Previously on Can We Start over ?
"Well... hello to you too Ally"
"A petite thing like you? Please, All I'm saying is if I didn't gym you might've broken my arms tiny"
"The moment you're completely honest"
"You've got spunk" "I like that"
If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge
W.Shakespeare.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Bella sat on the couch sighing slightly, there were many different answers to that question, the easiest Being 'he would've come anyway'
But then that would lead to multiple other questions like how do you? —what do you know ? — why do you know? So yes there were many different answers to the question her mate asked but she knew she wanted one particular one and that particular one wasn't one that she would be answering with.
They were back at the Cullens home for twenty minutes after the entire face-off in the clearing. Well not really a face off since Carlisle thought he could solve everything with a speech that basically meant 'let's play nice yeah?' She rolled her eyes mentally.
The man was too much of an optimist, even knowing that his kind wouldn't take lightly to vampires being so comfortable around a human;their natural food source, even more so if said human(food source) knows their secret especially since they're supposed to be hidden away from humanity or whatever their laws were.
Now surrounded by seven heavily worried vampires she was forced to endure their inane questioning about what she was thinking when she didn't cower before James like a good human should.
Scoffing internally she faced her mate who was now talking to her or saying more than two words—but it didn't count since the situation kind of forced her too.
Relaxing back into the arm chair she was sitting in, tilting her head mentally preparing to evade any attempts of prying that she could.
"When? Rosalie you have to be more specific. I have lots of thoughts, that's what anyone with a half a brain would do naturally after all" her joke did nothing but aggravate the blonde vampire even more.
"This is not a joke! this is your life Isabella, I would appreciate you taking it a bit more seriously!" Her anger was palpable... jasper barely managed to send a wave of calm before she needed another.
Alice had been going through various outcomes of any version of confrontation had been sitting quietly with her mate supporting her by squeezing her hand. Emmet had a much more serious expression on his face that Bella could barely if ever remember him wearing. Carlisle and Esme stood side by side conversing softly. Edward on the other hand gave Bella a pointed look, his normal angst driven features looked different.
"I am serious Rosalie ... what the hell did you expect me to do? Roll over and cower ?" She snorted derisively, the very idea of her cowering before James disgusted her.
Edward decided to voice his thoughts, he had read the trackers mind—he knew exactly what Bella did —how her attitude towards him enticed him, fascinated him. He couldn't believe that the human was so reckless.. his family was clearly ready to protect the human like family—her being Rosalie's mate and all but he couldn't help but think that this human girl had no regard for her life, if she so carelessly entangled her life with predators, albeit it vegetarian predators but now her carelessness came at a cost—she attracted the attention of someone who would like nothing more than hunt her down.
His own instincts flared at this— protectiveness flaring but not like Rosalie he was sure —he now understood what his family was trying to tell him, his 'love' for the human girl was nothing but a lust for her blood. James's appearance showed him that.
"You have no idea what he was thinking Bella" he said softly, his voice carried over the room like a glass of cold water. Shaking his head in disgust.
"His mind was vile—and to be completely honest with you? I don't even think I've scratched the surface—the things he's planning Bella are unspeakable. What you've done was that you just made this the most interesting game his ever played"
Bella gave Edward a nod "I see" she murmured.
"I see? Oh my god Isabella! Edward just gave you proof that your bravado is about to cost you your life and all you have to say is ' I see'. For fucks sake I can't do this.." she said the last part quietly blurring out of the room. Leaving the others to all look to Bella who sat with a pensive look on her face.
"Well I'm -" she was cut off by Carlisle blurring over time the front door.
"Laurent what are you doing here?"
Laurent looked at the vampires around him, he could smell the human in their home. He lifted in hands in surrender.
In a thick French accent " I mean you no harm" he looked over Carlisle shoulder to the human who was standing with her arms crossed beside the stairs.
"James and his mate has decided to split from me since I told them I was interested in your lifestyle. As a gesture of goodwill I will tell you that James is a tracker ... the human girls scent-" Bella cut him off with a scoff.
