The first week of school is relatively easy. Nina knows everyone just like Jake had promised (even including some distant cousins).

It would be a totally normal school week if it weren't for one thing: Embry, Quil, and Seth were nowhere to be seen. And once Nina realizes that, everything else begins to falter. There's a sense of unrest in the air only she seems to notice. The other students go on laughing and playing around the halls as if they don't feel it, but it's impossible for Nina to ignore.

She sits alone at lunch, because even though she knows everyone at school her only actual friends have mysteriously vanished. As she picks at her lunch she feels a pair of eyes on her. Nina glances up to see a girl sitting at the other end of the table with an untamed mass of curls atop her head and a smattering of freckles across her face. Their eyes connect and the girl gives her a knowing smile. Nina nearly gets up to join her, not really knowing why, before a familiar voice calls out her name.

"Hey, Kim." Nina smiles, moving her mess of books to make room for her across the table.

"It's weird that no one is here, right?" Kim asks, her head bowed as she eats her lunch.

"Jared didn't tell you anything?" Nina asks hopefully.

"Jared never tells me anything. He says pack business is on a need-to-know and I don't need to know." Kim sighs dramatically, moving her pin-straight black hair over her shoulder. "It feels like something is wrong."

"That's what I was thinking." Nina agrees, relieved to have Kim to talk to—something she'd never thought she'd feel. It wasn't like they had ever really connected, or had any similar interests aside from the wolfy common denominator.

And just as suspected, Nina and Kim quickly run out of things to talk about. The two girls finish their lunches quietly before going their separate ways.

The rest of the day continues with the same modicum of excitement (so, none). Nina had nothing else to do while homeschooling herself so she had already jumped ahead most of the curriculum. She didn't want to talk to random cousins or neighbors or learn about the properties of an atom. She wants to see Paul and have him kiss away the worries forming on her brow with each day he's gone. She wants to see Leah and have her actually tell her what's going on.

Nina moves past the crowds of students outside the school and starts to head home. She's stopped by a girl standing in her path, waving to her. Nina turns to look over her shoulder, expecting someone to be behind her. But no, the girl is waving at her.

"Um, hi." Nina greets her awkwardly. An indomitable spirit shines through the girl's clear brown eyes as she smiles.

"Hey, you're new, right?" The girl asks, pushing a curl behind her ear.

"Yeah, kind of." Nina answers, still feeling suspicious.

"Me, too." The girl beams, reaching out for Nina who instinctively pulls away. The girl frowns apologetically. "Sorry, my mom says I can be a little handsy..."

"No, it's cool." Nina sticks out her hand. "Nina Powell."

"Daisy Huerta." She shakes her hand with a smile. While her skin lacks the same blazing heat Paul possesses, Daisy has her own warmth. "You walking home?"

"Yeah." Nina answers simply. Daisy watches her, as if waiting for more.

"Wanna walk together?" Daisy finally offers, unsatisfied with her silence. Nina nods, and the two girls head off down the road. The quiet doesn't last long, with Daisy seeking to fill any gap in the conversation.

Nina feels like she's learned the girl's entire life story, from her mother running away to college in New York and meeting a handsome musician to the messy divorce and eventual move back to La Push to live with her Aunt Ellie. Somehow, Nina doesn't find the verbosity annoying. Daisy has a sweet and easy voice, and above all Nina is thankful for the distraction as she allows herself to become immersed in the energetic and chaotic world as illustrated by Daisy's wildly moving lips and thin fingers.

The distraction is short lived as the sound of a motorcycle sputtering down the tree path causes Daisy to lose her train of thought; the motorcycle makes a loop and comes back, stopping in front of them. Nina can tell the sudden events have scared Daisy and lets out a sigh of exasperation as she watches Paul and hop off the bike.

"You said you were getting a ride with Collin's mom." Paul keeps his eyes focused on her, his jaw tensed.

"I couldn't find Mrs. Littlesea's minivan in the parking lot." Nina says offhandedly, though she knows she's in the wrong. "Why are you looking at me like that? Did something happen?"

Paul grunts, his eyes landing on Daisy. He gives her a suspicious glance, not even trying to hide his distrust.

"Hi, I'm Daisy—"

"Nina, we need to talk." Paul interrupts. "It's important."

Nina glances at the girl beside her, feeling guilty for leaving her alone.

"Daisy, I have to go. I'm so sorry."

"No, it's okay! Don't worry about me!" She smiles, and Nina genuinely believes there isn't an ounce of annoyance or inconvenience.

Nina gets onto Paul's bike and rides with him back to her house. She inhales his scent through his t-shirt to calm herself down. She's both angry and worried, but what else is new?

"I felt like I had to tell you, since it seems like you consider Bella a friend." Paul says as soon as they get to Grandpa John's, without wasting any time. She wishes he would look at her. She needs to see his face.

"They turned her." Nina anticipates him, taking a sharp breath. Paul shakes his head.

"It's worse than anyone thought. Bella is still human, but she's dying."

"How?" Nina's voice is soft, she gets off of the bike and Paul follows.

"The leech got her pregnant and whatever monster is growing inside her body is killing her." Paul looks her straight in the eye. "Sam said we can't take any risks. When Bella dies, when that thing is born, the treaty will be broken. We have to kill it, before it has a chance to live."

"You can't." Nina feels tears sting at her eyes. "Paul, they'll do anything to protect their family. If you even try to get close you'll die. You can't go, please."

"Have some faith." Paul laughs humorlessly. He rubs his thumb across her cheek, wiping away her tears. "Nina, you're my family now. I'll do anything to protect you."

"What else aren't you telling me?" She asks quietly. "Tell me. I know there's something else, I can see it on your face."

