Author's Note: Thank you everyone for reading this story and giving it a chance. Last Chapter I got the most reviews and alerts yet! I apologize if this chapter isn't quite up to par. If you read my previous authors note you will know that I was a victim of domestic abuse and my kids and I have recently moved after a particularly bad night. It has taken its toll and I have obviously needed to focus on me and my kids instead of writing. That being said, I haven't had a solid block of time to write a considerable amount like I used to, so I apologize if this seems a bit choppy, I had to start and stop several times, only getting to write about two pages a day I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I love all the positive reviews, but if there is something you think just isn't right or doesn't fit, or even if its something I can improve on just let me know!
Summary: All Human. Hidden amongst us are people with magical like qualities. For there own protection most choose to stay hidden, some blending with society while others stay away, pretending not to exist. Bella has not really existed for the last sixteen years, after a disastrous first attempt at being in public she meets the Cullen's can they help protect her before the Volturi find her and try to kidnap her and the other gifted Cullen children?
It was late in the night when Bella heard the creek of her floor boards. Her eyes snapped open and she quickly flicked her wrist towards the light switch. She started to scream out when a hand came up and covered her mouth and a velvety voice whispered in her ear.
"Well, at least that was a sensible reaction."
Bella sighed with relief as she realized who had snuck up on her. Then anger coursed through at Edward for scaring her. She raised her hand and in a pushing movement flung Edward across her room into the bookcase.
"Ow Fuc…"
"Was that a sensible enough reaction for you too?" Bella hissed as she climbed out of bed and stood in front of him with her arms crossed over her chest.
Edward rubbed his lower back as he stood and nodded his head.
"Well, you certainly succeeded in alerting someone! " He said quickly looking around the room for a place to hide.
Bella's eyes went wide as she pushed Edward to the other side of the room where her closet was.
"Shit, shit, shit." she said as she opened the door and pushed him in, hearing him grumble something but her brain couldn't process it. She sprinted back to the bookcase as Edward closed himself in the closet. No sooner had she bent down to start picking up books did the door open.
"What happened are you okay?" Her mother asked as she rushed over to Bella.
"I'm fine mom," Bella replied.
Renee frowned and looked around the room. "What are you doing? I thought you were asleep?"
Bella didn't look at her mom, she was always a terrible liar and nervously answered "I…I could sleep, I thought I would read but then I tripped and hit the bookcase, I'm sorry I woke you."
Renee waved it off and shook her head, "I don't know what I'm going to do with you Bella, you trip over thin air! Hurry up and go to bed." She said as she walked out of the room.
Bella busied herself by picking up the fallen books until she heard her mother's door close. She was tempted to use her powers and keep the closet door shut tight but shook her head instead and waved her had making the door fly open.
"Maybe I should but a chair in there," she muttered as she watch Edward unfold himself and slide out.
Edward smirked " I don't think your closet is big enough for a chair, maybe just a cushion or something"
"Your sister didn't complain."
"My sister is the size of a eight year old. And she only ever complains when someone wont let her give them a makeover." Edward countered.
"Whatever. Do you mind telling me why you are in my room, in the middle of the night after just told me earlier today nothing like this would happen again."
Edward shrugged still smiling "You left your book by the lake."
Bella raised an eyebrow not believing him, "Why didn't you just leave it there? I would have gone back for it."
"And miss the opportunity to get thrown into a bookcase? Now where is the fun in that, Princess?"
"Princess?" Bella questioned.
"May I ask why I got the pleasure of being flung across the room while you just readily talked to my siblings?" Edward asked ignoring her.
"Because, they aren't as annoying as you." Bella shot back.
"Some would beg to differ." Edward muttered. "So this is were they keep you locked up?" He asked looking around.
It wasn't anything like his sister's room. There were soft colors everywhere, a girlie yet sophisticated bedroom, there weren't any personal objects though. A desk that was thoroughly organized was on the side wall next to the window Alice had climbed down, her bed was right next to the back window and the bookcase was located right by the door and the bay window. No posters or pictures adorned the walls, no pictures of friends or CD's. One lone teddy bear lay on Bella's sage green blanket and a chest lay at the foot of her bed. Edward moved to it, and took a sit while Bella continued to stare incredulously at the boy who was deciding to make himself at home.
