Finding Home Again-Chapter 2
●A Rare Sunny Day●
I hopped in Angela's gray Honda and greeted her. I set my over-the-shoulder bag at my feet. The first two weeks in Forks had actually been better than I expected. Angela already felt like my best friend and I was close to Bella as well. Despite my initial uneasiness, and much to the surprise of the school, Alice chirped away at lunch to me and Edward sat next to me in AP US History. My first impressions of them had been wrong. Sure, I was positive they and the girl were similar in looks, but unlike her they were kind and less animalistic. I turned to look at Angela as she uncharacteristically squealed.
"It's finally Saturday and we are going to the beach! It's SUNNY!"
I nodded in agreement and we stopped in front of Bella's house. Ang honked and a minute later, Bella came tripping out the house with her beach bag. She climbed in the backseat and Angela floored it in the direction of the highway.
"I'm so excited! I hope you guys can finally meet the pack." Bella exclaimed. She leaned forward to rest her chin on the back of my seat.
I gaped at her incredulously, thinking back to those eight gigantic wolves, "The pack?"
She froze at my words. Did she mean that in a literal way?
"Oh, yeah. That's what a few of the boys down at La Push call themselves. One of them is my best friend: Jacob Black." She slowly explained.
"O-okay. Cool." I stared at the window at the passing town of La Push. The people had darker skin so we must be at the reservation already.
Less than five minutes later, Angela parked and I breathed in the salty air through my open window. Without waiting for them, I squealed and ran to the water.
"LILLI!" My friends giggled and caught up. We stood at the edge together. Staring out at the Pacific Ocean, my memories quickly turned to those of back home. Angela and Bella cautiously stared at me.
I grabbed their hands and said, "I haven't been to the beach since…"
I sank to the sand as sobs racked my body. Laughter and sandcastles on the beach haunted my memory.
Bella grabbed my shoulder as she and Angela kneeled down next to me. They knew it was a big step returning to a beach.
"Ho-how c-could I co-come w-with-o-out t-them?" I skimmed my hand over the water, my tears streaming into the ocean.
"Oh Lilliana…" Bella hugged me fiercely. "How come I've never seen you smile or heard you laugh? Your parents would want you to be happy."
Together, they pulled me up and picked a spot on the sand to set up our stuff. We chose a spot away from the crowd that was taking advantage of the sunny day. I sat down as they grabbed the cooler and towels from the car. They want you to be happy, Lilliana. Have fun.
Once the girls came back, we pulled off our cover ups and laid our towels in a circle before sitting on them. I turned on my iPod and the girls groaned.
"Really, Lilliana? Country?" Angela rolled her eyes.
I stuck my tongue out at her much to their much amusement. "You know you love it, Ang."
Before I could protest, Bella had grabbed my iPod and was scrolling through the songs. I gasped when David Archuleta started serenading us. Heads turned in our direction as the girls roared with laughter as I sang along to "Crush."
I frowned at them and threw my hands up, announcing. "Just you wait! I am going to marry this boy and he will sing me to sleep every night! So, HA!"
It was silent for a minute and my face heated up as more than ten pairs of eyes stared at me. Bella shook her head as if she really knew that was not going to happen. Like we couldn't even joke around about it.
"Well, I call being your maid of honor! Let's swim." Angela smiled and pulled us into the ocean.
I flipped under and shook my hair. I took a deep breath as I resurfaced and gasped as a Native boy fell from the cliffs to the left of us. A group of boys stood at the highest cliff.
"Oh my gosh! Someone help him!" I looked at my friends and frowned when they laughed.
"Lilliana, it's okay, people always cliff-dive. That's Jake and his friends." Bella explained.
I looked back up at the group of boys. Another one jumped and screamed in delight on the way down. His body disappeared in the water with a splash. A minute later he reappeared and swam after the other boy. One by one, the rest of them jumped in joy and followed each other to shore.
"Ooh! There's Jacob! Let's go say hello!" Bella walked back onto land and Angela followed.
I sighed and made my way back to my towel as my friends greeted the boys. I fished through the cooler and grabbed a Tupperware of melon and a bottle of lemonade. Angela gestured to my bottle so I nodded and grabbed her and Bella one. I balanced the food in my arms and traveled over to where they were sitting with two of the native boys. I handed them their lemonades.
