REVISED: 10/17/07
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or New Moon and am not Stephenie Meyer.
A/N – Okay, I noticed some discrepancies between things in the book and things in this chapter, and since I was already revising all my previous chapters of 'Sunrise' (as of the date above) I decided to just change this completely. So this chapter is redone:) Quite a bit. Enjoy!
Sunrise
Chapter Five: Agreement
I was unwilling to spend any more time than absolutely necessary among humans after I walked away from Bella. The hospital was certainly not the best place for me to be hanging around, especially in such a volatile state.
The mere thought that Bella was here, separated from me only by thin, easily breakable walls prompted me to desert the premises as quickly as I could. As soon as I was out of her sight, I had started running.
Linoleum tiles slipped away under my feet and whitewashed walls became a blur. I kept my control in tight check as I bypassed several staff members and family of patients in the halls, and was soon out in front of the hospital.
My car was still in the school parking lot when I had left in the ambulance, along with Bella and Tyler. Most likely, Alice, Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper had taken it home. I had no doubt that they, too, would not be in school for the remainder of the day.
Angling my body towards the woods – through which I could reach my home – I took off at a slow, human-paced jog. Stopping right in front of the hospital was rather foolish, now that I thought about it.
This was a more secluded entrance, but now I had to head into the trees instead of setting off immediately from a vampire-paced run. There was an elderly man several floors above me, his hazy mind marking clearly that I was striding off into the forest.
I think that's one of them Cullen boys. Dr. Cullen is such a nice man. I wonder where that nurse is with my food. Is that a sparrow? Accompanying more similar disjointed thoughts of his was the image of myself in his mind – my hair almost a blob in his vision, moving across the ground below.
Once I reached the trees, I was headed off at a dead run. However, a part of me wanted to go much slower than I could. I wasn't exactly eager to reach home and allow my family the opportunity to begin berating me for my foolish actions this morning.
And as soon as I reached our home, I was in for it. Alice could probably see me coming right now, which eliminated my plan to stay away from home for as long as I could drag time out.
Darting easily around a tree, I winced. The possibility of me attacking Bella had been strong once again, mere moments before. There was no way she hadn't see that, either.
I hoped she hadn't told everyone, but knew that I had no feasible hope for that secret. My decision not to tell them about Bella's invulnerability to my ability was the only secret I knew of that anyone in our family had ever kept.
I felt incredibly guilty for not telling them her mind was impermeable to me, and knew it would come out eventually. Yet I hoped that I could keep it from them for a little while longer. At the very least, I hoped I would be able to through this discussion.
Suddenly, I came within range of the house. I was close enough to hear their minds from where I was. And, predictably, none of my family members were at all happy with me.
How dare he! What was he thinking? Saving a human girl? Of all the stupid, irresponsible things he could have done, he had to do this one! And not just any human, but the one he wanted to kill just a week before! Don't use that calming influence on me, Jasper! Does he have any idea what he may have done to this family? Does he ever think about anyone in this family beside himself? He always considers Alice! And Emmett! And Esme, and Carlisle, and Jasper – but what about me? This is my life, too!
Rosalie was by far the most venomous toward me. Emmett wasn't as harsh, but he was still furious…
He shouldn't have done this. He knows the consequences of exposing us. If that girl, that Bella, tells, then we are going to be visited by the Volturi! What was he thinking? And what was she thinking? Is she going to tell anyone? Alice – he's almost here? Edward, I know you can hear me, then. Didn't you consider that Volturi coven Carlisle warned us about?
I frowned to myself: how stupid was I? Forgetting what the consequences were! The Volturi, of all things not to consider as I ran to save Bella…I prayed that she was going to keep her promise and not tell our secret.
But if she didn't, then the Volturi would come down on our family. My family needed to know all they could about Bella, just in case she did end up giving something away – so we could protect ourselves.
This might mean, however, that I might have to inform them of my inability to hear her mind. I believed her promise – that she wouldn't tell anyone – but what if she was lying? I didn't actually know for certain. And I prayed that I wouldn't have to admit my mistake.
