As the days continued to pass, bleeding into the weeks Veronica continued to find her concern for her sister growing. Despite, not believing it could get any worse than the incident of going for a joy ride on the back of a strangers bike, it seemed to do exactly that. And Veronica feared for the day where she would get a phone call from her father with the horrible news. She knew this would be coming, whether it was due to an actual act her sister had performed or something else entirely. Something Cullen related. 

Therefore, seeing Bella take off at a rather late time in the afternoon in the ratty pair of hiking boots she refused to replace was not something unusual. Not anymore. Bella had been hiking around the woods she had once got lost in for a matter of weeks now. Never quite alluding to what she was looking for there. But Veronica had a small idea. There was just no way to break it to her older sister that there was barely any chance she was going to see or find what she was looking for. All Veronica could do instead was brush off her sisters actions and just hope she would see her a couple hours later. Though there was a part of her, a tiny little voice in the back of her head, that told her that things wouldn't be exactly horrible if Bella never returned. But as quick as she took notice of the thought, she banished it from her mind putting it into a do not return to pile. Because no matter how rocky their relationship developed to be, Bella remained her older sister. She would always be her older sister. 

Rather, Veronica returned her attention to her homework, the stuff she continued to avoid completing. Edgar Allen Poe was only interesting if you generally enjoyed English as a subject, and considering that was the last thing Veronica could see her self doing academically it remained more of a challenge than a joy. She tried her hardest to not get distracted with the many other things going on in the house around her. The blaring TV was the most difficult thing, as Matthew sat watching cartoons, safely in her eyesight, something she would much rather be doing in the present moment of time. But she could not, she had this small essay to complete and then she could return to spending time with her son. She could spend that time necessary to help him develop, thrive and live the life she knew he deserved. It was just one small poem in her way, and then she could get back to it. 

She would successfully work for 20 minutes before a different distraction would ruin her attention span for the rest of the day. The sharp ringing of the home phone would jerk her from the nearly completed work. Veronica, cast her eyes over to Matthew, who remained focused on the TV and chose to move her way towards the phone wondering who would be on the other side of the line. It was not like the residence was the most popular when it came to collecting phone calls, and with her mobile phone many people who wished to contact her specifically no longer made an effort to call the landline. Regardless, as the phone continued to ring she had to pick it up. 

"Hello, Swan Residence." She waited for some kind of response on the other side. 

"Hey Ronnie, it's me." Her father's voice came through the other side of the line, and it was instantly that she took notice that something wasn't right. Something had happened, and it was not good. Part of her panicked immediately thinking that she had wished something indescribable into existence. Something she would never forgive herself for. 

"What's happened Dad? Are you okay?"

"Sue Clearwater's just called me. Harry's had a heart attack." Veronica in part wanted to let out a sigh of relief at his words, a selfish act she was more than aware. But the other part of her felt tears start to gather in her own eyes as she came to terms with what her father was implying through his tone. Harry Clearwater was gone. 

"Do you need me to drive you down there?" Veronica offered, again waiting on some sort of response from her father though she had a feeling just where it was heading. Her father was a very headstrong independent man, he wasn't going to accept her offer, but she would continue to offer to him just for the one time he would say yes. 

"I'll be fine getting there." He said no more on the matter, and Veronica knew it would be a night of a few beers and pizza for the man when he returned. 

"Okay if you change you mind at any point, please call me. Be safe I love you, talk to you later." Veronica felt as though it was only appropriate to share the love she felt for her father. Knowing that this was another stark reminder that you never knew what was around the corner. She waited for him to hang up the phone ending his side of the conversation with a 'love you, bye' before returning her attention to the toddler who seemed completely oblivious to the phone call having gone ahead. 

She initially returned to trying to do something, but found herself unable to do anything of the sorts as the front door swung open. Veronica wasn't sure who to expect coming through the door, it could have been Bella returning early from her hike though this seemed unlikely. It was more likely it was Jake following what had happened, she was half expecting him to turn up for the comfort more than anything else. He wouldn't outwardly show it not until he had made it to her that was. However, when neither expected person entered and Veronica watched as a 5'2" dark choppy haired not so teenager entered her house unannounced she panicked a little bit. Moving instantly towards where Matthew had been left upon the living room floor to gather him into her arms. Knowing if needed she could make a dash for it.

