AN: We know you're not going to read this or our reasons for suddenly reappearing so go and just read :)
Chickenn and Tempest.
xo
There are there things in life that I really, really hate;
People chewing gum; seriously it makes them look like cows. It is possible the most disgusting habit known to man.
High School Musical or as I more affectionately call it; slow psychological torture inflicted by evil aliens from the Colgate galaxy.
Mornings; because they always come too soon.
So when I opened my eyes and felt what I assumed was warm sun and saw the mural that mum and I stayed up till god knows when doing the phrase from Oklahoma; "Oh what a beautiful morning. Oh what a beautiful day, I've got a wonderful feeling, everything's going my way!" and then reality sets in; I was on the floor of the lounge room with paint splatter covering my arms and legs and that heavenly feeing of warmth was coming from a heat lamp because if the sun was shining in forks I would know that the world is coming to an end. In which case I would make 'take me to your leader' signs and really hope that a friendly alien that's not into anal probing would come and save me. Alas; ET went home.
I groaned as I rolled over; that is the last time I'm ever sleeping on hardwood floor, I slowly made my way to the kitchen after a failed attempt where I ended up in the cupboard. It's not my fault it was after all it was my first fucking night here. And I can't function without my morning coffee. The coffee maker already had coffee in, so I guessed mum was up and clearing shit out. But just then, an unconscious Argentinean fell through my roof... just kidding, guess the reference anyone? Anyways coffee, coffee would have to be the most delicious, wonderful, awe inspiring, fucking orgasmic substance known to man. And woman.
I turned to the toaster, making toast couldn't be that hard, Lara did it all the time and she was 6, I grabbed the bread from the bread box and turned slowly to the toaster, eyeing it suspiciously, was it me, or did everything move in slow motion in mornings? I just made it to the toaster and was about to plug it in when I heard footsteps above my head followed by Lara yelling at me from the top of the stairs.
"DON'T YOU EVEN DARE THINK ABOUT TOUCHING THAT TOASTER LETTIE!" She boomed, she didn't just have a crazy amount of energy, but also had a set of lungs that could fill a stadium. I back away slowly am putting my hands up in surrender.
"Okay, okay I just wanted to give you a treat..." I said defeated.
"If I wanted you to give me a treat, I'd ask for a pony." She said as she passed me and began making her own toast, stupid kid being all little and knowing how to make toast when I could set cereal on fire. Man I really need some cooking lessons.
Lara made the toast while I stood there grudgingly and poured her a glass of juice and made my way through a second cup of coffee. We ate in silence just content, listening to Admiral Nelson scoffing down his food; it was a grotesque thing to see if you didn't know him. Lara periodically patted him on the head and he would make this weird noise. Just as we were finishing up and putting the plates and cups in the dish washer mum strolled into the room looking practically blissful.
"Morning darlings." She sang as she scooped up Lara and spun her around while she laughed and squealed.
"Ahaha, morning mummy, put me down!" She continued, but mum just started tickling her, which set of another round of giggles and squeals.
"Morning mum, any plans for today?" I asked as I started coffee No. 3,
"Oh no, well I finished putting all the boxes in the garage on the all the shelves I had put in and my room is just finishing drying, so I guess today is yours and you can do what you want. I was going to look into the local interior design place they've got, it looks really nice and they're looking for another onsite director." She said happily.
"Well that sounds great mum, does that mean I got Lara today?" I asked making my way over to mum and grabbing Lara and putting her on my back.
"Yeah, I'll be gone most of the day and I wanted to have a look in Port Angeles for some furniture and things." She said making her way over to the coffee machine and purring herself a cup.
"Awesome, what you wanna do today princess angel baby cakes?" I asked spinning her around and making my way over to the bottom of the stairs.
"Lets look around! Maybe we can make some friends!" She said excitedly, great friends.
"Okay maybe we'll go look around head over towards La Push and stuff." I said, I should probably print a map of this area considering I have no clue where La Push was, only that it had native on their reservation.
I went up stairs with Lara on my back and plopped her down in her room;
"Shower, dress, shave got it?" I said in my best I'm big and tough voice.
"You might need to shave sir, but I'm all good." Lara rebutted immediately; I left my self open to that on.
But it's cool that she's got some spunk .Spunk defined as a reckless kind of bravery, I made my way across the hall way to my room and then thought to my connecting bathroom, I started up the computer while I waited for the water in the shower to run clear and hot it was like the bath room hadn't been used in months but I was pretty sure that someone had lived here before us, unless a ghost inhabited the place; note to self get that fixed. At least an exorcism in the unlikely event of a ghost or other supernatural beings, and a plumber for the taps.
