Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
A/N: I know some of you guys find Jake to be annoying and what not; but that's mostly because I don't like him. He'll get better though…in time.
I know the Cullen's like to drive fast, and I had honestly thought it was just them. I had never driven with other vampires, so I had no idea. But looking at the speedometer in Tanya's car, I know for a fact, driving fast is a vampire thing. Naturally she has some sort of sports car, that I'm sure is really expensive, that can go faster than my truck can ever dream of doing.
As soon as we had left the restaurant, Jake had seemed to come out of whatever trance he was in and came running out. He was yelling and complaining about how Tanya can't just take me away from and that she has no right to be here. The look on his face from Tanya's response was amazing.
She told him that she's not taking me anywhere; that she's going with me. She also said that she has more of a right to be here than he does since she's been in Denali for centuries. This was the point I also learned why Tanya kept her last name as Denali; she picked the name because of where she lived and didn't feel like changing it. Makes sense I guess.
Jake was pissed about it, but didn't say anything. He just watched as Tanya and I drove away. I would have added my own remark about Jake acting like some child that didn't get its' way; but Tanya steered me into her car faster than I could make a remark.
So now I'm sitting in her car driving to some unknown destination. We've been talking so far just about my own past. I will eventually ask her about her own, but I'm still caught up with the idea that she's my teacher, I shouldn't be in this car with her and I'm not a hundred percent sure I want back in the supernatural or at least vampiric world…yet.
"If you don't mind, I have to pull over real quick, then we can be on our way again." Tanya said as she pulled the car to a stop on the side of the road.
Before I could respond, she was already out the door. I only heard the door shut and the alarm go off before I actually turned to see if I could see where she went. I guess she couldn't keep the food in her any more. I'm still impressed she ate that much and held it in this long. I don't see why she locked me in the car though; does she think an elk or something will try to break in?
Not ten seconds later Tanya was back in the car and pulling back onto the road.
"Feel better?" I asked with a smirk.
"Much better." Tanya said sounding very much relieved.
"So where are we going?" I finally asked. I was kind of hoping she would have told me; but we too caught up in the 'get to know Bella's past' conversation and she didn't say anything.
"We're going to a larger town to watch a movie. Then we'll have lunch, do some shopping then dinner. After dinner I suppose I will take you home." Tanya answered.
I groaned out loud when she said we were going to go shopping. I hate shopping. Well not so much hate as it is really annoying chore that has to be done.
"Do we have to go shopping?" I asked with a slightly whinny voice.
"Yes, because we have to get outfits for dinner. I'm taking you to a nice restaurant with a dress code. I promise we don't have to shop for that long if you truly don't like shopping." Tanya said.
She's going to buy me stuff? Why is it that every vampire I meet either wants to buy me lots of things or wants to kill me?
"You don't have to buy me anything. I'm sure I have enough saved up." I said mentally congratulating myself for bring my debit card even though Jake had told me not to.
"I want to. Consider it a present." Tanya said, not helping her case at all.
"I don't actually like people spending money on me, or presents for that matter. So I'll just buy own outfit, thank you though." I said, still trying to get her to change her mind.
I was expecting her to either agree with me or to argue more with me. I would have even be okay if she just chose to say nothing about the topic and start talking about something else, but instead, she laughed at me! Tanya is full out laughing at me.
"What's so funny?" I said, trying not to pout, but I know I'm failing.
"You." Tanya said in between laughs.
I waited until she calmed down before I asked her my next question.
"What about me?" I asked, wondering if I should be offended or not.
"You're more worried about me buying you something than the fact that I'm taking you out on a romantic date this evening." Tanya said with a grin.
My face went bright red as she pointed that out. How could that not cross my mind to at the very least argue about? I know I've scolded myself about being with her, but I've never said anything out loud. I don't think I can even now tell her I don't want to go on a date with her.
"I find it cute that you don't like getting presents. I think that will make all the more fun for me to surprise you and make you accept the gifts. It can be viewed as a challenge and I for one my dear, love a challenge." Tanya said.
