The afternoon air outside the Swan house was cold and damp, carrying the familiar scent of wet earth and pine trees through the quiet neighborhood.
Well—
Mostly quiet.Because inside the house?Absolute chaos.
Even from outside, the loud sounds of the baseball game echoed through the walls.
Charlie yelling.Billy arguing.Harry laughing loudly.
The television commentators desperately trying to survive being shouted over by three grown men acting like overexcited teenagers.
Amara stood a few feet away from Bella's truck with her arms crossed, listening."They sound like they're preparing for war..." she muttered.
From inside came Charlie's voice—
"THAT WAS CLEARLY A FOUL!"
Billy immediately yelled back something even louder.Harry started laughing so hard he nearly coughed.
Amara glanced back toward the house, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself.Honestly…Seeing Charlie this happy was nice.
Though she would absolutely never say that out loud.
Amara shook her head before turning back toward Bella.
Bella was currently washing the truck with surprising focus, sleeves rolled up slightly as she scrubbed soap over the hood.The truck looked exactly the same as before.
Just wetter.
Amara stared at it for a long moment.Then sighed internally.She was bored.Very bored.
And unfortunately for Bella—
Amara's favorite hobby when bored was deeply annoying people she loved.A slow smile appeared on her face.
Bella noticed immediately."…Why are you smiling like that?" Bella asked suspiciously.
Amara ignored the question completely."You know," she said casually, "I think your truck actually looks worse clean."
Bella paused mid-scrub.
"…Excuse me?"
Amara nodded seriously."Before, it had personality."
Bella narrowed her eyes."It's a truck."
"Exactly. And now it looks emotionally confused."
Bella stared at her.Then resumed scrubbing aggressively."You're annoying."
"Thank you."
Bella rolled her eyes.
Amara slowly walked around the truck like a critic inspecting failed artwork."You know what your real problem is?"
Bella sighed deeply."The fact that you're talking?"
"Your choice in men."
Bella immediately looked up."Oh, please. You literally spend half your day pretending Lucien doesn't worship the ground you walk on."
Amara blinked.
"No he doesn't."
Bella slowly turned to stare at her fully now.The expression on her face said everything.See? This. THIS is exactly what I'm talking about.
Amara frowned."What?"
Bella dropped the sponge dramatically into the bucket."Amara, that man looks at you like you personally invented happiness."
"He does not."
"He absolutely does."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Bella pointed the sponge at her like a weapon.
"He follows you around like an emotionally attached golden retriever."
Amara looked offended.
"That's dramatic."
Bella laughed once.
Amara huffed, throwing her hands lightly into the air.
"You're exaggerating."
Bella just gave her a look.A very specific look.The kind that silently screamed:You are unbelievably clueless.
Amara groaned dramatically."Okay, fine!"
Bella blinked."Oh?"
Amara crossed her arms tighter, suddenly looking away.Her voice became quieter."I'm just… a little scared."
Bella's expression softened almost immediately.The teasing faded.She continued washing the truck more slowly now as she asked gently,"Scared about what?"
She hesitated slightly before adding carefully,"Because he's…"Bella didn't finish the sentence.Didn't say vampire.Didn't need to.
But Amara shook her head quickly."No. Not that."
Bella looked surprised.
Amara stared down at the wet driveway quietly for a moment before speaking again."I'm scared of being serious about him."
Bella stopped scrubbing entirely now.
Amara laughed softly, though it sounded more nervous than amused."What if something happens later?"
Her fingers tightened slightly around her sleeves."What if he leaves?"
What Amara didn't know—
Could never possibly know—
Was that Lucien would sooner fight the universe itself than willingly leave her.
That man was emotionally attached to her existence at this point.
Possessive.Loyal.Hopelessly gone.
Like a clingy immortal dog that had accidentally discovered soul-level attachment.
Bella's face softened into something sad and understanding.For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Only the distant yelling from inside the house filled the silence.
"RUN!"
"THROW THE BALL!"
"BILLY SHUT UP!"
Then Bella smiled faintly."We don't really know the future."
Amara looked at her quietly.
Bella shrugged one shoulder."But weren't you always the one saying people should live in the present?"
Amara blinked once."…Yeah."
The moment felt dangerously emotional.
Which meant Amara immediately ruined it.She pointed at the truck.
"Anyway, none of this matters because washing this thing won't help. The truck is beyond salvation."
Bella narrowed her eyes slowly."You really think so?"
Amara nodded confidently."Absolutely. Trust me."
Bella smiled suddenly.A very suspicious smile.The kind that should have activated survival instincts.
But unfortunately—
Amara was too busy confidently continuing her nonsense."Honestly, I think the truck itself has accepted its fate—"
Without warning—
Bella grabbed the hose.And sprayed her directly in the face.
Amara gasped. Cold water and soap exploded across her clothes.
Bella burst into laughter immediately."Well," Bella said between laughs, "looks like my truck found someone to share the water with."
"BELLA!"
Bella sprayed her again.
Amara jumped backward.
"STOP IT!"
Bella was laughing too hard to care.
Amara grabbed a sponge dramatically like she was preparing for battle.
"You have chosen violence."
"And I'd choose it again!"
Water splashed everywhere. Bella nearly slipped laughing. Amara lunged toward the hose.
And suddenly—
THUD.Something landed heavily on top of the truck.
Both girls froze instantly.
Bella nearly dropped the hose.
Amara stepped back so fast she almost tripped.
For one horrifying second—
Neither of them breathed.Then slowly—
Very slowly—
They looked upward.
And saw Edward Cullen casually crouched on top of the truck like this was a completely normal way for humans to arrive somewhere.Silence.Bella blinked.Amara stared.
Edward looked between them calmly.
"…Hi."
Amara placed a hand over her heart.
"Jesus Christ."
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