AN: Surprise! Chapter 2 up in your face. Honestly, I have actually already written like 42k words on this so far and it just keeps writing itself. A big shout-out to my hubby of 10 years for indulging my gay heart and creating the cover image for this story.
I know where I plan to take this story, but getting from point A to point B is going to be a journey and a half. I can already tell you that these chapters are longer than usual, even for me. I don't know how that keeps happening but the length keeps building up as I write lol. If you can power through then I'll gladly keep at it for as long as my muse allows. She's a very cruel woman and she likes to use the whip (as if that were a bad thing o.o ).
Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter and if you have any questions or requests, let me know. I've written up to chapter 6 already and its still coming along, but I might take requests if you get them ASAP. And without further gilding the lily, please enjoy Chapter 2!
Alice
"Okay, okay, everyone settle down!" I interrupted the absolutely silent and already still room. Grinning cheekily, I couldn't help rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet. I was enjoying myself way too much, but I knew if I didn't hurry this along then Emmett would get impatient.
"I bet you're wondering why I called you all here today." I began slowly pacing in front of the gathered family, my fingers laced behind my back, my lips pursed for effect.
Surprisingly, it was Rosalie that cut into my theatrics. "Get on with it and explain why you didn't warm me about meeting my mate!"
Oh, she pretended to be annoyed, but I knew there was little that could dampen her spirits. I knew because I was still riding high myself. Our mate was so very beautiful and had the most hilarious sense of humor. It was like a mix between mine and Rosalie's, upbeat yet dark with a hint of sadomasochism.
"Well," I began, coming to a stop in front of Rosalie, "It might have been easier to understand my vision if you and Emmett weren't pretending to be mates." I gave her a withering glance but couldn't hold it for long. I was far too happy to hold a scowl for long.
This time it was Emmett who answered. "That was probably my fault." When we all just stared at him, his boyish grin fell off his face with a nervous chuckle. "Rosalie and me, we thought it would be easier to act like mates rather than deal with questions about our relationship. But we both accepted that one day we might actually find our true mates--well, I knew, Rosalie didn't think--" his voice cut off with a wince, Rosalie's clawed hand digging into his thigh.
"You didn't think you had a mate," I finished quietly, my heart aching for my sister more than ever.
It was quiet for a long moment before Rosalie shifted uncomfortably, looking away. "Can you blame me?"
No, I really couldn't. After all the blonde beauty had been through, the circumstances of her turning, I could never blame her for feeling unlovable. It was absolutely not true, but I could understand where her feelings were coming from. So, instead of letting her dwell on the past, I forced a lighter note into my voice.
"Well, I'm pleasantly surprised to tell you that Bella is indeed your mate!"
A soft smile eased the tension from Rosalie's face. "Yes, most certainly." A wistful sigh escaped the normally cold woman. "She's so beautiful."
I couldn't hide my smirk as I deposited myself unceremoniously into her lap, wrapping my arms loosely around her neck. She just accepted my presence there, adjusting to allow a more comfortable position. I had always been a touchy-feely person, so no one expressed any surprise at my actions, but I knew things were slightly different now. This was my mate's other mate and her happiness and acceptance was going to be an important factor in our relationship with Bella.
A throat being unnecessarily cleared drew my attention to Edward. "Aren't you forgetting something?" he added with an arched brow. I knew he was asking why I had yet to mention the dual mate bond. I wasn't entirely sure myself why I was keeping it a secret, but part of it surely was the thrill I was getting from playing the field between Rosalie and I. She had no idea, yet she still accepted all of my flirting and teasing with and about Bella naturally. I knew if it had been anyone else, Rosalie would have been at their throats. It had me curious enough to keep the game going. I wanted to see if Rosalie would realize on her own, but eventually I would probably have to say something.
For now, I decided to give a little bit away. "Oh, you mean how I found my mate today?"
Dead silence. No one moved or breathed (not like we needed to). I was throwing Jasper under the bus, but my instincts were telling me to get it out into the open.
It was Emmett of all people who finally spoke up. "Is that why you moved into your own room last night?"
I nodded, humming quietly. "Let me start by saying that I understand why he did what he did and that all is forgiven." I sat up a little to give an uncomfortable-looking Jasper a small smile. "Jasper used his ability to intensify my feelings for him, to the point they mimicked a mate bond. After my vision last night, I realized what he had been doing and moved out of our old room."
"Jasper Whitlock!" Of course Esme wouldn't be able to let something like that slide, but I was quick to intervene.
"Esme, please, let it go. He made a mistake, and while it will take a while for him to earn my trust back, it is my decision to forgive him. I expect everyone to respect this and move on. Besides," I couldn't hold back my grin despite the previous topic, "My mate is absolutely stunning. Nothing else matters."
"Well, don't keep us in suspense," Emmett said, his childlike glee radiating from his infectious smile. "Who is this stunning...er, guy? Girl?" His confusion was palpable, and admittedly I understood it. Rosalie was mated to a woman suddenly, so everything was already topsy-turvy.
