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BELLA
The next day, Emmett and Rosalie were already parked in the schools parking lot when I got there in my truck. Charlie and I had gotten up early from spending the night with the Cullens to go home. Charlie decided to take the morning off so he could go with Esme to pick out a door to replace the one that was broken by the wolves. Esme said she'd have it installed before we got home from work and school.
As soon as I stepped out of my truck, I was swarmed by people asking me questions. 'Did my dad arrest me?' 'Did I have to spend the night in jail?' 'Was it true my dad arrested Mrs. Newton because she attacked me at the hospital?' 'Was it true I made Mrs. Newton my prison bitch?'
I held my head down, and a bright red blush spread down my face. I still didn't like being the center of attention, and I also was not going to give these small-town freaks more ammunition to fuel their rumor mill. Suddenly, Rosalie was standing right in my face with a disapproving scowl. Scowl aside, she put her arm around my shoulders and bent down with her mouth right at my ear.
"Hold your fucking head up high and own what you did. Do you know how many of us wanted to do exactly what you did and didn't have the nerve, including me? Everyone thought I was some bad bitch ice queen, but I went running home like a scared little girl. Now, show them you are the baddest bitch." I looked up at her, and she gave me a wink. So, I did. I owned what I did. I smiled at Rosalie as I held my head up.
"ENOUGH!" Everyone's eyes went wide, and they shut the fuck up and just stared at me
"Don't you all see what you're doing? You're still spreading rumors. This is where this whole crap started in the first place. Why don't you all just mind your business and stop worrying about what other people did or didn't do." Everyone just kind of stood there with their mouths open like they were waiting to catch flies. The people parted like the Red Sea as Rosalie, and I made our way to the steps of the school. Once at the steps, we were met by Emmett's big grin and amazing dimples. He bent down and kissed me on my forehead, before holding out his arm for me to take. Rose let go of my shoulders as I grabbed his arm and she walked behind us as we entered the school.
"Umm, where are the others? Where's Edward, Alice, and Jasper?" I asked. I saw Rosalie and Emmett gave each other a look and seemed to have a silent conversation among themselves.
"They decided to spend some time in Alaska. Alice and Jasper will be back in a few days," Emmett finally said. I decided to let it go but noted that he only said Alice and Jasper, nothing about Edward. I knew they were keeping something from me, and I would get it out of them one way or another.
EMMETT
FLASHBACK
We were all coming back from the meeting with the wolves. Carlisle and Charlie were staying behind to speak more with the elders. Esme, as usual, stayed with her mate. We'd met Alice, Jasper, and Edward as they were coming from their hunt before going to the treaty line. So, all of us 'kids' were heading back to the house together.
Bella made it perfectly clear, she did not want to go to this meeting. Rosalie decided to stay behind, as none of us wanted to leave Bella unprotected. Bella complained of her hand hurting and was a little overly anxious over everything she'd learned today, so Carlisle gave Bella a pretty strong pain medication that would also help her sleep. Thank God, because she slept through the entire thing.
Edward scented the air about a half mile from the house. A feral snarl came from his lips before he tore off from the rest of us towards the house. I wasn't sure if he sensed trouble or what was going on until I heard the one word that sent my mind into overdrive. A feral roar came from me, and I ran with everything I had in me to catch the fucker.
"MINE!" Edward snarled, just before crashing through the glass wall in back of the house, leading from the woods.
My mind was reeling, NO! NO! NO! Edward was always the fastest of us so no one could catch him.
"JAZZY, you have to take him down! He's going to eat Bella!" Alice screeched. As soon as we finally made it to the house, we saw Edward collapsed on the stairs. But he hadn't stopped trying to get to Bella. His inner beast was still trying to climb the stairs. He was still growling and snarling, "Mine! My kill! My blood,"
"You've gotta be shittin' me! I sent him enough calm and lethargy to bring down a fuckin' horse," Jazz drawled as we ran in and saw Edward. Jasper had to hold me back, once again, like he did in gym class. I was going to rip Edward's head from his scrawny neck, spit in his skull before burning the fucker.
