Author's Notes: Here it is - chapter one. A bit slow, perhaps, but I'm trying to set up the main character and her relationship with everyone. Happy reading.
"Grandma, did you take your pills?
It was the question I asked every morning as soon as I got downstairs into the kitchen. Jean, my grandmother, nodded absently and turned back to our small, static-filled TV. Not convinced, I glanced at the pill cup on the counter and unsurprisingly, the pills were still in it.
"Can you take them again? The doctor wants you to take them twice for today." I knew it was an obvious lie, but Jean wouldn't know that. I felt a bit bad about lying to my practically senile grandmother who happened to also suffer from dementia, but it was too easy and she never suspected a thing. It was for her own good, anyway. I grabbed the pills and brought them over to her, along with a cup of orange juice. Jean sighed, clearly not happy about it, but swallowed the pills as I watched.
"I have to go to school now, Gran – will you be ok while I'm gone? You've got your TV shows to watch, right?" Jean waved me off with a withered, wrinkled left hand, "You got to school dear – I've got my shows." I fought back the desire to laugh as she unintentionally repeated my back to me. Grabbing my backpack, I forced the front screen door open, reminding myself for the hundredth time to blast the hinges with some WD-40.
It was raining outside, of course, but softly. However, the path to my car was basically all mud. The dark blue 1998 Honda Accord was nothing glorious when it was nice out; it was even worse in the rain. Spattered with mud and sporting a watermelon sized dent on one of the fenders, it wasn't exactly a beautiful thing. But it ran, had no rust and had never failed to get me to school on time. Well, it had failed at that last one a couple times. Forcing the key to turn in the lock, I sighed, wrenching the door open finally and tossing my bags inside.
Turning the key in the ignition, the wheels spun merrily in the mud before the car lurched backwards and out onto the street. I groaned – I was so going to have whiplash. The ride to the school wasn't a long one, but nor was it short. Living just on the edge of Forks had its plusses and its minuses. On one hand, it was easier to get to places outside Forks since me and Jean lived closer to main roads. On the other hand, it was annoying to get to places inside Forks because we were on the outskirts.
Pulling up to the school, I sighed, staring dismally at the brick building, at the proud wooden sign that said "Home of the Spartans." The school never thrilled me, but here I was anyway, being a good girl and getting my education. Mom would be so proud. I think.
Getting out of the car, I noticed Bella Swan's pick-up truck pulling up and smiled faintly. Bella and I got along – when she had gone all "emo" or whatever when her boyfriend had left town for a bit, I had understood where she was coming from. I had lost all my friends when I moved to Forks, and while I was a bit freaked out how dependent she was on Edward, I figured she could use a friend. I had been right. Now we were pretty close. Close enough that I sat with them during lunch and hung out with them after school sometimes. I had never been to the Cullens' house though, which was fine by me. Bella was great. Edward sort of scared me. Alice was really fun, but she was always with Jasper...and he always looked like a dog who desperately wanted a biscuit, but knew he couldn't have it. Weird analogy, I know.
"Hey Amber – what'd you get for question 23 on the math homework?" Bella's voice and question brought me back to earth and I fell into step beside her, vaguely amused by how much taller Edward was then both of us.
"Uh...x was 24 and y was two-sevenths." I loved math – math made sense. There was always only one answer and one answer alone. Bella was never as enthusiastic about it as I was though. I pretended not to notice Bella glance up to Edward for confirmation. It wasn't like he knew everything. I instead occupied myself with avoiding the gaze of a one "Tommy Schellden" which was a difficult task, as he ran to catch up with me, Bella and Edward – a feat I had to commend him for since most guys (and girls, actually) tended to avoid Mr. Cullen there.
"Amber!" His voice was bright and cheerful. Too bright for eight o'clock a.m., I mused.
"Hey Tommy," I replied as pleasantly as I could, shooting a glare in Bella's direction as she giggled. Oh, Bella knew all about the crush Tommy had harbored for me since I had started attending school here. She was the one who had told me about it, since I was apparently inept at interpreting guys' signals. Even Edward had added, in his calm authoritative voice that Tommy did "seem quite smitten."
"So, how are you doing?" Still bright and cheerful. The guy should have been a cheerleader.
"Good." I knew it was a bland answer, but I didn't feel like encouraging him into something that was never going to happen. And Tommy Schellden and Amber Ryder as an item was never going to happen. I had never been the type to go for jocks, and Tommy was essentially the epitome of a jock: tall, blonde hair, star football running back, charming. I half wondered why I didn't like him. Fortunately, I was saved the trouble of wondering when two cheerleaders caught up to us and, after casting slightly intimidated looks at Edward, towed Tommy away. I sighed in relief, glancing up at Edward as he said, "While it's not my place to say, he really does like you."
I wrinkled by nose, pushing some blonde hair back from my face. I had learned not to question Edward's judgment about people; he was always so dead-on, hitting the bulls-eye every time. I contented myself with a mumbled grunt of acknowledgement. Bella grinned, sending an understanding look my way. She knew what it was like to have someone "pine after you" (Edward's words again) and not return their affection, having had Mike Newton follow her around. Poor Mike – comparing him to Edward was like comparing a twelve year-old kid's drawing to one of Michelangelo. I sighed, catching a small smile on Edward's face, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. I hated when he looked like that. Mock-glaring at him, I went into the classroom before he and Bella did to let them appropriately make-out before following me in. As usual, I made my way to the back seat, watching as the classroom slowly filled up. Bella and Edward always sat together and Alice wasn't in this class. Which effectively left me without a friend to sit next to, so I always got the luck of the draw.
