Elastic Heart

-chapter sixty seven-

The first and only time I had to lie to Colton was the day that another coven showed up on our doorstep. 

We weren't expecting them. Alice saw nothing. Colton had come over and we were just messing around on the piano and guitar. There's a knocking at the door and Colton jumps, his fingers unpleasantly slamming onto the piano and causing a mash of notes to ring out. 

Esme hurries by us and answers the door. 

I barely see the flash of red eyes and tan skin in the doorway before I'm trying to get Colton out of the house. 

"We should go to the Hut," I suggest. 

Colton looks confused at my sudden suggestion. "What? Now?" 

"We're stuck. It could give us insperation!" I stand and start tugging Colton out the back door. 

"My shoes!" Colton reaches for his sneakers by the front door where my shoes lay. He catches a glance of the red eyes and stumbles as I tug him again.

"We'll go barefoot! It'll be an adventure!" I open the door and pull him out and into the yard. The mud squishes beneath my feet as I pull Colton into the woods. 

"Who was that?" Colton questioned. 

"Hmm?" I fake innocence. 

"The people with red eyes! Did you not see that?" Colton questioned. 

"Oh," I search my mind to think of a lie. "Those are Esme's cousins. They have a rare form of albinism." 

"They don't have white hair," Colton was confused. 

"It's a form that just affects their eyes," I continue, praying that there was such a condition. 

Colton shrugs, having no reason not to believe me.

We sing random songs at the top of our lungs as we wander through the forest, climbing over logs and picking flowers. Colton tucked a flower behind my ear and I placed a dozen into his curls. 

We reach the Hut. I hadn't been here in so long. Not since I was attacked. I hoped that one of the Cullens followed me. 

We fool around and eat some of the snacks that we hid in the back in a metal lunch box we buried. 

Fudge Rounds were for me and Golden Oreo's for Colton. We were having a great time. I pretty much forgot what made us leave in the first place. 

I get a text from Rosalie two hours later telling me that it was safe to come back to the house. 

Colton ends up coming back with me to wash his feet and collect his shoes. 

We enter through the back door where some towels were laid down for our muddied feet. We wash our feet in the downstairs bathroom and I walk Colton out of the door before heading back in. 

The people from the door are now in the living room. There's four of them with golden skin and black hair. 

"This is the Egyptian coven," Carlisle introduces. "This is Amun and his mate Kebi. Next to him is Benjamin and his mate Tia." 

Amun seemed stiff and protective of his mate. Benjamin was warm and seemed to want to move closer. 

"It's nice to meet you," I smile at them. "I'm Jolene."

Amun nods. Benjamin smiles at me brightly. 

"Pleasure to meet you, Jolene," He chirps. 

I like him instantly.