Chapter 4: Bella's Story

Stefan POV

"What, she's a vampire?" I said sarcastically.

He just nodded his head in agreement. For a moment I thought he was joking, but the more I studied his face I knew he was serious. I turned and stared out the window, trying to comprehend the fact that Bella was a vampire.

As I was staring, something caught my eye. As I examined closer I noticed that I wasn't staring at something, but someone. Damon walked over to stand beside me.

I noticed that he too was staring at the figure just outside the window. It was Bella

"What is Bella doing in the middle of the street at night?" I asked turning away from the window toward Damon.

"I don't know…but I think she saw us." He replied looking away from the window.

We stood and conversed for a while when we suddenly noticed someone else's thoughts enter our minds. We quickly turned back to the window to see a dark figure headed toward Bella.

Bella POV

After I left Damon in the forest, I wandered around aimlessly. Something that Damon had said was repeating in my head.

"It's late and you're family is probably wondering where you are."

In a way, I had no family. The Cullens were gone, Charlie didn't know I left, and Jacob…I could care less about him. He was the reason Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Alice, Emmett, Rosalie and Edward, my family, were dead.

No. It wasn't Jake's fault. It was mine. I wasn't quick enough, I wasn't fully aware of my surroundings. I was only thinking of saving Edward and nothing else.

"You're not trying to run away are you?"

I told Damon that I wasn't running away. But, the more I thought about it the more I realized that maybe I was running away… from my feelings.

If I had stayed in Forks, it meant three things:

One- I would be haunted with people, places, and things that would remind me of the Cullens.
Two- the werewolves would probably will the same fate as the Cullens on me.
Three- I would have disregarded Edward's last request.

I couldn't…no, I wouldn't be able to handle that. But now that I have found the people/vampires that Edward spoke of, I felt a little better.

I had been wandering around for about an hour or so when I realized I had ended up in front of the boarding house that I had seen earlier.

I looked up to see two familiar emerald eyes staring at me from the they were joined by a set of dark, almost black ones. The two sets were both glistening in the moonlight. Then they were gone.

I suddenly felt an ominous presence. I quickly turned around to see a dark figure running towards me and I didn't know what to do.

The figure quickly retreated. For a brief moment, I was both relieved and confused at the same time. It was then that I noticed that the figure had dropped something.

I walked over and picked up a small wooden figurine. It was a wolf and the more I looked at it, the more it looked like the charm Jacob had given me for graduation.

~Flashback~

It had been a month since the battle with Victoria. Jake had healed and it was official that Edward and I were getting married.

I had received a note from Jake (who gave it to Billy to give to Charlie to give to me); he wanted me to meet him at First Beach in La Push.

I was suddenly filled with curiosity. So, I grabbed my jacket and the keys to my truck. The engine roared to life and then quickly shut off.

I looked at the ignition and noticed that my keys were missing. I turned to see Edward sitting in the passenger seat, playing with my keys in his snow-white hands. I glared at him.

"And where, may I ask, are you going?" he asked.

"Well, I was on my way to First Beach, but someone has stolen my keys." I responded, holding my hand out in front of him.

"May I ask why?" he asked sarcastically, knowing what my answer would be.

"No, you may not. Now, may I please have my keys?" I pleaded.

"You're not going to dump me for that dog are you?"

"Of course not, I'm just going to talk with him that's all." I answered, quickly covering my mouth.

"So, that's why you were going." He said with a satisfying grin.

"Damn it Edward! You know I don't like it when you do that!"

"Sorry, but I wanted to know why you were going."

"You know, I liked you better when didn't get paranoid about me going to La Push. I thought you trusted me. Besides, there's nothing that would hurt me but myself."

"Bella, I do trust you. I don't trust him. Ever since…"

"Ever since…what?"

"Never mind, I just don't trust him alone with you."

"If I promise to be careful, will you let me go?" I asked.

There was a moment of silence between us. Edward let out a sigh of defeat and I knew that I had won.

"I guess if you're careful."

I leaned over and gave him a kiss.

"Thank you. Wait for me?"

"Always."

He put my keys back into the ignition, kissed my forehead and left. Once again, my ancient truck roared to life and I pulled out of the driveway and drove to First Beach for the last time.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed that it was nearly sunset. I remember the times when Jake and I would sit on the piece of driftwood and watch the sunset I thought to myself as I cut the engine, stepped out of the truck, and walked towards the beach. I didn't see Jake anywhere, but I had a feeling where he was waiting.

I walked to the spot where we first met. I noticed that he was leaning against the piece of wood with his head leaned back staring up into the sky. I could tell that he was unaware that I had arrived. I took this advantage to scare him, as he did with me all the time. I quietly tiptoed behind him. As I was tiptoeing, I was trying to decide what to do. Then it hit me, I was going to tickle him…hopefully.

