A/N: So when I wrote this I originally wrote fifteen pages, however we have split it into two chapters. Both of which will be posted tonight so hopefully by the time you finish this chapter the next will be up! Thank you to all who have reviewed, they make us extremely happy!
Chapter Seven:
Hour after hour crawled by and Angela and I killed time by taking turns getting to know each other better as I cruised down the highway. We talked of favorite books and plays, quotes and poetry, even cartoons that we watched as children and how the ones shown on TV today could not even hope to compare. Angela spoke of her love for her brothers and how smart they were; apparently they were interested in robotics and engineering. I also learned that Angela had won three eating contests in Seattle and once again I wondered how she wasn't morbidly obese. I did know though that Angela was by far the most voracious eater that I had ever met.
Two hours of being on the road had led our topic of conversation to boys, more specifically our recent exes. I would readily admit that I was curious about why Angela and Ben broke up; I had been since she had first told me three days ago. And I knew Angela was more than curious about my relationship with Edward and what it was like to be with a vampire.
"I'll admit, when you told me that you and Ben had broken up I was surprised. I thought you two were destined for white picket fences and little toddlers." I looked over to her briefly to gauge her reaction but I was pleased to find Angela with only a small smile.
"I think everyone did to be honest; for the longest time I did as well." Angela replied before letting out a deep breath. "But when my dad died I just couldn't do it. I had never contemplated death before but when I watched him die I just…it became real. Like one day you just stop existing. It made me really think about what I wanted to do with my life, all the things I wanted to do before I died. And then a month and half later Ben proposed and suddenly I was left questioning not only that level of commitment but our whole relationship in general."
"Ben is truly a nice guy and any girl would be lucky to have him, but I found myself too content…bored even. There wasn't any passion between us; no spontaneity or romance. It was like we were already eighty years old and about to retire; I realized at that moment when Ben kneeled down that I hated our relationship."
Angela paused and pinched the bridge of her nose before she gave a huff of derisive amusement, "I left to find the passion and excitement I lost, childishly thinking of adventures. I had been thinking more along the lines of sky diving or rock climbing who knew I was going to get mixed up with vampires and shifters, hell even some sort of superpower, instead."
I couldn't help but copy her short laugh because I knew all too well what that was like. "We have something else in common then. When I came to Forks, I expected nothing but misery and maybe demise via boredom. Who knew I'd find vampires and shifters, even a superpower." I replied using her same words.
Angela laughed at that and a smirk curled on my lips, "What was it like Bella, dating a vampire? Befriending a shifter?"
My body stiffened of its own accord, but I was relieved to find that not one ounce of me mourned Edward or the Cullen's anymore, Emmett excluded of course. The only reaction I had now was anger, both at Edward and myself. The memories of those days when Edward walked all over me, and I let him in the naïve belief that we were in love, ran through my mind.
They made me sneer. "It was amazing at first, I won't lie. It was fascinating to see Edward's skin sparkle in the sun and I loved it when he would give me piggy back rides as he ran faster than a car though the forests. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how he never hit a tree or how he could tear trees older than himself out of the ground and toss them with a single hand."
I paused and I could feel a ghost of a smile form as I thought about how exhilarating it was to experience superhuman perks; it truly made me wish Angela and I could be vampires. I would love to climb the tallest mountains in the world barefoot with her or swim as deep as I could in the oceans, hell we could even explore the Amazon and wrestle snakes two times our size.
"But Edward was so controlling that I eventually had no say over what I even wore. He refused to listen to me or my opinion, especially when I breached the subject of turning. He also had this habit of 'dazzling' me whenever I put up a fight to express my outlook. I wanted to be his equal not placed on a pedestal. He treated me with little respect and looking back, Edward was even worse to Charlie. Eventually I distanced myself from everyone, friends and family alike. "
"But most of all there was no passion, no romance. God knows I tried relentlessly, not even seducing Edward, but to just make out with him. Not once did he do anything more than a chaste kiss. Kisses like a child would give to their parents. It made me feel so undesirable…worthless. It was as if he was merely placating me. In the end, Edward was demeaning and manipulative and I'm just glad he's gone." Not once did my voice crack nor was I filled with the unholy rage I had felt previously, I was truly okay with talking about my time with the Cullens. I smiled as I turned on my blinker to pass the guy in an old beat up Ford truck in front of us.
