Willow,
Everyone is freaking out.
Apparently, Alice can't see you anymore. She hasn't been able to have a vision of you since your birthday. It sent everyone into a spiral. No one told Jasper of course but for a while we thought you died. So please, don't get mad at what I'm about to say. Rosalie and I made a trip to Forks. We drove by your house and stopped by the diner when you were working.
We had to know you were okay.
Rosalie cried with relief when she saw you.
I did a little too.
We have no idea why Alice can't see you anymore. Just please be careful. We won't be able to know when you need help anymore. You might not even want our help after everything went down. But please know this, I love you like you're my sister and so does Rosalie. I'm sure much of the family feels that way. I will always be there if you need me.
The old number you have for me is still my number. I will always answer.
I am sorry that I broke into your room to drop off the gift from Jasper. Rosalie made him promise. I hope you liked it. I was going to get you something too, but Rosalie said that might overwhelm you.
We haven't heard from Jasper in a while. Not his voice anyway. He sends check in texts to Rosalie but not much is in them. She says he only sends them because she made him promise. I don't know what he's doing but I do hope he finds his sister. If something good comes from that it might be that.
Edward calls when he checks in. He sounds completely depressed with little will to live. Alice says Bella is about in the same condition. I imagine that can't be easy for any of you. I'm sorry. I hate knowing you are going through this. That Bella is going through this.
I want the best for you all. I hope you find happiness in some way.
Just please be careful. It makes me nervous knowing that we are in the dark about your wellbeing puts me on edge.
Emmett
P.S. I promise not to break into your room again.
Willow's fingers twisted the fire agate around the gold chain as she reread the letter. She knew the necklace that Koda had given was the reason that Alice couldn't see her anymore. A part of her felt great knowing that Koda was keeping her safe, the magic worked, of course it did, Koda was powerful. On the other hand, it felt like her tie to the Cullen family had been cut and for some reason it hurt.
With a sigh she folded the letter back up and placed it into the envelope. She placed it in her keepsake box with the others. Willow twisted in her chair to look at Paul spread out her bed reading her father's old poetry book.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Willow smirked as she looked as she watched his head pop up.
"I haven't heard of half of these poems before." Paul closed the book and laid it down on her bed before stretching out his long limbs. "So, you and Koda?" Paul's eyes had a playful glint to them as he sat up to look at her.
"What about us?" Willow raised her brow and smiled.
"How long?"
"About a month." Willow couldn't hide the slight blush on the top of her cheeks.
"So, are you two official?" Paul leaned back against Willow's headboard.
"We're not labeling it."
"I'm just glad you're happy." Paul's smile spread from ear to ear as he watched her join him on the bed. "I haven't seen you smile this much in months."
"What about you?" Willow left the question vague. She didn't want to say Marshall's name just in case it sent him back into a spiral.
"I'm good." Paul gestured with his head for her to come cuddle up by his side. Willow nestled her head into the side of his chest, and she felt completely at ease. "I still have love for Marshall, but I understand that it ended for us, and I've come to terms with that."
Willow hummed and nodded her head as she grabbed her sketchbook from her night stand. Paul grabbed her hand and let his fingers trace over the scars that formed.
"I wish you had let Koda heal these."
"I don't mind the scars." Willow muttered, barely glancing at the white line that covered both her hands.
Willow sketched in her book while Paul scrolled through his phone, his fingers massaging her scalp. After some time passed Paul broke the silence with a question that had been on her mind for a while.
"How did Sam and Emily end up together?" Willow spoke without lifting her eyes from the notebook. Paul sighed and sat himself up a little straighter causing Willow to sit her stuff down on the nightstand.
"It's called imprinting." Willow twisted her head to give him a confused look. "It's something all shapeshifters have. Its- it's like finding a soulmate. A- string inside of you snapping in place when you see them."
"So, it forces you into romantic relationships? That's gross." Willow's lips cruelled up in disgust.
"No- I mean not really. Only some of them are romantic. Some soulmates are not romantic." Paul rubbed his hand through his hair. "For example, Sam and Emily turned out romantic, but Jared and Kim are platonic soulmates."
"Jared imprinted on Kim?" Willow's brow lifted and Paul nodded. "Have you imprinted?"
"I- I don't think so." His expression was tight, and Willow wondered if he was lying to her, but she didn't want to push.
"I don't care if it was imprinting. I still hate Sam for what he did to Leah." Willow huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Don't be too hard on him. He already hates himself." Paul's words made Willow's eyes roll. She opened her mouth to spew her anger about Sam, but her door slammed open before she could.
Standing in her doorway was a disheveled Bella. She had thinned out; her hair was greasy and pulled back from her face. She wore an oversized hoodie that hung off of her shoulders. Her cheeks were hollowed and the circles under her eyes were dark and almost looked like bruises.
"Please knock." Willow muttered with exhaustion from continued repeats of the same statement. However, it had been months since Bella entered Willows room.
"We're having- we- us and Jess- we- um- we're going for girls' night." Bella seemed completely uncomfortable and refused to make eye contact. Willow was taken aback. Bella never really wanted to hang out with her before and Jess, well, Willow didn't really know her.
