Disclaimer: This chapter consists of not only my creations (Raeanne and Benjamin) but also Stephanie Meyer's and I will not attempt to take credit for work that is not mine, so you can thank her for anyone that is not mine.. P.s. I really wanted to know what was going to happen next (I am writing this as I go along so really I don't know anymore than you do what's about to happen) so I just wrote this out, I'm sure when I finish another chapter will follow. That should explain why I didn't re-write the fight.
"I don't know Rae, I don't know." I didn't even know how to respond to that. If I was honest I didn't really care, all I had wanted is to get away from the people who had spent the last 17 years torturing me.
Benjamin seemed tense, I could tell he was itching to go to the gym but we had left our lives behind, there was no turning back now. We had made the decision to leave everything behind, and as selfish as it was, I was glad that his parents had died, and he had to suffer with me. Without him this journey would have been so much more painful, I knew that I would have made it on my own at some point. He was keeping me together, I had to be strong, I had to be the adult in this situation, I was, after all, the older one. I think that's why my tears hadn't lasted for long. I never cried much in front of Benj, I tried to hold myself together, to make it seem like things were okay.
I watched the signs fly past us in the darkness, briefly staining my view in green. I was looking for one claming that a telephone was available; Benj had said I could call Mrs. Dawson, and I knew it was the least I could do after all she had done for us. I mentally promised myself to take the wheel from my cousin when we stopped; the poor boy needed sleep he had been up for so long driving, plus the emotional strain he had been put under, he must be ready to hibernate through the next few days. We had been driving for almost 4 hours when I started seeing signs for a town named Shelton. We had come so far from our home in Vancouver; I was so surprised we had pulled it off.
"Benji, lets stop in Shelton okay?"
"Sure." His reply was quiet; I made my decision then that we were going to find a hotel to stay in for the night before we continued to run away. Running away. Is that what we were doing? No, that seems too harsh, there has to be a kinder word. Escaping? That seems to make more sense, to me at least. People that run away from their problems are weak. I am not weak. I'm escaping. I realized that my train of thought had delayed my question for Benjamin.
"I think we should get a hotel for the night, is that okay with you?" He nodded his head in response, I'm sure it was all he could muster with so little energy. When we pulled of highway 101 the first place I saw was a Super 8, "Let's just go there, it's cheap and I don't think you will be able to stay awake much longer to find somewhere else." He looked close to arguing, but then instead just nodded his head again. We pulled up into the parking lot, the gravel on the pavement crackling under the tires. As we pulled into a parking stall I quickly released myself from the seatbelt, and hopped out of the car, Benjamin was not far behind. Wallet in my hand, I strode to the front entrance of the motel, I could hear Benjamin behind me. We walked up to the front desk; an all to cheery woman greeted us, her face in a huge, toothy smile.
"What can I do for you youngsters tonight? Looking for some alone time?" She winked at us; I wanted to roll my eyes at her but restrained myself. I decided that Benj would probably love to have a little fun; I hoped he had some energy left. So instead of just asking for a room I prepared my acting skills.
"Yes, we're eloping!" I faked enthusiasm and Benjamin started chuckling. We could both use a little humour right now, even if we got it by tricking some idiot woman into thinking that rather than being cousins escaping from our freak parents, we we're teens in love. For extra effect Benjamin wrapped his arms around my shoulders and looked at me with the fakest, gooiest, love filled eyes I had ever seen and said,
"We're in love." His voice sounded amused, I forced out a fake, high-pitched giggle. It was as close to rolling on the floor laughing as I was going to get in front of the woman.
"Aww, well aren't you just the sweetest little things!" She winked, "Don't worry, your secrets safe with me! Now the question is, do you want the honey moon sweet?" I panicked a little, the woman obviously saw this, "Honey, I can give you a deal, there is hardly anyone here anyways. Besides I want to make sure your evening is very special." I could feel Benj shaking behind me, his attempts to hold in his laughter was not going very well. I looked up at him and winked giving him a humour filled smile, I prayed it would look like I was seducing him.
"We would like that." The woman giggled and I handed her my bankcard, paid the amount she requested for the room and in return she handed me a key, meanwhile Benjamin headed outside to grab our stuff. I was about to follow when the woman spoke up.
"Hold on a minute dear." She turned around and went digging for something under the desk. When she stood up she slipped me a little package, "Here honey, wouldn't want any accidents now."
"Thanks so much." I hurried to the car were Benjamin stood with the two duffle bags and my backpack. "Look what the crazy chick at the counter gave us." I held up the condom, at first he looked confused and then recognition slipped across his face and he fell over laughing. It was contagious, I caved falling on the pavement, clutching my stomach and gasping for air. I don't know how long we sat on the ground laughing but it sure felt good to release everything. I could feel all the emotions that had overpowered me on the drive slipping away. "Come on." I practically choked on my own words, before I smacked him across the back of the head and said, "Gain some composure." For whatever reason, this just made us laugh harder. He stood up, still laughing, scooped me off the pavement still carrying the bags.
