Swan Goin' Wolf

Cook Out

 Sam called a few days later saying that the cook out would be the next Sunday and I was excited. Dad agreed that he would come, but Bella was a little less enthusiastic. Paul and Jared also seemed excited about the cook out and had slowly been pushing Sam and I together. I guess a relief that if I did give in to Sam's request that they would fine with me going out with him and not pissed that I was dating one of their friends. It also gave me a security in going out with Sam, Paul and Jared wouldn't want me to go out with him if he was going to turn out to be anything like Paxson. I should have believed them when they said that they hadn't trusted Paxson, that he wasn't a good choice.

Bella seemed to be getting a lot closer to Edward. She had been riding back and forth with him to school. She had even come to me during the week to ask some advice about how to react to her changing feelings. I was glad that she was trusting me enough to come to me for advice, but I still wasn't certain about her choice on boy. I think it was a hero complex. She had told me that Edward had been the one to push her out of the way of Tyler Crowley's van when it had hit the ice and he was the one that had saved us from the drunken bastards in Port Angeles. I also couldn't shake the dream of Edward and the wolves fighting, Bella with red eyes as she reached out for me. I don't understand why I had refused to touch her and why I felt safer with the wild animals than with her and Edward.

The cook out didn't start till six and practically bouncing with how excited I was. It's two and I was more than ready to go. To kill some time I was making a couple pies and cookies to take with us. I had only been in charge of the macaroni salad, but with the way that the boys ate I'm sure the extra food wouldn't go to waste. It was about three when dad got home from taking care of some paper work that had been sent down to the station by the Port Angeles department. He sat at the table and read the paper while I worked.

"Sunny, I got a question for you." Dad said as he turned the page. I turned to look at him.

"Shoot." I said and hopped up on the counter.

"Do you like this boy?" Dad asked as he put the paper down. I blushed a little and looked down.

"He's nice." I said and hopped back off the counter to continue working on the food.

"That's not what I asked, Sunieva." Dad said and grimaced at the use of my full name.

"A little." I said and glanced at him. He was trying to keep a neutral expression, trying not to give away what he was thinking, but I could tell he wasn't jumping for joy.

"I'm glad your getting back to yourself, Sunny. But I don't care how 'nice' this boy is, he hurts you and he'll be meeting the business end of your grandfather's revolver." Dad said and picked the paper back up. I smiled and kissed his forehead.

"Thanks daddy." I said and he grunted.

Bella came home a little later looking a little flushed. I had my suspicions. She had left early yesterday and had come home only to rush through dinner and go up to her room. Then she left early today before I woke for my shift at the library and was only coming home. Dad looked a little suspicious about today, too as he put down his paper and looked Bella. Bella rushed upstairs and came back down changed into a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt.

"Where have you been today?" Dad asked as he leaned back in his chair.

"At the Cullen house." Bella said a little sheepishly. Dad seemed shocked, but tried to cover it up and continued with his interrogation.

"So when do I get to meet this boy? Edmund?" Dad asked and I snorted as he got Edward's name wrong, more than likely on purpose, too.

"Edward, dad." Bella said seeming annoyed.