By: ambsace Comment

I walked slowly up the stairs to Tawny’s place, raising my hand to knock hesitantly. Instantly Tawny, a short, coffee-cream colored woman, opened the door and beckoned me in.
“Laura!” she greeted me. “It’s so good to see you!” I smiled graciously.
“Thanks, Ms. Call,” I told her earnestly. “Is Russel here?” She nodded emphatically.
“Russel!” she called up the stairs. “Laura’s here for you!” Her eyes crinkled around the edges. “Thank you so much for taking him under your wing,” she told me quietly. “I was so worried he wouldn’t fit in, looking different than everyone else. But he smiled when he came home from school. I’m just so glad he’s accepted.” I felt my heart swell.
“No problem, Ms. Call. I promise I’ll make sure he’s in, or we’re both out.” She gave me a huge hug.
“No need for that, dear. And please, call me Tawny. Make sure you don’t let anyone usurp your status for Russel’s sake.” Russel thumped down the stairs at that moment, wearing a tank top and long shorts. He smiled at me warmly, his ebony hair tousled handsomely. His abnormally pale skin shone in the dim hallway as he grabbed a long sleeved shirt and a sweatshirt. He pulled them both over his head, and we both went out the door.
He locked it behind him and we proceeded downtown. We walked toward the center of La Push, passing several shops.
“That’s Old Quil Ateara’s shop,” I commented. “He and Claire live above the store.” Russel nodded, his eyes roving over the tiny town.
“There’s Jake’s garage,” I told him. “He fixes and builds cars, motorcycles, all that junk. He’s really good at it and he’s only like, twenty-five. He and Nessie, Renesmee, live a couple of blocks down. Renesmee looks more like you than like me,” I offered. Russel raised his eyebrows.
“Really? You mean she desperately needs a good tan?” I nodded.
“She doesn’t really come out in the sunlight, and it’s mostly cloudy here anyway. I love it, though. It’s my hometown and the best stinking town in the world.” Russel nodded.
“Unless there’s anything specific you want to see,” I said, “then I’d like to take you down to the beach. It’s beautiful... I love it.” I glared up at the dark clouds above us. “Although it looks like it’ll storm, so maybe not.” I gulped, the fear growing in my heart.
“I don’t think it will,” he judged, squinting at the sky. “But I don’t know. Aren’t you all used to storms?” I laughed nervously.
“Yep, we are, but we don’t get storms. It’s just constantly raining up here in the Olympic Peninsula.” Russel nodded. I felt my gut telling me no no NO! but I led him down to the beach. The sand was soggy from the high tide, and we waded through a couple of inches of water, the sun sinking quickly. Soon it was dark except for the tiny square window lights from the distant houses. I was chilled in just short sleeves and shorts, goosebumps rising on my arms. I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm. Russel glanced over as the chilly rain began to fall.
“Cold?” He asked me concernedly. I nodded, my teeth chattering, and he pulled off his sweatshirt. “Here, take it. I’m too hot.” I didn’t want him to be cold, but I really was freezing, so I tugged it over my head. Instantly I was warmer, and I inhaled deeply. A nice guy smell rose from it and seemed to seep into my body, keeping me warm and happy. My lungs inflated with Russel’s curious scent. It was delicious, smelling like just a clean, happy guy smell. I loved it without the cologne junk that guys dump on to impress girls.
“Thanks, Russel.” He smiled at me calmly, and then a crack of thunder boomed through the air. I cried out in surprise, suddenly freezing again. Lighting pierced the shore across the ocean from us, and I shook, terrified. Russel was gaping at me.
“Are you scared of thunderstorms?” He didn’t ask jeeringly, he asked as if he was really worried for me.
Not wanting to seem like a complete wimp in front of the hottest guy I had seen in two years, I answered him with a sure, “Yes!” Wait, what? God, my mouth did not want to listen. Russel put his arm around my shoulder and led me over to a huge rock cave that I used to explore when I was younger. We got inside the lip of the cave and Russel set me down on the soft sand, sitting next to me. He replaced his arm on my shoulders and I shook hard as another crash echoed through La Push. I whimpered, memories fogging my vision.
“Daddy!” I cried, skipping through the house as the storm raged on outside. “Daddy, let’s play a game!” My dad laughed and caught me as I jumped into his arms.
“No, sweet one,” he chided. “I need to go out for a little while. I promise, though, when I get home I’ll come play with you.” He kissed me on the cheek and set me down, pulling up the hood on his coat and stepping out into the thunderstorm. I giggled and dashed to the window, where I could see the dark form of my father moving towards our car. He hopped in and sped away, tires squealing on the wet pavement. I sighed and watched, waiting for my daddy to come home.
“Still waiting,” I whispered, tears falling from my face to spatter Russel’s sweatshirt. I sobbed, throwing my arms around my head. Bewildered, Russel patted me on the back.
“What?” he asked me, then thought better of it. “Never mind, you don’t have to tell me. It’s none of my business.” I shook my head.
“No,” I gulped. “I trust you. You’re being so kind to me. I have to tell you. You see, when I was three, my dad left in the middle of a huge storm. I’m always terrified by storms because my daddy never came home. He skidded off the road and he flipped out of the car, onto a broken power line. He was electrocuted. My daddy died that night. I miss him so much. I said, ‘Still waiting,’ because my I was thinking about how I was so excited waiting for my dad to come home and play with me. Still waiting.” I was in horrible tears by the end, and I’m sure Russel didn’t understand a word of what I was sobbing to him.
“Laura,” he murmured comfortingly. “I don’t know you very well, but I swear one thing. I won’t let this storm hurt you.” I nodded, believing him. “So, will you tell me about yourself, or shall I go first?” I cleared my throat, my tears slowing.
“What do you want to know about me?” He shrugged.
“Everything, I guess,” he said. I smiled uneasily.
“Shouldn’t we be getting back soon?” I asked. He shrugged.
“Only if we can get home,” he told me. “Check out our exit.” I glanced at the low mouth of the cave and jumped. Tons of rock had barricaded the door.
“That was the last crash, not thunder,” he reassured me. “You’re not so out of it that you missed the rocks.” I sniffled. “I texted Tawny. She said she’d call your mom so they know we’re in here. They’ll send down a rescue team as soon as they can.”
“Then I suppose you want me to tell you about me?” I asked him. He laughed at my convoluted question. “All right. Here goes.”
“I was born on June twenty-eighth, 2056,” I said. “To Leah Amelia Uley-- Hughes, then-- and Benjamin Hunter Hughes. I’m an only, because my little brother, Avery Jefferson Hughes, was stillborn from suffocation. The umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and killed him two hours before he was born. My parents were devastated, as was I. Umm... I’ve lived here all my life, in my house, my best friends are Vera Penelope Curtis and Anastasie Everett Jones. I’m single, Vera’s boyfriend is Ethan Alexander Marks and Anastasie’s boyfriend is Noah Daniel Burke. I’m twelve, Vera and Noah are both twelve, and Anastasie and Ethan are thirteen. My mom is thirty-four, I have a grandmother and a grandfather and no cousins, aunts or uncles. My granddad is Samuel Caleb Uley and my grandma is Emily Serenity Uley. Granddad Sam is eighty-two and my grandma is eighty.
“My favorite colors are fuchsia and black, preferably when combined in an outfit. My favorite season is summer and my favorite animal is a dog.” As I was speaking, I noticed how smooth his features were, how sincere his perfect electric blue eyes were as he noted my story. Was it just my imagination, or did he swallow at the exact moment that he gazed into my eyes? Was it just a delusion, or did his heart, so close to my own as we were pressed together by the close quarters of the cave and his embrace to prevent the shaking, really speed up as he shifted his hands down to my waist? Did he brush my chest by a simple accident, or was he trying to send signals? I had no idea, it was probably all in my head. I could never land someone as cute and sweet as Russel had proved to be.
“Laura?” I felt my heart stand still, and then come back double-time when his lips formed my name. “You okay?” I realized that I had stopped speaking. Licking my lips nervously, I began again.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I assured him softly. “Umm. I’ve never ever had a boyfriend, because nobody’s ever asked me out. And the only two times I’ve ever asked someone out, they both rejected me. I got over them both, but it took me a long time. And... I don’t want to risk getting hurt again. Ever. I think I’m pretty much done with love,” I ended up whispering. “It lifts you up then lets you fall, just like that.” Russel’s hand jerked up, as if to touch my face, but he then flipped his long black bang back slightly.
“My turn?” he asked me quietly, and I nodded, lost in his eyes.
“My name is Russel Brennan Grayson Jr., born to the deaf Marian Rosita Grayson and Russel Brennan Grayson Sr. My little sister’s name is Kimberly Addison Grayson and my younger foster-brothers are Maxwell Samuel Li and Bartholomew Drake Li, from Korea. Oh, and my baby sister is Cassidy Loraine Grayson, born just before my parents’ deaths. I truly loved Cassidy, and I did cry when we parted. My dearest wish is to see her just once more.” I sighed sympathetically.
“I’ve had three girlfriends. The first was Aubri Williams. She moved to Los Angeles, and I never saw her again. By the way, I used to live in Morristown, New Jersey. The second girl was Kelly Culben, and she broke up with me for my best friend. Ex-best friend, now. Finally, there was Reese Clark, the most promising yet. She cheated on me, though. I’m through with her now.” He stared into my eyes thoughtfully.
“I’m so sorry,” I replied tearfully, regretful for his story and the tears in my eyes. “Sorry, the storms scare me so much.” During his monologue, the thunder had boomed six times; during mine, eight. Russel pushed my hair back from my face.
“It’s all right,” he told me softly. “It’s all right.” I laid my head on his shoulder, not thinking about it. I quickly raised my head back up, sharply cracking it against a rock.
“Ow!” I complained, clenching my hands into fists. “Ow, ow, ow!” He placed a cool hand on my head and lightly caressed the spot.
“Why on earth did you do that?” he asked me indignantly.
“Hit my head? It was an accident,” I told him confusedly, wondering why he had asked. Clearly I hadn’t meant to.
“No, take your head off my shoulder. Put it back immediately.” I obeyed contentedly, struck by his chivalry and romance, and he stroked through my hair, carefully avoiding the tender spot.
“My favorite color is green, and--.”
“Wait, what?”
“What?”
“Your favorite color is green?”
“Yes.”
“Umm, okay. Keep going.”
“What, did you think I would say black? I’m not the kind of emo person that cries black, makes out with other guys, paints my nails, or any of that other stuff. You thought I would say black, though, didn’t you?”
“Well,” I stalled. “Yes, either that or red. You know, a single red rose in a sea of black misery type stuff?” He sighed, sitting back.
“That was extremely stereotypical, Laura.” My heart pounded, afraid I had offended him beyond repair.
“I know. I’m sorry,” I told him truthfully. “I know you better now.” He took a deep breath.
“I don’t support cutting, either,” he said. “I think it’s stupid, sick, and wrong, and no one should ever do it, no matter how much they think their life stinks. It’s just foolish and dangerous. Suicide is off my list too.”
“I think that’s brilliant. I think so too,” I told him honestly.
“And stereotyping,” he reminded me. “Stereotyping is the lowest, meanest thing. It ends up with people pretending to be who they’re not and people left out and hurt.” I felt waves of fear rolling over me, afraid that he would drop me as a friend. “If you’re wondering, I don’t really mind that you stereotyped me. Just don’t do it to anyone else.” I was relieved.
“Why don’t you mind, if you hate it so much?”
“Because if you stereotyped me as emo, you know, cut yourself, be a miserable fool that hates life but slogs through it anyway, but you support my ideas, then you must have liked my personality. Basically, if you didn’t like what you thought I did, but you hung out with me anyway, then there must be something about me that drew you in.” I shrugged, which was an impressive feat, since my head was currently on Russel’s shoulder.
“Tell me more about you, Russel,” I whispered. “I want to know you.”
“My birthday was November twenty-second, 2054. I was born in Cleveland, Ohio. I lived there for three weeks, then I moved to Morristown, where I lived until five days ago.” I took my head off his shoulder to look into his eyes.
“You’re fourteen?” I asked, my heart sinking. A fourteen-year-old and me? I was twelve. Not nearly good enough. Crap, I had actually had a shot at him.
“Russel,” I said.
“Laura,” he replied. “Are you afraid?” I didn’t want to, but I nodded, afraid of the storm. He took my hand and kissed it lightly, his ivory skin in sharp contrast to my russet tones. “I will always protect you and care for you, as long as I live. No. As long as you live. Even when I die, you will have a piece of my soul in you, always wrapped around your heart, acting as a shield for whatever comes up that you may need a shield for.” I sighed, placing my head back on his shoulder.
“You don’t mind that I’m twelve?” I asked him sleepily. He shook his head, and I felt his choppy hair tickling my jaw.
He still held my hand, looking at it until I felt myself fall asleep. When I awoke only two minutes later, there was crunching from the exit of the cave, and Russel was shaking me.
“Laura,” he murmured. “Come on. We’re getting out of here. The rescue squad is here.” I stood up groggily, shaking my head to clear it. Russel stood up, the long-sleeved shirt made of a thin material, that let his perfectly chiseled muscles show through. He took my arm as a section of the rocks tumbled down, leaving a small hole, through which water poured in. I yelped as the thunder roared again, and light flashed through the cave, courtesy of the lightning that raged outside.
“Russel!” I whimpered. He took my shoulders and held me at arm’s length.
“I’ll protect you,” he reminded me sweetly. “Trust me.” He held me to his chest until the rock wall crashed open, showing four men and women, soaking wet and carrying an array of tools. Russel and I moved forward to greet Tawny, Leah, Jacob and Renesmee. Leah, my very wet mother, was shaking, and as soon as I was within arm’s reach she embraced me, hugging tightly. I realized that she was wet not only from the rain; hot saltwater dripped from her eyes.
“Laura!” she exclaimed, sobbing. “Oh, Laura, I was so worried! With your father and everything, oh!” She broke down, and I felt guilty about not calling her myself.
“I’m fine, though,” I reassured her. “I’m okay, Mom. Everything’s cool. Russel helped me through it. If it weren’t for him, you would have found us soaking wet, me in the fetal position on the sand.”
“If it weren’t for me,” added Russel, “we wouldn’t have been trapped in a cave.” He was in Tawny’s sweet arms. “Laura, I feel we all need to be together in this storm. Why don’t you and your mother come over and spend tonight with Tawny and me? We’ve plenty of room.”
“Oh yes,” Tawny agreed. “Especially if you all are frightened. It would just be un-neighborly to leave you all in distress. I have dry clothes that might fit Laura, from when my niece stays with me. And Leah, you’re about my size.” Leah gave a wet laugh.
“Okay,” she accepted. “We’ll come over. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not,” Tawny replied graciously. “We’re happy to help. Come on, before we all catch our death out here.” We four trooped back, Russel and me slightly behind. Jacob and Renesmee were behind us, murmuring in low voices.
“Laura, we’re here.” Russel pulled me to their front door, towing me inside. “I don’t want you to get sick. Let’s get you into some warm, dry clothes before much else. Then you need food and water and sleep. Good thing tomorrow’s a Saturday.” I stumbled up the stairs blindly, following his warm, confident touch.
“Pick out anything in here,” he told me. “Make sure you’re warm enough. Shout if you need something.”
“Or I could just use the more romantic ‘come and find you’ method,” I mumbled. He laughed a very nice laugh and left me, closing the door behind him. I dug through the drawers tiredly, pulling out a pair of pajama bottoms with dots on them and a long-sleeved Aeropostále shirt that matched one of the colors of dots. I slid into the clothes and used the hairbrush on the dresser, making sure my hair wasn’t just a tangle of ebony.
When I was decent, I walked out of the room, padding down the stairs and leaving my now soaked clothing on the floor, too tired to get it. I wore only my fuzzy purple socks that matched yet another color on the pants. When I emerged into the kitchen, I sat at the table, in front of a place that held a bowl of steaming black bean soup. I picked up the spoon and scooped it down gratefully, the warm liquid filling my stomach and warming me from the inside out. I was unaware that Russel came to carry me to bed, picking me up from the seat I had fallen asleep in, and putting me carefully into a soft bed.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” laughed my mother the next morning, as soon as I had come down the stairs. I smiled, wide-awake. Stretching, I wandered to the table and sat next to Russel.
“Thanks for carrying me to bed last night,” I told him shyly. “I was so tired.” Not to mention amazed that my mother hadn’t disapproved of a boy carrying me to bed.
“Well, we didn’t want to wake you, and I’m the strongest,” he explained, but from the wink he sent me, I could tell there were a couple more reasons. Like being able to be with me, to hold me... sigh. Swoon. Blush, I was staring at him like an idiot.
“Yep,” said Leah. “Russel’s pretty strong. It was sweet of him to carry you.” I nodded, blushing and smiling at Russel. He was still in his pajamas, which was simply a pair of red plaid pants. He was shirtless, which made my breath catch in my chest.
“What would you like for breakfast, Laura?” asked Tawny cheerfully, coming over with a bowl in hand. She was stirring the contents of the bowl. “I’m making pancakes, but you may have whatever you want. We’ve got eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, bagels, anything.” I shrugged.
“That’s all right, Tawny,” I replied, content. “I don’t want anything.”
“Oh, all right, dear,” she said mildly. My mother cleared her throat.
“Uh, Tawny? Laura prefers lunch and dinner-type food for breakfast; classic breakfast food doesn’t taste good to her. Are there any leftovers like spaghetti, pizza, soup, anything along those lines?” Tawny smacked herself on the forehead.
“Sorry, dear!” she told me. “Of course we do. Russel and I went out to dinner two nights ago. We brought back some lasagna, how about that?”
“Sounds great, Tawny,” I said, shooting a grateful glance at my mother. Once it was heated, the cheese bubbling, she set it in front of me and I scarfed it down, gulping the milk she handed me.
“Sorry, I’m really hungry,” I said, surprised at my hunger.
“It’s completely all right, dear,” she assured me kindly. “If you want anything else, you can get it. Why don’t you and Russel go back down to the beach? It’s very warm today; maybe you could teach him how to surf.” I jumped at the chance, getting up from the table and grabbing Russel’s wrist, towing him up the stairs.
“Laura, stop!” he complained good-naturedly. “I can walk!” We stumbled down the hall, laughing gaily. We reached the end of the hall, and Russel led me into a room.
“Whoa,” I said, speechless. He chuckled.
“You like?” His room was a rusty red color, with a huge Coca-Cola sign on the wall in neon, that lit up when he flipped a switch. His simple mahogany dressers were neat and tidy, and his large bed was covered with a very puffy down comforter made out of what looked like pairs of jeans all sewn together. It was stuffed with cotton, I could tell, and his floor was mostly covered with a huge reddish rug. There were a couple of pictures tucked into the frame of his mirror. I looked closer and saw a photo of a tiny baby boy, twin Asian boys, and another little boy. They were all grouped together, their stares and happy smiles glazed on the paper forever. The oldest, the American toddler, had coal black hair and his smile was mischievous, his blue eyes hiding a giggle within them.
The second picture was of a happy couple holding a small baby with ebony hair and icy blue eyes that matched Russel’s. The woman was supporting the baby’s head and smiling, her auburn hair falling in waves. She wore an emerald sweater and her dimples showed true happiness. The man had a stern smile but eyes that twinkled, even in the photograph. He wore thin silver glasses and had neat black hair that was combed to the side, a slight cowlick in the back. All in all, the family looked sweet and normal.
“My mother and father,” said Russel, coming up behind me and placing his hands on my shoulders.
“They look really nice,” I said stupidly.
“You sound surprised,” he observed smilingly.
“I guess I had expected a smaller version of what’s reflected behind me,” I replied, astonished.
“No, I was actually normal when I was younger.” No, he was not normal, not even close. No one like Russel could ever be considered ‘normal’. He was way too perfect. The thoughts and ideas, the class and chivalry, nothing could ever compare. He moved from behind me to slide open a drawer, pulling out a pair of swim trunks and closing it smoothly.
“Ready to teach me how to surf?” he asked me warily. I grinned evilly and nodded, towing him out the door. We tripped back down the stairs, and Russel called briefly over his shoulder, “We’ll be back later, Tawny!” We raced down the small, deserted streets, crossing a lawn and cutting the corner to my square yellow house. Russel and I fell up the stairs to my front door and I banged just above the doorknob. There was a click and the door swung backwards. I motioned and we tumbled into the hall, laughing the whole way.
“I like your house,” he told me. I blushed in pleasure and climbed my stairs two at a time, bursting into my room. It was bright from the sun that flowed in from the cheery window, white lace curtains tied back with red ribbons. The multi-colored bedspread was made up neatly with pretty white pillows and a single stuffed animal in the center. Above the bed was a poster of Metrix, the hottest band in the US. I loved them, personally. My huge dressers were stuffed untidily with clothes, so I was hesitant to open them in front of Russel. I did so when he was not looking, though I think he saw the contents anyway.
I slipped a pair of board shorts and a Ripcurl shirt from the middle drawer.
“Umm, Russel,” I spoke up. “You can go to the bathroom and I’ll change here, or I could go and you stay.”
“Whatever’s fine for you,” he said simply, and walked out the door. Worried he would get lost in our small house, I called after him.
“The bathroom’s the one with the toilet!” Oh, wow. Did that really just come out of my mouth? My God I was lame. Like, seriously. I heard quiet laughter.
“I figured,” he called back laughingly.
“Crap,” I mumbled. “Dorky, much, Laura?” I closed the door and jumped out of my clothes, shoving them in my hamper and slamming the closet door. I got on my shorts, which were light blue and brown, and pulled on my matching stretch shirt, shaking my hair out and pulling it into a high ponytail on top of my head. I smudged on a bit of eyeliner and some eyeshadow, in a vain attempt to impress Russel. When I was decent, I hopped out of my room to see Russel lounging in the hallway. I smiled happily.
“Ready?” he asked me.
“Ready,” I confirmed, and we went down the stairs slowly, Russel searching for then grasping my hand. We sped out the door and down to the beach. When I could see the turquoise water glittering I went faster, pulling ahead of Russel. We skipped down to the water’s edge and I put a toe in. The water was very cold; good. It would warm up over the course of the day.
“Perfect,” I whispered, sighing happily, and I sprinted down to the supply shack, where I kept my boards. I selected a six-and-a-half-foot board for Russel. As a beginner, he would need one about a foot taller than himself. I picked up my favorite surfboard, about seven feet eight inches high. I was a pro boarder, competing every summer. I traveled all over the west coast for competitions, and I even went back to Hawaii, where I learned to board.
“Thanks,” he told me as I trudged back holding the boards. He reached for my lucky board and I shook my head.
“No way you’re riding Tadelesh,” I informed him. “You can start out on Sadiki, and if she’s too easy, maybe you can try Amelida. Tadelesh is my board.”
“Yes ma’am,” he replied good-naturedly. I took a deep breath, breathing in the salty air and exhaling slowly.
“Let’s go.” We crashed through the waves happily, Russel’s lime green board waving happily. When we were waist-deep I flipped my board, paddling out even farther. Russel soon lagged behind and I paused for him to get ahead. We paddled to about forty feet from shore, enough that I could see fish darting below the choppy waves. I scanned the distant horizon and saw a boat slicing through the turquoise water. “Excellent.”
“What?”
“There’s a boat. It makes waves. Good for surfing. Let’s go, here’s one.” We saw a huge wave curling towards us, gathering speed and mass. I took a deep breath. “Watch me first, Russel!” I caught the wave and stood, feeling the strong, beautifully waxed board beneath my bare feet, feeling the icy ocean water splash merrily onto my arms. I stayed simple, avoiding doing the tricks I loved to show off with. Russel whistled appreciatively as I hit an undertow and stumbled on the board, making it wave off balance.
“Hush,” I told him, holding back a laugh. “That was an accident.”
“Obviously,” he replied sarcastically. “Show me.” So I taught him the basics, showing him how to stand up, to crouch, and he wiped out kind of a lot, but he did very well. About midday I decided to bring him in. He was soaked and shivering, his really nice hair dripping and looking fabulous.
“L-Laura,” he said, teeth chattering. “You aren’t cold, are you?” I shook my head truthfully, my damp hair spinning droplets away from my face.
“When I surf,” I explained, “this kind of heat grows in my heart and it swells through my body. I shiver and get goosebumps, but it’s a pleasant heat. I love it, every second of it. Surfing is like a drug; I can’t resist it when it calls me. It’s my life and I could never bear to part with it.” Russel nodded knowingly, and I glared up at the sun.
“I’ll be watching on the shore, okay?” he asked me, his lips tinged with blue. I flashed a bright smile.
“Okay. How about I show you some tricks?” He paddled back to shore and I turned, watching the sea with my keen eyes. A small wave cropped up and I tensed in preparation. Catching the now humongous wave as it reached me, I crouched on the board, pulling inside the ‘tube’. I was literally inside the wave at this point, and I streamed ahead, the nose of my board poking out. When I was sure anyone from the shore could see me, I stood up slightly, swerving my board up to shoot into the air, swinging my feet around so I was on the board on one hand. I grinned at the shore, which held about twenty dark figures, and stood back up, aiming my board for a patch of rocks.
We-- my board and I-- hit the rocks, but the current lifted Tadelesh up before he got scraped up. The motion shot me off of him, which was exactly my plan. I curled into a ball then shot my limbs out, diving neatly into a very deep tide pool. I surfaced, kicking, and breathed in, my now saturated hair flinging water over the rocks. My board washed faithfully up onto the sand in front of me.
“Woah,” exclaimed Russel, running over. “Are you okay? Laura!” I giggled as he lent me his strong arms to haul me out of the pool.
“I’m fine, Russ,” I assured him. He jolted to a stop.
“Russ?” he asked me.
“Is that okay?” I asked him nervously. His face cracked into a smile.
“Perfect. I love it.” He handed me Tadelesh and I hugged it to my body. The smooth, shiny flames licked around a whirlwind with a branch poking out of the top. The emblem was incased in a large water droplet. It was the symbol of the four elements. I made it up when I was five, and put it on my surfboard on my eleventh birthday.
“Let’s grab some lunch,” suggested Russel. “I’m pretty hungry.” I agreed and we walked along the beach together, the noon spring sun shining buttery light down on our backs.
“How about Embry’s sandwich shop?” I asked him. He shrugged.
“Whatever’s good to you is good for me,” he replied kindly, and we strolled up the beach hand in hand. As we walked I was once again reminded of his perfection. His ice blue eyes that held curious warmth despite the color, the jet black hair that slashed down his face, the simple silver studs on his bottom lip, and the way his pallor looked against my dark skin.
“Laura!” exclaimed a voice from the back of the shop as the bell tinkled merrily, announcing Russel’s and my arrival. “Welcome back! And who’s this nice young man?”
“Embry, this is Russel,” I said with pride. “He’s staying with Tawny.” A tall, thin old man loped forward with the grace that always surprised me. He came from out behind the counter to shake Russel’s hand.
“Ah, yes,” Embry replied. “That’s right. I’ve met this charming teenager before, many times before. The son of Marian, that’s right. Okay. How are you, my boy?”
“Fine, thanks. And you?” Russel murmured politely.
“I’m just dandy. And you, Laura? What’ll you all have?” I shrugged, barely glancing at the menu.
“I’ll take the usual,” I told him, grasping Russel’s hand tighter and leading him to a table. “And I think Russel’ll like that too.” Russel shrugged.
“I’m fine with whatever,” he said nonchalantly, and we sat in a small booth. Our hands rested on the table, and Russel began playing with my fingers.
“So what’s up for later?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Listen, Laura, would you-- will you go to the end of the year dance with me?” My heart stopped.
“Yes!” Russel look relieved.
“Thanks. I really like you.”
“I like you too, Russ. A lot,” I replied.
“I guess this is what getting stuck together in a cave does to people,” he joked, just as Embry brought us two humongous club sandwiches. I stole one off the plate and bit into it, oil and vinegar flooding into my mouth. I chewed, the lettuce, tomatoes and bacon crunching. Soft pink ham curled from the edges, as did the pale white turkey and bright orange cheese, slathered in mayonnaise. Russel also bit in, but tentatively, as though he wasn’t sure about the taste. I watched the same expression that came over everyone who tried one of Embry’s sandwiches play over his sensitive face. He smiled and dug in ravenously. When only lettuce and oil stains remained on the plates, we both sat back in the booth, stuffed.
“That was really good,” said Russ, breaking the silence that had stolen over the shop during our meal.
“Yeah,” I sighed. “Awesome. Wanna go burn off the carbs, or do you want to come hang at my house? Or maybe someone will drive us to the mall in Port Angeles. It’s got some cool stuff.”
“I’d like to go back to my house and study, actually. I’d love it if you’d tutor me in Spanish, since you seem fluent.” I smiled.
“That could work too. Let’s go.” Like the perfect gentleman he was, Russel picked up the tray and carried it over to the trash, coming back to take my arm. When we reached the door, he stepped lithely in front of me and opened it, holding it for me to pass. We ambled down the road, the slight breeze waving salty air into our faces, stinging my nose. It was a beautiful day for the Olympic Peninsula, especially for the day after a storm. It wasn’t even July yet, only early June.
We arrived at his small blue home and walked in, the air conditioning greeting us joyfully. Russ disappeared into the kitchen and brought in two Cokes, handing one to me. We climbed the stairs and entered his room, immediately sitting on the bed together.
“Okay,” he began, swinging his books onto the bed. “Spanish.”
“Spanish,” I repeated. “Right.” I blinked and looked into his eyes, where I swam in the pastel color. He glanced away first, to the books spread onto his lap.
“First is para empezar,” we started, and it went on from there.

