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Sunday blurred by invisibly. Bella and I still hadn't talked about anything- she was now avoiding me. We had tried to talk about it, but it only ended with the both of us glaring at each other. She wanted to know more, I was content with what we already knew. I felt as if it was enough, but for her, it wasn't.

So here I was, walking into school alone. Dad had driven me, upon request, and Bella had stayed behind. Despite my poor mood, the sun was still out and the sky was still clear. And I knew that I would be able to prolong talking to Emmett. If the sun was out, the Cullens didn't show up to school - well now I knew why.

It seemed like everyone had the same idea as I did- it was warm outside, which meant it was the perfect weather for shorts. I wore a pair of faded blue jean shorts, and a plain yellow top, with my black converse. My hair was done in a simple high pony and the only makeup I had on was mascara and lip balm. I had my thin white zip-up hoodie tied around my waist and I found myself playing with the sleeves as I walked towards my locker.

To my surprise, Bella was already here. She was wearing her usual jeans and long-sleeved tee, but what shocked me was that she had her hair braided loosely. "Hey." She said to me as I reached her.

"Hi," I responded. I opened my locker and threw my backpack inside of it and grabbed whatever books I needed before closing it.

"Do you want to come with me to take Jake lunch later? It'd be during our lunch period." She asked silently.

"Sure, I'll meet you here after Gym." I smiled slightly at her and turned around to go to class. I hated that things were awkward between us, but until our boy problems were solved, the tension wasn't going to fade.

My morning classes weren't nearly as exciting as I hoped they'd be.  Government was a bust and I probably failed the pop quiz we took. Algebra was horrendous, like always. But Gym, that was worse. Since it was a nice day outside, Coach had us do laps around the track field. I was extremely glad I hadn't worn make-up that day.

After changing out of my gym clothes and slathering myself with deodorant, I took my hair out of the hair tie and let it hang loosely down my back. I grabbed my things and headed towards my locker to deposit them into it. Bella stood there reading her book and silently waiting.

"Ready?" She asked as I approached her. I nodded and quickly shoved my books into my locker and followed her out of the school. As we walked to the truck, I slipped my hoodie on and left it unzipped. Well, it wasn't mine, I had taken it from Bella's closet. "Here." After we clambered into the truck, she tossed me a small green bottle and as I looked at it, it turned out to be a small bottle of body spray.

I sprayed it on myself and the smell of green apples hit me hard. I smiled a little and practically bathed myself in it. She chuckled a little as she watched me but did the same when I tossed it back to her.

"So I was thinking we could pick up burgers from the fast food place for us and just take one to him also?" She suggested.

"Sounds good." I nodded. We drove to the little burger joint not too far from the school and ordered three basic cheeseburgers, but we decided to be extra nice and put bacon on Jake's. We each got the same meal: cheeseburger, large fry, and a chocolate milkshake.

As we drove, Bella ate her food slowly. It was funny to see her trying to drive and eat at the same time. She was a clumsy person naturally, so when the truck swerved because she was too focused on her burger, I couldn't help but laugh. It truly was an amusing sight to see and I was glad to note that the tension between us had evaporated into nothing.

LaPush High's parking lot was dead. There were plenty of cars but nobody was standing around outside like they do at our school. Bella decided to wait in the truck while I took Jake his food, so I grabbed mine also and decided to make the most of my lunch period.

I walked into the school and the halls were silent. This school was so much different from my own, that it irked me a bit. I walked into the small office and smiled warmly at the older lady behind the desk.

"Hello, may I help you?" She asked kindly. Her brown eyes twinkled as she smiled and it melted my heart.

"Yes, I brought lunch for a friend of mine and I was hoping I could drop it off to him," I told her, my smile never fading as I lifted the bags of food to show her.

"Of course, but you'll need a visitor's pass." She gave me a blank little sticker that had the word 'Visitor' written in black letters. Under it was a line that I had to sign my name on. I quickly signed my name with the pen she handed me and placed the sticker on my shirt.

"Would it be alright if I ate here as well?" She nodded again and pointed me in the direction of the cafeteria. "Just follow the signs." I thanked her and left the small office. Along the hallway, walls were little signs with arrows pointing in every direction. I followed the one that directed me toward the cafeteria and silently drank my chocolate milkshake.

