Growing Up
By BetterInTexas
Chapter 06:
BPOV
“So what are you reading?” Peter asked.
We had been sitting in the living room all day. The TV was off. He was reading on one end of the couch and I was reading on the other end. It was quiet. It was nice. I always felt relaxed when it was just the two of us and the quiet.
“The poem anthology you bought me from the Mall.” I replied. “You?”
“Biography of George Patton.”
“The World War 2 general?” I asked, somewhat surprised.
“No. Old man Patton who owns the Grocery Store down the road.” He said dryly.
“No need to be a smart ass. I was just surprised you read anything without pictures.” God, he could be such an asshole.
We sat in silence for a while longer neither of us smiling. Why the hell does he have to be such a smart ass all the time? I mean he expects me to just sit here and take it?
“So what poem are you reading?” He asked. I shouldn’t answer him.
“A poem by Robert Frost.”
“Read it to me.” He smiled. I grinned back despite myself. He could get me to do anything it seems sometimes.
“Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say ice,
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire,
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice is also great
And would suffice.”
“He didn’t really do a good job of rhyming there did he?” Peter laughed.
“Yes. He did. Fire and desire, twice and suffice, hate and great. What is wrong with the rhyming? It’s fine.” I should have been annoyed but I could tell he was playing.
“Yeah, but it don’t exactly roll off the tongue. I mean it goes from desire and fire to the word ‘great’? Suffice? He may as well have said ice is nice if he was going to use regular people words and not big shot poet words. How the hell did the word ‘great’ get in there? Frost was overrated.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe. He isn’t my favorite but I like that poem for some reason.”
“What else do you have in that gigantic book?”
I looked at some of the poems I had ear marked. The ones who that had caught my attention lately. Because of my dreams.
“I’ll read you this last part from J. . It’s long and I don’t want to bore you.” I said without looking at him, keeping my nose buried in my book.
“Thank you for not making my poor country self, sit through a long soliloquy.”
I ignored him and read the last part of the poem. The part that caught my attention.
“A presence strange at once and known
Walked with me as my guide,
The skirts of some forgotten life
Trailed noiseless at my side.
Was it a dim-remembered dream
Or glimpse through aeons old?
The secret which the mountains kept
The river never told.”
“Very nice. Rhymed real good.”
“I’m glad you approve Peter.”
We sat in silence once more, lost in the world of our own books. Still, I was aware of his presence. I was always aware of his presence.
“Love, did you remember me,
Love of long ago?
Yes: we kept the fond oath sworn
One thousand years ago.”
Oh shit. Did I read that out loud?
“That is an interesting line. Who wrote that?” He was looking at me now. He wasn’t smiling but he wasn’t frowning.
“Charles Leland.” I answered, nose buried back in my book.
“That’s about reincarnation right? That and the one you read before?”
“Yes.” Maybe I should tell him about my dreams. No. It would only swell his already huge ego.
“George Patton believed in reincarnation.” That caught my attention.
“He did?”
“Yep. Even wrote a poem about it in 1922. I would tell it to you but it’s kind of long. Wouldn’t want to bore you.” He winked.
“Why don’t you try me anyway? I’ll try to stay awake. Amaze me with General Patton’s words.”
“Fine. I will recite the last three stanzas. It sums up the poem nicely I think.
So as through a glass, and darkly
The age long strife I see
Where I fought in many guises,
Many names, but always me.
And I see not in my blindness
What the objects were I wrought,
But as God rules o’er our bickerings
It was through His will I fought.
So forever in the future,
Shall I battle as of yore,
Dying to be born a fighter,
But to die again, once more.”
“Wow.” I whispered. George Patton?
“Yep. Patton believed he was a warrior in every major war and some minor ones going back to the dawn of man. Even back to the caveman era. He believed every time he died he was reincarnated as a warrior once more to fight.”
“Do you believe in reincarnation, Peter?” I asked quietly, without looking at him.
“Yes. Yes I do.”
Maybe I should tell him about my dreams. More like the memories I relive every night.
“Peter I…” Someone knocked on the door. I stopped my sentence and stood up, surprised. No one ever came to see us. Ever.
