Full Moon
Chapter One- Arrival
The window gave a wonderful view of the runway surrounded by large puddles, something I hoped would halt the descent. The rain came down harshly against the side of the aircraft but that wouldn't stop it.I had been warned about the weather here. It was either snow or rain, I wasn't gambling for any sunshine in the near future, not that I wanted any either. The weather seemed to reflect my mood so it seemed fitting. It wasn't like those erratic rainy days up in Canada, here, rain was a custom. I felt the wheels of the plane touch the landing strip, causing me to sigh. The long dreaded arrival was here. In a mere twenty minutes, I would be off the plane and enveloped in some stranger's arms, someone claiming to be a long lost relative.
Maybe my estranged relative wouldn't show up? Maybe they wouldn't actually exist and I was just going to have to find my own way around the town? Hoplessness hit. I could remember the conversation the lawyer had had and there was no possible way that anything I hoped would happen. Everything was going to go just as planned. I turned off my mp3 player, my favourite song fading into the murmured noises of people waking up.
"We will be unboarding in a few minutes. Please stay seated until the plane has come to a complete stop. At that point, you may gather your belongings and exit the aircraft. Thank you for flying with Air USA." The intercom shut off as the activity gre within the passenger area. Parents woke up their sleeping children, single flyers began gathering their belongings which had spread across them when they'd fallen asleep and in front of me, an elderly couple were being woken up by an air stewardess. I leaned by head against the cool window, closing my eyes to block out the light that had been turned on beside me.
"Elizabeth, we're here." I turned around to the voice, watching as they recoiled slightly. I wondered what I must look like to them, probably half dead. I rose from my seat, mindlessly following my watcher as I liked to call him. He was tall, with an aged face. Lately, he always seemed to have a furrowed brow, as if he were trying to pull off the upset and worried look. I knew he probably didn't really care, he was probably all giddy inside, thinking of the big paycheck he'd be taking home after this. Money that he could then spend freely on big vacations and golf trips with his buddies all the while returning home each time to a happy family with a wife who would smile and kiss his cheek while welcoming him home and kids that would run up and hug him, excited that he'd finally returned from his work trip.
"Thank you for flying with Air USA. Thank your for..." The stewardes repeated the same farewell as each passenger left the plane. As we passed I tuned her out, something I was very good at. The rest of the walk seemed like a blur as we passed through the busy airport to the meeting place.
"Hello." The man beside me greeted another man.
"Ah, hello. Rodney was it?" The man beside me nodded grimly ,trying to keep up the act. I looked at the man Rodney spoke to. He was older, probably about 40 or so but I wasn't very good with guessing ages in the first place. His hair was only just beginning to turn white, creating a very light hint of silver throughout his hair. His face was aged gracefully but there was still a hint of youth hidden away. He also came off as a little awkward, as if he wasn't comfortable with the situation.
"My condolences. It's a hard time to have to do this." Rodney kept up his appearance as the man nodded, his body seemingly tired from the sleepless nights he must have gone through. Rodney continued ,each word seeming like a stab to the poor man whm I barely knew. "This is Elizabeth." The man turned and looked at me, recoiling when he caught my gaze. His reaction seemed different than the others but I couldn't place why. He gathered himself together again.
"Hello Elizabeth, my name is Charlie Swan." He seemed takenaback when he looked at me still. I didn't respond, instead I stared straight ahead.
"She's had a rough journey. She hasn't talked much since..." Thankfully, Charlie nodded before Rodney could finish. I didn't want to hear about it again. They spoke quietly for the next few minutes but it seemed to drag on for hours. Finally, Rodney left, claiming he had to catch his flight back in twenty minutes. Charlie said his farewells then walked noiselessly beside me. He carried my luggage as we piled into the police cruiser. He must be a police officer I thought to myself.
The ride to his house was silent as the rain pelted the vehicle. The weather hadn't let up at all. Every so often, the sound of another car on the road would rush by, a water trail following after it. I didn't look a him, I just stared out the window silently.
We arrived at the house and I stepped out into the pouring rain. It was cold and my clothes were almost instantly soaked, it felt nice. Charlie once again grabbed my luggage as we made for the door. He fumbled for his keys for a moment before finding the right one and shoving it into the handle. The door creaked open as we stepped through the doorway and into the front hall. We took off our shoes, hanging our coats up in the closet to dry.
"I'll show you your room and let you get settled before giving you the tour." His voice seemed distant as he picked up one of my suitcases and headed for the stairs. I carried my smaller bag, my wet feet leaving prints on the carpet. My room was basic. A bed, bookshelf, closet and on the desk an ancient computer. Charlie set my things down as I sat on the bed, staring out the window.
