Familial Turmoil

Our drive home was spent in relative silence; Bella was still shaken by her run-in with Edward, though I couldn't really say I blamed her. What prey wouldn't be terrified after such a close run in with a predator? Who wouldn't be petrified facing the possibility of death or even relieved to know they'd been able to survive to live another day? Even if Bella didn't fully comprehend the severity of what had just happened, it was obvious she was still reeling from the experience. She just needed some time to settle down. 

No one else was home when we go back, so Bella and I headed up to the third floor, where Bella sequestered herself in her room again; I let her go, hoping she'd come out later and, at least, talk to me about how she was feeling, though I wasn't really all too confident that she would. No matter how much I might wish for it, knowing how my stepsister operated didn't give me much hope that she would open up to me. Hell, if she wouldn't turn to me when she needed someone after giving up her whole life for her mother, why would she turn to me for something like this, even when I was standing right next to her when it happened?! 

Sighing and shaking my head, I crossed the attic and climbed the winding metal staircase up to my own room, deciding not to worry about what I couldn't change and instead focus on what I could. After our encounter in the front office, I had no doubt that Edward would still be beating himself up for almost losing control; I couldn't go over to the Cullen house currently, since I had to keep an eye on Bella, but I wasn't going to just leave him to stew for too long. Edward was my friend and I wanted the best for him, like he deserved, but Bella was also my sister and I had to look out for my family, too. Being a part of the supernatural world could be dangerous and I didn't want to see her hurt, especially when she had absolutely no idea what was even going on. If things were going to be like they were today, we needed to figure out a way for all of us to coexist. Things hadn't gone as Edward had hoped when he'd tried to switch out of our biology class, something I knew had been unlikely in the first place, though it was still disheartening all the same. Well, if he couldn't switch classes, maybe I could talk Mr. Banner into switching up the seating chart, musical chairs style. Edward could move over into Bella's seat; I could take his and she could take mine. At least then there would be enough distance between the two of them her scent wouldn't drive him nearly as insane, and I could be the buffer between them just in case he lost control. 

(Yeah, I'm sure Mr. Banner would go for that so late in the semester, when we've all been in the same seats since day one.) I sighed at the negative thoughts nagging at the back of my mind as I pushed my trap door open. (I'm sure he would be more than willing to change things around just because you thought it would be a nice change of pace when you're trying to keep him and the rest of your classmates from being torn to pieces. But wait, you can't tell him that because he doesn't know he's teaching a hundred-and-four-year-old vampire and a hybrid!) 

"I'll figure out something..." I murmured under my breath as I dropped my messenger bag in the desk chair and fished my cell phone out of my jeans, "Right now, I just need to make sure Edward's okay...hopefully he'll answer." Hitting call on Edward's contact, I pressed the speaker to my ear, pacing the length of my room while I listened to the phone ring, my lips pursing when I was sent to voicemail. I hung up and tried twice more to get through, but, just like the first time, the phone rang straight through to voicemail and I sighed into the phone at the high-pitched beep that followed Edward's smooth, velvet voice. 

"Hey Edward, I know you're probably preoccupied with your guilt over what happened at school, or what technically didn't happen, whatever perspective you want to look at it from, but could you please, puh-lease, call me back as soon as possible? I don't know what happened today, but I want you to know I'm not mad, yeah, I wanted to protect Bella, but I'm not mad at you. I just want to make sure you're okay...Hopefully I hear from you soon." I hung up the phone, my ears folding back against my head. I hoped he wouldn't try anything rash in the heat of the moment so we could figure all this out together. Maybe I should call mama and ask her for advice...even if Edward didn't like it, it was better to lean on our parents than let the situation get out of hand. 

Before I could switch back to my contact list, the phone screen went white with an incoming call and flashed my mother's number. I accepted it immediately. 

"Hey sweetheart." I could hear the concern in my mother's quiet voice, and I could almost see her face now, her brows furrowed, forehead crinkled with a frown, "I just called to see how things were going with you and Bella...." 

"We're...okay, I guess." I paused, curious; had she just called to see how Bella's first day had gone or was there something else on her mind? Had Edward gone to see her and Carlisle at the hospital? "Is something wrong?" 

"Hang on, Dawn." I could pick up a couple of different voices speaking to mama on the other end of the line, drawing her attention; she answered politely, her voice further away than before as clothes rustled and brushed against the speaker, meaning she probably had her phone pressed against her shoulder while she spoke to one of her coworkers. A door creaked and clicked shut somewhere nearby, followed shortly by a familiar, soothing voice I could recognize anywhere. "Honey, is it all right if I put you on speaker? I have Carlisle here with me." 

