The moment Mame disappeared into the school building, the quiet space around the Cullen cars changed.
Rosalie Hale was the first to speak.
Her voice was low.
"What did you do?"
Emmett Cullen crossed his arms, already grinning in that way that suggested he was enjoying this far more than he should.
"Yeah," he added. "Because that guy looked like he was about three seconds away from swinging a bat."
Alice Cullen watched the school doors thoughtfully.
"He's not normally like that."
Jasper Hale spoke quietly.
"No," he said. "He isn't."
All eyes turned toward Edward Cullen.
Edward stood perfectly still for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"…I'll explain at home."
Rosalie narrowed her eyes.
"You better."
Edward didn't answer.
He simply turned toward the school.
The rest of the Cullens followed.
The school day passed quietly.
Classes.
Lectures.
Rain tapping against windows.
To most of the students at Forks High School, nothing unusual happened.
Teachers taught.
Students complained.
Forks remained Forks.
But the Cullen family noticed something immediately.
Mame Swan was watching Edward.
Not constantly.
Not openly.
But every time Edward looked in Bella's direction…
Mame was already looking back.
And there was nothing polite about the expression on his face.
It wasn't rage exactly.
It was worse.
Controlled anger.
The kind that didn't explode.
The kind that waited.
Most students didn't notice.
They just saw a quiet boy who seemed irritated about something.
But the Cullens noticed.
Especially at lunch.
The cafeteria buzzed with its usual midday noise.
Trays clattered.
Students talked over each other.
Rain streaked the windows in long gray lines.
Mame sat beside Bella at their usual table.
He looked calm.
Relaxed.
Even joking occasionally with Angela.
But every time Edward glanced in their direction…
Mame's eyes lifted slowly.
And the message in that look was unmistakable.
Emmett leaned back slightly in his chair at the Cullen table.
"…Oh yeah," he murmured.
Rosalie followed his gaze.
Mame had just noticed Edward looking again.
The stare he returned was cold.
Sharp.
Protective.
Like a guard dog watching a stranger too close to the fence.
Rosalie huffed softly.
"Well," she said.
"At least someone's protective."
Jasper watched quietly.
"He's not angry because of school."
Alice nodded slightly.
"No."
Her voice was thoughtful.
"Something happened."
Edward didn't respond.
He just stared down at his untouched tray.
Across the room, Bella leaned toward Mame.
"Okay," she whispered.
"You're definitely mad."
"I'm not mad."
"You're doing the thing."
Mame blinked.
"What thing?"
"The silent staring thing."
Mame looked at her innocently.
"I don't know what you mean."
Bella sighed.
"You're terrible at pretending."
Angela laughed softly beside them.
Meanwhile, across the cafeteria, Emmett shook his head.
"Man," he said quietly.
"That guy really looks like he wants to kill you."
Edward sighed again.
"…Yes."
Jasper folded his arms.
"What did you do?"
Edward stood up.
"I'll explain tonight."
Rosalie crossed her arms again.
"You said that this morning."
Edward glanced once more across the room.
Mame was still watching.
Still calm.
Still waiting.
"…And I will," Edward said quietly.
Because one thing had become very clear.
Mame Swan wasn't going to let this go.
The final bell rang.
Students poured out of classrooms and into the hallways of Forks High School like a released tide. Lockers slammed shut, conversations overlapped, and the usual rush toward freedom filled the building.
Mame stepped into the hallway and immediately looked toward the front entrance.
The Cullen family usually moved together after school.
Not today.
The parking lot was nearly empty where their cars had been.
Gone.
All of them.
Except two.
Alice Cullen and Jasper Hale stood near the entrance, waiting.
Mame walked over.
Alice smiled the moment she saw him.
"Hey, Bean Swan."
Mame sighed.
"You are really committed to that nickname."
"Absolutely."
Jasper gave a small nod of greeting.
Mame glanced around the parking lot.
"So where's the rest of the Cullen circus?"
Alice tilted her head slightly.
"They went ahead."
"Uh-huh."
Mame folded his arms.
"And Edward?"
Alice held his gaze for a moment.
"He's home."
Mame nodded slowly.
"Good."
Alice clapped her hands lightly once.
"We'll come pick you up later."
Mame blinked.
"Later?"
"After dinner," she said easily. "You can come over then."
Jasper nodded slightly.
"We'll bring the car."
Mame shrugged.
"Alright."
Behind him, Bella walked out of the school and spotted them.
She approached with her bag slung over her shoulder.
"You ready to go?"
Mame nodded.
"Yeah."
She glanced between him, Alice, and Jasper.
"You have plans?"
Mame gestured casually toward Alice.
"Art project."
Bella blinked.
"At their house?"
"Yep."
Bella looked briefly surprised.
