The Swan house had finally gone quiet. The baseball game had ended hours ago.
Billy and Harry had gone home.Charlie had retreated to his room.
Bella was somewhere downstairs pretending to do homework.
And Amara—
Amara was currently lying flat on her bed in the attic, staring dramatically at the ceiling. The ceiling, unfortunately, refused to provide answers.
A tragedy.
Her phone rested beside her. Silent. Suspiciously silent. Very suspiciously silent.
Amara grabbed it for the fifteenth time in the last twenty minutes. Still nothing. No message. No missed call. No reply.
She frowned.
Then opened her messages again. Still no reply from Lucien.
Amara narrowed her eyes.
Then she opened another conversation. Alice. Nothing. No reply. No call back. Not even a tiny text.
Amara immediately called her.
The phone rang. And rang. And rang. Then voicemail.
Amara stared at her phone."...Seriously?"
She immediately called Rosalie. The same thing happened. No answer. No call back.
Nothing. Amara slowly lowered the phone
.
Her expression became increasingly offended. "What is wrong with these vampires?"
She flopped backward dramatically.The mattress squeaked in protest.
Amara stared at the ceiling once again. "You know what? This is exactly what they do."
The ceiling remained silent. Clearly it agreed.
"In the Twilight movie they acted like this too."
She pointed accusingly at absolutely nobody.
"One day they're all best friends."
Point.
"Next day?"
Another point.
"Radio silence."
Point.
"No calls."
Point.
"No messages."
Point.
"No explanations."
Amara sat up abruptly. "And don't even get me started on New Moon."
She threw her pillow across the room.
"Edward leaves Bella."
Another pillow joined the first. "Fine."
A blanket followed. "But everyone else too?"
She pointed toward the window dramatically. "What were the rest of them doing?"
Silence.
"Did they lose their phones?" No answer.
"Did they suddenly forget Bella existed?" Nothing.
"If Edward told them not to contact her, are they all five years old?" The room remained unhelpful.
Amara crossed her arms. "They have free will."
Pause.
"Hopefully." Another pause.
"...Actually, Emmett might not." She snorted at her own joke. Then sighed. The irritation returned.
Honestly—
The thing annoying her wasn't even Lucien specifically. Okay. Maybe it was a little bit Lucien. But mostly it was the principle.
She had messaged him. Nothing.
She had called.Nothing.
Alice?Nothing.
Rosalie?Nothing.
It was rude. And Amara disliked rude. Especially when it was directed at her.
Suddenly she sat upright. A spark of determination appeared in her eyes. "No."
She pointed dramatically at herself. "I refuse."
She climbed off the bed in the most ridiculous position possible, one fist raised heroically toward the ceiling. Like a revolutionary preparing for battle. "I am not Bella Swan."
The room watched respectfully.
"If people don't call me, I won't sit around waiting." Amara nodded firmly.
"Absolutely not."
Another nod.
"I have human friends."
A third nod.
"Human friends answer their phones."
She gasped.
"My people actually like talking to me."
Immediately she grabbed her phone. And called Jessica. The phone rang once. Twice—
No.
Before the second ring even finished—
Jessica answered. "AMARA!"
Amara blinked.The sheer enthusiasm nearly blew her backward.
Jessica continued without breathing.
"What are you doing?"
"How was your day?"
"Did you finish your homework?"
"Do you know there's a new café downtown?"
"I want to go."
"Do you want to come?"
"Angela will come too.?"Amara asked.
"Maybe."
"Probably."
"Hopefully."
Jessica fired backed quickly.
Amara felt herself smiling despite everything. There it was. The complete opposite of vampire communication.
Jessica communication. Loud. Fast. Chaotic. Immediate .Wonderful.
"My day's been okay," Amara said with a laugh.
Jessica immediately launched into another story before Amara could finish.Within minutes they were chatting normally.
And somehow—
The bad mood she'd been carrying all evening began disappearing. By the end of the call she was laughing.
"Wait," Amara interrupted. "Is Angela coming right ?"
"I'll call her right now." Jessica sounded determined.
"Perfect."
"And I'll pick you up in an hour."
"An hour?"
"Be ready."
Amara scoffed. "Jessica, I'm always ready."
Both girls knew that was a complete lie. Neither acknowledged it.
"And I'll ask Bella if she wants to come."
"Okay!" Jessica laughed. "See you soon."
The call ended.
Amara stared at her phone. Then grinned triumphantly. "Hah." Take that. She had friends. Friends who answered. Friends who invited her places.nFriends who didn't disappear mysteriously every five business days.
She stood up proudly. "I don't need moody vampires."
Pause.
"...Mostly."She immediately ignored that thought.
Then headed downstairs. The attic stairs creaked beneath her feet as she descended to Bella's room.
She knocked once.
Then walked in without waiting.Bella was sitting on her bed. A pencil rested between her teeth. An open textbook sat in front of her.
Whether she was actually studying remained highly questionable.
Amara looked at her.
Bella looked at Amara.
The pencil remained in Bella's mouth.
Amara stared.
Bella stared back.
"...You look like a confused squirrel."
Bella removed the pencil. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Bella narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"
Amara smiled sweetly.The smile immediately made Bella suspicious. "Get ready."
Bella blinked. "For what?"
"Jessica's taking us to a café."
Bella looked horrified. "Today?"
"Yes."
Bella groaned. "Do I have to?"
Amara gasped dramatically."Bella."
Bella sighed."I'm tired."
"You've been sitting on your bed for three hours."
"I've been doing homework."
Amara looked at the untouched page. Then looked back at Bella. Neither spoke.
Bella sighed."Fine. Pretending to do homework."
"That's what I thought."
Bella flopped backward dramatically. "Can't we go another day?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I already said yes."
Bella groaned into her pillow. Amara crossed her arms.
"You need to socialize."
"I socialize."
"You socialize with Edward."
Bella opened her mouth. Then closed it.
Amara pointed triumphantly."Exactly."
Bella glared.
Amara smiled."You coming?"
A long pause.
Finally—
"Fine."
The answer sounded exhausted.Like Bella had already spent six hours walking uphill.
Amara looked delighted. "Excellent."
Bella pointed a finger at her. "I already regret this."
Amara ignored her.Then pointed toward Bella's wardrobe. "And wear something nice."
Bella looked offended."I always wear nice things."
Amara laughed so hard she nearly tripped over herself.Bella threw a pillow.
Amara dodged it.
"See you downstairs!"
"Bully!"
Amara was still laughing as she escaped the room.Heading back upstairs.
Now in a genuinely good mood. By the time she reached her attic room she was already planning outfits.
"Hmm..."She opened her wardrobe.
"What should I wear?" Her eyes immediately landed on a burgundy top she had recently bought.
Amara grinned. "Perfect."
She pulled it out. Holding it against herself. "Oh yeah."
That one.Definitely that one.Still humming happily, she began getting ready.
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