[Twilight] Rising Phoenix (Part Four)
For some reason, I forsee this being extraordinary long seeing as I'm probably only a fourth of the way done in terms of plot. :| Funny enough... this'd actually be shorter as an actual multi-chaptered fic, but I can't seem to write those.
If something in here doesn't make you laugh, let me know, because this is really meant to be over-the-top and "lolwhut." That's all, so um... enjoy?
Title: Rising Phoenix (Part Four)
Fandom: Twilight [AU]
Summary: Bella's enjoying her new adulthood, Edward's struggling with his new challenge... and Jacob's hating his inner monologues? Sounds like normal life in Forks to everyone else.
Disclaimer: Leaf and his family are seriously the only things in here that belong to me. o_O; Twilight and all related characters are property of Stephenie Meyer; I'm just borrowing them for a fic that shouldn't derive any profit from it, okay?
31.
The next morning, something seemed different about Edward. Bella couldn't quite figure out what had happened. Surely he didn't get drunk after the party!
It wasn't like him, but it was the only logical explanation she could think of. Even Aunt Elizabeth didn't know why he was so sleepy. (He'd gotten plenty of sleep on the weekends, for sure.) For now, it was all Bella could do to bite her lip and not ask him.
He'd seen something, maybe? Or perhaps he danced too much and his muscles were sore. Either way, she had to ask at some point.
Just... now was not the right time. Watching Edward scramble eggs, Bella sighed as she leaned on the breakfast table. Last night had drained her too! She wasn't much of a party person because it constantly drained her of all her energy. It was exhausting.
"Bells," Edward called as he gently laid her scrambled eggs and toast in front of her, "Let's eat. You don't look so well."
"I could say the same about you," Bella pouted as she put some in her mouth. Edward laughed as he ruffled her hair.
"You know, it kinda feels like we're married and everything," Edward remarked.
Just then, Leaf appeared from behind a nearby door. Yawning, he absent-mindedly kissed Bella and Edward on the cheek as he called, "Morning, Mommy, Daddy."
Bella sent him a quizzical look as Edward shrugged, "He sleep-walks and sleep-talks."
"Uh-huh," Bella sighed. "How much did you pay him?"
Leaf jumped as Edward nervously inspected his scrambled eggs. Bella, however, kept staring him down... and staring... and staring...
"Stop it," Leaf insisted, nearly on the verge of tears, "He just asked me. I can't say no to an angel!"
Bella triumphantly smiled as she finished off her breakfast. "Hah!"
Edward's palm met his face. "Leaf, do me another favor."
Leaf blinked. "What?"
"Never listen to anything I say again."
Leaf made a face as he muttered, "But that was actually my idea."
32.
The dreams were getting worse. It was all Jacob could do to stay awake in class, let alone in his own house! His dad occasionally shot him weird looks, but Jake couldn't help it. No matter how much coffee he downed, he was still having those weird dreams.
They weren't like his previous dreams -- no, scratch that. He couldn't even remember his dreams before these started acting up!
Why couldn't he have non-coherent dreams like the rest of the world? Was it because he was Quileute? (Stupid movies, making his tribes all "magical" and "sparkly" just because they needed some shot of fantasy)
He groaned as he drank yet another cup of tea (black and bitter, he noted with disdain). "But they're still weird," He mumbled to himself. "I wasn't even aware that I liked wolves."
Aaaand he was doing the whole internal monologue thing again. He put a fist to his forehead. Stupid, stupid! He needed to go hang out with Quil and Embry again. That is, if they were actually around. Rumor had it that one of them had actually joined Sam's weird cult.
La Push was even condoning them! What the heck was wrong with the elders? They wouldn't allow any other cults, so why should Sam be any different? Sure--- argh, internal monologue.
Jacob immediately headed towards the nearest phone, dialed a number he knew by heart, and smiled softly as he said, "Hello? Is Embry there? Jake here... I was wondering if he wanted to hang out today?"
33.
Rosalie and Emmett had finally left town. Alice remembered watching them off with a wave and a mischievous smile as she called, "Hope you enjoy Fuji~ Remember to avoid the other tourists! And the house'll break in a couple of weeks, so we'll send you the bill ASAP!"
Emmett had laughed as he called, "Aww, man, thanks, Alice," while Rosalie had glared back at her and didn't look back.
So she was the only Cullen at home for the rest of autumn. (Well, the only Cullen child - Carlisle and Esme were still here) It'd be lonely without her family to support and manipulate into playing childish games. Perhaps she could spend more time with Bella and Edward? They wouldn't mind, but... they had to sleep too. Alice flopped onto the couch, staring up at the ceiling as she tried to think of new ways to spend her time.
