By meekobb · Twilight
Rated M · 3 chapters · 14,416 words · In progress
After Bella turns down Edward's proposal in New Moon, she takes off for college as far away from the normal stomping grounds for the Cullen family before she has to deal with the consequences of him from the Volturi. Sometimes a person has to travel down a broken road in order to find love worth fighting for. AU New Moon onward. Rated for potential content.
Author Note: Here I am with another new story. Damn plot bunnies won't leave me the hell alone! But, everything is being worked on in their time when they are able to. Over the holidays, I spent a lot of time reading fanfic and much of it by author, betterintexas, who is simply awesome and hilarious. I have to say he opened my eyes to this particular pairing. Between the new inspiration and listening to so much country music here (there is seriously only one country station where I live), I have had these ideas for Bella and Peter just not going away. Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy.
This introductory prologue is posted simultaneously here on FFnet as on my website. Future chapters will be featured on MeekoTales before they will be posted here when they are completed. If you really like it and want to catch updates as soon as possible, this is a shameless plug for you to head over there to sign up for my blog updates (near bottom of main page or on sidebar of all story pages).
Summary: After Bella turns down Edward's proposal in New Moon, she takes off for college as far away from the normal stomping grounds for the Cullen family before she has to deal with the consequences of assisting Alice with saving her brother from the Volturi. Growing up and living a life of her own choices for the first time, she still continues to find that there is always something missing and is only ever satisfied marginally when the one Cullen she remained in full contact with visits her. Sometimes a person has to travel down a broken road in order to find love worth fighting for.
CREATIVE DIFFERENCES: Slightly different Cold Ones. These vampires are able to drink alcohol and very rare meats to slack their thirst. The Cullen family (sans Emmett, Rosalie, & Jasper when away from the rest of the family) avoid liquor for puritanical beliefs. Mating bonds are not instant love at first sight and are formed on mutually shared feelings between the pair, but is certainly ignited by typical animalistic instincts of pheromones for potentialmates.
~o.O.o~
Prologue: Burning Whiskey, Tennessee Honey
~o.O.o~
The three kings were fascinated by the human girl that stood before them, displaying no fear outwards to them except when her friend was harmed. Considering how the boy had caused her so much pain in his leaving, it confused them why she protected him so fiercely that when Aro sought counsel with his brothers on their decisions on what to do with her, he too was again surprised by their feelings on the small girl.
The foolish man-child called her his mate so carelessly, obviously knowing little to what it takes to truly develop a mating bond. He knew it angered Marcus as he saw there was no true bond between the two. In fact, there was a strong link that had yet to be seen between the girl and another but the boy's sister held a wealth of secrets from him. She knew the girl would be turned one day in the future and for that he agreed to let her go, allowing him to think he had gotten one over on them. As he watched the three leave, Marcus moved to his side as he too kept a careful eye on their retreating backs.
"What shall we do about the Cullens brother?" he drawled slowly.
Aro nodded slowly, he too was aware as Caius had remained quiet since his outbursts earlier and seeing the strength of the latent gift that young Isabella possessed. Edward Cullen, he knew believed they coveted her already for that ability. A mind reader himself, he was skilled in masking his true thoughts, as his brothers for being exposed to one regularly for a millenia.
"Have someone look into her family line. I want to know everything there is about that child," Aro murmured. "She is truly fascinating."
"I do not trust the Cullens, Aro," Caius growled at him.
With a sigh, the king nodded slowly in consideration. "We shall send Silvia then to watch them. However I do not want her to interfere in whatever may come to that coven and their actions. Does that satisfy you brother?"
He looked at me with his sly smile and nodded, pleased. "Yes. Send her to follow them immediately. When she is to be turned, bring her to Voltera."
"It will be Isabella's decision should she live here. There is a world of choices for her out there to live," Aro smiled at him knowingly. "Have confidence that she will come to us when she is ready. For now, let's prepare for our dinner!"
~o.O.o.~
"I don't understand Bella. Why won't you marry me? I told you I would change you!" Edward begged her as they stood at the road side in something of a stand off from where Jake had dropped her off and stood to the side staring in shock at the turn of events between the two. Initially he planned to just stay nearby to make sure the vampire wouldn't hurt his friend but when he heard him propose, it pissed him off that he ran back up to pull her away until she surprised them both by shooting him down. Hard.
"Because you fucking broke me, Edward!" Bella argued, her brown eyes blazing. "You left me in the woods, lost and completely broken! You're lucky I was willing to come with Alice all the way to Italy, to the fucking lions den, to save your ass because you are an idiot! It's change or die for me and you want me to marry you as a stipulation in order for you to be willing to change me? You are out of your fucking mind! I'll take my chances on my own!"
Edward didn't like what he was hearing and shook his head, pained by what she was saying. "You don't mean that Bella. We - we're mates..."
She sighed like she was dealing with a small child and turned to look at her wolf friend who watched silently. "You know well enough that we aren't," she said gently. "If we were, you never would have been able to hurt me the way you did. Now please. Don't make this harder than it needs to be. I'm planning on leaving Forks soon. I don't want you to follow me."
The vampire was quiet as he heard the thoughts that came through from the young wolf friend of hers. He turned ready to lunge at him in anger but she moved to block him, anticipating the two volatile creatures. "He turned you against me!"
"No Edward! My decisions are my own and the ones regarding you have been brought on by your treatment of me. You have no one to blame but yourself," she glared at him. "Not Jake, not Jasper. You Edward. If you can't accept that, then get lost. It's not my problem any longer. Jake? Can you take me home now? I have packing to do since I need to call and make arrangements for my school and shit."
"What is with this vulgar language? This isn't you Bella," he whimpered causing her to throw her arms up and walk away, ignoring his calls for her as she followed her wolf friend through the woods where she disappeared across the treaty line.
~o.O.o~
Bella was in the middle of loading up the back of her new truck that Charlie insisted that he help her get when he finally let go of her, that she was leaving him. Her old red clunker would never make the long drive to Texas and it was the least he could do for her. "I still don't understand why you couldn't just stay and go to school in Seattle. Stay home a little longer, save some money," he sighed as he watched her with sad eyes.
"I need this Dad. We both need this. I need to be on my own. I told you this already," she said as she walked past him back to the porch to grab the next box to load up without any regret for her decision.
"I know you do Bells, but geez, I feel like I just got you back," he sighed. "I don't want to lose you."
She slowed in her step as she hesitated but didn't look back at him, knowing the threat that Jane from the Volturi guard had given the Cullens at the field during the newborn fight that Victoria managed to escape again. "You'll be fine," she smiled as she looked over her shoulder. "It's only college."
"I know. I still can't help it," he said as he fought back the tears as he went to pull her into his arms.
They stood there for several minutes, just holding one another when Jasper, one of the few Cullens that she was willing to talk to after everything she'd been through with them since they'd left her high and dry, showed up. "I hope I'm not interrupting," he grinned, holding a wrapped box in his hands that earned a cautious look from her.
"No Jasper, we're good. We're almost done actually. You here to say goodbye to Bells too?" Charlie asked as he gave her one last squeeze before letting her go and headed back inside.
"Yes sir. And to bring her a present for her new adventure," he nodded before turning his bright golden eyes to Bella. "I know that you have been reluctant to make amends with Alice and she has truly been trying to avoid looking into your future at your request. When you made your decision for your school, she was unable to stop the one that came to her as she does care so much for you..."
"Jasper..."
