Not gonna lie, I loved this chapter.

We start it off with Eddie's pov and the soon to be wolf pack makes an appearance uwu


CHAPTER SIX:

LULLABY


If Edward Cullen had a heartbeat, he was sure it would be roaring in his ears. He kept the windows up, basking in Bell's scent as he drove back to the school. He took slow, deep breaths that filled his lungs to their maximum capacity before letting the air out in a shaky sigh. He didn't need to look at his hands to know he was shaking.

Thankfully, the final hour wasn't out yet, giving him enough time to get himself together. A glance at the mirror showed him how blown his pupils were, eclipsing the ochre of his eyes. He ran his fingers through his hair and pursed his lips, unintentionally recalling how soft her skin was against his mouth. Edward grimaced.

He was fucked.

So utterly fucked.

He'd known her for a short time and he already adored her. He craved her touch, loved the sound of her voice and nearly got drunk off her scent with every breath. It felt like someone was tearing him apart every time he wasn't near her. Edward deduced Bell was attracted to him, if her actions were anything to go by, but he had no way of being absolutely sure. Her mental silence was both fascinating and frustrating.

Although… he'd heard something when he was carrying her to the front office, like muffled voices through static. It'd happened again in the car, when he grabbed her wrist. For one, fleeting moment, she considered kissing him. And he'd wanted her to.

He wanted her to kiss him, to tangle her fingers in his hair, to pry his lips apart with her tongue and gently cradle his face like he was the fragile one, to straddle him so that her warmth soaked into his skin through their clothes. He wanted her to keep looking at him like he was something to be cherished, something to be protected. God, he wanted her so badly—

Edward nearly jumped out of his skin when the passenger door opened.

Ha! Caught you by surprise. That's a first, Emmett grinned widely as he slid into his seat. "I bet Ms. Goff thinks you're on drugs, with how erratic you've been lately. Where were you today?" He asked curiously, tilting his head.

"I was…" Edward thought back to the weight of Bell in his arms, a smile tugging at his mouth, "doing good deeds."

Emmett's brow furrowed, his confusion apparent even without having to peek into his thoughts.

"Caring for the sick, and all that." Edward continued, chuckling.

"Oh!" It took a moment, but it finally clicked in Emmett's mind. That, along with Bell's scent. "You mean Bell?" His grin returned and he wiggled his eyebrows.

Edward rolled his eyes at the thoughts going through his brother's mind. Although, they weren't far from Edward's own thoughts a short while ago…

"She does have quite a nice scent, doesn't she?" Emmett added, taking another lungful of air.

A growl left his mouth before the words even registered completely, his lips curling back to bare his teeth in a furious snarl. The possessive anger brewing in his chest was new.

Emmett raised his hands in surrender, amusement shining in his eyes, "Hey, easy! I was just saying."

The rest of their siblings arrived just then. Rosalie caught Bell's scent immediately, a scowl maring her pretty face and her eyes shooting Edward a glare. Jasper noticed as well, but he said nothing as he stared down at his lap. A part of Edward was upset that both his brothers found the appeal of Bell's scent. It wasn't as strong for them and they didn't want to drain her dry or anything of the sort, but the smell of her blood brought them a portion of the comfort it gave him.

And jealousy reared its ugly head.

Edward brushed it off and lowered his window as Alice skipped over with Bell's bag slung over her shoulder. He dropped the keys to Bell's truck in her extended palm. Alice gave him a look, "You have to tell me everything."

"But—"

"No buts." Alice wagged her finger at him and Edward sighed deeply.

He followed her all the way to the Swan residence. The rain was still falling heavily, the thick drops hammering the roof of the car. Edward highly doubted Bell would be able to hear the roar of her truck's engine over the rain and rumble of distant thunder. Still, he looked up at her window in hopes to catch even a glimpse of her. No such luck.

Edward had no way of knowing if she was even in the house. Again, he grew frustrated that he couldn't hear her thoughts clearly. Did she eat something? Did she feel alright? Was she sleeping? Did she think of him as much as he thought of her?

A wave of calmness washed over him and Edward made eye contact with Jasper through the mirror. You were fretting, was Jasper's amused excuse. Alice climbed in the back, curling into her mate's side, and they sped home. Everyone went their separate ways the second they arrived.

Emmett and Jasper were engaged in an elaborate game of chess that involved seven additional boards and a complicated set of rules. Edward wasn't allowed to play and neither was Alice, they would only play with each other. Rosalie was sulking on the sofa, flipping through the channels with a second in between. He heard her consider going to the garage to work on her BMW. Alice was purchasing some clothes for her project — Rosalie's wardrobe — on her laptop while Esme, who was upstairs, hummed as she looked over a new set of blueprints.

Alice paused in her search and made eye contact with Jasper behind Emmett's back, mouthing his next moves at her mate. Jasper kept his expression neutral, following her instructions and cutting off Emmett's favored knight. Emmett groaned in frustration and Jasper smirked.

