Before we start, a few bulletpoint facts to get out of the way:
•Bella meets the Cullens in April instead of March (no reason other than me wanting that)
•Jake and Bella are the same age (Bella still older) and Seth and A.J. are a year younger than them
•In this Twilight fanfic universe, vamps and wolves who were changed before they turned 18 continue to age until they reach 18 cause I said so
•Jasper served in the Union
•Proofread but not perfect
Also this story is Seth Clearwater x OC (?) Cullen based off my friend who requested this slowburn fic, cause there are almost no Seth fanfics (the disrespect😤✊🏻). All chapters are named after Florence+the Machine songs cause me and my bestie love her stuff
Without further ado…Machine
A.J. rolled her black, knee-high socks up her calf one at a time; starting with her dominant, right side then her left; from her seated position on the carpeted floor. Briefly, she slapped her hands rhythmically against her muscular thighs while leaning over to her left.
Copper eyes glanced around the pastel yellow walls of her room, the natural light filtered in through the large windows, catching the gradually changing, honey-gold undertone in her deep-set eyes.
“All eyes on me in the center of the ring, just like a circus~,” A.J. grabbed a dusty, white sneaker, “Ba-duh-duh-dun-danana-na-nun-just like a circus~.” she mumbled along while slipping her foot into her sneaker.
The bedroom’s overhead light glinted across her freshly-painted nails as she swooshed her tanned hand back to the left, anticipating the of the meshy-cotton of her matching sneaker, only to find the carpet.
“Huh?” her head whipped around at a lightning speed, “What-where is it.”
A.J. zipped over to the clunky, black stereo with various pop-culture stickers adorning it. The music abruptly cut off when she pressed the button, leaving an otherwise silent room had it not been for her enhanced hearing.
Clothing and other belongings were now strewn across the expansion of her room as she zipped all around it. The young vampire stopped at the foot of her bed (though never once had she used it for it’s intended purpose of sleeping) and flipped the pink ombré blanket up, sending her phone flying.
“Shit.” she cursed before snatching the rhinestone-bedazzled phone out of the air.
“Angel~,” Alice’s voice snapped A.J. out of her determined search, “Are you coming?”
A.J. called back, “I’ll be there in a sec!”
Her eyes surveyed her messy room once more; their enhanced precision able to look in every nook and cranny. The panel bed; covered with multiple stuffed animals she’s collected throughout her sixteen years; pressed against the far wall in the corner with two solid walls, the open blackout shades that sat at the top of the windows, the large built-in shelves by the doorway which had many cd’s on each shelf and various figurines, and inside her open closet.
The closet door was promptly shut, hiding the heap of clothing and shoes that weren’t her missing sneaker. A.J. gazed at herself in the full-length mirror on the outside of the door. She readjusted the cockeyed shoulder of her dark blue muscle tank and pulled down the hem of her black and white sweat shorts that had uncomfortably ridden up while she had been sitting down.
Grabbing two hair bands from the shelf between the closet and the bedroom door, A.J. haphazardly sectioned her layered hair; that was cut to just above her shoulders; into two parts. After doing so, she twisted one hairband three times around her dirty-blonde hair and repeated on the other side.
A.J. gave herself one more look in the mirror before grabbing her black backpack from beside the closet door, and zipped out of her room to head downstairs. In a blink, she was standing between the island and the fridge in the open, spacious kitchen.
“There she is.” Alice smiled teasingly at her from her seated spot on the edge of the island closest to the kitchen windows, her legs swinging alternately.
A.J. eyes snapped over to meet Alice’s liquid-topaz ones as tossed her backpack to the other room, “Sorry, I was looking for my shoe. Have you guys seen it?” she glanced between Alice and Jasper, who was leaning on his clothed forearm on the island next to Alice.
The tall and burly Cullen, Emmett, appeared next to A.J. with seven plastic grocery bags in his large hands.
“First your jack-,” Emmett was cut off by A.J. elbowing him in the chest.
