Part II: Truth and Consequences
Six months passed. Six gloriously happy months. We spent practically every day together. He would pick me up for and drive me home from school, and walk me to almost every class. There were a few days here and there when he would be out, but he'd always let me know. He even convinced me to go to Prom, claiming it to be a "right of passage." I remember I had rolled my eyes, but agreed to go because he had smiled that intoxicating smile of his. The very one that made me melt.
I eventually met his sister Alice and brother Jasper, but only at school or mutual outings. Alice was pert and perky and very eager to be my friend. She would jabber on and on about this, that, and the other thing, and I was only too happy to listen. The only thing that really bothered me was that he never once took me to his house or introduced me to his parents When I would ask him about his parents, he would simply smile and tell be that they were very busy with work and business trips. I didn't see much of Emmett, as he had graduated in June and moved on to college. All the better, as far as I was concerned.
I woke late one sunny Friday in mid October. I grabbed my alarm clock and noticed it was flashing 12 am..
"Shit, we must have lost power last night," I grumbled. I grabbed my wrist watch and read the dial. "Dammit" It was eleven a.m. I had missed school. I sat up in bed, yawned and scrubbed my face with my hands. I blew out a long sigh and glanced about my room.
"Wait a minute," I thought out loud. Why hadn't Edward called? I scanned my room briefly for my phone and spotted it on my bureau. I rolled out of bed and grabbed it. I flipped it open to see if maybe he had called and I had just left the phone on vibrate. Nope. The only thing that greeted me was my wall paper: a picture of Alice, Angela and I from Prom with our faces squished together and goofy smiles. No missed calls.
"Where the hell is he?" I scrolled down to his number in my contact list and pressed send. It went directly to voicemail. I left him a brief message telling him to call me ASAP and grilling him for not waking me for school. I decided I'd take a quick shower and change into something more presentable than the gym shorts and ratty shirt I had worn to bed. Maybe that would give him time to get my message and call me back.
I took my time, staying in the shower until the water ran cold, then meticulously drying and straightening my hair. I dressed in a simple blue long sleeve tee and a pair of jeans. I meandered downstairs and made myself a sandwich for lunch. Upon bringing it to the table, I found a note from Charlie stating that he was going on a weekend fishing trip with Billy Black and would not return until late Monday night. I couldn't complain. Having the whole house to myself for the weekend would be nice. I savored the last bite of my sandwich and gulped down my milk. It was now almost two in the afternoon. Edward should be calling any time now.
I leapt up the stairs two at a time and scooted over to my phone. I opened it up and frowned. Still no calls. I dialed his number again and it went to voicemail for the second time. I growled and hung up. I wouldn't leave him another message. I decided to call Alice. Maybe she would know where he was. I scrolled up to her number and called.
"Damn!" No answer from her either. I pursed my lips. The only way I was going to get a hold of either was to go to their house. But how the hell was I going to do that when I didn't know where they lived? I smiled to myself and fired up my lap top. Thank goodness for on-line phone books! I typed in 'Dr. Carlisle Cullen' and easily found his home address. I then MapQuest-ed it to get driving directions and scribbled them down on a scrap piece of paper.
I shut the laptop, grabbed my keys and wallet and scrambled down the stairs and out the door. I hopped into the truck and proceeded to follow the directions to his house. If he didn't want to answer his phone, then I'd just show up on his door step and demand an answer as to why he didn't show to pick me up today.
I drove for what seemed like forever. I was on a winding road in the middle of the woods and felt like I was hopelessly lost until a slight turn-off appeared on the right. I angled the truck up the dirt path and drove through more trees and shrubbery.
"Of all the places to… holy shit…" I was cut off when the shrubbery abruptly ended and the blinding sun broke through over an enormous white mansion. It seemed to sparkle in the sunshine. I shielded my eyes as I pulled the truck up in front of the house. I shut it off and just gaped. Awe slowly faded into mild anger. I opened my truck door and hopped out. I slammed it and stomped up to the oversized wooden doors.
"Why the hell would he not want me to see this?" I grumbled. I took another deep breath, grabbed the enormous brass knocker and clanged it against the stained oak. I folded my arms and put on my best pissed-off face. Boy was he going to hear it from me. The door finally swung open.
"There had better be a damn good reason why you weren't -" I stopped suddenly when a bear sized hand reached out and yanked me by the arm into the house. The door slammed behind me and I stared wide-eyed up at Emmett.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" He hissed and dropped my arm.
"I c-came to see Edward! He won't answer his phone!" I squeaked.
"You aren't supposed to be here! How did you find us?" he struggled to keep his tone level. I flattened myself against the door, trying to get as far away from him as possible.
