"You guys aren't bad!" I said cheerfully as I walked onto shore with two boys trailing me as they gasped for air.
"You barely saw us surf!" The boy who asked me to help, Mike Newton wheezed out as he clutched the stitch in his side.
"Yeah! Why did you make us do all those work out things?" Eric, his friend panted.
I laughed, "Because you guys have no balance!" I looked towards the girls who were all huddled in a van, whispering between themselves, while casting awkward glances towards me.
"Well!" I gave a sleepy sigh, "I'm going to be off. It was nice meeting you guys." They protested but I strolled away. I clipped my board to the top of my car before climbing into the driver's side and rolling down the windows.
I turned on my iPod and clicked on 'Stronger' by Trust Company. I placed my car in reverse and began to drive away. The other group I saw earlier was still out. I found out that they are part of the native tribe. From what Eric was telling me, they are a gang in La Push, but they don't come over to Forks.
I saw Seth wave as I passed, they were in the middle of a flag football game. I waved back and he got tackled soon after. I chuckled as I got back onto the main road, back to home.
"It is 6:00 at night! Where were you?" My mother barked the moment I got into the door.
"You told me to stay out of the way, so I stayed out of the way." I shrugged nonchalantly. I made my way to the fridge to get dinner when she cut me off, "No! You should have been home to eat at 4:30! You can't eat now!" She screeched at me and began to push me out of the kitchen.
I bit back the urge to yell and walked outside of the house. My mom is bipolar. Diagnose and everything. "Don't bother to come back, you ungrateful, brat!" She screamed at me as I climbed into my car. She doesn't mean it and she can't control her moods. I'm not good at keeping my cool with her. We just butt heads.
I began to drive around until I found a diner that was in La Push. It was quant and newly opened. It was called 'Emily's Den'. I walked in and sat in a booth in the far back. My temper was rising with the argument with my mom. I understood her condition but it didn't stop my emotions when her medication decided it didn't want to work.
"What can I get you?" A Quileute women came up to me, her face had three long scars that went down her face.
"Can I just get pancakes, no butter or syrup, please?" I asked, smiling. Her scars threw me off but I also knew better then to stare. She smiled back and walked away with my order.
I sighed and pulled out my phone and rang my sister. I normally would go to her because she is the eldest and she knew how to handle mom when she was having one of her episodes.
"Aurora?" She answered, "Can't talk right now, bye." She hung up.
"But…" I mumbled into a dead line. I resisted the urge to pull my hair and rang Emma.
"Hello?" She answered the phone.
"Em?" I whispered, my throat getting tight.
"What happened?" Emma quickly said, dropping whatever she was doing to figure out what was going on, "Is it your mom?"
"Mhmmm" I hummed out, not trusting my voice.
The women came up and placed my plate of plain pancakes in front of me. I croaked out a thank you as she walked away.
"What happened?" Emma asked sympathetically.
"Told me to leave this morning so the movers could do their thing…and when I got back, she flipped out on me and told me not to come back."
"Are you going to go back?" Emma questioned
"Well, no." I sighed.
The group of Quileute boys came strolling in the diner, laughing and looking happy.
"Shit." I muttered and crouched forward to hide. "What?" Emma said quickly, "What's going on?"
"Just…people I met today. They are here and I don't want them to see me."
"I'm sorry…Aurora, you have to go back." Emma commanded me.
"I know I have too." I exhaled and covered my eyes, "I know that." I tried to prevent the tears from falling down my face.
"Don't cry!" Emma wailed, "I love you!"
I gave a pathetic chuckle and regained my composer, "I'm okay. I'm good. I can do this. I love you too."
That is when Seth saw me.
"I got to go…" I mumbled out as Seth left his howling group to visit me.
"Call me when you need me." Emma said quickly, "Love you."
Seth sat down across from me, "Always. Love you too." I hung up and stared at him.
"Boyfriend?" He smiled.
I laughed, "Aha! No. Best-friend."
"Oh!" He gave an impish grin.
"Are you sure you want to be over here? With me?" I inquired as some of his friends sent side ways glances towards me but otherwise kept at their jokes.
"Don't worry about them! Are you okay?" Seth looked at me intensely. It felt like he could read all my emotions and I did not like that.
I felt the panic start rushing in. "Peachy, why?" I gave a short answer. Emma was the only one who knew about my mother. She was the only one I trusted with that information and even telling her was a huge step. Last time I told someone they used it against me by trying to black mail me.
"You seem…upset" Seth kept his look of intensity.
"Oh, no. I'm fine!" I gave a fake, cheery grin, which fools most people when I'm on an emotional low.
He stared at me for a moment longer before giving me a cheerful grin, "Awesome! How have you been!" He was talking to me like he had known me forever.
"You saw me about…" I checked my phone, "an hour ago."
"A lot can happen in an hour." Seth duly noted.
