Ever since the storm, Edward has been awkwardly hanging around me, starting conversations that I want no part of. If he kept hanging around like this my secret will be let loose and I don't want that. I would probably be killed due to my extensive knowledge on nearly everything and everyone I know and don't know. Well… the Cullens may be less bloodthirsty about it, but the Volturi… yikes.
Currently, I was sitting at the public library on a cloudy Sunday afternoon with a book of European folklore in my lap and it was currently on the page of vampires. There was a sketched picture of what the author thought vampires looked like, A rather skinny and hairless creature with pointed ears and teeth, it's skin was gray and the clothing it wore was old fashioned like a beast frozen in time. This was such a fake picture.
"What makes you think that it's fake?" I heard a very familiar voice come from above my head. I tried to remain still as I looked up. Perhaps I said it out loud?
"Well for one, this book was written by a nutcase, and two there is no way vampires look like that." I replied, closing the book in my lap. There were some other inaccuracies compared to other folklore, like this author believed that steel was actually helpful for fae folk.
Edward stared at me as he sat down in the chair next to me. "How do you know for sure?" he asked, his brow furrowed but his eyes screamed suspicion. I rolled my eyes at him.
"While I've never seen an actual vampire before, but I 100% doubt they look like that." I snorted. "They'd want to blend in, otherwise humans would find out about them and kill them."
"You… are one strange person." he said slowly, squinting his eyes at me like he didn't understand the way I am.
"Are you going to prom? It's in a couple of weeks." I said softly to change the subject, reopening the book in my lap and flipping through the pages, looking at pictures of faeries and werewolves. While many of these facts would be fought against anyone with even a remote knowledge of mythology, the artwork was rather pretty.
"Why?" he asked with that smirk on his face that told me he was getting ready to tease me. It's been a month since I started to actually talk to this guy and I'm starting to be able to see all of his ticks. Guy's easier to read than a Dr. Seuss book.
"Do you want to go with me?" he teased while I just gave him a blank look. I could see his facial muscles struggling to remain still after my mental comment.
"No Edweird, I don't want to go to prom with you," I replied, standing up and packing the book into my bag. I already checked it out so I will be using it for about 2 weeks, mostly for shits and giggles. It was honestly quite amusing with how people in the past thought mythical creatures looked.
"Why do you keep calling me that?" He asked, almost as though he was offended but I can see the amusement in his eyes.
"Because I can. If you didn't like it, you'd stop me." I said, shrugging. I swung my bag up onto my right shoulder, walking passed him while trying to keep a straight face. I hate that I had gotten so used to seeing him everyday and talking to him about literally anything that comes to mind. I suppose it doesn't help that he practically knows what I'm thinking anyway. I snorted once again in amusement at my own thoughts. I quickly left the library with Edward's eyes following me the entire way.
I don't know what his obsession is with me but honestly it was seriously annoying at first, but after two straight weeks I got used to it. By now though he skipped town and New Moon would have started up. I frowned, I don't know why I remember that part so clearly. I mean, my senior year is starting in about 4 months, it currently being mid May.
I tossed my bag into the back seat of my car, climbing into the driverseat and stuck my key into the ignition. I sighed and let my hand fall into my lap, staring up at the roof of my car. I didn't bother turning the key as I chewed my bottom lip in thought. I still couldn't believe that I have gotten so used to Edward's company. Just last week he started sitting at my lunch table with me when my friends were all busy. He only did this when I was sitting alone... but still, this was a whole new level. It's almost as though he is actually trying to be my friend.
I decided it was best to just go home and finish that essay for English.
I was pulling up to my house when I saw them; The red and blue lights flashing. My heart hammered in my chest as I prayed and prayed to whatever was watching over me that it wasn't at my house, that it was just something simple. That no one was hurt but at the very least not be at my house.
They were at my house.
I jumped out of the car after turning it off and bolted for the door, some cops tried to stop me.
"I live here, damnit! Move out of my way!" I yelled at the cops and a sheriff inside told them to move so I could enter. I practically shoved them out of the way -avoiding touching them- and got to my parents. Mom was sobbing, handing what looked like a photograph to a police officer then resuming adding to a large wet spot on my dad's shirt.