"Jacob, Seth, and Leah left the pack. They're defending that thing." Paul seethes. "Seth has always been a leech lover, but I'm surprised about Leah, though I guess I shouldn't be."

Nina swallows.

Leah... left? How is that possible? She would never do that.

She doesn't dare voice the questions swirling through her mind. Paul seems to be barely able to contain himself as it is.

"Do you have to go soon?" Nina asks finally and Paul nods. He walks over to her slowly and wraps his arms around her body.

"It's going to be okay." Paul reassures her, his breath soothingly warm against her ear.

"You don't know that." Nina mumbles, squeezing him tighter.

"No, I don't." He kisses her softly before pulling away. "You should go inside, John's waiting."

Nina nods, stretching up onto her toes to kiss him again.

"Paul, be careful. Please."

"I will. Seeya, Powell."

"Bye, Lahote."

She lets out a long sigh as he disappears into the treeline. She'll never get used to him leaving like that, not knowing when or if he'll come back.

"I made you tea, Little Bird." Grandpa John greets her as she steps through the door. She looks him up and down before frowning slightly.

"Are you leaving?" He can't leave her, too.

John nods.

"I'm going with Billy to distract Charlie, until we know. He's already gotten suspicious."

"What happens when...?"

She can't find herself to form the words. She feels guilty for only worrying about herself, when Charlie was about to lose his whole word. She takes the warm mug as he slowly moves it in her direction. She sips at the fragrant liquid, letting it soothe her.

"The treaty will be broken, and then..."

War.

The wolves will fight until the Cullens are either dead or gone from the land. People will get hurt and there will be no one to heal them. People will die.

Nina wipes the wetness from her eyes.

"Can I go with you?" Nina asks softly, looking up at her grandfather. "I really, really don't want to be alone."

"It's better if you don't." He takes a long breath. She can see the exhaustion on his face, ageing him by the moment. Had his beard always been so white? "I'll take you to Emily's."

When they get to Emily's the lights are on but the house is quiet. Grandpa John squeezes her shoulder. She appreciates him not telling her it's going to be alright, because it would hurt too much if that turned out to be a lie.

Emily is in the kitchen like always. The familiar sight is both annoying and relieving. Kim stands next to the older girl, chopping vegetables and dropping them into the large stockpot on the stove when Emily asks.

"They'll be hungry when they come back." Emily tells her as she stirs the large stockpot, its aroma filling the kitchen.

Kim wipes away tears as she chops, and Nina gets her a towel.

"It's onions." Kim smiles quietly, her eyes red and glassy. Nina only nods.

She won't ask any questions. She knows that isn't her role. All she can do is hold herself together and get the beef broth from the pantry like Emily asks.

Emily leaves the stew to simmer on the stove and wipes her hands on her apron. Nina offers to make coffee and they sit together at the table, picking apart at muffins Emily had made earlier.

Emily asks about school and they chatter quietly, as if afraid to fill the empty space with their voices. Nina sips her coffee, studying the other girls. Emily's kind eyes and scarred skin, her silky hair perpetually tied back away from her face. Kim's button nose and full lips glossed with Smackers, her hair plaited down her back with curls stubbornly sticking out untamed.

Who do you cook for when he's gone? Who do you wait for when he's not coming back?

Nina doesn't ask, but the questions burn in her throat. She's new to this. Waiting. But she knows that Emily and Kim are seasoned veterans of wondering and hoping and jumping each time the front door creaks just because it's old and the wood is warped.

She knows that Paul did his best to protect her. He eventually told her about the redheaded vampire they hunted for most of the year, each time risking their lives. And why Sam wouldn't let her go to the lake alone. She knows what horrors happened when she was in the hospital, when Jake got hurt. And why Paul returned to her like a battle jaded soldier.

Each time Emily and Kim would have been sitting at this table, drinking coffee and waiting. Paul had protected her, but now she doesn't know what to do and she's too scared to ask anyone. She can only sit and sip at her coffee, unsure if it's hot or cold because it doesn't really matter anymore.

Sam comes back first, then Jared. They reassure her that Paul is fine, he just needs to cool off. Sam wraps Emily into an engulfing hug and Jared covers Kim in sloppy and loud kisses. Laughter fills the house again. No one mentions what has occurred.

Nina sits on the porch, letting the other two couples have their privacy as she waits. Paul returns later, his face pale. She holds out her arms and he falls into them, resting his face in the crook of her neck and breathing in deeply.

"I missed you." She murmurs quietly, trying not to cry. She has to be strong, like Emily.

"I missed you, too." He nuzzles his face against her skin again before pulling back to give her a gentle kiss. His large hand finds hers and squeezes. He peers back at the house. "Let's go for a walk."

He leads her away from what she assumes is earshot from Sam. Paul sits on a fallen log off the path of the woods and motions for her to sit next to him.

"Paul, what's going on?"

"Bella gave birth, but there was nothing we could do... She's dead." He answers her quietly, wringing his face in his hands.

"Where is Leah?" Nina asks, her heart thumping. "Where is Jake? What happened?"

Paul gives her a miserable look. There's a quiet rage in his eyes, but mostly just exhaustion. Heartache.

"He... imprinted. On the baby... Bella's baby... There was nothing we could do. Jake wouldn't let us, the Cullens wouldn't let us."

Nina rubs her palm against Paul's back in gentle and slow circles.

"There's nothing you could do." She repeats back to him in a soft whisper.

"I know." Paul's voice cracks and he buries his head into her chest again. "Everything is just a mess right now, and I don't know what to do."

Nina softly cups his chin and brings his lips to her, letting the exhaustion and confusion melt away into the soft and sweet pressure of the kiss.