1.
The low rumble of the cruiser filled the quiet between Charlie and Amelia Swan, steady as the rain that slicked the pavement. Afternoon sunlight filtered weakly through the clouds, glinting off the wet road and washing the forest in pale gold. The smell of pine and damp earth drifted through the cracked window, mixing with Charlie's coffee and the faint tang of leather from the seats.
Mia leaned her elbow against the door, chin resting in her hand, watching the trees slip by in a blur of moss and shadow. The rhythmic swish of the wipers made her eyelids heavy. The school day had finished, and normally Mia drove home with Bella. That afternoon Cassie had invited her over for movies and foodโin which Mia happy obliged.
Though when Mia walked out of the school front doors that afternoon she did not see her sisters truck in the parking lot anywhere. Mia had no other choice but to call her dad asking for a ride.
The sound of her father cursing and setting his phone down in the cup holder caught Mia's attention. "She didn't answer?" Charlie shook his head, the light hitting the grey streaks in his hair at the right angel that made him stand out, and Mia could see the wrinkles in his eyes from where she sat.
It was clear raising two teenage daughters was aging him far more quickly than normal. "It's just not like her, she knows part of the deal of her keeping the truck was giving you rides, you don't have your license yet."
Mia was only a year younger than Bellaโwho is freshly eighteen and has her own car and a license. Mia however was seventeen, waiting to take her drivers test at the end of the month.
"I could've taken the bus, or walked," she reasoned. Charlie grumbled. "I rather your sister or I drive you than you get snatched off the road," Mia rolled her eyes.
Despite being incredibly smart snd being moved up a grade her father still has doubts on whether or not she can use that intelligence to keep herself out of harms way. Or perhaps it's the worry stemmed from the horrors he seen while on the job.
"Promise me you've still got that bear spray," Charlie said finally, breaking the soft hum of the drive.
Mia glanced back out the window. "You mean the one sitting in my bag untouched since you gave it to me?"
He sighed. "Mia."
"What?" she asked, pretending not to smile. "I'm not exactly hiking through the wilderness, Dad. I'm going to Cassie's."
"That's not the point," he said, glancing at her before turning his gaze back to the road. "People go missing around here. You've heard about the hikers."
She rolled her eyes and let out a laugh. "You really think I'm gonna get attacked between Cassie's driveway and her front door?"
"I think it doesn't hurt to be prepared." His voice softened, more father than sheriff now. "It's my job to keep you safe. Humor me."
Mia sighed heavily and reached into her black jansport bag, pulling out the small canister, and twirled it between her fingers. "You know, if I actually used this, I'd probably end up spraying myself!"
Charlie chuckled. "Then at least you'll learn how it works."
The corner of her mouth lifted. She loved that about him โ the way he could sound both protective and dryly amused at the same time.
Mia has always been close with Charlie. Ever since she came to live with him when she was seven. He took her to baseball games, taught her how to ride a bike, braided her hair. He loved Miaโdespite her not being biologically his.
It was that same year Mia moved back home when she learned the truth. About the accident. The same one she lost her biological mother to, and the same night Charlie found her on his doorstep in her baby blanket that had her name stitched in.
It was Charlie who wanted to keep Miaโan infant with no family in the world. Only she learned that wasn't true at all until later down the line. It had only been a couple years since since Charlie was able to find her biological family. At least what was left of them.
The silence that followed was easy, the kind that felt like home.
Outside, the trees grew denser as they neared La Push. The sun broke through the clouds in soft patches, turning the wet leaves into mirrors of light. Mia pressed her palm against the window, the glass cool under her skin.
When the cruiser turned down the gravel road, the air seemed to change - saltier, heavier with the scent of the ocean. The distant roar of waves tangled with the cries of gulls. Houses appeared between the trees, each one weathered and warm, smoke curling from a few chimneys.
Charlie slowed in front of a pale-blue house surrounded by ferns and and freshly mowed wild grass. Cassie's bike lay tipped against the front porch.
"Tell Cassie I said hi," he said as she unbuckled her seat belt.
"I will," Mia replied, reaching for the door handle.
"And keep your spray with you," he added quickly, like he couldn't stop himself.
She sighed, smiling. "Got it. I'll be fine."
"I know you will." His eyes softened. "Love you, kid."
Mia smiled. Charlie never treated her different. To him Mia was his daughter. Even though in the eyes of others she's just the same child he brought home that night nothing more.
"Love you too."
When she stepped out, the air wrapped around her - fresh, cool, and threaded with the distant sound of waves. The cruiser idled a moment, then rolled away, the hum fading into the trees.
"Finally!" Cassie called from the porch, her dark braid swinging down her waist as she jogged down the steps. "I thought your dad was never gonna let you go."
