Chapter 3: The Talk

Bella POV

I took a deep breath. "Well I really don't know where to start." I told her truthfully with a shrug.

"Start from the beginning." She prompted.

"Okay. Well it all started after you guys left. I was always moping around and being depressed. I would have nightmares every night and I would wake up screaming and crying. I wouldn't eat and I barely left my room. I sat in my chair in front of the window watching as the seasons changed. It was really bad and Charlie stepped in and told me I was going back to my mom and Phil in Florida. I couldn't leave…I just I couldn't do it. I knew what Edward had told me was true you guys weren't coming back but a part of me…a part of me couldn't let you all go. Charlie told me what I was doing wasn't right I needed to be with my friends and stop cutting myself off from the world. That's when it began. I started hanging out with my friends again but I wouldn't do normal things with them. We wouldn't go to the mall or places like that because I couldn't take seeing and the couples together I could hardly handle being at school let alone a place with tons of teenagers. We wouldn't go to the movies because they just wanted to see chick flicks and romances I couldn't do it. So I suggested a club. We would go every weekend and soon we all started acting the part. Nobody would mess with us, not even the drunk assholes. All the men wanted to be with us and all the women wanted to be us. I turned into…well I turned into a total badass. Everyone knew who I was and knew not to mess with me. I was like Rosalie but twenty times worse. It was really unhealthy especially when I decided to be a daredevil."

"What do you mean a daredevil?" Alice interrupted.

"Well let's just say that whole cliff diving thing wasn't the first, what was it you called it, oh yeah. It wasn't my first act of life threatening idiocy." I explained laughing. She just sat there and looked at me like I had two heads.

"So anyways," I continued, "I was a badass sexy bitch and it was actually kind of fun. I felt confident and I felt wanted. Sometimes I felt a little too wanted when some asshole would try to move in on me, but as you witnessed that didn't happen very often because I was known for my right hook. I loved how it felt and to tell you the truth I am kind of sad that it had to end." I stated with a sigh.

"Why did it have to end?" Alice asked me seriously.

"Well being me, when you all came back I thought you wouldn't want me if I was that way. I thought maybe if I stayed the way I was before you all left that maybe this time you would stay. Imagine how everyone would act if I were to reveal badass Bella to them." I told her laughing as I pictured the faces of my family if that happened. Alice got a blank expression on her face as if she was focusing on something that wasn't there. I realized she was having a vision so I stayed quiet and she watched. When the vision ended she was laughing.

"What is it Alice what did you see?" I asked curiously.

"I just saw the family's reaction to badass Bella and it is definitely worth it. Bella if you don't want to give up that part of you then don't. The family will love you regardless of what you do. And trust me when I say that being badass Bella could benefit you in the long run." She laughed again.

"So you're saying that it will be a good thing if I go back to badass Bella?" I asked her wanting to confirm what she had said and make sure I got it right.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." She said with a nod.

"Well okay then looks like badass Bella will be making an appearance. And a permanent one at that." I was excited. This was going to be fun. Alice got that blank look on her face again and again I waited for her vision to end. This time when it ended her face was happy yet solemn at the same time. How is that possible?

"Alice what did you see this time?" I asked confused.

"Now that you've had your chance to talk Bella, it's my turn." She stated.

"Um…okay Alice go ahead." I gestured for her to start talking.

"Well for the last 35 years or so I have been getting visions of another vampire. But before I get into the significance of those visions there is something you need to know. You know that there is a difference between being in love or being a wife and being a mate right?" I nodded. Carlisle had briefly explained this to me. He hadn't gone into much detail but I got the gist of it. "Well you should know that although I love Jasper and he loves me it's more of a brotherly love. We have been growing apart for decades and we both new it. We talked about it often and have come to terms with it. We still love each other but in a more familiar way. We knew from the beginning that we weren't mates. We just found comfort in each other and we leaned on each other. About 10 years ago we got divorced. We didn't see the need to be married if we weren't in love and after this the visions got stronger. They are visions of my mate Bella. I see him all the time. And don't get me wrong Bella I don't want to hurt anyone but it's inevitable. We would've found each other anyways and I am just grateful that Jasper took it all right and he supports me. He has even encouraged me to set out and find him but I couldn't do that until now. The vision I just had is the one I have been waiting for. I have to go and find my mate Bella. Don't worry I'll be back I promise but if I don't go now then I may never have another chance at getting to him. You have to believe me when I say this is the only way. I love you Bella and I think of you as my sister. I will come back in time and I will miss you and the others dearly but this is a once in a lifetime chance for me. Please understand." She looked at me with pleading eyes. I just looked at her. She was leaving…now? I understand the whole once in a lifetime chance thing but couldn't she have given me some warning. Nonetheless I am happy for her. I had noticed the differences between her and Jasper I just never acknowledged them fully.

