So, this chapter was incredibly fun to write. A little bit too much fun lol.
See, this chapter is the shortest one in the entire book, it's only about 3,000 words long, and that's because I hadn't even hit the half way point of being done with it. So, I called it, and just cut it in half, because otherwise, it was gonna get a little bit too long.
I hope you all have as much fun reading this, as I did writing it.
Kuro: Thank you mate!
1637: Oh thank you you! That seriously means the world to me! I'm so glad your enjoying my stuff haha!
Guest: Oh I will, I have a lot of plans with this franchise, haha, thank you so much!
I was walking back, about a mile away from the house. I would've run, but I wanted to take my time after my little… episode.
My angel's hand was in mine, lightly swinging back and forth as we went through small beams of sunlight, illuminating our pale skin with fiery light.
It was as beautiful as the first time I saw it. The way her skin was glowing was mesmerizing, and even if it was a little arrogant, with my own skin doing the same. It felt right.
Even if she wasn't real.
"I love you," I whispered, bringing her hand up to kiss. She looked pained as I did, but I knew it was because I'd chosen insanity over letting her go. She didn't say anything back, merely bit her lip, and gave me the best smile she could. As always, trying to make me happy, even through her own worries.
"Angel… Edythe." I breathed, letting the beautiful pain hit me, trying to convince her… to convince myself that this was the right thing to do. "I love you," I whispered again, closing my eyes as I put her hand to my cheek. This would become an addiction. A drug.
The pleasure and the pain of finally letting myself think about her, of saying her name.
"Beau, stop." She said firmly, but not pulling away from me. I shook my head, grinning as the drug that was her consumed me. I knew what she meant now when she first took me to the meadow. What it was like to be so completely consumed by something, to want nothing more than to give into it.
She was talking about killing me back then, but here - now, all I could ever want was the memory of her.
Because I knew it was the best I'd ever get.
"Sure angel," I breathed, letting my eyes fall back to the path. My eyes could see the house now, and I could hear someone inside. It wasn't Archie. Which was worrying in itself. I hope I didn't screw things up with him too badly.
My grin got big though as I heard whoever it was speak. But I was also confused, because she was alone, and talking to someone.
"He's at the hospital," Jules growled faintly. I blanched, who was she talking to? No one else was… phone. Duh. I was too far away to make out what the person on the other end was saying. "There was a fire." She snapped.
I picked the pace up, not running, not even jogging, but I was walking fast enough that a human wouldn't be able to keep up. I know she didn't have a mobile, so she must be talking in the kitchen.
"No! He's… he's gone." She mumbled. I could practically taste the despair she said that with. I walked even faster. I think she heard me - or smelled me, because she suddenly slammed the phone against the wall (which I knew because of the distinctly loud slam and ring).
"Filthy bloodsucker." She spit. I was running. I really hoped she didn't mean me.
"Jules," I called, opening the backdoor and bounding in. I guessed right. She was standing next to the phone, vibrating, scowling, and trying to shake off the anger. Her eyes snapped up to me as I came into view, and the hostility that was rolling off of her almost doubled.
It was like a punch in the gut - she was looking at me in the exact same way when I'd come back after the change. When she opened her door, she looked at me like I was a monster. I swallowed hard, my whole body freezing.
"Hey," I said softly, but not moving a single centimeter otherwise. I knew she wouldn't actually try but at the moment… I don't think I'd ever seen her so angry. She didn't say anything, just growling from the back of her throat.
After a minute, she forcefully shut her eyes and slowly made herself calm down.
"Hi," She managed to grunt, crossing her arms and leaning back against the wall, as though to restrain herself.
"You ok?" I asked, risking two steps into the room. She didn't seem to mind. She nodded, opening her eyes and looking around suspiciously.
"Yeah… Just don't wanna be here." She mumbled shrugging. I finally took a little breath because that stung, but it was fair. I started this mess, and right now, for whatever reason she was here, bearing through the smell of two vampires.
And on top of that, I knew that to her, she was putting her neck on the line. I would never hurt her in a million years, and Archie wouldn't either. But she didn't necessarily know that.
"Sorry," I mumbled back. She shrugged again. "Uh… we could talk outside if you want." I offered, nodding towards the back. I wanted her to be as comfortable as possible. Especially if I was gonna try and fix the mess I'd created.
"I just have a couple of questions - this shouldn't take long." She grunted, standing a little straighter. It made me feel even colder than I was naturally because her eyes were an exact copy of Sam's right now. Strong, defensive, serene - but all of that was just layers on top of anger.
"Sure, wanna sit down? I think there's coke in the fridge," I said with what was hopefully a nice smile. I flashed over to the table and pulled a chair out for her.
"No thank you, Beau," She said calmly, shaking her head, staying stone still, and not reacting to my inhuman ability. "One of the Cullens is staying with you?"
