Disclaimer

Twilight and all affiliated characters are the property of Stephanie Meyer. I do not own any of the aforementioned characters except Beth and the plot of this story (that is, should it stray from the original Twilight). This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official storyline. I am not in any way, shape, or form benefiting financially from the publishing of this story on this site and am very grateful for Mrs. Meyer's creation. Besides, if I did own Twilight, I'd curse Edward for being a creepy fuck. Ah, heck- I do it anyway...

Edward Cullen was surprisingly absent the following day. Whether it had been because of the shock of what had occurred in the theater or because Beth was finally entertaining him again, she didn't really know. In fact, it was more of a passing observation than one of real concern. Afterall, he was his own person and had a life to live all on his own and so did she.

"They always take off when the weather is great," Jessica had supplied, unprovoked after catching sight of Beth's slightly raised eyebrows surveying the dewy grass that populated Forks' High Lawn.

Everywhere they turned, people were laying down their parkas, sitting down with their friends and soaking in the rare rays of sunlight that poked through the near constant cloud cover they'd been having for over a month. Bella was one of the few soaking it in, applying a miniscule amount of sunscreen to her pale skin, despite there being barely much heat. But, Beth supposed, it couldn't hurt to be safe than sorry.

Stretching slightly, she couldn't place the feeling that she had growing along her spine. Looking around again, she saw nothing out of place, only a few boys tossing a football to each other by the looming forest edge whose imposing trees slightly swayed. Beams of weak sunlight cast down on them and Betch could have sworn she saw something moving through the trees. But when her eyes had caught up, nothing had been there.

"Good for them," she replied, taking a bite of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Bella, beside her, shot her an indecipherable look before turning back to her own lunch.

"Jess, when are you planning on going to look for your dress?" asked Angie, taking off her glasses to clean the finite smudges that always bothered and impeded her vision.

Bella groaned next to her, having no doubt just remembered what going to the dance would actually entail even if she was going with Angela. Beth snickered internally, wondering what her sister's reaction would be when Bella realized that she was expected to dance.

The blonde sitting on the picnic table tugged at her top, exposing just a small peak of the tops of her breasts before shrugging and looking around to see if anyone had seen what she was doing, flushing slightly when she caught sight of a Senior checking her out.

"I was hoping to go later today," she smacked her lips, "My mom already said yes, so I just need to decide when I wanna go, you know?"

Angie nodded, "Yeah, totally. Do you think I could bum a ride?"

The girl nodded in acquiesce before turning to the other two brunettes present at the table, "Do you guys want to tag along? Or do you already have something to wear, Bella?"

The twins shared a glance, simultaneously shaking their heads 'no' before Bella managed to stutter out a reply about asking Charlie for permission first. It wasn't a question about whether or not they'd be allowed. It was more about giving him a better heads up or better notice before they went prancing off that same evening. Yeah, Beth could definitely see that Charlie would have difficulties warming up to that idea, especially with all of those recent deaths happening all across the state, getting closer with every passing day.

Jess frowned a little but before she could ask why, a loud yell was heard across the lawn,

"Ugh! Grow up Lauren!"

Bella swung around, hair hitting her sister in the mouth, who'd suddenly got a great whiff of Strawberry scented hair and strands nearly going into her mouth with her next bite of her sandwich. Smacking her lightly in reprieve, she too turned to see what had caught everyone's attention.

It was Isabel and Lauren having a heated argument, if the expressions on their faces were anything to go by. And if that hadn't given it away, when Isabel angrily threw her so-called best friend's bag at her feet and tossed her the bird, surely did the job. The brown haired girl stormed away without further adieu, stomping directly up to their table before she let out a huff of air and sat down without a word or a look in any direction, mindful of all of the increased whispering, stares and laughs coming from their less than subtle peers around them.

Beth was the first person to break the stilted silence with a snort, "So Port Angeles?"

That did it. Too bad the same couldn't be said about that strange feeling that only increased as the day went on.

In the end, Jess had bailed for going on a date with Mike. Thus the girls decided that instead of going that day, they'd go on Wednesday instead.

And so, after another day sans Edward, a long raucous drive out to Port Angeles coupled with good vibes and an impromptu karaoke session (which Bella decided not to partake in), the quintet arrived at a quaint little shop near the docks where small dinghies and yachts swayed gently on the evening waves. The air was crisp, breaths coming out of chapped, half-frozen lips like a small cloud as the sun cast a beautiful array of pink, purple and blue-grey hues on the horizon.

"Wow," Beth remarked as she took in the sight, before being dragged inside the warm boutique called Pretty Parlor for the first stop.

"Hey, Beth," Jess' voice piped up from her dressing room a few minutes later, pale legs peeking under the indigo curtain they had used as a weak attempt at privacy for those changing in the changing rooms, "what's up with you and Edward?"

Bella, who had been browsing through a wrack of dresses on her left, paused in her search to glimpse at her twin. Even Isabel who'd accompanied them and was in the process of zipping Angie's dress up ceased chattering to hear what Beth would respond with.

