A/N: Congratz to Sassy Mami for being the 100th reviewer for this little ditty xx Also Watching has reached 50,00 hits thank you all xx
Hope this is okay folks, choked full of the cold and my head is mince lol xx Alexis
After the assembly broke up, all the juniors and seniors were milling about in the gym when an unwanted and unneeded conversation broke out.
"Oh my god! Did you hear what that weird Edward Cullen boy did? That could have been my house and my underwear drawer he ransacked through!" Lauren Mallory said loudly in a breathy voice that made her sound like she had a heavy cold.
"I know! Has his family no shame? Imagine coming to school as if nothing had happened" Jessica Stanley answered her in a fake outraged voice.
"Eh, Lauren he didn't like you remember, told you to your face in front of the whole school, he didn't associate with 'Scarlet Women'!" Tyler Crowley said laughing, everyone had run home that day and looked that up on the internet.
"Yeah and they didn't do anything just that weirdo boy, so why should they all hide away?" Eric Yorke added and the two bitches shut up seeing as it was getting them nowhere.
"But still, he's their brother and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and all that!" Mike Newton alleged and the two girls perked back up.
"Actually, he isn't related to any of them remember, he's their foster brother!" Ben Cheney remarked in passing and his friend Austin Marks added,
"Hell, as if I'd go and hide if that idiot brother of mine did something stupid, damn you'd never see me!" Everyone agreed chuckling at his truthful joke and the three rabble-rousers had to give it up this time. Bella shook her head, Lauren acts as if she wanted that to happen to her. Who'd want that? Those three are just attention seekers and trying to get notoriety off someone else's misfortune, god they are so sad. She decided it would be best if she broke the ice and approached the Cullens, the whole room held its breath.
"Hey again, I'm sorry for what's being said about you, it's hardly your fault! I just wanted you to know I don't hold any of you responsible for his actions, Okay?" she said clearly so everyone heard.
Jasper who was nearest to her smiled and replied: "Thanks darlin', we appreciate the support, some small minded people have been makin' their mouths go, but we're glad you don't hold with their pettiness." Thus firmly putting the three fools in their place.
Emmett smiled and added, "Thanks Bella, you're a nice person and we're so sorry for all the grief that Edweird has caused you". Alice nodded, clearly wanting to talk to her but Jasper shook his head. That would do for now and Rose looked ready to explode all over Bella. She didn't see why they needed to even lower themselves to talk to this human. Yes, she was disgusted with Edward's antics, but he didn't actually harm the girl, so why were they pandering to her? It was their lives that were disrupted and her good name that had been sullied, not the pathetic humans! She was actually growling at the object of her irrational rage.
"Rose reign it in, don't make me make you!" Jasper hissed at her and she grunted and walked away slightly. Emmett was embarrassed by her conduct, what did Bella do? She was just a nice girl who got caught up in his dysfunctional coven's antics! He was beginning to get annoyed with Rose's petty conduct,
"Rose! Grow up or go home, Now! I'll speak to you later about this pathetically childish stance, it's getting more than a little tedious!" He said for once as her husband and his tone told her she'd gone too far this time. He was barely keeping it together himself because of her wrongly misplaced jealousy.
A small hand on the base of his spine stopped him in his tracks. A finger was making soothing small circles and he calmed immediately. What the hell! Alice had left to placate the thunderstruck Rose, so missed the interaction as it wasn't a conscious decision. Jasper looked first at Emmett and his sudden reversal of mood and then down at Angela's hand.
"Well Fuck me sideways! This changes everythin' Em" he whispered and Emmett nodded absentmindedly as he looked down at the girl beside him. She had been talking to Bella but calming him at the same time,
"You calmer now Emmett? don't let her get to you, big guy. You're better than that" she said as she moved her hand away and he desperately wanted her to put it back. Angela was oblivious to what had just transpired, she had been talking to Bella and felt Emmett's tension and ire. Without really being aware she just had to soothe him, so had reached out and touched the small of his back. Bella saw everything and smiled to herself, so that's how the wind blew. She was definitely the yin to his yang, they were to Bella's mind a far better match. The blonde Rosalie was a taker, Angie was a giver and nurturer, an altogether nicer girl for the affable giant.
Emmett had a lot to think about, he'd always assumed Rose was his mate, but he was beginning to wonder if that was a lie. They had nothing in common, except sex and that was not how a relationship should be. He knew everything about her, but did Rose know everything about him? He doubted it and he intended to find out later.
