{"id":123,"date":"2024-08-13T14:00:30","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T14:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=123"},"modified":"2024-08-13T14:22:06","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T14:22:06","slug":"chapter-06","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=123","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 06"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 06 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t difficult to admit that his heart had missed a few beats when Bella proclaimed her love for him in her drug-induced state. He did realize that it could have been the drugs talking and that he shouldn\u2019t get his hopes up so much, but at least things were progressing in the right way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Rebekah came home after helping the wolves take care of Esme, he started to make tea with the herbs that he had his sister get for Bella. He bashed up the vervain, lemon, sarsaparilla, sage and dandelion – healing and cleansing herbs. He then poured the hot water into the pestle and mortar so all the moisture out of those herbs could infuse with the water. And then transferred it to a mug. Rebekah hadn\u2019t been too pleased when she heard she had to pick up vervain and said it was useless for Bella anyway as she couldn\u2019t be compelled as a witch. Kol had to remind her that vervain always had started off as a protective herb, and that\u2019s what she needed right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His sister had huffed and put on a movie while she had settled on the other end of the couch, keeping an eye on Bella. It had been promising that she had showed a little bit of herself after her shower, but he was still worried. It was unclear what she had got dosed with apart from the Rohypnol, but he knew that once Bella was back to her usual self, she was going to see red. He expected them to be back in New Orleans by the end of the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlright, scoot,\u201d he told his sister as he approached the girls with the tea in his hand. With a sigh, Rebekah moved to the chair, and Kol was able to sit down on the sofa. He placed the tea on the table and gave a soft squeeze on her arm. He didn\u2019t want to disturb her in her sleep, but he had to. \u201cRise and shine, sleepyhead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m still sleepy,\u201d Bella muttered as she refused to move. \u201cHow long was I asleep?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA couple of hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLiar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not. I\u2019ve watched two and a half reruns of Toe The Line. So that\u2019s at least 2 and a half hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She opened her eyes to look at him. \u201cLiar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, it was some old TV show of the 1980s but still, you were asleep for a couple of hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella huffed as she slowly sat up. Everything felt a little fuzzy around the edges while her head was pounding and wanted to kill Kol for waking her up. \u201cOkay, I\u2019m up\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow are you feeling, little dove?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked at Rebekah and blinked. \u201cWhen did you get here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbout half an hour ago,\u201d she smiled at Bella. \u201cThe wolves and I had some business to take care of. Oh, and Elijah called. He\u2019s flying in tomorrow evening and will stay at a hotel in town to see us graduate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Kol whined as he handed Bella the mug of tea that he brewed. In all fairness, he had liked the last few weeks because they were sibling light. Elijah was alright, he supposed, but he was a self-righteous prick. \u201cWhy? I mean we\u2019re going back to New Orleans soon anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about appearances, brother,\u201d Rebekah grinned at him. \u201cThe story is that our older brother sent us here to deal with the loss of our parents, so yes, when we graduate in two days, he\u2019ll be with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTwo days?\u201d Bella said confused and then sniffed her tea, it smelled awful. \u201cDon\u2019t you mean four days?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou went missing for nearly four days, little dove, Esme made it very hard to find you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? No\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Cuddles, but she did. She knew exactly what to do for us not to find you that easily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNope. I don\u2019t believe it. That\u2019s ridiculous. You\u2019re just trying to scare me, and that won\u2019t work. Esme wouldn\u2019t do something like that. I would remember. And I only remember one night. And food once.\u201d She said as she shook her head. She took a sip of her tea and tried hard not to throw up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s an acquired taste darling, but you need to drink that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She defiantly put the mug back down on the table and looked at Kol. \u201cWhy? So you can poison me?\u201d Maybe she had made the wrong decision of going with Kol. But she hadn\u2019t, because Kol was in her home. He had reheated a chicken for her; he had given her food. She liked Kol, very much. But she couldn\u2019t help but wonder if Esme had been right. That being with Kol and Rebekah made her sick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol opened his mouth to say something, but his sister hit him with a pillow and shook her head. Maybe Rebekah was right, and Bella had to figure things out on her own – again. He couldn\u2019t help but feel cheated. Everything was going so well between him and Bella. Bella was getting her confidence back and then she disappeared, because he and Rebekah weren\u2019t paying attention. Oh yes, Elijah was going to be so happy when he\u2019d get to hear that. Not to mention his brother Niklaus. Kol had been daggered for less in the past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He took the mug of tea and took a few swigs of it to show Bella that it was perfectly fine and set it back down again before getting up with a sigh. This whole situation was frustrating. Yes, Niklaus was right in wanting to protect the girl from the Cold Ones, but frankly, he wished it was over. He hated it that the instructions were that Bella was going to get her revenge on Edward but if Rebekah had killed him the moment they set foot in Forks, maybe things wouldn\u2019t have been like\u2026 this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella looked up at him with fear in her eyes. \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOut,\u201d he muttered. Before I do something I will regret, he added in silence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she quickly grabbed the mug of tea and drank it, it was vile but she had to please him, she didn\u2019t want him to leave because she was difficult. If it truly had been poison, Kol would be showing signs of it, and he wasn\u2019t. He seemed upset, that\u2019s all. \u201cPlease don\u2019t leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol groaned as he ran his hands through his hair and kept walking towards the door. \u201cRebekah, keep an eye on her. Make sure she sleeps,\u201d he said as he pointed at the confused looking Bella. