All characters except for Annabelle Causley and a few others belong to Stephenie Meyer…and, of course, the writer is not receiving any profit for this story whatsoever.
This is an AU out of Stephenie Meyers' Twilight series. This story starts after Eclipse, two weeks before Edward and Bella's wedding.
Chapter Ten
"Annabelle, what are you doing up there?"
Annabelle looked down and smiled at Edward, standing directly below her. She was sitting high up on a tree, looking out into the horizon, pondering.
"How'd you find me?"
Edward shrugged as he leaned up against the tree trunk, "I went to your room…then I just followed your thoughts."
"Right…I forgot to disappear," Annabelle grinned at him, lifting her eyebrows invitingly, "Want to join me?"
"Sure…make room for me." Within seconds, Edward was sitting on the branch next to her, smiling at her. They both felt it, that pull of what used to be. Annabelle knew how easy it would be to fall back to who she was back then but she knew a hundred years of immortality would not allow her to do so.
"What are you thinking?" Edward leaned against the trunk, crossing his arms. His eyes never left her face, not understanding the need in him to be near Annabelle. He couldn't seem to stay away from her and he knew blaming it on the fact that she was his only connection to his human life was an easy way out.
"Like you don't know," Annabelle stretched her legs out before her, she too leaning against the tree trunk, "I was thinking of tomorrow's shopping spree with your sisters. I'm not sure they like me and I don't think I'll be able to be around them for long."
"Don't worry about Alice and Rosalie…they'll come around. It's just the idea that you can take their men away from them that is keeping them on edge," Edward grinned evilly at her, knowing full well that comment would illicit a strong response from her.
Annabelle glared at him, her mouth opened in shock at the preposterous suggestion, "Yeah, like I'm going to do that. Besides, I'm not interested in Jasper or Emmett."
"Oh really? Who are you interested in then," Edward wanted to take the words back as soon as they escaped his mouth, knowing full well who Annabelle was interested in. Turning his head, he stared at the mountains, refusing to look at her even though he felt the heaviness of her gaze.
"You know the answer to that," Annabelle looked down at her hands, lacing her fingers together, "But since we're talking about that and significant others…where's Bella?"
"She needed some time to herself," Edward shrugged, trying to convince himself that he wasn't worried at Bella's insistence for time alone when he knew full well something was bothering her.
"Ouch…bet you're hoping she doesn't back out a week before the wedding," Annabelle kept her voice light, doing her best to keep the conversation at a surface level, hoping that would help get their old friendship back on track.
Edward turned to look at Annabelle, searching her face for any sign of malice. All he saw was the face of his friend, the one he knew he could trust as before. "She won't back out…in fact, to prove to you that I believe that, I think you should buy a dress for the wedding…and the rehearsal dinner."
Annabelle stared at him, a frown on her face. A smile spread across her face as she continued to stare at Edward.
"You don't believe me," Edward cocked his head to the side, frowning at her.
"No, interestingly enough, I do. On a surface level, you're worried that the wedding may not happen but subconsciously you know you're going to marry Bella. Tell me something," Annabelle's smile turned into a grin as her eyes glittered with merriment, "If Bella refuses to marry you, are you planning on dragging her down the aisle and forcing her to say 'I do'?"
Edward laughed, "Not dragging her as much as throwing her over my shoulder."
Annabelle joined him, her laughter clear and sweet. It had been so long since she had laughed.
"Tell me Annabelle," Edward looked into her eyes, smiling at her in a way that would let her know she could trust him, "What is that mysterious talent of yours? Every time I get around to asking, you sidetrack me. What are you afraid of? Why can't you trust me?"
Annabelle stared at him, her breath stopping. She knew Edward Masen had been trustworthy…she wasn't so sure of Edward Cullen.
"I'm not sure," Annabelle turned to look out into the forest, watching the fluttering of the leaves as the breeze blew by, "I met a friend of yours last night."
"A friend," Edward cocked an eyebrow, knowing full well that Annabelle was trying to sidetrack him again.
"Yeah…Sam Uley. He was somewhat rude…told me I was too close to some treaty line. Told me he was chief of the Quiletes or something like that. Was rather adamant that the Cullens weren't allowed pass the treaty line."
"Yeah…we're not welcomed into the La Push reservation," Edward leaned his head against the tree trunk, his thoughts going to Jacob Black. No one had heard from him in over two months. Even though Bella didn't talk about him, Edward knew she was worried about Jacob's sudden disappearance. She still called out his name in her sleep, something Edward didn't tell her because he knew she knew how much that hurt him.
"He seemed to know who you were…more specifically, what you were," Annabelle turned to look at Edward, her eyebrows raised in that familiar way that let him know she was hoping for more information.
"Yes, the Quiletes know what we are. Sam Uley is head of the pack…they've actually done a great job at tolerating us."
"Head of the pack," Annabelle gasped as she sat up straight, quickly grabbing onto the branch above her as she felt herself shift from her seat, "Are you saying Sam Uley is a werewolf?"
Edward chuckled at the look on incredulity on Annabelle's face, "Come on Annie. Vampires exist…why does it surprise you that werewolves do too?"
Annabelle leaned back against the tree trunk having gotten her balance, her mouth still opened in shock, "I just…wow. You're right, it shouldn't surprise me; after all, I am a mythical creature. It's just that…the Volturri insist that there's no such thing as werewolves…according to legend, they are the only other creature that could destroy a vampire. I guess that's why the Volturri insist they don't exist…nothing like a lethal enemy to cramp your belief of indestructibility."
"And you swallowed that lie," Edward cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowing as he watched her face.
"No, they insist because they actually believe it. If they had been lying…" Annabelle's eyes widened as she turned to look at Edward, a smile on his face, "You know! You know what I can do."
"Well, after much thinking and pondering, I figured it out. And, of course, you just confirmed it," Edward gave her a smug look, quickly grabbing on to her as she reached out to push him off the limb. Annabelle gasped as she quickly wrapped her legs around the branch she was sitting on, keeping herself from falling. This, of course, defeated her intention of knocking Edward off the tree. Edward laughed as he found his balance, letting go of her arms. Annabelle huffed, crossing her arms as an achingly familiar pout appeared on her face. Edward couldn't help but feel that tug towards her.
"Annabelle, you know you can trust me," Edward reached out to take her hand, lacing their fingers together as she turned to look at him, her pout still in place. With his free hand, he reached out and flicked her bottom lip with his finger, "Tuck that back in. You know it doesn't work on me."
"Are you going to tell the others," Annabelle looked down at their linked hands, "And since when does my pout not work on you? You used to fall for it all the time."
"Yes, well, that was back when I didn't know better…as for the others, I'm sure you'll eventually trust them enough to tell them yourself." Edward dropped her hand, knowing full well that even though he wanted to reestablish their friendship, he wouldn't be able to do so until both of them got over their feelings for each other, more so Annabelle than himself. He cared immensely for her, and he knew a part of him still loved her for having been his first love, but he knew there was no hope for her, not when Bella was in his life, in his very soul…if he had one.
Annabelle quietly dropped down from the tree, leaving Edward behind as she took off in a run, needing to clear her mind. It hurt deeply but she had made her decision. She still loved Edward and wanted him but she knew if she placed herself between him and Bella, not only would she lose the opportunity for something special with Edward, but she would lose her friend once again. As much as it hurt, Annabelle knew standing back and letting Edward be with Bella was what she needed to do.
Of course, there was always Bella. Would she think it best to step back and let Edward return to Annabelle? Or will she hold on so tight to Edward that he will eventually come to Annabelle himself?
