Pluvial | twilight

ZERO; at seventeen

Helen Anemone Swan's blue eyes were rushing through the words, knowing she didn't have much longer to read the letters before the book would be snatched from her hands and she'd be lectured.

She knew she wasn't like any of the people her age, at least in her school; while most girls her age were busy with boys their age and school, and very few put their hobbies above boys, she had peculiar hobbies, that caused a strain on a friendship with, well, anyone.

"HELEN!" A voice interrupted, and she jumped, startled, when the front door was shut loudly. To the lit kitchen entered the chief of police in Forks, Washington.

"Hi dad," she smiled happily, shutting the book and placing it hurriedly under the table. "How was your day?"

"Helen, why did I get a phone call from Mr. Greene saying that your grades at summer school were barely enough to pass?"

Helen pursed her lips, pushing up the round glasses on her nose. "Because my grades at summer school were not very good?"

"And why is that?" She stayed silent, and Charlie Swan looked his daughter up and down. She was a perfect mix of pain and pride; she had the same almond shaped eyes his mother had, with the sharp blue his ex-wife has, but darker and more piercing that he's ever seen, the curly brown hair both he and his father sported. She was a reminder of everything he ever loved and lost, and she was also the sole thing that kept him happy.

Well, most days.

"Put that Hitler book down, you know it by heart! Seriously, Helen," she placed the hidden book on top of the table, and seemed very sheepish as she sighed. She was just getting to the part where Ian Kershaw described how the first world war made Hitler possible, which was the juiciest part, according to her.

"The lasagna is ready and tasty," she said shyly, and Charlie sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes. The hunger and weariness made him grab a plate and put the lasagna on his plate, and then put a few spoonfuls of salad next to it. "I'll just-"

"Sit down," he said as she moved her chair back. He took a bite of the lasagna, sitting down in the process, and as he finished chewing he opened his mouth. "Helen, sweetie."

"Yes, dear father of mine who I've chosen to live with because I admire beyond--"

"Sycophancy will get you nowhere, young lady." She sighed, glancing at the back of her go-to book. Charlie caught her glance and grabbed the book. "How can you look at this man so much?" Helen shrugged simply, and looked at the sullen face of Adolf Hitler, 600 written pages packed with the story of his life until the year 1936, just before he truly conquered the world. Her collection of beat up books was what she hid whenever anyone would come over to their house.

Discourse on Livy, one of Machiavelli's less known books (of course, as everyone knew the Prince, but seldomly knew the rest of his works), was laying on top of the tower of books, hiding the face of Stalin, and the writing "The Road to Power".

Yes, she supposed not many teenagers anywhere were religiously reading about tyrants and many political texts dating back over half a millennium. But as long as she hid that little fact, she could pass as a simply funny girl with nothing special about her.

"Helen, please. Put down the crazy leaders books for a month," he himself placed the book down on the table, "and work on your grades. You can do better than almost failing summer school," she sighed miserably as he took another bite of the lasagna. "Just try?"

She shrugged.

"Sure. I'll give this year a try."

"Good." He smiled, and tilted his face to the side to look at the book again. "I think you might even like the fact I promised the new doctor that you'll help his kids."

"You did what?" Helen asked, frowning.

"He's very nice, and I supposed his kids are too."

"What, like, two kids? My age or older?" She wondered, snatching the book away from her father.

"Five kids." He said casually, and she glared at him.

"John Dee himself can look me in the eyes and say he'll tell me everything he ever knew if I show these idiots around, and I'll still tell him to fu--"

::

"Welcome to Forks high school!"