CHAPTER 6
I awoke the next morning after a dreamless night. I was used to the disappointment by now. It didn't wrack my body with depression like it had those first two weeks. I rolled out of bed and hit the floor. The silence of the house was pressing, I knew that I should be getting ready for school but my curiosity grabbed me.
I walked out of my room and down the hall.
I knew that Mac and my father left often during the night, but they were always back by the time I woke up. I stepped down the stairs slowly. But stumbled down the last few steps.
I was surprised to hit the floor; I had grown used to being caught. This put me on edge. I didn't think that my father or Mac would have just let me fall if either of them had been home.
I walked to the kitchen and found it empty. I walked around a bit and found that the house was indeed empty. I went back upstairs, showered, dressed, and came back to the kitchen to see that it was still empty. I pulled the milk out of the fridge along with a bowl and spoon from the cabinet. I walked to the pantry for the cereal. I pulled out the box and brought it to the table.
I picked it up to pour some into my bowl, but my finger caught the uneven surface. I turned the box around, taped to the other side was a note. Of course it would be there, somewhere I was bound to find it.
Cass,
Mac and I will be back later call a cab for school, there's money on my desk in the office. Mac will pick you up after school.
Love, Dad
I looked at the note again then finished my cereal. I called the cab service and went upstairs for the money and my bag. By the time I was down stairs again the taxi was honking for me.
Opening the door I saw the sky, it was dark, like on the edge of a storm. Outside it was humid. I hopped in the car and told the driver the school. He drove me there, I handed him the money and then got out.
I walked into the crowds of mulling teens and pushed through them until I found the group that I wanted.
"Hey!" Rachel called, I smiled. I was feeling somewhat better that I had told someone about my inner turmoil.
"Are you feeling any better?" Patrick asked.
"Yea, I don't know what was wrong with me yesterday." And it was true. I knew that I had broken up with Rory that I should be glad that he moved on; it meant that I should be able to easier.
"Why were you so late today, the bell is about to ring?" William asked.
"I had to take a cab to school, no one was home."
"That's odd, do you know why?" Allison said. No I didn't. I was spared to have to answer and have more questions thrown at me by the ringing of the bell.
"See ya guys." I said then walked with William to Language Arts. We walked into class and stood by our seats.
"Since there is nothing else to talk about, what did you do back home?" oh I just spent endless hours enjoying the company of my vampire boyfriend, while occasionally having to thwart the attempts of my dead friend trying to kill me.
"Nothing really, it's a lot like here I guess. I tended to just hang out and watch movies and stuff."
"Hmm, that does sound as boring as here." He sat for a moment and I could detect a nervous edge in his voice when he spoke. "Could you help me with something?"
"Umm, sure." I said watching as people filed into the class.
"Could you tell me if Alexis likes me?"
"Sure she likes you; she's one of our best friends." I said unaware of his real question. He chuckled.
"No, I meant does she like me enough to go out with me?"
"Oh…"the awkwardness of the situation caught up to me. The last time I had tried to do something like this was in 3rd grade and I had asked Billy Hopkins if he like Mary Parker, he had said 'ew no' and me being me I had repeated the words back exactly. Mary never talked to me again. "I guess…"
"Thanks" he said sighing. Then he took me in a fierce hug that left me laughing with the little air I had. He seemed so happy, just to know that I would check for him. I wondered how long he had liked her. He let go and I blushed deeply at the strange stares we had attracted from the incoming students. He was becoming to me, like a brother.
The final bell rang and we sat in our seats. The lecture that we were getting about homers the "Iliad" was boring me to death. I rested my head against the desk and let my mind wander to possible places that Mac and my father were this morning.
The bell rang and I got up slowly, I was like always dreading math. But I walked to the door.
"Don't forget to ask her, okay?" William said again. I nodded and walked out the door.
I walked down the hallway and to math. I hadn't dared be late for any of them since that first day. I sat in my seat and pulled the book out from under the desk. I flipped through the pages until I got to today's lesson.
I stared down at the equations like they were the meaning of life. But really I was making up scenarios in my head that correlated the similarities between Alexis and William and Rory and me. It was all based on assumption though.
I was assuming that William had liked Alexis for a while, that she had possibly been unavailable before. That they would fall in love. I didn't want to go farther than that though because I knew that I would have to have their relationship end in heartbreak.
The teacher handed out warm-ups for us to do. I took mine and handed the rest of the stack to the person behind me.
The class was passing easily. Though I realized that it would be hard for me to find out if Alexis liked William because I didn't have any classes with her. I would have to catch her before lunch.
Eleanor leaned over and whispered something to me. I was zoning out, so I just 'yes' like she had asked if I wanted olives on my pizza. I looked up from my work and back to Eleanor. She was texting on her cell phone under the desk like her life depended on it.
"Wait, what you just asked me again, I wasn't actually listening." I said trying to be innocent looking while covering the fear at what I had answered yes to.
"I just wanted to know what the answer to question five was; when you answered yes I knew that you weren't listening." She said looking at me knowingly. I didn't like that. She didn't know me.
I looked back at my work, what was the answer to number five, as a matter of fact what was the answer to numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4? My distraction caused me to hastily do my work and then pass it up before the bell.
I left in a rush; hopefully I could just get Alexis now instead of before lunch. I walked out to the grounds and scanned the area. I caught a glimpse of her blunt blonde hair and called out her name. She went on her tippy-toes and caught my eye. She smiled and waved then made her way over to me.
We started walking towards the main pavilion.
"Hey Alexis." I said.
"Hey Cassie, what's up?"
"Um..." hopefully I would handle this better than I had ion 3rd grade. "Do you like William?"
"Why, do you like him?" she asked.
"Only as a friend, but I'm asking if you like him as more than a friend."
She stopped walking and hid her face though I could tell that she was smiling, I could even hear it in her voice.
"Yes." She said looking up.
I smiled back at her, though I could feel my heart heave. Her eyes had been gleaming with the obvious expression of love. I wanted to question how could she love someone that she hasn't even told that she liked? But I bit my tongue. I knew it was possible. I knew from experience.
We walked to everyone. William looked up and I met his eye giving him a smile and mouthing the words that she did like him.
