I am truly sorry that it took me so long to get this chapter written. I got a major writers block, and all these things kept happening that kept me form writing. But i suddenly got my inspiration back and stayed up late writing this chapter. So hopefully i will be able to write them a lot faster from now on.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable.
Bella P.O.V.
The run to their home was completely silent, the only sounds was the rushing wind in our ears. Our quick footsteps were silent as we moved across the forest floor. The wind rushed through my hair making it swing behind me, cascading. I count help but hind a small smile as the relaxing motion of running calmed me down. I just loved this feeling of freedom; it was properly on of the best parts of being a vampire.
Their home came into view after some minutes of running. Everyone filtered into the house except for Alice who took my hand and brought me up to what I guess was her room. Her room was simple. One of the walls was completely made of glass so that you had a perfect view of the frost, almost like you were outside. There was a leather couch, and book shelf, a table covered in beauty supplies with a mirror hanging over, and some other scattered furniture. There was a door leading into the largest closet I had ever seen, or could imagine, filled with clothes and shoes.
I walked over to the couch and sat down; Alice located herself on the floor, looking up at me. A silence stretched between us, neither of us knowing what to say.
When we had been running I had been able to think clearly. I made a decision that would only tell these people what was necessary. I did not know if I could trust them since I only just met them. But I also decided that even if it was just for a day, I would enjoy this. It had been so long since I had someone to talk to.
Alice looked up at me with intense eyes, like she was trying to figure out what I was thinking. I stared back at her. After a while of the staring contest she finally said something "you are welcome to take a bath or shower. Freshen up… you look like a mess!"
I looked down at myself. It was true. My jeans and t-shirt had seen better days. And my hair and skin had also looked better. That is what you get for hanging around in a forest for a month, I though to myself.
I sighted and got up form the couch, walking towards the bathroom. As I was closing the door I quietly whispered a thank you. I could practically feel her smile like a thousand suns behind my back.
I stood on the other side of the closed door for a while listening to the activities of the house. Not much was happening. Someone was watching TV, and that was about all I noticed. After a minute Alice left the room, but came back in for a few seconds, where after she left again and went downstairs.
I finally got in the shower after throwing my clothing on the floor. The water was as hot and it could be and it felt absolutely amazing. Standing there under the running water I was finally able to relax for the first time in a more then a month. I don't know who long I was there, but after a too short of time I stepped out. I found two towels and wrapped one around me and the other around my wet hair, and walked out into Alice's room.
On the sofa was a pair of skinny jeans, a simple v-neck t-shirt and a pair of flats. It was a simple outfit but fit perfectly my body. I looked into the mirror and smiled a sad smile at the girl looking back at me. I turned around and walked out of the room.
I could hear the murmur of conversation downstairs and walked in that direction. I stopped at the top of the stairs. Everyone was down in the living room area. I took a deep unnecessary breath and started down the stairs. Halfway down all heads turned in my direction and followed me closely until I stood at the bottom.
A silence stretched between us as they stared at me, and I looked down into the floor feeling shy under their stares. The first one to say something was Esme.
"Dear, please come over her and sit down." She was sitting on the couch and patted the seat next to her indicating for me to sit next to her. Her warm smile felt inviting and without much hesitation I walked over and sat down.
After another silence Carlisle started. "Well… you already met Edward, Alice, Emmett, Rosalie, Esme, and I. We are glad to have you here in our home and I hope you can feel at home while you are here." He smiled at me and I smiled back.
"Thank you, I'm Isabella Swan, but please call me Bella." Let the games begin I though to myself. The game of revealing just the right amount of information about myself not to seem suspicious, but not giving off something that could turn against me. I had played this game many times, and I like to believe myself to be an expert at it.
At the mentioning of my name I saw a quick glimpse of an expression on Carlisle face that I did not understand, but in less then a second it was gone again and replaced with a smile.
I sighted and took another unnecessary deep breath. "Well now that introductions are over… I guess its time for me to give an apology." I looked around at the Cullen family that was gathered in the room. They were all looking at me, waiting and interested in what they might be hearing.