Sighing, the girl in question bookmarked her spot, blinking blearily as her tired eyes drifted to the ceiling to stall for time as she gave the impression of thinking. But truly, she had to be diplomatic about how she'd answer because not one but two of Forks High's main gossipers were within earshot (read Isabel and Jessica) and would most likely repeat any and everything she said to literally everyone.

"It's nothing really. I think he wants to be friends..?" She shrugged, not really knowing the best way to answer that question.

The blonde/brunette poked her head out of the dressing 'room' to catch a glimpse of the girl to see if she was lying but in truth Beth had no real clue why Edward had chosen to speak to her all of those times. All signs pointed to him being bothered by her presence in one way or another based on the sole fact that he'd been very rude for 60% of all of their interactions..though that did nothing to explain why Edward then tried to hold conversations with her and apologize for his behavior. Why would someone continuously try to place themselves in situations that they know would make them uncomfortable to the point of being visibly agitated? Beth proposed Edward was either a masochist or a wallflower trying to branch off.

"He's never really spoken to anyone like he does to you, it's kind of strange." Isabel finally perked up, fingers finally clasping the top of Angela's dress so that the bespeckled brunette could finally see her reflection properly.

"Maybe he's antisocial?" Bella tried to save her. "That dress looks great Angie."

"Really?" The girl in question fiddles with the floral, lavender silk of her dress.

"Definitely, that's so you," Jessica agreed before turning back to Beth, a visage of a reporter dead set on weaseling out a good story from a poor unfortunate soul. "Lauren's been telling everyone that you guys are secretly dating..?"

Beth spluttered, book slipping from her grasp as her mind fought the very thought of him being in any way romantically interested in her, "We are not dating. I barely know this guy,"

Bella snorted unapologetically, taking a seat. She decided to take a break from looking for an appropriate dress that she might like. Her sister glared at her, opening her book to the previous page in a poor attempt at ending the conversation.

From her spot, half deep in a pile of fluffy sequin dresses, Isabel scoffed loudly, "We all know that's not the only thing she's been saying. But that's Lauren for you; always sticking her nose into things that don't concern her, as usual."

Angie fidgeted, brushing her hair back and over her shoulder before holding it up to see what style would suit her best. The poor girl was so uncomfortable, it was plain to see and Beth could do more than relate. Clearing her throat, she tried again to direct her attention to the words that were no longer registering in her brain.

"Why were you guys arguing, if you don't mind me asking?" It was Angie that spoke then, tossing a glimpse at the frowning girl. "It looked pretty serious.."

Isabel huffed, plopping onto a nearby chair, the wood cracking slightly with the abrupt amount of her body weight that fell into it.

The shopkeeper, who was being rather nosy as she tried her best to conceal her own eagerness to listen to the gossip behind an upside down magazine, shot a glance at the girl. Eyebrows furrowed, Beth rolled her eyes at the lady.

"Lauren isn't the same person anymore," Isabel explained, arms folding in front of her torso. "She's so much more bitter and just,like, so vapid all the time that I can barely stand it anymore."

Beth spoke, nose still buried in her book but mind present in the exchange," Well, that's what tends to happen, hun. People grow and change all the time. People aren't stagnant and we just have to learn to adapt. It's human nature."

The girl got up again, moving to another pile of dresses that caught her eye, "I know. Our friendship probably wouldn't have lasted much longer anyways because we wanted different things in life. Lauren had this big plan to go to med school in Berkley and my dad really wants me to go college in Seattle."

Jessica looked away, adjusting the bust of a pretty Burgundy dress with a deep neckline that did everything to accentuate her large bosom.

"It will get better," Angela went to give her a hug, the shorter girl accepting it gratefully.

"I hope so," she sighed, "I really wanted to go explore a yoga school in the Philippines and my dad is making it really difficult."

Jessica sighed dreamily,"That sounds like heaven,"

Beth snorted, "it's heaven until you realize that it costs over two thousand dollars to stay for the length of the program and travel to the country."

Jess made a choking noise as she disappeared behind the curtain.

"Yep," Isabel confirmed, "But I'd sell my left boob and do it anyway."

"You can do that?" Bella inquired, and looked away when her sister glanced at her with concern visible on her features.

The girls laughed, catching sight of the siblings' interaction before Beth finally decides to get some coffee to wake herself up, as it doesn't look like Bella or Isabel will be as successful as Jessica and Angela were in finding the perfect dress for the formal.

"Do you even know where you're going?" Bella asked.

At her inquiry, Beth stopped at the counter, eyeing the nosy shopkeeper before grabbing a small information flier about Port Angeles that had a little map of the north coast and all the hot restaurants and cafes that she'd spotted when they'd just come in.

"I'll be fine," Beth assured, waving the flimsy piece of paper in the air in salute.

"We'll be at Samila's next!" She heard Jess call out as the store bell rang when she opened the glass door, the chime ringing again upon being closed.

Standing on the sidewalk, Beth opened the flier, and began walking to a cozy looking cafe that was advertised on the front, snorting when she saw a fancy (read corny) looking restaurant called 'Bella Italia' of all things.