Chapter 8 Closure

The bonfires burned across the beach casting everything in an eerie glow. Edward came around the side of the car and opened my door for me, escorting me to the party. “If you start to have any trouble around the humans we’re leaving.” he murmured. “It won’t do to eat Charlie,” he said trying to lighten the mood.

“Aww, Edward,” I sighed dramatically going along with his teasing because it was easier than brooding over the high cost of war, “but he's a delicacy." I poked him playfully in the chest. Anything to distract me from Embry and Demetri. "Why do you always have to ruin all my fun?” I asked stifling a giggle.

He stopped walking. “Really, Bella. It’s too soon.”

“I was okay on the plane. I swear I did not drink one single drop of human blood the whole time I was crammed in that tiny hunk of metal.” The trip from New Hampshire to Washington had been a little bit of hell, but I had managed. Mostly thanks to Jasper's lovely power.

“Bella! Edward!” Seth sauntered toward us a huge grin plastered across his face. “I didn’t think you’d make it.” I was surprised to see such happiness radiating from him. I was still feeling sick over Embry and surly he’d been fairly close to him, but he showed no outright signs of grieving. I almost asked him about it, but then decided I didn’t really want to bring it up. Especially if this was just his way of dealing with things, so I played along and threw on my best happy face. He looked at me curiously. “So he vamped you, huh? What’s it like?”

“Way better than being a werewolf,” I snickered.

“Hey,” he scoffed. “Well maybe if you guys stay away from here we can go back to normal.”

“You’d die of boredom and Quil…what would he do? Jacob told me he’s quite enamored with his wolfish form.”

He slapped me playfully in the arm. “You’re in for some interesting news tonight, I think.”

I waited for him to elaborate. “It’s not mine to tell. Have you talked to Charlie recently?”

“Yeah, through letters and sometimes on the phone, but he’s not a big phone person. Why?”