The elderly woman brushed her knuckles against the front door of the house and knocked. The knock echoed through the semi-chaotic rooms of the house, startling Shiloh from her sleep. "Coming!" And she's off to the door tying a green satin robe around her waist.
"Hello, Windy," Shiloh greeted as she swung open the door.
"Honey, you just waking up? It's almost noon!" Windy tapped her oversized watch.
Shiloh let out a tired chuckle. "Yes well, we have been working for the past 3 weeks. Working hard. And I don't even have applications for the children yet. Actually, I don't even know about any schools around here except 3." Shiloh gave a half smile.
"Well, that's alright, darlin' cause I came here today with my son to help ya finish your unpackin', but I also came to talk to you about schoolin' the children." Windy tilted her head. "There are a lot of dangerous and shitty schools around here, but only I know about the good 'uns."
The silver haired woman darted her eyes to the ground. "Good thing I have you..." she mumbled.
"Uh huh. Now let's get you started. Charlie!" Windy squinted her eyes into the brightness of the day and called for her son, who was relaxing in the back of a navy blue pick up truck.
"Coming, ma!" Charlie jumped down from the ground and jogged over to the front of the house.
"Now you listen to this nice young lady, alright? Dos whatever she tells ya, alright? We're getting' paid for this ya know." Windy gave her son a stern look, gave his butt a smack, and sent him inside.
Shiloh placed on hand on Charlie's shoulder. "Now there's not much left to do. The house is pretty much all set up, but the upstairs bedrooms still need work. Eddward has been unpacking his room and setting it up to his liking, so don't step foot in that room until he returns."
"Where he at?" Charlie asked.
"Oh he leaves at about 4, 5 in the morning to walk around. He's been doing it ever since we moved here."
"Is he like mute or somethin'?"
"Oh no... He's just... Well... It's personal. An issue between me and him." Shiloh escorted Charlie upstairs.
"Ohhhh. That's why he ain't talkin'." Charlie answered, glad he knew why the new boy didn't speak.
"Exactly, lad. Exactly."
Windy watched the the two walk upstairs. "Shiloh, honey?"
"Yes?" Shiloh called from her bedroom.
"After you get Charlie started, come on down and I'll get your children a school," Windy shouted.
Shiloh smiled. "Oh, alright! Sounds fantastic!"
Windy grunted in agreement, then stealthily made her way to the family's kitchen.
Alex rolled another Hot Wheels vehicle down his plastic ramp. "Vroom!" he yelled as the car sped down the ramp onto the white carpet of the living room. Alex grabbed another toy, a golden dump truck, and sent it down his speedway. "Vroom- crash!" Alex giggled as the toy skidded to a halt when it almost ran over the small Hot Wheels car. Alex suddenly sniffed the air, picking up a strange yet yummy scent. "Mommy?"
Alex's mother, Caroline, was busy sprinkling cheese on her homemade pizza. "Yes, honey?"
"What's that smell?" the curious 7 year old asked.
Caroline placed the crinkling bag of cheese in the fridge. "It's pizza, honey."
"Oh! For us?" Alex bit his lip while rolling his head along the cushions of the couch.
Caroline shook her head. "No, for the trash can, seriously, Alex?"
Alex laughed. He loved to joke around with his mother. "Kevin!" Alex bounced happily as he saw his big brother saunter down the stairs. "Wanna play cars with me?"
"Nope, can't. Gotta go to the library and study with Nazz." Kevin lazily swung his backpack over his shoulder and turned his red hat backwards on his head. "Cause freaking school starts in like 6 days..."
"Oh, Kevin stop complaining. And you're not going till you eat something." Caroline shoved the pizza in the oven and carefully set the timer.
"But mom! I gotta go! She's waiting!" Kevin protested.
"I'm sure she can wait 15 minutes. You know her. She's a bookworm. She'll probably forget your coming after she reads 12 pages of something. And besides, I'm still very disappointed with your behavior a few weeks ago with Eddy. Your uncle had to send you home, Kevin? Really?" Caroline lectured her second eldest son as she set the table in the small dining room.
"Well, Eddy's a freakin' prick and-"
"Kevin! Language! Do you even know what 'prick' means?! And stop saying 'freaking'. That's enough."
"It's not like you don't say it-" Kevin was cut off.
"I'm trying not to say it. Getting out of bad habits doesn't happen overnight. And you can- and will get out of that habit too. As well as the one of kicking and punching your brother."
