***DISCLAIMER***
I do not own any of these characters nor anything italicized. This is just a story I have been wanting to write for a while now so I hope you enjoy :)
Now, on with the story:
Bella's POV
Me and Edward were sitting on the living room couch on the gloomy day of my 18th birthday. We had just finished having a serious conversation when suddenly Edward sat up straight and let go of my right hand that he had been holding with his left.
"Charlie?", I asked.
Edward nodded slightly towards me. Sighing, I grabbed Edward's hand back as I thought about all the things I would say to my father if he showed any sort of disapproval. As I relaxed against the back of the couch, I heard Charlie's keys jangling in the lock on the door before it swung open.
"Bella?" Charlie calls from his place by the door.
"Yes?" I call back.
"Is Edward here too?
I roll my eyes and answer, "Yes, dad. Edward is here as well."
"Good, there is a box here with a note addressed to you and him".
"A box?" I question as Edward and I get up to grab the box from Charlie.
"Yes, here you go" my dad says while handing over the mysterious package.
I look over at Edward as I take the box from my dad only to see him looking as confused as I was. This was all the confirmation I needed in order to know that this wasn't his way of sneaking a birthday present to me without me finding out that it was from him.
Like my father said, there was a note sitting on top of the package addressed to Edward and I. The note read,
"Dear Edward and Bella,
Before you read any further, everyone I list must be in the same room all together. It is dire that you all are together before anything else in this letter is read. You need to gather Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Alice, Emmett, Rosalie, and Charlie. And, of course you will need yourselves."
Like magic, the rest of the note disappeared until everyone else the note specified to be here was together.
"Well, um" I stutter as I glance at Edward, "I guess we should probably head over to the Cullen's place now. The note says that everyone should be together when I read the rest of the letter and open this box, including you dad." I say as I turn to face Charlie.
"Me?" Charlie asks confused.
"Yes, you." I answer back.
"Well, okay. If you're sure that I need to be there, I guess I will follow you then."
"Okay." I say as Edward takes the package from me and starts walking towards my truck. I follow him out of the house to the passenger side because Edward was already sitting in the driver's seat. As Edward pulls onto the street and starts heading towards his house, Charlie finishes locking up and walks over to his cruiser before sliding in and following us.
When we arrive Alice is waiting by the door to let us in looking as confused as we were.
"Alice?" I ask confused because I hadn't ever seen her surprised before.
She shakes her head before answering, "I only saw that Charlie was following you here. I don't know why he's here nor can I see any of our future's for the next couple of days. All I know is that whatever happens in these next few days will change all of us. Whether that change will be good or bad is something that I can't discern right now."
I nod to Alice as I follow Edward up the stairs and into the living room where the rest of the family is seated. Me and Edward sit down on the Cullen's beautiful white couch while waiting for Alice and Charlie to come in. As Alice comes up the stairs with Charlie, I look down to see that the words had reappeared on the note. Alice goes to join Jasper on one of the love seats in the room, and Charlie comes to join me and Edward on the couch (with Edward stuck in between the two of us). Once everyone was seated and comfortable, Carlisle stood up and motioned towards Alice,
"Alice mentioned that we all had to be together for something. Although, she didn't say what for. Could you elaborate please?" looking towards Edward and I, and the box that was seated on the coffee table in front of us.
We nod as I explain what happened back at Charlie's house before continuing to read the letter except this time out loud,
"I know this may come as a surprise to you, but I had to make sure that these books reached you on your 18th birthday. There are four books in the package I sent and they are all about your past and future. The first book is called "Twilight" it is about the beginning of your relationship with Edward as well as what happened last spring. The next three books are called "New Moon", which is to be read after Twilight, "Eclipse", to be read after New Moon, and "Breaking Dawn", the last book to be read. For Breaking Dawn, you will need to include the Quileute wolves and elders as you will not be able to read that book without them. Please read these books without stopping for too long, and make sure to get through New Moon before moving forward with your party.
Happy reading,
SM"
"Well, I guess we should probably start reading." I say while looking at everyone after opening the box of books and pulling out the one labelled "Twilight". They all nod back as Carlisle and Charlie get up to call the hospital and police station respectively to call off of work for the next couple of days as well as the school to let them know that the kids won't be in for a few days. When Carlisle and Charlie are finished and sitting back down in the living room, I ask,
"Should we take turns reading? Or, should one person read?"
After discussing for a little bit, we decided that taking turns would probably be best.
"Okay, I'll start" I state as I flip the book over to read the prologue.
About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire.
"I'm sorry, what!?" Charlie exclaims
"Oops" I mutter as Charlie turns to stare at me. "Just listen dad, I'm sure these books will explain everything so I see no point in explaining now"
Second, there was a part of him — and I didn't know how potent that part might be — that thirsted for my blood.
Charlie starts to open his mouth but closes it when I turn to glare at him. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Edward starting to get excited as he realizes that he will finally get to hear my inner thoughts. Seeing this I blush and glare at him as well.
And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.
As I see Edward smile, I flip the book back over and turn to the first page.
PREFACE
I'd never given much thought to how I would die —
"I sure hope not! That isn't all that healthy dear" Esme tells me. I smile and continue reading,
though I'd had reason enough in the last few months — but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this.
I stared without breathing across the long room, into the dark eyes of the hunter, and he looked pleasantly back at me.
Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of someone else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something.
I knew that if I'd never gone to Forks, I wouldn't be facing death right now. But, terrified as I was, I couldn't bring myself to regret the decision. When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it's not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end.
The hunter smiled in a friendly way as he saunters forward to kill me.
I take a deep breath while mentally preparing myself for everyone to hear my most inner, personal thoughts, "Who wants to read next?" I ask.
"I will"