world we created, paul lahote

Chapter 04

The strange encounter had long since left Lucia's mind as school picked up its pace, her days jam-packed with studying. It seemed the closer exams crept up on the students of Forks High School, the more work the teachers piled on them. It's as if they believed that would help them prepare for them.

Lucia sat on her bed with a pen placed between her teeth as she reviewed her Physics study material for the mock exam that is coming Monday, her textbooks and notes splayed out across her comforter. Jessica sits at her desk, seemingly far more relaxed than she was over the dreadful test that taunted her. She flipped through her work, mumbling information to herself while the Barone girl wanted nothing more than to shove anything related to the subject off her back and take a nap.

Lucia dropped her pen on her textbook with a thud, a sigh falling from her lips, which drew Jessica's attention from her studying momentarily. "I can't do it anymore. I feel like I'm losing brain cells when I shouldn't be."

"It can't be that bad, Lucy," Jessica tutted, a small chuckle falling from her lips. She spins in the chair to face Lucia, who had collapsed backwards on her bed, blowing out an exaggerated breath. "What topic are you on? Maybe I can help."

"There's no saving me, Jess," Lucia mumbled, feeling the girl approaching the bed. It dips beneath her weight as she takes a seat. "AP Physics is royally kicking my ass."

"Why'd you take it then?"

"Because I'm good at this stuff but it doesn't mean I struggle with certain concepts I won't struggle with..." Lucia trails off and sits back up, flipping through her textbook and landing on the topic in question. "... grasping the concept of Electromagnetic Fields. Faraday's Law of Induction kills me each time I see it."

Jessica smiles sympathetically at her friend, patting her head. "You'll get it, I'm sure of it. This is only the mocks so don't stress too much about it, yeah?"

Lucia closed her materials, knowing that she wasn't going to get anywhere attempting to cram anymore. Her mind was cluttered with random bits of information and if you were to ask her anything about the work she flipped through, she wouldn't be able to tell you. Glancing at her digital alarm clock, she purses her lips. "Don't you have a dentist appointment in like thirty minutes?"

"Shoot." Jessica speedily walks to the desk to pack up her stuff. She slings her bag over her shoulder and looks at Lucia, who stands to her feet, stretching in a lithe manner. "I swear it always takes so long to get to appointments, and if I'm late, I'm going to cry."

Lucia chuckles, patting her friend's arm as she moves to open the hatch, ushering Jessica down. "You'll make it, Jess. Don't worry."

Lucia escorts Jessica to her car, waving at her as she pulls out of the driveway. Since their flop of a movie night weeks prior, the two had hit it off swiftly. Though they didn't have a pot in common, the majority of their interests aligned. Lucia was a bit wary of Jessica's jealous streak when it came to certain girls -- especially when she was competing for Mike's attention. She didn't mention it, though, as the girl never did anything inherently bad regarding it.

The dark brunette girl stands in the kitchen pouring herself a cup of Coca-Cola with ice when she hears the front door open and close. She rounds the corner to see Charlie, his face weary with fatigue. His job has gotten far more gruelling than he had hoped since his sister's passing. He still had no clue what had caused those mysterious deaths last year and the continuous sightings of large wolves or bears or whatever the hell they were was getting out of hand.

"Everything okay, Charlie?" Lucia asks, taking a leisurely sip of the sweet drink, leaving a slight fizz on her tongue.

"Yeah, Luce. Just tired, s'all." Charlie waves off, dragging himself to the recliner and placing himself heavily down. "Just a lot going on these days."

"Is it to do with those wolves again?" She questions taking a seat beside him as he flicks to the TV, letting her body mould with the couch. She thinks back to her encounter a few weeks back. "A guy I met at La Push said something similar about it."

"A guy?" Charlie looks at her, kicking up the recliner.

Lucia hums, her eyes focusing on the baseball game Charlie had recorded lazily. "Said his name was Sam Uley. He was a bit creepy now that I think about it."

"Most think he's in a gang and does steroids. Him and a few of his other buddies," Charlie tells her, toying with the remote. "He's a good man, though. He found Bella when she got lost in the forest after that Cullen boy left her."

Lucia swirls her deep, rich dark brown liquid before taking another sip. That seemed a bit absurd to think he was on steroids. He wasn't as big as one would be if they were on it, mainly being that of lean muscle rather than bulk. "That's weird. He doesn't look like he's on steroids."

"Rumours, kid." Charlie chuckled. "He got big so quickly so people think that he has to be taking something. Now that a few other boys are involved, people think that the whole group's on it. It's a bit of a reach but that's what most rumours are: an exaggeration of the truth or a lie in itself."

"How do you know him?"

"Through Billy Black, Jacob's dad. He watches over the Reservation with his friends. A nice group of boys, the lot," Charlie tells her, looking at her briefly. "So, if you're going to date someone, go for them. Not guys like that Cullen kid."

Lucia had taken a sip just as he said that, choking on her drink. She looked at him, a hint of disbelief in her eyes. "It's like you don't know me," she replied. "I don't want a boyfriend... right now anyway."

Charlie raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Lucia squinted at him, finding his attempt at being slick the least bit amusing. She wasn't going to get a boyfriend. She'd prove it to him. "Watch the game, Uncle Charlie."

Charlie chuckled as he turned his attention back to the game, aware that she was too young to understand love didn't wait for the right time. It snuck up on you when you least expected it, and the next thing you know, your whole world revolves around this one person. They steal your breath and you're heart too. Maybe that's what happened with Bella though he found it hard to believe. That Edward boy had been, to put it frankly, rather dull.

Lucia continued to grumble and stood from her seat just as her uncle perked up again looking to the staircase. He hadn't seen Bella since that morning, how hadn't he asked yet? "Where's Bells?"

"She went out to visit Jacob again," Lucia replied, drinking the remnants of her soda. "Something about motorcycles, I don't know."

"She's been around him a lot lately," he mumbled, relaxing once more. "That's good. She needs to find good people."

Lucia doesn't reply and watches Charlie for a moment. She envied Bella, that was something she'd come to realise. Lucia couldn't even remember her father and Bella had one and just tossed him to the side like a side character in her story. She had a father who would do anything for her and it angered Lucia that the girl couldn't see that. All she cared about was this Edgar guy that she had met a little over a year ago. Her heart ached for Charlie that he seemed to be forgotten by the people he loved; first Renée and now Bella.

"I'm heading up, Charlie," Lucia told him after rinsing her cup and placing it on the drying rack. "I got a Physics mock on Monday to study for."

"All right." Charlie smiled at her from over his shoulder as she stopped at the stairs. "What do you want for dinner? I can order some takeout? Anything you want in particular?"

"I'm fine with whatever," Lucia replied with a shrug, tapping her fingers on the railing. She thought for a moment and then met Charlie's eyes again. "I don't really have a preference."

"Okay. Well, I shouldn't keep you then. Enjoy studying," He teased causing her to groan as she climbed the stairs, the man laughing at her expense.

"I don't think anyone could!"