Disclaimer: I do not own the amazing characters or marvelous places from Stephanie Meyer's the Twilight Saga however I do own my characters and plot line of this story such as Zoe, Liam, their mom, and what other character you peoples don't recognize.

Chapter 17

After doing the wash quickly and making Billy some food, I drove back to Emily's house to find Xena and Catherine sitting on the couch, reading on their laptops. I told them my plans to go out today and they seemed okay with it until I explained the reason.

"Are you crazy? Why the hell would you go talk to that skank?" Z said closing her laptop.

"Well, they used to be pretty close so I just thought that she might have an idea as to where his dumbass is." I said shoving some cereal in my mouth as I sat down on the recliner across from them.

"Why do you think she would know? His own dad has no idea where he is." Catherine said.

"Like I said, they could still be in touch. No doubt he'd call her before he called me."

"Whatever. I still think you're high. When are you leaving?" Z asked.

"Um, in like five minutes after I get ready." I said getting up and putting my bowl in the sink.

"In that case I would hurry up. It's almost one forty-five and you should be there a little earlier than her, if she even goes."

"Yeah, yeah." I said walking into the back room and digging through my fresh bag of clothes. I picked out a simple pair of jeans, a long sleeved plaid shirt with a pair of converse. I then applied eyeliner and mascara and put my hair up in a messy bun at the top of my head. I wasn't trying to look fancy I mean, who am I trying to impress? Bella? Psh, no. Anyway, I said goodbye to the girls and drove the shirt distance to the First Beach. I waited in my car for about ten minutes before grabbing my jacket and getting out. I walked along the moist beach and stared out into the vast ocean.

"Zoe?" A female voice called from behind me. I spun around and was surprised when Bella and all her plainness was actually standing on the beach along with me.

"Hey Bella." I said. Well isn't this awkward.

"So um, did you hear from Jake?" She asked.

"No. Actually that's the reason why I called you. I wanted to know if you knew where he was. I kinda thought that he would call you." I admitted.

"Damn. Well, I guess that means no one heard from him. The last time I talked to him was when he got hurt." And the last amount of hope I had left is going…going…

"Do you think he's going to come back for your wedding?" I asked.

"I highly doubt it. I think that's the last place he'd want to be." Gone.

"Oh, okay. Thanks anyway Bella." I said starting to walk away.

"He loves you." She called out to me.

"I know." I said stopping.

"No Zoe, you don't understand, he really loves you. Remember that night after the fight, when he wanted to talk to me. It was to tell me about you. The look on his face when he did, I've never seen it before. It was like he never even got a scratch. I thought that it was just the massive amounts of pain killers in his system but then I realized that it was pure happiness. He said that he finally knew what he wanted and it was you and only you."

"That's why he...I'm so stupid!" I said slapping my hands over my face. I tried to steady my breathing and clam down before I cried but it was no use. I felt Bella's arms wrap her arms around me as I broke down.

"Shh. It'll all be okay." She soothed.

"I let Embry take advantage of my feelings and I pushed Jake away. I took Embry's side over his. No wonder why he hates me."

"He doesn't hate you. Jake could only hate a small number of people and those are the Cullens and others of their…kind."

"I guess you're right but that doesn't change anything." I said pulling away from her embrace and wiping away my tears. She sighed.

"I don't know what to tell you other than to just wait it out. After all, Jake's not the best at holding grudges." She chuckled.

"Once again you are right but I have to go. The pack is probably wondering where I am."

"And Edward is probably going to be upset when I get home but it was worth it." She smiled.

"Yeah. Bye Bella. It was nice talking to you."

"You too. Oh, and the invitation is for you too, if you'd like to go. Who knows, Jake might just show up." I thanked her one more time before heading off the beach and back to Emily's place.

Upon arriving I noticed that someone else's car was in the driveway. I got out of my car and examined it through the glass. There were old burrito wrappers and brown paper bags that once held some type of greasy food inside it. I shrugged my shoulders and went inside only to find Xena wide-eyed and confused.

"What's going on here?" I asked scanning the room. That's went I heard it. The sound of my sister puking up her guts vibrated through the house.

"That's not good." I said jogging towards the bathroom.

