Chapter 6
Bella POV
After saying goodbye to the Cullen's and Promising that I would be over later that day, Angela and John left, he has a class and she wanted to shop. Throwing on my coat I had to pick up my parents for their flights, Charlie and Sue was going back to Forks but Renee and Phil is going on a vacation...to Hawaii or something. It's my mother so god knows where they are gonna end up and I am not even going to hazard a guess. Starting Angela's Range Rover traffic wasn't actually that bad today, surprisingly. I cannot believe I kissed him, me I made the first move on him; I let his god like Adonis like features get the better of me, well not anymore. Friends that is what we are. Who the fuck are you trying to kid Isabella Swan? Ok so maybe in order for us to be friends I need to stop kissing him, or wanting to kiss him, or having pervy thoughts about him. So I am going to stop thinking about him in this way. He is my friend or at least he will be. I think. I am so SCREWED. Pulling up to the Regent I saw my parents and their partners standing waiting.
"Hi guys!" That's it Swan plaster that fake smile on your face and give your parents a hug, do not think about a certain bronze haired god. Damn it.
"Bella, this car is amazing!" Phil a car buff as usual. He and Rosalie would get on like a house on fire.
"Thanks, but it's not actually mine, it is Angela's so I have to have it back...Mint Condition." I stated, at that my dad gave me a warm smile.
"Bells, hate to hurry you but we do have planes to catch." Shit right. In the car all sorts of things were mentioned along with my current source of employment. Charlie hated it, the last time he came to New York for a surprise, he job the address of Angela only to see his little girl pouring water and tequila all over the patrons and grinding up against another girl...needless to say he was none to impressed, I literally expected him to have a heart attack right there. Once he heard how much I was getting paid he nearly had another coronary stating that it paid twice as much as his job plus tips...I always got a lot of tips. Renee had never seen it but from Charlie's description of it she thought it was good, tough and would teach me a lot...the most it taught me was to sling some drinks and be co-ordinated. Which I guess is an accomplishment in itself. When we reached the airport, tearful goodbyes from my mother was emotionally exhausting, Phil had to literally pry her away in order for Charlie and Sue to say goodbye. I couldn't help but dread what was coming this afternoon. Shit how on earth am I gonna explain the scars? Shit like I said I'm...kind of screwed. If I tell them about Victoria they would have a fit. Even though she is dead and they don't have to worry anymore.
Deciding to get a shower before I leave for their house I sat pondering what the hell was going on in his head, I would love to have his gift sometimes. Drying and paying particular attention to my outfit whilst drying my hair, it is true woman are amazing at multi tasking. Shit phone...where the hell did I leave my cell phone...follow the ringing I am gonna kill Angela for programming it to Lady Gaga of all people.
"Hello" I know who it is before I even answered it.
"Bella look on the door of your refrigerator I drew you a map to the house. It's about 10 miles outside the city. If you want we can pick you up." No! I need time to gather my thoughts and shit.
"No Alice really I can drive, I have to stop in at work for two minutes anyway. I borrowed pants last night I need to return." Come on Swan stop delaying the inevitable.
"Ok Bella I'll see you soon." In her normal chipper self she hung up. Again people I repeat I am so screwed. As I made my way to their home I had to get my story straight, and tell them about Victoria, and school. There was so much we needed to catch up on. Ok spooky house in the forest which had a light but airy feel about it, must be the place, stopping at the entrance to the driveway I took a deep breath cue insider pep talk, I can do this. I can totally do this. I cannot do this, I am different what if they don't want me now that I am a foul-mouthed, tattooed, pierced tequila drinking who has slept with inappropriate men. I am dark and twisty now, truth be told I wasn't exactly Miss Fucking Sunshine before...but when they left it was like some part of me left to and I have only recently started getting that back. If I allow myself to get close to them again and they leave I won't be able to handle it.
SUCK IT UP BELLA. IF THEY LEAVE FINE JUST GIVE THEM A FUCK YOU ALL AND MOVE ON!
Driving down lane gave me an eerie sense of Déjà-vu. In the time it had taken me to stop the truck, get out, lock it and walk up to their door it seemed to take forever. Lifting my hand up about to knock the door flew open and I was greeted by none other than Esme and Carlisle.
"Bella. Come on in, they should all be back soon, they wanted to hunt before seeing you." I missed her I really did. Esme radiated warmth; she had a complex gift to make everyone feel completely content in her presence. As I hugged both her and Carlisle I had noticed the similarities between this house and the Cullen Mansion in Forks. Subtle differences included the size, this home was even bigger that Forks and that is saying something but I suppose in a big city you don't have to try and blend in. This city is full of freaks and I being no exception do not feel the need to blend in.
"Bella...can I ask you a question, we are all curious so expect a lot of them if that is all right?" Questions...I can handle questions, can't I?
"Sure fire away! I'll make you a deal today and only today I will answer any question you ask me, as long as you do the same." Looking at them both they really are perfect for each other. I have noticed quite a few things from when I came in it's like an instant attraction; they are like magnets it fascinating to watch. When I was in Forks it wasn't all that noticeable, maybe because I didn't spent all that much time with them alone.
"I don't see anything wrong with that, I cannot speak for the others but it seems fair." Carlisle had a similar way only you feel content and safe. "It seems they are back."
"SLUT" I can see myself and Rosalie becoming really good friends. "How you doing girl? Not starting the party without us are you?" She smiled the kind of smile you see on the front covers of magazines.
"Of course not sweetie, never..." I was interrupted by being squeezed into a big bear hug. And him saying something about "belly, jelly welly" I really had no clue what so ever what he meant.
"Emmett...human...needs...oxygen..." he set me down.
