Disclaimer: I don't own "Twilight", but I do own Johanna. Links to all outfits are on my profile.
Thanks to my big sis, Caitlin, otherwise known as Gotta Dance 88, for being my beta
Chapter 8 – Isabella Swan
After Carlisle left, Alice and Johanna spent the rest of the night wondering how Edward would change after finding his mate. They both agreed that he wouldn't be as dark and moody. Soon it was time to get ready for school and more importantly for Isabella Swan.
"We 'ave to make a good impression don't we Alice" Johanna chirped happily as she put a chunky turquoise bracelet on her wrist. She was wearing a turquoise twisted tube top, light blue designer jeans, and a pair of pleated turquoise flats. She had a white Avery-silk georgette jacket over her tube top.
"It is likely that she will hear and see that we're not exactly sociable, but if you befriend her, then I might have a shot at being friends with her too." Alice said in the same chirpy tone of voice. She wrapped a simple light blue ponytail holder around the bottom of Johanna's braid. She had had the privilege of braiding Johanna's hair. Johanna jumped off the bed and spun around in front of her mirrors watching how her braid moved. It had obviously reached her expectations as she smiled broadly at Alice.
"You are definitely going to make a good impression. Merci beaucoup, Alice. You did a wonderful job on my 'air. Now spin around for me. " Alice laughed but did it anyway. She was wearing a white Camilla ruffle shirt, gray skinny jeans, black suede ankle boots and a black cropped vest. Her accessories consisted of her Cullen crest choker and black leather stamped bag with gold buckles.
Rosalie walked in as Alice was finishing her spin and smirked slightly at her. "Nice job with Johanna's braid, Alice. It looks really good." Johanna and Alice both smiled at Rosalie.
"Wow, you look very good." Johanna said. Rosalie was wearing a gray wool and silk blend blazer with a top underneath, skinny designer blue jeans and a pair of black high heels with silver edges. Like Alice, her accessories were minimal just her Cullen crest necklace and a cream jersey scarf.
All of Forks High School was in a frenzied state when they arrived.
"C'est magnifique I'm no longer ze shiny new toy!" Johanna squealed happily.
"Yes, but males are still going to be lusting after you." Jasper said shuddering. Johanna smirked. "Jasper, Jasper, Jasper, I'm like Rosalie. I'm a beautiful fourteen year-old French girl, 'o's used to being ze object of men's affection. I'm also a fairy, so people lusting after me es part of ze territory."
Edward smirked as he and Johanna headed off to trig. He groaned though as he sat down. Johanna just looked at him curiously. "Miss Isabella Swan just arrived in the parking lot." Johanna smiled brightly; she couldn't wait to meet Isabella.
Fortunately she didn't have to wait long. Isabella Swan had just been assigned the empty seat next to Johanna in Mr. Berty's English class. She smiled as Isabella sat down next to her.
"Bonjour, I'm Johanna Pierre. I've been waiting to meet you." She said politely. Isabella smiled shyly at her. "It's nice to meet you too. Please call me Bella."
"Alright Bella eet es. Eet means 'beautiful' you know and eet certainly suits you. You 'ave a natural beauty about you. I like eet."
Bella blushed a lovely pink flooded her cheeks and shyly thanked Johanna.
Johanna leaned over and whispered to Bella near the end of class. "I know what eets like being ze new student en a new school not mention a new town. I was ze new girl four days ago, so eef you ever need a friend or just want someone to talk to; I'm always 'ere so just give me a call okay?"
Bella nodded just as the bell rang for lunch.
Jessica led Bella to the cafeteria and was overjoyed when Mike invited her, Bella, Angela and Lauren to come sit with him and the guys. Bella sat down between Jessica and a girl with a black ponytail and glass. Said girl smiled at her and reintroduced herself. "In case you forgot I'm Angela Webber."
"Hi, Angela."
Bella looked over by the window and saw a blonde and a bury guy walk in holding hands. "Who are they?"
"The blonde is Rosalie and the burly guy is Emmett. The weird one is Alice and the one who looks like he's in pain is Jasper. Their all together like together together. Rosalie and Emmett and Alice and Jasper." Jessica said scornfully.
"They aren't related." Angela said softly.
