Okay, this is extremely long! But I hope you like it! Review please!
"And I work from five in the morning until six at night. I put in some extra hours." Aunt Nadine explained during dinner, which just happened to be a pizza she ordered. I was just grateful it wasn't Chinese food, I don't think I could have handled that. "So you'll be alone in the mornings, and have to order out for dinner at nights." She smiled at us broadly.
"I can cook. You don't have to buy us pizza every night." I laughed lightly. I had been taking care of myself and my brother for the past five months, I could fend for myself well enough.
"Oh! Well alright then. There's plenty of food in the house." She sounded all to happy.
"Right. Well, I promised Ryan we would watch a movie together so.." I trailed off, heading up the steps to my brothers room where he went after eating.
I stopped in my room, grabbing a pair of my fathers old grey sweat pants and throwing them on, along with one of his plain black T-shirts. I loved the smell of him.
"Hey! That's dads. Did he say you could have that?" Ryan asked curiously as I entered his room and sat down next to him on the bed. Watching him, watch the movie.
"Yes." I lied easily. Ruffling his hair slightly and kissing his cheek. This kid was just too cute.
"Cat…" He began, I urged him on with a silent nod. "I'm scared." I hugged his little body close to mine, practically crushing him.
"What's there to be afraid of?" I asked quietly. Had Nadine told him about my father…not being with us?
"What if the kids at school don't like me?" He asked. His child like problems seemed silly, but were still pretty hard to answer.
"I'll beat them up." I told him. And it was the truth. If anyone messed with my little brother, I would beat them up…or at least scare the pants off the little kid. I mean, I was short, so short that my brother was almost up to my shoulder, but I was scary when I wanted to be.
He seemed to like that answer anyway. "Night." he said, still smiling as he cuddled deeper into the bed,
"Night." I replied quietly. I kissed him on the head and turned off the T.V before heading out of the room and into my own. The truth was, I was just as nervous as he was. Me and Ryan would be going to the same school, a school for all La Push kids, grades K-12. I was entering the tenth grade, and nothing was scarier then the second first day of high school.
Sure I was scared about the school thing. But it was nothing to how I felt about the whole 'Ryan finding out his dad is dead' thing. I cried myself to sleep again that night. Knowing full well, that in the morning, I would have to be strong again.
"Cat?" My brothers groggy voice asked as he entered the kitchen. "Whatcha making?"
"Pancakes." I answered, placing a plate of pancakes, just the way he liked them, at the table. He nodded his silent thanks and sat down in front of them before digging in.
"What do you want to do today?" I asked, sitting down at the table with my own plate.
"What can we do?" He countered. I smiled.
"I was thinking we could go on a walk. Maybe go down to the beach? Aunt Nadine left me a map of this place. The beach isn't to far away." I sang out to him, grabbing his empty plate and washing it along with my own.
"Yeah! Can we go swimming! I want to build a castle to! Lets go!" He asked excitedly, jumping up from the table.
I let out a small laugh. "Okay, you go get your bathing suit on and get a bag to put all your sand castle stuff in and I'll make us some picnic food." I said, raising my eyebrows dramatically. He ran off in the direction of his room and I quickly made four peanut butter sandwiches, along with a couple apples and sliced up some of a water melon.
"Are you ready yet?" Ryan asked as he bolted into the kitchen. I nodded yes while placing the food in my back pack with my sketch book and some sketching pencils.
We spent the day at the beach. Practically no one was there because of the gloomy weather, but I found it very relaxing and beautiful enough for me to draw at least ten pictures of the ocean.
I sat on the beach, watching as Ryan built sand castles and played in the water, eventually going in and playing with him. I loved him. More then he will ever know. I would do anything for him. He was my life. It used to be my father. My father was everything to me. Now, it was Ryan. I needed someone to love. And he was it.
We explored the town a little bit after that. Just walked around, followed the roads, seeing where they led. By the time four o'clock rolled around, we were walking into the living room and collapsing on the couch.
"Babe, go upstairs and get ready for dinner." I said smiling at my brother, hoping he didn't argue. He didn't. I think he knew something was wrong. Or maybe he was still a little freaked out by the whole 'moving to La Push' thing.
I went into the kitchen, and started making a salad after I stuck the chicken in the oven.
The chicken wasn't done cooking until six o'clock. And I knew my aunt would be home any minute. Ryan reluctantly set the table, while I arranged everything on it. WE sat down to dinner, still waiting for my aunt to come home. I quickly made Ryan a plate of food, and then moved onto my own plate.
"Catherine?" I heard my aunt call from the doorway.
"In here." I called back shyly. She walked in a minute later, smiling like she just won the lottery.
