Chapter Eleven
"I said a tree house." I stared upward. "Not a tree mansion. Four walls, a roof and a floor."
The tree house itself was pretty big. It was two houses, spanning between two different trees and connected by a short bridge between them. I hadn't been up there yet, but from what I could see, it was massive. There was no way they only used the wood from the wedding benches.
"This isn't a tree mansion. It's a tree fortress. I want you able to see anything coming a mile away." Emmett called down at me, and I laughed a little. I wandered forward, gripping the thick rope that hung down from one of the higher branches. It went higher than I could really see, and had thick knots tied into it all along the length. That wasn't the only way to get up there, though.
They had decided to build a spiraling staircase all along the trunk, thankfully, in case I chose that way.
But the rope caught my attention. I was curious. I was fully aware I shouldn't be doing anything strenuous, but it was too tempting. I jumped up on it, finding a knot to hold onto and pulled myself up.
I'd gotten pretty good at climbing recently, so I could probably make it.
"Shorty." Emmett laughed. "You're not supposed to be on that yet."
"Then why'd you put it up already?" I asked, pulling myself up higher. He didn't answer, so I knew I'd gotten him.
I used my feet just as much as I used my hands, pushing myself up as I pulled. The knots in the rope really helped me do that, and before I even knew it, I had reached the ledge. The rope fed through a small opening in the floor of the 'balcony', so I squeezed through it, and landed on my butt.
"Ow." I panted a small laugh, looking at my sore hands.
"You could have used the stairs." Emmett chuckled, helping me to my feet.
"I wanted to see if I could still do it." I replied, dusting my hands off. I wanted to look around.
"Next time, just use your arms." He suggested with a smirk.
"No way." I shook my head.
Thankfully, the inside of the tree house was a lot simpler than it looked like it would be. Of course it had windows, and doors, and both "rooms" were very sturdy, but it wasn't that hard to be comfortable in.
Both rooms were identical, but the left room had a small loft with an all-glass ceiling over it to look up or out over the forest and the river below, but the rest of the "room" was normal. Walls and a normal ceiling. The other, right-side room was mostly made up of floor-to-ceiling windows for a better view. I smiled all the way through my little tour, unable to help it.
"Well?" He asked as if my smile wasn't enough.
"I love it." I replied, looking up the ladder at the loft.
"I thought you might." He grinned. "And who knows? When it warms up, you might want to spend some nights out here. If you need alone time that your room isn't enough for, you got this." He pointed at me. "But no boys allowed on sleepovers."
I gave him a look before I turned and hugged him. He returned it easily.
"I'm sorry I've been such a pain lately." I muttered.
"You've got a lot on your mind." He waved it off. "It's not easy being eleven."
"Maybe I should just go back to being ten." I sighed, stepping back. "Just for a few more years."
"If I could make that happen for you, I would." He replied, and I smiled a little.
"I wish you could." I admitted. "Everything was easier then."
"Was it?" He asked, skeptical, and I hesitated.
"In some ways, yeah." I answered. "Nobody worried about me like they do now, and I wasn't in the middle of getting some stupid gift."
"Shorty, your ability isn't stupid." He corrected me lightly, lifting me off my feet and setting me up on the loft. "Do you even know how awesome it is that you're getting it now?"
"While I'm human?" I asked for clarification.
"Exactly." He said. "Especially as much as you are. Even if you can't remember it now, you've seen things. You're a human. Just think about that for a second. Normal humans usually can't do the things you do."
"I told you I'm not normal." I smirked a little, before it faded. "But it hurts so bad lately. I know that's what's making my head hurt so much all the time, but I can't do anything to stop it."
"How do you feel now?" He asked, watching as I sat down on the floor of the loft. He was probably still worried after my climb.
"I'm okay right now." I assured him, which was true. "It only hurts a tiny bit, but I can mostly ignore it. Mostly, I try not to think about it, because when I think about it, it's like it remembers to hurt."
"That sounds like hell."
"Nah." I shook my head a little. "My mind does worse things to me all the time. Nothing's worse than being reminded all day, every day of everything I just wanna forget. Even feeling like I'm getting stabbed in the head."
He offered a small smile, and I knew he wasn't able to do much else. I didn't blame him.
"I wish I knew how to help you." He admitted.
