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

Renesmee Cullen

I woke up the next morning with a start after another horrific and animated nightmare.

I've had nightmares before. I've had them ever since my first encounter with The Volturi, but unlike my mom's never-ending nightmares from her dark human days, mine came and went over the years. You're often not supposed to remember all your dreams but since my mind was way more advanced than a mere human, I remembered my dreams (and nightmares) in full detail.

This nightmare was different. It was a new dream. Not about Jacob. Not about the Volturi. Not about Charles. Not about Lizzie…

But of the unknown.

My friends.

My family.

Me.

All fighting for our lives. Fighting for survival from the unknown.

I exhaled a shaky breath as I ran a hand through my long bronze locks. I turned to my side to see Jacob sleeping soundly asleep on his front, his body inflating and deflating as he breathed and lightly snored on his comfortable pillow.

I smiled at the scene.

He looked so peaceful.

I was glad I hadn't woken him up.

Last night was quite a headful. After the family's encounter with Ray Parker and what he revealed to us about Cassia, my family was suddenly on high alert. It was clear we had a new threat now.

What she wants is yet to be seen.

I was shocked that my dad allowed me to stay over at Jake's for the night. Regardless, I would've stayed over with or without his permission but I would've thought he'd at least put up a decent fight or something.

I was thoroughly impressed with my dad these past months. He wasn't as overbearing and unreasonable as he used to me. Granted, he was still protective over me though. I know this wasn't easy for him. It wasn't easy for both my parents. They deserved the full 18 years with their child. No parent should experience the cruelty of only having 7 years of watching your child grow up. An only child, I might add.

But I was glad he (and my mom) was coming to grips with the fact that I am grown now. That I wasn't a little girl anymore. That I sadly won't ever be the 8 year old he really should've been raising now. I can imagine how it can be difficult to let go.

I'm cognizant of the fact that graduating soon and going off to college will be pretty hard for my parents to adjust to and I suppose it will be hard for me too. I haven't been on my own for the short almost nine years of my life. I haven't been away from my family. It's inevitably going to be really hard for me. I'll still have Jacob though and it wasn't like I wasn't going to see them at all but I need this distance so that I can see the world on my own.

Well…with Jacob of course.

After jotting down in my journal –a ritual I do almost every day – I sealed it shut with the chastity lock and placed it on the nightstand. I then turned to the body sleeping soundly beside me.

Jake looked so peaceful when he slept which is odd considering he was a mountain goat of a man. Here was this gigantic specimen with a height of 6ft7 and rippled with manly muscles somehow looking like an angelic baby when he sleeps. So gentle and sweet.

I smiled.

I ran my freehand over his messy jet black hair as he breathed steadily in his sleep.

I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear before bending down to plant a gentle kiss on Jake's hot bearded cheek.

He stirred slightly at the touch and a smile formed on his rigid face.

"Hey, baby." He whispered blearily, with a yawn.

"Morning!" I greeted. "It's time to get up."

"What time is it?" He muttered groggily, his eyes faltering to open.

"Around six thirty. Time to get ready for work!" I told him as I opened the covers and slipped out of the bed.

I hitched down Jake's oversized shirt that hung over my body and made my way to his bathroom where I began freshening up.

I could feel Jacob's eyes ogling me over from his bedside from the corner of my eyes as I brushed my teeth.

"You know, you should wear my shirts more often." He mentioned with a smirk.

"Humph. I bet you'd love that." I laughed. "You would think I would remember to bring appropriate sleepwear when I stay over. I never forget anything."

"Or maybe you forgot it on purpose." He teased.

I rolled my eyes, gurgling water and rinsing my teeth before spitting it out.

"I'm going to take a shower." I announced as I unbuttoned the shirt and let it drop to the floor.

Jacob's weight quickly shifted off the bed.

"Alone." I said, closing the door and locking it which earned a mutter from Jacob.

I giggled.

When I was done showering, I left the bathroom to see Jacob making the bed.

