Sitting in the passenger seat of the truck waiting for Bella, during Biology something happened which caused Edward Cullen to all but race out of there. I wasn't paying that much attention, more like reading a book since at the Salvatore Boarding School we basically went over what Mr. Molina is teaching us in fifth grade. Get biology and all human sciences that are usually taught out of the way then get to potions and mixing different herbs together.

The door to my side opens and it's Bella "Can you drive?" She looks ready to cry, her hood is up and she is holding herself together. Taking the keys from her hand moving over, Bella got into the truck and I adjusted the rear view mirror just as Bella screamed "WHAT?!"

"Do you want me to ask?" Noticing from one of the side mirrors Edward Cullen glaring at Bella with black eyes.

"No" crossing her arms staring out the window as we head to Cora's Cafe, Karen mainly sells baked goods while Cora sells meals like breakfast, lunch and dinner. Karen also has a breakfast menu but other than that, you've got baked goods "Do you and Charlie normally eat out?"

"Charlie doesn't want to do the dishes" I say "I know how to cook, but if I cook then he cleans up. Didn't work out"

"I know how to cook" she offers "I use to do the cooking back home with my mom, we could shift. Like one night you do the dishes and I cook and the next you cook and I do the dishes"

"We'll do a trial basis" I say "so I saw the kitten visited you"

"Is she yours?" Bella asks

I was in my cat form last night keeping an extra eye on my cousin, all she did was sleep. Nothing more and this morning I was still in my cat form, she greeted me but it was clear she was uncomfortable. When we were younger she made it clear she didn't like animals, seems that didn't change.

"You could say that" getting into the parking lot, heading inside we find Charlie by the regular booth that he normally sits at. We order when Cora comes over, many people like before are pointing and whispering to how Bella is here.

"Even though you come here regularly Mallory, I just can't" Cora comes over handing us our food "get over how grown up you both have gotten and gorgeous"

"Hey Bella" Waylon Fords, Charlie's distant cousin/friend appears offering Bella a smile "do you remember me? I played Santa one year"

She hasn't been here for Christmas since she was like three? Four? She did not like the cold then "Yeah" Charlie criticizes him "Waylon, she hasn't had a Christmas here since she was four"

"But I bet" he asks giving her this look with his hands in his hips "I made an impression didn't I?"

"You always do" Charlie scoffs

Bella let out a bit of a laugh "Butt Crack Santa" Cora says

They laugh while Charlie and I eat "Children love those little bottles though"

"Alright" Cora pushes Waylon away "let the girl eat her garden burger, as soon as you're done" Cora promises Bella "I'll bring you your favorite. Berry cobbler remember? Your dad still has it, every Thursday"

"That would be great" Bella thanks her "thank you" Bella went to grab some ketchup as Charlie grabbed the A1 sauce for his steak "No offense Mallory but where does the food you eat go?"

"I burn the calories" I mean between using up magic and keeping myself fit on the basketball team, you need the calories unless you want to loose weight and I don't.

When a family laughs, we briefly look their way eating in awkward silence "I can cook" Charlie looks at Bella "Mallory and I were discussing it and we're going to start cooking"

"Really?" Charlie raises his eyebrow

She nods her head "Yeah" I say "every other day we switch. I cook, she cleans. She cooks, I clean. One week trial basis starting on Monday"

"Okay" she agrees

"Mom's not great in the kitchen" Bella tells us, Charlie nods his head making a face "I did it all the time in Phoenix"

"Your mother was horrible in the kitchen" Charlie shakes his head.

"Chocolate candles" they both laugh at some recipe that Renee made before.

"So um..." Charlie asks "did you meet anyone? How was your first day of school?"

She nods her head "Mallory helped me to some of my classes that we both had, met some people. Do you...do you know the Cullen family?"

Charlie has a tense face when he sipped some of his water "Yeah, why? People talking about them again" they wouldn't talk if the Cullens bothered to participate in different town events or if the Cullen kids joined a team or after school activity, the only reason they are going to school is to pretend to be human. Grasp what little humanity they have left.

"A little bit" Bella looks my way "Mallory had a lot to say"

Charlie looks my way disapprovingly "What did you say?"

"Just what I observed" I mean it's not every day you meet a disgraceful coven such as that one "Bella can make her own observations" unlike the rest of the town who forgets after some time, I mean it's a miracle for the Cullens that the people don't pay too much attention to them.

"Listen Bella" Charlie looks at Bella "people only talk about the Cullens because they are newcomers. The Cullens have been nothing but nice since they moved here, people around here" he looks around shaking his head disappointed and displeasure "they...they should be happy that we have a surgeon like Dr. Cullen in our podunk hospital. Happy his wife wanted to move to a small town. His kids? His kids give me no trouble, unlike Mallory and the other hell raisers around here. I just don't like narrow mindedness" looking my way "what did you say about the Cullens?"

