CHAPTER 6 – MUFFINS
Secrets – One Republic
I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kinda boring
Need something that I can confess
'Til all my sleeves are stained red
Ever since I moved to Forks, sleep came easy with how peaceful it was but this hadn't been the situation this time as I'd tossed and turned all night, trying to find a reason to not do this and the list that came up went on but I knew I should go. Starting a proper career would be difficult seeing that I'd claimed to be 18 which meant I hadn't gone to University.
Instead of driving myself crazy with my depressed thoughts, I got out of bed at 5:43 when seeing the darkness of the sky fade into a gloomier grey but I decided to stay in my sleep tee but got my socks because of the cold floor. Once I was changed, I ate a granola bar while sitting on the window sill as I stared out the window catching the teasing of sunrays while still forcing away the qualms.
The kitchen was homier as it had a stocked fridge and cupboards which were filled with different ingredients mostly for my baking. I'd gotten a round wooden dining table with two chairs. Hopeful thinking, I guess.
After eating, I got out the ingredients – butter, vanilla extract, nutmeg, 4 eggs, caster sugar, baking powder, milk, flour and chocolate chips. Baking was always great therapy – mama taught me that.
Today's session – Chocolate Chip Muffins.
My moves were mechanical as I followed the recipe that was branded into my mind but by the time my butter and vanilla extract was light and fluffy like I wanted it, I began to enjoy myself.
I cracked the eggs against the rim of the bowl before beating them then added them into the mixture along with the sugar.
Each step was pulling me out of my dark mood and into a happier state that I even considered dropping some of these muffins at the Blacks' home in gratitude for giving me the truck even though I did pay for it. Plus Jacob was my new friend and wasn't that the kind of gesture you did for your friends?
I could hear the small voice in the back of my head pointing out that I just wanted to study him further and even though it was partly true – I really did enjoy their company. It was rare to find many people with such calming auras. The thought of Jacob and his father made me add more chocolate chips than I usually did because I assumed they'd have a sweet tooth.
Once it was all mixed, I began to pour it into the muffin pans with a proud smile at my work before carefully slipping it inside the heated oven and closing the door.
Checking the time on the clock I'd hang above the fireplace, I found that it was now 6:32 so I decided to go and use the new shower again. Yesterday, I'd reveled in the feel of hot water that I'd stayed under the shower spray for over an hour until my skin started to prune but I didn't care.
This time I'd be sure to be out after 20 minutes so I could turn off the oven.
When I entered the bedroom, I stripped off my sleep tee and the stripy socks before heading towards the small bathroom and turning on the water but standing as I waited for the water to become hot.
It was a miracle what the bathroom looked like now – there was no disgusting mould and the porcelain were not longer an unhygienic yellow as the toilet, bathtub and tiles had been replaced. I'd fixed a shelf for my strawberry shampoo and exotic fruits body wash along with my bright blue toothbrush. The shelf was placed next to the shower under the silver mirror which was above the small white porcelain sink – no spiders or maggots in sight.
The delicious smell of dough and melting chocolate reminded me that I needed to be quick so I jumped into the shower and sighed as the hot spray of water caressed my skin eliciting the familiar buzz that awoke my energy. Looking up, I smiled as it hit my face, warming me and the coldness of the night was forgotten. I pushed the strands sticking to my cheeks, away from my face before going through with washing out to the knots in my hair with the sweet-smelling strawberry shampoo.
After my hair was lathered, I was back under the spray to wash it out. I then quickly began to soap up my body before quickly rinsing it off.
With 10 minutes, I was out of the shower and into my white fluffy robe I padded back towards the kitchen, The delicious smell of the baked muffins overwhelmed the kitchen and I began to salivate in anticipation. Opening the oven door, the scent washed over my face and I smiled when seeing that they'd risen.
Pulling them out of the oven, I dipped my knife into one of them to check if it was done and was happy to find that they were.
I really wanted to bite into one but I resisted and left them there to cool while walking back into my bedroom to get ready.
Once I had applied my lotion, I stood in front of the wardrobe dressed in my underwear with my robe back on because of the cold. I stood there frozen, staring out at the rows of clothing with no idea of how a 21st century human teenager would dress like so I guessed.
I decided that the long black skirt that reached my feet was modest enough and paired it with a simple blue tank top and a black cardigan on top and gold gladiator sandals. I'd also be wearing the black rain coat and a dark blue scarf that I'd bought because of the coming rainfall.
My hair was now blow dried and was falling down my back and I added a black hair band that went across my forehead.
Looking at the mirror, I was satisfied with my appearance – not too conservative but not too modern either. Plus I felt comfortable and it covered my back which was the more important thing.
This would be my look from now on – the 60s had always been good to me.
Happy with how I looked, I crossed the room and picked up the dark brown shoulder bag filled with three new notebooks and an art pad along with a pencil case filled with colors, highlighters, two pens and a pencil. Plus I'd put my phone in there too – I'd surprisingly gotten addicted to the little gadget and the apps that it had, especially one named Angry Birds. Simple structure of a game but I found it frustrating and addictive. At time I was struck between breaking the phone but ended up restarting each level.
