Chapter 26

As Bella, Rosalie, and Emmett's plane touched down in Paris, the trio stepped out to a breathtaking view of the city. The Eiffel Tower twinkled in the distance, its lights dancing against the dark sky. Bella couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as she thought about the adventures that awaited her in the City of Lights.

After breezing through customs, they hopped into a cab and made their way to Bella's new home for the year. As she stepped out of the cab, she gazed up at the towering, modern building in front of her. It looked like it belonged in a magazine for upscale apartments, and Bella was grateful she had followed Carlisle's recommendation.

"According to Google, it's only a 20-minute walk to my campus. And there's a subway entrance down the street, too," Bella said, happy she had done the research beforehand.

"Let's go see your new pad!" Emmett exclaimed with his trademark grin. He effortlessly heaved most of the bags over his broad shoulder, while Rosalie and Bella each carried one as they made their way to the apartment.

As soon as they stepped inside, Bella's eyes widened in delight. The apartment had an open, airy feel to it, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of a nearby park. Located on the fifth floor, she could even spot the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

"This place is amazing," Bella breathed, taking in the view. "There's a guest room, so why don't you guys take that while I check out my room?"

Bella strode into her bedroom, which had a sleek, modern look to it. A queen-size bed dominated the space, and a small bathroom was conveniently connected. A clothes dresser and a large full-length mirror completed the minimalistic decor. Bella didn't mind the lack of a TV in her room since there was one in the living area. It's not like she would be sleeping in here anyway.

She returned to the living room, where Rosalie was lounging on the couch. "How's your room?" Bella asked, concerned about her friend's comfort.

"It's fine, Bella. We'll only be here for three weeks or so, and then we're off on another honeymoon," Rosalie replied with a smile.

"Do you guys know where you're going?" Bella asked.

"Emmett has convinced me to try Africa. He says he wants to see the wildlife there up close and personal," Rosalie said, with a twinkle in her eye.

"Yeah, Africa has some of the most amazing animals in the world. I've been itching to see them in their natural habitat for a while now," Emmett added enthusiastically.

"Where in Africa are you planning to go?" Bella asked, curious.

"We haven't decided on the exact location yet, but we're thinking of starting in Kenya and then making our way to Tanzania," Rosalie said, excitedly.

"Yeah, we want to see the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, go on a safari in Masai Mara, and visit some of the famous national parks in the area. Maybe even climb Mount Kilimanjaro if we're feeling adventurous," Emmett said, grinning from ear to ear.

"That sounds amazing," Bella said, impressed. "Just be careful with the wildlife. I know you like to hunt, Emmett, but some of those animals are endangered. Try not to kill anything that's at risk of extinction, please."

"Don't worry, Bella, we'll be responsible," Rosalie said, placing a reassuring hand on Bella's shoulder. "We'll make sure to follow all the rules and regulations, and not harm any animals that are endangered."

"Thanks, Rose. I know you guys will have an incredible time. Make sure to take lots of pictures," Bella said, smiling.

"We definitely will. And who knows, maybe we'll even bring back a souvenir for you," Emmett said, winking.

Bella rolled her eyes. "As long as it's not a live lion or anything like that," she joked.

"Do you want to do some sightseeing now or are you guys hungry from the long flight?" Bella asked, looking at her friends.

"Let's go hunting first." Rosalie answered, "It will give you an idea of where to go for the future. We're in the city, so you're going to have to plan it better. It's not like you can just go into your backyard and run into the forest like at home,"

"I know. I did my research," Bella said, grinning.

"Come on, let's take the subway to the edge of the city and run from there," Bella suggested. "We can check out some wildlife and get a feel for the place."

A few days had passed, and Bella was already getting used to navigating through the bustling city. The first day's hunt had been successful, and they had managed to find a good spot outside the city to run. The following day, Rosalie had booked private tours for some of Paris's most popular tourist spots, including Musée d'Orsay, the Centre Georges Pompidou, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

As the night fell, the group made their way to the Louvre, which Bella had been eagerly anticipating. As soon as they stepped inside, she was mesmerized by the grandeur of the place. The ceilings were high and decorated with intricate designs, and the walls were adorned with massive paintings. They joined a guided tour with a large group of tourists and began to explore the museum's magnificent works. The sculptures on display were breathtaking, spanning human history and capturing the beauty of different cultures.

Bella was particularly drawn to the Winged Victory of Samothrace. The statue which was ancient, was perched atop a staircase, depicted the Greek goddess Nike and her billowing garments. Bella was in awe of how the artist had captured the movement and grace of the figure. She could almost feel the wind in her hair as she imagined standing on the bow of a ship with Nike at the helm.

As they walked through the galleries, Bella also marveled at the intricate details in the ancient Egyptian artifacts. She couldn't believe how well-preserved some of the items were, despite being thousands of years old. The golden sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun was particularly impressive, with its intricate hieroglyphics and glistening jewels.

When they finally arrived at the room with the Mona Lisa, Bella couldn't contain her excitement. She joined the crowd of people around the painting, and Emmett took a picture of her in front of it. They also took pictures of each other in front of other notable pieces of art, each one more impressive than the last.

After they left the Louvre, they strolled along the Seine River, enjoying the beautiful night sky and the vibrant atmosphere of the city. Bella was in awe of the rich history that surrounded her. As they walked, they came across several street performers who had gathered a sizable crowd around them. They stopped to watch one of them, a mime, who began pretending to be trapped in an invisible box, much to the amusement of the onlookers.