Instinctively, Emmett dropped the grocery bags and wrapped his left arm around A.J.’s neck; his right arm acting as an anchor to keep her locked in. The younger vampire flung her muscular arms up in retaliation and gripped Emmett’s forearm and wrist. She then used her enhanced strength to yank his arms down and off of her, spinning herself around so she was now behind him with both his arms pinned to his back.
“Damn it.” Emmett cursed as A.J. released her hold on him.
The corners of Jasper mouth quirked up, “Good job, A.J.. I dare say you’re approaching my level of expertise.” his eyes shifted to watch as the other Cullens filed in.
Carlisle, Esme, and Rosalie strolled through the opening of the kitchen with plastic bags, that matched the ones Emmett had dropped, and two brown paper bags which Rosalie held. As to not block their way, Emmett and A.J. stepped away from the section between the island and fridge.
A.J. grinned at Jasper’s comment and opened her mouth to speak, not going unnoticed by Emmett.
“Don’t get used to it, shortie,” he cut her off before she get a word out, “In a few more months you’ll be just as weak as everyone else.” he playfully ruffled her hair.
“Hey! I just did my hair,” she swatted his pale hand away and quickly added, “Also, I’m 5’7, ya dick.”
“Angel Hale.” Esme warned as she and Rosalie began to unpack the bags.
A.J.’s lips formed a pout, “Oh, come on, I was just defending myself! He was the one who put me in a chokehold.” she jutted her thumb in his direction.
Esme looked at Emmett who’s arms were up in an innocent manner with a smirk plastered on his face. Her amber eyes shot down at the mess of fallen ingredients and plastic bags she had stepped over beforehand, then back at Emmett.
“Pick it up,” Esme ordered her adopted son, “Now.”
A.J. crossed her arms and smirked at him as if she had just beaten him for class president.
Emmett squinted his hooded eyes at his sister, “I was going to anyway.” he bent down and began to pick up the mess he made.
Carlisle turned away from the counter against the window and smiled fondly at A.J., his eyes filled with the love of a father.
“Excuse me, Alice,” Carlisle excused himself as Alice hopped off the counter, “Now, what was it you were looking for, Angel?” Carlisle opened the cabinet underneath the island and pulled out 2 metal bowls.
A.J. kicked her shoe-less, sock-covered foot up, almost punting Emmett in the head had it not been for him ducking just enough to pick up butter.
“Hey, watch it!” Emmett exclaimed as he waddled to the right to evade the possibility of getting hit by A.J.’s lack of depth perception.
A.J. smiled apologetically, “Sorry,” she then flailed her arms out at her foot that was still hanging it the air, as if she were showing something she would die without, “My sneaker. My white sneaker. I can’t find it anywhere.”
Rosalie stepped over Emmett and towards the perplexed teenager, “You mean the shoe I saw Emmett hide underneath the upstairs sink?” she placed her hands on A.J.’s broad shoulders.
“Babe!” Emmett whined as he set the last of the groceries on the counter, “You said you wouldn’t tell.” he rolled his neck in an exasperated manner to look down at Rosalie.
Rosalie smirked at him, “Did I?” her smirk fell into a look of surprise when A.J.’s shoulders left her manicured hands.
Esme smiled fondly seeing her children interact. Though A.J. has only been apart of the family ten months come the twenty-eighth of this month, there’s been a significant change in the Cullen clan’s atmosphere. It’s been…lighter; ironically livelier despite them all being undead. Having a sixteen year-old that hasn’t been stuck at the same age for a century, has been refreshing for the family; especially one as active and well…loud as A.J..
“Got it!” A.J. announced as she came booming down the stairs at a normal, rushed pace.
“Angel Jade, I swear one of these days you are going to break those stairs.” Esme teased as she gathered the plastic bags up.
A.J. walked down the hall and bounced into the kitchen with both of her sneakers on, “We heading out, yet?” she looked to Jasper and Alice who were leaning against each other while holding hands in the room next to the kitchen.