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t do anything rash, brother,\u201d Rebekah reminded him. She had stayed out of the taking care of the human girl upon her return as she knew how much he had taken a liking to her. She could understand his frustration, there was an end to Kol\u2019s patience, and he had reached it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all honesty, up until the point that Bella went missing, he had been a good man, and when Bella went missing, something inside of him snapped. He had been angry, frantic and had been trying different spells to locate her and had barely slept. It was a good thing that he chose to remove himself from the situation instead of having things escalate. Maybe he\u2019d be back in time to take a long nap himself. \u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to poke a mountain lion,\u201d he said and closed the door behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah sighed as she settled on the couch and had Bella snuggle up against her. The girl was still very much out of it, had her brother thought that she\u2019d be alright after just a couple of hours of sleep? Who knew what that horrible bitch of an ex-mother in law had done to her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs he angry at me?\u201d Bella asked softly. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to anger him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright, little sister,\u201d Rebekah said as she caressed Bella\u2019s hair. \u201cKol is just extremely tired and impatient, but he is also very happy that you\u2019re back in relatively good shape. He will be back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded as she pulled the duvet over her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to finish watching this movie, how about you go back to sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a good couple of hours before Kol returned to the house, and Rebekah was glad that Bella was asleep as her brother was covered in blood and scrapes. There was a particular nasty gash at the side of his torso, and she was amazed how he had survived the trip back. \u201cBloody hell,\u201d Rebekah let out a sigh as she carefully lifted Bella up and gently placed her down on the sofa again so she could feed her brother some blood. \u201cWhat have you done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told you,\u201d he said with a crooked smile as he used the table for support. \u201cI was going to poke a mountain lion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean you should actually do it!\u201d she scolded him as she bit her wrist and held it up for him to take her blood. \u201cYou could have been killed!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRelax, sister, I\u2019m alright!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re not. Drink or I will kill you myself.\u201d When Kol had his lips around her wrist to drink, she spoke again. \u201cWho knew that Kol Michaelson, the arrogant, self-absorbed prick could care about someone else?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol grumbled for an answer as he drank his sister\u2019s blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like her too and I\u2019m glad she\u2019s finally back.\u201d She ruffled her brother\u2019s hair and watched his body\u2019s progress of healing. \u201cBut I meant what I said; do something like this again, and I will kill you myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol huffed as he let go of his sister and wiped his mouth. He then looked at the sleeping Bella and sighed. \u201cI\u2019ll go take a shower and get changed. Will you order pizza?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d she replied to Kol\u2019s retreating backside and picked up her phone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella woke up in the middle of the night in her bed, no – Kol\u2019s bed, but he was nowhere to be seen. Sitting up, she found him sleeping on the floor, and she wondered why that was. The need to visit the bathroom was more urgent though and she hopped out of bed before nearly sprinting to the toilet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon her return, he was still snoozing away on the floor, and she decided to grab her duvet and pillow to join him there. She felt as if she had been drinking too much the previous night or as if she was on painkillers; she wasn\u2019t quite sure what. She did know that Esme had taken her, but other than that, the details were fuzzy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She smiled when he put his arm around her in his slumber as she snuggled up against him and softly brushed his hair out of his face. She couldn\u2019t help but to quietly giggle as she looked at him. Kol looked angelic in his sleep and if there was one word that didn\u2019t quite sound like him was that. Bella was pretty sure that once he would be back in a place he felt more comfortable; he\u2019d be quite the opposite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And strange enough, that excited her. Yes, she had chosen to move to Forks because Bella felt that she was restricting her mother to become truly happy, but Bella had never liked Forks. It was cold, damp and downright depressing. Rebekah and Kol were doing everything they could not have Forks dim their spirits but Bella could tell that even they were miserable, albeit probably not as miserable as she was. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which was why Bella made the decision to go to New Orleans with them after graduation. Not because of Edward or because of her heritage, but because she wanted to stop sacrificing herself so much. It was time for her to become the person she wanted to be. No more of going out of someone\u2019s way to make them happy, no longer staying with someone because her family could get hurt. Soon, all of that would be over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Edward and the remaining members of his family decided to follow her because they were obsessed with her, then they\u2019d be in for a surprise. No more meek, little Bella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWill you please stop thinking and go back to sleep?\u201d Kol muttered sleepily the moment she was gently tracing his jawline with her finger, and she felt caught. He then snapped open his eyes and looked at her. \u201cHey, you\u2019re awake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course I am,\u201d she smiled at him while blushing furiously. \u201cWhat are you doing on the floor?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t want to disturb you while you were sleeping off the drugs.\u201d Kol flicked his hand to switch on the light and was pleased with what he saw. \u201cYou\u2019re blushing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStop it,\u201d she giggled before realizing what he had said. \u201cEsme drugged me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t remember anything that happened in the last\u2026 oh\u2026 days?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDays?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYep,\u201d he said with a yawn. \u201cBut it\u2019s alright, you\u2019re here now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the morning, alright? I haven\u2019t slept in days,\u201d Kol whined when Bella smacked him on the chest. \u201cAlright! But we\u2019re going downstairs, and you\u2019re going to drink some more tea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella thought for a moment, the thought of going downstairs in the middle of the night and having her body cool off wasn\u2019t one of the most fun ideas right now. \u201cIn the morning,\u201d she said with a nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood. Then you can call Charlie to come home too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the morning, Cuddles,\u201d Kol grinned as he waved his hand to switch off the light again and pulled her closer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella was quiet for a while and then shifted a little, the hard floor was uncomfortable. \u201cHey, Kol?