103 years is a long time.
I had 103 Christmas's, 103 pretend birthdays, sat through more then 103 birthdays when I think about it, 8 people living together, each person having a pretend birthday, that's 824 birthdays.
I had graduated a ridiculous 10 times before putting my foot down and saying I wasn't going to school again, ever. I had made no real close friends throughout my immortal life, as they were too hard to keep. That's what made me want to stop going to school. The first few times at school was alright, I didn't want to talk to others, we would sit together how the Cullen's use to at Forks and no one would talk to us, and we wouldn't talk to anyone. Despite the fact that I don't like being centre of attention, not really talking to anyone else can actually make life at school mind numbingly boring. A few of the times we attended school I made a few friends, if that's what you could call them. I only really talked to them at school, and in class. So after I graduated for the 10th time I said no more and no amount of persuasion from the Cullen's could change my mind.
I understood now why the Cullen's stayed together, we loved each other like family, and it was a great family. I couldn't imagine not having them in my life, but it didn't take me long to realize that without them, without that bond of family, how easy it would be to go…bad. How easy it would be to just chuck your morals away and go wild for awhile, boredom would do that to you, and I think being alone would do that to you. So I was forever grateful for this family. Being a vampire, violent tendencies easily surfaced. When I was at school it wasn't uncommon to hear girls making snide remarks about Edward, obviously they thought I couldn't hear them. There was one girl I encountered I so badly wanted to rip her head off, and it took everything not to. I could have killed her and enjoyed it, and I think without the support of the Cullen's I would have.
In my immortal life I had been an mechanic, accountant, interior designer, nurse, midwife, – yes it would seem that even I of all people eventually wound up like Rosalie and Esme wishing for a child. I had been an author, wrote a story about a vampire who fell in love with a human who was best friends with a werewolf. It was a huge hit, imagine that. I had also spent a few years as an English literature lecturer. I never really found anything I really liked enough to stay at it, and I wondered if it was because I was changed so young. Was it because I hadn't even considered my options for a career when I was human that I found it difficult to settle for anything for to long now? I enjoyed being a midwife, but woman freaked when they saw me. I just looked to young to deliver a baby. I lied about my age of course but some mothers to be just couldn't deal with me being so young looking, and I think part of it was that they worried their partners would be looking at me while they were in agony and looking worn out giving birth to their child.
I married Edward 10 times, and despite the fact I loved him more then anything in the world, marrying him over and over again was a nuisance. It wasn't even the wedding itself that was annoying, it was more the inviting people that you may have talked to a couple times to your wedding, knowing full well you would never see them again.
I had become fully aware of how to use my gift/power. I could swirl numerous orbs about at high speed. Emmett still got a blast from flying around in them. I could also put myself in an orb and fly. It was a weird but wonderful experience, but I had no real use for my power though; I only seemed to use it for fun.
We were back in Forks again, we had been in various places around the world but we had just moved back to Forks just a few days ago. In the same house and cottage, but totally redecorated and refurbished by Esme. I loved that cottage; it was my favourite place in the world. But I hadn't been back in Forks for approximately 60 years – since Charlie died.
Charlie died of old age, 88 years old. I mourned for him for years, I attended the funeral and sat at the back with my face covered, there was no other way I could explain who I was. If he was 88 then if I was human I should have looked in my fifties, but I didn't. I had asked him 5 years after I had been changed if he wanted to be changed, but he refused. He said although he was happy with the life I chose because I was happy it wasn't something he would want for himself. He had reminded me of Rosalie when he said that to me. So I watched him grow old, and he watched me never change. He truly was a great man, that helped me out more the once. After 20 years when I would have supposedly been 38, Charlie helped me fake mine and Edward's death. A car crash was the story. I was then free to visit Charlie at will in Forks, as his grand daughter, but even that had a time limit, so eventually I could only visit under the cover of darkness when no one would suspect Charlie had visitors. Eventually he would just holiday with us wherever we were. Of course all the people from Forks flocked to Charlie's when I visited as his grand daughter, and no one even doubted the story that I was his granddaughter, after all I looked exactly like Bella but with Edwards eyes. The whole town fell for the story, hook, line and sinker. It was hard seeing Angela and my old school friends again. They all wanted to see me, to give me their condolences and wish me well. Everyone talked fondly of Bella, who they thought was my mother. Even Jessica had nothing but nice words to say, but for her I think she just wanted to see out of curiosity. To see what Bella and Edward's daughter looked like, because when I left Forks with Edward the first time I never made contact with anyone again. Now I knew that this is why they would think I lost contact with everyone, that they would all think that I was knocked up after I married Edward and we left before gossip started. Not that I minded what people thought now.