"What happened?! What's going on?" I asked, completely panicked as I grabbed my mom's shoulders. I look at the photograph the officer was holding and my blood ran cold. Why was mom giving him the photo of Max and I in our Christmas sweaters?
"It's Max, Jessica. He's missing." Her eyes were filled with tears as she leaned her head into my father's shoulder. He had tears in his eyes too. I've never seen him cry before, not even when Max was born. My brother was only 11 years old. What the heck was he doing that caused him to go missing? My brain began to shut down and I felt numb.
"How…" I licked my lips, throat suddenly dry. I lean against the couch for support. "How is he missing?!"
"We don't know sweetie. We came home and found footprints in the backyard and Max's astrology book on the porch. You know he never leaves it alone." Mom explained, hiccuping through her explanation. I look past her to see another officer taking photos of our backyard's ground.
I felt my knees buckle under my weight as I sat down on the floor. I gripped my shirt over my stomach, suddenly feeling heavily nauseous. I covered my face with my hands, too overwhelmed to even cry, but the motion brought some comfort to me.
I continued to sit there, unable to hear anything as I watched my parents talk to Charlie Swan, the chief of police. I could feel my body going numb to my surroundings, I felt dead inside. I felt lost. I don't know how I'm even going to get through this.
It has been 6 weeks since Max disappeared, I sat at the lunch table with Angela who had taken to patting my back every time I got a blank look on my face and my shoulders drooped. I try to remain positive but I had heard that the police force is giving up. I might never see Max again.
I sighed deeply and shook my head, no. Max would literally kick me if he knew I was moping around because of his disappearance. I looked over and smiled at Angela. "How about we go shopping this weekend?" I offered, getting a surprised look from her.
"You've been in a dark mood since Max…. Yes, let's go shopping." She had started to say something, but I already knew what she was going to say before agreeing to go with me.
"Awesome, I'll pick you up at 8 on Saturday." I grinned at her, trying to put as much happy emotion into my expression as I can.
Saturday came faster than expected. I was sitting outside of Angela's house at 7:50 am waiting for her so we can get our fun day of shopping going.
At 8:02 Angela walked out, her two little brothers were crying, they were both 10 years old, and Max's best friends. Joshua and Isaac were their names. I pouted as I watched her walk. Damn, she's got legs for days! She easily towers over my 5'1" figure at 6'1".
She got in the car, huffing out her breath as though she had been running and rubbed her hands together. She looked over at me and immediately noticed my staring.
"What?" She asked, her face flushed from the cold and from her self consciousness.
"You got legs for days girl." I said, turning to look at the road as I turned on my engine once again. "It's damn sexy, embrace it."
"Jess!" she cried, smacking my arm which only made me laugh. We have a long 2 hour drive ahead of us, at least we get along. Helps our taste in music is also the same, so we're scream-singing Fall Out Boy all the way to Port Angeles.
The first thing we did after getting to Port Angeles was to go to the mall they had there and immediately hit up the first store we saw which I dragged Angela to.
Hot Topic.
The most amazing store on the planet to ever exist. Also one of the most overpriced.
"Why are we going in here?" Angela asked, obviously feeling nervous as she looked at the wall which proudly displayed laced, corset dresses, funky colored pants and lots… and lots of skulls. This was a time before Hot Topic became filled to the brim with Funkos and Disney, this was a time where goth culture was its strongest.
"Because, we are about to discover one of the best styles in all of America. Well... one of three: Emo, Scene, and Goth but I prefer Emo." I rambled a bit as I took her inside, immediately greeted by Three Day Grace and an employee that looked like he got a buy one get one deal at a tattoo parlor. The first thing I saw was a super cute plaid red and black dress with two inch shoulder straps and black lace on the outer sides of them. Black lace was also on the hem of the dress. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen.
"I have to buy that." I stated immediately. Walking over and grabbing it off the hanger to try on sizes in a moment. I looked around for anything that could compliment it nicely, spotting a cute headband with a black rose on it I grabbed that as well. It went on like that until I had an entire outfit put together.