"I'm not locked up here," she argued.
"Oh?" He said in mock surprise. "So you're regularly allowed to travel around your cabin." He knew he was riling her up but he was truly enjoying her getting angry, she looked like a little kitten ready to pounce, absolutely adorable.
Bella rolled her eyes, "And once a week I'm even allowed to go outside and tend to the garden!" She said sarcastically clapping her hands and jumping up and down. " I can do anything I want. As long as I don't leave the property." She retorted turning serious and glaring at Edward.
"Anything huh?"
"Yep, now, what are you doing here?"
"Come with me." Edward said standing up, ignoring her once again and going for the chain latter he had seen her take out for Alice.
"Are you insane? I'm not going anywhere with you! My parents would have a heart attack if they…"
"But, Princess, I thought you weren't locked up?" Edward said smugly, latter in hand.
"I'm not" Bella said irritated
"Well then, lets go."
Bella signed and uncrossed her arms. "Where"
"No where, just out….I promise, we wont leave the property." Edward said
"I don't know…"
"Oh come on! Where's your sense of adventure?"
"Ugh! I'm going to regret this but fine." Bella said shaking her head, she turned and locked her door before going to her closet and grabbing a sweater and a pair of shoes.
"What, didn't want to get your bunny slippers dirty?" Edward said teasing her.
"Do you really think it's wise to continually annoy the person who just threw you into a bookcase?" Bella replied.
"Probably not," Edward answered smiling at her with his signature crooked smile. "But that doesn't mean it isn't fun."
Edward slide the window open and dropped the latter down.
"After you, Repunzel."
Bella widen her eyes and looked from the window up to the beautiful green eyes of the teenage delinquent trying to sneak her out of the house. For a moment she was transported back to the age of six, when she believed her prince would come rescue him. She vaguely remembered a conversation with her mother:
"Oh really! A prince is going to come rescue you huh?" Her mother said with raised eyebrows. Her daughter had just come down the stairs wearing her nicest dress and declaring she was waiting for a prince to come rescue her from the evil queen. Renee assumed she was the evil queen for not letting her daughter go outside to play.
" Uh Huh! He's a gonna have a purple horse and green eyes and pretty hair and when he comes, were gonna climb through my window and ride off to a far away land!" Bella explained.
Over the years she had thought about what it would be like to be "rescued", usually after she and her mother got into an argument. She would imagine a prince coming to save her, only now he no longer had a purple horse but a magnificent chestnut colored stallion. Her prince still had glorious green eyes, that sparkled like emeralds and amazing hair that makes you want to run your hands through it, and matched the color of his horse. Bella realized with horror and redden with embarrassment as she realized that description fit Edward perfectly…well except for the horse part.
"Too bad you never thought about the prince's personality" she thought shaking her head. And climbing out the window.
When Bella jumped the remaining way to the ground she looked up and watch Edwards backside descend, stealing and appreciating the male body for the second time in her life, causing her to turn bright red and turn away in embarrassment.
"Are they both still asleep?" She asked, still looking down at the ground.
Edward nodded his head and started heading towards the lake, "Yep, stay close, wouldn't want you to get lost and be all alone in the dark."
Bella rolled her eyes and stayed there for a moment in defiance before rushing over to his side.
"So why are you kidnapping me?"
"Kidnapping? I hardly think this is kidnapping, you came willingly, and if I recall correctly with your power, if you didn't want to go, you could have just thrown me out the window." He said playfully.
"True, but it would have caused too much noise."
Edward let out a small laugh.
"I just thought we could go to the lake and talk for a bit, it's the least you could do after assaulting me."
"You want to talk to me?"
"I guess, not like I have anything better to do."
"Gee thanks."
"That's not what I meant. Its just, I had to get out of my house, and I haven't met anyone yet and well, I did have your book."
