Bella POV
When we'd finally returned home, Charlie grounded me. It was kind of embarassing. I mean, im eighteen and the guy just grounded me. Edward had been upstairs in my room waiting, avoiding a confrontation with Charlie. So he heard every word.
I slipped into the bedroom, Edward was waiting, leaning against the window sill, facing me. I closed the door behind me, locking it. "Are you okay?" he asked, seeing my irritated expression.
'Why wouldn't i be?" i retorted, dropping down onto the head, relaxing.
"We need to discuss some things," i waited, "about the Volturi."
"Yeah i know, they're in desparate wardrobe update, who where's cloaks anymore?" he gave me an unamused look and i rolled my eyes. "Let me guess, i'm in danger?"
"Yes, Alice has seen some of their plans, but it's rather blurry, as they havent decided on a single course of action," he said warily.
"Bummer," i said not in the least bit disturbed.
He gazed at me for a long judging moment. "It's late, we'll discuss how to approach the issue tomorrow after school."
"Can't wait, i love plotting against sadistic vampires on mondays," i said sarcastically.
"How can you be so dismissive over this? Your life is at risk, do you now understand how important you are to me and then family?"
I said nothing, giving him a blank expression, "your right, it's late and i'm tired."
He left without a word, but he did hesitate.
The next morning was long, Charlie listed off a bunch of things, i can't do, which was just about everything. It wasn't bothered by it, he was never home anyways. I got dressed, leaving right on time. Everyone was watching me like i was a walking bomb or something.
My guess, the Cullen's. It was kind of funny, everyone had expected me to this weak little girl or something. But i wasn't anymore. I was stronger, i thought much more clearly and i knew what mattered most. The Cullen's weren't very high on the list.
"Bella, the Cullen's are back," Lauren warned me, a smirk in place.
"Thank you Lauren, if it weren't for you i never woukd've noticed the most expensive car in the parking, let alone my ex and his family," i shot at her unimpressed.
She glared, "you dont have to be a snob."
"Says the definition of the word," she just glared and stormed off. I flipped her off as she was walking away, she glanced back and i dropped my arm surprised she'd turned. She glared even more and i snickered.
"Hey Bella," Alice said, entering our little circle of people.
"Hi," i said flatly.
"Your still coming over after school?"
"I dont know, you tell me," i said shrugging. She said nothing, and i wondered if she wasn't sure or not. Was she not seeing me clearly anymore? I mean, she didn't even see me re-surface when i had jumped off the cliff. I also didn't understand why she thought i fell. I mean, come one, who trips off of a cliff?
The bell went before anyone said anything else and i didn't bother to stick around.
Lunch was weird and awkward, both Alice and Edward insisted on sitting with us. I was kind of dreading biology, because Edward's seat was totally vacant. I sat down, he took his seat beside me.
Quite a few people glanced back at us, expecting something dramatic i'm sure. Before the class even started, someone appeared at the door. I brightened, seeing Aleera. "Can i help you?"
"Let's go," she said to me, and i just shoving everything away quickly.
"Class has just begun, get back in your seat," Mr. Banner said irritated, then to Aleera, "if you dont leave i'll call the office."
She glanced at me, "is he serious?" i nodded, and the smirked, "you go do that then, in the meantime," she left. I followed her out.
We left, and Alice ran up to us out of nowhere. She startled in surprise, and then just sort of stared at Alice suspiciously. "School isn't over and you said you would come to the house," Alice said glaring at the girl.
She quirked an eyebrow, amused. "Change of plans," i said shrugging. "I'll come over when i get back."
"Where are you going? Bella, you can't just take off without telling anyone where your going. You should stay where we can protect you," Aleera grinned even more, as if there was some kind of joke i wasn't getting.
"I think i can, and it's your fault i'm in trouble in the first place," i said taking Aleera's hand and leading us to the car. She didn't follow.
"So what'd you do all weekend?" she asked curiously.
"Charlie grounded me," she burst out laughing at my exasperation and i glared, giving in and grinning. Sheepishly saying, "i missed you."
She smiled more fondly now, "yeah, i missed you too."
She took my hand, intertwining them, "what do you want to do tonight? Anything at all, you name it, I'll make it happen."
"I dont care, as long as your not out of my sight for the next twelve hours," i said frowning as i recalled how much i'd craved her since she'd left. I'd started wanting her to come home before she'd even left.
