Experiment #28 - Twilight - Chapter 6

[itsjustthemads]

Twilight - Chapter 6
By Stephanie Meyer


Maes: [despite being on riffing duty again he strolls in twirling a wand from the latest costume change aboard the SoL] Sooner we get this over with the better.
Sora: [has his wand too, although he hasn’t tried anything with it yet] Think maybe we could use these to just magic the experiment away?
Ienzo: [doesn’t appear to have a wand, or at least, not in his hands] I rather doubt it.
Maes: Depends. Do you know the words for a spell like that?
Sora: No...
Maes: [nods] Right, let’s get started then.
Sora: We’ll just have to rely on the magic of jokes! [Sora that’s a terrible attempt at a pun]

The food was already being passed around, and the boys hurried to claim a share while Eric introduced us as we each entered the driftwood circle.

Sora: Hey, it’s the Midnight Society!
Ienzo: I’d imagine they’d be too distracted to actually listen, if they were scrambling for food. Perhaps after the food was passed around?

Angela and I were the last to arrive, and, as Eric said our names, I noticed a younger boy sitting on the stones near the fire glance up at me in interest.

Sora: If they’re around a campfire...isn’t that sort of everyone there?

I sat down next to Angela, and Mike brought us sandwiches and an array of sodas to choose from, while a boy who looked to be the oldest of the visitors rattled off the names of the seven others with him. All I caught was that one of the girls was also named Jessica, and the boy who noticed me was named Jacob.

Maes: I feel like we’re in some sort of cult meeting.
Mike: [Suddenly enters the theater with a tray of food] Hey guys, just thought I’d pop in and bring you some sandwiches.
Sora: Great, thanks! [takes one]
Maes: [also takes] Thanks, Mike. You going to join us too?
Ienzo: I believe I’ll pass, but thank you all the same.
Mike: Ahhh no, gotta go keep an eye on the ‘bots...they seem to have figured out those wands can make things explode.
Maes: [winces but nods and gives Mike a slight salute] Best of luck then.
Mike: Thanks. [He heads back out]

It was relaxing to sit with Angela; she was a restful kind of person to be around — she didn't feel the need to fill every silence with chatter.

Ienzo: I know the type, although I doubt “restful” would be the best word...
Sora: Then what would be the best word?
Ienzo: Companionable, perhaps? It’s hard to say.

She left me free to think undisturbed while we ate. And I was thinking about how disjointedly time seemed to flow in Forks, passing in a blur at times, with single images standing out more clearly than others.

Sora: What, is Forks stuck in a time warp?

And then, at other times, every second was significant, etched in my mind. I knew exactly what caused the difference, and it disturbed me.

Sora: [deadly serious] TIME BANDITS.

During lunch the clouds started to advance, slinking across the blue sky, darting in front of the sun momentarily, casting long shadows across the beach, and blackening the waves. As they finished eating, people started to drift away in twos and threes.

Maes: Yeah, wonder what they’re doing. [He smirks]
Sora: Maybe they’re splitting up so that the trees don’t try to poison them.

Some walked down to the edge of the waves, trying to skip rocks across the choppy surface. Others were gathering a second expedition to the tide pools. Mike — with Jessica shadowing him — headed up to the one shop in the village. Some of the local kids went with them; others went along on the hike.

Ienzo: Is it particularly important that we know who went where?
Maes: If this were a horror movie these would all be the first victims.
Sora: Party must be dragging if everyone’s just heading off to do whatever.

By the time they all had scattered, I was sitting alone on my driftwood log, with Lauren and Tyler occupying themselves by the CD player someone had thought to bring, and three teenagers from the reservation perched around the circle, including the boy named Jacob and the oldest boy who had acted as spokesperson.

Sora: So...alone, except for the five other people still there.
Ienzo: Perhaps most of them were replicas?

A few minutes after Angela left with the hikers, Jacob sauntered over to take her place by my side. He looked fourteen, maybe fifteen, and had long, glossy black hair pulled back with a rubber band at the nape of his neck. His skin was beautiful, silky and russet-colored; his eyes were dark, set deep above the high planes of his cheekbones. He still had just a hint of childish roundness left around his chin. Altogether, a very pretty face. However, my positive opinion of his looks was damaged by the first words out of his mouth.

Maes: [as Jacob] I think I love you.
Sora: [as Jacob] What do you think of my hair implants?
Maes: [as Jacob] Pull my finger.

"You're Isabella Swan, aren't you?"

Maes: Wait...why was that bad?
Sora: Well, it IS Bella Swan...
Ienzo: She changed her name last week.