"Why did you have to get out of your house."
Edward grimaced as he remembered why he had left. Carlisle and Esme had retreated to their bedroom early tonight for some alone time. Once giggling and growling had started up, Rose and Alice had taken it upon themselves to enter his brother's rooms, knowing the coast would be clear for a few hours. Three couples under the same roof at night time was not any mind readers idea of peace, unless they were a pervert that is.
"It's hard sometimes, being around the family when you can read their minds." Edward said leaving it at that.
"I think it would be cool."
Edward said nothing and they continued their walk in silence. When they reached the lake they simultaneously sat next to each other, their arms almost touching.
"So, Bella Swan, tell me about yourself."
"There's nothing to tell really, I'm home schooled, I don't leave the house, I can move things with my mind. What about you?"
"Well, I don't mean to brag but I'm certainly not as boring as you." He said with a chuckle, earning a light slap from Bella.
"Shut up, what's your story. How did you end up with so many talented siblings, what are Carlisle and Esme like? What's it like to be outside of four walls? What's it like…"
"Whoa slow down. I get the picture." He laughed. "I can't even begin to explain what its like to be out here free, cause I don't know what you feel like, I'm gonna end up missing key details, to me, its just normal, except I can read minds. As for the siblings, pure luck I guess, and the fact that Esme and Carlisle want to save as many as possible from Volturi."
"But if they want to protect you, why do they let you out unprotected, why not keep you safe, it seems counter productive."
"So what, we're suppose to just stay in the house forever? What about jobs, love, having our own families, not letting the Volturi win? Don't you think, if we hide, we are letting them control our lives. Even if we aren't working for them, breaking the law for them, we are letting their actions define who and what we are! We eventually have to grow up. How can we do that if we're locked up? Haven't you ever wondered about that? OR how will you ever be able to fall in love or do anything with your life if you're safe in mommy and daddy's house forever?"
"I guess I never really thought about it…" Bella said.
Sure, she had thought about princes rescuing her when she was mad at her parents, or what her first kiss would be like, even falling in love, but the details of how that would happen never crossed her mind. She just always assumed, eventually, one day she would be out in the world on her own, staying safely hidden in her own house with her own family. Never had she thought about how she would get from point A to point B and she explained just that to Edward who looked stunned at her confession.
"So you plain to hide forever? Never experiencing anything."
"Don't you think your being a bit too dramatic, I have experienced plenty, just because I don't live a 'normal' life like you, doesn't mean I haven't lived."
Oh really?" Edward said, turning his body so he was facing her and not the lake, " How old are you?"
"I turn sixteen in two weeks."
"Ok, so your learning how to drive then?"
"Well, not exactly, but…"
"I see, how about going to a school dance?"
Bella angled her body towards Edward and glared "You already know that one, smart ass!"
Edward laughed but continued, not even realizing he had leaned in slightly. "Having friends?"
"I have my mom and dad."
"No," He shook his head, "Real friends, friends you can lean on, you know, ride your bike with, have sleepovers with, talk on the phone to, those kind of friends."
"I don't need…" He cut her off again.
"How about sports? Ever been on a soccer team or cheerleading or anything?
Bella glared and crossed her arms. But Edward didn't stop.
"Skinny dipping? Drinking? First crush? First boyfriend, 4th of July celebration…" Edward said, his body slowly gravitating towards Bella, their knees were now touching as they sat cross legged across from each other.
"Hey! We can see the fireworks just fine from here!" Bella interrupted moving closer to her and pointing a finger in his face.
"First kiss?" Edward said, ignoring her yet again and moving even closer, his eyes darting from her eyes to her lips and back again.
Bella's eyes widen and her breathing hitched as she stared back, not saying a word but just staring at the beautiful boy sitting in front of her extremely and dangerously close.
Edward, finally realizing what he was doing leaned back and let out a deep breath, running his hand through his hair.
"Do you see my point yet? You aren't living life, you're just existing."
"I snuck out here didn't I?"
