XXIII. The One Where Quil Doesn't Understand that the Blood of the Covenant is Thicker

It was Friday when Edward finally lost his patience and confronted me.

"You know what's in Portland," he accused, gold eyes burning with frustration.

We only had a few minutes before classes would start for the day. "This probably isn't the best time," I evaded and took a pointed step away from his car, towards the direction of my building.

"I don't care," Edward suddenly blocked my path. "I need to know what's going on."

"What? You haven't asked Alice to take a peek?" I snorted derisively, crossing my arms.

"It's unavoidable. She's attuned to you now and your indecision is provoking her gift to act out." Edward ran a hand through his hair, disrupting the neat array of copper.

"Indecision?" I repeated, lifting an eyebrow.

Edward heaved a sigh. "On whether you're leaving on your own, or whether you'll allow me to accompany you."

"Ah," I pursed my lips, not bothering to deny it. I had been debating whether Edward being anywhere near Zaire was a good idea. Not that he wouldn't eventually find out, but I clearly wasn't ready to have that conversation with him. Not yet.

In the distance, the bell rang, but Edward stayed rooted in place. With urgent eyes, he leaned closer and hurriedly said, "Isabella, it's fine. Don't tell me what's in Portland. But you can't make the journey on your own."

I was so startled by the desperation in his voice, I didn't immediately answer, much to his frustration. Finally, I asked, "Did Alice see something going wrong?" Maybe I was wrong about Zaire? But Azmon hadn't objected to me seeking out her book; had said it would bring me comfort. Couldn't the same be said for the author of the book?

"Nothing concrete."

I glowered up at him, and demanded, "What did she see?"

"We should get to class," he evaded, glancing around the empty parking lot.

"Oh, so now you want to attend class?"

Edward began steering me in the direction of my first class. "I don't want you to concern yourself with this, Isabella. You already carry so much knowledge and I see the toll that it takes on you. Just please, let me handle this?"

Was that how he saw it? As a burden to bear? Maybe everything would have been easier if I'd never read the books. "Fine. I guess I can't know everything."

Edward chuckled humorlessly. "Yes, that's certainly a first."

I tilted my head and shot him a scowl. "I'm not omnipotent."

"I'm not totally convinced," he muttered, dropping a kiss atop my head outside Mr. Mason's class, before hurrying off. "I'll see you at lunch."

I paused, staring after him, my own curiosity still burning. Alice what did you see?

"Why don't we join your friends today?" Edward suggested once he met me outside Mr. Varner's class for our lunch break.

"Eh?" I turned to him and squinted up at his innocent grin. "Are you trying to avoid my questions?" I guessed. "You know what? Don't bother answering that. Let's go."

I twisted around, switching from the direction of his car to the cafeteria. Edward cheerfully followed after me, draping an arm across my shoulders.

I gently batted away his hand when he tried picking out food for me in the lunch line.

"No. I know you, and you're going to put everything on the tray," I chided him.

He smirked. "Fine. Show me how it's done."

"I will," I said and proceeded to pick out a bottle of lemonade, tater tots, and an apple.

"You don't like apples," he reminded me.

"I do," I insisted. "I swear I do. Just because this body doesn't like apples doesn't mean I don't."

Edward shot me a strange look.

"Fine," I grumbled and switched it out for an orange.

"That's it?" he asked,

I shrugged. "You know I have a small appetite." Also not my fault. Bella was a small girl, so it shouldn't have been so surprising. Although I was slightly disappointed every time. She had probably been one of those weird kids who refused to eat during snack time.

"Much to Esme's disappointment," he snickered.

We were welcomed to my lunch table by obnoxious clapping from Mike. "Well, well, well. Look who has decided to join us! Our own Isabella Swan! I thought you were too cool to sit with us―oof!"

"Knock it off, Mike!" Jessica elbowed him. "Happy to have you back, Isabella!"

"Thanks, Jessie!" I winked at her. "I hope you guys don't mind if Edward joins us today?"

Before Mike could say anything, Angela interjected, "Of course not. We would love it if Edward sat with us, right guys?"

This elicited one enthusiastic agreement from Jessica, grumbled complaints from Mike and Lauren, and a cheerful wave from Ben. Everyone else just stared awkwardly.

"Right. Thanks guys," I said a bit dryly and dropped into the chair beside Jessica.

Edward sat beside me, draping an arm across the back of my chair, and asked, "How'd everyone perform on that Spanish test?"

