Chapter 4: Family Meeting
The weekend had been extremely uneventful for me. I was either at work, stocking shelves, or at home, engrossed with school work. I noticed that Charlie had taken to canceling fishing trips, so he was around a lot more. This aggravated me to no end; I appreciated my solitude. I missed the beginning of my life in Forks when Charlie hadn't hovered or shown any interest in what I was doing. Now, after the incident with the Cullens and my lack of a social life, he hung around and tried to press me into visiting my friends.
"Dad," I would say, "I have to study." After that I would retreat to my room and stay there. So far, I was caught up on all the subjects that I was having problems with. I had fallen behind for a short time after I was…left behind.
I sighed and glanced out the rearview mirror. My morning commute to school was taking longer than usual. I couldn't quite focus on the task of operating a vehicle. I was too distracted with my own thoughts. Has it really been almost a month? I made every attempt to cling to the memory of Edward. However, it seemed to be dim, a fading dream. I sucked in a deep breath as my chest throbbed with pain. The memory, despite the lack of clarity, was still enough to torture me.
I didn't get much sleep anymore. The nightmares had intensified. Every dream centered on an empty forest, an endless green maze. I was running, searching for something that I couldn't find. I shook my head as I felt tears well in my eyes; when was this going to stop? Was this fear of being alone ever going to subside?
I looked up through my truck's windshield at the dull gray sky. Another rainy day. I sighed out loud. Well, at least today I could see the strangefamily again. I focused on that as much as I could. I still had not convincedmyself fully that they were, in fact, vampires. Could it really be true? Despite all the signs: the golden eyes, the pale skin, the abnormal beauty,I had a hard time accepting their true meaning. I had figured out that Edward was a vampire due to our close contact and Jacob telling me oldmyths. Part of me wondered if I was purposely looking for signs. Maybesubconsciously I was attempting to fill the space the Cullens left behind.
Was that part of me making me desperate?
I pulled into the Forks High School. It was still early, so the parking lot was only half full. As I stomped through the puddles covering the cement, I looked up and saw the McRae family. They were standing by their cars, looked up and saw the McRae family. They were standing by their cars, talking and laughing. The tallest one, Eric, was saying things that were making the others burst into fits of hysterics. I turned my eyes forward, but my curiosity forced me to peek. I sighed as I spotted Aryana. What are you?
As if she heard me, Aryana turned and stared directly at me. Her stare was curious and almost suspicious. I couldn't help myself as I locked eyes with her. She didn't smile, and she didn't move. Neither did I. My breathing sped up, and my heart accelerated nervously. The way Aryana stared at me made me uncomfortable. Her eyes seemed to pour over me, dissecting me. A huge crash of thunder diverted my attention. I glanced above and the sky opened up, shrouding the parking lot in a downpour.
I ducked and retreated into the building.
The walk to my first class seemed shorter than usual. I sat down in my seat, waiting for English to start. Skye and Eric glided into the room and took their seats, almost in synchronization. The other students began filtering into the classroom, one-by-one. I saw a few of my friends and they saw me, but it appeared they were keeping their distance. I sighed and looked down at the book: A History of Love: A Novel. This was going to be the bane of my existence. Finally, Mr. Marks came in and class started. He began his lecture by assigning the beginning of the required reading, the first five chapters. I groaned when I heard the assignment, but wrote it down on my notebook regardless. The rest of the class was filled with discussions about the book and what we thought of the subject of love. Finally, the bell ended my suffering, and I gathered my books together. When I looked up, Skye and Eric were already gone. I sighed and headed towards the door. Almost as soon as I exited the room, someone called my name.
"Bella," the musical feminine voice called. I turned to see Ary standing against the lockers. Was she waiting for me? She glided toward me and smiled. "How are you doing today?"
"I'm fine, a little tired, but fine." It was strange for her to be here. Was she waiting for her siblings? "Are you looking for your brother and sister?"
She shook her head and laughed. "No, Bella."
"What are you laughing at, Ary?"
Saying her little nickname made her smile even more. "I've made a decision." Her eyes sparkled in the fluorescent lights, and the corners of her mouth were twitching.
"I'm sorry, Ary. Maybe you should start from the beginning," I said, still confused. "You lost me."
"Bella…would you like to eat lunch with my family and me?" she asked formally. "They are all very interested to meet you."
The thought of getting to sit with her insanely beautiful family was both intriguing and exciting. Should I do this? Edward never invited me to eat with his family. This is so strange. I weighed my options anxiously.
My hesitation made Ary a little nervous. Her eyes darted from side to side, she crossed her arms, and rocked back on her heels "Bella, you don't have to…I mean, if you don't want to."
"S-s-sure, that would be great. I think that would be fun."
Ary's eyes went from speculation to concern. Her narrowed eyes widened a bit, and her brow creased.
I attempted to smile and nodded my head.
