Chapter Six – Secrets
"You're not Bella or Charlie," the tinkling voice made me jump, my hand fluttering to my heart. I hadn't known what to expect but the skinny flip of a girl in front of me wasn't it. She had an adorable hair cut and she looked much like a ballerina, even the few steps she took gave away that much. Or a pixie actually. Yeah, a pixie fit her better.
"No, I'm Mikhaila. Mikhaila Faye. I'm a friend of the Swans," I told her, watching as she tilted her head at me. Her eyes unnerved me, the golden hue swimming before me as I tried to keep from shuffling under her gaze. They weren't exactly like the ones in my dreams, those having been sparkling gold, but it still matched in an eerie way.
Silence stretched between us as a sudden far off look took over her features, her fingers tapping the side of her leg as if she had fallen into a trance before she suddenly came back to Earth, shock taking over her features. She stared at me in an odd way before a smile stretched across her face. She bounded over to me, grabbing my arm as if I had become the most interesting woman in the world.
"I'm Alice! It's so nice to meet you Mikhaila," she giggled as she dragged me to the couch. I wasn't sure how to really take her sudden change in attitude and I felt like she was hiding something from me too, but I didn't have a moment to talk as she began to through several questions at me. Several personal questions that had me reel back in surprise.
"You want to know if I like shopping?" I blinked at her next one, seeing how she gave me a grin before nodding her head. Her hair shifted on her head with how vigorously she nodded. This person was crazy!
"I… not really. I mean my closet attests to that. I don't have much clothes."
"Oh no, we will have to remedy that situation here soon. Can't have you not looking your best for Carlisle," she said, watching me closely as she mentioned the name. I felt my heart lurch forward, my fingers digging into my skin as I leaned over my legs. That was odd. I had never felt anything like it and it actually really hurt. But I wouldn't let it distract me from the fact that I had a complete stranger in my home.
"Car- Who's Car-lisle?" I felt the yank on my heart again, my body shivering suddenly. Why couldn't I say his name without a sense of longing hitting me? This wasn't right. Do I have heartburn then? Maybe spicy Mexican food wasn't the best idea for dinner last night then.
"You'll see," she gave me a knowing grin before we both looked toward the door. I heard Bella yelling outside at Jacob, my person jumping up to my feet as the door suddenly slammed open. I hadn't realized it had gotten dark as Bella came in, her face lighting up the person in front of me. And the shock that took over her own features.
"Alice!" Bella jumped forward, hugging the pixie haired woman in front of me.
"You know her?" I questioned, noticing how Bella completely ignored me.
"I'm sorry, I just…I can't believe you're here," came the shocked voice. Bella had released Alice, staring at her as if her whole world was once again complete. "Are the others-"
"Would you like to explain to me how you are alive?" Alice countered with her own question, my eyes widening at her. Bella isn't supposed to be alive? Yep, either I had a severe popcorn accident and am laying in a hospital bed or this chick has officially lost her mind.
"What?"
"I saw a vision of you. You jumped off a cliff," Alice sounded a bit choked, staring hard at Bella. I found myself doing the same, hurt hitting me hard as the small girl continued, "What in the hell would you try to kill yourself? What about Charlie? What about-"
"I didn't try to kill myself."
"Then what the hell is she talking about Bells?" my own whine mixed in with hers, tears hitting my eyes. The idea that Bella had actually jumped off a cliff hit me hard, my body turning away from them. I… didn't know how to handle this news, or the fact that Bella had actually confessed to doing it. She was my best friend and this was by far the most unsettling news I had ever heard.
"I didn't try to kill myself, Mikhaila. I wouldn't do that," Bella defended, grabbing my shoulders. "I was cliff jumping. Recreationally. It was…fun."
The word fun sounded force as she moved her hands from my shoulder, taking a strand of hair and tucking it behind her ear. I found myself at a loss for words as I stared at her, my heart suddenly running a million miles an hour.
"Fun? Fun?! Bella, are you out of your god damned mind?!"
