Switching Covens: Chapter 10

Promises: Bella's POV

The Denali coven left a few days later. Carmen and Kate gave me a quick hug, and Tanya pulled me into a big one.

"Good luck," she said. "I'm sorry for everything, but… welcome to the family!"

I smiled. "Thanks, Tanya. I'll try to get in touch with a few of my old acquaintances."

"I'd appreciate it."

After a few more minutes of goodbyes, they left. "What were you two talking about?" Edward asked me, annoyed that I was blocking her mind from him.

"Nothing much. I told her I'd help her with something. Besides, she said she would try to keep away from you in that way, so it's the least I could do."

He raised an eyebrow. "Does it have something to do with the talk you two had a few days ago?"

"Yes, and you will never know what was said," I told him while smiling. I knew it would irritate him more than anything else.

He was about to speak when Esme spoke up. "Why don't I take Bella and Edward to the school? It's the human thing to do, and if they want the same schedule, they can change it then."

"Fine by me," Edward and I both said at the same time.

Esme drove us both to the school. Edward wanted to drive, but he was posing as a freshman so he wasn't old enough to drive from what his fake birth certificate said. Since Esme was driving, he was sitting in the back with me holding my hand the whole way.

When we arrived at the school, Esme insisted on going with us to the office to keep up the appearance of a mother dropping her kids off at school. She said she would wait for us in the car after we were done in the office. So here we were asking the male secretary if I could have my schedule identical to Edwards. Esme came up with the perfect sob story. Apparently, my parents just died, and Edward was the closest friend I have. It would help me to keep my head on my shoulders if I stayed by Edward the whole day. Half of what Esme said was true, and he bought the story, so Edward and I would be together twenty-four seven.

"This year's going to be great," Edward said while he showed me around the school. "Usually it's boring because I'm by myself most of the time relearning the same material year after year."

"You're not alone anymore," I said as I grabbed his hand. He lead me back to the car after he showed me where our lockers would be. Esme was in the car like she promised and she was smiling the whole ride home, looking back at us every now and then.

When we arrived home, we were greeted by a heated argument. Basically, Carlisle and Alice were on one side, Emmett and Jasper were trying to stay out of it, and Rosalie was holding her own. It didn't take long to figure out that I was the source of the conflict.

"Why don't we just kick her out?" Rosalie demanded. "We can't keep taking in stray nomads."

"You all too Jasper and me in!" Alice yelled at her. "What's the difference?"

"The difference is that you could see the future and how you fit in here; it's not the same with her!"

"She is Esme's sister," Carlisle interjected calmly, "and she's Edward's mate. She sacrificed a lot to try to save us from a member of her own coven. We will treat her with the decency and respect she deserves."

"I am!" Rosalie yelled at him. "I'm treating her how she should be treated: with zero respect."

"Rosalie!" Carlisle scolded.

I heard enough. I turned from the house and walked toward the woods before Edward stopped me.

"Bella," Edward said softly. "It's alright. Rosalie will come around eventually."

I shook my head, just wanting to be alone. "Just let me go," I said, barely above a whisper.

His eyes hardened. "No. I won't ever leave you."

I closed my eyes, wishing for the tears that would never come. "I just want to be alone."

Edward was silent for a moment before he spoke. "Lets go to our meadow." He started to pull me deeper into the woods.

I heard Esme call to us softly. "I'll try to take care of the problem here. Why don't you two relax for a couple of hours?"

Edward nodded back towards her and quickly scooped me into his arms and ran. He ran in silence, letting my thoughts flow through my head. In a matter of minutes, were in the meadow.

Edward sat us down gently in the middle of the meadow, surrounded by the gorgeous flowers. I could feel Edward's stare as I played with a strand of grass. I didn't want to talk. For the first time in my life, I wished to be truly alone.

"Bella…" Edward softly spoke to catch my attention, but I just shook my head as I continued to stare at the ground. Edward wasn't having any of it as he grabbed my chin to force me to look at him. "Don't listen to Rosalie. She doesn't understand, and it takes a long time for her to warm up to anyone."

I shook my head again, and looked out into the vast forest. "I should leave…"

"No!" Edward exclaimed. I peaked over at him from the corner of my eye to see shock and fear dominate his features. "I can't lose you again."

I sighed. "I can't stay, Edward. I love you and Esme more than anything, but I don't think it would be in anyone's best interest for me to stay with your family."

"Just give it time," he pleaded. "If it doesn't get better in a few months, we'll leave."

My head snapped up. "We'll?" I questioned, not sure if I heard him correctly.

Edward smiled slightly and brushed his hand across my cheek. "I won't lose you again. If it means following you to the end of the world, I would do it."

"I can't take you away from your new family," I argued. I wasn't out to ruin his life.

"I left before," he countered. "Besides, we could do what the Denalis do and keep in touch every now and then."

"But-"

Edward kissed me quickly to silence me. "We can discuss this later. Just promise me you won't leave me."

"I promise," I mumbled.

"Thank you," he sighed as he pulled me closer.

I lend my head against his shoulder and watched the clouds roll by as they went about their business. I sighed, not wanting this peaceful and perfect moment to end. I wasn't eager to see what awaited us at Edward's -our- home.

A/N: I just wanted to quickly inform you all that I planned out the rest of the chapters for this story. From what I have planned, there will be ten more chapters and an epilogue before this story is done. I also wanted to put this here -and I will also put it at the end of the epilogue if I remember- that I will not be making a sequel for this story. I have literally two-hundred other fanfiction ideas I want to work on writing. I plan on ending this story on a nice note. I hope you all have a great day/night. Happy reading. ~JerinAnn