CHAPTER 3 | LET'S GET WEIRD

BPOV_

We eat brunch downtown, and go on a shopping spree afterwards. When we return to the Brandon residence, we run up to her room to try everything on. She sets her iPhone into the dock and browses her playlist. "What do you want to listen to?" Alice asks.

"Uh, I don't care. Just put it on Shuffle," I empty my purchases onto her bed. "Maneater" by Nelly Furtado plays. Sometimes I feel like just that, a man-eater.

"Alice, change it." I demand. It reminds me of Edward. And any other guy that I've brutally friend-zoned or used. I was full aware that boy was in love with me. And I had some love for him. Ugh, I wouldn't blame him if he thought me a heartless, man-eating bitch. I'd probably be so inclined to agree.

"But you said-"

"Change it!" I cut her off. Sorry Nelly.

"Ugh, fine..what's gotten into you today?"

" I don't know, Alice.. Edward is gone. Forever. I didn't even say goodbye. "

"Bella, everything will be fine! As you grow up, people just start seeing things differently and naturally, they grow apart. Why are you worrying so much about this?"

"I'm not sure why, but it's just been weighing on me as of late. I don't know. I was such a bitch to him. He'd always put up with me, though. I was NOT a good friend. A guilty conscience?" I offer.

"If you want my honest, unbiased opinion I think it is your guilty conscience. You led him on for years, he was your pet. And it was you that ended him socially. That boy was in love with you up until—" I raise my hand to stop her. Don't bring up the scandal, I already feel guilty enough.

"You're right. I have not helped the situation," I resign, "I guess interacting with him the other day just kinda.."

"I understand," Alice jedi-mind-tricks me, You also have to consider he didn't tell you he was leaving, so he obviously gives no shits about your feelings. So drop it. You're overreacting. You'll be fine."

"Fine," I sigh, "it's dropped." Alice was right. I'm Bella Swan. I'll be over this shit by next week.
"Excellent," she says delightfully. "Besides, you've got me and Rose. And we're fucking rad. Forget Ed-weird. Now, let's try on these clothes, shall we?"

"We shall!" I exclaim. Forget Ed-weird. Alice and Rose are phenomenal friends.

EPOV_

As I sleep, I allow my mind to wander. What did it decide to dwell on, you ask? Well, my shortcomings of course because my existence is a huge fucking joke. And boom, just like that, all of the times when Bella used to tease me came flushing through my mind. Why have I been thinking of her so much recently? Although she and I were "besties," she'd still make fun of me or call me names and whatnot. She never apologized for it either, which really made me think.

She doesn't fucking care Ed, no one does. Sorry. Now stop, you're being a bitch.

"Hey," I'm awaken by a soft grasp on my arm. My eyes open and lock with Audrey's beautiful, blue eyes observing me. God, she is gorgeous.

"I'm sorry to bother you or be overbearing but I'm freaking out," she looks panicked. We're experiencing a persistent bout of turbulence, and I can understand what that's like.
I pull her into me gently and try to comfort her the best way I know how... statistics.

"Hey now, don't be worried," I coo, "it happens all of the time! The average car ride is much more turbulent than the average fight. Airplanes are designed, engineered and maintained to sustain the worst turbulence, with a margin of 50%."

I see the ends of her lips curl slightly, before breathing out a chuckle.

"You're too cute," she smiles and then nuzzles her head back into my chest. Whoa, I'm having a normal interaction. Well, kinda.

"I don't have any friends where we're going," she continues, "can we be friends?"

Nope. Don't you fucking dare Edward. That will be friend-zone hell.

"Of course," I smile. How could I ever say no to that face? It's like witchcraft with you women!

We maintain our position for the rest of our flight and talk softly.

I learn that Audrey—or Ade, she'd rather be called—is from Denver, and that her parents are too sending her off to live with her Aunt Claudia in Milan. She'll be back to spend her senior year at FH as well. I also find she's extremely smart, which really surprised me. Brains and beauty. Rare species.

"I think I like you Edward. You're really smart. Plus, with a little work, you'd be so easy on the eyes." Another compliment?

"Thanks.. but, I know you're joking."

"Edward, I'm serious. You're already a catch," Well, fuck me, the world must be ending.

"Thank you Audrey, I really mean it," I say as she smiles and closes her eyes for the rest of the flight. This is nice.

I jump awake as the plane smoothly touches down.

"We're here!" she exclaims. The pilot projects from the intercom above us.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen, we at Eclipse airlines would like to be the first to welcome you to Volterra, Italy. The local time is..."

I'm nervous enough to hurl. I've never been out of the country before, and on top of that, I'm practically staying with a stranger: Dad's older brother.

Apparently he's way older, too, so I'm expecting an angry, senile old man. Fuck my life, I'm going to a fucking monastery aren't I?

"Ade, thanks for keeping me company during the flight. You've already taught me more than you know," I say as we walk off the plane to the gate.

"No, thank you!" She gives me a really warm hug, almost dropping her bag.

"See you around then," I eject as we part ways. I pull out my phone and start dialing Uncle Aro's number.

"Edward!" I hear a voice call after me, my eyes follow. Ade.

"I almost forgot! You can't see me around if you don't have my number," she snatches my phone out of my hand and shoves hers in my hands.

"Put yours in!" I program my number in her phone.