"Let's give that woman a reason to go to bed happy." I snorted and then tried to calm myself to pull off the show we were about to put on. As we walked in the front door I looked up at him my eyes filled with what I hoped was an expression matching his earlier. When he saw this he copied my lead, I could hear a loud sigh from the front desk, which almost made us blow our cover so Benjamin rushed down the hall to the room. As he put me down I quickly unlocked the door, I stepped into the room, saw the "honeymoon sweet", remembered the woman sighing in the lobby and fell into another fit of laughter and Jason wasn't far behind.
When we finally recovered, after he suggested putting on a steamy movie really loud on TV, causing us to laugh even harder for another 5 minutes, I changed into my pyjamas in the bathroom. When I walked out he took my place, I walked over to the couch trying to figure out if the couch pulled out, there was no way I was going to share a bed with my cousin after recent events. Luckily it did and I huddled up under the pre-made bed. When he emerged he flicked off the lights we quietly whispered goodnight, he climbed into the bed and almost immediately I could hear his breathing deepen. I was thankful that he at least was going to get some sleep.
It surprised me when I woke up, the last think I remember thinking was that I was happy Benjamin was getting sleep; I expected to be awake for hours. It was the first good night of sleep I had in years; the benefits of leaving were showing already.
"Morning sleepy head!" I looked over at my cousin who sat on the edge of the bed smiling at me. "You should go have a shower so we can get out of here before that woman hunts us down and tries to ask us how the sex was." I chuckled at his joke.
"Okay." I pushed on the bed so I was upright, rubbing my eyes roughly. I wouldn't say I was a morning person, I mean I hate getting up, but once I was up there was no going back to sleep. I headed to the bathroom quickly showering, not wanting to be bothered with doing my hair I quickly pulled it into two French braids. I applied a little bit of makeup, chuckling a little while pushing the condom into my backpack, and then rushed out of the bathroom ready to go. Benj handed me an apple and then we headed out, handing the key to a man standing behind the front desk, thankfully the woman we saw last night was not working. He took the drivers seat and I didn't complain, he loved driving and if it made him happy I wasn't going to be the one to stop him. I felt proud of him, he had gotten his permit a little while ago and with no one other than me to teach him he had learned to be a decent driver. I remembered my promise to myself the night before but decided since we both had a good nights sleep that he was fine to drive now.
I decided that even though I'm sure I would know the answer I wanted to try asking anyways, "Benj, do you know where we are going yet?" His eyebrows wrinkled together. "What's wrong?" I was a little worried by his reaction.
"Nothing, I'm just trying to figure out how to explain it."
"Okay, just let me know when you figure it out." I smiled in a way I hoped was reassuring; the last thing we needed was to be keeping secrets. When you leave everything behind you can't push away the one person you still have. He nodded slowly. I sat patiently looking out the window, watching the scenery float by in a haze. I noticed that slowly it was beginning to rain; a soft patter could be heard on the roof. He turned to me slightly, I prepared for him to speak.
"You can't call me crazy okay?" I rolled my eyes, "Seriously Rae, this is going to sound really weird and you can't say there is something wrong with me." I felt concern fill me, as well as a burning curiosity.
"Benji, your all I have. I'm going to take you if your stable or not." I hoped to hear him laugh, or at least smile but his expression was grim. I added quietly, "It's okay, you can trust me." He nodded.
"Well ever since we left I have had this…. Drive? I think that makes sense." The last sentence was more for him than me. "I just feel drawn in this direction." He looked at me warily, obviously prepared for me to call him insane.
"I'm still here." He smiled.
"Well thank god you didn't jump out of a moving vehicle." I laughed lightly. "I thought for sure that I was going to have to stop you from jumping out the window."
"It's all good, I'm not going anywhere." My response seemed to comfort him. I can't believe he was so freaked that I was going to abandon him just like that. It just goes to show how much my parents had ruined our lives. I watched as he reached over the stereo to put on one of his favourite CD's. He was used to me being lost in thought, he never asked what I was thinking about, he just left me to be in my own head for a while. I loved having a place where I could face everything without anyone disturbing me. Like now, I thought of the future.
For the first time since we left I started to wonder where we were going to end up. Not necessarily location wise although that had me curious to. I would let Benjamin follow this thing he was drawn to, for whatever reason I knew he had to go where his instincts told him. I was not one to be bothered by following your instincts; it was what got me here today. It was what was going to get Benjamin and me somewhere to live. I was determined that he would go to school still and finish up, I still had another year but us getting through and having food was more important to me, and if that meant I had to get a job instead of school I was willing to do it. It was weird to think that my entire life I have been forced to be an adult, I wondered when I was ever going to get a chance to be a child. I was glad that Benjamin had 9 years with his parents before he had to face the same fate as me. I had tried with everything I had to take the burden of it so that he could grow up; I knew he was much older than his years even with me being so careful.
