Chapter 12: Legend
I looked at my watch. It was almost six o'clock. Edward wasn't here yet… Oh well, one last song then. I chose a song that Aunt Cathy and I had made together. One day when I was staying over at her house, she came home complaining about how life was unfair. That inspired me to write this song: Ironic (actually by Alanis Morissette).
An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery, and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon, two minutes too late
And isn't ironic, don't you think?
It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's a good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought it figures…
Mr. Play-It-Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye
He waited his whole damned life to take that flight
And when the plane crashed down he thought, "Well isn't this nice?"
And isn't ironic, don't you think?
It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's a good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought it figures…
Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you when you think everything's okay
And everything's going right…
Yeah, well life has a funny was of helping you out when you think everything's gone wrong
And everything blows up in your face…
A traffic jam when you're already late
A no smoking sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's like meeting the man of my dreams and then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?
A little too ironic, yeah, I really do think…
It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's a good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought it figures…
Life has a funny of sneaking up on you…
And life has a funny, funny way…
Of helping you out…
Helping you out…
Once I played the last chord, the very few people who crowded around me started clapping. I was happy that they were entertained. I liked small audiences: the smaller the better. Even though I was earning relatively little, I had problems with being around people now.
"Thank you," I said as each of them added something to my guitar case. I collected the money and put it into my wallet. When I packed up and was ready to go, I heard someone clapping.
"That was great," a familiar voice said. I knew who it was. I didn't even need to turn around, but I did.
"Edward," I smiled, "Did you like it?"
"Very much," he smiled back, "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes. Thanks again, so much," I walked to him.
"It's no trouble, really," he assured. We walked back to his silver Volvo. I put my guitar case in the back seat and he began to drive.
"Really, thank you," I said for the nth time, "I don't know how to repay you."
"Hearing you play was enough," he said, "But let me ask you something."
"Yes?" I asked.
"Why don't you try a different location?" he suggested.
"Different location?" I asked, stalling. I knew what he meant, and I was scrambling for an excuse.
"With someone as good as you," he explained, "You could earn ten times as much at a park." Excuse, excuse… think of an excuse.
"Well," I began, "People on a busy sidewalk are more… And I just wanted to, well… People in a park…" I gave myself away with my incoherency.
"Nerves?" he guessed.
"Yes," I sighed, giving up, "After… I just have some problems being around people nowadays and…"
"You have nothing to worry about," he encouraged, "You are extremely good. I'm sure that you'll earn enough for your college fund in no time."
"Yeah," I agreed. I suddenly felt bad about lying to him. Why were my feelings towards him evolving at such a fast rate? I was starting to lose patience with myself.
"Something wrong?" he noticed my hesitation.
"No!" I answered quickly, "Gosh, you're a lot smarter than a shrink is… I can't help but be as honest as possible around you…"
"Bella, it's the same for me," he said as if it were an obvious fact. "You've seen a therapist?" he seemed amused.
"Severe depression, remember? But it wasn't working, so I told my aunt to quit it."
"Somehow I'm not surprised," he smiled wryly.
"Are you saying I'm insane?" I glared.
"In a nutshell… yes," he teased.
"Oh, that hurts, you know," I tried to sound as hurt as possible, "And what about you?"
"What about me?" he asked.
"You're a bit of a weirdo yourself," I pointed out.
"Takes one to know one," he murmured in a playful tone.
"Hey, I heard that," I threatened.
"Good," he smiled. I laughed, and he joined in. He really was bringing me back to life.
"If you need anything," I said, becoming serious, "Anything at all-"
"Bella, you don't owe my anything," he said.
"Yes, I do," I argued, "I'm eternally grateful to you."
"Why?"
"Let's see," I began, "You saved my life, you helped me skip Gym, and you're bringing me home…" I hesitated on the last one, "And you're helping me live again."
"Would you care to explain the last one?"
"You make me smile, and you make me laugh," I couldn't help being serious, "I couldn't really do that on my own."
Suddenly the car stopped. I realized that we were already in front of Uncle Charlie's house. Gosh, he must have been driving way past the speed limit!
"We're here," he announced.
"Oh, well, I guess I should go now," I hoped that my disappointment didn't show too much in my voice.
"And I should probably leave before Chief Swan gets home, so you won't have to tell him about the Biology incident."
"He's probably already heard," I sighed, "There are no secrets in Forks."
"Well, have fun at the beach. Good weather for sunbathing," he smiled.
"Actually, I won't be going to the beach," I informed, "Uncle Charlie and I will be visiting some old friends of his down at La Push."
"Oh… well, have fun anyway," he said.
"Won't I see you tomorrow?" the worry in my tone was clearly visible.
"No. Emmett and I are starting the weekend early," he replied, much to my dismay.
"What are you going to do?" I was curious.
"We're going to be hiking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, just south of Rainier."
"Oh, well, have fun," I said halfheartedly, looking down. I was doing as much as I could to stay a little longer.
"Will you do something for me this weekend?" Edward asked, suddenly serious, "Don't be offended… but you seem to be one of those people who attract accidents like a magnet. So… try not to fall down the stairs or get run over or anything, all right?"
I laughed, "I'll see what I can do." I got out of the car, holding my guitar case. I ran to the porch and watched as he drove away.
* * *
"Welcome, Charlie," a man sitting on a wheelchair opened the door. He looked at me, "Who is this?"
