"Sorry, repeat that?"

"Charlie said she literally tripped over her own feet," Jacob replied as he and Kiara waited in the car while Billy spoke to Sam outside Harry Clearwater's house. They'd gone to pick him up after he called the twins to tell them that Charlie had informed him Bella had ended up in hospital. "I don't really understand the full story but she left for Phoenix after breaking up with Edward, and then got such a surprise when she saw him at her hotel that she tripped, fell down two flights of stairs and crashed out a window."

Kiara had heard a lot of bullshit in her life but this might have been one of the most strangest lies she had ever heard. Sure, she knew Bella was clumsy but there was no part of her that believed the girl was clumsy enough to fall through a literal glass window. She knew something weird had been going on with Bella that involved the Cullen's since Rosalie had stopped replying to her texts that weekend and Bella had messaged her to say she couldn't handle being trapped in Forks.

Obviously Kiara wasn't about to go around town claiming things, but her father's warnings suddenly seemed to sit more at the front of her head as she considered the likelihood of Edward having had something to do with the broken leg that Bella was now nursing in the hospital. She didn't think it was like him to have thrown Bella out a window himself or anything but firstly, she didn't know enough about the boy to even decide what was or wasn't out of character for him and secondly, she figured it was just best to drop the subject for now.

Jacob continued to fiddle with the radio while Kiara found her eyes wandering back to where Sam and Billy were huddled in conversation, thick frown lines present on both of their faces as Harry Clearwater seemed to share their concerned expression. Jacob was saying something but she had zoned out, her mind lost in thought as she tried to understand why the three men seemed so concerned about Bella's clumsy persona when two of them hadn't met the girl in their lives.

"Oh, Charlie also apparently wants you to get ready with Bella for prom," Jacob told her after realising she had stopped listening to his rambles about Edward Cullen. He smirked at the groan that left his sister's mouth as she smacked her head against the car window frame, faintly noticing how the three men outside the house stopped their conversation to turn to look at the girl in confusion.

"Jake, I swear..." Kiara started, turning her head to glare at her twin. They'd spent less time together since she had gotten caught up in whatever drama Bella seemed to keep bringing her way but moments like this almost made her feel like nothing had changed between them. She eyed his long hair for a moment before narrowing her eyes in a threatening manner. "If you are trying to wind me up, you're succeeding. I'd be careful around any scissors or you'll end up with hair shorter than Sam's."

Jacob stopped laughing at that, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he avoiding her heavy glare. He was well aware that she was only joking but he hated to admit that Kiara's impulsive behaviour always did scare him a little. Ever since their dad had mentioned that she was back to hanging around with Paul and Jared (even though Jacob was still convinced they were in a gang), he wasn't really sure how to act around her. He could already see her rebellious streak coming back and he knew he didn't want to get in her way when it did.

Besides, Jake had no intention of ever getting close enough to the boys to find out just why they'd suddenly stopped turning up to school and hanging out with Sam. If Kiara wanted to find out, that was on her - but he had no part in it.

_____

The weeks between Bella breaking her leg and prom night went by rather uneventfully for Kiara Black. The Cullen's had returned back to school and were continuing their normal lives with Edward helping carry Bella's bags and books around school. They had still opted to sit at their own table away from the rest of the school, but Edward would occasionally sit with them next to Bella.

Rosalie had almost considered sitting with them once, her urge to get closer to Kiara after their near kiss echoing in her mind often, but had decided against it. She wanted the girl in ways she had never considered about anyone before but after witnessing how James had almost killed Bella and ruined Edward in the process, she knew it wasn't fair to ever cross that line with the Black daughter. Kiara wasn't like her brother - she wasn't likely to some day just turn into a radioactive wolf with near bulletproof skin. Her life was a lot more fragile than Rosalie cared to admit.

Of course, that hadn't stopped Kiara from trying to get closer to the blonde. She'd spent most of their classes together talking to the blonde and asking her questions. They'd started off a little trivial: things like favourite colour or favourite type of car, but soon she had started asking more in-depth questions like what Rosalie planned on doing after she graduated and all the questions no-one had ever considered asking the blonde.

