Kiera never wanted to talk to Mike Fucking Newton again. To see him ever, would be to see him too soon. He was a loudmouth who drooled over Bella every chance he got, his childish antics, and need for her attention churning like a maelstrom in her gut. She remembers being like him. Begging for attention. A dog at the foot of the table, whining for scraps.

He'd been more bearable in the beginning. Just a touch too loud, but kind and almost funny. But lately, he's gotten worse. Erratic and moody, on a high that never seemed to come down safely. And now they stood under a Fir tree, the deep green of it the only soothing thing in sight. Mike held her wrist in a sweaty grip, his slick fingers shaking.

"What?" Kiera snapped.

"You heard me. Who's your dealer?" Mike spat. "Don't even try to lie, I know an addict when I see one."

And it clicked. Mike Fucking Newton was a drug addict.

"Are you kidding me right now? What the shit, Mike? I'm not a druggie!" Kiera said, ripping her wrist from his grasp.

"Come on, don't play coy. We're in the same boat. Withdrawal, right? What is it, coke?" He gave her a once over, tone turning snide. "Or something harder?"

Kiera sputtered, the audacity of his questions blackening the edges of her vision. Her gums began to ache. Maybe ripping into him just this once would be okay. She shook her head, the haze of her anger fleeing.

"I don't do drugs, you asshole," Kiera hissed. "I'm dying."

Mike blinked sluggishly, the red of his eyes standing out against watery blue. "You're what?"

"I'm sick. Dying. Heading to the final dirt nap, six feet below." Kiera said impatiently. She racked her brain for any more sayings, something to get this human boy to understand. "Going to kick the bucket. You got it now?"

"Do you have cancer?" His hand fell slack at his side after his callous question, a worry she didn't expect in his face. "Have you talked to Dr. Cullen? He's the best in Forks. I'm sure he could help you out-"

"Dr. Cullen can't help me with this." Kiera shook her head. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need lunch."

Kiera turned from Mike, her short nails digging into the meat of her palms. She could feel herself trembling, worn without her anger to fuel her. Mike's hand reached out once more, gripping onto the strap of her bag and threatening to tip her over. A yelp escaped her lips and just as she swung around to sink her teeth into the side of his face, the back of Lauren's head blocked her view. Mike's hand was now buckling beneath Lauren's grip, her face a twisted scornful smile. His cry of pain was silenced by Lauren's free hand, her neon pink fingernails clasping tightly over his mouth.

"I'm going to tell you just this once, Newton. You're going to fuck off, and never come back. You do and I'll literally kill you. Yeah?" Mike nodded and Lauren grunted, her hands flying off of him as if he burned her. "Go out of my face."

Mike scrambled from view, tumbling once before getting back to his feet. Lauren's limbs trembled, her breathing heavy. Staring at Lauren, Kiera stomped on the nagging voice in the back of her head telling her Lauren was a danger. Lauren was human, and Lauren was her friend. And she'd just scared off Mike Newton, so that was a huge bonus.

When Lauren turned around, she flipped her choppy shell-pink tipped hair in a move Kiera didn't doubt was practiced a hundred times. It still was impressive. Lauren settled her cornflower eyes on Kiera's waxen and drain face, her snarl twisting further.

"Next time, just poke one of his eyes out or something." Lauren scowled. "You good?"

"Yeah I'm fine," Kiera muttered. "How did you get here?"

Lauren sighed, twisting an erratic strand of hair around a chipper fingernail. "I was going to my Ethics class when I saw him grab you. Then I guess I blacked out or something, cause next thing I knew, I was in Mike's face. What the fuck did he want anyway?"

Kiera adjusted her backpack, pulling at the soft strap. It'd been a gift from Ramona and was one of the nicest things Kiera owned. She'd seen it in a bookstore and it'd been the only thing she'd asked for since she awoke, and she guessed Ramona couldn't say no to that one thing. When she'd found it on her bed the next day, she'd held it and cried for over an hour. She'd taken good care of it ever since, the rich dark leather treatest with the utmost care.