“Relax Bella. I can hear a heartbeat. Whoever is at the door is not a vampire.”
“I’m not worried.” I had him here. I always felt safe with Peter around.
He walked to the door while I waited on the couch.
“Can I help you?” I heard him ask. He didn’t sound happy.
“Yeah, you must be Uncle Peter. I was wondering if Bella was around.”
Fuck. Tanner. He called me the next day after I had seen him at the lake. He wanted to show me around Austin. Grab dinner. I declined. Although I really wanted to try to make Peter jealous, I couldn’t do it. The idea of being with someone else felt… wrong. He didn’t comment on my turning Tanner down. Not a word was said.
“She has the flu.” I heard Peter say.
“That’s strange. It isn’t flu season.” Tanner replied.
“I thought you were a high school kid, not a doctor.”
I better step in before blood was shed. Or drank.
“It’s okay Uncle Peter. I am feeling better now.” I walked to the door. Peter glared at me but walked back to the living room. He could see the doorway. I wonder if he was watching me. I had on jeans. Maybe he was looking at my ass? Doubtful.
“What’s up Tanner?”
“Well there is a little get together in New Braunfels and quite a few of your classmates next year will be there. I thought you might like to meet more of your soon to be friends.”
“New Braunfels? Why in the hell are you all goin to New Braunfels? Austin ain’t big enough for you?” Peter yelled from the couch.
“Uh…”Tanner looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders. “A bunch of our friends are tubing the river today and camping out tonight.”
“She ain’t camping with you.”
Wow. Peter actually cares.
“Of course not sir. I will have her back by midnight.”
“9.”
“Peter!” I didn’t even want to go. But he doesn’t have to act like my Dad. We were having a nice day.
“Tanner, I am really not feeling well. I think I should probably stay in.”
“Bella, it’s okay. Go have fun. Just don’t stay gone too long. I don’t want you getting… sicker.” I turned and saw Peter reading his book again. Asshole!
“We won’t be gone long. I promise Bella.” Tanner said. Now if I said no, I was the bad guy… again. Peter just sat this one out. He thinks because I denied Tanner the other night, I would do it again. Then he could say I turned Tanner down and I couldn’t blame him. I was so tired of these fucking games.
Asshole.
“Let me grab a suit and change and we can get out of here.” I turned to walk to my room. Peter was glaring at me now. I was irritated with him for putting me in this position.
It was okay. It can’t be that bad. I mean it’s a bunch of teenagers camping. How bad could it be?
Fuck. All I had to do was ask her not to go. She wouldn’t have gone. We were having a nice day. Damn I’m an idiot. I backed her in a corner and practically forced her to go out with that little prick. I really wanted to go after her but I didn’t know where they were going. It was a big damn river. Lot of camp grounds. What if he talked her into spending the night?
I shouldn’t watch her anyway. That would be no better than what the Cullens did to her.
I wonder… shit!
Bella’s phone. It has a GPS app I put on it without her knowing. Of course I knew where she was.
But it would be an invasion of her privacy. I just put that there in the event that there was an emergency and I had to find her quickly. I shouldn’t use it. It would be wrong. It would be spying.
Damn. They are still on the road. On the interstate. Just turned off. I’m sure the campground shouldn’t be too far away. Most of them are near the interstate.
There it is. Let me check those GPS coordinates. There we are. Circle R campground.
Okay. I know where she is in the event of an emergency. That’s the only reason I did this. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to scout the area. Make sure there are no vampires around. Just to be safe. Can’t have a wandering nomad around her. Girl is a magnet for trouble. I mean she is living with me for God’s sake. A quick drive and I can pull in near the area. Plenty of campgrounds surrounding it. I can go to one of those and watch her from a distance. Too make sure she is safe. I won’t interfere though. I will not interfere.
BPOV
This was bad. Two tents were currently occupied with members of my future class having very loud sex. Two girls were on two guys shoulders, topless having chicken fights. Everyone was drunk. Nearly everyone. Melody seemed pretty sober. She just gave me a margarita. I don’t usually go for this type of drink. Or any type for that matter but one or two wouldn’t kill me.
After my second margarita, Melody brought me a third. These things go really quick through a straw. I mean they look like a really big drink but then they disappear so fast.
