Bella Pov
The silence was tense and Bella found herself staring at the table, trying to figure out how not to hurt the vampires around her. The truth was strange and a bit hurtful. There was no reason to spell it all out.
"Bella?" Alice spoke softly and Bella looked up to see that everyone was watching her. "Did you know me?" She just repeated Carlisle's question, and Bella found it was even harder when Alice asked it.
"No," Bella shook her head and reached into her mind and grasped the first semi-true story she could come up with. "It was really strange, almost like a preview." Her words were choppy and stilted as she struggled to make up the rest of the story in her head. "It was like a movie, or a book." Exactly like it, she thought, but she was never going to say that. "This story was just given to me." How, her mind struggled with this one. It had to be good. "The girl," Bella put her hand over her chest for a moment, "Charlie's real daughter, god." Bella hissed and she turned to stare at Emmett helplessly.
Emmett gave her a soft, encouraging smile. Bella knew he didn't mean lie better, you can lie really well, go for it, but she steeled her courage and found a way to not belittle the Cullen's existence with some story of them being fictional characters. "I woke up with this story in my head." Her voice was calmer as she committed to something she thought could work. She would never want someone to tell her that her life was a book people read and talked about, so she just wasn't going to do it to her vampires. "It's morbid really, but it was about the girl who used to live in this body. It was maybe two years of a life she never got to live, because I'm here now. It hasn't even started yet really, I mean the story started in Junior year."
"What do you mean woke up with a story?" Carlisle asked and Bella sighed.
"It's kind of like I woke up remembering a book, or a movie. It was a story I heard, but wasn't really a part of. It wasn't like a memory." Bella explained and hoped that was enough, because she had no idea how to explain it. "I was given a piece of the life she would have lived to know about. She was going to move in with Charlie next January." Bella looked over at a puzzled Alice, and she did notice everyone looked confused. "That Bella was going to be Alice's friend too." Bella could actually see the apprehension around the table, almost felt it and she wondered if Jasper was leaking emotions. "So I have whatever came from that future that is never gonna happen in my head."
"What happened to that Bella?" Rosalie asked softly. "How did that story end?"
"She got married, and I was not impressed. She acted like the boy she married was perfect, but he was far from it. Controlling to a degree that any woman should have walked away, but the story was in her point of view and she was so thrilled to have him. He treated her like a stupid child, made decisions without caring how she felt. Bella, that Bella might have been young, but living with her mother there is no way she was a child." Bella spoke a little too passionately about it, but she was unusually invested in that 'story' now. Jasper sat up just a little straighter and Bella felt a defeated resignation as he opened his mouth, wondering what holes he wanted to put into her little plan to protect their feelings.
"Why would you be given a story?" He asked, and Bella had an epiphany when she tried to think of an answer.
Her voice was less shaky as she glanced around the table, her eyes finally able to look others in the face. They still looked confused and anxious. "I thought it was just a story at first, maybe something I didn't remember reading, but then I found out the woman the doctors were giving me to was actually in the story. The man she told me to call when I got out of the hospital, Charlie, was in the story. This town, you guys, the kids at school, Jacob, were all in the story. It was then I realized that even though the powers that be screwed up, that story could help to give me a small advantage. Apparently there is an obstacle course of death coming my way and I know what's going to happen. Forewarned right?" Bella gave Alice a weak smile. "I need to use what I know to survive, but that information doesn't start until January, when I have to avoid being crushed by a van. Then I have to avoid being hunted by a serial killer, and then his serial killer friends. It goes on and on." Bella shook her head in disgust and hoped that not being with Edward was enough to avoid most of the shit in those books, that and her warning, but she hadn't even gotten to the Twilight timeline yet. "I'm hoping it was THAT Bella that was jinxed, and not the body, because she attracted danger like she'd been cursed." Bella sighed heavily and noticed Esme was looking pained. Bella gave her a weak smile, trying to reassure her. "It's going to be hard, a different kind of hard than I'm used to, if I've inherited her 'curse', but the first thing I need to do is avoid the school parking lot when it's icy. See, I know what I need and I just have to try and make it work."
"How did she survive the van?" Rosalie asked quietly.
"One of your family." Bella admitted, pained to have to say it.
"And the 'serial killer'?" Alice asked just as subdued as Bella had ever seen her.
"You found her. James was finally killed in a fire, so he was no longer a threat." Bella spoke just as softly.
"But he had friends?" Jasper spoke and Bella looked over to see him staring at her rather hard.
"Yes, they decided it was Bella's fault James was dead." Bella could anticipate the next question easily.
"How did she survive them?" Jasper asked and Bella's mind was quickly putting together something she hadn't really wanted to consider before.
