Hello, again. Sorry this took kinda long...school started and I had to work on a major assignment that I kinda forgot to do in the holidays...
So yeah, that's basically it. I'm planning to write a sequel which will take place ten years after the final chapter. The final chapter will probably be the epilogue, which will probably be after chapter 24 or 25. Anyways, enjoy reading!
Disclaimer: Stephenie...I know what I want for my next present.
"Hello?" I said as I picked up the phone. We were back in the Cullen's house and I was sitting on the couch in Edward's room. He was sitting next to me, playing with my hair, his long pale fingers undoing any knots he found.
"Bella? Is that you?" Renée's familiar voice came from the other end of Edward's mobile.
"Hi, mum," I replied. I couldn't help noticing that Charlie had said the exact same thing the last time I appeared on his doorstep.
"How have you been?" I detected just a hint of reluctance in her voice.
"I'm well, thanks." I didn't know what else to say. "How are you?"
"I'm good. How's college, honey?"
"Um, good. The teachers there are nice and so are the students." Even to me, my voice didn't sound nervous, like it usually did when I was lying.
"I'm glad." Renée sounded barely interested. "Look, there's something I want to talk to you about."
Uh-oh. "Yes?" My voice wavered slightly.
Renée took a deep breath before she spoke. "Charlie told me yesterday," she began, her voice strong and parental. "About you."
I didn't pretend to lie. I had anticipated that Charlie would tell her, and now the moment came. "Yes."
"Can it be reverted?" Renée's tone was hopeful.
"I'm sorry, mum," I whispered. I noticed that my sentence had two different meanings.
"Bella…" Her voice trailed away, not bearing to form her sentence.
"I know. Is this goodbye, then?"
"Bella, I just want you to know that, my baby's due in a few months and…"
"I won't be her sister anymore. I know, mum. If this is too painful for you, it's alright. You can go. All I want you to know is that I won't be coming back." I tried not to let the resent show in my voice. I didn't want her to know how I felt.
All I could hear on the other side was sobbing. I decided that was the best time to hang up, so I did, holding onto Edward's phone while I buried my face in his chest. He held me there, stroking my back, but saying nothing. He knew how I felt, and he knew that I would stop sooner or later.
My sobs eventually stopped and I looked up at his face. It was sad, and he was probably remembering some other event that happened before in his life. I didn't want to disturb him so I stayed still. He shook out of his trance, but still gazed at me with the same miserable eyes.
"At least Charlie doesn't need me to come back every year. He probably doesn't even want to see me anymore. I bet I'm the thing he hates most now." I paused, letting the flood of emotions overwhelm me. Edward just held me tightly until I calmed down.
"I'm going to call Jessica. I want to see how Angela and Charlie are doing." I said, when I was calm. He didn't make any sign that he heard, but just kept gazing at me, finally nodding slightly. I flipped his phone open and dialed Jessica's home phone.
She picked up on the second ring. "Hello?"
"Hey, Jess," I said carefully, trying to inject excitement into my voice. What came out seemed to be a blank monotone.
"Oh, hey, Bella! You'll never guess what happened!" Without waiting for an answer from me, she rushed on. "Mike and I got accepted into Dartmouth!"
"Congratulations!" My voice finally seemed excited.
"Thanks!" she squealed. "We're going to have our wedding sometime."
"Have you seen Angela lately?" I blurted out. That question had been bugging me ever since we had the battle.
"She looks so…dejected. Jacob's not around anymore. Hey, do you know what happened to him? He was there one day, then he just disappeared. I tried to talk to her about it but she just looks down and doesn't answer. She's been moping around for days. I feel so sorry for her."
Sympathy? I hadn't known Jessica to feel sorry for someone. "No, I don't know what happened. I've been in Alaska. How am I meant to know what happened here in Forks."
"Oh. Well, you know that pack in La Push? They just disappeared. There's only one of them left. They just simply disappeared, but no one's looking for them. They just keep saying that they knew it would happen." Jessica sounded sad, and angry on the phone.
