Author's Note:
OK… I gave fanfiction writing a shot a while ago. It was a Vampire Diaries fic and I loved it but I lost my way. I recently came upon some inspiration though and I have (for the most part) planned this fic out already. The point is, I'm new to this so please be nice and leave reviews so I know if it's any good. I need some encouragement here, guys! Please and thank you J
Of course, I don't own Twilight. I'm just playing with the characters a bit…
Chapter 1:
"Yes, I'm home safe. Thanks for checking on me, Bells." Charlie responded from the other end of the line.
"Sorry, Dad." Bella laughed a little and sat up on her bed before becoming serious again. "I just worry about you sometimes. Especially if Sue isn't around. I'm sorry you had to miss out on that fishing trip."
"Are you kidding, Bella? I was more than happy to give that up to be able to come to your graduation! Four years of college and you think I was going to miss out on that celebration?" Charlie had just returned to Forks after staying with Bella and Alice for two nights at their apartment in Seattle. He had driven from Forks to Seattle the day before their graduation ceremony and stayed until the day after so that he could spend some more time with them. While he struggled with expressing his emotions – a trait Bella inherited from him – Charlie Swan loved spending time with his daughter and her best friend, Alice Cullen. Surprisingly, as he was a fairly reserved man, he also got along famously with Alice's parents, Carlisle and Esme Cullen.
Then again, didn't everyone get along with Carlisle and Esme? They were the epitome of perfection – the perfect couple, the perfect parents and the perfect friends – not to mention they were the nicest and most modest people in existence. They were also the perfect hosts, as they proved when they organised a graduation dinner party at their home so that everyone could celebrate with Alice and Bella.
"Carlisle and Esme were glad you could come to their dinner party too. They asked me to thank you again." Bella commented.
"Oh, they're great and that dinner was great. Esme's one hell of a chef. Speaking of Carlisle and Esme, that apartment of theirs is amazing. I can't believe they're letting you girls rent it out. I was blown away when you showed me the place."
"Believe me, I know." Bella sighed, throwing her legs off the side of the bed and wandering over to the window. She still felt a little uncomfortable living in such a lavish apartment. "I felt exactly the same way when Alice showed me the place for the first time but she tells me I just have to get used to it. Apparently she expects us to live together for the foreseeable future and this is totally normal for her…" Bella trailed off, glancing at her closed bedroom door. She could hear noise from the other side which meant Alice was still on the phone but she had migrated from her bedroom to the main living area. That was the Bella/Alice unofficial code for: I need you out here for help with this conversation as soon as possible.
"Well, I'm glad you've still got your feet on the ground and it's comforting to know that Carlisle and Esme aren't far away." Charlie replied. "Have you spoken to your mother yet? I'm sure she'll call soon enough if you don't call her."
Bella laughed. "You're right. I called her about an hour ago and Phil said she was finally sleeping but only because he'd confiscated her phone. Apparently she's been wanting to call me all day but Phil told her to wait and that she had to rest before he'd let her call me." She sighed, thinking about the days when she had been the one looking after her mother. "I know it's just gastro but I'm glad Phil's there to look after her."
"Me too, Bells. The timing just sucks, huh?"
"Yeah," Bella sighed again, disappointed this time. She loved her mother and wanted her to be well but it would have been nice to have both of her parents at her college graduation ceremony.
Charlie sighed on the other end of the line. "I'm sorry she couldn't come but I'll send her all the photos I took and, believe me, there are so many that she'll feel like she was there." He laughed, making Bella laugh too.
Knock knock knock
Oops, she thought, I neglected the code. "Dad, I have to go. I'm being summoned" Bella joked as she walked towards her bedroom door.
Knowing perfectly well how persistent Alice could be, Charlie chuckled. "OK. Love you, Bells. Give Alice my best."
"I will. Love you too, Dad." Bella said before hanging up, pocketing her phone and opening the door.
Alice was sitting on the couch, still chatting away on the phone but the excited expression on her face was unnerving. Seeing Bella emerge, Alice patted the couch cushion next to her, continuing the conversation with the person on the other end of the line. Plopping down on the couch, Bella quickly realised that the person Alice was talking to was, in fact, two people. Both Esme and Carlisle were talking to Alice and they had already shared some seemingly exciting news with her but they wanted to speak with Bella about it too.
"Here, I'll put you on loudspeaker so you can talk to both of us." As Alice took the phone away from her ear, tapped the speaker button and placed it on the table, she was practically bouncing with excitement. She looked at Bella with a smile plastered across her face as Bella greeted Carlisle and Esme, asking to hear the exciting the news.
"Now, Bella, we have a question for you." Esme said, her voice kind, as always.
"Please don't feel obliged to agree." Carlisle chimed in. Well, that's a good start. This sounds daunting, Bella thought. "There are alternatives. It's just an idea and I'm sure there are other options –"
"Yes, but this is the best one!" Alice piped up in her excitement, barely containing a squeal.
