BLESSING IN DISGUISE
Birthdays.
I hated birthdays.
Life for me was spent being alone but my birthday was just a reminder of that loneliness. The day just made my chest hollowed as the emotion was made prominent.
However, this year was different…and more interesting.
Less glamorous but still very amusing.
First it started off with Jasper.
The second I stepped through the door, I could already detect the mood change, flickered in his darkened gaze. I had easily noticed how his eyes glazed and then gleamed with a hidden unspoken secret.
It all panned out when I sliced my finger and he made the first move. My mishap had simply triggered his motion for action as he bared his jagged teeth and pounced, ready to attack. Though, I already knew then that he was trying to expose me.
…and now, five minutes later, he was angry when realising that it wouldn't work.
For a strategist, he was getting sloppy.
Yet, his plan was almost idiot proof because I could still feel the shards of glass lodged in my arm. Of course, the obvious step was to take them out but the quick healing would give it all away. For now, I simply had to play my part as the weak human.
"Love…" my head snapped around to watch as Carlisle approached his wife, who now glanced at me pitifully. "…please help Bella" she murmured, lowly thinking that I wouldn't hear her.
Alice on the other hand was a few feet away from me, shaking her head but occasionally glancing at the blood trickling down the piano keys. "We can't-" she stammered, backing away with one hand clamped over her nose.
The rest of them followed suit and I watched dumbly as they filed out.
Urgh…Cold Ones.
So weak when driven by their constantly wild bloodlust.
I realised that the thought had a frown appearing so I rearranged my features to an expression of shock as the clueless human girlfriend. All because of Edward by the end of the doorway, darkly watching over me as he remained conflicted and perplexed.
Carlisle grew hesitant with the request but took a deep breath and eventually approached me. His arm was then gently wrapped around my waist as he slowly helped me up to my feet.
As part of the show and my own pleasure, I leaned into him and inhaled his delicious scent.
While leaning against him, I glanced towards my 'boyfriend' again. When meeting my gaze, I caught how his were enraged as he fiercely gripped his hair. Another feral growl trembled through him before storming out of the room and slamming the door behind him.
That then left a silence to presume and my lips curved in a small smile as I slowly looked up to Carlisle.
Something flickered as he shook his head, looked at me and then his arms released me. "This needs to stop" he growled.
I straightened up, regaining balance as I smirked. "Aw Carlisle, I thought I was part of the family…" I whined playfully, "I thought I was like your own daughter" I mimicked his previous words and playfully reached up to cup his cheek. Only to have him grab my wrist and twist my arm away from him.
"Well, I need blood" I announced and stalked away from him, rifling through the fridge for the blood bags he took from the hospital. He knew better than to stop me so he simply had to watch as I ripped off the top with my teeth and began to drain the bag, "Mmmm..." I hummed in appreciation and skipped over to him. "Want some...?" I asked, stretching out my arm to offer it. Sadly, he clenched his jaw and looked away. "If only they knew the real Carlisle" I tutted with a disapproving shake of my head.
"It's time that you left" he sang the same tune and I rolled my eyes.
Stepping away from him, I spun around and fell down onto the nearest seat. "Oh, but I'm just getting started" I replied innocently. "Didn't you miss me?" I questioned, wearing a pleasant grin.
Carlisle simply ignored me and silently continued to pack away his things. Just to taunt him, I allowed the silence to be prolonged until he was finished. He must've collected his thoughts because he placed his hands onto the table and sharply glared at me, "I'll do what you want but leave my family alone" he gritted.
"Family?" I laughed crudely and pushed myself off the seat, stalking back over to him. "I am going to destroy the pathetic little family that you think you have" I whispered threateningly.
As expected, my words stuck a nerve because I was now pushed against the wall, Carlisle's fingers now wrapped around my throat. "I won't let that happen" he hissed, his golden eyes blaring with his rage.
"How?" I urged.
He blinked and his hold on me loosened, "What?"
"However will you stop me?" I challenged and gripped his wrist, twisting it off me and pushing him back.
He shook his hand, trying to twist it back into place as he hissed through clenched teeth, "You can't do this" he argued but his anger dissipated.
"I can" I smiled at him, "And I will" I sneered at him and dropped the half-empty blood bag on the counter as I approached him again. "…but maybe it won't be me that destroys it. Maybe it will be you" I reminded him and he looked up, casting another glare filled with empty threats.
"You and-"
Already foreseeing what he was going to say, I hastily cut him off, "Don't mention that ingrate in my presence" I snapped.
"Trouble in paradise?" he smirked.
I laughed to myself and crossed my arms over my chest. "Smile while you can Carlisle" I said, trying to keep my voice light but making sure he could read into my annoyance. However, before he could come up with a snarky response, we heard Esme's whisper from a few feet away before her footsteps approached the house. My eyes whipped away from the door and to the concerned Carlisle, "Say or do anything and I will rip her, limb from limb while you watch" I threatened and he knew better than to underestimate me.
That was why, he remained quiet when the door opened. He simply watched as Esme rushed over to me and placed a hand onto my shoulder. "Oh Bella, I am so sorry" she apologised and I rearranged my expression into helpless human mode.
"Please, it's not your fault" I waved it off, like the pretty little saint I was. I then glanced behind her to the empty doorway, "Jasper…?" I questioned in a breathless whisper.
