(2) Wild Horses (E. Cullen)

Chapter Eight

Bambi has her head hung as she takes calming breaths. Trying to ward off an impulsive shift. She just can't do it whilst at school, it's too dangerous, too much risk of being seen. She needs to learn how to control her outbursts. She can go for a run later, but not right now. Connor moves towards her and she actively tries to ignore him, but it seems like he is not going to allow her to sit in peace. He sits at her side. Quiet for a moment but she does not want him here with her. She wants to be alone. Otherwise, she would have asked Edward to come with her.

"Go away" She growls at him without lifting her head. She just wants some time to herself. And Connor being here isn't making it easier for her to push back her change.

"Look, Bambi" He starts, she kicks him and he glares at her a little.

"Do you have any idea how close I am to busting follicles?" She asks him as she lifts her head. "You being here is making it worse...."

"Then I'll be quick" He argues, she lets out an annoyed breath through clenched teeth. "I know you hate me" He offers. "I know you hate what I did to Bella"

"Yeah, I do" She agrees.

"I hate what I did too" He counters, she curls her lips over her teeth. "Help me talk her out of it" He begs, she frowns a little at that. "You and I want the same thing here, for Bella to remain human...." She turns slightly, calming down. But she thinks she's doing that through surprise more than anything. She then snorts and shakes her head.

"If you think you can talk Bella out of anything then you don't know her as well as you think you do" She argues and then pushes herself to her feet. "What's best for Bella, was you staying the hell away from her....."

"Would it have been best for Edward to stay away from you?" Connor counters.

"That's different" She argues. "What me and Edward share is spiritual, the imprint isn't just some....infatuation" Connor stands and she shakes her head. "Or...a blood thing"

"It's not about the blood" Connor defends, she gives him a look. "It was in the beginning...." He corrects himself. "But I love her for who she is now" She pulls a face, not really agreeing with him on that. Maybe it is because Edward shows his love differently. Maybe because it is less dangerous for her to be with Edward compared to that with Bella and Connor. Bambi glances along and away from Connor, finds Edward standing with Bella, trying to keep her from running straight into the middle of the two of them. Edward is pretty good at reading his girlfriend, and given her mood, he knows she is very close to popping fur. Connor follows her eyes and then looks at Bambi. "Think about what I said" He whispers to her, she glares back at him before he moves to Bella. Edward gives him a questioning look, Connor shakes his head. It was fine. No injuries. Not sure he's made any progress with Bambi but he's trying at least. What more can they ask for? Edward moves to Bambi as she stares out into the trees. He touches her back and she looks at him.

"Thank you," He tells her, she frowns up at him. "For not killing him" He gives her a smile and she smirks.

"He got lucky" She counters and leans into his chest, his arms wrapping around her. "I should have" Edward keeps quiet, trying not to pick sides here, as much as he loves Connor, he loves Bambi too. He doesn't want to get caught up in the middle of this. "It would make things better for Bella" She adds quietly. He touches her cheek and she lifts her head to look at him. "Sorry" She whispers, realising that complaining about his brother to him probably isn't a very good girlfriend thing to do.

"It's difficult" He offers. "Because he is my brother, but you should talk to me about how you feel about him, even if you hate him" She sighs a little. "And he annoys you" She nods in agreement. "And I know that you're frustrated with their relationship"

"Are you going to say that if it's what she wants?" She asks him.

"I wouldn't wish this lifestyle on anyone" He reminds her. "Especially not someone you love...but she's as stubborn as you are....do you really want to fall out over this? Forever? To never talk to her again?" Bambi looks away from him and sighs. Because she doesn't. Of course, she doesn't want to never talk to her sister again. And yes, she still thinks of Bella as her sister. Just as she still thinks of Charlie and Renee as her parents. She doesn't want to lose Bella over this, but how can she stand by and watch Bella become a vampire. Because she doesn't want her to waste her life like that. Give it a few more years. Do a few more things. Before deciding to do something so drastic. Just a few more years before she does something irreversible Bambi can't change what she is. She had no choice in it. She can't wrap her head around why Bella would make that choice, following the year they've had. All the drama. All the danger. She can't leave, but Bella is running straight into it. Like everything that's happened is the best thing ever. Edward presses his lips to her head and she sighs. She knows she's going to have to talk to Bella at some point, she can't live with things the way that they are right now, something is going to have to give.