Angela watched in horror as I turned into a whirlwind and was constantly moving from one end of the shop to the other in matters of seconds. The employee was watching boredly, not once pestering us as he knew I was a guaranteed customer even if I looked like a purple Barbie.
I turned to look at her after purchasing my items. I'm so glad I decided to get that part-time job last month, even if it was to distract my mind. "Well, pick something out!" I laughed at her flustered expression as I tried to push her towards the clothes.
Angela was hesitant at first before deciding on some black skinny jeans and a red and black corset top to go with it. She didn't grab anything else but that was fine, this was a start.
"Now that that is done, lets go to another shop!" I cheered, dragging her out of the store with our new bags in hand.
It went on like this for a couple of hours before we bumped into Edward Cullen of all people.
"What are you doing here, Cullen?" I asked, rubbing the pain away from my forehead after I once again bumped into his goddamn, perfectly chiseled chest. Does he have to have the skin density of a marble statue?
"Why do you insist on calling me by my last name?" He asked, holding up his bags that were filled with items that were obviously not for him, but picturing him in that sexy red lace lingerie set almost made me choke on my laugh. I coughed repeatedly. Note to self, do not try to inhale while exhaling to laugh at the same time.
He stood there with wide eyes, I just know he would be bright red if he could even blush.
"Because I don't like you, nice underwear by the way." I snorted at his expression, I knew he knew I was lying.
"I was shopping with my sisters and somehow lost them, to answer your question." I wasn't listening to his words as I saw a boy who looked too familiar to me. My heart leapt to my throat as I sped over to him, carefully weaving through racks of clothes only to stop when I saw their face. It wasn't Max, it was just some kid with a button nose. I felt bile rise in my throat which caused me to run to the nearest bathroom and immediately empty the contents of my stomach, a broken sob wrecking through me in between coughs.
Edward's POV
I stood outside the bathroom with Angela, waiting for Jessica to finishing vomiting. The smell of bile hit my nose and honestly it was disgusting, but I brushed it aside to wait for her. Jessica's thoughts slammed into my brain like a freight train, like it does every time I'm near her.
'It wasn't Max, oh god. What do I do? I have to do something to save him! He's been gone so long, he could be dead by now! I can't ask the Cullen's, they don't know I know their secret, I can't risk that, but god dammit, I know they could find him effortlessly if they put their minds to it!'
Her thoughts were almost provoking. I knew she knew our secret, for months now. We all have. We have just been watching her to make sure she doesn't let it slip. She has shown no intention to, not even to us. If anything, she seemed to prefer to push the thoughts away just as anything she deemed important was about to bubble out of her mind.
I looked over at Angela who was nervously fiddling with a plastic piece from one of the bags. Jessica had unfortunately locked the main door on us... well, her.
Jessica cries rang for a solid ten minutes. Someone from security arrived on the scene to ask what was going on.
"Our friend had a breakdown. PTSD." I lied smoothly to the concerned man, his mind free of malice and more concerned with the sobs he heard. "She's not in any danger of hurting herself."
"Any history of, uh… suicidal thoughts? Just to make sure I don't need to alert the police."
"N-no!" Angela stepped in, the girl easily towering both of us. "She's never hurt herself before. Her brother has been missing for almost two months now and it's hit her pretty hard…"
The security officer's mind replayed news reports on the television and he nodded. He made a mental note to come back in five minutes if we haven't left and alert paramedics. His thoughts only became stronger when Jessica lost another ounce through bile.
"I'll be back," I tell Angela then walk to a nearby shop to purchase a bottle of water. My phone beeps as a message from Alice came through.
'I already texted Emmett, he's on his way.'
Quick as ever.
I give Angela the bottle for when Jessica finally leaves the bathroom and knocks on the door. "Jessica? I have to go but I wanted you to know… everything will be okay."
Her breath hitches, her mind isn't coherent anymore. But I'm long gone before she has the chance to speak.
This is chapter 4! If you noticed any changes in Max's age its because I realized I messed up. Max is supposed to be about 6 years younger than Jessica but it slipped my mind as I was writing. Let me know if you noticed any and I'll be able to fix it!