Who my sister was
A few hours went by and it was 9:45 in the evening. Emmett was listening to the radio and Alice and Rose, as she had told me to call her, were looking through Lizzie's notepad with which contained fashion ideas. Lizzie is an amazing artist. Mason, Lizzie and Renesmee were all asleep in the guest room on the top floor. The rest of us were sitting around just talking about the wolves, what's been happening and what future plans we had. I was snuggled into Edward's side with his arms wrapped around my shoulders. Every now and then he'd look down at me and lower his lips to mine. Life had finally started to look up. I was finally complete with a loving family.
"On Thursday we are all heading back to For…"
'Whole world is watching us now.
It's a little intimidating
Since there's no way to come down
Let's give them something amazing.'
"Turn the radio off."
"Why? I like this song."
"Emmett I said turn it off."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it."
"Bella. Bella calm down look at me. Bella listen the song's not on anymore. It's okay. We're here for you. Calm down Bella."
I felt Leah kneel down in front of me and grabbed my hands.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Don't go. Please, why did you leave? I didn't mean it."
"What's going on? Leah what's wrong with Bella?"
"Edward we don't know. She did this yesterday when she heard the song. She hasn't explained why yet. She will have to tonight. We need to know what happened."
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"Bella, love, calm down. Everything's going to be alright. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."
"I'm sorry. Edward I didn't mean it. Please understand that. I didn't mean it."
"I believe you Bella. Please calm down. I need to know what's wrong. The music's been switched off. Listen."
The room was silent for a few seconds. Everyone was looking at me worriedly.
"Why is my life so difficult?"
"It's just part of who you are and I wouldn't want it any other way. I love you Bella."
"I love you too Edward."
"Bella you need to tell us the truth. Yesterday you mentioned you had a sister. What happened?"
The others faces went from worry to shock.
"What are you talking about Jacob? Bella doesn't have a sister."
"Yes she does. She said so."
"No I don't."
"What? Who were you talking about then Bella?"
"My sister."
"But you just said you don't have a sister."
They all looked thoroughly confused now. I guess it's time to tell them what happened when I was younger.
"I don't have a sister because she's dead."
"What?! Why didn't you tell me Bella?"
"It was my fault Edward. I didn't want you to think I was a horrible person who got their own sister killed."
"I would never think like that Bella. Why didn't I hear Charlie ever thinking about her?"
"We had an unspoken agreement that we wouldn't mention her. He found it easier to not think about her so he didn't. It was a long time ago and he's gotten over her death. He will always love her but he needed to move on or he would never be able to live with himself."
"When did it happen Bella?"
"When we were four. She was my twin. Identical. There were small differences between us. Her hair was more curled than mine; it was a lighter shade of brown and her eyes were a hazel brown instead of deep brown. Her name was Ava Ashley Swan."
"How come we never saw her when you visited Charlie?"
"She never came on the trips. It was mine and Charlie's time. He didn't mind that much. He was happy spending time with me. He knew that it would be difficult once Renee left so took what he was given. It wasn't that my sister didn't like Charlie, she just never fit in with him. I took after my dad. Reserved and quite. She took after our mom but not as scatter-brained. She didn't have the chance to be. We looked after each other for the first four years of our life. I had learnt to cook by the age of three and a half, so cooked every meal. Imagine me walking along a flat surface that was Ava in the kitchen. I had my safe kitchen and she had the rest of the world. Between us we practically lived in the hospital. No one had ever beaten our record of the number of A&E visits in a week but us."
I used the words I said to her the day she was taken from me. Esme was already sobbing into Carlisle's shoulder and Rose had a small smile at that comment. Emmett was full out laughing at the image of two of me in a hospital for various reasons. I chuckled at one image. All their heads whipped to me.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Emmett. He just imagined me in the hospital with a door around my neck."
They all chuckled at that.
"How did it happen Bella?"