"Oh." I couldn't think of anything else to say, and I certainly didn't want to talk to Angela. I couldn't bear facing her after what had happened last time I saw her. "How about Charlie?"
"He's been acting weird lately. Did you two have a fight or something? Oh, and that goes for your mother. I met him a few days ago and I talked to him briefly. Every time I asked him about you, he kept changing the subject and wouldn't answer my question. What happened, anyways?"
"Oh, well, we did have a fight. I don't think he wants to see me ever again." I whispered the last sentence.
"Why? Why won't he want to see you?"
"Family business." I couldn't give her more detail than what she already knew.
"Okay, then." I could tell she was reluctant to drop the subject.
"When are you starting college?" I changed the subject, unwilling to dwell on the other.
"Umm, sometime soon. How about you?"
I sighed. She always answered in short form when she was upset. In this case, she wanted me to tell her what was going on. I looked at Edward and asked him a question too low and fast for Jessica to hear, even on the phone.
"When does college start?"
"It's already started, but we already told them we're going to start late. Alice saw," he answered.
"We're starting soon," I lied, hoping it was true.
"Okay. Hope to see you sometime, probably Christmas." Her voice was bright and chirpy once again.
I grimaced. "Umm, probably. It depends on how things work out," I answered.
"Alright, I have to go now. Bye!" She hung up quickly after that.
I sighed and shut the phone, giving it back to Edward. He took it from my hand without a word and put it in his pocket.
"All sorts of problems are experienced in life. Just because you're special doesn't mean bad luck doesn't happen," he tried to joke. I smiled weakly.
"When exactly did college start? I'm surprised I never knew," I said.
"It began soon after we left for Alaska, but of course we couldn't go. Don't worry, love, there's nothing to worry about. They've barely touched the topic. You won't miss out on much." He smiled his crooked smile, showing his perfect, gleaming teeth.
"You won't, but I probably will," I countered, grinning devilishly.
"I love those comebacks," he murmured, brushing his fingers lightly along my cheekbone. Where his cold fingers came in contact with my skin, a trail of warmth spread. I relaxed in his touch.
"Seriously, I might miss something," I tried to sound serious, but failed miserably.
"No, it's everything you know," he assured me, but I wasn't convinced.
"How would you know?" I knew it was a stupid question, but it was the first thing that came into mind. His breathtaking smile always made me lose my train of thought.
"I've been to college so many times I can't even begin to count," he joked, but I knew it was true. I finally gave in, my face slipping into a pout.
He chuckled, a sound I hadn't heard in a while. I listened to it, recommitting it to memory.
"Well, should we go to college now? I can't wait to make new friends!" I said in mock excitement. Inside, I wasn't too excited, but it would be nice to meet new people. This time, I had Edward as my 'friend', and I wasn't going to a school where I was a total stranger and everyone knew everyone else.
He smiled, stood up and walked to the door. I followed, keeping his hand in mine. We walked over to Alice, who was talking animatedly to Rosalie. When we came near, she turned to face us and Rosalie walked away.
"Hey! What's up?" she asked, still in a happy mood.
"Can you tell the university for us that we're starting next week?" Edward asked before she could add anything.
"Sure." Her phone was already in her hand and she was dialing the numbers, her fingers a blur.
"Thanks," I said, but she was already talking. She beamed at me, though.
Edward looked down at my face. "You look thirsty," he observed, tracing the purple bruises under my eyes that I hadn't noticed.
"Really?" I hadn't known the thirst was there until now. A part of my body ached for blood, but my mind automatically filed that away and didn't register it.
He smiled. "Let's go hunting."
"Now?"
He nodded.
"Okay." I took his hand and we both ran out the door into what the forest had in store for us.
Pretty please review! Oh, and I need ideas for the honeymoon. Please include that in your reviews! Thanks!