The Cullens haven't been coming to school lately, maybe i see them in school twice a week. It has been two weeks since the meeting. I didn't know what was going to happen.
"Vic, i can't tell if they are in trouble or not, what should i do?" I ask.
"Bells, give it a rest. If they wanted to do something they would have, obviously their parents got responsible, finally." Victoria muttered.
"Vic, their parents are great. They had no idea this was going on, but they were so mad when they found out. Charlie told me." I muttered.
"Oh, goodness." She complained. "Let's move on to another topic, it seems like my nails are taking forever to dry and this heavy topic not helping."
"Okay, so how are you and James?" I ask.
"Ugh, don't remind me. He saw some chick and i got jealous, and ..." Victoria starts crying.
"Vic, who was it? Give me a description."
"Well, they saw each other and hugged really close, he kissed her cheek and they were taking. Her eyes sort of blazed when she saw me, he introduced me. And i demanded to know who she was, i asked if he was cheated on me and then we broke up."
"What did she look like?" I ask.
"Blue eyes, blonde hair, high heels, and fashion crazy girl."
"Vic, that is his half cousin. Adopted cousin i mean, they are really close in a family way. But they rarely see each other. Give it a rest, i will call him and yell at him."
"I love you bella."
"Love you to Vic, now tell me. When are you coming, i am bored." I groan.
"Soon, soon. I have a lot going on." She giggled.
"Like James, and Amy?"
"That is her name?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, is she nice?" Victoria asks, hesitantly.
"Don't you dare try to get to know her. She wants to be with James and that won't work so well." I explain. The doorbell rings. I get up and walk downstairs.
"So that is a no." She sighs. "I wish you were here, you would hug me now and i would hug you."
"Victoria, you are so weird. Why am i your friend?" I joke. "Hold it." I open the door and once again try to close it. But some ones foot stop me.
"We just want to talk."
"I am busy." I hiss.
"Esme and Carlisle are in the car, want them to come inside?" Alice asks softly.
"I don't want anyone inside. I am really busy now, and Charlie is going to be home soon." I struggle with the door some more.
"Bella, ten minutes." Rosalie begs.
"Fine." I open the door and they come in. So does Esme. I lift the phone to my face. "Vic, i have to go. Sorry."
"Okay, but we are friends cause i helped you and you are slowly paying me." She says, i laugh. "Bye Bells."
"Bye." I close the phone and look at them.
"Is that all you do? Talk on the phone?" Emmett asks. \
I raise an eyebrow. Esme stays quiet, like she is expecting them to apologize. They don't. "Kids." She says after a while. Then she leaves and waits in the car.
"We are sorry." Emmett says.
"For what, the phone comment or all those years of bullying?" I move into the kitchen and start making steak dinner.
"For everything." Edward says.
"Are you really sorry?" I ask pointing a fork at him. "Or did Esme take you baby away?"
He looks confused.
"Dude, your car." I say after a few minutes.
"She did, but i was sorry when you left."
"Well why the heck are you still bullying people?"I snap.
"Because we needed to take our anger out." Rosalie said.
"Those anger objects are called pillows Rosalie. Not People." I tell her.
She shruggs.
"Clearly you do not have pillows in your house, so until you buy some pillows, don't come talking to me." I advise. "Can you close the door on the way out?"
They quietly leave. I wash my hands and call vICTORIA.
"Hey friend that i am slowly paying back."
"Hey Gurl." Victoria yells.
"Vic, don't yell. I can hear you fine."
We talk for an hour as i cook. Charlie comes home and i quickly hang up.
"Hey dad."
"Bells'"
"Um, The Cullens stopped by to apologize, i think maybe you should go see Carlisle and Esme, talk to them about anger management."
"Is this what it is about? Anger issues?" Charlie asked.
"I guess. They seem to have something worth getting angry about. Wonder what." I mutter.
"Don't go near them."
"Dad, i am older. I stood up for myself once i can do it again."
"We are done talking about this." He declares. "I am going to watch the game. Do whatever you want."
"Okay, i think i might go out for a while, just to port angeles to do some shopping. I should be back before eleven."
"Okay, be careful." I put his dinner on the stove and tell him to take it off in a half hour. When he agrees i head out. I drive like a maniac, i get there in very soon.
I visit a few bookstores and buy some about an hour i put everything in my truck and go to the grocery store.
Well i am there i meet the only girl who was ever nice to me.
"Angela." I say, we hug quickly.
"It is so good to see you Bella, after the talent show i had to go meet my cousin. But congratulations."
"Thank you." I say.
"How are you, you look really great."
"I am wonderful, and you?"
