Sparkling, pure music filled the room. It was bright and soothing as the bow went over the strings of Kit's violin.

Her playing was flawless, beautiful and Everly never got tired of listening to her daughter play. Even when Kit had been younger, Everly would drop what she was doing once she heard the familiar sound flow throughout the house.

When the song ended and Kit raised her head from the chin rest, Everly clapped softly, a smile on her youthful face.

"That was beautiful, darling," Everly praised from her spot on the couch, "Truly wonderful."

Kit exhaled in relief, returning her precious instrument to her case, "Was it? Thanks, mom. I worked really hard on it."

"It shows. I can't wait until your future first concert at Julliard," Everly teased, straightening up and smoothing out her apron that was spotted with paint and flour.

Kit's eyes widened and she frowned, relaxing her face a minute later, "Julliard..." she uttered, "An art school."

Everly had been on her way to the kitchen to check on the cookies, but seeing her daughter's response caused her to pause in her steps and she went to stand in front of her daughter, grabbing her hands, a wary smile on her face.

"Sweetheart, I was kidding." she clarified.

Kit blinked, feeling foolish for the way she reacted, "Oh. You were?"

"Yes," Everly chuckled, "Whether you go to Julliard, Harvard, or Penisula college is up to you and fine with me."

"Is it?" Kit asked disbelievingly. She squeezed her mother's hands, "Really?"

"Of course," Everly shook her daughter gently, "Kit Kat, you don't have to follow your father and I. While I'm sure Blake will go nuts if you decide to have an art career, he'll be fine with whatever you choose."

Kit relaxed in her mother's grip, feeling better. She had never brought it up before, but there had been a few instances when Kit had thought of following a career path that didn't involve art or music. She wasn't sure what exactly, but it was being considered nonetheless.

"I appreciate that, but just so you know, if I were to go to an art school, I'd apply for Julliard," Kit said, "Thanks, mom."

Everly kissed Kit's cheek and touched it with her fingertips, "You're welcome, Kit Kat. Now, I need to get those cookies out of the oven before they burn."

Kit watched her mother walk away and followed, reaching into the pocket of her jeans. She kept her hand there, wrapped around her phone. She was going to do it. Show her mother the text messages. What better person to tell than her mother? Her parent, best friend, confident. She could do it. All she needed to do was hand her mother the piece of plastic and say one word. "Look."

"Mom?" Kit said, wincing when her voice came out shaky.

Everly looked up from putting the cookies onto a plate and she placed the spatula down, giving Kit her full attention, "Yes?"

Kit opened her mouth as if to say something and then she closed it again. She wanted to tell, but she was worried how her mother would react. She loved her mom so much and she didn't want to risk upsetting her, or causing her distress. What if Kit herself was overreacting? The text messaging had gotten worse and though she suspected who was behind it, she wasn't exactly sure. Which probably wouldn't be much help when Everly asked who it was. It was embarrassing, the things that Kit would have to explain—the questions that she would be asked regarding the text messages and her nonexistent sex life. What if it was found out that Kit told? Things would get worse. So much worse.

No, she was sixteen, almost an adult. She could handle this. She could-

A pair or warmed hands on her face, caused Kit to momentarily forget about her inner turmoil and she closed her eyes at the feeling of Everly's thumbs running over her cheekbones.

"Sweetheart?" Everly tsked, "Honey, what's the matter? What are you thinking about?"

Kit opened her eyes, looking into the matching ones that were peering at her anxiously.

"Kit?" Everly called again.

Kit hated herself for what she was about to do and she removed her hand from her pocket, letting it clench into a fist at her side to steady its trembling.

"You sure daddy won't be mad?" she whispered through the lump in her throat, "If I don't have an art or music career?"

"That's what you're worried about?" Everly dropped her hands, both relieved and shocked, "Sweetheart, of course he won't be angry. Goodness, no. Melodramatic, sure, but you know your father. As long as you love what you do and you're happy. That's all that matters."

Kit played with the ends of her hair, "Okay."

