History teaches us that societies need to move forward to survive. Unfortunately, many forget to remember the past and learn from their mistakes. As a Reverend Mother, I don't have this privilege because I'm constantly reminded of my ancestors' flaws.
Reverend Mother Mira Allen
POV Embry
Weeks passed by and Mother was teaching me everything she knew and at a rapid pace, because, as she stated multiple times, "there's no time to waste." She taught me the Voice and the Weirding Way, our unique fighting technique, as well as a normal workout routine, given that my stamina equaled near zero. As it turned out, I learned the new Bene Gesserit skills easy enough, but the physical exercise caused great difficulty.
First and far most, I had to learn how to run. Silently. Yes, you read that correctly. I need to know how to run without making a single sound. Have you ever tried running quietly? Neither have I, yet here I was, learning to run with the grace of an antelope and the stealth of a ninja.
Also, as the Sisterhood loves to combine physical and mental study, I didn't only have to exercise, but I also needed to pay attention to my mother's statements. For example, while I'm doing push-ups (yes, I also had to go through that torture), she'd be explaining one of the many doctrines of the Order. So, on more than one occasion, I face-planted the floor because her talking distracted me. She usually responds by sighing disappointedly and continuing her lesson.
After these terrible ordeals, I feel relieved when she allows me to go see my friends, though only for an hour or so. Nevertheless, I make those daily hours count and Quil, Jake and I always meet in prearranged locations where all three of us can get to in less than five minutes.
We mostly get together on the La Push Ocean Park. It's located further down the shore at the edge of the reservation where many youngsters from the nearby town of Forks hang out. There, we sit and chat on the bone-colored benches around a died-out fire pit.
Today is no different. When training is over, I run out the door, quietly, and make my way to our meeting point. As I arrive, Quil and Jake, who had already been waiting there for me, turn around and greet me. Jake comes over first and gives me a hug, but he quickly lets go.
"Holy crow, Ems, you stink!" he's covering his mouth and nose with his hand.
"I've been working out all day and got here as fast as I could," my voice remains steady and clear. Those Voice lessons are really paying off.
"Still, you could've showered," he puts his hands in his pockets and steps aside for Quil, who approaches me with open arms. He then hugs me firmly.
"I don't mind if you're dirty, Ems," he chuckles. Just before he releases, I give him a peck on the cheek. He's fine with it, as he has been since I started kissing him.
Although Mother and Reverend Mother Mira forbade me to seduce him before my training is completed, they encouraged me to adjust my mannerisms around him. That is, I'm permitted to make small, more intimate gestures that can easily be interpreted as amicable too. So, ever since my trail, I've been kissing him on the cheek and he doesn't seem to mind.
POV Quil
After Embry and I break our hug, we all sit down on the white driftwood benches. They're still wet from the drizzle an hour ago. When I sit down, I feel my pants become moist. It's uncomfortable, but I'll just have to get used to it. On the bench vertically next to mine, Jake sits down and Ems takes place beside him. She smiles at me pleasantly.
Recently, she has been getting pretty familiar with me. Normally, she looks at me with her death stare, but lately she has been smiling. Not smiling like an idiot or something, but more like the Mona Lisa. I know, "Quil, you can't compare the most famous renaissance masterpiece to the face of a fifteen-year-old girl". At least, that's what Ems would tell me.
Still, I don't think I'm exaggerating by comparing them. I mean, Embry has always been attractive, like a classic beauty. If I didn't know her and she told me she was a European princess, I'd totally buy it. But not that I would ever date her. No, never. I mean, I think she's cute, but she's still just, you know, Ems. She's my best friend, who happens to be a girl and happens to be attractive, if you're in to that sort of thing. Not that I am. She's just a friend, with boobs...I mean...I'll stop now.
She's wearing her gray cloak and beige robes again. Actually, she always says it's not beige, but some special shade of yellow. It still looks like beige to me. The hood of her cloak rests on her back, so her long black hair folds beautifully around her face alongside her shoulders.
"So, what have you two been up to today?" she asks.
"Not much really, just the same ol' boring stuff. Although I saw that senior Megan check me out after math. I think she wants me," I tell her. That basically sums up my whole life: complete boredom while chicks keep falling for me.
"No, she doesn't!" Jake lets out. "She was lookin' at Mr. Mourey. All girls in school have the hots for him. He was just standin' right behind you."
Mr. Mourey is our math teacher. He's a good-looking guy, but I wouldn't say all the girls dig him.
"Mmm, that does sound more reasonable," Ems giggles. What's that supposed to mean? Does she think it's more likely a senior would look at Mr. Mourey instead of me? No, she's got it all wrong. I'd swear Megan was checking me out.
"What? Do you honestly think Mr. Mourey's got a better shot with Megan than me?"
"Well, he is quite handsome. Then again, you have your charm," her eyes meet those of Jacob and they share a conspiratorial glance, "So, Jake, anything new with you? Some girl eying you too, perhaps?" She looks at me again, mockingly.
"As a matter of fact, there was! You guys know I told y'a 'bout Charlie and his daughter, right?" Jake looks at us in great anticipation. I faintly remember him talking about Charlie and his daughter.
