I woke up to Natalia lightly squeezing my arm.
"Time to wake up Hun, it's 10 o clock. I told Emily we would be there by twelve for some lunch and then off to shop." She said, helping me up and out of bed.
I took a shower again, surprised that my wounds looked less angry, the large red swelling that had existed on the sides was gone. It didn't hurt as much when the water hit it either.
"Wow, that cream must be some type of miracle cream, look the swelling is gone. My back isn't agitated anymore." I said smiling brightly and presenting my back for her to put more cream on.
"I'm not surprised, I always thought Emily was a miracle worker in some ways."
"So I was thinking that maybe we could have everyone over for dinner tomorrow night, what do you think? It's been a while since I have had people over and it is long over due. It will give Emily a chance to rest too." She said looking at me curiously as she finished bandaging me and closed the cream container.
"Yeah, actually that sounds like a really good idea. What will we make though, I mean they eat so much, and I'm not a very good cook. Very clumsy in the kitchen." I said laughing at the thousands of memories of me tripping and getting nervous while cooking.
Natalia laughed at that, which caused me to smile even more. This felt like a dream, I still couldn't believe I'm here.
"Hmmm well I think spaghetti would be an excellent choice, it fills faster and it's easy to make. We can even do meatballs too." She said and I nodded in agreement.
After I was dressed and ready in an old pair of light washed jeans and a long sleeved shirt in red I brought down my camera and went outside for an hour or so before we had to leave.
The area behind her house was all wildlife. In front of her house existed the neighborhood but behind each one there was untamed wilderness right at their doorstep.
I spent a good hour moving around and taking my time as I snapped a couple pictures of the trees and undergrowth that overtook the countryside.
I had wandered farther than I realized when I noticed I was behind a particularly sweet looking house. The wood was old and aging but the house seemed to stand proudly in its surroundings almost blending in with the trees around it.
"Hey who are you?" I looked up surprised as a small voice yelled to me from across the small field that stood behind the house.
There was a little girl around the age of six it looked like with dark eyes and long black unruly hair.
I smiled and closed my camera up making my way over to her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize I had wandered over to your house. My name I Lilah, I just moved here." I said coming up to the little girl and reaching out my hand.
She looked at me, her eyes defiant and stubborn as she stared at my hand confused.
I laughed at her confusion.
"It's meant to be shaken, a sign of getting someone I guess." I said.
"That's weird." She said screwing up her little face in confusion.
She was tiny for a ten year old but adorable.
"I'm Lily Black." She said hesitating before holding out her own hand and smiling timidly.
I shook it gently and smiled down at her.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you. I met your dad and brother last night actually. I might be babysitting you when he needs me too." I said hoping she would like me.
"Really. Well…I guess that's okay. I don't really know you though." She said her eyes confused, unsure of what to say.
"It's okay. How about we start out as two people. One looking after the other, and maybe if you want after a while we could be friends. How would you like that?" I said hoping I wasn't too forward.
Her eyes became larger, her smile curving into a huge grin as she nodded happily.
"I would like that. I don't have many friends. Hey can I ask you like girl questions when I think of them?"
I nodded. "Of course anything you want as long as your dad is okay with me answering them." I said.
"Cool. Hey what were you doing over there? What's that black thing in your hand?"" She asked curious. Her face was sweet now as she stepped forward courageously looking at the camera in my hands.
I brought it out and showed it to her.
"I was taking photos with this. An old camera, it produces pictures that you have to develop in a dark room. A hobby of mine you could say." I said showing her the different parts of the camera.
"It looks funny. Can I see some pictures that you have taken sometime? I like pictures" She said smiling up at me.
"Of course." I said, I looked up as the door opened behind her.
Billy and Jacob came out, looking at me with opposite emotions. Jacob still wouldn't look at me much and when he did it seemed to be such a mysterious mixture of emotions, but he looked tired. His muscular body didn't seem as straight as it did the night before.
His dad on the other hand was smiling like a fool, which made me smile even more as I looked at them.
"Hello Lilah. I'm so glad you two have met. Are you satisfied with the choice of babysitter I have picked for you Lily?" He said smiling kindly at his daughter.
"Yes, she seems really nice. And she's going to show me pictures that she has taken and answer my girl questions that you guys don't like to." Lily said ecstatically all traces of stubbornness gone as she ran up to her father and gave him a big hug.
Billy smiled down at his daughter giving her a big kiss on her forehead as she giggled.
Jacobs's demeanor seemed to change as he watched his sister. His eyes were quieter and happier as he looked at her.
"Well I must be off. I'm sure Natalia's probably wondering where I went." I said smiling.
"Are you sure we can't give you a ride. I mean you should be resting not walking around. You have to give yourself time to heal." He said looking at me with concern.
I felt my cheeks slowly go red as I realized that he must know what had happened to me. Or that I was hurt at least.