"Look, that Bella spent her most of her 'story' being rescued by other people, but I know what's happening and I should be able to find a way around needing protection." Her heart was sinking and a few tears started to gather in her eyes as she started to doubt her own words. If the Cullens left, was Bella still going to draw James' attention? "I mean why would I be given a second chance only to get less than two years out of it? That seems more cruel really, just get to the point I have new dreams and then destroy them again? God can't hate me that much can he? He doesn't just wait for my life to get good to destroy me?"
Rosalie's scent became stronger and Bella found herself tugged gently into leaning against the blonde. "You'll get more than two years Bella, I promise you." Rosalie whispered into her hair. Bella took a few deep breaths to calm down and Rosalie's scent helped.
…..
Jasper Pov
Jasper could feel the emotions around the table easily and he knew they were not moving anytime soon. Even he changed his mind about the need, because if he was condemning her to facing a coven of vampires alone by leaving, he couldn't do that to her. Carlisle also gave off a feeling of determination alongside his fascination and sympathy.
"As impossible as it seems, I don't think she's lying." He spoke softly to the others while Bella sat cuddled up in Rosalie's arms. The girl, woman, Bella, was clearly deep in thought and wouldn't notice the super quiet conversation.
"If this family votes to leave, Emmett and I will be staying." Rosalie spoke just as quietly, but her voice was harsh and her eyes, over Bella's head, were challenging.
"I think that vote is well and truly dead." Carlisle spoke softly and Jasper noticed him eyeing Bella with curiosity.
Emmett spoke up a little louder, so Bella could hear. "So, what's your real name?" Jasper noticed a hint of concern in her.
"Renee named her daughter Isabella Marie Swan." Bella pulled out of the hug that Rosalie had been determined to give her and looked around the table. "I was named Bella Maria Swan"
Jasper felt amusement from Emmett, and some disbelief and amazement from the others. Emmett started to chuckle. "Oh my god, they misfiled you." That feeling of disbelief spread to Bella herself at his words. "Your names are almost identical, just a little different, and they misfiled your soul into her body."
"A clerical error, really Emmett?" Rosalie sounded a little tense. "You're going to tell her she's here because the file clerk in heaven misfiled her?" Her eyes bore into her husband's and Jasper watched Emmett's amusement evaporate. "That's insensitive."
"I'm sorry Bella." Emmett apologized softly.
"It's okay Emmett." Bella spoke softly, but Jasper felt some strange irritation in Bella about the name issue he couldn't even guess the reason to.
"It does make you wonder what happened to that other Bella though." Jasper spoke so everyone could hear him and he got a glare from Esme for his words, and a small spike of guilt from Bella.
"I try not to think about it." Bella spoke up, her words faster than normal. "When I thought it was a story, I wasn't really a fan of her, but I wouldn't have wished my death on her. I feel bad for her, and I feel bad for Charlie. God, Charlie is such a good father and I never want him to know I'm not his Bella. When I decided to move here I thought he'd be a better roommate, I never expected to actually," Her words trailed off.
"Love him." Esme spoke just as softly, filling in the word Jasper could feel was right based on the feelings Bella was giving off.
"It's so confusing being a teenager again." Bella whispered. "I mean I know I'm not a child, but I don't really know what I am anymore. I'm not used to being able to rely on anyone; I've been alone for so long, it feels strange. But I'm the only family he has. I guess I can understand him. He isn't so different than me." The mix of pain, regret, hope, loneliness and love gave Jasper a story he couldn't put into words for the others, but this Bella hadn't had a good life before she died. He could sense that.
When Bella cleared her throat and swallowed, Esme gave off a sense of concern. "Are you alright?"
"I'm just thirsty." Bella told her and Esme was up from her seat instantly. It was interesting really, to see Esme going off to get Bella a drink and sensing the way Esme enjoyed caring for her. They all played at being Esme's child, but Bella needing basic things made Esme happy.
"You didn't eat yet either?" Esme's voice called back and Jasper felt dismay and guilt, and some irritation coming from their mother figure. "It's all cold now." Esme's voice was quieter and her unhappiness at them forgetting to feed the human was clear.
"I don't know if I can eat yet." Bella answered her. He watched her, as did the others. "I'm a bit too tense, I might not keep it down."
"Oh," Alice's eyes widened in understanding.
Esme came back out with a glass of orange juice and put it in front of Bella. "Once you feel like eating dear, just tell me. I'll make you something."
"Thank you." Bella gave Esme a small smile and took a sip of her drink. Everyone waited, giving off waves of impatience, even though they didn't interrupt Bella drinking desperately, she was thirsty. Alice was more impatient than any of them and Jasper glanced down to his side to see her fidgeting. He got the sense that Alice had a question she wanted to ask.
….
Bella Pov
"I'd like to hear the story you were given." Carlisle spoke up and Bella couldn't stop herself from cringing at that idea. She glanced around the table and she could see he wasn't the only one.
