A/N – And here we go again. Short AN so you can get to reading. When a muse starts talking, its hard to ignore them even if it's a new one. This one pushed his way to the front and is here for your reading pleasure.
As with all stuff on here, I do not own anything Twilight related, but oh how I enjoy playing in the Twilight sandbox. Read and enjoy!
Chapter 1
Depression is being the only single person around that is completely surrounded by couples. Or that is how I feel at least. Right now I feel like the fifth wheel, quite literally, but that's all about to change, I just didn't know it.
Let me tell you how this feeling came about.
I had been on my way home from class when I was suddenly wrapped in a set of stone arms the size of trees and pulled further into the park I was walking along. I knew instantly what had grabbed me and I didn't bother to fight or scream, there was no point. Whoever had me was too strong and there was no way that I could fight back, so I just let them take me wherever they wanted.
We stopped about ten feet into the trees and I waited, knowing that the next thing I would feel would be the pain of the bite. With a sigh I tilted my head, figuring it was the least I could do.
I heard a chuckle and then felt a kiss on my neck. "Always so dramatic, Bells."
I gasped. I knew that voice. "Emmett?"
"Who else could it be?" He loosened his hold and spun me around. Reaching up he placed a hand on my cheek. "You've looked better, little sis."
"Gee thanks, Em." I couldn't believe that he was there. I hadn't seen any of the Cullens in three years, not since Edward had left me.
"So, are you going to tell me why you let me drag you off into the dark woods without a fight?"
I sighed. "Emmett, I knew what had grabbed me. Do you think I could really fight off a vampire?"
"Well, no, but you don't have to be so accepting about it. Don't you want to live?"
"Yes, I guess, but I have learned that being a danger magnet means that I won't have much of a say in when I die." I couldn't help the feelings that came over me. I had closed those feelings behind a steel door after I came to terms with Edward leaving me, but seeing Emmett seemed to have ripped that door completely off its hinges. "So, what brings you to the great state of New York?"
"Rose wanted to shop of course. She is off running around with Alice and I decided to go for a walk. Imagine my surprise when I came across a very familiar scent. I had to see you, I'm sorry." Emmett looked away and I swear he would have been blushing if that were still possible.
"Why are you sorry?"
"I know you didn't want to see us anymore, but after catching your scent I just had to make sure that you were ok." He looked back at me. "I've missed you."
I was so beyond confused. "I never said I didn't want to see you anymore. I thought you guys didn't want to have anything to do with me since you left without saying good-bye."
"Nope. You think I could ever not want to hang with my little sis? Edward told us that since you two decided to break it off that you didn't want anything to do with the family anymore."
I could hear the hurt in his voice. "That's not exactly how everything happened, Emmett. He broke up with me and told me what I always knew was the truth. That I wasn't good enough for him and he was tired at playing at being a human. He said that you were all tired of the drama of being around me and that was why the family left."
Emmett tightened his hug. "Edward forced us to leave, said that was for the best as he wanted you to live a normal human life and you didn't want us around anymore. I fought him over it, I didn't want to leave you. Now I wish I would have fought harder."
I sighed and laid my head on his chest. I had forgotten how comforting it was to be held by someone. "Don't worry about it, Em. It's in the past and there's nothing we can do about it."
Just then his phone went off. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his phone. "It's Rose."
I tried to move away but he held onto me.
"Hey, Rosie."
I could hear the love in his voice and I smiled. Rosalie was one lucky woman.
"Yeah, I'm with her right now." He paused. "Alice, of course."
I leaned back to look at him, arching an eyebrow.
"Alice saw me drag you off into the woods." He chuckled. "Yes, Rose, I will tell her."
Now I was really confused, maybe Rosalie wanted me to stay away from him; I mean she never did like me in the first place.
"Alright, no I won't take no for an answer. We will see you in a bit." He paused. "Love you too."
I watched as he put his phone back in his pocket and waited to see what it was that he had to tell me.
Putting his arm around my shoulders, he led us out of the trees and back onto the path I had been on earlier. "Rose and Alice said to tell you hi."
"Really?"
"Of course. They both missed you and were a bit shocked to find you here in New York."
