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TWO; FIRST MEETINGS

     ROSALIE WAS FURIOUS. She believed that Amelia would side with her like Emmett and Jasper had, but the girl had different ideas. Amelia thought there was no question to what Edward had done. If she was in the same position, she wouldn't allow Bella to die either.

     She had been slightly criticized over the years for her lack of concern. The family felt they could be more exposed since Amelia loved to interact with the humans, but she always covered her tracks. No one suspected she was anything less than mortal.

     "Rose, you can't stay mad at me forever," she murmured, walking alongside the girl. The first bell rang, echoing throughout the campus. "I had to choose what was right."

     "Shouldn't you be getting on the bus for your field trip?" The blonde shot back, her wavy hair matching the color of Amelia's.

     "C'mon, Mia," Jasper tugged on her arm. She frowned but followed her brothers and sister. Alice had a skip in her step, as per usual. Jasper had hesitated at the family meeting when he heard what Alice had seen. Emmett was forever stuck to Rosalie's side, so there was tension running inside the Cullen home.

     Amelia whispered lowly to Edward about how she thought Rosalie was never going to get past this. He chuckled and swung his arm over her shoulder, kissing her forehead. "You'll be fine, Mia." Her eyes focused on Bella's figure as she watched the group walk forward. Mike was distracting her with the topic of prom, but she was barely listening. Amelia snorted at Mike's offer and Bella's excuse. It was obvious the boy couldn't take a hint.

     She stepped forward and extended her arm towards him. "Mike, want to sit with me on the bus?" His face lit up and he nodded, looping his arm through hers. She twisted her body and winked at her siblings, who laughed at her gesture.

     The ride on the bus was filled with Mike's endless chatter. Amelia was staring out the window, gazing at the scenery. She longed to be able to step into the sun, but she knew it was impossible. She could head to the clearing that Edward showed her, a place where nobody could see. She hated seeing the monster she was when her skin sparkled like there was millions of jewels harvested underneath, proving she was no longer the girl set to marry Richard Amelle.

     "Are you going to prom?" Mike suddenly asked, building enough courage to sputter it out. Amelia returned her attention to him and grinned, her hand touching his arm. His mind swirled into a hazy fog and his eyes washed over into a sea of gray.

     "I would, Mike, but I'd hate to take a brilliant date away from an expecting girl. Jessica is definitely into you, isn't she? You should ask her."

     His orbs turned back into the baby blue that Amelia loved. She reminisced on her old eye color, remembering how the light sapphire sparkled in the sun. "You're being awfully nostalgic today," Edward commented. He was sitting four rows behind her and Mike, with Alice and Jasper in front of him.

     Can't help it, she replied without uttering a single word. She loved Edward's power sometimes because she didn't have to speak aloud — he already knew. Days like this make me want to go back to the 1920's.

     "And what? Be treated like a trophy wife?"

     It was a different time. You know that. What about you, huh? You remember Alice's vision yesterday.

     Edward growled. "Don't talk about it, Mia. I want to erase it from my memory." Amelia snickered. Edward had to come face to face with the truth sometime. Plus, an extra addition to the family wouldn't hurt.

     Mike was still talking her ear off before they finally arrived. They all piled off the bus and Amelia caught a whiff of Bella's scent. Better be quick, brother. Wouldn't want you to end up like Tanya.

     Edward glared at her and she grinned. "Distract the boy." Amelia gripped Mike's arm and fluttered her eyelashes.

     "Mike, do you think I'm pretty?"

     Alice and Jasper rolled their eyes at Amelia's idea of a distraction. It seemed to work, considering Mike divulged into extensive detail on why she was the prettiest girl in the school. Preceding their entrance into the greenhouse, Amelia spotted a group of boys not too far from them. She narrowed her eyes, sensing they were Quileutes. They would grow to hate her someday.

     One of them turned around, his teeth sparkling. Amelia felt drawn to him but she shrugged the feelings away, focusing back on Mike.

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     So you're just going to follow her? Like a creepy stalker behind the shadows?