He better get here soon, before Rosalie becomes any more infuriated. That vision Alice had just made it worse. I don't understand how he can handle being anywhere around her. And what was he thinking, what's his problem? How could he just do that? Edward, you have a lot of explaining to do, to everyone. And what about the Volturi? If they get wind of this – if it comes down to that, I'll have to figure it all out for us…
Jasper's concurrent thoughts were expected. His connection to us, though strong, was also largely centered through Alice. He was most concerned with the future of our family, and of himself and Alice, if something undesirable happened with Bella.
Oh, I hope that vision was not too close to the mark. She's still alive, but that was a dark moment. I shouldn't have said anything out loud: Rosalie looks furious. How could Edward just run like that, in front of everyone? He was seen: I know he was! Bella saw him! I saw that confrontation! Of course, transcribing it for all of them was probably not a good idea, but really! It's ridiculous! Carlisle is coming after him: he just got out of work – oh! Edward, if you can hear me, please, just tell us the truth. I can tell you hid something, but I don't know what it is…
I pulled to a stop near the driveway, having pushed my way out of the trees. My car was parked right in front of the house, but my eyes went to the house as soon as I certified that it was in pristine condition. They hadn't trashed my car in revenge, apparently, but now I had to face them inside the house.
Oh, Edward, how could you do this? Didn't you think? Please, tell me what was going through your head. I don't want you to feel too guilty, but did you not expect us to be disappointed? Angry? Hurt, at the very least? There has to be a solution to all of this. There just has to be…
Instant guilt. Esme was disappointed: that was one thing I did not like making her feel. She was such a loving person that it was truly terrible to hurt her. If she found out that I had kept a very important secret, she would be even more disappointed in me. I was very uneager to enter the house now.
Prepping myself one last time for the mental attack that I knew was coming, I stepped quietly through the front door. Five pairs of golden eyes flew to me from different points around the room.
Alice and Jasper shared the sofa, arms around one another: Esme perched on the piano bench, hands drooping over the edge sadly. Emmett had a chair, and Rosalie was pacing in a fury. I had expected this from each of them down to the postures and expressions alight on their faces.
Rosalie's eyes narrowed and she growled low in her throat before her starting statement. It set off the tirade of verbal and mental comments as each of my family members were unable to contain themselves.
"How dare you!"
What were you thinking?
"What happened?"
I saw you bite her.
"You ran four cars down!"
You could have been seen!
"She noticed, didn't she?"
What did you tell her?
"What did she think, Edward?"
You might have ruined the life we have here!
At a distance, I could faintly hear Carlisle's car pulling down the road to the front of our house. But similar thoughts and words came flying in a whirlwind around me, unable to be blocked, as I tried not to loose my temper.
It was incredibly hard to take what they were throwing at me. Of course, only Rosalie meant to be harsh: it was her belief that I deserved to be treated this way. Emmett, Jasper, Alice and Esme didn't mean to hurt with their words and thoughts – nevertheless, they did.
Not emotionally, of course: the best description would be 'physically', but even then it was more accurate as 'mentally'. My head was starting to hurt from the volume of their thoughts. In the excitement and high-strung emotion of the room, thoughts were louder than normal.
It was then that Carlisle entered the house almost silently through front door. I had been drawn forward from the door just a little, my face frozen as I tried not to concentrate the thoughts flying at me from every direction, in an attempt to lower the volume some.
He moved in front of me, causing my family to realize just what was happening. Murmurs of apology and mental messages reached me as my father brought the chaotic mess to a halt.
Edward, focus your thoughts. Your hands are clenched so tightly I'm afraid you might create marks in your skin. I instantly did as he wished.
I had kept my face blank through their shouts and disappointed remarks. Now, I felt that I had to speak, and nodded slightly to accept the nearly tearful apologies of Esme. "I know I-."
"Of course," Rosalie snapped, "perfect Edward knows exactly what he did." He doesn't know what he could have done, or he wouldn't have done it!
I growled at her. "Yes, I know what I did. I know it was a mistake. I know I was a stupid, irresponsible person, Rosalie."
"At least you admit it." But that's not enough, and he knows it.
"What more do you want me to admit to, Rosalie?" I spread my arms wide while raising my shoulders in a disbelieving gesture.
"How about the reason you saved her? Let's start with that, for one!" she sneered. Why did perfect Edward save the little human girl?
I warily answered, "I don't know what you want me to say." What was she getting at?
Rosalie seemed to be running the show. Even Carlisle had backed away from out argument, no longer between us. I was equal her height and older than her, in one way at least, and both of us thought we were right. Thus, neither of us was backing down.
