BPOV
As the months passed, I struggled with my decision to stay. Every night I would tell myself I was leaving and every night I didn't follow through either because of Edward or myself. The first two months settled into a routine until the afternoon that I caught Emmett in the woods. Something that day made me realize that there was a lot more factors than I thought involved with my decision making. I sat and watched his house every night, sitting in my car reading to pass the time. Occasionally, Chief McCarty would come home late from a double shift, and would come talk to me for a bit, asking questions related to our lifestyles and how we came to be. I tried to be as honest with him as possible, but sometimes the subjects were too much and I'd have to give him quick excuses.
Tonight I decided to skip the stake out, more out of necessity than want. Peter and Charlotte were making an appearance after a few years, and Edward wasn't really a part of their fan club. I flitted around the house, preparing their room and stocking the guest bathrooms with fresh towels. My phone rang from the kitchen and before I thought about making my way there, Edwards voice filtered through the floors. As I ran downstairs to see who it was calling, a thought from Edward's mind had me running faster than ever. Appearing before him, I started shaking my head 'no,' mouthing it as his smirk grew.
"You know what Esme? Now would be the perfect time for Carlisle and yourself to make a visit. How long till you arrive?" He paused to listen to her answer as I started banging my head against the kitchen counter, careful to not break the granite. "Great! We will see you then."
He placed my phone back on the counter, breaking into a wider smile if possible as we made eye contact. I forced a smile, my eyes burning into his skull as I thought of every way I was going to dismember him by, his smile slowly disappeared with that.
"Why would you do that? You know Peter and Charlotte are gonna be here in a couple hours. And I'm really not ready for the Spanish inquisition that comes with Esme and Charlotte together."
"Bella, maybe this will be good for you. Maybe you could even introduce them to the McCarty family? I'm sure Esme would love to bake some pies for the Chief of Police."
"No, no she won't because she won't get to know about our relations with them. Let alone, that I had prolonged conversations with Emmett. Got it?"
"Anything for you, Bella," he commented and smiled before going to get the second guest bedroom ready for Esme and Carlisle. My phone buzzed with a text, 'This week just got 10 times more exciting. Thank Edward for me would ya? - Peter.' Edwards laugh was enough for me to know he read that through my mind and I let out a frustrated growl before exiting the house, knowing I should hunt before the shit show that was about to go down.
A couple hours later, my running slowed as I approached the house. Laughter travelled through the glass walls, and as I entered I faced five vampires, all with wide smiles on their faces. Charlotte attacked me first, taking me down to the ground as she did. Her thoughts were jumbled and moving fast, and I knew that she had a lot to tell me. She kissed my forehead before letting me up, smiling at me once more before she moved me into Esme's arms. I was immediately enveloped into a hug, Esme's scent surrounding me.
"Hello, I've missed you mom."
"I've missed you as well, my sweet Isabella," she pulled back and took my face into her hands, looking straight into my eyes as if she was searching for something. Feeling uncomfortable, mighty fast, I faked a cough and smiled as I moved out of her arms and towards Carlisle. He always understood my discomfort without seeing it as a weakness. From the day I had met the family, his presence always calmed me no matter what. He grabbed my hand in both of his and just smiled at me, a twinkle in his eye. I smiled back easily, placing my free hand on both of his.
"Edward just got some new medical journals from Johns Hopkins. They are quite worth the read."
"Really? Son, I might have to borrow those before we leave…" he headed off towards Edward, no doubt to talk shop. I stood watching them before I felt myself tackled once again. Before I allowed myself to hit the ground, I flipped us so I was on my attacker, our speed and momentum sending us crashing through the wall between the living room and dining room.
"Peter, you're fixing that before you go home!" His laughter rang out as he helped me up and crushed me in a bear hug. My anger didn't last long as I sank into his embrace, missing my brother tremendously. His hugs were always calming and this one was no different. The stress and turmoil I had felt in the past weeks quickly melted away, and I was reluctant to pull away. As I observed the damage we did to the wall, Peter placed a hand on my shoulder. We will fix it tomorrow, filtered through my mind and I smiled. Peter just knew. I walked through the debris, Char and Esme in a conversation with Carlisle and Edward no where in sight. A gush of air let me know that Peter was going to see the boys, so I made my way to girl talk.
"Bella, dear, we have missed you so much. I was just talking to Charlotte about when you came to visit a couple months ago you barely even stopped moving for the entire week." Esme's eyes twinkled, and I knew it was bait, evening without Edwards voice shouting in my head, You're soooooo screwed.
"Which we both know how lazy you love to be, don't try to deny it! Is everything okay Izzy?" Charlotte ended with a big smile, which grew at the scowl she got for using that nickname. I was desperate for a conversation change. I stood abruptly and used all I could remember from my human days to get some venom tears resting on my waterline.
"I really liked that wall, it was so well decorated. And I just don't have the talent to make it look that good again." I sighed, my hearing picking up on the male's muffled chuckles, no doubt listening in. Char's eyes widened as she turned to Esme, who had fallen right into my trap. Esme stood and walked over to me, the interior designer in her stepping into action.