Everly went back to laying out the cookies and when she spoke, her tone was disbelieving, "That's all that's bothering you? You looked pretty upset."

"That's all," Kit promised, rushing over to stand by her mother's side, "Really, that's all. Can I have a cookie?"

Everly nodded. She didn't approve of the subject change, but she pushed the plate in Kit's direction, "Help, yourself."

"Thanks," Kit bit into one and hummed when warm chocolate exploded on her tongue, "These are great!"

"My grandmother's recipe," Everly took a bite of her own cookie, "Though, I can never bake as well as her, I think I'm a close second."

Kit clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from spraying food everywhere as she laughed. She coughed a few times before she composed herself, "Okay, mom. Sure."

"I am!" Everly insisted through her own laughs.

"Mhm," Kit hummed sarcastically, taking another bite.

Everly watched Kit for a moment. Her motherly instincts were telling her that something wasn't right. Something was bothering her eldest and she couldn't let it go. She needed to make sure.

"You know you can talk to me, Kit," she said softly, "Don't you?"

"I know," Kit sighed, relenting a little bit, "These girls have been making fun of my clothes at school, that's all. I should be used to it, but—I don't know. I like my clothes!"

She finished her sentence off with a smile. It was a little fake and what she had told her mother was mostly true. It wasn't what had really been on her mind—far from the text messages, but it was something.

"It's a small town," Everly said, "They're not used to seeing such...uniqueness. Not a lot of people step out of the box and if you do, it's shocking. But that's okay. Normal is boring. Honey, as long as you like how you look, then that's all that matters. If wearing my clothes and your grandmother's clothes makes you feel pretty and makes you feel good, then keep doing it. Okay?"

Kit blinked a few times. She could feel herself getting emotional at her mom's words, "T-thanks, mom. That helps. I needed to hear that."

Everly opened up her arms, "Come here, honey," she hugged her daughter tightly, "Oh, I'm so proud of you."

Kit pulled back, bewildered, "For what?"

Everly touched Kit's nose, "Just for being you. That's all."

Kit smiled and decided to change the subject to a lighter one, "Did you need me to take some pictures for you?"

"No, that's what your dad is doing, now," Everly said, shaking her head, "Indi's with him. They should be back before dinnertime."

Kit finished her cookie and went to the sink to wash the chocolate off her hands, "What are we having?"

Everly listed on her fingers, "Macaroni and cheese, spinach salad, and roast beef—baked tofu bites for you."

"Mmm," Kit groaned, "I love your baked tofu bites. Can it be dinnertime now?"

Everly laughed and patted Kit's shoulder, "We can get started, sure. Help?"

"Yes," Kit nodded, "What do you want me to do?"

Everly moved to place the cookies on the counter beside the sink, "Macaroni and cheese. I marinated the roast beef and tofu, yesterday and I'll pop those in the oven. We'll do the spinach salad, last."

Kit went to one of the cupboards, standing on her tiptoes to reach two boxes of penne pasta, "Are you starting the water?" she asked, turning to look over her shoulder.

"Yes," Everly was filling the pot, "It'd be nice if we could get this in the oven before Indi and Blake get home, hm?"

Kit giggled, nodding in agreement. Her father was handsy when it came to food. Always trying to sneak in bites and he would occasionally try to get Indigo to do his dirty work. The two of them together were quite entertaining.

"So, Kit Kat," Everly turned on the stove, "Any other boys have their eye on you? Anyone that you like?"

Suddenly, an unwelcome flush spread up Kit's neck and burned her cheeks. She cleared her throat, closing her eyes against the image of the golden-eyed boy that popped into her head.

"Kit..." Everly drawled out, an impossibly wide grin crawling across her young face. She clapped her hands together, "Oh, honey! You like a boy!"

Kit allowed her eyes to flutter open and she ran a hand through her hair, the blush fading from her cheeks, "I-I...guess? It's a possibility..."

"Name, name, name," Everly chanted, "Come on, we need to pass the time until the water starts to boil."

Kit sighed heavily and covered her face with her hands, "'Met 'Len."

