I do not own the Twilight story or any of its characters.

I just like messing with Stephenie Meyer's masterpiece!

Bella Swan was a cheerleader since she started cheering for the youth football league at eight years old. She cheered for the football and basketball teams in junior high and high school, even winning nationals her junior and senior years. She had procured a full ride to the University of Southern California. She even spent a two years as a cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles. She knew what it took to be the best and wasn't going to settle for anyone being less than their best, especially the girls on her squad. She graduated at the top of her class with majors in the Psychology of Teenagers and Italian. At the beginning of the story, she is starting her first year teaching Italian and Psychology along with coaching the cheer squads at Frost High School.

Emmett McCarty had grown up on football, but his love was the sciences. He had worked hard on the field to make it to the NFL only to have his shoulder torn to pieces during the last game of his rookie season with the Oakland Raiders. He was grateful his parents Siobhan and Liam had made him finish college before he joined the NFL. He was just beginning his third year of teaching Chemistry and Biology at Frost High School. During his first year of teaching he was an assistant coach of a tired football team. He took over as Head Coach the next year when the previous one retired. He had lead the team with a rejuvenated spirit straight through to the fourth round of the play-offs.

Cheer-Ball: Friday, August 10, 2012

Bella's POV

"Ms. Swan! Ms. Swan! Ms. Swan!" rang loudly through the morning silence that had settled on the quad of Frost High School in Walnut Creek, CA. Startled out of my morning daze, I turned to see two girls in cheerleading practice outfits running down the steps of the amphitheater toward me.

When the girls stopped abruptly in front of me, I had to take a step back; I was not used to their bouncing, perkiness first thing in the morning. After reading their names that were embroidered on their sleeveless tees, I asked, "Jessica, Lauren, how can I help you? Practice is not for another ten minutes."

"We know."

"We wanted to introduce ourselves."

"We are the co-captains of your new cheer squad. I'm Jessica." She added pointing to her name on her shirt.

Lauren pointed to her own name and giggled, "I'm Lauren."

"Nice to meet you, girls. I am a bit confused though. I haven't even met or made the squad, for that matter. I certainly have not assigned anyone as captains." I said cutting off Jessica as she opened her mouth to add something else.

"We know." Jessica repeated. "We are just the most popular and best so, we just assumed you would choose us."

"We wanted the other girls to respect us from the very beginning." Lauren added in a way that made me think Jessica had rehearsed it with her.

"We didn't want some of the younger girls to get confused with too many changes." Jessica finished with a self satisfied nod.

"Well, don't get used to it. I will be holding full tryouts in about fifteen minutes. I believe the fliers, e-mails, and phone calls about tryouts said as much." I stated. In response to the faces the two girls made, I added, "Yes, that statement does means everyone, including you two, must perform at tryouts to make it on the squad this year."

Jessica stuttered, "But… but…"

"Listen, if you are the best, like you say you are, I am sure you will make it back on the squad." Then, I quickly turned to walk away from the stunned girls to the safety and peace of my classroom.

I walked into my stifling hot classroom to drop my purse in my locked drawer and grab my camera. I had learned long ago when I was a high school cheer captain, it was best to have pictures with their names on it to keep things running smooth and orderly.

When I walked back out of my classroom, I quickly, but silently jogged the long way around the school's campus. I wanted to avoid Jessica and Lauren, who were still standing in the spot I had left them and they were fuming mad.

After making it to the gymnasium, I peeked through the in the window door. I was pleased with the turn out, there were approximately sixty girls stretching and getting ready for tryouts.

I stood there for a moment struggling with what to do and how to start out this cheer squad. "Should I just walk in and call them to order or should I go flashy and do a tumbling pass down the whole length of the floor? This is my first impression on these girls. I need them to respect me, my talent and my authority, right?" Bella thought. "Shit! Why did I think I could do this again?"

"Well, having seen you perform at a Raiders-Eagles game and getting even the die-hard Raiders' fans to cheer for you is one reason I think you can do this." A deep, smooth, baritone voice startled me from behind, causing me to jump. I whipped around to see who had spoken and then, a large, muscular, Celtic god continued, "Also, you graduated top in your class with majors in Psychology and Italian. I, for one, would love to take your Italian class. I have always wanted to learn that language."

"Uh… Um" I stammered staring into his clear blue eyes.

