When Monday rolled around, Maya was once again seated in the front of Jasper's pick-up as they headed to school.
"Are you ever going to stop sulking?" Jasper asked, taking his eyes off the road to look over at her. He smiled at the sight. She had her shoes kicked off and was curled up on the seat leaning against the window with an adorable pout on her face.
"How am I supposed to do that? First Victoria gets away from us. Then you tell me we have to spend our time studying because we have a math test today. And to top it all off, the test is first thing!"
Jasper laughed at her dramatics as he pulled into the parking lot and parked. "I suppose that would make it hard to stop sulking. In fact, there is probably nothing I could possibly do that could make it better." He faced her as he said this and slid an arm around her, pulling her onto his lap. He brought a hand up to tilt her chin so that she was looking at him.
Maya smiled at that. "Now, don't go selling yourself short Cowboy. I can think of plenty of things that would make me feel better."
"Oh yeah? And what might they be?" he murmured as he leaned down to brush his lips across hers.
"Well you could kiss me" Maya replied just as quietly before pulling him forward to connect their lips.
He smiled into the kiss, pulling her closer as he did and deepening it. They both sank into the kiss, enjoying the moment where the only thing that mattered was each other.
It didn't last long though as Emmet got bored and knocked on the car window causing them both to jump and move apart.
Reluctantly they both got out of the car as Emmet teased them. Exiting just in time to see Jacob pull up on his bike.
"Oh this is going to be good." Maya said, rolling her eyes in exasperation as she watched Edward and Bella make their way over to him.
"Let's just head to class" Rosalie suggested, wanting to be far away from the inevitable drama.
Emmet sent her a pout. "Aw don't you want to stay and watch the show Babe? Maybe this time they'll actually throw some punches!"
"Please Emmet" Jasper cut in, "even Edward isn't stupid enough to start a fight in public like this."
"With the way he's been acting, don't count on it" Rosalie practically snarled before turning to march towards the school.
Maya giggled at her comment as Jasper wrapped an arm around her waist and began to lead her towards the school.
Alice walked along behind them, glancing over her shoulder as she did. "Come on guys. Don't you think you're being just a little too hard on Edward?"
The other members of their family might be in the process of accepting that the brother/son they loved was disappearing right before their eyes, but she still held out hope that he would realize what he was doing and change. That she would get her brother back from the selfish jerk he had turned into.
"Not really. This whole love triangle mess would be solved if Bella would just pick one or if Edward told her to make a decision. But neither of them will do that, which means that we are all left to suffer along with them" Maya told Alice as she shot her a look that said 'kill me now'.
Alice rolled her eyes. "Edward can't just tell Bella to make a decision."
Jasper gave a scoff of disbelief. "Sure he can. That girl is so desperate for immortality and obsessed with him that he could tell her to do pretty much anything and she would do it."
Alice opened her mouth the defend Bella, but closed it again, knowing that what Jasper had said was true.
The group carried on in silence and had just reached their first class when Edward caught up to them.
"Maya you have to go to the reservation. Now." Edward told her the moment he got close to them.
"Why is someone hurt?" Maya felt fear rush through her at the thought of one of her friends being hurt, images of Victoria getting her hands on them going through her head.
"No. Bella went there with Jacob and I need you to follow them to make sure that the wolves don't hurt her." Edward grabbed her hand and tried to drag her towards the door.
Maya yanked her hand away and sent him a glare, annoyance replacing her fear. "No. If Bella wants to hang out on the Res that's her choice. I'm not missing school to babysit her."
"Don't you care at all about her safety?" Edward growled out. He went to grab Maya again, but Jasper stepped between them. At the sight of Jasper's glare and the thoughts running through his head about what he would do if Edward tried to grab her again, Edward reluctantly backed down.
"Look Edward, unless you can give me a good reason why she would be in danger while hanging out with the wolves, I'm not getting in the middle of your relationship slash love triangle drama." Then, before Edward could get another word in, she turned and headed into class, Jasper and Alice following after her. All of a sudden having a math test first period didn't sound so bad to Maya.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the morning's drama, school proceeded normally. The only difference being that Edward sat with them at lunch as Bella was not there and spent the whole time glaring at Maya silently.
