A/N: Hi guys! Sorry this took a while. I've been a little busy - I've got a heap on. This chapter is also in two parts, and well, I'm not very keen to finish The SV just yet, so I'm stretching it out. Also too, NaNoWriMo has started, and I'm writing a vampire novel. :D I'll post it on , so watch my profile for it. The title is The Night is for Hunting. Enjoy guys! x L
"Elizabeth the First was a cold hearted bitch who was paranoid that her beautiful cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, would take the throne," I said aloud, writing down the words that I spoke.
"You cannot write that," Robert protested. "And why not?" I looked up from my paper defiantly. Setting down my pencil, I dipped my hand into the cereal box. "Because it is wrong. It's not a fact, it's not the truth. Elizabeth was not cold hearted, nor was she paranoid. She was eliminating a threat," Robert answered.
I rolled my eyes. "Fat lot of good it did her. Mary's son ended up being her successor, uniting England and Scotland, which is not what Elizabeth wanted," I argued back.
It was only after nine o'clock, but my usual Sunday morning sleep in hadn't been possible, no thanks to a certain someone who thought it entertaining to sing 'Oh, What A Beautiful Morning" in my ear until I was up. So instead of sleeping, I was in the kitchen, surrounded by my History books. Only a few were open, the useless ones cast aside. I flipped a few pages of one of the better books, A Guide to the British Monarchy, and then slammed it shut, along with my notebook.
Robert just shook his head. Suddenly he sat up straight, taking his feet off the chair next to him. "We have company."
A few seconds later, Edward Cullen appeared, Bella over his shoulders, laughing. The laughter stopped as he set Bella on the ground, both of them looking at me.
"Ally. Um, I didn't think that you would be up," Bella stuttered, pulling down the bottom of her shirt. I smiled. "Well, it was just such a beautiful morning that I couldn't resist getting up and finishing my History homework." My voice was borderline sarcastic. "I'm surprised Cullen didn't tell you," I joked, nodding my head in the direction of Edward.
"Must have escaped my mind," Edward smiled at me. I didn't smile back, instead twisting my mouth into a small frown. Just because he was privy to the information I lived to keep a secret didn't mean that we were automatically friends. I looked away, not really wanting to see the frown of Cullen's face.
Bella hadn't noticed the exchange. "Watch me hunt," she said solemnly to Cullen, although a small smile escaped from her lips as they shared a private joke. Edward watched her every move as if caught me in a trance.
"I'll ask Marika for help tomorrow," I muttered to myself, stacking up the books. Looking away from Bella, Edward glanced at me.
"Is, er, Robert here?" he asked, looking uncomfortable. I rolled my eyes. Who wouldn't feel uncomfortable asking if an invisible Spirit was in the room? "Of course," I answered. Why wouldn't Robert be with me? I motioned to the seat on my right, waving my hands in the air like a travel guide. Robert just leaned onto the table, resting his hands on his hands and his elbows on the table.
"To my right," I said in a phony voice.
There was silence for a while as Bella sat down and started eating. I doodled on a loose sheaf of paper, singing softly to myself.
"I'm taking Bella to my house to meet my parents. I thought maybe you and Robert would like to join us? Carlisle is anxious to meet you both," Edward said. I raised my eyebrows. I had the sudden feeling of being the third wheel for a second – was I just a translator?
"You both are more than welcome to come," Edward looked at me pointedly, and I felt my cheeks go red.
I turned to Robert, looking into his brown eyes. "Do you want to go?" I murmured. It felt weird speaking to Robert with people present.
"Most definitely," he grinned.
I turned to Edward. 'Count us both in," I grinned. "Oh good," Bella spoke up in between mouthfuls of cereal. "I won't be alone when I meet the Cullens." Her voice dripped with relief. Edward laughed, ruffling Bella's hair. She ducked, but was unable to avoid his hand. "You'll be fine." Looking at them both staring at each other, I realized that they were a lot more comfortable being around each other, Edward especially. I smiled, glad that Bella had found some sort of happiness here in Forks.
I coughed. "But I get to drive," I said sternly. "There's no way I'm sitting in your truck. We might make it by nightfall."
--
Twenty minutes later, I stood at the front door, locking up. We had left a note for Charlie, explaining where we were, just in case his fishing trip ended early.
"Ally."
I jumped, almost dropping the keys. "Sheesh, Cullen. Haven't I already told you once before not to do that?" "Do what?" he smirked. "You know what." I tugged at the doorknob, making sure it was locked.
