Chapter 10
Bella's newborn year had been going surprisingly well. Everyone kept commenting on her progress and how amazed they were. The way they sounded, Bella couldn't help but think they had all expected her to be some drooling wild beast who wouldn't be able to think of anything but blood. It was almost as if they were waiting for her to slip up, waiting for her to succumb to the beast within her.
But Bella was relieved that it was not the case. She truly felt like herself, perhaps even more so than when she was human. She had never felt comfortable in her own skin, but now, as a vampire, she was starting to feel right. She could feel the power coursing through her veins, and it was exhilarating. The strength and agility she possessed were like nothing she had ever experienced before, and she knew that as she gained more control of her situation, she would feel even better.
To pass the time during her newborn year, Bella had gone on many adventures with the Cullens. She loved exploring the underground caves with Emmett. It was like journeying to a whole new world under the earth. The dampness of the cave walls and the sound of water droplets echoing throughout the caverns gave the underground world a life of its own. And the darkness...it was almost comforting, like a warm blanket wrapping her up and shielding her from the outside world.
As they navigated through the winding tunnels, Bella couldn't help but imagine all sorts of creatures lurking in the shadows. She half-expected to find the Morlocks around every turn, but instead, they discovered only bats and rodents scurrying along the cave floor. Still, the thrill of exploration never faded, and Bella found herself looking forward to each new adventure with the Cullens.
Bella found it challenging to come up with activities to do with Alice since their interests didn't quite align. Alice was more inclined towards the human world, and nature wasn't her forte. Despite this, they managed to have some hilarious discussions and spend hours just talking and having fun. Bella cherished their time together, grateful to have such a good friend in Alice.
As for Edward, Bella wished she could find more to do with him. They went on many walks in the forest, which she enjoyed, but there was nothing inherently romantic about it. Bella had tried to initiate more intimate moments, but Edward still seemed reluctant. She couldn't understand why, and it left her feeling unsure and uneasy. For now, they were stuck in a holding pattern, and Bella tried to accept that it was enough.
On the other hand, Bella's relationship with Jasper had blossomed since her change. He had been a tremendous help in teaching her how to fight and control her newborn instincts. She was grateful for his guidance and support, and it had brought them closer together as friends. Bella cherished their newfound friendship and felt lucky to have Jasper by her side.
Many months had passed since Bella's transformation, and she was eager to start learning how to reintegrate with society. She approached Jasper, eager to get his opinion on her idea of interacting with the human world again. She knew it was early, but the thought of experiencing the sights and sounds of her former life was irresistible.
Jasper's response was cautious but practical. "It seems pretty early to me, Bella," he said, his eyes studying her closely. "But I think we can try a little experiment to see how you react. Let me bring you some clothes so you can get your first scent of humans, and then some blood so you can get accustomed, and we can go from there."
Bella nodded eagerly. "Thank you, Jasper. I really appreciate it."
Jasper promised to surprise her with the tests so that she could experience how she might react in a real-life situation around humans. And a few days later, as she was helping Esme with the gardening, Bella caught the most incredible scent. Her instincts kicked in, and she felt her body stiffen with the sudden urge to race towards the source of the scent.
But Bella was determined not to let her instincts get the best of her. She forced herself to lock down her body and resist the temptation. The scent was strong, and she wondered how the Cullens managed to interact with humans without losing control.
She reflected on the fact that she had stayed with them so many nights as a human, yet they had never given in to their thirst for her blood. She knew that controlling her instincts was a price she had to pay as a vampire, but it was a price she was willing to pay to live in harmony with humans.
With a deep breath, Bella got up and walked towards Jasper, who was watching her intently. She took the shirt he was holding and brought it to her nose, taking a deep sniff. The scent on the fabric was overwhelming, but she handed it back to him with a smile.
"That smells good," she said, feeling a sense of relief. "Let's try the blood next time."
Jasper nodded, his smile widening. "Sounds like a plan, Bella. We'll take it one step at a time."
