Chapter 41

After my first week, I felt like I'd already fallen into a little routine. Even though classes were still a week away, I'd used the time to explore all the buildings where my classes would be held, helping me get acquainted with the campus. Rebecca and I were getting along great, and we'd even hung out with some of our neighbors, having a good time as a group and enjoying some relaxation and fun together.

I had been looking forward to this day all week because it marked my mom's arrival. She would be visiting me for the next several days, and I couldn't wait to see her again, as it had been a good year since I'd last seen her. To prepare for her visit, I'd done some research and found numerous attractions and places we could explore together.

My phone rang at last, interrupting the sit-ups I had been doing. I quickly hopped up, grabbed my phone, and saw it was my mom. With a grin at Rebecca, I sat down on my bed and answered, "Hi, Mom. Are you downstairs?"

"Hi, honey. Yes, I just arrived. Should I come up to your room?" my mom asked, no doubt eager to check out my new living space.

"Sure, I'm on the 6th floor. I'll meet you at the elevator." After I hung up, I glanced around to tidy up any clothes that might be lying around. Not that I had been here long enough to make a mess, and I'd always been a pretty neat person.

I turned to Rebecca and said, "Hey, my mom is coming up for a bit. I think she wants to snoop around our room." I grinned and added, "Be sure to hide your bong and sex stuff."

"I'll get right on that, Bella," Rebecca laughed and then followed my lead, scanning the room to make sure there were no clothes on the ground.

I headed to the elevator, and soon enough, it opened. There she was. I had really missed her, and as soon as she stepped out, I rushed to her and gave her a big hug.

"Oh, honey. I've missed you." She hugged me even tighter, and it felt good to be back in her arms. After a moment, she pulled away, examining me closely. "You look absolutely radiant, Bella. Somehow you're even more beautiful than you were last year. And you're so solid. How much have you been working out?" I was still dressed in my jogging shorts and tank top from my morning run. "I don't see an ounce of fat on you. I'd suggest eating more... but you look perfect. How did you get a body like this?" She placed her hand on my stomach, feeling my skin and the underlying muscles. While I didn't have a six-pack or anything, I did appear quite fit. "I can't decide if you have the body of a supermodel or an athlete. Wow, whatever you're doing, you've become a full-blown woman."

I knew that her compliments would have made me blush a year ago, but I just smiled. "Well, I guess I've been keeping up with my daily workouts. It's wonderful to see you, Mom. Come on, let me show you my room." I guided her down the hall to my place, and when we stepped inside, my mom had a broad smile on her face. "Mom, this is my roommate, Rebecca."

Rebecca extended her hand, "Hi, nice to meet you..."

"Renee," my mom answered, her gaze drifting to the windows. "Wow, that is a beautiful view." I smiled, pleased to see that my mom approved of my new home. Over the next half hour, we all engaged in conversation with Rebecca and me, sharing our experiences from the first week and recounting all we had seen so far.

As we prepared to leave so I could give my mom a tour of the campus, she spotted the door sign that Rebecca had purchased and picked it up, smiling. "That's a good one. Did you choose this, Bella?" She glanced at Rebecca. "I was quite surprised last year when I came home early one day and discovered that my Bella here was a real screamer."

Oh my god. I had forgotten what it felt like living with my mom. Rebecca burst into laughter, clearly amused. Fortunately, I had overcome almost all my feelings of embarrassment over the past year. "No, Mom, that's Rebecca's, but thanks for tarnishing my good name and reputation. I had been playing myself off as the sweet, innocent virgin."

Rebecca interjected, clearly enjoying the conversation. "What innocent virgin? What about that orgy we went to the other day," she started laughing as she noticed the wide-eyed look my mom had on her face.

"Relax, Mom, she's just joking," I said, seeing my mom continue to smile so playfully added, "The orgy isn't until next week."

My mom set down the sign. "I'm glad you've become more relaxed, Bella. You wouldn't have been joking like this last year. I'm proud of you." It was a true Hallmark moment. Every mom should be proud of their daughter for making orgy jokes. I nodded at her, smiling.

"Are you ready to see the campus?" I asked, clearly hoping we could get out of there before my mom started telling more tales of my repressed youth.

"Sounds great," she replied. Just as we were leaving, she had to add, "You know, I went to an orgy once about five years ago with my boyfriend, Ted... or was it Fred? Anyway, when we arrived and went inside, I could not believe what I was seeing. I can't recall the name of it, but it had something to do with a train. I knew at once it wasn't for me, and I got out of there as fast as I could."