"Well then, there may be hope for you, yet." Edward said with a smirk.
"You know, my mom and dad, my birth mom and dad, they didn't have any powers, but they knew about the Volturi." Edward started, deciding to share a bit with his new found friend. "They home schooled me too. But, I wasn't locked up, We went out all the time. It was me who wanted to stay at home. I couldn't handle all the voices. My mom used to say that even as a baby, as soon as we came close to a lot of people, I would start crying and through fits."
Bella listen intently. Eagar to hear his story.
"When Esme and Carlisle took me in, Esme insisted that I learn how to gain some control. It took about two months before I would willingly go anywhere public, but she did help. She's been amazing with helping us, patient and understanding, supportive, and she comes up with really wonderful solutions to help us deal when things get over whelming. But most importantly she has taught us that even though these talents are part of us, but they do not define us"
"I never thought going out in public would be so scary." Bella said sharing a little since Edward had. "I was nervous, of course, but excited too….Anyone would be if they have only ever read about towns before, and never actually been to one. When we went to the bookstore though, I didn't think about my talent, I was thinking about all the types of books I could read."
Edward smiled, but said nothing as he continued to listen. "It was when we left the bookstore that I started to get nervous, we had just walked out and some guy came running up behind us, mom had left her credit card there and he was returning it. But when my mom heard him yell at us, she tensed up and grabbed my hand. She relaxed once she realized what had happened, but it put me on edge. I got really fidgety after that, and when I'm scared or nervous, well I tend to slip up."
"I bet Esme could help you too."
"My mom would never allow it." Bella said shaking her head.
"Maybe not, but I bet your dad would."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because he was thinking about it early."
"You're power is starting to come in handy. Hey! Are they still sleeping?"
"Yes, but we should probably head back soon. You're dad's dreams are starting to fade in and out."
"I liked talking to you," She said softly as she rose from the grass.
"Yea, it was nice. Maybe I'll come sneak the princess out of her tower again sometime." He replied with a wink and a smile.
Bella blushed and looked down at the ground, pulling some stray hair back behind her ear as she nodded.
They walked in silence until Bella's house came into sight.
"Tomorrow?"
"Huh?" Bella questioned.
"Should I come again tomorrow?"
"What you're not going to just surprise me?"
"Well, I thought about it, but you do have some pretty heavy books." He said while rubbing the back of his head and smiling.
"Thursday are kind of crazy here, Renee likes to do the heavy cleaning and gardening then. What about Friday? She always goes to the grocery store, while I make dinner."
Edward smiled, "It's a date, Repunzel."
Bella grabbed the ladder and looked up before turning to Edward, "I have a feeling you're gonna be the rebel that gets me into a lot of trouble, like Huck Finn."
Edward's smile widen, "Bella, it's not rebelling, its living, and if you stick with us Cullen's, you're going to do a lot of it!"
Bella smiled at Edward and climbed the latter while Edward watched her enter the safety of her room. He stared up at her and gave a slight wave as the ladder was pulled back up and then made his way back home.
As he entered the families home he let out a sigh of relief, noting that all members of the family were asleep. All except one that is, causing him to roll his eyes and he ascended the two flights of stairs to his room. He opened the door and looked over at his littlest sister who sat on his bed, crossed legged with an enormous grin.
" What do you want Alice?" He asked as he set his keys on his desk and kicked off his shoes.
"Nothing, I just wanted to gloat a bit."
"There's nothing to gloat about. I returned her book. That's all."
"Oh? So I didn't see the two of you taking a moon lit walk? Or you two talking by the lake? It looked really romantic by the way…."
"We just talked Alice, it doesn't mean I like her, it just means she was a convenient way to kill some time."
"You can deny it all you want Edward," Alice said shaking her head and walking over to the bedroom door. "But, I saw you almost kiss her!" She sung, "Sweet dreams!"