"Okay then, I'll see you at lunch. Want me to come find you after class?" Ary asked.
"Sure, yeah, that'll be fine." I said, euphoric. I was going to be in close contact with the possible vampires!
"Great," she said with a smile. Without another word, she turned and disappeared in the crowd.
I shook myself out of whatever daze I was in. "Wait! Do you know where my class is?" But she was already gone. How would she know where to meet me?
Well, this should be interesting. As I moved to my next class, nervousness overtook me. There was a part of me—a small part—that didn't want the McRaes to be vampires. There was no doubt that every part of my body craved vampire company, but at what cost? The Cullens had left me broken and empty. What would the McRaes do to me?
I made my way through the rest of my classes, anxious to get to lunch. Mr. Varner made repeated attempts to involve me in the class by calling on me for every single answer. I really wished I was invisible at that point. Finally, I got to Spanish, my last class before lunch. Jessica was sitting there waiting for me. This was not going to be good. I could tell that every detail of her weekend was aching to be spilled. Jessica's smile reached from one ear to another. She was sending tremors of excitement through her chair.
"Hey Bella," she said quickly. "How was your weekend?"
"Fine. I just stayed in," I said. "What did you do?"
"Oh my God," Jessica said, in an awe-struck voice. "You mean you didn't hear? Mike and I went hiking, and I swear I saw this huge thing!" I was only mildly paying attention now. "It was gigantic, but I'm not exactly sure what it…" She cut off her story as the teacher walked in, not getting a chance to finish, and I soon forgot all about it.
After what seemed like hours of pronunciation and spelling, the bell finally freed us, and I was almost the first one out the door. I was about to head towards the cafeteria when I heard someone clear their throat. I turned to see Ary standing against the lockers. I gasped in surprise.
"How did you know where I would be?" I asked. "I didn't tell you what class I had."
She bounded next to me and started to guide me towards the cafeteria. "Don't worry about that now. I'm starving."
She started to move faster. We were out the side doors and on our way to the cafeteria when I spotted Jessica and Angela a short distance away. They were staring at us, their expressions incredulous. Ary steered me through the crowd and directed me to the table already full of her family. "Here goes everything and nothing," I heard her mutter as we closed in on them.
Please don't embarrass yourself, Bella. I swallowed hard.
We approached the full table casually. My heart was pounding like a drum, and I could feel the flush on my cheeks. Ary turned and threw an arm around my shoulder. "It's okay, Bella. Calm down."
I attempted to smile, unsuccessfully.
Finally, we were standing in front of the god-like family. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to Bella Swan. Bella, this is my family…well some of them," Ary said, formally. The group stared at me, friendly but curious. Their golden eyes were glancing between Ary and me. "Well, do I have to do the introductions?" Their posture relaxed and the introductions began.
The first one to stand was the boy with the pale blond hair. "Hello, Bella. It is an honor to meet you." His voice was thick with a British accent. "My name is Dante." When he stood, he was a good six feet tall. His blond hair was smoothed back.
Next was the girl with the raven black hair. She maneuvered beside Dante. "I'm Ira, Bella," she said. Ira had a smooth British accent that complemented Dante's. "It's wonderful to meet you." She smiled deeply as her eyes twinkled in the light.
The third introduction came from the girl sitting beside Ira. "Bella, my name is Melena. I'm so happy to meet you." Melena was pale like the others, but her accent was Spanish rather than British. Like her sisters, Melena had a face and body to die for. However, there was sweetness in her eyes, an endearing compassion. The gaze I saw belonged more to a mother than a teenager. "I see that our Ary has found a friend," she spoke happily to her siblings. They all laughed, as if sharing a private joke.
Melena tossed her sandy blond hair and smiled at me. I immediately made up my mind - I liked Melena.
Suddenly, I felt a hard impact behind me, like a book had been thrown against me. I choked as someone began to hug me extremely tightly. I gasped for air. Whoever it was, they were constricting my lungs.
"That's enough, Skye." Ary's voice was more annoyed than threatening. The hold loosened, and I turned to see the Asian girl, beaming with a brilliant smile.
"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you, Bella?" She smiled as she spoke. "I'm just so happy that you decided to sit with us today! I was hoping it would be sooner, but Ary said we had to wait. I'm not very patient. This is so awesome!" She clasped her hands together and jumped up and down. Her excitement was very contagious.
I started to feel a hopping in my stomach which I could only construe as happiness. I was curious about something that Skye had just said. "…but Ary said we had to wait…" This was strange. Was Ary in charge or something? I couldn't help but wonder why on earth they had a conversation…about me.
"That's enough of that Skye," Ary snapped. Maybe Skye had said something I was not meant to know. "I'm sorry, this is my sis-…" she began hesitantly.
Skye cut her off. "I can introduce myself, Ary," she said with a giggle. "I'm Skye McRae, and it's wonderful to meet you, Bella!" She threw her arms around me and hugged me, more gently this time. She let go and turned to the boy standing behind her. "She's here, Eric! She's really here!"