Maybe she could explore the woods some more and catalog all the animals? Nah, that was something Jasper was more likely to do.
... Discover new foreign music? That was a possibility. Alice had always wanted to learn Japanese. And since she had all the time in the world, learning a new language wouldn't be that hard!
Ooh, she knew! She could create a new Bella doll and decor--- nah, the real one was ten times as fun. And besides, she didn't want to be labeled as a creepy stalker. She'd leave that to the real, human-eating vampires.
"Alice," Esme called as she walked into the family room. "You want to go hunting?"
"Sure," Alice grinned, sitting up as she met her mother. "It's been a while, after all. Ever since everyone left... it hasn't been quite the same."
"We'll try," Esme sweetly returned the smile. Ushering her daughter out, she added to herself, "Even if it means we'll be lonelier for the first few days."
34.
Enlisting Leaf's help in the whole "challenging a gun-wielder" scheme was a lot easier than Edward expected it to be. He hadn't really known much about elves, but he had heard the race was harder to convince than most. They were supposedly hard to sway with emotions - they had to be convinced by raw logic.
But all he had to say to Leaf was "Bella's life is on the line." Leaf immediately cried that he'd help no matter what - and their bond seemed to become even stronger.
The two were now sitting on the floor of Leaf's treehouse, books scattered everywhere as the two carefully opened up old novels and encyclopedias. Edward lay on the floor as he read to himself while Leaf sat with his legs crossed and his eyes closed as books floated around him in a perfect circle.
Laughing as he marveled at the sight, Edward asked, "So what made you want to help? I heard that elves weren't swayed by emotion."
"We are not supposed to be swayed," Leaf corrected as he opened one eye. "Who told you?"
"Some old book," Edward remarked, returning to his novel. "Why?"
"The fantasy books get it wrong. That's what Ephraim said, anyhow. I have never read them."
"I'd hope so. Bella says they're incredibly trashy. Jeez, you'd think that elves had better things to do than suck human face..."
Leaf stared. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah," Edward laughed. "It's like interspecies---"
"They confused us for vampires," Leaf wailed, the books dropping all around him. "We don't suck the energy out of anyone! What're they thinking?!"
Edward blinked as he watched Leaf immediately burst into tears. Sighing, the angel rubbed his temples, "... Good job, Masen. Good job."
Leaf curled in a ball as he sobbed, "Y-you don't think people hate us for sucking human face, do you?"
"Bella said most teenage girls found it incredibly hot," Edward shrugged. "So it's fine."
Making a face, Leaf dried the tears from his eyes, "... Oh. Well, as the kids say now, whatever."
Edward immediately looked up and quizzically pressed his lips together, but kept his silence as Leaf happily returned to his novel.
"Remind me to check him for bipolar disease one of these days," Edward muttered to himself as he finally returned to his novel.
35.
Bella loved being eighteen. She could now legally vote and buy her own lottery tickets! Mike and Jessica were the lucky victims who accompanied her to the gas station today after school.
"Bella," Jessica found herself asking as they walked into the store, "You sure you really want to go through with this?"
"Of course," Bella nodded. "It's proof that I am legally an adult."
Mike gave his girlfriend a familiar, if negative look, as they watched Bella happily purchase her first ticket. Taking Jessica aside, he whispered, "Let her go through with it. I think they all go to charity, anyway..."
Jessica gave her boyfriend a sympathetic look as she kissed him on the cheek. Lottery ticket clenched firmly in her hand, Bella held it up to their faces with a wide smile. "Look! I am finally an adult!"
As they ushered her out, Mike couldn't help sighing. "... Is this gonna happen all over again when she turns 21?"
36.
The days became even shorter as October dragged on. But what Bella noticed the most was the odd, all-knowing glances Jacob and Edward exchanged as they spent time over at each other's houses (or in Edward's case, the first floor apartment he shared with his mom). Was there something about Halloween that she didn't know this year?
"Bella," Jacob finally began during one of the many commercials in their recent Pokemon marathon, "You interested in doing something for Halloween?"
Bella shrugged, "I guess? But you know I'm not really up for anything outlandish."
Edward picked up the book in Bella's hands, "Says the girl who's currently reading The Lightning Thief."
Bella wrinkled her nose. "It's based off Greek mythology! What's wrong with wanting to be more educated with classical myths?"
"That last sentence," Jacob pointed out as he let her lean on his shoulder. "Just admit you like it."
