A Talk, Relief and Plans for Tomorrow

Walking back to the house while it was still dark out was...interesting. For some reason, it didn't seem as dark as it usually did.

I didn't have to squint to see what was in front of me - I just saw it. Simple as that.

Same goes with my hearing. I could hear things I swear I couldn't hear before. The flapping of wings dozens of meters above me, with clear as hell clarity. The small crunch of the underbrush near me, where some sort of small mammal was, was as clear as day to me.

So, not just my mind was becoming weird, so was my body. Great.

Before I even got close to the house, I saw a beat-up orange truck parked there. A part of me froze up in fear and guilt, thinking that Charlie had brought me a truck to get to school and around town in. But another part of me kept calm and rational, reasoning that a visitor could have come over or the truck could be for his actual daughter.

Keeping to this reasoning, I continued walking and every step closer let me look closer at the death trap that was that orange truck.

Shivering at the thought of ever stepping foot in that, I took a sharp left up the pathway, the stairs and onto the porch. Opening the door, I heard Charlie and who I guessed to be Billy Black, shouting at the TV over baseball.

I was more of a football type of guy, but I could usually enjoy baseball. It was a fun sport, after all.

At least, one of the best batter-type sports.

As I walked into the hallway and closed the door, I saw Charlie come into the living room. A quick, unconscious listen told me that the sixth inning had just stopped and the seventh inning stretch had just started - it was basically a break in the match where fans (at the game) could get up, stretch and maybe even go and get something to eat. It was also the time people watching could get up for a toilet break or something.

Seeing me, Charlie looked somewhat surprised, "Didn't expect to see you back this early, Will," he said and I just smiled somewhat guiltily. Moving passed that, he motioned to the front room, "You wanna come and watch the game with us? I mean, I know you like sports so I thought that maybe you'd like to," he got out, slightly awkwardly but it was nice to know my uncle actually did want to spend time with me.

He wasn't the most outwardly affectionate man you'd ever meet, that's for sure.

But I still nodded, "Sure," I said with a smile that wasn't so forced as any of my earlier ones today. I was in a much better mood after ranting to Jess and being told by Dr. Cullen - who told me to call him Carlisle for some reason - that my sister's brain swelling was healing just fine and if all went well, she was in for a healthy recovery. Body wise, at least. But it's good news and it cheered me up.

So, I was feeling less angry at everything, which was good.

Charlie seemed somewhat surprised by my nod, his taken aback expression being clear as day. He began to speak, pointin over his shoulder with his thumb at the kitchen, "Well, go on in. Billy's in there. I'm just about to get us some food, you want some?" he asked.

I just gave a nod before walking into the front room. Honestly, I was surprised at how hungry I actually was, so I'm surprised I didn't go for the kitchen myself.

Upon getting into the room, I saw Billy sitting on the sofa, his wheelchair folded up next to him and leaning against the wall. Billy was a heavyset man, with russet colored skin and pitch black eyes and shoulder-length straight black hair. He didn't look very threatening but there was something about him that...I don't know, weighed down on me. Like a innate pressure the guy had.

Which confused me. I'm a bit above 6'3", I weigh 220lbs and I know how to handle myself in a fight...so why do I feel even slightly intimidated by a man who can't walk?

Another thing to add to the weirdness of this town, I guess?

"Ah, Will! How you doing, kid?" Billy beamed a pearly white smile at me, his voice sounding happy - maybe the team he supported was winning or something, "Come over here," he patted the seat next to him and I plopped myself down there.

Charlie had his own chair, after all, and the only other seats were on the two-person sofa Billy was currently on, so it was the only available place.

"How's the game going then?" I asked, curious, as I looked at the adverts being played.

Billy gave a laugh, slapping his knee, "The Nationals are 3 runs up and now they're at the top of their batting order - this next inning will be where they blast ahead, I'm telling you!" he said, seeming extremely excited. His excitement was contagious and I found myself feeling up to watching the next inning even more than I was.

Who doesn't like to watch people hit baseballs really hard and far? It hits the right places in your brain, is how I'd describe it.

We watched the adverts for a little while before Billy spoke again, just, much less excited and much more somber, "Say, kid, Charlie told me about your sister and why you're here...if you ever need to talk to anyone, and I know that ain't what 18-year-olds like to do, then feel free to speak to me, okay? I lost my wife to a car accident, so I know what it feels like," he said, his voice sounding hard and solid, like steel, no emotion getting through other than sincerity.

I turned to him, my eyes narrowed and feeling a bit annoyed that Charlie was just going around telling his friends what had happened to my parents and sister.

