A/N: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed this first Act of Awaiting Dusk! It's been such a challenge finishing this ACT as I think I've depleted the patience I have for rewatching the first Twilight movie. I think the final count was 12, but I can't be sure. It's all blurring together to be honest. But boy am I glad to be quarter way through the entire series! It's been a rollercoaster. I expect the next ACT will be posted before the end of August as I sort out the details, so hang in there! Remember to comment and vote <3.

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 be able to afford therapy for all my trauma.

Charlie had always been a man of intuition. As he sat in his car, staring at the remains of the truck that had taken such a terrible accident just a few days ago, a nagging feeling tugged at his consciousness. Something didn't add up. The skid marks on the road, the angle at which the car had crashed into the tree—it all seemed too unusual for a simple accident.

His furrowed brows deepened as he recalled the details about that fateful evening. Bella had been driving back from a friend's house and she'd lost control of the car due to a deer running out into the road. The truck had spun out, crashing into a tree at an angle that had left Bella with a leg cast and a mild concussion.

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The gymnasium was transformed into a world of twinkling lights, draped fabrics, and a dance floor alive with laughter and music. Bella stood at the entrance, her heart pounding against her ribcage like a wild bird trying to escape. Her leg cast felt like an anchor, a reminder of her recent accident, and she couldn't help but feel self-conscious in the sea of elegantly dressed couples swaying to the rhythm.

Her friends Angela, Jessica, Mike, Ben, and Eric surrounded her, their excited chatter almost drowning out the music. They were all dressed to the nines, ready to embrace the magic of prom night. Bella had convinced herself that she could enjoy the evening despite her limitations, but as the first notes of a slow song filled the air, her anxiety began to rise.

Jessica nudged her playfully. "Come on, Bella! It's a dance, not a Trig test. Just move to the music!"

Bella managed a shy smile, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "I'm trying, Jess."

Angela took Bella's hand, her eyes filled with understanding. "Don't worry, Bella. Nobody here is an expert dancer. We're all just having fun."

Bella appreciated her friends' encouragement, and she allowed herself to be led to the dance floor. As the soft melodies enveloped them, Bella watched her friends move to the rhythm, their laughter infectious. She tried to mimic their steps, swaying side to side, her movements hesitant and awkward.

The DJ switched to an upbeat song, and the group reunited on the dance floor. They formed a circle, and Eric showed off his amusing dance moves, making everyone burst into laughter. Bella swayed and moved as best she could, feeling more at ease as the evening wore on.

When the next slow song started, Ben held out his hand to Bella. "Would you like to dance?"

Bella hesitated for a moment, but then she smiled and took his hand. As they danced, Ben made small talk, sharing anecdotes that made her laugh. She felt grateful for her friends' support and the way they made her feel included despite her leg cast.

As the night continued, Bella began to let go of her inhibitions. She found herself dancing with each of her friends, each dance more carefree than the last. Jessica spun her around, Angela twirled her, and even Eric attempted a more traditional dance move that had everyone in stitches.

Bella looked around at her friends, her heart full of gratitude. Despite her initial awkwardness and self-consciousness, she had managed to enjoy herself and create wonderful memories- a stark contrast to the dark, foreboding memories that would haunt her for months to come. 

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Back at home, the night draped itself over Forks, a tapestry of starlight and shadow.The chilly evening air wrapped around Elizabeth like a soft embrace as she sat alone on the porch steps. A thin shawl wrapped around her shoulders, her breath misting in the cool air. The moon cast a soft glow on the surroundings, and a quiet hush settled over the town. The distant sounds of crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl were the only disruptions in the serene atmosphere. In the distance, the distant, quiet hum of an engine grew louder, and Edward's familiar silver car pulled up in front of her house. Lost in her contemplations, she was startled when headlights approached, illuminating her in their glow.

He stepped out, his gaze fixed on Beth, a mixture of concern and something deeper in his eyes.

"Mind if I sit?" he asked, his tone casual and his breath misting in front of him.

Elizabeth shook her head, a small smile gracing her lips. "Not at all. It'd be nice to have some company." With Bella off to her Monte Carlo themed prom night with Eric and the others and Charlie down at the station - truthfully, she'd wanted to be alone for a while to be able to process everything that had happened in the past four days, but Edward's presence was welcome despite it all.