\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you still awake?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy are we on the floor?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou joined me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, but why were you on the floor in the first place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou got drugged by Esme, Cuddles, you weren\u2019t actually yourself\u2026\u201d he kissed the top of her head. \u201cI didn\u2019t want you to end up doing something against your will nor bring myself in the position to have the responsibility to deny you what you\u2019d want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d She had an idea of what he was referring to, but she wanted to hear him say it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shrugged for an answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKol.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said with a sigh. \u201cI guess I was afraid that if you\u2019d wake up and still under the influence that you\u2019d try to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He groaned and rubbed his eyes. He wasn\u2019t going to get any more sleep, was he? \u201cSeduce me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella grinned as she gently brushed her lips against his. \u201cWhat\u2019s so bad about that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d he said with a whisper. \u201cIt\u2019s just that I prefer you doing it when you\u2019re not under the influence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike now?\u201d She purred as she brushed her lips against his again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not entirely sure the drugs are out of your system yet, darling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m me. I\u2019m fully aware of everything and I really want to kiss you right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you sure? How can you be sure?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow can you be?\u201d She had countered before she decided just to shut him up and tenderly kissed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol gave into her as he shed his duvet to be able to touch her as he made the kiss grow. She was right, how could the both of them be sure that she was back to normal? He had to believe her word for it, although he wasn\u2019t quite sure if he should take it. This situation was exactly why he had chosen the floor instead of the bed. He might not always walk the straight and narrow – this certainly wasn\u2019t the case when he was still an immortal vampire – but he respected Bella too much to give into\u2026 this. \u201cBella, stop,\u201d he breathed after he broke off the kiss. \u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKol\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I can\u2019t. Not when I\u2019m not sure. I like you too much to even begin to entertain the idea of continuing this with you right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a kiss, Kol,\u201d Bella said, feeling rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know, Cuddles, but you\u2019ve been through a lot in the last few days. We don\u2019t know what Esme did to you, or if the drugs are truly out of your system, which I doubt,\u201d he said clearly, making sure that she understood. \u201cI\u2019m fine with you and I sharing the floor – well, I suppose we could move back to the bed – to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnd of. Tomorrow you\u2019re going to have a few more cups of tea, and then we\u2019ll see.\u201d He said sternly before feeling her move, grabbing her duvet and pillow and going back to the bed. \u201cWant me to come with you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Bella said angrily. While she could understand his reasoning – and it was sweet -, she was certain that she was fine and for him not to take her word for it was frustrating. Then again, it showed how much he cared about her. Edward would have led her on until he had made her feel all hot and bothered and then decide not to proceed. Asshole. She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. It was only sweet that Kol thought of her like that. \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s alright, darling, go back to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella hadn’t been able to sleep for the rest of the night. She felt as if she had slept for days and was bursting with energy. However, considering she didn’t want to let Kol down, she stayed in bed and took the moment to reevaluate everything. The thought of Esme taking her – according to Kol it had been a couple of days, sickened her. The thought of having been drugged angered her. But she supposed now with Jasper gone, they had to resort to desperate measures. What had happened to the Cullens that made them so obsessed with her? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn’t as if Bella was something special because they and the Volturi, had insisted she’d turn into a vampire so the part that made her special would never surface anyway. Bella still had issues with calling herself a witch, because she was just Bella in Forks. They had wanted a mate for Edward, and she had wanted to be that right to the point when he left her to rot in the forest. Because he was weak. He was a scared little boy who didn’t trust himself – or his family – to keep her safe and instead he dumped her and made things worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella suspected that Esme was dead for what she had done, and probably another Cullen that Rebekah and Kol had tortured to get their information from after their methods in finding Bella didn’t work out. She snorted; it was likely that that was exactly the case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mere thought of so many bodies piling up should sicken her but deep down, her mind already made the connection that the Cullens weren’t real people. And if they’d stay alive they’d keep coming for her or even worse; find someone else to manipulate. Death was the only solution for these supernatural beings although Bella wished she had been able to save Jasper. He was a victim too, and she had realized that too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had always thought that the supernatural life was ridiculous when it came to death and killing. Jacob had spoken with ease about it, the entire wolf-pack did, and so had the Cullens. They had no problem with killing one of their own. Humans was an entire different story. Then why did they keep harassing her?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She hopped out of bed the moment the world outside her bedroom window started to brighten. She nearly tripped over the sleeping Kol when she left the bedroom to go downstairs, and she was somewhat shocked by seeing the kitchen, in particular, the kitchen table. Empty blood bags were scattered all over it, and Bella visibly shuddered as she turned to pick up the bin and started to throw the bags away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t as if she could get angry with Rebekah for enjoying the few days away from Charlie after having sent him away when Bella went missing. She could understand the energy it took to pretend to be someone else so why bother? But, if Charlie would come back today, she\u2019d better make the house look like as if nothing had changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When she had cleaned up, including – presumably – Kol\u2019s herbs, she started on breakfast. Luckily there was enough in the fridge to make breakfast with, pancakes with bacon, and she was already thinking of what to make for dinner. They always could go to the diner if she couldn\u2019t come up with something. She switched on the water boiler and the coffee machine and then started to stack her pancakes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It didn\u2019t take long for the smells to wake up the siblings, with Kol nearly tripping over his own feet as he made his way downstairs. \u201dNo, no, no! Bella!