Chapter 2

Not Interested

The morning brought... more rain. Like i said last night, it wasn't that i hated rain, i just liked a little sun too. Everyone likes to see the sun at least once a week.

But like many things in my life, i had said my goodbyes.

I lugged myself out of bed and down the hall to the bathroom. Taped to the mirror in the small bath room was a note.

Gracie.

I have gone to work. Help yourself to food and anything else you need.

I will be home at 5 with dinner.

Sue

This was perfect.

Instead of having to abide to someone else's schedule, i could wander around on my own.

Being alone was something i liked. Unless, of course you were one of my three best-friends.

I didn't bother with a shower, i was hungry. Food was the only thing on my mind. Without even changing out of my pajama's i went to the kitchen to raid the cupboards.

Settling for a bowl of cereal i stood at the corner of the kitchen staring out the back window. Aunt Sue's house was just on the fringe of the forest. It was a strange to look at, there was nothing but ... green. The trees, the bark, even the ground was covered in green moss. But on the other hand it was beautiful to look at. Something i had never noticed before. Everything was tinted green, the pale walls of the kitchen even seemed to have a certain greenish look.

I was looking at a never-ending ocean of trees.

Still eating my cereal i noticed that the rain was setting into a slight drizzle. This was probably my best chance to get out of the house and reacquaint myself with La Push. It had been a while since i had been here but i wanted to see what had changed. Besides, getting lost in La Push is one of the most impossible things ever. I'm sure i knew one person that would manage to get lost on this small reservation. Leo. He had a horrible tendency to loose himself anywhere. Whether it was on a trip into the city or just in a shopping mall. He would somehow manage to loose himself and then be to pigheaded to ask for help.

The thoughts of Leo made me sad. I missed him, i missed all of them. Could i really live here without them?

I shook my head trying to shake the sad thoughts away. It was inevitable to be upset about my friends but there was nothing i could do about it. I had to push on and use the night time to let my emotions run wild.

While i was enjoying my cereal, my morning serenity was swiped away with the sound of voices.

I was frozen on the spot as the voices grew louder and then four young men walked past the window, none of them noticing me. Also none of them wearing any shirts.

Lets just say, from the back.... W-O-W!

The door swung open and in walked the laughing group of boys, still not noticing me. Three plopped down at the table and the fourth started towards the fridge. Can you believe it ...? Still not noticing me!

But that fact didn't bother me as much as the fact that it was Seth.

Seth. My little Sethy-boo was grown up. Boy did he grow up. He had to be the only 16 year old with a body like that. It was insane.

Even worse was that i actually thought he looked good from behind... ugh ugh ugh!

"Hey Sethy-boo .. what's for breakfast?" Someone from the table asked. All three had their backs to me. How the hell did they figure out his name? The didn't actually hear me say it last night. Did Seth tell them?

"Yeah yeah. I'm just grabbing ..." Seth abruptly stopped as he finally noticed me standing there.

"Gracie?" He said perplexed.

"You're grabbing Gracie?" One of the boys boomed. "Dude. Did you see her last night? Total hottie." Another voice said loudly.

I wasn't too sure how to take that, as a compliment or if i should run upstairs and grab my baseball bat.

"She's here." Seth said plainly.

Then suddenly the house was full of chairs scrapping. In walked a familiar Brady and Quil, closely followed by a stranger.

Heaven almighty, is it possible for them to all look related. Brothers, maybe even quadruplets?

All their eyes were fixed on me, with the exception of Seth. One pair of eyes seemed to be looking at me differently though, - the stranger – his mouth was open wide. Even his eyes looked like they welled up with unshed tears...

"Morning Gracie!" Brady grinned, stepping forward with his arms open. I snapped out of me reverie but just stood where i was, frozen. My lack of reaction didn't stop him though, he strolled up and wrapped both his arms around my waist. Evidently lifting me off the ground without any struggles.

Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Why was it that Brady also felt like he had a raging fever.

"Uh, hi Brady." I squeaked when he let me down. I noticed his eyes rake up and down my body before he stepped fully away.

CREEPER!

"Hey amazing grace." Quil said smiling and opening the fridge.

Rolling my eyes at the non-original nickname i threw the first come back that came to my mind.

"Hey quill and parchment."

I noticed the guys all tried to cover up their laughter, Quil on the other hand slowly turned to face me. Glaring.

"No dissing the name." He hissed narrowing his eyes.

"No gay ass nicknames." I replied.

"No dry as comebacks."

"No wannabe John Cena's." I did notice his eyebrow lift slightly at the mention of WWE wrestlers.

"No pretty girls with bitchy attitudes."

I had no idea how we got onto this. I couldn't even remember the reason for the argument... Oh right. "Amazing Grace"

And did he just call me a bitch?!

"Hey!" I said throwing my arms up in the air, "I would much rather be a bitch than be an egotistical steroid-taking fuck-tard like you!" With that i grabbed my bowl off the bench, placed it in the sink and stomped out of the kitchen and up the stairs only to be greeted by Leah.

"Impressive," She smirked.

"You want some too Leah? I can dish it out all morning if you really want!" I snapped moving past her to the spare room ... Dammit, no – to my room.

I didn't slam the door to prove i was pissed off. I had never been one to destroy things when i was angry, instead i would hold it in. Then find other ways to let out the tension.

I lay on my bed for a long time – not crying – just calming myself.