"You built me a house." I smiled a little. "Now I can feel like crap out here."
Overnight, my tree house had been furnished. Nothing extravagant. A few bean-bag chairs here or there. Ones I could move myself how I liked them. A small sectional couch up in the loft, along with a book case against the side wall holding a simple plant, a few books, and a lot of drawing supplies.
The other side was more simple. More bean-bag chairs and a table with another little plant. Both rooms had curtains now, and a few pictures hung on the walls. Both rooms now had a large area rug, and at least two battery-operated lights. A few large throw pillows only helped make things more comfortable.
There was a lot more space than I thought, and I had a feeling I'd be using it a lot. It already felt like a little home away from home, but still at home. A lot of thought went into this tree house, and I couldn't help admiring their dedication.
I didn't want to be rude and immediately move out there, so I admired it from afar for as long as I could. I could just see it out the living room window, but I knew they could tell how excited I was about it. I had no idea how much I'd love it. It was beautiful, even from the outside, and it was just built and given to me. For no reason.
Seeing my distraction, Bella laughed a little at me.
"Mind if I take a tour?" She asked, and I instantly stood up.
"Sure." I agreed, and despite how uncomfortable I knew that made everyone else, and she stood up. She still seemed fine to me, so I didn't feel like treating her like cracked glass.
I led her outside, and I knew she'd choose to use the stairs. The steps were wide and textured, and the hand rail was very sturdy, so I didn't at all doubt its safety. Even wet, it would still be safe.
"Wow." She laughed as soon as the little tour was over. "I'm surprised it doesn't have a slide."
"Emmett says I can have a swing if I want." I shrugged, falling into a bean bag chair. "But nah. I don't really want one. I love it just like it is."
"I would have loved something like this when I was your age." She smiled, looking around.
"Not that I don't still love my room." I added, and she shook her head.
"I can't imagine it'd be very easy to have some privacy in a house full of vampires." She said, and I shrugged again. She had been getting an idea lately.
"It never really bothered me that much." I admitted. "I love my family. Even if I sometimes yell at them. It's nice having someone to be with when I don't wanna be alone. Like even if I don't need them, they know I will, and it's nice."
She smiled again. "So it's never bothered you? That they're vampires?"
"No." I replied honestly. "I think because I got to know them a little before I even found out. All that mattered to me was that they'd helped me, and they'd treated me way better than I'd ever been treated by anyone else. That, and it was hard not to notice things, so I think I had an idea that they were different before they told me."
She nodded.
"You?" I was curious.
"No." She replied just as honestly. "I mean, it did take some getting used to. It's not every day you find out vampires exist." I laughed a little. "But that didn't take very long. It's hard to imagine what they must mean to you." I knew why she worded it like that.
"A lot." I answered easily. "Everything. I wouldn't trade anything for the world." And it was true. Without them, all of them, I didn't have a thing. I'd turned my back on both my biological parents, and most of humanity, but that didn't bother me.
I watched as she finally chose to sit in another bean bag chair. She was an extra step more careful, I noticed. Her movements were fluid, but slow in a way I hadn't ever seen in anyone else before.
She was quiet for a moment, like there was something she wanted to talk about, but wouldn't.
"You can talk to me, you know." I mumbled, and she looked over. "I might get in fights, but that's with other humans."
"Why?" She asked, curious. I could have given her my usual answer for that question, but for some reason, it seemed wrong to do that.
"Because I'm always afraid." I said eventually. "Not of.. Anyone, really, but.. From the time I wake up, and even all the way through sleeping, I'm always afraid." I kept my eyes down. "I've always been afraid, so it's not anyone here, but I like being here. Here.. I know I don't have to be afraid. It doesn't make it go away, but here, I know I don't have to be. So.. I fight to stay."
"Literally?"
"Sort of." I replied. "I know hitting people is wrong, but another part of me doesn't care. They hurt me, so I hurt them back. Being suspended is just an extra bonus. My family keeps me safe. Yeah, I like to wander around sometimes, but I can trust now that they'll always be here when I come back."
"So how different is that now that I'm here?"
"Kinda." I allowed quietly. "Only because I'm so used to being the one they watch like they watch you. I have a lot of problems, but nothing like what you've got going on right now."
"Think they're mad at me?" I could see where she might get that idea.