"Well, maybe I can't take your class because you seem to be having a little trouble with English. I thought it was a prerequisite to know both languages before teaching one of them?" He said with a playful smirk that cased his dimples to appear on his face.

"What? Oh, sorry. I didn't realize I was speaking out loud." I said snapping back to reality, a little flustered and flushed. "I'm Bella Swan, but it sounds like you already know that."

"Hello, Bella. Emmett McCarty, I teach Chemistry and Biology here." He said extending his hand. "Also, I am the Head Coach of the football team."

"Oh! So, it is your team my squad is supposed to be cheering on."

"I guess so." He replied with another dimpled smirk.

I huffed. "As long as, you and your team treat my girls as the athletes they are and with the respect they deserve, we will get along just fine."

"I will personally make sure that happens. Especially since, if I didn't my mother, my sister, and my cousin would have my head." He said changing his smirk to a true smile. "So, how long are you going to stand here and doubt yourself?"

"Maybe five more minutes?"

Emmett nodded to her and then, pulled the gym doors wide open. After stepping inside, he yelled, "Okay, ladies. Listen up! Move to the sides unless you want to be landed on!"

He turned back and whispered to me, "Let's see something flashy!"

%

"I can't believe you stay for the entire tryouts." I said for the twentieth time as we were sitting, laughing, and drinking water in my classroom three hours later. We were having too much fun going through my notes from tryouts and the pictures of the girls on my laptop.

"Well, after you stunned all those girls to silence, including the biggest motor mouths in the world Jessica and Lauren, I had to stay and see what you would do next. Also, I have an investment in who cheers for my guys." Emmett said trying to hold a straight face, but failing miserably. He laughed as he said, "I still can't believe that you flipped in the air two and a half times before your feet hit the floor again."

"I can't believe when your team came in you kicked them out and told them to go run laps. Then, your assistant coaches come in and you tell them to join the team in running laps." At remembering this, I started laughing so hard that I almost fell backward in my swivel chair. I threw myself forward to counter balance the tipping. I over compensated and ended up whacked my head on the corner of my desk. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

"You okay, Bella?" Emmett asked jumping off the student desk he was sitting on. He ran over and kneeled in front of me.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. I do stuff like this all the time." I said trying to laugh off the sharp, stabbing pain right above my temple. "I am a closet klutz. I can do all kinds of acrobatic stunts, but I can't walk a straight line or sit in a chair or eat in a restaurant without hurting myself."

"That is rather hilarious, but that head wound is not." Emmett said making a horrible face at the amount of blood coming from my head. He took off his teal football tee and used it to put pressure on the cut in my head. "Are we taking your car or my jeep? You are going to the hospital, if you want to or not."

I looked up at him standing there in a white tank top and black mesh shorts with such concern in his eyes. I was momentarily awe struck by him. "No, no. I'm fine. I have some gauze in my desk drawer. I can take care of my own head wound. It won't be the first or the last time."

"Really? That is a little disturbing." Emmett said with an odd tone to his voice. "But I'm going to say no to the gauze in your desk. I am taking you to the hospital. I will not hesitate to forcibly carry you out of here. Now, will it be your car or my jeep?"

"We can take my truck. It is parked right outside the theater. That's close, right?" I responded, giving in.

"Right. Let's go. Do you need me to carry you?" He said smiling slightly as he helped me up from my seat.

I shook my head no and then, winced in pain. "I can walk. Just grab my laptop and my purse out of the bottom right drawer of my desk. I don't think I should bend over right now."

When we arrived at the parking lot next to the school's theater, Emmett started laughing, "That's your truck?"

I winced at his loud laughter and said a quiet yes, he quietly said, "That is not a truck! That is an orange, rust bucket on wheels. Didn't they pay you anything to be an NFL cheerleader?"

I playfully smacked his stomach with the hand not holding his tee to my head. "That truck has seen me through a lot. I have had it since… um, well, since high school. I love it. No making fun of it."

"Well, if you say it runs, I guess it will do." He helped me into my old truck and reminded me to keep pressure on my head. As he ran around the front, he pulled out his cell phone.

I saw him hit a few buttons and then, the number 3 on his speed dial. I became slightly confused trying to understand Emmett's side of the conversation as he drove to the hospital. "Hey, I'm on my way to the ER. Can you meet me?"

