The Face of Beauty to Fall For

He stared at me for several long moments, his eyes wide and it seemed as though he wasn’t blinking. “What?” He questioned, his voice barely a whisper.

“Bella. Who is she?” I repeated, putting my index finger between the pages of the book to mark my place.

He kept staring, making me a bit uncomfortable. “How do you know about her?”

I looked down for a minute, readjusting myself on the chair. “I… had a dream last night about… us. And you called me ‘Bella’.” I explained. “Now tell me who she is.”

He stood and walked to the door.

“Hey, where are you going?” I asked, perturbed that he’d just up and leave in the middle of a conversation… Well, the beginning of a conversation.

“I’ll be back soon. You should get to bed and rest your ankle or your friend will have paid for those tickets for nothing.” He muttered, walking out.

I stared at the door for a good five minutes and decided to completely ignore his command by staying awake and reading more of my book. “Stupid delusional man.” I muttered.

[Elizabeth’s POV]

Zachary and I had just gotten dressed for bed (a habit we had never broken) when a knock on the door interrupted our only-behind-closed-doors affection (The G-Rated cuddles and such you perverts.).

Annoyed as all hell, I stood from the bed, flipped off the TV, and opened the door all within five seconds of the first knock. “What?” I asked, putting more emphasis on the ‘t’ to make sure the person at the door knew how utterly pissed I was at them.

“What did you do?” Edward questioned angrily, storming in.

I turned and shut the door, crossing my arms over my chest. “Excuse me?” I asked, an eyebrow quirked.

“Why did you make her dream about Bella?” He asked, turning towards me.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I told him.

“Ember! She dreamt about me calling her ‘Bella’ and I know you did it..” He yelled.

My eyes narrowed at him. “I’ve done no such thing. You can ask Zachary. I was no where near Ember last night. And I wasn’t even in range to make her think anything.”

He looked at me, and then to Zachary. He huffed and slumped onto the chair next to the door.

“So she dreamt of Bella?” I asked, seeing the apology in his eyes when he looked up at me.

He nodded. “I don’t understand how she could. No one’s spoken of Bella around her.”

I smirked. “Maybe she’s like us.” I suggested.

“That’s helpful.” He muttered miserably.

“It can happen, you know. We were all able to do it when we were human.” I said, sitting on the bed.

He frowned. “Don’t imply that she’s going to be one of us.” He said, frowning even more. “And stop thinking that it’s inevitable. It isn’t.”

I glared. “Get out of my head, Cullen.”

He stood and shook his head. “She asked me about Bella… What should I tell her?”

I shrugged. “The truth, maybe? That you loved her and she was killed.”

He sighed and walked out, muttering a ‘sorry’ to me before closing the door behind him.

[Ember’s POV]

I woke up the next morning in the bed, my foot elevated by a pillow and my arm around a very cold someone.

I snuggled up to the person for a moment before the sleep haze faded and my eyes opened. When I realized who it was, I all but flew out of the bed. “Jesus, Cullen! What’s with you and scaring me to death when I first wake up?” I asked, my hand over my heart.

He rubbed his eyes and stretched, smiling a little. “Sorry. There was only one bed. And you had fallen asleep on the chair.”

I frowned. “Why couldn’t you sleep on the couch like a normal person?”

He feigned hurt. “You’d have me sleep on that uncomfortable thing when there’s this bed up here?”

I grumbled something and went into the bag that they’d packed for me (I’m assuming they did it while we were hanging out the other night). “So that’s where that shirt is.” I said to myself, grabbing that and my jeans only to hobble into Edward when I turned around.

“Fuck me sideways!” I yelped. “Stop scaring me!” I yelled at him, hitting him in the chest with my clothes and hobbling around him.

“Sorry, Ember. It’s just too fun.” He said, following me to the bathroom.

I set my clothes on the counter beside the sink and turned to him. “Are you going to follow me into the bathroom?”

He nodded. “We are in the honeymoon cabin. What would the other guests here think if we didn’t shower together?” He asked, flashing me one of his dazzling smiles.

I shook away the daze he’d put me in with the smile. “You are not taking a shower with me, Cullen. Not only is that odd, but it’s rather embarrassing.” I told him. “You… are never seeing me naked. Ever. At all. Period.” I said, pushing him out of the door and shutting it in his face.

“Say!” I yelled from the spot on the floor where I was, waiting for her to get there so we could all go backstage together.

She walked over, her steps getting slower and her eyebrows getting closer and closer to each other as she neared us. “What are they doing here?” She asked, growling low in her throat.

Elizabeth looked up from her ‘exciting’ game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with Zachary and Emmett to glare at Salym.

“They wanted to tag along. Edward wouldn’t let me come unless he could supervise.” I said, glancing up at said person and scowling slightly.

She rolled her eyes at my answer and shoved her hands in her pockets. “Well, come on. We’re going to go backstage and meet them first.” She told me.

I grinned and stood, putting too much pressure on my hurt foot and stumbled, being caught by Edward.

“Are you alright?” He asked, concerned.

“I’m fine, Cullen.” I said, hobbling beside my best friend toward the back.

“I swear, if they make a scene, I’m going to kill them.” She muttered to me as we flashed our passes to the security guard and started down the hallway. She turned to them. “How did you get passes anyway?” She asked, snidely.

Elizabeth scrunched her face at her. “I know Jussi.” She told her, muttering something that sounded like ‘mangy mutt’ under her breath.

Say gave her a fierce glare and walked faster down the walkway.

“Where is she?” A deeply accented voice said before we’d gotten to the room labeled ‘green room’.

