So here we are chapter five of The Perfect Memory. Before I start I want to say thanx to skarpia*tear* for being my first reviewer for this story. Thanx a bunch! Oh and Ronnie Swan 4 being so funny XD. (And slightly sadistic)
Disclaimer-I wish every day that I owned Twilight but I just keep getting Gabrielle. Oh well, if she gets Jake that means I get Jake. Gotta love win-win situations. ; p
Speechless
JPOV
I don't know how long that I've been staring at her but a sudden noise caused me to jump out of my stupor and into high alert. I snatched my eyes away from Gabrielle to quickly look around the cave. Everything was normal looking but something made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. My instincts told me something wasn't right so I carefully untangled my arms from around Gabrielle and crept out of the cage and into the meadow. Everything was still; not one branch swayed. Matter of fact there was no wind at all. I crouched in front of the caves opening, closed my eyes, and enhanced my wolf hearing into the eerie night. See when you're a werewolf you are able to take certain instincts/traits and enhance them in the time of need. It's different for me though, I guess, since I'm the heir of Ephraim Black my abilities are stronger then even Sam's. For example, earlier when I had to get Gabrielle safe, I accentuated my wolf speed and was able to get to my destination in half the time than if I would have ran on my own. Pretty impressive huh? So anyways, I took my wolf hearing and expanded it far through the forest to check my surroundings.
Nothing.
Something in the air made it seem like I just couldn't shake the feeling that something was up; I just couldn't relax. Also Gabrielle would be waking up in the morning so I had to take her back home soon. I scanned the woods one more time before I ducked back into the cave. My imprint seemed to be deeply asleep since I could hear her deep breathing from all the way outside. God, she was so beautiful. So comfortable and at peace even with that huge gash on her head. I took care of it though; when you live all over the place, especially the woods, for three years you learn a thing or two about cuts, scratches, and bruises. I don't know about the extent of the head trauma but I doubt she'll remember much.
I made sure the fire was out and then gathered my angel lightly into my arms. She shifted slightly but I could tell she would be asleep for a little while longer. When we walked, well I walked, out of the cave I ignored the hair raising on my arms and closed my eyes to once again channel my inner wolf speed. The familiar adrenaline flushed through my veins making my heart beat hammer as I took off in the direction of Washington; brushing off the bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Gabrielle POV
Something warm runs along my cheek and down across my jaw. Wow it feels incredible. I slowly let my lids rise and they connect with those familiar loving brown eyes.
"Wow I must still be asleep" I mumble dreamingly.
Mr. Handsome laughs deep in his chest. I can feel the rumbling because he has me in his arms pressed into his chest. He shakes his head no at me; laughter in his eyes.
"Soooo I'm not dreaming" I say slowly, He pauses for a second pondering, and then nods his head quickly.
"Oh. Okay" I say and close my eyes back to relax into my dream glad for once it's not another nightmare. Even though I'm asleep and numb I feel incredibly exhausted. Sensing my distress Mr. Handsome rocks me from side to side and hums a tune low in his throat. The vibrations send me back into bliss and I fall asleep in my dream.
In the Morning
Urgh I feel like crap. Absolute horse crap. My head is pounding and my back hurts like a bitch. I blew out a sigh and blinked my eyes to shake off the last of my dream. I dreamed of a very wild, tall, and handsome man. He swooped in and saved my life from what I do not know and do not care. It was so realistic. If I close my eyes I can still imagine him saying my name. While I was trying to get back to my state of bliss a gust of wing flitted through the open window and instantly filled the room. Aw, now I'm cold! I swear it was hot a minute ago. No little bit of wind could possibly cool a room that quick. Absolutely ridiculous. I shifted to the left and then to the right to try to get a warm position. I must have shifted too far because next thing I knew my body made contact with hardwood floor. Being the lazy a$$ I am I just lay there and hoped I would magically come off the floor. No such look. Dang-it.
My whole body just ached and the floor wasn't helping either. I finally sat up painfully slow and to my confusion, took in the room of Chief Swan's daughter's room. Before I got the chance to question how I got here Chief swan himself opened the door clad in his police uniform.
"Hey Gabrielle, why don't you come on down for some breakfast," he asked politely. I could see a little bit of hurt in his eyes.
"Um…okay, Chief Sw-" he cut me off.
"Call me Charlie," he said while smiling brightly.
"Sure Charlie," I replied softly. He nodded and stepped out of the room with me following silently. As we walked down the hallway in the direction of the stairs I stopped short and veered towards the bathroom.
