Christmas break was a welcome vacation from the niceties of playing human. Carlisle started a minor rumor that he was taking the family on a trip to visit relatives in Alaska, which Alice and Rosalie made sure to reaffirm by speaking loudly about what they were going to wear on their trip while walking through the halls. Bella Swan tried to ask him about the trip, to which he snidely commented about her breaking into their home while they were gone. She flushed red, testing his resistance, gave him a snippy remark about how he wasn't worth the trouble, and disappeared from sight for the rest of the semester.

Instead of enjoying the endless tundra and the glowing night sky, the Cullens spent the majority of their vacation running up and down the coast to find any hint of the nomads. After Charlie Swan's friend's death, confirmed that fateful night to be the work of three thirsty vampires and not one crazed mountain lion, six more people were found dead up and down the coast. At first, it was simply other people from Forks, trained hikers or mountaineers who were mourned for their 'accidental' deaths, but when Charlotte Kloiner, Esme's boss from the Soup Kitchen, was found dead, suspicions began to rise. Police turned their investigation away from accidents to murder, and the town was rocked with the news. It was all anyone could talk about when they returned to classes.

Thanks to his on-and-off niceties, Bella Swan was, somehow, even more irritating after they returned from break. While she didn't go out of her way to trap him in the hall or even attempt to sit with the family during lunch, something he was extremely grateful for, she did raise her attempts at 'getting to know him' - this, of course, was Bella Swan not so subtly asking pointed questions about himself and his medical history. It was only when she not so innocently implied he was getting some type of drug from Carlisle, comparing his strength and speed to drug users she's seen in Phoenix, did he finally snapped at her, which earned him a few days of peace and quiet.

Despite his best efforts, the rumors of Bella Swan's apparent crush, and Edward's cool refusal of her feelings, were at the forefront of everyone's minds. By the end of February, the story had enough twists and turns to fill four novels, all without a single hint of truth besides the obvious: Bella Swan saw something in Edward and wasn't letting him go.

In early March, the only reprieve he received from the endless thoughts of Bella Swan's crush on him was an upcoming beach hangout that apparently was a must to attend for any student not wanting to commit social suicide.

"So if you show up uninvited then you get kicked out and humiliated," Emmett said slowly, rolling the words around in his mouth as if they were foreign to him, "but if you don't go, you get shunned and humiliated?"

"High school social politics," Alice said with a shrug, "they don't make sense, even when you've been as many times as we have."

"But what if I just wanted to go to the beach?"

"Then you get made fun of for not being invited and get humiliated." Emmett blinked at her.

"...you lost me." Lettie laughed, eyeing the dry-looking piece of cake on his tray.

"Social faux pas is a specialty of mine, though even I understand this conundrum."

"...just for that, you don't get my cake!"

"You can have mine!" Alice cut in, barely letting Emmett finish his sentence. She quickly whispered the offering under her breath, passing it to Edward as if he were the one to ask. Lettie lit up, swiping her finger through the frosting. When she brought it to her lips, licking her finger somehow in a ladylike manner, her face scrunched up in disgust.

"I should have warned you," Edward said in between his laugh, "the cake has been sitting in the fridge since last week."

"I can't believe they serve this to humans," Rosalie said in disgust, not even making an offering as she pushed her tray away from her.

"It's too bad the party is in La Push," Alice said solemnly, pushing some peas around her tray. "I'm really curious about what teenage parties are like now."

"Alice…" Jasper warned lowly. The glare she sent him was deadly, harsher than Alice usually ever directed at anyone in the family, especially Jasper. His face remained unphased, but the quick thought of hurt betrayed his cold exterior.

"I get it, Jasper. I know. It doesn't mean I can't be curious."

"We can't risk-"

"Have I shown you my sketches for the school play?" Alice asked the table, pointedly turning her head away from Jasper.

"Yeah, three times alre-" Rosalie elbowed Emmett hard in the side.

"No. Show them to me."

The two women rose in perfect unison, hardly sparing the rest of the table a glance. As they crossed behind him, Rosalie pinched the back of Edward's neck, barely a warning as she swung Lettie's necklace up and over his head. Lettie only just managed a wide-eyed look before she was dragged away, scrambling to grab another handful of tater tots before disappearing with the girls.

"What did I say?" Emmett whined, slumping into his seat. Edward gave him a half-hearted pat on the back.

