The Twilight Saga Twist

Chapter 14. Stories

"Bella! Why won't you just tell me?!" Lisa asked, for what felt like a millionth time.

She had been asking what happened to me last night ever since I left my room a few hours ago. The first time she had asked me, I just told her nothing, but of course she wouldn't stop till she gets the truth. I didn't answer from the second time she asked onwards; I just read mu book, pretending I had not heard her.

"God, Bella. If he left you or anything, move on! You were never together, so why react this way? There's others out there, not just Edward Cul-" she stopped, and my head snapped up to see her right hand over her mouth, eyes opened. I heard her say "oops" through her hand.

I glared at her and said," How did you know about him?" I never told her about him, so how did she know that? She didn't say anything; her mouth was still covered. I continued to glare at her for a few minutes when suddenly Carter appeared at the open door.

We turned to look at him but didn't say anything. He looked at us, confused then apologetically.

"Um, is this the wrong time?"

Lisa finally spoke," Nope. Just getting ready," she spoke quickly and went up the stairs without looking at me. What a great escape, I thought sarcarstically.

I sighed and went back to reading. I wasn't really in the mood to be angry or something.

Carter sat on the arm chair across from the couch I was sitting on. I felt him looking at me, but I ignored him.

"So, how are you now?" I looked up without thinking. His sweet voice sounded so relaxing, so brotherly. I've always wanted a big brother. But of course....

"I won't force you to tell me what happened or something, but if you want to talk, I'm here, ready to give you some brotherly advice," he continued when I didn't say anything.

I smiled and said," Well, I can ask for a sisterly advice."

"Really? You really want to ask your sister?" he said in a joking tone. There was silence for a few seconds, but then we laughed. We both knew Lisa. She was the kind who wanted details, and she would never stopped until she gets them.

Carter then sighed, "You know, there are many others out there, not just him." How ironic. He just said what Lisa said. I creased my eyebrows in frustration.

"How does everyone know that?" I closed my book.

Carter seemed confused, "Wait, Lisa didn't tell you about me?"

I just raised my eyebrow. "About...?"

"My gift," he paused but continued when he saw my confused expression. "I can sense what you feel towards others. Like how you love your sister and mom. And how angry you feel towards...someone named James. And also, how you love...him."

Oh great, I sighed. But I felt myself smile.

"So you know what others feel towards you, like Lisa?" I asked him with a little challenging tone. I guess this was a good way to change the subject.

He looked down, and if he could, he would have blushed. He nodded once while still looking down.

I felt excitement. “So, what does she feel about you?” Like I didn’t know. From the way Lisa looked at him, it was so obvious. I guess I was trying to have fun. Carter did not answer, though he was searching for something: a pencil and a paper. When he found them, he wrote on the paper and showed it to me after a second. There was only one word – love.

I smiled. “Do you feel the same way?”

He inhaled deeply before writing "Yes."  I wanted to laugh, out of excitement probably. He should just admit it to her. Boys should make the first move, right?

Just then, Lisa came down. We both turned to look at her, and our jaws dropped. She looked so pretty. Her hair was in a ponytail, which she rarely did. It looked amazing on her. She was wearing a strapless dark green shirt and a pair of khaki pants. She carried a light brown jacket, and she seemed so much taller with her olive green heels. She really did look amazing--casual yet elegant. Carter definitely loved the right girl. She had beauty outside and inside.

“What?” she asked, feeling self-conscious.

Carter spoke, but it sounded like he was dreaming. “You look amazing.”

Lisa blushed. It started to feel awkward, so I decided to get out of the scene.

“Um, Lisa, do you mind me going to La Push?” I asked. It was already twilight, so I could go out.

“Oh. No. I’ll be going out anyway,” she said. I just nodded and took my coat from the couch.

“Oh, and Bella?” Lisa called out, just as I was going to open the door. I turned, and she was already standing with Carter. “Mom said she’ll pick us up tomorrow morning.”

I almost forgot about that. Good. I could leave soon…. I just smiled at her, and half-knowing that, I said, “Okay, thanks. You guys have fun.” Then I went out. 

When I got to my car, I sat in there for a while, thinking about what she just said. I should be happy that I could move on easily tomorrow. But I felt sad about the idea that we were leaving. I wasn’t ready. I wanted to see him for the last time, and it was so stupid of me. I would miss it here though--the atmosphere, my friends, even the house. I looked at it, remembering how small but comfortable it was, but I wished I didn’t.

