When she entered her house around ten, everyone was suspiciously busy. Alice didn't fly into her face with questions. Edward didn't glare at her from the piano. No one made any movements. There was also a huge divot in middle of the kitchen island. It looked suspiciously like someone had been slammed into it. Rosalie sighed. What had her siblings gotten into this time? She took off her coat, hung it by the door, and said quietly, "What happened?"

Alice was there in a flash. "I cannot wait for them to explain to you what happened." She laughed. "Actually, I've already seen it and I can't wait to see it again. Choose who should start: Edward, or Emmett?"

Rosalie was already glaring at Edward's back as he stopped playing the piano. "Emmett."

"Okay, so what had happened was," he began as he abandoned his video games, "I had a feeling that Edward was not where he was supposed to be, and I was right. He was spying on you and Bella." She snarled. "He was staring so hard he didn't even hear me coming. I collared him about a mile from her house. He was in a huge tree watching you two walk. I grabbed him and dragged him home."

"What happened to the kitchen?"

"He tried to explain that he needed to be there to make sure nothing happened to Bella. He said he would protect her whether she liked it or not." Emmett shrugged. "I didn't like that."

Rosalie was extremely thankful for her lumbering best friend in that moment. She prepared herself to destroy Edward's piano. "Wait!" Alice danced in between Rosalie and the piano room. "Let Edward try to explain it to you. This is my favorite part."

"Brother, try and keep me from hurting you or your precious piano."

Edward stood up, finally turning from the piano to face Rosalie. "No." She snarled louder, hands clenching as she waited. Surely he had more to say. "I don't owe you anything, least of all an explanation."

Alice clapped. "He's done. Go ahead!"

Rosalie cleared her mind as much as possible. There was an artistry to fighting Edward. If you wanted a chance, you had to operate on instincts alone. She kicked off her heels, one after the other, and before she pounced, she let one thought flood her mind on repeat: the little sound, somewhere between a moan and a gasp that Bella makes when Rosalie grazes her lip. It's dangerous for her to kiss Bella like that. She knows it. But unlike this prude, she's careful. The sound replays in her mind again and again, and Edward began to growl

Rosalie launched to Edward's left, planted her feet to the wall, and changed direction, sending her body to the right, evading his swinging fists. She lets her entire body fly through his piano, leaving it in tatters. She grabs one of the legs as it splinters off to the side, and lets her momentum bring her the rest of the way to the ground. She smashed the leg against one of Edward's own, then catches him by his his other leg, swinging him around and into the ground like The Hulk swinging Loki.

Edward's limbs flung through the air, trying to grasp at anything on his way to the ground. His snarls disappeared in the pile of match sticks that was once his piano. He sprung up, launching at her as Rosalie let her mind move just a bit to the way the scent of Bella filled her car. The smell of the human as she let Bella take what she wanted from her, desperate kisses in the drivers seat that Edward would never have wanted to know about, and now she wondered if he had seen. He twitched, the thoughts bothering him just enough to throw off his concentration. She jumped over him, grabbing his hair and yanking him back to the ground.

"You're defiling her."

"Bro, grow up." Emmett leaned against the doorway of the ruined room, arms crossed. "It's 2024. Nobody's out here calling it defiling."

"You're not even going to marry her, are you? You're just going to make her impure." She shoved him away from her as she tried to recover and stand up. He stumbled a bit.

"Well, he didn't say that in my vision." Alice looked irritated. "Sorry Rose. We keep telling him to go back to therapy."

Rosalie didn't say anything. Instead, she picked splinters from her hair and flicked them at Edward, while remembering how Bella had compared kissing the two of them. Edward might be made out of stone, but she knew exactly how to get under his skin. Edward and Bella weren't mates, so he had no reason to be so shitty. Maybe he had actually loved her, but she doubted it. Rosalie locked eyes with Edward and thought directly at him, 'You never loved anyone other than yourself and human blood. Especially Bella's.'

A loud crack echoed through the house as Edward disappeared into his bedroom, slamming the door as hard as he could.

"And in my vision you insulted him out loud!" Alice looked annoyed. "I should have kept my thoughts to myself. I hate when I accidentally change them." She shook her head. "In this one you threw him through the wall. I even took down the picture in here to make sure that you wouldn't have to replace it for Esme!" There was, in fact, a family portrait missing from the room.

Jasper came into the room and looked pained. "His emotions are so complicated. I just want to be calm at home sometimes. Why is it so difficult to relax at home?" Alice patted her husband's face, and he leaned into her touch. Rosalie felt bad, but only a little. She didn't cause this, she was just a part of it. Rosalie smiled sadly at her brother. She didn't mean to cause him pain, but they had all been turned in volatile emotional stages of life. He would never get true peace with them around.

Emmett ignored the somber mood. "I body slammed Edward into the kitchen island. I don't know why he doesn't understand boundaries yet. I was teaching him. He'll get there. I have faith."

At least one of them did.