Our arguments were sparse and far between, but when they erupted, they occasionally turned violent.
She moved forward a half-step and hissed, "What were you thinking when you saved that girl?" It wouldn't have been too hard to see her die. She's an insignificant human to us.
That hit a nerve in me. I was struggling so hard to keep her alive with actual pain on my part, and now she was insignificant? And my sister was forgetting one other important fact. "Well, I don't know Rosalie. How about the fact that if she had begun bleeding I would certainly have attacked her?"
It was the excuse I had given Carlisle, and as I said it more, the more true it seemed to become, though I knew that it was only half of my reason for saving Bella. The majority of my family understood immediately what I meant and let it pass.
Rosalie was unsympathetic. "So?" she hissed. Perfect Edward would never have done anything to the precious, vulnerable human.
Emmett spoke up from his position still behind Rosalie. None of the family had moved from behind her. "We would have restrained you." You know we would have.
I snarled, "You of all people should know how hard that would have been."
He was hurt by my anger, but snapped back, "We would have been able to." You doubt us?
"No, actually," I hissed, "You know how strong the scent was. You think we wouldn't have been seen, with you trying to restrain me?"
Esme was worried and finally intervened. "You're saying that as if you would have attacked her." But his control is so strong. He wouldn't have.
I answered without flinching. I had grown unwillingly accustomed to the fact. "It's hard enough when she is whole. If she got so much as a paper cut I would have jumped on her." Proof: Tyler Crowley's blood was so much less potent, open and bleeding, than a whole and undamaged Bella.
My mother winced. Rosalie jumped on my words, ignoring our mother's reaction in the heat of her own feelings. "You said that as if you wanted to drink from her." Does he secretly want to?
My roar made her reply weakly likewise, more in an unconscious, shocked reaction than an actual offensive snarl. Crouching only slightly, my body instantly tensed as if to fight. I wanted to attack her for the mere thought of something that disgusted the 'human' part of me, especially about Bella.
Jasper sent a wave of calm around, knowing that this could spiral out of control if it did come to blows between my sister and I. "That is irrelevant. The point right now is whether or not she saw anything." Did she?
I straightened and tore my eyes away from my sister. I could sense her sneering at me as I answered dully, "She saw it all."
Emmett's eyes bugged. "All?" All? No, please let that have been a mistake…
I nodded in reluctant confirmation. "She saw me by my car, she felt me pull her away, she saw me hold sliding car back, and she noticed the shoulder marks in the second car as they were taking her – us – out."
Alice whispered, "But I erased those almost immediately after you were both out of there." How could she have seen that? She was on a gurney! Much of my coven was having similar reactions.
"She saw it." I didn't want to think about what that meant, that she had seen my movements. But I did think it: she had noticed me while I was moving at a speed that was supposed to be too fast for any human to see.
Yet, I believed her promise. Despite my anger in the hospital, I believed that she would not tell anyone what she saw. I could hear it in her voice as she made her promise. I saw it in her eyes.
A small part of me was reluctant to admit that I believed her – the part that knew human nature. She was human, like the rest of them, and I knew that there was a possibility that she would not keep quiet. But I was exceedingly hopeful that she would, that what I had seen was real and not imaginary.
"So, you let a human girl go, when she saw everything that happened?" Jasper summed up in disbelief. Is he insane?
I crossed my arms. "She promised she wouldn't tell."
Carlisle intervened. "When she was in the hospital, it was evident that she had hit her head. She might come to believe on her own that she did not actually see what she saw. Or if that isn't the case, it may be that she will be too shy to step into the spotlight with a secret like this." That is all I could tell from the brief time I saw her. I wonder what she told Edward during their conversation.
Alice confirmed it. "She made her choice not to tell anyone." I don't see her revealing the information. "My vision occurred right after the accident. She will keep our secret." She won't change her mind. "It was almost like an unconscious decision on her part."
Jasper growled. "She might change her mind and tell someone." The whole future can change from just one vision, and Alice knows that.
"She won't," I broke in. "She promised she wouldn't."
Rosalie snorted. "Like we're accepting a human girl's promise." She's a human, Edward. Humans change their loyalties quickly. You know that just as well as we all do..
I did not want to hear what Emmett thought next, but it came out of his mouth, of course. "We should deal with her." Before the Volturi come and do it for us.
