Bella
Having a cousin was strange, but not unpleasant, Bella had decided. When Charlie had got a call from his estranged sister on Friday night telling him, not asking him, to pick up her daughter from the airport the next day and to look after her, Bella had been shocked. Then the implications of having someone else move in had sunk in. They only had two bedrooms. One for Charlie, one for her. She was going to have to share her room. Bella had been more than a little bit resentful at this, because it meant the nightly visits from Edward would have to stop.
Then she met her cousin, Daphne. Bella could see the family resemblance between them. They had the same nose and cheekbones, but Daphne's eyes were a brilliant, crystal blue and her hair, while brown and curly, was a lighter shade of brown than Bella's own. They looked similar enough that it was clear they were related, but not so similar that they'd be mistaken for sisters. Bella couldn't deny that her cousin was beautiful.
Bella was still upset that she'd have to share her room, but her resentment was significantly lessened after talking to Daphne. The girl had apologised unprompted. When Bella had asked about why she was moving in, she had pretty easily figured out that something distressing had happened. Sympathy had tamped down a lot of her resentment. When they had talked later that night, Bella had realised how nice it was to have someone she could talk to that hadn't known everyone here their whole life. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad after all.
Now she, Daphne and Charlie were all sitting on their couch waiting for Edward to arrive at the Charlie approved time of 7pm. Well, Daphne and Charlie were watching some sports game. Bella was reading a book and waiting for Edward to arrive. He had been hunting yesterday and hadn't come into her room last night.
Bella smiled as she heard his Volvo pulling into the driveway. She got off the couch and opened the door, kissing him in greeting. Edward smiled at her.
"Hello, love," he said.
Bella wrapped her arms around him, happy to be in his arms again. She felt him tense against her and looked up in concern. He leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"Who else is here? Their blood sings to me almost as much as yours does."
Bella tensed, concern making her stomach drop.
"It's my cousin, Daphne," she whispered, knowing that he'd hear her. "Something happened with her mum who's Charlie's sister. We were told she was coming Friday night and picked her up yesterday. I'm sorry, I had no chance to warn you."
Bella broke away from Edward's embrace at the sound of footsteps entering the hallway. It was Daphne. Bella glanced at Edward in concern. He looked perfect and at ease, as always, but Bella knew him well enough to know how hard he was working to appear that way. He raised his shoulders as if he were breathing, but Bella knew he'd be holding his breath until he was away from Daphne.
"Hello," he said to Daphne. A quick glance told Bella he was trying to dazzle her with his eyes. She smirked internally. She took some vindictive pleasure at seeing other girls get put through what she fought frequently.
"I'm Edward Cullen. I don't believe we've met." He held out a hand to Daphne.
To Bella's intense surprise, Daphne didn't seem affected by Edward's dazzling. Instead she smiled and shook Edward's hand.
"Hi. I'm- I'm Daphne. Bella's long lost cousin. It's lovely to meet you. Bella speaks very highly of you."
Bella felt her face flush and she glared at her traitor cousin. Daphne winked at her. Edward looked at Bella, smirking. Bella looked determinedly away from him.
"Aren't you watching that sports game?" Bella snapped, embarrassment making her harsher than normal. Far from being offended though, Daphne laughed good naturedly.
"True enough. I'll leave you two alone then. Although, I'm surprised Charlie lets you two be alone in the house at all," she said, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. It gave her an elfish look, highlighting her upturned eyes.
"I absolutely do not. Get in here," Charlie's voice came from the living room. Daphne's laughter increased, Bella's blush deepened and Edward's smirk grew. Bella decided she was surrounded by traitors.
Bella followed Daphne into the living room, resolutely not making eye contact with anyone. As they sat next to each other, Bella's mind raced with a way to get Edward on his own. Or at least, away from Daphne.
"Edward," Bella said, standing up suddenly. "Will you come and help me with the dishes?"
He gave her her favourite crooked smile.
"Of course."
He rose gracefully, following her into the kitchen.
"Are you ok?" Bella asked in a low tone, turning the tap on to drown out the sound of their conversation.
Edward's smile vanished, replaced by a frown.
"I can't hear her thoughts either."
Bella froze, staring at him in shock.
"You- How- What?" She stuttered.
"I have a theory," Edward said, his voice low and urgent. "Charlie's thoughts are more difficult for me to read than most people. It might be a genetic thing on that side of your family. I'll ask Carlisle tonight."
Bella stood there, unmoving as she processed everything. Edward's theory made sense, she supposed. She was surprised at the surge of resentment towards her cousin.
"What is it?" Edward asked, his eyes trained carefully on her face.
"It's just that, well," Bella struggled to voice her feelings. "I thought I was the only one. It was something that made me special." Strong bitterness welled up in her, so strong it brought tears to her eyes.
"Bella, love," Edward said softly, his finger gently tracing her cheek. "You are special. You're the entire reason for my existence. That doesn't change just because there's someone else who's mind I can't read."