Still, I couldn't help the giggle that escaped my lips. "Girl! She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen!"
"I'm suddenly surrounded by lesbians," Edward muttered, earning a smack to the back of his head from Esme.
"Be nice," she growled playfully in her mothering tone she reserved for when one of us acted up. "Also, I don't like what you're implying about my husband." She turned to Rosalie and I with a smile as several of us laughed. "I can't wait to meet your mates!"
I smiled as Rosalie snorted softly. I had no doubt Esme was already preparing in her head for our human mate. By tomorrow she'd have the entire kitchen stocked to the brim with food.
"You still haven't told us who your mate is, Alice." I was surprised by the serious tone Carlisle's voice held, but he wasn't the head of our family for nothing.
"On that note, everyone go hunt," I announced, standing from my cushion named Rosalie.
There was a lull where everyone kind of just sat there. Eventually, it was Carlisle who put his foot down. "You heard your sister. We will need everyone in top form for the days to come."
Without preamble, everyone got up to leave, Rosalie pausing briefly at the door to shoot me a concerned look before she, too, disappeared into the woods. I lowered myself into one of the chairs across from where Carlisle and Esme resided.
"Allow me to answer your coming question with one of my own," I interjected once I was sure everyone was out of hearing range, cutting off Carlisle just as he open his mouth to speak. "Have you ever heard of two vampires having the same mate?"
Esme's soft gasp told me she knew exactly what I was insinuating, but it was Carlisle's furrowed brow that drew my attention. "I can't say I've ever heard of such a thing. As far as I know, a vampire has one mate. If you do, in fact, share a mate with Rosalie, then you will be the first recorded case." He paused to rub his chin thoughtfully." If you want, I could check with my contacts in the Volturi."
"No!" I couldn't help but shout, the images that drifted through my mind more than terrifying. "The Volturi can never find out about her!"
Carlisle blinked at my vehement protests, raising his hand in a placating gesture. "Okay, Alice, I promise no one outside of our family will know of your mate."
I sighed as my body sagged back against my seat. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled. This is so new to me, and every time I try to see more of my mate's future, I just draw blanks." It was true, I could get snatches of things here or there when either Rosalie or myself made decisions, but I get next to nothing from Bella herself.
Esme's giggle drew my gaze. "It would figure our little seer would be foiled by her true mate. I can't wait to meet her!" She pursed her lips a moment later. "I assume that, since you sent everyone away, that you don't want us telling the others?"
This brought my grin back to my lips. "Nope! Edward knows, of course, but I don't want the others to know just yet. Especially Rosalie." I couldn't help the toothy smile I sent Esme's way. "I'm going to have so much fun!"
Esme simply rolled her eyes with an equally playful smile. "I trust you to know what you're doing as far as your mate goes, but please be careful. Rosalie has hidden behind so many layers for so long. I worry what this mate will do to her now that her heart is on the line."
"Don't worry," I reassured her with a softening smile. "I will do everything in my power to make sure my mate is happy and safe, and in doing so, that means protecting Rosalie as well. I've already seen the house we're going to share!"
This got Esme's attention, her critical eye for design showing in the wide-eyed gaze she sent my way. "Truly? You must tell me everything you saw!" Yep, I could already see Esme working out the designs for our home-to-be. I was so excited I was practically vibrating in my seat but just as I opened my mouth to respond I could hear the sounds of the others returning.
Whispering, I quickly added, "If it comes to it, ask Edward. He'll know."
Esme nodded with a smile and an air it excitement about her. Momma-Esme was on the case! In the meantime, I had a mate to entertain and a sister to tease!
Bella
"How was your first day of school?" I was barely in the front door when Charlie began his interrogation. Sighing, I sat my backpack by the foot of the stairs before heading to the fridge. There were very few things in the fridge, as well as the cupboards, that I would consider 'edible.'
"It was school," I muttered in response, turning to Charlie with a frown. "Do you ever cook, or do you live off frozen meals?"
He just shrugged from his place at the kitchen table. "It's food."
"Hardly," I grumbled, raising my voice to be heard. "You can't keep eating this way, dad."
"Well," he replied, dropping his newspaper on the table, "Why don't you handle dinner from now on? I'll give you some cash and you go buy us some groceries. How's that sound?"
Like you're lazy and can't take care of yourself, dad. "Fine. But don't expect me to stock those cardboard boxes you call TV dinners. We're getting real food, with actual nutrition."
"Sounds good to me," he said with an easy smile. I think I had walked right into his trap, but I guess this was my lot in life now. "So, make any new friends?"
I couldn't hide the blush as I thought of Alice and Rosalie. We'd been texting back and forth since fifth period, which reminded me that I needed to check my phone now that I was home. "Sure," I muttered as I dug my phone out of my pocket, noticing a new text from both girls.
He must have caught the grin that I knew was present when faced with thoughts of the girls. "So, that's a yes. What's his name?"
I frowned, trying not to flinch at the implied heteronormative response. "You do know why mom sent me here, right?"