     "I'd like to think of it as protecting her, Mia, but thank you for that reassuring image."

     "Maybe me and Alice can go shopping-"

     "No! If she sees one of you there, she'll know."

     Amelia huffed, crossing her arms. Edward was planning on tracking Bella down in Port Angeles. He couldn't hear her thoughts so he couldn't have any distractions, which meant Amelia wasn't allowed to go.

     "Be careful, Edward. You know how Lia loves doing something after you've told her not to," Emmett clicked his tongue. Amelia glared down at him and Esme laid a hand on her shoulder.

     "He'll be fine, sweetheart. Won't you, dear?" She asked Edward sweetly, who nodded in response. Amelia threw her hands up in frustration and collapsed on the couch beside Emmett. Rosalie was in her room, refusing to have any part in talking about Bella Swan. She believed the girl was starting to become a burden to the family.

     "You can go shopping with Alice any day, Mia," Edward murmured. He waved goodbye to his family and left. Amelia heard the roar of his Volvo before it took off. She had already made up an excuse in her mind, but Emmett guessed her next move.

     "C'mon, Lia. We haven't had our bonding time in a long while. Don't you miss me?"

     "Rose hates me, you know."

     "Yeah, but I don't hate you."

     "What are you talking about? Rosalie has you on a leash."

     Jasper snickered, joining them on the couch. "Now if that isn't true, I don't know what is." Emmett glared heatedly at the two but he knew it was correct. Rosalie had him wrapped around her finger.

     "Since Edward has Bella now, we need to find someone for you," Alice chirped. She took her regular spot next to Jasper. Amelia rolled her eyes and leaned back against the couch.

     "I'm fine on my own, Alice." The pixie-haired vampire wished she could say she saw a lover in Amelia's future. She never got anything but Amelia and herself, striding down the hallways of Forks High School. "I don't need to be bonded to someone else for life, trust me."

     "Well, I don't believe that for a second." Rosalie smirked, one hand on her hip. The family exchanged glances between the two blondes before they disappeared, leaving Rosalie and Amelia to their own.

     "I thought you were mad at me."

     Rosalie was definitely angry with her for agreeing to let a human in on their family secret. It could ruin everything they worked so hard for, but she missed her sister. Alice was way too perky and she tried talking to Emmett, but they would end up kissing moments after.

     "I still am, but I miss you." Amelia smiled at the confession, standing up and embracing her. She never needed a companion because she had her family. That was all she wanted. "But seriously, are you okay with Bella Swan?"

     "She may be a human, Rose, but I trust her if Edward does. What was he supposed to do? Let the car crush her into a million pieces? We all knew he had developed some sort of attachment to her by then. If she died, he would be mourning her for decades," Amelia sighed. Edward loved to drag on his mistakes for as long as he could. He always reminded himself of the horrible incidents that occurred in the past. Amelia was often that way as well, but no one heard it except for Edward.

     "Let's not fight over it anymore," Rosalie shrugged off. She knew everyone was listening, especially Esme. The motherly woman hated when there was tension in her house. "I agree with Alice. We need to find you a guy."

     "Or girl. You don't know what I'm into."

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     "So how do I look?" Amelia spun around, striking a model pose. Carlisle chuckled at her and shook his head.

     "This is what you were doing while we were cooking?"

     "It's not everyday we get a human in here, Carlisle," she shot back. She tilted her head at the cooking television program playing on the screen. "We're learning our cooking techniques from a mortal?"

     "We have to start somewhere, sweetheart. There isn't exactly an edition of Vampire Cooking for Dummies," Esme grinned, kissing Amelia's forehead. The blonde caught Rosalie's irritated look and laughed. She was less than excited that Bella was coming to visit.

     Amelia was the first to greet the vampire-human couple, her smile wide. Bella was surprised to see her enthusiasm, considering how hostile she was during Bella's first day. "Hello! We made you Italiano, Bella, if you're hungry. It's muy magnifico!" She blew kisses in the air and giggled.

     "Bella, you know Mia," Edward gave her a warning look, asking her to tone it down. Esme came bouncing over. "This is Esme, my mother for all intents and purposes."

