(Note: These characters are not mine. Any characters based on real people are used in this fic only for entertainment purposes. No harm or copyright infringement intended.)
On their quest to find their forgotten friend Becca, Dana, and Sara were making a considerable amount of headway. After searching Ohio up and down the girls moved on through the mid-west and eventually found themselves right at the border of Nevada.
"Maybe she ran off with someone and got married in Vegas?"
"Sara, this is Mandy we're talking about. If there's any place in the world she'd run off to it'd be New York and we already looked there!"
"Sorry, Dana I'm just trying to come up with some ideas of places we could search."
"Well, try to think of places that are slightly more logical would ya?"
"Sorry. What crawled up your pants and died?"
"Ok, that's enough. We're searching for our friend here, okay. Someone who over the years has been very near and dear to our hearts. Who we can't live without for another second. Now we've been out here on the road searching for Mandy for close to three weeks and it's ridiculous what we're doing. We're high school kids! We should be in school laboring over test and quizzes and taking notes like there's no tomorrow! But we're not. We are searching every major city in every single, goddamn state searching for our best friend. Now can we keep that objective in mind and stopping fighting, like a bunch of sissies?"
"Yes, Becca."
"Sorry, sis."
"That's fine. Now that we've got our priorities straightened out let's continue our search."
"Aye, aye captain!"
"Please don't call me that Sara."
"Right, sorry. Forward, march!"
"Mandy, if you're out there save me!"
As Mandy's friends continued moving westward Mandy and James had decided to skedaddle.
"Why are we leaving again?"
"Because I have a funny feeling that some crazy shit is about to go down."
"Okay, aside from the strange vocabulary you've chosen what clues have given you the inkling that something's going to happen?"
"Well, for starters, that werewolf attack the other day. Werewolves, at least to my knowledge, have not been seen in this area for a long time which means that something weird is happening. Second, I on our last few hunts I felt as if I was followed."
"Followed? James this is a small town with small town minded people living in it. I don't think they'd have the audacity to follow anyone."
"No, see sweetheart you're considering human suspects."
"You think the Cullens are following you?"
"Precisely."
"But I thought you said the area was safe. I thought you said they wouldn't be looking for you. That's why you brought me here, isn't it?"
"Yes. I did originally think it was safe but apparently I was wrong."
"So, what do we do now?"
"We leave. I just told you five minutes ago. I've known you for awhile now. I didn't think you had short term memory loss."
"Look, honey, think about it for a second. If we leave they'll just use one of their trackers to come and hunt us down."
"They don't have any trackers."
"Well, you get my point! They'll try to find us. And even if they fail they'll get pretty damn close. We need to stop them in their tracks before they stop us in ours."
"You want to attack them?"
"Isn't that what I just said?"
"Yes, right. Sorry. So, you want to draw up the battle plans or should I?
"You'd really let me take control of this?"
"Yeah, well first of all you're my wife. And besides, attacking the Cullens was your idea. You should be the one leading this little expedition."
"If you say so. Can I have a pen?"
"A pen?"
"You asked me if I wanted to draw up the plans. If I'm going to write something out I need a pen."
"Um, I don't have one."
"I'm just pulling your leg. I'll go write it up in the dirt. You go unpack our things. We're gonna be here for awhile."
"Mandy, we don't have any luggage."
"I thought you used to have a sense of humor."
"I do."
"Just go and sit while I draw up the plans."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I think they're on to us."
"Emmett what gives you that idea?"
"That other day when I was tracking them as they hunted. James looked up at me while he was devouring that young girl. It wasn't for a long period of time but he still noticed me."
"Did he indentify that it was you?"
"No, but he still knows that someone's following him."
"Well, at least your cover hasn't been blown. What? Don't look at me like that! That's a good sign."
"Whatever, Rose."
"Don't talk to me like that!"
"Sorry, but I was hoping you'd be a little bit more concerned."
"I am, I am. But if he didn't actually see who it was then there's really nothing to worry about. Right, Carlisle?"
