part 22

Leah called that afternoon. She said she was babysitting Claire and wanted me to come hang out with them. She was watching Claire until ten and Claire would be in 침대 at eight. It sounded nice. In a weird way. I figured I was as 안전한, 안전 there as I was with the vampires. As I was wondering how to go about obtaining the Cullens' permission, Alice skipped in. She looked curious "Your future just disappeared" She said matter-of-factly. Edward was passing 의해 the hall and paused. Bella wasn't near, so he had full access to my mind. "You don't have to ask permission. 당신 are our guest. Just let us know and we'll adjust plans. We had no plans tonight anyway." I thanked him and let Leah know while Edward explained to his little sister.

"Do 당신 need a ride?" Alice asked after I hung up. Drat. I realized I didn't even know where Claire lived. "Don't worry. We'll take care of it." Edward assured me "Come on. Let's get 당신 ready." Alice said tugging my hand slightly. Jeans, boots, a light blue 터틀, 거북 neck sweater, a crystal necklace, lip color, blush, and eyeliner. I failed to see the point. However, if that was all it took to keep the highly dangerous vampire happy I was all for it.

Alice was thrilled to drive me. It seemed she used every possible excuse to drive her yellow Porsche. With my bit of Edward's gift, I caught something about Italy, danger, 크리스마스 and Bella. Edward laughed dryly at my thoughts "In an emergency situation in Italy, Alice 스톨, 훔친 a car and liked it so much that I promised to get her one for Christmas." My eyes widened, not at the theft, but at the extravagant gift. "Then he needed something so he gave it to me early as a bribe." Alice continued "I kidnapped his human girlfriend Bella to keep her 안전한, 안전 while he hunted; keep her 안전한, 안전 from werewolves." Alice had a mischievous grin, while Edward looked down. He hurried to explain "Our relationship with the Quileutes was not the same then. It was still inexcusable of me." Then, he attempted to get back at his little sister "She couldn't even keep tabs on one little human. Ruined the job completly." He laughed "I can't see the wolves!" she protested. So why did she get to keep the car? Had she bought it off of her older brother?

Edward heard my musings "I wouldn't spite her like that" he said it patiently, like he was explaining something obvious, with only the slightest hint of taking offense. I caught a bit of his thoughts. He didn't think he could expect 더 많이 from me. What was wrong with me then? In response to my thoughts, he pulled me aside, away from Alice. I cringed at his touch "Nothing is wrong with you" He said firmly, but not harshly. "It's just that 당신 do not understand my family yet. There's no way 당신 could. Even others of our kind do not understand. Even I can hardly believe. I don't expect 당신 to understand how Alice and I treat one another." Alice skipped up to us "You do realize that I knew what 당신 were going to say before 당신 did yourself, so talking privately is pointless?" He rolled his eyes.

Driving with Alice was a little overwhelming, much like being dressed 의해 Alice. But not entirely bad. She talked a lot, therefore I didn't have to. She could weave in and out of traffic very fast. When we arrived at Claire's house, Alice wouldn't accept my gas money. The 뱀파이어 weren't too big on that kind of thing.

Leah looked at my outfit "When 뱀파이어 attack" She muttered. She relaxed noticeably when I laughed. We played with Claire, until eight, when Claire went to bed. Then, we sat on a 침상, 소파 and talked. She seemed apologetic for the unorthodox idea of hanging out "Quil was going to be here with me, but his parents had out-of-state family over and he couldn't get out of it. He'll probably call at least once." We talked easily. She told me about being a she-wolf. It was good stuff to know. When she was telling me about the things she couldn't do (she hadn't imprinted and she couldn't have a baby) I phased. Then, I heard a key turn in the front door lock. Claire's parents were home. If 늑대 could swear I probably would have. I ran.

