Chapter 4
BPOV
As we wandered into the cafeteria, I could feel the eyes penetrating the back of my head. I knew what they were thinking. I even heard someone ask 'Why are they with her?' I kept my head bowed as we continued walking, trying to avoid the gazes pointed directly at me.
We finally neared the table as I sat down between Emmett and Alice. I could feel their worried gazes as I sat there. We sat there momentarily in awkward silence, until Jasper reached over and gave me an apple. I looked at him curiously.
"There wasn't much left so…" he said sheepishly.
"No thank you….it's great." I answered with a timid smile. They were still looking at me worriedly, so I took a bite out of the apple which seemed to relieve them. The apple was delicious; so sweet and ripe. I moaned in delight and quickly finished it, not realizing how hungry I actually was.
"So Bella…" Alice started, as I turned to look over at her.
"Yes Alice?"
"Well besides the obvious. Are you enjoying Forks?" she grinned, her topaz eyes twinkling in excitement.
"It's alright." I answered.
"Alright?" Rosalie questioned, flickering everyone's gazes to mine for an explanation.
"Well there isn't much to do around here, and from what I've experienced, when you're new you're treated like crap." I grumbled.
"Don't fret Bellsy." Alice chirped. I looked at her confusedly. That name sounded so familiar yet so alien. Jasper must have sensed my discomfort because he looked at Alice and her gaze then shifted to one of unease and regret. The silence permeated the air once more as we sat. I was just about to say something to break the silence when the bell rang. I began gathering my belongings as I threw my apple core into the trash bin. We were all about to exit through the doors when I heard Jacob call my name. I instinctively turned around, and ended up crashing into Edward's hard chest. I ignored the shiver that spread throughout my body as my hands pressed against his body where I felt, the contours of the firm muscles that probably lay underneath. He immediately stiffened, and turned his gaze to what looked like an agitated Jacob. The two glared at each other momentarily, neither one of them shifting their gaze from one another, when I looked up at Edward.
"Um…Edward. I'll see you in class?" I said it came out more as a question then a statement. I had the strange feeling that he didn't want me to be left alone with Jacob. The reason why, I will never understand. His eyes focused on mine; topaz on brown. So many emotions flickered across his face and eyes that I couldn't decipher. He took a deep breath looked at Jacob before settling his eyes back on me.
"Yeah. See you in a bit Bella." with one final weary glance at Jacob, he turned and left. Jake's agitated expression then shifted from agitation to one of resentment, as he looked at me. His 6'4 russet toned frame hunched slightly over to look down at my 5'6 small frame. I noticed he was only about three inches taller than Edward. Why I knew that…again I never would understand why.
"So…." I began looking up at him.
"Uh…yeah. I'm want to apologize." he said sullenly.
"You don't have to apologize it was my fault anyway." I answered, knowing it was true.
"No it wasn't. It was mine, and I also heard what Lauren said, she was wrong and I'd never seen her act so rudely to anyone before." he said.
"But it was all true." I said, looking down at my feet.
"Stop selling yourself short Bella. You need to stop listening to what others say, but listen to what your heart and mind says." he said grinning."Jacob…do you always sound like some cheesy fortune cookie?" I grinned, teasing him.
"Hey! I'm hurt. Just because I'm sexy doesn't mean I can't have logic?" he faked mocked hurt.
"Whatever you say Jacob." I laughed.
"Are we cool?" he asked bending his head down.
"We always were." I smiled at him. I didn't realize the close proximity between the two us as he pulled me into a hug. He was no Edward, who smelled of musk and citrus. Jacob was something warm; woodsy. I closed my eyes and briefly let his scent overwhelm my senses. Our hug was broken when the warning bell signaled we only had 2 minutes to get to class. He chuckled giving me one final squeeze and wave as we both sprinted down the hallway to our respective classrooms.
I made it through the doors right as the bell rang and took a deep breath. The class and teacher were of course staring at me like I was crazy. Flushing, I took my seat next to Edward who instantly wrinkled his nose at me. I looked a t him curiously smelling my hair. Freesias and strawberries. I did not smell. We were watching a video in biology so we sat there in relative silence. The video was about the fungal processes of some mold so it took pretty much all of class to watch. Once the bell rang, I began gathering my belongings and stuffing them in my backpack. Edward stood there silently, waiting for me to exit when I looked back up at him. He wrinkled his nose once more at me and I inwardly growled. He walked me to my history class, before bidding me farewell. I didn't know what his problem was, but looking at me as if I smelled fowled was really irritating.
I sat down next to Jasper who turned in my direction but quickly halted his movements taking a deep breath, wrinkling his nose also. I discreetly smelled my arm. Again, I smelled like my favorite body wash. He leaned back and it looked as if he wasn't breathing. We were also watching a video in this class, and afterwards when we had to answer question about what we had watched I turned to ask Jasper for help, but before I could even ask, I noticed the disgusted look upon his face.
"Jasper you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah Bella, my allergies are just acting up. All of the dust around here's messing up with my sinuses." he said. Lie. This school was not that old, and from my perspective it wasn't a really dusty place. I left it alone and turned back to my paper and finished answering my questions, turning it in as soon as the bell rang. Before I can turn around to ask Jasper if he'll help me study for our civil war exam next week, he's already out the door.
