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Into the Woods
By: Everleigh Allen
Chapter 44
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"So, do you want to tell me where you've been for the past two nights?"
Bella gasped and stood there staring wide eyed at her father as he sat on his favorite recliner, beer in hand and his phone in the other.
He seemed to be looking at a text.
"I would have thought Alice told you," Bella sighed dramatically, shutting the front door behind her.
"So are we're going to do this the easy way or the hard way, huh?"
"If that's what you would prefer, Daddy." Bella smirked.
Charlie turned his head to glare at his daughter.
"So how about the way where you give me a bullshit story of why you went missing, without a phone call or anything, while I sit and worry; send my guys out to patrol the streets and hangouts looking for you. Finally, so upset and frustrated that I have to call Alice- where she tells me she," Charlie mimics in a high pitch Alice voice, "thought you said that they were going all going camping- which you didn't-"
"Look- I am sorry; I really wasn't meaning to be gone at all! It was a last minute camping trip-"
Charlie interrupted, "And yet you say all that and walk in all happy. You smile, and say you went camping in the woods leaving out the part where you were with your boyfriend- alone- in a tent- and I, in turn, ignore all the bullshit all the blatant parental warning signs of all of it and go back to my beer and game while you make dinner?"
"Um, yes?"
Charlie sighed and was quiet for several moments before he said, "Bella, you haven't come home for two days. I've been worried sick! Now, you're not wearing your own clothes, you didn't make up an overnight bag, and you were definitely not at the Cullen residence … and you don't camp so there's also that..."
"Dad-"
"I don't want to be that parent, Bella, but if I have to be… I will."
Bella sighed and sat down.
"You're grounded."
"What?" Bella screeched.
Charlie nodded. "It's in the parental handbook for things like this when the child lies and defies. And since I can't seem to get a hold of your mother-"
"What if I say I was with mom?"
"Were you?"
Bella bit her lip, but didn't answer.
"Grounded… and I want to know where you were and who you were with before there are any other actions or punishment given, before I decide on this relationship thing you have going on-"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Bella huffed and sat down on the couch. She rubbed at her temples, completely frustrated.
"Try."
"Well, because you asked for it, I will." Bella huffed, and proceeded to tell her father all about going on, with the woods. She spoke about Renee and how she put an enchantment on the woods creating an "otherworld" and released fairies that she brought back from Ireland and into the woods.
After what happened with Edward at the river, she put a protection spell afoot, and went on her merry way to Biloxi, trying to hide from Edward and inadvertently meeting another vampire, a tracker named James.
She spoke about then Renee moving around to sunny places so the vampires were less likely to find them again, but finally came back due to the spell she made for the Summer Solstice where Bella was to be officially protected by the fairies.
But then she spoke about the altercation with Jake and Edward in the woods and how the Banshee, the fairy woman, appeared and took her away from perceived harm. She spoke about the fairies and how they bit her, a lot, causing her to faint and when she woke up in the morning, she did so with wings.
Bella then stood up and turned around, lifting the back of her shirt, and showed him her tattoo- like imprint of wings. Charlie bravely reached out and touched one, with a slight shudder, but gasped and sat back when she released the wings and they flared out, adding the last bit of truth to her stories.
She lowered her wings and they shrunk until they were just a third of their size and fused back to her back.
Charlie was gob smacked.
Bella sat down and then told him about how Renee was changed into a vampire after being in a coma and when she awoke she was thirsty, wanting blood. Since Bella was the only human around, her mom tried to eat her. Bella told Charlie about the vampire guard, Demetri, who changed her and the way they feel mating connections. Then she said that Demetri took Renee to Canada where there weren't so many people to have to eat.
Charlie's head was spinning especially when she said they would need him to file a missing person report about his ex-wife.
But then she got to Jake.
Charlie bobbed his mouth open and shut in shock as Bella prattled along about his violent behaviors and how Jake was there with the other wolves and that Jake was going to go around Edward to try to attack her. He luckily didn't. Charlie then learned all about the vampire, Victoria, and that she was the decapitated vampire Jake saved. Victoria bit Jake and probably took him- but if she did, Bella doesn't know where.