\u201d He whined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood morning to you too,\u201d she snorted as she flipped another pancake on the platter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew it; you\u2019re still affected by the drugs, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m making breakfast like I normally do. I\u2019m famished. Since you thought it was more important to find me than to do groceries, it\u2019s pancakes.\u201d Bella eyed him with a raised eyebrow. \u201cI\u2019m not doing this for you. I\u2019m just making enough for all of us because I\u2019m not selfish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you cleaned up!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a mess and this is my house?\u201d Bella countered as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him. \u201cAnd I still remember everything we talked about last night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a slow nod, Kol started to prepare tea for Bella to drink. She might appear to be back to normal, but another cup couldn\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid I pass your test, Kol?\u201d She asked as she leaned back against the counter and watched him fuss with his herbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou did, with flying colors,\u201d Rebekah said with a grin as she sat down at the table. She had heard the two of them speak last night, and she had admired her brother\u2019s restraint. Humanity suit him, and it was quite difficult not to be jealous of him, he was going to get everything Rebekah had wanted. He didn\u2019t want to break Bella, and that was adorable, but she could tell that Kol was going to have his hands full once she\u2019d feel a lot more confident than she currently felt. In any case, Rebekah was going to make sure that her brothers weren\u2019t going to mess with Kol\u2019s happiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSee?\u201d Bella said with a wide smile on her face. \u201cI passed. Now you two can fill in the blanks over breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Bella couldn\u2019t believe the story Rebekah and Kol told her about what happened, how long she\u2019d been gone, what Rosalie had done, what Esme had done. She wasn\u2019t surprised that Rosalie, even though she had been helpful in telling them where Bella was, had been killed; Bella had already thought as such. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol had brewed an awful tasting tea, and Bella spent the entire day drinking all of it, even while Jessica came by – unannounced – so that Bella could help her with her graduation speech. Or, in this case, making Jessica feel confident about her kick ass graduation speech while Rebekah went to the supermarket to get some shopping done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella had been surprised by Jessica\u2019s visit. It wasn\u2019t as if they had been besties for the last couple of months. Bella had been under the Cullen\u2019s strict supervision and upon her return too caught up in her mess. Personally, Bella didn\u2019t mind seeing as she loved being around Kol, but from a social point of view, she had been a very bad friend. She hadn\u2019t even noticed that Jessica had taken a liking to Kol since he started school with them, and she allowed Jess to ramble on for a while when Kol was out of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jess started to tell Bella about the fantasies she had of her and Kaleb, she just had to stop her friend right there and put her in her place. He was hers. Not anyone else\u2019s, but hers, and she wasn\u2019t planning on sharing. Jess left at that point, shocked at the way Bella had spoken, but she didn\u2019t care. Kol was hers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But maybe she could have responded differently and not that territorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Didn\u2019t she have a good reason, though? She finally liked someone so much, and Bella had given up so much in the past, wasn\u2019t she entitled to a little bit of jealousy and claiming of someone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wouldn\u2019t be fair towards Kol. Besides, claiming was what the Cullens had done to her so if she was doing it; something was wrong. It was wrong. Frustrated, she took out her phone and texted Jessica to tell her that she was sorry. That she had had a rough couple of days and that if Jessica wanted, she could come back to ask Kol if he wanted to be her date to the party. The decision was his to make, and Bella was going to have to live with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sat at the kitchen table sipping Kol\u2019s tea when Jessica came back in. \u201cSorry,\u201d she sulked as an apology and Jessica beamed at her in return. \u201cKaleb! You have a visitor!\u201d Bella called out and took another sip of the horrible tea – punishment for her being a possessive bitch and taking away someone\u2019s decision-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, so it\u2019s not Elijah,\u201d Kol said as he rounded the corner and stopped. \u201cShe\u2019s your friend,\u201d he said to Bella as he pointed at Jessica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella shrugged, taking another sip of the tea. Maybe it was growing on her; it didn\u2019t make her feel as if she had to vomit after swallowing it. She eyed Jessica, who had turned beet red upon Kol\u2019s arrival, and she looked at a loss for words. Sighing, Bella grabbed the nearest fork and poked Jessica in her side, making her jump up with a squeal. She took another sip of the tea to hide the smirk on her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHi,\u201d Jessica smiled at him as she played with a strand of her hair. \u201cUh\u2026 I really like you, Kaleb, and I was wondering if uh\u2026 you\u2019d go to the party with me tomorrow night?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol looked at Bella and raised his eyebrow in confusion. Bella tried to look anywhere but at him because suddenly, she felt like the biggest practical joker ever. Of course, she had every right to claim Kol as her own. Just because the two of them hadn\u2019t plastered labels all over each other – yet – didn\u2019t mean that they weren\u2019t together. Guilt was a funny thing, sometimes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou like me?\u201d Kol replied with a smug look on his face and leaned against the doorpost with his arms crossed over his chest. \u201cReally? In what way?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re totally hot,\u201d Jessica spoke without thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know I am, darling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019m valedictorian of this year and kinda hot too\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe fantasizes about you,\u201d Bella piped up, looking at the leafy contents in her mug. \u201cLike\u2026 what\u2019s it like to be kissed by you, or get hugged by you\u2026\u201d She lifted her head and saw that Kol was looking at her. Smiling at him, she continued. \u201cAbout what it would feel like if your hands were on her body\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella!\u201d Jessica hissed at her. \u201cYou already took one guy away from me and I\u2019m not going to let you take another!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella rolled her eyes at Jessica. \u201cBe grateful Edward never showed an interest in you, he\u2019s nothing but trouble, but he\u2019s free now if you\u2019d still want him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica let out a frustrated whine before turning back to Kol. \u201cPlease, be my date? Even though Bella just completely embarrassed me in front of you? I promise it won\u2019t be weird.