Chapter 13: Where do I begin? Well, it's only been 10 years since an update. Sorry to pull the GRRM on everyone, but life has a way of...happening. I won't commit to any number of chapters or even finishing this story, but I recently re-watched the Twilight movies and felt the urge to do some writing. I admit I don't remember exactly what I had planned for this story, but I did a little brainstorming so here's hoping it's up to snuff :)
Alice's thoughts sliced through the deadly quiet of my mind. Bella had just told us she not only remembers her birth parents, but that she's...what? Half vampire, half human? How is that even possible?
"What did you see?" Alice asked excitedly. "That look on your face - that's how I look when I have a vision."
"We were...in the woods. I don't know if it was here in Forks or somewhere else. There was a woman, and a man, and me. There was blood everywhere," Bella began, then swallowed hard, the realization of where all the blood had come from dawning on her. "She died, giving birth to me."
I locked eyes with her. Even if I couldn't hear her thoughts, I could see the sadness spread across her face. I wanted nothing more than to comfort her, to wrap my arms around her, pull her close and absorb the sorrow that was clearly blooming in her heart. But I couldn't risk alienating her with too much affection, not when I'd just started to officially become part of her life. It was too soon, so I held back.
"Bella...," I started, not entirely sure what words would follow.
"He made sure I was safe. He wrapped me up and took me to somewhere he knew I'd be safe - with the chief and his wife," she said softly.
"Your father?" Alice asked, gently. She glanced around, casting me a tentative look. Nobody was listening as far as I could tell from the thoughts of those around us. I shook my head.
"He had to be. There was no one else around."
"What did he look like?" Alice probed. I shot her a look.
I know, I know. But the details only get less clear as time passes. Trust me on this. It's my territory.
I raised an eyebrow, but allowed the questioning to continue. For now. I glanced at the clock -lunch period would soon be over and we'd have no choice but to leave the rest of the discussion for later.
Bella bit her bottom lip, concentrating. Alice was right, the memory was fleeting. If we wanted the details to be reliable, Bella needed to recall them now.
"He had dark, messy looking hair. He seemed really large - muscular, I mean. And tall?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry, my perspective was a little skewed."
"Anything else that stands out?" I probed quickly, knowing the bell was about to sound.
She looked between Alice and I, tears starting to well in her eyes. "No...nothing."
"Hey, hey, it's alright, don't get upset," my sister chirped as she simultaneously threw her arms around Bella. I froze, afraid at what kind of reaction this would elicit, but Bella returned her embrace.
Don't be jealous. One of us had to comfort her and it was clear you weren't going to do it.
I scowled as the bell rang. Alice let her arms drop from around Bella's thin form. "Ok, missy. No more tears, or you'll soak the bacteria right off the slides in biology." Bella laughed, her cheeks still damp, and nodded.
Sometimes I envied the ease with which Alice interacted with others. It seemed so effortless for her, as if she always knew the right thing to say. Perhaps that was part of her gift, I mused to myself.
"Lunchtime is over now," a lunch monitor standing a few feet away said sternly. "You need to be heading to your next classes now."
All three of us stood, gathering our things quickly. Bella still looked somewhat dazed, so I took her jacket and books, adding them to my own stack. It was the least I could do. Her scent coated the jacket. It was something she wore often, and it was intoxicating to me to have her scent so close. I held my breath. Now was not the time to lose control.
"Thanks," she said, lifting her still-glittering eyes up to mine and giving me a small smile. The rush I felt when she looked at me felt wonderful, akin to the feeling the wind on my face during a hunt. Other emotions stirred as well; feelings I didn't recall even from my short time as a human.
"I'll catch up with you both later!" Alice called, heading in the opposite direction down the hallway. We turned and headed towards the biology room, not speaking, but I easily failing in step with one another as we walked.
"I have so many questions. Maybe more now then I did this morning, or yesterday, or ever." She finally said before we approached the classroom door. She looked up at me, searching.
"We'll unravel all this, I promise," I said, then ventured "Together."
She smiled again, a bit wider this time, reached down, and silently squeezed my hand before walking through the doorway.