"Go ahead, mama." I sank into the chair by the window, running my claws through my hair to push it back out of my face while mama turned on her speaker phone, making her and Carlisle's voice clearer than before, more easily heard, "Hey Carlisle." 

"Hello, Dawn." I could picture the kind vampire's face as the phone was set down on something hard, sturdy, more than likely a table, "I hope we're not interrupting you when you're busy..." 

"No, you're fine, I'm not busy, I haven't even started my homework yet." I smiled sheepishly, feeling like I was tattling on myself, even though I usually took a short break before I did my homework; mama had read somewhere that letting a child's brain rest for at least an hour after school helped them concentrate and retain more information, so she often encouraged us to do so when we got home. It'd worked so far for my brothers and I, with the lowest average among the three of us being in the low B range. "But, uh, is something going on? You guys don't usually do a call in the middle of work, let alone together unless it's an emergency." 

There was a brief silence, and I pictured the two of them exchanging a look, silently debating how to best broach this topic. I crossed one leg over the other, waiting patiently for them to speak, knowing this had to be serious. 

"We just got a visit from Edward." Mama finally said; my ears perked and I sat up straight, "He seemed...on edge, like something was bothering him, something he couldn't quite talk about. He said he needed to leave before he hurt someone because they smelled -" 

"Better than the rest." Carlisle sighed, the sadness edging his tone making it softer than before, though I could still pick it up, "He was upset and worried about what he would do if he stayed here and decided he needed to leave..." My heart sank into the pit of my stomach, "He just seemed so ashamed of himself, but I didn't want to force him to stay if he didn't want to be here and gave him my car..." he sighed once more, remorseful, "I just wonder if it was the right thing to do..." 

I could picture mama putting a reassuring hand on Carlisle's arm and squeezing gently, like she was warrant to do when someone she cared about was upset, "Sometimes the best we can do is encourage our kids to do what they think is best in any given situation, Carlisle..." 

Carlisle would smile faintly in return, his head inclined gratefully, though his gaze would still be conflicted, pained. He took a deep breath before he spoke once more, "We wanted to call to see if you could fill us in on what happened...just so we knew the whole story." 

I bit my bottom lip and scratched an ear with one of my nails as I gathered my thoughts; as much as I knew Edward was ashamed of what he'd done in school today, I knew it would do no good to keep it from our parents. So, I told them everything, about how Edward reacted when he'd first smelled Bella, the torment he had to endure throughout biology and our talk in the woods, the close call he had with her in the front office. Neither adult said anything for a long moment, not even after I'd finished recounting the events of our day. 

"Edward has a lot more control than he really gives himself credit for..." Mama murmured, and Carlisle hummed his agreement. 

"He does, but that's still a big temptation for him to overcome..." Carlisle's soft footsteps moved across polished tiles, pacing, while nails clicked against wood, like someone drumming their fingers, "Yes, it is...it would be difficult for any vampire to resist their singer as effectively as Edward did today...like I said, he has a fair amount of control and it probably didn't hurt that Dawn was there to help keep hm in line when he felt himself slipping." 

Singers were humans with blood that smelled irresistible to a vampire, to the point it often tested their control. Their blood was said to 'sing' in a way, like a Greek siren luring sailors to their watery graves. I curled my tail around myself at the thought of how tortured Edward must have felt sitting beside Bella for an entire hour, my stomach knotting with guilt at not having realized this sooner. Maybe then I could have done more to help him, to ease his pain. I would have to find a way to apologize the next time I saw him, which was, hopefully, soon. 

"Did Edward say where he was going?" I whispered into the phone, heart heavy in my chest. Carlisle's pacing continued, but mama had stopped drumming her fingers, obviously watching him. 

"He didn't say it aloud, but knowing him, he's more than likely gone to stay with our cousins in Denali." Carlisle murmured thoughtfully; although I hadn't met the coven of vampires that lived up north in Denali, Alaska directly, I knew they shared the Cullens' value of human life and were vegetarians like we were. Both covens were close and loyal to one another, like family, which was why they called each other cousins. It should come as no surprise that Edward would seek refuge with them, though it didn't stop the guilt from twisting my gut into a pretzel. 

"Did he say if he would come back?" I asked quietly, though I had the distinct feeling I already knew the answer. 

"No..." Carlisle answered solemnly. Mama sighed, "With how bad things are, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't...I'm sorry, Carlisle." 

