Let Me In-Chapter Eight
Renewed hope in one's humanity is a refreshing alternative to the darkened existence of carnage. Fresh air cleanses the restraints of our creature's past and releases her tortured psyche to reveal Bella…not Isabella. For you see, Bella has been uprooted from the dangerous evil that has existed for longer than any other; she floats to the surface for the first time in a very long time.
Carlie and Bella are sitting on the island in the Cullen kitchen enjoying Esme's famous blueberry pancakes when Edward walks in. He nearly trips over himself because he is wearing his usual pajama pants and white t-shirt while Bella sits talking to his mother and sister. Is it more disturbing that the girl he dreamt of all night is in his kitchen or the fact that he is seriously contemplating talking to his father about his obsession with her?
It's ok to be obsessive…sometimes.
"Oh, hey Isabella"
He is a bit apprehensive because the last time he was with her, he unknowingly tried to kiss her. At this point any judge would grant her a restraining order if she requested one.
"Oh, hi Edward," her eyes are alight with amusement as she smiles at him. He somehow feels blissful from the way her look infiltrates his soul.
As Edward takes a sip from the glass of milk his mother hands him, he notices that her eyes follow his every movement. He raises an eyebrow at her.
"Oh by the way, you can call me Bella, I like the way it sounds."
Carlie nearly falls off her chair as she laughs at Edward because as soon as Bella finishes her sentence, Edward nearly snorts milk from his nose. He wonders if he subconsciously uttered his secret pet name for Isabella. He has an odd feeling that this is a new development; she never introduced herself as Bella until now.
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And so begins Bella's friendship with Edward.
At first Carlisle and Esme were worried that Bella and Edward's natural chemistry would interfere with his relationship with Tanya. Yet as they noticed the pair, they saw how Bella never did anything inappropriate. In fact it seemed like she was treating Edward as if he was made of porcelain. She would never let her skin come in contact with anyone, not even Edward and Carlie, whom she was the closest to. Tanya and Rosalie were hard on her when they all started spending time together, but their snide remarks never seemed to bother her. Eventually Rosalie got over her anxiety about Bella shifting the balance in the group and she relented from her abrasive demeanor. Tanya, on the other hand, never took to Bella like the others did. She believed in her heart that there was something wrong with Bella…the girl just acted off. So she made it a point to make Bella feel like she was an outcast in the group.
Tanya's efforts were futile because Bella was accepted by everyone else. Her melodious giggles could be heard from the back yard whenever she joined Emmett and Carlie on their sledding expeditions. Carlie's breathless laughter and squeals along with Emmett and Bella's competitive banter usually lured Edward, Jasper and Alice from the house. And since Tanya acted like Edward's chaperone, she would eventually amble outside. Soon it turned into a race to see who got down the hill first. Bella had never been this free, her icy snow covered body felt agile as the wind whipped her hair behind her. The voices of her new friends all faded into the background as she released herself to the elements, she had never felt more vulnerable or more liberated.
Had she been paying attention instead of frolicking in the snow with her new comrades, she would have felt His presence. She would have felt the inevitable pull that linked them beyond the span of time. She would have felt the hardened eyes that watched her brighten when a meager human male hugged her because she won the sled race.
But Bella isn't the same. She isn't vigilant anymore…she was just…happy…finally happy.
Her happiness allows her to easily converse with Edward and soon he lures her into the world of music. Since Edward is a music aficionado, this is his domain. The first time she enters Edward's room with his permission she is taken aback by the neatness, she is sure that teenage boys are suppose to be dirty. Maybe Esme and Carlisle have a genetic component that makes their children prone to tidiness. Her mouth is agape at the wide selection of music that covers Edward's wall. He has a custom built shelving unit that has archives of music. Bella spends hours in Edward's room using his sophisticated sound system to listen to all the music he has collected in his short life. Tanya does not hide her outrage when she learns that their friendship has evolved so that they are spending hours in his room alone. If she did not know Edward as well as she does, she would have thought he was cheating.
He wasn't…but he really wanted to…well he doesn't want to cheat per se…he just wants to be with Bella.
Her presence stirs something in him that had been dormant. He had become complacent in life like so many of us...doing the same thing day in and day out, not stepping out of our comfort zones but remaining squarely in the box like good little sheep.
And where there are sheep, there are wolves.
His revelation occurs when he noticed that it was difficult for Bella to be close with anyone. She seemed to naturally shy away from people. She isn't even close with her father even though Charlie seems utterly devoted to her. It reminds him of his relationship with Tanya; Tanya is devoted to him but he has never been able to return the sentiment. Now they argue about the way she treats Bella; yet their arguments skirt the real problem
He is in a relationship of convenience.
It hadn't really dawned on him that he's with Tanya because that's what his friends and family always expected. And no one could live up to expectations like Edward Cullen. Yet it is this strange girl that lives next door that makes him stop and think. She does not act like everyone expects. She does not act like a daughter; she doesn't even act like a teenager. He can't even put a finger on it…she acts like…Bella. That's it; she acts like herself…not what's expected.
