a/n Please note that all WitFit entries are unedited. No beta. I don't own Twilight.

***They're kids. Edward is 9, Bella will be 9 in a couple of months.

Word Prompt: Automatic

A single word meant to inspire immediate thought. Write what your imagination dictates.

I watched my brother shooting hoops outside the community center while we waited for our mom. She had gone inside to meet the organizers for some fourth of July picnic coming up. We'd barely been in Forks for a week but mom wasn't the type to whine about moving to a boring, old town away from everyone we knew and refuse to make friends. That sounded more like me.

"Quit being a baby and come help me practice," Emmett shouted, throwing the ball my way.

I caught it and threw it back. "I told you I didn't feel like it, Em. I'm going around front to wait for mom."

"She told you to stick with me."

"Like anything's gonna happen," I said under my breath as I left.

"Whatever, E," he shouted back. "It's your ass."

The sound of the ball dribbling on the court grew fainter as I rounded the corner of the building, heading towards our car. I kicked at a few puddles leftover from the morning shower. I didn't know how this place planned on having a picnic since it rained all the time. I was used to spending summers finding ways to cool off from Chicago heat waves not looking at cloudy skies and having foggy, wet mornings.

I was leaning against our car when I heard a shot ring out that made me jump. An old, rusty colored truck had just parked a few spots away. The passenger door creaked as it flew open and the metal groaned as it was slammed shut.

"Bella, don't run in the parking lot," the driver said to the girl who had already dashed across the lot, hopping over puddles before running up the stairs to the community center. The way her long, dark hair was flying around reminded me of my mom's whenever we used to take the boat out on the lake back home. The girl was wearing jean shorts, a purple tank top and bright green rain boots. It was a weird outfit.

"Sorry, Mom," she yelled at the top of the steps to the driver walking her way. Her eyes turned my way, catching me staring. She brushed her hair away and she smiled widely at me. I felt my lips tugging up into smile but she turned and went inside. Her mom looked back at me and I waved a little at her confused expression.

"Are you one of the Cullen boys," she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," I answered. I didn't know how she knew who I was but maybe that's how things were around here.

"What are you doing out here by yourself?"

"That's exactly what I'd like to know, Edward Cullen," my mom said as she exited the front door of the community center.

I didn't say anything back but I had the good sense to look guilty.

"I'm Renee Swan," the lady said kindly, holding her hand out to my mom.

"Esme Cullen," my mom said, beaming back at her. She was carrying a bunch of straw baskets so the handshake was awkward.

"Edward, please take these and put them in the car, then go get your brother."

I ran over to her at the same time both of them told me, "Don't run in the parking lot."

They laughed with each other while I took the baskets from my mom. The conversation carried on while I dropped off the baskets at the car and went back to the court to get Emmett.

I heard more feet shuffling around and when I turned the corner, I saw him dribbling around the girl with the green rain boots. She was trying to block him but it wasn't going well. Instead, she just laughed at Emmett's stupid trash talk as he kept whipping around her for layups. She didn't stop trying to defend though and her laugh only grew bigger.

"Why you smiling like an idiot, E?" Emmett stopped playing and the girl turned to look at me. I hadn't noticed I was smiling and felt embarrassed.

"Mom's ready to go," I mumbled, looking down.

"Oh ok. Thanks for playing with me, B," Emmett said as he ran off court. My brother was always good at making new friends just like mom was.

"For sure," she said. Emmett bumped my shoulder playfully when he passed by and as I turned to follow him, she called out again. "I'm Bella."

I looked back at her and there was that smile. The one she gave me when she first saw me. This time I returned it - just as wide and happy.

"I'm Edward."

"See you around," she said then ran back inside the building.

I walked back to the car in a daze. Mom and Emmett were already inside waiting for me.

"One minute you're running around the parking lot and now you're slow as a snail," mom said. "Buckle up. We have a couple more stops."

Emmett turned a little in his seat so he could see me. "E, that girl is the police chief's daughter. How cool is that? We should ask her if he can take us around in his cop car."

"Emmett, sit straight and I'd prefer if my sons don't ride around in police cars."

"Aww, mom, it would be so cool," Emmett whined but my mind was somewhere else. I couldn't stop thinking about Bella with the pretty smile.