AU: February - Rewind

[adangermagnet]

"You knew he was coming back to Forks and you didn't think I should know?" Bella hissed over the phone. She thought she had been seeing things today when that familiar Cullen Jeep. At first she just did a double-take but the second she saw the car make the sharp turn down a side street she knew exactly who had been driving. Instinctively, she'd

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[adangermagnet]

Visitors outside of the family. Yeah, ouch. She stood there staring at him like he was some stranger. Well, partly. The other part felt so at home here that she never wanted to leave and she'd bang on his chest with her fists to try and convince him to stay. Why was it that he has this kind of effect on her after nearly a year?

So it was like Alice said. He was here for a while until they didn't need him anymore and then he would be gone. It wasn't until he forced out the word "boyfriend" that Bella wanted to smack him.

What? He could leave just like that but him coming back after a year and he could be jealous she wasn't sitting around like the dead person she had been anymore?

"You really have some high opinion of yourself, you know. Just because I came here when I found out you were back doesn't mean you were imposing on me." So what if it did bring back all those memories, good and bad, but he was the one who'd left for twelve months.

"I came to check to see how your brothers were doing. You happened to answer the door. Leave my 'boyfriend' out of this."

[lovesicklion]

"Oh, you visited them much while I was away?" his tone was silky smooth as always, but there was a challenge in his eyes. He was daring her to prove that her true motivation for visiting hadn't been to see him. Perhaps she was right and he was so caught up in what had happened with the two of them that he was oblivious to the fact she had truly moved on.

Except he didn't think so. He could see the emotions reflecting in her eyes and crossing over her face. He could smell the anger mixed with something closer to sadness, with a healthy dose of confusion. Of course she was confused. He had never offered her a true explanation, but he never fathomed she would so easily believe the lies he told her.

She had a new life now. One that had nothing to do with him. It had been his request right? No, it had been his demand, and she had done exactly what he demanded of her. She moved on, started over, and found happiness with someone else. This was the life he wanted for her, yet he never pictured he would have to see an upclose view of it.

It was so hard to be close to her when he wished to tell her the truth. What could would the truth do anyway? It was clear things with the Cullens would never be safe for her. It was barely safe for his brothers at this point.

Stepping aside, he held open the door so she could come inside. "By all mean, please, come in. I'm being rude. Perhaps I'm mistaken and they are up to visitors."

[adangermagnet]

She narrowed her eyes at him at the accusation. Maybe he was right.. a little, but so what? Was he really going to stay here however long and do everything he could to stay away? The problem in Seattle had been going on for months and now it was going to magically disappear because super Edward was here? Who knew how long it would take to get things settled there?

Visiting them hadn't really been Bella had done a lot. Talked to a few of them, but visiting? There was a time when she had come over but after a while it had gotten too hard. It had been ages since she'd actually stepped foot in the house.

"Alice told me they were hurt," she said finally. Edward opened the door and it was almost like a challenge to walk through. She gave him a look but stepped inside anyway. Walking past him, she was able to get that scent that was purely Edward and her heart ached.

After she'd gotten a safe distance away from him into the house, Bella turned back to face him. "Look, I'm sorry I just showed up. I don't know, I figured Alice would have seen me coming or something." Shrugging, she glanced at the stairs, a little unsure about just going to see the others. If Rosalie was upstairs she'd probably want to bite Bella's head off for showing up at the house. Though, probably not literally.

[lovesicklion]

"That's rather curious actually," He said in a light tone even though he felt anything but light about this situation. "Alice should have seen you on the back of that motorcycle and warned me not to take the route I took. She did not. She didn't see your future at all, Bella. Why is that?"

He clasped his hands together behind his back looking every bit the formal gentleman he had been before he was turned. It was the easiest way to face her. Formal. Reserved. Polite when he could manage it. It kept him from doing something foolish.

"I didn't need to ask her if you would show up here after you saw me. I haven't been gone that long that I can't anticipate what you would do in that situation."

His expression softened just for a moment as he listened to the sound of her heart beating. He had missed that sound more than he could possibly explain to her. He'd tried to replay it in his mind when he was away, but it was not the same as actually hearing it.

"You owe me no apologies, Bella. You are a friend to my family. You will always be welcome here no matter how dangerous it could be to you." The memory of her birthday flooded his mind as his nails dug into the palms of his hands.