Today, however, it seemed that we were short one student, because I had the entire desk to myself. I could see Mr. Walsh writing information about quadratic equations on the board and promptly stopped paying attention – I knew all this backwards and forwards.
That was how the rest of my day went. For some reason, I couldn't concentrate at all. On anything. I remember, during lunch, Bella teasing me about how I looked like Alice when she got one of her daydream attacks. Edward made a comment about the history lesson and Alice was...well, Alice.
When school finally ended, I was all too thrilled to get outside, a sentiment that seemed to be equally shared by my companions. Edward was talking to Alice about the biology lesson and I was trying to explain quadratic equations to Bella. Jasper was walking quietly, as usual, by Alice's side. I didn't notice Edward and Alice had stopped talking till Bella stopped as well.
Alice was staring straight ahead, apparently in one of those weird moments she had where she just stared, seeing something that nobody else could. It was sort of creepy. Her brow furrowed, as if she wasn't sure she liked what she saw and then her hand shot out, grabbing Jasper's forearm in a movement that was incredibly fast. I could see her fingernails digging into his skin, but he didn't even seem to notice. He just put a hand on her shoulder in a simple gesture, looking at her worriedly.
Then it was over.
I shifted uneasily in place. I never understood why Edward, Jasper and Bella were never worried or surprised by Alice's spacey moments. To them, it was normal. I shifted in place, watching as Alice looked up at Jasper, her pixy's face filled with something odd, something I had never seen in her before: worry. Edward seemed to pick up on what was happening next, because he took a step forward and then turned around to look at me, speaking to Bella without tearing his eyes away from mine, "Bella, you should come over to our house today."
I stared at him, then at Alice, then at Jasper and finally at Bella. Jasper looked calm as always and Bella looked confused and surprised. Alice nodded slowly, "Sooner rather then later...this is going to take awhile." I stared at her, completely bewildered. I hated being left out of what was going on. Bella would undoubtedly tease me about being "blonde" later on but I'd get her back for it somehow.
"Edward, not that I'm thrilled to finally be invited over to your house, I get the feeling that you're not inviting me simply because you want my company." I knew I must look like a spoiled child, hands on my hips and my bottom lip sticking out in a frustrated frown slash pout. Bella was the only one who truly looked as bewildered as I felt. Edward and Alice seemed to be working on the same wave length, and Jasper always seemed to understand what was going on, no matter how unlikely the situation.
"Your instincts are correct Amber. I assure you, Alice, Jasper and I would have had you over before had our home circumstances not been what they are. However, things have changed. We would love to welcome you to our home this afternoon."
I stared at him, wondering how a kid in high school could manage to sound so much like some guy who lived in the 1900s. Like, you know, the early years. When everyone talked all formal and stiff. Not bothering to linger on this idea, I glanced at Jasper, wondering what Mr. "My Facial Expression Rarely Changes" thought about all this. His face was, as always, calm, as if nothing could ever phase him. My eyes traveled to Edward, who was looking at me curiously, as if he were really looking at me instead of the glances he sent my way whenever he addressed me. Then Alice. Alice had a mix of worry, unease and vague confusion in her face. And all of a sudden she was smiling such a dazzling smile I had half a mind to call a toothpaste company and recommend her for their ads.
"Do come over, Amber. We'd love for you to meet our family." Her voice was happy, light and airy, as if nothing had happened. Did she think I would let it go that easily? But now even Bella was in on it, even though she clearly had no idea what was going on. I could hear her earnestly trying to persuade me to go with her that afternoon. In vain, I attempted to tell them that I had to watch Jean; that I had homework; that I was tired. All my excuses were washed away, leaving me wondering why it was that I didn't want to go to the Cullen's. I shook my head slightly, waving off another barrage of reasons, "No. Guys, seriously. You're all being really weird." I turned to Bella, "You're still welcome to come over tonight to study."
With that, I stormed off to my car. Maybe it was because I was PMSing, but I wasn't in the mood to deal with the Cullen's secrets today. I put up with it most of the time, but since this one seemed to include me, I hated being out of it. Grabbing the door handle, I yanked the door open, wincing as it screeched open. Sliding in with a scowl, I slammed it appropriately as if to remind them that I was pissed off at them.
The ride home felt longer then usual as I spent most of it annoyed and the rest of it trying to figure out why Edward had invited me over to his house. By this time, Jasper and Bella would know the reason, and I would again be the one left out of the secret. I knew I shouldn't get too mad – they probably had their reasons for secrecy. But just once I'd like to know what they were talking about. With a sigh, I glanced at the fork in the road that was coming up – the left would take me to Jean's house, the right would take me to the beach out by La Push.
"Oh...to hell with it all," I growled, wrenching the wheel to the right, my car complaining at the sudden change in direction. I had never been to La Push – my grandmother hated it for some reason – but today I was going there. Today I was going to break my grandmother's stupid rules...today I just wanted to be alone.