Chapter 20

After the week was over some decisions had to be made. Stefan had to go back to Mystic Falls to explain Elena's death and give her ashes to Jeremy who had only recently been brought back to life. Privately he wasn't so sure Jeremy would upset by his sister's demise. Bella had to go back to Forks like she had promised her father she would but Damon had no idea what to do. His whole mind and body urged him to follow Bella but he didn't know how to ask her. What if she said 'no'?

"Mind if I call you from time to time?"

Stefan asked Bella as she closed her bags the day of their flights.

"Of course not"

The baby vampire replied with a smile and a hug. Biting her bottom lip that was still slightly thinner than her top one she fished his phone from his jeans pocket and punched a number in.

"Don't forget to call Nikki too"

She teased as she handed the phone back to him with a wink.

"You're worse than Lexi"

Stefan complained taking the comment about her blond friend in stride. As Bella had spent the week coming to terms with her change, Stefan had connected with the blond girl. It wasn't full blown love but it had the possibility to become one. Damon watched their interactions with a fond smile. He didn't feel jealous over them hugging but he didn't quite like it either. He had however laughed at Stefan's cool demeanor as Bella had snorted at the idea of the vegan diet and had announced she'd go for a mix.

Damon smoothed his fingers through Bella's braided hair, ran his gaze over her fitting yet casual clothes and then cradled her to him. Bending his head, he kissed her and whispered,

"See you soon"

"I'll be back right as school's over. I love you"

She said, her voice soft, clouded with silent tears. Before he could reply, she covered his lips with her hand and shook her head. She didn't want him to say it back just because she was leaving.

"How could you?"

A loud voice demanded. Bella who had just stepped out of the plane in the sunny for once Port Angeles pulled the buds from her ears turning around to face the blond bombshell commonly known as Rosalie.

"Hello to you too Rosalie"

She replied coolly.

"Do you know where Edward is? He went to ask to be killed because of you"

The blond vampire accused

"Because of me?"

Bella enquired confused.

"He thinks you're dead and he wants to join you"

Rosalie shouted. Bella winced at the loud tone and removed her sunglasses.

"First of all, I am dead. Secondly, he's the one that killed me and thirdly if he wants to play martyr let him. I'm done hoping and wishing and praying he'll come back for me"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Bella sighed and rolled her eyes. Stefan had a point; animal blood clogged a vampire's brain making them sound like mindless zombies. Looking around she spotted the rays of sun glow brightly from a window and grabbing Rosalie's hand that no longer was freezing cold to her she dragged her to the light and stepped under it. At once her skin glowed as if she had covered her body with diamonds.

"What do you think I'm talking about?"

Rosalie's golden eyes widened. Only then she realized what her brain had been nagging to her ever since Alice saw Edward visit the Volturi in a vision. Bella was dead alright, even if the organ in her chest was still beating so ever slowly.

"Your eyes"

Bella chuckled

"A thin layer of red, I know. I kind of like it actually the brown was too dull"

"What happened?"

Bella thought about it for a moment and then she decided to trust Rosalie as she was the only Cullen, well she and Jasper that she didn't hate. So she opened her mouth and told her everything from her drowning to her change and Edward's hasty departure.

"Did you say Salvatore?"

Another tinkling voice reached them as jasper joined them holding three plain tickets. Bella nodded with a frown.

"Do you know him?"

"I may"

Fishing her phone from her pocket Bella scrolled down the pictures until she found one of Damon taken early that morning. Wordlessly she handed the phone to a jasper that seemed much more loose than she had ever seen him

"What's wrong?"

Rosalie asked her brother but jasper only shook his head

"The little asshole. I thought he died"

As both Bella and Rosalie just stared at him he explained

"We were in the war together. He took a leave and less than a month later we received word he was dead. I was changed shortly after that"

It was Bella's turn to laugh.

"You two should come by my place. It sounds like we have a few things to talk about. Unless you plan on using those tickets"

Rosalie looked at the tickets in Jasper's hands. They were one way tickets to Voltera. She was supposed to guilt Bella into joining them as they'd join the rest of the family hoping to save Edward's life. Jasper would just knock her out if she said 'no'

"I'm good with staying. I'll give Em a call though"

She decided and looked at Jasper who nodded gravely

"It seems Edward omitted a few details. Tell Em I'm staying too Rose"

"Good. Now why don't we go before Charlie barges in?"