Disclaimers: I do not own Twilight.
A/N: Thank you so much to the people who favorite, followed and those who reviewed. I was so damn happy. Like, jumping out of my seat. It all means a lot and I couldn't wait to bring out this update. I found myself laughing as I wrote it and smiling at some of the references and things mentioned. More will be explained at the bottom, so see you there!
Before I formally end my author's note and start the story, I just want to warn everyone that this story is not for the faint of heart. Racial slurs will be used, there will be violence, and some things may be hard to digest when the plot really starts and begins to thicken. So if you're the type that doesn't like to read things like that, I wouldn't go any further. It's rated M for a reason, will include so much satirical humor, extreme romance, black humor, terms, modern day references and just a lot thrown into a pot and mixed together. Anyways, for those of you who still want to read my story, I give a big thank you. To the people who loved the preface/prologue, welcome back. Let the journey begin...
Chapter 1: Lineus Spacehead
Dawnette's POV
Yesterday was Monday. And I was already 99% done with the week.
Today was Tuesday, and I was 99% feeling alive and electrified. The other 1% was just being a nagging bitch because I found myself back in the wettest―no pun intended―place on mother Earth.
Forks, Washington.
Part of where I spent most of my childhood with my clumsy, white cousin Isabella and my awkward uncle Charlie Swan.
Dawnette Long is the name and the people at this Seattle airport had to think I was clinically insane. Because it's not every day where you find a tall brown-skinned girl wearing a tie-dye black and white, camisole dress and leather go-go boots shivering her black ass off with enough baggage of what people naturally would presume to be clothes―which they were―to dress a whole community in Africa.
And why was I shivering?
It was cold as hell.
Being that I was away from Forks for many years, and was used to the hot, make-me-wanna'-shout-throw-my-hands-up-and-shout climate in the small town of Cordele, Georgia... silly me didn't know it was this cold up here in Washington.
And I was waiting for my uncle to ride up in whatever piece of car he claimed these days to pick me up and whisk me away to Forks, Washington international home to small town folk, many lush trees (not the good kind, if you caught my drift) and so much rain and clouds.
I shivered like a motor-boat and sighed a big gush of air, dark brown eyes staring at the many people walking by and many cabs picking up patrons and driving them away.
Uncle Charlie had best get here in less than ten minutes or would end up taking home and thawing out a little Dawnsicle.
Momentarily freezing to death wasn't on my agenda; I was here because, daddy-o Walden, my momma's husband and uncle Charlie's brother had won the lotto―a Cordele, Georgia quick-pick he got at the gas station wanting to just try his luck... and what'd you know? It was luck because he cashed out for a couple million. While I did appreciate luxury and was an occasional mooch off the dough, it honestly wasn't for me... plus, it was getting stuffy back in that old rag-town of a town. Too much drama because everybody was always in everybody's business and I felt myself wanting a clean break from that kind of thing―okay, maybe I was in half of the drama, but only because of the standard wannabes and jigaboos* in that town and at my shitty, racially biased high school.
Momma' thought I should get away for a while... you know, lay low until the flow showed.
So she called up her brother-in-law, Charlie and asked the grand favor of allowing me to visit for an extended amount of time, to which uncle C was nice enough and "happier than a bee drinkin' sweet honey", as momma' said it, because my cousin-by-marriage, Bella, had just arrived herself about three weeks ago and was there to stay.
I guess you could say God, or fate or whoever the gratitude was owed to had it all worked out for me.
Soon the heavy flow of the airport toned down and it was barely filled with people coming for their flights and others leaving from theirs.
Walden did say Charlie was one to be late; my flight here was over an hour ago and he had a headstart since yesterday to bring that ass here to pick me up. Uncle C knew the plan; it was made sure that he could remember it because I made him specifically repeat it to me on the phone seven times because seven is for heaven and by the fifth time, it should have already been etched in his mind.