"Missed me that much, huh?" she asked amused.
"Is that a rhetorical question?"
She grinned.
When we got to the house, only Kade and his girlfriend Sabrina were here. In the short time i'd spent with them, Kade had gone out with three different girls.
Connor on the other hand, never seemed to bring a single person home. He was the one i also knew the least about. He was always quiet and distant. For a while i'd even wondered if he was mute or something, but Aleera just said he preferred to stay quiet around me. When i'd asked why, she'd just that his mind was 'a dark place' and he didn't have a filtering system for what should and shouldn't be said.
We went upstairs into her room, flipping on some music. She sat down on the ledge and i couldn't resist te urge to sit on her lap. I climbed on top of her, pressing my lips to hers, hard and demanding, pouring all of my love for her into the kiss. She returned it, slipping her hands under my shirt to rest on my hips. She lifted me up, dropping me onto the bed and kissing me roughly.
The music still played off in the background when i woke up a few hours later. I blinked, wondering why the room felt cooler. I turned onto my side, and then sat up realizing Aleera wasn't in the bed or room with me.
I pulled on my t-shirt, having fallen asleep in my underwear, and then went to find her. I was walking through the hall when i heard the arguement. I paused, standing just out of sight from the staircase. Aleera and Adam didn't seem to notice me, at all, "-dont start Adam. I told you i'm handling it."
"Hardly, you think we can't hear what you two are doing up there? We all have the same strengths and senses you know," he said bluntly. I frowned, a little confused.
"What do you want me to do? if i dont do this cautiously she'll get suspicious, and then it'll just be a matter of time before the other shoe drops. The last thing we need is a spy unsure of whether or not were onto them."
"Why dont you just bullet in her now? It's not like she hasn't caused enough problems already," he said coldly.
A moment later i heard a hard thud, and i didn't need to look around the corner to know she'd hit him and he'd probably hit the wall. "You lay a single hand on her and i wont hesitate to put a bullet in you," she was furious.
Adam was quiet for a moment, "and what do you plan to do if we find out she's under someone elses orders?"
"I dont think she is, you and Jace are the only ones that think that," she said still pretty angry.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Aleera? She's not like us, she doesn't belong in our world, you must see that? This is like Kaylee all over again and we all saw how that ended and i fucking promise you that's exactly what's going to happen again!"
"So you can see the future too now?" she retorted unimpressed, "just leave it alone Adam."
"if i find out she isn't who she says she is, i'm going to do it you know," he said calmly, evenly.
"I fucking dare you to try and go against me, try it and see just how far you get," she said in a voice of absolution. I knew right away that the arguement was over and i bolted for the room.
I laid down, hearing her come in right as i quit moving. My heart was pounding so hard i thought it would burst in my chest. She laid back down in the bed with me, and i continued to pretend i was sleeping. I think she bought it, considerig she wrapped her arms around me and pulled my body against hers, as if she'd never left.
I kept my eyes closed, forcing my breathing and erratic heart to slow down. She kissed my hair, calming me almost instantly. I just heard the strangest conversation ever about her brother wanting to kill me and she still had the same effect on me. At least i think he wanted to kill me. Who else could they possibly be talking about?
Aleera whispered something in Greek, and i committed the words to memory, deciding to look it up later. It wasn't the words so much as the tone that caught me off guard. She'd said it so softly and quietly that her voice alone made me sad. Sad because she was sad, sad and scared, but of me?
And who the hell was Kaylee?
She woke me up early the next morning, saying she would drive me to school, considering i'd left the truck parked at the school. It wasn't until last period that i remembered everything that had happened last night. Everyone had acted totally normal this morning, and for a few minutes after remembering the arguement i'd overheard i chalked it up to some wild dream. It wouldn't surprise me. I've had strange dreams of her a few times, actually whenever i was with her i had the oddest dream. Though that one had seemed so real, and less likely then a lot of the other dreams.
I'd even had a dream she had fought in a war, that had been weird. So weird i checked the date when i woke up. I was pretty sure that she hadn't been alive during the Roman Empire, 2nd century A.D. Or during the early 1600's as a native warrior or guardian or whatever. The weirdest one i think was the dream of her in Greece. She was beautiful as always, only she was the guardian of the Muses, the ones that inspired men with music, art, dance and knowledge. That wasn't even half of the things i'd dreamt of.