Hmm. Just what every girl likes to picture their mother doing. As I closed the door, I noticed Rebecca rolling on her bed, attempting to stifle her laughter. While walking to the elevator, I smiled at my mom and commented, "Too much, mom. I didn't need to hear that one." But I had a smile on my face. I had missed this, even if it was a tad uncomfortable. It brought back memories of Phoenix. I mean, Charlie certainly wasn't going to tell me about his orgy history, or at least I hoped to hell not. He did have that porn stache though. No, don't even think about it, Bella. Eww.

After reaching the campus, we started a relaxed stroll, absorbing the beauty of our surroundings. Upon ascending the Janss Steps, we took a moment to admire the view. The Southern California sun cast a warm, golden hue over the campus, and the lush green spaces and trees provided a sense of serenity.

"It really is beautiful here, Bella," my mom commented, taking in the surroundings.

"I completely agree," I said with a smile, "I'm sure I'll be very happy here during my time at UCLA. I'm excited I chose this place; I just love the area."

We continued our explorations, and I pointed out some of the buildings and landmarks that had piqued my interest. When we walked past the Powell Library, I silently patted my new library card in my pocket. Soon, I'd be able to explore it and see how it compared to the Volturi's. I had my doubts it would match up.

We snapped countless photos of each other on our phones and even asked passing students to take pictures of us together. During our explorations, we stumbled upon a statue of a giant bear. It reminded me a little of Jake in his wolf form, although Jake had been much more ferocious. We proceeded to have an amusing time taking photos in front of the UCLA mascot, with various poses and reactions, from hugging the bear to pretending it was about to gobble us up.

While we were strolling through a beautiful garden, I was in the midst of sharing my experience of jogging through Beverly Hills when my stomach rudely interrupted with a god-awful grumbling noise. I chuckled as my mom immediately fixed her gaze on my traitorous belly.

"I hope you're hungry too," I grinned. "How about we grab a bite to eat at one of the campus's food courts? It'll give you a real taste of the UCLA experience." I had gotten the sense that my mom wanted to feel more like a student while she was here, rather than being just a visiting parent.

"That sounds great, honey," my mom replied warmly. Then, she gave me a questioning look. "You're not too focused with eating right to keep your figure, are you?"

"Oh, don't worry. I'm one of those bitches that women love to hate, who can eat whatever they want without gaining a pound. Come on, I know a great food court nearby that Rebecca and I visited the other day. You'll definitely find something you'll enjoy."

As we walked to the food court, I couldn't help but notice that my mom had a knack for checking out the students, especially the young men and their behinds. I couldn't help but chuckle at her brazenness, although I kept my outward demeanor composed.

After reaching the food court, which had about 10 different eateries with various types of food, we surveyed our options. "So, what are you in the mood for?"

I watched my mom as she considered our choices, and when her eyes finally landed on the pizza place, she smiled. "Can't go wrong with pizza," she declared. After we each grabbed a few slices, we found a table, and my mom began filling me in on her and Phil's life in Phoenix.

While we ate, four guys sat down at the table next to us. They appeared to have just finished playing some sort of sport, as they were all sweaty. I couldn't help but notice my mom's eyes lingering on them. She had always been quite the flirt while I was growing up, and it seemed that marriage hadn't tamed her. Then, she looked at me and raised her eyebrows in a playful, 'hubba hubba' gesture, which made me giggle.

She leaned in and spoke softly, "There are so many hot young guys here. Are you going to be satisfied with only seeing Demetri a few times a year?"

"That won't be an issue, Mom. We talk most nights..." I thought about our conversation last night when Rebecca had gone out on a date. Demetri and I had made good use of the time getting our urges out in the best way possible. I wondered if he had recorded what I had been doing to myself. Maybe he was watching it right now… I realized my mom was staring at me, and I must have had a stupid grin on my face. I shook my head a little and added, "And we can always video chat when we're alone."

My mom's grin stretched even wider, her playful smile hinting as if she had just unearthed some well-kept secret. "Are you admitting to having sex over the computer?"

I had been distracted and hadn't meant to say that, but, upon reflection, she was right. "I guess I did," I laughed. "Well, wouldn't you want to see Demetri doing those sorts of things to himself over the computer?" I gave her a wink.

