The character names from the Twilight series are owned by Stephenie Meyer. However, select characters and ideas presented in this story are property of A Thousand Red Petals. Please do not copy, reproduce, or translate without permission.
I was surprised to see that during the thirty-three years I was gone, Forks hadn't changed a bit. Charlie's favorite restaurant remained intact, the postal office continued to be nearly deserted and Forks High School was still the gossip-filled, purgatory it was when I attended it all those years ago. Seeing the old building brought a somewhat humorous idea to my mind.
"I never graduated Forks High School."
Ryan laughed at my out-of-the-blue realization, while Serena turned her head and winked at me. John chuckled softly as he held Ana too his side, who looked at me with a small smile. I continued to stare out the window as I figured I had probably graduated over five different high schools, yet never the one I was meant to attend.
Sure, I could live without the unattractive yellow graduation attire, and the nasty rumors that spread around the school like wildfire, yet, I found myself wanting to finish my Forks High School Career. It was a trivial desire, and most definitely unreasonable with a battle coming up, but I'm sure my family would be incredibly supportive. Maybe going back would help me tie up every loose end I had left here.
That got me thinking about something – or someone – else: Charlie.
I think Ryan planned this route to our new home to avoid the police station, but, even with his carefully placed detours, I still thought of the small building where my father used to go everyday for the last thirty or so years. He had retired at sixty; happily leaving his Chief position with a smile on his face. In his emails, he told me about the "joys of retirement" and how he fished every day with Billy Black.
Charlie seldom mentioned the black in his emails, merely bringing up events that involved Billy. I guess he remembered my spat with Jacob all those years ago, and the topic of Jacob Black, similar to the topic of the Cullens, was best to be avoided.
I was shaken out of my reverie as we left the paved road, and moved to a gravelly path that was obviously not made for vehicles. "Hold on." Muttered Ryan, as he attempted to swerve the car so that the middle sat in line with the path. The trail was bumpy and uneven, often causing the car to squeal and whine in a sign of protest.
After about five minutes on the bumpy terrain, Ryan drove our car out of the leafy forest, and onto a mowed grass lawn. I looked forward, and sitting there, all alone and abandoned, was a big white house.
The Cullens old house.
Had I been human, my heart would have started to race, my vision would have gone blurry, and I would have probably passed out. As a vampire, since my body could no longer give the aforementioned reactions, I just froze. Ana noticed my immediate discomfort.
"This isn't the house Bella, it's just a shortcut." Even with her reassuring words whispered into my ear, my anxiety towards the classic mansion was not calmed. Serena turned around in her seat, and gave me a sympathetic look. She patted my knee and gave me a smile, her way of telling me she knew who the occupants were of the abandoned mansion many years ago.
I relaxed out of my frigid state, and continued to look at the house, which we were rapidly approaching. As we left the front lawn (which was covered in our tire tracks) and made our way onto the driveway, Ryan slowed the car. He turned to me, and with a sheepish smile, said "Sorry, Bells, I couldn't resist. This was the only clear exit from the forest, and we wouldn't be seen. I didn't know"-
"It's fine." I blurted out, desperately trying to avoid the topic of the Cullens. John eyes went wide as he figured out my discomfort, Serena glared at Ryan, and Ana's eyes spoke of understanding, "Let's just go, okay? Before we really get caught?"
"Of course." Ryan nodded his head, and sped up considerably as we raced down the road.
We reached our new house not two minutes later.
It looked like a mixture between a cabin and a castle. It was huge, of course: probably over twenty-thousand square feet of open space, with huge, iron chandeliers and tall stone fireplaces. As I entered the front hall, I immediately went to the staircase on the left, searching for the room with the biggest window.
When Ana designed our houses, past and present, she created for each of us an individual room that would fit all of our needs. Since Ryan had always considered moving to Forks to investigate the wolves (I was the only reason stopping us), Ana said she had had this house built a while ago. However, she claimed to have updated some things so we could be more modern, and as I looked into the rooms, I could see she was right.
Serena's was the biggest; usually with a large closet and an art easel with top of line paintbrushes and many paint colors. As I looked into her new room, I saw some of her paintings, portraits of our family, lining a large, blood red wall. She had painted many of them when I had just joined the coven, and they brought back memories of my tough, but necessary, newborn years. I also saw a family portrait that Serena had finished last week.