"Please Bella, just hear me out. She does care and she is more than willing to give you all the time in the world that you need to forgive her, even if it is forever, but it doesn't change the way she feels and she knows that it doesn't change how you feel," he explained in a rush before taking a breath. "Anyway, she saw where you were going to school and got this. She didn't know if you would like it and asked me if you would. I think you would. Frankly, I'm surprised she bought it at all."
Bella was speechless as she stared at him, her eyes flickering both with hesitation and curiosity at the package he held. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to let her back in, Jas," she whispered. "You know it was different with you and Rose because we never were allowed to get to know one another before."
"I'm not asking anything of you but to just accept a going away present from my wife and I to my friend," he said gently as he held it out to her.
She eyed the Dallas Cowboys wrapping paper for a moment before reaching for it. "Thank you," she said timidly as she fingered the paper carefully, memories of her birthday party coming back to her.
"You can open it now if you want. I promise I'm in full control. I fed just before I came," he whispered back, making her look up, knowing just what she was thinking about.
"Oh Jasper, I didn't mean...I -"
"It's okay Bella. I know. It was a difficult time for both of us. It's bound to stick with us for awhile but the way I see it, it eventually brought us our friendship. Right?"
Bella slowly grinned up at him, having found in their time together the most pleasurable of all the Cullens. They had connected more with each other and she truly loved him like a brother more than ever. "Of course. Would you visit me in Texas?"
"I will certainly try Darlin'. Now open your present so that you can get on the road. You have a long way ahead of you."
She ripped into the paper before pulling the box that had been conveniently left partially open to make it easier for her to reveal an authentic, cowboy hat fit just for her. It was all black with with light blue and tan beading along the trim. Bella knew it was definitely not in Alice's taste but she loved it. "Thank you," she said as she ran her fingers along the rim before putting it on. "Think I'll fit in?"
"I think you'll do mighty fine for a northerner," Jasper grinned as he hugged her. "You take it easy. I'll come down to see you when it's time."
Pulling back, she glared up at him. "Careful. You're beginning to sound like your wife," she complained but he only gave her a shrug as he walked back to his car. With a wave, he took off, leaving her to watch him drive away. Loading up the last of her things, she looked back at the house that she'd lived in for nearly two years that changed her more than she'd ever thought it would and sighed. While a small part of her did hold some malice for coming to Forks, she knew she could never regret it because deep inside, it was what she needed to give her the push to make the decision to leave and go out on her own.
"Houston, here I come," Bella murmured to herself as she jumped into her truck and set off for the long haul out of Washington state, not looking back once.
Author Note: Here is another chapter! Hope you are enjoying the adventure so far! There's been a lot of teasers being posted this week on Facebook and more to come for this story and a new one that is featured on the MeekoTales website only. The new story is The Originals/Twilight crossover (Klaus/Bella pairing) for anyone interested. In case anyone is wondering about my other stories...YES, I am working on them as well. I can only write where the muses take me and unfortunately, they are not in Mystic Falls presently. I have also been pretty sick the past few weeks and am just starting to feel better and get back into the swing of writing again. If you are following my blog or friends with me on Facebook, then you are well aware of what is going on. In any case, enjoy the chapter and can't wait to hear what you think! Much love, Meeko...
Nearly four years after moving to Texas, Bella was living almost an entirely different life. In her senior year of college, she was a woman all her own. She kept in touch with the Cullens over the years due to the looming threat of the Volturi but she continued to find that she had difficulty forgiving the majority of the family for their abandonment of her.
While she had begun to speak to Alice and Emmett on the phone, she would only welcome Jasper to visit her at school. Often, he would join her and the friends she made for a night on the town, visiting one bar after another, taking on the role of the group's designated driver to give her human friends the freedom to let loose.
As Bella walked into the group's favorite bar, she looked around, seeking out the familiar blonde classmate that had attached herself to her when she first moved there. Grinning once she found her, she made her way over.
"Bella!" Amy shouted once she saw the girl approaching. "Happy Birthday! Is your hottie friend visiting again this year?" the girl asked excitedly as she gave her a hug.
Bella couldn't help but laugh at her exuberance, knowing that she had to have had a couple drinks down ahead of her. "Jasper? He said he was coming down at some point this week but I don't know when exactly. Why do you ask? Isn't your boyfriend enough for you?"
"Piff! I can look, can't I?" she replied as she turned back to the table where she took a large sip of her beer. "The band tonight is supposed to be good and they are opening the bull. You so are going to go a round.
"If I'm going on that thing again, so are you," the brunette said as she stole the mug from her friend's hand against her protest and drank it greedily, setting it down with a smirk.
Rolling her eyes, Amy pulled the nearly empty mug back and pouted into it. "Get your own. Andrew and Stacey are working the bar tonight by the way."
Bella sighed as she looked over to the busy bar where the two were flirting with patrons and performing tricks with beer bottles. "I'm not getting anything anytime soon from them, as if that bitch would bother serving me anyway," she said as she climbed into the empty seat across her friend.
"So just wait for one of the waitresses to come past. Or you could just flash Andrew the twins and get your drinks for free all night," she shrugged.
"You flash him your tits bitch," Bella snapped at her as she scoffed.
"I ain't nearly drunk enough yet to get that brave," she sighed as she looked over at the bar wistfully. "Besides you know how much he's into you anyway."
Bella looked back at her and shook her head and frowned. "Yeah and I'm not interested in him. He doesn't get the message. I'm thinking that I may have to cause him some physical damage to some vital organs but I don't want to do that to you either," she sighed as she narrowed her eyes on the man across the establishment. "You need to just buck up and ask the asshole out yourself."
"Eh, I think I'm done with guys for awhile," the girl admitted while she looked around.
"What about your man of the minute?" Bella asked, glancing at her friend, while trying to flag down a waitress.
"That's just it. He's a minuteman. I think I need a change. A little more shell than filling."
Bella couldn't help but giggle at her friend, while pulling her glass away from her. "I think you've had enough of this for the moment," she commented as she finished the remaining beer in the mug.
Amy just shrugged at her friend. "That's alright. I wanna dance anyways. Let's go."
Before Bella could protest, Amy had grabbed her by the hand and dragged her onto the already crowded dance floor as the music from the jukebox filled the bar while the band continued to set up for their set. In the past, she would have been terrified to be caught dancing, never have attempted it sober outside her bedroom for others to see, but to her, small things like dancing with her friend proved she made the right decision as she grinned and attempted to two-step with those around her.
~o.O.o~
The two vampires had freshly fed on a couple of Houston criminals before the need to have some fun struck. Peter and Charlotte had spent the previous few years traveling, as they often did, seeing the world and getting into their own brand of trouble. At times they would spend several weeks or longer with friends but it had become time to return home.
As they were getting rid of the evidence of their latest meals, Charlotte had overheard several humans nearby speaking of a live band to be playing at a local bar that night they enjoyed visiting often that had her excited. "I want to go," she said as she turned to look at Peter, who hesitated.
"I don't know Char," he said cautiously, his 'knower' alerting to him that there would be something there if they went but he couldn't be sure if it was good or bad. Peter scratched the back of his neck to try to quell the feeling, but the eager look on his friend's face broke him. "Fine. Let's go."
They made their way to the pub that was starting to get crowded and quickly went to find themselves an available table. Charlotte looked around excitedly, her attention more on the dance floor than her companion. A waitress came by almost straight away and took their order for some beer to get them started.
