Hello, dear readers. This is a rather short, and yet pivotal scene in both No Simple Thing and Romeo and Juliet. For it is in this scene that Paris pursues the hand of Juliet, and Romeo determines to go to the Capulet's party… what does this mean for Ellie and Alex? Find out below, in Act I Scene II.
Enter EDWARD and BELLA CULLEN, who have continued to walk when their companions returned home…
Edward walked briskly a few steps ahead of Bella, who was jogging lightly to keep pace. "Edward, calm down," she said. "It was just a small thing." Edward whipped his head around to look despairingly at her. "One small thing!" he snarled. "I had figured that Jake and his gang would give us trouble about returning, but not their kids! They're hate mongering, Bella, and I hate it."
Bella took his hand, turning him gently to face her. She said softly, "Give them another chance. I know there have been a lot of fights, and that I've said that a lot. But it's partially our fault too." As Edward opened his mouth, she pressed on, "Now don't you dare deny it. Tell Emmett and Jasper to make more of an effort, and you too. I may have chosen you over Jake, but he'll always be my friend."
She looked sadly into his eyes, which softened from anger into sympathy. Edward wrapped an arm around her and hugged her. "I'm sorry," he murmured into her hair. "I know it must be tough seeing them hate you so now that we're back." She nodded, and buried her face into his chest. In a muffled voice, she said, "At least Ellie isn't involved in this."
Edward let his thoughts drift to the newer member of the Cullen clan. They had found the sandy blonde 16-year-old in a ditch off the side of a highway – a victim of a hit and run driver. Carlisle had taken one look and informed them that she would die within a minute unless he bit her. All had voted unanimously as the girl's life slipped away.
Carlisle bit her, and brought her to their newest home to undergo the change. Bella had been shut out of that wing of the house – it had only been two years after her own change. When the girl woke up and had gotten over her initial shock, she told them that she was Ellie Blake. She and Bella bonded quickly, as both struggled with the desire for human blood for eighteen and twenty more years, respectively.
Through her, Ellie had also grown closer to Edward, and the two older vampires became Ellie's caretakers as she adjusted to their way of life. When they returned to Forks this past year, Ellie arrived as Edward and Bella's 'daughter'. As he thought about her, Edward couldn't help but agree with Bella – if God still watched over vampires, he was grateful that Ellie was spared from the fights.
The two stood together on the sidewalk for a long time, the only movement coming from Bella's twitching hands to keep up their illusion.
Suddenly, a voice broke through their bubble of silence. "Cullen – there you are."
On the sidewalk was a vampire in a black cloak. Unlike the Cullens, his eyes were bloodred, and he carried an air of malevolence. He looked around 15 or 16, and was vaguely familiar to Bella.
Enter ALEC VOLTURI, a vampire after a certain young vampire female…
Edward's eyes widened, and he stiffened his hold on Bella. "Alec?" he said incredulously, and Bella remembered him – he was Jane's older brother, and a Volturi.
Alec nodded curtly. "I bear a message from Aro," he informed them. "Is it true that there is a new member of your group?" Bella felt fear creep into her heart. They had hoped the Volturi would not find out about Ellie – no such luck, it seemed.
Edward paused, as if considering the weight of truth versus a lie, but ultimately said, "Yes. Ellie." Alec smiled grimly. "Very well then," he said. "Then I must do what Aro has requested – take the girl as my mate."
Bella's jaw dropped, and the air around them all seemed to drop several degrees. "Mate?" Edward said incredulously. "Why would we ever give her to you? She's one of us!" Bella nodded forcefully – she loved Ellie dearly, and no one would take her away without a fight!
Alec's smile dimmed a few notches, but stayed firmly on his bone-white face. "You would give her to me, because the Volturi thinks you are all too powerful. There are too many Cullens now. And if you do not give her to us, we will destroy you all," he said icily.
Bella looked at Edward desperately. Utter defeat seemed to have rooted itself on her husband's face. They couldn't possibly face down the Volturi – there were far too many, even for the well trained fighters in their family. Edward glanced at Bella, his eyes conveying an all too clear message – what do we do now?
