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(CHAPTER 3. part 1)

OCTOBER

( motion sickness — phoebe bridgers )

    BELLA didn't get better; she remains in the same spot in her room – a chair positioned in front of her window. We tried to get her to leave, but she barely budged. As far as I could tell, Bella Swan was a vegetable.

    Millie and I stood in Bella's room, her back towards us. Usually, we'd already be knee deep in pure teeth rot as we binge watched Halloween movies, now – we'd be lucky to even get her downstairs. And yet, here we were – attempting to convince Bella to go to a local party.

    "Bells," I singsong, "come on. It'll be fun"

    "Bells, please come with us – you used to love Halloween." I was surprised I managed to wrangle Millie into the costume I did (a nurse outfit that was pulled straight from a high school movie), even more so by the fact that Millie was willing to flaunt it at a party.

    There was a moment of silence, Bella still had yet to move from her position and I had no doubt she would cramp the moment she did so.

    "We don't have to go to the party, we could pig out on some Halloween candy and watch some movies?'

    Millie nods in agreement, a hopeful look in her eye. "We can put on the Addams family and drool over Gomez!"

    "And I know you love Scream" I sing song, pulling my ghost face mask down. "We could totally scare Charlie to!"

    Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Millie giggling softly. "I vote more family friendly movies."

    We were once again met with silence she only kept her eyes locked on the window in front of her; pale skin and sunken cheeks. I sigh, tugging at Millie as I nodded at the door.

    "Well," I say, hoping to garner some response, "if you wanna join, we'll just be downstairs. We promised Charlie we'd help with passing out candy."

    "Yeah!" Millie chirps. "We even talked him into king size candy bars!"

    She still doesn't respond, and I sigh once more, moving to leave Bella in her saddened state. It wasn't easy seeing Bella like this, especially because we knew there wasn't really anything Mill's or I could do to help – the only ones who could were the Cullens, and they were gone.

    I let the door close softly behind me, scared that even so much as a slam of my door would make her far worse.

    "I don't like this, Dawnie." Millie spoke, her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, her eyes alight with worry.

    "I don't either," I sighed, "but what more can we do? If she doesn't want help, she won't accept it."

    I could tell she was worried for Bella, hell I wasn't doing my best to conceal my worry, but somehow, she managed to plaster a smile on her face; "Let's make some kids smile." She chirped, heading down the stairs.

***

    "God, why did I agree to this," I groaned, tilting my head upwards as we answered the door to yet another trick or treater, "Chris Adams is supposed to be at the party tonight and I am in desperate need for a body shot."

    Millie giggled; "Chris Adams is a total tool, and you know it!"

    "Sure, but tools always work as they should." I smirked.

    Millie gagged, fake throwing up before the doorbell rang once more.

    "Happy Halloween!" She smiled.

    I let a smile grace my face, handing each of the children their candy before my gaze was taken by the girl next to them.

    "Hey," I smile, though this one was far more flirtatious and had Millie elbowing my side.

    "Oh Jesus Christ, Dawn." She whispered.

    "What?" I whispered back, eyeing as the girl tucked her hair behind her ear. I noticed her from my graduating class, blonde hair a tad bit longer and blue eyes just as mesmerizing as they were when we were 16. "Can you blame me?"

    The blonde ushered who I could only assume were her siblings away, blushing profusely under my stare.

    Millie giggled at that, about to close the door before I stop her; "But..." I trailed, "it looks like this one is totally eyeing you up."

    "Who?" She asks, looking around.

    "Mr. Tall, dark, and broody." I point out.

    She looks ahead, blushing profusely as the male and a young girl walk up to the Swan residence.

    "Oh my god, that's Sam."

    There was that name again.

    "Sam?" I asked, cocking my brow, "as in, 'Bella's savior' Sam?"

    Millie can only nod, "The one that was half naked when he found her? Yep. That's Sam."

    They finally approached the door, Sam now smiling widely at the blushing mess that was Emilia Hartley. I let my eyes flicker between the pair before they landed on the apparent man of the hour.

    "Davina Bardot, don't you even think about it." Davina whispered before letting her voice jump a few octaves, "Sam! Hi." She chirped, cringing at the excitement that coated her words.

    I let me lips widen into a smirk, a big mischievous grin as I speak;

    "So..." I let my voice trail, "you're the so-called hero?" I looked him up and down as I cross my arms. "Can't say I see it."