"Well that's strange." I mumble to no one in particular. I groan to myself knowing that I'm in for hell for my next period of class.
I hurry and change and stumbled out to see Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett eagerly waving at me across the gym. I smiled and begin walking towards them, as I get closer all three of their faces wrinkle, as they stare at me. What was with the constant faces if disgust. Growling, I bluntly stare back at them.
"What?" I huff. Alice and Rosalie say nothing. Emmett is the first to speak up.
"No offense Bella, but you reek." Emmett says, earning a double smack to the back of the head from the two of them.
"Emmett!" Rosalie screeched.
"What…Its true." he sheepishly says.
"Hey… I do not stink. Is that what think. Jasper, Edward, and you guys all won't talk to me because you think I smell. Look I don't know what kind of cruel joke you like to play on people, but I am a person and I have feelings. If you didn't want to be my friends that's all you had to say." I sadly smiled, knowing it was too good to be true. I silently walk away and sit down on the bleachers. The only agenda for us to do today is walk laps till the end of class. I walk by myself in silence, staring at the green lushes that surround the rainy, dreary town of Forks. I dress in a daze, leaving the lockers not even remotely caring where I was going until I heard a velvety voice call out my name.
"Bella." he said, from his Volvo the window rolled down. I guess I hadn't realized that I had been walking halfway towards my house. I kept walking. I was still pissed off at his and his sibling's behavior. All I wanted was to curl up in a ball and pretended that this day never happened.
"Bella, please stop." he pleads, as I glance over to him. Even from the short distance, I could see his topaz eyes glistening.
"Why won't you leave me alone? It's obvious you guys don't want to be my friends. Please just let me be." I plead as I continue walking; my shoulders hunched forward, my head hung.
"Please. Just get in the car. " It's starting to rain, and I don't want you to get sick, please." He begs. I pause momentarily, as to whether or not I should comply. I still had a good ways to walk and with the beginning drizzle of rain it would probably take me even longer to get home. I sigh quietly to myself as I head towards the silver car. He quickly steps out of the car and in a flash he's in front of me guiding me to the passenger side as he opens my door.
"Thank you." I quietly greet. He smiles crookedly at me and I swear my heart skips a couple of beats. It isn't long before I notice that we're in front of my house as he turns off the ignition. We sit there in silence each of us taking quick glances at one another. I was just about to open the door to exit when Edward calls out my name."Bella?" he starts.
"Yeah, Edward?" I quickly respond, looking at the soft patters of the rain against the windshield
"I can't do it anymore." He gruffly says."Do what anymore?" I asked confused.
"Never Mind. Please be safe Bella." he whispers as I close the door behind me. I slowly walk over to my front door without turning around. As soon as I am in the confines of my own home. I wait for the purr of the engine restarting but it never comes. Just as I am about to look out my window to see if he's still there, I hear the purr of the Volvo's engine as it pulls out my driveway. Turning back around, I lean against the and close my eyes. Something wasn't right about them. As much as I wanted to find out what, I had a bad feeling that when I did find out, it was going to end up in disaster.
JPOV
"Em, I don't know if I can do this." I say, sighing as Alice messes with the tendrils of hair at the base of my neck.
"Do what?" Emmett asks, heading towards the couch pulling Rose against him on his lap."I don't know if I can keep lying to her like that. It kills me. Do you know what I felt from her today? Greif. Greif so strong that I could barely even stand up. But when she's around us, she feels hope. Acceptance." I solemnly say.
"I know bro, but we have to be cautious. She can't know yet." Emmett says, rubbing his neck against Rosalie's shoulder.
"You're right though. I just hope we are able to tell her soon. Remember when Mom and dad told us that Mom was pregnant?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, who could ever forget that." Emmett and Rosalie laughed.
Flashback….
February 16, 1992…
We were all sitting down relaxing in the living room. Alice perched at the base of my feet. It was a weekend and we were all in front of the television watching our favorite Saturday morning cartoons. I was 13 and Emmett 15. Emmett and Rose were in the couch, while Edward sat beside me. We had been friends for as long as I could remember. I'd met Edward and Alice; the twins when I was 6 and we'd had been best friends ever since. In fact that was even when I began harboring a crush on Alice. She still didn't know how I felt, but that was beside the point. Rosalie was their older cousin who came to live with them when her parents died the year before in a car accident. Let's just say that when Emmett set his eyes upon her-it was love at first sight, or so he claims.
Every weekend we would meet up at our house, chewing down on cereal while we watched cartoons. Yeah we were a bunch of teenagers who still watched cartoons. Their parents were gone most of the time anyway so they were always at our house. It was nearing twelve and we were all deciding on what to do next. We had finally decided on going to the park when mom and dad stopped us, telling us that they had news to tell us.
"Spill!" Alice squealed. She loved hearing about new or interesting facts.
"Well, Emmett and Jasper. You two are getting mighty old…" mom started.
"Hey we're not that old. You're trying to get rid of us already?" Emmett pouted.
"No baby, I love you too much to get rid of you anytime soon." Mom smiled.
"So what's the news?" Edward asked.
