Thanks for all the reviews! I hope no one is TOO mad at me for the cliffy...AND I did write the this chapter right after I updated. However, it turned out quite bad. I tried to update last Sunday and it wouldn't let me...I've tried everyday since, too...
amala: Yes, I do still like Twilight. I refuse to hate it just because it's too over-commercialized.
starr101: Thank you so much! and yes, you get your cookie now. Unfortunately, I ate it...sorry?
kiragirl93: I like the way you think!
amisstarrynight: Your review definitely made me almost piss my pants...
I would address everyone but that might take a while...I will try to get to everyone eventually though!
Disclaimer: My name kinda isn't stephenie...
Bella has hair to just below her shoulders. Alice's hair is above her shoulders.
Bpov
"We sit here," Mike Newton pointed to a round table in the middle of the cafeteria. We walked closer to the Cullen's table. My ever perky sister, Alice, was sitting, or bouncing, next to a solemn Jasper Whitlock. A beautiful blonde vampire that reminded me of our once-neighbour, Ms Hale, sat next to him, looking at me curiously. Next to her, a burly vampire stared at me with a large grin. His dimples were too familiar. It was as if little Emmett McCarty's had grown up to be a vampire. Next to him, sitting slightly away from the others, was Edward Anthony Masen.
My memories hadn't done him justice. He was so much more beautiful than I remembered. He looked at me with a desperate longing, but followed Alice's vice and stayed. Causing a scene isn't something that none of want. If either of them ran up to me, I was sure that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from hurtling toward them at vampire speed. That would definitely cause a scene. Perhaps, even the end of my vampire life.
"Those are the Cullen's," Mike explained, noticing my gaze.
"They're all adopted by Doctor and Mrs Cullen," Jessica added, coming from behind us.
"That's Edward and Emmett Cullen," she continued, pointing to them. My suspicion was right. Emmett McCarty, now Cullen, grew up to be a vampire.
"Alice Cullen," she continued, again pointing to each. "They took the family's last name. They aren't actually related" I wondered if Alice would switch to our hyphenated last name. People were bound to see the resemblance between us.
"And Rosalie and Jasper Hale," She pointed, "They're twins." Rosalie had to be related to my late neighbour. Jasper must've taken her last name, just in case he was still in school books as the youngest Confederate major.
"I think Mrs Cullen can't have kids," Jessica continued as the three of us made our way closer to their table and the lunch line.
"That's Edward," Jessica reminded when she noticed me looking at him, "He's gorgeous, of course, but don't waste your time. He doesn't date. Apparently none of the girls here are good-looking enough for him." She sniffed and I bit my lip to hide my smile.
We neared their table, standing almost in front of it, as Alice's excitement got hold of her. She hopped off her chair and danced over to me, a cheesy smile plastered on her face. I took a step toward her as she tackled me. Jessica and Mike jumped out of our way.
"I've missed you so much!" She exclaimed, loud enough for the entire cafeteria to hear. I returned her embrace, not caring about our audience.
"I've missed you, too, Alice," I told her. I felt another set of arms engulf us.
"What about me?" Edward's melodious voice sounded from above us. I laughed, letting go of Alice, turned around, and hugged him.
"I've missed you too," he pouted. I giggled and buried my face in his chest.
"Edward," I said, sighing in relief.
"You guys know each other?" Jessica said, dumbfounded. Mike blinked dumbly next to her.
"Sort of?" I squeaked.
"Jessica," Edward addressed her, "We have some catching up to do. Do you mind if my family and I steal her for the rest of lunch, do you?"
"Of course not," she stuttered. Edward flashed her a smile and pulled me to the table as Jessica pulled Mike away.
"I believe introductions are in order," Alice announced once I was seated. "Everyone, this is the infamous Bella," she said. Infamous?
"Bella, this is Jasper Whitlock," she giggled.
"I know, Alice," I told her. She looked at my questioningly.
