Edward POV-

I could smell him as soon as she opened the door. Bella's usual honey-sweet and flora scent, which was being tainted and obscured by the smell of wet dog, almost distracted me if not for the strangers scent. It was strongest in her bedroom, he had touched her things. A deliberate move? A warning?

The opening of the door across the hall, Charlie's room, made me and Bella turn our focus from her room to the girl. Ash'Naia, an unprecedented occurrence that for some reason carried the strangers scent. Her thoughts were singular like usual, she was a rather focused individual. Red eyes belonging to a body doused in shadow was all she could think about. Bella was distracted by the fact that she was even here and currently walking toward us.

"Ash what are you-"

"Be quiet." Her tone was even though her thoughts were the opposite. She was beyond worried for Charlie, what would have happened if the vampire hadn't left. Her mind swam with dark thoughts of Charlie's death, his pain, if the vampire had decided he was feeling hungry or angry enough. Never once did she think about what could happen to her, it was always about Charlie.

She quickly came to Bella and grabbed her hand pulling her into the room along with herself. She quickly dropped Bellas' hand, more like threw it, and closed the door as quietly as possible. She then turned to us with a tight expression on her face, she was trying her best to keep her emotions off her face.

"What the hell?" She bit out.

"Look, I know this looks bad-"

"It doesn't look like anything." Ash snarled. I had never seen her show so much emotion before. "It is bad because a vampire got in here tonight and Charlie was left alone. Or is that not getting through your thick ass brain."

"That's enough." I interjected, growling. "You don't talk to her like that."

Ash glared at me and from her thoughts I could tell her temper was just getting worse. "I'll talk to whoever I want however I want." She turned from and walked to Bella who was leaning against her window. She stood face to face, almost daring Bella to look her in the eyes which she didn't do. It frustrated me and it only upped Ash's temper.

"You need to get your priorities straight before you lose him."

Bella sniffed, looking off to the side, still unable to meet Ash's eyes. "They are straight. I know exactly what I'm getting myself into."

"But he doesn't and that doesn't mean you get to take a gamble on him." She practically seethed. She backed away so abruptly it took the air from Bella and speed walked past me, I was close enough to smell the same scent that stunk up Bella's room on her , even if it was very faint. She was out the door before I could ask and honestly I wouldn't have. It had become very clear that her disinterest in me and my family has turned into straight up hostility for me and Bella in turn.

As much as I didn't like it, with the strangers scent on her skin and the fact she saw them just made her even more involved than she wanted to be.

Eyana's POV-

My phone was ringing and I was afraid to pick it up. My palms were sweaty and I felt light headed. My chest was tight and growing tighter as it continued to ring but I couldn't bring myself to answer it. I missed them so much but the way we ended it all weighed on me. I wanted to answer, to reach out, but I just couldn't.

It's funny how I was just thinking of them, wanting them to be part of my daughter's life until now and all the anxiety only they could give me came back with a simple phone call. I could still hear the ringing in my ears after the phone went silent.

I don't remember much after that but I do know Ash had come home and held me, trying her best to calm me down until my wife and Terrell got there. Even though I was in a state of high panic, I knew the love around me would overcome the fear they put in me. Even if my love for them lingered, so did their unacceptance of me.

Tyler's POV-

It was going on day three of no communication with Ash who had been distant to say the least since our conversation in the car. She hasn't said a word to me but to text me that she wouldn't be picking me up and not to come to her class to take her to lunch.. Driving myself wasn't a problem, I had a car, but I liked the quiet morning drive with her beside me. And I liked escorting her to lunch because she was finally becoming part of the group.

Finally I couldn't take it. I couldn't take the space that felt like my exile from her life. When her last before lunch let out I was there and quickly grabbed her hand leading her out the building to our spot before she could stop me. When we were far away from the noise, the distraction, I was ready to confront her.

"What the hell Tyler?" She said annoyed. I was taken aback by not only the cursing but the lack of a calm tone. I quickly recovered or else I would be distracted the whole time.

"What the hell me? You have been ignoring me for days. You haven't said a single word to me and that's not like you."

She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath before opening them again. "I am trying to find a way to talk calmly to you without blowing up."

I scoffed in disbelief. "Do you even know how to blow up? Because to me it seems like you just can't stand being angry."

"And you can? Who likes being angry? Getting to that point where it feels like your brain is going to explode only to crash and burn because no matter how high you get the low is the worst of it."

Again I couldn't help but scoff. "Wow, it's great to know that Ash'Naia Holton can't deal with her emotions."

A flash of something came across her face, and before I could even comprehend what it was, it was gone. "What's that supposed to mean?" I looked away, trying to gather myself but she insisted. "Tell me."

I exploded. I let out everything I didn't even know I was holding in. "You always put on this indifferent mask and it's so annoying. It feels like I have to work harder than other boyfriends do just to get you to smile. I am constantly racking my brain for anything that can give you a semblance of happiness and sometimes," I breathe "Sometimes it feels like you don't even want to be in a relationship with me. Why do you make me work so hard for a fraction of the affection other couples get? And why can't you just be angry? I try so hard to understand you and your emotions but I don't get it. And you don't help me try to understand so I just feel so lost when it comes to you. And it hurts because I love you so much and I know you say it, but do you mean it?" I didn't realize until after my rant that not only had my voice cracked but that I was crying. Insecurities were not pretty, but mine just felt downright ugly.

Ash's head hung low. I couldn't see her, I couldn't read her eyes. I was so afraid of what they may have said, what she could have said that I left. Like a coward I couldn't face the truth because what if it wasn't the truth I wanted. But would I be ok with her lying to me, living blissfully ignorant of how she may have felt for me.

We were two cowards in a relationship that seemed to teeter on the thin edge and only one way we fell would we land safely. The precipice was scary, the fall would be petrifying.

Don't hate me just yet, I'm going more in depth on Eyana in the next chapter, actually the whole family. Also, I'm not speaking on Tyler and Ash further until the conflict is over. Just wait and see, somebody special is coming soon.

Until Next Time- BigSmallWonder