"I wanted to say thank you. For not saying to Chief Swan about me being here last night. And thank you, for believing that Bella has a chance of happiness with me." I felt my face go red again, Robert snorting back a laugh.
"Anyone can see that you two are in love, so it's fine, really. Not at all a problem," I stuttered. Awkward silence…I thought, looking down. "Let's go…" I said, pointing to my car.
Bella was already in the car, and Edward slid gracefully into the backseat, murmuring to Bella. When I jumped into the driver's seat, I reached across Robert and closed the passenger door I had left open. "Seatbelt," I hissed under my breath. Robert just looked at me, arms folded and eyebrows raised. A smile played on his lips. I sat back in my seat, folding my arms like him. "Seat. Belt." Robert just shook his head.
"Fine. I'm not moving then. We'll sit here until you do," I said stubbornly. I glared at Robert for a few seconds, watching as he laughed silently.
I jumped as I felt someone tap my shoulder. Edward leaned over, whispering in my ear. "Can we please go? Before it gets too dark?" I rolled my eyes. It was still early morning. I started up the car. Big headed arsehole who thinks he can get away with everything. I heard Edward chuckle from the backseat, and I glanced up at the rearview mirror, glaring at him. He smirked back.
"Just direct me to your house," I muttered, clenching my fists on the steering wheel, trying hard not to hit Robert.
--
Just over from the Calawah River we reached the Cullen house. It was a huge house, one that looked at least a hundred years old. I slowly whistled as I peered at the three stories. I directed the car over to a spot by the garage – there were no other cars in sight; the first disappointment. I was hoping to get a ride in the Aston Martin.
Edward chuckled as we exited the car, and I followed him and Bella into the house. "Ready?" Cullen asked Bella. "Not even a little a bit – let's go," Bella laughed shakily. I rolled my eyes, trying to cover my own nervousness.
The inside of the house was even more beautiful than the outside. Everything was open and filled with light. Windows covered the back where walls should have been. The back garden stretched right down to the river, a circle of trees blocking the view of the river. A huge spiraling staircase led to the upstairs of the house.
Standing off to one side were Edward's parents, waiting patiently as we entered the house. Dr. Cullen I'd seen of course, at the hospital, but you couldn't not be taken away by the beauty of his face. A woman in her mid twenties stood next to him. Esme, I guessed. She had a beautiful face, her hair a soft caramel colour. They smiled softly at Bella and I, but made no attempt to move.
"Carlisle, Esme," Edward began, breaking the silence. "This is Bella –" he introduced, Bella stepping forward to shake the Doctor's hand and then Esme's. "And this is Ally." Edward stepped aside to let me be seen. They were more comfortable with me, it seemed. Carlisle gave me a handshake, Esme a quick hug. Edward started speaking, and I tuned out, looking around me. Robert was walking around the Cullen house at ease, looking like I was. He was almost about to cross the foot of the stairs when a short girl dashed past, a blaze of black hair and white skin.
"Hi Bella!" Alice called out. She hugged a shocked Bella, and then turned to me. "You're the one with the invisible boyfriend," she said solemnly. I laughed aloud. "He's not my boyfriend. But yes, he is invisible." Alice laughed; the sounds of her laughter soft like bells. Alice rocked back on her heels, holding my hands. It looked incredibly odd, especially since she was shorter than I. She had a frown on her face. I stared back at her puzzled. "Nope, I still can't see your future. It's all blurry. He must be blocking you," Alice said after a few minutes. I looked at Bella from where she was standing, a little freaked out, and then looked at Robert. He had moved closer to Alice, silently laughing.
He stopped suddenly. "I'm not guarding your mind," he murmured, moving closer. His voice piqued with interest. I felt my mind go all foggy for a moment. I blinked, the sudden fogginess hurting my brain. I closed my eyes, swaying a little bit.
I opened my eyes again, the fogginess going away. It had only been a few seconds, but it was enough for each of the Cullen's present to look at me funny.
"It's okay," I said, laughing. "Little experiment going on," I explained. No-one said anything. I realized that during my little mind blank, Edward had moved over to a baby grand piano in the corner, Bella sitting next to him on the piano stool.
A beautiful lullaby filled the room, and I stood, entranced, Robert by my side. After a while I felt a slight tap on my shoulder. Looking up, I saw Carlisle standing by my side, smiling.
"Would you accompany me to my office?" he asked politely. I nodded, and followed Carlisle up the winding staircase to his office.