Switching Covens: Chapter 9

The Talk: Bella's POV

We took our time getting back to the house. Edward was smiling the whole time, telling me that my eyes would be golden like his in about a week or two if I followed their diet. He told me that the Cullens were about to start school - Alice and Edward as freshman and Rosalie, Jasper, and Emmett as sophomores - and if I wanted I could join them as well.

I thought about sitting at home for seven hours waiting for Edward to return home every day and immediately decided I should go with him.

Tanya was waiting at the door to greet Edward. She flung herself at him and gave him a hug. She asked how his hunt went to which he replied with a simple great as he untangled himself from her. She pouted and then glared at me as he put his arm around me. He guided me into the house.

"Edward," I said. "I think we should talk to Carlisle about school."

"Good idea. Then we can see if I can get your schedule to be identical to mine." He winked at me.

"How?" I asked, and he looked uncomfortable. I glared at him, guessing what was making him uncomfortable. "And what if the school secretary happens to be male?"

His eyebrows furrowed like the thought never occurred to him. "I . . ."

I smiled mischievously. "I guess I could take care of it. I can be quite . . . charming when the situation calls for it."

Anger flashed in his beautiful eyes. "No."

"Excuse me?" I asked. "I can do what I want, Edward Masen, and if flirting with the secretary to get more time with you is what I have to do, then so be it."

He stared at me blankly for a moment. "Fine," he grumbled. I turned to continue walking up the stairs - I didn't even realize we stopped - but he stopped me. "And I might still be your Edward, but my name is Cullen, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen."

I frowned, but didn't say anything. It was weird seeing him as anything but Edward Masen, but I guess he did change. He seemed older, though he physically looked the same. I wondered if anything happened to him to change him so. I shuddered away from the thought; it was just too unbearable to think about.

We reached the room Edward once referred to as Carlisle's study. Before Edward could even knock, Carlisle granted us permission to enter.

Edward opened the door and I stood there shocked. Carlisle's office was huge with bookshelves covering the walls. His office was better stocked than a library. In the middle of the room, Carlisle sat at a desk with a thick volume in front of him. He put an unnecessary bookmark in the spot that he stopped before he closed it. I idly wondered if he would let me read any of the books he had, but I stored that thought away for another time.

"I hope we're not disturbing you," I mumbled shyly.

Carlisle smiled. "Of course not. What can I do for you two?"

"We were wondering if we could get Bella signed up for school," Edward said with a smile playing on his lips.

"Of course. I'll call the school tonight," Carlisle assured us with a gentle smile.

"Could you tell them that Esme's little sister is living with you guys? I just . . ." I looked down. "I . . ."

Carlisle got up and put his hand lightly on my shoulder. "I understand. I'll inform them. I will get in touch with them after I talk with Eleazar. I want to know if he has any word from some of my acquaintances."

I nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Bella," he replied as he walked towards the living room.

I grabbed Edward's hand. "So . . . what would you say if I asked you to listen to some music with me?" I asked with a small smile on my lips.

"I would say that's a wonderful idea," he said while winking at me.

We walked hand in hand out of Carlisle's office, and Tanya was waiting outside the door. I suppressed a groan. She either had to be the most persistent person or the dumbest one on earth. I'm going to have to go with the second one. She's the reason blondes have a bad reputation.

"What are you doing, Edward?" she asked while coming closer and batting her eyes at him.

He moved back slightly. "Uh, I . . . Bella and I were going to go up to my room and listen to a CD."

If she noticed his discomfort, she didn't let on. She probably thought he liked her forwardness in that daft mind of hers. "How about you let her go listen to whatever she wants, and we go for a stroll in the woods."

"No, thank you," he said, disgust shown in his eyes. "I would rather spend the night with my mate."

Her eyes narrowed. "Are you ever going to leave her and spend time with your family?"

"No," he said, anger flashing across his face. "I won't leave her, and she is family."

Tanya shrugged. "Whatever. If you decide otherwise, I'm always open."

"And how many other guys are you also open for?" I retorted.

She bared her teeth at me. "You have no idea who you're messing with."

"Actually, I do. You're just a whore who is trying to steal my mate only for a one night stand. Why don't you go find a different man who's not taken," I sneered in a totally un-Bella like way.

She growled at me. "I'd watch your back from now on."

I rolled my eyes. "Like you could do anything worse than what has already happened to me."

She stormed off without another word. As much as I dissed her ability to hurt me, I knew she was capable of doing some serious damage, but she would get killed in the process.

Edward stared at me, shock etched in every contour of his face. "That has to be either the bravest or dumbest thing I have ever seen."
"Let's go with the first," I offered with a smile. "Let's go to your room and listen to a CD before she comes back."

"Your wish, my command."

We ended up cuddling on his couch listening to a Debussy CD. I missed it: the love between us. It had been almost a century since I had it. I wasn't going to let it go. Tanya could go stick it; she wasn't going to get my man.

The CD was almost over when I heard a soft knock on the door. "Come in Kate," I heard Edward call in a in a soft voice.

