Chapter 5.
Charlottes POV.
After school, I drove home, dumped my bag in the hall, and lounged on my bed for a while, thinking over the events of that day. But I could only remember one. Jacob looked so sad back there by the pond... Suddenly I was inspired. I grabbed my sketchbook, (I always keep it handy), and began to write.
Friend In Me
Do you know that feeling?
The one where you think that
Your skin is slowly peeling
When all you want is a simple hug
Yearning so much... yet that everescent tug
Forbids you to ask
Your feelings masked
And all that permits is a thought
I know your troubles
I've heard your struggles
I hope you'll see
You have a friend
In me.
With a sense of...well, small accomplishment, I shut my book. Three hours later, after dinner as I climbed into bed, I thought to myself. Tomorrow was going to be a day full of adventure. I was sure of it. With new friends, and an air of content, I sank into the mattress, falling into a deep and peaceful sleep.
* * *
The next day, I woke up to a disconcerting light. I threw off the covers, and ran excitedly to the window.
Shining through the fluffy white clouds, I could see the sun. It was a bit farther away than what seemed average, but nevertheless, it shone just the same. The golden rays of warmth and belonging lifted my spirits, and I soon found myself skipping to my closet and pulling on a dark jade sun dress I usually saved for more formal occasions. Not that I had ever been much more than casual at those events.
* * *
I
was smiling I flounced down the hall to the lunchroom. The sun was still out, and I had received many complements on my dress throughout the day. I guess I was so happy-go-lucky, that I failed to see the person walking towards me, or step around them. I crashed into the unsuspecting victim, and looked down to see that I had dropped my books. Glancing up, I opened my mouth to apologize.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going! Are you all right?" I inquired worriedly.
The person laughed. I blinked, surprised. Why was he laughing...? I had just barreled into someone, and they were humored??
"No worries." The voice chuckled. "I don't think I've broken anything major."
A tall, slender boy with deep blue eyes and tousled brown hair grinned at me, while handing me my books. I had been too busy freaking out to notice him picking them up. Oh, I was always causing other people trouble. My eyebrows pulled together anxiously. The boy laughed again.
"No really, don't worry about it." He held out a hand. "I'm Christopher, but you can call me Chris." He winked.
He took my hand and helped me up. "Well if you're really okay... I'm Charlotte. I'm new...but maybe you've already heard. I know how word gets out around here."
He smiled, as we let go of each other. "Of course. There are no secrets in La Push."
I laughed at Bella's quote. He was funny. A bit like Jacob, but his humor was more obvious. You could tell that his personality was more flamboyant. Maybe we could be friends. Oh, but Jacob and the rest of the group was probably waiting for me. I had to split.
"Well see you later Chris. And thank you." I called over my shoulder as I walked swiftly down the hall towards the bustling cafeteria. Or as I liked to call it, the cafegymatorim.
It seemed to me, that cafeteria was such a bland, unsatisfying word, and 'cafegymatorium' was much more gratifying.
Once past the double doors, I immediately spotted Jake and the gang sitting in the far right corner. Jacob had a serious, troubled look on his face, and appeared as though the rest of the guys were trying to convince him something.... I would have to ask when I got over there. The hem of my dress sashayed and billowed about my legs as I walked towards their table. The boys at the table I was passing whistled as I went by.
"Lovin' the dress Charlotte! Nice calves you got there!" One of them called, obviously just teasing. I wasn't really attractive in any aspect I was sure.
I laughed, and bounded over the few remaining yards to Jake's table. Sitting down next to Seth I smiled around at everyone. They grinned back, and Jacob glared down at the table top. I decided not to let that get to me. Today had been perfect, and I was going to make sure to keep it that way.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" I flashed a smile, hoping to get in on whatever news they had been undoubtedly "boy gossiping" about.
Jacob looked as though he were blushing, though I couldn't be sure with his copper toned skin.
Seth immediately spoke up.
"We were just talking about you Charlotte! We were pondering over telling you tha–" He piped.
Sam interrupted sharply.
"Over telling you that there's going to be a substitute today. In English. We heard Ms. Jillian is sick. But none of us knew if she was actually ill for sure. It might have just been a rumor."
"Ms. Jillian? Oh the poor thing, I hope she gets well soon. I'll have to visit her some time." I frowned.
I could sympathize with the teacher. It was no fun being banished to bed with no one to talk to. Maybe I could bake her some of my sprite cookies. They were just like sugar cookies, but I added a can of my favorite soda as the key ingredient. I had been complemented on them many times before...
Embry grinned. "You're so understanding Char, I bet you'd be fine with almost anything, huh?"
I could see Jacobs eyes widen, trying desperately to signal something... He shook his head infestimately, a hard edge to his usually warm eyes. That was strange.
"Well, I don't know about everything. I really hate it when people are depressed, or ill, or angry... I always try to make them feel better though. It would be inexcusable not to. " I reasoned.