     "Bon giorno."

     "Molto bene!"

     "You've given us an excuse to use the kitchen for the first time," Carlisle joked.

     "I hope you're hungry," Amelia wiggled her eyebrows. None of the human food smelled appealing to her, but she supposed it was delicious for Bella.

     "Yeah, absolutely."

     "She already ate."

     Amelia winced at the sound of a glass bowl breaking. Rosalie was pissed. "Perfect!" Emmett left his station to calm her down. Amelia had the feeling that something like this would happen, and she didn't need Alice's visions to see it.

     "Yeah, it's just- I know you guys don't eat-"

     "Of course," Esme responded kindly. "It's very considerate of you."

     "Just ignore Rosalie. I do."

     Nice of you to say when she's in the same room. Edward's head twisted to Amelia, who now had her arms folded across her chest in Rosalie's defense.

     "Yeah, let's just keep pretending like this isn't dangerous for all of us," Rosalie said sternly.

     "I would never tell anybody anything," Bella promised. She looked absolutely frightened of Rosalie. She was really trying to gain the family's acceptance.

     "She knows that," Carlisle confirmed.

     "Yeah, well, the problem is you two have become public now, so-" Emmett stepped up for his wife. He looked at Amelia to ask her to do the same, but the blonde didn't really want another family argument.

     "Emmett!"

     "No, she should know. The entire family will be implicated if this ends badly," Rosalie crossed her arms. Bella noticed how similar her and Amelia looked in the same stance.

     "Badly as in I become the meal."

     Amelia howled. The musical laughter seemed to announce Alice's arrival. She stood outside, legs planted on one of the tree branches. "Hi, Bella!" She greeted, stepping inside. Jasper was behind her. "I'm Alice." She hugged Bella, who tensed up. Amelia assumed she wasn't very accustomed to Alice's warm welcomes. Jasper was trying to hold himself back as much as he could. Adjusting to the vegetarian lifestyle was still tricky. "Oh, you do smell good."

     "Nice, Alice," Amelia teased.

     "It's okay. Bella and I are going to be great friends."

     Edward looked like he was ready to expel his family and find a new one. He, for once, felt like a regular teenager, embarrassed to bring his girlfriend home to his overbearing family. Carlisle cleared his throat, introducing Jasper. "Sorry. Jasper's our newest vegetarian. It's a little difficult for him."

     "Pleasure to meet you," he gulped. Amelia rolled her eyes.

     "Since everyone's introduced, can I go to Port Angeles now?" She asked, pouting to Esme and Carlisle. They were persistent on everyone staying home for Bella's welcoming, but it was evident that Edward was done with the welcome wagon.

     "Alright-"

     "Be careful. I know, I know."

     Good luck, brother. She winked at Edward. He rolled his eyes and left the kitchen, leading Bella upstairs. Amelia's room was right next to his, and Bella peered inside. The walls were white, but there were various paint samples colored on the plaster. "She couldn't decide on a color," Edward explained. "Esme wanted to keep the house modern but Mia wanted the room painted. She always gets what she wants, but every time she chose a shade, she changed her mind."

     "She's very different from the rest of you, isn't she?"

     Edward shrugged at the question. "She likes to keep ahold of her humanity, even if there's none left. We've all accepted who we are but Mia loves taking advantage of it."

     Bella's eyes scanned the rest of the room. There was no bed, just a fluffy white couch. She had two bookshelves on the other side of the wall, and fashion magazines spread all over the coffee table. There were clothes piled all over the floor, making it look like a regular teenager's bedroom. Edward closed the door, showing Amelia's name painted over it.

     "Does she hate me?"

     Edward smiled at the question. "No, she's grown to love you."

     "We've never even really talked."

     His eyes roamed over the front of her door again. It was so fitting for his sister to carve her name into every inch of the house so if they left, anyone who came across the rooms would remember her. That's all Amelia wanted to be after all. Remembered.

     "That's just who she is. Mia will love you without speaking to you, but she'll despise you if you steal her spotlight."

me and mia are one and the same