Kevin growled and looked at his brother who had migrated over to the table with his cars. He started to roll the Hot Wheels car up and down Kevin's arm, much to his older brother's annoyance. "Alex, would ya stop? Please?"
Alex shook his head and laughed. "You're my new ramp!"
Kevin scowled and looked away. "Mom? Is the food ready?" Kevin tapped his foot, wanting to leave the house as quickly as possible.
"Kevin! You're girlfriend can wait. Now, I'm going to give you some orange slices to start." Caroline started to chop some ripe oranges on the kitchen counter.
Alex gasped. "You have a girlfriend?"
Kevin rolled his eyes. "No, she's not my girlfriend-"
"Girlfriend! Girlfriend! You have a girlfriend!" Alex pointed at his brother.
"No! She's not!" Kevin slapped his younger brother's hand away.
"Kevin, don't slap your brother!" Caroline called from the kitchen.
"Sorry," Kevin answered dumbly. Another 10 minutes and I'm gone.
When the pizza was done, Caroline served it to her two sons and gave herself a small piece. They ate in silence until Caroline brought up the subject of school. She asked Kevin to give his teachers some letters and notes about tutors as well as his coach some health papers for the football season. Kevin grumbled in response and agreed to the tutors; he knew even though he studied, it wouldn't be enough to keep him going. Kevin then finished his food and walked out the door into the warmness of the air.
He took the 20 minute walk to the library with Lady Gaga jamming out of his headphones. It was so hard to keep his liking for her hidden from his friends, but Nazz didn't mind. She didn't judge quite as easily as Jacob or Emmett did. Marie Kanker liked Lady Gaga. Maybe that was the reason Nazz didn't mind. After all, they had a "thing" for each other. Kevin was almost jealous. He wished he had someone special. But there were reasons why he couldn't claim anyone as his own.
Kevin waltzed through the back entrance of the library, underneath the indoor parking lot, and started to make his way up the marble stairs to the adult/teen section. He almost got knocked over by children who were running to and fro from the kid's section to water fountain. Why the hell would they put the freakin' kid's section right across from the teen's and adults? We need to concentrate, you know... Kevin thought as he walked through the entryway to the quite adult section. He sifted through countless shelves of books, occasionally scanning titles here and there. Where could Nazz be? Oh wait- there she is. What the- Suddenly, Kevin saw a black shadow whiz right past him through the heights of books in the next aisle. He turned around to see the shadow make its way down the next set of shelves and soon, disappearing out of sight to the kid's section. All he saw were two white stripes perched on a black mass of a frail body. Who was that...?
"Kevin!"
Kevin flipped around to see Nazz waving her hand with a big smile on her face.
Kevin trotted over to her and placed a finger to his lips. "It's a library... shush!"
Nazz placed her hand over her mouth. "Oops! Sorry!" she whispered.
Kevin shook his head and chuckled, sitting down across from her. He looked her over: same bobbed blonde hair, same blue rimmed glasses, same nerdy cuteness. Kevin sighed. Wow, this town needs to change.
"Ok! Glad you made it! I have everything planned out for today so, let's get cracking! Lets start out with Calculus..." And then Nazz begins to scribble on some scrap paper.
Eddward kicked a gray rock down the paved road. He breathed slowly and evenly, taking in the musky air that surrounded him. He began to think. He thought about his new home. America. The United States. The free country. Scotland was plenty free, too. It was better. Everything was better than the "land of the free, home of the brave".
Eddward never wanted to move. He wanted to stay exactly where he was. He wanted to be exactly who he was. He was famous in his home country. Everyone knew him. They knew him, not necessarily liked him, but they knew him. He had friends, people who followed him, people who loved to watch him use his many talents, people who were amazed by his unique skills. He missed it. His heart fell to his stomach thinking about it. He loved the beautiful, majestic landscapes, the friendly atmosphere, the clan and fresh air... and her.
Yes. Yes, he loved her. He loved her more than life itself. He had known her before this life. She was his soul mate, his passion, his obsession. He lusted for her more than anything. He would give anything – his life – for her. He loved her funkiness, her bubbly personality, her interesting logic and design... He simply loved her.
But he could never see her again. Never in a million years. He could never trace his hands down her slender hips, her shoulder blades... could never bury his face in her ravishing hair, could never kiss her forehead whenever they had to part.
