Chapter 39
Bella sank her teeth into the deer's neck, and her whole body tingled with pleasure as they sliced through the flesh with ease. She felt a rush of excitement as the warm blood began to flow into her mouth, coating her tongue with its rich, taste. As she drank, she closed her eyes and savored the sensation of the blood sliding down her throat, invigorating every cell in her body. The world around her faded away as she lost herself in the ecstasy of feeding. She felt a primal urge deep within her, driving her to consume every last drop of blood from the deer's body. With each gulp, she felt a surge of power coursing through her veins, making her feel more alive with every swallow.
As Bella pulled the last remnants of blood from the deer's drained corpse, she let out a contented sigh. All her senses were attuned to her surroundings, and she relished the feeling of being in complete harmony with nature. The rustle of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the scent of earth and moss were all sharper and more vibrant after a good feeding.
Feeling satisfied, Bella let the deer down gently, enjoying the rush of energy that came with feeding. As she stood there, feeling full and alive, she turned her thoughts to the future. Bella's classes were going well, and there were no issues there. She thought it might be nice to invite Jill and Ted to the movies to celebrate their recent moving in together. Bella had not had a chance to speak with Ted since she heard the news, and she was eager to tell him how happy she was for them.
Bella checked herself over, and to her satisfaction, she did not see any blood on her. It was rare for her to be a messy eater. With a smile on her face, she raced home to say goodbye to her family, eager to get to her home to work on some of her class assignments.
As she moved through the forest, Bella felt the power of the blood coursing through her veins. It was a heady sensation, one that filled her with focus and energy. She was confident in her abilities, knowing that nothing could stop her from achieving her goals. For Bella, all was right in the world, and she was ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.
Upon arriving at the house, Bella was immediately greeted with the sound of lively chatter coming from inside. Her curiosity piqued as she listened to the conversations, trying to identify what was being said. Amidst the voices, she heard one that was unfamiliar to her ears. After a moment of contemplation, she concluded that it must be Carlisle's friend, Garrett, who must have just arrived.
In that instant, Bella changed her plans. The thought of meeting a new vampire and a friend of Carlisle's was far more appealing than going home to work on her school assignments. She pushed open the door to the living room, revealing her family comfortably lounging on the sofas. Her gaze was immediately drawn to the new vampire, who turned to face her as she entered the room.
"Ah, Garrett, I'd like to introduce you to our newest member of the family. This is Isabella Cullen, but I'm sure the first thing she will say is for you to call her Bella," Carlisle said with a playful smile directed at her.
As Carlisle introduced Bella to Garrett, she walked towards where everyone was sitting in the living room. Garrett, a tall man with brown hair and a relaxed demeanor stood up from the couch. Bella's eyes locked onto his as he stood and he flashed her a charming smile, causing her insides to tingle. "It's lovely to meet you, Bella," he said in a voice that was both inviting and warm, gesturing towards the group. "Come join us. I'd love to hear your story too. We've all been catching up, as I haven't seen Carlisle in quite some time," he continued, his smile never fading. Bella couldn't help but smile back.
"I'd love to," Bella replied, moving to sit across from Garrett. Like all vampires, he was extremely attractive. He looked to have been turned in his mid-twenties, with wavy brown hair that fell just below his ears. "Unlike any of the Cullens, he had some stubble on his face, as if he hadn't shaved for a day, which added to his rugged charm."His piercing red eyes were stunning, and Bella could feel herself being drawn in by their intensity.
Bella was completely engrossed in Garrett's stories as he continued to recount his adventures. Unlike the Cullens, Garrett didn't settle in one place for too long and preferred to travel wherever he felt like going. He had been to almost every corner of the earth, but he made it clear that he had only scratched the surface of what the world had to offer. It was fascinating to hear about his experiences and the people he had met along the way.
As the group sat around the living room, Garrett continued to regale them with his stories. He had just finished telling the tale of when he watched the Apollo 11 launch from the Kennedy Space Center.
"I just felt I had to be there," Garrett said, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he recalled the moment. "It was such an amazing moment in American history. I watched from the trees and it was incredible how loud it was when the rocket took off. I remember feeling like I was a part of something so much bigger than myself."
Everyone listened intently, captivated by Garrett's storytelling. Bella leaned forward in her seat, intrigued by his tales and of the man himself.
"That must have been an incredible experience," Bella said, her voice full of wonder.
Garrett nodded in agreement. "It truly was. I've been fortunate enough to witness several important moments in human history, but that one will always hold a special place in my heart."
Looking at Bella, he asked, "So Bella, how did you join the Cullens? I'd love to hear your story."
