Chapter 4: The Mall

Nessie

I went back to bed and closed my eyes. Unfortunately sleep evaded me. I picked up my phone to look at the time. It was already five thirty in the morning. At least I didn't have school today.

I grabbed my Switch from where I'd left it on my bookcase the night before. For the next few hours I immersed myself in playing one of my Pokémon games that I had on there.

I didn't get out of bed until eight. I opened the curtains shocked to see the sky covered in gray clouds. I wondered if I would see Jacob again today. I shook my head. It was as though he disappeared as quickly as he appeared in my life.

I sighed. I couldn't stay in the house today. I grabbed my car keys to the brand new Mercedes-Benz my parents had gotten me a few months ago. That was before the whole party and pregnancy fiasco that resulted in us not speaking. I highly doubted that they would gift me an expensive luxurious car right now. I believed the only reason they didn't take the car back is because they didn't want to be responsible for taking me to school, doctors appointments, or work.

I worked at a local PetSmart as a dog groomer. It was the closest I could get to having a dog of my own. My dad was allergic so I wasn't allowed to have pets of my own.

My dream was to become a veterinarian one day. My uncle owned and operated a veterinarian clinic that I visited frequently just to learn. I'd been observing and even helping my uncle for years now.

I sat in my car for a minute before finally deciding where it was that I wanted to go. I hadn't been to the mall in awhile. It would be a nice way to distract myself and forget about all of my worries for awhile.

The mall parking lot was about halfway full already when I got there. I stopped at the Dairy Queen inside of the mall for a cotton candy blizzard. It was when I was leaving the register that I saw some people I never in a million years thought I would see ever again.

Even from behind I could still recognize them. Of course the intervening years hadn't changed them at all. Aunt Rosalie was perhaps even more stunningly beautiful than before. Though maybe that was just my imagination. Aunt Alice was there as well then there was...my mom. My mom still young and beautiful. Forever eighteen years old. It struck me as weird that we could pass for sisters rather than mother-daughter now.

Within seconds I felt like I was going to have a full blown panic attack. They weren't aware of my presence yet. As soon as those words crossed my mind aunt Rosalie turned around. She stared at me wide eyed before whispering something to my mother.

I bolted out of there as fast as I could. Fuck. I thought to myself. Now I understood exactly why I hadn't seen Jacob since yesterday. "That I need to let your family where you're at. I know exactly where they're at. I crossed Bella's scent a few weeks ago. I'm going tonight," were the exact words Jacob had said to me on Saturday. Though I begged him not to say anything my wishes had gone ignored.

My mind flashed back to the image of two pairs of golden eyes staring at me in my bedroom last night. Of course now it all made sense. I hadn't imagined it at all. It was my parents. Jacob had already seen my house so of course he could give them the exact address that I lived at.

At least the mall they couldn't really do anything here. My heart skipped several beats when I saw them enter the store that I was in. I snuck out of there without them seeing me.

I tried to think through my panic. If I stayed here any longer they were sure to catch up to me. But if I left the mall and went home it might as well be open season on me right now.

Oh shit they were walking right towards me! All this time I'd just been standing in the middle of the walkway like a sitting duck. Again, like the coward I was I ran. I didn't dare look back until I was sure that I'd put a good amount of distance between them and I.

Okay maybe the mall wasn't the best place for me to be at right now. I had to get here without aunt Rosalie, aunt Alice, or my mom noticing me. Thankfully I had parked very close to the store that I was currently hiding in.

I hesitated and took a good look around me and making sure that the coast was one hundred percent clear. To my absolute relief there was no sign of either one of my aunts or my mom. Still that didn't stop me from making a beeline to my car. I'd never been relieved to see that silver Mercedes-Benz of mine.

As soon as the engine was on and the car was in reverse I stopped on the gas pedal harder than I meant to. I had to slam on the breaks to avoid hitting another parked car behind me.

Relax. Breathe. It was going to be okay. I was safe. Now where the hell was I going to go. It sure as hell wasn't home. I could stop for lunch. Human food smelled horrible to them if I remembered correctly. I should be safe at my favorite place. Panda Express.

Because I was a paranoid coward I once again looked around before getting out of the car once I got to the parking lot.

My anxiety was so bad that the cashier had to ask for my order three times before I heard what she was saying. My stomach was in nots. I barely even tasted the orange chicken that I loved so much.

I sighed and walked out to my car. Maybe if I just drove around the city for a few hours that would calm my nerves. When I pressed the button to turn on my car though nothing happened. I tried it again and nothing. What the hell? This was a brand new car! I shouldn't be having car issues!

I glanced up from the dashboard and nearly died of panic. Standing just outside of my car were my two aunts and my mom. I frantically pushed the button to start my engine hoping that I could make a quick getaway. I noticed that aunt Rosalie was smiling and turning something over in her hands. My stomach sank when I saw that it was a piece of my car.

Oh holy fuck.