"Well…in just short of 8 and ½ months we're going to have another addition to the family." Dad said. My jaw dropped. I looked over to Em and his face mirrored mine. Mom was pregnant. We sat there in silence, before Rose and Alice both squealed grabbing my parents into a hug.
"Oh my god! I'm so happy for you Ren." Alice cheered. Edward gave them congrats, while Emmett and I sat there. Mom and Dad then turned to us engaging our reaction. Emmett was the first to speak up.
"Mom's pregnant?" he said as a question.
"Yep. You two are going to have a new baby brother or sister." Dad smiled."But…but you're old." Emmett shouted."Emmett Charles Swan!" Mom screeched.
"Sorry Mommy." he solemnly said, using "mommy" as a way to get out of trouble. He was two years older than me and a mama's boy. Hell even I was one.
"First off, we are not old. Thirty seven and thirty eight are reasonable ages to have children." mom reassured.
"Sorry it's just a bit of shock." I spoke up.
"I know, it was a shock to us a well. I'm little over a month and a half. Can you believe it Charlie?" Mom smiled at dad.
"No I can't, but I'm glad anyway." Dad smiled, kissing her on the lips.
"Ew, parents being mushy. Abort! Abort!" Emmett hollered, trying to grab Rose."Stop acting silly." Rose pushed. Rose love kids. Being the only child she always wished she had siblings.
"Rose's right. You maybe even get that baby sister I've always wanted." Mom smiled.
"No way. It's going to be a boy. No more girls into the mix." Emmett pouted. Bad answer.
"And what exactly is wrong with having a girl?" Rosalie and Alice said standing up folding their arms. Both Edward and I chuckled at the sight of them.
"Uh…uh nothing." Emmett stuttered.
"Good answer." Edward smiled."Well I don't care what the baby is. As long as she or he is healthy." Dad said
"Of course honey. You would say that since you're the one controlling the gender. All you've given me is two rowdy boys.'' Mom said amusedly, my dad's cheeks flushing red, a trait I'm glad my brother and I hadn't inherited.
"Sorry dear." Dad smiled."Whatever you say love, whatever you say" mom said kissing his cheeks.
"Now, why don't my two boys come give me a congratulatory hug?" Mom said, opening up both of her arms. Emmett and I both stood up and headed towards her. It was a funny sight. Mom was a foot shorter than the both us only standing at a mere 5'0. At 13 and 15, I was already 6'0 and Emmett a giant 6'4. As we both towered over her, I gave her a peck on the cheek as Emmett bent down to Mom's stomach.
"Hey squishy!" Emmett smiled."Squishy?" I teased."Yeah. From what I remember in Biology our future sibling looks like an alien. And the only name I could come up with is Squishy." he smiled.
"I really hope you don't name your child that Mr. C." Edward grimaced.
"I know Ed, Emmett's just being silly." Dad huffed."Hey…in my defense. Squishy is a nice name for a boy." Emmett answered.
"What makes you think it's going to be a boy?" Rose questioned. Oh no….this was going to be interesting. Mom and dad laughed knowing what was coming and walked out of the room.
"Boys are so much better, besides I think all Mom can make is boys." Emmett stupidly said."Emmett, for your information, the male determines the sex of the child, so it's your dad not your mom." Rose answered.
"Whatever. It's going to be a boy and I know it." Emmett smiled. Rose growled. Alice, Edward, and I settled back on the couch not watching the television but watching the amusing scene in front of us on how the new baby was going to be a boy.
Who ever thought he was going to be right. When dad arrived home stating that it was a boy. Emmett nearly jumped for joy. I told you so was the first thing he said. We all had rolled our eyes at his expense. Mom came in solemnly sad, that she wasn't getting the girl she wanted. When it came to shopping for clothes, mom picked yellow, because she had a "feeling" that blue wasn't going to be appropriate. We had all argued claiming that yellow was too girly for a boy, but we three knew not to argue with a pregnant woman. It just ended in turmoil. They had even decided on a name: Braden Kyle Swan.
Guess our surprise when a couple months later when Mom gave birth and instead of the brother we'd expected, the little fluff ball in mom's hands was a little girl."Wait… I thought it was a boy?" Alice said, asking the question we were all thinking.
"Well the doctor was wrong. The sonogram machine had a faulty wire. You guys, Emmett and Jasper, I'll like you to meet your baby sister Isabella Marie Swan." she smiled.
End Flashback…..
BPOV
I sat at the kitchen table doing some leftover Algebra homework, while I waited for Jolie to come home. I haven't seen her lately a much as I wanted to. Every time I see her she was always leaving, or coming in in the early hours of the day when I left for school. Although it was Friday night, I had nothing else to do. Most teenagers would be at the mall or the movies with their friends, but I didn't have any and I tended to act like a hermit. I mean I guess I can consider Angela and Jacob my friends, though they never invited me anywhere. I don't blame them; I would probably make the situation boring or awkward.
I had just moved to the couch, to watch some useless program on Mtv when Jo strolled through the door.
"Hey B. How's it going?" she smiled her red hair bopping up and down in here high ponytail.
"Nothing much. You? You've been MIA for awhile." I answered sadly.
"Oh Bella, I'm sorry. With school and that guy I'm seeing, I totally forgot about you. I'm Sorry. I promise to spend some more time with you." She grinned.