He was to tell me my flight time: 10:30 a.m
And what time I got here after taking two planes, one from Atlanta, Georgia and the other from Toronto, Canada which would land here in Seattle, late afternoon.
As it was now, 4:55 p.m going on 5:00.
Now imagine the look on uncle Charlie's face when he would finally pull up and saw his niece frozen to death. My short, pixie cut of black curls not moving an inch in the blowing wind, arms crossed pointedly over her small chest, long brown legs still in place and her full, dark pink lips formed into a permanent scowl. And did I also mention that my poor nipples belonging to my itty-bitty-titties were perked and showing through this dress? Blame myself for not wearing a bra (I just liked to go bare up there sometimes... you know, hippie-mode) and blame that man for coming so late―
"Young lady," a gruff voice exclaimed from behind me. "You're under arrest." I was going to kill uncle Charlie because now he had the cops on me.
"A-And wh-what would b-be the ch-charges?" The words tumbled out because my teeth were chattering.
The officer's footsteps on the tiled floors in the airport echoed in my ears as he rounded to the front of me and held his arms out wide. "Insubordination."
Before I could look at his ugly shoes and scream what are those?! and then snap my neck forward, place a hand on my hip and chime in a sassy tone, "Insubordination?!"
The dude wrapped his arms around me in a warm hug. "For not giving your uncle a hug or a hello, squirt."
My eye snapped up and met the familiar chocolate brown colored eyes and severe crow's feet. The fluffy mustache I enjoyed raking my fingers through as a little girl, as creepy as that sounds and the cheesy smile belonging to none other than my uncle Charlie.
"Uncle Charlie?!" I beamed, smiling my pearly whites at the Caucasian man. He nodded once, letting myself out of the hug to scratch the side of his clean shaved face with a sheepish chuckle trilling from the back of his throat. "An hour late, I know―"
"It's cold in here!" I cut him off, running to what I assumed to be his car―God my body was feeling so numb and I was freezing! ! !
I opened the door, climbing in the backseat. I perched over the middle compartment of the police cruiser―seriously, uncle C? You couldn't have picked me up in something different? Makes it look like a typical situation of a black person being arrested... in my case, to the people outside, it looked like I was eager―and fidget with the control panels of the dashboard.
"Where the hell is the heater in this doombuggie?!" I shriek to the brunette sitting in the passenger seat with a confused look engraved in the features of her pale, peach-toned face.
She took her headphones out, leaning forward with eyes on my face. "... Dawnette?"
"Cousin Bella!" I momentarily stop my episode of frantic panic to wrap my arms around the familiar, gangly cousin of mine. She hugged me back, but not before reaching to turn the knob that put the heater on.
"How is everything?" She inquired in that quiet, octave tone. I look over my cousin. She thankfully outgrew those pigtails... a girl knew she was tired of having to fight the indian nigglet named Paul back in La Push for pulling on them and teasing her; she had her brunette waves down her back, those chocolate brown eyes still innocent and slightly wary. That was the Isabella I grew up with, and no doubt was still the same one I hugged right now. Cousin Bella was still skinny―she needed to eat more meat―and dressed casual all the same. But I could sense the maturity in her which was a good thing.
"Everything's cool, B. You know, hanging in there, loving my complexion." I chime back, kissing both of her cheeks. She blushed slightly,―her old habit that never changed―and kissed my cheeks as well.
"That's good to hear," Bella sighed, her thin lips curving into a small smile. "Y-You can borrow my sweater if you're that cold..." she trailed off, slipping the zipper down and handing the navy-blue clothing to me.
"Girl, you just saved my life," I say, shoving the jacket on.
"Well, I figure I owe you after all those times you helped me when we were little." Bella smirked.
I rubbed my hands together, leaning back into the cushions of the cruiser's backseat. Finally, the thing was cranking out some warm air, gingerly unfreezing me in the process.
By then, Uncle Charlie had all of my suitcases and duffles loaded up in the trunk and climbed in the front seat, fully cranking up the vehicle. He turned to face Bella and me with that signature cheesy smile plastered on his face.