"He thinks I'm on the coke." Kiera sighed, shrugging her shoulders.

"You're definitely not on drugs. You wouldn't say 'on the coke' if you were. Actually, you shouldn't say that anyways, people are going to think you're inept. It's 'doing coke' or 'on coke'." Lauren shook her head.

Kiera threw her arms up in the air. "I give up, this place is stupid."

"You say that like you're somehow different from the rest of us." Lauren rolled her eyes. "Hate to break it to you babe, but you're just as low as we mere mortals."

Kiera bit back a smile. For all that she was, and Lauren Mallory was a lot of things, she was kind of a bitch. But Kiera liked that about her. Lauren was unafraid of speaking her mind, but Kiera? Kiera could barely order her own food at a restaurant.

"Look, I didn't mean to scare you or whatever. I'm just PMSing really hard, and he pissed me off…" Lauren trailed off, looking contrite and hating herself for it.

Kiera wisely didn't say that Lauren's very loud announcement of her period two weeks ago would make her current statement false. Unless she was already forgetting how periods work. That'd be fair. Her own had finally subsided and she was not clouded with thoughts of her upcoming death. Or the Death Debut party. Speaking of which, she needs to get back to Alice with ideas for the party.

Alice had been calling the house phone incessantly to talk about it. She'd seen a single vision of Bella receiving an invitation in the mail and had gone postal, aggressively trying to plan a party that she knew nothing about. Yet. It was always yet with Alice. Slowly, the Cullens were starting to integrate themselves into Kiera and Ramona's life. Alice showed up when she wished, and even Esme came around to drop off meals for Kiera when Ramona was out.

She almost extended an invite to Lauren, but she bit it back at the very last moment. None of their friends from class could come. It was bad enough the Cullens were going to be there, along with any family or friends Ramona could get ahold of. Kiera didn't think her school friends needed to be a part of that particular party. Lauren was staring at her with her thin brows raised, her gaze unimpressed.

"You alright? Period talk still wig you out?" Lauren asked.

"Opps. Sorry, I was...thinking about Matt, thanks again for that." Kiera lied, an awkward smile on her face.

Lauren shrugged and looked off to the side, face uncomfortable. "Yeah. Oh, goodie, your friends are here. Anyways, I'm out. See you later."

Lauren walked off, shoulders stiff. As if on cue, Jasper and Edward's faces of stone carved perfection caught Kiera's eye. They were pulling up to the drop-off curb in Edward's car, Jasper's golden eyes scanning the campus for something. The moment he saw Kiera, a smile crossed his face. Kiera gave him an awkward wave, brows pinching.

"They are here to pick us up. Alice's orders." Bella said, coming to stand next to Kiera. She looked worn but happy, eyes softening at the sight of her boyfriend. But the way she held herself made it clear they were still not done talking about the stunt Edward pulled on the baseball field.

While weak for Edward, Bella was starting to grow steel in her that Kiera couldn't help but be proud of. Edward could be a bit of a control freak, and Bella was so easy going that she just let him get away with it. But it seemed things were shifting, Kiera noticed with a small smirk. It fell off her face when Edward got out of the car and made his way over. She tensed in his presence, glancing behind him at Jasper unconsciously. Jasper only gave her a slow nod, his hawk-like gaze never wavering.

"Kiera," Edward started. Oh no. Here comes another awkward talk. Edward smiled as if hearing her thoughts. If an anvil could come from the sky and crush her now, Kiera would be thankful. "I would like to sincerely apologize for my behavior the other day."

"And?" Bella prodded, a stubborn set to her chin.

"And it won't happen again." Edward continued. "It was terribly rude of me, regardless of my own feelings at the time, I should not have reacted the way I did."

