STRANGER THINGS. edward cullen

( CHAPTER EIGHT )

CHAPTER 08;
MOTHERS ODD BEHAVIOR

TAMARA SAT, blinking with an unimpressed blank expression over her face as she watched Bella and her father. The Swan duo, if they even noticed Tamara's blinking gaze, avoided eye contact with each other and herself as they looked through their menus. When Tamara questioned Bella about their dinner plans earlier, she didn't know what she was expecting. It certainly wasn't sitting awkwardly, in an unfamiliar diner, between two equally awkward people.

Her frustration at the lack of conversation would have been ridiculous if they just entered the diner, but they were sitting almost ten minutes.

They were unbelievable. They didn't think that she would just sit there, analyzing them, and keep silent while there was no conversation altogether, did they? Admittedly, she was never one to talk excessively but avoiding talking altogether, that was something she could not achieve. And maybe her presence made it all the more awkward, but she had a feeling that the recently reacquainted father and daughter duo were simply getting used to each other again.

With a huff, she blurted, "Sheriff, this is nice and all but you can't expect me to believe that you've been staring at that menu ten minutes, without knowing exactly what youre going to order."

His head shot up slowly, his eyes briefly making contact with hers before they drifted to his daughters in question. As if already knowing what he was asking, she only shook her head with a small already knowing smile on her face. Bella already told her father that Tamara never missed a chance to be direct with everyone she encountered. Her new friend wasn't one to keep her constantly wandering thoughts, to herself.

With a chuckle, not at all bothered by Tamara's words (more amused than anything) he faced her. "Alright, I'll bite. How would you know that?"

"You might as well employ me now, I'm a magnificent detective." She smirked.

His eyebrows were raised in amusement. He didn't believe it, not for a second. "Nice try, kid. The real reason."

Tamara shrugged. "I may or may not have been told information that states otherwise." She pursed her lips, glancing at Bella. "She told me she does all the cooking. And because this is the closest diner from your house, it was safe for me to assume that you used to come here all the time, before a few weeks ago. Did I mention the ten minutes?"

"Thanks, Bella," he muttered, a twitch in his mustache as the corner of his lips tilted upward. Bella only pressed her lips together in a sheepish smile. Tamara glanced between them, they were so alike and it wasn't their physical attributes that dictated so.

Tamara went ahead to grab a piece of bread that had been set on the table only a few minutes prior. The waitress was yet to arrive take their orders, but Tamara wasn't exactly complaining. It was extremely busy at the diner that Friday evening. "How are you not overweight already?" She spoke mindlessly, only noticing after the absence of an immediate reply that her statement sounded offensive. "That didn't come out right," she cringed. "Sorry?"

"I'm as healthy as a horse." He brushed her comment off.

"The steaks say otherwise." Bella commented, already knowing what his order would be.

With a playful huff, he said, "You got that out of her in just three days?"

"I like to know who I'm going to be acquainted with. Friends are key to survival, or at least thats what mom says." She said, repeating the words her mother had spoken to her. The salt and pepper head girl shrugged.

"A very outspoken friend. Be careful what you say in front of her, dad. She doesn't hold back." Bella said with a soft smile.

"Are you calling me judgemental, Swan?"