ACHILLES HEEL • TWILIGHT •

🐺 CHAPTER SIX 🐺

TW : PORT ANGELES SCENE

Bella dragged Mack to her room as soon as the red head teen woke up the next morning.  The Swan girl explained to Mack everything Jacob had told her, causing the Sawyer girl to smack her own forehead. She had heard the stories before, from Sienna, but never put it together like Bella.

The cousins sat in Bella's room and began their research. During this, Mack confessed to Bella about the conversation she had with Paul. She discussed her worries about some of the kids not taking their education serious. Bella of course called her cousin the perfect candidate to be a teacher, causing Mack to throw a pillow at her cousin.

"There's a book in Port Angeles, we should go get it." Bella said, writing down the address.

"Pretty sure the girls and I are going shopping soon, so we can go then. Saves us some gas." Mack said, before looking at the clock. "Shoot, Bellie. We gotta go."

It was a rare sunny day in Forks, which meant the Cullens were missing. Mackenzie sat on the bench opposite of her cousin, as Jessica soaked up the sun.

"He's not here." Jessica said, as Bella had been looking around for Edward. "Whenever the weather's nice, the Cullens disappear."

"What, do they just ditch?" Bella asked.

"No, Dr. and Mrs. C pull them out for the day to go hiking and camping. Charlie wasn't for it." Mack said, pouting as she remembered asking her uncle to do the same.

"Same here, tried that with my parents. Not even close." Jess said.

"Guys, I'm going to the prom with Eric." Angela said excitedly as she sat down next to Bella. "I just asked him. I took control."

"I told you that would happen." Bella said hugging Angela.

"I'm so excited for you, Ang!" Mack grinned happily, she loved seeing her friends happy.

"Are you sure you have to go out of town?" Angela asked Bella.

"Yeah Bellie, are you sure?" Mack asked, grinning as she knew Bella truly had no plans.

"Yeah, it's a little family thing." Bella said.

"Mack's family." Jess pointed out.

"Not to her mom, I'm team uncle Charlie." Mack said, coming to her cousin's aid.

"We need to go shopping in Port Angeles, before all the good dresses get cleaned out." Jess said.

"Can Bella come? I need her opinion." Mack said, knowing they had to go for the book.

"Of course, we all need her opinion." Angela said, surprised as shopping didn't seem like Bella's thing.

***

Mack was stuck in the dressing room, staring in the mirror. She was wearing a silvery blue dress, the top was corset like with gems and the bottom flowed perfectly. Her eyes were teary as she remembered seeing a picture of her mom at prom in their living room.

"Bellie.." Mack weakly called out.

Bella immediately rushed to her cousin, not sure what could be wrong. That was until she saw her. Mackenzie Sawyer looked so much like her mother, thought Bella barely remembered her.

"It's gorgeous, Mack." Bella said, truly believing the dress was made for her cousin.

"It's not too much?" Mack asked, unsure if she should even bother.

"It's perfect, I think Aunt Maddie would have agreed too." Bella said, knowing that's what Mack was afraid of. Not having her mom to dress shop with.

Bella pulled Mack out, allowing the other girls to see the dress. Like Bella, Jess and Angela swore the dress was made for the girl. Mack changed back to her normal clothes, and checked out.

She sat by Bella, as Jess and Angela struggled to find their dresses. Jessica was holding up a hot pink dress, and Mack shook her head at the style. She liked the color, but the style didn't suit Jessica. Angela was wearing a lavender dress, that make swore was her color.

Mack flipped off the creeps that knocked on the window, feeling completely disgusted. This is why she stuck with book men, and men she could trust.

"That is uncomfortable." Jess said.

"That is disgusting." Bella replied, causing Mack to nod along.

Mack giggled as the girls asked Bella about the dresses, knowing her cousin isn't into shopping. She was sure the girls could be wearing a potato sack and Bella would say they looked great.

"You're not really into this, are you?" Angela asked, seeing how uncomfortable Bella was.

"I actually really just want to go to this bookstore. We'll meet you at the restaurant." Bella said, nudging Mack to go with her.

Mack waved bye, as she followed Bella out of the dress shop. The two walked side by side as they tried to locate the bookstore. It was dark by the time Bella and Mack left the bookstore. Mack was never one to admit defeat, but she was lost. Bella had hoped her cousin remembered their whereabouts, but Mack rarely traveled to Port Angeles, and if she did Matt or someone else drove.

Mack linked arms with Bella, to keep her close as they walked. They were about to enter an alley, when Mack spotted some guys walking. She immediately dragged Bella the opposite direction. Mack soon realized they were being lead to a trap. She pushed Bella behind her, gripping her hand.

"Don't you fucking think about touching her, you fucking dickwads." Mack spat at the first guy who went to touch Bella. 

She gripped her pepper spray, and mouthed run to her cousin. Bella kneed one guy, while Mack shoved Bella out of the way and pepper sprayed another. Another male came from behind and grabbed Mackenzie, holding her throat tightly. She struggled in his hold, biting the inside of cheek to stop from crying. Bella was safe, and that's what mattered. She threw her head back, getting the male in the face. Her vision slightly blurred, but she recognized the car.

"Get in the car." Edward shouted to Bella. He didn't want no harm to go to the red haired girl, but he was thankful she made sure Bella was safe.

"But Mack-" Bella tried to speak, but Mack glared at her cousin. She was the older one, and she needed Bella safe.

Edward began approaching the group of males, and helped Mackenzie off the floor. He nudged her to the car, before he made his way closer to the males. Mack held her throat as she made her way into Edward's backseat. She reached over and squeezed her cousin's shoulder, she was safe.

Mack mumbled a hoarse thank you to Edward, before staring out the backseat window. She wasn't even paying attention the conversation in the car. It wasn't until they reached the restaurant that Mack snapped out of her daze. Edward held out a black scarf.

"Alice always leaves her stuff in my car. She wouldn't mind." Edward spoke, knowing the girl was worried about her throat. Mack smiled softly as she took it, and put it on.

"I'm sorry I kept Bella and Mackenzie from dinner." Edward said, as he and Mack approached Bella and the girls. "We just ran into each other and began talking."

Mack held back a smirk at the girls' faces. "I'm gonna head out with them, okay? Edward you take care of my cousin." Mack said, linking arms with the girls and leading them away from her cousin and her crush.

"We want all the details." Jess said as the girls began their drive back to Forks.

Mack spent the trip, talking about Bella and Edward. She left out their horrible encounter with those strangers. She was thankful the girls had picked up her dress. Mack was grateful to finally be home, and away from gossip.

She immediately ran to the bathroom and looked at her throat, the bruises were faint. Easy to cover up. She was happy to remember that Bella left the book in her possession. So there Mack sat, all alone in the home reading the book her cousin had just bought. She highlighted portions that stood out to her.

Mack was asleep by the time Charlie and Bella arrived home. She was curled up on the couch with the newly highlighted book. The red haired girl had figured it out before passing out from exhaustion. Charlie had moved the girl to her bed, and during the night Bella crawled next to her, due to a nightmare.

"Vampires." Mack mumbled in her sleep.