Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, just my own characters.


Cassia

The Cullens.

When I heard of the powerful vampire coven that had moved into my old hometown, I had to see and judge for myself what they were capable of.

I was very knowledgeable about their history. An Olympic coven that was established by a young pastor's son, named Carlisle Cullen. He went on to create Edward Cullen who was swiftly followed by Carlisle's wife Esme Cullen. The coven would then grow even more soon after that.

A coven that was able to singlehandedly annihilate an army of newborn vampires in one fell swoop with the help of their dogs. A coven that was revered by the Volturi, with members the Cullens sought out for because their impressive talents.

The mind reading telepath. The precognitive psychic. The mental shield. The empath.

I knew a lot about The Cullens.

I've spent centuries traveling the world and meeting covens, learning about them, hearing and reading up stories on other vampire clans.

I haven't come across one quite like The Cullens.

A coven that strictly survives and thrives on an animal diet? A coven that prefers to live within human society that give into to their natural animalistic instincts? It goes against the very nature of our kind!

I understood the appeal of the coven. They had very powerful, strong members of what they'd call…family. They were as strong as a tight knit family would be.

They fascinated me.

But they also disgusted me.

They were certainly an obstacle.

They were going to be a further obstacle in my gambit.

An irritating, incommodious obstacle that needed to be eradicated.

The Cullens may be powerful but they weren't aware of the powers I held. The magical talents our world has never seen. The allies I had formed in my very long lifespan.

They won't know what hit them.

The doors precipitously opened wide just as my two underlings, Dash and Josh came through and stood in front of me.

I spun my body around to face them. "What did you find out?"

"The Cullens received your message," Josh told me.

I nodded. "Good. That's what I like to hear," I said, pacing around the room.

The wolf I held captive must've had his memory resurfaced and sent the message to the vampires.

Perfect.

They may not know who I was yet and what I could do but they certainly will find out soon enough. Leaving them hopeless and on edge as they tried to figure out my next move is exactly what I wanted to achieve from this little game.

They weren't defenseless. I knew going in I needed to be discrete and strategic in my ploy, but they didn't know about my talents to walk among them inconspicuously and undetected.

I had the gift of metamorphosis. I could morph or shape-shift into any human or vampire I came into contact with.

The only catch was I had to have some form physical contact with the person I want to morph into.

And it was only limited to humans and vampires because I had been them before.

It was a useful tool in being inconspicuous. It also helped that I could mask my scent at will.

They won't see me coming, no matter how hard they tried.

"And there's something else." Dash said to me.

I turned around to shift my focus on him.

"What is it?" I demanded, curtly.

"The hybrid…She's looking into you and your history. She knows about you." Dash informed me.

Huh.

Renesmee Cullen.

The vampire hybrid spawn of Edward and Bella.

The person who set this whole thing off.

I looked at him before plastering a small, cunningly devilish smirk.

Ah ha!

That's what I liked to hear.

I had her on edge.

"That's actually great…" I muttered as I tapped my bottom lip as I paced around the room with supernatural celerity. " Little Red's curiosity might be the key to her undoing and her family's demise. It might just be the window of opportunity I have been waiting for."

Dash and Josh looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders.

"I want you two to do something for me," I said, running superhumanly over to them. "What else do you know about her next whereabouts?"

I specifically chose the twins as my underlings because of their unique connection to the town. They were born and bred as natives. They knew the town in and out. Sure, I knew it too but I needed spies. There were people who I had been avoiding. People who knew my tricks.

Like Ray Parker…

I needed people on the inside who could do my dirty work so that I didn't have to do it as I devised my plan of action.

"She and the senior class are going to this senior camping trip, last I heard. We had it always in the second week of February." Josh notified me. "Then there's also the President's Day parade in about a week."

I nodded. "The Debutante Ball?" I prodded.

They shrugged their shoulders. "All we know is that her friends are part of the founding families of Oakland Woods."

I thought. Founding Families.

"Do you know who her friends are?" I demanded.

They nodded their heads. "And we believe they're in on it too." Dash stated.

Hmm.

Humans knew about me too huh?

That's easy.

I can use them as pawns in my game.

…Or get rid of them like a tick on a checklist…

"I want you to go to find this girl and her friends. Don't do anything just yet. Just…intimidate them. Get them on edge." I said with a conniving smirk.

"What do you have in mind?" Josh laughed deviously.

"The schemer is scheming, Joshua." I said, grinning at him. "I'll let them have their fun as they try to anticipate my next move and then once we've eliminated all her allies, she'll get scared. Her family will be even more on edge. And then we can strike!" I confirmed with finality.

The twins Josh and Dash grinned at each other.

My smile suddenly dropped when I noticed my other subordinate was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Connor?" I demanded.

"He's hunting again," Dash and Josh confirmed in synchronization.

I tapered my eyes at them and grumbled.

I hope he doesn't do anything stupid.

"Keep an eye on him. So that he doesn't do anything crazy like the last time," I said.

"Got it, boss!" They both replied in unison.

"Good!" I dismissed.

And they disappeared.

Renesmee Cullen…

Get ready!

It is over for you and your family.

… …

Renesmee Cullen

It has been approximately two weeks since Jacob and I got engaged.

Engaged…

I'm still letting that sink in to this day.

Is it possible to be twenty times happier than you've ever been after getting engaged to your imprint?

Prior to the proposal, Jake and I were simply what one might observe as a young couple deeply in love and enjoying life and having fun together.

Now that we've taken this serious step in our relationship, our relationship has magnified to something a lot more meaningful and adult.

We've already started looking at NYC apartments on Zillow, weighing how much moving would cost on both of us and what place suited our needs best and what makes the most sense logistically. We even discussed what our individual dream homes looked like – which was another hour spent on Zillow, and listing different types of houses.

God, I understood why Esme loved real estate, interior and exterior designing so much. The houses on the market were glorious.

We also talk about our long-term goals and seeing whether they align and/or what each of us can compromise or let go of. Neither of us wanted the other to put off any of their dreams and aspirations; an example would traveling for instance.

Both Jake and I wanted to travel the world together; we don't want to put that off and we hoped to do that soon after marriage.

We talk about our future careers together (and how we'll support each other in the process) what with Jake pursuing his own business whilst I study at Columbia University this fall to get my journalism and art history degree.

I decided against pursuing a medical degree because it wasn't what I was the most interested in right now. I love reading up on information, researching and being analytical and tactful. I naturally gravitated towards journalism because I want to uncover untold stories and find the truth of the unseen and exposing the injustices of the world. I also wanted to change the world and people's lives for the better in the small way I can.

Think of me as the next potential modern day Barbara Walters or…Lois Lane!

Medicine was what a lot of my family were doing and I'll most likely become a doctor sometime in my immortal life but right now, studying what I was passionate about was key.

Jake and I are having… deep conversations a lot more lately than we have before.

We talk about trauma, such as Jacob losing his mother at a young age and the mental effect that had on him and the rest of his family – how the death affected his relationship with his sisters and how it lead to Jake having abandonment issues when his sisters suddenly left him and his father alone.

He didn't always talk about his mother to anyone but me, which to a degree I understood and respected but he hadn't talked to a therapist before but instead bottled up his emotions for all these years. It wasn't healthy for him, so ever since I encouraged him to be more vulnerable about his feelings, he's been opening up more to me.

I did the same.

I opened up to him more about my feelings of unworthiness. These thoughts were not super prevalent but, some days I felt like I wasn't worthy to have all the things I had. Sometimes I felt undeserving of the gifts, talents and family I had, like I got through life with some cheat code.

There were days these thoughts turned into fears of potential loss and loneliness, because I felt that my life was too perfect and that someday the coin would flip and I would lose it all.

There were days I even wished I was more human – to be able to grow old with Jacob and go through all the plagues of life with him.

But then I remember how lucky I was that I wouldn't be able to go through physical ailments or the pangs of old age and death as humans do. And I genuinely enjoy so much that came with being part vampire that also had its fair share of limitations.

It was almost like a Catch-22 in that on one hand, I felt I wasn't human enough and on other, I didn't feel vampire enough.

I was happy because the interchange of these inner thoughts and feelings we've had allowed us to grow even more as a couple and get closer to fighting these demons.

It was vital to have these poignant, pivotal conversations with each other in order to strengthen our communication and complete trust in each other. But it wasn't always easy.

For instance…

There was one important conversation I've been meaning to talk to Jake about these past few days in regards to our near future but I was terrified to start the dialogue. I had no idea how he would react so…

That's gonna be interesting.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom.

Au contraire, the past two weeks have been the most blissful and gratifying days of my life.

It's been non-stop constant smiles all around.

Jacob hasn't left my side for longer than a day.

Which is why, the next four days are going to be the hardest…

Today was the senior camping trip!

The whole week I prepared for the trip by making sure I got all my essentials, even taking a trip to the mall to get some last minute gear I didn't have.

I loved camping.

The Cullens tried to make camping a regular family tradition whenever we went on long hunting trips outside of the town or city. It was very 21st century, ordinary, modern family of us I guess.

So this camping trip will be fun…

I think…

I hope.

It certainly isn't getting off on the right foot since it's cloudy with an eighty percent chance of rainfall.

Great!

I just washed my hair this morning!

"Get ready, people!" Coach Flak, the school's male sports coach and gym teacher, exclaimed on his megaphone as we all stood on the school parking lot.