It was like the first day of school all over again.

"Bella," I sighed.

Sora: Yeah, otherwise her other nickname would be Isa, and that would be really weird!

"I'm Jacob Black." He held his hand out in a friendly gesture. "You bought my dad's truck."

"Oh," I said, relieved, shaking his sleek hand. "You're Billy's son. I probably should remember you."

Sora: [as Bella] But that would require caring about other people, so...

"No, I'm the youngest of the family — you would remember my older sisters."

"Rachel and Rebecca," I suddenly recalled.

Sora: She radically recalled Rachel and Rebecca’s romp over the rails!
Maes: Nice alliteration Sora.
Sora: [awful proud of himself] Thanks!

Charlie and Billy had thrown us together a lot during my visits, to keep us busy while they fished. We were all too shy to make much progress as friends. Of course, I'd kicked up enough tantrums to end the fishing trips by the time I was eleven.

Ienzo: I rather doubt that’s something to be proud of.
Sora: [as Bella, whining] BUT I DUNWANNA CATCH A FIIIIHHIIIIISH!

"Are they here?" I examined the girls at the ocean's edge, wondering if I would recognize them now.

"No." Jacob shook his head. "Rachel got a scholarship to Washington State, and Rebecca married a Samoan surfer — she lives in Hawaii now."

Maes: I’m sure their adventures are more exciting than this is right now.
Ienzo: Most things would be more exciting, I’m sure.
Sora: Seriously, why aren’t we reading about Rebecca and her Samoan surfer husband?!
Maes: I’ve always wanted to see the beach.

"Married. Wow." I was stunned. The twins were only a little over a year older than I was.

"So how do you like the truck?" he asked.

"I love it. It runs great."

Sora: [as Bella] Gosh I just love this truck so much I can hardly contain my excitement. Weee.
Ienzo: Are we certain she hasn’t lost her heart at some point?

"Yeah, but it's really slow," he laughed. "I was so relived when Charlie bought it. My dad wouldn't let me work on building another car when we had a perfectly good vehicle right there."

"It's not that slow," I objected.

"Have you tried to go over sixty?"

Maes: [as Bella] Once, after I installed that flux capacitor. Really hard to time travel when you can’t even hit 88.

"No," I admitted.

"Good. Don't." He grinned.

Sora: Because then if it drops back down below 55 MPH, it’ll EXPLODE.

I couldn't help grinning back. "It does great in a collision," I offered in my truck's defense.

"I don't think a tank could take out that old monster," he agreed with another laugh.

Maes: Note, do not mention more exciting things than this conversation right now. It’s really not helping matters.
Sora: [grumps]

"So you build cars?" I asked, impressed.

Ienzo: No, he builds gummi ships.

"When I have free time, and parts. You wouldn't happen to know where I could get my hands on a master cylinder for a 1986 Volkswagen Rabbit?" he added jokingly.

Sora: ...They drive rabbits?! And I thought candy spaceships was weird.

He had a pleasant, husky voice.

"Sorry," I laughed, "I haven't seen any lately, but I'll keep my eyes open for you." As if I knew what that was. He was very easy to talk with.

Sora: Especially since she has no clue what he’s talking about! ...Wait.
Ienzo: She certainly doesn’t seem to have many other willing conversational partners.

He flashed a brilliant smile, looking at me appreciatively in a way I was learning to recognize.

Sora: Something’s definitely wrong when she can’t recognize people are smiling at her.

I wasn't the only one who noticed.

Ienzo: More so when even other people notice the same fact.

"You know Bella, Jacob?" Lauren asked — in what I imagined was an insolent tone — from across the fire.

"We've sort of known each other since I was born," he laughed, smiling at me again.

Sora: I’ve been the same with Riku, and yet...somehow that still comes across as creepy to me...

"How nice." She didn't sound like she thought it was nice at all, and her pale, fishy eyes narrowed.

"Bella," she called again, watching my face carefully, "I was just saying to Tyler that it was too bad none of the Cullens could come out today. Didn't anyone think to invite them?" Her expression of concern was unconvincing.

Sora: No, because everyone knew even they would be bored at this party.

"You mean Dr. Carlisle Cullen's family?" the tall, older boy asked before I could respond, much to
Lauren's irritation. He was really closer to a man than a boy, and his voice was very deep.

"Yes, do you know them?" she asked condescendingly, turning halfway toward him.

"The Cullens don't come here," he said in a tone that closed the subject, ignoring her question.

Sora: [as Jacob] Until they pay their past bar tab.