"Hey, listen. I can't make it to dinner tonight." He said to me, tucking in his bedsheets.

"What? Why?"

"It's not that we can't have dinner. You can still come over." He told me. I frowned. "Leah's coming over and the pack and I are going to this Mexican bar down in Oakridge. I totally forgot I made plans with them tonight."

"Leah's coming?" I probed, plugging in my blow-dryer and combing my water drenched hair out as I sat by his dresser.

"Yeah. Just for the week I think. Mike is running up the walls."

I smiled. It was cute that Leah and Mike are going out together. I think they made a cute couple. I'm also really happy that Leah found somebody. It may not be an imprint but at least she's giving love a try the old fashion way again.

"Things must be serious with them then?"

He shrugged. "Beats me. It's new. Just hope she doesn't become bitchy on her stay here."

"Jacob!" I scolded.

"What?" He laughed. "Besides, she's Embry's worry now since she'll be crashing with Mike over at their apartment."

"That's your beta, Jake. I thought you two have a really good relationship. The least you could do is show a little compassion." I told him off.

He smiled walking to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

"Why are you all going to a bar on a Monday?" I asked.

It was so random!

But the pack was crazy at times so I wasn't too surprised they'd choose to go out on a Monday.

"It's the only night we have free while Leah's here. Mike wanted it to be just him and Leah but Embry won't take no for an answer."

Of course. Embry was a very persistent person. Especially when it involved alcohol.

"So are you coming tonight?"

I thought. I would love to hang out with Jake and the rest of the pack but then again, having Jacob occupied with his friends would give me more time to prepare for Jake's birthday on Wednesday. It gives me time to execute the perfect intimate birthday celebration for him.

"Um…well, it is a school night anyway and I don't think my parents would like their under-aged daughter going to a bar on a school night." I lied slightly.

"Good point." He mumbled with a gurgle of mouthwash. "Your parents are such buzzkills." He stated after spitting out.

I smiled, combing out my hair. "I probably also need to prepare for my finals." I said.

"Aren't you like four months too early?" He laughed.

"It's never too early!" I told him.

He scoffed.

"Plus I've got a few AP classes that I need to earn credit for or else I can kiss Columbia goodbye." I upped the dramatics.

"Geek." He commented before turning the shower on.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, smiling.

After blow drying and straightening my hair, I got dressed up and made my way to the kitchen to prepare some food whilst Jake showered.

"Morning, Ness!" Seth greeted me as he entered the room, adjusting his cardigan and tie and holding his satchel in his grasp.

"Hey, Seth!" I grinned. "Want some toast?" I probed, gesturing to the plate of toast, hash browns and eggs on the counter.

"Mmm! I would love to but I'm running late."

"School doesn't start in an hour though." I frowned, drinking some coffee.

"I have a teacher's meeting." He replied to me, tossing his satchel over his shoulder and grabbed a piece of toast and hash brown. "But I will have a piece of this. Mmm. Delicious."

I smiled. "I also made you lunch!" I told him, extending the brown bag of food to him.

He hummed. "You are the best. Thanks, Niecey Ness!" He said with a mouthful –using the nickname he gave me before Grandpa Charlie and Sue got married.

"You're welcome. See you at school." I replied.

"See you!" He called as he charged for the door.

I shook my head as I took a sip of my coffee as I read a home décor magazine Esme kept stashed in the massive bookshelf in the living room of the main house.

"Ah! You made breakfast." Jacob echoed as he entered the room rubbing his hands.

He was dressed in dark jeans, his blue button down work shirt that had the company's name tag and his own name attached on the chest pocket and white Adidas sneakers. I could smell the lovely manly, musky scent of his deodorant and beautiful smell of soap and shampoo I bought for him.

"Yeah! I figured we could eat before we head out. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You must be starving,"

"You got that right." He replied, kissing my lips before grabbing a slice of toast and taking a bite. "What you reading there?"

"Architectural Digest," I replied. "I'm thinking of redecorating my room and I'm looking for new design ideas."