"No. No, I'm not hurt. Newton didn't lose control of his run today." Then, he laughed loudly, but cut off quickly when he saw me wince. "A new friend of mine hit her head on her desk and cut it open."

"No, I didn't do it!"

"It is bleeding pretty badly. It will probably need stitches."

"Yes, I think I know more than you even though you have a medical degree." He said so sarcastically that was dripping.

"We are in her blue truck."

"Ask them to bring food when they brings my car, I'm starving."

"I know I am always starving. What's your point?"

"Okay, I can wait and stop somewhere on my way home or hit the vending machines at the hospital. See you in a few minutes."

"Emmett, who… who were you were talk… talking to on the phone?" I asked stuttering as I leaned against the passenger side window trying to get some heat from the sun warming it.

"Don't worry about that right now. Just know you will be in the best hands." He glanced over and I knew he noticed my eyes start to roll back in my head and close. He reached over and lightly shook my shoulder. "Stay with me, Bella! Come on, stay with me! Shit!"

%

SCREECH! I strained against my seatbelt as Emmett slammed the brakes on my truck. I knew I was going to have a nice new bruise to go with a cut on my head. I winced because the sounds seemed to be heightened around me since my eyes closed. I heard him turned off the truck's loud engine and he slammed the driver's side door, I imagined him running around the front of the truck to get me out and to medical attention.

I squeezed my eyes closed tighter and felt my head loll onto his shoulder when he picked me up. He accidently hit my head on the door frame and then, slammed the door of the truck.

I softly whispered, "Emmett, you should be nicer to Billy. He is old enough to be your car's grandfather."

Then, I attempted to cover my eyes, but I couldn't lift my arm as he carried me through the sliding glass doors and into the bright light of the hospital.

"Hey, Carlisle. While it is true that I can stand here holding her all day, I think you might want to do your job because she is becoming delirious and is very close to passing out." He yelled to someone across the emergency room.

At his words, I felt my body became completely limp. Just before I blacked out, I heard his tee hit the floor with a squish. Then, a flurry of sound and activity sprung up around us.

%

"Emmett, you promised you wouldn't do this again!" whined a high pitched female voice. I was tempted to open my eyes to see who belonged to this new voice, but I resisted. I did wondered what the voice meant by again.

"Calm down, would you? Everything is fine and I didn't do it again. I promise nothing is going to happen. We were just in her room talking about my team and her squad. She was laughing and accidently hit her head after almost toppling over backward. She actually apologized for it. She mumbled something about being a closet klutz." I heard Emmett respond with what sounded like a smile in his voice.

"Good. Well, not good that she is hurt, but good nothing happened. Nobody wants what happened with Rosalie to happen again." A different female voice with a sweet, musical tone said.

"Okay, you two be quiet and back off the man for a minute. I need to do some doctor stuff." said a calm, yet authoritative tenor male voice. "Emmett, is there anyone we should contact for her?"

"How should I know? We weren't talking about personal stuff, remember? My team and her cheerleading squad!" Emmett said exasperatedly.

"Calm down, Emmett. Can you call the school and see if they have any emergency contact information? Mrs. Cope has had a crush on you for two years. She will be willing to give it to you. The office should have it already since you both were supposed to be running practices starting today."

"What? I had a practice!"

"No, you had the players and assistant coaches running laps and lifting weights for three hours." The musical voice said with a light laugh.

"What? How? Who?" Emmett stuttered.

"Clapp e-mailed me to thank me for the heat exhaustion tips and explained why he had to use them. Now, go call Mrs. Cope and see if you can get me some answers." The now amused, but still authoritative male voice said.

I heard him mumbling something about snitching assistant coaches as he opened the room's door and left. I tried to understand the few whispers pass between the three people that were left in the room, who all were obviously close to Emmett.

A few moments later, I listened the door open and close again. I barely opened my eyes a sliver to make sure it was Emmett who had entered the room and it was.

"Well, calling Mrs. Cope was kind of a bust. Bella's only relative is her father. He is a sheriff in a small town near the coast in Washington. His deputy said he left yesterday morning for a three-day deep sea fishing trip. No one is able to contact him until tomorrow night." Emmett explained with a scowl on his face.

"Her mom is not available?" The high-pitched, tiny, slightly young-looking, pixie-like woman asked.

I looked back to Emmett in time to see him shrug his shoulders, not knowing the answer to the question.