"How about now?" I smiled, hoping she would accept my invitation.
"Sorry Bella, I sort of having a date." she answered grimly.
"It's okay. I sort of figured." I answered.
"No, I'll cancel, we'll spend the day together…." she tried to say as the doorbell rang.
"No don't worry about it….its use-less?" I stated as I looked confusedly at door way.
"Rosalie…," I stuttered. "Alice?"
EMPOV
"Hey Jas, Edward. Where are the girls?" I asked flopping down on the couch causing the pillows to fly up into the air.
"There over at Bella's trying to coax her into a sleepover." Edward answered.
"What Alice didn't see?" I asked."No, because it's all up to Bella on whether or not she'll come over." Edward said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Why so glum chum?" I asked."Maybe we should just leave her alone. We are obviously making her life more difficult then normal." he responded.
"There's no way in hell. We've been looking for nearly 18 years now. She's the only thing we have left, and I refuse to lose her now." Jasper said.
"I hear you bro." I smiled.
"No wonder, Bella's the way she is. You two are just as stubborn as she is." Edward smiled.
"Well duh. Hey Jas, remember when mom tried to teach Bella to use the potty and she refused to?" I asked.
"Oh yeah." He laughed."I don't think anyone could forget that." Edward laughed, his whole body shaking.
Flashback….
It was mid April, and we were out on spring break. Alice's and Edward's parents were out on a trip, so they were staying with us. Bella was now about 19 months old. We had pretty much worn off the shock that Bella was indeed not a boy. Of course Mom, Alice, and Rose were ecstatic. They loved to dress her up which usually ended up with her crying and running to either, dad, Jasper, or myself. Even lately she started running to Edward who would coo in her ear and calm her down. She was an exact carbon copy of dad and he was just over the roof. She had dad's wavy and dark brown locks, and even managed to inherit his caramel brown eyes, something we hadn't inherited. What she did inherit from mom was her clumsiness and personality. Mom had grown out her clumsiness but poor Bella had to suffer. Poor kid couldn't stay on her feet for more than a couple of minutes. She had just started walking, so she was hell on the those little feet. She had her stubbornness too. When Bella didn't want to do anything she meant it. We had all but figured but to let her be.
I was playing with Jasper a video game while, the girl sat behind us on the couch polishing each other's nails, while Edward sat and read a book. Mom was upstairs with Bella while Dad was at work. I was just about to beat him at this level when I heard mom screech.
"Bella! Get your cute but back here!" Mom huffed.
"No!" Bella screeched heading slowly down the stairs.
"Bella!" Mom hollered, coming down the stairs to grab her, but Bella was faster she ran towards Edward and held on for dear life.
"Edard, Emmy, Jaspa, Rowie, Ali! Mommy no!" she wailed, all of us smiling at the mispronunciation of our names.
"What's wrong Mom?" I asked, watching as she tried to claw her way onto Edward's lap. Seeing her struggle, he happily picked her up. Her little head snuggling into the crook of his neck.
"Well I'm trying to potty train her but she refuses to get on the potty I bought her." Mom sighed.
"Did you really just say potty Ma?" I laughed."Yes Emmett, dear. If you haven't noticed, your sister's only 1 and ½ years old. She's lucky if she can even pronounce her full name." she responded.
"Hey don't underestimate my baby sis." I proclaimed, picking her up off Edward's lap were she protested. Sometimes, I think she liked Edward more than the rest of us.
"Come on Bella boo. Say you name for Emmy Bear." I smiled, watching the dimples form in her cheek that so closely resembled mine.
"Bwella!" she screeched as I began tickling her. Her tinkling laugh bouncing off the wall. I handed her off to Jasper as I kneeled down."Emmett what are you doing?" Edward asked, the five of them looking at me curiously, Bella off in her own world playing with the blonde tendrils of Jasper's hair.
"I'm pretending I'm on the potty. You heard mom. You don't want Bella wearing diapers for the rest of her life do you?" I asked.
"Well obviously no. But shouldn't Alice or I help teach her?" Rose asked.
"Hey! I can do it. It's all the same." I smiled."Actually Emmett, no it isn't. " Alice smiled.
"What do you mean?" I asked confusedly.
"Emmett she's a GIRL. Just because it all starts off the same doesn't mean it ends that way." She rolled her eyes."Uh… You lost me?" I grumbled, scratching my head."God, Emmett you're so thick sometimes. Do you want Bella to learn how to pee standing up?" Alice huffed."Uh…No?" I responded."Exactly." Rose and Alice agreed.
"I still don't get it." I said looking over to Edward and Jasper for answers.
"Just leave it alone." Jasper said. Edward shaking his head in agreement."So anyway, if you're done. I still need to potty train Bella.
"Come on Bella….Time to use the potty for Mommy." mom smiled.
"No!" she screamed, wrapping her hands tightly as they would go around Jasper's neck.
Yep, potty training was going to be interesting, when you have a stubborn mule for a sister.
End Flashback….
"Man has it really been that long?" Edward asked."Yep. It seems so." Jasper said."So how do you think its going with the girls" I asked, as Esme strolled through the doors with bags full of groceries. Food that was completely unnecessary for a house full of vampires.
"Well I guess that answers your question." Jasper smiled. Oh boy.