I snorted. "That's surprising coming from Alice."
"Edward had made her promise not to look in on you. She has done as requested, but really couldn't help it tonight as she never blocks out visions of the rest of us. You were a surprise to her and at first she was worried about us when all she saw was me grabbing you and dragging you into the trees." He laughed. "I swear, her lack of faith in us where you are concerned is really something."
"Well, I trust you, Emmett, always have."
"That's good to hear as I'm taking you with me to go meet up with everyone and I am not taking no for an answer."
I sighed. I wanted to be angry with him telling me what to do but I really couldn't force the feeling as I was too happy to see everyone. "Are you sure they are ok with you bringing me along?"
"Rose said you would be worried about that. She said to tell you that it was her idea to invite you along."
"Really?" That didn't sound like the Rosalie I remembered. "I thought she didn't like me."
"She didn't like you with Edward, but has no issues with you. I'm sure she can explain it better for you." Just then we walked up to a very nice looking hotel and he pulled me in the front doors. "Come on, the girls should be back in a few and I bet Jasper is already waiting for us."
I stopped or tried to at least. It was hard to stop moving when a vampire had his arm around you. "Emmett, wait."
He stopped and looked at me. "What's up?"
"Are you sure about this? I mean Jasper has to hate me. I was dumb enough to get cut and caused him to try to attack me. I don't want to…"
"Bella, stop it." Emmett interrupted my ramblings. "Jasper has expressed on many occasions that he wished he could apologize to you for that. Now he will get his chance and everyone can be happy again."
He started moving forwards again but another thought hit me and I stopped in my tracks, this time Emmett was paying attention and stopped as well. "What now?"
I took a deep breath, fearing the answer I would get. "He's not here is he?"
"Yes, didn't I just say Jasper is probably up in the room waiting for us?"
"Not Jasper." I whispered.
"Oh." Emmett sighed. "Oh…umm…no. We haven't heard from him in a few months."
That was shocking, but I felt better knowing he wasn't there. "Alright, let's go then."
Laughing, he pulled me over to the elevator. "You still are a strange human, Bells."
"Like you really expected me to change?"
"Not really."
Just then the elevator doors opened and he gestured for me to precede him. I watched him follow me in and push the button for the fifth floor, but as the doors started to close he started scanning the area outside the elevator and looked perplexed.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just thought I sensed another one of us in the lobby, but that didn't make sense."
"Why is that? Isn't it common place for you guys to mingle with the food?" I laughed at the absurdity of my words.
"Only you, Bells." He rolled his eyes. "No, it was odd as I know who I sensed and he never mingles with his food as you put it."
"Oh, well then there must be a reason right?" I started to wonder who this vampire was and why Emmett looked a bit freaked out over sensing him here.
"Yes, good point." He sighed as the doors opened. "Ok, enough of Garrett talk, let's go surprise the empath."
Shaking my head at his happiness to mess with his brother, I followed Emmett out of the elevator. Not paying attention, nothing new right, I ran right into him as he had stopped right in front of me. Rubbing my shoulder as it had taken the brunt of my contact with the stone body I hit, I looked up at him in confusion. "Why did you just make me run into you?"
Emmett laughed at me. "Well, I didn't make you do anything, but it's nice to see you still don't pay attention to your surroundings."
"Gee thanks." I just knew that I was going to bruise from that impact.
"I know he will sense you if we go at your pace. Our room is at the end of the hall and no one else is around. Care for the speedy ride to the room?"
He looked at me so hopeful that I would say yes that I couldn't deny him. "I can never say no to that face, Emmett."
With a laugh he pulled me up onto his back. "I will have to remember that."
The next thing I knew we were at the door to the room and then standing in the living room of the suite. I heard movement coming from the next room and a door opening.
"Emmett, I wasn't expecting you back this soon. Are the girls…?"
I heard a gasp and I was afraid to move as I was still on Emmett's back. Emmett was so hopeful that they all wanted to see me and I was now not so sure that bringing me here was a good idea.
Emmett squeezed my legs before lowering me to the floor. "The girls will be here in a bit, Jazz."
I wanted to move but I couldn't seem to make my legs obey me. So I stayed behind Emmett.