It was like there had never been an awkward silence to begin with. Suddenly, everyone was groaning and complaining and acting like Edward had been sitting with us since the dawn of time, Mike being the loudest of them all.

"It was awful!" he cried. "When she said pariente, I thought she was talking about the park, so I went on a whole tangent about how the park sucks because it's wet, and I ended up flunking the oral part of the exam!"

Jessica was patting his arm. "I'm sorry, Mike. That's so tragic," she said sympathetically, before pulling out a copy of her own exam. "In other news, I aced it!" she grinned, showing off the brightly penned A on her paper.

"Way to be humble, Jess," Lauren snarked.

Jessica laughed and sang, "You're just jealous because I got Isabella to tutor me and you didn't~!"

"Wait! You tutor? Isabella why didn't you say anything?" Mike cried.

I didn't explain, simply because I knew Jessica wanted to be the one to tutor him. Not that I really had the chance to.

"Sorry! I am not sharing her!" Jessica interjected.

"Guys, there's no need to fight over her," Angela sighed.

And so, the bickering continued.

I turned to Edward. "What have you done?"

"It was just a question," he said sheepishly.

"Right…"

My attention was reeled back in when Lauren demanded, "So then? I expect Isabella did just as well as Jessica?"

I pulled the exam from my backpack. "Nope. I got a B-."

"What?!"

"How?"

Jessica snatched the test from my hands and glanced it over. "Isabella! You forgot the accents on all of the words!"

"I couldn't remember where they were supposed to go," I grumbled. I only knew Spanish because I spoke it at home. As a result, my writing wasn't the greatest. "Besides, my grade didn't drop by that much. I still have an A."

Jessica scoffed. "We still have a couple more exams to go! Okay, we're definitely going to have to plan a bunch more study sessions! There's no way I'm letting you fail!"

"A B isn't failing." But my words went unheeded by Jessica. I turned back to Edward and eyed his entertained grin with a frown of my own. "This is your fault."

His grin widened. "Your friends are hysterical."

"Thanks."

Before I could interrupt Jessica's study plan outlined for the rest of the semester, Angela spoke up, "Isabella, I'm going to the bathroom. Want to come?"

"Oh? We're going to the bathroom?" Jessica asked, already putting her stuff away.

"Yep!" I said, grabbing my bag. I pecked Edward on the cheek. "Don't wait up!"

Lauren surprisingly joined us without a snarky remark. Although that may have had more to do with Angela's nervous expression than having suddenly found a sweeter persona.

As soon as we entered the bathroom and Lauren had bullied some underclassmen to leave, Jessica pounced. "What can we do for you, Angie?"

"Well, it was actually a request for Isabella," Angela admitted before turning to me, "Ben and I have a date tomorrow night, but I'm kind of nervous, and I was wondering if you and Edward would be willing to double?"

"Aw, why not ask me and Mike?" Jess pouted. "I want to go on a double date."

"Well," Angela began, "Mike's kind of been teasing Ben about me. Not in a mean way, but I just don't want Ben to be uncomfortable, you know?"

"Oh! No, I totally get it. I'll make sure to tell Mike to knock it off," Jessica nodded. Before Angela could argue, Jess held up a hand, "Don't even worry about it, Ange! I want this to work out as much as you do!"

"We all want it to work out," I agreed. "Hell, I'm sure you guys could go on your own and it'd turn out perfectly fine."

Lauren turned from the mirror, capping her bottle of lip gloss. "And if Isabella and her boy toy can't make it, I'm sure I can convince Tyler to take me on a date with you lot."

Angela grimaced sympathetically, "You haven't made progress?"

Lauren scowled. "It's just, every time I cut him loose, he gets all clingy. And then as soon as I give him a chance, he ignores me!"

"So he likes the chase, not the endgame," I surmised.

Lauren rolled her eyes. "Yeah, basically."

Brrrrrng!

"Right, well, let me know how it goes! Let's go, Jessica," Lauren commanded and marched off.

"Okay! See you guys! I'll call you later about getting a study group together," Jessica called before disappearing after Lauren.

I exchanged a smile with Angela. "I'll check with Edward, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we joined you!"

"Thanks so much, Isabella! You'd really be doing me a solid!"

"Any time, Ange!" I grinned, hooking arms with her as we headed out to class.