I was giggling for some reason. I couldn’t stop.
“May I have another, Melody?” Then I laughed. Why was I laughing.
“You have had four, Bella. How much do you usually drink?” she was smiling. She had a pretty smile.
“I’ve never drank alcohol before.” This seemed to surprise her for some reason.
“Jesus Bella! I never would have made them so strong if I had known that! You need to sit down.” Melody grabbed my hand and my other arm was grabbed by… someone else.
“I got her Mel. I will take care of her.” Tanner. Tanner was pulling me away from Melody.
“I think I can handle it Tanner. She is a little drunk right now.” Melody pulled me back towards her. Tanner jerked me back to him. This wasn’t good.
“If you two don’t stop pulling me I am going to puke.”
“Yeah Melody. I got this!” Tanner sounded a little rude then. He shouldn’t be mean to Melody. She was nice.
I am drunk. The world is spinning. This is my fault. No this is Peter’s fault. No, it’s probably my fault. But he has something to do with this. I think.
“Are you taking me home Tanner? Uncle Petey is going to be so mad.” I started laughing again. Uncle Petey. I love that name.
“No Bella, I just wanted to get you away from the crowd so you can get some air.”
“Okay. That’s sweet. Why didn’t you let Melody come?” Something wasn’t right here and it wasn’t just the world spinning. Shit I just tripped. Yep. I was on the ground. Now Tanner was next to me. How did he get down here?
“Bella I really like you.”
“You’re an okay guy too, Tony.”
“Tanner.”
“What?”
“My name is Tanner.” He didn’t sound amused.
“Of course you are.” I sighed. If I puke while laying on my back that could kill me right? I need to roll over.
Whoa Tanner is leaning over me.
“What are you doing Tan Tan?”
“I was saying I really liked you.”
His hand just touched my stomach. Now it was traveling down. The world suddenly wasn’t spinning anymore. I rolled away from him and tried to stand up. It wasn’t easy. What the hell was in those margaritas again?
I got to my knees and fell down again on my arms. Probably not the best position to be in.
“Bella, lay back down.” Tanner’s hand was on my waist.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Don’t touch you? I like you. You like me. What is the problem? You a virgin or something? I got condoms. Trust me. I am not about to have any bastard children. Stop making a big deal out of this.”
Now I was drunk and pissed. I took a few deep breaths to try to clear my head. I wanted to vomit. His hand touched me again.
I raised my arm and slapped him.
“I don’t belong to you!”
“Don’t be a bitch.” Tanner pushed me. I fell back on my back. He was on top of me. He was touching me. He wasn’t Peter.
I slammed my leg into his crotch. He was rolling on the ground yelling. I was on my back laughing.
“I told you I don’t belong to you, you stupid child.”
“You fucking bitch!”
Uh oh. Tanner was back over me. He didn’t look happy.
“You don’t belong to me huh? Maybe we can change that.”
Tanner wasn’t smiling anymore. He looked pissed. I was so drunk. But not that drunk. I stuck a finger in his eye.
He fell back screaming again.
I struggled with the tilting Earth and managed to get to my feet. He was still on the ground shielding his right eye.
“You know, for someone who doesn’t take no for an answer, you sure are fragile.” I started walking away back towards the campfire. Maybe Melody could give me a ride…
He jerked me around and slapped me before I knew what happened. I hit the ground hard.
“You fucking bitch. I will take what I want from you. You lay there and shut the fuck up. You say anything to anybody and I will make sure your life is a living hell. Who do you belong to now you fucking whore?”
“That would be me.”
That was uncle Petey’s voice. My face hurt. Tanner screamed… for a second. Then he was quiet. Uh oh. Uncle Petey killed somebody. Tanner’s body landed face first next to me. I was in Peter’s arms.
“You are going to stumble back to that party. You are not going to drink anymore. You are going to find your friend Melody. Tell her Tanner got angry and left because you wouldn’t fuck him. You stay there with Melody. I will come get you in two hours in front of witnesses. You will go home with me. Not a word about this. Understand?”
“Yes. What are you going to do with Tan Tan? Is he dead?” I think I was beginning to sober up. Maybe not.