Tears welled in Eddward's eyes. A rock was stuck in his throat. His hands shook in his pockets. His hair fumbled around his face when he tried to blow it out of his eyes. He hated it. He hated it. He hated America, he hated his new life, and most of all, he hated his mother for making him live it.
His mother. A perfectionist... of irresponsibility. A goddess... of stupidity. A saint ... from Hell itself. She could never get projects done. She continuously broke all of her strong-said promises. She hid her true self behind her alluring beauty, so that strangers and close friends alike, could fall for her trickery.
But no. Eddward knew better. He knew his mother's secrets. And more importantly he knew that a bitch like her could never have a heart. Never.
By this time, tears were pouring down Eddward's cheeks, as long as screams draining from his throat. He threw himself to the ground and wept. He wept for himself, for his sister, for his mother, for his friends, for her...
"Alexis... Alexis... Why... Why did you leave me?! Why did you leave me?!" Eddward screamed and his finger nails scratched the teared stained pavement underneath him. He clawed at his black beanie, wanting to rip the moist white stripes right off of it.
He didn't care if anyone was watching him cry. He didn't care if a truck came zooming down the road to end his life. He just. Wouldn't. Care. He wanted to die. He wanted to end it all. He wanted to see her again. More than anything... he just wanted to kiss her. He just wanted to taste those rose petal lips he so longed for. He wanted to feel the softness of her mouth he so desired.
But those pleasures were long gone.
He never could do the things he wanted with her.
Death is a terrible thing.
Kevin flopped on his bed with an exhausted sigh. Well, I got some work done today... Calculus pre-tests, History newspaper articles... Good progress, Deangle. But I didn't get to see that new kid who moved in... I wanted to see him. Ethan or, Ed or, something-
"Kevin?" Caroline knocked on Kevin's bedroom wall.
Kevin lifted his head up with much effort. "Yeah, mom?"
Caroline nodded. "Good work today, honey. I'm glad that you saw Nazz. She helps you a lot, why don't you see her more often?"
Kevin dropped his head back down on the bed. "I dunno... I just don't want to."
"Hmm. Well, you should. I'm gonna talk to her mom and see if we can work out a tutor for you with her. It'd be good for you, Kevin." Caroline crossed her arms.
Kevin tried not to growl but, somehow he let it out. He was automatically put in a bad mood. "What do you want, mom?"
Caroline shot him a stern glance. "Hey. Don't give me attitude. Rolf and Jimmy dropped buy to give you an invitation to the end-of-summer party tomorrow night. You'll be going, right?" Caroline walked over to her son's bed and dropped a crinkled green paper onto Kevin's sheets.
"Yeah, of course I'll be going, mom..." Kevin rolled his eyes. He was the entertainment of that party every single year.
Caroline nodded. "Ok. Well, I'll go put your brother to bed. Can you believe it's almost 9 already?" Caroline scoffed and went to get Alex out of his bath.
Kevin sat up when she left and unfolded the forest green construction paper. He smirked when he read the words written by Jimmy's sloppy handwriting.
Hey! You must be a bitch if you don't come to this party!
Have fun with us! (Man THAT didn't sound gay)
Come touch yourself to our jokes and shitty ghost stories!
Held at Jacob's place tomorrow at 8 pm!
YEAH! BUTTS! (signed Nat)
Kevin couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Yep... that's Nat the pervert..." Kevin got his phone out and started to browse through Facebook, liking photos and commenting on various statuses.
I wonder if the new kid will show up...
"I can't tell you how much I love you for this, Windy, it's really a blessing that I know you," Shiloh started as she escorted Windy out of her house.
Windy smiled, sporting a friendly chuckle. "Well, that's what I do. I help people like you. The Nickels? An English family that moved her about 10 years ago... I helped them with this school stuff too so, it's something I do."
"Peach Creek High... seems like a friendly school. I'm sure Eddward will find some kind of comfort there. And Discovery... Willow will have loads of fun. She loves to socialize. Thank you again. I just wish we could have found a private school for Eddward too..." Shiloh bit her finger and looked away.
Windy giggled. "Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine, Ms. Palmer. A boy like him needs to go out in the world."
"Oh believe me he did. In Scotland he was famous..." Shiloh smiled, remembering the misadventures her song had with his old Gaelic friends.
