A/N: the usual disclaimer, I own nothing to do with Twilight, none of the characters or places or anything like that. Ok now that's out of the way and I can't get sued or anything, I can announce that chapter three is up. Alice meets Bracken! Edward acts like a complete ass and other things happen! So hope you enjoy.
Chapter Three: First impressions are the easiest to make
Bracken walked into English class Monday morning with a slight limp, she sat next to Bella who looked shocked. "Oh my god! Bracken what happened to you? Who did this?" Bella asked, her voice barely rising above a whisper. Bracken winced as she realised that her injuries looked really bad "nothing Bella....... I just got a little carried away in the woods by my house. I..... uh...... fell out of a tree when the branch broke" Bracken said in an embarrassed tone. Bella looked over Bracken "you look terrible Bracken, you have a huge bruise on the side of your head, you walk with a limp and I bet you got loads more bruises under your top considering the way you're hunched over in your seat". Bracken looked down at the table and whispered "it was a big tree; it was like 20 foot an I got to the top...... I hit pretty much every branch on the way down". Bella's eyes widened in shock as Bracken told the tale of the tree "oh my god. Are you ok? Did you go to the hospital? What did the doctor say?", Bracken looked at Bella "fine, no and nothing" Bella looked puzzled so Bracken carried on "I didn't want a fuss made, I walked home ok so Mama said I didn't have to go".
"are you still sitting with me and my friends in lunch today?" Bella asked as they walked to the lunch hall, Bracken shook her head "can't, I gotta do something in the music room. I have to work on something I'm composing". "can't you take a break your always doing something for music, I know it's your life and everything but surely you can take a break to make some friends" Bella said. Bracken shrugged "sorry, it's a complicated piece. I'm doing several parts and it all has to be done in sections", Bella sighed "ok, but I'll get you to meet them sooner or later". Bracken sighed and shook her head as she watched Bella walk off, "no chance Bella, those vampires would rip my head off if I got close enough" Bracken said as she walked off to the music room. Bella sat at her usual table which seamed empty now that Emmett and Rosalie had left for Africa, she smiled at Edward and started playing with her food. "What's wrong Bella?" Alice asked as she watched her best friend, Bella shrugged "nothing Alice, but could you do me a favour?". "Alice nodded "Anything Bella, what is it?", Bella looked out the window for a second "would you come somewhere with me after lunch?".
Alice nodded and looked over at Edward who looked like he wanted to say something, Alice knew it was something to do with Bracken and knew that Edward knew it as well. Alice didn't need to be able to see the future to see that Edward wanted to ask where Bracken was, but he was holding it back because really he didn't care. Alice sighed quietly and looked at Jasper who returned her gaze, he also didn't need to use his power to know that Edward was jealous of Bella's new friendship. Alice knew that Bracken would possibly destroy her family without even trying, and she also knew she needed a way to stop that from happening. After Bella finished her lunch she got up from the table and motioned for Alice to follow, Alice got up and the two walked out of the lunch hall together. "probably going to do some girly thing" Jasper said to no one in particular, Edward shook his head and stared at the door her sister and girlfriend walked out of "we both know exactly what they're going to do Jasper", Jasper nodded and the two walked out of the hall silently.
Bella and Alice walked down the corridor together, Bella not saying anything and Alice watching her, waiting for her to say something. Finally they stopped outside the music room and Alice could hear some of the most beautiful music being played, "I asked you to come because I know that out of the three of you, you're most likely to give this a fair shot" Bella said quietly. Alice had a feeling she knew what Bella was talking about and nodded "of course Bella, I told you anything after all", Bella nodded and opened the door slowly and the pair walked quietly in. Alice stopped and watched, sat at the piano, was Bracken. She looked completely lost in the music, her eyes were closed and she was bobbing her head in time with the piece she was playing. Alice didn't recognise the music as anything composed by any famous composer, Bella whispered "this is something Bracken came up with herself, this is the first instrument she's recording". "There are more?" Alice asked in amazement, Bella nodded "she's been working on this for a while, she spent days preparing for it. Deciding what instruments to use and then coming up with the music for each. Now she's recording and then she'll add all the tracks together to make the finished song. Good isn't it?". Alice just watched Bracken in amazement, this did not look like a dangerous killer hell bent on killing all vampires, she simply looked like an 18 year old high school student trying to get a good grade.
