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springfaaerie · 4 months ago

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'Silver Moon' Chapter One

'welcome to forks'

Pairing(eventual): Helena Swan (oc) x Seth Clearwater

Warnings: none? ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

Helena Swan was used to both bustling airports and near empty ones but still, she somehow found herself feeling anxious in the small airport she walked through, fumbling with the oversized hoodie she had bought upon landing. Her uncle, Charlie, had warned her about the cold and told her that it wasn't anywhere near the heat of Australia from where she had recently hailed but, apparently the warning fell upon death ears as she stared down at her suitcases distastefully. The contents inside were of no use. Said uncle had texted her that he was stationed in front of the designated pick-up area just outside the gates, where she was currently headed. She hadn't remembered much about her uncle, she honestly didn't recognize the man on the other side of the phone as he sent his condolences along with the promise of a new home with him in Forks, Washington. She didn't have much of a choice, packing her life into two suitcases and a backpack and getting on the first plane out of Western Australia, leaving behind a dead mother she wasn't able to bury and a home they had called theirs for almost a year, the longest they had stayed anywhere.

Her heart ached at the thought. Happiness and stability had been so close, within her reach. The sixteen year old had almost gotten comfortable, maybe that was her mistake. Her mother, Charlotte Swan was known for never staying anywhere too long and when she decided on staying in Perth, the most populated place they had ever called home, Helena thought maybe, just maybe, this was the end. Where they could settle down and make roots, where she could go to a real school and have actual friends and make real memories. God, she was naive for believing. Her head hung down, her thoughts overtaking her again as she exited the reasonably heated airport and felt the cold Seattle air chip at her already red cheeks. A voice called out to her, one that went unnoticed, before she heard a siren, causing her along with everyone around her to stare at the old school cruiser that sat parked a few feet away.

A man with brown curly hair and a thick mustache clad in a traditional police uniform, minus the ridiculous hat, waved her over with a tight lipped, awkward smile. He met her halfway, quickly taking her suitcases into the trunk, the girl catching sight of a shotgun before it closed again. He stuck his hand out for a second before he dropped it, settling for another wave. "You must be Helena, otherwise I just took some random girl's stuff and put it into my trunk."

Her eyebrow raised curiously and they stood for a quick second before he nodded, remembering something. "Right, Noa, my bad. Still not used to that," he apologized quickly, gesturing for her to get into the now open passenger side. She complied with a nod, putting her seatbelt on while he went around to the driver's side. The car came to life and with a quick flip of the siren, they were off, Charlie informing her that the drive home would be three and a half hours. He offered the radio, to which she raised a book, a collection of poems it seemed, the man nodding before turning his attention back to the road.

Charlie attempted to strike up a conversation, "so uh, how old are you now? Bout, fourteen? Should be just startin' high school then, right?" He glanced over at her, the girl shaking her head as she looked away from her book over at him. They shared a lot of similar features, she noticed, though his were obviously more masculine and her straight brown hair couldn't hold a curl compared to his ringlets.

"I'm fifteen. As for school, I was homeschooled so I'm not really sure what grade I'd be placed in."

"Right, well it's Christmas break so no need to worry about it now, we'll figure it out after Christmas," Charlie reassured his niece, though she seemed not to need it as she merely nodded before returning to her book, mumbling a small, "okay."

Noa felt rude, she knew it wasn't polite to avoid conversation but, she hadn't done much conversing during her sixteen years. She only ever really talked with her mother and the occasionally older person so her vocabulary was quite dated sometimes, the books she read only furthering this, and she tended to be made fun of whenever she did strike up conversations with locals her age wherever they went so, she usually kept her mouth shut. She finished her book of poems quite quickly, about an hour and a half into the drive, moving to her fourth book and second novel since she started her trip from Australia to America. It had been given to her by an old neighbor who had spotted her leaving, handing it to her in the hopes that she saw 'the light' when it came to her mother, the title leaving her quite stuck. The book on narcissistic mothers had been stuffed into the bottom of her backpack as she got quite nauseous whenever she saw it but, now she was out of options as her other books were securely placed in the trunk and she didn't want to trouble Charlie with pulling over and letting her grab them. She sighed, opening up the book reluctantly; she only got a few twenty pages in, not even reaching the end of the foreword before she shut it quickly. It was far too much to dissect when her mother had most likely not even been buried yet.

The reminder caused her to shut her eyes tightly in fear of crying in front of her uncle. Life was so unbelievably unfair sometimes. What kind of world wouldn't let a girl bury her mother, her only family for ten whole years? Noa shifted in her seat awkwardly, unsure of what to do as her iPod had died halfway through her flight. "So...I have a cousin, right? What was her name again?"

Charlie nodded, frowning at the mention of his daughter, his only child. "Uh, Bella, yeah. She uh, she had a bit of a hard break up so she's not really herself lately, so I'm glad you're here. Maybe it'll get her out of that funk." Noa nodded. She had never been in a relationship or anything close to it, she hadn't even had a friend before. She had no say in any relationship matters, she thought to herself, she knew nothing about them apart from the books she read. Charlie wasn't done though, "I thought it'd be good for both of you actually, I uh, I thought you'd be able to understand Bella's pain, empathize with her, you know?"

Noa made a face, sending Charlie an unimpressed glance as she said, "I lost my mom, Bella got dumped by a boy who, no offense but, statistically she probably won't even remember in five to ten years." Charlie's face reddened as he cleared his throat, apologizing. They went back into silence, though this time it was much more awkward. Noa wondered then if she had been too harsh, the girl overthinking the rest of the car ride as she hadn't had much else to do.

When they pulled up to the house, Noa inspected her new home. It was paneled and white with peaked ceilings and only three windows on its face, the paint chipping, and certain parts of the roof in need of repair from far too much rain exposure. Charlie refused help as he carried her luggage up the dark emerald green stairs that led to the front door. He ushered her in first, Noa leading as she took in the foyer, glancing over at the kitchen to the left. It was small and old, seemingly never updated with brightly painted yellow cabinets and a table with three chairs that didn't match. The sight made Noa smile as she noticed the similarities between Charlie and her mother. "You and mom are alike, she never was one for interior decorating."

Charlie laughed, the sound new to her ears, and she turned to face him with a smile of her own. They seemed satisfied then, the awkward air lifted and they were both thankful for it. "I'll show you to your room." After an embarrassing amount of effort on his part, he left the girl's second suitcase at the base of the stairs, assuring her he'd bring it up later despite her protests. He barely made it up the stairs behind her with her smaller suitcase, Noa having to steady him at the top. It took a minute, or three, for Charlie to catch his breath before he pointed towards the third room on the second floor, all the way towards the back. He wheezed out a few words and Noa nodded, taking the suitcase from him before heading towards what she assumed was her room.

Her guess about the room being Charlie's previously was assumed to be correct as he came up behind her, surveying the room as did she. The walls were still a plain white, though he encouraged her to paint them to her heart's desire. There was one window with rain droplets and mist covering most of it across from the door, the forest that made up the backyard still easily visible from her room. That made her smile before she took in the rest of her new room. It was small and empty, apart from a full sized bed with an olive green duvet and pillowcases, along with a handmade quilt draped over it. In the corner, near the window, there was a desk and a small book shelf, her smile widening, Charlie taking notice. "I know you said you like to read so, I picked it up second hand, hope you don't mind."

The girl was already planning on how she'd arrange her books and small treasured items she had kept over her years of travel, "I love it, thank you." She assured Charlie that the green blanket was more than okay, the color actually being her favorite which pleased him greatly. He left her to be alone, with a promise of retrieving her second and heaviest suitcase that still sat at the bottom of the stairs. Noa debated on whether it was worth it to fill the closet with her clothes, knowing she'd never get to wear them in this weather. She took a few pieces out that could still be used, leaving the others in the suitcase that she shoved to the back of the closet. When Charlie entered again, she said, "I know you told me it was the rainiest city ever but, my wardrobe isn't really Washington appropriate. Are there any clothing stores in town?"

He nodded, scratching his mustache a bit as he set her other suitcase down. The girl went to work unpacking it as he answered her, "yeah, there are a few fancier stores up in Port Angeles, passed it on the way here but there's a second hand store not too far from here. I can drive you if you want. Or I can ask Bella..."

Though she didn't want to disturb her broken hearted cousin, the thought of making her uncle drive another mile after the six hour drive there and back he had just done for her was devilish. She shook her head no, arranging her books perfectly on the bookshelf. "I'll just ask Bella myself, it's okay. You've done enough for me today, I don't want to be a burden."

Charlie shook his head, staring at the girl who was an almost exact carbon copy of his dearly departed sister. Tears came to his eyes but he kept them from spilling and he hoped the distance between them was far enough that she didn't notice. She continued to arrange her items around the room as he told her, "never a burden, Noa. It's good to have you here, you need anything just ask. You hear?"

The girl nodded with a smile, thanking her uncle before he excused himself. She packed light, learning to never get too attached to material things as they moved too much for her to have a lot of belongings, so she finished unpacking just as fast. She looked around the room, deciding on what else she needed, making a mental note for the store later. Knowing what was next, she inhaled deeply. The thought of meeting Bella made her anxious, Noa unsure of how to even approach her. Charlie hadn't told her much about his daughter's personality or temper. She thought of the many personalities she could have while she exited her room and stood in front of Bella's closed door. It was devoid of any paint of distinctive signs such as 'keep out' or 'do not enter' which put her slightly at ease. She knocked three times before letting her hand fall limply at her side. There was only a lifeless hum that she took as granted access, cautiously opening up the door.

She noticed upon entering that she had obviously gotten the bigger room, noting the smaller size of Bella's. Though they had most of the same pieces of furniture, Bella only having a mirror and a dresser to add, hers looked more lived in, which was obvious as she had been living here longer than she had. There were pictures of who she assumed were friends and family, her desk cluttered with old papers and her computer opened, a cup of water set dangerously close to it. Bella sat, facing the window in her desk chair with her back to Noa, not saying anything. The room felt stuffy, as if the doors and windows hadn't been opened in weeks, she felt uneasy. "Um...Bella?"

It took her a few seconds but Bella turned around, surprised to hear a new voice she hadn't heard before. When she took in Noa's somewhat similar appearance, she calmed, remembering little about her younger cousin she only ever saw a handful of times growing up. "Helena, I'm sorry about your mom," she said in a hoarse voice, not really meeting her eyes as she said so. There was sincerity in her words, though it felt slightly rehearsed and Noa nodded.