Charlie's grimace was answer enough. "She, uh, said she found you with someone in a compromising position. She thought getting you out of whatever situation you were in would help you with whatever had you 'confused'--her words, not mine."
I snorted, finally picking out the thin makings of a sandwich and began putting it together. "She caught me making out with a girl, Charlie. She thinks I'm gay."
There was a strangled sound that almost had me smiling wryly, but the subject was too stressful for me to indulge it. Charlie was not much of a father figure--not his fault, some people just aren't good at parenting. So I imagine when faced with talking with his eighteen-year-old daughter about anything even suggestive of sexuality, I'm pretty sure his brain was short-circuiting.
I had finished putting together my sandwich and took up a seat across from him by the time he responded. "Um, well, are you gay?"
I chuckled around the piece of turkey I was nibbling on. It was ironic that I was having this conversation twice in one day, all on my first day back to Forks. "No, not in the sense that I'm only attracted to women. I consider myself pansexual." I didn't even bother waiting for his question, deciding to get everything on the table, so to speak. "I don't see a person's gender when considering if I want to be with them. I see the person first, and gender doesn't matter to me. I've been told it's basically being bisexual with extra steps, but I don't like that description."
"Huh," was Charlie's oh-so-articulate response. He was staring down at his discarded newspaper with a thoughtful yet confused look on his face. "So...you like men and women?"
I sighed, smiling pityingly at the man who was so obviously where I got my own awkwardness from. "If you want it in plain terms, then yes. But I recognize that there is so much more to a person than their gender. I love the person, the soul, without consideration for what's between their legs."
Unlucky for Charlie, he had just so happened to take a swig from his beer, which subsequently ended up spewed across his newspaper. Luckily for me, I had enough sense to lift my plate off the table in time for his dramatic reaction. I couldn't help but laugh at the aghast look he had on his face while he tried his best to wipe away the mess he'd made with a nearby towel.
Taking that as my cue to leave, I stood up and tossed my now-empty plate into the sink to clean later. "Don't worry too much about it, Charlie. Mom overreacted, but I have to say that I think this move will be a blessing in disguise."
"Bells." My dad's quiet voice drew me up short just as I reached the doorway. I turned back but found Charlie looking out the window rather than at me and I dreaded what he was about to say. "Your mom...she can be a bit... judgmental. But I want you to know that I love you for who you are and I will never judge you for who you love."
I clenched my jaw to keep the sudden flood of tears at bay. Knowing he wouldn't want me to draw further attention to his uncharacteristic display of emotion, I simply nodded and turned to leave. "I love you too, dad. Thank you." I was out of the room and halfway up the stairs before the tears began to fall. Shutting the door behind me, I threw myself onto my bed and pressed my face into the pillow.
How could this man who had barely been a part of my life be more accepting of me than my own mother?! It wasn't fair! He had listened and gave consideration to my thoughts and feelings without complaint, even offered up his own olive branch even though I know he had to still be confused. LGBT+ topics were hard enough to discuss in a normal setting. The terminology could get confusing for someone new to the subject, but here was my dad throwing his support behind his daughter without hesitation.
Grumbling, I rolled over and pulled out my phone, figuring a bit of flirting with my two personal deities might relieve some of my frustration.
First, I texted a response to Alice's last text, seeing as I had kind of neglected doing so while responding to Rosalie's texts. 'Swoon all you want, ma petit, I'll be there to catch you. ;) '
I had to admit, I was happy I had decided to take French as my High School second language elective. There was something so delicate, so romantic about speaking French. Then, once again, my text caught up with me and I had to blink at just how smooth my words were coming out. This seriously was not the kind of person I am. I wasn't exactly unsuccessful with dating back in Phoenix--my mom did catch me making out with a rather pretty girl--but holy shit I was not normally this damn smooth!
Then I glanced at Rosalie's last text and my breath caught in my throat for a moment before being expelled in a low whistle of sound. 'Careful,' I shot back, 'It has been a long time since I last had a good cuddlefest and I am severely overdue.'
As soon as I'd sent the text, I couldn't help but blush at the implications. An open-ended invitation to cuddle with Aphrodite herself. What did I, a mere mortal, ever do to deserve such attention from on-high?! Seriously, this doesn't just happen to me. Before I could continue to devolve into another confused rant about my bottom-tier self-confidence, my phone pinged.
Eris: 'Oh dear, but you are a charmer, aren't you? You do realize now that I will be falling into your arms at my earliest convenience, correct? You've brought this upon yourself!'
Another ping sounded before I was able to reply to Alice's text, because seriously, what the hell was I going to say to that?
Satan: 'That sounds both like a challenge and a threat, little Bella-mou. You should know that I never turn down a challenge.'
I blinked, my breath catching a bit as I read over both of their texts before slowly setting my phone aside. Then, with nothing better to do, I promptly turned my head into my pillow and let out a rather high pitched squeal. There was absolutely no way I could confidently respond to either of these girls. They had to be teasing, obviously. There was just no effing way they could actually be interested in me, I kept reminding myself. First, there's Alice, who could easily put Audrey Hepburn to shame with her delicate beauty. Then, there's Rosalie, who looked as if Charlize Theron and Cara Delevingne had a baby together!