"My names Isabella not human girl" she said interrupting the French vampire.
Laurent's lips quirked with a small smile—he nodded toward the human-no Isabella he corrected.
"My apologies Isabella, it seems James is attracted to your scent." He paused now looking back to Carlisle and Edward " he's a tracker but he likes playing games. And it seems he's found his next conquest"he said gesturing to Bella.
Bella sighed , she heard feet shuffling on top the stairs and looked up to face Rosalie. Her face was hardened.
Bella sighed softly before moving away and went back to sit on her seat while Carlisle made nice and told Laurent about the Denali coven in Alaska that shared the same diet as the Cullens. And Just like that Laurent was on his way to Alaska leaving Bella here wishing she went with him for the ride if for nothing else than to escape Rosalie's piercing glare.
Bella sighed once more it felt like she'd been sighing a lot today, she knew she wanted James to appear just so she could get this mess over and done with but now she regretted wishing for it, if she was going to deal with this.
"We need to get Bella away" spoke Edward
"Where will we take her?" Asked Jasper for the first voicing his thoughts.
Emmet scoffed " why are we running it's one vampire vs seven I say we take him on" he added with a smash of his fists that echoed into the room. Bella watched as the vampires started making decisions for her, her gut coiled in anger.
"I'm going with her" said Rosalie
"No Rose, he'll expect that considering the way you acted in the clearing he knows she's important to you so he thinks you'll stay with her — that's what we'll use against him" said Edward, his idea had the best chance of succeeding, everyone knew it but Rosalie was stubborn she didn't want to leave her mate just when she finally found her. For the first time since she became a vampire she felt fear— fear for losing Bella —fear of not being enough to save her.
While the rest of the Cullens were making decisions for Bella , only one watched the her carefully, Alice watched Bella with a pensive expression she hid her thoughts away from Edward only showing him the outcomes of any decisions they were making. She watched the girls face contort in anger? Or displeasure? She wasn't sure but while everyone was talking over her Bella seemed to be in her own world. And just like that a new vision played in before her eyes, she was too late to shield Edward from seeing it but it was the same one that had been showing for months. Bella surrounded by fire —her voice sounding like the girl but different—the other person in the vision was now much more clearer than before—she gasped realizing the person was James.
Bella's eyes snapped to her a smile curled up on her lips, she knew Alice saw something regarding James—she willed her to see it —making the decision to burn the red eyed vampire—though the how was still unclear to Alice at least. Edward who had also somewhat witnessed it looked to his sister for an explanation.
Before he could utter his question Bella's voice cut through the discussion " No" she said clearly. She'd been playing with her car keys in her hand.
"What do you mean 'No' Isabella ? This isn't the time to be stubborn"
"Stubborn? I'm not being stubborn however, let's make it clear this is my life Rosalie, you might be my mate but you cannot make decisions for me" she said standing up to her feet.
"Furthermore everything you're talking about is only going entice that fucking psychopath more—he wants to chase me—he wants you to run away so that he can enjoy the chase or was I the only listening when Laurent was telling us that James is a tracker that fancies himself a hunter."
"You of all people should be aware that I won't be running away Rosalie, my father is in forks—I will not be leaving him in the hands of a monster"
"Bella we'll protect your father but he's after you" Bella scoffed at Edwards simple minded thinking.
"Yes and he'll use my father as bait or my wayward fucked up mother—personally I couldn't care less what happens to her however, she's still the woman that birthed me so it's only common decency that I try to keep her alive, but no I won't be running, but I'll tell you what I will be doing is going home to spend time with my father" she said to the room. She left the seven vampires with various expressions.
Once she was outside she dialed a number on her phone.After a single ring the person answered
"Matthew"
"Bella?" Bella walked toward her car , she pushed her magical presence outward, she felt no one else other than the seven vampires in the home behind her.
"Is Renee in Florida ?" Her voice was tense , Matthew knew this side of Bella too well, it's the same type of tone she used with investors or business partners that thought she was nothing but a kid with too much money.