"It's Noa but um, thanks," she replied, her hands wringing awkwardly. They stared at anything but each other, Noa suddenly interested in Bella's pale blue walls that were adorned with paintings and more pictures. After a while, she cleared her throat awkwardly. "So uh, I don't have many clothes and Charlie said there's a store right down the street and I was wondering if you could-"

Bella cut her off before she could finish, uninterested as she said, "take my truck, keys are on the hook by the door. Just don't try and take it past sixty or it'll give out. Take a right at the stop sign and take it all the way to the first stop light then make a left. It'll be in the little center about a mile from there." She left her with only those directions and nothing else, Noa replaying the directions a few times in her head so she wouldn't forget. She thanked her cousin, to which she got no response, before she retrieved her wallet from her room, making her way down the stairs.

The tv was on and Noa peeked into the living room, spotting Charlie on the couch. He nodded towards her, a hopeful look on his face. "Bella's taking you then?" He asked, watching her pull her hood over her hair before she shook her head, the action making him frown before he looked back towards the current game. "You have your license then, and cash?"

Noa shook her head as she held up the turquoise wallet she had picked up in a shop in Lebanon two years ago, "it's okay, I can walk and uh, I have enough money I think, I exchanged all my money for US before I left." He seemed to ponder the idea, asking her if she knew where she was going, nodding contently when she repeated the directions Bella had given her, bidding her farewell before he took another sip of his beer. She frowned as the cold air hit her again, missing the warmth from the old house, giving it one last look before she headed off down the street towards the second hand store.

She couldn't lie, a few times she got confused and often found herself on the unmarked highway that had only a few cars occasionally pass through but, a few honks and a few curses thrown her way and she got the hang of it by the time she arrived at the small thrift store. She often visited them wherever she traveled, preferring used clothes as she often had to get rid of her things when they moved so she found no need to buy new things in every country. She lost track of time as she shopped for clothes and items to decorate her room, finding her cart to be unreasonably full.

"Preparing for the apocalypse or something, girl?" A voice asked jokingly, causing her to turn. She smiled awkwardly upon seeing an older man in a wheel chair, his eyes almost closed shut at the intensity of his smile. His skin was brown, darker than her own and his hair was bone straight and black as tar, with thin black eyes to match. He seemed rough around the edges but sweet, Noa nodded at him as she admitted sheepishly, "I just moved here today actually, I wasn't prepared for this weather so I did go a bit crazy. I'm not a fan of the cold."

The man nodded, both of them silently looking at her cart before her words hit him. He snapped his finger, remembering then. "You must be Charlotte's kid then. Helena," his smile fell once he said it, apologizing as his eyes glazed over. Noa tilted her head to the side as she inspected the man's reaction, "you knew my mom?"

Another smile found its way onto his face as he confirmed that he did. "Your uncle and I have been friends since we were youngins', your mom...wasn't the type to socialize," he said with a smile as he remembered the woman, Noa smiling as well, the girl forgetting to correct him on her name. She never knew why her mother insisted on calling her Noa instead of Helena when the latter was perfectly fine but, it was much too late to try and change it around now. "It's good to see you, I doubt you remember me since you went away so young, name's Billy."

Noa nodded, imagining the man with less wrinkles and, according to him, a wheelchair, since he had only been recently bound to the chair, and the pieces started to slowly pull together. She looked around then in search of someone, "yeah, you had a few kids too huh?" As if he had heard her, a boy rounded the corner, resembling Billy in his youth with a greeting smile on his face. He looked older than her, though only by a year maybe. The boy pulled her into a hug without warning, catching Noa off guard. She couldn't remember the last time she had been hugged.

"Helena! It's good to see you, almost didn't recognize you without mud on your face," he joked, causing Noa to scrunch her nose childishly. She smiled at him, it felt nice to remember people, though she still felt anxious as this was the most people she had talked to in years. He noticed immediately she was a bit rough around the edges, remembering that she had just lost a mother. "Sorry about your mom, I lost mines when I was only a few years but..." he didn't know what else to say, considering he didn't remember his mother, Sarah. He suddenly felt embarrassed to have even brought it up and Noa only nodded, not sure how to respond.

Billy paused, taking in the mention of his late wife so casually while Jacob kept his head down. "Forgive my son, Jake. I doubt you remember my older girls, Rachel and Rebecca, the twins? They were around Bella's age so probably not then." When Noa shook her head Billy reassured her that it was okay as the girl's had moved years ago, something she could tell hurt both Billy and Jake. Jake, it was really Jacob he had explained, seemed more interested then, perking up suddenly at the mention of Noa's cousin. "How is she?" He asked.

Noa shrugged. "Um, I've only been here for a few hours and exchanged a few words with her but she seems a bit...sad? But, I guess that's to be expected," she admitted, not knowing how much was too much when it came to sharing. She still didn't know any of them very much and she felt very displaced in it all. She felt very uncomfortable at the casualness of the conversation and her cheeks turned red. Jacob nodded solemnly, deeply affected by her cousin's emotional state for some reason. "Are you guys friends, like Charlie and Billy?" Jacob's face burned, the boy coughing awkwardly as he looked anywhere but at the girl in front of him. Billy laughed a bit, Noa catching onto his teasing after a few seconds of him doing so.

Billy looked around, frowning as he looked up at her before glancing at the setting sun. "You come here alone, girl?" He asked curiously. When she nodded he frowned, tsking in disapproval. "You shouldn't be out driving near sundown by yourself, it ain't safe, especially when you don't know the roads. You only been here bout what, a day, few hours maybe?"

Jacob nudged his father, the boy reminding him that he didn't need to parent everyone as he always did, though Billy didn't listen. "We told Charlie a few of us would come over, keep him company so he wouldn't be alone especially after Charlotte...we'll give you a ride back home to make sure you get there all right." Jacob scoffed, mentioning his need for a change of clothes, Noa catching that he looked as though he had been working on some sort of machine with oil and dirt staining his jacket, pants, and sneakers. Billy scoffed back, the man was sassy, Noa deduced. "I'm sure Bella has more important things to worry about than your dirty outfit, Jacob. Let's go."

Noa didn't really know what to make of their interactions as she never had a dad, nor was she a boy. She didn't know what to say or when to say it so she simply kept her mouth shut, turning to take her items towards the checkout line. The girl was rightfully confused when she learned about sales tax, something Jacob found hilarious while the cashier seemed to think she was some foreign thing that didn't know left from right. "Why not just put the prices on the tag?" She mumbled as she exited the store with the two in tow, Billy offering to hold a few bags on his lap.

"Welcome to America," Jacob beamed sarcastically, causing Noa to let out a genuine laugh, the girl's chest vibrating. She didn't feel the sharp cold this time as they headed towards Billy's truck. The boy inspected it, explaining to the girl next to him with much pride that he had been the one to fix it up recently for his father, mentioning his own car he had just built from scratch. Noa seemed impressed, voicing her compliments to the boy as she admitted to never really understanding mechanics, to which Jacob offered to teach her. She felt more at ease then, less anxious on the drive back to Charlie's house and even conversing with the two once they arrived and made their way up the steps.

The front door swung open and her uncle looked at the three waiting patiently with a confused stare. Billy pushed himself forward in his chair, knocking into the still closed screen door, "open up before I ram down the door with this chair, old man." To that, Charlie scoffed, complying still as he let the three enter. "Who you calling old, Mr. 'I've Been Getting A Senior Discount for Almost Ten Years Now'?" He shot back, the two erupting into harmless banter then, leaving the two teenagers alone.

Noa stared after them awkwardly, her and Jacob still holding onto her items. She stared down at her full hands before looking at Jacob's, smiling a bit in embarrassment. "I guess I went a bit overboard, huh?" Her comment earned a laugh from Jacob, the boy nodding as he gestured to his full hands, "at least you don't have to worry about buying...well anything, it seems." The two shared a laugh then, quite childishly. Noa gestured for him to follow, the two venturing up the stairs and towards her new room. Jacob stopped at Bella's closed door, his face falling as he debated on whether or not he wanted to knock, Noa watching silently.

He decided against it, joining Noa in her room without a word. "How long has she been like that?" she asked curiously whilst she separated her new things to be cleaned later. Jacob shrugged, looking out her open door to the empty hall, "it's been like this since the end September, a bit after her boyfriend left." Noa caught on to the way he had said 'boyfriend', raising an eyebrow before the boy sighed, unable to hide anything from anyone it seemed. "He just, he wasn't that great. Always had her in some kinda trouble, she was never home. It seemed like they really liked each other though until he and his family skipped town randomly."

Noa frowned, tossing her 'new' clothes into the corner, reminding herself to buy a hamper for them later. She thought about her response, struggling to form some sort of opinion on the events just revealed to her. "Maybe she needs a hobby," she suggested after a while, remembering a book she had read on the stages of grief, which she had picked up and finished ironically a few weeks before her mother died. Jacob nodded, fiddling with the sheer curtains Noa had bought to surround her bed, though she could tell he wasn't listening to her much. "Why don't you invite her out somewhere?"

Jacob looked up at her, giving the girl his full, undivided attention. His cheeks turned red as he asked, "you mean, like on a date or something?" Noa seemed to think about it, answering honestly, "I'm not sure exactly but, from what I've read on depressive states, it helps to be out of the house, out of one's comfort zone and inner turmoil. Maybe she needs someone to pull her out of that. Maybe she needs you." Jacob eyebrows furrowed, the boy going into deep thought. It was like this for a bit, as she threw her clothes and washable decor into the laundry and cleaned her other items at the kitchen sink, the two bouncing ideas off each other as they wondered what would help Bella, Noa learning more and more about her cousin as the minutes went on. She learned she was very clumsy and not very athletic or artsy, most of those traits seemingly genetic as Noa related to them. She wasn't fond of much outside of books and her now-ex boyfriend, which made Noa frown. "Maybe she just needs new interests. She has to get out of her comfort zone in order to grow."

"Who?" Charlie asked, coming into the kitchen as Noa placed her final item, a crystal blue flower vase onto a drying rack. The door bell rang suddenly, causing them all to turn, Charlie being the first to react and open the door. He smiled upon seeing them, letting in a teenage girl and a woman around his age, greeting them politely. It was easy to tell that they were mother and daughter since they looked so much alike; raven black hair with wide eyes, though the older woman's had gotten tighter and more accusing with age. They were both of slender build with brown skin that resembled Jacob and Billy's own. The two carried what she could only assume was food as the smell hit her nose almost immediately upon them entering the home, her stomach growling. Charlie led the two from the foyer into the small kitchen, Noa feeling small under their gazes. The older woman smiled at Noa, causing her to smile back, though it fell when she got pulled into a hug by her suddenly. "I'm Mitena, you probably don't remember me or Tama. We haven't seen you in so long, look at your face," she smiled, admiring the teenager in front of her.

