It was a little bit difficult to sneak away at five in the morning because the vampires were all awake and therefore fully alert. Yet I managed somehow. When I saw Lora at the graveyard I flew around her neck, only to kiss her and cuddle her. Another advantage of not being that strong is being able to hug humans without hurting them.
"How are you? What do you mean, vamp boys trying to eat you?" she asked straight away, but I interrupted and insisted on her telling me all about college and her life before. When she finished it was already fully morning, sun shining bright. The Cullen's would have avoided such sunlight, but I loved it. See, another advantage of being a crossover breed.
I don't know, maybe it was my grandma's blood or Pete simply didn't get much of his venom inside me, I hadn't fully run through the transition. I wanted blood like others crave for chocolate or maybe like an alcoholic craves for alcohol. However, it was suppressible, especially knowing that giving in to the craving would mean killing the only person left in my life.
"I need to learn how to fight" I told Lora. "As soon as possible" Lora nodded. I had already told her about Emmett and Jasper and she had looked at me full of concern. She still didn't seem to appreciate my plan but she never questioned my wishes. She trusted me enough to know that I wouldn't put her or myself in unnecessary danger. And as I cannot die she didn't fear that much about me. I know that for sure because I have no heartbeat and I ran into a car on my second day as a crossover vamp. I had flown metres away and the driver of the car was really shocked, but I had gotten up that quickly he believed he had missed me and his eyes had tricked him. It just hurt like hell and I had needed some days to recover.
"How can I help you?" Lora asked. I shrugged. I had to admit that I had no idea. "Google it?" I suggested grinning. Lora smiled too. "I can throw stones at you and you either catch them or try to move aside fast enough" It was a good idea.
Yet we could only make a few runs, it was already past lunchtime, Lara was starving and I had to get back to the Cullen's. We arranged to meet every dawn, every time at five a.m. I didn't agree easily, Lara needed to sleep, but she assured me that her jetlag made her wake up at 4 anyway. I believed her because she swore me to take good care of herself and she would never betray me.
For a while it went without anyone noticing anything or getting suspicious. I got better and better at moving away from the stones and Lara also reversed with me by trying to hit me and I had to make sure she wouldn't catch me.
But then one day Carlisle asked me to come back to his office so we could talk privately. Still it wouldn't be a private talk, vampires hear so much better than humans, they would hear everything. As I had heard some talks between Emmett and Jasper who had brought this on me by talking to Carlisle about my vanishing acts and that they were questioning my vegetarism. "We noticed you are leaving every morning, alone" he started. I nodded. "Where are you going?" I swallowed "Meeting someone" I said slowly. Carlisle believed me, I could see that. But did the others? "Please talk to me of you have difficulties keeping the diet or ... finding your place in this family" I smiled at him, I was honestly thankful for his concern.
Still I overheard Emmett and Jasper questioning Carlisle and swearing to find out who I am. I hated them for wanting to know that, although I was getting stronger again because Lora provided me with good fruits, it was hard being careful all the time. The time with Lora was great, only then I could be not cautious, didn't have to shield myself.
Emmett came to me one day, suggesting taking a chance at fighting again. I had already practised a lot with Lora, so I agreed. "What about a little bet?" he said, smirking. I knew he was up to something. "Like what?" I asked. "Like if you win I won't ever bug you again" I nodded. "And if you win?" "You will have to learn fighting with Jasper and me and you'll treat me like a king for a day" I hissed at him. That was a mean bet, but at last I agreed. When he jumped at me I managed to get away, but he attacked again, so quickly, that I had no chance. Emmett had me pierced, lying flat in the grass, cursing. "That was quick" he said disappointed. "What if I don't do what you said?" I tested, but I shouldn't have done that. Emmett pushed me a little harder into the grass, his hand on my throat. I panicked instantly, he didn't even need to say something. "You're my king" I repeated, when he let go of me he threw me a strange glance and I noticed that he was amused. But I wasn't. To me all of this was deadly earnest.
"Bring me a glass of water" Emmett said to me later that day. I quickly hurried into the kitchen. "You don't even drink water" I whispered angrily to myself. Then I went back, gave him the glass and said "here you go". "You know, I'd rather have another one", Emmett grinned, handing me the glass back. Edward interrupted us "Woah, what's going on?" Emmett told him about the bet and Jasper, who had been reading a book somewhere else cheered "way to go, bro!" "You can't do that" Edward insisted. A fight broke loose, bringing Alice in too, because she overheard us. Jasper hissed angrily at Edward, seeming more into that bet than Emmett had ever been. His eyes were glowing red and his muscles clenched. "Jasper, I think Edward is right" Alice chirped in and he let go for a second, but then he gave her a disappointed look. "Not you too" he hissed and went out. I felt terrible; it had been me who brought that on.
Alice and Jasper didn't talk again that evening; the whole family was at war. Every now and then I felt Jasper looking at me, furious, outraged.