The Cullens didn't invite people over.
That much was common knowledge at school.
But she didn't say it out loud.
"…Okay," she said slowly.
Alice waved cheerfully.
"See you tonight, Bean Swan!"
Mame groaned quietly as he followed Bella to the truck.
The drive home was quiet.
Bella glanced at him once while they stopped at a light.
"You're going to the Cullen house."
"Yep."
"For art."
"Yep."
Bella nodded slowly.
"That's… interesting."
Mame looked out the window.
"They want to work on the joint painting."
Bella didn't push further.
But the curiosity was obvious.
When they got home, Charlie was already in the kitchen.
He looked up as they walked in.
"School good?"
Bella dropped her bag near the stairs.
"Normal."
Charlie looked at Mame.
"And you?"
"Same."
Mame grabbed a glass of water.
"Oh," he added casually, "I'm heading over to the Cullens' house later."
Charlie raised an eyebrow.
"The Cullens?"
"Art project."
Charlie leaned back slightly.
"Huh."
Bella watched quietly from the table.
Charlie shrugged after a moment.
"Alright."
He took another sip of coffee.
"Just don't stay out too late."
"I won't."
Charlie nodded.
"Good."
For him, it meant something simple.
Mame would be out of the house for a few hours.
Which meant fewer teenagers under his roof.
Which meant a quiet evening.
And, most importantly…
More time for Mame to train later without anyone questioning it.
Mame finished his water and headed upstairs.
Tonight wasn't about painting.
Tonight was about answers.
The Cullen house was quiet when they returned.
The large windows looked out across the endless forest surrounding their home, evening light filtering through the trees in pale gray streaks. Inside, the living room felt calm—orderly, peaceful in the way only a house that never truly slept could be.
But the moment the door closed behind them, the calm shifted.
Rosalie Hale turned toward Edward Cullen immediately.
"Alright."
Her arms crossed.
"Explain."
Emmett Cullen dropped into one of the chairs nearby, grinning.
"Yeah, man. Because that guy looked like he wanted to remove your spine."
Alice Cullen and Jasper Hale stood near the windows, watching Edward quietly.
Edward remained standing in the middle of the room.
For a moment he didn't answer.
Then he sighed.
"…I may have been visiting Bella's house."
Rosalie's expression hardened.
"At night?"
Edward nodded.
"Yes."
Emmett leaned forward immediately.
"Oh this is good."
Rosalie didn't share the amusement.
"You were sneaking into her house?"
"I never entered the house," Edward said calmly. "I stayed outside."
Jasper raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Outside her window."
Edward nodded once.
"Yes."
Alice blinked.
"Oh."
Rosalie looked like she might throw something.
"And you're surprised someone's angry about that?"
Edward rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"I wasn't trying to cause trouble."
Emmett burst out laughing.
"You were literally standing outside a girl's bedroom window in the middle of the night."
Edward didn't react.
"I wanted to observe her," he said simply.
Jasper's eyes flicked upward.
"And Mame?"
Edward exhaled slowly.
"He saw me."
The room went still.
Alice tilted her head slightly.
"Are you sure?"
Edward nodded.
"I believe he woke up."
Rosalie looked annoyed again.
"Of course he did."
Edward continued.
"He saw me standing near the house."
Alice's expression shifted slightly.
"And?"
Edward glanced toward the forest outside.
"He came downstairs."
Emmett grinned wider.
"Oh I would have paid money to see that."
Edward ignored him.
"I left before he came outside."
Rosalie sighed.
"So he didn't actually confront you."
"No."
Edward looked back toward the others.
"But he was certain it was me."
Alice nodded slowly.
"That explains a lot."
Jasper folded his arms.
"He's protective."
Rosalie scoffed lightly.
"He's territorial."
Emmett laughed again.
"Honestly I respect it."
Edward looked toward the door thoughtfully.
"He believes I was watching Bella."
Alice raised an eyebrow.
"…You were."
Edward didn't argue.
"That's why he's angry."
Jasper nodded slightly.
"That explains the look at lunch."
Rosalie glanced toward the forest again.
"Well," she said flatly.
"You deserve it."
Emmett leaned back in his chair.
"Yep."
Alice smiled faintly.
"You're going to have to explain that tonight."
Edward nodded.
"Yes."
Because in a few hours, Mame Swan would be standing in this house.
And Edward had the distinct feeling that the conversation waiting for him would not be simple.
The conversation didn't stay contained to the younger Cullens for long.
Footsteps approached from the hallway, calm and measured.
Carlisle Cullen stepped into the living room first, his expression thoughtful but serious. A moment later Esme Cullen followed beside him.
They had clearly heard enough already.
Carlisle looked at Edward.
"…You were standing outside Bella Swan's house at night."
Edward didn't try to deny it.