The girl next to her, Tama, nudged her mother with her hip as her hands were full, frowning a bit as she chastised her. She offered Noa a comforting smile, apologizing for her mother's forwardness. "It's nice to see you, Helena, though I wish we were seeing you under better circumstances," she said kindly, her voice soft. Noa didn't have siblings, nor did she know anything about them besides the basics and what she read in books but, she swore she felt so safe hearing the older girl speak. She seemed like the embodiment of an older sister and Noa couldn't help but cling to whatever she said, whether it was towards her or towards someone else. "I prefer Noa but, thank you, Tama...me too," she said finally, the girl's exchanging one last smile before Tama went to greet Jacob, the boy suddenly on edge around the older girl.

Instead of a knock or a doorbell, the door simply swung open and four entered. They were all older, around Charlie's age or a bit older, which caused Noa to calm her anxiety. She tended to get on better with people much older than her anyways rather than kids her own age. The eldest of the new arrivals, a man with a baseball cap and glasses from two decades ago was the first to greet Charlie, his skin a deep copper and wrinkled from age and sun exposure. A woman his age clung to his side, her skin pale and her eyes light and aware, pulling Charlie into a hug as they exchanged words Noa couldn't hear as they were too far away. She had stared too long, the two elders spotting her and promptly making their way over with Charlie close behind. The man looked overwhelmed at the influx of people in his house, especially at a time like this but, he kept his mouth closed. The woman was the first to hug Noa and she was grateful the man settled for a firm handshake and a simple condolence. Charlie introduced them, "this is Quil the Third, your great uncle, and this is your great aunt Molly."

The woman, Molly, pinched her cheeks, Noa frowning at the amount of physical contact she had received within the past few hours. She didn't like it. "Oh my god, I haven't seen you since you were this high," she smiled happily, her hand reaching down to her knee which wasn't very much considering how short she was. "Your mother...oh, she was...my favorite niece," Molly seemed to struggle to find the right words, appropriate words to describe her deceased niece.

Quil scoffed, "she was your only niece, woman." Molly rolled her eyes at his reminder, giving him a playful smack to his shoulder as she told him to 'mind his own'. Their attention was called elsewhere and Noa hoped the last two wouldn't be so touchy. Thankfully, they weren't. The last couple that entered, their eyes carefully watching Mitena and Tama, seemed more calm and reserved and much to her relief, they didn't hug her or mention her dead mother. The woman introduced them, Sue and Harry Clearwater respectively, and gave her a smile as she looked her over, no doubt thinking about the resemblance to her mother, Charlotte. Sue only smiled at her and Noa smiled back, she figured she wouldn't have minded a hug from her then. "It's good to finally see you again."

Charlie looked after them, his eyes trained on the door as if he was waiting for someone. "Where's the kids? They stay home?" At that, Tama turned, her eyes locking with Sue's as they exchanged a glance that Noa couldn't quite interpret before Sue sighed. "Seth wanted to stay over at Brady's and Leah..." she didn't finish, her and Tama sharing another look before Sue could only sigh again, her husband placing his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

Sue smiled her worries off, her attention on Noa again. "Well, we'll just have to have you over for dinner then so you can meet them. You're about fifteen, sixteen now? Same as Seth, I'm sure you'll get along great," she assured her. Noa came to the conclusion that the Quileute's were all friendly and forward, something that she wasn't used to but part of her wanted to be. For now, she'd simply smile and nod as she had been doing all day. "Now, is Bella going to join us or am I gonna have to go up there and get her myself?"

Though he knew she was partially joking, Charlie still frowned, casting his gaze towards the stairs with a shake of his head. "I'll probably just end up bringing her a plate again. I swear I don't know how long it's supposed to last, how long does it take a girl to get over a boy anyways, two weeks?" The women in the room, minus Noa, all stared at him as if he had gained two heads then, the man shrugging in defense as he took it back quickly. Noa stifled a laugh at his reddened cheeks, covering her face with the plate Mitena had handed her.

"She should be happy those Cullens are gone, not sulking over them," Harry grumbled, filling his plate up with the food the women had placed on the countertops. He had begun to stuff his face before he had finished reaching the last bit of tupperware, Sue chastising him for talking with a mouth full of food. The name Cullen, ignited something in the room then, changing the entire atmosphere. Jacob and Tama grew uncomfortable, the boy looking anywhere but at his father while Tama kept her head down while their parents, ironically, seemed to be the most pleased with what Harry had said. Molly kept quiet while her husband scoffed at the mention, the woman giving Noa a comforting smile from across the kitchen when she noticed her confusion.

"Do I even wanna know why they hate the Cullens so much?" Noa asked quietly as she and Jacob stood next to each other, filling their plates once the elders were finished. Jacob glanced behind him quickly to see if anyone was watching, turning back to her when he noticed most of the adults had filed out of the kitchen, Tama mentioning she'd bring up a plate to Bella's room and disappearing. She wondered what Bella's ex boyfriend and his family had done that had caused such a reaction, unable to come to a concrete conclusion. "It's all a bunch of dumb stories. I mean, I think it was pretty shitty of them to just up and leave Bella behind like that but, still. They're all too stuck in the past."

Leave Bella behind? Noa frowned, she looked to Jacob in confusion, "would it have been better for them to take Bella along with them?" Her question was serious but Jacob didn't seem to like it, continuing to fill his plate before he sat at the kitchen table. She glanced back at her barely full plate before she spared a glance in the direction of the family room. The tv was going, broadcasting a game she knew nothing of, and there was wild chatter that she couldn't keep up with. She wasn't used to this, or anything close to it. Before she became too overwhelmed, she took her plate, which she would barely eat, and quickly headed for her room, bumping into Tama on the way. They apologized simultaneously before Tama looked at Noa oddly, "you okay?"

Noa debated on lying, something she had learned to be quite good at because of her mother. She felt Tama already knew the answer so she decided against it, sighing, "it's all just a little much, you know? I'm not used to all these people and all this noise, it's just a little overwhelming when I've only been around one person basically my whole life." There was a knowing, understanding look in Tama's eyes as she nodded, "I get it. I'm an only child too and it gets a bit crazy sometimes but, I'm sure you'll get used to it."

"I hope so, I don't really have any other choice," Noa responded with an awkward laugh. Saying it out loud made it feel so real, her heart began to hurt. There was no going back home, to her mother. They would never eat dinner together again or, do anything together because she was gone and she wasn't coming back. She was surrounded by so many people but she still felt so alone all she wanted to do was curl up under her covers until she couldn't cry anymore. And once Tama released the hold on her shoulder, that's exactly what she did. spring speaks: first chapter done! hope you enjoyed!! pls comment if you want to be added to the taglist!

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springfaaerie · 3 months ago

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Silver Moon Chapter Two

'sleepover'

pairing: Seth Clearwater x OC

masterlist

word count: 8.26k

warnings: brief mentions of death (not any main character)

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Noa found herself awake earlier than everyone else in the house, her body heavy as she forced herself out of her room and downstairs, the cross continent flight finally catching up to her. On her face, she wore a prominent frown, clad in a charcoal gray hoodie and black sweatpants she had found yesterday while she guessed how cold it was in the house, shivering at the possible temperature outside in comparison. After searching the cabinets for a few minutes, she managed to find tea, brewing a cup for herself while she sat in one of the dining room chairs, brown eyes glazed over as she took in the scenery outside of her new home. The peace and quiet was in stark contrast to last night, the girl still overwhelmed at the amount of people that had suddenly found their way into the Swan household all to comfort her uncle over his sister, her mother. She found only comfort in her bed after hours of crying, wishing she'd wake up and be back in her bed in Australia and find that this was all some long winded dream she would tell her mother about.

It wasn't too far off, considering she often had unusual dreams, her mind wandering to her dream journal and the entries she had written; dreams of wolves and spirits running through the forest, communing with the animals and the wind and the trees like some sort of fairy tale. She wished to have those dreams again, finding herself unable to enter a deep sleep and she knew she had bags underneath her eyes. This would be the second night sleep hadn't come easy to her, the second night without her mother. She wiped a stray tear and slowly sipped her cup of chamomile tea, jumping in fright when she found that she wasn't alone.

Charlie apologized, pausing for a moment to decide whether or not to question her further about her under eye bags and her tears. He decided against the latter, walking up to the countertop and starting the old coffee maker that sat up against the wall near the toaster. "Hey, about last night, I'm sorry. Look, if I would've known they were planning on all coming over and-"

Noa shook her head, offering him a smile to ease his nerves. "It's fine it's just, I'm not used to being around that many people, it was always just me and mom. I guess it just takes some getting used to is all; I'm gonna be around more people than that once I go to school anyways, right? No point in trying to avoid it," she said, though it seemed as though she was trying to convince herself rather than her uncle who watched her carefully while he poured himself a cup of coffee, drinking it straight black.

"Right, well..." he trailed off, pausing to take another long sip of the warm, bitter drink. "Still, I'm sorry." Noa only nodded, the man returning the gesture before they fell into silence again, staring off in different directions. A thought came into her mind suddenly and she shifted uncomfortably at it, "have you heard anything about mom? Like a funeral or, or anything?"

Charlie winced at the sound of desperation in his niece's voice, the girl biting her bottom lip anxiously as she waited for his answer to ignite some sort of hope within her. He sighed, shaking his head and watching as she slumped back into her seat in defeat, mumbling a small 'okay' before she dropped the subject. He took the seat beside her, setting his cup down on the worn wood table next to her own mug of tea that was almost finished. "We could have something here, if you'd like. Just a little ceremony, doesn't have to be too big it could just be us, a picture, and a candle."

She seemed to think about it, the idea of something so real as a mock funeral making chills go up her spine. She tried not to think about it normally but she couldn't help it. A funeral meant that it was real, seeing her mother's lifeless body being lowered into a grave meant that she wasn't dreaming and that terrified her. Having a mock service, one where she didn't have to see her mother pale and smothered in makeup intended to hide the fact that she was in fact deceased brought her some sort of comfort. She could have the comfort of acknowledging her mother but without the body as confirmation, she didn't have to accept the fact that she was gone just yet. It was perfect. She nodded, thanking the man who promised to be home earlier to make it happen. "You eat?" Charlie asked suddenly, Noa shaking her head in response. He pointed out where everything was located in the kitchen, Noa politely paying attention even though she hadn't felt hunger since she came home to her mother gone.

"I'd take you down to the diner but, I gotta go in early, another hiker gone missing," he sighed, Noa watching his mannerisms closely. He rubbed his face tiredly and she could tell he would rather be back in his bed, or rather, the pullout couch he stored in the den he currently slept in. "Fourth one in under two months. If this gets out of control the state will have to step in and..." he trailed off, exhaling loudly.

