Disclaimer: I own nothing not even this delicious blue gatorade i have currently borrowed from my roomate.

Hey yall
so I'm not even going to bore you with excuses as to why i didn't update. Let's just say life is like a new born baby with a cold. It requires your entire attention.
but I promise I haven't and never will abandon. I will finish this story if it's the last thing I do.
So this is an oober short chapter, but i kept feeling so guilty that I havn't updated that i sat down an wrote this today. Its small, but right now small is all I can manage. So i can get another short one out to you later this week instead of trying to do a mother of a chappy.

so enough of my chatter, here is chapter 17 CHUTZPAH? .

chapter song: "Down to the Market" by The Kooks

Chutzpah?

Edward Cullen

"Cullen!"

My entire family's eyes widened at that voice.

It sounded angry.

We had definitely forgotten to factor pissed off, jealous fiancé in the new plan.

Shit.

We all turned to see the forms of Felix, Demetri and Alec, decked out in black Volturi uniforms, headed in our direction.

And they didn't look too happy.

Well, if it was a fight they wanted.

Here we are.

But things just got a lot more complicated.

"Oh this is just freaking splendid; Meathead's coming this way." Rosalie said under her breath. The Denali's were puzzled, but we didn't have time to explain the situation to them, nor did we really want to. There was no need to involve anyone else in our mess.

The three Volturi strutted their way to us as if they were the kings of the world. Felix had the smirk on his face that I just wanted to smack off. I tried to calm myself down and shake it off, only to remember that Tanya still had her arm through mine and she would just grip tighter when I tried to release my self.

They stopped in front of us and Felix began to speak with slight amusement in his voice and that smirk still on his face. "We couldn't help but overhear you as we passed by," I internally snorted at that. Demetri sure as hell had his tracking power on maximum volume, "but, are you really not competing?" Felix was looking at me straight in the eye as he said that.

"Yes Felix. What you accidently overheard is true. I'm not much into fighting." I replied calmly. "Emmett and Rosalie are, though. You can look forward to that." Felix looked back at his floozies and that irritating smirk of his just became even more so. Demetri and Alec eyed Rosalie up and down with a mix of skepticism and the usual lust. Emmett just shook his head at them. He knew what they were thinking and only wished them luck in their doubts about Rosalie. She was a beast.

"Well, I was excited for the show you would put on for us today. I was so looking forward to seeing if any of that chutzpah you showed on the track yesterday would be here when it's on my turf." Felix said smugly. His turf? Really. I would love to hand him his ass if it wouldn't intrude on my plans on getting to Bella.

"Chutzpah? Wow Felix, that's a big a big word. I'm surprised you could handle it. Did you get that out of your SAT practice book; because I can't wait to hear the rest of the vocabulary you whip out?" I retorted quickly trying to divert the conversation away from fighting. The rest of my family and the Denali's laughed quietly, while Felix and company were fuming.

"Real cute, Cullen. But, we'll see how cute you're really going to be when it really comes down to it." Felix said dropping the smirk.

"No, what's cute are the matching jumpsuits you three are wearing. I am just telling it as it is." I replied calmly. This was definitely not the way this conversation should be going, but it was coming out like a roller coaster with no way to stop.

Felix narrowed his eyes a bit and leaned forward slightly as he spoke. "If it wasn't for the fact that you're Aro's special guests, or the fact that my fiancé seems to like you so much, you would be out of here faster than your little ginger head could believe." He then leaned back and looked over our heads quickly with a smile, "I expected more of a challenge from you Cullen. Can't say I'm surprised though."

Just as he was finishing his sentence, Bella was beside him looking beautiful as ever and acting as if last night had never happened. I wanted so desperately to talk to her, but I had to wait. Felix's smile brightened with Bella's and then she kissed him.

My brain was telling me to look away, but my heart trained my eyes to stay. She kissed him with all the passion of a lover and thought I was going to be sick. Even though Bella and I had kissed before, it was never as passionate as either of wanted. It was for her safety that we didn't get too carried away. Now she had the opportunity to kiss someone else without having to think about anything accept that person.

