"Speaking out loud."
'Thinking.'
Highlighted information, emphasis.
(Translations)
[Titles, books, signs]
Written Knowledge.
*Sounds*
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight and its characters, and do not write this story for any financial gain.
Chapter Six - Decisions.
Two days had passed, and I met Edlynn in Biology, sitting before turning to her.
"Morning." I said politely, trying to diffuse any tension from two days ago, focused on finding my answers using a different method, but she barely moved her head in my direction, nodding.
I stared at her for a few seconds, but she kept staring forward, ignoring me, making me chuckle.
The class started, and we worked in silence on our assignments until I had an idea.
"So you tried lying, deceiving, gaslighting, and when everything failed, you decided the best plan you could come up with was to start ignoring me?" I asked low, but enough for her to hear, noticing her writing stopped for a moment, and I knew she was paying attention.
"I could barely sleep these past days, trying to think of a reason for what you said... wondering what could possibly push someone to say things like that."
Another pause.
"And I came with an answer. Self-protection."
Another pause.
"This condition you have- that your family has, that is a secret, right? That's the reason you're so scared of me finding out, because it's a secret."
She stopped writing and stared forward.
"You could've just told me to keep it a secret, I would never tell anyone, just like I didn't say you were involved in the accident to begin with." I said while writing and saw the moment her face turned towards me, and I looked her in the eyes. A moment of silent communication happened between us, and I smiled.
"But you won't, right? This is your big plan now, ignore me, so I'll let it go." I nodded, and she kept staring at me, her face blank.
"Fine, I'll give you what you want, but trust is a two-way street, Edlynn, and you can't cross burned bridges." And that was the last thing I said to Edlynn Cullen.
Three Weeks Later.
Almost a month passed without a word between us. I saw her every day and sat beside her twice a week, noticing how her face was darker and gloomy, her eyes slowly losing the yellow color until they settled into black, before turning into molten gold again. She wanted to cut ties with me, and I was happy to oblige, now that I was more terrified than interested.
I knew what I saw, I wasn't crazy, I wasn't tripping, I wasn't asleep- she was somehow superhuman, physically enhanced, or whatever sci-fi bullshit I could think of. Whatever they had, it gave them powers. I wasted a few days searching comics, trying to find some hero or villain that would look like them, but that was also a dead end, so whatever that was, people didn't know about it.
What else didn't people know about it?
I knew I should tell someone about the Kryptonian family just sitting there in the cafeteria, minding their own business, but I couldn't, first because no one would believe me, and second, because that was her secret to keep. Even though I was pissed at her for trying to gaslight me, I would never reveal something that could harm her or her family without knowing the full picture first.
By the end of the third week, I had really come to terms that we would never talk to each other again.
"Beau, are you listening?!" Jessica hissed while snapping her fingers in front of my face, making me focus on the group again.
"Hmm?"
"Stop daydreaming, we said we're going to La Push next week, you in?"
"La Push?"
"It's a beach on the reservation, we can surf." Mike said.
"Surf, huh? You mean in the water? The freezing water?" I asked incredulously, and Jessica giggled.
"Man up, dude, it's not that bad."
I stared at the others, and they all giggled.
"I feel like I'm being baited here."
"You're gonna love it." Erica said with a smile before sitting like a gangster.
"It's La Push, baby... Laaaaa Push!" She said it like a weirdo, making everyone giggle.
"Fine, I'll go if you stop saying it like that." I said, and they laughed harder.
I crossed my legs and placed a fist under my chin, looking back at the wall again, thinking and thinking, until I heard a whisper.
"And I wanted to ask you about the ball." I leaned back a little and turned to see that Jessica had pushed her chair really close and was smiling at me.
"Ball?" I asked in a low voice, not understanding the secrecy or the question.
"Next month, are you going? Do you have a date?"
I wondered about that for a moment, me, dancing in a ball.
Er... no, thank you.
"When is it?"
"Exactly one month from now."
"So... Saturday?" I asked, after checking on my phone.
"Yeah."
"I can't, got a trip to Port Angeles that day."
I saw how her face sank and turned away, trying to give her space to think, just to meet Edlynn's gaze. She was staring directly at me, her face showing nothing.
