Chapter 2
For some strange reason I couldn't get those Cullen's off of my mind. Their faces were vivid in my head. They angelic faces looked familiar; I just couldn't put my finger on it. I walked into the biology room and my eyes scanned around it. They landed on the one Cullen in the room. She had brown hair that flowed over her shoulders, golden eyes that were on her flawless face. She was so beautiful I felt self conscience.
"Vanessa why don't you sit over there next to Bella." He said pointing to the girl I was staring at. She was scribbling something on a piece of paper. Not once did she look up not even when her name was called. I breathed in a sharp breath. She seemed like the mean type who knew she was better than everyone else. I hate those people. Slowly I walked over to the table and sat down. I placed my books on the science table and turned to look at her. She was even more angelic looking up close. She noticed me looking at her and quickly I looked straight ahead. Her mouth dropped a little from what I saw out of the corner of my eye, but then she recovered quickly. I noticed her staring at me. I looked at her and we both just stared at each other for a moment. It seemed like it was supposed to be awkward, yet it wasn't at all. It was relieving almost. I just don't know why though. She bit her lip and blinked her eyes. I breathed out and finally spoke up.
"Hi I'm Vanessa." I said softly. She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled a little.
"Bella." She told me. Her eyes seemed to soften. I smiled at her. "You're new right?" She asked smoothly her voice sounding melodic. I nodded my head.
"I moved from Florida where my mother lives." I told her. For some reason it seemed so easy to tell her things, almost like I was meant to.
"Why?" She asked curiously. I debated whether or not to tell this stranger. Her face looked concerned making me give in.
"My mom has breast cancer and refuses to take chemotherapy for it. She is slowly dying." I said softly looking at the black lab table. My hand tensed on the table when Bella put hers on mine. It felt like ice. When she noticed my shocked face she quickly pulled her hand away.
"You're so cold." I said to her. She smiled at me. A forced smile.
"I'm anemic, so I'm always cold." She said. "But who is your father? I must know him, it's such a small town here." She said.
"His name is Jerry Ryder." I told her. Her eyes went huge and then she quickly recovered. Her face saddened and she looked at the table.
"Are you okay?" I asked confused. "Is something wrong?" Bella shook her head.
"No, I just, used to know him pretty well." She smiled at me softly. "I gave him something precious once." Just then before I could ask her what it was the bell rang. Bella rushed out of her seat and practically ran for the door. Once I was out of the room I noticed her in a bronze haired kids arms. Her face was buried in his chest. He looked up from stroking her hair to me. Our eyes met and he looked away turning his attention back to Bella. Then swarms of kids came out and filled the distance between us.
"Ness!" I looked behind me to see Danny waiting by the water fountain for me. "You heading home?" He asked.
"Yeah," I smiled at him. "Thanks for showing me around today." I said to him. He patted my shoulder.
"That's what friends are for right?" I laughed.
"Exactly." I smiled.
I was walking towards my house when a car slowed down beside me on the road. The window rolled down and I noticed Bella in the passenger's seat.
"Do you need a lift Vanessa?" She asked curiously. She looked almost worried, yet I didn't know why.
"I don't know." I said knowing I shouldn't get in the car with strangers.
"It's not safe to be walking out near the woods." The bronze haired kid told me. I shrugged.
"Sure, yeah, okay." I said and climbing into the back seats. I buckled up and we were driving down the street. We weren't just driving leisurely we were speeding.
"You might want to slow it down…uh." I didn't know this kids name.
"Edward." He smiled at me through the rear view mirror.
"Well Edward your going kind of fast." I said feeling my heart beating in my chest.
Bella chuckled in the seat as she turned around to look at me. "Is your dad going to be home?" She asked.
"No he has work till eight." I said.
"Do you want to come and hang out with us at our house?" She asked. I thought about it for a minute. Either I would be home alone all day working on homework or I could try and make some new friends. Obviously the second idea sounded better to me.
"I'd like that." I said leaning forward in my seat to smile at both Bella and Edward.
My mouth hung opened when we pulled into the drive way to the huge house. It was all coble stone walls with nice granite stairs to the door. It must have been the nicest house in all of Seattle.
"Wow." I said in awe.
"Isn't it great?" Edward asked opening my door for me. I stepped out gaping at the house.
"It's huge." I said.
"I think it's too much." Bella said from behind me. She walked around me and into Edwards's arms. Edward put his other arm around my shoulder and led me up to the house. He pushed opened the door and the smell of lavender his my nose.
"Esme is a clean freak." Edward informed me as I noticed a young looking woman vacuuming the already perfect carpet. "She's our mom." Edward informed me.
"Wait you guys live together?" I asked looking from Bella to Edward. All this time I thought it was Bella's house and Edward just hung out here all the time.
"We do," Edward informed me. "Esme is my mother and Alice and Emmett are my siblings. Just as he said the names four other people walked into the room. A young looking girl with spiky hair danced over to me. She was in a nice fall dress and some tights with ballerina flats on. She wrapped her little arms around me hugging me tightly.
"Hi Vanessa." Her sparrow little voice sang. "I'm Alice." She said pulling away. The name definitely fit.
"That's Emmett." Edward said pointing to the biggest person here. He had short jet black hair and muscles like a body builder, yet somehow he still looked like an angel.
"Hey squirt." He smiled at me waving a little.
"Hi." I managed to get out.
"That's Rosalie," Edward said pointing to the girl with luscious blonde hair. She was staring at me in pain. I cocked my head to the side trying to understand what I had done when she quickly turned to scowl at Bella and then ran up the stairs to her room and slammed the door shut.
