(AN: Really, really short first chapter! Hope you like it!)
Bella's POV
Bella stopped her noisy truck outside the Cullen's house. It didn't fit in at all. All the other vehicles were shiny and modern. And quiet, Bella presumed.
As she got out of the car, Edward was there to meet her. It was sunny, but not much light made it through the tall trees.
He opened her door and held it for her.
"Hello, Bella." He murmured, already at her side. He held her hand as they walked up the stairs to the Cullen's house. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah." She mumbled, looking down. "You didn't come last night." Edward stopped at the top step; face hardening in a strange sadness.
"I'm sorry Bella…I couldn't…I – I needed to hunt." He sighed, and then led Bella through the doors and into their house. Inside, Carlisle and Esme were there to greet them.
"Bella," Carlisle nodded. "Thank you for coming. I would like you to meet two other members of our family." Esme nodded and showed them through into the living room, where two unfamiliar people stood. Alice and Jasper were talking excitedly with them. The second person had their back to her, and they were admiring something on a small table. Edward turned and grinned at Bella, holding her hand.
"Bella," Alice smiled and skipped up to her. "You remember when we told you that Emmett and Rosalie had gone to Africa for the past...five years?"
Bella barely remembered their names, but she had never met them. She nodded though, just to get on with it. The female stranger walked forward.
"Hello," she said, smiling warmly. "I'm Rosalie. I've heard a lot about you." She was the most beautiful person Bella had ever seen. She had long, blond hair that fell in bouncy curls down to her waist, and a perfect, flawless face. Her eyes were mysterious and a bright gold. She wore a long red dress with a single thin strap. She smiled and stepped back.
"Anyway, over here is -" Alice quickly stopped and all the vampires in the room turned around to face the far glass wall. In a flash, people were moving. Bella found herself being lifted by Edward and brought into the kitchen, where he set her down on a stool by the counter. She stood up to try and take a look at the door, but Edward blocked her view.
"What's going on?" she demanded. Edward wasn't looking in her direction; instead, his gaze was locked on the only doorway. "Edward? Edward!" Bella grabbed him and turned him around.
"It's nothing, Bella. Just some…passers by." He whispered. Bella knew what he meant.
"If it's nothing then you'd let me-" she stopped, realising what he meant.
Vampires.The kind that killed humans every day. Not the kind vampires that the Cullens were.
Edward silently carried Bella to the farthest corner in the kitchen, where she sat on a short chair and waited. Edward stood in front of her, eyes not leaving the door.
Oh no. He seemed worried...too protective. There were footsteps in the other room.
"Well, hello there." Said a voice. It was a man. "We smelled other vampires in this area…and it seems we've found them."
"Indeed you have. But before we get into any conversations, we would like to ask you to refrain from hunting in this area." Jasper spoke. He sounded calm, but with authority in his voice.
"We will be no trouble. Besides, we ate before we found this town. I can see that this area belongs to you...we will leave if that is what you wish." a different voice, with an unplaceable accent. It was male, too.
"We are very sorry that your visit could not be more pleasant. But please do leave." Jasper sounded annoyed. A few quiet voices, then footsteps. Sighs.
"It's okay, they're gone now." Edward turned to Bella, who got off the chair and walked to the kitchen door, wanting to know what was happening.
As she opened it, she walked right into someone. Bella jumped back and looked up to see the other family member of which she did not know. Emmett. That was his name. He had thin, dark blonde hair and a very muscular build. He looked down at her with a blank face, and at that moment, when they met each other's eyes, they fell in love. Some connection clicked.
Bella stopped breathing, just staring. For Emmett it was the same. Breathless shock. It was love at first sight, only much, much stronger. Edward was behind Bella, watching them. He couldn't believe what he was reading from Emmett's mind.
"Bella!" he cried. Bella turned to look at his pained face, but she didn't feel anything. No sympathy, no urge to comfort him. She looked back to Emmett, then back to Edward. There was nothing between them anymore.
No love.