Noa was silent for a beat, wondering what was the polite response to her uncle's obvious stress. "Um, that sounds really stressful, I'm sorry," she attempted to comfort him, hoping that her words sounded sincere enough as she really did mean it. She always felt bad, seeing others in any sort of pain, immediately attempting to find a way to fix it and putting the responsibility that no one assigned on her small shoulders.

He sent back a tight lipped smile, reassuring her -and himself- that it would be handled soon enough and he could rest easier. Their attention turned towards the hallway as the old house echoed Bella's footsteps on the old wooden floor and down the steps. Her emotionless demeanor shifting ever so slightly at the sight of the two of them already awake, the girl not expecting to see them. Noa was able to get a better look at her face then, not surprised at their resemblance considering their parents shared DNA.

Her older cousin's hair was shorter than hers since her mother never let her cut or style it any differently than her natural, bone straight hair that went down to her tailbone; a stark contrast to the Swan family's trademark loose, brown curls . Bella's skin was pale and she could barely see the red in her cheeks, though she assumed it was due to the cold temperature in the house and her lack of sleep, the two girls sharing looks of exhaustion. While Bella seemed to walk with a slight hunch, Noa could tell she was still shorter than her which wasn't surprising as she was usually shorter than those she came across. She offered her cousin a weak smile that she barely returned, pouring herself a cup of a water from the tap.

"I gotta leave early for work," Charlie explained to his daughter, who didn't seem to be listening. He gave her the same explanation he had just given his niece, though Bella only responded with uninterested hums occasionally, which Noa frowned at. Her mother would've scolded her for that but she said nothing, finishing what was left in her cup. "It's your off day, why don't you show Noa around? You got on good with Tama didn't you, Noa? She's a good kid, why don't you both hang out with her, you've been ignorin' your friends for too long Bells."

Noa shrunk in her seat as tension began to form and Bella gripped her cup a bit tighter, unable to muster the strength to argue with her father as her sleep deprivation and hunger didn't let her. Charlie continued, obviously used to his daughter's demeanor, "why don't you take her down to the diner? Get you both some breakfast, you're all skin and bones, Bells...you're scaring me." He offered a few bills from his wallet to his niece after Bella made no moves to accept them, sighing as he wished them a good day before leaving his cup in the sink and disappearing out the front door.

The two cousins sat in an almost awkward silence, Noa standing up to clean out both her and Charlie's empty cups. Bella frowned, it seemed she was just as bad with conversation as she was, it brought her some comfort. The older girl attempted a smile, "so, breakfast?"

After both girls showered and dressed rather quickly, they found themselves at the local diner 20 minutes up the road, where everyone knew each other and greeted both Bella and Noa upon entry. She found that familiar feeling, anxiety, creeping up on her again, being around people that were so comfortable around each other as well as her. Bella didn't seem to notice her hesitance as she followed the waitress, Cora, to their table. There were eyes on them and both girls sat with their heads down, ordering drinks before the woman left them to their own devices. Bella began playing with the menu, not really looking it over while Noa cast her gaze outside, watching the occasional semi truck or car pass along the main highway the diner sat upon. The rain pelted the window they sat next to and she was grateful to only witnessing the weather rather than being immersed in it. She was certain she'd get sick from the abrupt weather change so she made a mental note to ask Bella to take her to the local store for some herbs to counteract it.

Noa heard a soft sigh and turned, her eyes landing on her older cousin who looked just as uncomfortable as she did. She only blinked, not knowing what she was expected to do or say. Bella's eyes flashed down to her menu before back up to her, "you know what you're gonna get?" Noa shook her head before she picked up the menu, looking it over a few times. She honestly wasn't hungry and figured she could go a few more hours without eating but she didn't want to be on the receiving end of Bella's attitude that would come considering Charlie had forced her into taking her. So, she put the menu down after a few seconds and said, "I'll just get the breakfast platter. You?"

Bella shrugged, seemingly uninterested in food. "I guess I'll just get the avocado toast...not really hungry," she admitted, Noa revealing the same before they went back to silence. Despite it being a bit awkward, Noa liked it; she found similarities between herself and Bella and that made her feel at ease, her previous assumptions about her cousin being the typical 'All American Teenage Girl' she held her entire trip over slowly being proven wrong. The thought made her smile to herself.

The girls smiled and politely thanked Cora for their drinks, an iced tea for Bella and a cup of warm green tea for Noa, before ordering their meals, the woman leaving them alone once again after giving them a wait time of twenty minutes. Bella cleared her throat, the elder Swan becoming more relaxed as well, though Noa could still sense that she wasn't all the way there. "So uh, you guys traveled a lot huh, you and aunt Charlotte?

Noa nodded, a little taken aback at the sudden mention of her mother. A bit of a smile appeared as she recalled all of their trips. "We've travelled all over the world, every continent – though, we did stay away from America, once we left we never came back...well, she never came back," Noa said, the brightness in her eyes slowly dimming as she corrected herself, Bella giving her condolences once again though she didn't have many memories pertaining to her aunt as she had only seen her three or four times during her entire life.

Bella tried to ease her mind, finding herself actually interested and distracted momentarily from the hole in her heart that had been eating away at her for months now. "What was your favorite place? Or top five, at least?" She asked, seeing Noa become distracted from her pain as well as she began to rack her mind, her answer coming up quickly as she smiled.

"Australia was the most recent and, we stayed there for so long it became one of my favorites but, I really liked Germany; Munich is beautiful in the fall. Sweden as well, I'd say they have the nicest people I've ever met. Greece gets a spot because they have a lot of cats, and some of the best food I've ever tasted in my life; Italy as well, I couldn't look at pasta for a month after we left," she answered with a laugh, imagining the look on her younger face inhaling Italian food every night and petting every cat she saw in Greece. Bella smiled, though she made a face, "not the biggest fan of cats."

"India then, they have the biggest population of stray dogs if that's more your fancy," Noa said with a shrug, remembering the hustle and bustle of the place during the short time that they stayed. "Good food there too but I say that about mostly every place we've been to. I just love food." Bella refrained from mentioning that she wasn't much of an animal person in general as she noticed the change in her cousin's demeanor, not wanting to add any negativity to the conversation that seemed to be doing so much for the young, wide eyed girl. "What about you? Have you done much traveling?"

Bella inhaled, not expecting to be asked about herself as she usually just listened to people while they talked. She soon learned that Noa was the same. She nodded, "yeah a bit, my mom never liked to stay in one place so long. We moved around California a lot before we moved to Phoenix when I was six, kinda pales in comparison to traveling the world though."

Noa's face lit up a bit then, "how was California? I've always wanted to go but mom said we couldn't come back to the states." Bella smiled, letting her know that unfortunately, her opinion was biased and untrustworthy as she was only a child when they stayed there, causing Noa to slump in her seat a bit. They were interrupted by Cora, who set their plates down in front of them before assuring she'd be back to refill their slowly dwindling cups. They talked occasionally over the course of their meal, exchanging few words that brought them ease with one another.

It felt oddly peaceful, only a few people scattered across the diner while soft music played from somewhere across the room, all while rain and thunder provided a show for Noa to watch as she finished off her food. She frowned as the rain began to slowly stop, though she was partially grateful as they'd be leaving soon and she didn't want to be caught in the rain despite being better dressed for such weather. Suddenly, the door of the diner swung open and Noa and Bella instinctively turned to see who had entered, a smile making its way onto the girl's face while Bella visibly shrunk.

Tama smiled back, pleasantly surprised by the girls in front of her. She wasn't alone, nor was she wet despite just having come in from the rain; Noa didn't question this. Beside her was a boy that looked rather old to be considered a teenager like Tama but she said nothing about it; he was almost a foot taller than Tama, the same skin color with pitch black hair that fell right below his ears and had been pushed back with minimal product. Their similar features made them seem related but Noa shoved the thought out of her mind when the two made eye contact that was so intimate, so full of emotions Noa couldn't quite comprehend, that she had to look down at her plate. She glanced up once she saw Tama's lower half hovering near their table, offering her and the boy next to her a meek smile and a "hello" that was quickly returned by Tama.

She nudged the boy, who she introduced as her boyfriend, Paul, and he sent her a simple nod. "Sorry your mom died, that sucks," he told her plainly, wincing when Tama's elbow quickly struck him in the ribs.

He apologized, though Noa shrugged him off, watching as the couple turned their attention towards Bella. Tama looked apprehensive, her boyfriend looking as though he wanted to be anywhere but there in that moment as he wouldn't even spare Bella a glance. Noa watched the trio carefully, taking in their body language and every small minute detail that could tell her about their dynamic.

"Hey Izzy," Tama greeted carefully, her demeanor never faltering despite Bella's awkward social skills. She seemed to be used to it.

"Hey, Tama...Paul," she greeted the couple with a quick and fleeting smile, looking down at her half eaten meal. She felt sick at the sight, pushing it away and glancing at her empty cup with a disappointed frown.

Paul didn't respond, nor did he look in her direction. Instead, he kept his gaze on his girlfriend, seemingly watching for any indication that she was anything other than okay, routinely checking their surroundings for any danger. It felt very animalistic to her, Noa thought. Tama responded to something Cora had said, a light coming back into her eyes before she glanced down at the cousins, "well, we were just stopping by to get some breakfast since we were in the area but..."

Bella pulled out a few bills, Noa noticing the amount exceeded the prices of their food and drinks, quickly standing up and urging for her younger cousin to do the same. "Yeah, we were actually just leaving. Charlie wanted me to show Noa around town, so she gets familiar with everything before school starts, you know." Noa frowned, recalling that her uncle did indeed want them to all hang out, holding her tongue so as not to upset the balance of things.

Tama tried not to let her disappointment show, though Paul seemed delighted that the two weren't joining them, Noa getting a closer look and seeing that the boy had darkened bags under his eyes and watched as plates were slowly being brought out to awaiting customers. "Oh, you're going to be attending Forks then, let me know if you need any help or like a ride or something. I only go a few days out of the week though."

Noa smiled up at her, the girl's calm and positive demeanor something she wasn't used to but found pleasant nonetheless. It made her feel safe. "I'd love that actually, thank you, Tama." The girl seemed surprised by her demeanor as well, a second passing before she was sending the young Swan a warm smile. She turned to her boyfriend them, giving him a small nudge before she bid the girl's farewell, her hand in Paul's as they followed Cora to their seats on the other side of the diner.

"You don't like Tama?" Noa asked once they were situated in Bella's old truck, Noa noticing the same old bronco that had been parked outside the Swan house the previous night was now here next to them and she assumed it to be Tama's car. She pulled her seat belt on as Bella cranked the engine, sending her cousin a questioning glance. "She seems nice; her boyfriend...maybe he's just socially awkward, like us."