"...My soul finds itself alone…"

"...No Mike, you're being a drama queen is what it is. And stop quoting Poe. That's not even what that line means," I snorted as we exited the gym.

"You didn't see the look she sent me between periods, Isabella! You don't think she already wants to break it off?"

"Huh? No, of course not," I said. "She's just annoyed that we spent so much time trying to get Angela and Ben together, and now you're teasing Ben about Angela."

"Aw, it was all in good fun," he pouted.

"Give it a few weeks, Mike. It's too soon."

"Oh no, you-know-who is coming," Mike suddenly hissed, gesturing towards Jessica in the distance.

I rolled my eyes. "You can say her name, Mike. She's not Voldemort."

"Oh, right."

"I have to go meet up with Alice. Good luck!"

I jogged off before Mike could use me as a meat shield against Jessica's wrath, and then slowed to a casual stroll. By the time I reached the Volvo, Alice was already waiting beside Edward, a gift in her hands. I eyed the gleaming blue wrapping paper with trepidation as she thrusted it into my hands. "Uh, it's not my birthday?"

Alice quirked an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you already forgot."

I stared at the white bow for a second longer before it clicked. "You got this for Seth?"

"Yes! Well, it won't be from me. It'll be from you!" she beamed.

I caught sight of Edward's exasperated expression and turned back to Alice, "What's the catch?"

"What? Can't I just do it to be nice?" she batted her feather-duster lashes.

"Sure. But I have a feeling this one's going to cost me. Just spit it out," I poked her cheek. Not that her stone skin gave away under my touch. I wiggled the sharp pain out of my finger.

"Well, I was wondering if, after the party with Seth, you would come over to my house and spend the night?" Alice unleashed her Bambi eyes.

"You want to have a sleepover?"

"Yes!" she grinned, "Trust me, it will be so fun! We can do all the slumber party things! Actually, I can't eat or sleep, but there's so many other activities I have planned! And then, I can dress you up super cute for your double date tomorrow! It's perfect, Isabella!"

I laughed, "Sure, Alice. I'd love to."

"Oh, thank you! I simply can't wait!" Alice trilled, jumping up to peck me on the cheek. "I'll pick you up later tonight!" she called as she skipped off in the direction of Rosalie's convertible.

Edward turned to me, eyes gleaming with amusement. "You're ready to head out?"

"Yep! I don't even have to rush now, since Alice took care of the present for me," I grinned, holding up the neatly wrapped package. I had been planning to pick up something on the way, but now it seemed I'd have the extra time to get ready.

We were one of the last cars to head out.

"You can hang around if you want, but I'm just going to shower and get ready," I said once we reached the house.

Edward smiled, "I always want to hang around. Lead the way."

By the time I arrived to the Clearwater's, the party was already in full swing. Music blasted from some invisible source, the smell of grilled hamburger meat wafted across the open air, and shouts and laughter nearly drowned out the music.

Nestled between their small house and the towering cedars, were a dozen tables set up with bright tablecloths. Colorful streamers and balloons were draped along the branches bordering their home, and a huge banner that read "Happy Birthday, Seth!" hung across the side of their house. I made a beeline towards the table overflowing with birthday presents surrounding the cake, the gift Alice had given me clutched between my hands.

"Isabella, hello!" Sue called out, standing near the grill.

I waved back and made a detour until I reached her side. I belatedly noticed that it was mostly adults sitting about and chatting away. All the shouting appeared to originate from the back of the house.

"Hi, Sue!" I greeted her, and waved towards where Harry and Billy sat with some of the other folk.

"Is your father still at the station?" she asked as she grabbed a plate.

I watched Sue while she picked through the condiments and ingredients to throw together a burger. "Yeah, but he called and said he'd probably get out a little early. I think he'll probably make an appearance in an hour or so."

"Oh good! We'd hate to miss him!" Sue beamed at me and dumped a generous portion of chips onto the plate. "Seth!" she suddenly turned and called, "You have another guest!"

I was surprised when I saw Seth come bounding out from the back of the house. I didn't think he'd actually hear anything above all the shouting. I ignored the small twinge in my chest that yearned for my brother. How long had it been now? Had he already turned thirteen?

"Isabella, you came!" Seth bounced up to me.

"Of course. Happy birthday, Seth!" I simply said and held out his gift, instead of pointing out that Leah hadn't given me much of a choice. I didn't think that'd go over too well with Sue.