"It started in the morning. Our mom went out before six every Saturday and Sunday to get to her rock climbing club. Ava woke me up early and me being me, I hated mornings. In the end I told her to go away. I told my sister to leave me alone and she did. She said she was going for a walk and would be back in half an hour to an hour."
"Your mother left you alone and let you walk around where you never know who could be out there?"
"That's what Renee does. We were sensible enough to know what was safe and what wasn't. I could never blame her for Ava's death. It was my fault. The last thing I said to her was 'Ava just go away.' I tried to explain why I said it but she just left."
My sobs broke through my words as Edward pulled me closer.
"Bella don't blame yourself. I know you aren't the cause of this."
"You don't understand Esme. If I hadn't told her to go away she wouldn't have been taken."
"What do you mean by taken Bella? I thought you said she died."
"The next time I heard from her she was screaming my name from down our street. I ran from the kitchen to the front door. She was there. At the bottom of the road."
I took a deep breath as I recalled what happened.
"There were two large men. Her upper body was being held by one man as she struggled to break free. The other man held her feet as she kicked them frantically. She couldn't get away."
"What?"
Rose couldn't seem to believe me. The rest of them looked on in shock. For mythical creatures they didn't take new information very well. Edward pulled me onto his lap and nuzzled his face into my hair as I buried my face into his chest.
My sister is gone. I haven't seen her in over 10 years and I still can't bear thinking about her.
"How do you know she died Bella? She could still be out there."
"I saw it. The van she was shoved in drove off leaving a man behind. Our neighbours started attacking the man and he fell. I was running before the van disappeared around the corner."
"Why didn't you try memorising the number plate?"
"There was no number plate."
"Bella no offense but why did you even attempt to run. It's hard for an adult to keep up with a vehicle let alone a four year old girl who falls over every few seconds."
"What choice did I have? I couldn't let the van out of my sight it would have been like giving up on my sister. It was my fault she was there in the first place. How could I give up?"
"I didn't mean it like that Bella."
"I know Emmett. I'm sorry."
"It's okay Bella. I understand. What happened next?"
"I chased the van for a long time before there was a loud bang. The sudden noise took me by surprise, causing me to fall. My knees and hand were bleeding badly but I just kept going. I had, for my sister. I rounded the corner the van went round and saw it. In the middle of the road was a car turned on its side. The man inside seemed fine. He was only badly shocked; the van was the most badly damaged. It was upright, but the whole thing was one fire."
Everyone in the room gasped and Esme, Rose and Alice started dry sobbing into their husbands once more. I felt the couch dip and smelt Leah's scent surround me. Her warm tears dropped onto my head as she leaned her chin on my forehead.
"The worst part is that they didn't let me get to the van. If someone had opened the back doors they could've saved her. She would have been severely injured at the time but alive. They didn't understand that there were people in the back of the van. The driver died on impact, so the assumed that he was the only one in there. By the time the fire had been put out by firemen, police and doctors had arrived. They held me back as I fought to get free. I expected Ava to fling the van doors open and walk out. When she didn't I fought harder. My old teacher let go of me for an instant and I ran faster than ever to the van. I was stopped by a fireman. I screamed so loud he dropped me. I didn't care if I'd end up bruised all over. I flung the doors open and all there was, was a pile of ash in the corner. I collapsed to the floor screaming. My sister had gone and it was all my fault."
Everyone was sobbing slightly and Jacob and Seth let a few tears escape their eyes. Jasper seemed to be the worst after me and Edward.
"Bella you should've told one of us sooner instead of bottling it up. I know emotions and if you ever want to, come talk to me."
"Thanks Jasper."
Edward squeezed me to him tighter. My sobs continued into his chest as he kissed my forehead.
"I got you Bella. It's gonna be alright. It's all gonna be alright."
"I love you Edward. Please don't leave me. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it."
"It's okay love. I'll never leave you. Not again, not ever. I love you Bella."
"Don't leave."
"I won't. I promise. I could never leave you again."
"I-I- I love you Edward."
"I love you Bella."
Edward's lips crashed onto mine in a loving kiss.
