"Eds, what do you think of the new girl at school?"

Megan wouldn't stop asking him and every time she did, her 'older brother' would get more and more annoyed with her.

He blinked tiredly, "She's fine. She just has a different smell is all"

"Is it a good or bad smell? Does she stink? I don't smell anything weird about her. You're not going to eat her, are you? I think she's nice"

Alice popped in, "Are you guys talking about the new girl at school?"

Edward wanted to crawl in a hole, "No."

"Yes" Megan betrayed him and Alice clapped her hands with a squeak.

"Eeee! I like her. You two would make a good couple" she winked at Edward.

Megan laughed at the disgusted look on her brother's face, "That will never happen Alice and you know it"

"Oh do I?" she gave him a knowing look and went off to find Jasper.

Edward seemed a little more . . . . worried at that and addressed Megan seriously, "Look. . . . I can't be around Bella or else it feels like I'll just snap at any moment. Her blood smells too good  like. . . candy. . . and it's bad enough she sits by me in Biology. Just a few more months and hopefully I'll never see her again"

Megan rolled her eyes at how dramatic and emo he was being, "You sat by her ONCE in Biology and have been skipping class since. I'm sure you'll be fine, Edward. You're the best in this coven at self-control!"

Her brother finally smirked playfully, "Yeah, it's a miracle I haven't killed you yet" He swat the back of her head gently and ran off, leaving Megan giggling behind in the 'living' room.

'I wonder why Edward likes that Bella girl so much. I mean sure she seems nice but she never really talks. She's so . . . reserved. I mean I guess I am too at times. . .' She stopped herself, 'She's perfect for him. I should try and talk to her more at school tomorrow!'

A while later it was getting late and Esme found her still lounging around in the living room, "Hey there Megan, sweety. I just wanted to let you know we were all going to go out on a hunt. We should be back before morning, okay?"

Megan really wanted to go with them but knew it could be dangerous if Jasper or Emmett lost control. She knew Alice wanted her to keep practicing with shifting, too, but after what happened a few months ago, she didn't know if she wanted to risk it again.

"O-okay. . . I'll see you all later, then."

Suddenly the others raced in as they had gotten ready and even Rosalie seemed concerned, her stony features melting at her insecurities. 

Emmett teased her, "Sure you don't want to try? That tiger sure did seem hungry last time"

Edward shoved him, "Knock it off, man"

"She'll be fine" Alice comforted, "She just has to trust us. We can help her. Help you, Megs"

Megan looked back and forth at them but couldn't bring herself to trust that she'd be able to control herself. Why was it so important for her to do so, anyway? She was fine as a normal girl, right?

Carlisle sighed, "It's okay, Megan. You don't have to. Just know, you can join us whenever you want, just let us know when you ever want to try and practice again, okay? You don't need to hunt if you don't want to"

'I wish it was that easy. I can't trust myself.'

"Yes you can, Flicker" Edward smiled, "You're strong, you just don't give yourself enough credit"

'I don't want to end up accidentally hurting one of you'

Edward nodded, "I understand. Take all the time you need, sis"

With that, Megan watched as they left the house. 

It was times like these she wished she had a friend that didn't need to go out and hunt. Leaving her behind.

She felt so lonely in this coven. She knew they all cared about her and loved her but there was just times she felt  . . . .out-casted. 

Different.

The rest of the night, she watched TV and surfed the web, eating whatever Esme had in the kitchen for her, feasting on her feelings.

The next day, Megan made a point to not sit by the Cullens' and sit with her other friends, Mike, Eric, Tyler, Angela and Jessica. Of course they weren't ALL who was there. The new girl was sitting with them, quiet and shy as usual.

"Oh hey Megan!" Mike practically exclaimed.

Eric laughed, "Geez, you haven't sat with us in forever! You've missed out on a lot!"

"It's only been a few days!" she countered.

"Have you met Bella?" Angela pointed to the new girl and Megan shined.

Bella looked pretty nervous but Megan just smiled, "Hi! I'm Megan! It's nice to meet you!"

Bella nodded stiffly, "Um. . . . Same. Hey, weren't you just sitting with those guys? Not to sound. . . rude or anything. . .  Just curious"

Megan laughed, "Oh yeah. They're my adopted siblings, the Cullens'. Carlisle adopted me when I was little and I've lived with them ever since. But uh . . . ." Megan leaned towards her and whispered in her ear, "I've noticed you have a crush on my brother, huh?"

Bella almost choked on her lunch nearly spitting out what she had in her mouth, "Wha?!"

Megan wiggled her eyebrow knowingly, "Hhehehe. . . Edward. My brother. The really shy, cute one that looked like he just smoked some weed?" she pointed directly at him.

She knew Edward really wanted to kill her then and there in that moment. She could just feel the rage in his aura from that distance but on the outside, he tried to remain calm.

Bella stuttered, "Oh .. . uh no. No way. I'm uh . . . not into guys like that . . And he doesn't like me, I'm sure"

"Oh don't worry, he doesn't actually do drugs! But also . . . you keep staring at him enough. And he's talked about you, you know. . .  I think he DOES likes you. He's never talked about any of the girls in school before"

"Not even me?!" Jessica tried to butt in but Megan just ignored her.

Bella almost seemed to blush, her pale skin almost turning into a sunburn sort of look but it was kind of cute, "Uh. . . Really?"

Megan grinned toothily and nodded, "Yeah, just thought you ought to know. He doesn't hate you or anything. He's just really shy about talking and stuff. He doesn't know how to talk to girls. Kind of dumb in that area if you ask me"

Edward's rage burned hotter and hotter but Megan chose to ignore it still, not looking in his direction.

Bella nodded but looked like she wanted this conversation to end, "Good to know. . . I guess"

As lunch went on, Megan found out quite a lot about Bella herself. Her father is the local Sherriff, Chief Swan. She had heard some about him by Carlisle. He liked him enough but the man was always so gruff and quiet, just like Bella, perhaps but Carlisle seemed to like that, even if Chief Swan thought they were all weird. 

Another thing Megan learned about Bella was that she recently moved to Forks from Arizona and California to live with her father for a few months. Her parents were divorced. Bella used to go back and forth a little to see her father every summer r but didn't appear to have gone to school in Forks. Just to visit her father. But that's all she'd say about him. Megan kind of got the impression that maybe they weren't all that close anymore like they were. Now her mother and step father were going to travel the road for a while though now so Bella HAD to go to school in Forks for a bit, not that she seemed to mind.

All in all, however, Megan liked Bella. She was quiet and soft-spoken but the more she talked, the more she was just . . . . likeable. She could see why Edward had taken a liking to her.

When school was over, Megan waited outside with her other siblings, waiting for Edward to come meet them.

'I hope he's not TOO mad at me' she thought as she finally saw him exit the school.

Edward stormed towards her and suddenly she felt the instinct to bolt but he was too quick, "What the hell was that, Megan?" he asked her in a low and dangerous voice, practically growling. He had never spoken to her like that before and she honestly felt scared for a few moments.

Megan knew then that maybe she had crossed a line, "I'm sorry.  . . . I just thought you liked her. You're always so lonely and you guys are so much alike and . . . I'm sorry, Eds"

Edward's eyes softened as he saw the look of fear in her features. He sighed and glanced over to Bella who was just exiting the school as well, and back at Megan, "It's alright, Flicker. Just. . . don't butt in again. Alright?"

Megan nodded, "Okay . . .  did you talk to her?"

He rolled his eyes, "Yes. . ." he couldn't help but crack a grin, "She's . . . . .  different."

Suddenly the sound of a skidding car screeched in the parking lot and everyone stared as a large van lost control on the ice. Megan had only realized at the last second that the van was heading towards Bella, skidding on the ice after another car had pulled out in front of them.

"Edward! Bella!" she shot a look over at him only to see he wasn't there. She looked back at the accident to see that Edward had already stopped the van, saving Bella from being killed.

Megan couldn't help herself from smirking, 'I knew he liked her'

A few moments later, Edward jumped around the van and quickly paced back over to them with an angry look but he was mostly angry at himself and they all knew that.

Rosalie was pissed, though, "What the hell Edward!? Why did you save her?! Now she has more of a reason to suspect what we are!"

Edward just shoved Megan in the car, getting in behind her crossing his arms, "Shut up Rosalie. Emmet. Drive us to the hospital. I need to speak with Carlisle."

Megan was in the middle of the back seat but peaked out the window to see everyone crowding around Bella, everyone just as equally perplexed as Bella looked. 

'If Bella hadn't been suspicious before, she definitely is now. I'm glad Edward actually did something. . .  but what are the risks?'

As the car moved, Edward just had his eyes closed, trying to block out anything and everything from his mind. He knew he probably messed up.

When they got to the hospital, Megan immediately set off to find Bella. Edward said that she had hit her head on her own car but she wasn't hurt too bad.

Finally she caught the sound of her low voice and Carlisle's and burst in the room where she heard them , "Bella! You alright?"

The boy who was driving the van had apparently been Tyler and was on a separate hospital bed pouting with guilt while Bella sat on the other bed looking completely baffled. Mostly baffled at her appearance in the hospital shouting for her.

"Megan? . . . Hey. Yeah I'm fine. Just a hit to the head is all"

"Just a hit to the head?!" her father rolled his eyes, clearly upset, "You could have been killed Bella!"

"Yeah but I wasn't, dad . . .  Thanks to Edward. He pushed me out of the way"

'Oh shit' Megan gulped, meeting Carlisle's worried glance but he pretended he didn't hear that.

Carlisle spoke to the Sherriff again, "She'll be fine, Charlie. She just needs a little rest is all. By the way, this is my daughter, Megan." He gestured to her and she strolled the rest of the way in and to shake Charlie's hand.

The Sherriff cleared his throat, clearly more worried about his daughter, though, than meeting new people, "Nice to meet you. Carlisle adopt you as well? You were homeschooled right?" he bombarded her with questions in an attempt to distract himself.

Megan nodded, "Yep. This is my first year in a real school!"

Bella looked sympathetic, "Wow. I didn't know that. That must be tough"

Megan shrugged, "Nah. I got my siblings so it's not so bad. And Tyler, Eric, Mike and Angela aren't so bad either." she pointed to Tyler who just nodded to her, still looking guilty. 

Bella noticed that she left out Jessica but she didn't blame her, letting her continue, "Hey! Do you want to be my friend, too!?"

Bella laughed a little at her swift bubbly attitude and smiled a bit, "Honestly I thought we were already friends?"

Megan bounced up and down, "Really!? Cool!"

Carlisle smiled and placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder, "Hey, how about you go find your siblings and Esme? I'll be there shortly and we can go home. I'm almost done for the day here after these two kids"

Megan knew what he really meant and took off but not before she quickly hugged Bella, too excited not to. She finally had a 'normal' friend! Not that Tyler, Eric, Mike and Angela weren't. Bella just seemed . . .  different. There was something about her like Edward said.

Megan was happy as she walked the halls until she found her siblings and things didn't look so pretty. Rosalie was arguing with Edward while Esme, Emmet and Alice were all on Edward's side. Jasper never picked sides.

"You just cost us our lives, Edward! Now she's going to suspect us and if she guesses right then we're all screwed and the Volturi will come after us for sure!" she hissed at him quietly enough so no one else would hear.

Esme interrupted, "Just calm down, Rose. Everything will be fine"

"Yeah I mean she DID hit her head, after all. People will just think she's crazy if she blurts anything" Emmet laughed about it.

Edward sighed and Megan ran over to them, "Hey guys. Carlisle said he's almost done with Bella and that other kid and we'll be set to go"

Esme nodded to her, "Right. That's good. I'm glad she's okay"

Rosalie didn't want to let things go, though, "So. . . what? We're just gonna to pretend nothing happened?!"

Edward scoffed, "What was I supposed to do? Let her get killed?" he seethed.

There was silence as his answer and even the others didn't know what to say. Edward snorted humorlessly, "Whatever. I'll take care of it. Just stay out of it"

Suddenly Bella showed herself, rounding the corner "Hey  . . . . uh . . ."

They all looked at her as if she were a freak. How long had she been there!? But Megan could tell Bella had literally just walked up to them.

She cleared her throat lightly, "Could I . . . speak to Edward for a sec?"

Megan jabbed Edward's side and winked, making her brother VERY uncomfortable and he pushed her away with the others. Megan bit her lip and watched as Edward whipsered to Bella but she couldn't see what they were talking about as Rosalie dragged her away from the scene.

Megan didn't know what they spoke about but it sure was short because he came strolling out as quick as a fox to the car to get away. Carlisle met them and drove home without a word. But no talking was necessary. They all knew the danger they faced and they had to make sure Bella never found out about their secret.

Bella couldn't know about them.

A few days later, Megan was invited with Tyler, Eric, Mike, Angela, Jessica and Bella to go to the La Push Beach!

Megan was all excited. She had never been to the beach before! And what was better was the La Push beach was on the other side of the river a few miles out. It was away from a lot of other people who wouldn't respect the property and the water smelled so . . fresh here. So crisp and the air was nice and cool through her hair.

However, it was also where her family didn't want her to go. But she made sure they wouldn't find out. She instead, told them that she would be spending the day with Bella and the rest of her friends. Not EXACTLY a lie.

Thankfully they bought into it all except for Edward, of course, but he never said a word. Perhaps it was because he saw it as some sort of revenge? Did he think maybe she'd get in trouble for it later anyway? 

Whatever it was, Bella, her and the gang all went down to the beach and Megan was completely stoked and ready. When they got there and settled, all she could do was breathe it all in. She just sat on the beach as soon as they got there and stared out into the ocean. She watched her friends get ready for surfing all except for Bella of course. 

Bella was still a lone wolf, really, not that she blamed her. 

It got her thinking.

'Bella and Edward have been talking a bit more recently. But then why is he still all bitchy? He likes her, right? Boys are so weird.' She thought about Emmet a little, 'And stupid'

"Hey! Megan!" she heard her voice being called by Bella and she immediately pounced up and ran towards the van where she stayed at a safe distance. Beside her were a few boys she didn't recognize but she still came over and smiled. Something felt off about them, though. She suddenly felt. . .unsafe.

"Hi!" The boys smiled back at her warmly and she just smiled. Maybe she was just being a scaredy-cat.

Bella introduced them all to her, "These are my friends from the reservation, Quil, Embry and Jacob. Guys, this is Megan. She lives with the Cullens'."

Immediately the boy's faces dropped and Megan didn't know why. Did they not like her family? The air suddenly felt tense around them but the others didn't even notice.

"The Cullens" Jacob practically hissed, looking her up and down with a small snarl, "You're a Cullen?"

Megan sensed the obvious hatred and wanted to lighten the mood so badly, "Oh no! No, my full name is Megan Flare!" she still smiled, "Dr. Cullen adopted me when I was young after my parents . . . . .uh . . ."

Bella tried to help her, sensing the shift in mood as well finally, "She's been homeschooled most of her life. This was her first year at a public school. Cool, huh?"

Jacob hummed but still didn't smile at her again, "I see."

Bella tried changing the subject, "I tried to get Edward to come, too, but he wouldn't for some reason. Must not like water or something"

Quil growled, "The Cullens' don't come here"

Megan suddenly felt very unwelcome and she backed off a little when Embry glared at her.

But she felt brave enough, "Why not? You make it sound as if they're not allowed to"

None of them would answer her question and it got awkward very quickly.

Jacob motioned for Bella to follow him for a walk and she did, "I'll be back soon, Megs. Don't get into any trouble"

Megan frowned a bit but she was still around Angela, Jessica, Mika, Tyler and Eric. She felt safe enough. . .sort of.

That didn't stop the tribe boys, though, "The Cullens' aren't allowed here. And frankly, neither are you."

'I guess now I know why they didn't want me to come to this part of the land. These guys are rude but they know something. Do they know what the Cullens' are?'

But she didn't bother to argue or talk back to them. Instead she just chose to wait for Bella to come back with Jacob.

"Hey now, that's not right" Tyler spoke up for her, having been listening in, "She's has just as much right to be here as any of us"

The tribe boys snorted but didn't argue against Tyler, letting it go. Megan smiled to Tyler. She hadn't been expecting anyone to stand up for her like that.

Bella was gone for most of the time so Megan decided to try and spend some time around the others. Namely Tyler, striking up conversation while the others went out surfing. Of course the tribe boys kept their eyes on her, watching her every move.

She practically jump-hugged Bella when she returned but let go abruptly when she heard Jacob growl a little at her. 

As they all left La Push, the 'normal' kids all talked and shouted as if nothing had happened but Megan and Bella knew something was off and had a mutual understanding and question in their minds.

'Why did the reservation boys hate the Cullens' and not want them or her on their land?'

There were so many questions running through Megan's mind, she didn't realize that they had already made it back to Bella's house.

"Hey Megan. Do you want to hang out with me for a while?" she asked her.

Megan's mood shifted and she smiled, "S-sure!"

They went into her home and conversed about tons of meaningless and funny things, waiting for Charlie to get home so he could take her back to the Cullens'. Megan was happy to have this time with her. With anyone normal, really but Bella was special. Megan loved being around her. She couldn't explain why.

"So has anyone asked you to prom yet, Megs?"

"No. You?" she didn't really understand prom very well as her family never told her . . . but she knew Bella knew enough about it and she was curious. Did Edward ask her?

Bella nodded, "Yeah a lot of guys have asked me but . . . I don't much care for them. I actually got Eric to go with Angela and Mike to go with Jessica, though."

"Really? Ms. Matchmaker, huh!? Yeah they'd make good couples.  . . But do you not want to go to prom yourself?"

Bella looked mildly disgusted, "I can't dance. And to 'dance' with someone I barely know around tons of other people I barely know? Pft. Forget it. I'd rather throw myself off a cliff."

Megan chuckled, "I get ya. But Edward taught me to dance when I was little. Maybe HE could teach you! I'll ask him if you want?"

Bella looked suddenly terrified at the idea, "Oh! Uh, No! Don't bother" she laughed, "I wouldn't want to cause anyone any trouble. Umm. I'm not going to prom. I'm actually going to Jacksonville to spend some time with my mom again"

Megan smiled, seeing her friend all flustered, "Oh that sounds cool!"

"Yeah uh . . . but you should go to prom.  . . . I think Tyler likes you"

"Huh? Tyler? Are you sure?. . . I don't know" Megan blushed, "I don't know if I like him that way"

"Well you could just go as friends if you wanted"

Megan just shrugged, "I guess. I'll think about it"

After hours of conversing, Megan finally thought that Bella had completely opened up to her and she was happy. It was so much fun having a friend she could actually talk to. Maybe one day they could talk more deeply if Edward ever ends up telling her what they all were. 

Finally Charlie got home and was able to take Megan back home to Carlisle and everyone but in truth, Megan was a bit nervous. She knew she was going to be in trouble because odds were. . . . Edward already told them that she went to La Push beach. And if he didn't, then Alice probably did, having seen it.

When Charlie dropped her off and drove away with a wave, Megan was tempted on running into the forest to get away. But then Carlisle burst quickly through, dragged her in, and threw her on the couch. The whole family stood in front of her looking VERY upset.

'Shit' Megan cursed in her head.

Carlisle shook his head at her, "Why did you lie to us?"

Megan blinked, trying to appear innocent, "I didn't. I said I was going to hang out with my friends?" she said hopefully.

Esme looked more upset than she'd ever seen her, "Megan, you could have been hurt! We can't protect you in that territory! We've told you that you can't go over there so why did you?! I'm so upset with you, Megan!"

Megan was actually at a loss. She really didn't know why they were upset. She was fine and she was with her friends. Nothing would have attacked her in a group that size and around so many people. 

Then she realized.

"Um . . . Some boys from the reservation said that Cullens' aren't allowed on the beach or near the reservation. Why is that?"

Carlisle sighed, "It's because they are an enemy clan. Natural enemies, actually. We made a treaty long ago with their ancestors back in 1936 that we would never set foot on their territory and they'd leave us alone and keep our secret."

Megan still didn't understand, "I don't get it. How could they hurt you guys? They're just human, right?"

Emmet just came out with it, "They're shapeshifters."

Megan's eyes bulged at the bluntness, "The fu. . .. what?"

Edward explained, "What he means is that their tribe's spiritual animal is a wolf so when a threat is nearby, aka vampires, their tribe animal is released within them and they transform into wolves to protect their clan. Shapeshifters and Vampires have been enemies for centuries, Megan. It's a. . . . . traditional thing, I guess"

"Oh. But just because I live with you guys, they hate me too? That doesn't make any sense. I'm not a threat to them. I'm not a wolf but . . I'm kind of just like them, right?! Just. . . a tiger? I don't get it. They don't even know me . . ."

Alice sat by her and took her hand in hers, "It's okay. We know you're not really a threat to anyone, Megan."

She took offense to that, "Hey!"

Alice continued with a light smile, "It's just they don't like anyone that associates with US."

Megan pouted and brought her knees up to her chest, "So they hate me just because of that? That's stupid. They're stupid. You guys aren't even a threat either, really. You're vegetarians and only eat animals. They're dumb" tears started to form in her eyes.

Emmet snorted at her pouty face, "I agree, Flicks"

Carlisle saw the saddened look in his daughter's eyes and he softened completely, although not wanting to show it, "Just don't go over there again, alright?  . . . .  By the way, you're grounded."

Megan blinked at him curiously, "From what?"

Carlisle thought for a while. There really wasn't a lot he could enforce her to stay away from.

"I'll get back to you on that" with that, he smirked and came over to lean in front of her, "You have no idea how worried we were for you, Megan. Just don't ever do that to us again, okay? Tell us where you are TRULY going next time. Alright?"

She nodded and he brought her in for a hug, as did Esme.

Esme sighed, "We love you so much Megan. Please don't make us worry" she kissed her hair gently

"I won't"

Carlisle picked her up in his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist, "My little cub. . . First part of being grounded is you have to go to bed early. No dinner."

She whined against his shoulder, "Daaaaad!!!!"

The chuckled behind them as Carlisle immediately gave in.

The 'father' laughed, "Fine. You get a cheese sandwich but that's it. Learn your lesson"

She laughed in his ear and hugged him close, "Okay. . . . . I ate at Bella's anyway so I'm not hungry"

Everyone downstairs heard the conversation and laughed under their breath. Carlisle just sighed heavily and kissed her cheek, dropping her into her bed like he used to when she was a child, "You're still going to bed early. Good night sweety. I love you very much. I hope you realize that. We're all just trying to protect you"

"I know . . I'm sorry, dad. . . . .Love you too"