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Chapter 3
The Meadow
Bella POV
I waited until Edward was gone, before I left. I made him take me to our emergency apartment. The oldest girls in our colony were in charge of cover ups. So, we had this apartment in case we had to prove we were staying in an area. I huffed and locked up before going back the way we had come. I didn't see him and if I ran into him I could easily just say that I missed him. I slipped back into the waves and took his shirt off again. I put it on my rock just like last time and swam into deeper waters. I swam aimlessly around for a few hours, admiring the fishes that came to swim with me. It was pitch black down here, but my eyes are well adapted to the darkness, so I had no problem with it. And with all the underwater cameras, it was almost too easy to avoid getting my picture taken. Humans and they're curious ways. And then they swear that mermaids don't exist because we would have been caught on camera. I rolled my eyes at the explanations humans come up with for other species.
I loved being at the bottom of the ocean. And no I'm not fat! Humans have it in their naïve little heads that mermaids have to be bald and fat to live down in the deep part of the ocean. Lies. I loved it here because there were thousands of beautiful fishes swimming around. They were colorful and very appealing to the eye. And they liked me, which was a plus. Especially when you're feeling lonely, just talk to some fish and they'd be more than happy to show you around or even play with you. Always the pretty ones, though. The ugly and freaky looking ones are the meanest, but they understand how dangerous we are, so they keep their distance without insulting us completely. Star fish were adorable. They were all sucky and loved to talk. They were kind of the gossipers of the ocean. I smiled and passed a shark. He didn't look twice at me. He just kept swimming. Aha dory from Finding Nemo. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim. Ha ha ha ha ha I love swimming!
Sharks don't like us because we killed one effortlessly. But hey, that wasn't my fault. It attacked me and tried to rip my hair out.
I swam a little more and noticed the ringing in my head has been getting louder and louder. I noticed I was humming and I ran into Cynthia. "Hi Bella." She waved and swam circles around me. She got on my back, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and her tail around my stomach. I laughed because this was our version of a piggy back ride. I swam away to our cave and decided I could have some fun. I started twisting and turning in the current, laughing when Cynthia held me tighter. It would have been fun if she fell. The current would have still brought her to me. Or I could have brought her to me. Mermaids are able to manipulate water. I was one of the eldest sisters, so I was one of the best. We could make it do whatever we wanted. We could even remove salt from saltwater. Only the best could do that though. It took a lot of practice and concentration.
I pulled Cynthia along to the cave entrance and we let the current take us through, having a singing competition on the way. We had to sing or hum in order to alert our sisters that we were coming. This was for protection reasons. In case we were being held hostage by a human; not that it would've mattered. Like I said, we're nearly indestructible. We reached the cave and I ignored the others as they turned back into mermaids. We'd rather go unnoticed for what we really are. A few hundred years ago, they took our eldest sister for testing in a laboratory. From what she told us, it was terrifying. None of us would risk getting noticed. I led Cynthia to land and watched as she mentally played with the water. She only came to me for help and everyone here knew that. They also knew it wasn't anything personal and if for some reason, someone tried to kill her, they'd be dealing with me. I may not look very old, but I am and I have had a lot of experience with killing. No one double crosses me or her because I am the closest to her. She's all I have and I'm not going to let anyone take her from me.
We played for a little while and I taught her how to throw water at people, which ended up in us having a water fight on land. A few hours after that, I figured that we could get a little bit of sleep and got on the land portion of our cave. I fell asleep in no time, but woke up 5 hours later. That's the most we can sleep every night. Cynthia was still asleep and I wasn't about to leave her alone, so I sat at the edge of the water and stuck my feet it, practicing how to fight off the urge to unfurl my tail. I kicked and splashed, stopping when I felt a weird tugging. I wanted to follow my sense and find whatever my subconscious wanted to show me, but Cynthia was still sleeping. She woke up 20 minutes later and wanted to go play with her friends, so I allowed her to. Yes, allowed. She saw me as her adoptive mother, but cooler. She'd come to me about anything.
