A/N:: I sincerly apologize for lack of updates, as life has been, well being life. I have been busy with summer shenanigans, tennis, school (well ok mostly AP Brit Lit), and the death of a very good friend. This is to Karashi, who's review actually inspired me to keep writing this story. As well as anyone else who has reviewed. I love you all and I hope y'all enjoy it.
Song: Bad Moon Rising - CCR
Adelaide pulled up to the Cullen house on a particularly dreary afternoon to find the garage open and a familiar pair of legs sticking out from under the black Porsche. A smirk found its way to her lips as she walked over.
"Did I come at a bad time?" She asked, popping her head underneath the car.
"Nah, just finishing up." Scott pulled himself from underneath in one swift motion, and popped the hood.
"What did you break on it now?" she sneered jokingly.
"Nothing, I'm enhancing," a wild smile spread to his lips.
"You are possibly the biggest freak-" She never got a chance to finish her sentence. Scott came charging at her, picked her up, and tossed her over his shoulder.
"Scott! Put me down!" She exclaimed between hysterical laughter, as he spun around in circles.
"No, I don't think so." She knew his trademark smirk was playing at his lips.
"I hate you!" She cried, laughing even harder.
"Well, if you're going to be like that, fine." Scott abruptly stopped.
Adelaide didn't know what she was in for, but she knew it couldn't be good. He swung her off his shoulder and placed her atop Emmett's Jeep. Adelaide sent a wordless glare to Scott, who smirked cheekily up at her.
"Is it snack time?" A voice asked, coming from the door that led into the house. "I heard screaming." Adelaide didn't even have to turn her head to know that it was Emmett.
He stood next to Scott as they both looked up at the girl sitting on top of the Jeep. "Aw, you're gonna make me work for my food?"
"I hate you both," Adelaide stated, a strait face and arms folded. Her eyes narrowed into a glare as she looked down at her boyfriend and his bear of a brother.
"Aw, no you don't pretty lady," Scott responded, leaning casually against the hood of the car, smirking up at her. It was all she could do not to melt and to keep her straight face.
"Yes I do." She said each word slowly to emphasize her point…and to keep her heart from fluttering.
Scott arched an eyebrow, his dark gold eyes piercing into her crystal blue ones. Adelaide didn't look away or change her expression in the slightest, no matter how fast her heart was beating.
"Fine then."
"Fine."
"C'mon Emmett, let's go ask Alice if it's going to storm tonight," Scott said to his brother, turning and walking out of the garage. Looking from Adelaide, to Scott, then back to Adelaide before shrugging Emmett followed his brother inside.
As soon as the door swung shut behind him, Scott stopped his brother and leaned casually against the wall.
"You think she's going to call for help?" Emmett asked, as if he could read Scott's mind.
"Ten…nine…eight…"
The door swung shut behind Emmett and Adelaide let out a frustrated sigh. Men. Her feet swung where the window would have been if Emmett ever rolled up his windows. Without even really thinking, she launched herself off of the Jeep and landed gracefully in a crouch on the garage floor.
"Whoa," a familiar voice came from behind her. Turning, a smirk on her face, she found Scott staring dumbstruck at her. "I'm dating Catwoman."
She let out a giggle as he grabbed her hand and raced inside. "Emmett! I'm dating Catwoman!" He yelled, running into the living room in search of his favorite brother. However, Emmett was not where he had been seconds beforehand. Still giggling and running, Scott and Adelaide found the Cullen family, and Bella, sitting solemnly in the living room. The couple skidded to a halt, confused.
"What happened?"
Edward's fierce eyes instantly flashed to his newest brother. "The Volturi."
That was all he needed to say for Scott to tense and for his grip on Adelaide's hand to increase.
"When?"
"We don't know."
Scott's eyes flashed to Alice, who shrugged. "Their plans aren't set in stone yet, and they won't be until hours before they arrive. They know," Alice tapped the side of her head.
"So what do we do?"
"There's nothing we can do but be on our guard and wait," the ever-silent Jasper spoke up.
"There has to be something…" Edward mused.
"There is nothing Edward," Carlisle answered calmly.
"What's the Volturi?" Adelaide piped up. Everyone turned to look at her, as if they had forgotten she was there.
"I suppose the best way to describe it is that they are what's best described as vampire royalty. They are the largest and oldest coven, and enforce the rules and generally oversee the vampire world," Carlisle explained.
"And they want Bella dead," The ever-so-blunt Rosalie added without missing a beat.
"Rose," Esme chastised sharply, to which Rosalie simply shrugged and rolled her eyes.
"It's frowned upon in our world for humans to know of our existence, let alone interact with us on a daily basis," Carlisle continued as if Rosalie hadn't have spoken.
Adelaide suddenly felt very self-conscious, though she knew that wasn't his intention.
"They want me either me dead or turned into a vampire," Bella voiced the words none of the others would say.
"Oh," was all Adelaide could say, in a small voice.