"If you don't want to land in the hospital yourself, you will not try to find or contact her." I calmly said causing all four of the others in the room to jump.

"Thank, God." Emmett said stepping close to the head of the bed. "You scared the hell out of me, I mean, us. You have been out for almost an hour."

"Brilliant!" I said attempting to sit up. A tall, good-looking, thirty-ish year old, blonde man in pale teal medical scrubs rushed forward to help me sit up and check my pulse. "My heartbeat is normal and so is my vision. By the way, is everything around here centered on the color teal?"

"So, not only are you an amazing and athletic klutz, but you are a mind reader and color commentator as well." The doctor said with a lopsided half smile.

"Nope, I have just been in more emergency rooms than there are virgins at Comic-Con." The entire room burst into laughter until the doctor saw me wince from the loudness.

"Okay, you three out." The doctor said with a chuckle still in his voice. When the others didn't move, he assumed his authoritative doctor voice again and said, "Emmett, would you please pick up your sister and your cousin and take them out of here."

Emmett got a mischievous look on his face and turned on his sister and his cousin, the pixie and a petite, thirty-ish woman with a sweetheart face surrounded by long, honey colored hair. The women quickly glanced at each other and then, ran silently out of the room. Emmett turned and shot me a sly wink. Then, he proceeded to stalk out of the room, chasing them like he was a monster.

Under his breath, Carlisle said, "That works every single time!"

"So, Emmett brings passed out girls in here often just so he can chase his female relatives around?" I asked with smirk.

"Maybe we should let Emmett keep you around for a while if you are just as funny when you don't have a concussion." The doctor said with a smile only he and angels could pull off.

"I'll let you know if I ever don't have a concussion." I said sullenly, but matter of fact tone.

"We can only wait then. Okay, Bella, I need you to relax while I check your head." He said starting to gently touch her head in spots checking for signs of pain. "By the way, I glued your head back together and put three butterfly bandages on it. Lastly, I just remembered I didn't tell you my name. I am Dr. Carlisle Cullen, or as Emmett sometimes calls me 'Yo, cuz give my player back!', but you can call me Carlisle."

"I only met him a few hours ago and I can totally picture him saying that." I said trying to laugh quietly. I winced and stopped my own laughing quickly.

After a couple more minutes of checking my head, Carlisle stepped over to the small sink in the room to wash his hands. "So, I am having my nurse cutting a few rectangles of plastic to cover your cut during your showers. It will be put in a bag with the tape and butterfly bandages I want you to use. I am very picky."

"I understand. I'm picky, too."

"Good." He said sitting on the edge of my bed. "Now, between you hitting your head on your desk and Emmett knocking it into the doorframe of your truck, I don't feel comfortable letting you stay alone. Which leads me to the questions I have to ask, do you have a roommate or a friend that can stay with you for a couple of nights?"

I wanted to lie and say yes so I could get out of there, but the look in Carlisle's eye told me he would see right through it. So, with a sigh, I said, "No."

"Are you willing to spend the night here at the hospital?" I just raised one eyebrow at him and he chuckled. "I figured as much. Give me one moment." Then, he walked out of the room.

When he had been gone for almost five minute, I began to worry my lip and ring my hands. I was about to stand up and walk out of the room to find Carlisle when the woman with the sweetheart face walked back in the room with him.

"Bella, this is Emmett's cousin and my wife, Esme. She is going to take you home in your truck and then, drive you to Alice and Emmett's."

"Why am I going to Alice and Emmett's?"

"Well, either you stay here at the hospital for a night or two or…" Carlisle started.

"You stay with Carlisle and I, who have been described as vomit-inducing affectionate," Esme added, "or…"

"You stay with two single people, Emmett and me, on your own half of a floor in our three story house." The pixie that I now have guessed is named, Alice, said as she danced into the room.

"Are you sure you want a klutz that you just met come and stay with you for a couple of days?" I asked in a shocked tone.

"It will be great! I'm used to Emmett's old football buddies dropping by with little notice or unannounced anyways. You will be a breath of fresh air." Alice said a little too loud for Bella. Lowering her volume, Alice continued, "Besides, I miss living with other girls. Until two months ago, I had to live with Emmett and Edward, for three years."

"If you are sure," I said looking at her questioningly. She nodded her consent. "I guess bunking for a couple of days with you and Emmett sounds good. One condition though, you are not allowed go all sorority sister psycho on me."