I got home to unexpected guests. The Cullen's, "shocking," i muttered to myself.
"Bella, we need to talk," Edward said seriously. i continued walking past them, they followed.
"Really? The feeling isn't mutual, and i ain't feeling all that chatty today," i said waving dismissively. I was distracted enough and i didnt need this crap right now.
"You can't just turn around and pretend your not in danger," Alice said in disbelief.
I rounded on her irritated, "i get that your trying to protect me and all, but quite frankly the idea of you guys acting like you care is making me nauseous. Your the last people i'd ever ask for help. I'm sure you think you owe me, but if you want to be even, then just leave me be."
"The Volturi want to kill you Bella, or change you and you made it more then clear that you dont want to be turned, your going to need our help. We need to talk about this."
i glared, "fine."
We arrived at the Cullen house ten minutes later. Everyone was there, waiting. i got out, slamming the door more roughly then i needed to. I went inside, everyone staring at me as i practically stomped into the living room childishly, sitting down on the couch next to Jasper and Rosalie. I didn't want to get stuck sitting next to either Alice or Edward on the loveseat. They'd hurt me the most. At the moment i didn't even want them within a foot of me let alone the same room or state. I also didn't feel like sitting on the floor.
It didn't escape their notice either. "So what?" i said in an edgy voice, tired of waiting for someone to speak.
"Edward and Alice have told us what transpired in Italy, is there anything you'd like to share?" Carlisle said in a placting tone.
I raised my eyebrows, "dont talk to me like i'm a five year old child who doesn't want to fess up to stealing cookies."
Everyone was taken aback for a moment. "Carlisle wants to help you Bella," Alice said frowning at me.
"If you say so," i said bored, "can we just get this over with?"
"The Volturi are taking steps to ensure that you are no longer living, you know that?"
"I'm also not incompetant, he made that pretty clear when he tried to bite me," i said rolling my eyes. Alice glared.
"Dont be so damn crude, were trying to help you," Rosalie hissed.
I got mad, "who asked you? I didn't want your help in the first place."
"We want you to be safe, please Bella, can't you understand that?" Edward said pleadingly.
"What part of my life is safe Edward? Where? When? How is anything nowadays safe? Victoria is hunting me, there are weird monstrouch mutated wolves running around in the woods. You guys are hounding me about stuff i couldn't care less about and if it hadn't been for Alice's whining the Volturi wouldn't be coming after me in the first place."
They seemed at a loss of words, not expecting such a violent reaction. "Bella, we understand that your upset and hurt because of our actions," i snorted, that was an udnerstatement. "But were not going anywhere until the Volturi are no longer a threat to your life."
"Yay," i said flatly.
"Do you want to die Bella? Because it sure as hell sounds like it," Emmett said bluntly.
"If i had wanted to die, i would be dead already," i said bluntly.
"Well what's this about then? Risking your life to be petty and to punish us for leaving? In case you haven't noticed, were back," Alice said annoyed.
"There you go again, the world doesn't revolve around you, you know, so can you stop incinuating that everything i do is because of you," i said in a cold voice.
"Then why are you being so difficult?" Edward said frustrated.
"Listen closely, all of you, because i am not going to repeat this again. You left, and sure it wasn't a walk in the park when the people i considered family abandoned me, but i got over it. Moved on, lived my life, and you should've just left me alone. Your opinions dont matter to me anymore. You dont get a say in what i do, or how i live my life. Stick around all you want, kill Victoria, bomb the Volturi like a bunch of terrorists did. I dont care what you do. Just. Leave. Me. Alone."
The room fell silent, "look, i appreciate you caring, or wanting to fullfill some kind of debt for saving Edward or whatever. Who knows, maybe even for almost getting me killed half a dozen times. But i'm not interested in having some big heart-to-heart with you guys. You may want to fix everything, but i dont. I dont care if you feel guilty about bailing, it's over, done, no time machine or magic fairies. It is what it is. So just leave it the way it is, before you make matters worse or it starts to piss me off." I stood to leave.
"We want to protect you Bella, we love you," Esme said, looking like she wanted to cry or something.
I turned to them, eyes narrowed a little, "then where were you when i needed you? Did you know Victoria attacked me in Port Angelus several months ago? She almost killed me too, she attacked me on a roof and if it hadn't been for a friend, i would be dead right now. It's too little, too late."
I left without another word.