"I know, but it's weird." Jessica replied. Just then Johanna walked in holding hands with a guy with bronze hair. He bent down and whispered something to her, making her laugh. "Who's that with Johanna?" She asked Angela. "You know Johanna?" she asked. "Yeah, she sits next to me in English."
"That's cool. The boy with her is Edward Cullen. He's one of her cousins. They just got into a cousinly relationship instead of being practically strangers to each other." Angela said waving at Johanna, who waved back.
"He doesn't date. Apparently no one here is good enough for him. So don't waste your time." Jessica sniffed when she caught Bella looking at Edward. 'A clear case of sour grapes' Bella thought. "They don't look related."
"Oh their not. Mrs. Cullen can't have kids, so she adopts." 'As if that lessens her kindness.' Bella thought as Jessica continued. "Jasper and Rosalie are the Hale twins and are Mrs. Cullen's niece and nephew. Their mother was Mrs. Cullen's sister and when she died, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen adopted them. Emmett, Edward, and Alice Cullen were all adopted separately. First Emmett, then Edward and finally Alice. Just seven days ago, Dr. Cullen's orphaned French niece came to stay with them and here she comes now." Jessica waved in Johanna's general direction.
" 'ello Angela. 'Ow are you?" Johanna asked sweetly. Angela smiled at Johanna. "I'm doing very well. Bella, here, says that she knows you."
Johanna smiled and turned to look at Bella. "Ah, yes, 'ello again Bella. 'Ow are you doing?" Before Bella could answer, Lauren haughtily asked. "So why did the Cullen's get stuck with you, Miss I-think-I'm-better-than-you-because-I'm-French Pierre?"
Bella watched as Johanna's sweet face became distraught with rage. She looked like she wanted to kill Lauren Mallory right where she sat. Johanna then spun on her heels so fast it was almost abnormal. "Je veux vous blesser si mal. I've put up with your queen bee wannabe act for zree days now, but you just crossed a line zat shouldn't ever be crossed." Johanna's sweet perky voice turned menacing. Bella thought she looked down right terrifying and by the looks on their faces, so did Jessica and Lauren.
"Don't ever say zat my Uncle Carlisle and 'ees family got stuck with me. I chose on my own freewill to come live with 'em. My choice, my decision, and no one else's. Don't zeenk zat I 'aven't 'eard what you've said about my Aunt Esme, Uncle Carlisle and my adoptive cousins, because I 'ave and eets all completely and positively false." Johanna's voice rang out through the entire cafeteria and the whole cafeteria could hear her defending her family.
Bella looked over at the Cullen/Hale table and saw that they were just as shocked as everyone else, well except for one, Alice. She was beside herself bouncing up and down in her chair. Bella looked back to see Johanna lower her mouth to Lauren's ear.
Johanna whispered in a voice so low that only the Cullen's and Lauren could hear. Her voice was full of venom as she threatened Lauren. "Eef you ever say or even zeenk of ze Cullen's getting stuck with me, or anyzeeng else. I will 'unt you down like a dog. Do I make myself clear Miss Mallory?"
Lauren nodded meekly. She was scared stiff and Johanna knew it. "Good and trust me I'll know ze exact second you say or zeenk anyzeeng." Johanna stood up and looked at Bella. "Let me know when you want some civilized company." Without another glance, Johanna strutted to the seat between Edward and Alice.
Bella watched as Johanna pulled a metal water bottle from her purple designer tote and took a sip. She took a closer look at all of the Cullens and Hales. They all had the same pale skin and golden eyes and were even paler than she was. Johanna was the odd one out with her vivid blue eyes and lightly tanned skin. Edward caught her eye and stared back at her, Bella couldn't look away. Finally Edward released her as he turned back to Johanna. When she looked again, Edward was whispering in Johanna's ear and making her laugh. Johanna turned to look at Bella. She smiled sweetly and waved.
'It has to be her French blood.' Bella thought as she walked to biology. 'No one could be ready to kill someone and then be sweet and friendly a minute later.'
History class hadn't even started when Alice slipped into a vision and started saying Edward's name at vampire speed. "Look sick." Johanna said rapidly. Alice did so and Johanna raised her hand. "M'sieur Mason?"
"Yes, Miss Pierre."
"My cousin doesn't feel good, may I please take 'er to ze nurse M'sieur?"