"It isn't anyone's fault." Carlisle told her softly as his pacing stopped, "No one could have known this would happen, not even Alice." he paused and then sighed once more, "Things are going to be difficult without Edward, but we're going to have to try and continue as normal. If he does come back, we'll figure out a way to help him if he needs to be around Bella." 

"Which he will; Edward already tried switching classes, but Ms. Cope wouldn't let him, all the other science classes are full." I pursed my lips and leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling, "The school won't let him drop it, either, considering he needs the credits to graduate." 

"Again." Mama's voice was teasing, and I heard Carlisle chuckle faintly, "Hm, yes, if we wish to keep up appearances. Well...if Edward were to come back and decided to stay...hm...maybe we could talk to Mr. Banner about changing the seats." he suggested. I hummed, "I thought of that, but I don't know how much Mr. Banner would go for it...but I can see if Edward does come back. Maybe some space between him and Bella will help." 

"Hopefully." Mama sighed, "For now, we're just going to have to give the boy space to sort himself out and see if he'll come back on his own." 

"Yes, it would only be asking for trouble if we were to force anything." Carlisle agreed; though Edward wasn't his biological son, Carlisle had 'created' him and saw him as his, so he always tried to respect his wishes and choices, just as he would the rest of his family and mine. "Thank you for your help in this, Dawn. For helping Edward when we couldn't." 

I shrugged my shoulders, though I knew they couldn't see it, "It's what family does, isn't it? We're all in the same boat, so we have to stick together when times get tough." The tip of my tail flicked as Carlisle chuckled faintly and mama hummed, an almost undetectable edge of pride in her voice, "'pose I should let you guys get back to work and get started on my homework. I want to try and get it done before dinner." 

"We should be getting back to the patients, Elizabeth." Carlisle cleared his throat as he recollected himself. 

"Yes, the others are probably looking for us about now." Mama agreed and I could hear her pick up her cell phone once more, "All right, sweetheart, we'll let you go to do your homework. I should be home before Charlie to start dinner. We're having homemade mac and cheese." 

My stomach grumbled loudly at the mention of her signature dish; homemade mac and cheese was a staple in our house, one of the recipes mama had learned from her mother growing up. It was so good to eat during the dead of winter, it always hit the spot and warmed you from the inside out. It warmed me up just thinking about it. 

"That sounds awesome, mama." I smiled as she giggled softly; she'd obviously heard my stomach growl through the phone, or maybe sensed it since she was my mother, and she knew it was one of my favorite meals. "I'll talk to you when you get home. Oh, Carlisle, would I be able to stop over tomorrow, check in with everyone?" 

I could hear the soft, grateful smile in the vampire's voice as he spoke once more, "Of course, Dawn, we would love that. I'm sure Esme would enjoy having you over for a couple of hours after all...this." He sighed deeply, obviously worried about how his wife was taking their son's departure. Edward had been the first of their adopted children, after all. 

I smiled sadly, wishing I could go to the Cullen house now to comfort Esme and the others, knowing they probably needed the support. But, I had to get my assignments done and I still had to keep an eye on Bella; even if I was to step out for a minute, I knew I'd likely stay over the Cullen house for hours, especially if I was to get caught up in a conversation with Esme or Alice insisted on one of her makeovers. The smallest of the coven was big into fashion and enjoyed picking out high end clothes for her friends and family. I enjoyed a comfortable, casual style and usually leaned more toward darker shades of blue or purple, with my wardrobe consisting mostly of t-shirts, sweaters, and jeans. Alice was insistent I try wearing lighter colors, like green or light blue, to emphasize my features, like my eyes, and often tried to get me to wear more skirts and dresses than I usually did. More than likely she would be even more insistent on a makeover to get her mind off her missing brother, and I really didn't want to get caught in those crosshairs at the moment. 

"I'll be sure to try and cheer her up." I promised, "I'll see you later, Carlisle and you, mama, when you get home. I love you." 

"I love you, too, sweetie." Mama made a kissing noise into the phone before we both hung up and I ran my claws through my hair once more, sighing to myself. Well...that wasn't quite what I'd expected would have happened, but I couldn't say I was entirely surprised by it either. Even if he didn't want to disappoint Carlisle, Edward would have gone to his adopted father during any crisis, whether to ask for help or advice. Anything not said between them would be filled in later by me. That was what happened in big families like ours, we stuck together, through the toughest situations. 

And this time would be no different. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Bella still seemed tired the following morning; the wind had been too loud to allow her to get much sleep and I, again, asked if she wanted to stay home to rest. She refused, saying she didn't want to miss too much school and I, reluctantly, conceded, though I was determined to keep a close eye on her to be sure she would really be okay, like she said. When we left together, we did so in our own vehicles, which seemed to put Bella at ease, like I knew it would. Like other teenagers, she liked having the independence her own car allowed. 