"Well that's good. I never liked your room anyway." He replied with a mouthful as he washed his hands in the sink and made his way to my side.

I gasped and smacked him across his stomach as hard as I could with the magazine.

"Ow!" He cackled.

"You ass!" I groaned. He just continued laughing. "It's not funny! Why you laughing?"

"Your reaction!" He replied, and then he went on to mimic my facial reactions.

I rolled my eyes but smirked. I knew he was messing around with me.

"You're so mean!"

"Babe, you have to admit that your room was kinda too girly and boring.'

"Last time I checked I was a girl." I laughed.

"You know what I mean." He said, taking a seat on the kitchen chair beside me and began eating.

I shook my head. "If I remember correctly, it was Esme who designed it. Would be a shame if I told her you've been crapping on her talents." I teased.

He glared at me playfully and pointed his fork at me.

"Don't you dare!" He warned.

I giggled as I threw my legs onto his lap underneath the kitchen island.

"What's the point of changing the design of your bedroom if you're leaving for college soon? It doesn't make sense." He asked me.

"Well…" I tried to think of a good enough reason. He cocked an eyebrow. "It makes sense to me, okay?"

He snickered, giving me a teasing smile before rubbing my legs as he ate.

I sighed in defeat. "You're probably right. It's pointless."

"Are you ready to leave Oakland Woods?" He asked me.

"How do you mean?"

"Maybe you're having reservations about moving. Are you ready to leave the town? Leave your friends and family?"

I thought.

Was I? It wasn't like Oakland Woods was a place I considered home. Forks was my home and everywhere I chose to go was just temporary to me. But Oakland Woods was different in that I began my adult life here. I made lifelong friends here. I got exposed to a different kind of life, a human life. Also importantly, Jacob and I started our love story here.

Oakland Woods was always going to be special to me even though I keep telling myself I needed to get out of here.

"I don't know." I muttered. "It's weird. I keep telling myself that I can't wait for the day I get outta here but, the fact that I'm close to that happening I feel a sort of weird feeling at the pit of my stomach. Like I'm parting with something important in my life."

He nodded.

"I made a lot of friends here and even you and I got together here. It's always going to have a special place in my heart." I told him. He smiled.

"But I think I'm ready. I'm ready for normalcy. You know, going to college, getting a job, living in an apartment or penthouse with you in New York. It's gonna be fun."

He chuckled. "Welcome to adulthood, kid."

I rolled my eyes and giggled as I dropped my legs off his lap to begin eating my food.

"Hey, listen," Jake began with a mouthful of his egg and bacon sandwich. "I'm going on a work trip this week."

I looked up.

"Wait, what? Why?" I demanded, mournfully.

"My boss has a high profile client he wants Embry and me to go meet in Nevada. He has a couple of cars he needs tuned up or repaired, so I'm probably gonna be gone for a few days."

"Well that sucks…For how long though?" I asked.

His birthday was in a few days and I had…well I had something I wanted to plan for his birthday but I don't know what exactly. Would he miss it?

"Just 2 or 3 days." He replied casually.

"When are you going?" I asked, dropping my legs and placed the magazine on the counter as I began eating my food.

"Oh, uh, we're leaving on Friday so just for the weekend." He told me.

I nodded.

"What is it?" He asked me.

"Oh, nothing." It's just that now my plans are screwed up.

He sighed, pressing his hand on my thigh.

"Are you okay? After last night?"

I nodded. "I am – I mean it's a lot to take in. Someone named Cassia has it out for my family for a reason we don't know and apparently we won't see her coming because she has a crazy ability to morph into anybody she meets."

He comfortingly rubbed my back.

"Remember what your dad said, if we just stay low and keep our eyes open for anything weird. The guys and I will be patrolling every night plus we've got Ray helping us out. It's gonna be all right," He assured me.

I nodded my head. He always had the right words to ease my nerves. Jacob was my anchor. He kept me grounded on moments where I feel like I'm falling or rising at high speed and levels. He was my neutralizer and it was one of the many, many things I appreciated most about him.