"Oh, Bella, we can fix it. How about as soon as the stores open, you and Peter head into town to the hardware store, grab all the tools we need and I'll have it looking just like before by the time we leave." She wrapped an arm around me in comfort, so I laid it on extra thick.
"I would really appreciate it, Mom. I don't know how I've lived away from you for this long." Esme tightened her hug as I stared at Char from over her shoulder. As I stepped back I faked a believable sniffle and thanked her again. Esme just nodded and head to the debris taking stock of what we needed to fix it. I walked back to Charlotte who silently applauded for me, mouthing 'well done'.
Charlotte and I met the second day I was a vampire. When I had awoken I was alone, deep in the woods and quite feral. I don't remember much from that first day or the human days leading up to my demise, but I remembered everything from the moment Charlotte found me. She had been cautious when she greeted me, having been around plenty of newborns in her time. She asked me some questions and when I answered easily and calmly she told me to follow her. From there I met Peter and started my life with them. After 5 years and a visit to the Volturi, I met Edward. I was intrigued by him so he brought me home to the Cullens. Talk about awkward when they thought we were a couple.
I sighed in content as I chatted with Charlotte, the rest of the family milling back into the living room as time went on. Before I knew it, the sun was coming up, the living room basking in the morning light. The sunbeams were dancing at the edge of the windows, refracting and making tiny rainbows. Peter smiled at me and asked if I was ready to go grab the stuff for the wall. I quickly shook my head 'no' and headed to my room to shower and get ready.
Within the hour, Peter and I were laughing our heads off while walking down the hardware store aisles. The cart in front of us was filled with various pieces of wood and everything else we needed to repair the wall according to Esme. The cashier looked at Peter and I oddly when we paid for our purchase, both of us making faces to one another while he rang the items up. The drive to Port Angeles was filled with small talk and jokes, meanwhile the drive home was silent as I mulled over the question Peter had just asked. We were about half way to the house when I just knew Peter was trying to figure out a way to word his question, his mind a jumbled mess and impossible to read.
"Spit it out, Peter!"
"Okay, okay. Just can you not get defensive and actually talk about your feelings for once?" I gave him a look of pure question and his response was to just raise his eyebrows at me, he knew me too well. "I know something is wrong. My mind told me some info, so here I was expecting to meet a boy you're infatuated with, but instead I get a moody Bella, who looks like someone pissed on every animal she has hunted in the past week." I cracked a small smile at that before looking out the window, not having an answer to his question.
I pulled off the main road, and headed into the grocery store's parking lot. Parking near the back of the lot, I unbuckled and looked at Peter. A small smile gracing my lips.
"If you tell anyone, even Charlotte, I'm tracking you down and sticking Felix on you," He noticeably gulped and my smile grew. "So Chief Swan's son, Emmett, may or may not have a special meaning to me."
"HA, I knew it! So where is he? Why haven't we met him? Do mom and dad Cullen know?"
"Slow down, please. No idea, that sounds like a horrible idea, and of course not!" I flipped my hair over my shoulder before reaching into the back seat for my purse. "He found out about us due to the mutts, and I don't want him pulled into this world," In the corner of my eye I saw Peter go to open his mouth and after a quick scan of his mind, "Edward already reminded me that Aro would waive that rule for me, but that's not what I'm worried about. You know that I have enemies from those years I was a newborn, and as much as you and Charlotte tried to smooth things over for me, they are still out there." I got out, and Peter quickly followed matching my step quickly as we made our way to the store front, the stale room-temperature air hitting us as we walked through the automatic doors.
"Bella, if he is truly your mate—" I wrinkled my nose at that term, "sorry, your meant-to-be?" Peter gave me a look for making him say that, "You do realize, that you have to at least try and give him a chance. Watching from a far and talking to his dad is not giving him a chance." I nodded absent-mindedly, grabbing some fresh veggies and heading to the meat section to grab Esme the chicken breast she asked for before we left this morning.
"Yes, I do, but it is hard now that he knows. Before, when I was 'human' so to speak, I was normal. Now there is that vampire glow, and it makes me feel more weird and out of place." With my arms full of ingredients, we headed to the check outs, standing in the lengthy line "Also, Edward blabbed? I'm so gonna kill him."
"Relax, killer-Bella. He only told me. Also, tell him exactly that. Yes, he's human, you're vampire. But that doesn't mean you cant still be friends and work towards a relationship, right?"
"Well yeah, but—"
"Bella!" Peter and I turned around to find the host of the voice that yelled my name. Alice Swan stood about ten feet away, waving and coming towards us.
"Alice, crazy running into you here! Uhh, Peter this is Alice Swan, Alice this is Peter."
"Lovely to meet you! Did I hear your last name is Swan? Any relation to the Chief of Police?" Peter gave her a charming smile, to which she shyly smiled back to.