An hour later, Russel was an expert on ‘para empezar’. I flipped his book shut and straightened up. We had somehow migrated from sitting side by side on the bed to lying across from each other on the carpet.
“I have to go,” I confessed. “I’m sorry. I have a dance committee meeting at Brad’s. I’ll see you soon, right?”
“I hope,” he said. “How about you give me another surfing lesson tomorrow around noon?” I grinned.
“I really would love the chance to embarrass you. Again. But if I’m going to the biggest dance of the year with you this Friday, then I have to go shopping tomorrow. And you can’t come. My dress is going to be a surprise. So ha. Ha ha. Ha.” He raised an eyebrow and laughed at my speech.
“Fine, if you just don’t want to see me,” he said dismissively. I rolled my eyes and walked out the door, stopping by ‘my room’ on the way downstairs. I grabbed my freshly laundered shorts and t-shirt from yesterday, as well as taking Russ’s sweatshirt. He wouldn’t miss it, and if he did... well, surely he wouldn’t mind me borrowing it.

By: ambsace Comment

“So what’s the theme, guys?” I asked loudly, calling attention back to the task we were here to perform. Quil and Brad looked over, Quil in a headlock. I rolled my eyes and groaned.
“This is gonna be the worst dance in history if we don’t focus!” screamed Ellie from next to me. “Come on!” I moaned again, dropping my head into my hands. Brad and Quil actually listened, though, and came to sit down with us.
“The theme should be fairy tales, fairies, elves, that sort of thing,” suggested Aymie. “It would be really cool. The guys wouldn’t do it so much, they never do the themes. But the girls could dress up like princesses and wear tiaras, or they could wear little fairy dresses and butterfly wings. It would be awesome!” I considered the idea.
“That’s a really good idea, Mimi,” I told her. Aymie, also known as Mimi, blushed.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah, totally!” enthused Ellie, smiling shyly over at Brad. I narrowed my eyes, seeing the sparkle that shot through her own eyes as she gazed at him. Immediately her cheeks turned fuchsia and she glanced away.
“Umm, so, that’s this year’s theme?” I asked them. Aymie and Ellie nodded, while Brad and Quil looked awkwardly away.
“What’s wrong with it?” asked Aymie softly. “I like the theme.”
“Well,” began Quil, but Brad cut him off.
“They guys are gonna laugh! And we’re going to look so stupid making glittery posters.” I smiled slyly.
“You know, Brad, fairy dresses are pretty short.” Brad’s eyes went wide.
“I think the theme’s cool,” Brad immediately stuttered, staring at me. Everyone laughed but Quil, who stared ahead sourly.
“Fine,” he spat. “Let the guys laugh.” And we got to work on the posters. When we were done with those, Brad left the room briefly to get some snacks. I nibbled on an apple, the skin bitter but the flesh sweet and wet.
“So what are you guys going as?” asked Ellie through a mouthful of cookie.
“I’m not going,” replied Quil around a bite of cheese cracker. “I’m leaving for summer early; we’re going to Jamaica.” I groaned.
“The dance won’t be fun without you,” I complained, but Quil laughed.
“I wouldn’t come anyway,” he assured me. “Not with that theme. It really stinks, though. Shelley asked me to the dance, but I had to say no.” I clucked sympathetically. Shelley Thompson was the prettiest, nicest prep in seventh grade.
“Yikes. That sucks. You going with anyone, Mimi?” She smiled sadly.
“No one’s asked me,” she said quietly. “But I’m going anyway. I just love the chance to dress up.” I moved around the small circle to Ellie.
“How about you, Ellie?” I asked her. Ellie blushed again.
“Well, actually, I was going to ask someone today, as soon as the meeting’s over.”
“Same with me,” exclaimed Brad. “I really hope the girl says yes.”
“I really really hope the guy says yes,” muttered Ellie hopefully. A couple of minutes later my phone buzzed. I checked it and it was a text from Leah: Dinner!
I snapped my phone shut and stood, smoothing my rumpled shirt down.
“Gotta go, guys. Dinner. I’ll see you all tomorrow morning, okay?” Brad stood up, too.
“I’ll walk you out,” he offered, and I accepted, oblivious. “Thanks, Brad.” We went down the stairs quickly, and I paused at the front door to pick up my purse. Brad tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around.
“Laura,” he said quietly. “Will you go to the dance with me?” My heart stopped, but it was different than when Russel had spoken. Even though the halt of my heart was not due to affection, I couldn’t help but blush. Brad... he was cute. And funny. And... well, to be truthful, I really did have a crush on him. A biiiiiiiiiig crush on him.
“Oh,” I whispered. “Well I-- I’m actually going with Russel...” Brad’s eyes narrowed.
“Who’s Russel?”
“The new kid you were gonna beat up.”
“Oh. Him. Laura, I don’t like the looks of him.” My eyes were wide.
“Excuse me? What the hell do you mean?”
“He’s dangerous, Lars. I don’t want you to get hurt.” I felt tears burning in my eyes.
“Dangerous? How do you come to that decision?” Brad snorted.
“He’s got a piercing, Laura. And he cuts himself. He’ll commit suicide someday, and leave you brokenhearted, or he’ll talk you into joint suicide. It’s crazy, and I don’t think you should go out with him. Ever.” The tears spilled over and I stormed out of Brad’s house.
“I don’t give a hell what you say about him!” I shrieked. “Russel is just a human boy, nothing more! You’re a liar and I can’t believe I was ever friends with you!”
I was sprinting down my road, and I turned at my house, barreling in. The scents of steak fajitas, my favorite dish, wafted from the kitchen, but I didn’t stop. I ran straight up the stairs and collapsed on my bed, sobbing.
“Laura?” called my mom. “What’s wrong? Are you going to eat?” I gulped, sniffling.
“Nope,” I yelled. “I’m not really hungry!”
“Okay,” said Leah, and she left me alone. I spent the night crying over the loss of my best friend.
When the next morning came around I got up, glancing in the mirror. “Aw, hell,” I muttered, seeing my puffy red eyes. I ambled over to my dresser, pulling out the first clothes my hands touched. I ended up wearing a shirt with a huge smiley face on the front, dark jeans and my favorite black Converses (oh yeah, still hip!). I smeared on some sparkly black makeup and silver eyeliner, marveling at the smoky effect. Skipping into the bathroom, I brushed my teeth and fixed my hair, tying it into a high ponytail with pieces hanging down in front. I pursed my lips and smudged on sparkly lip-gloss. I hopped down the stairs, eager for breakfast.
“Morning,” Leah greeted me. “Hungry?” I nodded, my stomach growling. She set a steak fajita in front of my place at the table. I basically inhaled the food, gulping it down and chugging the milk. I set the glass and plate in the sink, gave my mom a quick kiss on the cheek, and grabbed my iPod. Jamming the headphones in, I rocked out to my favorite song by Metrix.
“Mom, I have to go shopping,” I said. “For the dance. Russel asked me!” She smiled happily.
“I know, sweetie, I knew he would. The way he looked at you, it was obvious. Do you want me to pick up Anastasie and Vera on the way up?” I shook my head.
“Pick up Vera, but Anastasie’s got church this morning.”
“I’ll drop you off. How much do you think this dance will cost?”
“Maybe seventy. Plus lunch, so a hundred maybe, in all?” Leah grunted but handed me a wad of money, scowling good-naturedly.
“Thank you Mommy!” I said in an over-sweet voice, giving her a huge hug. She laughed and grabbed her jacket, going out the door.
“I’ll be in the car. Come out once you have on a jacket; it got cold again. You’re not going outside in short sleeves.” I rolled my eyes but stuffed the dough into my pocket, reaching into the closet and pulling out my black hoodie. I went racing out the door, slamming it behind me and hopping into the front seat. My mom passed me my phone, and I flipped it open, checking for texts. I had one from Ana: Not at church. Want to hang out? I immediately texted back: Duh. We’re going to the mall. Be there in two. Vera’s coming. I then dialed number eight, Vera’s speed dial.
“Hello?’
“Vera?”
“Hey, Laura!”
“We’re going to the mall. Ana, you and me. Shopping for the dance. Theme’s fairy tales, fairies, elves, stuff like that. You in?”
“La duh, Lars. Lemme ask. Papa!” she shouted, switching to Dutch, her native language. “Kan ik winkelend met Laura gaan?” There was a distant yell from the background. “Ik kan gaa! I mean, I can go!” The car backed out of the driveway, turning right to head to Vera’s.
“See you in like, thirty seconds!” I hung up and saw a missed message from Anastasie: I can come. See you. We pulled up in front of the familiar brick house, and my friend tumbled out of it, her long blonde braids bouncing in the wind.
“Hey, Mom,” she said breathlessly as she jumped in our car. Her thick Dutch accent was charming. “Sorry about that. Thanks so much for you to take us shopping.” I smiled at her strangely worded, hesitant sentence, knowing that she had only begun to learn English a year ago.
“Want to pick up Anastasie?” I asked her. She nodded. We pulled up and out sprinted my spirited French friend, her long brown hair waving. She toppled into the car with a cheerful, “Salut!” and Leah drove off.
“Meet me back here in three hours, okay?” she asked us when we arrived. We nodded solemnly, then took off into the depths of the mall.
“We need dresses first,” suggested Ana. “Let’s get those. We can get them at Danyi Burd’s.” We headed in and split up. I walked uncertainly to a rack of short, red strapless dresses. They were quite plain came to a bout mid-thigh. They were in an array of bright colors, and I picked out a blood red one in my size, a two. I’m not fat, I just have pretty big breasts for someone my age. I also saw a cute black tutu not far away, which I added to my pile. I also grabbed a pair of really cute black lace arm warmers, heading back to a dressing room.
“Would you like to try that on?” asked the lady disdainfully. I nodded, unfazed, as she unlocked the room and I stepped inside, shedding my clothing except for my Converses. I pulled on the dress, sliding the tutu on underneath it just enough to add fluff and to show a bit of black netting from underneath. I heard a rattling from my jeans’ pocket. It was my phone. I pulled it out.
“Hello?” I said, not checking the caller ID.
“Lars?” asked a husky voice. My heart sank.
“Brad,” I said cordially.
“Laura, look, I’m so sorry. I feel awful.”
“Save it, Brad,” I snapped. “You hate my date. Big whup. Maybe we just weren’t meant to be friends. You can’t accept Russel, so you obviously can’t accept me. Goodbye.” I flipped the phone shut again, ending the call abruptly. A slight damper put on my mood, I stared at myself in the mirror, viewing the gorgeous dress form every angle, my heart heavy with disappointment in myself from my reaction to Brad.
“Laura?” I heard Vera’s voice from outside. “What did you find? Which one are you in?”
“Here, Vera,” I called back, sticking my foot out. She came and jiggled the handle, so I let her in. She had a handful of clothes.
“You look hot, Laura!” she exclaimed. I blushed. She grinned, her cute smile dimpling in her pale face. “I couldn’t find anything, it’s all too big. I need to go to K.Z. Zudd’s, the little kid shop downstairs.” I stifled a laugh, and she shifted the items in her arms. A small black something fell onto the floor. I picked it up and smoothed it out, seeing that it was a black corset.
“What size is this?” I asked her, holding the corset up to my chest.
“Small, duh,” she replied like it was obvious. “Like everything else I wear.” I untied the ribbons that sewed up the chest and slipped into it, holding my breath to squeeze in. Vera, immediately grasping my idea, helped shove me into it, struggling to tie the ribbon over my large breasts. It was tight, but as I pivoted in front of the mirror, I began to love the outfit.
“Hey, Vera,” I said quietly. “Would you mind finding me a medium of this?”
She sighed but subjected, tripping back seconds later, a medium in hand. I tried it on and it fit like a glove, and I immediately decided to splurge on it. Ana walked out of the shop a minute later with a tiny blue fairy dress. It was strapless, but she had a shrug to cover her shoulders. The skirt puffed out and looked like giant blue leaves overlapped with each other.
"Let's go to D.C. Wilcox for our shoes," suggested Anastasie in her French lilt. We agreed and ran to the shop, dropping our bags and reaching for the shoes. I found a pair of low top Converses just like my own, so I decided not to get them. My Converses looked fine with the outfit. Ana sprinted over and dragged me to the high heels.
"What do you think of these?" she asked me eagerly, brandishing a pair of strappy high heels. They were silver, harmless enough.
"Uh-door-uh-BULL!" I squealed, and she blushed.
"Awesome," she giggled, and purchased them easily. We both went to the door, where Vera was waiting impatiently.
"Kid shop, now," she demanded, and Anastasie and I followed her, trailing along.
"Omigod," gasped Ana. "I think I might puke." We had walked into K.Z. Zudd's, where they had the cutesiest, most childlike outfits in the world. Vera sighed.
"Fiiiiine," she groaned. "I'll come back with my mom later. She always finds cute stuff, even here." I nodded, and we ended up wandering around the mall for the next three hours.
Later that night, as I lay on my bed doing my homework, there was a soft knock on the door. It was pretty hot, so all I was wearing was my very tight spaghetti-strap shirt (which looks good on me, since I'm not fat), my favorite soft bra, and a pair of tie-dyed Soffe's.
"Come in," I called absent-mindedly, focused on a challenging algebra question. When I heard the heavier footsteps on my floor, I looked up, suddenly very aware that my shirt had slid down so that half of my bra was showing. I pulled it up abruptly, glaring into the face of the newcomer.
"What do you want, Brad?" I asked him bitterly.
"For you to forgive me," he whispered. "Lars, we've been besties since second grade. I can't lose you now. Please. I'm sorry for what I said about Russel, I'm just jealous that he can hook an amazing girl like you. Sorry. Please, take me back, and you won't even know I like you. I swear. Just be my friend again, Laura. I'm begging you." I bit my lip.
"Okay, Brad," I said seriously. "I missed you so much. But you're laying off Russel, at least until you know him better. Promise?"
"Promise." I climbed off my bed and gave my huge friend a hug, glad to have him back.

By: ambsace Comment

I sat in the den, trying hard not to cry. It was Friday at seven thirty. My mother came over and sat with me, stroking my hair softly.
“It’s okay,” she said, her voice like a melody. “He’s probably just running late, sweetheart.”
“Three hours late, Mom?” I whispered, tears in my eyes threatening to smear my carefully applied eye makeup. Leah, my mom, sighed sympathetically.
“I’m sure something just went wrong, sweetie,” she tried to reassure me, but I shrugged off the suggestion.
“He would have called!” I wailed. I finally let the tears go, my black eyeliner and mascara immediately running and dripping gray onto my perfect dress. Leah didn’t even move to stop me, knowing that the dress could be ruined for a heartache this big. She knew that, though we were young, I had found someone I truly could not live without. My Russel.
Suddenly, the phone trilled. Leah got up at once to answer it, leaving me alone on the loveseat. I reached up and took down my curly, pinned-up hair, letting it bounce into place over my shoulder. I sniffled, tears still dripping from my cheeks. I could hear half of the conversation from the front room.
“He what? Oh, Tawny, that’s horrible. Uh huh. Yes. Of course. Best of luck!” My mother hung up the phone and entered the room again, her hands clasped tightly at her waist. “That was Tawny Call, Russel’s guardian. She told me that after Russel hiked to Forks a couple of days ago, he never came back. She’s dispatched the police looking for him, and that’s why he hasn’t shown up. I’m sorry. Would you like to go look? Or do you have any ideas as to where he might be?” I thought for a moment, relieved that he hadn’t stood me up.
“I have an idea,” I replied, standing up. “I’ll go look.” I snuffled, grabbing a tissue and dabbing at my eyes. “I have to find him.” I strode off through the front room to the door, swinging it shut behind me. Standing by the car, I waited for Leah to come through the door. She did quickly, pulling on her jacket, the car keys dangling out of the pocket. She jammed the key into the lock and opened the door, the latter of which I imitated.
“Where to, Laura?” she asked, revving up the engine and backing out of the driveway.
“Forks, Mom,” I replied grimly, eyes set forward. According to legend, if there was one person, or one family, that could help now, it was them. “I’ll show you the way.” Big Jake burned the way into my memory. He had told us, if any of us needed help with something genuinely important, we could ask Bella Cullen. Leah drove fast, speeding along the road easily. We arrived in Forks in no time, and I directed her to the beginning of the Cullen’s long drive. Hopping out, I slammed the door, patting my pocket to motion that I had my cell phone. She nodded and zoomed away. I was alone, the dust cloud from her passage stirred up and drifting along. I set my face, attempting to appear at peace, perhaps slightly worried, not as if my whole world was crumbling around me, the way I truly felt.
Walking slowly, I came into view of the house after a while, not wanting to appear too eager. There was a great racket from inside, as though something was flying around, breaking everything. I tried to calm my stuttering heart, but I wasn’t having much luck. Approaching quickly now, I climbed the steps and hammered on the pristine white door of the mansion. It was a gorgeous place, but I barely noticed. There was the click of a latch, and the door creaked open. The weary face of a man peered out. He stepped around the door, calling over his shoulder, “Outside, Emmett! Now!” The blonde supermodel-looking man closed the door quietly. His clear topaz eyes and pale skin went together perfectly, a bit like caramel and vanilla.
“May I help you?” he asked solemnly. His voice was soft and smooth. I blinked, trying to clear my suddenly befuddled brain.
“Uh,” I said stupidly. I couldn’t understand why I was so confused. For some reason, though, he looked nothing like Renesmee. Wasn’t he her grandfather?
“Yes?” he pressed, looking a bit impatient.
“Um, my um, a guy, I...” I trailed off, extremely disoriented. I closed my eyes, and it helped immediately, although images of the man kept popping up. “My friend went missing in Forks earlier, and Big Jake, Jacob Black, um, told me that if I needed help with something huge, I could come to Bella Cullen. Is-- is she here?” I opened my eyes and he hesitated, glancing over his shoulder.
“Ah. Jacob Black?” he asked I nodded, gulping to keep down the tears. Just then, a figure came to the door. It opened it and the guy’s head poked out, and wow. He looked like Russel, only with a few flaws. The new person had a slightly longer nose, and his eyes matched the first man’s. Actually, this one looked somewhat like Renesmee. The new person leaned in and whispered something to the first, and the latter nodded. The new arrival ducked back in, closing the door swiftly.
“What is your name?” he asked me. This time I was ready for his blazing topaz eyes.
“Laura Uley,” I replied, keeping a polite expression rather than the burning desire for the safety of Russel.
“My name is Carlisle,” he introduced himself. “That was my son, Edward. Who are you looking for?”
“His name is Russel,” I said shakily. Carlisle’s eyes tightened slightly.
“What does Russel look like?” An image flew into my head and I closed my eyes tightly, to preserve it. His pale skin, a bit like Carlisle’s, shone in the sunset. I remembered the smell of him, and how his beautiful green eyes glimmered. Sighing, I opened my eyes. Carlisle raised his eyebrows, then furrowed his brow.
“Oh, dear,” he muttered. “This could get complicated. Laura, is there a better time you could come?” My jaw dropped.
“He’s missing!” I nearly shouted into his face. It just annoyed me further that his face was a perfect picture of calm. “He could be dead, for all I know! How can I come back later? I-- I--!” He shushed me suddenly. I felt the tears escape.
“Please, Laura,” he begged me. “Please, keep it down, because if you don’t, this could end badly. Laura, could you go? I can find you as soon as possible.” I stepped back, disgusted.
“You don’t care, do you?” I whispered, completely distraught. “You don’t give a crap about him, do you?” Carlisle opened his mouth to respond, but he also took a step back, towards the door.
“Laura,” he said quietly. “Believe me, I wish to help, but I don’t know how to right now.” Despite the fact that I hated Carlisle to his very core, his voice was beautiful, even lovelier than my Russel’s. I shook my head, biting my lip hard.
“No,” I whispered. Turning to leave, I barely caught out of the corner of my eyes, Carlisle’s own eyes widen.
“No!” he shouted. Someone dove towards me, the body feeling like very cold, very hard stone, pushing me into and under a large bush. I screamed, but a hand clamped over my mouth, muffling it. “Laura, you need to be very still and very quiet,” she murmured.
“I don’t have to do anything you say!” I spluttered, trying to break free. She tightened her hold, and I stopped struggling. “What are you doing?”
“Protecting you,” she whispered, shoving my face into the brush enough to keep me from talking, but not so much that I would suffocate. Tears splattered the already damp brush. There was a sharp pain in my side, then the girl’s arms loosened, and I heard her mutter something profane. “Not doing a very good job,” she muttered. I gasped, inhaling several little pieces of dead leaf, side still throbbing. I coughed and she hauled my body on top of her own, placing her freezing hand over my mouth once more.
I heard feral snarls from nearby, and I froze. A bear? What? This was strange. How did she know there would be a bear? Heavier growls rapped from nearby. I heard a soft voice, trying to coax. Obviously, it didn’t work, because more snarls erupted from all around the bush. I shook, terrified. The girl held me tightly once more, to stop the tremors.
“Bella,” I heard a voice. It sounded like normally it would be warm with affection, but the situation had hardened it.
“No, Edward!” exclaimed a female. “I will! You’re stronger than I am! Come on,” she decided to try coaxing again, because then I was sure it was the first voice. “Please?” The tension held for a second, the harsh animal noises still chorusing around.
“Bella,” repeated who I guess was Edward. “You’re almost as strong. I would hate for him to hurt you.”
“I won’t get hurt,” she muttered. “Overprotective, much?” Then I felt a cold wind, the brushing of leaves, and the opening and closing of frozen rock arms. Suddenly, I was flying. I closed my eyes, whimpering. It was a smooth ride, I had to admit. “Laura, you’ll be fine,” I heard Bella whisper from above me, and I realized that she was carrying me while running very fast.
“Am I dead, or something?” I asked dully. I heard her tinkling laugh.
“Not yet,” she replied cheerfully, but I could hear the tension in her voice. “I’m working on making sure that you aren’t dead yet, and, surprisingly, it’s quite hard. Now I know what Edward was always complaining about.” Her chatter surprised me. She was speaking of such a grim subject, but Bella was completely at ease. The place in my side throbbed, and I cringed. Suddenly, she growled and swung around, my legs flying. She tightened her grip hard, and I felt a place in my thigh crack. I screamed, clutching at it. Bella swore, almost as profanely as the other girl.
“Russel,” she whispered. I gasped, my eyes widening with the tears pouring out.
“R-Russel?” I mimicked, my voice filled with pain and longing. He snarled, the harsh noises ripping from deep in his chest. I was hurt that he had worried everyone, and completely frightened by his reaction. Blinking, I frantically searched his body for something familiar. My eyes flashed to his, desperate for his sky blue gaze, but my eyes only met bloody red. I screamed again, burrowing into Bella’s protective arms.
“Russel,” murmured Bella again, taking a step forward, then seeming to think better of it and stepping back again. “You know Laura. Russel, take control. It’s disorienting, and I know you’re thirsty, but you’re doing fantastically. You haven’t lunged for her yet, have you?” She spoke too soon. He leapt wildly, his eyes burning, his beautiful mouth twisted into a leer. “Russel!” Bella gripped me, not as tightly as before, and sprinted towards the distant, steel gray river. He raced after, keeping pace easily. “Laura,” she muttered, leaping gracefully down the shore. “I need to tell you something. I’m a vampire, and so is everyone else. Including Russel, now.”
“You have to be kidding me,” I whispered. I felt heat tremors wrack my body, and I began to shake uncontrollably. I was completely in shock, and figured that this was some reaction to it. But Bella stumbled, for the first time, and I knew it wasn’t normal.
“L-Laura,” she panted, and I knew it was not because she was running full out. “You don’t happen to be from La Push, do you?” I nodded, the tremors coming more forcefully now, so hard that I was truly writhing in her arms. I was even more terrified now than I had been a few minutes ago. “Oh, dang it!” She turned, whipping around a patch of thick rocks. She landed lightly on the sand and kept running, straight for the water. Behind us, I could hear Russel growling and snapping. “Have you heard the legends?” I nodded again, nervous that she wouldn’t be able to distinguish between a nod and me jerking in her arms.
“You have?” she asked tersely. I whimpered, which she took as a yes. “Laura, you realize that we are the ‘cold one’s referred to, right?” I whimpered again, now realizing it, but not quite knowing what she was getting at. “Then you must have figured out that, since we’re real, that the enemies of the cold ones must be, too.” I searched my brains for the legends that were embedded deeply.
“Y-you mean,” I gulped, still flailing in her arms, but feeling my whole body go cold then flash hot, repeatedly.
“Yes,” she said grimly. “You’re turning into a werewolf. You can swim, right?” she asked abruptly. I squeaked in pain, as the flash of hot was particularly scorching. Apparently, Bella took that as a yes, because as we reached the swishing waves, she launched me in. I screamed, twisting in the air, and landed in the water, hot and cold. The cold water did nothing to soothe the burn, and it just intensified the already unbearable freeze that came over me. I spluttered and coughed, inhaling water. My mind was foggy from the shock of everything that had happened in the past ten minutes, as well as the act of drowning. Mentally exhausted, I drifted away, into the dark, black abyss.
Bella glared at everyone. “Why not?” Edward moved forward to place his long hand on hers.
“Because, love,” he answered softly, “she’s a werewolf. We’ve already experimented with them. She doesn’t belong here. Send her back to La Push, where she’ll at least have a pack.” Bella growled.
“No, she won’t, Edward!” she exclaimed. “If we move away now, with Russel, then none of the other La Push kids will turn! There are werewolves in Forks because there are vampires. If we take Russel to the country with us, then Laura will be the only one changed! We haven’t heard anything from Jacob, so we know there’s no one else who’s changed. He doesn’t know that Laura’s a werewolf now.” Edward furrowed his brow, frustrated.
“I agree with Bella,” sang Alice from the sofa. She crossed and re-crossed her legs daintily. “If she doesn’t belong with her hometown, it’s the least we can do. I mean, it’s our fault, from what Bella says.”
“Yes,” said Bella. “She changed right after I told her about you, Russel!” The young vampire had his head in his hands.
“It’s all my fault,” he moaned, raising his head. “She wouldn’t be here, dying, if it hadn’t been for me! Oh, why wasn’t I paying attention?” Rosalie rolled her eyes.
“The dog isn’t dying,” she sighed. “Mongrel will be fine, especially if none of us takes a snap at her. And it’s her fault Jasper’s in a bad mood.” Jasper glared forcefully from across the room. He was as far from Laura’s room as the house would allow. “What? It is!”
“That doesn’t matter!” exclaimed Esme. “The poor thing’s probably terrified out of her wits! Not knowing what’s happening, alone in a house full of her natural enemy, it’s got to be simply horrific.” Carlisle moved to stand next to his wife, the sunlight falling across his cheek, producing sparkles.
“She knows what she is,” Bella reminded them from over by Edward. “I made sure of that. I just wish she was as good off as Jake was.”
“Carlisle,” Edward murmured. “She’s awake.” Carlisle slipped up the stairs, into the room that held a young werewolf. “For once, I think I agree with Rosalie. She has a point, that she’d be safer without all of us trying to kill her at some point.” Bella clenched her hand into a fist.
“We won’t, though,” she whispered. “I won’t, Edward won’t, Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, all won’t. It’s only Rosalie, because of her grudge against Jake.” Bella glared at Rose. “Jasper, you won’t, because it’s only your thirst that causes you to lose control, and you won’t want to feed on her. Russel,” she stopped. Russel glared daggers, more power in the glare than Bella had put into Rosalie’s.
“What? You think I would kill her? I love her, Bella,” he spat. “I guess you have no idea what love is, then.” He turned away, just before Edward sprang.
“Don’t you dare talk to my wife like that,” he snarled, landing on top of Russel. The young vampire hissed and jumped away, right into Edward once again. “Just because she saved you does not mean that we can’t kick you out.” Bella’s expression was horrified.
“Cheater!” Russel struggled. “You’re using your power!” They wrestled for a while, Edward using his gift as Russel used his superior strength.
“Stop it!” shouted Bella, jumping in between. Edward and Russel snarled in unison. “Stop, Edward. For me.” Edward instantly obeyed, but he kept his lip curled in distaste. “Em.” Emmett stood from his position that had been next to Russel. He grabbed the tops of the latter’s arms, lifting him away from the fight. Russel stayed limp, his eyes shooting hatred towards Edward. “I have a solution. We let her decide. This is her choice, and she’ll make the right one.”
“We all know what she’ll choose,” whined Rosalie. “She’ll choose us, because we have him.” She jerked her head in Russel’s direction. “Why don’t we leave them both behind, and they can be freaks together!”
“Rosalie,” warned Esme. Jasper and Edward suddenly tensed, the latter grabbing a bucket from under the sink and darting to Laura’s room. Jasper twisted his face in disgust.
“What?” asked Alice. “I can’t see her. What happened?” She stood and lithely danced to stand with a hand on Jasper’s shoulder.
“She got sick a minute ago,” he replied, his nose wrinkled. “It’s disgusting.”

