Twilight Midnight Moon

Chapter 6: Restlessness

The drive home from the beach felt longer than usual, even though La Push was only a few miles away. The soft rumble of my Volkswagen Rabbit filled the silence, but my mind kept drifting back to Bella. Something about our conversation stuck with me, especially when she’d asked about the Cullens. The more I thought about it, the more unsettled I became.

The legends were something I grew up with, stories my dad would tell around campfires. But they’d never felt as real as they did today. Watching Bella’s expression when I mentioned the cold ones, I couldn’t tell if she believed me or not, but I knew she was curious. Maybe even a little scared.

I parked in front of our house and sat for a moment, staring out at the overcast sky. It wasn’t unusual for Bella to be on my mind—since she’d moved back to Forks, she’d been a topic of conversation between my dad and me. But this was different. The feeling in my chest wasn’t something I could easily explain.

I grabbed my stuff and headed inside, finding Dad in his usual spot in the living room. He was watching some game on TV, but as soon as I walked in, he muted it and turned his attention to me.

"Hey, kid," Dad said, his eyes sharp like he was expecting me to say something important. "How was the beach?"

"It was good," I replied, dropping my things by the door. "Bella and her friends showed up. We had a bonfire."

A knowing look crossed his face, and I could tell he had more to say. "Bella, huh? How’s she doing?"

"She’s fine," I said, shrugging, though I knew that wouldn’t satisfy him. I could feel his eyes on me as I made my way to the kitchen, grabbing a drink to avoid the conversation I knew was coming.

"And how are you doing?" he asked, his voice patient but prodding.

I sighed and leaned against the counter, knowing there was no dodging him. "It’s weird, Dad. She asked about the Cullens. Specifically, why they don’t come to La Push."

Dad’s face hardened just a little. It was subtle, but I caught it. “And what did you tell her?”

“I told her about the legend,” I admitted. “Well, kind of. The light version of it.”

Dad didn’t say anything right away, just nodded thoughtfully. “She’s a curious girl, that one. You be careful about what you say around her, Jacob. The Cullens… they’re not like us, and the last thing we need is for her to get involved in something she doesn’t understand.”

I shifted uncomfortably. “Do you really believe the stories, Dad? About the cold ones?”

He sighed deeply, turning the TV off completely. “I believe in our history. In what our ancestors told us. Those stories aren’t just bedtime tales, Jacob. They’re warnings. And the Cullens, whether they play by the rules or not, are part of that world.”

I knew he was right. The way people in the tribe talked about the Cullens was different. There was a tension that always hung in the air whenever their name came up.

I nodded, deciding not to push the conversation further. “Yeah, okay.”

He studied me for a moment longer, then let it drop. “Just keep an eye on Bella. If she’s asking questions, it’s because she’s already noticed something.”

I didn’t say anything, but the knot in my stomach tightened. What if Bella was already involved in something she couldn’t understand? And what if it was already too late to warn her?

---

The next morning, the unease hadn’t left me. I got up early, threw on a hoodie, and headed outside to clear my head. The air was crisp, and a light mist clung to the trees as I walked through the woods surrounding our house. The sky above was still overcast, but it was the kind of morning that made me feel at home—grounded.

I found a spot by the cliffs and sat down, listening to the waves crashing against the rocks below. Being out here always calmed me, but today, my thoughts were restless.

Quil and Embry had both texted, probably to talk about Bella’s visit to the beach. I knew it was only a matter of time before they started asking questions. I checked my phone—no new messages from Bella. Not that I expected one. But still, it felt like I was waiting for something to happen.

After about an hour of trying and failing to relax, I decided to head over to Quil’s place. I needed to talk this out with someone, and he was the best choice. Embry tended to take things a bit too seriously, and I wasn’t in the mood for his intense energy today.

Quil’s house wasn’t far, and when I got there, he was already outside, leaning against his truck with his arms crossed. He waved when he saw me coming.

“Yo, Jake! What’s up?”

“Hey,” I muttered, still feeling that tension from last night. “Just needed to get out of the house.”

Quil gave me a look. “Let me guess—this is about Bella.”

I shot him a glare, but it wasn’t like I could deny it. “Maybe.”

Quil grinned, shaking his head. “Dude, I knew it. You were all weird after the beach yesterday. What’s the deal? Did she say something?”

I kicked at the gravel, unsure how much to say. “She asked about the Cullens.”

Quil raised an eyebrow. “And what did you tell her?”

I explained what I’d told her, and how Dad had reacted. Quil listened quietly, which was rare for him. When I was done, he shrugged.

“Well, it’s not like you gave her the whole spiel, right? She’s probably just curious. I mean, the Cullens are weird, and everyone knows it. She’ll figure out they’re not worth her time soon enough.”

I wished I could be as laid-back about it as Quil was. “I don’t know, man. There’s something about the way she asked. Like she already knew something.”

“Or maybe she’s just good at reading people,” Quil offered. “Look, if it bothers you that much, just keep an eye on her. You don’t have to tell her everything, but you also don’t have to let her walk into something dangerous.”

“Yeah,” I said, though the unease still gnawed at me. “You’re probably right.”

“Of course I am,” Quil grinned. “Now, are we gonna keep moping around, or are we actually gonna do something with this Saturday?”

I chuckled despite myself, thankful for the distraction. “Alright, alright. Let’s do something.”

But as we headed out for the day, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to change. Bella was asking the wrong questions, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I didn’t know about the Cullens—or what I might be getting pulled into.