"Yes she is" he paused "why?"
Running her hand through her hair, she answered her friend "I need you too put the Hale family on her protection detail immediately, they are to fly out to Florida within the hour —arrange a private jet, all expenses paid, explain to them to watch out for either a red eyed blonde male or a red eyed red head."
Matthew scribbled down the notes, opening up his laptop he was already getting into contact with an airline.
"Business account or personal" he questioned
"Personal" she echoed, she heard footsteps behind her, she didn't need to look—she knew from the scent alone it was Rosalie.
"Tell Derek to be discreet—his lack of tact leaves room for improvement" she added as an afterthought.
"Of course, anything else Miss Swan?" He questioned in his business voice, she bit her cheek to stop a retort —knowing that he only spoke to her in that tone when they kept themselves detached in case anyone else was listening.
"Yes, if they come into contact with one or the other or both their orders are to eliminate the threat immediately, I don't want any fuck ups"
"Of course Miss Swan, I'll relay your orders"
Bella nodded "Thank you Matthew, have a good day" she said ending the call. She pushed her phone back into her pocket.
"What was that call about" Bella turned to face the light footed vampire, she narrowed her eyes as if to say ' like you didn't hear'
"You heard the entire call Rosalie, why are you still bothering to ask?"
"Because it's polite." She answered shortly before continuing.
"It sounded like you were talking to someone who knows the existence of vampires as well, someone who will now relay that information to whoever this Hale family is, what exactly are they planning to do? Shoot at a vampire with bullets? You should know that it won't work."
"I never said anything about bullets , they've got their orders should they encounter James or Victoria they'll know what to do" she said vaguely.
Rosalie's face contorted in anger, her tone took a sharp turn ,when she spoke it was low filled with anger "How many more secrets will you keep Isabella ? How many more times will you lie to my face"
Bella knew Rosalie was angry and it looked like her blatant disregard for her safety only added to her anger—she didn't know whether Rosalie simply forgot that she could take care of herself or that she's simply choosing to ignore that.
"Secrets" she scoffed "how am I lying to you right now when you heard the phone call Rosalie ? ... let's talk about the fact that in there" she pointed to the home " you were trying to take my choice away, trying to make me follow whatever you decide because it's supposedly best for me without even attempting to ask what I think? Is that what you think being a mate is? To be controlled even after I told you what happened before? — how dare you!?" She fought the tears in her eyes at the memory of being pushed and pulled in every direction like a puppet. Her mother, Tommy James, then Edward and now apparently Rosalie too.
Each of them stole her freedom of choice away one way or the other—her mother when she was younger pulling her along just to spite her father —then only to treat her like a piece of dirt.
Tommy who took away her innocence , it might've not been physically —but emotionally he managed to strip away any feelings she had of self worth.
James made her feel weak—pliable —a puppet on a flimsy string —he abused her both physically and mentally.
Then Edward he stole the last away from her—cut her off from people she cared about—he pushed her away from everything she knew—bringing her into his world only to discard her like a used toy when he no longer had the need for her.
And now Rosalie was trying to do the same thing whether she knew it or not— it hurt —it truly did, her heart ached that something so simple was taken away without her permission.
She furiously wiped at the tears running down her cheeks, her eyes flickering between blue and brown.
"I might be keeping secrets Rosalie but I know the reason I'm keeping them, is the only reason things haven't gone to shit already, but the difference is if I could ? I would tell you but right now there would be too many unknown consequences if I did." She opened her car door.
"Once you decide to take your head out your ass and stop acting like you own me then we can talk." She finished slamming the door starting the car , she pushed her foot down leaving the Cullens home quickly.
A/N alright third chapter for the day I think I can call it quits. A bit of angst , a more emotional Bella because you know Rose is kinda being like a eddy.
I'm loving it hopefully y'all continue to enjoy this story, I'm having fun with it.
Goodnight and God/Rao/Allah or whoever bless.