Mr. Mason looked at Alice and nodded. As soon as they got outside, Alice dashed to the building holding Mr. Banner's biology class. Johanna ran after her. A little while later, Alice stopped panicking and the two of them just stood outside the doors into the building. "What 'appened Alice? What's wrong with Edward?" Johanna asked worriedly.
Alice looked at her with the same worried fearful eyes. "Edward almost massacred the entire class, because apparently Bella has the sweetest smelling blood he has ever smelled. Thankfully he stopped himself from doing it."
Edward's face as he got into the jeep after school scared Johanna.
"What the hell happened to you?" Emmett asked from the driver's seat. Johanna noticed that she wasn't the only one staring at him. He reminded her a bit of Grégoire, her dead human husband. 'No!' she thought violently. 'He's in Carlisle's family, his coven. He wouldn't and doesn't have any reason to hurt me. He told me himself that he liked me.'
Johanna came out of her thoughts just in time to hear Alice say "Oh!"
"Stop!" Edward groaned. Alice sighed. "I'll miss you no matter how short a time you're gone."
"Wait," Johanna said looking directly at Edward. "What do you mean? You can't leave? Why?" She asked confusedly.
"Ask your…. Ask Bella." Edward hissed.
Johanna started seeing red. This was exactly what Grégoire had done all the time. Every time something didn't go his way, he'd always find a way to blame it on Johanna.
Her eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't you dare blame me for zees Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. You're blaming a 'uman for somezeeng you can't control?" Edward glared at her. Hurt, anger, and fury flashed through Johanna's vividly expressive eyes before they settle on rage. Absolute Rage.
"Stop ze jeep, Emmett." She demanded. "But we just reached the driveway." Emmett whined.
Johanna smiled wickedly and Jasper immediately pulled Alice away from her. "Would you like a repeat of earlier Emmett, dear?" She asked mockingly, but everyone knew that she wasn't joking. Emmett stopped the jeep just longer enough for Johanna to grab her belongings, dash into the forest and disappear from sight.
Edward jumped out when they reached the house, got into his Volvo and was driving away by the time Esme came running out of the house. "What happened? Where's Johanna? Why isn't she with you? Where did Edward go? He will be back right?"
Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper didn't answer her; they just stared at Alice, which in turn made Esme stop asking questions and look at Alice.
Alice took a huge unneeded breath. "Johanna really likes the new girl, Isabella Swan. Her intuition told her that that they would be really good friends. Unfortunately Isabella smells really good to Edward and he almost attacked her and their entire biology class." There was a huge collective gasp of shock. "I know." Alice said continuing. "Johanna asked him why he was leaving and he said "Ask your…. Ask Bella." Something about what he said hit a seriously sore nerve and she blew up at him. It was absolutely terrifying. Now I know why Carlisle said never to get her mad. Being a vampiric fairy and all. She made Emmett figuratively pee his pants before disappearing into the forest." If they weren't so scared of Johanna at the moment, this probably would have made them laugh. "Edward's gone to tell Carlisle that he's going to Denali for a while." An awkward silence greeted the end of Alice's story, but that awkward silence was abruptly end by a long line of angry French.
"She's high in a tree." Alice said as an explanation.
The whole house sighed in relief when Carlisle finally arrived home from the hospital.
"Would someone like to tell me why Johanna's sitting high up in a tree venting in French?" Once again it was up to Alice to tell Carlisle what happened.
"Oh no!" Carlisle exclaimed before running as fast as he could to Johanna's tree. Everyone in the house relaxed but only slightly as they were worried about Johanna.
"Carlisle will calm her down." Esme said looking out the front window.
Carlisle followed Johanna's sea breeze scent to a tree in the middle of the forest and then high up to a branch. He had to calm her down and quickly. Otherwise the outcome could turn even more serious than it already was. She had a fiery temper to begin with and adding her unpredictable fairy temper to it spelled danger. Danger, and massive destruction.
"Puis-je monter ma petit chérie?"
"Oui"
Carlisle was soon sitting next to Johanna looking out at the Washington landscape. "Vous avez toujours eu un talent pour grimper aux arbres quand votre fou."
Johanna laughed, though there was something wrong with it, it was still a laugh. A flurry of French insults from 1733 left Johanna's mouth.