"Don't kill him, okay?" I told her. Edward froze next to me, "Don't kill him either, Edward. I'll explain the full story after school." He relaxed and Alice looked at me with a peculiar look, as if to say 'what did you do?'
"I told Jasper to find you," I said in a rush. Alice opened her mouth to shout, thought better of it, and closed her mouth.
"You better explain later," she huffed finally.
"Do you remember me?" Emmett asked loudly.
"How can I forget those dimples?" I asked rhetorically, laughing. Emmett smiled and laughed with me.
"I'm Rosalie," Rosalie introduced herself, "I am the niece of you old neighbour and married to this big oaf." Emmett pouted as we all laughed.
"Why can't I read your mind?" Edward asked quietly.
"You read minds?" I asked him, lifting an eyebrow.
"All except yours," he clarified.
"That would be because I'm a shield," I explained. "I'll tell you all about me after school."
"What's the remainder of your schedule?" Alice asked.
"Biology with Mr Banner then PE," I told her. Her expression saddened.
"I don't have any classes with you," she said.
"I have biology with you, though," Edward said happily.
"That's a plus," I said, smiling. "Alice, do you think-?"
"I don't see why not," Alice said, answering my unfinished question.
"Will you come with me-?" I asked her.
"Of course, but-,"
"That's a given," I laughed, responding to her cut-off sentence.
"Does anyone have any idea what they're saying?" Emmett asked.
"We're all going to Mrs Cope after school to have our schedules rearranged," Edward clarified, "Your half conversations are much easier now that I can read Alice's mind." Edward laughed. I extended my shield over Alice.
"Or not," Edward finished. The Bell rang.
"Meet us outside the gym," Alice and I said at the same time as we separated to go to our classes. Edward laughed as he walked next to me, leading me to Biology.
"Even after a century, you still do that," he shook his head, smiling. "Come on," he said, grasping my hand and pulling me into the classroom.
"Mr Banner," Edward called out to the balding, middle aged man, facing the white-board. He turned around and I gave him my slip to sign.
"Sit next to Cullen," he told me. Edward smiled and led us to our seat. Everyone stared as we sat down.
We kept our hands intertwined under the desk as Mr Banner prattled on about mitochondria. I sat on his right, so he kept my left hand in his. He pulled my hand onto his lap and examined it. I looked at him questioningly. He touched my bracelet and I understood. It still looked new. It had broken a few times, but I always got it fixed. Then, touched my engagement ring. Mr Banner came down the aisle. Edward dropped my hand and looked up as the teacher made his round.
You kept the ring? Edward wrote on his opened notebook.
Why wouldn't I? I wrote back. He stared at it for a few seconds.
Does that mean you still want to marry me? I rolled my eyes. Growing up in the early twentieth century, this was his, or our, version of him asking me if I loved him. Passing notes in a biology classroom was hardly the place for this conversation. Edward looked nervous for the rest of the period for I refused to write back. The bell rang and Edward turned to me anxiously.
"Of course I do," I faced him, answering both his direct question, and the one behind it. A triumphant grin spread across his face.
"I'll see you after class," Edward said as he dropped me off at the gym for PE. He kissed me on the cheek before he turned around and left. Ah, the early twentieth century form of public displays of affection.
I walked into the gym and greeted the coach. After he signed my slip, he instructed me sit out for today and told me he would get a uniform for me tomorrow. The class was playing volleyball. Two teams played while another two sat out. Jessica was in one of the teams that were sitting out. She eagerly sat down next to me.
"You and Edward?" she hinted. If I had blood, I would surely blush.
"Yea," I answered her simply.
"Details!" she squealed.
"I've known him for a long time," I told her, "I haven't seen him for a few years."
"So you guys are together?" she asked directly. I nodded.
"That's why he never dated," she said thoughtfully. I shrugged.
"What about the others?" she asked, "You seemed to know them; Alice especially. You guy's look a lot alike, too."
"Alice and I are twins," I explained, "I've only met Emmett once before – long ago. Jasper, too. Rosalie's family helped mine a while back."
