A/N: This one's a little longer than the last but these chapters are going to be pretty short. I'm not sure if I prefer the longer chapters or shorter. Any thoughts?

As always, I own nothing.

Enjoy. xoxo

– Bella's POV –

After eighty-five years I, Bella Swan, have returned to the small, inconsequential town of Forks, Washington. Where my life took the ultimate detour.

It wasn't my first choice. Somewhere hot, tropical, and dry would have been preferable. Mexico. Spain. Hawaii. Fuji. Tahiti. Belize. The Maldives is gorgeous! Oh, and the Caribbean! There is nowhere more beautiful! I lived on the stunning island of Guadeloupe for almost a decade!

Uh-huh. So, instead of being warm and basking in the sunshine, you've chosen to stay here. In hell. Where it's surprisingly wet.

I say we ditch this rain-fest and head to one of our favourite places. When was the last time we were in Spain? Oh, or Greece! The villa would be beautiful this time of the year!

I ignored her.

She was right though. My villa in Greece would be perfect this time of the year. And I would much rather be somewhere hot, with delicious, fruity cocktails served by sexy men who're more than willing to open up a vein for a girl in need.

Willing?

Well, okay. Maybe willing isn't the word they'd use . . .

But a girls gotta eat, right? And all that killing and then disposing of the body is a real hassle. Easier to snatch, eat, and erase! Damon Salvatore style. That man taught me more about being a vampire than the Cullens ever did!

And he's a fictional character!

When I first woke to this life, I swore I'd never go to high school. I finished my last year and got my diploma, like a good girl. But that was it for me. Once was enough.

I've been to college a few times. I have degrees in literature, art, photography, and history. But I've put all of my degrees to use over the years. I've written dozens of books. Worked as a journalist. I did that blogging thing for a bit. I've freelanced. Owned my own business. Several, actually. Before coming here, I was a photographer for National Geographic. I see no reason to continuously go to college if I'm not going to do anything with the degree I spent years earning! What a waste that would be!

I want to live my afterlife, not waste it sitting in a classroom with a bunch of overly emotional teenagers, repeating the same cycle of shit!

No thank you!

Bella Swan has better things to do with her afterlife than going to high school year after year.

And yet, here we are. High school.

Yeah.

Here I am. Back at my alma mater.

Believe me, if I could explain it, I would.

I just . . . I don't know. I don't know why I'm here. I thought it was Charlie, missing him and wishing life had turned out different, but . . . inner Bella wasn't wrong when she said I rarely think about him anymore. Years ago, his death and the guilt of it, ate away at me. I was the cause of my father's death. His heart failed because I got involved with vampires and it ended badly.

I felt tremendous guilt. For a long, long time. But weeks passed. Then a decade. Then two. Then three. And then, in the blink of an eye, it had been forty years since his death and I'd moved on with my life. I couldn't sit around moping, wishing I could change the past. Charlie wouldn't have wanted that for me and, what was the point? It's not like I can go back and change it.

So, if not Charlie, why are we here?

I don't know. I really don't. I just . . . I need to be here. I can't explain it better than that.

Well, then, we best get in there! This rain is going to make my hair frizz!

Laughing at myself, I secured my bookbag on my shoulder. The children standing around, gawking at me, likely thought I was nuts. But then again . . . I just might be!

– XOXO –

Forks High School hasn't changed much. It's still as damp and green as the rest of the town. Only now I can smell the glorious scent of fresh blood everywhere I go.

The scent of human blood—as lovely as it is—doesn't bother me. Don't get me wrong, the majority of humans smell divine and I'd happily sample them all if I was that type of vampire. But, on the whole, I find their scents to be comforting. Their warmth, their purity, and various smells remind me of my human life. Unlike others I've known, I don't find them difficult to be around at all.

I can still remember Edward—he's my ex, don't worry, we'll get into that mess later—whining about being forced to integrate with humans and their wonderful scents. He kept telling me how painful it was to go to school every day, how taxing it had been on his impeccable control, and how he worried about the other members of his family slipping and exposing them as the monsters they are.

Fuckin' drama Queen.

"Tell me about it!" I huffed.

He was never concerned he'd lose control. Not Edward! Master of control! He would never do such a thing. But the other members of his family weren't as practiced as him.

I wonder if he's removed that stick from up his butt yet?

He saw no reason to push their weak control, insisting they all needed to feed twice a week, while he gloated about being able to go much longer. Two weeks! Imagine that.

Two weeks? Ha! We hunt once every six weeks and that child is hunting every two weeks.

