Better Than Revenge

I heard something large sniffing and then something warm poked my side. I groaned and stretched before I sat up and rubbed my aching head. The warm sun drifted down on my skin and the cool water licked at my bare feet. I opened my sleepy eyes and saw the huge russet wolf staring at me. “Hey Daddy,” I yawned. “I guess I fell asleep on the beach again.”
He barked once and grabbed at the hem of my shirt to pull me up. I obediently let him tug at me to follow him back home. I was still a little groggy but that all disappeared the second I walked through the door. My mother pulled me into a hug so tight that I thought my ribs might crack. “Oh god, Andrea. Do you have any idea how worried we’ve been?”
I scrunched up my brows. “Uh, no. I just slept at First Beach. I’ve done it before.”
“That was before the vampires came to La Push,” Dad said as he walked in. “Leah called early this morning and said that she smelled two of them in the area. One of them was Alec and I’m guessing the other was Jane. Both scents were on the beach when I found you.”
From the corner of my eye I saw Mom’s teeth working on her bottom lip. “Fuck.”
I groaned and rubbed my head, the ghost of the terrible pain she’d caused making my temples throb. “Oh, yeah. I guess I kinda passed out after I ran into her last night. Ugh, she really is an evil-“
“Bitch?” my mom guessed. “Drea, you shouldn’t be out on your own with them around; it’s not safe. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”
I smiled and wrapped her in a hug. “I know, Mommy. I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful though, I promise.”
The tense air in my house was lifted when the bronze whirlwind that was Renesmee rushed into the kitchen. Her chocolate eyes were huge and she looked like a bubble about to burst. “Ohmygod, you’re all right. I’m so glad they found you. Now you have to hurry your butt up. We’ve got that fundraiser for cheer today and we have to be there like now!”
If I didn’t have super wolf hearing then there was no way that I would have understood a single word she said at her lightning fast speed. “Oh crap. I completely forgot about that!”
We were having a fundraiser on the beach for cheer. There was going to be a big talent showcase- including me and Ness-, lots of food, and of course a few cheer performances all afternoon and then some fireworks after the sun went down. Nessie and I had to be there early to help set up and then my parents were supposed to meet up later to help sell food and stuff. I glanced at my mom who gave me a slight nod before I ran up to shower and change. I knew that I hadn’t heard the last about being careful but at least it could wait until after the party.
It took forever to make the beach ready for our fundraiser. Tables set under popups housed the buffet, carnival games and a dunk tank were set up along the rockier portion First Beach and picnic tables were spread near the fallen bench-like trees. The huge stage definitely took the longest to get ready but it looked amazing when it was all set. All of La Push was invited to the extravaganza and as cheer co-captain I was really hoping that it would go well.
Nessie and I were kept busy from the moment people started arriving. I was making sure that the prize booths were still stalked with toys when Dylan came up to me. “Wow, this looks pretty great.”
“Thanks, Dyl. I’ve been so stressed with it all day.”
“Sorry but I think I might have to add to that stress a little.” I quirked one eyebrow and pursed my lips together. He coughed a little but continued. “About this whole imprint thing, it’s making it harder to be friends with Renesmee.”
I laughed. “It’s harder because you want to be more than friends. And honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was starting to feel the same. A bond like that can change you.”
“And if she doesn’t feel the same?”
I stopped and turned to look at him square on and grinned. “How can she not?”
Dylan smiled back and pulled me into a huge bear hug. “Thanks, Drea. You’re the best.”
I was still smiling an hour later when I went to meet with Nessie and the others for our performance. Then, because apparently the universe thought that I was too happy, Alec caught up with me. He grabbed my arm and yanked me to a stop but it was too crowded for anyone to really pay attention. “Hey, what’s with you?”
My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? Nothing’s up. Until about five seconds ago I was having a good time.”
“You’re being a bigger bitch than usual. I get why you don’t like me but you’re trying way too hard to stay away from me.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“Just talk to me!”
“Why? Why would you care if I was talking to you or not. Look, Alec, drop it? I’ve gotta be on stage for the cheer routine in like three minutes.”
“Just tell me why you’re avoiding me.”
“You’re the vampire trying to wipe out my family and hurt everyone that I love. Isn’t that enough?”
He shook his head and his red eyes were glowing with determination. “There’s something more to it than that. What aren’t you telling me?”
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and peeled my sweats from under my cheer skirt. “Ask your sister.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond. I ran up the stairs to where the rest of my team was already set and the music for our dance started. I tried to stay focused but that stupid vampire kept invading my thoughts. Stupid, I know. But why was he so desperate for my attention anyway?
There was a round of applause when we were done. Seriously, our squad was pretty kick ass. As most of the other girls headed back to join the crowd and facilitate our event Nessie stayed with me. She smiled slightly but she knew that something was up. I tried to reassure her that everything was fine and to get her to focus on our piece for the showcase. She and I were going to be doing a duet to (Freak the Freak Out) and I honestly just wanted it to be over so I could go lock myself in my room.