The growl came from none of the vampires in front of me, but from one of my brothers behind me. I turned and saw Nate, already slipped into his crouch, his lips pulled over his lips in a menacing expression. Thackery and Thai were leaning forward expectantly, waiting for the right margin of opportunity. Out of no-where hot hands gripped my waist and spun me around so fast that even with my super eye-sight, it was almost hard to see…almost hard. I saw Emmet, Jasper, Edward and Alice slip into their crouches with their teeth bared as well, and the wolves trembling head to toe. All the wolves were there except for Sam, so it must be him holding me. The room stopped moving, and the hands holding me disappeared. I was facing the wall on the other side of the cafeteria. I spun quickly and saw Edward and Jacob at the front of the assault team. Not caring if they saw, I ran as Edward and Jacob sprang. I jumped at them as their feet left the ground. I connected with Jacob first and the impact flung us into Edward before any of my brothers could get hit. The floor seemed to come towards us at an amazingly short time, and I hit the floor first breaking Edward and Jacob’s fall. A renowned snapping sound reverberated around the walls and I felt the pain as the bone in my right shoulder snapped from my collar bone. My high pitched scream of pain, snapped everyone out of their urge to fight, although none relaxed their ready stance.
“Bella!” Leah cried running to me. I felt Jacob and Edward’s weight leave my body, but I barely acknowledged it. I was trying to concentrate. Thackery told me, that when freezing people, a large emotional climate would change the spell and unfreeze them; it was the same with any spell really, but I was concentrating on this one for now. Warm hands wiped the hair out of my face, and ran their fingers down my cheeks, leaving a wet feeling behind them.
Bella, I got this. They won’t unfreeze. Ben was still running to the cafeteria and hearing and feeling my pain through my thoughts, he was trying to help.
Thank you. I stammered in my head, still trying to ignore the pain.
I opened my eyes, and saw Leah standing over me anxiously, with both Edward and Jacob standing over her shoulder with horrified looks on their faces. I sucked in a deep breath. Healing was the worst part of this whole mess; it was painful and made me feel less human. I sat up, trying to ignore the pain I felt. I heard Edward and Alice gasp and turn away. I looked down and saw the bone sticking out of the skin. Huh, didn’t feel that bad. The bleeding had already stopped, so that was a good sign. I looked up at Leah, and held out my good hand, a sign for help. The tenors of Sam’s thoughts were not kind.
Don’t do it, Lee Lee, she’s dangerous…
I ignored him and focused on her my hand still reaching limply. She took it quickly and helped me to my feet. I felt the tears spring into my eyes as the movement jostled my arm.
“Thanks,” I panted at Leah. She smiled and let my hand go. I turned towards Nate.
“A little help?”
Nate slowly shook his head, never taking his eyes off Emmet and Sam. I was about to let him have it when Ben walked through the door. I sighed in relief. At least now, there were two sane people.
“Ouch, Bella…” his was pained and slightly nauseated as he took in my ravaged arm. “Want some help?” his voice was kind though, I was glad I had someone on my team right now.
“Yeah, that would be great, Ben. Thanks.” I smiled at him, ignoring the pain as it ripped through my torso when I turned.
“Wait…” Emmet spoke, finally looking away from Nate. “Help with what? You’re gonna drive her to the hospital or something?”
Nate, Thackery and Thai all laughed and Ben grinned. The idea that any of us having the need to go to the hospital was absolutely hilarious, what with our ever under-aging bodies and healing abilities, that would be one shocked doctor.
Emmet and Jasper’s eyes narrowed at their laughter, and glared at me.
I looked at them briefly, before I went to Ben.
I grabbed the top of his arm with my good hand, and clapped my mouth shut, trying to hold back a scream. Ben had apologies in his eyes as he grabbed my bad arm and jerked it upward. I cussed as it pulled at the cartilage, and flexed my arm. I opened my eyes and saw everyone staring at me with shocked eyes.
“What?” I asked innocently.
Alice took a step towards me. I tensed, but somewhere in the back of head, my voice was telling me that she wouldn’t hurt me.
“H-how did you do that?” her eyes were ful of confusion and pain; she was afraid that I’d hurt myself, and had no idea how I managed to heal. She reached her hand out hesitantly as if to grab my arm, and I saw Jasper lean further down into his crouch, prepared to strike at any certain time.
Alice, lightly touched my arm where it had snapped, and her eyes widened, she couldn’t understand.
“How…?” her voice stammered over that tiny little word, barely a whisper.
I moved my arm from under her light grasp, and looked down as I said, “I heal fast.”
I took a small step backwards, trying to get close enough to Nate and Thackery in case something happened. Ben could handle Thai.