"Yes, he is my father. Speaking of which, Charlie was wondering if you and Edward wanted to join him on a fishing trip? Some type of weird dad thing I think. He mumbled something about feeling bad that your folks don't live here…" She continued to ramble as we moved froward in line, I handed my wallet to Peter, a hint he should pay for the stuff, before giving a soft smile to Alice.
"I'm sure Edward would love to go fishing. Not really my scene, but maybe we can go on that shopping trip finally?"
"Oh, yes please!" Alice promised to let me go, and we bid our goodbyes. I was more than ready to get going home. As we exited the store I looked at Peter.
"All this stays between us."
EmPOV
Jasper and I were changing the tires out on his truck when Alice came back from shopping a new found pep in her step.
"Slow down, Darlin'. You look like you just found out your favourite shoe store is having a sale."
"No, Jasper, something even better. Bella Cullen brought up the shopping trip again and we are gonna go the same weekend dad takes Edward fishing. She has such a great taste in style, and never hangs out with anyone, take that Lauren and Jessica!"
My head snapped up to look at Alice, my forehead hitting the truck as I did.
"You saw Bella? Where?"
"The store, she was with some guy named Peter. Super charming, had a very nice accent. Of course, not as nice as Jasper's." They smiled at each other, before kissing, making me want to gag.
"Still my sister Jasper." They laughed as the broke apart, leaving me outside as they headed into the house. So, Bella wasn't avoiding everyone, just me. And who the hell is Peter?
I mulled over these revelations as I finished the last tire, heading inside to shower and tidy up before noticing the time. I had about an hour before Charlie got home. I grabbed my keys and headed to my jeep, jumping in and heading out of the driveway. She can't be my friend, but she can be friends with this Peter guy. Maybe she was in a relationship this whole time, was I imagining her hesitation to be my friend as scared, or was she distancing herself because she had a boyfriend. Edward would have said something right? Before I knew it, I was pulling into her driveway. There were a few more vehicles that I didn't recognize but it didn't deter me from walking to her front door and knocking.
"Emmett, what are you doing here?" Bella opened the door seconds after I knocked. She glanced behind her before stepping out onto the porch, closing the door behind her.
"Alice mentioned running into you, and I have to know. Is Peter the reason we can't be friends? Was there just another guy this whole time?" She quickly began to shake her head, stepping closer to me before stopping herself.
"No, Peter is not the reason. Did you really come all this way to ask?"
"Yes! Because I don't understand how you can let so many people into your life, but the thought of me being apart of it is unbearable. What's wrong with me?"
"Emmett nothing is wrong with you. But you have to understand that this is a new situation to not only you and me, but my entire world. It is basically unheard of and I can't risk your life, or family's life for something that might not work."
"Bella, we are worth the risk. I know you feel what I feel. And Edward has been telling me a bit more, and I don't see why we can't try and live in the moment. You can keep me safe, I know you can."
"Well, Edward needs to stop blabbing…" She said this louder, as if he couldn't hear her if she whispered it. "And they are so many more factors to account for. And what if I'm the one you need protecting from?"
"If you were, would I be able to stand here now, a mere three feet in front of you—?" The door opened behind Bella, who instantly hit her forehead with her palm.
"Sorry to interrupt, couldn't help but over hear," he laughed at himself. "You must be Emmett! I'm Peter, the not-boyfriend." Bella was quick to slap him as the door opened again.
"Oh, sweet peas!" Bella turned and hit her head against the outside of the house and all of a sudden I had five people, uh vampires, staring at me.
"Oh Bella, you should have told us you had a guest. I'm Esme, Bella's mom."
"Mom he knows about us." Edward stood there laughing as Esme, and the other two vampires whose names I didn't know whipped their heads to Bella. Then the female whipped her head towards Peter.
"You knew and didn't say anything! We are supposed to be married, which means no secrets. Especially after a century together!"
"Did you just say you are Peter's wife? I'm so sorry for accusing him for dating Bella." I apologized as she just smiled.
"No worries dear. I'm Charlotte, and that's not the worse I've heard when it comes to those two."
"Char!" Both Bella and Peter yelled which made me laugh.
"Now, I'm sorry. Bella, Edward, he knows? About us, like what we are? You know that is against the rules. I mean Aro wouldn't care, since it pertains to you, but you were taught better."
"Dad," This peaked my interest, "We weren't the ones to tell him and Charlie, Black and his pack did. And why does everyone assume Aro would let him live, that's the biggest rule we have!" They are looked at Bella at the same time, their faces saying it all.
"I'm sorry, if I've caused a ruckus, I just misinterpreted some information I was given, and now I feel like I'm intruding. See you at school Monday, Bella and Edward. It was nice meeting you all."
"Nonsense, please join us for dinner. We had just made food to bring to your father, as a way to say thank you. You should all join, I understand you have a sister as well," I nodded and Esme smiled back. "Well, come on in, and I'll have Carlisle call your dad, we'd love to hear more on how you and Bella met." I followed her inside, the rest of the Vampires following except for Bella who looked like she was being led to her own death.
"Consider this a look at what to expect if we ever become friends." Bella closed the door as she entered, giving me a smirk the screamed 'good luck'