Petrichor ~ P.L.

Chapter Five

I stayed with Billy and Jacob for a few weeks.  They did everything they could to bring the smile back to my face, and I really did do my best to let them.  Every morning I would wake up with Billy and have breakfast with him, Jacob sometimes joining us if he wasn't with Embry or Quill.  It was nice.  It was all just nice.  I really tried to enjoy myself, trying to push the thoughts of why I was there in the first place to the back of my mind.  

I really didn't see many others in those few weeks.  Occasionally I would see some visitors they had over, such as Sue and Harry or Charlie.  Even Embry and Quill when Jacob had them over.  I would always make polite small talk with them, plastering a smile on my face as I did so.  I couldn't stand look the look of pity they all had in their eyes.  

Paul had never reached out to me. 

Eventually, in August it was time to move to Conway Academy.  They all helped me pack up my car, offering to make the trip with me, but I declined their offer.  Though I was grateful for all they did for me, I needed to heal by myself and make a fresh start.  

I enjoyed my time at Conway Academy at first.  Even though I didn't make many friends, and mostly stuck to myself.  I excelled in my academics, topping the class in most of my classes.  Halfway through the year is where things began to go off the rail.  The disappearances throughout Seattle began, a few being my classmates.  Everyone's mood seemed down and tensions were high.  Mine especially so. 

I concerned myself with how much I began to change.  There were physical changes, such as growing a bit taller, my hair being a bit shinier, my body even getting more toned and developed.  It was like I hit a second puberty with how big my tits got, and my ass grew.  It's not like I was ungrateful, but it was shocking and confusing, to say the least.  

Unfortunately, with my changes came changes to my personality.  Sure it was great that I felt more comfortable with speaking my mind, but I also developed slight anger issues and felt like my senses got overloaded on the regular.  The sound of a door shutting sounded like a gunshot and being able to smell the gross cafeteria food from my class on the opposite side of the school.   

Eventually, the school had to make the difficult decision to shut down because of all of the murders and disappearances.  After my Junior year ended they informed me that they wouldn't just be shutting down all of the schools, but the boarding as well.  When I received this information my heart practically dropped into my stomach, knowing that since I was only seventeen I had no choice but to go home, back to Forks.  Well, to La Push.  

It wouldn't be all bad, I tried to tell that to myself at least.  I would get to see Charlie, Billy, and Jake again.  I had kept in touch, but just barely.  Billy and I would exchange the odd phone call every few months or so.  He told me how Bella had disappeared into the woods after her boyfriend had broken up with her.  Then she fell into a deep depression for a few months that was hell on Charlie.  He did also say that Jake helped pull her out of that depression until they had a falling out.  He didn't say why though.  

He also told me how Bella had disappeared off to Italy, basically right after Harry Clearwater had a heart attack and passed away.  The news had devastated me.  I wasn't as close to him as I was to Billy and Charlie, but I still saw him as an uncle. 

I had been pissed when Billy told me Bella had flown to Italy to save her boyfriend.  As harsh as it sounds, I could give a shit about her reasons.  You don't leave your family when they need you.  Charlie had been there for her the best he could when she was in her depression, and she just left him.  I lost a lot of respect for her when I heard this. 

I sighed as I packed the last of my things into the trunk of my car.  I slammed the trunk shut and turned around to look at the school once more.  With another sigh, I've been sighing a lot recently, I walked to the drivers' side of my car and hopped in. Popping on my black sunglasses, and began the four-hour drive from Seattle to La Push.