"Yeah," I said, without thinking. He might be on a plane back to Denali right now for all I know. "I think. Um but yeah, Archie's staying for a bit."
She nodded thoughtfully. "How long is he staying?"
"As long as he'd like," I said with a strained laugh, hoping it was enough of a neutral answer. I didn't know what to tell her. I didn't want to lie and say he was gone, or of course, lie and say that he was still hanging around. "But it's an open invitation," I said awkwardly.
"Do you think that you could… please… tell him what's been going on - about the other one. Victor." She said, looking down at her feet. She couldn't even look me in the eye. It made me feel empty.
"I - I did already."
"And I guess… we can't help you… if you get in a fight with either one of them. We can only help you if you're on our land." She said that with a bit of hidden strain like it hurt for her to get it out.
"Okay," I say with a small voice, but with a little hope. "That means you guys still want me around?"
Her shoulders slumped, and she finally looked up at me, keeping that distant look. "That depends on my mom Beau, she still hasn't decided whether a new treaty would be good or not."
"But you'll… you'll still be around… even if she says no?" I asked with a whisper.
She didn't say anything.
"Jules?" I asked, feeling light-headed now. This felt like… it felt like what my angel…
"Are the rest coming back?" She asked instead of answering. She tried and failed at hiding the tension behind her eyes.
"No," I said, shaking my head. This wasn't like the hell I'd chosen with my angel - the pain would be my constant companion, because I'd lost a piece of myself, and I'd decided to let the wound grow instead of trying to heal it.
This felt like an entirely different injury; like someone was ripping a whole new piece of me out. It felt vaguely like what had happened with my angel when she left, but it… I guess I could describe it as a different flavor of hell. "They aren't coming back," I choked out.
Her expression didn't change. "Okay. That's all."
"I'll call you when Archie goes home?" I asked though it sounded like a desperate plea more than anything else.
"Okay," She repeated, cold indifference in her eyes.
That seemed to be it. She walked out without saying another word.
It felt like I was underwater again. My angel… and my best friend… they… they both… I didn't even get a chance to… I didn't even get to say sorry.
I carefully took a step back, my hips hitting the kitchen counter as I stared blankly at the wall.
How could I have alienated her so quickly? How could I do this to her? Why do I keep pushing people away? Why… What was so… why was I so different?
Would she forgive me? Once I could confirm Archie was gone? I buried my face in my hands. Why do I keep messing up? What could I have done? What could I have said better?
I let out a tiny, shuddering breath, my frame shaking. Was it hard to breathe? Was that even possible for me?
I was so absorbed in the pain that I didn't even hear the footsteps carefully walking back into the room.
"Beau…?" Jules asked. I jerked up, startled.
That cold indifference was gone. She looked worried; uncertain.
I quickly turned my back. I didn't want anyone else to see my brokenness. Especially not her. Not my safe harbor. "Y-yeah?" I asked in a small voice.
I could hear her walk up to me. She didn't say anything.
I felt a pair of warm arms wrap around me from behind, hugging me tight. "Sorry," She mumbled, her head pressing into my back.
I was too afraid to speak, worried that my voice would give out on me. I just shook my head. She wasn't the one that needed to apologize.
Keeping her arms around me, she moved over to my side, finally looking me in the eyes again. She sighed, "I already knew what they meant to you Beau. I knew how you'd react if you ever saw them again. I don't know why I was so thrown by that." She shook her head, before gently resting it against my chest.
I was glad she did. I don't think I could keep looking her in the eye. It hurt too much.
I wanted to tell her that the Cullens… that word still stung it seemed.
The Cullens and the wolves were so similar… using their powers to help people. But I knew there wasn't anything I could say to convince her.
"Sorry," I finally whispered.
"Well," She said, surprisingly light-hearted as she mumbled against me, "it's only a visit right? He'll be gone soon, and then we can go back to normal."
I sighed. My throat finally was loosening up for me to talk. "Can't I be friends with the both of you?" I asked.
"It… it doesn't really work that way, Beau. Your - hhm you're a vampire… like they are… but you're different. You don't kill people like they do… you save lives." She breathed.
I could hear… I think I could hear… pride? Someone… She was proud of me? It almost made me choke up again. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and hugged her tight, though of course, keeping my strength in check.
She wasn't angry with me… she… I don't think I hurt as badly as I thought at least. I nodded quickly. "Okay… I wish it was different, but okay."
I pulled away just enough to see her face, grinning as I asked. "But you'll still be my friend, right? After he's gone? Even though you know what they… that we really are one and the same? That won't change… but you'll come back? Right?"
She was grinning wider than I was. "I'll always come back, Beau. I'm your friend… even if I'm not gonna be here all the time. Even if you're a leech."
