Disclaimer: Do I look like Stephenie Meyer to you? Well, maybe you can't see me...but I don't, therefore, I do not own Twilight. Sad, but true.
Okay, there have been a TON of questions thrown my way. But I all of them will be answered in the story...lol. I love that you guys are so curious!
Also, I'm just warning you now. YES, this is a Edward and Bell romance, but they will NOT fall in love at first sight...in fact...well, you'll see. But they WILL get together, don't worry about that. Just thought I should warn you.
Right, well again to All.The.Rage.R pounds fist back...lol.
On With It...
"The lunatic, the lover, and the poet are of imagination all compact"
William Shakespeare
BPOV
The days leading up to the party that was to mark my last days as human had been quite uneventful. For me at least. I followed my father figure's directions and started to act outside of my comfort zone. I had been more outgoing and found myself talking and having fun conversations with vampires I had never talked much to before.
However, Aro hadn't been the only one to notice my change in behavior. It seemed every place I went, I could see Felix lurking somewhere near by. I knew he was my body guard for the time being, but honestly he was taking his responsibilities to a whole new level. He never really approached me or even said all that much to me. It was more like he was watching my every move which I was beginning to think was worse.
Aro said the party would be held in the back of the castle that had an enormous courtyard. The weather had been so beautiful lately that no one was nervous about bad weather affecting the party.
A day ago, someone had come to set up a concert stage. It had lights to shine down at the crowd and there were yards of fabric draped down the sides of the structure. Heidi had said that the color scheme should be yellow and pink to make everyone feel happy. I on the other hand disagreed. I asked her to change it to purple and black. She seemed a little hesitant thinking that we may offend someone with the death theme. But I argued that I would be the only human in attendance and that if I wanted to make fun of my own demise, it should be my decision. She laughed at me and then did as I asked.
So now, the day of the party had finally arrived. Not that I was all that excited about a party being held in my honor anyways. But since my "outgoing streak" as Heidi referred to it as, the thought of meetings others that I would soon be like had piqued my interest. I was especially excited to meet the Cullen family. Well, honestly it was more off nervousness.
Would they like me? Would they teach me their style of life? Aro had held them in such high regard, especially Carlisle. He had said that they would be more than happy to help me in my quest to adapt their lifestyle but I still had my doubts.
I looked out the window of my room to the courtyard below. They had really put quite a bit of time and effort into this party. There were tables with purple table clothes and black cushioned chairs at the left side, opposite of the stage on the right. They had strung white Christmas lights from the stage to the castle making a kind of canopy over the area.
It was the most lavish event I had ever seen in my life. I was just happy no one would be showing up in a prom dress. This party was already way overboard, but I suppose it could've been worse. As least no one would bring presents. That would be uncomfortable.
"Knock, knock." I tore my eye from the spectacle below my window (people were still making sure every thing was perfect...that the Volturi, I guess...go big, or go home) to find Heidi already getting my outfit from my closet.
"I am capable of dressing myself." I said with a laugh as she laid the outfit on my bed.
"But you will need my help with your hair and make-up." she smiled.
"I don't suppose there's anyway you'll let me go just looking like this, is there?" I asked hopeful.
"Sorry, princess." she said with a laugh. "You do realize that once you're changed, you'll be viewed as a princess of Volterra, right?"
"Uh...no. I hate to break it to you and every one else who has that silly notion in their head, but I am nobody's princess. And I rather prefer it that way, thank you very much."
"Whatever." she rolled her eyes. "Okay, come on, change."
"Well aren't we bossy tonight." I said jokingly as I started to strip. I put on a nice pair of dark blue jeans that fit me tightly and hung a little low on my hips, along with the blue top we had bought when we went shopping (top on my profile). All together, the ensemble almost looked like something I would be able to go clubbing in...not that I had any interest in that. I would be a hazard to everyone around me.
After I was in my clothes, Heidi sat me down on a chair next to the vanity in my room (which I had never used). I closed my eyes, not even wanting to know what she was going to do to me, not to mention that she would probably use her vampire speed and I didn't want my opened eyes getting poked with various brushes. The sooner it was over, the better.