The door opened to reveal Kate and Irina. Kate saw me and smiled. I quickly realized I was still intertwined with Edward. I tried to get into a more formal position beside him, but Edward held me to his side.

"Don't worry, Bella," Kate said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You can stay where you are. We've seen worse from Rosalie and Emmett." She laughed. "Besides, I think you two are cute together."

"Thank you," I muttered softly.

Irina came forward. "We're glad that Edward has someone now. He looked so miserable by himself."

My throat tightened. "Your sister doesn't seem to share the same feelings."

Kate and Irina looked at me with apologies in their eyes. "We're sorry, Bella. Tanya always had a . . . liking towards Edward. We're sure that she will get over it."

Edward laughed uncomfortably. "If I remember correctly, you two also had a 'liking' for me."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Sure, we were both interested before we found out you could read minds and you didn't want anyone."

We continued having small talk with the two Denali sisters. They were both nice enough. If Tanya had a fraction of the decency that these two had, then she would be alright. After about an hour, Kate and Irina decided to head back to the living room to talk with Esme.

I was fine with them leaving for the night because that meant I could have Edward to myself. We could talk all night or just hold each other in silence. I should have known it wouldn't happen.

Tanya entered the room without knocking. She walked in like she owned the place and sat by Edward's head. Edward quickly sat up with me. Tanya was glaring at me the whole time.

"What can I do for you, Tanya?" Edward asked politely.

I guess Tanya suggested some nasty things because Edward's nose wrinkled in response, and he moved even farther away from her.

"I thought you had enough time with her and would like to go out hunting with me." She said in a sickly sweet voice while batting her eyes at him.

"I just went hunting," he argued.

"So, I thought you might still be thirsty."

"No, I'm not."

I got up from the couch. "Would you take a walk with me, Tanya?" I asked her in a hard voice.

"Bella!" Edward exclaimed, worry in his eyes.

I smiled at him. "Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything to greatly insult the Denali Clan, and I'm sure Tanya wouldn't do anything to insult Carlisle and Esme."

"That's right," she said, eyeing me angrily.

We walked out of the house in silence. When we were a safe distance away from the main house, we turned to each other.

"What do you want?" She asked bored.

"To talk."

"About what?"

I rolled my eyes. "A movie. What do you think? Edward, of course!"

"What about him?" she asked suspiciously.

"Leave him alone. He doesn't like you the way you like him. I love him, and he loves me. I would do anything, give anything, for him. I know you like him, but this is ridiculous."

She looked angry. Before I knew what she was doing, she pulled back her hand and slapped me hard. I looked at her shocked, before I stood up straight. I glared at her.

"What I meant was you could have any guy out there. Why do you want my man so much?"

She glared at me. "He's the only single man out there who ever refused me."

I stared at her. "That's all?" She just continued to glare at me. "Tanya, you should spend your time trying to catch the eyes of a man who's not already taken. When you met Edward, he was in love with me. That's why he didn't go with you. And he's too much of a gentleman to ever do anything with a woman who he didn't truly love."

She stared at me with expressionless eyes "You were with him when he was human?"

"Yes," I answered. "His biological parents saved me from my abusive aunt and uncle. His family took me in, and we fell in love. Tanya, you could do so much better than this. You could find a man who will truly love you instead of a man who won't ever love you."

She glared at me. "Edward will love me. I will win his heart."

"No, you won't," I said in a cold voice. "A vampire only falls in love once, and when they do they love that person forever."

She tried to tackle me, but I sidestepped her. I didn't know why I was doing this. I wanted to fight her, to fight for Edward, but I didn't. If I did, I would let her win. I expected to yell at her, threaten her to stay away from him, but what I didn't expect was to be telling her my personal history while she tried to attack me. I told her to get a man who would love her, and she would be happy. I told her about how I met Edward, how both of us "died," and how we met again. She slowly stopped attacking me, and her eyes softened as I finished telling my story.

She was looking at the ground when I finished my last word. It was a few seconds before she looked at me with soft eyes. "You really love him?

"More than my own life," I said honestly.

She nodded absently. "And you really think I could do better?"

I smiled. "Of course! You're beautiful, you have a nice smile, and your loyalty to family is great."

She smiled slightly. "Thank you, Bella. I'm . . . sorry, I guess. I'm sorry for attacking you and trying to steal your mate. You're right. I'll . . . try to leave him alone like that from now on."

I smiled bigger. "Thanks, Tanya."

"But if you ever hurt him, I will hunt you down and kill you," she warned.

"I have no intention of ever hurting him," I said. "I would rather die than ever hurt him."

We started to walk back to the house in comfortable silence. We didn't hate each other anymore, and I could feel the start of a small friendship. I hoped she would keep her bargon. I could probably help her with the dating thing. I met a few male vampires throughout my constant traveling. The only person I was still on bad terms with would be Edward's blonde sister."

Tanya and I walked into the house, and I saw Edward waiting for us with a worried expression tainting his face. Tanya smiled at me slightly before she went to go sit by Irina and Kate. I saw Kate flash me a smile. Maybe everything would work out after all.