but when we finally recovered from the tears, I felt a lot better.
"Jake. I really do understand but what I don't understand is WHAT you're doing. I just want you to be safe." I gently grabbed his hand.
"Don't worry. I will be safe and so will you. Remember what I had promised you?"
"That you won't let nothing hurt me." I whispered.
He nodded, " And I mean it. Don't worry about the secrets we will tell you. It's just not the right time now."
"Can you at least answer one question for me? It'll make me feel better."
He nodded, " Shoot."
"It's not nothing illegal, is it? Like you won't go to jail or anything?" I prayed that wasn't it.
He laughed again, " No never nothing like that."
I sighed in relief and for feeling stupid for even thinking it, but I had to ask. I had to be sure.
"Well since we're at the beach I think we should get in the ocean. Maybe I can find some seashells too." I got up and wiped the sand from my butt and wadded in the water. I looked back and saw Jake still standing in the sand.
"Don't tell me your afraid of the water now." I called out.
The way he grinned at me caused a shiver down my spine as he took a running start towards me. I screamed as big splashes of salty water covered me from head to toe. I wiped my eyes as I felt big warm arms wrapped around me and lift me up in the air.
"Jake put me down!" I screeched.
"Say I'm the best friend ever."
"Jake I'm serious! Put me down." I squealed.
"Say it." I could picture his smug grin.
"Okay. You're the bestest friend ever! Now put me down."
He gently put me down, but he still held me in his arm. I could feel his pulse before I heard it. Strong and assured it thumped against his chest. It felt nice and soothing.
"You don't know how much I missed every time you left."
I moved to look up at him. His brown eyes washed over my face before settling back on my eyes.
"You missed me?"
"Of course. I even wrote letters to you, but I never mailed them."
"Why didn't you" I said surprised.
"You moved around so many times. I always mailed it to you late and you had move and Miss Athena couldn't keep up with how much you moved so it was hard."
I nodded. I was about to speak again until I heard yelling from the beach.
"Quil get OFF OF ME!" Seth hollered and literally threw him about 15 feet into the air.
Quil gave a yelp and landed with a loud thud some feet away. I gasped and yelled out his name and ran towards him. I forcibly trudged through the water and ran on the beach to get to Quil. I head Jake's thumping footsteps behind as I kneeled. I heard more footsteps as Leah, Embry, and Seth ran towards us.
"Seth! What did you do!" I let out a panicked breath.
Quil's body was at an odd angle. He landed on the left side of his body as his left leg was twisted under him and his head was lulled on his left arm with sand kind of covering his feet and black hair.
"I-I-I didn't do anything! He started it!" Seth seethed.
I shook my head, " Oh my God! We got to take him to the hospital!" Tears started to cloud my vision.
"OH no we don't got to go. I'm fine."Quil popped up from the ground. Giving a sheepish smile and scaring the pants off of me.
"Q-Quil are you okay." I sniffed as a few last tears dropped down, " You're not hurt or anything. No broken bones or cuts?"
He shook his head, his hair falling in his eyes, " No I'm fine."
I went and hugged Quil tightly while saying, " You were thrown at least 15 feet in the air. 15 feet Quil! How are you not hurt!"
"It's no big deal really Miracle. I'm good." He pried my hands away from his neck, "Glad that you care about me but I'm fine."
"I'm sorry I threw you buddy." Seth bumped Quil shoulder.
"And you guys say I'm hot tempered." Leah rolled her eyes.
"Cause you are." Seth fired back.
Another thing I don't understand. How can Quil be thrown in the air and land on the hard sand without anything to protect him and get up unscathed. I looked him over again as the conversation between them was still debating whether Leah was hot tempered or not. There wasn't even a scratch on him or a bruise or even a welt for that matter. He was fine and I doubt he was internally injured because he seems to be breathing and moving just fine. Another thing also is the fact that his friends weren't even worried about him. Not even Jake looked worried, a bit irritated, but not worried and it didn't come from a lack of care. No. They knew he wasn't going to get hurt. Even though any normal person getting thrown from that height would cause a variety of injuries depending on where they fell and the way Quil fell he should have a broken leg, a collapse rib, and honestly a broken neck, but that rule only applies to normal people. Which mean Quil is not a normal person, and his friends know. Or maybe they're not normal people themselves.
After that we didn't stay at the beach for long because it was starting to get dark, and I was a bit shaken up by what happened. I acted like it didn't matter like the rest, but Jake saw right through that and called it a day. Seth, Leah, Quil, and Embry said their goodbyes, but not before Quil apologized for scaring me and ran in the direction of their houses while Jake and I went in the direction of grandma's house.
I wonder about asking Jake about Quil but I doubt he'll give me an honest answer. No, no he won't. Sticking to my original plan will take longer but it beats being dragged around a pole. So, I decided not to ask Jake and talk to him about mundane things like school which thanks to my grandma for picking up my homework I won't fall behind in and I asked him if anybody has talked about that day. To he replies with a strained ''Some but they've got better things to worry.'' My only conclusion to that is something else had to have diverted their attention from it but I don't anything as big as what happened to me would divert them for long especially when I come back on Monday.
When we got to my house, I said a quick goodbye with him promising to see me tomorrow. I nodded and opened the door to my house waving a quick goodbye to Jake before closing the door with a definite click. I put my head against the cold wood as I took slow breaths. Once I felt composed enough, I moved off of the door to look around in the living room to the one place I wanted to see. The large cabinet. I looked around to see where grandma was, but she wasn't in the living room. I didn't even hear her in the kitchen so she must be in her bedroom. I sighed in relief as I slowly moved over to the cabinet still looking in the direction of the hallway.