He broke out in an unstoppable grin.
I watched as he pulled Alexis aside. We all looked at each other, the bell rang. I went with Rachel to English. English and science passed quickly. I walked with Jenna to lunch. When Alexis got to the table, it was still only Jenna, Rachel, and me.
"William asked me out!" she said ecstatic.
"We know, but congratulations." I had told Rachel during English and Jenna during science.
"Oh." She said her face turning an odd shade of pink on her tan skin.
She sat and started gushing about it. I tuned out. Something that seemed to be happening a lot today.
"Do you want to go shopping with us this Sunday?" Jenna asked somewhat exasperated.
I looked up; it was like everything today had some type of covering over it that made it fuzzy and UN clear.
"Sure, sounds fine to me." I said. Staring blankly at the wall. I vaguely noticed the rest of our group show up at the table. I drifted in and put of the conversation during lunch.
There was something so off about today. Even from when I had first woken up.
I felt a tugging on my sleeve. And looked up. Patrick was there.
"Cassie, the bell rung, we were going to wait and see how long it took you to notice but if I wait any longer we're going to be late."
"Oh, right, sorry." I said standing. He put an arm around my shoulder.
"What's up with you today, you seem all dazed and shit." He said. I looked at him mildly amused by his words.
In his face I lost myself. I don't know why, but it sent my heart a flutter. His eyes looked like the water on a stormy day. Blue, but darkened by a black sky. I felt my legs stop. He did too.
I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. They were warm. The feeling of fuzziness had been ripped away and everything felt clear, felt right. He returned the kiss, he wrapped his arms around my waist and I reached around his neck. I could feel the end of his hair on my hands. My head was swimming. This was amazing, nothing like the kiss that Gabe and I had shared. And better, Patrick was kissing me in a way that I knew that Rory never could.
The final bell rang and I pulled my head back.
"We're late." I said but didn't move from his hold.
"Yes, we are." He said, also remaining stationery.
He leaned back in to me and I met his lips willfully. I pushed my fingers into his hair. I felt him pull me closer and I didn't object. This felt, indescribable.
Rory, had just been a boy that I loved, but I could get over it, over him.
Couldn't I? Yes.
Than why was I thinking about him while I was kissing someone else?
I pushed away my thoughts about it and just let myself be then and there. Patrick pulled back.
"We really should go to gym." He said.
I leaned into him, not meeting his lips again though. I was a mere centimeter away.
"Then let's go." I said then pulled out of his grasp and walked to the girls changing room.
It was empty and I changed quickly, walking through the door to where my class was. No one noticed my late entry because a couple mini basket ball games were all going on. I walked to the teacher. She gave me a disbelieving look when I told her that I couldn't get my locker open and that was why I was late. I heard her mutter something indistinguishable.
I walked over to the bleachers where some other people were sitting and sat on the top most rows. I relaxed and closed my eyes, leaning my head against the wall. I could pick out individual voices in the gym the Italian sounding completely normal to me. I could hear the squeaking of shoes on the wood floor, the basketballs repeatedly hitting the floor. The best part was that things were going back to normal.
It was like I had brought my life to an expensive seamstress who stitched it back together, and then said 'it looks like its brand new.'
"Hey." Patrick said. I had a sharp intake of breath and opened my eyes. He was close enough that I could see and probably count every single one of his eye lashes.
"Hey." I said smiling. There was a bit of awkwardness in the air, but I shoved it aside.
"What do you have after this?" he asked.
"I have drama then world history, you?" I said.
"I have English then math." He said. I moved my head from the wall to his shoulder.
"You know that you're a lot more comfortable than a wall?" I commented. He shook with quiet laughter. We sat in silence the rest of the period. It wasn't uncomfortable silence, it was calm, and there was nothing that needed saying.
The bell rang and we got up.
"I'll meet you after school?" Patrick said his low voice, made my heart thud knowing that he was talking to me.
"Yea, where?"
"How about in front of the cafeteria." He said.
"Alright." I said waving good bye and changing back into my normal clothing.
I walked to drama. The class here wasn't as exciting as the one back home. Here it was very structured; we took actual tests on famous play writes and acting techniques. I sat in my chair as two students performed a scene from Shakespeare's Henry IV.
It was good that Patrick and I would meet next to the cafeteria instead of near the sidewalk. That way I wouldn't have to put up with the stares from any of my friends or the onlookers waiting for the bus.
Another problem that I had was that I had no idea what to tell my friends what was going on between Patrick and me.
The bell rang.
"Uh-uh-uh." My teacher said as we started to stand. "Don't forget we have a test on Friday, so I do hope that you have been paying attention these past two weeks." She said. I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag.
I walked out the door and to world history.
Something that bugged me about world history was that it was all the same. Practically every country had conflict, war, money, and social issues. The only reason I took the class was that it was required. I didn't think I would ever really need to know this stuff.
At the end of class I was the first one out the door. I skipped heading to my locker figuring that I didn't really need anything from it, and proceeded as fast as I could while still walking to the cafeteria. I slowed my pace when I saw Patrick there already; his math room must have been close by.
I gave him a grin and walked to him his arms slipped there way around my waist. I pushed up on the balls of my feet and gave him a kiss.
He raised his eyebrows when I looked at him.
"You know, I wouldn't have thought you to be the type of person to initiate a kiss." He said. "You were so shy that first day here." He said.
"Well, you thought wrong. And anyways I was just embarrassed that first day, everyone's first impression of me was that I walked into a pole."
"I guess you have a point there." He said. I tilted my head to the side a bit.
"Um," I started; the awkwardness that had hung in the air earlier had made a second appearance. "This may sound silly, but what exactly are we? Are we really anything?"
"Well, I'd like to say that we were boy friend and girlfriend, or that we were dating." He said giving me a sheepish smile.
"Well, we couldn't really be either of those seeing as you haven't asked me out yet." I said. The rain that had been threatening all day was starting. There was a rumble of thunder over head. The water falling harder from the sky every second.
"Would you like to go on a date with me, say, tomorrow night?" he spoke clearly through the rain.
