Chapter 24

As Bella's plane descended towards the airport, she gazed out the window at the breathtaking view below. The sun was just setting over the horizon, painting the landscape in warm shades of pink and orange. The sky was ablaze with color, and Bella could see why people fell in love with this place. Walking through the terminal, the warm air felt inviting, and she saw the palm trees swaying gently in the breeze outside. As she made her way to collect her luggage, she was excited to tell her mom her amazing news.

As Bella picked up her luggage, she heard her mother's familiar voice calling out her name. "Bella? Bella? Oh, Bella!" Renee exclaimed as soon as she saw her daughter, running over to give her a big hug which Bella happily returned. "Oh, I've missed you so much, honey. You look absolutely radiant! I think you're even more beautiful than the last time I saw you." Renee had tears in her eyes as she held her daughter.

"I've missed you too, Mom. Thank you, but I'm sure I look just the same as the last time you saw me," Bella said, smiling and chuckling inside at her little joke.

After Bella grabbed her luggage, they started walking back to Renee's car. As they reached it, Bella was surprised. "Wow, you've got a '74 Dodge Charger? I'm impressed," Bella said, looking at the muscle car and wondering how it came to be in her mom's possession.

"It's actually Phil's car. He seemed to be just as taken with it as you, honey. And how did you know what it was? I didn't think you knew anything about cars," Renee said, curious about her daughter's newfound knowledge.

Bella realized her mistake and quickly corrected it. "One of my friends at college is a big car nerd. He talks about them constantly and it must have worn off on me. He even dragged me to some car shows."

"Really? Is he your boyfriend, Bella?" Renee was hoping Bella had finally found someone.

Bella did not like starting off her trip with a bunch of lies. She had wanted to tell her mom about her real college friends and experiences. "No, Mom, just a really good friend. Let's get to your house so we can have a proper chat. I have so much to tell you, plus some really big news I can't wait to share." Bella thought that should change the subject.

"That sounds great, honey. I can't wait to hear what the big news is." Renee was never good at waiting for information. She was the type that opened Christmas presents early.

As they were driving back to her mom's house, Bella asked, "So, Mom, what have you and Phil been up to lately? Anything new and interesting going on?" She was genuinely curious and excited to hear about what they had been doing since she had last visited.

"Actually, I do have good news regarding Phil. He got signed by the local major league team. He's gone for a couple of days for an away game, but he will be back before you have to leave," Renee said, smiling. She was so proud of her man for sticking with it and finally making it to the big leagues.

"That's amazing, Mom. I'm so happy for Phil. I can't wait to congratulate him," Bella truly was happy for them. It seems she was wrong when she assumed Phil would never advance beyond the minors.

"Phil got this car as a little present to himself for finally making it. He said he has wanted this car since he was a child. It's a little too much car for me personally, but he loves it," Renee said. She was not used to driving a large muscle car.

"Well, that's great, Mom. I can't wait to hear more about it when Phil returns," Bella said as they continued to gossip about life until they reached her mom's house.

As they got out of the car, Bella breathed in the fresh air. It was hard for her to explain to herself, but her vampire senses could somehow tell the difference between the air in Florida and the air of her home in Colorado. She thought maybe it was the difference in the trees, but she would need more information by traveling more. All in good time, she thought.

As they walked in the door, Bella excused herself to put her luggage away. Renee asked if she would like some wine, and Bella yelled, "Sure!" When they both met up in the living room, Bella got ready to tell Renee the big news.

"So here's the big news," Bella said with a big smile on her face. "I applied for an overseas program, and I just found out I got accepted. For my next year of college, I will be studying at the University of Paris for the full year!" Bella watched as her mom squealed in delight.

"Oh, Bella, that sounds wonderful! You'll have an amazing time in Paris, a whole year in the 'City of Lights.' I'm jealous of you," Renee said with a smile, truly happy for her daughter. "Tell me all about it."

Bella shared her excitement about her upcoming college adventure in Paris. "I'm planning to immerse myself in all forms of art while I'm there," she explained, her eyes lighting up. "I'm particularly eager to explore painting and sculpting courses, but I'm also looking forward to studying art history and even architecture. I want to soak up as much knowledge as I can during my stay there."

Her enthusiasm was contagious, and she couldn't help but smile as she continued, "And that's not even considering all the amazing museums and historical landmarks that Paris has to offer. Every time I do research about the city, I discover new things that make me even more excited to go." She couldn't wait to experience everything Paris had to offer and to grow as an artist and a person.

