Chapter Three: Storytime

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews and such, I hope I take this story where you want it to go. Let me know : )

I stepped forward, looking into her eyes and spoke softly, "Bella…" The next words to come out of her mouth made me want to find the most pain inflicting way for a vampire to die and then find a way for it to happen to me.

"No. Bella is dead. My name is Isobel Charles. Izzy for short."

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BPOV

They all eyed me differently after that last little statement. I knew it was a bit blunt, but what did he expect really? Edward was looking at me like I'd just kicked his puppy down the stairs and then jumped up and down on it's head for extra fun. Come on! Seriously? He's going to make me feel guilty? Don't think so some how. He's just going to have to learn that I've changed - in many ways.

Alice was looking at me with concern clear in her eyes, it was bubbling over, I knew she wouldn't be able to hold back the 'welcome home wagon' much longer… Alice looked uncharacteristically down beat, her clothing wasn't as precisely placed as I remembered it to always be and she had this fake happy aura emanating from her. It got me worried. What was she going through? How could I help her like all the times she listened to my idiotic human problems? It was truly great to see her beautiful face again, I had missed her friendship dearly and to have her in front of me know was breaking my heart but I had to stay strong, stay in control, stay out of that big, black, waiting hole.

I shifted my gaze to Emmett and Rosalie. Of course they couldn't possibly have changed but I found myself noting that Emmett had lost his twinkle in his eye, he seemed deflated and it tore at me for not knowing what was making him look that way. Yet when he saw me looking at him, he broke out in to a goofy grin and his face just screamed happiness. I couldn't help but smile back.

Rosalie was as cat-walk-model like as ever. When I had first approached she looked slightly pissed with me and I couldn't fathom why at first but then I noticed all eyes were on me and realization swept through me. Dear Rose certainly hadn't changed at all. Now, though, now she was looking at me like she never had and I never thought she would in a million years. She was giving me this look of approval, like I had done something that pleased her and she wanted to slap me a High 5 for whatever it was. Then her eyes darted from me to Edward, who was staring intently at the side of my face, and I realised she must have just loved how I was so short and snappy with him. I bet if I lifted my mind and listened to her she'd be thinking something along the lines of 'Wow! It's about time she grew some balls! Ha! Nice to see her putting him in his place.' Then she'd catch her reflection in the glasses of some passing nerd and she would be off in her little self absorbed bubble. Oh Rose how I've missed you and your easy going, forward thinking.

Lastly, my eyes came to rest on Jasper. His look puzzled me the most. He was raking his eyes over me and stopped when he felt my stare. Our eyes met and I felt a wave of frustration hit the elastic of my shield. Oh! He's trying to feel my emotions and doesn't understand why he can't feel a damn thing. Ha! Poor guy has no idea he has no chance of getting through unless I lift it, and that sure as hell isn't going to happen. I might slip up - not that I ever have - and let Edward have free reign of my thoughts. Nope. Sorry Jasper, can't risk it just yet. Suddenly his frustration vanished and his eyes showed a cruel mix of pain and sadness - similar to that within Alice's - but also a large amount of understanding which I guess he was directing at me over the exchange I just had with Edward. The last person I expected to break this deadly silence and save me from the pitiful glances of his siblings was the very person that did. Jasper.

"Well, Isobel Charles, it is an extreme pleasure to meet with you." Jasper said while stepping forward and thrusting his hand towards me. "My name is Jasper Whitlock."

All his siblings and his wife shot their heads in his direction in utter shock at his error over his surname, but Jasper did not move his eyes from mine or acknowledge his mistake at all. It was almost like he meant to say it. I had to do something to relieve the excruciating tension in the air so I grasped Jasper hand, shook it in greeting and replied, "well top of the morning to you laddy," in the best Irish accent that I could muster.

Alice, Emmett and Jasper cracked up laughing. Rosalie tried to stifle her laughter but failed miserably. I did a little Irish jig dance and that just sent all 4 of them over the edge. They were clutching their sides and actually gasping for breath, which is a strange sight when it involves vampires. I just stood their and smiled at them, feeling very bemused. I glanced across to Edward who was looking at me intently with a very pained expression on his face. It made me want to smack him. Hard. In the mouth. His siblings were rolling around trying to contain themselves and in the process they were providing me with some long over due joy from their hysteria, but Mr Broody had to go and ruin it. Ugh! Again, MEN! I had to get away before I actually did some damage to the nearest thing in reach. So, I opened my bag, grabbed the official looking papers, pointed to the door with the sign reading "FRONT OFFICE" and spoke clearly to them all. "Right well I've got to go sort all that usual legal crap, sign some papers swearing never to harm the school mascot and then I think it will be time for me to head to class. So I will, er, see you when I see you." I rushed away as quickly as my human façade would allow so as not to hear the muttered rumblings of protest any louder than I already could.

EPOV

I was confused. Deeply confused. Of course I didn't expect her to jump in my arms and for us to just be 'us' again, but still I could not understand her. I had always understood Bella. I always knew what she was thinking, even without being able to read her thoughts, I learnt to read her. But things were different now, I couldn't read her face, she wouldn't allow me to.

