Her New Moon

26

In the following days, the pack and Driana patrolled the land. The girl explained what had happened before Laurent changed her. It didn't make sense as to why Victoria continued coming back. The pack guessed it was to avenge Laurent. No matter how hard Driana tried, there was no view in Victoria's eyes. Maybe she needed more practice.

"Blindfolded?" Paul asked, holding a bandana.

Driana nodded confidently. "I'm sure this will improve my ability."

"ƛ'ub," Paul sighed, stepping behind her to wrap it around her head. 

"Did you bring the earplugs?" She asked, securing the bandana. Paul handed them over, and Driana placed them in her ears. "I can still hear, but whatever works." Spinning around to lose her sense of direction, she pointed. "Go there, and I'll try and find you."

A few minutes went by, and she waited long enough. She forced an image of Paul into her mind. The way he looked became clear. Then, a blurry view of trees and leaves faded in and out. Driana closed her eyes, hoping it would enhance the picture. It slightly helped, and she reopened her eyes. It was as if the blindfold wasn't there. In front of her was an enormous tree surrounded by ferns and plants. She was no longer standing in the patch of dirt and moss. Driana successfully entered Paul's eyesight. He looked left and right before turning back. The familiar trees they passed earlier made Driana realize how close he was. Sprinting, Driana used Paul's eyes. She saw herself coming at him. Paul paused, running in the opposite direction. Driana laughed, chasing Paul in the woods. Reaching a hand, she touched his shoulder and removed the blindfold.

"Do you know how scary that was?" Paul shouted, fear in his eyes. "You were like Chucky without the knife!"

Driana giggled, doubling over. "The way you ran! Oh gosh." She stood back up. "I told you to go in that direction."

"Yeah, I should've," Paul scoffed. He smiled. "That was hella cool, though. Scary, but cool."

"I guess being a vampire does have its perks," Driana shrugged.

"Don't go using your power when I'm on the toilet," Paul warned, causing Driana to grimace. "You and I won't like that."

Paul and Driana continued the girl's training. Each practice made her better. With time, she discarded the blindfold. She didn't struggle with creating images. They became clearer as if they were her own. Paul gave the pack a heads-up that Driana would practice on them. She envisioned Sam near the Makah Reservation, Jared in Ozette, and Embry on the borders of the Hoh Reservation. Curiosity got the best of her as she thought of Jacob. The girl frowned, seeing Jacob in Forks.

"What's wrong?" Paul asked.

"Nothing," Driana shook her head. She lied, not wanting to snitch on Jacob. "I lost focus. But my powers got better."

Her smile made memories flash through Paul's eyes.

"ʔəsx̌ik'ʷabicid čəd," Paul mumbled.

Driana furrowed her brows. "What does that mean?"

Paul froze, stammering. "It's nothing, just something in my mom's Twulshootseed language."

"As long as you didn't call me names," Driana teased.

"I would never," Paul gasped, placing a hand over his heart. He chuckled. "Do you need to hunt?"

Driana shook her head. "I went on a trip this morning."

"By yourself?" Paul raised his brows. "You're getting better at enduring the smell of humans. You've been proving Jacob's dad wrong."

"Honestly, I thought this life was the end for me," Driana confessed. "Now, I have the motivation to prove there's still worth."

"Guilt haunts me every day," Paul told her. "It hurts when I look at you, knowing you look the same. But, your eyes remind me they'll never be the ones I first fell in love with."

"On the bright side," Driana sang. "As long as I'm alive, everyone lives long. The pack and I's bond would never end."

"Perks of eternal youth," Paul added. "Eternity forever."

Driana stared into the distance at the word eternity, a memory flashing through. For a split second, Jasper entered her mind. She enjoyed it for as long as she wanted to, knowing his face would fade over time. Jasper's not coming back anyway.

"You're doing it again."

Driana blinked. "What?"

"You zone out whenever we talk about specific things," Paul explained.

"I'm sorry-"

"It's about them, isn't it?" He pursed his lips.

Sighing, Driana leaned against the tree. "It's weird. I expected happiness that would last as long as I did. Now that I'm a vampire, they're not around. I'm always right. Forever is a stupid promise."

"You know," Paul spoke, crossing his arms. "I can prove it's not."

"I always proved you wrong," Driana scoffed.

"It doesn't have to be stupid if two people try hard."

"Like who?"

"Us," He whispered. "We can try again."

Paul placed a hand above her head, palm resting against the tree. He smiled down at her, the same flirtatious grin he'd used against her. Driana pushed herself against the tree, trying to appear taller as she straightened up.

"Being cocky never left you, huh?"

"Perhaps not." Paul shrugged. "What do you say being my sq'ʷuʔ, again?"

Screw it.