I got the map and looked it over, eh, not too hard to work out, straight down the highway and we'll be in the thick of La Push in 15 minutes, which was the estimated time. But knowing me, we'll make it in 10 minutes tops. Hey, what can I say, I like to drive fast.
I made way over to my bathroom and started to undress, the water was steaming hot and was fogging up the room, just the way I liked it, I got down to my skin and went to take my necklace off, but my necklace was gone, I was sure it was around my neck when I woke up and now it was gone, panic started to set in, my heart was racing, I broke out in a cold sweat, my hands were clammy and my breathing started to accelerate.
I grabbed my blood red bath towel and wrapped it around my body. I raced out into my room and started searching, if I had lost my necklace, well I don't even want to tell what would happened, but let's just say it would be like world war 3 had erupted and Hitler came back from the dead.
I wasn't anywhere in my room, fuck, I'm so screwed. I ran down into Lara's room but she hadn't seen it. I raced down the stair to the kitchen praying I had taken it off in there while still in my pre-coffee haze, but I had no luck again. I stopped for a moment in my panic and took a deep shaky breath and thought about where it might've come off.
I recounted my steps; I woke in the lounge before bringing myself into a coffee induced conscious state of mind. Maybe it was there, I walked in there shaking slightly from nerves. There was a blanket lying in the middle of the floor, I cautiously picked it up and shook it carefully praying to every god out there that it was here. I threw the blanket aside and...
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THANK FUCK!
There it laid perfect in its perfection sparkly lightly from the small amount of light coming through the window. It was a Fleur De Lis, and it was beautiful. It was a beautiful crest threaded on a light silver chain, it was the girliest thing I owned, and I didn't even buy it for myself. The memories it holds will be with me forever...
I picked up the necklace and held it close to me took another shaky breath and walked back upstairs, the water still running, oops, water waster. It's not that I am some crazy enviro-hippy I just feel bad considering that Austrians are suffering through one of the worst droughts in their recorded history and people in Africa can't get enough clean water to drink, and don't get me started on the pollution in China. I jumped in the water and it instantly relaxed my seriously tense muscles.
I hadn't realised how wound up I was from almost losing my necklace and obviously from sleeping on a hard floor and not my comfy bed. I put the vanilla and honey body wash on the lufa and washed myself I loved the smell it was soothing and calming. I had a similar hair product and when I finished up I jumped put wrapped up the red towel over me again. I dressed quickly in the first things I could put my hands on, looking in the mirror, it was the best I could do really.
Jeans and a t-shirt always safe and comfortable, and they hid just how tiny my physic actually was, Oscar Wild once said fashion is a form of ugliness, so intolerable that it has to be changed every six months. I must say I'm inclined to agree. I dried my hair and watched as the red went from dark maroon to vibrant red. I didn't even bother with makeup, it was a waste of time, I grabbed my leather and walked down to Lara's room to see if she was ready.
She sat there brushing Admiral calmly while he breathed slowly under her hand. They were both visibly relaxed, I leaned on her door framed and watched for a moment before she spoke without looking at me.
"Lettie; you can't scare me, I know your every move." She said turning and smiled at me.
"I was trying to scare you, honest kiddo." I said making a cross hand gesture over my heart.
"Whatever, Lettie why do you always that boy jacket?" She was frowning at my clothes, geez everyone's a critic.
"Hey leave the Leather alone." I said defensively wrapping the leather further around my body.
"Fine, as long as we can leave now!" She said jumping up, the Admiral jumped as well tail waggling excitedly.
"Okay let's head off then." I moved to the top of the stairs and waited for Lara to move down the stairs first. She gently brushed her hand over the mural and continued over to the door to grab her little pink weather coat.
Lara jumped in the car to ride shoot gun; "Nice try kid; just coz I'm your big sis doesn't mean I'm gunna let you up front were if we had a crash you'd be crushed by the air bags, get in back with the admiral." I said with me hands on my hips staying resilient.
"You're no fun Lettie." She pouted; bring out the puppy dog eyes.
"Since when has being a winey little kid got you anywhere?" She didn't respond, just climbed over the sets into the back, I cranked some girly but still acceptable music.
Here's a pop quiz for you what does your annoying 6 year old sister do when you're driving down fork's poor excuse for a highway were the only scenery is a never ending forest and gray sky?
Answer: She plays eye spy. I am beginning to believe that her mission in life is to drive me up the wall.
"Lettie; I spy something beginning with a 'T'."
"Oh I don't know could it possibly be a tree?" I asked rolling my eye at her.
"Nooo!" She said smiling deviously.
"Tail?"
"No."
"Tar road?"
"Nope."
"I give up, what is it?"
