The end of the week was fast approaching, which meant that Alaina and Bella would be going to La Push with their friends, or more accurately, their lunch table. "Friends" was definitely pushing it. Bella had been asked to go to the beach a few weeks ago and she practically begged Alaina to accompany her with the rest of the students that sat with them at school. Alaina didn't want to go, in fact, she had been trying to think of excuses not to go for days, but she soon (Against my will, she thought) found herself next to Bella in her truck while they barreled through Forks, Washington.

"Do we have to go?" She whined as Bella drove to Newton's Olympic Outfitters, the sporting goods store that was owned my Mike's parents, which was their meeting spot. "Please don't make me go."

"You're being a little dramatic, Alaina," Bella laughed, pulling in to the parking lot of the store. "I don't particularly want to go either, but it's too late to back out now."

Alaina groaned, seeing Lauren and Mike already chatting animatedly by Tyler's van. Lauren acted as if she was the queen of Forks High who gossiped her way to the throne. She was needlessly cruel and willing to say whatever she needed to become popular. During lunch, Lauren would almost always give a snide comment when Alaina said something, so she tried to stay as far away from her as possible.

"I'm not riding with her," Alaina stated as Bella made her way to an empty parking spot.

"Well, I'm driving and there's only enough room for us, so no need to worry," Bella said, parking her truck. "I don't particularly like her much either if we're being honest."

Mike eagerly bounced to the two girls as they both got out of the truck. "Detroit! Arizona!" He yelled, jogging over to them. Alaina could see Lauren scowling as she turned around to talk to Jessica, stealing potent glances towards Bella and Alaina. "You guys are riding with me!"

Bella interjected, "Actually, I'm going to drive us. Hope you don't mind."

Mike rolled his eyes playfully. "Don't be silly! There's no use taking more cars than we need to!"

"My dad doesn't know you guys so he's just more comfortable with me riding with Bella," Alaina said quickly, shrugging. It wasn't completely a lie, but she knew it would get Mike off their backs.

"Oh, okay," Mike said sadly, obviously crestfallen. Alaina knew that he wanted to spend more alone time with Bella but she was making it exceedingly difficult. "Well, let's get going then."

Alaina and Bella got into her truck, and the other Forks high school students began divvying themselves up into the remaining cars. Mike pulled out of the parking lot onto the main road, Bella following closely behind.

They began speeding through the hilly pacific northwest terrain, past the lush green trees and the salty air. Weaving in and out of the Pacific Northwest hills was nothing new to Alaina, but she couldn't help but to look out her window in awe. "I didn't realize Forks could be so beautiful," she said quietly, her eyes darting around as quickly as possible as not to miss anything. Detroit was about as flat as it could be and didn't hold nearly as much of the natural beauty that Forks had.

"Technically, we are in La Push," Bella said, pulling into the parking lot of the beach. "Forks isn't beautiful."

"Maybe not," Alaina said as the truck pulled to a stop, a devilish grin on her lips. "But the people sure are."

Alaina glanced over at Bella who instantly blushed. "Oh, stop that," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm sorry Edward couldn't come," Alaina said shrugging. "He's obviously into you. Like, painfully obvious. It actually physically hurts me watching you two flirt with each other in bio, just so you know."

Bella perked up, as she did anytime anyone mentioned her and Edward. "You think so?"

"I mean, I've only told you that about 10 times already," Alaina laughed, sliding out of Bella's truck. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were fishing for me to talk more about the Cullens."

"It's just so hard to talk about them at school," she said, pulling into the parking lot for the beach. "I feel like they can tell when people are talking about them."

Alaina nodded in agreement. "Definitely. It's like they can hear across the room. It's super weird," she said as Bella turned off her truck. "I am sorry that Edward couldn't come though, Bells. It would have been hilarious to see you two try to flirt with each other outside of school"

And she meant it. As much as she felt a hot pang of jealousy when she saw Edward and Bella together, she also felt so much happiness for her friend finding someone that clicked so well with her. She just hoped that Edward would make a move sooner rather than later.

Bella and Alaina slide out of her old red truck and start walking towards the beach and Alaina couldn't help but notice how easy it was to be around Bella. Although the two girls only knew each other for a very short amount of time, they clicked in a way that Alaina was so grateful for. Even in Detroit, Alaina had never had a friendship that felt so effortless.