"Ooh, thanks! What is it?" Seth asked and curiously shook the box.

"No idea," I laughed, a little amused by the weird look Seth shot me.

"Seth, why don't you take Isabella out back to the rest of the party?" Sue suggested, taking the gift from his hands and handing me the plate of food.

"Oh, thank you Sue!" I carefully balanced the plate on one hand before it could tip over.

"No problem, sweetheart. Now go on you two!"

"Right, this way, Isabella," Seth clasped a hand onto mine and tugged me around to the back of the house.

I gaped. "So this is why you guys are being so loud!" I laughed

"Isn't it wicked?!" Seth grinned alongside me.

A massive inflatable pool-like structure was sprawled across their backyard, and mounted at the very center of it was a mechanical bull. Currently, a boy of about Seth's age was holding on for dear life as the bull bucked and twisted around and around. Surrounding the inflated ledge of the frame were reservation kids of all ages, cheering and hollering and nearly toppling into the bouncy zone.

Finally, the kid came flying off, before bouncing to safety.

"My turn! My turn!"

The shouting grew a little unintelligible as a couple of kids argued over whose turn it was.

"Isabella? Um, can I tell you something?"

My attention was reeled back to Seth and I was surprised by the guilty expression marring his baby face. "Huh? Of course. Is something the matter?"

"Well, see…" Seth mumbled, before he began to word vomit, "I kind of lied and told Leah that I wanted you to come to my party 'cause you were so sad the last time you were over, and I thought you could use some cheering up. Which, don't get me wrong! Obviously you do need cheering up and obviously going to a birthday party might help. And I'm so glad you came and I hope it does cheer you up. But actually, I'm worried about Leah. Ever since Sam broke up with her she's been really down in the dumps. But then she found out he started dating our cousin Emily, and she's been really angry all the time and I'm really worried about her and―"

I slid my hand from his grasp and pressed my palm against his mouth. "You want me to cheer up Leah?" I couldn't keep the disbelief from my tone.

"Um, yeah, basically," Seth mumbled around my hand, before I let it drop back to my side.

"That's a bit of a tall order, Seth."

He winced. "Yeah. I know."

I heaved a sigh, because I knew I couldn't say no to him. Not to Seth. "Go on then, lead the way."

His transformation was near instantaneous, miserable expression morphing into a blindingly bright smile. "Come on! She's sitting over on the porch!"

Seth dragged me across the yard, dodging around a couple of kids running about, long braided hair swinging behind him rhythmically. By some miracle, I was able to keep my plate of food balanced on my hand, although I might've lost a couple of chips along the way.

"There she is," Seth whispered, unnecessarily pointing in her direction.

"Yes, I can see."

Unlike Seth's claims, Leah appeared perfectly fine, if a bit bored. She was sprawled across the porch bench, one arm elbow-deep in a family-sized bag of Lays, watching as kids got flung off the mechanical bull with a dark sort of amusement.

"Hey, Leah! Look who made it!" Seth called when we reached the base of the porch steps, holding up my hand.

"Um, hey," I said lamely.

"Oh. You made it," Leah noted and chomped on a handful of chips.

"You didn't give me much of a choice…"

Leah shrugged.

"Well...have fun you two!" Seth said and scampered off.

I huffed. "I hope you realize I'm not the problem here," I grumbled, stepping up onto the porch and taking a seat beside her.

"You mean the part where Seth thinks he's sneaky and tries to play double agent?" she said flatly. "Yeah, I got the gist of it when I realized he wanted you to come for my sake, not yours," she rolled her eyes. Despite the annoyance on her face, Leah couldn't completely conceal the fondness in her tone.

"It's his first day as a teenager. Give him a break," I snickered and lifted the burger to my mouth.

"Yeah well, he's got plenty to learn."

We sat in a semi-companionable silence while I ate my food and Leah worked her way through her bag of Lays. I tried to come up with a few reasonable ways I could "cheer" her up, as Seth had requested, but truthfully, I knew nothing about Leah. At least, nothing before she phased into a wolf. So far, all I knew was that she was quite the aggressive girl. But I couldn't tell if that was a result of her breakup and Sam's subsequent relationship with Emily. Maybe she'd been more mellow before all that?

"So...you want to vent?" I settled on, setting my plate aside. Really, I couldn't offer much more than a sympathetic ear. I wasn't her friend.

Leah snorted. "Uh, no."

"Now Seth can't say I didn't try."