Even when the car was as ancient as hers'. It was a reliable car, I knew, Jacob had done an excellent job of restoring it and it started quickly, just with a thunderous roar that had my ears pressing down against my head. 

(Well, for as old as it is, it was bound to be flawed in some way...) I hummed as I backed away from the garage, trying to ignore the way the truck's engine idled loudly in place, (Still, it doesn't mean I'm going to be riding in that old tank again anytime soon...I almost went deaf when Jacob and I just took it for a ride down the street.) 

Bella waited until I'd moved out of the way before reversing and following me out to the main road. We arrived early, before most of the other students, so we were able to snag a couple of spots in the corner; I didn't get much of a chance to check in with the Cullens before school, still being preoccupied with making sure Bella would be able to navigate the school without getting lost, although I didn't have to hover long after her friends from the previous day started to crop up. Mike Newton, who had been at Bella's lunch table yesterday, met up with her in English and offered to walk her to second period, much to Eric's irritation. I had to stop myself from laughing as I watched, amused at just how popular my stepsister had become in her first couple of days, though I was just as equally relieved. Even if I didn't like some of the people she hung out with, like Jessica, I was glad to know Bella had been able to make friends. At least I wouldn't have to worry about her being alone when I wasn't around. 

That comfort was enough to allow me to focus on other pressing issues, like checking in with Alice and the rest of the Cullens. Edward's absence was felt when I met the vampire quartet for lunch, though they kept up their usual indifferent facade around our human classmates. They were all worried about him, worried if he would ever come back, particularly Alice, who seemed rather distracted today. Well...more so than usual. 

Alice, like Edward, was a gifted vampire, though she could see into the future instead of into people's minds; her talent was useful, but it had it flaws, too, since her visions had the potentiality to change depending on a person's choices and she had blind spots, mostly when it came to mama, my brothers', and I. Carlisle and mama figured it was because we were all a different species to what she had been in her previous life and what she was now, though that was mainly just a theory. Usually, Alice was keeping tabs on Jasper's future, particularly when we were around humans, though I could tell today that wasn't what she was seeing...if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say she was searching for Edward's return and the events that would follow. 

I left Alice to it and instead asked the others if I'd be able to stop by the house after school to check in with Esme. Emmett told me she'd be more than happy to see me, and I promised I'd head right over to see her after Biology class; Emmett beamed and a corner of Jasper's lips twitched upward in a half smile, though there was still an anxious crease in the space between his eyebrows, knowing I would more than likely still be at the house by the time school officially ended. Jasper didn't like to tempt fate more than he did already and usually avoided being around me for long, even when the rest of his family was nearby. It was frustrating, to say the least, but understandable, and I did my best to respect Jasper's wishes to keep distance between us. 

At the end of lunch, after telling my coven mates we'd catch up at their house, I went to join Bella and Mike as they headed for the science building. Mike chatted animatedly with Bella the entire walk, stuck so dutifully to her side he was beginning to remind me a bit of a golden retriever; I actually had to pinch myself to keep from laughing aloud at the mental image of him with a tail of his own, wagging excitedly behind him. Bella, for her part, smiled and participated diplomatically in the conversation, more out of politeness than any real interest in the beach trip Mike was trying to organize in the coming weeks, even if it was still too cold for it. He invited me to join, and I asked him to let me know a couple weeks in advance since I worked on the weekends part-time at an animal shelter in town. I liked to give my boss a heads' up if I couldn't work at any time, so he could call one of the others to cover my shift. 

Bella, herself, seemed a bit more relaxed when we reached the classroom, the tension fading from her shoulders when she noticed Edward wasn't present here either, though there was a troubled look in her eye that wasn't all too surprising. After what she'd experienced yesterday, I knew she'd be fretting over Edward's absence, wondering if it was due to something she'd done unintentionally during their brief interactions. Yet I knew about now she was likely to push her concerns aside and tell herself it was ridiculous to think like that when she and Edward were still practically strangers. I sighed to myself, wishing more than anything I could agree with her, yet knowing I wouldn't be able to dismiss the obvious truth, no matter how much I wanted to. 

Well...better she was saved from the truth and safe than exposed to it and in danger, right...? At least until we were better prepared to help her transition safely into the supernatural world, which we were still working on... 

