There was a police officer at the front door when she got back from school. She'd never seen him before, but she recognized the badge on his chest. It was half-hidden by the ivy hanging from the trellis, and he looked like he was waiting for someone to answer. He was probably around forty-five and had that tortured soul/mysterious vibe about him.
—Hey, kid. —he said as soon as he saw her—You live here?
Nell walked a little closer.
—Is there a problem?
The officer straightened up and rested his hands on his belt.
—Not at all. You must be Eleanor, right? Do you know my daughter? Bella Swan? She goes to the same school as you.
«The one with the Cullens» Nell thought and nodded. Though something still didn't quite add up.
—Is there something you need, Officer?— she asked, curious.
Before the Sheriff could answer, Steve came out of the house, smiling. He came down the steps and hugged the man like he'd known him his whole life.
Nell froze.
—Hey, Charlie. How have you been?—Steve greeted him, affably.
The sheriff tilted his head.
—Busy, not gonna lie. — He put a hand on his shoulder— Glad you're back. Good to have you around.
Steve shook his head.
—Quite the opposite. The pleasure is all mine. And thanks to you, if I hadn't gotten lost, maybe I never would have found this place.
Nell couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and cleared her throat, stepping closer.
—Excuse the interruption, but...could someone explain what's going on? How long have you guys known each other?
Charlie was the first to speak.
—We met in the spring, a couple of years ago. Your brother was trying to get to Vancouver to find inspiration for his books, but he got lost and ended up here. Fate, coincidence, I don't know. Somehow, it made him come back.
Nell crossed her arms and looked at him in disbelief. Feeling slightly insulted and embarrassed.
—What happened, Steve? Was the family history not enough inspiration?
Steve's mouth twisted into a grimace, a thin line that made it look like his lips were magnetic. Suddenly, the atmosphere became tense, and the Sheriff only asked if everything was alright. No one answered, and seconds later, Nell broke the silence.
—Just kidding. —She went up the steps to enter the house while she heard her brother say goodbye to the policeman.
Suddenly, a claw tugged her arm back forcefully, turning her to face him.
—What the hell was all that?—Steve demanded.
Nell didn't answer.
—Did you think that was funny, what happened out there? Because it wasn't, Nell, not one damn bit. You can't go around blurting out our family history like that. It's awkward for other people. —he scolded.
Nell became impatient.
—And you can?—She pointed a finger at him and poked his chest—You can put it down on paper and broadcast it to the whole world, but I can't?
Steve frowned and shook his head.
—It´s different...
—No, it's not!— She ran her hands over her face—The things you write are real. The people, their feelings, their pain, but not for you, right? Not until you chew it up, digest it, and shit it out on paper to then sell it to an audience.
—Nell...
—You say I'm crazy, that Mom and Dad were crazy, that Luke's crazy. We're all nuts! And you're telling our stories. My stories. The same ones you used to tell me were nightmares or hallucinations. But you forgot one big thing: you were there too. You lived it. And instead of being with us, you isolated yourself.
—We'll talk about this later…—Steve tried to pull her away, but it didn't work. Eleanor seemed possessed.
—You're my older brother. But you say the cruelest things when I try to be honest. And you make so much damn money…
She looked down and only then realized: she wasn't wearing her gloves. She had touched him without gloves, and that's why she felt everything. But this time, she felt so much more: stress, anxiety, excitement, motivation, unease, overwhelm. She felt belonging, nerves, creativity, and pride. And all those things. However, all those feelings were superimposed by a bigger one: fear.
Steven felt it, Luke too, and she also felt it. Although it was a fear without mastery, like a dark nebula floating above their heads.
—I'm sorry... I...—Nell apologized. She couldn't help but close her eyes and shed a couple of tears.
Steve came closer and gave her a squeeze on the shoulder.
—Shh. It's okay. It's nothing.
—It's not nothing.— She looked at her hands again.
He took her face in his hands.
—Nell, I know you feel things. Even I've felt them at some point. However, it's not real.— She shook her head and started to move away—If you don't stay sane, like Mom and Dad, who never did, you're going to end up like them, you understand? It's in our genes. It's a disease.
Nell let out a bitter laugh. It wasn't the first time they had a chat about her gift, but she hoped that, at least, this time he would believe her.
—You don't understand. You don't know what it's like to perceive everything. The vibrations, the people...the past.
—It´s impossible, Nell.
—Maybe for you it is, but it's really not.
Steve shook his head.
—It's a disease.— He tried to convince her—And I heard that Dr. Cullen is an eminence. Maybe he can help you, and Luke when he gets out of rehab.
Eleanor scoffed.
