Once again Stephenie Meyer is the rightful owner of all Twilight series characters, I simply entertain myself by changing the story.
Stepping in
I wake up to the rich aroma of Granny Bell's coffee. Sitting up in bed I hear the morning calls of birds in the woods surrounding our house. Granny's quilt that she had given me for my tenth birthday is tossed down on the floor at the foot of the bed. I leap out of bed and picked it up immediately, straightening my sheets with one hand so I can smooth it back over the bed. Granny Bell told me that her Gran made the quilt by hand and gave it to Granny's mother who gave it to her when she was born. This quilt is a precious piece of family history and I'm upset at myself for having let it fall to the floor, even if I was asleep. Straightening the bed and picking up the few things that have become strung about my bedroom I head into my bathroom to prepare for the day ahead of me. I run the shower to let the water warm up while I brush my teeth and wash my face at the sink. A cloud of vapor is filling the bathroom and fogging the mirror as I step into the shower enjoying the hot water cascading down my back. My nerves are a bit raw thinking about going to Forks High School and helping out in the office. I start trying to relax my body one piece at a time. I focus on the muscles in my scalp since that is where the water is hitting, and moving down through my neck and shoulders. By the time I attempt relaxing my fingers I feel incredibly less stressed. Stepping out of the shower, with the lingering smell of my vanilla lavender shampoo filling the air I feel renewed and ready to face my day. Dressing quickly I head down stairs to the faint sound of Granny Bell humming a sweet tune.
"Good morning lady Lenai." Granny greets me coming over to hand me a cup of coffee laced with a healthy amount of cream and Nestle's chocolate, leaning down she kisses my cheek. "How did you sleep?" Granny knows that I have been having problems sleeping for the last several months. A bit of concern shows in her eyes.
"I slept great! I love the night sounds of the woods; it never fails to lull me to sleep. I lay down to read and didn't even finish three pages before I was out. The smell of your lovely coffee, and the bird song woke me this morning." I love waking to the morning smells and sounds of Granny's house, there is nothing in the city that holds my heart like these woods.
"How was your night Gran? I didn't hear you come upstairs."
"I was lost in my memories last night and must have fallen asleep on the couch." She sighs "I have so many things to be thankful for Lenai. So many wonderful memories."
"Who were you remembering Gran?" Gran has taught me that people are the most important things in our lives so I knew to ask who not what she was remembering. In Granny's mind it is not what happens or how it happens but who it happens with that makes the memories so sweet.
"I was remembering the day when I first found out I would be given your father. His mother was so scared when she signed the adoption intention contract. My heart went out to the young woman, and I wished I could just hold her in my arms and tell her it would all be okay. The day she gave him to me at the hospital though she looked so proud. 'I'm giving my son a great life' ,she told me as she handed him over and kissed him on the forehead. Your father grew so quickly, his baby years are almost a blur." Her eyes glaze over slightly and her words trail off as she enjoys more memories of her very private past.
"Thank you for sharing that with me Gran. I love hearing about your life." I take a deep drink of my coffee and set the cup on the counter as I prepare some toast and peel an orange for my breakfast. My mind can't help going over the bit of Grans' past that she has shared with me. I have never heard her speak so openly about any part of her past. I never knew that she had actually met Dads' birth mom. It must have been so hard for her to face the young mother as she was saying goodbye to her child forever. I can't imagine the strength they both must have had to be side by side at that time. I turn around to ask Granny Bell a question about that day but she's no longer in the kitchen. I guess she's headed upstairs to finish readying for her day.
I finish my coffee and breakfast, rinse my dishes and put them in the dishwasher to be washed later. Glancing at the clock I realize there is still about an hour before we have to be at the school. There's nothing that starts my day better than a little music. I head to the music room to play the piano for a while but a breeze comes through the open window bringing with it the fragrance of early morning dew on the meadow. Changing my mind I decide outside is where I need to be. Grabbing my violin and bow I head out to the field.
