Chapter 3 – Change & Growth
Bella laid on the forest floor, repeating Jacob's words in her head. She opened her eyes, to the night sky, seeing all the stars, hearing the ants crawling all around her and smelling the water in the stream near her. She sat up, looking at her hands, appraising her body, knowing what she was. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. She remembered a part of her human life when she wanted to be what she was now. But now, she hated herself. She was angry and she wanted revenge. In her anger, Bella hunted, knowing she needed to get her thirst under control. She came across a pack of mountain lions. She took out the biggest one, taking out the rest of the pack in a matter of minutes. Feeling strengthened, Bella ran back to her home. She stopped as she saw Jacob coming out of her house. "Jake?" she whispered. Jacob looked up at the sound of his name, into the forest where she stood. Jacob looked back to the house. "He's not home, Bell." Bella walked out to the road, hesitantly towards the house. "What are you doing here, Jake?" she asked, wrinkling her nose. "I'm staying here with your dad. You know, being supportive; looking for you. Bell, he's going crazy. What are you going to do?" "I don't know. I think, after I get some things, I really have to think about that. But honestly, even though it is the last thing I want to do, but it would be better if he thought I was dead." "Bell……." Bella looked at him and reached out for him, but stopped herself. "Jake, I can't let him see me like this. Look at what I am. I can't even be around humans. I don't want to hurt, so it's better if I cut my ties with him. Maybe I should tell him I'm leaving and not coming back, I don't know." Jacob looked at Bella, the girl he loved, but he knew he couldn't comfort him. Bella looked at her hands and saw his ring. "I should give this back," she said taking off his ring. "No, Bell. Keep it and remember me with it. Remember, I love you." "I love you too."
Bella went into her bedroom and began packing some of her things and taking the remainder of her hidden money. As she headed for the window, she noticed a floorboard was loose in her room. She took up the board and found a small black box. As she was about to open it, she heard her father's car coming around the corner of the block. She tucked the box in her bag, replaced the floorboard and sprinted out the window into the forest. She waited for her father to get out of the car, to have one last look at him. She knew she would not be able to look at him again. After seeing Charlie, she blew him a kiss and ran. Bella ran for miles without stopping. She ran until she was well into Canada, then she headed west to Alaska. She ran and ran, until she realized her clothes were getting worn. She checked into a hotel. As she spoke to the receptionist, she held her breath, until she reached her room. After changing and switching on the television, for the news, Bella pulled out the box. As she opened it, she caught a faint but familiar scent from it. She picked up a CD case, several pictures turned down and a navy blue folder. She knew what the objects were immediately. She threw the contents back into the box, knowing who left them in her room. She pushed the box away and put her earphones on and played music; loud angry music. While she listened, she became angry. Angry at Victoria from tearing her from her life and family. Angry at him, for leaving her alone. For him not being there, to protect her. And angry at herself, because of who she had to hurt because of her leaving. Bella stayed in the hotel room for a week, being that her funds were low. In that time, she spent thinking about what she will have to do with her long, endless life now.
Bella lived in Alaska for the next few years. She got a job working in a factory and had a small apartment. She contacted Jacob from time to time, to get updates on Charlie. Jacob told her that her parents had her declared dead six months after she left. Although this pained her to no end, she felt it was better for them. A year and a half since she left, her father remarried and had a son. He moved away from Forks and now lives in a small town in Minnesota with his family. Her mother and step-dad had a daughter and they still lived in Florida. Charlie and Renee go back to Forks once a year to visit Bella's memorial. Jacob imprinted on a young woman who moved to the reservation and they were getting married in two months. Hearing how everyone she loved moved on with their lives, Bella did the same with her own life. She worked at night, while she studied at the University during the day. Bella lived this way during her years in Alaska. The ring Jacob gave her found its way into the black box from her bedroom, put away, out of sight. She was slowly beginning to rebuild her life on her own.
One night, after she got off from work, Bella went hunting. She was about to pounce on a polar bear, when she caught a scent she recognized from her human life. She saw two sets of golden eyes staring at the same bear she was about to pounce. One set of the eyes looked in her direction and Bella suddenly felt a calming sensation come over her. She knew it was Jasper looking at her and then saw Rosalie attacked the bear. Jasper and Bella stared at one another. Rosalie ran back to Jasper and saw the look on his face. She stared in Bella's direction, not seeing her. Rosalie darted away from Jasper and came back with Emmett. Emmett caught Bella's scent. He knew it was vampire, but the scent was familiar to him. "Please, come out. We will not hurt you," Jasper said in a calming tone. Rosalie and Emmett stood at Jasper's flanks. Bella walked out in to the open and faced the members of her former family. Rosalie and Jasper's eyes widened and Emmett's mouth fell open. They stood in the clearing staring at each other. "Bella?" Emmett croaked. "Is that you?" As Bella nodded yes, she caught the sound of four people approaching the clearing. She knew they contacted the other members of the family through him. No one moved as Carlisle and Esme entered the clearing on the right side of Bella. They stared at her with shocked eyes. Alice and Edward came from behind Bella and stood on the edge of the clearing. Alice walked slowly to Jasper's side, as Bella let her head drop and her eyes closed, when she caught his scent. Alice looked at the stranger and saw who it was; a huge smile stretched across her face. "Bella? Oh, Bella, it can't be?" Alice squeaked from behind Jasper, who positioned himself in front of her. "Calm down Jasper, I'm not going to do anything. I was just hunting." Esme walked slowly to her, with her hands reached to her. Bella turned towards her and smiled slightly. Esme hugged Bella tightly and broke out into a small sob. "Bella, honey, what happened to you? Who did this?" Bella stared back at Esme, then to Carlisle, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett. She refused to look at him. Bella was going to answer Esme, but she caught a scent on the wind. She turned her head away from everyone, leaving Esme's side. "I don't believe it. After all this time, she's close." "Who is?" Carlisle asked. Bella darted off to the south, with the Cullens following her.
Edward, get everyone here. Jasper found another vampire. We don't know who she is. Get Carlisle and Esme and come. Edward heard Rosalie say as he finished his prey. He heard the anxiety in her voice. Edward called Carlisle's phone and told him to find Rosalie. He and Esme were off to meet them. Alice flitted to my side. "Edward, let's go see the newcomer." She tugged at his arm. Edward was not interested. Nothing held his interest anymore; not his family, not his car, not his own life. Since he left her, nothing matters. Edward ran after Alice into the clearing. I don't believe this. How did this to her? Edward is going to be furious. My poor son, but she is here now. Esme thought. Edward ran faster to see what Esme was talking about. Alice and Edward came in to the clearing and saw her standing in the center. He just saw the dark hair hanging to her back, but he knew who it was.
