A knock echoed out on Adley's front door. She scrambled from the bathroom still towel drying her long dark locks. She was dressed in a grey knitted sweater and dress pants for the school day she was grateful she had thought to dress first.

"Coming…" She mumbled to herself dropping the towel on the front table near the door, which held her keys. She tossed open the door.

Chief Swan stood fully suited up, fist raised to knock again. She paused momentarily taking in the golden glow from his aura, she didn't even need to focus on her gift to see he was excited.

"Charlie," she blinked a few times. "A welcome surprise, what brings you to my door this early?"

He blinked a few times smile on his face as his cheeks reddened. She chuckled seeing the embarrassment of realizing the time. It was only six twenty in the morning.

"Apologies Adley, I didn't think of the time… I just wanted to thank you. Bella slept through the night for the first time in months. I wanted to thank you." He prattled out in a rush. "Are you usually up so early?"

"That is wonderful news! Yes, school days require early hours. I like to get a good start to a day." She shrugged.

"Have you had breakfast yet?" He questioned.

She raised a brow to this. "No, I was in the middle of doing my hair before I was planning a shake and some eggs."

"You don't have reservations if I treat you to breakfast beforehand? After all you did in one day. I want to pay you back for it in anyway…"

She saw the tinge of uncertainty color his aura. She chuckled but allowed him to feel her own emotions that he was not making her uncomfortable. An odd man sure but one who obviously cared for his daughter.

"Breakfast would be wonderful. The diner down town is open this time, let me put my hair up and I'll follow you down to the diner? I don't have class until nine. The station doesn't mind you taking the time?" She queried.

"The boys can handle an hour or so without me." He brushed it off.

Charlie went back out to his cruiser to wait. Adley closed the door and hurried back to the bathroom. She was grinning the whole time she brushed her hair out and pulled it up into a bun allowing her bangs to feather loose around her face. They'd turned into side bangs, she'd realized. Maybe a trip to a salon was in order she hummed while finishing with some light makeup and headed to the door. Her bag and purse already stocked and prepped when she got home last night.

She locked the house up and headed up to Jeep. She followed the cruiser down the main road to head into the familiar diner. It had a few elderly people at some further tables being served but that was it. She took her purse and headed to meet Charlie at the door.

They chose a booth near the front windows waiting for the waitress.

"Again Adley, thank you. You have no idea the change I saw last night… Bella slept through the night with no terrors. I slept…" he trailed off, a quirk in his lips showing the smile never left him.

"I am happy to hear. Bella is a sweet girl, to see her struggle like that… it breaks my heart. Maybe its just the fact I'm a first-year teacher but seeing my students struggle hurt. I have the got to save the world mentality my Oma always said." She chuckled.

"Morning Chief, your usual?" An older waitress came out with note pad in hand.

"Morning Flo, yes, please." He nodded then gestured to her.

"A guest? Why Chief, you didn't say! Hello ma'am what can I get for you. Quite the feat to see someone besides Bella dining with him. I feared he'd become a hermit." The woman laughed.

He blushed Adley couldn't help but chuckle herself. "I'll have some eggs sunny side up with bacon please. Does it by chance come with fruit instead of hash?"

"It most certainly can. Advice this one hasn't ordered fruit in ten years unless it comes with whip cream and sugar." She teased.

"Then please add some to Chief Swan's order." Adley quipped with a giant grin. The waitress nodded and took the pad and left with that.

"You are insistent on those."

"Healthy bodies help up keep healthy minds." Adley shrugged. "So, what are you up to today as chief of police?"

Charlie ran a hand over the back of his neck, right as Flo brought their coffee out and placed creamers and sugar down.

"I'll be looking into some cases with Washington state police, meeting up with officer Helm and officer Kelly. It's a climbing number of hikers along the trails between here, Port Angeles, all the way up into Seattle. The city is worse off than us. Kelly's talking FBI involvement. He's sure it's some human trafficking crime ring that's involved. Helm's got word of it even crossing boarders." He sighed.

Charlie's aura rang through with grief the blue sorrow tinging his golden hue. Adley bit her bottom lip before she brought her coffee up to sip on it. The warm liquid required.

"I don't wish to prod too deep in on classified information. You seem to be implying you don't believe the theory?" She questioned.

"Frankly, I don't know what to believe. The cases I've been involved with doesn't include major crime rings. Forks isn't a hot spot of missing people. The victims are too far in age range, the ones ending up dead aren't consistent with human trafficking theories. My gut tells me it's not random all these people are connected somehow. But in something else entirely." He shook his head. "These cases are making me see the world ain't so black and white in existence."