—Someday your brain will stop applying logic. I just hope I can be alive to see it.—She grabbed her bag from the floor and left the house to get lost in the woods, with her gloves hidden in her pockets.
●●●
The afternoon air felt pretty chilly. And as she walked, her breath formed small puffs. She noticed that there were bits of ice on the bare branches. She didn't know how long she walked, but she was sure it was more than she thought.
When she came to a kind of meadow, she stopped. She admired it, sat down, and, very carefully, touched the ground. That dry, cold winter grass. Nell thought about the exercises she did as a child; about searching with the senses. She began to perceive images: the scent of honeysuckle, the buzzing of bees, the warmth of the sun on the earth in summer. She saw a little girl, wearing a somewhat old-fashioned daisy dress, running from the rigid and hard face of what appeared to be her mother. She heard the distant sound of laughter. A huge wolf running. And then...she saw something she never thought she'd see: Edward and Bella embracing, looking at each other with love, in that same field in spring.
Nell stopped touching and opened her eyes.
To say she was a little confused was an understatement. What the hell had she just seen?
—Hello —said a calm and friendly voice.
She looked up. When their eyes met, it was one of the few times in her life that she really felt speechless. It was the muscular Cullen she saw that morning. And the most surprising thing was that he was talking to her.
—It's you—he said, stepping a little closer.
Although Nell knew it was crazy, she had the impression that pleasure was running inside her. She wasn't sure what to think, all that was left for her was to ask in a friendly tone:
—You know who I am?
His laugh was deep and charming.
—I think everyone knows your name. The whole town was waiting for you. And your brothers.
She grimaced. She knew it had to be something like that. But she hoped not.
—How long does it take?
The boy frowned.
—How long does what take?
—The fame. How long does it take to fade away?
He smiled wryly and crossed his arms.
—I guess never. You know what they say, small town…
—Big hell. Yes.—she sighed.
—I'm Emmett Cu…—
—Cullen, I know.—she quickly put on her gloves. He watched her attentively, but said nothing. Instead, he continued the conversation.
—Ah, I see. You were brought up to date.—he smiled haughtily—Let me guess: they said a bunch of terrible things about us. Like we're part of some kind of devilish cult or something.
She raised an eyebrow.
—Is that so?
—I don't know. Tell me—He urged. With those golden eyes.
His face disturbed her in such a way that she tried not to look at him more than good manners demanded.
—Just unimportant things. I assure you—she placed a hand on her chest as an oath.
Eleanor rose from the ground and grabbed her bag to adjust it on her shoulder.
—You're leaving already?—Emmett asked her curiously.
—It's late. I must get home before nightfall.
—Do you live around here?
—Why do you want to know?— she retorted, raising an eyebrow.
Emmett smiled to the side and shrugged.
—To accompany you. Only if you want, of course.
Nell perceived his good intentions. And that they were really pure of heart. However, she had only been in Forks for a day. She couldn't trust just anyone she came across. How could she do it after everything that happened? After her father murdered her mother and all those children for pleasure?
—Thanks, but I'm one of those people who enjoy solitude. —She licked her lips and grimaced—I hope I'm not offending you...
Emmett came a little closer, denying. The breeze of his movement hit her face.
Nell felt a sudden change of air. A scent; something aged and old. Like from another era. Something like a memory. That is what she felt when she had him in front of her.
—I'm not offended. Why would I be?
—Because most people are.
—I'm not like most people.
Then she made the mistake of looking into those shiny golden eyes that confused her and made her doubt everything.
She shook her head.
—I have to go.—Eleanor announced, , her tone more stable than her nerves.—See you at school.
—You didn't tell me your name!—he shouted as he saw her walk away. She turned around with a frown.
—You said you knew—replied.
—Yes, but not what you like to be called.
She didn't understand his interest, but he kept looking at her with penetrating eyes, as if knowing her name was of vital importance to him.
—Nell.—She adjusted her bag on her shoulder—Just Nell.
Emmett gave a small bow.
—Then, just Nell, see you at school.
«Weird». That's what she thought. He was definitely a weird guy. But even so, he managed to get a little smile out of her at the end of the day.
At home, she tried to ignore Steve even during dinner. She washed the dishes. She retired to her room and took off her gloves - one by one. Then she closed her eyes. She remembered how she had tuned into the place and how she had achieved it. She felt her gift scream from the depths of her being. The proximity of a factor influenced the connection. And that factor had not only been nature, but had also been Emmett. Although she still didn't know why.
Finally, exhaustion overcame her. She settled on the floor, covered herself with the blanket, and, within seconds, fell into a deep sleep.