"My two favorite new kids made it!" Mike said loudly, his arms wide open. Alaina could almost hear Jessica's eyes rolling behind him.

"We were literally driving right behind you the entire drive, Mike," Bella said with a slight edge to her voice, but Mike being totally unaware of any social clues, completely missed it.

"I'm just glad you girls are here!" He said, opening the trunk of his car. He started pulling out surfboards and wetsuits. "Let's not waste this weather!"

"That's a hard pass from me, Mike," Bella said. "I'm a walking klutz. If I tried to surf I'd end up in the hospital… again."

"I've actually always wanted to see a tide pool. I know they aren't super exciting, but you don't see many in the city," Alaina said.

"Well," Mike said cockily, "I know all the best tide pools and I'd love to show you -"

"Michael," Jessica said sharply. "You promised me we'd go surfing! Come on!"

"Go surf, Mike," Angela said, a kind smile radiating on her face. "You can show us all the best tide pools when you guys are done."

"Angela's right, as always," Jessica said, her trademarked chipperness back in her voice. She grabbed Mike's arm and started to drag him towards the water. "See you guys soon!"

"Poor guy," Erik said, chuckling. "I wonder what it's like to be so annoying. But if you're both so annoying, do you realize that you're even annoying?"

"That is the question of our generation, Erik," Alaina said, laughing. She glanced at the ocean and inhaled deeply. The salty, clean air was refreshing and the rhythmic crashing of the waves was soothing and almost meditative. Scanning the shore, she noticed two tall figures walking towards them. "Hey guys, do you know them? They look like they are coming towards us."

The two figures were boys about their age with long black hair and russet skin that was apparent even in the distance. Angela shrugged, "I don't know them, but I bet they are from the reservation that isn't too far away from here."

"Wait," Bella said slowly, her brow furrowing. "I actually know one of them. Jacob?"

The younger looking boy eyes snapped up and a bright smile enveloped his face. The two of them broke into a jog towards the van that the group was sitting in.

"Jacob's dad and my dad are really good friends," Bella explained as they were coming closer. "Jacob used to come over a lot when we were kids."

"Bella! It's so nice to see you!" Jacob yelled when he reached the group. He instantly enveloped her into a tight hug.

"It's nice to see you too! I haven't seen you since we were making mud-pies in Charlie's backyard," Bella said. "Jacob, these are my friends from school: Angela, Erik, and Alaina."

He gave a polite wave to the group. "This is my friend, Paul. We live on the rez."

Both Paul and Jacob were incredibly attractive, in a boyish, almost slightly rugged way. What is in this water to make everyone so gorgeous? Alaina thought shrewdly, making a mental note to start taking her hydration a little more seriously.

"Erik," Angela said, standing up and taking Erik's arm. "Let's take a walk and let them catch up, okay? I also want to see Mike fall since he says he's so great at surfing. " Erik nodded and stood up to follow her.

"Are you here for good, Bells?" Jacob said, trying (and failing) to contain his excitement, sitting down next to Bella. Paul took a seat next to Alaina and she could feel his gaze on her, but she tried to ignore him.

"Fow now, at least," Bella said, shrugging. "My mom and her husband moved to Jacksonville for minor league baseball. Alaina actually just moved her as well."

"I could tell you weren't from here," Paul said, a satisfied look on his face. "I would have remembered you. They don't make girls like you around -"

"What Paul is trying to say," Jacob interrupted, rolling his eyes at his friend, "is where did you move from?"

Alaina liked Jacob already; he was like Bella in so many ways. They both were able to read their friends and make everyone feel involved and comfortable. It was a trait that not a lot of people possessed and Alaina appreciated them both in trying to bring her into the conversation.

"I'm from Detroit. My dad got a job working on the new interstate in town," she said, the half-truth rolling off her tongue almost too easily. "I live in Forks now, just a few streets over from Bella."

"You'll have to come up to town and hang out with us some time!" Bella said politely, smiling at Jacob.

"That could definitely be arranged," Paul said suggestively, staring hard at Alaina. His gaze sent unwelcomed shivers and and down her spine. Her heart began to race and the last place she wanted to be was right next to Paul.