Rosalie admitted that she was considering following in her adoptive father's footsteps and potentially studying medicine, something that wasn't technically a lie since she had gone on from school to do just that before. Then again, Rosalie had joked internally, she also had degrees in astrophysics, electrical engineering and business so really nothing was out of the equation for her. 

Kiara told Rosalie all about the different options she had considered after graduation. For a while she had wanted to be a cop, she had told Rosalie with a chuckle, until she had spent her first night in a holding cell after getting too drunk on the reservation one night. She'd recalled how she probably would have ended up in serious trouble had Charlie not promised to keep it off her permanent record as a favour to Billy. Kiara wasn't sure what she wanted to be but it only helped to cement Rosalie's decision that she couldn't bring her into this life the way Bella had been brought in by Edward. Kiara had options, and Rosalie couldn't help but think getting too close would reduce those.

Regardless of her best efforts, Rosalie knew that with every question Kiara asked she was getting closer and closer to breaking down the restraint that the blonde was building up. The devil in the back of her head constantly told her that there was always a chance Kiara would find out about the wolf pack and in turn the Cullens, and some selfish part of her almost hoped it happened. That way, Kiara wouldn't spend her whole life wondering why Rosalie never acted on her feelings.

Rosalie would rather have Kiara hate her for the rest of her life than have her lose it.

____

"Thanks," Bella told Kiara as the younger girl ran her fingers through the ends of Bella's mouse coloured locks. "I know you'd probably rather be getting ready with Jessica and Angela..."

"Nonsense," Kiara interrupted, cutting her off with a soft smile through the mirror as she reached out a hand to help Bella back up to her feet. The older girl was getting used to the boot around her leg, especially now that she had been given permission to ditch her crutches, but that didn't mean she was suddenly elegant which Kiara was rather aware of. "They're great, but they're no Bella Swan."

Bella blushed profusely at that, resting against the wall as she used her hands to brush out small creases from her blue dress as she watched Kiara apply one last swipe of lipstick across her lips before turning back to the older girl with a grin. Bella smiled at her, finally feeling like she had made one normal friend hidden amongst the secrets of Forks. It was almost refreshing to spend time with Kiara - away from the gossip of school or the supernatural of Edward and his family. She was the only normal thing other than Charlie that Bella really knew anymore.

They headed to the stairs, Kiara not sure when Edward had arrived but smiling at his presence anyway. She had been a little weary of him after the whole story about Bella tripping over her own feet and falling through the hotel window (which Kiara still didn't entirely believe) but with the weeks that had gone by she had realised that Edward treated Bella like she was made of porcelain. Whatever had happened to her, it hadn't been his fault.

"Alice lent me the dress," Bella said as she slowly started to go down the stairs, Charlie and Edward looking at her in amazement. Kiara hadn't spent much time around Alice but even she had to admit that the girl was incredibly good at playing stylist to Bella. "It was the only thing that would fit over my cast. Is it too..."

"You're perfect," Edward interrupted her self doubts. Charlie almost rolled his eyes at the boy, Kiara's eyes casting to the shot gun resting on the table and trying not to chuckle as she realised he must have been polishing it before the girls appeared to try and scare Edward. Charlie and Kiara both looked at each other awkwardly for a moment as they waited for either of the other two teenagers to stop staring or say something, before Kiara eventually coughed lightly to remind Edward and Bella they were both there.

"No date, Kiara?" Charlie asked the girl with a slight furrow in his eyebrow. He had thought that out of anyone Kiara Black would have managed to score herself a date to their high school prom. Just as she opened her mouth to reply, there was a knock at the door and Edward tried to hide the smile that peeked at the corners of his mouth. He knew he could hear extra thoughts.

