Author's Notes: Thank you to anyone who is reading this. I didn't have this in the first chapter so I'm going to add it now.
I don't own any of the charachters or lines from the Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, they belong to, well whoever it is they belong to.
Ok, that's done. Feel free to review and/or PM me. This is my first story so thanks for reading!
Chapter 2.
The Cullen's home was huge and it looked as if it belonged in a magazine. The red haired vampire, who I learned was called Edward, drove the human, Bella, home.
Esme gave me a tour of the house, showing me an empty room where I could stay. "When we were building Alice insisted we have an extra room built. We never imagined we would be gaining an addition to put in it."
The room was spacious but not so big as to be daunting. After living fifteen years with my drunkard of a father in a one room apartment, my own space was a welcome sight.
As we were heading back down the stairs I noticed a peculiar piece of art hanging on the wall. It looked to be rows of graduation caps. I ran my hand along the silken cover. "Are these what they appear to be?" Esme smiled warmly, "Only if they appear to be graduation caps. Yes, we happen to be quite the scholars." I laughed softly and said under my breath, "I'd be happy to graduate once." Esme turned from the wall to me, "Then you will my dear."
The rest of the week I did my best to avoid the other vampires, preferring seclusion to the watchful eyes of the coven. Esme came looking for me once, to ask if I wanted to feed. I replied that I was not yet thirsty, even though in truth pain scratched at the inside of my throat, burning with the lust for blood. Ignoring it, I spent my time stealing books from other rooms and hoarding them in my room. I had every intention of returning them, but when I tried I was unable to remember where I had gotten each one.
After five days had passed and I hadn't fed, Jasper found me holed up in my den of books. Had I not restrained myself, I might have let out a hiss my nerves were so frayed from my solitary suffering.
Jasper frowned at me, surrounded by stolen novels. "We've been wondering where these books went. Nice to know we have a biblioklept."
I ducked my head, "I meant to return them."
"Are you thirsty?"
I shook my head, "I'm fine, don't worry about me, I…" Jasper grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet.
"Don't lie, you haven't fed in five days, at least. Your throat is burning and you refuse to release yourself from the pain."
This time I did hiss as he pulled me from my room by my armpits, my feet dragging on the ground.
"Come on, pick your feet up. We're leaving."
Then I stopped fighting him, allowing him to lead me through the hallway, down the stairs, past the kitchen, and out the back door.
Outside was not a pretty day, it was cloudy and chilly. I rubbed my eyes as they adjusted to the light. Even the muted light that came in through the clouds was more than what my room offered, more than likely because I had closed the blinds and refused to turn on the lights but lighter nonetheless.
The wind started to whip around me. I clutched my jacket tight around my body.
"Follow me," was the only warning I received before Jasper's back sprinted off into the forest.
My advanced nose immediately locked on his scent and my legs strived to follow.
When he stopped my throat was undeniably burning and I couldn't keep my hands from rubbing my neck. My nose caught a whiff of blood, an unfamiliar scent, but blood. I dropped into a crouch as I hissed at Jasper, "What is it?"
He pointed to just over a ledge where a large cat paced back and forth. "Mountain Lion."
Disbelief must have showed on my face for Jasper continued, "It's not as bad as it smells, besides you need blood."
I shot him another glance before I let my hunter's instincts take over. Mountain Lions, naturally, are stronger than the average human, but in my feeding mode, my brain did not pick up on this fact before lunging. Even in my weakened state, I still had the element of surprise on my side, but the creature had strength and desperation. It thrashed, forcing my teeth to make long gashes in the fur, spraying blood everywhere. The animal had escaped my grasp momentarily, but now I had the taste of blood in my mouth and I was not ready to give up my meal so easily.
As I drained the mountain lion, I grew stronger and the lion fought less.
My mouth was pleasantly covered in blood. I licked my lips before wiping the rest off with the sleeve of my soiled jacket.
When I turned, I found Jasper waiting. He had hunted while I was struggling with the cat. The smudge of blood on the corner of his lip told wonders. He saw me looking at his lips and wiped it away with the back of his hand.
"I'm not normally a messy eater…" I started. "I didn't say anything. He turned around before adding, "You should have killed it first." That would have solved the problem nicely. I almost replied and then I realized Jasper was no longer standing there. His trail led back to the house where he was waiting outside with the larger yellow-eyed one, Emmett who was watching the sky.
"Thunderstorm."
Jasper nodded, knowingly. Me, well let's just say I was more than a little bit confused.
Of course, being the sensible person I am, I followed them into the car anyways. It seemed as though they were trying to keep me out of the house. That was warranted, I supposed, I had spent five days straight reading books stolen from other rooms.
One glance to the far back of the car revealed a baseball bat, and an assortment of gloves.
It would have been a very awkward drive except that Emmett turned the music all the way up and Rosalie would change the dial back down. This in turn, would cause Emmett to change it back up, even higher than before, resulting in Rosalie's immediate readjustment. The pattern continued until we stopped outside a patch of trees.
Carlisle and Esme showed up behind our car and grabbed gloves out of the back.
Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett grabbed gloves and I picked up the smaller of the remaining two. Not expecting it to fit, I found myself surprised when it fit, well, like a glove.
Teams were formed, almost by instinct, for them at least. I stood on the outskirts until Carlisle motioned form me to join his and Emmett's team.
Rosalie was up to bat first. She swung the bat deftly, comfortable with it in her hands. Carlisle pitched it and I barely saw it before it flew over my head. Emmett sprinted off after it and I made my way to second base just as he threw it, right before Rosalie slid into me, barreling me over.
"Out!" Esme's voice rang out as the thunder pealed above sounding very similar to the noise of the bat and the ball coming in contact.
Rosalie shot me a glare before returning to the outskirts of the field.
Jasper came up next and I had the oddest notion to set up in my hunting position. Carlisle threw the ball and everything slowed down. Jasper swung at the ball with all his might, sending it flying.
My body knew what to do, chasing after it as if it were my prey. Emmett tried to keep up but he fell behind and I managed to snag it out of the air and turned off my hunting instincts so I didn't try to sink my fangs into it. I tossed the ball to Emmett, softly, not trusting my strength. "You throw like a human," he teased. The corners of my lips turned up in a smile, "You run like one." He held up his hands in defeat, "Touché."
When it was my turn to bat I approached with little confidence. Esme was pitching, but she did not look as though this was the normal position for her. Perhaps the other vampire had been a marvelous pitcher.
My arms attempted to mimic the way I had seen the others do it, but the position felt awkward. The ball came swiftly and I was unsure how to swing so I threw my arms out, holding the bat firmly. After I heard the crack, my feet did the rest of the work. I rounded secont but found the air rush out of my lungs. Of course, I didn't need air, but it still hurt. Rosalie stood over me, "Out." I blew the hair out of my face and ran back to the sidelines.
By the end of the game, I was relieved not to be human, not to bruise at least. I might have been a walking grape with all the purple and blue all over my body. In the absence of bruises I was sore everywhere, but a good sore. My old coven had been physical, especially in the way of their threats but never like the Cullens, playfully physical.
Spirits were high on the car ride back. I laughed with Emmett and Jasper and even Rosalie. They let me choose the song one time and I turned the dial to find one that sounded familiar. It wasn't until the end that I realized where I had heard it. Diego had showed it to me once, in our "ninja" meetings. That thought soured the rest of the ride. It was a nagging thought, always at the back of my mind, the song playing on repeat.