She sighed, taking the book back from Edward's grasp. "Does my book have anything to do with costumes this year?"
"Mm, not really," Edward glanced towards the TV. "Jake and I were actually wanting opinions on what we should be. You know... it might be fun to be from a TV show about two guys fighting over a girl. Or something."
Bella looked down at the book and pressed her lips together. "And you want me to grab ideas from my library. I really like the idea of going as Greek gods and goddesses, but Edward probably wants to go as someone from Pokemon..."
Jake shrugged, "I'm up for anything as long as I'm not supposed to be a bad person."
"Then it's decided," Bella smiled. "We'll go ahead and be the kids from Pokemon. Not Ash, Brock, and Misty - but the people from the show we've been watching recently. Um, what about Gold, Silver, and Crystal?"
Edward grinned, "Sounds perfect! I even know where to get the Pokeballs, and don't forget about the plushies---"
Jake immediately stuffed a chocolate chip cookie in his friend's mouth. Turning to a stunned Bella, he nonchalantly responded, "You know you'd do that if I hadn't."
"True," She blushed as she set the book aside. "I'll get to work on the costumes soon---"
"Actually," Edward interrupted. "Alice said she'd help us. I figured it'd be easier that way, since you know her and her fashionista tendencies..."
"Works for me," Bella nodded.
The commercials ended just then - and the show resumed from its previous plot points. Bella sighed as she realized she'd immediately lost the attention of her best friends, but she just snuggled closer to Jacob and closed her eyes. Oh well. At least she'd get a good nap out of this.
37.
Normally, school clubs didn't have elections in the middle of October. But it seemed to Alice that they had made an exception for her as she walked into the meeting of the historical society. Much to her dismay, they had... actually elected her president.
When she asked - no, demanded - about her new position, Bella stifled a laugh as she replied, "You're the best when it comes to history. Isn't it obvious?"
Her visions continued to be cloudy every time she looked for Bella. She knew it was because of Edward and Leaf; they weren't human, and she couldn't visualize them because she would never be a part of them. It was a little unnerving. She and Jasper had been the oddballs in their family, the ones who could mentally alter a person's state of mind (well, Alice just read their futures); it was time, she supposed, that her powers couldn't play a role in her life anymore.
Life was taking her forward. Her friends wanted to remember her.
(But would they want to remember her sixty years later, when they were old and gray and... she wasn't?)
For the time being, Alice stopped resisting. It was futile to disappear into the background as long as she spent time with the most popular kids in school. But she mused, it might be for the best. The people here loved them, and in return... she slowly found herself loving them back.
38.
They loved her! They really loved her!
Edward wanted to take pride for the assimilation of Alice Cullen into the student body of Forks High. But alas, he wasn't really able to, as she had sorta-kinda became friends with everyone of her own free will. Perhaps it was because she realized that she was a senior? Whatever the case was, all of his high-school age friends were finally able to spend time together.
Alice and Jacob would routinely challenge each other to rounds of Guitar Hero or Rock Band (it was really whichever came first); Jessica and Lauren often swapped make-up advice with Bella in exchange for recipes; Mike and Ed would shoot hoops outside whenever the weather allowed for it.
Leaf sometimes came to relax with them - and really, no one minded. Leaf had somehow become their mascot and the one everyone wanted to babysit at some point in time. (Ben and Angela even tried to jointly babysit when Ayita and Ephraim needed a babysitter last night, but Leaf's guardians wouldn't have it.)
... So how come something still felt wrong about the whole situation? Heck, even Charlie, Billy, and Elizabeth were becoming their own best friends.
Ed couldn't help it, really, but he knew something was blocking this from being his perfect senior year. Someone was watching him.
He was supposed to track down that gun-wielder and make sure he didn't break his promise. He was also supposed to finish that darn challenge the gun-wielder had set out!
It was something absolutely ridiculous. (Why would the gun-wielder need a record of demons in the Forks area? ... Eh, at least he knew they existed. Edward'd give him that much credit.) But he had promised he'd give the gun-wielder the information, and so he will.
It just wouldn't be tonight. Edward was happy enough hanging out with his friends... he wanted to spend as much time with them as possible... but Alice shot him a look as the clock ticked closer and closer to eleven PM.
And then he knew. He had to go.
So he left, giving the worst excuse ever about taking care of some old lady's cat (whch they all believed!) and hurried towards downtown. Of all the lousy nights! Meh, Edward groaned. At least he'd get it all over with by midnight.
39.
There was something mystical about the evening before Halloween. The gun-wielder lazily lounged on the roof of the highest building in Forks (which wasn't saying much, since the town was literally in the middle of nowhere) as he waited for the clock to strike eleven.