An awkward silence filled the room for a moment, no one making eye contact.
"Thunderstorm tonight," Alice's perky voice finally broke the silence and relieved the tension. Everyone seemed to relax (probably the doing of Jasper), and within minutes were piled into Emmett's Jeep heading toward the woods.
The vampire baseball game (which was still a ludicrous thought to Adelaide, though she should have probably learned by now to accept the abnormal) was entertaining in itself. Though she understood why she couldn't play, Adelaide was still slightly upset she couldn't partake in the fun and had to sit and watch with Bella. However, she did find Bella to be nice enough. There were no deep heart-to-hearts, just simple conversation, which was what Adelaide preferred, and it seemed that Bella preferred it this way as well.
"Did you play nice with the other human?" Scott teased as he and Adelaide sat on the couch after the game, as the rain pounded against the house.
"No, she gave me a weird look so I beat her up," Adelaide teased right back. Edward had taken Bella home after the game upon her father's request, so Edward and Bella were the only ones absent from the Cullen residence that night.
"That's my girl!" Scott slung an arm around Adelaide, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. "Now, if you excuse me, I owe Emmett a challenge wrestling match."
Scott darted off to god knows where, leaving Adelaide alone on the couch. She walked over to Jasper, who was standing by the window, looking out into the rain.
"I feel like I can be honest with you Adelaide, so I'm going to be," He said without taking his eyes off of the rain.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"The Volturi are not like us. They are a force to be reckoned with, and frankly Adelaide, you don't stand a chance." She must have had a confused look in her eye, because he proceeded to elaborate. "I'm sure you've noticed all of our eyes are golden. The Volturi's are a crimson red. That means that they are not vegetarians, and I use that term lightly. They do not feed off of animals as we do."
"They drink human blood," Adelaide added softly.
"Yes. They also do not hesitate to uphold the law, by any means necessary."
"That means-"
"That means that if they came tomorrow, Bella would die. Edward was supposed to have changed Bella by the time they arrived to check in. The more he puts it off to 'protect her soul' or whatever his reasoning may be, the more danger he is actually putting her in."
"I see…"
"You're in danger as well Adelaide. Though you may not know as much as Bella, you know we exist, and that is reason enough for the Volturi."
She didn't say a word, just simply starred out into the rain with Jasper, trying to steady her shaking hand.
"I'm sorry if I've frightened you, but I felt someone should be honest with you."
"Thank you Jasper," she responded whole-heartedly.
"You're welcome Adelaide."
Thoughts swimming about her head, Adelaide wandered into the kitchen, where Rosalie was seated at the table. She wasn't exactly sure why vampires needed a kitchen, but she thought better than to question it. Vampires had a need for a kitchen, she accepted the fact and moved on without really pondering too deeply on why, much as she did in her math classes in high school. Rosalie shot her a dirty look as she sat down.
Adelaide threw her hands up in the air. "Why do you hate me Rosalie? What have I ever done to you?"
"You're dating Scott," she responded icily.
Several thoughts ran through Adelaide's head, but instead of voicing them, she simply asked, "what?"
"You are so young, beautiful, and full of life, and you're throwing it all away."
Adelaide was flattered that Rosalie of all people had called her beautiful and felt she deserved some kind of award for this. "What do you mean?"
"You're going to have Scott bite you, just like Bella is having Edward bite her. You both are throwing your life away. All I ever wanted was a front porch, someone to love me, and a baby of my own. And I will never have that because my life was stolen from me. I can't stand to watch something like that go to waste."
"First of all, you do not know one damn thing about me, Rosalie Hale. Just because Edward is going to bite Bella, doesn't mean Scott will bite me. Bella and I are two completely different people with two completely different directions in life. Don't you assume humans make all the same choices, because vampires sure as hell don't. I'm sorry your life was stolen from you, I really am. But that's not my fault, so don't take it out on me. I'm not wasting my life Rosalie. You're wasting yours, by being pissed about something that happened decades ago. Get over yourself."
And with that Adelaide stormed out of the kitchen, leaving a dumbstruck Rosalie sitting at the kitchen table. She walked into the living room to find Alice, Emmett, Jasper, and Scott all standing there with varying degrees of shock and awe (as well a slight smirk) on each of their faces.
"I have never seen someone stand up to her like that!" Alice exclaimed.
"Damn, about time!" Emmett exclaimed high-fiving Adelaide.
Scott and Jasper stood in the back, arms folded, wide smirks on their faces.
"That one yours?" Jasper joked.
"That is my Addie."
The time came when Adelaide decided it might be a good idea to head back home, due to an early morning shift. Scott walked her to her car, a far-away look in his eyes.
"Hey," she said softly, taking his face in her hands. "You worry too much, everything will be just fine."
"You did bitch out Rosalie, that's a good omen…"
She laughed, "See?"
Scott's face turned serious. "I love you," he said looking into her crystal eyes.
"I love you more."
With a quick smile, she hopped into her car, and disappeared down the driveway.