Edward settled beside her, his presence comforting despite the chill in the air. For a moment, Beth couldn't help but reflect on how far they'd come- from the loathing she'd felt toward him and how easily she'd forgiven after all his persistence and constant wave of apologies. How he'd managed to tear down the wall of skepticism she'd felt after he told her what he was. Never had she felt so grateful about the fact that she had allowed him to stay in her life, if only to save Bella. They sat in silence for a moment, the quietude of the night surrounding them like a protective barrier.

"It's so peaceful here," she commented, tracing the patterns of the stars above. The moon cast a silvery glow over their surroundings, adding a touch of enchantment to the night.

"Yes, that's one of the reasons my family and I love living in Forks. The nights here always have a certain kind of stillness. The quietness, especially at night, is like a balm for the soul." Edward mused, breaking the silence.

Elizabeth nodded in agreement, her gaze never leaving the expanse before them. "I get that. There's something about the night that makes everything feel... different. It's like the world slows down, and you can just... breathe. Like it holds its own kind of magic."

He turned his head to look at her, his expression softening as she continued to gaze up and outwards. "It's a canvas for thoughts and feelings that we keep hidden during the day," he continued.

Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat, wondering what he was thinking.

They continued to sit there, side by side, the quietude of the night wrapping around them. Then Edward began, his voice barely a whisper, "Sometimes I wish things were different."

Elizabeth turned to him, brown eyes meeting him in the soft moonlight. "What do you mean?"

"After what happened with Bella, I debated with myself for a long time if I should leave now and spare you of all the dangers that being involved with me would bring. It scared me more than I realized- the possibility of that being you one day."

A shadow seemed to pass over Edward's features, his voice tinged with a bucket of guilt. "I let her get hurt because of my world."

Her chest tightened painfully at the mention of him leaving and Elizabeth's brow furrowed with concern, body angling towards him "Edward, you're not responsible for the choices others make."

He looked down, his fingers tracing an intricate pattern on the step. "I know, but I can't shake the feeling. And I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you," He turned away, jaw clenching.

Elizabeth reached out, gently placing her hand on top of his cold ones. "You can't control everything. What happened with Bella was a freak accident, but it's not your fault. It could have happened to me, to Charlie- Heck! It could have happened with or without you and your family there to help. And then where would Bella be?"

He met her gaze, his ochre eyes searching hers for something she couldn't quite define and something like pain flitted across his features as his nostrils flared. He opened his mouth as though he very badly wanted to say something before he swallowed audibly and looked down at their hands, tangling their fingers together. Something tugged at Beth's heartstrings then and she fought to push it down, unwilling to acknowledge the blooming affection between them.

Her tongue darted out to wet her lips as they grew chapped and Edward's eyes flickered up to chase the movement. He looked at her then, a mixture of intense emotions in his gaze,

"I love you, Elizabeth."

A slow blush crept onto Elizabeth's cheeks, her heart fluttering beneath her ribs at the sudden admission. She hadn't been expecting this at all. Ever so gently, his hand squeezed hers as his head ducked closer.

"Edward..." Elizabeth's gaze softened as she rested her head on his forehead, squeezing his hands back. "Edward.... I'm not ready," she confessed quietly into the night. "I don't know if I ever will be."

He let out a quiet sigh, lifting his gaze drifting back to the distant horizon only he could see beyond the trees. "I know."

She breathed a rough breath, her free hand carding through her brown locks as she came to terms with what he had just said. "I'm afraid of what might happen. I-I mean, you just said that you wanted to leave..."

"I won't leave you unprotected," He shook his head, profile illuminated by the gentle moonlight. "But I understand."

Elizabeth's gaze lingered on his face, her voice barely audible. "Yeah, I know."

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"Dinner's ready, you old boot!" Helen called up to him.

Geoffrey heaved himself up from his desk and made to go to the landing above the stairs, his knees creaking with his old age, "I'm coming, woman!" He really needed to start exercising again soon. Old age was doing him no favors and with the numbers only going up, it would become a cause for concern sooner rather than later.

A dark presence loomed in the shadows behind him, a streak of bright red hair curling in the night before a force pushed with unnatural strength, sending him tumbling down the stairs.

A sickening crack echoed through the house as Grandpa Geoffrey's neck snapped, and his life was snuffed out. The scene was staged to look like a tragic accident, but the truth was far more sinister. Victoria, the orchestrator of this tragedy, vanished into the night, leaving grief and darkness in her wake.