Edward shook his head at them and moved his eyes to the grand piano sitting a few ways from the entryway. Something like shame curled in his gut when he recalled just how long it had been since he played. He approached it slowly and took a seat. With a slow breath, Edward ran his hand gently up the scales to test the tuning. Perfect.

Upstairs, Esme paused and tilted her head.

He played the first tune that had come to mind when his fingers curled around Bell's wrist. Edward smiled, pleased, when it sounded even better than he'd imagined.

Edward is playing again, Esme thought in joy as she dropped everything she'd been doing to take a seat on the top step of the staircase. She leaned her head against the banister, listening as Edward added a harmonizing line and let the central melody weave through it. A new song, Esme sighed in contentment, it's been so long. What a lovely tune.

He let the melody lead in a new direction, following it with the bass line.

Edward is composing again? Rosalie thought, her teeth clenching in fierce resentment. For a moment, her guard was down, and he could read all of her previously hidden outrage. Why she was so angry at him and why the thought of having to kill Isabella Swan had not bothered her in the least.

Like always, it had to do with vanity.

His fingers came to a halt, an abrupt laugh bubbling from his mouth before he could stop himself. Edward covered his mouth with his hand, struggling to smother his amusement as Rosalie got to her feet and glared at him with fury etched on her face. Both Emmett and Jasper stopped what they were doing, slowly turning to watch. Esme made her way downstairs, her eyes flickering between Edward and Rosalie.

After a moment of tense silence, Esme spoke, "Keep playing, Edward."

Edward did so, turning his back to his blonde sister to hide the grin spreading over his lips. Rosalie shot to her feet and stomped away to the garage, both furious and embarrassed. If you say anything I will hunt you like a dog, her thoughts seethed at him.

He chuckled as Emmett called after her, "What's wrong, Rose?" The blonde didn't respond, her back ramrod straight as she made her escape to the garage. "What was that about?" He then asked Edward, who shrugged his shoulders with a smile.

"I haven't the faintest idea."

Esme's hands fell upon his shoulders, her thoughts urging him to continue. The song was compelling, but it was incomplete. He toyed with the bridge, but it didn't seem right. "It's charming. Does it have a name?" Esme asked curiously. He didn't have to look at her to know she was smiling.

"Not yet." Edward replied even as his mind went to long brown hair and kind hazel eyes.

"Is there a story to it?" She continued, subtly trying to coax the information out of him. His music brought her great joy, and he felt guilty for having taken that away from her for so long.

"It's a lullaby, I suppose," He murmured as he got to the bridge again, finally getting it right. It led easily to the next movement and took a life of its own.

"A lullaby," Esme repeated to herself.

A lullaby — he thought to himself — for a girl older than her years, sleeping peacefully in a bed too big for her, with her long and thick brown hair strewn over her pillow like a dark halo.

Alice left Jasper to play for himself with Emmett, gliding over to take a seat next to Edward. In her trilling, wind chime voice, she sketched out two octaves higher above the melody.

Edward nodded his head, "I like it, but how about this?" He queried, adding her line to the harmony as his hands glided over the keys effortlessly to work all the pieces together. Modifying, taking new directions and speeds… Alice caught on fairly quickly, and sang along. "Yes, that's perfect." Edward smiled and Esme squeezed his shoulders.

He could see the end, with Alice's voice rising above the tune and taking it to another place. He could finally see how the song would end, because the sleeping girl was perfect the way she was, and any change would be a great sadness. The end of the song was a realization, almost reluctant in its slowness. His sister's voice lowered, taking a solemn tone that belonged under the echoing arches of a candlelit cathedral. With a heavy heart, Edward played the last note, and lowered his head.

Esme ran her fingers through his hair. It'll be fine, Edward. This is going to work out for the best. You deserve happiness, my son. Fate owes you that.

If it was physically possible, his eyes would be filled with tears. "Thank you," Edward whispered, knowing fate owed him nothing.

Love doesn't always come in convenient packages, you know, Esme continued in a more lighthearted train of thought, squeezing his shoulders once more. You, out of everyone on this planet, are perhaps best equipped to deal with such a difficult quandary. You are the best and brightest of us all.

He chuckled, albeit humorlessly, and placed his hand over one of hers. Esme was full of joy that his heart had finally been touched after so many decades, no matter the potential of tragedy. She'd feared he would be alone for all of eternity.

She'll love you back, came the sudden thought that caught him by surprise. If she's a bright girl, she'll snatch you up the first chance she gets. I can't imagine anyone being so slow that they wouldn't see what a catch you are.

"Stop it, Mom," Edward teased as a genuine smile spread over his lips. "You're making me blush."

Alice laughed and picked out the top hand of "Heart and Soul." Edward grinned and completed the harmony with her before continuing with "Chopsticks."

They should play Queen, he heard Emmett's absentminded thought as he moved one of his knights.

"I would ask what you were laughing at Rose about," Alice began with a sigh, nearly pouting, "but I can see that you won't."

"I won't." Edward hummed in agreement and Alice flicked his ear with her fingers in retaliation.