"And what are you looking at?!" I hissed under my breath, and she smiled. Of course, she could hear me from this distance; she probably had laser vision and could fly, too.
"Can't you go another day?" Jessica tried, but I turned back at her and shook my head.
"Nah, I have plans with Charlie, I can't cancel." I wanted to say sorry, but that would imply I'd go with her if I weren't busy.
The rest of the classes passed in a blur, and it was time to go home, which was always a penance.
I crossed the parking lot just to see Erica coming towards me from my truck, making me frown.
"Beau?" She started, and I stopped in front of her, tilting my head.
"Erica?"
"Do you wanna go to the ball next month?" She asked straight, and I raised my eyebrows at that, a little shocked.
"Ah- I won't be in town for that, Erica-"
"All right, then- bye." She blushed before darting off, making me feel a little bad, she must've gather a lot of courage to ask me, but it would be worse to give her false expectations.
I sighed and turn to my truck, just when I saw bronze hair passing in front of me, looking aside to see Edlynn modeling towards her car, giggling.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, walked to my truck, and got in. She was really rich, right? Maybe I could just use my red tank to dent her shining Volvo a little. I pressed the gas when I saw her getting inside her car, signaling that if she crossed me, I'd destroy her silver toy, but she completely ignored my warning, cutting me off at the exit and simply stopping there. I gasped and looked at the car, seeing that there was no one but her inside, turning to see her family coming all the way from the school.
"Oh, you gotta be kidding me-" I hissed, furious, and looked at her mirror, seeing she was staring at me with a smile.
And then, I heard a knock on my passenger window, turning to see Tyler waving. I looked at my rear mirror and saw her car behind me, the door open. I pulled the lever of the passenger side and gestured ahead.
"I'm stuck behind Cullen, Tyler, sorry-"
"Oh, no, I don't care about that, I was just thinking about something I wanted to ask you." She smiled widely and I frowned, thinking this had to be a joke.
"Wanna go to the ball with me?"
I tried maintaining a calm expression, it wasn't her fault that Edlynn pissed me off.
"Sorry, Tyler, I'll be out of town-"
"Ah, I heard about that."
"You heard?" I frowned, and she rested her cheek on her hand, smiling even wider.
"I thought you were letting the other girls down easy."
All right, she was pissing me off, too.
"I'm sorry, Tyler, I'm really going to be out of town." I said not really sorry, anger in my tone.
"That's fine, we still have prom."
And she jumped back and down, walking to her car, leaving me with my mouth open.
"Wha-" I barked at myself, looking around, until I saw movement in Edlynn's car. She was laughing so hard that the car was shaking, a hand over her mouth as she lost her shit. I felt my face turning red, stepping on the gas again, thinking just a dent wouldn't hurt, but then, her family arrived and entered the car just when I stepped on it, but she was already gone.
I mumbled all the way back home about this stupid city and its stupid girls.
The weekend was near, and I was so bored that a trip to a beach where I was sure no one would actually swim sounded like a good time. The school day was monotonous as always, but today I had to stay late because of a problem with my paperwork. I spent more than an hour with Mrs. Cope, trying to fix her printer so she could finish printing the documents needed for me to go.
"You're so smart, dear." She smiled at me when the papers started coming out again.
I walked around the corridors towards the parking lot, seeing how dark it was, even though it wasn't even 6 pm. The empty school was creepy, and I was about to make a beeline to my truck when I saw an open door, halting before noticing it was the music room. I smiled and walked in, seeing a small piano by the corner, saxophones, drum kits, a cello, and by the farthest corner, a box that made my heart skip a beat.
Of all the things Renée put me through, music was one of the few things I really enjoyed.
I walked to the violin case and opened it, seeing the piece inside. It was fairly new and well-kept, making me look around before grabbing it. I quickly tested all cords and adjusted the few that were out of tune, until it sounded like it should, perfection.
The room had many windows, and I looked outside, seeing the rain hitting the glass, making me smile, taking the bow, and starting Winter by Vivaldi. Even though I was out of a piano to support me, I just allowed the music to flow freely. Ah, it was like breathing again. I loved playing the violin, but here it was something that was not appreciated by many. We had a lot of complaints when I played back in Phoenix, and I thought that trying it here would not make Charlie too happy.
