It was a rare day for the run to fully shine. There was no cloud coverage, a time I was pleased by and could greatly benefit from. a rarity for the town of forks, seemingly, when it was consistent with being covered in rain clouds and continuously raining. I could certainly could detect there was still a persist in cold temperature. Just below the sixties. Endurable enough, to not need a full body coverage.

There was a thought, which was staying on my mind. The old Quiluete legend and story.

My fingers move in an aimless fiddle, the blue post it note, that had on the name of a book store 'thunderbird and whales' in port Angeles, feeling heavy weighted. My eyes move over the kids in the courtyard, Tyler was skilfully throwing a soccer ball one foot to his second one.

That is not who I was searching for.

" He is not here."

My eyes try to not automatically roll, when hearing Jessica. " whenever the weather is nice, the Cullens disappear." My ears move, with this statement, now facing Jessica. It was just me, alone with her, Bella had ran a fever the time we return from La push. I wanted to stay back at her place, to help, persistently making points that I should have not attend school in the case of me needing to take her to a doctor. If her symptoms did not ameliorate.

But she had sufficed in making it a consultation that Charlie was there, at home. To care for her, in case there was anything that she would need.

" so, you are saying Cullen, Edward just ditches school. When it's conveniently nice and change in the weather? That doesn't sound disreputable." I un-loosen the stork of the apple I was holding, in thought. " No. doctor and Mrs. Cullen yank them out for hiking and camping. I tried that on my parents, I was not even close. I don't know how they convince the board of education, and principal, to allow Edward and his siblings to miss school."

I register this information, taking a bite of the apple. I use a curse word, or two, feeling residue slide on my palm. " Guys, I am going to prom with Eric!" Angela, frolicking happily, comes over with the widest of smiles.

" I just asked him, I was in full control. it was the help of you, Malachi." She embraces me, her slender long arms holding me with a firm clutch. I feel elated hearing this, frivolous with the news. my hands, giving a soft touch and pat, rest on her shoulder blades.

" it was all you, Angie. I just directed you in the right place." I say, tenderly. In the months I had arrived in forks, not including Bella who I am literally been child hood friends with since diapers, Angela came to be a genuine friend. she is insightful, caring, and I could feel safe talking to her.

" we should go shopping in port Angeles, before all good dresses are cleared from the store. Are cleaned out." 'The book store is located there.' a plan forming, I am disinclined in asking to join Angie and Jessica in shopping for prom dresses. one point outweighing, I wasn't a suitable choice in going to a store full of clothing for women. but Angela, I am assuming reading my face, shows a slow smile.

The school bell shrills, alerting for us to attend our classes.

" did you want to join Jess, and I, to choose dresses. For prom?" Jessica, appearing to have heard good news, beams. " sure! I am not saying I don't have the greatest interest of fashion, I do obviously look at me. But you, like, also have good sense of fashion. Am I right, Angela?".

I try to pretend reluctance, touching the back of my shoulder. " am I the right person of gender, to ask? I don't want to feasibly tell and say the wrong words. Or have my opinion invalidate your choice, of which dress you choose." I hope my impotent acting was convincing, then I breathed out a sigh when they share a giggle.

" Malachi. you are my, our, friend. of course we will validate your word." Angela states, " Now let's get moving."

-

The travel to port Angeles, Seattle, was uneventful. It is presumably more riveting, giving the fact there is boutiques for dresses and clothing. There was a sundry and assorted other choice of restaurants, to choose, the only theatre and cinema in the town was showing a screening of the latest of new films. I was sitting in the window seal, intently having one ear open as I listen to Jess and Angie chatter. about the dresses they were sizing down.

" I like this one. But, I don't know about the one-shoulder strap." Jess draws the curtain back, revealing the dress she wore, in the changing part of the store. Posing, provocatively, I bite done my tongue from laughing at her puckered lips. " very cute, Jess. I will say, that pink really does contribute you as a person. Brings out your personality."

'Meaning it holds her body good. Exceptionally.' " I know, right? I have to ask. Does this halter part, it isn't that tight? It doesn't make my boobs appear big?" I was not the boy who was immature when it came to the mention of breasts, I was taught basic respect. it was a bare minimum and decency. it did not stop me from widening my eyes at Jessica's words.

" it makes your boobs look amazing, Jess." my comment has her grinning, complacent with hearing those six words. four disruptive and rowdy boys, college aged, come tapping at the display window. " nice!" one whistles, then the curly haired blonde sees my stare hurriedly joins his friends. " that is uncomfortable." Jessica says, a demeaning smile of discomfort settling on her mouth.

" Disgusting. no respect." I leer, watching those four boys show clear signs of intoxication move around a couple walking on the street.

" Malachi, what is your thoughts? On this dress." Angie asks, I turn to face her. She wore an amazing lavender purple gown, silk and lace woven and had diamond shape sweetheart asymmetric neckline. she look genuinely gorgeous, as did Jessica. I " that is your dress, Ang. you, and Jess, look stunning. you will be the talk of the night, I am most certain of my words." I gave a smile, showing my veracity to the statement.

Jessica flaunts her growing smile, Angela too. " thank you, Malachi."

I decide it was time to leave, for the book store. " okay, I do not think you need my assistance no more. you girls, can meet me at the restaurant for dinner. I won't be there, in the store, for long." I gather just the jacket I wore in the store, having to take it off from the thermostat being on a warm setting.