I rested my head against his shoulder, playing with my eggs.

"These eggs are horrible!" I commented out of the blue.

Jake choked with a laugh. "Nah, I think they're great."

I rolled my eyes. "Sweet of you, but they're watery. I think I rushed cooking them,"

"No. Your eggs are amazing, Ness. Usually – Well they're not gonna be your dad's level of egg making but they're perfect I promise."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence." I laughed.

"I would never lie to you." He said, kissing my head. "I just think you have a lot on your mind and you need to just live in the moment."

"You're so wise, Jacob." I stated.

"Well I am gonna be 25 soon. I'm an old man." He told me.

"You could never be old, don't say that." I slapped his chest.

He hummed as he gobbled his juice after finishing his plate. He then took a glance at his wristwatch before gasping.

"Mmm. We're running late. We gotta go." He told me.

I grabbed our plates and placed them in the dishwasher. Jacob grabbed his car keys, snatched his backpack and handed me my tote handbag from the rack.

"Don't forget your lunch." I said, grabbing the brown lunch bag off the counter and handed it to him.

"You're the best." Jake repeated Seth's words.

I laughed, shrugging my jean jacket on and adjusting my floral scarf around my neck.

"You ready for a bike ride?" He asked me.

I pouted. "But I just did my hair! You know how long it took to get my hair this straight?"

He smiled. "You're wearing a knitted hat, Nessie. Your hair will look wonderful with or without the helmet. Now let's go!" He told me as he opened the door for me.

"Fine!" I laughed. "I feel like I'm really annoying this morning."

"No, you're not." He refuted.

"But I feel like I am."

"Now you are!" He joked, locking the apartment door.

I gasped. "I hate you. You're so mean today!"

He snorted.

"Let's go," He uttered as he took my hand and we walked to the elevator that led to the underground parking.

… …

Jake pulled the bike up into my usual parking spot on the school lot and let it rev as I hopped off. I hurled the helmet off my head and handed it to him. I suddenly noticed all the usual stares around us. Humans have this incessant need to constantly stare at people. Or maybe they like to stare at me? No.

Most of the time they mind their business but on some days it does get uncomfortable. Today was one of those days.

But then it dawned on me. They weren't staring at me. They were staring at Jacob on the bike and me with him.

Jacob was hardly the only bike rider here, but he was by far the most attractive one with the most presence that was clearly felt. Jake had a certain aura or energy to him that demands the attention of everyone around him.

It is probably an alpha thing, he'd probably say.

I say it's a Jacob thing.

I saw Justin park his truck across the lot and our eyes met as he jumped out the car with his backpack on his back. He noticed Jacob's hand on my thigh and my hands resting on both his shoulders and his face sank for a split second before he quickly hid it with a half attempt at a smile.

He nodded his head and waved to me.

I smiled back warmly. It was clearly still awkward between us after over a year. Well he is my ex. Of course it's awkward.

"I'll pick you up after work later?" He asked.

As I was about to answer, the sight of the familiar short blonde haired girl walking into the school caught my attention. Her head faced down and arms occupied with books. An unusual sight to see.

"Oh…um…it's okay. I'm probably just going to take the bus with Alex." I told him. "Hey, I gotta go catch up with someone. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay. I love you," He said, pulling me closer in between his legs.

I giggled as I bent down and implanted my hands against his face as I imbedded a gentle kiss on his soft, warm and delicate lips before he pulled me into another kiss, this time it was lingering on for a few seconds before we resorted to soft, quick pecks that had me gurgling with laughter.

"I gotta go, Jacob." I told him. "One of my teachers is watching us from afar now,"

"Fine!" He moaned as he pulled away from me.

I smiled and kissed his cheek before tugging my tote bag on my shoulder.

"I'll call you later! Love you!" I called to Jacob as I began walking briskly to the school building to catch up to Felicity before she went out of my sight.

She was walking through the glass doors of the school building.

