Disclaimer: I do not own twilight.
Chapter 7: Power
So, I've been told a lot how cool it is for Corinna to be able to read people so well… I'm so sorry for those who liked it, you won't like it so much later, great disappointment and major gross out, but for now I suppose it's cool. Anyways, thanks again for the reviews and for remaining loyal to my story (you know I'm talking about you NinjaHarryPotter4life, you have no idea how much it means to me that you guys actually like my story). Well sorry for taking so long but here is the next chapter.
Amber drove me home and left with barely a word exchanged between us, most probably upset of my rude behavior. She must've been very eager to go out with those guys.
I spent the whole afternoon in my job, next door, cleaning, vacuuming and doing all the dirty laundry from my old neighbor couple. Mr. and Mrs. Logan. It was a nice change, hearing the little health complaints from them both, mixed with entertaining stories of their youth.
I was done early because of my twitchy hands that just had to do something and cashed my payment. 50 dollars and smiled at Mrs. Logan as I left. The nice old lady saw me out the door and waited until I went inside my house to go back in hers. Even in my house I could still smell her perfume, an old version of Chanel number 5 and a touch of disinfectant. It was strangely comforting, and as I did my home work in my "soon to be" bedroom. I remembered her wrinkled little face and felt safe.
I'd gotten very close to the couple, first with Mr. Logan, as he offered help when I was fixing up the back porch and had no clue of what I was doing, and then with Mrs. Logan, as she enjoyed bringing us kool-aid and watching us with the tender eyes of a nostalgic mother. Then, as I went short on cash, she offered me a one day a week job helping her out with the "heavy" chores. All in all, they cared and so did I. Almost made me feel in home.
I finished my work just in time for dinner and spent a silent night with my family; my sisters were finally getting used to our new life and even attempted to have a conversation with me in English. I purposely used overly long words until they both gave up after cussing me "back to the dark pit of hell from which I'd came from". I laughed at their faces and hi fived Salvador, who had no idea of what was going on but just went with the flow.
My mom gave me a stern look, meaning as "play nice", I eventually did as they asked me for help in their homework, writing some reports and other simple stuff. Got Leo to do the dishes for me, as I wrote her work down for her to copy it in a new sheet.
I took a shower and went to bed, to suddenly remember my blade still in my rain coat. I jumped out of my bed and stumbled all the way to the damned thing with my heart all the way up to my throat. I got the blade out as I looked around the place for any signs of life. Nobody knew of all the stuff I'd brought from my brother's stash of illegals. I didn't even spare the thing a glance as I shoved it under my pillow and went to get it's leather cover, the type you could hang on to your belt and had a little leather string with a clip to keep it in place. My sister's were too busy fighting to notice me as I pulled my chest out of their room.
I pulled the thing all the way to my "room", thru the kitchen, the garage and into a corner filled with useless stuff I'd used to fix the place. I ran back to the living room with a frankly stupid idea, I grabbed my pillow with the blade under it and my blanket to go have a camp out on the thick rug on my room. The door to the back yard had no doorknob but it was tied shut with a thick rope. That should be enough. We do live in Forks anyway.
I made my improvised bed on the floor and opened the chest to look inside. Books, pictures, old toys and other stuff came to sight as I dug in the sides to pull the false bottom. Soon I had in view enough material to go to juvenile prison.
I went thru the stuff carefully until I found the leather cover. I caressed the old, greasy brown material. I recalled my brother's face when he brought it home 3 years ago, his green eyes shining with pride as he did some cliché poses of combat, looking as stupid as it sounded. And then my dad's purple face when he found out.
I laughed under my breath and over the knot in my chest. My brother always had a thing for the forbidden. If he'd only known.
I took the blade, or more like a military "Rambo style" knife, as my brother so allegorically put it, and froze as the moon light shone off the smooth steal. It had been cleaned… up to the point I barely recognized it. And it had been sharpened too by the looks of it.
Had Paul...
I shifted my thoughts elsewhere, trying to avoid the guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach. He was still a liar and most probably dangerous.
So I just put the knife in its cover and placed everything back in the chest, not giving that guy another thought. To go to sleep as soon as I laid my head on the pillow. I was so tired.
I woke up many times that night, sometimes because of the cold, mostly that, others the noise of the rain on the roof, so much louder there, and once the feeling of being watched. But I was too out of it to go back inside. The floor was so good…
The morning came and a strange contentment took over me, I even sang as I got ready for school. Vicky laughed at me and I gave her the finger and earned a glare from my mom. I lowered my finger very slowly but she kept glaring.
-¿Que pasó? (What's the matter?) I asked as I served myself a bowl of frosted flakes. My mother set her wide green eyes on me and I almost felt as if I was being scolded by a British queen as her elegant figure straighten and stared down at me.