Coming out of my stupor, I did the only thing I could do and I retreated, sending off a text to both girls. 'You've both successfully turned my brain to mush, so on that note, I bid you beauties goodnight. Bonsoir, mes chéries.'
With that, I hooked up my phone up to the charger and went to take a shower. Maybe a nice blast of cold water would wipe the permanently attached befuddled smirk off my face.
Alice
I couldn't help but giggle at the last text from Bella. She was so adorably shy, even after all our back and forth flirting. I can just imagine the girl blushing and peeking at her phone as both Rosalie and I continued our relentless assault.
I had convinced Rosalie to share the third floor room with me. It had a huge walk-in closet, with plenty of leftover space in the dressers--I had made sure of it when a vision of our conjoined living situation came to me. Rosalie, of course, wanted to move out of the room she had shared with Emmett, just as I had felt the urge to leave behind the room I had shared with Jasper. When confronted with one's mate, there really wasn't anyone else you wanted to be around other than them.
Present company excluded, I thought with a smirk as Rosalie relaxed on the loveseat that took up one side of the room. I was kicked back on the large king size bed, my phone in hand awaiting any further messages from our mate. It was almost funny how easily Rosalie relented to move in with me. Normally, a vampire in the process of solidifying the bond with their mate would seek solitude, especially from other vampires. But I guess that was just one more unique aspect of sharing a mate.
Bella's last text of the night pinged to both our phones, drawing a giggle from me and a pleased hum from Rosalie. I did hope that we weren't overwhelming the girl, but I had a feeling she was going to be able to dish out as good as she got. She was very resilient for a human.
Smiling one last time, I tossed out one last text for our dear mate. 'Rest well, mon ami. Sweetest of dreams to you.' I had found it quite a delight to realize the girl spoke French and was willing to use it in conversation. It truly was one of the most romantic languages. Turning to Rosalie, I could see her gentle, loving smile soften as she shot off her own goodnight text.
"So," I spoke into the silence. "What do you think of our dear little Bella?"
Rosalie's smile faltered, and even from here I could sense her anxieties rearing their ugly head. "She's absolutely perfect. Everything I could ever want in a mate." She sighed heavily before continuing in a more subdued tone. "She's human, though. What do we even do about that? I-I don't know if I will have the strength to turn her, but I know I won't be able to live without her."
Good, I thought, give voice to those atrocious fears so I can smash them with a hammer. "I'm certain that when the time comes, when she's been informed of who and what we are, that she will want to join us in immortality. So, for now, you don't get to worry your pretty head about that because it's going to be her decision to make." I paused, smiling as I met Rosalie's hesitant gaze. "And she will make the choice, I guarantee. She is perfect, after all."
Slowly Rosalie's smile returned, the thought of our wonderful mate more than enough to chase away the shadows of doubt. "She's so beautiful now, I don't think my dead heart will be able to take it when she's turned. Can you imagine?"
Flashes of images filled my mind quickly, each scene flickering one past the other, almost too fast for me to separate them, but there was one theme that stood out from each one. "She's going to be the most beautiful of our kind."
Rosalie's gasp came from right beside me, drawing me from within myself to meet her wide-eyed gaze as she half-stood, half-slouched down beside me. "Truly?" she whispered, a hint of fear more than overpowered by desperation.
I smiled and reached for the blonde beauty, pulling her down beside me on the bed. "Truly, magnificently, perfectly perfect!" Oh how I wished I could share my visions with her in that moment, so that she could see the gloriously fetching sight of our mate with flawless white skin and fiery red newborn eyes.
Rosalie's sigh was cool against my cheek as she lay facing me. "I can't wait."
I chuckled as I drew her arm across my abdomen, not bothered one bit by her proximity, nor she by mine, judging by the way she subconsciously drew me closer to her. "I cannot wait, but I wouldn't miss this journey for anything."
Bella
The following day at school was something out of this world to be sure. Classes went by in a blur, only slowing when I was in shared classes with Rosalie or Alice. Hell, I even wound up talking to the broody Cullen, Edward, during Biology. He was okay, but he seriously had a weird vibe about him that I couldn't quite feel comfortable with. It was like he was a leashed animal and I the unwilling prey that had caught his eye.
I wasn't worried, not really, but the weird way his eyes could flash from gold to black in an instance was definitely creepy. I tried not to look during those moments, ignoring his presence in the hopes that he would forget I existed. Seriously, there was something super weird about this Cullen.
I also shared History with the one called Jasper. I had heard the rumors that he and Alice were dating, which had initially not-completely-but-kinda broke my heart. That is, until I texted Alice about this rumor and she squashed it with a quick--'Not anymore.' So I was maybe a little bit happy about that and was willing to make nice with the constipated looking young man next chance we got to talk, seeing as he was brother to my lady goddesses.