"Um, Chei-Charlie?" he turned and looked at me curiously.
"I'm gonna take a quick shower and meet you down there," I told him hesitantly. He nodded and continued to head downstairs obviously out of his element. I walk into the bathroom, close the door, and lean against it sighing. When I finally relaxed enough to not need the support of the door I turned and then froze; the breath caught in my throat. I looked absolutely terrible. My already pale bronze skin was a sickly pallid color that looked green under the dim lights. If you looked close into my midnight hair for long enough you could see that it was caked and matted in dirt and mud. I attempted to get some of it out by running my fingers through it but it only tangled more and added pressure to my headache. Defeated I just bushed my filthy bangs out of my face so I could at least see what I was doing. When my bangs were fully out of the way a jagged red scar through my eyebrow to my forehead stood out shockingly against my skin. I did a quick check and thankfully there was no blood anywhere to ring up unwanted memories. How the hell did this happen to me? What other damages do I have that I don't remember getting? I quickly stripped off the outer layer of my clothing clad in my undies and twisted in different angles to check for more damage. What I found made my eyes fill with unshed tears. I was scarred just like am on the inside. Jagged puffy scratches littered all along my back side from the back of my neck to the top of my hips. It looked like I'd either been in knife fight, whipped, or mauled by a porcupine. I sighed, stripped the rest of my clothes off and stepped into the scalding hot shower head. I hissed as the hot water stung as it flowed across my scratches. I carefully massaged my soap and shampoo in and then rinsed myself off without inflicting anymore unnecessary pain. After a good amount of time just standing under the water as it relaxed my muscles, I finally shut of the water and stepped out into the steam filled bathroom. Taking advantage of the steam I got through my morning routine and carefully picked up my picked up my clothes prepared to run towards my room in a towel. I cracked the bathroom door and leaned my head through listening for any sign of Charlie. From his happy off-key humming and loud ruckus of banging pots I could tell he was still in the kitchen so I rushed into my room and clicked the door closed behind me. I walked to my hamper and placed my dirty clothes in the almost full pile, making a mental not to do some laundry. Walking over to my semi-packed suitcase I pulled out a comfy tank and a pair old plain yoga pants. I didn't expect to do much but sit around since I didn't know anyone around here. Well unless I decided to hang out with the ever entertaining Charlie, I mean it was the weekend; maybe his wild side came out. Right. Note the heavy sarcasm. Even if he didn't have an alter ego I might be able to get some answers on what in the world happened to me last night and why I can't seem to remember. Deciding on the latter idea I checked my appearance once more and made my way in the direction of the stairs. Before my door was fully open I was blasted with the fire alarm sounding through the house. I threw the door open the rest of the way, thundered down the stairs, and ran into the kitchen. The sight before me made me burst into a fit of giggles and lean on the wall for support.
Charlie turned to me when he heard my loud outburst and said in an indifferent voice," I tried." I could see the embarrassment flushing his cheeks as he carelessly shrugged his shoulders.
"Let me... ha- cough... Let me get that for you Charlie," I told him while trying to keep a serious face. Let me tell you that was one of the funniest things I've seen in years.
"Uh... yeah, sure," he replied, clearing his throat uncomfortably. He sat down at the table and picked up his paper trying fruitlessly to hide his tomato colored face. I decided to rub it in a little more just for the fun of it.
"So Charlie, pancakes and eggs okay with you?" I asked innocently glancing at him over my shoulder. He grumbles intelligibly and hightails it out of the kitchen and into the living room. I was later greeted with the sounds of ESPN. I'll take that as a yes.
LATER THAT NIGHT
I was getting to work on dinner early since Charlie said one of his friends would be over for dinner and I wanted to make a normal impression. I don't even care if my impression is good; just that I seem like a normal human being. I heard Charlie loves fish so I decided to switch up his type of fish to the style of where I come from. He was a little bit weary when I mentioned it to him earlier but accepting none the least. So hear I am currently in the kitchen cooking up the first meal for the male population than I have in years; Charlie is a cool host so it's the least I can do. Plus that and he has no cooking ability what so ever. I find it very funny that he can't even make ice. I told him that as we sat and watched the Seahawks game yesterday.
*Flashback*
"That's what a cold one is for Bri, mans best friend," he told me.
"I thought that was a dog, Charlie," I accused him over said cold ones.