The eerie silence unnerved me. It seemed like nobody even attended this school but as soon as I reached the cafeteria doors, I discovered why. I opened the metal maroon double doors and suddenly all the commotion stopped. The large room seemed to be full of every student that attended this small school. I glanced around as they all looked at me and smiled slightly as I met their gazes.

"Clary!" I looked ahead and saw Jake standing and waving at me. I smiled at him and walked toward him. I felt eyes on me as I did so but it wasn't anything I hadn't already gotten used to. "Hey." He smiled and gave me a side hug as he reached me.

"I brought your food." I smiled and held up the bag. "Double bacon cheeseburger, a large French fry, and an extra large chocolate milkshake."

"God, I love you." He sighed happily and took the bag from me.

"I know you do." I shrugged and glanced around the small table inhabited by Quil and Embry. "Hey, guys."

"Hey, Clary." They smiled.

"Where are our burgers?" Quil smirked.

"They're nonexistent." I teased. "Along with your flirting skills." Embry 'oohed' as I said this and Jake just laughed and ate his food. I glanced around the cafeteria and noticed people still staring. I smiled at a few of them and turned back around. "Do you guys know where Paul and Jared are?"

"Over there." Quil pointed as he ate his chips. I followed his finger and saw the two boys sitting at a small table in the corner of the cafeteria.

"Thanks, I'll see you guys later." I nodded at them. I grabbed my food and stood up. I pushed the chair in before making my way to the two scary-looking boys in the corner. "Hey boys." I smiled and scooted a chair out and sat down.

"Hey, Clary." They smirked and ate their lunches.

"That's it, that's the type of greeting I get?" I scoffed and unwrapped my burger. "At least from Jake I got a hug."

"Oh, a hug? Is that what you want?" Jared smirked.

"Well, it would be nice." I teased.

"Well, then let's go." I cheered silently and stood up from my seat and embraced him. I heard a few gasps from around the room but when I turned to look, no one was watching.

"Jared put me down!" I squealed as he lifted me off of my feet only to plant me on Paul's lap. "Thank you." I huffed and reached my arm to try to get my food but fell short. "I can't reach my food." I pouted but then smiled happily as Paul brought it closer to me. I took a big bite out of my burger and turned to see Jared looking amusedly at me. He shook his head and just went back to eating his food.

"Do you guys want my fries?" I asked them. Before I could finish my sentence, they both grabbed a handful and started munching on them. "Why are people staring?" I finally asked them. They followed my gaze and saw every pair of eyes turn to us.

"Nothing to see here, go back to your food." Paul glared. Everyone immediately jumped and went back to their previous conversations, the room no longer silent.

"So Clary how is school going?" Jared asked.

"It's alright."

"Make any friends?"

"A few."

"Meet any boys?"

"Possibly."

That made them stop eating entirely.

"Who is he?" They both asked, well more like growled.

"Just a guy." I shrugged. "A confusing guy." I trailed off.

"Confusing how?" Jared inquired.

"Well the other day he told me that we shouldn't be friends but then he told me that that didn't mean that he didn't want to be because he did. Which only confused me more." I narrowed my eyes at my hamburger in confusion.

"That is confusing," Paul commented. I nodded and took another bite of my burger. It was silent as we pondered over the words of Emmett Cullen.

"Well, you're too young to be dating anyway." Jared clarified. Paul immediately agreed.

"Sure, sure." I dismissed it with a smirk. They shook their heads at me and the three of us just continued to eat in silence.

"So when are you going to bring us food?" Jared smirked.

"When I can afford to feed you without going broke." I sassed. Jared pouted and Paul chuckled.

"You don't have to be rude about it," Jared grumbled.

"Sorry." I shrugged and slid the other half of my burger over to him. "Forgive me?" I widened my eyes at him.

"Always." He mumbled and began to gnaw on the burger.

"What do I get?" Paul whined.

"A public declaration of my undying love and affection?" I offered.

"No." He deadpanned.

"Eh, I wasn't going to give it to you anyway," I answered honestly. "Well guys, I have to go." I stood up from Paul's lap and dusted off the crumbs from the food. "I have to get back to school. Got a chemistry test to complete."

"Bye Clary." Paul stood up and wrapped his large arms around me as I buried my face into his chest. "Stay away from boys." He warned as I felt him place a small kiss on my head.

"No promises." I teased him before walking over to Jared.

