Chapter Two:
Walking on Eggshells

Caroline watched herself breathe in the floor length mirror in Bella's old room. She started her shower as Aunt Sue and Charlie were leaving for dinner with the promise that she wouldn't be too late. They were heading over early to watch the March Madness game that would presumably play throughout most of dinner and hopefully pull some attention off of her. Caroline and her father had made brackets but she hadn't watched any of the games so far this March. It was their thing.

More specifically, it was her dad's thing that she participated in because it made him happy. But that only made it hurt more.

She stood naked in the mirror, the water slowly drying off of her tanned skin as it dripped down her black hair. She was skinnier than before. Aunt Sue commented on it but she hadn't really looked at herself in a while. Her once strong, thick legs were thin from overexertion and lack of plentiful diet. Her ribs stuck out almost painfully, the bones looked sharp under her skin. Her dad would be disappointed. Healthy eating and exercise were habits he instilled in her at a young age and she had let herself go the second he wasn't around to keep her in check.

Her eyes found her hollowed face and she smiled despite the tired look in her eyes and the dark circles underneath them. Her cheeks no longer sore, she prepared them for a long night of small talk and secondhand condolences.

She needed to get it together. She had to do it for herself. Above everything she was feeling she was tired. Tired of being sad, tired of the sympathetic smiles sent her way, tired of the eggshells that seemed to surround her. She wasn't breaking anymore. She was healing. She needed to start to act like it.

Her father told her to find her answers - and she'd be damned if she didn't do it soon.

With new resolve she turned on some music from a happier playlist and picked out an outfit. A pair of tight jeans - a little loose now but she'd grow back into them - and a cream-colored, flowing blouse. She put some mascara on her lashes, concealer on her dark circles and smiled at herself in the mirror. A real smile. Cute and casual, she thought to herself. Her face was still hollow. She would have to find the rest of her makeup in one of her boxes on the floor to try to fill out her face until she gained back a healthy amount of weight. She gave herself one last once over in the entryway mirror before putting on a pair of sandals and heading out the door.

First impressions were always important, and if she didn't want to be treated like the sad girl with a dead dad, she had to look and play the part. Her dad would have approved of that attitude.

Caroline stopped short when she noticed her borrowed set of wheels in the driveway. The car in front of her cost more money than the house she lived in with her father and likely Charlie and Sue's as well. Caroline Talltree-Young wasn't a car person by any means, but she knew a nice car when she saw one, and this Mercedes-Benz was a nice car. The slick black looked like it had been recently washed, and it was almost as clean as the two-toned leather interior. It was pristine, almost new. She took a deep breath. It smelled new. She knew the Cullens were loaded, but this seemed like overkill, especially in a town like Forks.

Her and her father weren't impoverished by any means, but this was a luxury she didn't think she could afford again. And she surely wasn't about to waste it.

The twenty minute drive to La Push took Caroline almost thirty-five as she deviated from the main road and took any dirt side road the car allowed her. She would need to wash it before she returned it to Bella. A playlist consisting of late 80's/early 90's rock music (her dad's favorite) blasted through the speakers and by the time she finally pulled up to her half-sister's house she wished she took at least a few more detours. She parked on the street behind Charlie's car. Aunt Sue said it was going to be a big dinner but the only cars were Bella's, Charlie's and one in the driveway.

As she shut the door, two huge shirtless Quileute men came out of the house. The first she didn't recognize but his attention wasn't on her. He glared at her car - Bella's car, she corrected herself - and practically bristled. She couldn't give too much thought to it because Seth Clearwater barreled over to her and wrapped her into a tight bear up.

"You're late, cousin," he said into her hair as she giggled, forgetting her earlier apprehension of coming tonight. Her chest filled with warmth, from the excitement of seeing her cousin, but also the burning skin he seemed to have.

"And you're HUGE." She said when he put her back onto her feet. "Absolutely massive! What are they feeding you?"

