I KNOW I KNOW! You guys must hate me right now! I'm so sorry it's taken months for this new chapter to come out. It just seemed every time I went to finish the chapter something would always come up, weather it be work, my laptop getting messed up, or just plain old writer's block. Hope you guys can forgive me?
This chapter was originally 30+ Word Document pages long but I ended up splitting it into 2 chapters. That's why this chapter is a bit shorter. The other is already written and ready to post but I'm going to wait a few hours before I post it. I want to go over it and make sure everything is perfect with it. This chapter and next will be in Edward's POV and then after that I'm switching over back to Jasper. My plot starts to kick in with Jasper, so be ready for lots of twists and turns. =)
Reviews motivate me to write quicker! I swear. XD
Thank you for your patience! Here's Ch 7!
Previously on Domino Effect:
"Bella…" I breathed jumping to my feet.
"Edward." The voice that spoke to me was reminiscent of her old one. Only this one was much more beautiful, it rang out like bells after every syllable. She had only said one word to me and already I could tell I would never tire of hearing her voice. If it was possible I loved her even more. A large grin replaced the permanent scowl my face had gotten used to over the last few days.
"Bella…Oh Bella. You have no idea how amazing it feels to hear your voice again."
"Likewise." She sighed. "Edward, you were completely right…"
Instantly my smile faded. The lump in my throat made it impossible for me to breathe. I was on the brink of clutching at my chest to hold it from falling apart. I felt my world start to crumble beneath me. My Bella…my love….she regretted it. She hates me. I knew this would happen.
"I'm so sorry…Oh God Bella. Please forgive me. I love you, Bella. I love you…I'm sorry, I couldn't…"
Alice placed her hand on my shoulder. Edward. Did she know this was how it was going to turn out? Edward?Why did she keep this from me? Edward… How could she–
"Edward!" Alice yelled as she pulled my face down to look at her. She narrowed her eyes at me. I began to pull away but her small hands gripped tighter on my cheeks. You idiot…let her finish!
"Err…Edward?" Bella's worried voice came over the phone. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. Alice let out a frustrated sigh followed by an eye roll. Before I realized what was happening, she snatched the phone out of my hand.
"Bel-la!" Alice grinned and walked away from me. Suddenly very annoyed, I walked after her. She turned on the spot and started walking the other way. I kept right in step with her.
"Alice!" I could almost hear the smile in Bella's her voice. It only slightly lifted my worries. Of course she wouldn't be angry at Alice…but what about me?
"Sorry about that, my brother tends to be quite overdramatic and loves to jump to conclusions. But you know all about that." Bella's laugh rang through the phone's receiver. The sound of it made my chest feel lighter. My steps became more urgent as I tried to take the phone away from Alice. She moved away effortlessly each time, and my hand only grasped at air.
Alice laughed as she jumped into the air, landing on the boulder to my right. She stood with her hand at her hip, the other holding the phone to her ear. I narrowed my eyes at her before leaping up towards her. She giggled again when I missed her as she stepped off the rock. Now stop being an idiot…she's not mad at you!
"Anyways, I'm going to give the phone back to Edward before he ruins my new shirt trying to get it back from me." Without waiting for a response, Alice threw the phone in the air in my direction. I quickly caught it and held it up to my ear. Alice smiled and ran off through the woods heading back to the house to give us some privacy.
"Hi." I said sheepishly. I grimaced and hit my forehead with the palm of my hand. After all my waiting to talk to her the best I could do was 'hi'?
"Hey." She replied instantly. I could almost picture her playing with the hem of her shirt and biting her lower lip as she spoke.
"Bella, I'm – "
"I love you, Edward."
Funny how four words could cause so much emotion in a split second. My heart nearly exploded with joy. She loved me. She remembers me…She remembers us, her love. My balance fumbled as the truth and love behind her words hit me, the relief flooded through me and I let myself fall backwards onto the ground.
"And I love you, more than ever." We were silent for a few moments and then I heard her sigh.
"I'm sorry I brought this on everyone. I didn't know about the wolves. Jasper told me everything that happened. Please don't be mad at him, if anything be mad at me." I could hear her pacing in the background as she whispered. "I hope you're not too mad at me..."
"Bella…" I sighed and shook my head. "You have nothing to be sorry for. And I could never be mad at you. It's in our nature to crave blood. I could never hold that against you. I'm the one that's sorry. I should have been more careful. I should have never forced you to come to the party. If you wouldn't have then –"
"Stop." She growled. I was taken back by the new sound. The fact that my Bella just growled forced me to shut up and listen. I didn't know what to think of it. My mind still thought of her as a fragile human girl, it was bizarre to hear it come from her of all people.
"If I'm not allowed to be sorry, then neither are you. What's done is done, and there's no going back now."
I didn't know what to say. I still felt horribly guilty for what I had caused.
"Is it what you expected?" I asked suddenly. "Being a vampire, I mean." I added when she didn't answer.
"Honestly? It wasn't exactly what I had expected, but then again, you didn't really tell me much about it, so I didn't have much to go on."