A mental flag immediately rose in my head again. What does she mean by that? I'm really here?
Eric walked up and nodded his head. He reached down, took my hand in his and kissed it gently. "It's indeed a pleasure, mi Bella." He spoke using a mock Italian accent. "My name is Erickson McRae, but you can call me Eric. It's an honor and a privilege." His voice radiated with a clear crisp diction. Unlike some of his siblings, his normal voice had no discernible accent. Eric McRae was breathtaking, that much was certain. He was tall, muscular, and very elegant. The darkness of his hair, like his sister's, contrasted with his pale skin nicely. His topaz eyes glittered in radiance. However, I was confused by the way he stared at me. Eric McRae looked at me like he was anxiously putting together a puzzle. I shifted
uncomfortably and edged closer to Ary.
After all the introductions concluded, we sat down at the table. Dante and Eric became engrossed in a strange conversation in a different language. The words flowed from their lips like a song. Some of the words sounded Spanish, but others were incomprehensible. As if they could see my confusion, their conversation switched to English.
Eric smiled as he spoke. "All I'm suggesting is limiting the rhetoric that passes between us." He shifted in his chair as he spoke to Dante. "If they cared at all about our colloquialisms, then we'd be sought out for our oratory skills, not the company we keep."
Dante narrowed his eyes as he exhaled. "I did not know that our spoken words were of consequence."
Eric leaned forward towards his brother. "Our own words bear little significance." He smiled and glanced at me briefly. "But what transpires between us and them should be brief."
A laugh came from Dante. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "What importance lies in this?"
Eric laughed as well - a sarcastic, coughing laugh. He reclined back and continued smiling. "They do not desire conversation. Our lives have been forfeit, remember?"
Their lives are forfeit? I felt my eyes widen as I contemplated Eric's words. What does he mean that their lives are forfeit? I had been listening to their entire conversation, confused. It appeared that Eric believed they should not talk as much to someone. However, he had then said their lives were forfeit? My heart began to pound as ideas and conclusions traipsed through my mind. The memory of the website, vampire A-Z, reemerged. Could they possibly be part of that Immortal Assassin group? Maybe they are warriors of some kind.
Unwittingly, I let my eyes trail to Eric's face.
He caught my stare and laughed out loud. "Or at least, that's how I'd play the game."
"Forgive the conversation, Bella." Ary called my attention away. "My brothers are quite fond of role-playing games." A chorus of chuckles rippled among the other siblings.
"Oh, okay." I sighed a little. Darn it, she caught me. I temporarily dismissed my suspicions, but I would not forget them.
Eric abandoned his conversation with Dante and faced me. He flashed a dazzling smile that made my heart pound. "So, Bella, tell us all about you." His eyes twinkled in the light.
I was speechless. What exactly do you tell someone like Eric? The radiance of his beauty dazed me. "Well, what would you like to know?" I was confused. Why did he look so intrigued? Eric leaned forward, both hands cupping his face, and stared wistfully at me.
"Well, do you have a boyfriend?" Eric asked with a smirk.
Ira leaned across the table and frowned. "Honestly, Erickson, behave!"
Melena, in turn, shook her head and frowned.
"I'm curious!" Eric threw up his hands in defense. His voice sounded innocent, but his sisters continued to glare at him. He returned his eyes—smoldering—to me.
"No," I interjected, bitterly. "As I told Ary, I don't have a boyfriend." The statement forced me to recoil. I focused all my effort into concealing the pain. I knew it was there…waiting.
This seemed to make him smile even more. He scooted his chair a little closer to me. "So, Bella," he said, in an alluring and seductive tone, "are you warm?"
Am I…warm? What did he mean by that? "I…I…uh…what?" I didn't exactly have an answer to that.
Eric leaned further towards me, his head tilting down. His twin topaz eyes glittered. "Are you warm?" His voice lowered to a whisper now. Unlike Edward's velvet sound, the tone of Erickson McRae sounded much more luxurious: silk.
I was about to answer when I heard what sounded like a growling noise. I turned my head and found Ary staring down Eric. They locked eyes and did not speak. The entire table had grown quiet. I turned my eyes from one to the other. What is going on? It appeared that Ary and Eric were having a conversation with no words. Eric cocked his head, and Ary slowly shook her head. Laughing, Eric shrugged before scooting his chair back again. The tense atmosphere diminished, but my nerves were far from calm.
What did I just witness here?
"Aren't any of you hungry?" I asked, noticing the lack of lunch. The Cullens always had trays full of food but never ate.
The McRaes looked at each other and then looked back at me. Their smiles increased.
"We don't really eat lunch," Melena said, softly. "We consume a big breakfast, so we don't require eating until dinner."
