1. Party
I've always felt different from other people, like I was sent from a different planet. There were things about me that just weren't normal, not human. I could speak fluently before I was a year old, although my parents would never allow it in public. I grew very quickly. By the time I was eleven I could pass for a twenty year old. But, the strangest thing about me is that I see things. Visions occur to me sporadically, triggered by virtually anything. Sometimes I'd simply place my hand on something, or see something and suddenly it would happen. It seemed like I blacked out and was dreaming, only to be dropped back into reality seconds later. I could also run extremely fast, to the point where I wasn't even visible. The moment my mother realized this she forbade me to run. I haven't run like that in over ten years.
My parents tried their best to give me as much of a normal life as they could. When they realized the rapid pace I was growing they tried everything they could to make me look my age. I always felt ridiculous. Imagine a fourteen year old girl with pig tails and Dora the Explorer clothes; only I was six years old. It got to a point where they couldn't mask it anymore. That's when they decided to home school me.
I know they were only trying to protect me and to make me feel normal, but if anything it only confirmed my alien suspicions. It was my feeling like an outsider that made me wonder about my birth parents. They could have all of the answers I was looking for. Maybe my mother could see things like I could and maybe my father had a growth spurt too. I needed something, anything to tell me who I was. Asking Ronald and Marie, my adoptive parents, was always a lost cause. But, I tried again anyway. I threatened to find them myself and that's when Ronald let it slip. Both of my birth parents are dead.
I would never know what's wrong with me. Marie always insisted there was nothing wrong with me, that I was just gifted. I didn't believe that. I was something more. But with my parents dead there is no way I could know for sure. I was stuck in this sheltered, unsure life.
I sighed and left my thoughts to get ready for a party my father was hosting. It would mostly consist of businessmen and their wives. I slipped my cream-colored gown off of the hanger and stepped into it. The fabric flowed to the ground. I couldn't help but spin and swoosh it around.
I could hear a commotion downstairs and decided it was time to make an appearance. I hated these parties. My father would try to throw me at every eligible bachelor in the room, while the girls commented on my beauty and maturity. How could a freak like me possibly be pretty? I'll never see myself the way they do. I took a deep breath and made my way down the grand staircase. Heads turned as my shoes clacked against the marble steps. I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks. It seemed as though the room fell silent. I flashed a fake smile when I reached the bottom of the steps and scanned the room for my father. He, of course, was at the bar chatting with a fellow colleague. His petite stature was towered over by the other men there. My mother stood next to him looking radiant. Her medium length, brown hair was curled in an old Hollywood style and she had the attitude to match. My father noticed me walking towards them and left the conversation to greet me.
"Elina, you are truly stunning" He said as he kissed my forehead. "Come, meet Harold." I followed him.
"Harold, this is our daughter Elina." He announced. Harold nodded and proceeded to look me up and down.
"Yes, gorgeous girl. My son should be around here somewhere. He would be delighted to meet such a lovely young lady." He spoke as if I wasn't even there, merely a mention in the conversation. "Meredith," he turned to the plump, red haired woman behind him, "Where is Jason?"
"Right here, Dad." A fairly good looking man emerged from the crowd and stood next to Harold. He was tall and muscular with jet black hair. His green eyes met mine and he smiled.
"Ronald, this is my boy. A fine young man, if I do say so myself." Harold said as if to auction off his own son. "This is Elina, Ronald's daughter."
"Hello" I said to him, putting my hand out in front of me.
"It's nice to meet you, Elina." He said and placed his hand in mine. A shiver jolted through me. It was happening, at the worst possible time. I was having a vision. I was being pulled down the hallway towards the guest room. The door closed behind me, but I didn't turn around. I felt firm hands grip my shoulders as I was thrown onto the bed. I looked up and saw Jason's face. He looked savaged and hungry. Fear flushed through me. I was shaken back to reality, my heart beating out of my chest. I took my hand back abruptly and took a step back.
"Elina, what on earth is the matter with you?" Marie said.
"I... I'm sorry, I just...I'm tired, that's all. I zoned out." I said, trying to recompose myself. Jason was still standing before me. I suddenly felt like I had to run, to get away.
"I need some air" I said, turning to walk away.
"I'll come with you" Jason said, placing his hand on my back. I stiffened.
My father encouraged Jason to go with me. There was no getting out of this.
I turned the knob on the front door and went outside. He followed. My pace quickened once I was outside and he seemed to notice.
"Hey, slow down. What's the rush?" He said, reaching out for my arm. I turned to meet his gaze.
"What do you want?" I asked defensively.
"I want to get to know you. You're such a pretty girl, Elina, how could I not?" He ran his hand down my cheek.
"Stop it." I muttered.
"Let's just talk, get to know each other. How old are you?"
"Eighteen." I replied, trying to find a way past him.
"I'm twenty three. You don't mind older men, do you?" He asked, mischievously.
If I tried to run he'd surely stop me. I had to hinder his reaction somehow. My knee to his groin was the only way I knew how. I inched towards him, placing my hands on his shoulders and smiled at him seductively. Then, before he could move towards me, my knee met the target and he fell to the ground. To my surprise our parents were on the porch watching us and saw the entire thing. Jason's mother rushed over to him.
"My baby!" she yelled
"Elina, what have you done?" My father said, disappointed.
I couldn't speak. All I could do was run. I opened the door to my Pontiac G6 and locked myself in. I noticed my father coming towards me. I took the spare key out of the glove box, started the ignition and sped off.
It was one of those moments where you feel like the air is thinning, you can't breathe and the only thing you can do is run. Run, as fast as you can, until your mind clears and you can breathe again. Not knowing who I am, being someone I know I shouldn't be, has been eating me up inside for years. I guess I had just had enough and the incident with Jason was the last straw. I was not that girl, with rich parents who was married off to a rich bachelor and pretended to be happy in a set up marriage. I'm sick of being around people like that, who only worry about money and a good reputation. For years I've put on a happy face for my father, but I couldn't take it anymore. I had to go for a while, to just be me and to get the answers I was longing for.
My emotions were all over the place as I drove to an unknown destination. I began hating myself and my sheltered life. I hated what I could see and what I could do. I just wanted to get away and to be alone. I needed to figure out what I was meant for, who I was meant for. If it weren't for these visions I probably would have ended up with someone like Jason, fooling myself into loving him and living a somewhat happy, normal life. I am my only barrier between myself and other people. I'm the obstacle that's keeping me from finding love and happiness. All I want is to live a normal life, to be in love with the man of my dreams and not have a care in the world. But, that's impossible for me. I'll always be stuck in this bubble I've created, left to ponder my own questions for the rest of my life.
My contemplations were interrupted when an unpleasant noise came from the engine of my car, smoke billowing from underneath the hood. I pulled over and cut out the engine. I had no idea where I was. I remembered passing the 'Welcome to Forks' sign not too long ago, but I had no idea where in Forks I was. I was alone on the dark road, not that darkness could impair my vision, but there was no hope for help. I would have to wait until someone drove by and would have to flag them down. I was about to step out of the car when I noticed a silver Volvo turn into a side road. I decided to get out and follow it on foot.
The little road would have been impossible to find if I hadn't seen someone turn into it. I followed the curves of it, holding my dress off the ground. The road was coming to an end and I could see light. As I got closer, I was amazed by the enormous house that stood before me. Large windows were everywhere. I made my way up to the front steps, about to knock, when the door opened.