N/A: Thank-you to EVERYONE who has reviewed. It means a lot to me. I know my last chapter wasn't very good, and I may try to write another one in further chapters. This chapter really brings everything together, and sets it all in motion, so….enjoy!
Chapter 7: Friend or Foe?
"Edward." Carlisle Cullen greeted his oldest son warmly from the front of the great white mansion, and the notion that soon it would all be ours disoriented me for a moment. I looked around at the faces of my family, each one happy and bright.
"Carlisle." Edward's greeting was noticeably less warm, but the smile never left Carlisle's face.
There was a short, awkward silence, until, suddenly, there was a flash of colour, and a dark head bolted straight into me.
"Alice! God, you're going to have to stop doing that." I was a little breathless (if that was possible), but still delighted to see my new sister.
"Bella! Oh, you look amazing! I can't wait to see you in the clothes I've picked out, but first…." Alice faded out, her eyes suddenly misting over, and I realised she was seeing something.
"Alice, what did you see?" She snapped out of it abruptly and turned to me.
"Well, I don't see how it would be of any interest to you. I didn't see you. I can't anymore. It's a little frustrating actually." She turned her nose pointedly away from me. I chuckled, and spun her back round to face me.
"Alice. What. Did. You. See?" I enunciated everything clearly, so as to make sure she understood me. Reluctantly, she turned to face me.
"It was nothing much. Just Emmet looking upset." At my clearly confused expression, she elaborated. "He was beaten by….somebody….I guess you, at arm wrestling."
"I'd like to see that." Edward was at my side now, hugging me possessively to his side.
"Oh? You don't think I can?" It was as much a statement as a question, and I was a little pissed that he didn't think I could take on Emmet (although, personally, I was a little surprised by the notion myself).
"No, it's just….well, it seems a little unlikely." He grimaced slightly as I jabbed him in the arm. Hard.
"Well, we'll just see about that. After all, if no-one else's powers have any effect on me, why should Emmet's?" I smile in triumph. I had trumped Edward this time.
"Ok then. I'll call him." Edward smiled at my over-confidence, and winked at Alice.
"I reckon she'll win." It was Rosalie now, skipping lithely down the steps to my side.
"Care to take a wager? $50 dollars says Emmett will win." This was Jasper now, one arm protectively round Alice's shoulders, one arm shoved in the pocket of his pants.
"You're on." I have to say, I was a little surprised that this most hostile Cullen was willing to wager against her own husband.
"I trust Alice." Rosalie said happily, smiling fondly toward her younger sister.
"So do I. I just put brawn above brains." Jasper squeezed Alice's shoulder lightly at this.
"What's going on?" It was Emmet now, towering over all of us, his grin so wide it looked like it might break his face clean in half.
Rosalie flounced to his side.
"I believe, Bella is challenging you to an arm wrestle." She grinned evilly at me, the twinkle in her eye unmistakable.
"Oh is she now?" Emmet's laugh boomed out, loud and hearty. "Well, I whole-heartedly accept. Bring it on!" He grinned at me, excited by the prospect.
I rolled my eyes at him, but surprised myself by agreeing. I didn't want to back out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ok, you both know the rules. On the count of three, you can begin. The first to push the other's arm onto the table wins. Ready…1…2…3…GO!" Jasper started the wrestle off eagerly. I wondered vaguely where Edward and Carlisle had disappeared to, but was too preoccupied to focus too much on anything else. My arm was beginning to ache slightly, and Emmet could feel it. He started grinning at me. I really, really, wanted to win, I suddenly realised.
I wasn't too sure where it came from, but I had a sudden burst of energy, and pushed against Emmet's arm with so much force, I caught him completely off-guard, and managed to gain a little distance. He growled at this, and immediately responded with his own burst of energy. But I was in my depth now, and had gained the upper-hand. I smiled to myself as I pushed his arm closer and closer to the table top. I felt elated. I was beating Emmet Cullen at his own game! I was stronger than him! With a final surge of energy, I shoved his arm towards the table, and grinned in triumph.
The next few things were a blur. Alice ran towards me, grinning; Emmet and Jasper stared at me in horror; Rosalie smiled contentedly from her place next to Emmet. I could hardly believe I had won. It was only an arm-wrestle, but I felt like I had ascertained my position in the family. I felt like I truly belonged. I didn't feel like an outsider anymore.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Edward, come to bed." I sighed as I closed Wuthering Heights again, and motioned for Edward to join me.
Edward paced back and forth in front of the monstrous gold bed he had bought especially for me.
"I just can't explain it. It all made sense when Carlisle said it, but now I think it back through…" He stopped abruptly and ran his hands through his hair for the umpteenth time that evening. All hopes I had had for a romantic evening in bed were quickly dissipating.
"Well, maybe if you tell me what he said…" I snuggled deeper under the covers as he climbed onto the bed, still deep ion thought. He wrapped his arm around me waist, and sighed deeply.
"You remember when you first found out about werewolves? And the treaty?" (A nod from me ascertained this) "Well, there were a few things that were not exactly mentioned. You already know that if either one of the two parties crosses the boundary line of the other without permission, it could trigger a war. But what was not mentioned was the fact that this applies in any situation. Carlisle couldn't treat Jared because he was breaking the treaty at the time. This sounds like a pretty lame excuse, but you have to understand Bella, for the treaty to work, both sides have to respect the agreement. There is a hospital in La Push; so to begin with, I couldn't work out why Jared had been brought to the Forks hospital. Then Carlisle explained it- by the time the werewolf was injured, he had already crossed the border line. He had already broken the treaty." He broke off to let his words sink in. I sort of understood now, but there were still a few things I didn't exactly get.
"But why didn't Carlisle treat him? If he had already crossed the border, surely it wouldn't have made any difference if Carlisle had treated him or not."
Edward sighed.
"Even when I understood the first part, I couldn't understand this. Carlisle told me that, had he touched the injured werewolf's blood, the treaty would have been broken. You see, part of the treaty states that neither parties can spill the blood of the other, regardless of the circumstances. To heal Jared, Carlisle would have had to take some of his blood. Under the laws of the treaty, this would count as spilling his blood. The laws of the treaty are binding. I'm sorry Bella, and so is Carlisle." Edward looked at me, and I didn't doubt his sincerity for a second.
"But….that's preposterous! Surely the treaty could have been abandoned for a little while, to save a boys live! Edward, you have to agree!"
"I do Bella, but we have always lived by the treaty, as long as we've been here. If we go back on it now, we might as well abandon the whole thing. Didn't you wonder why the La Push group didn't press charges? It was because they knew Bella. They respected the laws." He sighed, and his golden eyes were tight. I could see how much he wanted, no needed, me to understand. I was just so…outraged!
"I know Edward…but it just gets to me, you know? I don't see why we can't all live peacefully." I flopped back onto the pillows, defeated in my argument. Edward snorted.
"Mortal enemies live peacefully? You really do have a problem with your head!" He said, knocking on it gently. I gave him a playful shove, and then reached over to turn out the lights.
"I really am sorry Bella; it's just the way things are." Edward began to hum my lullaby, and I could feel myself drifting off to sleep.
"I know, I just wish they weren't." I muttered, before giving in to sleep.
N/A: A nice long chapter, happy? Want more? REVIEW!