CULLEN’S RESIDENCE

  Edward returned home early in the morning, just before school. Alice and the others had been waiting, and even Carlisle had stayed back from work a little longer.

  It took three days of running through the cold turns of mountain peaks to make it back to Forks, and even for a vampire, the trip had been taxing.

  Edward wanted nothing more than rest, but as a Being that couldn’t tire, he would instead settle for Bel’s sweet scent once more.

  Though, if he wanted the smell of her blood or just her natural scent that comforted him was up for debate.

  “Welcome…” Alice was the first to hug him.

  Everyone waited for their turns and gave the appropriate hug based on their familiarity, with Rosalie’s being the shortest, Emmet’s the strongest, and Jasper’s the most comforting.

  There was no need for words.

  Edward’s mind flittered over their thoughts, and after a couple of seconds, he understood enough.

  From Jasper’s mind, he saw the incident that had cimed the lives of two teenage boys, and all the deductions that came with a tactical mind like Jasper’s.

  From Rosalie’s mind, he saw a flicker of acceptance, and an eagerness to learn more – thinking about what Xavier’s existence meant for things out there…

  Perhaps, even something can change me back—

  Edward quickly distracted himself with another mind, unwilling to breach any more of Rosalie’s privacy – she had the most undisciplined mind, and oftentimes got carried away in delusions.

  Carlisle’s mind was filled with expectation and pride.

  Esme’s mind was happy for his return, and she hoped he wouldn’t leave ever again.

  Finally, Edward was drawn back to Carlisle’s mind as the sensation of taste dawned on him – a taste of wine, something that shouldn’t have been possible.

  Then the full image revealed itself – Xavier’s house, the chat, offering wine and telling of trouble to come.

  It all made Edward’s head spin, but there was a time and pce for everything, and right now, he was too occupied with Isabel Swan to solve the mysteries of the Universe.

  “You should know that she sometimes smells of Xavier,” Alice warned – something she had seen told her this information was worth mentioning. “Bel that is.”

  Edward tried to see what Alice had seen about his future reaction to such information, but there was a dim golden light that all but rendered the vision obscure.

  “And?” He asked.

  “Just be careful around Isabel Swan,” Alice stated more pinly this time. “Xavier loves Ange, but there is also a pce in his heart for Bel.”

  “She’s more like a sister,” Rosalie frowned.

  “No… he likes her very much,” Jasper stated, and who better to know than someone who could influence emotions. “There is a general feeling of reluctance as if he knows he is going to lose her but wants her anyway.”

  “It’s for the best,” Edward voiced. “A human should be in human retionships. This way, none of Alice’s visions will come to pass.”

  There was a brief discussion that avoided the more sensitive topic.

  Later, everyone was allowed to depart.

  Carlisle went to work, dropping Esme off at her usual garden parties. Edward rode in his own car, while Jasper and Emmet took the Jeep. Alice and Rosalie took the BMW.

  ???

  FORK’S HIGH SCHOOL

  Bel’s teal truck settled in the driveway first, followed immediately by the Bugatti holding Jessie and Brittney.

  A minute ter, Ange drove Xavier’s hummer with The Eternal in the passenger’s seat.

  His headache had yet to completely vanish – he was in no condition to drive.

  As everyone exited their car, Ange held Xavier close, as if intending to guide his every step throughout the day – her arms wrapped around him rather possessively.

  Bel awkwardly stood on the sidelines – of course, she wanted to go to her friends, have a chat, and maybe even ask about what was wrong with Xavier, but she couldn’t.

  The kiss that had almost turned into something more was fresh in Bel’s mind, and she didn’t have the wit nor the will to hang around Ange without mentioning the incident.

  The st thing she wanted was to have Ange break up with Xavier – no matter how much that would benefit her.

  It felt disgusting just thinking about it.

  Conflicted, Bel walked in the opposite direction, away from her friends, and the betrayal waiting to happen – though, her own reluctance to face the music could be considered a betrayal of its own.