"So eager." I joked, referring to how soon he had wanted to go on a date with me. "But yes, I would love to go out with you." My stomach dropped at my words. This was all so similar. The rain, the scene, my words. They were so close to what I had told Rory. "I have to go." I said "my ride is probably waiting."
"Okay." He reluctantly removed his arms. "I'll call you tonight." He said. I ran off towards the side walk where I saw the silver car. All of the thoughts about Mac and my father missing this morning came back and my intrigue sparked. I was ready to give the whole twenty questions deal, but as soon as I got in the car it changed.
I looked at Mac and horror filled my every emotion. No his eyes had not changed blue, and no he didn't look like he was about to attack me. But his face was covered by tiny cuts. I knew that it was hard to hurt a vampire, let alone leave some type of mark on them.
"Wha-what happened?" I asked the fear apparent in my voice.
"You don't need to worry about It." he said looking straight ahead out the glass.
"What happened?!" I demanded.
"Just don't worry about it, you're stressed enough." He said. I was surprised about how he had responded. He wouldn't tell me because he didn't want me to be too stressed, he cared. I quieted myself, but had to speak up when we made a turn that we didn't normally do on the ride home.
"Where are we going?" I asked. He didn't answer. "Fine where were you this morning?" again no answer. I sat back in my seat and crossed my arms. We drove until we were parked in front of the giant castle that the Volturi lived in.
"What are we doing here? It's not Saturday." I said. He got out of the car. I scrambled out to follow him. We walked inside.
"Hello" Gianna said. I gave her the same look as I always did, though I knew that my stomach was twisting with the unknown reason as to why we were here. I strode down the hall next to Mac, yet it wasn't nearly as graceful.
We entered the room that we were always in. the one with the big doors and nice chairs. Inside my father stood to the side of those vacant chairs. I breathed a sigh of relief to see that he was okay and not looking equal to Mac.
We walked to meet him then stood in silence. I didn't want to say anything.
The doors opened and in came Aro, Marcus, Caius, and two others who looked unfamiliar. I stood stock still, an uncomfortable tingling was on my spine, and it gave me the feeling of danger.
"Hello Cassandra, Mac." Aro said lightly. I nodded to show my acknowledgment, not trusting my voice. "This is Jane and Alec." He said. I looked at them.
The girl, Jane, could be mistaken for a boy perhaps if her face weren't so feminine. Her eyes were wide and she had light brown hair that was cropped short. Alec looked more or less the same, but more boyish.
Aro turned to my father.
"If you wouldn't mind we would like to talk with Cassie alone." He said. Though his words had asked permission, his tone had left no room for a no. my father stood for a moment thinking, then nodded. I didn't know what to do. I didn't move, only locking eyes with Marcus who chose to look at me like he was trying to figure out some riddle. "Come Cassandra." Aro said. I obeyed. I had never asked for them to stop calling me Cassandra.
We walked out the doors leaving Mac and my father left in the room. I saw Caius turn to one of the guards and tell him something. He moved into the room. We walked down the hall and to another room. One that had windows that let the dwindling amount of sun that had broken through the rain clouds spill lazily into the room. The floor was carpeted and I could tell we were far up above the little shops.
I was pretty sure that my heart momentarily stopped when they moved through the light. Their skin danced liked diamonds under a light. But as fast as they had entered the light they had moved passed it. We stopped in about the center of the room.
"Cassandra, we discovered some interesting information this morning." Aro said. "It took a little but we eventually got Mac to let me in his mind." He said. I was shocked that they had done anything so mean to him though I shouldn't have been. I had heard before what deplorable creatures that they were. "You see, he didn't want to let us in on your conversation that you had had yesterday. You seem to have quite a friend." Aro's voice was light and calm and it almost sickened me for it to be so.
"And what exactly did you find out?" I asked, not wanting to give away any information that they didn't know.
"We found that you have encountered another of us who gave us away." He said. "I do hope you know that that shouldn't have happened. That someone, Rory is it? Apparently you two fell in love." He stopped.
I kept my face expressionless though I was fighting back the tears welling for a second time. I felt them on the cusp of my eyelid and I blinked them away. I didn't want to hear them talk about him. It was hard for me to do it myself.
"Love, what an interesting concept." He continued. "Then you were attacked, by someone who used to be your best friend. Your father changed her." He stated. "They protected you, Rory and hi family. Then when asked how you got so hurt you lied for them. Am I correct so far?"
"Yes." I said looking at a point on the wall in between two heads.
"But then, you broke up with him. Not because of what he was, but because he wouldn't let you become one of us." He paused. "Cassandra Sunnel, do you truly want to be changed?"
"I did at the time." I said softly.
"And now you don't?"
"Well, there isn't really a reason now. I wanted to because I wanted to be with Rory forever. We were both in love then. But it's different now. I don't want to have to live forever anymore, not alone."
"And you really believed that you both were in love?" Aro asked skeptically. My head shot up reflexively. I glared into his eyes.
"Yes, we were, I know we were!" I said. He stood.
"Watch what you say and how you say it." Aro warned. I took it gravely and shut myself up. " I hope that you realize that you will one day either have to be changed or we will have to get rid of you." He said. "So which is it?"
"I-I" I didn't have any idea how I was supposed to respond to that. Of course I didn't want to die. But I had no reason to want to be changed. "Do I have to decide now?"
Aro, Marcus, and Caius nodded.
"I guess I want to be changed, this doesn't have to happen now, does it?"
"No, no, of course not. We just needed to know what your decision would be." Aro spoke light and cheery again and I could see why Marcus and Caius always looked somewhat annoyed. If I was around this attitude at every sad moment in my life I might burst. "Why don't we go and visit your father again. I am sure he is wondering what took us so long." He said. I agreed, but was really just overjoyed to be heading back to the company of family
"Did you tell him about everything?" I asked hoping for a negative.
"No" Aro said.
When we re-entered the room where Mac and my father were I could see them physically relax. The man who had been sent in to watch them also left.
"You may go now." Marcus said to us. My father replied something to quick for my ears and then we left.
The sun had fallen behind the mountains, leaving it dark outside. The pavement smelled like rain. We all loaded into the silver Mercedes and left. The drive home was mostly quiet. About halfway there. My dad turned in his seat to look at me.
