Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
A/N: Is anyone else having issues with getting notifications from the website? If so, does anyone know how to fix it?
Thanks to XRaiderV1 for letting me know the chapter isn't showing, I hope it shows now; I've been having issues with the website, sorry.
Eleazar left me and the store about fifteen minutes ago. We had had a really good talk, brief, but still good. He told me Tanya has a really good reason for wanting to be a teacher, he said that it would bring her all the happiness she needs. He seemed to really stress that fact and also the fact that Tanya won't be teacher next year. If she loves teaching so much, why would she stop?
That question is where I try to stop my own train of thought. There are several conclusions I can come up with as to why she would stop after this year, some more believable than others. With all the reasons I can think of, none are any that I would want to really think on.
One could be that she's been here, in this town, too long for comfort already. She doesn't want people to notice she doesn't age, so she's calling it quits before anyone starts to question her. I wouldn't blame her for wanting to stop teaching and leave after this year. It was what I expected from the very beggining. I knew either she would have to leave or I would leave, either way one of us had to leave first. My money was on me.
There is another reason that crossed my mind for all of two seconds. I immediately dismissed it though because it made me seem full of myself. I just thought it was a coincidence that the year I graduate and will be leaving this town, Ms. Denali decides to stop teaching. I have no basis for this thought, but when the thought came to me, it just…it just seemed right.
Those were the two main reasons that kept flying through my head since Eleazar left. I tried my best to distract myself with work; but there isn't really any work to actually do. I tried reading, but when I found I was reading the same line ten times I figured reading was a bust. So now I'm doing my best to finish my language arts homework.
I was in the middle of writing the last paragraph for my English paper when I felt something zap me on my side. The unexpected shock made me jump off my seat and nearly fall over onto the ground. If it wasn't for the chime like laughter that I've grown used to these past couple days, I would have been concerned about randomly getting shocked.
"I get you every time Bella and it never gets old." Kate said as she finally calmed down.
I picked up my book that had fallen off the counter from my near heat attack and sat back down on my stool while giving Kate what I thought was a pretty darn good death glare.
"Ya well, I could argue that." I said angrily.
I would never admit it, especially to Kate, but I kind of like her playing her games with me. Even though they almost always annoy me, it's nice to just mess around and have fun.
"I'm sure you could, but that doesn't mean I'll stop anytime soon. I have eternity to annoy you and I plan on using that to my advantage." Kate said.
Just like Eleazar, Kate also made it seem like they plan on either somehow me becoming a vampire, or them changing me. Eleazar had avoided the topic all together when we talked. I wonder if Kate will answer the questions he wouldn't? Kate has never avoided answering any of my questions before, whether they were rhetorical or not she always has an answer.
"You know that I have an expiration date right Kate?" I said somewhat jokingly.
I didn't want to flat out ask if they were planning on changing me, to me that just seems somewhat rude. The Cullen's always made being changed a last resort type thing, at least that's how Carlisle changed most of his family. I don't know what the views are of the Denali family and changing somebody. I don't want to say something that might make them mad.
"Not one that I can forsee." Kate answered as she quickly pulled out a chair from the office and sat down on it next to me.
Kate must have thought that was the end of that this particular conversation because she pulled out a book from under the counter and started reading. If I didn't know her better I would have thought she was actually reading it. I happen to know, though, that she's only using it as a prop. She reads as much as Rosalie likes to make friends with the La Push pack.
I'm guessing Kate is just waiting for the next topic of conversation to start or there's a customer about to come in that I can't see or hear. Kate usually 'reads' when a customer comes in just so she can stay out of the way and let me worry about the customer.
"You know I'm human right?" I asked and Kate nodded so I continued. "You know that eventually humans die from something right?" I asked and again Kate nodded.
"I know that, I've lived more than long enough to realize humans tend to die. I happen to know you will die also." Kate answered matter-of-factly; her eyes still on her book.
Now I'm confused. Didn't Kate say she was going to make fun of me for eternity? How can she do that if I'm dead? Unless… does she mean the fact that if I'm a vampire my heart won't beat anymore? I wish Kate would stop avoiding the topic that I know she knows I want to talk about. Although, I'm not being any more obvious than she is.
"Do you plan on me being a vampire?" I asked as quickly as I could, almost afraid to know the answer.
I could have been a lot more tactful in my asking, but I have to know. Whatever they expect of me or for me or whatever, may not go along with my plans. So I have to know what they want so that I can stop it from happening if I need to. Being a vampire isn't on my list of things to do anymore, although…the idea is still appealing.
"Of course, don't you?" Kate asked, finally looking away from her book and staring at me.
When Kate first got here, the atmosphere was light and easy going. Now the atmosphere is thick and I feel like I'm about to drown in it. The conversation is a very serious one, at least to me it is. I can feel this conversation getting a little awkward for me at least. I doubt Kate finds anything awkward.
"Why would I?" I asked, turning on my stool to face her completely.
She mimicked my moves and we now both sat facing each other, my homework and her book forgotten. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the sign in the window flip from open to close. Kate must be expecting this conversation to be important and doesn't want to be interrupted.
"I know you know that vampires revealing themselves to humans are against our laws; I'm sure at least Rosalie made that fact very clear." Kate said.
I almost snorted at that comment. Rosalie did make it clear that I was a danger to her whole family and that I wasn't welcomed, at least by her. But it was actually Edward, in the beginning, that made it clear how we aren't supposed to be friends. He made it clear that everything he was doing went against their laws; but he kept going out with me anyways.
"Amongst others." I answered vaguely.
"Well, that's neither here nor there; it doesn't really matter who told you about the laws. The fact is, is that we aren't allowed to let humans know of our existence without the intention of turning them. Our family follows the rules very strictly. We do all we can to keep away from law breakers." Kate explained.
