"Life is like the ocean, it goes up and down."

-Vanessa Paradis

***

"You told him your theory about radioactive spiders?"

Bella looked up at me innocently. "Yes?"

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Why on Earth would you do that?"

My twin and I were sitting on our porch, waiting for Bella's friends to come pick us up, when Bella made an off-hand comment about mentioning to Edward her theory that he had been bitten by a radioactive spider.

"You said that my vampire thing was dumb, then you go along and ask him if he was Spider-Man?"

"That's not the point!" Bella defended, her cheeks red. "He told me to stay away from him."

"Probably because he thought your dumbness was contagious!"

"Courtney!" Bella scolded, her face set in a scowl. "Be serious."

"Okay, okay." I held my hands up in surrender. "I just don't understand why he would warn you. Not to come off as rude or anything, but I have been around him more. It doesn't make sense."

The rumble of an engine filled my ears as Mike's van pulled up in our driveway. He waved at us from the drivers seat, Angela next to him, as we picked up our bags and walked over.

"That's what I thought."

Our conversation was forced to end as we crawled into the car, I was squished rather uncomfortably between Bella and Jessica, who did not seem happy that I was there.

All I wanted right now is to figure out what's up with the Cullen's.

***

"You ready?"

I stood up, staring at the dark waves, and shivered just thinking about going in them. My bathing suit doesn't provide the most warmth.

"Fine." I pulled my hair out of it's ponytail, and gave Tyler a grin. "I think I might freeze to death though."

"Don't worry." Tyler shrugged. "Just dive right it."

"That is terrible advice."

I saluted Bella and Angela, who were bundled up in the back of the van, and Bella flashed me a thumbs up. "Good luck." She called as I turned away. "You are so much braver then me!"

I laughed at my sister as Tyler and I stood at the edge of the water. "Okay." I mumbled. "You go out first, and then I'll steal your board from you."

He chuckled. "Okay."

I watched as he gracefully dove into the water, and then his head broke the surface, already grinning. He shook his hair out like a dog, and gestured for me to come in. "Come on! It's not that bad!" He insisted, and I braced myself. I ran into the water, taking a deep breath as I went under. It was freezing. My body went sort of numb, and tingling, and when my head broke the surface, my teeth were chattering.

"Y-You l--l-lied t-to m-me." I accused, grabbing onto the edge of the board so my feet hung in the water. "T-that w-was m-mean."

Tyler laughed at my expression, moving so only his feet her dangling in the water. "Come on." He teased, "It's not that cold."

"Y-yes i-it -is!"

Tyler chuckled again. "Sorry." He wheezed. "It's just hard to take you seriously when you are literally shivering."

I pushed myself up so I could shove the blond, laughing as he fell back, flipping the surfboard with him. I grabbed it, flipping it back over as I hauled myself up to sit, sticking my tongue out at Tyler as he sputtered. I crossed my legs under me, grinning as the boy assumed the position I was in moments before. The water was abnormally calm, and I could see how pissed Jessica was about it.

"So..." Tyler began, resting his chin on his hand. "What's up with you and the Cullen's?"

"What?" I blurted out, taken aback by the question. "We're friends. I really like all of them."

"Oh I know." Tyler reassured, sensing my unease. "I meant more about the Hale kid, Justin?"

"Jasper." I corrected, although I knew he purposely messed up his name. "His name is Jasper."

"Yeah. Are you guys-" He made a gesture with his hands, "-dating?"

I could automatically feel my face heat up with embarrassment. "Wh- n-no we're not dating." I defended, crossing my arms over my chest and watching Tyler's grin widen. "Are you sure?" He teased, and groaned, rolling my eyes, although my heart was still beating a mile a minute.

"Yes! Yes I am sure!" I covered my red face with my hands as Tyler cackled. "Your face is so red."

"It is not!'

"Yes it is!"

I huffed, turning and diving into the water as the waves picked up. "Leave me alone!" I yelled as I heard Tyler's laughter continue as he followed me to shore. I spotted the figures of a few big men as I made it to the shore, quickly recognizing Jacob Black in the mix.

"Hey Jake!" I waved at the younger boy, and he turned around, his face lighting up when he saw me. "Hey Court!" he greeted, running up so he could give me a hug. "Sorry, I got you all wet." I apologized, and the russet-skinned male shrugged in response. "No biggie."

"How've you been? Bloody hell you're tall." I noted, looking up at the boy, He blushed, running his fingers through his long, gorgeous hair. "Good, you?"

"Pretty good, yeah."

"She invited Edward." I over-heard Jessica explaining to one of the other males there, humor in her voice. I walked over with Jacob, to see if I had to make this trip awkward by drop-kicking her into the ocean.

"To be polite!" Bella defended, shoving a candy between her lips. "I think it's nice that she invited him." Angela piped up from the trunk as I went to grab my towel, wrapping it around my shivering body. "No one ever does."

"Yeah 'cause Cullen's a freak!" Mike added, and I glowered at him, picking up a stone off the ground and chucking it at his head. "Ow!" He yelped, turning to me. I watched him wince. "Right... sorry."

"Why are you so protective of Cullen?" One of the boys asked, crossing his arms, I mimicked the action. "He's my friend, they all are."

"Do you guys know him? Court is really close with the whole family." Bella explained, and the bulkier guy narrowed his eyes. "The Cullen's don't come here."

I furrowed my eyebrow at the way he said these words. Almost as if saying they aren't allowed to come here.

I sat down next to Bella as I pondered those words.

