Omigosh… I have had writer's block for the past 30 minutes. I just finished writing chapter 14 and then I was STUCK! … I NEVER GET STUCK!! I'm one of those few people who never get writer's block, and when I do, it's like… The rapture. lol!! So, yah… Anyway…. To me, that last chapter seemed REALLY long… Maybe it wasn't. I'm not sure. Oh, like, up until chapter 12, I had been writing everything on WordPad, because Microsoft Word wouldn't come up. So I messed around with it, and got it to work. Now I'm using MW. I. Am. Brilliant. Yes I am. Mmm-hmmm. So, anyway… On we go.

Senses Fail – Shark Attack: "I spent the last year paying a stranger to listen to childhood thoughts about the love I am missing. I'd fallen for one of the oldest tricks in the book. The hooks were baited up with fear because I wasn't thinking clear. Just save yourself, cause it's too late for me. Laying on the couch, spilling all of my guts out and walking out with nothing but a head full of self doubt. I take back every good thing I ever said cause it was all so meaningless. It didn't help clean up my mess. Now I see you ripped me open."

Chapter Fifteen—Vivian McEvoy

When Wednesday rolled around, I was feeling better. Not only had I mastered the ability to mask my scent, Vivian would be back by the time I got home from school. To some point, I was excited. I thought that she would have something planned to do because she had been gone for the past two weeks. And sure enough, when I got home, there she was, cooking a huge meal. I threw my bag in my room, then went back downstairs.

"How was your trip?" I asked quietly.

She turned from her cooking and looked at me. I was shocked. I had never seen her so exhausted-looking.

"It was… tiring." She smiled. I never understood how she always seemed to keep right on going, even when she was so tired. No matter what was going on, she always seemed to start and end her day with a smile. I wouldn't be surprised if she smiled in her sleep.

"Oh… I'm sorry." I decided I would try to make an attempt to get along with her. "So… what're you cooking?"

"An early supper." She turned back to her task. "I thought I would be able to have it done before you came home, but… Then I realized I was missing a lot of the stuff I needed. So I had to go ALL the way back to the grocery store. And, as if things couldn't get any worse, there were only two registers open. So, I went to the shorter of the two, only to be stick behind some old lady who was just taking her time. Then, when it was FINALLY my turn, the register broke, or malfunctioned, or whatever they call it. And you know what? They shut it down and sent me ALL the way to the end of the OTHER line! Can you believe that? UNBELIEVABLE. I wanted to throw a fit. I went in there and could have been done in less than 15 minutes and wound up being in there for nearly and hour and a half." She shook her head, and then changed the subject. "Have you seen this green apple in the crisper? It looks as though something evil got a hold of it… Like… Satan or something." She laughed.

I stood there, looking at her, and then shook it off. How weird was THAT? I decided not to tell her about my encounter with the Satanistic apple.

"So anyway…" She continued. "How was your day? How's school?"

"Good, and good."

"Did you have enough to eat while I was gone?"

"Yes. PLENTY. You keep this place stocked."

"Well, I try… So. You went to the Cullen's house last Friday…"

JUST when I had finally put Edward out of my mind, she brought him back up. WHY?! Why was I being punished in this manner?!

"Yeah…"

"Mind if I ask why?" She was smiling.

"No… Well, Edward Cullen is in my last three classes… And… I just got to know him, and he wanted me to come over and hang out. The day before that, his mom and dad came over to welcome me to the town… His sister, Alice introduced herself, and I met Alice's boyfriend, Jasper, and Edward's brother, Emmett, and his girlfriend, Rosalie."

"They all live under the same roof, too. They're a very nice, trusting family. And handsome, at that. Good looks must run in their family… even though they're adopted." She laughed. "Dr. Carlisle is practically a genius. He's saved many, many lives… The entire family is very kind, but they're often out of town and you really don't see much of them. The kids are just as smart as he is. I'm glad you managed to move in and place yourself in a good group of kids."

What's that supposed to mean? I thought.

"Scottie…your father called my cell day before yesterday."

I remained silent.

"…He's very upset… He asked how you were doing…"

"I'm fine." I said sternly.

"Yes, I told him that… At least, I did because I thought you were."

"You thought right."

"…Maybe you should give him a call-"

"No."

"Scottie, I think it would be a good idea. He'd love to hear from you."

"If Reilly wants to hear from me so badly, why doesn't he just call? The phone works both ways."

(Reilly Evans was my dad's name.)

"Well, he's been too upset to call. He said every time he gets up the courage to try and call, he just hangs up again because he thinks you won't speak to him."

"Well, he's right. I don't care to speak to him at the moment."

"Because he sent you here? Is that why you're so angry?" She sounded hurt. I realized how true that was.