"Not mad." I shook my head immediately. "They're not mad at you. They're afraid for you. You can tell them every minute of every day that you're fine, but they're still gonna worry. Because it's not easy for them to not know what to do."
She seemed satisfied with that answer, nodding to herself.
"Trust me." I said. "It takes a lot to piss them off. I've only done it a few times, but even that, I think, was just them a little more annoyed than usual. They weren't even mad at me when I accidentally cut my thumb." Reminded, I brought my hand up to inspect my thumb. It really hadn't been that long ago, so I wasn't too surprised to find that I still had a thick scab over the split, but I pretty much left it alone.
I held it out for her to look.
"What happened?" She asked, surprised.
"I was cutting an apple too hard." I admitted.
"I mean when you cut yourself. What happened?"
"Oh." I knew what she meant. "Jasper lost it for a minute, but I'm fine." She stared at me in disbelief. "What?"
She laughed humorlessly. "How are you fine? Because I've been there too."
"I dunno." I shrugged. "I was scared for a few days, but I was more afraid that Jasper would wanna leave."
"And you forgave him?" She wasn't surprised about this part. More curious than anything.
"It wasn't his fault." I easily replied. "It was mine, so yeah. I don't think I've ever felt so bad about anything in my life, and I have a lot to feel bad about. I've done some pretty stupid stuff. I was stupid enough to let Jack in the house, but that.. Was really hard to apologize for."
"Wait." She sat forward a little. "I didn't hear about that part. Jack was here? When?" I'd forgotten for a second that particular set of rules. Bella was Charlie's daughter. Charlie was a cop, that would definitely be interested in a detail like that involving someone's unexpected death.
"Uhh.." I hesitated. "No."
"But you just said-"
"No one's supposed to know that." I sighed. "I just forgot til I said something." Inevitably, remembering those few details sparked more memories of that same day.
"I'm not going to tell anyone." She assured me. "Why would I?"
"How much did Edward tell you?" I asked flatly.
"All he'd mentioned is that he died." She said. "Nothing else. He didn't say what happened."
"Emmett happened." I glanced up to see her surprise. I could see her emotions written across her face. She was surprised initially, but I could see how it dawned on her what I was saying.
She finally laughed, surprised. "Hell yeah. Good job, Emmett."
"That don't freak you out?" It was my turn to be surprised.
"No, it doesn't." She replied. "Because I know they love you, and would do whatever it takes to protect you. I can definitely see an exception being made in Jack's case." She was quiet for a second. "I am surprised they told you about it, though."
"I'm not that fragile." I said. "Plus, they didn't have to say anything. I kinda figured it out when Emmett dragged him away."
"Well, I can't say I disagree with it." She sighed. "From the things I've heard, it was long overdue."
I nodded a little.
The following day, I was allowed to leave, but I was only gone long enough to go get Andrew and walk him back here. I wanted him to be the first of my friends to see the tree house. I understood the rule about no sleeping over, at least up here, but I knew during the day would be okay. Not like it mattered. I wasn't going to get into any trouble.
"School is so boring without you." I knew the conversation would go that way. "I miss seeing you everyday."
"Sorry." I replied honestly. "Maybe sometimes, I could meet you after, and I can walk with you back home."
"Maybe." He agreed, but sighed. He seemed kind of down.
"What else is wrong?"
"Just usual stuff." He shrugged. I knew he was lonely. His dad worked all the time, and he couldn't spend every day over at Josh and Zack's house. He didn't have many other friends, because he was a lot like me. Not in a violent way, but more of a keeps-to-himself way. That was part of what made us such close friends.
"I'll try to be around more often." I assured him. "It's just been.. Kinda weird lately."
"I know." He replied. "You've got your own stuff going on. I don't like bugging you about it."
I shook my head. "You're not bugging me."
We sat there for a minute. Out of nowhere, my head started to hurt. For the first time in days, my head started to hurt, but it wasn't gradual. The pain was suddenly flooding through my head.
Unable to help it, I leaned forward and my breath caught. This time, I was worried. I was always the one playing it down, or downright fibbing about how bad it was. This time, I was worried.
"Leandra?" Andrew asked, leaning forward as well.
I closed my eyes tight behind my hands shielding them. "Ow.."
"What's wrong?" He was extremely worried now.
"My dad." I gasped behind a sob without thinking. "I need my dad."