There were two gas stations in Forks. One was on the edge of the Highway. It was mostly frequented by truckers passing through. The other, a small convenience store, was closer to the Hugh school. Its owners were Quiluetes, so it didn't surprise Bella at all to see her friend Leah there. What did surprise her was the way Leah was scowling at her. Several other kids from Forks were milling about buying things, but Leah focused on Bella alone.

"Lee, what's wrong?"

Rosalie hovered close behind Bella and examined a chip display. "Are you going to call Jacob, or are you just going to ignore him?"

"Excuse me?"

"He's hurting, Isabella."

"First of all, Leah, don't-"

"Hey, Bella!" A familiar voice called in greeting. Bella recognized Ben's voice, but she needed to deal with this first. She waved, then tried to return her attention to Leah, but Leah was gone.

Physically, Leah remained behind the counter, one hand on the register, the other braced angrily on the counter top. She was leaned halfway forward, like she was ready to yell at Bella. Mentally, she was elsewhere. Her face had changed, her mouth hung open, and her eyes were watching the door. Bella looked again, and realized Ben and Angela had entered the small store, and Leah couldn't look away from them.

Rosalie snaked an arm around Bella's waist and pulled her close. "You might want to save this for later. I think she just imprinted."

"On Ben?" Bella was gently tugged back towards the chips and away from the counter. Rosalie put her chin on Bella's shoulder, and they sneakily observed. Ben and Angela dropped their items-two bottles of soda and a candy bar each- on the counter.

Ben said, "Sup," and Leah barely looked at him.

Angela tucked her hair behind her ear. "Hey Leah. Long time no see. When did you start working here?" Leah didn't move. She didn't talk. She didn't react at all.

Bella grabbed a few small keychain souvenirs and threw them to the floor. They clattered, and Leah returned to life. "Hey, hey. Hey. Hi, Ang. How have you been?" She fumbled with her words. "I was gonna call you this week and see if you.. This is my first shift…Want to hang out this week? Catch up on things?" Leah's hands were shaking. Bella could see it from an aisle over.

"That would be great. You have my number still, right?" Leah beamed. "What do we owe you?" She gestured to the scanned items.

"It's on the house. I'll text you?"

"Definitely." Angela waved, Ben grabbed their purchase and they left. He looked confused.

"Not Ben," Rosalie whispered. Bella nodded. Definitely not Ben.

Leah's scowl didn't return when they made it to the counter again. She looked stunned, like she was seeing the world for the first time. "Shit! Why did I do that?" She was staring at the register, which was still waiting for someone to pay.

Rosalie set down the snacks she was buying for Bella. "Add it to ours. I'll pay for it. It's your first shift, after all."

Leah didn't say anything, but she nodded with her jaw clenched. Bella waited. "You should probably say thank you."

Leah's brow furrowed. Bella felt like she wasn't going to say anything. Instead she said, "I appreciate not losing my job during my first shift." She scanned their food in silence, then finally said, "Bells, I know Jake thinks he's in love with you. It's just obsession, but that doesn't mean you should disappear on him."

"Thanks for the advice, but I didn't. And you know that."

Leah nodded again. "So…Is Ben Angela's boyfriend?"

"He is."

Leah was starting to look like a bobble head doll. Her head kept rocking up and down in a steady nod that looked like an uncontrollable tic. "Your total is 19.01." Rosalie produced her credit card, and began the paying process.

Leah looked upset. As they stood in awkward silence, waiting for the register to approve the transaction, Bella took a chance. "He's a good guy; He's just not the right guy for her."

"What? I didn't say-" Leah stuttered over her denial. The pay pad flashed 'approved.'

Bella picked up the bag Leah passed across the counter, took Rosalie's hand, and said, "If you want to talk, I'd love to." She started to turn, then remembered how this all began. "And if Jake wants to apologize, I can't wait to have my friend back. You can tell him that, if you want." Bella felt rude adding that. Jake had explained how the wolves work to her. She had spent long enough around them to watch it work. It wouldn't matter if Leah wanted to tell him. It was almost guaranteed the thought would cross her mind, and all the wolves would know. Leah nodded, the shocked look still on her face.

The door clicked shut behind them, and Bella leaned into Rosalie. "Okay, is everyone gay? Is there something in the supernatural water?"

Rosalie didn't smile. "Can't be. I don't drink water." They paused in front of the car door and looked at each other. "Leah's freaking out." She tilted her head and listened longer. "Definitely an imprint. Definitely on Leah." Bella waited one more second to let Rosalie spy. "Who is Embry? One of the wolves?"

"Not as far as I know. He's one of Jake's friends. Not a wolf yet, if he's going to be."

"Well, that's who she's most worried about telling. That is going to be dramatic. Exciting." Bella rolled her eyes. Rosalie opened the car door, then held it open for her to climb in. "I love drama that isn't my own. And sometimes the drama that is my own. Did I tell you I smashed Edward's piano yesterday then beat him with it?"