Everly laughed and pulled Kit's hands from her face, "What?"

"Emmett Cullen," Kit whined. She let her head fall onto her mom's shoulder, "Okay? It's Emmett Cullen, mom."

Keeping one hand on her daughter's back, Everly used her free one to tap her chin in thought,"Cullen, Cullen...Oh! Like, Dr. Cullen? The Chief Surgeon at Forks General?"

"Mhm," Kit hummed against her mother's shoulder, "That exact one."

"Awww," Everly cooed, "I've think I've seen them around town. Only once, but from what I could see they're a very well put together family. Though, what the town says?" she scoffed and shook her head, "It's awful! I bet they're all sweethearts."

"They are," Kit moaned, "But I haven't met their parents. Alice and I are becoming good friends and Emmett's been inviting me to sit with him at lunch."

"Has he?" Everly lifted up Kit, "Really? How did that go?"

Kit slumped in her mother's arms, "I said something really stupid, the first time. Well, it wasn't stupid, I suppose. Morbid. It's daddy's fault."

Everly giggled, "What did you say? You've peaked my interest."

"I said that I was a vegetarian—and..."

"-to downgrade the deaths, blah, blah," Everly finished, shaking her head, "Oh, Blake," her perky mood promptly returned and she laughed, "He probably thought it was funny, though!"

"Well, he laughed," Kit mumbled, "And then we talked about other stuff. He's been walking me to my first period too."

Everly sighed and patted both of Kit's shoulders, her expression serious once more, "You like this boy. Hm, I can see it in your eyes. Did you feel it? The spark?"

Kit's forehead creased and she thought back, shifting her weight. Had she felt it? There had been that moment in the hallway when they had just stared at each other until Alice had called them to attention. Captivating didn't come close to how beautiful Emmett's eyes were and every time she thought of him her heart sped up.

Not only that, but Emmett was funny, sweet, he listened. He walked her to class and would join her in the library at lunch. They continued to play 'over twenty questions' and it was all very endearing.

"I-I—he's tall," Kit blurted out.

"What?" Everly frowned, "You're losing me."

"He's over six feet, I think," Kit informed, "Emmett. And he's super muscular. Like, really big, but he's nice and his laugh cracks me up every time."

"So…?" Everly pushed.

Kit took a breath, looking to be in some internal struggle. She had never had a crush on anyone before, "I'm not quite sure yet. I should probably mention that he's older. He's a senior. Eighteen."

Everly made a noise in the back of her throat, thinking, "Two year age difference. That...might be okay? No, I don't know. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Hmm. Let's not over think this. We'll see what happens."

Kit pulled out of her mothers arms and went to go open the boxes of pasta, pouring them into the boiling water, "What if he doesn't like me back?"

"You'll be able to tell," Everly promised, "But don't try too hard. Just be your lovely self and everything will be fine."

Kit scrunched up her nose as she stirred the penne, "I'm not even sure if I like him. I get this—I don't know...this weird feeling and I don't like it. It's uncomfortable."

"Butterflies in your stomach?" Everly guessed. She moved Kit over, preparing to make the cheese sauce, "Is that it?"

"Maybe..." Kit drawled out, "Something like that," she sniffed the air and was glad at the subject change that presented itself, "Oh, don't forget to check on the oven."

"Shoot!" Everly gasped, reaching for an oven mitt, "Thanks."

By the time dinner was ready, Indigo and Blake had noisily returned to the house, laughing loudly. The only problem was that they were both covered in mud and grass from head to toe.

Everly shrieked, clapping her hands around her mouth, "What is this!? Oh my—oh my floors!" she wailed, "Blake!"

Blake held up his hands, "In my defense, it literally rains 99% of the time here."

"Blake, it's everywhere!" Everly cried.

"Mommy, we played in the mud!" Indigo said, bouncing on her toes, "It was kind of gross, though."

"Yes, I'm sure it was," Everly whispered in horror, "Did you even get pictures?"

"Tons," Indigo promised, "They're pretty."

