Upon return, Edward immediately left in his car, and I looked at Alice, who gave me a sweet smile.
"He's going to pick up Bella, his girlfriend," she said, and I nodded with a small smile. "So you don't really remember much about what happened to you?"she asked me as she helped me hobble over to the couch, and the rest of the Cullens looked at me as well. I felt some color rush to my cheeks.
"I think a vampire..." my voice trailed off as the dream suddenly revealed itself to me, and I tried, with great attempt, to control my breathing. I'd already had two panic attacks, I didn't want to go for a record... I closed my eyes, and tried to completely remember. Only the dream was there. "I was...at my apartment, I had just got home from school, and I found my dad dead, mutilated, and there were bruises all over him in the shape of hands. The smell of blood made me sick, and everything started spinning... The next thing I knew, I was in the arms of someone, a vampire... He said..." my voice trailed off as I again heard his voice, distant, yet close, and so beautiful... "That he'd protect me. Then, I think the one, who killed my dad, tried to attack, and I wound up flying out of his arms and broke my leg and hit my head. That's when I passed out," I finished, and let out a deep breath.
They all, except Rosalie, who was checking her hair in a mirror, were tense. They looked anxious.
Carlisle sighed and stood up. Alice was suddenly sitting across the room with Jasper, and Carlisle slowly began to put my leg in a cast. After that was finished, he gave me pain medicine.
Alice suddenly stood up with a gasp, and I looked at her with wide eyes. She had a big grin on her face, but for some reason, I didn't relax at that.
"Let's go shopping, you'll need clothes!" she said, and Emmett was suddenly laughing.
"Alice, go easy on her, it's only her first day here!" he said, and Alice stuck her tongue out at him, before carrying me to her car and racing off with her wallet in hand. I held onto the handle of the door for dear life as she went past eighty, and my heart pounded out of my chest.
"Alice!" I shrieked, and she sighed, before slowing down to the speed limit. Every so often, she would speed up, then slow down again right before I looked over at her. We went to Olympia, and she dragged me to the mall, giving me a pair of crutches she said Carlisle had handed to her before she even left with me. I hadn't witnissed it. I sighed as I unsteadily broke in my crutches, and Alice followed patiently at my pace. She immediately took me into a store with dresses that would only be good to wear at weddings or the Prom. She became stubborn when I refused to pick any dresses out, so she shoved me into a dressing room with a pile of dresses in hand.
"I'm not wearing any of these!" I said, and I heard Alice huff.
"Please just try one on? You'll look great!" she whined.
"No!" I replied dryly. "Besides, they're too expensive!" I added.
"Hey, I'm rich, you just worry about finding the right size!" Alice said.
"No way!" I said, crossing my arms.
"I'm very stubborn, Abellia," she growled.
"So am I," I growled back in the same flat tone.
I heard Alice grumble something I couldn't understand. "Fine, open the door," she sighed again, and I did. She held out her hands, and I placed the pile of dresses, ranging from every kind I could imagine and more, in them. She began walking around, putting the dresses back exactly where she found them, then came back to take me into another store to let me pick out the clothes I wanted.
After searching, I had found three shirts that had caught my eye, along with two pairs of jeans, a pair of shoes, a few skirts, and some knee length socks. Alice didn't really approve of my choice in clothing, but didn't say a word as she payed for it.
As we walked around again, she saw another store and this time literally had to drag me into it. She found a dress that I actually liked, only once I saw the price tag, I felt like having a heart attack. But she gave me no room for argument, because she took me into the dressing room herself and forced me into the dress.
She smiled triumphantly as she payed for it. All in all, I had to admit it was fun going shopping with someone, and I knew I'd like going with Alice from now on. She and I had spent two hours doing just what I had described. Just goes to show how stubborn we both are.
When we arrived at home, I saw a new face among the Cullens. She was wrapped in Edward's arms, so I assumed she was Bella.