During the day two things happened, first someone asked Rose what was Emmett's favourite online game and TV show, they were collating info for the prom, this year it was being worked around those two things and Rose hummed and hawed, till she found a distraction and left. Angela, on the other hand, leant over and wrote the correct answers down.
"How'd you know?" Eric asked,
"He said so last week to Tyler, don't you remember? You were all talking about that stuff to Ben!" Eric had an aha moment! and let it slide. But Bella, Whitney and Katie all glanced at each other and Bella nodded.
Whitney was telling Bella she'd be joining her self-defence class, especially as it was now in PA. Katie and Angela were going as moral support but unsure about joining up. When the second thing happened, Lauren and Jessica strolled over and asked who that gorgeous hunk was that came to the display with Chief Swan? Angela was about to tell them when Bella shook her head, so she just said a cop who'd come to deal with Edward. As the final bell rang they all rushed to be free, even though they had done no work today. When the four friends got outside there was a surprise waiting for Bella. Leaning against her car in all his glory was Garrett, as Bella introduced the other two girls to him, everyone heard Lauren exclaim,
"What the fuck? What's so special about her?" Everyone snickered as Garrett looked right at her and said,
"Well personally I think, she's a nice person, who's smart, extremely sexy and doesn't have a rude or jealous bone in her body! Yeah, that about covers it" he then turned to Bella winked and opened her car door. "Come on angel, your dad's taking us out for a meal tonight" and got in the passenger seat. He wasn't the type of man who felt the need to take over the driving, he knew she was just as capable as him of doing so.
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Emmett was in a foul mood and everyone but Rose noticed, she was too busy planning her prom gown to be aware all was not well in her world. He had overheard Rose being quizzed on his likes and her avoidance of the question, proving she didn't actually know. He also saw Angela fill in the answers, How was it she knew and his wife of more than sixty years did not. It had given him a warm fuzzy feeling knowing Angela knew him that well. In his heart, he knew the answer to all this was that Rose was not his mate. Like she'd always incessantly told him from day one.
His whole undead life was a lie, granted it hadn't bothered him until they moved to Forks, then little by little he started to notice things. Most especially when he continually compared Rose to Angela, Rose always came up short. She might be beautiful, but she was also very mean, bitchy and selfish, to everyone including her family. Rose only did what suited her, never him and he could count on one hand how many times she'd asked his opinion on anything. Emmett knew this was the end of them and he now admitted to himself why! Angela was his mate, not Rose.
Alice looked confused for a minute and then slipped into a vision, but before she could say anything Jasper scooped her up shouting,
"We're goin' huntin'" and took her out of the house.
"Jazz? Why's Emmett's future not with the family or Rose? Why do I see him with Angela?" she asked as he placed her down on her feet.
"This has nothin' to do with us darlin', you need to, No! you will leave well alone! Rose brought this on herself, she's not his mate she knew that, but now so does Emmett! Lies always catch up with you Ali. She should have told him they were just companions in the beginnin'. He did love her, but she didn't feel the need to reciprocate or keep his love alive and now it's over. Well for him anyway, he's found his mate!" Jasper said calmly. But deep down he knew he should never have agreed to conceal it from Emmett and it was now going to bite him too, even if it was an order.
Eventually Rose started to notice how cool Emmett was behaving towards her since they returned from the school. So as usual, she thought sex would be the answer, it was her only tool to getting him to do what she wanted. She never once considered he might need anything else. Therefore she was totally confused when he said,
"That's your answer to everything isn't it Rose? Sex, to cover up all of your misdeeds or get what you want. Well, thanks but no thanks! In fact, this farce is over, you're not my mate and you never were! You're a mean, jealous, small-minded, two-dimensional lying shrew! It's not a good look on any woman Rose, actually, it's downright ugly!" She stood there with her mouth open as he walked away from her. But the only word that registered was Ugly, he thought she was Ugly! As Emmett spun on his heel, he saw Carlisle and Esme standing hesitantly at the kitchen doorway.
"Did you know Carlisle? Simple question, yes or no!" Emmett demanded, knowing his tendency to prevaricate and Carlisle slowly nodded, "For how long?" Emmett continued.
"The whole time," Carlisle said barely above a whisper,
"Everybody knew but me! Emmett the sap! Emmett the fool, he's too stupid to deal with the truth! That about right Carlisle?" he roared and Carlisle cringed. All of his wrongs were breaking free now.