The wolves think he's dead and killed by the Wraiths.
Charlie was about to question what were Wraiths, but let it go.
Bella went on to say that they would probably need to file a report about Jake, too, and maybe a death certificate for both since they both most likely will never come back… and Carlisle could help with that.
She took a deep inhale of breath and let it out slowly. "So that's the jist of it… I could elaborate on details but I figured you'd just like a synopsis."
"Uh, well, to be honest, I think I'd prefer to think you were off camping while Renee ran off with a lover, then in an act of rebellion you got a tattoo, and Jake went missing all on his own."
Bella vehemently nodded her head, "I think that is a good plan."
"I think I need to go lay down." Charlie stood up on shaking legs.
"I think that's a great idea." Bella sighed; glad that it was over with and said, "I'll go make dinner."
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"Think happy thoughts, Bella!" Alice screamed from the meadow floor.
"That's in Peter Pan so unless you're about to pinch out some pixie dust, shut it!" Bella screamed back.
Alice and Edward had come up with a plan which consisted of pushing Bella from the proverbial nest and seeing if she'll fly or fall. But it wasn't well thought out. Alice couldn't see if Bella would be okay or not since Bella disappeared from Alice's visions the minute her wings flared out.
"All it takes is a little faith and trust-"
Bella growled in frustration, "Yes, yes, and pixie dust! Which I don't actually have!"
"But you're a pixie right? Shake a tail feather or something!"
"I hate you. I do." Bella sneered, holding tight to the branch. "And as soon as I get down, I'm going to get a can of hairspray and a lighter and-"
"What was that?" Alice grinned maniacally.
"So violent." Edward smirked adoringly.
"UGH! I was just saying that this isn't the most well thought out plan as I am in a TREE… about to jump!" Bella sneered.
Edward laughed. "You know we have excellent hearing Bella; she heard every word."
"Good." Bella huffed looking down at Alice and glaring at her.
"I don't get you're big issue in all this. If you die from your fall, Edward will just change you," Alice shrugged as if that was no big deal.
Bella hissed and grabbed the next tree branch tightly.
Edward, who was also up in the tree, gave a deep exasperated sigh as he looked at his mate. "Perhaps she can call out to the fairies and they could teach her how to fly."
Alice gasped, "Um, no! Remember the Banshee and what she did to Victoria? I like my head on straight, thank you very much!"
With that, and without warning, Alice clawed up the tree and pushed off the trunk landing right on Bella and pushing Bella from the tree. Edward sucked in a breath at the quick movement but there wasn't enough time to read Alice's mind and save his mate from the fall.
Both Alice and Edward watched as Bella fell straight to the ground, screaming until she hit the forest floor.
Hard.
There was an immediate sound of a bones braking in Bella's leg and she screamed out in pain, clutched her ankle, careful not to move.
"Oh, hmm, that was not expected!" Alice said, cocking her head to the side. "I really did think she would at least flap her wings or something… I guess we should take her to Carlisle."
"Yeah, before something comes out of the woods and attacks us for hurting her." Edward said as he gently kneeled over his mate, looking at the way her leg lie crooked. "Bella, love, are you alright?"
Bella's lips curled as pain laced her face. "I've been pushed out of a tree, what do you think?"
Edward's mouth opened and closed, opened and closed, lost for words.
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"I heard she was like, climbing a tree and fell." The curly, frizzy haired girl snickered. "What are we, like… five?"
"From who, Jessica?"
Jessica snorted, "Lauren's mom is friends with one of the orderly's at the hospital where she was brought in. Dr. Cullen saw her."
Muffled laughter, "Who even climbs a tree, anymore? That's totally lame." The girl with long, straight blonde hair, Lauren, snickered.
"I know! It's like she thinks she's a spider monkey or something. She's seriously not that cute."
"You've seen her?" A girl in glasses, with long brown hair asked softly.
"Briefly, Angela." Jessica rolled her eyes dramatically as if it offended her that she even asked.