Alice Cullen used to make her a little uneasy before knowing the truth. There was a way of which the girl held herself that put Veronica on edge more than the mysterious zoning out sessions or lack of socialisation. She never wanted to fall into what everyone else at school did, she liked to think she wasn't much of a followed. But Alice Cullen was weird and that was before Veronica knew she was a vampire. Now she was pretty terrifying. All that power in such a small stature was scary. 

 "Where is your sister?" When a vampire comes into your house demanding things, the wisest option is to give them what they want. It would be the best option considering Matthew and everything else. But Veronica didn't like to be wise.

"Out." It was not a lie nor was it the complete truth.

"Out where?"

"Somewhere." Veronica enjoyed the look of annoyance that flashed across the vampire's face before it was replaced with the eery face of happiness she had become accustomed to seeing.

"Your sister is in danger show a little more concern."

"She's been in danger since she moved here. You trying telling her to do something she doesn't want to." Veronica rolled her eyes, wanting this conversation to be over with and Alice out of her house as quick as possible.

"You're being overdramatic, just tell me where she is."

"Probably where your brother left her. Maybe you should look into that." Veronica had no need to be nice to the woman stood in her house. "Now please leave. I don't want you near my son." She added on more force to her words than she originally thought possible but not angry at the fact.

"I won't leave until I lay eyes on her."

"Could you at least wait outside then? You're harshing up my mojo." Veronica turned around trying to ensure she placed space between them even if she knew Alice could make it across a room before she could blink. Yet she never got her request answered as the front door slammed open again.

This time walking through the door was none other than Bella, the person Veronica had not expected home anytime soon. Bella was drenched from head to toe, clearly shivering in her wet clothing and very clearly going to be ill if she did not change and warm herself up soon. Veronica was unsure how this had happened but she had ideas, none of which were particularly smart ideas. But they were all ideas which seemed to suit Bella's new turn towards adventure and away from the crumbling life around her. And as Bella rushed over to Alice to reunite with the vampire with more enthusiasm and emotion than Veronica had seen in months it became very clear to the younger girl that no matter what she did it would never be enough. She would never be enough and her older sister would never value their relationship like she valued any of the ones she held with the Cullen family. All she could do was watch on as the pair conversed between themselves, speaking of things she did not understand. It was strange watching Bella and Alice interact, having never witnessed it personally she wasn't even sure what she was seeing. The pair seemed to not really form a cohesive sentence or even phrase between themselves. And it wasn't like they were able to read each others thoughts, or maybe they could. Veronica's knowledge on Vampires wasn't exactly the most in-depth, and she didn't really care to expand it much further than it was. Rather she decided to leave them both to whatever strange form of reunion they were having and started to get the items required to leave the house if necessary. As if one Cullen was back she was sure the others wouldn't be far away and Veronica knew of the treaty between the two waring species and if Jacob couldn't come to them, she sure as hell was heading to him. You couldn't take her person away from her that easily. 

Yet, before she could make any further moves to get out of the house, the door slammed open once more, hitting against the wall this time with significant force. Veronica could only think just how happy she was that her father was not currently home, for that action and the sheer number of times that door had been slammed open in such a short period of time would frustrate the man to no end. Only this time when it opened it was at least to a face and a person she wanted. Jake had charged his way through the front door, slamming it shut on his way past. Something he knew he would be apologising to the chief of police for later on that evening. He chose to ignore the two stood in the kitchen moving directly to where both Veronica and Matthew were. His eyes quickly moved their way up and down and up and down the pair, checking for injuries. It was almost instantly when he relaxed upon seeing none. 

"Are you both okay? Is your dad alright he's called yeah?" Jacob fired a few questions out as he stepped closer to the pair. 

"We're okay, dad's pretty shook up but we'll be there every step of the way. Have you heard anything about Seth or Leah?" Veronica fired her own questions right back at him, watching his face for any kind of reaction, she knew he would not state outright any tribal secrets around either the vampire or Bella. But she could see in his face a reaction for both Seth and Leah, and she pulled her own look of shock back. Leah had shifted too? Then again she considered it, if there was ever going to be a female shifter Leah would fit the role perfectly. 