Kiera eyed him thoughtfully. When she'd brought it up to Ramona, Ramona had gone into a long discussion about how anxiety and depression could create fierce reactions in people, and how it can be heightened as a vampire. On top of Kiera's thoughts about Edward's weakness concerning Bella's blood, it must have touched the beast in him and 'swung at it with a barbed stick' as Ramona had put it. Kiera had grown up around immortals, known how predatory and violent they could be. Part of her could forgive that. But more and more, Edward was falling on her bad side.

"While I'll accept your apology, I should let you know I'm still not happy with you and I'm not going to be until you prove to me you deserve to be around Bella. I hope you don't snap at her like you snapped at me." Kiera said, wary.

Edward's features became tight and he seemed to pale even further, making the dark circle beneath his eyes stand out like bruises. "Never. And I'll work to get back into your good graces, whatever it takes. We are friends now, I wouldn't truly wish you harm. I really do apologize."

"You just have terrible luck and timing, it seems." Kiera mutters with a shrug. Edward nodded with understanding. If Italy hadn't happened, if he'd never left Bella to hurt as he did- they might have been better friends by now. But he had, and so they weren't.

"Why don't you go wait in the car?" Bella prompted, nudging Kiera forward. "I want a quick word with my boyfriend."

Eager to avoid the incoming lover's spat, Kiera scrambled across the grassy belt and made her way to Edward's car. Jasper got out of the passenger's side to open the door for her, nodding but not speaking as she climbed in with a near-silent thanks. He shut the door soundly before climbing back into his spot, his pale hand tweaking with the heater.

"Do they fight often?" Kiera asked. She propped her chin on a closed fist, watching the bickering couple with bored eyes.

"Yes and no. Their fights have no teeth." Jasper drawled.

"I'd hope not." Kiera muttered, the two of them sharing an amused look through the rearview mirror. Or, Kiera amused they were sharing a look. Jasper was still a blur, a mere impression left behind by a careless artist.

"Some couples thrive in chaos." He added.

"How healthy." Kiera smiled as Jasper let out a chuckle, not at all afraid of the dark edge to it.

"Not every couple is sunshine and roses. You know, Bella nearly broke up with Edward because of his stunt at the baseball field. It was the fiercest I've ever seen her. Her love for you runs deep." Jasper said.

"Oh?" Kiera looked out her window, her smile turning contemplative as she watched Bella and Edward speak. Edward seems stiffer than usual, a cowed look on his handsome face. "I'm glad they didn't break up. She loves him a lot, I'd hate them to split over me."

"He loves her a lot too." His voice had turned soft. "More than I imagined he would. It makes sense, in hindsight."

"It's just his luck to love the one thing he shouldn't, isn't it?" Kiera mused.

"It's just like Edward." Jasper agreed quietly.


"You're scent reminds me of my family home." Emmett admitted, the two of them lounging across the family sofa.

Everyone was settled in for a movie night, and Emmett had all but demanded he got his 'turn' to sit next to Kiera. Rosalie sat curled up against his side, her golden eyes trained on the screen, but Kiera could tell she was listening. The sadness in Emmett's voice was barely noticeable, but when Jasper twitched on the arm at her side, she knew Emmett must truly be feeling upset.

They likely all were. Edward, who was leaning against the sofa, sitting on the floor with Bella's head on his lap. Esme and Carlise spoke quietly from the love seat, in a world of their own, but glancing over. Alice who sent her a wide grin from across the room, her tiny body engulfed by a cashmere blanket. Only her tiny hands showed as she feverishly texted somebody. Kiera couldn't help but smile at her. She was texting Demetri, then.

"What did your family home smell like?" Kiera asked quietly.

"It smelt like...fresh thyme. We didn't have much, but we had a small section of the farm where my sister grew what she could. You have more to your scent, something earthly like soil, but also tropical? Like lemongrass. Sometimes the thyme is so strong…" Emmett shrugs. He gives Rosalie a half-smile as she rubbed circles on his back.

"There's a hint of sharp ozone to you're scent beneath all that." Jasper whispered in her ear, his hair tickling her jaw."Like the sky before a storm. Sparks up more when you're upset it seems."

