Freak on a Leash
Ch 2: Of Vampires and Superheroes
All right. Now that it's the holidays, I can actually write. And as Runa suggested, I'm going to make a disclaimer. I don't have a spellchek on my computer. I have no earthly idea what exactly is wrong with it, but for the easy spelling errors, just give me a break. I don't catch them that often, but I do try to write well enough for you all to read...xD
Enjoy.
Okay. I surrender. Completely and utterly give up. Someone stab me with a stake. Or however you kill vampires. I think I'll hit the road again, rather than try and fit in with these wackos.
That woman, Esme, started it. She really did. I mean, she's a nice lady, but she's a compulsive hugger. Steerike one.
After the intial "Jack-trying-to-keep-herself-from-running-awaw-again" impulse, I asked to be left alone to think. And, in Carlisle's defense, he let me. And I promptly went outside and spent the remainder of the night on the porch, watching the black sky turn gunmetal grey. And it starting pouring down rain, just to match my dark mood.
The door slid open and I heard Esme step outside. Well, more smelled than really heard. She had a clean kind of smell. Something quiet.
"Jack?" She was trying to smile.
"What?" I hunched my shoulders morosely and made a point of staring at the stormy sky.
"Come inside, you're going to get soaked." She gently pulled my elbow. I flinched away fomr her hand and got up, following her into the house. Of course, I really really wanted to run back outside after getting six pairs of eyes ranging from black to gold fixed on me.
I took a defensive step back, right into Esme's arm, which fixed itself tightly around my shoulders and steered me to one of the sofas.
Someone get a camera, I feel an 80s teen angst film coming on. Check the gate. Roll tape.
I sat down fast, ducking from under her arm. This time she took the hint and settles down by Carlisle to let me smolder under my thundercloud of doom.
These people sit like statues. I couldn't help but start to fidget. Of course, when I get nervous, I get funny.
"So...do I have to answer a riddle...or are we going to sit here for all eternity?" I leaned my elbows on my knees and looked at the strange people surrounding me. Besides, Carlisle there were three other boys, all distinctly beautiful. Then two girls, one with the stateliness of a dancer, and the other that kind of buzzed with contained energy.
One of the boys, a thinner one with bronze hair, raised an eyebrow. I didn't miss the look towards Carlisle.
"We could sit here for eternity. But that would be boring." The biggest of the guys was smiling. And big meaning bouncer big, not overweight, just massive. He had an easy smile and I could feel the unsociable front that I cultivate so carefully begin to lower a few notches. "I'm Emmett."
"Jack." I wrapped an arm around my stomach, pressing the brim of my New York Yankees hat into my body. Comfort...blanket...ish.
The bronze-haired one looked at the smallest of the boys pointedly, and the one under scrutiny leaned back with a knowing smile.
"I think I missed something." I turned to look at Esme and Carlisle. She was looking at the bronze boy, and he was looking entertained.
"Edward," Emmett reached around the beauty, who shook her head, and gently pushed the bronze-haired one. "Is being high and mighty about Jasper's," here he pointed to the smaller boy. "Attempts to make you a little happier."
This took me a second. And still didn't click.
"Wait...huh?" I look at Carlisle, who'd leaned foward.
"When you die," He opened his hands like he was expecting something to fall from the ceiling. "Your strongest character traits follow you and tend to recreate much of your personality. Sometimes, those traits are strong enough to become...superhuman gifts."
"In other words," Emmett interrupted, smiling. "We have a couple of superheroes in our family."
My mouth opened slightly as I stared at the beautiful marble faces in front of me.
"And who can do what?" I sat back, trying to think through a crimson haze. Why did my grip on sanity always have to slip like this? Sometimes I was perfectly clear, then everything would fade out into fantastic scarlet with a hint of iron...
Stop it. Now. None of that is going to help right now.
"Edward can read minds, Jasper can influence emotions, and Alice," he pointed at the smallest girl. "Well, she just has a knack for predicting the stock market." He put an arm around the beauty's shoulder and her lips curled slightly in a small smile. "This is Rosalie. She and I are the normal ones.
If I could have blushed I would have been red. So one of these boys could catch every little thing in my head. Well stay the hell out of mine. I glared at him and he almost smiled, which made my temper slip a little. I don't do well when people laugh at me. Then I looked down at my shoes. These people were decently happy...even if they were undead freaks. In truth, I had no idea what I was doing there. This was never going to be me.
The room was intensely silent and I sighed, pulling out my old hat and jamming it on my head, pulling the brim down to hide me eyes.
"What is that?" If it was possible for happy-tempered Esme to sound disgusted, it just jappened.
"What's it look like? A hat." I flicked the brim.Duh.
"That's not a hat, it's a rag." She reached for it and I ducked away.
"It's not a rag!" Feeling childishly possessive, I put my hand on top of my head, holding the old piece of clothing in place.
"You're right, it's not even a rag. And it's not staying in this house." I could hear the switch in her voice from nice, to mother. "And neither are you, without a bath."
"You have got to be kidding me." I looked around at the serious faces around me.
A bath means water. Water...I had to stop myself from pulling up that memory. It was one of my most vivid and haunted me in my less clear moments. I looked pleadingly at Edward, beggin him to hear my thoughts and save me without embaressing me. I couldn't tell these people I was afraid of water. I simply couldn't.
Edward wasn't any help.
"Let's go." She took my upper arm and I wasn't about to throw a temper tantrum. So I had to be frogmarched up the stairs. How completely humiliating.
As soon as we were out of sight, I head Emmett start howling laughing and a few voices start up.
Esme directed me to a bathroom and pushed me in. Oh, be ready for all hell to break out. Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war.