"Okay. Sure." Willow looked between Paul and Bella and offered a small shrug and a slight smile. "When?"
"Right now." Bella spoke for the first time with surety and Willow felt her brows scrunched together.
"Bella... I - I have plans with Paul."
"Willow please, I- I. Charlie wants to send me back to Jacksonville be-because I don't get out. I can-can't leave. Okay?" Bella stared at Willow for a long moment and Willow could see the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Paul spoke first.
"It's okay Lola." Paul offered her a smile before he turned to Bella with the same warm smile. "Go with Bella. We can hang out tomorrow."
"Thank you, Paul." Bella lowered her head and the edges of her mouth tilted up into a smile.
Three hours later Willow was walking out of a movie theater in Port Angeles after a boring movie experience. She was walking between Bella and Jessica listening to Jessica about zombie movies and Bella's depression. This entire experience was excruciating but Willow reminded herself that she was doing it for her cousin.
Willow almost didn't realize the other two had stopped for a second. She turned on her heel to see Bella staring down the alleyway where a group of motorcyclists were yelling and cat calling them. Jessica stepped towards Willow, but Bella seemed to still be staring at the group.
"Bella?" Willow piped up trying to get her attention.
"Dude, come on." Jessica stepped closer to Bella.
"I think I know those guys." Bella whispered without looking towards them. Willow glanced back at the guys, sure that she had never seen any of them in her entire life.
"Well, they seem great. Can we go?" Jessica tried to pull Bella toward her. Bella shrugged her off and headed towards the men.
"I just need to see something." Bella started making strides to the motorcyclist.
"Woah, woah, woah." Willow called out, jogging to catch up with her cousin, her hand grabbing Bella's shoulder. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I'll be right back. I promise." Bella offered a small warm smile and left Willow standing there.
Willow watched, frozen to her spot, as her cousin approached the men. She turned slightly to look at Jessica who looked as freaked out as she felt. Willow felt her stomach roll with nausea as she watched Bella climb onto the back of the motorcycle with one of the strange men.
"Bella! No!" Willow sprinted down towards her cousin, yelling at the top of her lungs. She watched in horror as her cousin rode off with the strange motorcyclist. Her hands on either side of her head, her fingers tangling in her red hair.
Jessica walked down to join Willow, ranting about the stupidity of Bella. Willow felt her heart beating rapidly and breathing became labored. Heat rushed up to ears and spread over her face. She was stuck half between a panic attack and fit of rage and Jessica's commentary wasn't helping.
Exactly two minutes later the motorcycle reappeared, and Bella was still on the back. Willow felt the panic disappear and she was filled with nothing but rage. She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at her cousin who seemed half giddy.
"Hey, um, what the hell is wrong with you? Just curious." Jessica snapped before Willow could.
"I thought I saw something." Bella glanced back towards the motorcyclist. The three of them headed back towards the sidewalk.
"You're insane, actually. Or suicidal." Jessica went on but Willow didn't care what she had to say anymore. Willow was thankful that Jessica drove separately because when she heard Bella's response, she knew she was going to blow a gasket.
"That was such a rush." Bella sounded completely elated. Willow twisted her head and shot Bella a look of warning, it was clear Bella understood that she was on Willows absolute last nerve.
Jessica was too upset to even wish them a goodnight, she simply climbed into her car and sped off. Willow took the keys from Bella with a word between them, Willow started the truck and let the heat run. An awkward silence surrounded them, and Willow's rage grew the longer she sat there.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" Willow snapped; her eyes focused straight out the window.
"You wouldn't understand." Bella muttered with her eyes focused on her hands in her lap.
"Fucking try me." Willow twisted her head to look at her cousin. Bella clammed up and shook her head with her shoulders shrugging slightly. "You just did something incredible stupid and almost left me to tell Charlie what happened. You owe me an explanation."
"I saw him!" Bella shouted, her hand gripping her roots.
"Who?" Willow demanded and twisted to completely face her cousin. Bella's face twisted up into an expression of pain and Willow almost felt bad for being angry.
"You know. Him." Bella kept her head down as she spoke. Willow's brow rose and it suddenly seemed to click in her head.
"Edward?" Once the name left her lips Bella flinched but nodded to let her know that she was correct.
"You know that's not really him, right? It's just your mind."
Willow felt like a hypocrite saying that after she spent months dealing with visions of Alex. A severe symptom of her PTSD that Koda had healed with his magic months ago. But he warned her that the mind wasn't easy to heal and at some point, the symptoms of her PTSD may reappear.
"I don't care. I saw him. And I'll do what it takes to see him again." Her tone was so determined and the look on her face let her know that her cousin was still consumed in the loss of Edward. Willow sighed and shifted the truck into drive and silence filled the cab. They were half back to Forks before Willow spoke again.
"Try to be safe if you are so hell bent on doing this."
"Okay." Bella whispered.
"You know, I might be the only person who understands where you're coming from."
That was where the conversation ended. Bella didn't respond to her. She simply turned her head to look out the window, while Willow contemplated if her and her cousin were ever going to be friends.