"This wasn't what was supposed to happen, so it was moot point to tell you about it…"
"Seriously Edward, did you honestly think either of us would have ended up happy with your decision to keep me human?" She hissed in anger. I grimaced. Hissing would be another new sound I would have to learn to get used to hearing from her.
"But you would have been human. You would be alive. It's what would have been best. I took that away from you."
"What's best for me? Or what's best for you?" She snapped.
"Bel–"
"No, Edward. You can't make decisions for me based on what only you think is best for me. I think, no I know it's better this way. If I was still human I would still be torturing you with my blood! Not to even mention I would have grown old while you would have stayed young and beautiful. Besides, I was accident prone, this would have eventually happened anyways."
"Not if I could help it…" I blurted out.
"You would have left me." It wasn't a question. Her voice was soft and distant.
"I would have done what was best for you. If it meant having to leave so that we wouldn't be a danger to your life anymore…"
"What's best for me? Enough about about what's best for you? For us?" Her voice broke at the end. She took a small breath before continuing. "You obviously didn't know what's best if you didn't want to change me yourself." Before I could say anything back she spoke out again. "If this wouldn't have happened, you would have let me die, Edward."
I let her words sink in. Would I have let her die? If I had left her, would I have had the strength to stay away and let her die of old age? I could barely handle the thought of losing her to Death. I would have surely followed her right after if that were the case.
Bella sighed heavily. "Look, it doesn't matter. I'm like you now so I don't have to worry about dying anymore. I just wish you would have wanted me enough to want to turn me."
"Bella…you have no idea how much I want you." I sat upright and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I struggled every day with my want for you. The thought of you being unbreakable…immortal… It's my deepest desire, yet my worst nightmare. You won't be able to change, or have children, you have to move every few years, leaving and starting over new, living off blood, it's not the life I wanted for you, you deserved better. And because of all that…I can't help but feel selfish."
"I don't understand."
"I'm selfish because now that you're a vampire, I want you even more. This way of live isn't easy and I want to be there for you, but I can't. I want to be by your side and never even think about leaving you again. I want you–no, I need you in my life. There's no doubt about that in my mind. Ever since I let Jasper drive away with you three days ago, it physically hurts to be apart from you."
"Oh, Edward…" she breathed. She stayed silent for awhile. I waited impatiently to hear her reaction to my admission.
"You shouldn't feel selfish to want me, Edward. It's not selfish when I want the same things you do. I need you in my life just as much as you need me. I can't see myself without you. Besides, I never really cared to have children, I don't care if I have to move and start over new all the time. Don't you see? It doesn't matter what I am or where life takes me, as long as I'm with you." Her voice was so full of love and longing. I could feel my own love for her grow with every word she spoke. And here I thought it was impossible to love her even more than I already did. "Hell, I don't even mind living off blood. Mmm…It's quite tasty actually."
I couldn't help but laugh as I heard her hum in delight.
"I love you, Edward. Never forget that."
"Now how could I ever forget something like that?" I teased. "I love you too."
"Just out of curiosity," I asked as I quickly went over in my mind of our conversation so far. "What exactly were you going to say earlier when you said 'Edward, you were completely right'?"
"Oh, right. I was just going to say you were right about the running. It's completely exhilarating. It's like nothing I've ever felt before. I thought I was going to be scared of it, or that I would fall flat on my ass, but it was just really incredible."
"I told you, it feels completely different once you've changed. It's definitely my favorite pastime." I chuckled nervously. "I really do jump to conclusions though, don't I? I really thought you were confirming my worst fears. I thought you were going to hate me…"
"I could never hate you."
"So you finally got it out of your system then?" Emmett bellowed. No more mopping around thinking she hates you.
I only nodded towards him.
"I can't wait to see what she looks like! It's so not fair that both of you get to see her before any of us do." He continued.
I only then remembered that Alice still hadn't let me see a vision of what Bella looked like now.
"Actually…" I started. Alice bounced into the room with a wide grin on her face.
"Hmm...what if I don't want to show her just yet?" Alice smirked.
"Alice…" I warned. She stuck her tongue out at me. "Please…" I breathed. She sighed, defeated. Fine! Fine. Gosh, I can't even mess with you anymore!
My sight went out of focus as I was pulled into Alice's vision.
My love was running into the forest, her bare feet pounding against the dirt. Her hair seemed to have grown about an inch or two, and there were slight tints of red in each strand. Her skin was paler, for a second I worried about her health, but as the vision focused on her face, I was reminded that Bella was different now. I no longer needed to worry about her becoming ill. I didn't think she could become any more perfect than she was as a human, but her lips were fuller, her skin smoother, her lashes longer, and her eyes… Her eyes were crimson red.
The shock that overtook me wasn't because of the new shade of her eyes, it was the emotion built up behind them. It had always been her eyes. Her mind's door had always been sealed shut to me…but her eyes. Her eyes always gave her away. That look was unmistakable.
Joy.