"Yes."
Esme sighed softly, disappointment more than anger in her voice.
"Edward."
Carlisle folded his hands calmly.
"That was unwise."
Rosalie snorted quietly from the couch.
"That's one way to put it."
Carlisle continued, his voice even.
"You placed yourself directly in the path of two humans who live in that house."
Edward nodded once.
"I know."
Esme crossed her arms lightly.
"And now one of them is angry enough that he came to confront you."
Emmett chuckled.
"With a bat."
Jasper nodded faintly.
"He was ready."
Carlisle looked toward the window briefly, considering the forest beyond the house.
"What exactly did Mame see?"
Edward answered immediately.
"He saw me standing in the yard."
"Nothing else?"
Edward shook his head.
"He came downstairs before I could move closer."
Esme's expression softened slightly.
"So he didn't see you move."
"No."
Carlisle nodded slowly.
"Good."
Rosalie raised an eyebrow.
"You're calling this good?"
Carlisle looked back at her calmly.
"It could have been worse."
Alice leaned against the wall.
"He's observant."
Jasper agreed quietly.
"Very."
Carlisle turned his attention back to Edward.
"You need to be certain of something."
Edward met his gaze.
"Yes."
"That he saw only what you described," Carlisle said. "Nothing more."
Esme added gently,
"If he becomes suspicious about what we are…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
Everyone in the room understood the implication.
Emmett leaned back in his chair again.
"Well the good news is," he said casually, "he thinks we're werewolves."
Rosalie rolled her eyes.
"That ridiculous theory again."
Alice laughed softly.
"It's creative."
Carlisle allowed a faint smile.
"Unusual… but not dangerous."
Jasper nodded.
"It means he's looking in the wrong direction."
Edward stayed quiet for a moment.
Then he spoke again.
"He's coming here tonight."
The room went still again.
Esme blinked.
"Here?"
Alice nodded cheerfully.
"We invited him."
Carlisle considered that for a moment.
"…Then we should make sure tonight goes smoothly."
Rosalie looked skeptical.
"That depends on Edward."
Emmett grinned.
"Oh this is going to be fun."
Edward didn't share the amusement.
Because he knew something the others didn't.
Mame Swan wasn't just angry.
He was asking questions.
And the kind of person who noticed details the way Mame did…
The room settled into a quieter tension after Carlisle finished speaking.
Everyone understood what tonight meant.
Mame Swan was coming to their house.
A human.
One who was observant.
Protective.
And currently very angry with Edward.
For a moment no one said anything.
Then Esme Cullen clapped her hands lightly.
"Well," she said warmly, "if we're having a guest, we should treat him properly."
Rosalie blinked.
"Esme—"
"I'll cook."
Emmett burst out laughing.
"Oh this is great."
Alice grinned immediately.
"Yes!"
Jasper tilted his head slightly.
"You're making dinner?"
Esme smiled like the decision had already been made.
"Of course."
Carlisle chuckled quietly.
"We haven't had a reason to use the kitchen like that in quite some time."
Esme had already started toward the kitchen.
"Well we do now."
She opened the refrigerator and began pulling out ingredients with practiced ease.
Vegetables.
Meat.
Bread.
Rosalie leaned against the doorway watching.
"You're making a feast for one human teenager."
Esme glanced back with a gentle smile.
"Hospitality matters."
Emmett followed her into the kitchen and peeked over the counter.
"…Okay but how big of a feast are we talking?"
Esme paused.
Then started setting things on the counter.
A lot of things.
Alice laughed.
"Oh wow."
Carlisle stepped beside the island, watching with mild amusement.
"Esme," he said gently, "you may be overestimating how much one teenage boy eats."
Emmett shook his head immediately.
"No no, Carlisle."
He pointed toward the counter.
"That guy eats."
Alice nodded.
"He does."
Jasper leaned against the doorway.
"I've seen it."
Esme smiled.
"Then I suppose this will be perfect."
She began cooking.
The kitchen quickly filled with motion.
Pans heating.
Vegetables being chopped.
Bread warming in the oven.
Emmett leaned on the counter watching like it was a show.
"You know," he said, "this is the most action this kitchen has seen in decades."
Rosalie sighed but stayed nearby anyway.
Alice leaned against the fridge.
"This is going to be interesting."
Carlisle watched the preparations calmly.
"If nothing else," he said, "it will help keep things… normal."
Edward stood near the large windows looking out at the forest.
He remained quiet while the others talked.
The smell of cooking filled the house.
Warm.
Comforting.
Almost human.
Behind him, Alice spoke again.
"Don't worry, Edward."
He glanced back.
She smiled.
"It's just dinner."
Edward exhaled slowly.
"Yes."
Just dinner.
And a conversation that might decide how much Mame Swan really knew.