Bella found herself hurrying through all of her chores and spacing out during lessons on Thursday. It seem like time slowed when all she really wanted it to do was speed up. The only plus side to her day, was her mother letting her use her powers more often. She was beginning to get the hang of multitasking. While standing at one end of the counter, her left hand was aimed at the pot on the stove and was making a swirling motion, causing the wooden spoon to magically twirl around. Her right hand, was chopping through the air as a knife across from her, mimicked her motions and diced the potatoes. Unfortunately, as Bella's body continued the movements, her mind wandered to other thoughts, that hand nothing to do with the task at hand.
"Bella!" Her mother exclaimed, as she walked in from the back door with a basket full of freshly dried linens. "Could you at least pay attention to what you are doing, water is boiling out of the pot!"
"Sorry mom," Bella said sheepishly, this was the third time today her mother had caught her staring off. She ceased her hand waving, causing the spoon and knife to stop as she walked over to the pot and scooped a noodle out to see if they were soft enough.
"What is going on with you honey? All day you've been acting off. Are you still upset about last week?" Her mother asked, concerned as she placed the basket on the breakfast bar stool.
Really, Bella hadn't thought about the incident today at all, she was too occupied with her thoughts on the Cullen's, one particular Cullen that is. Edward confused her, one minute he appeared to be angry with or at her for some reason and the next, he was smiling and laughing as if they were best friends.
Then, there was the part he said last night, her dad was thinking Esme could help her. Her father was a stubborn man, when he set his mind to something, he usually saw results. But Bella couldn't even begin to fathom how he could win this argument with Renee, she was too passionate about the subject and equally as stubborn. Obviously, she couldn't divulge to her mother what was weighing on her mind, so instead she just nodded her head and turned towards the sink to drain the cooked egg noodles.
"Oh, Bella honey, no need to worry, even if they saw, they don't know where to find us. We will all be fine." Her mother said, trying to reassure her, even though, she, herself was terrified inside that is exactly what would happen.
"Well, I've also been thinking about dad."
"Oh? What about him?"
"His meetings with Dr. Cullen. He said he was going to meet again with him today, that they hadn't finished their conversation yesterday." Bella paused trying to gauge her mother, not wanting to overstep but still trying to push the subject a little, "You know, he thinks they are good people, and I was just thinking, maybe, we could get together with them sometime." Bella said, instantly regretting that she brought the idea up. Clearly by her mothers face turning purple she shouldn't have said a thing.
Renee bristled and turned cold "What he does is his business! As long as it doesn't follow him home. We don't need those kind of people around here!"
"But, I'm that kind of person." Bella point out, feeling slightly hurt by her mothers choice of words, "Maybe dad and them are right, maybe it would do me some good to be around them."
"Enough Bella!" Renee exclaimed. "I am only going to say this one last time. You will not associate with those people!" She said before storming upstairs with her laundry basket, completely unaware that Charlie had entered the home and heard the exchange.
Charlie stood in the doorway of his home, dressed in his police uniform, looking from the stairs, where his wife had been to Bella standing behind the island in the kitchen and back again.
"She'll calm down eventually Bell." He finally said shrugging his shoulders, and turning back to his daughter as he stepped to enter the kitchen. "So, did I understand that right? You want to meet the Cullen's?"
Bella wasn't about to tell her father she had already met some of them, or that three of them had snuck into her room, let alone that she snuck out in the middle of the night with one of them. He may be understanding, and okay with being friends with that family, but she was sure he wouldn't be too pleased with that information, and he did own several guns.
"I think it would be nice to be around kids my age." She said, trying to sound mature and reasonable, "And they plus side to the Cullen's is if I do slip up, we don't have to worry about coming up with excuses to things magically flying around the room, or about them staying quiet. But I really don't want to upset mom more."
Charlie eyed his daughter as he weighed the outcomes in his head, on one hand, he agreed with his daughter, and thought this was a good idea that would be beneficial to them all. But he also knew the hell he would pay when his wife found out about it. Of course, Charlie Swan would go to the moon and back for his little girl so with a nod of his head, he responded.
"I'll see what I can do sweetie." He said as he turned in the direction of his study. "I'll be back by dinner time, gotta go make a phone call."