From the window in the living room, I saw Lisa and Carter…kissing. I looked away quickly, feeling awkward. It was then that I realized I actually wanted love. I envied them--how in love they were, how it was easy for them. After all the years, all the decades that I’ve hated love, I actually wanted it. It wasn’t hate that I felt last night; it was the desire for his love. A tear dropped on my cheek, and I brushed it away quickly. Even though I wanted him, I still have to move on.


***
I drove for about an hour or less till I got to La Push. I’ve never been here before, but it was easy to spot the beach. Mike and the rest were already around the campfire, a fire that’s blue…a driftwood fire, nice.

I went out to them, and Mike came to me just as he saw my car.

“Hey, you came!” he said, smiling. I was going to miss the excitement and thrill in his voice.

“Told you so,” I said and smiled back.

“Come on; we’re eating.” I followed him to the fire.

There were a few unfamiliar faces when I sat down. The new faces all had shining, straight black hair and copper skin. They were probably teenagers from the reservation. Some people, my friends, greeted me. I smiled at the new faces. I sat down next to Angela, and refused politely when Mike gave me a sandwich. I had no appetite.

“So you okay now, Bella?” Jessica asked. She seemed concerned. Seemed.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I told her, smiling. The new faces were looking at me, but I didn’t care.

They went on with their own conversations. I talked to Angela sometimes, but she wasn’t much of a chatterer. I talked to Lauren and Jessica too, but I didn’t talk much. We were like that for some minutes, till some went to hike, walk on the beach, or went to the store. I sat on the log, staring at the fire absent-mindedly.

Then, one of guys from the reservation sauntered over to sit by my side.

“Hi, I’m Jacob Black,” he introduced himself, smiling.

I couldn’t help but smile back, “Hi, I’m Bella Swan.”

He looked fourteen, maybe fifteen, and had long, glossy black hair pulled back with a rubber band at the nape of his neck. His skin was beautiful, silky and russet-colored; his eyes were dark, set deep above the high planes of his cheekbones. He still had just a hint of childish roundness left around his chin. Altogether, a very pretty face.

“So, welcome to La Push,” he said, grinning. He obviously didn’t know what to say but wanted the conversation to continue.

“Thanks. It’s great here.”

“Yeah, it is.” We smiled at each other then fell silent. We looked at the fire. From the corner of my eye, I saw Jacob fiddling with his fingers anxiously. What was wrong with him? I didn’t know why, but I smiled.

“So, what are your special talents, Jacob?” I asked, with a little laughing tone, just to make him stop feeling anxious for nothing.

“Oh, well I kind of build cars, when I have free time, and parts. You wouldn’t happen to know where I could get my hands on a master cylinder for a 1986 Volkswagen Rabbit?” he added jokingly. He had a pleasant, husky voice.

“Wow, a mechanic,” I joked. “Sorry, I haven’t seen any lately, but I’ll keep my eyes open for you.” As if I knew what that was. He was very easy to talk with.

He flashed a brilliant smile, looking at me appreciatively.

“You know Bella, Jacob?” Lauren asked – in what I imagined was an insolent tone – from across the fire.

“No, we just met,” he smiled.

“How nice.” She didn’t sound like she thought it was nice at all, and her pale, fishy eyes narrowed. I rolled my eyes.

“Bella,” she called again, watching my face carefully.” I was just saying to Tyler that it was too bad none of the Cullens could come out today. Didn’t anyone think to invite them?” Her expression of concern was unconvincing. I wanted to forget about them, but she brought them back. I felt like punching her on her nose right now.

“You mean Dr. Carlisle Cullen’s family?” the tall older boy asked before I could respond, much to Lauren’s irritation. He was really closer to a man than a boy, and his voice was very deep.

“Yes, do you know them?” she asked condescendingly, turning halfway toward him.

“The Cullens don’t come here,” he said in a tone that closed the subject, ignoring her question.

Tyler, trying to win back her attention, asked Lauren’s opinion on a CD he held. She was distracted.

I thought about what the deep-voiced boy said. They didn’t come here, but it sounded more that they weren’t allowed. That was weird. Did they know about the Cullens' secret?

