Unanswered questions
Emmett was sitting next to Bella watching her sleep. Edward studied him. Emmett was more serious and quiet than he had ever seen him.
I was a fool to think Bella was safe from my past.
They waited for Bella to wake up as always. When she did, she looked at Emmett immediately.
'I am really sorr—'
'None of that.' Emmett interrupted. 'You did nothing wrong.'
'No, I did.' Bella sputtered. 'I shouldn't have—'
Emmett pulled her in one of his enveloping hugs.
At least there is no reason for me anymore to refrain from bear hunting.
Edward sighed. Leave it to his brother to find some benefit in all the mayhem.
I didn't realize my fear was that strong. Maybe I should let Bella freeze me again, so I can try to control my reaction.
'Maybe you should.' Edward agreed.
Emmett nodded and looked down at Bella. She was still trembling slightly from her dream and Emmett held her closer.
Maybe later.
The next three years were peaceful again. Edward was still the only one Bella didn't dream about, for which he was extremely grateful. Bella was growing in a young woman, coming in her puberty years now. Her development had a strange curve. It had accelerated fast in the beginning of her life, but was now settling in a steady pace. Two years ago she had finished secondary school, but instead of going to high school before her years she chose to stay with her classmates and follow an advanced program. He was sure she had finished high school now in knowledge and intelligence, but was also sure she was going to go through high school nonetheless. She was like them in that area at least. He mostly blamed Jasper for her advanced knowledge. They spent hours in their free time studying history, art and literature together. It was a bond she only shared with him. Alice often complained that it wasn't normal for a girl to be more obsessed with books than with clothes.
Only one year left to spend happily in Finland. Billy Black sent Carlisle multiple messages to remind him of his promise. They had to move to Forks in one year.
Bella kept her distance from her classmates, not wanting to repeat her mistake with Liam. One boy managed to come a little bit closer to her. She tried to ignore him, but the boy was relentless and pursuing her with all his energy. It irritated Edward beyond reasonable annoyance. His name was Sam and he was an American boy. His father worked in Finland for a few years and Sam had moved with his father.
Liam had been a sweet boy, modest and polite. Sam on the other hand was the complete opposite. He had confidence, always putting attention on himself. It was one of the reasons he annoyed Edward so much. He was one year older than his classmates, which only strengthened his idea of his superiority.
Edward still picked Bella up from school most of the days and saw everything the boy tried to get Bella's attention. One day Edward waited for her in the schoolyard when he saw Sam and Bella walk outside together. He read Sam's mind immediately.
He was drooling all over her and compensating this behavior with his less than modest bragging.
'My father owns half of the company and that's why we live in the biggest house in Helsinki. Maybe you know it, House Halford?'
Bella was completely indifferent and Edward smiled. If he wanted to impress Bella, wealth was not the way to do it. He doubted Sam's father was richer than their family and besides that, Bella was not a very materialistic person. They always had trouble forcing her birthday gifts on her, which he had to admit were always too expensive and too extravagant. There was simply no way to stop Alice.
Sam noticed Bella's lack of positive response and changed strategies.
'I play soccer and my coach thinks I can play for a major league team next year.'
He gave her a proud look. Bella avoided his eyes.
'Will you come and watch my match this Saturday? I will score for you.'
Edward had to remind himself Sam was just a boy, because he was thinking of giving the boy a good backslap to make sure he left Bella alone. He stepped out of his car and walked towards them. Sam noticed him.
'Your bodyguard is here.' Sam said annoyed.
Do they ever leave her alone? They are more like her prison guards.
Edward almost growled at the insult. The ignorant boy had no idea how deep their connections were. Bella noticed Edward and doubled her pace. Edward smiled at her impatience to reach him. Sam didn't get the obvious hint of his unwelcome presence and followed her with the same pace. Edward reached her and to his joy Bella hugged him closely in greeting. Sam stared at the hug irritated, but not discouraged.
She hasn't answered my invite to the game. Maybe I should ask again.
Edward wondered if he should take Rosalie with him tomorrow. She was overprotective when it came to Bella and boys and she wasn't going to like this boy. He was sure she could intimidate him in leaving Bella alone. If looks could kill, Rosalie would have killed many of the male species.
Bella quickly got in the car.
'I will see you tomorrow, Sam.'
Edward could understand the draw Bella had on boys. She was kind, very smart and of course unbelievably beautiful, even humans could see that. Her body was starting to develop into womanhood and the promised beauty began to show in her figure. The distance she so carefully kept between her and her classmates was only a minor discouragement to the boys. Bella was worth fighting for. He drove away quickly.
With the puberty also came the questions and searches for her roots. Her insecurities played on her face. Edward tried to talk to her about them.
'What is on your mind, Bella?' He asked, always wondering.
She shrugged.
'The same thing as always. Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I come from? My knowledge of human psychology is large enough to know that every adopted child struggles with these questions. For me it is just a little bit more complicated.'
He had some ideas about the reasons for the complication, but he wanted to hear her say it. He held out his hand for her, leaving one hand on the wheel and she took it.
'How is it more complicated?'
'I am not questioning our family, Edward. I know you all love me and I know that love is real. It is the only thing that counts, blood is nothing.'
He chuckled. It was funny to hear a girl living with vampires say that blood was nothing. She ignored his mirth.