Esme shot her a look, "Be nice, Alice," She chided. "Edward is being a gentleman."

"But I want to know…!"

Edward laughed at her whining tone. "Here, Esme," He caught her attention as he began playing her favorite song, a tribute of sorts to the love between her and Carlisle that he'd admired for years.

She patted his shoulders lightly, "Thank you, dear."

While his fingers flew from key to key, his mind wandered to Rosalie, who was still mortified as she worked on her car in the garage. As amusing as it was, a part of him understood her now that he'd felt jealousy for himself. Her jealousy was a thousand times more petty than his, but still.

Edward briefly wondered what she would've been like if ethereal beauty wasn't a part of the equation. Would she have been happier then? More kind and less egocentric? He could only wonder, it was far too late for any of that to change. Rosalie had always been a lovely woman, always in the spotlight— immortality hadn't taken that away from her. She'd grown with adoration and compliments.

It was understandable that she'd be offended when he didn't worship her beauty like she expected everyone to do. Even if Rosalie hadn't wanted him in any way, it aggravated her that Edward did not want her. She was used to being wanted, lusted and pinned after.

It was different with Carlisle and Jasper. They were both in love, while Edward had no one. Still, he'd remained unmoved when faced with her beauty. It was so many years ago that he'd thought it was a buried resentment, but apparently not.

Rosalie had firmly believed that if he didn't find her beauty appealing, then there would be no beauty on the face of the earth that would move him. She was furious that Edward found an insignificant human girl far more appealing than her. That he'd been moved by Bell's natural beauty and caring nature in a way that he'd never been.

She was angry that Bell had effortlessly achieved what she had been trying to for decades.

It was as sad as it was amusing.

"Oh!" Alice gasped suddenly, her head turning towards her mate, "Jasper, guess what?"

Edward froze in place the second he saw what she'd just seen in her vision. He immediately thought of Bell, her beautiful eyes full of fearful tears as two bloodthirsty vampires backed her into a corner. Esme looked at him in concern.

"What, Alice?" Jasper asked.

"Peter and Charlotte are coming to visit next week! They're going to be in the neighborhood. Isn't that nice?"

Esme placed a hand on his back. "What's wrong, my son?"

"They're coming to Forks?" The words left him in a hiss as his eyes narrowed at his sister.

Alice rolled her eyes at him, "Relax, Ed. It's not their first visit." She reminded him, unnecessarily.

He grit his teeth, his fingers curling into tight fists that he set on his lap. What if they caught Bell's scent and found it appealing? What if they decided to hunt her down? What the hell was he going to do with himself if he lost her before even truly having her?

Her smile faltered at his expression. "They never hunt here. You know that." Alice said in a softer voice.

Still not comforted, Edward sighed sharply, "When?"

Alice pursed her lips, but she answered him. Monday morning. They won't hurt Bell.

"They won't." Edward agreed and turned to Emmett, rising from his seat. "You ready?"

Emmett looked up from the half finished game, his eyebrows knitting together, "I thought we were leaving in the morning…?"

"We're coming back before midnight on Sunday. I guess it's up to you when you want to leave." Edward replied.

"Okay, fine. Let me say goodbye to Rose first." Emmett said as he got to his feet. He shot Jasper a look, pointing a finger at him, "This isn't over, we're finishing this when I get back."

Jasper smirked, "Of course."

When Emmett left for the garage, Esme placed a hand on his arm with a hopeful expression on her face. "Play that lullaby for me, one more time." She pleaded gently.

"If you'd like that." He agreed easily, although some tenseness remained on his shoulders. Edward was a tad hesitant to go through the song again, knowing it would inevitably end, as all good things did. His fingers flitted up to his lips, the touch of his fingertips nowhere near as soft and satisfying as Bell's skin.

The memory made a small smile tug at his lips and, if he were capable of it, he'd be blushing.

Alice and Esme exchanged a knowing glance, but neither of them said anything as he started to play.


If she was being honest, Bell had considered staying home instead of going to school on Friday. The 'accident' would be on everyone's mind and teenagers tended to be nosy, not to mention unsubtle. But, staying home would have worried Charlie — which was the last thing she wanted to do, really — so she had to compromise. There were comments and whispers and giggles, nothing she hadn't expected and certainly nothing she couldn't ignore in favor of listening to the day's lecture.

Jessica finally let her curiosity get the better of her and tapped Bell's arm in Trigonometry. "So, what did Edward Cullen want yesterday?" She asked, trying to appear casual, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her. Ah, so the questioning had begun.

Bell fiddled with her pen, "He just wanted to talk." She replied easily, shrugging.

The curly haired girl leaned closer, her voice a whisper, "It looked like you were flirting."

Amused, she feigned surprise and blinked her eyes quickly as if startled by her observation. "Did it?" Bell gasped softly and Jessica shot her an unimpressed look, making her bite back a grin.

"You know, that was the first time I've seen him sit with anyone other than his family." Jessica confessed, "It was weird."