"I promise to try and reign myself in." Alice said trying to do a Girl Scout's Honor gesture, but got it wrong. "Emmett and I are going to go make sure the rooms you will be staying on are clean and have recovered from Edward. Make sure you and Esme get everything you need from your place. I hate driving at night and I don't think you want Emmett going through your drawers."

Esme and Carlisle surprised me again by making almost identical horrible and disgusted face when Alice said the name Edward for the second time. I was brought back from my musings when I heard Emmett's voice.

"Hey, the only drawers I have ever rifled through were yours. That was when we were teenagers and I was searching for your diary." Emmett defended himself as he leaned against the doorway. "Time to go, Ali. You were the one that wanted to stop at the Trader Joes to get some gourmet, prepared food to impress Bella."

Alice turned a deep pink and waved bye to Esme, Carlisle, and myself. As she walked passed Emmett out of the room, she smacked his chest and mumbled, "You weren't supposed to say that in front of her."

Emmett just chuckled, winked at me, and followed his little sister out.

Carlisle left the room after them to get the pain medicine and wound protection items for me while Esme sat on the edge of my bed. "Okay, Bella, Emmett told me that you have an old truck and you didn't like how he drove it or treated the doors. I promise to try to be as gentle as possible with it."

I was very appreciative of Esme's kindness and felt now was the time to become completely honest with her. "Esme, you and your family have been so nice to me. I guess now is the time to be honest with you about something."

"May I sit? This sounds serious." Esme said with a small hint of trepidation in her voice.

"Can you close the door first?"

"Sure. Carlisle will understand not come in if it is shut. He will thing you are changing or something." She said as she walked over to shut the hospital room door. "Now, what has your heart racing, Bella?"

"Huh?" I asked and then, looked blushing at the monitor that Carlisle had yet to take off me. "Gotcha. So, here is the deal. There was a… a commitment that I had to finish before I came out here to California. Because of that… uh, commitment, I haven't had time to look for a place, so, I don't exactly have a home. I just got here three days ago from Philadelphia. I have been staying at a hotel."

"Well, that makes perfect sense. Where have you been staying?"

"Oh, I have been staying at the… the Rose Hotel in Pleasanton." I stumbled over my reply as I tried to remember the name.

"You are staying where!" Esme said excitedly. She grabbed my hands and practically bounced on the bed as she continued to gush about my hotel. "Carlisle and I spend the night there two or three times a year just for a mini vacation. It is absolutely gorgeous. Those huge, glass showers, well, the stories I could tell you about what you could do in those showers."

I blushed profusely and begged her to stop. "I really don't need to know what you did in those showers. Putting images in my head is not a good idea right now."

"Right, well, let's get you unhooked from these machines. Then, we will head over, collect everything from your hotel room, and check you out. Then, after you recover, I will find you a place to live and help you decorate it." Esme got off the bed and began to walk to the door. She stopped at the foot of the bed and turned to me. She placed her hands on the footboard and said, "Just don't tell Alice where you were living; she can't wait to have a boyfriend worthy enough to take there."

"I won't tell her, I promise. On the other hand, thank you so much for offering to help me find a place to live. After living out of a suitcase and living with anywhere from five to forty girls since I left my dad's house, I could really use a nice, quiet place to live and call home."

"You have no idea what you have gotten yourself in for" Esme squealed happily as she hopped up and down before crossing to the door. Throwing it open, she called for Carlisle. "Carlisle, love, unhook the girl, please. I need to get her to the house."

"What's wrong?" Carlisle ran in and questioned in doctor mode at the sound of Esme's yelling. "Bella, are you okay? If you are really that exhausted from this, maybe you should stay the night."

"Nope, nothing is wrong with her." Esme said with a smile almost larger than her face. "I just have lots of work to do. I have a new project!" Esme added excitedly.

"Carlisle, what have I done?" I asked warily.

"You have saved me from having a room redone in my house for possibly the next sixth month." He answered with a smile. "Thank You!"

%

Emmett's POV

I grunted when Alice jumped on my back as we left the hospital. "Hey, Alice, what have you been eating? It feels like you have gained about five pounds." I teased.

After smacking me on the back of my head, she screamed, "I have not! Take that back, you… you, Big Bear!"

