That night during dinner (mac 'n' cheese, courtesy of yours truly) I ask dad about hiking around Mount Rainier, the place Edward mentioned he and Emmett would be visiting. I've never hiked before, but I think I should take advantage of living in a town that's a hiker's paradise at some point.
Dad seems surprised at the location. "It's not a very good place for camping. Too many bears. Most people go there during the hunting season," he tells me. Too many bears?! What are Edward and Emmett thinking? Haven't these guys seen The Revenant? I resolve to ask Edward about it later.
The next day dawns bright and sunny – a rarity in Forks. I take it as a good sign – the first bright day coinciding with my first outing with my new friends. I reach Mike's dad's store at 9:55 ("Always good to be early", one of dad's favourite sayings) and look around. Almost everyone is already here. So much for my early arrival.
Standing around two cars are two groups of people – those I recognise, Mike, Jessica, Angela, Eric, Ben – and those I have to be introduced to, Lauren, Conner, Lee and Samantha. After everyone's said hello we get ready to go. I get to ride shotgun in Mike's car while he drives. Great for me; for everyone piled in the back – not so much.
We see huge trees and a multitude of ferns on the way there. Mike takes the time to point out the different species to me. I try to pretend that it's only Mike and me on this drive but it's hard to entertain such romantic notions when four people in the back are arguing about who gets to use the aux cord.
The beach happens to be one I've already visited on previous trips with dad. We sit down on driftwood logs that earlier visitors have kindly arranged in a circle. There's a fire pit in the middle which Ben, Eric and Mike are filling with driftwood branches. "Have you ever seen a driftwood fire?" Mike asks me.
"No. I didn't know it's any different from a regular fire," I say, curious but cautious at the same time. As I watch the small bundle of sticks is engulfed by a turquoise flame. "It's blue!" I exclaim in excitement.
Jessica looks over. "Aw, is this Bella's first time seeing a driftwood fire?" she asks. I'm too mesmerised by the flames to say anything and that's answer enough to her question. She laughs and reaches for the chips we brought along. After about half an hour Mike and a few others decide to go see the tidal pools. I get up and follow them with a spring in my step – it's been ten years since I last saw those beautiful depths.
As the group makes its way across the woods Mike and I fall back a bit. "Are you having fun?" Mike asks.
"Yeah. That flame was definitely cool, and I love seeing the fish in the pools," I say enthusiastically.
"Oh, good. I was just a bit worried… you know, since this isn't a big city like Phoenix. I'm sure you had a lot more interesting things to do there."
"Don't worry, Mike. Forks is different, but it's a good different. Tidal pools and turquoise fires win out over malls and traffic jams any day." He smiles at that.
"I've never lived anywhere but Forks. Traffic jams," he shakes his head. "I can't even imagine it."
We continue our conversation as we hop over fallen logs and dodge squirrels. I tell Mike about the time when I was eight and tried to run away from home because mom said I couldn't convert my bedroom into the Gryffindor common room. As we reach the pools he tells me about how he tried to impress Lauren in eighth grade by winning a football game and ended up spraining his ankle because he was too busy trying to catch her eye in the stands. I laugh and he says, "Ten on ten wouldn't recommend. Not worth the pain; she's nowhere near as beautiful as you are." I blush.
Mike and I sit at the edge of one of the pools, holding hands and observing the iridescent fish dart in between the sea weeds. The other guys seem to be trying to push each other in without falling in themselves. Their shouts convey that they're having a great time; our contented silence conveys the same. Twenty minutes later, Eric says we should be getting back and I reluctantly get up to leave.
When we get back to our group we notice that it's grown by quite a lot – eight people, to be exact. The newcomers are teenagers who live on the reservation. Introductions are made and food is passed around. As I'm devouring a pizza slice one of them comes to talk to me. "You're Isabella Swan, aren't you?" he asks.
"Bella," I say, offering my non-pizza sauce covered hand.
"I'm Jacob Black. You bought my dad's truck," he says as he shakes it.
"Oh, you're Billy's son. Yeah, truck runs great."
"You might remember my sisters –"
"Rachel and Rebecca! Of course. We used to hang out when I was younger. How are they?"
He tells me that Rachel's in college and Rebecca's married and moved to Hawaii. "I was kind of relieved when your dad bought our old truck. Gave me a chance to build a new car."
"You build cars? Wow."
He launches into a long explanation of what he's working on and how he plans to finish the project. I don't know much about cars but it's wonderful seeing someone so passionate about something. Just as Jacob's telling me why he needs a master cylinder Lauren interrupts. "Bella, I was just saying it's too bad none of the Cullens could come out today. Didn't anyone think to invite them?" she asks in a simpering tone.
"If you're so concerned maybe you could invite them next time, Lauren," I reply in an equally saccharine voice. I don't know what kind of game Lauren is playing, only that I want no part in it. Before Lauren can come up with a comeback one of the Quileute boys interrupts. "The Cullens don't come here," he says in a closed tone. Lauren decides to drop it.
I suggest that Jacob and I go for a short walk along the beach. I feel like we have some 'catching up' to do even though technically I knew his sisters, not him. I ask about life on the reservation; he asks about life in Phoenix. After a bit I ask, "Who was that guy talking to Lauren about the Cullens? What was he saying about them?"
"He's Sam. Just that they aren't allowed to come here," he says and looks away.
"Why not?" I ask softly. It's clear that Jacob doesn't want to talk about this but my curiosity gets the better of me.
"Oops. I'm not supposed to say anything about that." He sounds apologetic.
"I'm sorry for asking. Forget about it."
He bites his lip and looks in Sam's direction, then back at me. "Do you promise not to tell anyone?"
"Yeah, sure."
He seems eager to share a secret. He begins by telling me some old Quileute legends. I listen politely but when he gets to the part about his ancestors being werewolves I'm confused. "So… your ancestors believed in werewolves," I clarify.
"No, they were werewolves," he says impatiently. "Anyway, on with the story…"
I'm beginning to think Jacob has more issues than having to find a master cylinder. I stop listening closely. Earlier I was intrigued but now I'm amused. It's like when salesmen come to your door to sell you a product to improve memory and then it turns out it's a mix of cow urine and cocoa plant leaves which they want you to apply to your forehead every day or whatever.
He goes on to say that werewolves are enemies with the 'Cold Ones' who, according to a treaty are not allowed on the reservation. In exchange the Quileute would not expose them for what they 'are'. I'm guessing the Cullens are the Cold Ones he refers to, since they're not allowed on the reservation and they have some pretty icy skin.
"So my great-grandfather negotiated with them because they said that they were civilised – they didn't harm humans," he explains.
"The Cullens are the Cold Ones, right?"
"Yup."
"And what exactly are the Cold Ones?"
"Blood drinkers. Vampires," he says ominously.
A part of me wants to dismiss everything he's said but another part of me knows that the Cullens aren't human. I've noticed it and even Edward's admitted this much. Besides, what Jacob's told me sounds a lot more credible than anything I've dreamt up.
Everyone else is beginning to pack up and Jacob says we should start walking back but I can't hear him. All I can hear is vampire, vampire, vampire. Blood drinker. Vampire. Before I can feel too disgusted and puke I remind myself that my only evidence so far is an old tribal legend. I'll confront Edward and if he confirms what Jacob said with proof, then I'll puke.
Mike tries to talk to me on the way back but I can hardly hear him. I tell him I'm feeling sick and close my eyes. An image of Edward drinking blood in a Starbucks cup with 'Eddie 3' written on it won't leave me head. As we drive back down the winding road I concentrate all my energy on not throwing up in Mike's car.