Everly seemed to relax at that and she groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose while she tried to take deep breaths. She wasn't one who liked to yell and shout at her children or her husband, but occasionally, that took a lot of self-control.

"So, how did this happen?" Kit asked, unable to fight back an amused smile.

"Well, she fell down," Blake gestured to Indigo, "And I laughed...and it kind of fell apart from there."

"You are such a child," Everly grumbled, a frown clear on her face. She pointed up the stairs, "Go upstairs and hose off. Both of you, now! Dinner's going to get cold."

Blake sighed, removing the camera from around his neck, "C'mon, Indi. Let's get cleaned up."

"What do we do with our clothes?" Indigo asked, looking at her muddy hands, "Kitty, will you scratch my nose?"

"Sure," Kit did as Indigo had asked, "That better?"

Indigo nodded, "Loads. Thank you."

"Put your clothes in these," Everly handed Blake two garbage bags, "Your shoes too."

Blake ran his hand through mud-caked hair, "Okay, dear. We'll be right back."

"You don't have time to shower," Everly called after them, "Just wash up as best you can. Indi, you'll need to take a bath tonight and I'll help wash your hair."

"Ugggh!" Indigo groaned.

Kit snickered and eyed her mom with sympathy, "That's going to be a pain."

Everly winced, checking on the food in the oven again, "I know. And her scalp is so sensitive. I'll have to use deep conditioner."

Kit left her mother's side in favor of lying out silverware and napkins, "We were running out, but there's more under the sink."

"Great," Everly said. She turned at the sound of something chiming, "Is that you?"

"Sorry," Kit said, placing the last of the silverware down, "My phone."

"That's been happening a lot lately," Everly mused, her tone disapproving, "Young lady, I hope you're not text messaging during school."

"No," Kit promised, "I barely respond to the texts that I do get."

Another chime and Everly's eyes widened, "Who's sending you a text this close to dinner time?"

"Bella, probably," Kit winced at her lie. Bella didn't even have a cell phone, "Maybe Angela. We've been doing homework at the lunch table."

"Bella's the girl you hung out with after school?" Everly clarified, "The Chief of Police's daughter?"

"Mhm," Kit nodded, opening the text messages. If she didn't, the pop-up would never go away. She would have to open them eventually.

'Dirty whore. Heard U slept with the entire football team. The Cullens weren't enough? The whole school wasn't enough?'

'Everyone here hates U! Go crawl under a rock and die. U don't belong here.'

Kit usually didn't let the messages get to her. Especially the ones regarding her sex life. They weren't true and were so far-fetched. She didn't even know the school had a football team, considering that it was so small.

The texts about her appearance didn't hurt much. She was used to those kinds of comments. The ones calling her 'disgusting' were a little hurtful.

It was the last one that got to her for some reason. It was intense. Telling someone to die? That was a new low. Kit couldn't even imagine saying something like that to another person. A human being.

"Are your friends okay, Kit Kat?" Everly asked, trying to see Kit's phone screen from her place at the oven.

Kit returned the phone to her pocket and took a deep breath before she turned to face her mother. She managed a small smile. She was always terrible at controlling her facial expressions and hoped her mother wouldn't see through it.

"Bella was reminding me about something in Spanish," she said quietly.

"Oh," Everly nodded, "Are you doing okay in that class?"

"Yes," Kit replied, "As far as a I know. Um, mom? Can I skip dinner, tonight?"

"What?" Everly turned around, "You want to skip dinner?"

"I don't feel well," Kit made a face, "I have a headache and my stomach's in knots," she placed a hand across it, "I'm nauseous too."

"Let me feel," Everly rushed over and laid her hands against Kit's forehead, "Hmm, you're not warm. Are you supposed to start your period soon?"

"Mhm," Kit pretended to wince, "I can take the tofu for lunch, tomorrow. I like it cold, too. Can I please go lie down?"

"Of course, sweetheart," Everly nodded, "I'll heat up an ice pack in the microwave. You know, those gel ones? A shower might help, too, okay?"

