It's been a while since I last updated. (Why does this keep happening? -_-) Anyways, this chapter was really fun to write! It's gone by so fast. It does not seem like I've written sixteen chapters already. Thanks so much to all of you nice people who've been following, reviewing, etc. Though it may be a small amount, I've really enjoyed the feedback that I've received. As always, try to review! I'd really appreciate it. Enjoy!
Chapter 16: Accusations
Charlie really seemed to like the idea of Alice and me bonding and being friends. I introduced him to the Cullen kids about a week after the dream. He and Alice actually advanced to a first-name-basis pretty quickly. He encouraged me to spend an immense amount of time with her and Rosalie. He said I needed more 'girl time.' I needed to make some more friends. Oddly enough, he took quite a liking to Rosalie. They share the 'better left unsaid' trait. Rosalie doesn't speak much unless she finds it relevant or important.
"Dad, I'm off to the Cullens'," I yelled, swinging open the front door.
"Whoa, not so fast, Bells," Charlie said, walking in from the living room. "It's great that you like 'em… but I have a feeling you're not going over just to play dress up all the time."
"Dad, what do you mean? I like Alice and Rosalie."
"Mhmm. And you don't like any of their…brothers?"
"Hm? No," I act surprised.
"I'm not stupid, Bella. C'mon. Didn't ya say you were dreaming of—who was it—Jasper, the other night?"
"It's not like I love him. It was just a dream." I retorted.
"And a weird one at that," he muttered under his breath.
"I don't like anybody, Dad!"
"Okay, just keep telling yourself that, but I'm not letting you go until I know who it is and that Carlisle or Esme will be there."
"Fine, it's Jasper!" I say, trying to get it over with. "Yes, Esme will be there, but I'm not so sure about Carlisle. Now, will you just let me go?"
"Alright, you passed," he grinned. "Well, be safe. Station told us there were some attacks around a nearby clearing. It must've been another animal rampage. We're going to go out and track it down."
"Okay, Dad. You stay safe too," I smiled, "And thanks."
"Mm," he nodded.
"What the hell did you do? You told me that you wouldn't tell anyone, and you told him!" Rosalie growled, pinning Edward up against the wall, and shattering Esme's antique mirror. What is going on? Emmett mustn't have been in on it because he looked just as confused as I was.
"Wrong! I told you that I wouldn't tell a single member of our family," Edward muttered.
"But why did you tell him?" Rose screamed, bashing Edward's body harder against the mirror with each word.
It took only milliseconds after Rosalie's rage peaked, for Carlisle to dash over and grip her arm, "Rose, stop. Just…let's all sit down and you can tell us what happened. Please. No one needs to get hurt with Bella here, especially. We can't afford to be this violent."
Rosalie's hand dropped to her side and Edward fell back onto his feet, "There, happy?"
"Babe? I don't understand. What's wrong?" Emmett questioned Rosalie. She quickly buried her face in her hands and let out soft, defenseless sobs. Emmett sat down beside her and put his arm around her. This only seemed to make her even more dismal.
Her voice trembling, Rosalie answered, "I-I love somebody…else," she looked up at Emmett, her wide eyes filled with guilt, "But that doesn't mean that I don't still love you! I just…"
I knew it! I sensed it the other day in the hallway. She was in love with someone else!
"This isn't funny, Rose. And neither was the last time, when you pretended—"
"I'm not joking, Emmett," Rosalie cried.
Emmett's face showed of complete rage… with a hint of terror, "Who is it? What do you mean?"
"Emmett, I'm so sorry. I didn't plan it. I didn't even know till just recently."
"Who the hell is he?" Emmett yelled.
"Jasper, take Bella somewhere safe. Edward and I will take care of Emmett," Carlisle said.
Before I could respond, I was lifted off the ground and flying through the door and towards the woods. I could detect the distant clashes and thuds from the house as we whizzed by hazy foliage.
When we finally stopped, Jasper turned and gently set me onto a soft, grassy cushion, "There. This should be safe. It should be far enough. You never know how far the debris will fly," he said, raising his eyebrows.
We sat in a small, grassy acreage, with nothing but the wind.
"So, did you know?" I asked him quietly.
"About what? Rosalie?"
"Mhm," I answered.
"No, I had a feeling something was up though," he said with a sigh.
"Who do you think it is?"
He smiled, "Hell, I don't know. Let's just hope Emmett doesn't kill the poor guy too slowly.
He looked peaceful. I always felt at peace when I was with him, thanks to his gift. I finally had a decent window of time to ask him all my questions. "I've been meaning to ask you something," I started.
"Alright, shoot."
"What are those scars from?"
"Oh, these?" He said, pointing to the group of healed gashes on his arms. They're battle scars. You see, prior to being changed, I fought in the civil war and—"
"Those couldn't have come from other soldiers. That would've killed you!" I said surprised.
"These didn't come from the war. Well, at least not that war. A woman named Maria found me and changed me. She used me as one of her soldiers."
"Soldiers?"
"She was making an army of newborns. They were very common during those times. I fought in the battles, and when she was through with me, she kept me as a trainer for the latest batches of newborns. I was to dispose of the weakest links," he said, guilt dripping from his words.
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said, awkwardly picking at a weed near my tennis shoe. As the clouds moved, the sun's rays shone down upon the meadow.
"So what—" I stopped midsentence to see Jasper's skin shimmering, like millions of diamonds resting on a porcelain surface. It was breathtaking.
He turned his gaze from the clouds and smiled at me, "Surprised?"
"A—a little," I stammered.
His smile faded, "Someone's coming. There are multiple. I think it's Carlisle and the others…and maybe Jacob. I can smell him."
We both stood up to face one side of the clearing, and in the blink of an eye, a sharp object pierced my chest.