I grinned, "Good point there." I clacked my jaw together before sighing, "I have to go." I pulled out my wallet and put twenty on the table, fully knowing that the bill was far less then that.
"What?" Seth jumped up in shocked, "Wait!" He called as I moved to walk by him.
My phone started to vibrate the moment he stood and blocked my path to the door. I stared at him as I answered my phone, "Hi Daddy…"
Seth stood there unmoving, his 6'4" body blocking my way out, his eyes never leaving mine. "Am I allowed home now?" I whispered. I watched his eyes widen for a moment, trying to piece everything together.
I listened to the foul news that my dad told me. I sighed, "Alright. No, I understand. No. I'll be fine. I'll find somewhere." I quickly hung up my phone and waited for Seth to get out of my way.
"I have to go." I said sharply and maneuvered around him.
"Where are you going to go?" He called out and grabbed my arm. The noise that was originally filling the diner was dead silent, all eyes on me. I glanced around before casting my gaze to the ground.
"The beach." I hissed before ripping my arm out of his grip, my face turning red, and storming out of the diner.
My mind raced as I drove away and headed towards the beach ones more. I didn't surf like I normally would when I was upset. I didn't have the energy or the motivation. I pulled my board from the top of my car and placed it in the tide, letting the waves push and pull me as I sat on my board, letting the cold water numb my legs.
I stared up at moon and let the sound of the water relax my body. I wasn't sure how long I was out there, but a painful howl pulled me from my trance. I stared out into the blackness of the forest before making my way back to my car. I didn't want to become some wolf's dinner.
I parked my car in front and looked at my house, it was obvious that my mom had finally taken her pills. Judging how there was no light down stairs, my dad had gone to bed.
I walked on to the porch and gentle turned the doorknob. I was shocked to see the door opened. I crept in and quietly shut the door.
"Darling?" Mom's voice was barely above a whisper. The medication had dulled her mind, "Yes, mother?" I said sweetly.
"I'm sorry…" Her voiced cracked as I stared blindly in the dark. "I know." I said simply.
"Don't hate me…" She sobbed quietly.
"Never." I whispered back and made my way up stairs her sobbing making me walk faster. I took a quick shower before changing and crawling into bed. I had school tomorrow after all.
I crawled out of bed, late.
Shit.
I had ten minutes to get to school. I put on skinny jeans, slipped on my converse, and tossed a hoodie before grabbing my empty backpack. I tumbled down the stairs and ran out the front door, while skipping breakfast.
I sped off to school and made it with two minutes to spare. Everyone was already off to his or her respective classrooms. I rushed into the front office and smiled sweetly to the old lady who was working the front office. Welcome to life at Forks High school.
Lunchtime came fast. I had Mike in my first period, Eric in my second, Angela, one of the girls from the van in my third, and Jessica in fourth period. At lunch, Eric offered to let me sit with his friends but I politely declined and went to the library to get started on homework.
I had short schedule because of all the classes I took back in California. I had my fifth period and I was done for the day. I drove home after class and quickly changed into another bikini and into my wet suit.
I was at First Beach within minutes.
I let the surf take control of my body, mind, and soul. I was gone for hours. After what felt like hours, I paddled to shore feeling more drained then ever. Seth and his friends were jumping around like idiots. They were excited over something or someone.
Pains shot up my leg and arm as a wave of dizziness washed over me. I collapsed half way to shore. I was paralyzed and unable to move as a large wave knocked me off my board. I closed my eyes and tried to slow my heart beat, telling myself I would be fine and that the pain would pass and I would be able to move. It didn't happen.
"She's waking up…"
"Are you sure?"
"It looks like she's having a nightmare."
"She almost drowned."
"Can you speak any louder?" I growled at the voices keeping my eyes tightly closed. Everything seemed bright and vivid causing my head to ache.
"Boys, leave her alone." A soft voice commanded. Soft thumping and shifting noise floated into my ears, signaling the departing of the boys.
'Wait, where was I?'
I shot up, opening my eyes. I quickly looked around before grabbing my head as nausea and dizziness came sloshing a few moments after I sat up.
"Be careful." The voice said again, "Lay back down."
I opened my eyes again and was shock to be staring at the lady from the diner. "You work at that diner…" I never learned her name.
She giggled and handed me a glass of water, "I'm Emily."
"Aurora…" I smiled, "Thank you."
"When was the last time you ate?" Emily inquired quietly.
I though back; I hadn't eaten for about two days. Yesterday I woke up and went out to surf then didn't eat dinner. This morning I didn't have time for breakfast and didn't eat lunch.
"Today." I lied smoothly.
She stared at me, obviously not believing me.
"I should go." I stood up, ignoring the protest of my body. My head was pounding against my skull and the dizziness caused the nausea to return.
"It's okay. You can stay. You need to eat and rest."
"No…no…" I put the glass of the water on the coffee table and headed to the door.
Suddenly the door swung open, "Emily! He's back! Jacob is back!"
