I trudged home, my mind buzzing with the day's events. Edward's intense scrutiny during biology class, Bella's growing jealousy every time I even looked at him-she seriously needs to chill out- and the weird sensation of being pulled into a story I thought I only knew from the pages of my favorite book—all of it weighed heavily on me. It felt like I was navigating a dream that teetered on the edge of a nightmare, but then again Edward's in it so how could it be a nightmare. And it is a dream, isn't it?

Dinner that night was particularly tense. Charlie and Bella sat at the table, the air thick with unspoken words. The clinking of forks against plates was the only sound punctuating the uncomfortable silence. I tried to focus on my meal, but it was hard to ignore the way Charlie kept glancing at me. His usual laid-back demeanor in the books and movies had been replaced by something more serious, almost… protective.

"So, how's school been?" Charlie finally asked, his tone gruff but edged with concern. His eyes were sharp, watching my reaction.

I blinked, caught off guard by his sudden interest. "It's fine," I replied cautiously, glancing between him and Bella. "Same old stuff. Nothing too exciting."

Charlie's brow furrowed as he set his fork down. "You sure? You seem... distracted lately. Everything okay?"

I tried to keep my voice light, though my pulse quickened. "Everything okay, Charlie?" I countered, raising an eyebrow. It wasn't like him to be this attentive.

His eyes flicked to Bella, who was silently pushing her food around on her plate. Her shoulders were tense, her gaze firmly fixed on her untouched meal.

"Yeah, just making sure you're doing alright, kiddo," Charlie muttered, though his tone lacked its usual casualness.

I forced a smile, but the knot in my stomach tightened. Bella still hadn't said a word. Her silence was unnerving, and the way she avoided my gaze made the air between us feel even heavier. I could almost hear her thoughts, swirling with questions and doubt.

"Well, I'm fine," I said, my voice a bit too cheerful. "School's just been busy, that's all."

Charlie nodded, though he didn't seem convinced. Bella finally broke the silence with a quiet, "I'm done," before standing and disappearing into the kitchen.

I watched her go, feeling a pang of guilt. Did she think I was trying to take her place with Edward? I mean I kind of was, but why would my dream be like this. If this was really my dream I'm pretty sure that as soon as Edward saw me he would drive me to his house and we'd be doing things that even Sabrina Carpenter wouldn't approve of, you get what I'm saying?

After finishing the awkward dinner in silence, I escaped to my room, feeling a wave of relief as I shut the door behind me. My phone buzzed almost immediately, the bright screen catching my attention.

Hey Angie, don't forget the party at Mike's. Maybe I can come over and we can get ready together?

I stared at the message from Jessica for a moment, my thumb hovering over the reply button. A party? After a day like this? It felt almost absurd, but maybe it was exactly what I needed—a break from all the tension.

I won't forget, and sure, that sounds good, I typed back, hesitating for a moment before hitting send. Maybe tonight would be a chance to clear my head, even if just for a little while.

The party at Mike's was already in full swing by the time Jessica and I arrived. Music pulsed through the house, and laughter filled the air. Jessica was practically buzzing with excitement, dragging me through the crowd with an energy that felt almost contagious.

"I told you this would be fun!" Jessica shouted over the music. "Let's grab drinks!"

I smiled, trying to push aside the tension from earlier. Maybe this was what I needed—just a normal night, no vampires, no awkward family dinners, no looming mysteries.

The night of the party arrived quickly. I stood in front of my mirror, trying to decide what to wear. Jessica wasn't able to come over because she had to help her mom or something. I finally settled on a casual yet stylish outfit, hoping to blend in and not draw too much attention.

As we navigated the throng of people, a familiar figure caught my eye near the kitchen: Jacob Black. He leaned casually against the counter, laughing with a group of guys. Something about seeing him here, mingling so comfortably, made me pause. He wasn't supposed to be this friendly with people outside La Push. Maybe I'm not remembering things right. Yeah, I'm thinking about Jacob after his transformation, not before.

I spotted Jessica across the room and made my way over to her.

"Hey, Angie!" Jessica greeted me with a wide smile. "Glad you could make it! And sorry for not coming over"

"Wouldn't miss it and no problem," I replied, forcing a smile.

"Evangeline, come with me!" she said, pulling me away from where we were. "I need to tell you something."

I cast a quick glance back at Jacob, who gave me a nod before continuing to talk to his friends. Jessica led me to a quieter corner near the stairs, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"You won't believe this," she began, her eyes wide. "Bella has been acting so weird lately. Like, totally distracted. And guess what? It's all because of Edward Cullen."

I feigned surprise. "Really? How do you know?"

Jessica leaned in closer. "She's been staring at him constantly. And when he's not around, she gets all... I don't know, tense. Like she's waiting for something to happen, and she's been, like, outgoing lately, like she talks to everybody and she's the one that starts the conversations. Definitely not the shy little girl she was when she first moved, am I right? Honestly I'm glad because her whole I'm so shy thing was really starting to get on my nerves"

I tried to keep my face neutral, but my mind was spinning. Bella's behavior was off, sure, but it wasn't just because of Edward. There was something deeper going on here.

Before I could respond, the energy in the room shifted. A hush fell over the crowd, and it's like I knew who it was before I even saw him-Edward Cullen. He stood near the entrance, his piercing gaze scanning the room until it landed on me. My heart skipped a beat.

Jessica nudged me. "Speak of the devil. He never shows up to these things. What's he doing here?"

I swallowed hard, unable to tear my eyes away from Edward as he made his way toward us. His presence was magnetic, the crowd parting as he moved.

"Evangeline," he greeted, his voice low but intense. "Can we talk?"

Jessica's eyes widened, but she didn't say anything. She stepped back, leaving me alone with Edward.

"Sure," I said, my voice barely audible.

He led me outside to a quiet spot beneath the porch light, his eyes burning with an intensity that made my pulse race. "Who are you really?" he asked, his tone sharp, each word laced with suspicion. "You're not like the others. You know something."

I froze, my mind scrambling for a response. "What do you mean?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Don't," he snapped, his jaw tightening. "You're different. I've seen the way you react, the way you know things you shouldn't. And it's not just intuition. What are you hiding?"

Panic flared in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Edward, you're being paranoid. I'm just—"

The lights flickered suddenly, and then everything went dark. A collective gasp rose from inside the house, followed by the sounds of confusion.

Edward's head snapped toward the house, his body tense. "Stay here," he ordered before disappearing into the darkness.

I stood frozen for a moment, the sudden chaos giving me the chance I needed to slip away. My heart pounded as I navigated through the shadows, my mind racing. Edward's suspicion was growing, and I needed answers—fast.

As I stepped into the cool night air, I realized that things were spiraling out of control. The characters were changing. The story wasn't following the path I knew. And I was at the center of it. Maybe that's not a bad thing.