When school was done, they all headed back to the Cullen's house. Maya going with them as Esme had promised to teach her how to make a pie today if she actually studied for her test. While she could cook most meals, dessert was a little beyond her abilities. Whenever she attempted anything besides simple cakes or cookies, she failed miserably. Everything was either burnt or under-cooked.
As they pulled up to the house, Maya was quick to hop out of Jasper's truck and run towards the house, eager to get started. Everyone else followed behind her at a more reasonable pace, Emmet teasing Jasper about how Esme really was going to steal Maya away at this rate.
When Carlisle arrived home a few hours later, it was to find a very excited Maya jumping around the kitchen as Esme pulled their completed mixed berry pie out of the oven. Shaking his head fondly at the girl, he made his way over to the kitchen to give Esme a kiss. Greeting his children scattered about the living room as he did.
"Where's Edward?" He asked, noticing his absence.
Rosalie rolled her eyes. "He's over at Bella's house waiting for her to return so he can make sure none of the mutts mauled her."
"The wolves? What was she doing with them?"
"She skipped school to hang out with them" Emmet told him, proceeding to fill him in on the drama he missed.
Just as he finished, Jasper's phone rang. He picked it up and before he could even say a word, Edward began to speak.
"Someone was in Bella's house. I need you and Emmet to track the scent and see if you can find them."
Everyone froze at the news, but before they could snap out of it to ask Edward for anymore details he hung up.
As Jasper and Emmet headed for the door Maya followed behind them. "I'm coming with you. I have to make sure my dad is okay."
"No, Darlin' you stay here alright? Bella and Edward will probably be here in a minute to plan our next move. I will check on your dad and give you call if he's hurt."
"Fine" Maya agreed reluctantly. "But you promise me you will call if anything is wrong right?"
"I will" he promised, giving her a kiss on the head before speeding off after Emmet.
Not even five minutes later, just as Jasper predicted, Edward and Bella showed up to discuss what their next move should be.
"Who was it? Someone we know?" Carlisle hoped it might have just been a friend and not more trouble.
"A stranger. I didn't recognize his scent." Edward crushed that idea, worried about Bella and what the stranger wanted. Maya growled quietly at the thought of a strange vampire being anywhere near her father.
"A nomad passing through?" Esme suggested.
"A passerby wouldn't have left their father alive" Rosalie rejected, sending an apologetic look towards Maya. She didn't want to upset the girl any more than she already was, but it had to be said.
"Maya, could it have been a member of the Volturi? Someone checking in on you for the kings?" Carlisle hoped this was the case. While it would cause problems for them with Bella still being human, it was better than a stranger with an unknown purpose.
Maya shook her head. "While I can't be sure without smelling the scent myself, I doubt it. The few times they came to visit in the past they always called ahead. Not to mention when they did, they always sent my sister or brothers. And Edward knows all their scents."
They all let out sighs or groans at that, upset that there would apparently be no simple answer to what this stranger wanted.
Jasper and Emmet returned then, Jasper informing them that "the scent disappeared about five miles south of the house." He moved to join Maya, who was leaning against the wall, too agitated to sit and Emmet moved to stand behind Rosalie.
"Someone's orchestrating this" Carlisle sighed.
"Victoria?" Bella asked.
"I would have seen her decide" Alice claimed shaking her head.
"It has to be the Volturi" Edward declared.
Maya rolled her eyes at this. Had she not just told them that they weren't behind this?
"I don't think it's the Volturi either" Alice looked up at him, "I've been watching Aro's decisions too."
"You shouldn't be watching Uncle Aro's decisions" Maya said. Though she knew they weren't behind it, she figured telling them more about how the Volturi worked couldn't hurt. Alice being able to give her a heads up when her family decided to surprise her with a visit could only be a good thing given she was sure many of them still hadn't accepted Jasper. The last thing she wanted was one of them getting it into their heads that they needed to have a chat with him and coming here. It was bad enough that they were still warning her about him during every conversation they had with her. She didn't need them physically here and trying to interfere with her love life.
"Why? Upset she might see something that proves he's a monster?" Edward spat.