"Has it ever been? Our world is so complex full of things we cannot explain. Do not be afraid to expand your mind. Theories regardless of how out there, is a theory none the less. I'm not a philosophy major. My mind though tells me there is more than we accept to this world than we know." She explained, not voicing more as their food came out.

They stuck to lighter topics and finished just in time to make it for herself to set up for her first class of the day.

Lunch came and a knock echoed on her classroom. Adley peered up to the open door to see Bella standing, her light aura glowed brighter. She grinned.

"Afternoon Bella, what brings you to my class? Aren't you supposed to be eating?" She pushed back from her desk.

"Aren't you?" Bella questioned, before gesturing to her bag. "You don't mind if I eat in here with you, do you?"

Adley looked to the time. The girl was right. "Smart ass. Yes, come pull up a chair. Tell me about your day so far. I heard you slept well."

"Yeah, no nightmares. The blanket worked." She replied. "I did as we planned, asked for a few extra credit assignments from my teachers. Spanish, Biology so far. I've got Chemistry and History this afternoon… I want to drop PE."

Adley paused. "While physical education is good health wise. You're not in much of a state for it. Have you actually done it this semester?"

"No, coach has me at a thirty…"

"Then drop it. No need to have your average brought down by a class not considered by your university experience." She replied.

"Really? You don't care about me dropping a class?"

"It's not important and gives you time for your other classes. It's February Bella, you only have so much longer until applications are due. Now how many assignments were you given and when are they due?"

Adley asked before reaching into her bag and grabbing a spare 2006 daily planner. She grabbed a pen before continuing to eat her sandwich. Bella pulled out two full stacks of work books and assignments looking to be twenty to thirty each.

"These are all the assignments I did poor on they are allowing me to redo, and tests as well to help boost it. It also is some work assignments to be graded…" She explained.

"Good, here is mine to add to the pile." Adley smirked while grabbing the forty-page work book of tests, work assignments all missed prior and would be coming up. Shed have Bella do some more if need be.

"You really made this? When's the dead line?"

"Tomorrow."

Bella blanched her eyes going wide as she paled. Fear ran through her.

"I am teasing Bella, not until half way through March. We will work on these together. It's single sides and mostly three questions needing explanation and some exercise sheets. Relax. Some aren't even covered yet in class. We will do it as we go. I have a few of these for other students in the class as well, we are staying after class today and Thursday for all other students with outstanding assignments in this class or others. Come by?"

"Of course. Thank you, Adley. I really appreciate this."

"Good, now eat. And what dates are those due. Tonight, how does homemade lasagna and shepherd's pie sound to learn to make from scratch? Sandwiches get boring."

Adley found herself in a bit of a grove that week, Morning's found Charlie on her doorstep with bigger and bigger grins and a golden aura. He was focused in on his case load and such. Bella spent time with her in the kitchen and they worked on the assignments and packages given to her by all her teachers. As predicted, they were more than happy to see Bella engaged once more in her daily life. Adley wasn't fooled too much that it was a struggle for her, in the aura, but every day there was an increase in her glowing aura.

Friday approached and she got a text from her usual breakfast partner saying he had to head up to Port Angeles immediately. Another missing person.

Her Friday passed and she found herself finishing with a few of her students who requested her to stay after for their exam on Monday and Tuesday. Bella remained at her spot near her desk as others finished up and went on.

"You really are dedicated to us." Bella commented coming up to Adley's desk.

"Isn't that what teachers are supposed to do?" She asked. "I had teachers that inspired me so much to pursue doing what they did. My siblings went into the medical field to help the world as they hurt. I wanted to help but in a different way. I know the American education system is flawed and doesn't do much for the kids. I wanted to change that even if it was just my classes I helped. Everyone should be able to learn."

Bella nodded right as Adley's cell phone went off.

She bit her cheek seeing the number. Oma… she sighed.

"Hi Oma, I'm still with my students. Can I call you back?"

"Adley Mae Choi, you will not. You've ignored my calls all week." Oma roared.

"Oma, I've been busy…"

"I am aware. I only need you to confirm if you will be down here for the gala. You said you would. I have a guest list to make." She prattled on.

"That isn't for weeks –"

"It's the eleventh this weekend. Tomorrow, you are supposed to be here tonight."

Adley pursed her lips. "Fine Oma, I'll be on the road tonight. I am however with students. I will talk to you soon. I love you Oma."

