tongue twister • paul lahote

vii

T H E  W I N D  T O U S L E D her long locks of hair. It nipped at her cheeks and she pulled her arms around herself. The dark overlying clouds tormented her in the sky. Her stomach churned. She didn't know where exactly she was, but she knew that she would regret being here. Thunder roared a deafening sound, nearly cracking her skull open, and a shiver run through her body. A singular raindrop toppled down on her head, and she heard something behind her.

She whipped around but caught sight of nothing. It left her on edge and anxious, and she swallowed hard despite her mouth being dry as cotton. The thump of a heartbeat threatening to break through a rib cage was the only sound that could be heard through a completely empty field. Santana wanted to run, to call out, but she seemed to be frozen. A blur flashed by the tree line sending her body into a frenzy. Her eyes widened in shock, and she couldn't help but stand and stare. She didn't know what it was, but if she were to guess, it wasn't good.

Her gaze darted around the long grass and lumbering forest, but she couldn't find anything else that was alive. Not an animal, nor person. Just when she had herself assured she was alone, a slinking figure appeared behind her. It's hands caressed her cheeks, and she spun around to look at it. It had the body of a human, but was nothing like one. It's eyes blazed blood red, and its skin was whiter than a malevolent phantom. It's lips were stained crimson, and an unnerving fear paralyzed the girls body.

This was it, she thought to herself. Her early demise to a being that nobody would believe was real. "What are you?" Even her words sounded distant. Faint, whimsical, and empty. They echoed in her own ears, and the creature cackled. Her red hair seemed unbothered even in the rain. Her breathtaking beauty was petrifying. It's fingers drew over her skin, taking in the smoothness, the liveliness, the mortality. Santana shivered at the ice cold touch of the being.

"Does it matter?" The girl spoke softly, bearing her teeth in a snarl. Santana gasped in fear, and her body shook and lurched to get out of her grasp. White, bloodstained fangs made themselves known and sent Santana into a revolt. "You won't live long enough to tell anybody anyway. Too bad your little protectors won't find you." The vampire made a lunge to grab her, but instantaneously something flew out of the air and snatched the girl.

Santana was thrown back to the ground, and stared up at the beast that had saved her. It's head turned towards her as more and more filed into the field. Big, monstrous wolves crowded around her, but instead of terror she was filled with calmness. A group of the big animals chased the girl into the tree line, but one stayed back. It's grey fur almost shone in the rain. Her head cleared and her stomach flipped as she looked into its eyes. There was something so familiar, so beautiful about the creature, but what?

*

Santana woke with a start. Beads of sweat lined her forehead, and her heart thumped in her chest. What had that dream been all about? She threw the covers off her, and looked out the window. Her short legs swung over the side of the bed and she climbed out, still disoriented. Maybe she had just been reading too many supernatural stories. She pulled her hair out of its elastic, and ran a hand through it. She got dressed in an old tattered AC/DC shirt and jeans. She brushed on some makeup and checked the time. She had a few minutes for breakfast, and then she had to catch the bus to school.

She pondered about the dream as she carried herself downstairs and ate. She continued to rack her brain for solutions on the bus ride to school, and through first period. The school was quiet, friends stuck to themselves and didn't stray much. Santana had a few friends, but none nearly as close as the ones she made on the reserve. The day seemed to drag on, her head was stuck in her thoughts and she didn't have the heart to focus on the lesson. She had planned on going home to finish her homework and get caught up on some chores, but as she stepped out the main doors to the high school, her plans changed.

Paul Lahote was standing by himself at the end of the stairs leading to the school with a grin on his face. "What are you doing here?" She found herself smiling larger than she had all day.

"I figured I'd come see my favourite pale face." His expression put a lightness in her heart that she couldn't get anywhere else. "There's a fire tonight with a few of the elders of the tribe—I was told to invite you, so here I am." He added. Santana's eyes lit up at the thought of spending the night with her friend, but a nervousness spread through her at the thought of it not just being the two of them.

"I mean, are you sure I should be there? Aren't your guys tribes stories like secret or something?" She slowly question and he just gave her a laugh.

"You're practically family, Tana. Don't sweat it. Come on," he reached out for her and she reached up and grabbed his hand, letting him pull her along. He lead her to a truck, and opened the passenger door for her. She hopped in and waited for him to get in the drivers side before talking.

"Yours?" She asked, referring to the truck. He shook his head, starting the engine by turning the key.

"I wish. My dads. He lets me borrow it sometimes." She nodded slowly. It was the first she'd ever heard him speak about his father, and she didn't want to point it out. She had no idea what the story was, and he seemed to be in a good mood. She didn't want to risk ruining it.

The two drove in silence, aside from the hum of the radio and a few questions about each others day. Santana was content with the quiet and watched the trees pass by out the window, and slowly recognized the surroundings of La Push. She looked over through her strands of hair and caught sight of Paul's content face, and her heart began to beat out of her chest. He looked over at her almost instantly and her cheeks turned red. She only felt this way around Paul. He was one of the most important things to her, and she barely knew him for longer than a few months.

"What are you looking at?" He teased, and she looked down at her hands folded up on her lap. She didn't want to out and admit she was admiring him, but he probably got the clue.

"Nothing special," she teased back and he laughed with a shake of his head.

"That hurts, Tana. That hurts." He put a hand over his heart and she giggled. What a boy he was.

"It's okay, you'll get over it." She assured him and he rolled his eyes.

"Your consideration for my feelings really makes me feel loved."

"That was my intent." She replied and he pursed his lips. He glanced at her once again, and his breath was taken away. He couldn't believe how lucky he was that he got someone like Santana Crowley as his imprint.