Peter settled down on his stool resigned to letting his friend to her fun. The feeling, knowing that something was there in that bar hadn't left him, leaving him with a sense of unease but it wasn't a bad one. Just one that he didn't like the unknown of it. As he tried to relax and watch the crowd and the band set up for their performance, Charlotte took off for the floor. Shaking his head, he could only laugh at her exuberance.
A waitress soon brought their beer by and he drank slowly, grimacing as he swallowed, relieved that they had eaten properly before. The music from the radio was fueling the humans filling facility for the live act that night and if his control wasn't as good as it was, he'd have been eyeing the pretty brunette that was dancing behind Char for dessert.
If they didn't feed only on the scum of human society, she would certainly have caught his attention because he would want his lips on her pretty neck and he wouldn't have been able to stop himself. Sighing to himself, he looked away in shame because he knew the reason why he was so focused on her so hard in that moment. It'd been so long since he truly felt the company of a woman. Charlotte didn't truly count because he didn't feel for her they way he could. While they cared for one another, they simply had other tastes in partners. His was more singular and her's, well, varied.
Still, Peter found his eyes drifting back to the brunette dancing to the jukebox music with her friend and he looked at her again. He knew why he craved her so bad. He wished she was like him so that he might be able to spend some time with her and for that he wished things were different. There were certainly times that he hated what he was, held regrets. He had started this life in a hard way but he had gotten out and made it better and he was happy.
The band finished setting up for their set and struck a few chords to announce their start, so that when the current song finished, they would take over. Many of the patrons started to cheer and the pretty girl that he'd been watching grinned and whistled as her cheeked flushed a beautiful blush from the drinks she'd consumed.
Charlotte returned to him and quickly downed the beer that had been sitting and waiting for her. "Wow. This place is great!" she grinned at him.
"I see that you are enjoying yourself," Peter smiled as he rested his head in the palm of his hand and looked back at his friend. "You good?"
She eyed him curiously for a moment as his question before nodding, catching on. "Yeah. I'm good. You got a feeling or something?"
"Nah Char. Just checking. Wanted to make sure considering the close quarters we're in is all."
"Pete, I'm good. More than good. That girl though was hot. You open to a new member of our family? I think I may want to change her if she was open to it. I'd really like to get to know her," she mused aloud as she turned to look back towards the dance floor.
His eyes followed hers and found the brunette he'd been watching, frowning in displeasure that she may be wanting the same girl that he too had been eyeing. "Which one?" he asked carefully, trying to keep his uncertainty and nerves out of his voice.
Charlotte immediately looked back at him with raised eyebrows. "Which one do you like?" she asked. Spending over a hundred years with the man, she was able to pick up on many of his nuances in his speech. Her eyes looked back to the floor where the humans gathered, especially the girl that had caught her attention. The girl turned to say something to her friend, a pretty brunette which made her smile. "Ahh...I see…"
Peter scowled at his friend. "You see what?"
"Don't worry. I don't want the girl you're having a boner for. Why don't you just go and talk to her? You never had issues going up to them before."
"She's human Char," he sighed. "It's not like I can take her back and we all forget it in the morning. She'd know something is different about me if she even survived the night."
"Then change her," she shrugged her shoulders.
"Char…" he growled his warning to drop the subject.
She rolled her eyes, ignoring him as she drank her beer, turning to watch the two girls as they headed up to the bar, laughing among themselves. "How about some shots?" Charlotte asked, trying to make like she was changing the subject. "Bourbon?"
"Sure, whatever. I'll go get it," Peter sighed as he pushed himself away from the table and made his way through the crowd. Charlotte watched carefully, smiling as he headed for the opposite end of the counter from where the human girls had gathered.
She stretched out her hearing so that she could listen to what the two were saying and while she should be concerned for their observation skills, she was also excited. Peter still hadn't been able to let go of his interest in the human and his eyes kept finding her across the bar. As he waited for the bartender for his order, he watched her with barely disguised interest. The pretty blonde didn't miss it either as she grinned and turned her back to him and whispered to her friend.
"The hottie across the bar has been watching you Bells," she informed her. "You seriously should hit that!"
The bartender had been blocking her view from him, and as soon as he moved from dropping their drinks off to them, the intrigued smile she had seemingly froze on her face as she met Peter's eyes, locking on. "Hm, yes. He does seem rather - unearthly. Doesn't he?" Bella replied lightly, but there was a cold edge to her words that left the vampires confused and the emotion was clear on his face as he stared across the space at her despite the friendly smile he tried to give her.
Bella turned back to her friend. "Why don't you go back to the table Amy. I'll be back there shortly. I've got this round," she winked as she leaned on the bar counter.
"Sure thing! The band is about to start anyway!" she replied, dropping a kiss to her cheek in thanks before taking off with their drinks, leaving her friend alone at the bar.
The frozen smile on her lips immediately dropped from her face as she turned back to look at Peter, speaking under breath. It was too low for humans to hear over the commotion in the atmosphere, but not for the supernatural and it made them know that she held clear knowledge of their existence and put them on edge without the ability to react.
"Let me make this clear," she whispered harshly, her eyes flashing with fire. "The people in this place are not food. Especially that girl. If anything happens to her or myself, I have friends that will know and will come after you."
He blinked as his lips opened, trying to formulate words to defend himself but being across the bar, it was impossible. If he'd been given any opportunity to get to know a human, he knew he would have to take his chance with this one. Unfortunately, the bartender finally approached him for his order and he ended up requesting two shot glasses and paid for a full bottle of bourbon, figuring it would be a long night ahead if he was going to try to get anything from the human. A plan hit him with a smile and took a deep breath, praying it would work.
When he returned to Charlotte, she looked at him with concern as she eyed the girls. "She knows what we are. What are we going to do?" she asked.
"Nothing right now. We came here to drink and enjoy a show, right?" he said as he nodded towards the stage. He knew that this Bells had been watching him since he left the bar. "She knows others of our kind that I'm assuming are also gifted. You heard her. We do anything and we'll be hunted. We don't know who it and if she's still human with this knowledge, we wait. She could have some kind of trump card for all we know."
"I want to get to know them," Charlotte said bravely, looking up at him.
He frowned as he finished pouring their shots and eyed her. "You talk to them and it could very well backfire. Drink."
She threw back the shot without blinking and glared at him. "I love you Pete but I want to find me a mate too. I know you want one as well. Sitting on our asses isn't going to make them magically pop up."
"Chasing humans in a bar with potential knowledge to set the Volturi on our ass isn't going to find us anyone either!" he hissed to her. "Yes. I know we're both lonely but that girl is trouble. I just know it."
"But couldn't she be worth it?" Charlotte asked timidly as she looked back over at where the two girls were whispering between themselves and looking back at them as well. Determination filled her when she looked back at him. "I'm taking the chance."
With her announcement, she made her way across the floor to the table. Bells visibly tensed as she saw her approach but her friend, Amy only smiled in greeting. "Um, I just wanted to say hi and maybe chat with you? My friend back there is a little shy and well, I can promise he won't come over unless you want him to," she said, looking at Bells directly before giving the girl's friend a shy smile.
"Oh! Well, that's a shame," Amy replied sadly. "He shouldn't have to sit by himself…"
"He's fine where he is," the brunette snapped back as she looked at her friend with warning. "As long as the two of you aren't here to - cause trouble, then we don't have any issues…"
Amy looked at her friend confused and concerned but remained silent. Charlotte hesitated and nodded. "I promise you, no trouble. Just some drinks - bourbon and good music. We were out, um, having dinner and I heard some people talking about how great this band was supposed to be. I had to talk Pete into it but he had a feeling it would be a bad idea. Now I understand why but I don't think it's entirely bad," she shrugged as she looked at her curiously. Holding her hand out, she smiled as timidly as she could. "I'm Charlotte."