"Let us know if you have any trouble, we'll beat up anyone." He smirked at me. I wrapped my tiny arms around his waist and I sighed as I felt his toned arms embrace me.

"Got it, Jerry." I smiled. "Stay away from boys and always call for backup." I saluted them mockingly.

"Get out of here." They laughed and sat back down. I grabbed my milkshake and skipped over to the door but turned abruptly as I heard my name being called.

"Bye Clary!" Jake, Embry, and Quil were standing up and waving wildly at me. I saluted them with a smile and skipped away from the cafeteria. By the time I made it to Bella, she had already finished her food and was quietly sipping her milkshake.

"Ready to go?" She asked as I buckled myself in.

"Sure." I nodded.

"Are you still coming with us to Port A. later?" She started the truck and reversed out of the parking spot. I nodded silently and she nodded also before speeding away from the school.

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The rest of the day mimicked Sunday. It just blurred by. Art class had been canceled due to our teacher's absence, Chemistry was quick on account of the stupid test being just a stupid pop quiz, and English was boring.

So when Bella showed up at our lockers ready to leave, I was ecstatic. The school was not as exciting as it usually was and I undoubtedly knew why.

Once we got home, I changed and met Bella downstairs to wait for the girls to show up. We sat and just watched the tv quietly as some reality show played but when I heard her exhale loudly I knew something was up.

"After we help the girls find their dresses, want to come to a bookstore with me?" She asked. I nodded and continued to watch the unrealistic lives of a "modern American family."

"What would you do if you had a butt that size?" I pointed st the screen to the girl who was measuring her rear end with measuring tape.

"Is it real?" She blanched as she stared at the screen.

"It looks real," I commented as I tilted my head.

"I like my butt." She shivered as she watched the girl on tv.

"Agreed." I sighed.

When we heard a honk from outside, we turned the tv off and bolted out the door. We greeted the girls, who smiled at us and buckled up. And it was a good thing we did. Jessica Stanley drove worse than a fugitive in a car chase. Angela didn't seem bothered by it but Bella surely did. I knew she was excited about this trip but I knew that now she slightly regretted getting in the car. It wasn't long before we arrived in Port Angeles nor was it long before Jessica brought up her boy troubles.

She was a little disappointed that Mike hadn't asked her to the dance yet but Bella reassured her that it'd probably be happening soon. Angela suggested that maybe he just didn't know how to ask while I commented that maybe he was just afraid to ask. She seemed pleased with what we came up with and decided to give it another day before she just asked him herself.

Once we reached the dress shop, we split up into pairs to cover more ground. I went with Jessica since my taste was similar to hers and Bella strode away with Angela who shared her simplistic style.

"Did you go to a dance back in Phoenix?" Jessica asked as we scoured through racks of dresses.

"Yeah, once," I answered. "It wasn't anything to brag about." I shrugged before she could ask any further questions on the matter.

Once we had found her a few dresses to try on, we met up with Bella and Angela in the dressing room and I sat on the small white bench as we waited for them. They both and a few to choose from but thanks to our helpful advice, they both narrowed it down and finally decided on one. As the girls rummaged through the jewelry and shoe department, Bella and I excused ourselves and promised to meet them at the restaurant.

We chatted silently as we walked down the street looking for the small bookstore. We spotted one but as we approached it, Bella took one glance at the crystal balls in the window and shook her head. I let out a laugh as she dragged me away from it and we turned the corner onto a different street. We finally spotted a little bookstore at the very end of the block and we hastily walked toward it.

When we walked in a little bell chimed and the woman behind the counter stared at us. I stayed by the door as Bella searched around and finally found the book she was looking for. She walked up to the lady who glanced from the book to Bella and then at me. I smiled kindly at her and she turned away and quietly scanned the book. Bella handed her the money and soon we were out of the small store.

"She scared me," Bella commented silently. I nodded in agreement and just looped my arm through hers. We started walking the way we came but we soon got lost as we realized we turned on the wrong street. We turned around and tried to retrace our steps but we both slowed our pace as a small group of men were walking toward us. Bella and I held on to each other tightly as they passed by us but something told me that it wouldn't be that easy.

"Hey!" We heard one of the men yell out. Bella instinctively turned around and muttered a hello while I silently begged her to not say anything. I quickly pulled her away from the men and we quickened our pace but the sound of the four men laughing increased. "Hey, wait!" one of them yelled after us. I pulled her along faster and loosened my hold on her as we finally turned the corner.