"She doesn't want anyone in there." Z said just as I placed my hand on the doorknob.

"I don't care. This is the first time that she has puked since she was a baby. Something's wrong and I'm not going to let her suffer through it alone." I said before opening the bathroom door and finding my sister on the cool tile floor, pretty much raping the toilet.

"Did you eat something funky?" I asked kneeling down next to her and rubbing her back soothingly.

"No." She groaned with her face inches from the toilet seat. I was going to ask her if she was drunk but she never pukes, even when she's wasted plus she hasn't had a drink since the party a month ago.

"Okay…than I don't know what to tell you. This is so strange." I said completely confused.

"I know. Hey, I think I'm done now." She said leaning back against the bathtub. I stood up, ripped off a piece of paper towel, filled one of the paper cups with water and handed them to her.

"I'll be outside if you need me, kay?" I asked. She nodded and cleaned herself up as I gently shut the door behind me.

"What do you think it is?" I asked Xena.

"Maybe she got sick from something she ate or drank. Other than that I don't know."

"She said that she didn't eat anything weird so it can't be that." I pondered. My heart stopped when the most unlikely scenario popped into my head.

"Um, how drunk was she at the party we had a few weeks ago?"

"She was even worse than you. She left in the middle of it with some guy though," Her eyes widened. "You don't think…"

"It's a possibility." And just before Xena could respond, a loud smashing noise came from the back room, aka, my room. I angrily stomped into the room to make sure that nothing broke but the sight I saw instead was just hysterical.

"Stop moving!" Emily yelled at Seth, who was just in his childish dinosaur boxers and a nice suit jacket.

"I would if you stopped poking me!" He yelled back.

"Stop complaining! You already broke one lamp, could we please not make it two!" She said starting to sew the sleeve again.

"Don't you look spiffy Seth? I mean, the dinosaur undies really go with the blazer quiet well if I do say so myself." I said sarcastically leaning against the door frame. His eyes widened and his face grew crimson.

"Shut it. Number one, they're manly boxers that my mommy bought me and number two, Emily won't let me wear the pants while she's tailoring the jacket because she doesn't trust me in them until the wedding." He grumbled. I laughed as I entered the room and shut the door behind me.

"So who's car is out front?" I asked lounging on the bed across from them.

"It's Embry's. He drove here a little while ago and waited for you but then he decided to take a walk."

"I should have been able to tell from the burrito wrappers." I laughed.

"Alright, that's enough for now. You can put your pants back on." Emily said to Seth packing up her stuff.

"Hey Zoe baby, got a date for Bella's wedding?" Seth asked wiggling his eyebrows. Let me just say that the dinosaur boxers made the invitation so much sexier.

"How did you know I was invited?" I asked.

"I can smell her on you, plus, I was kind of eavesdropping." He admitted.

"Oh, well than Sethy-poo, no I do not. I guess I'm going to have to go alone. I shall be hit on by an assortment of men, probably all drunk and middle-aged and there will be no one there to protect me. How will I live?" I said dramatically.

"I'll take you. I mean, I was just going to go with Billy but I'm sure he wouldn't mind female company."

"Don't you mean you wouldn't?"

"Kinda," He said shyly as he pulled light brown khaki shorts over his insanely cool boxers.

"So it's a date?" He asked.

"Yepperdoodles." I smiled.

"Cool. I'm just going to hang out in here for a little while. Puke is not my thing." He said sitting neck to me and leaning back so that his head was resting on my stomach. I played with his hair while I thought about what could happen at the wedding barely a month away.

*Day 53*

Okay, so how I was feeling just a few weeks ago does not compare to the pain I'm in now. It's like all of that combined, happening at the same time, and then multiplied by ten. My skin was so pale that I could pass for the dead and my body so weak that it hurt to lift a finger.

"Time to wake up." Seth announced from my door.

"Meh." I groaned with my face pressed up against my pillow.

"Are you sure you want to go?" He asked me concerned as he crawled into bed with me.

"Yes. I'm not going to pass this up because I look like shit and my legs are fail." I said.

"I'm not sure that's a very good idea though…" He said in my ear.