"Not exactly. If he knows that he's in our territory then if he sees someone following him his first guess is that's it's going to be us."
"Oh. Never mind then."
"We should probably ask the werewolves to start doing patrols of the area."
"Why can't we do it?"
"Because they run faster than us and can cover more ground."
"We can run fast too!"
"Emmett stop whining and do what you're told."
"Yes, Carlisle."
"Edward, once the werewolves have secured James it'll be your job to hide Bella in Alaska."
"Alaska? Why Alaska?"
"We have fiends there."
"Vampire friends?"
"Yep."
"How many of there you?"
"A lot."
"Right."
"You'll stay with her there while we will take care of the actual fighting."
"But we need Edward; he's one of our best fighters."
"Jasper has even fighting power to fit that of two men. Besides, Bella can't be left unattended. She might hurt herself."
"Hey! I resent that! Oh, wait. Yea, you're probably right."
"So, it's settled. Edward and Bella will go to Alaska and the rest of us will stay here and fight James and his mate. Jasper, have you started working on the fight plans?"
"Yes, we can get started practicing tonight after we hunt."
"Works for me. Alright, let's hit the town."
"I'll stay here with Bella."
"Edward, you haven't eaten in three days!"
"I know, Alice, but I don't want to leave her."
"That's sweet of you, but you should go."
"But, Bella…"
"How long does it take you to hunt?"
"About twenty minutes to an hour."
"I think I can avoid getting myself killed for that long. Go."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I love you."
"I will always love you."
"Okay, you mush balls everyone's leaving. Let's go."
"Fine, I'm coming. I have something to give you when you get back."
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
As Edward closed the door to the Cullen house a feeling of uncertainty washed over him.
"It's probably nothing", he thought to himself as he ran to join the others, "she'll be okay, I hope."
"We're attacking tonight?"
"Yes? Have a problem with that, ?"
"No, Mrs. Calloway but aren't we being a little hasty?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do we have to attack them the same night we draw up the fight plans?"
"Actually, I single handedly drew up the fight plans."
"You know what I meant. We should relax and strike at dawn."
"Fine. But if they find us before we find them it's gonna be your head!"
"Oh, a threat. Have I ever told you that I find threats kinky?"
"No, but I'm not in the mood right now."
"Please?"
"Begging won't work."
"I'll let you kill Edward Cullen and that flighty little twit he loves."
"Okay, you win."
"I love my methods of persuasion."
After making it through Nevada and Arizona Becca, Dana, and Sara decided to set up camp along the Californian coast.
"I can't believe how much ground we've covered."
"I know, especially for a bunch of un-athletic wimps like us."
"Maybe she's dead."
"How dare you say that? She's our friend! One of our greatest friends! We love... well at least I love her like she was one of our own. We can't give up hope just yet."
"You think I don't care about Mandy? I love her as much as you do! Maybe even more. But I'm just stating a possibility. After all, she's been gone for more than two weeks. If she were still alive she would've shown up by now."
"You could be right."
"I hope I'm not. But…"
"Maybe we should pray."
"Pray?"
"It couldn't hurt."
"What do we say?"
"Um, dear God please protect our dear friend Many from all harm and keep her alive long enough to see her next birthday. Please and thank you."
"Please and thank you?"
"What? God likes it when you use manners. Why are you laughing?"
"Sounds like something Mandy would've said."
"Yeah, probably."
"I miss her."
"We all do, Sara."
"That's why we're here."
"Right. We'll find her."
"As God as our witness."
"As God as our witness."
"Group hug!"
"Sara, don't ruin the moment."
"Sorry."
"Oy."
Following James and Mandy's rendezvous the couple rested up for the big day ahead of them. Well, rested as best they could for two members of the living dead. The Cullens returned safely home to find Bella resting comfortably with Jacob Black. Edward was not satisfied with this but, as they say, them's the breaks. The rest of the night passed by uneventful. But the next day, would prove to be the most important in all the lives of those involved.
To Be Continued….