It was quiet for a moment and I could just tell that Angela was worried about asking more so I leaned over and pushed her leg playfully, "Just ask Ange, I'm not breaking down today."
"I'm just shocked," Angela confessed and my eyebrows rose in silent question. "I mean every girl in Forks High had a thing for Edward. I'll confess even I had a bit of a crush on the mysterious troubled teen. I never expected him to be such an ass. That goes for the rest of the Cullens as well; I can honestly say I hope I never have to have any prolonged exposure to any of them lest I get carted off to vampire jail for murder."
I laughed long and hard at that and my hand hit the steering wheel, "There is no vampire jail Ange, normally just death." I giggled again and this time Angela joined in.
"I agree they are pitiful excuses for vampires."
"Here here," Angela drawled as she held up her bottle of Pepsi, "We are twice the vampires they could ever be and we're still human!"
A snort escaped me and I nodded in agreement, "Let us storm the Volturi and demand to be changed on the grounds that we would make much better vampires than the Cullens!"
Angela and I were both laughing now and I actually had to blink as my eyes watered. However, Angela stopped short and grabbed my hand; I looked to her in silent question wondering what on earth could be wrong now.
"Bella why don't we?"
"Why don't we what?" I asked stupidly, wondering what I was missing out on.
"Go to the Volturi."
My eyes widened and I looked at my best friend as if she had grown another head. "Wh-what?" I asked incredulously. "Even if we did somehow find them, you think they would take too kindly to two humans walking up and demanding to be turned? They would drain us."
Angela made a sound in her throat that told me she disagreed, "No think about it Bella. Not only are we two humans with knowledge of the supernatural, which is rare on its own, but we are also two humans, one with a shield and telepathy and the other with some kind of weird gift detecting ability. "
"They would be stupid to let that go to waste and then when we are vampires we could easily kill this bitchpire after you and experience true freedom."
No matter how much Angela's argument made sense logically, I was unconvinced. Thankfully she let the subject drop and we turned the radio on.
We continued to drive for hours, not stopping until my legs were stiff and aching to be stretched. I knew Angela was in the same boat because every thirty seconds or so, she would shift her position to try and stretch out. So when I saw the sign for a turn off that lead to a small hiking trail that lead down to the beach I didn't hesitate to take it, even if my track record for hiking was beyond horrible.
It felt glorious to stand and stretch once we were stopped and Angela wasted no time in copying my movements bending over and touching the ground with our fingertips.
"Do you want to walk on the beach for a bit?" I asked, hoping she would say yes. The warm sun and the smell of salt water was too tempting and I wanted nothing more than to feel my toes in the sand and the water rushing by me in waves.
"Yes ma'am," Angela drawled playfully and I wasted no time in locking the car and racing to the short, downhill trail.
I should have known my clumsiness would take advantage and wreak my good mood. I hadn't taken three steps down the steep trail when I felt my foot slide over a loose rock and my balance gave way as I nose-dived down the hill. Before I could comprehend what was happening I heard Angela yelling.
"Bella!" Angela yelled running down the trail as fast as she could.
I squeezed my eyes shut as hard as I could. Not wanting to see how fast or how far I was falling. However, I was at the bottom of the trail before I could truly process anything. Opening my eyes I was staring down into the dirt. I was in shock, not only did I feel no pain but I wasn't touching the ground at all.
My eyes widen as I took in the silver bubble around me and how my whole body was inches above the ground. "What?" I whispered to myself, scared to move lest the bubble pop before I could take it in and observe it.
"Oh my god, Bella!" Angela's voice appeared behind me and I could hear the shock in her voice.
"Um, Angela," I drawled without thinking, "maybe the Volturi idea wasn't so ridiculous after all."
I watched as Angela bent over to grab me and help me up, however her hand stopped about six inches away from my body, unable to go any farther.
"You think?" Her voice was laced with equal parts sarcasm and awe. Her hand balled into a fist and I watched her rap on the silver bubble. A dull thud rang out and my jaw dropped, my lips forming a small 'o'.
"Bella what if someone comes? We can't let any-" she started to say.
I felt a tightness and panic clench my chest. I no more thought about retracting the silver shield when it snapped back inside of me and I dropped the last few inches to the ground and winced as rocks stabbed my torso.