I was currently about to board the school bus with many of my fellow senior class members.

There were 125 students heading to the camping trip and only four Greyhound and Megabus buses were available to us.

So it was about to get cramped and undoubtedly smell funky in those charter coaches.

Seniors were currently saying goodbye to their families.

"Are you sure you're not cold, sweetie?" My mom mentioned as she twirled the tips of my hair.

I sighed, my arms crossed as I turned my attention from the crowd of students to my beautiful mother.

"Mom…" I stressed.

She rolled her eyes. "I know. I know. I'm being a soccer mom but I just can't help being concerned, even if you're immune to sickness." She told me.

I wasn't completely immune to sickness though. I had headaches, cramps, mild internal aches and slight lightheadedness whenever I was dehydrated or feeling under the weather like normal humans but I never got sick to the point I was bedridden because it never got to that point before. My healing mechanism usually immediately combated these slight irritations.

Fevers didn't affect me because my temperature level usually burns off any pathogens and potential harmful cells or germs.

So I would never ever get terminally ill either.

I snorted. "Look, I'm actually more annoyed that my outfit is likely ruined." I said, glancing back down at my relaxed fit.

I was wearing simple distressed, denim daisy dukes, VEJA V-10 sneakers, a simple black crop top and an oversized pink flannel shirt over me that I rolled up to my forearms. I topped off the look with Jake's LA Lakers baseball cap.

It was nothing special but the rain did render this whole ensemble superfluous.

"Keep warm just in case. You aren't entirely immune to the cold," She pleaded.

I nodded.

Yep. I got cold.

Not as cold as regular humans but the inclement weather can affect me, I just wouldn't get sick from it.

Apparently this had to do with my female biology as this didn't affect Nahuel that much.

Nahuel…I haven't thought about him in a while.

Anyway…

It helps that I had a tall, strong, big wolf fiancé who virtually had the body temperature of the sun to keep me warm.

Speaking of my wolf…

"Bells, leave the girl alone! She'll be fine." Jake swooped in to save the day as he tossed his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his warm body.

I chuckled as I rested my hand on his hard stomach.

Jake was definitely dressed for the weather. He wore long black sweatpants, Adidas track sneakers and a long sleeved, seamless, tight fitting blue top that he had covered up with his gray Nike hoodie.

Even covered up he looked like a goddamn appetizing snack.

One of the hottest things a man can wear in my opinion is his workout clothes.

Having a charming, dashingly good-looking man –with a Viking sized build standing at a good 6'7, who also looked like a robust behemoth with his ripples of stacked muscles – as your partner had its obvious perks but it also had its disadvantages.

Like having everyone's eyes trained on him…

"Oh my gosh! Nessie's boyfriend looks so damn fine!"

"That's Renesmee's man? Well damn! He can get it!"

"It's not fair that Renesmee Cullen is hot and has a hot boyfriend too! When will it be my turn?"

"I didn't know Nessie had a sexy ass adult boyfriend! Goddamn he's fine as all hell!"

"Jesus! That's one tall, dark, muscular man!"

"He looks like a sexy fitness model! I wonder what his Instagram handle is."

"He looks like a bodybuilder. I wonder how much he benches."

"He can bench me any day,"

"I want him to choke me and…"

Yeah…That's where I almost lost it and resorted to tuning everyone out from there on!

These were just the few comments I heard from passersby, mostly students, some teachers and even the moms who dropped their kids off couldn't help but gawk at him.

So many people were looking at Jake in ways I was not comfortable with.

I felt possessive over Jacob, and I know that wasn't a healthy trait but I don't care.

He was mine!

Even the guys couldn't help to stop and stare to either admire his intimidating stature or feel threatened by him.

But I guess I did feel a sense of pride in knowing I get to be the only one who gets to go home with him so I didn't mind showing him off a bit.

"…But I do agree with your mom though. Keep that cute little body of yours warm, please." He asked, staring down at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine! I will!"

Mom and Jake were seeing me off this morning. My dad couldn't make it because he had an early morning patient therapy session and Bella had errands to run afterwards. Jake was heading to the gym after this –hence the getup– and then he had work later.

"Oh! We have to document this!" Mom squealed awkwardly as she whipped her Nikon digital camera out of her tote bag.

I groaned, glancing back at Jake who gave me a knowing smile and shrug.

"Mom…" I warned.

"This is your first senior year camping trip, Renesmee! You'll have these photos as memories for centuries to come. This is important! Now…" She rambled, gesturing Jake to move out of the way.

I sighed as I watched Jake leave my side briefly and I began posing with my luggage as Bella took a series of snap shots.

"Okay! Now with Jacob!" She said, motioning for him to scoot back in.

I beamed as I wrapped my arm around his back as he gripped my waist and we posed for the camera with big, cheesy grins plastered on our faces.

"Nice!" Bella perked up. "There we go!"

"No – Wait! I have an idea." Jake spoke before revolving his body to face me.

He hoisted me up from the ground and enfolded my legs around his waist. Our faces were now inches apart as our eyes locked in an intense, passionate yet goofy and fun-loving stare. I giggled as I locked my fingers around his neck.

"Oh, come on! This is a public place!" My mother scolded with a laugh.

"Just take the damn picture, Bells!" Jake spurred with a grin.

Bella took the photos as a few people looked on at the scene. We took one more silly photo – this time with me on Jacob's back – then he set me down onto the ground again.

"You guys are so ridiculous sometimes," Mom laughed. "You certainly aren't afraid of social anxiety,"

Jake waved her off, wrapping an arm around me.

"Who cares if people watch? She's my fiancée! I'm saying goodbye to my fiancée!" Jake stated into my ear.

I giggled. "You just love saying that, don't you?"

He winked at me.

"You'll call us when you get to the campsite?" Bella enquired.

I bobbed my head in return. "Will do,"

"Sooner or later I'll be sending you off to college in New York." She uttered emotionally.

"You've been talking about that for weeks now, mom. It's a little excessive," I pointed out with a small chuckle.

"She's just proud of you, baby." Jake encouraged, staring at me lovingly.

"I know," I exhaled.

I recently told my parents I had officially gotten accepted into Columbia University which wasn't a complete shocker to anyone I suppose.

Flashback…

I woke up one morning and ran out of the house to collect the newspaper and the mail.

I noticed one particular mail was designated to me specifically.

Oh this was it!

I did a little jump of excitement before trotting back into the house and scampering to the living room where my parents had been watching the TV.

"I got a letter from Columbia University!" I told them.

My mother's eyes bulged as he body shot up.

"Open it!" She urged with imperativeness.

I nodded. "Okay! Okay!" I said nervously.

I had already gotten the admissions email that I was a likely candidate for admission but that wasn't always a 100% direct indicator that I would indeed get accepted. The college could always change their mind –it rarely happened though but you can never be too confident.

The actual acceptance package was what sealed the deal.

I stumbled upon the envelope as I set the large packet down and opened the envelope and pulled the letter out.

I inhaled one deep breath before I flipped it open and I immediately began reading the printed message out loud.

"Dear Renesmee Carlie Cullen," I began, the paper shaking as my fingers trembled. "On behalf of Dean Peter J. Awn and the Committee of Admission, I am delighted to inform and congratulate you on your admission to the School of Journalism and the School of Arts of Columbia University…" I trailed off as I felt my squeal erupt from my throat.

"I got in!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I felt my voice crack and tears build up in my eyes.

"Omigosh!" My mother shrieked.

"Congratulations, peanut!" My dad applauded with a proud smile.

I grinned brightly and immediately charged to hug my mother.

"I am so proud of you, my little nudger." She enthused into my hair as she tightened her embrace around me.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Let's go, people!" Coach Hoffman, my softball and cheerleading coach ushered all of us as she made rounds around the lot.

I sighed. "I guess that's my cue," I told them.

Bella smiled before coming in to hug and kiss me goodbye.

"I'll see you on Monday." She stated. "I love you,"

I clasped her back. "You too,"

"I'll be in the car," Bella told Jacob after she heaved away from me and then walked off.

I stared up at my wolf.

This goodbye would be the hardest.

"I don't want you to go," I muttered with a pout.

"Ditto," He smirked. "Just be careful out there,"

I bobbed my head as I rested my hands on either sides of his waist and moved in closer to feel the warmth of his body radiating onto me. He reciprocated by throwing his long, large arms around my body, engulfing my 5'7 frame.

"I'll miss you so much." I conveyed.

"I'll miss you too," My fiancé mouthed back. "But you'll be back in my arms soon,"

"Of course," I exhorted.

My heart started racing as I straightaway remembered I wanted to talk to Jacob about something important before I left.

"Listen, Jake…" I began, my heart beating fast. "I have something I need to tell you."

He looked at me with concerned eyes. "What's wrong, baby?"

I looked at his eyes, his kind and beautiful dark eyes that I absolutely adored. I didn't want to ruin his mood. It was already bad enough that we weren't seeing each other for an extended period of time.

On the spot, I decided to evade the topic I had been dreading to bring up for a few days now.

"Nothing," I assured him as I trailed my hands up and down his muscled forearms.

He smiled back at me with his signature Jakey grin.

As Jake was about to lean in for one final smooch goodbye, we were halted in our tracks by the voice of Alex Mazzola.

