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Nearly an hour after Edward drops me off, Alice shows up at my house.
"What happened to you, Bella?" she asks when I open the front door. "I've been looking everywhere for you. You left your phone in my car."
I shake my head.
"Come on, we have to talk."
She walks in, following me upstairs to my room.
"I was walking home and Edward found me."
Her eyes widen.
"Oh shit!"
"Yeah."
"I saw him at the party talking to James Garrett right before you left. And then I started looking for you and lost track of him."
"Well, he found me."
"What did he say?"
My chin starts to tremble, remembering his cruel words.
"He said ... that I couldn't say anything to anyone about who he really is or else he'd tell my dad that I was a lying, little slut."
She gasps.
"Oh my god, that's harsh."
"Yeah ... well," I scoffed, "he said to tell you that if you didn't keep quiet, he was going to tell Jasper about you, too."
"That asshole. He wouldn't."
"Yeah, he would," I say, nodding. "Believe me, Alice, he was dead serious."
She lies back on my bed and huffs loudly.
"Well, that can't happen. I can't lose him over this."
I can't believe her right now.
"Alice, if you don't tell Jasper the truth, you're going to lose him anyway."
"I know," she whispers, "but I'm scared because I really like him. I've never felt like this before ... ever." She starts crying, and I lay down next to her. "This is all so fucked up."
"It is," I say, staring at my ceiling.
"So that's all he said to you; just for us not to tell anyone who he really is?"
"Yes."
**BN**
The next week is short because of Thanksgiving break.
However, in the two days that we're at school, Edward does a great job of breaking my heart even more. He's been talking to Lauren a lot, and I overheard her telling Tanya that he's going to the La Push party with her this weekend.
Those parties at the reservation are exclusive and by invite only. They're not usually my scene, but I've been to a few of them. They're all about sex and drugs, and I'm not into drugs, and I've never messed around with anyone on the rez. I've known everyone there my whole life, and so has my dad. His best friends are Harry Clearwater and Billy Black, and they run everything in La Push. Sometimes, I wonder if he actually knows some of the things that go on out there. The truth is, even if he did he has no jurisdiction in that area; they're protected by their own laws, and it's an entirely different world there.
Lauren only goes because Sam has a thing for her. He's a big guy and doesn't like anyone even talking to Lauren when they're together, so it will be interesting when she shows up with Edward.
Maybe he'll get his ass kicked.
.
.
Wednesday afternoon, a light snow begins to fall. I watch the flakes from my bedroom window while thinking about Edward and how nothing about him and his being in Forks makes sense.
It all seems as if it's one weird dream, only it's not.
I'm wide-awake.
And I'm missing something, I'm sure of it.
.
.
Thursday comes; Dad and I spend the day with Alice and her family. Aro's son Emmett and his wife Rose bring their baby, and we all take turns holding and playing with him. Alice doesn't have a maternal bone in her body and freaks out when Emmett says she has to change Demetri's dirty diaper because she was the last one who touched him. I laugh and roll my eyes, then offer to do it for her, for which she melodramatically thanks me.
I'm walking back from changing Little Dem's diaper, when I hear my dad's lowered voice from one of the bedrooms, making me stop in my tracks.
"I've known those guys my entire life, and I'm having a hard time believing they'd be behind that shit."
I'm thankful the baby is quietly obsessed with my hair while I eavesdrop on his conversation.
"Huh, well that would make sense."
"Dammit, I hope you're wrong."
"Okay, keep me posted."
"Yeah, just watch your ass, Cullen."
"I sure hope you do."
My heart speeds at hearing Edward's last name.
However, that makes no sense.
We don't know any other Cullens, do we?
The baby coos loudly, and I quickly head back to the living room before I get caught.
.
.
Friday afternoon, I drive to the station to meet my dad for lunch, but his deputy tells me he's in a meeting that should be over soon.
I'm being nosey and going through the papers on his desk when a familiar name written on his calendar catches my eye.
Sunday, November 20th - Agents Saxton/Cullen
My stomach drops to the floor as the realization hits me.
And suddenly, everything makes sense.
**BN**
Saturday night, I drive to La Push. Alice doesn't get along with a lot of the people out there, so I go solo.
Once I'm allowed access at the main gate, I drive straight to Sam's house. There will be smaller parties at various houses on the rez this weekend, but the hardest action is always at Sam's.
I park and get out of my car, scanning the open field of vehicles for Edward's but don't see it.
"Looking for someone?" A familiar voice says from behind me. Jacob Black walks up, giving me a hug.
"Hi, Jake."
He swings his arm around me, guiding me toward the house.
"It's been a while. Where you been hiding."
"Nowhere ... Just busy with school," I say, shaking my head.
"Yeah, me too."
"Lauren isn't here yet?" I ask when I see she isn't by Sam.
"Not yet."
He hands me a beer, but I'm not in the drinking mood. I'll hold onto it though, for appearance.
"Thanks."
I'm standing, listening to Jacob and Sam talk about football when Sam gets a call.
"What's up?" He answers. "What the fuck? Yeah, let 'em in. I'll meet 'em out front."
"What's going on?" Jacob asks.
"Lauren brought some new fucker with her."
Sam looks like he's ready to kill; to say he's jealous, is an understatement, and Lauren knows this. Her reckless behavior could get Edward hurt or worse.
Jacob follows Sam as he beelines for the front door. I walk behind them, scrambling to figure out how to diffuse the situation.
Lauren's BMW pulls into an open spot, and Sam heads straight for her car.
Edward parks his car beside hers. He gets out and stands by his door, waiting.
Sam opens Lauren's driver door and says something to her, then swings his head behind him, looking straight at Edward.
Knowing him the way I do, he isn't going to buy the whole 'we're just friends' thing right now, so I do the first thing that comes to mind and walk over to Edward.
"Trust me," I whisper.
A flash of surprise crosses his face, but I don't waste any time wrapping my arms around his neck and slamming my lips against his. Instantly, his hands grip my waist and slide around to my lower back, pulling my closer. He moans in my mouth, and I almost forget where I am.
"Hey, Bella," Sam's angry voice calls out from behind me.
I break the kiss, repeating Edward's former words to him in his ear.
"Don't. Say. Anything."
Turning around, I plant a huge smile on my face.
"Yes, Sam?"
"He's with you?"
"Yup," I say, leaning back against Edward. "I had something to do with my dad, and I didn't know how long it would take, so I asked Lauren to show Tony the way." His hands slide around my waist, and he locks his fingers together over my stomach.
Lauren rounds her car with a grateful expression.
"That true, Babe?" Sam asks her.
She nods, pouting. "I was about to tell you that, but you started yelling at me before I could say anything."
"Sorry," he says, kissing her head. "I'm an ass."
"That's okay. I still love you." She plants a kiss on his lips, and I breathe because all is right again.
For now.
"You're a good, little liar," Edward says quietly enough that only I can hear.
I turn around, kissing the top of his ear before whispering, "Better than you, Agent Cullen."
Pulling back, the shock on his face is priceless.
Afterwards, I take his hand and introduce him to Sam and Jacob.
I know how secretive and territorial these people are, and there's no way they're going to let him in without the approval of a trusted insider.
And that would be … Me.
Thanks for reading.
Jenn