***

Jacobs friends bid us goodbye, as did him and Bella, claiming they were going on a walk. I quickly shot my sister a text, telling her to ask our old friend about what his friend had said earlier.

After she left, I huddled up with Angela as she showed me some of her pictures she took. I gaped over all of them. She as a talent, one that can be truly appreciated.

"Do you want to be my model?" She asked, shrugging off her big jacket as she made a move to stand. "I am trying to get used to taking pictures of people, you would be the perfect candidate."

I reluctantly agreed, standing up and following her to the beach, the sun was setting, casting gorgeous colors on the glossy surface of the waves.

"Just act natural." Angela advised, holding her big camera in her hands. "Don't be tense."

I did my best, facing the ocean and turning my head, giving Angela a tentative smile as she snapped the button. "Just relax."

When Bella came back, we had a bonfire in full swing and Tyler and I were doing goofy poses for Angela.

"What is happening?" She asked, seeming calm on the outside, but I saw the SOS swirling in her eyes. I gestured for her to wait a sec, crossing my arms and standing back to back with Tyler, before jumping off the log we were standing on and flouncing over to my twin.

"What did he say? You look spooked." I told my sister, who inhaled deeply.

"Let's talk more about Vampires."

***

At the end of the day, I was pleasantly surprised how much fun I had. It only took two steps: Step 1: Avoid the brunette demon, also known as Jessica Stanley. Step 2: Find some people you actually like, which in my case was Angela and Tyler.

"You are finally admitting I am the smartest person to ever walk the face of the Earth?" I teased after Bella had filled me in on what Jacob had said. "I am so happy you have finally figured it out."

"This is no joke, Courtney!" Bella hissed, sitting in my bed and crossing her legs under her. She had subconsciously grabbed Theo, and was cradling him to her chest. "What if it's true?"

I sighed, sitting next to my twin and shrugging. "I honestly don't think they are dangerous."

"W-what?" She demanded, her face taking on an odd purple shade. "The could be deadly, Court!"

"Think about it rationally!" I cried, standing up to pace around my room. "If they were going to hurt us, they would have already done it! I have been alone with Alice and- with Alice so many times!" I had to catch myself from saying and Jasper. Bella may be my sister, but she still probably wouldn't approve of me having a boy in my room when no one else was home.

"Bells. I am sure we'll be fine." I said, filling my voice with an edge that determined the subject dropped.

***

It seems like I will have to try to stay nice to Bella's friends today. None of the Cullen's were at school.

It was sad. My heart immediately dropped when Alice didn't run up to me in the halls, or Jasper didn't meet me at my locker. I missed them in an odd way. I wished I could see how they looked in natural sunlight, since it was the only day of the century that it was warm and sunny in Forks. Charlie had promised that we would toss the baseball around when he got home, just like we did when I was a kid.

"They're not here." I groaned as I sat next to Bella, who was sun-bathing outside. I ignored Jessica's noise of protest, and faced Bella. "None of them are."

Bella hummed in reply, but I could tell by her body language that she had been searching for Edward herself. I huffed in annoyance, tearing off my hoodie and slouching next to Bella, hey, I may be bored, but that doesn't mean I can try and soak up dome vitamin D.

"Whenever the weathers nice, the Cullen's disappear." Jessica informed, her lips quirked up in a smirk at my bad mood. I flipped her off, but managed to keep my mouth shut.

"What, so they just ditch?" Bella asked, sitting up to share a look with me. Vampires can't be in the sunlight.

Ugh, shut up, Courtney.

"No, um, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen yank 'em out for camping, and hiking, and stuff." She picked at her nails, uninterested. "I tried that on my parents, not even close."

Okay, so here's what I'm thinking:

I don't think the Cullen's are dangerous. But I am seriously considering the vampire thing right now. The sun suddenly seemed to burn my skin, and I winced.

"I'm going to prom with Eric! I asked him! I took control!" Angela exclaimed as she ran up to me, the other girls made their own happy remarks, while I groaned dramatically to the sky. "No!" I cried, rolling over so I was standing in front of Angela. She gave me a slightly hurt look, so I rushed on. "You're supposed to be in love with Ben!"

Bella giggled as Angela's face flushed. "N-No." She denied. "We're just friends!"

"Sure." I drawled teasingly. "In that case, you're an absolute queen."

"Are you guys sure you have to go out of town?" Angela asked Bella, and I frowned, sending my twin a confused look, but playing along nevertheless.

"She has a thing." I explained awkwardly, taking my hair out of its ponytail. "I'm going though, I ain't the type to miss prom night."

"You have a date?" Jessica asked incredulously, and I shook my head, choosing to ignore her spite. "Nah, I was thinking of just going with Alice, you know, girls night out."

Angela grinned widely. "That sounds fun!" She dropped her voice to almost a whisper. "But I still have my money on Jasper Hale."

Bella cackled as she looked at my horrified expression. My face was probably as bright as my shirt, and I stuttered for the right words. "W-what?"

"Don't play dumb, Court." My twin ganged up on me, flicking the back of my head. "You guys are meant to be."

"Dress shopping!" I blurted out, desperate to change the topic. "We should all go to Port Angeles!"

Jessica nodded, actually agreeing with something that I said for once. "That's actually a pretty good idea. We could use a few extra opinions."

I playfully flicked my hair. "Well, I'm not just a pretty face."

A ghost of a smile traced Jessica's features as she gently shoved my arm. "Shut up."

The two others in the group stared at us with gaping mouths. They were so shocked to see a positive interaction between the two of us that they couldn't even speak. I was surprised too, honestly.

"Just text me." I stood up, beginning my walk back to the school. "See you all later."