He seemed confused for only a second before he was suddenly bolting up and sprinting for the door. I couldn't look up enough to see which way down he'd chosen.
I wasn't sitting there more than a minute before they were back.
"I don't know what I did." I sobbed as soon as I heard the door open. "I didn't even do anything." My eyes were pouring tears again, because the pressure was unreal.
"We were just sitting here." Andrew confirmed instantly.
"Look at me." Carlisle told me, and I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was my hand moving away from my forehead.
Half a second before it did.
My heart dropped sharply, and I gasped in in surprise. I physically started, reaching down and gripping the chair firmly. It felt like my entire brain was stunned at once. I hadn't the slightest clue what the hell that had been, but I didn't like that at all. It was the weirdest feeling in the world.
"Leandra?" Carlisle prompted. I finally looked at him, and I knew exactly what he was seeing in my eyes. He didn't wait, or ask again. He nodded a little, picked me up, and embarrassingly, carried me back into the house. Andrew followed every step of the way.
I forced my breathing to even out, and I kept my eyes closed tightly, just trying to get passed the nauseating pain long enough to think straight. I had a pretty decent reason not to let this beat me down for another few days.
"Is she okay?" Andrew asked again on our way through the house. I felt myself watched the entire way, so I knew everyone else was aware.
"I'm fine." I muttered. I knew how stupid that sounded, but I felt even more stupid.
I could sense the difference. I wasn't fighting it, but I wasn't letting it have free reign anymore either. Sitting in the darkness of my room helped, but having Andrew there also helped. He was really worried at first, but we explained that it was just something that happened now and then. I'd eventually be fine.
I hadn't decided yet if I even wanted to bring up the other part of it to my family. I wouldn't even know how to explain it.
This was getting old. Really quick.
So we spent the rest of his visit in my room with as little light as possible. He didn't even seem to mind, knowing it was the only way I could function. I explained that because of these headaches, I might not be able to get out as often as I wanted to, and he understood.
Emmett volunteered to drive him home after dinner, and instead of risking bringing my headache back full force, I just went to sleep. I wasn't in search of any answers. All I wanted was some relief.
I did have to admit, though. That one hadn't been nearly as bad as the one before it. As I was falling asleep, I thought back to that moment. I realized why Andrew was confused.
I'd told him that I needed my dad, and I knew he thought I meant my biological dad, because every other time, I'd always referred to Carlisle by his name, and that was fine. I'd been hesitant to assign titles, but in the moment I really needed him, that didn't matter.
I wasn't sure if it would stick, or be permanent, but I was okay with that. That was the hardest role to fill. I felt like I was changing just as much as everything else around me, and I'd need someone like Carlisle on my side.
Unsurprisingly, I was fine in the morning. Whatever it was had straightened itself out, and I was able to rejoin the world outside the dark. I was getting used to seeing the living room constantly crowded now. Even Rose and Jasper stayed around.
"I'm glad I was close." I mumbled, sitting with a sigh beside Esme. I wanted to share her chair today.
"Me too, shorty." Emmett replied, knowing what I was referring to. That headache would have sucked to get at Andrew's house, or worse, along the highway.
"Do you remember meeting Eleazar, Leandra?" I looked over at Edward's question.
"Yeah." I didn't need to point out. He could see it.
"He has an ability of his own. He can sense the abilities in others." Oh, that was pretty cool. "One detail you weren't told, was that he warned us about yours."
"Warned?" I asked, surprised.
"Should we be telling her this now?" Esme asked, but she wasn't outright banning the subject. The fact that Esme even had a shred of doubt about it made me instantly interested.
"It's one of the reasons we're so curious." Edward explained. "He told Carlisle, seconds after he first met you, that it was bigger than anything he'd seen. In this specific category, of course."
I was a little cautious now. "Okay?"
"And definitely bigger than anything he'd ever seen in a human." He went on. "He said it was coming forward with a force too strong to stop. As badly as I wished you could take a little while to adjust to it, I can see that he was right."
I looked down. I could now see where he was going with this. I wasn't exactly against talking about this, though. Maybe he could get me some answers.
"I got a look yesterday at what the potential is." He sighed.
"What happened?" Esme asked him.
"She had a vision."
"Wait, you didn't say that yesterday." Emmett frowned a little. "Why are we just now hearing about this?"