Bella smiled at him and gave off the impression that she was deep in thought thinking of what to say. "Well, let's see. I met the Cullens when I was in high school. They were pretending to be students, although not very convincingly," Bella couldn't help but make a little dig while smiling at her family. "I, of course, saw through their ruse and we all became friends. After some unfortunate events, we ended up in front of the Volturi. They gave the whole 'change me or die' speech. I was fine with it all as I had wanted to become a vampire. I was changed around five years ago and I've been loving every minute of my new life. I just started my senior year at the University of Denver." Bella smiled at Garrett, liking his attitude so far. "Of course, that's the really watered-down version of the whole affair. If you want all the dirty details, you'll have to stick around for a bit." She couldn't help but smile at him after throwing out the hook, seeing if he would bite.
Garrett chuckled in response, his eyes gleaming with interest. "I must say, Bella, you've piqued my curiosity. I'd love to hear the dirty unabridged version of your journey into the Cullen family."
At that moment, Edward, who had been quiet throughout the conversation, began growling like a fool. "Bella, you should not associate yourself with a human drinker. His thoughts are vile and disgusting," he said, looking as if he had settled the matter.
"What's your problem, Edward? Everyone is having a pleasant conversation," Bella quickly retorted.
She threw a shield over Edward so he wouldn't be able to hear anyone else's thoughts. "There, now you can't hear anything. I should learn to make it permanent, then maybe you wouldn't act like a jackass whenever you hear a thought you don't agree with."
Edward looked quite unhappy and got up to go upstairs, probably to his room.
"Apologies, Garrett. Edward still believes he can dictate my actions," Bella said, expressing her remorse before turning to Garrett with a bright smile. "So, tell us more about your adventures."
As the day progressed, they engaged in conversations with Garrett, and Bella was thoroughly enjoying herself. Eventually, Garrett asked if she would join him for a walk, and during their stroll, they finally had the opportunity for a genuine conversation.
"Alright, Bella. I'm intrigued. What are some of the more gruesome details you left out of your life story?" Garrett inquired, showing a genuine interest in getting to know Bella better.
Bella hesitated before responding, feeling a bit uneasy about sharing these particular details. "I did offer," she reminded herself before taking a deep breath. "It's embarrassing to admit, but when I first met the Cullens, I was dating Edward."
Garrett chuckled at Bella's response. "Really? How on earth did he get a beautiful girl like you to go out with him? He has got to be the most miserable vampire I have ever met," he asked, genuinely curious. He went on to share his own experience with Edward, recalling how he had met him back in 1925 during a visit with Carlisle. "He was the biggest stick in the mud then and he didn't know how to have any fun. It doesn't look like he's changed," Garrett added with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Reflecting on her past with Edward, Bella let out a small sigh. "I know that now, but at the time, imagine being a 17-year-old girl who had never had a boyfriend. A beautiful, mysterious boy shows interest in you, and then you find out he's a supernatural creature. It could sway many a girl, or at least that's what I tell myself," she explained.
Bella shrugged her shoulders, as if admitting that nobody's perfect. Then, with an alluring smile, she leaned in conspiratorially and whispered to Garrett, as if sharing a secret. "You know, I wasn't always as confident and outgoing as I am now," she said, her breath warm against his ear. "My personality was a lot different when I was human. I don't really think I was that much fun either at the time, if I'm being honest.." She pulled back and looked at him with a playful glint in her eye. "But I'm sure that you would find now that I have quite a few surprises up my sleeve."
Garrett gave her an understanding smile, "Well, I like what I see now," he said. "So tell me, if you could go out and do something crazy right now, what would it be?" he asked, hoping to get to know her better.
Bella thought for a second before responding, "I've always wanted to go skydiving. I want that rush jumping out of an airplane. Have you ever been?" she asked, curious about Garrett's own experiences.
"Many times," Garrett replied with a grin. "I once went up with a vampire friend who was flying the plane. I wanted to try it without humans around so I could try jumping without a chute. It was even more of a rush crashing like that, even though I knew I would not get injured."
Bella's eyes widened in surprise at the thought of jumping out of a plane without a parachute. "Wow, that sounds fun. I'd love to try that someday," she said, impressed by Garrett's adventurous nature.
As they strolled along, Bella's thoughts drifted to Garrett. She was enjoying their conversation and was beginning to feel a connection with him, and couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same. She decided to take a bold approach and get straight to the point. With a coy smile, she turned to him and asked, "So, Garrett, are you seeing anyone at the moment?" She felt confident in herself and her attraction to him, and was eager to gauge his interest.
