Disclaimer: I only own Gemma and my other OC's.

Chapter 36

When we arrived at the diner, I was surprised to not only see mine and Leah's parents but Uncle Billy and Jacob, Jason, Charlie, and Sam and Emily. I was most surprised that Emily was here. She hasn't been out in public since the whole incident. Her face is fully healed, just has the long scars going down the right side of her face. Even with the scars, Emily is still very beautiful.

Leah and Emily have rekindled their relationship and are like family again, but Leah still refuses to talk to Sam unless she has to which is usually for pack business.

The diner isn't very large so our party took up almost the entire place. I'm not exactly to sure why our parents decided to pick this diner instead of the one on reservation but I'm not going to question it.

After giving everyone hugs we sat down and ordered our food. The waitress was in complete shock when she saw the amount of food Paul, Leah, Jared, and Sam were eating. Those of us who knew about the pack watched with amusement, Charlie was a surprised even though he had a nice plate full himself, and Jacob and Seth just had blank looks.

When I look at Charlie is when I realize that Bella isn't here. I haven't spoken to her in a while and wonder if that's why she didn't come.

"Hey Charlie, where's Bella?" I ask after swallowing some of my omelet.

He puts down his coffee cup and looks at me with a look I can't really read, "She's over at the Cullen's today."

That had a couple of the guys coughing or choking and a bunch of forks dropped. Charlie looks at everyone a little confused. It's not like we can say 'do you realize your daughter is in a house full of vampires?' Why would she be going over there? Is she and that one dating?

I try to play it off, "Is she doing a homework project with one of them?"

He shrugs, "I'm not to sure. I didn't ask so she didn't say."

The rest of us were giving knowing looks. Bella definitely is getting herself involved with them and none of us liked that. It's dangerous for her. I really wish that we could tell her what they were so she can stay far away from them.

While I'm stuck in my thoughts, something is thrown at my forehead. I look down to see a small packet of jelly and see Seth smiling at me. "What was that for?"

"I was talking to you but you obviously are somewhere else right now," Seth explains. I give him an apologetic look, "I'm sorry Sethy. What were you saying?"

"I was asking you if you could help me with a paper for my history class since you take an AP class. You're the best person to help me with it." I smile at him, "Of course I'll help you. Let me know when you want to work on it."

He gives me that big adorable smile of his that makes me want to pinch his cheeks.

"So how was it getting her out of bed this morning?" dad suddenly asks and I start to choke on my orange juice. Paul, Leah, and Jared start laughing hysterically. Everyone, even people who weren't in our party were looking at them like they have gone mental as I cover my face with my hands.

The three of them take turns telling the story while trying to keep their laughter under control.

"She still had last year's calendar on her wall!" Leah finished in between breaths.

The whole table was now laughing.

"Hey, in my defense I never really look at it, that's what my phone is for." I say crossing my arms.

"But why didn't you take it down? It's been the New Year for four months now," Uncle Billy asks while chuckling.

"I think I took it down to put the new one up but got distracted and got them mixed up and put it back on the wall."

Jason is banging his fist on the table laughing, "Gemma, sweetie, I love you but damn. Please don't let any future grandkids of mine have your internal blonde roots."

My jaw hit the floor. Paul busted out laughing and wraps his arm around my shoulder, "Don't worry dad, they'll take after me."

This is when my dad decides to jump in, "Um, I better not be having any grandkids. Not for a while anyways."

Now I was smiling, "There's nothing for you to worry about dad, I promise," I say reassuring him. But stupid Paul, "Yeah, there's nothing for you to worry about. We use plenty of protection."

I literally started choking on air. The table was silent besides my choking. All the adults were looking at us with surprised looks, besides Jason who gave us that 'talk' when I stayed for the weekend, but dad looked like he was going to rip Paul's head off. When I caught my breath I started to sink down in my chair.

Leah grabs my hand giving it a reassuring squeeze but with a smirk on her face. I was scared to look back at my dad.

"Obviously I can't control what you two do, but I do NOT want to hear or know anything about it," dad growls at Paul which actually makes him flinch. "I'm sorry sir," Paul apologizes, "I truly did not mean no disrespect."

I sneak a look up at my dad to see him sign, "It's fine. Just watch what you say around me. That's my daughter."

Paul nods, "Yes sir. I understand."

Everyone seemed to start breathing again. That was very intense. Wish it didn't have to be with our family and friends but at least it's ok now.

We stayed there until it was time for diner to set up for lunch. Leah and I gave everyone hugs thanking them for breakfast as we all started to part ways. We decided that we didn't want a party this year so a nice breakfast was great.

"So what's the plan for today? Leah and I are having a sleepover at her house tonight but I don't have to be there until four, so I'm yours until then." I ask Paul wrapping my arms around him as he leans against his truck. He rubs his hand on the back of his neck. "Well, I'm busy today." That caught me a little off guard. "Busy? Do you have patrol?"

It takes him a quick second before he nods. "Yeah, I wish I didn't since it's your birthday but I can't control when Sam sets us up."