Seeing my look, Billy met my gaze with more gusto than I thought possible, "Now listen here, don't go blaming Charlie. He spoke to me because he knew that I could get through to you because of my own experiences. He didn't mean anything by it--" he went to continue talking but I cut him off.

"Leave it, Billy," my voice wasn't loud or aggressive. But it was sharp and had a biting tone. It cut through the tension, all the nice words and pleasantries from Billy and basically told him to shut up. I felt so angry at this point in time that the words practically came out like the growls of an angry beast.

But the anger faded fast when I realized that if what he was saying was true, than he did understand what I was going through. The grief, that is. And Charlie only told him because he was worried for me. If anything, I should feel grateful, not angry.

Turning my gaze away, shame and regret filling me, I pinched the bridge of my nose as I spoke again, "I'm sorry, Billy. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I've just been so easily aggravated lately," I said and Billy, instead of treating me coldly or whatever I thought was gonna happen, just put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I know, kid. This sort of stuff leaves you angry at the world and wanting to lash out," he said with a sad tone of his own.

Hearing what he said, I agreed, but I felt the need to speak to him about the weirdness of my anger, "But it's not just...I don't know, it's not just because of the incident, Billy. Ever since I...Ah, you know what? Nevermind, it's stupid," I stopped myself from making a fool of myself because what else would I be doing if I said as soon as I met a doctor and his adoptive kids, I started feeling different?

But weirdly enough, Billy seemed to think otherwise, his voice serious, "No, you don't know that. Tell me and I'll tell you whether it's stupid or not," he got out and I looked to him, seeing his serious and sincere face.

Looking into his black eyes, for some reason, I felt like I could trust him. Some sort of instinct I never knew I had told me that this man was someone I could trust. Like he was family or something.

"Well..." I started, not sure how to word it, so I decided against confusing myself with a long explanation and just got to the point, "Ever since I met the Cullens, I've felt...different. Easier to anger, easier to annoy, less tolerance basically. I was close to breaking someone's nose earlier today just because they were playing basketball too loudly for me...I genuinely think I need to see a therapist. Right?" I said, looking to Billy who was looking at me with wide eyes.

Well, this is it. The day I'm sent to a shrink and put on meds.

But Billy didn't react like that, he leaned closer to me and whispered, "I can't speak about it here, kid, but come down to the reservation tomorrow and I'll tell you what's happening with you. Hell, I'll show you what's happening with you. Don't worry, Will, nothing's wrong with you. You're perfectly healthy, both mentally and physically. Okay? Just don't worry and try to keep your anger in check," he said, his voice serious, still, and even more sincere than before.

A rush of relief flooded through me. I hadn't found out what was wrong with me but someone knew what was happenin and was offering to tell me about it. I didn't know what he could show me but maybe he knew another person like me? Seems likely. He seemed unshocked about the symptoms and more about me having them.

I wanted to reply but Charlie walked into the room and Billy was back to leaning back into the sofa.

"You two getting along alright?" Charlie asked, to which Billy smiled and slapped my shoulder.

"Of course. We're both Billy's*, so how couldn't we?" he laughed at his own joke before continuing, "I was just saying that Will here should come down to the reservation some time. He must be bored out of his mind with nothing to do around here and there's a lot to learn from my people. He could even help Jacob with his mechanical stuff if he's got the taste for it," he began talking to Charlie and I felt slightly confused on why he wasn't saying what we'd actually been talking about.

(*A/N - Billy's full name is William and William can be shortened down to Billy. So, the MC can technically be nicknamed Billy, making the two of them Billy and therefore they have common ground to be okay with each other. It's a bad joke which should be expected of a dad, honestly.)

But, in the end, I figured that he was just saving me the embarrassment of having Charlie know everything about my mental health. Plus, if Billy thought it was necessary to not tell him, who was I to disagree?

Just as they finished talking, the game came back on and Charlie passed Billy a bear and some fish and chips, while he just gave me the fish and chips.

It looked homemade and I guessed that Billy must have brought it round with him because Charlie's cooking skills...well, they aren't the best.

With that, we got to watching the game.

Finally, I felt some relief when I knew I could talk to someone about what was happening. But still, that left whatever was happening to me concerning that Edythe girl...and I really don't want to speak to Billy about how I might have fallen deep for some girl I've not even properly spoken to.

That's way too embarrassing, honestly. Especially how her very presence turns me into an absolute idiot.

But, for now, I chose to ignore all of that as best as I could, and just focused on the game.