"Esme didn't know, Alice assumed you were mates, she doesn't see the past! Jasper guessed eventually, Rose's feelings gave her away to him. I asked him not to tell you. Actually, I ordered him as his coven leader not to tell you unless you asked him point blank! That was the day I lost his respect. He never wanted to lie to you, but he had to abide by my decision. Edward, of course, knew as well" Carlisle concluded.
Emmett shook his head, then said "I'll be leaving in a few minutes, the coven, not Forks! I'm going to ask Garrett if I can go with him later on. Keep Rosalie away from the school or I'll rip her apart. Your good at lying Carlisle, it should be no problem for you to make her excuses!"
Esme was beside herself, angry at the others for hiding this from Emmett. Sad because her family was falling apart. She hugged Emmett as he made to leave,
"Where will you go?" she asked quietly,
"I don't know, but I can't stay anymore, I love you Esme, but I have to leave," he said sadly.
"Give me a minute," she said and rushed up the stairs returning seconds later. Once again she hugged him and he glanced down as she pressed a key into his hand, with a note. 'It's not the cottage, but a cabin on the far side of Forks. It was to be a surprise for Carlisle, a little bolthole but he doesn't deserve it now! It's almost finished and a blank canvas that you can make your own. I love you son xxx' Emmett smiled and hugged her closer.
"Thank you, mom" he whispered as he kissed her cheek. Then she mouthed one word 'Who?' Emmett smiled and mouthed back 'Angela'. Esme's face lit up at that, now there was a girl perfect for her son. She was suddenly much happier and less worried about his future.
After he left Esme got down to the business of seriously looking for a new place for them to live, they could no longer stay here. Angela's life depended on her getting Rose as far from here as possible. Alice had just entered the house and another vision hit, as soon as it finished she rushed to help Esme, she too saw they had to get away before Rose killed Angela, especially as she knew Emmett had emailed Jenks the lawyer to start divorce proceedings and transfer all his financial dealings into a new solo account, in the name of Emmett McCarty.
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At about lunchtime that same day, Eleazar Denali had finally turned up at the jail, he was accompanied by a very pretty woman called Romilia Volturi, who he said was his clinical assistant. She unknown to the humans immediately honed in on Edward's gift and shut it off slowly. Before they even got asked to enter the interrogation room, Edward was yelling,
"Why can't I hear you? What have you done? I can't read anyone's mind!" Charlie shook his head, the boy had been quiet for hours, but it looked like he was back in full swing.
"It appears Doctor Denali that he thinks he can read our minds! He has steadily declined since being here, one minute he acts like a boy from the turn of the century by his autocratic attitude to women and the next it's a work of science fiction with this mind reading crap he's spouting. He's all yours though, I just want the deluded stalker out of my jail and locked away, somewhere far from my daughter!" The Chief told Eleazar.
Eleazar had been going to refuse to help Carlisle when he called, as he disliked Edward intensely. But a call from Volterra changed his mind on the matter. The brother's suggested he did in fact go and that they would be monitoring the whole thing. So he set off for Forks taking his time, when he got another call from Aro himself, explaining Esme's plan and asking him to meet Romilia in Seattle and take her with him to Forks. Explaining an old cottage hospital in Anchorage had been purchased by the Volturi, under his name and called 'The Carmen House' psychiatric facility.
This was where he would say he was based and where Edward would be going for treatment. Documentation would also be waiting in Seattle at the offices of one J Jenks. The rest of the Denali's had been asked to fix it up and Zafrina was heading there as quickly as possible, with Senna and Karachi as they wanted to see Alaska and hunt polar bears. The Amazon coven were no strangers to animal blood as humans were a rarer commodity in the jungle.
Edward now unable to read everyone's mind had no idea what was happening and he didn't like it one bit. He didn't seem to understand only Carlisle prized him above all others, the rest of the vampire world found him to be a tiresome child with no real value. So when Eleazar finally entered the room, Edward thanked him for dropping everything to come to his aid. Eleazar smirked at the foolish boy and told him he was here at the Volturi's request and that only. He'd been sent to contain any other damage Edward's stupidity might have caused.