And no, I am totally not trying to win brownie points with Alice and Rosalie's family. Not in the slightest. And I was in no way secretly watching Rosalie out of the corner of my eye during Literature. Okay, so I was outright staring creepily and the mental image of Edward's stalker vibes was enough to make me force my attention back to the front of the class. For a minute. A personal best, if I do say so. I mean, seriously, have you seen Rosalie Hale?!
What I was totally unprepared for was Gym. Not only was Emmett in this class, but so was Alice. I was late to class so I was the last to change, but for several moments I just stood there mouth-agape at the sight of Alice Cullen, my own little Eris, wearing a taut sleeveless tanktop and the smallest pair of shorts probably legally allowed in the school's program. I swear, a small whimper made its way past my lips, and several muscles throughout my body clenched.
Stop being a creep, stop being a creep! Even my internal warning system couldn't derail my drooling. Only the sound of the Coach's whistle blowing loudly directly beside me was able to shatter my overly eager stare-fest. "If you're finished staring off into space, Ms. Swan, go get changed and start running laps."
Groaning, I couldn't help but flush as Alice and several of the other gathered student body giggled at my awkwardness. Luckily the Coach had mistaken my spell for stupidity rather than hormonal overload. With hurried steps, I ran to the locker room and changed into my gym clothes--a tattered pair of sweats and a white muscle shirt, along with the black sports bra that was going to be drenched by the end of class. I really needed to get into better shape.
By the time I got out into the gym proper, the class had separated into playing different games; volleyball, basketball, I even saw some four-square going on in one of the corners. As I began to jog around the perimeter of the gym for my laps, I was almost immediately aware that I wasn't alone.
"Tiny Goddess, how are you today?" I spoke confidently, ignoring the way my voice sounded strained and winded already. Shit I was really out of shape.
"Ma Belle! How did you know it was me?" she replied as she came up flush beside me. She was easily keeping pace with me, and I noticed she hadn't even broken a sweat despite having been in the class for ten minutes longer than me.
I snorted as I chugged along. "Let's see, who else in this godforsaken class would willingly join me for a light jog when they could be attempting to beat each other with various balls?"
A giggle from my side had me almost missing a step, the sound tickling my heart as well as my eardrums. "First off, I refuse to play with anyone's balls."
This time I did trip, a face-meet-floor kind of vertically challenged feat that only I could pull off on a perfectly flat surface. Fortunately for me, I had a tiny goddess looking out for me, because the next thing I knew I was caught and held in the impossibly soft, cold, and rock-hard grip of one Alice Cullen. She had caught me about the waist, her arms wrapped securely around my back with my scarlet-red face planted in her neck.
Not gonna lie, I sniffed. Not in a creepy way, I was winded and out of breath, both from the fall and running for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes. Okay, so the first deep breath could be excused, but once I caught the scent of the girl I was practically cradled against, I couldn't help myself. Lavender, vanilla, and some kind of citrusy scent I couldn't quite place, but altogether it was the most deliriously pleasing smell to ever have graced my senses. She smelled like Spring incarnate.
Which was odd, that she smelled this glorious even after our short little bit of exercising. Gods, these girls were going to be the death of me, but oh what a way to go.
"Are you done trying to fight the floor?" she murmured, her dulcet voice ringing beautifully in my ear. "'Cause, no offense, ma belle, but my money's on the floor at this point."
I laughed, shoving lightly at her hips (like, when the hell did my hands get there?), pulling back to grin stupidly at the girl's playful smirk. "Hey, I will have you know I was the face-planting champion of my old high school. 7-0 baby! Undefeated!"
Her tinkling laughter lit up her face as well as caused a stutter in my heart, the sight of her happy grin making me feel like I was floating on air. "Well, I hate to tell you this but you're going to have to hang up that championship title. Between Rosalie and I, we're never going to let your beautiful face meet the ground in battle ever again!"
I found myself blinking several times as her words attempted to penetrate my quickly melting brain-matter. "B-Beautiful? No way, you and Rosalie are seriously, like, goddesses! I can't even compare to you two!" I realized I was fumbling over my words, but seriously, how do you accept a compliment like that from someone who was the definition of 'flawless'? "Besides, aren't you the one who said you were going to be 'falling' for me?"
Deflection, successful. Alice's eyes lit up as she remembered our texts from the previous night. "You know, you're right, I have yet to fulfill my swooning quota for today!" And then, because why not, the delicate, diminutive girl flung herself up and into the space in front of me. Through either luck or some unknown source of grace, where ever it came from, I somehow managed to catch the wily girl, cradling her bridal style while her arms wrapped around my neck and shoulder.
Not gonna lie, I strained. I know I'm weak, but holy crap this girl was solid! I knew she couldn't have been that heavy, so I decided that I would begin exercising every single damn day from then forward because there was no way I was going to miss out on this chance ever again.
"Hi," she smirked, her beautiful gold eyes practically amber now, inches separating our faces. Oh dear gods, I looked at her lips, focus Bella! Eye-contact, for the love of the gods!
A strangled gurgle was my rather articulate response, my face flushing so deeply I don't think I had any blood flowing to any other part of my body. Only to remember my instant arousal at seeing her attire earlier and feeling the soft skin of her thighs over my right arm and, yep, definitely got blood flow to other parts of my body.
