I had just gotten the invitation in the mail. The invitation to my dad's good friends daughters wedding.
Charlie Swan and my dad, Chris Mathews, had been friends since I could remember. I can remember going to Forks, Washington in the summer as a kid. Dad and Charlie would go fishing while mom watched me and them. My dad had been a wildlife ranger in Forks from the time I was 8months old to the time I was five. When I was five he was relocated to Wyoming, where I had been born. When I was eight months old we moved to forks then at five back to Wyoming. Charlie Swan is Forks police chief... and has been forever!
Bella, Charlie's only daughter was getting married in two weeks. Charlie of course wanted my dad to come. Apparently he didn't like the guy too much. Anyway, dad and I would be paying a little visit to Forks, by little I mean leaving today and staying for three weeks.
"Ready to go Mac?" My dad called from his truck.
"Yeah I'm coming." I said grabbing my tote bag and running down stairs. Once outside I jumped in the passenger seat of my dads old truck and we headed to forks. It had been three years since I was last in Forks... I Had met Bella then and we had become fairly good friends. Bella said hes lived with her mom in Phoenix but that she visits her dad in the summer time.
8 hours later.*
"Were here." Dad said with a warm smile. I looked around and it was evident we were right in the middle of town- though it was nothing like a busy city such as new york you could tell Charlie's house sat along side a busy road... busy for Forks that is. I leaped out of the truck, bags in hand and followed dad to the door of the small house.
Before we even reached the porch someone had opened the door. I assumed it was Charlie but when he spoke he sounded far too young.
"Hello." The young man with bronze colored hair said, holding the door open.
"You must be Edward!" Dad said "I'm Chris Mathews!" He said extending his hand. So this is the groom to be!
"Pleasure to meet you Chris and ?" He started
"Mackenzie." I answered "But please call me Mac."
"Nice to meet you too Mac." Edward said extending his pale hand to me. When I grasped his hand I jumped at how cold it was.
"Chris, is that you I hear?" Charlie said pushing his way by Edward. "Well I ain't seen you in years! How have you been?" Charlie said excitedly... he then continued to 'man hug' my dad... I've always found it awkward when men hug.
"I've been about as good I can be, you know been busy with work and raising Mac." He said
"Mackenzie, last time I saw you you were about this tall!" Charlie said, overextending how short i was three years ago. "Your grown now!"
"Try telling my dad that because he sure doesn't treat me like it!" I said. Just then I heard Bella come down stairs. She introduced herself and then welcomed me to her room. Most of her things were packed up and ready to move. All that was left were two beds, a dresser, a nightstand and a few boxes. Once I had gotten all my things upstairs I went down to see what Dad and Charlie were up too. When I got there I heard dad say something about a 22 rifle... great, their going hunting!
"I prefer to just leave the scope off, you know go old school hunting." Dad said holding up his 22...
"Ah I see." Charlie said looking at the gun
"Are you going hunting tomorrow or something?" I asked not noticing there were even more people at the Swan house.
"Well sort of, its not for deer or anything we'd eat." Dad said
"What are you talking about?" I asked confused.. obviously
"We've been having a problem with bears. See three hikers have went missing from the trail nd people are saying they see a huge bear crossing trials." Charlie explained
"Grizzly bear?" I asked
"We don't know for sure, they say its a big black bear." Charlie said
"Black bears don't attack people unless its to protect cubs or its breeding season... cubs should be grown and its not breeding season, so why would they be attacking?" I questioned.
"Well we don't know that either." Charlie said
"How do you know its a black bear? and not something else?" I asked
"A bear is the only thing that gets as big as people are describing." Charlie challenged back politely
"Has anyone investigated to make sure its not bears?"
"No but its pretty evident when we find huge tracks on the trails, and people are dying at those places." Charlie said
"OK. I'm coming too then." I said
"No its too dangerous. Your staying here." Dad said
"Dad, I can take care of myself. I know how to shoot and everything, just give me a gun and I'll be fine.." I said
"Your still not coming." He said
"Yes I am." I said going to the living room
"No, you and Bella are going to stay here or go to town or something safe."
"yeah, yeah, whatever." I said walking to the sofa. When I got there there were about five people in the living room... all staring at me.
"Mac, this is Seth, Leah, Sue and Billy." Charlie said pointing to each one.

"Hi." I said. Everyone said hi and then we ate. Dad knew everyone there except for Leah and Seth, but he did know their mom Sue.