BPOV
As we wandered into the cafeteria, I could feel the eyes penetrating the back of my head. I knew what they were thinking. I even heard someone ask 'Why are they with her?' I kept my head bowed as we continued walking, trying to avoid the gazes pointed directly at me.
We finally neared the table as I sat down between Emmett and Alice. I could feel their worried gazes as I sat there. We sat there momentarily in awkward silence, until Jasper reached over and gave me an apple. I looked at him curiously.
"There wasn't much left so…" he said sheepishly.
"No thank you….it's great." I answered with a timid smile. They were still looking at me worriedly, so I took a bite out of the apple which seemed to relieve them. The apple was delicious; so sweet and ripe. I moaned in delight and quickly finished it, not realizing how hungry I actually was.
"So Bella…" Alice started, as I turned to look over at her.
"Yes Alice?"
"Well besides the obvious. Are you enjoying Forks?" she grinned, her topaz eyes twinkling in excitement.
"It's alright." I answered.
"Alright?" Rosalie questioned, flickering everyone's gazes to mine for an explanation.
"Well there isn't much to do around here, and from what I've experienced, when you're new you're treated like crap." I grumbled.
"Don't fret Bellsy." Alice chirped. I looked at her confusedly. That name sounded so familiar yet so alien. Jasper must have sensed my discomfort because he looked at Alice and her gaze then shifted to one of unease and regret. The silence permeated the air once more as we sat. I was just about to say something to break the silence when the bell rang. I began gathering my belongings as I threw my apple core into the trash bin. We were all about to exit through the doors when I heard Jacob call my name. I instinctively turned around, and ended up crashing into Edward's hard chest. I ignored the shiver that spread throughout my body as my hands pressed against his body where I felt, the contours of the firm muscles that probably lay underneath. He immediately stiffened, and turned his gaze to what looked like an agitated Jacob. The two glared at each other momentarily, neither one of them shifting their gaze from one another, when I looked up at Edward.
"Um…Edward. I'll see you in class?" I said it came out more as a question then a statement. I had the strange feeling that he didn't want me to be left alone with Jacob. The reason why, I will never understand. His eyes focused on mine; topaz on brown. So many emotions flickered across his face and eyes that I couldn't decipher. He took a deep breath looked at Jacob before settling his eyes back on me.
"Yeah. See you in a bit Bella." with one final weary glance at Jacob, he turned and left. Jake's agitated expression then shifted from agitation to one of resentment, as he looked at me. His 6'4 russet toned frame hunched slightly over to look down at my 5'6 small frame. I noticed he was only about three inches taller than Edward. Why I knew that…again I never would understand why.
"So…." I began looking up at him.
"Uh…yeah. I'm want to apologize." he said sullenly.
"You don't have to apologize it was my fault anyway." I answered, knowing it was true.
"No it wasn't. It was mine, and I also heard what Lauren said, she was wrong and I'd never seen her act so rudely to anyone before." he said.
"But it was all true." I said, looking down at my feet.
"Stop selling yourself short Bella. You need to stop listening to what others say, but listen to what your heart and mind says." he said grinning."Jacob…do you always sound like some cheesy fortune cookie?" I grinned, teasing him.
"Hey! I'm hurt. Just because I'm sexy doesn't mean I can't have logic?" he faked mocked hurt.
"Whatever you say Jacob." I laughed.
"Are we cool?" he asked bending his head down.
"We always were." I smiled at him. I didn't realize the close proximity between the two us as he pulled me into a hug. He was no Edward, who smelled of musk and citrus. Jacob was something warm; woodsy. I closed my eyes and briefly let his scent overwhelm my senses. Our hug was broken when the warning bell signaled we only had 2 minutes to get to class. He chuckled giving me one final squeeze and wave as we both sprinted down the hallway to our respective classrooms.
I made it through the doors right as the bell rang and took a deep breath. The class and teacher were of course staring at me like I was crazy. Flushing, I took my seat next to Edward who instantly wrinkled his nose at me. I looked a t him curiously smelling my hair. Freesias and strawberries. I did not smell. We were watching a video in biology so we sat there in relative silence. The video was about the fungal processes of some mold so it took pretty much all of class to watch. Once the bell rang, I began gathering my belongings and stuffing them in my backpack. Edward stood there silently, waiting for me to exit when I looked back up at him. He wrinkled his nose once more at me and I inwardly growled. He walked me to my history class, before bidding me farewell. I didn't know what his problem was, but looking at me as if I smelled fowled was really irritating.
I sat down next to Jasper who turned in my direction but quickly halted his movements taking a deep breath, wrinkling his nose also. I discreetly smelled my arm. Again, I smelled like my favorite body wash. He leaned back and it looked as if he wasn't breathing. We were also watching a video in this class, and afterwards when we had to answer question about what we had watched I turned to ask Jasper for help, but before I could even ask, I noticed the disgusted look upon his face.
"Jasper you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah Bella, my allergies are just acting up. All of the dust around here's messing up with my sinuses." he said. Lie. This school was not that old, and from my perspective it wasn't a really dusty place. I left it alone and turned back to my paper and finished answering my questions, turning it in as soon as the bell rang. Before I can turn around to ask Jasper if he'll help me study for our civil war exam next week, he's already out the door.
