No One's POV
Remaining upstairs as her twins napped, Peyton worked quietly on her laptop at her desk, looking over some documents her father had sent her and checking emails.
Finally after about an hour, the twins awoke, all too cheerfully clamoring for her attention and snacks.
"Alright, alright. Why don't you let mommy finish up what she is doing and then we'll get a snack, okay?" Peyton says, turning to look her kids.
"Alright mommy!" Her twins chime, clamoring back onto their beds with their toys.
Peyton smiles wistfully, turning back to her computer to finish typing up a document and an email, looking it over again twice before saving one and sending the other.
"Gen, 'Lijah. I'm done." Peyton calls, holding out her hand for both of them.
"Yay!"
Peyton smiles again as they race to grab her hand, pulling her out of their room and down the stairs.
Thundering down the stairs, Peyton immediately heads to the kitchen with her twins, the kids settling themselves at the dining room table looking expectant.
"Not a big snack okay? You'll ruin your dinner." Peyton says, grabbing their favorite cups from the cupboard and automatically heading for the already designated snack cupboard.
"Okay momma." They say compliantly.
Peyton couldn't help but be thankful her kids were generally "easy" children to raise. It had helped that for the better part she had her parents to help her.
"Here Gen, 'Lijah." Peyton offers, setting down their snack.
"Thank you, momma."
"You're welcome." Peyton says, snagging a carrot from the bag to munch on herself.
Hearing the doorbell ring, Peyton shoots a glance at her kids before moving to get it.
"Yes?" Peyton answers.
"I- Umm. Is Bella here?" A boy asks, looking around her before looking back at a car.
"And this is?" Peyton asks, eyebrow raising slightly.
"Jacob Black. I'm her friend." The boy answers, as if that should answer everything.
"Right. Okay. Well, yes." Peyton answers, immediately disliking his tone and set of his shoulders. "Bella, your friend is here."
Bella walks towards the front, looking past Peyton's shoulder.
"Jacob?" Bella asks.
"I brought your truck." Jacob says. "Can I talk to you a minute?"
"Of course you can, Jacob. Come on in."
Peyton moves going back to her kids and allowing Bella time with her friends, at least Jacob wasn't a vampires she thinks.
"Slumber party?" Peyton hears Jacob say to Bella in a sarcastic tone before Bella shushes him.
Peyton's mind flares something like suspicion, but she pushes it away. She had enough problems at this point with the vampire. She didn't want any more.
"Keep it down Jacob!" Bella hisses. "My cousin is here. Besides, what's it to you?"
"Where's your 'friend'?"
"She had some errands to run. Look, Jacob, what do you want?" Bella snaps.
"Hey. What's your problem?" Bella asks.
"I don't like having to be here."
"Then I'm sorry you had to come. Why don't you tell me what you need so you can leave?" Bella snaps again.
"I just have to ask you a couple of questions. It shouldn't take long. We have to get back for the funeral." Jacob says.
"Okay. Get it over with then." Bella glares, feeling hurt that Jacob was acting like this.
"One of the Cullens is staying here with you."
"Yes. Alice Cullen."
"How long is she here for?" Jacob asks.
"As long as she wants to be. It's an open invitation." Bella says belligerent.
"Do you think you could… Please explain to her about the other one – Victoria?" Jacob says.
"I told her about that." Bella suddenly pales, feeling terror creep on her.
"You should know that we can only watch our own lands with a Cullen here. You'll only be safe in La Push. I can't protect you here anymore." Jacob informs, feeling horrible.
"Okay." Bella says in a small voice. "Is that all?"
"Just one more thing."
"Yes?" Bella asks.
"Are the rest of them coming back now?" Jacob asks.
"Well?" Jacob prompts when Bella didn't speak.
"No. They aren't coming back."
"Okay. That's all." Jacob says.
"Well, run along now. Go tell Sam that the scary monsters aren't coming to get you." Bella snaps again, now feeling annoyed.
"Okay." Jacob remains calm as he had the entire conversation.
Bella felt helpless, completely lost again, everything was a disaster.
