A/N: I recently put out a story titled "Tongue Tied". I have one review.
One, fridging review.
I think you know what I'm getting at.
xx
"I swear, Bella, if you ever run off again . . ." Alice trailed off, shaking her head angrily.
Speaking is for sisters.
"You'll what, darling?" a rich, resonating voice asked. She spun around, a grin breaking through her mask of disappointment.
"Jasper!" she cried. Instead of sprinting gleefully towards him, they both stayed rooted in place, content with only looking at each other. "I missed you. But I bet you already knew that."
He chuckled quietly. "I missed you, too, love." He spread his arms wide, waiting for her body to jump into them. She was only happy to oblige.
Speaking is for sisters.
"Mmm," he murmured into her neck.
Bella clenched her fists involuntarily. More than anything, she wished that she was as worthy as Alice of love.
Worth.
She now regarded the word in a completely different light. Prior to her change, it had meant the value of an object, what one would willingly spend money on. Had she been an object, she felt, not a soul would take pity and buy her mangled body.
Speaking is for sisters.
"Hello, Bella," Jasper greeted. He looked at her sheepishly. "I never shook hands with you before. Though I hate what happened to you, at least we can introduce ourselves properly, right?"
Edward stepped forward slowly. "Bella isn't exactly up for, uh, introductions right now."
Alice's eyes became glassy for a split-second, then refocused on Bella's face. "Oh," she murmured. "I see."
Edward nodded solemnly.
"What?" Emmett asked. "What's going on with Bella? You know, for those of us with seemingly normal minds, we don't exactly enjoy your little silent conversations." He crossed his arms impatiently.
"It's the self-hatred posttraumatic spasm of fear of herself again. Except for the shaking, it's refusal to verbally communicate or touch others," Alice explained. "If my vision is correct, and there is a possibility that it could change, it'll take decades for Bella to get over it. A century, possibly. I'm not really that sure of how to make it shorter. Bella seems pretty set on this."
Speaking is for sisters.
"Why?" Emmett demanded, turning to Bella. "You finally get changed, and I can't even give you a proper hug to celebrate it!"
Rosalie chimed in, "Yeah. I was a bit . . ."
"Bitchy?" Alice offered.
Rosalie glared back at her. "Yes, but I can't even apologize and know that you accept it. You're going to be my sister now. I may still be mad at you - you did invade in on my life - but I think you're pretty decent."
"But, but, Bella!" Alice whined. "We're sisters now. Sisters are supposed to talk with each other. Sisters are best friends. We're the hugs for when something terrible such as this happens. We're the girls that laugh all night about jokes that Emmett thinks are funny."
Speaking is for sisters.
"You're my sister too, Bella," Jasper said. "Rosalie and I are feeling the same thing right now. We can't apologize and know that you accept it. That's the most important part of it. Without the forgiveness, there's only silence."
"I wanted to kiss you properly," Edward murmured.
"We can't do any of that if you go through with this, Bella," Emmett said. "Please."
Bella shook her head furiously. Instead of focusing on the voices swarming so heavily like insects around her, she centered herself on the ache in her body. It was everywhere. The scooping, coring hurt that resonated in her limbs, creeping up her throat like winter's fingers until it burned her mouth. She whimpered.
Speaking is for sisters.
"Are you alright?" Edward asked. "Nod your head. Motion with your hands."
She pointed limply to her neck. "She's thirsty," he whispered. "Bella, we need to teach you how to hunt. Soon."
She jumped back hastily. From between her glittering teeth, a tiny growl erupted in her burning throat. I can never kill an animal, she thought. It's barbaric, it's cruel.
Emmett sighed. "Bella, you can't starve to death. You can try, but it won't work. Either you let Edward teach you how to hunt wildlife, or go so mad with thirst that you ending up eating one of your buddies."
She eased out of her crouched position. "Atta girl," Emmett said. Her footsteps were wary as she approached Edward.
He guided her into the thick, choking foliage, unaware of the danger that lay ahead.
Speaking is for sisters.
xx
A/N: Ah ha ha! A cliffe, no? Don't worry, I think I know what I want as for the next chapter, so it should be out soon.
Reviews love.