Kate stayed silent for a moment, like she was thinking of what she was going to say next. She seemed to be having an internal battle over something. It only lasted a few seconds due to a vampires' ability to think quickly, then she started talking again.
"Our family wouldn't become friends with someone, human or vampire, without intentions of keeping them as friends." Kate said with a satisfied look on her face. I guess that made sense to her, but to me it didn't.
"So, you plan on changing me because we became friends? Can't you just do that with any human you might like enough to be friends with?" I asked not bothering to hide my confusion.
If that's the case, since they seem to be living like the Cullen's do: with the humans, wouldn't they make friends? Wouldn't they find some humans that they want to keep as friends?
"Not at all; you are an exception to what we typically do. You see, normally, we just live off in the wild, in a well secluded area that humans rarely, if ever, go to. When we heard you were coming, we moved closer to town." Kate answered.
Now I know for a fact there's something I'm missing. Again, I having an idea of what it might be, but I just can't find myself to think it much less ask Kate. Luckily I didn't even have a chance to pretend to question Kate, because she continued talking.
"Since we're talking on a serious level, I have a question for you, if you don't mind." Kate asked.
To say I was shocked would be an understatement. Kate normally doesn't ask before speaking her mind. She just talks and/or asks questions when she sees fit.
"Don't look so surprised, I do have manors on occasion." Kate said after she giggled at my reaction.
"You can ask me." I answered nervously.
Whatever Kate wants to ask must be serious if she felt she had to be polite before-hand.
"Why are you ignoring Tanya? From what I understand you two had a fun time over the weekend." Kate said, but then added, "Though I did hear you made sure Tanya kept her hands to herself the whole time." Kate said with a wink.
I quickly blushed at her comment and what she meant by it. My blush quickly died down when I realized what it was she had asked. I honestly didn't think her family would care if I ignored Ms. Denali or not; I mean I'm technically just her student right? I know, I've seen it, Ms. Denali is sad about me ignoring her, but I can't risk getting hurt, not again.
For the past week, Kate and I have talked a lot. We haven't really talked about my past with the Cullen's or even really the pack, but we have talked. I actually wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even know if I had gone out with the Cullen's, if I am, or was, Edwards' soul mate. I wonder how much they know.
Should I tell Kate? Maybe if I tell her, she can tell her family what my concerns are and then they can stop getting so close to me so that when they leave it won't hurt as much. Kate did say they didn't plan on becoming friends with me without the intention of keeping me. They also said they planned on having me turned, so maybe I should tell her?
Before I started talking again, to tell her why, I found a spot on the floor that instantly became the most interesting thing in this store.
"I don't want to get hurt again." I mumbled weakly to her.
I felt embarrassed to tell her this. It was an insecurity that I thought I would never have to deal with. Why would I if I'm not meant to be in a vampire's world and that was what I was most afraid of getting hurt from?
"We would never hurt you Bella." Kate said.
The words brought tears to my eyes. That's what the Cullen's said. That's what Edward said, he promised. His family, well most of his family, said things along the same lines and they all hurt me by leaving me. The memories of them all saying how much I'm part of the family, how much they love me and that I belong with them, started playing over in my head until Kate's voice brought me out of them.
"What's wrong?" Kate asked, sounding very concerned.
I felt a sad smile creep onto my face. Of course she wouldn't know why I was sad, it only seems fitting that Edward wouldn't say anything about our relationship. I wonder what he told them when he came up here when we first met.
"Ms. Denali said she first heard about me from Edward, when he came up here a while back?" I asked, finally looking back up to her.
Her face was nothing like what I expect from Kate. Her face was the perfection of concern, she looked almost like she was ready to get out of her chair and give me a hug.
"Yes, that's when we first heard about you. He said that you smelled really good, that you were his singer. I have to admit, when you first got here, I immediately agreed with him, you do smell really good." Kate said jokingly with a small smile, trying to ease the tension that's growing.
"Did he ever tell you what happened after he got back?" I asked, getting straight to the point.
"No, he didn't. We didn't think to ask. All we know is that everything worked out fine, with no incidents." Kate answered.
Her eyes narrowed a little as she thought and then they briefly lit up as she came to a realization. She pulled out her phone and made a call. She spoke so fast that I couldn't understand anything she said.
"I hope you don't mind, but I felt like you were about to tell me something that I think Tanya would like to hear as well. So she's on her way. If you want, I can stay while you tell her what you were about to tell me. For some reason I have a feeling that our dear cousin may have done something stupid." Kate said with another sad smile.
I wasn't expecting that. Do I even want to tell Ms. Denali all that's happened? I guess it's only fair since her and her family do apparently want me to stick around with them.
"I guess even if I don't want to tell her, you would tell her anyways huh?" I half-heartedly joked, trying to calm myself down a little.
"Not if you didn't want me to." Kate answered seriously.
"I can tell you both, it's just, its' still hard." I said.
I may be doing a lot better than when he first left, but I've never had to actually tell someone what happened. I've never had to relive it. I barely think about it much less talk about it. I don't know how I'll act.
What better people to first tell than the ones that claim to want to keep me?
I subconsciously wrapped my hands around myself as I silently waited for Ms. Denali to show up. Kate stayed in her chair, silently observing me. It was only a few minutes before the silence was broken.
"Are you sure you want to tell me?" Ms. Denali asked as she pulled up a seat on the other side of the counter from me and Kate.
Her tone of voice let me know that even though she's giving me an out, she really wants me to talk. I weakly nodded my head. I know it'll be hard to tell them, but something just feels right about telling them, like I'm supposed to.
"It started in biology…"
A/N: Now we're getting really close to Tanya and Bella getting together. It's about time, right? Lol.