And it only took a minute, tops, and that was because she didn't have a very good base to start with. With Heidi it was completely unnecessary to even bother putting make-up on. But for special events she did anyways.
"There, all done. Now, onto hair." she told me as she whipped out a curling iron. This, unfortunately would take longer. Even with her speed, she would have to wait for my hair to heat in the iron. When the iron beeped to signal it was ready for use, she started.
The curls weren't like those someone would wear to a high school dance. Nope, instead they were tight and tiny, making my hair a little shorter, coming down only to the bottom of my bosom. It had a wild kind of look to them.
When she had me turn around to look in the mirror, I had to admit I was impressed. I looked older and a lot prettier. My hair looked like something out of a hair commercial or a chic club in New York. My eyes had dark blue shadow on them with black blended in to give them a smokey affect with of course eye liner and mascara added. My lips were simply glossed, highlighting my naturally red lips. And there was only a hint of blush that looked to define my cheekbones more.
"Okay, I have to say, I'm impressed." I told her with a smile, to which she just raised her chin and gave me a smug smile.
"I don't know why you insist you're so plain. You really are a beautiful girl, you know." she said looking into my eyes, as if willing me to believe it.
"Well, I certainly look better now." I blushed, not really sure how to take the compliment. Especially when I didn't believe it.
"Well, I can hear people starting to arrive, so we should probably start to head down. With you it'll take a couple minutes." Heidi told me.
I laughed. "Yeah, well two days and we wont have to worry about that, will we?"
She grabbed my hand and started to pull me away from the room. Good thing I had worn simple black flats, or I probably would've tripped. Then again, it I had tripped I would've been able to miss the party. I smiled to myself at the thought.
EPOV
The family and I walked to the Volturi castle all demonstrating varying moods. Alice was practically bouncing with excitement. She had been excited since we had found out about the party. She had had countless visions about what it would be like and what would happen. Unfortunately she had blocked some of them from me, so I wasn't completely sure what I was in store for us. She had raved about this human, Bella. I didn't understand. What would be so great about a human? We're around them every day at school. Their minds are shallow and unoriginal. Why would she be any different?
Jasper simply smiled the whole time. He wasn't excited about the party, but was highly amused with the way his wife had been acting. Maybe some of her energy and exuberance had just rubbed off on him.
Emmet kept thinking inappropriate things about Rosalie. What he wanted to do to her and what they had done on the flight over to Italy in the bathroom of the plane. Needless to say I try to block him as much as possible.
Rosalie was thinking about how she would be the prettiest vampire there. She wore a smug smile already knowing that others would fall short when it came to her beauty. She really was a vain creature.
Carlisle was the epitome of calm. He didn't look board, he just simply looked like the elegant gentleman that we all knew he was. Esme had her arm around Carlislie's and she seemed completely at home and comfortable in this place. She was the kind of person who would feel comfortable anywhere and that had a tendency to rub off on us. Wherever she was felt like home.
I, on the other hand, was simply bored. Throughout the trip Jasper had tried to send me waves of excitement, happiness, anticipation, anything but the boredom I had been feeling. However, he would stop as soon as I shot him a glare.
I didn't want to be excited for this. I didn't even want to come. I found the idea of a celebration of death sick and disturbing. Death was something that should be respected. Who was this Bella girl to take that respect away? Only a human could be so condescending towards the ritual of death. It was easy for them. They die...done...over. They don't have to worry about their eternally damned souls like we do.
"Come on Edward, can you at least attempt to enjoy yourself tonight?" Alice asked as we entered the lavishly decorated courtyard.
"No." I simply responded.
"What do you have against a party?" Emmett said, clearly just thrilled by the idea of a party, no matter what it was for.
"The whole idea is simply sick. To celebrate damning one's soul is disturbing." I explained to my family.
"Whether the soul is damned or not, depends entirely on the soul." I heard a voice behind me. I quickly turned around to see one of the leaders of the Volturi. From Carlisle's thoughts, this was Aro, the one who had found the girl.
"Aro, it has been a long time." Carlisle came forward to shake his hand, but Aro simply stared at it.
"I would like for you to keep you privacy." Aro said with a smile.
