Romeo and... Cullen?

7. New Moon

Summer ended quicker than anticipated. Verne hadn't let anyone else in the family know about her and Jake. The addition of Jasper did make it easier to walk around everyone. Her brother did everything in his power to help and cover along with Carlisle and Esme.

        Verne came to school with Bella that morning. She wasn't focused on whatever Bella and Edward were talking about. It wasn't until she heard Edward mutter something under his breath that Verne looked up. She had to stop herself from smiling when she saw Jacob and he had to stop himself from doing the same.

        "Woah, have you been working out? You know anabolic steroids are really bad for you," Bella said to Jacob, making him laugh.

        "Maybe if you hung around more over the summer the change wouldn't have seemed so dramatic, Bells. I heard it was your birthday."

        He held up a dreamcatcher for her. Jacob smiled at Verne when he noticed Edward had walked away, sulking. Jacob gave her a wink before he sped off on his motorcycle to get back to his school.

        "Why does Jacob Black get to give you a present and I don't?" Edward asked Bella as he came back.

        "Oh whatever, Edward." Verne rolled her eyes and walked away.
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        "Verne!" Your friends greeted you at lunch.

        "Live and in the flesh. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

        Jasper, Alice, and Edward started joining Verne and Bella's table now that Rosalie and Emmett were out of school.

        "Romeo and Juliet essay due today," Jessica said poking a fork in her salad.

        "Just finished it yesterday," Bella said.

        "Same, it was so hard but the play itself was not bad. What about you, Verne?"

        "Hmm? Not my favorite Shakespeare work. I just don't think it's necessary to be like that. Everyone calls it a love story but it's a tragedy Shakespeare says himself. There's nothing to love about two people who can't be together just because of the stupidity and hubris of their so called loved ones that surround them. It's obnoxious. And faking your death just to be with your love? It's awful they had to resort to that only for it to get even worse. It's the epoch of Murphy's Law that we've all come to understand as some love to aspire to but why can't we talk about the toxicity of everyone around them."

        "Woah... okay, I take it you're a Macbeth fan more," Mike said.

        "Uh... yeah."

        Verne sat back realizing the meltdown she just had. Bella looked at her, understanding what was going on in her mind. Jasper placed a hand on his sister's knee, trying to use his powers to calm her down but without thinking about it and alerting Edward.

        Edward just looked at her amazed. The last time he saw Verne that heated over a piece of literature was when the two of them argued over the metaphors in Catcher in the Rye and just because he knew Salinger didn't mean Edward's perspective was correct.
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        Bella came downstairs in one of Alice's dresses. She didn't want a party but everyone knew Alice wouldn't let it go. Verne went to hug her friend and tell her happy birthday when a flash went off. Verne turned Bella to pose for the camera in Alice's hand. She forced Bella's hand on her hip and did the same pose.

        "I found it in your bag. Hope you don't mind."

        "Dating an older woman? Hot." Emmett joked to a very un-amused Edward.