"Bella?" Jacob asks. "Did it again, didn't I?"
"Did what?" Bella asks weakly, voice cracking in helplessness.
"Broke my promise. Sorry."
"S'okay. I started it this time."
"I know how you felt about them. It shouldn't have surprised me like that." Jacob shrugs.
Bella felt like she should be defending them, defending Alice, she could see the judgement and the revulsion in his eyes, but she stopped short.
"Sorry." Bella repeated again weakly.
"Let's not worry about it, okay? She's just visiting, right? She'll leave, and things will go back to normal." Jacob offers.
"Can't I be friends with you both at the same time?" Bella asks, voice feebly attempting to argue.
"No, I don't think you can."
"But you'll wait, right?" Bella pleads. "You'll still be my friend, even though I love Alice, too?"
"Yeah, I'll always be your friend. No matter what you love."
"Promise?" Bella asks, now holding onto Jacob tightly as if he would disappear in a poof of dust.
"Promise."
"I'll miss you. Every minute. I hope she leaves soon." Jacob whispers after a moment.
"It really doesn't have to be that way, Jake." Bella whimpers, her tone slightly whiny.
"Yes, it really does, Bella. You… love her. So I'd better not get anywhere near her. I'm not sure that I'm even-tempered enough to handle that. Sam would be mad if I broke the treaty, and you probably wouldn't like it too much if I killed your friend." Jacob says. "There's no point in avoiding the truth. That's the way things are, Bells."
"I do not like the way things are." Bella pouts, looking up at Jacob with doe eyes.
"Bella." Jacob says, looking like he was going to kiss her.
Suddenly a shrill ring of the phone made them jump.
"Swan residence." Jacob answers. "He's not here."
"He's at the funeral."
"Filthy bloodsucker." Jacob mutters again after hanging up the phone.
"Who did you just hand up on?" Bella gasps. "In my house, and on my phone?"
"Easy! He hung up on me!" Jacob defends, feeling like he was getting whip lash from Bella's bi-polar emotions.
"He? Who was it!?" Bella all but screeches at him.
"Dr. Carlisle Cullen." Jacob growls.
"Why didn't you let me talk to him!?" Bella cries loudly, pushing Jacob away.
"He didn't ask for you. He asked where Charlie was and I told him. I don't think I broke any rules of etiquette." Jacob says coldly.
"You listen to me, Jacob Black-"
"What is going on in here?" Peyton interrupts, coming in from the kitchen and hearing the increased volume of conversation.
"Bye, Bells." Jacob suddenly says, spinning around the moving towards the door, nearly colliding into Peyton.
"Bella." Alice suddenly says, appearing in the doorway of the front.
"Alice, what's wrong?" Bella cries.
"Edward."
Bella suddenly felt like the world was spinning, and she paled even faster, her breathing almost hyperventilating.
"What did you do to her?" Jacob demanded.
"Bella? Bella, snap out of it. We have to hurry." Alice tries to calm.
"Stay back." Jacob warned.
"Calm down, Jacob Black. You don't want to do that so close to her." Alice ordered.
"I don't think I'll have any problem keeping my focus." He retorts.
"Alice? What happened?" Bella finally found her focus, but her voice was weak.
"I don't know. What is he thinking!?" Alice wails.
"Rose, I need to talk to Carlisle now. Fine, as soon as he's back. No, I'll be on a plane. Look, have you heard anything from Edward?" Alice demands, words fast.
"Why? Why would you do that, Rosalie?" Alice gasps. "Well, you're wrong on both counts, though, Rosalie, so that would be a problem, don't you think? Yes, that's right. She's absolutely fine – I was wrong… It's a long story… But you're wrong about that part, too, that's why I'm calling… Yes, that's exactly what I saw. It's a bit late for that, Rose. Save your remorse for someone who believes it."
"Alice." Bella blurts out. "Alice, Carlisle is back, though. He called just before…"
"How long ago?"
"Half a minute before you showed up."
"What did he say?" Alice asks.
"I didn't talk to him."
