CHAPTER TWELVE || COUNTING THE DAYS

Hey Mom, I know you'll never read this Letter but I need you, I just need to remember you. I'm still in Forks, Matteo's coming home today. Dad's still looking for you, Even though Sheriff Stilinski is trying to Convince him to come back to forks to be with his kids. I wish we could tell him the truth, I really do Mom. But he'd blame me, and it's safer this way.

When Matteo's back i have to tell him, I have to tell him about Edward. Everything i found out while he was gone. But connecting the dots, Trying to piece together a puzzle you're not sure actually fits together is hard. I knew that. I've done it with Stiles. But alone, Alone it's so much harder. But what isn't, right mom?

I felt alone when Matt and dad left. My Anxiety was so bad, But then i started hanging out with Bella's friend. Jacob. Jacob Black.

He made me feel, I don't know what he made me feel... Maybe I was imagining it.. But it felt right. After me and Bella basically threw him into rebuilding a few bikes I couldn't stop thinking about him. I don't know what it was, I was drawn to him. Once we started hanging out I could feel him pulling me back. Every time I left I was counting down the seconds until I saw him again. The agony and nausea i've felt since you left just disappeared whenever he was around. He made me feel normal. But i fucked it up mom, I ruined it, Just like i ruin everything.

I was sure he liked Bella, I'm sure he still does. He has to, He can't actually like me... Well that's what i thought, Then i agreed to go to the Cinema with him, Bella and Mike. We had a moment, I don't know if i can even really call it that. But i felt it again, But stronger, He calmed me, The constant state of fear that drowns me day in and day out was gone when he held my hand.

But then i told him the timing wasn't right... He seemed fine, He really did. He was Kind. But then he blew up. He was so angry. And he left. Just like Ben had. That was Three days ago. And I haven't heard from him since.

It's like he disappeared, He won't answer my Calls, and He won't text. He won't even speak to Bella. Billy said he's sick, But i'm not so sure. He said some things about this guy, Sam. And Matteo mentioned something about Sam when Bella went missing. Something's not Right. I need to talk to Matteo, But how am I supposed to tell him anything if my mind can't focus on anything aside from Jacob Black.

There are three things I'm sure of. One- I can't let This hurt Bella In the Same way Edward's absence did... Two- I need to tell Matteo Everything... And three- I need to demolish the thought of Jacob Black that lingers in my mind.

Violet slammed her journal shut with a groan as she let her pen fall to the side. Her eyes falling on the packed bags by the door of her bedroom in the swan house having been waiting for Matteo to pick her up so they could return home— without their father.

"Violet Matts here!" She heard her uncle's voice echo through the corridors of the house, a mixture of panic and relief flooding her veins as she got up, Journal in hand as she walked to the door of her room picking up the bags that laid on the floor.

Making her way down the stairs she could see Matteo stood talking to Charlie, A smile tugging at her lips as she knew she could finally get everything bothering her off her chest. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she tapped her brothers shoulder with a smile.

"Hey dipshit" She chuckled making the taller boy smile instantaneously pulling her into his arms. The distance that had been between the twins for the past months having fuelled Matteo's worry for his sister.

"hey, gimme those" Matteo chuckled as he released his sister taking the bags she was holding to carry them out to his car. Violets eyes falling on Bella who sat aimlessly on the couch consumed by her thoughts as Violet passed her bags to Matteo.

As Matteo went to put Violet's bags in the car she walked over to Bella, Who's eyes stared through Violet as if she wasn't even there. She knew Bella was hurting, She knew Jake's absence had an effect on Bella. He'd become both girl's best friend, Both girls' only sense of normalcy.

"Let me know if you hear from him okay?" Bella shook her head as Violet pulled her from her thoughts. Bella's expression was Blank as if she hadn't heard a single word slipping past Violet's lips.

"What?" Bella questioned as she stared up at her cousin, Violet's concern growing. The girl who sat on the couch wasn't Bella, Rather a shell of the girl she once was. A shell of the once-happy Bella Swan that seemed to have disappeared with Edward Cullen.

"let me know if you hear from Jacob. and call me if you need me?" Violet had Tried erasing the Boy from her memories but she couldn't. As if he'd been engraved in her mind, She couldn't shake him.

"Yeah." Bella nodded weakly.

*****

"spit it out Vi." Matteo scoffed as he sat on the couch in the Lewis house which was now only occupied by the twins while Violet passed in front of him, Desperately trying to figure out what to say.

"So everything you said about Edward, Sam. got me thinking" Violet blurted causing Matteo's brows to furrow as he leant forward intrigued.

"I did a lot. I mean a lot of research, and I spoke to Stiles" Matteo's Jaw dropped slightly his lips parting at the revelation that his sister spoke to Stiles first.

"Hold on. You spoke to Stiles before me??" He asked, His expression drooping to one of shock as Violet stopped in her tracks turning to look at her brother as she shrugged.

"Yes. I Did." She countered Bluntly causing Matteo's face to contort with disbelief as he scoffed shaking his head; "I'm quite offended... But get on with it"

"don't act like you cared enough to check in" Violet scoffed her brother's eyes widening in shock at her remark before she shook her head.