I jolted awake, my head pounding and throbbing. I was lying in a soft bed, wearing my wet dress and I gasped. The door opened and Carlisle was there. I mean, there was no warning at all. One second, the room was empty, and then this giant vampire person was standing over me, watching me. I jumped, my splitting headache intensifying. I groaned, my throat scratchy and horrible. I closed my eyes, my stomach rolling.
“How are you, Laura?” he asked. I glared at him.
“Why do you care?” I rasped, my throat like someone was rubbing sandpaper on it. His gorgeous face was professional.
“Because, you’re important, and I’m a bit curious,” he admitted. “I’ve never treated a new werewolf, only Jacob.” My head reeled as I tried to sit up weakly.
“You treated Big Jake? When?”
“It doesn’t matter. How are you feeling?” I shrugged, suddenly fighting the urge to throw up.
“Uh, bad?” I replied like a question. “Oh, God!” I sat up, my head feeling like someone had cleaved it in two. I threw up, right into the bucket that another vampire placed beneath my head. The two vampires stood by the door, watching me concernedly. When I was done, I slumped back, feeling utterly exhausted. “When did you get here?” I asked the new one as he stepped forward, slowly, for him, to take my bucket away. I realized it was Edward.
“I just got here, Laura,” he said politely, and of course his voice was beautiful. “I can read minds. I sensed that you were about to, well,” he gestured. “It also helped that Jasper, my brother, can sense emotions, and he could tell, too.” I moaned, laying back. When I opened my eyes a second later, he was gone.
“Why does he keep doing that?” I asked angrily. Carlisle moved closer.
“Because he doesn’t want to scare you. It also is a bit... well, it goes against the grain for a werewolf to stay in a vampire’s house,” he explained. I nodded, shivering. I was freezing, suddenly. “Cold?” he asked. I nodded, wishing to die.
He threw a thick quilt over me, and I stopped shivering so hard. I tried to ask him what was going on, exactly, but I fell asleep.
This went on for a few days. I felt horrible for the rest of the week, and I knew all of the vampires in the house were kind of freaked. I mean, they had a sick, young werewolf upstairs.
One day, I awoke, and knew that the worst part of the sickness had past. Carlisle walked in immediately, like always, and came to my bedside. Over the course of the week, he had gradually come closer, until I would let him touch me. He sat in the chair by me, but this time, he smelled bad.
“Good morning, Laura,” he said. I smiled lightly, forcing myself to keep a straight face against the powerful smell.
“Morning, Carlisle. You know, for a vampire, you aren’t too bad.” He chuckled.
“I’m glad you think so. For a werewolf, you aren’t too bad, either.” He gave me the thermometer and I placed it under my tongue, shuddering at the cold metal. In a couple of long minutes it beeped and I gave it back to him. He inspected it, furrowing his brow. “You’re three degrees higher than yesterday, Laura. Perhaps you aren’t getting better. Maybe I should bring you to the hospital...”
“But I feel good,” I argued, sitting up. “If I feel good, who cares if I am or not?”
Carlisle’s eyes lit up. “Aha! You’re a werewolf, and as vampires typically run a temperature lower than a human’s, werewolves always run a few degrees higher. Do you happen to know a werewolf’s normal temperature?”
“Carlisle, until a week ago, I didn’t even know vampires and werewolves were real. You expect me to be an expert.”
“Sorry.” I sighed.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” I offered. He smiled.
“I apologize, Laura. I depend too much on you for information. Perhaps I could ask Jacob.” That got my attention.
“You could get Big Jake?” I asked excitedly. “Oh, that would be awesome, Carlisle!” He smiled again, this time wistfully.
“I might be able to arrange it. I’ll ask Bella.” This time, I grinned. Bella was definitely one of my favorite Cullens, second only to Carlisle. I had met all of them but Jasper, as they came in to my room in shifts. Bella came the most frequently apart from Carlisle, though I had no idea why. I actually had no clue why they were taking the slightest interest in me. “How do you feel?”
“My stomach’s fine, I’m a little dizzy, and I feel tired,” I reported, “and my throat is back to normal.” He nodded.
“Good. That mean’s you’re almost back to normal,” he told me. “The fatigue is normal, and the dizziness is due to your blood pressure stabilizing. This is excellent.” He looked pleased, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Thank you, Carlisle,” I said seriously. “It’s because of you and your family that I’m alive. You protected me, and then you nursed me back to health. If there is ever anything I can do for you, just ask.” He gazed at me for a while.
“It’s nothing, Laura,” he said finally. “Really. You’re reasonably easy to take care of. I think, if you’re feeling well, you can get out of bed today.” My heart leapt at the chance to get out of that room.
“I’d love it, Carlisle!” I exclaimed, attempting to throw off my blankets. He stopped me.
“You need to promise me a few things,” Carlisle said. “First that you will remain reasonably calm during the time that you are out of bed. This is so that you do not wear yourself out on your first day, and have to spend yet another week in bed. Second, that you will not take any offense on my family’s behalf. None have them have grown so close to you as I, and I fear they may treat you as an enemy. Bella will keep Edward under control, and Emmett, Esme and Alice have never had anything against you, but, er, Rosalie might have a hard time with you, as will Jasper. Jasper regrets that he could not come near you when you were completely human, but he did not want to take any chances. You see, Jasper has had a hard time adjusting to our ‘vegetarian’ lifestyle; as a result, he cannot always control his thirst. We were having enough trouble keeping Russel off of you to worry about him, and he knew this, and because of that, he had to stay out of the fight. He’s bitter.”
I nodded, suddenly nervous. I suppose my heart rate probably sped up, because Carlisle looked uneasy and his hands jerked up, as if to check my pulse. He hesitated, but then took my limp wrist in his icy hand. To my flaming skin, Carlisle’s touch was beyond cold. I flinched, but did better than the first time he touched me. Carlisle had been extremely worried until he finally took the initiative to take my wrist. The shock of a natural enemy touching me, along with the unbearably cold skin against my hot skin, just made me cringe and yank away, frightened.
He counted silently for a minute or two, both of us still and unmoving. The only sound in the room was my slow, deep breathing, trying to keep my body calm. Carlisle finally let go, rubbing his hand on his pants. “You’ll be fine, just don’t excite yourself,” he reported. I nodded again, anxiously keeping my heart rate down, lest he decide that today wasn’t well enough and make me stay in bed.
“Can I get up now?” I asked tentatively.
“Yes, Laura,” he said, smiling and standing up. Carlisle moved to the side, far enough away that I could get up, but close enough that he could catch me if I began to fall. I swung my legs over the side, enjoying the thin breeze coming from the window. Taking a deep breath, I stood up. Wobbling slightly, I took a step and Carlisle smiled even wider than before. “I think you’re fine.” I sighed, walking faster towards the door.
I pushed open the door, by this time walking normally. I blinked rapidly, trying to push away the dizziness that engulfed me. I leaned against the wall discreetly, hoping to seem as if I were just waiting for Carlisle. He came out at the same pace I had and turned toward me. We went down the stairs into the living room full of vampires. “Hey everyone, Laura’s up,” exclaimed Alice cheerfully from the corner. They all looked up, but I couldn’t see Russel or Emmett.
A blonde that looked like he was eighteen stepped forward, his face haggard. He nodded to me. “I’m Jasper.” I nodded quickly.
“Look, Jasper, I’m really sorry you couldn’t help and that I put you guys in danger, and if you want me to leave, I will, and I just don’t want you guys to be burdened by me, and--!” While I was gasping this, Carlisle looked meaningfully at Jasper. Jasper narrowed his eyes, and I immediately felt kind of groggy. Carlisle came to stand by me, making sure to place his hand on my shoulder, where my dress was between our skins.
“Laura, you promised,” he reminded me sternly. I blinked. “You’d be calm?” I nodded slowly.
“Sorry,” I said, my voice thick. “I just wanted to make sure you guys knew I feel absolutely horrible about all of it, and I’ll leave if it makes it easier.” Bella rolled her eyes from the far corner.
“Laura, we would have kicked you out by now we didn’t entirely mind you being here,” she informed me, standing and coming over. Her long brown hair swished gracefully, wafting her horrid scent towards me. This time, I couldn’t stop from gagging. She didn’t look hurt, as I thought they would have. “Oh, the smell? Yeah, you stink too, Laura.” I raised my eyebrows, and she, Alice and Esme laughed. “You smell like a wet dog, and we smell so sweet we kind of burn your nose, right?” I nodded, astonished. She smiled. “I’m the expert on most things werewolf, here. I know a lot.” Carlisle smiled too.
“So you know what her temperature should be?”
“Jacob said he was one-oh-eight, normally, but that was when he was older. Younger werewolves are cooler, so she should be about one-oh-five.”
“She’s about one-oh-three.” I smiled in satisfaction. I would be hot enough by tonight.
“Should we?” I heard Bella murmur to Jasper. Jasper stared at me, and I cowered.
“He won’t do anything,” Esme reassured me. Jasper turned to Edward, who nodded.
“I think so,” he said quietly. “Emmett? You can come in.” I turned to ask Carlisle what was going on, but he shook his head. I faced the front door, where everyone but Jasper was watching; he was still staring at me. I saw the huge bulk of Emmett come through the door, holding something large behind him. Craning my neck, all I saw was red behind him. Cocking my head to the side, I tried to take a step forward, but now Carlisle’s hand was restraining rather than reassuring. “Jasper?” Jasper’s topaz eyes flicked to his brother.
“Emmett, you can let go, but stay close,” Edward warned. Emmett did as instructed, stepping to the side, where I could see Russel. My jaw dropped and my eyes went wide. He was even more glorious now than he had been in true life. Tears welled up as I realized I would never have him again. Surely he could attract anyone in town with his pale, shining skin, beautiful smile, and lithe walk. He took a hesitant step forward, his blood red eyes burning. I knew he was probably resisting the urge to kill me. I stood still, letting him come near enough to sniff me. I closed my eyes, trying not to let my river of tears tumble out. I felt his cool presence and could smell the scent that burned my nose.
“Never.” I heard a whisper. There was a faint bit of my love in there, but the rest was too smooth to be human, and I knew it was he who spoke. I opened my eyes to see his open as well. There was a tense moment.
“Never what?” I murmured, my fingers twitching, begging to touch his exquisite face. He furrowed his brow.
“That will never happen, no matter what we are.”
“What won’t?” I was genuinely confused now.
“We will never be separated because of what we are,” he insisted. I blinked.
“Well, why didn’t you just say that?”
“I figured that, since you had said you were scared of it, you would catch on to what I was saying.”
“I didn’t say anything, Russel.” He looked alarmed and whipped his head around to face Bella, to his left. She also had a bewildered expression.
“She didn’t,” confirmed Bella. Everyone else murmured his or her agreement, except Edward. He looked frustrated.
“But I heard it,” he said.
“Can you read her mind, Russel?” Bella asked excitedly. Russel glared at me, not angrily, but as if he were concentrating hard.
“No,” he said, just as Edward said, “No, he can’t.” Bella groaned.
“Wonderful, a mystery to add on top of this drama.”
“Russel,” said Edward calmly. “Would you look at me, and concentrate on me, please?” Russel did as he was told, bewildered. After a moment Edward smiled.
“He doesn’t hear thoughts. He hears fears and wants. He merely heard Laura’s worst fear, for them to be separated forever because of what they’ve become. He heard my worst fear, my dream, all because he’s concentrated on me. Now do it to Rosalie.” Russel turned to Rosalie, who stiffened. He smiled, turning back to me. I stared into his scarlet, flaming eyes, and sighed.
Russel took one more step, enough so that I could smell his breath. It was a more concentrated form of the stink that covered the Cullen’s household, but I didn’t care. His eyes widened and he raised a shaking hand. I threaded my fingers through his carefully, and we flinched in unison, but held on. We repeated the process on the other side, now seeing only each other’s eyes. I was breathing heavily by this time, and Carlisle, who had let go of me when Russel stepped forward, tensed up behind me, most likely in reaction to my panting. Russel took one more step forward, so close that when I inhaled, my chest brushed his. He blinked, his long lashes swishing. We turned our heads and kissed. I could feel his sweet touch, gingerly checking my body for injury from being thrown into a river. I just ran my fingers through his soft hair. Our first kiss exploded in my brain. I felt my heart swelling and bursting, my constant dreams of kissing Russel finally coming true. I felt our kiss grow more intense, passion flowering around us, blossoming around our bodies, pushing us closer and closer together. I felt Russel's frozen touch, chilling me and raising goosebumps, his hard, strong hug. I could feel my ribs bending, my chest almost collapsing. I knew that Russel was slowly suffocating me,and he couldn't tell with his newly found strength, but I truly didn't care at the moment, the kiss was so wonderful. However, for such a sweet kiss, there had never been such uproar.
Emmett leapt forward and dragged Russel away, not bothering to be gentle. I stayed motionless as Carlisle carefully carried me away. “Laura, Russel’s venom is poisonous to you,” he said tensely. “You can’t kiss him.” I bit my lip.
“But,” I whispered. “I can’t feel his venom in my bloodstream. Doesn’t it burn like heck? I can’t feel it at all!” Carlisle looked worried.
“Yes, it should burn, but we can’t take too many chances.” I nodded sadly, fighting my tears, and Russel slumped in Emmett’s grip, his expression of great pain and longing. “Besides, there’s something I want to try, as soon as possible.” Carlisle led me out onto the lawn out back, right at the lip of the river. The rest of the Cullens trooped behind, Russel still in Emmett’s arms.
“Big Jake!” I cried, walking quicker, my lovesick heart momentarily forgotten. He was lazing by the lake, Renesmee by his side. They both jumped up and came near. Renesmee aimed for her parents, Bella and Edward, while Jacob angled for me. He gripped me to his muscular stomach and I squeezed back, tears leaking out of my eyes again.
“Laura,” he said in his deep voice. “It’s good to know you’re okay. How was the process?” I looked up, guessing he meant the illness.
“It was rough,” I admitted. “But obviously I’m alive. So you really are a werewolf?” He laughed, clasping me to his side and dragging me out to an open space. Jacob let go and began to tremble from head to toe while he hurried to take off his shorts. Suddenly, there was a humongous russet wolf sitting on the lawn where the town elder had been, and shredded fabric laying all around. My eyes widened. “Jake?” The wolf’s teeth clapped together in his wolf laugh.
“Wow,” I murmured, going over to stroke him. His fur was thick and soft, and I admired it greatly. He straightened, loping over to the river to take a gulp. He trotted back and nuzzled my hand before transforming back into a teenager. Renesmee danced over and handed him a pair of shorts lovingly, which he put on.
“Yeah,” he said, taking my hand. “So, you want to learn?” I nodded vigorously, and Carlisle stepped forward. “Hey, Doc.”
“Hello, Jacob,” said Carlisle warmly. “I just wanted to make sure that Laura’s well enough to do this. Her temperature’s one-oh-three and she’s a bit tired, so I was curious when you started.” Jacob laughed.
“She’ll be fine,” he reassured the sparkling vampire. “I started at one-oh-one, and I was tired, too. I’ll just make sure she doesn’t wear herself out.” I blushed crimson. I hate it when people make a huge fuss over me.
“I’m fine, Jake,” I told him pointedly, and they broke off the conversation, Carlisle going back to talk to Renesmee, who was glimmering dully in the fierce sunlight. The band of vampires retreated into the house, leaving us alone. “How do I wolf-itize?” He raised an eyebrow.
“You mean phase?”
“Yeah, sure, whatever.”
“Okay. Imagine yourself a wolf.” I squeezed my eyes shut, but I could tell I was still human.
“Nothing happened, Jake.”
“Alright, alright. Fine. I was hoping I could ease you into it, instead of doing it the way my dad did, but that’s not going to work. We have to do this the hard way.” Jacob trooped up to the house, coming back a second later with Russel following. They stopped. He planted himself in front of Russel, who stood firm. Jacob stepped forward and whispered something in his ear, and Russel nodded. He took up a defensive stance, snarling. The huge russet wolf that was now Jacob was growling, facing Russel. My heart hammered as I watched them crash into each other, ripping and tearing up the grass.
“Stop it!” I shrieked. I felt tremors wrack my body again. A shiver went up my spine and I was suddenly pounding towards them. I leaped and hit them dead on, adding my own vicious growls to the fray. I was suddenly pitched out of the fight, tumbling backwards. I blinked, realizing that I wasn’t human. I yelped and ran away. Jacob chased after me, nipping at my tail. I stumbled, falling head over heels into the grass. He growled a laugh. His eyes closed and suddenly I could hear a voice. It was Jake’s. I glanced around, but he was still a wolf. I listened to his voice.
Hey Laura, he said. What’s up? You phased! I growled.
You didn’t have to attack him, I complained.
Apparently I did, he said infuriatingly. It phased you, right? You’re a good-looking wolf, he added as an afterthought. I shook my head, trying to clear it.
So I have to be angry to be a wolf? I asked, confused. He did it without me attacking Renesmee.
No, he explained. You have to envision yourself a wolf. To get you to feel being a wolf, I made you mad, which also works. You can either see yourself as a wolf, or if you feel too strong an emotion, it can burst out of you. If you see yourself trembling uncontrollably, calm down! It can lead to pointed questions if you suddenly turn into a wolf in math class. He laughed, and I saw a memory of him shaking in the cafeteria when a kid bumped him and spaghetti poured down his front. You ready to change back? I nodded my huge head, although I wasn’t nearly as big as Jacob. He was suddenly human and stepping into shorts. “Laura, envision yourself as a human. Concentrate.” I took a deep breath, thinking about walking along the windy beach at sunset, hand in hand with Russel. I could feel the sand on my feet, the wind in my hair, and I could smell the saltwater, but I couldn’t see the vision, for some reason. I opened my eyes, but I saw everything clearly. I looked up to Jacob, feeling completely idiotic. I whined and Jacob let loose a deep chuckle.
“You do realize you’re human, right?” he asked me, trying to keep a straight face. Emmett guffawed from inside the house. I stopped dead and blushed hard, curling into a ball. Giggling, Alice tripped forward from inside and handed me a fresh set of clothes: a flowing spring dress. I climbed into it, my cheeks scarlet. “Yeah,” said Jacob, still chortling. “So you get the gist. Now you transform on your own.” Jake stood back, studying my expression. I bit my lip, aware that the Cullens were lined up at the window, watching me. I took a deep breath and slipped my arms through the sleeves, my dress hanging limp on me now. Letting it drop to the ground, I spun around, snarling. I felt the heat ripple in waves over my body, as the snowy fur grew long and glossy. I pounded over the ground, my small paws as silent as bright, blinding white sunshine. I raced over to Big Jake, already a wolf, and leaped to tackle him, but he slammed into me halfway through. We tumbled down to the shining wet grass by the lake, growling and snapping at each other’s fur ferociously.
Laura, said Jake in my head. You won’t win. I have tons more experience. Plus I can read your mind. I sent him a nasty retort, not suitable for repetition here.
Nice try, Jacob, I whispered into his own head. But I’m smaller. I dodged his muzzle and darted into the river, my long white fur floating around me, bogging me down. I growled in annoyance, pushing off and diving into the water. I paddled uselessly for a moment, aware that Jacob was hot on my tail, literally. Suddenly, I felt the water swirling behind my paws as I swum through the river, bubbles streaming back on either side of my muzzle. Jacob was behind me, wallowing in the shallow water. I pushed for the surface, but the weeds reached up and tangled themselves in my paws and fur, holding me on the bottom. I yelped, water flooding into my mouth. I shook my head back and forth, coughing as the river water sloshed down my throat. It tasted like the vampires because they went swimming here. Realizing my lungs weren’t burning in the normal wolfy way, I closed my stinging eyes, concentrating. My cold, waterlogged fur rippled in the rough undertow as it was sucked back into my body.
Spluttering, my now midnight hair fanning around my head, I reached numb fingers down to untangle myself. When I was free, I stroked for the surface, my face breaking into the cool air as I inhaled gratefully. Suddenly, I plunged back into the dark water, involuntarily. I had about two hundred pounds of fast-moving werewolf crushing me into the velvety water, burying me in the gritty sand below. I struggled, feeling tons of bubbles swooshing over my nose and mouth and I screamed. More water rushed in to push all of my air supply out and I breathed in; that last decision was not my smartest.
I felt the water force itself into my lungs as the world went black and I felt the wolfish form above me stir and dig its teeth into my bicep. Pulling hard, it towed me somewhere that I didn’t see because my eyes shut before we arrived.