I'm not worried about my control. But then again, I'm not choking back the foul taste of animal blood every damn day.

I did try the animal blood diet. I wouldn't condemn something I hadn't first tried. I lived off the blood of animals for almost a year.

Worst. Year. Ever!

Yeah. It hadn't gone well.

Best not to think about what happened that year.

"I agree."

Now I'm consuming only human blood, my control is impeccable. It was more likely I'd end up snapping the neck of the scrawny bitch sitting in front of me in calculus than slip and begin terrorizing the locals.

My control is excellent. My temper needs some work.

– XOXO –

My first classes of the day flew by. I went through all the faff of introducing myself to the pimply-faced, hormonal teenagers. The boys stared, open-mouthed, gawking at my breasts. Yes, I've got a great set of perky tits. Let's move on. The females glared hatefully at me. Can't blame them, can we? Supernatural beauty will always outshine an ordinary human female.

"Hi, I'm Phoebe Marshall. Seventeen. Just moved here from Virginia."

Blah. Blah. Blah.

As a human, I never knew what to say when the teacher made me introduce myself to the entire class. As a vampire, it's not any easier. I can't tell them the truth, can I?

Geeze, what would that be like?

"Well, my name is Isabella Swan. But please call me Bella. I'm a hundred and two years old. I was killed by a jackass named Laurent. He was chowing down on my delicious blood when a pack of giant wolves showed up. They killed my Sire. And in their infinite wisdom, thinking I must be dead—because there's no way I could have survived—the bastards buried me alive! Thank the Gods above they didn't try to cremate me, right? And, oh, by the way, I like to eat people!"

Oh yeah. I'm sure that would go down well!

I met a girl in my literature class named—and I'm not kidding—Jessica Newton. Go figure.

I'm guessing she's the great-granddaughter of the original Jessica Stanley? Not like I could come out and ask, though.

"Oh, hi! I think I knew your great-grandmother when I was at school here! In 2005!"

Much like her great-grandmother, the new Jessica Newton had the gift of gab. The girl talked my ear off! And when she wasn't chatting away, the girl beside her—I didn't catch her name—was glaring daggers at me.

Honey, I'd put those eyeballs away if I were you. You may have that glare on lock, but I've got a wicked set of teeth, and I ain't opposed to using them!

By the time I got to lunch, I was questioning my sanity. Again.

Why was I doing this? And how, in the name of all things holy, did the Cullens do this day after day for decades! I've been here four hours and I'm ready to build a pyre, toss myself in, and be done with it!

In the cafeteria, I found an empty table by the back window, sat my ass down, and pulled my lunch box outta my bookbag.

I'm not exactly like a regular vampire. I have an unusual gift.

I met a vampire by the name of Eleazar Denali decades ago. His gift is to tell everyone else what their gifts are! Convenient, right? Anyway, Eleazar says I'm like a chameleon. I guess that's the best way to describe what I can do. In all his years, he's never seen a gift like mine.

I can alter my body. I can choose to be a full, normal vampire with all the regular vampire traits.

Or, in a strange twist, I can choose to be a normal, regular human. Without all that pesky aging. I'm still immortal no matter my form.

Or, I can be both! A combination of the two, like a hybrid; part vampire-part human.

I prefer living in the middle. As a hybrid. But when it's necessary to be a full vampire, I can easily adjust to my surroundings and circumstances. Just like a chameleon.

I think there's more to it than what Eleazar was able to tell me, but I'm not about to reach out to someone like the Volturi and risk being trapped in Volterra for the rest of my eternity. Or worse, experimented on!

No way am I being dissected by some freaky doctor! Not gonna happen. No, thank you!

I've done a little experimenting of my own over the years. But I've never had much reason to use this strange gift, other than for my convenience.

In my hybrid form, I have it easier than being a full vampire. Especially when I want to live in tropical climates. As a regular vampire, I sparkle in the sunshine. But as a hybrid, I glow! It's nothing a human will notice, so I'm able to be out during the day without worrying about exposure. Plus, it means not having to give up food. As a full vampire, food is disgusting. But as a hybrid, I still get to enjoy all my favourite foods.

I rarely ever revert to my human façade. In the last eighty-five years, it hasn't been necessary, and I can't see that it will be anytime soon. There's a possibility, if I remained human long enough, without reverting to my other forms, I might have a menstrual cycle and be able to conceive a child. It's all theory, I've never put it to the test. I have no interest in bringing a child into this world.

I'm a killer. Not a nurturer.

I enjoy my freedom far too much to start having babies.

I say we leave procreation to those who do it best. Humans.