Once the music stopped Bella started clapping loudly and Alice joined in the applause, Bracken turned on the stool and froze when she saw Alice. "That was amazing Bracks, your definitely going to get an A+"Bella said as she walked up to Bracken, Bella saw Bracken looking at Alice and cleared her throat "Bracken, this is my best friend Alice Cullen, Alice this is Bracken". Alice slowly walked up to Bracken and smiled softly "that was truly a beautiful piece Bracken, I'm sure the rest of it will sound just as good", Bracken Blushed but still kept some of the look of fear on her eyes "uh.......thanks Alice". Bella saw the looks between the two of them and cleared her throat once more "do you mind if we watch you work Bracks, we have some time on our hands and Alice is a big music lover", "not as much as Edward is though" Alice said not taking her eyes off Bracken. Bracken shrugged and moved over to the laptop she had brought in to set up ready for the next track, Bracken picked up a violin and took a deep calming breath before playing.
Alice watched Bracken with an intense interest, she could see that Bracken didn't just play the music, she felt it as well. The way she closed her eyes as she played, they way she swayed her body with every haunting note. The way she changed tempo so fluidly, it was like the violin was an extension of her body and she was doing something completely natural to her. To Alice it was the most beautiful sight in the world, even more beautiful than when Edward played piano, which Alice admitted was a beautiful thing to watch. After a minute or so, Alice felt herself swaying slightly in time with the music and closed her eyes to try and absorb to emotions that Bracken was obviously feeling as she played. She finally realised that there was nothing to fear with Bracken, that she was not a dangerous killer, she was only a child like Bella. Someone who feared them. Once Bracken finished and stopped the recording, Alice and Bella started clapping and smiling. Bracken bowed slowly and smiled.
Alice noticed that she relaxed slightly and decided to try and make conversation, "So Bracken, you just moved here right?". Bracken nodded "yeah, for about a year while I finish school", "Are you enjoying it here so far?" Alice pushed a little further, Bracken nodded "it's nice, a small community where everyone knows everyone else, that's nice". The three walked out of the music room together, Bella kept quiet to allow Alice and Bracken time to talk, this was exactly what she wanted to happen. Bracken was stiff when she walked compared to Alice's fluid dance like movements, Alice wanted her to relax some more "Bella said your too busy to sit with us at lunch, I would really love it if you would try and find the time tomorrow" Alice ended the sentence by placing her hand softly on Bracken's arm. The motion only made Bracken stiffen more, she closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath "I...I get really busy with this assignment". Alice touched Bracken's arm once more and stopped walking as they reached her classroom, Alice turned to Bracken and smiled "how about if Bella and I sit at a separate table from my brother's would that make you more comfortable?". Bracken nodded silently, unable to speak for some reason, the touch from the pixie like vampire was like little bolts of electricity running though her arm. Alice smiled and walked into class, Bella smiled at bracken and followed Alice.
As the two friends walk out of school together, they spotted Edward giving Alice a murderous glare. Bella looked at Alice who shrugged in confusion, the two walked closer to the silver Volvo and said their good-byes. "What was that?" Edward demanded as Alice walked up to them and kissed Jasper, "what was what exactly dear brother?" Alice asked innocently. "Don't pretend Alice, you know what I'm talking about" Edward hissed at her, "Don't you dare hiss at me Edward Cullen" Alice warned "and where I go with my friend is none of your business". "She's the enemy, we should be staying away from her not making friends" Edward reminded her as his anger increased, "maybe if you tried to get to know Bracken you'd be surprised Edward" Alice said as she got into the back of the car "oh and Bella and myself shall be eating lunch with her tomorrow". Edward looked like she had grown another head while Jasper simply shrugged and got into the car as well, "you will not be eating lunch with Bracken tomorrow or any other day" Edward demanded. "you are not my father Edward, you cannot and shall not tell me what to do with my free time" Alice replied coldly before looking out the window. Jasper sighed as he realised that this argument would go on between them for a very long time as neither will ever admit to being in the wrong about something.
The three got out of the car and walked through the garage into the house, Edward decided to restart the argument with Alice "I mean what I said Alice, I forbid you". Hearing what Edward said Alice spun around with a new kind of rage burning in her eyes, "you forbid me Edward?.....YOU FORBID ME?!" she yelled as the pair stood in the middle of the living room, Esme rushed in and stood next to Jasper who was trying and failing to calm Alice down. "yes Alice, I forbid you. She is a danger to our family as well as Bella and it is my duty to protect both" Edward declared, Alice poked Edward in the chest "you're a real idiot Edward! If you took the time to get to know Bracken you'll find that she's not the blood thirsty killer that these werewolves are rumoured to be!". Esme sighed and knew exactly what they were arguing about, she also knew she needed to stop it before they had a physical fight. "Edward, you cannot forbid Alice from doing anything. That's mine and Carlisle's place as your parents" Esme said calmly as both teens turned to look at her. "thank you" Alice said as she went to hug her mother, Edward look like he was about to argue something but Esme spoke first cutting him off "we have already said that we will not treat Bracken as a threat, if Alice wants to get to know her then she is allowed to do so and you will not come between them". Edward was about to argue again so Esme spoke once more "do you understand me Edward?", Edward nodded and shot Alice a murderous glance before storming off to his room.
