CHAPTER 37
THE ARMY

THE dinner at Pacific Pizza was better than Margo had asked for. With a large, hot cheese pizza sitting in front of her, she had been completely happy. She didn't need a fancy party or dozens of people to celebrate her graduation with. All she needed was her Melinda, her family, Jenny, and Jacob. No more, no less. Jacob was especially grateful that he didn't have to go to another one of Jenny's ravers, but little did they all know how thrilling the Cullens' party would go.

Margo had the tough decision of whether to dress nice to the party or go simply casual. She wasn't much of a dressy girl, so she decided on a black V-neck, jeans, and her favorite pair of sneakers. She at least made more of an effort with her hair, throwing it up in a nice updo that allowed small ringlets to hang off the sides of her face.

She checked her watch quickly, doing a double-take when she noticed the time. Realizing that she only had fifteen minutes until the party started, Margo rubbed on a small bit of lip gloss before rushing down the stairs. How could she forget that it started at eight?! She still had to pick up Jacob. Margo hit her forehead in anger.

Jenny turned from her seat on the couch. The news played softly in the background, but all Margo could hear was the loud humming of the air conditioner her aunt installed that day. Jenny sent her niece a look of annoyance at running down the stairs again, but her eyes softened when she remembered that after this summer, she wouldn't hear it anymore. She might actually miss Margo running down the stairs at the speed of light, startling her out of a trance.

"Are you late for something?" Jenny asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Margo sent her an anxious look. "Too late. I have to get to the Cullens' place for their party. Don't wait up for me."

Jenny's lips widened to a smirk. "Tell Carlisle I say, hi, okay?"

"He has a wife, you know." Margo reminded as she grabbed her keys.

Jenny scoffed. "There isn't anything wrong with a little –"

"Yeah, yeah. Gotta go!" Margo waved her hands quickly before rushing out the door. The humidity outside almost smacked her in the face, and Margo was close to slipping on the stairs from the afternoon rain shower they had. She sprinted to her van and shoved the key in the ignition. Once the car turned on, her ears were blasted with the latest Amy Winehouse album. Margo forgot she had been listening to that at top volume the last time she drove.

Despite being excessively late, Margo tried her best not to speed down to Jacob's house. Her van wasn't good on wet roads, and one wrong turn wouldn't turn out well. She arrived at the familiar red house in ten minutes, noticing that it was already eight. Margo grumbled to herself as she hit the horn a few times. She hated being late to things. It got on her every nerve.

Jacob came bounding out of the house, but Margo didn't expect to see two other figures trailing behind him. He ran for the passenger side door, and it became clearer for Margo once they were near that Embry and Quil were following him. The two boys slid in the back seat and greeted, "Hi, Margo!"

Margo's head spun to her boyfriend as he slid in the seat next to her, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. "Did you invite them?" She whispered.

Jacob shrugged lazily. "They wanted to come. That Cullen gal said to invite my buddies."

"Her name is Alice." Margo quipped, holding up a stern finger. "And it seems like you're only inviting them to have back-up, for some reason. Nothing bad is going to happen at this party –"

"Hey, you know, we can hear you, Margo," Embry said from the back. Margo turned in her seat, sending him an apologetic smile.

Quil tugged a seat belt over his chest. "I'm just going for the free food. I'm in the mood for chicken fingers."

Margo looked back at Jacob, who grinned at her deviously. Heaving a sigh, Margo couldn't help but crack a smile too. "I swear," she muttered while pulling out of the driveway, "you guys better not cause any trouble with the Cullens."

"C'mon, Mar," Jacob chuckled, laying a hand on his imprint's thigh. "Trouble is our middle name."

•••

There was hardly any place for Margo to park her minivan once they arrived at the Cullen household. The immortals lived in something more like mansion, windows highlighted on all sides. Margo remembered when she and Melinda visited the house after the Cullens moved away for some time and how empty it looked. It was a complete contrast now. She could see from the outside walls how packed it looked on the first and second floors.

Jacob and Margo walked hand-in-hand into the tall mansion with Embry and Quil tailing behind. An old Muse song blasted through the speakers on the first floor, startling Margo as it graced her ears. Flashing lights and pink lantern balloons hung from the ceiling. She blinked a few times and scanned the dozens of bodies littering the Cullen house. The only familiar faces she spotted were Jessica and Angela, and Margo was surprised when the two girls waved at her upon arrival. Margo waved back awkwardly.

Jessica pushed through the large group of people, tugging Angela along with her, and stopped short in front of Margo. They both wore pretty dresses, and suddenly Margo felt her outfit might've been too casual.

"I wasn't able to catch you before you left," Jessica exclaimed over the music, "but your speech was great. Congrats!"

Margo stifled a laugh. She was a tad bit shocked at Jessica's compliment, seeing as the two were always butting heads. Maybe, now that high school was over, they could put that behind them. Besides, they wouldn't have to compete with each other for good grades anymore.

"Yeah," Angela agreed. "It was like you were born to lead."

"Thanks, guys," Margo grinned, sending a look to Jacob on her left.