"Sorry. Anyway... Edwards a Vampire" Matteo's jaw fell agape at her words as he blinked heavily trying to process her words. Violet stared at her brother as silence consumed them.

"Fuck off is he" Matteo shook his head in disbelief. Vampires. The undead. They couldn't be real. Surely not.

"You said he was cold? When you shook his hand? Bella said his parents take him out of school when it's sunny. And Bella apologised to me and Jake for Bleeding. Bleeding Tae. Who apologises for bleeding?" Violet stared at her brother urgency lacing her voice. She needed him to believe her. As if Matteo's brain froze he stared sieving through his thoughts. The memories of Edward, Bella's behaviour.

"I was reading about the legends of this town. There are a few things on 'The cold ones' and a native tribe rumoured to be werewolves" Matteo's expression somehow dropped further at the mention of werewolves.

"I fucking knew it. I knew something was up here. So you think Sam's like me?" Matteo questioned his expression switching to one of curiosity as he stared up at his sister.

"I don't know, Jacob said the boys he knew spent some time with Sam, Missed school then became Sam's sheep... If they are, I don't think they're like you and Scott." Violet huffed as she walked over to the couch flipping down beside her brother who readjusted his position to face her, a look of wonder consuming his features as he lost himself in his thoughts for a few seconds.

"I don't know much about werewolf history... But I can ask Deaton. Because there's different species of wolves right? Maybe different types of werewolves descended from different species of wolves" Matteo pondered his eyes wide as he tried to come up with a plausible idea to support his sister's theory.

"That actually makes sense" Violet nodded in disbelief her brother was actually taking her theory seriously and he actually came up with a plausible idea. Matteo's expression grew as if he was proud of his idea.

"Exactly. I can speak to Deaton. see if he knows about any other types of wolves... and if he's heard of these Vampires... do you think anyone knows about me?" Matteo's voice softened as he asked the last question, worry now etched across his features.

"No, I don't, I don't think so... but I'm worried, I'm worried about Bella, and Jacob" Violet reassured while bringing up her other two concerns, Bella... The memory of her speeding off into the darkness with an unfamiliar man replaying in Violet's mind as well as what Jake said about Sam, how Sam seemed to be waiting for him...

"Is Bella still as bad as she was when I left?" Matteo asked after Violet answered his question, his thoughts now focused on his cousin. the agony she'd been experiencing almost seemed worse than how bad Violet had been after their mother... and that scared him.

"Yeah, She seemed to be getting better. seemed to be happier when we were hanging out with Jacob" Violet explained recalling the laughter and smiles that had erupted from both her and Bella in Jacob's presence as Matteo took a deep breath.

"What's actually going on with this Jacob boy?" Matt questioned, He'd only met Jake once. He didn't trust him, he didn't trust anyone in Forks. Not with his sister, Not with his cousin. Despite morals, despite everything the safety of the ones he loved would always come first.

"We hung out, Basically every day. Fixing up bikes... it was good, Fun even... I haven't felt that normal in a while. He was really sweet, I actually felt like Forks was becoming my home for a minute there" Violet trailed off, A small smile tugging at her lips as she imagined Jacob. Shaking her head she tried to stay on track, Her expression falling to what only could be described as a look of sadness as she continued;

"We went to see face punch with Bella and Mike... When I called you. It was fine. It was okay, Jake and I talked. But then he lost his shit with Mike. threatened to put him in hospital. me and Bella had to get between them so Jake didn't start anything, but when I touched him he was burning up, like he had a fever... Then he like panicked almost... he left, I haven't spoken to him since. Hasn't returned any of my calls" Matteo's expression laced with worry as he listened.

"Anything else happen? did he threaten you?" Matteo asked a lingering sense of anger mixed with worry in his voice as his teeth ground together causing the muscle of his Jaw to flex. yet, Violet instantly shook her head easing her brother's anxieties: "No, No. Absolutely not Jake wouldn't do that"

"He was nice to me, Promised he wouldn't hurt me. Then he left" Matteo raised a brow as if not at all convinced by Jacob's promise, a dislike for the boy he barely knew growing instantly from just his sister's words.

"Him losing his Temper, Rushing out like that. Makes sense, Me and Scott have both had to do that. Multiple times, especially when we were first turned" Matteo explained trying to fathom what was going on, The information his sister was throwing at him filled him with indescribable emotion.

"His dad told Charlie and Bella he's sick, I might go and see him... Check on him" Violet suggested running a hand through her hair. She needed confirmation. She needed to know it wasn't something she did. Maybe that's why she was pushing the possibility of supernatural reasons upon her brother.

"Hell no. Not on your own. If you're going anywhere near him, I'm coming with you. He could be unpredictable." Matt spoke sternly adamant in his decision he didn't want Bella or Violet mixed up in any more supernatural dangers. He knew he couldn't protect both of them. Not alone. Not from werewolves and vampires. But he could stop them from needing protection.

"I know you were looking forward to having a Normal school life. just accept that, Just accept the fact you're normal. I might not be but I can help you stay out of this shit" Matteo added with no room for negotiation, Yet When did Violet ever listen to Matteo's advice?