Bella didn't answer for a moment, which caused Noa to believe she hadn't heard her the first time. The girl went to repeat herself before Bella shook her head, assuring her that Tama was just fine. "I just, it's not her. It's-its me. I'm not too good with friends and keeping up with people and all that teenage friendship entails, and by all standards, I haven't been the best friend lately to anyone."

"Is this before or after your boyfriend left?" Noa asked genuinely, watching her cousin with a sympathetic frown that made Bella avoid her gaze. There was a soft gasp that escaped the older girl's lips and she clutched her chest, right above her heart as though it was piercing through her shirt and Noa wondered if she had given the poor girl a heart attack. She leaned over, gently steering the wheel so that the car now sat near the highway where cars passed by every few minutes. They sat in silence, Noa occasionally glancing over at Bella to see if she was alright, the only noise being the hum of the occasional car that passed and the concerning sound of the truck's own engine. The younger girl held her tongue, fearing Bella's reaction, though she felt more at ease when she saw her cousin's body release the tension it was holding. "I'm sorry. I've never had to deal with a breakup or a relationship in general so, I'm not too familiar with the whole thing."

After a while, Bella shrugged her off, pretending as if the whole ordeal hadn't happened as she guided the car back onto the main highway once it was safe to do so, continuing back in the direction of the house. Noa frowned as they passed by scenery that was becoming familiar to her, remembering that Bella had just mentioned she would be taking her on a tour of the town. She cursed her own mouth for ruining her chances of exploring the small town she now inhabited, awaiting the sight of the familiar white house where her unfinished book was waiting for her. Noa had to resist the urge to apologize again once the car finally came to a stop in the driveway, so instead she sat in the passenger seat, fiddling with her thumbs in a way she would've been chastised for.

Bella didn't wait for her to exit before she did, closing the car door and venturing up the small steps that led to the front door. Noa soon followed, not wanting to stay in the cold car for long. The house wasn't warm but, she was no longer shivering once she entered, glancing at the clock on the wall; it wasn't even noon. She was used to being at home alone near constantly but her mother at least let her venture outside to see the world on occasion. The rain was still at bay and she hesitated on calling after Bella, but decided against it once she heard her bedroom door closing.

Noa's book could only provide her entertainment for so long before she shut the book closed and sighed, surveying her room. She glanced outside, seeing that it was only sprinkling and debated internally whether she wanted to expose herself to the very elements she despised but after a moment, she gave up. Bella was ignoring her and she didn't know when Charlie was coming home; she was bored. So, against her own wishes, she pulled her outdated, forest green sweater –that had been embroidered to show allegiance to the local college – back over her head before putting on a windbreaker that was a size too big for her on top before heading out of her room.

She stopped near Bella's door as she put away her book into a small crossbody bag, her hand coming up to knock twice. She wasn't surprised when she got no response and she knew she shouldn't have felt sadness rise up within her but she couldn't help it, mumbling a small, "I'm sorry," before she headed down the stairs and out the back door.

Her original book had been replaced by a more educational choice; a book on the local flora and fauna that Washington State had to offer. The brunette flipped through the pages as her eyes darted back and forth between the entries and the matches she found on her walk, her feet taking her deeper and deeper until the white house she had emerged from was no longer in view. She hummed to herself as she continued on, feeling quite accomplished whenever she managed to successfully spot a plant or an animal that she had seen in the book. The wildlife was abundant, loud even, to the point where Noa could only assume they were celebrating, the girl silently wishing she could understand the reason for their jubilation as she watched them from a safe distance.

The once joyful girl only began to feel off when she noticed she couldn't see as well as she could only a few mere minutes ago, the question as to how long she had been out here, and how far away from Charlie's house she was, suddenly began to infiltrate her mind. The brown rabbit that had let her get close enough to almost touch them, suddenly screeched, causing her to jump from shock, watching as the little creature ran in an attempt to save itself from whatever was approaching. Noa turned to study her surroundings, wondering what could have made the small animal so nervous before the snapping of twigs had her focusing her eyes in one single direction, her heart almost beating out of its chest. Out of instinct, she rose to her feet and off her knees, though she was unsure of how to protect herself as she wasn't familiar with the beasts that inhabited North America.

But, a beast did not emerge rather, a boy, a familiar boy. Noa's heart still clamored in her chest and her hands still twitched awkwardly at her sides but her shoulders still slumped as she attempted to calm herself. Paul's demeanor didn't allow her to fully quiet her nervous system, unable to speak as he approached her. His face was reminiscent of an older brother, a disappointed and angry one at that. Noa shrunk under his gaze once he stood in front of her, towering over her much smaller frame. "You shouldn't be out here, especially not this late."

Noa frowned, struggling to find her voice before she finally managed to squeak out, "I was just taking a walk behind the house...why are you out here then, if it's not safe?" His hands balled into fists at his sides and she took a protective step back. He noticed, closing his eyes and taking a few deep breaths before he let his hands rest and he replied, "I'm serious, kid, go home."

The girl looked all around, biting her bottom lip as she felt her stomach drop. Her cheeks grew red once she realized just how truly lost she was, admitting, "I don't know the way back."

The boy in front of her rolled his eyes, taking another moment to gain his composure before he turned and started off in a different direction, pausing to look back and gesture for the younger teen to follow. She complied, having to move at a quicker pace to keep up with his longer strides, her eyes looking everywhere but at Paul to keep the boy from getting angry again, fearful of his possible wrath. "I'm sorry."

He didn't respond, continuing the trek back towards the Swan house with her in tow. Noa noticed the differences between him and Tama; her calm, comforting demeanor contrasted greatly with the boy next to her that seemed to ooze "keep your distance or I'll bite" with every breath that he took. She figured opposites attract. With the girl in mind, she couldn't help the question that slipped, "where's Tama?"

Paul's face immediately softened and his steps slowed slightly, enough that she was able to catch up and walk by his side. He spared her a glance, "she had to work." Noa wasn't one to usually converse but she found that talking about Tama could keep him calm enough that it wasn't anxiety inducing to be around him.

She continued, "where does she work?" she asked, almost tripping over a rather thick branch that her eyes missed, letting out a startled yell that abruptly ended when she felt Paul's hand wrap around her bicep to pull her back onto her feet, shooting her an annoyed glance. "Why do you care?"

Noa shrugged after she found her balance again, her feet glued to the floor in hopes that she wouldn't fall again. "You seem to be much calmer around Tama so I figured talking about her wouldn't make you so angry. It works...for a few minutes."

Paul seemed to think about her words before he smiled, chuckling at her admission. He spared her another glance that didn't seem to allude to him being annoyed by her presence, "you got me there; she works at the local art gallery, she's an amazing artist."

She watched as his smiled widened, the boy describing all the paintings she had made, the ones he had hanging up in his room and throughout his home, his change in demeanor had her smiling as well. "You really love her, huh?" He paused, nodding before another smile overtook him. The action made him look like a boy rather than a man, less threatening. She could breathe easier. "What does that feel like? Being with someone, being in love?"

Paul looked down at her, an unreadable expression on her face and after she admitted she had never experienced it nor had she gained any insight from her mother, he frowned and Noa wondered if she was about to be subject to ridicule, something she was used to from people around her age group whenever she mentioned her lack of experience when it came to relatively anything.

Noa avoided his gaze as she told him of the restrictions that had been placed upon her by her mother, the boy's frown deepening. "Sounds like you had a shitty mom," he told her, relating to the girl with a story of his own absent mother. He found himself relating to the girl in an odd way and he couldn't help the guilt that ate away at him as he spoke to her.

Noa had been caught off guard by his words, never having heard anyone describe her mother in that way. Except...her mind traveled back to her old neighbor and the book he had gifted her –the same book she had shoved to the back of her closet to hopefully rot and rid itself from her mind. Her heartbeat had began to quicken once more as she felt herself become anxious, her thoughts overwhelming her.

Paul heard the change and glanced over, his words quickly cut off as he noticed the effect they were having on the younger girl. "Oh shit, I'm sorry? I'm...sure she wasn't that bad?" he tried to calm her but he knew that he was the last person in any position to calm someone down. He attempted to double down, reason with the girl beside him as their walking came to a halt. "Maybe she just didn't want her only child to get hurt, so she kept you from the world?...rest in peace?"

She nodded as she repeated his words over and over in her mind to soothe herself, her eyes tightly shut. The idea of her mother being anything that she had painted herself to be made her heart ache, especially when she wasn't here to defend herself. Her eyes finally opened, her deep brown irises glazed over as she nodded again, wiping a few tears before apologizing.

Paul frowned, "why are you apologizing?" She shrugged, wiping away the last few tears as they continued their trek back towards the house. She hadn't realized she had strayed this far away and she had to admit, she was glad she had run into Paul. "Damn, now it's kinda depressing, huh? What did you like about your mom?"

Noa immediately opened her mouth to speak but found herself unable to form any words. She had never been asked that question. She didn't know that there was something to like about parents, "um...she was, there?" Her answer had obviously made both of them uncomfortable and she suddenly gained interest in the sight of her dirty sneakers as they crushed freshly-fallen winter leaves beneath them.

The older boy waved her off, her new home well within her sight though Paul had seen it sooner than she had. "Forget I ever said anything, I'm in no position to ask about mothers, alright? You asked about love, right, and relationships?" he said, quickly wanting to change the subject that he steered directly into the gutter. When she nodded, he continued, "with me and Tama, we were friends first, best friends. It was easy to fall in love then, with her. I'd never dated anyone before her, or loved anyone before her so, I can't compare it to anything other than the fact that I've never felt anything like it and I don't think I will –and I'm okay with that...more than okay, actually."

Her heart picked up in her chest again and she found herself alive at the description. She had never heard anyone speak of love, even if it was only a teenage boy but, it moved her still. "How do you do that?" Noa asked him once they had reached the back door of Charlie's house. The rain was beginning to pick up and she scowled as she glanced up at the darkened sky. When it was clear Paul had no idea what she was talking about, she expanded on her question, "how do you talk so easily in front of someone you don't know without your voice cracking or your hands getting clammy or, or your chest feeling as though it's caving in."

Paul gave her a knowing look, jutting his chin out towards her. Noa noticed he wasn't properly dressed for the weather but she was far more concerned with his answer to her question, the answer to her social anxiety and how to overcome it. Her eyes shot downwards for only a second as she took in her open palms, which felt hot, along with her face, from all the talking she had been doing with a mere stranger. "I used to be like that too. You should've seen me before I hit puberty, oh the names I used to get called back in Tacoma."

