Epilogue
As I stand on the cliff feeling the cold (well not really) Forks air whip my hair slightly on my face I hear the rustling of the leaves on trees. I stare openly at the water and take it all in. Edward tackled me from behind.
"EDWARD!" I shout and laugh as he pretends to choke me. "NO! NO! NO!" I laugh as he ruffles my hair then kisses it I tackle him. Edward pulls me down towards the ground. "You know sometimes it can be weird being a vampire" I said.
"You bet" he said and pulls me closer to him.
"What's Bella up to today?" I ask and he looks at me knowingly.
"Alice" I said and he nods. "I'm so thirsty" I said.
"I know we haven't hunted in a while have we" he said.
"Yeah" I said.
"Last time you went with Jason?" he asked.
"Yeah" I said and tracked mountain lion "oh nice" I said and Edward saw the image in my head.
"Let's go" he said pulling me onto his back.
"HEY!" I shout and jump off and sprint towards my destination.
The mountain lion were in their little gathering thing or whatever and I crouched behind a tree. Edward gave me a look like "what the hell are you doing" but I smirked today I was just being my mischievous self. I watched as the mountain lion's steady breathing increased and their heart beat paced higher as they could feel a predator watching them. They didn't have that many predators to look out for (other than vampires).
At the right time I launched forward and tore my jeans as I landed on the back of a mountain lion that clawed my face that didn't do anything and he was confused when he saw that. I always made my prey's death fast so they wouldn't suffer so I just bit into its neck and watched as its body was paler and limp. I brushed my knees off and sprinted to where the rest of the herd went. I tackled another one and sucked its blood. Typically when I went I hunted three and when I was preparing for battle I had a lot more for strength but for now I was good. I ran to where Edward was and saw him wrestling with a grizzly bear.
"Emmett's going to be jealous!" I called to him.
"Or he doesn't have to know" Edward said jumping up.
"He'll smell the blood" I said and Edward picked me up and put me on his back as he darted up a tree.
"Hazel" he crooned.
I rolled my eyes "why do you have to be so strange" I asked.
"Why are you such a misery?" he asked.
"You did not just say that" I said.
"What if I did?" Edward said and I smirked in an angry/playful way. "Hazel?" Edward asked.
"Yeah" I said.
"Are you cool with the whole me marrying Bella thing because I don't know if it's putting pressure on everyone else the fact that Bella's human and she knows a lot about us." Edward said.
"You're going to change her according to the Volturi treaty. It's cool with all of us she's cool for a human she accepts us and doesn't fear us." I said.
"You know…remember that organization I told you about…the one Harley was in?" Edward asked.
"Yeah" I said knowing where this was going.
"I almost have the feeling that Bella should join but shouldn't" Edward said.
"I think it's better not" I said and he smirked.
Edward shook his head while doing his "Edward to Hazel" smile.
My mind began to drift again this time to all of the stuff that we had all been through not just Edward and I but my whole coven. The time where Michael and Sammi were after Bella, moving to Radnor and when I was tortured by Tiffany and all of them. Edward getting mad at them and the sleepover, them being turned into vampires and Michael being destroyed by me, the whole Volturi drama, meeting Jason, meeting Harley, Keri, Gabi, Ian, & Brea, the massacre, losing Harley and Gabe, losing it to Jason, the whole Edward drama. Everything that had happened made me who I was today.
I turned to look at Edward who kissed my hair in response and ran his hand through his. He felt the bite on the back of my neck from when Carlisle changed me I closed my eyes at the thought remembering back to that horrifying night. The night I lost mama but the night my new life began. He felt the other bite that was there from when I defended Bella from Michael, Sammi, & Sammi's brother Joey.
"You know did I ever thank you for doing that" Edward said reading my thoughts and I nodded. "You know she wouldn't be here right now for half of the things if it wasn't for you Haze" and I just shrugged. "It's true" Edward said.
"It's not a big deal Eddie" I said.