His first challenge to the angel wasn't honestly a hard one. Of all the people to challenge him... it had to be an angel. The gun-wielder groaned to himself as he stared above into the night sky. He had wanted to really toy with humans, to see how far they'd go before they pushed their limits... and blame it all on the Cullens.
But did that angel really have to get in the way of his revenge? (Probably, a little voice in his head said. The gun-wielder furiously blushed and tried to slam it back into the depths of his mind.)
He heard the flapping of wings. Rising from his position, the gun-wielder sunk back into the shadows as he watched the angel approach even closer to him.
... He had promised himself that he wouldn't stare too long at the angel, but he couldn't help it! There was just something inherently familiar in the facial structure. Like he imagined, the angel was dressed entirely in white, with the exception of the multi-colored bracelets and necklaces that were dangled around his neck. His wings, however, were slightly tinted blue. Huh.
"You're here," The gun-wielder growled. "Do you have the information?"
The angel nodded as he pulled a manila folder from the depths of his cross necklace's jewel. "Of course. Here you go."
Without a second glance, the gun-wielder reached forward as he took the folder... and the angel pulled him out of the shadows.
The gun-wielder winced as he squirmed. Kicking his feet, he tried and tried to reach for his gun, but the angel firmly held on as he studied the gun-wielder over. (Really? Was the gun-wielder that fascinating?)
The angel didn't let go, but put both of his hands on the gun-wielder's shoulders as he softly smiled, "You know, you kinda look like someone I knew a long time ago."
"Tch," The gun wielder looked away. "Is that supposed to impress me?"
"I don't know. Does it?"
The gun-wielder shook his head, trying to pry the angel's arms off his own. "Not particularly. I get that a lot."
"Oh." Again, the angel didn't let go. "Is there a reason you wanted to take revenge against Alice? ... The rest of the Cullens are off at college."
"But the doctor's still around, isn't he?" The gun-wielder growled as he finally let go of the angel's iron grip. Kneeling to pick the folder up, he let his waist-length black hair swish behind him as he added, "That's really all I need. Your next challenge's in your hands."
The demon firmly stared the angel down as he pulled his handgun out and twirled it. "Good luck," He hollowly laughed. "You'll need it."
The angel watched him disappear from rooftop to rooftop before he finally disappeared into the encompassing forests around them.
"... I swear," The angel groaned as he started flying into the sky. "He looks so familiar. Did not appreciate the new challenge, by the way. Not in the least."
His eyes widened as he stared at the new index card. Pocketing it, he grumbled even more as he too disappeared into the clouds. "So much for a peaceful Halloween."
4o.
Halloween was finally here. Bella could smell it in the jack-o-lanterns littering the streets of Forks; she could sense it in the witch and werewolf decorations everyone had outside their homes; and she could taste it in all the candy her teachers were handing out at school.
Like she'd promised Edward, she came to school in costume. Although they'd originally promised to come as Pokemon characters... the weather sorta-kinda prohibited their costume choices. Edward lamented on how they had to be "traditional creatures of the night" and not the little kids they wanted to be, but Bella didn't mind.
She kinda liked the huge witch hat and the long black cloak that followed her around. It made her feel important! The best part was that everyone immediately knew who she was. Mike even teased her about it when he asked, "So is this costume part of being an adult too?"
Wrinkling her nose, she couldn't help baring a smile with her new, tiny fangs, "Uh-huh."
And of course Edward had to show up as a vampire. She could easily see it in the long white dress shirt, the pressed black pants, and the (hopefully fake) blood stains on them both. Feeling his neck for the pencil marks, she couldn't help laughing as she commented, "You make an excellent vampire."
There was a twinkle in his eyes as he whispered in her ear, "I vant your blood." (Bella immediately slapped him for that one.)
Everyone surrounding them laughed, but oddly enough? They agreed with her sentiments. Edward may suck at foreshadowing, but he sure made an awesome, cliche vampire who fainted at the mere sight of Jessica's cross necklace (much to her dismay) and couldn't stand the garlic spaghetti at lunch that day.
The teachers were much less amused when Edward tried to get out of a blood lab by proclaiming that he'd suck the blood from everyone else. Bella couldn't help laughing when she saw the lovely detention slip in his hands.
"You poor vampire," She mocked, tracing with her finger imaginary tears. "Detention for telling the truth."
He blinked before actually laughing back at her, "Oh, shaddap." Leaning closer, he whispered in his ear, "... You know, you've loosened up a lot since we met."