"I needed her permission." Edward replied easily. Which he'd just gotten.
"What was it?" Jasper was the one to finally ask.
"It was only set a second ahead." He answered. "The time between blinks, but the interesting part about it, was the fact that that happened immediately after Andrew had made a decision."
"So what does that mean?" Emmett asked, clearly still as confused as I was about that part.
"That's what I've spent the night half focused on." Edward replied. "The theory that sounds most probable, is that this decision of hers would impact her. So her mind attempted to warn her. It's clearly not ready for that just yet, so it showed her something simple instead."
That made a lot of sense, but that scared me a little. That.. Vision, had been real. I literally experienced it half a second before it even happened. I felt every bit of the movement.
"But my headache had already been there before I saw that." I pointed out.
He nodded. "It took it a moment." He looked toward Carlisle. "It was enough for me to know that the rest isn't far off. She's human, and able to actually have visions. It's no wonder her head hurts her. It's constantly busy, but I think with time, that'll stop."
Thinking about it this way, though, answered a lot of my questions so suddenly. I felt better about it.
"So what was the decision the kid made?" Emmett asked that one. I didn't even have to think about that. It really was as if that answer had always been there, despite the fact that there's no way I could have known it before.
"Ugh." I sighed. "He was gonna try to kiss me."
I wasn't surprised when Emmett started laughing, and I gave him a look.
"Not him too!" He said when he could.
"I know, right?" I suddenly agreed with him. I was mostly just relieved he wasn't going to tease me about it. Even Bella laughed from where she sat quietly.
"Curtains stay open." Emmett pointed at me, and I gave him another look at his sudden scolding. "One day, it's not going to be gross to you anymore, and I don't want to drop that ball."
"It's always gonna be gross." I said. "I promise. Don't even worry."
"We'll see." He shrugged. "But still. Open curtains." I rolled my eyes and looked down, much to his further amusement. "That was the most teenage thing I've ever seen you do." Okay, that was kind of funny.
"So what do you think this means for her?" Carlisle asked, still on the original subject. His eyes on Edward.
"There isn't much we can do." Edward replied. "I just think we should brace ourselves for anything at this point. One good thing to keep in mind is the fact that she wouldn't be developing it if she wasn't prepared to do so, so I don't think we need to worry about any damage."
That was a kind of relief, but I could still see they were worried. I wasn't sure why.
"What else did Eleazar say?" I asked, looking toward Edward.
"Nothing specific." Was his reply, but I really had a feeling that that wasn't true.
"How comfortable are you with them?" Esme asked, and I didn't know how to answer. I shrugged. I'd only ever met them once, so I really wasn't sure.
"Why?"
"They're stuck on where to put you for safe keeping in case I need to be turned." Bella explained.
"Oh." I hadn't even thought about that. I was pretty sure they were waiting for me to mind that little bit of information. "Well.. For how long?"
"It could be awhile." Esme murmured sadly. I knew enough to know that they couldn't just let Bella loose after she was turned. I remembered back when the newborns were in Seattle, and they said it took months to train a newborn. Sometimes longer.
Nowhere I thought of would probably keep me for months without me losing my mind. I'd go nuts stuck with my dad. Andrew's dad might let me stay a few days, but he was working so much.
Heather was an option, but there was still the issue of the sudden headaches I'd been getting. She wouldn't understand, and she'd panic. Same went for every other human option.
Plus the homesickness I'd feel would be an issue, which was probably why they considered the cousins an option at all. I'd still technically be with family, but it was obvious I couldn't stay here. That would just be asking for something to go wrong.
I didn't feel like dying, so I hated it, but I knew it would be for the best.
"I don't know." I replied after a moment. "I might have to think about that for awhile."
"You have time to decide." She assured me, and I could see she was just thankful that I didn't get mad. I wasn't exactly known these days for thinking rationally, but there were so many things about me that had to be considered when choosing a place for me to go.
I nodded, sighing.
From there, about a week passed without anyone even realizing it. My sleep hadn't gotten any better, but I accepted it. I'd been there plenty of times before, so it was nothing new.
I spent more time than I meant to in the tree house.
It was very calming in there, and the silence was something I really appreciated. I also appreciated knowing that my family was just right there if I needed them, but Emmett wasn't wrong. Being a little bit further away helped me. I almost got to believe that I was alone in my head.