Swallowing down her irritation and nerves, Bella wasn't sure if she should risk friending the red eye vampires. She never had the best luck with them. Jasper had tried setting up meetings with his brother and sister from his former coven of human drinkers that he said he trusted with her while she was in Texas but they had been traveling and weren't sure when they'd return. Narrowing her eyes, she still reached out and shook her hand, remaining cautious. "Bella. This here is my friend Amy."
Charlotte looked back over at the blonde and smiled again as her eyes seemed to gleam happier with the official knowledge of the girl's name which confused Bella. She glanced back over at the female vampire's companion who was watching them quietly as he sat drinking. Seemingly catching her unspoken question, he merely shrugged a shoulder and rolled his eyes, throwing back his shot.
Bella opened her mouth, wanting to ask them about the alcohol but immediately closed it because of Amy's presence. Frustrated, she tried to figure out a way to get the vampire alone to speak to her and get some information so that she wouldn't be so worried with them being around. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the Pete guy look up at her suspiciously when the waitress brought them more beer and her opportunity came. She reached for hers the same time that the girl set it down, calling on her familiar awkward phase from high school and spilled it over in the direction of her friend. "Oh my god! I am so sorry Amy!" she exclaimed as she jumped up to grab a handful of napkins to sop up the mess.
"It's okay Bella. I'm just going to go clean up in the girl's room real quick," she reassured her as she tried to hold her wet clothes away from her body as she made a quick escape.
Once she was out of earshot, Bella looked up at Charlotte who'd begun to help clean up with her. "How is it that you are able to drink alcohol?"
"I don't know. Because we can? It helps ease the thirst sometimes and blends in when we crave the need for some socialization like tonight," she answered with sad eyes. "We aren't lying Bella. We don't mean you harm. You and your friend are perfectly safe around us. I actually quite like her and would like to get to know her more if she was willing…" she trailed off as she looked in the direction of the restrooms with a smile. "She seems...nice."
"She's a doll," the brunette said evenly, her eyes barely open slits as she glared at her. "What do you want?"
Char sighed and looked back at Pete who shook his head. "We just wanted to get to know you. That's all. Nothing more than that," she said, ignoring her friend and hoping that she made the right decision. She could hear his growl and grimaced, cringing into her seat.
Bella wasn't sure what to make of what she was hearing and seeing. It went against all she knew of human drinking vampires, but their display and control was admirable. And she couldn't deny that. "I don't know," she said after a few moments, glancing back and forth between them and knowing they both could hear even with as low as she was speaking. "I don't want to say yes, let's be friends. However, I don't think you deserve me saying no either. Especially knowing your rules. Can I have some time to think about it?"
Charlotte looked at her surprised that she was actually considering giving them any chance of a friendship and when she checked to see if Peter was okay with it, she found him staring back at the girl in equal shock. Perhaps more because she was aware of his attraction to her. Knowing she wouldn't be able to get any response from the stunned vampire, she answered for him. "Yes, of course. Maybe we can meet back here another night? Would next week work for you or would you want more time to think?" she asked with so much hope in her red eyes that Bella was a little more than moved by her.
"Uh, no. Next week should be fine," she murmured, unsure of herself as she swallowed. "I should go check on Amy…"
"Yeah sure," Char smiled at her. "I'll clean this up for you."
Bella glanced down at the table and mess she created and nodded her thanks before making her way to the bathrooms. Finding her friend through the crowd of girls waiting for a stall wasn't difficult as neither of them actually needed one yet. "How are you holding up there?" she grinned as she gave her a playful shove to her shoulder.
"I reek like beer and I'm a contender for the wet t-shirt contest tonight," Amy complained, though it was in fun. "I think I'm going to head home. I found out from one of the waitresses that the band is slotted for next week anyway so we will get a chance to see them if you want to come back?"
She nodded and pursed her lips. "Sure. Sounds great. Charlotte asked if she could meet us here then anyway," she said carefully, eyeing her for her reaction.
Amy's eyes lit up briefly with excitement. "Really? She seems nice. I'd like to talk to her more," she grinned.
"Of course you would," Bella muttered, shaking her head with a sigh. "Ames, she's - not like other people…" she said carefully.
"So? What does it matter? All we're going to do is talk and have a few drinks. It's not like I'm jumping into the sack with her right away. Hell, I just dumped...um…"
"You don't even remember his name, do you?" Bella grinned.
"Fuck no, but does it matter? I like Charlotte. She seems different and what's it going to hurt just to talk?" she asked.
"No. It's fine. Come on. I'll help you into a taxi," she said as she took her arm to walk her out. They made their way through the crowd to the doors. The one thing the two of them loved about that particular bar was that they often had a couple taxis always nearby on their busy nights because of the college crowd they attract.
Once she had her friend in the back of the cab, Amy had reached out and grabbed her hand. "Um, can you let Charlotte know that I'll be here next week too?" she asked shyly.
Bella looked at her amused. "Do you really like her that much? Got yourself a little crush?"
There was a blush and a shy shrug of her shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe. Like I said, I just want to talk to her. Text me when you get home."
"Will do. You too," she replied with a nod as she stepped back from the car so that the driver could pull away. She didn't return inside right away as she felt the need to space herself from the new vampires for the moment. If she wanted to leave and go home, she could as she had all her belongings on herself.
Pulling out her cellphone, she contemplated texting Jasper, asking him to demand to send his friends to her to deal with this problem for her or for him to come himself. Maybe he could scare them away with his history and gift. She was sure Alice was sitting on the edge of her seat if she was seeing anything going on but she had demanded not to be informed of the future by her under any circumstance and she wasn't sure if she should call her to go back on her request.
While she stood there, thinking about the situation, she slowly realized that the people that had been outside had dwindled to almost none. In fact, she couldn't hear anyone but what was inside. Frowning, her eyes surveyed the street as she slowly inched her way closer to the door but having had been closer to the end of the building, it was a distance and the bad feeling that filled her was growing.
Self preservation that she'd always lacked kicked in just as she felt an ice cold and marbled hand cover her mouth as half a scream escaped and pull her back into the dark alley beside the bar.
~o.O.o~
Charlotte finished cleaning up the spilt beer, smiling to herself as she was pleased with the progress she made with making friends with Bella and Amy. When she was done, she joined Peter again who was lost in his thoughts, staring into his shot glass.
She was quiet for a few minutes as she watched him. "She's giving us a chance. You heard it," she said softly.
He blinked and nodded. "I heard," he swallowed and looked up at her. "What good is it if she has no intentions of being changed? Yeah, okay. I'll admit I'm attracted to the human but that's as far as it goes right now. So what? We all become friends and then what? My feelings grow and she refuses to be changed? I don't want to be a sentimental bastard like our maker. He's been begging us for the last few years to come back here and where the fuck is he? Still up with the bunny munchers."
Charlotte sighed in frustration with him as she watched Bella and Amy walk out over his shoulder and shook her head. "So call him and tell him to come visit. Let him know we're back. Why the hell would he stick around and wait if we aren't here? You can't blame him for heading back if we didn't give him a time for our return."
