A Twist to Twilight

Chapter 17

Althea POV

Paul hasn't left my side in two weeks. He is still really upset with the whole situation with the stingray. I understand where he is coming from but I need my space.

He left to go to the reservation, while I spent some time with my family.

"Thank God," Rose said, crinkling her nose in disgust.

"Hay! That's my mate you're talking about," I say in a snobbish tone

"He doesn't stink to you, but we're the ones that have to breathe in his stench. My clothes even reek of him and I don't even get close to him," she replies.

"Technically you don't have to breathe, so suck it up sister."

"You are terrible."

"Thank you Rosie," I say, fanning my hands in front of my face.

"It's not a compliment Thea," she said.

"Haters gonna hate," I reply with a smirk, "I'll take all the compliments I can."

"Haters gonna hate," my father says in distaste as he enters the living room, "Since when do you speak like this? In all my years I've never heard you use this much slang."

I laugh at his expression, "Like I said before dad, you've got to roll with the times. And besides, my boyfriend is from this time period, imagine me speaking to him in old English like we do sometimes, Godne mergen Paulus."

"I can imagine he would find it very difficult," he said dryly.

"Are you going hunting soon?" I ask.

"Esme, Edward and I are going in twenty minutes. Your brother is still with Bella and will be here in a few minutes."

"Can I join you?" I ask, which I rarely do. I never ask to go hunting with them, it's normally the other way around, which is why my father looks concerned.

"Of course you can. Are you thirsty?" he asks.

"Just a little."

Edward came a few minutes later and we soon left on our hunt. I really don't like hunting animals. My senses are heightened, and as such, so are my taste buds. Just eating meat grosses me out. I still do it if I have to, but still, it's gross.

We were a few miles from home when Edward and Esme split, leaving my father alone with me. We stopped running, sitting on a fallen tree.

"Are you alright Althea?" my father breaks the silence.

"I..I'm not sure," I reply feeling down.

"I'm here for you, you know that."

"I do, it's just, I'm still trying to figure things out you know. With Paul, our relationship. With everything that's happened the past few months. I'm so tired," I reply, wiping a tear from eye.

He pulls me into a hug, "I'm sorry that you have to go through this."

"I was so scared. Looking for that stingray, having my mind connected to his. Everything leading up to it. I felt so overwhelmed. And with Paul being so overprotective, I felt like I couldn't share all of the bad things with him. My emotions, everything. There are things that I've never even shared with you. I'm so tired," I say, sobbing into his chest.

"You are so strong my dear. Everything will be okay. You'll see, it'll get better."

"Thanks dad."

"Any time sweetheart," he says, getting up and pulling me with him in a run.

I spotted a deer and went for the kill, my father taking another one close by. After we were done, we walked back slowly.