Alice drew her golden eyes from her husband, “Well, we were waiting for you.” she smiled at her sister.
“Right then,” A.J. grinned and clapped her hands once, “Les’ go!” she rolled her heels into a stride towards the open balcony door.
Jasper watched as A.J. strolled past them, “I thought we were gonna practice some volleyball?” he raised an eyebrow.
A.J. stopped abruptly before walking backwards, “I knew I forgetting something.” she flicked her wrist back and forth with her index finger extended, as if she were chiding herself.
Emmett smirked from his position between the kitchen counter and island, “Yeah, I’m sure you did.” he joked while leaning on the island with his chin resting in his hand.
“You’re also not going out with your hair looking like a mess.” Rosalie grabbed A.J.’s shoulders as the younger vampire walked past her, now in front of the island.
“What do you mean ‘mess’,” A.J.’s hands frantically flung up to her low pigtails, feeling frizzed up strands from Emmett’s hair-ruffling earlier, “Why didn’t someone tell me?”
Emmett watched as Rosalie pulled the two hair bands from A.J.’s hair, “To be fair, you’re heading out to the middle of the woods.”
A.J. scrunched her face up mockingly, “Nehh…!” she antagonized.
“Nehh…!” Emmett retaliated, copying her exact face.
“Alright, enough.” Esme told the bickering duo.
Alice floated in the direction of the stairs that led up to the bedrooms, “Yes, please! I’d like Jasper to feed before Bella and Edward arrive.” she flashed upstairs.
“Ugh, the human,” Rosalie scoffed as she finished braiding the two small sections of A.J.’s hair and parted it down the center, “Remind me why we’re allowing this?” she tied the pigtails off.
“Come on, babe, give her a chance.” Emmett encouraged.
Rosalie spun on her heel, “You think the Volturi will ‘give us a chance’?” she scowled with crossed arms
A.J. watched as this transpired. Having only met Volturi once when she was first turned, not much was known of them on her part, other than Carlisle’s history with them. She didn’t see them as threatening; well, maybe Cauis; a little strange but not that strict…right? The way Rosalie talked about them, however, worried her…would they all be killed if the Volturi found out about Edward and Bella’s relationship?
“Rose, please,” Carlisle pleaded, “Everything will be fine.” he promised with a reassuring smile.
Carlisle words seem to put A.J.’s fears at ease, or perhaps it was the doing of her fellow Texan brother who’s eyes she felt on the back of her head.
Alice appeared next to A.J. with a gentle blow of wind, “Took me a second, but I found your volleyball.” she placed her small hand on A.J.’s shoulder and handed her the ball, “Your room’s a mess.”
“It’s not that bad.” A.J. brushed it off with a nonchalant expression.
“A.J., didn’t we tell you to clean your room three days ago?” Esme asked, referencing the conversation her and Carlisle had with A.J.
A.J. looked to her left, piecing together her memory of the other night. A memory of her putting clothes away popped into her mind.
She looked back at her mother who was handing Carlisle a large skillet, “I did!” she told them.
“You’re room does not support your notion, Angel.” Alice’s eyes twinkled, a smirk plastered on her face.
A.J. pressed her lips into a thin line, “I did though, truly. It’s only messy today because I lost my shoe which EMMETT stole, so technically it’s his fault.” she explained using her hands.
“Hey, don’t go blaming this on me,” he stood to his full height, “You’re the one who can’t keep track of your shoes.”
“I-wha-YOU STOLE MY SHOE!” A.J. flailed her arms in his direction causing Alice to let go of her shoulder move back to where Jasper was.
Emmett scoffed, “I did not steal your shoe, I simply took it from your room and placed it under the sink.” his dopey smirk never left his face.
A.J. crossed her arms, “Okay, so you stole AND hid my shoe; that’s like double illegal.”
“I’m pretty sure hiding someone’s shoe is not illegal-stealing, maybe, but not when it’s your little sister’s.” he defended himself.
Just as A.J. was about to retaliate, Alice cut her off, “We’re going to leave without you, you know?” she teased.