I tried to ask Jacob. He might know but did it even matter? Why do I even want to know anyway? But my mouth and brain seemed to act on its own.

I asked Jacob, half-knowingly, “Do you want to walk down the beach with me?” I dazzled him, and of course he couldn’t say no. He jumped up willingly enough. Why was I doing this? Again, on their own, my feet started to walk. I just gave up. I guess I was interested on the story about the Cullens or whatever.

“So you’re what, sixteen?” I asked, trying not to be rude or anything by getting straight to the point.

“I just turned fifteen,” he confessed, flattered.

“Really?” My face was full of false surprise. Again I just didn’t want to be rude. “I would have thought you were older."

“I’m tall for my age,” he explained.

“Do you come up to Forks much?" I asked archly, as if I was hoping for a yes. I sounded idiotic to myself. I was afraid he would turn on me with disgust and accuse me of my fraud, but he still seemed flattered.

"Not too much," he admitted with a frown. "But when I get my car finished I can go up as much as I want, after getting my license," he amended. Oops, that was fast. Whatever, I guess that was what I was supposed to be or something. I couldn't change the fact that I was attractive. Weird. It was the same thing Aunt Katrina told me years ago.

I couldn't change what I am because that was how you were supposed to be. No one or nothing can change you.... Those were her exact words. I couldn't remember why she said that though. Focus, Bella. Jacob's still here. I just decided to go a little straight to the point.

"Who was the other boy Lauren was talking to? He seemed a little old to be hanging out with us." I purposefully lumped myself in with the youngsters, trying to make it clear that I preferred Jacob.

"That's Sam - he's nineteen," he informed me.

"What was that he's saying about the doctor's family?" I asked innocently.

"The Cullens? Oh they're not supposed to come here." He looked away out toward James Island, confirming what I'd thought I'd heard in Sam's voice.

"Why not?"

He glanced back at me, biting his lip. "Oops. I'm not supposed to say anything about that."

"Oh I won't tell anyone; I'm just curious," I dazzled him with my smile. It worked. He smiled back, then lifted one eyebrow. His voice was even huskier than before.

"Do you like scary stories?" he asked ominously.

"I love them," I said. It was true. Lisa and I love horror. Sometimes we would try scaring Aunt Katrina, but we were horrible. She wouldn't get scared.

So for the next few minutes, he told me about his legends. About...werewolves.

I did know werewolves existed or that they were our enemies. But we never came across one. I wondered if there were any of them around now. Jacob's ancestors had been werewolves, after all.

"So, the Cullen clan claimed that they didn't hunt the same way as the others, that they didn't want to harm any humans. So, my great-grandfather, the leader of the tribe, made a truce with them. If they promised to stay off our lands, we wouldn't expose them to the pale-faces." He winked at me.

"So they never came here?" I was so engrossed with the story, but I didn't know why.

"Nope."

"You don't seem to care or something?" I asked. He seemed like he didn't believe any of his legends.

"No. Why should I? These are all just stories. Werewolves? Pfft. Whatever...." he scoffed.

I chuckled half heartedly, softly. You're wrong, Jacob. You're wrong. I wanted to tell him that.

"So, freaked out yet?" he asked jokingly.

"Nope. It wasn't that scary," I said. He laughed a little.

Then, Mike walked up to us. "There you are, Bella." The jealousy in his tone was hard to miss. Jessica was walking slowly behind him.

"So, I gotta go. But you should come visit me in Forks," I told him as I backed away to Mike.

"Sure. Right when I get my license," he smiled and I smiled back.

"Nice to meet you!" I called out. He was already a few metres away from me and I waved at him. He waved back.

It  really was nice meeting him. He was someone I could easily be friends with and I really did like him.

When I reached Mike and Jessica, Mike said, "We have to go. It's going to rain soon." I just nodded at him.

We all went to different cars. No one really wanted to go with me, though I didn't mind. I liked being alone. I said goodbye to my friends a few times. This was going to be the last time I was going to see them.

They were my first human friends, and I was glad I met them.

After saying one last goodbye to them, I went in my car. Then I remembered something.

I had told Jacob to come visit me in Forks. Too bad, Jacob, I thought to myself. I wouldn't be there anymore. Sorry. But I asked myself a question I couldn't answer: Was I ready to go?