"To me it is…you are one of the most important things to me do you know that. You are my little sister all I have left of my human life. I am still obligated to keep that promise to you when I made it the day you were born. I am always here for you…I'm never going anywhere if you ever are unsure or alone just think of me and I'll be there Haze." Edward said.
It was the first time he had ever spoken about the promise since we had been turned. I smiled a little and looked him in the eyes. I knew I was lucky to have a brother like him.
I had this strange sense that sometimes Edward wasn't like the way he was with me when he was around everyone else. It was like he couldn't show his real side. Edward always had to be strong for everyone he never would admit that he was afraid…he had to be the perfect person everyone pictured him out to be. I would usually be the only one who could tell if something was wrong with him because that was just how we worked sometimes.
Before Bella Edward was a mess of everything. He still wasn't so sure of his place in the world and he hadn't seen the sun before. I was the only person who could get him to smile…be happy. He was almost a ghost after all of my siblings had mates. When he found Bella she brightened him up and I was finally admitting it now. I remember just how mad I was when I thought of how she had sort of taken away my best friend, but now that I think about it she didn't she had made things better for our whole coven. I couldn't wait till when she became one of us it would be a great addition to our coven. I stared up at the partly cloudy grey sky and could slightly see some of the stars outer shell that wasn't glowing in the light and human eyes couldn't see it for sure. The sun was out slightly which was not usual for Forks.
I let the rays hit me and soaked up all of the "Vitamin D" that I could all though it was pretty much pointless since I was a vampire but was pretending to be human Edward chuckled at my thoughts and flicked my ponytail again I ran my hand through his hair like he often did and he smiled his crooked smile.
"Why do you think the Volturi thought that they could do whatever they wanted?" I asked Edward even though I knew the answer.
"They thought that they were the all-powerful because they were the rulers of the vampire world" Edward said.
"So? You can be a ruler and be nice to your people right?"
"Yeah you got that right" Edward said.
"What's it like to be a teenager?" I asked.
"Nothing really" Edward asked and I rolled my eyes.
"Do you think we would've died that night if we didn't change into vampires?" I asked.
"Yes" Edward said.
"Alice is forcing Bella to try on dresses" I said tracking them out of boredom.
Edward smirked, "There's Alice for you" he said and I laughed putting my head in my lap.
"Where are you taking Bella for your honeymoon?" I asked.
"Nowhere" Edward said.
"Come on please tell me" I said.
Edward pretended to seal his lips I fell back into his arms and he said "will you keep a secret?"
I glared at him "yes" I said.
"Isle Esme" Edward said.
"Really?!" I said and Edward nodded I jumped up, "Race you back to the house" I said and he sprinted back up running at full speed.
I knew I would have to live my life at its fullest even though I was an immortal I had to live like it was my last day every day because then I wouldn't do everything I wanted to in one day. I wanted to be heard somewhere and I knew that would happen. I didn't want to be just another face in the crowd I wanted to be someone and I was still figuring that out. I wouldn't back down under any circumstances I ran at full speed but Edward was obviously faster than me so he was already there. He picked me up and swung me over his shoulder.
"PUT ME DOWN!" I shouted and slugged him.
"NEVER!" he said and I kicked him as he pretended to cry.
"I THOUGHT WE WERE BEST FRIENDS GOSH HAZE!" Edward shouted still pretending to cry and I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah me too" I said and he laughed and started to sing It's my life as I rolled my eyes once again at my weirdo of a brother.
"Why did I get stuck with such an odd brother it seems the only one of my normal brothers is Jazz" I said and Edward laughed.
"You called me unnormal" he said.
"That's not a word" I said.
"I know it's not a word" he said and I rolled my eyes again as Edward kissed my hair and climbed through his window into his room and threw me onto his bed as he joined me and took me in his arms. I was in my favorite place.