"Alice, Darlin', get the fucker out of here! I don't give a fuck where ya take him, just get him the fuck outta here." Poor little Alice picked Edward's ass off the stairs and ran him out of the house.
Jasper turned me to face him. He placed his hands on the side of my face and steadied my head, so I was looking directly into his eyes. I could feel the calm he was pumping into me, as much as I wanted to shake it off, I couldn't
"Hey, big guy. Look at me. She's safe. She's not harmed. I need you to calm down. I know we don't need to breathe, but I need you to breathe with me. It will help you become calm and centered because trust me right now, Em, you can't go up those stairs as the crazy possessive mate. You can't claim or mark her because you perceive her to be in danger. Do you understand what I'm saying to you, Emmett?"
I closed my eyes and took a deep cleansing breath. I nodded my head to what Jasper said. He was right. I couldn't go all crazy possessive vamp on her. All of this was too new to her. Besides she was still human. Could I even be with her that way while she's still human? I'd have to talk to Carlisle about all of that. Also, she had no idea what just happened.
"You okay now? You good?" Jasper asked. Rosalie came out of Bella's and my room. I looked up at my best friend. She gave me a soft smile and nodded to let me know everything was fine. I passed her on the stairs as I ascended to go to Bella, Rose stopped me.
"She slept through the entire thing. But trust me, that pansy bitch boy would have never made it past me. I'll call Carlisle and have him stall Charlie. Jazz and I will fix the window…" We both looked over to Jasper, and he gave us a nod.
"Don't scare her Em. She really likes you. We had a nice, albeit drug-induced talk. Not sure how much was Bella and how much was the drugs talking, but she thinks you're cute and wants to lick your dimples." I had to chuckle at that. I gave Rose a hug before going to my room.
When I entered the room, Bella was sprawled on the bed. The covers were half off of her. She was snoring and drooling, but she was the cutest thing. EVER!
I pulled the covers up over her and sat on the bed next to her. The bed dipped as I sat next to her and she rolled towards me.
"Emmy bear?" she slurred.
"Yes, Belly bear. It's me." She giggled a little.
"That's funny," she giggled again. "You're a big grizzly bear, and I'm a little teddy bear. Instead of the big grizzly bear eating the little teddy bear, the teddy bear is the grizzly bear's playmate." She then rolled closer to me and threw her arm over my lap and was snoring again. It was simply adorable. The warmth from just her arm draped across me spread throughout my entire body. I laid down next to her, keeping the blankets between us so she wouldn't get cold and just held her. I brushed the hair from her face and kissed her on her cheek, before laying on the pillow, so we were face to face. She continued to mutter other things while she slept.
"Mmmm, vampire grizzly bear smells like gingerbread."
"Harry wolfy, what great big teeth you have."
"Bad doggy, quit growling at Charlie."
Oh yeah, Carlisle gave her the good drugs! I thought as I had to hold my hand over my mouth to keep from chuckling out loud.
I heard Rosalie giggling from her room after she and Jasper replaced the wall. We kept spare glass walls in the basement. You'd be surprised how often we have to replace them. Jasper, Edward and I, and even Carlisle sometimes get carried away when we play fight, and one of us has crashed through glass often enough that Esme keeps spares on hand.
I received a text from Edward a short time later that he was sorry, and he was going to Denali for a while. A text arrived soon after from Alice stating he was too unstable to make the trip alone. She saw him deciding between going to Alaska and turning around to take what he perceived as his kill. Alice and Jasper were going with him to make sure he made it all the way to Alaska without turning around and coming back.
Once Carlisle, Charlie, and Esme returned, Carlisle and Esme could tell something was different. Charlie, being the inquisitive cop, he is, picked up on things and demanded to know what was going on.
Rosalie not wanting to keep anything from her mate, told him what happened with Edward once he returned and smelled Bella. She also explained that Bella was a danger only to Edward because her blood appealed to him as no other human blood could.
"So, to Edward, Bella's blood is like crack to a crack addict?" Charlie inquired.