After what felt like hours i pulled on a pair of jeans, and hunted my drawers for a heavy top to wear. Without even realizing last night i had unpacked Leo's hoodie he left me. I remember the arguments we had about it.

"Admit it Bambi... you will wear it!" Leo said for the hundredth time.

"Of course i will wear it. But it's your favorite top Leo. I cant do that." I noticed he was about to cut in so i quickly changed to a more believable excuse.

"What happens if i spill raspberry and cola on it?" I said with my eyebrows raised.

"Look Grace. I want you to take it. Please."

"Why though?" I wanted to take it, more than anything, but i knew it was his favorite item of clothing.

"Coz you look just plain sexy in my clothes and also..." he slightly hesitated, "...well it will sorta claim you as mine. So no other dude tries anything on you."

I pulled the large top on and letting it fall to just above my knees. I inhaled deeply through my nose and nearly started crying right there.

It smelt just like him. Like his cologne.

I pulled on my boots, grabbed my cellphone, tied my hair back and headed downstairs.

There was no sign of life when i made it down there, the house was quiet and i noticed the clock only read 10:15am.

I pulled the door shut behind me and started along the dirt road. Unsure of where i was going. The beach? Yeah, the beach sounds good.

The beach was exactly the same as i remembered it. The rain gradually stopped after a few hours. I went to the rock pools and sat for an amount of time. Finally deciding i should head back home. I stopped into the only store in La Push and brought myself some junk food, it seemed as if there wasn't too much in aunt Sue's cupboards. Ever since Harry died she went all "health-freak" according to Seth.

Heading along the dirt roads i had an overwhelming sense of being watched. Trying to be subtle i checked over my shoulder, nothing, there weren't even any cars around.

Nonetheless i scanned my surroundings, the dark forest to my right seemed like the likeliest place for some creep to watch a person.

Jeez, La Push already had me paranoid. This would have to be the safest place in the state, and here i was worried about someone watching me.

I snorted and carried on, despite my disregard for my paranoid thoughts i did speed up my pace till i saw the outline of the house in the distance.

Aunt Sue still wasn't home.

I closed the door behind me and slipped my shoes off. The tv was going in the lounge, but there were no signs of who was in there.

Heading into the kitchen for a drink i popped my head around the corner to see Seth sitting with his back to me watching transformers 2.

I stood in the doorway unsure if he was too involved with the movie to realize i was there or if he was angry at me for this morning.

Still holding the bag of food and my glass of water i plopped down in the seat next to him.

"You want some food?" I kept my eyes on the tv and feigned my interest in the movie.

"Huh?" He snapped out of his trance as soon as the word "food" left my lips.

"Are you hungry?"

"Oh, hell yeah i am. I mean – I'm always hungry." He laughed and sat up straighter as if trying to crane his neck to see what i had in the bag.

"Well help yourself," I laughed as his eyes widened at the amount of crap in there.

"Whoa Gracie, you brought everything."

"Eh, just save me the blueberry muffin. That's my favorite." I said watching him as he decided to start with a chocolate bar. It was gone in two mouthfuls.

Seth and I watched the rest of the movie. He told me how hot Megan Fox was and i rolled my eyes but had to agree.

Once it was done the time was 2:45pm, and i had no idea what else to do.

Seth hauled himself off the couch and stretched, groaning.

"I gotta go meet the guys." He said grimacing slightly and looking out the window.

"That's cool. Have fun."

"What are you going to do?" That caught me off guard. I had no idea.

"Probably give my mates back home a call..." I shrugged.

Something flickered across Seth's face, like he just remembered something.

"Do you have a boyfriend back there?" He asked suddenly, totally throwing me for six.

"Uh – what?" Talk about random!

"Is there another guy?" His tone was slightly demanding which took me by utter surprise. I had never heard Seth talk to anyone like this – maybe besides his sister – but never to me.

"What does that have to do with anything?" I snapped, the anger already building up inside of me.

"So you do then?"

"No, i never said that!" I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. He was standing in the similar - tense - posture, his arms balled into fists, his eyes narrowed and nostrils flared.

"Yes or no Grace. Do you have a boyfriend? Is there someone waiting for you?" He growled.

"I really don't see how this is you're business Seth! Why are you asking?" I narrowed my eyes further and gave him a dirty look. After a moment he slowly started to soften but his face was still hard.

"I-I uhhhh ... I know this guy..." He started, stuttering out the first word.

He better not say it! He so better not say we just had the most heated argument ever over a boy.

"If you say he likes me then i think i will have to punch you!" I cried out.

"Why?" He asked totally perplexed.

"Ugh, never mind. Tell your friend I'm not interested." I could tell Seth was about to ask something but i shot him a look that ended the conversation.

I left for my room and stayed there till my Aunt came home with dinner. Both Leah and Seth weren't there that night. Charlie Swan was down for dinner and i was beginning to think this was a everyday occurrence with them.

Afterwards i helped my Aunt wash up, i asked where Seth and Leah were and she said they were out doing stuff for the community. She explained that there were times when they wouldn't be home and not to worry.

Days passed, and i continued to play around the house or go out to explore La Push and sit at the beach. I spent an afternoon with Leah but we both got bored and parted our separate ways.

It was a Friday evening, Aunt Sue wasn't going to be home till late, and Leah and Seth were out doing community work.

I was lying across my bed reading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, when my phone started ringing.

"Hello?" I answered.

"It's time!" A very excited voice squealed down the phone.