"They were hurt, yes. They will recover. You'll find we're not as fragile as you are." That was a bit rude. He would be lucky if his parents didn't catch that upstairs. "Why couldn't Alice see you on that bike, Bella? Furthermore, what in the hell possessed you to get on a bike? Do you have any idea how easily you could be killed on one of those?"

[adangermagnet]

The mention of Alice not being able to see her on the bike with Jake made Bella shift uncomfortably. There had been the whole nearly drowning incident that Alice had nearly had a cow over, but for some reason hadn't been able to see Jacob there diving to her rescue. There had been other times too. When Bella still talked to Alice over the phone, she'd mentioned how it was hard for her to ever see Bella in her visions anymore. She hadn't told Alice, but Bella had a feeling that she wasn't able to see any of the werewolves.

"I don't know," she half lied. Okay, it was pretty much a full lie., but it wasn't like she'd tested the theory by jumping off more cliffs.

Haven't been gone that long? Well, okay, maybe in vampire years but a year was a long time in human years.

"You'll find I'm not as fragile as you think I am either." Oh, if he only knew the things she'd done for the sake of doing them while he'd been gone. Things to hear his voice in her head telling her not to do them. She could get hurt. She could die. Be careful, Bella. No, she wouldn't get hurt. Not with Jacob there to make sure that didn't happen.

"Just as easy to get hurt on a motorcycle with him than riding in a car with you going 120 miles per hour down the highway."

Yeah, Charlie wasn't a big fan of the bikes either. And it would probably be a good idea not to mention Edward was back in town to her father.

[lovesicklion]

She was lying, and he couldn't prove it. He couldn't hear her thoughts to get to the truth. He took a step toward her, eyes blazing with fury, only to stop suddenly. Something hit him as he adjusted to the scent of her blood. There was another scent, something he hadn't smelled on her before.

"Why do you smell like dog?" Not regular dog either. No, she smelled like the only enemy that vampires had.

He took another step back to clear the scent from his mind. It was horrible. Why did his Isabella smell like his enemy? What had she been up to while he was gone?

"You were never in danger with me behind the wheel. I have excellent instincts and reflexes. I believe you know that better than most." He sniffed the air again to be sure of what he was smelling. Narrowing his eyes he waited for an explanation.

Was she unaware of how she smelled? Did she not realize that someone she was associating with was a werewolf, or was close enough to a werewolf to carry the scent and pass it on to her? Had she unwisely walked into a situation more dangerous than the Cullens?

[adangermagnet]

It was like he was trying to read her thoughts. He used to to do that sometimes. Or so she thought. He'd look at her a certain way and she would swear he was trying to break in when he knew that he couldn't.

"I don't smell like a dog." Bella narrowed her eyes at him and took a step backwards. What was it with the special kids and their enhanced senses all of the time? It wasn't any of his business that her current boyfriend so happened to be a werewolf. It wasn't as if she went looking for a new friend who wasn't entirely human after he'd left.

"And I'm not in danger on the bike either. That's the point. It's not your job to tell me what is or is not dangerous anymore." Anymore. Yeah, she caught that, too.

Bella wrapped her arms around herself and tried to think of the best way out of this. She shouldn't care if Edward knew what Jacob was, but it wasn't her secret to tell. Technically, she wasn't supposed to know either until he'd gotten around that rule with her guessing it.

"Can I see Jasper and Emmett now?"

See, this was a bad idea.

[lovesicklion]

"Yes, you do." Of course he wanted to be sure. For her sake and his own. He called up the stairs, "Rosalie, Carlisle, or Esme could you come here please?"

Edward gave her a pointed look. "I didn't ask for Alice because I want you to be absolutely sure I am not sending them secret messages to prove my point."

Anymore. Anymore. Yes, he caught this too. He looked over at the stairs when Esme appeared looking concerned. The look she gave him made it clear she had overheard other things and was not completely pleased with him. He'd discuss it with her later.

"Esme, would you mind settling a debate that Bella and I are having. Does she smell any different to you?" He asked it so casually, so sweetly, that it was no surprise that Esme shot him a disapproving look.