Edward smiled at me, and Bella looked at me with a confused expression. Edward whispered something into her ear, and she gasped quietly before looking back at me with a smile. I could see why Edward was with her, she was very beautiful.
"Abellia, it's nice to meet you!" she said as I sat down in a chair.
Just then, I realized that I didn't even know what day it was. I blushed at my stupidity.
"It's Wednesay," Edward replied with a chuckle, and I gave him anotherr smile. "By the way, you'll be going to our school starting tomorrow."
My eyes went wide and my mouth hung open again. Emmett laughed again.
"I-I'm what?" I stuttered.
Carisle was beside me in an instant, placing his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him to see the same compassionate, warm smile he had on earlier.
"I was able to track down your school records, and while you and Alice were out shopping, I went down to your school and transferred them to Forks High School," he told me, and I looked at the rest of them, feeling in a daze.
"Okay..." I managed to say, feeling my heart beginning to pound. I was suddenly very nervous. Would I be treated badly, the way that girl, and probably many others, had treated me?
A sudden feeling of unusual calm overwhelmed me, and I shot a glance at Jasper, who was sitting next to Alice with his arms crossed over his chest. I could swear I saw his eyes move away from mine the moment I looked over.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you won't be 'mistreated' at school," Edward laughed, and I smiled.
"Am I going to be introduced as a family member...?" I asked uncertainly.
"Our sister-to-be," Alice replied. Her face was suddenly blank as she stared at the wall. I figeted in my seat a bit. God, the cast was itchy...wait, 'sister-to-be'? "Oh!" she suddenly laughed. "Abellia's going to want to wear colored contacts to match our eyes!" she said, and Emmett roared with laughter. I felt color rush to my cheeks again. Emmett's laughter was suddenly stopped when Rosalie hit him on the shoulder.
Carlisle looked at me for a long moment, then he sighed.
"May I talk with you?" he asked, helping me up, and I nodded, confused again. I made for my crutches, but he shook his head and carried me into the kitchen. "I had Emmet and Rosalie go to your apartment and clean up the..." he struggled for a word, "evidence of your father's murder. It's going to look like he tore himself up and bled to death in suicide," he continued, and I nodded slowly, somehow not as affected as I thought I'd be. "I'm going to draw up papers to take guardianship of you, then, 'adopt' you, is that alright?" he asked, an unsure look in his eyes. I smiled and nodded enthusiastically. His smile came back as well. "What do you want to eat?" he asked after a minute of silence, and I thought for a moment.
"Pizza," I smiled again, and he had the phone in his hand. "Pepperoni," I said, and he nodded.
After he ordered, Alice showed me the room I'd be staying in. They already had a bed ready for me and everything. Apparently, being Carlisle, a doctor and a vampire, lets you meet people and be able to put in a few favors. When Alice and I had come back downstairs, the pizza was already there. Bella and I were the only ones who ate.
"I'll go put this in the-" in the middle of my offer to put the rest of the pizza away, Edward snatched it out of my hands and had it in the refridgerator before I even realized it was gone. I gave him a small glare, then sat back down.
For the first time, I noticed a grand piano. I hadn't realized that I was staring at it longingly, completely spaced. How beautiful it was... I felt a strong urge to play.
Edward was by my side, but I was still occupied by memories of playing beautiful pieces when I was sure I was alone. He was listening to the peices I had created off the top of my head, from my memory.
"You know how to play," his voice, ever so soft as it was, startled me. I stared at him for a few seconds, then slowly nodded. He helped me over to the piano, and I took a deep breath as my heart started pounding, as I felt everyone's eyes rest on me. I flexed my fingers into position over the keys, and tried to make them play. They began to tremble, and I sighed, before letting them fall into my lap. "Of course, I'm sorry," Edward sighed as well. "You only played when you were alone."
I nodded slightly. Edward helped me sit back down in my chair, then he left to take Bella home.