"Stop making fucking sense!" Peter snapped, running his hand through his hair, his eyes narrowing in concentration.
"What is it?" she asked him but his response was cut off by his phone ringing.
Checking the screen, he was surprised to find their recent subject of argument calling. "What do you want?" he snarled, still irritated by whatever bad feeling was flooding him.
"Alice saw you in the bar. I know you've met Bella. She said that something is going to happen but she doesn't know what - something is blocking her visions but that Bella is about to disappear completely. I need you to go find her now," Jasper said quickly over the phone.
"Is Bella the friend you've been trying to get us back here to meet you asshole?"
Jasper let out something that sounded like cross between a sigh and a growl. "Yes, she is. But we can get into it later. I'm supposed to be coming down to visit her in a couple weeks. I'll see if I can bump the trip up but please watch over her. Now just go!"
Peter was tempted to smash the device when his maker hung up on him but the girl's familiar voice in the form of a muffled scream being cut off and faint from outside had reached their ears made him scramble from his seat, trying to maintain a human pace until he reached the door. The second he was outside and saw no one in sight, he raced towards where he could smell the girl that captured his attention.
She was pressed against the outside wall of the building, an unfamiliar vampire holding her by the neck as he sniffed her blood along her carotid. Her could smell the salt in her tears, taste the fear running through her veins. Two things that she hadn't displayed in her bravery against him and Charlotte.
Decision made, he released a warning growl as he stepped forward. The male vampire looked up, snarling back. "She's my meal. Find your own," he sneered.
"I think you're mistaken pal. This territory here, isn't yours for feedin' and you're trespassin'. That girl isn't yours or anyone else's now if you want to leave here with your pathetic life, then let her go. This will be your only warning, friend," Peter replied as his body tensed and seemingly grew as he stared the creature down.
Bella's eyes darted back and forth but she could see that this new vampire was not involved with him and his companion, relieving that fear in one sense, but also in that he didn't care. She could see his resolve in his face as he started to turn to dive for her neck but before she could blink, Peter had him pulled off of her and the sound of metal tearing caused her to reach up and cover her ears.
A cold, gentle touch wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into a protective hug and somehow she knew it was Charlotte. Looking up, she could see her red eyes looking at her with concern as she tried to block her view of the gruesome task that Peter was set to do and in the mindset he was in, she wasn't sure that she was still safe in his presence. "Char? Can you take the parts and burn them elsewhere? I want to talk with Bella."
Charlotte got up and collected the dismembered vampire without any comment and took off, seemingly accepting that he was just fine with Bella. He looked at her, his face still etched in anger and fury, but also with concern as he visually made sure that she was okay. Nodding once to her, he turned to look around to make sure that no one else witnessed the altercation but a glimpse out of the corner of his eye, he caught another vampire across the street.
His eyes narrowed in on the crest of the vampire's cloak, widening as he recognized it. Moving to stand in a protective position in front of the girl, he stared the other vampire down but she made no threatening move. He could see her look down towards Bella who seemed to still be in shock from the near death ordeal, but he would have to help her after.
With his vampire hearing, the stranger asked, "Is the girl harmed?"
The question confused Peter as it wasn't customary to leave a human alive for the Volturi, especially after being exposed to vampire knowledge. "Nothing that won't heal with time," he answered suspiciously.
The female vampire looked back at Bella and nodded. "Be sure that remains so," she said and disappeared from sight without moving. The gift was one he hadn't known the Volturi to have and if the human was under their protection, then she had more secrets than just being friends with the Cullens.
Looking down at her, he was confused as what to do with her now. Killing her was out of the question as he would make enemies of both his maker and their royalty, but he truly did like her. She had a spirit about her that he wanted to get to know. Reaching out, he brushed his fingers along her forehead, pushing her hair out of her face as she cried. "Shh, come on Bella. I know we have some mutual friends and lots to talk about," he whispered softly. "Can I bring you back to Char and my place? I don't feel comfortable with you going home alone like this right now."
Bella let out a sigh and shrugged. The night had been so long with so many surprises that after almost being fed on - again, that if this pair decided to eat her, it would just be inevitable. "Okay," she mumbled as she wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing him to carry her.
Peter was a little hesitant as he pulled her into his arms, but he knew he'd have to learn to adjust to having a human around if he was going to get involved with her in any capacity. It seemed inevitable as this was the same friend that Jasper had been calling him about for the past few years and it made him think about how their meeting could have been different had they returned when they were first called.
~o.O.o~
Chapter 02 - You Don't Know Me, I Don't Know You
~o.O.o~
Peter held onto the human girl, unsure what to do with her as he thought about the events that transpired. This girl happened to be the same person that his maker had been wishing for Charlotte and him to meet for some time now, only he'd neglected to share that she was human, their natural food source. Not that it really mattered if she had intentions of being turned, seeing as she held the knowledge of what they were.
Now that he'd met her, he certainly was ready to kick himself in the ass for not returning to Texas sooner because she was certainly a spitfire. He was sure that was Jasper's intention but, having not seen him in so many years, he couldn't trust the man's motives with his seer wife always in the way. The bitch always loved to get his buttons riled up, challenging his gift with her own.
No. The problem, the complication, nagging on his mind as he carried the sleeping girl in his arms back to his ranch, was the Volturi's involvement in a singular human's affairs. A gifted vampire for invisibility, watching over her, concerned about her safety left him quite unsettled. What did they know about her? How did they know about her? Peter knew he needed to speak to his brother and soon, but the desire to try to get information from the human girl was stronger. To try to give her a chance perhaps.
Kicking the front door open, his red eyes flashed over the first floor. "Char?" Peter called out. "Can you ready a bedroom?"
The blonde zipped into the house from wherever she was and took in the sight before her. Bella's head was tucked into her friend's shoulder as she slept without a care. She never thought she'd see a human so comfortable around their kind like that, even in an unconscious state like Bella was. "I got one set up. It's next to yours," she whispered as she stared wide eyed, afraid she might wake her.
He nodded as he made his way up the stairs to the bedrooms where he easily found the room Charlotte specified and laid her down on the bed. He frowned as he looked at her body, pulling the covers over her only to pause when he caught sight of a familiar scar on her wrist.
Gently, he lifted her small hand in his as he peered at the bite mark, wondering how in the hell she was still human. He had dozens upon dozens, just like the singular one she held, marking his body and in his experience every human that experienced a bite like that, they either ended up dead as a vampire's meal or turned.
"What secrets do you hold, Little Girl?" he whispered as he set her hand back down and covered her the rest of the way before backing away from her. He was torn at what to do about her. As attracted as he was to her, he was just as cautious because his gift seemed to be going haywire since he and Charlotte decided to visit that little bar. Now he believed this human had everything to do with it.
"Is she going to be alright?" Charlotte whispered from the doorway.
Peter lifted his head slightly as he was unable to pull his eyes from the sleeping form in front of him. "I think so," he replied quietly. "I need to call the Major and find out why he wanted us back in Texas so much the last couple years. For some reason, I think it's because of this girl but I can't understand what he would have to do with her."
"Do you want me to call him or watch over her so that you can call?" she asked.
He narrowed his eyes as he let out an unnecessary breath. "No. I want to see what she tells us when she wakes. There's more going on here, Char," he murmured. "There was another visitor after you left but for some reason, they were concerned for her welfare and that has me more confused than anything."