Suddenly, Alice's head was resting on my shoulder and I could hear her breathe deeply. "Mmm, you smell so good, Bella."
I was so happy we had stopped at the bleachers because my legs were suddenly jelly and so I found myself sitting rather than falling. I might not have a problem with face-battling the floor, but there was no way I was going to risk bringing harm to my tiny goddess.
Unfortunately, or maybe it was fortunately, the Coach blew his whistle. "Alright, everybody store the equipment and go get changed. Friday we're going to be indulging in some good old fashion dodgeball!" A collective groan went up around the gym, only for the sounds of shuffling to replace it as everyone began moving to obey.
I sighed, feeling Alice shifting her position until she was sitting up in my lap. "I had fun today! Maybe tomorrow you can show up on time and we'll have more time to play." She winked at me before she poked my nose with a cold finger. Then she was springing to her feet with a grace and smoothness that I would never be able to match on my best day. "Come on, you heard the coach. Gotta go get changed."
I was going to speak, truly I was. Except there was this problem when I couldn't get the thought of a very naked Alice out of my head as she lead me towards the locker room. Seriously, higher brain function was a non-issue for me at the moment. All I could do was trail after her like the absolutely lost puppy I am.
Whether by design or happy accident, we were the last two students to arrive. I swallowed hard around the lead lump that had lodged itself in my throat and made my way to my locker. I could hear Alice shuffling around nearby, probably at her own locker, and it took a mighty will to keep my gaze locked forward. Dear gods, what the hell was wrong with me?! I was not some horny teenager who couldn't control herself! All evidence to the contrary be damned!
A clearing of a throat behind me drew my hesitant gaze over my shoulder to find Alice already dressed simply in a long-sleeved blue blouse and matching skirt that barely reached to her upper thighs, a black pair of flats covering her delicate feet. "Are you going to change? School's about over and I have it on good authority that a certain blonde bombshell was hoping to see you before we head home."
My eyes widened and I turned around and began tearing my uncomfortably sweaty shirt off, my sports bra joining the pile at my side. I was halfway pulling my sweats down my legs when a strangled gasp from behind me drew me up short. Oh shit, did I just strip in front of Alice?! A hesitant glance over my shoulder told me that yes, yes I did just give Alice Cullen the peep show of a lifetime. The girl's eyes were wide, but more curious than anything was the pitch blackness in them I had only ever seen on Edward's creepy face.
On Alice, the look was terrifying, but in a way that was absolutely not terrifying. Even as she had the grace to turn around, the nick of time had long since passed and I was privileged to the sight of a flustered pixie as she made a slight hiccupping noise. "I-I, um, I'm so sorry! I'll, uh, I'll meet you out at the parking area. Yeah." If that mess of a statement wasn't enough, the girl practically ran from the room, the speed with which she moved almost appearing inhuman if I wasn't already blinking my blushing face the opposite direction.
Yep, I'm dead. If anyone could ever die of embarrassment, I would be the first case. They're going to name a disease after me, I can already tell. Ugh, I was already in the process of dressing as I began to imagine just what they should carve on my tombstone.
But even as I contemplated the numerous ways I could avoid just about any interactions with another human being for the rest of my existence, part of my brain was focused on one fact.
She didn't look away.
Rosalie
Something was wrong. I had known Alice for decades and I had never once seen her this nervous or quiet. The girl normally vibrated with kinetic energy, incapable of sitting still without somehow moving. But the girl who stood before me now was wide-eyed and clutching at the back of her Porsche hard enough that I was afraid she was going to rip the trunk right off.
"What's wrong, Ali?" I tried to get the smaller vampire's attention, catching a brief glimpse of black eyes before Alice suddenly threw herself into my arms. Her grip was fierce, her arms wrapping around my waist with so much tension she was almost shaking. She was shaking, I realized, and I was almost terrified of what had happened to put her into this kind of state. "Is it Bella? Is she okay?"
Finally, my words seemed to be getting through to her, as the girl took a deep, unnecessary breath, before exhaling slowly. "No, Bella's fine. More than fine, she's absolutely, devastatingly attractive."
This had my brows raising, smelling something warm and musky pouring off the girl for the first time ages. It was no secret that, while Emmett and Jasper weren't our mates, we all have very healthy sex drives. So, I unfortunately knew what it smelled like when Alice was aroused, just as she had smelled the same from me at one time or another over the years. You couldn't live as long as we do with our infinitely heightened senses without catching certain details you'd rather not know.
Why it was pouring off Alice now was confusing but I couldn't understand why she seemed so tortured by it. The only thing I could think of that would set her off like this would be her somehow coming into close contact with her mate in some form or another. Deciding to let the girl gather herself, I gently stroked her back with one hand, the other brushing at her hair soothingly.
Before I could speak again, my phone pinged from my pocket. Drawing the device, I was even further confused by the text from Bella.
Bella-mou: 'Please for the love of the gods tell Alice I am so sorry!'