"If you and Alice are twins, which explains the whole look thing," she said, "why weren't you with the Cullen's, with her?"
"We were separated," I improvised, "When my adopted family found out that Dr Cullen had adopted her, as well as the others, they sent me here." Not a lie.
"Just like that?" Jessica asked, still suspicious. "No background checks or anything?"
"Our adopted families are friends," I told her, "We never found out because we lived so far away from each other." It was the truth.
"Where did you live?" she asked.
"Italy," I told her. Her eyes grew.
"That's so cool!" she squealed. "Wait, why don't you have an accent? How did you even end up there?"
"It depends who I'm with," I told her, "And my adopted family had been visiting the states. They wanted to adopt an American child and they found me. They didn't realize I had a sister and no one told them. I told them once we were in Italy but by then, Alice was already adopted." Not entirely a lie. Jessica eyed me as her team was called to play.
"You and Cullen?" Mike said, taking Jessica's spot next to me. I merely nodded. "I don't like it." I sighed and looked at the clock as Coach Clapp told everyone to change. The bell would ring in less than a minute and Mike left, along with the others, to the dressing rooms.
The same time the bell rang, I received a text. I took out my phone and looked at my message: How was your first day? Jane texted me.
Did you stare at the clock until I got out? I texted her back, laughing. Holding my phone, I picked up my purse-bag from the floor of the bleacher. My phone vibrated as I walked out of the gym.
Sort of. Now tell me! Did you find them? Jane had texted. Ever the impatient one I laughed to myself as I texted back.
Yup! I'll call you later! I texted and put my phone into my pocket.
"What's so funny?" Jasper asked, leaning against the wall with his arms around Alice. Edward stood in front of her and Rosalie leaned against Emmett next to him.
"Just texting," I told them. Alice raised her eyebrows and I rolled my eyes. "It's Jane." I explained further.
"Volturi?" Edward asked with disbelief.
"I'll explain later," I told him, "Let's go get our schedules changed." I grabbed his hand and we walked to the office.
"Mrs Cope?" I called. She looked up and I gave her my slip.
"How was your first day, dear?" she asked, glancing at Edward, who proceeded to flinch slightly.
"It was good," I told her smiling.
"We were wondering if we could get our schedule's rearranged," Edward told her.
"May I ask why?" she asked.
"Alice and I are twins," I started, "We haven't seen each other in a really long time. Edward and I have been close for a long time, too. We haven't had much contact in years. Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett are also really good friends of mine that I haven't seen or heard from in a while. I would feel a lot more comfortable to have more classes with them."
In the end, Alice and Edward managed to switch their schedules to mine, which was kept the same, and Rosalie, Jasper, and Emmet, who were posing as seniors, shared homeroom and PE with us. We thanked her and walked out of the building. There were only a few cars in the parking lot and only one stood out, aside from mine; a shiny Volvo.
"Who's riding with whom?" Edward asked, "My car fits five."
"Mine does too," I told him.
"I'm riding with Bella!" Alice declared. She glared at the rest of them.
"Okay then," Edward said quickly, "Everyone else with me." Alice's thoughts must've been unpleasant. I led Alice to my truck with our arms linked.
"It's so you!" Alice exclaimed when we got into my truck. "We have to go shopping sometime! Your truck will be perfect for it! Have I told you I love your outfit?" she rambled as I pulled out of the lot, following the Volvo in front of me.
"Thanks!" I told her, avoiding the shopping issue. "I think I have to tone it down though," I continued. I've noticed that most girls wore a cute blouse, jeans, and a Northface or Helly Hansen windbreaker. Aside from that, no one carried such an expensive purse to school.
"I don't think so," Alice said flippantly. She and the Cullen's wore similar outfits to mine. I shrugged. We sped down the road, going just over 120 miles per hour.
"So what's this about Jasper?" she asked quietly.
