Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight...as for myself I own this fan-fic:D
Authors Note: Thanks for all the reviews!! I'm not going to beg for reviews I no you guys are reading the story from my stats which are bordering at around 12000 for this story and increasing by the day(yay) but I really really do appreciate them I love checking my emails and seeing that someone had taken their time to respond to something that I rambled on about and posted on the internet! :D
To answer questions...WishIwasBella781 I understand that you are annoyed and I appreciate the thoughts, but right now Claire is more concerned at having freedom to do the things that she wants and she is smart enough to know that if she pushes Jane she could stop this. Besides in the last chapter she was annoyed but Jane knowing Quill kind of stunned her into keeping quiet, that and Emily's warning she's really confused right now. Also you mentioned how Claire ought to say how she feels more at home in La Push, maybe if the fight were a little more intense it might have caused that kind of reaction but as it stands it wasn't. So you never know Claire might loose her temper at some stage...hehehe
Another thing I need to mention, I have a dreadful habit of spelling Quill with two L's which I know is wrong but my laptop changes it automatically and I just leave it like that because I tend to forget so apologies. Also I don't have the books with me, there both back home at my mothers house and I don't live there anymore and don't get back much so if I spell Atera or names like that wrong I apologise, there not names that you get here in Ireand very often! People here tend to have one of few surnames most of the people that I know are O' Sullivan...I proudly not being one of them (no offense I just like being different)
Right well I shall shut up now then and let you read the story! Please review good or bad! D
Chapter Twenty-Four
I had been sitting on the couch for a while, mulling over everything, the T.V still blaring, playing a series of older songs like The Queens of the Stone Age , "No One Knows", and Sound-garden's "Black Hole Sun"; I was thoroughly enjoying the line up, which Susan if she was here would be sure to switch off. Another difference between us both, Susan had some strange aversion to music, I had never been able to understand it, if I didn't have music then I wouldn't have anything. It had been my saving grace many times when I was growing up and had found myself without anyone to talk to. It was playing so loudly that I barely heard the knock on the front door, it was when a smirking Reilly appeared at the window, frightening me half to death, that I quickly rose off the too comfortable couch to open the door.
Sam was looking around appreciatively at the house, as was Caleb, Reily on the other hand bounded forward and walked into the house past me, no invitation required. "Reilly!" Sam called sounding irritated, "You don't just barge into other people's houses like that you have to be invited first!" . Reilly who had made it as far as the living room door turned on the spot to look at his father, "But Dad we were invited remember?…besides she knew it was us if she didn't want us to come in then she wouldn't have opened the door!" Reilly explained, smiling wickedly at his father. Sam shook his head in disapproval, whilst Caleb rolled his eyes behind him. "It's fine Sam I don't mind make yourselves at home!" I smiled, Sam smiled back in response, "How are you today then Claire?….excited about looking for cars?". Sam asked as he wandered further into the house looking around him as he made his way . I smiled to myself at their interest in the house, I was sure they were making silent comparisons between their own house and this, I wondered if I should mention that I would pick their house over this one any day; but thought that I had best not in case it sounded conceited.
"I followed Sam as he walked into the kitchen, Caleb wandered along behind me, whistling lowly as we walked into the kitchen. "Claire you're kitchen is amazing he announced sounding thoroughly awestruck, wandering over to our oven and reading the different dials on it. "This place is amazing ….why have you been hiding it away from us for so long??" Reilly announced from the door leading into the kitchen, I laughed at this, enjoying his obvious enthusiasm. Sam seeming to remember the purpose of his visit, turned from the window in the kitchen to speak with me "Well then I think that we should probably get going now if we are going to see some cars" Sam declared smiling broadly at me his eyes were shining with evident excitement. "Any idea what you want to get Claire?" Caleb asked quietly from his place by the oven, which he had finished inspecting. I smiled and thought to myself about what kind of car I would like and couldn't really decide, "Well…I'm not exactly sure…I kind of want something different...something simple nothing flashy….I kind of like an older car probably second hand I think" I finished trying to picture different cars that I knew; which was very few as I didn't have a great knowledge when it came to cars. Reilly looked horrified at my decision, but Sam and Caleb seemed to think that I was on the right track, "I think that it shouldn't be too hard to get a second hand car.." Sam began, smiling to himself, I do know someone who is selling an old car of theirs…but I think we should check out some garages first too though.." Sam finished looking thoughtful.
