"Is that really how you're wearing your hair?" Katherine asked, innocently, from her position perched in the doorway, just watching me. She was wearing a form fitting, black dress that fell just above her knees.

"I was planning on it. Why?" I replied, sticking another bobby pin into my hair.

"N-No reason. I just would do my hair a different way if I were you." She shrugged.

"Oh, really?" I looked at her. She nodded. "Humor me." I said after thinking for a second, handing her the few bobby pins I had in my palm.

"Seriously? You've never let me touch your hair." She snickered, gladly accepting them.

"Well, today is a day all about family coming together." I smirked at her as she gently pulled the bobby pins I had put in my hair out.

"Okay, Evelyn, what happened last night at the store? You've been… abnormally civil...and dare I say, nice, ever since last night." She said as she carefully worked on my hair.

"I have no idea what you mean, step-mother." I chuckled playfully as Seth crossed my mind.

"Honey, I recognize that love-struck look in your eye anywhere. You met someone didn't you?" She asked, grinning amusingly as she pinned a chunk of my bangs back.

"Fine,"I sighed. "I did meet someone."

"Oooohhhh. Spill it, and do not spare the details." Katherine gushed excitedly.

"His name's Seth. We met at the store while Eric and I were getting dinner and we've been texting ever since." I explained. "Ow! Ow, you're pulling." I flinched.

"That's for forgetting my soylent." She joked. "Sorry. I'm just glad you're finally moving on from that last asshole you dated." She added.

"Yeah, me too." I smiled warmly.

"She didn't deserve you."

"Katherine, please." I pleaded, our eyes meeting in the mirror.

"Sorry, again" She chuckled weakly. "I'm actually almost done." She added, curling the ends that hung by my ears. "There." She squeezed my shoulders. "Perfect." She beamed at me in the mirror.

"I love it. Thank you." I smiled at her, touching the ends that dangled.

"I have a pair of earrings that will look good with your dress if you want them." She offered as she put in her own earrings.

"Who are you and what have you done with my step-mother?" I snickered.

"What? Like you said, today is a day for family coming together." She laughed, already having the earrings out and sticking them through the holes in my ears. "Besides, between you and me, I'm sick of the constant fighting." She said. "You look beautiful." She squealed as she squeezed my shoulders once more before planting a wet kiss on my cheek.

"Ew." I groaned, smiling as I wiped my cheek with the back of my hand.

"Whatever." Katherine giggled as she reapplied her lipstick.

"Are you ladies ready?" My dad poked his head into the small bathroom. His hair was jelled back and he wore a traditional black suit with a white dress shirt and black tie.

"Just about." Katherine replied as she zipped up the back of my dress. "Doesn't she look beautiful?" She asked as she walked past him and out of the bathroom.

"She really does." He smiled sweetly at me. "You know, I think this is the longest you two have ever gone without bickering since you could talk." He laughed as I walked passed him.

"We have our moments." I chuckled as Katherine handed me a pair of silver heels that went well with my light blue, mid-thigh length dress.

"Eric's already in the car." Dad told us.

"Does he look nice?" Katherine asked.

"I'd say so. I managed to shove him into his suit." He shrugged as he held her coat of for her before doing the same with mine for me. "M'ladies." He held the door open for us.

"Thank you." Katherine snickered as we walked passed him and to the car.

Dad backed out of the parking spot a couple minutes later.

"I didn't even know this was over here." Katherine sat forward in her seat as we pulled into the Native American reservation after about twenty minutes of driving.

"You have arrived at your destination." Siri sang from in my lap.

"Siri says we're here." I repeated.

"I heard." He grumbled as we pulled into the parking lot of a small church house.

"It's so cute!" Katherine squealed as we parked. "Eric be a gentleman get the door for Evelyn!" She ordered.

"Okay." He shrugged, shoving his phone in his pocket and getting out of the car before dashing to my side, opening the door for me. I got out of the car and latched onto his arm. "Ow. What are you doing?" He asked.

"Hold me up." I whispered.

"What?" He said as I stumbled. "Little clumsy there?" He teased as he supported my weight.

