Sea Wolves

Once we got out of school, Trase and I made brief plans in the parking lot: we were to drive back to the neighborhood, I would meet him at his house, and he would drive me down into the little town of Forks. My fingers were nervously drumming against the steering wheel as I drove home. Applying for a job was nothing new to me; back in California I had worked at Abercrombie and Fitch. I enjoyed that job. It paid pretty well, and I got good discounts on their clothes. For a moment I questioned why I wanted a job at a bookstore. What was the benefit of working there? Discounts on books? I didn't really like to read, so what was the point of that? An idea came to me. Maybe working at a bookstore could be useful... if I got the job, that is. I knew I wanted to learn more about whales, and reading about them from a book sure beats frying my eyes out on the internet. I had also been thinking of borrowing a couple books on sign language. Typing on his phone must get awfully tiring for Trase... I felt bad he had to resort to that every time we saw each other.

Speaking of typing, I wanted to ask him some questions on the way there, but when I met up with him at his house he handed me his blackberry; obviously there was something written there. Sorry. Can't text and drive, so no questions or anything till we get there, k? I handed the phone back to him, trying not to let my disappointment show. Trase smiled sadly at me as he got into his car. I slid into the passenger seat and buckled my seatbelt. Before Trase started the car, he wrote on his phone, Did you tell your parents where you're going?

"They weren't home, so I left a note on the fridge. It's fine... I know they'd be okay with it." Knowing my parents, they were probably enjoying the afternoon together somewhere, with me out of the picture once again. I pushed the thought away. Dad was probably still working, and mom could be running errands.

Trase nodded and slipped the phone into his pocket. The car rumbled to life as he started it and backed gently out of the driveway. I stared out the window at the passing houses, trying to envision what Morrison's looked like. Knowing the town, it was probably some obscure place wedged between two buildings. Morrison's made me think of something smaller, probably half the size of Barnes & Nobles. But that sounded ideal to me. I wanted a peaceful environment, not a busy one.

After fifteen minutes of awkward silence between the both of us, we were finally distracted by the appearance of the town. It occurred to me that I hadn't even visited the whole area of Forks since I moved here. My parents had done all the sight seeing; I guess it was about time I caught up with them on that. The quaint little shops were pressed up against each other along the sidewalks, some large and tidy, others smaller and looking like they had been around for a long time. Trase turned right and cruised down one street, then took a left and headed down another. I soon lost any sense of direction as we wove through an endless maze of streets towards what I guessed would be the center of the town. Finally, Trase slowed and parallel parked beside one of the larger buildings. I peered out the window at the sign erected above the door that read in large golden letters, 'Morrison's'.

"I'm going to have to get directions if I ever want to drive myself here on my own," I teased as I stepped out of the car. Trase grinned at me, getting out his blackberry while we stepped towards the bookstore. Yeah, it can be a little crazy. You'll get used to it. If you get the job, that is, and I hope you do.

I smiled. Trase moved ahead of me and opened the door for us. A tinkling bell overhead announced that we had just entered. I moved slowly inside the place, taking in the numerous bookshelves lining the walls. Morrison's was bigger than I had expected it to be, though I was right in my guessing that it wouldn't be as extravagant as a Barnes & Nobles. But it was still a spacious, pleasant store. Because of its location on the curb (which I had taken note of as I exited the car), the bookstore had more windows, allowing the sunlight to light the place and create a comfortable atmosphere. I immediately liked what I was seeing. To my surprise, I noticed a staircase beside the checkout counter leading up to a second floor. I couldn't help but smile; this was certainly not what I had imagined.

It's cool, huh? Trase had noticed my reaction.

"It's great!" I said, a little too enthusiastically.

"Hi, guys. Can I help you find anything today?" A man probably in his late twenties had appeared at the counter. I stepped forward, a little unsure of what I should say. Trase moved closer to the counter, too.

"Actually, I'd like to apply for a job." I glanced at the HELP WANTED sign in the window.

The man smiled. "Sure. I just need you to fill out one of these." He reached underneath the counter and I could hear the sound of a drawer opening. Then I was handed a form. "You can fill it out here or at home, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Did you both want a job here?" He looked over at Trase. Trase shook his head.

"No, just me," I answered, and the man looked at me again. "So... uh, thanks. I'll be back soon."

"Yeah, no problem. Have a great day! And I'll see you when you get the job." The smile returned to the man's face before he turned to address one of his customers. Trase and I exited the bookstore - the bell tinkling as we went - and slipped inside the car.

That was quick. You don't want to fill it out here?

I glanced down at the sheet of paper in my hand. "I'll do it at home. Besides, he practically said I got the job." I smiled; today was going great for me so far.

Trase dropped me off at my house twenty minutes later. Noticing my mom's car in the driveway, both of us silently decided there would be no hanging out today. I'll see you tomorrow, Trase wrote on his phone. I waved as he pulled away, turned the car around, and drove up the street to his own house. My mom was unloading bags of groceries when I entered the through the front door. She smiled at me. "Hello. School didn't just get out, did it?" She glanced at the digital clock on the microwave.

"No, I was in town," I answered shortly. Without being told to, I began to help unload the groceries and put them away, even if I was at risk of being interrogated. I didn't mind right now, though. Not when I was feeling this accomplished.

"What were you doing in town?"

"I was applying for a job." I took a loaf of bread and set it in the pantry. When I returned, my mom was looking at me with a pleased expression.

"That's wonderful, Meg," she said with a broad grin. "Where are you working now?"

"At a bookstore. I didn't get the job yet, though. I still have to fill out their application."

A few minutes of silence. My mom was still smiling as she rummaged through one of the bags, withdrawing a container of salad leaves and setting it on the counter. I quietly put a box of frozen waffles in the freezer, guessing that we had reached a dead end in the conversation. But then my mom spoke up again. "Was someone with you? I thought I saw a different car out there in the driveway."

"Uh... yeah," I said awkwardly. "A friend of mine drove me into town."

I could tell my mom was about to say something really stupid and embarrassing from the even bigger smile she wore. I tried to wipe the incredulous look off of my face before she could see it. I inwardly imagined her bursting out, "Oh, Meg, you're making friends! This is wonderful!" I couldn't help but cringe. Fortunately, she seemed to catch herself. She stared down at the counter, still smiling, and said a little quietly, "I'm so happy for you." There was a pause. I shuffled a box of crackers around awkwardly. "Who is it?" she finally asked.

"Just a... guy I met at school." I shrugged, trying to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal.

"Oh? What's his name?"

"Uh... Trase."

"Trase," she said aloud, almost pondering the word. "That's an unusual name."

"Yeah. Oh, and uh... he's deaf." It probably wasn't necessary to share that bit of information, but I suddenly pictured Trase coming over to my house and the look on my mom's face when she learned he was deaf. It was the look she was giving me now, an expression of astonishment and curiosity, and I was suddenly grateful Trase wasn't here to see it. The groceries had been put away, so I took advantage of the silence and headed upstairs to my bedroom before my mom could ask another question. Jojo greeted me lazily from his place on the bed. I scratched him on the chin before pulling textbooks out of my bag so I could sit down for a couple hours and do my homework. I hoped there wouldn't be any interruptions, though that was possibly unavoidable now that I had just dangled a bit of juicy information in front of my mom; I would surely be bombarded with questions on my next visit to the kitchen.