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.
AN: Thanks for all the reviews! They keep me going!
Chapter Thirty-Five
"Oh man!"
"Sweet!"
"Look at that one," Emmett grabbed Annabelle's arm, pulling her towards a midnight blue BMW, Jasper practically bouncing as he followed behind them.
"You two need to relax," Edward walked in a more sedated manner behind his siblings, hands stuffed into his pockets, trying to ignore the looks they were getting from others.
As if they didn't stand out enough, Emmett and Jasper were acting like little kids let loose in a candy store.
"We're making up for Anna's lack of enthusiasm," Emmett walked around the car in reverence, wanting nothing more than to get behind the wheel.
"And throwing in a little extra more," Jasper grabbed Annabelle's hand and pulled her towards a black Jaguar, "You should get this one. It's fast and it's pretty."
Annabelle smiled up at Jasper, realizing how unfair it was for them to let her emotions over Jacob's words ruin this outing. Taking a deep breath, she decided to push her dark thoughts out of her head and just enjoy the fact that she was surrounded by cars worth millions of dollars.
"Yes, but the one that's catching my attention is that one over there," Annabelle pointed at a maroon Corvette convertible before weaving around people and cars to get a closer look.
"That's a good choice," Emmett crouched down to look inside the car, "Leather seats, stick shift…won't take you long to learn how to drive it."
"What do you mean," Annabelle stared at him in confusion, "Aren't all cars the same?"
"No," Emmett grinned at her, "There are automatics and standards. Automatics, like my Jeep and the Guardian, are the easier ones. Standards, though, involve three peddles and a clutch…but they are so much faster…you actually have four different gears you can put it in…fourth being the fastest one."
"Oh," Annabelle's eyes unfocused as she imagined a car faster than the Guardian. Moving around the Corvette without paying attention, she placed her hand on the hood as her eyes focused on a car across the showroom.
Sucking her breath in, she slowly moved around the Corvette towards the most beautiful and fastest looking car she had seen that night, knowing without a doubt that this was the car she wanted.
"Ah crap," Edward muttered as he followed after Annabelle, realizing for the first time the mistake he had made at not giving her a price range. He could afford the car but he couldn't deny the fact that his bank account was about to take a serious hit.
"I want this one," Annabelle whispered as she stopped a couple of feet away from the car, her voice carrying a tone of adoration, "Please."
"Oh man," Emmett and Jasper moved around the car, the light making the silver black paintjob shimmer, "You have good taste, Anna."
"What is it," Annabelle stayed rooted to the floor, knowing she could spend hours simply staring at the car and looking forward to sitting inside it…not to mention driving it.
"It's a Lamborghini," Jasper looked across the car at Annabelle, his eyes bright with excitement, "The guy who founded the car was Italian…and a competitor to the guy who founded the Ferrari. In fact, the reason Ferruccio Lamborghini had his engineers' design the car was because Enzo Ferrari pissed him off when he complained about the quality of the clutch in his Ferrari and the guy told him to buzz off. This was back in the 1960s."
"Throughout the years, there's been different models designed, made and sold," Emmett moved to stand next to Annabelle, crossing his arms, "This one is a Reventón with a Lamborghini V12 engine released just last year. And it can go 210 miles per hour...you can hit 62 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds. The exterior's different from any of the other Lamborghini models but the engine is pretty much the same to the Murciélago LP640 Roadster."
"It's one of the most expensive cars in the market…about a million plus dollars" Jasper turned to grin at Edward, "And only twenty were released to the public."
"This one has a 6-speed manual transmission…if you want a fast car, this would be it," Emmett turned to look at Annabelle, cocking an eyebrow, "As I said, you have good taste."
"I have no idea what you said, but I really want the car," Annabelle turned begging eyes towards Edward, "Please?"
Emmett and Jasper turned to look at Edward, both trying not to laugh at the look of suffering that crossed over his face…they wanted Annabelle to get the Lamborghini.
"Are you sure you don't want the Corvette," Edward grimaced as he looked over his shoulder at the maroon vehicle, having to admit to himself it paled in comparison to the Reventón, "Alright…as long as you let me drive it every once in a while."
"Sure," Annabelle beamed at him as she moved closer to the car, "Once a year sound good?"
Edward chuckled as he looked around the bright showroom, quickly locating the main sales person, "You three stay with the car. I'll go make the arrangements."
