Leaving a wonderful life Rudy Sinclair had always known was the worst thing that has ever happened to her.
Forks, Washington was absolutely Hell on Earth. Too much rain. Not a single Dr. Pepper in sight. She would surely die of thirst.
That is if...
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"Are you meeting a boy?" Aunt Jane smiles as she drives the navy blue truck into the Forks High school parking lot.
Rudy's grass-green eyes spread wide with shock. Her heart races fast. Almost pounding like the rain that's falling on the windows from the outside.
She wipes a few drops of rain off her brows. It took very little effort to get accidently drenched. "Of course not. Who do you take me for? A girly girl?"
Her aunt laughs it off, not completely convinced. Her smile is big enough to make her honey eyes squint, turning into almost menacing slits. The big brown weather coat she wears practically swallowed her whole.
She parks the truck right at the front doors. Its roaring engine makes the vehicle rattle. Though it's not loud enough to overpower Bella's rust bucket.
Rudy places her hands on the handle ready to rush out only for her backpack to be yanked by Aunt Jane.
"Yes?" The girl huffs. Irritation coats her tone. She has places to be, people to talk to, people to talk about. She doesn't have all damn day.
Aunt Jane crosses her arms the best she can. She even blows some of her wavy auburn hair out of her face. She smiles gently at her niece.
Rudy suddenly has the impression that something has gone terribly wrong. What's going on?
"I love you, you know that, right?" Aunt Jane tilts her head to the side to fully capture Rudy's expression. She tries to count every little brown spect that is scattered across her nose and cheeks. There are so many to keep up with.
The girl feels a little fuzzy on the inside. This isn't some simple confession. Never have these words been uttered to her. Not even by Grandma Velma. She doesn't know the proper response for it. What was she supposed to say?
"I know," Rudy spoke cautiously. Almost afraid of her own voice. A slight quote from the Star Wars movies that Bella likes to watch at every sleepover. It's not the most original thing to say but it was the first phrase to come to mind. Rudy hopes it's enough for Aunt Jane.
Her aunt shakes free of whatever little love trance took hold of her. Making guilt crawl inside of Rudy's chest. But she shoves it away, hides this annoying feeling beneath all the rage that still lingers within her.
"Please don't hit Mike Newton again. I don't need another call from your principal this week, Rudy." She sighs before ramping up the heat in the truck.
Her niece snorts as she jumps out of the roaring vehicle. She turns around, still behind the open door, and grins from ear to ear. It's easy to put on a mask to distract people from seeing right into your soul. Rudy finds that strategy to be her favorite.
"See ya later gator!" And with that, the door slams shut and Aunt Jane zooms away. Leaving poor Rudy in the icy rain of Forks, cringing as the truck tires squeal on the payment.