"Are you okay, did they do anything to you?" I shook my head and he turned around. We arrived at the house and I could tell that it would be a quiet night. Being as slow as I was, I was the last out of the car.
"Mac" I called when I saw my father had disappeared into the house. He turned around. "Thank you." I said referring to how he had tried to keep my secret. He smiled and walked into the house and so did I.
"Hey Cass, you got a message in here." My dad said. Crap. I had forgotten all about Patrick calling. I hurried to the phone. Patrick's message was uncomfortable as he said he was calling to talk to me and that I would please call him back. I took down the number he had left on the message and then dialed it.
"Hello?" he picked up.
"Hey Patrick, I was out, sorry I missed your call." I said.
"It's alright." He said "so I just wanted to find out what we were going to do tomorrow."
"What is there to do?" I asked.
"Not much, if only it was a weekend."
"We could see a movie." I suggested.
"There's not really anything good in theaters."
"We might be able to watch a movie at my house." I said.
"That would be cool. But I get to pick the movie." He said.
"Fine as long as it's not all blood and guts." I said.
"Dang it, that eliminates all the movies that I wanted." He said sarcastically. "So after school then?"
"Yea, that sounds good." I said.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He said.
"You too." I said hanging up. Some of the pressure from the afternoon's events had been lifted. I scampered up the stairs into my dad's office. "Dad?" I asked.
"You want to know if Patrick can come over tomorrow?" he said. Stupid super hearing. I scowled.
"Yes, if that's alright."
"That's fine."
"You wouldn't by chance let us be alone, would you?"
"no." he said without looking up from his work.
"But that's not fair, you'll be able to hear everything we say and do." I whined.
"Life's not fair." He said.
"Humph." I said crossing my arms. "Fine then." I walked out of the room. I was actually surprised that he had said yes, and I didn't really expect him to let us be alone, but it would sure be embarrassing having him be able to hear everything.
I walked to my bedroom and changed into my pajamas. I knew that it was stupid and silly, but even now I was excited to sleep in the case that I might just possibly be visited by Rory.
I brushed my teeth washed my face and laid in bed, letting myself slip out of consciousness.
The next day was long. I wasn't sure if it was because I was anxious for my 'date' with Patrick tonight, or because of all of the glances I got per second when we were walking together into the cafeteria.
We had told our friends at break. But the knowledge had been passed around faster than a cake at a weight watchers meeting.
Our table was getting numerous stares because it had also been discovered by the rest of our student population that William and Alexis were going out.
Lunch passed and I headed off for gym with Patrick. We had actually played basketball today. It wasn't that bad because we had been able to pick our teams. I had picked not to be on Patrick's team. Not because I decided I didn't like him anymore, I just wanted to play against him. That was just the type of person I was. I wanted to be able to brag about it the rest of the day if my team won.
Someone passed me the ball. Not a really smart move. I guessed that they had wanted me to try and shoot. They should have known that I was more likely to hit the backboard if I wasn't aiming for it.
I stood holding the ball, sizing up my chance of making it and from which direction.
"Shoot!" someone screamed to me. But I was attacked. Well it wasn't really called that in basketball.
Patrick had gabbed me from behind, trying to get the ball.
"Do you really think that your team is going to beat mine?" he asked in my ear.
"What you think I'd let you just take the ball from me?" I asked back. I tried to turn to get him to move but I ended up practically handing him the ball. He took it and made a basket.
"I knew you couldn't resist my charm." He joked. The teacher blew the whistle and I moved to go to the changing room.
"Meet you at the cafeteria." Patrick called.
I changed and headed to my next class. Then after that the next until the bell finally rung, signaling the end of school. I hurried like I did before to the cafeteria. But this time instead of slowing as I neared him I ran straight to him. We kissed and then walked to the car.
Mac looked strangely at us as we got in.
"Patrick is Mac, Mac this is Patrick." I said introducing them. We drove away and I could hear Patrick say in my ear.
"Wow this is a nice car." I thought it funny that he had whispered because there was really no point, Mac heard anyway.
We arrived at the house and Patrick let out a low whistle while looking at it.
"Just come on." I said pulling him in the house and ignoring his sounds at the house. We moved to the living room and he pulled the DVD out of his bag. I took it and popped it into the player. We watched the first few minutes; I rested my head against Patrick's chest, listening to his heart beat. I wondered if that would be what it was like as a vampire, constantly hearing the heartbeats of others.
We missed the rest of the movie; he seemed to find kissing more interesting than the plot. I didn't mind though.
He left that night and I seemed perfectly at ease.
The rest of the week moved by quickly. I didn't meet with the Volturi on Saturday, instead Patrick and I walked around the shops. We weren't going in any, just enjoying each others company.
We stopped in front of the fountain that was in front of the castle.
"I love you." He said to me. I personally thought it was bit early for this.
"I-I really like you a lot, but I'm not ready to say that I am in love with you. I don't want you to take it personally. It's just I don't want to say it and not mean it. I know how it feels to be lied to about love." I said, taking his face in my hands.
"I understand, thank you." He said. I sighed in relief. He kissed my forehead. My cell phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out.
"Hello?"
"Hi Cassie, I'm just calling to tell you where I'll be when I pick you up." It was Mac.
"Alright."
"I'll be right in front of the gates."
"Fine." I said.
"Ten minutes."
"Okay." I hung up the phone. I looked towards the castle. I could only think of what might be going on there. To think that my father was there almost everyday and night.
"That castle is pretty isn't it?" Patrick asked.
"Um, yes." I said.
"Yea, it's been there for like all of history or something, but there's no way to get in."
No way to get in? Yes there was. I didn't say anything though because I doubted I was supposed to.
"A couple of kids tried to last year in the middle of the night. But they never came back. No one ever found them. Then William and I tried to during the day during summer. We didn't find anything."
Those kids had never come back? What had happened to them? I mentally cringed at what the likely answer was.
"I have to go." I said looking at the clock tower. We walked to the gates where Mac was. I kissed Patrick on the cheek and then got in the car.
The next week was mostly that same as the prior. Classes were just as boring, my mind felt numb. Patrick reminded me everyday that he loved me even though I only liked him a lot. I was happy that he was okay with this though. It made me feel better about myself.