A.J.’s head snapped in Alice’s direction, “Yeah-yeah, sorry, let’s go!”
“Oh, wait,” Esme stopped her, “Here, don’t wanna forget this.”
Esme stepped over to the fridge and wrapped her strong hand around the metal handle of the freezer side and pulled it open. She pulled out a pink, portable cup with the letter ‘A’ on it in black. Though one would not be able to figure it it’s contents without further inspection, a strong whiff of animal blood flooded the senses of the surrounding vampires.
A.J. met Esme in the middle and took the cup from her mother’s hand.
“Don’t forget to drink up, alright, sweetie.” A soft smile graced the woman’s face.
A.J. grinned back, “Of course!” she shrugged her shoulders as she tucked the cup into the mesh side pocket of her backpack, and button the leather strap to lock it in.
“Finally,” Alice exasperated, “Come on!” she waved her hand towards herself before she zipped off through the balcony door, Jasper following her.
“Aight, see ya guys later.” A.J. saluted them with her index and middle finger while slinging her backpack over shoulder before looping it over the other.
“Be safe, love you!” Esme called after them.
“Oh, and don’t forget to go farther out this time,” A.J. stopped in her tracks at Carlise’s reminder, “We don’t want a repeat of last time.”
A gentle breeze blew against A.J.’s marble-like skin as she walked through the opening, “I know. Also that was completely Edward’s fault; he’s a terrible blocker.” she remarked before zipping off.
“Even I gotta side with Aje this time,” Emmett spoke up as he spun a white bowl in his hands, “It was coming right at him.”
The three remaining vampires chuckled.
“Though let’s try to not break any more windows.” Carlisle smiled.
Though they had a good head start, A.J. easily caught up to Jasper and Alice. Thanks to her enhanced agility; even more so than the average vampire and newborn; the youngest of the Cullen Coven leaped and swerved around fallen and standing trees, rocks, and even over a deer which she could get tackled behind her. A sickening crack echoed in her ears, a tell tale sign Jasper had found his appetizer. If she could vomit, she would have. Even as a vampire A.J. could barely stand the sight of blood, let alone a mutilated animal. A memory of a past teammate in seventh grade getting a softball chucked at her face popped into her head. The way the crimson liquid poured out of her crooked nose; the way it glistened a gorgeous scarlet color in the afternoon sunlight.
She shook her head at the conflicting thought, thankful Edward was not with them at the moment. A seed of doubt planted itself in her mind that she would lack the self-control, she had previously prided herself on, when in Bella’s presence. If Edward had been with them, he would have immediately told her she couldn’t meet Bella. Although that made perfect sense, A.J. was irritated at the thought of not getting to meet someone new when she’s been quarantined for months.
“Screw Edward.” she thought to herself.
“I’ll get by out of pure spite.” a silent promise was made to herself.
All of her siblings had met the human girl at school; which A.J. was still not cleared to go to, having to be homeschooled until the next school year; but A.J. had yet to meet her. Carlise, Esme, and Edward had been mentally preparing the newborn to be in close contact with a human. Though she had been in public a few times in the past 6 months, it was only a car ride through Forks or to a convenience store or park late at night to ‘ease her in’ as they said.
There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that they knew what they were doing, considering they’re all at least a hundred years old and she’s the inexperienced, ‘blood-thirsty’ newborn. A.J. simply missed going out, hanging with friends, being able to eat food, playing sports.
‘Gosh, do I miss volleyball.” She thought to herself as she tucked the ball she had been carrying between her right arm and side.
In a blink, A.J. was in the air and her left hand wrapped around a splintered tree branch. Once her full weight pulled on the weak limb, it snapped just as quickly as she had gripped it. She could hear Alice and Jasper come rushing from behind her, ready to help to their sister in a moments notice. Fortunately for A.J.’s pride, she kicked her legs out to the left and pushed off of the solid trunk of the tall tree. Her momentum from the kick sent her flying to the adjacent tree, which she kicked off of as well sending her to diagonal to a smaller tree.