I switched a few notes to make it darker, slowing it down a little, smiling at myself, until I stopped and allowed the last note to hover, leaving a deep sigh.
I don't know why, but I started Rondo Capriccioso's introduction, moving through it without a miss, arriving at its chorus really pleased with myself, letting it push me forward. I sped up to the rise and finished it, panting a little. It had been some time since I put in an effort like this.
"I can't do it."
I almost had a stroke when I heard a voice coming from the door, turning in a heartbeat just to see Edlynn standing there, her hair done in a weird sideway ponytail that made her look extremely cute, but I remember the past three weeks, not answering her, going to the place I found the violin, putting it back with care, closing the case before turning and leaving the room, but when I was about to walk past her, she touched my arm, or rather held me. I wanted to just yank it away, but I was not that angry, so I just stopped and looked down at her hand suggestively.
"Please, don't go- I wanna say something."
I kept staring at her hand, feeling the cold touch even against the fabric of my sleeve, and she let go. We were really close, but the distance didn't seem to matter to her, so I didn't move, looking at her perfect face from ten inches apart.
"I'm sorry."
I was about to give her the cold shoulder, but my anger got the best of me.
"About what, exactly? Lying to someone who, despite that, lied to everyone and covered for you? Or for trying to make this person believe he was crazy? Or for deciding to ignore this person like a ten-year-old would-"
"Beauregard." She said low, looking at my chest, making me stop my rant and frown at her, until she looked up, and I gulped, seeing how her eyes were wide open, and how that made her next words sound.
"I'm so sorry for everything I did to you- it wasn't my intention to hurt your feelings, but I did. I tried to stay away from you... but I just understood that I can't-" And her eyes burned with sincerity, making my heart race.
"You can't?"
She nodded and said in a whispery voice that made my heart stop.
"I can't stay away from you, and I'm tired of fighting... so I won't."
I shouted at myself to stop looking at her eyes, it was like she was hypnotizing me. I broke eye contact and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.
"The thing is- I'm not sure what to think of all this- what exactly do you want, Edlynn? For once, just tell me the truth."
And she never deviated her gaze from mine, whispering even lower, making my brain freeze.
"You."
And I felt my face flushing, and that seemed to snap her out of it, making her open her mouth.
"I mean- as a friend- I want your friendship." She corrected herself and I chuckled before closing the door to the music room, walking to the parking lot.
I really had no conviction in me, huh?
I stopped when I was a few steps away from her and sighed before looking over my shoulder, seeing she was still standing there, hugging one arm while her face was sad and in pain.
"Let's go, it's getting late."
I felt another trepidation when I saw her face illuminating into a smile, before she placed her hands behind her back and walked to my side.
"Does that mean I'm forgiven?" She asked low, tilting her head with a smile, and I tried not to look her way, because I knew I'd budge.
"You can't cross burned bridges, Edlynn." I repeated and noticed her smile vanishing. "But you can try building new ones." I said with a nod and she looked down, a small smile on her lips.
We walked outside, and it was really cold.
"You're an amazing violinist." She said timidly as we walked, and I pressed my lips together, a little embarrassed someone heard me, especially her.
"Thank you."
"You play often?"
"No, the last time I played was a few years ago when I was still back in Phoenix-"
"Why did you stop?" She asked so fast that it made me look at her, seeing that she was so fixed on this question that there was a frown on her forehead.
"The neighbors didn't appreciate the noise so much, so I decided to hang my bow. I never had the chance to pick it up again, and I think Charlie- my father- is not a music aficionado, so-" I let it go, but she was still glued to my answer, staring at me with intensity.
"I saw many violinists trying to change Winter so it could be somber, but there was always something lacking- but yours was the first that made me-" She stopped and looked at the sky. "It made me feel like I was hearing it outside, in the cold and dark night... it felt like a storm was slowly creeping in."
I stopped and looked at her for a moment, feeling a sensation of wonder that I couldn't describe. When I played, I often visualized myself in places or realities that would fit what I was playing, and while playing my version of Winter, I always imagined myself walking while playing, bringing the night and the winter with me, taking over everything in my wake.
"What?"
"Nothing." I smiled and resumed walking, feeling my cheeks warm. How in the world could she visualize exactly that? I couldn't understand that.
