Thanks to any of you fans still out there, it means a lot that you are still sticking with Summer Solstice

Okay, time to get back on track. Sorry for the long periods in between chapters... exams, study.. you know the drill.

"Are you sure this is cool with your pop, Bells?" Tyson was perched on the end of my bed whilst I threw some pillows on the mattresses I had just set on my floor.
"Of course, silly. He's too caught up in your accents to care that there is now three extra people under his roof." I heard Tyson let out a low chuckle as I smoothed out the blankets and stood back. "You and Tyson here-" I pointed to the two mattresses on the floor, "- Bree and I, there." I said, moving my hand to point to my double bed. "No funny business." I said with a serene smile.
"Oh, but I love funny business." He said, grabbing me by the waist and pushing me down onto the bed to pull me into a hug. "And I missed you." He mumbled, hovering above me. His blue eyes bore into mine and my breath momentarily caught. He trailed his fingers up my arm and my eyes fluttered shut. God he was hot.
"Tyson..." I trailed off, words escaping me. What could I say? 'No, we can't fool around like we used to... I'm "kind-of-not-really" in a relationship.' I didn't feel like explaining Jacob to the boys just yet... Bree, maybe, but not the boys. I felt Tyson's weight shift and his lips brushed mine. I had missed those lips.

No Bella, stop being such a slut.
"I'm sorry, Ty." I said softly, pushing him off gently. "Not right now, okay? I missed you too, so much. But now isn't the time to, you know..." I gestured up and down his body. Tyson smiled and I knew he understood, no strings attached. I was so lucky to have him.

"Of course Bells, but this wouldn't have anything to do with a certain someone called Jacob?" He grinned broadly.
"Oh shut up." I said, slapping him on the arm and flouncing out of the room.
"Remember Bella, I know you!" He called after me. And he was right, Tyson did know me... far too well.

I rolled over again, pulling a little more blanket from Bree. She was such a blanket whore. I kind of willed my eyes to shut, but it seemed like every time I tried they would spring back open. There was two steady sets of snoring coming from below, Tyson and Ben. I didn't find it annoying; it was a comfort, my best friends just inches away. Ben and Tyson used to seem to tough to me, so unbreakable. They are both big, over six feet tall, and totally ripped of course, seeing as they owned a gym. When they wrapped their arms around you it was as if you were in the safest place in the world.

But not anymore.

My thoughts ventured much to far; Victoria... Riley. The Wolves. They were so vicious, so powerful. It seemed laughable to place Tyson or Ben next to them, any wolf or vampire could destroy them in seconds... my big best friends, my towers. Kittens next to a tiger. And then there was Bree, who was just as petite as me.

I was suddenly very awake. What the hell was I doing? They couldn't be here. They shouldn't be here. Back home, in Australia, they were far from this. I was far from this. But I had experience, I was used to weird, desensitized... I was walking back into a world I already knew. But them? They had never been exposed to the supernatural world that lurks in the human shadows, the way it's supposed to be. How could I live with myself if something happened whilst they were here? Their very presence... their ties to me; it all puts their lives in danger. They'd already been here for a week, and it had been wonderful, but each passing day is a risk.

They must leave, they can't meet Jacob, Seth... or any of the pack for that matter. What if they hate each other? Worse, what if they get along, form relationships? What about Bree! She's sexy as hell, one of the pack is sure to fall for her charm. Hell, what if one imprints?

No. They must leave.

"Bella?"