She shut her phone before her mother could respond. Adley was fully aware the fact she'd have a tea cup tossed at her head and an earful later when she arrived home. Regardless the time of night.

She turned and looked to Bella who stood with a frown.

"You're leaving?"

"I'm visiting my Oma. I made a promise. One I shouldn't have made." Adley huffed. "Oma has it set in her mind she'll marry me off before I am thirty."

"Oh, I'll be alone this evening…" Bella blushed.

Adley pursed her lips. Oma never said she couldn't bring someone with her. Someone she could use as a buffer between her insistent mother and suitors…

"How in the mood are you to attend a gala in Seattle. We can go to the bookstores and such when there. The gala is at night."

"I don't think I have the clothing for it…"

"Don't worry about it. I've got that more than covered." Adley grinned ear to ear while she got up with a plan in mind.

That Saturday morning Adley arrived from Forks with Bella Swan to Seattle. Her father had permitted her to go to the gala function. He didn't give much argument since he still felt as if he owed her the world. That whole week Bella had slept well allowing Charlie to do so as well. Her grades had already risen a few percentages up from her failing grades. They had work to do, she knew this with the growing aura in Bella. Adley was no fool this was a long journey. One that showed hope of being successful.

Now, Adley was preoccupied with helping Bella get into a dress. One thing Adley and her sister had tones of were dresses from teen years until adulthood for galas and recitals. The many events of Oma and Appa required them to attend, as expected of patrons and doctors. Oma an economics professor and Appa was a physician in the children's hospital. So, it was something she was used to, being dressed up to attend any function.

"How'd you function being put with all this?" Bella gestured to the walk-in closet with a circle pedestal surrounded by three mirrors.

It was the attic in the house that had been repurposed from a hangout space to store the many formal clothes cultural to western wear. The one side were suits and others dresses for multiple occasions. It was an array of black tie to simple fancy dress up for events. Many they kept in hopes grand children would wear them. Adley shrugged. She had little desire to produce children just yet. Who was to say they would even fit the children? Each body was so different.

"I knew nothing else." She chuckled. "I am the youngest of three. My sister had recitals as did I. My brother had many performances in his orchestra and robotic competitions… The list goes on not to mention family events. Reunions to celebrations. I have quite a large family from both sides. Oma had four siblings, Appa had five. Their parents came from Korea but had siblings immigrate. Each had lots of family members who went on to higher education."

"Are you sure it's okay I wear this?" Bella motioned to the red dress she'd selected.

It came to her calves and hung in an A-line. The skirt had a few roses sewed into the design. The top was a u neck with thick straps. The cardigan was black. It'd been an outfit Adley had worn to her ninth grade fall piano recital. The color suited the whole valentine's day theme. It was a modest dress on Bella. Considering she may have been the same height as Adley, but she was much smaller in dress sizes. Adley wore a size 6 to 9 now and Bella was barely a size 0 to 2. Adley had guessed the girl was the size she was in grade nine. She had been right.

"It was mine so don't worry." Adley assured. "You can wear flats with it, so you'll look great. Now make up wise I apologize but we don't have much in your shade foundation wise... you really don't need make up. So, brows, lips and lashes and call it good?"

Bella nodded with a small grin. "I can handle that. It's nice to not be forced full make up. The last prom I went to... I wore too much makeup, it wasn't me. It'd been his sister who did the makeup… It was pretty. Just not me."

Bella bit her bottom lip as she remembered. Adley felt the remorse, longing, and embarrassment. She had been more influencing on her pupil she realized, when she placed a hand on Bella's shoulder sending sparks of encouragement. It wasn't often she really needed to force fake emotions. She merely transferred her own moods into Bella.

"No one here will force you to be someone you aren't. Well Anna may be a bit pushy but she's the eldest sibling. It is a habit she has. Now, why don't you change back, and we can head downtown for Starbucks and hit the book shops?"

"Sounds good,"

Adley left the closet and rounded down the small set of spiral stares to go down to the second floor where the bedrooms were. Oma stood with a tray of tea and two cups to be prepared. Adley eyed her over, a spark of knowing in those dark almond eyes. Oma retired from the university last year. Since her accident in the summer, she'd decided to take some time to heal and turn to her writings instead. It left her too much time, Adley sighed. Like playing matchmaker and getting involved in the church. Being devout did not bother her, it was the matchmaking.

"You're weary," Oma said, evaluating her youngest.

"Just doing some therapy is all." Adley tried to do her best to be nonchalant.

Oma hummed nodding her head knowing fully well what her youngest was doing. Adley knew it was useless to lie to a woman who was an Empath in her own right. She and her siblings never got away with anything under her watch.