Up close the cabinet looks newer than its actual age. No chipped painted or splintered wood. The hinges don't even look rusted and the wood or the contents in it smell of flowers. Lavender is apparent and maybe a bit of periwinkle. I looked inside the windows of the cabinet. No wonder it smells like lavender. There were dried flowers hanging on the bottom cabinet and on the top were books. Some in English and some in Quileute. One book read Shaman arts, and another read The Change and I also see the gold and black book is still in there with the same tattoo on it. My eyes ran down to look at the lock on the door. I bent down to get a better look at it. It was the only thing on the cabinet that looks old. It was one of those vintage padlocks from the 18th century. It was huge and brassy and pretty ordinary considering what its harboring. I looked once last time at the hallway before I lifted my fingertips to kiss the cold metal of the locks. I tugged on stupidly hoping it'll just pop open, but it held fast. I closely examined the lock to gauge the size of what kind of key I need. The hole seems rather small but that'll should make it easier to find the key.
"Miracle is that you. I could have sworn I heard the door close." Grandma called out.
Without a second thought I quickly dashed across the room to sit on one of the sofas and tried to act nonchalant as she came from the hallway.
"Ahh there you are. How was your day?" She moved to sit next to me.
"Well it was-"
"Miracle where is your bandage it's gone." She turned my head to get a better look.
I didn't even realize, " Uh. It must have fell in the ocean."
"You sit right there. I'm going to get another one." She left before I had a chance to say anything else.
She came back after a few minutes later with some rubbing alcohol and bandages, and she started getting to work.
"I'm sorry for interrupting honey. What were you saying?"
"Ohh I was just saying it was fine. We played in the ocean.. and Seth threw Quil." I glanced at grandma to see her reaction.
Her reaction was confusion, " Threw Quil?"
"Yea but he's fine though. Seth threw him pretty hard. Like really hard." I said still trying to see her reaction.
She pursed her lip, " Well that Seth has always been a wildcard. He gets that from his sister, Leah."
Her expression showed pretty much nothing as she finished bandaging me up.
"There all better now, but it looks like it's healing nicely. Now come on your supper's getting cold."
She got up and started cleaning up the first aid kit to put back in the bathroom. I got up and followed.
"Wait grandma. I know you heard us talking earlier."
She closed the medicine cabinet and looked at me in the mirror for a moment. Her eyes conveying worry, but it vanishes quickly which made me wonder if I had made that up in my head. I realized that grandma looks even more tired than before. The bags under her eyes growing bigger and darker. Her hair in its topknot looks knotty and uncombed. I frowned to myself. I was too self-absorbed in my own problems that I didn't even think grandma might be dealing with some issues of her own.
Before I had a chance to say anything she spoke up," Yes, baby I heard you."
I started completely forgetting the question, " Do you think I made the right choice? In trusting them."
She turned from the mirror to look me in the eye," Sweetie, I have known those kids for years and believe it or not you know Jake. They always mean well but sometimes it could come off...strange. Just give them some time. Also, Jake does have his hands full with Billy. "
"I.. never really thought of it like that." I forgot about Billy as well. The times I've met him he was happy. Not once mentioning his disability.
She kissed my forehead," It's okay sweetie, just give them a little leeway."
I nodded even though I know she's hiding something from me. I still trust and love her.
"But are you okay? You look you haven't slept in days." I reached to touch her bags.
"Yes, dear uhh bad dreams again is all. Now enough about me go eat your supper and get to bed."
She quickly shooed me into the kitchen to eat. I opened the stove to see a plate of chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes. Still warm. I took it out and sat down at the table and quickly ate. All the more ready to start my research again. Just because I couldn't find anything last night doesn't mean I won't find any tonight. I just have to change my tactic of searching. Also, this is a great chance to see if I can find the key in here. It shouldn't be too hard because she should only have 4 keys. One for the front door. One for the back door. One for her car. And one for the cabinet. Three of them are already on her keychain. So, the cabinet key should be somewhere around the house.
I washed and cleaned the plate so I can start searching. Twenty minutes later I looked in every cabinet and drawer; every nook and cranny and no key. Thinking to myself it wouldn't be in the bathroom or anywhere close to the cabinet so the whole living room was out. It wouldn't be anywhere in my bedroom because I might accidentally find so the only place in the house it could be in is grandma's room. I doubt I will find a good enough time to fully search her room, nonetheless if I do I must time it right.
Deciding my search was over I went in the bedroom and began researching on my laptop again. When looking for any answers it seems like asking direct questions never seem to give any answers. So, I decided to askes Google indirect questions if that made any sense at all. Starting with Quil's amazing ability to come completely unfazed and unscathed for the fall was a good start. Which the search led me to superhuman people. Most look like a bunch of CGI mess and Marvel characters, but some do look legit like Terry Hollands as England's Strongest Man or Albert Einstein as one of the World's Smartest people and pretty much nothing on, what I believe to be, superhuman healing.
Typing in just that again didn't give me much but TV shows, book and fanfictions. I sighed as I leaned back and rubbed my eyes. I looked at my phone to see the time. 11:30. I should go to bed, but I do want to look some more. Feeling like I was about to get a breakthrough I decided to research some more and that's when I heard it. I looked out the window as the sound echoed again in the dark room.
Howling.
CHAPTER 3 IS FINISHED. I MUST SAY THIS CHAPTER WAS HARD TO WRITE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT DIRECTION I WANTED IT GO. I DID WANTED TO ADD A LITTLE FLUFF IN THIS CHAPTER TO GET MORE OF A BOND BETWEEN JAKE AND MIRACLE WHICH I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE.