The blood rushed to her face as she said nothing and immediately focused her attention on the lab. Stupid, stupid Edward! He always had to get the last word. Hmph.
If something in here doesn't make you laugh, let me know, because this is really meant to be over-the-top and "lolwhut." That's all, so um... enjoy?
Title: Rising Phoenix (Part Four)
Fandom: Twilight [AU]
Summary: Bella's enjoying her new adulthood, Edward's struggling with his new challenge... and Jacob's hating his inner monologues? Sounds like normal life in Forks to everyone else.
Disclaimer: Leaf and his family are seriously the only things in here that belong to me. o_O; Twilight and all related characters are property of Stephenie Meyer; I'm just borrowing them for a fic that shouldn't derive any profit from it, okay?
31.
The next morning, something seemed different about Edward. Bella couldn't quite figure out what had happened. Surely he didn't get drunk after the party!
It wasn't like him, but it was the only logical explanation she could think of. Even Aunt Elizabeth didn't know why he was so sleepy. (He'd gotten plenty of sleep on the weekends, for sure.) For now, it was all Bella could do to bite her lip and not ask him.
He'd seen something, maybe? Or perhaps he danced too much and his muscles were sore. Either way, she had to ask at some point.
Just... now was not the right time. Watching Edward scramble eggs, Bella sighed as she leaned on the breakfast table. Last night had drained her too! She wasn't much of a party person because it constantly drained her of all her energy. It was exhausting.
"Bells," Edward called as he gently laid her scrambled eggs and toast in front of her, "Let's eat. You don't look so well."
"I could say the same about you," Bella pouted as she put some in her mouth. Edward laughed as he ruffled her hair.
"You know, it kinda feels like we're married and everything," Edward remarked.
Just then, Leaf appeared from behind a nearby door. Yawning, he absent-mindedly kissed Bella and Edward on the cheek as he called, "Morning, Mommy, Daddy."
Bella sent him a quizzical look as Edward shrugged, "He sleep-walks and sleep-talks."
"Uh-huh," Bella sighed. "How much did you pay him?"
Leaf jumped as Edward nervously inspected his scrambled eggs. Bella, however, kept staring him down... and staring... and staring...
"Stop it," Leaf insisted, nearly on the verge of tears, "He just asked me. I can't say no to an angel!"
Bella triumphantly smiled as she finished off her breakfast. "Hah!"
Edward's palm met his face. "Leaf, do me another favor."
Leaf blinked. "What?"
"Never listen to anything I say again."
Leaf made a face as he muttered, "But that was actually my idea."
32.
The dreams were getting worse. It was all Jacob could do to stay awake in class, let alone in his own house! His dad occasionally shot him weird looks, but Jake couldn't help it. No matter how much coffee he downed, he was still having those weird dreams.
They weren't like his previous dreams -- no, scratch that. He couldn't even remember his dreams before these started acting up!
Why couldn't he have non-coherent dreams like the rest of the world? Was it because he was Quileute? (Stupid movies, making his tribes all "magical" and "sparkly" just because they needed some shot of fantasy)
He groaned as he drank yet another cup of tea (black and bitter, he noted with disdain). "But they're still weird," He mumbled to himself. "I wasn't even aware that I liked wolves."
Aaaand he was doing the whole internal monologue thing again. He put a fist to his forehead. Stupid, stupid! He needed to go hang out with Quil and Embry again. That is, if they were actually around. Rumor had it that one of them had actually joined Sam's weird cult.
La Push was even condoning them! What the heck was wrong with the elders? They wouldn't allow any other cults, so why should Sam be any different? Sure--- argh, internal monologue.
Jacob immediately headed towards the nearest phone, dialed a number he knew by heart, and smiled softly as he said, "Hello? Is Embry there? Jake here... I was wondering if he wanted to hang out today?"
33.
Rosalie and Emmett had finally left town. Alice remembered watching them off with a wave and a mischievous smile as she called, "Hope you enjoy Fuji~ Remember to avoid the other tourists! And the house'll break in a couple of weeks, so we'll send you the bill ASAP!"
Emmett had laughed as he called, "Aww, man, thanks, Alice," while Rosalie had glared back at her and didn't look back.
So she was the only Cullen at home for the rest of autumn. (Well, the only Cullen child - Carlisle and Esme were still here) It'd be lonely without her family to support and manipulate into playing childish games. Perhaps she could spend more time with Bella and Edward? They wouldn't mind, but... they had to sleep too. Alice flopped onto the couch, staring up at the ceiling as she tried to think of new ways to spend her time.
