M I S T A K E N
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or any of the characters.
First chapter of the day! I'm truly amazed that I've gone this far into a story. Usually, I never finish anything I write. Thanks for all the encouragement, everyone! I'm sure if you weren't reviewing, I wouldn't have the will to keep typing, even if the ideas kept jumping out… Anywho, I appreciate it. Criticism is welcome, also, because I know for certain that I'm not the best writer that's ever lived. Enjoy chapter thirteen!
12) punishment )
"Where have you been?"
"Did Baba and Mom call?" I asked, stepping past my brother. He grabbed my arm, his eyes furious.
"Yes! I had to lie and say you were at the library, or Mrs. Neil's! What happened to your cell phone?"
I slapped his hand until he let go, then pulled the phone out of my pocket. "Oh, look at that. The battery's dead. Sorry, Aki."
He narrowed his eyes. "Where did you go?"
"Let's just say…I've been enlightened."
Maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say, because Aki just grew angrier. "I saw someone at the door! Who was it?" Then his parental attitude collapsed and he grinned widely. "Was it a boy? You were away for two weeks to get enlightened by some random guy?!"
"Aki – you'd be the worst parent alive, and you sound too much like Mom. Ew. I've returned with my innocence intact, okay? Maybe not with my dignity, but with a lot of answers. Let's keep it at that. Now – what's my punishment?"
Aki tapped his finger against his lip, thinking. "Umm…punishment. I should be able to do this. I'm grounded almost every Saturday for goodness' sakes! Oh!" He snapped his fingers, grinning wickedly. "Clean my bathroom, do my laundry, and make me a sandwich."
I stared at him, amazed that for someone so smart he could be so stupid. "You do know I do that on a regular basis, right? Because Baba doesn't want your appearance making you look like you've been abused, I do your laundry. Because God knows what could be growing in your toilet, and because of the fact that I personally don't want to live in a hot zone with some airborne bacteria, I clean your bathroom. And because I'm the lovable person I am and because of the fact that I can't stand your consistent moaning when you're hungry, I feed you from time to time."
"…Does that mean you won't do it? I'm meeting Mia in half an hour."
I squinted at him. If I thought he was oblivious before…
"I was missing for two weeks and you still scheduled a date with your girlfriend?! What kind of brother are you?"
"The kind who gets grumpy if they don't get fed on time."
I sighed, throwing my duffel bag at him and removing my ring. I pocketed it and went to the kitchen before he could ask. I washed my hands and set out the ingredients I'd need. Satisfied, Aki left.
"Enjoy your punishment," He sang.
"I will enjoy it!" I yelled after him, savagely grabbing the cayenne pepper from the spice rack and shaking it over the sliced turkey. "And I hope you enjoy your sandwich!"
Ten minutes later, after having my newly tuned ears suffer the sound of Aki crying, I was in my room, studying the ring Jacob had given me. I smiled as I felt the dips in the wood. The inscription was like a little story. I could see the markings of a wolf, a tiny bird being carried by the breeze, and the waves of the ocean crashing down on rocks. It must have taken ages just to learn the technique, months just to carve such fine detail.
I laughed at the thought of Jacob hunched over, a delicate tool in his large hands and a magnifying glass on the table. He just kept surprising me.
I flopped down on my pillow and sighed. I could hear Aki brushing his teeth and shuffling about, mumbling about how he should have known I'd try to kill him through his food. He left soon after, and I was alone.
----------------------------------------------------
"What do you think of this pair, sweetie?"
I nodded, watching my mother rotate her ankle as she showed me her heels. "I think they're great, Mom, but are they sensible for the lab?"
My mother laughed, taking of the shoes and handing them to the nearest clerk. "I'll take these, please. My daughter will take those, too. Ari, they're not for the lab. Your father and I go out sometimes, too."
I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess… At least Aki's going to college this year. When is he moving into his apartment again? Next week?"
"Yes he is. It just seems like everyone's leaving. You'll be gone too, pretty soon," My mother reached into her purse and produced a debit card. I stared at the screen as she entered her pin number. She and Baba had returned three days ago. I hadn't spoken to Jacob at all, mostly because I wasn't sure of what I'd say. The first night I had returned home I could hear him howling softly outside my house. I had left him a message on our fence that my father was thinking about adding a few volts to the seemingly harmless barrier, and that I appreciated his concern, but I didn't need the protection. I hadn't heard him since, and I felt bad, but I thought he deserved some sleep.
My mother's nose twitched as we exited the mall and entered the parking lot. She put her hand on my shoulder and leaned forward, her eyelids lowering slightly.
"Something wrong?"
"No… Are you wearing something new? It reminds me a bit of Daddy."
I shook my head, taking my sneakers from her and skipping to the car. "Why didn't Grandma come with you?" I asked after I had deposited my shoes in the trunk. I buckled my seatbelt as she turned on the ignition.
"She said she'd better stay away. I'm worried for her, though. She shouldn't stay in a place like that all by herself."