I smiled and dipped into the warm water, automatically following the pull that I felt. I was going through underwater caves and somehow ended up on dry land. I hesitated and lifted myself up out of the water completely. I lifted the water off my legs, leaving them instantly dry. I turned around and was met by a huge waterfall, bigger than the one we have in our cave, about 6 inches from my face. I was in awe and gathered up the courage to stick my head out of the waterfall and look around. I thought I saw a flash of a person, but decided against it. I stood behind the waterfall for a few minutes before slipping quietly into the water and swimming underneath the waterfall with legs. I stayed in the water and poked my head out. I didn't see anyone and let out a breath I had been holding. I took in my surroundings and saw a shirt next to the pool that the waterfall landed in. I got out and thought before putting it on. I decided I would because I could easily convince this stranger to give me his shirt. I was getting used to breathing normal air and that's when I noticed it. The shirt dropped to mid thigh and I pulled it up to smell again.
It's Edward's. He was here. This means I have two shirts to give him. My senses are heightened and I would recognize his scent anywhere. When I went into his house, I knew where his room was, but I figured I shouldn't go any further and left it on the stairs. I wonder why he left it here. I smiled and began walking around the meadow. It was beautiful in the sunlight. It had flowers everywhere and was secluded by a few hundred trees. I was awed by the area. It was easily one of the most beautiful waterfalls I had ever been to and I've been to thousands if not more all over the world. This one took my breath away and I decided I'd come back in a bit. I shrugged out of the shirt and went beneath the waterfall, swimming to my rock. I grabbed Edward's shirt, giving a flirtatious smile to some sailors and then flaunting my tail. Hey, we need to tell someone our secret. I swam back to the meadow and pulled myself out. I made sure no one had followed me and no one was in the meadow, especially Edward.
I pulled his shirt out of the water and lifted the water off myself and out of my hair, drying myself quickly. I pulled his dry shirt over my head and focused on the shirt that I had brought from my rock. I looked at it, ignoring my dark blue nails. Yeah, I know I'm holding a wet shirt. I don't need you to remind me. I lifted all the water out with my mind and threw it back into the pool. Within a few minutes, it was dry. I folded it neatly and placed it next to the water. I walked around the meadow and ran my fingers through my hair, wanting a brush. I pouted at the thought at sat beside the water with my legs crossed; the shirt was big enough to cover me completely.
I twisted a strand of my hair and decided I could lie down for a bit. I closed my eyes and felt the sun on my face, which was heavenly. I twisted a strand of my hair some more, admiring its smoothness. My yes snapped open and I looked at the water. I groaned and put my foot in, hearing their voices. I rolled my eyes and scanned the meadow, in case some humans found it. Nothing. I listened. Nothing. I smiled and pulled the shirt over my head. I folded it neatly and placed it on top of the other shirt. I ran and dove behind the waterfall, feeling relieved as my tail unfolded itself. I pumped it lightly, missing it since I had basically spent a few hours with legs. I swam out of the several caves I had to go through to get to the meadow and went to our cave. I simply grabbed one of the new brushes and began brushing through my long wet hair. I was so lost in my thoughts that it took me a while to notice Cynthia wasn't here. "Where's Cynthia?" I asked several of her friends and they shrugged. I stared one down and she caved, "At the apartment." I breathed a sigh of relief and swam out, ignoring my sisters.
I tore out of the waves, not really worrying about someone seeing me. I half considered going to Edward's house for help. Well, for clothes. But I quickly shook that thought out of my head. I frantically swam to the meadow and sighed when the shirts were still there. I put one over my head and grabbed the other for Cynthia. I slipped back into the water and swam to the shore. I stumbled out of the waves and scanned the area before drying myself. I ran to the apartment and threw open the door. I ran around calling for her and she wasn't there. I panicked. Where would she go? Maybe she got worried and followed my scent… Where have I been? The meadow, but she wasn't there. My rock, she wasn't there either. Edward's house, she wasn't there… Oh! I ran to Edward's house, glad that I was a runner when I was human. I stopped before the house could come into view and ran back. I heard her singing. I found her at my rock, completely out of it. She didn't even notice me until I was at her side, glaring. "Oh, hi Bella." She brushed her hair and I noticed her tail was a purplish color, turning slightly pink. She started singing again and I continued to glare until she stopped and looked at me, "What's wrong?" I sighed, "Where have you been? I've been running around for 20 minutes looking for you." Realization dawned on her face.