Ryan's rooms always had a deck, allowing him to easily escape to the outdoors to explore the land. He had numerous majors in biology and zoology from various schools, and he enjoyed, whenever we moved, to study the plant life of the surrounding environment.
John's room usually had its own personal library, usually accompanying a modest collection of seventeenth century art. He studied European and American history, and like Ryan, had many majors in his favorite subject. Occasionally, he would give lectures to students, using makeup to look older, so that he could share his discoveries and give vital information. He was passionate about the subject and was constantly ranting about the textbooks we used in our high schools.
Ana's room was smaller and quaint, but usually had stunning architectural features. As I peered into her room she had designed for herself, I admired the classic wooden beams that stretched across her ceiling. Her floor, made of dark wood and incredibly shiny, was unlike the stone which went through the rest of the house, which would have caused problems for her dancing. Ana learned ballet before she was orphaned, and with encouragement from John, took lessons nearly everyday.
I smiled as I noted the small dance studio attached to her room, as I moved away from the door frame and continued to the last doorway in the hall. Opening it slowly, I stepped inside, instantly feeling the thick carpet. As I opened the door farther and officially entered the room, my breath caught in my throat and I gave a little gasp.
It was beautiful.
The thick, light brown carpet contrasted amazingly with the dark brown walls, which were covered in numerous paintings and photographs, mostly of me, a few of me in my human years. A large stereo system, albums, CD's and my computer that was used strictly for iTunes, was set up on a wall to wall bookcase, catching my attention as I looked into the room. On the far wall, not far from where my bed sat, was a pure glass window that gave me a stunning few of the nearby mountains and lakes.
My breath caught in my throat as I noticed one mountain in particular…
It was the same mountain I had seem smoke rising from all those years ago, signaling the Cullens departure from Forks. I turned away from the window, allowing my breath to return to normal. I nearly jumped in shock when I saw Ana in the doorframe giving me a small smile.
"What do you think?" She said, stepping into the room, peering around to make sure everything was still in place. Turning her head back to me, she gave me a small smile, coming to join me by the window. She must have heard my little gasp, because she laid her small hand on my still shoulder.
"Bella," she said softly, her reflection showing me the concern in her eyes, "What's going on?" I let out a dry sob as I realized just how much pain I was in. Ana wrapped her arms around me and I laid my cheek on the top of her head, letting out the sobs I had built up for awhile.
After I was done, I left Ana's embrace to lie on my bed. Gesturing for her to sit in the chair, I began to talk, almost like I was having a therapy appointment.
"The white house was the Cullens, you know." Ana nodded, and crossed her legs, setting her petite hands in her lap. She looked at me silently, waiting for me to continue. I took a deep breath and continued to speak.
"That – mountain. The one outside my window? They had a bonfire there when the Cullens left. Everything here, it's just a memory of him. A cruel, unwanted…" I found myself unable to finish, putting my face into the pillow, and let the sobs take over me once more. I didn't want to continue, but I knew that my family needed the truth.
I only had them, and I needed their support.
I flipped myself, so I could face the ceiling. "The Cullens were like family. Like you and Ryan, and John and Serena. I got so attached to them. When they left, half of them didn't even say goodbye. And…Edward…just left. He didn't-doesn't-love me anymore. I don't even know if he ever did. Love me, I mean.
"This place is just one more reminder of my life with him and Charlie. I even had a friend, Jacob Black, but he stopped talking to me after a while too. I actually don't know why…" I trailed off, turning to look at Ana, whose face was thoughtful. I felt better letting out everything that had bothered me to her. I assumed that John, Ryan and Serena could probably hear what we were talking about, and I felt better confiding in my family.
They could help me now.
We were all running through the green forest of Forks, searching for the clearing that Serena had last seen the wolves. We reached it eventually, not too minutes later. Searching around the void space, Ryan finally spoke up, stating (as usual) the obvious, "They're not here."
"Really?" Replied John sarcastically, brushing leaves off his cardigan. Ryan shot him a look, and Ana seemed deep in thought…again.
