Thanks for reading and reviewing everyone. I'm going away, so I wont post for about two weeks. This chapter is a little short, but I wanted to give you guys something to read while i'm gone. Enjoy chapter nine!!
-Julia
I don't own Twilight.
I urgently looked around, trying to find something familiar to calm myself. But as I looked around, I realized that the beige room was completely new. I was more upset and unsettled than I've ever been before. The intense sadness caused by my flashback left me sobbing and shaking without tears. My breathing raced frantically. I will not loose control near Edward anymore.
I closed my eyes, and shook my head furiously, trying to get rid of the memories, but they just showed stronger in my mind. My dry sobbing became louder and more frantic.
I heard someone running at human pace, heartbeat rapid, breathing hitched, so I looked up as that person was about to enter the room that I was in. My appearance was a disaster, and I couldn't stop sobbing, but I couldn't care less.
I saw Edward's bronze hair and green eyes as he came into my sights. "Bella, are you okay!?" he asked. His hands were bandaged up tightly. I started hyperventilating and sat up quickly.
"Edward! I'm so sorry! I…" he cut me off. Edward walked towards me and stopped a couple of feet in front of me.
"Bella, stop apologizing to me. You have nothing to apologize for. I should be the one doing that." His voice was calm, as he ran his hand through his unruly hair.
"I almost killed you and you think that you should apologize?" My hysteria was controlling my voice.
"I know what you've been going through now. I know that you're a vampire. I was the one that caused you to almost attack me and I was the one that caused you to… faint? What happened?" I felt my heart strain as my parents popped into my head. I kept off the touchy subject.
"Then why are you still around, when you know the truth. Aren't you afraid of me killing you?!" My voice rose, to express my confusion and panic.
"I'm not afraid… anymore. I admit, at first I was freaked out a bit, when you were about to bite my hand, but… I don't care. I can't keep this in any longer. I have felt… this intense pull towards you ever since the first day in the school parking lot. I knew that you were different that day, but I couldn't distance myself when you came back. I know it's very soon, but I don't think I can be away from you" My breathing stopped as I took in his words.
"I don't know if I can handle another accident like that. What if I kill you?"
"I told you, I don't care about that! And besides, I know you can control yourself; you stopped."
"Wouldn't you rather be out of danger? Wouldn't you rather feel safe?"
"I do feel safe."
"You shouldn't! Right now, you're next to a vampire who almost killed you. How do you feel safe at all?"
I'd rather be near you, happy. And if I were to be killed, then that would be better than being miserable away." I was moved as his velvety voice expressed his emotions. His words warmed me. I took a deep breath and his sweet scent filled my senses, but… it wasn't as overwhelming as before. Curiously, I took another breath and found the same result. I think that I can handle this.
"I don't think I'd be able to leave you, either. I have been so… happy lately around you. I haven't been like that in such a long time." I said quietly, as the scene of my birthday came into my mind. I flinched.
Edward took a step closer and suggested, "We should hang out more often then."
"How are you taking this so coolly?! Aren't you going to ask a million questions about me first?"
"Nope." He said indifferently. "Maybe the next time we hang out I will."
"I don't think you have any instincts. Every human that knew what I was, would be terrified. They'd run away as fast as they could. Don't you even want to know what my diet is?"
"Blood." He said. I raised an eyebrow. "No, I'm still not afraid. You seem different." He said.
"Well, my family and I are very different. We live off animal blood. We don't kill humans, but it's still difficult to sustain."
"I think that is actually pretty cool."
"What?! Don't say that! I hate what I am. I'd do anything to be human again. Don't ever think that this is cool! It's unnatural!" My face fell a bit and my lips turned down into a frown.
"Wait, you said that you'd do anything to be human again. So, you were human at one point?"
"Yes, a while ago." I answered.
"When did you change into a vampire?"
"I'd rather not talk about it." I answered quickly.
"Okay, are there others like you?"
"We only know of a few others, who are very close to us. There are a lot more vampires out in the world. More than you think; and they only feed off of humans. Being near me could bring one of them to you if they happen to pass by us. And they wouldn't think twice." He actually seemed to think this over, but looked unfazed.
It was silent for a moment as we just stared into each others eyes.
With curiosity I questioned him, "So you've felt the pull and electricity between us too?"