"Your Empath heart is of your grandmother. While it is a blessing it is also a curse. Be careful Adley, do not let it consume you. She isn't addicted?" Oma questioned quietly.

"No Oma. She is not addicted. I am being careful. I've only used my powers to some fuller extent on her once or twice. She's been dealing with her emotions well on her own. My influence has been more lowering my own shield to use my emotions to encourage her or sooth her."

"Alright, I will be quiet. Proceed with caution. She sighs with the damages of a broken soul. Her aura, there is a rip on it." Oma mentioned handing the tray to her. "She knew her soulmate."

Adley frowned. Soulmate? To meet them as a human was rare. Was this the cause of the depression in her student? A torn soul from a bond recognized by Soulmates? She sighed trying her best not to cry. If this were the cause, there could be dire consequences to the soul. She really knew little on the study of Soulmates finding each other. Her Ancestors had some journals from the more powerful Empaths, but she'd had little time to read them over. A lot of them were in Korean or older dialects. Oma was one of the last to be able to read them, she had studied them at least.

"Oma, will she be okay?"

"I know not the future. I only know she mourns for her other half. It is written all over her. This Isabella is truly injured. For her to endure... a tragic tale." Oma shook her head with a tut.

"I see the hole in her aura, it pulses from her chest. It dulls it so much. The other half, whomever they are surely must be in as much pain." Adley observed.

Both women quieted when steps could be heard. Bella was back in her flannel and jeans. Oma smiled wide to the young girl. Adley straightened up with the tray in hand.

"Good to go look at books after lunch? Oma brought some tea. I didn't even realize the time. Let's eat before we go." Adley suggested.

Bella nodded, there was a flicker of a soft glow to her aura at the mention of her passion. So, they headed down to the bottom floor."

She sat Bella at the table and helped Oma bring out the food she'd been preparing. Adley was however brushed aside to go sit with her guest once Appa came in with a few groceries.

She plopped down on the wooden chair next to Bella, taking a sip of tea.

"You got kicked out?" Bella questioned lips pulling upwards.

"Yeah, Appa is back." She sighed. "No matter how much I age I swear I'll always be seen as a child."

"Until you bring home kids, Addie." Cole said popping in from the living room. "Good to see you, surprisingly I missed you."

"Told you, you would." She stuck her tongue at her brother. He leant down hugging her before sitting at the table across from her. "Bella, this is my brother and the favorite child, Cole. Cole, a friend Bella."

"Nice to meet you, ever been to Seattle?" Cole questioned.

"A few times when I was younger. The most recent being a lay over before heading to Port Angeles a year or so ago." Bella replied.

"Well then make sure, Addie shows you all the best spots here. Careful though, she's a bit of a nerd. Keep her from the one comic store –"

"Ah! Be quiet demon." Adley kicked his chair under the table, only causing him to bust out laughing.

"Still sensitive on that?" He cackled. "She may come across normal Bella, watch her though. She never out grew the kid who was obsessed with dungeons and dragons, and manga. What was that one set? Ouran high?"

"Cole, stop teasing your sister." Oma commented coming in with a few dishes setting them out. Appa followed with the rest. "We can always bring out the baby pictures, you are running down the hall nude in my favorite one. Our wild monkey child."

"Oma…" He fell back before beginning to pass out portions on the plates.

"Isn't that for his wedding reception?" Adley questioned.

"No those are the videos where he dressed in my dresses and makeup—"

"Oma!"

The meal followed with laughter they left the house heading out to the book store with sore cheeks.

The evening came and Bella stood beside Adley who was in a rose colored gown to her ankles and long sleeves. The deep v on the back and neck complimented her olive complexion. She was done up with black hair curled and tucked in a half up and half down do. She was thankful her sister had out grown this gown. She'd loved it for a while. She kept herself from bouncing with excitement she didn't think she missed her family this much. Being away for a month was odd for her. She missed her siblings and cousins randomly coming over and just spending time with her.

The charity gala for the church was already lively with many intermingling and having fun. Adley pulled Bella in the way of a man walking by with drinks. She handed a flute of champagne to Bella. Who hesitated to take it. Eyes wide.

"I'm not—"

Adley waved her off with a smirk. "You're eighteen Bella, relax. They don't ID the donors. It's a little learn secret. Just don't go to the bar without me or someone over twenty-one. Then they will."

Bella took a sip and shuddered at the bubbles. "That's... I don't know how to feel."

"You get used to it." Adley replied bring Bella over to the side.

