Chapter 3 - Reunion

BPOV

It was lonely out here. I knew I couldn't go back to civilization when I had left Jacob. So I had headed into the wilderness. I wasn't sure where I was exactly. I figured it was somewhere around the Canadian border, but I might have been in Canada. I just knew it was lonely in the wilderness. I had found a little cave to shelter me on stormy days, not that I minded the rain, wind or cold. I hardly felt it against my skin. But it felt nice to have a place to return to. I stayed there for a while getting used to my new body and my new mind. I was getting used to my new diet as well.

I wasn't sure how to hunt, the first attempt had also been a spectacular failure. I had tried to sneak up on some elk, but I had stepped on a branch and they had quickly bolted away from me. The second time hadn't gone much better, as I had been getting so thirsty I had become impatient and I had scared everything off again. The third time I had finally checked myself. I had let instinct overtake me, and I had found a nice moose to sink my teeth in. It had tasted less than great, like a plain slice of bread while you were super hungry. It didn't taste great, but it filled me up. It soothed the ache in my throat. I wasn't sure how often to hunt. I didn't want to go as long between hunts as emhe /emhad seemed to do. They were much more practiced than me after all. So I hunted every few days. I wasn't even hungry most of the time I went, but I just wanted to make sure I was fed at all times. What if a human ventured into the wilderness? I didn't want to kill anyone.

I stayed at my little cave for a week, before deciding to move on. I was sure staying in one place would eventually lead to something bad. Vampires were nomadic right? I had to keep moving. I was also acutely aware of the fact that I needed new clothes. I hadn't had a chance to pack anything when I had left, so all I had were the clothes I had on the day I was attacked. They had torn and bloodied during my attack, so they hadn't been in the best shape anymore, and by now they were absolutely in tatters. I was a messy eater it turned out. Plus the tracking through the mud and rain and wind didn't help either. I was sure my hair was an absolute mess as well as my face.

I made sure to keep away from any paths and walked through pure wilderness. I hoped no humans would venture out this far. Perhaps I could stumble upon other vampires this way and ask them for help. That same thought had me backtracking in fear. Other vampires weren't necessarily nice. They could hurt me. Kill me even.
I had been lost in thought when I suddenly smelled something. It was familiar in a strange way. But I couldn't place it. It was a sweet scent. Something flowery. Then I heard it. Footsteps. They were coming towards me at great speed. I glanced around wearily. Vampires. Vampires were coming my way. I stood frozen for one more second then dove for cover. I couldn't just stand here and let them ambush me. The footsteps were nearly on me now and I crouched down into a crevice in some rocks.
I was sure if I held my breath I would be invisible to them. br /They skidded to a stop a few steps from my hiding place.

'Bella!' The smallest one yelled. I froze. They knew my name?

'It's okay. We're not here to hurt you.' The larger one said.

'Where is she?' She smallest one asked. They were scanning their surroundings, looking for me. Finally they turned around and I saw their faces. If my heart were still beating it would have skidded to a stop before picking up in overtime. Alice! Jasper! I couldn't believe it. I was sure I was never going to see them again. I sucked in a sharp breath at the pain that filled me up as I saw them and their gazes zeroed in on my location. Jasper looked wary of me. He was probably tasting my emotions. I realized they were flying all over the place and I struggled for a moment to reign myself in. I heard his surprised intake of breath.

'Bella?' Alice asked hesitantly, making no moves to come towards my hideout. I took a deep breath to steady myself and checked I was still in control. Then I stepped out from my hiding

'Hi.' I said softly as I stood in front of them. I felt extremely self-conscious by my tattered appearance. They were immaculate as always. Their clothes were brand new and designer, their hair perfectly windswept. Their skin completely dirt free. And here was I, cacked in mud, blood and god knew what else, with my clothes half in shreds.
Alice looked devastated as she regarded me and I winced uncomfortably under her scrutiny. Jasper gently placed a hand on her arm, probably to warn her of my emotional state. I took another steadying breath.