“Bella, what’s going on?” Jacob had followed my step lithely, putting himself closer to me, and putting his hand on my shoulder, ignoring it when I cringed away. “We have a right to know what’s happening…”
I looked up into his black eyes and saw uncertainty and pain, and through it, felt my own pain course through me like venom.
I looked from his eyes to Edwards, who was standing directly behind Jacob, his eyes intent on my face. The gold was smoldering as it always did, but there was something different about it. Was it reluctant? They seemed wary, as if he didn’t want to hear, or that I was dangerous…
I turned to catch Thackery’s eye.
“Thackery…” I started in a small voice, would it really be so bad if I told them the truth?
“No.” he hissed through his teeth, no resolution in his eyes.
I ignored his attitude.
“We have to tell them eventually…I can’t hurt them…” the pain in my voice was real and Nate, Thai and Ben could tell.
“She’s right…” Ben murmured looking at Emmet, trying to help me.
“Yeah, she is…” Thai was still in his crouch, but he knew that if we told them, than that would be better than avoiding them, and hurting people, mainly me.
Thackery’s eyes narrowed as we ganged up on him. He glanced down at Nate.
“Thackery…we have to tell them.” Nate said this, straightening out of his crouch, but never taking his eyes off the threat. “But when they’re all together. Half of the pack is gone, and I’m sure the Cullen’s would want their leader present as well…” he looked from Thackery to Ben and Thai to me.
“They can meet us after school, at a secret place which we know, they can feel better about the situation, and no humans could be at risk…” he said frowning at me.
Thackery was starting to consider it.
“Alright,” he agreed slowly. “Two of us will take you to a place we know after school…until then, leave us be…we will explain everything to you, whether they need to hear it or not.” He added throwing an angry glare at me.
I sighed. I was gonna get hell for this.
“We’ll be there. No funny stuff, otherwise I will enjoy watching the light leave your eyes...” Emmet’s words were menacing, and made me shiver slightly.
“Go back to where you were sitting, and try to look as you did before this happened,” I commanded, leading them back to their seats.
“No, Alice, you were here…Emmet and Jasper swap places…right there, Seth…very good. Now don’t move.” I backed away swiftly to take my seat at our table.
Wait to go Bella…Thai was thinking glumly. Now we all have to suffer.
I rolled my eyes, and concentrated, everything came back with a flicker of life. I opened my eyes and glanced at their table and met Edwards’s eye. I gave him a half-smile, and turned back to my conversation…this day was definitely gonna drag…

…

By the time lunch was over, and I was safely in my seat for Spanish, I started to dread what I was going to say to Edward. “Oh, hey Edward, um, when you left me a few months ago, the pain caused me to inherit my birth right against my will, and I cant get rid of it unless I die, which I only can if you or Jacob bites me…I’m a witch by the way…” yeah that would be a great conversation starter. I was still thinking of what to say when it was time for gym. I walked to gym slowly, biting my lip as I went, but before i could even open the door, I got the strong scent of vampire, werewolf and witch…all mixed together with the scent of blood. I burst through the door, prepared for a fight, but what I saw stunned me to stillness. Emmet and Edward were helping Nate to his feet, while Sam kept pressure on the cut on Nate’s forearm. I don’t think they realized I was there until they looked up.
“Bella…” Edward was starting to say, he was trying to defend himself, I could feel it in his thoughts.
“I know. What happened?” I asked moving forward slowly, keeping a ready eye on Emmet and Edward’s eyes, making sure they weren’t gonna do anything rash.
Nat was the one who answered.
“I was walking to close to the bleachers, and got my arm caught on a metal bit…Emmet and Sam heard it and came to help…”
I told you they were good guys… I thought smugly. Nate rolled his eyes at me and I laughed. The bleeding had stopped now but there was a tear in the fabric along his right arm.
“We should find you another shirt…” I said frowning at it, trying to think where I could find one. I felt movement behind me; I turned and saw Edward slipping out of his shirt. My eyes bulged and my jaw dropped, he grinned at my reaction and handed the shirt to Nate. I looked at Edward and he looked at me. a strange electric type feel was in the air around me, and face started to get all hot.
“Wha-what about you? Don’t you need a sh-sh-shirt…?” I managed to splutter out.
“I’ve got my gym clothes and a spare shirt in my locker. I don’t get cold anyway, remember Bella?” he was having fun. He could see the blush on my face, so he still knew that I was crazy for him. The gym door opened, and Mike, Tyler and Eric walked in. Tyler and Eric waved, while Mike threw an angry glare at Edward.
Showing off for her again…probably wants to get back with her…but I think she likes me now, so good luck with that, idiot!