"It's a nice smell." Emmett rushed to add. "Almost makes me feel warm."

"I'm glad you like the way I smell." Kiera teased, leaning into the mountain of a man.

Emmett was someone easy to befriend, once you got past his sheer size that was meant to intimidate. Kiera never had a brother. Hadn't thought about having one either. But being around Emmett, the safety he brings even in his companionable silence- she found herself wishing she had one.

"That reminds me. Didn't you say you had something to tell me?" Bella asked, looking up at her friend.

"It's not just my secret to share." Kiera continued, pausing when she saw more than one vampire glance her way. So they were listening. That was good right? They might know what's going on. "It also involves wolves."

The unease in her words demanding the coven's full attention. Kiera shrugged, knowing she couldn't just keep it to herself for the sake of their family night, even if it were a rare treat for them. She took a moment to gather herself, momentarily reveling in the fact that she had their undivided attention without even asking.

"What do you know about imprinting?" Kiera watched as any color drained from Bella's face. Jasper's hand twitched at his side, his pinky resting over hers, his cold touch sending a chill down Kiera's spine.

"No way," Bella whispered. "Don't tell me, someone-"

"Is it that bad?" Kiera's voice shook. "It doesn't have to be, right? Is there a way to break it?"

"Break what?" Rosalie interrupted. "What the hell is imprinting?"

Kiera chanced a look at Carlisle. His face was drawn, his lips pressed tightly together as he thought. Whatever he was sifting through, whether it be the endless expanse of time itself or merely the memories that came with it, he was pulled in deep. His searching look concerned his wife, who clung into his grasp. The angry buzzing of bees clouded Kiera's thoughts, her dark eyes unable to find the source of the odd high pitched noise. It was too fast to place, too frantic to sort through, leaving Kiera feeling uneasy.

She'd thought she'd gone crazy till something in her ears popped and she could catch bits and pieces of lightning-paced words. A sneaking suspicion guided Kiera's gaze to Jasper, catching his lips twitching ever so slightly before his face became stone again. Her concentration must have been felt because his golden eyes latched onto her with a burning intensity she could swear was building under her skin. The Cullens were a hive, speaking at once and almost unnoticeable to the mortal eye. Their words prickled over her skin in fresh goosebumps, and she wondered how many times they spoke without her hearing them.

"Stop!" Kiera's heart thundered in her chest, and she covered her ears to escape from the buzzing.

Everyone's eyes were locked on hers at once and Kiera shivered. Esme looked away from her, an apology in her grimace. Kiera didn't have the energy to tell her about how much their fast-talking freaked her out. Instead, she focused on the problem at hand, rubbing at her throbbing temples.

"This is your gentle reminder that I'm here, and if you're talking about me, I'd rather you say it to my face. And please, don't do the buzzing thing. It's loud and kind of hurts my ears."

"Buzzing thing, dear?" Esme questioned, wringing her hands.

"We shall refrain from talking about you in front of you. Our apologies, Kiera." Carlisle's fatherly tone was meant to be soothing, but it only sent a shot of irritation through her.

"When you talk so fast and so low, it sounds like a hive swarming my brain. I thought my ears were going to start bleeding for a moment." Kiera grimaced. It was a slight exaggeration, but it'd hopefully be enough to get them to stop.

"What is imprinting, Bella?" Edward asked, gathering his girlfriend into his arms. Any trace of calm was washed from his face, the same solemn and tortured expression he usually had taking back it's place. Bella and Kiera silently looked at each other. It'd only take a nod from Kiera and Bella would share everything for her, but Kiera knew she had to do this part on her own.

"Imprinting is when a shapeshifter of the Quileute tribe finds their soulmate." Kiera continued to rub her temples, letting out a heavy sigh. "Paul Lahote imprinted on me."

The world could have exploded and none of the Cullens would have moved a single inch. Stiller than statues, they each were rooted to the spot with various expressions of shock or anger taking ahold of their usually angelic faces. It was like watching a grenade go off, one that started up the annoying buzzing once more. This time, the words were coming out faster and angrier, harsher on Kiera's not-quite mortal ears. Jasper's was the most desperate, a howling pitch to each word. Before Kiera could snap at them to stop, Rosalie spoke.