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol snorted before making his way over to the table and leaned on it with his arms to look at Bella. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell her that there was no use in asking?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI did,\u201d Bella said with a shrug as she smiled at him. \u201cBut then I felt guilty about taking away your decision about the matter, so I had her come back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, admit it, Cuddles,\u201d he said before looking at Jessica, who looked crushed. \u201cYou just wanted to crush the girl who only wanted to be friends with you because you hung out with the popular crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot at first,\u201d Bella said, her voice barely louder as a whisper as she reached out to ruffle Kol\u2019s hair. \u201cI genuinely wanted it to be your decision and not mine because I know what it\u2019s like when you don\u2019t get the chance to make one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He smiled at her. \u201cAlright then, have it your way.\u201d He pushed himself off the table and walked over to Jessica. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, darling, I have to decline your invitation. I\u2019m already taking the prettiest girl I\u2019ve ever come across to the party tomorrow night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica had huffed before she turned to Bella. \u201cI can\u2019t believe you\u2019ve just humiliated me!\u201d She sneered before marching out of the door, bumping into Rebekah on her way out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExcuse you!\u201d Rebekah rolled her eyes at the girl and closed the door. \u201cI leave you two alone for a bit and this happens?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe started it,\u201d Kol grinned as he started to unpack the bags that Rebekah brought in. \u201cWow, Bekah, what\u2019s all this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverything that Bella put on the list, I think she\u2019s preparing for a feast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Bella said as she shot up from her chair. \u201cWith Charlie coming back and your brother arriving as well, I figured to go all out on the food, that way, Charlie has his mouth full and can\u2019t interrogate your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven if he would and Elijah would tell him something he shouldn\u2019t know, it can be fixed,\u201d Rebekah countered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, well\u2026 I\u2019m not completely happy still with what we\u2019ve had to tell Charlie in the first place and how you did it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s harmless!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow many times can you compel a person without their brains getting scrambled?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave you tested it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve compelled a lot of people in my day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t my question. I want Charlie to stay sane. He\u2019s my father, and he\u2019s the chief of police.\u201d Bella said as she placed her mug in the sink and started to pre-heat the oven with the flip of a switch. \u201cI know I\u2019ve been reluctant about it since the start of all this but could you at least humor me? I\u2019m probably wrong and simply worrying about everything too much and you\u2019ll have to do your thing anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah grumbled. \u201cSometimes you\u2019re such a bore,\u201d she noted as she left the unpacking to Bella and unceremoniously set herself down on one of the kitchen chairs. \u201cBrother, please hand me a blood bag, you\u2019re closest to the fridge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol huffed and tossed a blood bag at his sister. \u201cYou\u2019d better hurry up, I\u2019m sure that Charlie will come back soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah mirrored her brother\u2019s huff before tucking into her food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella was cleaning some potatoes, and Kol moved behind her to lean into her and took the utensils out of her hands. He liked it that she had no place to go while he continued peeling the potatoes. \u201cJust so you know,\u201d he whispered in her ear. \u201cIt was a turn on to see you so possessive of me and then proceeding to take the piss out of Jess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella let out a small whine as Kol slightly pressed her into the counter after taking over her job. If he had left room for her to move, she could have gone and moved on to something else, but he stayed put. She could feel the blood rush through her body and to her cheeks as he remained and whispered in her ear. Feeling bold, she managed to turn around and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him down a little to her level and looked up at him through her lashes. \u201cIt felt good, but wrong at the same time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, but Cuddles,\u201d he smiled at her. \u201cYou have my permission to be all bossy when it comes to what you think might be competition. It\u2019s hot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella licked her lips as she kept looking at him. \u201cKeep peeling those spuds,\u201d she eventually said before kissing him and burying her fingers in his hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh please,\u201d Rebekah whined after a while. \u201cCould you two stop? I\u2019m trying to feed here\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol grinned as he gently broke off the kiss. Maybe it was a good thing to stop right now because he wanted more. He wanted to take Bella right there and then on the kitchen counter, or even on the table his sister was sitting at. Bella would look so beautiful on that table. Naked. On display. He wanted to know if the real thing was as good as in his dreams, her expressions, and little noises as he\u2019d kiss her all over or fuck her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Realizing that he was working himself up, and that blood was rushing to parts of his body that would become too painful if he continued, he dropped the potatoes. At first he tried to calm himself down, he never had  an issue with self-control, not that he can remember, not even in the body. He probably never met the right person. He fleetingly kissed Bella before spurting off to the bathroom, leaving behind a baffled Bella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella held onto the counter, feeling weak in the knees. That kiss had been something alright, and Rebekah had to spoil the moment. But what was it with boys running away from her like that? Edward had done it, making it all about him, saying he was stronger than he thought and then wanted to leave. And now Kol had run off, at least she got a goodbye kiss first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah must have seen the look on her face because she snorted. \u201cSpeak your mind, Bella, what\u2019s going on in that head of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAm I repulsive?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah blinked as she got up from her chair to throw away the blood bag. \u201cWhat makes you think that, little sister?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, apparently I have this gift of making boys run off,\u201d Bella pointed towards the stairs to prove her point. \u201cKol just ran off, and the first time Edward and I kissed – before everything became weird – he nearly knocked out a wall when he jumped off the bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She smiled in return and started to pick up the job that her brother had abruptly left. \u201cYou are not repulsive, Bella, you\u2019re quite the opposite. You should feel flattered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy Kol running off?