"Okay, lovebirds! Quit it! Or kiss already! It's time to go!" Alex teased as she approached us.

I sighed, glancing over to my best friend who was making her way over to us with her luggage along with our other best friends Felicity and Rea.

"I gotta go," I informed Jake, shifting my attention back on him.

He nodded before he took his large hand underneath the back of my head and drew me into a strong, loving, zealous kiss that almost knocked my knees off course.

I couldn't help but thaw into him as I move my hands up and down his back, gripping, roaming and tracing my fingers over all the contours of his back muscles as the kiss deepened further with our tongues begging for entry to dance with each other.

He reluctantly initiated the departure of our grazing smooch. He cupped my face in his large, warm hands and used his thumbs to caress my cheek as our eyes captured each other again for one last time for the next four and a half days.

"Bye," Jake whispered, huskily.

"Bye," I replied, softly.

He leaned in to implant his lips on my forehead as he then brought my body into his arms for a parting hug.

My arms found their way around his lower waist whilst his arms found their way around my upper torso, his fingers tangled in my hair.

I breathed in his lovely, strong, musky scent as my head lay on his chest.

Alex, Felicity and Rea reached us and started making kissy noises at me which caused my cheeks to turn a shade of beet red.

Jake and I drifted apart and turned our attention over to my friends.

"Hi!" I greeted them as I went in to hug all of them. "So good to see you guys!" I expressed as I pulled away from hugging Felicity.

Felicity smiled sweetly. "Same here,"

"Not all of us have boyfriends to send us off," Alex played it off, although I could sense a hurt in her voice.

Alex and Seth couldn't do what Jake and I did in the public gaze.

It also didn't help that Seth wasn't going to be on the camping trip with us as he had Geography classes to teach with the other lowerclassmen.

So…Alex definitely needed some comforting.

"We'll find you a nice boyfriend, Alex." Jake played along as he went to give her a bolstering hug.

Alex rolled her eyes. "Gee – Thanks. I'd appreciate it,"

"Hi, Rea." Jake greeted my friend with a brief side hug.

"Hey, Jake," She responded.

"Hope you girls have fun! Don't get into too many crazy shenanigans!" Jake said to the girls.

"We won't," Felicity laughed, flirtatiously batting her eyes.

"You guys are cute by the way." Felicity remarked as she glanced at me.

"Ah! Thanks, Felicity." Jake said, giving her a side hug. "How are you doing? How's your dad?"

She sighed, nodding her head. "He's doing okay. Better actually. We're taking it one day at a time. Doctor Cullen says he can be out in a month,"

I smiled at her.

That was good to hear. I knew how worried she was about her dad's health.

"That's awesome," Jake said with a sincere smile. "Take care of my girl for me?" He asked the girls.

I rolled my eyes.

"We will," The girls all said in a teasing, playful chorus.

"Okay! I have to get going before I make you guys miss your bus ride." He said, pulling his car keys out as he backed away.

"Travel safely! I love you, baby." He said, winking back at me before jogging back to the car where my mother was.

I watched as the two best friends laughed together after Jake mentioned something funny to her.

Bella and Jake had a whole friendship history that existed way before my time and I was glad they had such a tight bond. It was very wholesome to behold.

I wondered if it always stayed strictly platonic. The only recollection I know is that they kissed once long before my time but it meant nothing as they were firmly just friends. At least that was my understanding from how nonchalant they made it out to be.

Subsequently, I spun around and fixed my attention on my girlfriends who were cheesing me off with their knowing, teasing looks.

"You guys are so annoying, you realize that right?" I seethed, playfully as I grabbed my luggage bag.

Alex continued to make mocking kisses as she threw her around my neck and kissed my cheek as we walked to the coaches.

"He is so in love with you," Rea pointed out, prodding my arm.

I nodded, shying away sheepishly as I hid my blush.

"The feeling is mutual," I whispered.

"He's one of those fictional boyfriends who were written by women." Felicity remarked as she adjusted her scarf.

Felicity was a fashionista.

She would tell you she loved wearing classic outfits inspired by the 60s or 80s but with a modern twist.

Like today, she was dressed in an olive green khaki utility jumpsuit from Mango that she styled with a shimmering Ferragamo black belt and Chelsea platform ankle boots and a patterned Versace La Couple Des Dieux silk scarf that she wore around her neck and her blonde (usually straight) hair that was in a classic 80s perm pulled by a headband.

She reminded me so much of a modern day Brigitte Bardot.

I chuckled as Felicity and I looked at each other briefly before she quickly moved her eyes away from me to pull her phone out.

I didn't know if things were still awkward between us. We've seemed to have moved past the whole vampire bombshell but I could tell she was still slightly cautious around me.

I suppose I shouldn't have expected things to go back 100% to normal so quickly. If she needed more time then I would give it to her.

I caught the sight of Justin with Luke as they stood a couple of feet behind us. Justin had watched Jacob drive off in his car with my mother before he met my gaze.

I gave him a small wave and mustered up a tiny smile to which he received and reciprocated.

"Listen up!" Coach Flak shouted as he stood in front of the senior student class. "We're splitting you all up into three groups. Forty-five students in each coach! You'll have a facilitator standing at each bus to do roll-call. When we call out your name you hop on in. You can keep your essentials with you but leave your camping gear and luggage behind which we'll load up in a separate coach. Got it?"

We all nodded.

"When I read out your name you can hop on in." Coach Hoffman called from the second coach. "Abbot, Abdullah, Abrams, Applegate, Baker, Bell, Benson, Brooks, Brown, Chaudhary, Chung, Cullen…"

"Save us a seat?" Alex asked.

I gave her a wink.

I handed my gear and luggage to the packer and carried my tote bag and backpack as I walked towards the bus where I bumped into Gina Chung, the sweet, awkward and shy new girl.

"Hey!" I greeted her.

"Hi, Nessie!" She received me with sheer enthusiasm.

"I love your skirt, by the way." I complimented, pointing to her fun, flouncy plaid skirt that she wore over her white tights and knee-high boots and a bright, purple, bedazzled sweater that had a cute rabbit face on it.

She had a very colorful, loud and almost childlike sense of style that she coordinated in a way that could either be cutting-edge or offensive to fashion. There was never an in between.

But I liked her style.

I can only liken it to k-pop singers or preppy fashion which has kind of become a trendy style in general through the medium of media.

"Thanks! It's not exactly camping appropriate though." She said with an animated sigh. "Can you tell I'm a camping virgin?" She asked.

I chuckled. "It's okay! I'm not entirely dressed for the weather," I motioned to my ensemble.

"No – You look great!" She grinned graciously as she hopped into the bus and I followed closely behind. "Was that your boyfriend just now?" She asked me.

Fiancé. I very nearly corrected but stopped myself and simply nodded my head.

Nobody at school outside of Alex and Seth knew I was engaged. It wasn't something I needed to broadcast to the rest of the world just yet.

I also didn't want to endure judgmental conversations as I pass the hallway from human teenagers. It was nice to keep this part of our life, not necessarily a secret but an intimate sacred moment that not many needed to be privy to.

"How long have you two been together?" Gina asked as she took her seat in the seat in front of me.

"Just over a year now but I've known him for mostly all my life," I said as I saved the three spaces in my row of seats.

Gina cooed sweetly. "Aww! That's sweet! A best friends-to-lovers story! Gosh! I love hearing those love stories. Who caught feelings first?"

I hummed as I retraced own relationship timeline. I think I developed a crush on him first when I was younger but Jake would argue he fell in love with me first so I don't really know.

"I don't know. I think we mutually fell for each other at the right time," I told her honestly as more students came on. "It's been a whirlwind honestly. It doesn't feel like we've been together for a year, it feels longer."

She grinned brightly. "Ugh! Adorable! My brother – Tom also fell for his girlfriend who he's known for half of his life. Her name's Aurora," She told me.

I smiled. "How old is your brother?"

"He's three years older than me." Gina responded. "He loves to poke fun at me all the time but he's also protective which is a bit contradictory,"

I laughed. "I think it's sweet."

"Do you have siblings?" She quickly probed in her high-pitched speech.

I shook my head. "No, sadly I do not. I do have a cousin though who's basically like my little brother."

"Cute! What's his name?" Gina asked curiously as she sat facing me, her arms crossed on top of the seat where she rested her chin.

"His name's Carter. He's my uncle and aunt's son." I told her.

"Adorable! How old is he?" She asked with a sweet smile.

"He's five years old," I replied.

"Can I see a photo?" She asked.

I initially was taken aback by the sudden request, but then I realized most people loved to look at babies so I let it slide and took my phone out to show her a picture I took with my cousin Carter.

She cooed pleasantly, making a voice that was somewhere between whimsical fawning and soft murmuring at the image.

"He's so adorable! Look at his cheeks! Like a squishy baby!" She expressed.

I giggled. "Yeah, he's a sweet boy. Smart as hell and very cheeky though. He drives my aunt up the wall sometimes when he's behaving mischievous – which he gets from my uncle – but I guess all kids are at that age."

Thenceforward, I heard the abrupt sound of thunder echoing from the heavens which caused me to jerk in fright.

"Oh!" I laughed. "Did not expect that."

The sound did not seem to faze Gina though as she still kept her eyes on me.

"Ah!" The earsplitting voice of Melissa St. Clair cried out from outside. "My hair!" She sobbed.