"Emily makes big portions," he laughed, side stepping her as she tried to put a hand on his forehead to check for a fever. "You're thinning out, Talltree," he said in a light tone, meant as a joke but also a pointed observation. She felt her heart start to drop and her insecurities flare when a devilish grin spread across his lips. "There was a time when you could beat the shit out of me. Now I think I could definitely kick your ass."

Caroline gasped. "You wish, Clearwater." She punched him in the shoulder. "Give me a couple of weeks on your mom's food and I'll be back to kicking your ass in no time."

"Couple of weeks?" He winked at her. Falling into their usual play fighting was easy and refreshing. She wondered why she didn't visit more often before. "I look forward to our rematch. Now let's get you inside before it starts to rain again." He started leading her to the door. The man who came out with her cousin was nowhere to be seen.

Seth stopped her at the door. "When did you get so flashy?" He said good naturedly but there was a dark undertone to his words Caroline couldn't quite place. He wrinkled his nose in the direction of the Benz.

"I'm just borrowing it from Bella." She didn't miss the look on his face. He seemed to already know who it belonged to, so why did he ask? "I am currently without a set of wheels." She reminded him.

"Smelled like them."

"What?"

"Nothing, doesn't matter."

That's why she didn't visit often. It always felt like they were hiding something.

Before she could ask, Emily's arms wrapped around her. "I'm glad you made it! We were beginning to think you were going to skip out on us."

"Me? Flake?" Caroline said in mock shock. "When have you ever known me to be a flake, Emily Young? Or should I say, Uley." She wiggled her eyebrows at her half-sister. Emily and Sam had a small courthouse wedding and although no one was invited, she was still bitter her own sister hadn't at least told her beforehand. All Caroline got was a picture of her sister leaning against Sam's chest, her good side facing the camera announcing they had eloped. It was a beautiful picture but it still hurt.

"I apologize for my lack of faith in you. Although, you haven't visited once since I moved here four years ago," she pointed out. Unintentionally poking at one of the many elephants in the room. This particular elephant being Caroline not picking sides after the Sam/Leah/Emily Debacle of '05. Her sister was ostracized after that and she knew Emily needed her support, which she gave but it wasn't exactly unconditional. Caroline loved her sister, but she was led by a moral compass that always reminded her of Leah.

"Forgiven," the younger girl smiled genuinely, deciding to let the elephant go on it's way. "But seriously," Caroline scanned the room of huge Quileute men, most of which were shirtless. "What are they putting in the water here?"

The group erupted in laughter and Caroline felt her anxiety lessen. "You aren't the first to ask," a voice called from the kitchen. "And you sure as hell won't be the last."

"Billy!" Caroline beamed at the older man in the wheelchair as she rushed through the packed living room over to him.

"So you did miss me, afterall," the man said heartily. Billy and her father had been good friends, they tried to go fishing together every season and she had met him on a couple of the trips. He spoke highly of his children, but she had never ended up meeting any of them. The girls moved away right after high school and his son was always busy with tribal business and never came up to the Makah Reservation.

"I missed you the most, Billy." She smiled sadly, pressing her tongue to the roof of her mouth to try and keep the bittersweet tears at bay.

"Excuse me? Favorite cousin right here!" Seth cried out, earning another laugh from the group and pulling the attention away from her so she could wipe her eyes and everyone could politely pretend she wasn't.

Billy shook his head as Emily interrupted their cousin's complaining and led her towards the center of the room. "Let's get you introduced to everyone. Boys, this is my half-sister Caroline. Those two fighting on the couch are Paul and Embry." The shorter one, Embry, gave her a winning smile and the taller one, Paul, broke his scowl to nod at her. Both of them were in incredible shape, Paul was built like a tank while Embry was more lean and toned. "Right over there is Jared and Kim." The couple gave her a wave and a quick greeting. Jared was one of the only men in the room with a shirt on. Were they all body builders?

"This is Quil!" Claire said proudly, pointing at her friend, the only other man in the room with a shirt on, and Caroline couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, Claire. I've met Quil before. At your house, remember?" She smiled at the young girl. She was seven years old now, growing up she and Emily would babysit her but the role of nanny ultimately went to Quil. Caroline didn't see her often, but when she did, she was with Quil.

