Settling Dusk

1. The Return

(Bella's POV)

I shot up from my bed with a muffled gasp. The darkness around me disorienting me for a moment until I registered my surroundings. Taking a deep breath, the intake of air inflating my chest and causing my whole body to shake as I exhaled quickly. My dreams had been...better. Not as bad as they had been when he left, but still nowhere near as good as they were when he was here.

I shifted on my back, tossing my arm up to rest against my forehead as I stared at the ceiling to further gather my thoughts. I didn't remember my dream; the whole thing was fuzzy and distorted as I thought back about it. The only thing I could recall was the feeling the dream gave me; the heart pounding, handshaking, sweat inducing emotional reaction.

I sighed and rubbed my temples as I tried to ignore the reactions running rampant through my body. Shaking my head, I thought of recent events taking forefront in my mind. It had been a few months since the Cullen's returned, well, all of them had returned except Edward. I grimaced as my heart panged in my chest at the thought of him.

After Alice showed up and learned I wasn't dead like she had seen in her vision, she called the family and let them know. She had told them about Laurent's actions and once she told them about Victoria and how the redhead vampire had been seen more and more frequently, they had all made the decision to return to Forks without telling him.

I had braced myself and asked her how he was doing, not being able to prevent my grimace when the short-haired vampire admitted they rarely speak to him, only once a month if that. Despite the hurt I felt, I could help but get a small sense of satisfaction that I was not the only one who isolated myself from everyone. 

I sighed again, shaking my head as I looked at the alarm clock on my bed side table. It was 4:30 AM, too early to be awake but also too late to try to fall back asleep. School was restarting today and I was dreading it but also craving the sense of routine. 

Alice would be with me and while that made me feel better, it wasn't the same as if he were here. 

I grunted as I sat up, more unwelcomed thoughts crossing my mind as I began to get ready for the day. By now, the Cullens and the Pack had met, reevaluating and discussing the Treaty. I wanted to go, be apart of the meeting, but because I was neither Vampire or Werewolf, I couldn't. 

I still worried though. I worried about the Cullens. I was worried about Jake. 

Regardless of both the reassurance from Alice and Jacob about how Victoria wouldn't get anywhere near me, I couldn't help but feel like something big was going to happen. Something that was unavoidable for both sides. I just didn't know what.