Chapter 2. Rising Sun. Claire Young.
I dragged myself through English. Forcing my eyes to stay open as my head to stay upright. I scrawled down the meaningless words as Mr. Crayson wrote them up on the board which took up most of the small classroom.
But, It was last hour. I knew Quil would be waiting out the gate for me any minute now, to pick me up. This was one of our many rituals me and Quil shared. My house wasn't far from the school, and Quil's was just a block away from mine.
My mother, sister and I hadn't always lived in the reservation, La Push, but for no obvious reason we moved down just in time for me to join the small school with an even smaller population of two hundred and sixty three. The only draw card was I got to see Quil more, that was good enough for me.
The bell screamed through the classroom.
"Don't forget, pages eight too ten tonight for homework."
I rushed out the door, thankful to be out in the fresh, cool breeze. I started toward the gate, where Quil stood. He watched me carefully, his face hard. He leaned against the brick wall. Hands folded across his muscular chest.
I skipped past him, smiling and he walked along beside me.
"What's got you so happy then?" Quil asked watching me skip and twirl along the footpath. The sun burned down and I squinted to look at him, it was an unusually sunny day in La Push.
"Two more days." I cried, my voice shrill with excitement, flashing him a hopefully charming smile.
"Ahhh," He breathed, chuckling softly. "Big seventeenth birthday." I clapped my hands together. Quil grinned at my state. It wasn't just my birthday that made me so happy, of course seeing Quil was always a highlight to my day, but I certainly wasn't going to admit this too him.
But I definitely wasn't lying when I said I was excited.
"Whoa." Quil reached out, catching me before I slipped up as we treaded through the wet grass. "Calm down, Claire, I don't want to take you home any less than perfect." I smiled up at him sheepishly. Quil was huge. All his friends were. Even Leah was only an inch or two shorter than the boys.
Quil's hand on my back scorched my skin, even through me loose fitted shirt. Quil was always boiling in temperatures. If I ever asked about it, I was hushed immediately.
I looked into his deep brown eyes. They had dark purple smudges under them. His forehead creased in worry. This made me nervous, Quil wasn't usually this tensed up all the time, but since last week the creases began to form, and over the days that passed, they depend. I hardly ever saw him with anyone.
It was hard, to know I couldn't help, to not be able to hear the soft tune of his laughter. He avoided me, but he never skipped our rituals.
Quil stopped when we got to my house. He didn't make eye contact again. The distance was... bearable, but when he walked away, and just gave me a short wave, that... terrified me. I was sure I had done nothing wrong. My stomach tightened in knots and it rolled, making me nauseous. I looked at the front door, debating whether I should just walk away.
"Claire?" Emily stood in the door. Her white shirt sleeves rolled up, exposing her delicate, dark skin and her long straight black hair was pulled in a barrette. I looked away from her, I knew I was choking up, my eyes welling with uncontrollable tears.
"Hon?" Emily was next to me in a few short strides. Confusion swept through me. This was not like Quil at all.
"What have I done?" I whispered through clenched teeth, my fists balled up at my sides in frustration.
"Claire? What are you talking about?" Emily probed gently, taking my shoulders firmly. She led me into the house, and sat me down in the kitchen on one of the old wooden chairs. The smell of coffee and blueberry muffins wafted through the room.
Emily sat next to me, pulling her chair round so she faced me. She had always helped with my wild teenage emotions, she new the right things to say.
"Wheres Chloe?" I asked, sniffing, finally noticing my older sisters absence. Curiosity was part of it too, Chloe rarely went out with friends. Also I wanted a quick way to change the subject.
"Job hunting." Emily explained, rolling her eyes and getting up to take a muffin tray out of the oven. Realising, that my state was not up for discussion.
I unzipped my hefty school bag, pulling out my history assignment and spreading it out across the table. Hoping that it would take my mind off Quil. This worked. For about an hour or so, but my mind began to wander until I could no longer concentrate.
Eventually, I gave in and feeling ashamed, I picked up the portable phone and trudged up to my room, slamming the door behind me. I dialled the number I knew off by heart and pressed the phone to my ear. It ringed four times before anyone picked up.
"Hullo?" Quil sounded so dull and lifeless on the other end of the phone.
"What was with you today?" I demanded. Suddenly angry. Quil sighed heavily.
"Claire, I'm a little busy." He said, hard and cold. At that, I felt like I was going to burst with anger.
"Yeah, busy avoiding me!" I almost yelled down the mouth piece. Another sigh filled my ear.
"Claire.."
"Whatever." I cut him off. "Talk to me when you're not so busy then."
I didn't wait for a reply, I just hung up. My eyes welled with tears.
Our first real fight.