I didn't know how to feel about it. She enjoys the perks of this so called 'life', but what of the negatives? When she finally realizes that being a vampire is not as wonderful as she thought it would be, when she realizes all that she's lost, would she still forgive me for taking away her humanity?
A blow to the stomach brought my sight back to the living room.
"Damn it, Edward. Can't you just be happy that she's happy?" Alice pulled her arm away and stormed out of the room.
I sighed and sat down on the couch. I closed my eyes and focus only on Bella and her happiness. I imagined myself next to her, holding her hand in mine as we ran together through the trees, the wind whipping away at her hair as it flowed behind her, the way she would look up at me through her lashes and smile…
"Hey little bro!" Emmett boomed as he jumped right beside me on the couch. Under the pressure of his weight and fall, one of the couch legs cracked through the floorboard. "Shit…Don't tell Esme! I swear I'll fix it before she gets back…"
I groaned as I stood up and walked over to the love seat. "What do you want now Emmett?" He grinned and stretched out over the sofa, with his hands behind his head and his legs crossed over the arm rest.
"Can't I just spend some quality time with my younger brother without having some hidden ulterior motive?" Benefit of the doubt, Eddie?
I rolled my eyes and motioned for him to continue. He didn't say anything, but his thoughts were revolving around what Bella might look like as a vampire. "You're not doing her any justice. She looks much more beautiful than that." I smiled.
He smirked and sat up quickly, leaning his weight on his forearms. I searched his mind to find what he really wanted to talk about, but his thoughts were well guarded. But then his mind slipped. I growled and leapt at him, but he was already across the room, letting out a round of loud laughter. I growled louder and crouched low to the ground. "STOP!"
"Oh come on Eddie-poo, don't tell me the thought hasn't crossed your mind!" He laughed. I charged at him again, this time he wasn't so lucky. I caught him by the throat and slammed him on the ground. His laughter became louder as he used his strength to roll us around. He lifted me up and held me in a headlock against the wall. "Admit it, Edward! You can't tell me you haven't thought about all the things you could do with Bella now that's she's a vampire! She's unbreakable now…You could even rough her up a bit. I'm sure she's dying to see that part of you."
I let out another throaty growl and twisted myself out of his grip. I grabbed him by the shoulders and used all of my strength to throw him backwards. He flew through the air and across the room. Emmett was already through the glass and twenty feet out into the back yard before I could hear the glass shatter. I rushed across the room and jumped out behind him before the pieces could hit the ground. He was already running and I could hear his booming laughter echo throughout the forest. His mind's voice was now merely a whisper as I gave up and sat on the edge of the porch stairs.
The last thought I heard from him was a very heated image of Bella tackling me to the ground ripping off my bloodied shirt. She quickly leaned towards me and bit down on my shoulder, causing her to moan and for me to roll her around and kiss her like I had never dared to before…
I surprised myself with a laugh and a smile.
Emmett was right. The things Bella and I could do now…Well that was definitely something to be happy about.
"Damn it, Alice! It's my turn." I said exasperated. "Stop texting Jasper so I could text her now."
"Edward, stop it. It's my hour. You know that!" She yelled back.
I groaned and paced my room. "I should just get her, her own phone." I muttered.
"Already ahead of you." Alice appeared at my door with a wide grin. "The phone should arrive with in the next two hours."
"I don't want to wait two hours…"
"Oh well, you'll deal. Keep yourself busy then and get dressed for school."
"What?" I growled. "You can't be serious."
"Well we do have to keep up appearances."
"But the funeral was only a few days ago. They can't expect us to go back so soon."
"What else are we going to do, sit around and mope? The least we could do is go back and help others grieve, right?"
I didn't like it, but Alice was right. She flashed a smile and then rushed to my closet. She opened the door and thumbed through my clothes. Her mind pictured each outfit on me, searching for the 'perfect' one.
I sighed. "Why do you insist on dressing me all the time, Alice?"
"Because with out me you'd dress like an idiot!" She sang. She imagined me as a modern version of Steve Urkel, glasses, suspenders and all.
"I would never need glasses." I laughed.
"Yeah, I know, but it adds to the geek effect. You know you would be a hopeless fashion mess if it weren't for me!" She grimaced. I motioned for her to continue and she turned quickly to the closet again. I had long ago learned not to challenge Alice when it came to fashion and dressing me for "special occasions." I couldn't complain much though, the girl did have style. She put together an outfit for me seconds later. She chose a fitted black sweater and dark blue jeans.
I dressed quickly paying no mind to Alice across the room searching for the right shoes and accessories to match. Then in much less time than I would have hoped for, Alice and I were in my Volvo and on our way to Forks High once again.
Don't be too disappointed! I will have the other part of this up by late this evening! =D
I hope the phone conversation was alright. It was really hard to write. I wanted to write so much more for it, but the right words just wouldn't all come out...
Alright, so here's what to expect for next chapter:
Lots of school stuff , Edward finds a new friend, a little bit more wolf confrontation and a crazy bitch from the past returns!
Leave a review and you get a sneek peek for next chapter!
Jan
