𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

(note: this chapter is just quick snippets bridging the time jump between last chapter and the start of New Moon)

𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲

The next morning I was awoken by the sound of a knock on my door. I groaned in response, unable to open my eyes more than a crack, just enough to peak at my alarm clock that read 10:45 AM. I was exhausted.

My door pushed open and I had to blink a few times to fully wake myself up. Jake was standing in the doorway, holding a plate of pancakes with a candle in it. 

"Happy birthday!" He yelled, much too loud for the morning. Still I smiled and pushed myself up to a sitting position.

"Thank you," I yawned.

Jake moved toward my bed, sitting down next to my knees and holding the plate in front of me. "Make a wish."

I couldn't contain the happy smile that curled at my lips. For as long as I could remember my mom used to wake me up every birthday with pancakes and a candle sticking out. When I was ten and she died, I thought the tradition would die with her. But Billy and Jake made sure to carry it on for me. Each birthday since has always been a bitter sweet reminder of the woman who gave me life.

I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking up a wish before blowing the candle out. As I opened my eyes and looked at my brother, I couldn't help but think my wish was going to come true.

All I wanted this year was for my two worlds to coexist. I will wish it upon every star and every birthday candle if I have to. I just want to be happy.

And this feels like the year it will happen.

𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭

"You want to meet him?" I asked for the third time, the request still not computing with my brain. I mean, come on, Billy Black, my adoptive father, notorious vampire-hater, wants to meet my very vampire boyfriend. It was more than confusing.

"Why do you want to meet him anyways?" Jake grumbled from where he was sitting next to me at the small kitchen table, pushing his green beans around on his plate. We were at dinner when my dad had made the odd request.

Billy chucked lightly at our expressions, "look, I'm not gonna say I like his family or their... choices." Billy carefully worded it, not wanting to raise suspicion in Jake who wasn't allowed to know the big secret. "But, given the circumstances I'd at least like to meet the guy you're seein'."

I nodded slowly, opting to take a drink of water to wet my dry mouth. "Would he come here...?" I trailed off, curious as to how this meeting would go since there was a treaty in place and everything.

"No, I figured we could meet at the diner in Forks. Tomorrow night, let him know," Billy gave me a pointed nod before turning back to his plate.

I took a breath. "Alright, I'll call him after dinner."

𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭

"It'll be okay. It's just dinner," I breathed anxiously, my hand gripping Emmett's in a vice grip under the table. "It'll be fine, right?"

Emmett chuckled, his laugh echoing loudly in the small diner. We'd caught more than one stare since walking in ten minutes ago, and his laugh was gaining us a few more from some Forks High students in a corner booth. I guess people weren't used to seeing the notorious Cullen's out and about, let alone with someone like me.

"It's just dinner, babe," Emmett's words did little to soothe me.

I gave him a look, "why aren't you nervous? He can be pretty scary when he wants to be."

Emmett's eyes twinkled with mischief as he bent down close enough to whisper in my ear. "In case you've forgotten, I'm kind of indestructable."

"I wouldn't be too sure," I jumped away from Emmett as my dad's voice broke through.

Despite Emmett saying he wasn't nervous, his back snapped straight and he gave my dad a nervous smile. All confidence went out the window as he eyed the older man in a wheelchair.

It might've been a bit comical if I wasn't so nervous myself.

𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭

I was lying on a blanket on the beach, my head resting against a jacket I'd propped up against Paul's leg. His fingers were playing with the ends of my hair, lulling me to a near sleep. 

Emmett was busy today, needing to hunt, so I decided to spend the day with Paul. Emmett didn't mind mine and Paul's friendship, even with our history. His only complaint was how I smelled afterwards, so I always made sure to shower twice before meeting back up with Emmett.

Though, even if Emmett found it odd or upsetting, I'm not sure I'd care. I know that sounds bad, but it's Paul. He was my longest friend, my best friend and the only one whose been there always. The thought of being without him made my heart ache.

I felt guilty whenever I thought about him like that, in an aching sort of pining way. It wasn't that I wanted to be with Paul more than Emmett; Emmett was my soul mate so of course he was my first choice. 

But there was something about Paul Lahote that I knew I'd always hold close to my heart. Maybe it's the fact he was my first love... my first everything. Or maybe it's because he was such a good friend. Whatever the case, it was a secret feeling I'd surely take to the grave.

"How did it go with Billy and Cullen yesterday?" He asked, his voice just loud enough to keep me on the edge of consciousness.

I hummed in question, causing Paul to laugh before repeating himself, this time slightly louder. "It was fine," I blinked open my eyes, having to squint against the dim light of the sun. It was near sunset but still a bit too bright out to comfortably open my eyes all the way. "I think they got on okay, given the circumstances."

Paul nodded in thought, his eyes leaving mine to instead face toward the ocean. He looked deep in thought, it was a pensive look he'd been wearing a lot lately. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but Paul hated being pushed so, I let it be. He'll talk to me when he's ready.

"Does he make you happy," Paul asked after a moment, his gaze dropping back to me.

I nodded without hesitation. "Yeah," I breathed with a smile, "he does."