Part X 'Who Let The Dogs Out'

Chapter 32

Bella was thrilled to be back in Florida, eager to spend some quality time with her mom whom she hadn't seen in over a year. She rented a car and drove straight to her mom's house, excited to catch up on all the latest news and hear how she and her step-father were doing. She was sure that her mom had all sorts of fun ideas of what they could do during her stay, like exploring the local art galleries and trying out new restaurants.

But her visit to Florida was just the beginning of travels. After bidding farewell to her mom, she was eager to fly up to Forks to visit her dad, Charlie. She missed him terribly as she had not visited Forks in a good three years and couldn't wait to see his smiling face again. She planned to offer to go fishing with him, something she hadn't done since she was a little girl. Bella was looking forward to telling him all about her college career and regale him with tales of her European travels.

And finally, before starting her senior year of school, Bella would be able to go home and spend time with her vampire family, the Cullens in Colorado. She had so many tales to tell them about her time in Paris and her time staying with the Volturi. Bella couldn't wait to catch up with everyone and spend some quality time with all the ones she loved.

Bella and her mom sat comfortably on the sofa, enveloped in the sweet scent of home and the warmth of family. "I had the most amazing time, Mom," Bella began, her voice brimming with excitement. "I made several really good friends while I was over there. I know I already told you a lot about Emma over the phone, but she showed me so many places in Paris that I never would have found without her. We had such a great time together. She really liked to go to karaoke bars. I had a really fun time trying to sing songs I knew in French. I could read the teleprompter as the song went along, but it was a little difficult to figure out the melody from how I know it's supposed to go in America. Emma recorded a couple of videos of me singing, so I'll show them to you later on my phone."

"That sounds like a lot of fun, Bella," Renee said, smiling. "I'm glad you made some good friends. Did you do anything else with Emma besides karaoke?"

"We also went to museums and art galleries," Bella replied. "Emma's really into art, so she showed me a lot of amazing pieces. I especially loved the impressionist paintings at the Musée d'Orsay. And we visited some beautiful parks and gardens, like the Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries. It was all so beautiful and different from what I'm used to in America."

Renee leaned forward with interest as Bella spoke about her time overseas. "That sounds amazing, honey. What did you think of all your classes?" she asked, eager to hear more about Bella's experiences.

"I absolutely loved all of my classes!" Bella replied, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "I took a painting class and although I'm not a master artist, I can confidently say that I'm pretty good at it now. But my favorite class by far was sculpture. Honestly, everything was amazing. Being fluent in the language was a huge help too. I know I would have been completely lost if I wasn't able to communicate effectively."

Renee smiled, happy to hear that Bella was thriving in her classes. "That reminds me, did you get the package I sent to you last week?" Bella asked, hoping it had arrived safely.

Renee's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, I did. It's in the other room. I read the note and didn't open it, although I was tempted. What is it?"

Bella grinned. "Well, let's find out." She walked towards the other room and returned a minute later with the wrapped gift. She had asked Alice to wrap the painting, and when she opened the box, she found the gift wrapped just as she had hoped.

"What is that?" Renee asked curiously as Bella came back with the large wrapped gift, it was about 2 feet by 3 feet in size.

"It's for you, Mom. I made you something while I was in Paris. Why don't you open it?" Bella said, smiling as Renee took the gift.

Renee eagerly tore off the wrapping paper and let out a gasp of surprise. When she saw the painting, tears welled up in her eyes. Bella had painted a portrait of a smiling Renee holding a five year old Bella, who was pointing at something off the painting, and both mother and daughter were smiling greatly at whatever they were looking at.

"Oh, Bella, it's so beautiful," Renee said, her voice trembling with emotion. She grabbed some tissue paper while enveloping Bella in a big hug.

Bella hugged her back and whispered, "I'm so glad you like it, Mom."

Renee pulled away and gazed at the painting, her eyes still glistening with tears. "I don't mean to cry so hard, but the way you captured our likeness...it just brings back so many happy memories. Thank you so much for creating this for me."

Renee gazed at the painting some more, taking in the details of their smiling faces and the joy they shared in that moment. "It's just perfect, Bella," she said, her voice cracking again with emotion. "You have such a talent for painting. I'm so proud of you."

Bella beamed with pride at her mother's words. "Thank you, Mom. It means so much to me that you appreciate it."