If he was completely honest, despite having countless memories of humans throughout the decades, Edward still wasn't completely confident in his human people skills, especially when it came to the make-or-break events of a high schooler - parties, graduation, sneaking out, bonfires, driving late at night. Carlisle assured him he was probably just as inept in his human life, a trait he somehow managed to carry over, but the sentiment wasn't as reassuring as he hoped. Instead, he found himself sneering as students hurried by him, whispering excitedly about the upcoming beach day, who had gotten invited, who was taking who. If he didn't know any better, he would have assumed this event was going to be bigger than Prom, but from the lingering thoughts of Mike Newton, he knew it was nothing more than a handful of the dubbed popular kids going to the beach to surf and hang out in the sand. In all honesty, the weekend was shaping up to be just as cloudy and cold as it had been for two months, but that didn't seem to deter any of them, least of all Jessica Stanley, who basked in the attention her little get-together stirred up.

And, since he was being honest, his mind was otherwise occupied to pay more than a fleeting thought on a group of teenagers going to La Push beach, something common as the weather got warmer. He didn't even care to recall the beach day was happening until a gaggle of giggling girls rushed by him the following Monday, one of them pink in the cheeks as her friends teased her. They stopped nearby, interrupting his peaceful morning. Lettie giggled at his scowl.

"He totally liked you!" the blonde one giggled, nudging the brunette. The black-haired friend on the other end sniggered and jostled her too, just to join in.

"But he didn't call me the whole weekend," the brunette whined, though her cheeks were still pink.

"He was probably busy. Besides, you saw him with his friends. They probably gave him some dumb advice like it was better to keep you waiting," the blonde argued. The black-haired friend nodded enthusiastically. Edward sighed, ready to escape their shrill voices, when the friend continued, knocking him prone. "Oh wait, Jacob Black, right? Ugh, I'm sure Embry's just too sweet of a guy to say no to his friends. You saw how sad he was when Bella left early. Embry probably spent all weekend trying to cheer him up."

"Teddy?" Lettie whispered, but Edward shook his head. He dropped his book, nudging his head for Lettie to follow him.

"Jacob Black is the son of a Quileute Tribe leader," he whispered quickly as she crouched beside him. "Carlisle has been having trouble with them, namely Jacob Black's father Billy Black, because we didn't tell them about the vampire attacks quick enough for their liking."

"Is he cause for concern?" Edward shook his head discreetly, rummaging around the bottom of this locker for nothing in particular.

"No, but whether he knows it or not, Jacob Black knows the legends of his tribe, which include their mortal enemy; us."

Try as she might, Lettie's reassurances fell on deaf ears for the rest of the morning. There was something stirring in his gut, an instinct that told him there was something more to Bella Swan leaving La Push early that day, but no matter how much he dug into the minds of others, there wasn't a hint as to what their conversation could have been. Resentment for gaining more attention, curiosity at the prospect she had a new crush, debates about how she knew people from the reservation if she was supposed to be new in town; worthless, empty thoughts that brought him no closer to what was actually said. His family, despite having countless questions, were kind enough to keep them to themselves until Edward could get more information.

Lunch, however, was when he knew the worst had happened.

Edward's concentration was elsewhere as he listened to the overly loud table, fellow students coming and going to try and be invited to the new gathering, others wanting all the juicy information about what transpired. Bella Swan was tangled in the mess, sitting quietly beside them, so Edward paid her no mind. That is, until, Jasper's mind flashed with her fear.

"What was that?" Edward asked quickly, suspicious eyes on Jasper.

"That was Bella Swan's fear," he said simply, quietly offering Lettie another grape from his plate. "With all the commotion, it's been hard to tell, but it spiked as soon as she looked over at us."

"Then…," Alice started, but her worried look was enough to finish her sentence.

"That idiot," Rosalie growled, squishing her hamburger between her fingers. Emmett quickly concealed her tray, hastily whipping food remains under the table. "It's against the treaty to tell outsiders-"

"He's not a part of the pack," Jasper quietly reminded her, but his tone was still full of anger. There was no way Jacob would know not to tell the stories of his people - they were, after all, legends he grew up with - but of all the things he could say, he had to say that? And, of all the people he had to tell, it had to be Bella Swan? "We need to talk to Carlisle, have him talk to the Tribe Elders, and see if there is any way they can prevent others from sharing the stories, at least while the Treaty is still intact."