  “Bel!” Jessica's voice cut apart Bel’s intentions.

  At some point in Bel’s contemption, Jessica, Eric, and Tyler had joined Xavier, Ange, Jessie, and Brittney. All their eyes were turned in her general direction, wondering why she had yet to approach the group.

  Xavier was at a loss as well – at least, that was until he recalled their st meeting, then he internally thanked Bel for taking one for the team.

  Bel froze in pce, unsure of what to do.

  “What’s up with Bel?” Jessica inquired, eyeing Xavier suspiciously.

  Somehow, she knew it had something to do with the loyal pyboy in the group; though, Ange was too preoccupied to pay the situation any mind.

  “I’m taking Xavier to sit,” Ange announced.

  Xavier tried to stand on his own, and prove that he was better than he seemed, and he was mostly successful though Ange was not convinced.

  She could see the pain in his eyes.

  Xavier suddenly came to the realization that the retionship was a two-way street – Ange watched him as much as he watched her.

  This was a disconcerting notion.

  ‘What has she seen? What does she know?’

  The questions came like torrents, causing an already bad headache to become worse, though not enough to shake the foundations of an Eternal.

  ------------

  As the group made their way through the morning traffic of students, they couldn’t help but overhear whispers of a topic they were only vaguely aware of.

  “Apparently…” Jessica reported - she was always aware of the gossip. “Luis and his older brother, Greg, were driving drunk and got into an accident. They didn’t make it.”

  “Luis?” Jessie frowned. “The guy that Xavier…” her voice turned weak in realization.

  “Yeah…” But Jessica had no such reservations. “The guy Xavier beat up in the Abandoned Building. I think he also did something to Bke so I say good riddance.”

  “But Bke went missing too,” Eric added, gncing at Xavier’s back suspiciously. “Ange – sounds like a mystery worth solving.”

  “Sure…” Ange didn’t really pay attention.

  “Bke didn’t go missing okay,” Tyler disliked the gossip and didn’t want the smear to fall on Xavier so he added the truth. “Bke has moved – she caught a flight from Mason County. Xavier gave her a ride over the weekend.”

  Ange paused…

  Xavier frowned, wondering how Tyler had come across such information when he was extremely careful.

  Ange turned stiffly. “Can you give me and Xavier some space to talk, guys?” She requested in a voice that wasn’t really a request.

  Xavier sighed and walked a bit ahead, dipping into the female’s bathroom to have a private conversation with his girlfriend. Many students saw the duo head inside, and their minds couldn’t help but swim in fantasy nds.

  “I said something I shouldn’t have, didn’t I?” Tyler asked.

  “I am surprised you figured that out at all,” Jessie mocked, taking Brittney by the hand as she departed.

  --------------

  The stench in the girl’s bathroom was somehow worse than that of the boy’s bathroom. There was no graffiti, and the amenities seemed properly cared for so Xavier didn’t understand the mystery of the smell.

  “You didn’t mention anything about Bke…” Ange demanded.

  “What do you want to know?”

  There was a certain nonchance to his tone, and Ange clearly didn’t like it.

  “What do you want to tell me?” Her eyes narrowed.

  “Honestly, nothing…” Xavier sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “some secrets aren’t mine to tell, and Jessica knows enough of what happened.”

  There was silence, then the question was asked – a question Ange regretted but had no intention of taking back.

  “Did you do it?”

  “Be specific,” Xavier's eyes narrowed, and his hands started to brush against his leg irritatedly – trying to keep certain parts of himself from coming out.

  “Luis and Greg…” Ange took a deep breath. “Did you do it for Bke…”

  Xavier visibly rexed since she was indeed asking the right question – a question he could answer without fear of betrayal.

  After all, some questions could only end in betrayal.

  “You’re asking if I would do the same for you, and the answer is yes – in a fucking heartbeat,” Xavier faced his girlfriend, peering into her eyes as a soft golden glow stirred in his. “I would be more thorough – so thorough that you would live your life unaware that it happened. Who’s to say I haven’t already?”