I rolled my eyes at the dramatic girl in her expensive outfit.

Did she not get the memo that we were going on a camping trip? Why is she dressed to the nines just to go camping in the woods?

"Dom, give me your letterman jacket!" She shouted over to her boyfriend. He sighed. "Please?"

He reluctantly shrugged off his baseball jacket and threw it over his girlfriend's shoulders.

"Happy?" He goaded, mockingly.

She looked at him before drawing him into a disgusting make-out session that received a few cheers from the baseball players and some gags and boos from the rest of the remaining students.

"Alright! Cut it out!" Coach Hoffman broke the kissing teenagers up.

I shook my head.

"I see the stuck-up prima donna bitch of the school still wants to claim the spotlight," Alex Mazzola remarked as she came into view and took a seat next to me.

"My hair!' She playfully mocked her.

I chuckled, nudging her rib cage.

"I wonder if she'll turn into seafoam if the rain destroys all that volume of hair on her?" Alex stated.

Gina and I giggled.

"That's mean, Alex." I said, but only half-sincerely.

She shrugged. "What? It's a serious question!"

I shook my head as I looked over to see Justin Mazzola followed closely behind his sister.

He waved at us. "Hey!" He called.

"Hi, Justin!" Gina immediately squealed as she wagged her hand enthusiastically at him, grinning ever so widely.

Justin nodded back at her with a small smile and a blush before taking his seat beside his best friend Luke Fitzpatrick.

Both Alex and I curved our heads to Gina and cocked an eyebrow as soon as her eyes met with ours.

"What is it?" She asked me, half-obliviously and half-apprehensively.

"You like Justin?!" I pointed out.

Her eyes bulged in fright. "W-what? No!"

"Oh, please! You're like a cat in heat! You look at him like a meal and practically spray the entire room every time he enters the room." Alex exposed.

I gasped as I glared at her to which she rolled her eyes at me.

"It's true!"

Gina was blushing like crazy. "It's that obvious?" She asked self-consciously as she sank back in her chair and leaned against the window.

"Why don't you just ask him out?" I suggested.

She looked at me fretfully. "Is that okay?"

I frowned. "Yes! Of course! It's the 21st century. We can ask the guys out too. Why wouldn't it be okay?"

She sighed. "I don't know – I'm afraid he won't like me. He's also your brother, Alex! Plus, you and Justin have history so…" She said, motioning to me.

"Oh? Me and Justin?" I pointed to myself. "That's ancient history, sweetheart. We're like the best of friends now."

"So, it won't be weird?" Gina quizzed hopefully.

"Zero weirdness!" Alex injected. "We've been trying to hook him up with a girl for a long time now,"

I laughed, nodding my head in agreement.

"I promise you, I'm pretty sure my brother likes you back. You should just go for it." Alex added.

Gina beamed, feeling emboldened as she sat back against the window cumbersomely, to look over at Justin who was laughing with Luke – who was not paying any attention to the conversation behind him thankfully.

"Okay! But I'm incredibly shy and socially awkward!" She exclaimed in rapid speech. "I-I don't even know how to begin a conversation with him let alone ask him out."

"Well…" I prompted. "This trip is a perfect opportunity to help you out with that," I told her.

She looked at me with eyes of terror and apprehension before she dropped her head onto her folded arms.

Although, Justin was also interested in Jennifer, I felt like Gina was much better suited for him. Jennifer simply just wasn't as likeable as she portrayed herself to be and I don't think that's the energy Justin needed in his life. Gina was a nice enough girl who he could trust and I genuinely believed they would be cute together.

The bus continued to fill up from then.

Felicity Stone and Melissa St. Clair both climbed onto the bus at the same time, exchanging some rather wrathful narrowed daggers and glares at each other –but I suppose it was mostly from Melissa who had more animosity and ire within her eyes.

"Watch it," Melissa seethed into Felicity's ear as she took her boyfriend's hand as they searched for their seats.

Felicity scoffed as she maturely ignored her taunting demeanor and sauntered her way over to us and took a seat on the opposite side of us.

"Gosh! Can we get to the campsite already? My hair is not rain-proof!" Melissa stated, loudly as she walked by, as if to garner the attention of everyone.

"We know! You've been berating our ears with that shrill, self-aggrandizing voice of yours for the better part of an hour!" Alex shouted aloud, igniting a series of soft chuckles from many students.

Melissa shot her daggered eyes over to Alex who stood her ground in her chair, not caring.

Dominic snorted as he gave us the stink eye. "Alex Mazlow, I see you're still as bitchy as I ever."

"You're still a dickhead." Alex shot back.

He sniggered smugly as he turned to me, staring at me like I was some plate of food. He wolf whistled at me which in turn, instigated a chorus of catcalling from all the baseball players.

" Ramshackle Cullen!" He called. "How could Justin give all that up?" He questioned, giving me a once over as he disgustingly ogled my body.

I rolled my eyes at him, shuffling my eyes away from him almost instantaneously and focusing my attention onto Alex who I begun having a conversation with.

The best response to an idiot like Dominic Ricardo would be silence.

Do not acknowledge their presence or existence.

"C'mon! Let's go!" Melissa scolded her boyfriend as she pushed him to the back of the aisle.

Gina turned to us as soon as they disappeared from our vicinity.

"Okay – What the heck is their deal?"

"They're just a bunch of high school jerks." Rea pointed out.

"They think they own the school but they don't realize that everyone don't like them as much as they think they do. Because she's some big shot deputy mayor's daughter, she thinks she can dictate how everyone in the school perceives her." Alex stated.

"She's been trying to dismantle our friendship group, to get us to turn against each other for months. She's jealous of our friendship." Rea said. "She even tried coaxing Nessie to befriend her,"

Gina turned to me.

"I never did, of course!" I spoke. "I saw her true intentions the second I met her and I guess she's been bitter about it ever since."

"She's also been doing this to torment Felicity," Alex stated. "It's petty bullshit!" Alex sneered in annoyance.

Gina turned to my blonde friend and gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Why?" Gina questioned.

"Who knows? She's always wanted to be the Queen Bee. She didn't like that I was the popular girl at one point. She also wanted to date my ex-boyfriend Hunter," Felicity responded.

"The one who died last year?" Gina asked.

Felicity simply nodded her head as she looked down at her hands, fiddling with her fingers as she tried to suppress the memory of Hunter from her mind.

"It's best to just ignore them. It works for me." I told her.

"Or once in a while tell them off," Alex added.

I chuckled. "Everyone is afraid of you, Alex."

"With good reason! I should be terrifying," She joked.

I glanced back at Felicity. "You okay?"

Felicity smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Jennifer hopped onto the bus and started making her journey through the aisle. Our eyes made contact briefly before she took her place behind the bus along with Melissa and her clique.

Figures.

Of course she would still be part of her posse.

Even after all she knew about Melissa St. Clair and the horrible person she was what with her bullying tactics around the school.

Why did this not surprise me?

… …

We drove out of the school and hit the road as everyone boarded the coaches. The drive to Oak Creek Meadows Campground would take two and a half hours as it was on the outskirts of the town and pretty close to Big Sur which was about four hours and 190 miles out of Oak Woods. Oak Creek Meadows Campground was often compared to Ventana Campground in its rich scenery, secluded location and vast forestry.

Oak Creek Meadows was an amazing oak tree, redwood pervaded canyon. The campground has multiple modern bath houses and each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring for bonfires with water faucets a short walk away. There were a few sites with cabins but it was mostly a tent only campground.

The ground was centrally located near general stores, restaurants, diners, delis, cafes and gift shops so we knew where we would be stockpiling on food. The campground didn't accommodate a lot of vehicles such as RVs, SUVs, motor homes but they did accept pop up trailers and some camper vans.

We checked ourselves in and set up our tents in the pouring rain.

I zipped up my raincoat and adjusted the hood before resuming to hammer in the nail.

"I wish the rain would just stop so that we can actually set the tent up," I laughed.

"Felicity is just not going to even bother," Rea stated with a chuckle.

I looked over to see my impeccably, pristinely dressed friend sitting underneath the large gathering shed without a drop of water on her head or clothes.

"You can help us, you know!" She called out to the blonde who was texting on her phone.

Felicity's head shot up to look at us. "Oh it's okay – You're doing good without me!" She gave us a thumbs up.

I chuckled.

We were setting up one of those extra-large camper tents from Ozark Trail that could fit at least twelve people in it. The spacious tent would allow us to each have enough room and comfort to roam around for the next four days.

A thunderous storm erupted suddenly, causing many of us to flinch at the magnitude of the sound.

"Ah!" Alex shouted. "Please just stop raining!" She screamed out in anger.

I looked over to Gina who I caught looking up at the skies with her eyes closed as if to concentrate hard on something and then I diverted my eyes back to Alex who frustratingly stomped her feet before suddenly...

The rain stopped.

It actually stopped as soon as Alex called it to. It was honestly shocking how quickly it came to a halt and the clouds began to clear.

Alex laughed triumphantly. "I did it! I spoke it into existence!"

Gina laughed along. "You totally did!" She squealed.

Alex smiled at her weakly in response before dropping her smile and shifting her attention back to the task at hand. Something was bugging her or maybe she was just as frustrated with the weather as everyone else.

It wasn't a clear barometer of her emotional or mental state but I don't know, I felt like there was a deeper meaning to her heated outburst that I wondered if she wanted to get off her chest.