"Damn boy what the heck is they feeding you down on the farm?" I said in my best hillbilly accent that I could muster. All of them burst out laughing even Edward who I didn't notice were there. His laugh is amazing really.
"Well shucks girl if your grind up some mustard seed on the prime steak that's good country cooking bumpkin." Oh my god is he for real Emmett doing that accent is hilarious if it was capable for vampires to cry with laughter the whole place would be flooded as they all erupted with laughter, we kept at it to see how far was too far.
"Damn boy I did not know that, my uncle who's also granddaddy...did I ever tell you that he has an extra toe! Anyways he said the way to make ya big and strong was to make sure that you eat your carrots and you're Brussels sprouts oh hell he said eat your greens so I am guessing it is anything that is disgusting." With that I knew I wasn't gonna get anything else out of him due to the fact he was nearly rolling on the ground laughing.
"Bella you should have went into Stand up comedy." Omg Jasper's Southern Accent is actually amazing especially when we were trying to talk like that a second ago.
After about five minutes when everything calmed down we all took a seat in the living room, Emmett and Rosalie on the loveseat, Alice and Jasper on the Sofa I was on the chair that could see everyone and Edward was sitting on the floor after him persistent that I take the chair. With Esme and Carlisle sitting at the opposite end to me on a two seater, I guess it was time to get down to business. Did I tell you I am screwed?
"Before you came in Esme and I struck a deal with Bella...we can ask her anything and she will answer as long as we do the same." With a few "hell-yeah" Jasper and Emmett and "sure" from the rest of gang I guess it was a done deal. Alice's mischievous glint told me she had something burning inside that warped pixie brain.
"Come on Alice out with it!" She nearly jumped off of the sofa.
"Ok...why a bar? I mean of all places we might have seen you...working in a bar was not really high on that list." Of course my chosen profession let's start with that. Taking a deep breath I began.
"When I first brought up NYU to my dad he was like...well I can't actually remember what he said mostly due to that fact he started saying stuff about muggers and pepper spray and started swearing in another language, to say I was shocked was an understatement I didn't even know that Charlie knew how to speak another language. I was on an academic scholarship, so I only need money to pay for my rent, the first year Angela and I lived in dorms but when she was changed" I decided to let Angela's transformation to another question, which I am sure one of them is gonna ask me.
" We moved into an apartment with John. When we went out we landed in a bar and they were looking for staff...Lil my boss said it was fate...to me it was two drunk of their ass college girls who were in the right place at the right time, so that's why a bar. I and alcohol can coexist well together." I saw Edward looking a little pensive
"Is that what you are going to do now? Work in a bar?" He looked a little sad.
"No I am going to Medical School once I have enough money." At that Carlisle looked overjoyed. He began talking to me about what made me dacide and where I am thinking of going. All that jazz. The rest were absorbing it all, my turn now suckers, no pun intended.
"Where did you all go when you left Forks?" Do I want to hear this story? They were all looking worried at each other. Surprisingly it was Jasper who answered first
"Alice and I went on a trip to Australia I wanted to try Kangaroo." He stated with a broad smile.
"Emmett and Rosalie went to Greece while I, Carlisle and Esme came here." They all looked at Edward with a little sadness.
"Edward were you sulking?" Oh well water under the bridge and all that. I smiled him.
"Maybe a little.." he said with a sad smile.
"OK cools my turn now Bella prepare to feel my wrath." I laughed who is he kidding he is like a teddy bear.
"Bring it on Brother Bear!" He saw it as a challenge I was hoping he would.
"How much of a bad-ass are you now?" What the hell could he have picked a vaguer question? How on earth am I supposed to answer that one? I mean what the hell?
"What do you mean?" I stated with a confused smile on my face.
"Well Bells the last time we saw Bella Swan she was innocent and sweet and uncoordinated, now your like bad-ass, pierced and tattooed who can drop kick assholes and is able to make a martini." If it was possible his smile became broader and beamed brighter.
"Well Emmett, it looks like you just answered your own question." He was angry now, kicking himself.
"Bella..." great Edward, dammit ok Swan straight face "...How did Angela Webber become a vampire?" That is not my story to tell...the thing with Angela is that she does not sparkle.
"I don't feel all that comfortable answering that mostly because it is not my story to tell, but the short version is that she is not like you, she was changed by a Salvatore brother and she is not like you guys. John found her at a party one night and due to him already being a vampire he is older that all of you except maybe Carlisle, when he came in and said she was bitten I couldn't believe it. The only vampires I met were you guys, and he was walking about in the sunlight it was amazing...but he brought her home and stayed there during her change. When she woke I was half expecting her to lunge but apparently my blood is not appealing to her...which is a good thing as far as I am concerned." They were all looking at me as if I had grown a pair of horns. I have to pee.
"Wow...I mean I have heard about other breeds but I have never met any." Carlisle was fascinated he had that look on his face.
"If you guys don't mind...can I use your bathroom please?" I said with an embarrassed smile.
"Sure, it is up the stairs take a right, then go to the end of the hall and take a left then a right and another left.." ok seriously I am going to get lost.
"Alice maybe you could just show her." Thank you Rosalie because I would have ended up god knows where. Walking up the stairs I could tell she still has burning questions. Now is as good a time as any.
"Alice...are you ok?" She was very interested in the marks on her shoes, did I do something or what happened, now I am worried. "Alice..." she looked at me if vampires could cry I am sure she would be.
"Go to the bathroom ok my room is down the hall, I will leave the door open to my room...can I talk to you...please?" I nodded and she proceeded down the hall and I went to the bathroom, this is going to be an in depth conversation. First I really need to pee and then I will deal with Alice.