(By Buddha, this shouldn't be as difficult as it is...) I groaned to myself as I followed Mike and Bella out of Bio an hour later and escorted them toward the gym, per her request; apparently Mike's overt friendliness was starting to get to her, and she didn't want to be left alone with him. No doubt she was trying to work up the courage to tell him she wasn't interested, a smart move in of itself since Jessica had a (super obvious) crush on him. They'd had a brief relationship back in sophomore year and she'd been the one to end things, though she was still interested in him. I don't get it, honestly...either you like someone or you don't, don't do that back-and-forth shit, we aren't in a stupid TV drama. Sometimes it's better for everyone involved if you just move on... 

(We are talking about teenagers in high school here.) I reminded myself, waving to Bella as she headed into the gym, (And everyone knows just how much teenagers just love freaking drama...wait...) I paused, thoughtful, "What was I thinking about before...? Bah, it'll come back to me..." Pulling my hood in closer, I slushed through the rain toward the parking lot, (Did I really just say bah? Either I'm turning into great-uncle Alan when he's frustrated, or we've got some sheep's blood somewhere in the family line we don't know about...) I shook my head. (Mama would probably get a kick out of that one.) 

Smiling faintly to myself at the thought, I climbed into my Camry and started her up; it was a fifteen-minute drive to the Cullen house on highway 101 north, just past the more residential areas and into the deep woods. Like our house, the Cullens liked their privacy and lived together amid acres of woodland on their own private property. The road you had to take to reach the house was unpaved, hidden almost completely by a sea of thick ferns and bushes as the path wound its way between a couple of miles of tall, ancient trees. I followed the familiar road past the mossy, green trunks, what little rain that managed to slip past the thick canopies overhead tapping loudly against the roof of my car and splashing across the windshield. As I drew closer, the forest began to thin until I broke free of the trees and drove into the small meadow where the house had been built, following the drive around to park out front. 

As I climbed out of the car, I couldn't help but admire the house, though I'd seen it enough times over the last couple of years to know it inside and out, just as I did my own. It was a beautiful, three-story home, large, rectangular in shape, and very well-proportioned, decorated in a faded coat of white paint. Just looking at it, you wouldn't be able to tell it was an older structure, no less than a hundred years; you could tell Esme had put her heart and soul into restoring it. 

Smiling to myself, I leapt the steps to the wrap around porch and approached the door, which swung open before I could even raise a hand to knock; in the doorway stood the Cullen matriarch, her radiant smile crinkling the corners of her bright black eyes as they shone out at me from her heart-shaped face, framed by waves of soft caramel-colored hair. She would have heard me coming pulling onto her road. 

"Dawn." She greeted warmly as she pulled me into a tight embrace. 

"Hey Esme." I squeezed her tight, enjoying the familiar warmth that radiated from her despite her usually cold skin. Since the Cullens had moved to Forks, Esme had become something of a second mother to my brothers and I, and always treated the three of us like her children whenever we came around. Mama never really minded, as she was grateful to have another maternal figure nearby she could depend on to look after us when she couldn't. It was one reason why she and Esme had become such close friends. 

"Come inside, dear, you must be freezing." Esme's smile was still radiant as we broke apart and she ushered me into the house. I smiled, grateful, as I put my shoes off to the side and hung up my jacket while she closed the door behind us and bustled toward the kitchen, "Do you want anything, Dawn? I'll fix something for you." 

I chuckled to myself, knowing my side of the family's visits were the only time Esme was able to use her kitchen since her side didn't eat proper food. Even still, she kept the cupboards and fridge well stocked since we just about lived here half the time anyway. 

"Could I have some tea, please? I'm not really hungry and I want to save my appetite for dinner." I purr while she nodded and disappeared through the kitchen doorway, "My stepsister is going to be using the kitchen tonight." 

"How is she acclimating to Forks?" Esme called back while I let my gaze drift around the familiar room; Esme had removed most of the internal walls on this floor to create one large, spacious room. The south facing wall at the back of the house had been turned into a row of windows that looked out over the lawn until it disappeared under the protective shade of the six cedars that surrounded the house and met the bank of the Calawah river. On the west side of the room was a sweeping central staircase that led to the upper floors, facing a raised platform on the opposite side which housed a grand piano and the door leading into the kitchen/dining room. The entire inside of the house, from the high-beamed ceilings to the thick carpets on the floor were varying shades of white. 

"About as well as you'd expect..." I called back as I crossed the open floor to step up onto the platform and run a light hand over the polished black body of the piano. It was always a treat listening to Edward play, "She's never really liked it here..." 

"She's the one that detests Forks, right?" The kettle had barely started to whistle when the stovetop clicked off; I hummed quietly and sat on the piano bench, pressing the keys mindlessly. The wires inside each let out a single note in response, which echoed loudly in the large, quiet room. "Yeah, she is..." 

