Crimson Gold

Part 1: Chapter 2: Close Calls

3rd Person POV

Mercer House

Ryan's Whipfist shot out, slamming through the tiny bringer of Hell that massacred his ears. "Next time, I'm just gonna get a radio," Ryan growled as he retracted his Whipfist from the remains of his alarm clock. "Much less painful."

Stretching, he idly wondered why he had gotten his alarm clock, only to remember the events of the previous day. "Schist, I'm late for school!"

Jumping out of bed, he ran through the house, shooting a tendril into the kitchen and grabbing a box of cereal as he dashed out the door. Quickly consuming the cereal box, Ryan hopped into his car and shot off down the driveway.

He somehow managed to make it in time and slid his car into a spin, barely fitting it in the parking space.

Bella blinked at him in surprise from her position against her truck. "What's got you in a hurry?" she asked.

He looked at her like she was crazy. "It's time for school, isn't it?"

Bella laughed. "It's daylight savings time, remember?"

Ryan's eye twitched. "Are you telling me," he said calmly, "that I woke up, destroyed my alarm clock, nearly fell out of bed, drove like a maniac to get here... all for nothing?"

Bella nodded, and Ryan cursed, kicking his foot into the side of the curb. "You've got to be kidding me!" he yelled.

Just then, the Cullens arrived in a jeep and car, with Jasper driving the jeep and Emmet sticking his head out the top.

"What's your problem?" Rosalie asked, getting out of her car as Ryan kicked the grass at his feet.

Ryan growled. "Apparently..." He kicked the grass again. "My clock didn't get the memo it was daylight savings time, and now here I am. Beating. Up. Grass!" He kicked the ground again, only for his foot to slide on the wet grass and send him crashing to the ground.

Alice giggled as Ryan got up, glaring at the grass with a look that promised death.

"Come on," Alice said, walking over and grabbing him by the arm. "You can kill the grass later."

Emmett patted him on the shoulder. "Trust me. You're not the only one who's gone through daylight savings time."

Ryan looked around and saw that a certain glaring someone was missing. "Where's cold, dark, and 'looking like he wants to skin me alive'?" he asked.

"Who?" Emmet asked.

"I think he means Edward," Alice said with a smile.

"That's what I said," Ryan affirmed.

"He's... out camping with our dad," Rosalie lied.

Ryan's eyes narrowed for a second, but they quickly went back to their normal look. "Well, if he's out on the mountains, tell him to watch out for the east side. I hear there's mountain lions out there."

"Don't worry," Emmett assured, exchanging looks with the other Cullens. "He can handle himself."

As they walked inside, Ryan sent out another pulse. Definitely not human, he thought. None of them. I don't think they're evolved, but it'd be a good idea to keep an eye on them.

Timeskip

The next few days passed in a blur, and Edward still didn't show.