Chapter 27

Alexandra sat on top of Peter's shoulders as he stood in chest high water. Across from them, William held up Madison on his own and the two girls battled on top, trying to knock the other over. The four of them laughed and the game went on for awhile before Madison decided to use her special gifts to win. She reached down and sent a quick shock wave through Peter's body, causing the two of them to topple over into the ocean.

"Beat ya," she said, sticking her tounge out at him. Alexandra surfaced and brushed her hair out of her eyes with a smile.

William gave a hard high five to Madison and looked over at them with his arms raised, "Winners."

"Cheaters," Alexandra teased.

They shared a few laughs before hearing a whistle from the beach. Seth waved them over from where he and Luciana stood.

"It's going to rain any minute," William called, "Why are you starting a fire?"

"It's fine," Seth called, "Come on!"

The four of them made their way toward where the two of them were setting up a little spot for the six of them to hang out. The already overcast sky was becoming darker shades of gray as the hours of the day ticked away. Sparing raindrops began to fall, though it didn't deter any of them from leaving.

"How's the water?" Seth joked.

"Warm," Peter said with a smile.

Seth grinned and munched on a handful of chips from a small bag he'd been munching on.

"Want to play truth or dare?" Madison asked, looking around. She eyed the cliffs, already thinking of things to make someone do.

William smiled and squeezed her side.

"Okay," Luciana said.

Seth chuckled and kept eating with a shrug. Alexandra and Peter looked at each other and quietly agreed to the game.

"Who's starting?" Alexandra asked.

"I'll start," William offered.

"Asking or...?"

"Asking," he said, "Seth... truth or dare."

He looked around the group and popped another chip into his mouth, "Truth."

Madison made a face subtly and waited for William to ask a question.

"Hmm.." he thought for a second, "If you ever propose to Luciana... will you go to Italy to ask Aro for permission?"

Seth laughed and dumped the leftover crumbs from his chips into his mouth, "Tough one," he eyed Luciana from his peripheral vision and his mouth twisted up in a smile, "I suppose I would have to... but I'd be scared." He let out a light laugh, and Luciana did the same, cuddling up onto his shoulder.

"I'd go with you," she assured him.

He shook his head, "No. I'd have to do it alone." He looked back at William, "Truth or dare?"

"Me?" William asked.

"Yeah, what'd you think you were safe because you asked the first one?"

He smirked, "Dare."

"I dare you to run up to Jacob and Renesme's house over there, ring the doorbell and come back."

Alexandra made eye contact with Madison and they both laughed.

William stood up with his hands on his hips, "No problem." He quickly disappeared and everyone sat around waiting for him to get back.

"How will we know if he really did it?" Luciana asked.

"Jacob and Renesme will be running down here after him," Peter said with a quick laugh.

"Probably right," Seth said, smiling.

A few minutes later, William was back, laughing on his run all the way to them.

"You really do it?" Seth asked.

"Please," William told him, "Of course. That was easy."

"I'm sure he did," Madison said, "He's pretty fearless." She nudged him playfully.

A loud howl rang through the reservation and Seth started cracking up, "Oh, you're in for it now William."

He shrugged, "I'm not scared of Jake."

"You shouldn't have said that," he laughed.

They waited for a few minutes to see if Jacob would come down to retaliate, but when he didn't, they resumed the game.

"Madison..." William said.

"Dare."

"Hmm..." he dug his foot into the sand and thought for a moment, "I dare you to go ask if you can borrow Billy's cowboy hat."

Seth seemed to be caught off guard for a moment before he started laughing hysterically.

"I don't even really know Billy," she protested.

"You picked dare," he teased with a wink.

"No way," she said.

"Oh, then you must suffer the consequences."

"You have to do it," Seth egged them on.

She clenched her fists and stood up, "Fine."

"And you can't tell him it's part of a game," Peter said.

Madison scowled and darted off, returning momentarily with the hat. She tossed it at William, "There."

"How weird did he look at you," he teased her again.

"I bet she said it was part of the game," Seth accused.

She shook her head, "I didn't."

"Boy, I wish Edward was here so he could tell if you were lying," William said.

Madison hit him in the arm. Peter stirred a little uneasily upon hearing Edward's name.

"Peter!" Madison called loudly, making him jump from his anxious thoughts.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Truth... or dare?"

He looked around before deciding, "Dare."

Madison raised her eyebrows, "I dare you to kiss Alexandra... on the cheek."

Alexandra felt her stomach leap up into her throat and secretly wished Madison hadn't added in the last part of the phrase. She looked over at Peter with a shy grin as he pressed his lips against the side of her face. Her smile grew instantly.

"Aww..." Luciana and Madison said at the same time.

The boys all looked at each other with smiles and laughs.

"That was cute," Madison said, "Your turn Peter."

He sighed, still smiling, "Um... Luciana. Truth or dare?"

She looked at Seth with a grin, "Truth."

"Would you ever move back to Italy to be close to your father?... I mean if Seth could go too."

"Hea-vy," William said with a smile.

Luciana laughed, "No, I wouldn't. I'm happy right here."

Peter nodded, "I know the feeling." He looked over to Alexandra quickly before turning away.

Their game went on for awhile before darkness had completely covered them and the rain began to get steady. Seth and Luciana waved goodbye to everyone, opting to stay on the reservation for awhile as they went back to the Cullens' house.

Peter shyly reached for Alexandra's hand as they walked and she happily accepted. William and Madison were too lost in each other to even notice or make a comment. When they got close enough so the house came into view, Peter stopped.

"What's wrong?" Alexandra asked, still entwining her fingers with his.

"Uh, I don't know. It's late and I don't want your parents to get the wrong idea, so I'm going to head back home." Peter continued before Alexandra could get a word in, "But if it's alright with you, maybe tomorrow or the following day we could hang out again."

"That's definitely alright with me," she grinned, "But you can come in."

He shrugged and smiled, "I just know your dad hasn't quite warmed up to me yet, so I want to give him that respect a little, ya know?"

Alexandra made a face, causing Peter to laugh. They stood in a moment of awkward silence, and Peter tried extra hard to make himself appear nervous before leaning in and placing one gentle kiss on her lips.

She returned it, but almost froze, completely caught off guard.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"No, don't be at all!" Alexandra told him, practically shouting.

He snickered lightly at her reaction and looked her in the eyes again before they shared another kiss, this time a little longer, before parting.

"Goodnight," he said with a closed mouth grin.

Alexandra took in his scent with a sigh, "Goodnight."

"Are you okay to make your way inside?"

She nodded.

"Okay, well... I'll see you tomorrow. I'll call you when I get home."

"Alright."

"Goodnight, Alexandra."

"Goodnight, Peter."

He disappeared through the trees and Alexandra felt like flying. She sprinted toward the house, sensing Rosalie was upstairs. Instead of using the door, she scaled the side of the house and whipped in Rosalie's bedroom.

"We have to talk!" she said with a wide smile.