"I hope you don't mind. I brought a friend over to eat with us." She announced as a petite woman walked into the kitchen. She was beautiful, except for the three long scars that trailed down her face. "Emily, this is my niece Catherine, and her brother Ryan." My aunt introduced us.
"It's Cat." I said smiling while holding out my hand. She took it graciously. IT was becoming harder and harder to pretend like everything was alright. I was sure that if my brother wasn't around, I would break down in tears constantly. I had to be strong for him.
We ate quietly, occasionally my Aunt and Emily would strike up a conversation between them selves, but we were never really included. Not that I minded much. I never really was the one to start the conversation. I'd much rather listen and put my two sense in every once in a while.
"Cat." My brother said, looking at me with his big, baby eyes. "I'm tired." He said sleepily. I sighed before saying good night to Emily and bringing my brother to bed. I layed out his clothes for the next day, and tucked him in before going into the bathroom for a quick shower.
I finished around nine o'clock, and figured it was late enough. I curled into a small ball on my bed. I cried myself to sleep again. But only because, I was so god damned scared.
I woke up earlier then usual that morning. Jumping out of bed, I threw on the first things my hands grabbed out of my drawer, which happened to be a pair of green skinny jeans, and a black band T-shirt. The usual. I let my hair out of its pony tail, and let the soft semi-curls flow down my back.
"Ryan. It's time to wake up sweetie. School starts soon." He groaned and rooled over, eventually sitting up. "I'm going to go make a quick breakfast. You go get ready okay?" When he nodded I left the room, going down stairs and throwing two beagles in the toaster. I grabbed a thermos, pouring the entire contents of the coffee machine in it. I took a long sip, not bothering to stop when it burned my tounge and throat. It tasted too good.
"Do you have everything you need?" I asked Ryan as we walked up to the front of the school.
"Yep. I-I got me crayons…and-and some pencils." He told me, his eyes going wide with excitement.
"Okay. Come on then. I'll walk you to your classroom." I gripped my mug tighter and grabbed hold of his hand. So many people roamed the halls, it was hard to get through. "You sit here, my lockers right across the hall, let me go put my stuff down and then I'll come get you okay?" I asked, sitting him down on the bench and then walking across the hall to my locker.
I emptied my bag out in my locker, putting my mug on the top shelf before closing it and turning around towards my brother.
"You little shit! Pick those up!" Some tall, tan guy, who had to be in high school was yelling at my brother. At first I was shocked. I mean, he's eight. Then when I saw him push my brother down I ran over.
"Are you okay honey?" I asked, kneeling down next to him and helping him up. When he nodded yes I turned on the guy who just pushed my little brother.
"What the hell is wrong with you! He's eight!" I screamed at the guy, kicking the books I'm guessing my brother knocked over. The guy just sat there and starred into my eyes, at a loss for words. "I was talking to you!" I bellowed. I was a little fed up with people in my family getting hurt. The guy just kept starring.
"Cat. Come on Cat. We're gonna be late." My brother complained, pulling on my hand and making me follow him down the hall way. I was still fuming. I mean, did he really just do that? That guy had to be a senior! Picking on a second grader! Who does that!
"Okay. This is your room. I'll pick you up at the end of the day okay? Have fun." I said, kissing his head and pushing him gently into the room. He seemed calm enough.
I sighed before heading off to class.
I sat in a desk next too a really mean looking, muscular girl.
"Angela Parker?" The teacher called attendance.
"Leah Clearwater?" The girl next to me nodded her head. Oh. She was a Clearwater. I heard my Aunt and Emily talking about them last night.
"Catherine Nargles?" She the teacher went on.
"It's Cat." I told her, before drowning her voice out.
"So you're the girl who stood up to Paul huh?" The girl next to me asked, looking slightly amused.
"Um…who's Paul?" I asked, obviously knowing it was that big muscular guy from this morning.
"The big guy with the tattoo like this." She said, showing me her arm. And she was right. Paul did have that tattoo.
"Oh. Yeah. I guess I did." I said, trying not to smile. "He's an ass." I said bluntly. He was. It still bothered me that he picked on my little brother.
"I agree." She said laughing. "Look, what class do you have next?" She asked, looking not to interested. Turns out we both have Algebra.
"Hey. Want to sit with me at lunch?" Leah asked as the bell for lunch rang. I agreed willingly, not really wanting to sit alone.
I followed her into the lunch room and to a table with two other guys.
"Hey guys. This is Cat. Cat, this is Embry and Quill." She introduced me, and I gave a shy wave.
"You're the girl who told off Paul right?" Embry asked. I was a little shocked that they all knew about it.
