Chapter Twenty One

"We don't think that's going to happen," a voice interrupted them. It was soft and high pitched but filled with menace. Bella's jaw dropped open and her heart filled with hope when she saw who it was. It was the Cullens. Alice was leading the group, but they had snuck up behind the vampires surrounding Rosalie and Bella. Emmett was there, cracking his knuckles loudly. Jasper had his teeth bared back, Esme looked furious, and Carlisle had an unfriendly expression on his face.

"You're out numbered. And out talented," Carlisle said in a careful voice. "We think it's best you leave." The vampires all glared at him, eyes shifting to the leader on what to do.

"This is our territory."

"They're part of our coven," Esme retorted.

"We don't let unauthorized vampires onto our lands. Anyone who crosses and is foolish enough to stay, ends up paying the price."

"We didn't know we were on your lands. We'll be happy to leave," Bella piped out. She hated it when there was trouble because of her. She had wanted this trip. It was her fault the vampires were accosting them now.

"A bit too late for that." The leader said menacingly.

"And a bit too late for you," Carlisle interjected. "Vampires aren't allowed to claim territory like this. It's against vampire rule. So unless you'd like us to wipe the floor with you, in public in front of all these humans, and call the Volturi to inform them of what you're doing, then I suggest you back down."

His voice was pure steel and the other vampires tensed but eventually the leader of them gave a blustery breath. "Fine. You're free to go for now. But if I ever catch head or tail of you here again-" he drew a thumb over his neck. The threat was clear. "Let's go," he told his members and they left into the night, as silently as they had come.

Bella visibly relaxed against Rosalie's back even if the vampire didn't. Her body was tensed, still in defensive mode.

"Are you okay?" Alice zoomed up to them, pulling them both into a hug as Carlisle murmured to Jasper and Emmett to check out the area to make the vampires were truly gone and not coming back. Esme was close on Alice's heels, also hugging them to her.

"How did you know to come and get us?" Bella asked.

"I had a vision. We managed to come just in time and I'm happy for that," Alice said, pulling back. "I shudder to think what could have happened."

"What did they want from us?" Bella questioned as Rosalie shook her head. "Doesn't matter. We should leave this place. This state. It's not safe here anymore."

"Rosalie's right," Esme commented. "We don't know if they will retaliate or not. And we can't stay here. We don't want to ruin your road trip."

"It's already been ruined, " Rosalie mumbled under her breath but not low enough that Bella couldn't hear her. She wrapped an arm around Bella and began to escort her back to their car.

"We'll walk you back," Carlisle insisted. "We can't trust their word."

"I didn't even know vampires had gangs," Bella commented, feeling so much safer and at ease now that the threat was gone.

"They're not supposed to," Jasper, who had reappeared, explained. Emmett was by him, looking disappointed he couldn't crack some vampire skulls.

"They why did they?"

"Power," Jasper offered to Bella. "The Volturi outlawed huge organizations of vampires to make it easier for vampires to blend in among humans, and to also prevent any vampires from ever being a threat to the Volturi."

Bella had so much to learn about vampires and their traditions. She'd better study up before she turned.

The Cullens walked Bella and Rosalie to the car, the blonde peering over her shoulder at every step. Bella wanted to tell Rosalie to stop being this paranoid, but she knew the blonde wouldn't listen to her. When the couple was at the car, the Cullens said their goodbyes.

"Have fun on the rest of the trip," Alice gave them quick hugs once more, the rest of the family expressing similar sentiments. Rosalie just nodded her head mutely to them, while Bella thanked them profusely for helping her.

They watched their respective cars peel away before Rosalie leaned against her car with a heavy sigh. Bella looked at her, worried by this heaviness that seemed to fall upon her shoulders like a cloak.

"Maybe we should cut the trip short?" Rosalie proposed. Saying the words that Bella had dreaded to hear, had thought herself in that crazy heated moment. But now that it was over, she didn't want to give up on this trip.

Bella gave her a crazy look. "Don't say that. We're not even halfway done!"

"But you saw what happened! We ran into vampires!" Rosalie protested, though not from anger but worry.

"But nothing happened. Alice saw it, and the Cullens came."

"But if they hadn't? Things might have ended very differently."

"I would have trusted you to keep us safe."

Rosalie shook her head, clearly not seeing it the same way as Bella. "You astound me with your belief in me. Bella, who knows what those men would have wanted. We were out numbered. What if we run into a situation like that again?" she asked in exasperation, hands coming to her hips. "I wouldn't be able to do anything. And we can't always count on my family to come and rescue us."

Bella came up and took Rosalie's hands in her own. "I know you worry, and you have reason to, but I want to do this trip with you. It means a lot to me I can do this with you, as a human. We'll just be extra careful and at the first sign of danger, we'll leave, okay?" she turns big pleading eyes to her girlfriend.

