𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗:
Dad-cula

IN NO WAY Harper May Knight is looking for love...she swore it!

She will never let herself be vulnerable to someone ever again. It was the natural instinctive reaction she acquired when her ex-lover murdered her in cold blood!

But as she recalled her conversation with Emmett last night, she might as well be betraying herself because it all came so naturally. Their conversation sailed so smoothly that she didn't even notice that she was being honest with someone.

"I noticed that you love reading," Emmett observes as Harper takes out a pocketbook. Harper nods, brushing her thumb against the plastic-covered book.

"Reading has always been a hobby of mine." Harper informs him and adds, "But I love to write."

"Like what?" Emmett curiously asks. He discreetly scoots over to her just a tiny inch. It was as if he was craving for her presence, and what he didn't know was that Harper felt the same.

Harper shyly looks away, fumbling with her fingers anxiously. Nobody ever asked her about her writing. Yes, Garrett knows, but Garrett would not hold a book or even read it. He prefers to play his electric guitar.

"Well...I write romantic comedies, and I self-publish too." Harper tells him as she looks down at the book she is holding. It was hers. "Yours, Disrespectfully." Some authors might not read their writing, but Harper loves it. It's her proof that she made it this far.

The progress that she made over the decades in her hand. And how her writing has improved every single time.

Yes. Harper writes Romantic Comedies. What is not to love with RomComs? Everything! Harper might have sworn off love, but reading and writing about it is entirely different. She enjoys it and relishes it. It gives her hope that maybe there is still love left in the deep corners of her stone-cold heart.

Harper loves enemies to lovers. Maybe because it was the thought that a person could still love a scarred person wholly without limitations and judgment, that no matter the worst state they witnessed them in, they still loved them with no hesitation.

"Can I have a copy of your book?" Emmett asks. He wants to read it, might as well start reading. Harper's book would be a great start. And Harper fights off a smile. She gracefully stood up and said, "I think I have a copy in my suitcase. Walk with me?"

Emmett stands up with a boyish grin, trying to limit his excitement. "You've asked about me. What should I know about you?" Harper coolly asks. They strolled side by side on the brink of moonlight. The forest was peacefully quiet.

Maybe Forks is growing on Harper.

"I'm not that interesting," Emmett answers with a chuckle as he tucks his hands in the front pocket of his jeans. Harper hums in disagreement, looking at him with furrowed brows, and all Emmett wants to do is kiss her forehead.

"I beg to differ."

"Well, the Cullens–well, Rosalie and Eden found me on the brink of death in the woods of my hometown, and since then, I've been with the Cullens. They're my family, and I would do anything for them," Emmett tells her with his oh-so-casual tone as if he didn't just summarize his life to her so easily.

"Your family is amazing. I wish I grew up in that kind of environment." Harper tells him with a frown, hugging herself. Emmett noticed her frown and decided to lighten her mood.

"It is when they don't pick on you so often. And game nights with them become war. We're all so competitive with each other." Emmett laughs at the memory that flashes in his mind.

"Even more fun. I would enjoy every moment if I had your family in my life." Harper tells him in some kind of a reminiscing voice. Maybe she is imagining herself if she was with the Cullens. Perhaps being so lonely isn't as fun as she told herself to be.

"You have Garrett." Emmett points out. Yes, she has Garrett, but he never stayed in one place, unlike her, who prefers permanency—a home. And Garrett, she loves him, but he will never tell him that. He is just a big ball of an unorganized and chaotic mess. It messes with her nerves.

"He prefers adventure. I had enough of that already." Harper answers she prefers solitude and domesticity. She ventured into the world already. If she wants to be a great author, she has to experience everything the world has to offer for her to write in as detail as possible.

She experienced everything except to love again.

"Remember when Emmett crashed his car while racing with Rose? He was so pissed when he needed to play pretend at the hospital because people kept visiting him." Eden laughed so loudly that it brought Harper back to reality. And she couldn't help but release a laugh of her own. Emmett, when he heard Harper's laughter, his scowl melted. If he were still human, he would be blushing madly!

"Of course, he couldn't disobey Carlisle, our creator, pop-feratu, dad vamp, dad the impaler, dad-cula," Rosalie adds as she pats Carlisle's shoulder while the latter just shakes his head but a noticeable smile on his face.

"It's because Jasper keeps closing in the car to distract me. I wouldn't want him to scratch my car!" Emmett defends himself as he points at Jasper, who raises both hands in surrender.

"Your car received more than a scratch when you crashed into a tree." Jasper shrugs his shoulder as he wraps an arm around Eloise's waist.

"And daddy bought him another car because he keeps stomping his feet." Christopher teases with puppy dog eyes, and then he laughs loudly as Esme warns him with her eyes. He stops by clearing out his throat.

And it all started an argument. Harper walks towards Carlisle, who is leaning against the wall, his eyes set on something else, someone.

"It's not too late to un-adopt," Harper says as she points her eyes towards Jasper, Eden, and Emmett.

Carlisle chuckles.

"I think it is. They've grown on me."