Inside I felt like there was something else going on but I didn't want to ask him so I just nod. He wraps his arms around me pulling me in tight, "I'm sorry Gem. I'll make it up to you, I promise." I get on the tips of my toes and kiss him. "It's ok, I'll figure something out to do until I have to go to Leah's." Paul looks a little guilty but nods. "Do you want me to take you home?"

I shake my head, "No you go ahead, I'll go home and hangout with my parents."

He leans down kissing me in that way that makes me go weak at the knees. When we pull away he looks deeply into my eyes, "I love you so much Gemma."

A smile spreads across my face, "I love you most."

I watch him as he gets in his truck and leaves. God, I really wish he didn't have patrol.

When I can no longer see his truck I go to where mom and dad are talking to Charlie. Mom is the first to notice me, "You coming home with us?" I nod slightly, "Yeah, Paul has to pa...work," I say catching myself remembering Charlie.

"What time are you going to Leah's?"

"Four."

She smiles and wraps me in her arms, "Good, we'll do something together at home. Just the three of us." The way she was so excited made me go into a better mood.

"Yes, me and my girls," Dad says pulling us into his arms now sandwiching me. Charlie chuckled at the sight.

"Ok, well I'm going to head to the station," Charlie says getting our attention. I pull away from my parents and give Charlie a hug, "Thank you again for coming. It means a lot."

He chuckles, "It's no problem Gemma."

"Tell Bella I missed her today," saying this made me hope that it would maybe bring her around more and get her away from the Cullens.

Charlie smiles, "I will. She has some friends at school but I don't think anyone real close to depend on." I was taking that as he wanted me and her to be close. I would love for us to but if she does indeed start dating a Cullen, I can only push myself so far to be a close friend with her.

...

When we got home, mom pushed me on the couch telling me not to move as her and dad got everything. I figured we would be watching a movie or play a board game like we use to do all the time in Hawaii.

Five minutes later, mom has my double stuff Oreo's, cream soda, and popcorn while dad has the VCR...yes I said VCR and VHS tapes. I instantly knew what they were.

"Are those the old home videos?" I ask giggling. They both nod. "What better way to spend the next four hours on your birthday than watching home movies of when you were little?" Mom said tearing up a little.

"I don't think we've actually watched these since we recorded them. There was so much dust on them in the box," Dad says blowing them off after he set the VCR up.

We piled up on the couch with me sitting in between them.

The first video was when we all tried to learn to surf, I was around the age of nine. Dad was the only one who was really good at it. Mom couldn't even get on her knees without flipping over. I on the other hand did ok, couldn't stay on very long but I was decent. Never really cared much for it.

The second video was of Thanksgiving and Christmas combined when I was seven. Mom started crying when Aunt Sarah was on the TV. I know how much she missed her best friend. It's been ten years and even though I don't remember much of her, I still miss her when I go to Uncle Billy's. As I watch and see how mom and dad, and Uncle Billy and Aunt Sarah acted together in the video, I could totally see the imprint love that the couples had.

That's when a thought came to me. "How could Jason and Paul's mom get divorced with the imprint bond?" I ask looking up at my dad. He mutes the TV and looks at me with a sad look in his eyes, "Jason never imprinted." I was not expecting that. "What?"

He nods, "Jason was the only one in the pack not to imprint. He met Marley is when he realized he was never going to imprint."

Now that made sense.

When he put in the last video before I had to go to Leah's was when I was around twelve but neither one of my parents had the camera. My back is to the camera as I'm sitting at my desk. Alan grabs my shoulder with one hand making me jump.

"Jeez Alan, you made me mess up!" I whin making Alan laugh. "Why do you have my dad's camera. You break it, he'll hurt you. I may love you but I won't stop daddy from hurting you."

Alan laughs, "I ain't scared of big tough Joseph," he says in a macho voice. I look behind him and smile, "Hi daddy!" I yell making Alan almost drop the camera. He turns to see no one behind him. Now it's my turn to laugh, "Not scared huh?"

"Shut up peanut!" I roll my eyes at his nickname, "Why do you always call me that?"

He sets the camera on my dresser so he can get on it too. He pulls me beside him as we look into the camera, "Because you are my peanut, my little sister that I never had but always wanted." I smile brightly at him. "Plus your really small next to me."

Now the whole peanut thing made sense. I completely forgot all about that. The whole rest of the video was of Alan and I goofing off. It made me really miss him. I know I say Seth and Jared are like brothers to me, but Alan is like Leah. They are apart of me.

"You know your mom use to say that you two would end up getting married until you and Paul became a thing," Dad says when the tape was done. I look at mom, "Really?"

She nods, "Yeah, but your dad always knew that you two were closer than that and you are. He's not blood but he's always been like a son to me. I miss him."

I lean my head on her shoulder, "I miss him too."

I decided that before things got emotional that I should head out to Leah's; but the walk didn't get my mind off of Alan which some how lead to Bella and the Cullen's. I felt like my brain was always wondering to her. I hate that out of everyone in Forks, it had to be the Cullen's that she had to get involved with and there is nothing I can do to protect her from them.

And some big part in my brain was telling me that this was going to put a strain on our friendship.

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