I blinked down at the cryptic message, pulling Alice back a bit for me to bring my phone up to her gaze. "What does she mean?"
Alice's gaze turned panicked for a moment before she slowly closed her eyes, groaning in frustration. "We had gym together and we were the last to get changed at the end of class. I, um, I kind of saw her...while she was changing."
It was a lucky happenstance that most of the students had already left for the day, since the burst of laughter that left my lips would have drawn more than a few wayward eyes. I don't remember the last time I had given such a full-bellied laugh like this one, but honestly it felt so liberating to free the sound from my chest. It was several seconds before I was able to get myself under control, realizing I had doubled over with one hand resting on Alice's shoulder.
Stretching back to my full height, I couldn't help but pat the girl's cheek. "You're freaking out because you saw Bella change?"
Alice's brows furrowed as she unleashed an almighty pout that would have driven lesser men and women to their knees. It only had the effect of unleashing more laughter from me as her pout turned into a glare. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up! I think I traumatized the girl! She must think me a creep!"
"Whoo!" I sighed out, slowly catching my unnecessary breath. "I needed that! Don't worry, pipsqueak. I'm sure you didn't traumatize the poor girl."
A choking sound from nearby drew our gazes as Edward had just reached the side of Alice's Porsche. His gaze was wide, and by the way he immediately began backpedaling, I knew he'd just seen into Alice's thoughts. With twin snarls, Alice and I were on him in seconds, my hand reaching for his throat just as her hands grasped his shirt, pinning him back against his Volvo.
"You will erase that image from your memory," I hissed, the deep growl rolling from my chest matched only by the feral sound emanating from Alice. "Whatever it takes, you will bleach any thought of it from your mind, do you understand me?"
Edward nodded, as much as my grip would allow. The sound of cracking stone was both satisfying and terrifying, swallowing hard against the flood of venom in my mouth. Slowly, inch by inch, I forced myself to retract my hand, pulling along with me the clawed grasp Alice had pinned into his chest. The shirt was shredded a bit from her nails, but the sound of scratched stone was more than enough to let me know he had more than just his throat to heal.
Edward was gone in a flash, off through the woods and far away from our grasps. Jasper or Emmett would get his car, I was sure, but for the moment I couldn't bring myself to care. I grabbed Alice's hand and dragged her over to her car just as the door opened from the main building, revealing Bella. The girl looked up just as we reached the bumper of the Porsche, a fierce blush painting her cheeks.
"I am so sorry, Alice," she called out as soon as she stood a few feet from us. She was wringing her fingers together in front of her, looking adorably guilty and I couldn't help the chuckle that rumbled from my throat, causing the girl's heart to thud predictably.
"I'm sure Alice will be fine," I smirked, reaching for the girl's hand almost without conscious thought, brushing a gentle kiss over her knuckles. "Though now I'm a bit jealous I didn't take gym this year. I'm thinking of changing elective, in fact. I think Gym might be just the thing to spice up the school year."
Somehow the blush only seemed to intensify as the girl floundered a bit. "I, um, what?"
"Nothing," I chuckled again, anticipating the way Bella's pulse thundered in her chest. "How was your second day?"
"Fine," she murmured, obviously still embarrassed, though she seemed more than willing to remain in our presence despite it. "I just wish the gossip mill didn't work so fast. I've been called a 'dyke,' 'lesbian,' and 'freak' on more than one occasion and its only day two. I can't wait to see what they come up with tomorrow." She rolled her eyes for effect, her smirk wavering briefly.
I was clenching my teeth so hard I was sure even Bella could hear the grinding, but what caught me off guard was the sound of a hiss coming from Alice at my side. "Who said those things? What are their names?"
I nodded my appreciation for Alice's words, adding my own, "By the time we're finished with them, you won't have to ever worry about such treatment again."
Bella was blinking back and forth between us like she couldn't quite believe that we were serious. "Um, don't worry about it, girls. Seriously, this isn't anything unusual for me!"
I had to fight to keep myself from growling. "Names, Bella."
The human's eyes widened as they met mine, no doubt sensing the predator close to the surface. I was more than willing to unleash fury upon those who had insulted my mate. How fucking dare those pathetic humans think to insinuate my Bella was anything less than perfect!
There was suddenly a warm arm around my shoulder, half of a warm body pressed in against my left side. It took me several moments to realize Bella had lunged and wrapped her arms around both myself and Alice at my side, effectively trapping herself between us. The heat pouring off her body seeped into me, cooling the furious anger building up inside me until I suddenly felt myself sag back against the car. With the scent of my mate wafting over me, I couldn't be bothered to think or be angry about anything.
"Okay," I murmured, turning my nose into the girl's exposed throat, "That's just not fair."
"Mmm," was Alice's quiet reply from the other side of Bella's body, "Very not fair. I want to be mad, damn you."
Bella's deep laughter filled my ears as the girl squeezed once before backing away slightly, her arms dropping to her sides. "Sorry, you were both kind of spiraling there and I couldn't think of anything else to do to calm y'all down."