Renee hugged Bella tightly again, still admiring the painting. "I'm going to hang this right here," she said, gesturing to a spot on the wall. "I want to see it every day and be reminded of this moment."

Bella helped her mother hang the painting, carefully making sure it was straight. As they stepped back to admire it, Renee wrapped her arm around Bella's shoulder. "Thank you again, sweetheart," she said, squeezing her tight. "This is a gift I'll cherish forever."

After hanging up the painting, Bella could see that her mom was still emotional, so she suggested they take a break and have some lunch. "Mom, let's take a break and have some food. You must be hungry after all that excitement," Bella said, noticing her mother's tears of joy.

Renee wiped her eyes and agreed, "Yes, that sounds great. I'm starving." They made themselves some sandwiches and sat down at the dining room table.

As they ate, Renee asked more about Bella's adventures in Paris. "Did you get a chance to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower?" Renee loved hearing about all of her daughter's experiences.

Bella replied enthusiastically, "You better believe it! My friends and I went at night, and it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. The city looked incredibly peaceful from up there." She only had to make a slight edit to her story for her mom.

"That's wonderful, honey. What about Italy? What were some of the major sites that you saw?" Renee asked with a smile.

"I saw so many incredible sites in Italy, Mom. In Rome, I visited the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and I went to Vatican City. I also saw the famous Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. In Florence, I visited the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo di Firenze. And of course, I couldn't miss the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa," Bella replied with excitement in her voice.

"Wow, those all sound amazing! And where did you stay while you were there?" Renee asked.

"I stayed with some friends that I met in Paris. They live in Italy and kindly invited me to stay with them, knowing that I needed a base to explore all these amazing places," Bella explained.

"That was so nice of them. What are their names? You haven't mentioned them before," Renee said curiously.

"Yeah, their names are Heidi and Chelsea. We had so much fun together. Here, I have a funny picture of us," Bella said as she took out her phone and scrolled through her photo album to find the picture.

"Oh, they are both so beautiful! But why are you all covered in mud?" Renee asked, looking at the picture.

"We went to a farm to get some fresh bacon, and Heidi accidentally slipped in the mud, one thing led to another and we all ended up getting covered in mud," Bella chuckled as she recalled the memory. "It was quite a funny moment."

Renee smiled, "Well, it sounds like you had a lot of fun, but you should really get a photo editor to remove the red-eye."

Bella laughed, "Good idea, Mom. Thanks."

Renee looked at Bella and said "But what I'm really curious about is whether you met any cute European guys while you were there. Have you finally found someone special?"

Bella chuckled, shaking her head. "No, mom. I didn't meet anyone," she replied honestly. "I certainly looked and was hoping I would meet someone, especially when I went to Italy, but I didn't. The search continues, mom," she added with a smile.

"I think at this point, Bella, you really should just find a guy, even if it's only to get a good pounding. It will make you feel so much better," Renee said bluntly.

Bella couldn't help but laugh at her mother's words. "I've missed you, mom, and your bluntness," she said, still laughing. "I would agree with you, but I'm afraid I'm so thirsty for a man that if I ever did get that pounding, when I came, I would squeeze him so tight I would castrate the poor bastard. We would not want that, would we, mom?" she joked.

Renee burst out laughing at Bella's joke. "Wow, now that is an image I never thought I would have in my head. Well, at least your first time would be memorable!" she said, still laughing.

"Actually, mom, I did step out of my comfort zone while I was in Paris," Bella said, changing the subject of her non existent love life. "Now, don't tell Charlie this. I don't want to give him a heart attack. My sculpture professor asked me to be a model for a work of art he wanted to create. So I spent several months after class as a nude model."

Renee's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, Bella, that sounds so exciting! How was the experience? Do you have any pictures of the sculpture? I would love to see it!"

Bella smiled, glad that her mother was supportive. "I really enjoyed modeling. I found it very freeing and it made me much more comfortable with my body. I have tons of pictures of it on my phone. Let me pull them up for you."

As Bella scrolled through the pictures on her phone, her mother leaned in closer to get a better look. Bella could sense her mother's excitement building with every passing second.

Finally, Bella found the pictures she was looking for and held them up for her mother to see. The sculpture was a breathtaking work of art, capturing every curve and contour of her body in stunning detail.

Renee gasped in awe. "Bella, this is incredible! You look so beautiful and strong. Would you mind sending me these photos? I can't wait to show my friends. I'm so proud of you, sweetheart."

