Her Voice ✿ Emmett Cullen

Chapter 24

"Where do you disappear to at night?" Bella asks Lyra as the banshee runs a brush through the brunette's hair. Lyra freezes, causing the human to roll her eyes, "I'm not dumb, Lyra. I noticed you didn't actually come into my room until the early hours of the morning."

Lyra let out a small breath that Bella was unsure if it was of amusement or annoyance (it was both) as she began to move the brush again, responding, "I've been patrolling with wolves. With Victoria back and all, I gotta keep you safe."

"Thank you." Bella told her as Lyra set the brush aside and began braiding her hair.

"It's nothing really." Lyra replied, finishing the braid rather quickly and tying the bottom with a hair band.

Bella turned to face Lyra almost immediately, braid falling over her shoulder, "No, it's not nothing. Even after I've put you through so much shit over these past few months, you still continue to protect me and I am so grateful for that."

Lyra couldn't help but smile at Bella's passionate response (Lyra could tell it was passionate as Bella rarely swore.), "Of course, Bells, I'd do anything for you, you're my best friend."

Despite the slight twinge of pain Bella felt at that last part of Lyra's sentence, Bella still found herself staring at Lyra in a way that she only had ever reserved for Edward, like Lyra had hung the stars in the sky. Bella, feeling rather bold that night, said, "Lyra, I love you."

Lyra, ever the oblivious, replied, "Love you, too, Bells."

"That's not what I meant." Bella said softly before grabbing Lyra's cheeks and staring into her eyes, repeating, "Lyra, I love you." This time, however, Bella leaned forward and gently kissed Lyra's lips. The banshee was stunned, her brain not computing with what was going on. Bella pulled back for a moment, forehead leaning against Lyra's, before she leaned in and kissed the ginger again, this time more passionately. Lyra's brain finally started functioning again and she found herself pushing Bella back.

"Bella, why did you do that?" Lyra asked, voice soft and serious, "You know I'm still dating Emmett."

Bella frowned, it was strange hearing Lyra like this, even if this is what she had expected. There were no playful smirks or light-hearted uses of the nickname 'Bells,' but instead a worried expression and the name 'Bella.' "I know." Bella admitted, "I just... had to."

Lyra couldn't look at Bella, especially not in the eyes. She couldn't bear to look at that love-filled gaze and know that she could never give Bella what she wanted. It was supposed to be that Lyra loved Emmett and Bella loved Edward, the two best friends dating vampires, but Lyra couldn't help but wonder when this story shifted. When Lyra really thought about it, it made sense. If you looked at the tiny details, the longing glances and the additional superfluous touches. Part of Lyra had noticed, but she had pushed that part down, ignoring it in hopes that it would go away. But, it didn't.

And, now here she was, still trying to push it away, "Bella, I think we need some space so you can sort out whatever you're feeling."

"Lyra, please-" Bella begged as the banshee stood up and moved towards the door, scrambling off the bed.

Lyra spun around to face Bella, "I'm not going to be your new Edward."

"I don't want you to be my new Edward! I want you!"

"Well, you can't have me!"

"I know!" Bella exclaimed before lowering her voice, "I know. I fell in love with you knowing I could never have you."

"And, that's why I think we need space, Bella." Lyra turned and continued her way out the door.

"Please, don't leave me." Bella begged, her voice breaking and her words coming out barely a whisper, yet ringing so loudly in Lyra's ears, "Don't leave me like he did."