With Angela's help I made it to my feet and for a moment we both just stood there in stunned silence.
"Did you see the silver shield?" I asked her, as we both walked onto the soft sands of the beach and sat down.
"No, you were just hovering in mid-air. If I hadn't of felt it I would've thought you were floating."
I frowned and stared at the waves, "Why was this one different colored? The first one was blue and now this time it was silver…"
Angela could only shrug and I felt a flash of irritation at not knowing. "Maybe we should find the Volturi, if only to help me understand what this is and how to control it." I stated.
It was Angela's turn to frown now. "No, no I don't think so, at least not yet. That shield was hard as granite and if we could learn to control it…learn to not only shield you but me as well, after that then we could go looking for answers. You were right though; we can't just storm into the vampire royalty lair no matter how much it sounds like fun. I like being in control being able to go where we want to. If we go to them, they would control us. I like it being just the two of us for right now, thank you very much."
I looked at my best friend in disbelief, "Do you think we can learn to control it?"
"I have no doubt. Your body is getting used to you using your shield, see?" Angela pointed to my nose and I touched it to see what she was pointing at. "No blood. Last time you had a nose bleed from hell."
I realized Angela was right, I felt fine just a little tired but there were no headaches or nose bleeds. Once again, I thanked whoever was listening that Angela was here with me to be my logic and reason.
"I guess we'll just have to find a way to practice controlling it without throwing me down a hill and record everything like color changes, length, thickness, durability, everything." I was mumbling mostly to myself but Angela nodded in agreement standing up and practically dragging me back up the hill.
"C'mon I have a legal pad in my car; we can use it to write everything we know about your shield down."
Angela proceeded to write down every detail of not only my shield, but of her gift as well. We had been back on the road for nearly two hours before she laid the pen down and leaned her head back. I glanced at the yellow paper quickly and was hardly surprised to find not only detailed records of both times my shield had come out, but also every time Angela felt something different than normal and multiple theories about what could be happening. Things to watch out for were in the margins while a whole sheet was dedicated to possible ideas of how we might start trying to consciously find the shield and expand it.
I had contributed where I could but Angela had gotten so wrapped up in her own little world that I had stopped trying, and figured I could go over it with her when we got to…well wherever we were going to. I was still trying to figure that part out. There had been signs up almost every mile of the different beach resorts and luxury spa getaways. None of them even sounded right and it was still early, besides the need to put as many miles as I could in between Forks and us was still very much present.
That is, until a sign for Dillon Beach Resort came up about an hour later. "Maybe we could stop there and check it out?" Angela stated.
"I was thinking the same thing, great minds think alike" I said laughing.
The small resort was charming yet elegant. I noticed several brightly colored cottages as I pulled into the parking lot of the main office. I knew I would love it here and I hoped Angela would as well. From what I could see the cottages were no more than a few hundred yards from the beach and I could easily see both of us staying here for weeks, practicing with my shield on the beach, playing in the water and not getting bored.
"If it's as nice on the inside as it is on the outside we have to stay here." Angela said once the car was parked.
"I couldn't agree more." I said as I was unfastening my seat belt. Both of us grabbed our purses and headed inside.
"Welcome to Dillon Beach Resort, how may I help you?" The woman behind the counter was blonde and had dull green eyes that were encompassed by dark circles, as if she hadn't slept in a while.
"Are there any cottages available?" I asked, knowing that with it being so close to June and not calling ahead that they might all be reserved.
The woman, whose nametag read Heather, started typing away on her keyboard. I watched in amusement as her eyes drifted shut only to snap open and an angry frown take its place. After a moment, Heather smiled and looked back at us, "Cottage number four is available until June 7th, it has one bedroom and a sleeper couch however, it can sleep up to five."
My gaze turned to Angela; I could already see her smiling. I would give up the bedroom to her and take the sleeper couch. I let out a breathy laugh and turned back to the woman, "We'll take it until the sixth then."
At three hundred dollars a night our two week stay was easily forty two hundred bucks. I couldn't stop the maniacal grin that twisted my lips as Angela and I both counted out half from our bundles. We had decided not to use the credit cards yet, we didn't want to take the chance of anyone, even Emmett, to track us down. Right now we were fairly safe in obscurity and until I can learn to control my shield, both of us wanted it to remain that way.