"Absolutely, mom," Bella replied with a grin, her heart swelling with pride at her mother's admiration for her sculpture. "I'm thrilled that you love it as much as I do."

The next day, Bella and Renee were relaxing and catching up on what they had been up to during the past year. Renee was telling Bella about her work at the Art Gallery, and how Phil's baseball career was going when she suddenly remembered something.

"Oh Bella, that reminds me. I need your help for a minute. It's mine and Phil's anniversary next week, and I got him a gift," Renee said, beaming with excitement. "Can you believe it's been 10 years already?"

"Sure mom, what do you need?" Bella had forgotten about their anniversary. "I know, I can't believe it either. It seems like just yesterday you were getting married."

"I bought Phil a flat-screen TV, and I need some help bringing it in from the car. Let's go get it quickly. Phil won't be home for a little bit, but I don't want to take any chances that he'll see it," Renee said, standing up.

Bella was taken aback for a second. She looked out the window at the car parked about 40 feet away in the hot Florida sun. Her mind raced quicker than any human's could. A million thoughts flooded her mind in less than a second. She thought of all the possibilities and potential risks of going outside, even for just a short period. She had been practicing her shield ability constantly and was now able to hold it steadily for several minutes without any problems. She knew there should be no issues as long as she could get back inside in time.

Yet, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear and uncertainty. What if she lost control of her shield? What if someone saw her? What if she couldn't make it back inside in time? On the other hand, it would seem very unusual if she said no, and Bella didn't want to raise any suspicions.

Finally, she made up her mind. She had faith in her shield and in herself. She could do this. She turned to her mom with a smile and said, "Sure mom, let's go get it."

As they walked out into the bright Florida sun, Renee kept talking to Bella about her anniversary. Bella smiled, but didn't say much. As they got to the car, Renee stopped for a second.

"Now where did I put my keys?" she said, searching her pockets.

Bella thought 'are you fucking kidding me.'

"Ah, here they are," Renee said, pulling the keys out of her back pocket. She opened the trunk, and Bella helped her bring the TV inside. They hid the TV in the guest bedroom, Renee said, "Thank you so much. Those things are impossible to lift by oneself."

"Of course, Mom," Bella said with a smile of relief. She was glad that everything had gone smoothly. This was a good first step towards testing her ability to withstand the sun, but she knew that she needed more practice and control before venturing out for longer periods. Nevertheless, the short excursion to the car had proven successful, and Bella felt encouraged that she might be able to enjoy some outdoor activities with her mother in the years to come."

The next night Bella lay in her bed, gazing up at the ceiling. One of the downsides of staying with her parents was that she had to pretend to sleep at night. If she was caught constantly awake or watching TV, it would raise questions. She thought back to the day she had just spent with her mom. She had gotten lucky; it was a rare cloudy, rainy day in Jacksonville, so she had asked her mom to show her the gallery where she worked.

Her mom was more than happy to take her, and they had spent several hours admiring all the artwork. Bella was impressed by the potential of several of the artists' works.

As Bella lay there she let out a sigh and thought about what she could suggest for tomorrow's activities. She was leaving for Forks the next night and wanted her last day with her mom to be a memorable one. She could hear the loud whirring of her mother and Phil's electric toothbrushes in the other room.

I few minutes later, she heard her mother's voice. "Phil honey, come here. I'm hungry," Renee said, her voice carrying into Bella's room.

Bella frowned. It was a little late for her mom to be making a snack, but she didn't think too much of it. That was until she started to hear a loud slurping sound and Phil groaned, "Oh God. I love it when you suck me off before bed."

Bella's heart would have stopped again at that moment if it was possible. She sat up in bed, her eyes wide with shock. No, No, No. She refused to hear this. She had to get out of here immediately.

She hopped out of bed and ran to the window, quickly opening it and jumping out into the backyard. Bella felt like she wanted to rinse her brain out with bleach, anything to get that sound out of her head. So, she decided to take off for a run. There was no immediate forest next to her mom's house, so she had to walk a ways to get to a spot where it was safe to use her vampire speed.

