❝ October, 2012 ❞

Adjusting the fake cobwebs plastered to the windows on the front of the house, Phoebe nods contentedly and journeys to the backyard. Her braided wig and bow with a sheath of fake arrows bounce against her faux brown leather jacket as she walks, though she's too excited for the upcoming party to be bothered by it.

She nearly runs into Carmen, who is helping Bella move a table into the yard while Alice decorates it with the mountain of decorations in Kate's and Tanya's arms.

"Don't forget," Alice reminds the group. "Renesmee's friends are going to be here too, so-"

"So no real fun until the humans are passed out," Kate finishes for her, her voice slightly muffled from behind the decorations blocking her from view.

"Or black-out drunk," Bella adds, gesturing to where Emmett, also dressed as Katniss Everdeen, is attempting to roll a keg across the yard without Esme noticing.

Carlisle catches sight of the non-discreet vampire and - instead of telling him to get rid of the alcohol, like they assumed the parental figure would - gestures for him to carry the keg so that it will make less noise.

Phoebe and Emmett had argued for hours when she first caught sight of him in the identical costume earlier that day. Eventually, Jasper - with his hair slicked back to resemble Peeta - was dragged into the argument, where he claimed Emmett had the idea first, prompting her to avoid both boys by hanging out with Rosalie.

The ringing doorbell can be heard clearly by every vampire and Phoebe immediately runs to answer it. Unfortunately, Edward also wants to be the one to answer the door. They reach the sliding back door at the same time and she shrieks indignantly as he pushes her to the side. This does little to deter her though as she climbs through the conveniently open kitchen window. Throwing Renesmee's abandoned drink in his path, he stumbles for barely a second but it's long enough for Phoebe to reach the front door.

Answering it triumphantly, her smug smile disappears as she comes face to face with a stern Sam and the rest of the Quileute pack. Sam is the only one not in a costume as everyone else is dressed in semi-matching pirate outfits - an idea she assumes the youngest boy had, as he appears to be the only one excited about it.

"She's not going to do it," Edward speaks up before Sam can say anything. "Alice lied so you would come to her party."

"Don't tell them what I will and won't do," Phoebe huffs, shoving him so forcefully he falls over the couch before turning her attention to the pack. "What's he talking about?"

"Alice said you would apologise for crossing the treaty line," Sam answers, crossing his arms intimidatingly.

"I take it back, Edward was right. I'm not about to do that," she admits. "But I will say sorry for doing it more than once if that means you'll party with us."

"More than once?" Sam repeats, raising an eyebrow skeptically. "Who was on patrol the second time?"

Phoebe opens her mouth to answer honestly, but hesitates as she catches sight of Paul's panicked expression underneath his pirate hat.

"I'm not a snitch."

"It was-"

Edward can't finish his sentence because as soon as he gets within arm's length of Phoebe, she pushes him into the couch again.

"I said," she repeats herself, louder this time. "We don't snitch, bitch."

"Damn," Embry whistles. "She's badass."

"Hey!" Jared reprimands. "What are we?"

"Werewolves," he mutters dejectedly, scuffing his shoes like a scolded child. "Not swearwolves."

"Come on, Phoebe-"

"Wait," Jacob cuts Sam off. "This is Phoebe?"

"Yeah, why?"

Jacob doesn't answer, instead pushing past the older boy to engulf her in a hug that lifts her off her feet. Phoebe welcomes the physical contact, but is thoroughly confused as to what has warranted it.

"You've been his hero ever since Bella told him you made me live outside," Edward answers her unasked question, not daring to move away from the couch.

"You're officially the only valid bloodsucker to exist," Jacob declares, setting her back on her feet.

"Not even Bella has that title," Paul says. "You should be honored."

"Hell yes!" Phoebe pumps her fist in the air excitedly. "I want that title on a t-shirt."

⧖⧗⧖⧗

The pingpong ball bounces effortlessly off the orange-clothed table Alice had so meticulously decorated and into the last remaining red Solo cup, sending the crowd of drunk teenagers into a frenzy.

Paul and Phoebe had been quick to form an unlikely bond when it became clear that they are the only ones in their families capable of having the most fun. They've teamed up as an unstoppable duo and have taken to destorying Renesmee's friends when it comes to party games such as beer-pong and keg stands. With it impossible for vampires to be drunk and nearly impossible for werewolves to get alcohol poisoning, they even lost a few games to make the humans feel better.

As the losers step away from the game and no one else comes forward to challenge them, Phoebe and Paul wander away to find their own kind.

"Now what are you two up to?" Eleazar asks amusedly, his voice quiet despite the blaring music

"Breaking Claws and drinking laws," Paul answers happily, showing off his nearly empty White Claw can.

"I don't think that's-"

"Don't correct my best friend," Phoebe cuts him off, supporting the werewolf's weight with ease as he stumbles into her side. "He's sensitive."

"I thought I was your best friend!" Emmett yells indignantly from where he, Garrett, and Jasper are talking only a few feet away.

"You should've thought about that before you stole my costume," she shouts back. "And my boyfriend!"

The current song fades out and is immediately replaced by another upbeat song. It's abundantly clear, even to the slightly older people amongst the crowd, that it's one of the more popular songs to be released this year, especially as everyone cheers for it, despite already having heard it twice in one evening.

Paul moves to drag Phoebe back to the make-shift dance floor, but the duo is distracted by a depressed sigh resembling that of a long-suffering ghoul coming from Edward's mouth.

"If I hear Gangnam Style one more time, I swear-"

Edward is unbale to finish his complaint as Jacob tackles him to the ground.

"Gangnam Style is a national treasure, you uncultured swine!"

Phoebe laughs, glancing around for Garrett so they can place bets on who will win as the boys struggle not to use too much strength in front of the humans. Before she can move, a pair of arms wrap around her waist and she startles until she realizes who it is.

"I haven't seen you all night," Jasper whines. "What are you doing?"

"Living my best life," she answers, wincing as Jacob takes a hard blow to the chest.

"But Edward is getting beat up by Jacob," he points out.

"What part of living my best life did you not just hear?"

Jasper laughs, resting his chin on her shoulder. He knows all is forgiven about his comment earlier in the night by the way she rests her head against his chest. A comfortable silence surrounds the couple as they watch what remains of the party. Next to Jacob and Edward, Emmett tackles Paul to the ground.

"What exactly is Emmett hoping to accomplish?" Jasper wonders aloud, watching his brother worriedly as Paul pins him to the ground.

"Best friend rights, I'd assume," Phoebe offers, booing as Carlisle and Bella break apart Jacob and Edward.

"He's going to get himself killed," Jasper sighs, having no faith in the large vampire.

"Actually, he fights a lot better than you'd think," Phoebe says, defending him.

"How do you know that?"

She hums along to the music, acting as though she didn't hear the question.

"Phoebe," he coaxes, a pout forming as she refuses to make eye contact with him.

"I can't tell you," she answers simply.

"Why not?"

"It's the first rule of Fight Club," she scoffs as though it's obvious. "Don't talk about Fight Club."