I still can't find my voice to say anything, I'm still trying to get my face to go back to its' normal color. I wonder if Tanya had this whole thing planned from the beginning. Did she know about Jake wanting to take me to breakfast and hanging out with me for the whole day?
"You should call your dad and let him know that you're going to be studying with me all day. I believe Jake may do something that might get you in trouble with him if you don't." Tanya said.
"Charlie doesn't have a cell phone." I said finally finding my voice.
I don't see why Charlie doesn't get a cell phone. Even back before I moved in with him in Forks, it would have smart for him to get a cell phone. With all the fishing trips and going over to Billy's, getting ahold of him could be difficult at times. For moments like now, it would be nice of him to have a phone.
"That's fine. Call your house and leave a message. Even if Jake erases the message, your phone will show you called and spent some time on the phone to leave a message. He's a cop; he'll put two and two together and know you did in fact leave a message." Tanya said.
I shrugged my shoulders and did what she said. I pulled out my phone and saw I had two missed calls, a voice mail and five texts…all from Jake. I ignored every single one of them. I'll deal with him when I get back. I've already told him Tanya isn't going to do anything to hurt me, so he should just relax.
I called the house, fortunately Jake didn't answer, and I left a long message. I wanted to make sure that if Jake did erase and I had to do what Tanya suggested, that there would be no way of saying I didn't stay on the line long enough to leave a message.
"The town is just about five minutes away now." Tanya said as I put my phone back in my pocket.
I decided to take her momentary lapse of asking me questions, to ask her some questions. There are several that come to mind, some could be viewed as more rude than others; but I want to ask anyways.
"How many are in your coven?" I blurted out.
I know there were four others with her when I saw them bowling, but that might not have been all her coven. The Cullen's said it was rare for vampires to stay in large groups, that two or three is what's common.
Tanya looked at me, then quirked her eyebrow at me in confusion before answering me. She's probably wondering why I literally randomly asked this question. She turned her attention back to the road as she answered.
"There's me, Kate and Carmen; both of whom you've met. There's also Irina who is mine and Kate's sister, not biologically, and Carmen's mate Eleazar. We've all been together for centuries. Kate, Irina and I were all changed by the same woman and around the same time, so we've always considered each other sisters." Tanya said.
She's calling them sisters and I know she's corrected me on this in the past, but I guess she really does see them as family and not simply coven mates. Are all vegetarian vampires that way, or are the Cullen's and Tanya and her family exceptions?
"You have a big family." I commented. "I was told vampires don't normally live in big groups." I quickly added thinking that, for humans at least; she didn't necessarily have a big family.
"Vampires normally don't. I believe my family and the Cullen's get away with it because we have connections with the leader of the Volturi. Eleazar, like Carlisle, used to be friends with them. Unlike Carlisle though, Eleazar was on the guard. He's since left that life style, a long time ago actually, but he still maintains contact with them as…friends." Tanya said.
I got the sense that the Volturi, like with the Cullen's, is a touchy subject. The fact that she even told me as much when it isn't even her story it's Eleazar's, I feel touched. Even though she hasn't known me for that long, she told me about what seems like is a painful past for them.
"Do you, or anyone in your family, have a gift?" I asked.
A change of subject I think would be good. If Eleazar worked for the Volturi then he must have had a power that they feel is good; but I wonder if anyone else in her family has a power.
"I, personally, do not. My sister, Kate, basically she can electrocute you if she touches you. Eleazar can tell if someone, human or vampire, has a gift and what it is. For the rest of us, our basic control over our thirst is a lot better than any vampire you've met. We've lived for so long that our control is even better than Carlisle's." Tanya said as we pulled into town.
Wow. Carlisle seems to have no problem with his thirst. He works in a hospital, so that has to mean he has no problems right? But if Tanya says her family's control is better than even his; then I wonder how good his control really is, or if he would just hunt a lot.
"Did you always live off of animal blood?" I asked. This also seems like a safe question. I know not all of the Cullen's lived their whole life…undead life…surviving off of animal blood. I wonder how they came about the lifestyle.
"No; but that's a story that I would rather save for a later date. Not that it's bad, it's just not something I want you to know right now." Tanya said.