"Holy crap, it's a Lamborghini!"
Alice stood before the silverblack car, her mouth open in shock as Annabelle stepped out of the car, an exultant expression on her face as she closed the door and walked to stand next to her and admire her new car.
"Isn't it pretty," Annabelle grinned as she tossed the key up in the air and caught it in an obvious show of pride.
"Oh wow," Alice moved slowly around the car, trailing her fingers over the smooth metal of the exterior frame, "I can't believe we have one of these now."
"We?" Annabelle turned to look at Alice, her eyebrows raised in surprise, "Oh no. This is my car. I'll drive you around if you want me to, but it's going to be awhile before I let anybody else drive it."
"You said I could drive it," Edward walked into the garage with Bella in tow.
"Yeah," Annabelle smiled at him, "I said you can drive it once a year. Starting next year."
"You liar."
"I did not lie," Annabelle smirked, shrugging her shoulders, "You just didn't specify."
"Semantics," Edward wrapped his arm around Bella, "But I'll let you get away with it. This time next year, I expect you to hand me the keys without excuses."
"Yeah, yeah," Annabelle turned back to her car, which was now parked between Bella's Guardian and Edward's Vanquish.
"Anyway," Edward turned to look down at Bella, running the back of his fingers over her jaw as he leaned down to kiss her lips before soflty whispering, "Annabelle and I are going hunting. We'll be back before the sun rises, okay?"
"Okay," Bella rose on her tiptoes to press her lips hard against his, her hands gripping his arms to keep her balance, "Have fun."
"We will," Edward hugged her before he turned to look at Annabelle, "You ready?"
"Let me run up and change clothes," Annabelle looked down at the black slacks and dove gray turtleneck sweater she was wearing along with her black boots, "I'll meet you below my window."
"Alright."
"Why did you tell Carlisle," Annabelle turned from her back to her side and pillowed her head into the crook of her elbow to look at Edward.
"Tell him what," Edward turned his head, "That you're a suicidal vampire?"
"Yeah," Annabelle pulled a handful of grass and opened her hand, watching the breeze carry away the blades, leaving some behind in Edward's bronze hair.
"Because it's not fair, Annie," Edward ran his hand through his hair to remove the grass blades as he turned on his side, facing Annabelle, "If you tell us that you're heading out on your own when instead you're having those dogs finish you off, we'll be left wondering as to whether you're out there or not. I don't want to have to live for eternity not sure."
"Why does it matter to you," Annabelle flipped onto her back, hands behind her head, "I mean, aside from the whole friend bit."
"It matters to me because you're my friend," Edward sat up, turning to look at Annabelle, "Not only that, but my family has come to care for you. I don't think it's fair to put all of us through the hell of not knowing."
"So if I decide to end my life, and I tell all of you, you'll respect that," Annabelle cocked her eyebrow, her mouth lifting into a crooked smile.
"I won't be happy about it," Edward tilted his head back to stare at the dark blue sky covered in bright stars, "But I'll understand because I've been there. Did Aro tell you the reason why I asked the Volturri to end my life?"
"Yes," Annabelle pushed herself up into a sitting position, drawing her knees into her chest, "You thought Bella had killed herself…"
"Yes," Edward ran his fingers through his hair, "Alice had a vision of Bella jumping off a cliff and because she disappeared afterwards, Alice thought that she had killed herself. I was in South America looking for Victoria, feeling miserable, ready to head back to Forks and beg Bella to take me back. Rosalie answered the phone when I called to let the family know that I was heading back home and told me what Alice saw…I didn't think it through, didn't even think to call Alice to make sure. I headed straight to Italy, not wanting to live in a world without Bella."
"I stood by one of the windows that looked down the alley where you were waiting for the noon hour to hit. I watched as Bella raced across the plaza towards you to keep you from stepping out into the sun. I heard what you said to her, how you thought that you were dead. I couldn't believe that after so many years, I was seeing you again…" Annabelle rose to her feet, stretching her arms over her head, "It was a shock, seeing that you were just like me. After so many years thinking that you were long and gone, there you were."
"Then you must understand how I feel," Edward looked up at Annabelle, staying sitting on the grass, "Because that's exactly what it was like when I first saw you a month ago."
"Except that you were no longer in love with me," Annabelle grinned as she took several steps back, "While I was absolutely obssessed with the man you used to be."
