Paul Lahote - Imprinted

*Chapter 35*

  Rowan’s POV

The camera flashed brightly with a snap, after the obligatory family picture, I quickly walked away from the set. Closing my eyes , I tried to blink away the  small dots of lights remaining in my vision. I looked back towards to the happy couple, my dad smiled towards Veronica, the fine lines of age around his eyes becoming prominent. Veronica rubbed her growing belly as dad held her close, they seemed very happy to me. Creating a new family seemed like a set-up at first, one of my dad’s attempt of giving me a mom. While Veronica was nice and all and I do found myself caring for her, I just didn’t know if she could fill the void that my mom left. It won’t be the same.  If Emily can’t then she most definitely won’t.

‘That’s a wrap” the photographer said, going through the hundreds of photos that he has taken. “Thanks, Dave” dad said as he helped Veronica up, his eyes searching for something, or maybe someone. “Come here Row!” He pulled something out of his pockets then offering it to me.

It was rather a thick stash of colored paper from what I could see, I still found it funny that Toronto had colourful bills, maybe Forks should have it too. “What is this?”I ask, not taking it from him. He waved the money towards the window, eyeing the bright sun outside. “Go out with your friends, Veronica and I will go home” I tried to resist but he was so insistent. I wasn’t ready to face them yet, I don’t know what I could tell them.  

Going towards the elevator, I took my phone out and hesitated. It was saturday afternoon so I figured I would have time to think about it, Andrea and Lexy doesn’t get up until three pm anyways, it would give me at least two hours.

The elevator dinged, signaling the final descend. As I took a step outside, my eyes wandered to the city that was once my home.  I could not help but compare everything to Forks, the difference between the two is immense. It was never quiet in Toronto, and walking generally requires you to be really close to another stranger, You could run forever in forks and not run into anyone. Still, both city has it charms. Forks just has a very unfair advantage though , it has a peanut face. I don’t want to even speak or think of his name, it’s painful enough.

The simple walk that was planned now as turned into massive brooding on my part, once he appeared in my thoughts, it would be hard if not impossible to get him out of my head. This is bad, I should not be that dependant on a guy, but he was not just some guy, he was my soul mate. Now in desperate need of a distraction, I finally called the other two friends that I have in Toronto. They answered fast enough, they asked me to hang out for several times already that I thought they had simply given up on me.

We decided to meet near Finch station, they squeaked and pulled me in a tight hug as soon as they caught sight of me.“Row Row, I didn’t think you would call.” Andrea said as she acted like we have never separated for years, they were Noah’s friends and I guess to some extent mine too, they were nice enough to hang out with. Sometimes though, they can be too forceful and makes me uncomfortable.

“We have to try this new korean restaurant in town”Lexy tugged on us both, dragging us effectively towards the subway trains. “It’s in Queen street so we have plenty of time to catch up while we wait in this stinky subway” As the door closed, they both leaned towards me, their eyes blinking rapidly. I regret calling them now. “So, what happened in Forks?” Andrea asked as Lexy giggled. “Well..” There was nothing interesting that happened really, outside the whole vampire and wolves thing, I found myself reaching towards any acceptable things to say.

“There was a lot of animal attacks, a lot of them died” They were horrified, their eyes widening. They looked at each other briefly then laughed nervously. “I guess what Andrea meant was, if you dated any boy? Are they different from the city boys here?” Lexy said as Andrea agreed. “I do have a boyfriend” I confessed, there was no use  hiding and besides I have no other stories to tell.