Maybe she could explore the woods some more and catalog all the animals? Nah, that was something Jasper was more likely to do.
... Discover new foreign music? That was a possibility. Alice had always wanted to learn Japanese. And since she had all the time in the world, learning a new language wouldn't be that hard!
Ooh, she knew! She could create a new Bella doll and decor--- nah, the real one was ten times as fun. And besides, she didn't want to be labeled as a creepy stalker. She'd leave that to the real, human-eating vampires.
"Alice," Esme called as she walked into the family room. "You want to go hunting?"
"Sure," Alice grinned, sitting up as she met her mother. "It's been a while, after all. Ever since everyone left... it hasn't been quite the same."
"We'll try," Esme sweetly returned the smile. Ushering her daughter out, she added to herself, "Even if it means we'll be lonelier for the first few days."
34.
Enlisting Leaf's help in the whole "challenging a gun-wielder" scheme was a lot easier than Edward expected it to be. He hadn't really known much about elves, but he had heard the race was harder to convince than most. They were supposedly hard to sway with emotions - they had to be convinced by raw logic.
But all he had to say to Leaf was "Bella's life is on the line." Leaf immediately cried that he'd help no matter what - and their bond seemed to become even stronger.
The two were now sitting on the floor of Leaf's treehouse, books scattered everywhere as the two carefully opened up old novels and encyclopedias. Edward lay on the floor as he read to himself while Leaf sat with his legs crossed and his eyes closed as books floated around him in a perfect circle.
Laughing as he marveled at the sight, Edward asked, "So what made you want to help? I heard that elves weren't swayed by emotion."
"We are not supposed to be swayed," Leaf corrected as he opened one eye. "Who told you?"
"Some old book," Edward remarked, returning to his novel. "Why?"
"The fantasy books get it wrong. That's what Ephraim said, anyhow. I have never read them."
"I'd hope so. Bella says they're incredibly trashy. Jeez, you'd think that elves had better things to do than suck human face..."
Leaf stared. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah," Edward laughed. "It's like interspecies---"
"They confused us for vampires," Leaf wailed, the books dropping all around him. "We don't suck the energy out of anyone! What're they thinking?!"
Edward blinked as he watched Leaf immediately burst into tears. Sighing, the angel rubbed his temples, "... Good job, Masen. Good job."
Leaf curled in a ball as he sobbed, "Y-you don't think people hate us for sucking human face, do you?"
"Bella said most teenage girls found it incredibly hot," Edward shrugged. "So it's fine."
Making a face, Leaf dried the tears from his eyes, "... Oh. Well, as the kids say now, whatever."
Edward immediately looked up and quizzically pressed his lips together, but kept his silence as Leaf happily returned to his novel.
"Remind me to check him for bipolar disease one of these days," Edward muttered to himself as he finally returned to his novel.
35.
Bella loved being eighteen. She could now legally vote and buy her own lottery tickets! Mike and Jessica were the lucky victims who accompanied her to the gas station today after school.
"Bella," Jessica found herself asking as they walked into the store, "You sure you really want to go through with this?"
"Of course," Bella nodded. "It's proof that I am legally an adult."
Mike gave his girlfriend a familiar, if negative look, as they watched Bella happily purchase her first ticket. Taking Jessica aside, he whispered, "Let her go through with it. I think they all go to charity, anyway..."
Jessica gave her boyfriend a sympathetic look as she kissed him on the cheek. Lottery ticket clenched firmly in her hand, Bella held it up to their faces with a wide smile. "Look! I am finally an adult!"
As they ushered her out, Mike couldn't help sighing. "... Is this gonna happen all over again when she turns 21?"
36.
The days became even shorter as October dragged on. But what Bella noticed the most was the odd, all-knowing glances Jacob and Edward exchanged as they spent time over at each other's houses (or in Edward's case, the first floor apartment he shared with his mom). Was there something about Halloween that she didn't know this year?
"Bella," Jacob finally began during one of the many commercials in their recent Pokemon marathon, "You interested in doing something for Halloween?"
Bella shrugged, "I guess? But you know I'm not really up for anything outlandish."
Edward picked up the book in Bella's hands, "Says the girl who's currently reading The Lightning Thief."
Bella wrinkled her nose. "It's based off Greek mythology! What's wrong with wanting to be more educated with classical myths?"
"That last sentence," Jacob pointed out as he let her lean on his shoulder. "Just admit you like it."
She sighed, taking the book back from Edward's grasp. "Does my book have anything to do with costumes this year?"