"That sounds wonderful, darling. Do you plan on going anywhere else while you're over there?" Renee kept thinking about all Europe has to offer.

"I was planning on visiting Italy before I come home. My last trip there was much too short, and they have just as many great places to visit as Paris has," Bella said, hoping to visit Volterra when her year in Paris ended.

"That's great, honey. Now let's talk about college. Tell me about your experiences. Give me the details: friends, boyfriends, maybe?" Renee couldn't help teasing Bella. She knew she did not like to talk about herself, but she had seemed more open in the last couple of years.

"College is going great. I've loved almost all of my classes where I had to choose them. The only ones I've found boring are some of the core set which they make everyone take. But of what I've been able to choose, it's been great," Bella continued.

"As for friends, I have a great group of friends, and I've made casual friends with so many, Mom. I've really worked to put myself out there and change from how reserved I was in high school. My best friend is probably a girl named Jill. I'll show you tons of pictures of everyone on my phone later so you can see some of the outings my friends and I have been on. You'll be happy to know I go to lots of parties. Believe it or not, but I'm a pro at beer pong. Who would have guessed it? Now, as for boyfriends, I know that's what you're most curious about. I wish I could tell you yes, but I just have not found that special someone yet. I'm really looking, Mom, and I'll know when I find him. It just has not happened yet," Bella hoped that would ease her mom's mind.

"I'm glad you have so many friends, Bella, and I'm glad you're looking for someone special. I assume you are very popular due to your looks. How many times are you asked out, if you don't mind me asking?" Renee was curious, as Bella could very well be the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Renee was unsure how she had transformed from an awkward teenager to a supermodel.

"Shit, Mom. I must get asked out by every guy I meet and probably a quarter of the girls," Bella said with a laugh.

"That's what I figured," Renee said, laughing as well. "Let me think what else I can ask to embarrass you. I've always liked getting a rise out of you with my improper questions," Renee said with a wicked smile.

"I've grown up a lot, Mom. I doubt you could embarrass me anymore. I might not want to talk about certain things with my mom, but I'm very open now. You would be proud of how much I've changed. I think all my acting and drama classes have desensitized me from any awkward subjects. I just look at it as another scene I have to play, and I love acting. Give it a shot, ask me anything," Bella loved being able to be more open and talk with her mom like a real adult.

"Okay, I'll take that challenge. How often do you masturbate as you're apparently not getting any from a man?" Renee wondered if Bella had really changed.

"Not as often as you would think. Usually only when I get really horny. The last time was a couple of weeks ago when I heard two of my college friends having a good time. Happy now?" Bella said with a smile.

"You really have changed. I'm so proud of you, honey. Changing how one acts and thinks is really hard once you become an adult. I'm glad you have been able to be the person that you want to be. Now, let's see some of those pictures and tell me some good stories," Renee sat back as Bella pulled out her phone. They spent the rest of the night gossiping about all of Bella's crazy college stories.

The next day, Renee invited Bella to accompany her so Bella could see where she worked. Bella looked out the window at the bright Florida sunshine and knew that she had to decline. She told her mom that she had to work on a term paper for her writing class instead, but suggested they meet up later that night. Renee agreed with a smile and headed off to work.

Bella was disappointed that she could not go with her mother, but she didn't let it get her down. With Renee's house being so isolated, she was able to go to the backyard by the pool and take a seat on one of the folding beach chairs. As she lay there, she couldn't help but chuckle at her own expense - she looked like a freaking disco ball with her sparkling skin. Being a vampire definitely had its upsides, but she couldn't deny that the one downside was the sparkly skin which preventing vampires from going out in public during the day. Bella couldn't help but wonder why vampires had to sparkle in the sun in the first place - it seemed like some sort of cruel joke that God or someone was playing on them. She remembered when she first became a vampire she tried using sunscreen to get rid of the sparkles, but it didn't work. The Cullen's found it hilarious, and Bella suspected that she might not have been the first vamp to think of that.

Just then Bella wondered if her shield might be able to block out what ever caused them to sparkle. Bella had used her shield a lot while in the sun and it had never stopped her from sparkling like crazy but what if she could manipulate it in some way to reflect what ever it is that causes the sparkles. She sat there for hours trying to adjust her shield similar to the trial and error method when she learned how to find and use her 'mind blaster' power. After many hours Bella had not succeeded and it was time for her to stop and get ready to go out with her mother. She knew her idea had merit so she decided she would continue her efforts throughout her visit. That night while she and her mom were out at a restaurant Bella was telling her mom more about her study abroad program for next year. Renee was excited about Bella's plans and believed that it would be an incredible life experience for her daughter. As Renee was fluent in French, she suggested that they converse only in French during dinner to test Bella's language skills. They had a great time chatting in French and testing Bella's fluency in the language.