Bella took in each of my siblings in turn. Alice first. One thing I could read from Bella was that she instantly recognised that Alice was not herself. Good. Alice needs Bella desperately. If there was ever a perfect time for Bella to have reappeared in our lives it was definitely now.

The sadness in Bella's face after absorbing Alice only deepened once she raked over Emmett. She must have noticed his twinkle was gone. Once he met her gaze though, his goofy grin appeared for the first genuine time in decades. Bella's answering smile was tentative but it warmed by still heart nonetheless.

Rosalie was next and I saw amusement fill Bella's new vampire enhanced facial features. However, a light bulb seemed to appear over Bella's head as something clicked after she followed Rose's swift glance at me and suddenly Bella looked annoyed yet bemused. What was that about? I wish I knew but my siblings had obviously suddenly decided to simultaneously block me out of their thoughts.

Finally she reached Jasper and something very odd occurred. The last time that they had seen each other Jasper had attempted to kill Bella. But this small, trivial fact seemed to have escaped the notice of both of them as their eyes met and numerous emotions were passed between them. First off was the frustration from earlier as Jasper tried, unsuccessfully, to get a read on Bella's emotions. It was confusing that he couldn't, he could do it extremely easily while she was human, the change must have altered that… Suddenly that frustration was gone and she was reacting to the pain she found in his eyes by glancing at Alice. She's still quick then. Lastly, some sort of understanding seemed to pass through them followed by Jasper stepping forward to introduce himself to our new acquaintance 'Isobel Charles'. But for some unfathomable reason he presented himself as 'Whitlock', not Hale or even Cullen. I have no idea if it was a mistake or deliberate but it pissed me knowing that was going to sting Alice.

Bella did what Bella does best by breaking the tension with a joke. It had everyone in fits of laughter, including Alice which I was insanely grateful for, but I could not bring myself to even chuckle. I was too focused on studying Bella. Then I realised what a mistake that was because my silence seemed to anger Bella. She fumbled around in her bag for some papers, stated she was off to fill in the required forms and said she would 'see us when she sees us' and darted to the front office before any of us could stop her without using non human speed. What the hell did that mean? See us when she sees us?

"Did that just happen? That was Bella wasn't it? Oh my fucking God it was! Yes! Yes! She's back! My girl is baaaaack!" Emmett was ecstatic and his voice got louder and louder.

"Geez Emmett calm yourself, it's just Bella." Rosalie responded while placing a firm hand on Emmett's shoulder to stop him bouncing up and down.

"Yeah whatever Rosie. You know you're pleased she's here, I could see it on your face babe." Emmett's grin was from ear-to-ear.

"Just one thing though Em. Did you happen to notice that she's no longer human? Or did you just gloss over that delightful little fact?" I regretted the words as soon as I said them, but I just couldn't help myself. I was angry and upset and to see everyone all happy about Bella being immortal was killing me.

"Shut up Edward. She's alive. Isn't that what matters?" Jasper's sharpness shocked us all. He's usually pretty quiet and a man of few words, but whatever he does say is always to the point, direct and no nonsense… Just like how I had a feeling Bella had become.

The bell rang then and we realised we were stood alone on the entrance path and about to be late to classes. I didn't know what year Bella had placed herself in and so wasn't sure if I would have any classes with her. A guy could only wish…

BPOV

I never made it to any of my classes that came before lunch. The freaking principal had me sit in his office to fill out so many forms and then have a nice long, extremely long, chat about my past, present and future - academically wise of course. Ha sure! Did he think I didn't notice how his eyes never once stayed in one place? Darting from my lips, to my chest, to my legs and back again. I should probably have been outraged but I was long past caring, this was just a fact of life for me now. Something I was used to but didn't think of as a compliment. It may have been 85 years since I was transformed into an other worldly being but as far as I'm concerned I am still that plain Jane everyone used to see.

Once I was finally released from dear Principal Wayne's arena of boredom, the bell rang to signal lunch time. So I set off, following the hoards of teenagers that were exiting their classrooms, visiting their lockers and then all heading in the same direction - I presumed they were going to the canteen, so I followed. I had my jacket in my right hand and my bag was slung over my left shoulder. As I walked I became away that once more all eyes were on me, except they were trying to be more subtle about it now, sneaking chance glances at me when they thought I wasn't looking. Failures.

I reached the entrance to the canteen and saw that it was already quite full, and that a group of 5 immediately turned their heads to look at me. I looked at Alice and saw her mouth 'Sit with me. Please.' She could have whispered it under her breath and I would have heard her. Silly Alice. She must not yet have fully registered what I am now. The 5 of them were sat at a round table in the back left corner of the room, the table seated six. Alice patted the empty seat to her right and inclined her head. I was surprised to see the seat unoccupied, Edward was on Alice's left so I figured Jasper would be to her right. But no, Jasper was on the other side of the empty seat, to the left of Emmett who was of course on Rosalie's right, on Edward's left.