"In 1920, I led a mission to help Peter and Charlotte to get him out of the war. We managed to make Maria flee, too," I risked glancing at her. Her expression held no emotion. "You have to understand, Alice. I told him not to let you know because I knew you would come find me and if you did, the Volturi might not let you go."
"They let you go, didn't they?" Alice yelled.
"That's because they promised me I was allowed to leave before they knew of my power. If you came looking for me, both of us would've been trapped there!" I yelled back as I turned right into an almost hidden road between trees.
"You don't know that for sure!" She shouted.
"Yes I do, Alice!" I huffed angrily. "They wouldn't let us leave because we would've been hunted, ripped to pieces and burnt to ashes!" Alice didn't say anything.
"There are two sets of twins in the vampire world. Both have the strongest, most coveted, and feared powers. Alec and Jane can't leave the Volturi because they've spent centuries in the guard and everyone detests them. They don't understand why they are what they are. They grew up the same way we did except it was worse for them. Many vampires fear and hate me, too. It hasn't gotten to the point where it's incredibly dangerous, but if you had joined, we would be just like Jane and Alec. Trapped," I told her, more quietly. I pulled in to a driveway. A huge, white mansion stood proudly. I put the car in park in front of the garage. Alice made no move to get out. Neither did I.
"I'm-," She started to apologize.
"Don't," I told her, "I get it." She hugged me across the gear shift. We got out of the car and Alice led me inside through the garage door. There was a soft gasp as we both entered.
"Esme?" I said, flabbergasted. A wide grin appeared on her face.
"Bella!" she exclaimed, pulling me into an embrace. "I'm so glad you're finally here! You look so much better than," she trailed off.
"Thank you for helping me," I told her as she pulled away from me.
"Carlisle is on the way home." She announced. I laughed.
"I assume this is the same Carlisle from when you were little?" I asked her mischievously.
"You remember," she stated, amazed. I smiled sheepishly and nodded my head.
"Does anyone mind if I run home quickly? I don't live to far away," I said.
"I'll come with you!" Alice volunteered.
"Me too," Edward said. They followed as I ran out of the house and into the woods. I jumped over the river and within minutes, we were at my cottage.
"Esme wanted to remodel this a few years ago," Edward said.
"Oh," I said as I unlocked the door, "If she wanted to, she's welcome to do so." I walked into the small living room and into the door on the right. Opening the door to my closet, I grabbed Alice's trunk.
"I believe this belongs to you," I told her, returning her trunk. Alice's smiled.
"I have yours, too," she said, "I had to fight Edward to keep it in my room." I laughed.
"Should I bring anything?" I asked her.
"Pack!" she instructed. I grabbed the two suitcases I brought on the plane and repacked them. As I bent over to grab a pair of boots, my necklace glimmered.
"What's that?" Edward asked, peering at the small charm the rested next to my locket.
"Volturi insignia," I stated, though it sounded like a question.
"Bella-," Edward started to complain.
"Edward, don't start, please?" I begged, "I'll explain everything later." He agreed stiffly.
We ran back, and Edward insisted on carrying my bags.
"What about mine?" Alice asked jokingly. Edward took hers, too. He ended up with my two suitcases in each hand and Alice's trunk in both arms. We ran back, laughing.
"They turned Edward into a pack mule!" Rosalie laughed once we were inside.
"Ha-ha," Edward said sarcastically and went upstairs, presumably to keep my things.
"I'm Carlisle," a blonde man introduced.
"Hi," I greeted, shaking his hand. "Aro has told me a lot about you." He looked at me questioningly before smiling.
"Good things, I hope," he laughed.
"Mostly," I answered, laughing with him. Once everyone was seated, Edward pulled me next to him on the loveseat.
"Explain," he instructed.
"From the beginning?" I asked. Everyone nodded.
"After Esme left," I started, "a man, vampire, named James started working as my nurse. He and his mate conversed one day while he was taking me to lunch," I turned to Alice, "I think they had something to do with your transformation." I told her. "Do you remember?"
"I don't remember much," she said sadly, "Edward had to tell me who Cynthia was." I froze at our little sister's name. I nodded and continued, taking a deep breath.