When slinging the bag over my shoulder, I felt lighter with the idea of school and calmly made my way back to the kitchen where I lined the muffins in a container and put in my bag when catching the time now was 7.53.
School began at 8.30.
I still had enough time to go and drop the muffins off at the Black's house.
Plus Jake might need a lift to school.
-XxxxxxX-
As I parked my Chevy, I caught sight of the white door opening to reveal a happy Jake dressed in denim jeans and a plain white v-neck t-shirt and a leather jacket on top of a grey hoodie. His bag was slung over his shoulders as he made his way across the porch but looked back into the house where two of his friends emerged.
More werewolves?
Both were tall through the other was only a few inches shorter and both had the same russet skin colour and both shared the same black hair – both were short it though one had smoothed it down while the other's was curled. Those little similarities would make all three look like brothers but I suppose that's what they were to each other – brothers.
Although I was excited, I was nervous, especially when Jacob caught sight of the truck and exclaimed my name, "BELLA" he sounded happy so I figured my sudden appearance wasn't unwelcome.
I grinned and gave a weak wave as Jacob ran towards me.
With a deep breath, I unbuckled my belt and opened the door and stepped out, slamming it behind me and watched as his jog slowed to a walk and his eyes grew wide, "Wow" his eyes travelled up my form and I felt nervous under his gaping.
"What?" crossing my arms over my chest.
He gestured towards me with his hands, "You look…nice" seeming lost of adjectives as he settled on that one.
"Nice?" my eyebrow hitched as I teased him.
He nodded and gulped making me smirk as I watched him nervously scratch the back of his neck, "You look really good" he added.
Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, I smiled gratefully, "Thanks"
"So you're already stalking me?" he smirked and I looked up at his joyous expression.
Warmth from his aura spread through to me and I basked in his joy, "Actually I'm stalking your dad" surprised that I was teasing him back. He gave a dark grimace, a crease forming on his forehead "Ew" he replied disgustedly making me giggle at the childishness of this moment. It was no mystery that I was slowly breaking the mask and falling back to the person that I was – that I am.
Once our laughter subdued, I gave my explanation with a small smile, "Nah, I just came to drop off these muffins I made as a thank you" handing him the container.
He took it gratefully before opening the lid, grinning as his sight rested on the chocolate chip muffins. "These look good" he complimented and I blushed watching as he grabbed one and took a bite, "And they taste even better" he moaned with gratitude and I smiled proudly. He took another greedy bite before adding, "You must really love this piece of junk" the corner of his lips had turned upward into a sly smirk.
"Don't talk about her like that" slapping his arm jokingly but he just laughed.
I then remembered his two friends who were walking towards us with curious expressions, "Hey Jake, who's your friend?" the one with cropped black hair asked.
"I'm Bella" answering for myself because I had the capability.
They booth looked at each other with knowing smiles but Jacob was sending them warning glances which they were ignoring, "Oh you're Bella" the curly haired one grinned widely with mischief in his expression as he glanced at an angry Jacob and then back to me.
Were they speaking telepathically?
I fought the urge to invade on their privacy by clenching my fists and clenching my jaw.
Both boys laughed before the one with cropped hair explained, "Jake hasn't shut up about you" making Jacob turn to me with wide eyes before punching the boy's arm.
Once again, I blushed but Jacob intervened with changing the subject, "Bella, these idiots are my friends – Quil and Embry" he pointed and I learnt that the curly haired one was Quil and the one with cropped hair was Embry.
"Nice to meet you" I smiled at the two of them. It seemed it was more than just the similarities in their appearances that made them brothers.
Silence then fell among us as the boys stared at me and Jacob knowingly making me uncomfortable under their stares. "Well I better get going then…" opening the door of my truck, "Unless you guys need a ride" I offered. It would be nice to arrive with someone – maybe they could show me the way.
Jacob shook his head as he explained "Oh we go to school on the reservation"
"Oh. Okay" the silver lining in my cloud was taken away and I dropped the small as the nerves broke through. Realising I was being watched, I composed my expression, forcing a smile as I forced my way through the words, "Well I'll see you guys later" moving to get inside my truck.
Jacob grabbed the door before I could close in and leaned in towards me, "Okay then. Well thanks again for the cookies" he grinned but it didn't touch his eyes.
Forcing another smile to mask the worry and doubts that were filling my mind, "Sure thing"
He stepped back to then push the door close as I started up the engine, "Have a great first day" he added with a wider grin and I tried to return it but knew it would probably looked like a grimace.
"Urgh, don't remind me" I snarled but they all just laughed at me. "It was nice meeting you guys" waving to the other two – Quil and Embry who grinned and waved back.
Once I began to back out and driving away, I caught the sight of Jacob tackling his friends assuming that I had already left.