Cottage number four was charming. It was bright yellow and had a beach theme throughout. However, it was the scenic view that was the selling point. Standing on the terrace, you could see the ocean for miles. The other cottages were spaced far enough apart that you felt like you were the only one there. And all we had to do to get to the ocean was step out onto the back terrace and go through the little yard, open the fence, and walk maybe five feet. I loved the idea of being lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves crashing down so much that I let Angela have the bedroom and I pulled out the sofa bed just so I could hear the waves better.
When we were done putting away our luggage in the dressers and in the closet, I looked over at Angela; we both had big grins on our faces. This was it, our home for the next two weeks. Our cottage had a homey feel to it. It was decorated with light colors and lots of wicker furniture. There were no priceless antiques or one of a kind paintings hanging on the walls. I wasn't afraid to touch anything here, like I was at the Cullen's house. While everything in the room flowed nicely together I was not scared to scuff a floor or touch the walls. However, I was not bitter of my surroundings as I was at Charlie's house; there were no painted cupboards to remind me of Charlie's loss of my mother, there was no dream catcher knotted to the headboard of my bed, and there was definitely no rocking chair by the window where Edward used to sit and watch me as I slept. Here was neutral, here was happy, here was a place to make new memories with my best friend.
I grinned and opened the sliding glass door, the sound of the muffled waves turned into a roar and I sat in one of the comfortable wicker patio chairs. Between the exhausting nine hour drive, the late afternoon sun, and the tides rhythmic crashing against the shore, it only took a moment for me to fall into a light sleep.
"Bella," I groaned and opened my eyes, yawning as I sat up I looked to Angela who had a couple of thick plastic cups with screw on lids and straws. My lips formed into a happy grin and I took one of the glasses, immediately tasting the rum and coke.
"You'll be happy to know that there's a small convenient store that sells everything from booze to tacky floral shirts. I even managed to find us some extra-large beach towels. Shall we head down to the beach?" Angela was smiling and her arm moved out dramatically pointing to the ocean, how many drinks had she already had? I had some catching up to do.
"Angela, never let it be said that you are not amazing," Angela laughed and threw me a large folded towel as she made her way to the small fence. I followed as I adjusted my shorts and sipped my drink.
"Bella Bella, no one could ever compare to my foxiness." I laughed and held her drink for her as she laid down the towels on the sandy beach. For a long while we laid there enjoying the sun and drinking our rum and cokes. It was exactly how I had pictured it and I felt like I was queen of the world. There was absolutely nothing that could ruin this moment.
After a while Angela rolled onto her stomach and sighed happily, "I wish we could stay here forever."
I put my arms underneath my head as I turned my head to look at her, "I know, me too."
We stayed that way, not talking but just watching the sun slowly begin to set. We sat up and watched the sun slowly sink more and more into the ocean; it was more beautiful than anything I had ever seen. Not long after the sun disappeared my stomach growled fiercely and I realized we hadn't eaten since breakfast, so we folded up our towels and headed back up to our cottage.
We dined on a fancy feast of packaged sandwiches and chips that night. The next morning we made a trip into the nearest town, Tomales, to stock up on groceries. Once the refrigerator was suitably stocked and with a little help from the ID Emmett had left me, which said I was twenty one, our liquor cabinet was filled. We changed into our bathing suits and hit the beach again. Angela and I body slammed huge waves and laughed as the salt water forced its way into our mouths leaving us sputtering and cringing at the taste.
After lunch we rented boogie boards and tried and tried but failed to knee board. At one point during the day, the cooler of beer ran dry. We had to replenish it but other than that we stayed on the beach all day, playing in the water and lying out on the sand. At one point Angela had buried me beneath the sand from the knees down until she found a crab, and then refused to play in the sand anymore.
It was nearing three in the afternoon and the beach was relatively unpopulated when Angela brought up the subject of my shield. I was lying back and had just finished my beer when Angela suggested we try and find it purposefully. "Alright," I agreed. I was actually anxious myself to see if I would be able to bring it out.
We sat crisscrossed on our towels, facing each other, and I closed my eyes searching for anything that might be my shield. I tried to remember what it felt like, how it looked, even how it snapped back into my chest, but to no avail. I felt immensely stupid after the first few minutes. I groaned in frustration and looked to Angela, "It's no use. I can't do it."
