The front door clicked open.
Amara quietly stepped inside the Swan house, carefully closing the door behind her.
It was dark. Too dark.
The television wasn't on.
No baseball game.
No Charlie yelling at referees.
No Bella grumbling around.
No background noise whatsoever.
Only...
The distant chirping of crickets outside.
"..."
Amara slowly blinked. Why is it so quiet?
Her instincts immediately screamed—
Danger.
She looked up.
...
And nearly squealed.
Charlie and Bella were standing in the hallway.
Waiting.
Charlie had both arms crossed over his chest, his face so serious that it looked like someone had personally declared war on fishing.
Bella stood beside him.Completely relaxed.
Wearing the biggest, most suspicious smile Amara had ever seen.
"Oh my God..." Amara pressed a hand against her racing heart.
"You two are trying to kill me."
Charlie didn't move.
Bella's smile somehow became even wider.
"I almost had a heart attack!" Amara complained dramatically. "Who just stands by the front door like haunted furniture?"
Nothing. Silence. Amara slowly glanced toward Bella. Her eyes silently asked for...
Help?
Bella simply smirked.
Traitor.Complete traitor.
Amara looked back at Charlie.
Then...
Finally noticed the expression on his face.
...
Oh.
Oh no.
She knew that face.
That was the...
"We need to talk."
...face.
Internally...
Amara accepted her fate. This was how she died. Not by vampire. Not by Volturi. Not by supernatural monsters.
By Charlie Swan.
Wonderful.
She forced out an awkward smile. "H-Hi, Charlie." Tiny wave. "Good
evening."Another awkward laugh. "You're...awake pretty late."
Charlie didn't smile. "I've been awake the whole time kiddo."
"..."
"..."
"...Well."
That definitely wasn't comforting.
Charlie looked directly at her. "Where were you?"
Amara swallowed. "I...went on a date."
Silence.
Charlie took one slow breath.Then pointed toward the living room. "Sit."
Amara blinked."...Now?"
"We're going to have a conversation. "He started walking toward the sofa without another word.
Amara stood there for exactly three seconds. Considering every possible escape route.
Window? Too obvious.
Kitchen? Dead end.
Fake fainting? Tempting...Very tempting.
She sighed dramatically before following him. "Charlie..." she tried one last time. "It's getting pretty late. Can't we have this conversation tomorrow morning?"
"No."
"...Tomorrow afternoon?"
"No."
"Next week?"
Charlie simply looked at her.
"...Right." She obediently followed him into the living room.
Behind them...
Bella quietly disappeared into the kitchen.
Amara noticed.Where is she going? A few seconds later—
Bella returned.
Holding...
A giant bowl of popcorn.
Amara stared. "...Seriously?"
Bella smiled innocently. "What?"
"Nothing."
Crunch.
"I'm just here for emotional support."
Crunch.
Amara narrowed her eyes. "For who?"
Bella popped another piece of popcorn into her mouth. "Myself."
"..."
Traitor.
Charlie sat down in his usual chair.
Amara carefully sat on the couch like someone awaiting sentencing.
Charlie folded his hands together.Took another deep breath.Then began. "So."
"Who is he?"
Amara answered immediately. "Lucien Cullen."
Charlie froze."...Cullen?"
"Yep."
"As in Doctor Cullen's family?"
"The very same."
Charlie rubbed his forehead.
Bella quietly kept eating popcorn. Crunch.
Charlie sighed. "Isn't he too old for you ...How old is he?"
Amara blinked."...Uh..."
Technically? Over a century.
Legally? Twenty...something.
Emotionally? Golden retriever.
"...Twenty...?"
Charlie narrowed his eyes. "You don't sound confident."
"I was thinking."
Bella coughed suspiciously into her popcorn.
Charlie continued."Why didn't he ask me before taking you out?"
Amara opened her mouth.
"..."
Closed it again. That...Actually seemed fair.
"I'll...mention that."
Charlie nodded once. "And what's is he like toward's you ?"
"Oh!" Amara brightened immediately. "He is actually really nice."
Bella snorted. Charlie ignored her.
"What does he do?"
"...Study?"
"What are his hobbies?"
Amara thought."...ummm collecting things even expired things ?"
Bella burst into laughter.
Charlie didn't. "What?"
Amara shrugged honestly."I mean...He kind of does."
Charlie looked even less impressed.
Bella was practically vibrating trying not to laugh.
Charlie continued asking questions. "Does he treat you well?"
"Yes."
"Respect you?"
"Yes."
"Drive safely?"
"...Mostly."
Charlie's eyebrow lifted.
"Mostly?"
"He drives like..." She paused thoughtfully."...someone who physically can't get into an accident."
Charlie frowned. "I don't know what that means."
"...Neither do I."
Bella hid her face behind the popcorn bowl.
Charlie sighed again. "Listen carefully."
His voice softened. "If anyone makes you uncomfortable...You tell me."
"If anyone treats you badly...You tell me."
"If anyone hurts you..." His expression became frighteningly calm. "I'll handle it."
Amara smiled. A genuine one. "I know."
Charlie looked at her for another few seconds. Then nodded. "Good." He leaned back. "I also want to meet this Lucien properly."
Amara immediately nodded. "Absolutely.No problem at all." Inside her head—
Good luck, Lucien.
After making me suffer through one entire week of emotional damage...You deserve the Charlie Swan Interview™.
Charlie finally let out one long sigh. "I think that's enough for tonight."
Then he looked between both girls. "You two should get some sleep."
Bella saluted dramatically with a handful of popcorn. "Yes, Chief Swan."
Charlie gave her a look. Bella immediately looked away.
Amara stood up so fast it was almost supernatural. "Good night!"
Before Charlie could say another word—
She bolted upstairs. Bella watched her sprint away."...She runs surprisingly fast when she's scared."
Charlie rubbed his temples. "I noticed."
Bella laughed so hard she almost dropped the popcorn.
Charlie looked toward the ceiling where Amara's footsteps disappeared into the attic.
Then looked at Bella.
Then sighed for what had to be the hundredth time today."...Teenagers."
Bella nodded seriously. "They're exhausting."
Charlie slowly turned toward her.
Bella smiled innocently totally unaware of charlie judging eyes "What?"
Meanwhile...
Upstairs.
Amara closed her bedroom door.Locked it.Then leaned against it dramatically.
"...I survived."
Barely.
Charlie could be terrifying sometimes.She loved him dearly.But when he entered Protective Dad Mode...
Even vampires should be concerned.She suddenly grinned.
Actually...
Lucien still had to meet Charlie properly.Her smile grew even wider."...Good."
He deserved at least a little suffering after making her panic for an entire week.
Fair was fair.
Justice had simply been delayed.
Still smiling to herself, she changed into her pajamas, washed up, and crawled beneath her fluffy blankets.
The bed was wonderfully warm.
Within minutes...
Her eyes slowly drifted closed.
Outside...
The moon hung high above the forests of Forks.
Somewhere deep among the trees—
A long, mournful wolf howl echoed through the night.
"Awooooooooo..."
It sounded strangely...Heartbroken.
As if the wolf had just received the worst news imaginable.
A second later—
Another wolf growled loudly.The dramatic howling stopped immediately.
Silence returned to the forest.
Apparently...
Even wolves had friends who got tired of listening to their nonsense.
Amara, blissfully unaware of the late-night wilderness drama unfolding outside her window, was already fast asleep.
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