Edward and I sat in silence for a split second and I listened to the trees rustling in the wind and the birds that were chirping as surprised as I was because it wasn't exactly the season for them to come out. I sighed and closed my eyes as my life flashed before me. I was still trying to figure out its meaning even though it was pointless.
I had been thinking about Edward and my relationship over the years and how he wasn't like most brothers. Edward had always been very overprotective of me. Maybe it was because he was old enough to realize that I was his little sister when I was born. Maybe it was just because that was how he was. Even in the beginning of our vampire years Edward had always been very protective of me making sure I wasn't doing anything reckless and always watching out for me. After he left I was devastated but I tracked him and sometimes he would be reading my thoughts to make sure I was OK it still amazed me how even though we retained the same physical state we did grow up emotionally a lot together. I would never stop looking up to Edward he would always be my hero…my protector. Edward pulled me closer to him and I realized my eyes were still closed.
"What's Bella doing Haze?" Edward asked me.
I tracked her, "They're at the food court" I said.
Edward smirked. "At least Alice didn't forget that part" and I laughed. "You want to run around" Edward asked.
"Sure" I said and got up.
"Where to?" Edward asked.
"My old school" I said.
"OK" Edward smirked.
"Why are you smirking" I asked.
"I don't know" Edward said and I rolled my eyes as he laughed and I smiled at him while shaking my head.
We ran to my old school and I saw the place where Harley had died defending me. I saw the place where I met Jason I saw the many milestones I had there. Next we ran to Forks High School that was still in session and kids were in their classrooms. Edward couldn't help but stopping to say hi to the receptionist who was always very kind to us. She asked me how I was enjoying homeschool because that was the cover story to get me out of school I said it was fun but I missed going to school I felt my own vibration going off.
"The teachers are really missing you kids" she said and I felt my vibration go off again and Edward smirked.
"We have to go but we hope to see you again…goodbye" Edward said politely and I waved since it was all I could basically do.
Edward took my hand and we ran back home to just chill out and do whatever I guess you could say. Emmett and Jasper were watching TV.
"You guys want to practice fighting?" Emmett asked.
"Fuck yeah" Edward said and my brothers all smirked at each other.
"Dwarf" Emmett said.
"OK but you have to say 'I am Emmett the dope who sucks at everything'" I said.
And to that Emmett said "NO.
"Whatever" I said dramatically and my brothers laughed at me jokingly.
I loved hanging out with my brothers…they were awesome. If I ever had a problem I knew I could always turn to them or my sisters. My siblings and I had a very un-sibling relationship we were more like friends but we were siblings and got along very well (well except for Emmett who was just a dumbass). Edward smirked at my thoughts and Emmett glared at him.
"Who is fighting first?" Jasper asked and I had almost forgotten he was there.
"You and me" Edward gestured to himself and Emmett and I smirked.
"I want to see this" I said crossing my arms and biting my lip ready to watch. Jasper smirked and kneeled onto the ground as Edward and Emmett got into position.
"Ready" he said.
"Yeah" they both said.
"FIGHT!" Jasper slammed his fist onto the ground and Edward and Emmett went at each other.
At first it appeared that Emmett was winning because he was a whole lot stronger than Edward but since Edward could read his mind and was fast he was quick with his decisions he had Emmett in a headlock but Emmett punched him in the gut and sprinted to the other side. They went back at each other and Edward slid low onto the ground as Emmett jumped…missing him. Edward smirked and Jasper shook his head jokingly. Since Edward was the second youngest my brothers felt a need to always be teaching him things. I found it funny how I was the twelve year old and then Edward was seventeen as the second youngest.
The order technically didn't go that way but in order of physical age in the Cullens it went Esme, Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper, Alice, Rosalie, Edward, then me but technically it was Carlisle, Esme, Jasper Edward, Alice, Me, Emmett, then Rosalie so technically Rosalie was the youngest but it didn't really work that way since according to humans our physical appearance was the one that worked (worked meaning the one that counted and was apparently the actual) if you know what I mean. Anyways back to the fight which is probably more interesting than my crap talk.