Friday morning I woke up and dressed, just like a normal day. The morning classes sped by. I was so absorbed by talking with Patrick that I didn't even listen to anything around us.
English and Science were unprofitable. After science I went to the library hoping that I could pull in as much about Shakespeare and what not as you possibly could in forty minutes. I didn't want to fail a test, especially one for drama.
I almost ran to gym. I quickly changed, being one of the last out of the room. I walked in the gym and my eyes caught the sight of the one person who could make my stomach flip like it was a professional acrobat.
His dirty blonde hair, messy and falling slightly over his vivid green eyes. His devastatingly beautiful face. He was more gorgeous, more breathtaking than any of my memories had made him to be.
Rory's head turned to see me and our eyes met.
I tore my gaze away from Rory's. The back of my neck tingled with a mixture of fear and excitement. My stomach moved uncomfortably more like vicious moths than butterflies. I walked as smoothly as I could to Patrick.
"Hey, did you see the new kid?"
"Mmhmm." I mumbled not trusting my voice.
"Want to go meet him?" Patrick asked. I knew that he had no idea who this new kid was, had no idea that that was the ex-boyfriend of mine I had thought I had seen that first day.
I could feel my eyes go wide.
"No." I answered quickly and curtly. Patrick's eyebrows knitted together.
"What, are you suddenly shy?" I didn't answer his mocking question. He put his arm around my waist in a snare like grasp, slowly dragging me towards Rory against all of my efforts. He stopped about halfway over to Rory. "What's up? He asked concerned. "Are you okay?" I could feel Rory's gaze against my back. "Come on, I'll give you a kiss." Patrick tried to say seductively. It was one of those things that I normally would have cracked a smile at. But with the knowing sense that Rory was listening I couldn't manage anything other than a petrified stare.
I opened my mouth but no words came out.
"Cassie?" Patrick asked sounding truly scared. "Cassie, are you okay, what's wrong, do you feel dizzy?" he asked in a rush.
"I- I just need to use the rest room." I said unthinkingly. Patrick let go of his grasp and I walked to the teacher.
"Are you alright?" the teacher asked.
I nodded.
"I just need to use the rest room." I said. My gym teacher nodded in agreement. I walked as quickly and steadily as I could to the rest room.
I stood in front of the dirty mirror. My face was chalk white, a mask of shock frozen over it. I should be mad at Rory for being here. I had left him, told him to leave me alone. But I couldn't dismiss the feeling of happiness. The feeling that I once again wouldn't have to try to make things feel right, that they just would.
I heard the door open. I didn't move my head; I didn't really care about seeing what other girl would be standing in the doorway, coming to fix her makeup and what not.
"Miss me?" Rory's smooth voice like warm honey, I wanted desperately to say no.
"Yes." I said as softly as I could manage. "But just because you miss someone doesn't mean that they should be with you." I said trying to look at a spot right above his head. It was far too painful to see his face and know that he wasn't mine, to know that he would never be mine. "Why are you here?" I asked.
"Why do you think?" he said his voice full of sadness.
"A nice vacation?" it wasn't my fault that he made no sense giving me no other logical answer.
He took two steps forward.
"Wait" I said. "I…I don't feel comfortable with you being at this school with me, also, I don't think that you should be in the girls bathroom."
"I haven't seen you in two months and you're worried about me being in the girl's bathroom?" he said trying to keep the mood light.
"No, I'm worried about you being around me." I said walking past him and out the door back to the gym. I took deep breaths that were close to hyperventilation, but it somehow distracted me.
Patrick was looking at me like he was concerned about my sanity, not that I could really blame him. The class had already done roll call and were engaged in some type of dodge ball game. I could see Rory walking in from the boy's side of the gym. I wondered how he had gotten over there.
Patrick put his hand lightly against my face and looked at me. My heart didn't change its steady beat as usual. I had no reason to be happy or excited by Patrick touching me. Yes I liked him, but he wasn't…wasn't Rory, and now that Rory was here…
No, this was cruel of me. I couldn't say I didn't want Patrick now that Rory was here. My life was finally going well. And partly because I was with Patrick. Going back to Rory, dumping Patrick would just mess things up again. Plus, Rory was just…
I was lying to myself and I knew it Rory would never be just something; he exceeded my every expectation in anything. But still, I wouldn't go back to him. It would be a waste of time, for me to take my life to be with him. He would never change me. He would never let us be together forever. I would always be unhappy about that.
But, but the Volturi would change me anyway, so there was no reason anymore.
I couldn't force myself to think on this anymore.
"Are you going to be okay?" Patrick asked me.
"Yes." I said no need to worry him that my sanity actually was at stake.
"Do you want to meet the new kid?" he asked.
"Sure." I said not wanting him to question me further about my dejection to meeting him, again.
We walked between people, trying to be inconspicuous as to not tip off the teacher we weren't actually playing. I was fine that Patrick's arm was around my waist. We were fast approaching Rory, no body was with him, he was looking away, but I knew he could feel us getting closer to him.
"Hey, my names Patrick." Patrick said pushing his hand that wasn't around my waist into the air. Rory turned, his eyebrows moved up a bit, amused. He took Patrick's hand in a shake then let go.
"I'm Rory," he said then inclining his head to me. It was strange to hear him speak in Italian. "And you are?" he asked. I was annoyed by how smooth his voice flowed and how he could act like he really didn't know me. Compared to how I was when I saw him.
"I'm Cassandra, you can call me Cassie." I said moving my hand out. He took it in his icy one, and now my heart did jump erratically. He smirked and I knew he had heard it.
"Nice to meet you, I just moved here with my family from the u.s." he said.
"How odd, so did Cassie!" Patrick answered for me. I smiled congenially.
"Really from where?" Rory asked. My smile dropped and I wanted so bad to hit him. He was pushing me into a trap.
"California." I said dully.
"Me too, where?" he asked. I was so irritated with him.
The bell rang and I chose not to answer his question. I turned and kissed Patrick on the cheek risking a quick glance at Rory, he looked unperturbed. I walked off to change doing it quickly and walking huffily out to drama.
