"Well—that was unexpected." Jasper was the first to speak.
"What happened?" Rosalie asked, walking in.
I thought she said she was going to her room.
"Halley passed out. In my lifetime, I've learned to come to expect the unexpected. However, I don't think anything could prepare me for this girl. She's a vampire like the rest of us; she has no heartbeat. But she seems very human—and can do almost everything human girls can do. My big concern is her memory loss. So far, Alice is the only other one I've met to have no memories of her human life. But Halley—she's an entirely different story. She's not grasping that she's a vampire—in senses. She seems to understand that blood is important but doesn't want to hurt humans." Carlisle answered Rosalie before going onto explain, placing Halley on the couch.
"What are you saying?" Esme asked, concerned.
"I'm unsure. She's either in denial or completely unaware she's a vampire." Carlisle replied.
"Completely unaware—at this moment." I answered, watching Halley, concentrating hard on what was going on in her head.
"How is someone unaware they're a vampire—especially if they know they have to drink blood?" Rosalie asked, annoyed.
"Someone who can eat human food as well. Someone who has no memories of anything—except me and her cats." I replied.
"Read her mind." Rosalie demanded.
"I am. Right now, her mind is blank—except for memories of me flying out of some file cabinet-looking thing. Her mind is filled with them—dozens upon dozens of them. And as I told Alice and Emmet earlier; they're all locked—tight. I cannot get into them. Trust me, I've tried. The only thing she has on her mind at this very moment, is me, her cats, doughnuts, and chocolate shakes." I answered, annoyed.
I was annoyed that I couldn't get into the cabinets. And I was annoyed with Rosalie and her attitude.
It's not like I planned for this to happen; I haven't thought of Halley in… Ok, that's a lie; I think of Halley at least once a month.
Yes, I would've liked to see her once before—after I turned. However, I stayed away for her safety because this was the last thing I wanted for her—well, that, and not wanting to kill her.
"It's no wonder I couldn't find her when I went to check on her all those years ago." I muttered to myself—or at least it was supposed to be.
"What was that?" Carlisle asked, looking at me.
Damnit…
"After you changed me, I did everything I could to stay away from Halley because I didn't want to hurt or kill her. After several years, once I could control myself around humans, I went to check on her—to see how she was doing. A new family lived in the house; I couldn't find anything of her or Cosmo. Her parents were fine, living their lives. Another several years later, I found obituaries for all of them—except Halley. Her parents stayed in Chicago. Cosmo went to living in some kind of home in Kansas because he had severe brain damage. Now it explains everything: she was turned and then nothing…" I answered, thinking about it all.
"So, you do love the girl." Rosalie told me in a bored tone of voice.
"Would it make you happy if I told you, I did? Fine. Yes, I love Halley; I have loved her since a few days before I found her trying to cut her own wrists. No, I didn't say anything because she was seven and a half years younger than me." I answered Rosalie, narrowing my eyes at her.
"And she loves you too!" Alice happily exclaimed.
"Alice…" I started, but she put her hands up and stopped me.
"No. You get to listen to me now. It's not just because of what I see. Think of it, Edward. Clearly, she has her cats, so she remembers them. But you said she seems to only remember you: those file cabinets are most likely her memories locked up. She only remembers you for a reason." Alice told me, staring directly into my eyes.
"She's right Edward. She doesn't even realize she's a vampire, but she remembers you. It's quite a coincidence, don't you think?" Carlisle told me.
"Doughnuts and chocolate shakes? Emmet…" Rosalie asked before growling a little.
"That's on Halley; Emmet only went because I told him that was what was on her mind earlier." I told Rosalie.
"Great…" Rosalie mumbled.
"Mmmm…" Halley moaned a little as she sat up, holding her head.
I chuckled a little as I walked over to Halley; she thought this was all a dream.
"No, none of this is a dream, Halley." I told her, getting her attention. Like before, she just stared at me.
"Edward?" She softly asked before tears started. And then she did something I sure as hell wasn't expecting; she threw herself at me and hugged me, crying.
"Edward certainly wasn't expecting that." Jasper stated, watching us with somewhat of a smirk.
"Nope…" Rosalie agreed, rolling her eyes.
Oh, God… The thoughts that were running through Alice's and Esme's minds…
"We need to find out what she remembers. And your mother would appreciate it if you could help convince her to stay." Carlisle's thoughts were directed at me.
"Right…" I sighed, placing my hands on the sides of Halley's shoulders to push her away from me and back to the couch.
"Hmm?" Halley hummed, confused.
"Halley…" I started but stopped.
"I'm sorry; I just missed you. It's been a long few years." Halley apologized, looking at me.
How am I supposed to do this?