"You know that's the first thing you said when you met me, Dawnette?"
I raise an eyebrow at the middle aged man, snuggling into Bella's sweater... it was strangely oversized―well not on the borderline of big where it slumped off my shoulders, but it was too big for Bella's skinny self. And was... cold. Like ice. Or maybe it was just me.
"Where's the heater in this boombuggie?" I repeat, incredulity laced in my light, soprano tone. Because that was the first thing I said to the man―his car instead of a proper greet.
Charlie shook his head, maneuvering the cruiser into a turn to get us out of the lot at the airport. He winced like he was shivered and chirped in a tone I guess was supposed to sound like me, "... it's cold in here!"
Bella snickered and I snorted, shaking my head at my uncle. He had his jokes.
Charlie sported a broad grin, nodding to himself at the slight win he must have felt he won with us.
"So how's that brother of mine?" He questioned, driving the cruiser on the highway. We had a long drive ahead of us―a lot of hours to Port Angeles and then some more back to my new home, Forks.
"Enjoying the man's lotto." It was true. Walden Swan and Bunchies Swan were enjoying themselves.
Uncle Charlie scoffed at my response, shaking his head while telling Bella, "My brother can't even count to ten, Bells."
"Ain't it some shit that he won the lotto?" I retort after that, shaking my head as well.
Bella raised an eyebrow, turning from the passenger seat to face me and then gave a glance to her father. "I thought you would be happy for your own brother winning the lotto, Dad. He'd send you money if you needed it... And you too, Dawn. He's sort of like your father."
"And I love that silly goose for keeping momma' happy and taking up the position as my dad," I didn't know who my actual father was, but we had the last name Long. And when my mother married into the Swan family she took their last name but I kept my unknown father's, which wasn't a problem to my step-in dad, Walden. "but let's face facts Bella."
"What facts?" She questioned.
"He doesn't spend it right." I laugh, shrugging my shoulders.
"You would know." Uncle Charlie's gruff chuckle joined mine.
I nod. "Hell, yeah I know. And you know what I'd do with the first mil'?" I leaned forward, hoping after all of these years, they'd remember what my first goal would be as soon as I came across a million dollars.
"Donate to Africa." Both Bella and my uncle sighed at the same damn time.
"Because-" I trailed off wanting them to finish up my statement made from when I was ten.
"We're all from Africa." They finished, once again said in unison together.
"Waka-waka-aye-aye!" I sing, bobbing my head to that Shakira song playing out in my head.
.
. .
.
"Damn, uncle Charlie..." I found myself blurting out as soon as the front door was open and we stepped inside of the Forks home. I rolled two of my suitcases inside, stopping midway to glance all around the house, which was exactly the same way it was since the beginning of time. Charlie hadn't changed not a thing.
From the old square oak table with the three unmatching chairs and that small kitchen, with it's dark paneled walls, bright yellow cabinets, and white linoleum floor. I remember hearing my momma' say how Bella's mom―aunty Renée had painted the cabinets eighteen years ago in an attempt to bring some sunshine into the house. There was still the small fireplace in the adjoining handkerchief-sized family room with the row of many pictures.
First a wedding picture of Charlie and Bella's mom in Las Vegas, then one of the three of them in the hospital after Bella was born, followed by the procession of her school pictures up to last year's. Now this was where I came in.
Several photos of Bella and I either laughing or playing with each other. Some of me eating food, one that made me want to snicker and then burn it: an embarrassing photo of me glaring at the plate of peas in front of me.
I hated peas.
With a passion.