Tyler, trying to win back her attention, asked Lauren's opinion on a CD he held. She was distracted. I stared at the deep-voiced boy, taken aback, but he was looking away toward the dark forest behind us. He'd said that the Cullens didn't come here, but his tone had implied something more — that they weren't allowed; they were prohibited. His manner left a strange impression on me, and I tried to ignore it without success.

Jacob interrupted my meditation. "So is Forks driving you insane yet?"

Sora: No, but this STORY is!
Maes: Agreed.
Ienzo: Likewise.

"Oh, I'd say that's an understatement." I grimaced. He grinned understandingly.

I was still turning over the brief comment on the Cullens, and I had a sudden inspiration. It was a stupid plan, but I didn't have any better ideas. I hoped that young Jacob was as yet inexperienced around girls, so that he wouldn't see through my sure-to-be-pitiful attempts at flirting.

Ienzo: If you’re certain they’ll be pitiful, then perhaps it would best to not try?
Sora: Oh, this should be terrible...
Maes: Very painful for all of us I’m sure.

"Do you want to walk down the beach with me?" I asked, trying to imitate that way Edward had of
looking up from underneath his eyelashes.

Sora: As...opposed to...over his eyelashes?

It couldn't have nearly the same effect, I was sure, but Jacob jumped up willingly enough.

Sora: [as Jacob] Eyelashes?! Hot DOG!
Ienzo: [also as Jacob] Anything to get out of here!

As we walked north across the multihued stones toward the driftwood seawall, the clouds finally closed ranks across the sky, causing the sea to darken and the temperature to drop. I shoved my hands deep into the pockets of my jacket.

Sora: Maybe they should ban the clouds from this beach, too.

"So you're, what, sixteen?" I asked, trying not to look like an idiot as I fluttered my eyelids the way I'd seen girls do on TV.

"I just turned fifteen," he confessed, flattered.

Sora: [as Jacob, singing] I am fifteen, going on sixteen...

"Really?" My face was full of false surprise. "I would have thought you were older."

Maes: [Twirling wand] I feel like I’m getting older just reading this.

"I'm tall for my age," he explained.

"Do you come up to Forks much?" I asked archly, as if I was hoping for a yes. I sounded idiotic to
myself. I was afraid he would turn on me with disgust and accuse me of my fraud, but he still seemed flattered.

Ienzo: It’s his choice, but I must admit, I can’t see much to be flattered by. Surely he can see that she’s trying much too hard?
Sora: ..."Archly?"

"Not too much," he admitted with a frown. "But when I get my car finished I can go up as much as I want — after I get my license," he amended.

Sora: [as Jacob] And my permit. And when I’m on probation.

"Who was that other boy Lauren was talking to? He seemed a little old to be hanging out with us." I purposefully lumped myself in with the youngsters, trying to make it clear that I preferred Jacob.

"That's Sam — he's nineteen," he informed me.

Sora: Weird, I thought Sam was like...forty-something. And an eagle.
Maes: Wrong Sam. I’d rather have that Sam around than all this anyway.

"What was that he was saying about the doctor's family?" I asked innocently.

"The Cullens? Oh, they're not supposed to come onto the reservation." He looked away, out toward James Island, as he confirmed what I'd thought I'd heard in Sam's voice.

Sora: Now I’m just hearing it in Sam Eagle’s voice!
Ienzo: I imagine that would actually improve the story.

"Why not?"

He glanced back at me, biting his lip. "Oops. I'm not supposed to say anything about that."

Ienzo: Yes, and you’ve certainly done a marvelous job of that.
Sora: [slow clap]

"Oh, I won't tell anyone, I'm just curious." I tried to make my smile alluring, wondering if I was laying it on too thick.

He smiled back, though, looking allured. Then he lifted one eyebrow and his voice was even huskier than before.

Sora: [as a Husky dog] Woof. Woof woof woof, woof woof.

"Do you like scary stories?" he asked ominously.

Maes: A lot better than this one.
Sora: [points] See? Midnight Society!
Ienzo: And yet the story seemed to imply they were having lunch.

"I love them," I enthused, making an effort to smolder at him.

Jacob strolled to a nearby driftwood tree that had its roots sticking out like the attenuated legs of a huge, pale spider.

Sora: Maybe the tree will turn into a real giant spider and actually make this a good scary story, too.
Maes: Follow the spiders.
Ienzo: And do try to not get eaten.

He perched lightly on one of the twisted roots while I sat beneath him on the body of the tree. He stared down at the rocks, a smile hovering around the edges of his broad lips. I could see he was going to try to make this good. I focused on keeping the vital interest I felt out of my eyes.