The bell rang.

"Felicity-!" I tried to call out through the mass crowds of students walking into the building.

I scanned the halls of the school in search of Felicity's signature short stature and short wavy blonde hair. No luck.

Felicity was avoiding me for a while now but after I went over to her house yesterday I think I know why. I think she knows about me. Or at least has her suspicions and I think her grandmother has them too.

But I had to find a way to talk to her. Not only did I find out that Nahuel had relations with her after my birthday, he also fed on her and took advantage of her. I should've known his friendship with her wasn't genuine. I should've known his desire to live a new way of life wasn't genuine. My family have done almost everything to accommodate his needs, my grandfather even risked being questioned at work for taking blood banks so that Nahuel doesn't feel as if he was forced to live our life of refraining from the blood of humans.

This is how he shows his appreciation? Feeding on my best friend? Was he trying to get back at me for consistently telling him nothing would happen between us?

He's been trying to explain himself. I've avoided all his calls and texts. I couldn't bear to look at him right now, let alone return any of his messages. I was not only upset but disappointed in him too.

I thought he was better.

I hoped he was better than this.

I guess I was wrong.

I went to all my classes, deciding that I would meet up with Alex in the cafeteria during lunch period to talk to Felicity.

It was lunch period and Alex and I quickly made our way to the cafeteria after English with Mr. Worthington. We caught Felicity in front of the very long line of students getting food.

"You think she's gonna wanna talk to us?" I asked.

"She better. Only one way to find out." Alex stated.

"I don't wanna push her though." I said nervously, looking at Felicity grabbing a smoothie and apple.

"Well then she'll never talk to us then." Alex told me.

I glanced back at her then back at Felicity and nodded my head.

"Okay. So how do we go about this?"

Alex looked at me funny. "Um…well, we're just gonna walk up to her, right?" I nodded. "And…talk to her."

I looked back at her with wide eyes. I was being silly and she made it crystal clear to me. She didn't have to make it so obvious though.

I sighed. "I'm the last person she wants to talk to but, I have to know she's okay." I said.

My legs suddenly found motion and I began making my way to her but the feeling of Alex's arm pulling me back stopped me in my tracks.

"Not now!" She chuckled. "Let's wait for her to finish getting her food first. We don't wanna ambush her."

I sighed in defeat. "You're right. Let's talk about something else."

"Okay! Well I –" She began.

"So Jacob is going on a work trip this weekend." I interrupted. "And that messes up my plans for his birthday celebration this week."

Alex sighed. "You're seriously planning on celebrating his birthday twice?"

"Well not anymore! Now I have to make his actual birthday extra special and I've only got 2 days to prepare. I need your help, please!" I moaned and pleaded as I gripped onto her cashmere sweater.

Alex sighed. "Nessie, I do have a life you know."

"I know you do, but…This is important to me!"

"And my life isn't?"

"No, of course your life's important. It's just…what would you do if it were Seth's birthday? Wouldn't you want my help?" I asked.

"No, I would just take him out to have a fun night or buy him a gift like any normal girlfriend would do."

"I think we've established that I'm not normal, Alex!"

She scoffed. "You got that right. You're cray cray."

I rolled my eyes as we moved with the queue of students with trays in our hands.

"Hello," I greeted the cafeteria lady as I lifted the tray for her to place a cheese burger on my plate.

"Thanks," I smiled as I grabbed a bowl of salad.

Alex pinched the skin of my arm through my jean jacket.

I gasped. "Ow!"

"Look!" She told me, her eyes transfixed onto Felicity making her way over to an empty seat past a loud crowd of teenagers roaring with laughter and talking over each other.

I stared back at Alex before we both grabbed our trays and followed Felicity to her table. Alex and I slowly followed her tail as she leisurely made her way to the large open roundtable.

As we got closer to her, she suddenly halted in her tracks and quickly spun her body around to face us.

"Why are you following me?" She demanded.

Alex and I jumped with a startle.

