It was incredible. I knew they were all still edgy about this. Especially Jasper. Whenever he sensed a change in my emotions, his head would turn to me immediately. It was maddening.

Hadn't I already proved I was strong enough?

Even though I knew it was because they loved me that they were being so overprotective, I couldn't help feeling a teensy bit irritated.

I sighed and turned my thoughts to more safe avenues.

Nessie was my size now. Her appearance was one of an average eighteen year old. I still shuddered when I remembered how darn fast she had grown during that first year… She seemed content now, though.

We were all walking toward the cars. Today was our first high-school day. My first high-school day as a vampire.

Alice, Jasper, Rose and Emmett were already in Rosalie's red convertible, speeding off, disappearing around the corner, where the sun finally broke through the thick layer of trees. As Edward, Jacob, me and Nessie all piled in Edward's Volvo, I thought of the irony behind the choice of this place to live in. New York.

The house wasn't exactly in the City of New York, it was more on the outskirts, where the skyscrapers weren't all cramped tightly together. Out close to the huge mansion which was now my new home, there were only other few, sparsely delivered in the landscape, huge properties. Our school, however, had to be in the very heart of the city, where the sun - because of the always-present cloud of pollution - hardly ever shone.

Around the house, the trees were so ancient, that the whole family could stand outside on a sunny day without attracting any attention. That was precisely the idea of the trees.

Out of the entire family, only Jacob and Renesmee would be able to go to school on those rare days when the sun appeared in the city. At least they wouldn't be the complete freaks. I smiled ruefully at that thought. I had never been happier in my entire human life, as I was now. I had a loving husband, a beautiful daughter, and amazing to-be son-in-law, not to mention the amazing siblings I'd gained in my transformation.

And, although I'd lost many old friends in the process, I'd managed to speak at least to Angela the day we were leaving Forks… in my head, I passed over our last talk…

The flashy red Ferrari stopped outside the Weber's house. I knew she was still there. I could hear her voice coming from the inside of the house. She was packing upstairs.

I got out of the car slowly, in my human pace, wondering what the hell I'd say to explain my appearance and my voice… and my eyes. I heard the other door, on the passenger's side slam shut and grimaced. Nessie had insisted in meeting Angela. I wasn't afraid that Nessie would kill her; it was just another problem for me to explain… I gave a quick glance at my daughter, as she walked to stand next to me. Today was an unusually sunny day in Forks. While I was covered from head to toe in clothes, Nessie was wearing a summer dress, like I would have been wearing too, hadn't it been for the slight problem that I sparkled in the sun. Nessie just glimmered dimly.



I smiled lightly at her, then sighed. What was I going to tell Angela? She had my eyes, and Edward's hair… I guessed I'd present her as Nessie, and just let Angela take own conclusions out of what she saw.

I walked forward, with Nessie beside me, an expectant look in her chocolate-brown eyes.

I heard the bell, vibrating through the house walls as soon as my finger touched the button. Then, there was the sound of feet racing down the stairs, and, a few seconds later, Angela opened the door, breathless from the run.

As soon as her gaze fell on me, her mouth fell open, and her eyes popped open wider in her face, as if they were about to jump out of their sockets. I was dimly conscious of the dry burning in my throat. Seeing her again was so good. I hadn't noticed I liked Angela so much.

I smiled hesitantly at her, and watched her take in my new looks with wide eyes.

"Hey Angela", I chimed, in my best 'rough voice'. I was please to note it was quite similar to my old tone.

My voice seemed to do the trick. Angela's expression, before disbelieving and confused, turned to one of pleased confusion

"Bella?" she asked, warily "Is that really you?"

Nessie laughed lightly next to me, and I smiled at Angela; but she wasn't looking at me anymore, her attention was on Nessie now, and I cringed as her shocked eyes took in Nessie's features.

Angela's bewildered eyes flicked back to me, a thousand questions in them. I sighed.

"Yeah, it's me" I said, giving up on the rough voice attempt. Her eyes popped wider. "This is Nessie. Can we come in a minute?"

Too shocked to answer, she just stood aside, to let us in.

"Thanks, Angela", I said, as she motioned us to sit on the couch in the living-room.

"Sure. Can I… can I get you something to drink?" she asked, struggling to get the words out.

I smiled lightly at her. "Not for me, thanks. Nessie…?"

Nessie looked at me briefly, "A glass of water for me, please", she smiled then.

Angela excused herself and I heard her in the kitchen getting the glasses out and pouring water in them. I smiled at Nessie, with what I hoped was a smile to say she was doing perfectly. She seemed to understand it.

Angela came back and handed Nessie the water, while she sat with a glass of her own

"Thanks", Nessie murmured and took a sip. I saw her wince slightly. She was full; we'd just come back from hunting.



"No problem" Angela replied, her eyes straying back to me, "So, Bella…" she hesitated then, looking uncomfortable

"I hope we didn't come in a bad time… I just wanted to say a proper goodbye to you, Angela"

Her eyes became wary instantly, and I saw the flash of pain in her features. "Goodbye?" she whispered, uncertainly

I nodded glumly. I was really gonna miss Angela "We're moving to New York later on today… I'm sorry I didn't come earlier… it was a kind of a rush decision… we were going to Alaska, but then it was just me and Edward… now Alice got an acception in New York, and Carlisle got offered a real good place in the hospital there… so Esme managed to convince me and Edward to go with them."

She was silent for a moment, then blurted out "Not wanting to be rude, or anything, Bella… and I know you'll probably think I'm totally crazy, but… is Nessie… is she your daughter?"

I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable. Now what? Charlie knew. And he had accepted it quite well… could Angela, too? I decided to try it.

"I… well, yes. Yeah, she is." I said it slowly, hesitantly, waiting to see her reaction to my words. If only Alice were here…

I saw Angela's eyes rake over Nessie, then flip back to me. I cringed when she looked straight at my eyes. She shook her head in disbelief "How is that… how is that possible, Bella?" she whispered.

"I can't tell you, Angela, I…" I shook my head, trying to clear it, so I could come up with a more reasonable explanation.

Suddenly, Nessie placed her hand on my neck. I looked at her, my eyes wide. Her idea could work… it sure had with Charlie…

"Go get him, Nessie," I whispered to her. She nodded once and ran out the front door.

Angela stared at me, with frightened eyes.

"Ang, the first thing you've got to know, is this: The world isn't what it seems. There's a lot more to it than what we see in the first glance. You can choose to take a second look, or do what most people do: take the first look for granted. That usually happens, because there are only few exceptions - like me - that were instigated forward by something I didn't understand."

She frowned at me, but didn't interrupt

"See, Ang… ever since my first day at school… from the very second my eyes fell on the Cullens, I knew there was something out of the common there. I probably wouldn't have gone all the way I did to discover exactly what was unnatural there, if it weren't for Edward." I sighed, "Don't think, however, he wanted me to know. Edward would have preferred thousands of times more that I had stayed in oblivion, just like everyone else. But I was in love. And love… well… love is irrational. I was sure he wasn't human. Yet, somehow, that knowledge didn't bother me."



At that moment, her eyes popped wide. I noticed my slip, and regretted having opened my mouth.

"You said… Edward isn't… human?"

"Yes. That's what I said. But you don't need to afraid. I won't hurt you. No one will. Can you trust me with that?"

She stared at me, wide-eyed with shock and fear. After a few minutes, her gaze softened.

"Of course I can, Bella. You're still Bella, aren't you? As long as you're still Bella, I'll always trust you."

"Thanks, Angela. Let's go outside. There's something I want to show you."

We got up and made our way to the door. Nessie was already there, with Jacob standing next to her.