Stupid annoying jack ass. I thought sourly as I sat in my seat, waiting for others to file in. how could Rory come here, and how was he allowed to just act like he didn't care that I was with someone else.
The second bell rang; I hadn't even noticed the other people come in.
"Everyone, please pay attention, as I have been saying today we have a test. So please put everything away, all back packs zipped up." The teacher waited for a moment. "Good, now do the best you and please keep your eyes on your own page." She said as she handed the tests out.
I took mine. They were essay questions.
Why were Shakespeare's plays misogynistic? Please give examples, comparisons and quotes.
Great, just fantastic. I wouldn't be able to answer this.
It wasn't my fault it was Rory's. If he hadn't come today. If he hadn't completely rearranged my life.
I thought on this until I had about ten minutes left of the period when I wrote the answers to the questions, my studying completely gone to waste.
The bell rang and every got up and handed their test in I did quickly and went to my next class. This was really stupid. I probably just flunked my test. I thought back to my hurriedly scribbled answers and could feel a blush creeping up my face at their absurdity.
World history passed, painfully. I wasn't allowing myself t think about Rory, or at least I was trying not to allow myself. I actually couldn't stop thinking about him.
Why was he back?
Why had he left the first time?
"Cassie, please answer the question!" I looked up at the teacher mortified.
"Err, what was it again?" I asked timidly.
The teacher made an exasperated noise and turned and asked some one else to answer it. I paid more attention the rest of class, but I wasn't called on again.
After school I stood with my friends. They were talking about Rory's family; surprise, surprise. I could see a small crowd around them. I wondered what Triston and Elyse were doing here, they had graduated last year. Maybe they were acting younger.
I scanned the parking lot for Mac, where was he? I just wanted to get out of here as soon as I could. Although I would have to endure tomorrow, the next day, and so on once I left.
The shiny silver car pulled to the curb. I gave a quick goodbye to everyone, not bothering the specifics of people. I rushed to the car as fast as I could with out actually running. I just wanted out of this vicinity. Maybe if I was at home I would be able to think better.
The car ride was short as always but completely silent. I could see Macs eyes flicking to me every few minutes, but I didn't bring it up. I was too enthralled in my own thoughts, my own questions.
I was having the most trouble with one possibility. One very likely possibility.
That I would be happy if Rory visited me tonight. That I would relish in the thought of his presence. I didn't want that. I didn't want anyone to have this level of influence over me.
Mac pulled in front of the house. I unlocked the car door but it re-locked. I turned to look at Mac; he had pressed the lock button. I unlocked it again but he locked it once more. We did this little charade twice more before I said anything.
"What?" I said rather rudely and bit my tongue on it. I tried to soften my eyes to show my apologies.
"Are you okay?" Mac asked. I was getting sick of this question.
"Fine, just dandy." I said unlocking the car and opening the door before he could react to my words. I walked to the house moodily.
My room was disorganized, but that was nothing new. I flopped onto my back, letting the day's emotional wear and tear engulf me. My throat was closed in the feeling that I was crying, my stomach doing that strange tumble. But no tears escaped my eyes.
I curled on my side and closed my eyes, hoping for nothing but sleep, where my thoughts couldn't torture me.
But I was the type of person who can only fall asleep in the middle of the day when I'm either extremely sick or haven't slept in at least forty eight hours. I arose and walked clumsily downstairs. Sitting on the couch, not really watching, but seeing as the colors and shapes moved by on the television.
I sat there, like a zombie, ignoring all of the thoughts that were screaming at me inside my head, until it was dark. I was pretty sure that I fine layer of dust had glazed over my eyes.
"Cassie?" my dad called loudly from the door. I could barely hear his footsteps even though I was straining my ears. "Cass, are you" he didn't finish
"Okay? Yes, I'm fine." I said amused, wondering if I would be able to count how many people had asked me that today.
"How did you know I would" he started again but still I interrupted.
"Ask that?" I finished for him. "Just a lucky guess." I said still not moving or looking at him. I was slightly afraid of what the look on his face would hold.
My father was fairly predictable when you thought about it. Maybe staying the same age for any odd years did that to you. It was strange to think that I would no matter what be like that one day. I would be forever sixteen.
I wondered if my father knew. I turned around. I couldn't help but ask, though I knew I shouldn't.
"How would you feel about me being changed?" I asked still in the same monotonous voice.
I saw his face contort into sheer horror, disgust almost. Whether it was because of the actual question, or the bluntness at which I had asked it I didn't know.
"That isn't going to happen." He said. I wondered what he thought would happen to me. He couldn't really believe that they would let me go. He worked for them, he couldn't be that naïve. But maybe he thought that death would be better than me being changed.
"Dad, I think we need to talk then." I said. Talking to him would hopefully keep my mind distracted. I saw his eyebrows rise. I knew that I sounded like an adult trying to give their child the 'birds and the bees' talk.
He came and sat on the couch. I pivoted to face him.
"what do you think is going to happen to me if I'm not changed, do you think that the Volturi are just going to kill me?" he opened his mouth speechless.
"I-I'm not sure."
"Please don't' baby me." I said picking up on the level of stress in his voice.
He hung his head.
"Probably." He said just loud enough for my ears.
"Would you rather that than me be changed?" I asked for the first time in the conversation, emotion flooded my voice. The thought that my father would rather lose me forever than have me alive hurt.
"Cass," he said putting his arm around my shoulder "I don't know what will happen." He said avoiding the question. I didn't feel upset about the evasion though, it was better than what my underlying suspicion of his answer had been.
I rested my head against my dads shoulder and let my eyes close, drifting to sleep by the silence of his non-beating heart.
It wasn't long before I got my dream.
I was standing in a room I had never been in, but I had dreamed of. The dream that had taken place here was one of complete revulsion to my mind, I had seen here my father kill a woman, drink her blood.
The cobble stone under my feet was even but I felt nervous for some unimaginable reason. My stomach acting like a Chinese acrobat. The room was empty, aside from me, but I wasn't moving. My heart pounding out of my chest. My head snapped to the door as Aro entered.
"Nervous Cassandra?" He asked while walking toward me non chalantly. "Don't worry there is nothing that will go wrong." he said. I had a slight inclination to run, but I had no reason to. Not one that I knew of.