Then there was the African themed wedding held here in Forks, many years ago of my mom and Walden getting married. Mom sitting there wearing a vibrant red, green and yellow colored kanga*, modernized with an open slit that revealed one of her long, thick legs, looking like Erykah Badu and Walden Swan looking silly as hell with his tuxedo styled with a dashiki* matching the colors of my mom's garments. Aunty Renée looking bored as hell because she and my mom never got along well enough and Bella, me and uncle C smiling big and wide for the wedding going on. And lastly, the only baby picture of me that I never seen before―must have been one of a kind because Bunchies Swan loved taking pictures and she had hundreds of baby pictures of me, evenly distributed between both my black side of the family and white side.
Those were embarrassing yet sentimental to look at - and I could guess that Bella already tried to get uncle Charlie to take them down, so I wouldn't say anything about them, just as long as they made this dreary home feel... well, home-y.
"I hope that's a damn son, where'd you find this one*. This place looks hot, Dawn." I heard the middle aged man chime from outside.
I gave Bella a look and she gave me the same one.
Uncle Charlie ushered the rest of my bags inside and set them by the staircase, hands haughty places on his hips. He looked between me and Bella with suspicion in this brown eyes. "... what are you two looking at each other like that for?" - "Some secret cousin communication?"
I laughed at that one, shaking my head. "Bells, girl... please tell this man for me."
I watched as Bella shut the door behind her and blushed slightly, letting a shrug play on her slim shoulders. "... Charlie, this place is exactly how it was since we both could remember."
"Yeah, you could've at least threw in some of those forty dollar IKEA lamps," I motioned to the old lamp resting by the ratty looking couch. "Ooh, and maybe a glass end table. Wood is too much of a concept in this house, Uncle C. And... that comment about the damn son, where'd you find this one... yeah, don't say that... ever."
I grabbed two of my duffles, throwing the leather straps over my shoulders, watching as the man nodded to my critiques.
"Okay, girls... I admit the place isn't cool..."
"It's lame, Uncle Charlie."
"Lame, dad." Bella backed me up, and I held up my hand for her to high five, to which she did.
"But it's classic, Dawn." He whined to me. And cleared his throat, turning to Bella. "And... home to you, Bella. Besides, you girls may not remember," he flopped down on the couch. "But this furniture was used to play house by the both of you and I got a 'best house of the year award' hanging up in the bathroom made out of macaroni shells by two certain teenage girls, one named Isabella and the other named Dawnette."
"I was wondering what that was in there..." I heard my brunette cousin mumble.
"Alright, Uncle." I shrugged. "You win this round."
Uncle C jumped up and nodded appreciatively to himself before grabbing a hold on two of my suitcases, while Bella held the other one with two hands. We walked up the staircase, down the small hall into the bedroom opposite of the west side of the house―on the east and faced the side of the house with a view of lush evergreens and what looked like a neighbor's yard and house a lot of feet away.
The wooden door was opened and revealed a medium sized, bare room with white washed walls.
All that was placed inside was a single, twin bed, a mahogany long mirror placed in the corner of the bedroom, a small closet and two small dressers. The room had no personality to it... but after I settled, shopped for warmer clothes and brought a couple of posters and redecorated a little... I'd be good.
"I know it's not much, Dawn." Uncle C sighed, setting my bags on the wooden floors. "But I wasn't sure how you liked your room... And you and Bells could always go shopping in Port Angeles with her friends which could become your friends and you know, hang out and then do something with the room―"
I kissed my rambling uncle's cheeks, placing hands on my curvy hips―I may not have had top, but I did have bottom―and chirped to him, "I love it, Uncle C. Of course, there could be some nice curtains to cover that large gaping window over there, but overall... it's good. I can do a lot with the room and still keep it all home-y and you know... me."
The man touched his cheek with a small smile gracing his face and sighed what looked like in relief. "Well, I'm glad to hear, Dawnie." He pointed down the hall. "Bells room is on the west and mine is right in the middle... there is only one bathroom sadly, but I think we can all manage."
I nod, settling the duffles near the dressers and rolling the three suitcases near the closet. "Not so sure about that, but I'm down. Sharing's cool."
"Alrighty then, start unpacking and for dinner... we're going to La Push for a bonfire and fish fry. That sound good, Dawnie?"
