Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
A/N: As mean as it sounds, I find it funny to leave off on cliff hangers. Your guy's reactions make me laugh out loud. As much as I hate when authors do that to the stories I'm ready, I find myself doing the same thing because when I go to start the next chapter it's a bit easier to pick it back up. So, sorry for the cliff hangers, but I find it helps me to get chapters out faster than if I didn't have a cliff hanger :P.
Also, I just wanted to say that if there's something you guys want to see in the story, or even just you want me to go a bit faster let me know and I'll do my best to do so.
There, I've told them everything. They know about it all. They know about how we met, how we got together and how much we love…loved each other. I told them about what happened with James in Phoenix, about how Edward saved me. Kate was surprised Edward stopped the change by sucking out the venom; she said he must have had really good control to stop since I'm his singer. Ms. Denali kept a perfect mask, I could only see anger in her eyes, but her face gave nothing away.
I next told them about the birthday party. I told them what happened with Jasper. Kate said she expected something like that to happen eventually. She said since he's always feeling everyone's emotions that that includes their bloodlust. She said Jasper has amazing control to live as well as he does with feeling the bloodlust of the other vampires. Ms. Denali once again said nothing, but I made sure they both knew that I never once blamed Jasper for what happened that day.
I told them about how I felt the next couple days after my birthday party; how I didn't see any of the Cullen's but Edward. I told them how nervous that had made me feel. I finally got to the part about Edward leaving me; about how he left me. I told them how Sam found me and brought me home. That was the time that I noticed Ms. Denali didn't even pretend to be human anymore. She seemed just like a statue, if I didn't know any better I would have she had actually turned into a statue. Kate was visibly mad. She even made a few comments throughout my story. She said most of them too quickly for me to understand but I was able to catch words like Edward, dead and burn; so I'm assuming she's pissed at Edward.
Then I moved onto the last part of the story. I told them how Jake helped me; how the pack helped me. I told them how I used to be when the Cullen's first left; how I was no better than a zombie. I told them that it was Jake that helped to patch up the hole in my heart, but that he couldn't heal me completely. I told them because of that, Charlie decided to move, to let me have a fresh start.
By the end of my story, they both sat still. Kate at least was still breathing, but Ms. Denali didn't move at all. Her eyes stayed focused on me. Her eyes held a very pissed off look, but it was a look that I can tell wasn't directed at me. Kate didn't cover up her features and I could clearly tell she was mad as well.
"So um, I'm sorry about ignoring you Ms. Denali, but I just don't want what happened before to happen again." I said as I stared down at the floor.
Relaying the story wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. Something about me telling Ms. Denali made me feel alright about saying it out loud; but it still hurt to do so. I can feel the tears threating to spill out of my eyes. I've cried enough over Edward, I don't want to anymore; but it's so hard not to.
"I understand now, why you did what you did to me. I can understand why you would ignore me, I do." Ms. Denali started. "Kate, can you give us some time alone to talk please." Even though it was a request, I could tell that Ms. Denali expected Kate to do so.
Kate nodded in the affirmative, gave me a quick hug then left in the blink of an eye. I couldn't help but feel slightly nervous about being left alone with Ms. Denali. I don't know why I would feel that way, but I do.
"There's a lot to tell you Bella, there's so much you don't understand. I want to explain it all to you, I really do. I don't think we'll have enough time to do so today though. If you would allow me to, I would like explain some things to you." Ms. Denali asked.
What would she have to explain to me? If anything I would have things to explain to her, I mean I'm the human that's still alive that used to go out with a vampire. Didn't Kate say that they are all really into following the rules and whatnot? I believe the law says that I shouldn't still be here; or at least here in my human glory. If anything, I should be explaining why I should be left alone and not killed for knowing their secret.
"I guess." I answered hesitantly.
Ms. Denali gave me a small smile and moved to sit in Kate's former seat. Just like when I stayed after school with her, she moved the chair so close to me that we were almost touching. In a way it was actually somewhat comforting to feel the cold seeping from her to me. I was already sitting in the corner of the area behind the counter, so I couldn't move away from her. I wouldn't have moved if I could anyways, I just won't admit that to her.
"I first want to ask you to please start calling me by my name please, I like hearing you call me Tanya instead of Ms. Denali. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, then you don't have to, but I would appreciate it if you did." Ms. Denali said with a small smile.
"Okay." I said, not really giving a definitive answer. Calling her Ms. Denali was a way to put more space in between us, at this point I'm not sure if I want to stop that yet or not.
"Thank you. Secondly, what Edward did was cowardly and irresponsible. I'm very sorry he did that to you. I would like, at a later time, to further discuss the relationship you two had if you don't mind. I also want to let you know, that if you wouldn't mind, I really would like to… teach him a lesson… in how to treat a lady; especially you." Tanya said.
