Bella's anger with Edward was admirable. He never liked being opposed in an argument and Bella was managing to hold her own in the battle of wills, a fact that infuriated him almost as much as he hated the kinship Bella had begun to show me. Before our family's departure Bella had been unsure of how to approach Jasper and I, something we didn't seek to remedy at first due to the chance Edward's instincts could prove to be too much and then later because Edward and Bella had spent most of their time away from the family. Now, since Bella's vote, she felt that I was an ally in her campaign to join the world of vampires.
It infuriated Edward that she would seek me out to answer the questions that he refused to answer for her, a fact I took great pleasure in. He didn't see the need for her to be informed about what she was getting into because he was intent on pushing off her transformation for as long as he could. He also despised my backing of her resistance to getting married. I felt it wrong that Edward would put such a condition on loving her forever when he was aware of her reservations of the practice. He had argued that I only agreed with her due to my aversion for human practices but that was far from the truth, I did not see the need to make my love for Jasper material. A piece of paper and metal bands would never be enough to represent our feelings for each other and I wouldn't pretend as such, even for appearances. Edward's need to coerce her into marriage had sparked the first of many arguments between the two of us since the night of the vote. His actions reminiscent of the by-gone era I had been born into and hated with a passion. I blamed it on the time in which Edward was born, it had shaped him to believe that love could be bought and shown in a materialistic manner, a time still much like the world I had lived in where woman were to be seen and not heard, mere possessions instead equals. I was often overjoyed to see Bella refusing to conform to the mold.
I was well aware that the family wished I would keep my opinions to myself if only to save peace till the time Bella could be changed, but I didn't see the point given that Edward could read my thoughts and I refused to let someone else have a say over what I could and could not think. At least if I spoke my thoughts the family knew what was causing Edward's tantrum instead of partaking in one of his one sided conversations. Bella had been startled when she'd been witness to one of these arguments, she had been unaware of how vicious Edward could be when he wanted someone to conform to his way of thinking, had even tried to defend me which had sent Edward racing from the house in a rage.
Bella had stared after Edward for a moment before looking to me and my smug smile in bewilderment before looking to Jasper where he had stood nearby, close enough to protect me should the need arise but far enough away that he wasn't pulled into the argument. Her eyes moved back to me as she seemed to struggle in thinking of what to say.
"How are you so calm? How can you smile?" She stuttered and I chuckled as I pulled the girl gently to the couch to take a seat.
"Edward and I have been siblings for almost 60 years, Bella. We've had many an argument in those years and I've learned nothing angers him more than arguing with someone he is unable to frustrate to the degree he is becoming frustrated. Our arguments are often opinion based and to me his opinion doesn't matter, yet my opinion matters to him and he wants to change it. It's what makes it so easy to remain calm while he grows more and more agitated before he can't handle it anymore and leaves. Each time he leaves it's like admitting defeat. I may not win the war of changing how he thinks, but I win the battle by not backing down and not allowing him to change my opinion."
"That's why you smile?" She asked and I nodded.
"I smile because I won and the self-gratification it gives me to stand my ground. When I was human, I was not allowed to have an opinion, I was forced to conform to what others wanted or starve. I refuse to return to anything that resembles my human life, I refuse to conform when not conforming brings no harm to myself or others. There's nothing wrong with being strong willed and don't let anyone tell you differently." I explained sternly and Bella nodded.
"I still don't understand how you could just stand there and let him yell at you, you looked fearless." She said and I smiled again as I let my eyes wander to Jasper who had resettled into a chair with one of his books.
"It's easy to be fearless when you have a safety net." I said and Bella followed my eyes to look at Jasper. She looked back at me questioningly.
"Jasper doesn't like Edward's and my arguing any more than you or the rest of the family do, but he understands why I need to do it. Edward and I could yell at each other till hell freezes over, but I believe Edward is too well disciplined in his gentlemanly behavior to ever strike out against me, but I know that should he ever make the smallest move to do so that he wouldn't be able to hurt me. Both because I can defend myself and because Jasper wouldn't let him."
Bella wasn't happy about it but now she understood my reasons. I could very much see Bella being an ally once she was changed. She seemed to have grown into herself with Edward's absence, a change that very much needed to happen. She had been far too meek before our departure, too willing to do anything to keep Edward happy while setting her own happiness aside. Granted she was still mild mannered but she put up far more of a fight now then I had come to expect from her and I liked the potential, a potential that I think Edward was going to see beautifully when Bella learned about Edward's latest deception.