So here I was back in Forks, things hadn't really changed that much to my surprise. People had changed, but not the place. All the people I had gone to school with had now passed away. It was there children, and there grandchildren that resided here. Well the ones that remained in Forks anyway. As I ran towards the cemetery where Charlie was buried, I smiled that at least I could still see him, in a way.
The cemetery was an eerie place, even as a vampire, but I didn't fear anything that might be there. I had no doubt in my mind, I was the scariest thing there. I walked through the grave yard reading the names of people buried there. Mike Newton's parents lay side by side. There were teachers from the school buried here. A lot of people. Then I found Charlie's familiar gravestone. It was without the doubt most expensive in the yard.
"Hi dad." I said quietly as I sat down by the grave stone. I gently slid my hand down the cold hard stone of his headstone. My fingers gliding over the engraving that was written on it. I wished I could cry, I wanted to. "So we are back in Forks," I continued, "I know it's been a long time since we've been back, but I never forgot you dad. Thought about you every single day. Edward's fine, he's back at the cottage. The rest of the Cullen's are fine to. Im not sure how long we are back for this time, but I promise Ill visit as often as possible. I've been all over the world dad, even if I have seen it all at night or in the rain. Its not such a big place when you have forever to explore it."
I sat quietly next to the place where Charlie was buried until dawn, before saying goodbye to my father and heading back to the cottage.
Edward greeted me at the door when I returned. "Hey my love," his velvety voice greeted me, "how was it?"
"Good I guess, nice to see him again if you know what I mean," I said quietly. Edward use to come with me when I visited Charlie, but I preferred to be alone, so eventually he stopped coming with me. He didn't need to worry about my well being I was more then capable of looking after myself.
"So are you ready to visit Jacob?" Edward asked.
"Sure am." I answered. Yes, Jacob was still alive. He now owned a very successful line of mechanic workshops throughout the state. He had never stopped phasing, so never started to age. I felt sorry for him; he had never imprinted on anyone or even really fallen in love. He had relationships but they never lasted very long, he just couldn't settle with anyone long enough to stop phasing. As it turned out Leah and Jacob didn't stay together, it was only 6 months after I had been changed that Leah imprinted on the delivery man one day at Newton's Store. She stopped phasing almost immediately, and within 2 years had a daughter. Leah's great great granddaughter now lived in New York, doing some kind of advertising job. I had never met her, but had heard stories about her through Jacob. Quil and Clare had a lot of children; they had their own mini tribe. And all there great great grandchildren were scattered all over the country. I couldn't even tell you how many there were even if I wanted to. Billy Black passed away, and that was almost as hard as the day Charlie passed, if not harder. Seeing Jacobs pain at losing his father was almost unbearable. That was at least a funeral I could attend. The entire Cullen family attended that funeral and I sat with Jacob up the front, everyone there was a werewolf or a descendent of one, and being friends with the vampires was no secret in La Push. Most of the pack had passed on; some were still alive but were now old. Seth was only in his forties; he never imprinted but stopped phasing when he met a girl he liked on a family trip to Disneyland of all places. He now had teenage children with his wife, and he hoped that because he no longer phased, there was no chance on him imprinting on anyone and leaving his wife and kids. The youngest who remained of the original Quilette wolf pack was Jacob, forever young. I felt sorry for him, to live this long with someone you love and family can get tiresome, but to do it alone? I shuddered at the thought. It was not something I would wish on anyone.
Although Jacob had many garages throughout the country he still resided in La Push and chose to work in the garage he set up in La Push and charged next to nothing to fix the locals cars. He never got questioned about never aging in La Push which is why he chose to remain here. He let other people run his businesses in other towns. Jacob was actually quite wealthy but to look at him, you wouldn't think so, he had done up his fathers red house after he passed and it was now quite modern. Not over the top modern like the Cullen's, but nice all the same. But he kept it that familiar barnyard red color.
I raced Edward to Jacob's and he beat me, I was tempted to cheat and put an orb around him but I was nice, and didn't. I had lost my super speed as being a new born worn off, so Edward was once again the fastest in the family.
"I think you owe me a grand total of $1260 my love." Edward said cheekily as we slowed from our run before we hit the forest edge.
"Just put it on my tab." I replied. I always thought I had a chance of beating Edward, I would bet him $10 every time we raced….I obviously lost each bet. It was Emmett's fault; he'd got me into betting in the first place.
Edward gave me his favourite crooked smile. "You know I don't expect you to pay, I just like to keep track….of how many times I've beat you."
I gave him a playful whack, "yeah yeah funny guy."