"Shut your face and hold me up." I grumbled as I clutched onto the fabric of his black suit. Unlike our father, Eric had on a deep blue dress shirt and a white tie. I hate to say this, but he actually looked pretty damn handsome.

"I got you." He chuckled and led me inside.

"Hey, guys!" Bella, my cousin, enthusiastically greeted us at the door.

"Hey, Bella." My dad smiled as they embraced. Katherine was next, followed by Eric, then me.

"You two grew up." She laughed as she pulled back.

"You didn't. You look exactly the same." I chuckled.

"Evelyn," Katherine warned.

"What? She's beautiful. I meant that as a compliment." I defended myself.

"Haha, thanks, Ev." Bella laughed. "Oh, I forgot you guys didn't make it to my wedding." She said, pulling the man from behind her forward gently. "This is my husband, Edward. Edward this is my Uncle Dave, my Aunt Katherine, and my cousins: Eric and Evelyn."

"It's nice to meet all of you." Edward smiled crookedly at all of us.

"Likewise." I smiled back as I shook his cool, pale hand, making sure to only look up at him through the thick lenses of my glasses.

"Hi!" I heard Katherine and my father greet others.

"It's so weird to think that my dad's actually getting married." Bella chuckled.

"Yeah, it was weird for me too." I nodded at her.

"You were, what, one?" Bella snickered.

"That stuff sticks with you." I smirked at her. "I was the flower girl or something, right?"

"Yeah, you were. You actually remember that?" She asked.

"Yeah. You were seven and were wearing a red and white checkered dress with a bow in your hair." I explained.

"Shit, you're right. That's creepy." Bella chuckled.

"Eh." I shrugged, smirking.

"Mom, I think they're about to get started." A young girl walked in beside Bella and Edward.

"Whoa, mom?" I asked.

"Yeah," Bella snickered. "Evelyn, this is mine and Edward's adoptive daughter, Renesmee."

"Renes-wha?" I replied.

"Renesmee." Bella repeated.

"Renesmee?"

"That's me." The girl smiled at me.

"Hi, I'm Evelyn." I smiled back. "This is my brother, Eric."

"Hi." She grinned at Eric.

"Hey." He up-nodded.

"Uncle Dave, we need to go line up." Bella said, gently pulling my dad aside.

"Let's go take our seats." Edward said and led my family to the front row. I sat, sandwiched, in between Eric and Edward, since Bella was a bridesmaid.

I watched as Uncle Charlie and the Priest took the alter. And then two by two, the bridesmaids and the groomsmen filed in, began filing in, beginning with Bella, escorted by a man I didn't know.

"That's Jacob." Edward whispered to me. "The next two are Billy, Jacob's father, and Emily, Sue's niece. Your father's escorting Leah, Sue's daughter."

'Here Comes the Bride' started playing as the entire church stood up.

"That's Sue. She's being given away by her son-"

"Seth." I interrupted.

"Yeah," Edward chuckled. "You two know each other?"

"We met yesterday…" I mumbled, my heart pounding against my rib-cage.

"Do you remember your name this time?" Eric nudged me, smirking mischievously.

"Stop it." I snapped, smacking him on the arm, as they reached the alter. He kissed her on the cheek and then stepped back, his eyes widening when he saw me.

His tan suit hugged his form, breathtakingly.

I small smile tugged at my lips as we all took our seats.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to…" At that I zoned out, looking around the room, glancing at Seth every chance I got, sighing.

I hate weddings.

"Do you, Susan Clearwater, take Charles Swan to be your lawfully wedded husband; to have and to hold, in sickness and in health until death do you part?"

"I do."

"And do you, Charles Swan, take Susan Clearwater to be your lawfully wedded wife; to have and to hold, in sickness and in health until death do you part?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Then I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." The priest finished as the two on the altar locked lips.

Everyone stood and clapped.

"Isn't that sweet?" Katherine gushed.

"Charles." Eric and I both laughed.

"Stop it, both of you." Step-mom scolded.

A few minutes later we were outside, under one of the large party umbrella things. Since my dad was in the wedding, he and Katherine sat at the main table while Eric and I were pretty much at the kids table in the front so our parents could keep an eye on us.