"Edward, you will mind your manners in this..." and then she stopped and looked at Bella. Her eyes widened just a bit, and she tried to tactfully sniff the air again so not to offend Bella. Clamping a hand over her mouth she looked frightened for just a moment. When the hand dropped she said, "Bella, were you attacked by a werewolf? Did it hurt you?"

Edward would have looked smug if not for the fact the confirmation proved that Bella was either knowingly or unknowingly associating with werewolves. He honestly wasn't sure which he preferred. "Thank you, Esme. I believe Bella and I need a moment more of privacy. Will you check and see if Emmett and Jasper are up for visitors?"

She cast a look between them before nodding her head and turning to leave them alone. Once she was up the stairs he closed the distance and growled out, "Tell me again you do not smell like dog, Bella."

[adangermagnet]

"What in the hell are you doing?" Bella demanded when he called up the stairs for someone else to come down. "I don't need anyone else to smell me." But that didn't stop Esme from coming downstairs and looking like she wanted to strangle her eldest son. Good. Bella kind of wished that she would. Or that Carlisle would come downstairs and make him mind.

She crossed her arms over her chest as Esme started to tell him to mind his manners but then suddenly stared at her like Bella was covered in boils. That's when she said the word. Werewolf.

"No, I wasn't attacked by a werewolf and I'm FINE."

This was so stupid. Bella knew she never should have come here. Stupid idea and stupid argument and stupid VAMPIRES WITH THEIR SUPER SMELLING NOSES.

...Did that mean Jake would be able to smell vampire on her? Oh damnit. Bella was going to take ten showers before she saw him the next time.

Once Esme was back upstairs, Bella looked hard at Edward and didn't plan on giving him an inch no matter what Esme said.

"Okay. I don't smell like a dog, Edward." She smiled sarcastically and raised a brow at him. What? He wanted her to tell him that, so she did. Besides, as far as she was concerned, she didn't smell like a dog. And she hadn't been attacked by a werewolf.

The fact that she happened to date one and spend most of her waking hours outside of school with one or two or a whole pack wasn't his stupid business.

[lovesicklion]

He was glaring at her now. Much like he had the first day she sat next to him in class and he was hit with the smell of her blood. But now the scent was tainted because all he could smell on her was dog. Werewolf. She wanted to be difficult? She wanted to dance around the subject?

Why? What possible motivation did she have for deflecting his questions, and arguing semantics? Why was she practically lying to him?

Then it came together for him. The new boyfriend. She was on the bike with him. Close to him. She came straight to the house after being with him.

"I believe you're dating a werewolf." The words came out clipped and entirely more controlled than he felt in that moment. He'd left her to protect her, and of course she went from a coven of vampires to a werewolf. Only Isabella.

"I believe you're dating a werewolf, and you are foolish enough to believe he is safe. That you won't be hurt with him. I believe you came here to see my brothers. You can find them upstairs. I need air."

With that, he turned and stormed out of the house, slamming the door on his way out with such force that he could hear the pictures rattling on the walls. He was sure he would have to explain that later to Carlisle or Esme, but for now he needed to get the hell away from her and her new life.

She was supposed to be safe, and this was what she had done with the chance he'd given her?

Only Bella.

[adangermagnet]

All Bella could do was just stare at him. He was guessing all the right answers while she avoided the questions. He believed that she was dating a werewolf? Well, good for him. Now, move on to the next subject because it wasn't his business who she dated or ... what she dated.

Bella had been with Jacob for a few months now as a werewolf and she knew he would never hurt her. Sam had gotten angry enough to accidentally strike at Emily, but that didn't mean Jake would do the same thing. Even still, that didn't matter to her. It wasn't the most important thing. Bella knew that Jake wouldn't intentionally hurt her. He wouldn't leave her. He'd been the one to chase after her when Edward had tried his best to avoid her in the beginning and then leave completely.

The next thing she knew, Edward was slamming the door and she was left alone in the room. Go upstairs to see them now? After this? After being told she smelled like a freaking dog? She didn't think so.

Bella almost wanted to yell up the stairs a get well soon to Jasper and Emmett, but the rest of the Cullens didn't need to hear that from her. So without saying a word, he went out the same door and stomped to her truck and started home.

And once she got there she was taking enough showers that her skin would probably be rubbed raw.