"How long have you been drinking?" Bella asked in a low whisper, a blush tinted her face already. Adley noted the girl had downed half her drink already.

"Legally since I was twenty-one. My first sip of wine or champagne?" She paused. "I've been attending these for ten years. Not everyone can keep an eye on a fourteen-year-old and her trouble causing older sister."

"So, you were a rebel child?" Bella laughed.

"We looked good on paper and if anyone asked, we were the perfect children. Any parent was jealous of us. Anna and I were no saints. Now let's go make some introductions." Adley pulled her by her hand to a few younger adults.

Her cousins she spotted first with some friends. Mathew and Mae, her twin cousins who were nineteen and just freshmen. Both looked a lot alike despite the gender difference. They were both tall for the family at five eleven. They had a few friends with them.

"Addie!" Mae cried embracing her.

Mae practically tackled Adley in a tight hug. She pulled her cousin to her chest and held on tight. Adley even in four-inch heels only came to the girl's breasts. Adley sensed they were already slightly feeling the effects of the drinks in their hands. They looked older, she noted.

"Mae, I haven't seen you since Christmas. I missed you two."

"No thanks to you moving!" Mae stuck her tongue out. "You brought a friend?"

"Yes, this is Bella, she's a friend." Adley responded introducing Bella.

"Hi,"

"Bella, you look so stunning!" Mae gushed. "You're from Forks?"

"Yeah, I am."

Adley smiled from catching up with her cousins and watching Bella enjoy herself. She made sure to keep tabs on her condition. The girl was genuinely enjoying herself even if nervous. Music began to play a little way away from their group.

"Mae! We should dance!" A smaller girl requested.

"Yes, we need to."

The two girls went off. Leaving the two men alone. Mathew and his friend Justin. Adley finished her second champagne flute and set it down on a passing tray. Mathew was blushing like crazy seeing Bella.

"Justin let's go join my crazy cousin! Mathew dance with Bella!" Adley instructed.

Justin took to following her with a brightened grin. The music in time changed to a slow pace. Mathew took to leading Bella. Adley's heart warmed seeing the two laughing, as Bella tripped now and then.

"They look adorable," she sighed.

"Mathew seems to be into her." Justin snickered. "He's my roommate at SU."

"That's why I recognize you! From the photos you two take. What is your major?"

"I'm in second year Chemistry major. I am doing my undergrad before doing my masters." He replied.

"Those are some big goals. I hope you make them."

"What about you? Matt doesn't take much of his cousins."

"I'm a Physics and Mathematics major. I took education." She waved it off.

"Are you still at SU?"

"No, I graduated back in June."

"Oh."

"Don't worry so much Justin. I'm sure Sara notices you."

Justin turned red pausing momentarily before spinning her again. Mae and Sara were laughing as they danced to the change in beat.

"How?"

"I know young love when I see it. I teach High school. Now I'll distract Mae. You go in!"

Adley took to spinning over and landing on Mae's side. "Mae! You look so beautiful! Why can't I look like you?"

She huffed with a pout and tipped a bit as she stumbled with her cousin. Mae glared down at her.

"Addie…"

"Come find more champagne with me!" She cut her off pulling her from the dance floor.

Once they hit the edge, she saw Justin ask Sara to dance.

"Addie."

"Mae your friend is dancing with someone. It's a valentine's day theme. Let's go get you a dance partner! One who actually appreciates you." She cut off again and brought her over to a few women dancing with Summer her out lesbian cousin.

Mae was a closet case she knew and made some introductions before slipping away. She stood off to the side enjoying the growing emotions of happiness and new adventure flowing through the room. She'd done it again. Mathew was still slow dancing with Bella both laughing and talking. She could not see or sense the darkness too much. She'd done her work as match maker yet again.

The gala eventually got to the silent auction part of rich people patting themselves on their backs. All in all, it was good. Even if she had given Bella her first hangover.

February melted away into March. Adley found herself in her class room prepping to get the mid terms put together. A flaw in the previous teacher's plan. He never did mid term prepping. So, she put together a few old tests to help the students. Currently her after school group was working on a few other assignments.

"Hey, Ms. Choi."

She glanced up from her computer looking out to the lab tables. There Mike Newton had his hand up, his letterman jacket slipping down his raised hand. He had a few people at his table. Jessica, Tyler, and Lauren, some of her regular seniors and one advance student.

"Yes Mike?"

"On the work book page five, question eight. The surface considered for Gauss's law its C, right? Tyler swears its B Spherical surface. Dude named it after himself, right? Gaussian surface." He asked.

