"Looking for something?" Diane asked as she entered the kitchen to find Lark staring intently into the fridge, her eyes scanning over its contents.
"Do we have mustard?" Lark asked her mother, peeking out of the fridge and turning her gaze to the woman.
Diane stood behind Lark, peering into the refrigerator before leaning forward and picking up the yellow squeeze bottle.
"Right in front of your eyes, dear." Diane said with a grin, passing it to Lark.
"Thanks," she said, turning back to the sandwiches she had been making, and Diane eyed the open picnic basket sitting on the kitchen table.
"Any fun plans today?" she mused, eyeing her daughter suspiciously.
"Paul and I are having a picnic." Lark explained, spreading the mustard onto the ham sandwiches and putting them into ziplock bags. "And then we're going cliff diving."
"You really like this boy, don't you?" Diane asked her. "From the little bit we saw of him at the memorial, he seems nice."
"Yeah, he's... something." Lark said, shaking her head and closing the picnic basket, her eyes landing on the pile of mail Tristan had brought in earlier that morning, especially on a tiny card laying at the top of the pile addressed to the Hudson family.
Isabella Marie Swan
and
Edward Anthony Masen Cullen
Together with their families
request the honor of your presence
at the celebration of their marriage
Saturday, the thirteenth of August,
two thousand and six
five o'clock in the evening
420 Woodcroft Ave
Forks, WA
Lark picked up the invitation, studying it with a small smile, even though she had been the one to address them all and send each of them out. She was proud of the work she and Alicia had done to create them, and loved the simple, elegant design on them. Though she hadn't known Bella very long, she was happy for her, after seeing how happy she and Edward seemed to be around each other in the few instances they had all been together.
"I should get going." Lark said, shutting the picnic basket and giving her mother a small hug before lifting it up. "Bye Mom."
"Have fun," Diane said as Lark left the house, getting into her Jeep and setting the basket in the passenger seat next to her.
Lark drove the short distance to La Push with her window down, relishing the warm summer air. Weather in Forks was always hit or miss, sunny or rainy, but that day was bright and warm, perfect for the occasion. The birds were chirping, and she was hit by the sweet smell of the evergreens in the breeze as she drove past the forested area.
By the time she drove up to the cliffside where they were going to have their picnic, she found Paul already waiting for her in the grassy area. He smiled as she arrived, parking her car next to his truck, and she grabbed the picnic blanket and basket, hopping onto the gravel road.
"There she is!" Paul announced as she walked over to him, setting down the basket.
"Hi," she said, with a smile, spreading out the blanket and taking a seat as Paul opened the picnic basket.
"Let's see what we have here..." he said, rummaging through the basket. "ham?"
Lark nodded in confirmation. "Two for you because I know you have quite the appetite."
"And Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles..." he continued, his smile growing.
"The superior chip," Lark confirmed.
"And iced tea." he said with a satisfied grin. "I might just keep you around, after all."
"Speaking of which..." Lark trailed off, taking her sandwich out of its ziplock bag. "...so the invites for Edward and Bella's wedding came in the mail today. And I was wondering if you'd like to come as my date. I know you guys aren't super fond of them, and you're allowed to say no, but I just thought I'd ask."
"No, no, I'd love to." he assured her.
"Really?" she asked, taken aback.
Paul nodded. "Really. Am I extremely fond of the Cullens? Not exactly. But can I stand being around them for a few hours if it means I get to bust a move on the dance floor and embarrass you? Of course."
Lark rolled her eyes, fighting the smile that threatened to creep up by taking another bite of her sandwich. "You are impossible," she said.
Paul shrugged as he finished his first sandwich and pulled out the second one. "I tell it like it is."
"So what's been going on?" Lark asked, switching the subject. "I haven't seen you in a while."
"I went to Tacoma to see my mom for a few days." he explained, turning his gaze off the cliff to watch the ocean spread out around them. "It was okay. I miss her a lot, so I'm glad I got to see her. Her and my dad still aren't on the best of terms, even after all these years, so I don't see her very often."
Paul sighed, standing up and holding his hand out to Lark.
"Come on," he said, "enough being sad, let's go jump off a cliff."
"So subtle, Lahote." Lark said with a sly grin, taking his hand and allowing him to pull her onto her feet.
Lark packed up the picnic basket and folded the blanket and returned them to her car, shedding off her shirt and shorts to reveal the swimsuit she wore underneath. She tossed the clothing into her car along with her shoes before walking back over to where Paul was waiting, surveying the water below.
"Just think, a few weeks ago we had to drag you up here." Paul mused, smiling down at Lark. "Now you're ready and raring to go. Are you ready to jump off on your own?"
"Absolutely not," she said, reaching out and taking his hand.
Paul smirked. "That's what I thought."
Paul took a few steps back, pulling her along with him as they allowed themselves room to get a running start. He looked back at her, jumping up and down in anticipation.
"Try not to die," he said before the two started to run, taking a leap off the cliff at the last second and flying through the air.
Lark couldn't help but smile at the rush of adrenaline that surged through her body as they plummeted to the water below. She lifted up her arms, pulling Paul's up in return, and gave a holler of glee, feeling as if she were flying. They hit the water with a splash, their hands breaking apart against the pressure of the tide as they went under, and Lark kicked her legs in an attempt to regain control and push herself back up above the surface.
She broke the surface of the water with a gasp, catching her breath and looking around with a smile, her eyes landing on Paul reaching the surface a few moments later. The two watched each other silently, the only audible sounds that of their breathing as they tried to get it back under control after the jump.
"See?" he asked. "You're getting the hang of it."
Lark treaded water as Paul swam over to her with a smile, closing the distance between them and pressing his lips to hers. She shut her eyes as she kissed him back for a moment before he pulled away, her cheeks tinged pink when her eyes fluttered open again.
"Come on," he said, jerking his head back in the direction of the shore as he swam around her. "let's go again."