"He asked for Charlie, and I told him Charlie wasn't here." Jacob says resentfully.
"Is that everything?" Alice demands.
"Then he hung up on me."
"You told him Charlie was at the funeral."
"What were his exact words?" Alice asks.
"He said, 'He's not here,' and when Carlisle asked where Charlie was, Jacob said, 'At the funeral'." Bella offers.
"Tell me." Bella urges.
"That wasn't Carlisle on the phone." Alice moans.
"Are you calling me a liar?" Jacob snarls.
"It was Edward. He thinks you're dead." Alice says.
"Rosalie told him I killed myself, didn't she." Bella says.
"Yes." Alice admits. "In her defense, she believed it. They rely on my sight far too much for something that works so imperfectly. But for her to track him down to tell him this! She didn't realize… Or care?"
"And when Edward called here, he thought Jacob meant my funeral." Bella finally puts things together.
"You're not upset." Alice says.
"Well, it's really rotten timing, but it will all get straightened out. Then next time he calls, someone will tell him… what… really." Bella trails off as she realized Alice was panicked.
"Bella, Edward won't call again."
"I. Don't. Understand."
"He's going to Italy." Alice says quietly.
"NO!" Bella suddenly shrieks, feeling hysterical. "No! No, no, no! HE CAN'T! He can't do that!"
"He made up his mind as soon as your friend confirmed that it was too late to save you." Alice says.
"But he… he left! He didn't want me anymore! What difference does it make now? He knew I would die sometime!"
"I don't think he ever planned to outlive you by long." Alice says quietly.
"How dare he!" Bella continues to scream now on her feet.
"Oh, get out of the way Jacob." Bella screams louder.
"What do we do? Can't we call him? Can Carlisle?" Bella begs.
"That was the first thing I tried. He left his phone in a trash can in Rio – someone answered it." Alice answers.
"You said before we had to hurry. Hurry how? Let's do it, whatever it is!" Bella urges.
"Bella, I- I don't think I can ask you to..." She trails off.
"Ask me!" Bella demands.
"We may already be too late. I saw him going to the Volturi… And- and asking to die. It all depends on what they choose. I can't see that till they make a decision. But if they say no, and they might – Aro is fond of Carlisle, and wouldn't want to offend him – Edward has a backup plan. They're very protective of their city. If Edward does something to upset the peace, he thinks they'll act to stop him. And he's right. They will." Alice informs.
"So if they agree to grant his favor, we're too late. If they say no, and he comes up with a plan to offend them quickly enough, we're too late. If he gives into his more theatrical tendencies… We might have time." Alice continues.
"Let's go!" Bella rushes.
"Listen, Bella!" Whether we are in time or not, we will be in the heart of the Volturi city. I will be considered his accomplice if he is successful. You will be a human who not only knows too much, but also smells too good. There's a very good chance that they will eliminate us all- though in your case it won't be punishment so as much dinnertime." Alice warns.
"This is what's keeping us here?" Bella dismisses. "I'll go alone if you're afraid."
"I'm only afraid of getting you killed."
"I almost get myself killed on a daily basis! Tell me what I need to do!" Bella scoffs.
"You write a note to Charlie. I'll call the airlines."
"Charlie." Bella gasps, as if just remembering her father.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to Charlie. Screw the treaty." Jacob growls.
"Hurry, Bella."
"Bella, what's going on?" Peyton interrupts again, having heard the screaming and watching as Bella races into the kitchen from the living room, frantically searching for something.
"Oh! Umm… Peyton. I- I'm I have to- to leave. With Alice. Right now…" Bella stumbles, looking at her older cousin. "Can you- you tell Charlie?"
"You're leaving? To go- go where?" Peyton asks, evaluating her younger cousin and her near hysterical and frantic look.
"Umm… Italy?" Bella says, looking sheepish.
"Italy." Peyton deadpans.
"Yes. I- Edward, Alice's brother is- I need to. Please, Peyton. I just- I need to go. I can't explain right now."
Suddenly Alice is in the kitchen.