Bella couldn't help but laugh at the mime's antics, but as she watched, she couldn't help but think about how amusing it would be if she were to actually trap him in an invisible box using her shield. The thought made her chuckle even harder.

"I'm sorry," she said, turning to Rose and Emmett. "I was just thinking about how funny it would be if I put an actual invisible box around him using my shield so he couldn't get out. I can picture him going crazy in there, thinking he's lost his mind while everyone else thinks it's part of the act. It's a shame I can't do that in front of humans."

Emmett grinned mischievously. "Hey Bella, when we're alone, could you put me in a shield box like that? I'd love to see what it feels like!"

"Sure thing, Em," Bella said with a smile. "Do you want to be trapped in an invisible box too, Rose?"

Rosalie shook her head. "Thanks, but I'll pass on that honor."

One evening, Emmett suggested to Bella that they visit the Eiffel Tower.

Emmett flashed a mischievous grin at Bella. "Hey Bella, want to do something fun?"

Bella raised an eyebrow. "More than likely yes, but what is it before I commit?"

Emmett eagerly replied, "Let's go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. You can see all of Paris from up there. It's amazing. Rosalie and I did it last time we were here in the 80s."

Bella considered it for a moment before voicing her concerns. "It's 3:30 AM, Em. I doubt they're open," she said, looking at him skeptically.

Emmett's grin grew wider as he explained his plan. "That's the point. We use our vampire speed and climb up the side of the tower so fast no cameras will catch us. I've done it before, and I know for a fact every vampire who comes to Paris is not a real vampire unless they climb the Eiffel Tower!" he said with certainty.

Bella laughed at his logic and decided to tease him a bit. "Hey Rosalie, is Em telling the truth here, or is he just blowing smoke?" she asked with a smirk.

Rosalie chuckled at Bella's comment. "Well, he's mostly full of shit, but in truth, we both did do it last time we were here, and it was really fun."

Bella was now more intrigued than ever. "Screw it. I'm in. That sounds just like something I'd do," she said with a grin.

Emmett was thrilled. "Damn straight, Bella. I knew you were a badass," he exclaimed, putting his hand up for a high-five.

They ran to the Eiffel Tower and stopped from a distance, looking around. When they determined the coast was clear, they sped full speed to the tower, jumping high in the air, Emmett, Rosalie, and Bella scaled the Eiffel Tower at lightning speed. With each powerful leap and bound, they covered great distances in mere seconds. Bella was in her element, feeling a rush of exhilaration as she climbed higher and higher. As they neared the midpoint of the tower, Bella paused for a moment to take in the breathtaking view.

As she gazed out at the city below, a small grin played at the corners of her mouth and she thought, 'Oh my god. I never thought my life would turn out like this.' She often liked to imagine a scenario where a 17-year-old Bella, one week before she moved to Forks, received a video of some of vampire Bella's more notable antics and seeing what the human Bella thought of it given she had no clue about the supernatural.

Without missing a beat, Bella resumed her ascent, keeping pace with Rosalie and Emmett as they continued their rapid ascent. They moved in perfect unison, leaping and climbing with ease as they neared the top. Finally, they reached the summit and looked out over the twinkling lights of Paris.

"Wow," Emmett exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "This is incredible!"

Bella nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of awe wash over her. "I can't believe we just did that," she said, her voice tinged with excitement.

Rosalie smiled, her eyes shining in the darkness. "It's moments like this that make me grateful for being a vampire," she said, her tone sincere.

They spent the next hour taking in the stunning views and snapping photos of each other with their phones to show their family.

A week later, the trio was returning from a successful hunt, feeling reinvigorated and full of energy. They decided to stop at a remote lake to unwind and enjoy the tranquility of nature. While Rosalie and Bella lounged in the grass, Emmett was goofing around and showing off his strength, tossing boulders into the water with ease.

Suddenly, Bella sat up and called out to Emmett, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Hey Em, I want to try something. Are you game?" she asked, hoping this would work.

"Always up for a good time, Bells. What did you have in mind?" Emmett replied with a wide grin.

"I want you to walk slowly towards the water, keep going, and don't stop or speed up unless I say so," Bella instructed, her eyes twinkling with anticipation.

Emmett walked towards the water and hesitated for a moment before continuing. He was expecting to plunge into the lake, but instead, his foot stopped on the surface of the water.

"What the hell?" Emmett exclaimed in surprise. He tentatively placed his other foot on the water's surface, and it held as well. "Are you seeing this, Rosie?" he asked as he began to walk across the lake, his feet just making contact with the surface of the water.

Bella focused all her attention on Emmett, watching his every move closely so she could put a shield down where ever his foot landed. She asked him to slowly increase his speed, and Emmett complied, he got up to running at a human pace of 15 miles per hour. He was having the time of his life, and as he ran, he proclaimed himself the Vampire Jesus.

Bella hearing this burst out laughing and lost all concentration, causing Emmett to fall into the water with a loud splash. Both Bella and Rosalie were now laughing uncontrollably as Emmett emerged from the water, grinning from ear to ear.

"That was amazing, Bella. I had no idea you could do something like that. Oh my god! Can you fly?" Emmett asked hopefully.

"I'm not Superman, Emmett," Bella replied, still chuckling. "Well, not yet anyway," she added, teasingly.

After three weeks of exploring Paris and making unforgettable memories, it was time for Rosalie and Emmett to head off for their own adventure. Bella waved them off, feeling content and ready to start school in just two days. This was the first time she had a place to herself for any length of time, and she felt empowered and excited to take on whatever experiences the year had in store for her. She just knew that it was going to be a great year.