My mom laughed. "You better believe it. Don't be mad, but I've used Demetri in some of my more risqué fantasies when I'm alone."

"Mom!" I exclaimed, a bit too loudly. My outburst attracted the attention of the guys nearby, who were now clearly eavesdropping on our conversation. I tried to regain my composure but couldn't help seeing the humor in our predicament. With a chuckle, I continued, speaking more softly this time.

"Don't tell me that," I said, still laughing. "That's like me telling you I've used Phil, which I most definitely have not. No offense, but that would be gross." I subtly shifted my gaze in the direction of our inadvertent audience, signaling to my mom that it would be best to change the subject. Thankfully, she caught on, and we transitioned to discussing the classes I would be taking and the ones I was most excited about.

After our meal, as we continued our leisurely walk across campus, my mom's curiosity got the best of her, and she asked to see the photos from my European vacation. We settled on a bench beneath a sprawling tree, escaping the sun's rays, and I started sharing the pictures with her—well, the ones suitable for sharing, that is. The vampire-related images were all safely stored on Demetri's phone and computer.

As we browsed through the photos, I described each one and shared my experiences. After a while, my mom asked, "You certainly saw a lot during your trip. What was your favorite landmark that you visited?"

I paused for a moment, thinking. "I'd have to say the Parthenon," I began, reminiscing. "Demetri shared a lot about it with me, including his first visit to the area, which was utterly fascinating. He's an incredible storyteller. I could listen to him for hours, and his stories always have surprising twists, keeping you on your toes. I know he's only a few years older than me, but he's lived a colorful and eventful life and has a lot of stories to tell. I'm happy to have only heard a small fraction of them so far and can't wait to hear the rest."

My mom smiled. "He sounds wonderful." I observed as her grin took on a more mischievous quality, and I couldn't help but wonder what audacious words she was about to utter. "Now, you don't have to go into details at all, but what was the most unusual place you guys did it during your trip? I don't take Demetri for the repressed sort, and while I might have for you, honey, that belief went out the window when I heard you guys last year." She gazed at me intently. Internally, I huffed, in my opinion she just wanted some new material for her own masturbation fantasies.

I thought of the various places where we had been intimate. The plane was out of the question, considering my mom didn't know he had his own private jet. The balcony had left a lasting impression, although it wasn't particularly unique. The gondola ride in Venice had been a very unusual sexual experience, but my enthusiasm had had to be kept in check since we were out in the open. Ah, I knew the perfect story to share, and even better, it was safe to discuss. I couldn't help but grin, relieved that I had overcome any embarrassment issues I once had about talking about myself. I wouldn't have been comfortable discussing such matters last year.

"Well, one day Demetri rented a speedboat so we could see the Mediterranean. I had on this string bikini that I bought when I was out with some new friends that Demetri had introduced me to. It barely covered anything." I saw my mom's eyes widen, and she had the biggest grin on her face. "Well, eventually, we came to a small uninhabited island. It was midday, so the sun was shining down, and the island was so beautiful with its spotless sandy beach. Our clothes were already long gone from an earlier encounter in the ocean, and we started walking along the beach. It felt like we were the only two people on the planet, the heat of the sun on our skin felt so good, and there was so much on the beach that just sparkled like diamonds. We made love on that pristine beach for what felt like hours, and it was just so perfect."

"Wow." My mom's mouth hung open, and I couldn't help but notice the gleam of astonishment in her eyes. "Well, you've definitely left me speechless. I don't think I can top that one."

I smiled, wearing my own mischievous expression as I playfully said in a sweet reassuring voice, "It's okay, Mom. It's not your fault if you're too uptight and conservative." Lightly, I bumped her shoulder, letting her know I was only joking. "You just need to loosen up a little. Perhaps one day you'll gather the courage to open up more and be able to express what your truly thinking around others." I laughed as I noticed a fresh look of determination forming on my mom's face, and I was certain she was already devising a plan to convince Phil to accompany her to a beach somewhere.

After a while, my stories about my overseas trip started to wane, and I figured it was a good moment to talk about our plans for the next day. "So, I've been thinking about some activities we could do, and while I was checking out the brochures in the lobby, I came across this." I took out a folded brochure from my pocket and passed it to her. "What do you think? Do you have any interest?"

As my mom opened up the brochure, her eyes widened. "A helicopter tour of LA? Seriously? Bella, that sounds incredible." Her excitement matched my own, and I recalled how thrilling it had sounded when I first came across it a few days ago.