"Well that's strange." I mumble to no one in particular. I groan to myself knowing that I'm in for hell for my next period of class.
I hurry and change and stumbled out to see Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett eagerly waving at me across the gym. I smiled and begin walking towards them, as I get closer all three of their faces wrinkle, as they stare at me. What was with the constant faces if disgust. Growling, I bluntly stare back at them.
"What?" I huff. Alice and Rosalie say nothing. Emmett is the first to speak up.
"No offense Bella, but you reek." Emmett says, earning a double smack to the back of the head from the two of them.
"Emmett!" Rosalie screeched.
"What…Its true." he sheepishly says.
"Hey… I do not stink. Is that what think. Jasper, Edward, and you guys all won't talk to me because you think I smell. Look I don't know what kind of cruel joke you like to play on people, but I am a person and I have feelings. If you didn't want to be my friends that's all you had to say." I sadly smiled, knowing it was too good to be true. I silently walk away and sit down on the bleachers. The only agenda for us to do today is walk laps till the end of class. I walk by myself in silence, staring at the green lushes that surround the rainy, dreary town of Forks. I dress in a daze, leaving the lockers not even remotely caring where I was going until I heard a velvety voice call out my name.
"Bella." he said, from his Volvo the window rolled down. I guess I hadn't realized that I had been walking halfway towards my house. I kept walking. I was still pissed off at his and his sibling's behavior. All I wanted was to curl up in a ball and pretended that this day never happened.
"Bella, please stop." he pleads, as I glance over to him. Even from the short distance, I could see his topaz eyes glistening.
"Why won't you leave me alone? It's obvious you guys don't want to be my friends. Please just let me be." I plead as I continue walking; my shoulders hunched forward, my head hung.
"Please. Just get in the car. " It's starting to rain, and I don't want you to get sick, please." He begs. I pause momentarily, as to whether or not I should comply. I still had a good ways to walk and with the beginning drizzle of rain it would probably take me even longer to get home. I sigh quietly to myself as I head towards the silver car. He quickly steps out of the car and in a flash he's in front of me guiding me to the passenger side as he opens my door.
"Thank you." I quietly greet. He smiles crookedly at me and I swear my heart skips a couple of beats. It isn't long before I notice that we're in front of my house as he turns off the ignition. We sit there in silence each of us taking quick glances at one another. I was just about to open the door to exit when Edward calls out my name."Bella?" he starts.
"Yeah, Edward?" I quickly respond, looking at the soft patters of the rain against the windshield
"I can't do it anymore." He gruffly says."Do what anymore?" I asked confused.
"Never Mind. Please be safe Bella." he whispers as I close the door behind me. I slowly walk over to my front door without turning around. As soon as I am in the confines of my own home. I wait for the purr of the engine restarting but it never comes. Just as I am about to look out my window to see if he's still there, I hear the purr of the Volvo's engine as it pulls out my driveway. Turning back around, I lean against the and close my eyes. Something wasn't right about them. As much as I wanted to find out what, I had a bad feeling that when I did find out, it was going to end up in disaster.
JPOV
"Em, I don't know if I can do this." I say, sighing as Alice messes with the tendrils of hair at the base of my neck.
"Do what?" Emmett asks, heading towards the couch pulling Rose against him on his lap."I don't know if I can keep lying to her like that. It kills me. Do you know what I felt from her today? Greif. Greif so strong that I could barely even stand up. But when she's around us, she feels hope. Acceptance." I solemnly say.
"I know bro, but we have to be cautious. She can't know yet." Emmett says, rubbing his neck against Rosalie's shoulder.
"You're right though. I just hope we are able to tell her soon. Remember when Mom and dad told us that Mom was pregnant?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, who could ever forget that." Emmett and Rosalie laughed.
Flashback….
February 16, 1992…
We were all sitting down relaxing in the living room. Alice perched at the base of my feet. It was a weekend and we were all in front of the television watching our favorite Saturday morning cartoons. I was 13 and Emmett 15. Emmett and Rose were in the couch, while Edward sat beside me. We had been friends for as long as I could remember. I'd met Edward and Alice; the twins when I was 6 and we'd had been best friends ever since. In fact that was even when I began harboring a crush on Alice. She still didn't know how I felt, but that was beside the point. Rosalie was their older cousin who came to live with them when her parents died the year before in a car accident. Let's just say that when Emmett set his eyes upon her-it was love at first sight, or so he claims.
Every weekend we would meet up at our house, chewing down on cereal while we watched cartoons. Yeah we were a bunch of teenagers who still watched cartoons. Their parents were gone most of the time anyway so they were always at our house. It was nearing twelve and we were all deciding on what to do next. We had finally decided on going to the park when mom and dad stopped us, telling us that they had news to tell us.
"Spill!" Alice squealed. She loved hearing about new or interesting facts.
"Well, Emmett and Jasper. You two are getting mighty old…" mom started.
"Hey we're not that old. You're trying to get rid of us already?" Emmett pouted.
"No baby, I love you too much to get rid of you anytime soon." Mom smiled.
"So what's the news?" Edward asked.