So she'll tell me later. I wonder what it is about her past and drinking blood that she doesn't want me to know. It can't be that bad; I mean even if she did at one point live off of human blood, she doesn't anymore. Even if she's had a few slips, the Cullen's did to, I still love them.
Tanya parked the car at the theater parking spot and sped over to my side to open my door. As she helped me out, not that I needed the help, I looked around to make sure no one was here to see her use her inhuman speed. I doubt she would have done that if someone was here to see, but still.
"No one saw. It's kind of you to be concerned about me." Tanya said after giggling at me when I was looking around.
Once I was out of the car, Tanya didn't let go of my hand, she actually then interlaced our fingers. For a moment, briefly, I did try to get her to release my hand. But once I failed to get her to let go, I found comfort in her holding my hand. I can't really explain it, but it feels…nice.
She led me to the ticket booth and we proceeded to pick what movie we wanted to watch. In the end we decided to watch a romantic comedy. You can never go wrong with romantic comedies, practically everyone likes them. The movie we picked was luckily just about to start, so we headed right in. Tanya, even though I told her not to, bought me a snack and something to drink.
We decided to sit in the back of the theater where there were fewer people there. During the previews Tanya pulled up the arm rest from in between us and put her arm around me. She pulled me closer to her to the point that I was actually cuddled up next to her. Just like when she held my hand, I attempted to move away.
There was a mantra of 'she's my teacher', 'she's a vampire' going through my head. There was also the occasional 'she's going to hurt me like Edward' going through my head. I don't know why I would think that last though, she's just a…a…friend? Ya, a friend.
Once the previews were over, I was completely at ease with her arm around me. I let my head fully rest on her shoulder and her head was at rest on top of mine. We stayed this way for the whole movie; except for the part when Tanya left to get me something to eat for lunch. I guess the drive here was longer than I had originally thought. When the movie was over, I was very reluctant to move. Tanya let us stay until the end of the credits, which I never stay for. We only left when we saw the cleaning crew lining the bottom of the theater waiting for us to leave.
Tanya grabbed my hand, interlaced our fingers, and led me out the theater. This time I didn't try to get her to let go of my hand, I was perfectly content with her holding my hand the whole time.
As we walked to her car, I tried my best to walk as slowly as possible. I know what we're doing next and I really don't want to. I still don't want to go shopping. Walking slowly doesn't seem to agree with Tanya though.
"Isabella, I swear if you don't pick your feet up I'll just carry you the whole way to my car." Tanya said, while adding in a small growl for good measure.
"Don't call me Isabella." I growled back at her, though I didn't sound nearly as threatening as her. I did however start walking faster. It's one thing to hold hands and to cuddle in the dark theater, but to have her carry me? That I will not allow.
"Thank you." Tanya said with smugness mixed with a little of what sounded like disappointment. Did she want to carry me? I don't see why she would.
The store we went to was just a few minutes away from the theater. Just like Tanya had promised, we found out dresses and left. She did make us go get matching shoes, but other than that the whole trip lasted maybe an hour and a half. She isn't like Alice that makes me wear everything on to only buy three things. I have a feeling she wanted to, but was able to kick that particular habit while in my presence.
Surprisingly, though it really shouldn't have been, Tanya booked a fancy hotel room for us to get ready in. She swore up and down that she has no intentions of us staying, just to get ready for the night. She already had make up in her car, which added to my suspicion that she had every intention of going out with me tonight. I mean, not going out, but just hanging out eating dinner.
By the time we were done getting ready, it was time to leave for the restaurant. The restaurant wasn't far from the hotel and I can tell without going inside that this place is very high class. The valet took Tanya's keys, after she glared at him for commenting on my dress and we walked inside. Of course as we walked inside Tanya slipped her arm around my waist. I was so distracted by looking at everything, at all the decorations that I didn't even bother trying to move away from her.
We were seated right away in a very secluded part of the restaurant. I knew she did this on purpose so that it's easier to hide the fact that's she's not eating. So I felt I should call her out on this, since she was able to eat breakfast so easily.