There were some things I needed to get off my chest too. Maybe we can be each other's therapists.

After setting up our tent, the girls and I were spent and starving so we decided to take a hike up to the local restaurant with the rest of the senior class. We bought some takeout and some meat that we would barbecue around the campfire tonight and then all returned back to the campsite.

"You brought your hairdryer?" Rea asked as Felicity started unpacking her bag.

"Why wouldn't I? Just because we're camping doesn't mean I'm a cavewoman," She scoffed. "Besides, I've brought all the tech and essentials we need to keep us busy and enjoy the things we use back home. We've got a rechargeable curling iron, a portable charging unit for our phones, a WIFI router, a bunch of throw pillows, an Espresso machine maker, solar powered string lights, foldable chairs, hiking heels, electric marshmallow toasters, an actual cordless toaster, a super powered flashlight – we'll definitely need that!"

Alex and I shared a look. She shrugged her shoulders back at me as she twirled around her Swiss Army Knife.

I loved Felicity dearly but…

She was…

Let's just say…

High maintenance.

Her version of 'camping' was actually glamping.

She was a lot like Alice in that way.

That evening, we ate dinner and then afterwards we all gathered around the campfire.

Today was just a settling in day and only tomorrow would we begin our camping activities; starting with a 10 mile senior class long distance hike. I was looking forward to it.

I loved trekking up mountains on foot on long arduous hikes and I had the endurance to continue for multiple hours without getting fatigued.

Presently, I was twirling my marshmallow on a stick as it roasted on the blazing flames.

"I see you're not wearing your engagement ring," Alex pointed out.

"Hmm?" I hummed as I got pulled out of my dazed daydreaming.

She gestured to my hand that was missing its bejeweled diamond.

"Oh! I am." I told her, pointing to my ring on my right finger instead of my left hand. "I'm thinking of wearing it around my neck this week though. I don't want to risk losing it."

She cocked her eyebrow at me as she coiled around her marshmallow stick.

"Is that really the reason?" She asked.

I sighed, dropping my shoulders. "No – I mean kind of…I just don't want to hear or answer all the questions right now. And I know how judgmental teenagers can be and gosh all the rumors that can come out if people found out I was engaged at 18 – 'Oh it must be a shotgun wedding' 'I wonder when she's due'." I scoffed.

Alex stared at the ground and pursed her lips, a blank expression on her face.

"It shouldn't matter what people think though," I said. "But I'm just so excited and happy in my life right now, I don't need anybody to bring that down, y'know? I'm sort of protecting myself from potentially going into a mental downward spiral from annoying humans," I chuckled.

She smiled feebly. "I get it – Teenagers can be cruel. But you shouldn't let what others say about you cloud this happy moment in your life. Also it's none of their business why you're engaged at eighteen. Even if it was a shotgun wedding, who the hell cares?"

I nodded as I observed my ring again on the hand it wasn't supposed to be. It felt foreign to have it on my right hand. It was still so beautiful though. I always took a chance to admire it from time to time. It gleamed so luminously in the night sky and moonlight.

Was it disrespectful to Jacob that I was keeping the engagement so secret from the world?

We agreed that nobody that didn't matter to us needed to know.

But…I couldn't help but feel like I was being ungrateful and selfish for hiding this glorious, wondrous, momentous and joyous moment in my life by hiding the ring from the public glare.

"…I do agree with you though. Your mental health comes first so if you think keeping this to yourself protects you from the noise then do that. However, you did agree to get married at a young age though, that's facts so you should be prepared for unsolicited critical commentary from strangers eventually." She said bluntly.

One thing about Alex, she will be brutally honest with you whether you want to hear the truth or not.

And that's what I loved about her.

"Yes, people will talk. They always do. It's how you react to the talk that matters most." She added.

I nodded. "No. You're totally right."

"Just do what feels right to you." She told me.

I tilted my head over to look into her hazel-brown eyes as I ran my fingers through my hair.

The stunningly gorgeous, raven haired girl smiled brightly at me as she nudged my arm with her body. I made a quiet, breathless, soundless laugh as I rolled my eyes at my best friend.

"'Sides, there's only like what, three months until graduation? And then you're off to college! You won't even remember that one girl from high school who told you that you were throwing your life away if you got married straight out of high school," She scoffed.

I bobbed my head in response. "You're an incredible voice of reason as always, Alex! You're absolutely right. I shouldn't care what people think." I expressed.

Feeling more emboldened, I took my ring off my right hand and slipped it back onto my left hand where it was intended.

I felt a new sense of relief as I exhaled a gratifying breath.

Ah.

That felt right.

"And that's why you're my best friend," I giggled as I adjusted the soft, thin blanket around my shoulders.

She smirked as she tightened her throw over blanket and brought in her melted marshmallow and began making her S'mores.

The sounds of firewood bristling and burning in the embers as well as the sounds of students cheering, chatting and laughing filled the cool, dark air.

As I observed the crowd, I caught Felicity talking to Rea and Gina. It was nice to see Felicity talking to all of us again, all of her closest friends.

It was also good to see Gina acclimating to our little friendship group as well.

I then skirted my eyes over to another set of kids and noticed Jennifer flirting with one of Dominic's friends, Sterling Thompkins who was the school's star basketball player and track star.

The dusky skinned, fine-looking man gallantly tossed his letterman jacket over her shoulders and she giggled in response.

I wondered if anything happened between her and Embry.

Were they just not into each other?

Did things fizzle out?

Did Embry screw it up?

Wait!

Ugh…

Why did I even care?

It wasn't like Jennifer and I were friends or anything.

I heard Alex sniffle beside me.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I quickly turned my attention over to Alex who had her back towards me as she coughed and cleared her throat.

"Are you sure you're okay though?" I asked sharply, my voice in pure alarm.

"Um…" She said, turning her body but ducking my gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine. I—I-m just – I don't know. I had a fight with my mom this morning and it's been bugging me all day long, I'm also missing Seth like crazy and I think I'm coming down with the flu because of this stinking rain."

"Oh, Alex…" I immediately threw my arms around her and brought her into a warm embrace.

"It's honestly fine! All humans have this." Alex said.

I rolled my eyes. "I know! I also feel under the weather sometimes."

"Don't lie," She challenged. "Your immune system must be crazy good,"

"It is but y'know…" I said. "I have a lot headaches and I'm feeling slightly fatigued a lot, lately. I don't know why."

"Hmm," She hummed.

"What?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Oh, nothing.""

We soundlessly and understandingly decided to drop the subject further.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Shoot!" I responded.

"Does it ever weird you out seeing your mom and Jake being so close?" She asked as she enjoyed her marshmallow.

I frowned as I bit a piece off my marshmallow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, given their history. Doesn't it creep you out when they're all friendly and huggy-wuggy with each other?"

I deepened the creases on my eyebrows as my facial expression screamed confusion.

"What?" I probed.

What was she getting at?

"Oh, you mean the kiss?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Oh! Pfft! That was a long time ago! It meant nothing to them. Apparently they were just two friends being curious and weird and they realized they were much better off being friends after that one kiss," I shrugged my shoulders.

Alex frowned. "Just one kiss?"

I nodded. "Yeah? Why?"

"Oh! I don't know— I thought you'd be weirded out when they told you about the other kiss but I guess that one kiss didn't count." Alex stated. "I mean – Your mom did punch him because it wasn't a consented kiss but the second one was initiated on both ends right?"

I took in her words, letting them settle within my head and begin to fester in my head as I replayed each syllable, each consonant and each phrase, trying so hard to make sense of it.

But…

All I got was more confusion. More perplexity.

What did she mean about another kiss?

I only knew of the one.

Was there another kiss I wasn't privy to?

I needed clarity on the matter.

"Wait – What do you mean a second kiss?" I demanded.

Alex seemingly caught onto her slip-up as her eyes swiftly bulged up in shock and her body suddenly halted in an immovable stance, midway from taking a bite out of her S'more.

"Oh…" She simply replied. "I—I thought you knew! Seth told me –" She stopped herself.

Seth?

Seth?!

What the heck did Seth know?

"Do you know what? Forget I said anything!" Alex laughed at me, anxiously.

I pursed my lips together as I continued to wear a mystified expression on my face.

No! She needed to elaborate further.

"What do you know, Alex?" I prodded, impatiently.

She looked at me and deliberated. She probably knew she wasn't getting out of this easily so she had to give in.

She exhaled. "Look – It's not my place."

"Tell me," I said, curtly. "Tell me everything you know. Right now!"

Her mouth agape as she twisted her body to face me. "It's honestly nothing, Ness. Maybe I heard wrong or Seth explained the information incorrectly so please don't hold it against me or anyone for the matter. Do not kill me!"

"Alex!" I snapped, gripping her hands tightly.

"Ow!" She wept.

I gasped. "Sorry,"

Alex sighed as she ran her hand through her long, straight raven hair nervously before clearing her throat.

"Okay! Just to be clear, I'm just relaying what Seth told me," She began. "So your mom and Jake had a history way before your time. Apparently during a period when your dad left your mom, I think? Jake and Bella got closer as friends and things developed to something more that."

I blinked, holding a blank expression as I waited for her to finish.

