The Past

Bella stared dreamily around, it looked like she was in Billy's back garden surrounded by the forest but somehow she felt like it wasn't. When she looked down at herself, she gasped. She was wearing a strange dress similar to the ones she saw in the movie 'Pride and Prejudice.' Emily and Leah had forced her to watch it the previous night.

Bella stood up and walked down the porch steps and onto the grass. She looked back at the house and gasped again. It was a beautiful white colonial house. As she walked around the house a small town came into view. It looked like a scene from the same film.

She walked into the main town, many smiled and greeted her, Bella smiled back at them and continued walking.

"Miss Isabella!" she turned at her name being shouted.

A young Afro-America woman came running up to her before stopping in front of her to catch her breath.

Bella noticed a group of men stood a little away from them. Suddenly, they started laughing and whispering to each other like a group of school girls. The girl in front of her blushed and tried to shy away whilst Isabella fumed.

"If you school girls have quite finished, I would like to know what she wants," she said to the group angrily.

Their eyes widened and they gaped at her as she turned back to the girl who looked grateful.

"Thank you, Miss Isabella," Bella smiled at the girl and motioned for her to walk with her.

"Now, was there something you wanted?" She asked.

The girl nodded, suddenly remembering her reason for running up to her.

"Apologies, Miss. Yes, your father sent me to get you"

Bella nodded and followed the girl back to the house. Slowly, she walked inside and marvelled at the decor. It was just as beautiful inside as it was outside.

The young girl showed her to the living room and Bella tried not to laugh when she saw her father dressed in a nice suit with a moustache that connected with his sideburns. Luckily, Bella had realised that she was reliving a memory. She felt like an anthropologist, studying the past whilst still remembering her future.

"Ah! Isabella, there you are. I have some exciting news to tell you," he started as he showed her to the couch and sat her down. "A young gentleman has approached me with intentions of marriage for you," Charlie looked so excited Bella wasn't sure what she felt.

Charlie carried on and on about this man, after a while, Isabella stopped listening. However, Charlie didn't seem to notice once he was done promoting the virtues and benefits of her marriage he left to go to his study to start arranging things.

Bella sat there for a while, she knew in the future her dad would never in a million years allow Bella to marry a stranger but in this time it was normal.

She wasn't sure how she was supposed to react. Bella felt as if she should be happy that someone wanted her but she wasn't. The girl from before came in and started tidying and dusting. She stopped when she noticed Bella was sitting still on the couch.

"Miss Isabella, is everything alright?" she asked as she sat down next to her, Bella shook her head.

"Not really sure."

The girl looked at her strangely then stood up and held out her hand.

"Come, Miss, I know what will cheer you up."

Slowly, Bella took her hand and followed her outside and into the forest. As she walked through the tall trees, Bella started to feel more at ease. The deeper she walked the happier she became, she loved the sounds and the feel of the forest.

Eventually, they came to a clearing and stopped. The girl turned to her and saw a smile on Bella's face. She felt pleased that she had succeeded in cheering her up.

"See, Miss, I knew it would cheer you up," Bella nodded smiling. "Miss, do you want to tell me what had you so troubled?" she asked as they sat down next, Isabella sighed and turned to the girl.

"My father told me some good news, I guess it's good. A man wants to marry me. I'm not sure who because I stopped listening after a while," she explained. 'Ah' came the response.

"I should be happy right?" she asked the girl who couldn't answer.

"Yes, you should be happy that any man wants a pale face like you.

Both girls jumped at the unexpected voice and turned to see three Native American men approaching them. Inside her mind, Bella gasped as she looked upon one of the men. He seemed just as intent on her as well.

'Jared?' future Bella thought to herself.

"How dare you speak such a way to Miss Isabella," shouted the girl which caused the men to laugh.

"Miss Isabella is it?" said the Jared look-alike.

Bella stood tall as the man approached her, however inside she was shaking like a leaf. Not because she was scared, but because this man caused butterflies to dance in her stomach.

"A pleasure Miss Isabella," he said as he held his hand out for her.

Slowly, she placed her hand in his. He smiled at her and kissed her hand. Bella seemed lost in a trance as the Jared look-alike continued to hold her hand after kissing it. Eventually, realising everyone was watching them, she took her hand and eyes away from his.

"Miss, we should be getting back," came the girl's voice.

"Wait a bit miss … errr," hinted one of the other men, who reminded Bella a little of Jake.

"Angelina," she finished.

"Angelina, we mean you no harm I promise. I am sorry if we startled you earlier," the Jake look-alike said. "You can call me Kurux, this here is Honga and the one stood near Miss Isabella is Jared," Bella inwardly gasped.

'We both have the same names in the past as we do in the future.'

Angela blushed as Kurux kissed her hand like Jared had kissed Bella's.

"We still need to be getting back Miss, your father may be wondering where you are," she said as she stepped back and moved closer to Bella.

All three men smiled and waved as the two girls walked away. Bella couldn't help glancing back at them.

"See you soon Miss Bella," shouted Jared, causing Bella to blush and walk faster away.

Bella and Angela made it to the tree line before Bella stopped and looked back. The men were gone, she sighed and turned back around and followed Angela back.

----

Bella awoke with a start, she gasped for air as the dream replayed in her head, refusing to leave. She looked beside her and saw Leah fast asleep and snoring.

"Leah, wake up!" she pushed her shoulders causing Leah to fall out of bed.

"B, what the hell?" she shouted.

Leah was ready to pounce on her until she saw the look on Bella's face.

"What is it? What happened?"

Bella took a minute to calm down and to collect her thoughts. She had no idea where to start or how to say it. Once she was sure she could form a sentence coherently she turned to her new friend.

"I have an idea about where I know him."