“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to be safe.” he looked down when he said it. Then looked back up to me “Emma, you mean a lot to me. And I wanted you to be safe. So…I followed you today like I have followed you every day since the day I met you.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He followed me. And not only did he follow me tonight. He’s followed me every day for the past few weeks since the first day I started to school.
“C’mon, let’s get you home.” He said as he laid his hand on the small of my back.
We walked in silence most of the way to my Grandmother’s house. Then I finally got the nerve up to ask him a question.”Evan… I didn’t think you liked me?” I could tell my question got to him because he stopped walking.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because of your actions towards me and what you said, being friends with me wasn’t an…” before I could finish he rushed into me with a fierce passionate kiss. His kiss was soft and gentle. I ran my hands through his soft hair. Finally he stopped and looked into my eyes as he said “I can’t be friends with you, even though I want more than anything to be.” My heart dropped. I didn’t understand his answer. As I went to ask another he stopped me. “Emma, I’m not what you think I am. You couldn’t possibly like me if you knew the real…me.” By now we were walking again.
“I don’t understand?” before he could answer me, I saw Grans car pulling up. I was so lost in our conversation I didn’t even notice her coming up ahead until she was right on us. “Emma.”Gran yelled out the window. “There you are. I have been so worried.”
“I’m fine Gran. My car got a flat tire up towards town. So I had to walk and I ran into my friend from school so he offered to walk with me.” I said, not wanting her to know the incident that just happen. She would never let me out of her sight if she knew I was just attacked. I gave a look as to say don’t you dare mention the almost attack.
“Get in Emma.” Gran said in an angry tone.
As I got in Grans car I left the door open and I looked at Evan. I could see he had more to say. “I’ll talk to you later… okay?” I said
“Okay.” He said as he shook his head in agreement.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” He said as he shut my door. I watched his face as Gran pulled off. He looked as though he was going to cry. I never saw him move out of the spot we left him in as we drove off out of sight.
“Emma, what did I say about staying away from that boy?” she said as she gave me a fierce look. I never answered her. I turned to look out the window before she spoke again. “Emma, I am sorry. I’m not trying to be…mean. That family is just no good. I don’t want you caught up in their troubles.” She said. I never turned to acknowledge her or what she had just said. I didn’t care what she said. I liked Evan, although I didn’t know why. I guess Gran noticed my clothes were muddy because she began to freak out. “Emma! What in the world happen to your clothes?” she asked.
“I fell in the mud back there, that’s all.” I responded. I didn’t want to tell her I was attacked. I was afraid she wouldn’t ever let me out of her sight again. Or even worse, she would pull me from Astoria High and make me start going to the school on the Reservation, away from Evan.
When we got home I went to the kitchen to eat my dinner that Gran had saved in the oven for me. She made fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. Gran had been cooking all my favorite foods since I gotten here. I was grateful for everything she had been doing for me, but I wish she would stay out of my personal life. I could barely finish my dinner, so I cleaned my plate off and then rushed off to my room to find my cell phone. I picked it up right where I left it on my night stand and saw that I had two missed calls and four text messages. The missed calls were from Gran, of course. And the texts were from my friends back at home in Los Angeles. I read them but never replied. I quickly found Evan’s old message he had sent me the day I was nearly killed by the large sign and re read it. Then I decided I needed, no, that I wanted answers. So I quickly typed out a text to him.
“We need to finish talking. Meet me out front of the school Monday morning. I want the truth “
I looked at the message I had just written and debated pressing send. “Just do it Emma.” I said under my breath. As I pressed send, my pulse raised. I could feel the heat in my face. A few minutes later my alarm went off to alert me of an incoming message.
“Okay” is all he text back. A feeling of excitement went through me. Now all I have to do is get through the weekend until Monday when I could talk to him. And hope that Gran doesn’t find out!
Chapter 8
Saturday afternoon Gran and I went to visit Marie and to pick up Levi so he could help put a new tire on my car. When we pulled up in front of Marie’s small yellow house the first thing I noticed was Levi in the front working on his bicycle. “Hey guys.” He said with a smile.
“Hi Levi.” I said as I went to follow Gran inside. Marie was sitting in her small living room knitting a dark blue and red blanket. “Come on in sit down” she urged as she cleared a spot on the sofa for us. “Would you like something to drink?” she asked. Gran and I both shook our heads no. Gran and Marie got talking about how much I looked like my mother. It was true, I did. I had long dark hair like hers, dark skin tone, all but her soft brown eyes. My eyes were green. I didn’t want to think about them, my parents, or I would cry. So I walked outside with Levi. He was still working on his bike. He was putting a new inner tube on. As I watched him work I could see the outline of muscles under his dark blue t-shirt. “There” he said as he finished bolting the tire back on the bike frame.
“Why are you fixing up this bike? I thought you had a truck?”
