6 – Hard Facts
June
Bella staggered into the kitchen. Charlie smirked as he pretended to read the paper. He observed as she bounced off the chair on her way to the counter. She poured a cup of coffee as she yawned then added several spoons of sugar and cream. She plopped into the chair across the table from her father.
"Would you like some coffee with your sugar and cream, Bells?"
"Ha ha, Dad. You're hilarious. Should take it on the road. Maybe you'll get lucky and open for Gabriel Iglesias. He's making bank now. Traveling all over the world. You could use your knowledge of small town cops as your act. You know, coffee and donuts."
"Who's the comedian now?" He smirked as she stuck her tongue out at him. "What's on the agenda today?"
She shrugged. "Angela is helping with vacation bible school, Jessica and Tyler are at the community center for the various summer camps, Mike's working. Ben and Eric are taking some computer tech classes at Port Angeles Community College. Don't care what Lauren's up to."
"What about the gang at La Push? Leah and Embry might be free today. Jake and Quil are working on Jake's Rabbit. Go enjoy the beach."
She glanced outside. "It's raining."
"When isn't it in Forks? What about Edwin and Alice?"
She sighed. "The whole family is gone until mid-August. They're taking a road trip and camping out at various campgrounds. I think they're gonna stay in Yellowstone for a few weeks."
His eyebrow raised in shock. "Alice and the blond are actually gonna go camping? I can see Mrs. Cullen doing that, but not the girls."
She smiled. "I know. But the whole family enjoys it. Something about not taking things for granted. You know, cause they're richer than Midas."
Charlie chuckled. "True. Why don't you get a summer job? Maisy's looking for a waitress." She raised her eyebrow. "Yeah. You'll be owing her to replace the dishes. La Push Community Center is always looking for volunteers. I know. Why don't you come with me to the station. We could always use a clerk." He noticed her face. "We have faster internet."
"Right. La Push. Don't get your hopes up. I'm whiter than snow."
"Aunt Molly volunteers there."
"She's married into the tribe."
He frowned. "Bells, you do know that my grandfather was half Quileute, don't you? Both of us were born in La Push. We're members of the tribe. Molly's a quarter Quileute."
Her face paled even more. "I-I'll check with Aunt Molly." She stumbled up the stairs.
Bella was helping some of the kids at La Push Community Center take cookies out of the oven. She could feel someone watching her. Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed a group standing just inside the door.
"Hey, Swan!" The girl broke off from them and crossed to her. "I should have known that you were here. I swear I could smell your famous ginger and lemon cookies." She wiped at her mouth. "I'm drooling."
It took her a moment to realize who was in front of her. "Leah? Oh my God. I haven't seen you in forever." After placing the pan on the counter, she hugged her friend. "What have you been up to?"
"I got a job with the tribe. Sam heads it up. We patrol the community, keeping an eye out for troublemakers. We ran off a guy last month trying to sell drugs at the middle school."
"Holy shit," Bella said softly. She looked over Leah's shoulder at the quartette still standing by the door. "Why don't they come inside more? I'm sure the kids will enjoy playing with them."
"It's just me and Embry today. Jared and Paul are on rotation while Sam has a construction job up in Forks. You know, Bella, you really need to stop wearing that perfume. It's too sweet."
Her eyes widened, meeting the other girl's. "A friend gave it to me. Said she was allergic. I'll throw it out when I get home."
Leah's eyebrow rose. "Really. Are you sure you won't get another bottle in a few months? Like when school starts up again?"
"Why does it seem we're having a conversation on two different levels?"
"'Cause we are." She tapped her nose. "My nose is very sensitive. Have you been cleaning with bleach lately?"
She took a step back. "Leah?" She gasped when her friend's eyes flashed yellow.
She leaned closer. "If one legend is true, wouldn't it stand that the other is as well?"
Bella tripped over the door jam on her way into the house to answer the phone. Her hip banged into the entryway table, causing her to fall sideways. After picking herself up, she just missed the phone. It immediately began to ring again.
"Hello?"
"Where the hell have you been? Your future went black for most of the day."
"Hello to you too, Edward. I was helping my aunt at the community center on the reservation."
"What did I tell you about going down there? It's not safe, Isabella."
She took a deep breath then slowly let it out. "Why is it not safe, Edward? You never explained that to me."
"Stay out of La Push. I can't follow you there."
"You're not even in the same state, Edward. I'm fine, obviously. You're talking to me now."
"Please don't be impudent. Volunteer at Forks' community center. Or better yet, take the job with your father."
"Tell Alice to stop watching my future, Edward. There are plenty of volunteers in Forks. I'm helping my tribe."
"What tribe? You're a shade or two darker than I am."
"My grandfather was half Quileute. Since my dad and I were born in La Push, we are part of the tribe."
Silence came through the phone. "If that's true, I can't change you. None of us can. We can't even take you away and fake your death. They'll come after us."
"Well?" Sam demanded, looking between Paul and Embry.
"No," they answered together.
He let out a breath. "Thank the spirits."
"You better hope that same answer applies to Jake and Quil," Jared said as he stretched out on the couch. "Looks like they might phase in a month or two. The fever's set in."
"Seth hit a major growth spurt," Leah admitted.
"So has Brady and Collin. Jackson, Alex and Caleb are fine."
"What about the sisters?" Embry queried. "Leah phased."
"She's a descendent of Ateara, Black and Uley. Jules and Talia are from only one line. So is Bella. The only ones that would be close are Rachel and Rebecca Black," Sam stated.