"Ah, so your son was a trouble maker?" Windy smiled slyly.
"Yes, yes her was." Shiloh stifled her laughter with her hand.
"Well, I'm glad I was here with ya. The whole house is in order! Bedrooms are done and downstairs looks fabulous, darlin'. I'm proud of you. And we've become good friends, eh?"
Shiloh nodded rapidly. "Yes! Yes we have!"
"And!" Windy froze in place. "And, I think I heard Eddward speak! Once! Just once! It's a miracle!" Windy held out her arms is amazement.
"Yes... We'll work on that," Shiloh answered in a low key.
"Well, me and Charlie have to go shoppin'. You and your daughter have a good night. Oh- and give this to Eddward for me, won't ya?" Windy handed Shiloh a folded piece of green construction paper. "It's a little get together party thing that all the high school kids go to to bid summer goodbye. Eddward could meet some friends there or somethin'. Alright, you three take care then!" And with that, Windy and her son climbed into their rusty pick up truck and drove off to the grocery store.
Shiloh watched them drive away. "Thank you... she whispered.
Windy roughly drove around the smooth roads of the town. "So, whatchya think of Edd, Charlie?"
Charlie stared out the window of the passenger seat. "He don't talk much, mama. He scared the shit out of me today. I was puttin' boxes in his room, I turn around and there he is, inches away from my face. He's a weird one."
Windy shrugged. "Eh, you'll be seeing him often. He'll talk sometime. Just gotta get used to him." Windy patted her son's shoulder reassuringly. "The Nickels were weird ones too..."
Eddward twirled his fork slowly round his spaghetti, staring off into space. He wasn't hungry. He barely ate, anyway. And why eat his mother's cooking? She cooked poison. That's all she knew how to make- death and heartbreak.
Shiloh watched in amusement as her youngest daughter, Willow, gobbled down her chicken nuggets and broccoli. "Did you like playing with the other children today, lass?"
Willow laughed. "Yes, mum! They was fun!"
Shiloh leaned forward. "'They was?' Oh my, your turning American already..."
Eddward wanted to smirk, but he didn't want to let his mother know he found anything funny. He was supposed to be depressed, He was supposed to hate his life. And he did. So why not keep it that way?
Shiloh took a sip of her milk and set the mug down on the smooth wooden table. "Um, Eddward, honey? Um, Windy told me about a big get-together party that the high school kids hold for the summer's ending. Would you like to go? You could make some friends."
Eddward concentrated on his plate. He wanted nothing to do with people. He wanted to be alone. There was a hole in his heart and he had no desire to fill it. "Hmmm..." he muttered.
Shiloh looked at her son with concern. "Eddward? Eddward dear did you hear me?"
Eddward decided that he was going to have to speak. "No."
Shiloh drummed her fingers on the table. "What, honey? Did you..."
"No. I will not go to that party." Eddward stood and sauntered up to his neatly unpacked room to be alone. Again.
"Eddward! Eddward?" Shiloh looked up to the ceiling as she heard Eddward's footsteps creaking the floor above her.
Willow looked at her Scottish mother. "What's wrong with Eddward, Mommy?"
Shiloh looked at her daughter and smiled. She placed her hand on the innocent 5 year old's. "I don't know, Willow, dearest. But, you don't have to worry about him. Aren't you excited to go to your new school? A bunch of your new friends will attend there."
Willow nodded, frowning. "Yes, Mommy, but Eddward's my brother.
Shiloh's eyes sank. She sighed, almost as if she was exhaling the happiness she held just minutes ago. "I know he is... I know. We just have to, work together and, eventually, things will turn around, huh?" Shiloh squeezed her daughter's hand and smiled, her bracelet jingling on her wrist.
"You're right, Mommy. Eddward needs a silver lining." Willow winked.
Shiloh tilted her head. "Where did you learn that expression, lass?"
"From a very important friend." Willow giggled and shuffled in her sleep.
Shiloh smiled. "Did you manage to catch this 'very important' friend's number?"
A/N: Ok I know this chapter sucks... but it's a bridge into chap 5! Some Nazz x Marie will be introduced and we'll learn about the cul-de-sac kids and all of those characters we love. and then chap 6? EDDWARD AND KEVIN MEET! or chap 7... not sure. but school does start and the story gets interesting in chap 5! :) so I apologize for this crappy chapter... but things need to happen sometimes. at least something is up for people to look at!