"I don't want to do that." She stammered. "It isn't going to happen, so," Her words trailed off. She really didn't want to share that story. "I'm on a different path, it doesn't matter."
"You are using it to protect yourself, and you also said we were in it." Jasper spoke slowly, his eyes too piercing. "We'd like to know how? Apparently we were a big part of that Bella's life as well."
"I really don't want to do that." Bella stared him down and willed him to give up.
"If you aren't comfortable with it, it can wait." Esme spoke up and Bella was relieved for the backup. "It isn't that we want to know her, we just want to know what you know." Esme explained gently and Bella felt grateful for that, but she couldn't tell them what she knew.
Alice spoke up softly and Bella turned to look at her. "I don't think you won't understand this, but what you won't say is what some will use to try and take us away. You aren't protecting us Bella, you're tearing us apart."
"Alice!" Esme scolded her, but Alice just kept her eyes staring into Bella's and Bella felt herself going pale as she realized that no matter how careful she'd been, how many times she'd made sure not to see, Alice found out.
"How?" Bella whispered it out and Esme stopped scolding to turn and stare at her. Bella felt the eyes on her and it made her uncomfortable.
"You were too good, some things are impossible to ignore and you still did." Alice spoke firmly. "I had Emmett go through so many plans, and you were determined not to hear it. The future ratted you out my dear."
"I had to protect," Her words trailed off and she looked around the table. Emmett looked like he was slowly working out what they were talking about. Bella's heart started to beat a little faster as she noticed the searching looks on Rosalie and Esme's face, or the suspicious one on Jasper's. Carlisle was watching Alice instead, and he was frowning.
"Say it Bella." Alice spoke slowly, firmly, but her eyes held compassion. Her voice softened, "Just say it."
"I don't want you to leave me." Bella heard the whine in her voice and didn't care.
"Then say it." Alice repeated.
"I always knew, I knew before I visited Charlie the first time. It was in the story." Bella was grateful she hadn't had breakfast, she felt ill and she could feel herself starting to sweat.
"What did you know?" Rosalie spoke slowly, her eyes moving between Alice and Bella suspiciously.
Bella swallowed slowly and turned to look at Rosalie. She knew this wasn't going to go over well. "I knew, the risk though, I couldn't let you know I knew." Rosalie's expression slowly changed to shock. "I didn't want the Volturi to accuse you of anything. I can protect my mind, but I'm not strong enough to protect yours."
"Oh my god." Esme gasped and Bella risked a glance at her since Rosalie wasn't moving, to see Esme had a hand covering her mouth in shock.
"Are you saying that you know what we are?" Carlisle spoke sharper than she'd ever heard him speak and Bella felt surrounded, because there were so many vampires staring at her in shock.
"Vegetarians?" Bella gave a weak smile, but she still felt like her stomach was churning way too much.
"Holy shit Bella Bear." Emmett broke the tense silence. "You knew the whole time?" His eyes started to sparkle happily. "You have balls of steel, you didn't even flinch."
Esme was still unable to talk, or he would have been scolded for that. Bella gave Emmett a weak smile. "You never saw me flinch, different thing all together Emmett. I'm Edward's singer, I flinched, believe me I flinched." Rosalie gasped beside her and Bella looked over to see the blonde slowly starting to look angry. Bella continued, guessing as to why. "I tested the waters, I sent Carlisle home covered in my scent and then I wandered around in public all day after it, hoping it was going to be okay. I asked you Emmett, you said I could meet your family. I thought maybe it was okay, maybe my blood was different than hers, but after meeting him, well, clearly it isn't. He could barely talk. You guys have me in protective custody at school, I know, and I appreciate it, I really do."
"There was an entire coven of vampires here, and your only reservation was Edward?" Rosalie spoke, her voice sharp and Bella noticed she choked a bit on being the first to say the word.
"He's the only one I have to worry about." Bella stared at the blonde before her and could see the disbelief in her face. "Other than the ones that aren't here yet."
Bella stared helplessly as Rosalie left, and Rosalie didn't bother to hide her speed as she ran upstairs and everyone could hear the slamming of her bedroom door. "I don't want her to hate me." Bella felt her eyes prick with tears as she stared after the missing blonde. Her heart ached at the mere thought of it.
"She's just confused right now, it'll be okay." Alice told her, appearing in front of her instantly. Alice petted her hair gently. "You had to tell us." Alice kissed her teary cheek. "It'll be okay." Alice whispered into her hair.
"Yeah Bella Bear, Rosie just is shocked. She was so sure you'd be afraid and to find out you never had been. That all that time, you knew, well, she didn't expect that." Emmett gave her a small smile. "I'm gonna go, but we're not leaving Bella Bear, I just think she needs me now."
"Yeah, good." Bella felt awkward, when Emmett left, because she still had four vampires staring at her. Esme, Carlisle, Jasper and Alice were just staring, though Alice managed to also pet her arm as she did it.