"Follow? We're not following you. Pfft!" Alex nervously tried to play it cool –but failed miserably.

"Felicity, we need to talk." I said.

She sighed, shaking her head before turning on her heel.

"I don't want to talk." She said, making her way around the open table to take up her seat.

"Felicity, we're worried about you." I ignored her request as I found myself sitting down on a seat in front of her.

"Worried about me? Seriously?" Felicity scoffed.

"Yes, seriously, Felicity. You're our best friend." Alex replied, taking a seat next to me.

Felicity looked at us both. There wasn't a familiar gleam in her eyes every time she saw us. She saw us differently. It was as if we were strangers to her. No. Not strangers. But enemies.

"Best friend?" She questioned. "Best friends don't lie to each other!" Felicity snarled.

My heart sank as she said the words I never wanted her to ever say. Words that would easily cut like a dagger to my heart.

"Felicity. We don't know what you're talking about." Alex tried smartly.

"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about!" Felicity stated, glaring at Alex. "I expected you to lie. But you Ness…I thought we were like sisters?"

I felt tears well up in me.

"We are Felicity." My voice broke as I extended my hand to touch her trembling left hand on the table.

She hastily flew her hand away the second I reached for her. It was as if my contact was like a hot stove plate to her.

"No, we're not." She stated, standing up from her seat. "I know what you are, Ness!" She said in a loud whisper.

My eyes bulged.

I hoped she wouldn't out me right now.

I looked around to see we received a few stares as they examined the growing scene.

"If you haven't figured it out yet, I want you to leave me alone." She said with a grit. "Both of you,"

She glared at both of us one last minute before she took off without a second thought.

As her intoxicating scent left the vicinity of my nose, I gasped out a breath I had no idea I was holding in.

"Oh my god!" I cried out, holding my face in my hands.

"Wow." Alex remarked.

I turned to her, eyes glistening with salty liquid.

"She knows, Alex." I told her. "She knows about us."

Alex threw her arm onto my back and began rubbing it.

"What are we gonna do?" Alex muttered rhetorically.

I had no idea.

Why did I think we could keep the secret from Felicity this whole time? She was attacked by a vampire, she had relations with a vampire hybrid and her best friends were a vampire hybrid and vampire hunter as well.

How I thought she wouldn't figure it all out eventually was foolish of me.

I turned to Alex. "We have to tell my family. What if she tells someone?"

"Felicity is many things but I don't think she'd ever do that." Alex said.

"How do you know, Alex? How do you know she won't tell the next person she sees?" I demanded.

Alex pursed her lips. "Because she…" She stopped herself. "Because I do." She sighed.

I sighed.

I looked around the room to see many kids chattering away. I then saw Jennifer talking to a few girls. One of whom was a girl named Melissa who has assumed the popular girl in school role after Felicity went on a downward spiral emotionally after that infamous prom night.

Melissa and Felicity allegedly always had a feud that dated back to their childhood. It wasn't like the falling out Alex and Felicity had before reconciling.

They were never friends.

Melissa was always the more popular one back in elementary school before Felicity assumed the role in middle school and freshmen year. Like many girls in this school, Melissa wanted to date Hunter Hamilton in freshmen year but Felicity derailed her plan by dating him first and she got jealous.

After Felicity stayed in hospital for weeks, Melissa spread rumors about how Hunter got her pregnant and Felicity was the reason Hunter died on the night of the prom and she also went on to spread a rumor that Felicity was involved in drugs and she was in and out of rehab.

These rumors never reached the faculty because the good thing was half of the school didn't believe them, but when Felicity came back in emotional state of despair people began questioning whether the rumors were true.

Felicity didn't pay any attention to the rumors, thankfully. She had a lot on her mind, clearly. Alex confronted Melissa about it a few weeks ago but I never thought to ask about the outcome.

She watched the confrontation between us and was clearly talking about it with Jennifer because they kept looking back at us.

Jennifer met my eyes and raised her eyebrows at me.

I rolled my eyes.