"Mm, not really," Edward glanced towards the TV. "Jake and I were actually wanting opinions on what we should be. You know... it might be fun to be from a TV show about two guys fighting over a girl. Or something."
Bella looked down at the book and pressed her lips together. "And you want me to grab ideas from my library. I really like the idea of going as Greek gods and goddesses, but Edward probably wants to go as someone from Pokemon..."
Jake shrugged, "I'm up for anything as long as I'm not supposed to be a bad person."
"Then it's decided," Bella smiled. "We'll go ahead and be the kids from Pokemon. Not Ash, Brock, and Misty - but the people from the show we've been watching recently. Um, what about Gold, Silver, and Crystal?"
Edward grinned, "Sounds perfect! I even know where to get the Pokeballs, and don't forget about the plushies---"
Jake immediately stuffed a chocolate chip cookie in his friend's mouth. Turning to a stunned Bella, he nonchalantly responded, "You know you'd do that if I hadn't."
"True," She blushed as she set the book aside. "I'll get to work on the costumes soon---"
"Actually," Edward interrupted. "Alice said she'd help us. I figured it'd be easier that way, since you know her and her fashionista tendencies..."
"Works for me," Bella nodded.
The commercials ended just then - and the show resumed from its previous plot points. Bella sighed as she realized she'd immediately lost the attention of her best friends, but she just snuggled closer to Jacob and closed her eyes. Oh well. At least she'd get a good nap out of this.
37.
Normally, school clubs didn't have elections in the middle of October. But it seemed to Alice that they had made an exception for her as she walked into the meeting of the historical society. Much to her dismay, they had... actually elected her president.
When she asked - no, demanded - about her new position, Bella stifled a laugh as she replied, "You're the best when it comes to history. Isn't it obvious?"
Her visions continued to be cloudy every time she looked for Bella. She knew it was because of Edward and Leaf; they weren't human, and she couldn't visualize them because she would never be a part of them. It was a little unnerving. She and Jasper had been the oddballs in their family, the ones who could mentally alter a person's state of mind (well, Alice just read their futures); it was time, she supposed, that her powers couldn't play a role in her life anymore.
Life was taking her forward. Her friends wanted to remember her.
(But would they want to remember her sixty years later, when they were old and gray and... she wasn't?)
For the time being, Alice stopped resisting. It was futile to disappear into the background as long as she spent time with the most popular kids in school. But she mused, it might be for the best. The people here loved them, and in return... she slowly found herself loving them back.
38.
They loved her! They really loved her!
Edward wanted to take pride for the assimilation of Alice Cullen into the student body of Forks High. But alas, he wasn't really able to, as she had sorta-kinda became friends with everyone of her own free will. Perhaps it was because she realized that she was a senior? Whatever the case was, all of his high-school age friends were finally able to spend time together.
Alice and Jacob would routinely challenge each other to rounds of Guitar Hero or Rock Band (it was really whichever came first); Jessica and Lauren often swapped make-up advice with Bella in exchange for recipes; Mike and Ed would shoot hoops outside whenever the weather allowed for it.
Leaf sometimes came to relax with them - and really, no one minded. Leaf had somehow become their mascot and the one everyone wanted to babysit at some point in time. (Ben and Angela even tried to jointly babysit when Ayita and Ephraim needed a babysitter last night, but Leaf's guardians wouldn't have it.)
... So how come something still felt wrong about the whole situation? Heck, even Charlie, Billy, and Elizabeth were becoming their own best friends.
Ed couldn't help it, really, but he knew something was blocking this from being his perfect senior year. Someone was watching him.
He was supposed to track down that gun-wielder and make sure he didn't break his promise. He was also supposed to finish that darn challenge the gun-wielder had set out!
It was something absolutely ridiculous. (Why would the gun-wielder need a record of demons in the Forks area? ... Eh, at least he knew they existed. Edward'd give him that much credit.) But he had promised he'd give the gun-wielder the information, and so he will.
It just wouldn't be tonight. Edward was happy enough hanging out with his friends... he wanted to spend as much time with them as possible... but Alice shot him a look as the clock ticked closer and closer to eleven PM.
And then he knew. He had to go.
So he left, giving the worst excuse ever about taking care of some old lady's cat (whch they all believed!) and hurried towards downtown. Of all the lousy nights! Meh, Edward groaned. At least he'd get it all over with by midnight.
39.
There was something mystical about the evening before Halloween. The gun-wielder lazily lounged on the roof of the highest building in Forks (which wasn't saying much, since the town was literally in the middle of nowhere) as he waited for the clock to strike eleven.