I took his hand as we entered onto the clearing that was Jacob's backyard. I could hear the sound of wood being chopped in the shed, so Edward and I made our way towards the shed.
"It's been awhile since we've seen him." Edward murmured.
"I know, to long." I replied. We kept in contact through phone and internet, but it had been a few years since I had seen him in person.
I hadn't noticed the sound of wood being chopped had stopped, until I heard a familiar voice.
"Bella?" I heard his voice almost a whisper. He had obviously heard Edward's and my arrival.
"Bella is that you?" his voice a little louder, but he was still in the shed and hidden from my view.
"Yeah it's us Jake" I called out to him, a grin started to spread across my face at the thought of seeing my friend again. I heard the sound of him putting the axe down and fast footsteps as he made his way out the shed, and then he appeared at the shed door.
"Bells! Edward!" he exclaimed. "Oh my god, its been way to long!" he came rushing over to us, giving Edward a manly handshake and pat on the back, and me a bone crushing hug, that didn't hurt at all.
"Oh wow, look at you guys, haven't changed at all." And he laughed.
"Neither have you!" I retorted, and he laughed again. He looked exactly the same, broad chest and shoulders, his black hair, still black, not a sign of grey anywhere. His skin his beautiful russet brown, and he smelled like…home, just how I always remembered him. He looked tired though, in need of a goods night sleep.
"Come on," Jake said putting his arms around both of us, "let's go sit on the porch, we've got so much to catch up on!" He was unable to hide his excitement at having visitors.
He had a lovely outdoor area on his porch. It looked like he had found a large log and just carved a table and seats into it, it was amazing. Actually I wouldn't be surprised if that's exactly what he did.
"Well you guys are easy guests to please, don't need to bother offering you a coffee or anything." And he settled into the chair across from Edward and I.
"So, how's life? How long are you back for?" he asked.
"Good," Edward replied, "We are back for a few years; Carlisle is back at the hospital again. It's been a long enough break from working in Forks. This time we aren't going to school though."
"You aren't?" Jacob replied.
"No, Bella here set that all in motion didn't you my love." And I was sure if I could have blushed I would have. I still didn't like being centre of attention.
"Yeah I got bored with it after awhile, well after ten times it just gets a bit repetitive. If anyone asks, us Cullen kids are home schooled."
Jacob thought about that for a moment, "Id get bored going to school that many times to."
Jacob had a simpler life then ours, we always tried to fit in to our society, while Jacob simply didn't care, and living in La Push he simply didn't have to try.
"Yes, well" Edward continued, "Bella's going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment"
Jacob looked at me shocked, and worried. "You are? How so?"
I could have punched Edward then, was it really necessary he brought that upon our first visit to Jacob. But part of me was slightly relieved, it was someone outside of the family that I could talk to about it, he was like my personal own Dr Phil.
"Yeah I am, but I don't want to talk about that right now, but I promise I will talk about that with you later Jacob ok. How's life been with you? Partner? Kids?"
It was obvious Jacob was reluctant to change the subject, but with the promise of revisiting the subject later, he moved on with the conversation.
"Um no to partner, and no to kids. I just can't seem to settle, I suppose Im just meant to be a bachelor forever!" he exclaimed, but it didn't go unnoticed the edge in his voice, I knew Jacob well enough to know he really wasn't ok with his situation. Another thing we would talk about together no doubt.
We stayed on Jacob's porch most the day, talking, laughing and catching up. We took a tour of his house, and shed. His shed was by far his favourite places. He had so many different cars, and he and Edward teased each other about who had the faster cars. It was funny to think over 100 years ago they could of easily killed each other….it was funny to think that I could even think back 100 years ago.
It was early evening when Edward decided he would head home, and left me to catch up with Jacob by myself.
"Ill see you when you get home my love," and he kissed me on the cheek. "Nice to see you again Jacob, come over sometime and Ill show you a real classic car!"
"It's a deal." Jacob said chuckling at Edward. I had no clue which car of Edwards was the classic one. I could barely name any of the cars in our garage. I knew Volvo and that was it.
Edward gave my hand a gently squeeze, "Ill be missing you," he kissed me again and disappeared into the forest.
"Love you" I said, knowing he would still hear me.
Jacob made a gagging sound behind me, "still as gay as ever I see." Grinning from ear to ear.
"Shut up Jake," but I couldn't help smiling back at him.
"Well I don't know about you, but Im starving, Im going to order pizza. Come on lets go inside, and then when Im well fed your gonna tell me about your rough patch your going through,"
I followed him back up the stairs to the house, "and you're going to tell me why you're still single and kidless."
I heard him sigh, then mumble. "Deal."