"Glad we agree!" I smiled to myself.

I know vampire males can reproduce with human females. However, due to our unchanging bodies, vampire females cannot carry a child. I know, how unfair, but that's life, I guess.

In remote parts of the world, there are hybrid colonies. There aren't many and they're hard to find. I met a few during my travels. The stories of their births were horrific. Unlike a human child, infant hybrids are born with a full set of teeth. Teeth they use to rip themselves out of their mother's womb. The mother never survives such a gruesome birth and the child is usually left alone or with relatives.

Where's the father in all of this, you ask? Well, that bastard is a doctor-scientist type who rapes human females to purposefully impregnate them. He watches over the mothers, documenting their birth progress and their deaths. In the early days, he spent a lot of time watching his children, too. But, for whatever reason, they held little interest to him.

From everything I learned about Joham, he was an evil man in his human life and an even worse vampire! He took great pleasure raping innocent women and purposefully getting them pregnant.

Well, he did. We took care of that.

I would have settled for tearing his dick off and burning it, but his children wanted justice for their mothers. And I wasn't about to deny them that. I spent time teaching them how to fight and protect themselves. When Joham returned to their territory, they tore him apart and had themselves a bonfire on the beach!

We can all rest peacefully now. Joham is no more and all his 'research' died with him. I can't imagine what the Volturi would do if they got their hands on that!

After learning about hybrids, my decision not to procreate was cemented. No way was I putting myself through that horror!

Hell no!

I suppose I could have a child with a human male, but what would be the point of settling down with someone who's just going to age and die?

I don't believe I age in my human form, so I'd have to expose myself to this fictitious human and after what I went through with the Cullens, I would never do that to someone else.

Plus, I'm not a baby person. I have no interest in raising a child. They're sticky and noisy. And usually covered in goo or leaking something. Plus, they poo all the time. And then there's the endless crying. No. I can't be on with all that.

Not even with your True Mate?

Who says I have one?

Who says you don't?

I'm not interested in having a relationship. With anyone. Male. Female. Supernatural or human. I cherish my freedom far too much to ever consider settling down with anyone. Mate or not.

What happens if you find your mate?

No idea. It hasn't happened yet. Hopefully, it never will.

I don't see the point in relationships anymore. I'm a supernatural being. It's not like I can have a relationship with a non-supernatural being. I'm not a Cullen. I won't risk someone's life that way.

There is one exception. Playtime. Humans can be a lot of fun, you know. And as long as it's mutual and consensual, I'm all for a little sexy, kinky fun. I have several human pets, scattered across the globe. It's never anything too serious. They know I don't stick around long, just long enough for us both to get what we want. It's mutual pleasure. No strings. No commitment. Just fun.

Over the years I've spent time with several vamps, too, but that's never been anything serious, either. Just sex. Or companionship for a few weeks. Nothing more.

I'm happy with life the way it is.

I like my freedom. I have no interest in marriage, commitment, or being tied down to the same person every day for the rest of eternity.

It is boring? Because it sounds boring to me.

I guess, it works for some, but it's not for me.

As my belly grumbled impatiently, I opened up my lunchbox. It was a good one today.

A cucumber and avocado sandwich with sprouts, onion, crisp lettuce, cheese spread, and a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice with a dash of salt and pepper. I made colorful fruit kababs. With red grapes, blackberries, strawberries, pineapple chunks, kiwi, cantaloupe, watermelon, and green melon. I sliced up some veggies and made creamy hummus for dipping. And finished it off with two homemade chocolate chip cookies. Delish!

I opened up my book, grabbed my sandwich, and took a big bite. Mm. Oh, it's so good!

I don't know how other vampires do it. Live without food, I mean. I can't imagine anything worse! Maybe you get used to it, I don't know. Thank God I never have to find out! I don't know where I'd be without food in my life.

I was enjoying red bell pepper sticks and hummus when I smelt them. Two distinctive scents.

Damn fuckin' vampires. Don't they know this is my territory? I didn't spend last night scent-marking the damn place for no reason!

I scoffed. They've never cared before, why start now?

I didn't bother looking to see who it was. Who else would it be? No normal vampire would put themselves through this torture. Besides, I was far more interested in the quidditch match I was reading about than the two vampires entering the cafeteria.

All these years and my love for Harry Potter has never faded. I think I've read the whole series at least a thousand times, if not more.

I turned the page, then heard a soft gasp from across the cafeteria. "Is that . . . Oh, my God it is!"

There was another sharp intake of breath and a moment later a shadow fell over my table and a throat was unnecessarily cleared. "B-Bella . . ."