I jumped. Bree's tiny whisper and pulled me back to reality, but my thoughts still lingered. Her hand rested on my back, "Sorry honey, I didn't mean to scare you."
"That's cool, just thinking." I answered, rolling over to face her.
"About?"
"Oh you know..." That I want you to go home, "just the usual."
Bree smiled in her irresistibly sweet way. "Tell me about Jacob."
I sighed. "I knew this was coming... maybe later. The boys are here."
Bree's eyes narrowed. "Honestly Bella, can't you hear them? They're barely conscious!" Her point seemed to be emphasized when the silence that filled the air was pierced by great snores. I knew she was right anyway, after living with the boys for years I knew they would sleep through a brick wall.
I was silent for a minute. Bree just waited, patient as always.
"I think I love him." I whispered so lowly, I barely heard it myself. Bree's hand found mine under the blankets, and gave it a squeeze. She didn't persist, and I loved her all the more for it. Bree was good like that, she knew when enough was enough. She knew I didn't feel like elaborating.
"We'll leave soon." She said after a period of silence; I had nearly fallen asleep, hand in hand with my best friend.
"You don't need to." I lied.
"Oh, but we do. We have a gym and a dance studio to get back to... And you have a hot young beau to see to." Before I could protest, she squeezed my hand again. "Bella, we miss you; but like you said, this is something you have to do alone. We came to remind you how much we love and support you, and for a Bella-fix."
My eyes started to sting. "I miss you guys so much." I whispered, my voice cracking.
Bree wrapped her arms around me. "We know Bella, we know. But don't get to comfortable.. we still want you back in La Sarine."
"I miss La Sarine too." It was true, I did. I missed the sunshine, I missed the beach. I missed my studio and I missed my students. I missed partying with my best friends every weekend and I missed cuddling up to them when I needed to feel beautiful. "I'll be back, Bree, don't you worry."
"I know." She said, kissing me on the tip of my nose. "Which is why I will be able to hop back on my flight tomorrow; I know you'll be back, I know it's not goodbye."
"It could never be goodbye." I whispered, rolling over and pulling Bree's arm over me.
Together, we drifted into a calm, beautiful sleep.

"Dude, I love it when they do that." Tyson said.
"I know right, totally hot."

My eyes fluttered before opening completely. Tyson and Ben were standing beside my bed, cheeky grins spread across their tan faces. I was confused by their conversation for just a moment until I registered Bree wrapped around me and laughed.
"Oh you two." I said, throwing a pillow at them. "Can't two girls have a nice warm sleep together?"
"I have no problem with it. Do you, Benno?" Tyson asked in an airy voice... he sounded high.
"Not at all Ty, not at all. Feel free to continue." Ben said, masking a chuckle.
"You should be so lucky..." I said, unwrapping myself from Bree and stretching. "So, what do you two want to do on your last day in the eventful Forks?"
"How did you..." Ben started.
"Bree told me." I smiled. "It's cool, you guys have two businesses to get back to." The boys looked solemn.
"Hey, it was gonna happen." I said, throwing my arms around them. "Now lets take advantage of our last hours together, eh?"
"That's the Bells we know." Tyson said.
"We'll go make us some brekky, you wake Bree." Ben said, tugging Tyson along with him. I woke Bree and together we padded down the rickety wooden steps.
The boys had cooked bacon, eggs and hash browns. ("Oh man, I love hashies." Tyson mumbled through a mouth of golden crispness.) We all ate together, chatting over each other and laughing. I was definitely going to miss this. With my precarious position with Jacob, there wasn't much goofing around, which used to be why I liked spending time with Jake so much.

But hey, if I wanted goofing around, I still had -

"Wassup Bells, I havn't seen you in a few days so I thought -" Seth stopped mid-sentence. "Shit, you have company. Hell, I'm sorry Bells..."
Speak, or think, of the devil and he shall appear. For some completely random reason, I burst out laughing. There was just something so hilarious about the whole situation. Seth, so sexy and confident, looking slightly embarrassed and ready to run straight back out the door.
"Don't worry Seth," I said when I had composed myself. "Take a seat, the boys just made breakfast."
"Yeah I thought I smelt some food..." Seth trailed off sheepishly as he took a seat at the table. I instantly cracked up laughing again. Of course Seth had smelt food.
"I think she's high." Bree piped up. That was the first time Seth noticed Bree. I crossed my fingers, don't imprint, don't imprint. He was smooth, I'll give him that, he was only momentarily stunned. I was used to it, boys falling all over Bree, but for some reason I felt a pang of jealousy.
"Oh, sorry guys. Seth, this is Tyson, Ben and Bree; my room mates-"
"And best friends," Ben interrupted, trying to look intimidating... It was cute.
"- Yes, and best friends, from Australia. Bree, Ty, Ben, this is Seth."
They exchanged pleasantries, Seth not seeming phased by my big, overprotective boys.
"So Bella, how many of these hot young things you got lined up then?" Bree purred. Darn her, she was so seductive.
I tried to scoff convincingly. "Seth is a friend of mine, known him since he was a gawky fifteen year old, haven't I Seth?"
Seth nodded over his juice; he seemed to have gotten over Bree's appearance, I was relieved. No imprint. "Yeah Bells, back when you still didn't know what a hairbrush was."
"Oh har har." I said sarcastically. Tyson and Ben both looked unnecessarily tense across the table. It may have been the "Bells" or the over familiarity, I wasn't sure.