And that person wasn't me.

They kiss was entirely too long for my taste and was only broken up when of Bella's friends cleared his throat. My entire family was a little taken a back by Bella's confidence or as Felix would call it, chutzpah. They were all pretty speechless and even their thoughts were standid. They were looking between Bella and me waiting to see what was going to happen next until Alice broke the silence by greeting Bella. Bella said hello to everyone in my family with a smile, but it wasn't as genuine as her smile normally was. It was as if she was trying to avoid any kind of acknowledgement about last night. I was trying to communicate silently with her, hoping that maybe she would understand that we needed to talk, but she was purposely avoiding my eyes.

I didn't even notice what the conversation was going to until heard Felix mention my name and my not fighting. "Oh B, Edward's not competing in the competition", Felix said with smugness. Like it would honestly matter to her if I was fighting. I swallowed back the smart ass comment I wanted to throw at him.

"Well that's too bad. See you all later" Bella said with a wave and she and the rest of the Volturi left without another word. I knew that what had happened last night was what was making her act different. But it still hurt to have her ignoring me like that.

I took one step forward and 15 steps back. I felt like I was losing her and soon it was going to be too late to get My Bella back.

"I hope I wasn't the only on that felt it, but that chick was shooting off some hateful vibes." Tanya said from beside me. I removed my arm from hers a little more forcefully than I should.

"Tanya you really don't..." I began before I was cut off by Alice.

"Know that Bella is just really stressed out from all of the stuff that's been going on this week. I'm sure she didn't mean anything hostile towards you." Alice said covering up what was about to be a very blatant comment.

Tanya looked at us skeptically. "Since when were you guys such good friends with the princess? You speak as if you've known her forever or something."

"Oh you have no idea how well we know her" Emmett said from aside as I glared at him and Rosalie smacked him.

Tanya and the rest of the Denali's looked on in confusion. What do we tell them? That Bella was my long lost human love from 70 years ago, that I believed had died, but actually just turned into the most powerful vampire in the world by one of my enemies, and now has no recollection of our time together and is about to marry another vampire that isn't me unless I can make her remember us in less than a week.

Yes the only thing that would do is prove to be the longest run on sentence ever spoken.

"What's going on Edward?" Tanya asked as she folded her arms.

"Uh, Bella is our, um" I started to stutter until I saw my parents, "Carlisle! Esme! Look who it is!" My parents came into view smiling and the rest of my siblings breathed a relief that we didn't have to explain anything.

"Hello everyone" Carlisle said in his usual calm, friendly tone. He shook hands with our friends giving us the best way to excuse ourselves.

"Well, we ought to be going now. The competition's about to start and we have things to do, you know." Alice said giving our parents an excuse.

"Okay, just be careful" Esme said as both our parents gave us that really-be-careful-and-watch-yourselves look. Especially at me. I just nodded towards both of them and we walked away towards the fighting ring.

We walked to the enclosed field that was about the size of half a football field with the Volturi's black tent at the end. It had a balcony like seating stage where the Volturi leaders where to sit and watch. There was then the competitor's tent just to side. There was stadium seating around the entire ring, where there were already vamps sitting and waiting for it to start.

"Alright guys, this is where our mission begins. Don't mess this up." Alice said and looked pointedly at me. "Jazz, keep an eye on our boy here", Alice said while still looking at me and Jasper just kissed the top of Alice's tiny head in response.

"Alice for the last time, there is virtually no way I can mess this up. I just sit and watch." I said getting annoyed by her lack of faith in me.

"Yeah your future isn't as clear as I'd like it to be though." She said.

"I promise you I will not do anything."

"I hope so"

Alice and I had a silent showdown until I rolled my eyes and looked away.

"Let's go guys. I'm ready to hand out some asses." Emmett said impatiently.

Alice gave me one last look before she, Emmet and Rosalie made their way to their tent.

"Come on man, you will get to talk to Bella later. Just relax for now." Jasper said.