* * *
Quil Ateara
Avoiding Claire had to be one of the hardest tasks I'd ever been given. She snapped at me even if it was her that called me and she avoided me as much as I avoided her. But that made it no easier. I had always been able to talk to Claire about anything. It hurt me, that she was hurting, and it was all because of me.
Her birthday was less than a day away now, and I was probably going to make it the worst she'll ever have. I knew exactly what Claire wanted for her birthday. But I had no idea stereos were so expensive. She had broken hers last night apparently, throwing a fit. Because she was not speaking to me, her mother, Shale, had called to hint at it.
I looked at the price tag, cringing away the three digit number. Sighing, I heaved the stereo off the shelf and grumbled to myself as I stood in the Que.
On my way home, (walking, because my car was being repaired by none other than the gangs very own handyman, Jacob Black.) I saw a slight figure sitting on Claire's fence. Their legs dangled over the edge. I hoped that it was Chloe, seeing as both sisters were very alike in looks, but, as I came closer I saw that my luck was not with me today and it was Claire, moping.
I cussed, how in the world was I going to hide her gift. She saw me then, her big, round eyes sparkled, even on such a Grey cloudy day.
Claire swung herself down from the high brick wall surrounding her small cottage like house. She eyed the parcel I carried in my arms suspiciously. Without greeting she demanded "Whats that?"
Claire's eyebrows rose a little as I grinned in response. It was, very, hard to ignore such an innocent girl. A girl I loved more than anything in this world. As she gathered that the parcel contained her present a huge smile lit up her face, her dimples appearing.
"Ooh!" Claire giggled, forgetting our fight obviously. Then she stood back, putting her hands in the air "I know, I know, its a surprise."
I laughed, Claire looked up, her eyes widened in shock.
Like I'd done something wrong. "....um, what?" I asked, nervously, letting one hand slide from the box so I could run it through my growing tangle of hair.
She shook her head in disbelief, "Nothing, nothing." Claire's eyes were still wide apart.
"Nawh, tell me, C'mon"
She grinned at my begging. "First time I've heard you laugh in ages, is all.." She whispered. Reaching out to touch my arm with her soft fingers. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through me and I pulled away quickly.
Claire cocked her head to one side, then, as if everything had suddenly changed, her face went from curious to furious. Her breath came out heavy.
"What. Have. I. Done!?" She spat, empathizing on each word individually, demanding an answer. I couldn't lie to Claire, and I hated to see her like this. Those sparkling eyes glazed over and cold, her forehead creased into what looked like permanent lines and her full mouth turned down at the corners.
"Nothing, Claire, this ones all me." I said, starting to walk away, adjusting the box in my hands. I didn't turn around, even when I heard the shrill cry escape those perfect lips, I kept walking.
I got home, storming up to my room. I chucked the stereo into the closet, making a loud bang. Hoping I hadn't broken it I bolted to the window, I could feel the shake convulsing through me. I pulled off my shoes and tore off my jeans. I leaped from the house and burst out of my skin, letting the black fur stream over me in replacement. I cringed at the slight twinge of pain as my bones adjusted to my new form.
A voice popped into my head.
"I'm on my way man." Jacob thought. I saw him reeling back and making his way to the drop. I sprinted, loving the feeling I got when the wind hit my skin. Bracing my mind to let everything go.
But, every time I tried to push her away, Claire's face appeared in my head. Beautiful and Compelling. Her fragile features searing with cold anger. Jacob interrupted me. "C'mon man, What's the point of calling it freedom if you've got her tied down with you anyway!"
"Shut up" was all I could utter and at that point the large, russet wolf blocked my path, leaping from the bushes. Jake gave a loud, bellowing howl.
"Always got to be the bigger man, huh?" Jacob snarled in my head.
"Always." I challenged back at him, throwing myself through the thick bush. Jacob scampered along beside me, trying as hard as he could to keep his mind blank. Glimpses of Billy caught me, and a few shudders of Bella Swan. But he wasn't thinking, just picturing them.
I started to slow as we reached the opening. Perching myself so I could look over the shear drop below.
Once, Claire new the truth, I'd bring her here all the time. Jacob settled beside me. Rolling onto his back, legs stretched into the air and his tongue lolling out to the side, like a puppy, a very large puppy.
The drop was amazing to look at. The cool water flowed down the cliff edge, and the wild flowers and bushes grew all around us. On a nice day, the sun would glint off the clear water, making it sparkle and shimmer. The trees surrounded us, and provided shade and shelter.
Jacob broke my though, nudging me with his muzzle.
"Emily's baking, and I'm hungry. Lets go now." He thought.
"I'll need to stop by at home and pick up some clothing." I noticed Jakes sweats strapped onto his back leg and with that we headed back into the dark, familiar trees.