I just laughed and adjusted her on my back. "Sorry, Pixie! It was just too easy. So, where did you and Esme park my jeep?"

After depositing Alice in the backseat of my jeep at the very edge of the parking lot, I jumped in the front and peeled out. Alice smacked me in the back of the head again before quickly putting on her seatbelt.

"So, are you going to pick up your sty before Bella and Esme arrive?" Alice piped up from the backseat a few blocks away from the hospital.

"I might make sure I don't have any clothes, especially boxers, lying around the common floor of the house." I said nonchalantly. "I will block Esme's path if she attempts to sneak into my man cave rooms." I added with a hint of pride in my voice.

"Oh, please!" Alice huffed throwing herself back into her seat.

Moments later, Alice asked, "Emmett, why did you just pass the turn off to our house?"

"When was the last time we cooked or even opened the fridge for something besides a drink?" I asked glancing back at her in the rearview mirror.

"Oh." Alice said, her face falling.

"Bella is coming to stay with us for a few days. We will need food to feed her with and not just run out to grab In & Out burgers or eating peanut butter out of a jar. Plus, I think she will definitely notice if we only have food from Trader Joes."

"True. Plus, Esme will be disappointed when she realizes our cupboards are bare. She acts like such a mom to us sometimes ever since Mom and Dad moved to Ireland with Aunt Maggie."

"Okay, so we are going to run into Lucky's and grab staple food items."

"Sounds like a plan." Alice said, relaxing. All of the sudden, she quickly sat up and asked, "Emmett, my dear big brother, what are staple food items?"

%

Bella POV

Esme pulled into the Rose Hotel parking area. In complete awe, she said, "Oh, my god! Bella, I truly hate that my husband is making you leave this place. It is just so gorgeous."

"I do love it and it helps that the owner is a friend, but I can't wait until I have a place I can call my own." I said quietly. "I very glad you are willing to decorate it. I like nice places, but hate to decorate."

"I understand a lot of people are that way."

"Well, I think it is time to go move me out." We climbed out of my truck and up to my hotel room.

I was quickly able to pack up my clothes. Well, as quickly as I could with Esme gushing over the room every couple of minutes and interrupting me.

When I went to the front desk to check out, Esme finished carrying my second suitcase to my truck.

I walked up to my truck to find Esme leaning against the bed, clutching her sides, and laughing hysterically. After I climbed in the passenger side, I asked, "Esme, what is so funny? Please, don't tell me that Emmett and Alice asked you to drive me around because they need more time picking up. I am starting to get really tired."

"No, well, slightly like that. Alice and Emmett are trying to stock their kitchen so you and I don't find out that they eat out or grab take away or eat at my house every night." Esme said trying to explain and quiet her laughter at the same time. "Here read these."

I love you, Es – Carlisle

What do you think of Bella? – Carlisle

Emmett smiles every time I say Bella. Gross! – Alice

Has Bella talked about Emmett? – Alice

What are staple foods? Why is Alice texting me to find out? – Carlisle

"Let me text Alice to tell her and Emmett to go home. Then, I will drop you off and stock the kitchen later."

As Esme was texting, someone knocked on my window. I opened the door and hugged the woman that had knocked on it.

"Bella, what's going on? Are you okay? Did you find a place?" my friend that I had met at the hotel asked.

"I hit my head on my desk on my first day actually at the school, but I will be fine. I promise. I am moving out though, but I am just going to stay with some other new friends for a few days. I am under doctor's orders to behave and make sure someone can watch me." Bella explained.

"Oh, I can't believe you didn't think of me. I am right down the hall." My friend said, playfully hitting my arm. "Oh, well, call us when you get a place. Do you still have our cell numbers?"

As I nod my head yes, I noticed Esme trying to hide her face behind her wavy hair as she finished texting.

"So, Bella, are you so out of it that you can't introduce me?"

"I am so sorry. I am not thinking straight. Esme, this is Rose and Rose, this is Esme."

"Oh… Hello, Esme. How are you?" Rose said hesitantly.

"Hello, Rosalie. I am fine. How are you?" Weirdly, I thought Esme asked this through her teeth.

"I'm great."

"What are you doing staying here? Don't you have an apartment not that far away?" Esme asked seeming to try to get as much basic information as she could without being rude.

"Oh, I do have a place. It is in the process of being renovated. Edward and I are staying here for two weeks because it is not safe for me to be there."