I didn't say anything to that because I'm not sure what to say. I am mad at Edward for leaving me, especially in the way that he did leave. I still have feelings for him though, just because he got tired of me didn't mean I did also. I don't know if I want Tanya to do anything or not when she sees him again; I don't even know if I would care or not.
"What do you know about soul mates Bella?" Tanya asked, her face softening.
She started breathing again, and seemed to be a lot more relaxed than she was a few minutes ago. It almost seems as if this topic is something that she's wanted to talk about for the longest time and has now just gotten the chance to do so. Personally, I don't like this topic. Edward was my soul mate and he left me. That alone makes soul mates a touchy topic for me.
"Well, Edward told me that soul mates are the perfect match; that everyone has one. He said that it can take a vampire sometimes years to even decades or longer to find their soul mate, but that they eventually find them. He said that he and I were soul mates." I said the last part softly and looked down again.
As I said the last part and looked down, I saw Tanya's face look murderous, but the look only stayed in place for a second if not less. Once it actually registered in my brain that she had that look, I faced her again with a curious expression on my face.
"I can say, without a doubt, that Edward was not or well ever be your soul mate or even anything close to it." Tanya said with a touch of venom in her voice.
"But we love… loved each other, what makes you so sure?" I asked, practically demanding her to answer me. She was starting to make me mad. How can she claim that Edward isn't my soul mate? She never saw us together, how well we worked together. She doesn't know how much we love… loved each other.
"For starters, the fact that you changed 'love' to 'loved' in your question would be a clear indication. Also, if he loves or even loved you so much, why leave you? Why leave you in the woods alone where anything could have happened to you?" Tanya said with such strength in her voice that I couldn't find the will to argue with her… for now at least. "If he loved you so much, why would he say that you were just something to pass the time with? That you were just a passing phase? Soul mates are permanent, their feelings never waiver, they never weaken, they only grow stronger." Tanya said.
Everything she's saying is throwing me in for a loop. I understand what she's saying, really I do, but where does our love fit in there? I know we loved each other, wouldn't Jasper have said something if it wasn't real love? He is an empath, I'm sure he of all people would know. Alice even said she 'saw' me joining the family! She said that I was meant for Edward, that she had visions of it. So it was meant to be right?
"B-but, we were perfect for each other." I said weakly. I know I'm just grasping at straws, but in my defense, Tanya just destroyed what I thought was a good relationship.
"No you weren't. If you were perfect for each other you would still be in Forks with Edward right now. If you were his soul mate, he would have allowed you to change, if anything he would have added his venom to have his venom flow through you as well." Tanya said.
At that comment she grabbed my wrist that had my scar from James and lifted the sleeve up to reveal the scar to her. She gently rubbed her fingers over it. She kept tracing it as I fought to find words to say to her.
"Why would you bring all this up?" I asked; mad at her for bringing it up at all.
"Would do you think I would Bella? You're a smart girl, I know you know why. Why would I try to spend so much time with you, why would I be talking to you about Edward not being your soul mate?" Tanya asked, moving her hand so that it could clasp onto mine, intertwining our fingers.
I looked down at our clasped hands, thinking about all that we've done together. I had thought about it, I really had. I just don't want to believe it. I honestly could have sworn that Edward was my soul mate, I really did love him. But I guess that's the whole point, I did love him. When he left, he took that with him, or at least most of it. I still have feelings for him though.
Even with the lingering feelings for Edward, I know I have feelings for Tanya. I just don't know what to do with those feelings. Not only is Tanya, well, a girl, but she's the one saying that Edward was never mine like I thought, like how I wanted. I had always pictured myself eventually marrying a guy, and living happily ever after with him. Now here Tanya is, hinting at doing the same thing with her, can I?
"Are you… are you saying that…" I stuttered, not able to even finish the thought.
"I know this might be hard for you to accept, but yes, I am saying that we are soul mates. We are perfect for each other. Isabella Marie Swan, I can say, without a doubt, that I love you and I always will. I can tell you, that no matter what, even if it can be perceived to be for your benefit and possibly even your safety, I cannot and will not leave you, ever." Tanya said with total and complete love in her voice.
Tanya let go of my hand and cupped my face with both of her hands. She forced my face to look at her. Her thumbs started to slowly move back and forth on my face, providing a comfort that I didn't think I actually needed.
"If you would let me, I want to show you want I can offer you. I want to show you how well we can be and will be together. I want you Bella. I want all of you for eternity. Bella, will you please allow me to take you on a real date?" Tanya asked.