ASPEN ? Paul Lahote [1]

Bella Swan was gone for a total of three days.

On day one, Aspen attended Harry Clearwater's funeral with Paul Lahote and watched as members of the tribe and Charlie Swan mourned over their loved one. Although it was solemn, the sun had shone that day, washing the forest, grass, and flowers in golden rays that also streaked across shoulders and cheeks. It brought an unseasonal warmth as gentle wisps of the cold breeze wove their way through the trees and people gathered.

Her space beside Paul had become somewhat fixed, as wherever he went, she also stood, but not as a shadow. It was odd to her how comfortable one could become with someone, how undeniably easy it was for her to melt into his side or converse with him even when she felt nervous or bashful. It was as though they were a package deal and the pack did not relent with the jokes and teases towards the newfound pair. Aspen, although shy to the new group around her at first, had become an everpresent light to everyone who had come to know and graciously welcomed her into the inner circle.

Light on her feet, the brunette bounced around and attended to anything and everything she possibly could. After the service, Emily held a small reception at her house. Aspen ran from the kitchen to the dining room dozens of times, ferrying trays and bowls of whatever Emily had passed to her. Feeding the never-full stomachs of the Quileute boys was no easy task. She constantly shoved Embry out of the kitchen as he tried to snatch food off the corners of plates when she wasn't looking. She offered everyone a warm smile, especially Paul, every moment he caught her eye. She also jabbed a sharp elbow into the abdomen of Jared each time he walked passed her, making kissing noises and motions with his hands. Aspen thinks it made her elbow hurt more than it did anything to Jared.

It also seemed every time Aspen stumbled upon a space devoid of people, Jacob Black was there staring off into nothing with his dark eyebrows always set in a furrow and lips pursed in thought. In the midst of her movements running around the home, she was constantly glancing in his direction, checking in on him whenever she could. She knew the boy was absolutely devastated because Bella had chosen to leave and go after Edward after the months they had spent where he tried to repair her broken heart.

In the hustle of the day, Aspen had yet to meet Harry Clearwater's children, Seth and Leah. She had seen them in glimpses since the service, however, she found Leah sneaking away into the forest the moment it was over.

Back in the house, Aspen arranged fresh cookies onto a plate alone in the kitchen after she had shooed Emily out, saying she could handle the last things. Humming softly to herself, she placed the last one down and spun around to exit the kitchen smacking straight in to a figure.

"Oh! Sorry! Are you okay? I didn't mean to sneak up on you!" a young voice rambled swiftly, breaking the quiet atmosphere. The boy was just about Aspen's height, with dark features and the same smooth tan skin of the Quileute tribe.

"It's fine!" Aspen said, "I just didn't hear anyone come in, that's all."

The boy's face softly smiled, and although he couldn't be younger than fourteen, he looked so young and his eyes were so big and bright. "I smelled cookies," Seth sheepishly admitted.

Aspen made the deduction that this was Seth Clearwater as she offered her hand towards the boy, a tray stacked full of fresh chocolate chip cookies resting upon it.

"Take as many as you want," Aspen whispered, "I won't tell." The girl laughed softly as his eyebrows shot up and he grabbed two off the tray.