𝖧 𝖮 𝖬 𝖤 ─ 𝗉𝖺𝗎𝗅 𝗅𝖺𝗁𝗈𝗍𝖾

| 𝟢𝟤

     "LIZZIE!" Josie yells in frustration as she bangs on the bathroom door, growing annoyed that her sister was using all of the hot water in the house.

I can't help but chuckle, cracking open the bathroom door and letting Josie in as she peers past me to see Lizzie finally stepping out of the shower.

My toothbrush dangled from my mouth as Josie slumps her shoulders and groaned in annoyance. "I don't understand why I have to share a bathroom with dad!"

Josie cries as she shuffles past us and sits down on the toilet seat.

"You can have as many bathrooms as you like, once you have a job and are paying for it, honey." Uncle Alaric exclaims as he leans on the bathroom door with his arms crossed.

Lizzie scoffs at her father, as she adjusts her towel and pats Josie on the top of her head. "Sorry Jo, but Ellie and I are the oldest so it makes sense we share bathrooms."

"That's doesn't make any sense, Lizzie!" Jo grumbles, but sighs once again as her father just laughs and kicks open their bathroom door across the hall so that she could go into it. "I hate being the youngest!"

I quickly finish brushing my teeth before pecking her on the cheek as she passes by, moving to the side as Lizzie jokingly sticks out her tongue behind Josie's back and shuts the door.

"I love her, I swear." Lizzie promises, before moving to my side so that she could blow dry her hair. I run my brush calmly through my own hair, shaking my head for a moment at her response before finishing up.

A month had now passed since moving here, and things weren't perfect but they were getting better over time.

I had started my Sophomore year and made a few friends of my own. One of them being Bella Swan, who I had actually been friends with when I was younger.

Apparently, she had moved back here last year from Arizona and her father still lived next door to us.

Other than that, I spent most of my time with Lizzie and Josie.

I had briefly met Bella's boyfriend and a few of his odd family members, none of them really seeming to catch my attention- especially the way they caught everyone else's in this town.

There was something very strange about them, and despite the pixie-cut Alice constantly trying to be my friend, I really couldn't find myself spending much time with them.

It wasn't so much as I found them terrible, but there was this weird sensation in my core telling me to stay clear of them. And I've learned the hard way that not listening to your gut can ruin your life.

"Did you hear that Edward and his family just up and disappeared?" Lizzie gossiped, causing me to look up from the book I was reading at the kitchen table.

Josie gasped behind her coffee mug. "That's awful, do you know what happened?"

Lizzie shrugged her shoulders and ran her hand through her blonde hair as she hopped up on the countertop and crossed her legs. "No idea, but Jessica just texted me the news."

I rolled my eyes at the two for gossiping, as I set my book down and got up from the kitchen table.

"Where ya goin', Lou?" Josie perked up as she watched me grab my coat from the coatrack and put it on.

I smile at her, knowing she still meant well despite her curiosity. "I'm gonna go check up on Bella."

I exit the house after casting Lizzie a scolding look, still adjusting to the cold Washington air as it nipped recklessly at my face.

Making my way down the driveway, I take in a deep breath and enjoy the smell of firewood lingering in the air, barely noticing the flashing lights on Charlie's cruiser before I realized something was wrong and rushed over as quickly as possible.

Charlie looked up from the map he was observing with his friend Billy Black , whom I recognized from my childhood. Jacob stood over his father's shoulder and was the first to notice me approaching.

"Hey Elle, have you heard from Bella?" Everyone looked up at me as I stopped in my tracks just a few feet from them.

I shake my head, my eyes softening as Charlie sighed and turned back to what he was doing.

Jacob came to my side a few seconds later, wrapping an arm around my shoulders to keep me warm as the cold wind began to pick up.

"She's been missing for a few hours, no one has heard from or seen her since this morning."

I shake my head, realizing Edward must have left sometime after Jacob had shown up at our school with a birthday gift for Bella.

Not wanting to let my mind wander over the possibilities, I lean into Jacob's warmth and look out into the woods in the hope that Bella would come walking out safely.

A couple of hours passed, and everyone seemed on edge trying to figure out where Bella could be. Uncle Alaric had shown up about half an hour ago with food and hot beverages to keep everyone warm, but still, no one had heard anything.

It wasn't until hope was almost gone before Billy Black nudged Charlie and pointed towards the woods.

Feeling Jacob tense, I look up and follow his gaze as a bulky and shirtless man walked out of the woods carrying an unconscious Bella safely in his arms.

Charlie didn't hesitate to go running towards him, taking his daughter out of his arms as he did so.

"She's alright." Sam Ulley stated, peering over at Harry Clearwater and then at Jacob who unwrapped his arm from my shoulders and glared at him.

"Thank you Sam." Charlie spoke, pulling his daughter close and nodding his head at everyone in silent appreciation before disappearing into his home.

I looked between the two people before me, Sam shaking his head at Jacob before turning and disappearing back into the woods while Jacob just grit his teeth and turned to help his father and Harry pack up their equipment.

Feeling out of place, I send one last look towards Bella's house before deciding to go back to my own.

     CLIMBING UP THE STAIRCASE, I hear giggling coming from Lizzie's room and can't help but raise my eyebrow as I follow it. Pushing open the door, I laugh as both Lizzie and Josie's heads pop up from under the covers.

"Shh, dad's asleep." Josie motions me over, lifting the blanket for me to crawl in next to her as Lizzie climbs over and forces me into the middle as they both tried not to laugh too loud.

I wasn't sure what was going on, but I didn't mind as we all laid next to each other and stared up at the glowing stars that we had thrown up onto the ceiling when we were younger. I guess Lizzie still loved looking up at them too, or else they would surely be gone by now.

"They found Bella," I whisper.

Josie nodded her head and snuggled closer to me as Lizzie takes a deep breath and lets it out before turning to face the two of us.

"I don't know what I'd do if either of you ever went missing," she chewed on her lips before continuing with a stern voice. "So just don't do it, okay?"

I chuckle softly at her, but nod my head and hold up my pinky to promise her like I always did when we were kids. "I promise to do my best."

Josie giggles and holds up her pinky too, before Lizzie smiles and joins our pinky promise before we all drifted off to sleep.