"Wait a moment. Why wouldn't it be safe to be there, Rose?" I asked as my voice began to slur with sleep.

"Silly, Bella. Did you forget I am pregnant?" Rose said placing her hand lightly on her lower stomach.

From behind me, I heard Esme gasped loudly.

"Rose, I'll call you in a few days once I have rested and I find a place. I really need to go get some sleep, right now."

Rose leaned in the truck and hugged me. "Bye, Bella. Feel better, okay? Bye Esme. It was nice to see you again."

After Rose closed the truck door and walked away, Esme turned to me slightly, "I know you like people to be gentle with your truck, but I have a lot of anger right now. I will try my best not to hurt it."

%

I woke up as Esme slowly pulled up to a massive, but gorgeous, three-story European style thing. Looking around, I noticed only one other slightly smaller, similarly styled house nearby.

"Esme, um… where are we?" I asked completely confused about my surroundings.

Esme pointed to the, for lack of a better word, house and said, "That is where you will be staying. If you look to the corner windows on the third floor, you can see Alice remaking your bed."

"Oh, Alice. She doesn't have to do that. I have a concussion, I'm not broken."

"Oh, but she does. Helping others, decorating, and shopping are ingrained into her DNA. Plus, Carlisle made those two promise him not to let you lift a finger for the next few days." Esme said as she opened her door and hopped out of the truck.

I swiftly opened my door to make the squeal of metal against metal sound go away quicker. "No offense, Esme, but your husband sounds a tad bit over protective."

"No offense taken." Esme said grabbing my bags from the bed of my truck. "Besides, you don't know the half of it. Anyways, that modest cottage over there belongs to Carlisle and me."

"If that is your idea of a modest cottage, I now fear for my bank account when you help me find and redo a place."

Esme laughed her tinkling, non evil maniacal laugh in response. Then, she began to lead me up the small slop to the front door.

"Esme, pardon me for asking, but how can they afford this place? I mean they are a high school teacher and a college student." I asked trying to take in the massive cream, three floor house with plenty of window with green shudders. "It reminds me of villas I saw in Tuscany when I was there for my semester abroad."

"I did play professional football for a year." Emmett said startling me. When I turned to look at him, he was taking my bag from Esme's hands in the doorway.

Once Esme's hands were free, she smacked him playfully on the arm. "But…"

"But my parents built it as a weekend and vacation out of the city place when they moved to San Francisco." Emmett said leading us into the foyer. "And you're right. This house is a replica of our great grandparent's home in Tuscany."

"But I thought you were Irish with the last name of McCarty."

"That's dad's side of the family, but our mom and Esme's mom are definitely Italian." Alice said bounding down the stairs. "You must come over and try her home cooked pasta when our parents come back for Christmas."

"Okay, Alice. You can talk the girl's ear off later. She will be here for the next three days to a week depending on that silly husband of mine."

%

I was woken up from a nap in the most comfortable bed I had ever slept in by a tall, blonde handsome man. Not remembering what was going on, I screamed so loud I hurt my own ears and pushed him off of the bed.

Kneeling beside the bed, he tried to calm me down. "Bella, please stop screaming. I'm Carlisle. You need to stop or your head will hurt even more than it already is hurting."

Another larger, sandy brown haired man burst into the room and succeeded in scaring me even more. Two beautiful women ran in right behind him and shooed both of the men out of the room.

After finally getting me to calm down, Esme and Alice brought me down to the large, eat in kitchen.

I was thoroughly embarrassed by my behavior. I started to mumble an apology, but Emmett quickly stopped me.

"What you did was perfectly fine. You pushing him out of your bed will help keep his massive ego in check." Emmett joked teasing Carlisle.

Carlisle flipped off Emmett and then, slowly stepped toward me. "Can I check your head, Bella?"

I felt my face blush as I gave him a slight nod. Quietly, I asked, "Should I expect to have you wake me up to check my head all the time?"

"Sorry about that. I didn't think you would react that way." Carlisle responded as he blushed himself. After finishing his inspection of my head, he smiled and said, "It looks good. I will check it again tomorrow when I get home from the hospital. Make sure you get plenty of rest and non-alcoholic beverages. Alice, you don't have school until next Thursday right?"