Edward had Emmett pinned but he did a backflip up onto the trees and jumped back onto Edward's back and pushed him into the tree behind him. He had his hand pressed to Edward's neck and Edward kicked Emmett and twisted his arm around so it was on the ground.
"Hazel" Jasper said and gestured towards the end of the fight.
I began the countdown "FIVE…FOUR…THREE…TWO…ONE…TIME" I said and Jasper banged his fist on the floor declaring Edward as the winner.
"Rematch" Emmett said.
"OK" Edward said.
"No" Jasper said prying the two apart.
"Come on Jazz" Emmett said but Jasper used his ability to make them not want to fight "YOU SUCK!" Emmett shouted after realizing what he did and Edward and I rolled our eyes at what a sore loser Emmett was being (not that he wasn't all the time but still). Edward picked me up and threw me onto his back.
"EDWARD" I shouted and Jasper and Emmett turned around and laughed Edward then proceeded to throw me so I was hanging upside down. I kicked him and he just kept walking holding me as if I were a dog (basically an item). I kept hitting and kicking him but he didn't seem to care so I just figured I would endure his…Edwardness I mean he was just being Edward wasn't he…yeah he was. I heard my phone going off…it was the South Park ringtone I immediately tracked who it was (Bella) and answered.
Bella: HELP! Alice is torturing me
Me: LOL tell her to leave u alone
Bella: seriously…its Alice she will literally force me
Me: does she want to deal with angry Edward?
Bella: ha
Me: I'm serious Edward just beat Emmett in a fighting match u should've seen it
Bella: maybe next time
Me: YES
Bella: so what's up?
Me: nothing much being tortured by the devil
Bella: Edward
Me: YEP HOW DID YOU KNOW
Bella: I'm no Alice
Me: LOL
Bella: I'm so bored
Me: I see ur at Jessica McClintock
Bella: tracker
Me: ha
Bella: alrighty Haze I got to go
Me: bye
Bella: bye 3
"Alice is torturing Bella?" Edward asked.
"Eavesdropper" I muttered and Edward laughed."Oh and also you should be talking about torturing" I pretended to cough.
"Do you want to go to the clubhouse?" Edward asked.
"FUCK YEAH!" I said my face brightening up.
"OK" Edward turned around and started to run in the direction of the clubhouse.
I remembered last time we were there was after the whole mall incident I laughed a little remembering how destruction always seemed to happen whenever we tried to have a "normal" human day but it still was pretty fun. When we got there Edward put me down and I went to the passcode lock that we put on. We could easily lift the door up but using the lock was kind of more fun and kept out trespassers out.
"Passcode please" the automated voice said and I punched in the code us Cullens had made it. It was basically the month of all of our transformations put together 9 – 4 – 3 – 8 (Alice didn't know her transformation month).
"Activation complete…access granted" the automated voice said and I raised the door that was now unlocked. Edward followed close behind me and felt the writing that we had written on the wall. It was still amazing now that I figured how this tree still stood and the clubhouse as here still in the condition we built it in.
Edward playfully came up behind me and held me to his chest standing up.
"HEY!" I shouted and he laughed.
"Say 'Edward is awesome and I am a nerd' and I'll let you off" Edward said.
"No" I said.
"Oh did Hayzster say no…no that's not acceptable" Edward said.
I laughed, "You are so stupid."
"Stupid and proud" Edward said and he pulled me onto the ground once again.
"You are also lazy" I said and Edward pretended to cry again and pulled me into his arms.
"Do you think Bella is going to like vampire life?" Edward asked me.
"Why are you asking?" I said.
"Just because" and I felt my vibration go off.
"No you're worried she won't like it and leave you" I said and Edward nodded slightly "you don't trust her!" I almost shouted but he covered my mouth and I got the message "dude, I think that she is going to love it. I mean she knows what she wants. She loves you and she only wants you forever she will LOVE vampire life if it was my decision" I said.