Noa didn't know what or where Tacoma was but she did know he didn't answer her question so she pressed him further. "How'd you get better?" She asked, praying she didn't sound as desperate as she was. She figured he was older and therefore had more time to learn, and he seemed to be more socialized, considering he had a girlfriend and lived in a small town where everyone seemed to know everyone. She guessed he didn't really have a choice.

He smiled then, a smile Noa had become familiar with on the rather long walk back to the house they stood beside currently. She knew the answer before it even left his lips. "Tama." God. He said her name like it was his favorite word – like he was reciting poetry; she loved poetry.

She felt immensely childish and giddy in that moment, as well as envious. Noa wanted to feel that way for someone, and she wanted someone to feel that way for her as well. Before he could say anymore, Noa sent him a placid smile she hoped would hide her dismay.

"Thank you for walking me home, and talking to me. People my age normally avoid me so, I think this is the longest conversation I've ever had with someone under the age of 40. Tell Tama I said 'hi' and maybe stay out of the woods if you're gonna be wearing cut offs and a tank, yeah, you'll get sick in a bad way."

She didn't give him the time to respond before she opened the unlocked door, letting herself be embraced by the subtle heat that flowed through the old house. Just as she entered, she heard the front door open and made her way towards the front of the house where Charlie was attempting to bend over at the waist. Noa watched as the older man struggled to take off his shoes, tilting her head to the side as her ability to hide her amusement dwindled by the second.

"You need some help?" she asked, the man finally noticing her presence. After getting over the initial shock, her uncle muttering about how light she was on her feet, he gestured for her to come over and she complied, helping the man untie the laces on his work boots. "Where'd you come from?"

Noa stood, watching him kick off his shoes and shrug off his coat. She did the same before they passed the kitchen and found themselves in the family room. "In the woods, I took a walk," she answered honestly, her attention called elsewhere when she noticed Bella in the kitchen, cooking.

The girl seemed almost robotic, as if she was on autopilot. The sight was rather strange and Noa turned away, seeing that her uncle didn't seem to pleased with her answer as he made a face. "The woods? You shouldn't be messing around in the woods, bears ain't the only thing you should be afraid of, girl. Now, I didn't want to tell you this and scare you straight off the plane but there's been some disappearances going on in the woods and I think it's best if you kept out til we find what's been causing them. Okay?"

The girl nodded, apologizing immediately. "Paul walked me back home, he made sure I got back here safe," she reassured her uncle, her mind traveling to the older boy. She felt rude now that she sat and thought about it. It was polite to invite guests inside, especially when it was raining, she assumed. She hoped he got home safely.

"Paul Lahote?" Noa shrugged, admitting she didn't know the boy's last name but providing enough detail to ensure they were on the same page about the same boy. Charlie seemed to be pleased then and she relaxed a bit more into the couch. "Good, he's a good kid. Don't listen to anyone that tries to tell you different, he's just a little rough around the edges."

Noa agreed, their attention being called elsewhere as Bella alerted them to kitchen for dinner. They ate in relative silence, which Noa didn't mind as she was used to it, happily eating her lasagna while Charlie occasionally spoke on what was going on in town. Charlie pointed his fork towards her before he took another bite, "so, how'd you like it?" When she didn't answer, he added, "Forks? Bella took you around, showed you most of everything, right?"

The younger girl glanced at her cousin, waiting for her to send some sort of glare or look that screamed 'lie' but found her expression to be blank and blissfully unaware. Noa brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear, cautiously answering, "well, we just went to the diner and came back...that's why I went for the walk, I wanted to explore a bit." Charlie seemed displeased by that, shooting his daughter an unimpressed glance and Noa felt guilty, hoping the girl wasn't punished. She quickly added, "but, we ran into Tama and she offered to show me around. I was thinking of maybe hanging out with her."

Charlie smiled again and suddenly the air around her wasn't as constricting and her nails weren't digging into her tightly closed fist. "That's good. Tama's a nice girl, known her since she was a baby in her momma's tummy. You'd get along great. I got her number in the phone book over there if you ever want to call her."

Noa glanced at the little black book that sat on the counter next to the drying rack, pressing her lips into a straight line. "I don't have a phone, and I don't know how to use one. Mom said they listen in on what you're saying."

Her uncle seemed quite alarmed by her answer, coughing a bit as he struggled to keep his soda down as it threatened to spill back up. He gestured towards Bella before he waved the girl off, his daughter none the wiser as she stared down at her barely eaten plate.

"Yeah, your mom said a lotta shit. Uh, I'll teach you in the morning, before I go off to work. How's that sound?" The brunette sent her uncle a thankful smile, offering to clean up the meal and the mess that had been made.

She worked in silence while Bella retreated to her room and Charlie found himself back on the couch while a sports game blared through the tv speakers. He bid the girl a goodnight as she finished up and made her way up the stairs, where upon passing by her cousin's room, she noticed the lights were off and figured her cousin was asleep.

Maybe she was just tired, Noa reasoned with herself as she showered and got ready for bed. Maybe that's why she ignored me the whole day, she thought as she slid into bed after turning her own light off and pulling the covers up to her neck. Still, she felt bad and pondered apologizing again. She didn't know how long she had been ruminating for, the only indication that time had passed being the crickets singing outside along with the owls, and the frost that had gathered at her window. She wondered if it would snow through the night.

Before her eyelids grew heavy, a shrill scream rang throughout the old house, and Noa swore she felt it shake a bit. The sound startled her up into a seated position and she jumped when the sound started again, rushing out of her room and into Bella's to make sure she was alright. Charlie was already up the stairs somehow and burst into his daughter's room, flipping on a night light and wrapping his arms around the girl like she was a child, shushing and humming to her as she slowly calmed. Noa felt as though she was intruding and turned away from the intimate moment as she held herself. The teenager had many 'night terrors' as Bella had confirmed from Charlie's question, but never had her mother burst through the door as her uncle just did and pull her into her arms. She never felt her mother's arms around her and she never knew that she wanted to until now.

Charlie finally acknowledged the younger girl, waving to her weakly before his daughter reassured him for the third time that she was alright. He ushered his niece into the hallway, closing Bella's door behind them so that she couldn't hear. "I'm sorry, I should've warned you before about the uh-"

"The night terrors," Noa finished, the man nodding solemnly as he glanced back at Bella's room. "How long have they been going on for?" She glanced at Bella's door, keeping her voice low so her cousin couldn't hear them discussing what Charlie described as a 'fragile' mental state.

Charlie ran a hand through his small crop of hair, tussled from his few minutes of sleep that snuck up on him while he rested on the couch. "Bout four months, ever since that Cullen boy left her."

She winced at the number. Four months. Four months, night after night, having terrors so gut wrenching she woke up screaming bloody murder; the poor girl must've been absolutely exhausted, Noa thought to herself with a frown. The teenager rubbed her tired eyes, sending her uncle back downstairs with a wave and a promise to watch over Bella so that he could get a decent night's rest.

She disappeared into her room before reappearing in the hall, slowly entering her cousin's room with a bowl of water tucked between her hip and her elbow, praying she wouldn't somehow spill the contents onto her pajamas or the floor. She offered Bella her best attempt at an empathetic smile, holding up the bowl for emphasis and as her excuse for entry.

"For the bad dreams. I keep it under my bed and I haven't had a bad dream since I was eleven," she explained as she slid the bowl underneath the bed where Bella sat with her legs pulled up to her chest, her purple duvet spread around her messily.

The older girl nodded, shutting her eyes before they suddenly shot back open, as if she was getting flashbacks from whatever prevented her from sleeping, making eye contact with Noa only for a split second, her eye bags visible even under the soft light from across the room. "Thanks...I'm sorry for waking you up," she apologized meekly, keeping her eyes on her feet.

Noa sat at the edge of Bella's bed, copying the older girl's position as her knees came up to her chest, shrugging as she reassured her, "it's okay, I wasn't asleep anyways. I'm sorry about earlier, you know, for bringing him up. If I would've known it would've brought on all of this I would've just kept my mouth shut."

Bella was quick to shake her head and assure her cousin that she wasn't the cause of her terrors. "I've been like this since before you came, it's not your fault," she said, sure to avoid the subject of her ex boyfriend all together. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as they fell into a silence, Noa staring out at the moon, mumbling a faint, "it's almost a new moon." Bella gave a quick glance to the glowing celestial body, the girl never able to hold an interest in the planets and the stars.

Noa turned to her then, studying her for a moment before she asked, "what have your night terrors been about?"

When all she received was a blank stare and a few stutters, Noa attempted to explain herself, calmly. "In all the books I've read on dreams, they usually signify something else needing our attention. Maybe if you solve the problem, the terror will go away," she said with a shrug, as if it were the most simple thing in the world.

Bella's shoulders dropped as she stared elsewhere, finding her cousin's gaze to be quite intimidating in her vulnerable state. "Yeah...yeah, I guess you're right," she replied, though she still seemed unsure.

It took about five minutes of silence before Noa realized that Bella wasn't going to tell her about whatever had been plaguing her in her sleep. Part of her felt hurt but, she understood. Though they were cousins, they had only been back in each others lives for two days; Noa knew enough about interpersonal relationships that it was too small of a time frame to be trusted with such sensitive information. So, she stood, disappearing off to her room before she returned moments later, book in hand. She passed it over to her cousin, who took it hesitantly.

"I know you probably can't go back to sleep so I figured you could read. It's one of my favorites, I like to reread it whenever I'm bored or sad; it's quite worn so you can imagine I feel those emotions often," she cracked a smile to ease the pain she felt admitting this to Bella but encouraged her to open the book still, the girl able to see all her annotations over the years as well as placement stickers.

She looked up to see Noa admiring the object fondly, as if it were a real person capable of admiring her back, assuring the brunette she wouldn't cause any damage to it. "Thanks, Noa."

Before she could exit, Bella pulled out a book of her own from her bedside table, offering it to her cousin. Noa read the title aloud, 'Wuthering Heights,' before she smiled at the worn condition of the book, happy to see that they had something in common.

"It's my favorite, I think it's only right since you lent me yours," Bella told her with a tired smile, still holding her cousin's copy of 'Frankenstein', quite determined to finish and enjoy it while also slightly off put by the coincidental plot of the famous book.

"Thanks Bella," Noa held the book to her chest before bidding her a good night, though she was stopped by Bella's tired voice, "do you mind...staying, actually?" it was obvious in her body language she seemed taken aback by the suggestion but nodded nevertheless, taking a more comfortable spot at the foot of the bed before Bella offered her the quilt that was sprawled across the other side of the bed.