"A long few years?" I asked, looking at her.
"Yes. How was basic training? I heard about your father—and I know you weren't very close with him, but I'm still sorry for your loss. Your mother went away to be a music teacher or something like that. How is she? Edward?" Halley babbled on, asking and apologizing about my parents before getting my attention.
"Yes. Sorry—I was just thinking. Basic training?" I asked, looking at her.
"Yes. You said you wanted to be a soldier. I don't know much about that, but I know you have to do something called basic training. I heard, that because you were close to eighteen, they let you in a little early, calling you a special case. Your father was very unhappy and wanted to stop you and demand you become a lawyer. But then he got sick with that Spanish Influenza thing. It scared you mother because she was afraid of losing you, but she understood and became a music or art teacher—or something along those lines. Oh, I saved it like I promised." Halley told me, going over what she thinks happened to my parents and me before handing me the pendant.
The only thing she was correct about was that my father died of Spanish Influenza.
"Rosalie." Esme scolded Rosalie for laughing at what Halley was saying before I could say anything.
"Keep it; I meant it for you. Yes, it was important to me, but I want you to have it. I have an important question for you." I firmly told Halley, watching her.
"Yes?" Halley asked as Carlisle walked over and sat next to me while the others sat down—except for Rosalie; she stayed standing.
"This isn't the question I need to ask, but Halley, you've met everyone here. Do you remember who any of them are?" I asked, watching as her eyes darted from my family members.
"One's missing. They said they adopted five teenagers—including you. But—you were eighteen. Why would you need to be adopted? Eighteen is an adult, isn't it?" Halley answered, confused.
"Emmet went out to get snacks, Rosalie is behind you—despite repeatedly saying she was going to her room. Uhh… But Alice and Jasper are on our right. This is Carlisle and that's Esme. Yes, they've adopted me—in a sense. They are very much my parents. Yes, my father died of the Spanish Influenza. My mother had wanted to be a music or an art teacher, but she never got that opportunity; she also died of the Spanish Influenza. Yes, I wanted to be a soldier in the military—and yes, my father wanted me to be a lawyer. However, neither of those happened either. Halley—I need you to think really hard about these next questions: what year is it? How old are we?" I explained, confusing her before asking her.
I didn't need to be able to read minds to see in her eyes how confused she was, but she was thinking about it.
"I'm sixteen and your twenty-three or twenty-four. And it's 1924." Halley answered after thinking about it.
"Who is this girl?" Rosalie asked, walking over; she couldn't believe someone could be so dense.
"Halley… I'm sorry—but it's not 1924." I told her; her eyes lit up with so much confusion.
"What do you mean?" Halley asked, confused.
"It's 2015." Rosalie answered before I had the chance.
"What? But that's not possible." Halley asked, even more confused now.
"Halley, please stay calm. It is very possible because we're vampires. As much as I wanted to, I never made it to the army; I was never in basic training. Carlisle is the one who turned. Except for you, he turned everyone here—and Emmet. Ok… I'll be right back. Stay here with Carlisle and Esme." I told Halley, which only seemed to be confusing and upsetting her. I then had an idea. It would take me roughly half an hour, but I had to go to Chicago and get something.
Normal P.O.V.:
Edward took off, leaving Halley in Carlisle and Esme's care.
"But if it's 2015, I should be—really old—or dead." Halley sat where Edward left her, muttering to herself.
"Technically, you are dead; you're a vampire just like the rest of us, Sweetheart. It's time to get used to that." Rosalie stated, narrowing her eyes.
"She didn't have to say it how she did, but Rosalie's right; you are a vampire. So are your cats. I know this must be a huge shock for you, but if you'll let us; we can help you." Esme told Halley, holding her hands in hers.
"Can you think about it and tell us when you were turned?" Alice gently asked, sitting next to Halley.
"Turned?" Halley asked, confused.
"When did you die?" Rosalie came out and asked, snapping a little.
"I think I have enough; I'm going to call a friend for a favor. Rosalie, be nice." Carlisle informed everyone, getting up.
"Did I do something wrong?" Halley softly asked, watching Carlisle get up and leave.
"No; he's just going to try to find a way to help you. Find out what happened to you to make you lose these past ninety years. Please, make yourself at home because this is your home. At least, I hope you'll consider making it your home as well." Esme told Halley with a soft, sad smile before getting up to follow her husband.
"Don't worry; everything's going to be ok. You're in amazing hands here." Alice told Halley, hugging her.
Ten Minutes Later:
Carlisle was still on the phone with his friend with Esme by his side.
Edward and Emmet were still gone; no one knew where either was. Well, Alice knew where Edward was going; she figured Emmet stopped somewhere else—aside from the doughnuts and shakes.
