Trapped in Twilight, Help!

Chapter 48

The woman, a few years older than Bella and the other girl, had three scars running down her face but she smiled widely at me anyway and laughed at Bella's greeting.  "Hi, Edythe," she held her hand out to me.  "I'm Emily.  It's so nice to meet you."

"It's great to meet you, too," I said, smiling at her.  

"You're welcome to the food," Emily went on.  "Anything to you can your hands on before the boys do."

"Thanks."  I tried to smile again, but the eyes of everyone around me was making me uncomfortable.  And everyone knew it, too, because as soon as Paul glared at one of the younger-looking boys, they all went back to eating.  

"I'll grab you a chair," Paul told me, hand hovering over my shoulder.  

When he was gone, Jacob Black snorted into his glass of milk, making Bella kick him under the table.  "What?"  He demanded, still grinning.  "He's whipped!"  

"So are you!"  One of the younger boys said.  He pivoted in his seat, holding his hand out to me.  "I'm Seth, by the way.  Paul hasn't shut up about you all night."

Sam kicked Seth and growled.  "Shut up, Seth."

"So, Bella," I said, my voice quiet, "How was your birthday yesterday?"

"Pretty good," Bella said, brushing her hair behind her ear.  "Oh!  You don't know everyone here, do you?"

"That's right," Emily put her hand on my arm as Paul came back with a lawn chair (not that I minded).  "You know Sam, Jacob, Bella.  But Jared, Brady, Collin, Embry, Quil, Kim and -" as she finished introducing me to everyone, I waved again - shyly - and sat on the lawn chair, next to Paul, very uncomfortable and very anxious.  

"So, Edythe," Jared, Sam's Second, said, pushing a plate of muffins towards me.  I took one and waited for him to continue.  "Isn't Edward older than you?"

"Yeah, by about one hundred years," I said.  

"So how are you related?"

"We're not," I said, "That's just the story."

"Oh."  Jared sat forward.  "Then what's the truth?"

"Jared."  Paul's voice, a careful not-snarl, came out hard and threatening.  

"It's fine," I said, glancing at him.  "I'm from Sioux Falls but I wound up in here about nine months ago.  I don't remember how, but the Cullens took me in and adopted me.  Since Edward and I look the most alike, we decided it'd be easiest to just say I'm his little sister."

"Oh," he sounded disappointed, but at Sam's stern look, didn't pressure me anymore.  

"Why don't we go for a walk?"  Paul's low whisper in my ear made me look at him.  Either he knew how uncomfortable I was or he just wanted to get out there, too, I didn't know - but I agreed, thanks Emily for the muffin, said goodbye to everyone and followed Paul out the door.