It was 8 o'clock. I was tired. I needed to get to sleep so I could get a good first day in at school. Alice was at my side at once, supporting me with one arm and carrying my crutches with the other arm. She helped me get upstairs, into my room, change into some pajamas, and get settled in. She lingered at the doorway, as if expecting something. I turned and looked at her, and gave her a tired smile.
"You're my first friend, Alice," I mumbled, feeling my eyes droop. I rubbed them, feeling tears coming on at another memory. "My first real friend..." I sniffed and curled into a ball under my sheets. Alice placed her hand on my head.
"It's okay. We'll always be here for you, no matter what. Now, sleep, Abellia," she cooed, her musical voice lulling me to sleep.
When I woke up, it was even darker than before. I sighed and layed back down, and laid there for half an hour without falling asleep. I sighed again, then grabbed my crutches and carefully made my way downstairs. I looked around for any sign of my friends, no, family, and found no one. I sat down in front of the piano, and began to slowly play River Flows In You, by Yiruma. I gentley sang along my own lyrics to the rythm of the song.
"I have cried so many times
And it was all over you
How can I continue to
Keep such an empty promise?
When you are not here...
When you are not here
The thing I hold most dear
How can I forget the way it all used to be?
Because you are not here
I'm consumed with all my fear
I don't know how I'll hold on to my shred of sanity
And at night I cry
Inside I have died
Because you're not there to keep me safe from my worst dreams.
When you are not here
The thing I hold most dear
I let go of all the traces of my sanity
I cannot remember the
Last time that you were here
I cannot remember the
Last time you held me dear
When you are not here...
When you are not here
The thing I hold most dear
I cannot forget the way it all used to be
Because you are not here
I'm consumed with so much fear
That I cannot hold on to my shred of sanity
And at night I cry
Completely dead inside
Because you're not there to keep me safe from my own mind
When you are not here
The thing I hold most dear
I no longer have the will to keep my sanity
Now I remember the
Last time you were here
Now I remember the
Last time you held me dear
And now you are here."
I sighed after I finished the song, placed the cover over the keys, and rested my head in my arms. I had no idea why I had written that song a month ago; it sounded like something that someone would sing to a former lover who had left them for months, or years, then finally returned only to see how distraught their absence had made them. I was sure they had heard me by now, but I was too tired to care. I had felt like singing that for the Cullens, but I could never sing in front of anyone. I just couldn't sing, after what had happened... I yawned, and fell asleep again.
-Edward's POV-
Her memory of her playing was nothing compared to what we all heard. Abellia was playing an exact recreation of River Flows In You, although it was a little slower. Her voice was amazing, too, and the lyrics... My face twisted in pain. The lyrics reminded me of when I had left Bella. They were an exact description of how Bella must have felt during those months... I shook my head, and sighed. After she stopped, I heard her sigh. I silently appeared at the foot of the stairs, and saw her fall asleep. My muscles tensed. If she were anything like Bella, she'd only hurt herself more by doing that... I shook my head, with more force, trying not to think about it. She was just as small as Bella, and her blood was almost as tempting. Almost, but nothing could compare to Bella's scent. So very sweet, yet so very lethal to vampires, to herself... Abellia reminded me of Bella. I felt a connection to her, but a sisterly one. If anyone were to try to hurt her...
My body tensed again at the thought. If anyone were to purposely hurt her, I'd most likely make them pay in a horrid way. I clenched my teeth together, my nostrils flared, and a small hiss escaped my lips. If I continued on this path of thought, I'd definitely be risking someone's safety.
I needed anger management.
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I think this is my longest chapter so far!! Yes, those lyrics WERE written by me.
I'm currently doing time in summer school, which will be lasting for three more weeks, starting NEXT week. I'm freely allowed computer time, but limited internet time. I'll be writting chapters ahead of time so I don't fall behind!
Thanks to: Kyori Uchiha of the Sand, near to you, and OcherEyes21 for the reviews!! More reviews will be very appreciated!
'Til next time!!
--Hannah B.