"First I want to apologize to you Edward." I looked at him but quickly turned my eyes away. Even though I know he wasn't Him, every time my eyes landed on him my heart, if I was still human, would have skipped a beat. It was just that he resembled Devon, who I loathed with a great passion, yet my heart felt sad when I though of him.
"When I saw you I mistook you for a… someone I knew." What was Devon to me? A lover? My enemy? The person I loathed the most. The only person I had ever loved truly. The one that broke my heart shattering it into pieces. No word existed to describe what I felt for him.
"I also want to apologize to all of you for causing all of this trouble this past month. I know it was inexcusable for me to behave like I have done, but I hope you can forgive me." I did not know how they would respond to this and did not expect what Esme would say.
"Of course we can forgive you! We all go through some hard times, all we need at these moments is someone to be at our side and support us." Her smile was so motherly and warm that it felt like I had known her my entire so called life. "Thank you." I whispered and looked up into her eyes and saw that she was speaking truly form her heart.
"I been wondering" I heard a voice coming to the right of me say. "You are a vampire right?" I gave Emmett a questioning look and answered yes. "So… Why are you eyes a different color?" I smiled at him at his observation about my green eyes. "Well you see it is just his little trick I can do." No need to tell them about my power, I though to myself. Again I noticed a glimpse of some expression on Carlisle face that quickly disappeared. I pretended not to have noticed.
Yet again the room fell silent until Esme spoke. "Well Bella dear, you are welcome to stay as long as you want. And please make yourself at home." She got up and together with Carlisle they walked upstairs to another part of the house. Slowly Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett drifted out of the room, leaving me alone with Alice and Edward.
I got up and started to walk towards the door. "Well if you will excuse me, I would like some fresh air." The atmosphere in this house was to tense and awkward, I had to get our. And I had not been able to hunt for such a long time that I was amazed that I wasn't going crazy yet.
"Ill join you" Alice said as she jumped up from where she was sitting. "No its ok, I wont be long" I said as I walked out the door.
As soon as the door was closed I ran into the forest surrounding the house. I quickly found a small group of deer. They would have to do. Deer was not my favorite, but my eyes would have been black as the night if I changed them back to normal.
When I was done I continued to run for a bit till I came to a meadow. The grass looked so soft, and I was just so mentally tired. I sat down one the ground and looked up into the sky. The sun had gone down, but it was not quite night yet. The sky was a light pale yellow, while the trees had a dark almost black color, creating a perfect contrast. It was a breathtaking sight, just so peaceful.
I closed my eyes and listened, listened to the world around me, letting myself go by being one with nature. I could hear the birds softly signing, an owl called out in the distance preparing for its night hunt. The wind that was softly signing as it created a perfect song with the leaves of the trees. A mother deer called for her young, it was time to go to rest, the night was coming. The wind played softly with my hair as it blew across my cheek. This was the only happiness I could find. This light hearted feeling I got when I just sat here listening was the only thing that could bring out my true smile.
Edward P.O.V.
This girl, Bella, was a mystery to me. I knew, even without my mind reading powers, that the rest of the family felt the same confusion as me about her. But yet Alice and Esme seemed to have accepted her.
After she had left I walked up to Carlisle office and softly knocked on the door. "Come in" I heard him softly say. I found him sitting behind his deck, looking lost in thoughts. "Well Edward, how may I help you?" I sat down on the chair across form him. "Well when we were talking to Bella I noticed you were surprised by her name." He sighted and brought his hands up under his chin to rest his head on them. "Ah, nothing never passes by your eyes." He said and smiled.
He was silent for a moment before he answered. "Well her name just rung a bell, but I can not put my finger on where I have heard of her before. I don't think I have met her before now it is just…" He paused for moment "I don't know. But besides that she is definitely hiding something." "Yes, I noticed that too." We looked at each other for a while. "But it is not our task to dig in her past." Carlisle finally said. I had to agree, not matter how curious I was, everyone has a secret or two that they don't want other people knowing.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please review and let me know what you think, or if you have any questions I will be happy to answer.