-¿Para qué te ibas a dormir en ese cuarto si tu papa te dijo que no lo hicieras hasta que tuviera cerradura? (Why did you go to sleep in that room if your father told you not to until you put some doorknobs?) – she said with a reproaching tone, I sighed and went for the milk as she continued now with a bit of anger- Vas a ver como te va a ir si tu papa se entera (just wait and see when your father finds out).
I nodded and ate my breakfast as if she hadn't said anything. I was in a great mood to let them ruin it, besides, I already had it covered.
School was better though, guys stared a little yes, but I was way over it, they'd get tired soon enough. And if they didn't well, I still had all ten fingers the last time I counted; I could use one of each five to get them to go away. I expressed this plan to Jamal on our way to the cafeteria and he gave me green light on it with a gentle smile. That disappeared and rolled his eyes as I opened the door for us.
-Get used to it. I stated and walked away to our table to find Amber already there. I arched an eyebrow questionably at her but she waved it off. As I sat down I observed her monotone face for any clues and found that she wasn't happy with me but she wasn't sure to confront me about it. And I had a very good idea of what that might be.
-You're still mad at me for blowing the Quileutes off.
Amber twitched in her seat and raised her eyes to meet mine with a bit of reluctance and much more frustration. I only stared back as I waited for her to try to deny it, or just spill it out.
-You could have been nicer about it. She finally whispered, lowering her eyes. I huffed.
-I was honest.
-That's just it Cori- Amber raised her voice as the heat of her anger began to storm out of her, hands beginning their show as they always did as she tried to make her point-, I know you, your honest, blunt even, but never rude, and you were rude with them… you don't believe Paul, do you?
-So it's Paul now? Huh. I looked aside to the wide windows, showing me a gray sky as the first drops fell from the heavens. I heard Amber sigh.
-I forgave him, it was just an accident.
I was about to tell her what I saw but I shut my mouth immediately, she wouldn't believe me, no one ever does.
-You didn't listen to what I said, did you?- I continued to look out the windows, hugging myself now that the rain began to fall heavily, as if I could feel it on me already-, you're mad at me for blowing them off, not if I was rude or not, I've been rude, cruel and obnoxious before, it never mattered, it's them, you wanted to go out with them.
Amber stayed silent for a second and a chair moved beside us.
-Hello. Greeted Jamal, his voice low and cautious. I turned to them and crossed my legs Indian style on the chair. I nodded in acknowledgment and kept my eyes on Amber, waiting.
-I did want to go.
-I'm sorry you didn't. I lied as she sighed, forgiving me right away. That's Amber, always turning the other cheek.
-Yeah, I know, you had to work,- Amber shook her head, smiling at the silliness of her anger but I could see in her eyes she wasn't entirely truthful-, but still… Mrs. Logan adores you, she wouldn't been mad if you skipped one day and… well, the protectors are known for their reserved, selected crowd, and they invited us to go out with them…
So it's all about the popularity level. I didn't roll my eyes out of mere respect to Amber but I felt extremely inclined to doing so. Jamal, on the other hand, looked empathic… He'd wanted to go also.
-They will invite us again. I declared, and got up from my seat with a smile while walking out the cafeteria. Outside the rain was as cold as I'd imagined, good thing I had my hood on before coming outside, I would've been soaked. I hadn't really thought this thru but I didn't want to see the reproach in their faces and not be able to say anything, they'd think I'm crazy. I began to walk aimlessly with my back pack under my rain coat, simulating a giant pregnant stomach that I could barely fit under the buttons.
I ended up in the parking lot and went to Amber's car to sit on the hood and take the rain like an idiot. Where else was I supposed to go? I couldn't ditch, and getting in Amber's car and get everything prematurely wet was just mean, then, going to the classroom right now was just as stupid as staying out in the rain, at least this I could enjoy. When was the last time I'd played in the rain?
I laughed at the thought and began to walk back to my next class, the bell was about to ring, or so I hoped. The last classes were inconsequential and my total lack of interest didn't make it better. When they were over I was only left to wait for Amber on her car. The thing is… she was already there.
-Aren't you supposed to be in P.E.? I asked, leaving my back pack on top of the car. Amber smiled triumphal, and clapped her hands together with excitement.
-I'm skipping hell to come here and help you install heaven in my car.
Oh, now I remember. I laughed and went with her to get the stuff out the trunk. As I turned my head to the sky and Amber opened up the trunk I was happy the rain had calmed down to a silent drizzle, but the dark sky gave no promises of staying that way, with some luck, and working as fast as both our butts can go, we'd be over before it rained again.
Amber pulled out the bag with a suffocated groan and laying it carefully on the floor, turned to face me. I looked straight in to her clear blue eyes and began with the most solemn tone I could achieve:
-Amber Jean Willis, do you promise to do everything I tell you to do, no questions asked, always trusting that I mean nothing but good to you and your vehicle?