The vampire repeated this pattern for four more trees before bouncing off the last tree into the clearing. As she propelled herself, A.J. spun around to face Alice and Jasper and spiked her specially made volleyball at her adopted brother. Before her eyes saw him catch it, she flipped backward and pounded her feet onto the green grass with her arms extended outward.
“Ha-ha,” an astonished look was plastered on her square face as Alice and Jasper appeared in front of her, “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being able to move like that.”
The corner of Jasper’s mouth quirked up as he laughed through his nose, “Nice save,” Jasper remarked and hurled the volleyball back to her with two hands.
A.J. let out an ‘oomph’ at the unexpected force her brother threw with, “Hey!”
“What? Can’t take what you dish?” Alice leaned her right shoulder toward her in a teasing manner.
“I can,” A.J. straightened her back and tucked the ball between her arm and side again, “I just wasn’t expecting it is all.”
“Now explain to me how you were star volleyball-and softball player-might I add-when you can’t anticipate your opponents strength?” Jasper antagonized, holding his wrists behind his back.
Alice giggled from next to him.
A.J. let her mouth fall open, “I’ll have you know I can do that no prob, I was just thrown off guard. I did just save myself from falling on my ass.”
“Well that’s no excuse, is it?” Alice’s large eyes glimmered.
“I-alright, I ain’t got a way to defend myself,” A.J. flipped her hands up, “Now, are we ‘volleyballing’?”
Jasper glanced at Alice, communicating in way A.J. has yet to learn. They shared a soft smile before Jasper raised Alice’s dainty hand to his lips and gently kissed it. A.J. watched their interaction with a twisted look of disgust, her un-humanly white teeth on full display from the way her wide lips were pulled back.
“Alright, ya freaks, let’s tone it down there, all right,” Alice and Jasper snickered at A.J.’s remark, “I’m serious, that’s disgusting.” she pretended to gag.
Alice briefly turned back to her sister, “You’ll understand one day when you find your mate, just like Jasper and I.” her head swiveled to gaze into her lovers eyes.
“Not for a long time, hopefully.” A.J. and Jasper spoke together.
A.J.’s expressive eyes snapped to her brother’s, “Well now I want it to happen sooner.” she smirked.
Jasper placed a strong hand onto his chest, “Just to spite me?” he returned the smirk.
He turned to look at Alice with a feign look of betrayal on his pale face, “My own baby sister. Choosin’ someone she ain’t never met over me, out of spite,” he strolled over to A.J. who was struggling to keep a straight face, “We might as well just send ya off right now, to get it over with. What d’ya think, Alice?”
A.J. watched with cautious eyes as Jasper got closer to her, one arm pinned behind his back and the right still resting on his blue, button down shirt. A giggle came from Alice, which caused A.J.‘s focus to switch to her. Using the distraction to his advantage, Jasper lunged at his sister and wrapped his long arms around her torso and backpack. He pinned her arms against her sides, pulling her flush against his chest, and lifted her off of the ground.
The newborn erupted into a fit of laughter as her brother spun her around, playfully threatening her in his smooth, southern drawl. Her joyful emotions intensified his own, reminding him how effervescent the Cullen’s house has been since A.J.’s arrival. Even for those who didn’t possess Jasper’s ability of pathokinesis; the bright, humorous nature of the girl infected them like a narcotic. Emmett’s playful behavior in particular, has only been amplified; finally able to embrace the ‘brotherly’ position.
All of the Cullen children had seem to enjoy the new ‘youngest sister’ dynamic. Rosalie and Alice were constantly buying clothing slightly too small or big for themselves, or ‘accidentally’ buying the wrong shade of foundation as an excuse to use A.J. as their own personal ‘Barbie doll’ and share their older sister wisdom with her whilst doing so.
Edward took a liking to her ‘jabbering’ as he played the piano or simply sat in his room; though she would sometimes talk his head off to which he would use the excuse of needing to hunt, knowing his newfound sister wouldn’t accompany him.