'Bella!' Alice exclaimed. 'I'm so glad we found you.'

'Found me?' I echoed confused. Had they been looking for me?

'We've been trying to find you for a week now. As soon as I saw you we set off. I just couldn't really pinpoint where you were. You didn't really decide to go anywhere… so it was just a general location. I'm sorry it took us so long.' She winced again. Looking down at the floor in embarrassment.

I stared at them for a confused.
'Why are you confused?' Jasper asked softly. I looked up at him even more confused. Didn't they know what he had said to me? They all abandoned me. Why would I expect them to look for me now? Oh… realization hit me. Of course. He was probably feeling guilty and had sent them to me. Anger blossomed in me, right next to the pain. I crossed my arms over my chest.

I'm not.' I stated. Jasper's brow furrowed. He couldn't understand the change in my mood.
'I'm fine as you can see, so you can go back now.' I muttered. Trying not to let the pain that would cause me overwhelm me. I knew they didn't really want to be here, but having them here was better than nothing at all.

'Go back?' Alice asked.

'to… him.' I finally mustered. Wincing as I did. Understanding crossed their faces.

'Bella. He's been away ever since we left. We came to find you because I saw you as a newborn. We wanted to help you.'

'You wanted to help?' I asked confused again now. What were they playing at?

'Bella' Jasper said slowly. 'What did Edward say when he left?'
I winced when he said the name. I looked away from their gazes. 'Bella?' he pressed when I didn't answer.

'He told me he didn't want me.' My voice broke as the pain swept over me. 'That you didn't want me. That I was a distraction, easily forgotten.' I trailed off, my knees buckled from the pain and I heard Jasper groan. Alice was beside me instantly, cradling me in her arms.

'I am going to kill him myself.' She barked. 'I'll absolutely murder him for this.'

Despite the pain surging through me, a giggle escaped my lips at the threatening tone of her voice. It was hard to see little pixie Alice as someone capable of murder. Even though I knew she was a dangerous vampire, she looked anything but.

'I can't believe he said that. You thought all this time we'd all left you willingly?'

I nodded numbly as I looked up at Jasper. He grit his teeth. 'That bastard.'

'What do you mean?' I was confused

'Bella.' Alice said gently. 'You are my best friend. Do you really think I would have willingly left you?'

'Well.. you did.' I pointed out. But she was already shaking her head.

'Edward told us that you'd asked us to stay away. He'd asked us to not seek you out anymore, that you were frightened of us.'

My mouth dropped open. 'And you believed him?' I asked her incredulous.

She looked away from my gaze, as did jasper. 'Bella, we had all nearly attacked you not a week earlier. We were sure you were absolutely frightened.' Jasper looked away, his jaw clenched. 'I'm so sorry I lost it.'

I sighed. 'Of course I don't blame you jasper. You couldn't help it any more than I could help getting that stupid papercut in the first place.'

He sucked in a sharp breath and then looked at me gratefully.

But how did you believe him so easily?' Pain wrecked through me. Did they not love me as I loved them? Jasper gasped and whatever fear had been holding him back, now disappeared as he crouched down next to me on my other side and wrapped his arms around me.

'We believed you were frightened. Please know that we never wanted to leave you.' Jasper said. 'We're so sorry we didn't question him. So, so sorry.'

I sobbed without tears for a moment as they held me tightly. They waited until I was calm again before Alice pulled back and asked the question I knew had been on their mind from the beginning.

'What happened Bella?'

'Laurent.' I muttered. 'He came because Victoria asked him to.'

Alice sucked in a startled breath. 'I didn't see…'

'She's playing with the holes in your vision. Not making any decisions.'

Jasper groaned. 'This is bad.'

But why didn't I see you get turned? If Laurent decided to turn you, I should have seen it.'

'He decided to kill me. I got turned by accident.' I clarified. Alice's brow furrowed.