"What does that even mean?" Rosalie snarled. She was coiled like a snake at her boyfriend's side, her lovely gold eyes narrowed to slits.

"Jacob would say it's to meet your best biological match to have kids with." Kiera shrugged. "But I believe Paul's version. That the wolves can platonically imprint."

"What makes you so sure about that?" Jasper asked, ragged.

"Because I can't have kids." Kiera said. Rosalie flinched, the corners of her mouth softening.

"And so it renders Jacob's point useless, then." Carlisle mused.

"I still feel the bond. If Jacob was right, wouldn't it have broken by now to find the next best candidate?"

"Theoretically, yes," Carlisle said. "But keep in mind this is a bond not bound by science. Anything could happen."

"Is there any way to break it?" Emmett demanded, wrapping a firm arm around Kiera's shoulders.

"Not that I know of. No." Carlisle said slowly.

"Why are you so ready to think of it as a bad thing?" Esme asked, putting up her hands in a placating manner when the room turned on her. "Paul said it could be platonic. So far, is it?"

It was Kiera's turn to squirm. She offered a shrug, one that didn't make herself or anyone else in the room feel any better. "It is. I can feel him in my chest, a physical thing. But I don't want to kiss him, or like, marry him if that's what you're asking."

"Then we are worrying for nothing." Esme smiled. "There is nothing to break if you have nothing to fear."

"I'm not so sure about that. I absolutely hate that I suddenly have some supernatural connection to a man I just met. It's….scary. Being so out of control of my own fate."

Kiera felt her heart leaped to her throat when the doorbell rang. She'd forgotten they ordered food and chuckled at her skittishness. Jasper left her side for a moment, only to return to the living room with a box of pizza and a liter of Coke in his hands. The scent of gooey cheese and salty pepperoni was a welcomed one. Bella grumbled under her breath about the topping choices but gave a crow of happiness when she'd seen that the other half was a Veggie Lovers.

The girls sat alone at the dining room table, more than happy to stuff their faces. The Cullens continued their annoying buzzing, but Kiera couldn't care less at the moment. She was too busy scarfing down her slice, hungry for the first time in days. Their glass cups-because of course they were glass-were filled to the brim with the fizzling drink. She silently thanked the delivery person for interrupting what was becoming a taxing conversation.

She'd gotten her answer. No, no one knew how to break it. The idea of going home to an empty house, with no answers to tide her attention over, bothered her. Kiera frowned at her sudden loss of appetite, placing the half-eaten piece back onto the plate.

"What's wrong?" Bella asked around a mouthful of veggies.

"Do you want to have a sleepover? I'm not looking forward to sleeping alone tonight." Kiera admitted.

Before Bella could answer, Alice flashed into the room with a giddy smile. "How about a sleepover here? We could watch movies, paint each other's nails, maybe put on a fashion show-"

"We want them to have fun Alice, not scare them off!" Emmett hollered from the other room, followed by Jasper's raspy laughter.

Alice scrunched up her face and stuck her tongue out in his direction. Rolling her eyes and mocking Emmett's words, she dramatically threw herself into the seat next to Kiera's.

"Oh, how he wounds me." She said with a sigh, bringing the back of her hand to her forehead. "The cruelty. The audacity."

"Okay Dramatica, take it down a notch." Kiera said with a snort.

"Pot, meet Kettle." Bella says under her breath, a cheeky smile splitting crookedly across her face. She squawked when both Alice and Kiera slapped her arms lightly, raising her straight brows in faux annoyance.

"So, what do you say? Just say yes already, I know you want to." Alice sang out, kicking her lithe legs back and forth.

"Sure. But I get to pick the movie." Kiera said, pointing a finger at Alice. "And no fashion show, I'm too tired to try to get out of a tule infested dress without dying via suffocation."