"No, the last person I dated was Kate Denali about 10 years ago," Garrett replied. "I know the Cullens are friends with the Denalis, have you met them yet?"
Bella shook her head. "No, I haven't,"
Garrett looked chagrined, "Yes, well we had been seeing each other for around 6 months and I had thought things were going good. I had been away for two weeks or so seeing to a business venture I had at the time. I came back and found her in bed being fucked by two human men at the same time, if you can believe it. She had the nerve to ask if I wanted to join in."
"Oh my god." Bella couldn't believe it.
"I know," Garrett shook his head, recalling the incident. "I found out then that I don't share well with others. I will say that those two guys had the best night of their lives, the worst night of their lives, and the last night of their lives," Garrett proclaimed.
Bella couldn't help but laugh, "I know it's not funny, but it kind of is imagining that scene play out now."
"Yes, I can see the humor now, but back then I was pretty pissed off," Garrett said. "I had liked Kate, but there's no coming back from a relationship after walking into a room and seeing that. On a lighter note, are you seeing anyone? You said you had dated Edward, but I assume you're not still together after your display back at the house?"
Garrett's tone became more flirtatious as he asked about Bella's dating status. It was clear to her that he was interested in her, and she felt a flutter in her chest at the thought. She smiled coyly and shook her head.
"Oh no, I broke up with him about the time my newborn year ended. We just had nothing in common, and if you can believe it, he did not want to have a physical relationship with me," said Bella.
"I can't believe that. You have got to be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. There is something wrong with that boy," replied Garrett.
"Thank you, Garrett," said Bella. She knew she was beautiful, but it's always nice hearing it from others.
As they were getting closer to the house, Garrett felt a spark between them that he couldn't ignore. He wanted to spend more time with Bella and see where this connection could lead. With a suave grin, he made his move. "Bella, I've really enjoyed our walk and I was hoping we could continue getting to know each other. How about you let me take you out again?" he asked confidently.
Bella met his gaze with a sly smile, feeling equally intrigued by the handsome vampire in front of her. "I'd love that, Garrett. That sounds great. I'm free tomorrow." she replied, her tone smooth and inviting.
Garrett's eyes glinted with excitement as he gazed at Bella, his voice full of anticipation. "Okay, I have the perfect idea of where we can go tomorrow morning," he said with a smile. "I promise you'll love it."
As he spoke, he reached for Bella's hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. Bella felt a shiver run down her spine at the intimate gesture, her mind racing with anticipation for their date tomorrow.
"Until tomorrow," Garrett murmured, his eyes locked onto hers. He held her hand for a few more moments before reluctantly letting go and turning to leave. Bella couldn't help but watch him go, her eyes lingering on his form as he walked away. She couldn't deny that she was drawn to his rugged good looks, and she found herself admiring the way his jacket hugged his broad shoulders and the way his jeans accentuated his firm backside.
Bella walked into the Cullen home feeling elated after her conversation with Garrett. For the first time since Edward, she had felt a spark with someone else and she hoped they could see where it leads. As she sat down on the sofa and recounted her walk with Garrett, Edward suddenly appeared next to her.
"I'm sorry, Bella," he said with an earnest expression. "I lost my temper earlier. It's just that I still care about you and I don't think it's a good idea for you to go out with Garrett. The thoughts he was having about you were not appropriate."
"Really, what type of thoughts were they?" Bella never liked Edward's prying into other people's business, but maybe it would give her insight into Garrett's feelings for her.
"They were deviant thoughts of a sexual nature. While you were talking to him, he wanted to take you right there on the sofa with everyone watching. It was disgusting," Edward stated.
"Thank you for the warning, Edward," Bella said, trying to sound appreciative as she got up to go to her room. But deep down, she was ecstatic that Garrett thought of her in that way. Maybe this was finally her chance to get some action. The thought sent shivers down her spine as she made her way to her room, already planning her next move.
Garrett, on the other hand, was also relaxing in his hotel room, reflecting on his day with Bella. He had avoided visiting Carlisle for a century due to the asshole he called a son annoying him so much the last time he saw them. However, he was now glad that he finally did visit because he found Bella enchanting. She seemed so happy and full of life, and being in her presence brought him contentment.
Garrett really liked Bella and hoped that she felt the same way about him. He couldn't wait to show her the perfect spot he had in mind where they could talk and get to know each other better.
Bella had also given him an idea on how to end the date, and he couldn't help but smile at the thought of it. He was determined to make this a memorable day and if things went well, he planned to stick around and see where their relationship could go.
Garrett got up and headed to Denver to find a meal, not wanting any distractions during his date with Bella.
