I went upstairs to help Esme repack everything. During my transformation, everyone else (except Edward) had unpacked within a short amount of time. So of course, this wouldn't take long, and my stuff that I brought from Forks was still in its box.
Esme smiled sadly at me when I came into the room she was in. Edward's and my bed was already in pieces, ready to be transported. She sighed.
"I can't have my children anymore, or even my family." She paused. "London is so far away." I came over to Esme and hugged her consolingly.
"We'll visit." I promised, although I didn't know when I would be fit to travel on a plane for that long with humans. It felt weird to think that, that I was not among those humans and I wasn't human anymore.
"And you've only just joined our family." Esme continued disappointedly.
"I'm sorry." I whispered. "If I wouldn't have joined your family, everyone would still be together."
"Oh, no, Bella! We are so happy that you joined the family! None of this is your fault." Esme looked somewhat appalled that I thought it was my fault. But her expression abruptly changed into a smile, and arms wrapped around from behind and Edward kissed me on my neck.
"Tommorow." He announced.
"Already?" I was surprised at how quick he was able to get that house. He smiled crookedly at me.
"You'd be surprised at what a family of rich vampires is capable of." I groaned. My transformation didn't change one thing-I still hated him spending money on me. Although I guessed it was partially on himself, too. Which reminded me...'
"I'm thirsty." Edward's grin was wiped from his face, and it became a little more serious. He took my hand and started dragging me downstairs.
"Wait." He stopped, and I felt incredibly stupid for what I was about to say. "I want to try drinking water. I want to see what it's like." I looked down sheepishly, and Edward stared at me amusedly.
He dropped my hand and was back within half a second, with a glass of water. I tried to smell the water, to see if it smelled appetizing, but felt instantly more stupid, remembering that water doesn't really have a smell. I cautiously took a sip, and ended up spluttering water all over the tiled kitchen floor. Edward tried to muffle his laughter, but it was ineffective. I made a disgusted face, as if I'd just drank dirt out of the glass, and I remembered Edward's earlier comparison to human food. Dirt. I sat the glass in the sink, and had to drag Edward into the woods, who was still laughing quietly.
"Sorry," He whispered in my ear, once he had recovered. "But you really should have seen your face." I smiled a little in spite of my own stupidity.
Thirst still lingered in my throat, even after I had had a couple bigger game animals. I tried to focus on Edward, and the rest of the Cullens, my family. I wondered what we would do for the rest of the night. Edward and I couldn't lay in bed, and most of the stuff was packed up already. We all sat around the main room, in different positions. Alice sighed.
"I wish I could take you shopping, Bella."
"Why-oh." I answered my own question. Too dangerous.
I was ready to leave, ready to go away with Edward now, and be with him for eternity. But I knew I would regret that on the last night that everyone was together.
"I have an idea!" Emmett shouted and grinned. We all looked up curiously and warily at him, unsure of what Emmett might have.
"Let's play truth or dare!"
"Emmett, you're brilliant!" Alice jumped up, enthusiastic. The rest of us were a little more wary, though still.
"Um, ok." I said, unsure.
"Let's start with Bella!" Why me? I was surprised I had avoided this game at previous slumber parties with Alice. I groaned.
"Ok, hmm...Truth or Dare?" Alice asked me.
"Dare." Apparently her enthusiasm was contagious. I felt oddly daring.
"I dare you to...eat the rest of the ice cream in the freezer." Alice smiled radiantly. Did she know about the water incident? Probably. I grimaced, but then smiled in spite of the idea I had now conjured.
"Ok, but Edward has to eat it with me." I smiled at Edward, daring him.
"But it's not my turn yet! And I didn't even choose dare!" He protested, putting on an innocent face.
"Too bad! I dare Bella to eat ice cream with Edward!" Alice liked this idea even better. I was going to enjoy this...well, except for me eating "dirt" again. Emmett came back into the room with the ice cream and two spoons. But when Edward and I peered into the carton of ice cream, our mouths dropped. Not only was there ice cream, but whipped cream filled to the top, a whole jar's worth of cherries, sprinkles, and loads of chocolate syrup. I looked up at Alice with a shocked expression.
"The deal was just to eat the rest of the ice cream! Not all of this!" I protested frantically.
"I'm allowed to have a little fun aren't I? Besides, Jasper and Emmett heard me say 'I dare you to eat the rest of the ice cream in the freezer along with all the toppings. Didn't you?" Jasper and Emmett nodded there heads in agreement, grinning, while, Rosalie, Carlisle and Esme supressed smiles of their own. I groaned in frustration. Edward looked somewhat amused at my frustration.
"You're eating just as much as I am!" I reminded him. We picked up our spoons and spooned whipped cream and cherries into our mouths at the same time. Just as the taste hit us, there was a flash in our face. No, two flashes.
"Alice!" I yelled, with whipped cream was still in my mouth. She giggled.
"Keep eating!" This time when Edward took a bite, I watched his face as it twisted.
"Ha!" I shouted. "That's for making fun of me!" Edward smiled back. We continued to eat the ice cream with twisted and disgusted expressions. I even started to wonder how I used to like ice cream. The rest of the family sat amusedly watching us.
"Alice is next!" Edward smiled mischievously.
"Dare." Alice said, trying to edge Edward on, and suggest that she wasn't afraid of any dare he could conjure. But before Edward could say anything, the doorbell rang and we froze. All except Alice, who sprung lightly from her seat on the stairs to open the door. Edward's position cooled a little, and he relaxed, putting his arm around me.
"Hi!" Alice smiled as she opened the door, and let in three stunning vampires. Even being a vampire myself now, I couldn't get used to the unending beauty. I noticed one had strawberry blond hair, and I instantly knew who they were. Maybe I was being silly, but I snuggled myself closer to Edward, and wrapped my arm around him, too, as away of standing my ground and letting Tanya know that Edward was already taken.
"Yes, welcome!" Carlisle greeted them, and we all murmured our hellos. Tanya eyed me particularly, or so I thought. But she soon turned her attention back to Carlisle.
"Thank you, hello!" Tanya, Kate, and Irena chorused in return.
"Tanya, Kate, Irena, I would like you all to meet the newest member of our family, Bella." Carlisle gestured towards me. Tanya stared at me coolly.
"Ah, so this is Bella, that has been the cause of so much trouble. Well, nice to meet you." Her voice even came out a little harshly.
"Yes, nice to meet you, too." I returned mutually. I nodded toward Kate and Irena. I didn't have nearly as much distaste for them as for Tanya. Edward ran his hand up and down my waist, trying to calm me. I realized that my hand was tense around his waist, and loosened my grip.
"Very nice to see you again, Edward." Tanya did a horrible show of batting her lashes and using a seductive tone.
"Yes." Edward replied blankly. I took notice of his ring finger, waving his wedding band. I smiled smugly. My Edward. A pang of pain came back to me as I remembered what I had called Jacob. My Jacob. Suddenly I felt weak, and undeserving of Edward, like when I had kissed Jacob. I forgot about everyone in the room, and where I was. Suddenly I wanted to be human. The shame of who I had hurt, Charlie, Renee, Jacob, Edward, among them. It was too much.
Out of impulse, I found myself running, running through the woods, away from everything I loved, my whole future.
Sorry if this chapter was disappointing, or a little OOC. But if you have any questions I will respond to reviews or messages. And no, this is not the end of the story, just a cliff hanger. Will continue soon...hopefully. Happy Valentine's Day:)