Thank you everyone for being patient with the wait! I got sick and had work events that were mandatory (but seemed like I didn't actually need to be there) to be at. Thanks for all the reviews and love, and thank you once again for the help my dear Guest! I'll be trying to address somethings you mentioned coming up. The final word count for this chapter is 2,071, sorry that it's not much really, but I wanted to get something out to you guys rather than nothing. I don't own the characters, as usual, so please enjoy what I've done with them in this chapter!


Previously on Of Course:

She mentally made a note to hang out with Angela and maybe their lunch crowd. Perhaps they'd go to First Beach on the Res. Jeremy hadn't seen Jacob in years, since the mud pie incident actually, and it would be nice for him to have a friend here his age. Besides, she hadn't seen him since she was forced to go to prom. Maybe they could actually be friends.


Jeremy bolted out of the Beast, determined to reach the only bathroom in the house first. Kol and Jer had done some contest that involved drinking copious amounts of liquids earlier. Those two seemed to always be in some contest when Bella was around them. Shaking her head, she got out of the driver's side and made her way to the open door. Kol followed next to her, carrying a couple bags of groceries that he bought for the project. They were going to be making fish tacos since they had plenty of fish in the freezer from Charlie going out with Billy every weekend. In Bella's opinion they had way too much fish in the freezer, the boys could afford to not get a couple fish for the next half month. After walking through the threshold she stopped when she noticed Kol had stopped following.

"Want to invite me in, love?" She was going to before he opened his mouth; glaring at him when he called her "love". She never wanted to be called that again. It just reminded her of a manipulative jackass and sounded way too cocky from the guy right outside the threshold.

"One: don't ever call me 'love' again. Two: this seems weirdly polite for you. Three: sure, come on in the humble abode." Kol stared at her, it seemed like he was looking for something— found it—and a slow smile spread across his face.

"Sure, darling," Bella made a noise of protest as Kol took a step through the threshold. "Oh hush now; you never said anything about that."

Jeremy came down as Kol laughed at the disgruntled look on Bella's face. She huffed and moved a piece of unruly hair, her long-sleeved shirt falling down a bit by her wrist. She noticed Kol's eyes widen and it took her a moment to understand that he saw her scar. She tugged the shirt down self-consciously. He looked thoughtful and went up the stairs, for the bathroom, as Bella went into the kitchen. Jeremy followed his cousin and the set out the things they would need to make the video.

"You're going to be the camera girl and also the customer, can you do that Bell?"

"I got you. And if you mess up the tacos I'll just make some and you can cut your finished product and put mine in its place."

"You are literally the best cousin ever." Bella smiled. It was nice to be told that.

The project went smoothly, they didn't need Bella to cook them new tacos, her instructions and Kol's cooperation made it go by quickly with plenty of jokes and teasing. There was going to be a lot that Jeremy would need to cut out, the swearing that Bella did when Jeremy almost caught his shirt on fire. His shirt had been too close to the burner. The idiot; though with her family's track records they all were—her included (hell, especially her.) When they all sat down to eat the tacos, the house phone rang. It was Charlie saying he would be staying late at work.

"Sorry Bells, but duty calls. Another person is missing. We're going to be checking the woods for them and doing some paper work. I'll be back real late."

"That's alright dad, it's your job. I hope you find them. Do you want me to swing by and drop you off some dinner?"

"Don't worry about that, we already called in some food." Bella sighed; she really wanted him to eat a bit healthier. "Love you, Bells, stay safe. Tell Jeremy to stay out of those damned woods."

"Love you to. Be safe." He responded to her as he always did when she says those last two words then hung up. "Jer, Dad said no woods. Another hiker is missing apparently."

Jeremy nodded and then stuffed some fish tacos into his mouth. "Right, these tacos rock Bells, where'd you get the recipe?"

"A neighbor."

"Sweet."

The three teenagers finished their meals as they all thought about things; the only sound in the kitchen was of chewing and the crunch of chips being consumed with some salsa. Bella noticed Kol staring at her from the corner of her eye. She could feel his gaze on her. It was heavy. It was disrupted when he got a text message. He looked down to his phone to read the text and Bella felt her body relax. She hadn't even felt herself tense up under his gaze.

Kol seemed frustrated with something as he pounded back to whatever he read on his phone. She tried not to flinch when he about growled at the new response. Her movement caught his eyes though and he took a deep breath when he met hers. She could've sworn she saw something off in his eyes. Something dark beneath, and in, them. She looked down and ate in silence while Jeremy talked about going to take him to the batting cages in Port Angeles to take his aggression out on some baseballs.

"Hitting stuff is always the way to do it. Isn't that right Bells?" Jeremy nudged her. "Charlie had her take karate and self-defense as a kid because she lived in a big city and he wanted her to be prepared."

"Oh, color me impressed, Bambi's got some bite."

Bella snorted. "Hardly, I'm more likely to take someone down by tripping."

The boys, both done with their plates which Bella still had the majority of on her plate, went into the living room to watch some game Charlie would have been watching had it not been for work. Bella finished what she could and then gathered the dirty dishes. She cleared them off, put what was okay to be in the dish washer in, and washed the rest. Kol came in with an empty glass as she was finishing up the last pan.