The rest of the family agreed in unison. My mind was almost made up; they had to be vampires. But what about Ary? Her eyes were not like the rest, and she seemed different in her actions and her demeanor. What does it mean?
Suddenly, as if she could read my mind, Ary pulled out a paper sack. "Unlike these anorectics," she said, laughing, as she opened the container, "I like to eat." I leaned over and glanced in the container. It was
meat—raw, red meat.
The animal blood was leaking down to the base of the container. I was forced to hold my breath. Red meat made me squeamish; blood made me pass out.
I attempted to breathe through my mouth. "Ary, you eat raw meat?"
Skye smiled as she took in my speculation. "Yeah, Ary really likes red meat," she said, giggling. "I think it was something she inherited from her parents." Some part of what she said made the rest of them laugh uncontrollably.
I continued to watch Ary consume her 'lunch'. The conversation around me swiftly picked up.
"So Bella," Eric said. I turned and his face had taken on a cheerier look. "I hear you are a fan of the classics!"
My brow furrowed in curiosity. A fan of the classics? "What do you mean?" Did he mean a fan of classic books?
He chuckled a bit. "I meant by your choice of vehicle."
Oh. I groaned internally. Surely, they had seen my monstrosity in the parking lot. "My dad actually bought it for me. I didn't pick it out."
He nodded in acknowledgment. "It looks fun!"
I honestly couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or serious. "Thanks."
I felt a tapping on my shoulder and turned quickly. Skye was leaning across Ary's lap and tugging on my shirt.
She settled into her chair as I gave her my attention. "So, Bella, what is there to do in Forks?" She gazed at me with anticipation. There was something about Skye that just made me want to smile and laugh. Her entire personality was light and sunny. Every time she moved, a head bob or giggle would follow it.
"Not in Forks, Skye," I said, apologetic. "Port Angeles is decent, and Seattle is only about three hours away, depending on how you drive."
"Wow, do they have any nice clubs in Port Angeles?" Skye beamed at me like I was her new best friend. I couldn't help but let my face curl into a half smile.
"Oh, well, I wouldn't know about clubs, Skye. That's not really my thing," I said, looking back to the others. "I mean, I haven't even been to a club before." When I glanced back at her, Skye's mouth was wide open."What?"
"I can't believe you've never been to a dance club before! Bella, how old are you?" Skye was surprised that I wasn't interested in going to a sweaty room filled with sweaty people.
"I'm eighteen," I said hesitantly. Why did I feel like I was heading into a trap?
Skye leaned back and looked like she was calculating something. Finally, she snapped her fingers and smiled. "They have some eighteen and up clubs in Seattle, I'm almost sure of it!" She had a calculating look in her eyes. Alice had that same look when she would plot something. "It's settled! We should all take Bella to Seattle this weekend! We can show her a true clubbing experience!"
What have I done? "No, no, Skye, that's okay. I haven't been to a club because I—" I stammered at the quirky Asian. She cut me off though, eliciting another wave of déjà vu. Why does it seem like I've been through this before?
"Because no one has ever offered to take you," she enthusiastically finished my sentence. Skye turned to the others, polling their votes. "Come on, who wants to go with us? Who wants to go to The Studio?"
"Wait, I thought you've never been to Seattle, Skye," I said, curiously. Why did she ask me if she already knew?
"I never said that, silly Bella," she laughed and returned to her poll. "Melena, Dante, Ira…are you in? I already know Eric and Ary's on! It'll be great. I promise, no fighting this time!"
No fighting? What exactly did that mean? "Skye, do I have any say in this insanity?" I asked, in a hopeless tone. Yes, this was too familiar. My composure began to break. No, no, no, Bella! Skye is not like…
"None at all. Just sit back and enjoy it Bella," she said with a smile.
That's when it happened; I was praying that it wouldn't. Everything was going too smoothly for comfort. The hole in my chest—I had been attempting to keep it closed—ripped open with a vengeance. My chest blazed and seared like it had been set on fire. I gripped my chest, let out a small cry of pain, and hunched forward. I felt every set of eyes fall upon me. I couldn't lift my eyes to see them, but I knew. I desperately tried to get a hold of myself, but it was too late. I had let myself think of who Skye reminded me of - Alice Cullen. My chest felt like it was imploding. I remembered Alice so vividly - her smile, her hair, and the way she skipped up and kissed me on the cheek when we first officially met. The memory tore into me like a razor blade. I wanted to curl up on the ground and scream. I began to feel tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. I had to get out of here. I summoned all my courage and stood up slowly. My face was completely flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry, I have to excuse myself. It was nice to meet you all," I said seriously. With that I walked away, defeated. I was sure, right now, Ary's family was demanding why she brought a 'crazy girl' to the table. They were so nice, and my emotional baggage had surely freaked them out. I was so consumed with my own grief that I didn't realize Ary had followed me.