A few heads turned to her from the lower grades but eventually turned back. Bella looked over to Mike.

"Mike's right,"

"Exactly! Told you, thank you Bella." Jessica commented.

"Ms. Choi?" Tyler questioned face scrunched up.

"They are correct. It's Gaussian Surface. Do we need to go over the laws again?"

"No, we're good." Tyler huffed sitting back down.

"Okay can you tell me the answer then to number ten?" Adley made her way to stand before them. "Jessica please read the question."

"Which of the following statement is not true about Gauss's law? A) Gauss's kaw is true for any closed surface. B) Gauss's law is not much useful in calculating electrostatic field when the system has some symmetry. C)The term q on the right side of Gauss's law includes the sum of all charges enclosed by the surface. Or D) Gauss's law is based on the inverse square dependence on distance contained in the coulomb's law."

"Circle your answer and show me your sheets. Do not share the answer just yet." Adley gave them a few minutes to look between.

Bella decided to join in, seeming to have circled the question as well as Jessica right away. Lauren, Mike finished at the same time. Tyler eventually circled one. She motioned them to show her. Adley looked close and stepped back to them.

"Bella, Jessica and Mike, you are both correct. Lauren and Tyler incorrect. It is B. I suggest looking in your text books instead of relying on friends. Please open them to the chapters and read through them. Circling the same answers in groups does not help you in the long run. Lauren and Mike please pair up and Jessica and Tyler please partner up. Let them answer first then work together as a team to answer."

She looked to Bella who blushed a bit before turning around to her desk. Adley motioned her over to her desk in the front and pulled a spare stool to her desk.

Bella complied grabbing her things it was almost four in the afternoon meaning the group time was almost up. Bella sat back and focused back on her work book.

"Alright, it's almost four. Basketball game tonight I am sure your coach doesn't want you gone much longer. Please spray down the lab tables from snacks and drinks if you had any and put stools up. Have a good evening. I will see you tomorrow." Adley announced.

The group got up and began packing it up. The few students began to clean and get the stools put up. Multiple good byes, and final questions she answered before sitting back down at her desk.

"You know this is actually one of Tyler's best classes." Bella commented looking up from her work book.

"He's a good student most of the time," Adley chuckled. "Basketball is on his mind, however. He always gets distracted beforehand. He'd be an honor roll student if he focused in. He will go to university on a scholarship for sports though. Speaking of Universities, you applied to how many?"

"I missed a lot of cut off dates for local…" Bella admitted. "I applied though in time for winter semester for a few local ones. I did my SAT last year, got 1500…"

"Yeah, don't worry much on acceptance then. You'll be alright." Adley chuckled patting her hand.

"What was your score?"

"1489. My GPA was 3.84 out of 4.00. You are on track to finish at a 3.7 currently. Shall we head to your home?"

"Actually, do you mind if we take a break? I wanted to go see an old friend tonight. We started hanging out on and off again back in January and February… He's been ignoring my texts recently. I wanted to stop in." Bella explained, her cheeks going red.

"Hanging with friends is a good step Bella. I have work and such to do myself. Go be a teen." Adley grinned, seeing the worry and such encroach on her aura.

Bella bit her bottom lip. "Well… I'll try, Jake has been ignoring me. I don't get why. Said it was mono… but it's been weeks. I don't get why he's acting like this so distant."

"Ah. Investigation is called for. Go on and see what is going on."

She didn't say anything knowing the girl needed to diversify her friends and keep healthy relationships. Worrying though a negative emotion came with all friendships. Adley had a few herself to call. She realized seeing a text from some of her friends she had some MSN video chats tonight.

The first two weeks passed and Adley found herself only at the Swan home every other day. She and Charlie had breakfast once a week as well due to the fact the cases were now gaining heat and some leads coming up. Bodies being found she tried to keep up on the news of these missing people. She drove Bella home currently with an arm full of fresh food they'd stopped and gotten for the evening.

Bella paused to grab the mail.

"Oh my god!"

Adley flinched at the high squeal. She stumbled nearly dropping the brown bags with the food for tonight.

"I can tell you're happy but warning next time." She huffed half hearted as Bella came bouncing into the kitchen.

Four thick envelops in her hands. She noted Bella tossed the bills down for Charlie to see on the kitchen table for the moment. Adley turned and motioned for Bella to open them.

"First is from the University of Washington." Bella read. "Dear Miss Swan, you have been accepted."

"Congrats." She motioned for her to check the rest first before opening the packets.