Bella sighed, leaning into his frozen touch.
"You're right. It's just a lot to process. I'm still processing even having a cousin and now she's living with me."
A flicker of realisation crossed his face.
"Will she be sharing your room?"
Bella nodded unhappily. "Once we can get a bed for her. She's on the couch until then."
Edward looked pained. "I will be with you tonight and every night until then. I won't go hunting at night again while the nights we have together are numbered."
Selfishly, Bella was pleased to hear this. It also made her feel guilty.
"If you need to hunt-"
"Then I will go after school, before I come here."
That wasn't much time, but Bella appreciated him immensely for it. She wrapped her arms around his marble torso. She didn't need to say anything. Edward knew how she felt and he wrapped his arms around her too.
It was Monday morning, Daphne's first day at a new school. She was clearly nervous. Bella remembered with sympathy how she had felt, starting midway through the year at the very same school. She watched as her cousin fidgeted with her silver lyre necklace, then the beaded necklace she also wore, then her bracelet, then the straps on her backpack, then took to bouncing on the balls of her feet while fiddling with her watch strap.
"Relax," she said finally, when Daphne started to tap a rhythm on her leg. "I'll drive you to school. You can sit with me and my friends at lunch. I'll walk you to all of your classes so you don't get lost."
Daphne shot her a grateful look. She stopped bouncing up and down but started fiddling with her bracelet again. This was at least less annoying than tapping away and making noise, Bella thought.
Dumping her empty cereal bowl in the sink, Bella grabbed her own bag.
"Are you ready to go?"
Daphne nodded. The two girls made their way outside. It was drizzling.
"I don't like schools," Daphne said suddenly as Bella pulled out of the driveway.
"Who does?" Bella replied.
Daphne suddenly stilled and turned to Bella. Bella felt as though she was being sized up. She shifted uncomfortably.
"You don't gossip, do you?" Daphne said. Though it was a question, she spoke with the finality of a statement.
"No, I don't," Bella said, glancing sideways at her cousin.
Daphne continued to analyse her. Bella's discomfort increased. She had to stop herself from breathing a sigh of relief when Forks High School came into view. Bella pulled into a car park, eager to get out of the car and away from Daphne's calculating gaze. She was about to jump out of the car when her cousin spoke softly.
"I don't trust people very easily, Bella. But I would like to trust you. And I think one day I will, if you give me the chance."
Bella looked into Daphne's ice blue eyes and felt as though Daphne could see into her very soul. Then her cousin smiled, just a tiny little upturn of her lips, and Bella suddenly felt warmth for her cousin spread through her chest. This girl had obviously been through a lot. Whether it was what happened with her mother to cause her to come to Forks in such an abrupt manner or something else entirely, Bella didn't know. She realised that she wanted to know. Not just out of curiosity, but because she wanted Daphne to trust her. She wanted to be there for her. And more than that, she wanted Daphne to be there for her too.
Bella returned her smile.
"I would like that too."
A knock on Bella's window made her jump. It was Mike Newton. Bella figured he was probably delighted to spend some time with her without Edward around.
"Hello Mike," Bella said, getting out of the car. "This is my cousin, Daphne."
Bella introduced her cousin quickly, trying to prevent any potential flirting from him. Mike looked very surprised. Bella didn't blame him. She'd never mentioned having a cousin before. She internally braced herself for an entire day of repeating the same story.
"Hi," Mike said, turning to Daphne. "I didn't know Bella had a cousin."
"Long lost," Daphne said, smiling easily at him.
"Do you need someone to show you around? I can walk you to your classes if you like? What's your schedule look like?"
Bella watched in amusement as Mike fired questions rapidly at Daphne.
"I don't have my timetable yet," Daphne said, not batting an eye at his enthusiastic interrogation. "Bella was going to be showing me around today. Are you two friends? Will we see you at lunch?"
Mike looked disappointed.
"Yeah," he said, not as enthusiastic anymore. "Yeah we are. Bella and I sit together at lunch."
"Does Edward sit with you too?"
Bella bit back a laugh as Mike's face scrunched with distaste.
"Yeah," he said sullenly. "Him and his sister Alice. And a few of our other friends too."
Daphne smiled brilliantly at him. "We'll see you at lunch then."
"Yeah," he said. "Yeah ok." Then he turned and left.
"So," Daphne said, looking sideways at Bella as they made their way to the office.
"Don't ask," she mumbled. Daphne laughed.
The rest of the day felt almost like deja vu for Bella. Just as when Bella had arrived, Daphne had lots of boys coming up to her to introduce themselves and ask if she needed help with this or that. Daphne turned down every offer of help, preferring to stick with Bella and Edward, since Edward wouldn't leave Bella's side either. Again and again, the two of them explained that they were long lost cousins, which is why Bella had never mentioned her before. Bella noticed that Daphne was very good at deflecting the conversation away to a new topic when she was asked why she had moved here mid-year. Bella was not at all sorry to no longer be the centre of all of their affections. It was nice to not be the unwanted centre of attention.