“I do, I am still putting in the engine. I’m waiting on a few parts to come in.” he said as he motioned for me to follow him to the garage. When we got inside I could see parts laid out everywhere on an old blue tarp. I had no clue what any of them were and what they did. The truck was an old 89 Ford Chevy sidestep he told me. It was multi-colored. Most of the body was brown except the front fender, it was a greenish blue. So was the rear of the truck. There were rust spots the size of dollar quarters on most of the body and the tires were bare and worn, it was a good thing it wasn’t on the road at the moment.
“It should be finished by summer.” He told me. Then maybe I can come see you more.” he added. I smiled at him, trying not to encourage him in any way. I liked Levi, but only as a friend. He was easy to talk to. And I can tell, he wanted to be more than just friends.
When Levi finished showing me his truck and explaining what some of the pieces on the ground was for we headed inside so he could wash his hands after touching most of the things he showed me. When we got inside Gran and Marie was still in the same spot they were when I left. Levi let Gran know after he washed up we could go and get my tire fixed.
We pulled up beside my car and Levi got out and retrieved the new tire from Grans trunk that we picked up from the local garage. I follow suit behind him. I told Gran she could go on and leave and I’d be home after the tire got fixed and I dropped Levi back off at his house. I wanted Levi alone so I could ask him if he knew what the deal was with the Blake’s.
After the new tire was on we started towards the Reservation. I finally got up the nerve to ask a question. “So… What is the deal with the Blake’s?” I said softly.
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, last night he was walking home with me and when Gran pulled up she freaked out. And then there was the comment Gary made about how the Blake’s aren’t welcome here on the Reservation” I said. “Is there something I should know?” I asked.
“Well, I shouldn’t say anything. But…” his sentence fell off.
“C’mon, just tell me.” I said with a flirty smile.
“It’s just an old legend really. You know the story of our legend don’t you?” he asked
“No.” I said confused. “What leg
end is that? I asked
“Well, it’s our legend that we are spirit warriors. And that we are descended from wolves.” He said as he pointed back and forth between us.
“Okay” I said as I laughed as if he were joking.
“Supposedly, The Blake’s are our enemy. And we” he said pointing between us again. “Are supposedly The Protectors of our tribe. When the Blake’s came to Astoria, they claimed to be something different. Our great grandfathers made a treaty with them. If the evil spirits agreed to stay off Chinook lands then we would leave them alone.” He said with a look as if he thought it was a silly legend.
“So what are they supposed to be?” I said laughing as to say I thought it was silly too.
“I don’t know really. Like an evil spirit of some sort.” He said with a shrug. “That’s just our legend.” He said as he laughed too.
“That’s crazy.” I said.
“I know. It is just a story the elders tell us kids to scare us.” He said as if to say he didn’t believe it either. We pulled up in front of Levi’s house and he was about to get out, I didn’t want our conversation to be over, I wanted to learn more about the Blake’s and these so called legends so I asked Levi if he minded if I stayed awhile. Of course he was happy about that.
We hung out in his garage for awhile while he worked on his old truck. I asked a few more questions about the Blake’s, mostly if he knew any of them personally.
“No.” He said.
“Oh.” I said. It was kind of sad that they were being judged before they actually got to know the Blake’s just over some silly old legend.
“Don’t you think it’s kind of sad? That they are being judged over something that is just a silly story?” I said as Levi gave me an ‘are you serious’ look.
“It’s just a story Emma. Why has this got you so worked up? Do you like one of them or something?” he laughed playfully. Before I could answer I could hear someone outside the garage. Hoping it wasn’t Marie and she didn’t hear me asking Levi all these questions about the Blake’s. That’s all I need for her to tell Gran, and for Gran to freak out some more. Luckily it wasn’t. It was only Levi’s friend Bobby Blackwater. Bobby walked in the garage and walked over to Levi.
“Levi, are you still working on this piece of crap.” Bobby said jokingly as he playfully punched Levi’s arm.
“Yep I sure am. And this piece of crap is going to be driving you around isn’t it.” Levi said as he punched him back.
“Hi Emma.” Bobby said.
“Hi” I replied back
“So how come you don’t go to school on the Reservation.” Bobby asked.
“I wanted to go to school in town” I said.
“Why?” Bobby asked looking at Levi confused.
“Because she does, stop giving the girl the fifth degree will you.” Levi said punching playfully at Bobby again.
As they started to wrestle around I sighed with relief. Why is it such a big deal to everyone on the Reservation that I go to public school? I didn’t know. Or care. The two boys finally got done goofing off and they both started working on the truck again. I decided I wouldn’t be able to ask Levi anymore questions about the Blake’s with Bobby here so I should head home. I told Levi I would see him later and as I walked out of the garage I could hear Bobby asking if I was his girlfriend. I couldn’t hear what Levi said but I could hear Bobby making an ‘ew’ sound, which was sort of embarrassing.
I made it home a little after six. Gran had dinner on the stove. She asked how my day went with Levi and as I sat the table I told her the details, only about fixing my car and watching him fix his truck, not about our talk of the Blake’s. After dinner was over I done the dishes again then went to my room. Gran asked if I wanted to watch a television with her later since it was the weekend. I told her I would but I wanted to get in my bed clothes first. When I got back downstairs Gran had on the television she was watching an old rerun of Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts. It was my mothers’ favorite movie and mine too. As I watched the movie I couldn’t help but let my mind drift off to Evan and the story Levi told me today. I wonder what our elders in the tribe thought that the Blake’s were? Were they thieves? Did they steal from little old women? What could they have possibly done that was so bad that they saw them as our enemy?