I could run pretty fast if I was scared enough, despite the pain of 늑대 form. I was definitely scared enough now. Out the backdoor and trough the backyard, out of sight of humans. I got pretty far pretty fast. I heard a bit of a 늑대 mind, but it soon faded with distance. About fifteen 분 later, I heard Alice's voice "Phase back. It's OK." I felt instantly calm. Ah- Jasper stood just behind her. It took over five 분 to phase back. Once I did, Alice interrogated me. "What happened?" She began "I was with Leah and I phased I had to run." I explained in a small, out of breath voice. "Why?" she demanded "They were going to see me" I felt sick just thinking of it. "Who?" She looked a bit panicked now too. "Claire's parents." I said. Who did she think? Count Dracula? "They're not coming 집 for hours." She reasoned "I heard the key and the doorknob was turning" My words flooded out. Jasper sighed "That was Quil. He stopped 의해 to check on Claire. 당신 ran and Leah didn't know why. They're both worried about you. They couldn't even look for 당신 because they were blocking Alice's sight." Oh. "Do 당신 feel up to going back 또는 should we call them?" Alice asked me. "I'll go. I'm so sorry." I managed. As they drove me back, they told me there was nothing to be sorry for. It was a good thing that I was trying to protect everyone's secrecy.

When I walked in, Leah hugged me then shook me slightly "Why'd 당신 do that?" she demanded harshly then hugged me again. That was terrifying to say the least. I was so relieved when she let me go, blushing slightly at her range of emotions. Quil looked concerned too "I'll call Jake and Seth" he announced to Leah "We'll go 집 now and let Carlisle and Esme know" Alice said wearily.

Leah gestured for me to sit with her "I'm sorry" I offered lamely "It's fine" she said, much calmer now "If it had been Claire's parents I would have hidden you. Trust me 다음 time. I know what I'm doing" She seemed 더 많이 bothered 의해 my lack of trust than 의해 my huge mistake. Had I offended her? I apologized again, briefly and vaguely. Quil let himself out with his house key. What kind of person gave a werewolf their house key?

Jacob and Seth stopped 의해 soon after. They wanted to make sure I was OK. I didn't get it. Leah and I talked peacefully for another 시간 또는 so. It was hard to remind myself that Leah was dangerous while I was curled up on the sofa, chatting with her. How long had it been since I'd had a friend I could talk to? I had one semi-close girlfriend in the fifties. She was nice. Her name was Janice. But even then, we weren't that close and I'd soon had to 옮기기 on lest my aging rate be discovered. Maybe after Leah stopped phasing I would look her up.

Leah had to run patrols, so Seth drove me back to the Cullen's house. "Do 당신 want to go strait 집 또는 get something to eat?" he asked casually. I struggled to keep a strait face when he referred to the vampire's abode as my 집 "Either way" I replied. It was starting to sound like a good idea to eat now. With Seth around, I could taste. If I waited and ate around the vampires, I would have to pretend to enjoy eating dirt. Edward had discovered this quirk, but my every thought had begged him not to tell. Esme would be offended. "No she wouldn't. She would understand." the mind reader insisted, but I caught from his thoughts that she would feel badly. Eventually, he agreed not to tell on the condition that I try to remove myself as far away as possible during meal time. It worked sporadically.

Seth and I sat talking and eating peacefully. He kept asking 질문 about my past. Great. I told him a little bit of the highlights. A few jobs, a few groups of 프렌즈 and I talked about some of my times in L.A. I was a little surprised 의해 how much I told him "What about you?" I asked before I could dig myself deeper. "I was born in La Push. I grew up in La Push and I became a giant dog in La Push" He grinned "I've tracked down vampires. I fought a newborn vampire. I faced vampire royalty to protect a half-vampire, I've played ball with 뱀파이어 and I, Seth Clearwater have been to a vampire wedding." I laughed a little, very tentatively. He beamed down at be. I liked Seth. He could get me talking and he never acted like what I said was boring 또는 wrong 또는 ignorant. The giant 늑대 could get me talking. Was I going insane? I had to be 더 많이 careful.