ten, trouble starts today
twilight

The Cullens were back. Well, Edward and Emmett were back.

Clover didn't really know them, only of them, and definitely not the way Bella did, but she noticed things. Edward and Emmett had been missing for days, and now they were just there, slipping back into place like their absence had never happened.

Like Edward hadn't completely left Bella alone for their partnership, which resulted in her failing the assignment until she involved her uncle went and got the teacher to mark what Bella had done, giving her a just above passing grade.

Bella sat across from them at lunch, talking quietly with Edward like nothing was strange, but it was. It was impossible not to notice how people still hesitated before walking past their table, and even if they were just walking past it, it was like they had an invisible barrier around them, no one could get too close.

Clover sat with Juno, Mike, Jessica, and Eric, taking bites out of her sandwich here and there, half listening as Jessica rambled about a quiz she'd probably failed. But her eyes flicked back to Bella now and then, watching the way Edward leaned in just slightly when he spoke to her.

She wonders what they were chatting about. She wonders if Bella got mad at Edward for ditching her.

Juno nudged her foot under the table. "You're staring."

"I'm not," Clover muttered, pulling her gaze away.

"You are," Juno said with a smirk, popping a chip into her mouth. "Bella and Edward, huh?"

"She likes him," Clover whispered back. "She's mad at him before he left her alone during the assignment."

Juno huffed. "No kidding, you can tell how much she a) likes him but doesn't wanna rush, and b) how it looks like he wants to strangle him."

Clover laughed lightly and then lunch passed in a blur, and before Clover knew it, so had math. She was walking towards her English Literacy class when Mike stopped her, a wild grin on his face.

"English is canceled, apparently she came down with something and couldn't find a sub. We have a free period." Mike was grinning, beyond excited at the news that there wasn't class which meant he could either go home early, or hangout with Clover.

"Oo! I hope she feels better. Maybe I'll go to the library, I heard they have some new releases." Clover told him, before she paused, noticing how his expression dropped. "Would you wanna come with? I don't know where anything is here."

Mike led her to the library, where he was quick in showing her where each section was, even giving her book recommendations. When they both had their books check out, and planned on reading them somewhere, Clover saw Emmett and Alice, who sat together near the windows, low voices carrying over the quiet hum of passing students who probably had study period now.

Alice turned slightly, her pretty eyes landing on Clover immediately, like she had sensed her before she had even looked up. Which, really, she had.

Her smile was light, almost inviting. "Clover, Mike, you should sit with us."

Clover hesitated. "Oh. Thanks, but we —" she gestured loosely toward the hallway. "We're just passing through, heard there's much better seating in the other wing."

Alice just smiled — like she knew something Clover didn't. Emmett watched her quietly, not as openly friendly, but not unkind either. A small part of him was trying not to fume at the sight of Mike Newton so close to Clover, but, there wasn't anything he could do.

Clover nodded politely and kept walking with Mike beside her. She didn't know why, but her heart was pounding. Maybe the stares, or the invitation, of the way that Mike had grabbed her hand so gently as they left the library.

🌲

The parking lot was cold despite the light rays of sun still lingering in the sky, the early chill settling into the pavement as students packed up their bags and headed to their cars.

Clover stood with Juno and Bella, chatting easily about Bella's lunch with Edward.

"So he just... sat with you?" Juno asked, arms crossed, like she couldn't wrap her head around what was happening.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Yes, Juno. We've been lab partners for weeks, this isn't some huge thing."

Clover smirked. "It kinda is."

Bella sighed, shaking her head as she unlocked her truck.

They had just started toward the car when a deafening crunch shattered the air.

Clover barely processed what was happening.

A car. Tyler's car.

It skidded out of control, tires screeching, heading straight for them. Damn weather. There was no time, just instinct.

Clover grabbed Bella's arm, shoved her toward Juno, and twisted to move before any of the impact. She had hit the pavement hard, but the car had missed her. Just barely.

Dazed, she blinked up at the chaos unfolding around her. Bella was safe. Juno too. Her head and wrist hurt, but nothing compared to what could have happened if she hadn't moved.

But someone was crouched beside her. Her. Why her.

She barely registered the face, Emmett. His eyes flickered, scanning her quickly, making sure she was okay before he disappeared. Gone. Like he had never been there.

And when people rushed over seconds later, asking if she was okay, if they were all okay, and she swore she had seen him. But no one else had. Juno was too busy making sure Bella, who she had crashed into was okay, vs who was crowed around them.

Just as quick as it had happened, Clover, Juno and Bella were all being ushered into the same ambulance, because gosh darn a place as small as Forks had any more than one.

And the ride over was full of Juno telling the paramedic she was fine, and threatening that if they didn't look after Clover and Bella she'd open the door and really give them something to treat.