When the movie went off shortly after ten o’clock and I told Gran goodnight and I headed off to my room. It had been a long day and I was ready for bed. It didn’t take me long to fall asleep.
*****
As I sat on the beach watching the waves roll into the shore, I could see Evan staring at me with those beautiful blue-white eyes. I longed to kiss him. Leaning in slowly he whispered in my ear. “You know I am not like you. I am the enemy.” As he cupped my chin in his hand he leaned in and kissed me softly. His kiss was tender and sweet. He pulled away and looked at me as though it would be his last time he would ever see me and said “I can’t be your friend Emma” And then suddenly, he was gone. I couldn’t see which way he went he was so fast as though he just vanished in air. I started to run, looking in every direction to find him. Screaming his name, I didn’t want to lose him. My heart raced at the ideal he was gone. I fell to the sandy beach and grabbed at my stomach. The pain felt surreal, as though I would never see him again. I jerked awake, as I lay there with my heart racing. I traced my lips where his touched mine in my dream. It was so vivid. It felt as though he was really kissing me like he did on the beach that day. I couldn’t get the words out of my head he told me in my dream. Then I remembered the story Levi told me. Remembering that Gran hooked up my internet the other day, I jumped up and grabbed my laptop. When my computer finally loaded I pulled up Google engine search. I typed in Evil Spirits. Everything from ghost to aliens popped up. Then I searched Chinook legends. When the search came up I clicked on evil spirit. It lead me to a story from many years ago, in the early 1900’s, before Gran was even born about the evil spirits who killed many of our people by draining their blood dry and how our elder tribe members were great shape shifters who turned into the mighty wolf. By shifting their shapes into wolves they protected the tribe against the evil spirits who were killing our families. I continued to read about how our shape shifters killed these evil spirits called Vampires. Vampires! No way, I thought. There is no such thing, is there? I sat there for hours reading the different legends of our tribes. And the one enemy they talked most about was Vampires, night walkers they called them. I laughed to myself, that’s absurd, there is no such thing as Vampires I said to myself as I shut down my laptop. I wasn’t going to waste my time on some silly old legend. Besides, I had better things to do, like going back to sleep. I crawled back into bed and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 9
I didn’t sleep well all night, tossing and turning all night. It was four thirty the last time I looked at the clock. So I decide to go ahead and get up. I wanted to put more effort into my appearance today than usual, since today was the day I was going to talk to Evan. I decided to put on a pair of my black skinny jeans with my maroon baby-doll tee. I fixed my hair in long curls and put on just a small amount of make-up. I normally didn’t wear make-up, my mother always said I didn’t need to wear it, since I had natural beauty. Of course I always just thought she was saying that because she had too since she was my mother. Mother’s had to say things like that to their children.
At 6 a.m. as I walked down the steps I tried to take each one quietly. I didn’t want to wake Gran. She would question me about why I was leaving for school so early. Since I was too nervous to eat I skipped breakfast. I grabbed my coat as I shut the door easy. I was hoping the sound of my car starting wouldn’t wake up Gran. But by then I would already be gone and wouldn’t have to answer any of Grans questions. I got to school around six thirty. Evan was already there standing in front of his car. I pulled into a parking space right next to where his car was parked. As I opened my door, he was already standing there waiting for me to get out of my car. I smiled at him and he
returned one back. He was wearing a pair of dark colored jeans and a white long sleeved thermal shirt with a blue jacket. The white seemed to make his eyes stand out more than they already did. I couldn’t help but to stare. His pale skin was glowing this morning and his eyes seemed to be brighter.
“Are you ready for the truth?” he asked. I could hear the shakiness in his voice that told me he was just as nervous as I was.
“Yes.” I replied as my voice cracked. He grabbed my hand and entwined his fingers into mine. The shock from his touch made my stomach flutter. We walked over to his car and he opened the passenger’s side door for me “Get in.” he said firmly. I stood there for a brief moment before getting in. He shut my door and then went to the driver’s side and got in. I assumed we was just going to talk in his car, but when he started it and put it in reverse to back out I became nervous. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“Somewhere we can have some privacy.” He said as he smiled at me. His smile made me relax. Although I shouldn’t feel relaxed, since I was in a car going who knows where with a complete stranger. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous to be so close and in such a close space with him. My palms were sweating and my pulse was racing. As we pulled out of the school parking lot he reached over and grabbed my hand. My heart nearly jumped out of my throat at the feel of his touch. His hand was cool and sweaty, but it still felt nice. As we drove he looked over to me a lot, every time our eyes would meet he would give my hand a little squeeze and smile at me. I always smiled back before my eyes would drop away from his, and every time, I could feel my cheeks flush with heat.
Astoria: Secrets, Lies and Vampires Page 7