"So shall we leave now then?" I asked, looking for a sign from Sam that he was with us, he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. Sam looked up and seemed oddly startled, "Umm.. Yeah look you come out in a minute I need to call someone.." Sam explained pulling a small black cell phone from his pocket, and walking outside. Caleb had returned to looking at the oven and I laughed at his interest, "Tell you what Caleb you can come over some time I'll come get you and you can cook something if you like?" Caleb blushed and smiled nodding his head in approval. Reilly rolled his eyes at his brother, "You are so weird….I've never seen someone get all hot and bothered over an oven before you sure you're my twin?" he asked teasingly, Caleb scowled at Reilly before storming out past him the sound of a car door being slammed could be heard soon after.
"Reilly play nice!" I scolded moving into the living room to get my bag, Reilly laughed and threw an arm over my shoulder, smiling brightly at me. "What's wrong with you?" I asked suspicious of the expression that was growing on his face. Reilly laughed again, he had an infectious laugh it was a fast, broken laugh that shook his frame sounding too high for his voice, "Claire why so suspicious?…honestly it's not as though I would ever do anything worthy of worrying about!" he exclaimed feigning an expression of innocence, his voice sounding hurt at my suspicion. "Spit it out then Reilly!" I replied knowing that my cousin wanted something from me, I may not have known him for long but I had seen him pull this with everyone else when he wanted something and it usually worked too. Laughing again at my response Reilly spoke, "Look wouldn't you much rather get a nice new car…..one that you could be proud of driving around….maybe even giving you're dear cousin a ride in sometimes…or maybe leave drive occasionally.." Reilly finished his smile growing more pleading with every word.
I was divided between scolding him for wanting to drive my car without a licence, and laughing at his plea to use me as a personal chauffeur, considering what he had said I phrased my answer carefully. "Tell you what, whenever I'm in La Push I'll be more than happy to give you a ride of course I will, but no new shiny car that's not my style, but remember this family or no family you will not be driving my car, I've seen you on that dirt bike of yours and I will not put any car of mine through that no vehicle deserves that kind of punishment.." I finished looking at him seriously trying not to laugh. Reilly considered me for a moment, before eventually laughing again, this boy was continuously laughing, "Alright cuz….I guess that's fair but I'll have you know that my dirt bike is treated very well thank you!" he declared puffing his chest out proudly at this point.
I laughed at this display, before reaching out and ruffling his hair, "Come on then….we haven't all day you know!!" I teased before quickly shoving him out the front door and into Sam's car. Sam was smiling to himself still and humming a tune that I didn't recognise. "Happy much?/" I asked, studying his expression closely, Sam turned to me and smiled, "Course I'm spending the day with my lovely niece who I haven't seen in over a week and I am going to be spending the day looking for cars!" he replied, seeming thoroughly delighted at the prospect. I laughed and lowered myself further into my seat, happy and content for the first time in days.
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The shopping for cars hadn't been very eventful, Sam had driven to all the car dealerships in and around Port Angeles, not wanting to venture into the city much to my relief. Instead he had announced that we would go and see the friend that he had been talking about earlier, apparently the car would be perfect for me.
I hadn't been paying attention to where we were going for quite some time too busy laughing at Reilly's more outrageous stories. I marvelled in the fact that he could speak so openly in front of his parents, I didn't think that I could do that, Jane disapproved of most things that I did and Brian was never there anyway to talk to. It was when Sam was driving down a familiar street, that I noticed we were in La Push. I was about to ask where exactly this person was, when Sam turned up an unfamiliar lane, I looked out of the window curiously it was a tree lined avenue with a simple sand road. When we came through the end I saw a small but welcoming house, that reminded me of Sam and Emily's house, only it seemed to have been built more recently.
"I didn't know that Quill was selling a car?" Reilly spoke up from the back, looking curiously between the two front seats. Immediately I felt that familiar tug in my stomach, which up until then I had been putting down to hunger since I hadn't eaten which breakfast which was hours ago. Sam smiled into the rear-view mirror at Reilly, " Yeah he's selling the old Mustang…he never uses it anymore not with the truck so it's only taking up space now…" Sam said cheerfully. Sam's good mood reminded me of the morning trips to the garage, Sam had always been especially happy before taking me there and I couldn't help but be reminded of Jane's words. Quill always seemed to be thrown in my path by other people, almost as it seemed on purpose, but why would they do that?. I was becoming incredibly confused about this and knew that I should really talk to Emily about this, she was bound to give me an explanation I thought if I just pushed hard enough. Maybe they weren't doing anything at all and it had all been coincidence but that still didn't explain Jane's reaction to the knowledge that I knew Quill.