Bella looked at the stony faced vampire in front of them. Gently, she asked, "Could we have time to get Ellie used to the idea? Please?" Alec smirked at the 'please', but seemed to consider her words. "Very well," he agreed. "It would be inconvenient to have to subdue her without causing harm or a public scene. Perhaps your suggestion is for the best."
Bella smiled gratefully, and replied, "Thank you. Ellie will probably take it better that-" She broke off, and a hand flew to her mouth. She turned to Edward, and gasped, "Those invitations! Ellie's having her 16th birthday party tonight, I forgot to deliver them!"
Edward rolled his eyes. "Then go, drop them at the houses though – it's too late for the postman." Bella nodded, kissed his cheek, and ran off, leaving Edward to negotiate with Alec.
As soon as she was out of sight of the main road in the trees, Bella took off at a vampire run. She only paused when she shoved Ellie's invitations under the doors of the houses. She watched the sky warily as the light behind the curtain of gray began to fade – if she was gone too long, Edward would go into 'super-overprotective-of-Bella' mode.
With only four left in her hands, she slipped the fourth under the door. Looking at the last three, she noticed a small sticky not stuck to each one. With a wry smile, she pulled them off and read –
Bella,
Knowing you some of the invitations may have come into some damage. These are extras. If you still have them, give them to whoever you want. By the way, Jasper is mad at you – he says they didn't have 16th birthday parties when they were in Forks, and is mad that you and Eddie are letting me. I told him to shut up, and that we wanted to make a better impression on people this time around.
Thanks for delivering these.
Ellie
Bella snorted as she read the notes. It figured that Jasper wouldn't be happy about so many people coming to their house, but he was better around humans than he used to be.
She looked down at the three neatly printed invitations in her hand. Bella tilted her head back to look at the sky, wondering what to do with these three extras. As she considered, her thoughts unconsciously drifted to a scene with two teenaged boys fighting snow-pale men in an alley.
She blinked, and grinned slyly. It would annoy Edward, certainly, but it would also possibly give some peace between this newer generation of werewolves and the Cullens.
She glanced at the sky again, judging how much time had passed and if they would be back in La Push yet. Praying that they weren't, she ran full-tilt towards the alley the fight had occurred in.
Bella sighed in relief as she saw a motorcycle still there. Looking beyond it, she saw two boys sitting on a rock wall. The brown haired one she recognized – he was the one Jasper had been fighting. The other was unfamiliar to her, but he reminded her of someone. He had slightly overgrown black hair and dark eyes that gave an unintelligible expression to his friend.
Enter QUENTIN ATEARA and ALEX BLACK, who are about to be surprised…
Slowing to a human jogging pace, she ran up to them. Quentin stiffened as he saw her – apparently she had been recognized. "What do you want?" he spat angrily. Bella blinked – she hadn't expected this hostility.
The other boy looked up. He furrowed his brow, and said quietly, "You're a Cullen. Why are you talking to us?" Bella smiled kindly at him. "I'm Bella. I wanted to give you-" "Bella?" the boy cut in sharply. He looked at her through narrowed eyes. "If you're Bella, you broke my dad's heart. I'm Alex Black."
Bella took a step back, stunned. Jake had a son? She shook her head slightly, brown hair falling across her eyes. "That was a long time ago," she insisted. "I'm trying to make peace with you, aren't I?" Quentin shrugged. "Still doesn't answer what you want," he pointed out.
She sighed – human, vampire or werewolf, teenage boys were all the same. "I wanted to give you these," she said, handing Alex one and Quentin two invitations. "They're invitations to a party for my… daughter, Ellie, at our house. Most of your classmates will be there." To Quentin, she added, "Give the other to your friend who was in the fight."
Alex looked at her suspiciously. "Why are you giving these to us?" he asked. Bella rolled her eyes. "I have no fight with you. I think you should have a chance." Alex nodded once, and muttered, "Thanks, I guess."
Bella beamed at them, and then left as quickly as she had come.
Quentin stared at the space she had been, then turned to Alex. "Are we going to go?" he asked uncertainly. "Eh, why not?" Alex said, and gave the invitation a small grin.
So we finish Act I Scene II. It may seem filler-y (which it is), but the decision to attend the party is practically the catalyst for all ensuing events. You have been warned; this is where it gets interesting.
Wait and see what unfolds…