Bell nodded her head, twirling her pen between her fingers, "Yeah, really weird." She agreed with the most serious expression she could manage.

Jessica stared at her in silence for a few seconds. "You're not gonna tell me anything, are you?" She finally huffed, disappointed.

This time, Bell didn't even bother to hide the amusement on her face, "Not at all."

"Damn."

The worst part of the day was that, even if she knew he wouldn't be there, a part of her still hoped to see him sitting with his siblings when she walked into the cafeteria with Mike and Jessica. Both he and Emmett were off on their trip, only Alice and the Hale twins talking in hushed voices at their usual table. Something like sadness tugged at her chest at the realization of how long she would have to wait to catch even a glimpse of messy bronze hair and ochre eyes.

At their table, everyone was enthusiastic about their trip to La Push the next day. Mike talking animatedly, placing his faith in the weatherman who'd promised sun on the weekend. It was already warmer, nearly sixty degrees.

Bell wasn't unaware of the unfriendly glances shot her way by Lauren, but she hadn't paid mind to it until they were walking out of the cafeteria together. She was walking a foot or two behind Lauren, and she was acutely aware of that fact.

"I don't know why Bell," Lauren sneered her name in disgust, "doesn't sit with the Cullens from now on."

She didn't so much as blink, merely sighed deeply. Bell hadn't been expecting much from someone like Lauren, but she had to admit she'd had a bit of hope that she was wrong. Lauren's unpleasant, nasally voice was filled with such malice that Bell wondered if her mother — or anyone really — ever hugged her.

Mike turned to the blonde with a frown. "She's my friend. She sits with us." He stated firmly, almost territorially. While she was moved that Mike would defend her against his friend, Bell slowed her pace to let Angela and Jessica pass her.

She had no time for such things.

During dinner, Charlie seemed rather enthusiastic about her trip to La Push. He was glad she was going out with friends instead of staying alone in the house. Of course, he knew the names of the teenagers she was going with, as well as the names of their parents and their grandparents and so on. He made his approval clear.

Would he be as approving if she told him of her plans to go to Seattle with Edward Cullen?

And yes, she was going to tell him.

...When the timing was right.

"Hey, Dad, do you know about a place called Great Rocks? Just south of Mount Rainier, I think." Bell questioned casually, taking a sip of water.

Charlie paused mid chew, "Yeah… why?"

She hesitated for a moment, and chose not to mention names. "I heard some kids were going camping there, that's all." Bell replied.

His eyes widened a bit, his expression surprised, "It's not a good place for camping. Too many bears." Charlie shook his head. "Most people go there during hunting season."

Too many bears? For a moment, her mind's eye went to the sizable dent caused in Tyler's van from the force of Edward's hand. A bear wouldn't be a problem for Edward and Emmett, that's for sure.

Bell hummed, and shrugged a shoulder, "Maybe I got the name wrong."

The next morning, she was woken up by surprisingly bright streams of sunlight filtering through the gap between her blinds. Bell neared the window to check and, sure enough, the sun was out and about without the film of clouds obscuring it. It was oddly placed, too low in the sky and looking a bit too far away, but it was still the sun. The birds didn't seem more enthusiastic that the day before, their chirping still the same.

Bell couldn't help but agree.

The Newton's Olympic Outfitters store was just north of Forks. She'd drove by it a handful of times, but Bell had never shopped there. She wasn't in need of any supplies required for being outdoors other than her trusty raincoat. Bell pulled up at the store, parking between Mike and Tyler's vehicles. She spotted a group standing in front of the Suburban.

Eric was there, along with a pair of boys called Ben and Conner, and so was Jessica, flanked by Angela and Lauren. There were three other girls with them, one that Bell remembered from the opposite team during volleyball in Gym. The girl gave her a once over and whispered something in Lauren's ear. The blonde's eyes fell on her and gained a scornful look.

Alright then.

Mike came bounding over, a happy grin lighting up his face. "You came!" He nearly cheered in delight. "I said it would be sunny, didn't I?"

Bell couldn't help but smile at this enthusiasm. "Never doubted you for a second." She said lightly.

"We're just waiting for Lee and Samantha," He chirped before chewing on his bottom lip for a second and adding, "unless you invited someone…?"

She slid her hands into the pockets of her jacket, thinking back to when she'd offered an invite to the boy plaguing her thoughts. "Oh, they couldn't come." Bell admitted with the shrug of her shoulders, "A shame really, you two would've gotten along splendidly." She bit back a grin.

Mike tilted his head, just like a puppy, "Aw, well, you could invite them again next time." He said as if to reassure her. "Are you riding in my car? Or Lee's mom's minivan?"

Bell shrugged her shoulders, "Riding with you is fine." She felt eyes boring into the side of her head and added, in a louder voice, "But Jessica gets shotgun."

Mike blinked at her, deflating slightly in both disappointment and confusion, "O-Oh, okay…?"

Jessica's thankful expression pleased her greatly.