"Okay," Kit echoed with a weak smile, "Though, I think I'll just go to bed."

"Do you want to stay home from school, tomorrow?" Everly offered.

"Oh no," Kit shook her head frantically, "No, I have a chapter quiz in English."

Everly stroked Kit's hair, "Okay...go lie down, then. I'll check on you after dinner. You sure you don't want something to eat? Did you eat today?"

"I ate," Kit promised, "But I'm not hungry, now."

"You're sure?" Everly pushed, "You can have food in your room just this once. Come on, how often do I bend that rule?"

Kit chuckled and shook her head, "As tempting as that sounds, I'm really not hungry. I'll make it up with a big breakfast. Promise. Thanks, mom."

"Okay..." Everly sighed, "Go lie down."

"Thanks," Kit kissed her mother's cheek, "I love you."

"I love you more," Everly replied.

"Not possible," Kit murmured.

"Yes, possible," Everly touched Kit's shoulder as she walked past, "Goodnight. If you see your father and sister, tell them dinner in two minutes."

Kit raised a hand in acknowledgment and continued her way upstairs. She almost bumped into her father on the way to her room.

"Dinner in two minutes," Kit muttered once she regained her footing.

"You okay?" Blake asked worriedly, cupping Kit's cheek, "Why the long face?"

Kit pretended to wince again, "Cramps. Remind me to eat a big breakfast, tomorrow."

"Eat a big breakfast, tomorrow," Blake repeated.

Kit couldn't help but laugh, "Funny."

"Sure you're okay?" Blake asked, just as his wife had done, "It's not like you to skip dinner. What's going on, Kit Kat?"

Kit blinked a few times and she shook her head, muttering something to herself that even she didn't understand. Her mother and father were both right. It wasn't like her to skip dinner. Even when she got sick or hurt, they would all pile up whether in her room or on the couch and eat dinner together.

What was she doing? She wasn't going to let a few stupid text messages ruin the time that she cherished with her family. No, she wasn't going to let it get to her. She was so much stronger than that. What was going on with her?

"Um, I wasn't feeling well and was planning on going to bed early," Kit started, "But I think I'll take some pain medication and be right down. Can you tell mom for me?"

"Sure," Blake nodded. He sighed, "Now, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

Kit stared at her father. Her parents knew her too well. It was a weird experience hiding this from them as she usually told them everything, but she didn't want them to worry. Her parents always kept a positive attitude, but the move had been hard on them. They had to uproot their lives as well and they constantly made sacrifices to keep Kit and her sister happy.

How would they react if Kit showed them a text message that was telling her to die? She couldn't put her parents through that and she didn't want to. She didn't want this to affect her home life. Her safe place.

Home was a place she could escape. Even if she got a text message, Kit was able to be distracted by the sound of her sister's laughter, by tea parties, her violin, or by her mother and father. She didn't want this to follow her home—to go home everyday and have her parents ask if anything had happened, if she had gotten anymore text messages. Home was peaceful and warm and she wanted to keep it that way.

"I might like a guy," Kit finally blurted out, "And he's eighteen."

Blake stood there, frozen. Then he reacted, moving past Kit to rush down the stairs, but he didn't yell and Kit had to give him credit for that.

Kit made her way into the bathroom. She really didn't need any pain medication, so she settled for splashing cold water on her face, hoping that it would calm her down.

Pressing a towel to her face, Kit held her breath for a moment before she removed the towel, breathing out slowly.

"It's fine," she whispered to herself, "It's okay, I'm fine."

"Kitty?"

"Hmm?" Kit opened her eyes. She had left the door open and standing in the doorway was Indigo. She had cleaned up, dressed in her pink floral pajamas and her dirty blonde hair was damp and pulled into a ponytail.

"You're sad," Indigo stated, a pout on her face, "What's wrong?"

Kit blinked a few times and then she exhaled softly, placing the towel on the counter. She went to kneel down in front of her sister, placing her hands on Indigo's shoulders.

"I'm not sad," Kit whispered, "Not at all, honey."

Indigo narrowed her eyes, "You're lying."

