+++++

I waited for Alice in the car, staring at Magnolia's house. I could hear everything, she sounded so hurt and confused, and Alice telling her that I had already left just added salt to the wound. "Get out of my house!" I cringed, and the sudden feeling of want nearly caused me to run in there and take her into my arms, telling her it would all be okay.

But no, I couldn't. I was a monster. I hurt her. I doubt she cares, I'm sure she would play it off as a mistake, but that mistake nearly killed Bella. So there was no going back to her, no matter how much it would hurt the both of us.

Alice soon returned to the car, and despite her stoic expression, I could feel her sadness and guilt. Her dark, honey-yellow eyes had gone blank as she stared out the front car window.

"Thank you, Alice," I told her sincerely. "It's better this way."

She let out a low growl. "I know." She huffed, teeth clenched. The car effortlessly turned on, and I couldn't help but think of her ocean blue eyes as we drove out of Forks.

At the airport, Alice and I said our goodbyes. "I'll be a call away if you need me." She hugged me softly.

I hugged her back. "Good luck with your search. I hope you find what you're looking for." The search Alice was going on to find her family and her past would be a hard one for her, but no doubt she'll power through it.

Her tinkling laugh almost made me sad to split up, but I knew Alice had to go on her own, and so did I. School was something I needed to do, not that I needed the education, no, to get my mind off of Magnolia, to make myself forget her, but forgetting one's mate was nearly impossible, it must be done, for her sake.

•

"Magnolia! I swear to god you're gonna kill us." Elton clutched onto the sides of his car seat while Magnolia drove down the dirt road to the reservation.

She laughed. "You're just being a baby. You'll be fine. We're almost there, anyway." Magnolia could just make out the small and quaint houses the Quileute lived in.

"Where is there?" Elton questioned, glancing sideways at her.

Magnolia sighed. "We're meeting with some of my friends. I think you know Jacob."

Elton snorted. "Jacob Black? You're friends with him?"

"Hey!" Magnolia's cheeks darkened. "Family friends. Pretty much all of them are. I used to date one, too, in ninth grade."

Elton's eyes widened. "No way! Who?"

Magnolia chuckled. "Paul Lahote," Elton cringed. "I know. Guys got some anger issues."

Elton laughed. "You got weird taste in men, honey."

Magnolia let out a strained laugh, and for the rest of the short drive, they were silent. When she pulled up to the black house, Magnolia noticed a car and not just any car. "Bella's here?" The red Chevy truck sat just next to the house.

"Why would she be here?" Elton was just as confused. Magnolia hastily parked the car and got out as quickly as possible.

She knocked on the door, and a few seconds later Billy had rolled up to the door and opened it. "Maggie? You here for Jake?"

Magnolia nodded slowly. "Yeah, I called him. Me and Elton were gonna go down to the beach with him, Quil and Embry," Her eyes glanced towards Bella's truck. "But it looks like something came up."

Billy didn't laugh, only frowned. "Yeah...Bella came by. I'm sure Jake won't mind you crashing in on them. They're in the garage."

"Thanks, Billy," Magnolia smiled. Elton had stayed by the car, watching. "Come on." She told him, signalling to the large makeshift garage.

Elton jogged up, falling in synch with Magnolia's small steps. "So, what's up with Bella?"

"Huh?" Magnolia shook her head lightly, dazed. "Oh, um, Billy said she stopped by to see Jake."

"Didn't know they were friends." Elton shrugged.

"Neither did I," Magnolia frowned. She peeked in once at the door, seeing Jacob sitting by his bike, and Bella talking with Quil and Embry. "Knock knock," Magnolia smiled sheepishly. "I heard there was a party going on without us?"

Embry's face lit up at the sight of Magnolia. "Maggie!" He rushed over, wrapping her in a large hug, her feet lifting off the ground for only a moment. "We've been waiting."

He put her down and Quil had come over. "We just met Bella, but we can go down to the beach now if you want."

"Let the girl breath you two," Jacob called from his spot by his bike. "Way to make Elton feel welcomed."

Elton laughed, shaking his head. "It's alright. They don't know me."

Quil and Embry immediately introduced themselves, leaving Magnolia to talk with Bella. She moved slowly and sat next to her. "Hey, Bella." She smiled.

Bella didn't look at her. "Hey....um heard you're 18 now. Happy belated birthday." She said quietly.

Magnolia smiled sadly. "Yeah, just turned on the weekend."

The silence between them was suffocating. Never had Magnolia been unable to talk to Bella and she had a million things to tell her, but none seemed easy to say anymore. Jacob coughed. He was now standing next to Magnolia. "Maybe you four should go now."

Magnolia raised a brow, standing up slowly. "You're not coming?"

Jacob shook his head. "Nah, I'd rather not."

Magnolia wanted to ask why, but she knew that answer. Bella. She nodded, understanding. "No sweat. I'll say goodbye before I head home."

"Thanks, Maggie." Jacob smiled, proceeding to take her spot next to Bella. Magnolia sighed and headed back to the front of the garage, where Elton was animatedly talking to Quil and Embry. He stopped when he noticed Magnolia approaching.

"Hey, Maggie! Ready to go?" He took her hand lightly. She nodded. Quil offered to drive her car down, but since he didn't even have a license yet, Magnolia felt that wasn't the best idea. She drove, Elton in the passenger's seat and Quil and Embry in the back.

The ride to the beach wasn't long, just go through a few trails and you'll be there. Magnolia took a turn onto a road along the cliff closest to the beach. She slammed on the breaks. "Woah!" Embry yelled. "What was that?!"

Magnolia pointed to the cliff. "That's Paul!" Three boys and Sam stood at the edge of the cliff, laughing and jumping off.

"Yeah," Quil scoffed. "He's a part of Sam's cult now."

"Cult?" So that's what they thought it was. But Magnolia really knew what it was. The Pack. And Paul had finally turned.

~

Hi y'all! So it's been really long since I updated this! Ik everyone is in quarantine and that should mean I'm writing more but honestly teachers are being a little annoying and assigning a lot of work. I'll try and keep the updates coming but don't expect them to be often. Thanks so much!