Alice and Bella shared a look. "Kettle." They said simultaneously, bursting into laughter.


The rest of the family had been more than okay letting Bella and Kiera stay the night. In fact, they'd been so happy, they'd even revealed the stack of clothing Alice had both bought and hand-made for the two girls for nights just like this. It both warmed Kiera's heart and terrified her to know the little pixie knew how to make clothes for her. She'd for sure never escape a fashion show now.

Rosalie stood next to her stiffly as she sifted through the chest of clothes for something to sleep in. Finding a matching set of lavender silk pajamas, Kiera took comfort in knowing she'd at least be comfortable and cute that night. Maybe she should ask Alice if she could take them home. She'd been in the middle of removing her shirt when she'd heard Rosalie inhale sharply. Stilling, Kiera hid with her arms in the air and the shirt over her head.

She'd forgotten. For the briefest of moments, she'd forgotten herself. What was Rosalie seeing right now? Her ribs making ugly indentations beneath her ashen skin, once so warm, so golden brown? Or was it the twisting claw marks that ran from chest to hip, a diagonal slashing of flesh? It'd been the last thing Seb had given her. Aside from the casual paranoia and rare nightmares, at least.

She dressed quickly, avoiding Rosalie's understanding gaze. She didn't want Rosalie to understand. Nobody should understand this kind of violence. Her scars had grown thin and white over the years, nearly invisible to the human eye. But it'll always be the first thing she sees when she looks in the mirror.

"He'll never touch you again." Rosalie promised, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.

The incandescent rage in her golden eyes came from a woman who knew. Knew what it was like to be left laying on the ground somewhere, lost and bleeding out. Kiera swallowed the bile rising in her throat and clenched her eyes shut, ignoring the cold hand catching the tear that'd slipped through her lashes. One day Kiera would have the guts to ask Rosalie how she knew.

Right now she was only grateful that it was only Rosalie in the room. Bella hadn't seen the scars, her eyes too weak to track the marks. But the other Cullens would have noticed them in an instant. That many prying eyes seeing her deepest haunting trauma laid out like a map sent a shiver up her spine.

Rosalie said nothing, but her face said everything. She wouldn't be telling anyone. She'd take it to her fiery grave if that's what Kiera asked of her. Finally, Kiera sagged, letting herself drop into Rosalie's arms. Standing in silence, standing together- Kiera felt a piece of herself scab over. Therapy wasn't an option for supernatural creatures. Not in the way humans had it. But Kiera was glad she at least had this.

Rosalie had pleasantly surprised Kiera last night. Like her wall had lowered some, Rosalie was different than usual. Though never without her bladed tongue and barbed words they'd lacked their usual bite. It'd been refreshing. Rosalie wasn't some snake, she was just guarded with walls so high that many refused to try the climb. It could take years to open Rosalie up and be allowed to see inside her.

But something was telling Kiera Rosalie was worth the wait.


She closed her front door, a small smile on her face, only for it to fall off as she turned around. Ramona sat on the couch, her booted feet resting on the coffee table and a thick stack of letters in her hands. A cup of deceptively sweet-smelling tea sat on the table next to her feet. The closest to an alcoholic drink for Diwata was a cup of poisonous tea, and by the way Ramona was looking at her, she could tell Ramona has had several.

"Do you remember that awful summer, when you broke your mother's favorite teacup?" Ramona started and Kiera knew this wasn't going to be good.

"Vividly. Why?" She asked cautiously.

"She'd taken your hand and placed it onto the stovetop, all because you broke a cup. How you screamed and screamed." Ramona's hands tightened their grip. "That's when I knew I hated your mother."

"I don't remember much before waking up, but I still remember that." Kiera shifts in place. "Why mention all this now?"

"Because your mother is on her way to Forks."

An: Sorry for the shorter chapter, guys. My cat just passed away this past Monday, and I really haven't had to motivation to do much of anything. Let me know if you enjoyed this chapter. Stay safe and healthy!