In the end, Bell ended up taking the window seat with Jessica squeezed in between her and Mike after Lee had brought two extra people. It was fifteen miles from Forks to La Push. She was thankful she'd pinned her hair back in a french braid when they rolled the windows down. The gorgeous, thick forest flanked the road nearly the whole way there, with the Quillayute river snaking beneath it twice. Her hands were itching for her camera, but Bell knew the pictures would come out as a blur of greens and browns.

She'd been to La Push many times during the summers spent with Charlie, but seeing it again was just as breathtaking as the first time. First Beach was gorgeous with dark waters that reflected the sunlight, white capped and heaving onto the gray, rocky shore. Islands rose from the deep waters, made out of rocky cliffs and their own little forests. There was a thin border of sand at the water's edge, which gave away to smooth, round stones of various shades and sizes. Driftwood trees littered the shore, bleached white from the saltwater, some piled together while others were by their lonesome.

There was a soft breeze, cool and salty as it kissed her cheeks. Pelicans floated lazily on the surface of the water while seagulls cried from above, gracefully gliding through the air currents. The sky was mostly clear, the clouds not daring to hide the sun.

Unable to help herself any longer, Bell took a few pictures of the scenery.

Mike led them down the beach, to a ring of logs around a fire circle that was used for little get-togethers like theirs. Eric and Ben quickly got to work, making a teepee-shaped construction with dry branches on top of the ashes left behind.

"You might want to get a picture of this," Mike pointed out, pointing a broken off branch at her. Bell raised an eyebrow at him but held her camera in her hands. "Ever seen driftwood fire?" He asked with a little grin on his face.

Maybe… Memories tended to get fuzzy after a few lifetimes, unless they were impactful. There was no way to be sure if she had ever seen driftwood fire. "No," Bell settled with, watching him curiously.

"You'll like this then," He said, flicking the cap of his lighter and letting the small flame catch on the branch. The fire licked away at the dry wood, and Mike was quick to place it with the rest. The flames danced will shades of oranges that became greens and blues, swaying and crackling.

Her lips parted in awe, and she raised the camera to her face to snap a few pictures. She heard Mike snicker at her expression. "It's because of the salt, right?" Bell enquired.

Mike nodded with a grin, "Pretty, isn't it?"

It was.

Half an hour later, Bell found herself kneeling on the most stable looking rock on the outskirts of the largest tide pool in the area. The other girls, along with Tyler and Eric, had stayed behind at the beach while Bell and the rest went to see the pools. While her friends laughed and jumped over them, Bell snapped a few pictures — that she promised to send them later — before focusing on the sealife dwelling in the little natural aquariums below.

Small crabs were scuttling by, flinching with every abrupt move of her companions, while fishes wove through the bouquets of anemones that danced in the currents. Starfish clung motionlessly to the rocks and a young banded snake eel peeked through the green seaweed, awaiting the sea's return. In an absentminded action, she likened herself to the eel as she anticipated Edward's return from his trip with his brother. She couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same way.

Her companions politely waited until she was satisfied with the photos before announcing they were hungry. Rising from her spot, Bell noted that her jeans were wet at the knees wet, and became cautious with every step on the way back. Her boots had a good grip, which saved her from many slips and falls. When they got back to the beach, the group they'd left behind had grown. Bell spotted straight black hair that shone in the rare sunlight and warm, copper skin tones that contrasted with the pale skin of some of her friends. The newcomers were teenagers from the Quileute reservation.

Food was being passed around and the boys around her ran over as if it were the first meal they were going to receive in weeks. Bell simply shook her head, her lips quirking up in amusement as she and Angella arrived at the circle of driftwood. Eric was quick to introduce them to the newcomers as Mike brought sandwiches and an array of sodas to choose from. Bell settled with a grape soda, taking a seat with Angela and smiling at the teenagers as the oldest of the group rattled off the names of his seven companions.

It was then that her eyes fell upon Jacob Black, who had also perked up at the mention of her name. Her heart fluttered happily at the sight of the boy that used to waddle after her when she visited the reservation with Charlie. He looked to be about fifteen now, with some childish roundness still present on his face and a healthy head of black hair that was held away from his face by a rubber band. The shy little thing — figuratively speaking, of course — smiled back at her before looking down at his shoes.

After finishing off their lunch, the group split off in twos and threes. Some walked down the edge of the waves to try and skip rocks over the choppy surface while others went back to the tide pools. Mike and Jessica went with some of the local teenagers to the shop in the village while others went to the pools. Lauren and Tyler were busy arguing over the music they were gonna play on the Bluetooth speaker they had brought, the three remaining boys from the reservation watched in thinly veiled amusement.

Finally, Jacob sauntered over to Bell, who now sat alone on the driftwood. He was pretty, she noticed, what with those high cheekbones and dark brown eyes. It was not, however, the type of beauty that left her breathless, aching to lay a kiss upon pink lips and run her fingers through messy bronze locks. Jacob shuffled his feet, hands inside the pockets of jacket, and smiled at her again.

"It's nice to see you, Jake." Bell smiled happily at him, unable to help herself.