"Deal with her?" I asked quietly, glaring at him. It was then that I realized my hands were clenched into tight fists.
He was shaken by my aggressive gaze, but clenched his jaw and replied tightly, "Get rid of her. She knows too much." Don't give me that glare. You know that's what the law says and what will happen to her anyway.
Jasper nodded. "It would be better to act before something happened." Why are you glaring at me? You know it's true.
Rosalie looked mollified: Esme, hesitant. Carlisle seemed very grim: he strongly disliked the idea of killing anyone, no matter what the reason was. I maintained my fury. "Why do you think that?" I hissed.
Alice appeared to agree with me. "He just saved her life – now you're suggesting he end it?" This is ridiculous. Don't they trust him? Or her?
"Well, the choice is to get rid of her. So, will you take her Edward, or will we?" Rosalie smirked at me, cruelly taunting the monster inside. You can satisfy that thirst of yours and help preserve our secret at the same time. It's a two for one deal.
I snarled and took a step forward: Rosalie eagerly balanced on the balls of her feet, eager for my attack. Carlisle restrained me with one hand, placing it firmly against my chest.
My eyes were pitch-black, having faded from light gold to onyx in seconds. He said quietly, "Enough, Rosalie, Edward." This is no way for either of you to behave.
I backed off reluctantly, anger still flaring out from me in waves. I didn't want to let her get away with that thought, either, but I didn't want to hurt Carlisle, either. I had already been enough of a disappointment for today.
Jasper frowned and sent calm circulating gently through the room. Emmett's hand rested gently on Rosalie's shoulder. I noticed, with dismay on my sister's behalf, that Jasper stood with them. Alice and Carlisle were at my right side.
We were at a standoff, Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper versus Carlisle, Alice, and I. Esme stood to the side, watching her family carefully with worried eyes.
Carlisle's voice was gruff, sharp. "This is a ridiculous way to react. We cannot kill an innocent human girl just to protect ourselves. If Edward believes we can trust her, then we should be able to. He can tell us if she decides to tell before any action on of her part is taken, and we can act then – and only then."
He was trying to pacify them, but I winced noticeably when he mentioned my skill. I could not keep the secret that I could not read her mind any more. It would be dangerous to my family if it continued without their notice.
Unfortunately, Rosalie noticed first that I reacted to Carlisle's comment. "Why did you wince, Edward? Is something wrong with little human girl's thoughts?" Going after a little human like a monster now, are we?
I glared at her again. "What did you say?" I growled.
"Oh, is the little pet human too important to talk about?" She smirked, and then it grew wider when she concentrated on a few images – involving Bella and me in numerous intimate poses I had all too often seen in her and Emmett's minds.
I didn't even realized I had moved, but when I found Carlisle restraining me, and Alice pulling me back, I snapped back to myself. Emmett was holding Rosalie back, while Jasper was sending strong waves of calm around the room. My angry growl slowly ebbed.
My fist had caught Rosalie hard in the stomach, and my own shoulder ached from her violent strike. She wasn't struggling as much as I was, and her lips were curled back over her teeth in triumph.
"Did I hit a nerve, brother?" she laughed a harsh, short laugh. Then she locked eyes with me. Did I hit the truth? You don't want to read little human's thoughts because you feel that for her? That was accompanied with another image.
I let out another hissed snarl and tried to throw myself at her, eyes back to deathly black pits. She simply laughed, not even struggling to free herself.
"Stop it, Rose!" Alice yelled at her. Why does she have to act like this?
She let out another snicker as I calmed myself and stopped trying to break free. "I didn't do anything. Absolutely nothing…" Well, Edward? Am I right in my guess? I don't know what other reason you would want to protect your human girl…
I ground out, through clenched teeth, "What you are thinking is not true, Rosalie." Ice and venom dripped from my voice. Esme seemed shocked at my hostility.
I didn't know why I was reacting so strongly to her accusations, but I certainly didn't appreciate her thoughts and accompanying imagery. Her mental attack was repulsive. And it was just to build up to her point, to one thing that only she seemed to have noticed.
"But really, Edward, I am curious to know why you are so against reading the human girl's mind," she continued in an almost conversational tone. Are you sure it's not because of suppressed lust? Even a 104-year-old vampire would like to know something like that after so much time…
I had to control myself not to retch at her thoughts. She and Emmett, always thinking of things like this…but she had pulled the problem into the limelight, even though it meant placing herself out of it.