"Yeah, okay." I said. I looked up at the Volturi tent just in time to see Felix walk Bella to her chair. He kissed her hand and wanted to run up there and kill him.

"Come on" Jasper said. He grabbed my shoulder and led me toward seats in the back.

This is going to be harder than I thought. I'm just going to have to keep my cool.

I can do this.

Bella Volter

"Wish me luck B, not that I really need it of course," Felix said with a smug smile as he walked with me up to my chair. I rolled my eyes at him as we walked out onto the platform that overlooked the field. The sun was shining so everyone was nice and shiny. I slid on my big sunglasses that Heidi forced me to bring, and now I was grateful she did. The intensity of the sun and the vampires was a bit too much.

"Felix that ego of yours is going to come around and bite you in the ass if you don't put it away. And I'm sure it'll hurt like a bitch" I said jokingly. Of course Felix didn't need any luck, he was one of the best fighters I've seen, but that didn't mean he had to brag about it. Besides, there was always that chance that there was someone better. That was reason why my father and his brothers had front row seats.

"I think I'll take my chances" He said which made us both start laughing. This is what I love about Felix. He so easy to around and can always make me laugh. This is the part of him that I truly and deeply love.

Felix pulled my hips closer to him as he looked at me through my big glasses. He gently lifted them off my face and smiled. "Bella you have no idea how happy you make me. I love you, so much." He said while looking at me with pure love. He kissed me softly before resting his forehead against mine. I couldn't deny how much I cared for him. He really was the one for me.

"Felix, you make me happy too," I said slowly as I brought my hands up his arms to hook around his neck, "and I love you too." I finished with a smile of my own. We kissed again softly and we broke apart only for us to embrace in a hug.

He walked me to my chair in the middle and I sat down beside Caius who was talking with his wife.

"I'll be back, my love" Felix said as he kissed my hand before disappearing back down the tent.

I smiled in happiness as I looked out at the field and saw the many vampires shining like little stars in the sky. My eyes rested upon a head of messy, bronze hair walking beside a shaggy, blonde one. They were walking away from me and I couldn't help but feel a tug at the hole in my chest.

It killed me to have to act that way towards him earlier but, it was my only choice. I would have to have been blind not to notice how sad he looked after I kissed Felix. His entire family looked disappointed. Even if he did have that blonde on his arm, he wanted to talk to me. I wanted to talk to him too; it's just that it would be better if we didn't.

But I wasn't going to lie

Edward looked mighty attractive with the sun glistening off of his marble skin. He wore a v-neck white shirt and jeans that rode a little low on his hips. He was too perfect. I sighed out loud in contempt as I sat back in my comfy chair.

"Oh too be young and in love"

I was brought out of my thoughts by Caius' voice and I tilted my head towards him. He wore a knowing smile and friendly eyes. Caius was a great uncle; I always found it amusing that he was only pleasant towards me and his wife. He was a regular hard ass too everyone else.

I just smiled as he continued, "He will be good too you and good for you. I can see how much you care for him as well."

"Yes. Yes I do." I responded.

But to be honest I wasn't 100% sure if we were talking about Felix.

"I do love Felix" I said surely to Caius just in case he took notice to my wandering eyes a second ago.

"Of course, dear Bella" Caius said as we both turned back to face the front. We dropped it at that, but I'm sure I saw a mysterious twinkle in his eye.

I was just going to have to keep my cool.

I can do this.

Soooo, how was it?
Review and give me your thoughts.

i will hopefully update by the end of this week but I really don't know.
i am at a dance intensive in dallas, and have been for the past month so finding time to do anything is impossible.
but ill be home sunday and ill have too much free time so, definetly next week.

btw... what did yall think of the new harry potter. I didn't get to go to midnite release sadly, but ive already seen it twice since then.
and ill be honest...... I wasn't impressed.
it was good, for sure, but it left out too much for my taste and was crossing the line of being corny.
and don't even get me started on the disgraceful ending.

but anyway, im off to bed. u have to dance in the morning, but you probably already knew that.

REVIEW!!

- a very tired alexis