Unexpectedly, this elicited an abrupt laugh from her. "Sure. Thanks for your award-winning attempt, Swan."

"I offer nothing less."

"Oh, look, here come the Stooge brothers."

I followed her gaze to Jacob and Quil making their way towards the house, Embry conspicuously missing from their group.

"Huh. Looks like they're missing a limb."

Leah snickered.

"Isabella! I didn't know you'd be here today!" Jacob called cheerfully, bounding up the porch steps, Quil at his heels.

"Hey guys," I waved. I'd briefly met all of them at the Super Bowl party, but I hadn't made much of an impression. I couldn't imagine where Jacob's enthusiasm regarding me came from.

"Hi Isabella!" Quil grinned, leaning beside Jacob on the porch rail, across from us.

Leah scowled. "You guys are blocking the show."

Jacob rolled his eyes. "Trust me, you're not missing out on anything. It's just Embry getting his ass tossed around by that damn machine."

Leah nudged me with her elbow and muttered, "Guess that explains where the third limb went."

My lip twitched as I tried to hold back a laugh.

"We're too late, Jake. Leah's already corrupted her," Quil groaned.

Leah sneered, "It's not like either of you two knuckleheads had a chance with her."

I wrinkled my nose. "Um, one, I already have a boyfriend. Two, I'd rather die than ever date Quil."

Leah erupted into raucous laughter while Quil buried his face into his hands. Jacob clasped a sympathetic hand to his shoulder and shot me a glare. "That's a bit harsh."

"Oh. I guess you guys also didn't know?" I shrugged. "Apparently, Quil and I are cousins."

"Wait, what?!"

Before I knew it, I'd been lifted from my seat and into Quil's arms. "Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded.

"Quil, put me down!" He may not have gone all furry yet, but even at fifteen, Quil already towered over me.

"Sorry, sorry," he laughed, setting me back on my feet, before shooting Jacob a glare. "No way you're allowed to date my little cousin, Jake."

"What did I do?"

"Um, actually, you're my little cousin."

"Quil, quit fucking around," Leah scowled, grabbing my arm and yanking me back down beside her.

"You're just jealous because I have dibs on her now, Leah!"

"Seriously, Quil, what the fuck?"

"I'm still wondering what I did to deserve your rejection, Quil," Jacob grumbled.

"Dude, you're my cousin, not my keeper. Chill out," I said, but not even my words could dampen his grin.

"Whatever you say, cuz," he shrugged. "Just remember blood is thicker and all that. And maybe try staying away from Leah? She's a mean one."

"What did you say?!" Leah suddenly shot up to her feet and the duo scrambled back.

"Um, yeah, call me, Isabella! Shit―" Quil cursed as Jacob dragged him down the stairs and away from Leah's terrifying visage.

"I'm totally going to regret revealing that piece of information, aren't I?" I sighed.

Leah slumped back down beside me. "Most definitely. What a bunch of morons."

We shared a look that conveyed our deep aggravation before bursting into laughter.

"Alright, Swan. Now that you've proven that you're not the bland, skinny white girl I believed you to be, let me pour out my heart to you."

"You really know how to flatter a girl," I said flatly and then snatched the half-empty bag of Lays from her. "Also, I'm going to need these."

I sat back and listened as Leah spilled the tea about Sam and Emily―how terrified she'd been when he'd suddenly disappeared for two weeks during their junior year, the resulting degradation of their relationship, and then, Emily's entrance into the picture, and how she accepted Sam's pursuit of her not long after she was mauled by a "bear."

Despite the aggressive way in which Leah conveyed the story, there was an underlying hurt in her voice she couldn't completely mask.

"...And you don't seem at all surprised by any of this." Leah looked to me with a small scowl.

I grimaced. "Let's just say I'm more informed than you realize."

"Well if you can tell me why the fuck Sam started a cult that my dad seems to be in on, dropped out of school, and is now dating my cousin―please, enlighten me," she glared.

I held her gaze steadily, until she finally realized I wasn't joking.

"Shit. Are you for real?"

I sat back and set the bag of chips aside. This is for you, Seth. "So, you want to know why Sam fucked off with Emily? I'll tell you why."

A/N: So, what do ya'll think of this blossoming new friendship? x)

Also! The beautiful and totally amazing AnnySakuraRuiz went ahead and translated this whole story to Spanish! Check out the link on my profile! :D

Until next time! :)