I've been so terrible with updates, so this chapter is going to be much longer
On a better note, I've updated all my old chapters so they are error-free (hooray!)
This chap is full with angst/fluff/humor/more angst (;
So here we go!
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Chapter 19 – Welcome to The Jungle
(BPOV)

I was still deep in thought as we were close the clearing in the field. It was really hard to believe that someone so perfect as Edward could want someone like me.

Against my will, the flashbacks with Astaire came back. The time we snuck into the Phoenix observatory after hours. The time we went to a karaoke bar for my birthday. Those were all times I thought we were madly in love, but he wasn't. And he was human. How could I possibly stand a chance with someone who's even more perfect?

That's because you don't stand a chance. Great, the voice is back. Well that's because you don't listen. Your problem is that you go after guys that are out of your league, and then see what happens. Don't blame them; it's your fault.

And this time I didn't have the strength to argue. No matter if I change my nickname, or wear different clothes, or try putting myself out there, it's not really going to change who I am.

"Oomph", I whimpered when I felt Edward come to abrupt halt. I guess we reached the clearing. Edward loosened his grip on me, and I stumbled and fell to the ground. The red spread on my cheeks and I quietly groaned.

I heard a muffled laughter from above me when I looked up to see Edward's face. The sound of his laughter made me smile and the burden lifted. For a second It unfortunately came back when I realized he was laughing at me. I was always going to be a clumsy human in his eyes.

I quietly got up and blinked back tears, trying to walk past Edward to the clearing. No such luck.

"Hey", he said concernedly as he grabbed my arm, forcing me to look at him. "What's wrong?"

I held back my voice from saying everything but then I looked to his eyes. I couldn't read what they held and that scared me most of all.

"You let me fall", I choked simply, I wasn't sure what I was talking about anymore. Before he could start apologizing for whatever I said, I interrupted him.

"Sorry Edward, I was just in a bad mood. Come on, let's go to your family," I said softly, giving him a light kiss and a small smile that barely reached my eyes. He took my hand and pressed his lips to my knuckles, a gesture I so desperately wanted to call loving. I just didn't know anymore.

The whole family was standing together wearing a matching pinstriped "Cullen" baseball tee. I looked back at Edward and noticed he was wearing the same. Then I noticed Alice was holding an extra one, waving it in front of my face. I felt a genuine grin growing on my face, and I knew I could be a little happier for the kindness the entire family was bestowing on me.

Since it was Emmett's turn to sit out for the game to make the teams even, he sat by me while we watched. I was grateful for this because only someone goofy life Emmett would help me get over myself and enjoy the day out.

Before the game started, Emmett tapped me on the shoulder. Well I wouldn't call it a tap but since it was Emmett, I wasn't surprised it was more like a punch. "Hey Bella, hold on for a second, Edward brought something for you." I groaned. I was feeling more and more like a charity case by the second.

Within less time than it took for me to open my mouth, Emmett reappeared with a brand new acoustic guitar. Wow. "What is this?", I asked I awe, my fingers itching to stroke the neck.

"Edward didn't want you to get bored in case you didn't like watching baseball, so he brought this thing along." Even the voice in my head had nothing to say about this. This was a genuine loving gesture, considering I never mentioned anything about my guitar. I felt my eyes tingle at the edges and I looked up to see Edward staring at me, nervously eager to see my reaction. I gave him a genuine smile and mouthed, "I love you" to him. His eyes were filled with nothing but pleasure and adoration, and at that moment I felt nothing but total security.

"So any requests?" I grinned at Emmett, watching his face light up like a kid getting a Christmas present he had been begging for.

"Can you play any Guns N' Roses?", Emmett asked, looking more and more hopeful.

I just gave him a big grin and started playing an intro to my favorite GNR song that I knew by heart.

"Yes! I love Welcome to the Jungle!", he whooped, earning a loud laughter from me.

We were both standing up by this point, shaking our bodies to the beat, Emmett's jumping causing vibrations in the ground.

"Welcome to the jungle, we got fun 'n' games
We got everything you want, honey we know the names
We are the people that can find, whatever you may need
If you got the money honey, we got your disease"

We were both shouting on top our lungs. At the start of the solo, I went on my knees and started shredding my acoustic, watching Emmett imitate me with his air guitar. By the time we were both done, we heard faint clapping, and looked behind to see the family watching us amusedly enough to pause the game, except for Rosalie who looked ready to strangle Emmett.

Edward ran up to me, a big grin instilled in his face. "I didn't know I had the new Axl Rose in my presence", he whispered in my ear, and I playfully swatted him on the arm.

"Please!", Emmett huffed. "Obviously I'm Axl Rose and she's Slash. God Edward, if you're going to act like you know everything about music, at least know all the members of one of the best 80's bands around!"