I stifled a laugh and turned back to the group. Edward was trying not to laugh as well. Coach Clapp wandered in, and told everyone to get into their gym clothes, and then to get into groups. I changed in a daze, and walked out into the gym. It took me a minute to realize why there were four kids standing on front of everyone else. Team leaders. Mike, Jacob, Sarah and Mel, I realized as I approached.
“Thank-you for joining us, Miss Swan.” Coach Clapp said in a reedy voice. I blushed and pulled out my rubber band, and pulled my hair back into a ponytail. “All the teams have been selected so, I have to put you into one…” he trailed off looking around at all the leaders. Sarah and Mel were shaking their heads profusely; too many unforgiving memories off me falling down and taking them down with me. “Okay, Bella you’re with Newton…your in the boys group, so try to be gentle with her guys…” Mike, Tyler and Eric laughed at Clapp’s joke. My eyes narrowed.
“Oh, I don’t think they need to be that gentle with her,” Nate said coming up from behind me, and put his hands around my shoulders. “She’s tough.”
Coach Clapp laughed and walked away.
“Cool it, Bella…” Nate whispered softly. I shrugged out from under his arm, and moved towards Mike.
“What are we playing?” I asked tentatively, people still thought I was a klutz when it came to sports, but that was not exactly the case. I had to tone down the adrenaline, so no-one got hurt.
“Newton!” Coach yelled from across the stadium, standing with the girls teams. “You’ll be playing Black’s team. Mr. Swan and Mr. Cullen will explain the rules.”
Nate and Emmet came towards us laughing. I felt my jaw dropped and struggled to fix my expression.
“Okay, you guys know how to play…Jacob, you and your team over that side…” Emmet started.
“Mike and your team on this side…” Nate finished moving towards the other side of the hall.
When everyone else moved I stayed still.
“Bella, what’s wrong?” Nate asked, confused.
“I don’t know what we’re playing…” I admitted, looking back and forth between my team and theirs.
“Oh, we’re playing dodge-ball.” Mike answered a look of fright in his eyes. I grinned. We were playing a team with people who can’t die, or don’t feel much pain? Perfect.
“Great!” I enthused, repressing the urge to laugh at the strange looks I was getting from my team and Jacob’s. Nate went to each team and handed them their balls. I noticed for the first time who on Jacob’s team. Embry, Quil, Jared, Paul and Edward all standing about two steps behind Jacob, were looking at me curiously as I counted them. Mike, Eric, Tyler, Pete and Ben were on mine.
I heard Coach Clapp shout to Nate and Emmet, that they were supposed to supervise our teams, while he watched the other one.
Nate turned to us.
“Okay, I want a nice, clean, game, guys.” He said pointedly at me.
Who me? I asked sarcastically in my head. He chuckled and moved out of the way of the court.
“Divvy up your opponents guys, it makes things easier.” Emmet said in his booming voice, looking between our teams.
“I want Cullen.” Mike’s voice was the first one I heard. “You guys take whoever you want, but I want Cullen.” He was glaring at Edward in such a manner, I had to put my hand over m mouth and pretend it was a yawn to cover up my laughter.
“I want Newton.” I heard Jacob say from across the room. “He says he wants to take you down, but it will surprise him if I do.” He grinned wickedly at Edward, who extended a fist and to my shock and disbelief, punched hands with Jacob.
“I want Bella.” I turned my head towards the voice and saw Paul watching me with baleful eyes.
I smiled at him and winked.
“Who wouldn’t want me, right Edward…right Jacob?” I asked, my voice perfectly flirtatious, but so low; only the super hearing people in the room would hear it. I had the satisfaction of watching their jaws drop.
“All right…” Nate called loudly, “On your marks…”
“Get set…” Emmet added just as loudly.
“GO!” they shouted in unison.
In a matter of seconds the air seemed to be filled with big, red, rubber balls. I laughed as I saw them all dance past me. a look of tense concentration was on Mike’s face, as he tried to aim the ball directly into Edward’s face. But the second the ball was out of his hands, Edward moved gracefully out of the way. Not just out of the way of Mike’s ball, but all of them as well. I barely noticed when Eric was hit, only when I heard him swearing under his breath at the bleachers. I looked across the court and saw Paul looking at me, with his hands tight around the ball. Other balls flew past my head, and I realized I hadn’t even thrown mine yet. As I was choosing my targets, Paul launched the ball straight for my stomach/ I moved quickly and silently out of the way, not knowing that Tyler was behind me. I permitted myself a fast glance at the loser side, and saw practically all of the team there, except for Mike and me.