Mia laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"He gave me a full safety lecture. I'm officially armed and dangerous." Cassie grinned. "With bear spray?" Mia broke into a snicker and Cassie joined in immediately after. Cassie knew better than to question it, of course Charlie would give her bear spray. She wouldn't expect any less of him.
The two girls dissolved into laughter as they started up the path together, the afternoon sunlight spilling across the yard.
Across the street, Jacob's house sat quiet, his old red rabbit gleaming in the light. For just a second, Mia's eyes lingeredโher heart giving that familiar, stupid little flutter, she hasn't seen much of him since Bella moved back home last year. Before she saw him all the time, they grew up togetherโCassie nudged her with a knowing smile.
"Come on, lover girl," Cassie teased. "You can daydream about him later."
Mia shoved her playfully. "Shut up." Her eyes still glancing over her shoulder as she headed inside.
โฝโคโพ
"Okay, I rented two movies, 'I love you Beth Cooper' and 'Jennifer's Body' which one are we feeling tonight?" Cassie questioned as she held up the two dvds.
"Why did you rent two movies if your asking us wich ones to watch? Wouldn't the second one be for no reason then?" Leah stated as she ate some of the popcorn the girls had just made.
Leah Clearwater was the third member of the friend trio. Mia met her through Cassie and since then the girls have been glued to the hip.
"Will you just pick one. Why do you always have to criticize everything I do," Cassie grumbled, stomping her foot into the floor like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Because it wouldn't have made sense for two movies," the two girls began to bicker, which led to Mia sighing heavily. "Okay, Okay," she shouted between the bickering. Both girls stopped immediately and looked to Mia.
For as long as she could remember, Mia has always been the peacemaker of the group. Cassie and Leah constantly butt heads and Mia often had no choice but to intervene. It was often about the smallest thingsโlike who got shot gun, who gets to have the last Dr. Pepper, or who gets to dibs on almost everything.
"Let's watch just watch both, if that gets you to stop bickering like children," Mia muttered the last part as she leaned into the couch, but not before snatching the bowl of popcorn in Leah's lap.
Leah's deep chestnut eyes, gave Mia a sharp glare in which Mia sent an air kiss her way. Rolling her eyes, the young teen leaned into the couch as well. It was at the moment, while Cassie slipped the one of the movies into the dvd player, Mia heard footsteps trailing down the hall.
Her head turned and caught sure of Paulโ Cassie's older brotherโ in kaki shorts, and a grey muscleย tee making his way towards the front door. Paul noticed the group immediately and stopped. "I didn't know you were home," his deep voices echoed in the room, capturing the attention of both Cassie and Leah.
"Yeah, you never do because you're too busy sleeping half the time." Mia didn't blame him, she knew he has night patrol half the time since Jared never wanted to do it. Though no one but the packโand Mia, knew that.
It was secret the boys had. One Mia had learned by accident last year.
Paul gave a mocking smile to Cassieโsimilar to one Mia as seen Cassie give him on multiple occasions.
The siblings were more alike than the pair realized. You could tell they were siblings the moment they stood side by side โ both with those dark, soulful eyes that caught the light like melted amber, and that same golden-brown skin kissed deep by the sun. They even had the same dimple that appeared when they laughed
Miaย spent years wishing she looked like Bella โ lighter, softer, more like everyone else in her family. Mia would think if she looked like Bella more, maybe her motherโRenee, would pay attention to her.
All of that changed when she the learned the truth that her dad hidden from her. When she met Sam Uley. Her brother.
"Well, I'm heading out, don't wait up,"ย he stated. Before Ara could ask questions, he opens the front door and stepped out into the cold autumn air and left.
"Brothers," Cassie grumbled. And Leah nodded in agreement. Though Mia didn't. Sam wasn't like normal brothers. She didn't grow up having a bond like Cassie and Leah did. Sure she had Bella but Mia knew what it was like to have a sisterโnot a brother.
Sam still acts like she's a stranger, always kind never the type to criticize her or start a petty argument over something so small like the times she seen Paul and Cassie argue. Neither of her siblings did that, Mia always wondered if it had to with not growing up with them, or perhaps they don't see her as a Uley.
Mia didn't have to worry about that with Bella. The two grew up bickering. About everything. When Mia moved back home she didn't see Bella for years on end. But when she moved back last year it was like they picked up where they left off.
She wondered if her relationship with Sam would ever get to thatโa sense of normalcy after being separated from each other for so long.
Mia didn't know the full story, just bits and pieces.
It was the sound of mias phone ringing in her bag that alerted herโbringing her out of her thoughts. Mia dug around in her bag, searching for the small device.
"Just leave it we're gonna start the movie," Leah spoke. Mia shook her head, "You know my dad, he'll freak out if I don't answer." Finally, Mia felt the familiar object in her hands and pulled it out.
Sure enough, her dad's contact flashed across the small screen. Answering Mia brought the phone up to her ear.
"Dad?" She called.
"Mia, you need to come home...it's Bella."