"It's like a sleepover, but with reading and no sleeping. I've never had one of those," the younger teen admitted sheepishly, though she couldn't hide her excitement no matter how much she tried.

Bella laughed for the first time, in months, the action feeling foreign to her. They fell into a comfortable silence then, getting lost in their respective literary worlds until the sun lit up the room and sleep took them quite hungrily, Charlie quite dazzled by the sight of the two girls sprawled hilariously across the bed with books casted to the side of them.

spring speaks: tysm for reading, hope you enjoyed <3

taglist: @bookwormjust (lmk if you'd like to added to my taglist)

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springfaaerie · 3 months ago

Text

Silver Moon Chapter Three

"it's a date"

spring speaks: Seth finally makes an appearance! rejoice

pairing: Seth Clearwater x OC

masterlist

word count: 4.6k

warnings: quil(he's a bit much but I love him sm), very brief mention of su*icide.

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Noa Swan had been in Forks for exactly two weeks. In that time, she had acquired a learners permit and Bella had been teaching her to drive, something she was quite awful at and refused most of the time. Charlie insisted that he and Bella help her practice, telling his niece she'd be much happier with a license and more access to Bella's car, which was only used for her to go to work and back. The idea didn't sound appealing to her at all, and the girl didn't bother hiding her relief when she finally pulled into the now-familiar driveway of the Swan home, noticing that an unfamiliar truck had been parked in front of the house. Bella noticed her confusion, "it's just the Clearwaters." Noa relaxed then, entering the house and greeting her uncle and Harry, pleased to know that it was only them and she didn't have to put up with her aunt Molly and her game of 'let's pinch your cheeks til they turn red'.

"How'd it go?" Charlie asked, lining up his fishing gear by the front door but pausing to spare his niece a worried glance. Harry chuckled to himself, his reddened cheeks pulled back taught as he joked, "hit any cars?" Charlie hid his laugh with a cough, nudging his old friend as his worry was swiped clean from his face, much to Noa's annoyance.

Noa scoffed at the two, "you said you wouldn't tell anyone; and it only happened twice, I swear." The men shared disbelieving looks before the two were out of the house, loading up Harry's car with their supplies, while Noa took the open seat in the kitchen, returning to her book she was forced to pause in order to partake in her 'mandatory' driving lessons. Bella had retreated to her room which meant she wasn't to be disturbed, something Noa quickly caught onto. She didn't know the parameters of a typical cousin-relationship so she didn't question it, aware of her cousin's depressed state.

Jacob called frequently, checking in on her whenever he could. With Bella unable to keep Noa the near constant company her uncle thought she needed, Charlie usually forced the two to hang out while he and Billy watched sports, though Noa didn't mind as Jacob was good company and he didn't seem bothered by her presence while he worked on his car. Charlie frowned upon reentry, sending a glance up the stairs to where Bella had ventured off to. The man sighed, leaning onto the staircase before peering over at his niece. "You sure you'll be good on your own here? I could drop you off over with Mitena and Tama if you want, or at the Clearwaters'...I'm sure Sue and the kids won't mind, right Harry?"

The man nodded, picking up the last of his things as he gave Noa a thin lipped smile. "Sue's been dying to see ya again but she doesn't want to push, and I'm sure Seth won't mind a girl round his age at the house," the man chuckled at that and Noa decided that she liked his without a care attitude; she smiled after the man as she watched him carry his belongings to his old truck. Charlie inquired further as the two were about ready to head out, "so, how bout it kid? You staying in or am I dropping you off somewhere?"

Noa thought about it for a moment, sliding her bookmark into place before closing Wuthering Heights and placing it onto the counter next to Charlie's half emptied coffee mug. "Tama's working, I called the number you have for her on the fridge, and I don't want to bother Sue or anybody really, I'll be fine."

"You know, you could always get a job to keep you busy," Charlie suggested, mentioning both Tama and Bella's respective jobs at the local art gallery and Newton's Olympic Outfitters. The man snapped his fingers suddenly and Noa jumped a bit from the sudden action and he quickly apologized. "Come to think of it, hey Harry, isn't Joy looking for help down at her store?" He smiled when Harry nodded in confirmation, his hands thrown up suggestively.

His niece seemed to ponder the idea, her eyebrows coming together in the middle. "I've never had a job before. Where does she work?" Noa asked, seeing Harry roll his eyes while she thought about the possibilities of a job. "She owns a little metaphysical store right near La Push on the main highway, not too far from here."

Harry mumbled on about how the store made a mockery of real natives due to the items being sold by the woman and scoffed, heading off toward his truck. Charlie shrugged, looking back to his niece who nodded after a while. "Yeah, why not? It'll be nice to get out of the house every once in a while, even if it does rain most days." She gathered her bag and book before joining Charlie out in front, a scowl on her face as she felt the first bit of rain drop onto the middle of her head, right where her ebony colored tresses parted.

Charlie nodded in agreement, happy with her enthusiasm instead of the mourning she had been in since her arrival and feeling accomplished that he was at least helping someone, something he had been doing his entire life. He noticed that she talked about Charlotte less and would catch her reading a different book than the one that was currently tucked between her elbow and ribs, one that brought frequent frowns to her face as she did so. He threw an arm over his niece's shoulder, something he did often that she had to get used to considered she wasn't too comfortable with most forms of physical contact yet. "Yeah, it'll let you save up a bit of money. Money, maybe for a car..."

Noa ignored her uncle, slipping into the backseat and attempting to make herself comfortable with the abundance of gear situated next to her. Harry apologized, though she waved him off as they headed towards La Push, an old rock song playing on the radio. The men joked and reminisced on the song, Noa catching word that they listened to it often in their youth which made her smile. They went on like this for a while until the car slowed and veered off the road a bit til it came to a stop, though the engine still idled. Charlie and Harry turned to look at the girl who shrunk a bit under their gazes, hoping they weren't sending her inside alone. "You just go on in there and say your Chief Swan's niece and you heard about the open position, okay?"

The girl didn't nod as she was still a bit afraid, her mind running wild with possibilities as her lips pulled downward to form a frightened frown. "What if the position's already been filled?" Noa asked, her stomach dropping at the possibility of the trip over being futile and being stuck with the woman she had yet to meet until Charlie was done fishing. Harry snorted from in front of the wheel, not bothering to hide his amusement as he chided, "doubt it."

Her uncle urged her again, gentler this time, as if he was convincing a child on their first day of school that everything would be alright. She nodded before thanking Harry for the ride, slipping out of the crowded back seat and onto the gravel where dust picked up on her black boots. She was still hesitant but didn't want to burden the two men with her presence any longer since she knew they were eager to go fishing. The teenager waved them off awkwardly as they drove off towards the marina, mumbling a low, "take me with you" she knew for certain they couldn't hear. Once the car was out of view, Noa sighed, hanging her head before dragging her feet in the direction of the small building only a couple hundred feet away.

A bell announced her entry and she pulled her hood back to further inspect the place. It seemed Harry was right as the store was filled with stereotypical indigenous items, placed strategically throughout the small space. The rest of the store was filled with rows of books and tarot cards, the walls lined with storage that overflowed with incense, some burning and filling the space with the smell of myrrh. Footsteps caused her to alter her gaze and a woman appeared from behind a once-closed door, obviously surprised but elated at the presence of a possible customer. The woman she assumed to be Joy had a charming smile and was heavy set, clad in jewels of all different shades and sizes, tortoiseshell glasses adorning her beautiful, cheery face.

Noa waved awkwardly, clutching her bag tighter in an attempt to comfort herself. "Um, hi. I'm Noa, Chief Swan's niece. He told me you were looking for some help around here and-"

"Oh-oh," the woman's shock turned into sadness, sympathy, as she frowned and held her hands out, not waiting for Noa to respond before she pulled her into a hug, her condolences flying out rather quickly and Noa stood wide eyed in her uncomfortable embrace, unsure of what to do or say. She let out a breath once she was finally released, adjusting her clothes and clearing her throat awkwardly. Joy didn't seem to notice her discomfort as she motioned for her to follow.

"Your uncle is right, I do need help. I have all my new shipments in and I want to get them organized since it's the holiday season which means more customers. It'll just be seasonal though so I'll only need you til the end of January and maybe at the start of tourist season late spring...oh and I'll have to pay you under the table. Is that okay?"

Joy clapped when Noa nodded almost robotically, the girl rather afraid to decline the position offered to her, and unable to voice the fact that she didn't know what 'under the table' meant.

The older woman showed her around the store and Noa noticed she walked with a limp, "I'd have my son, Quil do this usually with his friends but they're all too cool to help out during Christmas break." She scoffed, adding, "teenagers."

Joy pointed to a picture hanging near the front of the store where the register was. Noa peered closer and pointed at a familiar face, "Jacob."

She spotted the boy, a bit younger looking, with his arm around another boy's shoulder, both grinning widely. Joy nodded as she stared at the photo fondly, naming her son, Quil, as well as their other childhood friend, Embry Call.

"Those boys, I'll tell you," Joy smiled as she picked up a box from the floor and placed it onto the counter. She laughed a bit, as if she was remembering something hilarious then. "Always into some trouble, I swear. They're all like my boys though, especially Jacob since he lost his mother so young."

Noa only nodded as she watched her open the box and begin to pull out its contents, books. Joy's smile was wiped from her face and Noa stood up a bit straighter in preparation for her next words. "Now, I need you to organize these alphabetically and put them up on the shelves, alright? Once you're done with that, we'll unload a few more boxes. Sound okay, sweetheart?"

Again, she simply nodded, the teenager still mute as Joy left her to her own devices. She felt like she could breathe easier once she was finally left alone and she took one anxiety reducing glance around the empty store before she turned her attention to her assigned task. Granted, she hadn't been expecting to be put to work this quickly but she figured she didn't have anything better to do, the girl pulling out her iPod and headphones before getting started.

She had only been working for thirty minutes, not that she had been counting since she hadn't stopped to take a break or even deviate from her playlist she had made the day before -she'd overheard some teenagers in the grocery store talking about a new album from a band called Paramore and decided to give them a listen, and a listen turned to listening to said album on repeat whenever she turned on her iPod - before she was interrupted.

Noa was quite proud of her quick and diligent work and knew Joy would be proud, a smile beginning to form as she started to put up the last few books on their respective shelf. She shrieked suddenly when her shoulder was knocked quite harshly by an unknown force, sending her onto her knees and the last few books splattered onto the floor along with a multitude of others, piled amongst a still rolling soccer ball.