This gave the boy pause, he didn't really believe it when he'd read it in Garrett's mind, that the Volturi were actually involved. Eleazar then informed Edward that Carlisle was no longer his coven's leader. Jasper was now the leader of the Olympic coven, of which Edward was no longer a member! The ramifications of his actions here in Forks was starting to sink in, he was now technically a nomad, under the sole jurisdiction of the Volturi.
"Didn't anyone vouch for me? Didn't any of them ask to keep me in the coven? Why wouldn't they fight for me?" he whined petulantly.
"Well, Eddie that's an easy one to answer, none of them really like you, well except for Carlisle!" Garrett answered from the door, "Paybacks a bitch Eddie and nobody deserves it more than you! Had you been a little less selfish or maybe a lot less demanding, hell, even a tiny bit less nosey, then maybe they might have helped you. But you were the great Edward Cullen and they were just mere peons to you. Well the peasants have revolted little boy and you're lucky to still be alive!" he said laughing.
Then addressed Eleazar by saying, "He's all your's Doctor, I need a full psych evaluation. So I can determine which way to go from here!" adding for only them,
"Make it convincing Eleazar, Aro wants him out of here sooner, rather than later. Now if you'll both excuse me I'm off to pick up my girl," he concluded before leaving Edward totally shell-shocked. Not once over the last ninety years had he considered that his actions might come back to haunt him. He'd given the others no respect what so ever, thinking Emmett a fool and Esme and Rosalie of no importance because they were women. If he hadn't been so scared of Jasper when he finally met them, he'd have made Carlisle turn them away, but Alice knew that and they had arrived when Edward was elsewhere. That had been the main motivation for taking his room and putting him firmly in his place.
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Jasper was waiting for Emmett to leave the house, he wanted to beg his forgiveness. He knew that he should have refused Carlisle's order and left with Alice, after of course telling Emmett. But Alice didn't want to leave and she said it would all work out okay! But Okay for who? Alice had a way of sailing close to the wind with some of her visions and forgot just because it suited her didn't mean it would suit everyone else. Emmett slowed his steps as he reached his brother, he wasn't mad at him. Jasper's position in the family was precarious at best. Carlisle was afraid of him, always assuming Jasper would want to take over his position as leader. But he never did, he'd been there, got the t'shirt and was happy just to float along for all these years. Edward had used his mind reading to fill Carlisle's head with lies of take over plots and mutiny, which were so far from the truth, as to be ridiculous and Carlisle was to easily convinced.
"Hey Jazzman, I'm not mad at you buddy. Edward and Carlisle have been doing a number on us all for so long. I'm guessing Alice said everything would work out for the best and you just had to hang on in there and pray. I was happy, you of all people knew that it was coming here and meeting her, that made me start to see the cracks. I'm just mad at Carlisle, he acts the saint and he's a barefaced liar. What Rose expected to gain from it, is a mystery! Or was I just a fill-in till her real mate showed up, Well, he can have her!" Emmett said as he reached Jasper and hauled him into a brotherly hug, before adding. "I know you'd have spilt the beans had I been miserable, but I wasn't until Forks and even then I didn't realise right away!"
"I don't want to lose you, my brother, so here's a proposal. Peter and Char are my coven too and they do their own thin', but if they need back up I'm there and vice versa. So why don't you work on that premise as well? Still part of the coven but separate. Once she's safe from Rose that is when she's one of us then we can re-evaluate, how does that sound to you?" Jasper asked hopefully and Emmett smiled as he nodded.
"Esme's given me the keys to a cabin outside Forks, you want to come see it with me? When I get set up I can still do security for you guys and keep contact that way, I don't want to lose you, Alice and Esme either" he said as they took off at a run to see where Esme had set up his new home. It was a great place but needed a few bits and pieces. Emmett would need to install a kitchen and bathroom if he wanted to entertain his new lady love. Jasper told him Alice and Esme were looking for a new place for the rest of them to live, so as to get Rose as far away from Angela as possible. She, Carlisle and Edward had no idea and they intended to keep it that way for the foreseeable future. Jasper suggested he ask Garret to move in as he was sleeping at the jail. That way they could do the work together as they both would have human girlfriends.
"Shit! I haven't even talked to her properly. What am I going to say, how do I do this?" Emmett started to panic and Jasper clapped him on the back and said just to go with his heart and not rush her too much. They had a year until graduation, so told him to speak to Garrett, since he's going through the same thing. Jasper's phone vibrated with a text and pulling it out he laughed.
