CHAPTER 8

GATHERING

It was a rather unusual cloudy day that brought Becca to the family house. Edward had insisted and Alice had practically ordered her to come right away over the phone. Still in a happy mood from last night, she had agreed. Now here she was in northern California being pulled along by an equally eager Edward.

"Alice is practically bouncing off the walls," he said while glancing up at the house.

Becca smiled.

"I bet."

Before long, Alice came bounding out of the beautiful oak doors with Jasper watching in amusement from the now open door. Ignoring Edward, who rolled his eyes, Alice pounced onto Becca and wrapped her up in a huge hug.

"It's been sooooo long!" she exclaimed.

"Can't...breathe..." Becca mumbled.

Alice stood up and lightly hit Becca on the arm in response.

"So it's' Becca now huh?" Alice asked.

"Yeah," she said.

Alice's eyes went big when she saw Becca's sweater.

"Is that Gucci?"

Becca nodded.

"Moving along," Edward said clearing his throat.

Becca mock glared at him, then linked her arm with Alice and went inside.

Hiding a small smile, Edward followed. As he passed Jasper, a loud whistle filled the air.

"My my, but isn't someone happy today," he said.

Edward simply smiled and walked on. The girls had gone upstairs to catch up, leaving the boys downstairs to themselves, or so they thought.

As Edward took a seat on the plush couch in the bright living room, Rosalie sauntered out of the kitchen looking smug and holding a magazine in her hands.

A frown came over Edward's face as he looked into her mind. Using his vampire speed he grabbed the magazine out of her hands. She smiled as he did so, clearly wanting him to do as he did. The frown on his face grew deeper as he looked at the offending magazine. There, on the cover, was a blown up picture of him and Becca standing in a parking lot leaning against their respective cars. Superimposed on the picture was the bold headline: Rebecca Stone's new love, page 6. Edward dove into the magazine, reading on.

More pictures were inside, including one picture with the two of them looking around as if caught. The article went on to detail how the two 'love birds' had had a lovers spat with him having to chase her down. It ended with the promise that the magazine was working its hardest to find out more about Miss Stone's 'secret' lover.

Angrily he threw the magazine on the floor only for it to be picked up by a shocked looking Becca. The concern on her face only grew as she took in what the magazine had said.

"I want to find that Photographer and-" Edward didn't get the chance to finish his sentence.

"We'll just have to be more careful," Becca said interrupting, "I told you this might happen".

She sat on the couch next to Edward and started rubbing his back, "As soon as my movie finishes up, we can leave this place."

Edward looked at her and shook his head.

"I don't you to have to do that."

"Believe me Edward, This whole thing is getting a bit old for me."

Alice who had stayed by the stairs, smirked and walked over to where Rosalie was sitting.

"You flighty thing," she joked.

Edward sighed, reluctantly agreeing.

"If that is what you want."

She nodded in response.

"I better get going," Becca said standing up. "Some of us have to work" she said, laughter in her eyes.

Edward stood up too.

"Oh no you don't," Becca said. "I can drive myself. You just be glad I let you drive last night," she kissed Edward on the cheek and left.

In the wake of her exit, Edward looked hopefully at Alice.

She shook her head at him.

"I can't see what she'll say just as much as you can't see what she is thinking."

"Oh you're no help at all," he teased.

"You take that back Edward Cullen!" Alice mock shouted. She grabbed a pillow and threw it at Edward.

"This is war!" he smirked. With that the two vampires engaged in a vicious pillow fight. Rosalie left the room rolling her eyes while Jasper watched from the staircase with a smile on his face. It had been a long journey, but he felt now, that the family was finally beginning to heal from the loss of Bella.

Becca sighed as she waited at a red light. If only she could speed through L.A like she could northern California. But alas, there were too many police and she had an image to keep up. Tapping her beautifully manicured finger nails on the steering wheel she glanced about her surroundings. Before long the light turned green.

Accelerating, she pulled out from the stop light and made her way around the city taking several turns before being caught by a light again. As she glanced around again, she noticed that the same black hummer was still behind her. The light turned green and she was off again. As she drove she couldn't help but notice that where ever she went, the black hummer followed.

