"To love is to suffer and there can be no love otherwise" Fyodor Dostoevsky
Stephenie Meyer own everything Twilight related
CHAPTER 6
The rain that pelted Bella's window woke her up before her alarm clock got a chance too, she lazily rolled out of her bed, slipped on her silk robe and sat down in her little alcove. She spent some time writing in her journal and looking out the window, before starting to get ready.
Have a good night Bella, will I see you tomorrow at school?
Edwards' voice rang through her memory as she made her way to her walk-in closet. She opened the french doors and looked around for an outfit that would compliment her best. She opted for an oxford blue button up paired with a navy cashmere sweater, a high waisted skirt and stockings. She french braided her hair, leaving a few strands to frame her face and tied a powder blue ribbon into a bow at the end.
Once satisfied she made her way to the kitchen and saw her mother finishing up her breakfast, Bella went to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup.
"Good morning, sweetheart" her mother said
"Morning" she replied taking a sip of coffee
"You look beautiful, blue is definitely your color" her mom commented
"Thank you" Bella said with a smile, her mother placed her breakfast in front of her, "Where is dad and Uncle Henry?"
"Henry had to step out but he'll be back when you get home from school and your father is in his office working" her mother answered, "he's trying to get caught up, since he took yesterday off" her mother added.
After Bella had finished her breakfast, she went upstairs to say goodbye to her father. She knocked on his office door and heard him say come in. She poked her head through the door, "I just wanted to say bye before I left for school" she said seeing her dad at his desk.
"Of course, I apologize for not being at breakfast" he said, standing up and walking toward Bella, "Work calls"
"I understand" she said as her dad enveloped her in a hug, "I love you" she said
"I love you too, have a lovely day at school, we'll see you when you get home" he said with a quick kiss to her forehead. Bella made her way out of his office, grabbed her school bag and took off to her mothers car.
Once Bella got to school and found a free parking space, she grabbed her things and started making her way to the school's front entrance. As she was walking, she noticed Edward Cullen leaning against his car.
"Good morning Bella, you look beautiful" he said with a smirk on his face
"Morning, so this is your car?" she asked looking at the silver Volvo
"Yes, it's fast and safe," he said simply, "May I walk you to class?" he asked
"Sure" she replied her heart skipping a beat, "I have English with Mr. Peterson" she added as they started making their way to the school's entrance
"Did you sleep well last night" he asked
"Yes, thank you for asking" she replied
"So other than being a musical prodigy, what else do you like to do on your free time" Edward asked as he held open the school door for her
Bella laughed, " I am not a prodigy, but I also like to paint, make pottery, and read."
"Who's your favorite author" he asked
She thought about for a second and then answered "I guess I would say Tolstoy"
"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family-
"Is unhappy in its own way" Bella finished the quote, "Anna Karenina" she added. Edward smiled at her and she couldn't help but to smile back at him.
As they made their way closer to Bella's first period, Edward asked another question, "what is your favorite color?"
"Emerald green" she answered in a heartbeat, "why the rapid fire of questions?"
"I'm sorry, I just want to get to know you" he replied
"Because I'm difficult to read" she stated
"Preciously, I'm curious" he said with a shrug, Bella can understand curiosity, she really wanted to take a peek at his memories but didn't. They stopped outside of Mr. Peterson class, "well this is me" Bella said
"Have a good class Bella, do you mind if I walk with you to your next one" he asked
"Sure, how else will you ask me more questions" she replied with a smile
He smirked at her "see you soon, Bella"
Bella walked into the class and took her seat in the same spot she sat in on her first day. Class went by in a blink and there Edward was waiting for Bella in the hallway. They did this for the rest of the day, Edward walking with her and asking hundreds of questions. Bella didn't necessarily mind, no one has ever taken this much interest in her life, other than her family of course.
After fourth period was over, Edward wasn't waiting for her like he had been, slightly disappointed Bella had been looking forward to seeing him. Maybe he got held up in his last class she thought, she made her way to lunch and was ushered over to Angela and her friends table. When she walked in she hadn't seen Edward but she did see his siblings sitting at their normal table without him. Bella made light conversation with Angela and Jessica, trying to distract her mind from Edward.
"Are you feeling better?" Angela asked
"Yea way better" Bella responded
"Edward Cullen is looking at you" Jessica said to Bella
"What" Bella said looking up from her lunch tray
"Yea he is sitting by himself over there" she nodded to the other side of the lunch room. Bella turned her head and saw Edward staring at her. Once their eyes locked, Edward made a come here gesture with his index finger. "I'll go see what he wants," Bella said, trying to sound nonchalant and picking up her lunch tray. She headed over to the other side of lunch room
"I figured we should have lunch together" he said
"Okay" Bella giggled and sat down next to him, "But I get to ask some questions too" she demanded
"Of course, it's only fair" he agreed, "ladies first"
"How old are you" she asked
"Seventeen" he answered without hesitation
"How long have you been seventeen" she asked
"A long time" he said, "I was born in 1901 in Chicago, Carlisle found me dying of the Spanish Influenza in 1918, my parents had already died. I was the first family member he changed." Bella nodded taking it all in, "so you're 104" Bella asked
"Does that bother you?"
