Chapter Text
It didn’t take long for Bella Swan to figure out Cullen's secret of immortality. Especially one that was her boyfriend that thirsted her blood. And the only person in over 100 years couldn’t read someone’s mind. And now… Bella hurried into school. Her heart ached where the Cullens used to have their cars in their designated spots in Forks Highschool lot several years ago. And at lunch, the tables furthest from the windows were empty. Even though they were vampires, there was a ghostly aura to them. Now vanished into thin air, as if they never lived in Forks.
And when she went to visit the Cullens mansion just outside of town. Empty. Completely empty. She looked through all the windows. No furniture, the whole kitchen was stripped. Marble floors in a thin layer of dust. It looked like it was in construction. She looked in all around the woods that succumbed to the mansion. Not even a trace, footprint, or clues of their departure.
Bella stood alone. Right in front of the driveway as if they would be pulling up in their luxurious sports cars. Hoping. Praying, that any moment Alice would come running into her arms and Edward would be there to greet her with a kiss.
At their meadow, her nose runny and eyes brimmed with tears. This would be where Edward asked her all sorts of subjects. What she thought about. How her day went, what she did and her views of the current world. Talking for hours and hours. She hoped she could do that eternally with them.
She’s been up here multiple times. Her mind would give her flashes of Edward. The way he held her, kissed her with his cool lips in the flower covered field. Whispered promises and dreams he would fulfill. Now just filled with plain yellow tall grasses.
Her eyes lowered to her hands, as she stood in thought. He did say he wanted to leave, and didn’t want her anymore. But she knew that wasn’t the case. At least not completely.
Bella turned back, returning home with Charlie sitting in his recliner watching whatever game he was into.
He greeted her, as Bella slugged off her hiking boots.
“Bella, I don’t want you goin up hiking anymore. I’m glad you’re gettin out and all, but there’s been some attacks it’s been reported. Just keep out will ya? Till I say so?” Charlie warns, leaning against the frame of the kitchen.
“Yeah.” Said Bella, a bit too monotone. It did disappoint her, unable to get her daily dose of visions of her past bliss. Maybe she could do some studying, and officially start going to college. She was in her twenties now. She wouldn’t mind mind going to a community college till she felt like she could transfer. Bella didn’t bother going back to school immediately once she graduated. And she got a better job offer at the diner waitressing. And Charlie was more than happy to support her when Bella was ready.
“Why not, you know, see some of your friends or somethin’? Like uh, Jacob?”
“We’ve hung out a couple times already.”
“It’s been about 6 months, Bells.”
“Fine.” Bella exasperated. “I'll call Jessica or something.”
She didn’t. Jessica had been…a lot. She basically drifted away from her, not like Bella reached out much herself either. Bella went through her list of contacts on her phone. There was Angela.
That’s right. Bella remembered why she kept her distance first from her, she was too perceptive and didn’t want to spill Cullen's secret. In the beginning of her first school year, Angela was aware of the Cullens more than anyone. Not afraid, but keenly aware.
Then there was Jacob, and rolled her eyes when Mike's name appeared. This was useless, how was she even supposed to make any friends when all the ones she had didn’t want to deal with her anymore? Well, Mike probably would. Only for other reasons. Bella then scrolled down a bit further, and called in for more work at the diner. She wanted to keep busy, and she might as well make some money while doing it. And it’ll prevent her from going back into the evergreen woods.
Bella could almost run the entire diner alone, except for the cooking part. Actually, she could. The fast pace part of it though she didn’t like. She put up her chocolate brown hair into a low ponytail and went to work. Have to stay busy. Don’t be reckless. As much as she missed the boy who made her feel unlike any other.
She cleaned the tables, bussing dishes, taking and submitting ticket orders around. Of course, she had her regulars that would make the day easier. Especially the ones like her father, only a coffee, water and maybe a burger. Then Billy, an order of flapjacks, extra bacon and a side of hash. She liked that part.
As she was cleaning up one of her tables, alone sat a young man, sitting in of their booths furthest from everyone. Fixated on his laptop as he typed away. She missed one? That had been awhile, not since she first started working in the diner. The guest had papers scattered, several leather bound books stacked. Those were old, very old. Bella approached him with her notepad, “Sorry, I didn’t see you come in.” She greeted with a half dry smile, hiding the true extent of a miserable break up, “Welcome, can I get you anything?”
The young man startled, and when he looked up, Bella bristled. He was cute. Very. It took her several seconds to focus back. Bella shook her head, couldn’t help feeling the heat of her cheeks flush. She never felt nervous about a guy just by looking at him. At least not since… him. Bright hazel green eyes and shaggy brown hair. He gave her a genuine kind smile that could just sear the image of him to her heart. Almost replacing the one she kept so dearly. Almost. She could feel like it was a distant memory now. She shook her head.
