The first draft of the last chapter was a much happier affair. I may post an alternate ending. Maybe.
As for your questions about Emmett being Bella's Dad. I'm going to be honest...I don't know yet. I haven't written that far! You never know it could have been Royce!
BPov
When I answered the door I have to admit I was surprised a little. I thought she was just going to apologise for the way that she acted towards me. I never would have guessed that she would claim to be my mother. I inspected my bracelet. The one that Rosalie claimed she gave to me.
"You know, even though Rosalie may not say it aloud she has been looking for you a long time," said Edward to me suddenly. He had been silent for a while.
"What do you mean?" I asked quietly.
"Well, every time she heard the name Isabella or Bella she would always turn and look for that person. She only just started to lose hope you know," he said softly, "although she had always hoped that you had led a good life."
I stayed silent for a moment contemplating all that had happened in the past hour. I still had half an hour before we had to go to school.
"I suppose…" I started slowly, "that it does make a bit of sense."
"You still don't sound convinced, Bella."
"It's a lot to take in," I snapped back. "I don't know what to do."
"May I make a suggestion?" Edward asked. Like he needs to ask anyway.
"You may."
"I think, later on today, you have a talk with Rosalie. Or perhaps just listen to what she has to say. See things from her point of view. You grew up with the hope that your mother still loved you," I was about to interrupt how he knew that but he held up his hand to stop me, "I know because of the way you said it was from your mum the first time I dropped you home. Just listen to her okay." I nodded in return.
I left Edward downstairs to get ready for school. It would be odd if all of a sudden Edward and I were both away from school. I can already see the sort of rumours that would come from that one. I don't know how I was feeling about meeting Rosalie. I planned on doing so after school. I guess Edward is right about seeing things from Rosalie's point of view, not just what I think happened.
We arrived at school later than usual which did not get unnoticed by most of the students at Forks, especially Mike. My face wasn't looking the best either I must admit. I was just crying less than an hour ago. He's probably jumping to conclusions. Oh no, he'll probably confront me about it later. I sagged my shoulders just with that thought.
"You know Mike is planning on confronting you later," Edward said to me. I just rolled my eyes. Of course he was.
"How do you do that?" I asked Edward. Seriously, he can't read my thought yet he seems to be able to answer those unspoken thoughts.
Edward chuckled, "for starters, you looked at Mike and then you had the look on your face that says 'he's gonna ask isn't he?' Alice says to be on your guard and to keep your emotions in check."
"Why my emotions?" I stopped and looked up at him. Why does everyone think I have a bit of an attitude problem?
"Just be on your guard," Edward gave me a quick kiss before heading off to class. I headed off to English. Maybe now would be a good time to get things off my mind with school work. I walked into class. Great, a substitute and Mike Newton. Well things just couldn't get any better could they? I sat down in my usual spot at the back, which happened to be next to Mike of course.
"What happened to you this morning Bella? Cullen didn't do anything to you, did he?" asked Mike. It's nice to have people concerned about you until you get to the point where it's just the wrong people asking the questions.
"His name is Edward and nothing of your concerned happened this morning. Thanks for the concern but it's not needed."
Why do people feel the need to call my boyfriend Cullen? I find that's just rude. Class had ended. Thank goodness. Mike was annoying me with all the unnecessary questions. I tried my hardest to get out as quickly as possible. But I have to give Mike credit, he was quick and persistent. All I wanted was to just get away from him! Was that too much to ask? He grabbed hold of my arm. I tried to pull my arm free but he wouldn't let go. When did Mike start to become like this?
"Let go of me Mike," I said sternly. He didn't scare me at all.
"Come on, Bella. Why won't you give me a chance?" Mike pleaded with me. He just doesn't get it.
"I'm not available. Do you understand? Leave me alone." Mike still didn't let go of my arm.
"Mike, let go of Bella now," Rosalie menacingly said from behind me. I didn't turn around, I kept eye contact with Mike. Mike was staring at Rosalie as she came closer towards him. He let go of my arm and actually ran away. I had to laugh at that. I turned around to face Rosalie. It was only now that I realised how tall she was. Those genes must have missed me. Maybe now was the time to talk to her properly. To find out the real truth.