"Emmett, what is she doing here?" Jasper asked as he moved further into the room.
"She is here because I want her to be. I ran into her on my walk and I wasn't quite ready to let her go. I've missed her and so have the girls." Emmett tried to pull me from behind him, but it didn't work.
I wasn't moving as it seemed like Jasper really didn't want me here. "Emmett, this was a bad idea. I should leave."
"Bella?" Jasper asked.
I jumped as his voice came from right next to me.
"Sorry." He raised his hands and took a few steps back. "I didn't mean to startle you."
Taking a deep breath, I rested my forehead on Emmett's back. "No worries. Just not used to the joys of being around vampires anymore."
Emmett laughed and moved away from me, taking away my ability to hide. "Bella, I told you that the girls both missed you and insisted that I bring you back."
Glaring at him for moving, I shot a glance over at Jasper who still had his hands in the air. "You can put your hands down, it's not like this is a robbery or something."
Lowering his hands slowly, he studied my emotions. "Why aren't you afraid of me?"
"Should I be?"
"I tried to attack you the last time I saw you. It would be reasonable for you to be afraid. I actually expected that from you." Jasper looked confused as he read my emotions.
"Jasper, it wasn't your fault. I was dumb enough to get a paper cut and then you had to deal with your bloodlust as well as everyone else's." I shrugged as I moved to look out the window. "It's your nature and I understood that it was harder for you. I never held it against you."
Jasper chuckled behind me. "You always have to do the opposite of what I expect don't you?"
"Well, I don't like to be too predictable." I retorted without turning back to look at him.
Jasper moved to stand next to me at the window. "I do want to apologize for that, Bella. I didn't mean to cause you to leave us."
I was overcome with his sorrow. Turning to him, I couldn't help but lean into him and give him a hug. I felt him stiffen and thought that he wasn't ok with the contact so I made to pull back. Before I could move though he put his arms around me and hugged me back. "I didn't leave you guys."
"What?" Jasper asked having heard my whisper.
"Edward made a mess of everything." Emmett responded.
I flinched at his name, the pain swirling around me again. I closed my eyes against the memories that were floating just below the surface, waiting to be released.
"Bella? I can feel your pain and I have no idea how you are dealing with that. Can I help calm you down?" Jasper asked.
This shocked me as he had never asked me before, he always just did it. I nodded, I couldn't make myself talk, but I really didn't want to feel this anymore. A wave of calm floated around me and I could finally take a deep breath. "Thanks, Jasper."
"Anytime, ma'am."
Just then the door opened and the girls walked in.
"Don't start with that southern charm, Jazz, or you will have her swooning at your feet." Alice giggled as she walked over to us. "Bella?"
I looked at her from Jasper's arms and smiled at her. "Alice, I've missed you so much."
She moved to hug me from behind, effectively sandwiching me between her and Jasper. "I've missed you too, Bella. We all have."
I stood there for a moment, enjoying the comfort. "Ok, human needs to breath."
They both laughed and dropped their arms.
"Bella, we were very surprised to find you here. What are you doing in New York?"
"Alice, if you had been keeping an eye on me like you used to, you would know that I was here going to school. Do I really seem like I would be a New York kind of girl otherwise?" I responded as I moved away from them. "I mean really, do I look like I fit in here?"
"Oh Bella, you fit in anywhere you want to be." Alice smiled at me. "I was only doing as Edward asked by not watching out for you."
I felt a wave of calm hit me right after she said his name. "Thanks, Jazz."
Alice raised her eyebrow at him in question.
"She has a problem with hearing his name or talking about him. I would suggest making him taboo." Jasper said as he moved to take a seat on the couch, patting the spot next to him for Alice.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't know." She darted over to sit down next to her mate. "I can't say that I honestly know what happened that day. We were told that you no longer wanted to see us."
I moved over to go sit in the chair across from them but was stopped by Rose's hand on my shoulder. I looked back at her, hesitant about being this close to her.
She sighed. "I know I wasn't the nicest to you before, but it really had nothing to do with you. It never made sense for you to be with Edward, you two didn't mesh to me. I guess I just want to say I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you, but as my siblings will be quick to add, I'm a bitch to everyone so you shouldn't feel bad."
