fifteen, shopping
twilight

It was one of those Forks afternoons where everything felt simultaneously gloomy and depressing. The group had decided on a trip to the local boutique for some dress shopping — for prom of course — and as always, the twins were happy (ish) to tag along.

Inside the bustling dress shop, Jessica was in full wedding-planner mode. Even though it wasn't a wedding, she was excitedly holding up various gowns and insisting, 'this one's perfect for prom!' or 'this would match their outfits!'

Bella and Angela exchanged glances as they tried on dresses, while the store buzzed with laughter and chatter. It was oddly busy for a Monday evening, but no one was complaining.

Clover and Juno accompanied the group, but their attitudes couldn't have been more different.

Juno rolled her eyes dramatically at every frilly, lace dress that was shoved her way.

"Seriously, why are we wasting our time with this?" she quipped at one point, her sarcasm echoing in the lively room. She had dresses at home, some that would be just fine for prom. Her sister had dragged her along, promising they could hit up the book store and local evening farmers market afterwards.

Clover, meanwhile, drifted around with a smile, her eyes darting from the vibrant fabrics to the subtle details — a slight blush in Angela's face when Erik was mentioned, or the way Bella's smile faltered whenever a wash of red appeared in a dress.

She couldn't figured out why Bella was so against the red, but she she wondered if it had something to do with her date to prom. Edward, who had mustered up enough courage to ask.

As the hours passed in a whirlwind of fabric, fitting rooms, and playful banter, Clover's mind kept returning to an unexplained past few days when she wasn't trying on dresses. Her father's secrets and Paul's dismissive attitude and avoidance with their tutoring sessions.

Finally, when Jessica and Angela had purchased their dresses and arranged to pick them up later on, the group decided to take a break and left the boutique behind. Their chatter giving way to the quieter atmosphere of the small local bookstore. The cool, yet dusty air inside was an interesting contrast to the vibrant energy of the dress shop.

Without missing a beat, Juno darted straight to the horror, and mystery sections. She rummaged through the aisles with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She was a hardcore sucker for a good murder mystery, or a good book about an aspiring detective who goes undercover and falls in love with the bloody mafia man.

Clovers fingers brushed over the worn spines until one small volume caught her attention: a thin book about Quileute Legends and ancient prophecies. It was placed in the fiction isle, but the books around seemed so different. Vampires, wolves, aliens, underwater creatures.

Just as Clover began to flip through the pages of the book, Bella gently tapped her shoulder. "Clover,"

"Hm?" Clover looked away, snapping the book shut and looking towards her cousin with a smile. "Yeah, Bella?"

"I was asking if you wanted to go grab dinner? The other girls aren't hungry and Angela offered to drive Juno home." Bella looked ashamed, like asking if her cousin wanted to go grab dinner was such a burden.

Clovers eyes softened, feeling bad that she had accidentally ignored her cousin. "I'd love too,"

The two left, walking down the darkened sidewalks towards the little restaurant a block away.

"Saw you in the coffee shop." A man slurred, making it known to the two that he was heavily under the influence, and by the way he wobbled.

"Hey, where you running to?" The other yelled out as Clover and Bella continued to walk away from them. They looped arms, keeping each other as close as they could.

Clover made the mistake of looking over her shoulder, seeing the three drunk men coming her way, grinning way too creepily for her and Bella's liking. Sending small shivers down their skin.

Clover tried to walk away but one of them grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her towards them, her arm slipping from Bella's. "Where are you going?"

Clover continued to shove them away, her book dropping to the pavement, her heart beat getting faster as she worried about herself and about Bella.

"Come get a drink with us." They insisted, words slurred and eyes narrowed on any spot of skin they could see.

The male Bella bumped into grabbed her arm and pulled her close, which caused Clover to yell for her. If Charlie found out what happened ... goodness.

"I don't think they like that." One guy who was wearing a baseball cap realised, when he saw the two girls try and push the men away. He didn't say it in a way to make the others stop, but for them to keep going in making the girls uncomfortable.

"You're pretty." One of them played with a stand of curly hair on Clovers head, and Clover slapped his hand away with a scowl.

"Don't touch me." She snarled, trying to push them away from her as they continued to lightly push her and Bella around between the group, trying to get them to have a drink and play with them.

Her mind was starting to think of horrible outcomes if she stayed and just gave up, or the outcome of if she continued to fight back. What would happen to her, what would happen to Bella.

"Do not touch me!" Bella exclaimed, finally snapping and accidentally pushing one of the guys with her hand, causing him to groan out in pain. It probably didn't hurt, but he was drunk and dramatic.

"Bitch, punched me!" He yelled out furiously, his eyes seemingly darkening as he took another step towards Bella.

The sound of tires screeching came into hearing, causing the group of guys to halter as they turned to look at what was going on. Who was driving so quickly and towards them.

A grey volvo come drifting in towards them and Clover used that moment of hesitation to scramble away from them, pulling Bella along with her.

The car stopped only a few mere inches before it hit the group of guys, who had each gasped and yelled out as they tried to take a few steps back so the car didn't hit them.

Edward got out of his seat, leaving the door wide. "Get in the car." He simply ordered the two girls, never taking his eyes off of the group of men. He stood, shoulders squared. Clover didn't hesitate in picking up her book and pushing Bella towards the front seat, swinging the back door open and climbing in.

Edward turned back and got into the car, his eyes filled with rage and was not exactly thinking straight as he put the car into drive. He moved the car forward, and towards the guys, making them all stumble backwards, one even landing on his ass.

He put the car into reverse and turned the car around and towards busying streets. Clover turned over her shoulder, seeing the group of guys running away as she gripped onto the door handle as Edward manoeuvred the car around oncoming traffic and swerved slightly.

"I'm not sure how much my uncle or dad would like it if you got us into a car accident, Edward."