"How they don't interact with anyone" sipping my water "I notice things Uncle Charlie. Like how Alice Cullen all but controls her family, like everything so it fits her life perfectly. Rosalie looks down upon people all the time. Emmett is a big man child. Jasper, I don't know what his deal is but he needs therapy. And Edward just looks constipated all the time mixed with needing plastic surgery—you asked. Now I'm not saying I'm not glad to have Dr. Cullen in the town"

"Good" he nods his head

"But it doesn't mean I like his kids" staring at him "they don't interact with anyone, no matter how private their lives may be if they don't bother to try then why should anyone bother to try to like them" but of course Charlie won't listen because stubbornness is an inherited thing Swans have.

❤️‍🩹

Walking up onto the stage, it's open Mic Night at Karen's Cafe. I dragged Bella here because she can do her homework tomorrow and it'll be nice to interact with other people.

When life has cut too deep and left you hurting

The future you had hoped for is now burning

And the dreams you held so tight lost their meaning

And you don't know if you'll ever find the healing

You're gonna make it, you're gonna make it

And the night can only last for so long

Whatever you're facing, if your heart is breaking

There's a promise for the ones who just hold on

Lift up your eyes and see

The sun is rising (the sun is rising)

The sun is rising (the sun is rising)

Every high and every low you're gonna go through

You don't have to be afraid, I am with you (I am with you)

In the moments you're so weak, you feel like stopping

Let the hope you have light the road you're walking

You're gonna make it (you're gonna make it)

You're gonna make it (you're gonna make it)

The night can only last for so long

Whatever you're facing (whatever you're facing)

If your heart is breaking

There's a promise for the ones who just hold on

Lift up your eyes and see

The sun is rising

Even when you can't imagine how

How you're ever gonna find your way out

Even when you're drabbling in your doubt

Just look beyond the clouds

(The sun is rising, the sun is rising)

Just look beyond the clouds (the sun is rising, the sun is rising)

Whatever you're facing, if your heart is breaking

There's a promise for the ones who just hold on

Lift up your eyes and see

The sun is rising

(The sun is rising, the sun is rising)

Yeah, yeah (the sun is rising), whoa, yeah, yeah
even when you can't imagine how

(The sun is rising) how you're ever gonna find your way out

(The sun is rising) even when you're drabbling in your doubt

Just look beyond the clouds

(The sun is rising) even when you can't imagine how

(The sun is rising) how you're ever gonna find your way out

(The sun is rising) even when you're drabbling in your doubt

Just look beyond the clouds

People clap for me when I'm done, many people are shocked when Jake walks up onto the stage with a baby. I knew he must have had a baby or some sick family member, it had to be the only explanation as to why Whitey gives him more breaks than anyone else on the team.

"Everyone this is my daughter Jenny" Jake introduced his daughter "and Jenny...this is my whole world"

"What do you think?" I ask Bella

"It's" shaking her head "very different from what I usually did in Arizona" we order two hot chocolates, while Karen is in Italy Deb has taken over the cafe. She's doing a pretty amazing job "sure we had music nights, I think but I never went to them"

We listen to Jake sing and when he's done, clap for him. Going over to Jake "Hi Jake, Hi Jenny. You have a beautiful daughter"

"Thanks" Jake smiles

"So what" Peyton comes over "are you like married too?"

Bella is talking to Haley and Nathan, good "No" Jake lets out a laugh "it's just me and Jenny"

"May I hold her?" I ask

"Yeah" he nodded his head, I pick Jenny up from the carrier.

"You know" looking at Jake "I use to volunteer in a church nursery daycare, so if you ever need a break. I'll baby sit Jenny for free"

He nods his head smiling "Thanks, I appreciate it"

"She's got your eyebrows" Peyton has her hand out and Jenny takes one of her fingers.

Jake makes a face "That is not a good thing"

We laugh "She's beautiful" she starts to cry and Jake takes her to change her since her diaper smelled. We see Gavin DeGraw come in, wow I can't believe Peyton did this. She texted that she would but I didn't believe it.

"You know" Peyton looks my way "I have a knack for knowing what people will one day be and do you know what I see for you?"

She rolls her eyes shrugging her shoulders "Let me guess? Some cheerleading instructor"

"No" looking at Gavin as he began singing one of his hit songs 'I Don't Wanna Be' "you got Gavin DeGraw to sing for free at an open mic night, you know the right music to play for anything, you have loads of music in your room. I can see you becoming either a DJ or a music producer"

"Music Producer?" She asks

Crossing my arms "Yeah...I know for one I'd listen to any artist you record—come on. Let's go to the River Side Court"

"Why?" She asks as I drag her and Bella out of the cafe when Gavin is done singing.

"Where" Bella asks "are we going?"

"To the River Court" looking at Bella "you don't have to play, but you can watch beside Peyton" it takes ten minutes and many people are around.

While Bella is sitting with Peyton and Brooke who are beside Jenny, I'm with Lucas and the guys playing basketball shading Nathan and his team. I wonder sometimes if life will be like this thirty years from now, if the simple fun things will still exist or not. I also know that in sixty or ninety years all these people will be dead which is both sad but it'll be nostalgic thinking about these moments.