"Mik, it's okay. I'm okay. I promise," Bella looked back at Alice, a knowing smirk hitting her lips. But I was soon distracted by the two before me as I found the chair off to the side, the two girls taking over the couch. I remained quiet, listening to what Bella told her and my heart nearly gave.
Bella had put herself in many life threatening situations to get a glimpse of Edward. And that immediately made my blood boil but I didn't want to say anything. Sometimes the best way to act was like you weren't there. You learned many things from someone when they were lost speaking to someone else. It was a good tactic that I have used many times.
"I have never met anyone more prone to life threatening idiocy," Alice told her, the awkward silence taking me by surprise. At least until Bella asked about Edward and if they heard anything from him. Alice shook her head, saying that he only calls every few months. She also mentioned this Car… him and how someone named Esme separated from him.
"That's horrible, Alice. Is Carlisle okay?"
I whimpered at the name, looking away when their attention focused on me. I didn't understand why this hurt so much. Why did his name rip at my insides and what the hell was happening? Why did I want him? Who was he? Was I turning into Bella?
"He's fine. It happened shortly after we left. He is just waiting for his own to come across his path," Alice smiled, flicking her gaze back to me. Bella seemed to catch onto what she was saying, which prompted a giggle from her.
"You're kidding."
"Nope, I saw it. And he will be very happy. They both will."
"Who will?"
"Can't say. It will ruin the surprise," Alice beamed brightly at me before I watched as her nose scrunched up in disgust. She shook her head slowly, looking up at Bella in utter confusion. "What is that god awful wet dog smell?"
I sniffed the room, trying to see if I smelled anything. Nothing entered my nose, leaving me in further confusion. I didn't know if this was a trick but Bella definitely kept some odd friends and I was at my wits end with this. Being kept in the dark. I didn't like it. At all.
"Um, that's probably me. But, it's Jacob."
"Jacob who?"
"Jacob's… kind of a werewolf," Bella looked at me, seeing that I was about to scoff at her but instead I saw how dead serious the two were being, making me snap my mouth shut. Werewolves? No, this was insane. There was no way this was real. I mean… no… no…
"Oh Bella, werewolves are not good company to keep."
"Speak for yourself," I glanced up, noticing Jacob coming into view. I felt all color drain from my face as he looked at me, a slight sneer talking over his features. Bella told him it was okay, that I would have found out eventually before he completely ignored me to focus on her. "I had to see you were safe."
"I thought you couldn't protect me here," Bella asked.
"Guess I don't care."
"Well I'm not gonna hurt her," Alice was quick to defend, her eyes focused on Jacob. I could practically feel the tension between the two and it made me very anxious. Alice may seem like a total nutcase but she was very sweet if you got down to it. And I would protect her like Bella because honestly, Jacob made me uneasy.
"Nah you're just a harmless Cullen," Jacob glanced at me, a smirk hitting his lips. "I'm talking about the other blood sucker who tried to kill Bella because of you."
"Victoria?" Alice seemed confused as I sat up straighter, unsure how to take this news. Bella being in danger was not what I signed up for. In fact, none of this was what I signed up for. I had come to help her get better but it seemed like Bella was dead set on making things worse for her. Not something I enjoyed at all. In fact, it made me very queasy.
"I didn't see her. I didn't see you get pulled out of the water either. I can't past you and your pack of mutts," Alice suddenly growled, making me jump up then. Jacob took an involuntary step back and when I went to put my hand on his arm, listening to Bella telling him to stop, he instead smacked away my hand… my still healing, fractured hand.
"Oh fuck!" I squealed, pulling my arm back against my chest. Jacob froze as he looked at me, my body curving around the injury protectively. Alice was quick to pull me into her arm, asking if I was okay. Honestly, I probably wasn't. In fact, I think I may have officially made the fracture worse or broken it but I wasn't about to tell them.
"Mik, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"
"Just leave it be," I told Jacob. Alice kept me in her arms, a hiss escaping her at Jacob before she began to leave the house. But not before promising to come back when Bella asked her in a desperate voice. Of course, she said it in a way that made me laugh despite the situation. And I would have to remember that line. It was just perfect.
As soon as you put the dog out. Ha!