"Ha, say's you mutt," I said playfully, still a little choked up. She just shook her head and put her head back on my chest. We were both quiet then, neither one of us moving as we held each other. I could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she laid into me.
Everything was a mess, completely and utterly. It was amazing having Archie back, better than I could realistically describe - but that meant when Jules walked away our friendship was gonna be put on hold, and I didn't know when I was gonna see her again.
"I'll miss you," Jules said quietly, her grip on me tightening. "Every second. I hope the parasite gets lost soon."
"I know," I said with a small, tired laugh, and ignored the dig at my species.
"I'll talk to mom. I'll make her accept the new treaty - Swans, and Quilettes. Then you can come hang out just like we used to." She said slowly drawing back, letting me go.
I wasn't ready for her to go, and as with every movement, all I had to do was think; however unintentional it was, my hand moved to her waist, keeping her there. She didn't try to pull away. She was staring at me with the same reluctant eyes - she didn't want to go, any more than I wanted her to leave.
Slowly, carefully, she raised her hand, letting her fingers gently run down my jaw. Her warm hand felt blazing hot against my ice-cold skin. It was… nice.
Neither of us moved, we simply stood there, gazing at each other with waves of complicated emotion, all frozen into one look.
"Beau," She whispered, her voice dripping with intense vulnerability, her face… her lips moving a fraction closer to mine.
I didn't move. I couldn't - I was frozen in place. Even with all the space in my head, and even with how fast I could think - I couldn't come to a decision quick enough.
I wasn't ready for this. It was dumb of me to put myself in this situation in the first place!
I'd already made a decision. I was Edythe's. Completely, and no matter what. Even if she would never want to see me again, even if she was a million miles away, for the rest of eternity. And I could never live without her - that's why I embraced the hallucinations.
But that doesn't mean I wanted to hurt Jules by telling her she came second to that. Or any variation of. Because she wasn't. She was my friend. My best friend and the absolute last thing I would ever do would be to hurt her.
I wasn't ready, because I didn't know how to tell her that we could never be a thing. Because it would be foolish to assume there'd be no consequences to this. Would she still be my friend? Could she learn to live with just being friends? Would it be selfish for me to keep being her friend, rejecting her the same way my angel did, and then sticking around to taunt her with that fact after?
How do you tell someone you were too broken to love? To dead inside to give them what they deserve?
"Beau," She breathed, closing her eyes, as she drew closer. I could feel her breath against my lips.
Do I turn away? Do I say something? Do I wait? Do I let it happen and explain after?
My time was up. I needed to do something.
"Julie…" I whispered, my jaw set, and my hand gripping her waist getting a little tighter to stop her. For a fraction of a second, I saw heartbreak in her eyes.
But before either one of us could do anything more. We both smelled it.
Vampire.
Running towards the house. Coming from the back, the same way I came.
Without thought this time, the hand I had on her circled her body, twisting her so that she was secure behind me. I could feel her vibrating as she gripped my hoodie, and I had a low growl building in the back of my throat as I eyed the door.
"Beau, move!" Jules snapped, trying to push me out of the way so she could have room to shift. But she only managed to move me about an inch.
Which I was glad about because I could smell the vampire a little better now that they were closer. I gave a sigh of relief. Archie was still here.
I looked over my shoulder at Jules, grinning, and shaking my head. I just saved my best guy friend, and my dad's kitchen from a werewolf. "It's Archie, it's fine."
She glared at me hard and then gave me another shove. This one was decidedly harder. I stumbled forward a couple of feet this time. "Great, a beast ." She growled, shaking her head, and started stomping out. "See ya."
I was an idiot. I was not gonna leave her like this. Yeah, she's stressed about Archie coming back so quickly, but it wouldn't take a genius to figure out that she was also disappointed about… us.
I was gonna be honest, I would just tell her the truth.
"Jules, hold on," I said, stalking after her quickly. I'd barely gotten past the kitchen door when I found her standing in the hall. I gave a sigh, Archie was coming in the door now.
She whirled around, looking like a trapped animal with wild eyes. She barreled past me, heading to the front, and I let her, planning on just following her and having our talk, but she'd only gone a couple of steps before she stopped again.
Archie was standing at the foot of the stairs, his face almost whiter than usual, and his eyes wide with horror glazed with some unseen vision. His whole body was trembling.
It freaked me out a little. I'd never seen him this… scared? Yeah. Scared seemed like the right word. Gently, I put a hand on Jules' back (partly to keep her from running away without me), and I took a step around her. "Archie?" I said. "What's wrong?"
"Beau," He stuttered, shaking his head slowly.
"What?" I asked, my stress skyrocketing. "Archie, you're freaking me out."
His eyes quickly snapped into focus, and he glared at me with confusion. His face was a mask of devastation, and his eyes were wide with pain.
"Edythe," was all he said.
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