"Well…in just short of 8 and ½ months we're going to have another addition to the family." Dad said. My jaw dropped. I looked over to Em and his face mirrored mine. Mom was pregnant. We sat there in silence, before Rose and Alice both squealed grabbing my parents into a hug.
"Oh my god! I'm so happy for you Ren." Alice cheered. Edward gave them congrats, while Emmett and I sat there. Mom and Dad then turned to us engaging our reaction. Emmett was the first to speak up.
"Mom's pregnant?" he said as a question.
"Yep. You two are going to have a new baby brother or sister." Dad smiled."But…but you're old." Emmett shouted."Emmett Charles Swan!" Mom screeched.
"Sorry Mommy." he solemnly said, using "mommy" as a way to get out of trouble. He was two years older than me and a mama's boy. Hell even I was one.
"First off, we are not old. Thirty seven and thirty eight are reasonable ages to have children." mom reassured.
"Sorry it's just a bit of shock." I spoke up.
"I know, it was a shock to us a well. I'm little over a month and a half. Can you believe it Charlie?" Mom smiled at dad.
"No I can't, but I'm glad anyway." Dad smiled, kissing her on the lips.
"Ew, parents being mushy. Abort! Abort!" Emmett hollered, trying to grab Rose."Stop acting silly." Rose pushed. Rose love kids. Being the only child she always wished she had siblings.
"Rose's right. You maybe even get that baby sister I've always wanted." Mom smiled.
"No way. It's going to be a boy. No more girls into the mix." Emmett pouted. Bad answer.
"And what exactly is wrong with having a girl?" Rosalie and Alice said standing up folding their arms. Both Edward and I chuckled at the sight of them.
"Uh…uh nothing." Emmett stuttered.
"Good answer." Edward smiled."Well I don't care what the baby is. As long as she or he is healthy." Dad said
"Of course honey. You would say that since you're the one controlling the gender. All you've given me is two rowdy boys.'' Mom said amusedly, my dad's cheeks flushing red, a trait I'm glad my brother and I hadn't inherited.
"Sorry dear." Dad smiled."Whatever you say love, whatever you say" mom said kissing his cheeks.
"Now, why don't my two boys come give me a congratulatory hug?" Mom said, opening up both of her arms. Emmett and I both stood up and headed towards her. It was a funny sight. Mom was a foot shorter than the both us only standing at a mere 5'0. At 13 and 15, I was already 6'0 and Emmett a giant 6'4. As we both towered over her, I gave her a peck on the cheek as Emmett bent down to Mom's stomach.
"Hey squishy!" Emmett smiled."Squishy?" I teased."Yeah. From what I remember in Biology our future sibling looks like an alien. And the only name I could come up with is Squishy." he smiled.
"I really hope you don't name your child that Mr. C." Edward grimaced.
"I know Ed, Emmett's just being silly." Dad huffed."Hey…in my defense. Squishy is a nice name for a boy." Emmett answered.
"What makes you think it's going to be a boy?" Rose questioned. Oh no….this was going to be interesting. Mom and dad laughed knowing what was coming and walked out of the room.
"Boys are so much better, besides I think all Mom can make is boys." Emmett stupidly said."Emmett, for your information, the male determines the sex of the child, so it's your dad not your mom." Rose answered.
"Whatever. It's going to be a boy and I know it." Emmett smiled. Rose growled. Alice, Edward, and I settled back on the couch not watching the television but watching the amusing scene in front of us on how the new baby was going to be a boy.
Who ever thought he was going to be right. When dad arrived home stating that it was a boy. Emmett nearly jumped for joy. I told you so was the first thing he said. We all had rolled our eyes at his expense. Mom came in solemnly sad, that she wasn't getting the girl she wanted. When it came to shopping for clothes, mom picked yellow, because she had a "feeling" that blue wasn't going to be appropriate. We had all argued claiming that yellow was too girly for a boy, but we three knew not to argue with a pregnant woman. It just ended in turmoil. They had even decided on a name: Braden Kyle Swan.
Guess our surprise when a couple months later when Mom gave birth and instead of the brother we'd expected, the little fluff ball in mom's hands was a little girl."Wait… I thought it was a boy?" Alice said, asking the question we were all thinking.
"Well the doctor was wrong. The sonogram machine had a faulty wire. You guys, Emmett and Jasper, I'll like you to meet your baby sister Isabella Marie Swan." she smiled.
End Flashback…..
BPOV
I sat at the kitchen table doing some leftover Algebra homework, while I waited for Jolie to come home. I haven't seen her lately a much as I wanted to. Every time I see her she was always leaving, or coming in in the early hours of the day when I left for school. Although it was Friday night, I had nothing else to do. Most teenagers would be at the mall or the movies with their friends, but I didn't have any and I tended to act like a hermit. I mean I guess I can consider Angela and Jacob my friends, though they never invited me anywhere. I don't blame them; I would probably make the situation boring or awkward.
I had just moved to the couch, to watch some useless program on Mtv when Jo strolled through the door.
"Hey B. How's it going?" she smiled her red hair bopping up and down in here high ponytail.
"Nothing much. You? You've been MIA for awhile." I answered sadly.
"Oh Bella, I'm sorry. With school and that guy I'm seeing, I totally forgot about you. I'm Sorry. I promise to spend some more time with you." She grinned.
