all тнere'ѕ leғт тo do ιѕ rυn

THIRTEEN

alex didn't end up talking to ostana about it, instead taking to keeping it to himself so as to not worry the poor woman. ostana had been on the run from a vampire for years, one who was dead set on hunting her down and taking his time in killing her. it was part of the reason she was so regretful over what happened to alex, because by biting him that night they'd met she'd turned him into a target as well.

neither of them had known peace for over a year, now. if alex could provide her the slightest bit of comfort by not telling her about the vampires that had moved just before they arrived in forks, he would do it.

he owed it to ostana for all she'd done for him following the accident.

so, he went on as normal. she tried to bring it up by asking if he was troubled by something, but he acted like everything was fine. blaming it on nightmares was easy, and it caused her to back off in understanding.

he continued going to school like normal, but he refrained from talking to bella outside of classwork if he could. it confused her, he could tell, but he played it off as best he could by acting normal while not staying around her if possible.

alex didn't like ignoring her, as he knew she was already dealing with that from jacob. but he didn't want to become her confidant if she decided she needed someone to open up to about the assumed vampires she'd been close with before. he didn't want to give her any inkling he'd heard her and jacob talking, didn't want her to question him about anything, and he didn't want to get any closer to her.

that didn't stop her from trying to talk to him, though.

not even about the huge wolves she'd seen when she was hiking over the weekend.

"bella, why the hell were you in the woods? you could've been killed by the bear, or fallen and snapped your neck with how clumsy you are," he mutters, trying to diligently keep at his work, but the girl would not let up.

"but alex, they were huge! taller than my truck on all fours, and they-"

"bella," he cuts her off, finally turning to face her and the assignment she had barely started working on. "wolves don't grow that big, it's not physiologically possible. the closest thing would be a dire wolf, but those have been extinct for a very long time, and were as big as what you're saying. maybe your eyes were playing tricks on you, or something."

alex didn't like potentially gaslighting bella, but she needed to keep her nose out of the woods and whatever supernatural business this town had going on. it was obvious that even with the cullens gone there was still weird shit happening in forks, but alex had nowhere else to look except for his newly distanced friends from la push and these supposed giant wolves.

but werewolves couldn't exist in the daylight like she was describing, and they definitely didn't walk on all fours. and alex only knew this because of how he and ostana had met.

the look bella was giving him felt almost like a punch to the gut, but he knew it had to be done. the less bella knew, the more he didn't have to worry about her involvement in the supernatural. and as long as she wasn't involved, she wouldn't have a clue about him and his guardian.

throughout the rest of the week, things somewhat carried on like that. he did his work, talked to his friends, kept secrets from ostana, and was even invited to another party out on the rez on friday. they carpooled once again, this time without jessica or angela joining them as they were both busy.

quil was already waiting for them at the party, grinning at the sight of the forks teens as they approached him on the sandy beach.

"hey, quil! ready to get fuckin wasteeeed!" chris crows, laughter escaping them all with a few eye rolls, and they continue towards the rest of the partygoers. it was another bonfire party, and hailey had explained to alex that it was an easier way for teenagers to get away with partying despite most of the adults knowing they were all being irresponsible.