Amber's lips twitched but I could see I'd hit the jackpot with the solemnity and she was sort of moved by the intensity of my mock-marriage vows-speech.
-I do.
-I now pronounce you qualified to assist me, you may carry the bag. I finished with a small laugh as I opened the door to the back seat for her. Amber snorted and mumbled something that sounded like: "Sheesh, thanks, I feel honored".
She carried the bag though. But I stopped her before she could place it inside. Amber frowned at me and I smiled.
-We need to take the seats out, you're doing that. I pulled out a couple of tools from the bag and began to instruct her on how to do it as she tried to swallow her doubts. As I finished I let her on her own and went to play with the wiring from under the dashboard.
I recalled the day I saw my brother detach a stereo system and I looked for the right wires, hoping that they were accessible. With no such luck… Amber was going to freak.
I looked on to the backseat and saw Amber and her internal battle trying to dispose her first car from its seats. I felt proud of her, so bravely defiling her precious car. I left her to begin to detach the front seats. First went the passenger's and then the driver's, Amber was about done then, her slow pace mostly because of her shaking hands. We contemplated her empty car and I did the only thing I could do to comfort her. I patted her head.
Amber glared at me, her eyes a bit red with tears of fear, tears she didn't let out. I smiled softly at her and I began to consider doing this alone, not entirely sure Amber could take her car in its birthday suit.
-Amber, I can feel a dark entity approaching. My soft voice gave the phase just the right bit of morbidity to distract Amber from her pain. She stared at me with wide hazel eyes. I looked around the parking lot and found a bunch of teenagers looking just about ready to run. And by the impatient pose of some of the girls in a far group, one of them must have gone to warn the principal.
We had about five minutes before he got here.
-Amber- I turned to her, my voice urgent and accelerated, would she know how to lie her teeth out?-, the principal is going to be here in any minute so I need you to tell him something…
Amber nodded and waited… so naïve.
-You'll have to tell him… something that is not entirely true…- Amber bit her lip nervously and I continued before she could back down- all you have to say is that you got one of your relatives to install you a stereo system and he did it all wrong and so now you have trouble starting the car, that I know how to fix it and that we will be done and gone in a couple of minutes, ok?
Amber was twitching and biting her lower lip so hard she would draw blood out, but she finally nodded and began to walk towards the school where I suppose the principal was coming from. I went to work and got the back panel that divided the trunk and the cabin out and began to install the biggest speaker, the one that would have to stay in the trunk, then the amplifiers, those would be under the back seat and then began to strip the rug from the car to find the original speaker's wiring. I was hoping that I'd at least get that done before Amber came back, seeing she would stutter and choke as she lied to the principal's face. The lie was fool proof, and Amber only had to spit it out… but I hadn't expected her to go, lie and be back so soon.
-Amber I know this looks bad but believe me, it's for the best. I said as soon as I felt the heat of a person, or that person's rage, behind me as I screwed the rug up to the dash board. I only had to disconnect that old one and connect the new one…. But there was no reply from Amber.
I turned my face and saw over my raised butt up to a familiar face. A familiar shocked face.
-I will assume you're looking at the car. I said offhandedly and continued to change the small plugging. With my heart trashing around in my chest and butt-facing him shamelessly.
It was Paul Thail.
I sat up strait as soon as I changed the wires and pulled the rug back on. Ignoring the giant outside and his smoldering eyes I looked out the front windshield to Amber far out near the front office. With another figure in a dark suit. I sighed and passed a hand thru my hair. What was I supposed to do with goliath now?
I eventually turned my face to meet his eyes; intense brown eyes that made me feel as if I were running light speed in the forest.
His eyes were a brilliant blur of natural wood and his passion the exhilarant feel of flying. The feeling of living…
-Hey Paul!
My eyes snap up to Amber, and Jamal on her side looking shocked, I waved and smiled at them before continuing my work: ignoring Paul and finishing this up before Amber had a stroke.
-What are you doing here? Asked Amber, to who I supposed, was Paul. I didn't raise my head to see them, nor did I want to. That little eye locking incident with Paul left me strangely worn and a bit faint. Besides, I couldn't care less what Amber decided to do with him.
-I came to invite you guys to lunch again- Replied Paul, his voice hinting the smile on his face-, I still owe you a meal.
I smirked as I imagined Amber's face; she hadn't believed me when I told her Paul would invite us again. And now I was proven right.
-Well, we'd really like to go, but.- Amber paused and I guess she turned to me, I didn't see her though-, Cory, what do you think?
I think it is stupid and dangerous and I would truly rather stab myself repeatedly than going out with the tree humper Paul.
-Sure, that'd be cool.
Damned it, I owed it to her. Beside's I got the legal right to say: I told you so.