"You know they won't agree to that," Edward rebutted.

"It is the stories of their people," Lettie agreed.

"But their legends have our secrets, and that puts us all in danger," Rosalie tried to counter, even though she knew it was a losing battle.

"They don't share their legends with outsiders. Not usually, anyway."

Despite his anger, he forced himself to acknowledge that they were still only speculating. It could be that Bella Swan overheard a conversation of theirs that revealed their true nature, or somehow she managed to piece together what they were. Maybe even Chief Swan's investigation made its way home and she was given new information they weren't aware of yet. His mind, as well as everyone else's at the table, was spinning with the possibilities.

"We don't act until we know," Jasper concluded, shutting down the conversation before they could spiral even more. Then, he looked at Lettie with a pointed expression.

You know what to do.

Despite not being able to read his mind, Lettie nodded her head curtly once, and rose, scurrying to the rambunctious across the room without a backward glance.

Three days of spying on Bella Swan and her friends yielded nothing but the confirmation that she was acting odd, and everyone was starting to pick up on it. Jessica Stanley was openly hostile towards her, questioning her sanity whenever one of the Cullens were nearby, as was Lauren Mallory, though she felt too self-important to give the new girl more than a fleeting thought, especially when Whitney Ward had been ignoring her calls and ditching school. Lettie reported that while in class, several of Bella Swan's so-called friends would question her odd actions, speculating on troubles at home or with family. They were all coming to the same conclusion, however, that Bella Swan's odd behavior began after their visit to La Push.

"I'm surprised they didn't say anything worse," Rosalie scoffed, slumping back into her chair. Her skin glittered faintly as sun poured in through the glass windows, a rare spring afternoon that was without rain.

Bad timing, as most things seemed to be lately, was the Alice-forecast predicted sun for the next four days, effectively shutting down any plans they had (including going to the Spring Formal, though under the circumstances, they were likely to skip it anyway). Alice, through her theater connections, found that the La Push Beach Trip was more than a simple gathering of teenagers; it was the perfect time to pair up and find a date for the dance. She was swept up into helping several girls choose their dresses for the dance from magazines, and several were planning on going to Port Angeles during the following weekend to shop. The news set the family on edge.

"And Chief Swan still hasn't said anything?" Jasper asked, question pointed at Carlisle. He had been quiet for most of the meeting, hands steepled, as the rest of the family reported on the newest updates around town. His brow was furrowed in thought, creasing his otherwise smooth face.

"Not about his daughter, though I'm not surprised." He sighed but managed a small smile as Esme's hand rested atop his. He brought their clasped hands to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to her palm. "With the recent rise in attacks, they're having him drive all over the county, and he still hasn't fully processed Waylon Forge's death. I'm sure it's the most action this town has had in years."

"And the newest body?"

"Still waiting on the coroner's report, though I suspect the results will be no different from the others."

"And they still can't identify it?" Edward asked. Carlisle shook his head.

"They think it's a woman," Esme responded, features pulled grim. "Deputy Hanson's wife said she'd never seen her husband so shaken up."

"They're getting worse," Alice whispered, wringing her hands. Jasper rubbed a soothing thumb on her back, but it seemed like she hardly felt it.

The table was tense, more so than usual. With Bella Swan's unusual activity, the threat of her spilling their secret, and the nomads' slow creep into their lives, it was as if they were one small step from shattering. There was no alone time, not anymore, and the freedom they once coveted to spend together not felt struggled and forced, a shackle weighing down every interaction. His hand was involuntarily clenching.

He felt so…so powerless.

The phone rang on the wall.

Carlisle waited a moment, a long, agonizing, overly human moment, before answering the phone as neutrally as he could.

"Cullen residence, Carlisle speaking."

"Carlisle, hello," Charlie Swan's familiar drawl sounded over the phone. In the background, the sound of ringing and frantic voices, a distant siren. He was calling from the police station again. "Listen, I hate to ask you this, but could you come help identify the body?"

"It's no trouble at all." He spared a glance towards the table. "Is there a reason why the coroner needs extra help?"

"Well, it's a little more complicated than needing help. He can't…well, he can't bring himself to finish the autopsy."

"Oh?"

"He thinks…" Charlie Swan sighed, the type of exhaustion evident after working a long day. "He thinks the victim might be his niece."

