AN: Hey everyone! I just recently moved to Washington, so what better way to celebrate than to write another story in the Choice Series? I have played around with this idea in my mind for months and finally found a way to make it work. I hope you enjoy!
~Emmettroselover
Chapter 1
While the holiday season was Zach's favorite time of the year, summer was a close second. Summer on Cullen Island meant sunshine, lounging on the beach, and for Zach, spending time with his best friend. Zach and Josh spent the summer running back and forth from Alaska and the island. The Denalis were more than happy to have family around and the boys managed to talk Rosalie and Emmett into taking them to visit Interior Alaska for a couple of weeks, along with Seth and Kaya. Jacob and Leah took the opportunity to go on a vacation of their own while their son was occupied. The couple escaped to Hawaii and relaxed on the beach, vowing to indulge in a normal, serene vacation with no supernatural elements involved. They surfed, lounged in hammocks, and dined by candlelight in the evening. It was a stark contrast to Josh's idea of a vacation.
In Alaska, he raced through the mountains, playing in the wilderness all day and night, and only slept when Rosalie threatened to call his parents if he did not get some rest. The rest of the Cullens stayed on the island during the summer. With the boys, Emmett, and Seth away, the island was peaceful and quiet, which was also the perfect getaway for Charlie and Sue. The couple visited the island twice over the past months and Charlie devoted as much time to Bella and Renesmee as possible. Sue was happy to spend time with Esme, sharing stories about their supernatural children and the joys and pains of being a mother to such a unique family. The two women had considered each other friends for years, but truly bonded over the summer. Once Charlie and Sue were ready to return to Forks, Renesmee and Nahuel tagged along with them.
It was the beginning of August and while their parents would have loved nothing more than to stay on the island for the rest of the month, Josh and Zach had other plans. While they spent most of the summer embracing their supernatural sides, the two teenage boys decided it was time to have a different type of fun. Zach snickered at his friend as they exited yet another store of the mall in Victoria.
"Got enough clothes there, J," teased Zach and Josh rolled his eyes.
"I need new clothes for school."
"Four bags?" Josh nudged him.
"Hey, I am a growing boy. Besides, it is better than seeing that boring movie our parents went to see."
"It didn't look that boring to me. What's your problem today? You have been acting all wolfy since we got back from Alaska."
"Wolfy?"
"Yea, you know, temperamental, whiney….."
"Shut up," chuckled Josh and Zach shrugged.
"Just an observation, so what do you want to do now?"
"I don't care."
"Aw come on J, it was your idea to come to the mall in the first place," whined Zach.
"Sorry, I know I am acting moody…."
"Wolfy," corrected Zach.
"It just sucks that summer is about to be over. It feels like it just started and besides going to Alaska, I haven't done anything. When is the last time we actually had some fun, Z?"
"We just chased Garrett and Benjamin around Mount McKinley last week. I don't know about you, but that's fun to me! Ben is such a cheater. Did you see the size of those boulders he kept tossing our way to distract us?"
"No I mean real fun, like a battle with revenging seeking..."
"Oh, you mean drama."
"Fun, drama, same difference."
"No, not really, see that's where we differ, J. I like knowing that my family is safe, life is good, and I can run around as I please without worrying about some crazy vamps and wolves trying to attack me because they are jealous of my alphaness. That's not my idea of fun."
"So, you, the mighty Zach Cullen, are telling me you wouldn't fight if a battle started right now?" Zach huffed.
"I didn't say that. Stop talking crazy! If a battle breaks out, you know my alphaness would be all over that, but seriously J, I thought we were having fun." Josh sighed and smiled reassuringly at his friend.
"I am having fun. I am just bummed summer is almost over and it is back to school for me and away from my best friend. I barely get to see you during school. It sucks that I have to go to school and you don't anyways. We could hang out all the time if I didn't have to worry about that."
"Then let's make the most of it while we can. Want to go check out some girls?" Josh smirked.
"Oh yea, because that always works out so well with us, after the Nina and Sofi debacles, I think we should steer clear of girls for a while."
"Hey, don't bring my love life into this….."
"Or lack thereof," teased Josh.
"Shut up," grumbled Zach as Josh laughed.