Angela's lips pursed and her eyebrows scrunched together in thought. I laid back, my skin on the warm towel and my arms spread out as I sighed and looked up at the blue sky. I heard Angela move but I paid it no mind and closed my eyes…until I heard the cooler shift. It was a small one, just large enough for six or seven cans and some ice. It was empty now except for the water that the ice had melted into. I peeked over at her and my eyes widened. I barely got a scream out before the ice water came pouring down. My hands shot up in a hopeless attempt to shield myself, only the icy water never came. My eyes opened a few seconds later and through the transparent silver shield, I saw Angela grinning smugly.
"You- What- Why-Holy shit Angela." My best friend was grinning like mad.
"Focus Bella, focus on what it feels like. What do you feel?"
I sat up and my eyes roamed over the silver bubble, sparkling like diamonds in the sun. I could feel it now, what it felt like to have it out. Bringing it out wouldn't be so much as pulling it out of me, but more like pushing it out of me from within. It was almost as if the shield lay just underneath my skin and I was so used to the feeling of it that I didn't know it was there until it was gone.
"It's-" I faltered and tried to think of how best to describe it. "It's silver again," I went into an analytical mode, "about two and a half feet in diameter." My hand reached out to touch the shield, "It's smooth and cool yet hard, like you said it feels almost like polished granite. Almost like-" my eyes widened, "almost like vampire skin." I whispered.
My best friend's eyes widened and I found myself getting drowsy; I was unable to hold it any longer. The silver shield snapped back and disappeared.
"Angela," I yawned, "I think I need a nap."
Angela was quick to agree and even though I felt mentally and physically drained, I helped her fold up the towels and carry the boards back to the cabin. I showered faster than I ever had and crawled into bed, barely noticing that Angela was writing on the legal pad, before once again I was out before my head hit the pillow.
"Well finally I was beginning to think you died on me," Angela called as I blearily opened my eyes and rolled over. My body was stiff and stretching it out felt more amazing than anything, though I curled back up afterward and watched Angela in the kitchen.
"What time is it?" I asked groggily.
"Around six thirty you slept for damn near fourteen hours." My eyes widened in surprise.
"I was only supposed to take a nap," I groaned and reluctantly sat up, leaving the warmth of my bed behind.
"Well don't blame me, I tried to wake you but you didn't even flinch." Angela put a pan in the sink and I made my way over to the bar to see what she was cooking. My mouth literally drooled when I saw large blueberry muffins still steaming on a plate.
"They look delicious," I said eyeing the muffins like a predator about to attack its prey.
Angela laughed and got a small plate, setting a muffin on it before handing it to me. "Dig in, I've already had way too many."
"Thanks," I tried to say but my mouth was already full of deliciously moist muffin. Angela laughed and waved it off.
I started thinking about my shield. "I think we should practice more. Now that I know what it feels like I think I could do it again, this time without the ice water." I added on, not too keen on being drenched. Angela smirked and nodded.
"I agree, but I'll keep something nearby to shock you with. It seems to come out when you are surprised." Angela paused and then opened one of the drawers in the kitchen, "I found this." She held up a stop watch and I raised an eyebrow as a silent question. "We need to see how long you can hold your shield and see if we can work on extending it. You only held it about a minute or two yesterday." I nodded in agreement, my mouth full of the delicious muffin.
Later on after the kitchen was cleaned up and the last of the muffins devoured, Angela and I were sitting on the patio working on my shield. Now that I knew what to look for and had an idea of how to move it, my shield came out and wrapped around me like a second skin. It was maybe an inch off my body but as I moved my arm around it followed my every movement.
"Ange, it's not a bubble today." It came out sounding like a question and Angela hurried to scribble the notes down.
"Is it still silver?" she asked.
I nodded and once again she scribbled some more.
"I wonder how strong it is." I murmured to myself, Angela looked as if she was wondering the same thing.
"Just one second, don't drop it yet." She said as she went inside.
I nodded and watched her disappear back into the cottage before I looked at my shield again. It looked…well with how light the silver was and the way it sparkled in the sun my skin looked…I stopped and took a deep breath, I couldn't stop myself from smiling. My skin looked just as I pictured it would if I ever became a vampire. And it, no I was beautiful.