    I knew it was petty, I could practically feel Millie's incredulous look as I jested the man. But I saw how he looked at Mill's and, despite her motherly role in our trio – i felt incredibly protective of her, especially considering I was older (it was only by a year, but still)

    "Dawn!" Millie admonished, elbowing me in the side, "Play nice."

    She turns her gaze back to Sam, who held an easy grin as he peered at Millie. "She's joking." She said, giving an uncomfortable laugh.

    "I'm not." I smile sarcastically. "You gonna keep eyeing up my darling Millie or are you gonna use your words?"

    "Dawn, I swear..." Millie sighed, pushing up her glasses.
   
    "What?" I laughed.

    She turns her attention back to Sam who seemed to smile wider as Millie gave him attention.

    "I'm just trying to figure out what ole Sammy boy here wants with my best friend." I spoke.

    "He doesn't want anything!" Millie squeaks. "He's just taking his...relative? Tricking or treating." She peers at the little girl holding Sam's hand, "What's you're name sweetheart?"

    The little girl grins widely at Millie (something I dubbed the Millie effect) showing off two missing teeth in the front. "Eloise!" She chirped, hair bouncing as she excitedly jumped.

    I look at her in disbelief, only to be met with Millie's avoidance.

    "Eloise is a very pretty name."

    "So is Millie." Sam cut in, a comment that had me rolling my eyes but got Millie redder than an apple.

    "Is this your daughter? She's very pretty."

    Sam doesn't respond, letting his shoulders shake as he laughed jovially. "This is my sister Penelope's daughter." He spoke through chuckles, never letting his easy grin fall off his face.

    "God, can you keep the flirting to a minimum, we've got minors present." I gesture to Eloise who in turn giggles. If Millie wanted to flirt with Sam, she could, but if it was in front of me – I wasn't gonna make it easy for him.

    Millie turns pink once more. "I'm - we're not." She mutters shyly.

    I give her a simple look, "sure." I deadpan.

    "Anyways... doesn't Eloise make a beautiful... Vampire?" Her eyes widened, as did mine at the realization at the little girl's costume. She wore a black cloak, a plastic centerpiece where the fabric clasped together. She wore white face paint, black lining her under eyes and grocery store fangs barely clinging to her teeth.

    Sam let out a nervous chuckle, "She was pretty insistent on it."

    "I guess vampires are pretty popular..." Millie muttered.

    "Like they need it." I jeer under my breath. "So, Samuel," I changed the subject, turning to the large figure in the doorway, "are you going to the party tonight?"

    "I might," he shrugs, "one of my...friends, Paul has been asking me to go."

    I feel my body stiffen and my gaze harden. I knew exactly who Paul was, and I had nothing good to say about him.

    "Paul Lahote?" Millie asked, unaware of my stormy gaze. "He's one of my dad's friends' kids. Though I guess he's older than I am." Millie smiled ruefully.

    "Paul's the town whore," I sneered, "best not socialize with the... riff raff he decides to hang with." Sam could've been the greatest guy Millie could meet, but I knew Paul Lahote and he wasn't exactly known for being a good guy.

    He had a reputation, I knew it then, but it hurt more now.

    "Dawn!" Millie chides me, turning towards to where Eloise stands, "There are children present!"

    I ignore her warning, glaring at the man in front of me, "If you're looking for a hookup, you're barking up the wrong tree pal."

    "I don't think that's what he was implying Dawnie." She muttered to me, before quickly looking to Sam, "Were you?"

    "I'm not." Sam responded stiffly.

    "It's alright if you are, though I think this whole conversation got out of hand quickly." Millie muttered, before beaming at Sam once more, "We'll be at the party later, if you're there...come say hi?"

    As soon as Millie began to speak, Sam's attention turned to her – his once terse face softening as he smiles, "Yeah, I'll be there."

    "Oh, and Sam?" I called out, "tell Paul to stay the hell away from us." He nodded, before leaving.

    "Why do we hate Paul Lahote?" Millie asked, watching as Sam left.

    I don't move my eyes, "Because Paul Lahote is a complete and utter asshole." I don't care to expound, only turning to retreat back into the house.

***

    "Ready, Dawnie?" Millie asked from side, finally arriving to the party.