"Um…and so when your dad came back, your mom naturally went back to him but Jake still had feelings for Bella and one day he kissed her but she punched him back in response and broke her hand in the process but then, Jake continued to be persistent in his pursuit for her until Bella admitted her feelings for him and so that's when they kissed a second time." She explained.

I was gobsmacked.

I didn't know how to react to the information.

Shock? Anger? Rage? Confusion? Outraged? Bewilderment? Disgusted? Scandalized? Humiliation? Sadness? Agonizing?

Vomit?

Maybe I had a mixture of all the emotions steering within me right now.

"…Bella admitted that she did love him to a degree but her love for Edward – Your dad was stronger. And so, they got engaged and got married soon after but then they had you and apparently your mom still wanted him around? I don't know. Anyway, long story short, you were born and the rest is history."

Humph.

Hmm…

"I see," I remarked, nodding my head as I adjusted my seat on the log as I processed this brand new information.

"Again, it's ancient history!" She tried to euphemize. "Everyone's moved on,"

"Yeah…" I laughed back weakly. "Everyone's moved on,"

I knew Jake and Bella had a history.

But the way they described said history made it seem like there was nothing beyond an initial childhood crush that ultimately didn't work out because they were much better off as friends.

Which was normal, right?

I mean there were guy friends I thought were cute but we made much more sense as friends and it didn't develop further than just initial attraction.

That I understood.

So here I thought Jake and Bella mutually friend zoned each other and spent their lives together as strictly platonic best friends.

What I didn't know was it sounded to me like they were more than just friends.

Interesting isn't it?

And it seems like everyone else knew about this except for me.

I had three questions.

One.

Why did they withhold this information from me for all these years?

Two.

They kissed not once but twice?

Not only that but…

They were in love with each other?

Third.

And my dad was okay with it?

One thing was certain though….

I certainly was not.

… …

Felicity Stone

I woke up bright and early in the morning to the sound of birds chirping; robins, warblers and red-winged blackbirds were singing at the top of their lungs.

I was an early riser.

I usually woke up at dawn just as the sun began to rise.

I loved to start my day with a nice, long, hot shower and go through my gratuitous, long morning skin care and hair routine. I didn't mind the length it took to get ready for the day because that allowed me to be in my own thoughts for a while.

It was a ritual I did at night before bed as well.

Camping made that difficult though.

My usually easy, calm, peaceful morning routine has since become strenuous, loud, complicated and unpleasant.

"Felicity! It's like 5am in the morning," Alex muttered groggily as her eyes fluttered open as she rose up on her inflatable bed. "Why is the light on?"

"Wake up!" I exclaimed, ringing the tiny bell.

The girls in the tent all moaned as they slowly lifted themselves off their air mattresses and sleepily yawned or tiredly rubbed their baggy eyes.

"What time is it?" Gina whispered muzzily as she glanced around her surroundings.

Nessie seemed to be the most alert out of all of them. I wondered if she was actually awake all this time and just laid in bed.

"C'mon – Five more minutes!" Rea moaned, muzzily as she covered her entire head with her pillow.

"It's hiking day!" I informed. "You all have an hour to get ready!"

"Argh!" Nessie grabbed her pillow and screamed into it in frustration as she smothered it over her face.

"Mood," Alex responded back with a chuckle as she shot out of her bed.

But I doubted both reactions were related.

The girls and I got ready for the day and met up with the group of students for early morning coffee and an itinerary rundown of the activities we would be doing for today and the rest of the weekend.

"…So this morning at 6:25 am we will take a four hour 10 mile trekking/hiking trail together and we'll split you all up in groups of twenty and then we'll meet up again at the green flag start point. Got it?" Coach Flak instructed.

"Yes!" The senior classmen all muttered in unison.

"After the hike we'll return to enjoy some brunch at 11am and then at 12pm we'll be spelunking in the caves and then around 2pm we will have our lunch and then we'll take it from there." Coach Hoffman added.

I glanced over at Nessie who had a resting contemptuous facial expression. She seemed ticked off which was a very rare expression I saw on the usually pleasant girl.

"Everyone's got their marching orders! Now let's get this show on the road!" Coach Flak stated, clapping encouragingly.

Promptly, we were all now hiking up the rocky, gravelly, redwood and oak wood infested forest.

Nessie hadn't said much for at least an hour.

I was worried.

I wondered what was wrong.

She was there for me when I was down in my sorrows, it was only fair that I offered my support as well.

My reservations and fears be damned.

She was my friend.

No. My best friend.

"Is Nessie okay?" I inquired from Alex.

Alex followed my gaze. "Don't worry about it. She's just…having one of those mornings," She said.

But I wasn't convinced.

My eyes were unexpectedly blinded by a glimmering object that glowed and reflected off of the sunlight beams.

I moved my eyes down to Nessie's left hand and I noticed a sparkly, beautiful ring on it.

Huh.

I knew Nessie loved jewelry such as rings but they were usually dainty, simple rings. She rarely wore ornate, shiny rings to school unless it was a necklace or a pair of earrings.

So seeing her with a new, relatively, respectably noticeable rock on her finger was slightly jarring.

Was she engaged?

Surely not!

She can't be!

She would've told me, right?

"Your first hour is up! Now we run for the next thirty minutes!" Coach Flak exclaimed on his megaphone before whistling.

All the students suddenly groaned before they began trekking faster until they were all jogging forward.

Ah man!

I hated Coach Flak!

He always made us work at the most inconvenient times.

"I didn't stretch! Goddamn it!" Alex moaned.

Coach Flak jogged over to our side and whistled. "Hustle, Mazzola!"

Alex groaned. "Okay!" She shouted back at our teacher.

She bent down to adjust the laces on her Puma track shoes, then she attuned the waistband of her dark gray, sporty laser-cut leggings and readjusted her matching gray sports bra.

I had a similar sporty, athleisure get up. I wore my Sweaty Betty camouflage leggings and a bright blue long sleeved crop top with a neon yellow Gymshark windbreaker on top and I finished off the look with my favorite black and blue Lululemon training shoes and a simple black headband over my blonde hair that I tied back in a ponytail.

Alex and I joined the jog with the rest of the students.

Sterling Thompkins, the school's very own Usain Bolt, was already leading the group.

Damn him and his crazy talented legs!

Nobody in the entire school was as fast as him.

Maybe except Nessie, Justin and Jennifer given they were part supernatural but they didn't bother to test it out.

Let's just say, Sterling was the fastest human at our school.

Or so I thought…

"How's it going there, Alex?" Justin teased his younger sister as he slowed down to catch up to us.

"Shut up," Alex seethed, panting heavily as she ran.

Justin chuckled as she glanced back at Nessie. "Hey, is Nessie good?"

"She's fine! Guys! She's fine!" Alex exclaimed irritably.

I snuck a look at Justin who raised his eyebrows and sighed as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Nobody in the school can ever catch up to Sterling Thompson, it seems." Luke pointed out as he came into view, changing the subject.

"Except for you guys of course," I said, motioning to Justin and over to Jennifer and Nessie who were multiple feet ahead of us.

"Why don't you guys just use your supernatural abilities to show him up?" Alex asked, whispering the word quietly.

"Uh…Because that would be cheating," Justin laughed. "It is okay – Sterling can hold the title of fastest kid in school. He is only human after all."

Subsequently, the new girl Gina Chung shot past us at lightning speed. If I blinked, I probably would have missed her.

"Was that Gina?" I questioned as I watched the petite Asian girl run past the group and straight ahead as she was about to catch up to Sterling.

"Whoa…" Justin commented, shock and awe overriding his facial contortions.

Gina finally caught up with Sterling and I vaguely saw her looking up at him with a confident smile before speeding straight ahead of him.

Wow…

Was Sterling Thompkins just dethroned by the new girl?

As the hiking jog stretched on, we took a detour down a hilly slope and I started getting a very odd feeling.

A supernatural feeling.

As my friends conversed with each other, I inconspicuously halted in my tracks and watched the rest of the senior class run ahead unsuspectingly.

I absentmindedly felt my body begin to follow the weird supernatural force that was dragging me towards it. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know where I was ending up.

But my feet and body unwittingly continued to lurch towards the feeling.

Towards the force.

I stumbled upon a dark part of the woods now.

There was an eerie, ominous silence and a spine-chilling sense of danger lurking all around me in the vacant area as the wind breeze caressed my ivory skin.

I spun around on my heel as I came into a halt as my senses slowly came back and I finally acknowledged my surroundings.

I didn't know how I got here but I knew I was too far out from the rest of the group and the campsite to be closer than I should be.

I was out of the safe zone.

I began hyperventilating as I apprehensively looked around. I started hearing the familiar sudden soft heartrending voices echoing in my head.

Oh no!

It's happening again!

"Alex?" I shouted out loud as I spun around. "Nessie?" I cried. "Rea?" I wept. "Justin?" I yelled out. "Luke?" I sobbed.

I was having one of my episodes again.

"Anybody?!" I yelped, feeling the tears brimming in my eyes.

"Felicity!" The voices in my head hissed out softly. "Felicity! Look over here!" The voices whispered.

I shook my head, gripping my head. "Please stop!" I cried.

"Run, Felicity! Run!" The voices shouted.

I scanned my surroundings frantically as my hold against my head got tighter.

"Run, Felicity!" The voices in my head got louder and louder.

And that's when I screamed out at the top of my lungs as I collapsed onto the ground, squeezing my head in agony.