His smile grew, "You remember me." Jacob said in delighted surprise.

"Of course I remember you! Come on, sit down," Bell patted the wood next to her and Jacob was quick to comply. She sat sideways and cradled the camera case in her lap, giving him all her attention. "Look at you, you're so big now! How are Rachel and Rebecca?" Two shy little girls who hid behind their long hair that smiled brightly whenever Bell wove flower crowns and perched them on top of their heads.

"Rachel got a scholarship to Washington State, and Rebecca married a Samoan surfer in Hawaii." Jacob informed her.

"Married," Bell repeated in awe, realizing the twins were already eighteen. Time had slipped through her fingers like sand.

"So, how do you like the truck?" Jacob asked with a grin and a small wiggle of his eyebrows.

Bell chuckled, "I love it, it's perfect."

"It runs great, but it's so slow." He complained lightly, revealing that he was a little speed demon. "You have no idea how relieved I was when Charlie bought it. My dad wouldn't let me work on building another car if we had a perfectly good vehicle in our hands."

"Hey," Bell gave him a look, "don't talk about Ol' Red like that. He might not make it over sixty, but he could go against a tank and win." She pointed out, in a matter of fact tone. Ol' Red had made it out of the accident with Tyler with almost no damage.

Jacob snorted, looking immensely amused, "You named your truck?"

She squinted at him, "Why are you asking me like it's weird?"

"Because it is!" Jacob laughed, attracting Lauren's attention.

The blonde narrowed her eyes at them, "You know Bell, Jacob?" She called out from across the blue fire.

He bobbed his head in a nod. "We've known each other since I was born." Jacob said in reply, shooting Bell another smile.

"That's nice." Lauren said in a voice that implied she didn't think it was nice at all. Bell sighed quietly when she noticed the look in Lauren's eyes, already knowing what was gonna come out of her mouth. "Bell, I was just telling Tyler that it was too bad the Cullens wouldn't come out today. Didn't anyone invite them?" She asked with a faux expression of concern etched on her face.

The oldest of the Quileute boys, Sam Uley, perked up. "You mean Dr. Carlisle Cullen's family?" He asked in a deep, rich voice.

Lauren pursed her lips and turned halfway towards him. "Yes, do you know them?" She asked in a condescending tone.

"The Cullens don't come here." Sam said in response, a strange finality in his voice that closed the subject then and there. Lauren didn't get to say anything else, distracted by the album Tyler showed her on his phone.

For a moment, Bell wondered if the Quileutes knew what the Cullens were. Native americans had all sorts of folklore that was never far from the truth. Was their species so dangerous that they were prohibited from stepping foot in the reservation?

She ended up walking down the beach with Jacob, taking a few more pictures and showing him the ones she'd taken before he arrived. Unable to keep silent about it any longer, she brought up the subject as casually as she could while inspecting her latest shot of a seagull. "Hey, Jake, do you know why the Cullens aren't allowed on the reservation?"

The boy stiffened, biting his bottom lip and darting his eyes away. "I'm… not supposed to say anything about that." Jacob said, basically squirming when she raised a curious eyebrow at him.

"They didn't…" Bell tilted her head, "kill anyone or anything like that, right?"

"...No." Jacob replied, even if he looked unsure himself. He chewed on his bottom lip for a moment, staring at her in silence before he opened his mouth again. "Do you know any of our legends?"

"Not really," Bell admitted, both of them taking a seat on a large driftwood's twisted roots.

Jacob lowered his voice, as if afraid his friends could hear what secrets he was about to spill. "There's a legend that claims that the Quileute descended from wolves, and that they're our brothers still. It's against tribal law to kill them." His voice then dropped even lower, "Then, there's the stories about the cold ones."

"The cold ones?" She echoed.

He nodded, "According to legend, my great-great-grandfather knew some of them. He was the one that made the treaty that kept them off our land." Jacob said with the roll of his eyes. Obviously, he wasn't taking this nearly as seriously as she was, something she couldn't blame him for. "The cold ones, apparently, are the natural enemies of the wolves that turned into men, our ancestors. This pack of them that came during my great-great-grandfather's time was different, they didn't hunt the way others of their kind did. They weren't a danger to the tribe. My great-great-grandfather made a truce with them, if they promised to stay off our lands then we wouldn't expose them to the pale faces." Jacob continued, giving her a wink as if to add no offense.

"So these cold ones weren't dangerous, but the tribe was still taking precautions." Bell stated rather than asked.

"They claimed that they didn't hunt humans, that they learned to hunt animals instead, but you never know when they might get too hungry to resist." There was a deliberate, thick edge of menace in his tone, possibly added to scare her.

"Okay, so," Bell pursed her lips for a moment before giving a small smile, "Are the Cullens these same cold ones or something?" She asked in a light tone, pretending she was taking this as a joke just as he was.

Jacob smiled, albeit darkly, "The same ones." He whispered conspiratorially. "There are more of them now, a new male and a new female, but the rest are the same. In my great-great-grandfather's time, they already knew of the leader, Carlisle. He'd been here and gone before your people had even arrived."