    I had changed into the rest of my costume, a tight black dress and heels paired with the Ghost Face mask I wore on my face.

    "As I'll ever be." I spoke.

    I felt Millie wrap her arms around me, hugging me tightly, "Do you wanna skip this?"

    "And let you miss out on Sam Uley?" I teased, "Gotta have my girls back" I smiled, bumping her shoulder and smiling at my best friend.

    "There is nothing going on between me and Sam Uley." Millie blushes.

    "But he wants something to happen." I speak matter-of-factly, cocking a brow.

    "No he doesn't..." Millie protests weakly, "He just mentioned he was gonna be here because we asked him about it."

    "Please," I rolled my eyes, "he looked like he wanted to take you right then and there. And you need this, especially after you know who."

    Millie winces at that, "We can say his name...I don't want people to think I dated Voldemort. Plus, we knew it wasn't a permanent thing."

    There was a moment of silence as we maneuvered through the crowd, before Millie screeched; "What do you mean Sam wanted to take me?!"

    It turned a few heads and Millie turned a bright red as she realized what she said and how loud she said it. I harshly glared at the remaining people who were still starring, pulling Millie away.

    "Stevie fucking Wonders could see it, he wasn't exactly being shy about it." I yell over the music, turning to give Millie an unbelieving look.

    "The last guy who wanted me couldn't even get a boner so I take that as a compliment."

    "Yeah sure," I laughed, looking around before I spotted Sam, "looks like boy wonder is here." I pointed him out in the crowd, talking to two other males.

    "Did Jared Cameron get hot or am I delusional?"

    "No, he totally did, but it looks like he's already taken." I spoke. Kim Conweller was a player for the Forks high girls basketball team, someone Dawn had had multiple good conversations with. From a distance we saw Kim skip up to Jared, jumping into his arms as he laughed at something she said.

    "I love her hair!" Millie chirped, "Like, how does she do that and do you think she'll teach me?"

    "She did my hair during an overnight meet, I'm pretty sure she'll do yours to." I smile, remembering the plethora of braids and ribbons that decorated my hair, I'd almost punched another girl when she laughed at them.

    "Are they supposed to be wolves?" Millie laughed, spotting the boy's costume.

    It wasn't to over the top, just the ears and a matching tank top, "Oh my god, they so are." I say, stifling a laugh as I did so.

    "Who do you think is the alpha?" Millie giggled.

    "I think you know who, it's your boy." I sing song'd.

    I saw Millie's stare go to Sam, slightly going on tip toes as she peered at him. "Do you think he's a dom to?" She giggled, a mischievous grin playing on her lips and her eyebrows wiggling.

    "Oh my god!" I laugh, lightly pushing Millie's shoulder.

    We make the trek towards the boys when Sam notices us (more like he noticed Mill's), gesturing us over with his hand and a broad grin on his lips. Millie physically brightened, tugging my hand to reach Sam faster.

    "I didn't think you'd show." He spoke, his voice louder than usual so the music wouldn't drown him out.

    "Well," Millie smiles, sickly sweet with twinkling eyes, "here we are."

    It wasn't until then that that I realized who exactly was the third member of their group – Paul Lahote. He turns with a smirk, a rye thing that had me scowling.

    "Oh," I deadpanned, "you're here."

    But Paul wasn't listening. Instead, he was staring at me with an odd look in his eye – one that I didn't want to decipher. His jaw was slack and gaze unblinking, he starred at me like I was the very sun in the sky, like I was the very gates of breath that saved him from a lifetime of drowning.

    "Paul?" Millie spoke, concern painting her features.

    I only roll my eyes, turning to Millie, "I'm gonna go get a drink." and then I began to walk away from the awestruck boy.

    "Dawn!" I heard Paul call from behind me, he pushed past people attempting to match my pace, "Wait up!"

    I only quickened my pace, hoping and praying I could lose him amidst the crowds of people, but of course I had no such luck.

    "Davina hang on." I could hear his voice clear as day as he manages to grasp my bicep, turning me to face him.

    "What?" I clipped.

    "What's your problem?"

    "My problem?" I could only laugh, disbelief spreading through me as I tightly cross my arms, "Are you seriously that dense?"

    "Yeah. Your problem." He scowls, "I'm not as dumb as you think I am, princess."