"I'm so sorry, Bella. I was talking to him and I guess I lost track of time." She blurted out and then shrank back from me with her hands clasped over her mouth. "Him?" I raised my eyebrows and she wouldn't meet my gaze. I scooted closer and put my arm around her shoulders, "It's okay. I'm not going to say anything. I just need to know these things. I thought you were upset and ran off. It wouldn't be a first, you know." She nodded and I hugged her, "You're not mad?" I shook my head, "Do I get to meet him?" She looked dreamy again as she spoke, "He's so nice and gentle and cute. Oh, he's really cute. And he offered to walk me home. So, I led him to the apartment. He even kissed my cheek." She touched her cheek and I saw her tail go a clear blue. "He has the most beautiful eyes. They're so blue." I laughed and poked her tail. She looked down and got embarrassed, so her tail went a deeper pink. The equivalent to a human's blush. I laughed. "I'm sorry I freaked out. I just got worried. So, I get to meet him?" I stuck my tongue out at her and she smiled widely, noticing I was only kidding.
Edward POV
I was in my meadow with Alice. We haven't spent much time together and I missed her. I put my arm over her shoulders in a brotherly manner and decided she might be a little bored, so I asked if she wanted to go swimming. She shook her head, "I don't have a bathing suit." She smiled widely as soon as the words left her mouth and she pouted at me, bouncing. "You bounce a lot." She laughed and bounced more, "Can we? Please?" I rolled my eyes and nodded, letting her grab my hand and lead me away. She got in my Volvo and I decided I might get her a car. She yelled and clapped, "You're going to get me a car?"
I nodded and drove her to the mall. She dragged me to a million stores and I didn't mind because I was hanging out with my little sister. "Ooooo! Let's go in there! And in there!" She couldn't make up her mind and ended up buying 10 different bikinis and asking my opinion when she modeled.
I growled at passing guys that couldn't take their eyes off her, "I think you need to get a one piece." She laughed and patted my shoulder, "Like I'd do that." I rolled my eyes and told her to get the one with the little skirt, so less skin showed. She nodded and got little skirts for each one. I ended up throwing a shirt at her, so her upper body wouldn't show and she rolled her eyes, but then came back when I pulled out a dress.
"That's actually not a bad idea. Can you get me more dresses like this one?" I smiled, glad that she was willing to cover up. I went through each rack, shirt by shirt, to find all the pretty spaghetti strap dresses that she might like. "OMG! Edward! You need to come shopping with me more often. I never would have thought to get these cute little sun dresses." I nodded to her and then asked, "Hey, why are they called spaghetti strap? The straps don't look like noodles." It took her a while to realize I was serious and she started laughing hysterically. "You're so funny." I mumbled in response, "I wasn't trying to be. I really wanted to know." She just rolled her eyes at me and tried to grab all of her bags. I took them all away from her and held them easily. We've only been to 6 stores and I already have 30 bags and she spent a few thousand dollars.
She ran out of money and for some reason, her credit card wasn't working. Her expression went blank and I looked into her mind.
Alice's Vision
Emmett lifted up a credit card and went on the computer, canceling all the credit cards Alice had just to mess with her. "This is for taking Rosalie away from me for 2 weeks!" He started to shred all of her clothes and laugh evilly.
End of Alice's Vision
She looked like she wanted to cry and I hated to see her sad. I set down the bags and hugged her while she sobbed. "I can't b-believe he did th-that. I only w-w-wanted to m-make Rose p-p-prettier for h-him." I patted her back and felt my face fall when she sobbed harder, "And h-he d-decided at the l-last m-minute. I didn't s-see it-t c-c-coming." I nodded and dropped my arms from her as she sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand out of habit. I pulled my wallet out and handed it to her. Her face lit up and she jumped at me. I actually couldn't break out of her hold.