As time passed, my headache didn't come back, which was a pretty big relief. I could spend as much time out there as I wanted.
Since my headaches were no longer an issue, I was allowed to leave. Probably to keep me from having to watch Bella's health fading fast. I wasn't surprised that they'd picked up on the fact that it was making me uncomfortable.
Staying with the pattern, Bella's stomach grew a month and a half in that week. That had to be the weirdest thing I'd ever witnessed in my life. As the baby grew, her health faded along with it. She was still alright, but she now looked sick, and it was worrying to watch.
So over the next week, I started to wander.
I spent my days just going. No real destination in mind, but I'd covered probably the entire town enough to know the ins and outs pretty well. I spent some time with Andrew, and Josh and Zack, but for once, their normalcy was beginning to grate on me. I couldn't pretend to be normal while Bella was at home, and everything about me felt wrong.
I couldn't keep watching it, so I left.
Today, I'd started out in the tree house, but that wasn't enough. I felt restless today, something I'd learned to start listening to, but the only way to ease it was to go. Somewhere, anywhere, just go.
I should have gone inside to let them know I was leaving, but I decided against that. Truthfully, I just didn't want to risk going in there and seeing Bella. I wasn't sure what made me uncomfortable about it, but I didn't really question it, either. It just did.
It was a stupid move, leaving without permission. I knew it from the start, but I couldn't just sit still today. Not with the way I felt.
I never considered visiting other towns, so I didn't need any money. I was still reluctant to attempt that, as Port Angeles didn't hold many good memories for me, and neither did Seattle. Then again, neither did Forks, or Sappho. I was beginning to really hate Washington altogether.
I had to get out of the house, though. I felt so bad, just escaping while Bella was stuck there, but I'd never seen the family that tense. It wasn't their fault, but I had enough on my mind without sticking around and letting myself be tense as well.
Not only that, but two humans in the house only added to the human scent already there. Probably driving them nuts. The more often I was out, the easier I made it on my family.
Long story short, I was troubled. Very much so. My dreams had yet to show me anything worth repeating, only torturing me slowly while I slept. Not that that was anything new, but these were so much more vivid than before.
As if I had to see every memory I'd ever had like a movie, running while I slept and I couldn't turn it off or change a thing. I couldn't look away, forced to see everything having to do with my younger years until I felt like throwing up. Forced to endure everything all over again for reasons I had yet to figure out.
Wandering only made my dreams more vivid now, but I had to. I was making everything so much worse for myself, and I understood that, but there was no way I was sitting around waiting for Edward to finally have enough of my inner turmoil, and say something to someone. I refused to say a word, suffering in silence because I refused to be one more worry on their mind.
So I wandered relentlessly. Never this far, though.
They didn't need Edward to say anything. I knew that. They could tell by the way I hardly spoke anymore when I was home. Sitting off to the side, staring out the window as if the rain sliding slowly down the glass was the most interesting sight in the world. Hours and hours, just sitting there. Like before, but this was different.
This wasn't me being too tired to concentrate. This was more like concentrating too much. Permanently stuck in my head this time, instead of bothering to pretend that I was trying to concentrate on what was going on around me. The silence in the room only aiding in that, as Bella slept more and more these days.
I could handle quiet. I could do that, but the tense quiet, as if there were words that needed to be said made the silence suffocating, squeezing me until I had to get out.
So my task today was one thing. Walk as far as I could walk, and see where it got me.
I hadn't attempted this before, but here I was. I'd made it first into town, then through it, and then left it behind. Walking along the highway now. It was colder today than it had been, and being soaked with the misting rain didn't help any. My hands were curled in my jacket pockets, trying to warm them up.
It didn't really dawn on me until the moment. It just never occurred to me that the distance I'd just walked was the same distance I'd have to cover in order to get back home.
This was a stupid idea, I couldn't help telling myself. This was taking way too long, and as much as I had wandered around town lately, it hadn't prepared me for this. Not a bit.
From our house, it was maybe two miles of highway to town, of course not counting the long drive. Through town, from one end to the other in the direction I was going, was maybe three in itself. I was tired before I'd even left town, and now I was maybe three or four miles in the direction I needed to go. Most of the day was gone by now, though I'd left just before noon.
