I'm so glad you're all enjoying it so far! I know there is a bit of hesitation when it comes to the author's made up characters, and in this story there are quite a few. However they do not take presidence over the Twilight characters and they will be lovable and compliment the main characters nicely. Anyone who has read stories I've written before, knows I tend to make non-canon characters quite likable. :)
Chapter Three: Dead of Winter
Bella POV
"What is it?!" Isaac asked as I grinned into the camera. I was sitting in my bedroom in Franklin, my dad and brothers on Skype with me. I had yet to tell them how my meeting with Mike had went and I was anxious to fill them in. I had signed my recording contract a few days ago.
"Hold on! Jaxon needs to be here too!" I told them and Isaac groaned, standing up from his laptop. I heard faint yelling and Jaxon's named called and I laughed at my twin's impatience.
"Hurry up!" He yelled again and I laughed to my screen. I heard the door open and close and I watched Jaxon and Isaac appear on the screen.
"This better be good!" Jaxon told me, out of breath. He had just gotten home. I grinned to him and nodded.
"I'm sure you'll agree it was worth the effort." I told him and he chuckled. I looked to my family on my screen and I couldn't hold it in any longer.
"I got a recording deal!" I shouted and watched the guys break into hysterics, shouting and celebrating. I laughed as their shocked faces disappeared from the shot and reappeared again, wanting more information.
"So what does this mean?! How long will you be gone for?!" Isaac asked and I shrugged.
"I'm not sure to be honest. I'll be registering at a high school here tomorrow to finish grade ten here in Tennessee and I'll probably be here for grade eleven too. It's going to take a while between writing new songs, recording them, collecting a band, promotion, actually making the CD…it's a lengthy process." They nodded and my dad spoke.
"So they will be promoting you then?" I nodded hesitantly.
"Well….yes and no. I mean…of course they will do what they can because they want me to be profitable for them…but they will also be shipping me all over the place on my breaks apparently to sing a song or two for radio junkets, small sets to fill gaps for headlining tours, if I'm lucky Mike said I could even get a spot opening for someone." He nodded.
"And what does that mean for school?" I sighed. I know he wants me to finish school…
"Well we would have to come to that when it happens. I can always take a year off and continue school the following year or be home schooled but I can't always find someone willing to take a shot on me like that. So…right now I can balance school easily and…we will see about later." He nodded. I could tell it wasn't his ideal situation but I also knew he'd never ruin this moment for me. My brothers and I had a special relationship with each other and my dad. A lot is said with our eyes.
"Well I'm really proud of you Bells. You've worked really hard putting yourself out there and I know you'll be successful." I smiled to him.
"Thanks dad." He nodded and Isaac started to fidget.
"So…when will you be home next?" My expression turned sad looking at Isaac. I miss him so much…it feels like my other half is literally missing. The happy look on Tuck's face fell as well and I felt a piece of my heart break.
"I'm not sure…but Mike also said that he understands that I'm leaving family behind…there's a fund set up for artists that need…kind of like a slush fund before they really make it…for travelling so they can see their family. He said he would fly you guys out here for breaks and stuff." Their faces seemed brighter at this and I smiled to them.
"I won't let us go too long without seeing each other. If I can't come there because of work then I'll bring you here."
"We miss you B." Isaac told me and I felt a tear fall down my cheek.
"I miss you guys too." I whispered.
Paul POV
"So what…she's just…gone? For how long?" I asked as we sat around Sam's kitchen table.
"Look man, I don't know. She'll be gone for a good year and a half at the least." I felt my heart crack at his words. My Bella…I wanted so badly to be happy for her. She was starting her dream…I'd wanted this moment to come for so long. My Bella…she's so unbelievably talented. I've never doubted her for a second. She's got the will to win…she's never backed down from what she wanted. I need this for her almost as much as she needs it…I just never expected it to hurt so much.
"I just…I wish she knew." I told Jaxon. Sam looked up to me and I hung my head.
"I know, I know. I didn't want to tell her but…it would have been so much easier. Just…I wish we had a policy where our families could know…Bella would have already known about Jax and it would have been easy for us to work through it…" I looked to Jaxon who nodded.
"I kind of wish my family knew…to be honest. I mean…they never really ask…and they don't need to know…but I feel like there's a wall between us. I live this whole secret life they don't know about." I nodded. I couldn't imagine how Jaxon did it all this time. He phased when Bella was going into grade nine…just before we started dating. At least my mom knew from the start. No one in Jaxon's family knows he's a werewolf. Sam cleared his throat.