Edward smirked, "thanks Haze."
"No problem Eddie" I said and he did his "Edward to Hazel smile" again.
"You know it's actually kind of hard to believe that you're my little sister you seem like you could just be...my sister who was the same age as me." Edward said.
"Uh huh sure" I said and he smirked again.
"I'm not Jason" he said and I laughed (since that was the way I talked to Jason).
Edward pulled me closer to him and I wasn't sure why he kept doing this today but I guess he was just being himself…his normal Edward self. Well I guess you wouldn't call Edward normal if you know what I mean but none of us were I mean…Emmett…Rosalie…Jasper…Alice…Carlisle…Esme…eve n Bella. I certainly wasn't normal and I was proud of it (LOL Edward moment) but you get what I'm saying right. All of this thinking was making my stomach hurt and I sighed for a second Edward said I always used to do that when he would hold me when I was a baby and sometimes he would just talk to me about anything on his mind and I would just sit there. I find it funny though because if I were to look at the Edward now compared to the Edward then it is COMPLETELY two different people like literally.
For some reason whenever I thought of my human years a sudden rush went through me maybe it was because most vampires never could remember the details as well as I could but I always had a scarily good memory and it amazed me actually.
"Hey Bella and I are going to Seattle for the day tomorrow do you want to come?" Edward asked and I thought read my mind and HELL YEAH he smirked since he loved it when I did that.
It was something I loved about my brother that we could have conversations in our minds and he wouldn't say anything out loud. It was especially useful when I was at school and was being bullied or when I was in the Volturi's custody. I thought of what a scary time that was for me and how I believed I would never see Edward again. I remembered the stress it put on him and I saw his face go blank so I stopped thinking about it. I shut my eyes and pretended I was sleeping I saw a flashback of when I was human and one of the first moments Edward had shown his…Edwardness (using that word again).
I was just two and a half years old. Edward was seven and in those days everyone wasn't so…paranoid I guess. Everyone was friends with everyone and we didn't have a care in the world. It was the first time Edward and I had been allowed to go into town on our own and I still remember mama handing him a quarter and telling him "watch out for your little sister Edward" and him saying "of course I will mama" we left for town and would just stop at the café real quick and have some lunch. Well Edward was mischievous back then but careful as I would say it was. He wanted to just check out the gunsmith and told me to stay outside (since I wasn't allowed in the store). He made me physically plant my feet onto the ground and promise to stay there. Well I was just being me and naïve as I was I wandered off down the street not really caring about anything just being me…typical Hazel. Anyways some people rode in horse and carriage and it just so happened that the richest family…the Mandau family was coming to town in their horse and carriage. Well I had wandered into the middle of the road and didn't see one coming my way. The driver had on dark glasses so he didn't see me and was looking forward at the road. A woman screamed as I turned around to see the carriage almost hit me. I don't know how he did it but this was the first time I became aware of what a fast runner he was. Edward slid onto the street and knocked me out of the way I had some bruises but Edward was hit full on. He needed a few staples in his head which healed over about six months but the funny thing was…the family didn't even care. They just gave us a mean look as if we had caused them SO much trouble and kept going. Just thought I'd share some basic history of the Masen/Cullens.
Edward chuckled at my thoughts and I said to him, "why did you do it?"
"Do what?" Edward asked I gave him my best "stop being an idiot look" but decided to speak anyways.
"Why did you push me out of the way" I said.
"Is that a necessary question" Edward said stalling as I could tell.
"Yes as a matter of fact it is necessary VERY necessary." I tried my best to sound serious jokingly and he sighed dramatically.
"Hazel, do you realize you would've died. I couldn't bear to lose my baby sister even then you were the most important thing to me. I know I probably tell you A THOUSAND TIMES but you never listen you are one of the most important things me Hayz. I can't even think about what would've happened that day if I lost you. We wouldn't be here together right now I might not even be alive we wouldn't have been turned into vampires because I probably would've stayed the whole night at home if you hadn't woken me up. I know you know what I'm talking about. Remember when you were sick and purple to the face, high fever and couldn't breathe. I didn't realize I had a migraine until then. We have been through so damn much Hazel. I love you little sister." Edward said and I held him tight.