"How the heck could I forget?" I chuckle and hand it back to her. She gives me another hug, only tighter this time. And as it ends, she squeezes my ass.

"Now, see you around."

Whoa.

"Okay," I say with a smile. I look down to my now buzzing device. Uncle Aro's calling.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Edward, my nephew! How was your flight?" Wow, he sounds.. charismatic. Young.

"It was great, thanks."

"Good, Good. Listen, I've sent one of my chauffeurs to pick you up from the front of the airport. He will be holding a sign that says your name."

ONE of his chauffeurs?

I exit the airport and have no trouble finding him.

A little over an hour passes by, we turn down a nondescript path that is sheltered by very tall, very green trees. We reach the end of the path and are greeted by large. They opened to reveal a beautifully landscaped property with a huge, mediterranean castle fixed in the center. Not a fucking monastery..

"Wow." Was all I managed to say. It was literally amazing.

"I'll fetch your bags. Just proceed to the front entrance, please," the driver states. "Ok, thanks," I smile.

I walk up a heap of steps and to the front door. My finger hovers over the doorbell, when a handsome, well groomed man who looked to be about in his mid thirties opens the door.

"Edward! Nephew! Welcome to your new home!" The man says smiling from ear to ear.

"Hey... Uncle Aro?" Dad said he was old. This guy is wrinkle-free.

"Yes, Edward, Why the puzzled look?"

"I don't know, I guess I was expecting you to look a bit..."

"Older?" He finishes my sentence as I nod my head, "It's a family recipe. In time, young grass-hopper." Cheesy.

"Okay, fair enough. So, when does training start?"

"We will start…tomorrow. Just devote this time to exploring your new home. Go shower up and we can go get dinner. I'll even give you a little tour of Italy. Your room is in the right wing. Go up the grand stair case, through the first archway and the first set of double doors on the lefthand side."

"Okay… thanks!" I exclaim.

I walk up the grand stair case and find my room. I open them up to reveal my quarters: a room four times the size of my bedroom back home. It's perfect. I walk into the adjoined bathroom. Everything was made of pure silver and accented with dark wood. Oh my. My closet seemed to be fashioned after a boutique, and absolutely chock full of clothing my size.

"Guck-ey?" I mumble as I rub the tag on one of the shirts.

"It's pronounced 'Goo-chee', m'lord." Who the fu-?

I turn to see a well dressed man-with excellent posture, might I add- standing in a far corner of my closet.

"Founded by Guccio Gucci in the late 1800s here in Italy; Gucci is an internationally successful label, renowned for its luxuriousness and is the benchmark for high-end, designer clothes. The clothing, however, is now designed by style magnate Tom Ford. Should you wish to tint away the sun and envious glares of inferior passerby's today, you have a bountiful selection of Mr. Ford's premium sunglasses in the rack to your right."

I never liked history class.

"Pardon me, sir. I believe I've failed to mention who I am. Guasparre Bilotto, your personal butler at your service. Pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

I stood there, still dumbfounded.

"Are you feeling okay, sir? You don't look up to par."

"No... I'm fine. Just a tad overwhelmed, thanks. And don't call me sir, call me Edward, man."

"Very good, si- Edward."

I wake up the next day still a little sore, but refreshed and well rested. I yawn and hop out of the bed to go I brush my teeth.

Knock knock I hear a soft knock on my door as I exit the bathroom.

"Come in," I state aloud. It was Aro.

"Edward, are you ready to start training?" He questions.

"Let's do it!" I'm actually very, very pumped.

"Okay then. Let's go." He leads the way.

I'd be first be learning martial arts, ranging from Judo and Jiu-Jitsu to Hapkido and Okichitaw. But I still haven't caught on as to how it's going to help me grow as a person, and how I'm supposed to learn all of this in such a short amount of time. And wait a sec, isn't he supposed to be a monk?

"Wait!" I stop, "This is really bugging me.. Dad pretty much told me that you were as old as a fossil, and that you've had many years to master the ways of life. You don't look a day over forty."

"It takes time, my boy," He replies with a grin on his face.

"What the hell are you talking about Aro? How old are you, really?" I'm a bit freaked out. He sighs, "A little older than you think."

"I'll give you thirty-seven. Thirty-eight, tops."

"Try two hundred and four."

Right. And unicorns shit in the woods.

"Heh, that is a weird joke. Thats not humanly possible."

"You're right, Edward. It is not humanly possible."

"What is the secret? Is there some sort of Fountain of Youth around here? I can handle it. Just tell me." I don't really believe him, but entertain the thought.

"As you wish." He leads me into a large, dimly lit room locked behind hazelnut doors. Inside the room were glass casings upon marble pillars, vaulted ceilings with wooden intricacies, gothic paintings on the walls. "What is all of this?" I question. This room has my blood coursing, almost giving me a feeling of natural empowerment; a sick rush of adrenaline.

"Do you feel that, Edward?" Aro asks. My muscles ache and my blood is coursing furiously. "This is your bloodline." The feeling is inexplicable, but boy is it a thrill.

"Welcome to enlightenment," he says softly.

I walk over to a nearby reflective surface, it's not a mirror but it'll do. I am taken aback, as my eyes have changed from emerald green to a tint of gold. Th

"Let's get weird."

A/N: More to come!