Emmett was often caught roughhousing with his little sister, to which Rosalie or Esme would get on to him for being too rough, only for A.J. to immediately after slam him to the floor. Emmett also throughly enjoyed her chatter but unlike Edward, he would chat aimlessly hours on end with her; after all what more can you fill your time with when you’re up day after day.
The memory of Jasper’s and A.J.’s first time meeting surfaced to the front of his mind. A tsunami of dread and sorrow filled him when Carlisle and Esme arrived at the Denali house with a newly changed A.J.. The sight of her frightened form had filled Jasper with pity, remembering how lonesome he himself felt during his first few weeks as a vampire, though it was long ago.
A gentle breeze blew through the forest, pulling Jasper from his thoughts. The trees blossoming petals and leaves shook as the wind rustled past them; a strong scent of a large black bear bombarded the three vampires noses.
The older Texan’s entire body stiffened before he set A.J. down. His topaz eyes snapped in the direction of the predators scent. The average joe would only be able to see brush and blossoming petals, but Jasper’s enhanced sight allowed him to peer deeper into the woods; past the brush and green leaves, the small birds and rodents, and straight at the big, burly bear.
“You go ahead, Jaz,” Alice told him, “I’ll stay here with Aje.” she spoke as if she knew what’s going to happen; which she often did.
Jasper nodded at them with a hardened stare before zipping through the circular, open field the Cullen’s use to play baseball.
The two women watched as he left the clearing; a gust of wind shaking the flora Jasper ran past.
Alice clasped her hands in front of herself, “All right, are we practicing?” she spun on the balls of her flats to face A.J..
A.J. turned her attention back to Alice, “Hell yeah, man!” she smiled as she slid her backpack off and tossed to the side.
“Crap!” A.J. exclaimed when she remembered her portable cup sitting in the side pocket of her backpack.
A sigh of relief left her cold lips when the cups lid had stayed on tight and had not spilled a drop. The small opening of the lid clicked open as slid the vertical top down and brought it to her lips. The cool blood was smooth on her tongue and coated her throat as she took a swig. After a few seconds, A.J. Lowered the cup from her mouth and bent down to tuck it back into mesh side pocket of her backpack.
Before the cup slid into the pocket, A.J. abruptly stopped before turning to look up at Alice who was bumping the volleyball. A.J. swung her arm left arm up with the cup in hand.
“Did ‘ja want some?” A.J. asked Alice, her teeth currently stained red without her knowing.
Alice looked down and giggled.
“No, thank you,” she ceased her bumping, “I hunted this morning. Also, you-,”
Alice barred her teeth and pointed at her pristine teeth with her manicured pointer finger to reference A.J.’s stained mouth.
“Oh!” A.J. exclaimed and immediately closed her mouth and licked her teeth cleaned.
Her tongue clicked as she finished cleaning her teeth and opened her mouth to speak.
“Am I good?” she barred her now white teeth at her adopted sister.
Alice playfully squinted at her to get a ‘better look’.
“You’re all good, Ange,” Alice smiled before transforming into a competitive expression, “Now…are we playing volleyball, or what?” her head turned to the side, eyes still on A.J.
In a blink, A.J.’s cup was back in her bag and she had snatched the volleyball out of Alice’s hand. A.J. then zipped over to the opposite side of the field with a smirk plastered on her tan face.
“Did you see that coming?” Alice raised an eyebrow as A.J. teased her from across the field.
“Unfortunately not,” Alice started, “But I did see Edward and Bella will arrive in exactly 29 minutes.”
The older vampire watched as her sister’s eyes scrunched up as a wide smile spread across her face. While filled with excitement, A.J. bopped the volleyball quite a few feet in the air before leaping up to match the height and spiking it down at Alice.
And the two engaged in a moderately epic volleyball match.
This is a major slow burn fanfic (as previously stated) so it’ll be a few chapter before some romance happens. Thank you for reading and stay tuned