Sora: Well that shouldn’t be too hard.

"Do you know any of our old stories, about where we came from — the Quileutes, I mean?" he began.

Maes: I don’t even know what Quileutes are.
Sora: Isn’t that a pastry?

"Not really," I admitted.

"Well, there are lots of legends, some of them claiming to date back to the Flood — supposedly, the ancient Quileutes tied their canoes to the tops of the tallest trees on the mountain to survive like Noah and the ark."

Sora: Well geez, when you put it that way, it sounds like everyone should have thought of that!
Ienzo: Do these legends happen to say *how* they got their canoes up there?

He smiled, to show me how little stock he put in the histories. "Another legend claims that we descended from wolves — and that the wolves are our brothers still. It's against tribal law to kill them.

Sora: Unfortunately, wolf law has no problem with killing Quileutes. Someone should talk to them about that.

"Then there are the stories about the cold ones." His voice dropped a little lower.

"The cold ones?" I asked, not faking my intrigue now.

Ienzo: [as Jacob] Ice elementals, as you’d probably know them.
Maes: I could go for a cold one actually...but I don’t think that’s what he’s talking about here.
Sora: Oh, I know! Icy Cubes.

"Yes. There are stories of the cold ones as old as the wolf legends, and some much more recent. According to legend, my own great-grandfather knew some of them. He was the one who made the treaty that kept them off our land." He rolled his eyes.

"Your great-grandfather?" I encouraged.

"He was a tribal elder, like my father. You see, the cold ones are the natural enemies of the wolf—well, not the wolf, really, but the wolves that turn into men, like our ancestors. You would call them werewolves."

Sora: [as Jacob] But we call them maize.

"Werewolves have enemies?"

"Only one."

Maes: And this is the point that Bella should slowly be backing away from Jacob.
Ienzo: That would imply she had sense.

I stared at him earnestly, hoping to disguise my impatience as admiration.

Ienzo: That never works quite as well as expected.

"So you see," Jacob continued, "the cold ones are traditionally our enemies. But this pack that came to our territory during my great-grandfather's time was different.

Sora: They were kinda lukewarm instead.

They didn't hunt the way others of their kind did — they weren't supposed to be dangerous to the tribe. So my great-grandfather made a truce with them. If they would promise to stay off our lands, we wouldn't expose them to the pale-faces." He winked at me.

Sora: So now the great war between vampires and werewolves has been reduced down to "GET OFF MAH PROPERTY OR I’LL CALL THE COPS!"
Ienzo: In essence, yes.

"If they weren't dangerous, then why… ?" I tried to understand, struggling not to let him see how
seriously I was considering his ghost story.

"There's always a risk for humans to be around the cold ones, even if they're civilized like this clan was. You never know when they might get too hungry to resist." He deliberately worked a thick edge of menace into his tone.

"What do you mean, 'civilized'?"

Sora: They have plumbing and electricity and reality television shows and everything!

"They claimed that they didn't hunt humans. They supposedly were somehow able to prey on animals instead."

Sora: And considering the fact that humans are animals, I imagine that wasn’t that hard for them.
Ienzo: The other animals generally had the sense to run away.

I tried to keep my voice casual. "So how does it fit in with the Cullens? Are they like the cold ones your greatgrandfather met?"

"No." He paused dramatically. "They are the same ones."

Ienzo: That seems like rather less of a dramatic reveal then he’d hoped for.
Sora: He should have at least spiced it up with a DUN DUN DUUUUN.

He must have thought the expression on my face was fear inspired by his story. He smiled, pleased, and continued.

"There are more of them now, a new female and a new male, but the rest are the same.

Sora: ...They’re amoebas?

In my great-grandfather's time they already knew of the leader, Carlisle. He'd been here and gone before your people had even arrived." He was fighting a smile.

"And what are they?" I finally asked. "What are the cold ones?"

He smiled darkly.

"Blood drinkers," he replied in a chilling voice.

Sora: Get it? CHILLING voice, because they’re COLD?

"Your people call them vampires."

Ienzo: [as Bella] Oh, is that all?
Sora: ...And is that all of this chapter?
Ienzo: It seems that way.
Sora: Man, what we needed was a spell to make this chapter not so boring!
Maes: [there’s a snore...uh oh, someone fell asleep]
Sora: [gives him a poke] Hey, Maes!
Maes: [jerks forward] Huh!? What?! I’m here.
Ienzo: It’s over.
Sora: You missed the most exciting part of all! The part where he should have gone DUN DUN DUUUN but didn’t!
Maes: I think I’m okay.