"Well…what do you guys think then? I mean…once you tell someone, you have to put up with the repercussions of them either not believing you, being afraid of you…you can't un-tell your loved ones." I looked to Sam and nodded. Since Claire found out a week ago things have been a lot easier at home for me. She's more understanding…and I'm less of a dick.
"Yea but it also relieves a lot of stress. I mean…it's a lot easier not needing to hide in my own house." Sam nodded and sighed.
"Well…you two are the pack. If you two think it's easier for the pack to tell family…then I support you. If you think it would be easier for newcomers…then I can't argue with it. My mom has always known." I looked to Jaxon who took a deep breath.
"I have one condition." He said and Sam and I looked to him. He began fiddling with a mark on the table and we waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts.
"I…uh…I don't want anyone telling Bella." He stammered and I narrowed my eyes. If he didn't tell Bella then how was I supposed to get her to forgive me? I couldn't tell her…it had to be Jaxon.
"What do you mean?" I asked and he looked pointedly at me.
"Bella has a lot on her plate and I won't have a bombshell like this ruin it for her. Let her get on her feet before we go fucking with her head." I could only stare at him. How…how could I just let go of it? How… but I could see it in his eyes. There was no negotiating. I hung my head defeated as Sam cleared his throat.
"It's official then. If a pack member wants to tell his family about the change and the pack, then he is able to."
Bella POV
I walked through the streets of Franklin, a light dusting of snow on the ground. Nothing close to what we have back home in Forks right now but…it's white non-the-less. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I can't help but wish I was with my dad and brothers. I love my mom but…we were never the closest mother and daughter. When my mom and dad divorced I had desperately wanted to stay in Forks with my dad and so when my mom ran off with Phil, whom she had met while still married to my dad, I stayed behind with him and my brothers.
I stopped and sat on a small park bench and sighed. I always found it funny that people complain about the snow…and yet wish away the heat in August. They never really know what they want until it's gone and you're unhappy with the alternatives. I looked to my shoes and willed away the tears.
I wonder if…if he actually misses me. If…I'm like the sun to him. He never knew he needed it until it was gone and he was left in the dead of winter…I doubted it.
If he missed me he never would have allowed this to go on for so long. If he truly broke down…he would have contacted me…wouldn't he? I felt the tears prick at my eyes, begging for release. I refused though…I was too angry.
I tried everyday to fix this and make it right. I tried so hard to be supportive of him and his insecurities. I even held off telling him how much I loved him…everyday. Because he felt bad that he couldn't say it back. I always thought…there was hope. That one-day his guard would fall down and I'd be lucky enough to hear it more than once…that maybe he'd want me to know. I just never thought I'd see the day when he discarded me all together. That all my patience and understanding would be for nothing. I felt a few tears fall.
What made it hurt the most…the thing I still couldn't wrap my head around…was that this happened right after we…were intimate for the first time. How could I not make that connection? He…he took my virginity and just…disappeared two weeks later. No explanation…no apology. Just left…and it ripped my insides apart. What if I wasn't what he expected…what if I…wasn't good.
A few more tears fell and I sniffled. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I took it out to see a text from Tuck.
'I miss you Bella…I hope you're day is filled with happiness.' I sniffled again, more tears falling down my cheeks to my chin. I missed them so much.
'I miss you too buddy. I hope yours is filled with happiness too.' I typed out and hit send. He sent me back a solitary happy face and I sighed. I can't help but feel spent. Being sad is exhausting…and questioning yourself takes so much strength. I was just spent. I pocketed my phone and looked around me. The beautiful scenery seemed dull in comparison to my pain and I knew I needed to pick myself up. It's been about a month since he stopped all contact with me…since then I've only heard a few words come from his mouth. Saying he'd be at my party…and then apologizing for breaking his promise. I shook my head. I should feel more closure than I do…it shouldn't still feel like it was only yesterday…but it did. I didn't want to be sad anymore…I didn't want to feel useless and question myself in order to place blame. I should be so happy…my life finally starting to fit into a bigger picture. But all I could think of was laying in his bed beside him, nestled into his arms. Feeling like…we had our whole lives ahead of us.
And knowing now how wrong I was.
I know this is a very short chapter but it was the right place to end given how I want the next chapter to go. Together, this and the next chapter create a nice long one. Enjoy!