"Alice say's your cover is online courses with the London School Of Computin' And Business Studies. Back up by some short course game design at Academy of Interactive Entertainment in Seattle. That will be a breeze for you man and the rest of us will be in Alaska. That way it don't look like your abandoned, just spreadin' your wings. Angela will be pleased your stayin' I'll bet, especially without Rosie!" Jasper chuckled.
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Dinner at the diner would have been perfect if Garrett actually ate food, but he forced it down anyway for his girl and her father. Charlie was just asking Garrett his plans, now he was here in Forks. Lying had never been a problem before, but to these two people, it felt so bad and so wrong. He said he'd be working out of the Seattle office after Edward was dealt with and that he'd been going to look for a place of his own. But had received a call before dinner from Esme Cullen asking him to keep an eye on Emmett, as they were moving to Alaska once this business was over and he was staying behind in a little cabin outside of Forks. There's plenty room for the two of them and he'd always liked Emmett so it's a win-win for them both.
"Is he? Oh, that's wonderful! Alone though yes?! Bella quizzed, Garrett, smiled he knew the set up from Esme.
"Yes, why? You seem awfully interested in Emmett's doings!" he said jokingly,
"Only for a friend, she'll be stoked! Especially if he's alone" Bella said pulling out her phone and texting Angela. Charlie and Garrett shook their heads,
"So are you looking forward to the classes in PA, it's much better than having to go all the way to Seattle?" Charlie asked his daughter and she got so animated about it, both men smiled fondly at her.
"I know, Whitney's is going to enrol, Angie and Katie are still on the fence about it, but I'm sure we can convince them. Self-defence isn't just for protection. It's a confidence booster and Katie needs that, you know" she said smiling thinking about her new friends. As Charlie left to pay the bill Garrett gave Bella a quick but passion filled kiss that set her heart racing and her blood rushing to her cheeks.
She huffed saying, "It's not fair you get me all in a tizzy and Nothing happens to you!" He guffawed and leant in closer to her ear.
"Angel, if I showed you how much I reacted to your kiss, your touch, hell your mere presence. Your dad would arrest me on the spot! Believe me, this is hard for me too!" he said in a throaty voice and Bella flushed even redder and then they both burst out laughing and everyone around them smiled at seeing a young couple so in love. Charlie was watching them too, and he thanked God that Garrett wasn't the pushy type, because the chemistry between them was obvious and he had no doubt that one day that boy would ask him for her hand and he'd give it happily, knowing she'd be well looked after and it would last unlike his own marriage. His daughter was an old soul and knew her own mind.
Just as he was returning to the table he heard Garrett say, "Rose doesn't know about Angela, I think it might be best if it stays that way until they leave. She can be very jealous and unpredictable. One Cullen in your dad's jail at a time would be best" Both Charlie and Bella agreed with that sentiment completely.
"Well, kids I'm going to go. I'll pop into the station on my way home for an hour. Remember not too late kiddo, you've still got school tomorrow! Oh, are you two going to the prom together? I'll need t get you a corsage" Charlie asked and true to form Bella blushed and Garrett smiled.
"I'd be delighted to escort you, madam! But you'll have to tell me what to wear, that stuff is all beyond me angel!" he said and she beamed, she'd wanted him to go but wasn't sure if it would be his scene since he was older than her.
"You can both check out the stores in PA on Friday, before your self-defence classes, school is closing at lunchtime for that very reason I believe. Something about boys leaving it to the last minute. Hell I did, if I remember right! Your mother was livid with me" Charlie said laughing as he left them to dessert and some time to themselves. Garrett mused to himself that it had been a long time since he's worn a tux. Alice and Jasper's wedding he thought it probably was. Well, he'd better get himself spruced up and if he clubbed his hair it always looked so much tidier, since he couldn't cut it or his scruff. Well that's not exactly true he could but it grew back the following day and was noticeable. So there was no point to trying around humans. But he thought he might for their wedding because by then she'd know what he was and they'd be on their honeymoon and nobody else would see it grow back in so quickly. He could hardly wait but he would, for her he'd wait an eternity. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him and he would not screw this up.
"You do know I love you, angel, don't you? This is it for me, you are all I'll ever need or want!" he whispered in her ear as they left the diner and Bella felt like she was walking on air.
"You're damned right I'm all you'll ever need because I'm not letting you go ever! I love you too Garrett" she answered and was swept into his embrace and kissed until her legs felt wobbly and her heart pounded for him and him alone.
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