"What are you thinking, Ana?" Serena's voice caused Ana to look at all of us, simply stating: "What if…what if they don't live in the woods"
"What do you mean? Wolves live in packs and can roam around twelve miles a day. They eat a variety of foods; birds, snakes, fish… how could they not live in the woods?" Ryan asked, his inner biology major shining through. Ana smirked at his saucy comment, and replied evenly, "They eat fish, correct?" Ryan nodded, looking confused, "Then what if they resided by a river?"
Ryan raised his eyebrows at her, then, thinking it through, nodded his head. "There's a river nearby, let's check it out." We all agreed, and soon, we were standing at the edge of the riverbank. The water was moving rapidly, swerving around the bends, occasionally bringing rocks into its strong waters.
Ryan gestured for us to be silent, and, tuning out the river, we all listened for the sound of wolves. Faintly, we heard various growls and barks, and Ryan nodded to all of us. "Be careful, guys."
With a nod of Serena's head, we all jumped over the river, easily missing the rapids below us. As soon as our feet landed on the sandy service, we heard the wolves barks get closer and closer.
"Well, now we don't have to find them." Serena said, giving us a look that told us to "just wait." We all stood there, waiting as the growls came closer and closer to us.
"Serena…" Ryan started out slowly, lowering his body into a defensive crouch. I threw him a confused look, but he seemed to be focusing to the wolves growls. "I don't think they want us here."
"What are you talking about?" Serena asked, getting into a low crouch herself, seeming unsure at the defensive action. We all followed her movements, looking around at the river shore. What was going on?
"Their growls…" Ryan didn't have time to finish, as a dark black wolf made itself visible on the river shore. It growled and got itself into a low crouch, suddenly surrounded by accompanying wolves, all in similar positions.
My breathing, for what seemed like the billionth time this week, hitched slightly.
I had seen these wolves before.
Not in person necessarily, but on various posters in Forks when I was human. They were known for their murderous ways, and I instantly tensed, emitting a low growl of my own.
"Easy, Bells." Ryan said lowly, his eyes still focused on the wolves. His comment, using my original nickname, seemed to calm one of the wolves. He perched his head up, his reddish-brown fur whipping in the wind. The black wolf growled at him, and the reddish-brown wolf growled back.
The two wolves seemed to be in some sort of conversation, and after what seemed like a fight, all of the wolves considerably relaxed. The reddish-brown wolf ran off, and as he did, Ryan nodded at all of us, stepping out of his defensive position. We all followed suit.
A couple of minutes later, in which both sides watched each other for any signs of attack, we all spotted a boy in the distant. His bluntly cut hair covered his eyes, and his muscled, tan, shirt-less body led me to believe he was Native American. I remembered Jake living on the La Push reserve. I wondered if this boy knew him.
Jake…
The boy looked up, his body past his shoulders barely showing over the wolves heads. He lightly swept his hand across his face, bringing that hair that was covering his forehead and eyes behind his ears. He scanned those dark brown eyes over my family, seemingly taking in our now casual stances, and finally, as though it caused his great pain, looked at me.
I gasped.
I had seen those eyes, so many years ago, attached to my one best friend in this small town. He was my greatest confidant, holder of my deepest secrets, and a man who was something in between my boyfriend and my brother. Jacob Black.
I was shocked to see him in front of me, looking at me with his hard eyes, calculating my shocked reaction. He remained in his place as I groped to find the words to express what I was feeling. I had always imagined Jake, when I was in the car coming to Forks, with gray hair and wrinkles, signs of a man who was about to leave his forties.
But this boy – man- in front of me was most certainly not leaving his forties anytime soon.
"Jake…" I whispered, my voice full of raw pain. I thought I saw something like sadness flicker through his eyes as he watched me come forward, but his eyes were back to their cold glare not a millisecond later, "What happened to you?"
I didn't mean for my wording to be so cruel, but it came out that way. I saw his jaw set firmly, as he seemed to be controlling an anger that was pulsing inside of him. One of the wolves growled, and the bigger, black wolf, turned its head briefly to snap at it.
"Funny, Bella." Jake replied, his voice even and low. I could tell that he was thoroughly angry with me and yet my mind couldn't, for all its glory, fathom why, "I was just about to ask you the same thing."
A/N: Sorry for the late update. Life has been insanely crazy. I guess I should also apologize for this cliff hanger. I will have the next chapter up next week.
FYI – I am still beta searching. Sorry for any errors. Please read and review.
-ATRP