"Of course I understand Alice. Go…go and find your mate. And who knows maybe in time Jasper will find his mate." I gave her an encouraging smile and she hugged me fiercely. After about five minutes she let me go and pulled back. She was so happy she was bouncing up and down.

"Thank you Bella! Thank you for understanding!" she exclaimed.

"Anytime Alice. Just promise me that we'll stay in touch while you're gone because I want details." I told her with mock anger.

"Of course! But…only if you promise me something." She commanded. What could I possibly do for her?

"Um…sure Alice what is it?" this girl was one confusing little pixie.

"Promise me that you'll follow your heart. Wherever it leads I need to know that you will follow it even though it may not seem right at the time. Trust me!" she told me. What the hell was that supposed to mean? What could she be talking about? Oh well she has never steered me wrong before.

"I trust you with my life Alice. I promise." I insisted sincerely. As we were talking Alice had been packing up her things.

"Help yourself to the rest of my closet," she told me, "I'm sure the things in there will be perfect for badass Bella." She giggled before continuing seriously, "Everything will work out Bella you'll see." She smiled brilliantly at me and we both started downstairs. I grabbed one of her bags as we walked down the stairs. When we reached the bottom we were met by Jasper who hugged Alice tightly and spun her around.

"So it's finally time is it?" he asked her and she nodded excitedly. "Well good luck Ali and you better bring him home soon. I have to make sure he is good enough for you." he stated pretending to be serious. We all laughed at this and Alice hugged me once more as she walked to the garage and loaded her stuff in the trunk of her yellow Porsche. She closed the trunk and got in the car starting the engine. She waved and blew us kisses and she pulled out and drove away.

As annoying as that little pixie bitch was sometimes I was really going to miss her. We were like sisters and now it was like I didn't have one anymore. Its not like Rosalie would take her place and Esme was like my mother. I sighed mentally. It was going to be strange not having her around. Wait not having her around. That means…shit! Since Alice left I have to stay here the rest of the week with Jasper…by myself. It's not that I don't like him but I still think he hates me for some reason unknown to me. Shit…it's going to be a long week.

Jasper POV

Not even an hour ago we were at the club dancing and having fun. Then we turn around and see Bella fight off some drunken asshole that was trying to get lucky. I never knew she had it in her and it was kind of…hot! Whoa…where did that come from? What is up today? First Bella's feeling of lust towards me and now me calling her hot. Something strange is going on and I intend to find out what.

The girls had been upstairs talking and I-unintentionally- heard the whole thing. Badass Bella huh? Well…that out to be interesting to say the least. I can't wait to see the family's reaction to that and according to Alice it was going to be funny. They were in the middle of their conversation when everything got quiet. Then I heard Bella ask Alice what she had seen. Alice told Bella it was her turn to talk. Then she launched into our story. I loved Alice don't get me wrong but I loved her more as a sister and a best friend. She pretty much explained everything to a T. There wasn't anything more I would've added. Then Alice dropped what I thought was going to be a bomb…she was leaving…now! She explained to Bella how she had been seeing her mate and that she was going to go and get him. Well…it's about time! I have been telling her for years to go after him but she wouldn't listen. She could be so stubborn sometimes. I was afraid that this would kill Bella. But surprisingly she was fine with the whole thing she said she understood which greatly relieved Alice.

I heard them coming down the stairs now so I rose from my seat on the couch and met them and the foot of the staircase. I immediately grabbed her in a tight hug spinning her around.

"So its finally time is it?" I asked her and she nodded her head excitedly in confirmation. "Well good luck Ali and you better bring him home soon. I have to make sure he is good enough for you." I demanded in mock seriousness. They both laughed at this and I couldn't help but notice how sweet Bella's laugh sounded. Damn…why was I all of a sudden so aware of Bella?

Alice hugged me once more as she walked to the garage and loaded her stuff in the trunk of her yellow Porsche. She closed the trunk and got in the car starting the engine. She waved and blew us kisses and she pulled out and drove away.

As much as I hated to admit it I was going to miss that annoying ray of sunshine, as was Bella. I could tell from her emotions that she was perfectly okay with all of this but she was in fact going to miss her sister.

I went back to the couch and flopped down with a sigh. I was being comforted by Bella's emotions love, understanding, and a hint of loss. It was very similar to what I was feeling. That is until realization, nervousness and fear hit me. I knew it! I had thought from the beginning that Bella was afraid of me. That would explain why she always seemed to avoid me and was always nervous around me. I would have to fix that since we would be here together for the rest of the week. Holy shit! It's just going to be me her…here…alone…all week. What am I supposed to do if she is so scared of me? Shit…at this rate it was going to be a long week!