"It's Peyton right?" Alice says smoothly.
"Yes." Peyton says, turning her eyes to Alice.
Immediately Peyton notices the change in Alice's eyes, Alice having come back from hunting and grabbing her change of clothes as she had suggested earlier to Bella, while Peyton had put her twins down for a nap.
Gold eyes. That was a drastic difference from the red that haunted her memories. She pushed the thought aside for now however.
"I could see where you'd be concerned. But I promise-" Alice stops, a vision suddenly slamming into her.
This women standing alongside the Kings. This woman was the Kings' mate.
"Alice?" Bella says worriedly, looking at her friend, finally finding a pad of paper to scribble a note to her father.
"I'm sorry, it's nothing." Alice says. "As I was saying. I understand if you are worried. If you'd like, why don't you come with us?"
"Alice?" Bella hisses lightly, elbowing Alice and giving Alice a suddenly bewildered look.
"I can't. I have kids and responsibilities." Peyton nearly deadpans.
"Perhaps a babysitter?" Alice suggests lightly, attempting to calculate things rapidly in her mind.
This could be all the sway they needed to turn the tide in their favor, to save her brother, to save Bella as well. Bring the Kings' mate to them and everything could be pardoned.
"A babysitter? I just moved here. Just exactly who would I trust with my four year old twins?" Peyton barks out questioningly, narrowing her gaze slightly at the pixie, as if she's got to be out of her mind, or playing some elaborate joke that Peyton must be missing. "Listen, have you ever had kids?"
Alice opens her mouth to say something.
"That was rhetorical. No? I didn't think so. So I suggest you don't speak. I wouldn't trust my kids with you or anyone else. And if you think I would trust them with anyone except my Uncle. Now, unless you want me to pick up my cell phone and dial him right now. I would shut up." Peyton snaps, leveling Alice with a look.
"Hey!" Bella attempts to intervene.
"Don't even try." Peyton growls. "You're running off to Italy to chase a man who left you."
"You don't know anything about Edward!" Bella cries, feeling the sudden pain lash out at her, the suffocating wound in her chest opening up again.
"I know enough." Peyton levels out calmly.
Bella suddenly feels irrationally angry. Who was her cousin to come into her household to suddenly tell her what she knew and how to live her life? What did she know other than the comforts of her rich, elite lifestyle in New York? She knew nothing about hardship. Nothing about heartbreak.
"You don't know anything!" Bella screams, one hand curling around her stomach and the other raising as if to lash out or do something.
"Hit me Bella and I assure you, I hit back." Peyton warns, catching her cousin's wrist, her blue eyes cold.
Bella stares at Peyton for a second before dropping her hand, winding it around her stomach with her other one, feeling wounded that her cousin would say that.
"I'm not going to coddle you like a child, Bella. You do not get to lash out at people because they were making a point you don't like. That is not how the world works. The world is unfair. I would suggest you learn that." Peyton suggests.
"If you want to run off to Italy, that's your choice and your consequences. Do so if you want. I'm not your mother." Peyton offers and with one last look turns back to finish cleaning up the snacks her kids had left before moving back upstairs after them.
So apparently I am incapable of making Bella "mature" guys... I tried. It didn't work.
I find her decisions & the way she interacts with people for the most part, completely immature & shallow. The ways she uses Jacob & desperately clings to Edward and the Cullens overall pretty pathetic. It makes me simultaneously want to slam my head against the wall & throw up.
After re-reading a good portion of the books it comes out in her thoughts & her actions. I just... So many things I could say.
At this point Bella won't be playing the "bad guy", as in she's not going to be trying to kill Peyton or anything like that. But I personally believe you take any of her lime light away that she's used to getting & it will warp her personality, as much as she claims she doesn't like attention & plays the awkward bambi. She's used to all the attention in the books.
If she plays two guys because "needs" them & she's shallow enough in that aspect. Then she's shallow enough in other areas too. Put another person in her "space" or life it will alter a person & turn their character/personality, usually not for the better.
We will see where my muse takes me anyways...
Polkadottedgiraffe11