"It's… ADMIRAL'S TESTICALS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The way that the kid started cackling you'd think that she said something funny when really, it was just beyond wrong and gross. So
bad in fact that is I wish I had a time machine so I could go back stop her from saying it, heck preventing the mental images that are now circulating in my head. I wonder if I could bleach it away?
"Lara Rose Storm! That was not only severely inappropriate but also really, really disgusting! What the hell!" I said frustrated, she looked really guilty and bowed her head.
"Sorry Lettie." She whispered,
"It's fine, just don't do it again, I don't need to imagine Admiral's junk, I mean would like to think about that?" I asked looking at her from my mirror and she made a grossed out face,
good, now she knew how I felt.
We slowed down as we came to the car park where there was track leading down to the beach. Lara jumped out and ran down the track with Admiral on his leash, I got out and the cold winds that were coming of the sea smacked me in the face. I tightened my jacket around me and moved down the track. What was I thinking coming to a beach in this weather? It is possible that I'm crazy?
I headed over to the rock pools and sat down on one of the rare dry spots, I had a good clear view of Lara and Admiral so I sat and relaxed running my fingers over the start fish that was half in and half out of the water. I could see Lara running close to the water's edge and screaming when the water would rush up the shore. They were so cute together, her and Admiral running around together laughing and being free of any weight that might be bearing over her.
We spent about half an hour at the beach, me just chillin', while Lara and Admiral ran around like a pair of little sugar filled crazies. Then I saw them run over to the edge of the forest, I didn't really mind but then there was a little girl with them squealing and giggling while the three of them ran around. The little girl was wearing a pink frilly top and little jeans and runners, she had chocolate coloured skin and deep brown curls on her head. I jumped up, unsure why the little girl was here at the beach alone, she didn't look older than about 3 years old.
"Hey kiddo, who do you have here?" I asked jogging towards them.
"Her name is Claire, we just met, she was playing in the forest and wanted to meet Admiral." Lara said patting Admiral Nelson affectionately.
"Hey there Claire, where's your mama?" I asked kneeling to look at her.
"She nawt heea, Uncie Qwill and Uncie Jayke are pwaying in da fowest!" She said happily clapping her hands.
I picked her up and started walking towards the forest line, ushering Lara to follow. "Aren't your uncles going to be mad you ran away?" I asked looking down at her, she had big deep eyes that consumed you just by looking at them.
"Aw, naah!" She giggled.
Then two very tall, very buff men walked out of the trees and came running towards me, there was one taller than the other, the shorter of the two came bounding over to me and stole the little girl out my arms, holding her to his chest and rocking her slightly. At first I thought I was going to have to kick these guys asses, but the way they looked so concerned made me realise they were probably her uncle's.
"Oh Claire bear! Why would you do that go and run away from while playing hide and seek, you know it's too dangerous for you to be down on the beach by yourself." Then like someone flicked on a light the two rather intimidating looking knuckle heads seemed to notice I was still here, I won't lie these guys looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger back in the day where he was playing the terminator and not dabbling in politics, if we got in a fight; I could take them .
The shorter one clearing his throat bringing me back to the present situation; "Um, thanks for ugh, looking after Claire, we were playing hide and seek and sort of lost her."
"That's okay, but really, you guys look like hulk on steroids, minus the green tinge, how could you lose a little what? 3 year old?" I said lightly though completely serious because I did not trust these guys as far as I could kick them.
"Hey! She is a fast little thing you should see her go!" The taller one said arms raised in defence.
"It's cool, I just know I would be losing my mind if I lost Lara, and seeing the way you reacted I assume you would be freaking out too if you lost Claire here." I said a bit more casually, though keeping my guard up, I had that feeling in the bottom of my gut to keep my eyes on them.
"Yeah I don't know what I would have done at all, losing my little Claire bear." The shorter one said again tickling Claire's chin making her giggle.
"Okay, well I guess we better get going, let's go Lara." I said motioning her to follow but Claire squealed making us all look at her.
"Nooooooooo! Don't leeave now!" She whined getting all teary eyed.
"Yeah can we play a bit longer please!" Lara also whined, I looked at her knowingly, she never used that tone with me because I didn't cave to it, but she pulled her puppy dog eyes and held her hand up to her chin in a begging motion. I simply rolled my eyes.
"Fine I guess it's cool as long as Claire's uncles say it's okay." I shrugged and the two girls looked at the guys with full force puppy eyes.
"Whatever you want Claire bear." The shorter one said, she squealed in delight and started wriggling in his arms trying to get down. He put her down and the two girls and Admiral started running around laughing loudly and squealing. I simply watched at laughed at them.
"So, I guess an introduction is in order, my name is Jacob Black and this here is Quill Ateara, we are from the rez." The tall one, Jacob, held his hand out to me.
