Stay • Jared Cameron

seven

The summer holidays came too quick for Evelina. Normally, the three month period between school was her favorite time of the year. But this year with her lack of friends and the most serious year of her life coming up, Evelina had some choices to make. College brochures were scattered all over her kitchen table, adding to the constant mess.

Evelina sighed as she put her bowl in the sink. It was the first day of the holidays and she was already bored. She was caught up on her school work and most of her tv shows so there wasn't much she could do. 

She grabbed her keys and her phone with a sigh. When she made it down the steps of her front porch and into her car she realized she didn't even know where to go. Obviously, she wouldn't go to any of the boy's houses and she didn't really have any other friends. 

"Fuck." She whisper-yelled and smacked her hands on the steering wheel. 

Evelina ended up on the main road out of the reservation, heading towards the small town of forks. She parked her small car and went to look around some of the small shops around the town. 

One shop, in particular, caught her eye, Sue Clearwater's small bookstore. It was tucked away behind a few trees but it seemed so cozy and homely. 

Bells went off as she entered the store followed by the warm voice of Sue herself.

"I'll be there in just a second!" She yelled from out the back of the store. Evelina took this time to look around, she hadn't been in here for years. As a child, she rarely played with Seth and Leah and she couldn't really remember why. It had always just been Her, Embry, Jake and Quil.

As she looked up, Sue's head popped out from the door to the storeroom. As soon as she saw the blonde-haired girl, her face lit up.

"Evelina, how are you? I haven't seen you in ages, how's your Mom?" Sue asked question after question and they were all too fast to answer.

"Uhhh, Mom's good yeah, really good actually. She's actually in California right now at some art exhibition thing." She explained. Sue nodded and smiled.

"And you're home alone?" Evelina laughed at this.

"When am I not home alone?" Evelina tried to joke but Sue's smile faded slightly.

"Mom's only going to be gone for a month or so, maximum two months maybe." Evelina tried to make the situation sound a bit better but Sue's smile kept fading until she was slightly frowning.

"So what are you doing these holidays?" Sue asked. Evelina laughed slightly.

"I have no idea actually, I just had a falling out with my friends so I don't really have a lot to do." She explained trying to make it sound less sad.

Sue smiled, "Why don't you look for a summer job?" 

"You know what, that's actually a really good idea, I should start saving for college." She agreed and realized that she would get a job to distract her from everything happening in her life right now.

"Well, would you work here?" Sue asked with a sheepish smile.

"Would you want me here, don't you already have employee's?" She asked surprised.

"Well Luke went on a last minute trip with his family and I have Leah and Seth working most of the other shifts but they're not really well at the moment," Sue explained.

"Well if you'd have me, I'd love to work here." Evelina smiled at the older woman.

"Can you start tomorrow?" 

X

"That'll be $15?" Evelina said as more of a question as she looked at Sue to confirm her statement. The older woman smiled widely and nodded.

As the customer left the store Sue sighed. 

"Okay, let's close!" She said as she reached for the sign on the door and changed it from open to closed.

"You did great Evelina, you really did! What days do you think you can work?" Sue asked, still wearing her signature smile.

"Any day is fine, I'm free pretty much always." Evelina laughed to cover the sadness in her tone.

"How about 10 am on Thursday and after that, i'll put you on the roster?" 

The two sorted it out and Evelina was out the door soon after. When she finally made it home, it was well after dark. She basically ran up her front porch steps and as she put her key into the lock, she finally realized the light was on. That meant someone was home and it couldn't be her Mom. 

Evelina paused to have a mini panic, what should she do? What if it was her Dad or a murderer? 

She sucked in a breath and said a quick 'fuck it' under her breath before walking in.

"Hello?" She called out before she shut the door. Footsteps started coming towards her and she held the door open behind her in case she needed a quick escape. The stranger peeped their head around the corner and the small girl let out the breath that she'd been holding onto.

"Jared?" She finally said and closed the door behind her. She walked straight past him into the kitchen.

"God you scared the shit out of me, I thought I was about to get murdered - wait, why are you here?" She turned on the spot to face him. He stood leaning against the post in the doorway like he had before she lost everyone.

"Uhhhh..." He trailed on and scratched the back of his neck. The small girl sighed.

"I think you should l-" Evelina was cut off as someone else entered the kitchen.

"I couldn't smell the leach anywhere upstairs but I still don't trust that she hasn't been here," Jacob said as he walked ever-so casually past Jared and came face to face with Evelina.

"Eve.... hi! I didn't think you would be back so soon." He said nervously.

"What?!" She yelled, "Why are you in my house and how did you know what time I'd be back? Are you stalking me?"

The boys didn't answer.

"Why were you upstairs as well and why were you sniffing up there? What couldn't you smell? Goddammit, Jacob, I'm so fucking confused what is wrong with you?!" She couldn't get the questions out fast enough. 

Jacob's eyes softened at his best friends hysteria and turned to Jared. The two shared what looked like a conversation in their heads and Evelina was even more confused.

"Look, Eve, it's not safe for you here. Come with us and you can stay at my house tonight." Evelina let out a small laugh.

"There is no way I'm going anywhere with either of you."

"Eve, please we can't protect you here."

"Protect me from what?" The boys remained silent.

"From what Jacob?" She questioned again.

Evelina sighed, "If you tell me what you're protecting me from, I'll come with you."

The boys shared a look then turned to the small girl.

"Protect you from vampires." The room fell silent.

"What?" Her voiced cracked.