\u201d She couldn\u2019t believe what Rebekah was saying. People ran for reasons; one of them being sick and they had to empty their stomachs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh dear god,\u201d Rebekah muttered under her breath. \u201cI know that sex ed at school is ridiculously lacking but haven\u2019t you had the talk with your parents?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat talk?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe birds and the bees?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, sure,\u201d Bella said with a nod. \u201cSafety first and all that, but what does that have to do with Kol running off?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo one ever told you about the feelings and emotions?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella once again pointed at the stairs. \u201cEmotion: repulsed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah pointed at the stairs as well and countered; \u201cEmotion: seriously turned on because of his gorgeous girlfriend and in need of a release otherwise it turns quite painful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked at Rebekah with a blank look on her face, not believing a word. \u201cYou\u2019re just saying that because he\u2019s your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella\u2026\u201d Rebekah sighed as she looked at the girl and realized something. \u201cYou haven\u2019t had a lot of boyfriends, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella shrugged. \u201cNobody was interested in me, until Edward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, but you and he didn\u2019t have sex, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, god, no,\u201d Bella said quickly and then turned to unwrap the beef just to have something to do while she tried to hide her embarrassment. \u201cHe was afraid to break me because he said he probably couldn\u2019t control himself. Puny, little human that I am. He promised he\u2019d try once we got married.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, it\u2019s one of those.\u201d Rebekah groaned. \u201cYes, well, there\u2019s nothing wrong with feeling sexy or feeling as if you\u2019re about to float or explode. And I know you have experienced those feelings for my brother, your house has thin walls, and I have a great hearing. Your heartbeat is a great lie detector.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella nodded as she blushed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRegular boys, men or even vampires for that matter\u2026 have a cock. Penis. Dick. Whatever,\u201d Rebekah said unashamedly and started to cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that,\u201d Bella said maybe a little too quickly as she blushed furiously and started to season the beef. \u201cBiology, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cQuite right, but did they teach you that men are fickle and easily aroused? When you experience arousal, you don\u2019t show it. Yes, flushed cheeks or your nipples become erect\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRebekah!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah pretended not to hear Bella\u2019s objection. \u201cWhen guys get aroused, blood flows to their cock, making it grow. Imagine it not being able to do so freely because it\u2019s tucked away in a pair of pants and the arousal keeps growing\u2026 it can get quite painful. The solution is a pressure release and that\u2019s what Kol\u2019s doing right now. Giving himself a hand,\u201d she continued as-a-matter-of-factly. \u201cHe thinks you\u2019re hot, sexy, gorgeous, and he can\u2019t lie about it because he has an appendage that\u2019s quite the lie detector.\u201d Rebekah smiled then, thinking of something else. \u201cHe\u2019s quite literally a wanker right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella\u2019s jaw fell open. \u201cWe\u2019re preparing food here and you\u2019re giving me a crash course on how men work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. You\u2019re in need of it. Desperately,\u201d Rebekah said, not looking up from her chore. \u201cIt also explains why you\u2019re dressing the way you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd now we\u2019ve come to insulting me, great,\u201d Bella sighed as she transferred the beef onto an oven dish and put oil over it before throwing it in the oven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot an insult, darling,\u201d she smiled at the girl. \u201cJust an observation. It all makes sense now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFine, okay,\u201d Bella said after looking around in the kitchen. She needed to do a lot, and she didn\u2019t have a lot of time and she knew that Rebekah was only going to be in the way and distracting her from her task. \u201cPlease, leave my kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah nodded and turned around to wash her hands. She was well aware that she needed to give Bella her space right now, and she was going to inform her brother of the knowledge she had just learned. He sounded about finished anyway. She was worried that he might do something irreparable to the girl and push her away. Then again, her brother didn\u2019t drag Bella off to ravage her so maybe he knew he had to be careful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She waited for him on the landing with her arms crossed over her chest. \u201cWe need to talk,\u201d she said the moment he walked out of the bathroom and dragged him into the bedroom before closing the door. Sometimes it was useful that humans didn\u2019t have supernatural hearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbout?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol sighed and ran his hand through his hair. \u201cRebekah, we were just messing about, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had to console her because you left her like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol shrugged as he looked at his sister with a look of \u2018what do you want from me?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe girl was clueless, she didn\u2019t know why you ran off like that.\u201d Was her brother as thick as the girl downstairs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll explain it tonight\u2026 wait, did you say was?\u201d Kol said with a groan. \u201cRebekah\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? Someone has to tell her about sex when it\u2019s not been done properly! She\u2019s a bloody virgin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that!\u201d Kol shot at her. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty obvious, innit? She\u2019s oblivious to some things, takes other things too far, and I was going to talk to her about all this,\u201d he said as he pointed to his groin. \u201cNo doubt that that wanker of an Edward didn\u2019t take the time to explain it to her. And now, she’ll probably be too scared to touch me again.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe would have been scared even without me filling in some blanks, brother. You should have taken a moment to explain yourself before selfishly running off.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I would have if I could! This body hasn’t been intimate with someone since mother put me in here, Beks. Who knows? It could still be a virgin too. If I had the time to explain myself to Bella, I would have,” he threw at her. “I’m not a complete tosspot, you know. I know when to stop, it\u2019s just that my mind has a mind of its own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah let out a huff and crossed her arms over her chest while she kept looking at her brother. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol narrowed his eyes on Rebekah and ran a hand through his hair as he let out a breath. \u201cYou\u2019re right. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s sweet how you want to be all gentle and sweet about things concerning her, but she needs to man up. Not just random bursts. Her fluctuating self-esteem gives me a headache. Niklaus won\u2019t like it, either, he will try to push all of her buttons and tear her apart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI won\u2019t let him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI won\u2019t either, but you know our brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe won\u2019t let him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah thought of that for a moment and nodded. \u201cYou\u2019re right. She\u2019s learned enough from this whole ordeal with the Cold Ones that she\u2019ll become defiant when she gets pushed a little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJake, what the hell!\u201d Bella cried out as she opened the door, revealing her friend carrying her unconscious father. \u201cWhat the fuck!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I know I should have called ahead\u2026\u201d Jake said as he brushed passed her into the house to put Charlie down on the couch. It only took a fraction of a second for the wonder twins to come downstairs to see what was going on. Blondie already had her vampire face on. Awesome, Jake thought. \u201cLook, before you kill me or something\u2026 I didn’t do it, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Bella made her way over to her father to check him over for obvious marks and to check his pulse. \u201cDid they do this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSue, actually,\u201d Jake said, somewhat proud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRelax,\u201d he chuckled and pointed at Charlie. \u201cHe shot Paul.\u201d Bella blinked at Jake with an incredulous look on her face, prompting him to continue. \u201cWe always have two of us guarding your father; Paul took a step out of the bushes just as your father was walking to his car to come home to you. He thought he saw a real wolf and shot him in the flank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe saw Paul turn?\u201d Bella gasped as she felt around her father\u2019s head with her fingertips, feeling a bump forming. \u201cSue hit him over the head?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Jacob scratched his head as he shrugged and turned his attention to Rebekah. \u201cI drove him here in his car; I figured you could do something about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI will,\u201d Rebekah said with a nod before Bella could object. \u201cOnce he wakes up, I will.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust so you know,\u201d Bella said as he looked at Jacob. \u201cThere\u2019s another Original Vampire coming in town tonight. He\u2019s their brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? Why? Why do you bring more vampires to Forks?\u201d Jake said with a slight whine. \u201cYou\u2019re like this vampire magnet or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella reached for the nearest object next to her and threw it at Jake\u2019s head. She cursed his reflexes when he caught it just in time not to hit him. \u201cWe\u2019re graduating tomorrow, Jacob. He has appearances to uphold seeing as – what Charlie and most of the school believes – he sent his younger siblings away to Forks to deal with the loss of their parents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He groaned. \u201cDo you like living in a lie?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sighed as she got to her feet. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t. I don\u2019t like it that Rebekah needs to scramble Charlie\u2019s brain for her to stay here. I don\u2019t like it one bit, and she knows that and I can\u2019t wait to live a simpler life without my friends having to hide their true selves.\u201d She then chuckled and shook her head as she suddenly realized something. \u201cThis is also exactly why you and I would never, ever, work out, you see. I\u2019d be living a lie if I\u2019d be with you too because Charlie can\u2019t know you\u2019re a shifter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, but I could stop shifting and live a human life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs if,\u201d she huffed. \u201cYou like being a wolf too much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like you more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, Jake. After graduation, I\u2019m done with Forks. Charlie won\u2019t like it, but I\u2019m done. I need my freedom and not my friends\u2026 former friends, thinking that I\u2019m going to do something stupid again.\u201d She then marched towards the door and opened it. \u201cDon\u2019t bite Elijah. Get out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shook his head stubbornly as he stared at her. “Bella\u2026 You’re already leaving with them. How is that not stupid? I’ll leave, but I’ll still be here when they leave you hanging,” he whispered to her. He then took off for the woods, shifting into his wolf form and looking over his shoulder at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella angrily slammed the door, waking Charlie in the process and walked back into the kitchen to finish making dinner. She grabbed one of the knives out of the drawer and placed it on the counter. The next person who was going to interrupt her work was going to get stabbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time she had calmed down, Charlie had been thoroughly compelled. She could tell because she could hear him talk to Rebekah and Kol about his days with Sue. He genuinely seemed to like her, and that felt good; at least Charlie wouldn\u2019t be alone when she\u2019d leave. She reached into the fridge to fetch a can of beer for her father and brought it over. \u201cI\u2019m glad you had fun, Charlie,\u201d she smiled at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid you guys have fun on your camping trip?\u201d Charlie stared at the can for a moment, shrugged and opened it to take a sip of it. \u201cThey say to cure a hangover is to keep drinking, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d she said with a smile. \u201cThey say that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, how was your trip?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella could hear the kitchen timer go off and got to her feet. \u201cI\u2019ll let Kaleb and Rebekah tell you all about it, I\u2019m needed in the kitchen.\u201d She placed a kiss on her father\u2019s cheek before going back to the kitchen to get the beef out of the oven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was some polite knocking on the door sometime later. \u201cI\u2019ll get it,\u201d she said as she walked to the front door to open it, revealing the vampire sharply dressed in his suit and greeting her with a smile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMs. Swan,\u201d he smiled at her. \u201cGood to see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey Elijah, come in,\u201d she replied as she took a step to the side to make room for him. \u201cHow was your trip?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUneventful, thank you,\u201d he stepped inside the house. \u201cI am proud of my siblings and yourself for graduating tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou sound fake,\u201d Bella whispered to him as she lead him to the living room. \u201cCharlie, this is Elijah, Kaleb and Rebekah\u2019s brother. Elijah, meet my dad, Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNice to finally meet you, Mr. Swan,\u201d He said as he shook Charlie\u2019s hand. \u201cIsabella couldn\u2019t stop talking about you in New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Kol playfully cooed as he stood up from the couch to make room for his brother. \u201cHe\u2019s using your full name, Cuddles, my brother must like you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe arrived just in time; dinner\u2019s ready in fifteen minutes. Would you set the table?