"It doesn't matter anyways. I am done obsessing over girls and trying to figure out when I am going to imprint. From now on, I am done worrying about girls."
"Yea, sure you are."
"It is true!"
"This will last long," mumbled Zach and Josh jutted out his chin in defiance.
"Trust me, Z, I am no longer going to chase after girls. When it is right, I will know." A group of giggling girls eyed them as they passed, whispering loudly about how cute the two boys were. Zach arched an eyebrow at his friend and Josh's eyes lingered on the girls for a second more before clearing his throat and straightening up.
"I am stronger than that."
"Sure you are."
"I am. They are just a bunch of girls….a bunch of hot, Canadian girls that are totally waving us over right now." Zach looked over his shoulder to see the girls motioning for the two of them to come over as they sat down at a table at the food court.
"J," warned Zach.
"Um, I am starving. Let's go to the food court."
"I don't eat."
"Humor me," chuckled Josh as he smiled at the girls and Zach shook his head in disbelief.
"Didn't you just say you were done worrying about girls? What about the Nina debacle?"
"Who? Oh yea, I'm over that. Besides, this time is different. I can feel it. As an alpha, I am making a call. One of those girls is my imprint."
"I highly doubt that."
"It is true!"
"Okay, which one," dared Zach with a sly, dimpled grin. Josh scanned the group of girls and shrugged with a smile of his own.
"I haven't decided yet, but I will let you know as soon as one of them starts flirting with me," he informed and strutted over to the food court. Zach groaned, but followed.
"Man, why human girls," whined Zach.
Rosalie and Leah rolled their eyes as they exited the movie theater on the top floor of the mall. Jacob and Emmett were right behind them, talking animatedly, while their wives shook their heads.
"Why did we have to see that stupid film," asked Leah.
"We all agreed that Em and Jake got to pick since we picked last time. Besides, I kind of liked it," defended Rosalie and Leah huffed.
"That's only because it wasn't offensive to you," whispered Leah.
"I have no clue what you are talking about. I thought the movie was great," informed Rosalie as she hid her smile.
"It was about a battle between vampires and werewolves and surprise, surprise, the vampires won and were made more appealing to the audience."
"I thought it was very believable for a fictitious film," said Rosalie.
"Did you see how ugly those wolves were? They were slimy and drooling, totally unrealistic," grumbled Leah and Rosalie wrapped her arm around her friend with a sly smile.
"You know what, you are right. You should write a scathing review to the director and explain that you know firsthand what wolves should look like."
"Shut up," mumbled Leah as Rosalie giggled. The two of them eyed their husbands suspiciously when they saw the two men snickering and looking down at the food court on the level below them.
"Okay you two, what have you done now and how much will it cost to fix the damages," asked Rosalie and Emmett shushed Jacob as their wives walked over to them.
"Angel, don't freak out. They are just having fun," warned Emmett and Rosalie clenched her jaw as she prepared herself for what she was about to see. Leah took in a deep breath as well and Jacob shrugged nonchalantly as he pointed to the lower level of the mall.
"They seem to be enjoying themselves," chuckled Jacob, but Rosalie and Leah did not find it as amusing. They groaned as they saw their sons sitting at a table with girls surrounding them. Four girls were fawning over Zach as he explained how fast his car could go while Josh talked about his musical tastes to another group of girls that hung on his every word. Leah took a step toward the escalator in the direction of the food court.
"Nope, no more Ninas," she announced, but Jacob wrapped his arms around her.
"Let him have his fun. He is a teenage boy, Leah," reminded Jacob and Emmett nodded in agreement.
"They both are and it is just harmless flirting. Let them talk to their new friends and we can go do something else. How about we go shop around for a bit," suggested Emmett and Rosalie smirked.
"Did you really just suggest that we shop," teased Rosalie. Emmett smiled sheepishly.
"Um, actually by shopping, I meant checking out the new gaming system on the first floor," he confessed.
"Thought so, you two go ahead. We'll just keep an eye on things," said Rosalie and Jacob chuckled.
"I'm sure you will," teased Jacob. Emmett and Jacob kissed their wives before leaving them to spy on the boys. Leah crossed her arms as she watched her son flex the muscles in his arm and a girl giggle as she touched it.