"Jennifer's such a lousy eavesdropper." I muttered gruffly.

Alex turned her head. "She's chatting to the bitch Melissa again. I've noticed they're both awfully chum lately. Which is surprising considering Jennifer has been fake befriending Felicity."

I groaned. "I really don't…"

"You don't what? You don't like her. Say it, Ness."

I glared at her. "I don't care about Jennifer right now."

"Maybe you should. Maybe she told Felicity."

"Why would she willingly expose not just my family but herself?"

"Why wouldn't she?" Alex quipped. "I don't know if you've noticed but she's been trying to steal everything you have."

I sighed. "Oh, I've noticed."

I have nervous feelings every time I remember that Jennifer's afternoon job at a fast food restaurant is literally right across Jake's work. She probably planned the whole thing to get closer to him. Why? I have no idea.

"We've got bigger issues though." I tried to focus on something else.

"The whole thing with Cassia?" She probed.

I nodded.

"I told my dad about it. He apparently knew about it this whole time." She said.

"Your dad knows about Cassia?"

"He knows of her. He's heard legends about her in the past. He even tracked her once. She's not easy to find." Alex told me.

"But we now know that she's back in town. Question is, for what?" I asked.

Silence crept as Alex and I both drifted off in a train of thought.

I rested my elbow on the table and perched my head on my hand as I played with my food.

"Don't forget, The Spring International Debutante Ball at the Oakland Woods Town Council House is a month and a half away!" The student body president Samantha Cohen clamored as she began handing out flyers to everyone in the cafeteria.

I looked around to see multiple student body members handing out hundreds of flyers to the students. Most of them were none the wiser about it or they frankly didn't care and others were quite excited.

"Spring International Debutante Ball, March 7th." Samantha Cohen uttered as she dropped a large, exquisitely decorated flyer with wonderful penmanship.

"Um…Thanks." I said, lifting the flyer off the table and began reading it.

Bordered in gold and glitter with attractive calligraphy, an image or drawing of couples dancing captured my eye.

"A ball?"

"Oh. Ugh!" Alex sighed.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, so there's this annual Debutante Ball that takes place at the Town Council House. It's like this ancient mansion located in the center of Oakland Woods, it is beacon and epicenter of all the town's history. The Mayor and members of the town council all go there, there's multiple auctions, benefits, charity galas and dinners every weekend there and the most high profile of them all…balls or dances or whatever."

I nodded. "So what's the Spring International Debutante Ball?"

"So every year there's a Debutante Ball. To celebrate the joining to society for young people. Usually it's a chance to debut young women from 16 to 21 and it's a rite of passage into society as respected members."

Right. Debutante Balls were a tradition in the 17th or 18th century where families of a high standing used the ball as an opportunity to make known to other high standing families of equal social status that they were worthy to marry off to. I remember studying about this with my grandfather Carlisle. They were similar to cotillions in that it was a coming of age, coming into high society event for young girls and sometimes boys as well.

"These days it's a chance to strengthen the community and simply watch girls dance around in puffy dresses."

I laughed.

"So the international Debutante Ball happens every five years. Members of the Town Council and their legacies all partake in this event and members of other councils around the world attend the event as well."

I suddenly remembered something.

"Oh my god!"

Alex stared at me.

"Ray mentioned something about a debutante ball his ancestors went to in the 1800s. Where he met Cassia…" I told her.

Her eyes bulged. "There were other suitors from around the world who went to the ball too. Cassandra Cerise Humphrey was one of them,"

"Which means it was an international debutante ball." I added.

"And Cassia's back in town…" Alex whispered in shock.

We both looked at each other in terror.

A/N: It's me again! It's been a little less than a year since I last updated. I bet you thought I was dead.

But given the world's climate right now with COVID-19, I wouldn't blame you if you thought that. It's been a crazy start of a decade 2020 has been. I hope everyone is good and keeping positive. I know this update is overdue, but I hope some of you are still interested. I'm planning on finishing this story, I promise.

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