"This is humiliating. I'm fifteen years-old. I shouldn't be sitting at the kids table." Eric grumbled.

"Yeah, how do you think I feel?" I whispered.

"C'mon, guys. It's not that ba-" Renesmee started before one of the five year-old's at the table flung a spoonful of mashed potatoes at her, hitting her arm.

"You were saying?" I asked as I handed her an extra napkin.

"Never mind." She growled as she angrily wiped the gooey substance off her skin. I chuckled to myself as I scanned the area, gasping slightly when my eyes focused on the mouth of the woods.

There, looking back at me, was a woman whom I'd know anywhere.

"Hey, I'm going to go to the bathroom. Eric, let me know if I miss anything good, okay?"I muttered.

"Yeah, okay." He agreed. I got up silently, not to interrupt the speech my dad was giving. I started toward the bathroom, making a beeline toward the wood when I was out of sight.

"Mom? Mother? Hey? C'mon, I know you're out here; I saw you. " I whispered, walking deeper into the woods. "Screw this." I grunted and pulled my heels off one at a time. "Mom?" I turned around. "Mo-OM!" I exclaimed, jumping when she appeared directly in front of me.

"Hello." She nodded at me.

"Mother. Always a pleasure." I breathed, clutching my heart. "You trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Oh, hush. You're fine. You look beautiful, my darling." She smiled proudly at me, pulling off her sunglasses being as she couldn't turn me to stone even if she wanted too: I was immune to her just as she was to me. I pulled off my glasses and slid them onto my head. She ran her hands down my arms until she was holding my hands.

"Thank you." I grinned shyly back. "Um, not to be rude or anything, but what are you doing here?"

"I've been watching you for sometime now, making sure you're safe. Your father's not always as predictable as he was before you were born." She told me. "And that witch he married...do not even get me started on her. I'd hold you up for hours." She added through a sigh.

"He's been getting better. They both have." I shrugged.

"Still. I feel the time is right to give you this." She said, reaching into her dark coat and pulling out something shiny. "When I was in the Underworld, Hades and I grew very close. He trusted me with this; and now I'm trusting it to you." She explained, pride shining in her eyes as she slid it into my hand. I looked down at the cold, metal lighter.

"Yeah, this is so Hades." I snickered,admiring the golden edges with black flames and a bronze helmet carved all around it. "I love it. Thank you." I looked back up at her.

"You'll know when to use it. Until then, keep it concealed. You don't know who might try to take it from you." She warned.

"I promise I'll keep it safe." I replied in all seriousness.

"This is the last time you are going to see me for a while. But know that I am always watching over you." She told me, picking up my hands again.

"I know." I assured her as she wrapped me into her motherly embrace, the snakes she had for hair tickling my face.

"I love you, Evelyn." She said as she let me go.

"I love you too, mother." I smiled up at her just as we heard a twig snap from somewhere near us. I quickly pulled my glasses back over my eyes just in time for a burly figure to join us.

"There you are. What are you doing out here?" A musical voice asked.

"I had a phone call. I tend to wander." I snickered nervously, looking up at Seth before glancing behind to see make sure Medusa was gone. She was.

"So this is the thing you had today?" He chuckled.

"We should have coordinated." I smiled at him.

"We should have. I would've asked you to be my date so you wouldn't have been stuck at the kids table." He laughed.

"Isn't that just cruel?" I joked.

"Very." He took a step toward me. "Would you have said yes?" He asked, his voice cracking nervously.

"To what?" I asked obliviously.

"If I had asked you to be my date…" He murmured.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. I swear I'm not usually this much of an idiot. I definitely would've said yes." I smiled at him.

"You're not an idiot. Like at all." He chuckled, nervously, running a hand through his black hair, his bicep bulging under his clothes.

Gods, he was perfect.

"Um, how about we head back and we dance?" He asked. "I mean, if you want too. I understand if you don't. But-"

"Seth," I placed a hand on his arm to stop him from rambling. "I'd love to dance with you." I grinned from ear to ear up at him.

"Alright." He smiled back, picking up my hand hand and leading me back to the reception. "You look beautiful by the way." He muttered to me as we walked back under the umbrella thing before he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close.