Everyone just stared blankly at Emmett before bursting out laughing. My heart felt light again when Edward grabbed my hand again. I would take advantage of this feeling for as long as I could.

Stepping on the tip of my toes, I reached to Edward's ear and whispered into his ear, "Thank you for loving me". He looked deep in my eyes, but I couldn't find myself able to shy away. "Thank you". I captured his lips into a kiss, trying to stay within his boundaries, but finding it terribly hard.

A loud cough broke us apart. It was Alice who looked on amusedly, with her hands on her hips.

"Come on lovebirds. We have a game to finish!", she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air dramatically.

Edward lightly rolled his eyes and put his arm around me. "My turn to sit out", he said, smiling towards me. My heart sped a hundred fold. On our way to the sidelines, I began singing a little to myself.

"And when you're high you never ever want to come down, so down…"

I just didn't know how soon the down was coming.

The score was tie. Carlisle's team, consisting of Rosalie and Alice, was leading 2-1 to Esme's team. The last play was being made, and Edward and I were holding each other, too wrapped up in our own private bubble to pay attention to the game. We had heard the striking of the baseball against the bat and then a gasp from Alice.

Edward immediately dropped his hold on me and looked at Alice in horror. Jasper was the first to rush to Alice's side, asking her what was wrong.

Alice began to shake and looked towards Edward, "I'm so sorry, I had no idea they were coming."

"Can we get her back in time?", Edward asked tersely, but I was too afraid to tell him to tone it down.

"No, they're coming in less than a couple minutes. They heard us and want to play.", she whimpered, and Jasper spread a strong wave of calm towards the whole area.

Carlisle, taking over his authoritive role in the family, was the first to speak. "What is happening?"

"Three nomads are coming this way now.", Alice said, her voice becoming stronger. My heart stopped. Nomads? As in…?

"Vampires that drink human blood", I whispered to myself. Everyone turned their face to me.

Edward was again all over me. He took my hair down, rubbed his hands allover my sides. "I'm so so sorry. I can't believe I was so stupid," he muttered, upset in a way I had never heard before.

He became quickly silent however, and focused his stare on the far right corner of the field. A few seconds later, a dark rumbling sound made itself known. It was then that they appeared.

Three… well I wasn't really sure what to call them. People seemed to tame a word. They were creatures. Animalistic movement, fierce expressions, beautiful in a dangerous way. I was entranced by the bunch, two men on the sides, and a woman in the center. The man on the right had long thick dreadlocks and rich chocolate skin, a deep contrast to the man on the left with painfully pale skin and long icy blond hair. The woman in the middle was easily the fiercest, with her wild red hair and sharp flashy teeth on display. All three were barefoot and clothed in ripped attire. They all had crimson eyes.

The Cullen family all moved in front and around me, a shield of sorts. Like that would work, I thought bitterly. I kept my face down, afraid to make eye contact and have my identity be revealed.

A shuffling of feet occurred and an easy deep voice spoke, "Hello there, I'm Laurent, and these are Victoria and James. It is very nice to finally run into company. Do you have room for a few more players in your game?", the voice continued, and a spark of hope rushed through me.

Carlisle turned to speak. "Nice to meet you, I'm Carlisle and this is my family. Well actually we had just finished, but we would love to some other time. Why don't you come back to our home with us so you can be more comfortable."

"Home. We haven't heard that word in a long time. We would love to since we haven't gotten the chance to clean up in so long," gushed the same voice, appreciation sincere in his voice.

"Splendid. My wife Esme and I will show you where to run with us. The others can take the car", Carlisle mentioned casually, and Edward latched onto my hand.

Esme and Carlisle were just about to leave with the nomads when a breeze had caught, obviously sending my scent through the air. Looking up at last, Edward had stiffened considerably and had thrown me behind him. It was then that the pale skinned creature crouched down, his burgundy eyes staring at my throat.

Edward released a feral snarl, something I had never heard before, and Alice had moved me a few more feet back.

The dark skinned one and Victoria looked on in surprise, looking questioningly at Carlisle, who maintained his authoritive pose.

"She is with us", he said simply, and while Laurent contained his expression, Victoria's face looked quite incensed, her feline movements becoming more purposeful, and a loud hiss escaping her mouth.

Laurent spoke again, this time his voice not sounding as light. "Very curious indeed. We assure you no harm will come to the girl. Let's go back to the house." I stood completely frozen in place, shaking to the bone. Note to self: if this ever happens again, learn to be more badass and bold about it.

Edward had taken me out of my reverie by tugging sharply on my arm and then sprinted me to the Jeep. He threw me into the backseat, Emmett getting in next to me. Rosalie and Jasper sat on the rails and Alice in the front seat. Edward took the wheel and slammed the accelerator.

