Chapter 9

- Monday

- MC POV

Getting up from bed after a very good night's sleep, with a great dream.

I dreamt about a girl... sigh I didn't see her face or anything that tells me who she is, it was just a dark shape, but I know it was a girl because of her laughter and the way she called me "my darling"...

I've read a lot of Korean stuff, and the voice of that girl in my dream made me want to hear her call me 'Oppa'...

'Arghh' Sirius barks at me, and his eyes look quite provocative as if he knows what I'm thinking.

Taking a pillow and throwing it at him, I say: "A man can dream! You're a dog, you don't know what that means."

Heading to my suitcases, which I haven't completely unpacked yet, Bella and I only took out a few items before returning to Charlie's house.

I grab running clothes and put them on, while Sirius waits at the front door ready to go with me.

When I come back, I'll have to pack my things and take a look at the cars and the motorcycle. Also, today I'm going to buy everything I need to refurbish Bella's car.

I have to pick it up on the way back too. Uncle Charlie let her use his car today, and tomorrow she's coming with me. I think they should be ready in 2-3 days for the engine part, and the paint should be done by then.

I'll keep the same color and increase the engine power... just a bit, I don't trust Bella to handle a car with a very powerful engine well.

After running with Sirius for 1 hour, I start heading towards Uncle Charlie's house. When I arrive, I see the two of them coming out of the house, and Bella is already ready to go to school.

Damian: "Good morning, Bells. Good morning, Uncle Charlie."

I open my arms to hug Bella, but when she sees me all sweaty, she steps back and says, "Good morning, Dan, but please stay away from me while you're all sweaty, okay?"

Uncle Charlie looks amused at Bella trying to escape from me and greets me, "Good morning, Damian. She just finished getting ready, and it took her quite some time, so don't make her go back and spend even more time. She can't be late on the first day."

I give up and say, after looking at Bella, whistling playfully, making her blush, "Oh my God, why are my Bells looking so beautiful? You want to drive all the boys crazy on the first day?" I'm just exaggerating; she just fixed her hair a bit, but knowing her, I know she must be nervous. So, a compliment should help her feel more at ease.

Bella kicks me and says, "Stop talking nonsense, and here are the car keys. After school, I'll go straight there, okay?"

I take the keys and say, "Alright, it'll be nice to have an extra hand helping me."

Charlie: "Alright, kids, I'm off or I'll be late. Don't take too long either, Bella," he says as he gets into the patrol car.

Both of us wave to him as he drives away.

I ask her, "How nervous are you?"

She lets out a heavy sigh and says, "More than I should, it's very uncomfortable to start at a completely new school where I don't know anyone exactly! I'll be like a red target, drawing everyone's attention."

I reassure her, "Relax, it won't be that bad, and think of it this way: your dear cousin will also join you soon! I'll start tomorrow."

She looks at me strangely and says, "You start on Wednesday, you idiot."

I give her a light tap on the head and say, "I decided to go tomorrow, didn't want to leave you alone for too long... besides, it's going to be very boring to stay home alone for so long."

She looks at me with stars in her eyes, probably thinking that she won't have to be alone there. She realizes it's getting late and leaves too, while I go inside, grab her old stove, and Sirius hops into the back.

Yes, I decided to go tomorrow, even though Uncle Charlie told the principal that I would go on Wednesday. I doubt it'll make any difference if I go earlier.

I thought about it this morning while I was running; I can do a big part of Bella's car renovation on the engine today and tomorrow after I come back, so it won't be much of a problem.

After arriving home and spending some time finishing my morning ritual, which involves running and then swimming, I take a shower... a normal one, not pool water.

When I look at all the suitcases on the floor... I decide to leave that to Bella, I have no desire to unpack them, she can do it as a reward for me fixing her car, right?

I put on a basic black shirt, one of the many I have, along with some nice boots and a jacket.

I grab a list I made with everything I'll need to work on Bella's car engine, and after calling Sirius, since it would be boring to leave him alone at home.