"I miss him, too." I looked up at Esme as she reappeared, a pretty white teacup and saucer in hand, her smile faint and eyes dimmed. I gave a small, apologetic smile, knowing this was Edward's piano; I shouldn't be disrespectful of his property while he was gone. Sliding the cover over the keys, I stepped down from the platform to rejoin Esme, who handed me the cup and led the way to the living room on the other side of the sweeping staircase. We sat across from each other in a couple of chairs by the fireplace. "Carlisle told me what happened yesterday." 

I took a slow sip of my tea, enjoying the taste of chamomile that rolled over my tongue and slipped down my throat, "Yeah, it was...crazy. I wish I'd known beforehand, then maybe I could've done something to help..." 

Esme gave me a gentle look, her warm smile returning, "But you did help him, Dawn. You were there for Edward when he needed someone to ground him and get him through his ordeal. You couldn't have known he would have such a strong reaction." 

"I really didn't do much..." I sigh and shake my head as I leaned back into the chair, my ears folding. Esme frowned and sat forward, putting a reassuring hand over the one resting on my leg. I couldn't meet her warm gaze as she peered at my face. 

"Dawn, sweetheart, you did plenty for Edward." She whispered, hooking a finger under my chin and turning my face until I met her warm black eyes once more. "You were there for Edward when he needed someone most...you gave him the support he needed in a critical juncture in his life. We couldn't have asked for anything more." 

I frowned, sensing the pain lurking behind her gratitude; I had no doubt Esme was wishing she could have done more for Edward herself...that he would have gone to her during his time of need, maybe leaned on her, too. 

"He was worried about disappointing you, you know..." I whispered, breaking the brief silence. Esme blinked and her eyebrows furrowed, causing a little crease to appear above the bridge of her nose while she cocked her head, as though asking what I meant. "Edward...I know he would have gone to you or Carlisle for help soon, but...he was scared of disappointing the two of you if you knew what he'd thought of doing to Bella. He loves you both so much...he never wants to do anything to hurt you or put any of you in danger. He cares about all of you very deeply." I sighed, "He might kill me for saying all this, but...I thought you deserved to know." 

Esme's expression softened and she squeezed my hand tightly in hers', "I'm grateful you shared that with me, Dawn, thank you. It was something I really needed to hear." 

I smiled gently, "I'm glad it could make you feel better. You should never doubt just how wonderful a mother you are, Esme." She giggled softly at my words and shook her head slowly back and forth as she leaned forward, cupping my cheeks to place an affectionate kiss on my forehead. I could feel her smile against my skin as she spoke. 

"You're a very sweet girl, Dawn." She sat back, seeming a lot more relaxed than she had been before, though there was a playful glint in her eyes, "I still wonder how it is you and Edward never ended up as more than just friends. 

I snort and roll my eyes playfully at her as I took another sip of tea, "Don't get me wrong, Esme, I love Edward, but he's honestly not my type. He's more like the big brother I never had." I winked at her, "But don't worry, there's a girl out there for him somewhere, we just have to find her. I'm just as eager to see him happy with a mate of his own as you are." 

Esme nodded and stifled a giggle behind her hand before she cocked her head to the other side, "You know I worry about you just as much as Edward, though, Dawn, you deserve happiness, too. You're in high school, yet you've not had a boyfriend." 

I shrug and cross my legs in front of me, "What can I say, no one around here really does much for me. Yeah, there are attractive kids at school I might flirt with, but I just don't see it going anywhere, you know? I haven't felt that spark." 

Esme hummed, thoughtful, "Like that feeling you've mentioned before, when you explained about how demons found their mates?" I nodded and she tapped her claws again the arm of her chair, "What was it again? Demons find their mates through their senses, right?" 

I nodded again, "Yeah, it's almost like how a vampire perceives their singers, just...well, with any of the five senses. It's usually our three main senses that indicate who our perfect mates are." I closed my eyes, picturing it in my mind like I had countless times before, just as my mother had described it, recounting her own experience with my birth father all those years ago, "When you meet your mate, it's supposed to feel like...like you've come home. When you see them, they're supposed to make you feel happy, light a fire inside of you that's incomparable to any and everything else you've ever experienced. Their scent will bring you comfort, like your favorite candle lit on a cold winter's night to chase away the chill, and their voice...like beautifully composed music made just for you." I sigh, half lost in the fantasy of how I would one day meet my mate, how it would happen, who it could be, "It's rare for a demon to find their mate through touch since they'll either see, smell, or hear them first, but it's happened. Mama says a simple touch can feel like bolts of lightning sent whizzing through your veins...as cheesy as it sounds." I chuckle, "Like something Hollywood cooked up for a good movie, but for us demons, it's anything but. We feel it with our mates, no matter if we've just met them or we've been together for decades, that lightning is always there. A gentle tingle that never fades and makes our hearts flutter with every stroke of their fingers." 