Dew lingers on the tall grass and flowers of the field but the air is fairly dry so I don't need to worry about my violin. I tighten my bow and tune the strings quickly. Closing my eyes for a moment to find my quiet place I begin to play Twinkle Twinkle. I follow the simple childhood tune with a melody I have been piecing together for a couple of months. I don't have it finished yet but I know the rest of the music is just waiting to be found. The piece is light and airy, upbeat, and joyful. It sends my heart soaring above the clouds to where the sun shines warm and I can feel the heat warming my spirit. Song after song I dive into my music completely submersing myself in it. As I finish with Amazed by Grace, my favorite composition, I lower my violin and just stand centered in the field.
Granny is heading out to her car with briefcase in hand. "You joining me today Lenai, or would you rather hang out around here for one more day?" She asks pausing by the driver's door waiting for my answer.
Running towards the house I quickly and grab my violin case. "I'm coming Granny Bell!" I am so filled with excitement over the prospect now that I bound down the stairs, and before she can get her seat belt fastened I'm sitting beside her. She smiles at me nodding slightly as she puts the car in gear and drives away.
Granny Bell parks in the faculty parking lot and we walk quickly to the administration office. Feeling a little giddy as I enter and step with Gran behind the office counter. It's almost as if I'm being sneaky and trying to pull a joke on someone, standing behind the counter as if I am really a school employee. I listen attentively as Granny does a quick run through of the various forms I may need throughout the day, and how the intercom system, telephone relay, photocopier and fax machine work. Last she shows me where the teacher's mailboxes are. I glance over at old Mrs. Carney's desk knowing my first chore today will be filing the papers thrown half hazard across her desk.
Gran kisses me on the cheek, "Thank you so much Lenai, you really are a lifesaver!" Knowing Gran needs the help I am happy to be doing it for her.
I can't believe how disorganized the office has become in such a short amount of time. As Granny Bell goes into her office I head toward the monstrous job of filing. Taking a huge armful of papers I carefully walk over to the front counter. This is the only clear flat surface in the office other than the floor, and I don't think it would look very good if anyone walked in to see me sitting on the floor sorting papers into mountains surrounding me. Although it would probably go faster that way. I spend the next hour whittling away at the mountain of filing undisturbed.
The door opens unexpectedly and a gust of wind comes in with whoever opened it sending hundreds of forms all over the office floor. "UG!" I close my eyes and press my fingers to my temples to keep from yelling at the idiot who left the door open for too long behind them. Rubbing both hands over my face before opening my eyes and facing the culprit I ask coolly, "How can I help you this morning?" No one answers. I start laughing at the thought of whoever it was turning and dashing back outside before I could see who did it.
I hear slightly nervous giggling on the other side of the counter. "Sorry about this mess, the wind took me by surprise. Can I help you clean it up?" A girl about my height stands on the other side of the counter with about seventy-five sheets of paper stacked neatly in her hands. As she places them on the desk she smiles over at me slightly embarrassed.
"Oh wow, thank you for picking those up. I didn't realize any flew that way. Hi I'm Lenai; I'm helping out my Gran in here for a few days. What can I do for you?"
The other girl smiles again and shoots her hand forward instantly. "Hi, I'm Alice. I am not actually a student here. Well not yet anyway. We just moved here and we need to get registered for next year. We already finished our year back home so I guess we get to start summer vacation early here. But my mom and dad wanted me to come pickup any paperwork they might need before the school year is over. They said it makes it easier." She speaks so fast I can barely understand her. Her smile spreading even wider as I stare at her with wide open eyes, my mouth slightly agape not quite catching everything she said. "Sorry, I get excited easily. I need five registration forms for next year." She repeats slower now.
"Oh, okay not a... hu problem." I look back over at her with tears of frustration glistening in my eyes. Looking around the shelves below the counter where all the blank forms had been neatly stacked moments ago the shelves are almost bare. The gust of wind had obviously circled tornado style around the room throwing EVERY piece of paper in site. The hopelessness of the situation overwhelms me; totally forgetting about Alice on the other side of the counter I sit on the floor and put my head in my hands. I came to help Gran and now disaster has struck.