Rosalie's jaw ticks as she clearly tries to work something out; come to a savory decision.

At last she breathes out, meeting Bella's brown eyes with her golden orbs. "I too, don't desire to cut this trip short. I just...I just worry. You're always dragging danger to yourself. You're an accident magnet."

"But all those little accidents lead to you," Bella said tentatively and a bit shyly. "And I wouldn't give you up for the world." She looked at their joined hands. Her's soft and small in Rosalie's cool and long fingered hold. Those fingers were good at keeping her safe, at fixing cars, and at other more...intimate things, Bella was sure. But most importantly these hands were her's to hold forever. Once Bella was a vampire of course. "I know I'm still young, and you think I'm making hasty decisions. But, I've never had the chance to be young. All my life I've had to raise myself as my mother was too busy chasing men, and then having to take care of Charlie because he can't even seem to take care of himself. At all. So, I want to be able to experience being a teen."

"But you'll be stuck being a teen forever. Never able to mature fully, mentally or physically," Rosalie pointed out but not with malicious intent.

"You turned out just fine."

Rosalie have a huffy laugh here. "That's because I was mature for my age."

"So am I."

Rosalie arched a brow as her eyes raked over Bella's body slowly enough to draw a blush from Bella, but she didn't say anything to that. "Alright. Let's give the trip a second chance."

Bella smiled and hugged Rosalie to her. Rosalie allowed her to, Bella taking this chance to inhale Rosalie's scent; it was so comforting and so her.

They were more careful now, Rosalie on high alert in every town they visited to, with her calling Alice before they went to see if there were any future visions about running into danger there. There weren't any new visions, but the worry did not drop from Rosalie's shoulder and Bella felt bad that Rosalie could not fully relax and enjoy their trip together.

But she knew there was no point in talking about it, because it would only cause strife between them and she didn't want that to happen. On the third day of their trip, they went to a carnival that was happening locally. Bella hadn't been to one ever since she had been a kid and her mom had taken her to Las Vegas.

She had been amazed by all the flashing lights and the loud music and the smell of carnival food. Rosalie bought her some cotton candy and corn on the dog and Bella ate them happily. "Want to try out the Ferris wheel?" Rosalie suggested.

Bella agreed and they went to wait on line for it. Eventually it was their turn to sit in the cage and they did so, the ride carrying them slowly up so that they could have a wide view of the outside. It was amazing, being this high up. Looking at people who were so small.

"See anything you like and would want to do?" Rosalie asked as she followed Bella's gaze out.

Bella leaned in, biting her bottom lip. "I can think of one thing," she said, raking her eyes up and down Rosalie who was sat across her in the Ferris wheel. "How much to ride?" she joked, knowing there was no point in working herself up if Rosalie wanted to make their first time special.

Rosalie let a small smile roll across her face, lifting up one hand to cup Bella's face and bring it in. Their lips met in a soft kiss. "You're the only one whose allowed to go on this ride."

Her voice sent a thrill down Bella's spine and she had to stop herself from straddling Rosalie's lap, only because their cage was already descending and because there wasn't enough space here for that.

"Want to win me a carnival toy?" Bella asked playfully, as they exited the Ferris Wheel, hand in hand.

"I could buy you the whole carnival if you wanted."

"But where would I keep it, Ms. Moneybags?"

Rosalie just raised her brows. "Oh, I guess I'd have to buy you an island to keep it on, then."

"Hm, see that you do. I want it for my next birthday," she said, bumping into Rosalie's shoulder as they walked.

"First you wanted a car for your birthday, and now you want an island? What happened to the humble girl I knew?"

"You've spoiled her," Bella said.

They were at the stand now. It was one of those that required the person to shoot down items to get prizes for them. Rosalie paid for it and took the gun.

"Have you ever shot a gun before?"

"Once or twice," Rosalie admitted. "But I don't need one, not even to go hunting."

She hefted the rifle up and looked down the barrel of it. Then, she began to fire in such quick succession that several items were knocked off before the man had even turned around to see the first one fall.

"Oh," he murmured in shock. "Seems we have a winner."

Rosalie smiled and set the gun down on the table. She had won the first prize so easily.

"Wow, so vampire genes even make you good at games."

Rosalie took the stuffed whale handed to her and gave it to Bella who held onto it. It was so big. She hugged it tighter, knowing it would remind her of their memories on this day.

"Shall we do something else?" Rosalie offered.

"What do you have planned after the carnival?"

"A boat ride down the canal. I even got you extra scarves so you won't be cold."

"You really are the best," Bella grinned, looping her arm through Rosalie's, because she didn't want this night to end. And soon with Bella becoming turned into a vampire, her nights with Rosalie would never end.