She busied herself with putting her camera in its case, the leather straps crossing her chest and back so the camera settled at her hip. "And what are these… cold ones?"

"Blood drinkers."

Bell stopped.

"Oh, your hands are rather cold."

"Well, you know what they say, doll…" Ruby eyes and a charming grin on a handsome, deathly pale face, "Cold hands, warm heart."

"You mean like…" She let out a small, breathless laugh, "vampires?"

"Crazy stuff right?" Jacob grinned widely, mistaking her disbelief for genuine amusement. "No wonder my dad doesn't want us to talk about it anymore."

Bell forced a smile on her face, pushing the old memory to the back of her mind. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I'll take this to my grave, promise."

"Seriously, though, don't say anything to Charlie. He was pretty mad at my dad when he heard that some of us weren't going to the hospital since Dr. Cullen started working there." He grimaced.

"I won't."

"So," Jacob said after a brief moment of silence. "You think we're a bunch of superstitious natives, or what?" He asked in a playful tone, but there was a hint of worry in his tone.

Bell looked at the waves rolling onto shore, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "Not really. When people are unable to explain certain things, they tend to use the supernatural. But there's always some truths to myths and legends." She pointed out, "Like how the mermaids Columbus saw in the Caribbean turned out to be manatees, and the famous city of El Dorado turned out to be just a guy who liked bathing in gold. Though they ended up being completely different things, they were still real."

"That's true." Jacob said, a boyish smile curling at his lips.

The sound of rocks clattering against each other warned the pair that someone was approaching. They turned to see Mike and Jessica making their way over. "There you are, Bell!" Mike called out with a grin, waving an arm over his head.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Jacob questioned as she waved back.

Without missing a beat, she replied, "Not at all."

They both got to their feet, brushing themselves off with their hands. "I'll be getting my license soon." Jacob mentioned casually, making Bell smile.

"You could come over, we could hang out."

He beamed, making her chuckle.

"Did you get more pictures?" Mike asked, almost excitedly as he finally reached them. Bell nodded her head, affection brewing in her chest at how enthusiastic everyone was about the pictures she'd taken today. "We're packing up now. It looks like it's gonna rain soon."

Dark clouds had rolled in, hiding the sun and obscuring the blue skies. There was even the distant rumble of thunder.

"Yeah," Bell said in agreement.

Jacob smiled at her despite the disappointment in his eyes. "It was nice seeing you again."

"Next time my dad comes down to see Billy, I'll come over. Promise." She told him, patting his arm. "Thanks for today, Jake."

His smile widened into a grin. "It was nothing," Jacob shrugged.

With that, Bell followed after her classmates and walked to the parking lot. She pulled up the hood of her jacket as raindrops started falling from the sky, smacking audibly onto stone. Everyone had loaded everything in by the time they made it to Mike's Suburban. Bell returned to her previous seat and stared out the window at the escalating storm, her thoughts racing a hundred miles an hour as they drove back to Forks.


What's bugging you?

Edward looked up from his shoes, running his fingers through his hair. "I'm thinking about her," He paused. "Well, worrying, actually."

Emmett laughed, plopping himself down on another rock and wiping away the bloody mess on his chin with the back of his hand, "What's there to worry about? You can't jump her bones if you're here."

Both embarrassed and irritated, Edward scoffed. "Have you ever thought about how fragile humans are? How many bad things can happen to them?" He continued, as if his brother had said nothing at all.

"Not really," Emmett confessed, shrugging, "but I see what you mean. I wasn't much match for a bear that first time around, was I?" He joked with a grin.

"Bears," Edward whispered in something akin to horror, and Emmett's smile fell. "Do bears go down to the beach? A stray bear could go after her."

"Are you even listening to yourself?" Emmett asked, sounding highly amused.

"She could get hit by a car… or lightning… or fall down the stairs… or get sick— get a disease!" He gasped in terror, a hand flying up to tangle in the mess that was his hair. "Fires and earthquakes and tornadoes…! Have you seen the news lately? Burglaries and homicides…" Edward shot to his feet, ready to run back to Forks and make sure Bell was safe.

Startled, Emmett got to his feet and put his hands up, "Woah, woah! Calm down, Eddie. Bell's fine, she's at the beach with her friends, right? They won't let anything happen to her." He said, trying to calm his fretting brother.

Edward caught his bottom lip between his teeth anxiously.

This would be easier if… Bell appeared in Emmett's mind, with pale skin and piercing red eyes. Edward looked at Emmett and shook his head furiously.

"Absolutely not."

Emmett frowned, "Isn't it the best way though? It solves all your worries about her mortality and you'd be together forever."

Edward swallowed thickly. "I can't do that to her. I can't ruin her life." He said, closing his eyes for a moment. "Wouldn't you feel the same, if it were Rosalie?"

A surprisingly gentle smile tugged at Emmett's lips. "You really love her already, huh?" He asked knowingly.

