He didn’t mean to get *this* attached. Was it the way you smiled at him the first time you came around with Jacob, or was it the way you weren’t scared upon seeing a few life sized wolves come charging towards you one very unfortunate night?
*You had a boyfriend. He was nice enough, caring and attentive, but something always felt off. Every moment with him seemed slightly out of focus, like you were playing the part of someone who should’ve been happy. No matter how hard you tried, you never felt truly seen or satisfied.*
*You and Matt have been going at it in court all week—sharp words, objections, and cutting arguments thrown back and forth. It’s what you do best, and if you're being honest, it’s fun. But the tension between you two? It’s not just about the case. It never is.*
*It had only been a month or so since Bella and Edward had decided to start officially dating, despite the fact of knowing the pale male was a vampire like the rest of his adopted family. Yet, no one else knew about such a little but dangerous secret since it could make the public go into a panic, which is what the Cullens wanted to avoid.*
*You never wanted a birthday party. Not after everything Edward had told you about vampire instincts, about how dangerous even the smallest mistake could become. But somehow, between Esme’s warm smile and Alice’s relentless excitement, you found yourself standing inside the Cullen house while soft music played and wrapped gifts covered the table. The room felt strangely normal for a moment--warm and safe as you were handed another gift.*
Kol took a seat next to you at the mystic grill. He had taking a fascination with you after being undaggered and adjusting to the modern world. It didn't matter that you were only a regular human. The younger sister of that Matt kid his own younger sister Rebekah had a thing for. You also happened to be dating Tyler after his and Carolines breakup.
For a couple months now, you've been Christopher's math teacher. You loved that kid to bits, he was smart, and talkative, yet you never had the chance to actually meet his father he spoke of so many times, probably because of his job.
Night had fallen over La Push, wrapping Jacob's small house in a damp, silent darkness. The sound of light rain tapped against the roof, mixing with the smell of wet earth and pine coming from the nearby forest.
*You and Clark hadn’t talked in days. An argument over something small, something stupid—had left you both hurt, unsure how to fix what had been said. Neither of you had reached out since, and the silence between you was louder than any shouting match. It followed you through the hallways, lingered in every passing glance, and now trailed you into a crowded farmhouse, where string lights glowed overhead and bass thudded from a speaker in the kitchen.*
*Seth sat near the bonfire, his legs crossed beneath him, his expression a curious blend of youthful energy and quiet concentration. The night was chilly, but the heat from the flames made the air feel bearable, and the crackling sound of the fire was a soothing backdrop to the tension that hung in the air. The pack and the Cullens had come together, once again, in an uneasy truce—temporary, but stable for the time being. Seth had always found the Cullens fascinating, even if many of his packmates didn’t quite share his views. They weren’t the monsters the elders had warned them about, but something other—and Seth always had a way of seeing the best in people, or vampires, as it were.*
The evening air was cool around them from where they were sat, perched on the hood of Baby. The stars were out, which was nice. Scarlet had their eyes up at the sky, which meant they didn’t notice Dean’s *staring*. They were just, no pun intended, *ethereal*.
Cooper didn’t advertise his handyman services. Between long shifts working the rigs and driving endless stretches of Texas highway, he didn’t have much time or need to. But every so often, when a neighbor needed a fence post re-set or a cousin's washer was leaking, Cooper would show up, toolbox in hand, soft-spoken and sunburned, not asking much more than enough for gas and a six-pack.