    I shuttered at the nickname, "You're looking pretty stupid from where I'm standing."

    "Just leave me alone, I don't wanna deal with you right now." I attempt to leave once more, but his hand remained planted on my arm.

    "No, You don't get to walk away all high and mighty until you tell me what's wrong."

    "What's wrong?" I asked, incredulous and shocked at his pure audacity, "God, you're such an ass!"

    "I'm the ass?" He scowled, "You're the one walking around with a stick up yours!"

    "What? I don't want to talk to you, so you're butt hurt? Poor baby." I cooed sarcastically.

    "You're acting like a bitch right now."

    "So now I'm a bitch?"

    "If the glass slipper fucking fits, princess."

    Why're you even talking to me right now Lahote? You clearly have your opinions on me."

    "Like you don't have yours about me? I'm not the asshole, Davina."

    "You aren't" I laughed in disbelief, "Do you seriously think that after the shit you pulled on me, I wouldn't be pissed? You're a dick Lahote."

    "And you're a self-righteous princess, Bardot."

    I manage to shove him, ignoring the look of surprise that spreads across his face as he stumbles back. "I may be self-righteous but at least I'm not a liar!"

    "What did I fucking lie about?"

    "You're joking, right?" When he doesn't respond, I continue, "Oh my God, you seriously don't remember, do you?"

    "We had a good date, and you acted like I didn't exist!"

    "No! We were supposed to have a nice date, but you stood me up to fuck Janie fucking Mather's!" I poke him harshly, uncaring of how he began to heave in anger.

    "You were giving Chris Adams 'fuck me' eyes!" He blamed.

    "Oh please," I jeered, "at least he hasn't given STD's to half of Forks!"

    "Excuse me?!"

    "Don't act high and mighty, every single girl here has ended up in bed with you – may as well make a fucking club out of it!" I yelled sarcastically.

    He flinched then, small and almost unnoticeable – almost.

    "Don't you fucking dare slut shame me. You're seriously that closed minded?"

    "News flash Lahote," I clipped, "everyone here knows your basically La Pushes fucking gigolo,"

    His breathing was heavy, shallow. "Watch. It. You know nothing about me." His voice was low, like he was attempting to calm himself down.

    "What did you expect?! You sleep with half the town and now you're butt hurt that I don't want to play twenty fucking questions? Read the room, ass hat, I don't want to know you."

    In my rage, I didn't notice how his breathing got heavier, how his eyes darkened and his fists clenched.

    "And even if I did want to know you, it went down the moment you decided to start shit with me." I gritted out, "I'm done, don't fucking follow me."

    I weave my way through the crows, abundantly aware of Paul's looming figure. My jaw clenched as I looked for Millie in the crows, finding her in the front yard with Sam.

    "We're leaving, now." I tug at her arm, far too blinded by my rage to notice how she stared longingly at Sam.

    "Dawnie?" She asked, "What's wrong? You look upset, what can I do to help?"

    "It's nothing." I say, blinking rabidly to keep the tears at bay. I was mad, embarrassed and just wanted to lay in my bed and binge watch my favorite show. My gaze found that of Paul, who was stalking towards us, me, looking pleadingly in my direction. "Can we just go, please."

    "Of course." Millie agreed kindly.

    I don't wait for her to follow me, far too eager to distance myself from Paul. Before he can so much as speak to me, before his hand can cup my shoulder, I'm already jogging towards the car – the tears already flowing along my cheeks.

    "Dawnie?" Millie asks, slightly panting from having to keep up with my fast, and sudden, pace, "what's going on?"

    I don't try to fight it, choking out a sob as I cover my mouth with one hand, the other gripping the steering wheel. "Boys suck Millie." I cry.

    "I know baby." She comforts.

    "You don't have to stay with me." I say, my voice shaking as I wipe away my tears – trying to compose myself. "I can walk back to Charlies – I know you want to be with Sam."

    "Sam understands that you are important to me."

    I tried to smile, but it wobbles before another sob breaks through. Millie reaches over to hug me tightly, rubbing my back and whispering words of comfort.

KOREY SPEAKS !

Paul has made an appearance!! And it doesn't go as well as we'd hoped (oops!) anyways, the next chapter will be a Thanksgiving chapter!

How are we feeling about Dawn, and how about her relationships?