Not another stalker

Pulling out her phone, she called her director. After a short conversation explaining the situation, she hung up the phone. There would a group of security guards waiting for her when she arrived at the studio.

As she looked behind her, she noticed the black hummer turning off behind her. It was almost as if they had known she had called ahead. Shaking her head, she vowed to get out of this business as soon as her commitments would let her.

Minutes later she arrived at the studio and was escorted in by a group of security guards. Though not completely reassured, Becca put the incident off as a one-time thing and went on with her work.

But someone was still watching.

What a day. Today she had filmed her fight scenes. Her hair was messy and her clothes were torn in places, but she didn't mind; it had been rather enjoyable.

"Wait, Becca!" her director called out. She stopped and turned to him. She was on her way to the parking lot.

"Do you want someone to come with you?" he asked, "One of the security guys?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I really think it was just an overly curious fan," she reasoned.

"If you're sure?" he said still skeptical.

"Oh Rob, trust me," she said, "I'll see you tomorrow"

"Be safe!" he called after her retreating form.

As she got into her car, she heard the familiar sound of a camera working. Shaking her head in annoyance, she got into her car and pulled out of the lot.

Shortly thereafter a black hummer became glued to the back of her car. Try as she might, she couldn't get a clear view of who was driving, even with her vampire sight. Deciding to nip this problem in the bud, she pulled onto the freeway and began speeding northbound. The black hummer followed.

Soon she was in a more spread out part of California. She pulled into a rest stop and got out of her car to face her pursuer. She was a vampire after all, stalkers had nothing on her; at least it had been that way in the past.

When her pursuer got out of their car, she was mildly shocked. She had not counted on her stalker being a fellow vampire.

"What do you want?" Becca asked aggressively.

"You should know by now," the vampire replied. She had wild untamed red hair and pale skin.

At Becca's clueless look, the vampire slowly began to smile.

"You don't remember me do you?"

Feeling defiant, Becca replied.

"Should I?"

"I would say so," the vampire was now standing by Becca's trunk.

"Who are you?" Becca asked. The sun was setting fast, Edward would be wondering where she was.

"Why ruin the surprise?" she walked around Becca to the front of her car, "I'm going to finish what I started all those years ago" the vampire suddenly plunged her hand into the hood and pulled out a handful of crushed metal.

Outraged, Becca charged the vampire, pushing her into the walls of one of the nearby bathrooms.

"If you know what's best for you, you'll leave me alone," Becca said furiously, then she walked back to her ruined car and pulled out her cell phone. The other vampire was at her back in seconds.

"What's little Bella going to do now?" she taunted, "Calling her sweet Edward to come to the rescue?"

"It's Becca," she said with attitude.

"Whatever you say," the vampire smiled and pulled out a camera, "Bella."

This time the flash was on, and she was relentless. But as soon as she started she was finished.

"Better watch out for your precious Edward," she taunted one last time before getting into her hummer and leaving.

Absolutely fuming, Becca redialed Edward on her cell phone and asked him to come pick up her up.

"What happened?!" Edward exclaimed when he got there and saw the damage.

"Some crazy vampire was following me and I decided to confront them," Becca said.

"You did what!" he yelled.

"Give me a break Edward, I did what I had to do," Becca said dismissively.

Edward was still examining the damage.

"Did they say who they were?" he asked.

"Nope" Becca replied, "But she sure was one hot tempered red head."

Edward stopped what he was doing.

"Red head?" he asked, abandoning the hood.

"Yeah, she was something fierce," she narrowed her eyes, "Do you know her?"

Edward's eyes flashed in anger.

"I may have met her once or twice, that is, if we're talking about the same person."

"Really?" Becca asked her eyes still narrowed, "Do tell me more."

It was a command not a suggestion.

Edward looked away from her.

"She's mad at me for killing her mate"

"And why did you do that?" Becca asked curious.

"Because he was threatening to kill mine."

"You mean your ex?"

Edward nodded.

Becca let out a breath of air forcefully. Edward's ex had been named Bella. The red headed vampire had called her Bella. What was going on?

Becca walked over to Edward's car.

"We better get going."

He nodded and got in.

The drive to his place was silent.