"No but it might bother my parents" she replied with a laugh
Edward rolled his eyes, "How old are you?"
"I'm sixteen" she said taking a bite of her apple slices
"Do you remember your life before your change? your parents?" Bella asked, "Mine remember a few things but they say it's foggy." Bella doesn't have the ability to enhance memories from her parents' human years, they are too grainey for her.
"Not really, It's been a very long time," he answered
"You're family is very sweet, my family enjoyed meeting them" Bella said
"We wanted them to feel as welcome as possible"
"Why is that" Bella asked
"What" he asked, a look of confusion on his face
"Your family seemed really interested in meeting us, I was just wondering why?"
"We like to engage with our community as much as possible, whether that's with humans or with our own kind, fostering a sense of connection." He answered, looking down at his uneaten food.
"That makes sense, my family has been so used to hiding, the complete opposite of yours" Bella replied
"What's your favorite movie?" he asked
"I have so many, but I guess I can narrow it down to the Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind" she replied, "what do you mean when you say I'm hard to read"
"I have an ability to read minds, I can hear every thought in this room, apart from yours and your families" he said, "It's highly frustrating" he added
Bella looked down at her plate, that's another one of her abilities, an ability she shares with her father. She has a mental shield that protects her from other vampire abilities. Her and her father work together to shield her mother's mind and her Uncle Henry at all times. Should Bella open up about her shield ability to Edward, would her parents be mad?
"Oh, I see," Bella finally said, "Your turn"
Edward looked like he wanted to press her on the subject but he let it go, "Are you enjoying Portland?"
"Yes, though as long as I'm with my family, I enjoy anywhere we live" she answered honestly
"What does you diet consist of" He asked looking down at Bella eating her lunch
"I crave both food and blood, I used to crave food more but I'm noticing I crave blood a bit more lately." She answered, "I don't actually hunt though, my parents will do the dirty work for me." She added her nose slightly crinkled
Edward laughed
"What" Bella asked slightly offended
"It's just different, refreshing in a way" Edward said softly
"One of the guidelines my parents set for me to attend school is to consume a set amount of blood" Bella said
"Have you ever went without" Edward asked
"No, that's out of the question. Since I crave it, my parents encourage me to have it in my diet" She answered
"Has your family ever met anyone like you" Edward asked
"Yes, well not me but my Uncle Henry has. In the beginning, he traveled down to South America to try and study the legends that involved my species; in hopes of finding answers. He found a young man named Nahuel and his aunt Hulien, Nahuel is a hybrid and unfortunately his mother died in childbirth. His mother begged her sister to take care of him before she passed.
His father, a vampire named Joham I think, reached out a couple of years later and wanted Nahuel to join him. His father was trying to create a super race of hybrid children, and I guess Nahuel chose not to join him. Nahuel was very kind to my Uncle, answering his questions about my kind. At the time he met my Uncle he was 150 years old, my parents had been concerned about my aging and were relieved when they found out how old Nahuel was.
There were some differences between myself and Nahuel but we had a lot of similarities; we both can live off of human food and blood, we both stopped aging at eleven years old, and we have blood that runs through our veins. Nahuel has venom though, he accidentally changed his aunt into a vampire; I don't have venom. We aren't sure if that is due to a random inheritance or a gender difference". Bella said playing with end of her braid
"So there are more hybrids" Edward asked
"I guess, if given the opportunity I would love to meet a hybrid" Bella said, she would find comfort knowing someone like her, since she isn't fully like her parents and not fully human.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch and students started leaving the cafeteria. Edward picked up his food tray and went to pick up Bellas at the same time she was reaching for hers, their fingers gently touched and Bella felt that shock again.
"I'll take it he whispered toward her, Bella looked down and blushed
"Thank you" she uttered, get it together Bella, she thought to herself. When he got back he helped her with her stuff and together they left the cafeteria and headed towards Anatomy, the only class they had together. As they took their seats in class, Bella noticed Edward placed his chair closer to her so they shoulders were basically touching. They looked at each at the same time, and smiled
After school was over, Bella walked out of her last class and headed for the student parking lot. Edward and his family were waiting around his car, when Alice saw Bella she practically skipped over to her.
"Hi Bella!" she said in an enthusiastic tone and a huge smile
"Hi, did you have a good day" Bella asked genuinely
"Yes, thank you for asking, Edward had a good day today too, he's in a great mood. Definitely because of you" She replied
Bella blushed and looked down at her feet, Bella greeted the rest of the family as they approached.
