ON HOLD - Seeing the past (R. Hale)

A New Week

The next week in Forks moved much the same as the other day. I spent my mornings talking to the soccer and lacrosse teams before my first class with Emmett. The siblings and I grew closer everyday. Emmett's childlike enthusiasm and love of sports is slowly making him into one of my best friends. I can see in his eyes that he is morphing into an older brother to me. Which became even more obvious in gym class the day Mark Greyson, captain of the football team, slid his thick muscled arm around my shoulder pulling me deep into his side without my permission. He plastered on what he believed to be a sultry irresistible smirk as the faint whiff of his bo invaded my nostrils. I tried to recoil from his touch, but before I could react Emmett stepped in front of the boy a light grumble growing in his chest as he removed Greyson's arm from around me with his face morphed into a terrifying mask. As he pushed Greyson away he let a few choice words slip past his clenched teeth about consent before touching someone. Needless to say the boy never bothered me again for fear of Em. Mark would be cute too if he were not so arrogant and cocky.

Maggie and I trade drawings nearly every Chemistry class. The pictures range from something that caught our eyes the day before to important things from our past. Maggie has a gentle kindness to her that she hides under a layer of sarcasm, but in all honesty I do not mind. She is comforting and fierce. She and Emmett are the only ones who know about me and they both are equally as protective of my secret. I spend a bit of time asking them about the absent siblings, and eventually admitting to the visions that I have of them. Most of my questions revolve around the Hale twin that has somehow engulfed my mind. Maggie's curious eyes and Emmett's subtle smirk eventually lead me to admit that I am bisexual and do in fact have a crush on Rosalie. Soon, I learned that it was a mistake telling them. Not because they are homophobic, but instead because that night I had another vision of them trying to play match maker between us. I switch lunch periods between sitting with the siblings, my team, and Bella's friends who can be annoying about my friendship with the Cullen's and Hales. Lunch allows me to also learn more about Jasper and Alice who I find endearing. When I sat with them for the first time at lunch Jasper did not appear to be in pain for once. It was like a weight had been lifted, and he felt comfortable at school. His face became smoothed by a new found softness. That became a pattern anytime that I sat with them so I decided that someday I would ask.

The team and I also fell into a groove on and off the field. We did more bonding exercises and outings like bowling or the movies that way we could know one another better. By Wednesday we all started moving together in a mosaic rhythm. We still had a long way to go though, but it felt good to see the confidence building between everyone. Liz, Sasha, and I all started growing closer as well. Liz and I were two of the three seniors on the team. After meeting Liz in the car park the other day we realized we also shared AP Lit together, and became rather fast friends. Camila, the other senior, shared gym with me, but she is pretty standoffish towards outsiders. She definitely is stuck in the small town mentality, but it does not bother me. A couple of the girls hangout at the diner during my shifts to study at night, and on a rare occasion the siblings stop by to "eat" as well. I always sit and take my break with whoever visits me that evening. Often I find myself thinking about just how much happier my life is here in Forks than it was in Phoenix.

It is Thursday and somehow wetter than usual. With thick rain drops pelting the house at a rhythmic tempo. School ended an hour ago and I am walking around the kitchen in warm sweats and thick wool socks covering my feet as I prepare everything for dinner. Thursday is one of the rare days that I do not have work or practice so I take advantage of my free time the best that I can. Charlie took Bella to the custard shop in town to tell her about his relationship with Sue finally deciding that she has settled in enough to handle the news. The three Clearwater's would be joining us for dinner tonight so I am careful to plan enough food for everyone. Just as I am done blending the enchilada sauce the front door bangs open with a loud thud making me chuckle. "Honey we are home," echoes through the house in a light sing-song voice. When I look over both Leah and Seth are peeking their heads into the kitchen around the dark oak door frame. Setting the sauce down just in time to open my arms for two of my favorite people as they barrel towards me shoving one another away. Finally, each latch on to a different side of me chuckling at their own antiques.