After Jasper hit me with another wave of calm, I laughed with her. "Thank you Rosalie, that means a lot. I guess you were right, we didn't mesh. But I don't regret it, no matter how much pain I went through. I got to know you guys right? Even if that wasn't meant to be either."
Rose dropped her hand and watched me move to the chair. "Bella, I know that things didn't work out with him, but I don't think you realize that you had already become part of this family whether I wanted you to or not. Since you kept our secret for the past three years, I guess my fears were a bit unfounded."
"Don't worry about it. Rose. You had every right to worry. I was an unknown factor and you just wanted to protect your family. I do the same thing for my family." I looked over at Alice and Jasper. "I do recall trying to protect this family too."
"Yes, we know." Jasper smiled. "You were the first human to be able to sneak past me."
Rose glared at them. "So, Bella, what are you doing in New York?"
"School. I needed to get as far away from Forks and the memories it held. I got accepted to NYU for the law program. I took the scholarship they offered and I haven't been back since."
"Bella?"
I looked up and saw the concern on Rose's face. "You can ask me, Rose."
"I don't want to upset you, Bella." Rose leaned into Emmett's side. "But can you tell us what happened?"
"I know, Rose, so I will give you the abridged version." I sunk farther into my chair. I couldn't help but feel alone as I glanced at Alice snuggled into Jasper's side and Rose curled up against Emmett. I may be alone but this was the closest I had felt to being content in years so I could accept it for now. "I personally think he was waiting for something to happen so he had an excuse to leave me. Jasper, you just happened to be what he was looking for."
"I am sorry for the part I played in your pain, Bella."
"I know, Jasper, and I forgive you even though there is nothing to forgive." I smiled at him. "Edward took me out to the woods behind my house and told me that he no longer loved me or wanted me. I was not good enough for him and he was tired of acting the part of a human to make me happy. I was merely a distraction in his long life. He told me that the whole family was leaving and I was no longer wanted. His last words to me were that he promised it would be like he never existed."
I tried to fight down the pain this was bringing back to me, but as the silence went on the whole in my chest opened up. I wrapped my arms around my chest trying to hold myself together. Damnit I thought this was a thing of the past. I stared at the ceiling, drawing my knees up to my chest. "He said you only tolerated me for him and that you no longer wanted me. He left me alone in the woods. I'm not sure what happened after that, but I woke up in my room a week later. I was a zombie, only alive enough to get through that year of school. I got out of there as quickly as I could after I graduated."
I closed my eyes. I didn't want to think anymore I just wanted to forget again. I knew that wouldn't happen as long as I was around any of them. Why did they want me here? Was I just a new form of entertainment? They didn't want me three years ago so why would they want me now?
I heard a gasp but I ignored it, lost in my thoughts. I was pulled out of my thoughts as I was pulled from my chair and found myself in someone's lap. Wrapped in a pair of big strong arms, I sat shocked and wondered if I had said all of that out loud.
"Bella, you are here because we want you here. We love you. That is not something that I say lightly. You were part of our family and just because our dumbass brother fucked everything up, doesn't make us love you any less. I may be speaking just for myself, lil sis, but I wanted you in my family three years ago and I still do. And not just because you make me laugh." Emmett rested his chin on my head. "I will personally beat his ass if I ever see him again. Alice may be my sister, but you, Bella, are more my sister than her. You remind me of my sister Emily and I was so happy to be able to have that feeling again. I'm not going anywhere unless you tell me to leave. You are stuck with me now, sis."
"Don't leave me." I whispered as the tears started to fall down my cheeks. My barriers were totally broken down and the pain flowed around me. I sobbed into Emmett's shirt and I didn't think there was ever going to be a stop. "Please don't leave me again."
"Oh Bella." Jasper was kneeling next to the chair. Emmett passed me down to him. "I can feel the pain you are in. No human should be able to live through this. Is this what you have been feeling for the past three years?"
I nodded into his chest. I didn't understand what was going on. Why was Jasper holding me?
"I know you're confused right now. Can I calm you? I don't know how you deal with these emotions, Bella, but they have already brought me to my knees."