"Je suis heureux ainsi que vous ayez adopté les mots jurez et l'insulte de monde d'aujourd'hui."
"J'ai été élevé mieux que cela." Johanna said indignantly.
"Vous étiez." Carlisle nodded agreeing with her. "Do you remember how the last human you drained smelled?"
Johanna looked at him like he had lost his mind. "Oui, je me souviens qu'elle sentait mieux que tout autre homme que j'aie jamais senti avant, mais pour vous, elle sentait comme tout autre humain."
Carlisle looked right back at her. "It's the same with Edward and Isabella." Johanna gasped.
"Lei è il suo cantante!"
"Yes and that's probably why your intuition told you that she was important to this family and not just as your best friend."
Johanna shook her head sadly. "Non, mon ami. Zere es more, but I can't let Edward read your mind." Johanna was no longer furious but she was still angry at Edward. "And I zought 'e was different like you, Jasper, and Marcus, but 'es not."
"Ma chérie, he is different, he's just never experienced his own cantante. He's seen everyone else's, but he's never had one of his own till now."
Johanna sighed heavily. The British accent, she loved was becoming prominent again. If only she could find a way for it to come out, without having to get Carlisle worried. Carlisle felt around in his pocket for the velvet box he had gotten earlier. "I should have given this to you centuries ago, but I didn't have then what I have now."
"Oh yes," Johanna said turning away from Carlisle, her eyes filling up with the hurt she felt. "You 'ave a wife and family now. What am I zen? A charity case? Do you still feel bad for what 'appened to me?" Her temper flared again.
"Johanna Jacqueline Pierre D'Abney." Authority poured out of Carlisle's voice and Johanna wince at her husband's last name. Carlisle turned Johanna around to look at him. "Yes, I feel horridly guilty for what happened to you and how I could have stopped it. Yes, I have a lovely wife and family, but I have and still do consider you to be a part of that family. That is why I am giving this to you." He handed her the velvet box and she opened it curiously.
"C'est magnifique, mon cher ami. Merci beaucoup! Johanna exclaimed throwing her delicate looking arms around Carlisle's neck with the velvet box still in one hand. She finally let go of him and looked up at him a bit shyly. "Voulez-vous s'il vous plaît mets ça sur moi?"
Carlisle smiled broadly down at her, as he took the box from her. "I would be honored to." Inside the box was a lightweight but sturdy gold chain and hanging from it was medium golden heart shaped locket. He put the locket around her neck while she held up her braid. Johanna flipped the locket, so that it was right side up. Engraved onto the front of the locket was the Cullen crest etched in dark silver.
Carlisle nudged Johanna slightly. "Open it ma petit chérie." Johanna did so and gasped when she saw what was inside. On one side was a picture of Carlisle in all his glory and on the other side was an inscription in French.
Mai votre fierté de vous-même, de votre patrie et de votre patrimoine, jamais cesser ou disparaître.
votre ami et mentor
Médecin Carlisle Cullen
Translations:
"Je veux vous blesser si mal." = "I want to hurt you so badly."
"Puis-je monter ma petit chérie?" = "May I come up my little darling?"
"Oui" = "Yes"
"Vous avez toujours eu un talent pour grimper aux arbres quand votre fou." = "You always had a knack for climbing trees when you were mad."
"Je suis tellement heureux que vous n'avez pas adopté le jurons et des insultes d'aujourd'hui." = "I'm so happy that you have not adopted the curses and insults today."
"J'ai été élevé mieux que cela." = "I was raised better than that."
"Vous étiez." = "You were."
"Oui, je me souviens qu'elle sentait mieux que tout autre homme que j'aie jamais senti avant, mais pour vous, elle sentait comme tout autre humain." = "Yes, I remember that she smelled better than any other human I had ever smelled before, but to you she smelled like any other human."
"Lei è il suo cantante!" = "She's his singer!"
"Voulez-vous s'il vous plaît mets ça sur moi?" = "Will you please put it on me?"
So Johanna finally has a Cullen Crest, just like the rest of the Cullen's. The French inscription will be revealed in the next chapter. I absolutely loved this chapter. Once I starting writing this chapter, I could stop until I had finished it. I loved writing this scene between Carlisle and Johanna.