"Thanks, Lilli! Guys, this is Lilliana Garvin. Lilli, this is Jacob Black and Quil Ateara." Bella introduced us.
I waved shyly to them and whispered to Angela. "I'm going to go get my towel."
I weaved through the rest of the group that had formed and hit what felt like a brick wall.
"Watch where you're fucking going." A big boy snarled.
I took a step back, gasping. "So-sorry. I-"
"Shut the hell up." He cut across me.
"Leave her alone, Paul." A new voice growled.
Feeling a tug in my heart, I turned to the direction of the water. I was met with the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. The sun seemed to illuminate his russet-colored skin. His hair was black, falling onto his forehead. His jaw line was defined and I knew that if he smiled, dimples would appear on his cheeks.
His nose was angular; inferior were dark, rosy lips. His arms were full of wiry, yet gentle muscles. He was much taller than my 5'4"; standing at over 6 feet. What really got me though were his eyes.
They were a dark-chocolate color and staring at me like I was the sun. The moon. The stars.
What in the world?
"What did you just say, Clearwater? I will, I will...Dude, are you even listening to me?!"
All the boys and Bella whipped their heads up at his words to stare at the beautiful boy in front of me.
"My word...Alice was right..." Bella choked out.
I spun around to frown at her. "What? What do you mean by Alice was right?"
But she ignored me and ran back to our towels and pulled out her phone.
"Edward..." She spoke.
A snarl overrode the rest of her sentence. "Get the fuck out of my way before I make you."
"Don't talk to her like that!" The boy glared up at Paul, shaking.
"Paul, stop. Seth, calm down." A boy who seemed older than the others ordered, placing a hand on Seth's shoulder.
Seth Clearwater. My body filled with warmth from knowing his name.
"Lilliana, come on! We have to go meet Edward and Alice!" Bella called running back over.
Angela pouted. "Does this mean our beach day is over?"
Bella giggled and nudged her. "Nope; sleepover at Lilli's!"
"What?! Okay, first of all: why my house? Second, what if I don't want to see Alice? Thirdly, I am happy here, Isabella Marie Swan!" I planted myself on the sand, arms crossed.
Bella grunted as I used her full name and glared. I heard chuckling from the boys. "You are coming, Lilliana Nicolette Garvin."
I turned to Angela. "You're the driver, Angela. Don't let her kidnap me."
Angela giggled. "It sounds so much fun when you put it that way..."
She and Bella glanced at each other and I let out a gasp, running to the ocean. I dived behind Jacob and Quil as they roared with laughter.
"Jacob, don't let your best friend become a kidnapper! Quil, you seem like a cool guy...help a girl out!" I shouted and ran behind the next two guys as the girls appeared next to me.
I glanced up at them and their eyes sparkled with merriment. "Hello friends of Jacob and Quil..."
"Lilliana, that's Embry Call and Jared Cameron!" Jacob called.
I nodded before running away as Bella barely grabbed hold of my arm. I dived to the next boy and wrapped my arms around his torso. He chuckled and I looked up, blushing. It was Seth Clearwater.
"You really do not want to go, do you?" He huskily whispered, making me shiver.
"Lilliana!" Bella called, arms crossed.
As he said that, I realized I didn't mind leaving the beach; I did mind leaving him.
He leaned down and whispered in my ear. "Go. I'm sure we will be seeing each other again. Good night, Lilliana Garvin."
Bella slowly untangled me from his body and led me to the car. Once we were in, Angela reversed out onto the road. I stared out the window and sighed. Angela gave me a soft smile from her rearview mirror as we headed back to Forks. I slipped on my cover-up and watched the passing scenery.
Twenty minutes later, Bella and I were grabbing our things and climbing out the car at a very gorgeous house. We waved bye to Angela and walked up the path. Edward opened the door for us, gesturing us in. It didn't escape my notice when he wrinkled his nose. Bella led me through the house and into a room where six very inhumanly gorgeous people sat at a table. I carefully sat in between Alice and Bella. Why was I here?
The blonde-haired man at the head of the table smiled at me. "Welcome to our home, Lilliana. I'm Carlisle Cullen and this is my wife, Esme." A lady with caramel hair smiled at me. "This is Emmett and his wife, Rosalie." A burly man and a blonde-haired woman nodded.
"Wait. Did you just say they are married?!" I questioned and exclaimed, "They barely look 20!"
