A/N: Could you see this Author's Note coming? mwahaha! Okay. To business. I am so terribly sorry, but I had to divide up this chapter. Please don't boo. You see, we start Daylight Savings, and I have to stick my clock forward so I lose an hour's sleep. On top of that, I'm going down to Margaret River for my birthday TOO EARLY in the morning. lol. So I can't post the next chapter until Monday morning...earliest Sunday evening. So please don't hate me too much. Also, please check out my profile and await a playlist and some pictures! Their not up yet, but will be soon! If you can't wait, check out my blog (link in profile). Again, I just want to thank you all who review. I've never been threatened so much to update something before o0 haha but you know I love you all! So keep reviewing, and I'll keep handing out the kudos! x L
I felt the colour drain from my face as I froze, my mouth wide open. My hands, which had been flying crazy around my head, dropped limply to my sides. Both Bella and Edward stood in the entrance to the kitchen, staring at me like I was crazy or something.
How long had they been standing there? More importantly, how much had they heard?
Silence hung in the air, thick and full of guilt. My guilt. I gulped, wondering what would happen next.
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked, my voice hoarse. Neither of them answered.
Surprisingly, it was Bella who spoke first, but she didn't answer my question. "Who are you talking to?" she asked curiously. I looked at her as if she was mad. "I wasn't talking to anybody. How long have you been standing there?"
"There's somebody here," Edward spoke, looking around. Neither of them seemed too concerned about answering my question. "There's no-one here," I protested, shaking my head. Robert was still standing by the wall, trying to control fits of laughter. I didn't dare shoot glares his way.
"Then who were you talking to?" Edward demanded. I used my glare on him instead. "No-one!" I yelled defensively. "I was…practising. For a debate. In Government." My excuse was lame, causing Robert to double over in laugher.
"What, their teaching you to debate about dreams now?" I raised my eyebrows, feeling that familiar shade of red creep over my face. "That was a bit snappy, even for you Edward," I retorted, folding my arms over my chest. I glared at Edward, who was eyeing me warily.
We held each other's gaze for a few minutes, silence filling the house once more. Well, almost silence. Robert was trying to control his laughing.
"It won't work by the way," I said smirking. I saw Robert put his face in his hands, shaking his head through my peripheral vision. "What won't work?" Edward asked slowly. Bella was looking at both of us, her head moving from side to side like we were in a tennis match.
"The vampire mind reading thing you can do. It won't work – not right now at least. Or so I hope." The last sentence was directed more at Robert than at Edward. His skin had noticeably paled and even Bella was staring at me in shock. Of course, no-one else was supposed to know about the Cullens.
"What vampire mind reading thing?" Edward laughed, composing himself. I shook my head. "So you can accuse me of playing dumb?" I laughed. "Unbelievable. I should have known."
Edward walked over to me. I could feel Robert at my side instantly, an automatic reaction. "Tell me. Tell me who you were talking to." I felt my pulse quicken. "I told you, no-one. There's no-one here." Edward towered over me, his golden brown eyes piercing mine. I quickly looked over his shoulder, to where Bella was still standing. Her expression was unreadable.
"Do not mess with me Ally," Edward's voice was barely a whisper, but he meant what he said. I wasn't intending on messing with him, just exactly a little revenge. Revenge for what…I still hadn't decided yet.
"This is stupid Ally. Don't do this," I heard Robert whisper in my ear. It was unexpected, and I shivered as his breath blew a few loose strands of hair around my ear. It was an action that was noticed by Edward.
"What was that?" he demanded, stepping closer. "What was what?" I played the innocent. "Your hair – it moved. You shivered," he accused. "There is someone here."
"So the living room window is open and a breeze came through. Doesn't prove anything Edward," I laughed. He took another step closer. One more step and he would be too close for comfort. "Edward…" Bella began to say. She left her mouth hanging open, only to close it again after a few seconds.
I heard Robert sigh next to me. I bit my bottom lip, resisting the urge to look at him. "Ally, this isn't necessary. I don't want to have to fight Cullen, you know that. You're behaving really childish. This is only going to end in tears and you'll be mad and I'll be…"
I noticed then that Edward had been talking to me as well. The sound that their voices made combined began to get irritating. "Will you both just shut up?" I yelled, brushing a hand through my hair. I quickly corrected myself. "Will you please shut up?" I repeated, editing out my slip of the tongue.