We embark on our little journey with my Charge to Port Angeles. Uncle Charlie said it's easier to find everything I need there; there's a good store here, but he said there's always something missing.

It's only about a one-hour drive, and since I walk fast, it might even take less time. After arriving in Port Angeles and going to the place Uncle Charlie recommended and gave me the address before, I reach the location.

It's quite large and there's a good number of people buying automotive items. I approach a saleswoman who looks about 24 years old, and unlike the other salespeople, she has the best karma.

The saleswoman who was closest to me, who looked like she was 31 years old, and when she saw me, she bit her lips and was about to approach me, is the one with the most sins on her account. Want to know what they are?

First, she stole money from her mother to gamble at casinos... Then, she hit and killed a man once, but it was in a place without cameras, so she wasn't caught. Besides those, there are other minor sins like drugging her best friend's son and sleeping with him...

I speak to the attendant who is practically drooling while looking at me, which is quite normal since all the other women were also fixated on me: "I need to buy everything on this list."

That seems to snap her out of her trance, and she responds: "Of course, I'll get everything you need."

And she did get everything, I'm not sure if everyone who works with her does everything she did to me, but it saved me a lot of time searching for each part.

After buying everything, I return to the car and say to Sirius: "It seems like I've been getting more handsome recently, right?"

He gives me a look like 'Stop being so narcissistic.'

I notice a café across the street, so I get out of the car again to go there and buy something. The car windows are open with Sirius inside, of course, even though he doesn't need it.

And the things I bought? The lady managed to have the guys who work with her bring everything close to my car, so I just had to put the things in the car.

They must be wondering how so much stuff fits in this car... The supernatural trunk has its advantages.

Returning to the road after buying some snacks and coffee with milk, I start my route back to Forks.

And right after my arrival, I start getting my hands to work on Bella's car. I also took the opportunity to clean the other vehicles in the garage and check if they are in good condition.

- End of MC POV -

POV Alice Walking through the school hallways with Emmett and Rosalie, heading towards the others to go home, I can't help but think about Edward's mate.

It's the most talked-about topic in school right now, which is not uncommon in a small town like this, where someone new like Isabella Swan is like a new animal at the zoo.

Moreover, her new friends called me "weird," and that leaves me with many doubts, wondering if she will tell Damian about it and if he will think the same. In that vision, they were as close as siblings.

I sigh, giving myself a little tap on the face to snap out of it, and think, "Alice, don't jump to conclusions!"

When we join Edward, I energetically ask him, "Did you talk to her? Did you ask about Damian? Did she say when he's coming to school? Oh, silly me, you probably read her mind and already know, so tell me quickly!" I inquire, giving him puppy eyes.

This elicits laughter from everyone, due to all my energy and so many questions at once – something quite normal when I get anxious. Of course, my anxiety levels are higher now, as it's so close to finally meeting Damian.

Edward looks at me with his face contorting in... I don't know what's going on in his mind, and he says, "Calm down your excitement. I didn't talk to her, and I can't read her mind."

As he says that, his face scrunches in confusion and possibly frustration for not being able to read yet another person's mind.

Jasper asks, "How come you can't read her mind?" He looks at Edward seeking an answer, while trying to distance himself from me due to my abnormal levels of anxiety.

Edward shakes his head and lets out a frustrated sigh, saying, "I don't know! Her mind seems to have some kind of shield blocking it from me. I can't even hear her superficial thoughts." Ah ha! Frustration at not being able to know what others are thinking all the time! A classic Edward move.

Emmett pouts and says, "First Alice, and now your mate? Why can't I have that too? Nobody likes having an idiot constantly invading their minds." His remark earns him a good elbow jab from his wife.

Even though that was probably Rose's thought too, I think everyone in our family would want to have that ability. It's uncomfortable not having secrets from a guy who can't seem to resist using his abilities all the time. Even though we have an agreement that he won't read our thoughts, he still does it sometimes!