\u201d She asked Kol as she looked up at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDepends, am I still on your shitlist for what I did earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood. Let me set that table for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, hold on,\u201d Charlie stopped his daughter and Kaleb from walking away. \u201cWhat happened earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing, Dad,\u201d Bella ran her hand through her hair. Why did he have to be nearly as observant as she was?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, we were snogging earlier and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKaleb!\u201d Bella hit him on the back of his head. \u201cThat\u2019s between you and me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd Rebekah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhatever,\u201d Bella grumbled and headed for the kitchen. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t need to know that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlie turned to Rebekah – usually the voice of reason – with a confused look on his face. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI walked in on them while they were snogging,\u201d Rebekah lied as she casually shrugged. \u201cA typical case of teenage hormones, nothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe has a boyfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, no, she\u2019s passed that already,\u201d she said quickly. \u201cEdward\u2019s a complete tool, she finally realized that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood, I never liked him,\u201d Charlie said appreciatively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope my siblings have behaved themselves, Mr. Swan,\u201d Elijah intervened so that Bella and Kol could continue their chores. \u201cThey must have been a handful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh no, they have been on their best behavior,\u201d Charlie said dismissively. \u201cKaleb and I went fishing together and the both of them have been a tremendous help around the house and helping Bella a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s surprising and good to hear,\u201d He replied with a chuckle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella was glad about Elijah being a distraction for Charlie. Dinner went well, although she could feel how tired she was the moment she sat down to eat. So much had happened during the day that she felt drained, and she wanted to sleep for months. It was quite early when they finished up the dishes and found Charlie asleep on the couch. She covered him with a blanket and planted a kiss on his forehead before grumbling a \u2018goodnight\u2019 to the siblings and went upstairs to get some sleep herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 06 It wasn\u2019t difficult to admit that his heart had missed a few beats when Bella proclaimed her love for him in her drug-induced state. He did realize that it could have been the drugs talking and that he shouldn\u2019t get his hopes up so much, but at least…<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":96,"parent":98,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-123","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nChapter 06 - MeekoBuggy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chapter 06 - MeekoBuggy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chapter 06 It wasn\u2019t difficult to admit that his heart had missed a few beats when Bella proclaimed her love for him in her drug-induced state. He did realize that it could have been the drugs talking and that he shouldn\u2019t get his hopes up so much, but at least... 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Bella objected to it for a moment, it was at least a two day drive if driving without stopping for sleep and\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":227,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=227","url_meta":{"origin":123,"position":1},"title":"Chapter 03","author":"Buggy","date":"August 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 03 \u201cThe Cullens didn\u2019t like children,\u201d Cami said as they all sat in Klaus\u2019 study. \u201cIn fact, all the human women in his cult were made barren so that there wouldn\u2019t be any accidents. From an early age, Bella was taught not to make any noise as not to\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":120,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=120","url_meta":{"origin":123,"position":2},"title":"Chapter 05","author":"Buggy","date":"August 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 05 It had surprised Bella that things between her and Kol hadn't changed simply because they kissed. She had been afraid of that, seeing as Edward became possessive after their first kiss and Kol was unpredictable according to his siblings. Bella didn't see it that way, Kol liked to\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/next-e1723556078700.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":117,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=117","url_meta":{"origin":123,"position":3},"title":"Chapter 04","author":"Buggy","date":"August 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 04 \u201cVery well,\u201d Carlisle replied with a sigh. \u201cI do hope you know what you\u2019re doing Bella, I do not like it when my children are being bullied.\u201d He turned on his heel and headed back inside. \u201cWhat a prick,\u201d Rebekah huffed as she walked around the car to\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Sanctuaire_sliderimage.png?fit=1150%2C575&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":236,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=236","url_meta":{"origin":123,"position":4},"title":"Chapter 05","author":"Buggy","date":"August 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 05 \u201cShe seems to be doing great,\u201d Cami remarked as she and Klaus watched Rebekah instruct Bella to defend herself against Kol. More often than not, she had him on the floor within seconds. Of course, he wasn\u2019t using his vampire abilities, but Cami was surprised that he didn\u2019t\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fractured-Marionette-banner.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":408,"url":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=408","url_meta":{"origin":123,"position":5},"title":"Chapter 12","author":"Buggy","date":"August 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 12 He wasn\u2019t sure if he had to be amused or irritated by the sailors that he had hired to bring his sister back to him. They were boasting, thinking about trying to get more money. Oh, and for heaven\u2019s sake, they opened Rebekah\u2019s prison. Now he really had\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/bs1-e1723730795835.jpg?fit=1000%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/bs1-e1723730795835.jpg?fit=1000%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/bs1-e1723730795835.jpg?fit=1000%2C563&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/meekobuggy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/bs1-e1723730795835.jpg?fit=1000%2C563&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=123"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/123\/revisions\/140"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/98"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/96"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}