I looked at him sitting in the drivers seat. His hands tapped along to the song that poured out of the speakers, his head bobbed slightly. He didn't even look sixteen; he was probably 5'9 or 10. Within the last few months he had grown a lot, I wasn't sure how much but I knew we had bought him a lot of clothes. His appetite had also grown immensely, and his temper was getting shorter. But then again he had never responded well to my parents, I remember how he used to drag me to the gym all the time. The gym. Mrs. Dawson. Shoot. I forgot to call her. I was so tired last night. Darn it all. I looked out the windshield as the rain poured down, it was falling heavily now. It had been 3 hours since we left the hotel. Wow had it really been that long? It was strange how time seemed to pass so fast when I locked myself in my head. I hadn't even noticed that Benjamin had probably switched the CD almost 4 times now. I wrapped my hands around my knees, my braids slowly falling apart as they dried.
I focused on the music that poured out of the speaker and it wasn't long till it rocked me to sleep. When I woke Kryptonite poured out of the speaker, Benjamin was into the song and he was rocking his head, and I could hear his foot tapping. It surprised me when he spoke.
"I didn't want to wake you but I'm going to stop in this next town up here. You still haven't called Mrs. Dawson right?" I rubbed my eyes and stretched my arms as much as the car would allow.
"Uh no, I forgot last night." I confessed.
"Well if you were as wiped as me I can see why."
"Yeah I was pretty tired, I hope she's not to worried." I felt the concern leak across my face.
"She's fine Rae, don't worry. I think she always knew there was something going on, I'm sure she expected it to happen sometime." His reassurance comforted me. I looked around to familiarize my self with the surroundings; trees surrounded us as we drove down the road. We must have entered the town because we had slowed dramatically from when we were on the highway. I looked at Benj questioningly when he pulled over to the side of the road, he said nothing as he watched the tree line, and I followed his eyes. Suddenly a man emerged from the trees I hadn't even noticed him, he was huge and his black hair was cropped short. He wore nothing but a pair of jeans that reached his knees, not even shoes.
"Why are we stopped? Where are we? Benjamin you tell me what's going on right now!" My voice was rising up an octave with every word that left my mouth. He looked at me meaningfully, and then answered my questions quickly then returned his eyes to the man,
"La Push, it's a reservation I think. I need to talk to that guy about finding a phone." I almost screamed when the man tapped lightly on my window. I clutched the seat with both hands, "Rae roll down your window."
"For that huge guy? I'm beginning to think you are crazy Benj." He looked so frightening then, I had never seen him look like that.
"Just. Do. It." His voice was low and it scared me so bad that I thought for sure whatever that man could to do me was not as bad as whatever Benj was planning. I quickly pushed the button and my window rolled down.
"Hey there, welcome to La Push." His huge body shadowed my window, I thought I must have been imaging it but it looked like the rain was steaming when it hit his skin. His teeth looked very white compared to his russet skin, his smile was almost menacing. I couldn't make a sound.
"Thanks," Benjamin smiled in response. How in the world was he not scared out of his pants right now? "We were just looking for a phone." The man smiled widely again. I trembled in my seat.
"Well Billy Black lives just down the road and if you want to give me a ride there I'm sure he wouldn't mind lending you his phone." Oh god, Benjamin say no, say no, say no. I'm sure he was smart enough not to give this giant a ride. I hope.
"Sounds good, hope in." My eyes widened even bigger, what was he on? I heard the door open and close behind me and then I felt heat emanating besides me. I turned to see the guy's head between our seats. I pressed myself against the window. Great we're going to get murdered for sure now.
"Just straight down this road." He pointed forwards, his arm reaching into the front. I wanted to hop out of the car and run right then. "Embry Call, by the way." He reached towards Benjamin.
"Benjamin Morrison." He took his hand and shook it roughly. They both chuckled. The man who was probably about 25 looked at me.
"And who is this charming young lady?" I looked at him, eyes wide, and voice shaking.
"Rae-Raeanne Alydwin." He chuckled, assumingly at me.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you." Then his face-hardened, "Unless you plan on making fun of my name. I don't take well to people making fun of my name." I shook my head in horror, and then I heard him and Benjamin laugh. "Oh turn here." The car slowed and we pulled on to a gravel road in front of a small house. "Lady and Gentleman, Billy Black's." His hand waved like a showgirl, once again Benjamin laughed; I sat stiffly in my seat. We pulled to a stop and I heard the back door open, then mine opened and I saw Embry holding it for me.