Bella's shocked "What?" Was spoken to a closed door. Rosalie smirked at her from outside the window, then tapped her ear, miming 'I can't hear you.' She walked around the car at a slower than human pace, making Bella wait for her to enter the car. She entered the car slowly, deliberately buckled up, turned it on, and switched through radio stations before looking at Bella. "Why was there violence and property destruction in your house last night?"

"Edward was watching us as we walked around your house yesterday." They drove the next few blocks in silence. Bella was so tired of Edward. He had only been back in town about a week, but every interaction they had was annoying. Rosalie guided the car into an empty spot across the lot from her family's cars. "He also said I was defiling you."

Bella locked eyes with Edward across the parking lot. He had a sneer on his face, and his chin tilted up as if to say, 'Yeah, what about it?' "Get out of the car." Bella pushed her door open with a little too much force. Before she shut it, she looked Rosalie in the eyes and saw her folded arms. Bella sighed, then added, "Please." Bella met Rosalie at the front of the car, threw her arms around Rosalie's neck, and kissed her. The kiss was short, but she didn't pull back when they parted. "Do you think ravishing counts as defiling?"

"That depends on who you ask, but frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." Her arms stayed around Bella's waist, but she was watching something just past Bella's shoulder. "May I walk you to class, or would you like some time with Angela?"

"Depends. Are you going to tease Edward if I go see Angela?"

"Absolutely."

A mean streak came to life in Bella. "Then I will go talk to Angela." She let go of Rosalie's neck, took the bonus cell phone offered to her, and said, "If you text me later, we can meet in the custodial closet." Bella knew that was enough to get him irritated. It wouldn't stop Edward from getting in their business, but if he was disgusted enough, maybe he would try.

What she hadn't counted on was Rosalie's response. She leaned in, kissed Bella on the cheek, and whispered, "I would love to. There's something I do with my tongue that you're going to love." She patted Bella on the butt, locked her car, and sauntered off to join her family. She actually sauntered. Straight back, head held high, hips swishing, sauntered.

"What do I need to do to get someone to look at me the way you look at Rosalie?" Angela asked as she joined Bella.

"Excuse you? What does that mean?"

"You know…" Angela pushed her glasses up and bounced their shoulders together. "Like she's a tall drink of water, and you're in the center of a desert. Like you just wanna drink her up."

Bella's heart catapulted into her throat. She must be a good actress too, to fool Angela like this. "Okay, don't say that so loud! What if she hears you?"

"I think she knows." Angela looked around surreptitiously. "Do you talk to Leah often?" She looked around again. Bella thought she might be looking for Ben. "We sort of stopped hanging out after you left. I mean, we were also like twelve. Your dad always drove us both to the red so…"

Bella understood the implications. Without her father making the twenty minute drive to the res, no one was taking Angela. "We also stopped talking after I left. But when the Cullens and Hales left, I started hanging out with her again. We've been close this past year. Why?"

"Do you know anything about…her?"

"What does that mean?" Bella knew a lot about Leah. Some things she wasn't supposed to tell anyone. Leah had big secrets. Big, hairy, angry, wolf shaped secrets.

"Is she…you know…" Angela wiggled her hand.

Suddenly, Bella understood. "Are you asking me if she's gay?" Bella laughed. "I have no idea. Just ask her."

"I can't just ask! What if she thinks I'm interested?"

They headed to Angela's locker first. "Are you?"

"Uh, no. I'm just curious."

"About if she's bi curious? For no reason?" Bella was picking on her friend in hushed tones. For not the first time, she imagined what growing up here would have been like. If she and Angela had matured together through the hard early teenage years. Would they have stayed closed enough for Angela to trust her with her secret earlier? "I'll tell you what: I have a good feeling about your chances."

Angela nodded. "What, like," she whispered, "gaydar?"

"I have literally no idea what that is. Want me to see if Charlie will add you and Leah to the Warden's approved visitor list? We can all hang out in a low pressure setting, and let you two get reacquainted."

"Would you? I would love that." Just as they finished gathering their books for class, Angela added, "Wait, what did happen yesterday? Rosalie is still on the warden's approved visitor list?"

Bella let out a long suffering sigh before recapping the evening before. Angela laughed hard at her misfortune.

A very tired looking, very bored man with pale skin sighed as he opened his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. The phone was old, a relic of cell phones past. It was a silver phone with an antenna attached. It had to be flipped open to use the keypad. Rather than a touch screen, or even keyboard, typing required hitting multiple number keys to make a message. It looked to be twenty years old. Maybe more. He pulled up the antenna to increase its reach.

What do you see? A distinct voice on the other end of the line asked.

"It appears there is something there. It is not as distinctly clear as between two vampires. I can't be sure."

You must remain until you are sure, the cold high voice on the other end demanded.

"Aro, can't we just kill them all and be done with it?"

This could be an amazing discovery. We could identify these bonds early. Stay. Watch. Wait. And don't be seen.

The call ended, and the man angrily shut the small phone. He looked back towards Forks High School, then to his partner. "We must stay, and we must stay hidden."

Without another word, they disappeared into the woods again.