Jasper was using his ability to keep everyone calm. At the same time, Alice wouldn't let go of Halley—who was just staring off into space, beyond confused.
SLAM!
Rosalie lost her cool and slammed her fist into the counter, making Halley jump.
"Oh, for Christ's sake! I can't take it anymore! How can someone be so damn dense?! Come on!" Rosalie snapped, grabbing Halley's wrist, and started dragging her out of the house.
"Rosalie, stop! Edward's going to be furious if you do this! He may never forgive you!" Alice yelled after Rosalie, causing her to stop.
"I do not care, Alice! He could hate me for all of eternity, and I wouldn't give a damn! This is our family! Everyone wants her here: fine! But she needs to know who and what we are! I will not have our family facing danger because of some confused girl! Especially with the Volturi after her!" Rosalie snapped before leaving with Halley.
"What's going on out here? Where's Halley?" Esme asked, running in.
"Ok; we're all set. What happened? Alice?" Carlisle started, clapping his hands together before asking, concerned.
"Rosalie is pissed; she so angry that not even Jasper could keep her calm. She's just dragged Halley out of the house somewhere; she's taking her into the woods to get her to understand. I understand she wants to protect the family and everything, but what she's going to do is push Edward too far; he not forgive her if she succeeds. And Halley; she'll disappear again." Alice answered.
"What's going on?" Emmet asked, showing up with three dozen doughnuts, eight chocolate shakes, boxes of junk food, several bags of McDonalds, and a few salads.
"Do you know where Rosalie is?" Esme desperately asked, looking at Emmet.
"No. Why?" Emmet asked again.
"Halley's very confused and only seems to remember Edward; she doesn't get the concept of any of us or her being vampires. Rosalie is going to try to correct that. We have to find them before she inadvertently drives both Halley and Edward away. Emmet, put the shakes in the freezer and help us look. You can only eat any of that if Halley's around." Carlisle answered before taking off with Esme.
"What is it, Alice?" Edward asked over the phone.
"Where are you? Never mind that; you need to get home—now." Alice frantically told Edward.
"What's going on? Wait what?! I'll be there as fast as I can." Edward asked before catching some of Alice's thoughts.
"Hurry!" Alice exclaimed before they both hung up.
With Rosalie & Halley:
"Where are you taking me? Are you going to kill me?" Halley asked, panicked.
"No, I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to show you exactly what we are, and the importance of behaving." Rosalie told Halley, annoyed.
"I promise not to tell anyone! Please, let me go!" Halley cried.
"Will you shut up, already?! Come on." Rosalie snapped, dragging Halley to an area in the woods where enough sun shone through the trees.
"Look. Look at what happens when we step into direct sunlight!" Rosalie demanded, pulling Halley into the sunlight.
Halley watched as both she and Rosalie started glittering in the sunlight; she was beyond mesmerized.
"See?! Do you get it now?! You're not human! Humans don't sparkle in the sun! Humans can't move as fast as we can! And they most certainly cannot jump from great heights and land on their feet—or without any broken limbs!" Rosalie called from up in a tree before jumping and gracefully landing in front of Halley.
"And now—it's your turn." Rosalie calmly told Halley.
"What do you mean?" Halley asked, shaking a little; she had an inkling of what Rosalie wanted her to do.
"Climb up the tree and then jump down. Because you're not human, you'll be fine." Rosalie answered Halley, crossing her arms across her chest, annoyed.
Halley looked up and back at Rosalie before answering her, "No."
"Get up there!" Rosalie snapped.
"Babe! What are you doing?!" Emmet called, walking over.
"Trying to get her to understand! Now, get up and climb the tree!" Rosalie answered before, pulling Halley up to stand.
"I think she gets it, Rose." Carlisle and Esme stated, walking over with Alice and Jasper.
"She doesn't get it! She won't even climb the tree and jump down to prove it!" Rosalie yelled, furious.
"Rosalie, please; she needs our help, not to be scared like this. We will help her to understand what's going on." Esme pleaded with Rosalie.
"Babe, stop; you're scaring her. Don't you remember when you first changed? I know I do. I was terrified, but I saw you and knew everything was going to be ok. She has that with Edward. I know you and Edward don't see eye to eye—or get along, but he is still our brother. If you force Halley to do something she's terrified of and she disappears, Edward will leave as well. If that happens, you'll regret it, feel guilty, and never be able to live with it—or yourself. Clearly, she's not like us." Emmet firmly told Rosalie, showing his rare, serious side.
"Fine. But she's not my responsibility. It's just a damn tree; she's not going to get hurt." Rosalie mumbled.