"Effective," I shot back, smirking as the girl realized how close she was to us, only to draw up short when she tried to take a step back as Alice and I both took one of her hands. I turned a wry smile to my little sister before turning back to the girl. "I think you could topple empires with your presence alone."
"Kings would bow at your feet," Alice added.
"Gods could only hope to achieve your beauty." Alice and I were both smirking now as the girl's head seemed to slowly shrink into her shoulders.
"Okay, now I know you're both fucking with me." She shrugged, as much as her position would allow, and turned her head to the side, muttered under her breath, "Friggin' Aphrodite and Isis standing in front of me and they think I'm appealing? What the hell kind of timeline am I in?"
I barely held back my chuckle, but Alice was not so restrained as she giggled outright at Bella's antics. "On that note," Bella said louder, her earlier embarrassment apparently long forgotten. "Can y'all give me a ride home? Charlie--er, my dad called and he's out of town investigating some kind of animal attack and won't be back until this evening."
Alice practically bounced at my side, and with a roll of my eyes, I gestured to the passenger side of the car. "Hop on in." I paused at the side door as Alice ran around to the driver's side and jumped behind the wheel. "Random question: is your will up to date, by any chance?"
The confused look she sent me as I helped her into the back seat was going to be wiped away momentarily, so I just smirked and slid into the passenger seat, pointedly snapping my unneeded seatbelt into place.
Bella
This is how I die, I thought, for at least the third time. After Alice sped out of the parking area and onto the main road like a lunatic, I furtively searched for and fastened my seatbelt, gripping at whatever was available to hold myself steady while the tiny madwoman in the driver's seat proceeded to recreate Gone in 60 Seconds and Fast and the Furious all in one trip.
By the time we reached my dad's house, I was latched on to the back of Rosalie's seat, my arms so tight around the cushioned headrest that I was certain there was going to be a Bella-size imprint on the back. When Rosalie stood up to let me out of the car, I practically threw myself onto the ground face-first.
"Land! Sweet, solid land!" Alice's giggle drew me shakily to my feet, a glare and a finger leveled at the tiny terror. "Are you trying to kill us?! Do you realize my dad's a cop?!"
Alice's laughter continued as she came around the car, my gaze shifting warily as she skipped right up to me. "I would never do anything to harm you, ma belle! I simply like to enjoy what little thrill life has left for me!"
"Thrill?!" I screeched, still shaking from the traumatic experience that was Alice Cullen behind the wheel of a car. "I just about thrilled my lunch all over the back of your Porsche! I just about thrilled myself into an early grave!"
A rumbling laugh behind me drew me up short as heat spiked through me like a Pavlovian response. Damn that sexy fucking laugh! I was not done being mad and terrified, but when a cool, shapely, body pressed against my back and toned arms wrapped around my middle, I practically melted into a puddle right there. Speaking of puddles, I couldn't help my body's reaction to the woman whose breasts I could feel pressing into my shoulder-blades. I had gone from terrified and contemplating my own mortality, to viciously aroused in a fraction of a second. I was getting whiplash!
"Calm yourself, Bella-mou," she murmured, her smoky voice vibrating right into my ear, and dear gods I think I was only standing at that point because of her arms around me. "Let the little pipsqueak have her thrills. I promise, we'll keep you safe, always."
And I just, damn! How could these two women scare the living daylights out of me and make me feel the safest I've ever felt all in the same breath? "You're both so unfair! I can't stay mad at you and that is just not fair!"
"What you consider 'unfair,' I consider fair game," Rosalie returned, a deep breath following her retreat from behind me until she and Alice were both standing in front of me.
"Is that what this is, a game?" Shit, I did not mean for that to come out, but now that I'd said, my old anxieties reared their ugly head. I was about to apologize before both girls cringed and took one of my hands into each of theirs.
"Not at all!" Alice exclaimed vehemently, looking contrite while practically vibrating with emotion. "Please don't think this is just us playing with you!"
Rosalie's brows were furrowed as she gently caressed my hand. "No games, little darling. I promise. I'm very intrigued by you," she murmured. She then leaned in and suddenly cold, soft lips were pressed against my cheek, which predictably flushed with heat.
Not a moment had passed from when Rosalie withdrew than my other cheek was being graced with another equally soft and equally cold pair of lips. Alice lingered a half second longer than Rosalie but the effect was still the same. I was a barely-standing ball of unfocused tension, pretty much dead on my feet. Seriously, it was a miracle I was still standing.
Rosalie clearing her throat brought me out of my hormone-induced stupor. "We'll see you at school tomorrow."
"Yeah," Alice chimed in, further bringing feeling back to my legs as I realized how tired I suddenly was. "We'll wait to make sure you get inside."
Smiling, I decided at the last second to return the favor. I leaped forward, leaning up to leave a quick chaste kiss to Rosalie's cheek, then down to repeat the process to Alice's cheek. Then I did what any smooth, suave woman would do.
I ran into the house without a backwards glance, only stopping to breathe when the door was between me and my ever-developing crushes.