Choices and Consequences
Bella made her way out to the parking lot and stopped in front of her car. She was frustrated with how she reacted. Of course, she had so much more to say to him. She sighed as she ran her fingers through her damp hair.
"Babe?" Paul whispered gently.
He wasn't sure what had just happened, but he understood that she needed to do this on her own. No one said he had to like it, of course.
"Why couldn't I say what I need to say to him?" she let out exasperated. She let her hands fall to her sides and turned to look at Paul, exhausted from the stress of what had just happened with her mother.
"You just need air, babe. Take a deep breath and revel in knowing that your mom is safe," he replied, hugging her tightly to his chest.
Bella wrapped her arms around him and took a deep, calming, steady breath. "You're right."
"When you're ready," he whispered into her hair.
They stood in their warm embrace for what felt like hours before the sound of a throat clearing grabbed their attention.
"Isabella? May I have a word with you?"
Bella looked up to see Carlisle standing with Edward. She sighed. "I'd like to speak to Edward alone if that would be alright?" confidence in her tone.
"Yes, that's quite alright. However, I wanted to extend my deepest sincere apologies for what had transpired with your mother." Always so formal.
"It wasn't your fault, Carlisle." her brow furrowed.
"I feel as if we could have avoided it. Perhaps been better prepared," melancholy seeping through his words.
"I don't blame you, Carlisle. Any of you," Bella replied.
"I still feel that if there is anything you should ever need," he began.
"You've given me enough, Carlisle," she interrupted before he ended up pulling out his check book or something.
"Yes, that's quite alright. Again, my apologies. I do wish you well, Isabella." Carlisle smiled at her one last time before turning and heading back up towards the school.
Bella watched as he walked with his hands in his pockets, such a small trivial detail to make him seem human.
"Bella..." Edward's voice was quiet and slow.
"Don't." she replied, clipped and to the point. "I have some things I'd like to get off my chest first."
Paul leaned down and pecked Bella on the cheek before leaving to give them their privacy. He trusted his mate wholeheartedly.
"I forgive you," she said. "Not for you, but for myself. I need you to understand that I have moved on with my life. I have met someone who makes me happy and not feel alone anymore. But that's no excuse for what you did. You should have told me everything from the beginning," she was starting to get angry.
"Would you have listened to me?" he asked pointedly.
No.
She would not have listened to him at all.
She knew that already.
Bella shook her head, looking away. "No," she sighed.
"When Alice had that vision, I knew it was better for you. You would get to stay human after all. So I made the decision to go to the Volturi coven and make an agreement that they did not uphold, I might add," Edward stated the last bit matter of factly.
"You should have told me the truth anyways," she replied, her face contouring with concern and frustration.
"I didn't want to disrupt the vision in any way," he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear him.
"Always trying to be in complete control," she argued, shaking her head.
"It was the right thing to do," he replied.
"For who?" she asked.
"For Paul," Alice's voice chimed in.
Bella turned to face her, waiting for her to continue.
"See, I played with the vision in my head over and over again. And each time it ended badly for Paul," she continued. "Telling you wasn't an option, you'd fight the imprint only hurting both of you in the process. Not telling you and continuing your life with Edward would also have ended badly for Paul. You see, had you turned into one of us, and he imprinted on you then, it would have had irreparable damage we were not ready to face."
"What damage?" Bella asked, her voice beginning to shake.
"It would have killed you both," Jacob's voice rang from behind her.
She turned slowly to face him. "How?" she began.
"It was in mine and Sam's letter," he replied.
"Letter? What letter?" she demanded.
"We left a letter for Sam, and for Jacob, unsure if he'd take up his rightful place as alpha. We explained everything to them but left strict instructions to not intervene and why," Edward answered.
Bella stood shocked. Why couldn't they have written her a letter? She wondered.
"So you knew?" she asked Jacob.
Jacob just nodded. "Yeah, but after a few years, I didn't think it was true, and we weren't exactly sure who would imprint on you at that point."
"Why does it feel like everyone else is trying to take control of my life? These were not your choices and consequences to make and take," Bella was furious now.
"I ran it over in my mind, Bella. No matter how we approached you on it, nothing good would have come from us telling you too soon," Alice's voice was small.
Bella inhaled sharply before letting out a deep sigh. She sat on the curb to think carefully, trying hard to understand what she didn't want to understand yet already knew she did. It was fair. She could live with that understanding.
"Tell me," she stated.
"Which part?" Jacob asked.
"Tell me what would have happened had I been turned," Bella let out a quiet sob.
"I saw the imprint happening after you turned and once before you turned. He would have died when you were turned," Alice replied.
"And the vision of after I was turned?" she asked.
"It caused you both to wither away," Alice whispered gently. If she could cry, she would have right then.
"This was the only way to save you both," Edward stated.
"Both?" Bella questioned.
"You would have died as well, Bella," Jacob answered.
Bella sat deep in thought, letting everything sink in. This was her destiny. She was meant to be with Paul all along. It's why she felt like she didn't belong anywhere. Until she met Paul.
"I wouldn't have wanted it any other way, babe," Paul's comforting voice made her gasp. How long was he standing there? How much did he hear? Was he upset with her for wanting to know these things?
"I'm just trying to understand," she began to explain.
"It's okay. I know," Paul sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"I am glad you're in my life, Paul. Don't think otherwise," Bella replied, reaching up to kiss the tip of his nose.
"As I am you, Isabella Swan," Paul leaned down to kiss her forehead.
"I wish you both a happy life, I truly do," Edward said, and with that, he hurried away towards the forest.
"Good luck, Bella," Alice's smiled before leaving, following behind Edward.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you two love birds," Jacob sighed loudly before heading in the direction of the school gymnasium.
"I guess it's just you and me?" Paul asked, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Bella replied, reaching up for a kiss.