I hear papers shuffling behind me and assume Granny Bell has come out of her office and is already working to straighten the mess. "'I'm sorry Gran." I apologize desolately. "Don't worry about this mess; I'll get it taken care of right now. Go ahead and do the things you need to be doing. I'll call you if I need help with anything."
" I've never been called Gran before. Does she look like me?" Alice teases behind me. Jerking my head up in embarrassment I see her sitting on the floor beside me with another mountain of stacked paper in her hands, a beaming smile on her face, and fire dancing behind her golden eyes.
"Hahahahahaha." I clutch at my sides as loud laughter shakes my entire body till it hurts.
"Is everything alright out there Lenai?" Granny questions from the other side of the door obviously not having heard the conversation I thought I was having with her seconds ago.
"Yah Gran, everything is great, I just made a mess of the office on accident but a friend is helping me clean it up. Thanks." I reply trying to calm my laughter and wiping a tear from my cheek. Alice hands me the stack of paper she's holding and bounces up to start collecting more.
"Hey Alice," she spins around more graceful than a ballerina at the sound of her name. "Thanks Gran." I laugh and get up to help her. Working together we have all the papers cleaned up into stacks in no time. We lounge against the counter for a minute looking at the office. For some reason it seems that more than just the papers have been cleaned up but I can't put my finger on what the difference is.
"The hunt begins." I say in a slightly overwhelmed voice. "Where are those registration forms?"
The door opens and a red faced boy older than me walks up to the counter breathing heavily. "I need a tardy slip, my car broke down on the highway and I had to run the rest of the way here. I'm having a test in first hour and Mr. Mackinsly is going to have a fit about me being late!" The fact that two kids younger than him are the people behind the counter doesn't seem to faze this guy.
I start looking around the stacks for the tardy slips when Alice slides one into my hand. "I think this will work." She winks at me and hands me a pen to fill it out with. Man she's good, it would have taken me forever to find what I was looking for in this mess. She must have a photographic memory or something.
"What's your name?" I hold the pen poised over the slip ready to fill out the form.
"Ethan Scotts" I finish filling out the teacher and reason for tardiness lines blinking questioningly at the line where it asks for a signature.
"Just a moment Ethan." I say holding up a finger as he rocks slightly back and forth with impatience. I run the slip into Gran's office shutting the door behind me and showing her the slip. "I think you need to sign this for me."
"Just go ahead and sign it, if the teacher questions it I will explain later. Everyone will know by the end of the day that you have permission to sign in house forms." she reassures me. "Did you get the little mess taken care of out there?"
"Yah we did thanks Gran. I need to get this back out there, I think Ethan is about to have an aneurysm he is so stressed about this." I laugh thinking of how red his face probably is right now.
"No Lenai, he is always that way. A very intense young man." Gran replies with a slight laugh that leads me to believe there has to be an interesting story to go with the comment.
Returning to the office I hand Ethan his slip and watch him fly out the door. He slams into the door so hard it hits the exterior wall and catches on the magnetic door hold. A stressful second passes as I realize what another gust of wind will do to all the neat stacks we have on the counter. "Alice, guard the papers." I command as I run to shut the door properly. After securing the door I return to the counter where Alice has already started sorting our large stacks into new smaller stacks. I look carefully at the stacks that are forming and realize she is separating blank forms into piles according to their purpose and used forms once again by purpose but also alphabetically.
"How did you do that so fast?" A guilty look crosses her face but just as quickly is replaced with her brilliant smile. "The energizer bunny is my first cousin. I just keep going and going and going." Once again I am clutching my sides with laughter.
"I think I like you. Here move over and let me help. I can't tell Granny that I let a future student do all my work for me today." We make a good team and within half an hour we have the entire office filed and organized. I hand Alice the five registration forms, five medical forms, and five student handbooks. "I guess that is all you need. If your parents have any questions they can call my Gran. Her name is Ms. Bell, and the schools phone number is on the student handbook." Alice throws herself toward me and wraps me in a tight hug squealing. "Oh Lenai, we are going to be best friends!" She let go of me instantly grabbing both my hands and staring directly in my eyes. "Do you like to go shopping? My sister is visiting family till school starts back up and I desperately need a good shopping spree!"