So when his ever rambunctious twin, Alice, suggests one of her over-the-top ideas he does not dismiss it like he usually does; this floors Alice to the point of speechlessness. And Alice Cullen is never speechless.
Alice was ready to beg her brother to go because she knew that Bella would only go if he went; but she didn't have to beg because he said yes!
They are going to a nightclub. That's one of the places that you never thought you'd see a Cullen but Alice's heart is set on attending because her favorite band is going to perform for New Year's.
She's never been to a club and wants to know what all the excitement is about. Their vacation is almost over and she wants to at least do something spectacular for the New Year. So now that she has a yes from Edward, Alice sets her eyes on Bella. She knows she can use the fact that Edward will be there as bait for Bella to attend.
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It's during Christmas dinner that Alice corners Bella in the kitchen as the two of them get dessert. The house is packed as usual. The McCarthy's, Hales and Denali's are present and this year the Swans are added to the mix. Christmas dinner was fun, as usual, but Alice was antsy all night…She wants to get Bella alone.
Bella is contemplative as Alice gives her the best puppy dog eyes. She explains that since Bella is one of them now, she wants her to join them at the club to celebrate New Year. She also knows that Edward has drawn her into the world of music and she would love the band that's going to be there. Bella doesn't see a problem with going to the club since she has sometimes used some seedy clubs as hunting grounds; it's just that she doesn't want to be bothered with unwanted male attention when she's there.
It always ends the same way…Bella invites them to a secluded place with promises of pleasure, which may or may not happen, then she feeds. But she can't do that this time because she has company. Maybe it's not a bad idea to go out with her friends…it's still odd for her to think of herself as having friends…and to Alice's delight, she acquiesces.
Edward can see Alice's giddy joy when she brings out the dessert to the table and he knows that Bella has said yes. He chances a peek at Bella and she shrugs when their eyes meet. He laughs because they both understand that sometimes the simplest things make Alice happy. That very night, as a Christmas gift to the Swans, Esme gives Charlie the keys to their completed home. Tanya breaths a sigh of relief that there will be a few more feet separating Edward and Bella but she is still peeved that Alice asked Bella to the club with them.
It doesn't take much for Bella and Charlie to move across the street. They only have to move their clothing because Esme had brand new furniture in the house. Yet Bella is miffed at the amount of clothing Alice has made her purchase in such as short period of time. This is why she is weary when she accompanies Alice, Rosalie and Tanya to go shopping for their New Year's club outfit. Alice tells them that it's an upscale club so she emphasizes that the outfit should be 'sexy not slutty', she gives Tanya a pointed look during her speech. Bella and Rosalie try to stifle a laugh but they are hopeless. After Tanya storms off, Bella watches Rosalie and Alice run after her in an attempt to calm her.
Bella takes the opportunity to look for a dress on her own. She does not even recollect the last time she made an effort to put a dress on much less one that's sexy. She finds a cocktail dress by Armani and some platform leather pumps by Yves Saint Laurent, she also picks up a black Burberry trench coat and some black leather gloves. She has no idea who these designers are; she just memorized the list that Alice told her was acceptable to purchase from. Her purchase is complete by the time Alice, Rosalie and Tanya return from soothing Tanya's bruised ego. They look at Bella like she is insane when she tells them she is done. Alice bustles over to look at her purchases and surprisingly approves.
When Bella notices that her three shopping buddies are taking a long time, she leaves her purchases with the nice salesgirl who Alice is keeping on her toes and she takes a walk. Now that she isn't entirely absorbed with her human companions, instincts take over. She starts observing her surroundings and abruptly stops when she senses someone is watching her. Something is amiss… there seems to be a ghost of a shadow in the corner of her eyes. She returns back to the Alice and the others. She's happy to see all three are done shopping and ready to leave. After tucking their purchases safely in the car, they head home. Bella feigns exhaustion to deny Alice's request for her to come over. Instead she waves to Carlie and Edward who are peering at her from their front window. After bidding the ladies farewell, she enters her home.
No one seems to be home.
Dumping her purchases in her newly decorated bedroom, she runs into the woods behind the house. She has been so caught up with the humans that she fails to notice the unusual.
She is deep in the woods, standing silently; her form is cloaked in the long gnarled shadows of barren winter trees. She is waiting. Slowly she is falling back into her darkness, slowly she is losing her humanity, and slowly she is getting stronger. Her nostrils flare.
Our Isabella has returned…Bella is long gone.
From the moment she sensed Him during her shopping trip, Bella scurries away. It is apparent that a schism has occurred in our lovely creature…one part Bella, one part Isabella. Now that Isabella is back she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, her head rocks back, she licks her lips tasting the air. Her face grimaces in the duality of pleasure and pain as she tastes Him on the wind. His scent is everywhere…it surrounds her house…it surrounds the Cullen home…how could she miss it?
He's here…He's come back for her.
Let the chaos begin…
Annotation: So I haven't done a proper lemon in this fanfic and I'm on the fence as to whether or not I will do one…let me know (via reviews or PMs) if you want lemon(s)… Also now that you have seen the more humane side of Isabella (i.e. Bella), who do you love more…Bella or Isabella? Frankly I prefer Isabella…thanks for reading!