"I'll walk you to your car, Bella" Edward said
"Thank you." As Bella was stepping off the sidewalk, her foot twisted on the curb but before she fell Edward caught her by her arm, "Careful, Bella" He whispered
"Sorry, I can be a tad bit clumsy" Bella said with a slight giggle
"Of course you are" Edward laughed helping her to her car
"At lunch, remember when I told you I had a special ability?" Edward asked looking down at her
"Yes"
"Well, Alice has the ability to see the future" Edward said
"Wow" Bella uttered, she had a weird feeling the Cullens are more powerful than her family originally thought
"Now it's limited to seeing the outcome of a decision after it's been made, the future she sees can change as people make new decisions." He added, "She's able to easily predict the weather though and next Saturday there's gonna be a thunderstorm. My family would like to invite yours to play baseball" he said
"Oh, baseball?" Bella questioned
"Yes, baseball is an American pastime and we can only play during a thunderstorm" he replied
"I can ask my family, though we're not very sporty" Bella said with a chuckle
"Okay" He said with a smile on his face, he handed her a folded piece of paper, "This is the best way to contact me" he added. "Drive safely, Bella" he said and walked back to his family. She got into her car and unfolded the piece of paper he gave her. His phone number was written on the paper, Bella giggled to herself and added his contact into her phone.
When Bella got home, she practically ran inside her house; almost tripping on the rug in the front entrance.
"Bella, slow down" Her mother said from the kitchen, "How was school?"
"It was good, I got all of my school work caught up from missing yesterday" she said, taking off her shoes and her coat and placing them in the closet. Her father came down the stairs from his office to see Bella, together they made their way to the kitchen. Her mother was finishing up dinner and Uncle Henry was on his laptop looking highly focused. Bella gave her Uncle a kiss on the cheek and hugged her mom before grabbing some water from the fridge.
"So" Bella said as she sat down on at the kitchen island, "the Cullens would like us to join them next Saturday to play Baseball" Bella said nonchalantly
"Baseball? Bella we don't play Baseball, besides I have to go back to Vancouver next Saturday" her Uncle Henry scoffed looking up from his laptop, Bella doesn't think Baseball is the issue for her Uncle; it's definitely the Cullens.
"I'm still behind on work, I'll be catching up this weekend and next" her father chimed in
"The local library is having a small booksale next Saturday and I already volunteered" Her mother said
"Oh okay" Bella said trying not to sound disappointed
"You can still go Bella" Her mother said
"What?" Bella, Uncle Henry and her father spat out in unison
"Oh stop it you too" She said pointing the knife she had in her hand at Charlie and Uncle Henry "She'll be fine"
"Really?" Bella asked bubbling with excitement
"I spoke with Esme for a bit earlier today, we talked about it, they will watch over her" she said with a simple shrug
"Renee, we don't know much about the Cullens" Her father said shaking his head
"I like their family, Also Esme is a lovely woman, I am comfortable with Bella going with them" Her mom pushed
"Okay, but you and Edward are not allowed to be alone" her father said giving in to his wife and pointing at Bella
"Thank you!" Bella said jumping up out of her seat and kissing her mother and father each on the cheek, "We are just friends" she added
Uncle Henry rolled his eyes, "friends my ass" he said under his breath
Bella ran out of the kitchen to and up the stairs to her bedroom, "Bella your dinner's nearly ready" her mother called out
"I'll just be a moment" she replied when she reached the top of the steps. She grabbed her phone on the way up and dialed Edwards number, he instantly answered
"Bella?" he asked
"Hi, I just spoke with my parents and they aren't able to come but they I said I can join your family next Saturday" Bella said all in one breath
She heard Edward chuckle, "That's good news, I'm guessing Esme helped convince your mom"
"Yes she did, my mom likes her" Bella said with a giggle
"Well the feeling is definitely mutual" Edward responded
"Bella come eat" Her mother said from the bottom of the stairs
"I'll let you go, enjoy your dinner Bella" Edward said
"I will, see at school tomorrow"
"Bye, Bella" she hung up the phone and practically skipped her way down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she heard she parents in the kitchen
"Renee" Her father whispered
"Charlie" Her mother mimicked
"I don't like this, she isn't ready" He said
"She's not or your not" She asked
"Classic line Renee, don't turn this around on me" he said
"Charlie, we can't keep her hidden forever, it's no way to live. She needs friends, she can be herself around the Cullens" she stressed
"She has us" he said
"Sweetheart, she needs more than just us" Her mother replied, "Bella stop eavesdropping and come eat your dinner" she added
Bella walked into the kitchen, her Uncle Henry was gone and the tension between her parents was overwhelming. "I don't have to go," she said trying to relieve some tension between her them
"Don't be ridiculous Bella, you already told Edward you are going to go" her mother responded
"I can make an excuse" she said with a shrug
"No, you're gonna go" Her father said, "I want you to go and have fun" he said pinching her cheek
Bella couldn't help plastering a huge smile on her face
"But I'm serious about you not being alone with Edward" he said
Another chapter finished!
Hopefully Bella's family opening up to the Cullens will be worth it , only time will tell
Until next time!