December 1st

It was starting to get chilly in Forks, meaning that Bella and Tatum had stopped their weekly hikes. Surprisingly, that meant that they just spent more time together...period. There was nothing else. She was just bored.

On her way to school, Tatum got a phone call.

"Hello?" she asks. 

"I messed up."

"Who is this?"

"You can't go to South Carolina for Christmas. Get out of Forks, just don't go to him."

"Who is this," she demands.

"My name is Alec. That's all you need to know about me," the male voice says frustratingly. "You won't be safe with the others. You need to get out of Forks, leave your family behind. They'll be fine."

Tatum had no idea what to do.

"How do I know you aren't just a creepy stalker?" she asks, parking her car in the school lot. 

"Because I know what type of meat your little boyfriend loves," the voice chuckles darkly. 

"How exactly do you know this?"

"It 'tis the one thing we have in common," Alec says, a rough sound from his voice. "Just listen to what I say. If you aren't gone by the upcoming Friday, there'll be consequences."

"Alright, fine. I'll get out of town," Tatum sighs out.

"Good. By the way," Alec says, taking a deep breath over the phone. He sounded pleasureful. "You look very lovely sitting in that car. I like the sweater too."

She gasps softly and looks quickly around her car. She searches dearly throughout the parking lot and something dark catches her eye. There was a pale boy, looking like he was in his early 20s, with dark hair and blood-red eyes.

"You caught me," The man she was watching said into the phone. "Now you see me. Listen to my words. Be careful. Not all of us are as heartless as you may think."

"What does that mean?"

"Just watch whom you trust, love," Alec says, sending her a small smile. It was seemingly a genuine smile. "We don't want you getting hurt."

"Sounds like you care," Tatum says softly. "Is that a first for you?"

"Haha, so funny, princess," Alec says before honestly thinking about it. "Dammit, I think it may be."

"Okay, Alec. School is about to start so unless you plan on attending, you might wanna leave."

"You better listen to my demand."

"Dominant much?" Tatum scoffs softly.

"Actually-"

Tatum hung up quickly and placed her phone in her backpack. She looks to where Alec was originally and found him to not be there. She sighs in relief and gets out of the car, locking it as she heads into the high school. 

"Tatum!"

"Fuck."

●○●

Tatum was sitting in the principal's office waiting for her dad to show up. Her hand was wrapped up with medical tape and she had a small cut on her cheekbone. The cut wasn't worrying so she ignored it. The school nurse had done the same. 

She could hear fast-paced footsteps jogging towards the door before they suddenly stop and a knock emits from the other side of the door. Tatum looks up at Mrs. Meyer and she sighs before giving the student a little nod of reassurance. Mrs. Meyer summons the person in and there they were.

Tatum was sitting next to her dad. Guilt and shame very evident in her eyes and tone. Henry Fernsby was listening and evaluating the situation. Mrs. Meyer was asking questions. The three sat there and just absorbed everything flying around the room.

Tatum had been called over by Keith Wendall and he had asked where Jasper was. She had told him it wasn't important. He had asked if she was single. She said for him to 'fuck off'. He had called her a slut for telling him that. He thought she deserved it. But, he quickly learned that he should've kept his mouth shut when he got a sudden punch to the nose. It didn't break anything, she wasn't that strong. However, it sure as hell bruised his ego. 

After moments, which felt like millenniums, Henry Fernsby sighs and looks between his daughter and the principal. He shrugs and leans back in his chair, folding his hands together in his lap. He observed the amount of shame his daughter felt. It was close to the amount he felt when his wife up and left. 

"As I see things here, my daughter did nothing wrong."

Tatum looks at her dad with shock and blinks a couple times, trying to make sure it was real.

"I agree, but unfortunately, we have a zero-tolerance policy," Mrs. Meyer says, folding her hands together. "Do you see my problem?"

"Of course I do. But that can easily be handled. My daughter gets suspended for three days for fighting. The other boy gets a week with in-school-suspension for harassment," Henry says simply, relaxing in the chair.

"Sounds fair. Thank you, Mr. Fernsby. Just a quick question, are you in law?" Mrs. Meyer asks, standing up and shaking his hand.

"No, I'm just really good at Deal or No Deal."

●○●