A/N: Decided I wanted to keep the ball rolling and see if this continues to gain more interest. Again, make life easier for you by reading at a smaller page width, and reviews are very much appreciated and help me produce more chapters. I promise that the following updates are going to be longer and more interesting. We're just getting started!

Chapter 4

Talking Without a Voice

"Can we talk now?" Esme asked, as I forked my way through pieces of bacon.

"Seeing as you guys will probably never let it go, yeah. Fine." I said, putting my fork down and zipping my jacket up tighter.

"This is important. Especially about the whole 'not being able to see your future' thing." Emmett said, which actually surprised me a bit.

"Exactly." Alice agreed.

"What can we do about it, then? You guys are so invested, so have any of you come up with any solutions?" I asked the table.

Carlisle looked at me seriously. "We're afraid that you might be put in danger, any time soon. Especially since Alice, nor you can see what's coming."

"I know that. And so?" I asked.

"We're pulling you out of school." Esme said suddenly.

I stood up in shock. "Wait, what?"

"It's for the best, love." She tried explaining. "It's best we keep you safe at home."

"Mom. So many people have been disappearing. I need to keep my friends safe." I reasoned.

"But we need to keep you safe, Callie." Edward said.

"I can keep myself safe! Heck, my special abilities are far greater than anyone's, you guys said it yourselves! I inherit all the powers I come across, remember? So even if some weird sorcerer — if those even exist — comes at me to attack, I simply grab hold of his hand or something and I get it! I can defend myself!"

"Callie, the gravity of the situation... It's serious. And we'll all blame ourselves if anything happened to you." Carlisle said.

"I have no say in this, do I?" I asked, slumping in defeat.

Nobody responded.

I sighed. "Well, happy birthday to me." I said sarcastically with raised eyebrows.

I then rushed up to my bedroom, ignoring my mother trying to call me back.

I decided to take a shower, then I hopped into the bath, dropping a bath bomb. I took my phone and connected it to the speakers in my bathroom, and played some classical music to calm myself down.

I put my shield up and thought about my encounter with the wolf at the cliff. Sam Uley. He wondered why I never went hunting.

How often did my family cross the border and hunt on their land?

I shook my head. Now was not the time to think about those things.

I turned off the music and turned the TV on instead.

"More continue to disappear on the streets of Seattle. Police have yet to discover any trace of their plausible whereabouts, or any evidence as to who are behind such prolific kidnappings. The FBI have been alerted and are sending their best agents to assist in the case." The reporter announced on the screen, then pointed at the map of the region behind him. "The kidnappings have reached a seven-mile radius centered on the western coast thus far, yet investigations produce nothing. Parents of the first victim, Riley Biers of Forks, Washington, make an appeal."

Then, a weathered-looking couple came on screen, the mother sobbing.

"Please, save our baby. Bring him back to us. He's just a boy. Riley made mistakes, but he was good. He was one of the sweetest boys anyone could meet. Please... Bring him back."

The camera then shifted back to the dirty blond male reporter.

"So far, nothing has turned up still. But the police have promised to disclose any information they will gather with regards to the crimes. This has been Michael Thot, signing off."

"Exactly why I should be around my friends." I scoffed to myself.

I took the charm bracelet resting on the side of my bathtub and examined it.

I sighed.

"It's for the best, Callie." I told myself.

I switched the channel, and watched School of Rock to get things off my mind.

Weeks passed, and I was often stuck at home with nothing to do, occasionally sneaking out to see my friends at the mall to keep in touch. They've been doing well, and when asked why I had been pulled out of school, I say it's because of the kidnappings and that they still see me as a baby.

"But what about Edward and Alice?" Laura asked one time when I went to see them.

I shrugged, readjusting my sunglasses. "They're graduating this year anyway, so might as well."

"Oh. Well, that sucks." Aaron said.

"What sucks even more is that you can't come to prom." Yasmine frowned.

I sighed. "Yeah, but now I've had a lot of time in my hands." I smiled oh-so-optimistically.

"You are so lucky!" Sage exclaimed. "I mean, at least you won't be getting the shitloads of work we need to finish before then… not that you of all people can't handle it."

I just smiled.

Over the course of the few weeks, I've finished all the books I bought but haven't been able to read yet, fix, declutter, and rearrange my room, buy new clothes, break my running record, and blaze a new trail in the woods.

There's also been a lot of drama lately, as Victoria had been found in the area and is suspected to be behind the disappearances in Seattle. Alice then sucked me into her plans of throwing a huge graduation party, which I detest, but have no say in.

"Why do we need to put these up again?" I asked, bored out of my wits.

"Because streamers are classic." Alice reasoned casually.

I rolled my eyes. "Honestly, I don't know how you can do this every time."

"There's a certain passion required." She winks.

I step down from my stool and take a good look at all our work.

"Not bad." I admit.

"See, if you'd only trust me." Alice smiled, and went to work on the decorations for the exterior of our home.

I heard Carlisle's car come up the driveway, so I went out to get him.

"Hola." I greeted, and took his medical bag from the passenger seat.

"Hey, Callie." He smiled in return, and took me under his arm while we walked into the house.

"So dad, I was wondering. Can I head out to the mall?" I asked as we walked into his office.

"Well, your mother's already there. You can just ask her to buy anything you need." He said nonchalantly.

"But, I'm not sure if she'll get the right one."

He looked at me. "Callie, love, do you honestly believe that I don't know when you sneak out to see your friends?"

Busted.

"Actually, I figured since I saw you there once." I shrugged nonchalantly. "Please? I'll be really quick. I just had a vision of finding this really amazing dress-"

"Yes, ok. Just be careful. And you need to be here during the party. I believe Jacob is coming over. We have things to discuss."

"It's about Victoria, isn't it?"

He nodded seriously, and I nodded in understanding.

"Congratulations on graduating, Bella!" I said, giving her a small wrapped box.

"Thank you." She smiled, taking the box.

"Best you don't open that right now..." I commented as she played with the ribbon.

She pursed her lips in agreement. "Yeah, got it."

"Haven't seen you in a while. How've you been?" I asked.

"Okay, for the most part." She replied.

"Good." I smiled.

Soon enough, guests started to arrive, and so did Jacob Black along with his pack members Embry and Quil. A fight almost broke out, but Bella managed to stop it before it was too late.

When the crowd thinned until the house was left without humans, we gathered in the living room. It was quite late, so I was pretty much half asleep.

All that I knew was that we formed a new alliance with the pack, and that training will begin in the morning.

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