When I looked up at the house again, Quill was walking down the steps to greet us, Sam pulling to a stop a few feet from where Quill was standing. I felt my breath catch at the sight of him, he looked even better than I had remembered even though it had only been a week or so I realised that as foolish as it was I had missed him. I had to overcome this crush somehow, there was no way he liked me in that way, I repeated a little mantra in my head as I got out of the car, he's just my friend, he's just my friend…I tried to concentrate on this alone but when my hormone driven mind added on " yeah but he's still utterly gorgeous" I decided to stop and instead to concentrate on not looking like a complete fool.
"Hey guys!" Quill said cheerfully, smiling broadly at everyone, turning to Sam who was standing by me "So I hear that you are in the market for a second hand car then?" he asked glancing between Sam and I. I nodded feeling oddly dazed at seeing him, Quill grinned at my apparent inability to speak causing my heart to beat almost painfully against my chest, before he and Sam began walking around to the side of the house. I hadn't noticed before but the side of the house was directly beside the forest which spread out into Quill's lawn, a garage barely visible through the trees.
"So Claire no luck then in any of the car dealerships then?" Quill asked, holding back from Sam choosing to walk beside me instead, I nodded in reply before answering, "No luck no…they were all too….new I guess which is what Reilly seems to think would be perfect for me.." I added rolling my eyes at the thought. Quill laughed at this, "Has he asked you to be his chauffeur yet?" he asked looking amused, "Wait has he asked more than me then?" I asked trying not to laugh at the thought of Reilly propositioning Quill. Quill laughed again, a beautiful sound which was no help to my hearts erratic behaviour, "Asked…Claire he's asked just about everyone in La Push that knows him at this stage…well at least all the guys in the garage…" Quill continued to laugh as he spoke, "he even asked Stanley.." at this Quill laughed even harder, but the joke was lost on me, instead I just looked up at him quizzically. Quill to my delight leaned in closer to me and almost whispered in my ear taking away my breath for a moment, "Claire…Stanley doesn't even have a car.." Quill finished. It took a minute for this to register in my already flustered mind before I laughed awkwardly, a little too late. Quill smiled warmly at me then, before turning towards Sam who had opened the door to the garage himself.
"Make yourself at home then Sam!" Quill teased laughing at Sam's forwardness, Sam turned and blushed slightly, "Sorry I got a little carried away there didn't I… I just wanted to show Claire the car.." Sam finished stupidly, I got the impression that Quill's car was something that Sam considered to be ideal for me and was excited that he had thought of it himself. As Quill and Sam were talking I took my chance to peek around Sam and take a look at the car that he had been in such a rush to show me, when I saw it I instantly fell in love with it.
It was a deep bottle green, and had what appeared to be back faux leather seats, Sam noticed me looking at the car and took my arm bringing me closer to the car, "Don't be afraid to look Claire that's what we came for…Quill doesn't mind do you Quill?" Sam asked, an odd smile on his face. "Umm no of course not.." Quill mumbled walking around the other side of the car opposite me. I found it difficult to take my eyes of Quill as opposed to look at the car, but I finally forced myself to look inside, having been watching him describe something about the engine to Sam that I didn't understand. The interior was just as I had expected, slightly worn but still manageable, I liked the fact that the original radio was still in the car, a tape player as opposed to an mp3 or CD player. It was very clean, the only signs that it had been used was the speedometer which I noticed had clocked up considerable mileage in it's time, which I didn't mind in the slightest it only meant that the car was that little bit more interesting to me.
"So Claire what do you think of her?" Sam asked excitedly from my side where he was bouncing on the souls of his feet. I chuckled at the sight before answering, "Yes I really like it…I wouldn't mind taking it out for a test-drive first though.." I hinted feeling increasingly excited. If the car drove as well as it looked then I would definitely want to buy it, besides all of that Quill had once owned it, and that would in some stupid way to me feel like I had a piece of Quill all to myself in a way too. I blushed at this thought, imagining how horrifying it would be for anyone to be able to hear what I was thinking right then. Sam looked up at Quill questioningly, and Quill looked back his mouth hanging open, he didn't seem to have heard Sam at all, Sam raised an eyebrow at Quill and he quickly responded blushing I noticed, barely noticeable under his deep russet skin tone. "Yeah sure…no problem…do you want to.." Quill trailed off when Sam interrupted him, "No I think that I'll wait here and see what Caleb and Reilly are up to…after all it's your car you should be the one that shows Claire how it drives…point out any thing she needs to know and that kind of thing.." Sam trailed off smiling at Quill and I before waving "See you in a while then!" he called finally before heading towards the house where the sounds of Caleb and Reilly inside of Quill's house could be heard.
Quill watched after Sam for a moment, before turning to smile at me, "So ready to take her for a drive?" he asked waving the keys in the air. I smiled back at him, feeling excited at the prospect, both of driving the car and of being in such close proximity with Quill.