Dusk (A Gay Twilight FanFiction)

3. BEACON

3. BEACON.

I spoke with Charlie that night about the Cullen's. The three of us crammed around the small dinner table. Steak, potatoes and two veg, with mum's famous onion gravy.

"You know the Cullen's?" I began casually over dinner.

"Dr. Cullen's family? Of course. The doctor's a good man," Dad replied, mouth full of potatoes. I side-eyed my mother, who smiled.

"They – the kids – are a little different. They don't seem to fit in much." I was trying to be diplomatic, and wasn't sure it was working. 

Charlie surprised me by getting angry. 

"People in this town," he frowned. "Dr. Cullen is a fantastic surgeon who could probably work anywhere in the world. He'd make ten times what he earns here, too," Charlie continued, getting louder and more worked up. "We're damn lucky to have him – lucky his wife wanted to live in a quiet town. He's an asset to this community, and all those kids are very well behaved and polite.

"I had my reservations when they first moved, with so many adopted teenagers, but I've had absolutely no trouble from them. Far better than I can say for some of the kids from families who've been in this town generations, that's for damn sure.

"But the Cullen kids are all very mature. Haven't given me a lick of trouble. And they stick together, too – like a real family should; always going on family camping trips and stuff... Just because they're newcomers, people have to talk. I'd hate to see how they'd treat you, if you weren't my son." 

I swallowed a large piece of steak and tried to back-pedal. I didn't want to particularly think how I might have been treated if I hadn't been the police chief's son. 

"They seemed nice enough to me," I lied. Though Edward Cullen had apparently improved rather recently. "It just seemed they keep to themselves. I suppose it's because of how attractive they are or something..." Or the fact they're not freaking human? But they'd lock me in a mad house if I said that out loud.

"You should see the doctor," Mum laughed. 

"It's a good thing he's happily married," Dad agreed. "If he were single, I'd hate to see the violence the women of this town might be capable of." 

I dropped the subject after that.

When I woke the next day, and something felt unusual, I realised it was the light coming through the slit of my curtains; it was somehow lighter. Clearer. I jumped out of bed and yanked the curtains back so hard I felt a few seams pop. But my momentary excitement was ripped out from under me when I saw – to my horror – everything covered in white. It was a winter wonderland in our front yard, with icicles hanging from the eaves, and the branches, and everything. I was better off just going back to bed.

If I didn't think I would get in trouble, I might have done just that.

Charlie had left for work before I'd gotten up, but Mum was waiting in the kitchen, sipping a warm cup of coffee. So I reluctantly had my breakfast and got ready for school. It seemed being the Chief of Police – even in this tiny town – required quite long hours. I was worried it would bother my mum, but she seemed perfectly content. She walked past while I was eating my cereal and brushed her hand through my hair idly as she went, humming quietly to herself. So that was good?

Butterflies danced around in my stomach all the way to school. I wasn't sure if it was nerves, or the dodgy smelling milk I'd put in my coffee. Probably the milk.

My truck handled the icy roads surprisingly well. I had thought it was going to be a battle with the steering wheel vs the tyres, but I arrived at school and pulled into a parking space just fine. When I got out I checked my wheels. Snow chains. Charlie had gotten up who knows how early and installed snow chains on my wheels. He hadn't had to do it, I was perfectly capable of doing it myself, but he had. I couldn't help a small smile, slightly touched. It was nice living with him again.