I looked at their trays of food in front of them. Each tray was covered in an assortment of human food. They pick up way too much. It just makes them stand out even more when they don't eat a thing. So I simply grabbed an apple, a bottle of orange juice and a small sandwich then made my way over to their table.

Emmett had turned to watch over his shoulder as I approached and a massive smile was stretched across his face, it really warmed me to see someone so happy I was in their presence. Jasper was also watching me but he wore just a simple, open smile which for some reason made me even happier. Alice was beaming at me and I couldn't help but shake my head at her. This was too much, I couldn't understand why they were so pleased by my sudden appearance in their lives. Edward had changed tact from this morning, instead of staring at me with that pained expression on his face he was now staring at his hands with that pained expression on his face. Rosalie tried not to show any reaction to me but I did notice a very tentative grin.

I reached the table, pulled my bag over my head and dumped it on the ground along with my jacket, and then swiftly sat in my chair. Everyone was silent, just waiting for Alice to explode. Soon enough her excitement bubbled over and she pulled me against her side, wrapping her arms sideways around me - her left across my chest and her right around the back of my shoulder blades, and she let the words spill from her mouth at a rapid pace.

"Oh Bella you have no idea how much I've missed you, honestly these 85 years have been horrid withou…"

Alice stopped her ranting when she finally noticed the frown on my face.

"What? Oh right yeah, sorry, Isobel right? Izzy? Okay if it makes you happy I'll go with it."

"Thanks. I'd appreciate that."

Silence again.

"So Izzy, you're looking mighty fine girl." Emmett wolf whistled and gave me another once over.

I snorted and said nothing so Emmett continued.

"Love that ride you came on by the way. The new Ducati?"

"Hell yes. Superbike 1198." I replied with the stupidest wide grin lighting up by face.

"Swe-eet. Didn't have you pegged as a motorbike chick."

"Things change Emm." The grin fell away.

Silence again.

So I tried to lighten the mood, again.

"She's my baby. Who needs sex when you've got a 1198?"

I had said it in a very joking tone yet all eyes immediately locked on my face. Eyebrows raised on their questioning faces. Once again Jasper saved me.

"How's your schedule? I never saw you in any classes so are you playing younger and acting as a junior with Edward and Alice?"

I shot him a thankful smile and answered. "No I'm a senior. I wasn't in any classes because of Principal Pervy. Ugh I nearly taught that creep a lesson."

"You're a senior?! No! Damn I wanted to have some classes with you." Alice whined and gave me her famous pout.

"Sorry honey, truly, I would love to have had classes with you too. But 1) I always do senior year, I don't plan on sticking round longer than that, 2) I can't pass for a junior and 3) it's done now anyway so don't give me that look missy."

Alice frowned at me for a second but then seemed to accept what I said and sent a friendly smile my way. Everyone else at the table looked shocked and amused, thankfully even Edward. Probably because I had just stood up to Alice, providing valid reasons and without stuttering once. Very unlike human Bella. Hmm what will they think when they found just how unlike that little girl I really am.

"Pass me your schedule, Bel - I mean Izzy." Emmett gave me an apologetic look for the name slip and put his hand out towards me.

I reached into my bag and pulled out the sheet with my timetable on, then handed it to Emmett.

"Hmm it's pretty much the same as Jasper's." He frowned and then the smile returned. Boy I forgot how emotional this family was. "But you do have Spanish with the both of us next. Eso es bueno." He smirked at me and handed back the timetable.

Once again silence fell upon us and everyone became very uncomfortable. I could tell they all had things they wanted to ask but weren't sure if they should or even if they could.

"You all have a lot you want to say huh." I sighed.

They eyed each other sheepishly but returned their faces to mine and nodded slowly.

"Of course. Well, I can't exactly answer them all right now so we should proba - " I was cut off by a suddenly very excited Alice.

"You should come to our house after school! Oh please do! I've missed you beyond words! We have to do lots of catching up. Please. Please." She was practically begging and I didn't miss the mixture of pain and longing in her voice.

"Okay Alice. I've missed you too." I wasn't giving in because of her pleading and pouting, it was because I had missed her so very much and needed to hear what had been going on with her, I had a feeling it wasn't a happy story. The bell rang then so I stood up to head to class and said to Alice, "I'll just meet you at your house after school, yeah?" She looked at me like I was stupid.

"But how will you know where we live?"

"Oh, no worries, my nose is very much up for the challenge." I smiled, picked up my belongings and excused myself.

I had to have a moment to myself, so I went in to the nearest ladies restroom. I can't believe this. I came here expecting it to just be another usual boring senior year. But no, the freaking Cullens had to have already sent up camp here didn't they. Of course I was happy to see them but the pain was still there from the fact that they had left me all those decades ago. And now things were so awkward. What do we say? Do we talk about the fact that the youngest son made me fall in love with him then proceeded to break my heart and leaving me a zombie? Things suddenly became so unclear. I had no idea what was going to happen from here. That was new. I always knew what to expect of my days. No longer. A change had come. A change had come and knocked me on my ass.

A/N: Alright then so how do you think it's going? What would you like to see happen? I have a plot line running but any suggestions that would fit I will take in to account. Reviews make me update quicker… ; )