Emmett chuckled. "Technically, I'm 71, but who's counting?"
I gaped. Seventy-one years old? Was this some sick joke?
"Lilliana, the reason why Emmett is 71 years old and doesn't look a day over 20 is because he is a vampire...we all are, excluding Bella." Alice said.
I froze. Did she just say vampire?! When were they going to realize this joke wasn't funny anymore and I just wanted to go back to La Push and see Seth?!
Edward spoke. "This isn't a joke, Lilliana...and Seth...interesting."
How the hell did he know I was thinking that?!
"I can read minds, Lilliana. Everyone except for Bella and I have no idea why that is." Edward smirked.
Well, if you can read minds, what am I thinking of right now? I thought intently from Seth to South Carolina to school.
Edward rolled his eyes and declared, "How cute Seth is, your old house in South Carolina, and school."
My God. Bella giggled at my expression. "You're thinking about Seth; how cute!"
I decided to ignore her and turned to the others. "So if you're vampires, why am I still alive?"
It was Edward who replied. "We only drink the blood of animals. We call ourselves vegetarians. And yes, a vampire Victoria attacked you in the woods. She has been after Bella ever since I killed her mate in Phoenix last year. He had been after Bella."
My jaw dropped. "My God. Wait, why are you telling me your secret? Why does Bella know?"
Instead of answering, Carlisle asked, "You are taking this extremely well, Lilliana. Are you not afraid?"
Was I afraid? Yes, I was a little. I thought of getting to know Alice and Edward on a personal level during school and viewing them as friends. I maintained my first perception of their kindness and looking at each member of the Cullen family, I knew this carried over. Edward voiced these thoughts to his family for me and Carlisle nodded in understanding.
Alice replied to my question, "You are special. Someone else would have told you eventually. Don't question who now, Lilliana. I know you will find out soon; I can see the future, by the way. As for Bella; she is Edward's singer. Her blood appeals more to him than other human and he can't live without her."
"You can see the future? Does anyone else have a hidden power?" I deadpanned.
She nodded and gestured to the blond-haired vampire next to her. "My mate Jasper can control emotions. Don't worry; he won't make you feel any other moods than happiness or peace."
"What about those wolves in the forest?" I squeaked.
The Cullens glanced at each other and Edward answered. "Like Alice said, Lilliana; for-"
He stopped in mid-sentence as a howl rang from the trees outside the house. They ran to the window in a blur and crouched, ready for a figure to pop out. Bella and I stood.
"It's Victoria. The wolves are on her but she crossed the border." Edward spit out.
"Take the girls home, Edward." Carlisle ordered as the group of vampires ran out into the night.
Edward grabbed our hands and hurried us out to his car. We drove to town way over the speed limit. The passing trees were a blur as I looked at the window.
"Lilliana, if you hear howling near your house, it's a good thing. The wolves changed their patrol route to pass your house."
I frowned in confusion. "Why?"
"In due time, Lilliana." Edward's reply was short and vague. At Bella's supporting smile, I decided not to question it any further.
He parked the car in the driveway of Helena's house and held his hand up, listening and staring at the trees. Cautiously, he opened the door and stepped out. I shrank against the door in fright as a pair of eyes glowed from the forest.
Edward opened up my door and pulled me out. "Don't be frightened. If my readings are correct, you have three wolves guarding you tonight."
I nodded and turned to Bella who had rolled down her window. "Are you and Angela still sleeping over?"
She nodded. "Alice is coming too. She will bring me when she returns. We'll be here no later than ten, okay?"
"Fine by me, Bella." We hugged through the window.
I let Edward walk me to the door. "Night, Edward."
He smirked and murmured, "Remember I hear everything you think."
I rolled my eyes and slammed the door in his face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FHA: Seth POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Leave her alone her, Paul." I growled, sick of him picking on innocent girls.
The curly, brown-haired girl turned to face me and my world stopped when I looked into a pool of emerald. She was all I called to see. My love to my pack and mother was minimal to the love I felt for her. I would do anything to protect her.
My heart lurched when I caught the hidden pain and sadness in her eyes. What had broken her?
A little while later, when she wrapped her arms around me, nothing could compare. It was the hardest thing I had ever done letting her leave.
Lilliana Garvin was my sun. My moon. My stars. My imprint.