Alice Kissed her mother on the cheek before taking Jasper's hand and leading him off to her bedroom, once inside, Jasper shut the door and watched Alice as she stormed around the room. "he's a fucking prick! Seriously Jasper what's his problem?!" Alice screamed as she fell back onto her bed, Jasper shrugged and moved to sit next to her "I don't know love, but you shouldn't let him get to you so much". "well that's not hard when he says stupid things like that, who does he think he is trying to forbid me like that?" Alice replied, Jasper cuddled her into him more and kissed the top of her head "I understand but you shouldn't aggravate him like that, you know it only makes him stand his ground more". Alice nodded and the pair laid in the same position for an unknown amount of time, finally Alice moved up to kiss Jasper softly on his lips "thank you Jasper, I needed this" she said before getting up. "anything for you my love" Jasper replied as he got up and walked off to his room for some much needed alone time, laying on his girlfriends bed with her and not doing anything was his personal hell, but she needed him to comfort her not fuck her.
Alice had a nice hot shower, she knew Jasper wanted so much when they were lying together. His body made it very clear to her what he wanted, and she felt very guilty about it. But she knew he understood what she needed and was willing to suffer in order to give her what she needed, she loved him very much for everything he did for her. Alice stood still and felt the hot water run over her body, the steam billowed around her as she washed herself. She got out of the shower and dried off, getting dressed Alice walked downstairs. Esme was watching an art program on T.V, Carlisle was reading a medical journal and Edward was in a corner reading. Alice went to kiss Carlisle on the cheek and then went to sit on the sofa next to Esme, "are you going to see Bella Edward?"Alice asked as she cuddled up to Esme. Edward nodded "I'm going on a quick hunt and then I'm taking her to the movies, why?", Alice shrugged "I was going to say tell her I said hi is all". Edward huffed and looked at the T.V in an attempt to ignore Alice, Alice sighed and in an attempt to make peace with her brother, went over and threw her arms around his shoulders. Edward softened and nodded "OK Alice, I'll tell her", "thanks" Alice said with a smile and went back to sit with Esme.
Deep in the woods a figure sat in a tall tree silently watching, watching some deer grazing one last time before sleeping. Bracken lowered herself down and quietly changed into a wolf, her family were already eating at home, and Bracken was only hunting for herself. She sprinted full speed after the oldest one, she hated catching the baby's. The deer she targeted ran in a different direction than the others and Bracken sped after it, they swerved through the trees with Bracken closing the space between them. She could smell the fear coming off the deer in waves, it only made Bracken's mouth water and her speed increase. Finally she leapt and landed square on the deer's back, biting hard on the deer's neck she severed the jugular vein and tugged hard, snapping its neck. She always went for a quick kill when she was on her own, she hated prolonging her pray's agony, feeling sympathy for the poor animals. Bracken ate as much as she needed and rushed home, changing before she walked into the house. Bracken went upstairs to the room she shared with her bother Cubby, who was listening to a book their mother was reading to him.
Bracken sat down at the desk and finished her homework while she half listened to the story being told, "I think I made another friend today" Bracken said without looking up. "That's wonderful Bracken, tell me about them" Anastasia said in her thick Russian accent, Bracken looked down and spoke in Russian quietly "she is a vampire Mama, she's really nice and she's a friend of Bella's. She wants me to sit with them tomorrow at lunch" Anastasia watched her daughter, she could see Bracken was waiting for her mother to say whether she approved or not. Anastasia smiled and replied in Russian "If you think she is nice then by all means, be friends with her", Bracken looked up in surprise "but I told you she's a vampire, we're supposed to hate them". Anastasia smiled "Bracken my little one, I have always trusted you. I know you will always make whatever decision you believe to be right", Bracken nodded "thanks Mama". Anastasia nodded "now, off to bed. Cubby is fast asleep and you should be too", Bracken nodded and Anastasia left her to get ready for bed.
A/N 2: ok, I managed to get this chapter done before I left for my holiday, I spent about 4 hours working on it nonstop. It's a little rushed but I really wanted to get Alice and Bracken's friendship kicked off, otherwise I'll spend the whole 2 weeks in Spain wishing I had got more done. The next chapter will show Bella and Bracken spending more time together and show Bella and Alice trying to get Edward to see Bracken for who she is and not the reputation. As you might have guessed Bracken is not your typical werewolf, as always suggestions or requests are very welcomed. Thanks