"Are you all right, Bella?" she asked, worry saturating her voice. "You don't look well." Her voice startled me. I dropped my bag on the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"No, it's okay, I'm just not feeling well. I'm sorry, Ary. I didn't mean to offend you or your family," I lied, badly. My voice sounded desperate, like I was pleading. More importantly, I felt like my chest was caving inwards. I felt my face getting hot. I feel like I'm going to…oh no, I'm going to cry. "Um, Ary, I'm sorry. I have to go."
With that I turned and rushed away from her. I didn't stop until I was inside the bathroom stall with the door locked. I grabbed my chest and curled over. Just ride it out, Bella. You can do this! Breathe! I sniffed and coughed as the pain took my breath away from me. I felt the aching seep down into my lungs and then to my stomach. My intestines burned with soreness. I put my head in my hands and gritted my teeth. The pain was getting worse every day. Isn't time supposed to help? Time…what time is it? I looked at the clock that hung high on the wall. Iwouldn't have enough time to put myself back together completely. It wasokay, maybe Mr. Banner would send me home. I stood up, legs wobbling a bit, and opened the door to the stall. I almost screamed in surprise. Ary was standing by one of the full body mirrors near the door. No emotion shone from her eyes.
"Ary I…" I said to her, in a voice not completely my own. How could I truly explain myself?
"Bella," her voice was serious. "Are we friends?" I nodded. "Then why do you refuse to be honest with me? Why won't you tell me what's wrong?"
Her face was becoming more and more concerned. She took a step towards me.
"I'm sorry," were the only words I could find. "Ary, it's not my story to tell." That was all I could say. I was left all alone with my memories, an unfair situation on my part. Ary was still a stranger to me, as well. I couldn't divulge my past to someone I hardly knew.
"If it involves your life, then it is yours to tell," she said, her voice softening. "I'll be waiting in class." She smiled at me, turned, and headed out the door.
My confusion and pain merged together as one to form a huge knot in my heart and stomach. She must know that I was keeping something big from her. She must know…something. The hole began to burn and sting. I swallowed and the action forced the pain to subside. A sigh escaped my lips as I experienced temporary relief. My body turned towards the mirror. My reflection shocked me. It must have been weeks since I took a good look at myself. My eyes looked sunken in, my cheeks were sallow, and my neck, along with the rest of my body, seemed to be thinner than ever. Had I really deteriorated that much? I traced my fingers across my cheeks. A tremble spread through my body as I started at the deep bags below my eyes. I had never cared what I looked like before, why should I start now?
I couldn't bear another look into the mirror.
I picked up my backpack and headed toward the bathroom door. On my way out, I ran into Jessica, Angela, and Lauren.
"Oh, hey, Bella," Jessica said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. I turned to face her and met wary and questioning eyes. "How was lunch for you? I saw you sitting with that group of new kids." I remembered that look in her eyes. She had that same gaze when she questioned Mike about his eyes. She was suspicious and jealous.
"Um, yeah," I said, still looking down. "Aryana is my lab partner in biology, and she wanted me to meet the rest of her family." My eyes turned to Angela. She was smiling apologetically. Lauren looked smug; she was more than likely the instigator.
"Well that's nice," Jessica continued as her voice grew sharper. "You all get along really well."
This caught me by surprise. I wasn't really thinking about what was going through my ears or coming out of my mouth. For once, I just went with the first thought that crossed my brain. "You were watching us?" I asked, skeptical.
This seemed to take Jessica off guard. She wasn't used to people accusing her of anything like this. "What, no…I wasn't…I mean, I glanced over now and then but…" she said, wavering in her attitude. Lauren looked at her with disappointment and sourness.
"Jess," I said, narrowing my eyes. "If you were only watching 'now and then', how do you know I was getting along with them?" I wondered if my voice came off as threatening or lifeless. I could no longer tell. My numbness had come back finally. Thank God for small favors.
Jessica turned to look at Lauren for support.
I was through with this. "Jess, I'm not trying to accuse you of anything. I was just curious. I sat with the McRaes because Aryana invited me. I'm sorry if you feel I've been ignoring you. I haven't been having the best life lately." I lowered my head, a show of good faith.
In an instant, I saw Jessica's whole demeanor melt like butter. She immediately became the girl I met on the first day of school. "Oh, Bella," she said sweetly. "I wasn't trying to be mean to you. I know you've been through a tough time. I'm sorry, and no, I don't feel like you've been ignoring me."
Lauren scoffed at that comment, and Jessica shot her a dirty look. "Look, maybe we can get together sometime soon." Jessica smiled innocently. "You can tell me all about it!"
"That would be good - I'll let you know." I attempted to sound hopeful, but my voice was glum. "Now I think I should get to class."
Angela and Jessica nodded while Lauren continued to scowl. I walked past them and left the bathroom. Finally! I hurried and made it to biology before Mr. Banner arrived. Ary was sitting in her normal seat looking passive.
