A/N: Thanks OMECTWiLIGHTer for the review! I tried to reply but FanFiction was acting up.
Shame on all those of you who didn't review! You know reviews make me happy. It's clicking a couple of buttons and typing a couple of words. I don't ask for much. Pretty please???
Tulips of eternal love, I wanted to keep Jacob in this story and the only way possible was to create Jane, Leah wouldn't be the same and the transformation is already hard enough.
Ok, so, I don't like this chapter, but it had to be here so Edward finally realized what Bella is. Unfortunately much of the chapter comes from the book because there was not much I could change, there are however some important details to check out that will be explained later on in the story. Luckily in the next few chapters I will be able to explain more about B & E's backgrounds and pasts.
So read on, and if you don't like this chapter at least have the kindness to review the last one so I don't get sad.
And, as always, I'm open to any suggestions for the story, so think about what comes ahead and let me know.
Disclaimer: I do not Twilight or any of its characters.
Last chapter on 180º:
I stared at he deep-voiced boy, taken aback, but he was looking away towards the dark forest behind us. He'd said that the Swans didn't come here, but his tone had implied something more – that they weren't allowed; they were prohibited. His manner left a strange impression on me, and I tried to ignore it without success.
Now:
Jane interrupted my meditation. "So, how are you liking Forks so far?"
"It's alright. Not as bad as I thought it would be." I forced a smiled.
I was still turning over the brief comment on the Swans, and I had a sudden inspiration. It was a stupid plan, but I didn't have any better ideas...
"Do you want to walk down the beach with me?" I asked, with a game face on. I'm sure I looked quite silly but Jane jumped up willingly enough and we started walking.
"So you're, what, sixteen?" I asked trying to make some conversation.
"I just turned fifteen" she confessed, flattered.
"Really?" My face was full of false surprise "I would have though you were older"
"Some people think so." She stated smiling broadly.
"Do you come up to Forks much?" I asked trying to sound eager but coming out idiotic. Somehow she didn't notice.
"Not too much" she admitted with a frown. "But when I get my car finished I can go up as much as I want – after I get my license."
"You fix cars?" This time my curiosity was real.
"Yeah, I love cars. I got that from my dad."
"That's really cool. My sister, Rose, does too." I said trying to refocus on my target.
"So, who was that other boy Tyler was talking to? He seemed a little old to be hanging out with us."
"That's Sam – he's nineteen," she informed me.
"What was that he was saying about the Chief's family?" I asked innocently.
"The Swans? Oh, they're not supposed to come onto the reservation."
"Why not?"
She glanced at me, biting her lip. "Oops. I'm not supposed to say anything about that." She looked at me sheepishly.
"Oh, I won't tell anyone. I'm just curious." I flashed my crooked smile at her.
She smiled back looking allured.
"Do you like scary stories?" she asked ominously.
"I love them."
We sat down and as she started talking.
"Do you know any of our old stories, about were we came from – the Quileutes, I mean?" she began.
"Not really." I admitted.
"Well, there are lots of legends, some of them claiming to date back to the Flood – supposedly, the ancient Quileutes tied their canoes to the tops of the tallest trees on the mountain to survive like Noah and the ark." She smiled, to show me how little she believed of the histories. "Another legend claims that we descended from wolves, and that wolves are our brothers still. It's against tribal law to kill them."
"Then there are the stories about the cold ones"
"The cold ones?" I asked, intrigue clear on my voice.
"Yes. There are stories of the cold ones as old as the wolf legends, and some much more recent. According to legend, my own great-grandfather knew some them. He was the one who made the treaty that kept them off our lands." She rolled her eyes.
"Your great-grandfather?"
"He was the tribal elder, like my father. You see, the cold ones are the natural enemies of the wolf – well, not the wolf, really, but the wolves that turn into men, like our ancestors. You would call them werewolves."
"Werewolves have enemies?"