"Yes, but…It's not you, mom." I forced myself to call her mom. Whenever I was mad with my parents, I called them by their name. But I had almost always called my mom Vivian, no matter how I felt towards her. Maybe it was because she divorced my father when I was very young, and she became too engrossed in her work to take the time off to allow me to visit. Therefore, I was confined to Denver, with Reilly. I always thought it was because she didn't love or want me. Reilly tried to make me understand that it wasn't that she didn't WANT to see me, it was that she COULDN'T. Finally, we got to where we wouldn't talk about her, because I would break down into a crying fit. We took all of her pictures down, and packed them up. We hadn't spoken of her until he told me I was to go and live with her in Forks.

"Then, what is it, Scottie? What's so bad about coming to live here with me? You never seemed to understand that I didn't just abandon you. Things just didn't work out between your father and I. I couldn't take the time off to let you come and visit; I was working 24/7. I couldn't call, because I felt just as your father does now; I didn't have the heart to. I was afraid it would hurt you. And you seem to have developed a grudge against me. I just – I don't understand..."

"Look, it's true I sort of developed a grudge against you, but it was because I was little and didn't understand. I didn't want to come because I guess the thought that you didn't love me anymore sank in while I was little, and it stuck there. But I also didn't want to come because Reilly was being too unreasonable."

"Unreasonable? Scottie, you were sneaking out at night without your father even knowing! He came home in the middle of the night and you were gone! And then suddenly, your physical appearance changed, and you had an attitude. He didn't know what to do."

"I might as well have started my entire life over, all because of a simple change!" I couldn't believe I was having this conversation with her.

"Simple?! Scottie, look at you!"

"What? So he doesn't like me because I changed physically?"
"Honey, you don't understand-"

"No, Vivian, YOU don't understand. You and Reilly are just the same; you have no respect for my personal feelings. What matters to you is how YOU want me to be and look. And I can't even explain myself to you OR Reilly, because you wouldn't understand. You probably wouldn't even give me the chance to explain it and get you proof or ANYTHING!" I screamed.

Oh my God. What am I saying? Shut your mouth. I told myself.

"What are you talking about, Scottie?"

"Nothing. You wouldn't understand." I started to walk to my room.

"Try me! Just give it a chance, and maybe things would work!"

"Maybe isn't good enough."

There was a loud crash as the front door fell in. To my horror and disbelief, Malikai stood in the gaping hole where the door had been. I found myself frozen.

Oh God…Edward, where are you…?

Vivian came around the corner and looked at Malikai.

"Honey, I'm home." He laughed sadistically.

"Scottie, RUN!"

Before I could even think of what to do, I took off running up the stairs. I slammed into my door as I fumbled with the handle. I finally made it in, and then shut it behind me, a vain attempt to keep Malikai out. I listened as pans and pots were hurled around downstairs, and Malikai laughed.

This is where I need to mask my scent…

I ran and slid under my bed, and concentrated on the fresh, clean scent of the cast iron and fabric. I breathed in, then out…

In, and out…

In, and out…

I felt as though the bed was being turned to a gaseous state, and I was sucking it in as easily as I could oxygen. I closed my eyes and listened as Vivian ran into my room, and the door was busted off of the hinges. I closed my eyes tighter, concentrating on the bed.

In, and out…

The bed creaked as Vivian was pushed on it.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know!" Vivian sobbed.

"Shh…shh… Now, answer me truthfully… Where is that dear, lovely Scottie of yours, Miss Vivian?"

"I swear I don't know!" She was squalling.

"Are you sure?"

"She – she left the house. Out the window in my office – the next room – down the hall – she – "

"Tsk, tsk… Now you're lying to me sweetie."

"No, I – I don't –"

"Well, since you don't know where she is… I have no use for you…"

In, and out…

In, and out…

"No, please – my daughter – she's my only daughter – I love her –"

There was a loud crunch and a slight splattering noise as she was silenced. A couple of minutes later, I could hear his footsteps as he left the room. My scent began to re-emerge as Vivian's blood dripped through the bottom of the mattress and onto my face, mixing with my bitter tears.

Senses Fail – The Priest and the Matador: "Here I lie, staring at clouds in shapes of dogs and cats. I hear a woman start to yell. Oh dear God, I think he fell. I'm the arrow shot straight to hell from the bow of William Tell. My body lies kissing the ground like a cross turned upside down. A priest is rushing to my side. He begins to read me my last rights. Father, you're too late, my faith is weak. So won't you save your half-hearted speech? A man bends down and says 'Son, we're gonna get through this one. Take my hand and let us pray.' I scream 'Please get the f away!' The ambulance is singing as cops push back the crowd. I start to take my last breath as blood pours out my mouth. The medic's walking my way. I think this could be it. I hear him start to state 'The time of death is half past 6.'"