Charlie opened the door, stepping back with surprise as he looked at the new entry. Kiara couldn't see who it was from where she was still standing at the top of the stairs but Bella and Edward's relaxed smiles gave her a sudden suspicion as to whom it might have been. Charlie cast a glance upwards at Kiara, a hint of amusement on his lips before he stood back and allowed the person to enter while shaking his head.

"A secret date," Charlie added, rolling his eyes but not meaning it harmfully. "If your father finds out I knew about this, I'll never hear the end of it Kiara."

Kiara didn't care if her father found out. Even though she herself was only just finding out she had a prom date, she couldn't have imagined anything more perfect than the blonde girl who was standing at the bottom of the stairs looking perfectly sculpted as always. 

Rosalie Hale ignored Bella and Edward as she entered the home, trying to avoid showing her distaste for Bella in front of the chief of police. She stared up at Kiara with a gentle smile, knowing fine well that Edward would make fun of her with her adoptive siblings once they'd all gotten home later that night but not having it in her to care.

"Hey," Kiara breathed as she walked down the Swan household stairs, grinning by the time she had came face to face with Rosalie.

"Hey," Rosalie murmured back, both of the girls pausing before realising the other three in the household were still watching them. Kiara looked at the other couple and Charlie before Edward took the hint and started planning their escape from the house and to prom before they were any later than they already were.

"I'll take good care of her Chief," Edward told Charlie as he and Bella stayed behind, Rosalie and Kiara already making their way out of the house.

"I hope you don't mind," Rosalie said as she linked her arm through Kiara's as they exited the house, looking ahead of her with a small smile on her face. "But I didn't think it was fair you attend your junior prom by yourself."

Kiara shrugged as she turned her head so it was inches away from Rosalie's own. "I would never mind when it comes to you, Rosalie Hale."

Their moment was interrupted by a loud whoop from a car at the end of the drive, Kiara blushing as she realised her flirting with Rosalie had been caught. She jumped a little in surprise as she turned her head to look at the second car at the end of the driveway, having only previously noticed Edward's Volvo.

"That however, I won't be offended if you do mind," Rosalie replied, her voice a little bitter as she looked at Emmett leaning out of the driver seat of his jeep. Beverly was sitting beside him in the passenger seat trying to pretend to be scolding the boy but it was obvious she too was delighted to have seen Rosalie and Kiara looking at each other like teenagers in love. "We'll be riding with my sister and Emmett."

Kiara shrugged a little to show it didn't bother her, walking forward and accepting Rosalie's hand to help her into the large jeep as Edward waited on Bella to stop talking to her father. She couldn't quite make out what the policeman was saying to his daughter but the small smile on Edward's face told her that he was obviously close enough to find it amusing.

"Let's go to prom!"

_____

Kiara had mastered the art of avoiding Jacob. She's spent half of her teenage years perfecting it and the prime time for her to use the ability was almost as soon as they arrived at prom. 

Her brother was standing waiting on Bella and Edward and there was no doubt in Kiara's mind that their father had put him up to it. Jacob's eyes widened as he noticed Kiara and Rosalie get out of Emmett's jeep together but the deep exchange the twins shared told him that he couldn't tell their father that he had seen the girls together.

Kiara nodded at Jacob in an understanding, the boy slowly nodding back. Edward's eyes travelled between the twins before casting a glance to Rosalie and mouthing that he'd explain what that was all about later. Jasper couldn't help but subconsciously use his ability to soothe Kiara as the rest of them headed into the gym leaving Bella behind with her brother.

After dancing so much that her feet were beginning to hurt, Kiara had chosen to take a seat alongside Rosalie as they both watched Jasper and Alice swing each other around the dance floor. Rosalie couldn't help but have a soft smile on her face as she watched them, knowing that the duo would spend their life just thriving off the other's love. 

"Hey, want to get some fresh air?" Rosalie asked Kiara, not personally needing any but knowing that the girl was getting a little overwhelmed with everyone running around. Kiara smiled appreciatively as she reached out and accepted Rosalie's hand, the girls passing Edward and Bella as the couple walked in from where they had just been outside.