Make it stop!

Make it stop!

Make it all stop!

Then…

The voices finally stopped.

I panted heavily, my breath trembling as I tried to catch it and I reluctantly fluttered my eyes to an open and slowly let go of my head as I resurfaced from the ground.

As I stood up aright, my eyes moved from the ground and landed onto two dark, intimidating figures.

Two familiar figures.

Two dangerous familiar figures.

I knew immediately what they were.

Vampires.

My throat scratched as the lump in my throat began to grow as fear overtook my natural instinctual nature with my own inhibitions.

My natural instinct was to run.

But my body was immovable.

The vampires. They looked familiar in more ways than one.

One.

I have seen them before, I think.

Two.

They looked similar to each other. Not just similar, but identical. Twins.

Twin vampires!

Golly gee! That's new!

"Don't be afraid," One of the twins said in a bloodcurdling, hair-raising, alarming voice.

I recognized them more now.

Joshua and Dashiell Roberts.

I saw them every time I bypassed the school hall of fame display. Oakland Woods High School's Class of 2010. They were both the co-captains and star hurling players that year.

Were they always vampires?

Or did they recently turn into vampires?

"You shouldn't be out here in the woods on your own, cutie," The other twin stated with a devious smile.

"I—I have to go," I stammered, immediately turning around and charging forward to retreat.

But I halted in my tracks when one of the twins came in front of me with supernatural speed.

"Leaving so soon?" He laughed.

I gasped as I backed up.

"Please–I just want to go back to my friends!" I pleaded.

"We only want to have a little chat," The other twin sniggered slyly.

"We promise we don't want to hurt you," The one twin stated.

"I–I don't have anything you want from me!" I cried. "I just want to go back to my group!"

Dash and Josh stared at each other before laughing cynically and incredulously.

"She's a scared little kitten, Dash!" Josh chuckled, pointing at me.

"Maybe she'll allow us to get a little taste." Josh stared at me like a meal as he kicked his lips.

I cried. "Please don't!" I implored them, tears streaming down my face as my heart raced a million beats.

Dash and Josh suddenly surrounded me as they came close to me.

"This will be fun..." They both said in unison as they sauntered vindicatively toward me.

Pouncing.

Prancing.

Pouncing.

Like apex predators in the jungle and I was the helpless gazelle.

I was hopeless.

I wasn't a vampire.

I couldn't fight.

I didn't have powers.

I was defenseless.

I was...utterly useless against them.

This was my death.

I accepted it.

I felt my breathing hitch, gulping in air and gasping for my breath at the same time I felt my fearful sobs begin to cloud my eye ducts. I closed my fists together as I padlocked my eyes shut.

Please…

Please…

Nana Priscilla…

I need your help!

My thoughts were racing as I shut my eyes and waited for the inevitable to happen. My death.

At the hands of vampires.

This invigorated an angry emotion in me as I tightened my fists.

No!

I was not going to die today!

I couldn't die today!

Unexpectedly, I let out a high-pitched scream and unwittingly lifted my hands and unclasped my enclosed hands and let go of my rage as I conjured up a type magic I didn't know I had within me.

And with doing that, I felt a surge of energy leap out of my palms and blast right into the two twin vampires, knocking them several feet away.

My body and brain was in simultaneous shock.

They were unconscious.

Vampires could get unconscious?

Did I do that?

Did I actually do that?

Did I kill them?

I didn't stick around to inspect them or investigate whether I did or not but rather followed my immediate inclination.

Running.

I ran.

I ran so far and so fast out of there I didn't even know where I would end up.

I looked back in panic as I heard the rustling sound of leaves.

Darn it!

I was being chased.

Get out of there!

As I sped out of the woods, I could hear vague sounds of motor vehicles that were increasingly getting less vague as I sprinted further and further through the redwood trees.

People.

That was good!

I cried. "Help!" I screamed as I got closer to the sounds, loping over leaves and rocks.

Clumsily, I tripped over a log.

I winced in pain as I scrapped my knee and arm on the sharp thistles and rocks and gashed my hand in thorny bush branches.

Blood immediately started gushing forth.

Just my luck.

I looked up.

Surely they'd smell me by now.

I didn't lay down too long and instantaneously got back up and scampered forward, glancing back behind me to see if I was still being followed before I continued darting forward.

It was then that I realized…

I wasn't going to make it.

I had already become lightheaded as my body had a newfound sense of exhaustion and faintness.

I pushed until I saw a clearing and images of cars driving past.

"Help!" I croaked, but it came out as a soft whisper than a cry as I felt my feet begin to fail me.

I finally got onto gravel road and halted on the spot, panting heavily as I felt my body begin to go limp and my eyesight begin to blur.

The last thing I remember was feeling the familiar force energy I was pulled towards back at the hospital.

The last thing I saw was blinding lights.

And then utter darkness.

… …

Jacob Black

Dropping Nessie off at school and sending her off on her camping trip yesterday ruined my day at gym and work.

I was moody.

I was happy she was having fun with her friends and everything but goddamn, it was difficult to see her go without me.

So yes... I was a bit pissy at the FOMO I was having.

My colleagues noticed this and even pointed it out to me.

"Dude, why are you so pissy?" JP asked me.

"He's missing his fiancée," Mike interjected, making kissy faces at me.

I narrowed my eyes at my work friends.

When my work colleagues found out about my engagement, they would not stop making fun of me about it.

They had met Nessie before multiple times so that added an extra layer of annoyance whenever they loved to point out that I would be getting a hot wife.

But I was very proud to show her off though.

I was going to get a hot wife.

But a hot wife with substance and a personality which honestly makes her that much more attractive. Something many of these guys weren't lucky to have.

We had a few married guys who worked here though.

Obviously our boss Mr. Rowdy was the one who was married the longest. Forty years. Goddamn.

I wondered where Nessie and I would be 40 year into our marriage.

Dwayne is one of the recently married newlyweds of our group so he was pretty new to the game too.

Jeff was married with three kids.

Herbert was an older mechanic who had a wife, five kids and two grandkids.

JP was married but recently got divorced because he cheated on his wife.

He was a perverted, sex-addict jerk so I wasn't surprised.

So I got a lot of advice from them.

One common feeling among all of them is to always let your wife be right. Even when she wasn't.

The wife is always right.

And making her happy will only protect your sanity or whatever.

Happy wife. Happy life.

"Okay, guys – Shut up!" I warned as I twisted the wheel nuts with the wrench.

Bob said something idiotic. "College girls man – The pussy must be mind-blowing for you to lock this girl down as quickly as you did."

I darted my head at the burly man.

"Do you think before you spew bullshit, dude?" I snarled.

He raised his hands. "She's fresh meat dude! I can't blame you. Lock her down before someone takes that ass."

That's it!

I tossed my wrench at him.

"Ouch! Dude!" Bob cried as the wrench sliced his arm. "You could've killed me."

Everyone erupted in laughter.

"Serves you right!" Embry cackled, as he replaced a radiator from a truck.

"Don't ever speak at my girl in that degrading tone ever again! Do you understand me? " I warned him, using my alpha voice.

He immediately got frightened and reciprocated cooperatively by nodding his head.

"Sorry – My bad, dude." He responded. "It won't happen again,"

Nessie wasn't a piece of property for people to gawk over or talk about in such a condescending, disrespectful manner.

"Jeez, Jake." Grant was the brave man to speak up.

"What?" I demanded.

"Look at him! He's already behaving like a good, stand-up husband who's looking out for his wife." Dwayne pointed out.

"Yeah, you can learn and thing or two from Jake, JP!" Mike fired.

JP glared at him. "You think you're funny, don't you Bähr Cohen?"

Mike and the rest of the guys cackled.

"How's the spousal support treating you, JP?" Embry teased.

"Is the ex-wife wiping your ass dry in divorce court?" Steve joined in.

I scoffed as I shook my head at the guys as I went to retrieve the wrench.

"Screw you guys!" JP moaned.

I began rummaging my hands into the toolbox for some brand nuts and bolts to replace the damaged ones from the wheel.

I started cleaning them the nuts with my cloth.

"Black!" I heard our big boss Mr. Rowdy call out to me in an orderly tone from his office.

I shot my head up.

"Come see me in my office," He commanded, gesturing with his fingers before slipping back into his office.

I sighed as I looked over to Embry who looked at me with confused eyes, shrugging his shoulders and then glancing back at Mike who gave me a small smile.

"Do you think he's mad about what you did to Bob?" Grant asked.

"Bob got what he deserved though," Embry stated.

"Hey!" Bob exclaimed.

I cleared my throat as I wiped my fingers and tossed my greasy cloth over my shoulder and wiped some smudged residue off my fingers on my overalls.

I made my way to my boss's office and entered through the door.

"You wanted to see me, Boss?" I asked.

He looked up at me through his glasses as he held some paperwork in his hands.

"Please close the door and sit down, Jacob." He told me.

Crap!

Was he pissed that I threw a wrench at Bob?

He deserved what he got though!

I could've done a lot worse so I showed some restraint in that regard.

Give me some credit!

Mr. Rowdy always called the mechanics by their last name. He wasn't really on a first name basis with a lot of us even though he was relatively chill.

But he did call me by my first name though.

Maybe it had to do with the fact that he liked me?

Maybe it was because I was his favorite employee?

I don't know.