Helping others was one of my good, yet often annoying habits. Sometimes I failed to see when people didn't want assistance, and I was being a nuicance
After that, Jacob hastily changed the subject, and lunch flew by; as things usually did when I was enjoying myself. At the bell, Quil smirked and reminded me of the days upcoming event.
"See you after school today Charlotte. Hope you lose gracefully, wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself." he boasted shamelessly.
The video game bet. Of course. Well I hoped he wouldn't get too confident, because then it would be easy to surprise attack him and win invariably. I could imagine his face when I beat him. Laughing quietly, I wished him luck, and went on to Biology.
* * *
After class, we all walked to my house together.
There were six werewolves in my living room. Quil had insisted on having "witnesses" present, thinking he'd get all the more praise when he won. Oh well, all the more people to see how badly he was beaten.
It was a grave mistake for him to let me chose the game we played. He had no idea how good I was at Guitar Hero. He even let me chose the song itself. Purple Haze.
He raised his eyebrows when I put myself on expert, but exemptly did the same so as the match would be fair. He was over confident. I smiled. This would be easy.
The intricate maze of notes, ranging all the way down the guitar neck, rang out clearly, and perfectly timed, as my fingers moved at light speed. It was a familiar song I had heard and played many times over. I found myself enjoying the complicated mess of notes and chords.
Quil was doing all right, but he obviously wasn't divulged into the beat, the clamorous melody, as I was. The song ended with one final, resounding chord, and it was apparent to all that I had triumphed over a dumb-founded Quil. His mouth disengaged, and he gawked in disbelief at my flatscreen. The "witnesses" bust into rapturous applause.
"YES!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!."
"Nice try Quil," I patted him on the back condescendingly. "I'm sure you tried your best. Now pay up." I stuck my hand out expectantly.
With a defeated sigh, Quil pulled out his wallet, and handed me a twenty. He was taking all the fun out of winning. I pouted. He wasn't going to get off that easily.
With one swift movement, I snatched the woven bracelet off from around his wrist and sprinted away at top speed.
Of course they were fast. But I had won every running race at my school five years in a row, and had earned the title of MVP on my soccer team. I shot into the upstairs hall closet, and burrowed inside the multitude of jackets, coats, and sweaters, shutting the door as quietly as I could behind me. Inside the pitch black darkness, I held as still as I could, and tried to calm my rapid breathing from running so fast.
Suddenly, the closet door creaked open, and a flood of light pooled inside the small space. Hidden between two puffy jackets, I spotted a large tanned hand reaching inside, towards the very spot that I hid. Scrambling desperately, I crammed myself into the innermost corner. The hands continued to reach, and pushed through my feeble defense, wrapping his pleasant, abnormally warm fingers around mine . I was yanked out of my hideout, and hovered two feet off the ground
"Busted." I muttered, disappointed that I had been defeated so easily. To my surprise I heard an amused laugh. Looking up, I saw Jacob grinning down at me, a playful expression on his face.
"Not quite." He smiled.
"Now" He said, his hot breath fazing me for a few seconds before I realized he was even speaking to me.
"Y-yes?" I mumbled.
"If you'll split the money and lunches, I'll help you. Deal?"
I stared at him, uncomprehendingly. Then it hit me. He was having fun. The genuine smile that spread across Jacob's face differed immensely from the pained look he wore the first day we spoke. It was a small victory, but my heart swelled with satisfaction and happiness. When he was happy, I found myself being happy too.
"Charlotte? You in there? I said–" He worried at my blank, slightly shocked, face. He peered into my eyes, probably wondering if I had fused an essential nerve supporting my brain.
"Oh. Yeah. I'm good." I blinked furiously, tearing my eyes away from his perfect face, held just inches from mine.
He lowered me to the ground. "Hey, sorry for scaring you but we have to hurry if–"
"I FOUND THEM!"
I heard the feet, pounding wildly up the flight of stairs leading to the second floor. Embry stood there, eyes nearly popping out of their sockets, mouth slowly curving into a huge grin. Quil nearly bowled into his monstrous friend, until he saw us standing together. He screeched to a halt, and stared.
"Ja-cob." Quil make a tsking noise.
I looked over at Jacob confusedly, and then absentmindedly down at out hands, which had never let go of each other. ...Never let go of each other....
My eyes widened as I comprehended the meaning of those words. Startled, and secretly pleased beyond what I had ever experienced, I broke free from Jacob's grip, and flew into the hallway, nearly hyperventilating, my cheeks undoubtedly flushed scarlet.
* * *
That night I lay in bed, remembering how warm his hand felt wrapped around mine. It was so natural, like our hands fit together as if they were two puzzle pieces cut for each other. But Jacob and I were just friends right? I mean, we'd only been friends for just over a week. We couldn't—
We couldn't be meant for eachother....right?
I laughed quietly at myself. I was going off into a tandem just because Jacob held my hand for a minute. I decided to ignore the little incident, and pretend like nothing had ever happened between us. Little did I know just how difficult that would be.