After Dawn Broke

Chapter Three: Unexpected

As we sped down the twisting driveway to the Cullen house, I listened to each insignificant sound around me. I heard the tires going along the path, the patter of someone's feet shuffling across the house, and even my sister's heartbeat from somewhere inside. Sometimes I try to block out the extra hearing because it can be really weird and embarrassing to hear other people's conversations.

The sound of my dad's phone ringing brought me out of my daze. He had decided to pick me up from school today because my mom's meetings were running late, and he wanted to visit Grandma. He says they have been best friends for ages; that's one of the odd things about my family. My grandma has been best friends with my dad since they were little and used to make mud-pies together, and they are technically closer in age than my mom and dad.

As we parked on side of the house, Dad answered his phone on the second ring. "Hi, this is Jacob."

I didn't recognize the number. Usually I leave my dad some privacy while he is on the phone, but my curiosity got the best of me, so I pretended to be asleep in the passenger seat. It was easy for me to hear the response.

"Hey! It's your sister, Rebecca," the voice said.

My heart skipped a beat. I thought a message toward my Grandpa, who was probably waiting for us to come in the house. (How come I didn't know my dad had a sister?)

Recently I have found a way to expand my power. My grandma said that she used to only be able to only shield herself, but with some practice from on our cousins in Denali, she could shield many people. I figured out that I have a small shield of my own. When I decide to expand it over people, just like my grandma does so Grandpa can hear her thoughts, I can allow people to send their thoughts back to me.

So I pushed it out and into the house, let it surround my grandfather, and he thought back, (Your parents never told you?)

I didn't really have anything to say or think about that yet, so I shifted my attention back to my father. Only half a second had passed, so I hadn't missed a word.

"Rebecca?!" the surprise in his voice was alarming. "I... I.. I thought you were dead..." His voice was filled with pain towards the end.

"Well, as you can tell, I'm not... and I have a lot to explain," she replied.

Dad didn't answer. I heard his breath quickening, and his heart was racing.

"I have to go. Call me back on this number when you can, Jake. I miss you." she sounded unsure of her own words. My dad slowly set his phone down, but then he froze.

I was so confused that my head started to pound. I could not make sense of anything, and I was scared. I closed my eyes and put my heads in my hand.

(Grandpa, something's wrong. Dad is acting weird...) I thought quickly.

(I know. I will let him explain later. He's not really sure what's happening.)

As soon as he thought this, I heard the house door opening, and Grandpa was beside me in an instant. Grandpa opened my car door, unbuckled my seat belt, and lifted me into his arms effortlessly. Dad got out of the car and walked to Grandpa's side.

"Edward... I.. I need to speak to Nessie as soon as possible." His voice was shaking, and that just made me anxious.

What is happening?

"Go Jacob. Taylor and Lizzy will be fine here. Alice says so." Grandpa replied in a sure voice. I finally opened my eyes in just enough time to see Dad disappearing into the forest.