"Oh my. I'll be right over." Carlisle hung up the phone quickly, rushing to drop a kiss on Esme's head.

"His niece?" Esme's voice quivered, her empathetic nature taking over any rationality. If the coroner was correct, and the victim was, in fact, his niece…

"No wonder we haven't seen her all week," Rosalie commented aloud, easily finding Jasper's expression mirroring her own. If James and his coven were able to attack Whitney Ward, who was always surrounded by friends, then this was a clear warning. A taunt.

"Let's not jump to conclusions until we have all the information," Carlisle warned, though he didn't seem optimistic. Without a word, Jasper and Lettie rose behind him, the three rushing out the door.

Edward tried not to feel left out.

By the time they were able to return to school, word of Whitney Ward's untimely, and rather grotesque, death was all anyone could talk, let alone, think, about. Lauren Mallory spared no effort to bawl her eyes out at every quiet moment, garnering pity and attention from those around her, though Jasper quietly informed the family her grief was real, albeit exaggerated. Those isolating days of sun were replaced with endless days of pouring rain and frigid cold, an omen and a comfort all in one.

"We were just hanging out at the beach," Jessica Stanley wailed, pulling Lauren Mallory in for another hug. "She was going to wear blue to the Spring Dance."

The only person who didn't seem to grieve Whitney Ward's death was one Bella Swan.

Her friends were swarmed with consolations, and her classmates were saddened into near grief, but Bella Swan continued her days as if nothing happened. Her eyes were trained on the Cullens more intently than ever, suspicion and fear pulling her into a self-isolating tug of war. She jumped into groups when they passed in the halls, darted into rooms when they got a bit too close, and went out of her way to sit as far away from Edward during class as possible, but her eyes…her eyes were always on them. Watching, waiting, willing them to slip up and reveal the horrible truth of their existence.

Edward had never felt more frustrated at the inability to read her mind. Instead of ignoring her stare like the rest of his family did, he watched her, daring her to do something, anything, that would justify the fear she felt. They tried, always tried, to defy their base nature, to live as good of a life as a monster could, but Bella Swan would not even give them the courtesy of privacy. Their grief was an omission, and their nonchalance a sentence. She would not allow them to do anything without feeling the weight of her unrelenting, accusing stare, not even to feel sorry for a human who unwittingly became a piece in a villain's game of chess.

"You were gone," Bella Swan whispered to him later that week, using the cloak of the classroom to probe him safely. Though she was arrogant to assume anything about the way he was feeling, she had some logic, at least; she knew he would not dare to do something to her when there were other people around.

"My father likes to make the most of sunny days, now that we don't have many," he lied easily. He kept his eyes trained forward, even when he felt Lettie's hand squeeze his shoulder. Be calm, I'm here, it seemed to say. He played up rolling his shoulder, an excuse to put his hand atop hers, if only for a moment.

"No…other reason?" she whispered accusatively. "You're not…scared of the sun?"

"Scared?" He scoffed. "What, do you think I'll burst into flames or something?"

He rolled his eyes as she flinched, body reacting so violently that her knee slammed into the table. paused his lecture for only a moment, before continuing.

"Or something," she whispered quietly, likely not for his ears to hear. Then, louder, she continued, "So, no…other reason?"

"Even if there was another reason, you and I don't know each other well enough to be spilling secrets."

"So there is a secret." He finally felt his resolve crack. His lowered eyes slid across the table to level her with a glare, her mouth dropping open involuntarily from the intensity. Lettie squeezed his shoulder again, but he ignored her. Bella Swan was overstepping her bounds.

"You don't seem too heartbroken about her death," he said, voice level. It was evident no name needed to be said as Bella Swan recoiled, then flushed, embarrassment coloring her face.

"I didn't know her very well."

"Not knowing someone has never stopped you before," he commented slyly.

Before she could respond, called on her, marker held out to have her label the model on the board. His mind was swimming with annoyance, their conversation obviously not as discrete as they wanted. Edward clenched his fists when she flushed again, shooting him a glare as if it was his fault she wasn't paying attention.

"You're up to something. And I'm going to find out what," she said between gritted teeth.

"Miss Swan?" called again, exasperated. As Bella Swan rose to her feet, Edward dared to speak again. She tripped over her feet at his voice, whipping her head to look at him.

"You're looking for something that isn't there. But, by all means, keep looking. It'll only make you look more of a fool than you already have."