Edward lets out another tired sigh, prompting Rosalie to finally speak up, "You've been sighing a lot since you met your mate, even though it should be a happy occasion. Care to share the reason?"

He responds, "Not only does she have a mental shield, but... she's also my singer."

This makes everyone look at him in shock. It's already difficult enough to find your soulmate, but for her to also be his singer? That's even rarer and... very unfortunate.

Imagine having to stay away from your soulmate to protect them, and it tearing you apart inside because you can't be with the person you love. I lower my head and bite my lips, thinking about how it would be the worst thing in the world if Damian were also my singer. I don't want to be away from him! Calm down, Alice, this is something rare and unlikely to happen.

Emmett lets out a whistle, clearly impressed with his adoptive brother's bad luck. He says, "I wouldn't want to be in your shoes right now. It must be a huge mess."

Rose gives him a tap on the head and looks at her husband with obvious frustration in her eyes. "Don't use that kind of language," she scolds him.

Jasper speaks up, "Then we should go home quickly. We need to talk to Carlisle and ask what to do next."

We all agree. Having your singer is not something to take lightly, because even the most skilled at self-control can succumb and taste the blood of their singer.

And so, I go hopping and humming a tune while thinking about my future boyfriend, something that has become 100% of my thoughts.

I can't wait to get my hands on you!

Even if you're my singer, I will restrain myself! Because not even if the devil himself appeared in person, he would stop me from laying my hands on your body... what a beautiful body!

"Ouch," I hear a pained hum coming from the side near me, and I see Jasper looking at me with clear pain on his face. It must be difficult for him to feel all the emotions I am projecting currently...

Scratching my head timidly, I whisper, "Sorry."

- End of POV

-MC POV

As I'm tinkering with the truck's engine, I see Bella arriving in Charlie's borrowed car, and when she steps out of the car, her face looks sad and puzzled. I grab a cloth and start cleaning my hands from the grease, then walk over to her.

I ask, "Why does my Bells have that expression on her face?"

She looks at me with a cute pout and asks, "Do I smell bad?"

That reminds me of the famous scene today. I get closer to her and sniff playfully, "You don't stink, but you smell like a flea, so it's pretty much the same as smelling bad."

She looks at me in shock and starts to sniff herself, and when I burst into laughter, she realizes I'm teasing her. She hits me, saying, "This is serious, you idiot!" But then she stops and rubs her hand where she hit me. She says with a clear wince on her face, "Why are you so hard? It's like you're made of iron."

I shrug and reply, "I don't know. I know I'm strong and train a lot, so of course a girl who does 0% physical exercises would feel pain hitting me, the amazing Superman."

She gives me a blank look and looks at her car, her attention caught by all the car engine parts on the ground. She says, "Did you disassemble my whole car?"

I start walking with her towards the car and say, "Only the parts I'm going to replace. By the way, in exchange for this service, could you organize my things? And I'll leave dinner for you to handle or should we order delivery?"

Bella replies with a smile, "Okay, I'll handle it, but for dinner, we need to have all the ingredients here."

I grin and say, "I already bought everything, including plenty of cheese to make a good macaroni and cheese. I remember you learned the recipe from grandma, right?"

She nods in confirmation and says, "Yes, since we have the ingredients for it, let's have that for dinner, and Dad said he's coming over too, and he'll love it."

I playfully push her towards the house and say, "Great, then let's get to work!"

She lets out a heavy sigh and starts walking towards the house, but then she stops and asks again, "But seriously, do I smell bad?"

I chuckle and say, "No, Bells, you have a nice smell. Your scent reminds me a lot of strawberries."

She nods and gives me a sweet smile, saying, "Thank you!" and starts walking towards the house.

I shake my head and go back to the car, wondering if that was the best way that weirdo had to avoid her. Surely someone as old as him could have handled it in a better way.

To be continued...

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One fact I didn't remember was that Kate had a mate! I forgot about him.

and I forgot that Rosalie has a useless ability... that makes her look prettier, even though she's already incredibly pretty.