"Spider monkeys are totally cute, though. I want one." Angela smiled, bringing her binder close to her chest and wrapped her arms around it as if it was a shield.
"I know, right?" Jessica beamed.
"So?" Lauren scowled, narrowing her eyes on Jessica.
"What?"
Lauren and Angela shared a meaningful look. "Will you try again this year?"
Jessica gave a deep sigh, "I think maybe? I mean…Hello?" She then proceeded to gesture over her ample chest as if it proved her point.
"You're boobs are amazing." Angela added wistfully, thankful the binder blocked the fact that she had nothing compared to her friend.
"I know, right? How can he not notice?"
"Hmm."
"What about Mike?"
The curly haired girl hissed and glared at her friend, "What about him?" She gave off a look killed all talk about Mike. "I am like, the only doable choice."
Lauren turned her head and rolled her eyes while Angela bit closed her mouth to stifle a laugh.
All the sudden a small white car pulled up and parked next to the three girls.
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Bella Swan opened the door, glared at the silver car pulling up on the other side of the parking lot. She was still mad at both Edward and Alice, and the first day of school would be no different.
She got out of the car and placed her ear buds in and started her music, avidly avoiding the two girls openly gawking at her and as a slew of other students slowed their movements to look at her.
Bella frowned, her leg still sore in her boots, but at least she didn't need to come to school with it broken. She pushed lock on her key fob moved towards the gates of the school. She passed by the three Cullen's, Jasper, Alice, and Edward without a second look and went into the school office for her schedule.
"Bella Swan!" A woman beamed and stood up, clapping her hands together. "I've been wondering when you would be in!"
Bella looked at the woman, trying to figure out if she knew her when the door behind her opened sending a cold chill through the room.
Edward.
A shudder ran over her spine as she barely heard him move through the room.
"Good morning, Ms. Cope. I was hoping I could get an amendment to my schedule."
Bella watched the secretary blush as she fumbled through her papers.
"You can't ignore me forever, love."
Bella turned to her mate with eyes narrowed.
"Here's your schedule, dear." Ms. Cope smiled as she pulled out a paper from a file and handed it over to Bella. Then her attention was directed toward Edward.
Bella snuck out of the room, trying to read all the classes to figure out where she would go when someone was at her side.
"Hi," The blond guy said in an overly happy voice.
Bella turned and looked, seeing blond spiky hair and morning breath framed in an overly excited grin.
He instantly reminded her of Jake.
Gross.
"Hello," she sighed, looking behind her as Edward opened the office doors.
"You're new here."
Bella gave a half smile to be polite but didn't respond.
"I'm Mike," he beamed.
"Bella,"
"Bella," he seemed to sigh, "Would you like some help to your first class?"
All the sudden someone brushed by, pushing Mike on the shoulder causing him to falter his steps.
It was Edward.
"Uh, sure."
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"Come sit with us at lunch?" a sickly sweet but nasally voice asked, portraying a nicety but Bella knew better. Bella turned and saw the toothy grin of Jessica and she was flanked by Angela smiling softly off to Jessica's left and Lauren scowling at her right.
"Uh, sure, I guess."
Bella followed them through the cafeteria and got her food right along with them. She listened to Jessica spew all about the single Cullen.
"That's Jasper," Jessica hissed as she pointed toward Alice and Jasper, "And Alice, his sister slash girlfriend..." She snickered and the other two other girls giggled.
Bella frowned and looked toward the two Cullen's, barely seeing Alice wink before she skipped by.
"And that," Jessica sighed, "Is Edward Cullen."
Bella turned to look at Edward and she could smile, seeing him in this new light. Angels could have been singing when Edward walked through the door for the dramatic entrance. His quaff of hair shined in the florescent light creating a haloing effect.
Bella snorted out a laugh, causing the attention to fall onto her.
"Don't even bother with that guy, because some people are apparently not good enough for him," Jessica sneered. "Even in the new school year and whatever…"
"What happened?" Angela whispered.
"He says he's seeing someone," She scoffed, "As if."
"I wonder who," Angela looked at Edward, her head cocked to the side.