Tromping over deep underbrush between the trees on the left side of the highway made every step feel like two, and my feet literally felt like they were about to fall off.
I'd just started kicking myself for leaving the phone at home when I had to sit. I was going to hear about that later. My phone was in my room. I'd decided to leave from the tree house.
So here I was, way too far from home, without a way to call anyone, and in the middle of nowhere.
"Ow." I whimpered, once I was off my feet and the pain hit them. This was a very stupid idea.
Sitting there, I thought about my options. I was really too tired to keep going, but I had no choice. If I turned around now, three miles outside of town, I'd have walked six, and I'd have to get back to the other end of town before I had a place to rest and any hope of a ride back home. That thought was enough to make want to cry.
I could get a ride back from town as well if I was willing to find a phone to call someone from, but the only phone number I had memorized was Carlisle's.
All I was ever told was not to hesitate to call. Don't hesitate to call. I hesitated, because I knew this was stupid, but it sure beat sitting around and not being able to do a damn thing to help anyone.
Either way, though, I knew I'd found that 'how far' point so I had to turn back. I couldn't keep going in the trees though. It would only make this return trip harder.
Climbing out of the trees, I walked slower now. It really wasn't long at all until I spotted a car coming around the bend in the road ahead, but just like with all the others, I kept my eyes down. I really shouldn't have been surprised, but looking over, I was quite surprised as it slowed to a stop on the road beside me.
I wasn't used to seeing cars this nice from normal people around town.
I'd never seen this guy around before, but that was nothing new. A much older man looked my way. His graying hair looked once dark, but his eyes were a deep blue color. Like a little lighter version of dark storm clouds, set like stone under a firm brow.
He looked weary. Not tired, but like I felt. I stopped walking, holding my jacket tighter closed as I attempted to study his face. He waved me over.
My first impression was that I didn't like him, but he'd done nothing wrong, and the poor guy looked lost. Which was the only reason I decided to stop and approach the passenger side of his car.
"Pardon my language, little lady, but where the hell is Forks?" He asked and I couldn't help laughing. It was clear he wasn't from around here, given his tanned skin. He seemed nice enough, so I stepped a little closer to the car.
"Like a few miles back that way." I pointed behind me. "It's easy to miss. You drove right through it." He seemed surprised.
"Damn. You mean, that was it?" He asked with a glance back, and I laughed again, nodding.
"That was it." I confirmed. "Not a lot to it."
"Say, are you from there?" He asked.
"Yeah." I nodded a little. "I know that town like the back of my hand. Are you looking for somewhere?" He leaned down, fumbling through papers on the passenger side floorboard of his car. He thrust a rather crumpled piece of paper quickly my way, and I jumped a little. Hoping he didn't notice, I took the paper from him, looking it over.
I knew exactly where that was.
"That's easy to find." I said. "Just turn around and head back into town. Just stay on the main street all the way through town. All the way to the other side. Right when you get to that coffee place, turn right. Go down that road, passed everything there and find Trillium avenue, and go left. Take that to the last street, and that'll take you right to it."
"Need a ride?" He asked, obviously not understanding me.
"Um.." I looked back toward town and I hesitated, not sure. I didn't trust this guy as far as I could throw him, but at the same time, I knew exactly where he was going. I was tempted because of how tired I was, and I had to admit, I wanted to know why he was going there.
A ride back to town didn't sound horrible. It sounded like a relief. Even if it was from a stranger, but if he had this address, maybe he was okay. My feet were thinking for me.
I sighed. "Sure."
"Get in." He smiled a little, gesturing to the passenger seat. I handed him the paper back, and reached down. Opening the passenger door and climbing in. It was such a relief just to sit out of the relentless mist and start warming up.
After rolling up the window, he pulled a quick U-Turn, and headed back the way he came. I comforted myself with the thought that he was taking me back into town, so he seemed honest enough.
In the silence at first, I watched him. Everything felt off about him. It was the weirdest feeling. It wasn't one particular thing.
"These little towns all look the same to me." He finally started a conversation. "Give me a big city, and I can find my way, no problem."
"Everything is marked in big cities." I pointed out. "Here, street signs are all you get." I wished he wouldn't try to make small talk. I was trying to ignore how stupid of a move this was, and he wasn't letting me. The guy needed help, though.