Really Bella? Get a grip. Another head shake and flipping out her mini notebook, focusing back on reality.
“It’s okay, I just came in.” He quickly looked over the menu. “Two coffees please, and uh.. the waffles special.”
“Waiting for someone?” She asked.
He chortled, shaking his head and went back to his work. The way he looked up, reminded her of all those prince fairy tales. He would fit the part so easily. Just a golden laurel leaf crown placed on top of his head would be picturesque. “Just my brother. He’s, well, just a little hung over.” Bella gave out a soft laugh herself, and nodded.
“Gotcha.”
Bella began to pour out the fresh hot coffee into two mugs, almost spilling it over once she caught the glance of his work. Flaming red hair and a blood red thirsty glare. The hairs on Bella’s neck spiked, her skin rising across her arms. Flashes of her old ballet dance room and broken glass danced jaggedly across her memory. The sound crunch bone, the helpless scream she had. And the venom that was temporarily poured into her was utter agony. Bella instinctively drew a hand to clamp over the mark.
“Do you know her?” He asked gently, revealing the full photo. Pale white skin, and pale red lips snarled.
Bella willed herself back away from her memory, “You should stay away from her.” She said quickly, making a hasty retreat to place the order to the kitchen. When their order was ready, she swiftly served them before the brothers could ask any more questions.
They didn’t need to get involved with this, they didn’t need to risk their lives for her. Because it was her fault. Her fault for not staying near Alice and Jasper. Her fault for being so foolish and falling for James’s trap. She should’ve known better.
And why would they be looking for Victoria? If Victoria was back in Forks… Bella’s blood went cold and swallowed a large lump in her throat. The red head blood thirsty glare appeared in Bella’s mind again. Revenge. She was here for revenge. Because the Cullens had killed James, because of her foolish mistake.
Then Bella recalled Charlie’s recent comment, the animal attacks. Those were Victoria. Feeding. Getting stronger. She had to get out of here, or at least call Alice, Carlisle or even… him. Even though her last attempts were pathetic, what good will they come now? Especially after all these years. She had to do something, she felt her fingers curl into fists. Jacob.
What use would it be to show her face to Jacob again? He couldn’t stand her anymore. What can he even do to help? Don’t be reckless. She could already hear that ethereal voice whisper in her ears. She wasn’t being reckless, how can she be reckless if the whole damn town didn’t know that supernatural creatures existed?
Bella continued her shift. Couldn’t help but eavesdrop on the brothers' conversation as they discussed their ‘case’. She was wiping around tables, trying to keep as casual as she could.
“There have been two murders here. It’s a vamp, I know it when I see one, Sammy.”
“Could also be a werewolf.” Sammy shrugged.
More hairs across Bella’s body spiked, what were these kinds of people? And how? How did they determine so rapidly what Victoria was? Something wasn’t right about these two brothers. They knew the secrets of Forks. Did they used to live here or something?
Bella clocked out early as soon as she finished clearing her section. She was almost always here, the manager wouldn’t question her this one time. Bella stuffed her bag, and hurried out the door. Almost sprinting towards her beaten orange ford ranger truck.
“Wait,” She heard that princely voice call, freezing her tracks like the ice beneath her feet. Bella turned over her shoulder. Sammy, that’s what his brother called him. With his kind ethereal face. Hazel green eyes filled with hope. He was so tall, she hurried in less than a few seconds to her truck. He nearly towered over Bella as he approached.
“You know something.” He confronted. But his voice was gentle, and sweet. She was taken aback from his closeness, admiring every freckle and mole across his nose that closely resembled cinnamon dust.
Bella opened the door to her old truck but his large hand prevented the door. Flashes of milky pale white hand stopped a van, but she shook the memory away. The screeching tires, and golden amber eyes. He can’t know, she won’t.
“Please.” It almost sounded like he was begging. And it was so intoxicating. Why didn’t she like to say no to him? It wasn’t hard to tell other people no. She was able to tell Jacob off with ease. But what was with this man that pained her to say it? “I just need information.”
Bella met his gaze, already bewitched by his youthful tanned face and his soulful eyes. “Like what?”
“I know you were listening to me and my brother.” Sammy said. “We’re just trying to help.”
“I—I really shouldn’t.” She said, already kicking herself internally about her dumbstruck stutter and slipped inside the red faded truck. Even though she and the Cullens are separated now. And he… didn’t want her anymore, she still would keep their secret. She promised. Till the very depths of her death. And then there was the Volturi. As long as they don’t find out and she does not say a word about their secrets. She would be safe. Charlie would be safe, and so would Jacob.
Bella roared her truck to life and sped off, not daring to glance back to the boy named Sammy. Cause if she did, she would crumble and tell him everything. Bella’s heart immediately wanted to turn around and just tell him. She can’t lie to him, she knew that. And he somehow knew that too.
