By now, I knew, of course, that Alice was an unstoppable force of nature. She had her own ways of getting everything thing she wanted and a bit more; all she had to do was put her mind to it.

What I hadn't noticed, was that Bella was a similar force. Only she didn't want so many things, so it wasn't so evident as with Alice. Or that, or she already had everything she wanted. I wondered idly when, in an argument, who of those two'd win.

"But Bella, it's getting late, honey…"

"I know. I don't care. He's my father; I'm going to see him today, whether you come or not, Edward!"

"Of course I'll go with you, love, but I don't think it's a very good idea…"

She ignored his last sentence, grabbed his arm, and started running through the forest, to the area where we'd been told not to go.

Rose rolled her eyes, and Alice laughed, as they ran after the couple, as if this were normal behaviour. Maybe it was, after all. Jasper looked a bit weary, and Emmett was trying to keep up with Edward and Bella, a look of enthusiasm etched on his face, as he tried to see the two of them while they argued.

"Chelle, Mandy… are you four coming or what?" Alice asked, looking over her shoulder. "We have to arrive there together, so as not raise suspicion. C'mon!," she added, impatiently.

We started running through the trees after the Cullens, wondering what on earth we were going to say to Bella's father. He obviously knew the entire Cullen family, after all, he, too, was part of that family; but he wouldn't recognize us, and would probably think it odd for us to have come all the way from Little Rock with his daughter's family for the day.

***

In no time at all, the houses of the little town started popping up. I didn't notice Alice slip away till everybody else stopped, at the forest's fringes, and just stood there, looking at the city, talking in low voices, impossible for human ears to listen. A few moments later, a sleek black Mercedes appeared, and stopped in front of us. We all squeezed in, and Alice sped forward.

I was sure she was way above the speed limit, but I didn't check; that attitude was normal for the Cullens, and I just didn't pay attention to it anymore. It was routine. They'd never been caught, so it wasn't a problem.

So I was shocked to see the police car next to us, when Alice stopped. I hadn't been paying attention, so I hadn't seen if it had followed us or not. I'd been too busy thinking about Bella's father's reaction. I was even more shocked when not only Alice, but all the others filed out of the car, Bella looking like a child who'd been told Christmas had come early this year. I climbed out after Rosalie, looking around curiously. There was no policeman there, just the car, parked on the curb of a little nice-looking house.

How very weird, I thought. It was only then that I noticed the house where my new family was heading to. And I remembered. And I wanted to shoot myself, even though I knew, of course, that it would be utterly useless. Still, the desire was intense.

Of course; Bella's father was the chief of police of Forks. Feeling extremely stupid, I followed a chattery Bella, a bemused Edward, a complacent Rosalie, an extremely excited Alice, and a bored Emmett, play of Jasper's abilities, who'd gotten so bored, he'd decided to spread the feeling. Bringing up the rear, came me, Chelle and our boyfriends, weary, not entirely sure we belonged.

"Bella!" I heard an unknown human voice shout

"Hey, Charlie. I hope we aren't disturbing you," Alice said. "But we were passing by, and Bella refused to leave without seeing you."

Charlie's smile when he heard Alice's words was blinding.

"Well then, come on in, you guys!" he said, stepping aside, to let us all in, and the Cullens filed in the little small house. At the door, I hesitated; Chelle behind me, and the boys bringing up the rear.

Bella noticed we hadn't followed them in, and turned to us, smiling. "Charlie, these are our new friends, Mandy, Chelle, and their boyfriends."

Charlie turned to us, still smiling, and shook our hands warmly, insisting we went in to have something to eat with him and the Cullens.

"So, how long will be staying in town?" Charlie asked Bella eagerly.

Bella's expression turned pained. " We were just passing by, dad," she whispered. "We're going to visit our friends in Alaska. We shouldn't even have stopped here, but I couldn't pass by without seeing you."

Charlie nodded, his face slightly glum. "Okay, then. Well, make yourselves comfortable," he said, indicating the living room. "I'll be back in a second."

We all heard him shuffle off towards the kitchen, and soon after, he emmerged again, this time with a tray with some biscuits and some water. He placed the tray on the little table in the middle of the room, and sat down next to me - the only place left.

Jasper was standing behind my chair, and Charlie sat very close to him. I heard Jasper stop breathing, and felt his body become rigid. Frightened, I looked at Edward. He was staring at Jasper, too, a wary look on his face.

When Charlie leaned to get a cookie, Edward must have read something more definite in Jasper's thoughts, for he got up quickly and walked over to Jasper's side.

"Charlie, really, it's not at all necessary. We really have to get going. We want to get to Canada before it's too dark. I think we'd better get going. Bella, we'll wait for you outside, okay?" he asked. As he spoke, I saw his hand tightening on Jasper's shoulder, restraining him.

Charlie looked up at Edward, confused. "But... you only just arrived. Surely you can pass a night here in Forks?"

Edward shook his head. "Sorry, but we can't, Charlie."

I wasn't paying attention to their conversation anymore; when Charlie had turned to look at Edward, he had leaned over me a bit, and his neck was less than five centimeters away from my mouth. I could hear the hot, pulsing noise of his blood, I could smell the sweet taste, I could see the rhythm of his pulse, behind the fragile protection of his skin... it wouldn't be at all difficult to just reach forward and bite down on that deliciously close neck... as I leaned forward, towards Charlie, Edward's other hand banged down audibly on my shoulder. It hurt a bit, but I didn't pay attention. That blood was so close to me; so hot, so tasty... I inhaled deeply, trying to free my should from Edward's restraining hand so I could reach Charlie. Charlie said something, and his pulse quickened. I was almost salivating already. Edward answered him, and let go of my shoulder. I sighed, happy, and leaned in to him.

Suddenly, I felt Chelle's arms around me, and Charlie had gotten up. I blinked, surprised, and saw the Cullens filing out of the house, back in to the road. "Come on, Mandy," Chelle whispered in my ear, shaking me slightly. "Let's go outside. We're going home now."

I nodded, still a bit dazed by the overwhelming smell, and followed my friends out, leaving Bella and Charlie alone a bit. I sighed, and turned to Edward. "Edward... I'm sorry. I was reckless; I shouldn't have sat down so close to him..."

Edward smiled at me gently, and shook his head. "Don't worry, Mandy. No harm was done. And you have a very good self-restrain, I might add."

I smiled back at him, as Bella came out of the house.

"Let's go," she mumbled, and we all ran back home, none of us looking back to the little house.

***

A.N: Oh, God... guys, I'm sooooo sorry!

I swear I had no intentions of taking this long to update! It's just lately, so much has changed, in so little time... I have other fanfics, that are also stopped, some on the first page still; not even here yet! x)

School, tests, parties, trips... and now my mom came down with cancer... what with all that, I haven't really had much time for this story, or for anysomething after so much time with nothing at all... ;D story, really, so please forgive the minuscle size... I was going to stretch things with Charlie out a bit more, but since this was already ready, I decided I'd give you this now, after all, you deserve

chocoholic4eva: naw, draining Charlie would be unfair ;)

Okay... I don't know when the next chapter will come out, I don't even know the name yet... but it will come, I promise! =D

Till then!

Mandy ;*