"Better. The Cullens haven't been in school much, all of us a relieved."
"Really, why?"
"After you left, they bullied everyone. Even their friends sometimes, then this last month they stayed alone and you showed up."
"Many think it is because your dad told Carlisle, and they overheard. I guess they were half worried or something."
"That is interesting. I need to go, i told Charlie i would be back by eleven."
'Where did you go?"
"I went shopping, needed a few things." I explain. "How have you been these past days? Did the Cullens bully you also?"
"No, they left me alone." She said, surprised. "I was waiting, then i quit school and homeschooled. I just started again this year."
"Wow, things have gone crazy when i left."
"They really have, don't you think?"
"Well, i need to go. See you later."
"Yeah, sure." She says.
I check my items out and run to the car through the pouring rain. When i get home i see Carlisle's mercedes, i wondered what they were doing here. I grabbed the bags and walked into the house.
"Hey Dad." I called when i saw him and Carlisle in the living room.
"You're back early." He says.
"Yeah. The shopping took less time than i thought." I put the groceries down. "I met angela at the store. She is doing great."
"Thats great."
"Hi Carlisle." I added.
"Hello Bella." He says. "How are you today?"
"Okay, you?"
"I am fine." He said. The phone rang and i went to get it. It never ends does it?
"Hello?"
"Hey Bella, you keep leaving me and goodness i sense someone is with you." James said.
"Hi James, i miss you too. I am great, thigns are great, school is good, and you?" I joke, he grunts and i laugh. "Yeah, your right."
"Okay, well i am driving up to see you with Renee and Victoria, i will be there by friday."
"Really, oh i can't wait to see you guys. How long are you staying?"
"As long as you want, we have school break. Spring break i mean. So maybe a week or two. But, get this, Renee is going to personally yell at the Cullens. Speaking of Renee, she lost her phone, you are going to have to call the house phone."
"God, i need to give her detectors to put on her stuff. That way she won't lose anything."
"She will lose that also." We both laugh. I hang up after a few minutes.
As i put the groceries away Carlisle left.
"Was dinner okay?"
"Yeah, it was great. Um, Carlisle came by to talk to me. I invited them all on friday. I want to make things right between you guys."
"Wait, James Victoria and mom are coming friday!"
"Bring them." Charlie says.
Friday
I quickly slip into my purple dress and jean jacket. I run downstairs just as the doorbell rings. I run downstairs and open the door.
I find the Cullens instead of mom and James and Victoria. My smiled fades just a bit as i see a car pulling up. Mom comes running out.
"Mom!" I yell. I push past the Cullens and run and hug her. Her child like eyes are full of love as she kisses my forehead.
"Hey, Bells. Got any food?" James asks. He walks into the house without even hugging me.
Victoria hugs me. "I am so tired, the drive was awful, your mom would not be quiet about her blouse she forgot at the dry cleaners."
"Vic slept the entire time." James called from the kitchen.
"Hey, a girl needs to sleep." She called back.
"Let's go inside. Mom, these are the Cullens. This is Esme, Carlisle, Edward, Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie." I say. They shake her hand quickly.
"Come inside." I say. I close the door once everyone is inside.
"Thank you Bella." Esme says.
Charlie comes and he sits everyone down. Esme and my mom start talking immedietly. James just sits there awkward.
"Bells, why didn't tell us they were coming?" Victoria asks well i set the table.
"I didn't know until after the phone call, Charlie." I explain.
"Bells, we-"
"Neither can i, Victoria. Do you think i feel happy about this?" I ask.
"Not nice to talk about people behind their back." Rosalie sneers.
"You should talk." Victoria mutters.
"Vic, my dad expects me to be nice to them. The least you can do is try to help." I tell her. "Grab the forks for me?"
"Bella, maybe you should come back and live in Phoenix." Victoria suggests.
"Victoria, you know i can't do that. Charlie will be devastated is i leave again, i can't do that to him. And after this i am off to college, he won't see me and. . ." I trail off.
"Okay, you know i need to go, i will be back." Victoria mutters.
"Sometimes you need to face reality, the truth." Alice says.
"Did you do that all those years, or were you in your fantasy world?" I ask. Alice blushes a little.
"Just don't tell your father, but is was really Edward. He made us do it, he likes you bella. At first is was a dare, but then we sort of . . .Edward kept pushing us to do it, he would threaten us. And then it got out of hand, we did it ourselves, Edward tried to stop us but we would tease him also." Alice explained.
"What now?" I ask.
"You forgive us?"
"..." I think about it for a little while, there is an odd silence. "No."
Cliffhanger! Review!
Lilibeth Ariel