"Thanks." I squeaked as I stepped out of the car, Benjamin looked totally in his element as Embry met him at the front of the car and they walked towards the house. I followed timidly. As we stepped inside a small living room a man in a wheelchair greeted us from where he sat watching TV. He smiled and then looked questioningly at Embry.
"What have you dragged in now Embry?"
"Well Billy it's my pleasure to introduce you to Benjamin Morrison and Rain Adian." I wasn't sure if he was joking about my name or what but it seriously irked me, before I could control myself I snapped at him,
"Didn't you just finish threatening me about making fun of your name? Hypocrite much? It's Raeanne Alydwin. Do you need me to go slower? Ray-ann Al-d-win." I said my name slowly; he looked at me with a shocked expression, turning to Benjamin I saw his expression matched. When I turned to Billy he started laughing, he held his hand out. I wasn't sure if it was the lack of height but he wasn't intimidating like Embry.
"Billy Black." I shook his hand confidently; he looked to Embry who still looked dumbfounded. "I like you already, nice to meet a girl who can finally leave Embry with that kind of look on his face." I chuckled. Embry snapped out of his daze.
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?" Billy laughed again.
"So Mr. Black…" He cut me off
"Billy." A grin filled his face.
"Billy," I repeated smiling as well, "My cousin and I were wondering if we could borrow your phone briefly please?"
"I would say no, but you made my day." He laughed, "Just kidding, well not about the making my day part, but go ahead. It's right over there." I walked over to the phone and punched in Mrs. Dawson's number. It rang a few times before she answered.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Dawson?"
"Rae? Rae is that you?" Her voice sounded frantic.
"Yes Mrs. Dawson it's me."
"Oh thank god, where are you? You never showed up for work today I was worried sick!"
"I'm so sorry, Benjamin and I um, we left for awhile." I could tell I sounded awkward answering her question.
"Does this have something to do with your parents?" Benjamin was right, she did know.
"Uh yeah, I don't really think we are going to be coming back anytime soon." I didn't want to say never, but I knew I was never going back at my own free will.
"I understand dear, I'm so sorry. Have you at least found somewhere to stay?"
"No we just stayed in a hotel, I guess we will find somewhere here tonight and look for somewhere permanent in the morning." Benjamin's head snapped up towards me at this.
"Well honey I'm going to miss you two." I smiled sadly.
"Us to, thank you Mrs. Dawson. For everything."
"You call me if you ever need anything sweetie."
"Thank you. Bye." I felt sad to cut the connections to her but I knew it had to be done.
"Bye." I heard the phone click and I turned to face the three men.
"Okay Benj lets go, we need to go find somewhere to stay the night." I was shocked that Billy responded.
"Raeanne is it?" I nodded, "My son is, well he's going to be gone for awhile." I could see the pain in his eyes at this statement, "My daughters have gone off to college and what not, so I have some extra space. You two are welcome to stay here for as long as you like." I smiled at his kindness. I looked up at Benjamin and he seemed to be happy with the idea.
"Well I would say no, but we are getting pretty desperate." My grin was sheepish I'm sure. "So if you don't mind us staying the night it would really help us out."
"Sure, sure. Embry go fix these two some rooms," Embry smiled, "Put them in Rachel and Rebecca's room I saw him wince a little, I wondered why. Embry, pulled on the end of my braid as he passed
"Come on Rain." I wanted to smack him but he was to fast. I followed him as he led us down the hall, grabbing some sheets from the hall closet on the way. He took us to a room in the end of the hall and he attempted to put the sheets on the beds. He had no luck.
"Need some help?"
"Sure Rain." I rolled my eyes and helped him with the sheets.
"I'm going to grab our stuff, be right back." Benjamin looked at me, trying to judge if I was okay alone.
"Sure Benji." He nodded and left. I faced Embry as we pulled the sheets across the second bed.
"I know its really personal, I shouldn't ask, but what happened to Billy's son?"
"Well Jake, uh left awhile back. Billy was pretty torn up about it."
"Oh."
I decided then and there that I hated Jacob Black. I didn't know him, but anyone that could just leave his or her father like that was obviously a complete and total jerk. And running away is weak.
A/N
Wow I got really lost in the story on this one, I looked down and I was at 10 pages… I'm pretty impressed with myself right now seeing as usually I stretch to make 6.
So I finally tied Rae and Benj to La Push, reminding you all that this is 5 months before the scene in the forest with Jake, so don't expect him to just come barging in all the sudden. Actually don't be expecting him for at least another chapter. I'm going to work on the next one soon cause I'm really into the story right now, so it will probably be up by tomorrow night.
Anyways thanks for reading and always please leave me a review if you get the chance. Oh and ForestGreenEyes, if you got a chance to read this I hope you noticed that I included Kryptonite, definitely on my list of top songs of all time.
XOXOXOXOXOXO, Starshinesbrightly.