Slowly, Alice released her hold on me. Looking down at her, I saw my sister back away slightly in curiosity. He did flinch when Carlisle mentioned it – but why did he do that? Does it have something to do with that thing I know he's hiding? I kept my head high, though I didn't know what to say.
"Edward? Why are you reluctant to read her mind?" Jasper asked, suspicion heavy in his tone. There shouldn't be a problem. He doesn't enjoy reading ours all the time, but this seems different.
This certainly was different from the usual mind-reading troubles I had. I stared determinedly away from everyone in the room, eventually focusing my eyes on the far wall above Emmett's head. "I can't," I finally admitted.
A variety of emotions seemed to soak into the room. I knew there was surprise and shock, and Rosalie's malicious pleasure was just as expected. "Oh?" Rosalie purred. You don't want to read her thoughts? I was right?
I clenched my jaw. "I can't read her mind."
They couldn't – didn't – believe me. Emmett growled low in his throat. Are you joking, Edward? You can't be serious! "It doesn't matter that you'd rather not –."
"I didn't say I did not want to read her mind-." The pit of frustration began building in my stomach. Things would have been so much easier if I had just told them this in the first place. Why had I decided to keep it a secret?
"Then what's the problem?" I don't get it.
'Obviously', I felt like hissing, 'obviously you don't understand'. I sighed heavily, trying to keep a low growl from taking complete control of my reaction. "I just told you: I can't read her mind."
"Edward, listen –." It really doesn't matter about personal preference here. We need to know.
I snapped. My temper had a breaking point, and their disbelief was driving me mad.
"No, you listen. I told you that I cannot read her mind, and it is as simple as that: I cannot read her mind. I can't find it, I can't hear it, it is almost as if it is not there even though I know it has to be, because otherwise she would not be alive. I. Can. Not. Read. Her. Mind." I was nearly snarling at the end.
Esme barely managed a brief thought about controlling my temper before her mind was also swamped in shock at my revelation. I could see know that I certainly should not have kept this secret for so long. I had to wonder what I had really been thinking.
"But - how?" Alice gasped. I didn't see that. How come I couldn't see that he would be unable to read her mind?
I hung my head, slowly pulling my flash of temper under control. "I don't know why. I just know that it's like…a blank wall, as if there is absolutely nothing there and yet, something is behind the wall…even if I can't reach it." That was the best description I could come up with.
Rosalie was enraged again, latching onto a specific fear instantly after I was done. "So we're accepting the word of a human girl, whom we have no idea if she will keep her promise or not, and you cannot read her mind to warn us…tell me, how are we supposed to know we can trust her?" Are you insane, Edward? Accepting only the word of a human? It would be one thing if you could hear her thoughts, but this…
I stared up at her, weary of her disagreeable nature already. I could virtually feel disappointment in my parent's thoughts because I had not told them of the inability to hear Bella, and the last thing I wanted was Rosalie's reactions. "I trust what she told me, Rosalie. Don't argue the point any more."
She sneered at me. "I am going to argue the point until it's black and blue in the face, Edward." We cannot just simply accept the word of a human girl.
I snarled again. "Why not, Rosalie? We can stand here and argue, but that's not going to make me say it's all right to go and kill her."
"Well if you won't, then I will." What about that, Edward? "I will kill the human if you don't want to."
"No." Absolutely not. "I already told you that that's not an option."
Rosalie narrowed her eyes again. "So you say we can't go near her, Edward? Because you don't want her dead?" What about you, then? You're able to go near your little pet human.
"Rosalie, that is stupid –." Alice began to say. Of course he doesn't want her dead, but us not going near her? He never said that…
An idea came to me then. It was one thing that I could do to ensure that Bella was safe from what my family wanted. I could tell that Emmett and Jasper agreed with Rosalie. I knew that Carlisle disapproved – but wanted only to protect his family. I knew that Alice didn't like it one bit. The last person…my eyes darted straight to Esme.
My mother gave me a short, pointed look and thought only a single direct sentence. Do whatever you must as long as you stay with this family. I realized that she remembered my small rebellion a few years back, and then my short trip up to Denali when I thought I couldn't handle being anywhere near Bella. All she wanted was our family to stay together.