"Thank you! Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!" She was screaming and bouncing, which made me smile crookedly at her. She ran to the nearest store and started buying everything she saw, asking me for my opinion. I gave it to her honestly and she listened, putting back everything I didn't like and buying everything I said made her eyes stand out. The entire mall, 80 shopping bags, and thousands of dollars later, we were back home.
I sat in her room with her and neatly folded her clothes. She had the radio on and was singing to some song. I laughed and she decided to dance with me. I let her pull me up and I started twirling her around and doing retarded dance moves that ended up with us clutching our stomachs on the floor. We stopped and finished putting all of her clothes away. I stood up and went back to my meadow when Jasper walked in and they connected eyes, forgetting I was there. I closed the door on my way out and decided I'd go for my swim like I wanted to. I undressed down to my boxers and got a running start, landing in a canon ball. All the water splashed out for a second before the waterfall filled the pond-like area back up. I opened my eyes underwater and stared at the fish swimming around in the pool. I smiled and they all darted away from me into their hiding places. I heard my phone vibrate and I jumped out, answering it on the second ring, "Hello?" Alice came on the phone, a little hysterical, "Your future just went all fuzzy. Are you okay? Where are you?" I answered while putting my clothes on quickly, "My meadow." She sighed and told me, "Come home right now and I'll show you what happened just now." "Okay, let me just get my shirt." I turned around and headed to the waterfall where my shirt was, stopping when I heard Alice panic on the other line. "Edward, stop. You just vanished. Come home right now. I want to show you." I nodded even though she couldn't see me and ran out, comforting her over the phone. I opened the door to my house and was nearly tackled by Alice, "I was so worried. Look." I looked into her mind and was confused.
Alice's Vision
I was walking in my meadow and then went in for a swim. I got closer to the waterfall and the vision went blurry. I was the only thing going blurry. Everything else was crystal clear. I could make out every blade of grass and every drop that fell from the waterfall. I got fuzzier and as soon as I got dressed, I cleared up. I turned around to get my shirt and I went blurry before completely vanishing. The meadow looked still and everything was in place. I was the only thing missing.
End of Alice's Vision
I shook my head and narrowed my eyes, "This doesn't make any sense." She was breathing heavily and hugged me again, "I was so scared. I thought maybe the Volturi might have come or maybe some nomads that I couldn't see. I thought you were going to die." I held her tighter and patted her head, messing up her hair, "I'm not going to die." I looked at Jasper and he was struggling with Alice's pain. Edward, no matter what I do, I can't stop her pain. I'm really worried. I know you can take care of yourself, but please be cautious… for her sake at least. You two are very close and I wouldn't be able to fill your space in her heart if you went missing. I nodded slightly, in response to Jasper. I wonder why I vanished. Will I be able to go back to my meadow? I ran my hand through my hair and spent the rest of the night watching chick flicks with Alice. I even let her brush my hair and put it into pony tails and what not to calm her down. She lost all her family when she was very young and she didn't have anyone for about a decade. And then she found us. Emmett and I became her overprotective brothers. I was closest to her because we could have silent conversations easily with her visions and my mind reading.
I haven't seen her break down like that before. I felt the pain radiating off Jasper and I couldn't help but comfort her. I usually try not to hug or kiss or anything. But I found myself kissing Alice's forehead and hugging her tightly to calm her down. I even let her touch my freaking hair. The next day, she seemed better and I went hunting with her just because. That calmed her down even more and Jasper helped by distracting her and confining her emotions.
To make her feel better, I decided I'd hang out with her some more and she liked that idea. The vision made her realize that she wanted to be even closer to me, and I had no problem with that. She never got too overwhelming and I thought of her as my little sister, so it all worked out. As she went upstairs to spend some time with Jasper, I read a few medical textbooks in Carlisle's study to review everything I've learned over my lifespan and to see if I could learn anything that I already hadn't. My thoughts kept drifting to Bella and I couldn't help but wonder when I'd see her next.
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Merry Chirstmas!(:
