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THE RESERVATION HIGH SCHOOL was tiny so when something happened everyone knew. Darcie could probably tell you the majority of students names and she could likely give you the family history. For a reservation so small, gossip spread like wildfire, including the tribal stories that floated around. Some scoffed at the stories, claiming them to be ridiculous, but a few took them seriously. Others simply were clueless about their existence.
Take, for example, the Cullen family in Forks. According to the Quileute elders, the tales claimed that the family had a treaty with the tribe that prevented them from stepping foot on tribal land. It also claimed that the Cullen's wouldn't bite anyone with the elders believing the Cullen's were the same cold ones from the early twentieth century that had signed the treaty. If the treaty was broken, then the tribal spirit warriors would be free to strike the cold ones down. But, following the treaty, the reservation was bound to keep their cold secret. Crazy, right? No wonder why people ignore the history of the reservation, which saddens Darcie.
There were also stories about spirit warriors and the fae folk, but Darcie finds it all too bizarre to wrap her mind around. She understands that stories hold truth, but it was hard pin-pointing the truth in the Quileute stories. There were people like Jacob's father, Billy, and Quil's grandfather who believe in the stories, but the teenage group find it like a scary story more than anything.
Now, away from these stories, it was the teenage gossip that was spiralling out of control recently. Catching wind of it, Darcie picks up on the fact that the reservation now knew of Sam Uley's disappearance. All eyes had fallen on Leah Clearwater that morning, who only made the rare occasion to school if she wasn't out looking for Sam. The disappearance now meant the cops were involved, but Darcie had heard from Rochelle that they think Sam's just like his father.
"Your sister looks like she's about to explode," Embry alerts Darcie, where her day-dream comes to an end. At the other side of the canteen, Rochelle is sat with Jamie (her prom date), but her face is pulled tight. Unlike this morning, Leah is nowhere to be seen. "Leah's gone home again?"
"Her boyfriend is missing, Em," Jacob points out.
"Rochelle doesn't like the attention," says Darcie, knowing Rochelle was struggling with the constant whispers and questions from students.
"Funny that," says Quil. "Since, you know, she likes performing."
"It's different," Darcie explains.
"Rochelle's insanely good," Jacob insists, sensing a topic change from Sam was needed. "I'd be confident performing too if I could play like that."
"She's playing at her prom, right?" Embry questions.
Darcie winces at the word, hating everything to do with the dance as she still didn't have a date. It wasn't like she necessarily wanted a boyfriend or a date, but no one had asked Darcie out before. Honestly, Darcie couldn't get the guy she wanted, so she wants someone who maybe wants Darcie for a change.
