Disclaimer: Neither Twilight nor its characters are my own, I'm just borrowing them for a bit! Stephenie Meyer is the brilliant one! :)
Chapter seven
Rosalie and Alice showed me to the back door, but only after telling me I could just go through the window, apparently it's faster. I declined for now. Maybe next time.
The Cullen's back yard is massive. A gardener's dream. Flowers and hedges line the edge of the house and the base of the trees, the grass is a luscious green. The rain is probably to thank for that. Perhaps gardening is another hobby of Esme's.
The river Alice mentioned is only a few steps away from the line of the house but it flows deeper into the trees. I follow it a ways before coming across a pile of large rocks jutting out from the ground. I sit down on one of the larger rocks, not because I need to, but because the sound of the river flowing is peaceful. I want to hold on to that peace for a while.
My thoughts are a jumbled mess. I've spent many years trying to convince myself I didn't need anyone for me to be happy. I was fine being on my own, with the occasional chat from a fellow vampire. Knowing my brother was never truly gone, hurts. Not that I'm not completely and utterly thrilled to know he's alive, to have him back in my life. But It feels unfair that I could have had a family sooner if I'd only known. I could of spent those years with someone I loved instead of lying to myself by thinking I was actually okay. It's difficult to process because at the time I felt content most days but I realize now I was just lying to make myself feel better. It's all very confusing.
On the other hand, now I'm not sure what to do with myself because I have been alone so much in my life. I want to stay, I need to reconnect with Emmett. We had such a strong bond as humans, I think we could have that again with time. But being around everyone is daunting. Maybe it's because my mind is full of worries and what if's regarding Emmett. If I would just let myself accept what is happening, it wouldn't be so hard. I feel like I'm contradicting myself with every other thought.
"Okay Bella, state the facts," I tell myself.
First, you found the Cullens. You wanted to make a connection with them from the moment you heard about them.
Second, Emmett is alive. Rosalie saved him and just like you he was changed into a vampire.
Third, they offered to let you stay so you could reconnect with your long lost brother.
All of these things are true no matter how unreal they may seem. Suck it up. Deal with it. Stay and reconnect with Emmett. Stay and bond with Rosalie, who is your sister in law now. Bond with Alice who you're apparently going to be the bestest of friends with. Anyways, Alice has already seen you staying otherwise how would we become the bestest of friends. Also stop talking to yourself so much, it's creepy.
I hear a noise. I turn my head to see Edward casually walking toward me. No more running I see. Maybe he's going to glare at me some more with his gorgeous eyes until my thoughts become available for him.
"Hello, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself before, I'm Edward." he gives me a lopsided smile.
I want to lick his face.
What?
"Yeah, I heard." Way to be standoffish Bella.
"I'm sorry about the way I acted before. I've never come across someone who I couldn't hear. It's off putting, to say the least. Plus Alice is hiding something, and that never ends well for me," he says regretfully.
"It must be difficult having someone in your head all the time," I say in Alice's defense. Are you trying to not make nice with the beautiful man Bella? Geez.
"I'm not in their head all of time," he laughs lightly, "only when they say my name or if their thoughts are very very loud, this happens with Emmett mostly," Edward chuckles.
I laugh because that sounds like my Emmy.
"I've learned over the years that it's not all that fun being in the minds of a bunch of couples." he grimaces.
"Uh, yeah, that would be, uh, embarrassing I imagine." Real smooth.
"I really hope you forgive me for acting like an ass, as Emmett put it."
"Emmett called you an ass?" I laugh.
"Edward stop running you dummy and go apologize to Bellsy for acting like an ass or I'll have to show you who's boss for treating my little sister badly." Edward quotes in a pretty impressive Emmett voice.
I crack up.
"Oh god, I'm sorry. He was always super protective in our humans lives, it must of carried over."
"He meant it too, he was also yelling at me in his mind. He's not the reason I Came to apologize though. You deserved one, it's not your fault I can't take not knowing well," he winks, surprising me.
I think I just turned to goo.
"Me being the first person whose thoughts you can't hear is just another thing to add to my list," I say seriously.
He arches a brow, "list?"
"The 'Weird things about Bella' list."
"Hmm I'm intrigued. Do I get to know what else is on this list."
"I suppose, since I make you feel so discombobulated," I smile, flirtatiously I realize, "Let's see, I sometimes gag at the thought of human blood, I've never once craved human blood, I have a touch of anxiety and, now I get too add my brain is different from everyone elses."
"You gag at the thought of human blood?" Edward questions.
"Yup."
"So you've never once tasted human blood?" he continues when I shake my head no, "Wow, that's impressive."
"Everyone seems to be very impressed with this fact." I say.
"It's not something you hear too often. Rosalie hasn't tasted human blood but she was changed by Carlisle who taught us there was different way from the beginning. Carlisle hasn't ever drank from a human, only tasted when changing us," he tells me.
"Did he change all of you. He doesn't seem the type to walk around turning people into vampires."
"All of us except for Alice and Jasper, but it's not like that. He's only ever changed someone who was on their death bed. Esme, Rosalie, Emmett. and myself, we all had a second chance at life thanks to Carlisle."
You can tell how much Edward looks up to and respects Carlisle when he speaks of him.
"Would you mind telling me your story?" I ask him.
"It's not the happiest of stories but I don't mind," Edward Replies.
I boldly pat the rock I'm sitting on, letting him know it's okay to sit beside me.
He does so, smiling.
"I was born in the year of 1901 in Chicago, Illinois to Edward and Elizabeth Masen," he begins with a reflective look on his face, "My parents provided every opportunity for me that they could, so I could have a successful future. My mother and I were very close, but my father and I not so much. He was away on business more than he was home. My father became sick with the spanish influenza during the first wave of the epidemic. He died soon after. My mother and I contracted it later. Carlisle happened to be our doctor while we were on our death beds. I was very close to dying when my mother begged Carlisle to do anything he could to save my life. She must of noticed he was different because she told him to use his power to save me. She also died from the influenza like my father and like I would have if Carlisle didn't do as she asked. This was in 1918, I'm forever seventeen"
"And you've been with Carlisle ever since?" I ask him?
He turns his head toward the river.
"Not the entire time. Things were good at first, and after Esme came along, we felt like an actual family but I soon began to resent this life. I left the family and the animal blood diet behind for a few years. I thought with my gift I could do the world a favor and rid it of all hardened criminals. Rapist, murderers, people who deserved what they got. I later realized that wasn't my decision to make. I came home to Carlisle and Esme where they welcomed me with open arms," he tells me with regret shining in his eyes.
I'm not entirely sure what prompted me, but I lean over and give him a light kiss on the cheek.
His eyes get big, clearly taken aback.
I backpedal, "I'm so sorry! I'm not sure why I did that. You just looked so regretful and I acted without thinking. I swear I'm not usually so bold." I cover my face with my hands.
"No Bella, it's okay, I just wasn't expecting it," Edward tells me gently removing my hands.
"I'm sorry," I tell him again.
"Stop apologizing, I liked it, it was nice." he tells me with big grin.
Edward stands up and grabs my hand.
"Come on," he says, "lets head back. I'm sure there's a house full of people waiting your return. One in particular," he smiles.
He was right, it's time to go back and start the rest of my life.
A.N. Hi lovelies! This one was bit more difficult, the beginning wasn't coming to me very easily. But squee for Edward and Bella! I hope you like it! -Tiff
Thanks for reading and taking the time to review my story!
