AN: Thank you to Tyler'sPrincess for reviewing last chapter and to those who have followed or favorited this story. It may not be one of my better ones, but it will be the first one completed because the story is already finished. One of the benefits of keeping it to ten short chapters, lol!
Anyway, onto Chapter 7!
Hugs!
-BMW
Chapter Seven: You Knew About This?
Bella's POV
When I got home that evening, after our first visit to the Cullens' place, my dad was waiting for me.
"You left a message on the machine that you were going to the Cullens after school and I haven't heard from you since, Bella. Do you know how worried I was? What if something had happened?" He ambushed me the second I walked through the door.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I forgot to let you know we were staying there for dinner. I just assumed it would be okay." Charlie wasn't usually this overprotective, what the heck was going on?
"Bullshit, Bella. They don't eat! You think I don't know that? Were you even at the Cullens at all, or did you lie and go somewhere else?" He yelled.
It took me a minute to realize what he'd said. When I did, I was furious. "You knew about them? I had no idea you knew about them! Anyway, as it turns out Esme is a really good cook and she made a huge dinner for me and Jake. So just because you happen to know a few things does not make me a liar, Dad! I have never lied to you in my whole life and I am not about to start now. And it's a pretty rich accusation too coming from the man who neglected to tell me I HAD A BROTHER, my whole life!" I screamed, storming upstairs and slamming my bedroom door.
I was surprised to find Edward laying on my bed when I shut the door and I almost screamed. "What are you doing in my room!?" I asked in a rude tone, still pissed off at my dad for being such a hypocrite.
"Well, hello to you to. I'm sorry to intrude on your personal space, though I'll admit this isn't the first time. I usually leave before you get in here, but from the sound of that conversation I thought you might want some company. Bella for some reason, you are more potent to me than most people, and it challenges my control. I have been spending time in your room in an effort to desensitize myself. I assure you there isn't anything sinister about my motives." He smiled crookedly.
"So... you come here, where I live, in order not to eat me? I'm sorry, but isn't that a little dangerous? Not that I don't trust you, but, what if you did slip? There'd be no one here to stop you!" I pointed out.
"I know. That's why I usually have Alice waiting outside. But I've become familiar enough with you now, that it's more manageable and I wanted to try to talk to you alone tonight. Before we get to that though, did I hear correctly? Your father knows about us?" Edward asked, seemingly a little worried about it.
"I guess. It sort of makes sense. I mean, he was with Sarah for ten years apparently and she's Quileute, or at least half Quileute. I think Jake said she was part Makah? But anyway, she was married to Billy while she was with my dad, and Billy is basically the chief, so it's no wonder that my dad knows. I'm actually impressed, because even though he obviously knows, he still sticks up for your family to anyone who will listen. So, I don't think you have anything to worry about, with him." I assured him.
"Okay, that's good to know." Edward smiled, taking me by my hands. "Was Jacob correct, Bella? Do you, spend a lot of time thinking about me? I know that he does."
"I, um, I guess I have been, lately. Does that bother you?" I asked hesitantly.
"Not at all. On the contrary, I'm rather pleased to hear it." He smiled.
Ugh, stupid sexy vampire. It was so easy to lose focus around Edward. Like he could dazzle me out of having any coherent thought. But there was something I had wanted to ask him. "So, you seem to flirt with Jake… but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't getting the impression that you're also flirting with me. Should I be reading anything into that, or are you just a naturally sexual person?"
He laughed, actually laughed at me! "On the contrary Bella. I'm actually a rather repressed person, normally. Where I come from, things used to be done differently than they are today. No, I believe that it is you and Jacob who are bringing out this side of me. And as to whether or not you should be reading anything into it, why don't we wait, and see what time will tell? I'm generally one for playing my cards pretty close to the vest. And my heart has been my own for a very long time. I'd like to keep it that way a little longer, before I decide to give it away to anyone. I hope you understand." He smiled.
"I do." I nodded, returning his smile. In other words, he didn't want to be pushed. But he obviously had a reasonably decent impression of Jake and I so far, and for now, that was the best I could do. We'd have to take his advice and let time reveal the rest.
"Bella, may I come in?" My Dad asked, the next morning.
"Yeah, come on in." I called, pulling my sweater on and running a brush through my hair.
"I didn't like the way you stormed off last night, though I understand why you were upset. I shouldn't have insinuated that you might be lying. I know you're a good kid Bells. I just overreacted because you took off to a house full of vampires, and I didn't have any say in the matter. And if anything had happened, there would've been nothing I could do about it." He sighed,looking exhausted.
"Dad, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for storming out, and I'm sorry for leaving you that copout message about my plans. I honestly didn't think you'd have a problem with my going to the Cullens', and I had no idea you knew anything about vampires."
"Well, my not knowing about them, wouldn't have made it any safer to go over there. In fact it's better for you that I do know. At least if I know that you're with them and anything did happen, I could call down to the Rez. They have a pack now, so I could call in the cavalry if I needed to."
Okay, now my dad was just confusing me. "A pack?" A pack of what?
"Yeah, the wolves? There are three that have shifted. One of the times I went out there to see Jake, I saw one of the boys phase as I was leaving La Push. I turned right around and went back and told Billy. He had to explain everything to me then. Of course, I'd known the old Quileute legends, but I had no idea they were true. Anyway, it started with Sam Uley, but now there are three wolves down there. The other two are Paul Lahote and Jared Cameron. I thought the Cullen knew all about the wolves?" He tipped his head quizzically.
"They probably do, Dad, but I just recently became friends with them, and I only just found out about vampires. I didn't know there was anything else out there. Are you actually saying there are boys on the Rez who turn into wolves, Dad? Like werewolves?" I squeaked.
"Sort of, or kind of like shapeshifters? Anyway, they protect the tribe. It's in their DNA. The gene activates when there are vampires around, at least that's what Billy said. His grandpa, Ephraim, was part of the last pack when the Cullens first moved here. Now that they're back in town, the boys are shifting again." He explained.
"Wait, if it's in their DNA... and Jake is part Quileute…. is he going to turn into a wolf, Dad?" I asked, getting worried about the whole thing. It sounded like the wolves were supposed to protect against vampires. That would probably put a kink in our plans to seduce one, if my brother started turning into a wolf from being around them!
"Naw, Billy doesn't think he'll phase. Sarah was less than half Quileute, and I have a little of the tribal blood a few generations back, but it shouldn't be enough for him to shift. Unless the area became suddenly overrun by vampires. But I don't think there's anything to worry about. Although if you're both going to be hanging out over there, I suppose it is possible. I guess we'll just have to wait and see." He said.
Yeah, I've been hearing a lot of that lately.
AN: Next chapter is the most exciting part of the story, at least in my opinion, because something big happens. It's a pretty original twist that I really enjoyed writing, so if you hate it when I post it, be gentle, lol! Anyway, I love to hear your feedback!