"Yeah, I am taking it easy but the cream Emily gave us is really doing wonders so it doesn't hurt right now." I said.
He nodded his head in understanding, and I said good-bye to them.
As I walked off I heard Lily call for me to wait as she came running up to me.
"Hey wait. Can I have a hug?" She said. I was taken aback and smiled. Such an innocent and sweet face she had, it had been a while since I had been around children.
I missed their innocence and constant wonder. Their lack of inhibitions was something to cherish.
"Of course." I said kneeling down so we were level and she threw her arms around me.
Pulling back she smiled looking at me curiously.
"Will I be as pretty as you when I'm older?" She asked
I looked at her surprised. She was so pretty, compared to me she was a beauty.
"Are you kidding, you are going to be gorgeous. Way prettier than me." I said pinching her cheek jokingly.
"Really. Cool." She said in awe as she turned and ran back to her dad and brother.
I looked up and caught Jacob's eye for a moment.
He looked happily shocked, and still confused but I was surprised that he was looking into my eyes with such a happy expression. The small smile he gave me made my heart flutter. I could feel the strange and exciting tingling run through my body again causing my skin to have Goosebumps as I unwillingly turned away from his stare and walked back to my house a block or two away.
I couldn't get my mind off of him. He was breath taking, and I never knew a male could be that…beautiful. It sounded strange to even think it but he truly was.
All the boys here seemed to be bred from incredibly handsome genes but he was exceptional in my opinion. A no brainier I guess. I was almost afraid when I realized that I liked him, and didn't even know him.
I barely trusted males as it was, and now I was falling for one I hadn't even talked to.
Oy I must be going insane.
I made it back to the house and sure enough Natalia was there waiting.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be gone so long. I somehow wandered into the Black's back yard and ran into Lily. She is adorable. I think she actually likes me." I said my heart almost dancing in my chest.
"Oh that is great hunny. So was Billy and Jacob there too?" She asked her eyes looking at me with a curiousness I couldn't place.
"Yeah…does Jacob not like me or something? I'm confused, I…looked at him last night and it was weird. And he seemed to not want to look at me. But now after I was nice to his little sister he looked at me…a little differently I guess. I feel like he is confused…but about what." I said shaking my head in confusion as I sat next to her at the table.
She nodded in understanding.
"It's hard to explain. He has a hard time being around pretty girls, after his break up. Bella was a girl he had known for years, but she kept confusing him. One week she liked him and the next she liked some other guy. When the other guy left she ran to Jacob and he fell in love with her all over again. But when the guy suddenly came back she simply dropped him and ran back to the guy. It's been hard for all of us to watch, he is a great kid and really doesn't deserve that." She said her eyes sad, as she seemed to be replaying the events in her mind.
"That's horrible. How can people do that?" I said my heart unconsciously aching as I thought about how much pain he must be in.
"Do you…like him? You don't have to tell me if you don't want but it kind of sounds like it." Natalia said her eyes looking at me with a knowing smile.
I sighed.
"I…do I guess. But that's crazy I mean I haven't even talked to him, how can I like someone I haven't talked to. I mean the guys here are like bred models. I mean seriously, but he is really handsome. In such a different way, maybe just to me but that's how it seems." I said confusion racking m brain.
I followed Natalia as she got up and we made our way to the car.
She was thinking, and taking her time to answer. But I couldn't understand why. I felt like maybe she knew something that I didn't. I didn't want to push it though; our relationship was different than most I didn't know what her boundaries where when it came to secrets.
As she started the engine up she finally turned to me, a serious expression on her face.
"I understand that you are confused, and I don't think its weird at all that you like him. The men here have that affect, it's hard to explain and it's not my place to divulge that information. You have entered into a tribe that has many secrets. Not bad, at least I have never thought so, but it will take time before the tribe accepts you as my family and part of theirs to where they can tell you these secrets. I wish I could tell you more, but I know that when the time comes everything will make sense and I know that you more than anyone else will understand that the history of this tribe isn't evil or bad. You out of all people understand that monsters aren't the things read in storybooks they are the humans that walk amongst us. You understand that you can't judge someone by his or her appearance. I'm sorry I know I have probably confused you even more. I just need you to be patient my dear, in time you will understand. For now, hopefully you can make friends with Jacob. He needs someone to talk to I think, and I know he will be unwilling at first but just be patient." She said her eyes losing the serious nature they had held as she reached over and pulled me into a hug.
I should have been frustrated and irritated. I know anyone else would have been. At that moment though some part of me understood that I was in a old and secretive tribe that was extremely close and guarded their secrets.
Who they were and where they come from was their identity. I knew that I needed to prove that I was a…. helpful addition maybe, before they could accept me. I liked the idea of becoming friends with Jacob, and I did agree it seemed like it would take a bit of patience and understanding before he accepts my friendship.
I smiled and sat back, my mind accepting what I had been given as we drove to Emily's.