"That is uncalled for," growled Leah and Rosalie sighed.
"Agreed, but standing here and watching is just unnecessary torture for us. Em is right. It is harmless flirting. Come on, let's go look around in some shops. It will take our minds off of our two very handsome boys being swooned over by hormonal teenage girls." Leah nodded in agreement and followed Rosalie in the opposite direction of their sons and the girls that could not seem to resist them. The two of them strolled through the mall, appraising clothes and making purchases as they talked about Leah and Jacob's vacation.
"We were so tired of seafood, so we found this diner that made pancakes so big that even Jake could barely finish them. Then we walked on the beach and by the time we made it to our room, the sun was setting. It was so beautiful. We sat on our balcony for hours staring at the view. It was so peaceful."
"I am glad you two had fun. You should go on trips more often."
"The only trips Josh likes to go on include your son and avalanches if possible. With school starting back up next month, it will be a while before we can think about Hawaiian sunsets. Hey, what about these boots? They are in my size."
"Try them on and let's see. They match that skirt you bought." Leah sat down on a stool and slipped on one of the boots as she smiled at Rosalie.
"You know, if I didn't know any better, this summer, the vacation, hanging out with you right now, it all seems so….."
"Don't say it," warned Rosalie and Leah frowned in confusion.
"Why not?"
"Anytime one of us says something is perfect or normal or any other word that would describe our amazing situation, something bad happens to prove that it was all too good to be true."
"You are being ridiculous," giggled Leah as she waved her off, but suddenly Rosalie's phone rang. Her eyes widened and she glanced at Leah as she saw Alice's number. Leah gulped as Rosalie answered.
"Alice is everything okay," questioned Rosalie.
"Of course silly and yes you should buy me that purple dress. I know just what to wear with it. Oh and get Renesmee those heels! Oh what about those…." Rosalie hung up the phone as she sighed in relief.
"My sister is a shopaholic, but I don't have to enable her."
"You better buy her that dress or you know you will never hear the end of it," laughed Leah.
"Yeah, I know," conceded Rosalie and Leah winked at her.
"See, everything is…."
"Don't say it."
"Perfect, dun, dun, dun," teased Leah and Rosalie groaned.
"Thanks, great, now you have doomed us." Leah tossed a box of boots to her and Rosalie smiled as she caught them.
"Stop being dramatic, Rose. Try on these and enjoy yourself," advised Leah. Rosalie sat down by her friend and tried on the boots as the two continued their chat.
Alice hung up the phone and closed her eyes, hoping that her visions were mistaken. She wanted to put her sister at ease. It would help to ease her mind and allow her to stay in denial for a bit longer as well. She groaned as she heard Edward approaching and tried to recite Gregorian chants in her head, but one vision in particular was etched into her mind.
"Why didn't you tell Rose what you saw," asked Edward. Alice quickly shook her head and put on an innocent smile.
"I have no clue what you are talking about. I didn't see a thing! Nope, I saw nothing at all, nada, nichts, niets, nihilo, intet, nihilo…..
"Really, latin?" She began to pout and he wrapped a comforting arm around her.
"Edward, I don't want to see it."
"We have to deal with this."
"Why! The one time I want you to say that I am wrong, be smug and arrogant, tell me it isn't true, say I am a little leprechaun that is losing her touch, anything, why can't you do that?"
"Because we both know that you saw it and it was clear. It wasn't some blurry vision or you trying to meddle and make things bend to your will. You saw this vision because the path has been decided." She let out a sob as she hugged him tightly and he kissed the top of her head.
"I don't want it to be true," she cried.
"I don't either," he whispered as they heard Bella and Jasper drawing near. Bella took in a shaky breath and Jasper frowned in concern.
"I could sense your anxiety all the way from the house and your disappointment," explained Jasper.
"What is going on," asked Bella and Edward looked at Alice, but she shook her head.
"No, I am not letting this vision come true," declared Alice as she ran toward the cliff that she always escaped to when she needed to think. Jasper followed her and Bella pulled Edward into her arms. He tried to smile reassuringly, but failed to, knowing that there was nothing he could say at the moment to alter Alice's vision.