“Laura!” I heard the frenzied cry and felt freezing hands on my face, on my forehead. They stroked through my hair gently, carefully pulling the tangles out. I gasped, feeling the breath catch in my chest and I coughed, water coming up and out of my mouth as I turned my head, my eyes still closed. The hands were back to caressing my face softly. I kept coughing up water until it seemed as though I should have been drowning in it again, but at last I stopped rejecting the river. When I lay still again, I sighed, groaning as my throat burned from the water harshly rushing through it. My eyes were still closed, and I was unimaginably sleepy. I gave one last dry cough, feeling the hands rest on mine, squeezing them lightly. I tried to smile, but the warm promise of rest enveloped me before my lips responded.
When I awoke the second time, my head was in Russel’s stone lap, and the cold hands I had felt earlier were still stroking my hair and my face. I opened my eyes slowly, snuggled in a blanket. “Hey.” I said, my voice rough.
“Hey,” he replied warmly, but I could hear tension under the false cheer. “Are you alright?” I curled into a tight ball, rubbing my face against his stomach. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. I heard someone clear their throat. “Not now, Jacob,” he said curtly, the anger bubbling up behind his cloak of calm. I attempted to sit up, but he kept me down, his embrace now a restraint.
“Russel,” I said, but he shook his gorgeous head, his scarlet eyes burning.
“Are you alright?” he repeated his question urgently, his eyes not leaving mine. I felt my heart accelerate, as it always did when I looked at him. Nodding, I watched his rigid expression relax. He leaned down and kissed me sweetly, his lavender eyelids quivering. I kissed him back, putting as much emotion into it as I could, sending reassurance through the ‘link’. He broke off slowly, and I savored the flavor of the kiss. There was another small cough, and, rolling his eyes, Russel sighed. “What, Jacob?” Big Jake stepped forward and I rolled over, Russel catching me before I rolled onto the floor. Jake stood over us, his dark faced ashamed.
“Sorry, Laura,” he said gruffly. “I was too rough. You fight so well that sometimes I forget you’re just a pup. I won’t brawl with you any more.” I furrowed my brow.
“Why?” I rasped, swallowing desperately to soothe the itching burn in the back of my throat. The Cullens came through the door, Edward smiling. I groaned, knowing I looked like hell had chewed me up and spit me back out again. Bella came over to stand next to Jacob.
“Because you nearly drowned,” he said, his tanned face confused. I shifted a bit, and Renesmee took Bella’s place next to Jacob, twining her arm through his gracefully. Bella then went faithfully to stand next to her husband, who was still grinning broadly. I swallowed again, the fire flashing in my throat, which just intensified Edward’s smile, so like Russel’s; only Russel had a more innocent smile, while Edward’s was gloating at the moment.
“That doesn’t matter,” I told the La Push elder, still confused by Edward’s beam. “Edward, what the heck are you grinning about?” He laughed loudly.
“Laura, you know how I can read minds and Jasper can read emotions, right?” I nodded. “Well, Jasper’s sensing your pain, and it’s amusing.” Russel jerked up, suddenly in front of me, as I was lying alone on the couch.
“You enjoy her pain?” snarled Russel fiercely, advancing on him. Bella clenched her teeth, placing a slender arm across Edward’s chest.
“That isn’t what he meant, I’m sure,” she hissed. “Now back off, Russel.” Edward was calm through all of this, his smooth face relaxed. I whimpered, knowing that it would bring Russel hurrying over. Before I could blink, he was sitting on the sofa with me curled in his lap. I made sure to change my face to a grimace before he saw through my act. I nestled my head in his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around my back, stroking through my hair. I closed my eyes, inhaling his scent. It burned my nose and was too sweet, but if I dove deep enough into the scent, I could detect his old smell woven into the new one. Coughing slightly, I raised my head up, and Edward was quickly stifling laughter. Russel shook underneath me, angry. Bella twisted her arm to clutch Edward to her.
“Explain,” she pressed. He sighed.
“She was feeling pain in her throat. From what I could read in her mind, it felt exactly like our thirst, is all. I thought it was funny that even though she is not a true vampire, she is one of us.” Edward was cool, calm and collected, and Bella was gazing at him, marveling in his beauty. I felt my cheeks flush crimson, realizing that I probably looked just as awesomely devoted when I looked at Russel.
“Okay, see, that was all he laughed at,” cooed Bella. “He doesn’t enjoy anyone’s pain, Russ. Chill out.” Russel went limp beneath me, the threat gone.
“My apologies, Edward,” he spat. “I wasn’t thinking clearly with the recent drop in her health still looming fresh in my mind. I’m sure you were reading my thoughts.” Edward nodded, his eyebrows raised slightly. I bit my lip.
Edward, I called in my head. His black eyes shifted to hold my gaze, his expression exactly the same. You listening? On the pretense of glancing up at the ceiling, then following a beam of buttery sun to the patch of floor near his feet, he nodded subtly. Edward, I thought sadly, I don’t want you and Russel to hate each other. I didn’t mean to bring hard feelings into the family. If it makes it easier, Russel and I will go and live somewhere else until he’s under control. I don’t want you and Bella to fight. He shook his head as he glanced from Carlisle to the front door. You sure? He nodded inconspicuously again by hugging Bella to his chest and moving his chin through her hair. Thank you. So much. He smiled a tiny smile.
I wiggled backwards, turning around, still in my blanket cocoon, and grunted softly. Russel’s glare immediately swept from a patch on the opposite wall to my eyes, his look turning tender.
“Are you uncomfortable?” he asked quickly, his long fingers peeling apart a couple of layers of blanket. I shook my head slowly, letting my eyelids droop. Edward caught on to my façade immediately, being able to read my mind.
“She’s exhausted,” Edward hinted, and I was grateful for his help. “You might want to carry her to bed.” Carlisle and Jacob both stepped forward easily, but Renesmee jerked Jake back roughly and Edward shot Carlisle a look. Russel nodded worriedly, standing gracefully. Applying my two years at acting camp, I let my eyes close gradually, not letting my breathing get too out of hand. When I was sure I had been placed in bed, I cracked my eyes open. Russel was standing next to the bed, wringing his hands nervously. Edward was in the room in the next second. Russel turned, his expression murderous. Edward held his hands up in surrender.
“I’m not here for that,” he said, exaggerating the slowness of his words. “Relax. This will be easier if you relax. I’m only here in case you wanted to know her thoughts and dreams as she sleeps.” Russel nodded, turning to face me, at which point I squashed my eyes shut; Russel noticed nothing.
“I want to make sure she doesn’t have bad dreams,” he whispered. “Her life is so much harder because of me. You can’t imagine what it’s like.” There was a loud guffaw from downstairs, and I mentally rolled my eyes. Classic Emmett. The room suddenly became very tense.
“I know exactly what you’re talking about,” came Edward’s quiet voice politely. Russel being excellent at concealing emotions, I had mastered the art of detecting hidden feelings, and I could definitely sense pain under Edward’s cool manner. Whining slightly to break the tension, I rolled onto my side, sighing and smiling, but, thinking better of it, I frowned and furrowed my brow.
“What is it, Edward?” asked Russel anxiously. Edward paused, then replied by reading directly from my mind.
“She’s dreaming about the encounter that happened today, us yelling. In her dream, though, she intervenes. She’s telling us both, pleading with us, that she wants nothing to be between us. She doesn't want us to fight." Russel paused. He shifted slightly.
"I'll make peace with you if it makes her happy," he finished through clenched teeth. My heart swelled and I slipped into genuine sleep, as everything in the world was alright again.

By: ambsace Comment

"We need to go talk to your family, Laura," Jake told me when I woke up. I had stumbled downstairs drowsily, my mind full of Russel.
"Why?" I complained. "My mom won't believe me!" Jake raised an eyebrow.
"Of course she will," he replied snappily, and I backed off. We both phased and I streaked towards the woods, tailing him closely. He veered off, and I heard his thoughts. He shot a mental picture into my head, and I grimaced.
That’s disgusting, Jacob, I whined. Russel and I would never do that. We could never do that. He’s too strong, and we’re too young. I felt a tug in my heart as I realized that we could never do half the things we would ever want to, that mortal couples could do. I felt remorse emanating from Jake. It’s fine, I reassured him softly. I know it seems like we would, but... no. We couldn’t. Jake whimpered, and I glanced around us. We were surrounded by emerald light, filtered down through the foliage above. I inhaled deeply, smelling the clear stream rushing nearby, every animal scurrying through the brush. We emerged into my favorite clearing, one with a mossy stump directly in the middle. A shaft of golden sun fell on the stump, casting a scene of serenity and peace. Jacob withdrew from my mind, appearing naked before me. I modestly turned my head until he was seated on the stump fully dressed, and with a pair of jeans and a blouse on his lap. I phased, stumbling forward to grab my clothing and pulling it on hastily. Jake calmly handed me a brush and as pair of socks and shoes, which I quickly made good use of. Shoving the brush into a nearby bush, we exited the clearing and strode down the main road into La Push. I suddenly felt a weird tug towards the small backstreets, but I ignored it.
“So,” said Jake, as we rounded the bend to my house. “I think you should do the talking. I need to talk to a few people. Good luck, kiddo. And--.” Jacob pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and slapped it into my hand. “This is a replacement for the one that drowned with you.” I blinked but he folded my fingers over the smooth surface, and I put it in my pocket.
“It’s programmed with everyone’s numbers,” he went on. “All the Cullens and me. You can put anyone else’s in there too. Go for it.” And with that he left me standing in my front lawn, dazed by the generosity and dizzy with the speed of my heart. Gathering my bearings, I slowly walked up my stairs and onto my porch. Rocking back and forth, I hesitantly raised a trembling fist and knocked loudly. The only sounds were the swooshing of the nearby ocean, the birds twittering in the sky, and my own heart, pounding as I waited for a response from within the still house. There was shuffling from behind the door, and the tinkling sound of a chain being unhooked from the door. The bright green front door swung in, and standing in the way was my mother. Her dull eyes lit up as she took in my appearance. She took a humongous step forward and embraced me tightly, pressing her face into my shoulder. Leah gripped my hand tightly and led me inside to the loveseat, setting me down firmly.
“Where have you been?” she asked in a whisper, tears sparkling in her eyes. “I was so worried!” I felt the guilt welling up.
“I was kind of busy,” I stalled. “Mom, you know the legends?” She nodded, her brown eyes hurt and confused. “Well, they’re actually true. The Cullens are ‘the cold ones’. And I’m the newest werewolf.” I had been speaking to our interlaced fingers, but they started shaking. I looked up, and Leah was trembling. Alarmed, I squeezed her hands lightly.
“Mom, you aren’t one too, are you?” I begged, afraid that this was the kind of shaking I did when I was about to phase involuntarily. She gulped, shaking her head.
“Granddad always warned us it would happen,” she whispered. “But I never believed him. But I believe you, and I don’t know why. Prove it to me, Laura. Please, prove it to me.” I shivered, standing and stripping. When my clothes were in a pile, I slowly sat on the floor and imagined myself a wolf, closing my eyes. When I felt my body animalize, I opened my eyes, and stared up at my mother. Her mouth was slightly open, her lips trembling slightly. Her throat moved once, twice, as she gulped silently. I was patient through this, though I heard my phone vibrating in the pocket of my jeans in the corner.
“Wow,” she finally murmured. I phased back, pulling on my clothes while pulling the cell phone out and flipping it open, seeing a missed call from Jake and a new voicemail. Dialing my voicemail, I collapsed back onto the loveseat. I heard Jacob’s husky voice telling me that he would come back around four. When I had deleted the message, I snapped my phone shut again and saw that it was two thirty-four. Looking up at my mother, I sighed.
“Mom?” I asked softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked around to me and smiled.
“Well,” she said matter-of-factly, “at least I have you back now!” I grimaced.
“Mom,” I started. “I have to go away. See, I didn’t tell you all of it. You know how Russel went missing too?” Leah gasped.
“But he isn’t related to anyone here! Granddad directly told me that it was only direct descendants of Ephraim Black! Russel’s not related, so he isn’t a werewolf!” I shook my head.
“No, he isn’t. He’s a vampire, instead.” Leah’s eyes bugged out of her head.
“How?” she whimpered.
“When he was hiking, he fell into a fire. The Cullens saw, rescued him, realized that his wounds were too bad, and they changed him to save his life. End of story. But... that’s why we have to go away. He’s a newborn now, and not under control of his thirst. He can’t be around humans without going wild, and... Mom, I have to stay with him. Russel is my everything, and I can’t live without him. I have to go. Jacob’s coming for me at four, and I have to pack. I’m sorry, Mom,” I whispered at the end, tears rolling down my face.
“Oh,” she muttered, crushed. “That’s bad. Oh. I don’t want to lose you, Laura!” She threw her arms around me and I sobbed, squeezing her. She winced and withdrew, rubbing her ribs. “Yikes, Laura,” she complained. “You got stronger.” I smiled half-heartedly.
“Laura,” she said warmly, “it’s inevitable that you’ll move away. I was just hoping I’d get a bit more time before you do. Chase your love, sweetie. Do what you need to, and tell Russel I said hello.” I smiled sadly and stood, heading to the stairs. I bounded into my room and fell onto my bed, groaning.
“Why does life have to be so hard?” I moaned. “Why can’t anything ever be simple? ARGH!” I screamed into my pillow. Standing up, tears still falling, I yanked open my drawers and pulled out all of my clothes, stuffing the wads of clothing into my suitcase and sitting on it as I attempt to zip it closed. When it was all squeezed in, I shuffled to the bathroom and gathered my toiletries, taking care to grab the specifics that would be really awkward if I asked Jake to buy them for me. After my things were all packed, it was three forty-seven. I scooted downstairs and into the kitchen, not hungry but aware that I should eat. Pulling out a slice of pizza, I sat at the table and ate it slowly, all emotion missing. Leah walked in, small box in her hands. She came to sit by me and placed the box on the table.
“Laura,” she began. “I have something here that I’ve always wanted to give you. It was mine, and I want you to have it now, before I go away.” She handed me the box and I unwrapped it gingerly, opening the lid to reveal a sparkling silver locket. I gasped.
“Mom,” I whispered, overcome. “It’s beautiful. Thank you so much. I’ll treasure it forever.” She smiled sadly. I glanced at the clock and noticed it was two minutes past four. Leah got up, taking the necklace and standing behind me. I pulled my hair around to the side so she could fasten the catch. When she moved out of the way I let my black hair fall like a short midnight river. Leah then disappeared from the kitchen, most likely to change for work. Her job as a lifeguard was pretty much full-time in the early summer. I sauntered into the living room to surf the tube. When I found The Sound of Music I stopped, singing along to the bright music. By the time it was over it was five twenty-one and I was curled under a blanket, fast asleep. I jolted awake, standing fluidly and folding the warm flannel blanket over the top of the sofa. I checked my phone, seeing the time and the fact that I had no missed calls. Worried, I checked my contacts and saw Jake as an ICE contact. I pressed send on his name and he picked up on the first ring.
“Hello?” he asked tersely.
“Jake?” I whispered, frightened.
“Laura,” he muttered. “I know I’m late, and I’m really sorry, but I’m kind of busy at the moment. I’ll call you as soon as I can, okay?” I started to reply, but he hung up hastily. Confused and alarmed, I replaced the phone in my pocket and strode into the hall. I saw a scribbled note stuck to the door saying Leah was at work and that she loved me as I pulled my black hoodie from the closet. I jogged down the road, desperate for someone to tell me what was going on. As I went farther down the street, the annoying pull I had felt earlier grew more urgent. The streets seemed deserted of older people. I headed down towards Brad’s house, searching for answers, when I saw the five cars parked there. Knowing his family only owned two, I sprinted for his front door, pushing my way in. I could hear agitated murmuring from the family room, so I barged in. Granddad, Grandma, Big Jake, Embry, Old Quil, Jared, Paul, and Seth were there. In the back I could see Seth’s older sister, Leah, my mother’s namesake. Jake looked up, his face haggard. He, Granddad and Grandma surged forward. Granddad Sam held me close while Grandma Emily stroked my hair.
“Laura,” muttered Jake angrily. “I told you to stay put! Why are you here? This doesn’t concern you!” Sam shushed him.
“She’s fine, Jacob,” he said commandingly. “Relax. She’d find out anyway. Laura,” he said to me now. “Brad is turning into a werewolf.” My mouth dropped open.
“No!” I shrieked. “No way, no how, NO!” I could feel that strong pull, leading my upstairs. I tried to go, but Emily placed her wrinkled hand over my flat stomach.
“Now isn’t the best time,” she said softly, her permanent leer slightly turned up. Defeated, I plopped onto the sofa, resting my head in my hands. I must have gone to sleep again, because when I was acutely aware of anything else, there was only one voice talking, and I recognized it. Opening my eyes, I saw Brad standing a few feet away. The tug in my body was more of a yank now, insisting that I follow it. Deaf and blind to everything, I unfolded myself and walked numbly towards Brad. He turned around, his eyes bewildered. The tug was stronger than ever, and we embraced. Suddenly, I felt as though the only thing that held me here on Earth was Brad. My Brad. Before I knew it we were back on the sofa, and he was leaning in to kiss me. I responded in kind gratefully, stroking my fingers up and down his back lovingly. His fingers tangled in my black hair as he twisted them through it, lightly touching my neck. It sent goose bumps up my arms, but the good kind. There was surprised gasping all around us and a muttered curse. Rough hands pried Brad and me apart, but we still groped wildly for each other. Jacob held me tightly, whispering thick streams of profanities. I struggled uselessly, traumatized to be away from Brad.
“Laura, stop it!” he hissed, and I stopped fighting. He set me on my feet, his hands clapped tightly to my biceps. I whined pitifully. Jacob’s fingers left bright marks in my arms, but they healed immediately. Brad wriggled in Sam’s arms.
“Did they just…?” asked Jared in horror. Sam’s wrinkled face was tired and concerned. He nodded grimly.
“I think so,” he rasped, his voice rough from overuse. “Jacob, would you like to check?”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you did, Sam?” Jake asked, his voice hard. Sam smiled.
“Of course. Will you please bring her outside with me?” Sam stepped forward and out into the hall, pushing past the front door and moving out onto the lawn. It was pitch black, a couple of stars twinkling above. Jacob let go and went back into the house. I attempted to follow, following the urge to be with Brad. Sam caught me around the elbow and spun me back.
“Laura,” he said solemnly. I looked deep into my grandfather’s eyes. “I need to check something. Will you please phase for me?” I shrugged, pulling my clothes off and concentrating. Before I began to shudder, I stopped thinking about it and unclasped the delicate silver necklace, dripping it in a silver pool on my jeans. My body exploded into wolf form as soon as I concentrated, and I stared up at Sam. He was pulling off his clothes behind a bush. I waited, and felt a presence pulling at the corners of my mind. I opened up, and Sam’s thoughts and consciousness flooded in. Laura, think of Brad, he commanded, and immediately the feeling in my body wanted to drag me towards Brad. I whimpered, knowing I should stay, but my paws had other ideas. They towed me towards the house as I whined and scratched at the ground. STOP! I heard Sam’s voice in my head, but it was terrible and commanding. I halted, kneeling to the ground. My grandfather, an ebony wolf the size of a horse, came trotting over.
You’ve imprinted, he said seriously. You’ve imprinted on Brad. Now you can’t stay away from him, as much as you try. No wolf has ever resisted its call. My eyes went wide.
But Granddad, I love Russel! I shouted mentally. I can’t love Brad. I just can’t! He’s like my brother, and he doesn’t like me like that. Sam laughed in a wolfish way, his long sabers for teeth clapping together.
That’s the only funny thing about this situation, he replied gravely. Brad imprinted on you, too. It’s a double imprint-- a special bond. It’s never been done before, and it will be interesting to see how it works. Thoughts zipped through my head, half-baked ideas and unfinished plans. I could hear Sam’s thoughts, how he would counter my arguments if I made them.
Fine, I sniffed. We’ll just take him with us wherever we’re going. It shouldn’t be too much extra trouble. Jake, Renesmee and I are all going to be one ‘family’ anyway, and Brad is Quileute, so he looks the part of my brother. Sam hesitated in his rebuttal, and I could pick out the resistance in his thoughts. Please, Sam, I whispered desperately. He can’t be left here alone! Sam submitted, mostly due to the fact that I was his only grandchild.
Alright! he snapped. He may go. You need to get back quickly. I’ll get Jacob and Brad to phase for you. Go to the clearing you were in with Jacob earlier. And Laura, he came and nudged my shoulder with his cold nose. For God’s sake, be careful. He retreated behind the bush and I darted for the woods, ignoring the yanking of the object of my imprinting. I lost my footing, tumbling into the briars. Yelping, I shook, trying to wriggle free. When that didn’t work, I just lay there, glad that my shaggy fur shielded my body from the sharp stabs of pain from the thorns. I was still lying there belly-up when Jake and Brad crashed through the trees, laughing mentally. I growled, once again taking up the fight against nature. Brad yipped and skipped over, nuzzling me fondly with his muzzle. I relaxed, but the sudden surge of affection jolted me back into human form. Cursing and screeching as the thorns ripped at my skin, I leaped out of the bush and onto the ground, switching back to wolf. Jake whistled in my head.
Wow, he said jokingly, his good humor back. You’re really good at phasing. It took me weeks to get there, and I was the best in the group! Let’s go. Brad, you here?
I’m here, replied Brad with his deep, yet somehow soft voice. Laura, I love you. I’m sure if I was human I would have blushed.
Let’s just go, muttered Jacob hastily. Follow me. We raced through the bushes on either side of Jake. He turned his huge head to me. You know you’re in the spot of the beta, right? he asked conversationally. I didn’t reply, knowing that my thoughts would do the talking. Well, you are. It’s a pretty high honor. I’m alpha. Sam’s only alpha when I’m not. I gave a mental shrug as we sped onto the riverbank. I curved around Jacob and ran straight into Brad. He snarled playfully and we wrestled as Jake changed back. He pulled on some clothes the Renesmee had stashed for him and he climbed up to the house. Brad and I continued to play until we were lying on our sides, panting and staring into each other’s eyes. We exchanged sweet thoughts until I felt cool hands pressed to my flank.
Leaping up, I snarled and lunged for whatever had touched me. I realized that it was a vampire. It shoved its hands in front of it as a shield, and the pressure bent my ribs in so hard they cracked. I fell to the ground, whimpering. Brad was up in a flash, already attacking it. The vampire grabbed Brad around the middle and squeezed, crushing a few of his bones. Brad gave a choking noise and went limp, folding in a crumpled heap on the ground. My heart throbbed as I heard his voice in my head extinguished-- he was unconscious. Threaded through with a whole new fury, I sprung at the vampire with ten times the force I had before. My claws scrabbled at its throat, my teeth gnashing at its cheek. Spit was flying from my jaws as I repeatedly growled and hissed as it tried to throw me off. I could sense its bewilderment, but I could not think of why. It finally succeeded, tossing me into a tree trunk, which I slid down, my vision going foggy. The vampire knelt in front of me, anger and concern in its scarlet eyes. I snapped at its nose, and it withdrew, dashing for the house. I laid my head down to rest on my weary paws, too tired and hurt to move another inch.
When I heard footsteps through the woods, I raised my tired head and glanced around suspiciously. Nothing moved, but I could smell vampire carried on the wind. The footsteps stopped, and I whipped my head back to see a pale vampire, different from before.
“Laura,” a voice said. It was smooth and official, like a politician’s would be. I struggled into a standing position, my muscles stretched and soupy.
“Laura,” it repeated. I growled.
What? I asked in my mind, forcing anger into it. I don’t know why I was convinced that the vamp could hear me.
“Leah,” said the voice simply. I cocked my head to the side, confused.
“Jacob,” offered the voice. I sat on the forest floor. I thumped my tail, to let this strange, friendly vampire that I knew who it was talking about.
“Brad.” My heart melted and I raised my shaggy head to howl. Opening my jaws, I let loose a piercing, blood-freezing-then-shattering howl. I heard a low curse from the vampire.
“Laura,” it called my attention again. My heart was pounding from the name of the object of my imprinting. “Russel.” My newly-put-back-together heart ripped in two. I cringed on the ground, not noticing that I was human again. Memories flooded back, and I realized that I had attacked him earlier, and the one I was talking to was Edward. I whimpered, writhing on the ground as the tears flowed down my face.
“Laura,” soothed the voice. “Come back to us, the Cullens. To Russel. To your family.” There was a pause, where I wallowed in my own self-pity. “Don’t say that.” I stopped, shivering and gulping, the mucus-- I’ll admit that’s a little bit gross-- and tears coating my face.
What? I asked desperately to Edward mentally, knowing that if I spoke, my voice would shake.
“You’re saying, over and over, ‘What have I done?’ Russel forgave you, he knew you weren’t in your right mind at the time.”
Oh, I whimpered in my head, tears still coursing down my face.
“Come back to us,” he murmured, taking another step forward. I flinched as he laid a frozen hand on my shoulder, rolling me into his arms. I shivered uncontrollably, vibrating in his rock arms. I felt cool wind whipping past us as we sped to the house. I could tell we were inside, despite the fact that my eyes were closed, from the scent that scorched my sensitive nose. It was mixed with the heavy, homey smell of werewolf. I felt the river of tears cascading down my face as I was passed from Edward’s arms into a set of warm, strong ones. They carried me swiftly up the stairs and placed me gently in a bed, tucking the covers around my naked form. The werewolf smoothed my hair back from my face carefully, the short strands cemented to my cheeks and forehead by the tears still dribbling down. I felt my eyes tremble as I struggled to open them, and I blinked as the unexpected face of Jacob was above me. I sniffled.
“Laura,” he said softly. I pressed my lips together hard to keep from sobbing. He placed a warm, comforting hand to my cheek.
“You never told me it would be this h-hard,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.
“How could I have possibly predicted this, Laura?” he asked me quietly. “I regret all of this, every bit of it. If only there was a way... to reverse an imprint, but it hasn’t been found yet. I mean, we could experiment, of course, but...” I broke down again.
“J-Jake, how could this happen to me? How? Why? Did it ever happen to you?” He smiled sadly.
“No, it didn’t,” he replied slowly, “but the same kind of thing happened to Bella.” I raised my eyebrows in disbelief.
“She’s not a werewolf,” I said pointedly. He shook his head.
“No, she’s not. But she fell in love with Edward when she was seventeen. I fell in love with Bella when I was sixteen and she was seventeen. She fell in love with me when she was eighteen, but didn’t realize it for a while. Then she realized it, but chose Edward over me, and it seriously broke her.” I closed my aching, sore eyes, drifting into foggy black. Jake smoothed his hand over my forehead one last time, tucked the covers in tighter, and left the room as I went unconscious, where life wasn’t nearly as complicated.