"Can we please do this quickly?" My body said though I had no intention of talking.
Aro moved closer to me. He put two freezing fingers under my chin and moved my head up gently so that he was looking directly at me.
"So young, it is so sad that we must do this now." He mused. "Perhaps though it is for the best. Are you ready?" he asked. My body nodded. I could see his old eyes full of wisdom; they looked almost pondering before they swooped down. I felt pain as his teeth punctured my skin.
My own hand had shot immediately to my throat where the pain had been seconds earlier whilst I dozed. I thought I wasn't supposed to feel pain when I was dreaming. But then again when you're a toddler and you have a bad dream your parents will say 'it was just a dream, nothing is really going to happen' I wonder what I should have gotten. My dreams tended to come true.
It took a moment or so for me to realize that Rory had visited. That he had been with me.
I jumped out of bed and turned the shower on to a cold temperature. I didn't want myself to have time to react to that idea. The ice water that poured from the faucet immediately captured my mind from any thought other than ones of heat and warmth.
I wrapped myself in a fluffy towel when I got out and changed into clothing as fast as I could. I took extra time on my hair and was later than usual getting down stairs. I grabbed a protein bar and waited for Mac to get down stairs.
"Mac!" I yelled. I knew that my dad was gone already.
"Mac!" I yelled again. No answer. I ran upstairs and opened his door.
In the room were Mac and Rory. They were each crouched defensively. Their heads turned to see me. I wasn't paying attention to Mac's face though, only Rory's. Rory's face turned somber and he looked like he would say something like 'I can explain'.
"Get out." I said assertively but in a normal volume.
"I'm-"he started.
"OUT!" I yelled. He moved to the window and slipped out of it. I turned around and walked back down stairs. Mac was close at my heels, he opened the door for me and I marched outside to the car.
"Would you like to tell me why that kid was in your room while you were sleeping?" Mac asked very parentally.
"Not really." I said loudly before getting in the car and slamming the door. How could he want me to explain something to him? Why did he and Rory look like they were about to go into mortal combat?
Mac got in.
"Look I know that that was Rory, why is he here." Mac said calmly.
"No idea." I stated as he started to drive. "Why were you in my room in the first place?" I demanded.
"You do realize that as vampires we can smell each other, and smelling him in your room, I went to kick him out. You do also realize that he broke into our house, right?"
"Why didn't your or my dad hear then?"
"We were out, I came back to check on you, seeing as that is part of my job."
I pushed open the door as he pulled to the curb. I closed it softer, worrying that the door might actually break off if I slammed it one more time. I moved through the crowds of people determinedly. I had to find Rory, I might have spent all yesterday avoiding even thoughts of him but this was too much. I spotted him through the crowds. The back of his head.
I pushed my way towards him. But stopped when I saw someone else. It wasn't anyone in his family. It was a girl.
She was a good three and a half inches taller than me. She was very pretty though not in a typical sense. She had natural black hair to the middle of her back, with blue highlights that matched her blue eyes and the ends of her hair were purple. Her ears were pierced once in the normal traditional spot, a set right above that, and she had her cartilage pierced. Her skin was pale, unnaturally so.
I stood for a second and then turned around, walking less feverishly back toward my regular morning hangout. I was greeted when I arrived. I knew that it had been egotistical to think that Rory and his family had come here for me; it had to be something else. Especially since Rory was with another girl. That must have been how he was able to act so calm with me and Patrick yesterday. Because he didn't care anymore.
The bell rang. I walked unseeingly to Language Arts.
I sat in my seat.
"Hey, what was that for?!" William said when he came in the room. A couple of people looked up in interest.
"Sorry." I said understanding that I had just left him standing there with everyone.
"It's okay, I forgive you." He said jokingly.
"Because my life would have been ruined without your acceptance." I had tried to say sarcastically but it came out oddly. He shooed it away.
"Did you see the new girl, isn't it weird that two days in a row we had new kids?"
"Yea, I saw her." I said uncaringly. Though it really meant more than any Language Arts class ever would. Knowing that Rory had moved on.
"She's hot, don't you think?" he said. I rose and eyebrow.
"First you have a girlfriend, second, are you really asking me that?" I said. He rolled his eyes.
"So what do you think of that family that just moved here?"
I shrugged he could make what he wanted of that. The teacher started passing out an assignment and I tuned my brain to the 'learning frequency'. Period one passed slowly while the teacher droned on about the importance and shaping of society that some book had.
When the bell rang I was happy to put my things away. I was almost excited for my next class. I wanted to see if that girl was in it. I wanted to find out more about her. But when I entered the class she wasn't there. I took it fine. Maybe I didn't really want to find out what she was like. What if she was better than me in every way possible? Did I really want to know that Rory had gotten someone perfect and better than me and I had gotten my miserable self that thought about him when I was kissing other guys?
I sat in my seat. I felt a flurry of papers fall out of the person next to me bag. I turned. It was Eleanor. Her eyes looked star struck and she was dazed. She sat and gathered her papers like she was still asleep, but a goofy smile was plastered on her face.
"Oh my god, Cassie, have you seen all of the new kids? One of them, Rory, was in my first period class. Actually there is also a new girl in their too. But Rory, he is so gorgeous. And today, I kind of on purpose 'accidentally' bumped into him, and he talk. To me." She gushed. I wanted to just scream at her. I didn't need to hear this. But then again, I shouldn't be rude about how she was awed by him. Being a vampire he was made to be appealing.
Math was math. I listened to Eleanor talk about all of Rory's family. How she thought they were all inhumanly good looking. Little did she know how right she was. She had already analyzed each of their personalities, I wanted to contradict her about her false assumptions but I had to remember that I wasn't supposed to know them.
I watched out of the corner of my peripheral vision every move that Rory and this new girl made, no one who I had asked had been able to remember her name. I could also see the rest of Rory's family occasionally taking furtive glances in my direction. I was somewhat surprised that none of them had come up to me. But maybe it was better this way. What would I say to them anyway?
English and Science were bland. There was just more talk about all of the 'new kids'. The girl wasn't in either of them.