  Ange’s breathing hitched – she was simultaneously disgusted by the length Xavier would go to and entranced by those golden eyes that would do anything to keep her.

  She had tried to deny it before, but now that it had become so btant, she had to admit it – this was a toxic retionship.

  “Take off your panties and put your hands against the wall,” Xavier ordered in an animalistic eager tone.

  Ange did as she was instructed with haste.

  The only sounds that could be heard from the bathroom were colliding flesh and restrained grunts of both pain and absolute pleasure.

  ???

  BIOLOGY - BANNER’S CLASS

  When Bel entered the cssroom, she stood by the door and scanned the pce with her eyes, hoping Xavier was not in the css…

  And he wasn’t.

  ‘This isn’t his css to begin with stupid!’ She chastised herself.

  Though it was not unusual for Xavier to show up in another css from time to time – if he had something to be said, he would say it no matter who he had to look for at what time.

  It was one of the things she admired about him.

  Seeing that her table was empty, Bel made her way over, securing her usual seat. Mr. Banner was busy at work handing out microscopes and a couple of slides.

  The chair next to Bel moved.

  “Hello…” Edward’s voice was quiet.

  Bel looked up and gaze into a face she had not thought about in a while, but now that he was there, thoughts of Edward couldn’t help but fill her mind.

  “My name is Edward Cullen,” He continued. “I didn’t have a chance to introduce myself st week. You must be Bel Swan.”

  A spark ignited in a single conversation.

  Xavier never came to css, and Bel had banished him from thought as much as possible, trying to focus on Edward – at least he didn’t have the attachment called Ange.

  With Edward, there was a chance, however small, and with Xavier, there would never be one.

  ???

  HIDDEN ROOM – BEHIND THE BATHROOM

  The sex had been brief but intense – so intense that Ange sat on the couch without any pants.

  Xavier found great relief in the pleasures of the flesh, but when Ange’s tight garden no longer squeezed his focus, the headache returned anew.

  The pain didn’t matter…

  Not as much as the organizing memories did…

  Now, Xavier had a hard time telling where he ended, Ikaris began, and whether or not there was ever a Xavier to begin with.

  For all that he previously believed, it now seemed that after the retionship with Rebecca – and whatever happened in New York – there had been a dissociation of sorts.

  There is a Xavier – but… had there always been a Xavier?

  GRRR

  Images fshed in his mind – always the same thing a few pictures apart.

  Exploding volcanoes…

  Wars that destroyed something important…

  Extinction…

  Talks with different people from different times – sometimes the same people at different times…

  Then, images of Bel…

  There was something tugging at the back of Xavier’s mind, pulling him somewhere beyond his senses – he could sense, with a release, his body would drift there.

  So, he held on.

  “I have to head to css…” Ange muttered.

  She didn’t like leaving Xavier alone, but Emily’s warning stuck in her mind – there are times even the men we love cannot control themselves.

  The best thing she could do in the circumstance was to give Xavier some space – it was more dangerous to be near him.

  Ange got dressed, gave Xavier a peck on the lips, and exited the hidden room through the back entrance.

  An hour passed – lunch arrived…

  *********************************************

  So...

  We don't know precisely how Xavier feels about Bel as yet. I know most of you guys got the vibe that he likes her but keep in mind, Xavier has learned to view the world as his entire world so he doesn't treat people as characters.

  This is his life, but he still treats Bel as a conquest with no real feelings. So, now we have to check if he likes the girl for who she is or if he likes her because she is Bel from Twilight.

  Also, I hope you like fleshing the Cullens some more. I have to make Alice more bubbly, Jasper more unstable, Edward more chaotically in the mind of everyone, and Carlisle more human, but Esme is okay. I guess.

  Support this novel ----> patreon.com/The_Eternal_Ocean_Soul

  Note: Supporting me keeps me writing... ck of writing means a ck of supporters.