Chapter Twelve: Home At Last
The flight home was a lot of fun. Demetri, Jane and Alex told the story of how Demetri found Victoria and just as they closed in on her, Felix showed up and tipped her off, and she took off. Enough time for her to find out my location and make for my house until Demetri picked up on her trail again. Then it was time for Alice to tell her part. She saw Victoria coming into Charlie's house, and warned me.
What she did not expect was for me to fly down the hall and to attack her! Everyone laughed at that. Jane looked at me with some newfound respect and said "You go girl!" We all laughed at that. Jane is a few hundred years old, to hear her use American slang like that was funny, even funnier is she did the neck thing, and snapped into the air! I then told my bit about how when Alice came down the stairs after me I was stunned by her ferocity, and let Victoria slip but how Alice hit her like a freight train, and had her head in the fireplace before I could react to assist her.
Demetri said "You didn't think Aro invited her to join just because she can see the future did you?"
"Yeah, I kinda did! How was I supposed to know behind my best friend's cute pixie exterior lurks the soul of a warrior?!?" We all fell into laughter.
Alice flashed into one of her visions, and smiled. "Demetri, can you call Aro, and ask him a favor for us?" "Sure Alice, what did you need?" I looked at Alice, overcome by curiosity. Before I could ask, she answered Demetri. "Tell him to not tell the Cullens when we are arriving, except for Jasper, and have him pull Jasper aside and tell him to come alone?" Demetri nodded as he reached for the phone "That shouldn't be a problem."
Alice got up and grabbed my hand pulling me to my feet then turned to Jane "How good are you at blocking your mind? Do you think you could busy your thoughts with math problems, or translating something whenever Edward was around?" Jane looked puzzled "Yeeesss," she said drawing it out thinking about her answer "I don't see why not, unless I need to use my power in battle that takes concentration." Alice broke into a huge and evil smile "Excellent! Lets all go into the back of the plane away from the boys so we can plot Bella's next move against my stupid brother!"
"Alice I..." She shushed me. "Edward needs to be taught a lesson! Come on Bella! If you two are going to work, he needs to learn there are consequences for dismissing your wishes, and taking it on himself to decide what is best for you!" Now when she said it like that It got me thinking. "Yeah, he hurt me. I missed you all terribly, even Rosalie! But him leaving and lying to me, that cut me to my core. What did you have in mind?"
Over the next several hours she outlined her plans. I had to admit, she was devious. If it had been up to me, I would have run into his arms and never let go, but she was right. If I let him off the hook, he will never learn. I will spend the rest of forever having him make decisions without consulting me and choosing for me. And I know all too well how hurtful his decisions can be. He can choose the worst possible thing with the noblest of intentions. Yup! He was going to need a spankin'!
The first phase of our plan was to use Jasper. I felt kinda bad about tricking Jasper, but Alice assured me that he still felt responsible for Edward deciding I needed to be protected from him and his monster family. I was going to push my emotions around Jasper to give him the wrong impression and when Edward read him he would form the conclusion about what my feelings meant, to go along with what we wanted him to think.
Alice had so much experience and practice shielding herself from Edward, he would not even know she was doing it. She could lie with her thoughts to him She was going to be thinking how angry I was at him for having the nerve to leave me then try to make decisions for me. Alice was also not going to let him off the hook so Edward would not know I knew that he was lying when he said he did not want me. That he was as in love with me as I was with him. Jane her part was going to be to involve any of the guard as needed to keep Edward from having any quality alone time with me at first so he would not be able to spill his guts about his undying love for me, until we were ready for him to.
My part? That was easy. He was still going to be unable to read my thoughts according to Alice. And I know better than to bet against Alice!
We returned to our seats, as the plane began it's decent into Italy. Felix asked "So what's up Ladies?"
Jane replied "Just girl stuff, MYOB" and he jumped in his seat as she squinted. Everyone but Felix laughed as Jane zapped him again.
As we taxied to the terminal my new vision allowed me to see Jasper at the terminal. And he was already wearing a cloak like ours! But he wasn't looking at me he was looking into the window next to mine, he had already found Alice, and she was likewise gazing out the window. The plane began vibrating, like we were going over a bumpy road, or had driven off the tarmac. Jane noticed first "Alice! Stop bouncing! The wings are going to bounce off the plane!" "MY JASPER!" She was on her feet and had the door open just as the plane was coming to a stop. The ground crew barely had time to set the stairs in place before Alice was bounding down them at a very fast pace for a human. Jasper had come forward and he took her hands and they stood there just looking into each other's eyes. To anyone else that was a very reserved greeting, but I knew what passed between them with Jaspers gift they were sending love back and forth. Even I could feel it. I cleared my throat "AHEM!" "Party pooper!" Alice Glared at me. But then she smiled again and introduced Jasper to everyone. And finally came back around to me. "Bella!" Jasper grabbed me in a hug. I have wanted to give you a hug since I first met you! It is so nice to finally be able to without wanting to bite you!" Then he said what Alice had said was coming. "Edward is beside himself. He can't wait to see you!"
