I Do Not Own Twilight

Aro had been looking forward to talking to Bella today. He was excited to hear about her move and first day of school. He was glad it was a scheduled English day today. She could speak so much faster in English than in Italian. However, once Bella's face appeared on his screen, he knew her day hadn't been quite so wonderful. "What happened, Cara mia?"

Bella sighed and wiped the tears off her cheeks. "Really it wasn't so bad. This is a really small town and the last time someone moved into the junior class everyone was in fourth grade. They were just really excited." She sniffed and wiped her tears away again. "It was just overwhelming. Then people started trying to write articles for the paper and takin' my picture." She leaned back in her seat, "Two guys started trying to fight for my attention and one guys even kissed my cheek and ran off." She started crying harder, "I've never had any boy kiss me in anyway. I certainly didn't want some random guy pecking me on the cheek. I know it was in fun but it felt invasive."

Aro's eyes darkened and his fists clenched. He was livid. He wondered how selfish young boys these days were. He remembered when it was too forward to introduce oneself to a lady without some sort of introduction let alone kissing a perfect stranger. Aro was Italian and kissing a cheek was a greeting between friends here and he would never kiss a stranger. He was thankful he was on the other side of the world or he was sure he would be feasting on teenaged boys today.

Bella continued to sob quietly, "But that wasn't even the worst part." She took a deep breath, "So I went to Biology. I walk into the classroom, speak with the teacher, and get assigned my seat next to this guy, Edward," she spat out his name. "I look over at him and smile, trying to be friendly," she waved her hands around wildly, "and he literally took a deep breath, covered his nose, like I smelled bad, scooted as far away from me as he could, and then tried not to breath." She took a shaky breath, "He looked at me like I was disgusting. I have never seen so much hate in someone's eyes. I don't know what I could have possibly done to offend him so much. So…" new tears began spilling down her cheeks, "I went to the office after school like I was supposed to and he was trying to get his schedule rearranged so he didn't have to take biology."

Aro was speechless. He had never heard of someone being so rude especially to such a sweet, beautiful girl who was sitting before him. He wanted to comfort her because she was getting hysterical but he was at a loss for what to do.

"To make matters worse he was like the best-looking guy I have ever seen. Like a model or something." Aro's heart plummeted. He didn't like the idea of her thinking some child was the best-looking anything. However, before he could get too upset her heard her mutter under her breath too low for a human to hear, "Except, of course for you. You are way better looking." Aro straightened his shoulders and adjusted his tie a slight smirk appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Cara mia, I have no idea what this young man, this Edward," he said the name as if it tasted bad in his mouth, "is thinking. He obviously is a boy of poor upbringing and isn't worth one second of your time. With that being said I know you are feeling insecure." He lowered his voice to a caressing whisper, "Please know I think you are brillante, tipo, sfarzoso and that is why you are getting the attention from all of these heathens. You are too good for them, you know."

Bella smiled slightly, "Sfarzoso, what does that mean, please?"

Aro shook his head and cocked an eyebrow, "No, Cara Mia, it means gorgeous, magnificent, splendid," he breathed.

Blushing Bella smirked and rolled her eyes, "Italians!" Aro laughed, "To make matters worse everyone called me Isabella," as she said this, she sat up straight, and put her nose in the air as if she was a snob.

"Is your name really Isabella? Cara mia, why on earth do you just go by Bella? Bella is cute for a little girl but Isabella is a woman's name."

This time her crimson blush went as far as Aro could see. He chuckled, "Don't be embarrassed by my flirting Isabella it is what we Italians are known for after all. Although, I do think your full name is lovely and think you should use it regularly."

"Well, if you think that I will consider letting you use it but you're the only one who gets that privilege and only because you're Italian." She shook her head wondering how Aro had managed to turn her from feeling ugly, smelly, and unlovable to feeling like a beautiful confident woman who any boy should want to date.

From there she told him about her house and how Charlie had fixed her room up. She lifted the webcam up and held it out the window so she could show him the new to her truck Charlie had bought her. She told him about the cold wet weather that permeated this part of the country. She even told him about meeting some of her father's old friends from the reservation.

From his perspective Aro was thankful he had cheered her up and he could see her confidence come back from her devastatingly bad day. Although during all this Aro still had one major concern.

"Isabella," she blushed when he said her name, "has anyone taught you how to slap or punch?"

She laughed, "No why would they have? Why would I need to know?"

"You had a person touch you in an unwanted way. Perhaps you don't feel like you should have done something but I would like to know that you could retaliate if you needed to."

Aro then spent thirty minutes showing her how to throw a punch and slap someone. He told her if she knew what she was doing it wouldn't matter how hard she hit what would matter was the placement. He showed her where on a persons face to punch or slap them just in case she needed to know.

Just as they were finishing up Bella realized she needed to fix dinner before Charlie came home. She couldn't believe they had been talking for over two hours. Before she met Aro she didn't know someone could talk to a person online for so long twice a week and never get bored. Now she could spend all day chatting with him.

When they finally said goodbye and logged out Bella went downstairs to fix dinner. She thought about school and realized she wasn't upset anymore. She realized speaking with Aro had not only calmed her down it made everything else seem unimportant. What did it matter if some boy, she smiled when she thought of the disgusted tone Aro said boy, thought she smelled and didn't want her as a lab partner?

She was smiling to herself, listening to music when Charlie came in the house. "Hey, Bells! Good day at school?"

"Not really Charlie," she grinned.

He raised his eyebrows at his daughter, "Well it seems like you're in a good mood anyway."

"I'm magnifico, Dad!" She sighed.

"What has you," he wrinkled his forehead, "magnifico?" He mocked his eyes twinkling.

"You know I signed up with a group to keep practicing my language skills, right?" She continued after Charlie nodded, "Well I told Aro all about my day and my problems and he just has a way of making me feel like they aren't that bad. He really listens to what I have to say and he builds my confidence."

Charlie frowned, "Bella are you being safe online? You don't give out your name, do you?"

Bella huffed, "I only gave out my first name and he is in Italy anyway. I have no plans to ever meet with him or anything like that. He just is nice to talk to. It is nice to have one friend who got to come with me in the move." She turned and beamed at Charlie.

Charlie grunted in acknowledgement of her words but he knew as soon as he walked in, she was smitten with someone. He was pretty sure Bella wasn't aware she had a crush on her Italian friend. Charlie had seen the look on her face and he knew she was falling for this mystery person.

I had accidentally posted chapter 8 twice. I have corrected the mistake. Thanks for the catch MademoiselleFF!