20 years. 20 years since my sweet Kate had given herself up to death in order to save the 4 out of 14 who had survived the battle. 4, out of 14. Thinking about everyone else, burning in the woods of Volterra- was horrifying. The fact that they were friends, people I knew, was even worse. Jasper, Edward, Charlotte and I- all lost our mates that day or previous. Edward- who had seen the remainder of his family perish, had run off shortly before returning to the US. Jasper- had stayed with me and Charlotte but he felt like it was right to go on wanders again till the end of time he'd say. Charlotte and I were the only ones who lived in Forks now. I had had the chance to leave her behind, and return to Denali to Carmen and Eleazar- the only two people I know that didn't fight, other than Reneesme and the wolves. I would have gone, but there were two reasons to my choice of staying. 1 being, I couldn't bear to return to the place I had first kissed Kate. 2nd of all, a long time ago I had promised Peter something…

I followed Peter into the woods. It was hard to tell what had actually happened but from past experience- I could tell he had hit her. Hitting a woman was wrong. They were precious creatures that should not be harmed. I was angry at Peter for hitting Charlotte but I could not stay angry for long. I didn't know the reason why but I doubt he'd come up with a good enough reason to stop me hating him. I slowed to a walk to find Peter sitting on a rock that poked through the soil of the forest.

"Why did you hit her" I spat
"I…I couldn't help it…." he sighed
"Sure"
"No…seriously." he said forcefully
I paused- maybe he couldn't help it. Maybe he didn't want to tell me why he couldn't help it "Okay…"
He sighed "She hates me"
"I'm sure she doesn't"
"She does...I hurt her"
"she'll forgive you….go see her now"
Peter sighed before standing- he went to walk off before he turned to me "Promise me something"
"uhh"
"Please"
"Okay"
"Anything?"
"Anything"
"If something happens to me, look out for Charlotte…"
"Okay"
"You promise"
"I promise…"

And since I am not a man to break my promise- I have kept a watchful eye on little Charlotte. She is almost always silent now- muttering few words out of her mouth, most of the time they don't make any sense at all and are just random strings of words she's put together; but I can always be sure of one thing. Is that she's talking about Peter. She always is- sitting on her windowsill looking out into the woods. I sometimes wonder if she's lost her sanity- she probably has. Though I had been able to protect her from killing herself- I hadn't been able to stop her from chopping half her hair off so it just reached above her shoulders. She nearly set the bloody things on me, and don't get me started about the cat.

I stand there, watching as she stares out the window again. How long has it been since I last heard her talk. A while now- and it was driving me insane- the silence. It was creepy and annoying and it felt lonely all the time. I missed Kate- she didn't stop talking. She would tell me that Charlotte needed a hug but I didn't want to go there after she tried to kiss me last Friday. It was awkward. I had promised Peter I'd look after her but not love her in the way he had done her. I turned to return to the kitchen when she finally spoke for the first time in a long time.

"…He's dead…..He isn't coming home…is he"

I turned to her. It was like as if she had refused to believe of his death until now. It was sad.

"No…he's not"

She nods, and for the first time in a long time- runs upstairs, her short hair bouncing behind her. I watch as she goes and wonder what she is thinking- and how she is feeling at this very moment in time. I sigh and return to what I was doing. I haven't thought of Kate in a long time, but when I close my eyes I see us together kissing each other, whispering sweet things into each other's ears. I wonder if Charlotte ever had that. She seems too modest and innocent for...well you know. I smirk slightly shaking my head-thinking about what Kate would say;

"She just as much angel as I am a lightning rod"

I chuckle to myself and think about her some more...