Bella could not believe it. After two days she had done it. She had been sunbathing beside her mom's pool, wearing a red bikini and looking like she had been glitter bombed. She had her shield wrapped tightly around her body and had been at it for hours tinkering and trying anything she could think of with her shield. If vampires could get headaches Bella thought she might be getting one as whatever she was doing made her head hurt. Suddenly, she did something with her shield and her skin stopped sparkling. It lasted only a fraction of a second. Bella froze thinking did I really just see that. She tried recreating it but it was difficult, and she struggled. After a few attempts, she managed to set her shield like she did the first time, and the sparkles stopped again, this time lasting for a couple of seconds. Bella was thrilled, knowing that once she mastered it, the sun would no longer be a problem. She realized that she could not try it in front of humans until she had truly mastered the ability as exposing herself to humans could potentially cost her her life. But she was confident that with time and effort, she would eventually succeed. As she thought to herself, "Hello Sunshine...Goodbye Sparkles."

Bella's second year of college had flown by, and she was now back at the Cullens place to relax. In a few months, Bella would be heading to Europe for school, and she couldn't help but see the whole year abroad as an exciting adventure. Alice and Jasper had decided to visit Jaspers' friends in Texas, while Rosalie and Emmett would be accompanying Bella for a while, helping her settle in before they set off on their own year-long honeymoon. Bella was thrilled about the idea of being on her own, without any kind of supervision, for the first time in her life. She couldn't wait to start her adventure and see what the year would bring.

Bella had been training with Jasper for a few hours, and their matches were now pretty much a stalemate. Jasper had taught Bella everything he knew, and she had become a lethal fighter if she ever needed to be.

"Hang on for a second, Bella," Jasper called for an end to the fighting.

Bella pulled up and asked, "Yes?"

Jasper said, "You're doing amazing. I figured we could try some combat with you incorporating your shield into the mix. I know I instructed you to fight with your own skills and not rely on your powers, but you have gotten so good, I know you could best pretty much any vampire. So I think it's time that we have you practice now using a little something extra."

Bella had never shown the Cullens all she had learned with her shields, let alone her explosive powers. She was happy to be thought of as a normal vampire and not some "Super Powered Freaky Vamp." She now thought this could be a funny exercise, as she was confident it would be the easiest thing in the world to beat Jasper if she used her powers.

"Are you sure, Jasper? I don't want to embarrass you or anything, but I don't think you would be much of an adversary if I used my powers. It would be like me fighting against a defenseless child," she said, smiling and hamming it up.

Jasper looked at her incredulously and responded, "I think I will hold my own. Are you ready?"

Bella smiled and said, "I guess so. Say when."

"Okay, let's see what you've got," Jasper replied.

Jasper leaped at Bella so fast that it happened instantaneously. Without moving a muscle, Bella grabbed ahold of Jasper using her shield, tightening it so his arms and legs were immobilized next to his body and froze him in place, floating in mid air. Jasper had an amazing deer-in-the-headlights expression on his face. As Bella slowly walked towards Jasper, she turned the shield so Jasper was now parallel to the ground, but he was still a good 5 feet up, suspended in the air. When Bella reached him, she got close to his ear and whispered, "Is this what you wanted to try?" She then used another shield to move Jasper's head to the side, exposing his neck to her. She slowly opened her mouth and put her teeth on his neck but then smiled and gave him a light peck on his neck instead. She backed up and slowly righted him so he was standing on the ground again.

Jasper could not believe what had happened. He had never seen a power like this. It was frightening to think of what Bella could do. He had trained her to be unstoppable in combat, but when you added that kind of power with that much control, she could very well be the most powerful vampire on the planet. "Holy shit, Bella. I had no idea you had gained that much control. That was incredible. Now, never do that again, especially in front of anyone else!"

Bella smiled and replied, "Sure thing, Jasper."

"With that type of power, I assume you could do a lot with it. Any chance I could get a demonstration of the rest?" Jasper hoped.

"That was nothing. Take a look at this!" As Bella smiled getting ready to show Jasper what she was capable of, she caused explosions to happen all around and above their heads, looking like a mini fireworks display.