It was too late. There was no doubt that Edward had heard me the first time round, judging by the expression on his face. He was about to say something, closing the tiny gap between us.
In less than a second however, he was pressed up against the wall. I took a step back, Bella screaming. "Edward!" Her voice rang throughout the house.
I watched, arms folded, as Robert pinned Edward against the wall, Edward's own strength no match for that of Robert's. I couldn't help but crack a smile. It was kind of sweet in a way, watching Robert 'protect' me.
To Bella however, everything must have looked very strange. Cutting Robert out of the picture, it looked like Edward was trying hard to stop his hands from strangling his neck. The veins in his neck were bulging as he attempted to throw off whatever was holding him in place.
"Edward!" Bella screeched again. She turned to me. "Do something!" Panic flickered across her face, staying there as she watched helpless. "Please, Ally, stop it! Please!" I looked from her to Edward. I hated upsetting Bella, even if I was exacting revenge. Robert turned his head, looking at me pointedly.
I sighed. "Fine. You can let go," I muttered. Robert pushed himself of Edward, who looked at me in shock as he rubbed his neck. "What was that?" he asked. Bella had rushed to his side, fussing over him to make sure he was okay. Robert was mumbling to himself – I could make out something about how vampires were meant to be stronger than that.
"Not what. More like who," I corrected. "Who?" Edward repeated. "I don't understand. What is going on?" His voice had a certain edge to it. Obviously Cullen was easily frustrated if he couldn't read someone's mind.
I nodded. My eyes flickered over to Robert, my gaze only returning to Bella and Edward until after he had also nodded. I took a deep breath. It was time to reveal my secret.
"I would be right to assume you have heard the legends about Spirits, Edward?" I asked, resting my hands on the table behind me. "Yes I have." Edward made to come and sit at the table. He slid into an empty chair, and I copied. Bella, still on her feet, took out a pitcher of water, placing it on the table with some glasses.
"They are exactly that – legends," Edward continued. I laughed. "Says the mythical creature of the night," I pointed out. "There is no evidence to prove that Spirits are real," Edward argued. "No-one has ever proven their existence."
"Hence why they have been classed as legends," I fought on Robert's behalf. Not that he was giving me much help, standing on the other side of the room. I let my gaze wander over to him, holding his eyes until I finally realized that Edward had followed my gaze.
"Distracted?" Edward raised his eyebrows. "Easily," I replied quickly, flashing a smile. "So let's assume that Spirits are real." Edward held his palm up, stopping me from interrupting. "What you are saying is that a Spirit pinned me against the wall and held me there, despite who I am." The words would have come across as arrogant if they had of come out of anyone else's mouth. "Even I find that a little strange."
I bit my lip, not looking at Edward. "There's more to it than that," I whispered. I breathed in. I shivered, feeling Robert place his hands on the chair. "Wait." I looked up. Bella hadn't spoken a word since we had sat down, and she caught my attention.
"Spirits? As in, dead people haunting you, Ghost Whisperer stuff? A dead person attacked Edward?" The disbelief was written across her face. "That's a myth, Bella. There aren't any 'I see dead people' spirits. That's how the legends started in the first place," I explained.
Bella nodded slowly, but changed her mind halfway through, shaking it. "I can understand vampires. Vampires? Living legends. But Spirits? I'm officially lost."
I nodded. "I'm not surprised. If you thought your perspective on vampires had changed…" I drifted off, opening my arms out.
"Could you explain then? I feel like I'm missing something here," Bella asked. I laughed. "Okay! You could have just asked, instead of biting my head off," I grinned. Bella smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."
I grabbed the water jug and poured out a class of water. "If you're going to tell them, make sure you tell them right," Robert whispered in my ear. I scowled in annoyance. It was something I knew almost off by heart now. I looked up, ignoring, Edward's raised eyebrows. I was seriously beginning to think that the wind had changed…
"Yes, do tell us. I haven't heard any legends in a while," Edward smirked. I glowered at him, but didn't say anything. Instead, I took a deep breath and began to tell them all I knew about Spirits.