Esme shook her head sadly, "He didn't mean it" she silently pleaded for my understanding.
"Is he okay?" I asked, maybe adding a little too much sympathy.
She rubbed up my arm, "He…just needs some time to calm down" she assured me with another sad, motherly smile.
"And Edward? Where is he?" I remembered my role and my recited lines.
From my peripheral vision, I was distracted with Carlisle gripping the table and darkly glaring at his hands.
"I'm here" Edward's rasped and tiresome voice broke through the silence and through my sight. I watched as he emerged at the doorway but avoided my gaze. His head still bowed as he roughly whispered, "I should get you home" he said quietly and taciturnly.
"Okay" I murmured and frowned, pretending to be concerned and worried for him. I then broke the gaze so I turned back to his 'parents'. "Thank you for the birthday" I smiled and allowed Esme to hug me again. "It was really kind of you" I added.
"Have a goodnight Bella" she murmured and let me step towards Edward, accepting the offered hand.
My gaze swerved up to meet the enraged golden eyes waiting for me. "I'll see you soon Carlisle" I vowed with another falsified smile and allowed my 'boyfriend' to take me away.
All in due time.
- FOUR DAYS LATER -
After school, whole ride had been spent in silence, which I didn't really mind.
As Edward's mind spiralled with guilt, I tried to consider my next move and how I would finally finish off the revenge plan. However, occasionally my eyes would slide over to him and I would sigh, wondering what he was thinking about.
For the past four days, our conversation didn't trail far from the typical, 'Hi, how are you?' After my response, we would sit in silence and my attempts of trying to engage him in a conversation, pretty much sucked.
Could Carlisle have…no – no, he wouldn't dare risk ruining his pretty boy 'angelic' father image. Jasper on the other hand, regardless of the leash that Carlisle had on him, he may have said something. For, now I would just have to wait.
When we finally reached 'my house', I was practically ready to jump out and run inside. However, that wasn't going to happen as he surprised me by calling me back. "Wait-" he called and I paused from grabbing the handle, silently hating that I was taking orders from a Cold One.
"What's wrong?" I asked, feigning apprehension as I slowly turned to him.
Like the four days that had flown by, he still refused to look at me. "We need to leave" he announced and this made me frown.
"What? Why?" I grimaced, rethinking over whether Carlisle and Jasper had kept their mouths shut.
Edward ran his fingers through his already mussed locks. His bewildered eyes met mine briefly but then back down as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Carlisle's supposed to be ten years older than he looks" he began and it all suddenly clicked.
"Carlisle?" I repeated dubiously. It all made sense now. Carlisle didn't want to tell him the truth so he found a different way out.
Edward rubbed the back of his head nervously. "People are starting to notice" he continued and I wanted to scoff but I knew I had to keep up the pretences.
"Well I guess I'll have to come up with an excuse…" I tried, wanting to ensure that he planned on leaving me behind. The look on his face said it all. "When you say we…?" I trailed off, waiting for him to finish it off.
"I mean me and my family" he clarified, still not looking at me and I was glad because it made it easier to keep the knowing smile away. "It will be like I never existed" he added and I less than discreetly rolled my eyes.
"I doubt that" I muttered dryly.
Finally, he gave in and slowly craned his head towards me. His honeyed gaze dulled to a menacing brown while his pupils dilated. "You have to forget me" he rasped and then swallowed down whatever emotion he was feeling.
"I doubt that too" I repeated.
He leaned in and placed his lips onto my forehead, "Goodbye Bella" he whispered against my skin and I felt awaked, simply sitting there. Though, when glancing up, he was gone and I was sitting in a crappy rusty Chevy, alone.
Sure, I could chase after them, but I had eyes and ears everywhere so for now, I would simply let them stew; let them drive themselves insane. Then, after a while, they would soon relax and try and function normally, thinking it was over but I would hit them…and when I did, it would be when they least expected.
With that decision, I jumped out of the truck and made my way up the driveway. When I arrived at the door, I glanced behind me before slipping back inside the house.
"Hey Bells"
I looked up at my surrogate 'father'. "Hey Charlie" I sighed and pushed the door to a close behind me.
"How was the birthday?" he inquired and part of me wished that the gentle and fatherly tone he used with me was real. Every time he spoke to me, I would think about how this was arranged, to remind myself of how it wasn't what I wanted.
"It was fine" I murmured and walked into the kitchen, slipping it out of the jacket and placing it over the chair.
"I'm glad you had fun" Charlie followed in after me and was about to head over to the living room but paused to gesture towards the small table. "Oh, there's mail for you" he said.
I followed his line of sight and padded over to the small pile. I ignored the magazines and the newspapers and picked up the beige envelope. When opening it, I frowned at the sight of the thick white card. I then quickly flipped it over and scrutinised the golden script.
Now, I was confused.
My eyes then fell down to the envelope and I turned it over, studying the red lipstick kiss print. Below it was the signature K on the corner and the understanding that followed, left a slow smile spreading across my lips.
"What is it?" Charlie came up from behind me.
I didn't turn around as I tried to hide the grin when replying, "My ticket back home"
A/N: Who signs with a kiss and a K? What do you think of this Bella? Who was Carlisle talking about? What was in the envelope?
…and…Is your interest piqued? Do you want more?