I sat down slowly, frowning. I wasn't proud of myself. Jessica had gone out of her way, on my first day, to be my friend. Now I was making empty promises to her. I hung my head in shame.
"What's wrong?" Ary asked as I took my seat. I turned to face her, but she was staring at her notebook.
I sighed and leaned my head on my fist. "I had a complication in the bathroom," I said, almost angrily. "One of the girls I have been avoiding lately caught up with me."
"That's actually kind of funny." She let a chuckle fall from her lips. "But that's not what I was referring to. Bella, if we're going to be friends, then I think we should be honest with each other."
"Well, that's true," I said, raising my eyes. I glanced around the room, anxiously. "Ary, this is not the best place for this. How about after school you come with me to my house? I need a study partner anyway. It'll give us time to talk."
Ary hesitated. She narrowed her eyes. Finally, she looked at me and spoke. "All right, but I can't stay long. Maybe an hour or two at the most. Just promise me, no secrets."
"I'll promise that if you will," I said seriously.
"I'll tell you all that I can," she said evenly.
Just then, Mr. Banner entered the room with a television and began to take roll. My nagging thoughts kept me from focusing on the movie. All the questions I wanted to ask Ary ran through my mind. Is she a vampire? Are her family members vampires? What was their diet? Why are they here? So many questions, and I wasn't sure if I was going to get all the answers.
I was still thinking of all my inquiries when the bell rang.
"So, should I meet you after your next class?" Ary said to me. "Or should I meet you by your truck?"
I was startled. "How do you know I drive a truck? Or for that matter, how did your brother?"
She laughed as she rose from her seat. "I think the whole school knows, especially with the Richter scale level that it reaches."
"Oh, okay. That's fine. I guess meet me by my monster," I muttered, sarcasm brimming.
Ary smiled and quickly exited the classroom.
I looked down and was startled to see a little piece of white paper sitting there. I opened it:
p.s. my family is not offended…just worried
I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. I was terrified that I had shocked the new family so much that they would not want to associate with me. I simply nodded and folded the note up. I started wondering what questions she was going to ask me. Was I ready to come clean and expose certain secrets? Could I truly trust Aryana McRae? I was shaken from my endless stream of mental questions. There was still a chance that she and her family were vampires. What does this all mean for me? Does this mean that I'm supposed to become a vamp…no! I shook my head. Thoughts like that won't help. Take things one at a time!
I moved slowly with the herd of Forks High Schools students. I arrived in the gym and changed into my torture ensemble. Today, due to popular vote, we were playing volleyball, girls versus boys. I was in deep trouble. I silently thanked my luck that everyone knew who I was and what I could do. They placed me in the back and avoided setting up serves around me. Even the boys, our opponents, took pity on me. Two head shots and three bruises later, the last bell finally sounded. At least I was numb on the inside, or else I would be completely mortified.
I rested against an iron railing. Minus the gym fiasco, I had no prior clumsy acts today. So it didn't surprise me when my backpack slipped from my hands. "Oh!" I reached out for it, but the backpack disappeared. In a swift motion, it hung two feet higher than before. I glanced up to see Eric, Ary's brother, standing above me.
"Lose something, Bella?" His voice was teasing but endearing. His beautiful mouth turned up to a glorious smile. His teeth gleamed in the dull light.
My face flushed as I turned to face him. "Thanks," was all I could manage to say as I reclaimed my backpack. "Eric, right?"
"Right…perfect," he said, chuckling. "And you are Bella. Are you all right?" His face could only be described as humorously concerned.
My eyes darted from side to side, not sure what to say. "Yes," I whispered, "I guess I was just feeling a little sick."
"Well, here's to a speedy recovery," he said, flashing his brilliant teeth. "So, what are your plans for tonight, mi Bella? I was thinking about taking a nice scenic drive. I absolutely love the forest at sundown. However, I know I'd have a much better time if I weren't alone. Would you care to join me?"
I stared into his eyes, remembering Edward with every passing second. I began to lose my breath and almost went cross-eyed. I shook my head. Wake up Bella! "Um, I'm going to have to say no," I said slowly, trying to concentrate on keeping myself together. I turned my eyes away from him. Continuing to stare at Eric McRae would only surface more memories. I didn't want to freak him out either. It wasn't his fault that his eye color matched Edward's perfectly and smoldered the same way his did.
"Your sister, Ary, is actually coming over."
This seemed to bring him back to reality. "Oh, I see," he said, his smile retreating to a frown. "Well, there's always another time. I would love the chance to pick your brain." He smiled and ran a hand through his hair. "I think I saw my sister heading to your truck. You might want to go meet her. She'll flog me if she finds out I delayed you."
I faked a laugh as much as I could. Somehow, I believed him. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Good-bye Eric."
He took my hand into his and brought his head down to my level. He kissed my hand gently and smiled. "Until we meet again, mi Bella," he whispered to me.