Esme's gentle hum pulled me from my fantasies, and I opened my eyes to find her watching me with a tender expression, lips curved up in a soft smile. She looked every bit the attentive mother listening to her child going on about a toy or TV show they loved. It was a very natural look for her, I noted, even as my cheeks warmed in embarrassment at getting so carried away and I cleared my throat loudly, lifting the teacup to my lips once more. A quiet giggle escaped her as she watched, expression softening further, even as her eyebrows furrowed once more. 

"You're sure you've never felt anything like this with someone you've met?" she asked softly; I shook my head, staring into my cup as I slowly swirled the warm liquid around inside. "There hasn't been anyone at school who's done any of that to you? None of your classmates?" 

I shook my head once more, sighing, "No, I'm pretty sure I would have noticed if someone did trigger a reaction." 

Esme rested her elbow on the arm of her chair, head against her knuckles, "What about any of those boys you hang out with up on the reservation? Like the one you're close to, Jacob?" 

I heaved another sigh, ignoring the warmth rushing to my ears at the mention of my best friend, "No, I haven't felt anything like that for Jacob or any of our friends, either...what is it with everyone assuming I like my best guy friends? The kids at school think I'm dating Edward while my friends and family think I like Jacob..." 

Esme stifled a giggle, "Well, you do spend a lot of time with him, Dawn." 

"Yeah, when I'm not over here," I point out, "Half my free time is spent here with you guys and Edward, but that doesn't mean I like him." 

"And the other half is spent with Jacob." Esme quipped, quietly gesturing toward my teacup, which was almost empty, asking if I wanted more. I nodded, grateful, and she rose gracefully to head for the kitchen; she returned with the kettle in hand before I could blink and refilled my cup. 

"We're just friends, Esme." I pursed my lips, "I enjoy hanging out with Jacob because we're friends. It's just like how I feel about Edward." 

"Whatever you say, Dawn." Esme shook her head slowly, like a mother exasperated with her kids as she set the kettle on the table. My ears perked as the familiar sound of tires crunching on the driveway outside announced the return of the Cullen children, followed shortly by the creak of the front door and quiet footsteps on the wooden floor. Esme turned to greet her adopted children with a smile as Jasper led Alice into the room, gently holding onto her upper arm; she was staring into space with a glazed, far off look in her eyes, lost in her visions of the future. 

"Hey guys." I smiled at the two, glancing briefly behind them when I didn't notice Rosalie or Emmett with them; more than likely they'd gone to put the car in the detached garage a couple of yards north of the house. I returned my attention to Jasper and Alice as he nodded tautly to me, his attention on his wife as he led her to the couch, "Is she seeing anything new with Edward?" 

Jasper shook his head as Alice blinked and returned to the present, sighing, "Edward's still deciding to stay away..." I mimicked her frown, "The Denalis are letting him stay up north with them while he figures everything out." 

I sighed, having figured as much as I leaned forward to put a hand on Alice's shoulder, "I'm sure when he decides to return, you'll know right away." 

Alice glanced up at me, a weak smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she gave a small, thoughtful nod before a somewhat confused look crossed her face, like she'd noticed something was missing as she lifted her gaze to the top of my head, "Your charm is still on." She pointed out, lips pursing disapprovingly. I blinked, somewhat surprised as I touched the spot my ears were supposed to be, fingertips grazing my hair. 

"Sorry, I forgot." I pulled my necklace out and lifted it to my lips, "Go free." I whispered, that familiar tingle making its way down my spine as the spell lifted, like a veil being pulled from my body. My ears sprang into existence and my tail brushed quietly against the soft cotton of the chair while I tucked the charm under my collar again, glancing up in time to catch Esme's frown and Alice crossing her arms. 

"You've never forgotten to turn that off when you've come over before..." Esme furrowed her brows in concern, searching my face, "You know you're safe to be yourself here, Dawn..." 

I nod, sighing, "Yeah, I do, but I've had to keep my charm on since Bella arrived, she doesn't know about us yet..." I rubbed my neck, "I tried to make myself forget about my charm, so I didn't accidentally turn it off when I was around her." 