"Thanks," I started. It was a bit awkward.
"Bella, can we talk? Please?" Rosalie asked me. She looked a bit nervous. I guess I was a bit to. I just nodded my reply to her and she led the way.
We were walking towards the forest at the back of the school. I guess it was like when I told Edward was a vampire. Vampires must have a fondness for forests.
"I just want you to listen to me, okay?" Rosalie started. I sat down against a nearby tree and nodded to her. I should hear her side just as Edward had suggested I did.
"I had you when I was just eighteen years old. You were born September thirteen 1989. So I guess Charlie and Renee guessed right about your date of birth. The bracelet, as you already know, was given to you on your fourth birthday. The day you went missing was November 13 in 1993. My parents took you away that day," Rosalie stopped there. I would imagine it was a very bad day. I still didn't say anything.
She continued with her story. "My parents took you away because of their reputation. You see I was unmarried at that time and had you to look after. So they thought that they would gain back their reputation by removing you from the picture. I went out that night to meet up with a close friend of mine and do some shopping. When I returned home, I was expecting you to run up to me like you usually do when I return. But you didn't. So I went looking for you. I found one of the house keepers, she was looking very fearful at that time and I asked her. She told me that my parents had taken you away," Rosalie's hands pulled into form fists. Her voice grew colder as she told me about her parents. "I went and confronted them. They told me it was for my own good. Like they ever knew what was good for me. I demanded they told me what had happened to you but they never said a word. I left the house quickly looking for you.
"As I was running around frantically I ran into a Royce and his drunken friends. I tried to leave as quickly as possible but I didn't get enough. I won't go into detail what they did to me, but in the end I was left beaten. Carlisle found me and changed me. It was very painful. My only hope was that I would survive and find you. I wasn't allowed to leave Carlisle, Edward and Esme at that time. Since I was a new born I wasn't allowed to go near humans for a very long time. That broke my heart a lot. I only ever wanted to find you. I had to learn to hide my thoughts about you because I knew Edward could read my thoughts so I felt I had to hide my intentions from him. So I could continue looking for you. Every year they kept me away from humans meant a year I wouldn't get to see you, Bella. Every year you would grow older. Emmett came along a few years later. He was a welcomed distraction. Don't get me wrong I never forgot. He just made me that little bit more happier. He didn't know about you until yesterday," she stopped and looked at me hopefully.
I guess Edward was right about hearing Rosalie's side of the story. I thought about everything that she had told me. Even if it did seem a bit condensed. She never mentioned who my father was, but I wasn't going to ask her now. I guess all these years she thought of me. Rosalie was still waiting patiently for me to say something. I wasn't exactly sure what to say or do. I took a deep breath and smiled. Rosalie looked hopeful.
"I have a mum," Rosalie smiled with me but I still had more to say, "thank you for telling me, but…" her smile fell, "it will take me a while to become accustomed to the idea of you as my biological mother. Just don't expect me to all of a sudden start calling you Mum or anything. It's still a lot to process."
"I understand Bella."
I was quiet for a lot longer. I thought back to Charlie and Renee that had taken me in when I was left here. I felt that I should share this news with Charlie. I guess that wouldn't go down well considering Rosalie is suppose to be a year older than me.
"I want to tell Charlie." I said finally.
"What?" Rosalie replied shocked.
"You have to understand Rosalie, Charlie has had to put up with me all these years with me hassling him into finding out who I really was. Charlie was there the day I was left there and has been since. You owe him as well."
"We'll talk it over with Carlisle. We'll probably have to fake a few documents and records as well. That could take a while." Rosalie said finally. I was pleased that we were going to tell Charlie. I felt that he should know as well, even if part of it would be a lie. "We better get back to school before the Chief sends out a search party."
I got up off the forest floor and we started walking back towards the school.
My apologies for any mistakes in this chapter. I may re-read it one day.
To keep you speculating as always...What are they going to tell Charlie and Renee?