By: ambsace Comment

I awoke to sharp sunlight piercing through the curtains and lying across my face. I sat up groggily, my head feeling heavy from all the tears I had shed. Swinging out of bed, I thumped to the floor and wandered over to my dresser, pulling out a black shirt, jean skirt, a pair of white ankle socks and my favorite black and white polka-dotted hair scarf. I slipped into a fresh bra and underwear, realizing that I was still naked from my transformation yesterday. When I was completely dressed, I ran a brush through my short, choppy layers and smoothed down my bangs. When the scarf was tied in, I wandered downstairs, to find Bella in the kitchen, Jacob at the table, and the rest of the family nowhere to be seen.
“Morning,” I said throatily. I cleared my throat, then started again. “Morning, Bella. Morning, BJ.” BJ, Big Jake, Jake, and Jacob were the names I called the older werewolf sitting at the table, dark circles under his eyes.
“Morning, Laura,” sang Bella as she flipped a cheeseburger onto a blue plate. She trotted over with it in hand and placed it on the counter, next to a fork and glass of milk. I sat down moodily, picking at my favorite breakfast. I couldn’t ignore the pang that went through me as I smelled Brad and Russel’s scent on the air. Bella slid a banana above my plate, and I sighed.
“Hey, Pita,” called Jake. I smiled slightly at my nickname. Ever since I was tiny, I had followed Jacob around, asking questions. Finally, he decided to call me Pita because I’m just a big Pain In The A-- well, you get the picture. Bella washed out all the dishes, picking up my hardly touched plate and replacing my banana in the dish. She scooted the milk closer to me, taking away everything else.
“Drink it, Laura,” she ordered softly. “I don’t mind so much if you aren’t hungry, but you need calcium in your bones.” She smiled a tiny smile. “I feel like your mother. Jake, make her eat.” Jacob looked up from the paper he was reading.
“Lars,” he said exasperatedly, using another of his nicknames for me, a more common one. “You gotta eat, to keep up your strength. We’re moving today, and we’re leaving all our stuff. We’re just going to run.” I groaned.
“Why today?” I whined. “Can’t we wait till like, it’s not now? I don’t wanna go.” Jake’s eyebrows shot into his short black hair.
“What’s wrong with you, Laura?” he asked angrily. “Fine, we’ll wait another week, to get yours and Brad’s phasing under control, but not because you got whiny. Shape up.” I rolled my eyes and curled my lip, but slid off the stool and wandered over to the silverware drawer, taking out a long, sharp knife. Walking to the fridge, I pulled out an apple and began slicing it in my hand, eating the slices one by one. I carefully went upstairs and closed my door behind me, smoothing out the covers on my bed. Glancing around nervously, I tossed the rest of my apple in the trash and crept into my bathroom. I twisted the handle to turn on the faucet, blasting out icy water to rinse off my knife. I switched the water back off, taking a deep breath, and I cut.
The blade sliced through the vein on my wrist and I staggered backwards, gasping. I heard a call from outside my door.
“Laura?” It was Bella.
Damn, I thought. She smelled the blood and heard me gasping. Tensing my arm so the blood spurted out, I hissed through my clenched teeth, “Yes?”
“I smell blood... are you okay in there?” Fighting the urge to grunt in pain, I replied quickly.
“Of course, Bella. I just accidentally cut my finger when I was cutting the apple. No biggie.”
“Okay, Laura. Wash it out and put a band-aid over it.” I nodded, then remembered she couldn’t see me.
“Thanks, Bella.” I inhaled, smelling the blood that was washing down the drain. I glanced down at my wrist, and saw that the deep cut was already scabbing over. I furrowed my brow, confused by the quick recovery. I took a deep breath, slicing once again into my arm, slightly above the first one. I cringed but cut a third time, ignoring the pain as best I could. I grunted once, but kept silent after, terrified that someone would hear me. Suddenly, a warm hand was squeezing my shoulder and my knife clattered into the sink. I turned around fearfully, and saw Jacob.
“That’s about enough of that, isn’t it?” he asked furiously. “Come here!” He dragged me into my bedroom and threw me on the bed, where I cowered. “Cutting, Laura? Is that what you think you have to do? Hurting yourself on purpose?” I felt the tears that, astonishingly enough, hadn’t escaped last night, rise up out of my eyes and roll down my cheeks.
“Jake, you don’t know what I’m going through!”
“To hell with that! I don’t give a damn what you think you’re going through, you listen to me! Cutting yourself is not the answer! Do you hear me?” I nodded stiffly, and we heard the front door open and close, bringing in the powerful stench of vampire. There was a tense pause where everyone downstairs breathed, and then there was hasty shouting.
“Why’s there werewolf blood?” asked Alice confusedly.
“Maybe Bella killed all three of the mongrels and we can live in peace again!” exclaimed Rosalie happily.
“Edward,” asked Carlisle. I felt my breath catch in my chest and desperately began to sing a song in my head and do long division, anything to keep Edward out.
“Jazz?” begged Alice. “What happened? How’s everyone feeling?”
“Everyone down here’s obviously confused,” he reported. “Upstairs there’s a heck of a lot of anger.” I was losing my guard. Defeated, I let my protection fall, and I could almost feel Edward swooping through my mind. I spilled all that had happened in the past few minutes, and I waited with bated breath for the reaction to fall.
“Edward, what’s up?” asked Jasper tersely. “You just got really tense and angry.” Jacob locked his arm around me and roughly dragged me down the stairs. When we reached the bottom I wrestled out of his grip and rubbed my arms. Edward’s piercing, butterscotch glare hit me and I huddled at the foot of the stairs.
“What’s going on?” asked Esme worriedly. “Is everyone alright?” She stepped from Carlisle’s arms to stand next to me, placing a cold hand on my shoulder. I cringed away from the contact, however sweet it was intended to be.
“I believe,” began Edward angrily, “that Laura’s having a bit of difficulty coping with her issues.” In a flash he was in front of me, jerking me to my feet and gripping my wrist. The first cut was only a thin, pink scar, the second a newly formed scab, and the third still open, ripped further by Edward’s rough touch. All the vampires leaned in and I glared at all of them in turn. There was muttering.
“Did-- did she honestly c-cut herself?” came a frenzied gulp from the back. With a twist of my heart I knew it was Russel, and I twitched involuntarily in an attempt to reach him.
“Russel...” I called unhappily. He shook his head, his blood red eyes narrowed.
“You thought you needed to cut yourself for me?” he hissed incredulously. I felt the tears rolling down my face. “Did you even listen to me in the cave? Cutting isn’t the answer, God dammit!”
“I didn’t know what to do, Russ!” I shouted at him, my voice cracking. “Life sucks, okay? I love you, but I have to love Brad, and I don’t know what the hell anyone’s supposed to do in this situation! None of you understand me, none of you know! God, why can’t you just leave me alone to die, all right? It’s bad enough that these God damn cuts don’t even last long enough to hurt that badly!” I sat down hard, my arm still raised in the air by Edward’s cold, hard fist. Russel was there in a heartbeat, or at least one of my heartbeats, since he didn’t have one anymore.
“Laura,” he murmured, stroking my hair. I could tell that if he were human he would be crying. “Don’t do that to yourself. I’m fine. I-- I’ll find another girl. Please, please, please, go be with Brad.”
“I love you, Russel Brennan Grayson, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He slumped.
“Laura,” he sighed sadly. “I tried to do this the easy way. Laura, I don’t love you anymore.” I heard a shuddering gasp from the kitchen, and a strange gulping, gasping noise from directly above me. My arm dropped from Edward’s grasp, back to my side. “We had good times, but… you’re too young for me. I’m fourteen years old, Laura. You’re twelve. I can’t keep letting you believe you love me. It’s the lowest trick in the book. I’m too old for you, and I hadn’t had any way to tell you before. This is my way, though. My way to tell you that the Cullens and I are leaving. You’re going to stay. You can’t be with me, not ever. Our species are mortal enemies, Laura.” The tears stopped abruptly.
“You don’t-- you don’t want me?” He shook his head, scrunching his mouth to the side. “Well okay then. Fine. That-- that’s fine. As long as you don’t want me, I’ll stay away.” I got up, numb, and walked back to my room, deaf to the sobbing noises from behind me.
When I reached my room, I flung myself on the bed, tears splashing onto the pillow. “R-Russel!” I cried into it, my voice muffled and miserable. I sobbed into that pillow for over three hours, finally falling asleep, exhausted by grief.
I awoke to a warm hand on my back, my face pressed into my pillow from the crying jag I had just been on. I raised my head, daring to hope for Russel. No, it was Brad. But that would apparently be enough for my body, because, despite my shattered heart, I wrapped myself up in Brad’s arms contentedly. He rubbed my back, holding me close.
“I’m so sorry, Laura,” he whispered. “If I had only known, I would have backed off.” I shook my head, burying it into his muscular shoulder.
“It’s not your fault, Brad,” I whispered back. “It’s an impulse, I feel it too. But... if Russel’s out of the picture, we can go back and live in La Push, once they leave. We’ll be happy, and the things Russel and I could never do... we could.” Brad smiled softly.
“Alright, Laura. If it makes you happy, it makes me happy.” I sighed, the aching in my heart slightly numbed by the prospect of life with Brad. “They’re not leaving for another week, but do you want to leave early?” I nodded, getting up and walking over to the bathroom splashed with the blood from earlier.
“I have to go to the bathroom, okay?” I told Brad sweetly. He nodded, leaning back and closing his eyes happily. I closed the door behind me and climbed out the bathroom window, gripping the house tightly as I climbed to the roof. I burst off the vent and climbed through the jagged hole left, pulling the vent over me. Creeping through the attic, I found a box of Bella’s human items. Opening the dusty top carefully, I pulled out her small bag of ‘Charlie’s Item’s’. Unzipping the Ziploc bag, I slowly slid out Charlie’s old gun. Tapping the side, I felt the fully loaded pistol weighing in my hand. Taking a deep breath, I took off all of my clothes, placing the pistol between my teeth as I phased. When I was fully wolf, I piled my clothes on my back and leapt out the attic window, landing on the packed dirt and taking off into the trees, my clothing barely hanging on. When I was far in the woods, I phased back, pulled on my clothes, and sat in the small clearing, holding the gun in my shaking hands. I turned the gun so the muzzle was facing my chest, and my finger trembled on the trigger.
With a pounding heart, I pulled the trigger. A shot blasted into my sternum and I flew backwards, gasping in shock and pain. I lay on the forest floor, twitching in agony. I heard something snuffle in the bushes nearby, a thump, and an anguished, cracked and twisted scream of, “Carlisle!” I shut my eyes, grunting in complete suffering. I felt hot hands on my face, supporting my head and desperately parting my hair away. I could feel the spot in my chest growing hotter and hotter, suffocating me and collapsing my sternum. Tears streamed down my face, and I tried to jerk out of the scorching arms that held me close, the hot water raining on my face. I felt frozen fingers on my chest, scrambling to rip off my shirt. When I was topless I was nearly gone, my breaths coming in short, shuddering gasps that ripped pain through my breast. There was sobbing from all around me, but I paid little notice. The cold hands on my arms, legs, and chest were holding me to the ground, the last pair fluttering around the wound, desperately trying to save me.
With one last gulp, cough and lurch, I lay still, letting the pain and dark, warm darkness have me.
I drifted through shafts of white, pain in my chest and longing in my heart. My eyes brimmed over several times, but I never surrendered a word, so not as to satisfy the devils that revel in pain. I felt sharp pains in my arms and chest, hard things in my mouth and throat, warm and cold on my numb hands.
Is this really what death is? I begged. This is hell. I’m in hell. What did I do? This isn’t heaven, and SO not what I bargained for! And all the while I heard voices whispering softly, some irrelevant completely.
“Hold on, Laura,” one murmured over and over again. Others merely sobbed, while yet others tsked and showed signs of boredom. At some point, the hardness was gone from my throat and mouth, leaving my lips dry and cracked. I coughed a lot, stirring up the almost-forgotten pain in my sternum, yet even an actual wound was not so much compared to the absolute torture in my heart. Day-to-day I felt hot drops on my face and neck, on my chest and arms, freezing fingers on me almost constantly. There was an annoying beeping, probably part of a packaged deal from heaven to keep me as uncomfortable as possible.
I got bored, and I decided to shake things up a little. I squeezed my eyes shut, opening them slowly and fluttering my eyelids, to shield my eyes from the bright light that streaked in from the windows.
“Laura!” I heard cries from all over. I coughed hard, my chest throbbing. I moaned, my voice groggy and unclear. I swallowed, my throat feeling dry yet slimy at the same time.
“Everyone, step away from the bed, please!” There came a very official, formal, trained voice that I had only heard when incapacitated. Carlisle pushed through the various people by my bedside, quickly monitoring the beeping and dripping machines all around me, my charts, and my face. His stressed expression loosened slightly when he saw that I was not grimacing in pain. “Laura,” he said. “How are you feeling?”
There was a dry, shuddering sob from the back of the room. I blinked slowly, my brain working five times slower than normal. I exhaled slowly, but when I got too little air in my lungs, it felt as if I was receiving shots in the sternum repeatedly.
“How do you think she is?” asked a horribly dead voice. “How do you think you’d be, if you got shot in the chest?” I tried to turn my head, but the attempt was futile, due to the numerous tubes surrounding me. It was like a sick child’s game: Which lifeline leads where? I couldn’t even name all the places I had things stuck in me.
“Carlisle, do you want me to...” began Edward, but Carlisle shook his head.
“I need to see if she can speak.” All eyes, all a burning topaz, except for one, stared at me. The last was a particularly scorching pair of blood red. I stared into them, easily fathoming the endless tangles of emotions in my ex-boyfriend’s eyes. Russel blinked once, and I saw a change in the depths of his gaze. Now, instead of so much remorse, there was... anger? Did he really hate me so much that he was resentful that I had woken up?
“I--,” I started, my voice faint and weak. “My chest hurts.” Everyone in the room but Carlisle gave a relieved titter.
“Is that all?” I swallowed again, my throat sore.
“My throat hurts. Carlisle, where am I? Am... am I dead?” Carlisle took the time to write something down on his clipboard, his face serious.
“Not anymore, Laura. You were. And I don’t know if we can save you next time. You were incredibly lucky that Brad noticed the pull leading him somewhere else, and that Jacob transformed to find you.” I coughed, my chest aching. Carlisle walked over to a shelf, picking up a syringe and coming back over to the bed. He squeezed the liquid into an open tube, and almost immediately my head was clearer.
“I wasn’t, though,” I replied softly. “I really did mean to shoot myself, Carlisle. I don’t want to live in a world like this. This... I can’t be with Brad. I can’t be with Russel. I don’t know what I can do anymore. There’s no love in death, and I’d gladly welcome it any day. You think lying here connected to a jungle of plastic and medicine is comfortable? Newsflash: it isn’t paradise. I’m in pain constantly, either mentally or physically, and normally both. Why can’t I end it without someone trying to stop me?” Everyone in the room was dead silent, staring into my eyes in disbelief. Carlisle was frozen in place.
“Dr. Cullen?” Everyone turned toward the door, where a young nurse had poked her head in. “We need you in Room 204, stat!” Carlisle sighed and put the clipboard back on a cabinet, hurrying out of the room. Brad stepped forward, his eyes puffy and red, dark circles underneath.
“L-Laura!” he gulped, lurching to place his shivering hands on my sore chest. I smiled a tiny bit, feeling awkward lying in bed when the rest of the room was standing. Russel moved forward into Carlisle’s vacated place, his scarlet eyes burning. I was mesmerized by the shifting patterns in his eyes, the curls and waves of his hair, the smooth white contours of his skin. His face was so glorious, so perfect, no wonder I couldn’t hook him for more than three weeks. He was currently holding my gaze, as I was unable to look away from the passion in his fiery eyes. He was the first to break the connection, glancing anxiously up at a monitor above my head when it sped up considerably. The lack of Russel’s blinding stare was enough for me to realize I was gaping like an idiot. I blinked and forced myself to avert my eyes, to gaze somewhere, anywhere else.
I found myself watching Edward’s thumb trace patterns on Bella’s hand, Rosalie’s fingers inching down Emmett’s back, and Alice’s contented sighs from within Jasper’s arms. Pain that had nothing to with the bullet hole in my chest erupted in my heart, causing me to burst into tears and frighten the room full of mythical creatures. Everyone jumped.
“I think she needs to be alone,” said Edward pointedly. All of the vampires but Russel walked out. Jacob, Russ, and Brad all stood around me, Jacob glaring.
“Hi,” I offered, snuffling, my brain asleep but my body not quite there. Jake rolled his eyes.
“Is it really that bad, Laura?” he asked me angrily. “Does your life really suck enough for you to want to end it?” I blinked, contemplating the question.
“It’s not so much my life,” I answered, my words slurring together from the influence of the pain meds. “It’s just love. I can’t have my true love, I can only have someone forced upon me. I don’t want Brad, I need Brad, and it’s unhealthy. Please, please, can we reverse an imprint? Somehow?” Jacob shook his head slowly.
“We can’t reverse an imprint, but I think... I think this needs to be just Bella, Edward, and Russel. Come on, Brad.” Brad got up, his bloodshot eyes drooping with exhaustion, and Jake led him outside. I sighed and closed my eyes, the medicine wearing off. Edward and Bella came into the room, holding hands and stepping carefully. They came up on my left, Russel still on my right.
“Laura,” said Bella in a sad tone, “I know exactly what you felt when Russel... well, left you. The truth is, Edward,” she stopped to take a deep breath, and pain flashed through Edward’s eyes. “Edward left me, too. He left me for my own good, exactly what Russel did for you. Russ was trying to save you, to stop you hurting yourself, to put you with Brad. It didn’t work, kind of like Edward’s plan.” She smiled sadly and leaned up to kiss her husband on the cheek, but he turned his head at the last minute and they kind of made out.
I coughed, sending pain shooting through my chest. Russel stroked my hair, leaving his icy fingers lingering on my face slightly too long to be merely playing with my hair. I struggled to sit up, but nobody helped me. Finally I slumped back, defeated.
“That makes it better, but it still doesn’t change anything,” I whispered. “I want to be with Russel, I have to be with Brad! It’s just not worth the heartache it brings everybody!” Edward led Bella out, and I mentally thanked him when Brad walked in.
“Laura,” said both of the loves of my life at the same time.
“Okay guys,” I began softly. “I need to talk to you both, and I can’t be interrupted, because if I am, I might not be able to keep going.” Russel and Brad both nodded, pain in their eyes.
“I love you like a brother, Brad. You’re my best friend, and I couldn’t live without you, but... I have very definite views about love, marriage, and relationships, and imprinting doesn’t follow them. I need to be in a relationship with someone I truly love, not someone that I have to love, on an impulse. It’s not right for me, and I think it’s better if you find someone that will love you for who you are, not because they must. And Russel.” I turned to my one true love and tears coated my eyes.
“Russel, I can’t be without you. I was suicidal for you. If you’re out of the picture... then so am I. I’m out of everyone’s picture, if you’re out of mine.”
“Laura,” he muttered, voice broken, a perfect mirror of my heart. “You cut yourself right before I decided to break up with you. The pieces don’t fit.” I groaned.
“Not that again,” I whined. “That was because of the shock, and more because of the prospect of losing you. Russel, you’re my heart, soul, joy, life, everything I am. My life won’t go on without you.” I paused, considering all I had just said. I moaned. “Crap, crap, crap!” Both boys jumped and placed their reassuring hands on my shoulders.
“What is it?” asked Brad worriedly.
“Laura, what hurts?” begged Russel. “Someone get Carlisle!” I shook my head quickly, closing my eyes in exasperation.
“Guys, I’m fine,” I told them. “I said ‘Crap, crap, crap!’ because I realized I was bribing, threatening you, Russ. I didn’t mean to force you into loving me. You don’t have to love me to save me, okay? I-- I promise, no I swear, to never take my own life, as long as I live-- well, that’s pretty much redundant, don’t you think?-- but my point is, I’ll never kill myself ever on purpose.” Russel visibly deflated in relief.
“Laura,” spoke up Russel softly. “You apologized for forcing me into loving you?” I shook my head, ashamed. “Why on Earth did you do that? I’m perfectly happy loving you under any circumstances.” I felt my heart swell with joy, nearly burst with pride.
“I love you, Russel Brennan Grayson,” I whispered quietly. He leaned in and kissed me full on the mouth, and I savored every moment of his sweet, frozen touch.
“I love you, Laura Melanie Uley,” he gasped back, breathless after breaking away from our kiss. I stared into his wide, innocent red eyes, and he gazed into my own hard, black ones lovingly. I turned my head successfully, despite the tubes, and saw that Brad was missing. I groaned again, quickly explaining before Russel could order in the entire emergency room staff.
“Brad’s gone. Bad. I gotta make amends with him. Crap.” Russel laughed.
“I think you’ve played Dr. Phil long enough,” said a cool voice from the door. I looked up and saw Carlisle at the far end of the room.
“Oops. Sorry, Carlisle,” said Russ sheepishly. “I probably shouldn’t have done that.” My heart was racing, making my chest throb unbearably. I smiled warmly, thrilled that I could apply three years’ worth of acting camp.
“Sorry, Carlisle. We were just... having an animated discussion. I’m fine,” I lied through my teeth. As if the whole world was against me, I started coughing hard, sending pain ripping through my abdomen. I suddenly saw bright scarlet on the bed sheets, and Russel clutched at me.
“Did-- did she just cough up blood?” asked Russel, disgusted and appalled. Carlisle surged forward, placing his thin, strong icy fingers upon my brow and back, helping me to sit up.
“Yes,” Carlisle replied tensely. “Not good. Laura, are you all right?” I nodded weakly, my eyes fluttering shut. “I believe that was from how violent the coughs were on your throat. I’ll give you some pain medication and it’ll help you sleep.” He lay me back down and I sighed, warm and feeling loved, and went to sleep, glad, for the first time this week, to have woken up that day.

