Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of the characters.

Chapter 6

Tanya Trouble

September 13 1933

Volterra, Italy

Late Evening

"You're the daughter of Aro? The leader of the Volturi?" She asked with disgust.

"I am," I answered with a nod. Tanya wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"You're not very pretty. Come on Edward, let's go somewhere else." Tanya said as she tried to tug Edward away. "We can somewhere more…private…" Tanya trailed off suggestively and glanced at me quickly. Edward glared at Tanya instantly.

"What is wrong with you, Tanya? I don't like you…why can't you just give up?" Edward demanded before storming away. Tanya watched his retreating figure before she turned and glared at me, her hands on her hips.

"Now look what you've done, you've chased Edward away from me!" I raised my eyebrows. She was blaming me for her own fault. She was the one who drove Edward away.

"I chased Edward away?" She nodded her head. "If I recall it was you that he was annoyed at!" I informed her.

"Whatever," she said simply before she walked away. I sighed and walked to where I had last seen Edward walking. I soon found him outside of the ballroom standing in the garden. I took a deep breath and walked over to him. I stood next to him, not saying anything because I really didn't know what to say.

"Sorry," Edward whispered suddenly. I looked at him in shock.

"Why?"

"For storming out of there, losing my temper…"

"Well…I've seen worse when people lose their temper. And it's fine, from what I could tell you really didn't want her around." Edward smiled slightly.

"She's been trying to win my affections for some time,"

"And she won't give up even though you don't return her affections?"

"Exactly." We stood there in silence for some time. "Do you like being here?" Edward asked suddenly.

"Pardon?"

"Do you like being here, in Volterra?" He asked again, looking down at me.

"Not really…if I were being honest with you I'd say I hate it because I can't leave the walls." Edward laughed softly.

"That would suck, being held behind the walls, never seeing the outside world."

"You can't imagine how bad it is. I want to be able to travel and see the world like your family does,"

"Why don't you come away with us, then?" I sighed and shook my head.

"My father won't let me leave unless I marry." I spat out the word 'marry' as though it was some sort of contagious disease.

"I heard about that agreement your father made," Edward whispered.

"Neither Felix or I agree on it,"

"Is there anything you can do about it?"

"Not really…father says that the guests are staying for a week or so. He expects me to find someone to marry, who is not Felix, in a week! Is that even possible?" I asked Edward.

"I wouldn't know. I've never been in love."

"Never?"

"Never."

"Are you and your family staying with us for a week?" I asked Edward. I tried not to sound too hopeful, but I did enjoy Edward's company and hoped to see him for a longer period of time than I had last time.

"Carlisle says that we'll be staying a little over two weeks," I smiled at Edward and he smiled back. We fell into comfortable silence again, smiling softly at one another. "I think we should head back, your father is getting worried." Edward spoke suddenly, pulling me back into reality. I looked at the doors and sighed.

"I suppose you're right," Edward offered me his arm, I took it and we made our way back towards the ballroom. It didn't escape my notice that when took Edward's arm; it felt like an electric shock. I wondered what was with that and I remembered that when we were looking into each other's eyes and just smiling…it felt like there was no one else in the world but us. Unusual really and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

- - -

For the rest of the evening, Edward stayed close by my side, which made me feel so happy that I couldn't understand what I was feeling. Tanya was glaring at me from across the room, probably still mad at me for unknown reasons. Felix looked slightly tense when he realised that I was with Edward. I had always wondered why Felix never liked Edward that much; it didn't make sense to me. I would have to figure that out. Aro seemed slightly pleased and yet upset, I could only assume that he thought that Edward and I were falling in love and that soon we would be out of here. Though to me it didn't seem as though Edward and I would go down that path just yet, maybe never, right now we were just friends.

- - -

The party finally ended and all the vampire covens left to their respective rooms. Edward walked me to my bedroom silently.

"Felix is angry with me," I laughed quietly.

"Why?"

"I'm stealing his job apparently." I laughed and nodded,

"You are indeed. Aro had made Felix practically follow me everywhere, it was quite annoying. It's nice to have a change," I smiled at Edward as I walked into my bedroom.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" Edward asked. I noticed that he sounded kind of…hopeful? But then again I could be imaging things again. I tend to do that.

"Yes," I answered before saying goodbye and closing my door softly behind me. I leaned against the door and took deep breaths, trying to calm myself. For some reason my heart was racing at a million miles an hour.

- - -

I was getting ready for bed when there was a knock on my door.

"Come in," I called and soon the door burst open to reveal Tanya and Rosalie. Rosalie was looking at me apologetically while Tanya glared at me.

"Listen here, Isabella. You stay away from Edward!" Tanya warned me.

"Or what?"

"You'll get what you deserve."

"Why are you telling me what to do?" I asked her.

"Because you are betrothed to Felix! If you were with Edward, you would be cheating…you wouldn't want to disappoint your father now would you?" I laughed once without humor.

"You still think I'm a daddy's girl don't you, Tanya?" She didn't answer, just continued to glare at me. "Well I think you better wake up and realise that I'm not a daddy's girl and technically I am not betrothed to Felix. I only marry Felix if I can't find someone else by the time I am seventeen and a vampire," I informed her, "and out of curiosity, do you have a claim on Edward or something?" I asked her.

"I do." She hissed before storming off. Rosalie groaned.

"I'm so sorry about her, Isabella. She has always been after Edward's affections, which he so clearly doesn't return. I don't see why she doesn't give up." Rosalie explained quickly.

"Neither do I…nor Edward for that matter. He wishes she would though," Rosalie looked at me with shock. "What?"

"Nothing…how do you know that?"

"We talked about it." I replied with a shrug.

"Oh and I also came here to apologize for my behavior at the ball. I was rude to you and I really shouldn't have." I smiled softly at her.

"It's fine Rosalie." Rosalie smiled.

"I better go, talk to you soon!" Rosalie said quickly and started heading for the door.

"Wait!" She turned in surprise.

"Yes?"

"Why do you dislike me so much?" Rosalie grimaced.

"Because after Edward returned from his trip with Carlisle, he wouldn't shut up about you. And before we came here he wouldn't shut up about you either. It took me time to realise that he was interested in you and when I found that out I was jealous because he was interested in you but not me." I stared at her in confusion. Rosalie rolled her eyes. "I'm used to men wanting me, Isabella. I was shocked when Edward didn't want me." Rosalie explained. I nodded in understanding.

"But you have Emmett now," Rosalie got this dreamy look on her face as soon as I mentioned Emmett's name.

"Yes, I do and I'm very lucky. I better go now, goodnight Isabella."

"Call me Bella,"

"Bella then." Rosalie smiled before disappearing out my door.