"University of Alaska, its an acceptance…" She switched. "Seattle University, acceptance… and Stanford? Holy shit, that'd been a joke… I didn't expect for them to actually accept me."

"You applied to Ivy League?" Adley raised a brow.

Bella's aura was pulsing bright, with hints of gold and green. She was nervous to even be considered it seemed. She turned to the food.

"Go read the packages. Just because you're accepted doesn't mean you need to choose it. Think about them, for now go read them over." Adley shooed her away.

"You don't want help?"

"You just got for acceptance letters to university, go look at them." She pushed the teen out. "Do some homework if you really want to be productive. Mid terms are on Wednesday next week."

It was quiet for the next hour. Adley watched the sun begin to set as she hummed around the kitchen. She checked in on Bella periodically. The girl had all four letters put around her.

A knock on the front door interrupted her. She paused her chopping and wiped her hands on her apron. Adley ventured into the living room to get a look at the visitor but she saw Bella was too engrossed in her work with head phones on.

She went to the door of the Swan home. A young man with tan skin and short black hair stood. He was in a t-shirt and jean shorts? She held her tongue on demanding who the hell he thought he was showing up in such state of undress.

"Hello?"

The boy's dark eyes widened as he saw her. He stood a good foot taller than her as well.

"Uh, is Bella home?" He scrunched his nose up, red tinged his cheeks.

Adley recognized him then.

"She is doing homework currently." Adley crossed her arms. "You're Jacob Black right?"

He nodded. She poked his emotions a few times getting a feel for him. This was the one who had stopped being friends with Bella. Why was he here? He had been the one to cut off contact after a supposed mono outbreak he had caught. She saw the desire and small lust he held for her pulsing crimson in his aura. Adley screwed up her nose. He liked her. Really, really liked Bella. It consumed him.

"Does she have a moment to talk?" He asked.

She wanted to tell him no and slam the door in his face. The hair on her arms stood up at the sensing of his aura. Something was telling her to run from this teen boy. She knew she could not without reason. Especially when Bella was confused for his reason behind the sudden stop in communications.

"I'm not her keeper," Adley huffed.

She barely knew the boy. Her head felt fuzzy though when she opened her walls to his aura. His urgent needs, and emotions were weighing on her. While she wanted to snap and run. There was nothing from the boy that made her have a reason to do so. He hadn't been rude or forceful. He wanted to see his friend. Yet still… he wasn't normal. Adley paused momentarily. This boy… Charlie had spoken of him in passing… she tried to remember back.

"Bella's been distant again… I worry." Charlie sighed around his coffee.

Adley raised her brow finishing her chewing before speaking. "Does her current mood have to do with a boy? What is his name… Jake is it? We haven't touched base on any of her friendships or past relation ship yet. She hasn't been ready to speak on it. Only the other day she was trying to see a friend and wasn't successful."

"Jacob Black? He and Bella were getting along at the beginning of the year… went to see a movie. Caught them repairing motorcycles. I didn't say anything, I don't like the things, but it kept her occupied." He huffed. "Jake's sixteen but got a talent for restoring vehicles. He fixed up her old truck."

She paused this kid was sixteen. Seriously? She examined what looked to be layers and layers of ripped muscles from this kid and no doubt an eight pack. He was over six feet by a few inches... he didn't even look like a teen anymore. He had to at least be twenty. She'd keep a close eye on him. He could come in, but not without her being present. Well in the house. She had dinner she promised to finish. So, she let him in, and he followed closing the door before going to the living room.

She went back to the kitchen and quietly finishing the chopping of the stir fry. Her pork was cooking nicely. She tried listening in but beyond the sizzling of the meat and walls she couldn't. She put her feelers out instead. She couldn't see them, but she did not need to.

He was irritated. That smacked her on the head. Bella was feeling some sort of fear and worry for the boy. Adley held on a few moments while the worry grew as did the irritation. Maybe they were arguing? The spikes continued to attack her. She clenched her jaw.

She paused the meat pulling it off to the side. She padded over quietly to the hall, looking to see them. In the living room where both stood staring at each other a foot apart. Bella had her arms crossed while she frowned up at him. Had they only been staring at each other?

"Jacob, are you staying for dinner? I'm sure there is enough here." Adley interrupted. "No need for a growing boy to go underfed."

The boy snapped his head around to her. "Huh? No, I'm not staying."

Adley nodded slowly.

"Jacob, stay. Please, I'm worried for you." Bella pleaded. "They aren't safe—"

"Not now Bella, I've got to go." He went to leave.