Maya shot him a glare before focusing back on Alice. "Aro may be the figurehead of the Volturi but when it comes to matters like this, where there will likely be fighting, Uncle Caius is the one in charge. He may not have an actual gift for it but he is an amazing warrior and very skilled when it comes to strategy. If the Volturi are going to make their move against anyone or plan an attack, Uncle Caius will be the one running point."
"That actually makes a lot of sense" Carlisle mused. "When I lived with them, he was the most involved with the guard and had final say on all the castle's defences."
Alice nodded in acceptance before zoning out to shift through her visions. They all waited for a moment until she focused back on them and shook her head. "I don't see him making any decisions regarding anything to do with us. Well, besides sneaking down here to check on Maya and make sure that Jasper is still treating her right."
"Of course he is" Maya muttered, annoyed yet resigned to it. The man had been texting her warnings practically everyday about the dangers of trusting Jasper and how she should just come back to Italy to live with them.
"Maybe they really are not involved then" Carlisle said thinking aloud.
Maya raised her hand then, turning to look at him, "Just a thought then, but why don't we call them up and let them know about it? After all it might be nice having one or two of my brothers hanging around with Victoria here. Demetri especially would be helpful in finding her."
"Are you stupid?!" Edward shouted, "If the Volturi come here then who knows what could happen! They could find out Bella is still human and demand that she be changed now!"
Jasper growled at his tone, pulling Maya closer to him and away from Edward as he shot the boy a warning glare. Maya gave his arm a pat, silently telling him that Edward's words did not bother her as Edward turned away, knowing he could not challenge Jasper and win.
"I will keep it in mind Maya, but I don't feel right setting the Volturi on someone until we know for certain that they meant harm. As we said, there is a chance it was just someone who was curious and I would hate to get them in trouble for no reason" Carlisle told her gently.
Maya shrugged in acceptance. She was still upset that her father could have been harmed, but she could see that Carlisle made a fair point. She would feel terrible if it turned out that the vampire had no ill intentions and she set her family on them after all.
"Getting back on point," Esme said, interrupting Maya's thoughts, "what are we going to do?"
"We keep looking." Emmet was not happy that there was someone else was out there and possibly threatening his family. Charlie was a cool dude and fun to watch the games with. Not to mention he was Kitty's dad, that made him family in Emmet's book and you protect your family.
"We'll also take shifts guarding the girls at their house." Carlisle stated.
"Another protection detail?" Rosalie was frustrated, it seemed they were always having to keep watch of the human now.
"Rosalie" Carlisle warned.
"No. She's right. You can't protect me, watch my dad, and search for the intruder." Maya frowned at the way Bella referred to him as "her dad" when the girl barely had a relationship with him, but kept quiet not wanting to start another fight and sidetrack them.
"And for Victoria" Rosalie was still mad she had slipped away from them.
"And keep yourselves fed." Bella finished.
"I'm not leaving you here defenceless" Edward declared, deciding for all of them it seemed, much to the irritation of some. Not that they wouldn't have helped Maya protect her dad, but him speaking up for them as if it was already decided was annoying.
"Well, I'm not gonna let you starve. And I wouldn't be unprotected. I have ..." she trailed off at the end.
"What?" Edward asked.
"The wolves" she finished, ducking her head and not looking at him.
"Excuse me. But badass cat shifter here" Maya said raising her hand and waving it. While she would admit that she did not have much experience, she at least had enough to not be burden to the family. "I don't need guarding. I can take care of myself just fine and I -"
"Were not talking about protecting you. We are talking about protecting Bella" Edward growled cutting her off, upset with Maya's seemingly carefree attitude. Jasper growled at that, while the other members of the family shot Edward glares or disapproving frowns.
"- can protect Bella and my dad when home" Maya finished stubbornly, offended at his lack of faith in her abilities.
"Oh like you did with James? Bella almost died under your protection!"
"Like you were any better!" Maya spat back, her temper rising.
"Enough you two" Carlisle said, stepping between the two. "Maya while I do fully believe that you can take care of yourself, it would be better to have back up as obviously there is more than one threat we have to worry about. And Edward, no more snapping at the family. I know you are upset and worried, but that is no excuse to be taking it out on us."
Both looked down chastised as the family got to work on setting up a schedule and calling the wolves to arrange a time to meet so they could coordinate. Which could have probably gone a lot faster if Edward was not arguing every point and throwing hissy fits as they did.