Bella hadn't been told of Alice's latest vision of Victoria, instead Edward arranged that Bella and he would go to visit her mother in Florida. The attempted ambush had been a disaster, Victoria seemed to be well aware of the boundary line between Forks and La Push and used it to pit us against the wolves to aid in her escape. Jasper was by far the most displeased with the outcome and the knowledge that we had gained from the encounter. There was definitely more to Victoria then was apparent at first, she seemed to have a talent of her own, the gift of self-perseveration that manifested itself in her ability to evade her opponent. This new information made it abundantly clear that we were going to have to be much more strategic in pinning her down, the task now seeming like it was going to be much harder than first expected.
I wasn't the least bit surprised when Bella and Edward came to the house after school their first day back from Florida and Bella called out my name as they came through the door. I had actually been expecting a phone call if I was being honest. Bella may have been under the impression that I wouldn't talk to her using a telephone though, she had been well informed on my dislike of human technologies and many other human things. Jasper chuckled as I stood from the sofa.
"It's almost like a child calling for their mother." Jasper chortled, earning a smack to his chest for his troubles though it only made him laugh harder. I rolled my eyes and made my way quickly down the stairs.
"Hello, Bella." I greeted patiently though she returned it with a scowl. I raised a brow and she seemed to think twice about her attitude.
"Can I speak to you, alone?" I smirked as Edward rolled his eyes and departed from the room. I nodded my head and led Bella to the garage. Esme had had the walls sound proofed to aid in dulling the sound of many of Rosalie's tools that otherwise were unbearably loud.
"If you keep your voice down in here, the others would have to strain to hear us." I explained and Bella nodded before taking a seat on the stool next to the work bench.
"Is this about your trip to visit your mother?" I inquired. Bella nodded before her eyes narrowed and she looked to me suspiciously.
"Unless there's something else that was kept from me?" Bella replied and I smiled.
"To my knowledge you've been caught up on our latest adventures." I said bemusedly as I took a seat on the other stool.
"I just don't understand why he'd treating me like I'm so delicate. I mean I know I'm breakable, physically weak, but he went behind my back to make these arrangements to get me out of the state. He treats me like I can't handle even knowing about what you guys are doing." Bella said in frustration as she laced her fingers into her hair and gave a small tug before her eyes met mine again before looking away.
"And I'm a little hurt that you didn't tell me." I was amused by her half-hearted guilt trip.
"Bella, Edward and Alice may have you thinking otherwise, but vampires are not omniscient creatures. We do not hear, see or smell everything that happens around us, therefore we do not know everything. Despite my recent presence in ongoing events, I do not normally partake in most of the family's daily activities. I prefer my solitude or spending my time in companionable silence. It makes it rather easy for others to keep things from me. I was not aware of Victoria's impending rondeaux through Forks till you and Edward were well on your way to Florida." I informed and Bella looked surprised.
"The family hid this from you too?" She asked in disbelief and I shook my head.
"No, they didn't so much 'hide' what was happening as wait for a more opportune time to inform me." I assured though Bella didn't seem to know the difference.
"Was it because they thought you would tell me?" She asked and I sighed. Edward seemed to be nurturing Bella's sense of greater importance.
"I don't believe so." I said evenly but this seemed to unnerve Bella.
"You wouldn't have told me, if you'd known?" She asked and I rolled my eyes.
"Bella despite my agreeance with you on the urgency of your transformation and your stance on marriage, I do not feel the need to be overly involved in your relationship with Edward. The issues within your relationship are for you to work out with Edward, no else can or should be involved, given they are not a partner within said relationship. If it was not for the dangers of you staying human and Edward's back-handedness in asking for your hand, I would have remained uninvolved and you would have to stand alone in your opinion and desires against him." I saw the dawning realization on Bella's face that I was not the ally she thought me to be.
"Oh." She said and a blush came to her cheeks.
"Bella." I said, bringing her attention back to me.
"You and Edward need to learn the boundaries of your relationship, you two need to learn when you can and when you can't push each other, there are times to fight and times to cave, it takes time and the both of you to work that out. If the rest of us intervened and picked sides every time the two of you didn't see eye to eye on something, you'd both become more and more frustrated and you'd never grow into your relationship. I'm not going to fight the battles you are more than capable of fighting for yourself Bella. Instead of fighting for you, I'm giving you the perfect opportunity to define one of those boundaries in your relationship. Use this, talk to Edward, make him understand that his actions hurt you, but you also need to see his side even if you don't agree with it." I explained and Bella no longer seemed so moody.
"Thank you, Abilene." She said softly and I nodded before walking back into the house. When I opened the door, Edward was already standing on the other side and I scowled.
"Thank you, Abi." He whispered and I could see in his eyes that he meant it.
"Despite my words to her, you still know my feelings on what you did. Be thankful the situation is what it is. If the two of you were the same species, something like this would have found you and Bella taking separate paths in life." I hissed lowly before quickly making my way back upstairs and rejoining Jasper in our room.