"Alice, please don't make Bella feel pressured into agreeing to this." Esme chided her daughter. Too late for that, Bella thought but she playfully slapped her friend's knee anyway, grinning at her. "Sorry, Bella. We'll get to the point." Esme continued and Bella could practically see her looking at Carlisle as if to say "your turn."
"Bella," Carlisle began, "Edward is coming home from England in a few days and, not realising the two of you are now living in the apartment, he's asked if he might be able to rent it from us. He expressed his desire to be away from home as he'd like to be more central to the city. He spoke to Emmett already but living with him won't work – there's just not enough room. He understands that he won't be able to afford the cost of this apartment himself. He would have to find roommates –"
"Us!" Alice shouted, some of her excitement bursting from her mouth.
"Alice." Carlisle and Esme groaned in unison but Bella simply placed her hand over Alice's mouth, effectively shutting her up. To her credit, Alice accepted her fate without a fight.
"Sorry, guys, I've silenced the squealer." Bella said. "Now, just to be sure. Are you asking me if I would be happy for your son – my best friend's brother – to come and live with us?"
"Well, yes, in a nutshell, that's it. We told him you two are living there and that he would be welcome to as well, as long as you are both happy with that." Esme said, sounding nervous.
Bella almost burst out laughing at their kindness. If anything, if she wasn't ok with it, she'd have expected to be kicked out so their son could move in but no, they were willing to say "no" to their son to allow for her comfort. What an extraordinary family. Yes, they could afford to find him another apartment but this was the best option for everyone and Bella was the only obstacle. If she was being completely honest with herself, she might not have been ok with it but she didn't give herself time to overthink it. Worst case scenario, she thought, I'll spend all of my time in my bedroom and only emerge when going to work and eating meals.
"Wow. You guys had me really nervous for a minute there. I thought it was going to be something huge. Of course I'm fine with that." Bella almost sighed with relief, dropping her hand from Alice's mouth as a gesture of good faith. Alice squeaked a little but, after a look from Bella, just started doing a silent happy dance in her seat.
"Bella, are you sure?" Esme asked. "He's a good boy but you've never met him before… We don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
"Esme, really, it's fine. If he's anything like the rest of your family, I'm sure we'll get along just fine." Bella replied, smiling at her best friend who was now standing, doing a twist-style dance. Apparently that was the only way she knew how to express her excitement while remaining quiet.
Bella smiled to herself when she heard a relieved sigh escape Esme's lips. "Thank you, Bella."
"No need to thank me. We have plenty of room to spare." Bella laughed.
Bella knew how happy Edward being home would make them. As if Alice's dancing wasn't indication enough, that family had a special bond. Alice was always talking about her family and, although she was close to her eldest brother, Emmett, Bella knew that they all missed Edward. He hadn't been back from overseas since Alice was in her junior year and the shock of her brother graduating from school and leaving home was a big adjustment for her. She missed him terribly for a long time. Bella didn't meet Alice until they roomed together in their first year of college but she knew all about the closeness the two had shared. It was as though they were twins rather than simply brother and sister, like they could read one another's minds and Edward taking the scholarship at Cambridge had left a gaping hole in Alice. Bella, with no siblings, could only imagine that feeling but when she did, she pictured Alice leaving and the mere thought of it broke her heart.
On the one hand, Bella didn't understand why Edward left in the first place. If it hurt Alice so much, it must have hurt him too. But, on the other hand, he would have been mad to turn down a scholarship to study medicine at Cambridge University and, as close as they were, it was probably best that the two learn to live without one another sooner rather than later.
While Bella had been lost in thought, Alice had continued a conversation with Esme. Apparently Carlisle had taken his leave and the girls, still on loudspeaker, were chatting.
"All those rooms, Mum. There are so many rooms in this place too." Alice commented. "You know, you guys should consider downsizing."
"Never!" Esme remarked, "That would mean there wouldn't be room for us to have everyone here at Christmas." Bella chuckled. That would be another benefit of them having Edward back. The whole family would be together again come Christmas. "Speaking of which, Bella, are you still there? Please know that, as always, you're welcome to join us for Christmas."
"Thanks Esme." Bella smiled at the phone. "I'm not sure of my plans yet but I'll have to figure things out soon enough. Oh! While you're there, could you have Carlisle call his plumber? The shower in my ensuite is broken. I was going to call a plumber today but I know Carlisle has a favourite."
"Of course, Bella." Carlisle responded. Apparently he hadn't strayed too far away after all.
"Thanks, Carlisle. Now, I'm going to make some dinner." Bella announced, pushing herself off the couch. "Bye, guys."
"Goodbye, Bella." Carlisle.
"Goodnight, dear." Esme.
"What's for dinner?" Alice.
"Alice!" Her parents reprimanded her but Bella laughed. This is why she's my best friend, she thought.
"Lasagne" Bella said, receiving a huge grin in response. Bella's lasagne was Alice's favourite.