Edward's P.O.V.:
I returned home just in time to hear everyone arguing.
"What did I do wrong? I don't understand. Why does Malibu Barbie hate me so much? I didn't think I did anything to her—or to offend her. Why did she become such a raging bitch all of a sudden? Her Emmet is nice and all, but I don't like him in that way. Are they all going to be like that? I don't understand. What's wrong with me? Edward. I want Edward." I homed in onto Halley's thoughts as soon as I heard them.
If I had a heart, it would be breaking right now.
"It may be just a tree to you, but to Halley, it's a nightmare." I stated, getting in Rosalie's face.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Rosalie demanded, glaring at me.
"It means, she is afraid of heights. When she was seven, she fell out of a tree and broke her left arm in three places and shattered her right ankle. Stop tormenting her." I answered before growling; Rosalie backed off right away.
"Edward?" Esme asked, concerned.
"I'm not leaving. I'll talk to Halley after she's calmed down. So long as Rosalie doesn't torment Halley anymore, I won't leave." I told Esme, putting her mind at ease, walking to Halley.
I knelt in front of her, watching her shake for a few minutes before talking to her.
"Halley…" I started but stopped when she hugged me again.
"Halley, I know Rosalie can be a bitch, but she's family oriented and doesn't trust anyone. Once you get to know her, she's not so bad. No, she and I don't get along most of the time, but we do come together when it's needed. The others are great; you just need to get to know them. I can tell you right now, Esme, Carlisle, Alice, Jasper, and Emmet all want you here. I want you here. No, none of us want you here just for your abilities; we could care less about those. We care about you. I know it's a lot to take in—and a lot to ask, but would you and your cats consider living here, with all of us? You can be part of a family who care and will protect you." I calmly told Halley, pulling away from her to look her in the eyes.
"I… Is that the time box thing we buried?" She started but stopped when she noticed the time capsule I brought back from Chicago.
It was just an old lunch pail of mine she decorated with all sorts of—stuff; she had to make it pretty—and cool at the same time. She was always trying to appease both of our tastes in whatever we did.
We each put two of our favorite items in the pail and buried them in one of the parks down the road from us. I was kind of surprised that it was still there. The park that is.
"It is." I answered as she stared at it.
"But how'd you get it so fast? Bubby said we were in a place called Forks, Washington." Halley asked, looking at me.
"I ran. Vampires are fast—faster than cars or anything like that. Now, you have to answer my question. Will you stay with my family and me?" I answered and then asked again.
"Ok." Halley answered, looking down, playing with her fingers, and blushing a little.
"Someone's coming." Halley spoke before I could say anything—and then I groaned in annoyance.
"Up." I told Halley, giving her "the look."
Once she was standing, I handed her the bucket and stood in front of her.
"Well, well, well… I finally caught you. I never thought I'd see another vampire in Chicago; I haven't seen many new vampires in roughly ninety-one years. Not many of our kind in the Windy City." A police officer informed me, walking over; he had been on my trail since I dug up the pail.
He was a muscular vampire with broad shoulders, nape-length dark brown hair, and golden eyes—indicating he didn't eat people.
"Is there a problem, Officer?" Carlisle asked, walking over.
"Possibly. Does he belong to you?" The cop asked, not taking his eyes off me.
"I wouldn't say he belongs to me, but he is my son." Carlisle answered.
"Huh. Well, I caught him digging up the old park and took out a pail. What was in that pail? And what are you guarding?" The cop informed Carlisle and then asked me.
"It's a time capsule from when I was a human at the age of fourteen—along with a friend. And I fixed the ground when I was done; I put everything back where it was before." I answered, staying in front of Halley; I didn't know this guy, and I wasn't taking the chance.
"What's in that pail? Drugs?" The cop asked, inching forward, trying to look behind me.
"No! We would never do drugs! It's just a butterfly and a rose and two of Edward's things!" Halley snapped, stepping next to me; she didn't like being accused of drinking or doing drugs.
The cop stared at Halley in shock.
"Halley Moon?" The cop asked, shocked.
"Is that right?" Halley asked, looking at me.
"Yeah, that's your full name. Do you know him?" I answered and then asked, watching the cop.
"I don't think so." Halley answered, scratching her head.
"How do you know Halley?" I asked, watching the cop.
"How do I know her? How do you know her?" The cop asked me.
"Edward's my bestest and only friend. Well—he was my only friend." Halley answered.
"And now she has a new friend. And I'll be her best girlfriend!" Alice happily exclaimed, hugging Halley.
"Now, it's your turn. How do you know Halley?" I asked again.
"I turned her—and her cats back in the day." The cop answered like it was nothing, shocking all of us…