**
“Struck out, Sammy boy?” Dean called, sauntering out with a nonchalant gait from the diners back door and hands tucked into his leather jacket pockets. Dean can be a little too casual sometimes, it was infuriating.
“Shut up.” Sam walked past him, going back to their booth as he sifted through their personal files and their fathers old leather bound journal. Dean sat back down, finishing his waffle special. Strawberry syrup started to drip from his plate onto their photos.
“Dude, seriously?”
“What?” Dean says with a mouthful.
Sam rolled his eyes, and peered at the red headed suspect photo. That waitress recognized this monster, and he knew it. Her face expressed it all, no regular person would be scared shitless about the photo they had seen. Merely think of it as photoshop or some sort of project. Then Dean's cell began to go off. Sam sat up straight, also leaning close to catch their connection information.
“This is Agent Stark.” Dean answered. He totally only picked that cause of the superhero, Sam thought.
After that phone call, another death near the small town of Forks. The hunters rushed over in their impala. Dean’s veteran experience of weaving through traffic, violating some laws but just enough to get by and without getting caught. Sam didn’t care, well. He almost didn’t care about anything lately ever since being randomly resurrected again a year ago.
Then he got his brother to join him again. He didn’t care if Dean was here or not honestly. Sam could still feel his old self though, through the entire life of his memories. What he cared about, what he believed in, what he didn’t. But now? None of it mattered. He was just going where the wind pushed him at this point. The only thing he could only feel was just a little something that was exercising and mindless sex.
Usually, Sam wasn’t that active as before till it was almost every day he’ll find someone to charm at the bar, fuck them, then off at first light. If he struck out, he would pay cash. And Dean was too oblivious of this new Sam had become, well, more like missing. Sam knew that Dean was mainly just grateful to have his brother back. Willing to leave Dean's newfound family at a drop of a hat.
Dean pretends like Sam doesn’t notice about him constantly being in touch with Lisa and Ben.
That's what Sam was missing, and didn’t know what it was. There was… so much empathy. Where had his empathy gone? His drive, his motivation and passion. All gone, he can’t feel them anymore. Simply existing. There was a piece he could feel, like a fish missing a scale. Milk chocolate eyes came to his mind, the chocolate brunette hair at the diner. The name tag just above her breasts. Bella. He could easily win her over, but he also needed clues for the current case they were working on. And he couldn’t blow his cover of what was wrong with him either.
**
Bella sorted out Charlie for dinner. She was still on edge. She was back in her room, pacing and chewing on her nails. A plan, a plan is needed. She had to get out soon, and Victoria was seeking her revenge. Why now? Why didn’t she just kill her as soon as the Cullens left?
Bella flipped open her old and slow macbook she’s had since she moved into Forks. Quickly searching as fast as she could. She would tell Charlie she would be looking at schools. And she would have to take several weeks away from work. She can always come back, she knew that. And with her experience she could possibly just work at any diner.
Bella began to nod at her calculations, and wrote on sticky notes. She would head back to Florida to Renee. Always sunny, hard for vampires to conceal their identity. No, she crossed out the state on her note. Arizona or California, she couldn’t risk Renee. Arizona would be more practical. She knew Phoenix, almost. It had been some time but she could get around.
Bella exhaled a deep worrisome sigh. She absolutely loathes lying to Charlie. But he couldn’t know about this, nor would he even believe her. Then there are funds, but that would be fine. After some time, Carlisle had given her a very generous amount after her graduation. Still haven’t seen either member since.
“Hey, Bells?” The voice of Charlie calling for her made her startle. She was surrounded by crumpled up pale yellow sticky notes and MacBooks fan almost sounding like an air conditioner. “What are you doing?”
“Schools.” Bella cleared her throat. “I was thinking of going back now. And uh, trying out for scholarships. Or something.”
“Right.” Charlie paused, something wasn’t right. His eyes were averting her gaze.
“Is something wrong?”
“Henry Clearwater, well uh.” A defeated exhale, “He was found dead. Near his boat.”
Bella’s blood went cold. This was a warning from Victoria, and she was close, so, so close. Where were the Cullens when she absolutely needed them most?
“Dad, I’m so sorry.” She stood up as the scrunched paper balls fell off her bed. “Is there anything I can do? To help?” She knew there wasn’t much. Henry was one of Charlie’s closest friends. How is she able to leave him now?
“No, no.” He shook his head and rubbed his jaw to his chin, refusing to let tears fall. “Just stay out of the woods like I said.”
Bella nodded, “I will. Promise.”
“I don’t know when I’ll be back. Don’t stay out late.” Charlie leaned off her door frame and heard his heavy footsteps reluctantly heading to the crime scene.
As soon as heard the door shut and his police cruiser drive off with his flashing lights, Bella let out a frustrated groan. She locked all the doors and windows.