"They took me one night. After they bit me, another man came. His name was Laurent. They started fighting. Peter saved me; he snuck me away from them and ran me to his house. They went back for Alice's trunk while I changed. They explained everything to me and took me hunting, only, the moment we stepped out of the house, a deer came into their garden and I pounced. I've never tasted human blood," I announced proudly.
"They asked me if I wanted to stay with them, but I told them I had to find Alice and say goodbye to Edward," Edward rubbed circles on the back of my palm. "They told me that in two years they were going to get Jasper and that if I wanted to join them, I was to meet them there. They also said they would leave notes of their whereabouts; however, I went to check about a decade ago. There wasn't anything there. They didn't particularly like that I had joined the Volturi.
"Once I left, I made my way to Chicago, stopping only once to change into a more appropriate ensemble. I went to the hospital and the nurse gave me the address to your family's graves. When I got there, your grave didn't smell like the others. I could tell you weren't there," I spoke to Edward directly. "At first I thought it was just a cruel joke, but I realized that there could be a miniscule chance you were like me. I held on to that." Edward nodded for me to go on.
"I ran into the forest and I realized I was alone and lost. I had nowhere to go, no idea how or where to look for you two and I just broke down. Aro found me like that and offered me a place to stay. He told me that he could train me, teach me how to control my power and teach me all about vampires. I accepted on the condition that he would allow me to leave and that I wouldn't have to kill anyone. After that, we left for Italy.
"On the boat, I told Jane and Alec my story. They could sympathize. No one gets why they're so bitter. If you ask most vampires now, they would say the same about me," I laughed without humour. "Bitter, heartless, and sadistic," I listed.
"After two years, in 1920, I went back to Ohio, where Peter and Charlotte had their house. Jane, Alec, Demetri, and Felix came with me. We travelled to Mexico and destroyed the newborns. We were going to kill Maria, but Jasper came up with the final sentence. She was banned from the wars and forbidden to start any others. Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte left after that and the Volturi and I stayed to clean up. We ran back to Ohio when we were done and I told Jasper to find Alice and instructed him not to let her know where I was. If he did, I knew she would come after me. I couldn't let that happen; it was too dangerous.
"On the boat ride back, Jane and I talked. We reached an epiphany. There are two sets of vampire twins and we have the most feared and coveted powers. If the Volturi fell, we would be in serious danger; especially Jane, Alec, and I. Vampires outside the Volturi don't know about Alice, yet, and she's safe until they find out." Jasper's grip around Alice's shoulder tightened.
"After that, I stayed with the Volturi, going on missions, and trying not to kill people. I have dismembered multiple vampires, though. I could leave, and Aro told me multiple times that I could after missions. However, I had this 'feeling' that it wasn't time. On the last mission I went on, I told Aro it was finally time for me to leave. He gave me a credit card and I left right after the mission. I still keep in contact with them.
"My power is a shield. It's a mental shield that protects me from powers like Edward's, Aro's, Chelsea's, Jane's and any mental attack. I can also make it into a physical shield." I finished.
"Physical shield?" Carlisle asked, confused.
"Esme, can I break anything?" I asked her slyly.
"I've been meaning to replace this," she said, pointing to the coffee table. I broke it with my shield. Jasper laughed.
"That was definitely not as impressive as the barn," he said in between laughs. I smiled and Edward started laughing next to me.
"Barn?" Emmett asked.
"I broke a barn when Jasper asked," I explained. Emmett laughed with the other two boys.
"What about you guys?" I asked.
"Carlisle changed me," Edward said. I thumped him on his chest.
"What was that for?" he asked, rubbing the spot I hit him.
"For not rescuing me," I said crossly. Rosalie smiled.
"Don't say it," Edward warned.
"Some knight in shining armour you are," she said anyways. I laughed.
"That would be my fault," Carlisle explained. "He snuck off after about ten years though."
"I forgive you," I told Edward, leaning into his side.