Almost as soon as the doors behind them shut, the music faded. Kiara couldn't help but feel like they had just entered their own little world and despite the cold that was nipping at her exposed arms, she couldn't help but feel warm from the way Rosalie was smiling at her. Rosalie's hands were cold against her own but she had almost gotten used to that from how often they'd brush against each other during their lab experiments. 

Kiara reached up and wrapped her arms around Rosalie, giving the blonde no time to think before she crashed their lips together. She felt Rosalie stiffen under her touch for a second before her own arms wrapped around Kiara's waist, tugging her in closer and holding her flush against her as they savoured the feeling of each other's lips pressing against the other.

After a moment, the black haired girl pulled back with a sheepish grin and a fierce blush across her cheeks. Rosalie smiled at her, ignoring the fact that the walls she had built up to stop from getting too close to the human were now smashed down within seconds. She still had no intention of bringing her into their lifestyle but this suddenly felt like it was going to be a lot harder to just ignore.

"What was that for?" Rosalie breathed, her voice more gentle than Kiara had thought she had ever heard it. Kiara shrugged as she smiled back at Rosalie, the fairy lights around them twinkling as they rested their foreheads against each other.

"To say thank you," Kiara breathed out, a smile breaking out across her face as she giggled a little. "For never letting my family's beliefs stop you from being my friend."

Rosalie hadn't felt what she felt in that moment. She almost wished Jasper was there to tell her exactly what it was but she had a faint idea from the way she had seen her sister look at Emmett or how Carlisle looked at Esme or Jasper with Alice or even Edward and Bella. She knew exactly what she was feeling for Kiara and it scared her within an inch of her immortal life.

"I still think they might be right," Rosalie tried, the warning falling a little faint as she stared at Kiara in seriousness. "Maybe I'm not safe for you."

Kiara shrugged as she placed another kiss on Rosalie's lips, a bigger grin on her lips this time as she pulled back and allowed for them both to sway in time with the faint song they could hear coming from the hall. 

"I can protect myself," Kiara replied, a hint of teasing in her voice before she looked back into Rosalie's eyes. "Besides, what's the worst that could happen? I go to a game of Cullen family baseball and end up falling through a window?"

Rosalie burst out laughing at that, a sound so melodic that Kiara knew she would constantly be proud of herself for causing it. She wrapped her arms around the younger girl as they continued dancing, knowing that while this wouldn't be forever it could at least be until they moved away in a few years time. If Edward got the girl, there was no reason why Rosalie couldn't have hers - even if just for a short time. She'd take a year with Kiara over an eternity without.

"I'd never let anything hurt you, Black," Rosalie replied, a hint of teasing in her tone but a lot of underlying seriousness too. "But this, it will never work."

Kiara smiled at that, feeling like everything was falling into place. Sure, they were having to hide whatever this was from her family and friends in La Push but she knew it wouldn't be forever. Rosalie had already told her she'd be moving away in a year or so time and Kiara knew that was inevitable. But for now, this was nice. Just them, their undeniable bond and a chance.

"Maybe it won't," Kiara replied, understanding in her voice. "But if this is our last ever kiss, I want a do over."

Rosalie laughed as she reconnected their lips, smiling into the kiss as she realised that the girl was a lot more headstrong than she expected. Then again, no one had ever accused Kiara Black of being a quitter.

___

Her red hair hung loosely over her shoulders as she watched the blonde and black haired girls embrace on the outside decking. It was almost like she'd won the jackpot. First, Edward Cullen and his pet had came out and given her more information than she could have wished for and then almost like a surprise bonus, the blonde Cullen was out here with a pet of her own that even James hadn't found out about.

Victoria smiled as she walked away from the overlooking window, a smirk falling into place as she started to devise her revenge plan. She was going to get the Cullens where it hurt most: an eye for an eye. If they wanted to kill her mate? She was just going to have to kill theirs.

Kiara Black, Victoria thought, what an interesting name.