“Yeah. His truck is over there by those trees. He’s about to get a Cullen special.”
“Why did you kill him? He just wanted to kiss me.” I slurred.
“He had his pants down Bella. That wasn’t a kiss he was about to give you.”
“So you ate him?” I asked quietly.
“No. I fucking snapped his neck. Nicer than he deserved. Now do as I say. I will be back in a couple hours. He will be a victim of a tragic drunk driving accident in one hour. Stay where people can see you.”
I stumbled back towards the campfire. Melody ran towards me.
“Bella you have dirt on your face. What did he do?” she looked concerned. Where the hell were you five minutes ago Mel.
“I fell. I’m a little drunk.”
“Where is Tanner? Did he…”
“He tried to fuck me. I told him no and he got angry and left. I guess my ride is gone.” I laughed. Because laughing keeps me from thinking about the fact that my vampire uncle just killed a guy who tried to rape me.
“You were lucky Bella. He doesn’t always take rejection that well.”
“You rejected him Melody?” She looked away. Even in my drunken state I recognized it. He raped her.
“How many girls have found out that he doesn’t take rejection well?”
“Just stay away from him Bella. Please? Stay with me. He is… dangerous. Especially when he has been drinking.”
“No problem Melody. I will stay near you.” I wrapped an arm around her and she helped me back to a table. We didn’t talk much but she brought me water and I puked once in some bushes. By the time two hours had passed I saw Peter’s truck pull up.
“Bella you were supposed to have been home two hours ago! What the hell have you been doing? Are you drinking?”
All the teenagers around us got very quiet. Even the people who were attempting to set a world record for tent sex shut up.
Peter walked up to me and tilted my chin up. He had such beautiful eyes.
“Get your ass in my truck now girl. I have been traveling campsites for the past hour looking for your ass. Move now!”
Why was he being such an asshole? He wasn’t searching campgrounds, he was killing… oh right.
“I can do what I want Uncle Peter! Leave me alone!” May as well play along.
“Get your ass in that truck now!”
I turned to Melody. “Thanks for keeping me company tonight. Call me, okay?” she nodded. Peter grabbed my arm and began pulling me too the truck. I nearly fell but he kept me standing with his grip.
We were out of the campground and on the interstate before either of us spoke.
“So you uh… killed my date?”
“Oh you mean the guy who tried to rape you? Yeah. I was only going to hurt him the minute he touched you but when I saw what he had planned…”
“No, hey, it’s cool. I mean killing people isn’t a big deal for you right? You do it all the time.”
“Trust me Bella. The people I kill won’t be missed by anyone. They are the same type as the one I killed tonight. The only difference is this kid had money. A rapist is a rapist though. Same things with murderers, child molesters, drug dealers, and anyone else who prey on those who are weaker. They all go down when they come across me.”
I didn’t say anything to that. Didn’t say anything the entire way home. I thought I was going to puke once but I didn’t. Guess it all came up at the campground.
Forty five minutes later we arrived at home. I stumbled out of the truck into the house without his help. I began walking to my bedroom when he stopped me.
“We need to talk.”
“About what?” I suppose there were a million things but I didn’t know which one he wanted to bother me with now. I wanted a shower and I wanted to go to sleep.
“Your behavior tonight.”
Oh fuck no he did not go there.
“My behavior? You are not my Daddy and you sure as hell aren’t my uncle. You said you didn’t want to babysit me. So don’t! What the fuck were you even doing there?”
“You better be damn glad I was. If not he would still be drilling you on the ground!”
“I only went because you pushed me into it! I didn’t want to go!”
“You shouldn’t have gotten that drunk!”
“You said to act like a teenager! Teenagers get drunk at parties. Make up your damn mind. You don’t want to babysit me but you want to act like a parent when it suits you. You want me to have experience but only the experiences you want me to have. Why don’t you make a list of who I can fuck?”
“You are not fucking anyone! You are mine!”
“Then fucking act like it!” I screamed. We sit around all day making small talk but he wants to bring this shit up now? Now? I’m drunk and he wants to start this? Fuck it. It’s on.