I was quiet as we pulled out of the parking lot. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket but I didn't answer it. I stared blankly ahead, wondering about when I could next visit La Push. I'd have to sneak away…
"Baby, are you all right?" My mother looked worried. I nodded, smiling slightly. "We're here. Should I come by around six?"
I stared at the bookstore, my palms sweating. "Yeah, six's fine. Or I could just call you…"
"You have money, right? I know you always leave with at least something."
"I've got money." I got out of the car and closed the door, harder than I had meant to. I panicked when the car rocked, as if someone heavy had jumped inside. I hurried into the store before my mother could ask me anything else. I didn't wave to the friendly cashier as he waved to me. I knew he'd be hurt and take the rejection hard, but I didn't have enough sense to think about others at the moment.
I snagged a book about gray wolves and took my familiar seat in the back of the magazine section. I felt my phone vibrate again.
"'Ello?" I stared at the colored photograph of a pack of wolves sharing a bloody dinner. Vampires drank blood. Wolves and vampires were enemies. When they came could that be my blood?
"Ari! Hey, I've been trying to call you." Jacob's voice pulled me back to reality.
"Sorry."
"Why did you ask me to leave, before? Was I too loud?"
"No. I thought you should get some rest. Hey – could you do something for me?" I closed the book and left it in the chair. I went to the ladies' room and locked myself in a stall.
"Anything. Is everything all right?"
I felt like I was having an anxiety attack. Something was wrong…
"Recite the alphabet." I could hear his pause over the phone and I gripped it tighter.
"Seriously? A, B, C… Ari…"
"Please," I shook my head. Was I so needy? Did I have to hear Jacob's voice to know he was out there if I needed him? "Never mind, I'll-"
"Is someone out there? Is this some sort of code? I'll come over-"
"No, don't bother. I'll go home and take a nap. It's okay."
"I'll come by tonight, just to check on you."
"Bye." I hung up and took a few breaths before calling my mother's number. I waited.
"Hello, you've reached Doctor Lindsey Duduyemi. If you're the lab, page me. If not, leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as possible."
I closed my phone and exited the restroom. I hurried to the checkout. I stopped, shocked by my sudden brain block. What was his name? It started with a T…
"Hey, Ari. I waved, but I guess you didn't see me before."
"Sorry…Trevor! Trevor, right," I ignored his confused face as I leaned forward on the counter, making my face as pathetic as possible. "I feel really bad about this – but would you mind if you gave me a ride home? I called my mom, but she didn't answer. Baba's probably busy, and-"
"Hey, my shift ends in like twenty minutes. I'll be happy to give you a ride."
----------------------------------------------------
"Thanks, Trevor," I jumped out of the car as soon as we turned onto my street. I ran flat out, barely able to control myself. I smelt them. They were there, in my house. I could feel my body shaking as I stepped into the doorway. I tried to reason that my mother and father were at work, and Aki was with Mia at the movies…
There was no way to mistake the smell of spilt blood mixed with the sickly sweet stench of the vampires. I stumbled to the stairs, barely aware that I had called Jacob.
"Hello? Ari, are you there?"
"Oh, oh my God," I whispered as I reached the top floor. "AKI! No! No! Aki, can you hear me?" I dropped to my knees, the phone falling from my hand. He was shuddering, his entire body wracked in some sort of seizure. I let out a moan that had raised inside of me. What sort of punishment was this? I tried to hold him still, but there was so much blood. His arm wasn't with his body. Where was his arm? I vomited and had to turn away. "Aki, please don't die," I begged him as I wiped my mouth and returned my attention to him. He continued to shake.
He was dying. Where were my parents? Where was anybody? I felt myself starting to phase, but I forced myself to be calm. For my brother. I had to comfort him, I had to hold him and stay sane, for him.
I called 911; my bloodied fingers made the phone slip out of my hands.
"911, what's you emergency?"
"Someone's attacked…my brother's dying. There's…there's lots of blood. Could you please send ambulances, a helicopter, something?" My voice was barely audible. I was detached from my body as I pressed my hand against the stump that had once been my brother's arm, trying to slow the bleeding. "I live at 4568 Reflection Glade. My name is Ari Duduyemi and I don't know if my parents are here, too…"
"Hang on, dear. We're sending someone now."
I was aware of myself hanging up and hugging what was left of my brother's torso. I started to pray, murmuring my words into his chest. "I love you," I made sure to tell Aki. "I love you, and I'm sorry."
Was this a punishment for seeking answers? It had to be. I had to have known something like this could happen. If I had just thought of a worst case scenario once…
"Aki, I'm so terribly sorry."
Aww! The Volturi's attacked! Whooooop! Action, action, aaaaaaction! Yeah, so...um... I don't know whether or not Aki'll die, but his arm's gone and his body probably doesn't have enough blood still in it to last for a bit. OR I could be totally wicked/cliche/whatever and make him/a parent turn into a vampire. I dunno. Hmm... Tell me what you think in a review. I may do the most popular or not even bother to do anything at all. Okie dokie, off to the next chapter! It's in Jacob's POV. Please drop a review. Much love.
--Blessed.