Chapter 1: First Sight... Again

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-GG xo

Butterflies. It's odd, no matter how many times I've started a new school the butterflies get me every time.

'Come Alex! We're going to be late!' Cried Christy. 'Drive faster'

Shawn and I shared a look of amusement at this; we were already driving way past the speed limit. My gaze slid down to our entwined hands. Even after these 82 years it still surprises me how easy it is to be with him. Much easier than it was with…Stop Bella, stop. I willed myself to stop thinking about it…him. He left you Bella, twice. I told myself.

Lucy interrupted my thoughts, as she suddenly winced as if in pain. I was glad for the distraction. Guessing she has sensed others we all looked at her expectantly, and confused. Why would there be other vampires on Forks? Lucy and I had very similar abilities. Lucy could sense and block powers, while I could absorb them once used against me they would then become my own. By now, I had a pretty impressive collection. When Lucy felt more prominent powers, it often hit her with great force. This would cause her to wince.

'There are others.' She declared. 'With very powerful abilities, but cannot tell how many, or what abilities they posses yet.'

'This might make things in this boring little town a bit more interesting.' Alex responded, amused.

He resented my choice of school for the next few years. The others chose interesting places, like Paris and Turkey, while I upon this rotation of choice, decided to come back to dreary old Forks Seattle. The place of my very distant past.

In this very place, I met him, which made it hard to come back, but even more necessary to move on.

After I left Forks, at Washington State University on my very first dreaded day I met Shawn, Alex, Christy, and Lucy. My coven to be.

After that very class, I confronted Shawn about his true… species, and he confessed. To Shawn, much like to… him my smell was overpowering. He also told me that he and his family had chosen the 'vegetarian' way of life. A few days later I asked him to change me.

I wanted to make sure I was absolutely prepared to begin my new life, and to end my old one, so we decided to wait a few months.

I prepared everything. I stashed photos and memorabilia from my human life under the floorboards in my room with the foolhardy hope I would one day return to Forks, and spent as much time with Charlie as possible during those final months.

The change itself was the most painful thing I had ever gone through, but after I felt rejuvenated. Born again. I no longer tripped over everything possible and I moved almost gracefully.

Also, I was beautiful. Soft luscious chocolate brown hair with caramel highlights and a gentle curl hung to my waist. Thick dark lashes framed my eyes, which although blood red at first sight, had at last turned the vibrant shade of topaz I once adored. My cheekbones seemed higher, more defined and my lips, although not altered much, had been painted a dark shade of blood red. My curves were perfect, my stomach smooth and tight, and the impenetrable skin I had known would come no longer seemed cool or hard. Just right.

I looked out my window, and caught my first glimpse of Forks High School. It looked pretty much the same to me. This thought that would have been comforting to most, only made those butterflies move faster. Become more anxious. I would have thrown up, had I been able.

As we pulled into the parking lot, in front of a large group of students, I got ready for our first day routine. Basically, each year we started a new school, we made a big show in front of the locals of how cool, beautiful, and sophisticated we were compared to them. For the record, it had definitely not been of my creation.

Alex killed the engine and stepped out first. The girls' eyes were instantly drawn to him. He was, of course, gorgeous. Alex's messy, but perfect dark hair, tall built figure, and casual stance lured the girls in like flies to honey.

Next, Christy, his mate stepped up, attracting the attention of every male in the vicinity, as her long, straight dark red hair blew in the wind. This somehow drew even more attention to her bright red full lips. Her micro mini jean skirt with 5-inch boots, and blue loose fitting off the shoulder top only added to the image of perfection.

They stood side by side, and held hands as he gave her a peck on the lips to show the crowd they weren't to be messed with, and of course that they were together. Their smirks challenging the local to even try to break them up.

Third, out came Lucy. Her almond shaped eyes flashing. Her style as usually was definately preppy but with a sexy twist, because of her stiletto Mary Jane's, extremely short skirt, and tight sweater with a blouse underneath. With a flip of her dark, almost bluish hair she walked over to join the others.

While walking she shuddered violently, informing me that the others were near. Behind her back she raised five fingers, signifying five people and clenched her hand into a fist to let me know that they were watching. We had developed this system years ago.

While considering this, I opened my car door ready for my exit, mentally rehearsing. I would pull Shawn by the hand, him pretending to be uneasy, while his perfect blond hair blew in the wind. We would then step to the right of the others, pretending to be oblivious to the ever growing crowd of spectators while sharing a kiss.

But first, I saw them. More specifically I saw him, standing right there in front of the car. His arms crossed, and eyes disinterested. I had to resist the urges to run up into his however unwanting arms or to slap him in the face. Perhaps I would use the power I had acquired many years ago from Jane to make him aware of the pain he had caused me. Instead I followed the routine, making sure our eyes met before I kissed Shawn with passion and intensity usually reserved for when we where alone.

During the kiss, I heard five distinct gasps, and when we finally broke apart from each other, I saw each of the Cullens' mouths, even Rosalie's, wide open, their eyes open and unblinking from shock.

'Hey, guys!' I gushed as if we were old friends, then adding venom to my voice, and directing it at him I continued, 'long time no see.'

xxx

The rest of the conversation came in bursts.

'You know each other…'

'Who are you…'

'You're a vampire…'

'Have we met…'

'Bella, who are they…'

'Oh I've missed you so much…'

As soon as everyone calmed down I began to talk. First I made introductions. I promised myself I'd handle this well, and not blow up, no matter the circumstances.

'Guys, these are the Cullens,' I said calmly in anticipation for my family's reaction. I had told them my story.

