Chapter Thirteen: Calm Before The Storm

My sleep is anything but restful.

Unable to move, being so twisted with Jenna, I make the best of the situation.

Does not help that I had dream after dream.

In my first dream, all I can see is darkness. Within the darkness, there were many voices. Some were discernible and close, while others were far away and unfamiliar.

One voice was clear as day.

Keiran's.

"She needs to be safe. My Magnolia, my Love, my Life, needs to be safe. I will keep her safe from those around her! Even my brother if needed!"

An eerie calm sounds manic and undecided.

Sadly, I don't wake up. Another dream comes crashing in and this one I heard nothing but saw everything, like I was watching it from the sky.

I hate this kind of dream with everything I am.

While glancing down, I notice some papers that I can't make out at first. When I get a good inspection of the papers, they are for a name change.

But it isn't for Mississippi.

It's for the state of Washington.

Why am I in Washington State?

I regard the room around me and realize I am in a police station.

Why am I in a police station? Am I in trouble?

Next to me is a girl around my age. I can tell that we are good friends.

Long chocolate hair that has a slight curl to it. Her eyes are brown that I have never seen, golden and happy. Full of life and joy. A tall man stands behind her, poking her like they are siblings. While he is dark, he has a similar expression of joy in his nearly black eyes. Black hair that is messy goes with his tan skin. The woman gets up and play fights with the man. Several people laugh at the exchange and another man comes up behind the woman, wrapping his arms around her, swinging her around. This man is in a police uniform. I study his uniform to see if there is an identifying patch or something showing where this is.

That's when I see it. City Of Forks on the patch. So whatever this means, I will probably end up in Forks, Washington.

The man holding my friend is shorter than the other man but easy on the eyes. Forest green eyes that looked at this other woman like she was his world. His hair was copper-colored and the hairdresser in me would give anything to make that color myself. Though it would nearly be impossible.

The bantering seems to calm down as I watch another man enter the picture.

He must be my friend's father. Because they have the same eye and hair color. The cooper-haired man lets go of the woman and she gives him a hug. He blushes at the exchange, but I can tell that he loves it.

I am introduced to this man and realize this is the Chief of Police in Forks. The girl's father. Perhaps even the dad of the really tall guy picking on her.

His name badge says C. SWAN.

This is important, and I pray to remember it in the morning.

What gets me is that when we shake hands, everything will make sense. This is where I am meant to be.

But it will take a while to get here.

I am taken out of the Forks Police Department and brought to a small hair shop. This is definitely not a small town, but a city.

Maybe Seattle?

What is the nearest city to Forks? I should probably figure that out.

I am relatively new and using my new name. Nobody seems to care that I don't have the paperwork for it yet. I notice I am now at a hairdressing school.

Hence why nobody cares that I don't have any paperwork. A list is laying down in front of me; I see a lot of names, but one seems to stand out.

Bella Swan

The name of my new best friend.

She is warm and kind, shy and giving. We become fast friends and soon she introduces me to her friends and takes me to her small town, where I eventually change my name.

In that small town, I will become Mary Alice.

Waking up for the second time at Jenna and Keith's house was an interesting experience.

Jenna was in my arms, a blanket over the two of us. Keith must have put it over us to keep us warm. The fire is still going somewhat strong, bringing light into the otherwise dark room.

What I would give for a man like him for my own.

If Jenna had any makeup on, it was long gone from crying she and I did together. Lucky for me, I think she was only wearing chapstick. Otherwise, that would have wrecked my lovely dress.

I listen to the soft footfalls of someone. Thinking it was Keith, I went to open my eyes and make fun of him. Or thank him for taking care of us.

When I glimpse toward the fireplace, I spot a man that I recognize is NOT Keith.

While he might have a similar build, he is not Keith.

This development concerns me. My breathing picks up, and it takes everything that I have not to hyperventilate.

Until I hear a second set of footsteps, slightly louder than the first.

Thank God this one was Keith. This realization makes me close my eyes. I am safe since Keith is here, and he knows Keiran is here.

"Thanks, Keiran. I was meaning to do that but got distracted trying to get the girls' breakfast ready. Are they still asleep?" Keiran mutters something and Keith laughs. "Yesterday was hard on everyone, really. I am glad that you are agreeing to the DNA test so quickly. I want to know if we are actually brothers as soon as possible."

"I understand and want to know soon, too. I was told that my last name was going to be Christopher because that's my father's last name but my family won't allow it. My mama wasn't sure if there were others out there somewhere. It was a lucky chance I found out about you. If nothing else, I know that this meeting will bring closure for us. I can't wait to get to know Magnolia. She is beautiful."

Keith laughs at Keiran's declaration.

"Mags is great. She doesn't date much because she doesn't want to get hurt. She deserves the best and with everything going on with her family, she doesn't need to add a man into the mix. Especially a man that might not have long-term plans to stay. I am not saying that she won't want to leave when all is said and done; that would be her choice, and Jenna and I would support her fully. She needs time to figure out what to do with her life. So, this is my chat about staying on her good side and not hurting or pushing her. She is my sister from another mister and I will not have you making her life more challenging. We clear?"

I love when Keith gets protective. It makes me feel loved and special.

"I get it. I don't want to hurt anyone, much less Magnolia. She's a beautiful flower that I want to treasure and cherish. And if she lets me, I will do that as long as I can."

Warning bells are going off in my head. How can a man that has known me for less than an entire day want to be with me forever?

This is making my spidey sense go off.

"Keiran, I don't feel comfortable about this. I want to ask you to back off, at least for a while."

I hear typing and my cell phone goes off.

Someone, most likely Keith, sent me a text message. I wish I could read it without alerting anyone that I was awake.

"Since the girls are still asleep, why don't we get some breakfast before our test. I know Maggie needs her sleep. Not that she would admit it."

I can tell Keith is getting up.

"Come on, Keiran. The girls will be fine."

"I don't want to leave Magnolia. She needs me, Keith. She needs me. What if her father comes back? What if someone comes here and tries to hurt her?" Keiran seems frantic.

"Keiran, we will have to leave her alone sometimes. It's hard when you love someone to leave them to live their life knowing what we know, but we need to do it. I hate my Jenna is subject to the horrors of the world, but she needs to live her life."

"I won't leave her! She needs me to make her life safe and I will do that! You DON'T understand! She is not safe without me!" Keiran is getting more frantic as he speaks.

I pretend to wake up, since I am tired of pretending to be asleep.

"Looks like she is waking up. My Magnolia! You look beautiful on this fine morning, my sweet girl!"

The voice that Keiran is using is scaring me.

Keiran walks to me and sits in front of me. The look in his eyes is creeping me out. I try to smile, but I can't do it.

"What is wrong, my Magnolia? See, Keith? She needs me with her! She has to come with us."

Keith looks over at me and comes next to Keiran. He grabs Keiran and stands him up.

"Come on, Keiran. We have a date with vampires, which means we need to get moving. Let's go!"

Keiran is fighting with Keith, and it is waking Jenna up. Jenna is one that you should only wake up nice and slow.

This will not end well. For anyone.

AN:

Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I really want to know what you think about it.

What do you think about the dream? I can't wait for theories.

Thank you to my team for making this story happening. I love you all!

I am debating uploading another chapter. Because we are at 13.

As always, any comments or questions, let me know!

-Brier