"I very much appreciate that." Carlisle responded pulling his hand back. "This is my family." he smiled proudly. "The first member to join me, my son Edward. My lovely wife Esme. My children here are Rosalie and her husband Emmett. And Alice and her husband Jasper." he pointed us all out.
"It is truly a pleasure to meet the family of my dear friend." Aro said smiling at all of us. "Young man, do you have something against humans?" he asked me.
"Not at all. We live amongst them. But I find them to be unoriginal and hideously predictable." I explained to him.
"Ah, but clearly you must feel different about our dear Bella." he assumed.
"Oh? And why should she be any different than the rest of the shallow humans I have read the minds of?" I asked smugly, not expecting an answer because his mind had been blocked so I naturally thought he didn't have one. Not to mention I have a knack for being right most of the time.
He let out a small laugh. "Because my dear boy, if she was your typical human, you would've seen this coming. In fact, I think you will find she is quite different. Not only from humans, but she will no doubt make a unique vampire as well."
"She sure will." Alice chirped from my side.
"Now please, try to enjoy yourselves. The D.J. will be starting to play music on the stage shortly. We even encourage you to sing for us. I'm sure I will see you throughout the night." Aro nodded in our direction and was off to greet the many other guests that had accumulated to the area.
I could already tell it was going to be a long night.
BPOV
I had arrived outside and already the courtyard was packed with my vampire guests. Guests I had never met. This was going to be a long night, I could tell already.
The D.J. was on stage and was about to start the music. I looked around to see lots of mingling going on, but honestly, what would I say to these people? "Hi, thanks for coming to wish me a happy death and a painful transformation?" Somehow I doubt they would appreciate it.
"Bella, just breath. You'll be fine." Heidi said and then laughed.
"What? What's so funny?" I asked, suddenly worried.
"Nothing. It's just that I realized that you're the only one here who still has to breathe." she laughed.
I joined in. "That is the lamest thing I think you've ever said." I informed her.
She shrugged. "Alright, now go have fun." she said and then she was gone.
I stood there, shocked. She had just left me by myself in a courtyard of vampires I didn't know, and really had no interest in knowing. Could this be any more frustrating?
"You look lovely tonight." I heard Felix whisper from behind me. I spun around and gasped in surprise. Looks like it could.
"Oh my god, you scared me." I said, holding my right hand over my heart.
"Are you having a good time?" he asked.
"Well considering I've only been out here for about two minutes, I'd say it could be better." I said honestly.
The music started to play and I recognized the song to be Aerosmith's Jaded. I immediately tried to picture Aro dancing to this music, and smiled to myself.
"Would you like to dance?" Felix asked me. I looked over the courtyard to see that the guests had already started to gravitate towards the stage and start dancing.
"I think I'll pass for now." I told him. "But you go ahead." I urged him on, just wanting him to leave me alone.
"I'll be back to ask later." he assured me, and before I could say anything, he was gone. Stupid, fast vampires.
"Happy Death Day, Bella!" I heard someone squeal.
I looked in front of me to see a short pixie-like girl with short, spiky, black hair. Though she was small, she had the face of an angel. She was beautiful. There was also a tall blonde girl standing beside her. The blonde was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. Even Heidi didn't compare to the beauty of this blond.
"Hi, I mean, thanks." I stuttered, a little distracted by their beauty. I instantly felt my face break out into an embarrassed blush.
The pixie girl giggled. "I'm Alice and this is my sister, Rosalie." she introduced. I shook both of their hands. As I looked at them again, I noticed their eyes. They weren't the crimson red of most of the vampires. They were a gold color.
"Your eyes. They're beautiful." I said, not able to look away.
The blond let out a musical laugh. "Everyone in our family has eyes like this." she explained.
And then it hit me. "Oh my. You're part of the Cullen family." it wasn't a question, it was a realization.
"Yes." Rosalie answered.
"Sure are." Alice agreed.
"It is truly an honor to meet you. To be honest your family is the ones I actually wanted to meet tonight." I said in a voice barely above a whisper so that only the two in front of me could hear. I had been used to the sensitive hearing of vampires.