Elizabeth muttered something and walked in first, Zachary following after her. “Hello, Jussi.” She said.

Say and I exchanged looks and walked in together, my breath literally stopping when I saw that we were in a room with The 69 Eyes.

Jussi was standing in front of Elizabeth, grinning like the cat who caught the canary. “It’s been too long, love.” He said, glaring evilly at Zachary. “I’m glad you’ve come back..”

“I’m not back. I told you before. I don’t want you.” She said, gripping Zachary’s hand tighter.

He frowned. “What does he have that I cannot give you?”

“Jussi. Lakata. Me olla jklla vieras.”* Jyrki spoke up, standing from the couch and walking over. “Hello.” He said to Salym and me.

I stared at him, falling all over myself on the inside. “H-Hell-o.” I stuttered, gripping my best friend’s hand.

She looked over at me with amusement and turned to him. “Hello. I’m Salym Proctor. This is my best friend, Ember Travers. We’re here for her birthday. It was yesterday.” She said to them.

Edward made a noise from behind us and stepped slightly closer.

Jasper and Emmett moved a little to our right to give our backs free space. Though, I don’t know why, I’m sure they had reason to.

Jyrki smiled at me, “Happy birthday, Ember Travers.” He said, taking my hand and kissing it softly.

I felt Edward move closer, so that he was standing next to me, a glare on his face to rival all others.

Jyrki looked at Edward and dropped my hand. “Forgive me. I wasn’t aware that she was claimed.” He said to him politely.

Inwardly, I melted at his voice.

“You’d do well to remember it.” Edward stated harshly, snapping me out of my fictional puddle.

“I’m sorry, Edward. But I don’t belong to anybody.” I said, glaring at him.

“Sorry.” He muttered insincerely.

Jyrki smiled at me again. “Would you like to have a tour around, Ember?” He asked me.

I looked at Salym, who was looking worried, but decided to ignore her, too. “Sure.”

She grabbed my arm and pulled me aside. “Em, I think we should get outta here.” She told me.

I gaped. “What? Say, this is what I’ve been dreaming of for the past several years. And you want me to leave?”

She nodded, glancing at the band members and seeing each of them staring back with a look of disgust. “It’s not safe.”

I pulled my wrist from her and backed up. “Listen, I’m tired of hearing that. Why can’t I have any real friends who let me do what the fuck I want to rather than tell me what’s best for me?” I asked angrily.

“Emb--” Elizabeth started.

“No. Shut up. All of you. I’m going to do whatever the hell I want and I won’t hear another thing about it. Understood?” I asked them.

None of them answered, they all just stared in shock.

“Understood?” I asked again, slightly louder.

They all reluctantly nodded. And Elizabeth gave me a look that still haunts my dreams.

I huffed. “Good.” I said, turning and heading for the door. “Jyrki, are you coming?” I asked.

He walked to my side as I got into the hallway. “That was most impressive.” He said, smiling.

I smiled back. “Thanks. And sorry you had to see that. I’ve just had enough of their shit.” I said, using the wall as support, so I didn’t have to put so much weight on my ankle.

“What happened to your leg?” He asked.

“I tore my Achilles tendon yesterday trying to ski.” I explained.

“That’s horrible.” He said, pulling me into his arms. “Is that better?”

I stared at him in shock. “Uh… yeah… But you don’t have to carry me. I’m alright.”

He smirked and shook his head. “It’s not a problem.” He told me.

“Put her down.” I heard Edward’s voice say from behind Jyrki’s back.

We turned to see Edward staring the taller man down.

“What does it matter to you, little one? You’ve seen what she thinks, she wants it.” Jyrki said coldly.

“I’m her protector, whether she wants it or not. You will put her down or answer to us.” He said just as cold.

I looked up to see Emmett, Jasper, Elizabeth, and Zachary behind him. I groaned inwardly. “Go away, guys.” I said.

“No. Ember, we’re leaving, right now.” Elizabeth told me.

Jyrki froze, still holding me in his incredibly cold grip.

I looked up at him, he looked like a statue, and I realized that he had the same perfections as the Cullens and Hales. Oh God. I thought. What is this?

And as utterly retarded as I am, I blurted out the first question that popped in my head. “What are you?” I asked.

He looked at me and smiled, his slightly pointed canines glinting in the florescent lights above us. “What do you think I am?” He asked.

And it was then I started to freak out.

I thrashed and beat at him, “Let me go!” I shrieked, feeling the bone in my pinky give way to the stone-like being that held me, and I lost the ability to breathe when my back came in contact with the floor when he dropped me.

“Ember!” I heard someone shout.

“Get him!” Another cried.

I looked up to see Jyrki disappearing around a corner with Jasper and Emmett following. “Don’t hurt him.” I said, struggling to get my air back.

“Shut up, stubborn ass.” I heard Elizabeth say.

“How could you bring her into this situation?” Edward berated as he picked me up.

I pushed him away and landed back on the floor without air again. “Fuck.” I muttered.

“What’d you do that for?” He asked, trying to pick me up again.

I stood shakily to stop him. “Get away from me. Now. I’m going home and I never want to see you again.” I told them between my attempts to catch my breath.

“Ember…” He started. “You’re not thinking clearly.”

“No. I’m thinking very clearly.” I told him. “You’re all freaks, and I will have nothing more to do with you.” I said, leaning against Salym when she took my arm and put it around her neck. “Leave me alone.”

And with that, we made our not-so-awesome exit out of the arena and to Salym’s Shelby convertible.