CHAPTER 7

Waves – Dean Lewis

Every person is the hero of their own story.

In that case, a person should be careful not to become an unreliable narrator.

Bella often felt like that was exactly what happened to her.

She still loved Edward. Always will. She didn't regret becoming a vampire. Never will.

But she wasn't nearly as prepared as she thought she was.

First, there was the thirst. They all thought that she had special self-control. The current theory is that the pregnancy, the delivery, the uncertainty about her daughter's lifespan, the tension with the pack, and the confrontation with the Volturi all coming at once created a maelstrom of stress that postponed her fully realizing her thirst.

A few months after her transformation, she and the other Cullens toured some universities. On the way, there was a lot of grumbling about limiting their choices because of 'the whole imprint thing'. They get to the first campus, and Bella is once again assailed by the new sensations. Sounds and colors were sharper. Now that she wasn't distracted by so many concerns, now that her body was no longer so new, she found them to be disorienting. As they neared the Welcome Center building, she inhaled. Jasper (and Edward through his mind) realized what was happening before she did. It felt like being hit with a tsunami. Her mind emptied and she moved to a crouch, ready to launch on the nearest human. Then another wave hit her, strong enough to knock her to the ground. It was much later on when she realized that Jasper basically made her catatonic, hitting her with the full force of his ability. His own control over his thirst nearly compromised because of the amount of concentration it required of him. Alice made hasty excuses about how her sister had suddenly taken ill, and that they'll be in touch to reschedule the tour.

They got home only to deal with another crisis.

Tiktok.

'Check out the hotties!!!' the post said. It went up… then around. Instagram. Twitter.

It was the six vampires walking on campus. Comments gave details about them.

'No way! I thought their family moved to the East Coast or something?'

'LOL I know these guys. Went to high school with them.'

Then they became disturbing.

'How could you have gone to school with them? We went to college with them like a few years ago.'

'Nah uh. You must have the wrong guys.'

'DILF doctor for a dad, right? Thought their last name wasn't Cullen though...'

It was a nightmare.

"We were there like five minutes," Emmett stated, sounding annoyed and amused. No one else was amused though.

Jasper had no choice but to crash multiple platforms, deleting several days worth of posts from different accounts around the world. Targeting the specific photos of them would have been too suspicious. The crash was in the news for days.

Bella gorged herself on animal blood while all this was going down. 'Maybe the tour guide was my singer.' She rationalized, and like they always did, Edward and the others kindly (condescendingly) agreed to spare her feelings. But when she wanted to visit Charlie, they told her it wasn't a good idea. She brushed them off. She hugged him within hours of being turned and was fine.

It wasn't fine.

Charlie finally understood the full extent of his daughter's choice when she came at him snarling, jaws snapping, while Edward and Jacob held her back, and Renesmee stood frozen in the corner.

Bella was humiliated.

Then Renee… Bella avoided her mother, wanting to wait. Until Renesmee was older, until Bella can explain away the changes in her looks to growing up. Renee didn't need to get a peek into the supernatural world like Charlie. Already that decision wasn't turning out as well as they initially thought. Charlie became distant. Somehow, after seeing his only child in that state, half answers and 'Need to know only' weren't enough. But he took a good long while to gather his thoughts. Like Bella, he always spoke cautiously. So they had some time before dealing with him. But Renee…

Bella's mother was determined to visit and see her after three years. Maybe she won't notice anything. That was the hopeful, desperate thought.

Renee never leaves Florida. She died in a car crash on the interstate.

Bella wanted to rush out of the house and was stopped by Alice. Without Renesmee and the wolves involved, her visions were clear. And there was no version of the future where Bella doesn't reveal their nature by sparkling under the Sunshine State's glaring sun.

Bella cried. Or wanted to. She didn't have tears anymore. Just a massive check to cover the funeral expenses. Phil called and called, asking when she was coming. He was sad, then understanding, then angry after getting some version of an excuse after another. Then, he stopped calling entirely.

Bella always knew that she would have to say goodbye to her parents someday. She just thought there'd be more time. That Alice will see, and she can prepare herself. But it happened so suddenly. Renee was known for changing her mind quickly, and decisions were the basis of Alice's gift.

Bella never thought that as an immortal she would run out of time for anything.

And vampires feel emotions more deeply than do humans. Love and passion. But also grief and loss.

Charlie flew out for the funeral. He was quiet, subdued. To Bella, he seemed understanding.

She was wrong.

When he came back, Edward stopped him at the driveway. Bella might never get used to Edward being overprotective. Now that she was practically indestructible, it was beginning to grate.

"My daughter can speak for herself. If she can choose this life, she can hear what I have to say."

"Edward…" Bella started. She knew that Charlie had been holding back.

"Hurting her won't change anything," Edward cut her off.

"No, and that's a damn shame, isn't it?" Charlie said, cutting Edward off.

"Dad," Bella started. "This was my choice."

"But why was this your choice? I thought it wouldn't be so bad at first. At least you won't get sick or get into an accident…" he choked. "You couldn't find any reason to live… like being human was such a terrible thing."

"Dad, if you ask too many questions, I'll have to leave, remember?" Bella cut him off. Even if it was originally true, this had become a convenient refrain to end uncomfortable conversations with Charlie.

Not this time, though.

"Wasn't that what you wanted all along?" Charlie asked, his voice cracking. "If Jacob hadn't… transformed in front of me, you would have had your mom and me believe you died in some accident or disease, right?"

Bella shook her head emphatically, even though it was true.

"Your mom and I, we were just in your way," Charlie raked a hand over his face. Turning to walk back to his car, he left Bella heartbroken in front of the palatial Cullen house.

Later, the Cullens will comfort her by saying Charlie was upset because he had just returned from Renee's burial. He was just tired from his trip. He just needs time.

Quintessential Cullen.