Jessica's eyes then slid to the dark-haired boy next to Margo. A smirk spread over her face as she looked down at their conjoined hands. "Who's this?"

"Oh," Margo cleared her throat and gestured to the two of them, "Jessica and Angela, meet –"

"Jacob!"

The group turned at the voice of Bella, who bounded over to her friends with a big smile on her face. Her brown eyes seemed to light up at the sight of Jacob. She hadn't seen him in a while, and she must've thought he wasn't going to attend, because of his stubbornness. Luckily, Margo could make him do just about anything if she asked.

Bella's sneakers squeaked against the freshly cleaned floors. She wore a nice pair of jeans with a blue dress shirt. Margo didn't feel so casual anymore. Bella hugged each of them tightly, especially Jacob, and he clung to her more than he thought he would. He did miss their friendship, and he felt bad for acting so ignorant towards her.

Margo spun around, noticing Quil and Embry making small talk with Jessica and Angela. The two girls seemed to be ecstatic at the attention they were receiving from the handsome La Push boys. She then nudged Jacob's side, waiting for him to say some apologetic words to Bella. But, in a usual Jacob fashion, he said, "Where's Cullen? Surprised he's not hovering around us right now."

"Jake," Margo seethed.

Jacob glanced at his girlfriend, smirking so subtly that she almost didn't catch it. He turned back to Bella. "I didn't mean it. You know that, Bells. I'm sorry."

"For what exactly?" Bella quirked a brow upward. "Ignoring me, not respecting my decisions ..."

"All of it. I'd blame it on the whole inner animal thing, but it was really just me ... being an ass." He shrugged, sending a soft smile towards his friend. "I will probably never agree with your decisions on – well, living, but ... I'm happy if you're happy."

Bella grinned. She punched Jacob lazily in the arm, but he didn't even flinch. "You can be such a softie sometimes."

Jacob cracked the smallest of smiles as Margo laced her skinny arm through his. She squeezed his bicep and replied, "It's a good thing I brought him here." Margo lifted her head up upon seeing a familiar face arrive at the door. She tapped Jacob's shoulder and mumbled, "I'll be right back."

Margo walked towards Melinda as she hung her jean jacket on the rack. Melinda beamed when she noticed her friend and hugged her instantly. She wore a pretty, rose-colored blouse and palazzo pants, matched with a pair of pink heels. Margo thought she looked good in any color.

"Did I not get the memo about dress attire?" Margo chuckled, looking down at Melinda from head to toe.

"Seems so, Mar," she agreed. "Edward told me to wear whatever nice clothes I had when he and Alice invited me. I'm just as shocked as you that I got the actual invite."

Margo brushed her fingers across her jeans and noticed Melinda looking ahead of her. She turned to look over her shoulder, spotting Embry staring right at them. Jessica seemed really excited talking to him, but all Embry's attention was focused on Melinda for a few moments before he looked away. Margo's eyes softened as she spun back to Melinda, who was biting her lip anxiously.

"I should've texted you as soon as I knew he was coming," Margo muttered. "I totally forgot."

Melinda cocked a brow. "What'd he do? Stowaway in your van?"

"Jacob invited both him and Quil without me knowing. Alice did invite his friends if they wanted to come."

Melinda sighed, stealing another glance towards Embry. In another life, maybe things could've worked between them. She looked back to her best friend in front of her and shrugged. "Well, at least I know what area to avoid while I'm here." She then tugged on Margo's hand, bringing her to the crowded living room, where a bunch of teenagers danced. "C'mon, live a little, Mar! Let's dance!"

Margo groaned loudly, but allowed her friend to guide her forward. A song by the Black Keys rang through her ears as Margo arrived in the middle of the crowd. The rest of her former classmates stared at them as they danced in a crazy manner, but the two didn't care at all. She jumped around with Melinda, hugging her arms around her at some points. Margo would remember these moments for the rest of her life, and this was one of those times where she was delighted to have moved to Forks.

From the corner of the room, Jacob stood with Quil, sucking down a red solo cup of punch that was probably spiked. He watched his girlfriend from afar, chuckling under his breath as she danced with her best friend. The two girls were certainly not professional dancers, but after all the stress and disasters that had plagued Forks, it was really nice for Jacob to see Margo truly happy. He would kill to put a smile on her face.

But the air shifted once Alice Cullen descended the stairs, ready to bring out more snacks for her guests. The large smile that had once graced her face turned into a frown, and her eyes suddenly remained focused on the floor. Jacob stared at her frozen posture from the back of the room and his brow knitted in confusion.

Margo felt it too. She had been dancing with Melinda and Emmett Cullen, swinging her arms around in a circle with both of them. She looked up, her eyes immediately finding Alice on the stairs. Emmett noticed Margo's perplexed expression and turned to see Alice gripping the railing on the stairs. She looked entirely focused as her eyes darted in two directions, and that could only mean one thing.

•••

"Alice, what'd you see?"

Bella's question hung in the air heavily, as if Margo could feel it weighing down her shoulders. She could hear the music from the party through the walls, thumping against the concrete. The Cullens had gathered her, Bella, and the wolves in an office on the other side of the mansion, far from where anyone else at the party could hear. Margo stood near Jacob, and they were both sided by Quil and Embry. All of the Cullens had grim expressions, especially Alice, leaving Margo to decipher that whatever she saw was far from good.