Emmett strapped me into the harness which felt more like a straightjacket and the entire car became silent.

I was shaking, not fully out of fear, but a lot out of anger. No one was telling me what was happening.

I tried to remain calm, Edward would tell me. "Edward, where are we going?", I asked as politely as my voice could maintain. Silence.

And then I lost it. "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. Where. The. Fuck. Are. We Going. TELL ME RIGHT FUCKING NOW OR I SWEAR I WILL CLAW MY WAY OUT OF THIS FUCKING DEATHTRAP", my voice had gone from deadly low to the high pitch of a banshee. I hadn't cursed since I arrived here in Forks. I could see from the car mirror my eyes were that of a psychopath but I did not care.

I started thrashing violently, trying anything in my power to get out of my seat. Edward's eyes flashed dangerously at Emmett's and suddenly his vice-like grip had surrounded me.

Alice, always the level headed one of the group, spoke out. "Edward, let's get our plan straight. Pull over"

When he remained unresponsive, she repeated with more of an edge. "Edward."

This finally got a rise out of him. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. HE'S A TRACKER. HE'S A TRACKER, AND HE'S AFTER HER."

Everyone in the car became painfully silent, and I wondered what a tracker was in order to get everyone this tense.

Alice began trying to coax him. "Let's just look at our options here, please?"

The car had finally slowed down until it became a complete stop. Even with Emmett's grip I fell forward and backwards in the seat.

If there was any moment I'd get to speak it was now. "I'm not leaving Charlie," I said firmly, knowing full well if it was up to Edward, I would already be on a different continent.

Edward ignored me.

"There's always another option", Jasper spoke up this time, and I knew exactly what he was talking about. Changing me.

Edward turned on him, releasing his most terrifying snarl yet. "THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION."

Those four words easily broke my heart. He was more willing to let me die than be with him forever. I felt as if something had quietly broken in me, but I refused to let the tears well in my eyes.

I spoke again, emotionless and dead. "You are taking me back to the house. I will pack my stuff and leave. We run and James will follow. He'll leave Charlie alone and come after me."

Everyone in the car looked at me surprised.

"That could work, Edward. It's the safest and smartest thing we could do in this situation without leaving her unprotected. Surely you can see that.", Alice said appraising me.

I could see Edward reluctantly accepting this logic.

"Did I stutter Edward? Hurry up.", I said, almost sounding bored. I just didn't have the energy to deal with him now. I had a mess to clean up, and I needed to do it now.

Edward started the car again turning around towards Forks again.

"Emmett", I stated, shaking my hands to get his grip off of me. He quickly apologized before assessing me once more. Edward looked at him for a second before sparing a glance at me and then to Jasper.

I could feel the calm around me, but I just couldn't accept the feeling right now. I felt too dead inside.

"B-Be-Bella", he exclaimed chokingly, "you're refusing the calm."

"I just don't want it right now, Jasper. Thanks though," I added, still trying not to hurt anyone's feelings.

"How are you doing that?" he asked, more perplexed by the minute. I just stayed silent.

By the time we reached my house, it was completely dark except for the house lights. Charlie was waiting up for me.

Everyone took their positions outside, and Edward took me out of the car. I had a hard time looking at him.

"Remember Bella, fifteen minutes. Give Charlie whatever excuse you have to.", he warned. I simply nodded. It was then I noticed Edward's body was shaking, despite the fact that he could not feel the cold. He was just as worried too.

"Be calm Edward. You'll be okay. You are after all, my backwards Iron Man.", I smiled softly at his worn out but confused expression.

"What?", he choked out.

"I'm a comic book nerd Edward. Tony Stark's full name happens to be Anthony Edward Stark. I told you, you really are like a superhero." I gently held his face in my hands, and a shadow of one of his dark smiles appeared for half a second.

"Come back to me Bella. We have to hurry." His voice was a mix of nerves, urgency, and worry.

It was then that my plan formed clear in my mind. I'd pack my stuff, get the hell out of Forks without Edward. I'll figure out everything else on my own, but for his safety, I need to get away from him. The tears in my hear were ripping again.

"I'll hurry", I said. I slammed open the door.

Welcome to the Jungle. It's going to bring you down.

Oh man, things are getting crazy now. Yeah I know Bella goes back from one emotion to another, but you have to understand. She's a teenager girl who doesn't know whether the man she is obsessively in love with, loves her back. With everything else that's happening you, everything gets blown out of proportion, but it's all necessary to the story.

Props to you, if you already knew what Tony Stark's full name was. I wonder if Stephenie Meyer did that on purpose or not…

I know it's a little early to say, but I've already got a good plot idea for the sequel to this. And there are a lot of hints about it in this and the last chapter. And the chapters to come (;
Reviews will make the come a lot faster, please & thanks!