Bella introduced Daphne to Alice, Angela and Ben and the five of them, along with Edward and Mike, sat together at lunch. Bella pointed out the other half of the old friend group, the anti-Bella brigade, as she thought of them. As she pointed them out she realised that she hadn't actually told Daphne about how Edward had left. Of course she wouldn't tell her what had really happened, but she'd tell her the official story everyone else had been told. Bella wanted Daphne to trust her. Having her not know about something their entire grade knew about would not exactly inspire trust.
At the end of the day Bella and Edward were waiting outside the office for Daphne to hand in her sheet of paper that had been signed by all of her teachers that day. Edward pulled Bella close and murmured to her.
"Alice didn't see her coming."
Bella looked up at him, worried. First Daphne had smelt very strongly to Edward, then he hadn't been able to read her mind, and now this?
"It was a very hasty decision," she said uneasily. Edward shook his head.
"She can't see her at all. She's been trying to see her future since I told her about Daphne. She sees nothing, just like how she can't see the wolves."
Bella looked at Edward, his golden eyes taking the edge off the tension she was feeling.
"So does that mean that she's a werewolf?"
"I don't know," Edward said. "Do you know-"
He broke off abruptly. A second later, the office door opened and Daphne appeared, smiling at them as if she wasn't becoming an increasingly confusing mystery.
"Let's get out of here," she said to them both. Bella forced a smile.
"Is there anything you guys do for fun here? I need to take my mind off that horrible English class we just endured."
"You don't like Edgar Allan Poe?" Edward asked.
Daphne made a face. "It's not him I don't like. I just don't like reading in general."
"You don't like reading," Bella echoed, scandalised. She shot a horrified look at Edward, who also looked appalled.
"I have dyslexia," Daphne said, her hand going again to finger the silver lyre pendant on her necklace. "For me, reading only makes me frustrated."
Bella's horror turned to sympathy. She couldn't imagine not being able to read for fun.
"I'm so sorry," she said.
Daphne laughed. "It's ok. I don't think I have the patience to sit there and read even if I didn't have dyslexia."
From what Bella had seen of her cousin, she had to concede that Daphne had a point.
When they reached her truck Bella and Edward said their goodbyes.
"I'll see you at seven," he promised.
Bella watched him walk to his Volvo where Alice was waiting for him. It was only when he got into his car and out of sight for her that she turned to get into her own car. Before she could get in, however, she saw Daphne smiling at her knowingly. Bella felt her cheeks flush. She had completely forgotten Daphne was there. She got into the driver's seat, slamming the door a little bit harder than normal.
"Why is he only coming over at seven?" Daphne asked as Bella pulled out onto the road. "Does he have work or something?"
The idea of Edward dressed up in some uniform and serving customers was bizarre enough that it wiped away Bella's embarrassment.
"No, I'm grounded. Charlie won't let him over except between seven and nine-thirty."
"Grounded? What did you do?" Far from being accusing, Daphne was looking at her with what could only be described as approval.
Two can play that game, Bella thought as rain began to smatter the windshield.
"I took off to Italy for three days and only left a note." She was as blunt as possible, wanting to shock her cousin. She snuck another glance at Daphne, who was now looking at her with pride.
"Why didn't you stay longer? I would've."
"I didn't like the sun," Bella said sarcastically. Daphne laughed and Bella couldn't help laughing too.
That night Bella lay in bed waiting for Edward to arrive. She was eager to see him, as always, but also wanted to be able to talk more about her cousin's strange abilities. She didn't have to wait long. With barely a flutter of the curtain, Edward stood in her room. She opened her arms and he came over, settling himself into bed with her. Bella sighed in content. He had only left the house an hour ago, but every minute without him always dragged for her.
"I spoke to Carlisle," he said after a while of comfortable silence. "He doesn't know of anything your cousin could be that's not a human, werewolf or vampire. Do you know who her father is and if he's Quileute?"
"I think it's a long shot," Bella told him. "From what I know of my aunt, she skipped town the moment she was 18. She was a few years older than Charlie but she must have had Daphne at around the same time I was born. I don't think she's ever come back to Forks. Maybe she met a Quileute somewhere else?"
"The chances of that are pretty low," Edward said. "She could just be immune to Alice's power the same way she's immune to mine."
"Should we see if Jasper can feel her mood? He can change mine."
To Bella's surprise, Edward was hesitant.
"To me, nobody's blood sings to me like yours, but with that exception she's the hardest person I've had to resist. Alice told me this afternoon that she had more trouble resisting Daphne than she does you. I don't want Jasper to hurt her."
Bella frowned, taking everything in. "Do you think he can resist, if we go somewhere like your house, where the rest of your family is?"
Edward was quiet as he contemplated everything. "I will speak to him," he said finally. Bella yawned. Edward chuckled.
"Enough talk of this for now," he said softly. "Go to sleep, love."
Bella snuggled into his marble chest and did just that.