Chapter 8
Bella's POV
I stared at Elijah as he stood on my front porch. I raised an eyebrow at him when he didn't answer.
"Are you gonna answer my question or not?" I asked sighing.
"I compelled the mailman into telling me where you lived. As for why I am here, I'm delivering another package from your human puppy, Aaron." He said motioning to a box on the porch. I rolled my eyes.
"You didn't have to deliver it. I would've gotten it after he mentioned something about it at the party." I said shrugging.
"Is Jackson going?" He asked.
"He is. He doesn't want Aaron's hands on me at any point in time at the party." I said. He leaned against the doorframe.
"Can't say I blame him." He said looking in. His face cringed.
"Not use to something being so light and open are you Elijah? The Mikaelson and Danvers homes and your place are all dull, dark, and not bright. Jackson and I wanted different." I said smirking.
"Must you be crude?" He asked sighing. I shrugged.
"If that's all you needed, I have dinner to start." I said putting my hand on the door.
"I have a few books of yours from my study at the compound, in my apartment. Come get them." He said.
"You have my address now. I'm sure you can mail them to me or send one of Marcels pets with them." I said crossing my arms.
"Afraid to be alone with me, Isabella?" He asked smirking.
"Yes I am. Being alone with you might lead to your death. And as much as I don't like Hayley, I don't want her around trying to get my boyfriend if you were to die." I told him.
"Boyfriend?" He asked.
"Yes, Elijah. We've put a label on what we are. Something you and I never did. Now if you will, please leave so I can finish dinner." I said motioning him away. He started messing with his over jacket.
"Fine. Whatever. Stay on the porch all night. I don't care. Just don't start with Jackson when he gets here huh?" I said sighing. I went to shut the door but his foot stopped it from shutting.
"Don't you want your package?" He asked nodding to it. I looked at it and grabbed a marker from the side table. I tossed it to him.
"Write return to sender on it for me. I'm perfectly happy with who I have and what I have. I don't need anything he gives me." I said smirking. I shut the door and went back to the kitchen. I heard knocking on the side door. I huffed and saw Elijah. I ignored him but he continued to knock for the next hour. I opened the door and went back to the counter.
"What do you want Elijah?" I asked him. I heard the package slide across the floor.
"It's about to rain and I didn't want that wet. I hate for such a gift to get ruined." He said. I looked at him then the box.
"You opened it?" I asked.
"I had to make sure it wasn't something dangerous." He said shrugging. I scoffed and shook my head. I went to the box and pushed it aside with my foot. I turned to the door.
"Like you care for my safety, honey. Aaron is nothing but a harmless fly that annoys everyone. You know that. Now leave." I told him.
"I do care, Isabella." He growled. I shivered. My body loved it when he growled for some reason. Maybe it was because he was so hot when he's angry. His eyes turned hungrily then he smirked.
"Seems like I can still have an affect on you." He said leaning against the door.
"Oh don't go getting a big ego, Elijah. I like it when someone growls. Jackson growls is sexy too. Klaus growling is as well. I'm attracted to growling. Not just yours." I scoffed. He hummed.
"Baby!" I heard. I turned around and smiled when Jackson came through the door. I walked over and threw my arms around his neck.
"Hi." I said kissing him. He sighed and kissed me back.
"Hmm. Hi." He said when he pulled away. He looked at the side door and sighed. I looked and Elijah still stood there.
"Elijah." He said annoyed.
"Jackson." He acknowledged.
"You can try to get rid of him. I've been trying for the last two and a half hours." I told Jackson. He nodded.
"Why are you here?" He asked Elijah.
"I delivered a package from her human puppy, Aaron. Then she and I started chatting." He answered. I hummed and went back to the stove.
"Now it's time for you to leave so we can enjoy our dinner." I told him.
"Fine. I'll see you two at the Ball this Friday." He answered. Then he was gone. I looked at Jackson as he shut the door.
"How did he find our house?" He asked walking over to me.
"Compelled the mailman. I promise you, I didn't invite him." I told him. He nodded and rubbed my back.
"I know you didn't. You gonna show me?" He said. I put my hand on his cheek. I let him see the full conversation.
"How does he not know that you like growling?" He scoffed. I laughed and shrugged. We ate dinner and cleaned up. We watched tv and sat around for awhile. We headed to bed later on.
"I need to talk to your brothers when they get here." He told me.
"Why?" I asked playing with his fingers.
"I have things to talk to him about. Things you don't need to worry about. Such as what to get you for your birthday, our anniversary. Important things." He said kissing my head. I sat up and turned to him.
"Jackson, you've given me more than enough. Happiness, love, brightness in the dark, you my love are the greatest gift ever." I said touching his cheeks.
"But you're still my girl. I need to get you something for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, stuff like that." He said grabbing my hands.
"I don't need it. All I need is you, Jackson Kenner." I said smiling. He smiled and kissed me. I squealed and laughed when he flipped us over quickly. The next couple of days went by quickly without Elijah butting in. The guys arrived Thursday night. Caleb said mother was staying at Ariel's instead of a hotel. I wasn't surprised. Jackson talked with Caleb that night in private and Caleb came out smiling, now I was suspicious. Friday night came quickly. Jackson came home, showered, and got dressed.
"I look like a penguin." He said as he fixed his bow tie.
"You do not. Just think, we can sneak away after a couple of hours and come home." I said walking over to him.
"Be prepared. Just be prepared for when we get home." He told me. I smiled and kissed him quickly.
"Already done, baby." I said winking. He grumbled and looked at his self in the mirror again.