"I don't care. Just promise me that if I fall, you'll be there to make sure I don't look stupid."

"Pinky promise." He raised his hand and held up his abnormal pinky to mine. I struggled to wrap mine around his but I managed it.

"Well, The party is in like, two hours so I'm going to get the tux, make sure it's awesome enough and get ready."

"No. Don't leave me." I whined.

"Why?"

"You're warm." I pouted. He just smiled as he got up and kissed my forehead before he left. I sighed as I realized that I probably should also be getting ready soon. I laid in bed for another ten minutes before I reluctantly stood up and dragged myself to the bathroom. I took a long shower, blew my hair dry and let it cascade over my shoulders in its natural curly/wavy state. I then left the bathroom and went into my room to get my dress that Emily laid out for me. I put on some undergarments and stared at the dress before me.

I took a deep breath as I picked it up and slipped it onto my body, which sounded much easier than it actually was. After stumbling a few dozen times, I got it on and was barely able to zip up the back by myself. I then did my makeup, accessorized shinny/dangly earrings and put on my tall stilettos. Finally I checked myself out in the mirror, shifting things to where they should be and wiping off the excess lip gloss and I was done. (cgi/set?id=83236478) I looked at the clock and I had just enough time to get to Billy's to pick the guys up. I grabbed my black trench coat and left.

I walked through the front door and smiled at the sight before me.

"Don't you guys look ravishing?" I said amazed at how well they clean up.

"Forget us, you look gorgeous." Billy said grinning up at me.

"Thanks Billy." I blushed.

"Just a few pictures and we're ready to go." Sue said revealing a camera.

"Ugh. No." I said hiding myself with my hands.

"Just stop it. Like Billy said, you're gorgeous." Seth said pulling my hands away from my face. I grunted but posed next to Seth anyway. A thousand pictures later and we were off.

I thought I was going the wrong way because the street was so dark until Seth told me to turn, then I realized that I was indeed going the right way. The long driveway was lit by a dozen little lights along the sides wrapped with white satin bows. It was pretty but nowhere near as beautiful as the house itself. Light was pouring out through every crevice of the massive home as music played loudly inside. I parked the car and helped Billy still staring at the house in awe.

When we walked in, the scent of orange blossoms, lilacs, roses and something else filled my lungs. It was nice but almost intoxicating. Everything was so extravagant.

"Hello, are you Zoe? Of course you are. I'm Alice Cullen. It's nice to see you guys again. Sue, it's a pleasure. Anyway, come with me. The reception's being held in the back." A short, pixie like girl apparently named Alice said bouncing up and down like she had one more sugar stick than necessary. Her ice cold hand grabbed mine and pretty much dragged me to the backyard, with was almost as glamorous as the indoors.

I scanned the yard in hopes of finding someone that I knew but it was no use. Then I saw Bella. She looked…stunning. She seemed filled with excitement and life, which was a rarity for her. Her white dress also fit her wonderfully. What caught my eye really was the man standing beside her. He was paler than I was and his eyes were a glowing gold color. His hair was auburn and messy, but it suited him.

"Zoe!" Bella called out to me snapping me out of my gaze. She grabbed his hand and walked over to me.

"Congratulations Bella." I said hugging her.

"Thanks." She blushed.

"Congrats, guys." Seth said then hugged the groom. The groom then thanked Billy and Sue for allowing Seth to come to the wedding and for supporting Bella then look at me.

"You must be Zoe. I've heard so much about you. I am Edward Cullen." He extended his hand out to me.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." I said taking his hand and shaking it softly.

"I'm sorry to cut this a little short but there's a line forming. We're happy you could attend though." He smiled and we waved goodbye and soon found ourselves by the food.

"That was weird." Sue huffed with her hands on Billy's shoulders.

"Kinda. But it was also sort of nice to see them on good terms." Seth said piling food on his plate. While it did look good, I just wasn't hungry.

"Hey guys, I'm just going to go walk around for a little, okay?" I said. Seth stopped shoveling the food and looked at me, then his plate and back at me.

"Billy, could you hang on to this for me for a minute?" He said handing the plate to Billy.

"I don't need a babysitter Seth. I'm a big girl. Matter of fact, I'm older than you." I said.