"I can't even describe it, Em," Edward started, voice thick with emotion. "All of the sudden, this stranger means the whole world to me. I don't see the point of life if she's not a part of it."

You'll have to ask her, when she finds out. She's not going to last forever, Ed.

"I know." Edward sighed, sitting down on the boulder again.

Emmett wasn't the most tactful person in the world, and delicate conversations were not his forte. He was trying his best though, wanting to be anything but offensive.

"Are you okay with…" Emmett began, awkwardly, "touching her? Is that a problem?" He and Rosalie had a very physical relationship, and it was hard for him to understand how a couple could show their love for each other without that aspect.

Edward let his head drop into his hands, "I want to." He said with a miserable groan, "So badly. You have no idea."

Again, his mind went to the small thought he managed to hear in the car. To the warmth and softness of her skin, to the soft look in her eyes as she looked at him. A part of him purred in utter delight at the thought that he would have to follow her closely during Charlotte and Peter's stay. If he was lucky, the sun would be hidden behind the clouds at some point and he would be able to spend time with her. Maybe, just maybe, Bell would kiss him then—

"What are you thinking about?" Emmett asked, looking intrigued at the dazed look on Edward's face.

"Right now," Edward began, sheepish, "I want to run back to her. I don't know if I can make it to Sunday." He admitted.

"No." Emmett said instantly, "Nuh-uh, you are not going home early. Let Rose cool down first. Come on, do it for me, bro."

Edward pursed his lips, "I'll try…" He trailed off unsurely. "But I'm not staying past Sunday."

His brother pointed at the phone in Edward's pocket. "If anything happens that justifies your panic attack, Alice will call." Emmett reminded him. "Plus, she said we were free from school until Wednesday. It's gonna be sunny until then."

"I'm not staying past Sunday." Edward repeated strongly, shaking his head. "And I don't care that Peter and Charlotte know how to behave, all it takes is one bad move and they could be hunting her down. I'm not taking any chances." He said, cutting Emmett off when he'd opened his mouth to speak.

Emmett sighed. Just like a crazy person….

Bell was asleep when Edward climbed up to her window early Monday morning. He entered her room silently, feeling all the tension melt from his body at the sight of her and the embrace of her intoxicating scent. She was half covered by the sheets, her hair strewn over the pillow as she cuddled another one to her chest. He found himself envying it.

He moved closer to her side, taking in her relaxed features. A frown tugged at his lips at the shadows under her eyes, concern making his throat tight. Had she not slept well during the weekend? Did something happen? Was she sick?

Edward leaned closer and took a slow, deep breath.

No, she wasn't sick. Perhaps… she'd gone out again with her friends and tired herself out?

"Edward…" He froze and looked down at her in fear. She was still asleep, her soft lips parting as she murmured his name. Was she — he smiled widely — dreaming about him?

If I could dream, I would dream about you, too, he found himself thinking, enamored.

His fingers itched to push her hair away from her face and stroke her cheek, but that was a mistake he would not make again. Despite that thought, his lips trembled at the sheer need that slammed into him when she nuzzled into her pillow with the soft sigh of his name.

Edward bit his bottom lip until it hurt, focusing instead on the new pictures that were slowly covering the entirety of her wall. He had to admit he was impressed with all of them. They looked professionally taken, even the silly ones where Bell had an arm around a laughing Angela Weber. Despite the happiness it brought him that she'd enjoyed herself, it made him uneasy that Bell had been in wolf territory all day— where he was unable to reach her if she ever needed help.

And, for a moment, he worried about what the elders living in the reservation had told her. He brushed the thought away. The Quileutes were bound by the treaty as well, they could not tell outsiders about the existence of vampires. No one would have told her anything, even if she asked.

The first rays of sunshine peeked through the window, making him sigh deeply. The sun was just a reminder that he would have to watch her from afar in the next few days. Edward looked her over one last time before ducking out the window while the sun hadn't completely risen. He walked to the thick forest behind the Swan residence, planning to stay there and see her off to school, but he caught a faint trail of her scent leading a little deeper. Curious, he followed.

She'd known where she was going, that much was clear. She hadn't strayed from the trail and stopped at a specific point, just under a tall tree. Bell's scent was on its roots, as if she'd just sat there for a while. He didn't have time to imagine what she was up to, the chatter of a bird reaching his ears. Edward looked up to see the little nuthatch climbing up the bark of the tree, its chest feathers a beautiful, rusty cinnamon color.

He recognized it as the same bird in multiple pictures on Bell's wall.

However cute the thought of her patiently waiting for the right moment to take a picture of her little friend, it was the exact same scenario he'd imagined for Emmett— Bell wandering alone in the woods, attracting the attention of someone who would be able to track her scent.

It was alright now, though. He was here and he was going to protect her.

Edward sat down in the same spot she had, listening to the squeaks and chirps of the nuthatch overhead, and waited for his love to get ready for school.


Hmmm, I wonder who that vampire in the flashback was...

Not gonna lie, I had a lot of fun writing paranoid Edward lol

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed, and remember to wash your hands and wear a mask!