"Thanks" I said.
"Why are you thanking me?" he asked.
"Because most older brothers don't give a damn about their little sisters but you weren't like them all and I love you too." I said and Edward smiled his "Edward to Hazel smile" and once again I began to think to myself…what would happen if I wasn't here with my older brother. Who I never mentioned this now but Edward was my favorite person (besides Jason) in the whole world and nothing could ever change that…ever.
I stayed in Edward's arms for the rest of the day. After that we hung out and sprinted towards the cliff that we always hung out at. After hanging out at the cliff we went back home to Edward's room and played chess.
"Don't cheat this time" I said.
"I'll try" Edward said.
I slugged him, "Don't try Edward…do" I said in a serious voice and he laughed.
"Nice job on attempting to be serious" and I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Ready" he said.
"Yeah" I said and moved my rook he moved his bishop. I moved my bishop so it was on the opposite side but he already knew that I was going to do something else next because I was an idiot for thinking about it and he heard me. Edward moved his bishop forward and stole my rook so now my king was left with an open side. I went forward with a pawn and knocked his bishop out of the way.
"You know this is pointless because we both know that you're just going to cheat." I said.
"And what makes you so sure…Hazel" he said my name in a pretend dramatic voice.
"Edward" I said and he tackled me to the floor.
"Say you're prayers Haze" he said.
"What the hell are you doing?" I asked.
"I don't know" he said shrugging.
Before I could say anything more the door creaked open and I heard Alice's voice, "Listen Edward I know you can read my mind but I'm going to scream anyways…I'M HOME AND SO IS BELLA! GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE. HAZEL YOU TOO I AM THOROUGHLY MAD AT YOU FOR DELIBERATELY GOING BEHIND MY BACK TOO… oh good gosh" Alice said as Edward and I were already down the stairs.
"So what's up" Edward said pretending to be innocent.
"You know what's up" Alice said.
"The sky?" Edward said in a joking voice and Alice slugged him.
"What did you two losers do today?" she asked.
"Nothing just chilled unlike you who has to stalk people in order to be entertained" Edward said and I couldn't help laughing.
"Whatever" Alice said and stuck her hand up dramatically as Edward and I laughed. Edward went over to Bella and hugged her tightly I sat back down on the couch and said to my siblings "Life is too good so why waste it?"
They just laughed and Alice and Rosalie went upstairs as Edward winked at me before leaving the house with Bella.
Remember that saying that Edward said to me about how you can't always get what you want and you're going to have to work for the things in life. Well I've experienced that first hand. Life is too short and I'm not wasting a second.
Yes I'm a vampire but I know that someday my existence may come to an end. It was my life and I wasn't going to live forever I just wanted to live while I had the time to. I was just going to do everything I had always wanted to do no matter the costs. I had already done everything in my power to just be me…just be the person I had always wanted. I know everything I have accomplished so far is just the beginning and I cannot wait to see what will happen in the end.
Edward and Bella are going to get married and he will no longer be the brother I've always known he will change and I'm going to deal with it…I'm going to deal with it just fine. I knew why and I knew that some reasons in life were just unexplainable and things seemed to just go on forever and ever and didn't seem to end no matter how hard you tried. Sometimes life is just an open book of endings and there are just some futures that you can't see. I've learned that stuff over the past one hundred and two years of my life and hope to continue learning but for now…just now everything was finally perfect I could just sit back and say hey I love this time…I loved being me…because I didn't want to be everyone else and you want to know why because I had a secret life. My secret life was now called…The Secret Life of Hazel Lucy Masen Cullen.
Well that's the end of it…Hope you enjoyed! Please Review!