A few days after Jasper's initial test, he decided to put Bella to the test again. This time, he threw a vial of blood down on the ground as they were training. It took all of Bella's might not to act like a dog and get down on all fours to lick up the bloody mess. It was a struggle, but she managed to control herself. Jasper continued to test her for several more weeks, and each time, Bella's ability to withstand the blood increased. Finally, Jasper declared that it was time to do a live test.
Bella felt a sense of trepidation as she joined Jasper, Edward, and Emmett to venture to a city far away. She knew that they had chosen a location where, if she failed and drained someone, it would be next to impossible to identify the culprits. It was nighttime as they strolled through the streets of a rough-looking neighborhood, and the scents were overwhelming. Despite this, Bella managed to stay in control and never once had an issue where she thought she might act on her urges, which were calling on her to kill anyone she saw.
After passing the live test with flying colors, Jasper agreed that they could start doing more casual tests in the city. Bella was looking forward to becoming a member of society again. She was eager to explore the world and experience all the things that she had missed out on or refused to do when she was human. She wanted to make new friends, attend parties, and even go shopping. She knew that it would be a challenge, but she was ready to face it head-on.
Bella sat at a table outside an eatery in Glenwood Springs with Jasper and Alice on a beautiful evening. She couldn't help but feel grateful for the peaceful moment with her family.
"I'm so glad we can do this," Bella said "Being able to sit in a crowded place like this without any trouble is a big step for me."
Alice smiled. "You've come a long way in just a week of contact with humans, Bella. I'm proud of you."
Jasper nodded in agreement. "You're doing great. It takes most newborns much longer to control their thirst."
Bella would have blushed at their praise. "Thanks, guys. I'm just happy to be here and not feel like a danger to anyone."
Bella certainly smelled the delicious aromas of the humans around her. She couldn't deny the fact that everyone smelled good enough to eat, but to her surprise, and relief she had no desire to feast on any of them. Bella's mind wandered to the future. She had always planned on attending college, and now that she had control, she thought she could finally start making plans to make it a reality. The thought filled her with excitement and a sense of purpose.
Bella decided to order her favorite meal with a coke to blend in with the humans. As she took a bite, she immediately regretted it. "Ugh, this is terrible," she muttered.
Jasper started to quietly laugh at her expression. "I told you, you wouldn't like it," he teased.
Bella wasn't going to let them see her defeated, so she sucked up her courage and composed herself to finish the rest of the meal like it was the best thing she had ever tasted. Jasper and Alice looked at her with astonished faces with a mix of amusement and disbelief.
"Your a good actor Bella, you actually looked like you enjoyed that. You'll regret it later though when it has to come back up," Jasper said smiling.
Bella shrugged and replied, "Maybe, but it's nice to know I can fit in if I need to." She smiled, feeling proud of herself for taking another step forward in her journey as a vampire.
As Bella strolled through the city streets with Jasper and Alice later, he asked how she was holding up. She couldn't help but chuckle at his surprise when she told him she had no issues with the tempting scent of humans. "Looks like I have better control than you, old man," she joked. As they got into the car to head back home, Bella realized she couldn't use the excuse of "not wanting to eat the nice sales ladies" to get out of Alice's numerous shopping trips. Who knows, maybe shopping as a vampire would be more fun than it was when she was human. Plus, she definitely had a better body now. Bella remembered the first time she saw herself in the mirror as a vampire and her brilliant first words were, "Holy Shit!"
As Bella rode home, her mind wandered to her training with Jasper. She had been practicing every day, and he had said she was now a proficient fighter, but that wasn't enough for her. She wanted to be spectacular, and Jasper was more than happy to keep teaching her. They had also started working daily on her mental shield, which she had discovered she could extend to cover others, blocking out Jasper's and Edward's abilities. It was fun to experiment with how long she could maintain the shield and at what distances. Everyone seemed happy to be her pet guinea pigs, especially if it meant Edward wouldn't be able to snoop around in their brains.
Upon arriving home, Bella excused herself and went to the bathroom, where she promptly threw up everything she had eaten at the restaurant. Yep, that was nasty.
