Magic Shop - Paul Lahote FF

Two

I spent the first half of my morning helping my friends pack and waving them off as they left for the airport. The other half was spent taking the longest route possible home so I could avoid my parents. Call me petty or a brat or whatever you want, but I'm upset. And my parents are to blame. There was a time they forced me to hang out with people and be adventurous, and when I finally get that chance they make me stay home where it's safe.

Well guess what mom and dad, Forks isn't as safe as it used to be. There were multiple animal attacks a few months back. Sure, they've seemed to stop, but they could start again. Point is, those attacks were supposed to be my bargaining chip for going to California. I would have loved to use them and remind my parents the world isn't safe so there's really no reason for me not to go spend 6 weeks away with my friends. But then the attacks stopped and I couldn't use them. Screw you animals, you ruined my summer.

Instead of tans and sunshine all day long, I'm stuck with rain and boredom.

"Are you pouting already?" Mother chuckles, passing me a cup of coffee. "Your friends left like forty minutes ago."

I take a sip of the drink. Great, it's delicious. How can I be mad at my mom when she makes my coffee just right? "Can you blame me? I'm stuck in this shitty town."

"Caroline!" Mom scolds, staring at me with that disappointed mom look.

I sigh. "Sorry. I just...I know you and dad want to keep me safe, but I'm seventeen. Can't I have some freedom to do whatever I want?"

Mom sits next to me, pulling me into her arms. "How about this, you stop whining about this trip for the next four weeks, work at the store with your father, and then maybe we'll let you go to California for the last two weeks."

I gasp, placing my cup down so I can properly hug her. "Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"But if you get in trouble for anything, the deal is off. Understood?" I nod, squeezing her tightly before letting go to call Julian.

~~~

The next six days have gone by in a blur. A really, really slow blur. I've done everything my parents have asked. Every day I work at the store from 8-4 with my dad, sometimes I work the last few hours by myself so dad can drive to Port Angeles and have lunch with mom. After work I go home, help with dinner, clean up dinner, then go to bed and start it all over again.

It's boring. Incredibly boring. But it's what I have to do if I want to go to California.

I'm currently halfway through my shift at the store. Dad is working in the back which leaves me to help the customers alone. There was another worker, some college girl from Port Angeles, but she went home for the summer so it's just dad and I.

As I'm handing a customer her prescription, the bell above the door rings, another customer walking in. I glance up to see who, expecting it to be Emily Young. Dad had called her earlier this morning to tell her her medicine had come in. I unconsciously wince every time I hear her name. She had been attacked by a bear about two weeks ago, resulting in three long scars stretching from the top of her right brow to her chin. Nevertheless, she was still effortlessly beautiful.

But it's not Emily Young making her way to the counter. Instead, Sam Uley takes her place. He smiles tightly at me. "I'm here to pick up Emily's medicine." Normally we wouldn't allow someone who wasn't family to pick up another's prescription, but Emily had also said there was a slight possibility Sam would be picking up her medication.

As I pass him the package, I finally notice the person standing besides him. He's tall, much taller than the boys at my school. His hair is cut short. A tattoo peaks out from the edge of his shirt. My eyes scan over his face before connecting with his eyes.

Everything around me freezes. Sam disappears from from my sight. The store fades away. All that's left is me and this breathtaking stranger. And I don't want anything to change.

"Line!" When my dad rests a hand on my shoulder everything returns. A blush coats my cheeks as I realize I've been staring at the stranger for who knows how long. "You just gonna stand there and keep Sam's change?"

My hand, which has curled into a fist, holds the eight dollars and sixty-three cents I'm supposed to give to Sam. I mumble an apology and give him the money. The other guy continues to stare blankly, a dazed expression on his face. Sam elbows him in the ribs and he blinks rapidly a few times before clearing his throat. "Sorry for my friend, he's currently running on four hours of sleep." Sam apologizes.

I don't miss the glare the guy throws at Sam before he reaches a hand out towards me. "Sorry, didn't mean to stare like a creep. I'm Paul."

My lips curl into a smile as I place my hand in his. "It's fine. I'm Caroline."

The bell rings again, two familiar faces entering the store. "Jasper, Alice." My father greets, shaking their hands with a warm smile. "Your father's things are in the back." Dad leaves to grab the box. Dr. Cullen orders his items from us every month, something about them being cheaper here or what not.

I expect Alice and Jasper to come closer to the counter, but they keep a sizable distance between them and Paul and Sam. "It was nice meeting you, Caroline. I'll see you around." Paul and Sam wave goodbye before quickly leaving, their eyes hard and cold as they glance at couple.

Dad returns shortly after, handing the box over to Jasper. Alice pays and wiggles her fingers at me before taking her boyfriends hand and exiting the store.

"Do the Cullens and Sam have some rivalry or something?" I question my dad later as we close up. "You should've seen the way they were acting earlier. It was like they hated each other."

Dad locks the doors. "They don't get along." He admits. "But I don't think the Cullens get along with anyone from La Push. Not sure why, but it's not our place to ask questions."

We get into his car, beginning the drive home. "I know, I was just curious." When we arrive, I quickly undo my seatbelt. "Have fun on your weekend get away with mom. But not too much fun cause I'm fine being an only child." Dad snorts and rolls his eyes.

"We'll call you when we get back from dinner." Then he drives away, leaving me to stand alone and watch as his car disappears.

Y'all I wish my school would just change to online already. All they've done so far is extend spring break