Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [49]
Pity wock! Pity wock! Claire screamed when he didnt offer her another choice. She smacked him on the head with her little fist.
Sorry, Claire-bear. How about this pretty purple one?
No, she giggled. No poopoh.
Give me a clue. Im begging, kid.
Claire thought it over. Gween, she finally said.
Quil stared at the rocks, studying them. He picked four rocks in different shades of green, and offered them to her.
Did I get it?
Yay!
Which one?
Aaaaawl ob dem!!
She cupped her hands and he poured the small rocks into them. She laughed and immediately clunked him on the head with them. He winced theatrically and then got to his feet and started walking back up toward the parking lot. Probably worried about her getting cold in her wet clothes. He was worse than any paranoid, overprotective mother.
Sorry if I was being pushy before, man, about the girl thing, I said.
Naw, thats cool, Quil said. It kind of took me by surprise is all. I hadnt thought about it.
I bet shed understand. You know, when shes grown up. She wouldnt get mad that you had a life while she was in diapers.
No, I know. Im sure shed understand that.
He didnt say anything else.
But you wont do that, will you? I guessed.
I cant see it, he said in a low voice. I cant imagine. I just dont see anyone that way. I dont notice girls anymore, you know. I dont see their faces.
Put that together with the tiara and makeup, and maybe Claire will have a different kind of competition to worry about.
Quil laughed and made kissing noises at me. You available this Friday, Jacob?
You wish, I said, and then I made a face. Yeah, guess I am, though.
He hesitated a second and then said, You ever think about dating?
I sighed. Guess Id opened myself up for that one.
You know, Jake, maybe you should think about getting a life.
He didnt say it like a joke. His voice was sympathetic. That made it worse.
I dont see them, either, Quil. I dont see their faces.
Quil sighed, too.
Far away, too low for anyone but just us two to hear it over the waves, a howl rose out of the forest.
Dang, thats Sam, Quil said. His hands flew up to touch Claire, as if making sure she was still there. I dont know where her moms at!
Ill see what it is. If we need you, Ill let you know. I raced through the words. They came out all slurred together. Hey, why dont you take her up to the Clearwaters? Sue and Billy can keep an eye on her if they need to. They might know whats going on, anyway.
Okay-get outta here, Jake!
I took off running, not for the dirt path through the weedy hedge, but in the shortest line toward the forest. I hurdled the first line of driftwood and then ripped my way through the briars, still running. I felt the little tears as the thorns cut into my skin, but I ignored them. Their sting would be healed before I made the trees.
I cut behind the store and darted across the highway. Somebody honked at me. Once in the safety of the trees, I ran faster, taking longer strides. People would stare if I was out in the open. Normal people couldnt run like this. Sometimes I thought it might be fun to enter a race-you know, like the Olympic trials or something. It would be cool to watch the expressions on those star athletes faces when I blew by them. Only I was pretty sure the testing they did to make sure you werent on steroids would probably turn up some really freaky crap in my blood.
As soon as I was in the true forest, unbound by roads or houses, I skidded to a stop and kicked my shorts off. With quick, practiced moves, I rolled them up and tied them to the leather cord around my ankle. As I was still pulling the ends tight, I started shifting. The fire trembled down my spine, throwing tight spasms out along my arms and legs. It only took a second. The heat flooded through me, and I felt the silent shimmer that made me something else. I threw my heavy paws against the matted earth and stretched my back in one long, rolling extension.
Phasing was very easy when I was centered like this. I didnt have issues with my temper anymore. Except when it got in the way.