"Glad to hear it." Alice said with a smile. "I've been very excited to meet you as well. But we'll talk about that later, you're about to be called up on stage."
I stared at her in confusion. Then I heard the D.J. speak into the microphone. "Alright, let's give a round of applause for the death day girl. Bella, come up here and give a speech."
I hate my life. I blushed four different shades of red before going onto the stage and taking the microphone from the vampire.
I stared out into the crowd of perfect faces all staring at me. "Hi. I'm Bella and thanks for coming to my party. Glad you all could make it." I said shyly and handed the mic back to the D.J. I
I heard the quiet laughter of the audience. "Wait a minute, human girl." the D.J. laughed. "Why don't you request a song."
I thought for a moment. If they wanted funny, I would be a little witty for them. I went over to the D.J. and very lowly whispered my choice of song into his ear. He looked at me, smiled, and shook his head with a laugh.
As I walked back to the stairs to get off the stage, I smiled as I heard the beginning guitar and cowbell of Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper."
"Nice pick." A big burly boy laughed as I came down the stairs. He was standing next to the beautiful blond Rosalie. And there was a blond boy standing next to Alice.
"Bella," Alice started "I would like to introduce you to two other members of our family. My husband Jasper." she said gesturing towards the blond boy. "And Rosalie's husband, Emmett." she said pointing to the very muscular man.
"It a pleasure to meet both of you." I smiled at the boys.
"Ha!" Jasper laughed. "You don't know Emmett that well yet." I let out a small laugh.
"Hey, we just met her and you're turning her against me already? Not fair." Emmett complained at Jasper.
"Bella, ignore these immature boys." Rosalie said with an annoyed look. "Come dance with us girls." she said grabbing my hand.
"Um...that's not really a good idea. I'm not very coordinated." I admitted to her.
"Alice?" Rosalie asked looking over at her sister.
Alice looked like her eyes had glazed over and was in her own little world. A second later, she was back to normal. "She'll be fine." she smiled and grabbed my other hand, and the two of them walked me to the center of the courtyard.
They were now playing Bailamos by Enrique Iglesias and instantly started to move their hips back and forth. I smiled as I watched them have their fun, but the soon made me start to dance as well. Well, it was more of the three of us singing to each other, laughing and smiling as we moved and bounced.
As much as I hated to admit it, I was having a ton of fun. I had forgotten that all the perfect people around me could hear my voice sing with the music and see my spastic movements. For once, I felt free and fun loving. Like taking a deep breath of fresh air for the first time since my parents had died.
I was having an amazing time and nothing could ruin it. Yet.
EPOV
I saw Bella give her speech and the first thing I noticed was that she looked sad, or uncomfortable, maybe just embarrassed. As she spoke her shy and awkward words I tried to read her mind to figure out just which expression was on her face. But every time I tried, it was silent. I couldn't hear her.
I listened to her voice in the microphone for a moment to hear what she sounded like to make her 'voice' easier to pick out. But still, nothing.
"You can't hear her, can you?" I looked to find Aro standing next to me. "Carlisle had told me about your gift. Don't worry, most of the powers here don't work on her. I'm quite excited to see what her gift is once she's changed."
I nodded as the song Don't Fear the Reaper started to play. I couldn't help myself from letting a smile cross my face.
"I told you. She's special. A very unique girl." he said to me. She was witty, that was for sure, but she was still a mere human. Aro gave me a nod and left my side, leaving me to my thoughts.
I scanned the crowd for my family and found them talking to Bella, and then Alice and Rosalie dragging her to the dance floor. I watched as she just smiled at my two sisters, before they made her join in.
She started to move and sing along with my sisters and the music, looking like she was truly having fun. I noticed that she was actually very attractive. Alright, if I was being honest with myself that was an understatement. She was more than beautiful. She had soft looking milky skin that was almost as pale as my own. Though she had make-up on, I could tell that her beauty had more to do with the person that she was than the applied products.
She twirled with my sisters, spinning and jumping up and down and I found myself staring and smiling at her. She made a spin, and her eyes locked with mine. Then, two things happened at once. She smiled a beautiful smile at me, as the wind picked up, blowing her hair around her face. I caught a whiff of her blood and the demon in me instantly resurfaced. My stare went cold, and all I could think about in that moment was draining her body dry and relishing in the sweetest blood I would ever know.