"Only one"
"So you see," Jane continued, "the cold ones are traditionally our enemies. But this pack that came to our territory during my great-grandfather's time was different. They didn't hunt the way others of their kind did – they weren't supposed to be dangerous to the tribe. So my great-grandfather made a truce with them. If they would promise to stay off our lands, we wouldn't expose them to the pale-faces."
"If they weren't dangerous, then why…?" I tried to understand, struggling not to let him see how seriously I was considering his ghost story.
"There's always a risk for humans to be around the cold ones, even if they're civilized like this clan was. You never know when they might get too hungry to resist." She playfully worked a thick edge of menace into her tone.
"What do you mean, 'civilized'?"
"They claimed that they didn't hunt humans. They supposedly were somehow able to prey on animals instead."
"So how does it fit in with the Swans? Are they like the cold ones your great-grandfather met?"
"No." She paused dramatically. "They are the same ones." She couldn't hold back the giggle that escaped her.
"There are less of them now, one female and one male are missing, but the rest are the same."
"And what are they?" I finally asked. "What are the cold ones?"
She smiled darkly.
"Blood drinkers," she replied in a chilling voice. "Your people call them vampires."
I stared at the rough surf after she answered, not sure what my face was exposing.
"You've got goose bumps" she laughed delightedly.
"You're a good storyteller." I complimented her, still staring into the waves.
"Pretty crazy stuff, though, isn't it? No wonder my dad doesn't want us to talk about it to anyone."
"Don't worry, I won't give you away."
"I guess I just violated the treaty," she laughed.
"I'll take it to the grave," I promised.
"So do you think we're a bunch of superstitious natives or what?" she asked in a playful tone, but with a hint of worry. I still hadn't looked away from the ocean.
I turned and smiled at her as normally as I could.
"No, I think you're very good at telling scary stories, though." She smiled broadly at that.
And then the sound of the beach rocks clattering against each other warned us that someone was approaching. Our heads snapped up at the same time to see Mike and Jessica about fifty yards away, walking towards us.
"There you are, Edward" Jessica called in a flirtatious voice, waving her arm over her head.
"Is that your girlfriend?" Jane asked, alerted by the jealous edge in Jessica's voice.
"Not a chance." I whispered.
"So when I get my license…," she began.
"You should come see me in Forks. We could hang out sometime." I felt guilty as I said this, knowing that I'd used her. But I really liked Jane. She was someone I could easily be friends with.
Jessica had reached us now, with Mike still a few paces back. I could see her eyes appraising Jane, and looking satisfied at her obvious youth.
"Where have you been?" she asked obnoxiously.
"Jane was just telling me some local stories." I volunteered. "It was really interesting."
I smiled at Jane and she grinned back.
"Well," Jessica paused, carefully reassessing the situation as she watched our camaraderie.
"We're packing up – it looks like it's going to rain soon." Mike stated.
We all looked up at the glowering sky. It certainly did look like rain.
"Okay." I jumped up. "I'm coming." I said directing my comment only to Mike trying to brush Jessica of.
"It was nice to see you again." Jane said, and I could tell she was taunting Jessica just a bit. I fought to resist laughing at the expression on Jessica's face.
"It really was. Maybe we'll see each other on one of Billy's check ups."
Her grinned stretched across her face. "That would be cool."
"And thanks," I added earnestly.
I pulled up my hood as we tramped across the rocks towards the parking lot. A few drops were beginning to fall, making black spots on the stones where they landed. When we got to the Suburban the others were already loading everything back in. I crawled into the backseat by Angela and Tyler. Angela just stared out the window at the escalating storm, and Lauren twisted around in the middle seat to occupy Tyler's attention, so I could simply lay my head back on the seat and close my eyes and try very hard not to think.
A/N: Please make me happy and review!!!
I did update pretty fast, didn't I?
And since today is my last test for a couple of weeks I will most likely update this weekend again (but it's all up to you).