"Don't want others to see you not eating?" I asked with a smirk. Tanya only smirked at me, and then took a long sip of her water before answering me.
"No, I will be eating with you. It would be rude of me to take you to dinner and just sit here and watch you eat. The reason for the seclusion was not meant so that we would be alone, though that is an added bonus, but also because we will have a spectacular view of the quartet that will be playing in a half hour." Tanya said.
Tanya's just full of surprises. I can't believe she's going to actually eat with me. Edward took me out all the time, but he never ate because, well, he can't hold it in. I never thought about it at the time, but Tanya is right. We could have done something else besides going to dinner so that he didn't just have to stare at me while I ate.
"Thank you." I said with as much sincerity as I could muster. "I know eating human food isn't that fun for you guys, yet this is the second time in a day that you're going to eat a full meal for me; thank you." I said.
"Anything for you Bella, remember that." Tanya said.
I was going to question her on that, but the waiter arrived. Another way I can tell this is very ritzy restaurant is because the waiter was doing anything he could to avoid looking directly at Tanya as she ordered for us both. Her natural vampire charm and good looks always make people stare, but this man was trying his best not to. It was actually somewhat comical.
I don't what it was that Tanya ordered for us, but it was delicious. The quartet that started playing just as our food was delivered added the amazingness that is this restaurant. I have to admit this is one of the best days I've had in a long time; since before the Cullen's left actually, nothing with Jake can compare to this. I will admit, not to Tanya of course, but I can totally accept this as being a date. I'm not a hundred percent sure that's how she sees this, but I would be willing to bet everything I have that she wanted this to be a date.
Dinner was filled with Tanya telling me stories about her family. They seem really close. Kate seems to be the jokester in the family and occasionally she'll get Tanya and Irina to go along with her. Carmen seems to be the motherly figure of the family, while Eleazar seems to be the big brother or sometimes dad of the family. I also learned that Tanya is the coven's leader. I couldn't help but feel slightly special that I'm here having dinner with a coven leader.
By the time dinner was over I found myself telling Tanya that I really want to meet her family. I've already met Kate and sort of met Carmen, but the other two seem just as cool. Tanya insisted that I would meet them. She said that they all go to the bookstore very often since they don't have jobs themselves they go there to waste time also.
When we left the restaurant it was raining cats and dogs. The wind was so bad that I almost felt like if Tanya didn't have her arm around my waist that I would fly away. Once she started the car, she turned the radio on to listen to the weather report. I found this a little suspicious since she didn't once turn the radio on all day.
Sure enough, three minutes after turning it one, we found the one road home was closed due to the storm. If I didn't know for a fact the only psychic either of us knows is Alice, I would have thought Tanya was one. I couldn't help but glare at her as she drove us back to the very expensive hotel so stay the night.
"You're glare is cute, but uncalled for." Tanya said while lightly laughing at me.
"I know you planned this." I said in an accusatory tone.
"I swear I didn't, I just happen to be very lucky." Tanya said. I can somehow tell she's telling the truth, but I don't want to believe. I find it that after everything that's happened today, that this wasn't planned. She had to have watched the weather channel or something earlier.
"You should call your dad and let him know that because of the storm you have to stay at a hotel. You don't have to mention me, in fact you probably shouldn't. I believe this storm is also in Denali, so your dad shouldn't give you any hassles." Tanya said while handing me my phone from center console.
She was right, again. Charlie didn't care so much that I was staying at a hotel during the storm; he just wanted to make sure I was safe and had money to cover it. He didn't even ask who I was with. I thought I heard Jake yell from the background asking who I was with, but Charlie didn't say anything, so neither did I.
We pulled up to the cover parking space and Tanya was once again quick to open my door and helped me out.
"I hope you don't mind, but at night I often find myself lying in bed to think about the day's activities. I will be doing that tonight as well." Tanya said as we made our to the room.
I gulped, somewhat on the loud side. There's only one bed.
A/N: I'm somewhat iffy on this chapter; it feels a little rushed to me. But I couldn't find myself able to write any other way, so I hope you all like it.