Chapter Thirty One

Bella

It wasn't until I was in my bedroom that night that everything I had heard finally began to sink in. I could see the family now all seated in the lounge, all eyes on me as Carlisle explained the truth about the Cullens and Charlotte. I had gone downstairs just as the ambulance turned up for Lauren and watched as she was carried out, Carlisle speaking to the paramedics.

Then the police arrived to speak to me about the crash. Edward had already given a statement and now it was my turn. I knew the deputy and we sat together in Carlisle's study to give us some privacy. It didn't take long after all I'd not seen very much.

"Your dad will go crazy when he finds out, it's a good thing you weren't involved in it."

I nodded knowing I would be questioned closely by Charlie when I got home and almost wishing I had agreed to stay at the Cullen house over night.

It was two hours later before I was finally able to ask the questions I wanted and Edward had merely nodded and asked me to wait for the others to come down which they did moments later. Everyone was back in the house now and I groaned inwardly to see that Rosalie appeared to hate me even more although I had done nothing, the crash wasn't my fault!

Once they were all seated Carlisle began to speak and as the words tumbled from his mouth I found myself only picking up on some, vampires, animal blood, treaty, no threat. I just sat open mouthed, even though I had rather fancifully thought of the term vampire only a few hours ago. When he finished there was an awkward silence then Rose stood up,

"I hope you realize you hold our very lives in your hand not to mention your own. If this gets out, that you know the facts, we are all doomed."

I looked up at her, straight in the eye,

"I won't tell anyone Rosalie."

She snorted and stormed out but this time I understood the reason for her dislike of me, I was a threat to her and her family.

"I think I'd like to go home now Edward. I won't say anything to anyone but I need time to think about this."

I wondered if they might try to stop me but Carlisle merely nodded and Esme went to fetch my coat.

"I hope you can understand why we didn't want you to know the truth Bella, why it would be best for all of us if you were to keep it to yourself."

"I know and I will but it's a lot to take in."

We didn't speak on the way back not at first but then Edward sighed,

"I knew you were different Bella, all you think about it us and how difficult it is for us to live among humans."

That had been exactly what I had been thinking about and I rounded on him,

"How did you know that? What I was thinking?"

He told me of his gift and that made me feel uncomfortable, the thought he could hear everything I was thinking,

"Not everything Bella. Your thoughts are difficult for me to read unless its like now when you are in the grip of strong emotions.

"Do the others have gifts like that? Can you all read minds?"

He had explained that it was only himself, but Alice could see the future sometimes, which accounted for her words to Carlisle, "I didn't see anything". The others had no gifts except those all vampires possessed strength and speed.

Of course as soon as I got in my dad demanded a blow by blow account of what had happened this evening although he already knew from the station. By the time he was convinced I'd told him everything I was shattered and only too happy to retreat to my bed. I tried not to think about things as I showered, leaving it until I was in bed before allowing myself to think about everything that had happened tonight. I could hardly believe it, a family of vampires living in sleepy Forks undetected. I suddenly realized I wasn't afraid of them, none of the Cullens, not even Rosalie. I could understand why she might feel so scared at the thought of me finding out their secret.

The question was what should I do? I wasn't scared of them, not after the things Carlisle had told me, they lived on animal blood after all and I'd been around them long enough that if they were going to kill me it would have happened by now. Also there was Edward, I still liked him a lot and I didn't want to give him up. So what if my boyfriend was a vampire, he was no threat to me. Deciding I needed to speak to him I rang his cell phone and he answered straight away, as if he'd been waiting for me to call.

"Bella? Are you OK?"

"A little shocked I guess but yes I'm OK. I just wanted to hear your voice."

"I'm glad you rang, I was worried you might decide to drop me."

"No, after all I was your girlfriend before I knew the truth, nothing has changed."

"Thank you. Can I tell the others that you aren't going to expose us?"

"Of course. Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Of course, so you're still going to Seattle with me?"

"Sure. See you in the morning. I thought what you did for Lauren was very brave, since you had to expose your true identity to me."

He chuckled,

"I couldn't let her burn to death. I'll see you in the morning, good night Bella. Love you."

Edward

I was relieved I hadn't lost Bella because I really was very fond of her and controlling myself around her was good for my self esteem. The lure of her blood hadn't diminished any but I was on top of it and that made me feel good. Knowing the family was still nervous I went to tell them what Bella had said and everyone but Rosalie relaxed.

"How do we know she's telling the truth Edward? She could have already told Chief Swan, he could be contacting the authorities as we speak."

"She isn't. I waited around to hear what she said to Charlie. She never mentioned anything about us except how I helped Lauren out of the car and I made the scene look right for the police Rose so stop worrying. I know how to cover my tracks as well as you do."

Of course Charlotte was most nervous of all, she had never been in close contact with a human on a regular basis but we would all help her, she was another of Carlisle's waifs and that meant a new member of the family although as a human hunter she might be more difficult to integrate than the rest of us. Emmett suggested that rather than our trip to Seattle we should spend Saturday as a family, a picnic for Bella down at the creek. The outdoors would make it easier for Charlotte. Carlisle thought it was a good idea too so it was decided, let Bella see us as a regular kind of family and as long as I was with her I didn't really mind where we were.

I contacted her in the morning to tell her of our change of plans and see if she was OK with it. Of course she didn't mind, Bella wasn't a city lover in any case so the idea of a picnic suited her better, even knowing she would be alone with a family of vampires for the day. I was just relieved she had taken all the revelations so calmly. Perhaps having been around us for a while first proved that we were not a threat to her.