The smell of his breath made me dizzy. Just like Edward… With that, he turned and almost floated down to where his family waswaiting for him. I took a deep breath and turned to walk to the other sideof the parking lot. I stopped short, and looked curiously at what I saw. Arywas sitting on top of my truck. She looked like a cat. She was perchedatop my roof, glancing from side to side.
"Ary, what are you doing?" I asked, my voice shocked and amused at the same time.
"I'm sitting," she said, simply. "What are you doing? You are aware that school let out about 15 minutes ago. Do you normally dawdle around campus, or are you trying to agitate me?"
"No," I said slowly.
I attempted to find some excuse for being late. Ary slowly narrowed her eyes. In a swift motion, she hopped down and leaned toward me. Inhaling deeply, she rolled her eyes and chuckled. "I figured he would delay you. I guess I'll have words with him later."
I shook my head. "What do you mean?" She can smell him on me! My memory of the Cullens' heightened sense of smell popped in my mind. She can smell him because she's a vampire! It was hard to control my nerves at this point.
She stopped and turned to me. "My brother, Erickson, wears the most unique cologne. I can't stand it."
"Oh," was all I said. Darn it! It appeared that Ary had an explanation for everything. Anything I would point out as a 'vampire trait' she could explain.
She then looked at me with a curious expression. "So are we going?"
I nodded my head and opened my truck door.
I looked over and Ary was already in the passenger seat. "Don't you want to take your car?" I asked casually, glancing across the lot to her Audi. "Won't you need a ride home?" I was more than willing to take her, but I was curious to see how she would get home.
"If I need a ride, I'll give Skye a call. She'll be around the neighborhood." She smiled at me, and I nodded in understanding.
I started the engine and the roar almost made me jump. I looked, apologetically, to Ary. She sat, looking undisturbed. I took a deep breath and began to drive towards home. We approached the first stop light in silence. I sighed as the seconds ticked by.
"So Ary," I muttered. "Do you like Forks?" I can't believe it! I'm asking the same questions I was asked on my first day!
Ary scoffed a little, her voice brimming with sarcasm. "What's not to like? I'm almost living under water. Forks isn't terrible, Bella. I just don't like the wet weather."
I relaxed more in the drivers' seat. "I know exactly what you mean." I turned right and came up to another red light. "I hate the cold and the wet weather. I hate it." I glanced over, and she was staring at me.
A smile cut across her face. "Then why do you stay?"
"Where else would I go?"
"Hmm," Ary agreed.
The silence overtook the truck once again. I was still so nervous about what questions I would ask. I was also feeling a bit nervous. What would I do if she was a vampire? I froze. I never stopped to think about that! Stupid Bella! What are you going to if she is a vampire? You don't even know what her diet is! She could be wearing contacts or something like that. What if she kills you and Charlie? What are you going to do? Oh God, oh God, oh God!
"Bella!" Ary grabbed my shoulder and shook me.
I was about to run a red light. "Oh shoot!" I stepped hard on the breaks.
The truck skidded across the road and halted dangerously close to the center of the intersection. A warm flush covered my face. I turned to look at Ary.
Ary's eyes were questioning me. "Bella," she said slowly. "Do you want me to drive?"
I shook my head. "Sorry."
I wanted to kill something by the time I finally rounded the corner to the house.
"Did you notice that we hit every stop light?" I asked incredulously. Every light had turned red the moment we had approached. Was this a sign that I was truly not supposed to know about Aryana? I pushed that thought out of my mind. I was going to find out no matter what! "We're here," I muttered awkwardly as we pulled into the driveway. I inspected the yard. Charlie was not home, and this was a good thing. He had made every attempt to reignite my social life, what little one I had. If I brought a friend around him, he'd probably embarrass himself…and me.
We made our way inside the house and into the kitchen. I looked back at her, unsure of how to begin. How should I do this? Should I just start talking? My stomach started to growl as I debated with myself. I had not eaten at all today. "Would you like something to eat, Aryana?"
She gently shook her head and smiled. I rooted through the fridge and found some cold pizza. Charlie, I owe you one. I didn't feel like cooking. I threw a few slices on a paper plate and put them in the microwave.
"So, Bella, I have to ask you something. Do you really need a tutor? Or should we just get down to whatever it is you want to know?" She was dead on, and I was grateful for it.
"Are you reading my mind?" I asked, not really thinking about what I was saying. She found this funny; a small laugh escaped her.
"How about we go to the living room," she said, still laughing. "I think we'll both be more comfortable there."
I simply nodded, and we both made our way to the living room. I sat down on the reclining chair as she took a seat on the sofa. I still had no idea what to do if she was a vampire. I tapped my foot, anxiously. The silence was killing me.
Finally. Aryana broke it. "So, Bella, I want you to ask whatever it is that you want to ask me." Her face still showed humor, but there was a hint of seriousness behind it.