By: ambsace Comment

Within a week and a half, I was out of the hospital, still a little weak but on the mend. The day I got out I stumbled from my room, Russel propping me up lovingly. If it weren’t for Carlisle making me walk, Russ would have carried me gently, whispering lovely compliments into my ear. When we got to the car, Edward’s old Volvo, Russel cradled me to his chest as he slid into the back seat, holding me on his lap. Edward gave a disapproving glare, and I fell off Russel’s lap, into the middle section and we buckled in. I leaned my head on Russel’s shoulder, and Brad scooted in beside me, so I was in the middle of two of the people in the world that truly loved me. Brad hadn’t been in the best of moods lately, but he had been civil to Russel. I snuggled in to Russel, who wrapped his frozen arms around me contentedly.
The drive home was a short one, due to the eighty miles an hour that Edward drove. When we arrived at the huge mansion, I stepped out of the car after Russel and we went up the front steps, into the house.
“I’m hungry,” I announced. Bella laughed as she and Edward came in twined together. She unwrapped herself and skipped to the kitchen, pulling out all the ingredients for my favorite lunch: a BLT, a bag of Lays originals, and a Coke Zero. She laid them out on the counter, where I hopped onto the stool and dug in, chomping hard into Bella’s fine cooking. She made the best meals, since she had been an amazing cook before her vampirization.
“Where’s Jakey?” I asked through a mouthful of food.
“La Push,” replied Alice from the computer in the corner. She was designing a new dress for Rosalie, who was standing over her shoulder. Emmett was lounging on the sofa, flipping through shows, while Edward was sitting at the grand piano. I hopped down and took my plate to the dishwasher, throwing the crumpled napkin and chips bag in the trash and the can in the recycling bin.
“Do you play, Edward?” I asked him curiously as I went over to him. He was staring down at the keys, contemplating something.
“Yes, Laura, he does,” spoke up Jasper from in front of the huge glass wall. “He plays extremely well. Show her, Edward.” Edward placed his long, white fingers on the shining ivory keys, and my jaw dropped.
Edward smiled. “You like it, I take it?” he asked me as his fingers danced over the keys in a complex, weaving melody. I rolled my eyes.
“You’re only asking to show off, Mr. Mind Reader,” I retorted. He laughed, a happy sound. Bella danced over to place her thin fingers on his shoulders, swaying to the complex piece.
“Do you recognize this composition, love?” asked Edward softly, staring up at his wife. She smiled, her eyes missing the tears she so clearly shed in her mind.
“Always, Edward. My lullaby.” I cocked my head to the side as the lovers leaned in to kiss, Edward still playing.
“What can’t you do?” I asked angrily, and stormed away. Not really angry, I climbed the stairs to my room, slightly winded from the effort after two weeks in bed. I entered my familiar light green room, going immediately into my bathroom. The blood was all wiped up, but a small vial and the knife were neatly on the counter, along with a scribbled note. It said, Thought you might want a memory of this point in your life-- Bella. I smiled sadly, scooping it all up and wrapping it in a towel that had been spattered with blood. I threw the bundle onto my floor in my closet and shut the door, grateful for the gesture, but saddened by the memory.
I pulled open my drawers and slid out my favorite pair of shorts, an old Mickey Mouse shirt, and gathered my hairbrush and such, carrying them into my bathroom and closing the door. I pulled off the simple yellow cotton dress that Alice had made me wear out of the hospital and started the shower on hot. When it was steaming in the air, I flipped on the fan and stepped in, sighing happily. The burning water rained down on me as I scrubbed the hospital feeling off of me, feeling clean for the first time in days when I stepped out. I wrapped myself in a snowy white towel and stretched, brushing my teeth and slipping into my clothes. When I was dressed, I went back downstairs to find the whole family packing essentials.
“We’ll need a small supply of food, for when the Quileutes can’t hunt,” said Carlisle. “And we’ll need extra clothes, in case they have to phase in a hurry and they rip through. We’ll need our cell phones, the chargers, and fake documents; we’re starting over. What do you all say we go to Antarctica? I don’t want to bother the Denali’s quite yet, with a newborn. Our coven is getting a bit too large for their accommodations. Anything else you can think of, Laura?” I shook my head, leaning against the railing (hopefully) inconspicuously, suddenly very worn out. Alice was a tiny, designer-brand wearing blur as she raced around the room, collecting things she couldn’t leave behind like photographs of her and Jasper, a tiny figurine of a tiger cub poised to fight. Alice skidded to a stop, the figurine slipping out of her hands as she was putting things in the backpacks. She stooped in hyper-vamp-mode to catch it, but another pair of frozen white hands snatched it out of the air. Alice and I both looked up to see Edward standing there, cradling the small tiger.
“This is dear to my heart,” he murmured, and Bella came over slowly.
“I’ve never seen that before,” she said, confused. “And I’ve lived here for eighty-one years. What is it, Edward?” He sighed.
“When you were human,” he began softly, “you always reminded me of a kitten that thinks it’s a tiger. You were so weak, so vulnerable, yet you were always defensive and independent. I made this the night before the meadow.” Bella sighed and fell into Edward’s arms. I made a gagging noise and stalked away, but Edward’s smug voice slicked across the space between us.
“This is no worse than what you and Russel do in public,” he said shamelessly, bending down slooooooowly to make out with Bella. I mean, he was seriously sucking some face. I wrinkled my nose in disgust, turning around and running directly into Russel. He caught and steadied me, swiping his cold lips across the top of my head and continuing on his way.
“Are we ready except for the wolves’ clothes?” asked Jasper anxiously. “I’m looking forward to seal blood. It’s good.” Alice giggled.
“Jazz, the best kind is most definitely penguins,” scoffed Rosalie from the corner, now sitting at the computer, tracing along the screen with one perfectly manicured finger. “They taste a little like chicken’s blood.” Emmett guffawed.
“Polar bear’s best,” he boasted. “And it’s the most manly. Sorry, Jazz, I guess you’re too girly for bear blood. Laura’s more manly than you.” Jazz tensed, arching his back.
“I think that’s an invitation to fight,” he whispered, excitement coloring his voice.
“Definitely,” confirmed Edward, still clutching Bella.
“Most excellent,” I muttered in an awed whisper. “Vamp fight. Sweeto.”
Jasper and Emmett walked outside into the fierce sunlight, walking down the bank to the silent cobalt river, stopping a short way from the water’s lapping, crisp edges.
“Ready, big brother?” sneered Emmett. I had run down the bank after them, taking a seat in the sun-bleached grass.
“Woah, woah, woah, woah,” I begged. “Big brother? Em, you’re like, eight times bigger than Jazz. Whaaaaat?” I dragged out the word to showcase my confusion.
“Jasper was changed in the 1860’s,” replied Edward automatically, “and Emmett was changed after that, so in vampiric terms, Jasper is technically older.”
“Okay...” I muttered. Jazz and Em glittered, poised for a fight, snarls ripping from their chests. The hot summer sun beat down on me, and I felt sweat popping out in beads on my forehead. As soon as I desperately wished for something cool, two white arms snaked around me and pulled me onto a lap, perfectly molded to my form from experience.
“Here,” whispered Russel’s voice right in my left ear. I shivered at his cold breath curled around my face, and I leaned back into his frozen body. He held me close, and I could almost feel the electric excitement from the upcoming fight coursing through him.
“Fighting again, boys?” Esme stood in the doorway to the house, her caramel hair blowing slightly in the small breeze. “What’d you do, Emmett?” Her voice was reproach on the edge of humor.
“Why do you immediately blame me, Esme?” he asked indignantly. She raised a perfectly formed eyebrow, suggesting the obvious.
“Because it’s always you, Em,” she laughed. “Jasper, what did he do?”
“Called me a girl,” muttered Jazz sheepishly. Esme rolled her eyes.
“Boys,” she said with a sigh. “I appreciate you asserting your manliness outside of my house, but we need to get moving. Carlisle’s got most everything packed, but he told me to come tell you, Laura, that you need to get some clothes to carry in case you rip through yours. We can buy more when we get to Antarctica.” Jazz and Em relaxed, disappointed.
“Sorry, Esme,” they apologized together. She laughed again, a gorgeous sound of tinkling bells.
“Are we ready?” Carlisle walked briskly out of the house, carrying a backpack and wearing traveling clothes and a baseball cap pulled low over his face. “Laura, go get packed. Russel, are you thirsty at all?” Russel squeezed my shoulders and slid me off his cold lap, onto the pretty early summer grass. I got up slowly, my chest aching somewhat, and lumbered towards the house.
“I am a bit,” my spectacular boyfriend admitted, “but I don’t want to hold up the trip.” Carlisle shook his head.
“While Laura packs, we’re going hunting. You and I. We may come in contact with humans on the way, and we need to keep you glutted on the blood of the most carnivorous animals we can find.” Russel planted a sweet, slow kiss on my forehead and departed with Carlisle. I sighed and walked through the door, climbing the stairs laboriously and going to my room, where I grabbed my school bag and dumped its contents on my perfectly made bed, stuffing clothes from my drawers into the L.L. Bean pack. When most of my clothes were packed, I threw in toiletries and zipped it up with some effort, swinging it onto my back and walking out of my room. I grabbed my iPod and stuck the earbuds in my ears, turning up the music so I could jam out. Yep, that sounds incredibly lame, but I did it anyway. I made my way down the grand staircase, dancing the whole way. I slung my bag on the sofa and walked outside again, sorely missing Russel already.
“Packed, Pita?” I whipped around to see Jake lounging by the lake, stroking Renesmee’s hair gently. I walked towards them, my short, choppy ebony hair waving around my face. I took a seat next to Nessie and BJ, watching a bird flit over the water gracefully.
“You miss him, don’t you?” From the tone of Renesmee’s voice, I could tell she wasn’t talking about Russel. Shortly after we had arrived from the hospital, Brad had disappeared. I knew that I still had to make things right with him. I nodded, biting my lip.
“He’s like a brother to me, Ness,” I said unhappily. “I can’t stand him being mad at me.” She smiled a beautiful crooked smile. Raising a slim ivory hand, she hesitantly pressed it to my face, and an image and feeling swarmed through my mind. I gasped and leapt backwards, frightened. “What are you doing? How’d you do that?” I asked shakily.
“The same way Edward reads minds, Alice sees the future, Jasper influences emotions, and Bella works as a shield. It’s my power. I can show you my thoughts simply by touching you.” I nodded, drinking in this new, bizarre information. “May I do it again?” I nodded uncertainly.
Again, the image flew into my head, and I concentrated on it. It was a view from someone’s arms. I was being carried, and I saw Bella, wearing an overlarge white shirt over a tattered ice blue dress, leap for Jacob. I felt concern radiate through my body, then the vision ended.
“Was that the day you imprinted on him?” I asked her. She shook her head.
“No, a couple of days after. That was, however, the day I met Bella.” I cocked my head to the side.
“She’s your mother, how did you not meet her?” Nessie grimaced.
“Well, I wasn’t exactly the easiest baby to give birth to. I kind of broke most of her bones, leaving her momentarily paralyzed, then I bit her and my delivery almost killed her. My dad then injected his venom into her in a bunch of different places, which began to transform her into a vampire. It takes two or three days, give or take, to transform, so I didn’t get to meet her. Just see her right before I was carried out of the room by Rosalie, after nearly killing her.” I nodded slowly, taking this in as well.
“Anyway, the point of showing that to you was to let you know you’re not alone in the imprinting stage,” she said softly. “I’m here, and so is Jacob, if you ever need our help with it. Okay? I mean, when Russel’s under control, we’ll move back to somewhere actually populated, and since Jacob looks enough like you to pass off as an older brother, I’ll be his wife, and that makes me your adopted mother. We girls have to stick together, after all.”
I saw blurs of white on the horizon, and I knew my love was home. Smiling broadly, I thanked Renesmee generously and stood, awaiting Russel’s return. Scanning the coast, I couldn’ t see him. I was suddenly grabbed from behind and I crashed to the ground in a sparkling stone cage, Russel’s strong arms pinning me on top of his body. I turned my head and kissed his jaw, the highest point on his face I could reach from my current position. He resituated me.
“Try it now,” he whispered, and we kissed passionately. There was a cough from nearby, and we broke apart, me still in his arms.
“We should go,” said Alice, her eyes focused on the steel clouds floating in. “We’ll probably catch storm cover for a while, and not have to worry about the sun.” I glanced around, and, surely enough, every vampire but Renesmee was glittering fiercely. Nessie had a dull sparkle all over her body, proof that she was not all the way vampire.
Russel stood, still holding on to me, and carried me to the cover of the trees. He set me down, backing away a few steps. I understood, stripping down and concentrating on wolf form. I was just about to phase when I felt Russ put his freezing fingers on my scorching shoulder.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, and I realized that this was his first time seeing me naked. He wasn’t being a pervert, like most teenage guys, by staring at my girl parts. He was gazing into my face, and I knew he was sincerely talking about my face and person, not my body. I blushed at my appearance, nonetheless, quickly crouching to hide my lower body and crossing my arms over my breasts.
“So are you,” I mouthed, and I phased. When I was a snowy wolf, I padded back to the family, Russ trailing behind.
“Are you ready?” asked Carlisle. I shook myself out, feeling Jacob enter my mind.
Hey, he greeted me joyfully.
Hi, I replied, nuzzling my head into Russel’s waist so he’d pet me.
“Let’s run,” whispered Rosalie, and we all took off for the trees, the vamps whizzing past in a blur. Jacob and I raced, him winning easily, and we all had a great time, Edward reiterating for us anything we wanted to say.
“The wolves are hungry,” I heard him tell everyone else. We slowed and stopped, Jake and me panting from the long run.
“Then we shall eat,” said Esme simply. “Or at least they shall.”
There’s a bear not too far that way, Jacob tossed his head. It’s weak, not too fierce. Jacob and I sprinted for it, following the woodsy smell with our noses. The leaves were laced with the scent, the smell of wet fur and old blood. I panted and streaked forward, a white blur in the murky forest. We reached the stream and I leapt for the shaggy brown form, snarling as I tried to rip open its throat. The bear screamed and threw me off, but I was back on my feet in milliseconds. I tore at its ‘ankles’, and it toppled over, into the river. I jumped and landed on the facedown bear, stepping on its head to keep it down.
It threw me off easily, and I yelped, thrown into a tree. I slid down groggily, but jumped up and I saw that Jacob was sitting patiently behind a bush.
Why aren’t you hunting? I panted, dodging a blow from the bear.
It’s your kill, Lars. I won’t take it. I sent him a wave of gratitude and leapt, snarling from deep in my chest. I scrabbled at the grizzly’s eyes, blood quickly spattering the ground around us. I ripped out tufts of fur from its waving neck until I saw patches of pink: its exposed skin. I bit deep in those places, warm, salty blood gushing out. I ripped its neck open more and it gave a last choked roar before falling hard into the river.
It’s dead, Laura, Jacob told me. I reached down and grasped what was left of its neck fur, dragging it easily out of the river and onto dry land. I ripped at the bear’s fur and tore open a section of meat, thrusting my muzzle in and swallowing chunks of grizzly. Jacob came to join me. When it was a mere skeleton, I trudged back to the site where we had left the Cullens. I flopped onto my back and sighed in a wolfy way as Russel came to sit with me.
“I told you she could!” boasted Emmett.
Could what? I asked Edward. He grimaced.
“I’d rather not,” he said hesitantly, but obviously both Russel and I pressed for the information. “Oh, fine. Laura, Emmett and I had a bet to see if you would kill a baby animal or not. Jacob won-- you did.” I yelped, tasting the blood that stained my teeth, feeling small shreds of meat that had gotten stuck in them. I phased back just in time to throw up over the side of the large rock I was on. Russel folded a blanket to hide my form as he held my heaving back, murmuring condolences and reassurances. I straightened, gasping, and wiped my mouth off. Russel handed the blanket to me and I wrapped it around myself firmly.
“I-- I ate a baby bear?” I gulped. Russel’s eyes were sad.
“It was the only thing we could find for you to hunt,” he told me quietly. “They swore me to secrecy.” I heaved once more, puking up what was left of my innards, plus a couple extra kidneys. Shaking with puke tears in my eyes, I sat on Russel’s lap.
“Why did I have to hunt a baby?” I whimpered pitifully. “That’s horrible, just horrible. I-- I’ll never take another animals’ life. Ever.” Everyone gasped.
“Laura, how will you hunt?”
“I won’t!” I answered fiercely. “I’m officially a vegetarian. Officially.” Russel stroked through my short, sable tresses.
“Are you sure?” he asked me softly. I nodded, gulping down the bile that rose suddenly.
“Well, if she’s sure about this way of life, then she’ll need plenty of nutrients to supplement the meat diet she’s abandoning,” said Bella matter-of-factly. “And she’ll need to drink plenty of water until we get to land we can make vegetarian dinners on.” I sniffled, putting my head on Russel’s shoulder.
“Okay,” said Russel uneasily. “Should we stop so they can sleep?”
“I can go for a couple of days,” said Jake tiredly, but his face was haggard. His black eyes were bloodshot and he sagged on Renesmee slightly. “But I don’t know about Laura. She just got out of the hospital, I mean. How’s your chest?” I shrugged.
“Of course it hurts,” I replied. “It got shot. But I’m fine. Oh, crap!” I looked down and felt trickling down my stomach. I peered inside the towel and saw blood running down my torso from the small wound in my sternum. It was considerably small for an injury that big, because, courtesy of werewolf-ism, I now healed extra fast. “Carlisle, it’s bleeding. Again.” He pulled a bandage out of his bag and I stood shakily. We went back into the woods and he bandaged my chest successfully, stemming the thin flow.
“Umm,” I said. “I think I want to sleep now. My head hurts.” This was a complete lie, of course, but I could see Jacob’s eyes slowly closing and Esme nodded.
“We’ll stay here for the night,” she decided. “Now go to sleep, those who can.”