"That's one way of putting it. It's what the Volturi call La Tua Cantante or Your singer. Meaning the blood is like a siren or sings to you," Carlisle clarified.
"I think it's best not to tell Bella. She may get the wrong impression," Charlie said.
"I don't want to keep anything from my mate, Charlie," I told him with concern.
"I understand, Emmett. Not only do I have to think about my daughter's well-being, but also my mate. If my daughter is too frightened to be around my mate, where does that leave us? I won't choose between my daughter and my mate," Charlie said as he brought Rosalie into his arms and placed a kiss to her temple. It warmed my long dead heart to see Rosalie finally happy, and I'd do whatever it takes to keep her that way.
END FLASHBACK
I hoped Bella would decide to drop the conversation regarding the others because I was still pissed. Granted, I know better than anyone else what it's like to run into one's singer. I seem to be the only unlucky bastard to have not one singer but two and couldn't help until I drained them both.
I was brought back to the present when I realized Bella was no longer moving forward with us. She looked angry and annoyed, much like an irritated little kitten. She was standing there with her arms crossed over her chest and tapping her tiny little foot on the floor.
"What are you two keeping from me?" She said as she narrowed her eyes. As much as she looked harmless, I knew that look all too well, now, and I felt my testicles wanting to hide into my body for their own protection. She was as dangerous as that same little kitten wanting to scratch your eyes out.
"Umm…well…you see…" I stammered.
"Oh, for Christ sake, Em. Look, baby girl…" Rosalie started. Bella and I both had to do a double take on that. Now Rosalie is Mama bear? "…your father thought it best if you didn't know. He thought it would frighten you too much," EEEEG! (buzzer sound) Wrong answer! Bella's anger went from zero to one hundred in .02 seconds.
"Let me tell you and my father something, step-mommy dearest…" Bella started though her tone was hushed as to not let the other students hear, the hiss that was coming from her would rival any mature vampire.
"I am not some naive little girl, too scared of her own shadow. I have been taking care of myself and by extension my mother since I was ten-years-old. And since I've come to live with Charlie, I've pretty much taken care of him too. I don't need a teenaged step-mom, I've already got a middle-aged one of those that acts enough like a teenager for all of us," Bella said through gritted teeth.
"So, don't give me that load of bull-hockey, about it being for my own good. Tell me, and tell me now, What the hell is going on?" The look she gave me if her eyes could shoot flames, I'd be ashes in an instant. I knew right then and there; this woman owned my ass. I gave a warning look to Rosalie letting her know she'd better keep her trap shut
I went on to explain the events of last night with Edward and Alice. Once I was done, she looked between Rosalie and me for a moment, before she burst out laughing.
"Is that all? Is that why his eyes turn dark, and he looks like he wants to eat me all the time?" Bella said still laughing. Rosalie and I looked at each other like the girl had lost her damned mind.
"Bella, it's not funny. If he were to ever….you'd be dead. He'd drain you dry," I told her sincerely.
"Oh, I believe you, and it's not for his lack of trying. I think he tried on my first day in biology class. I didn't have a choice but to sit next to him. It was the only seat available. When I walked in, I thought he was having a seizure. Then I started thinking maybe I was stinky. Then suddenly, he calmed down like nothing was wrong. But he shot out of class like his ass was on fire, like a second before the bell rang." She then began to walk off from us. Rose and I looked at each other in total shock.
"SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!" I said as I ran at human speed to catch up with her. She rolled her eyes as if we were annoying her again.
"How? How did you stop him?" Rose asked.
"I don't know?" she said with a huff. "I didn't think it was anything I did. I just know I was scared of him and then suddenly he was acting like everything was honky dory," Bella said as she hunched her shoulders.
"I wonder if it has anything to do with why he can't read her mind?" I muttered more to myself than the others.
"He can what? Can all of you…you know…" She looked as though she was going to panic, so, I shook my head before she could finish.
"Only him. It's his gift or special ability," I told her. She let out a breath of relief.
"Oh, thank God!" she sighed. I chuckled. I decided to let her in on my little secret. I bent down, so I was whispering in her ear.