"Jacob? JACOB!" She smiled and ran out of the front.
I was left in the living room. I looked out the window and saw everyone jumping around a boy who looked similar to the rest. I walked into the kitchen and spotted the backdoor. I ran out the door and headed to the beach to get my car so I could head home.
"Hey sweetie." My dad called from his chair in the kitchen. I walked into the kitchen and saw Mom was quietly cooking away.
"Hi." I said and sat down at the table. "Are you okay? You are extremely pale." Dad looked at me worried written a crossed his face. "Just peakish. Need to get some food in me!" I grinned at him.
He smiled back, "I need you to do something for me."
My face dropped, "I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
"No, no. What I need you to do is to perform well in school this week, and I need you to get all the work for next week on Friday."
I stared at him confused, "Why?"
"Just do it." He gave a Cheshire cat grin then a puzzled look, "What happened to your board? You didn't bring it in."
"I…don't know. I think I lost it. Or…broke it." I tried to remember where my board was but I couldn't recall anything before passing out.
Dad sighed and laughed at me.
Mom placed dinner in front of us. Her docile attitude was from her medication.
After dinner I crawled into bed.
I went to school the next day but avoided going to First Beach the rest of the week.
I kept my mind on schoolwork and started to hang out with Mike and Eric more often then not. Of course, their girl counter parts weren't exactly happy about it but after awhile they joined in and warmed up to me.
When Friday came around I skipped lunch to visit all my teachers to get the assignments for school next week. I stopped by the lunch table and said goodbye before I departed back to my house.
I walked in through the front door and was greeted with silence. "Mom? Dad?" I called out and got no response. I walked into the kitchen and was tackled.
"Ahhh!" I screamed as I hit the floor.
"Aurora!" Emma cried as she moved to lie on the floor next to me.
"What the?" I looked at her like she grew a second head, "Why the hell are you here? Well, not that I mind but why?" I grinned at her.
"Your sister came to visit and asked me to come!" She gave me a cheeky grin, "Oh!" She gasped and ran off, "I have something for you!"
I stared at her retreating figure. "COME ON!" She yelled. I got up and ran after her.
"You have a beach here, right? That is what Dad said." Emma rambled, "We have to go there first, so get in your car and I'll drive. Put this on!" She tossed a blindfold at me and jacked my keys. "Put it on, don't look. I'll be back." She unlocked my car and ran off.
I laughed and went along with her surprise by putting on the blindfold. I heard the car start and she began to drive off.
"Does your dad know you are here?" I inquired as I filled with the blindfold. I heard her hesitate, "No…."
"Emma! He's going to be mad!" I snapped.
"He was drunk when I left."
"Don't matter."
I heard her sigh but didn't answer me. We kept driving for a few more minutes then we hit the First Beach.
I could hear the howling of the Quileute boys from inside the car. "Wait here." She got out and opened the back door and pulled something out. "Okay, get out."
I open my door and stood there waiting.
"Are you coming?" She snapped.
"I'm BLINDFOLDED!" I yelled back.
"Shit. My bad!" She laughed, coming around to grab my hand and pulling me towards the surf.
"AURORA!" A scream called me before hearing an 'oof' right after it.
"Who's that?"
"Seth…I think"
"Oh." I could tell she was puzzled for a moment but quickly recovered. "He and some of his friends are heading this way."
"Really?"
"Why are you blindfolded?" Seth asked.
"Her." I pointed in the area I thought Emma was in, "Where ever she is."
"I'm Emma!" She piped up, "And you guys are?"
"I'm Seth!" I could tell he was grinning, "This is Embry and Quil!"
"Hi Embry, Hi Quil!" She said sweetly.
"Hi" One of them said.
"Embry? Are you…Oh…EMBRY!" I heard Seth hit Embry.
"Ouch! Sorry. Hi…" Embry sounded very…very distracted.
Getting annoyed with the whole waiting, I tore my blindfold off and saw the one who was Embry just staring wide eyed at Emma. Emma just kind of stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
"Emma?" I touched her arm and she stared at me before realizing that I took of my blindfold.
"I DIDN'T TELL YOU TO TAKE IT OFF!" She screamed before laughing, "You cheater."
I shrugged and glanced back at Seth, Quil, and Embry who were all whispering amongst each other and casting nervous glances our way.
"He's weird." Emma said and walked away, "This is your surprise." She handed me a Thruster board.
"Oh god, you didn't." I hugged her and touched the board.
"He keeps staring over here." She whined.
"He thinks you're cute." I said simply and being to run my fingers over the smooth surface.
"He like froze there and just stared at me though."
"He was captivated!" I sneered and laughed as she flicked me in the head.
"No." She simply said and fiddled with her sweater. "You deserve to be happy, you know." I simply said, "Want to take it on a ride?"
She grinned at me, ignoring my previous statement. "I have my suit on now!" She stripped and ran off with the board. I grinned as she ran off to try out my new board.