"Billy, this is my niece, Bella," Uncle Charlie introduced.
"Hello," I greeted nervously.
"Come in," Billy said, leading us into his house.
"So, where's Jacob?" Uncle Charlie asked.
"Oh, he's in the garage out back," Billy answered.
"Bella, why don't you go hang out with him? I'll call you when it's time for dinner," Uncle Charlie suggested.
"Okay…" I replied hesitantly. I was going to meet a complete stranger all by myself. I walked as carefully as I could to the back. There were many obstacles in my way. I stopped once to adjust my jacket. I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants, it was sunny, and so it was extremely hot.
I got to the garage to find a lanky, fifteen-year-old boy working on a car. His skin was dark russet and he had black hair tied into a long ponytail. He hadn't noticed that I came. Then, he suddenly turned around. I jumped.
"H-hello?" I greeted anxiously.
"Hi," he said simply, looking a bit confused. Then there was an awkward silence as we stared at each other.
"Umm… My name is Bella. I'm Charlie's niece," I introduced.
"Oh," he smiled, "That explains it. My dad said you were coming over. I'm Jacob, nice to meet you." He seemed very friendly, but I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. "So, you just moved in, right?"
"About two months ago," I replied tensely.
"Relax, I'm not gonna' bite," he joked, walking closer to me.
"I know…" I looked down, embarrassed. Well, how else was I supposed to react? I looked at the car he was working on, recognizing the symbol on the grille, at least. "Umm… so, what kind Volkswagen is that?"
"It's an old Rabbit -1986, a classic."
"How's it going?"
"Don't have all the parts yet. Saving up for them."
"Okay…"
"Geez, Bella, lighten up a little. It's like somebody died or something," he commented.
"I'm sorry," I said, slightly offended, "I'm not that good around people."
"Yeah, Charlie warned us about that," he informed.
"He did?" I asked.
"Yeah, he said, 'be a little careful around her, she's kind of sensitive,'" he tried to mimic his deep voice. "Well, I'll make sure you stop being depressed," he smiled determinedly.
"Jacob, that's really nice of you, but you really don't have to…" I frowned. Why did Uncle Charlie have to be so worried about me? Bringing his friends into this…
"I want to," he told me, "It's no fun to hang around someone so depressed."
"Well, I'll try not to, then," I looked down, "So… what do you want to do?"
"You're not very good at trying to be happy," he crossed his arms.
"I'm trying," I groaned.
"Want to go to the beach?" he offered.
"Sure," I gave up. I didn't know what was wrong with me. For some reason, I couldn't… I just couldn't…
"C'mon, then," my mood didn't seem to damper his high spirits.
We walked down the beach, our feet sinking into the smooth sand. I knew that it was smooth because I had tripped onto it. Jacob laughed at me for it.
"Do you like stories?" Jacob suddenly asked me, "Well, legends, really."
"Umm… yeah, sure," I did the best I could to sound interested. It's not that I wasn't interested; I just knew that I wouldn't sound like it.
Jacob paused ominously, to add to the effect. I rolled my eyes at him, knowing he wouldn't see.
"Do you know any of our old stories, about where we came from –the Quileutes, I mean?" he asked.
"Not really," I admitted.
"Well, there are lots of legends, some of them claiming to date back to the Flood –supposedly, the ancient Quileutes tied their canoes to the tops of the tallest trees on the mountains to survive, like Noah and the ark." He smiled, showing me how little stock he put in histories. "Another legend claims that we descended from wolves –and that the wolves are our brothers still. It's against tribal law to kill them."
I stared, waiting. The story caught my interest.
"Then there are the stories about the cold ones." His voice dropped a little lower.
"The cold ones?"
"Yes. There are stories of the cold ones as old as the wolf legends, and some more recent. According to legend, my own great-grandfather knew some of them. He was the one who made the treaty that kept them off our land." Jacob rolled his eyes.
"Your great-grandfather?"
"He was a tribal elder, like my father. You see, the cold ones are the natural enemies of the wolf –well, not the wolf really, but the wolves that turn into men, like our ancestors. You would call them werewolves."
"Werewolves have enemies?"
"Only one."
"The cold ones?" I guessed.
"You would call them vampires."
"Vampires?" I asked, my voice skeptical.
"So, do you think we're a bunch of superstitious natives or what?" Jacob said, "Although, my dad believes all of it."
"Do you?" I asked.
"Well… I have this theory…," he thought aloud.
"So you do believe," I teased.
"Anyway," he ignored that comment, "You see, the Cullens don't come here, right?"
"They don't? And, how did the Cullens get into this conversation?" I stared at him, confused.
"Well, my great-grandfather made the treaty to keep the cold ones out of our lands," he explained, "Don't you think it's a bit more than a coincidence that the Cullens don't come here?"
"You think the Cullens are vampires?" I asked. Well, at least I wasn't the only one who thought about it.
"They are a bit weird, from what I've heard," Jacob argued.
"I know them," I informed him, "Well… not all of them…"
"BELLA! JACOB!" I heard Uncle Charlie call. I guess both Jacob and I hadn't realized how dark the sky had gotten. We ran back to his house.
I felt my head throb. Was I really accepting the possibility that… OK, it wasn't exactly a possibility anymore. Was I insinuating that… Oh, just say it Bella!
Was Edward a vampire? Were the Cullens vampires? Considering everything: following all the clues, putting the pieces together, I knew the answer.
Yes.