Chapter 10 – (Edward's POV)

I don't really know what to make of Bella's cousin. I know one thing though, she knows about vampires. Charlie's in the kitchen, making something for dinner. I can hear Claire upstairs, unpacking her things, I know she's blocking some thoughts… or trying to, but some are slipping through. She's not thinking about them long enough for me to be able to work them out though. I notice Bella watching me.

'What?' I ask.

'What the hell was all that about?' she asks me. And even though I can't hear her thoughts, I know exactly what she's talking about.

'She had sixty-six missed calls,' I reply.

'Sixty-six?' Jake asks in disbelief. I nod. 'Whoa, someone obviously misses her' he says.

'Three actually. Two guys, one girl.'

'Do you know why she's here?' Bella asks, still looking at me.

'No,' I say, frowning. 'She's not even letting herself think about why she left town.'

'Must be something pretty bad,' Jake says, looking up at the ceiling. 'Maybe Bella should go and see if she's ok?'

'No, she probably just needs a time out.' Bella sighs.

Nessie's still wondering why her auntie's upset. Man, that girl can read emotions as well as Jasper.

'I don't know Ness,' Jake answers her.

'What does she want to know?' Bella asks, looking at him.

'What's wrong with her aunt,' I tell her.

'Oh', Bella says, frowning slightly.

'Um, Bella?' I ask.

'Yeah?' she looks over at me.

'Do you know how you're cousin could've guessed that we were vampires within thirty seconds of seeing us?' I ask. Bella just stares at me, completely lost for words.

(Bella's POV)

What! My cousin knows about vampires? How?

'Whoa.' Jake says 'how the hell could she?'

I'm just sat on the couch, staring blankly at Edward. How could my cousin possibly know about vampires?

'Are you sure?' I ask him quietly. He nods.

'As soon as you hugged her, her first thought was 'Oh my God. Bella's a vampire.' And it didn't take her long to realise I was one too.'

'How?' Jake asks again.

'I don't know,' Edward mutters, he frowns. 'It was one of the other things that she wasn't letting herself think about.'

Just then, the doorbell goes. I go and answer it. There's no one there, just a letter under the welcome mat. I pick it up and look at the front. It's addressed to Claire.

That's weird. I think. How can someone know that Claire's living here so quickly?

'Claire Danvers! Get down here now! You've got mail!' I call up to her.

(Claire's POV)

'Claire Danvers! Get down here now! You've got mail!' I hear Bella calling up to me. I've already unpacked everything and I'm just sat on the windowsill, staring out into the trees, not thinking about anything. I hop off the windowsill and run for the door.

'I'm coming!' I call down to Bells. Who could it be from? Who could know I've moved in here so quickly?

I run down the stairs and nearly crash right into her, but she catches me and steadies me, making sure I'm stable before releasing her grip. She hands me a small white letter and I flip it over to look at the front. I don't even need to open it to know who it's from, I already recognise the handwriting… Amelie. I sigh, fold it up, and shove it in the back pockets of my jeans.

'You've not going to read it?' Bella asks curiously.

'Maybe later,' I say shrugging. I've just escaped the life of Morganville, I'm not quite ready to go back just yet.

'Claire-,' Bella says and then stops. I look up at her, she seems to be struggling for words.

'What's wrong Bells? Just spit it out.' I say smiling. I don't need to be thinking about Morganville right now. I'm back with my cousin, vampire or not, and that's all that matters.

(Bella's POV)

Claire follows me back into the living room and sits down. Everyone's staring at her in disbelief. Including me. Claire looks around at everyone's faces.

'What?' she asks slowly.

'Claire…' I try again. But I don't know what to say. How are you exactly meant to ask someone how they know that vampires exist.

'How do you know that vampires exist?' Edward asks. Oh, like that I guess…

Claire just stares at him.

(Claire's POV)

'How do you know that vampires exist?' Edward asks me. I just stare at him. How the fuck did they know that I knew about vampires?

'One of my vampire traits, I can read minds.' Edward says, smiling grimly at me.

He's joking right? He has to be joking.

'Oh no. I'm one hundred per cent serious,' he informs me.

Fuck!

'Yeah, that's usually everyone's first thought,' he sighs.

I just turn to look at Bella. She smiles and shrugs.

'I-I, um,' I stutter. I turn to look at Jake, who's watching me closely.

'Um, I…' I falter again. Oh what the hell am I supposed to say? Oh, yeah, well, you see… I used to live with a vamp. In fact, he just so happens to be one of my closest friends? No, thank you very much. It's only then that I remember my thoughts aren't my own anymore. Great.

'Where did you used to live?' Edward asks.

Hell! I think in annoyance. I ain't gonna tell you. He frowns at me and looks at Bella.

'Um, Claire, this is kinda really important. We need to know how you know.' Bella says, turning away from Edward to look into my eyes. I'm sat here, trying to think of every possible, non-Morganville related, thing I can to block Edward. I shake my head.

'How do you know? How are you guys even here?' I ask.

'What do you mean? This is our home.' Bella says confused.

'Yeah,' I say whilst mentally going through the two times table, one times two is two, two times two is four, three times two is six… 'I'm sure that's exactly how they'd see it' I say sarcastically.

'Who?' Bella asks at exactly the same time Jake says 'Oh my God! Is that a bite mark?'

My hand automatically goes to the side of my neck, eleven times two is twelve, twelve times two is fourteen… I'm slightly starting to panic now.

'It doesn't matter,' I mutter, my hand still at my neck.

'The hell it doesn't,' Bella says. 'Honey, what happened?'

My cell goes off… again. I look to see who's calling. Michael. I press the answer button.

'Hello..?'