'The Cullens?' Christy exploded. 'Those evil rats that left you all those years ago?' She spoke with such distain that I couldn't help but feel sorry for them. Christy had an unusual gift. She has the ability to send an electric shock if she raises her voice to a certain volume. I had trouble remembering a time when she had been louder.

'Which one is the idiot who broke your heart Bells?' Shawn asked, cracking his knuckles. 'I'll punch his face in for ever hurting you, but I dare say it was for the better…' He smirked at me and winked, kissing my neck.

'Bella, I've missed you so much!' Alice cried, throwing herself on me. 'But…? How…? You're alive, and a… vampire?'

'See, that's where we came in,' said Alex. 'Well, Shawn actually. He's Bella's mate as well as the one who changed her.

At this I saw Edward's (I forced myself to mentally say his name) head bow. Odd. Why was he pretending? When would he give up his little sherade and stop pretending to still be in love with me? For God's sake, he's the one who left.

Everyone stared at me. I didn't realize I had just said that out loud. If I had been human I would have blushed to my darkest shade, this was one of the many things I did not miss about being human. I could now hide my feelings.

Pretending I meant to say the previous I added, 'well, it's true isn't it?'

Almost instantly, Jasper began try and calm me down before things got worse. Unfortunately, I was one step ahead of him.

As jasper's power hit me I soaked it up, and turned the tables on him, flashing through each emotion he was capable of producing. When I finished, Jasper looked queasy and shaken.

The Cullen's eyes flashed towards me, searching for an answer.

Alex, Christy and Shawn just looked mildly amused. They were used to me doing these kinds of things by now.

Understanding dawned on Alice first. 'Bella, is this your power?'

'Yes.' I replied. 'I absorb other people's gifts once used they are uses against me, and they become mine as well.'

'Does this have anything to do with me not being able to check up on your future?' Edward glared at Alice. She had probably been forbidden to check up on me.

'Ya, Lucy can block powers entirely, as well as sense them.' I said. 'By the way, thanks for trying, being able to see the future is one of my greatest abilities,' my grew confused, 'although since we've been in Forks it's been kind of fuzzy…'

'Me too! It's so annoying!' Alice cried. I knew she was trying to distract me from ripping Edward, who at this point hasn't said a word to me, to shreds.

At that the bell rang, and we all filed into school, but not before setting a time to meet in the afternoon.

xxx

School turned out to be nothing out of the ordinary, aside from the fact that I had a vampire, and sometimes even two in each of my classes.

Edward was only in two of them, Gym and English. If I were still human, I would be dreading our gym class together afraid I would embarrass myself, but I was a vampire now, and starred in our game of field hockey with ease. Of course Edward did too, but I could see him watching me, and all I wanted to do was avoid his intense gaze. We didn't talk the entire period, and although I wished I could fall into his arms, I had to tell myself that he didn't want me anymore. No matter the show he was putting on, he was the one who left.

English was not so easy. Shawn was in our class, and of all dumb luck, the three of us were given a group assignment to study and analyze the characters of A Midsummer Night's Dream. For the entire class only Shawn spoke. Neither Edward nor I uttered a word the entire class. I would have to thank Shawn later for putting up with me.

The end of the day came far too soon, meaning we would now have to continue our talk.

We decided to meet in the clearing. Our clearing. The last time I had seen them had been here as well.

We all gathered in a circle and I began. 'Look, over 80 years ago in this clearing you all said your goodbyes to me, and I've been furious, but wishing you'd come back ever since-'

'And you should be!' Interrupted Alice. 'We left you, and we're so sorry, but we did it for your own good!'

'We didn't want you to be in danger' Emmet added.

'I understand that-'

'And…' Rosalie began to say. I was shocked that she wanted to contribute. 'And, in case if you were wondering, Edward is still in love with you.'

I glanced at Edward, taken aback, and Shawn let out a low, possessive growl.

'Edward, please talk to me. You haven't said a word to me all day.' I added, almost in a whisper.

'I…I only left so you wouldn't have to suffer the terrible damnation that is living forever.'

How poetic.

'But…you left, again, even though you said you wouldn't! You were going to change me!'

'I'm so so so sorry, but it would have been for the best.'

If I had been human, I would by now be in tears. 'Twice! You left me twice to fend for myself! Decided I wasn't worth your time! I wanted and still do want to live forever. You shouldn't have been stupid enough to think I would just give up.'

I stopped for air and realizing how power hungry I must have sounded, added 'but living forever is pointless if you have no one to share it with, and I wanted to share it with you. At first, my plan was to find you, but them I fell in love with Shawn.'

Shakily I added, 'This is how I'm going to spend my forever.' I took a deep breath as everyone processed what I had just said and took everything in.

It was at this point that Edward tried for the first time in years to invade my mind, presumably to see if my speech had been true or maybe just out of curiosity. This gave me a new, very strong power that I decided to use for my first time on him.

Poking around in another person's mind is difficult work. You have to avoid the nonsense, and pick out the important things. As soon as Edward sensed I was in his head he pushed his more important thoughts to the front.

I was hit head on with a surge of thoughts mingled with emotion. A very strong emotion that I was not expecting in the least. Love. Love and wanting? I flashed through images, heard words and felt what I'd been longing to feel for the past 82 years. He really does love me, and wants me.

Victoria threatened to kill me. She tortured him. He had to leave…but he didn't want to. After he left he devised a successful plan to kill her. Then, he couldn't come back, because he didn't want to ruin my life all over again.

I thought that these things that I'd been wanting to here, that I'd been dreaming of hearing for the past 82 years would make me happy, but instead they turned me to stone. He was pitiful. I had a new life now, sucker. New love.

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-GG xoxoox