"The decision's been made," Alice whispered and held her head in her hands. "Gosh, why hadn't I seen this sooner?"

Jacob piped up, "Decision? Can someone explain what's going on here, or are we gonna start a fire and roast some marshmallows?"

"They're not going to Seattle anymore. They're coming here," she continued, looking towards Bella. "They'll be here in four days."

Carlisle began to pace around the room. He held the tip of his nose in concentration as Margo's mind boggled with questions. "This could turn into a bloodbath."

"Who's even coming here?" Margo asked with a lifted brow. "Judging by all your faces, they're clearly terrifying. Do we even want to know?"

"Its an army," Edward confirmed and turned his head towards Alice. Bella shook with anxiety from his side. "Who's behind it?"

Alice shrugged, tightening her arm around Jasper. "I didn't see anyone I recognized. Maybe ... one."

Edward's brow furrowed as his eyes narrowed at Alice. Margo guessed he was reading her mind when he replied, "I know his face. He's local. Riley Biers. He didn't start this."

Jenny's voice tickled at the edge of Margo's ear. Apparently, the police are suspecting kids from Forks and other towns surrounding Seattle might be going missing too, her aunt had said months ago. A kid named Riley Biers has been missing for months. He was from Forks, but he was said to have gone missing near his university in Oregon.

"Riley has been missing for months," Margo informed them. "He disappeared near his college in Oregon without a trace. He could be dead, for all we know."

"Then, why did I see him?" Alice asked, confusion written across her face. It was a question Margo didn't know how to answer. "Whoever it is that started this, they're staying out of the action."

Carlisle sighed as Esme wrapped an arm around him. His fingers tapped against a desk when he sat on it. "They must be playing with the blind spots in your visions."

"Either way," Jasper said in a low voice, "the army's coming, and there aren't enough of us to protect the town."

Jacob lifted a hand. "Hold up, what damn army?"

"Newborns. Our kind." Carlisle explained. "New vampires fresh from changing. This time in their lives is when they're the most bloodthirsty and lethal. Taking them on is always a terrible challenge. Fighting newborns requires knowledge that Jasper has."

"What are they after?" Embry asked.

Alice frowned, her mouth puckering the slightest bit. "They were passing around Bella's scent. Her red blouse that was stolen from her room a month ago."

"Jacob," Margo muttered, looking towards her boyfriend, "you told me once you had to sniff out Bella's room because a scent was left in there. Something about it definitely being a 'newborn leech' from a large group of vampires." She turned back to the rest of the group surrounding her. "These two instances are obviously connected, so they know where Bella lives. What has taken them so long to attack? Why didn't we do anything sooner?"

"They wanted to create a bigger army, whoever they are," Carlisle answered. "We didn't do anything because ... well, we couldn't be sure. I suspected that if there was truly a real problem, the Volturi would be on their tail before us. Why they haven't intervened yet is beyond me."

Jacob rubbed at his eyes. Margo's presence next to him was the only thing stopping him from seething. "So what does this all mean?"

Carlisle looked up. "It means an ugly fight ... with lives lost."

Silence echoed amongst the room. Margo heard Jacob sigh from her left, and she slowly turned her head in his direction. They met eyes. Margo watched his stare soften when he looked at her, as if he was apologizing. He then glanced to Embry and Quil, who nodded curtly at him. She knew what he was going to do.

"Alright," Jacob said, "we're in."

"No!" Margo exclaimed instantly. "No, you aren't fighting newborns, Jake. Didn't you hear anything of what Carlisle said? I repeat –"

Jacob shook his head, barely turning his head towards her. "This isn't the time for us to have a fight, Mar."

"Yes, it is!" Margo moved to stand in front of her boyfriend. She made sure he was looking at her.

Bella finally stood and nodded along with Margo. "She's right. You guys are going to get yourselves killed."

"It means more protection for you," Edward muttered quietly.

Margo dug her fingernails into her palms. She was fuming. This wasn't going to happen. It just wasn't. Of course, something like this had to happen just when things were going right. Margo wanted to stomp her foot and cry to her heart's content. But instead, her mouth wobbled as she held back the tears, and she wrapped her arms around herself. She couldn't let Jacob do this. She wasn't going to lose her wolf – never.

Carlisle seemed to ignore the humans' protests in the room. "Jacob, do you think Sam would agree to ... an understanding?"

Margo's glazed eyes found Jacob's once again. She watched him bite his lip and think over a proper response. She shook her head, hoping he would never answer Carlisle's question. Jacob had to look away from her, knowing he'd never answer and give in to Margo's hold on him. The imprint between them was strong and had the power to hold him back from anything, even if Margo didn't know she was doing it. The imprint came before everything else, but Jacob wanted to do something for himself for once. He had to fight it, and keep her safe at the same time.

"Well," he replied, "as long as we get to kill some vampires."

•••

A/N: Is now the best time to mention that there's only a few chapters left lol