His first challenge to the angel wasn't honestly a hard one. Of all the people to challenge him... it had to be an angel. The gun-wielder groaned to himself as he stared above into the night sky. He had wanted to really toy with humans, to see how far they'd go before they pushed their limits... and blame it all on the Cullens.
But did that angel really have to get in the way of his revenge? (Probably, a little voice in his head said. The gun-wielder furiously blushed and tried to slam it back into the depths of his mind.)
He heard the flapping of wings. Rising from his position, the gun-wielder sunk back into the shadows as he watched the angel approach even closer to him.
... He had promised himself that he wouldn't stare too long at the angel, but he couldn't help it! There was just something inherently familiar in the facial structure. Like he imagined, the angel was dressed entirely in white, with the exception of the multi-colored bracelets and necklaces that were dangled around his neck. His wings, however, were slightly tinted blue. Huh.
"You're here," The gun-wielder growled. "Do you have the information?"
The angel nodded as he pulled a manila folder from the depths of his cross necklace's jewel. "Of course. Here you go."
Without a second glance, the gun-wielder reached forward as he took the folder... and the angel pulled him out of the shadows.
The gun-wielder winced as he squirmed. Kicking his feet, he tried and tried to reach for his gun, but the angel firmly held on as he studied the gun-wielder over. (Really? Was the gun-wielder that fascinating?)
The angel didn't let go, but put both of his hands on the gun-wielder's shoulders as he softly smiled, "You know, you kinda look like someone I knew a long time ago."
"Tch," The gun wielder looked away. "Is that supposed to impress me?"
"I don't know. Does it?"
The gun-wielder shook his head, trying to pry the angel's arms off his own. "Not particularly. I get that a lot."
"Oh." Again, the angel didn't let go. "Is there a reason you wanted to take revenge against Alice? ... The rest of the Cullens are off at college."
"But the doctor's still around, isn't he?" The gun-wielder growled as he finally let go of the angel's iron grip. Kneeling to pick the folder up, he let his waist-length black hair swish behind him as he added, "That's really all I need. Your next challenge's in your hands."
The demon firmly stared the angel down as he pulled his handgun out and twirled it. "Good luck," He hollowly laughed. "You'll need it."
The angel watched him disappear from rooftop to rooftop before he finally disappeared into the encompassing forests around them.
"... I swear," The angel groaned as he started flying into the sky. "He looks so familiar. Did not appreciate the new challenge, by the way. Not in the least."
His eyes widened as he stared at the new index card. Pocketing it, he grumbled even more as he too disappeared into the clouds. "So much for a peaceful Halloween."
4o.
Halloween was finally here. Bella could smell it in the jack-o-lanterns littering the streets of Forks; she could sense it in the witch and werewolf decorations everyone had outside their homes; and she could taste it in all the candy her teachers were handing out at school.
Like she'd promised Edward, she came to school in costume. Although they'd originally promised to come as Pokemon characters... the weather sorta-kinda prohibited their costume choices. Edward lamented on how they had to be "traditional creatures of the night" and not the little kids they wanted to be, but Bella didn't mind.
She kinda liked the huge witch hat and the long black cloak that followed her around. It made her feel important! The best part was that everyone immediately knew who she was. Mike even teased her about it when he asked, "So is this costume part of being an adult too?"
Wrinkling her nose, she couldn't help baring a smile with her new, tiny fangs, "Uh-huh."
And of course Edward had to show up as a vampire. She could easily see it in the long white dress shirt, the pressed black pants, and the (hopefully fake) blood stains on them both. Feeling his neck for the pencil marks, she couldn't help laughing as she commented, "You make an excellent vampire."
There was a twinkle in his eyes as he whispered in her ear, "I vant your blood." (Bella immediately slapped him for that one.)
Everyone surrounding them laughed, but oddly enough? They agreed with her sentiments. Edward may suck at foreshadowing, but he sure made an awesome, cliche vampire who fainted at the mere sight of Jessica's cross necklace (much to her dismay) and couldn't stand the garlic spaghetti at lunch that day.
The teachers were much less amused when Edward tried to get out of a blood lab by proclaiming that he'd suck the blood from everyone else. Bella couldn't help laughing when she saw the lovely detention slip in his hands.
"You poor vampire," She mocked, tracing with her finger imaginary tears. "Detention for telling the truth."
He blinked before actually laughing back at her, "Oh, shaddap." Leaning closer, he whispered in his ear, "... You know, you've loosened up a lot since we met."
The blood rushed to her face as she said nothing and immediately focused her attention on the lab. Stupid, stupid Edward! He always had to get the last word. Hmph.