'Where is he now? Did he leave you to go through everything alone?' Jasper ground out.

I shook my head. 'The Quileutes got him.'

'They were there?' he asked. I nodded.

'They were too late to stop him from biting me, but they stopped him from killing me. They killed him. But Jacob convinced them not to kill me. They let me change.'

'What happened then?'

'They set up my death for Charlie while I was burning. They kept their distance from me, but when the change was done Jacob told me what had happened. I think he was sent to see if I was still me… or if they had to deal with me. but he found me to still be me. So he let me go. But I had to promise not to return.'

For some reason I left out the part where he'd asked me to come back once I was in control /Alice and jasper nodded. Then they both hugged me again. For the first time in a long while I felt the whole in my chest start to mend a bit. I was loved after all. They hadn't chosen to abandon me. They wanted me, even if he didn't.

'You're amazing.'Jasper said after another moment. 'Every time I think your emotions will get the better of you, you reign it in. You calm yourself down. It's amazing. I've never seen such control in a newborn before.'

I looked away from his intense gaze and shrugged. 'I don't want to fly off the handle. I want to stay me.'

He grinned and smiled at me.

'Bella..' Alice said softly. 'Did you… have you hurt anyone?'

I quickly shook my head.

Jasper gasped. 'No humans at all?'

I shook my head again. 'I've kept away from them. I've been hiding in caves in the wilderness, only coming out to hunt every three days and making sure it's the absolute dead of night so humans aren't likely to be around.'

'How are you doing this?' Jasper asked. 'How can you even be thinking this rationally? It's amazing.'

'Perhaps it's her talent?' Alice mused. Jasper looked at her and nodded as well.

'It's possible. I've never seen anything like this.'

'Are you thirsty?' Alice asked. I shook my head.

'I hunted yesterday.'

'And the thirst is no problem now?' I shook my head again.

'I can probably go longer than three days, but I didn't want to risk it.'

'This is amazing.' If I were still human I would have blushed from his praise.

'Would you be willing to come with us?' Alice asked. 'I hope you don't think we abandoned you anymore. I hope you know there is nothing we would love more than for you to join us.'

'Just you? Or the others?'

'we've all kind of split up. Edward is somewhere… I'm not sure where. He only checks in every few weeks. Rosalie and Emmett left on a extended honeymoon. Esme and Carlisle settled in new Hampshire. We've been kind of lost… without you.'

'I'm sorry. I never wanted to do that you.'

Alice and Jasper sighed exasperatedly. 'Bella.' They both chided me. 'None of this is your fault. We all chose to leave, there was nothing about it that was your fault.'

'If it's anyone's fault it's Edwards.' Alice ground out.

'Will you go with us to Esme and Carlisle?' Jasper asked.

'Is he going to be there?'

'Not at first.' Alice answered. That wasn't really the answer I had been hoping for. When would he come? Would I be ready to face him then? Would I even be able to face him?

I'm not sure I can see him.'

'You don't have to. Not until you're ready.' Alice promised. And I knew I could trust her. Perhaps it was Jasper filling me with confidence in her statement, but I knew deep down that they had truly not meant to hurt me. I knew I was safe now. I could join them and learn about my new life from them. For the first time since I woke up, I smiled.

'Then I would like to go with you.'

They both smiled at me and together we stood up. I asked Alice to do me one more favour before we set off for new Hampshire though. I asked her to make a detour to my house. To check on Charlie and tell him I loved him. I also asked her to bring me a few things from home, nothing that would be missed, but at least a change of clothes so I wouldn't look quite as harrowing when we arrived in new Hampshire and a few photos from my human life. She agreed of course, already having seen which items I would like. She took off like a bullet on her mission and promised to join us again a few miles from New Hampshire to let me change. I asked Jasper to run close to me, to make sure I wouldn't suddenly lose myself if I smelled a human. I knew we were heading towards denser populations. He agreed readily and together we took off.