It wasn't a huge relief, for we were walking in a part of the small town that was completely vacant. The sky was beginning to darken and my tight grip on Bella returned.

"This scares me," I muttered to her. She rapidly nodded her head and glanced behind us.

"They're following us." She turned towards me with a panicked look in her eyes. She tightened her hold on my arm and the strap of her bag as we walked faster. I glanced behind us subtly and noted only two of the men from before were behind us. We quickly crossed the street to the opposing side and sighed again as they were farther from us now.

I glanced at them again and noted how they were staring directly at us while they walked. It unnerved me to no end. We were nearing the corner of the street when two dark figures turned it and headed straight for us. We stopped walking and glanced behind us and saw the other two men crossing the street not too far from us. They had trapped us.

"There they are!" One of the men cackled in front of us. They were still feet away from us but the smell of alcohol was wafting from them. I turned my head and the two men behind us were the same distance away as the two in front. We slowly and cautiously walked off the sidewalk and into the street but the men only laughed and moved toward us more.

"Stay away from us," Bella warned them shakily. She slipped off her bag and gripped it in one hand firmly while my hand was grasped in her other. She moved slightly in front of me as we tried to think of a way out but we both looked at each other frantically when we couldn't come up with one. The four men laughed maniacally but stopped as headlights suddenly appeared and shone down on all of us.

We looked at each other and walked further into the street, knowing the car would be our escape or hoping it would be. But the car stopped and swerved until the passenger side of it was facing us. The passenger door opened and a gruff voice spoke. "Get in." We both didn't think twice as we walked to the car and quickly hopped in.

I closed the back door and turned my head and almost screamed as I saw Emmett sitting there staring at me. I didn't think twice before I launched myself into his arms and let out a few tears. "It's okay, you're okay." He whispered in my ear as he held me. I had calmed down enough to unwrap myself from him and just quietly sit beside him with my head on his arm and his large hand enveloping my small one.

"Are you okay?" He asked me, his voice tight. I nodded my head in response.

"Just a little spooked." I shakily replied. His hand gave mine a light squeeze and that little gesture was exactly what I needed.

"Did they touch you?" His voice had hardened.

"No, they didn't get close enough to," I whispered and turned to bury my face into his bicep. He ran his free hand through my hair as he turned and placed a small kiss on my hair.

"I'd kill them if they had." He promised, his lips never moving from my head.

I turned around to Bella and saw her chatting quietly with Edward. I looked out the window as the car slowed to a stop. Edward and Bella left the car but Emmett and I made no move to follow. He picked me up and sat me on his lap with my head nestled in his chest and his arms around me tightly. I felt his cold temperature through his hoodie but it didn't bother me, it comforted me.

"So you found out." He finally said. His voice had softened tremendously but it still had a slight edge to it. I nodded as my answer and that seemed to be enough for him. "You're not scared." He stated, not asked. He sounded like he was trying to clarify but seemed unsure at the same time.

"I'm not," I assured him. I felt his body relax as he let out a breath that he didn't need to hold.

"Why?" He asked in disbelief. I raised my head from his chest and looked him in the eye.

"You haven't given me a reason to be," I answered truthfully. And he hadn't, he never had.

"But what about now?" He asked in a whispered voice.

"Still nothing." I smiled slightly at him. He returned my small smile and rested his forehead against mine. "It doesn't matter what you are, it doesn't change how I feel about you."

"But it should." He closed his eyes tightly. "It should terrify you, make you run away screaming." I reached up and placed one of my hands on his cheek. His face leaned in towards it and he slowly opened his eyes to look at me.

"Nothing will ever change the way I feel about you," I swore to him. His eyes brightened slightly and his lips twitched slightly upwards. He nodded at my words and brought me into another hug. He cuddled my small body close to his much larger one and I nestled my head into the crook of his neck.

We sat there quietly, both of us wrapped in each other's arms, both of us content. Plenty more needed to be said, asked, and answered but for that moment, nothing more was wanted. We were together, that's the only thing we needed. The only thing we wanted. It didn't take long for me to drift off to sleep but before it happened, Emmett placed a soft kiss on my lips and then whispered three little words that made me feel even safer.

"I've got you."