Charlie Swan is the Chief of Police of Forks. He and Jake's dad have been best friends for ages. He's a real nice guy if you get to know him. A bit awkward sometimes, but overall he's pretty friendly. He's also sort of like a second dad to us. Well, for Embry Charlie's more of an actual dad since she hasn't got one.
Now that I think of it, Charlie was always particularly fond of her. When we were kids, he would bring us presents from time to time. Jake and I would mostly get toy cars while Ems got Barbie dolls or My Little Ponies. I think he actually once gave her a dollhouse. And all she did was accept his presents and say they rely on gender stereotypes. She was five when he started doing this and she already had a smartass reply ready.
Without waiting for our answer, Jacob continues: "Well, today his daughter finally moved here all the way from Phoenix. Her name's Bella..."
"Like a cow?" Ems interrupts.
"No!" he snarls. "It's short for Isabella, but she doesn't like to be called that. So, as I was sayin', her name's Bella and my dad and I went to greet her. Well, actually we went there to drop off the Chevy I've been workin' on. Charlie bought it from my dad a few days ago."
"That ain't fair. You put all that effort into it and then she gets to keep the damn thing. What the hell?" I utter. It's so unfair! Jacob spent hours upon hours trying to restore that Chevy to its old glory and just like that, Charlie buys it from under his nose?
"Oh, I don't mind," he shrugs. Embry and I gaze at him in surprise. "No really, it's fine. I mean, it ain't like I would've been allowed to drive it anyway."
"What does this Bella chick look like?" I ask. I'm beginning to suspect that there's more to it than what he's letting on. Jake's not the type to go lightly over his mechanical projects.
"She ain't too bad," he mumbles. Slightly embarrassed, he bows his head. Ems gawks at me. Her eyes are wide with surprise. Apparently, her always-observant stare missed something.
"Not too bad, huh? Let me guess, has she got nice long hair and a smooth skin?" I grin at Embry. She has already got her eyes fixed on Jacob like a hawk, or a mountain lion.
"Yeah, kinda," he looks up, "I think she's cute."
He blushes. Ems turns her head to me and smiles. I guess she doesn't have to worry about his feelings for her now. I can tell she's really relieved now that's off her shoulders.
"That's very nice, Jake. Perhaps you should invite her over, so we can meet her too? Maybe we can all be friends, or she might even become much closer to you," she smiles.
"Yeah, I'd like that," he nods. "Okay, your turn! What did your mom teach you today?"
"Oh, the usual. Religious doctrines, ethics, basic maneuvers, … nothing special really."
"Ain't it hard constantly switching between books and exercise?" I ask.
"Not at all, we don't even use books. We prefer oral transfer." Oral transfer? Well, well …
"Really?" I grin. "Well, I wouldn't mind if you'd do some oral transfer on me."
Jake scoffs and shakes his head snickering. Ems looks confused. She switches her gaze from me to Jake, to me again.
"I don't understand. What's so funny?"
"Oh, come on, Ems! Oral transfer!" Jake repeats, but she's still confused.
"Oral!" while he repeats it yet again, he moves his face slightly up and down with his mouth wide open. Embry's eyes widen and she turns to me. The rest of her face is emotionless.
"That's disgusting! We would never do that. It goes against everything we believe in. It would be a complete waste of..." she bites her lip as if she's already said too much. She then hangs her head and stares at the ground. It stays quiet for an awkward moment and Jake and I are puzzled.
Then I see Sam and Leah in a distance. I motion to them trying to break through the silence: "Hé, there's Sam and Leah!"
Surprisingly enough it works! Embry slowly lifts her head with her eyes wide open again and turns toward the lovebirds. I don't know why she's interested in them. I don't even know why I thought it would actually help...although it did.
Secluded in their own little world, Sam and Leah walk hand-in-hand near the shoreline. They've been together for a few years now and they seem to be doing pretty well. They're both 18 going on 19, but they don't give a crap about us 'kids'.
Leah's slim with a sharp face and has shoulder-long black hair. She has a younger brother, Seth, and that covers it. Whereas Sam's an entirely different story.
His father was a real scum, who disgraced his family's good name. When Sam was only 8, his dad left him and his mom and since then it was just the two of them. It's made him a bit bitter, but it clearly didn't interfere with his love life. He has half-long black hair and a sturdy face. Lately, he's been growing a lot and gotten really muscular.
POV Embry
"Looks like someone's been hittin' the gym," Jake mutters as Sam and Leah wander off.
"Not quite," I disagree. As soon as Quil pointed him out to me, I aimed myself at Sam. It's the first time I've seen him since Reverend Mother Allen told me he's my brother...half-brother.
Jake might have been wrong, but it was quite perceptive of him. Sam has indeed grown a lot, particularly his musculature. I presume it's his body preparing for the shift. Mother told me how Shapeshifters go through a staggering change in BMI before their initial turn.
It does worry me how fast and extreme this physical change occurs. Especially when I think about how Quil and Jacob will have to go through the same process. Poor Sam! I wish I could help him, but Mother forbade me to talk to him. I'm certainly not allowed to speak to him after his first shift, because then he'll be a walking time bomb.
It's so cruel that I can't talk to my own brother now that I know who he really is! Maybe one day we'll chat like brother and sister...but that won't happen. Not now, not soon, most likely not even before he turns. I'll have to settle for gossip and casual unexpected rendezvous. At last, Sam and Leah disappear from our sight and we rekindle our conversation.