𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Rose was up to bat next and she hit the ball farther than last time. She took off running the bases and had barely rounded the second base when I heard Alice's voice shout across the clearing, "stop the game!" 

Everyone froze and it only took a second before everyone was huddled together. Emmett was suddenly behind me, his hands on my waist, pulling me into his chest. "They were leaving, but then they heard us," Alice spoke hurriedly.

My brows drew together and I turned to look up at Emmett in search of answers. Who heard us? Edward and Emmett spoke at the same time, Emmett pulling me away and Edward doing the same to Is, "let's go."

"It's too late," Carlisle stopped them.

Emmett turned to me, his face taught and worried. "Em, what's going on?" I asked, my heart racing in my chest as I tried to process what was happening.

He shook his head, pulling off his baseball cap and putting it on my head, "just keep your head down and stay next to me, got it?"

I could see the fear in his eyes so I just nodded, "okay."

Rose looked me up and down before scoffing, "like that will help, I can smell them from across the field."

My heart was pounding in my chest as Emmett pulled me into his side, shielding me with half his body. Edward and Bella were standing behind us and off to the side while the rest of the Cullen's created a wall in front of us. I could only watch in confusion as three people raced across the field, their speed was a clear indication of what they were--vampires.

They came to a stop in front of us, two men and a woman. The man on the left was blond with long hair that was tied back, the next man was in the center of the group he had a dark complexion and dreads that fell past his shoulders, and finally there was the woman, a beautiful red head. All three of them had red eyes. My blood went ice cold in my veins and I tightened my grip on Emmett's arm.

The man in the center held up a baseball, "I believe this belongs to you."

He tossed the ball and Carlisle caught it effortlessly. "Thank you."

The dark skinned man spoke again, "I am Laurent." He then gestured to his companions on either side, "and this is Victoria. And James."

James was scanning us with his beady red eyes and I instantly dropped my head, not wanting to catch his gaze, not wanting him to find me. "I'm Carlisle, this is my family," Carlisle's voice was surprisingly calm for the tense situation we were in. "I'm afraid your hunting activities have caused something of a mess for us."

Laurent shook his head, "our apologies. We didn't realize this territory had been claimed."

"Yes, well, we maintain a permanent residence nearby," Carlisle responded.

"Really," Laurent looked toward James and then back to Carlisle, "well, we won't be a problem anymore. We were just passing through."

"The humans were tracking us, but we led them East," Victoria spoke up, smiling in a sickly sweet way, "you should be safe."

"Excellent," Carlisle simply nodded.

As the conversation droned on I could feel my skin becoming more and more hyper aware. I feared my heart was racing too loudly for their vampire ears, or that my scent was too noticeable like Rose had pointed out. I suddenly thought of Billy and Jake-- of Paul. They would surely kill me if I ended up a vampire snack. Paul would be livid, no doubt.

"So," Laurent spoke and I didn't mean to, but I jumped at the sound, my body pressing more into Emmett on instinct. His hold on my hand tightened and I felt the brush of his thumb across the back of it, he was trying to calm me, but how could I calm when there were three human-drinking-vampires standing in front of us?

"Could you use three more players?" Laurent asked, and after a moments pause, pressed, "come on, just one game?"

Everyone turned to Carlisle who shifted on his feet before nodding, "Sure, why not? A few of us were leaving," he nodded toward Emmett and Edward, "you can take their place. We'll bat first."

Carlisle tossed the ball toward them and Victoria's hand snapped out. "I'm the one with the wicked curve ball."

Jasper's voice was a southern drawl I hadn't expected as he spoke from in front of me, "well, I think we can handle that." Everyone laughed in response and Laurent and Victoria turned away with the ball, walking toward the field.

Emmett wasted no time in pulling me off toward the Jeep, his body tense beside me as he rushed forward. I was trying to keep up with him but my legs were too short and I accidentally tripped over my feet, my body fell from his hold and I quickly put out my hands to catch myself.

I quickly shuffled to my feet, dusting off my muddied hands as I did so. The wind picked up and I felt as the hat fell from my head, blowing my hair with it. I felt the moment the energy shifted, Emmett's anxiety to get me out of here turned into a more intense fear and suddenly I was being shoved behind my burly mate.

"You brought a snack," James hissed loudly and I turned just in time to catch his gaze as it drifted between me and Bella a few times before zeroing in on Bella. The Cullen's reacted quickly, shoving Bella and I behind them and guarding us with their bodies.

"A human?" Laurent asked, eying me before turning back to Carlisle.

"The girls are with us," Carlisle breathed, "I think it best if you leave."

There was a tense moment of silence before Laurent held up his hands, "I can see the game is over," he backed away a few steps, "we'll go now." It took a minute before the vampires were out of sight.

"Get the girls out of here," Carlisle instructed quickly.

Emmett didn't have to hear him twice before he was scooping me up into his arms and vamp-speeding me into the jeep. I barely had time to blink before I was being buckled in and in the next moment Emmett was starting the jeep and peeling out of the clearing and onto the road.