"But you talk in your sleep. The vampire grizzly bear would never eat his teddy bear playmate. Not unless you asked nicely. We all do have super hearing, though. Remember?" I ended with another chuckle. Her mouth almost hit the floor, and the blush that went down into her blouse made me want to see just how far down it went. She promptly turned on her heels and stomped away.
"Stupid, sexy as hell, fucking, super hearing vampires," she muttered to herself as she walked away. So, she thinks I'm sexy as hell? Hee Hee!
ROSALIE
I'm sitting here in history class bored out of my skull. At least when Jasper is here, I can somehow not be so distracted. I can't help but think about my new little sister or is she my stepdaughter? Maybe she'll be my stepdaughter, but we'll be best friends. I feel a smile spread on my face at that thought.
But then I start thinking about that childish ass Edward. Always thinking he's so perfect. Of course, he wouldn't tell us Bella is his singer. That would ruin his perfect reputation now, wouldn't it? And why didn't Alice see this coming? As if on queue, my phone buzzed with an incoming text.
From: A. Cullen
To: R. Hale
I can't see her, Rose. And when any of you are close to her, I can't see you either. Jazzy says he can read her emotions but can't manipulate them. Eleazar thinks she may be a shield. He thinks the drugs may have caused her to drop it.
All will be explained. Denali coven coming back with us.
See you tomorrow.
Well, that answers that question.
Thank God! The bell finally rang, and I can get out of this boring class. Now, I'm off to lunch with Em and Bella.
I came out of class to meet Emmett as usual. As we walked toward our lockers, I inquired about Bella. He pointed to her locker, and there she was. The quiet little mousy girl, Angela was at her locker along with the annoying blonde one, that just blabbed on and on about everything and nothing at the same time.
Emmett and I walk straight up to them, and Emmett places his arms around Bella, pressing her back to his chest before planting a kiss to her temple. Angela's eyes bug out of her head, and she acts like she's about to swallow her tongue
"B—b—b—but…but…I thought you two…" she said pointing between Em and me. I wrinkled my nose and looked at Em.
"Eww, gross. That's my brother. We're close but not that close. C'mon, you guys want to sit with us? Our other siblings are out of town for a few days," I told them.
"Uhh, yeah, sure. Why not," Angela said as Jessica nodded her head.
All the nosy ass students stopped eating and started staring at us as we entered the cafeteria. We all walked through the line. I only grabbed an apple and a bottle of water. Em got pizza and a soda. We watched as Bella only grabbed a salad and the other girls grab whatever they got as Jessica just blabbed on. I finally tuned into what she was saying.
"So, there we are in his bedroom. His mom and dad were still working at the store, I guess. You could tell, he had no clue what he was doing. His two fingers fumbled around the lips of my cho-cha for about five minutes. He never did find my clit. Then he tried to get his little cocktail weenie in and jammed it in the wrong hole. When I screamed wrong hole asshole, his hand went to fumbling again." Bella started giggling, and Angela just looked uncomfortable.
"Who are you talking about?" I asked as we finally made it past the cashier after we paid for our food. I saw the cashier roll her eyes and shake her head, having heard the conversation.
"Mike Newton. I was telling Angela and Bella why I thought he started making up rumors. It was right after our one- and only sexual experience. I think he thought I was going to go back and tell how horrible he was. Anyway, I finally brushed his hand away and told him I'd do it. Bella was generous by calling it a pencil. I pushed him off me and told him he was a waste of my time," she said between bites of her food. Em was trying and failing to hold in a laugh. Angela and Bella were both giggling.
"He then called me a tease and told me to get out of his house. I put on my clothes, and before I left, I told him he could only call me a tease when he grew something for me to tease. I then called him dickless, as I slammed his bedroom door when I walked out. The next day, I heard him telling his friends how he blew my back out having sex. I confronted him and his friends and told them he would have had a better chance of blowing my back out if he literally blew his breath on my back. He would need to have a dick to do it having sex. His comeback was that wasn't what I was saying last night when I was yelling for him to stop. After that, I just rolled my eyes and walked away. Then, every week he was saying it was a different girl. I just thought you all had the same experience I did, and he was just running his mouth to make himself look good."