"It's been driving me crazy." I smiled and breathed in, enjoying his scent.
"I've actually felt the exact same way." I said. "That's why during school before I had to touch you're cheek." He grinned.
"Does that mean it's acceptable for me to do this too?" He slowly reached his hand out to caress my cheek and forehead gently. My eyes closed and I grinned like a fool.
"I think that I can allow that." He chuckled. "My skin temperature doesn't bother you?" I asked curiously.
"No, it doesn't. It makes me know it's you." My lips turned up again.
"So what happened to you before? You were screaming and thrashing around. I pulled you onto the couch from outside." The grief returned suddenly and I started to break down again. I buried my face in my hands. "I can't talk about this!" I exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Bella. I won't mention that again. You don't have to tell me. Bella?" I bawled as he called my name, like my mother.
" I've... I have to go; to calm myself down." I said urgently. I ran out of the room at a human pace and quickly turned it to a vampire run as I exited the house.
"Wait!" I didn't stop as I heard him. I just kept running to my car and drove off. I made it to my meadow quickly. I laid down and pulled myself into a ball on the ground. I let myself sob and reflect over my memories; trying to gain strength, but the sight of my parents dying and myself getting attacked was too much. I stayed, dry bawling like that for a few hours, until I opened my eyes and looked up as I heard something with swift footsteps and no heartbeat approaching me.
I stayed vulnerable on the ground, not wanting to get up. Alice entered through a little pass between bushes, trees and vines. She slowed to a walk as she saw me on the ground.
"I saw you come here." She said.
"I'm miserable, Alice! You have no idea what just happened to me." I hit my head against the ground firmly. The force made a dent in the ground.
"Do you want to talk about it? It might help you." I actually felt the need to release my feelings.
"Yes." I took deep breaths to relax myself until I was able to compose myself enough to talk. I sat up. Alice waited patiently, with a look of concern etched on her face.
"I was driving Edward to his house from school and when I got to his house, he went to put his school bag away because we were going to go spend a little time together. But, when he came out of his house, he tripped and scraped his hands badly. I couldn't take the thirst and I lost control." Alice's eyes became wide. "I stalked him until his back was against his garage door and I took his hand in my mouth, but I looked into his eyes and everything went numb when I saw a tear. I released his hand and I just blacked out. This turned into a flashback to the day when I was changed. It was terrible! In the beginning I woke up to my mom waking me up. I spent the whole day with them, celebrating my birthday. My parents and I were at our beach house, walking on the beach at sunset. They just gave me my ring as a present." I held up my hand with the ring on it. "Then, a vampire came and I saw it kill my parents and it attacked me." I felt my body become weaker as I continued. "I felt, tasted, saw and heard every little thing in perfect clarity as if I were actually reliving it. I felt the pain of being changed perfectly after the vampire bit me and I heard my parents screams fade as they were drained of their blood." "Oh my god…" she said with worry. I started to dry sob again and Alice walked over to me. She sat on the ground next to me and pulled me into a comforting hug.
"I didn't see any of this." She said. "I'm so sorry that all of that happened." It was quiet for ten minutes as she just continued to hug me and comfort me. I started to calm and felt stronger. I controlled myself. After a couple more minutes I was fully calmed so Alice released me.
"Thanks, I needed to do that." I said.
"No problem, I'm always here for you. But, I want to ask about you and Edward."
My eyebrows furrowed. "Alice, I can't stay away from him. He knows what I am and he doesn't care. He says he'd rather be with me. I'm always thinking about him. He makes me extremely happy whenever I'm near him. I really think I'm falling in love."
She became glowing with excitement. "Really?! I think you two are perfect! That's so great that you finally found someone."
"You can't be serious. He's human and I'm a vampire. I was destined to kill him. I think that's completely messed up."
"But you didn't and I don't think you ever will."
"I bet Rose wouldn't be too fond of me if I told her that."
"She's not happy, but that doesn't matter! She doesn't understand. If you love him and you're happy, that's all that matters."
"He doesn't deserve our fate though. He's too perfect. I'm never going to let him become a vampire. No one deserves that."
"Just think about everything then. Come on, let's go home. Esme has been extremely worried about you." I nodded and went back to my car, which Alice was parked next to. I got in and headed home, to face my family.
