AN: All characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.
Summary:
Set shortly after the car incident in the High school parking lot.
Edythe is roped into going to a benefit dinner for the Hospital by Carine and the rest of her family,
who is lamenting the fact that Edythe just hasn't been quite herself since Beau came into town,
Or more precisely since Edythe decided to keep Beau at arm's length.
Community Engagement
Chapter 1
Manipulation
An odd commotion happened behind the makeshift stage. "The sound system is about to go out." Archie predicted casually as if notating the weather outside. Edythe swung her hair to one side and rested elegantly in front of the plate that had her name spelled incorrectly on a cheap folded name card. It was cute when small towns like Forks tried and failed at gallantry. Royal of course didn't think of it as so charming as she did. His thoughts grumbled with the lack of follow through. -"Might as well be a McDonalds." - She raised her eyebrows but said nothing to him about why he was getting so worked up about table arrangement when they wouldn't even be able to eat the food. The playlist music playing softly over sound system cut out and no one at the Cullen and Hale tabled batted an eye.
Archie sat across from her with Jessamine coldly sitting beside him. She was nervous. She'd spent all day testing her limits at school and now, when she was used to relaxing away with her family, she was brought back to a packed room of hot blooded humans. Archie patted her hand and winked at her. Sharing something between them that not even Edythe could hear. But she felt their connection, like walled off estate that she could only look into but never quite fully understand.
"It's such an honor to have you all here tonight. Especially our esteemed guests, Dr. Cullen and her family. Thank you so much. We know your time is important and your presence really means a lot to the community."
Carine nodded at the city manager. She sat completely at ease, more casually presented than she usually let the townsfolk see her. Her feet underneath her and her arm wrapped around and in the hand of Ernest. Carine Cullen and her entire family had been invited as special guests to a benefit to raise money for the hospital. This apparently was a hot ticket event. One of the few soirees where the people of Forks got dressed up besides sunday mornings. Their idea of fashion however, made Archi depressed. -Not their fault the only clothing store here is the section in Dollar General.-
The city manager continued. "Food will be out shortly. We're very proud of night's like this and this community that comes together for it."
A soft applause. It was in fact a miracle that the whole Cullen and Hale family gathered around the table. It took days of convincing, especially of Edythe. After the incident with the Swan boy in the parking lot, Edythe hadn't been home long enough after school to even discuss it with her.
"No." She objected when Carine had finally been able to catch up to her one night somewhere in the forest range near the boundary for Canada. "That sounds horrible."
"The town really wants us all there."
"They want you there." Edythe argued. "They don't care about me. If I'm not there then it won't matter."
"But I want you to be there. I care about you. And it matters to me." Carine smiled so genuinely.
Edythe grumbled. She couldn't outwit Carine's love. "Why though?"
"Because, you're my family and this is one of the reasons we choose to live this way. To be a normal family. To be part of human society. To be together." Carine reached out gently and touched Edythe's cheek. "When you left-" The first day Beau Swan came into Forks Highschool. The day that Edythe decided to flee instead of mowing down an entire classroom. "You never really came back."
Edythe saw the hurt in Carine's face. She sighed and put her hand against Carine's pressing her closer. "This isn't like last time." She said carefully. "I won't leave like that again."
Carine's eyes popped open wide. "Oh no, that's not what I'm afraid of." The ten years Edythe left the family to hunt people, finding the bad and protecting the good. But playing God didn't sit well with Edythe and she returned like the prodigal son. "I just miss you. I haven't seen you smile in months."
"Life isn't fair." Edythe shrugged.
"You're unhappy."
"But I'm here."
"Then come to this stupid little event. It's just one night we can all be together and be a family. It will make me happy."
Edythe curled up into her mother figure's arms and gripped her back. "You're a master manipulator, you know."
Carine looked shocked. "I'm not trying to manipulate-"
"I know." Edythe breathed. "That's why you're so good at it."
Edythe smiled pleasantly at Carine, trying to not make it fake, but she knew her eyes weren't in it. Archie was thinking of Jessamine's hair and running his hands over the scared skin of her stomach. Edythe quickly shied away from his thoughts and decided that this was just like school. She tried to, unsuccessfully stay out of everyone's heads and find some kind of blank solace. Then she heard it.
A familiar rumble, loud enough to shake the birds from the trees. She snapped up and slammed her fist on the table. The plate in front of her shattered. "Archie." She hissed. Ernest quickly came to her side and tried to calm her down, but she shrugged him off. "You little rat. You knew this whole time."
Archie flashed up an apologetic smile.
"Knew what?" Eleanor leaned forward, excited by something finally happening.
Edythe just grumbled. "I'm leaving." She spat and turned. Ernest didn't release his grip on her arm.
"Edythe, what's the matter?" Ernest kept trying to stare into Edythe's eyes, but she wouldn't meet them.
"That oaf over there is putting everyone in danger." She pointed at Archie.
"What did you call him?" Jessamine raised her right eyebrow. The hint of a threat looming and Edythe suppressed a shiver.
Her agitation grew, they were all getting concerned over the wrong things. "He's supposed to be looking out for possible threats and letting us know so we can avoid them..."
"What's the threat?" Royal stood up now, tense. This was the closest to freedom their family had ever gotten in their cold eternal existence. It was in fact, Royal's idea in the first place to come as a family, which shocked and warmed Carine's still heart. Anything that would harm this for the family-
"Me." Edythe hissed. Her face strained and whipped back to Archie. "Later." She answered some thought. "I have to go."
"Too late." Archie smirked.
Edythe paced as quickly as she dared in front of humans towards the exit. The double doors just a few feet away. The parking lot beyond. Her silver accord was parked two spaces across from the closest handicapped spot. She could be in her car within 22 seconds. She could peel out of here, the tires burning on the pavement, and be on the highway in 48 seconds. She could make it.
Suddenly, the doors to freedom opened and Beau Swan swung inside. He fell inside, backlight by the dying sun outside shining golden hues onto the unruly brown locks of hair on the nape of his neck.
Edythe held her breath and spun around. Frozen.
Beau faced the opposite way. His broad shoulders filled out the light denim jacket just a foot away from the back of Edythe's bronze curls. One wide hand still on the door and one on an old black guitar case. She could feel his warmth radiating from where she stood. He had just arrived, but Beau was everywhere, filling the space around him with his presence. Edythe shut her eyes. Only a second had passed. She dared not breath in his scent. She dared not think about how small her body was compared to his. Or what it looked like for his body to be outlined against her own, highlighted by dusky twilight outside.
AN: This idea has been ruminating in my head since I read Life and Death. I always want more from the Bella/Beau character. I love them so much and I love seeing Edythe/Edward character squirm. I hope you guys enjoy this little wholesome nugget of a story as much as I do.
Thank you for reading.
xoxo
Rosalie/Goldie ;)