"How are you doing, Caroline?" He asked gently, picking up Claire and placing her on his hip where she looked content to stay.

"Here with all of you, so I got it pretty good," she said without missing a beat, surprising herself and earning her a room full of smiles. It was a phrase she used to say when she was younger, but she hadn't even uttered it to another person in years.

"That's what we like to hear," Sam said, walking up behind Emily and wrapping his arms around her.

"Collin and Brady are at work right now but they are excited to meet you," Aunt Sue said from her seat on the couch next to Charlie.

"Not as excited as I am to meet them, I'm sure." Caroline looked around the room. If they are anything like the others, they'll be eye candy for sure, and Caroline can appreciate the human form. "Where is Leah?"

The room got quiet and Caroline made note of the reaction. So things were still weird. "Jake had to run out and she went with him." Seth said. "He left right as you got here. But, he made sure to tell me that he is looking forward to meeting you!"

Caroline highly doubted that but was glad she didn't have to relay Bella's message to him. She wasn't clear on the history there but the fact that there was one at all made her not want to open that can of worms.

"I'm Shawn," a pretty Quileute girl reached out her hand to Caroline, pulling her from her thoughts. She wore dark makeup, ripped jeans and a tight black tank top. "I hear you've got a Benz."

"I'm borrowing a Benz." Caroline corrected with a grin.

"Yeah, yeah, I know whose it is. She won't mind." Shawn waved her hand dismissively. "Let me take it out for a spin sometime?"

"No." A low voice grumbled from the couch, Paul.

Shawn rolled her eyes. "Yes." She winked at Caroline. "Men."

Caroline matched her grin, finding tonight easier to get through then she had originally thought. "Men," she agreed.

The night went by quickly. Caroline and Shawn were fast friends. The older girl was dating Paul, she had found that although she thought that he gave off strong "provider and protector" energy, Shawn was definitely wearing the pants. She was a year older than her boyfriend, something that she held over his head - often citing her infinite wisdom as a benefit of this one year age difference. The dynamic was nothing short of hilarious to Caroline.

The entire group was open and receptive, and minus a few sympathetic looks at times, she ultimately had a good time. She poked fun at them, they teased her. They had built a good rhythm, although she was quieter than she would have been a month ago. She was still finding her footing, but being around all of these happy faces was doing wonders to her own attitude and she was beginning to like how she felt around them.

By the time the night came to an end, Caroline found herself not ready to leave. Shawn made her promise to let her behind the wheel later that week and Claire insisted she and Quil get ice cream. The seven year old determined that she deserved ice cream because Caroline coming into town was a special holiday.

Sue and Charlie decided to head home first, Sue convinced him to leave with the promise of a surprise at home, the comment making everyone groan loudly, and Seth yelled out in a scandalized tone.

The boys - men - started to clear out and Emily and Caroline found themselves drinking over the kitchen island - Emily with a glass of non-alcoholic sparkling juice left over for Claire and Caroline with a beer. They talked about their childhoods, Em's wedding and their physically massive friends. She insisted that they weren't just her friend's, but that they were Caroline's friends now as well.

"You're family," Emily lamented. "Colin and Brady are going to adore you. With wit like yours, they'll worship the very ground you walk on."

"I don't know," she laughed. "From what I hear, those two are pretty hilarious themselves."

"Just more good energy to feed off of!"

"Sounds like you're just trying to inflate my ego." Caroline smiled before taking a long swig from her can. "I had fun tonight. Lots of good energy here."

"You're more than welcome to come by whenever you like." Emily said. "Just give me a call and I'll have the place ready for you. And I know you're looking for jobs, a couple of the bars here on the rez are hiring. But, if you can, I'd recommend The Kwoli."

"The Wolf?" Caroline translated from Quileute and Emily laughed. Her Quileute wasn't anywhere near fluent, but she knew a couple of words.