"Please." I whispered. Jasper moved to place his hands on my face and I suddenly felt calm and loved. I was finally able to take a deep breath. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be going through this." Jasper said as he sent me another dose of calm.
"No Jasper, you were just the convenient scapegoat. He would have found another excuse to use to leave me. I accept that. I just wish he wouldn't have taken you guys away from me too." I opened my eyes and found everyone on the floor around me and Jasper. Both Emmett and Jasper's shirts were soaked thanks to my sobbing. "I'm sorry I cried all over you two."
Emmett laughed. "No sweat, Bells. They're just shirts and it's not like Alice won't relish the thought of getting to replace them."
I laughed, it was hard not to as it was true. I don't think Alice ever let the family wear the same clothes twice. "What time is it?"
"It's just after 11:00, why?" Alice asked.
"Oh hell." I sighed and moved to stand up, but with all of them on the floor around me, of course my feet got tangled up in them, so I landed on Alice. "Sorry, Alice."
"Still our clumsy Bella." Alice giggled as she helped me stand up.
"I need to get home. I have class in the morning." I sighed. There was a part of me that feared that this was a dream, but I still had to go and be responsible. Damn. "Umm, thank you for everything."
Rose stood up and pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry that horrid excuse of a brother hurt you. We never wanted to leave you, not even me."
I smiled and hugged her back. "Thanks, Rose."
She leaned back to look at me. "Will you do me a favor?"
"Depends on what it is."
She laughed. "Nothing too hard, I promise. Let Emmett or Jasper take you home. And come back tomorrow. We need to catch up and I, well we would like to be here for you."
"I…are you sure?"
Alice sighed. "We are all sure. Please let the guys take you home and let us know when to pick you up tomorrow. We want you here with us."
"Well, ok then." I headed towards the door, the guys close behind me. "I guess I will see you two tomorrow."
We walked out of the room and I sighed. It was such a tiring night and it all hit me at once. I leaned against the wall as we waited for the elevator.
"Are you ok, Bella?" Jasper asked.
"It was just a really tiring night. I had been holding those feelings in for so long that I am now just drained and can't wait to sleep." I let me eyes slide closed. Just as I heard the elevator doors open, I felt arms go under my knees and my back so I was being held bridal style. "Huh?"
"I got you, Bella. We'll get you home."
"Thanks, Jasper." I laid my head on his shoulder, not bothering to argue. "I'm in the apartments just the other side of the park Emmett found me in."
As we exited the elevator, I heard Emmett chuckle. "We will get you there, I promise."
We were almost out of the hotel when Jasper stopped. "I wonder why Garrett is here."
"I sensed him earlier when I brought Bella here. This doesn't seem like his scene."
"No, it doesn't." Jasper shrugged and kept moving. "Maybe we will find out later. Right now we need to get sleeping beauty home."
I must have fallen asleep as the next thing I know Emmett is poking me in the side.
"Bells, we need your keys to open your door."
I reached into my pocket and handed them to him, not bothering to ask how they knew which unit was mine. Scent, that's right, that's how they would have found it.
Jasper carried me through to my bedroom and laid me down on the bed. Emmett pulled off my shoes before pulling the blanket over my body.
I sighed as I settled into my bed. "Thanks, guys."
Jasper chuckled. "No worries, Bella. We will see you tomorrow. Give us a call after class lets out and we will come get you. I programmed our numbers in your phone for you."
"Sneaky vampires." I fell asleep before they had even left my bedroom, not thinking to wonder how they would have locked the door behind them when they left.
So…what did y'all think? I don't expect this to be a long story, but that could always change. As always, your thoughts are always welcome. If you have a favorite line from this chapter, please share. My fav just happens to be from our boy Emmett…
"No sweat, Bells. They're just shirts and it's not like Alice won't relish the thought of getting to replace them."
Don't forget there is the FB page for updates and discussions. Just search for Bella & Jasper – Love Under a Blood Moon and you should be able to find it easily. It will be the hub for all Twilight fanfic discussions as I have Darkness as well as one shots that are in the works. If you aren't reading Darkness…I highly recommend it, lol, but I may be a bit biased.