"Em, what's going on?" I asked, my voice shaky as I turned to him, my hands were shaking-- hell my whole body was shaking-- with fear.

Emmett glanced at me before turning back to the road, his eyes were holding the same level of fear that I felt, and that only made me worry more.

"James will be hunting you and Bella now," Emmett's words were rushed out as we sped down the road, flying through the woods at a high speed. I could feel the anxiety of my car crash rising to the surface mixing with the stress of the current situation, I grabbed onto the door tightly, my knuckles turning white. "Edward heard it, he's not going to stop until he gets you guys."

I couldn't hear a word Emmett was saying, my head was spinning in time with the trees that were blurring past. I tried to breathe but my airway was getting cut off. We were going too fast. "We need to get you somewhere safe," Emmett was still talking but it was like his voice was a thousand miles away, deafened by the sound of metal hitting metal and the sound of my mom's screams as the car flew off the road.

"S-stop," I shouted, but my words weren't shouts, they were a quite breath.

"We'll have to run until we can find James and kill him," Emmett continued, clearly not hearing my cries.

I could feel the tears pooling in my eyes and I squeezed them shut. But instead of dark nothing, I was met with the images of Sarah's mangled body as the EMT's cracked her ribs, and the screams of my mother from where she was pinned in the car. "Stop the car," I cried again, my eyes flying open, tears falling down my cheeks.

Emmett still didn't hear me, "I promise, 'Livia, he won't hurt you. I won't let him lay a finger on you."

My body was shaking and I could feel my chest caving in on itself, I needed out, I needed air, I needed-- "Stop the car!" I finally shouted, my voice breaking through Emmett's rambling. He hit the brakes and the jeep skidded to a stop.

"What's going on?" Emmett asked, but I ignored him.

The seat belt was trapping me in the car and the air was too thick. I flew out of the car before I could process what I was doing. My breaths were coming in short pants and I couldn't breath, I couldn't think, I couldn't feel anything. I was reliving my worst memory and all I could do was cry as I fell from the jeep and onto the cool asphalt of the roadway.

I was doubled over, my whole body shaking in fear, I couldn't stop the spiraling panic attack from washing over me. I hadn't had one in so long, but here we are. "'Livia," Emmett breathed gently, his hands grasping my trembling hands in his, "what's happening?"

I shook my head, hiccuping through my tears. I pushed myself forward and into Emmett's arms, his arms and body completely cocooned me. He was safe. My body slowly relaxed into his arms, my tears slowing after a moment.

Now wasn't the time for a panic attack, but I couldn't help it.

"We were going too fast," I explained, my face still buried in his chest. "I get... panic attacks sometimes. Ever since I was in that accident with my--" my voice broke off and I squeezed my eyes shut, my moms cries still echoing in my head, "my mom and Sarah, I sometimes get nervous in the car."

Emmett tensed beneath me for a moment before hugging me tighter, I hadn't mentioned my mom and her accident except for the first time we hung out, and even then it was vague. But now it was like it wouldn't stop pouring out of me. Maybe it was the anxiety or maybe it was the fact that he was my mate and I knew he was with me forever, no matter what; but I found myself admitting a truth I had only voiced to my therapist once in the six years since. 

"It was all my fault," I choked out

"What was your fault?" Emmett asked, his voice was so soothing but even he couldn't stop me from hating myself so much. It was horrible, the feeling of guilt I got whenever I thought about the accident. It was like the emotion was devouring me from my chest outward, an ache I couldn't stop once it started.

I took a shaky breath, still not pulling my face out from Emmett's chest. Sure, I could tell him what I did but facing him while saying it? No way.

"It was my fault we were even in the car that day, my mom and Sarah wanted to go to the beach, it was such a nice day out and they wanted to spend it in the sand. But I wanted ice cream, and not the kind on the res either, I told them we had to go to Forks," I shook my head, "I kept begging them until they finally gave in.

"If I hadn't pushed them so much, they'd still be here." The words weighed heavy on my mind.

Emmett pulled me away from him and for the briefest of moments I feared it was because he agreed with me, that he was disgusted that I'd cause something so horrible to happen. "No, 'Livia," his eyes were soft as they gazed down into mine, "you didn't do anything wrong. None of what happened was your fault." 

"But-"

"No. No buts." He shook his head, not letting me argue with him, "bad things happen sometimes and there is nothing we can do about it. You can't blame yourself for your mom's accident, especially since you had no idea what would've happened."

The logic was the same my therapist had used when I shared my guilt with her, but still it landed on deaf ears. I let out a breath, breaking eye contact because damn his eyes could trap me. "Okay. Lets just go, we have bigger things to worry about right now anyways," I stood up, Emmett following suit. "Like a crazy vampire wanting to eat me and my best friend."

I started walking back toward the jeep but paused once my hand was on the handle, "just, please drive slower."

Emmett immediately nodded and we were on the road again in moments.