“I would act like it but I can’t. You are the same age my sister was w…”
“I’m not your sister! I’m not your niece. I am your damn mate! I can feel it and you can feel it and I am tired of acting like it isn’t there because you are too worried about me being 17! Besides you’ve taken me a lot younger than this.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked quietly.
Fuck it.
“You don’t know because you don’t dream. 1562. I was a lady in waiting. You were a member of Queen Elizabeth’s court. You took me when I was fifteen and ran off with me to France. I had your children. We had four. We died of old age in that life. Sparta. I was 16 when we married. You widowed me when I was 18. You went to fight the Persians and never returned. I killed myself when word reached me that you had died. I fell on your sword that was brought to me covered in our enemies’ blood. We fought together in the crusades. We were both 17. I cut my hair short and dressed in armor pretending to be a man so I could fight next to you. We survived. We fought the Saxons together after the Romans had abandoned England. I can go on and on. I have memories every night. Ever since we touched the first time. I don’t know if vampire mating has brought it out. I don’t know. But I have loved you for eternity! I love you now. I am sick to death of pretending to be something I am not! You want me, take me. If not leave me the hell alone. Let me go off and if some vampire wants to drink me or change me then fine. I will catch you in the next life. I don’t care if it makes me crazy to be away from you. It’s making me crazy being near you and not being able to have you.” I walked into my room and slammed the door. I walked into my bathroom and stripped. The shower helped sober me up even more. I threw on a t shirt and fell down on my bed. I had been hoping Peter would be on it when I came in. I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.
I would have to face him in the morning.
So tonight didn’t go as expected. I can’t believe she said that. We were lovers in past lives?
The thing is, I believe her. I remember asking her if she was sure we had never met after I took her from the ballet studio. I don’t know why I asked. But she seemed so familiar to me.
I loved her.
I watched her fight off that asshole before I could get to him. At first I thought he would just try to kiss her. When she told him she didn’t belong to me, my emotions welled up in my soul. I felt joy in snapping his neck. He thought he would rape her? She was mine.
Right?
She wouldn’t really leave.
I wonder if the police had discovered the truck that dropped off the river’s edge and was partially submerged in the river by now. Poor kid broke his neck on the drop. Should have been wearing a seat belt. Those empty liquor bottles in the cab should seal the deal. Tragedy. Kids and alcohol. He slapped her. He was lucky I didn’t gut him before his eyes. He touched her.
Damn. She was crying.
I thought of going in there. Instead I stood in the living room and stared out the window.
Three hours later she was dreaming. I recognized it now. The subtle changes in her breathing. The way she rolled around on the bed. I could even tell if she was having a particularly… nice… dream. It usually was pretty obvious. Tonight she was whimpering. I wonder what she was remembering tonight. If her theory on us meeting touched off these dreams, they have been hitting her hard every night. I believe her. When she told me her memories I believed her. I couldn’t remember them but they seemed so familiar. I wish I could see what she was seeing.
“Peter!” she screamed. I ran into her room nearly breaking the door.
She had sat up in bed. Her eyes were wild. She looked panicked. Hurt. I sat down next to her.
“Bella?”
Her eyes found mine.
“Peter? You’re alive?” she whispered.
“Yeah baby. I’m right here.” She ran her hands through my hair.
“You died. Our ship was boarded. I fought with you, but we were separated. I watched you die. You are really here?”
“Yes Bella. It’s okay. We are together.” I whispered. Her face was closer to mine now. She had tears in her eyes.
“We won’t have to die this time.” She said grabbing my hair more firmly.
“I know Bella.”
“Peter I am going to kiss you. If you don’t kiss me back I will never give you another opportunity. Do you understand me?”
“Yeah. Won’t be a problem darlin.”
I thought she would be slow. I thought she would close her eyes and move in slowly. She wasn’t a vampire but she moved fast. Her legs were wrapped around me and her lips found mine. I felt her warm tongue and opened up. She tasted so good. Her hands were running through my hair. I wrapped my arms around her. Her shirt rode up and I felt the smooth skin of her back.
“I love you Peter.”
“I love you too Bella.”
“Am I yours?”
“You’re damn right you are mine.” I told her. It was true. She was mine.
And I would be damned if anyone else’s hands ever touched her.
Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction 
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