Rather she moved to reach out the hand which was not supporting Matthew to gently cup at his cheek. Knowing that the pair of them were both upset by the news of Harry's passing but in this moment of time could not focus upon it. Jake responded by pressing hushed into her hand and placing a gentle kiss upon it. Letting her know that they would get through it together. Once they had dealt with the elephant in the room. 

"What business do you have here Cullen? Your coven had left so this land is under our protection." Jake turned his attention back to the two teenaged girls still rooted closer to the kitchen than where they were standing. His body shifted to stand in front of Veronica blocking the vampire from being able to see the toddler completely. 

"I thought Bella was dead, I needed to check in on her." Alice attempted to explain but her words and the tone used didn't seem to match properly. There was some form of disconnection that everyone in the room but Bella seemed to notice. 

"You're a little late to that party. We've been helping her get better all these months without your help, we don't need it now." His words were venomous in delivery and Veronica didn't know whether to be a little bit scared of the way he was talking or excited. This was a side of Jacob she rarely saw and it wasn't one she particularly hated. 

However, before Alice got a chance to respond any further, the kitchen phone rang. Thinking it could possibly be her father calling back Veronica took an initial step to answer the phone herself. She wanted to be there for her dad if he needed anything. But she was stopped in her tracks by a warm hand upon her right arm and with a small number of large strides Jacob was across the room picking up the phone. 

"He's not here at the moment, he's currently helping to arrange a funeral." Before anything else could be said the phone line went dead and Jacob placed it back down on the receiver. 

"Who was that?" Bella questioned seemingly desperate to hear Edward once again, having suspected it was him on the other side of the phone. Though Jake didn't give her a direct answer only shrugged.

"It doesn't matter." He added for extra motion before taking potentially even less steps back over to where his family stood. 

"You idiotic mutt. Bella that was Edward he thinks you're dead, I told Rosalie not to tell him until I had seen you were alive myself. He's going to go to the Volturi to have himself killed." Alice's words made little sense to Veronica, however she did not take lightly to the way Alice had called Jacob a mutt. She only rolled her eyes at the part of Edward talking about ending his life. In any other situation she would not have done this, that was never a topic to be taken lightly. But this was the immortal teenager who had left her older sister for dead in the middle of the woods. She cared little for what happened to him. If he was forever out of the picture, that would probably be the best case scenario. Then her sister could work to moving on and getting better. Or at least getting out of Forks and never contacting Veronica again. Either or at the moment sounded like a pretty sweet deal. 

"What can we do?" Bella's words were frantic and it was clear despite being still completely drenched and shivering there was little to stop the 18 year old turning back out of the door and heading to wherever the vampire currently was. Nothing but signs of a toxic relationship. And Bella's teenaged idiocy. 

"We must travel to Italy to prove him otherwise, he won't believe just my words." Alice explained and Veronica rolled her eyes. The plan was stupid, she cared little for Edward. He was getting what he deserved in her honest opinion. 

"You're just going to drop everything and go to Italy Bella? Really right when Dad needs you, not now. Talk to him, review in the morning." Veronica tried once again to try to talk some sense into her older sister. And it remained just as though she was talking to a brick wall with the lack of response she got from her sister. Veronica had to question just why she bothered. 

"I'm 18 he can't stop me."

"Did everything I just say go over your head? Dad needs us both right now, he's just lost one of his closest friends you can't go gallivanting across the world. Don't forget your life is here in Forks."

"Edward is my life." Veronica mumbled at Bella's final lot of words 'what a great life that is' before continuing on with the more serious point go the conversation.

"You know what, do whatever you want to do. I'm not going to help you when you get home and realise just how selfish you're being right now. Make your bed and lie in it. Veornica turned on her feet moving toward the stairs and up and away from the two others left downstairs. She could hear a heavy set of footsteps as they followed her up. 

"Honestly Jake she can go fuck herself. Dad doesn't deserve a daughter like that." Veronica grumbled as she entered Matthew's bedroom. 

Original 2876 words
Updated 2926 words
Rewritten 15/01/24