Chapter 9

Chapter 9

BPOV

"You see Bella," Carlisle gestured to his family, "We're vampires." That's the last thing I remembered before I crumpled to the floor in a dead faint.

EPOV

"Bella!" I cried out in alarm. Rushing over to her, I lifted her gently from the floor, inhaling her scent greedily, and placed her on the couch. I watched her nervously until her eyes fluttered open. She looked at me, her expression guarded. Then she gasped and stared at me, her eyes widening like an innocent child's, as if suddenly remembering Carlisle's words. I had to force myself to keep from wincing while we awaited her reaction.

BPOV

My eyes blinked open and I stared curiously at Edward who was looking down at me anxiously. I wondered vaguely what had happened and I was lying on the couch… Then something clicked in my brain – did Carlisle say they were… vampires?? That's impossible!! Vampires don't exist. But if they did… why was Edward leaning down towards me? Oh my gosh!! Was he…

"Please don't bite me!!" I squeaked, my voice breaking half way through. I scrambled backwards along the couch and promptly fell over the edge of the arm rest. As I struggled to right myself, preparing to fight my way out, I stopped to think for a minute. Ok – three options here. One, they aren't vampires and this is all a really funny practical joke that I'm not getting. Two, they were bloodsucking vampires who were going to drain me dry painfully and slowly and bury my corpse in the garden. Three, they were vampires but they were nice ones… Somehow. I glanced helplessly at Alice, watching how she gauged my reaction. She looked back at me sadly and nodded her head slowly. I moved my gaze to each of the Cullens and they all acknowledged it was the truth. Alice hung her head.

"I'm so sorry Bella. You don't know how hard it's been keeping this from you." She looked up again, her eyes pleading. "I'm so, so sorry. I completely understand if you want to walk out the door right now." But she looked so dejected and sad that something inside me spoke up and I realized hey! This was Alice, my bestest friend I had ever had. Was I going to give that up, plus a home, plus a new family just because they were vampires?? No way!! I ran over to Alice my arms wide and enveloped her in a hug.

"Of course I forgive you. We're besties and nothing will ever get in the way of our friendship. I don't care what you are, or what you," I stumbled over the word, "eat. And that goes for all of you." I said the last bit to the whole family. Then I staggered to the couch and plunked myself down, swallowing the news.

"You can ask us anything you want Bella." Esme said quietly, "We'll answer any of your questions." I cleared my throat.

"Ok. Um… do you, um… do you, well you know… drink blood?" It was the vital question and I could've put better but I couldn't restrain myself from blurting it out. Carlisle sighed despondently.

"Yes Bella, we do drink blood. We have to, so we can survive." I couldn't stop a look of horror crossing my face and Carlisle responded by quickly amending his statement. "But only animal blood! We eat meat, animals the same as you do. We don't drink human blood. You have nothing to worry about." I relaxed quite visibly and continued the questions – they seemed quite feeble now after that big one and I started babbling,

"You're not allergic to garlic are you? Because I love using garlic in cooking and I'd love to make food for you sometime… But wait you wouldn't eat human food right? Oh yeah ok. Um, you don't turn into bats either do you? I'm really scared of bats and I'm not too sure how that would work out… Oh! And you wont burn when you touch a crucifix will you? I've got one round my neck you see, it was from my grandmother and I don't take it off at all, I haven't since I was 6!!" My voice rose to a hysterical level as I spewed out the words… I was way out of my depth here. And probably not making any sense at all. "Okaaaaaay!! I'm just going to go settle in you know! Bye!" I flew up the stairs, with the Cullens staring after me, their faces perfect looks of wide-eyed bewilderment.

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