" are you sure?" jess pinches the material of the elbow length gloves she wore. I gave a nod, in reply.

Night fell over port Angeles county, soon I heard the birds nestling in the trees as the time for slumber arrives. travelling by foot to the thunderbird and whales book store, the ambience of cars driving by returning home after hours of working lulls me. I thumb over a selection of Native American folklore novels, guiding my hand over the spines of each,

The cashier stares, strangely, when approaching the cash register. " hello, just this book today." I pass a ten dollar note, smiling. He whispers in a different language " Angel."

I could understand as the dialect of native tongue. there was one point of information to know, of me, the gift of omnilingualism. I could physically differentiate and understand each spoken language, known to humans.

" thank you, sir." I say, with a polite wave, making my leave. " have a nice night." I walk out, the bell tolling altering of my departure.

a sound of crickets creating chirping noises, stridulation was the correct term for it. useless information I learnt in biology, that I would hear when I wasn't having tedious emotion of boredom. 'Turn around. Don't go down the alley.' I hear a clear, resolute, voice command. I come to a halt, the only things I could see or notice is how I was alone on the side walk.

'Move. Now, Malachi. listen to me.'

That is when I see two figures drunkenly, lost with balance at the end. mist creating a barrier, I could understand those were the same boys that said those inappropriate remarks to Jess. There was a heavy feel of exasperation that grows.

'Don't act irrationally, Malachi. You must move.'

I change my course of walking, doing a slow turn. My feet carried me back in the way I came from, following the alternate route that the voice leads me too. I hear the tread of feet scrapping on the gravel ground, it took strength to not turn and confront those men. a warehouse, behind the end of a public parking space, is in view three additional men join.

Holding cases of beer, the revolting smell of alcohol was re-pungent to my nose.

" you are that dude, who was with those hot chicks." One of the neanderthals, wearing a varsity jacket, says. " Could you tell my friends, and I, your secret. how did you manage to be in the presence of those girls. To control yourself." A slur of words leaves the boy, his breath smells of different spirits.

" gentleman, I suggest you be mindful of the next words you say." I feel a vibration of anger coursing in my body, my knuckles crackling. " I don't take kindly, to those that disrespect women. to the objectification." My words came out a glower, a sneer settling on my face.

" what do you have here, boys. a mister good two shoes, who thinks we shouldn't object women to our comments. I won't speak for my friends here, but those girls should feel lucky to have me say how nice they appear in those dresses." He, in provocation, smirks in arrogance.

'Malachi. Remain resilient. Do not engage in a fight.' the voice warns." uh, dude. look at his eyes. They changed colour, they are red." He stutters. A snarl leaves my mouth, ripping through my chest. " I dare you to say that again." My face begins morphing, my skin changing into a callous red. my form was not exposed until now, I was feeling enraged. I was close to losing control.

" what are you." There is fear in there faces, the varsity jacket wearing boy letting the unopened cans drop. I stalk forward, taking my grip of his neck and bring him off the ground. My thumb is on his hypoglossal nerve, under his ear. a strangled noise leaves him.

" let me hear you talk about woman like that, once more. I will send you to the darkest part of hell, and have your soul be tormented. knowing your last breath was taken of you crying in fear." My glare rests on the four men, allowing the one I held to fall to the wet bitumen. He clamours over to his friends, just when a car comes in a swerve motion. the headlights blindly glare.

'Edward.' I recognise the silver Volvo.

My face had change to my normal human one.

The passenger side of the vehicle opens, Edward comes out. Fury engraved on his face, " get in the car." I don't have to listen a second late, going calmly over to the Volvo. " that was a very dangerous move." I couldn't see just how Edward was staring, he was nearing ready to pounce on the one I was strangling.

He stalks back, to the car. A seething Jeer, " we are leaving. Now." I had never seen such animalistic rage on a persons face, as I hold the dashboard of the Volvo.

" let's just go. Edward."

And he does, reversing the car and leaving behind the boys. I linger my stare, " how did you know to find me, in that specific area? And place?". Through the grinding of his teeth, Edward rigidly leans his body to the steering wheel. " I should turn my car around and rip those guys' heads clean off their bodies."

" how did you know." I repeat, but I think I already knew my answer. " to find me, in that exact place, at the time you did." My words don't enter his ears, as he leaves finger marking dents in the wheel. " and no, you don't. You frightened them, enough."

" you don't know what vile, disgusting, things they were saying. Thinking. About how they were going to beat and plummet you, in a drunk rage. For what, I don't want to repeat." he argues back, missing a car, the taillights flash.

" and you do? Don't you."

He covers his response, with a simple " wasn't hard to guess."

I could only stare, the pieces of information I was collecting falling into pieces. An apprehensive understanding and realization coming to terms, of everything from the day we first met. I didn't want to admit, at first, only now. It all made sense. The details were clear, and this was the confirmation I needed.

my uncle amenadiel was right.

The memory of our conversation, prior to first beach visit, he spoke of cold ones. undead people that roamed with no blood in their veins, Bodies that walked without life in them.

Vampires. Edward Cullen is a vampire.

But I wasn't afraid.

-

Malachi knows about Edward, now. oh, I wonder how this going to go from here. And we have now seen he does have the same devil face as his father, when unhappy and has anger. Those drunk guys had it coming though.

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