"You're too observant," Kit countered.

Indigo stomped her foot, "Kitty!"

"Shhh," Kit hushed, "Listen, I'm fine, okay? You don't need to worry about me. I promise, I'm not sad."

And she wasn't. Sure, Katie ending her friendship had made her a little gloomy, but that was high school, wasn't it? Friends came and went. It was the text messaging that sometimes bothered her, but it didn't make her sad. At least, she didn't think so. No, she was fine.

"Come on," Kit pecked Indigo's forehead and stood up, holding her hand out, "Let's go downstairs for dinner."

Indigo accepted the hand her sister held out, sighing softly. She was much more social than her sister. Unlike Kit, Indigo didn't wait to be approached, she approached people. She had made quite a few friends at her new school, her unique name attracting attention, but she didn't mind. She loved her name.

She wasn't much for tantrums, but she did get emotional at times. And though she was a social butterfly and was loud, just like her father, she was mature for her age and knew when to hang back and listen.

That's why she knew that something was wrong with her sister—her favorite person in the whole entire universe! Every time Kit looked at her phone, her face almost crumpled at what was on the screen. Indigo didn't get it. What could be on there that was so bad?

Everly huffed and grumbled, tossing and turning violently in the king-sized bed.

"All right, all right, all right," Blake yawned and sat up, turning on the lamp that sat on his bedside table. He rubbed his eyes.

"What?" Everly demanded, sitting up herself.

"It's almost two in the morning," Blake grumbled, "And it's like sleeping with a fish out of water. Do you know how many bruises I'm probably going to find later?"

"I'm sorry," Everly yawned, "I can't sleep."

"I can tell," Blake pulled his wife into his arms, kissing the side of her head, "What's up?"

Everly flicked on her own lamp, "I'm worried about Kit."

"Ah, yes," Blake nodded knowingly.

"You noticed it too, then?" Everly waited for Blake to nod before she continued, struggling with her words, It's—she—she's acting weird. Weirder than normal and I'm not sure if there's something going on or if it's because of this boy she likes."

Blake growled as best as a human could.

"Oh, stop it," Everly slapped her husband's chest, "Be serious."

Blake sighed, scratching his chin, "I'm worried too, but we've both said something. She knows that we're here."

"I," Everly shook her head, "I don't know. You really think so?"

Blake shrugged, "Baby, what else can we do? She's a teenager...sixteen. You know, they go through that phase and she's always been a little independent. She drives now and has that freedom, she's making real friends, boys are asking her out, and she's been talking about looking for a job. At one point, she's not going to tell us every detail of her life."

Everly still wasn't convinced, "You think that's it?"

Blake shrugged, "I hope so. I mean, what else can we do? What do you think is going on?"

"She said some girls have been making fun of her clothes," Everly said, "But you should have seen her, Blake. She looked so," Everly shook her head, "Kit looked so...upset. I've never seen her like that."

"Sixteen is a weird age," Blake mumbled, "Her grades are all right?"

"Perfect," Everly smiled, "Straight 'A's. Even in gym. And she's sleeping well, eating, practicing her violin, never complains about her curfew, and she still plays with Indigo. That's all fine. She just seems...off."

"We'll keep an eye out," Blake promised, kissing Everly's cheek, "That's all we can do, right now. And if we notice more changes, we'll have another talk with her. Together."

"Okay," Everly nodded, "I can agree to that."

"Good," Blake turned off his lamp and adjusted Everly so that her back was against his chest, "Now, go to sleep."

Everly reached over and turned off the light, "Okay, thanks Blake."

"Mmm," he hummed, already fast asleep.

Everly twisted in Blake's grip and pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose. Blake was her rock and she had no idea where she would be without him, who she would be without him. They completed each other, but now they had their two children and that opened a whole new level of love that they didn't know existed. They would give up everything and anything as long as they could all stay together.

She exhaled softly and closed her eyes, trying to will herself to fall asleep. She supposed the only thing that she could do was hope. Hope that she was just overreacting and being the overprotective mother that she knew she was.