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.
Just as Charlie and I stepped out of the car, the door opened. A tall, Native American girl with short, black hair that brushes against her sharp jaw, opened the door, scowled at whatever was inside the house, slammed it and then looked at me. Then her jaw dropped and she began to smile.
"Lizzy?" The girl asked, she seemed both excited and surprised. I recognized her, it was Leah Clearwater.
"Leah!" I exclaimed excitedly as I ran up to her. When we were a foot apart I gave her a tight squeeze and she hugged me back. I heard Charlie walk up behind me.
"Lizzy, you came at just the right time. It's been too long." Leah said, and then she let me out of her hug. "Ok, so my dad is stable, but he doesn't need a crowd, just keep a respectful distance. Don't be too somber, this is supposed to be fun." Leah opened the door and we both walked inside together. I looked to my left to see two women cooking in a kitchen. The older one looked up at me.
"Hello, you must be Lizzy, I'm Sue Clearwater." The woman said, then she looked right behind me. "Great to see you back in La Push, Chief Swan." Charlie gave the woman a respectful nod. Then the younger woman spoke up.
"I'm Emily Young, Sam's fiancée." Emily gestured her hand to my right. I looked to my left, towards a living room with two large couches, 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.
"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 Leah I could hear them all whispering.
"Um, where's Seth?" I asked Leah. She gave me a sly smile, and I thought I saw the five boys, including Jacob, laugh quietly to themselves.
"Oh, he's working on his schoolwork, he'll be down in a little while. Don't worry." Leah said with a sly smile, however her face turned cold and stern when she looked away from me. Sam was on the end furthest away from the kitchen, but Embry scooted over and let Leah have the end closest to the kitchen.
"Let Lizzy have some room." I heard Emily say in the kitchen. Embry scooted away from the kitchen, then he and Leah shared a look. Leah rolled her eyes and scooted towards the kitchen. I sat in between them. Charlie was already sitting on the couch across from me, then Jacob, Quil, and Jared moved and sat on that couch too.
"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." Jacob 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.
"Where's Bella?" Asked Quil, he was looking at Jacob with a smirk, who glared at him, but the question was obviously directed at me. Then I heard some thumping coming from the staircase, which was in the middle of the house and visible from both the kitchen and the living room.
"That smells great, Mom, I'm starving." A voice said. I looked over to see a boy my age. He was nearly six foot, with short black hair and russet skin. He was sort of gangly, but very toned. I only caught glimpses of him as he flitted about the house. His most prominent feature was a huge grin and full cheeks. I recognized that smile, Seth Clearwater.
"Oh look who decided to join us." Jacob said as Seth sat down next to him. Jacob trapped Seth in a playful headlock before he chuckled and let him go.
"What's up everybody?" Seth asked with a light, carefree voice. His eyes met everyone's in the room, and then we made eye contact.
The entire room melted away from me, I could only see him, his 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 him. "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 boy knew what just happened she would be insanely creeped out! You are so weird Lizzy! You're fourteen, you're too young for this. Geez, just act like everything is normal." The entire moment happened instantaneously, and when I broke my gaze, my eyes drifted and looked around at everyone.
Jacob saw the other boys' reactions, and smiled. Jacob patted Seth's shoulder and nodded at him. Jared and Paul were looking at each other, laughing quietly to themselves. I swear I thought I saw Jared clapping. I saw Sam nod, his face was stern, but there was a small smile, like he was proud of him. Embry gave a sigh of slight disappointment. Seth whipped his head around and shot him a glare. Leah was shaking her head, she looked almost sad.
"Lizzy! It's so good to see you!" He said, I stood up and Seth threw his arms around me and squeezed me really tight. I almost couldn't breathe, but I didn't care. He was so warm, as if she had a fever, but it was comforting.
"Good to see you too, Seth."
"Wonderful, Seth, just great." Leah said quietly under her breath, with an eye roll.
"What?" I asked, sort of confused.
"Nothing." She quickly reneged. Three seconds have never felt longer than they did when an awkward silence fell over the Clearwater house.
"Sue, Jacob, Seth, 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.
Seth looked into my eyes, and when he 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." Leah said, gesturing to the door with her thumb. She 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, Harry, have you been feeling better?" Charlie asked, looking at Mr. Clearwater, who seemed like he was about to fall asleep.
"Oh, I've been hanging in there." Harry began, he talked very slowly. "I'm going to eat outside but after that I'm going to rest."
"Good idea, Mr. Clearwater." Sam said to Mr. Clearwater.
"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. Leah looked at me with a smile before she sat next to me.
The very last people to sit down were Seth and Sam. Sam appeared to be lecturing Seth, who rolled his eyes. He seemed rather disappointed, and when he walked over to the circle. Seth began walking to my side of the circle, but Sam gave him a glare. Seth changed course, and he sat directly across from me. I have no idea why, but again I was disappointed, disappointed that he wasn't going to sit next to me.
I saw Embry walk in my direction, but Seth glared at him. Embry turned away from me and sat a few seats away from Seth. Embry playfully messed up Seth's hair, who pouted.
I looked up from my food, both Seth 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 make 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." Leah 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 Seth. Every time I looked up and saw he 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." Seth said, looking down at the ground. The boys chuckled softly and patted Seth on the back as he jogged back to his house. Seth 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.
What just happened? Why was I like this? Why was I feeling this way? Charlie and I walked back to the car 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 Seth, smiling at me. I tried to shake myself out of it, I felt so weird only thinking about Seth, 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 Seth's face. I shook my head and he 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, Maria, 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 Leah, 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: Yeah, but i'll be fine
Me: Thanks for checking on me, Jacob
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 Seth. 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 Seth
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 him? What if I said the wrong thing?
Me: Thank you, Seth, I'm really glad I got to see you again.
Then there was an almost instant reply.
Seth: 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?
Seth: 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 him walk away from me. Seth was avoiding me, but I could tell by the way he looked at me, by our conversation, he didn't want to. What did Mr. Black tell him? 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.