"I'm going to head to the bathroom really quick," Alaina said suddenly, standing up to walk towards the bathroom stalls. She could hear Jacob chasticizing Paul ("Behave!").

In the bathroom, Alaina glanced at her reflection. Her tan skin was blanched and she could see beads of sweat forming near her hairline, even though it was chilly out. "Get it together, Alaina," she said to her reflection, upset with herself for letting her past affect her so much. She sighed, leaving the bathroom when she felt herself calm town. When Alaina returned, she saw no sign of Bella and Jacob, but Paul was sitting in the van waiting for her.

"Where did they go?" Alaina said, beginning to feel increasingly uncomfortable yet again. Mike and Jessica were surfing (well, attempting to), and Lauren, Erik, and Angela were barely visible as they walked away from the van and along the beach. She felt incredibly, terrifyingly alone.

"Bella said something about tide pools and Jacob went with her," Paul said shrugging, raising his eyebrows. "It's just you and me, babe."

"Babe?" She spat. "You don't know me. Don't call me babe."

"Oh, come on," he said, inching closer to her. "You're the prettiest girl I've seen around these parts in a long time. You can't blame me for flirting with you." He draped his long arm around her shoulder, trying to pull her closer to him.

"Don't you dare touch me!" she said suddenly, pushing him away. Paul's hand shot back is if he just touched fire. He looked at her with his eyes open wide in confusion.

"Damn, okay," he said grumpily, taken aback by her sudden outburst. "I should have asked first…"

"Yes you should have," Alaina snapped, glaring at him. She could feel her temper rising and her heart rate increasing every second she was alone with him. "And for the record, I would have said no."

Paul gaped at her, but then a smug grin slowly washed across his face. "Hard to get I see. I like it."

"I, uh, don't feel well," She said quickly, jumping out of the van. "I'm going to go find Bella."

"Oh, come on, they will be back!" Paul said, catching up with her quickly. Alaina took a step to her right to try to make the space between them as wide as possible, but Paul was relentless, making sure he was a close to her as he could. She quickened her pace and audibly signed in relief when she saw two figures slowly walking towards them. Jacob waved at the two of them and Alaina could almost see him grinning kindly in the darkness.

"Bella," Alaina said breathlessly when she reached Bella. She tried as desperately as she could to be nonchalant, but she could feel her anxiety creeping to the surface.

"Is everything okay?" Jacob asked in concern. He glanced at Paul who shrugged in response.

"Yeah everything's fine. Totally fine," she said, a little too cheerfully. "Do you think you'll be ready to go soon?"

Bella furrowed her brow and tried to read Alaina. "Yeah, I'm ready to go when you are," she said.

A wave of relief washed over Alaina. "Let's go. It was nice to meet you both."

"Don't be strangers!" Jacob said, waving to the girls. Paul began to wave as well, but Jacob punch him in the shoulder. That gave Alaina a strange sense of relief; Jacob knew instinctively that Paul had something to do with this.

The two girls walked back to the parking lot in an awkward silence while Jacob and Paul walked the other direction. The beach crunched uncomfortably underneath Alaina's sneakers and she could feel the grittiness of the sand making its way in her shoes.

"Hey - wait!" Mike said as they were reaching Bella's truck. He jogged over, and an annoyed Jessica crossed her arms in irritation as she was left there alone on the beach, the waves crashing quietly behind her. "Leaving so soon?"

"Yeah, I'm not feeling well… and Bella is my ride," Alaina shrugged, the lie slipping easily off of her tongue. She wrapped her arms around her waist and stared hard at the ground.

"Oh, umm, well I hope you feel better Detroit," he said, the disappointment obvious in his voice. "I'll see you guys at school."

Bella and Alaina walked in silence to Bella's truck after saying goodbye to Mike. They climbed into the front seat and Bella roared the truck to life. She pulled out on the main road and they drove away from the beach in silence.

"Hey," Alaina said after a few quiet moments in the truck. Out of nervousness, she began to play with a loose thread on her jacket. "I'm sorry for being so socially… awkward. Paul was just being so touchy. I didn't know what to do."