She looked at him confused, waiting for him to continue but when he didn't, she knew there would be little else she would get from him that night. Nodding slightly, her lips twitched as she looked to the bed. "I'll run back to town for provisions in the meanwhile. We're going to need something for her in the morning when she wakes."
"Get some alcohol for us as well," he said. After a moment, he added, "Stuff for strawberry pancakes."
Charlotte looked back at him with curious eyebrow raised and he could only shrug a shoulder in response. "Just a feeling," he muttered. She nodded, saving him from saying anything further as she knew that since she talked him into visiting that bar, her friend had been behaving differently. He was more quiet than his usual self and initially she'd been worried but when she saw him staring at Bella; she had never expected a human would get under his skin the way she did so easily.
It worried her.
~o.O.o~
Peter found himself unable to leave his vigil from their guest for long during the night, only leaving long enough to scout around the property before returning to the guest bedroom and falling tiredly into a chair near the window. He didn't leave from that spot as he stared out as he watched the Texan sun rise in the distance, even as Charlotte returned with the human necessities she had left for some time earlier.
He was still sitting there with his chin in his hand, lost in his thoughts over the situation when Bella began to stir in the bed, her head pounding from what she thought was a night of too much drinking. She rolled over in the bed and paused for a moment, realizing that she wasn't in her own as the sheets were much more luxurious than what she could afford despite how wonderful it felt. Stretching out her arm carefully, she let out a relieved sigh that she was in the bed alone.
Bella decided to take the next chance and opened her eyes, regretting it as the sunlight that streamed over the bed nearly blinded her, causing her cry out in protest as she threw her arm over her face. Peter was unable to hold back from laughing at the sight and shook his head as he looked at her.
"Here I thought I was the vampire," he remarked, drawing her attention back towards the window where her eyes were forced to cut through the glare of the morning sunlight. He smiled as he took in her wary look when he stood from his chair. Peter raised his hands in a peaceful gesture, holding them up where she could see them clearly as he spoke. "I mean you no harm Bella. Honest. I don't know how much you remember of last night but I can tell you if you want me to. I won't lie to you about the details as long as you don't lie to me about what I'd like to know."
She looked around, taking in her surroundings but knowing that trying to run from a vampire was pointless. If he intended on feeding from her, he could have long before that point, she knew, and if he wanted more, he would have just taken it. Narrowing her eyes on him, she was still highly suspicious. "What is it you want from me? Why not just leave me at the bar? Why did you bring me ... Where the hell am I?" she asked as she threw her arms up and dropped them unceremoniously on the bed.
"You're at my ranch. We're just outside of Houston," Peter replied as he looked over his shoulder with a shrug. "It ain't much but it's home. Haven't been back here in several years to be honest. Char and I been doin' a lot of traveling lately because of some bug up her ass but we're back now. As far as why you're here? You, Lil' Bit, are here because one, I don't know where in the hell you live. Two, you was all shades of messed up last night after that other vampire tried to take a bite out of ya and I couldn't just as well of left ya on your own. What kind of man would that make me? Three, I'd like some damn answers. A lot of crazy shit happened last night that I don't quite understand and it all has to do with you."
Bella sat up fully in the bed as she kept him in her sight while she tried to make sense of what he said and wake up at the same time. It was difficult as she was still disoriented from being in different surroundings with the headache that was reverberating inside her skull making her want to hold her head.
"I've noticed most humans have a desire for coffee in the morning when they wake. I know I used to before my change," he spoke, a little more cautious as he tilted his head at her. "Char brought up a cup not long before you woke when you started to show signs of waking soon. We just didn't know how you liked it so the cream and sugar are next to it."
She turned to look at the bedside table where there indeed was a small serving tray with the coffee he mentioned on it. "Thanks," she muttered as she stared at it, not sure what to make of this particular pair of vampires. "I don't understand. You are human drinking vampires, right? Why am I still alive again?"
"I thought Char already explained to you that you don't exactly fit our criteria for dinner?" he replied back as he watched her mix her coffee, committing it to memory. "Are you some low life criminal or junkie that no one will particularly miss if you suddenly turned up missing? That's what we feed on. You, Bella, aren't someone I'd sink my teeth into - at least not in that way."
Her eyes swung over to eye him as she did recall something vaguely mentioned but nothing specific. His implication of his wish to bite her, though, sent chills through her body, making her instinctively watch to make sure of his position. When she saw him in the bar, she had been too vexed by his presence by what he was that she hadn't really taken a truly appreciative look. Unlike the vampires she knew back in Forks, this one certainly wasn't a young teenager in appearance. Not even so much a young adult that would even be able to pass as one of the Cullen children.
"And just what way do you mean?" she questioned as she looked at him, her eyes watching as he pulled in a breath as he looked away from her. Bella couldn't help but smile as he frowned at her question, trying to avoid it. It gave her the opportunity to really look at him when he turned his back on her to stare out the window. She certainly appreciated the view he gave her and, for a vampire, he was attractive. More so than she thought Edward was, even.
"I'm sure your imagination can conjure up something," he replied with amusement in his deep voice. "But I can assure you, dead is not what you'd be by the time I was done with you, Bijou. While your heart may not be beating anymore, I can guarantee that I would try to make it fly if I was lucky enough to have been given the opportunity. But this is real life so let's get away from my fantasies and onto some things that I know are true. You know my maker. How is that?"
Bella didn't know what to say at first to his admission. Her imagination certainly did create some interesting possibilities and one of them had already had him over her in the bed she was in. The thought made her bite her lip and blush, shaking her head to try to clear it away. "I'm not sure who your maker is. How about you tell me who it is and maybe I can tell you what I know from there. I can't say anything if you give me bits but you know what? How about letting me freshen up? I am still in last night's bar clothes and am feeling a bit ugh!"
"Peter!" Charlotte's voice echoed from the hallway, causing the man to roll his eyes and his head to fall back to his shoulders in irritation. "Let the girl wake the fuck up fully before you interrogate her! Jesus-fuck, you asshole!"
"Fucking bitch," he muttered as he glared at the door that opened.
The buxom blonde walked in as she flashed him the middle finger on her way to the bedside. "You get tired of this idiot, just let me know and I'll drag his sorry ass out for you. Here's a change of clothes for you. They should fit but the shirt may be a little big, sorry," she shrugged, a smile on her lips. "There is a flannel that you can throw over if it's uncomfortable for you."
Peter eyed her and the clothes in her hands before moving open his mouth but she turned to glare at him. "You. Get out and leave Bella alone. When she's ready to talk, she'll come down to find us. Am I clear?" she barked, making him fall back and blink at her. He turned to look at Bella, almost as if she might support him but she only watched them silently, waiting.
Huffing, he shook his head. "Fine. You win. I'll be downstairs," he groused before he stormed out of the room.
Charlotte watched him leave entertained. "Dumbass," she muttered, listening for him. She heard him leave the house, pleased that he was giving them a moment to talk and turned back to Bella. "I'm sorry for his ambushing you when you woke. I told him not to do that but he doesn't like to do what people tell him to."
"I figured as much," Bella replied as she started to get out of the bed slowly, feeling a little more comfortable around her. "He mentioned that I knew his maker. Will you tell me who that is?"
"Our maker? You mean the Major?"
"Major? I don't know who that is. I honestly wish I can help you but the vampires I knew aren't exactly like you," she said.
The vampire was confused for a moment as she knew that he had been very clear when he called and warned them of her impending danger. "Hm. I do know he has not gone by that name in some time and only Pete and I still refer to him by it as we had to call him by his rank during our time in the wars. You would know him as Jasper."