There was a growing anger deep from the boy. Adley tilted her head approaching. It was weird. She paused taking in his aura again in more detail. It wasn't completely what she was used to seeing. It was like man and beast in one? She sensed animal emotions from him. It wasn't just a human boy. Bella was about to run after him when Adley caught her. Jacob was gone like that.

Both watched the boy walk off and jog down the road into the setting sun light. Adley glanced around for a car. Surely, he drove here?! Dressed like that? It was March sure, but this weather still required coat and clothes.

"I need to go after him!" Bella went to open the door.

Adley caught her hand in a tight hold. The teen turned, nostrils flaring. Desperation colored a violet to her aura. One that seemed influenced by the pulsing hole in her chest. There was a tie to him in some way.

"No. That boy Bella... something is wrong." Adley muttered pulling her away from the door. She got them both inside.

"What do you mean?"

Bella followed her back to the kitchen.

"Every being has emotions Bella. Even animals. I can usually feel and see basic emotions from animals and a lot more complex from humans. Your friend. He's got this anger in him... it's not just him in one body... it's weird. Almost like there are two parts to his aura." She explained as best she could. She got the food back on the burner to finish up.

"You mean... he's not just human?" Bella paused paling even more if that were possible. "His tribe... They have these stories... I went to a bonfire a week or two ago... Jake told me about how they were wolves. No... werewolves?"

Adley about dropped her spatula before she caught herself. Bella half way through her explanations seemed lost in thought while she went to run upstairs.

Werewolves? No. Impossible... she shook her head. That boy turning into a wolf. It made no sense. She paused. She made no sense to the world. Empaths are gifted with sixth senses... they are a bit more complicated of beings. Her whole family was uniquely gifted. From powerful to only sensitive... The story was it was a gift from their gods to serve the world and help it. It'd been in her family like this for generations. She however was the only one as powerful as she was for the past while…

Bella was back with a book. It looked self-published. Bella flipped through some pages, Adley caught sight of the beautiful works of art. In the first nations style, tribal and beautifully colored. Each most likely had a story. Bella stopped on one where a man was featured, next to a beautiful wolf in pure black form with bright eyes.

'The Wolf and Man.'

"Bella?"

"They're werewolves. Jacob is a werewolf, his new crew... all of them. Adley... he's a monster." Bella croaked.

"Explain."

So Bella did. Breaking the dam down she'd been bottling up the last few weeks. The changes he'd told her of his friends to join this older man. Sam. Bella told her about the weirdness how scrawny and lanky Jacob Black became this behemoth almost overnight. She thought it was drugs, but it wasn't. She then believed his dad saying it was Mono because his temperature was through the roof. She had assumed he had been hospitalized or at home to fight the disease. Yet when she confronted him. It wasn't it. That is what tonight was as well. Them dancing around the truth of what was going on.

They were merely interrupted by the Chief coming home and getting a plate of food. His usual many thanks and he was easy to push into the living room with a beer to watch football. Adley had set their food up at the small three-person wooden table near the back window.

"It's a leap, but I can believe it." Adley hedged.

"You can't tell a soul."

"I won't I promise. Now tell me Bella how are you so accepting of the supernatural?" She was curious more than anything.

Bella bit her bottom lip. Adley didn't influence the girl to tell her, it was surprisingly easy to get Bella to tell her everything without her gift.

"Edward... he was a vampire..." Bella admitted.

Adley listened while Bella broke down the final barrier. The flood gates led to tears and word vomit. She was told of how she met Edward Cullen, a boy who was in high school with his family. How she felt this spark and their relationship. The hunt from another vampire who had bitten her. She remembered her birthday and how he broke her heart.

Adley barely contained her anger at the mention of how he left her in the woods. He dared to do that to his soul mate. She saw how the hole pulsed as it was expelled from her. The pure heart break and tears. Adley barely got through it all without falling to her knees and crying with the sweet teen in front of her. She did however pull Bella close and hold her tight. She'd been rejected in a sense by her soul mate. She would need to read up more on the soulmates bond as quickly as she could. If the darkness in Bella's chest was to go by, it could hurt her.

She did the dishes with Bella. Who cried while she dried. If Charlie heard the cries he did not interfere with them. Instead Adley took the risk to lower her walls and push calming emotions into Bella. Who was all but sobbing. She pulled her tight and hugged her. Humming to the teen. It was easy to lure her to her room where the exhaustion of the influence over took her.

Adley went home that night with a full heart, she sent off a text to Oma to mail her the journals. She needed to get more information on soulmates and such before this wound got any worse.