"And your Rondo Capriccioso was superb, not a single miss- you have the finesse of a concertmaster in an orchestra."
I wanted her to stop praising me because it was embarrassing, I mean, who actually does that? I just smiled and tried to change the subject.
"You sound fond of music."
"I am."
"You play?"
"I do, I play the piano."
Now that was something I'd like to see. Suddenly, I noticed there was no silver Volvo in sight, which made me slow down.
"Where's your car?"
"Alice took the others home in it."
"And how are you getting home?"
"Walking."
I frowned at her, and she tilted her head with half a smile. Goddamnit, would I ever stop finding her beautiful?
"Not flying?"
"Flying?"
"Yeah, I'm sure you must have some other superpower other than super strength."
And now it seemed my words spoiled the mood, making her close her expression and look away. It looked like she wasn't going to talk anymore, so I decided to go on the offensive.
"I thought we were past the evasiveness."
She turned at once and gasped.
"You have no idea-" And she bit her tongue, shaking her head.
"You're not thinking about ignoring me again, are you? I thought you couldn't stay away from me." I tried the waters, and she turned to stare at me, both of us already near my truck. "That means no more secrets if you want to be my friend. I take the word friend more seriously than you think."
"Some secrets exist for a reason, Beau." She said dismissively, just when I opened the passenger door for her.
"Right, I forgot you can't let people know you're Supergirl... secret identity and all that stuff."
She opened her eyes wide at something I did, and I frowned before looking at my action.
"What? I'll take you home, unless you don't wanna be seen in that, which I totally understand." I smiled while nodding at my truck and I saw the corner of her mouth twisting into a tiny smile before she walked forward to enter the car, but she stopped by the door to turn and whisper in my face.
"Have you ever wondered that I might not be the hero of this story? Have you ever thought I might be the villain?" She turned and entered, making me let out a sigh of wonder, closing the door behind her before going around. What the hell did she mean by that? She was a villain? She was a bad person? A criminal? I tried to think of something just when I got in and started the car.
"Where to?" I asked, still trying to think about what she said.
"I live outside the city, take the interstate a mile towards the east, you'll find a dirt road, my home is at the end of it."
"You live in the middle of the forest?"
"I do."
"In a house, right?" I asked with a hint of humor, but I was dead serious. With her, I could expect anything. She glared at me before looking at the road.
"Yes, I do live in a house. Are you trying to kill me off from old age?" She pointed at the road, and I frowned.
"Are you insane? If I go over forty in this thing, we're both dead- well, I am for sure. Have some respect for your elders." I tapped the steering wheel, and she snorted.
We both became quiet for a moment, and then, I had an epiphany. It was like I found the answer to a question that was so easy, that I felt dumb it took me so long to figure it out.
The way she looked at me, the first day, the craziness in her eyes, her every action after that- damn, I was slow, I was really losing my edge.
"I think I got it." I said, unable to hide my amusement, finally finding the answer.
"Got what?" She raised an eyebrow, and I snuck a glance at her.
"You're dangerous, aren't you?"
It was good we stopped at one of the four lights Forks had, because I needed to stare at her, and I hated taking my eyes off the road. I saw that I was right within a second of staring into her eyes. She was shocked, breathing faster, twisting her fingers, and the light went green, but I didn't move.
"You've been telling me this whole time, I was just a little slow to notice, sorry."
She was dead silent.
"But I can't see why would you want to hurt me- unless- is it something out of your control?" I asked while driving again.
"Yes." She whispered so low that I wasn't sure she answered.
And I took advantage of the fact that we were near the exit to step on the breaks, parking at the roadside, turning to smile at her.
"What exactly are you, Edlynn?"
She never looked away, her face hard and emotionless.
"You really think I'd tell you?"
"Why not?"
"Because-" She bit her lower lip again and looked outside. "Because I'm trying to protect you."
"From who?"
"From myself."
And another piece of the puzzle fit right in.
"You wanted to kill me, didn't you?"
She did not answer, nor did she look at my face, looking outside the window instead.
"Please- I don't wanna talk about it-"
"Edlynn, look at me." I said in a controlled voice, trying to convey my state of mind, because I was calm, finally having answers to my questions.
She was reluctant to turn, but she did, and I saw the agony in her eyes.