"Maybe Dr. Cullen adopted another kid," Lauren snickered.
"I wish he'd adopt me!" Angela giggled.
Jessica turned to Bella to explain, "Dr. and Mrs. Cullen adopt some kids and they are like, in a relationship with each other."
"Like incest," Lauren added with disgust.
"No," Angela admonished, "I think they were adopted more for like a tax write off or something and they were already together for a while… so-"
"But anyway, Edward was always alone and so this year..." Jessica grinned.
"She thinks he'll be hers." Lauren rolled her eyes.
Bella laughed and all eyes were suddenly on her.
She looked over at Edward and he was giving them a dark, brooding glare.
"He will be, he's just playing hard to get."
"You don't care that he has a girlfriend?" Bella asked, biting her lip.
"Pshaw!" Jessica sniggered.
Bella just shook her head.
She had had enough.
Standing up, Bella left her tray at the table as the whole cafeteria quieted and watched her as she walked right for the Cullen table.
Edward looked up and saw his mate and the small smile curving her lip.
Bella stood before him and his arms moved outward before she sat on his lap and his arms curled around her. She took his face in her hands and leaned forward kissing his mouth before she turned toward the vapid Jessica and winked.
Then she flipped them off.
Jessica and Lauren were like gaping fish as Angela smiled, eyes dancing.
"That was so much better in than my vision," Alice whispered in awe.
"I don't have time for petty bullshit." Bella said, moving away from Edward's kiss. "Serves her right for thinking she could have my man."
"Yeah, Edward here was barely able to lock it down. He hates Jessica something fierce."
"You would too, if you had to hear her thoughts and fantasies of what I do to her all day every day."
Bella shuddered.
"Please stop talking,"
"Let's go to class." Edward stood up as the bell rang.
Bella and Edward walked hand in hand through the door, only to be brushed by Jessica and Lauren as they passed her.
They made a disgusted noise from their throats and then turned to give a seething glare at the couple.
"Making friends fast, Bella, but frenemies faster," Alice sighed, walking up to the couple as Jasper moved through the hall, parting the students with his crazy stare.
"They weren't true friends, Alice, but Angela has potential."
"She is lovely, but the others? Not so much."
"I like my circle of friends as it is." Bella smiled, hugging Alice as she beamed at Bella's comment.
"We're going to have the best year, ever! I just know it!"
"Yeah, as long as we stay out of trees." Bella gave a hard stare at Alice.
"I've said I was sorry a lot of times! I agree that that was not my shiniest moment," Alice sighed, shaking her head. "I still can't believe you can't fly."
"Shh!" Bella looked around but no one seemed to be in earshot. "I'm vastly heavier than those fairies, so I bet that's why!"
"True." Alice sighed. "But I do also what will happen to the wings when you're changed into a vamp. I don't ever see you with the wings then."
"That's because you don't see me as a Fae,"
"That's very annoying."
Bella laughed as she waved Alice off and looked back at Edward and whispered, "That was kind of fun messing with the plastics."
Edward grabbed his hand, "Yeah, but they are gossiping and I am having trouble controlling my temper."
He opened the classroom door and allowed Bella to enter. They moved toward the back of the classroom and took their seats.
"What are they saying?" Bella asked quietly, watching everyone's entrance and then finally the teacher came in and shutting the door.
"That I am pity-fucking you, mostly. They don't get the appeal of our relationship as I am obviously supposed to be with her."
"Of course you are," Bella scoffed. "You best go hit that but wear a raincoat, I hear she got new boobs just for you-"
"Oh, please stop talking!" Edward snickered as Bella play swatted at him. "She's not even an option. There is only one for me, forever."
"Forever," Bella sighed. "As long as there's no more trees in that forever."
Edward shook his head as he chuckled. He laced his fingers with hers as the teacher walked into the room and demanded their attention.
Bella leaned toward Edward and whispered, "Don't think I didn't notice the schedule change and how you now have every class with me… and the puppy doesn't."
Edward could only smirk as the both turned forward to engage in the lesson.
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A/N: More soon… ;)