I shuffled reluctantly down the hallways littered with lost papers and posters advertising clubs or events put on by the school. The knot in my stomach grew tighter with each step and every second felt like forever. Then I brought up a checklist in my mind:
Pale? Check.
Never eats? Check.
Never goes out in the sunlight? Check.
Strange? In every possible way.
The facts were overwhelming at this point. And they all pointed to the Cullen's being vampires like Elizabeth had suggested. I had the knowledge of ghosts and the supposed wolf pack down on the reservation, so I suppose vampires weren't an impossibility. However the Cullen's were the exact opposite in every way. They didn't live in a decrepit castle in the middle of nowhere with dungeons or moats. They didn't wander around flaunting their power. They weren't dressed in the stereotypical black cloaks and pants, with blood dripping down their chins. They were, normal.
I finally swallowed the lump in my throat and shouldered open the cafeteria door, the hustle and bustle of the room in full swing. The Cullen's sat in their usual spot, the three surrounding tables completely void of human presence.
I worriedly licked my lips as Elizabeth and I made eye contact, and out of instinct I looked away. I walked towards the lunch line and muttered to the lunch ladies what I wanted. Another glance stolen in the direction of the Cullen's proved that they didn't eat. It was the time every school child loved, and yet there wasn't a single tray in sight. I gnawed at my lip as I punched in my Student ID to pay for my lunch. I then made a very, very, very bold move, and sat down at a table directly to the right of the Cullen's.
A hush fell over the cafeteria at the act, and it took every ounce of my brain power to not race from the scrutiny of my peers. Slowly conversation faded back to normal. Then I took the time to take in the rest of their ghost's. With the conclusion that they were vampires their ghosts began to take shape in my mind.
They were people they killed, I thought.
The thought sparked fear within me. Then I heard Alice's chime of laughter and the thought melted from my head. The perky little girl sitting at that table couldn't have possibly murdered someone. Her ghost was a tall and lanky young man. He had very lean muscles which were evident even through his crisp white lab coat. His thick black hair was slicked back exposing a very menacing widow's peak. His cold white skin looked like marble, alarmingly similar to the Cullen's, and his eyes were pitch black. Like dark coals which then locked directly with mine. My eyes widened but after one look from Elizabeth he backed off.
My eyes trailed to her partner, Jasper Hale, and his flurry of spirits. It hurt my head to stare at the ghosts for too long so I quickly passed him.
Then my eyes sat upon the ghost's of the gorgeous Rosalie Hale, even as a closeted gay boy, I could recognize her beauty. A beauty which paired perfectly with the six men at her feet, kissing and rubbing her brown leather boots. They seemed to be dressed in very high fashion, suits and ties, and were begging Rosalie without any sound coming from their mouths. I furrowed my eyebrows at that picture.
I licked my lips as I eyes up Emmett Cullen, an absolute beefcake who'd have every woman, and me, at his feet if we weren't so scared of Rosalie. His ghosts were two young girls who seemed completely different in every way. Except one... The look of utter terror on their face as they kept their unblinking eyes trained on Emmett. My murder theory slowly faded back into my mind, what else could explain it?
My legs wobbled as I stood up and Elizabeth looked at me expectantly. I backed away slowly, my fear got the best of me and I bolted. I thickly swallowed before darting towards the door, dumping my food remains and dropping off my tray above it. I swiftly walked through the empty halls and towards the library.
I saw a familiar face seated at a table in the center. Mrs. Washington was fast asleep with her bright pink glasses drooping down her old wrinkled face. Angela Webber was sitting there, laptop open, and camera out.
"H-Hey Angela," I stuttered walking up on her table.
She blinked in surprise but smiled at me as I sat down.
"Heyo Astor," She replied.
"I'm in a dilemma, and I'm going to be completely honest with you," I said, which was a lie, a very big one.
I would save the vampire nonsense for someone else. A shrink maybe.
"You know how I can see ghosts," I asked, and she nodded familiar with the rumors.
"Well, there was one asking me a favor, and I want to do it, but it's terrifying because it's Edward's mom and I don't know how he'll react to such a thing." I whispered, almost sure of the freak vampire hearing they had.
Angela furrowed her brow and scrunched up her face,
"Well..." She began but trailed off.
She swallowed before continuing with more fluid speech, "If you feel it's the right thing to do, then you should, even if it scares you. Even more so if it's something you'd do for someone else. It's no better than everyone picking on you if you refuse something like this to Edward just because he's Edward." She finished with a warm look in her eyes.
She was right. The only reason I'm scared is because it's Edward. And also the vampire thing, but that's irrelevant because this is his mother, whom he hasn't seen in about a hundred years. I stood up with a surefire answer, I'm gonna do it. Except my plans were ruined by the ringing bell. Lunch was over and Angela began packing up her things. Then we decided to walk to our lockers together.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and the Cullen's in the hallways. Until I was suddenly outside at my car door staring blankly in the direction of Edward's sleek Volvo and Emmett's gargantuan Jeep. I could do it now, but I knew I wouldn't.
I scrambled into my rusty old Dodge and latched my seat belt. I drove off into the distance as fast as possible, the screech of my tires evident of that.
---
I arrived at home as quickly as I could without speeding, knowing Charlie would rat me out to parent's if word ever got back to him. I then darted through the small foyer, up the L-shaped stairs, and clambered up the attic stairs to my personal party room, that sometimes doubled as my bedroom. The clothes and blankets littering the floor were evidence enough for that, but that didn't matter, not now.
I bit my lip out of habit as I skimmed the bookshelf in search of on particular book. A notebook specifically, his great grandma Edith's journal which detailed what she knew about the supernatural and her, and my, ability. I scanned the ratty old pages in search of a keyword, vampire. Then I found it, a whole page. Detailing every piece of information.
Speed, strength, impenetrability, all things to be expected. Then I got to a strange part. It was scrawled with a little more care, as if it was something she wanted to remember very explicitly.
The Vampires
They came here and found peace with the pack.
There was a treaty that came about to keep them at bay and to keep Forks protected, and it was rather mesmerizing to hear about. Ephraim says they're different, with golden eyes. Which is new to me, I'd only ever seen the red eyes.
Ephraim says it's because they drink animal blood rather than human blood, thus, making them different. Which means wonders for any vampiric research I may want to conduct. Especially involving the ghosts. How would they react? Did these "Gold Eyes" have ghosts of their own?
Then it kept going on about our powers. But the thought of the Cullen's drinking animal blood rather than human blood greatly calmed my nerves. Then I heard the heavy slam of my front door. My eyes widened as I quickly hid the notebook in the small bookcase I found it in. I bounded down the stairs to greet my father with a smile.
"Hey buddy," He called, before heading into the kitchen, presumably for a beer that was regularly stocked in our house. I sighed and said,
"S'okay, same old same old," I knew better than to mention the ghosts.
Not just around anyone, but especially my father. The Sight was something I was born with, thanks to my father's side. However my father wasn't, and although he doesn't show it, it infuriated him that he can't ever understand what it's like.
