I pulled open the back door of my friend's mother's old Volvo. I instantly thought of my mom every time I saw this car. My mom had this bizarre thing for Volvos, especially silver.
"Hey guys," I said cheerfully as I slid in behind the driver's seat.
"Hi Allie," Sarah said, twisting bakwards to both smile at me and watch the road as she backed out.
"Hey, Alice," said Joseph, his deep voice seeming to fill up all the space in the car. Joseph and Sarah had been going out for nearly a year now; they were made for each other.
"Okay, now we're going to pick up Becca and then we'll be in business," Sarah announced as we hit the highway.
For the ten minute drive out to Becca's farm Sarah and I gossiped, and Joseph fiddled with the radio.
"Did you hear about the new kid?" I asked her.
Sarah looked surprised. "No. How do you know?"
"My mom recieved a notice saying there would be a new student joining our class this Monday."
There was a slight pause, during which time I heard mumblings from Joseph about the influence of rap. Then Sarah said, "So, are you going to give me the gossip or not?"
"Well," I began, trying to remember. "The kid is a junior too, and apparently he's adopted. His parents died from some horrible disease when he was really young. His adopted family and him are coming in from Alaska or something. His adopted father has a job at the hospital, taking Dr. Leery's spot. That's all they told my mom."
"Hmmm," Sarah muttered. "I wonder if he's cute."
The large white farmhouse in the woods appeared, and the only light visable was coming from the front porch. Becca saw us and leapt down without bothering to use the stairs.
"Hi," she said cheerfully, her straight blonde hair flowing out behind her in the breeze.
"Hi," we all chorused back.
"Hey, Bec, Allie's got some news. Tell her about it, Al." Sarah loved being informed before everyone else.
"Yeah, Al, tell her about it," teased Joseph, mimicking Sarah.
So I recited my gossip as we sped down the highway. Sarah drove like a maniac, or like my dad, whichever you picked. As we made it onto the open highway I wrapped up my tale and asked Becca about her day.
"Well," she declared, "I cleaned my room, like a good kid. I fed the stupid cow. I made some ravioli for dinner--"
"Instant?" I interrupted. I was the only one of my friends who could really cook.
"Obviously," she declared.
"You know those things are hardly nutritious," I reminded her.
She didn't seem bothered, as she rolled down her window a little to let in the fresh air. "So let me get old and fat."
"Well," said Sarah, turning in her seat, which slightly unnevred me, "you're already halfway there."
Becca pretended to be hurt. "You don't really mean that, do you?" she fake-whimpered. We all knew she wasn't fat; she was thinner than anyone else at Forks High School.
We continued arguing about Becca, and then we got into one of those classic, self-concious-high-school-girl moods, where you just complain about every zit and ounce and unshaved hair. Joseph made gagging noises the whole time he wasn't listening to the sports cast on the radio.
This was the way we spent our Friday nights, cruising too fast down the highway, stoppping at our favorite restaraunt, then speeding back to my house, where the girls had an overnight and Joseph drove Sarah's car home.
The lights were shining birghtly from The Dairy Barn as we pulled up. Becca and I climbed out to get our regular orders. Sarah and Joseph always waited in the car. I honestly think they were usually too busy to notice the long line of people we waited in.
I always ordered for Sarah and me. "One hamburger, one cheeseburger, one order of fried cheesies, one of french fries, and two vanilla milkshakes." Okay, so we weren't the most origional.
Becca's order was similar, but she got a chocolate shake. We sat down on one of the benches to wait, while Sarah and Joseph etertained themselves in her car.
After numbers 703 and 704 were ready, I knocked on the driver's window as a warning, then opened the door and slid in.
We giggled and teased Joseph about his mustache as Sarah raced towards The Hill. This was the best view in all of Washington, overlooking the beach, with bonfires everywhere. Our usual spot was on top of the hill (hence the name.) Sarah and Joe spread out the old quilt from my grandmother's house and we lounged around for about two hours. At ten forty, we packed up and began the twenty minute drive back to my house.
"You know," I said, as Sarah pulled onto the interstate, "I think that my little brother is in love with you, Bec."
"Oh, ew, ew, ew, ew," she repeated. "Which one?"
"You are the only one. Doesn't even like any girls from school." I'd known what she meant, but this was way more fun.
"Alice!"
"Geez, fine. But I really do think Emmett loves you."
She sighed with relief. "Well, at least he's in junior high."
I laughed. "Charlie doesn't even know there is a difference in girls and boys besides hair length. He's totally in love with his worm collection. So, I suppose that's good, huh?"
We were mentally picking out her wedding dress, trees rushing past in a blur, wind whistling, when out of nowhere there were two huge headlights shining into our little car.
Sarah screamed, swerving to try and avoid the oncoming car. But the roads were wet, as they always were. I looked out my window, straight into the eyes of a two ton demon. I saw the light, boring into me, then everything was dark.