"Who said I want to babysit you? I was just going to ask you to dance." He smiled.

"Well, in that case, let's go." I took his hand in mine and pulled him to the dance floor. He placed his hands on my hips and mine on his shoulders. Suddenly I felt a slight tinge in my gut. I looked up at Seth and his jaw was tensed as he looked around.

"No, it can't be..." He said to himself.

"You felt it too?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"What do you think it is?" I asked.

"I…don't know. I think our heads are just playing with us. It must be the surroundings. Let's just dance. Okay?" I nodded and A Year Without Rain by Selena Gomez and the scene blasted through the speakers, causing me to immediately think about Jake.

Oooooooouuhhh
Oooooooouuhhh

Can you feel me?
When I think about you
With every breath I take
Every minute
No matter what I do
My world is an empty place

Like I've been wondering the desert
For a thousand days (ohhhuhh)
Don't know if it's a mirage
But I always see your face, baby

I'm missing you so much
Can't help it, I'm in love
A day without you is like a year without rain
I need you by my side
Don't know how I'll survive
A day without you is like a year without rain
Ohhohoh, Woooaaahhh woaahh

The stars are burning
I hear your voice in my mind (it's in my mind)
Can't you hear me calling
My heart is yearning
Like the ocean that's running dry
Catch me I'm falling

It's like the ground is crumbling underneath my feet
Won't you save me
There's gonna be a monsoon
When you get back to me
Ohhhh baby

I'm missing you so much
Can't help it, I'm in love (love)
A day without you is like a year without rain
I need you by my side (side)
Don't know how I'll survive
A day without you is like a year without rain
Ohhohoh, Woooaaahhh woaahh

So let this drought come to an end
And may this desert flower again
I'm so glad you find me,
stick around me, baby baby baby oohh
It's a world of wonder with you in my life,
So hurry baby, don't waste no more time
I need you nearer, I can't explain but a day without you is like a year without rain
Ohhohoh

I'm missing you so much (much)
Can't help it, I'm in love
A day without you is like a year without rain
I need you by my side (side)
Don't know how I'll survive
A day without you is like a year without rain
Ohhohoh, Woooaaahhh woaahh
Ooohh, Oooooooouuhhh

After the song was over, we continued to dance around to a couple of fast songs and swayed to a slow song before his rumbling stomach almost caused an earthquake.

"I think it's time you eat buddy." I said poking at his stomach.

"I can wait." He swallowed hard.

"Seth, go eat. I'll be fine."

"I just don't want to leave you alone. This place is crawling with…ya know and you are pretty much prone to hurt yourself by the end of the night." He admitted.

"It's nice to know that you have faith in me."

"I do have faith in the fact that someone's going to end up hurt. It always happens at parties. Plus, I have a feeling like something's going to happen and I don't know if it's good or not."

"Stop worrying about it and go eat or I will tell your mother about what you really got on your finals." I threatened.

"You wouldn't." He glared down at me.

"Try me." I glared back.

"You play dirty." He pouted giving in.

"Wouldn't play the game any other way. Now be gone child." I kissed his cheek and watched him walk back to the table. I made sure he stayed there before I went off and explored the Cullen's grounds. Like I said before, they were beautiful but there was something different far back away from people. There was almost a gravitational force pulling me towards the edge of the woods. I haven't felt that way since…Jake. There was a slight rustling in the leaves and stick snapped.

"Who's there?" I asked but no response.

"Jake? Are you out there?" I asked out loud but once again no response.

"Whoever you are, stop playing games. It's not funny." I huffed.

Still I looked around like a crazy person hoping that Jake would show up but then I realized that he wasn't here nor was he even going to show up. I think it's time I just gave up. I sadly walked back to the crowd of people and maneuvered my way through until I was back in the middle of the floor and I danced with a few different guys. It was sort of uneventful and was ready to go home until something occurred while I was dancing with one of them. I looked past his shoulder and saw a strange tall figure with his back turned to me. The man was wearing a black tux and from what I could tell, fit him man turned around and my breath caught. My legs stopped moving and my body stopped swaying.

"Jake." I said breathlessly. This night just got a whole shit load more interesting.