Chapter 70
Weeks went by with no other words from the Volturi. Alice had let them know that she saw nothing in the immediate future that would indicate more issues.
Bella had been visiting her father more regularly, still concerned about his thougths on the whole situation, and for fear that he could be vulnerable to another attack, despite Alice's certainty that he was in no danger. The attack seemed to bring him and Sue even closer then they had been, so if there was anything positive that came of the situation, that was it.
Masen had been spending more and more time with Leah, taking turns between the Cullens' house and the reservation. He was getting much older by the week and Edward could see his thought process beginning to change. Jacob and Renesme had been keeping an extra eye out on the youngest member of their family.
Now, Masen and Emmett sat lounging on a cliff that overlooked the ocean. They had just finished hunting, and Emmett could tell he had things he wanted to say.
Masen's wavy blond hair sat tucked away underneath a Seattle Mariners baseball hat, and he folded his arms across his bent knees," I know everyone's going to say I'm too young," Masen started in a voice that had developed into that of a young man's over the course of a few weeks. His kid voice was all but gone. "But I'm ready to date Leah."
Emmett smirked at him, "She's still a little older than you."
He shrugged, "I don't care."
Emmett put a hand on his shoulder, "I know what you're feeling, man, believe me, I do."
Masen eyed him, "But..."
"But your voice has barely changed. You still got the baby face," he smiled, "Wait it out a little longer before you go down that road."
He shook his head, "I'm ready now."
"Haven't you always trusted me?" Emmett asked, "I'm not your dad trying to protect you from all that, I'm your brother. If you come to me, I'll give you the real advice," then added, "Don't tell him I put it like that."
Masen forced a smile, knowing Emmett was right, though it didn't completely change his feelings on the matter, "So, are you saying that Leah doesn't feel that way, because I have the, you know, baby face."
"Well, I think Leah will definitely come around when you start to get a little taller and look a little older," he couldn't help a laugh, "But think about it, how many college chicks do you think are out there dating freshmen in high school? It'd be weird, ya know?"
Masen nodded and let out a short laugh, "Yeah, I guess I didn't really look at it like that."
"I mean, your parents sort of have a similar story. Not quite like yours, but they met once when your mom was about 16, and she was still human."
Masen listened, never hearing the story of how his parents really met.
"Your dad was already one of us," he motioned to the two of them, indicating he had been changed into a vampire, "It wasn't until a long time later that he realized he loved her, and so he saved her and had to change her into this," he pointed to the two of them again.
"How long?"
"A number of years, but your mom at the time aged like a typical human would, not like you and Nessy do."
He looked interested, but had a pondering look on his face.
"My point is," Emmett said, "That things worked out for them because they waited until the timing was better."
"What about you and Rose?"
Emmett smiled, "Rosalie saved me. She brought me to your dad after I was attacked by a bear. I would have died, but he changed me in time. When I first woke up from the transformation, I thought Rose was an angel. And then I saw your dad, and thought he was God," he laughed, "I thought for sure I had died."
"How did you and Rose fall in love?"
"The second I saw her face, I knew," he confessed, "And I was lucky enough to have her feel the same way." Emmett put a hand on his shoulder, seeing in Masen's eyes that he longed for the same thing, "Listen, if anything can make you feel better, let it be known that you will experience the same thing with Leah one day, and it will be probably be sooner than later because fortunately for you, you age fast."
Masen sighed, "You really believe that will happen?"
He nodded, "It's more than a belief. I know it will happen, kid. You just have to wait a little."
The two of them looked over the beautiful late afternoon landscape. The sun was getting lower, but still created enough sunlight to illuminate both of them. Masen sighed.
"Come on, Mase," let's get back home, "Your mom's still paranoid about the Volturi. She'll start to worry."
He nodded, "Hey, you think those guys will ever come back?"
Emmett shrugged, "Alice will see if they choose to," he told him reassuringly, "But we always stand together, so we'll be fine."
"Why'd they attack my dad?"
"They were just looking for a fight, and I suppose it was because he's like our leader. He holds us all together."
Masen stared off and shook his head.
"It's over, man," Emmett told him, "And that's probably the only thing that sucks about this life. Sometimes you have to see things you don't want to. On the other hand, look how fast he was able to recover, especially with your help. No human would be able to do that."
Masen nodded, "Yeah, I know."
"Okay, so any advice from now on about Leah, you can come to any one of us. Edward and Bella have quite the story, too."
He smiled, "Edward told me the other day."
"Have you heard about Alice and Jasper?"
He shook his head.
"Well, if you need more reassurance about this, talk to them too."
"Okay," he smiled, "Thanks Emmett."
Emmett held out a hand, and they shared a one handed "guy hug".
"I'll race you back," Masen said with a grin. Before Emmett could agree, he took off toward the house.