Love Bite

Chapter 21

I DO NOT OWN CHARACTERS OR TWILIGHT

Bella made it to prom.

Sadly.

Or, well, not so sadly. As much as Bella dreaded the event, it really wasn't so bad. She had worse things to dread in the meantime, so that probably helped to take some of the resistance away.

After talking it out with the Cullens, after lots of yelling, bickering, arguing, fighting, and near fist fights that probably would have leveled the entire surrounding area had Carlisle and Esme not intervened –it was actually heartwarming to see how much the Cullens really cared for her- they came to a decision.

In Emmett's words, that decision amounted to a giant middle finger to the Volturi.

In the end, it was decided that because Bella was not ready to give up her human life so suddenly and especially with such dubious consent, that she would not be turned into a vampire, despite the Volturi's threats. Alice put her foot down on that and said if Bella wasn't entirely sure, nobody was making her do it. She backed that up on penalty of breaking bones and cracking skulls if anyone tried to disagree. Nobody did.

She got a lot of back up from Edward on that, because he claimed being a vampire puts one's soul in jeopardy. He'd always said that nonsense though, being the devout religious man he was. Rosalie gave him a dirty look for that, and she and Bella shared a meaningful look, too, over it. It was a look that spoke volumes of the way that Rosalie was slowly coming around, and even though she didn't say much throughout the conversation, Bella still sensed the way the blonde's animosity had faded.

None of that had anything to do with it for Alice though. She simply refused to make Bella do anything she didn't want to do, especially become a freakin vampire. Honestly, Bella thought Alice actually would prefer to have her changed sometimes. It would make things so much easier between them. She wouldn't have to constantly fight bloodlust around her, as good as her control was, and she wouldn't have to be careful not to kill her if she hugged her too tightly.

But Alice was Alice, and she loved her human or vampire, any way, in every way, and left that completely up to her.

It wasn't that Bella didn't necessarily want to be a vampire. It's just...That wasn't exactly a light decision to be made. She'd thought about it, of course. Who wouldn't want to be beautiful and immeasurably strong? And surely she did not want to grow old and wrinkly and die while Alice stayed young and beautiful forever...

Besides, Bella felt like this thing with Alice was a forever kind of deal. Sometimes things just fall into place that way, where you know that no matter what, you will be with someone until the end, come what may. The realistic part of her wondered unhappily if they could ever break up for any reason, but even if that slim chance ever came to fruition, Bella knew they'd still be friends. It was just who they were, how they worked, how they loved each other.

Always.

The point was, she loved Alice, and wanted that eternity with her, but taking that next big step so quickly turned her stomach. Giving up her human life was a huge deal. It would mean leaving behind all her friends, her family, Charlie, her mother, everything she ever knew or loved. She hadn't even told her parents she was gay yet. She loved them too, so much, so to simply leave them behind...Bella didn't think she could do that so easily.

So it was a no to becoming a vampire, at least for now. She needed more time to think about that, come to terms with everything that entailed. Maybe someday, but within the fortnight as the Volturi had demanded?

Nope.

Not happening, as Alice had said.

So that left...