"How about now?" I smiled, hoping she would accept my invitation.
"Sorry Bella, I sort of having a date." she answered grimly.
"It's okay. I sort of figured." I answered.
"No, I'll cancel, we'll spend the day together…." she tried to say as the doorbell rang.
"No don't worry about it….its use-less?" I stated as I looked confusedly at door way.
"Rosalie…," I stuttered. "Alice?"
EMPOV
"Hey Jas, Edward. Where are the girls?" I asked flopping down on the couch causing the pillows to fly up into the air.
"There over at Bella's trying to coax her into a sleepover." Edward answered.
"What Alice didn't see?" I asked."No, because it's all up to Bella on whether or not she'll come over." Edward said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Why so glum chum?" I asked."Maybe we should just leave her alone. We are obviously making her life more difficult then normal." he responded.
"There's no way in hell. We've been looking for nearly 18 years now. She's the only thing we have left, and I refuse to lose her now." Jasper said.
"I hear you bro." I smiled.
"No wonder, Bella's the way she is. You two are just as stubborn as she is." Edward smiled.
"Well duh. Hey Jas, remember when mom tried to teach Bella to use the potty and she refused to?" I asked.
"Oh yeah." He laughed."I don't think anyone could forget that." Edward laughed, his whole body shaking.
Flashback….
It was mid April, and we were out on spring break. Alice's and Edward's parents were out on a trip, so they were staying with us. Bella was now about 19 months old. We had pretty much worn off the shock that Bella was indeed not a boy. Of course Mom, Alice, and Rose were ecstatic. They loved to dress her up which usually ended up with her crying and running to either, dad, Jasper, or myself. Even lately she started running to Edward who would coo in her ear and calm her down. She was an exact carbon copy of dad and he was just over the roof. She had dad's wavy and dark brown locks, and even managed to inherit his caramel brown eyes, something we hadn't inherited. What she did inherit from mom was her clumsiness and personality. Mom had grown out her clumsiness but poor Bella had to suffer. Poor kid couldn't stay on her feet for more than a couple of minutes. She had just started walking, so she was hell on the those little feet. She had her stubbornness too. When Bella didn't want to do anything she meant it. We had all but figured but to let her be.
I was playing with Jasper a video game while, the girl sat behind us on the couch polishing each other's nails, while Edward sat and read a book. Mom was upstairs with Bella while Dad was at work. I was just about to beat him at this level when I heard mom screech.
"Bella! Get your cute but back here!" Mom huffed.
"No!" Bella screeched heading slowly down the stairs.
"Bella!" Mom hollered, coming down the stairs to grab her, but Bella was faster she ran towards Edward and held on for dear life.
"Edard, Emmy, Jaspa, Rowie, Ali! Mommy no!" she wailed, all of us smiling at the mispronunciation of our names.
"What's wrong Mom?" I asked, watching as she tried to claw her way onto Edward's lap. Seeing her struggle, he happily picked her up. Her little head snuggling into the crook of his neck.
"Well I'm trying to potty train her but she refuses to get on the potty I bought her." Mom sighed.
"Did you really just say potty Ma?" I laughed."Yes Emmett, dear. If you haven't noticed, your sister's only 1 and ½ years old. She's lucky if she can even pronounce her full name." she responded.
"Hey don't underestimate my baby sis." I proclaimed, picking her up off Edward's lap were she protested. Sometimes, I think she liked Edward more than the rest of us.
"Come on Bella boo. Say you name for Emmy Bear." I smiled, watching the dimples form in her cheek that so closely resembled mine.
"Bwella!" she screeched as I began tickling her. Her tinkling laugh bouncing off the wall. I handed her off to Jasper as I kneeled down."Emmett what are you doing?" Edward asked, the five of them looking at me curiously, Bella off in her own world playing with the blonde tendrils of Jasper's hair.
"I'm pretending I'm on the potty. You heard mom. You don't want Bella wearing diapers for the rest of her life do you?" I asked.
"Well obviously no. But shouldn't Alice or I help teach her?" Rose asked.
"Hey! I can do it. It's all the same." I smiled."Actually Emmett, no it isn't. " Alice smiled.
"What do you mean?" I asked confusedly.
"Emmett she's a GIRL. Just because it all starts off the same doesn't mean it ends that way." She rolled her eyes."Uh… You lost me?" I grumbled, scratching my head."God, Emmett you're so thick sometimes. Do you want Bella to learn how to pee standing up?" Alice huffed."Uh…No?" I responded."Exactly." Rose and Alice agreed.
"I still don't get it." I said looking over to Edward and Jasper for answers.
"Just leave it alone." Jasper said. Edward shaking his head in agreement."So anyway, if you're done. I still need to potty train Bella.
"Come on Bella….Time to use the potty for Mommy." mom smiled.
"No!" she screamed, wrapping her hands tightly as they would go around Jasper's neck.
Yep, potty training was going to be interesting, when you have a stubborn mule for a sister.
End Flashback….
"Man has it really been that long?" Edward asked."Yep. It seems so." Jasper said."So how do you think its going with the girls" I asked, as Esme strolled through the doors with bags full of groceries. Food that was completely unnecessary for a house full of vampires.
"Well I guess that answers your question." Jasper smiled. Oh boy.
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