As she walked, Bella tried to shake off the image in her head and sound of what she had just heard. She looked up at the sky, taking in the full moon and the thousands of scattered stars twinkling above. She decided to go to the beach which was not far from her moms house. As she got closer, she could hear the gentle sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

Finally, she arrived at the beach and decided to take off her shoes and socks so she could walk in the sand barefoot, something she had liked to when she was younger. The moon was full, casting a soft glow over the deserted shoreline. Bella looked out over the ocean and saw the waves ebb and flow in a hypnotic rhythm, their white caps illuminated by the moon's gentle light.

The salty smell of the ocean filled her nostrils and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled her ears. She closed her eyes and let the cool night breeze brush against her face, relishing in the feeling of freedom and peace that came with it.

As she walked along the shore, Bella noticed the different shades of blues and greens in the water, the way the moonlight danced on the surface, creating a shimmering path that seemed to lead off into infinity. The sand was soft and surprisingly warm underfoot, and she enjoyed the feeling of it between her toes.

Bella realized that she had not been to the beach since becoming a vampire, and she was struck by the beauty of it all. She was grateful for this moment to experience something she had loved once again.

She walked to the end of the beach, where the sand gave way to a rocky outcropping. She knew it was time to go, to really run and clear her mind, but she couldn't help but linger for just a moment longer, taking in the beauty of the ocean and the peacefulness it brought her.

Bella's swift strides took her through the dense foliage of the Florida forest. The rustling leaves and twigs under her feet accompanied the soothing sound of the wind as it caressed her hair. Her mind was now empty of all unwanted thoughts, and she was finally at peace again. Her body didn't crave blood as she had fed last week in Italy, but she knew that it was only a matter of time before the hunger would take over so she was happy to quench her thirst tonight.

Suddenly, a pulsating heartbeat caught her attention, and she followed it without hesitation. When she arrived at her destination, she was surprised to find a wild hog, a species she had never encountered before. The massive creature was easily 5 feet long and seemed to weigh around 400 pounds. Bella had researched the local wildlife and knew that the wild hog was considered a pest in the area and was not endangered.

The memory of her friends, Heidi and Chelsea, drinking from the farm pigs flashed in her mind. They had complained about the taste, but Bella wondered if they were just being snobby. She decided to try it for herself and raced to the hog with lightning speed. As she approached, she saw how thick the creature's neck was compared to its body. It didn't look as easy to snap as a deer's neck, which she was more accustomed to.

With one swift tug, Bella broke the hog's neck, ending any misery the beast might feel. She felt a mix of curiosity and hunger as she took her first drink. The taste was different from deer blood, but not unpleasant. It was more flavorful, and she savored the experience. However, it could never compare to the taste of that asshole she had drained in Italy. The memory of the human's blood running down her throat and the satisfaction of taking his life made her feel powerful and alive.

Bella had no regrets about what she had done in Italy, and she had been glad to experience an act that was the most basic for all vampires. She was happy though with her current diet and had no desire to kill again. Not that she wouldn't hesitate to act if she ever came across a situation as awful as the one she witnessed in Italy. But for now, she was content, surrounded by the tranquil sounds of nature, and quenching her thirst with the flavorful blood of the wild hog.

As the wild hog ran dry, Bella stood up and wiped her mouth clean with the back of her hand. She inspected her clothes and determined that she wasn't that dirty, just a few specks of blood on her shirt. She decided she did not have to do anything with regards to the hog, knowing that other predators would make quick work of it.

Bella took off into the night, wanting to stay out for several more hours before returning to the house. She was in no rush to go back after what she had heard and she wanted to make sure her mom and Phil were fast asleep before she returned. She ran through the forest with a sense of freedom, enjoying the sensation of the wind in her hair and the cool night air on her skin. While running she spotted a cluster of tall palm trees with coconuts dangling from their branches. With a burst of joy, she leapt into the air and plucked one from the tree.

As she landed, she examined the thick, fibrous shell of the coconut. Bella had always loved coconuts as a child and had enjoyed cracking them open to reach the sweet, taste of the inside of the coconut. Though she didn't want that now, she reveled in using her vampire strength to tear the shell apart, revealing the delicious coconut within which she cracked open and left for an animal to find."

Finally, after several hours of running, Bella decided it was time to head back. She slowed down as she approached the edge of the forest, listening for any signs of activity. When she was satisfied that all was quiet, she made her way back to the house just before dawn's early light, feeling content and satisfied.

Fortunately, Bella was able to push the horrors of that night out of her mind, and she and her mother were able to enjoy a fun last day together before Bella departed for Forks.