"How many times a year did Caleb and them have to wear one of these?" He asked huffing. I hummed and thought about it.
"Give or take 7 times. Banquets, balls, extravagant birthday parties, parties for our uncles or dads firms. All depended on how fancy they wanted it." I said shrugging.
"And I'm complaining about one night." He scoffed. I laughed.
"Just think, it comes off quicker when we get home." I said winking at him. I kissed him again then walked away. I walked downstairs and saw Caleb fighting with his bow tie. I slapped his hands away and set it right.
"Why did we agree to this?" He asked sighing.
"We didn't. Our mother agreed for all of us." I reminded him. He nodded and groaned at the bow tie.
"You know, I use to like going to these parties, now I hate them. Mainly cause we're to old to be going to these things." He said huffing.
"But we always dip out early after a couple of hours. We said our hellos and make ourselves seen then we leave." I said shrugging.
"Is that what you and Jackson plan on doing? Dipping out early?" He asked smirking.
"Well of course. I can't have my boyfriend mangled in all that. I told him he didn't have to go but he insisted because of Aaron and partly Elijah." I said laughing.
"I'm glad you're happy Bells. He really does love you. And he's part human." He said hugging me. I laughed again and hugged him back.
"He's the best. He really is." I said smiling. Everyone came down and we headed to the limo. I introduced Jackson to the elders and everyone else at the party. Jackson and I danced for awhile.
"Ready to go home?" I asked Jackson.
"Your brother has to make a speech then we can go." He said smirking. I groaned making him laugh. Glasses clinked all around. We walked to the stairs where my brother stood at the middle of the stairs.
"Isabella. Jackson." I heard beside us. I looked and saw Elijah beside Jackson.
"Evening, Elijah. Enjoying the party?" I asked him.
"Immensely." He said sighing. Jackson squeezed my hip.
"Everyone, thank you all for coming. You all know me, Caleb Danvers. Tonight, Ms. Ariel Abbott hosts this wonderful ball in honor of her late husband, Timothy, who we all knew, gave a speech at his birthday parties. She has asked me to make the speech. Tonight we celebrate him, with his honor, courage, the laugh that could be heard two towns over, the jokes we all heard for months on repeat. But he was still a good man, a wonderful husband, and a family man. And speaking of families, my sister's boyfriend, Jackson Kenner, would like to say a few words to her tonight. Jackson." He said motioning to the microphone. I looked at Jackson with confusion. He smiled and grabbed my hand. He pulled me to the stairs with him. Caleb handed him the mic and stood behind me. Jackson swallowed then cleared his throat. He turned to me.
"Evening everyone. I'm Jackson Kenner, Bella or Isabella's boyfriend. She and I have been together a few months now, but we've known each other for 3 years. I didn't realize until a month ago, that I wanted her to be with me for the rest of my life. She keeps me leveled. Her smile makes me smile. I love her, with all my heart and soul. So, tonight, I want to ask her, in front of her family and friends, if she'll be my forever. Bella Danvers, will you do the honor of marrying me? Make me the even more happiest man alive?" He said getting down on one knee. Caleb handed him a ring box. I felt the tears run down my face. I didn't let him open the box before I answered.
"Yes! Of course! Yes." I said happily. He stood up and kissed me. Everyone started clapping. He pulled back and opened the ring box. Inside was a three diamond ring with a gold band.
"It was Mary's. She gave it to me to give it to the girl that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And that's you Bella." He said smiling. He slid it on my finger.
"It's perfect. I love it and I love you." I said kissing him again. He hugged me to him. We pulled away and Caleb shook his hand then hugged me.
"You gave him permission." I said teasingly.
"Of course, I did. You're his problem now baby sis." He said laughing. I elbowed him then he hugged me tighter.
"I'm so proud of you baby girl." He whispered to me. I felt the tears well up again. I tightened my hold.
"Just remember when you go to give me away, you can't back out." I said laughing. He pulled away and wiped his tears.
"Don't worry. I won't. I'll throw you at him." He said laughing. Everyone started hugging us and congratulating us. The pictures were taken as well. I walked away from the women that held me talking hostage. I slid into the library, closed the door and sighed.
"Hiding?" I heard. I jumped and looked to see Elijah.
"I needed a moment to breath. What're you doing in here?" I said crossing my arms. He sipped the drink in his hand then turned to the window.
"Thinking." He answered. I didn't want to know what he was thinking about. It made me nervous.
"Well I'll leave you to your thoughts then." I said turning to the door. I opened it but his hand shot out and shut it back.
"Why did you say yes?" He asked in my ear. I turned around and looked up at him. He didn't move his arm away.
"Because I love Jackson, I'm happy with him. I want a life with him Elijah." I said.
"You loved me, you were happy with me. Would you have said yes if I had asked you?" He asked stepping closer. I stepped back but into the door.
"You're right. I did love you, I was happy with you. Maybe I would have if you hadn't chose Hayley over me, been faithful to me, several times. Maybe I would've said yes if you had asked me. But I'm happy now, I'm getting married to a wonderful man, who loves me, who hasn't chosen another girl over me on countless of times. Just accept it Elijah, please. I never asked you for anything. Except this. Please let us be happy?" I said tearing up again. He stared down at me. He brought his hand to my cheek and wiped a stray tear. I sighed and leaned into his palm.
"If it is to make you happy. I will love you until the end of my life, Isabella. I can promise you that." He told me. Another tear escaped as he kissed my head. Then he was gone. I sighed and leaned against the door for support. I took a moment to breath then I walked out. I hugged my fiancé tightly, we went home after, and celebrated the rest of the night.