By: ambsace Comment

“We’re here!” I awoke with a start, my head popping off Russel’s shoulder. The plane had landed and people were exiting. I stretched, getting up and stretching my stiff muscles. Russel picked up my backpack from the overhead compartment and I grabbed my iPod from the seat, where I had crushed it when I fell asleep listening to it. Stuffing it in my jacket pocket, I felt my stomach rumble. Ignoring it angrily, I followed my boyfriend’s back off the plane. He turned around and took my hand as we walked to find the rest of the group. I saw nine exceptionally pale bodies and one dark one to our left, and Russel and I veered off to join them. We reached the Cullens, all looking gorgeous, like only vamps can do.
As always when I looked at Rosalie, my breath caught in my chest. Her waist-length blonde hair was perfect and straight, her sweet designer clothes unwrinkled and tight, showing off her beautiful figure.
“All here?” asked Carlisle. “Good. We’ll need to run the rest of the way to our house. It’s just easier. We ready? Get your coats on, everyone. We don’t want to stand out.” All of us dug out our parkas, pulling them on and shuffling down the hall like overstuffed mushrooms. I glanced out the window and saw snow falling.
“Ew, gross,” I commented. “Nasty. I hate snow!” The Cullens looked at me like I was crazy, and Russel shrugged, putting his arm around me protectively. Bella giggled.
“I had the exact same reaction,” she told me. “Why don’t you like it?”
“Makes surfing reeeeally cold,” I replied dismissively. “And swimming sucks, too. So does basically anything outside.” Russel gave me a squeeze.
“You surf?” asked Alice.
“Of course. My mom’s a world traveler for business. One time, she had a month-long conference in Hawaii. She can’t leave me home alone, so I went with her. She was always in meetings all day, and what else is there to do but surf in Hawaii?”
“Oookay,” Alice replied, and we kept walking through the chilly airport. We walked around to the deserted backside of the airport, checking over our shoulders, and I hurriedly pulled off my clothes, though I didn’t shiver when the frozen air touched my skin.
Phasing quickly, I found I blended in with the snowy surroundings. We ran for a while, the snow swirling around making visibility poor. We finally arrived at the large house, stopping in the deep snow. I collapsed into the fluff, panting from the long run. Scarlet stained the snow in front of me and I groaned internally: my chest was bleeding again.
“Let’s get inside,” called Carlisle over the howling wind. “We’ll get warm and the wolves can phase back!” We all trooped inside, shutting the door behind us. It was now dead silent, and I stuck my nose in Russel’s waist. He handed me my backpack, which I gripped in my strong teeth and padding to the bathroom. I found it by following my nose to the scent of water. I got inside, phasing and kicking the door shut.
When I was dressed, I exited the bathroom and saw them all grouped around the table. They beckoned me over and I skipped to greet Russ, sitting in a chair.
“Laura,” began Carlisle. “We need to talk. Your school let out a week ago, and you technically didn’t graduate. You have to take the last few weeks of school over again, to finish seventh grade. And then there’s the issue of next year’s schooling.” I shrugged.
“Okay. What about next year’s schooling?”
“There aren’t exactly any schools around here.” My brain was moving slowly.
“So?”
“So, we’re going to have to send you away to boarding school.” I gasped, jumping backwards, tipping the chair over backwards and toppling onto the floor. Russel moved to help me and I pushed him away angrily.
“No! You can’t! I won’t! Russel can come with me, though, right?” Carlisle shook his head.
“No, Laura. He cannot. The whole reason we moved here is to keep him away from humans.” His eyes were sad but his voice was stern. He clearly was not going to relent.
“But I-- I can’t,” I whimpered. “I’ll fail out on purpose! I’ll break all the rules, I’ll get expelled, or I’ll break the law!” Rosalie stifled a giggle. Russel glared at her forcefully.
“Laura,” spoke up Esme sadly. “We have your best interest at heart, sweetie. It’s truly best. I promise.”
“If you do those things, I’ll have no choice but to send you back to your mother,” warned Carlisle. I slumped in my seat, but the tears didn’t come. I guess I had cried myself out for a while.
“O-okay,” I said. “I’ll get through it. Fine. Good. Everything’s good.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The Cullens were all staring at me. “What?” I demanded. “Expecting a crying show? Nope. Not this time. I’m good. I’ll deal. It’ll be over in... five years,” I choked, “and then... aw, crap, I’ll have to start all over again, won’t I? Darn. Okay. Whatever. Sure. Yep. Kay.” During my series of fragmented sentences, they never stopped gaping at me.
“Do you guys blink?” I asked in alarm, and immediately they all closed their eyes in synchronization, which was pretty cool to watch. White shutters slid over topaz eyes all around.
“So,” began Jacob loudly. “What’s for lunch, Bell?” Bella moved towards the kitchen. I suddenly realized that this house was already beautifully furnished and decorated.
“Have you all lived here before?” asked Russel, as if he had read my mind.
“Yes,” replied Carlisle. “This was the house that Esme, Rosalie and Emmett ‘grew up’ in. They all became mature vampires here.” I nodded.
“Cool,” I commented. “Hungry. Bella, gimme food.” She laughed.
“Bossy,” she retorted playfully. “It’s coming. Whatcha want?”
“I don’t know, just something easy,” I replied. She placed a bowl in front of me and reached into a cabinet and pulled out a packet of Ramen Noodles. She boiled two cups of water in a shining silver pot, tapping in a bit of salt. While the water was heating she threw the noodles at the floor, stomping on them harshly. Bella then calmly picked up the packet and dumped the crushed noodles into the frothy water, setting a timer for three minutes. She turned and leaned on the counter in front of me.
“Umm, what did the noodles ever do to you?” I questioned confusedly. She laughed.
“That way you don’t have to cut them up later.” The timer beeped cheerfully and she pressed the ‘off’ button and sprinkled the flavoring into the pot, stirring it around quickly and dumping half of it into my bowl, and leaving the rest in the pot. I slurped up the steaming broth and gulped down the noodles, refueling what was lost in the long run from the airport to the house.
When I was done, I felt a weird craving for fruit. “Hey, Bella.” She turned around from washing the dishes.
“Can I have an apple?” I asked Bella. She stopped dead in her tracks, hesitating.
“Umm, I don’t know, Laura,” she said slowly, throwing a questioning, nervous glance over at Edward and Jasper. They weren’t looking towards us, but she bit her lip.
“Please? I just want an apple, okay?” She made a noise that sounded like ‘no’.
“Fine, you can have one, but can I cut it?” I shrugged, confused.
“Okay. Go ahead. Less work for me.” Bella pulled out a Braeburn apple and sliced it swiftly, quickly putting the knife in the sink and rinsing it. She then dried it and replaced it in the drawer, very carefully closing it. She handed me the cut apple and I ate a slice, savoring the sweet crunch. Bella was watching me with somber eyes, as was Russel. I coughed uncomfortably, checking the wound in my chest. It was nearly gone now, the mere size of a pinprick.
“What do you want to do?” I asked Russel. He shrugged.
“Well, actually, Laura,” spoke up Carlisle. “You need to pick a nation and then a school within that nation. We never mentioned that you had to go to public school. Pick out something you love, like a school of music or a school of the arts.” My heart leapt at the prospect. Perhaps I could go to a school where I could surf! But I knew that I couldn’t. I would have to choose a school for its academic prospects, like for an art or drama program.
“Could I go to a school for the arts?” I asked hesitantly. Carlisle smiled.
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” he said supportively. “Pick a nation, and we’ll attempt to teach you the language by the time you need to go to school.” I stifled a snigger, forgetting that I hadn’t told them about my knowledge of languages.
“Okay, Carlisle,” I told him. “I think there’s one in England that’s absolutely amazing... It’s called... Callenger Academy for the Arts, I think. I’ll do some research.” I looked around and saw a pristine computer in the corner. I stood fluidly and walked over, plopping down and quickly clattering away on the keyboard. A small box popped up on the screen. I groaned and scanned the message quickly: 패스워드를 입력하십시오:
“Uhh, what’s the password, guys?” I asked. Alice tripped over.
“How did you know that was a password screen?” she asked me.
“I read, write and speak Korean?”
“Umm, what? Since when? What languages do you know?” I sighed.
“ASL, English, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Dutch, German, and Russian.” The Cullens all turned to stare at me.
“You can speak what?” spluttered Bella. “I can’t even do that, and I’m ninety-nine! I speak English, some Spanish, and P-Portuguese,” she stuttered on the last, smiling mischievously at Edward, who grinned back and winked.
“Whatever. Doesn’t matter to me. It’s not that hard. Can I call my two best friends? I made friends with them in the first place because I was the only person in the school who could talk to them.” I flipped open the cell they had so generously given me, and saw that I had service. Not even waiting for an answer, I dialed speed dial eight.
“Hello?”
“Vera! Vera, Vera, Vera, I miss you!” There was squealing from the other side.
“Laura, I miss you too! Where were you last month? I miss you!” I laughed.
“It's complicated, Vera. It's a story for another time. What have I missed?"
“You missed the school dance, unfortunately. Ethan kissed me. Twice!" I laughed.
“Congratulations, Vera. What were you two dressed as?"
“He was a prince, and I was Rapunzel."
“I have to make another phone call, Vera. I will call you later tonight, all right?"
“Okay. I love you, Laura."
“Love you too. Tot ziens!” I reverted to her own language, Dutch, to say goodbye.
“Tot ziens!” I hung up the phone and immediately dialed nine.
“Bonjour?” came a masculine voice.
“Bonjour, Alexandre,” I said in my fluent French. “Est-ce qu’elle ici?” ‘Hello, Alexandre. Is Anastasie there?’
“Oui, Laura.”
“Can I speak with her?"
“Yes, just a moment, Laura. Anastasie, Laura est au téléphone pour tu!” I heard him call over his shoulder to my friend, which meant, ‘Anastasie, Laura is on the phone for you!’
“Salut, Laura!” screamed the voice of my friend. “How are you? I missed you!"
“I missed you too, Ana,” I told her earnestly. “I miss you too, Ana. I live in Antarctica right now, but in a couple of months I will be living in England." She squeaked indignantly.
“What? Why? How? HUH?"
“I'll explain later, okay? I have to go, Russel's calling me,” I said quickly, and hung up, knowing that she would hang on to every second she was talking to me otherwise.
I was smiling as I was putting my phone back in my pocket. I returned my view to that of the screen and saw the annoying password box still blinking. “ARGH! What’s the password?”
“Vampire,” called Edward. The room was suddenly deserted, but I didn’t mind. I quickly typed it in, logging in and clicking on the internet button. I went to http://www.google.com.html/ and searched ‘Callenger Academy of the Arts.’ It was a private school in London, England and accepted only girls that could express themselves by art in some way. I scrolled down, highlighting the page and copying and pasting it into a word document. I found a picture of the school uniforms, which were surprisingly cool. You had to change for dance class, just like you would change for gym in regular school.
The outfit was a pleated plaid skirt of black, yellow and purple, a black long-sleeved shirt, and a purple sweater for chilly days. It said I could wear whatever shoes I wanted, but it recommended I wear athletic shoes, so I wouldn’t have to change them for dance, unless I chose to take ballet.
“You’ll look hot in that,” offered a voice. I jumped, because it wasn’t Russel who spoke. It was Emmett.
“Pardon me?” I asked stupidly, my stupid flawless grammar coming to bite me on the butt. Raised speaking perfect English, I always sounded like a real dork next to my friends.
“You’re pretty cute, Laura,” said Emmett, grabbing a baseball. “We’re gonna play baseball. You in?” I shrugged.
“How do you play in this weather?” I asked indignantly. “I can’t see, I’m sure of it!”
Em laughed. “We can see. You can watch.” I yawned.
“No thanks,” I replied softly. “I want to do some more research on Callenger.” He shrugged nonchalantly, walking out the door. Turning back to the screen, I read about the course schedule. The required classes were some type of dance, art or photography, drama, and chorus, orchestra or band. I immediately chose street dancing, which was really cool to me. I also selected art, and deliberated over orchestra, band or chorus. I didn’t really want to play an instrument, but I also didn’t think I could sing. I decided to ask the Cullens at dinner. Even though they didn’t eat, they sat with Jake and me while we did, to talk. There was suddenly a humongous crack from outside and I jumped.
I stood from the computer, bookmarking the page and closing the browser window. Walking to the door, I squinted into the swirling white and saw many dark figures running, some stationary. I opened the door and went outside, the bitter wined chilling me to the bone. I stood by the frosty house, hugging myself to conserve heat. I watched as Russ swung a tan bat at the speeding ball, and heard the thunderous boom it made when they connected. Suddenly, my boyfriend was a blur as he whipped around the diamond the Cullens had formed, sliding into home just as Edward tagged him with the ball. I smiled, my dry lips cracking and bleeding. Everyone looked towards the house as the scarlet dripped onto the snowy ground. Russel waved, his flashing smile sparkling across the baseball ‘field’. I smiled back, glad that he was enjoying himself in this new world of mythical beings.
I sat down in the snow, watching the game’s progression with interest. Alice was pitcher, and Esme was keeping score over by a chunk of ice. I shivered, the cold barely getting to me. Edward stepped up to bat, the sides switching. He cracked the ball out of the ‘park’, racing around so fast I barely registered he was gone. I sighed, standing and walking back into the toasty house, my bare feet numb. Jacob was sitting at the table.
“Hey Pita,” he said, looking up. “What’s up?” I shrugged, going over to sit with him. He moved the book he was reading aside and looked at me.
“Nothing much, Jake. The move’s weird, and I strongly feel that I do not need to go to boarding school. But I’m good. I’ll feel better tonight, after I do some stuff.” Jake’s eyes widened.
“What do you mean, Laura?” he asked sharply.
“I’m just going to be able to let out some anger later tonight. I should have a good time; I’ve done this before, and it made me feel better then, too. Even though it never lasts long enough.” His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. The wrist. He examined the thin pink scars that went down my arm thoroughly.
“Why would you do that, Laura? What you’re doing tonight? It’ll just hurt other people.” He then stood and walked away, and I was left at the table, confused. Shrugging it off and pushing the hurt to the back of my mind, I decided to get some reading done. I stood up, flinching at the crack from outside, and walked over to where Russel had deposited my belongings. I sifted through them, quickly finding my meager collection of books, picking out a well-worn classic. It was over eighty years old, but I was in love with it: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I walked upstairs, then thought better of it and descended again. I didn’t want to get in a fight over rooms, especially with my natural enemies. They could crush me. I plopped onto the couch, pulling a faded knit afghan over my legs and curling them under me, to form a blanket cocoon.
I was well into the book after five minutes. I turned the familiar, worn old pages, roving hungrily over the words. I savored the flavor of the chapter, my heart racing, as always, when Voldemort spoke. Chills ran down my spine as he killed Charity, and I shivered as I read on to the next chapter. I was hanging on the edge of my seat as the wedding was crashed by Death Eaters, and there was noise from the kitchens. I blinked slowly, drifting back into our own world, one not composed of magic and spells.
“What do you want for dinner, Laura?” called Bella from the kitchen. “Normally, I would make steak fajitas, but...” she let it hang. I got up, my blankets tumbling to the floor, and walked over to the kitchen.
“Umm, I don’t know, Bella,” I replied, opening the fridge.
“How about vegetable stew?”
“Sounds good. You want my help?” I got to work chopping up the vegetables she set in front of me. I sliced through a bright carrot, and Russel came up behind me.
“May I do that?” he asked me quietly, pain in his eyes. Startled, I nodded, stepping back and handing him the knife. He held it gingerly, chopping with preciseness. Bella looked over, confused, then saw Russel.
“Oh. Yes. Russel, that’s a good thing for you to do,” she said absent-mindedly. “Laura, why don’t you heat up the broth?” I shrugged, exploring the cabinets for food. I found a can of vegetable broth and pulled it out, cracking open the tabbed lid and pouring it into a pot, cranking up the stove. I opened another cabinet, pulling out two small potatoes. I ran them under the sink gently, rinsing off all the dirt. Setting out a cutting board, I began to dice them, small squares of raw potato flying off underneath my fingers. Esme came and took the knife from me.
“Why don’t you go ask Bella what you should be doing,” suggested Esme softly, worry coloring her quiet tone. “I can do this.” I was utterly bewildered by this point, as to why I couldn’t help with anything.
“Laura, I think we have it,” called Bella. “I have Esme and Russel helping me, and if we need another set of hands we’ll ask Jacob.” Defeated, I went and curled up into my blanket ball, getting out Harry Potter and opening it, delving into the magic of magic.
“Dinner’s on!” said Bella sometime later. I looked up and saw steaming stew on the table, next to a plate of steak fajita. Swallowing hard, I sat down at the vegetarian place, picking up a spoon. The Cullens came and gathered around me, Jacob sliding into the seat next to mine.
“Mm,” he moaned appreciatively through a mouthful of fajita. “Omigod, this is good.” Feeling my stomach twist, I spooned up some soup. It was burning, but it tasted so good.
“Whoa,” I commented as the dinner left blisters going down my throat. “This is really good, Bella. Thanks!”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled, placing a cutting board of warm bread in front of me and Jake. We both grabbed pieces, buttering them quickly. I dipped it into my soup and bit into it, the savory flavor making my mouth water.
“So,” I began, swallowing my stew. “School.”
“School,” said Carlisle.
“I’ve decided on Callenger Academy of the Arts,” I told them all. Bella nodded and Alice whistled appreciatively. “But I need some help with course selection.”
“All right,” said Russel. “What are the choices?”
“Well, it’s really just one course I need to decide on,” I stalled. “Chorus, band, or orchestra. I don’t know which one to take.”
“Well, can you sing?” asked Jasper.
“Umm,” I blushed. “I’m not one to judge myself, am I?” I felt that my face was very hot.
“Sing for us,” demanded Emmett. “Go on.” My heart pounded.
“W-what song?” I rasped, my throat suddenly bone dry.
“The national anthem, how about?” asked Edward reasonably. I fidgeted.
“Sing, Laura,” coaxed Rosalie with a mean glint in her eye. “C’mon. If you completely stink, we’ll be happy to tell you. Just delighted!” I took a deep breath and began to sing with my eyes shut.
“Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed through the twilight’s last gleaming? Who’s broad stripes and bright--?”
“Laura, Laura, stop!” My eyes snapped open and I was completely embarrassed. They were all staring at me in disbelief. Tears threatening to rise, I took another deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Fine, chorus is scratched. I guess--.”
“No, Laura.” Jasper spoke up. “You’re fantastic. You’re really, really good. Do chorus.” Everyone nodded in agreement, and I flushed with pleasure.
“I didn’t know you could do that!” whispered Russel admiringly. I grinned.
“I didn’t either. Well, that settles my course list.” Carlisle leaned forward.
“We need to teach you ‘the family tree’, so you can easily answer questions. When shall we do that?” Bella stood up, gathering Jake’s and my dishes from the table.
“Want some help with the dishes?” I asked lazily.
“That would be fantastic, Laura.”
“Then we’ll talk after the dishes, okay?” I asked Carlisle. He nodded, and the vamps left the table. Alice skipped to the computer, Jasper slammed the door as he walked into the snowy wasteland, Edward walked lithely to watch TV with Esme and Carlisle, and Emmett and Rosalie mysteriously disappeared upstairs, where there were great crashes and squeals.
“I’ll wash, you dry?” I asked her, and she nodded. I began to wash and rinse the dishes thoroughly in scalding water before handing them off to Bells. I was in the middle of scrubbing a particularly grimy, very sharp knife, when Emmett was behind me.
“I’ll take that,” he said pointedly. Again with the taking of the knives! “We wouldn’t want you to cut yourself,” he hinted not-so-subtly. Suddenly, it all clicked into place. I blew up.
“What the hell is wrong with you guys?” I screamed. “You think I’m gonna cut myself just because of boarding school? No way! Dudes, I saw what it did to all of you last time, and I won’t put any of you through that ever again on purpose for as long as I live! Never! Besides, cutting again? I’m not that dramatic! When I said I was going to relieve some anger, I was TALKING about venting to my best friends!” I stormed up the stairs, fuming. I grabbed my cell and dialed my two best friends, putting them on three-way and having the biggest, deepest vent I had had in a long time, even though I withheld the truth that could ruin our lives. My two best friends, whom I trusted Russel’s life with, didn’t know the biggest, scariest thing about me. Werewolf.

By: ambsace Comment

“Well, Laura,” said Carlisle, as we sat on the large sofa later that night, after I had cooled off. “Let’s start with immediate family and history.” Half an hour later, I could recite it back.
“Now, Laura,” he said. “Whom do you live with?” Carlisle was playing the part of an inquisitive equal.
“Oh, I live with my big brother, Jacob, and his wife, Renesmee. Our parents were killed in a car crash a couple of years ago, back in America, where we lived.”
“Oh, really? Where did you live?”
“We lived in Washington, about an hour from Seattle.”
“What does your brother do for a living?”
“He hunts wolves.”
“What does Renesmee do?”
“Renesmee is unemployed.”`
“Do you know the Cullens very well?”
“Yes, I do. They’re like my second family. We know them because Renesmee’s, parents, Carlisle and Esme, live there. Carlisle and Esme are so sweet, helping me out, what with their eight foster kids. They like it in the cold weather.”
“They have eight foster children?”
“Yeah. Edward, Bella, Alice, Emmett, Renesmee, Russel, and the twins, Rosalie and Jasper Hale.” Carlisle and I both sat back, and I was stunned that I could rap out the information like that.
“Would anyone else like to test her?” asked Edward. No one stepped forward, so he did. “How old are the children?”
“Uh,” I stuttered. “Umm, Russel is fourteen, Bella is eighteen, Edward is seventeen, Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper are nineteen, and Alice is eighteen?” I responded in a question.
“Be more sure of yourself, even if you have no clue, and you’ll be fine,” he assured me brusquely. “How old are Esme, Carlisle, Jacob and Renesmee?”
“Jake’s twenty-seven, Renesmee’s twenty-five, Esme is th-thirty-two, and Carlisle is thirty. I think.” Edward groaned.
“Be more sure of yourself, Laura! How old are you?”
“Twelve,” I answered automatically. Edward smiled.
“Are you sure about that?” asked a voice from the door. I turned around and saw Russel, holding a plate with one cupcake on it, a single blue candle burning steadily.
“Happy thirteenth birthday, Laura,” said Bella, smiling. “Today’s July third. You missed your birthday in the hospital, so how about we have a party now?” I felt heat rush into my cheeks, but also gratitude. They accepted me, and they wanted to celebrate my birth. That meant a lot, seeing as I wasn’t technically family. Russel came forward slowly, holding my cupcake out before him.
He leaned in and kissed me, tossing the plate on a nearby table. His muscular arm swatted the box off my lap as he pulled me closer, the kiss more and more passionate by the second. I finally broke off, gasping, and turned my attention to the family. Russel’s eyes were smoldering a ruby color, so beautiful in his pale face, with his dark hair.
"You have some presents from us to open,” Edward reminded me. I twitched impatiently as the vamps all pulled out gift bags and boxes. Alice handed me hers.
I unwrapped it, seeing a really cute forest green dress. I looked up, into her sparkling eyes.
“You don’t have anything even half decent,” she proclaimed, “so I took the liberty of buying you something twice decent.” I rolled my eyes and leaned forward. She hugged me awkwardly, then burst out, “I can’t SEE!” She dashed upstairs, grumbling softly the whole time. Alarmed, I turned to Bella.
“Alice can’t see a werewolf’s future,” she explained. “Her ‘vision’ goes black. She can’t even be in the same room or tell the future of someone associating with a werewolf when she tries to see. It aggravates her.”
“Clearly,” I replied. “Okay, what’s next?” I ended up receiving Cassidy, supplies for her, the dress from Alice and Jasper, a pair of Converses from Bella and Edward, a book from Esme and Carlisle, and a pair of silver hoop earrings from Rose and Emmett. Seeing them reminded me of the locket my mother had given me. I clapped a hand to my mouth, spears piercing my heart.
“What?” asked Russel, alarmed.
“I lost the necklace my mommy gave me!” I sobbed, putting my head in my hands. My mouth had the extra-sticky saliva feeling, and there was extra moisture in my eyes, but I wasn’t crying. At all. A warm hand appeared on my shoulder.
“Don’t be so sure,” said a soft voice, and a small jewelry box slid onto my lap. With shaking fingers I opened it, seeing a bright silver locket, engraved with an ornate L, just like the one Leah had given me.
“W-what?” I gulped.
“I got it from your pile of clothes when you phased in front of your granddad that night,” Jake explained. “I figured you’d want it back.” I jumped up and squeezed him as hard as I could.
“Thank you so much, Jacob,” I told him, my voice rough with emotion. “It’s better than anything else someone from La Push could have gotten me. Thank you so so much.” He hugged me and set me back on the couch, next to Russel. Russel then set the cupcake on my lap, the flaming turquoise candle fluttering. With one wish in my whole heart, I blew it out, sending cheers up from every vamp in the room. Jacob smiled weakly.
I bit into the cupcake, chocolate flooding my mouth. Chewing slowly, I swallowed. He smiled when my face showed utter shock at how really, really yummy that cupcake was. He took the pastry from me, setting it back on the table. He flipped me head over heels, somehow twisting me so I was on his back. He ran upstairs, bringing me into my bedroom. Russel dropped me on the bed and stood in front of me, his eyes wild.
“Having a good birthday?” he whispered. I batted my eyelashes, my body instantly going into flirt mode.
“It’s always a good birthday with you around,” I responded, and love was saturating my voice. Russel smiled, his perfect white teeth glittering. A single sun beam shot through the window, cascading onto my boyfriend’s face, illuminating the whole room with the sparkles from his cheek. It was a breathtaking image. I felt my heart just stop beating. Russel’s eyes widened, his smile faltering, but when my heart regained its tempo, but slightly faster, he relaxed. I yawned and stretched, blinking.
“Tired?” he asked me softly, his voice like a sweet melody. I nodded, trying to keep my eyes open. “Sleep well, love,” he whispered as he leaned forward and tucked me in. I shivered from the cold house and Russel’s frozen touch. He delicately handed me a hot water bottle and pressed it in beside me, to warm the bed. The young vampire left, blowing a single kiss over his shoulder as he went.
I awoke in the morning and stood, wobbling, stumbling to the foot of my bed. There was a pale blue bathrobe draped across it, with a pair of fluffy white slippers on the floor. I smiled, brushing my teeth and my hair thoroughly before slipping into my new loungewear. It was as soft as any cloud could be and I felt like I floated downstairs.
“Morning!” called Bella from the kitchen. I went and sat at the bar stool, where she slid a plate of spaghetti in front of me, along with a glass of 1% milk. I refuse to drink any other kind.
“You’re chipper,” I replied darkly, still half asleep. She came and leaned over the counter, looking at me.
“Well, when you’re not tired, the world is a much more fun place,” she reasoned, and I had to admit she had a point.
“Mmph,” I replied sourly, and dug in to my breakfast heartily. When it was through, I was in a marginally better mood, so I cleaned up the dishes myself. I smelled the air carefully and smelled no new vampire scents, which confused me. Where were the rest of the Cullens. I posed this question to Bella curiously.
“Hunting,” she replied wistfully. “I stayed back to make breakfast, though.” I felt guilt weighing on my stomach.
“Go, Bella,” I told her quietly. “I can cook fine. I’ll be okay, I don’t need you to make breakfast every morning. Anytime they all want to go hunting before I’m awake, feel free to go with them. Thanks, though.”
“Thank you, Laura,” she told me kindly. “May I go now, then?” I nodded, motioning. She took off and was gone before I could blink. Sighing, I retreated to the sofa, picking up my faithful Harry Potter book and diving back into it. Before I knew it, there was a frozen hand on my shoulder. I looked up into the fiery, burning eyes of my perfect, flawless boyfriend.
“Hi,” I whispered.
“Hello,” he murmured. “What would you like to do?” I suddenly felt something inside me urging me to take a walk.
“Let’s go for a walk,” I suggested. He took my hand and we walked out the front door, gazing at each other intensely. We began walking, my wolfiness keeping me plenty warm. Russel’s midnight tresses were sharp in contrast to our surroundings and his face. I felt my own hair whipping around my head, which I tied back swiftly with the ribbon I kept tied to my wrist. We walked in comfortable silence, just happy to be alone together. As I watched the distant shoreline, where the water met the land, I saw a thin gray figure limping faithfully. I cocked my head, and the wolf’s-- I saw it was a malnourished wolf, now-- head perked up. It began loping faster, coming straight for us. I watched it running for us, in a flat-out sprint, and I shrank into Russ.
“Should I phase?” I asked him, tensing up. Russel’s eyes narrowed.
“That wolf looks... different... than the other wolves I’ve seen,” he began slowly, but a sudden crack split the air and the wolf disappeared from my view. Russel’s eyes widened.
“My gift!” he cried, kicking my feet roughly out from under me and carrying me, husband-carries-wife-over-the-threshold style, over to where the wolf had vanished. “My gift, it’s telling me--!” Russel stopped as we reached the spot. He dropped me and peered downwards. The reason the wolf had just disappeared was that the crack was the sound of ice breaking. The poor, starving wolf had dropped into the new hole, and was now thrashing around, drowning in the freezing water. Instinctively I stripped, phasing before the cold could touch me. I melted into my wolf form, hearing whispers in my mind, then terrified screams.
Laura! cried a familiar voice. My heart wrenched as Brad, the silver wolf, inhaled water, his lungs burning. I threw myself into the icy sea, swimming down with all my might.
Brad, can you see me? I asked him desperately. Brad’s eyes were squeezed shut, and he was jerking around, slowly going limp in the cold, cold water. Suddenly, the light of his mind went out in my head as my best friend slowly floated away, his body shutting down. I howled, right there in the water, and pushed myself faster, farther. I bit down, hard, on his neck, and started trying to swim backwards. It didn’t work in my wolf form. Steeling myself, I phased back.
I shouted out as the ice water caressed my skin harshly, and water quickly filled my nose and mouth. I spluttered but held onto the small amount of breath I had, wrapping my shivering arm around Brad’s bony waist. I felt a chunk of ice floating near my foot and I kicked off from it, propelling myself slightly upwards. I glanced around frantically, the freezing water burning my eyes, and saw dark gray. I paddled towards it, intending to push off of it. My numb fingers wouldn’t press together, so the water just ran through the cracks. I went almost nowhere, and my breath was almost out. I felt the little air left in my chest freeze, and my vision began to go black. As a last resort, my shaking arms lifted Brad above my head, more towards the surface, and I hurled him as far as I could, shoving myself downwards as a result. Dimly, I registered a bright form with black swirling around its head coming for me as I drifted into a cold sleep.
Chapter 9: Bradley Clearwater

