Disclaimer: I own nothing but the characters I have added and differences in plot
I stood in the corner of the room trying not to notice the very public display of affection when another sound of disgust came. The thing was it wasn't a guy's voice.
"Come on! I've been working my butt off to feed all you and this is what I have to see when I walk in the door? Gag me!"
A girl about my age walked into the room carrying around a dozen bags of groceries. Every member of the pack, save Sam who was still snogging Emily, ran at her and took the food.
"Hello to you too," she grumbled.
I could tell she was being sarcastic when she gave Jacob a goofy smile as he shoved almost an entire bag of chips in his mouth at once. Her hair was a few shades lighter then mine and pulled back into a pony tail. She was no Rosalie but with her figure a modeling career wouldn't have been hard to get. It was her eyes that made me stare though. They were amethyst.
"Bella I want you to meet someone," Jake led me over to the girl, "This is Isabella Swan. Bella this is Carmen."
"Hold it!" Carmen looked closer at me, "Bella Swan? As in Charlie Swan's kid? Izzy?"
Izzy? Now I knew why her eyes looked so familiar!
"Oh my god Carmen!"
I pretty much tackled her with a hug.
"So…I'm guessing you two know each other?" said Paul.
"Hey Iz," wheezed Carmen, "lack of oxygen becoming an issue here!"
"Sorry," I released her, "what are you doing here? Are you a werewolf?"
"No…yes…no…it's a long story," it seemed like she didn't even know what she was talking about.
"Good thing I love stories then! Spill it."
"I think it'd be best if you told us how you know Bella," said Sam sternly. There was no way I was arguing with him, he didn't like me enough as it was.
"Not really much to tell. We'd hang when she came up for the summers with Jake's older sisters. Then she abandoned me by not coming back for about 50 bazillion years! But I'm not bitter. Nooooooooooooooooooo."
"Sorry," I muttered blushing, "I just…hey hang on a second! I've been living here for a year and I haven't heard anything from you!"
"I moved to Seattle to live with my aunt when I was sixteen Genius. Try having a conversation with your dad every once in a while."
She was right about that, I hadn't asked about her in a long time, "So how're your brothers and sisters?"
Her smile faded.
"Carmen! You want a muffin?" asked Emily quickly, "I made sure to save you one."
"Thanks Em," she took it then whispered to me, "I'll explain later."
I could tell there was a strong sense of family as I watched Jake and Carmen interact with the rest of the pack. I was just getting comfortable when Sam brought up a certain red headed vampire. He said something about her not being angry about her mate's death.
"No she's angry," I assured him.
"Well she's good at hiding it then," said Jake, "she hasn't attacked us."
"Laurent wasn't her mate," I told them about everything that happened with James. Leaving out the fact that he'd almost killed me.
"Wow, tough luck Iz," Carmen looked at me shocked.
"Well at least now we have bait," said Jared.
Jacob launched a can opener at his head, "She's not bait."
"You know what I mean," said Jared, unabashed.
"So we'll be changing our patterns," said Sam ignoring their squabble. "We'll try leaving a few holes, and see if she falls for it. We'll have to split up, and I don't like that. But if she's really after Bella, she probably won't try to take advantage of our divided numbers."
"She's not going to fall for it Sam," stated Carmen, "she's angry not stupid. By now she's figured out Izzy…Bella's with us, man it is weird calling you that. Any way if we leave an obvious opening she'll just wait until we get sloppy and take advantage of that! New patterns never work."
Everyone stared at Carmen. At that point I realized she was the only one who would stand up to Sam. She'd be explaining a lot when we got some time.
"Then what do you suggest?" asked Sam stiffly.
"Stick to what we're doing now, we want Izzy alive more then we want Victoria dead."
Other then Jake, no one seemed to agree with that.
"Look I don't want to be any trouble," I said, "just let me go home and I'll stay out of your way."
"No you're staying where we can keep an eye on you," said Jared, "if she wants you as bad as we think then having you here will help."
"Just don't do anything stupid," added Paul, "leeches seem to like you."
Carmen smacked him upside the head, "What have I told you about calling vampires leeches? And if you ever say anything that remotely sounds like an insult to her again I will hit you so hard you're grandkids'll feel it!"
"Maybe if I could get a message to her somehow," I was whispering to myself but forgot how good hearing they all had so were probably looking at me like I was nuts, "tell her…he doesn't…want me anymore."
"Wait now are you talking about your ex-boyfriend?" asked Carmen, "the vampire ex-boyfriend?"
"Thanks Jacob," I mumbled, "tell the world why don't you?"
He look sheepish.
"Izzy, she wouldn't believe you even if she took the time to listen before killing you," said Carmen gently.
I nodded, "It was just a thought."
"We still have to figure out what we're going to do about her," said Sam.
"She can stay at my place," volunteered Carmen, "It's perfect! It's in our territory and I get to catch up with Cinderbella!"
My face turned as red as a tomato when she used the other nickname she's come up for me. Never one to follow a crowd, that's Carmen for you.
"I don't know if I can," I started.
"Oh pshh! Just call your dad and tell him you're with me! It's not a big deal honest! Dev's going to be out all night patrolling town any way."
"Good thing or poor Bells'd never get any sleep," chuckled Jake. This earned him a smack.
"Who's Dev?"
"My boyfriend," explained Carmen.
"Oh, he's a werewolf then too?"
"…Like I said earlier I'll explain later."
"Alright you can arrange all this," said Sam, "we're off."
"You'll be careful, right?" I asked, an audible lump in my throat.
The boys burst into hoots of amusement. Everyone laughed at me—except Emily and Carmen. Emily met my eyes, and I could suddenly see the symmetry underlying her deformity. Her face was still beautiful, alive with a concern even more fierce then mine. Carmen was giving the guys icy stares that shut them right up.
They all devoured whatever food was left then headed out back to do something or other. I called home and left Charlie a message telling him where I'd be for the night. Jake said a quick good-bye before heading out to patrol. Carmen and I left shortly after.