"It's okay. Whatever it is, it's not your fault." I assured her and that seemed to freeze her in place, and I turn the truck back on, returning to the road, heading towards her home.
"It is-" She said low, and I frowned.
"What?"
"It is my fault." She sounded like someone who was about to confess a mortal sin.
"You said it was out of your control- how can it be your fault?"
"I'm still here, aren't I?"
And another piece found its place.
"So that's why you disappeared for a week, huh? You thought leaving would fix things- you thought that if you left, I'd be safe from the danger."
"And you were until I came back." She slowly looked at me, and I turned away, trying not to be scared of her, entering the dirt road she told me about before I shook my head.
"Edlynn, you're admitting to wanting me dead. Why can't you tell me the rest? What could possibly be worse than that?"
"Believe me, there is worse." She said low, and I saw a giant house coming into view, but I was so fixated on our talk, that I missed most of its details.
I stopped behind her car, which was parked on the road, turning to her.
"I'm not that delicate, I can handle anything you throw at me." I said really low, and she tilted her head, softly chucking while looking at her house.
"I'd rather hear your theories." She said low as well, following my cue.
"Are you an alien who came from outer space?" I asked seriously, and she shook her head, rolling her eyes.
"I already told you-"
"That you're not a superhero, but I didn't say you were Kara Kent this time, did I?" I stared at her seriously, and she held my gaze, nodding slowly.
"Sometimes I forget how astute you are."
I simply stared until she raised an eyebrow.
"Is that it? Your theories are from comics?"
"You sound offended, Miss. I can probably hold a car above my head with one hand. You are the definition of impossible, so don't judge me. I had very little to work with." I smiled at her and she smiled back.
"Experimented in a secret lab?"
"No."
"Bitten by a radiative... spider?" I wanted to say angel, but I couldn't.
"Not even close."
"You know I'll eventually find out."
"I'd prefer if you didn't."
"Ever?"
"Ever."
"Huh."
I wanted to try and see her limits, so I tested the waters.
"Wanna come with us to the beach tomorrow?"
That seemed to do the trick. I saw her worried face turning into one of confusion, before settling into one of evaluation.
"The beach?"
"Yeah, a few of us are going to the beach."
"Which beach exactly?" She asked timidly, and I was taken aback. Was she really considering coming? I couldn't imagine her in a bikini, not that she would use one on a freezing beach, although just the thought-
"They called it the First Beach, it's inside the Quileute Reserve."
I saw the moment her face sank a little, making me wonder why that happened.
"I don't think I was invited."
"I'm inviting you."
She slowly shook her head.
"It's better if-"
And before she could speak, we both saw something and turned to stare at Alice, barely visible because the last light coming from the day was nearly gone, just standing there in front of my truck, a giant smile on her face before she walked to my side of the car, making me open my window.
She just stood there, eyeing both of us, until she made a face at Edlynn, as if censuring her.
"Beau, this is my sister Alice... Alice, Beau." Edlynn said monotonously, and I smiled at the pixy-like figure, who was now leaning inside my car, ignoring my personal space.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Beau, my sister has been talking a lot about you-"
"Alice." Edlynn hissed, and I smiled.
"All bad things I imagine."
"You'd be surprised."
And I offered my hand to her, making her look down before looking me in the eye, grabbing it to shake it once. Yep, cold as a corpse.
And then it hit me, making me turn slowly and whisper to Edlynn.
"Zombies?"
She raised her eyebrows and her mouth fell open, before Alice started laughing, and she giggled.
"Would you like to come inside?" Alice offered, and I looked at Edlynn, seeing how her face got a little worried.
"Maybe some other time, I think it's time to go home."
And I noticed how reluctant Edlynn was to move, making me smile a little. She opened the door and left while Alice leaned closer to whisper in my ear, making me shiver to her cold breath.
"Now you cut my sister some slack, all right? She's trying her best."
And she moved away with a smile, making me raise an eyebrow at her.
"Not to kill me?"
"Yeah." She said with such a smile, nodding vigorously, that it made me laugh, turning to see Edlynn eyeing me with a frown from the passenger window.
"I'll see you Monday." I said to Edlynn before turning my truck on and reversing from their view. I made the turn and looked to my rear mirror, but they were nowhere to be found.