A/N: Sorry for taking so long, I will never be able to apologize enough. Thank you everyone for subscribing and favouriting. And as usual, please review; reviews are my fuel. Disclaimer is on my profile.
"I guess I'll start at the same place as you; the beginning.
"It was one week before my birthday; September 6th. I was never one of those people who got excited about their birthdays. For one; I don't like gifts, two; I didn't have many friends and I don't like being the center of attention. But this year was different. I was finally going to be seen as an adult.
I can remember that it was a Saturday. My friend Jacob and I always hung out during the weekends because he lived and went to school in La Push on the reservation.
"Sorry, I'm getting off track. So as I was saying it was Saturday and I was waiting for Jacob on the beach. I was just sitting, minding my own business, watching the wave pools when – seemingly out of thin air- he appeared.
"I barely had time to blink before he bit me. I didn't even see his face. All I did see was his hair, his coal black hair. He took me deep into the woods, probably in case I was to scream. We were so far into the forest that even after three days and nights of screaming, no one heard a thing.
"I'm still not sure why he left me to change instead of completely draining me. I think he assumed I'd die anyway."
After a short pause I continued, "Obviously he assumed wrong.
"When I woke up I immediately felt the thirst burning in my throat. I didn't really understand what it was until a very unlucky deer crossed my path. I pounced out of instinct, without thought.
"Once I realized what I'd done, I tried to find my way out of the woods and to my house. I was still kind of disorientated because of my enhanced senses. I don't think I'll ever forget when I first discovered the speed." I laughed to myself at the memory.
"What's so funny?" I looked over at Edward, almost forgetting that he was there.
"Well, when I found out I had super-human speed I nearly had a heart attack. I was expecting to watch my feet while I 'ran' awkwardly over the roots and trees. I was a very clumsy human. But next thing I know, I'm flying past trees without a care."
"I know exactly what you mean," Edward laughed, then continued, "I was always a fast runner as a human, but nowhere near as fast as I am now. I freaked a little bit too."
"I couldn't help but laugh with him. His laugh is so musical, so hypnotic. He could probably get a life-long mime to laugh with him.
"Sometimes the speed still freaks me out. Anyways, as I was saying; I ran – still totally confused by anything and everything – into town. I got to my house faster than I'd thought possible, considering I had no idea where I was in the first place.
"When I got there it was empty. It was one of the rare sunny days so I stayed hidden in the trees because my eyes were still sensitive. I followed a smell similar to my father's; he's always had a distinct scent.
"While I was following his trail, I met my first vampire. She took one look at me and somehow knew that I was a newborn. Till this day I don't know how. After all, it's not like I was running wild slaughtering the town.
"She told me her name was Lexi. Then she said 'Sit down Kid, I have some things to explain to you'. Lexi taught me about everything from the effects of the sun, to the Volturi. The thing that made the most impact though was her telling me that I had to leave my few friends and family in order to keep them safe.
"That's when I became the way I am. Never getting close to anyone. Never getting attached. And never making anything more than acquaintances." I swallowed hard thinking about what came next.
"For the next couple of days I stayed hidden far enough in the forest that I couldn't hear what was going on. When I finally came out I was met by my own funeral. It broke my heart – as unbeating as it is – to see people mourning my death, while I was standing no more than fifty feet away.
"The official story is that I decided to go swimming by myself and when a large wave came in I got caught in the rip-tide. They obviously never found a body. I doubt they would have suggested that otherwise.
"Since then I've wondered the Earth. I've seen most of the world. I had some money saved when I 'died'. I took that with me and over the years I've gotten odd jobs, traveled, invested and I just accumulated more money.
"I decided it was only right to come back here for school. I never actually graduated. Most of what I know now is from reading, internet and TV. No one in the school is old enough to really remember me, so I thought it'd be safe to come back.
"And that's my story. Not very exciting I'll admit."
"Well it seems more exciting than mine. All I really did was catch a cold." Even though I was still recovering from my trip down memory lane I laughed along with him.