"Ha, I meant mans REAL best friend," he said between chugs of beer.
"Whatever you say Chief, whatever you say," I chanted teasingly.
"You bet your a**."
*End Flashback*
I shook my head incredulously while thinking about the crazy things me and Charlie talk about. I was brought back to Earth when the door suddenly burst open and the sound of booming laughter came through the threshold. I put the last ingredients into the spaghetti sauce and turned down the temperature on the cooling fish in the oven and went into the hallway. Being taught manners, shocking I know, I walked up to Charlie and took his coat to hang up on the mantel.
"Billy this is the little one I was telling you about, Gabrielle," Charlie introduced while my back was turned.
"Hello," said a low, aged husky voice from behind me. I turned and looked to see an aged Native American man in a wheelchair. His eyes looked shockingly familiar but were filled with wisdom and mischief.
"Nice to meet you Billy." I watched as his eyebrows went up slightly at the high pitch of my voice.
Ol' Charlie wouldn't stop bragging' 'bout you on the way here," Billy recovered quickly.
"Well, it's not everyday I'm put in this situation now; it is my jobs."
"Yeah yeah, save it you old sack," Billy said teasingly. Just then the timer in the kitchen went off.
"Dinner," I called as I walked into the kitchen, the men following behind me. I could practically hear the heavy intakes of the smell and appreciative groans.
"Wow Bri, that smells great. May I ask what exactly it is?" Charlie asked politely while pulling Billy up to the table and taking a seat himself.
"Well," I started while filling the three plates up with food," where I come from we don't really fish because, well it's the Midwest so all farmland. So yeah I had to buy this fish; hope y'all don't mind." I placed the plates filled with food in the table and pulled two beers and an apple juice out of the fridge.
"Alright, this is my Mama's (grandma's) recipe. Its lemon seasoned fried catfish with her special spaghetti. Now eat up." I needed no more invitation. Before the night was over the pot was wiped clean and all that was left of the fish was its bones.
"Bri you put something else in the food that made it tastes so damn good and I intend to find out what it is," Charlie demanded mock seriously why patting down his full bulging belly. Billy chuckled quietly in the same position.
"Yes I did, but if I tell you imp going to have to kill you and I don't like to get my hands dirty Chief Swan," I turned and smiled sweetly, "you too Mr. Billy." Conversation seemed to flow from there talking about anything and everything. I haven't trusted anyone enough to open up to them but these two just opened a flood gate. I didn't share anything too personal and they never pried but everything just felt right at home. I and Charlie were discussing the jobs around here that he knew available. None of them were really my style so after he rattled off different places I pretty much declined them all.
"Well what do you like?" Finally he asked the most important question. I was secretly waiting until he figured out what I actually wanted to do. I had to hold down a chuckle as I recited my likes, dislikes, and interests; the conversation surprisingly sounded like an interrogation.
"Well there's your problem," Charlie stated incredulously, "you're a small little thing that likes to roll with the big boys. What type of girl enjoys that?"
"I'm not like every other girl Charlie and just because I'm the same size as one I'm not a twelve year old. Yeah I like boy stuff; sue me."
"Since you like boy stuff I assume you like cars right?"
"I guess you could say that. Why yes I do like cars, Billy."
"Well then a buddy of mine has a very successful carhop. He wants to put it up for sale so he can retire. Since you have experience why don't you go for it?" He scribbled down and handed me all the info before Charlie go up and wheeled Billy to the door. We said our quick goodbyes and I watched them load up and head down the road. When I was done cleaning up and wasting time I decided to grow a pair and just call. Before I could talk myself out of it I rushed to the phone and dialed the number. Yes I did memories it. After a few rings I started to get discouraged until the line finally picked up and a frail voice answered.
"Hello, yes hi Jerry this is Gabrielle Love, I was calling because I was interested in purchasing your shop…
Phew! FINALLY. I swear I rewrote this chapter like eight times it was crazy! Sorry it took so long peoples. Thank y'all for putting this story on alert I appreciate it greatly. I'm really having second thoughts on if I should finish this, though, or just delete it. I'm not getting any love but I'm giving out a whole lot. Oh speaking of giving out a lot of love, if you have any cool imprint stories you know send me a message and I'll read 'em. It's kinda hard finding more stories 'cuz I'm reading them all fast. Just check out my . So anyways REVIEW! I really don't know if you guy like the story or not and I would hate to delete it.
MUCH LUVz,
What-The-'CHIZ'