"You should probably unpack your things. The rest of your stuff should arrive in a few days time." He got no response. "I'll call you when dinner's ready." He left the room, closing the door quietly.
I stared out the window, allowing the pain to take me. Sobs wracked my body before I buried my face in my pillow.
Something fell as I sat up. I rubbed my puffy eyes and glanced around. The clock beside the bed read 2:05am so I must've fallen asleep earlier. I glanced to the blue backpack I'd knocked off the bed only moments ago then to the glass of water sitting beside the bed. Somebody had come in while I was sleeping and in a caring motion, brought water for me. I looked at it before getting out of bed. Lifting the cup I opened the window and poured the water outside. I wasn't going to have Charlie worry about me any more than he had to. Hopefully that would convince him that I drank it though I wasn't thirsty. Across the room, beside the computer was something that looked like it was supposed to be food. I didn't even touch it and I was sure he'd understand why.
For the next two weeks, it was the same. I cried myself to sleep, then slept through the day. At night I stayed awake, staring at the cieling or gazing out the window. Every evening, Charlie would place some food and a glass of water in the room. Thankfully, he'd changed to ordering in so the food looked remotely normal. Still, I ditched it each night, drinking the water only rarely, unable to stomach the idea of eating.
I would have to go back to school soon too but I tried to push that thought from my mind. Everyone would give me sympathetic looks and try to comfort me. I didn't want to be reminded. This day in particular I happened to be awake during the day. I wandered downstairs. I hadn't realized how frail I was getting until I felt my legs unable to support me as everything swirled around me. A pair of strong arms caught me. In the next moment, I was being whisked onto a couch, a blanket draped over me. I must have had a fever as well because I didn't feel cold.
"Carlis....faint..." I could only barely hear what he was saying in the kitchen. He must have been on the phone with someone because when he stopped talking, I could hear the phone click down. Some amount of time passed and when I woke up again, here were a pair of really cold hands on my face. I opened my eyes, letting my brown eyes take in the face of the man hovering over me. He was young looking and very hadnsome though that didn't really matter to her. His eyes were the amazing part. A brilliant shade of gold.
"Elizabeth, how are you feeling?" He asked me, his voice was smooth, like I had imagined it would be. I didn't answer though. His hand breezed across my arm as he checked my pulse. It was there, but faint.
"Bella, hand me the stethoscope." I glanced at the girl behind him. She was very beautiful as well. Was I imagining things? Had this doctor given me some strange sort of drug? The woman, who looked no older than nineteen, handed him a metal stethoscope which he then placed on my chest, listening to my breathing.
"I don't think she's eaten in days." Another voice said. I couldn't see who it was but it sounded like a guy so I made up an image in my head. Of course he would be beautiful like the other two so I went from there and in a moment I had an image in my head.
"Her plate is empty everytime I go up to check on her." I could hear Charlie's voice from a nearby chair. Not like I've been eating it I thought to myself.
"She hasn't been eating it." How did he know that? I felt a pressure inside my head, like someone was probing it. It was a gross feeling and I wanted it to stop.
"Then where did it all go?" Charlie asked, his voice becoming more concerned. He had been sure I was getting better but now he was finding out a completely different story. I remembered back to all the nights I'd gotten rid of the food. Flushing it down the toilet, throwing it out the window, and various other things. The pressure was in my head again.
"Getting rid of it." There it was again, the feeling of someone raking the inside of my head. I was annoyed with it. Suddenly, I focused on something, a concept I couldn't quite grasp and the feeling stopped. Tomatoes, potatoes, apricots I thought to myself, seeing if the boy was going to mimic what I was thinking. I heard nothing so I relaxed again. I was happy that feeling was gone.
"She needs to eat something. Bella, can you make something for her?" I was hoping that whatever it was was going to turn out much better than Charlie's cooking. It would be easier to fake eating it though she imagined that would be quite difficult with so many people in the room. I could hear noises in the kitchen as the woman began cooking something. I dreaded it.
"Is she going to be okay?" Charlie's voice asked again. I could see the doctor nod.
"Ah, Elizabeth. I suppose I should introduce us all." The doctor said as he helped me sit up. I leaned back against the couch and glanced at all the people in the room. Charlie sat on the chair nearby, his face white. In front of me stood the doctor and a boy behind him. There was a calming air around them it seemed as well. There were a few others scattered across the living room.
"My name is Carlisle. This is my wife Esme, Jasper, Alice, Edward, and Bella is in the kitchen making you something to eat. And this one here is Renesmee with Jacob." He pointed lastly to a young teenager and a large darker teenager. The larger one, Jacob, seemed very out of place amongst the others. He looked almost normal if it weren't for his muscular state and height.
I looked at them before my world faded.
Jayda BeiFong Community Member 
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