I choked, sitting up. Russel’s face was anxious as his flashing, fiery gaze shifted from me to Brad frantically. Coughing out the water that had filled my chest subconsciously, I crawled over to my clothes, seeing Russel’s shirt and jacket on top. I yanked on his sweatshirt, zipping it up to hide my nudity. Slipping back over, I leaned over Brad’s still form. He was a still, slate gray mass, sprawled out on the ground.
“He has to phase back for me to perform CPR,” I told Russel worriedly. Russel’s nostrils flared, like they did when he was concerned. I slid out of the jacket, phasing quickly into my dripping white wolf body. I nudged at the faint light that was his mind, still attached to life by a few threads.
Brad, I yelled in our heads. Come on! Phase. Phase. Phase. I kept repeating that, over and over, until his brain light flickered with life. I felt him withdraw from my mind, and I tried to pull him back, but there was no stopping. I opened my eyes, oblivious to the fact that I had even closed them in the first place, and saw Brad’s dark Quileute body naked on the ground. I phased back, jumping into Russ’s jacket once more and throwing my shirt over Brad’s... nakedness, leaning over him again. He was breathing, but barely. I pressed his chest, and he coughed, spitting out water. I took a deep breath as soon as he stopped breathing altogether. I listened and felt for breathing, watching his chest. It was motionless. I pressed my lips to his firmly and passion exploded through my brain. His lips were surprisingly hot, and I wanted to be kissing him, rather than breathing for him. Nevertheless, I blew, seeing his chest rise and fall. I breathed out again, and I felt the air whooshing out of his mouth, into mine once more. Suddenly, his eyes opened in a frenzy, and he saw me over him, my mouth clamped to his as I breathed for him.
“Breathe, Brad,” I gasped out as I sat back, and he obeyed shakily, hacking and coughing. His eyes were glazed over and he was slipping away again. I couldn’t do this on my own; my lungs weren’t big enough. His were bigger. “Get Carlisle!” I choked to Russel, and he submitted, backing away from the scene. Water was flowing in rivulets down his chest, but it instantly dried as he began to run. I pushed on Brad’s strong chest, breathing evenly for him, pushing as much air as I could into his huge lungs from my tiny ones. I felt myself begin to get dizzy as I blew air out more than I inhaled, but I didn’t stop. I was deaf and blind to all else, and my head was spinning crazily. I couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, anything else but Brad’s face and his ragged, irregular breathing. I only halted in my repetitive resuscitation procedure when frozen, rock arms dragged me away from my friend’s body.
I fought, trying to get back to see him, but I was encased in cold white, wind blowing around me. Hot tears were streaming down my face as I was set in a light, warm room. I stood up immediately, stumbling to where the pull was leading me, the pull inside my chest that was the result of my imprint. I found him, all covered in equipment, Carlisle over him, doing things with his hands so fast they were a blur. I watched with dead eyes, my best friend lying on the cold, hard kitchen table. I bit my lip to keep from crying any more. Brad jerked once, twice, before gasping aloud, his eyes flying open. He was then sitting up, two vampires-- Alice and Jasper-- bracing him as he coughed up every bit of water in the world, it seemed like. When he was still, he smiled weakly at me, shaking.
“Laura,” he rasped, and as soon as he said my name, I collapsed. I just sat there on the floor, relief washing through me.
"Hey Brad," I breathed. "You okay?"
"I'm alright," he said evenly, his voice slightly hoarse. I stood slowly, and came over to pat his shoulder. The room was clearing rapidly; we were alone.
"Don't you ever scare me like that ever again!" I said loudly, not quite screaming as I smacked him lightly. He grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry, Laura," he said, looking down. "I just needed to see you. Bad." I softened, slumping a bit.
"Brad, the Cullens would have bought you a plane ticket," I whispered, tears blurring my vision. "You didn't have to risk it!" He swallowed.
"I did. I needed to prove to you that I'm worth your time. Take me, Laura. We need each other. Don't pretend nothing happened when you touched my lips. I felt the fire. I felt the heat and the passion. You cried for me. Don't tell me that that doesn't mean anything to you. It means everything to me, I know." I felt my heart ripping in two. On the back wall of the Cullens' house, right above Brad's head, there was a photo of Russel and me together.
We're sitting by the river back in Washington, the silver water shining, stained bloody by the sunset's evening glow. Russel's arms are wrapped around me and we're both laughing. I'm looking up at him, from on his lap, and his face is pressed to my head, his mouth crushed to my hair. The best part about the picture is the fact that his eyes turned black and mine were red. The fading light darkened Russel's gaze, making it appear black, like mine. The sun's scarlet lifeblood poured down into the water, reflecting off my own eyes, making mine appear red. It was like we had switched eyes. I glanced down from this picture to my best friend and my imprint, and I literally felt my heart tear.
Brad stared me down, his short, cropped black hair shining from the water that had nearly killed him. His brown Quileute skin was dark, his bare chest strong and muscled. Brad's thick forearms were knotted with power, liquid steel flooding them as a result of the adrenaline that was coursing through both of us. Brad's soft eyes, dark black and full of emotions. I saw sadness and pain, longing and passion. Deeper I dove, till I was surrounded by anger and fear. But what overwhelmed it all was hope. I felt hope streaming through my being, bathing me in its peculiar golden light. I felt happy, giddy, but with a promise of sadness just around the corner, as if I only had five seconds of happiness, then a thousand years of anguish.
“Brad,” I choked out. “I-- I want-- I need--.” Brad didn’t let me finish. He, slowly, tipped my chin forward delicately and pressed his lips to mine, and I felt myself melt, like soft butter, into his form, enjoying the kiss like nothing else.
His kisses weren’t at all like Russel’s. Russel’s were pleasant, passionate, and I couldn’t go a day without wanting one. With Brad... his kisses were an explosion. I felt like I couldn’t go a second without one. The taste, the feeling, my lips were burning with fire from a thousand years’ anticipation. I heard him moan slightly, and I was on top of him, feeling the flames swirl around us, heating us, causing us to melt and reform together, one being, one soul.
My heart was pounding in my breast like it would never stop. I broke for breath, panting, but going back for more, despite the dizziness that had engulfed me since the first second. My brain was frazzled, fried, so I couldn’t tell you anything about anything that didn’t relate to Brad. He was my whole world, as involuntary as it was, and I knew that I could no longer resist his touch, his kiss, his love. I was breathing hard when we fell apart, but so was he. As soon as we could breathe again, Brad and I were kissing once more. Any resistance I had had at the start of this day had vanished. Any regrets, any wishes, were all inconsequential. My life revolved around Brad, as if there was nothing else in the world that tied me down. I could feel his warm embrace, his calloused hands on my waist, keeping me bent to his form. My own hands were pressed to his lower chest, my wrists pushed against his strong abs. My eyes were closed, but his image was burned into them, his protective eyes, his soft, warm mouth. The kiss, passionate but gentle at first, became more rough and rugged, to which I responded in kind. He took the initiative, and anger flowed through the hot kiss, betrayal and agony coloring the sweet passion. The feeling that all were shadowed by was love. The hard, undying love that we shared so much of.
We finally parted, gasping, and I opened my eyes, surprised to find tears on both our faces. Brad swallowed, and I copied him. There was nothing left to say, nothing at all. The kiss had taken care of far more than any words could have possibly. I touched his cheek lightly, my thin fingers shaking. He closed his eyes when I touched him, and there was an instant blaze where we connected. Crying silently, I left him there, sitting on the table, and went to my room, distraught and confused.
When I was there, I sat on my bed, and thought. Just thought. My brain was whirring with the past ten minutes. Russel... Russel was my everything. But I felt like I needed Brad. Like I would die without him. Russel loved me for me. Brad loved me for me, but our love was doubled by the imprint. It was like my wise old grandfather had said. No one has ever resisted an imprint. Would I be the first, or would I fall, weak and lovesick, and submit to Brad’s affections? Life was complicated. There were so many choices, so many chances for people to get hurt. Like me. I could get hurt. I already was hurt. And I had lead Brad on by kissing him back. I belonged to Russel-- no, scratch that. I belonged to no man. I belonged with Russel, but fate wanted me with Brad. I couldn’t decide.
Should I satisfy my need, or my want? I suppose if I were to choose Brad, it would satiate both at once. Brad was always there, and maybe our friendship did blossom into love. Who would have known? I felt my heart, in two separate pieces, beat pitifully, as if it had given up.
“Hush,” I told it, sniffling. “You’re not helping.” My heart kept beating, and every time it did, it hurt. It felt like a sword being run through my chest every time it pumped blood through my body. “DAMMIT!” I ended up screaming, and I flopped back onto my bed. My door opened and Bella came in.
“Laura?” she asked me softly. “What’s wrong?” I sighed, but decided to spill, since Bella could get anything out of you if she tried hard enough.
“I think I’m in love with Brad and Russel,” I admitted. “Like, seriously. I just... kind of, sort of, maybe....” I trailed off, but Bella shushed me.
“None of this ‘kind of’ or ‘maybe’ stuff,” she said matter-of-factly. “What happened, happened. What didn’t happen, didn’t happen. Nothing ‘sort of’ happened. Go on.” I sighed again.
“I just spent the past five minutes making out with Brad. And I’ve spent a total of probably ten minutes making out with Russel in my life. I want them both so badly, it’s so hard to choose. I can’t. But I have to! I can’t have both. It’ll just hurt everyone involved. But I can’t deny Brad again. And I can’t leave Russel. I need to follow my imprint. I need to follow my heart. I’m in love with both, I know now. I love both of them. But I love and need Brad, and I just love Russel. But... it’s not my fault I need Brad. How is this even fair?” Suddenly, I knew what I needed to do. “N-no!” I cried. Bella smiled sadly.
“You just realized what you have to do, didn’t you?” she asked quietly. I nodded, and tears overflowed, pouring in torrents down my pale cheeks. “You’re going to pick Brad.” Sobbing, I nodded, and she enveloped me in her cold arms, which just made it worse. Russel’s frozen embrace... it was too much. I couldn’t believe I was going to leave Russel for Brad, my best friend. And now the love of my life. Crap.
“I need to do this,” I gulped. “Brad is the one that I can count on, who will never leave me, who I need to be with or I’ll be miserable. It’s gotta be him.” I felt my heart lighten. I hadn’t even noticed it was heavy. In truth, I realized that it was lighter because the half of it holding onto Russel had lost, and gone away. Of course, I would always pine for him, but inside I knew I would be okay.
“You should do it now,” said Bella. “It’ll be harder the later it gets.” I snuffled, nodding. My head was heavy from the crying. “I’ll get them in here, if you want.” I nodded again, sitting against my pillows. She left and I was alone, which scared me greatly. But in a couple of seconds, Russel was in the room, closely followed by Brad. My heart pounded as I saw my best friend, the guy I had grown up with, and now the focal point of my life. I felt the tears start again as my eyes rested on my soon-to-be-ex, who was sitting calmly in a chair. Brad sat on the end of my bed. I took a deep breath.
“A few minutes ago,” I began, looking straight at the floor. “Brad kissed me.” I didn’t pause to hear or see Russel’s shock and hurt. “And I kissed him back. I loved it, more than any other kiss I’ve had. I want more. My imprint... it’s too powerful for me. It’s overwhelming. And I’m in love with Brad. I love you both equally, understand that. But... my imprint... I’m in love with you both, but the imprint makes me need Brad. Like I can’t stay away from him. And I can’t fight it anymore. I’m choosing Brad, Russel. And it’s final.” There was dead silence in the bedroom, and throughout the house. I was positive people were listening in from downstairs and the hallway. I looked up, and immediately wished I hadn’t. Russel’s face was frozen in shock, anger, and anguish. I bit my lip and looked at Brad. He wasn’t smiling, showing any joy whatsoever. He was staring at me with such love, happiness, and adoration, I blushed. I gave him a half-smile, and looked back to Russel. He was still frozen. I wiped my tears away, and put my head down. The room stayed like that, silent and still, for the next half-hour. I heard movement. When I looked up, Russel was gone, out the window. I fought tears as I turned to Brad, who had finally smiled.
“Wow,” he whispered. “M-me? Over Russel?” I nodded tightly, the thought of what I had done making me feel nauseated. “I-- thanks.” He stood briskly and came over, sitting next to me. With one hand he leaned in and kissed me, but it was only a brush of his lips against mine. I looked into his eyes as his arms snaked around me, and I knew I had made the right choice, however hard it had been and still would be. Brad was the true love of my life, and that wasn’t about to change.
“I know that hurt,” he murmured. “But I’m glad you did it, all the same. Things will get better... as long as we’re together.” I felt sick to my stomach still, but I was altogether happy. I also still had no clue how to deal with Russel, seeing as he probably hated me. I groaned and got up, knowing things had to be dealt with now.
“I have to find him,” I explained, pulling on a jacket and my boots. Brad sighed.
“Okay,” he said hesitantly, “but don’t let him make you feel bad. You did what you think is right. And hey, I’m not complaining either.” I gave a half-hearted laugh and walked out my door, tripping down the stairs dejectedly. I stumped out into the blustery afternoon, seeing a far-off figure slumped in the snow. Against my better judgement, I pulled my clothes off, tied them loosely around myself, and phased, pounding over the slick ice and snow. My good pads helped keep me upright as I sprinted for the lone body. As I drew nearer, I could hear the person sobbing over the howling, frozen arctic wind. Fighting the urge to cry myself, I phased back, pulling on my icy clothes and stumbling over to my ex boyfriend. He looked up at me, and though he couldn’t shed tears, he was clearly crying on the inside.
“What do you want?” he asked me darkly. I shuddered at the hatred filling his tone.
“To talk to you,” I rasped, then swallowed. “We need to work this out. I don’t want to come out of this... badly.” Russel shifted his gaze downwards, his beautiful rosy eyes glinting with anger and power, with betrayal of trust and with heartbrokenness. I took a deep, calming breath, and sat next to him, but not too close.
“How can we not come out of this badly?” he whispered brokenly. “I gave my heart to you, and you... traded it away for someone else? I never saw it coming, I just... never knew I could feel this much pain. It’s impossible. I’ve had my heartaches before but this was like a bomb, blowing me up from the inside. I want to cry, I want to yell, I want to run far, far away, but most of all, I want to kiss you, to know it’ll be all right. I want you.” I bit on my lip to keep from sobbing. I had to stay strong. It wouldn’t make anyone at all feel better if I cried.
“You can’t have me, Russel,” I told him flatly, knowing it was better to be blunt than to make him want me even more by being nice. “I’m not good enough for you, and you’ll find love with someone else, I know. I’m just your first taste, I’m just--.” I was suddenly finding it very hard to speak around Russel’s tongue. I tried to get away, but he used his vampire newborn strength, his powerful arms constricting me, pulling me tighter and tighter to his chest. I felt hard, cold anger pushing through the kiss, and it was new, different. Powerful. A side that Russel had never shown me before, that almost made me regret choosing Brad. Almost. I felt bitter resentment at letting Russel go wash over my body, bathing me in my mistakes. Even though I was regretful of leaving Russel, the one that I thought was my one true love, I felt good about my decision. It would benefit us all in the long run. Although I had no clue what I was to do now, where Brad and I would stay, I was content for the moment.
Russel broke from me with his eyes cold, his face set, and his breathing heavy. I, too, was breathing hard.
“Feel better yet?” I panted, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Not yet,” he admitted firmly. “But I think I will be. After a while. That kiss told me everything I needed to know. And my gift helped, too.” I glanced up at him, but he was staring into the blizzard pensively.
“Umm, how did your gift help?” I asked tentatively, alarmed by his ability to recover so quickly.
“Your worst fear changed,” he told me simply, gazing into my eyes. Intrigued, I opened my mouth to ask him what it had changed to, but he interrupted me.
“It’s changed to the fact that you don’t want me to be mad at you,” he whispered softly, though I could hear him perfectly well over the screaming storm. “Whatever happens, you don’t want to lose my friendship.” As soon as he said it, I felt truth flow around us like a whirlpool. We were being entirely truthful with each other. His conclusion rang sincerity, and in my heart, my light, half-sized heart, I knew it to be true that I would die without him, like I had always known. Only I needed Russel as a friend, and not as a romance, like I desperately craved Brad. I didn’t and still don’t know how, but it all made perfect sense, fitting together like pieces in a puzzle. I was the outside, the part you put together first, the border, and Brad and Russel were the pieces that filled my life with brightness and color.
“Sh-should we walk back?” I asked hesitantly. Russel’s eyes were glazed over again, and he was looking down at the snow that had piled around us as we talked.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said slowly. “I need to be alone. But I’m glad you came to talk to me. I need you, too. As a friend.” And that was that as I trudged through the snow back to the great house that had once seemed so foreboding, but now held the real love of my life, and couldn’t seem more welcoming.
“Welcome back, Laura,” said Jasper cheerfully as I walked back in the door. His face was relaxed and easygoing as he motioned me over. I gestured ‘one second’ and grabbed a soda from the kitchen. A diet drink, of course, because regular ones gave me headaches from all the caffeine and sugar racing through my veins. I sat carefully down on the couch, right next to Brad. He subtly laced his arm around mine, so we were interlocked. I looked at the table and saw a board game out. Looking closer, I saw it was ancient. Monopoly. I hadn’t played the game since... since... since I had hung out with Grandpa and Grandma over the summer when I was five.
“Want to play a game with us?” asked Emmett. “We’re playing in teams... is Russel coming?” I shook my head.
“Not for a while,” I replied to the group. “He’s... contemplating... things.” They all nodded like it was completely understandable. “I’ll play. Brad’s on my team.” I looked at him, and his smile back at me was full of adoration, like he could see the sun shining out of my every orifice. Wow. Harry Potter reference. Anyway, back to the Monopoly game.
“Okay, we’re in teams of two,” said Alice. “And I can’t cheat, as much as I’d like to.” I raised an eyebrow. “We’re kind of in the vicinity of two werewolves, if you didn’t notice.” She looked pointedly at Brad’s and my interlaced arms. There was a cough, and we all looked over to Jake and Renesmee. “Make that three werewolves and a half-vampire. Anyway, I can’t see.” Edward sniggered.
“I can,” he said gloatingly. Everyone around the table groaned.
“No one strike a deal with him!” ordered Rosalie good-naturedly. She had actually come to like me... somewhat. “He’ll just read what you’re willing to play for.” So the game began. Brad and I were-- surprise, surprise-- the dog; Alice and Jasper were the iron, for Alice’s love of clothing; Jake and Nessie were the wheelbarrow-- for hauling off dead bodies of the people who had pissed Jake off (just kidding); Bella and Edward were the shoe, and I have no clue why; Rosalie and Emmett were the ship, probably because Emmett is Titanic-sized. Finally, Carlisle and Esme were the thimble, because they had picked up all the stragglers sitting around them and sewn them into a proper family.
The game raged on for a couple hours solid, interrupted only when Brad and I had to go to bed. We bid them goodnight and went our separate ways. My brain was whirring with the offer Jake had made over the game. He had said that he would take me and Brad back to La Push with him and Ness... and I had contemplated it. I didn't want to leave my family, but I really did want to go back. Right there, on the stairs, I made up my mind.
"Hey, Jake!" I called over the rail. "I'll take you up on your offer." And then I went to bed, not sure whether I was happy about my decision or not.

By: ambsace Comment

I was lying on my bed reading, trying to get the book finished before we journeyed back to Washington in two days. Suddenly, there was a low growl. I lowered my book, and found myself staring into orangey-red eyes. Russel's eyes were slowly turning topaz, like the rest of the vampires'.
"Before you leave," Russel said, "I want to fight with you." I cocked my head to the side. "You know. Brawl. Duel. Like you used to with Jacob. I want to fight." I accepted, making him turn around before I undressed.
"It never bothered you before when I saw you naked," he said reproachfully. I shrugged into my wolf form. We went down the stairs and out the front door, distancing ourselves from the house until we were about fifty yards away. Then he sprang.
I yelped, toppling over. He wrestled with me as I snapped at his neck, my saliva spinning out in slimy threads, my teeth gnashing just below his ear. He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed for a split second. I whimpered and leapt backwards, yipping. I then plunged forward, landing hard on top of Russel and going for his neck. I bit down hard around his windpipe. He reached up and took hold of my own neck, throwing me off of him forcefully. He lunged for me, his teeth digging into my neck. I felt searing pain and almost flipped back into my human body, but I restrained myself. I lay in the snow, panting, and Russel pulled his teeth out, sensing something was wrong.
"Laura!" he cried. "Are you okay?" I nodded my wolf head, twisting it around so I could see the wound. The fur around it was parted, wet, and bright, dangerous looking red, and there was a semi-circle there, silver and upraised. My eyes went wide.
"Laura!" whispered Russel frantically. "You-- my venom, it's poisonous!" I gulped and phased back, pulling on my clothes quickly.
"Shouldn't it have started to take-- AH!" I shrieked. Pain was lancing through my breast, making me double over. I clutched at the bite desperately, as if I were trying to hold myself together. Blood was seeping from between my fingers, scarlet drops spattering the pristine snow.
"I'm okay," I said, breathing hard. "It's fine. I don't think you gave me enough venom to kill me. Just cause me some slight discomfort." And like that, it was gone. I straightened hesitantly, sitting up.
"Are you better?" he asked me worriedly. I nodded, dumbfounded.
"See?" I said, pretending I knew what had just happened. "I'm perfectly okay. It just hurt a bit at first, and then it was all good. I'm fine. I'm good." I was repeating it, trying to convince myself.
"Let's just go back inside," Russel said breathlessly. We did so, and I went back to my room to retrieve my book. I thumped back down the stairs and collapsed on the sofa. Oliver Twist's captivating story reeled me in for the eighth time as I scanned the pages eagerly. It was such an old book, but I was in love with it.
"Laura, come help me with your last supper before you leave for Washington!" I stood, stretching, and my thin Metrix shirt pulled up, revealing my belly. I pulled it down again, so it was hanging a bit low on my shoulders. My collarbone was showing. Bella glanced over to make sure I was coming, and gasped. All of the other vampires' eyes flicked to me and there was a dead silence.
"Laura, what is that?" asked Alice. I glanced down to where everyone's gaze rested and gulped when I saw the silver crescent. I tugged my shirt back up over the bite mark and placed my hand over it protectively.
"What's what?" I asked timidly.
"That! That vampire bite!" she exclaimed in frustration.
"I didn't see anything!" I replied, my voice shaking. "There's no bite, Alice. Maybe you're seeing things." She shook her head, eyes narrowed.
"No, I'm not, at least not now," she told me menacingly. "I saw that bite." I shrugged, hopefully nonchalantly.
"There was no bite to see," I told her dismissively. Rosalie stepped forward.
"If there was nothing to see, then why won't you show us your neck, to prove it?" she asked silkily. I glared daggers at her and she sneered right back. My fingers trembling, I folded down the edge of my favorite black shirt, revealing the glowing mark. This time there was chaos.
"What the hell?"
"No! No!"
"Oh my GOD!"
"How can this be happening?" But the voice that screamed loudest was my boyfriend.
"LAURA!" he bellowed, sprinting over. "Laura, you're not gonna die, are you? Aw, MAN, this sucks!" I giggled nervously.
"I won't die, Brad," I told him quietly. "Calm down." Carlisle had pushed his way over to me.
"Laura, when did this happen?" he asked urgently. I shrugged.
"Umm, maybe an hour ago?"
"Who?"
"Russel." Carlisle blinked.
"Russel? Why?"
"We were fighting, just for fun, and he bit me. It was his instinct. The blood poured, and it hurt really badly, but then it was over." I shrugged again. "It's nothing. No big deal."
"It isn't nothing, Laura," Carlisle said tersely, his face tense. "There is going to be some side-effect. This could kill you!" Suddenly, I was very cold and frightened.
"K-kill me?" I whispered, feeling small and alone. Carlisle sighed.
"Most likely not," he admitted, "but we can't afford to take chances." I shivered.
"What needs to be done?" asked Russel calmly, putting his arm around my shoulders protectively. "This is my fault." Brad was sitting on the couch behind me, gripping my hand tightly.
"We'll need to monitor her vital signs, said Carlisle, his medical training clicking in. "And we'll run an x-ray, to check the venom's progression." I nodded shakily. Carlisle took my hand and led me upstairs, into a small room covered in machinery. He motioned for me to sit down on a table in the center, a cold metal one. I obeyed, feeling nervous.
* * *
The pale doctor smoothed my x-ray over the lightboard in front of me. I tried to make sense of the jumble of lines that, apparently, made up my body, but I had no luck. Carlisle seemed absorbed in it, his butterscotch eyes roving over it hungrily.
"Well," he said slowly, and I took a huge breath in. "It looks as though Russel's teeth cupped your collarbone and injected the most minute amount of venom. This shouldn't do you much harm, although we'll keep track of your vital signs over the next few months. I would prefer to keep you up here, hooked up, but--."
"No way!" I interrupted him. "I'm not staying here. I've spent enough of my life attached to hospital machines, and I do NOT want to waste more, especially if I'm not incapacitated." Carlisle smiled wanly.
"I know. I was about to finish. I would prefer to keep you up here, hooked up, but I know you would never accept, and I am no one to keep you here against your will." I felt gratefulness swell throughout my body, for Carlisle knowing me so well.
"So is there anything else you need from me?" I asked him, preparing to hop off the table.
"Actually," he said, "I would like to go ahead and check your vital signs now, rather than have to do it later." He hooked me up to a machine that beeped and scared the heck out of me when I saw blood racing up the tube. I looked in alarm at Carlisle, who was watching numbers flash across the thin black screen. I hesitated as his face twisted in surprise and then in concern.
"Umm, am I like, dying?" I asked hesitantly. He shook his head tersely.
"Not yet," was all he said, his voice hard. I waited on the freezing cold, shining silver table, shaking so hard I was almost vibrating, but I was not about to phase. My teeth were chattering, I was so scared.
"Laura," said Carlisle, placing a frozen hand on my shoulder. "Relax. You're not about to die... at least I don't think you are." I resisted the urge to shudder as he twisted the tube, sending pain lancing through my body. I cringed, though, and the machine started bleeping wildly. I turned, my heart pounding, to see a warning flashing across the screen: EMERGENCY ATTENTION REQUIRED! My eyes were wide as I looked frantically to Carlisle, who was a blur as he raced to fix whatever had gone wrong. I huddled on the table, seemingly inches from death.
"Carlisle!" I shrieked, terrified. He stopped, looking at me in awe. Coming over, he pulled out the tube, just as it was about to fall off of me. There was no puncture where it had been, and I shivered.
"The venom," he whispered in amazement. "Come with me!" He dragged me down the stairs, over to Brad, who was wringing his hands nervously.
"Brad, does her skin feel different to you now?" he asked urgently. Brad reached over and ran his hand up my arm, maybe a bit too affectionately to be performing a scientific experiment.
"It's rock hard," he said, squeezing my bicep. I barely felt it.
"Of course!" said Carlisle eagerly. "The venom coursed through your bloodstream, and surfaced all over your body, giving you the defenses of a vampire, while leaving you alive and a werewolf. You have hardened skin, probably strength, better eyesight, sense of of smell, things of that nature. I don't think this venom will give you bloodlust, but we need to be careful, just in case. I suppose you'll have to stay home from school," he added, seemingly off-handedly.
"Oh, no," I replied sarcastically. "How will I go on?" The whole room laughed, and I flopped back onto my spot on the sofa, tired out from all the chaos that seemed to ensue when I was around.

By: ambsace Comment

"Laura," said Brad quietly, coming over to sit with me. He took my hand. "I think we need to go home." I blinked.
"W-what?" I whispered. His face was solemn.
"We need to go back to Washington," he repeated. "I think it's best. You're in too much danger here. I don't like going to sleep wondering if you'll wake up in the morning, and if I'll ever see your beautiful face again." I blushed.
"I don't want to go home," I told him firmly, blinking hard to keep the hotness out of my eyes. "I like it here." Brad's face turned pleading.
"Laura, please," he began to beg. "Please? I just want you to be safe." I swallowed hard. This was one battle I would not lose.
"No, Brad." I said his name with care. "I'm not going home. Yet." Brad's eyes dulled. He shifted his gaze down to our interlaced hands.
"I won't leave without you," he told me softly.

By: ambsace Comment