Bella paused as she had been making her way to the attached bathroom at the mention of her friend's name and turned around. "Jasper? As in Jasper Hale?"
"Mm, yes. I guess that's the name he uses with the coven time to time. His surname is actually Whitlock. He sired us and, seeing as we don't remember much of our human lives, such as our family names, that makes us Whitlocks as well," she grinned back as she fell onto the bed. "His little sprite of a wife had made him call to give us warning that something was wrong with you just before we heard your scream last night. Even if he hadn't called, we would have come for you, you know. We have taken a liking to you. You're nothing like anyone I've ever met."
"Thanks," the human girl said dryly as she narrowed her eyes. "Did that asshole say when he was coming down to visit because he's been ignoring my calls lately and I have a feeling it has something to do with that sprite bitch."
"No. He mentioned that he was due to visit but would try to move it up. Other than that just to try to get us to help you out of whatever danger they believed you found yourself in because she couldn't see you," Charlotte admitted as she turned her head to look up at her. "You don't like Alice?"
Bella's lips pressed together flat as she considered the question. It wasn't that she hated her but she still had some strong animosity toward her that she was having a hard time shaking because the one request she made of her, the vampire was unable to commit to, breaking her promise over and over. When her life was in danger was one thing, but random calls before she went on dates about whether something was going to happen or not eventually wore on her nerves, stressing the already delicate friendship further. "It's complicated."
"Well ... I'm sure Pete and I will enjoy that story when you tell it but for now why don't you go shower and change. I'll wait for you downstairs. Hopefully he will be back and less moody by the time you're done," Charlotte grinned as she bounced off of the bed and skipped out of the room before any further words could be said.
With a sigh, all Bella could do was do as she was instructed. She went into the bathroom and stopped short. Her jaw dropped as she stared at the bath. It reminded her of the fancy ones in hotel suites that she stayed in with her friends during spring break when they went to Florida the year before. "Holy shit ... I think I've died and gone to heaven," she murmured as she eyed the large soaking tub.
She hadn't been one for girly indulgences growing up but when you were friends with Amy, sometimes you had to develop a taste for certain comforts. When the Cullens forced their extravagances on her she hated it but together her and her friend shared in the costs and were able to appreciate the comforts of the luxury much more. If she were honest with herself, she knew she enjoyed certain things a little more than others and possibly even more than she should have.
Biting her lip, she barely suppressed an excited squeal as she shuffled to the bathtub to get the water running while she undressed and thought about everything that occurred over the last day. She knew she had to call Amy to check on her and make sure that she was alright. It was going to be hard to talk her away from the vampires and she wondered just how she would be able to do that. She really didn't want to have to move suddenly and disappear on her.
When her bath water was ready, she slipped into the tub and slid underneath the water as she thought about Peter and Charlotte. The human drinking vampires had done little to have her do anything against her own wishes. Alice did what she wanted, then asked for consent or apologized after the deed was already done. Such a simple gesture had her wanting to reciprocate in a some way. She knew they wanted information about her and learning that they both knew the Cullens, she could give them some of that story depending on how much they already knew from Jasper. If he told them anything about her, it would have been highly disappointing because she'd come to trust him so much since they came back into her life.
Bella found it hard not to like Charlotte despite her initial fear of knowing that she drank human blood. She could easily see herself hanging out with her like any of her human friends. Peter, on the other hand. Her hazy memory before she was attacked, recalled little contact. He seemingly had avoided interacting with her and Amy and hadn't appeared to be very friendly but that morning, he'd been somewhat - pleasant and rather flirty. And fuck if she liked it. She just wasn't sure how she felt about her being attracted to another vampire after her experience with Edward. She did know it was inevitable that she would have to be changed as her visit to the Volturi had put her on their radar, but she'd lucked out so far since they hadn't followed up yet on their demands.
She took her time getting out of the bath and dressing before slowly making her way downstairs. Her curiosity got the better of her and couldn't help but take in much of the decor of the house, surprised at how different it was from the Cullens. This place actually felt more like a home rather than some modern art museum, she thought with a smile as she found her way into the living area where Charlotte was waiting, stretched out on the loveseat, as she read a magazine.
Charlotte looked up with a smile, setting the reading material aside to give their guest her undivided attention. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah," Bella answered as she stopped behind the couch. She stared back at the vampire, still feeling conflicted about their connection to her former vampire family even if she was on semi-friendly terms with a couple of them. "So ... what now?"
She smiled at her and shrugged. "That depends on you, I think, Cherry. I'm sorry if Peter bothered you with the way he ambushed you. He's ... not usually like that…"
Shaking her head, Bella smiled slightly, her lips turning into a sneer at the corners. "It's not the first time a vampire stalked me in my sleep. Edward used to visit to get used to my scent before I even knew what he was. I do have a question about him though. Yesterday he appeared to be rather ... unfriendly. This morning he was quite the opposite. What is up with that?"
Charlotte couldn't help but chuckle. She tried to think of a way to put her thoughts into words for her without making it seem like she was deliberately withholding information to piss her off. "Peter can be complicated. He is a good guy, and I can assure that you are more than safe with him if you are ever concerned about his thirst. The way he was in your room before is very much how he is normally. Sarcastic, flirty, just living. Yesterday, I think it was more that you caught him off guard. He has a gift and it wasn't giving him enough information to anticipate you."
She pursed her lips as she considered what she said, unsure of how she felt about the stranger vampire being gifted with her previous experiences. Despite everything, she wanted to trust them. If she were honest with herself, she had to give something somewhere as there was nothing she could do to defend herself against them. What was unsettling was not knowing the how his gift worked and that it was used in relation to her, making her want to discuss that in more detail with him when she had the chance.
Her hands that settled on the back of the couch that she stood at grew restless and fisted as she looked around. The vampire watched her with caution as she had no idea what thoughts were going through her mind, but the quickly rising heart rate was an indicator that something was not right. "So this is about me?" she asked irritably, her dark eyes snapping back at her. "Does he have some idiotic idea that this walking blood bag is his mate too? Because if he does, I have a zippo with his name on it."
Char narrowed her own burgundy eyes on her, confused at first at her accusation. The human had several years of history with a coven of vampires as far as she was aware, at least by her association with her sire. "What are you talking about Bella? I don't understand."
The human girl started pacing the floor, her hands jutting up to her wet hair as she was clearly troubled by the thought of another vampire being pulled to her. Even if she shared a strong physical attraction that she didn't quite have with Edward. "You said that his gift led you two to me. His attitude is like whiplash. The last time this shit happened to me - well it got me hunted down by another coven of your kind and fucking bit. So forgive me if I don't sound pleased if your boy has some twisted idea that I may be his fucking mate bitch!"
There was a snort of amusement from behind her, forcing her to turn around and glare at the subject of her ire. Peter had snuck in during their conversation and stood behind a pillar out of sight in attempt to figure out the human that drew in two powerful covens. It was obvious that she had some issues when it came to vampire abilities, but there were other particulars of his kind that she seemed uninformed on. Or at least, been misled and he had his suspicions on that as he thought about her connection to his brother while he gave time to his sister to make friends. When the girl leveled her glare on him, not an ounce of fear showing, he couldn't stop the grin that came to his face that only served to piss her off more.
"I don't know where you got your information on mates, but it's a crock of shit, Peaches," he told her with a flat expression. "Whoever told you that you were his or her mate lied."