"Um. Not really. I just kind of yelled at him. I mean, he pushed my eight year old brother." I said, growing angry.
"Yeah, well, Paul's always had some anger management issues." Quill joked, surprisingly making me laugh.
"Hey guys." another muscular guy sat down next to me, his name was Jacob. Jared and Seth joined us minutes later. I noticed they all had the same tattoo, but didn't realize that they were friends with Paul until he came over and sat down next to me. It was beyond uncomfortable.
"Um. I should really be going. I have to do…stuff." I said, not bothering to make a good excuse before jumping up from the table and all but running out of the lunch room. I wasn't scared of the guy, I was just so mad at him! I didn't want to flip out at him in the middle of the lunch room, so I figured it best I left.
The rest of my classes went by slowly. I had most of my classes with Leah, and the ones I didn't, I had with Seth. One of the classes I had with Seth, history, I also had with Paul. Unfortunately.
I really disliked that kid. He was just so…mean.
I talked to Seth and Leah most of the day. I was really starting to like them. Seth was just so adorable and definitely loved Leah, and Leah loved him. They were the perfect siblings.
"Hey Cat, want to come hang out?" Seth asked as we walked out of the history class room after school.
"I would, but I have to pick up my little brother." I shrugged, and said goodbye before rushing to the second grade class room and getting my brother.
The car ride home was filled with his excited chatter about the first day of school. Apparently he had made a number of friends. He didn't seem to upset over the whole Paul thing like I was.
When we got home, Ryan went up stairs to do his home work. Who gives homework on the first day of school? Apparently second grade teachers.
I sat down in the kitchen, feeling fully alone for the first time. I felt like I was being watched. I knew I was being watched. It had to be my father watching me. I cried. Not for very long, but I still cried. When I was finished, I stepped out onto the porch to take a breath.
Something in the forest next to the house caught my eye. I was startled at first, but quickly relaxed. I checked over my shoulder to make sure Ryan was still upstairs before going over to the line of trees.
"Hello?" I called sweetly, trying not to scare what ever it was away. I kind of hoped it was my dad. Maybe this was just all a joke and he was just waiting for the right moment to pop out.
A giant grey wolf, the size of a horse, came into view up a head and I felt my heart drop.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else." I whispered, walking up to the wolf, sighing deeply and petting its head. I was lost in thoughts of my father. I sat down, the wolf's head in my lap, and I continued to stroke it. Every once in a while the wolf would purr, and if my hand stopped moving, the wolf would nudge me until I kept going.
"I should really go now. My Aunt will be home soon." I told the wolf as I stood. For some reason I wasn't afraid of the wolf. It was just another animal. "Bye." I said as I headed out of the forest and back into my house.
"Where were you Cat?" My brother asked from his spot on the couch where he was watching T.V. "Look, your favorite movies on." He stated happily. I saw what movie it was. The Titanic. I quickly grabbed the remote off of the table and switched the T.V off, fighting back tears.
"Hey! I was watching that!" Ryan complained.
"Oh. Well…why don't you go to your room and watch it okay?" I said, sniffling a little. He grumbled complaints but agreed and soon he was in his room. Just then the phone rang.
"Hello?" I answered quietly.
"Hey! It's Aunt Nadine, just wanted to ask and see if you would make some food for the bon fire tonight? I was going to but I'm held up at work? I need some cookies. Any kind. When your done, bring them to Emily's house and she'll bring you to the beach for the fire. Okay, I have to go now sweetie. Okay, bye!" She talked so fast I almost didn't hear it all. When she hung up, I immediately went to the kitchen and started cooking.
Them my cell phone rang.
"Hello?" I answered yet again, a little boredly this time.
"CAT! Thatnk god! I was so worried! You haven't been answering my calls!" Justin's scared voice boomed through the phone.
"Sorry. My phone was out of battery. It needed to charge. What's up?" I asked, while placing the cookies into the oven.
"I just wanted to see how your doing. What's it like there? Meet anyone new? Any cute guys?" I rolled my eyes at his comment.
"No Justin. I've meet this older woman Emily. She's pretty nice. I'm about to go to this party type thing though. I'll call you when I'm back okay? Love ya." I hung up, throwing my phone back in my pocket before telling Ryan to put on an extra jacket.
We were driving to Emily's house in silence. Ryan didn't have much to say, which was highly unusual for him.
"What's wrong?" I asked as we pulled up in front of Emily's house. It sounded like there was a lot of people there.
"Nothing. It's just…is that big kid from this morning going to be here?" He asked nervously.
"I don't know. But if he bothers you again I'll beat him up alright?" I asked quietly. He nodded along. The people inside the house started laughing like crazy and I wondered if I said that louder then I thought.