"You haven't been able to figure that out?" Esme frowned and I shook my head, "Mama and I did talk about sitting down with Bella one night when were all together for dinner or something, but we never locked that in indefinitely...I still don't know what exactly we're going to do, it's been a hectic couple of days, between Bella's arrival and what happened with Edward...I haven't really gotten the chance to talk to either mama or Charlie about it." 

"I'm sure the three of you will work something out, sweetheart." Esme smiled reassuringly, putting her hand over mine again, "I know it can't be easy." 

"When is it ever easy to tell someone their family are humanoid wolves?" I snort, smiling to myself when I catch the corners of Esme and Alice's lips quirking up. "But you're right, we'll figure it out, one way or another...I just hope we do it soon." I sighed, "It sucks having to hide at home when we used to be able to be ourselves. We already have to hide when we're out in public or at school, when we're around our best friends...well, our human ones, anyway." 

Esme and Alice nodded their heads in understanding, knowing exactly how I felt since they, too, had to endure the hardships that came with living among humans, hiding our true nature from the public to keep them from discovering our world. It was frustrating and tiresome to have to keep up a constant facade, which was why we enjoyed what little freedoms we could get in our houses or out in the woods. It helped us maintain our disguise when we could have breaks where we could be who we really are instead of what we had to be to fit in. 

"Well, if you, Henry, or Geoffrey ever feel restless, you know you're all welcome here." Esme reminded me gently, drawing me out of my thoughts, "None of you have to hold anything back here. Emmett's been dying for a wrestling match with someone since he lost his last one to Jasper." She giggled, pulling a chuckle from my throat as well. 

"How am I not surprised?" I snort, knowing Emmett always loved a challenge, especially in any and all competitive sports. His competitive streak was one of the reasons he and Henry got along so well, as the two were warrant to spend all their time together competing in one thing or another. Emmett usually came out the victor, since Henry was still young, but my brother was getting stronger and faster every day and would more than likely either overtake the vampire or be on equal footing with him soon. I was looking forward to seeing Emmett's face when it happened, "I'll be sure to pass along the message to the boys, Esme, thank you. Hopefully we won't have to wait much longer, though, and we can be ourselves at home again." 

Esme and Alice nodded their agreement while I drank deeply from my teacup, glancing at the silver clock hung on the wall. It was about 3:30 now and I decided I'd probably stay for a while longer before heading home for dinner, so I could spend some more time with Esme and Alice. It was a relief to be at their house and just relax together, just be, without having to keep up appearances or pretenses. A welcome break I hadn't realized I'd been craving since Bella moved in. 

I decided to change to a lighter subject after that, hating to be the center of attention for long since I knew both Esme and Alice had lives of their own they had to worry about as well. Jasper left us to talk and headed upstairs as I asked the pair how their work in interior design and fashion were going. Esme enjoyed restoring old houses, like this one, and had been doing so for a few around Forks, all of which were coming along splendidly, she told me. That was a relief to hear, knowing it was her passion, much as fashion was for Alice. The younger vampire kept herself busy by keeping an eye on and making money off the stock markets and designing/buying clothing. Her spring line was coming along well, something I knew from the times I'd helped by modeling some of the clothes she'd designed, per her request, of course. At one point, Alice discretely tries to get me to agree to one of these modeling sessions, hinting that she might let me take some of the outfits home if I liked them, but I skillfully dance around that bomb, knowing I'd probably be here all night if I were to agree as I point out I needed to get home for dinner. Alice pouts, obviously disappointed, and I promise the next time I come over that I'll let her dress me up as much as she wants. She begrudgingly agrees and walks me to the door with Esme. 

"I'll be sure to come visit again soon, Alice." I chuckle after hugging both vampires and pulling on my shoes; Esme helped me into my jacket, gently reminding me to turn my charm back on before I left. "And I'll be sure to bring Henry and Geoffrey, too, I know they're dying to hang out here again." 

"Please do, Dawn, we'd love to have you all over." Esme smiled, squeezing my shoulder as she opened the door, "Hopefully one of these days you'll even be able to bring your stepsister over for a visit." 

I turned partially to face them again, nodding, "Maybe one day, but only after she knows your secret, too. We promised we wouldn't tell anyone else, and our family keeps our promises, especially about important stuff like this." I gently cup Esme's chin and kiss her cheek, "But, who knows, that day may come sooner than we think." 

Esme nodded her head slowly, waving as I stepped out into the cold air and jumped the steps to the gravel drive. Esme and Alice watched me climb into my Camry and I honk once in goodbye as I pulled away from the house, following their road back toward the highway.