I was on. It was time for me to try my acting skills out. I thought about Victoria and how I felt when she came into my house, and how angry I was about her killing people in forks all because she was after me. I was very full of rage. "Well, I can't say the feeling is mutual! Mr. Bella is too stupid to make decisions for herself, can just go rot for all I care!" I put my fists on my hips. Then I let myself calm down a bit and said "But, I am very happy to see you again Jasper, and I can't wait to see everyone else! Alice said I was going to be teaching Emmett a lesson in Arm wrestling?"
Jasper laughed. The shock over my fury toward Edward had him a little off balance, but him and his knowledge of newborns made him immediately see the possibilities for winning a bet against Emmett over us arm wrestling. Emmett was HUGE, but he had no clue that I was going to be physically stronger than him for a time. We got into the limo and Alice caught Jasper up on what had happened, on our trip to forks and that it was handled. Jasper was relieved, but felt bad that they had left forks and left the opening for Victoria to come in and begin terrorizing their former home.
We arrived back at Volterra and it was quiet. Demetri went to go make his report to Aro, and Alice Jasper and I went to go find Carlisle and Esme. And everyone else went their own ways. Jasper took us to Carlisle's room. And as luck would have it Rosalie, and Emmett were there too! I was going to get a nice reunion without having to ruin it with teaching Edward his lesson.
Esme saw me first and her mouth went wide in surprise as she got up and ran to embrace me "Oh Bella! You are gorgeous! Thank you so much for coming and saving Edward!" At the mention of his name I thought of Victoria again for Jaspers benefit to reinforce his impression that I was very, very angry at Edward. But I returned Esme's hug as everyone else walked over. Carlisle spoke next "Well, I guess Alice is proven right again. It suits you Bella! You don't regret your decision do you?" The way he asked that. There was something there. He wasn't asking like HE thought I made a bad or good, right or wrong decision, but that I had made a decision that I was entitled to make and he only hoped I was happy! I looked at his beautiful face and said "Not at all. And now that I have my best friend here I am going to have a very long time to have fun!" I said grabbing Alice and tugging her to me. Rose walked over looking very timid. "Bella? I am so sorry! I have been horrible! I owe you a huge apology! When Edward (more Victoria thoughts) brought you into our lives, I resented you, and was very unfair to you. Yet when I shoot my mouth off in a spiteful mean way, you are the one who runs into danger to fix it. You are the bravest most selfless person I know, and now that you have gone and gotten your self made into one of us, I finally am no longer going to be under pressure to be the prettiest one!"
Everyone laughed at that. Emmett said "Awww Rose, I still think you are the prettiest!" She shot him a look and everyone laughed again. But I looked puzzled, what was she talking about? Alice caught my confusion and said. "Bella, you really are something! You have no idea!"
I was glad to be a vampire now, more than ever. I would have blushed so hard right now if I were human that blood vessels in my cheeks would have burst! "That is sweet but you know it isn't true, I am just pretty." Just then Edward walked into the room "You are wrong there, Bella, you are not merely pretty!" I spun toward him standing in the door and dropped into a crouch, remembering our plan, and to stick to the script. I growled at him, I remembered how Alice looked so fierce when flew at Victoria, and I mimicked that. I was also remembering my angry thoughts for Victoria and saw Edward 's panicked glance at Jasper! It was working! Alice was at my side taking my arm and leading me out the other door "Come one Jas, I am still not speaking to my jerk brother!" We got down the hall and we broke into a sprint to get us out of range of Edward quickly.
Once we were at the tunnel to the zoo, and at a safe range. Alice began giggling. She turned to Jasper an hugged him. "I am sorry baby! We played you a bit to get at Edward!" He looked even more shocked now than he did the first time he mentioned Edward and I did my rage act. "What are you talking about?!?" He asked confused by what was going on. "Well, I am still obsessed with Edward! I love him so much I can't reason! But he has been a first class jackass! He took you all away from me, and lied and told me he did not want me any more. He made me feel like I had only been a distraction for him. You have no idea how much pain I felt because you were already gone by the time he dropped the bomb. And all because he thought he knew better than I did what was best for me and what risks I should be taking!" Alice interrupted "And since Bella does not want to spend forever with him making all the decisions I saw that we would teach him a lesson, and we made you think she hated him, so he will learn not to take her for granted, and that she is not some feeble weak thing that needs to be protected from herself."
Jasper looked contemplative as he studied us both. "Well, glad I could help! I owed you one Bella anyway for trying to eat you at your birthday party. Good one Alice! I don't think he would have bought it otherwise....."