"Alaina," Bella smiled kindly looking over at her quickly. "It's fine. Really. I didn't really want to be there anyway, to be completely honest. But can I ask you something? It's okay if you don't want to answer."

She involuntarily winced. Alaina knew this was coming, she just had prayed it wasn't coming so soon. But Bella deserved to know, especially after what happened at the beach. "Yeah, of course."

Bella paused, looking for the right words. "Well, I noticed that you get pretty defensive when someone touches you. Like Mike on your first day and just now with Paul. It's just… is everything okay?"

Alaina closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could feel tears begin to well behind her shut eyes and she tried desperately to will them away. "I haven't been telling you the whole truth about why I'm here."

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me. I can tell this is a lot for you and I don't want you to feel obligated to tell me something you aren't ready to."

"Bella," Alaina was taken aback by Bella's understanding and compassion. She didn't want to hide this from her anymore. "It's a long story."

Bella pulled her truck down her street and began to slow down. "Well, would you like to spend the night? I'm not normally one for girls night, but I think Charlie would just about die of happiness if he saw you."

"I would actually really like that, Bella," she said, cracking a smile. Charlie was one of her favorite people that she had met at Forks; he was gruff, distant, and wanted Bella so desperately to have friends, that any time she would come over to their home, Charlie would buy them a pizza and begrudgingly let them watch what they wanted on television.

Bella nodded and pulled into her driveway while Alaina texted her parents where she was. Bella parked, and Alaina noticed that her father's car was parked there as well. "Why is my dad here?"

Bella shrugged and got out of the car. "No idea." Alaina stomach began to turn to knots. Finding her dad's car parked outside the police chief's home probably wasn't a good sign.

The two girls walked into the home and found Alaina's father and Charlie watching the game. Alaina sighed in audible relief. "Hey Dad. Hello Mr. Swan."

"Hey kids," her dad said, not tearing his attention off of the TV screen. His eyes darted around the television, watching the players run across the field. "Have fun at the beach?"

"Oodles, Mr. Swan," Alaina responded shrugging off her jacket and draping it over the kitchen chair.

"For the last time, kid, call me Charlie," Charlie said.

"Sorry, Charlie," she responded with a smile. She walked over to her father. "Hey dad, is it cool if I spend the night here tonight?"

"And dad, is it fine if Alaina spends the night?" Bella interjected, already knowing the answer would be yes.

"I'm find with it if the chief is fine with it," her dad responded, giving her a smile.

"Yeah, I don't care. Just don't make too much noise till the game's over. These players just don't know how to play anymore..." Charlie trailed off, shaking his head and taking another sip of his beer.

Bella laughed. "Yeah, we'll make sure not to party too loud. Good night dad, Mr. Pawlowska."

Bella and Alaina walked upstairs to her bedroom and Bella shut the door behind them. The girls climbed on Bella's bed and Alaina frowned. "I don't want to beat around the bush. So, my dad really did get a job over here for the freeway. That part is true. But something came before that to prompt him looking for this job."

Bella nodded while she waited for her to continue. Alaina sighed deeply. "The reason why we moved here from Detroit is because I was raped by someone from another high school."

"Oh my gosh, Alaina," Bella said, her jaw dropping. "I'm so, so sorry. Is everything okay? Are you okay?"

Alaina gave her a half smile and shrugged. "Yeah. I mean, I don't want to go into specifics, but I'm getting better. After it happened I told my parents right away and they immediately went to confront his parents. His parents didn't believe mine and threatened to sue them for libel. I… I had a rape kit completed and it proved that I was telling the truth so then my parents and I decided to sue for sexual assault.

"His parents are powerful people in Detroit… I began to receive threats from his friends. I was ostracized in school. Even with the kit… even with all of the proof, no one believed me. So I stopped going to school. My mom, well, you know my mom. She knew something had to happen and she wasn't going to back down from these people. So she decided that we should move so that I can focus on school and we could prepare our case away from all of the threats and the toxic environment that my world became. So, that's why I'm here."

The two girls sat in silence as the weight of the situation hovered in the room. Neither Bella nor Alaina knew what to say so they just sat there in silence. After a few moments, Bella engulfed Alaina into a hug.

"I'm here for you," she said after pulling away.

"I know."