As I was about to jump him, he turned around and grabbed me around the waist, pulled me into his lap and began poking me in my sides.

"Did you honestly think you could sneak up on me?" He asked with amusement.

"It was worth a shot." I answered, taking in large gulps of air. "Stop, Jake! Alright, alright. You win."

"I never doubted I would," he said with a smile.

He stopped tickling me and let me catch my breath. We sat beside each other and watched the sun set. Just like old times I thought to myself.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked.

"Hmm…I wanted to talk about this." he said as he pulled out a thick ivory colored envelope…my wedding invitation.

"W-what about it?" I stuttered, looking away.

"I thought you told me that you weren't going to marry that leech."

"Well, we compromised."

"You compromised?"

"Yes. I wanted Edward to be the one who changed me, but he wouldn't unless I married him first. So…"

"So you're marrying him? You do realize you're throwing away your life." he stated.

"No I'm not. I'm just starting a new one with him. Besides, you weren't supposed to get one." I trailed off, knowing I'd said too much.

"You didn't want me there?"

"It's not that I didn't want you there, but I didn't want to hurt you more than I already had."

"Well, if I wasn't INVITED then why did I get one?" He asked.

"I don't know why you got one."

"Probably some sick joke that your leeches think is hysterical." he said.

"They wouldn't do something like that."

"Bells, did it ever cross your mind that maybe they aren't all 'goodie-two-shoes' like you thought?"

"Is that all you wanted to talk about? Yell at me for something I didn't do."

"What else would I want to talk about?"

"I thought you would apologize,"

"Apologize for what?"

"For being such an ass."

"You think I'm being an ass? Look who's talking. You're giving your humanity, no your life, for some damn leech!"

"Well, at least Edward has manners."

"At least I have a heart."

I paused, trying to think of something to say to him. Nothing came to mind. I would have said 'At least Edward loves me', but I knew that Jake loved me and saying that would hurt him a lot.

We sat in silence for a while. It was getting late and I knew I should be getting back to Forks because Edward was waiting for me.

"I should be going." I said as I stood up.

"Going to sign your death certificate?" he asked.

"No, my marriage certificate actually." I joked. Jake grimaced.

"I'd rather you be dead than marry that 'thing'."

I stopped.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'd rather you be dead th-" *SLAP*

I cut him off by slapping him across the face. The last time he said that he didn't mean it. But I could tell that he meant it this time.

I was so mad at him that I didn't know what to say, but I think I knew what to do. I began to unfasten the wolf charm from the bracelet he had given me for graduation, threw it at him and left. I got into my truck and didn't look back.

~End Flashback~

I knew right then who the dark figure was. Who else would have my charm?I asked myself. I couldn't figure one thing out; why was Jake in Fells Church? Could he have followed me here to apologize…or to finish me off? I thought to myself.

I suddenly realized that I was no longer alone. In front of me I saw two dark shadows, getting larger by the minute. I wanted to run. Don't run, a voice said, you're not in any danger. I realized that the voice was not my own, but Edward's.

I quickly turned around, hoping to see his perfectly flawless face. No such luck. Instead I saw the faces of the guys I had met earlier today. Damon and Stefan.

"Bella, are you okay?" Stefan asked as he offered his hand to help me up.

"I'm fine" I said as I took his hand and pulled myself up. "Where did you guys come from?' I asked, wiping dirt and gravel from my slightly faded jeans.

"Uh…Italy." Stefan answered with confusion.

Damon smacked Stefan over the head.

"No you idiot! She meant how did we get here so fast. Ugh. We were having a conversation up in Stefan's room in the boarding house when we heard his thoughts." Damon clarified.

"Damon! What are you doing?" Stefan shouted.

"Answering her question…"Damon replied, "She already knows what we are."

I could have sworn that I saw Stefan blush, but when I looked at him again his face showed no emotion. His eyes betrayed him though; they showed a multitude of emotions. Anger, pain, worry…and so much more.

"So, you are out wandering in the middle of the street at night. Either you really did run away or there is an interesting story that comes with you." Damon said

"Um…more like both. But more so the story part." I replied.

"Would you be so kind as to telling us your story?" Stefan asked.

"I would, but…"

"But what?" Damon asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Is there some place private we can talk?" I asked.

"We could all go back up to my room." Stefan suggested.

I nodded my head in agreement and followed them up to Stefan's room.

We got situated; Damon in the corner, Stefan in a chair in front of me, and me on the bed, they both waited with anticipation, for me to begin my story.

Next Chapter: Confessions