"I love to window shop, does that count?"
"Yes!" Without letting go of my hands she starts heading towards the door. "Come on lets go!"
"I have to stay here; I promised my Granny Bell I would hang around the office so she can get back to being a principal instead of an office aid." Her excitement fades only a bit. "Besides, I don't know if you noticed but there's not really anywhere to shop in Forks besides the Outdoor Warehouse and Thriftway."
Giving me a look that obviously questions my sanity she shakes her head to rebuke me. "Okay, I get your point about hanging out to help, that's really sweet of you. But hello, there is no way we are shopping in Forks! I want to go to Seattle! There is NOTHING here! Sorry but Thriftway just doesn't cut it." The look on her face is priceless. I had to agree, I hate the grocery store here, they don't carry more than two brands of anything. "Tomorrow is Saturday, are you free then?"
"Gran?" I yell through her closed door. "Can I go to Seattle with my new friend tomorrow to go shopping? There are a couple of things I want to look at?"
"Sure hon, who are you going with?"
"Her name is Alice" Gran doesn't answer back so I figure she's fine with me going.
"Looks like you have a new shopping partner. Do you mind if I run a couple of errands while we are out? Gran hates driving on the freeways, she says everyone drives to fast, but there are a few things I need that can't be bought here."
"See you around nine then?" Alice asks excitedly.
"That sounds good. Do you know where the 101 is?" Alice shakes her head yes at my question. "I live at the end of 101 near where it dead ends at a trail head. You'll see a dirt drive. It's the only turn off so you can't miss it."
"Gotcha, I think I know exactly where it is. I shouldn't have any trouble finding your house but can I get your number just in case?"
"Good idea, and I want yours in case something comes up and I can't make it." We exchange numbers, and Alice snaps a picture of me with her phone. When I turn mine toward her she makes a hilarious face. "You better be careful making faces, I might decide to show it to some cute boys." I tease causing Alice to make more faces.
Alice gathers up her pile of papers and heads toward the door. "See you tomorrow."
"Bye." I busy myself doing the little jobs left around the office, unable to believe weeks of backed up filing is finished. Thank goodness for Alice coming along! I would have been buried under papers all day long without her help. A smile brightens my face as I think about her eagerness and energy; I wonder if I'll be able to keep up with her tomorrow.
Gran and I walk to the cafeteria together as the lunch bell sounds releasing students from class. The hallways fill quickly as kids file out of every doorway, all heading to the cafeteria. The line is a mile long when we arrive. "Do you want to cut in line with me or wait back here and hang out with the other kids?" Granny Bell asks letting me know it's okay if I don't want to eat lunch with her in the teachers lounge.
"I think I'll stay here. I also think I will take advantage of the music room being free for the rest of the afternoon if it's okay with you. I can come back to the office if you need me to." I feel guilty not being in the office but with all the help Alice gave me this morning there is really nothing left to do.
"No, you did a marvelous job in there this morning. I can't believe how well you have organized the files already. I would have taken weeks to accomplish the same task." Gran tells me giving me the freedom to spend the afternoon any way I wish.
"Thanks Gran, you know where to find me if you need me then."
Granny Bell moves ahead and cuts in line to get her lunch while I wait at the back gazing around the crowded lunch room looking for familiar faces. After getting my food I still have not seen anyone I think I know so I choose to sit along the windows at the far side of the room by myself. No one notices I am there so I eat my meal in peace listening to the babble of conversations floating around me. Finishing my lunch and disposing of the trash before the students lets me slip quietly and unnoticed out of the cafeteria.
I quickly pick up my violin from the office and head to the music room. I had planned on playing my violin again but feel drawn toward the grand piano on a raised platform in the middle of the room. The music begins to flow and fill my soul as my fingers slide effortlessly over the keys. I let myself be taken over by the current of notes swirling around the room, I don't even notice the door open when Gran comes in three hours later to tell me it's time to go home.