"Carlisle changed me, too," Esme informed, "After my baby died I committed suicide."
"I was changed when I was hunting for vampires in England," Carlisle said, "Sixteen hundreds, Bella." My eyes widened.
"You know how I was changed," Jasper said.
"And me," Alice added, "I literally just wandered around until I found Jasper."
"Carlisle changed me after my fiancé and his friends raped me," Rosalie said quietly, "My Aunt Lily told me about you that day."
"My angel saved me when I was being mauled by a bear and took me to God," Emmett declared. I raised an eyebrow.
"Emmett thought Carlisle was God," Edward told me. I nodded; I could understand how he would assume that.
"Bella," Alice said impatiently, "Can we go get your suitcase now?"
"Sure," I told her, getting up.
I followed Alice up the stairs and everyone else followed me. She threw the third door on the left on the second floor open and rushed into her closet. I looked around her room. It was painted a dark purple with light green and white polka dots spotting the room. She had a king sized bed and comforters to match her walls. I refused to think why she would need that bed and groaned at the sight. Her tinkling laugh floated from inside her closet and Jasper looked at me sheepishly. Her trunk sat on a low book shelf that bordered the entire room. Alice came out of her doubled-door closet with my trunk and handed it to me.
"Thank you for keeping it safe," I hugged her.
"You kept mine safe, too," she reminded, "think of it as compensation." I laughed.
She took her trunk into her closet, came back out, and shooed everyone out of her room. Edward tugged on my arm and led me up another flight of stairs to his room. He took my trunk, opened the door, and went in. I looked around in awe. There was a huge shelf on the right side of his room that was filled with CD's and records. There was a complex looking stereo in the middle of it. A black leather couch sat in the middle of the room, facing the shelf. In between the couch and the shelf sat a large table. The back wall of his room was a glass window. The moon peeked in from between the curtains. The left side of his room were two doors. One was probably his closet and the other, a bathroom, perhaps.
"I put your stuff in my closet," he said, walking out of the second door. I nodded, still standing in the doorway. Edward grabbed my hand and pulled me to his chest.
"I've missed you so much," he said, sounding almost tortured.
"As have I," I told him, clutching his shirt to my face and breathing in his scent. He picked me up, bridal style, and sat me one his lap as he sat on the couch. He laughed.
"Remember when I carried you home from the park?" he asked. I nodded.
"I had to kick the door so someone could open it for us," I recalled.
Compared to modern relationships, Edward's and my relationship was ancient. We've only kissed once – the day he proposed to me – and it was a small peck. In those days, the early part of the twentieth century, it was normal. For our age, it was perfectly normal to be engaged. It wasn't now, though. People hardly even thought about such things at our age. Edward and I were ready for the commitment. We both knew it. Now, with both of us reunited, in the twenty first century, it was abnormal. I fiddled with my ring.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked.
"It's been ninety-four years since you proposed to me," I told him, sliding Elizabeth Masen's ring off my finger. "Ninety-four years since we've seen each other last. Society has changed." I sighed and gave him my ring. Edward looked heartbroken.
"I love you, Edward," I told him truthfully, "but we're posing as juniors. We were sixteen when you proposed, but now, it is strange for anyone in their teens. Seventeen year olds don't get married. They're rarely in committed relationships. We've waited almost a century to get married. I want to do this right."
"You won't wear the ring, though," he said sadly. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Edward, you've proposed to me once," I said, "and it was the best moment of my life."
"Hey!" Alice yelled from downstairs. Edward and I sniggered.
"I want to relive it," I told him finally.
"So I have to find the right moment, again?" he asked. I pulled away from him and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Kidding, love," he said, "I would do it a thousand times over for you."
Satisfactory I hope? (If you review, a hot werewolf will imprint on you..unless you don't like them..then, the volturi will not eat you when you visit italy)
AND I deeply apologize for the late update. the website would not let me update and I've tried EVERYDAY since I got this chapter written
Comments? Questions? REVIEW!