There was a policeman at the door of the house when she returned from school. She had never seen him, but she recognized the badge on his chest. He was half hidden under the shade of ivy hanging from the lattice and seemed to be waiting to be opened. I would have been around forty-five years old and emanated that halo of tortured and mysterious soul.
—Hey, kid. —He addressed her as soon as he saw her—Do you live here?
Nell came a little closer.
—Is there a problem, Officer?
The man straightened his stance and rested his hands on his belt.
—Not at all. You must be Eleanor, right?. Do you know my daughter? Isabella Swan?. She goes to the same school as you.
«The one who was with the Cullen » Nell thought and nodded. But there was something that still did not close her.
—Whay can i do for you, Officer?— questioned with interest.
The Sheriff almost answered, but Steve walked out the door with a joyful gesture. Lowering the steps and hugging as soon as he could the subject with force; as if he knew him of all life.
His sister was shocked.
—Charlie. How have you been?- asked Steve affable.
The Sheriff twisted his head.
—Busy. I'm not going to lie to you.— He placed a hand on his shoulder—. I'm glad you're back. It's a pleasure to have you around.
Steve shook his head.
—The pleasure is mine. And thank you too. If I hadn't gotten lost, I might never have found this place.
Nell couldn't take it anymore. She needed to know what was going on. So she cleared her throat and approached the knights.
—Sorry for the interruption but...Could anyone tell me what is happening here?. How long have you known each other?
They looked at each other and the first to talk was Charlie.
—We met in the spring, about two years ago. Your brother wanted to come to Vancouver, to find inspiration for his books. But it got lost and ended up here. Fate, chance, I don't know. Somehow, that brought him back.
Nell folded her arms and looked at him in awe. Feeling slightly insulted and ashamed.
—What happened, Steve?. Family history wasn't enough... inspiration?
Steve made a rictus with his mouth. A thin line that looked like the lips were magnetized. Suddenly the mood got tense and the Sheriff just asked if everything was okay. No one was shocked and seconds later, Nell broke the silence.
—Kidding— she climbed the steps to enter the house. His brother say goodbye to the policeman.
Suddenly, a claw pulled her arm back, causing her to end up in front of him.
—What the hell was all that about?—demanded Steve.
Nell didn't answer it.
—You can't just talk about our family. It's uncomfortable for others.
Nell got impatient.
—But you can?— she pointed his finger on his chest—Can you put it on paper and spread it to everyone, but I can't?
Steve pursed his lips 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, digest it, and shit it on a piece of paper to sell it to an audience.
—Eleanor...
—You say I'm crazy, that Mom and Dad were crazy, that Luke is crazy. We're all nuts!. And you're telling our stories. My stories. The same ones you told me were nightmares or hallucinations. But you forgot a great thing: you were there too. You lived it. And instead of being with us, you isolated yourself.
—You say I'm crazy, that Mom and Dad were crazy, that Luke is crazy. We're all nuts!. And you're telling our stories. My stories. The same ones you told me were nightmares or hallucinations. But you forgot a great thing: you were there too. You lived it. And instead of being with us, you isolated yourself.
—We talked about this later...—tried to push her away, but it didn't work. Eleanor seemed possessed.
—You are my big brother. But you tell me the cruelest things when I try to be honest. And you earn so much money...
She looked down and only then realized that she wasn't wearing the gloves. She touched him without gloves, so she felt everything. But this time felt many more things: stress, anxiety, emotion, motivation, restlessness. Felt belonging, nerves, creativity and pride. And all those things. But all those feelings were superimposed by a bigger one: fear.
Steven felt it, Luke and Nell felt it too. Although it was a fear without dominion, like a dark nebula floating above their heads.
—I'm sorry... I...—apologized Nell.
Steve came over and squeezed her shoulder.
—Shh. Relax. It's okay.—He took her face—Nell, I know you feel things. Even I've felt them at some point. But, it's not real.—she shook her head and started to walk away—If you don't stay sane, like mom and dad, who never did, you're gonna end up like them, you know? It's in our genes. It's a disease.
Nell laughed bitterly. It was not the first time they had a talk about her gift, but she hoped it would this time.
—You don't understand. You don't know what it is to perceive everything. The vibrations, the people...
—It´s impossible, Nell.