The teen ripped her headphones out and whipped her head around to find the source of the ball, a quick flash rushing past her muttering apologies. She could hear Joy cursing as she exited her office, arguing with another voice that sounded as though it belonged to a boy. The figure in front of her made quick work at picking up the scattered books along with her, some slipping from his hands at his speed.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know-"

Their hands reached for the same book at the same time and they both retracted their hands just as quickly before they made eye contact and suddenly Noa forgot about the shooting pain in her shoulder that had been caused by the boy's soccer ball.

Noa had been around the world and her eyes often fell upon people she found attractive but the boy in front of her was so beautiful she felt as though her cheeks would singe from the intensity of her blush, quickly looking away from his stunned gaze as she tried to stack the last remaining books on the ground in front of them but found herself rightfully stuck.

She saw him wave to her from the corner of her eye, "hi."

She finally looked back at him to see a flustered smile replacing a partially opened mouth and she found comfort in the fact that his cheeks were red as well. So comfortable, she sent him a short wave of her own as well as a shy smile, unable to look at him for long but offering a, "hi," in return, widening his smile.

Hearing footsteps, they both turned to see Sue standing at the end of the aisle with a displeased look on her face, the boy's smile quickly dropping.

"Seth what did Joy tell you and Quil about playing with that ball in here? Look what you did, you almost knocked the poor girl out and half the store too," the older woman chastised her son, quickly going over to help Noa up, inspecting her shoulder before shooting Seth a glare he flinched under, the boy apologizing to both his mother and Joy, who was still chewing out Quil. "Are you alright dear?"

Noa nodded, remembering that she did in fact get hit with a soccer ball while she rubbed the still-sore area, finally able to focus on something other than Seth. She'd heard stories about him, Sue and Harry talked highly of their youngest child and only son but now that she had a face to put to all the stories, she wished she'd paid more attention to them.

They looked at the mess on the floor and Sue waved it off with a comforting smile, one that mirrored her son. "Don't worry about the mess, Seth and Quil will clean it up, won't you?" she reassured her, another boy, Quil, appearing from around the corner with an equally flustered look as he apologized to the girl. Both boys nodded, Sue smiling triumphantly before reassuring the girl next to her that she'd give her a salve for her shoulder to soothe the pain.

Joy called out for her friend, leaving the three teens alone amidst a pile of books. Quil was the boldest of the two, Noa noticed quickly, as he leaned up against one of the bookshelves in an attempt to appear casual, his eyes on Noa who watched in confusion.

"So..." the boy began, dragging the word out unnecessarily. Before he could say anything further, Joy suddenly appeared next to him, giving her son a bit of a shock as she said, "watch it, she's your cousin."

Quil gagged as she made her departure into her office with Sue in tow, smacking his lips. "Every single time! I hate living on the Rez..." the boy muttered childishly, crossing his arms over his chest as he continued to lean on the bookshelf next to him.

He flinched as Seth threw a book his way, the younger boy urging him on, "come on man, help me. You're the one that kicked the ball." Quil looked from his friend to Noa again, offering her an apologetic smile before going over to help Seth.

Noa bent down to their level, helping them so they finished quicker, pretending as though she couldn't see Seth staring at her every few seconds while doing the same. He looked at her for a bit longer, studying her face and she wish she was bold enough to do the same. "You're Helena, right? Charlie's niece?"

His voice was so endearing, Noa couldn't bring herself to correct him like she usually did on instinct. Instead, she simply nodded like a fool unable to form words. Seth didn't seem to mind though as he smiled at her, unaware that she had been repeating him saying her name over and over in her head.

Quil kissed his teeth, sparing her a glance, "sorry your mom killed herself. Must've been sick traveling so much though."

Another book hit him square in the chest and he groaned, clutching the area before flipping off Seth. Noa watched them bicker silently, her eyes bouncing back and forth as though she were watching a tennis match. Friendly banter, she assumed.

"Sorry about Quil, he's an idiot," Seth said honestly, narrowing his eyes at the slightly older boy who didn't seem to know why his words were offensive. "Sorry about your mom, too."

"It's okay," Noa lied, though she thanked the boy in front of her for his condolences. He didn't seem to believe her but had enough sense not to push the subject further, only nodding in response.

Joy and Sue appeared then, the latter snapping her phone shut as she made her way towards them. "Your uncle wanted me to bring you over to our house for dinner. They should be home before sundown, they just made it back to the marina."

Quil's face lit up, disregarding the books he had piled in front of him. "Uncle Harry's frying fish? Can I come too?" He begged. Noa couldn't blame him, during her short time back in Forks, she also found herself enticed by the older man's cooking skills and counting down to her uncle and Harry's arrival.

Seth meekly offered his hand to help her to her feet and she hesitantly took it with a smile he was ever so happy to return, their hands still entangled despite her being up and steady at his side.

Joy scoffed as she scanned over the mess that still sprawled across her store floor and Quil's hopeful smile dropped immediately, Noa hearing Seth stifle a laugh from behind her. "You've got a lot of nerve worrying about fish when you've turned my store into this...this!" She exclaimed breathlessly, the woman rightfully upset at the fact that all their work had been undone within a few seconds of her son's arrival. She turned to Noa, "I'll see you here on Monday, alright? That's when the new shipment comes in and you can help me stock up, sound good?"

Noa nodded, noticing Joy's eyes began to trail downward to where her hand was still brushed up against Seth's and she quickly moved it behind her back, though she admittedly missed the warmth he provided that seemed to spread throughout her cheeks when she caught sight of his smile he tried to suppress.

"Thank you, Joy, for the job, I mean. It was nice meeting you," she said politely, hoping she wouldn't be engulfed into another hug by the older woman. Joy only waved her off, Noa coming to realize she didn't like being thanked or having much attention on herself, walking the trio out the front door while Quil stayed behind to clean.

"So Noa," Sue began after they had driven onto the main highway and away from the small shop Noa now worked at. The girl in the back was quite frazzled, sitting so close to Seth in the crammed backseat of Sue's old sedan, barely catching what she said. "It's nice, isn't it?"

Noa cleared her throat, looking away from the boy she had been secretly admiring whenever he wasn't doing the same to her. Sue noticed but didn't comment, choosing only to reiterate her initial question. "Washington? It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Her eyes followed the coast once it came into view and she admired it for a few moments, the waves crashing in the distance and the crisp, sea salt air that filled her lungs with every breath. The scenery reminded her of the Irish coast and she nodded after a while. "I'm still getting used to the rain as it's been a while since I was anywhere this...wet but, I like it here so far."

Seth chimed in, happy to have an in to their conversation as he was trying to come up with something to say to her since he opened the car door for her. "Have you been to the beach yet?" he asked, both of them staring down at the tar black beach that held a few people huddled around each other, appearing smaller from their point of view. He continued on when she shook her head, no, "I could take you sometime...if you want! We could go swimming, or surfing, or-"

Noa looked embarrassed to admit it but said, "I'm a bit afraid of the water, I haven't been in it since I was eight." Seth frowned and Noa waited for him, like everyone else, to ask what had caused someone to be afraid of something so revered as the ocean or any large body of water despite it being a common and quite rational fear.

He shrugged after a while, seemingly unbothered as he responded, "there's whale watching too, unless being on a boat sounds too scary, then we can just play soccer on the sand." Noa smiled apologetically, admitting her less than average athletic skills, to which Seth only smiled brightly in response, "that just means I get to teach you."

He seemed so happy and full of joy that Noa found herself unable to slip into the usual melancholy that followed her around like a vexatious insect flying aimlessly around her person. It was comforting, albeit new and foreign; being around someone so cheerful, it made her chest feel full and warm, like she was sitting in the sun on the first day of spring.

She smiled at him.

They talked throughout the entire car ride, Sue not seeming to mind as she only spoke up when they arrived at the house, Noa catching sight of Harry's truck and Leah's secondhand Honda in the gravel driveway.

Noa had been to their house before on a few occasions, as Charlie and Harry were quite close and often enjoyed meals and games at their respective houses but, she had yet to meet the youngest Clearwater, until today of course. She recognized Leah immediately upon entry to the house, the girl's long black hair being tossed carelessly over her shoulder as she twirled the phone cord in her hand, both engrossed and annoyed with whatever was being said to her on the other line. The older girl only gave a brief look her way when she made her way into the kitchen with the few groceries they'd picked up on their way, which she preferred, before she went back to her phone call.

Charlie smiled upon seeing his niece, wiping his flour-dusted hands on a nearby hand towel before greeting her with a wave, "bout time you guys got here, I was this close to eating your fish."

Sue smacked his shoulder playfully before greeting her husband with a kiss, Leah muttering a low, "gross" under her breath that she was chastised for, Noa watching as she rolled her eyes before her attention went back to the phone.

She wondered who was on the other line since, according to Sue, she hadn't had many friends left; the situation was complicated, or so she was told. Her attention was brought elsewhere when Seth nudged her, "you wanna watch tv?"

Noa made a face, shaking her head, "I don't really like tv, my mom always said it rots your brain so I never watched. I usually just read...or write." Sue nodded as she came around the corner, "and she was right, maybe you can teach Seth a thing or two, he's failing English. How? I have no idea, it's literally the only language you speak."

Seth's cheeks came to have a red glow then, the boy glaring at the back of his mother's head as he scoffed. "Mom, please," he practically begged, not wanting to be embarrassed again as he knew she wasn't finished with him just yet. Noa piped up to save him from further embarrassment, "I don't mind, helping you I mean. I'm not well versed on the American school system but, I can help, however I can."

He seemed to think about it, the embarrassment of his mother's mention of his failing class quickly washing over him once he realized he'd get to be alone with Noa, and fairly often if he kept at it long enough. Seth was quick to nod, smiling widely at her while Leah rolled her eyes, having been rushed off the phone by her mother who was busy setting the table.

"Can you come over tomorrow?" He asked before realizing how desperate he sounded, quickly adding on, "it's just cause it's a really important grade and I don't wanna fail or-"

"No, no, it's fine," Noa reassured him, the girl just as excited as he was, though she was fairly nervous about being around a boy for extended periods of time as her mother never allowed it, and most of the teasing she received in passing happened to be from boys. But, Seth had yet to tease her or so much as even look at her with any traces of contempt; in fact, he seemed to do the opposite. She felt odd being met with such kind looks and warm smiles from someone close to her age and she, no matter how foreign it felt, enjoyed it. She liked him. "I'll be here tomorrow, bright and early!"

Her answer seemed to please him as his entire face lit up, causing hers to do the same as his emotions were just too infectious. The boy tried to keep a calm, laid back demeanor, which he failed as he said casually, "cool, it's a date."

He paused, clearing his throat before correcting himself, "well, it's a study date but, not an actual 'date' date. Not that I wouldn't want to go out on a date with you because I would but this is strictly for studying, maybe-"

"It's a date."

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