I knew what each of them thought…so I knew what we had to do.
If I forbade my family from going near Bella, then I would have to be included in that vow. In fact, I realized, it was for the best if I was included in it. If I stayed away from Bella, then I wouldn't be tempted to drink her blood every second I was near her.
So, I interrupted Alice. "No, you cannot go near Bella, yes, because I don't want her dead. No one in this family will go near her." Rosalie huffed. So he's telling us what to do now? She opened her mouth, but I cut her off.
"No, Rosalie. When I said no member of this family, I meant it."
Alice blinked at me when she grasped that. You too? Then, I never saw this. This isn't supposed to happen!
At that moment, I could have cared less what she thought was supposed to happen. "Yes, me too Alice," I snapped. "If we stay away from her, her mind will eventually soften her memories. Our lack of presence anywhere near her will help the memories fade faster."
"And she won't be harmed in the process," Rosalie concluded. Only then did she back off from the argument. We won't be staying in this town forever. My life will go back to normal eventually – I swear I'll make it happen, however I can. She was shallow and selfish as usual.
"Exactly," I answered, not referring to her self-centered thoughts.
Looking around to each of my family in turn, I was rewarded with nods and thoughts of acceptance. None of them had a problem with my demand, although they still worried that Bella would act before her recollection of events grew dim. But not a voice – or thought – was raised in protest.
Then I looked to Carlisle, waiting to hear his final decision. As leader of our coven, and my father, I would respect what he had to say. And I hoped that he would go along with my choice, for it offered a much better alternative than killing Bella.
He looked at me, hard, for a short time as he communicated to me with his mind. Edward, you know you should have told us before that you could not read her mind. I nodded. I do trust you. I wish you hadn't kept something so important a secret from us. But we will still trust you.
I had expected this from Carlisle. After being with him for so many long years, I knew what to expect from him. And I was glad and appreciative that he was not holding my decision to keep my mind-reading issues a secret against me.
Can you do this? Stay away from her like you are asking us to do? It would be harder for you: you're the only one of us who goes near her on a daily basis. I nodded again. Then I will go along with this, Edward. But if this is ever put up to questioning by our family, then they deserve to let their reasons and thoughts be known.
I almost hesitated then: I didn't want anyone to contest this someday. I knew that Bella would be safe if we removed ourselves from her life right now. But at the same time, I couldn't refuse. I would not be a hypocrite, to refuse someone else his or her thoughts and opinions.
And who would really resist this decision? There was no reason to, and I knew that there couldn't be. What could possibly change in any one of my family members to lead them to interfering with this conclusion?
He then spoke aloud to the rest of our family. "I agree to this. No one is to go near Bella. If there are problems with this order, then we can call a vote. Unless that happens, this stands." Slowly, the group split off in different directions as the family meeting drew to a close.
I left to my room, making my way rapidly up the stairs and closing the door firmly behind me. My door was closed before I began to relax even the slightest bit. Thoughts ran rampant in my head, as usual.
My family was startled that I had suggested our eventual choice, and that I had fallen for it. Even though I thought I knew each of them well, I was the one surprised at the end of this discussion. I hadn't even considered that Rosalie had set a trap.
With her contrariness and self-centered thoughts, she had led me into announcing what I did off the spur of the moment. I had reacted without thinking about it, and Rosalie had guided me into agreeing with something that she had probably planned all along.
Rosalie craved the center of attention. She adored having things her way, and would stop at nothing to reach her goal. It had probably been her idea all along to get me to agree to avoid Bella – if there was one thing that threw a wrench in her perfect world it was anyone else having the attention of any member of her family.
I turned on my music and resumed my quiet pacing in my room. I was going to have to solidly ignore Bella tomorrow in Biology, and that would make it that much harder to think of her as a person, not a meal. I had no information about her other than what I had already gleaned. The image of her as a person was weak and unstable.
I tried to ignore the slight discomfort I felt when I decided that I had to ignore Bella. She was just a human girl. There was no logical explanation for that unnamed feeling.
But still, I felt it.
A/N- Again, I hope you liked my rewrite! This was written with the observation of one of my reviewers that Edward probably would have been the one to decree that Bella was untouchable status to the family, so that sparked the scene change. Thanks, reviewer! You know who you are!