-Well then we'll see you at the Lodge. Amber chipped excitedly and I grinned widely. That place was more expensive than any decent hamburger was worth, which they weren't. I didn't see Paul's face but there was a strange silence for a while as I finished connecting the medium sized speakers in front of the back windshield with all the other stuff.
-Wouldn't you like me to help you with that, it looks like it's about to rain… hard.
I hadn't realized Paul was talking to me until a couple of awkward seconds passed and no one answered. I looked at him and then at the darkening sky. I nodded.
-Yeah, just one second- I said as I turned to Amber-, could I borrow the keys for a minute.
Amber handed me the keys with a silent "Eh?" plastered on her face as Jamal go inside the cabin next to me. I turned on the ignition and connected my IPod to the stereo on a low volume, testing the speakers in case I had to fix something.
The music sounded smooth and clear. The amplifiers made the steal floor vibrate just the softest bit. I let out on short laugh and turned the stereo off. Perfect
-Ok, you may start.
I let Amber and Jamal put back the back seat together, as I didn't trust their skills for anything else. Paul had said he knew about cars so I decided to test him on that and let him put the front seats as I puked up all the things and shoved them back in the bag. Paul did know about mechanics and had both seats in before Jamal and Amber had the back one. But really, it was more of a put and screw in thing, nothing more than 3 minutes if you know what you're doing.
And Paul knew what he was doing. He'd seemed to take my request as a dare and he'd actually impressed me on that one. He had been so confident and his movements, so fast, almost aggressive, yet still astoundingly graceful. His strong hands skillfully holding things in its place while his long, slender fingers did the job with such a fines and elegance I felt a twitch of sorrow and envy. How could he manage to look so damned threatening and still be so graceful?
Paul finished and turned to face me with a satisfied smile on his lips. I nodded at him, as if saying "granted you're a pro" and took the tools he'd used to throw them in the bag. Amber and Jamal had the back seat ready a little bit after Paul did and gave me the tools to finally take the bag back to the trunk.
-Well, now that were done, let's get going. Said Amber while jumping in to the driver's seat with a brilliant smile. Jamal waved bye and went on to his car, Paul, on the other hand, nodded but stayed put until I got in and sat securely on the passenger seat.
-We'll follow you girls up to the Lodge, ok? Convened Paul, looking as if he was having second thoughts about something. Probably mourning over his cash after this thing. Amber and I nodded and he took off towards the only other car in the parking lot besides Jamal's, who waited for us to go first as well.
Amber started the car and rushed to the stereo with a mischievous grin in her otherwise angelic face. I connected my IPod again and chose a song that would really bust the whole sound system. What I hadn't counted on was how high Amber turned the volume.
HEY
A loud pound in the trunk and the amplifiers under the back seat literally shook the car to the point it bounced on its wheels. Amber turned to me, eyes wide in fear as the song gave a second of almost vehement sounding Ahh's that only made the cabin purr like a snuggly kitten. Only that I knew it would get worst.
HEY.
The frame bounced again, the seats jumped, something pounded the trunk hard.
Here comes the… Here comes the… Y'all don't really want it now…
And.
BOOM!
Both, amber and I, screamed bloody murder as an even louder and stronger pound hit the trunk, the whole car exploded, convulsion over powering the metal frame with the Amplifiers and a really loud shattering sound finally got Amber's hand to the on/off button on the stereo. We stared at each other with freakish terrified pale faces before turning, ever so gently, to the back windshield…
That had a long, vertical crack right in the middle.
I burst out laughing, harder than I've laughed ever since I got to this country. Harder than I have in years. So hard, my stomach hurt and tears streamed down my face freely for the first time in over half a year.
I don't know what I expected really, the system came from a truck, and it made the thing tremble like a pussy, it was beyond obvious that it would kick amber's Honda's ass as soon as she passed 40 digits. And she'd had it on 54. Lucky it didn't break all the windows. I just couldn't wait to see what the trunk looked like with the biggest seat of speakers in there.
That thought only made me laugh harder, if that was even possible as Amber's face slowly regained some color. First she sort of shuck, and then giggled and then, laughed.
-NOW THAT IS POWER!- I howled as my laughter became controllable and gave a small huaco, too pumped up with adrenaline to stay quiet I sang what came next in the song to then have Amber join me as she slowly backed out the parking lot. We passed the red classic car with the astound and horrified looking pair of native Americans', us laughing so hard we couldn't sing the song right.
I just hope her parents don't ground her for this.
So. Was it worth the wait?... still open for questions in case there were, the next chapter is about that lunch together and finally getting to the good stuff, lot more of Paul coming up, I promise. So please read my newest story, it's called "Pulling heaven down" it's an Alistair/OC romance during breaking dawn. No obligation I'd just really like all of your opinions about it: does it suck? , should I keep writing it? , should I curl up in a little ball and die? Anything said is good people. Please