Bella froze in her position as she stared at him, the implication of his admission and the seriousness of the way he said it. He had no reason to lie to her himself, saved her from a random vampire's feeding when he should have simply let her die for knowing of what he was. The heaviness of the further proof of Edward's lies from the very beginning of their relationship hit her like a sack of bricks that even though she was long over him, she still had feelings as she continued to live with the repercussions of his decision to pursue her.
He didn't take his eyes off of her for a second as he waited for her to make her move. She released a slow deep breath as she nodded. Swallowing before she spoke, she was still very much angry but her slim frame had relaxed in defeat. "Shouldn't be surprised. All he knew how to do it seems now, was lie. If either of you want to have any kind of relationship with me, don't think about pulling that shit. I'll get Jasper to tell me."
Peter nodded slightly but didn't look any happier than her. "I'm not going to question your trust in him but I ain't about to go running to him. I have questions for that asshole about you, I'll admit, but he should have set you straight about how mates work after you cut your ties with his squirrel sucking family."
"What the hell do you mean by that?" The anger flamed back up, earning a sigh from the male vampire.
He shifted uncomfortably as he looked over her shoulder where Charlotte was watching them silently, not willing to get involved with the discussion that would develop considering how much she knew he liked her. In a flash, she was out the door, taking her turn to give them their turn to get to know one another.
"Bella…" Peter started, trying to think of how to direct the conversation. Looking around he held his hand out towards the door in a gentlemanly manner. "Shall we take a walk while I try to explain what I was thinking about while you were chatting with Char? I'll also tell you how mates really work and why I'm having an issue with Jasper right now."
She sighed but made her way to the door and waited for him to join her without any objections. He was just as quiet as her as he led her down a well worn trail away from the house until they reached an old barn. Pushing the door open, he wandered inside, kicking around old straw hay that laid on the ground before moving over to lean against a stall post to look at her as she waited at the entrance watching him.
"You're an interesting person, Peaches," he murmured as he stared at her thoughtfully, drawing in a deep breath of her scent. "I don't know what the draw is you have to our kind and as intriguing as it is, it's fucking dangerous. You're an unknown and being that somehow or another my family and I are now involved in whatever shit that is circling around you, I'm inclined to find out what it is and deal with it somehow."
He could see that she was growing irritated with what he said very quickly as her eyes flashed and her posture shifted, ready for an attack. "I don't give two shits what you're inclined to do. You're not obligated to do shit for me. I didn't ask for any favors from you! If I get turned or killed, it's going to happen one way or another…" she started off until he rolled his eyes at her and smiled before cutting her off.
"I never said I was obligated. I agree with you in fact. I shouldn't give a shit and kill you right here and now. Who's gonna stop me, Bijou? Not you. Not Jasper or his bitch wife certainly. Now, the Volturi might cause a problem," he said, smirking as she stared back at him wide eyed at the mention of their royalty. "Hm yes. You're tied up with the Italians, but in what capacity is what I'm curious about. It's not everyday they send one of their coveted gifted vampires to look over a human. What the fuck are you involved in, Peaches?" Peter demanded now.
Bella shook her head in denial, not understanding what he was talking about and voiced it. "I have no clue what you're talking about," she breathed out. The look on his face as she repeated his words to herself, she grew into a panic. "I've never seen any vampires other than the occasional newborn Victoria would send to try to get me but Jasper would handle them before they could do anything. What the fuck are you talking about?!"
"Last night when we took care of the nomad, one of the Volturi guards gifted for invisibility or cloaking or whatever was there to assure your safety it seems. Now you can understand why I'm more than a little curious as to what they want with you," he informed her.
Blinking at him, she shook her head as she bit her lip. "I have no fucking idea what they want or why they would do that. No. They want me changed, I know that. Aro couldn't hear my thoughts when we went to save Edward from his masochistic idiocy. He went there to commit suicide when he thought I tried to kill myself. They haven't said anything as far as I know…"
"Well, it seems you left a larger impression on the brothers than you thought for them to send you a personal bodyguard. Question is why would they do that. We can find that out later as I'm sure you'll have plenty of time if you are interested. You're planning on turning, right?"
"Yeah, I guess. I was going to ask Jasper to do it," she shrugged. "Why?"
He shook his head. "No reason. Better him than the other squirrel suckers," he smiled finally. "Now, this mate bullshit you were fed...Fucktard claimed you were his mate, didn't he?"
Bella scoffed as she crossed her arms, finally crossing the barn to make her way closer to him and nodded. "Yeah. I thought I loved him, but I don't even know what it was now. Teenage delusions I think. I was happy at the time, before the incident at the birthday party that I never wanted and when Jasper tried to take a bite when I got a papercut from one of my presents."
"Hm. Happy doesn't mean in love, or mutually in love. Being mated and feeling a mate bond is deeper. It's nothing instant like he made it sound. Both partners need to share the same feelings, attractions for one another if there is any bond to develop. You're aware that it takes a lot for our kind to shift and change emotionally. It's the same for bonds. Mate bonds last a long fucking time so there needs to be something substantial for it to work. What you had with that pussy was nothing more than wishful thinking on his part, Peaches, and a little bit of teenage puppy love maybe," Peter explained the best he could as kept his eyes staring forward but felt her movement as she leaned on the divider beside him.
She had always felt that the relationship wasn't entirely whole. That there was something always missing and with his explanation, she understood it a hell of a lot better. Looking up at him, she couldn't help but find him extremely appealing again, causing her breath to catch in her throat. "Um...Can I ask you another question?"
He smirked as his red eyes flashed to her, raising an eyebrow in silent question to prompt her on.
"Do you and Charlotte have a thing about fruit? Because she called me Cherry and you keep referring to me as Peaches. Should I be worried that I'll end up as dessert one night?" she huffed.
Peter couldn't stop the laugh at her remarks. "No. I bet you smell like cherries to her so that was the first thing that came to mind when she wanted to give you a nickname."
"And I smell like peaches to you? Well I suppose it's better than fucking freesias. I hate those damn flowers," she grumbled as she clearly still held a deep grudge against the Cullen vampire.
"Yeah, I suppose. More like baked peaches and whiskey to me. Was my favorite dessert my momma used to make when I was still human," he shared as he turned to her with a sigh. "Look, Peaches. Char explained that I was a bastard last night to you but don't expect me to apologize. Whatever is up with you freaks me the fuck out."
"Yeah. Speaking of that. Let's discuss your gift. How does that work? Because I hate, HATE vampires who use their gifts against my permission on me," she growled at him, impressive for a human as he nodded in acknowledgment.
"It's not intrusive like Jasper's, or as fucked up as the psychotic pixie. Basically, I just know shit. I get feelings, like if I need to be somewhere to go in a direction, or avoid someplace. I had a feeling that we should be in the bar last night, aside from the fact that Char wanted to see the band, but it was confusing because it was a good and bad feeling. It had to have been you. That's one of the things I was thinking about before when I took off. I think it was good to be there to find you, bad because you were going to find trouble because of us, but I just knew we had to go. It doesn't tell me more than that," he huffed as he looked just as frustrated as she felt at the start of his explanation.
Bella remained silent for a long time, simply staring at him. It had started to unnerve him because for a human she actually became relatively skilled in maintaining her reactions around them, even down to her heart, so when red eyes held brown ones, he scowled. Her lips curled up slightly into a smile as she reached out to trace his face along the outside of his mouth. "You are more appealing when you're happier. We should go back," she murmured.