"What's up?" I asked as I shut the door behind me and took a seat.

"How far are you with your work?" He questioned.

"I've got this Ford Ranger I'm currently working on. Wheelcaps need replacing and the engine needs some tuning. But I've got most of my work done." I informed him.

He nodded. "Good! I want you to pack your things first thing you're done. You're fired!"

My heart sank to the ground.

What the hell???

Did I just get fired?

"Did I do something wrong?" I questioned, my face in pure shock.

He looked at me with a stern look.

And then he erupted in uncontrollable laughter as he sat back in his chair and dropped his papers to look at my facial expression.

"I'm messing with you, Jacob." He told me as he slipped his glasses off. "You should see your face right now,"

I exhales a sigh of relief as I finally caught my breath.

"You got me there, boss!" I pointed to him. "For a second I thought you fired me because I threw a wrench at Bob."

He waved me off. "He had it coming anyway. He's a dick." He said.

I chuckled. That was true.

"No, I called you in because I have a proposition for you." He brought up.

I raised my eyebrows up in intrigue and interest.

"A proposition?"

He nodded. "I am planning to expand the company with multiple different branches in select states."

"Oh! That sounds like a great venture!" I remarked.

"I think so too," He smiled. "Well anyway, I'm looking for someone to run my New York branch. How do you feel about running my company up there?"

My eyes bulged in utter shock.

Me?

Running the company branch in New York?

Was he serious?

"What?" I half-shouted, half-whispered in surprise. "Me – You want me to run your company?!"

He nodded, slipping a pen between his teeth. "In New York that is. I can't be everywhere at once. I'm already sending Bart to oversee the Atlanta branch."

Bart Rowdy was his egotistical, good for nothing son.

"Freddy will manage the branch in Houston, Texas." The southern boss said to me.

Wow...

I didn't know what to say.

"You mentioned before that you were planning to move to New York later in the year so I immediately thought of you." He stated.

I nodded, swallowing some of the excess air I inhaled and then cleared my throat.

"Wow..." I began. "Thank you for considering me for such a high position, boss. Um... But can I ask, why me?"

He scoffed. "I believe in you, Jacob. You remind me of my younger self. You're passionate, driven, focused, charming, ambitious and a smart young man with a business savvy mindset. I've watched you these past two years. I think you have got what it takes to run your own business one day. This is just good practice."

I smiled back at him as his words of affirmation emboldened my confidence.

"That's high praise, sir. Thank you." I expressed profoundly.

"Besides, you're graduating soon right? A business degree in mechanics? It seems to me that you know what you're capable of too." He pointed out.

Right.

Nessie wasn't the only one graduating. I was just about to complete my short degree in mechanic engineering and business at my community college.

"And if you take this job you'll probably work less on vehicles and deal with more administrative and clerical work that pertains to the company but the increased salary could probably sweeten the deal," He tried to sell it to me.

I chuckled, looking down at my hands.

I could use the extra money.

Especially since I'm about to get married.

Weddings don't come cheap at all.

Also, I'd probably have to be the sole provider of the household for a few years while Nessie's still in college.

Maybe the extra salary could help a lot in that regard.

"You don't have to give me an answer right this minute. Sleep on it. Think about it. Talk to your fiancée about it if you have to," He teased at the last bit.

I chuckled.

"But I think it's a unique opportunity that you should jump right in for," He encouraged.

I nodded. "Thank you so much for the opportunity, sir. You don't know how much I appreciate it. I'll definitely think carefully about it."

Mr. Rowdy stood up and I followed suit and we shook each other's hands.

"Great!" He said. "I'm about to head out soon so I trust you guys will lock up the place securely when you're all done."

I nodded with a smile.

He smiled back and dismissed me.

I left his office with a plastered smile on my face, but I was honestly still shocked.

Embry looked at me with a proud smile.

He heard the conversation.

Of course he did.

Embry and I left the autoshop when we were done with our shifts and drove over to an In-N-Out drive-thru to grab some takeout for tonight.

Mike was heading to his mother's house to have dinner with her for the night.

Leah had left California about a week and a half ago with Quil – who was happy to stay with us for a week and explore what California had to offer for a short while.

She and Mike became an official item and became exclusive throughout her two week long stay here so understably Mike was missing her and going through the withdrawals of not being with her.

They were having fun with each other. I don't know if it has already developed into love for them but it looked like it would be.

Long distance relationships.

Kudos to them for doing it. I hope they made it work. I don't think I could ever do that.

"I still can't believe the boss just offered to give you his company," Embry remarked, gripping my shoulder.

I snorted. "He didn't offer me his company, Em. He just asked if I could manage the New York branch," He told me.

"Same difference," He stated.

I rolled my eyes as I slipped my keys into the apartment and unlocked it, before flinging the door open.

"But you're gonna accept the job offer, right?" He asked as he shut the door as we waltzed in.

I shrugged, tossing my bag over the counter and slipping my keys into the key box.

"I don't know. I need to talk to Nessie about it first," I told him as I sauntered over to the kitchen.

"Nessie?" Embry questioned with a frown. "Why do you need to talk to Nessie first?"

"Um..." I began as I took two Budweiser beer bottles. "Maybe because she's my fiancée?"

"Yeah but you know she's gonna support whatever you do regardless?" He replied, taking a seat on the kitchen island chair.

I sighed. "You don't know a thing about marriage dude. I can't just do anything without talking to her about it first and vice versa. You can't just make huge decisions concerning yours and your wife's future without discussing it."

He looked at me with a concerned expression.

"And that's why I am never getting married!" He expressed.

I frowned at him.

"I can't even do shit without getting my girl's approval? What next? I can't take a piss without her consent?"

I laughed as I handed him his beer bottle to which he immediately popped open with his fingers.

"When's the little man Sethy boy coming over?" He asked, taking a sip.

"Think he's stuck grading papers at school. He texted saying he'll be back before dinner." I replied.

Embry nodded. "I'm thinking of having a girl over this weekend. Would that be okay with you guys?"

I stared at him with confusion. "Dude – Mike's your roommate, not me. You should ask him."

"Oh no – I'm just letting you know that things will probably get loud around here since we live right across from each other so I don't want you to be alarmed. I thought I'd be considerate and just let you guys know beforehand." He said.

I released a soft chuckle. "Oh, I see! You're pretty cocky about the weekend then."

He grinned, biting his lip. "In more ways than one,"

I gagged. "Gross! Dude – Can you for once in your life be a decent dude?" I joked.

He shook his head. "I'm a manwhore and I'm unapologetic about it,"

I laughed as I plopped myself on the couch and grabbed the remote.

"What happened to you and Jennifer? You never did tell me about that,"

He groaned and grumbled at the mention of her name.

"Jennifer..." He said it with such contempt. "She's a pain in my nut!"

I channel hopped as I waited for him to elaborate.

"What did she do?" I asked.

"The girl drives me up the wall. One minute she's totally into me and the next she's biting my head off. She's just constantly up and down and I couldn't handle it anymore." He stated.

"What did you do to her?" I accused.

"Nothing! I swear!"

I hummed. "I find that hard to believe."

"No – She's the one with the problem! Not me! Gah! The thought of her just infuriates me!" He muttered with so much vigorous rage in his voice.

Passion was the correct word to describe it.

"Sounds like you guys need to just hook up in order for you to release that inner rage you have for each other," I pointed out.

"No!" He laughed. "What she needs is a Xanax and a psychotherapist."

I shook my head at him.

"I never wanna see that bitch again, I'm sorry dude. She's the type who'd have my dick in a jar when I'm fast asleep," Embry said as he got up to head to the bathroom.

"You know, I don't think it's good to call girls 'bitches' in this day and age!" I yelled back.

"I don't care!" He yelped back. "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a freaking duck!" He shouted.

I laughed hard as I watched some football highlights from Monday night's football game earlier this week.

I heard the toilet flush and the water rinsing before Embry returned from his bathroom break after a minute.

"We should catch a football game at SoFi Stadium one night, dude." I suggested. "Maybe next week? What do you think?"

Embry didn't respond.

"Em?" I asked, taking another sip.

He still didn't respond.

I furrowed my eyebrows in puzzlement as I lifted my head up and titled it back to see Embry standing still in the middle of the room, holding some type of stick in his hands covered by a roll of toilet paper.

"What's that?" I asked.

He looked at me with wide eyes before handing it over to me.

I frowned as I took it and began inspecting it.

Hmm...

ClearBlue?

That sounded familiar.

"I found it in the bathroom trashcan underneath some wipes, toilet paper and cotton swabs." He informed me, his voice strained and shocked.

I still didn't know what I was looking at so I further investigated it and began unrolling the paper and pulling the stick out.

And then it hit me.

My heart sank immediately as I registered what it was.

It was a pregnancy test.

And it was...positive!


A/N: DUN! DUN! DUN! Uh oh…What a cliffhanger?!

Who do you think the pregnancy test belongs to?

Who's pregnant?

Nessie or Alex?

I hopped you enjoyed that chapter. I'm trying hard to write shorter chapters but when you're in the zone you can't stop huh. Cassia's plan is becoming clearer and clearer. Nessie now knows the full extent of Jake and Bella's history together. How will she react? Will she confront them with it? Felicity finally got to use her powers but did she make it out alive to tell the tale?

You'll just have to wait and see…

REVIEW! FOLLOW! FAVORITE!