She was tempting me with her blood, and I hated her for it. My expression must've showed my feelings, because her face suddenly looked sad...or maybe it was afraid. I couldn't be sure.
It was as if she had been placed here just to test me. This mere human could be my undoing. And I really hated her for that. No amount of beauty could make up for what she was making my feel that moment.
I started to feel the venom pool in my mouth and I knew I had to get out. I had to leave before I did something I truly regretted, something that could possibly have the Volturi kill me. Would they? Would they kill me over the death of an insignificant human? I shook the thought away. I would not wait around to find out.
I ran to find Aro and ask where we would be staying in the castle. I read his mind before he could speak and I took off in vampire speed to retreat to my room. Away from the temptation.
BPOV
I couldn't believe it. I just stood there frozen. The look he had in his eyes was one of pure hatred.
"Bella? Bella, what's wrong?" Rosalie asked me.
"That boy." I said in a saddened tone.
"What boy? What happened?" Alice asked.
"There was a boy staring at me. He was positively gorgeous. He smiled at me, and so I smiled back. But then, he suddenly had a look of anger and hatred painted on his face." I tried to explain.
"What did he look like?" Alice asked.
"Yeah, I'll kick his ass." I heard Emmett say as he suddenly came to meet us in the center of the courtyard.
"He had bronze colored hair and eyes like yours at first, but they turned almost black." I tried to explain to them.
"Oh no. Alice, is it who I think it is?" Jasper asked his wife.
"I'm sorry, Bella. That was our brother, Edward." she said meekly.
I felt the tears start to build in my eyes. How could someone who didn't even know me hate me so much. Then, suddenly, the sadness turned to something else. It turned to anger.
How dare he make me feel this useless and low. How dare he make me feel as if I was a lesser being than he. He didn't know me, and already I felt as if he was judging me.
"How dare he!" I yelled, forgetting where I was. Heads started to turn towards me, but I didn't care. I was furious.
"Bella, what's the matter?" I suddenly saw Heidi, Felix, and Aro beside me.
"I'm sorry, Aro, it's nothing." I tried to calm him. It knew it didn't work because he gave me a look saying he wanted to know. "Go enjoy the party. I'll tell you about it later." I told him with a weak smile. He still didn't believe me, but left, nonetheless.
"Damn Edward and his pissy moods!" Emmett cursed.
"Ugh!" I groaned. I just couldn't keep it in. He had no right to make me feel this way. I hated him! Pure hate! "I'm sorry, but I don't feel like a party right now. Excuse me." I said as my anger triggered my tear ducts and I started to cry as I ran to my room and closed the door.
I knew that closing and locking a door wouldn't keep any one who really wanted to get in out, but I was hoping they would get the idea I wanted to be alone. I didn't want to ruin any one else night, the way that Edward had ruined mine. I almost sneered his name when I thought it.
I went to my window and looked down on my party. I saw everyone laughing and enjoying themselves. All except a small group in the center of the courtyard. I saw Alice look up at me and she gave me an apologetic smile. I waved sadly back at her and left my window to wash myself up.
I hoped a shower could wash away this feeling of sadness and self-loathing like it did the make-up and dirt. I wished all of these horrible feelings that that bastard Edward had made me feel, rand down the drain with the water. I hoped and I wished, but neither of these things happened.
I crawled into bed after I dressed in my old beat up and torn pajamas (the only thing I still had left from my old life with my parents) and covered myself with the blankets, thinking it would act like a shield against anything else that wanted to harm me that night.
There, their first meeting. I bet it wasn't what you expected, was it?...lol.
I know that Rose is a little OOC but i like her getting along with Bella. Plus now she's not worried about Bella spilling the secret and she's already dying from cancer...so that's my thought process.
Tell me what you think because (not to sound full of myself, but) I really like this story. I am trying to make an inticate plot and make the characters close to what they are in the book.
Thanks for all of your support and awesome-ness. I love you all,
ashel-13