Chasing Flame

Chapter 2

"I can't believe you dragged me out here."

"You volunteered; I didn't drag you anywhere."

"Someone has to make sure my maid of honour doesn't trip on air and brain herself."

"You're a morbid one today, aren't you?"

"And what of it."

"Jeez, could you at least act happy? This is the first birthday you've spent with Mom in literally a decade."

"My friend is fucking missing, possibly dead, probably worse, and you want me to pretend like everything's a-okay for Renée's sake? She's our mother, Bella, it's about damn time that you stop treating her like a helpless child!"

Bella gaped at her sister. Looking oddly similar to a fish as she opened and closed her mouth several times over, searching for a response that never came. "I'm sorry, Iz," Charlotte sighed, "It's just that I already have so much on my plate. Between teaching you combat, training for the upcoming battle, dealing with pack drama, planning my wedding, and, of course, my ever-present insomnia I'm stressed out enough as it is." Charlie huffed, running a hand through her hair."Add on a missing friend that all of Seattle, Port A, and Forks can't seem to find, and you get a very emotionally unstable birthday girl."

"You could always think of this as a mini vacation. A break, a breath of fresh air." Bella offered. "You can put aside all of that, or, at least, as much as you can put aside, and enjoy being a normal person celebrating your 21st birthday with your mom and your sister." Charlie laughed boisterously, surprising both Swans as they exited baggage claim

"Happy birthday, baby!" Renée wrapped her arms around Charlotte in a firm but comforting hug. "Hi, Mom," Charlie breathes, returning hee mother's embrace. "Hey, Mom," Bella chirped from beside her sister. "Oh, Bella! How are you?" Renée turned her attention - and her affection - on her youngest as Charlie stuffed their luggage in the trunk of Renée's car before climbing into the passenger seat.

"Mom, the faster we get there, the sooner I meet Phil!" Charlotte called in an attempt to corral her mother into the car. "How unfortunate for him." Renée laughed, she and Bella finally getting in the vehicle. "Try not to give Phil an aneurysm, sweetie."

"But Mom ," Charlie pouted, "where's the fun in that?"

Renée shook her head, chuckling despite herself. "No one said being an adult was fun, baby girl."