Chapter One: Crash
I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. It was dark with stars and coldness plagued the air. The tress swayed in the rhythm of the breeze. I was very lucky to be wearing my fluffy, leather jacket.
I turned around, a smile on my face. I was very happy that I was back in my hometown of Forks, even though it was only for five god-damn days.
My parents and little brother stood behind me, seemingly bored. Of course, they didn’t see the fun I Forks like I did. Did they just come here for me?
“What are we waiting for?” I asked excitingly as I ran up to my dad; I was just a few inches smaller than my dad. In the corner of my eye, I say my brother roll his eyes. “We didn’t just come here to stand around, right? Let’s have some fun!”
“Jess,” my dad whispered. I didn’t notice other people staring at me. Their expressions seemed to be saying, “What the hell is that kid doing?” “Why aren’t her parents controlling her?” “She’s setting a bad example for my child.” Like I cared what they thought; I wanted to see my old friends again, Bella Swan and Jacob Black.
Bella Swan was about a year and a half older than me, but I didn’t care, neither did she. When Bella came to town during the summer to live with her dad we used to play all the time, even with Jacob Black. Jacob Black is now around my age. I wonder how my friends have been in the last ten years.
“Dad, can we go see Jacob Black in La Push?” I asked, changing the subject. I watched him start putting the luggage in the rental car.
“Jacob’s probably very busy,” he said after putting the biggest suitcase in the car. “Let’s not bother him.”
I chuckled. “Dad, Jacob is my best friend and I haven’t seen him in ten years! Surely he’ll have time to say ‘hi’ to me.” I joked. “Wait a minute!” I lifted my hands up, palms out facing my dad. “Didn’t you and Billy Black used to be buddies? Billy would be so happy to see you.” That would definitely make my dad’s day!
My dad sighed and shook his head slowly. He turned around to face me; a solemn expression was sewn on his face. “Jess,” he began. “Billy Black is dead.”
My eyes widened with unbelievable doubt. “What?” I gasped my voice shaky and cracking with fear of loss.
“He died a few months ago from diabetes.”
My head dropped. This was surely something I didn’t want to hear. Now I know why my father said Jacob would be busy. “I can’t believe that.” I whimpered.
“Well, do.” My dad said placing his hand on my shoulder. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to see Jacob now, sweetheart.”
“I… I guess your right.” I said, just loud enough for him to hear a whisper. I looked up at him. “Another time?”
My dad nodded. “Another time,” he said. “We’ll send him a letter or two once we get home.”
My heart jumped to my throat. Home? No, I didn’t want to go home! I wanted to stay here in Forks! I wanted to run in the woods again! I wanted to stay with Jacob!
I broke from my dad’s hold on my shoulder and looked at him, anger on my face. “No dad! I’m not waiting ‘til we get home! I want to see Jacob, now!” I shouted. Tears started to stream down my cheeks. I didn’t want my family to see me like this, but it was a bit too late for that. “You know I want to comfort Jacob, dad! Please, let me go!”
My dad shook his head slowly and sighed. “Jess, you don’t know how hard this is.” He said.
“Oh, really?” I asked, placing my hands on my hips. “How hard is it for a friend to go comfort a friend?”
My dad sighed. “Fine,” he gave in. “We’ll go visit him after we’re settled in the hotel room. Just you and me.”
I smiled. “Thanks dad,” I said happily. “I owe you one.”
Once we finally got our luggage into the rental car, I was right about to open one of the back doors when it felt like I was being watched. I turned around to see what or if something was watching me, and yes, something was. But not something, someone. Leaning against the wall next to the airport’s doors stood a man, but I couldn’t call him a man. Too young. Probably in his early twenties. Twenty-one? Probably. He wasn’t like any other young man, his appearance said otherwise. His features were statue-like and he looked more like a god than anything else. He was chalky pale and under his eyes were bruise-like shadows as if he was suffering from a sleepless night. But, his eyes, they weren’t an ordinary shade like mine; they were pale red – burgundy. Around the irises were black shadows.
“Jess?”
I turned my head. My dad was looking at me through the window of the driver’s side. “Time to go.” I turned back to look at the man, but the shocking thing was that he was gone.
“Um…sure.” I whispered. I opened the back door and got in. I slammed the door. Old habit; never could break it. I heard the engine rev to life and while so, I was busy wondering where the man went in that time I wasn’t looking at him.
It was about fifteen minutes into the ride when my brother started to hum along with the song that was barely heard from the radio. I recognized it – Stairway to Heaven; typical for my little brother.
I threw my head against the seat. “Stop!” I moaned. My eyes were closed hard. Shut the hell up, you little brat! I want to rest before I see Jacob! You can hum when I’m not around.
“No.” he threw back. I jerked my head in his direction and my brows were pressed together, hard.
“Do you want me to make you stop?” I snapped. I couldn’t help but get angry. This was always what he wanted. I could see him smirk even in the dark pitch that flooded the car, except for the headlights and switchboard in the front of the car.
“Let’s see you try.” He snickered. My fists turned white as I clenched them together and was right about to grab his shirt when I saw a flash of red outside the car window. Then I slammed against the seat, glass cutting into my body. My ears rang deafeningly with sudden screeches and roars o the car. I was flipped as the car was into the road, glass shattering from the side windows and back window. The luggage flung into the front, the windshield breaking. I felt a sudden wetness spread through my hair and shirt and pain shot through my right hand and left leg. My eyes stung as the wetness spread into them and my teeth were clenched together hard, hurting my gums, but that was not the worst pain. I was losing consciousness!
I wasn’t sure the car was stopping, but I had to get out! I grabbed the seatbelt, pain shooting through my hands. Once the seatbelt was off, I slowly crawled out through the broken window, glass cutting wounds in my hands and cloths. My breathing became heavy and my vision was blurring, but I knew I had to continue.
When I didn’t feel the heat anymore and the cool ground under my fingertips, I stopped and rolled over, my back on the ground and me looking up at the sky. I knew I was going to die.
Then, I saw him. The angel. His hair was blonde and gelled down against his head. His face was as white as snow and he had purplish bags under his eyes. His eyes were a light caramel color. Was he here to bring me to heaven?
He picked me up slowly and I felt his cold skin against my bare skin. My blood was crawling onto his shirt but he didn’t mind.
“M-my… f-family…” I staggered. He looked at the car crash then back at me. He inhaled, and then he ran with me in his arms. I knew I was dead now. It wasn’t at all like running, more like flying. His feet weren’t even touching the ground, he was gliding across the ground.
My consciousness was slipping farther and farther away into a pool of darkness but I couldn’t close my eyes. I didn’t want to lose sight of the angel. Bright light engulfed us and shocked voices rang around us. It hurt my ears.
I was laid against something soft and people in white jackets soon circled what I was lying on. The ceiling flew by, lights covering it. Where was the angel? This wasn’t heaven, I was sure of it. I was still alive.
A sudden sleep washed through me and I exhaled. I slowly closed my eyes and the noises of the world washed away as I sank into the dark water.