"You don't look too bad yourself." I smiled smugly as I wrapped my arms around his neck, resting my head against his chest. He leaned his head against mine and I don't know: it just felt right.

So right.

I closed my eyes and sighed out of utter contentment. I didn't know this man yet I felt more comfortable with him than anyone else in my life.

"Your brother's dancing with my sister. It's actually kind of hilarious." Seth murmured, his chest rumbled with every word. I opened my eyes and couldn't help but laugh at the sight: Eric dancing with someone twice as tall as him.

"You should probably go save her. Knowing my rhythm-less brother, he'll end up destroying her feet." I mumbled.

"Leah can handle herself. It's uhh..." His voice trailed off.

"Eric."

"Oh, right. It's Eric I'm worried about."

"Hey!" We heard Leah hiss at Eric as he, of course, stomped on her foot. Seth and I both chuckled before settling into our previous positions.

"Seth," I mumbled a few minutes later.

"Hm?"

"We're cousins." I said slowly, just realizing it myself.

"Oh, shit. Only by marriage though." He snickered.

"Right?" I giggled.

"Evelyn,"

"Hm?"

"The music stopped ten minutes ago." He chuckled.

"Yeah, you two look like idiots." Eric scoffed.

"Eric, be nice." Who I guessed was Leah scolded. "I think it's cute." She laughed.

"They're adorable."

"So cute."

"You going to introduce us, bro?" Unknown boy voices cut in.

"Oh, right." Seth groaned, pulling back but keeping an arm coiled around my waist. "Guys, this is Evelyn. Evelyn, this is Quil, Embry, and Paul." He said, pointing to each of the tanned boys as he said their name.

"Hi. I'm Evelyn." I said.

"She's beautiful. Don't screw this up." Paul laugh, looking at Seth.

"Evelyn! Come help me with something, honey!" Katherine called.

"Great. Be right back." I sighed and unwound myself from Seth, keeping his hand in mine until I couldn't reach him anymore.

"Hi, baby." She said, much too sweetly, raising an eyebrow.

"Katherine." I nodded at her.

"He's cute." She winked.

"What did you need help with?" I asked, purposely ignoring her.

"Where'd you go earlier?" She replied.

"I had a phone call. I just went to answer it."

"Who was it?" She drilled.

"Grandpa."

"What did he want?"

"He didn't know we weren't home and wanted me to go mow his lawn."

"Hm. Weird. He's house-sitting for us."

"Old people." I shrugged.

"Evelyn,"

"Am I on trial here?" I asked. "Why don't you just say what you're thinking?"

"Okay, fine. What did your mother want? And don't you dare lie." She hissed.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I replied quickly.

"She gave you something, didn't she?"

"I haven't seen Medusa in seven years. The only thing that woman gave me was life." I lied acidly.

"Do not use that tone with me, young lady." She said sternly. "That woman wasn't even here. Did she hold you when you cried? Did she feed you? Did she change you, sit up with you when you were sick or couldn't sleep, teach you to walk and talk? No, I did. I raised you, not her. You're my daughter." She growled.

"For a second there, I actually thought you meant that; then I remembered that I am the bane of your existence. You hate me because of her. They," I gestured to the sky. "Hate me because of her. I'm sick of being judged because of her." My voice cracked. Her eyes widened.

"Evelyn," She reached out and brushed away a tear that rolled down my cheek. I flinched at the contact. "If it's any consolation, I don't hate you. I just get frustrated because you think I do." She sighed, her hand resting on my shoulder. "Go have fun, we'll talk later." She smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I really am."

"Thanks." I smirked at her.

"Go, Seth is waiting." She winked.

"Stop it." I barked as I stomped away.

Katherine was a complete and total bitch, but she, like everyone else, had her moments.

I hate to admit it, but I actually did love her.

Well, to an extent.

Thanks for reading, please leave me your thoughts because I'm still not sure if I'm going to keep this story up if I don't think anyone likes it.

As for the story itself, I don't really have any long-term plot ideas so any ideas you have will be appreciated and loved.

Thank you.

~Emiko