Naw, did the big bad wolf get you out Benny? I asked in a baby voice. Even though he was a witch before me, he’s never gotten over being the youngest. He poked his tongue out at me.
A whistle blew.
“All right guys, time out.” Emmet’s booming voice made me jump. “2 minute break, then it’s back to the game…loser’s, stay where you are…its an even match up now.” I looked over at Jacob’s team. Embry, Quil, Jared and Paul were all sitting on the bench with an upset look on their faces. I suppressed a grin; they hated losing.
“Come on, Bella.” Mike said tugging on my sleeve towards my team-mates. I followed obediently, uncomfortable by his touch.
“This game is rigged.” Tyler muttered annoyed.
“We’ll just have to make do…” Ben was trying to ease everyone’s thoughts…I cant even fathom the headache he must have right now.
I had an idea. But it might be considered cheating.
Hey Ben…I thought timidly running through my idea.
He grinned hugely.
Do it! his voice was enthusiastic.
You know that’s cheating Bella…Nate thought disapprovingly.
Shut up Nate, go for it Bella! I should have known Thai and Thackery would be listening.
I took a deliberate step back.
“I’m just gonna get a drink, ok guys?” I asked blinking my eyelashes flirtatiously.
They all nodded at once, their eyes wide.
I walked across the gym to get to the water fountain which was located right behind Edward’s team. I fanned myself on the way, holding my ponytail high, so you could see the condensation running down my slender neck. I watched Jacob look towards the other direction very deliberately. I smiled and turned the tap on, and put my water bottle underneath the faucet and waited, twirling the hair from my ponytail around my fingers. When the bottle was full to the brim, I picked it up, and held it close to my face. I pulled out my ponytail in a fluid motion and poured the water over my face and hair. I peeked over my shoulder and saw Edward staring at me, his jaw dropped. I giggled and walked back over to my team.
“Right-o,” Nate called, “Let’s get back to the game…Jacob, Edward? Looks like it’s you guys against Bella and Mike.”
He and Emmet handed us the balls and told us to take it easy.
No more cheating Bella. Nate thought indignantly.
I stared at the boys standing across from me, lightly tossing the ball up and down in my hand, and noticed for the first time in my new eye sight, the beauty of them. Edward, with his bronze colored hair, and piercing gold eyes, attached to his long, lean and muscular body was more god than man. And Jacob, my Jacob, was a rare creature indeed. His mid-length black hair, pulled back behind his ears, framed his handsome russet colored face, filled with pure white teeth.
A whistle blew disrupting the new revelations running through my head, but I barely acknowledged it. A red ball flew at my face. I merely picked my own ball up to knock it out of the way. I heard a huff and I saw Mike kneeling on the floor holding his stomach.
“Newton, you’re out!” I heard Coach Clapp shout, closer than I expected. “It’s up to you, Swan.”
Both Edward and Jacob held a red rubber ball in their hands, ready to strike. I felt Mike’s ball roll to my feet, so I was ready for the attack.
Jacob threw his ball; at such a speed I barely missed it when I ducked. I grabbed Mike’s ball from the ground, jumped up and over Edward’s ball and threw both balls at the two of them at blinding speed.
“You’re OUT!” Coach Clapp shouted at Edward and Jacob. I beamed with satisfaction, and my team came around me. Mike picked me up and put me on his shoulders and did a Rocky running dance. I was laughing at that, when I saw Nate and Edward having a mental conversation I couldn’t make out. They eventually put me down so I could change back into my clothes. I dressed in a hurry, trying to figure out what they would be talking about.
I walked out of the gym, and there Nate, Ben, Thai and Thackery were waiting.
“Congrats, Bells,” Thai said thumping me on the shoulder.
“And as a reward for winning…” Nate started to say.
“You and Ben get to ride with the bats and the dogs to the baseball clearing…they’re waiting for you outside the gym.” Thackery finished smiling at us coyly. My mouth opened in horror, and Ben grabbed my arms, so I couldn’t do anything rash.
“Let’s just get it over with…” Ben’s voice was soothing, trying to calm my sudden hostility.
I sucked in a deep breath and walked with Ben out of the gym, towards the parking lot. There we saw them.
The Cullen’s standing by Edwards Volvo, and the Quileute’s standing by Jacob’s rabbit.
I turned to Ben a half smile on my face and pulled out a quarter.
“Heads I go with the Cullen’s…Tails I go with the Quileute’s…” he smiled and nodded. I closed my eyes and flicked the coin. I opened my eyes as it made contact with the floor.
I stared at it blankly. Ben chuckled.
“Have fun,” he muttered, still laughing, as he walked towards his ride.
“Thanks so much.” I said icily. I bent down to pick up my coin with a sigh.
It was tails.