"I…uh…MapQuested?" I answered in a question. Emmett shook his head.
"Dammit, I told Carlisle not to list our address. Shit!" He cursed and cast his eyes down. He snapped his head up and glared at me. In a flash he slapped his hand against the door next to my head. He leaned in until our faces were level.
"You have to leave," he whispered.
"What? Why?" I asked.
"Because," he grimaced and closed his eyes, "This… this just isn't a good time!"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I tilted my head to try and look in his eyes, but he wouldn't open them.
"It's…I can't…oh fuck…" he swore.
"Emmett, what?" I pressed on. "Why can't I be here?"
"You just can't! I can't tell you why, it's too complicated" his voice took on an urgent tone. I had heard that one before. I finally broke.
"I'm not going anywhere until I speak with Edward. Where is he?" I demanded. I folded my arms across my chest for emphasis.
"He's not here," Emmett sighed and finally looked up. A part of me twinged at the sadness in his eyes, the rest of me didn't believe a word he was saying.
"I don't believe you. Edward!" I called. I craned my neck to try and see around Emmett. "Dammit Cullen!" I hollered. "Get your ass down here now and explain yourself! Ed-!" Emmett's other hand slammed into the door on the opposite side of my head, effectively trapping me in his arms and cutting off my tirade.
"I said he's not here!" he repeated harshly. "Now please, for your own good, you need to leave."
"The hell I do!" I spat. "Let me make myself clear: I. Am. Not. Going. Anywhere. I need to speak with Edward. Now. And if he's not here, like you say, then I will wait."
"No. You have to go. You can't be here when-"
"Em, are Edward and Alice back from their hunt yet? I thought they were only going for…" Jasper appeared at the bottom of the marble staircase and stopped mid-sentence. His eyes traveled from Emmett, to me, then back to Emmett. "Ah, shit."
"Son of bitch," Emmett groaned and lowered his head.
"What do you mean, 'their hunt' ?" I cocked my head at Jasper. "Since when do Alice and Edward hunt?"
Before either could answer me a door creaked open behind us. Emmett swore again.
"You really should go. You don't want to see this," he pleaded.
"Move." I said quietly.
He reluctantly complied and lowered one arm. I stepped forward and edged around him so I could see what was happening.
Alice and Edward were walking into the foyer, arm in arm, laughing. This would have appeared absolutely normal, if their clothing wasn't in shreds and covered with blood. A smear of red crossed Alice's left cheek and a tiny trickle dangled from the corner of Edward's mouth. They both froze the instant they set foot in the foyer and saw Emmett, Jasper and myself standing there. I blinked a couple of times and rubbed my eyes. Maybe I was confused. When my eyes cleared they were still standing there in the same tattered clothes with the same smears and trickles of blood. I could feel my heart racing and the panic squeezing my lungs. I was fighting to breathe.
"What…?" I croaked
"Bella, I…I can explain…" Edward began to cross the room toward me but I pressed myself up against the door. I was hyperventilating.
"Don't come near me!" I gasped. Edward looked helplessly to Emmett, who only growled at him in return.
"Can't you see you're scaring her?" he hissed at Edward.
"And growling at Edward doesn't?" Alice shot back.
"Stop!" I shouted. They all turned back to me. My chest was heaving as I struggled for an even breath.
"Bella, you need to breathe," Emmett turned to me, his voice soft. I held out a hand and he kept his distance. I clutched my chest. I was beginning to see stars from lack of oxygen.
"Please…" I begged. "Please can one of you…any of you…tell me what the hell they are?" I shot an accusing finger at Edward and Alice.
"It's complicated," Edward let out an unnecessary breath. I started to shake my head violently.
"No. No more complications. I'm sick and tired of complications!" I yelled. "I want an answer, Edward. That's it. Just one, simple, honest answer."
The whole room went quiet. Jasper crossed over to Alice and slid a comforting arm around her shoulders. Edward pulled at piece of his shirt. The only one who held my eyes was Emmett. His stare was almost apologetic.
"What the hell is going on?" I cried.
The silence was deafening. I couldn't take it any more.
"Somebody answer me Goddammit!" I screamed.
"Vampires," Emmett whispered . I blinked.
"What?"
"We're vampires, Bella," he repeated.
"Wait. We?" The stars were getting brighter. I was wheezing.
"Yes," he grimaced. "Jasper, Alice, Edward and myself."
"And…your parents?" I watched him nod slowly.
"This can't be…" I sputtered. "It isn't…" the room began to spin around me. I scrambled for purchase on the door. "Real?" I cast my eyes desperately on Emmett and my vision started to tunnel.
Everything went dark.