"Exactly." He nodded. "So what's a kid like you doing so far outside of town?"
"I was trying to.. Get somewhere, but that was a very stupid idea." I held my hands out to the heater vent closest to me, wincing a little.
"By yourself?" He asked. "I suppose small town kids are a lot different than city kids, but don't you know it's dangerous to walk alone? Aren't there bears and whatnot 'round here?"
"Bears and whatnot are usually smart enough to stay away from the highway." I answered with a little laugh. "I should be too."
"Well, I'm happy to give you a ride anywhere you're going." He offered. That was nice of him.
"Thanks, but I don't wanna get in trouble."
"Ah." He nodded. "Parents don't know you went this far?"
"Nope." I smiled a little sheepishly, and he laughed. I looked over at him. "Where are you from?"
"I'm from a little place called San Diego." He answered easily. California.
"That's not little." I laughed, and he did as well.
"When compared to Forks, no. Not really." He replied, and I shrugged a little. Something was bugging me about his answer, but he didn't let me think about it for too long, as we'd reached town. "Now where?"
"Just keep going." I instructed him. "I'll tell you where you need to turn." He nodded.
"I really appreciate this." He said. "You have no idea."
"It's no problem." I replied. "Just curious. Why are you going there, anyway? To that house?"
"Should I not?" He asked innocently.
"My friends live there."
He seemed mildly surprised, glancing over at me. "Really? Small world." He was quiet for a moment, before he smiled. "Can I ask your name?"
He probably just wanted to confirm, and I was okay with that. "Leandra."
"Leandra." He repeated, nodding. He looked over at me again briefly. Oddly, he nodded again. "Leandra, huh?"
"Yup."
"Small world." He said again. I got the distinct impression that he knew that name. It was a little unsettling to me. I didn't feel like pushing anything, but it was a little strange to me. I sat quietly, and he did the same. Watching the scenery pass us by, it was kind of discouraging to see the difference in distance on foot versus getting a ride, but I didn't care that much.
"Start slowing down. You turn up here after this building." I told him lightly. With a nod, he did as I told him to. "Just let me out a little early, okay? I have to get back home."
If he was going there to visit, then I wouldn't expect a ride home, but I'd gotten back this far. The rest would be almost easy.
"Not a problem." He agreed instantly, which made me feel better, because I believed him.
"Keep going." I'd say when he'd look at me. I pointed out the street up ahead.
"Ah-ha." He laughed, taking the turn carefully. "Boy, this is out of the way."
"Not as much as other houses." I replied with a little laugh of my own.
"Where would you like me to drop you off?" He asked, glancing over at me.
"The beginning of the street is fine." I answered. "I can get back from there." I knew a shortcut. He nodded.
As he said he would, he let me out on the corner.
"Up this street, the... Third or fourth house on the left is the one you're looking for. The outside is light blue, with white trim." I said, pointing in the right direction.
"You have been a huge help, Leandra." He smiled warmly at me. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." I said. "Thank you for the ride, and for not turning out to be a psycho."
He laughed. "You're very welcome. Take care, sweetheart."
With that, I started off, and he did too. I walked slowly to make sure he made it to Heather's house alright. Once I saw him slow in the right area, I went on.
I made it to the driveway almost easily from there, but my feet were killing me so it took me quite a bit longer than usual. I didn't make it very far along the drive before Emmett was suddenly walking beside me.
"You're in trouble." He informed me, and I sighed.
A/N: It's a little short, I know. I need to do a closure chapter soon. I only call it a closure chapter when I let her go nuts, and I need to follow up on everything. So I'd expect that soon.
THANK YOU to my reviewers. I couldn't keep doing this without you guys. :) Well, I could, but it'd be hardly worth posting at all. You guys keep me going.
There's a certain lack of estimation on chapter twelve, because.. Holidays. The last few weeks have been extremely busy for me, but I'm really hoping that everything will start slowing down about mid January. I'm glad, though, that I got this out before Christmas.
Something I probably should have mentioned earlier, is that I'll be doing BD 1 and BD 2 in one story. So far, I'm pleased with how this is shaping up. Even if the descriptions are a little heavy. I apologize.
Now to go enjoy the rest of my birthday, even if I am the only one celebrating. :) Happy birthday to me lol
Until Twelve, everyone. (: