WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN

≪•◦ CHAPTER TWELVE | THEN KISS ME ◦•≫

••●••

       Colby smiled up at Emmett as he opened the car door and offered his hand. She took it happily, feeling a flutter of excitement mixed with nerves. "Nervous?" Emmett asked, noticing her heart rate pick up as they walked up the stairs.

      "Me? Colby Salvatore nervous? Pfft, yeah, a little," she admitted with a laugh. Emmett chuckled along with her, his deep voice resonating warmly. As they entered the house, the familiar and comforting smell of Louisiana gumbo filled her nose, making her smile even wider.

     "Colby!" Alice's familiar voice chimed from the kitchen as they stepped inside. Colby laughed, accepting the enthusiastic hug from the petite girl. "Hey, Alice," she greeted, waving at the rest of the Cullen family. She noticed Edward's absence but didn't dwell on it as Esme approached with a bright smile.

     "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, sweetheart," Esme said warmly, gently taking Colby from Emmett's side and leading her to the stove. "Would you mind tasting this?" she asked, holding up a wooden spoon.

     Colby smiled, blowing lightly on the spoon before tasting the gumbo. "It's really good, tastes like home," she said, her eyes lighting up.

     Esme beamed. "Emmett told us you were from New Orleans before moving around so much, and that you loved gumbo. We thought it would be a great first meal with us."

     Colby felt a warmth spread through her chest. "Thank you, it means a lot."

     She sat at the island with a contented smile as Emmett came up and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Your home is really beautiful," Colby said, earning appreciative smiles from Esme and Carlisle.

     "Thank you," Carlisle replied. "It's a pleasure to have you here. We know first impressions are important, so I hope we're doing well. I understand your family isn't too fond of us."

     Colby shook her head, her expression firm. "I'm not my family. It was a long time ago, and some of my family, mainly my mother and aunt, just haven't moved on from it all. You're not bad people, and I know that. They'll come around, and if they don't, who cares."

     Carlisle nodded, clearly moved by her words. "We appreciate your understanding, Colby. It means a lot to us."

     Emmett squeezed her waist gently, his eyes filled with admiration. "You're amazing, you know that?"

     Colby blushed, feeling a sense of belonging she hadn't felt in a long time. "I know." Colby said jokingly as she tilted her head back to looked at him.

     Yes, it sucked that Carlisle ended up not being her great-great-grandmother's other half, but in the end, it worked out when she did find her true other half. Everyone but her mother and Aunt Scarlett had let it go, and with what happened in Italy, Heather had become even more persistent in believing that vampires were bad and enemies to the Salvatores.

     "Your family isn't an enemy to me. My family won't hurt you, and I'll make sure they don't even try it," Carlisle said, looking at each of his children before turning back to Colby with a reassuring smile.

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     "So your family really does hate mine. How'd you convince them to let you come over?" Emmett asked as they now sat in the living room, a horror movie playing while the other Cullens were out hunting.

     "Oh, they still think I'm in Port Angeles with Jessica, Angela, and Bella," Colby said with a laugh.

     "You didn't let them know you left?" Emmett asked with an amused smile. "They hate you guys. Specifically my mother and older sister," Colby explained. Emmett nodded with understanding. "And the others?"

     "Jason knows you guys won't hurt me; he just doesn't know you well enough to have a personal opinion. The younger ones stay out of it, though I'm pretty sure Jaxon not only has a crush on Bella but also Rose," Colby said with a grin. "And my dad, well, he doesn't talk about it. My mom thinks he should have the same opinion on you guys as she does, but he just kind of nods his way through the conversation. Happy wife, happy life kind of deal." Emmett nodded, "Families can be difficult."

     "So I'm assuming you've met my family then," Colby said, sharing a laugh with Emmett. "Why is your family so okay with me then?"

     "Well, you're not your family. And they never had a problem with your family. Carlisle feels terrible for what he did, but when he found Esme, she was his mate, and vampires mate for life," Emmett explained as best as he could. Carlisle didn't often talk about his history with Diane, and no one pushed him to explain. "Esme is his soulmate. Diane obviously got over it enough, at least. But the stories she passed down just left a bad taste in her descendants' mouths. Especially my Aunt Scarlett, who told my mom, who, you know."

     The whole thing was a mess and hard to keep up with, and now that Colby was involved with the Cullen family, things were only going to get more complicated.

     "Okay, enough family talk. Let's watch a movie," Emmett said with a smile. With that, the vampire put on a horror movie, and the two sat close together with Emmett's arm wrapped around Colby's shoulders.

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     Colby managed to get away with her movie date with Emmett Cullen, which was a surprise to the young witch, but she was grateful nonetheless to not come home to a Cullen intervention led by her mother and older sister.

     Now, Colby leaned on Bella's truck beside Bella. The two had ridden to school together, and Bella had been quieter than usual during their ride. They stood in silence, but Colby had a smirk on her face as she watched with interest as Bella stared Edward down from across the parking lot intently.

     "Bella?" she called out, but there was no answer. It was as if Bella was under a trance. Soon enough, the bell rang, and students began to leave the parking lot to head to class. Students rushed past Bella and Colby as Bella continued to stand still until Edward looked at the two.

     Bella began to walk towards him, eyes meeting his. "Bella?" Colby called again. Bella didn't break her stare as she finally answered, "I need to talk to him." With that, she continued directly past Colby, into the dark forest that bordered the school. Colby watched her disappear into the trees, then took a step to follow. "What the heck?"

     "What was that about?" Colby asked, looking towards the Cullens, knowing they could hear her. The siblings just shrugged, looking where the two had disappeared. Colby sighed; she trusted Edward with Bella, so she didn't feel the need to run after them. "Colbs!" The voice of Jessica brought her attention back to the parking lot. "Come on before we're late for class!" Colby mumbled an "oh shoot" before running over to Jessica, linking their arms, and the two walked to gym class together.

     Jessica and Colby walked into the locker room in comfortable silence and began to change. "Volleyball tryouts are after school. You coming to try out?" Jessica asked as she joined Colby after getting dressed.

     "Of course! Get ready to have your knee pads knocked off," Colby chuckled. "But just because you're best friends with the volleyball captain doesn't mean I'll be going easy on you," Jessica said, playfully shoving her.

     "No need to go easy on me, I'm a volleyball superstar," Colby replied with a grin.

     The girls laughed as they walked into the gym. They were playing dodgeball today, and the coach appointed the two girls as team captains. "Get ready to eat rubber, Stanley," Colby said as she and Jessica finished picking their teams.

      "I won't be the one shitting it out later, Salvatore. Loser buys dinner after tryouts," Jessica shot back.

      "Deal."

      The game commenced, and the two girls got incredibly competitive. Eventually, Colby made the winning point with an impressive spike just before the coach blew her whistle. "That's the end, Colby's team wins. Now go get changed; the bell will ring soon."

       "So I'm thinking, The Carver Cafe," Colby called out to Jessica, who rolled her eyes as she ran over to Colby. "A deal's a deal." The two girls laughed as they changed out of their gym uniforms and into their clothes.

      "Where's Bella?" Jessica asked, looking around as they walked out of the locker room.

     Colby shrugged, glancing towards the forest where Bella had disappeared earlier. "She didn't feel well and left."

     Jessica's eyes widened. "Was she your ride?" Colby nodded. "Yeah, but it's no big deal. I'll just get a ride from Jason after tryouts." Jessica smiled warmly. "Don't worry about it. I'll be happy to drive you home after we have dinner together." Colby grinned. "Thanks, Jess. That sounds perfect." The two girls headed to their next class, their conversation shifting to lighter topics as they walked through the bustling hallways of the school.

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     The day seemed to drag on endlessly. Colby found herself seated beside Jasper in the library for their history class, surrounded by an array of Civil War textbooks. The musty scent of old pages filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of polished wood and the distant hum of students' whispers.

     "Major, huh?" Colby asked, her voice a soft murmur as they whispered about Jasper's time in the Confederate Army. She glanced at him curiously, her eyes reflecting the dim light filtering through the library windows.

     Jasper nodded, a small, almost wistful smile playing on his lips. "I was the youngest major in Texas at nineteen," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of pride and melancholy.

     Colby's head tilted slightly, her brow furrowing in thought. "You were turned at nineteen though, right?" she asked, hoping she didn't sound inconsiderate. Her curiosity was genuine, but she didn't want to overstep.

     Jasper sensed her concern and gave her a reassuring smile. He didn't mind her questions; in fact, he welcomed them. "Yes," he replied, his gaze steady. "After evacuating women and children during the war, I was traveling back to Galveston when I met Maria. She turned me because she felt she could use my military experience."

     Colby listened intently, her eyes never leaving his face. Jasper's voice grew softer, more distant, as he continued. "I was in charge of Maria's newborn army that participated in the Southern vampire wars. Since Maria wouldn't keep vampires after the first year of their transformations, I was responsible for disposing of them. I hated it because I could feel their pain when I killed them, just as much as I could feel the pain of my human victims."

     His eyes drifted away, no longer focused on Colby but on memories long past. Colby felt a pang of empathy for him. "I'm sorry, Jasper," she said softly, not entirely sure how else to respond.

     Jasper shook his head and smiled, a hint of warmth returning to his expression. "It was a long time ago. Alice found me later on, and everything is better now because of her," he said, his smile widening. "She saw me coming, of course."

     "Saw you coming?" Colby echoed, intrigued. She knew Jasper had the ability to feel others' emotions from their current conversation and knew Emmett was physically stronger than the others, but there was still so much she didn't know.

      "Alice can see the future," Jasper explained, "though it's never set in stone. Decisions change, and so do the outcomes."

     Colby nodded thoughtfully. "I can see things into the future too, but only danger, and so far, it's only a few minutes before it actually happens. Does everyone have abilities like that in your family?"

     "With more practice, you might be able to strengthen it to see events further before they happen," Jasper suggested. "Other vampires do, depending on how they were as humans, I suppose. Edward can read minds, and I can feel and manipulate emotions."

     Colby nodded again, a small laugh escaping her lips. "The reading minds thing adds up now," she said, amused.

     Jasper chuckled, and a comfortable silence fell between them. The quiet was soothing, a rare moment of peace in their otherwise tumultuous lives. After a while, Jasper spoke up again.

     "Alice didn't see you coming," he said, his tone thoughtful. "But she saw others talking about your family. Somehow, you guys are blocked from her visions."

     Colby frowned, puzzled. "Do you think it's because we're witches? Maybe our magic has something to do with it."

     "Maybe," Jasper agreed, his voice contemplative.

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After school, Colby and Jessica met up in the gym for volleyball tryouts. The gym was buzzing with excitement as girls warmed up and chatted about the upcoming season. The sound of sneakers squeaking on the polished floor and the rhythmic thud of volleyballs being passed back and forth filled the air. Colby felt a surge of adrenaline as she joined the group, ready to show off her skills.

"Alright, ladies, let's get started!" the coach called out, clapping her hands to get everyone's attention. "We'll begin with some drills to see where everyone stands."

Colby and Jessica exchanged determined looks before diving into the drills. They worked hard, pushing themselves to impress the coach and secure their spots on the team. Colby felt a sense of camaraderie with the other girls, enjoying the competitive yet supportive atmosphere. The drills were intense, with everyone giving their best, diving for balls, and perfecting their serves and spikes.

After an intense tryout session, the coach gathered everyone together. "Great job today, everyone. I'll post the results tomorrow morning. Now, go get some rest."

Colby and Jessica high-fived, both feeling confident about their performances. "You were amazing out there," Jessica said as they headed to the locker room to change.

"You too! I can't wait to see the results," Colby replied, her excitement evident.

Once they were changed, the two girls made their way to The Carver Cafe. The cozy diner was a favorite spot for students, and it was bustling with activity as they walked in. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling burgers greeted them. They found a booth near the window and settled in, looking over the menu.

"So, what are you getting?" Jessica asked, glancing up from her menu.

"I think I'll go with the cheeseburger and fries. What about you?" Colby replied. "Same here. Their burgers are the best," Jessica agreed.

After placing their orders, the girls chatted about school, volleyball, and their plans for the weekend. Colby felt a sense of normalcy and happiness, enjoying the simple pleasure of hanging out with a friend. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and shared stories.

As they finished their meal, Jessica looked at Colby with a curious expression. "So, what's the deal with you and Emmett? You guys seem pretty close."

Colby blushed slightly, a smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, we are. He's... different from anyone I've ever met. In a good way." Jessica grinned. "Well, I'm happy for you. Just be careful, okay?"

"I will. Thanks, Jess," Colby said, appreciating her friend's concern. After dinner, Jessica drove Colby home, the two girls chatting and laughing the whole way. As they pulled up to Colby's house, Jessica gave her a quick hug. "See you tomorrow!"

"See you, Jess. Thanks for the ride and dinner," Colby replied, waving as Jessica drove off. Colby walked into her house, feeling content.

"How were tryouts?" Colby was met with her mother's voice upon walking inside the house.

"It was good. Coach said she's going to post the results tomorrow morning, so I just have to endure the anxious waiting," Colby said with a nervous laugh.

"Grace saw you with one of the Cullens today. What did I tell you about being around them?" Heather said, her tone harsh. "I have classes with them. Where did she see me with any of them? I avoid them in the halls to please the two of you," Colby retorted with the same tone. "Watch the way you speak to me. And she saw you with one in the library, and it was just the two of you. He could've killed you."

"They wouldn't risk that kind of exposure and they're not the big bad vampires you two are making them out to be. And that was Jasper. We're assigned partners on a history project," Colby explained, doing her best to stay calm.

"I'm getting you moved from that class. And all the other classes you share with them," Heather decided as she turned to leave.

"Mom, why can't you just meet them and see they're really not how they've been made out to be?" Heather stopped in her tracks and turned to her daughter.

"I don't owe them or you that. They hurt our family. Betrayed your great-great-grandmother. They don't deserve our kindness."

"But mom—"

"End of discussion, Colby." Colby stood there, her mother's words echoing in her mind. She felt a mix of frustration and sadness but knew better than to argue further. She headed upstairs to her room, needing some time to herself. As she closed the door behind her, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

She decided to distract herself by preparing for the next day. She laid out her clothes for school and double-checked her backpack to make sure she had everything she needed. Her mind kept drifting back to the conversation with her mother and the upcoming volleyball results.

Just as she was about to sit down and do some homework, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Emmett.

Emmett: Hey, how were tryouts?

Colby smiled, feeling a bit of her tension ease away. She quickly typed back.

Colby: They went well! Coach will post the results tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

Emmett: I'm sure you did great. Want to hang out tomorrow after school?

Colby hesitated for a moment, thinking about her mother's warning. But she knew she couldn't let past family drama dictate her life.

Colby: I'd love to. Meet me at the bookstore in Port Angeles?

Emmett: I'll see you then, it's a date ;)

Feeling a bit better, Colby put her phone down and focused on her homework. The evening passed quickly, and soon it was time for bed. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She understood her mother's feelings but she just couldn't understand why she refused to give them a chance.

The next morning, Colby woke up early, her stomach in knots. She got ready quickly and headed to school, Grace having took the twins and Talia to school. Using Chloe as the middle man to tell Colby.

Eager to see the volleyball results Colby immediately walked towards the gym, she saw a crowd of girls gathered around the bulletin board. She pushed her way through, her heart pounding.

There it was—her name on the list. Colby felt a rush of excitement and relief knowing she made the team. She turned to find Jessica, who was also beaming with joy. "We did it!" Jessica exclaimed, pulling Colby into a hug. "Yeah, we did!" Colby replied, grinning from ear to ear.

The rest of the day flew by in a blur of congratulations and excitement. Colby soon discovered her mother was unsuccessful in pulling Colby from any of the classes she shared with the Cullens which felt like a personal victory.

After school, Colby made her way to the bookstore in Port Angeles, her heart fluttering with anticipation. She spotted Emmett waiting for her near the entrance, his smile lighting up the area.

"Hey," he greeted her, pulling her into a hug as she walked up to him. "Congrats on making the team."

"Thanks," Colby said, feeling a comfort in his cold arms. "I'm really excited."

They spent the next hour browsing through the shelves, talking and laughing. The bookstore was cozy, with the scent of old books and the soft murmur of other patrons creating a peaceful atmosphere. Colby felt a sense of normalcy and happiness that she hadn't felt in a long time. As they explored the different sections, Emmett looked at her seriously.

"Colby, there's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I can't stay away from you. You're my mate, and I would love for us to be together. Will you be my girlfriend?"

Colby felt her heart skip a beat. She had been hoping for this, but her mother's warnings echoed in her mind. "Emmett, I... I want to, but my family... they wouldn't approve. It's complicated."

Emmett took her hand, his touch gentle and reassuring. "I understand. But we could keep it a secret, just between us and my family. But I won't push you if you don't want this, but I can't imagine my life without you."

Colby looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and longing there. She knew how much he meant to her, and the thought of being apart was unbearable. "I want to be with you, Emmett. Let's do it. We'll keep it a secret."

Emmett's face lit up with a smile, and he pulled her into a tight embrace. "I promise I'll do everything I can to make this work." They left the bookstore together, walking side by side into the evening until they had to part to their cars.

Emmett looked at Colby, her hand still in his. He heard Colby's heartbeat pick up as he stepped closer to her. "Colby," he murmured, his voice soft and filled with emotion. "I can't help it. I need to kiss you."

Colby felt a shiver run down her spine as she looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat. "Then kiss me," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Emmett leaned in slowly, giving her a chance to pull away if she wanted to. But Colby stayed still, her eyes closing as his lips met hers. The kiss was gentle at first, a tender exploration, but soon it deepened, filled with the passion and longing they both felt. Colby's heart raced, and she felt a warmth spread through her entire body.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless. Emmett rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed. "I've wanted to do that for so long," he confessed. "Me too," Colby admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm glad you did."

They stood there for a moment, savoring the closeness, before reluctantly stepping back. "I'll see you tomorrow," Emmett said, his voice filled with promise. "See you tomorrow," Colby replied, a smile playing on her lips as she got into her car, Emmett closed the door after she got situated. Colby sat there for a moment as Emmett stepped back, not leaving until she drove off.

As she arrived home, her phone buzzed again. It was a text from Bella.

Bella: Hey Colby, I need to talk to you. Can we meet up tomorrow?

Colby frowned slightly, wondering what Bella needed to discuss. She quickly typed back.

Colby: Sure, I actually need to talk to you too. Let's meet after school at your place.

She put her phone away, her mind now filled with curiosity about Bella's message. Whatever it was, she knew she just wanted to tell Bella what she was.