Breakfast continued longer than it should have. The boys loosened up, they couldn't help but love Seth just like I did. They chatted away about usual boy stuff, Seth was particularly keen on hearing about Australian Football, even though he mocked it.
"Mate, American football is shit. Zero skill required at all, AFL is the way to go." Ben ranted.
"Bloody oath, Benno." Tyson agreed.
"You've got to be kidding! AFL? What the fuck is that? More like gayFL." Seth cracked up at his joke, and Ty and Ben rolled their eyes. But the chemistry was clear; they may be teasing but they were getting along famously.
Bree seemed to pout a little at the fact that Seth was only momentarily stunned by her beauty. In her opinion, he should be hanging off her every word, dying to get some attention. I smiled to myself, before feeling a little guilty at having such thoughts about my best friend. The boys went outside to check out Seth's truck with him and talk "secret man's business." Seth was so bros before hoes, any other guy would stick around for Bree.

"He's yummy." Bree said, over the sound of Ben's roaring laughter outside.
"Certainly is. But hey, he's only twenty one you cougar."
"Psh, age is but a number, deary." Bree chimed. "So, please tell me you've had a slice of that cake?"
"Bree! Please, he's like Jacob's brother." She had no idea the implications that the word brother held.
"Oh come on, you've at least thought about it." She persisted.
A giggle accidentally slipped out of my lips. "Maybe."
It was then that I clapped a hand over my mouth. How embarrassing. How stupid. Seth may be outside, but he was a bloody werewolf; his hearing was impeccable, more sensitive than a real dog's.
"What's wrong?" Bree asked, noticing the sudden redness in my cheeks.
"Oh, nothing." I said, trying to compose myself.

No, nothing, except that Seth just overheard me say I'd do him. I silently prayed he had missed it over the playful banter of the boys, imagine if Seth thought about it whilst in wolf form? Outside, I could hear them roaring with laughter as Seth attempted "G'day mate" and "Hows'it garrrn?" I felt a little sad, knowing just how well my two world's could come together, how well they could merge; but I had to stop something beautiful before it turned evil.

I turned into Seth's giant arms and let my tears soak his shirt. On another day I might care that I'm embarrassing myself in front of him, but today I don't.
"Shh, Bells. It's okay." Seth soothed, his hands rubbing circles on my back. "You'll see them soon."
I was so glad he was here with me.
Bree, Tyson and Ben had just taken off back home, and for some reason it was more emotional than any of us expected. I knew it would be hard to say goodbye again, but I didn't think this hard; like it was a final goodbye. But that was silly. Of course I would see them again, soon perhaps. I couldn't stay in Forks forever, running from two worlds. We had all stood in a huddle, bodies squashed together whilst Seth coolly hung back in the coffee shop. Bree and I were crying like mad, but the boys kept their poker faces. I knew it was hard for them though, Tyson's voice seemed to tremble a little and Ben just stared into my eyes intently for a very long while. It wasn't weird... it was special. Bree made me promise to come back within the next four months, which was accompanied by Ben's threat of "yeah and if you're not back by then I'm charging back to this damn dreary place and binging your sweet little ass back myself." We all laughed together.

"But I'll miss them." I murmured into Seth's chest.
"I know." He whispered, resting his chin on the top of my head.

And I would. It had taken them coming back for me to realize just how much I missed them, needed them. But some peace of me wasn't crying or mourning. One part of me seemed to be floating; casual and content as if a huge weight had just been taken off my shoulders. At least my best friends were safe, far away in Australia.