"He doesn't exist anymore," Edward shrugged as he watched Annabelle walking backwards away from him, "Just like the girl you used to be doesn't exist either."
"I must say, though," Annabelle bend over to stand on her hands, lifting her legs straight into the air, "I think I like you the way you are now than the way you were before."
"What," Edward grinned as he watched Annabelle make her way towards him, "And why are you walking on your hands?"
"Entertaining myself, my friend," Annabelle laughed as she bend her elbows to flip herself onto her feet, "I've never before found pleasure in the things that I can do because of what I am. After the conversation I had with Esme yesterday night, I couldn't help but realize that I've lived as a human for the past hundred years…in more ways than one. Beating you and your brothers at sparring last night was an eye opener."
"You do know I let you win, right," Edward hopped onto his feet, catching Annabelle's exuberance.
"You do know I know you're lying, right," Annabelle laughed as she flipped backwards multiple times, "But just so you can get your dignity back, how about a race?"
"Now that's just stupid, Annabelle," Edward stood still before pushing himself off the ground into a double front tuck flip, "I'm the fastest one of all the Cullens."
"Yes," Annabelle grinned as she watched Edward land smoothly on his feet, "But I'm the one with the most surprises."
"Alright," Edward moved at vampire speed to stand next to Annabelle, "First one to your room is the winner."
"Yeah, but what do we win," Annabelle cocked her head to the side, looking up into his butterschotch eyes, "I mean, you get your dignity back but what do I get?"
"The satisfaction of knowing you're faster than me," Edward's mocking voice caused Annabelle to laugh, the sound carrying across the open field.
"It won't be satisfying unless Emmett and Jasper know that I'm faster than you," Annabelle's grin grew as a pained look flashed across Edward's face.
"Do we have to get them involved," Edward ran his hand through his hair, "Isn't it enough that they already saw you beat me at sparring?"
Annabelle shrugged as she turned to face homeward, "For now, I guess."
Edward moved several steps away from Annabelle, "Ready. Set. Go!"
~*~
"I won!" Edward pulled himself into Annabelle's room through the open window, landing silently on his feet.
"I would say it was a tie," Annabelle smiled as she moved away from Edward, reaching up to tame her fly-away hair.
"Riding piggy back on the way up to the window wasn't exactly legal," Edward attempted to frown but couldn't help smiling as Annabelle grinned at him.
"We never stated any rules, so if you ask me, anything goes," Annabelle moved to collapse onto the suede sofa, kicking off the black and silver Nike tennis shoes, "So stop being such a weinie and admit we're tied."
"Whatever," Edward sank onto the floor, stretching out his long legs as he leaned back, supporting himself with his arms, "If that makes you happy and gets you off my back…sure, we're tied."
Annabelle laughed as she bend over to remove her socks, wiggling her toes with obvious pleasure before she tucked her legs under her, "It does make me happy, so thank you."
"So what are you going to do," Edward cocked his head to the side, watching Annabelle as she moved around the couch until she burrowed into the plush cushions.
"About what," Annabelle looked down at her jeans, frowning as she brushed off some left over cougar hairs.
"Are you coming to New Hampshire with us or are you going to have the werewolves finish you off?"
Annabelle lifted her bright butterscotch eyes to look at Edward, "When are you heading off to New Hampshire?"
"In a week," Edward pushed himself off the floor, ready to spend some quality alone time with his wife, "We would be very happy to have you join us…but we can't force you to. You're not a prisoner here Annabelle. This is your choice…I just hope you trust us enough to let us know either way."
"I will," Annabelle let her head fall back as she looked out the window, watching the dark sky slowly lighten into pewter gray, "You'll know when I make my decision…"
"Alright," Edward walked towards the door, turning the doorknob as he turned to look at Annabelle, "And I must say…I enjoyed spending time with you tonight. I really hope it's not the last time we get to hang out together."
"I know, Edward," Annabelle gave him a small smile, watching him as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
A week.
She had a week to make up her mind if she wanted to live or die. And if she decided to die, these people…her new family…would not stand in her way.
But if she decided to live…what would she be living for?
Standing up, she walked towards the desk and grabbed the flat box, heading towards the bathroom. She had made up her mind and now it was time to follow through…time to open the box, let go of what could have been and all that was attached to those lost memories and dreams, and begin to live anew.