"I'll go talk to her." Emmett said chasing after where she just went.
"Did I do something?" I asked looking to Edward. He put his hand on my shoulder.
"Nothing at all, she is always like that." Bella said. The last person took a step forward and reached out his hand to me. I placed mine in his. His skin was cold too, just like Bella's. But I didn't flinch away because I didn't want to be rude.
"I'm Jasper." He smiled sweetly at me. Then he took his hand out of mine and grabbed Alice's.
"We are going out." Alice said to Edward. I watched as Edward nodded his head. After Alice and Jasper left out the back door Esme walked out of the kitchen.
"Hello darling." She smiled at me kindly. She was adorable. "I'm Edward's mother." She pulled me into a hug.
"It's nice to meet you." I smiled back at her.
"I'll make some dinner just in case Vanessa decides to stay." Esme said. Edward nodded. I followed Edward and Bella into the living room. Edward sat down and Bella sat down on his lap. She patted the seat next to her. Edward turned on the T.V. to be back ground entertainment.
"You have a huge family." I said. Edward laughed.
"We love being together, everything just fits." He smiled. I could tell he really had a passion for his family.
"I wish my family was like that." I said wishing that my words were reality. Bella spoke up after the awkward silence.
"Well I know Jerry and he is such a nice guy." She said.
"Yeah, I remember him when I was little but I mostly lived with my mother, and now…" I gulped back my tears at the thought of my mother leaving me. Bella leaned over and pulled me into a hug.
"Well we are here for you if you need any help." She told me softly.
"Thanks Bella." She let go of me and then some music started playing. Edward pushed Bella off of him and reached into his pockets to find his phone.
"Hello?" He asked into it. I could hear a voice on the other end speaking quickly. "Yeah sure, I'll be right there." He sighed. "Yes Carlisle." He hummed a response and then shut his phone.
"I have to go Carlisle needs help at the hospital." He stood up and kissed Bella on the cheek. "Bye love, bye Vanessa." He smiled at me before he walked out of the room. Bella turned to face me. She rested her head on the back of the couch.
"Your boyfriend is amazing." I said jealous.
"He really is." She sighed contently. "You ever have a boyfriend?" She asked. I nodded slowly. Bella sucked in a sharp breath before letting out one of her beautiful smiles. "What was his name?" She asked.
"Ryan, we were always best friends and we dated a couple of times, became a couple, and then ended just being best friends." I said sadly as his face popped into my head.
"You miss him." Bella said softly.
"How could you tell?" I asked. She laughed lightly.
"I'm good at reading people." She said.
"Must be a special power you have." She laughed nervously.
"Something like that." She winked at me. Emmett walked in and ruffled Bella's hair. She jumped up and punched him in the arm. He picked her up hoisting her over his shoulder and spun her around and around. She giggled through the whole thing. I smiled sadly at her once she was put on the ground. Emmett kissed her head.
"Just messing with you Bells." He told her smiling a huge bear smile.
"Love you too Em." She shook her head laughing.
"Emmett!" I heard Rosalie call and then Emmett sighed and walked out of the room. Bella came and sat down next to me again. I quickly looked down at my hands so she wouldn't see the sadness in my face.
"Are you okay Ness?" She asked concerned. I looked up and faked a smile.
"Yeah I'm fine." I lied. Bella sighed.
"You want to tell me the truth now?" She asked. I blew out a breath of air trying hard not to cry.
"I just wish I had a life like yours." I mumbled. Bella's face held many emotions.
Shock
Sadness
Understanding and then one I didn't expect
Love
"Well Ness, you are considered my friend now, I hope you know that." She smiled her beautiful smile at me making me giggle. "So you can come over here anytime and we will treat you like family." She told me. My eyes lit up in excitement.
"Really?" I asked loudly. Bella laughed.
"Of course, everyone already loves you." I felt my heart swell at her words. The only person I ever had a close relationship with was my mother and Ryan. And now they were both gone and I felt alone. But maybe I didn't have to anymore. I reached over and wrapped my arms around Bella.
"You're the best friend anyone could ask for." I said. "Even if we just met." I added. Bella's bell laugh surrounded the house.
"So are you Ness." Just then I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I check the message.
Hey Ness, its dad just wondering where you are. You should probably come home now. I closed my phone and put it back in my back pocket.
"I have to go." I said softly. I didn't want to leave here, it felt strangely right to be here with Bella. Bella nodded, but I could have sworn I saw some pain in her face.
"I'll drive you." She offered. I took the offer and we walked out to her car. I got in and buckled my seat belt waiting. Bella came out and turned on the car, speeding out of the garage down her driveway. We drove through Seattle having a light conversation. When we pulled up to my house I sighed.
"Well thanks for having me over, it was better than staying home alone." I said. Bella looked like she was about to reach out to touch my face but I saw her place her hand in her lap.
"I enjoyed it too." She smiled at me softly. I got out of the car ready to shut the door.
"Oh Ness?" She asked.
"Yeah?" I bent down so I could see her face. She grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down something on it. "Here's my number, just in case you need me. I'm always here." She said handing it to me. I grabbed it and thanked her again. Then I stood in the driveway until she was out of sight. Then I ran up to my house. I walked into darkness. The T.V. was on in the other room. My father was passed out on the couch with a beer in his hand. I shook my head smiling to myself and walked up to my room. I shut my door changing into some PJ's and then climbed into bed. Bella was perfect, she was beautiful, sweet, smart, and all around one of the nicest people I met. I put her number into my phone knowing I would text her soon. Then I rolled over with a smile on my face as I drifted off to sleep.