The Swan Twins / New Moon

nine

"You know you're not the only one."

Bella had decided to join her sister a few days later at lunch with the rest of their original friends. Elena would hang out with the crew but she would sit there and read or catch up on some work. She didn't feel like talking especially since all they kept asking her was if she was okay. She didn't want to talk about the Cullens. She hadn't healed that open wound yet but she knew eventually she might be able to.

"My dad's been getting reports at the station." The group of four looked up at the twins as they pulled out chairs to sit down. "Like 5 hikers have been killed by some bear. But they can't find the bear."

Angela just looked over to her friends with an I Told You So look on her face. "Hmm." She had just been talking to the group about an animal she had seen while she was out but no one believed her.

"Haha." Eric gave a fake laugh. "Last time you clowns doubt my girlfriend." Looking back and forth between Mike and Jessica with a serious look on his face.

Elena laughed. "Start groveling Eric. Maybe she'll forgive you." She gave a wink in Angela's direction who laughed.

"So Bella's back?" Mike leaned over to talk to the girl.

Bella gave a fake laugh, "yeah I guess so."

"Alright that's, well welcome. Uh, so listen now that you're uh you know talking and eating again. You know gotta get that protein in there." Mike pushed on Bella's arm.

Elena rolled her eyes. The boy will stop at literally nothing to get Bella. He just looked so pathetic to her. Trying to be her shoulder to cry on. He didn't know about Jacob. Maybe she should tell him? Elena smirked to herself before taking a bite of the salad she grabbed to eat.

Elena could feel the jealously coming off of Jessica as she not so subtly watched Mike and Bella interact. Elena also felt the awkwardness coming from Bella as Mike asked her out.

"No, no romance. How about Face punch? Have you heard of that?" Bella asked. Her sister almost laughed as Mike started stuttering.

"I mean it's an action movie.." He was obviously disappointed.

"Yeah it's perfect. Uh with guns, adrenaline, that's my thing." Elena could not bear to be near this conversation anymore. Quickly letting her sister know she was leaving and would see her at home.

Elena threw her tray of food away and walked outside of the building. She knew she should have brought her own jeep today but Bella needed her.

So Elena started walking off into the forest nearby just to get away from everything. Just like her sister she was grieving still but her ways of coping were always with Jacob and now Bella has taken that. Elena didn't mind of course but when she and Jacob were together they were a partnership, best friends who could tell each other everything.

Elena had to have been walking for forty five minutes before she came across a small pond within the trees. It was beautiful. Lilly pads all huddled together in the middle of it with flowers blooming. A frog jumped off of one and swam to the shoreline once it saw the young girl approaching.

Elena sat by the shoreline and watched how still the water was and got lost in her thoughts. She thought about Jasper. She thought about Alice and Rosalie. She thought about Esme's food. She thought about Jacob. She thought about Embry. They all had left, leaving a massive hole in her heart in their place.

The only thing that brought her out of her thoughts was the sound of leaves being stepped on. Her head instinctively flew up to asses her surroundings. The Cullen's had never mentioned another of their kind being the area but without them around she could easily be taken and killed right then and there.

"If I die today I'm going to be so pissed." She spoke aloud.

Suddenly she saw something move behind the trees and immediately stood up. "I would call out Hello but you already know I'm here and I know you're here so you can come out and just skip the dramatics. Please?"

A tan shirtless man appeared from the tree line. He had a tribal tattoo on his upper arm. The only clothing he wore were jean cutoff shorts and tennis shoes. "Who are you?" The man looked vaguely familiar, but Elena just couldn't remember exactly where she'd seen him before.

"Easy." The man put his hands up. "You're Elena Swan right?" The girl took a step back.

"I'll ask again. Who are you? I don't like repeating myself." Elena just remembered the pepper spray she had in her bag. The bag she had left in the truck before she went for a walk. She had never been more disappointed in herself than she was in this very moment.

"Im Paul Lahote. I was there the night you and your sister were found in the woods." His voice lowered in anger knowing why she was there.

"Doesn't help me at all." Of course she remembered the night the love of her life left, but she couldn't recall exactly how she and her sister had made it home.

"I carried you back to your house. Back to Charlie." He spoke softly not wanting to scare her anymore than he already has.

"You're friends with Sam right?" Elena asked looking at him skeptically.

"Yes." He had stayed at the edge of the pond and she stayed on the opposite.

"Do you know Embry?" He nodded in response. "Could you do me a favor? Let him know that I miss him. In a very short time he became my best friend and then he just left me. I just want him to know that I'm glad he's happy and that's how I want to remember him. Even if that means I'll never speak to him again." Elena started tearing up. She could feel them threatening to fall from her eyes.

"He knows." Paul spoke. He knew Embry was listening to their conversation through the mind link. Embry could see how broken she looked and he felt for the girl but he was unpredictable right now since he's still learning how to control himself.

"Thank you Paul. For saving me also. Though I don't know if you know this but random guy with no shirt just hanging out in the woods? Creepy." The two laughed.

"I guess you're right. But its for your protection. Besides, who would've carried you home if I wasn't there?" He crossed his arms over his chest and laughed a booming laugh. Elena smiled. He reminded her of Emmett. Sadness washed over her but she hid it well.

"Thanks Lahote. Maybe I'll see you around." Elena waved to the boy as she retreated towards the direction of her home.

"See you, Swan." Of course he followed her silently to make sure she would make it home safe. After all, there was a redhead vampire that had been coming through the area.