'It is all in the connections you form.'
She was silent for a moment.
'It is difficult to not understand who you are or should I say what I am?'
'I know exactly who you are, Bella.' He emphasized the word who.
She looked up towards him, knowing what he was going to say.
'You know that is not what I meant.'
He sighed, he did know and he didn't have the answers.
'The answer will come to you and I am sure it will be something amazing. You have nothing to fear.'
She shook her head and bit her lip frustrated.
'You are wrong. That is exactly what I am afraid of.'
He gave her a worried glance.
'Why?'
'I am afraid of my fate, my purpose, my destiny or whatever you want to call it. What if I can't live up to it? What if, because of my failure, my world and everyone I hold dear will be lost?'
He understood the full extent of her fear. She sometimes had nightmares that had nothing to do with the past. He knew, because he was always so aware of her and because he still watched her sleep from time to time.
'Is that what your nightmares are about?' He asked quietly.
She gave him a startled look. She didn't know he knew about that. After a long stare she hesitatingly answered his question.
'I see myself standing in a field surrounded with dead bodies. I look down at my feet and see your faces. You are all dead.' Her voice choked on the last words.
Edward shuddered. He was reminded of a vision Alice had once of Bella and Maria surrounded by the dead. Her nightmares were a warning, he was sure of that. It probably was a possible outcome of their future and it scared him. He hid this fear deep in his heart.
'You are not alone.' He spoke calmly. 'Place your trust in yourself and in this family.'
She gave him a smile, signalling he had said the right thing.
'I can easily place my trust in you.'
They were barely home, sitting in the living room, when the bell rang. Edward was surprised.
'It is for you, Bella.' Alice called from upstairs. 'It is Sam.'
Emmett laughed when he saw Bella's shocked face.
'How did he manage to discover where we live?' Edward wondered.
They never gave out their address, preferring their complete privacy.
'He probably had his daddy hire a private detective to follow Bella around.' Emmett said chuckling.
Edward failed to see the humor in the situation and he wasn't the only one.
'Ugh, can't we move to Forks already?' Bella asked annoyed.
'Do you want me to handle this?' Emmett asked Bella. 'I think I can scare him away.'
She shook her head, knowing he would definitely be scared if she let Emmett get his way. She walked slowly towards the door, squaring her shoulders as in preparing for a fight. Edward couldn't help to laugh as well. Violence wasn't really Bella's thing. Alice bounced down the stairs followed by Jasper.
I can't believe we have to deal with this kind of crap already. What is this boy thinking?! Jasper thought.
Edward knew exactly what the boy was thinking, but it was better not to share that knowledge with Jasper. It was hard enough to keep himself from throwing the boy out of the door. Alice on the other hand was giddy. She saw Sam was the beginning of a very large line of admirers and Edward groaned. Bella opened the door.
'Hello Sam.' She said grumpily.
'Hi Bella.' Sam replied not in the least discouraged by her less than happy greeting.
Sam pointed to the large limousine and the chauffeur that was apparently his. It was clear he had brought them to win Bella over.
'I am going to the park this afternoon and was wondering if you like to join me.'
Edward knew Sam had practised this sentence repeatedly in his car to make sure it came out the way it did.
'I am sorry, Sam, but I want to study this afternoon.'
It wasn't a lie. Before the bell rang she had asked Jasper if he wanted to study with her and he had said he was available in a few minutes. In the years she was part of this family Edward had never heard her lie. He didn't think it was an ability she was capable of.
I can't believe she would rather study than go to the park. How strange?
It proved how little Sam knew about Bella. If he did, it wouldn't surprise him that she would rather study. Sam didn't question himself and his arrogance irritated Edward again. He was not even a little bit worthy of the girl he was trying to pursue and he believed the opposite. Bella was ready to say goodbye and close the door on him, when he decided to pretend to want to study with her.
'Can I come in? I could use some studying as well.'
Jasper was losing his patience and he really wasn't looking forward to sharing his favourite study time with this arrogant and undeserving boy. He walked to Bella and glared towards Sam over her shoulder. Sam shied away slightly.
'I don't think that would be such a good idea.' Bella offered.
No, it definitely wouldn't be, Edward agreed. He couldn't guarantee the boy would survive the afternoon.
'Perhaps it isn't.' Sam said, taking a few steps back.
He was intimidated by Jasper's murderous glare. Emmett was clutching his sides because he was trying to hold his laughter.
He is lucky Rose isn't here, otherwise he would really have something to be afraid of.
Edward laughed with him. Rosalie and Esme were at the store to get some groceries for Bella. Jasper used his powers to enhance Sam's fear and he staggered backwards a few paces again.
'I guess I see you tomorrow, Bella.' His voice trembled.
She nodded towards him and closed the door. Emmett's booming laughter filled the room and she raised her eyebrows at him.
'This isn't funny, Emmett.' She said annoyed, but her annoyance with him dissolved quickly.
She shook her head and looked at Jasper.
'Shall we?' She asked.
Jasper smiled at her and walked with her in their study room, they had a room for themselves simply for that purpose. Alice ran up the stairs again, thinking of ways to expand Bella's closet without her knowing. Edward punched Emmett to make him stop and walked towards his own room to listen to music.