"Well, Jessica. My first time was a violent sexual experience. Without going into details, because of that, casual sex, is something I would never do. When he started the rumor about me, it brought back memories that were too painful, and I didn't know how to deal with it," I told them. Angela reached over and grasped my hand. I wasn't expecting it, so I snatched my hand away.
"I'm sorry. But if you ever need someone to talk to, you can always talk to my dad. He councils abused women all the time. Don't think that you're alone," Angela said, looking at me sincerely. I think I just made another friend.
There was awkward silence at the table for most of the lunch period. Emmett pretended to eat his chips while sharing them with Bella. Bella ended up eating about half her salad and half Emmett's pizza. I slipped my apple into her bag when no one was looking.
Em and Bella were oblivious to anyone else at the table. I noticed Jessica giving Angela eye signals and nudges with her elbow, urging her to confront the proverbial elephant in the room. Finally, Jessica couldn't take it any longer.
"So, Bella and Emmett, how long have you been a couple?" she asked with fascination. Emmett laced his hand with Bella's and brought it to his lips before nodding for Bella to answer.
"Um, well, I'm not sure it's official, but he asked me out, or rather he asked my father's permission to ask me out at the hospital yesterday. Charlie likes him a lot, so he gave permission," Bella answered shyly; her signature blush adorning her cheeks. Both Angela and Jessica gave each other a look before returning their awe-filled gaze back to the couple.
"That is just so sweet. And who said chivalry was dead?" Angela said as she looked longingly at Emmett and Bella.
"So, Angela. Do you have a boyfriend? Or girlfriend? Sorry not judging," I asked.
"No…" Angela said sadly. "I was hoping a boy I liked would ask me out, but after last week I doubt he's interested," She said as she looked across the cafeteria. I caught her gaze to a boy sitting with their usual group. He had black hair and dark eyes, and though sitting, he appeared to be much shorter maybe 5'7" to Angela's nearly 6'1" frame. They appeared to make an odd couple, to each their own, I guess. I could see that he was shyly and inconspicuously making eyes at Angela.
"What's his name?" I asked
"Ben Chaney," She said with a sigh.
"Isn't there a school dance coming up?" I asked. I saw Bella visibly stiffen at this information. I decided to put that away for later.
"You should ask him out," I told Angela. A look of panic came over Angela.
"O—O—Oh n—n—no I—I—I couldn't," she said as she shook her head frantically.
"Why not, times have changed. You don't have to sit back and wait for the boy to ask you out, Angela," Bella encouraged.
"You really think so, Bella?"
"Sure, Ange. Why not. The worst he could say is no. And if he does, then it's not the end of the world. At least you'll know he's not right for you, if he can't see what a wonderful person you are," Bella told Angela with a wink. At that point, the bell rang for us to go back to class. Angela stood up and gave Bella a hug.
"Thanks, Bella, you're a great friend," Angela said as she wrapped her arms around Bella. After she unwrapped herself from Bella, she went to pick up her lunch tray but was stopped by Emmett.
"I've got it," He said. Angela gave him a huge smile. Emmett grabbed all of our trays and took them as we walked towards the door.
"Come on, Bella, I'll walk you to class," Emmett said. Bella nodded in reply. They all looked at me.
"You guys go on. I'll catch up with you guys," I told them. Angela and Jessica waived before heading out of the cafeteria.
"Be nice," Em said at a vampiric level, apparently knowing what I was about to do. He then led Bella out of the cafeteria. I then walked over to Ben as he and his friends were about to leave.
"Hey!" I said. All of his friends eyed me with a mixture of shock and lust. I just rolled my eyes. I jerked my head to the others signaling them to scram. Ben had to look up at me he was so short.
"Angela Weber likes you," It was a statement.
"Y—y—yeah. I like her, too."
"Good, she's going to ask you out, and you're going to say yes. Am I understood?"
"Uhhh...sure?" he was shaking.
"Good." My good deed is done for the day