"Perfect. I'll sign us up. Hopefully, we can take the tour tomorrow." Afterward, we delved into an animated discussion about what the helicopter ride might be like.

Fortunately, I managed to secure reservations for the following morning. After arranging for an Uber and picking up my mom from her hotel, we headed to the Santa Monica airport. When we reached the helicopter takeoff area, the wind whipped at our hair. The day was classic Southern Californian, with brilliant sunshine bathing everything in its golden glow. I was brimming with excitement, eager to try something new. I grabbed my phone and started recording a video of my mom and me, planning to show it to Demetri when he visited. As we ascended into the sky, the view was absolutely breathtaking. Equipped with headphones, my mom and I shared our excitement, pointing out various landmarks. We were both captivated by the city and its famous features. My personal favorites were the Hollywood sign and the Santa Monica Pier. After flying over it, we decided to visit the pier the next day. The only part of the ride that unsettled me, though I guess was actually a good thing to learn, was when we neared the Topanga State Park. I scanned the area very carefully, searching for my clearing but didn't see it. Nevertheless, I knew I had to be vigilant, and listen carefully for helicopters and surveying the sky before I let loose with any explosions.

After we touched down, we expressed our gratitude to the pilot for the fantastic tour and headed to a nearby restaurant for lunch. During our meal, we discussed all the amazing sights we had seen from the helicopter. After lunch, we opted for a leisurely stroll along the beach, which was conveniently located just outside the restaurant.

As we strolled along the sandy shore, the ocean breeze carried a fresh and inviting scent. The beach was bustling with sunbathers, and I couldn't help but notice the surfers riding the waves among the beachgoers. It seemed like a lot of fun, and I found myself contemplating whether Demetri had any experience with surfing. I briefly considered asking if he could teach me, but the whole sun issue in California might pose a challenge. We'd need to find a private spot somehow. Given the Volturi's resources, they probably owned a private island or something similar. My mom's voice broke through my thoughts.

"I feel like going out later. Have you had a chance to visit any dance clubs yet?" She gazed at me with an expectant smile, and all I wanted was to ensure she enjoyed her vacation.

"Rebecca and I checked out a club a couple of nights ago with some other girls from our dorm. It's only about ten minutes from the campus, and it seemed pretty good. We could head there tonight if you're interested.

My mom smiled, "That sounds like a plan. Lucky for me, I packed an appropriate outfit just in case."

Night swiftly descended, and we soon found ourselves in the lengthy line, eagerly awaiting our turn to enter the club. I was wearing my snug little red dress, the one that seemed to leave most men struggling to speak coherently when they saw me in it. I glanced at my mom and smiled, taking in her evident happiness. She sported a rather provocative blue dress, and although she might have been a tad older than most in the crowd, her well-maintained physique and striking appearance allowed her to fit right in.

Once we made it inside the club, we had a blast on the dance floor, and my mom was delighted to discover that she was never at a loss for a dance partner. She appeared just as popular as I was, and it likely made her year.

During the next few days, we explored many fascinating places and caught a variety of shows. One experience that stood out was being part of the live audience for a taping of the Tonight Show. Witnessing all the behind-the-scenes production work was truly eye-opening. It was also a bit surreal to see celebrities in person. On the big screen, they appear larger than life, but in reality, they seemed rather ordinary, just like regular people. That night, we watched the show in one of the recreation rooms in my dorm, along with many other students. We even managed to spot my mom and me several times on the show when the camera panned across the audience.

By the last day of her visit, we had thoroughly explored Los Angeles, and for the first time, I grasped how vast the city truly was, with its many diverse sections. As I bid her farewell, my mom promised she would visit again. I assured her I'd keep her updated on how my classes were going once the school year began, which was just a couple of days away.

The following days went by quickly, and before I knew it, my first day of college had arrived. Despite being well-prepared and knowing the locations of all my classes, the day still felt like a whirlwind, but I managed to navigate it quite efficiently. It was when I entered each class that the diversity and international orientation of the student body truly struck me. I thought it was fantastic, as it was a perfect opportunity to engage with people from all corners of the world.

After returning to my dorm, I jumped right into the homework, which, since it was the first day, was fairly light. Later that evening, when I chatted with Demetri, I told him all about my first day. In return, he regaled me with an intriguing story about his recent mission in South Africa, which he had just returned from. I couldn't wait for his upcoming visit.

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