"Okay," I said slowly. Why was this so much harder than it needed to be? Why couldn't I just find the words to say to her? I had rehearsed a few questions, but they escaped me at the moment. I decided to just wing it. "Ary, how old are you?"
Ary's neck jerked back. The question had surprised her. She shook her head and smiled. "I'm 18 years old, Bella," she said.
I remembered a similar conversation and how I approached it. "How long have you been 18?" I asked with seriousness in my voice.
"Bella, we're wasting time. If all you're going to do is—"
I reached my hand out across the table and grabbed her wrist. I pulled my hand back, shocked. Her skin burned hot. She felt feverish. I had never felt someone so heated in my life. There was no way she was a vampire with skin like this. I shook my head.
"Impossible," I whispered aloud.
"Bella, why did you do that?" Ary asked incredulously. She looked at me with concerned eyes. "What are you up to? You said that you have questions…ask them."
I continued to shake my head. This was all wrong. I knew there was no way she could be a vampire. Why had I hoped and day dreamed about this when I knew better? That meant that her family was…not vampires. Their eyes must be contact lenses or something. They hadn't lied about their eating patterns…oh my God. What is wrong with me?
"Bella?"
I could barely hear Ary's voice now. I was about to lose my mind and my sanity. "Bella! Will you please snap out of this?"
What did I have to lose? "Are you a vampire, Aryana?" I let the question slip out in a hushed whisper.
Ary's features went solid as a statue. I saw her inhale deeply, and her eyes narrowed at me. "What did you just say?" Her eyes widened, and I no longer questioned my sanity.
My voice was emotionless as I spoke. "I asked if you are a vampire,Aryana." I didn't even look at Ary. I knew what was going to happen now. I was completely wrong in my assumptions. She would call me a freak and leave my house and my life. Ary would abandon me like the others. I was shocked when I looked up.
Ary seemed to be fighting back laughter. "Bella," she said, still trying to keep her composure. "You did all this because you think I'm a vampire?" This was hysterical to her. "I'm truly flattered."
"So, are you?" I asked.
"No, Bella," she said, steadily. "I am not a vampire."
This frustrated me to no end. I started to shake. "But it doesn't make sense." I said quietly. "What about your family? Your family are vampires,aren't they?"
I became increasingly agitated by her silence. "Why aren't you saying anything? You said you would answer my questions."
"Don't misinterpret what I said Bella," she said, her voice apologetic. "I said that I would tell you everything that I am able to. There are some things that are out of my hands." She frowned and looked away.
"Stop it! Stop it, Ary, no more secrets!" I felt my voice escalate. "I am sick of everyone saying they'll tell me something and then pulling back at the last moment. It's…it's…it's just so flighty!" I threw my hands up.
"Bella," she spoke in a calm voice. "I think you need to calm down. You are getting too worked up over this."
"No, don't tell me I need to calm down, Ary!" My voice was still climbing in volume. "I saw your family! All the signs are there!"
This caught her attention quickly. "You have no idea what you're talking about, Bella." She seemed to be getting nervous.
"Yes I do, Ary!" I glared at her from across the living room.
"What is it that you think you know, Bella Swan?" she asked, her voice was increasing in volume.
"I saw the signs!" I said, desperation and frustration poured out of me with every word. "The golden eyes: that means they only drink animal blood. The beauty, the smell, the hard skin, the pale complexion, and the reason they weren't at school with you that first day we met!" Ary seemed to
recoil. Maybe she was not aware that I knew so much. "Ary, I want answers!"
In that moment, Ary's composure broke. Her beautiful blue eyes turned a bright yellow. Her lips pulled back over her perfect teeth and a snarl ripped forth. The sound terrified me. It was so different than anything I had heard from Edward, even when James had threatened me. Aryana's voice resonated off the walls of Charlie's little house. The windows shuddered and the walls creaked. I was afraid the house was going to tumble down around us.
"BELLA, I AM NOT GOING TO BETRAY MY FAMILY'S SECRETS JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A TANTRUM! I AM NOT DISLOYAL! NOW, WILL YOU CALM DOWN?"
My hand flew to my mouth as a scream attempted escape. I began to tremble as Ary's bright yellow eyes bore into me. She bared her glistening white teeth and growled. Her body shuddered as she lurched forward, moving towards me. Aryana McRae looked like she was going to kill me. I collapsed into a heap on the ground. The sobs cut through me, choking me as I attempted to breathe. I suddenly felt warm arms around me, covering me. I looked up, and Ary was attempting to hold me. Her eyes were pained as she tightened her hold. This made me sob even harder. It had been so long since I had someone there to listen. I had pushed everyone away for so long. I turned towards her and cried into her shoulder.
She exhaled a long breath.
We locked eyes, and I was forced to look away. I was so ashamed.
Ary exhaled slowly. "What happened to you, Bella Swan?"
Author's Note: REPOST