"It's a small dive bar, not much to look at from the outside, but that's where we like to hang out the most." Emily smiled to herself before taking a sip of her sparkling juice. "It's a long story. Gosh," she changed the subject. "Mom would be so disappointed in me if she saw I was telling you to get jobs in dive bars and that I let you drink beer in my house!"

"Dad would have a field day. Alcohol kills, he used to say." Caroline smiled sadly. What good did staying away from alcohol do him, she left unsaid.

"He'd be proud of you." Emily placed her hand over her younger sister's.

"I know." She finished off her beer, letting Emily's hand stay on her own for a moment before she pulled away. "I think it's time I head out, it's later than I thought. I think I gave Aunt Sue enough time to give Charlie her surprise." The girls shuddered.

"Well, when you get to be their age, alone time doesn't come often -"

Caroline stood abruptly. "I'm gonna stop you right there. I'm 19, you and I already did the sex talk with mom - and it was awful need I remind you," she added, earning herself a bright laugh, "I'd rather not do it again."

"Fair." Emily walked her to the door. "Before you go," she started, sounding a little uncomfortable. "I should let you know. Bella isn't the most popular person around here, neither are any of the Cullens, especially not in recent months." Caroline quirked an eyebrow at that but didn't say anything. "And I know you're going to read into that but you shouldn't. There are just lifestyle choices that they make that we don't agree with."

"So, don't bring them up?"

"Exactly." Emily gave her a hug. "And maybe park the car a little ways from the house next time. The smell carries."

It's just past 10 before Caroline makes it to The Kwoli Bar after leaving Emily's house. It's a week night so no one is bouncing the door and she gets in without any trouble. Fake IDs don't work on the rez. Everyone knows everyone, and if they don't know you, they know your parents. You can only get in if the bouncer knows you and likes you.

The place is just how Emily described it. Nothing special on the outside. Just a brick building nestled in between a dojo and a coffee shop marked only with a bright neon sign of a howling wolf. The inside is dated but oddly homey. The walls are covered in neon lights of different beers and liquors.

"Kitchen just closed but I can fix whatever you'd like to drink." A gruff voice came from behind the bar. An older Quileute man with hair down to his mid back was wiping down the counter with an old rag that looks as weathered as him.

"Actually, I'm here for a job."

"A job, ya say?" The man frowned, not pausing in his cleaning. "Ever worked in a bar before?"

"I used to bar back at Old Chicago," she offered as she took a seat at the bar.

"Old Chicago?" The man laughed. "Your name Caroline?" She nodded. "Can you start this weekend? This Friday?"

"What? Really?" Caroline said. "Yeah, definitely, yes. I can start Friday."

"Uley's girl called in a couple of minutes ago and said you might stop by. You're the illegitimate Young kid."

Caroline shrugged and her cheeks flushed. "I guess that's one way to put it."

"It's a good backstory. Good backstories make for good bartenders."

Solid logic, Caroline thought. The heaviness in her chest lifting at his non-judgemental attitude. She couldn't imagine sharing her childhood backstory with any patrons but La Push and Makah had a lot of overlap, people probably already knew.

"Come in at 8 o'clock Friday and I'll have my guy show you the ropes. Bring your social security card and a form of ID and we'll get ya set up."

Caroline left the bar in shock. That was the easiest job interview she had ever had. She made a mental note to call Emily tomorrow and thank her.

The drive home was uneventful. She drove with the windows rolled down and no music as she enjoyed the uncharacteristically clear skies. As she neared the border of the rez a sharp howl pierced the night air followed by a chorus in response causing Caroline to shiver. She knew there were wolves in the area but she hadn't expected to hear them so close. She rolled up her windows for the rest of the drive home.

It wasn't until the next day when Charlie got called into the station early that Caroline realized that the howls she heard may have been more deadly than she thought.

Bear attacks my ass.

to my old readers: here is another one. less changes to this bad boy and even less proofreading so beware

to any newbies out there: i dont proofread I just rapidfire this shit - youve been warned :)