Jenna and I walked to lunch, my stomach was in no condition for food though. As the day had wore on it had become anxious and the anxiety for each class made the digestion of food unlikely. I sat without food. Like everyone else all of the girls were talking about Triston and Rory. I didn't want to hear about either of them. Triston was practically my brother and Rory was…Rory. The guys were engrossed with the girls, rating their 'hotness', I could see William and Patrick keeping their mouths shut. I smirked but felt bad for them.
"Did you see that girl yet today?" Eliza said. "She just got here. She's sitting with the other new family."
Alexis looked over.
"She was in my fourth period along with the guy with the dirty blonde hair." Alexis said. "Her name was Kayla, and his was Rory."
"I think that they are already going out. Everyone who has been in any of their classes has seen them together. Plus at break they were like talking." Allison said her voice holding a tone that meant more than the words.
"I'm really excited to go shopping on Sunday." Rachel said changing the subject. I breathed a sigh of relief.
I had completely forgotten about the trip but was happy because I really needed some girl time. Hanging around the house with my dad and Mac wasn't all that fun.
"Yeah, me too." I said to keep the conversation from straying back to Rory and Kayla. The rest of the girls lapsed into talking about stores and fashions that they loved. I settled, resting my head against Patrick's shoulder.
He turned his head to look at me. The rest of the guys continued their conversation. Patrick stroked my hair. I lifted my head and looked at him for a second. He looked so kind so loving. And for that moment I felt like I was in my own perfect bubble where nothing had happened. Rory hadn't come here. But then the bell rang.
I was harshly brought back to reality by a loud whistle from someone at our table. It was Rodney. I looked in the direction he was looking. Passing out table was Rory and Kayla. They weren't touching, they weren't doing anything but walking, but they were doing it together.
A shot of jealousy spread through my blood as I stood with Patrick and we walked to Gym. I changed quickly and ended up being one of the first girls in the gym.
But of course Kayla was there, with Rory. They were sitting in the bleachers not facing each other, not talking.
I moved to where Patrick was.
"Hey," he said planting a kiss on my cheek. "You changed fast." He commented.
"Hey, you…also changed fast." I said not knowing how I was supposed to respond to his comment.
The teacher came out. Everyone went to their roll call numbers, except Kayla. She went and talked to the teacher.
"Okay everyone, we have another new student, would you like to introduce yourself?" the teacher asked Kayla. Kayla moved to the front of the numbers. She exuded confidence.
"Hi, I'm Kayla." She said.
The teacher placed her on the last roll call number. Today we were playing more dodge ball. The teacher decided that we would play girls versus boys because of the mostly even numbers.
"You're going down." Patrick said half laughing to me at his macho attitude.
"No, you're going down." I said less enthusiastically to him. We moved to our appropriate sides of the room. When the starting whistle was blown I didn't move much while almost everyone else ran forward.
"Your Cassie right?" a musical voice asked me. I turned to see Kayla talking to me. Up close she was even more intimidating, but I stood my ground.
"Yes, why?" I said. She rolled her eyes.
"Calm down, I'm not going to attack you or anything. I just want to talk."
I nodded but my jaw was still tight. She started to walk away, then turned around.
"Are you coming?" she asked. I scurried after her. We walked back into the changing rooms then to the bathroom. She made sure no one was in it then turned back to me. "Okay, first stop staring at me like I'm going to bite you, though I guess it is logical to think. Second, I'm probably not supposed to be telling you, but what's Aro going to do kill me? I'm not Rory's girl friend, so can you tell your stupid friends that, and maybe the rest of this stupid school."
I looked at her confused by the out burst.
"Aro Marcus and Caius sent me here to watch over Rory. They don't really trust him seeing as he has already told a human, you. They're worried he might tell more. I'm like, like his baby sitter." She concluded.
"Okay…" I wasn't going to give away my happiness to this out loud.
"Ugh, whatever, let's just go back out there." She said. I guess I did sort of feel bad for her. She was probably getting twice the stares that I had my first day. We walked back out.
I got out almost as soon as I stepped back into the gym. I went to sit on the out bench. I watched as Patrick purposefully got himself out. He came and sat next to me.
"Were you and Kayla just talking?" he asked.
"Yup, she seems nice." I said politely.
"What were you talking about?" he inquired. I turned to look at him.
"Superficial girly stuff." I told him. He grunted something that I didn't catch.
The bell rang and I went and changed, telling Patrick that I would talk to him after school.
As I was walking I remembered that I was about to endure getting my test back from drama. I sat down once inside. And twiddled my thumbs. When the second bell rang the teacher handed back our paper. Mine had a big fat F and a 'see me!' at the top in red pen. We went over the answers and when the bell rang I got my things together slowly. Waiting for everyone to leave the room, they didn't need to know how dismal I did.
"Cassandra Sunnel, I'm sorry, but I just don't understand how anyone could do so poorly." She scolded. "I mean, did you pay attention at all?" she whipped the test out of my hand. "Listen to this answer. What were the majority of Shakespeare's plots about? You wrote," she paused for dramatic effect. "Shakespeare's plots were mostly about a girl and boy falling in love and one of them leaving the other. Normally the person who is left is distraught, but tries to get over it. But then the person who was left sees the other again and the jackass is ruining her life."
The teacher pulled her glasses up and sighed.
"First, that made absolutely no sense, second even if it did none of Shakespeare's plays were like that, and thirdly, please do not use profanity in your writing."
My cheeks felt like they were on fire. I couldn't believe I had written that. My anger at Rory flared and I remembered that I hadn't said anything to him about being in my house this morning. The bell rang and the teacher wrote me a note to excuse my tardiness.
All world history my anger and annoyance grew. I was ready to tell Rory off after school. But when I got outside he wasn't there and neither was his family.
I walked huffily to Patrick.
He immediately hugged me. I hugged him back tightly. Then he pulled back.
"I love you." He told me.
My normal response to this was just a smile, but I really wanted to love him.
"I love you." I said back. Maybe if I said it, it would come true. His smile grew to a grin. I heard a honk and I kissed Patrick quickly and walked to the car.
Everything was wonderful and horrible at the same time.
I got in the car. As soon as the door was closed Mac was driving.
"We have to meet with the Volturi." Was all he said.