"Well, when you put it that way..."I joked.
"But in all seriousness I am sorry that you had to leave your family and friends behind. When I was changed my parents had already died – although you know that already. It wasn't as hard to leave them, knowing they'd be together." You could see it clearly in his eyes that he was truly sorry for me. That surprised me a little bit considering I'd only known him for a few days.
"Thank you. I know this question might seem a little random, but do you remember your human life at all?"
"No, not much of it at least. I can remember my parents the easiest. Sometimes I'll see or hear something that'll trigger a flashback. I don't get them as often any more. After all, it's been 91 years, that's a lot of time to remember." I could tell he was thinking of an earlier time- possibly even before I was first born- judging by the look on his face.
""I guess I'm just lucky that I can remember most of my human life. I think it might be because I hung around for a week or so. Plus, being here again – even after a few days – has caused a couple stray memories to pop up."
"Is it hard for you to be here?" he asked.
"I sighed then answered "Not as hard as I thought it'd be. I mean, I've only been here for what, four or five days? The only thing is that I feel almost obligated to put down some sort of roots here. This is the only home I've ever known. It'll be hard to leave here in only two years." It's already hard to think of leaving Edward. And the other Cullens too of course.
"I wish I could say 'I know what you mean' but I've never gone back to Chicago for any length of time. I know you said that you don't get attached, but do you stay in contact with anyone you've met?" I was secretly hoping that his question meant 'Will you stay in contact with me?' But sadly, I know better.
"Not really. I have all of their numbers though, in case I ever need them, but other than that, not really. I do call Lexi once a year on my birthday though, to check up on her. She's the only vampire that I really give a damn about. Who knows who or what I'd be if she hadn't explained to me what I'd become."
"Oh.... Why'd you go 'vegetarian'? I know for a fact that sometimes it's easier to just live life how our instincts tell us." I f he keeps asking questions I might start thinking that he actually wanted to know me.
"The first time I went hunting I was just following scents. I had no idea what I was hunting. When I got closer I could hear two men talking. That's when I realized that I was actually going to eat humans. Even worse than that, I could recognize the voices as two of my father's best friends. Lexi had only said 'we feed and live on blood' so I decided to see if hunting animals would work. As you know; it does. I've been a vegetarian since that day. I've never even killed a human." I couldn't help but feel a bit proud of my restraint. It's not always the easiest.
"I can only wish that I had your self control." I looked over to see Edward shaking his head, looking at me somewhat in awe.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, a long time ago, I left Carlisle and Esme to go on my own. During that time I fed on human and animal blood. At the time I saw nothing wrong with killing men who were stalking young girls down allies, thinking vile things. Once I realized that it was no way to live I went back to Carlisle. Even after nine decades I'm still afraid that I'll slip up."
"Nobody's perfect Edward. I never said I'm not afraid to make a mistake. It's really just mind over matter." I explained to him. Although, honestly, Edward is pretty darn close to being perfect.
"I've never thought of it that way. Maybe if more of our kind could think like that, us vegetarians wouldn't be as rare to come by."
"So basically, if every other vampire in existence was more like me, the world would be a better place? I'll take that as a compliment." I said jokingly.
"Exactly" Edward laughed with me. I really should make him laugh more often.
The two of us spent the next couple of hours together laughing and talking. We talked about all of our favourite things and shared some of our random flashbacks from our human lives.
I didn't leave until early in the morning, around 4 o'clock. I wished I could have stayed longer, but I prefer to do things at a human speed. That includes sorting out and putting away all the clothes I'd bought.
Either way, our time was cut short. I felt like I could spend forever – literally- talking or just being, with Edward. This is the beginning of a beautiful – hopefully more than – friendship.
Thanks for reading chapter 7 of The Tide! Review please. Next chapter will be out sometime before October. And if it isn't, I give you all permission to hunt me down, tie me to the computer chair and force me to write.
-Alyshia Jean