—Maybe for you, but actually it´s not.
Steve shook his head.
—Is a disease—try again—, and I heard that Dr. Cullen is an eminence. Maybe he can help.
Eleanor snorted.
—Someday your brain will stop applying logic. I just hope to be alive to appreciate it. —take her bag off the floor and leave the house to get lost in the woods.
●●●
The evening air felt quite icy. And as he walked, his breath formed small scrolls. He noticed that there were chunks of ice on the bare branches. He didn't know how long he walked, but it sure was more than he thought.
When she reached a kind of meadow, stopped. Nell 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 hum of bees, the warmth of the sun on earth in summer. She saw a little girl in a rather outdated daisy dress running from the stiff, hard face of what seemed to be her mother. Heard the distant sound of laughter. A huge wolf running. And then...something she never thought seen: Edward and Bella hugging, looking at each other with love, on that same field in spring.
Nell stopped and opened her eyes.
Say she was a little confused was to fall short. What the fuck did she just see?
—Hello —said a male voice.
She looked up. When they looks met, it was one of the few times in her life that she really felt mute. It was the muscular Cullen she saw that morning. And the most amazing thing was that he was speaking to him.
—It's you—assured him, getting a little closer.
Although Nell knew it was crazy, she had the impression that the pleasure ran inside her. She wasn't sure what to think, just ask in a friendly tone:
—Do you know who I am?
His laugh was charming.
—I think everyone knows your name. The whole town was waiting for you. And your brothers.
She grimaced. Nell knew it must have been something like that.
—How long does it take?
The boy frowned.
—What thing?
—Fame. How long it takes to fade.
He smiled sideways and folded his arms.
—I guess never. You know what they say, small town...
—Great hell. Yeah.—she sighed.
—I am Emmett Cu...
—Cullen. I know.—quickly put on her gloves. He watched her attentively, but said nothing. Instead he continued the conversation.
—I see. They brought you up to speed.—smiled with haughtiness—Let me guess: they said a lot of terrible things about us. Like we're part of an evil cult.
She raised her eyebrow.
—is that true?
—You tell me.—He incited. With those golden eyes.
His face troubled him so much that she tried not to look at him more than was required the good education.
—Just unimportant things. I assure you—she placed a hand on his chest as an oath.
Eleanor stood up from the floor and took her bag.
—Are you leaving?—asked Emmett curious.
—It's late. I must get home before nightfall.
—Do you live nearby?
—Why do you want to know?— she retracted with her eyebrow raised.
Emmet smiled sideways and lifted his shoulders.
—To accompany you. Only if you wish, of course.
Nell sensed her good intentions, but it had only been a day since she arrived at Forks. And with a life history like hers, she still couldn't trust anyone blindly.
—Look, I appreciate it, but I'm one of those who really like loneliness. I hope I'm not offending you or anything like that...
He approached her a little, denying. The breeze of his movement struck her face.
Nell felt a sudden change of air. An smell; something old. Like from another time period. Something like a memory. That's what he felt when he had it in front of him.
—No offense. Why would I?
—Because most people do.
—I am not like most.
Then Nell made the mistake of looking at those shiny golden eyes that confused her and made her doubt everything.
She shook her head and said:
—I have to go. —announced, her tone more stable than her nerves—See you at school.
—You didn't tell me your name—he shouted as he watched her walk away. She turned around with a frown.
—You said you knew—replied.
—But not as you like to be called.
Nell didn't understand his interest, but hekept looking at her with piercing eyes, as if knowing her name was of vital importance to him.
—Nell.—adjusted the bag on the shoulder—Just Nell.
Emmett took a little bow.
—Then, just Nell, see you at school.
«Weird». That's what thought when she saw him in all the moments she remembered; even this one. He was definitely a weird guy. But she still managed to get a little smile out of her at the end of the day.
At home, tried to ignore Steve even during dinner. She washed the dishes, retired to his room and took off his gloves one by one. Then closed her eyes. Nell remembered how she had become attuned to the place and how he had achieved it. She felt her gift scream from the depths. The proximity of a factor influenced the connection. And that factor could not only be nature, it could also be a person. immediately, Nell thought of Emmett. Weird, again.
Finally, the weariness overcame her. She settled on the floor, covered herself with the blanket and, a few seconds later, fell deeply asleep.