"I'm Scarlet Storm, nice to meet you."I said very business woman –like, shaking both their very big hands.
"So, Scarlet what you doing in our neck of the woods?" Jacob asked me as we all slowly sank onto the sand while we watched the girls play.
"Well, my sister Lara wanted to have a look around we had our dog with us so I thought the beach would be a great place for them to run around and stuff." I shrugged.
"Oh cool, so are you new here, or are you down from Port Angeles?" Quill asked looking over to me briefly.
"Nah we just moved into Forks, my mum got a new job." I lied smoothly, they didn't need to know her mother's real intentions.
"Oh yeah, so I guess you'll be going to Forks High then?" Quill asked.
"Yeah I'll be starting my senior year this year." The girls had found some seaweed and were trying to put it on Admiral Nelson like a coat as he ran away.
"Well make sure you steer clear of that leech Edward Cullen, you hear me, he is the worst kind of person you ever want to associate yourself with." Jacob spat.
"Oh, ugh okay." I said awkwardly looking between Jacob and Quill, Jacob was fuming slightly and Quill looked at me apologetically.
"We lost a good friend, Bella Swan not too long ago because of Edward Cullen, Jacob was very close to Bella and feels most strongly about the fact it was his fault." Quill explained.
"Damn right I do, I lost my best friend because of that leech." Jacob hissed and I stared at him in disbelief, he took a few breaths and calmed down some before turning to me; "Sorry
about that Scarlet, it's still a sore spot for me."
"That's fine I understand having to lose a best friend, though I only moved away it still hurts like a bitch." I said with a small smile thinking of Oli, but I didn't really have any opinion on this Edward dude, I mean some people can be biased and when you lose someone your mind tries to makes sense of all the irrational and incoherent thoughts, I would know, and it's always easier to blame someone else. Though there was no one to blame but me in my situation and I took it with stride, it was all I could do to help dull the ache my mother was feeling.
"Well I think we should be heading off Claire's mum will be wondering where we are, since it's been three whole hours since we emptied her fridge of all its contents." Quill said lightly breaking me from my train of thought. I stood and stretched my legs and we all walked over to Lara and Claire.
"Come on Lara Jacob and Quill need to take Claire home to her mama." Lara looked sad but nodded.
"Can we hang out with them again one day Lettie please." She begged me holding onto my waist.
"Sure princess, I'll get their number so you can have a play date one day okay?" I asked her and smiled and nodded brightly. Her, Claire Quill and Admiral all jogged off in front of me and Jacob as we strolled along the edge of the sand that meets the edge of the woods.
"So where about in Forks you living now?" Jacob asked casually.
I explained where I lived and he stopped abruptly, stared at me incredulously for about half a minute then shook himself out of whatever corner of his mind he had escaped to.
"Wow. Well I suppose everyone has to live somewhere and it did need a pick-me-up, but ugh, yeah anyway..." He said with one hand playing with the back of his hair, it was short and midnight black, in a kind of faux hawk.
"I'm not a child so just spit it out." I said.
"Well, it's kind of stupid but, ugh well, it's Bella's old house. And I knew Charlie left, her dad that is, because he lives with my father now, but I just never thought I actually know who lives in her house now." He explained.
"Oh okay, that's cool I understand I guess." I said moving to keep walking down the beach.
We exchanged numbers so we could organise days for the girls to hang out again and I left without a word about what had happened. And believe me when I say it is not the freakiest thing that has happened to me before.
I didn't even really think much about it, except that it was weird and that i actually lived in a dead girls house, I wonder if i got her room or Lara, egh freaky stuff. The ride home was quiet and peaceful; Lara and Admiral were sitting in the back quietly exhausted after all their running around today. I listened to some slower music as to not disturb the kid and we made it home effortlessly.
I heard mum come home but didn't really have any intention of going down stair as I wanted to webcam Oli soon because he was due to come online soon. Lara was in her room doing something quite, either drawing or playing with her dolls because of all the physical activity today. But mum called me down saying there was someone she wanted me to meet.
I headed down stairs and walked into to the living room; sitting there was my mum smiling happily.
"Honey, I got the job at the interior design place." She said happily.
"Ugh, that's great mum." I said enthusiastically.
"And this is my boss and her son." She said gesturing to two people sitting on the couch next to me which I hadn't noticed before.
There was a woman with a loving smile on her face, she had light butterscotch eyes, a button nose, plump red lips and straight perfect teeth, she had long wavy caramel hair flowing around her face and was looking at me expectantly.
"Hello there, I'm Esme and this is my son..." But I didn't hear his name because sitting next her was the most handsome man I had even seen smiling right at me.
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