"That's an interesting scar you have."

"I uh, well, I fell through some windows last year— I don't remember much— but apparently I bit myself during the fall or landing . . . or something."

"Hmm." He sounded so unimpressed with her lie. "Yes . . . something."

Bella avoided his gaze and finished her pan quickly. As soon as her hands were dry she bolted to her room. She heard Jeremy warning Kol about teasing her too much and wanted to groan. She loved the fact that he was sticking up for her, but she was an adult now. He shouldn't have to bother with that. She should be able to stick up for herself. Maybe I should take up those self-defense classes again. Even though I sucked it did help a bit with my balance and confidence. Well, at least Renee said it did. Bella sighed, besides, people are going missing. Might as well try to have a fighting chance if something happens.


First Beach was just as Bella remembered it from last year. Big rocks, cold water, fallen tree logs and plenty of blankets and fires to keep everyone warm. The difference from last year was that she wasn't the newbie. It was Kol and Jer's turn. Jake and his other friends showed up, as well as a trio that looked to be on steroids. Seriously, even Jake and his friends were buffing up. The boys who had been shorter than Angela's 6'1 last year were now even or surpassing her height. Bella briefly pondered what they were putting in the water, because it had to be something. Angela was in agreement with her when she commented on the size of the boys, saying that a few made her feel short.

Mike and her group were mingling with the natives, and while Bella was happy to see Jake, he just gave off the eager puppy vibe. She already had one Mike, she didn't need another. She tried to only talk to the group and not Jake specifically. Her cousin, his new best friend, and Angela noticed this and tried to get her out of some tight situations. Angela eventually made an excuse of wanting to walk the beach and Bella jumped on that.

"I'll come with!" Jake smiled brightly.

"Oh, um, I kind of want to talk to Bella about something." Angela apologized.

Jake deflated, frowning but accepting of the fact. The two girls went off together down the beach towards the start of the Quileute River. The girls walked in companionable silence for a little while, far enough away that no one would be able to overhear what they had to say. Angela's bangs kept getting messed up in the wind and she grumbled about Jess talking her into cutting them. Bella tightened the green scarf around her neck a little bit more.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Bella finally spoke.

"Ah," Angela chuckled nervously, "So remember when I was all weird in gym the other day? Well, I've been having these weird feelings lately and the last couple times I had touched people I got like, glimpses or something into their lives. I was expecting to see something from you . . . and I didn't. It was just a little weird I guess."

She gave Bella no time to reply, "I sound like I'm crazy. Gosh I shouldn't be saying anything. What would my dad say?"

"Hey it's alright. I won't tell anyone, and you know you aren't crazy. My brain just doesn't work right." Bella gave a short little self-deprecating exhale.

"So you've met other people like me?" Angela's eyes widened behind her glasses, a hopeful look to them.

"Not quite like you, but gifted I guess." She shrugged, uncomfortable with the topic a bit. "They just couldn't get in my brain, but physically they could get me."

The girls sat on one of the logs the crossed and Bella picked up some driftwood and began to draw in the sand; just random circles and lines. She was sure Jer could do better. Angela and Bella sat in quiet, letting each other process what was going on. Since Angela told a secret Bella decided that she should tell Angela one of hers. It was only fair, and she was sick of keeping the truth in.

"You know how I fell through a window in Phoenix last year?"

"Yeah, Jess called it a 'Classic Bella'," Angela frowned.

"I didn't actually fall through a window. A man was trying to kill me. He tricked me into thinking he had my mom and I went right into the trap." Bella spoke quietly, almost afraid that her confession would be heard whispered on the wind down the beach.

"Jesus Christ Bella!" Angela took her small friend into her arms for a hug. "Why would anyone want to hurt you?"

"I was being protected by some special people and they thought of it as a challenge." That was close to saying the Cullen's but not giving their secret away. Angela was smart so she quickly caught on.

"Well, I'm glad you survived it. I'd be stuck with no one nice to talk to or tell this weird secret to."

Bella laughed, "I'm good with weird."

Angela smiled and the two looked out to the cold water before them. It was there that Bella saw something strange: red in the water. No one was swimming or surfing, it was way too cold for that now. It seemed to bob up and Bella caught the sight of a deathly pale forehead before coming to see those striking red eyes filled with hate. Her breath caught and in a second it all disappeared. The hair and the eyes the color of fire and blood were gone. The fear wasn't though.

"You okay Bella?" Angela asked, placing her hand on Bella's shoulder in concern.

"I—um— fine. Yeah. No. I'm good. Let's go back to the fire, I'm getting cold."

Angela nodded, still anxious for Bella which the girl in question knew. Bella tried to put on a smile, but the sudden glimpse at a vampire had her terrified. She had forgotten about the wild ginger, but no longer. Bella found herself thinking over Edward's then harsh words (now something she wished for daily) "It will be as if I'd never existed—as if we've never existed." But how could that be true when she now realized that she had a redhead gunning for her?


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