Sunset Chapter 12: Questions (Complications)

The night had been simple but fun, Alice and I watching a movie and eating a few snacks. Well, I ate snacks while we both watched a random comedy dad owned. Next time, she said afterwards, we could watch one at her house. I felt nervous at the thought of meeting Carlisle again and Esme for the first time.

By the next morning, I had other things to worry about.

"About this Saturday, Bella..." Dad began as he cleaned his dish after breakfast.

Bella cringed and I was glad Dad was looking the other way for this. "Yes, Dad?"

"Are you still set on going to Seattle?" he asked.

"That was the plan." She grimaced and I held back a snort. Even a half-truth was obvious in her face.

"And you're sure you can't make it back in time for the dance?"

"I'm not going to the dance, Dad." She huffed, sending me a look. It screamed" Dads, am I right?"

"Didn't anyone ask you?" he asked, trying to hide his concern by focusing on rinsing the plate.

"Dad, you're going to scrub a hole in the plate if you rub any harder," I threw out as I brought my own bowl to the sink, cereal eaten.

Dad cleared his throat, embarrassed, as he stepped back to let me at the sink.

"And It's girls' choice," I added, "But enough about Bella, what about me…" I faked a whine, as I threw my arm over my face, winking at Bella discreetly. Her relief was noticeable, but I held dad's attention with my overdramatic.

"Alright then missy, what about you? Anybody you want to go with?"

Well, shit, my own joke thrown back at me. Well played, Dad.

"Well… There is someone – but nothing has happened yet!" I added quickly. "We're just seeing where it goes, feeling it out I guess you could say." I put my plate back in the cupboard, trying to ignore the twin stares I was getting.

"Really?" Dad looked surprised but then put on his cop face. "Who is it? It's not that Crowe kid right… because if it is, after what happened –"

"No way, absolutely not," I objected immediately, not willing to let any idea that I would date Tyler of all people linger. "I would rather not say right now. We haven't talked about telling people or anything, but I promise you would be one of the first to know if we make anything official." It was true, none of us had talked about what we would say. I didn't want to make that decision for all of us, even if I really wanted to tell my dad.

Dad hummed an agreement, though I knew he wanted to argue. "Well, at least let me know before they come over for the first time. I want to be ready to polish my gun, you know?" He joked with a wink, making me laugh at the image. Jasper and Alice would be so scared, totally. Even so, I wasn't going to stop him from getting the chance to be the protective cop-dad. Now that would be a site to see.

/…/

Checking my phone in English, I was thankful I was in the back of the room. I had been put in a group chat with Alice and Jasper and was ready to not learn anything today.

Alice: What's your favorite color?

Emma: Green. Y do u ask?

Jasper: Edward is doing a Q&A with your sister and I thought I would steal his idea.

Alice: I got to her first, so its my idea now.

I hid my smile behind my hand, keeping a laugh down.

Emma: Lol nice. What about u 2?

Alice: Blue. Or black. Black looks good with almost everything.

Jasper: Grey.

Emma: Grey is not a color. I meant in the rainbow. Alice gets a pass 4 blue.

Jasper: Well, mine is grey. What's with the text-speak?

I grimaced, remembering how nice touch screen phones were – will be. I didn't care for text-speak as much as I was using it, but it was easier than typing everything out at time.

Emma: No reason. Because I wanna.

Alice: Ur just lazy.

Emma: Ur doing it 2!

Alice: Because u r.

Jasper: Girls your both pretty, can we stop?

Alice: No.

Emma: No 2.

I blushed a bit, being called pretty. I mean, I knew I looked good, but it was nice to be complemented by the person you liked, especially since they were so nice looking themselves.

Emma: Does it really bother you? I can stop.

Jasper: Nah do what ev4 U want lol.

Alice: HA got you doing it!

Emma: 0o0 Jazz is in on it. It's the end of the wold.

Emma: World.

Emma: Was there a point to all this?

Alice: Q &A. We still on?

Emma: Yeah sure, ask as we think of some?

Jasper: Go for it.

I think for a moment, pretending to listen to the teacher, before typing out a question.

/…/

I lay on my bed later that day, switching between answering my homework questions and the group texts.

Emma: Not sure? Chrysanthemums r pretty?

Alice: Gemstones?

Emma: Emeralds and Pearls.

Emma: Pearl is my middle name 2!

Jasper: Emmaline Pearl Swan. Beautiful name, Darling.

Emma: Thanks 3

I blushed; thankful they weren't there to see me. We had mostly talked about normal things all day, not a constant questioning though. Someone would often ask a question or give an answer that would lead the other two to teasing the person or crying out in despair over an opinion. I debated if I should push past the "human" questions and ask one that I had been thinking of for a while.

Biting the bullet, I typed my question and sent it before I could regret it.

Emma: What do I smell like?

Emma: U don't have to answer if u don't want 2

Alice: You don't have to worry; you have a nice scent.

Alice: Peaches and Cream mostly.

Jasper: With some rain and pine behind it.

Jasper: You don't hurt us as much as other people, so you technically have the best scent.

Emma: That's a nice scent.

Alice: Hey, you have company. We'll let you be for tonight, see you tomorrow.

Company? I gave a quick goodbye message back before heading downstairs. I opened the front door to see Edward's car turn the corner and Bella standing on the porch.

"You and lover-boy have fun?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows for emphasis. Her face erupted into flames as she spluttered random words.

At that moment I saw that a dark colored car had pulled up in our driveway. Dad's cruiser also pulled up at that moment after. Jacob called out a quick hello to the both of us as he climbed out of the vehicle, moving quickly in the rain to help Billy into his wheelchair. Billy, from what I could see beyond the rain, was staring wide-eyed at Bella. He had obviously seen Edward's get away.

I looked over to Bella, who was staring defiantly back. I forced myself to hold an innocent look. To get involved or stay out of it. Either way, I wasn't going to be the one to start the fight. Bella was the one who needed to keep her cool, not me. I was going to sit back and watch the fireworks.

Hi, its been a while. My computer crashed and when I got a new one and moved all my files over, I lost a lot of stuff for this story. I've honestly lost a lot of motivation for this story but I don't want to abandon it half way done even when I have a thousand other things to do. But I managed to get myself to write this chapter for you all, not much happens but its here.