Fish fry in La Push... like old times. I had already, began unpacking by taking out my vinyl record player and setting it in the corner near the mirror. The dressers wouldn't hold many of my clothes and the closet only had a few hanger so I'd just end up leaving some things in one of the suitcases. I'd be done in no time and we could head out and go see those Indian nigglets― especially that skinny Jacob and brute-head Paul. I was looking forward to this.
"Bee's knees, Uncle C." I chime to him, starting to unload my duffle of underwear and bras.
"Charlie... you must have forgot that I had a date with Edward tonight." Bella sighed, looking down at her Converse sneakers.
"But, Bells... you said you'd have the day clear for when Dawnie came."
"Day as in afternoon... not night." She argued.
"Alright, fine... if you want to go out with what's his face and miss the fish fry in La Push, go ahead." Her father muttered, shaking his head.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Bella sighed in content, nodding once. "See you later, Dawn?"
I nod to her with a smile. She stalked out of the room and that left me and my uncle.
"Edward's her new boyfriend." Charlie murmured, I guess to me. I didn't really care but was a little giddy that my awkward cousin finally managed to get some guy―Lord knows she and Jacob were both too shy to ever admit they liked each other back then. And I thought she'd always just prefer to be alone, I mean I was no queen bee at dating myself. But still. Either way, I was happy for my cousin. "You want to go to the fish fry, right?"
I paused folding my a couple of my t-shirts, nodding eagerly to him. "Of course, Uncle Charlie."
"After all," I started, watching as he playfully rolled his eyes and waved his hand on for me to continue the phrase I used each time we'd go to La Push, back in the day.
"Fish and bread keep the poor man fed."
Theme song of chapter: (each chapter will have one)
Lineus Spacehead by: Wavves
*―references
Kanga (or khanga) ― a wrap-around, colorful garment worn by women and some men in areas of Africa.
Dashiki ― is a colorful men's garment widely worn in West Africa that covers the top half of the body. It has formal and informal versions and varies from simple draped clothing to fully tailored suits. A common form is a loose-fitting pullover garment, with an ornate V-shaped collar, and tailored and embroidered neck and sleeve lines.
Jigaboo ― a racial slur used in the U.S for African American people to refer to stereotypical features (e.g. dark skin, wide nose and big lips) Think of Spike Lee's School Daze
Damn son, where'd you find this one ― a tag used by Trap-a-Holics mixtapes. They host a LOT of artists mixtapes, including Waka Flocka Flame, Gucci Mane, Juicy J, Future, etc.
A/N:
Congrats on getting through the first official chapter and the introduction of Dawnette.
She's inspired by one of my favorite actress, Nia Long and many characters from either different anime, tv shows or movies when it comes to her personality, even myself. I hope everyone likes her so far, or at least has her in their interests. We learned a little bit about her, and will continue to learn more each chapter as the story progresses.
As you guessed it, the next chapter isn't an introduction to her meeting our honey blonde yet; she's going to La Push with Charlie to rekindle with her old pals, Jake and the others, including Paul so be ready for some indian/Lahote/Uley/Black/Quiluete goodness, lol.
How was this chapter though? I hope it was some good, because I seriously enjoyed writing it and I can't wait for the next. Like I said, I have a 26 chapter plan for this story already and it won't be the usual Jasper/OC you've read or seen―I hope.
Anyways, feedback is appreciated and I'd love to know what everyone is thinking so far.
As mentioned before, this story will include so many topics and things essential to the plot and characters, so be wary of things mentioned. Take notes if you can :)
Check out the chapter song, as well.
The next update will be out soon, so do stay tooned.
Thanks For Reading!
Kumi-Chan/Tobi-Is-Fluffy-Chan
P.S: For those who read my other stories and are thinking, "how are you gonna start another story and you haven't even finished the ones you have?", you're right. But I just needed to get this out, and I promise I'll finish the others soon―working on new chapters currently.