"I have to go to school for few minutes on Monday, but otherwise I am free. Why?" Alice answered placing a glass of orange juice in front of me with two Tylenol. "I hope pulp free orange juice is fine."

"Thank you, Alice and Esme." After a quizzical look from Alice and Emmett, I explained. "She let me read her texts. Then, she asked me what I liked."

"Back to me." Carlisle said snippily. "Alice, I need you to keep an eye on Bella for a few days. Also, I want you to drive her back and forth to the school if she has to go in for a meeting. We need to keep her from doing too much or injuring her head further."

"What about me? Am I nothing?" Emmett whined.

"Of course, you are not nothing, Emmett." Esme said sweetly. She continued by saying, "I do think you need to hold an actual practice or two next week."

Esme's gentle teasing caused the rest of the room to laugh and Emmett to pout.

When the laughter died out, Esme said, "Dinner is ready. Here you are, Bella. I figured a simple chicken, mashed potato, and steamed asparagus dinner would help. God knows these two can't cook." Esme said as she placed a plate in front of me that looked like it belonged in a five star restaurant.

"Thanks, but you didn't have to go to any trouble for me." I replied, savoring the aroma coming from the delicious looking plate.

"It is no more trouble than feeding these three." Esme said pointing to her cousins and husband. "Since Carlisle says you aren't to lift a finger while you recover, I'm sure I will cook for you for the next week while you are living here."

"Speaking of, where is your place?" Alice asked not noticing a look pass between Esme, Carlisle, and myself. Emmett noticed the looks though. After a pause, Alice looked up at me and explained, "I just want to know where I will be going in case you forgot anything you might need."

After I swallowed the bite of yummy chicken I had just put in my mouth, I mumbled, "Everything I own, that is not in storage, is upstairs in the rooms you are letting me borrow. I just got to town and I have been staying in a hotel."

"Really? What hotel?" Alice questioned.

"I don't remember the name, but it was one of the ones over on Main Street in Pleasanton." I said evasively.

"Oh," Alice sighed. "I love the Rose Hotel that is over there. It is my favorite hotel in the area…"

I caught Emmett staring at me off and on for the rest of dinner as Alice, Esme, and Carlisle discussed the hotel.

After dinner, I claimed that I was still tired and climbed the stairs to the third floor. I sat on the bed for a few moments and realized how weird it was that I had known these people for a mere few hours and I already felt completely comfortable with them. I decided to hop in the shower to wash away the bad parts of this crazy day and the slight guilt I feel for half-lying to Alice.

When I got out of the incredible shower, I really had to admire Esme's attention to detail. These towels were amazingly soft, big, and comfy. I walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around me.

I jumped about a mile and held the towel to my chest when I heard a baritone voice timidly say my name. "Emmett? What are you doing in here? Please tell me, I didn't just take a shower in the wrong room?"

"No, this is your area. I just came in to talk to you." He said with a noticeable red tint to his cheeks. "I knocked and you didn't answer, so I poked my head in to make sure you were alright."

"Well, I'm fine, just tired." I said holding my towel tighter to me. "Was there anything else?"

I suppressed a giggle when I saw his eyes dart up and down my rather visible body.

"I… uh… well… Alice and I talked after Esme and Carlisle went home. We have been kicking around the idea of getting a new roommate."

"Okay…" I said confusedly. "I'll be out of here as soon as Carlisle will let me and Esme helps my find an apartment. It shouldn't be more than a week or two."

"Do you really want to live in an apartment? With all those loud, annoying neighbors?"

"Not really, but I don't have much of a choice. I don't want to blow through my savings by buying or renting a house. So, an apartment will have to do."

"What if an apartment wasn't your only option?" Emmett asked shooting me a sly smirk.

"What are you getting at, Emmett?" I said with a sigh. "I'm tired, in pain, and starting to get cold."

"Would you like to stay here and live with Alice and me?" He asked in a rush and even redder cheeks.

%

This story is just an idea I have been kicking around and wanting to write for a while. I hope you like it. Let me know if you love it or hate it. I am definitely open to constructive criticism and suggestions. I have planned and outlined out a total of 14 chapters. I am not sure how often I will be able to update, but I will try to keep them less than two weeks apart. ~ KaliCali77

The hotel Bella was staying at can be seen at www. rosehotel. net (minus the spaces)

Pictures of the house are at http:/ www. villa vianci. com/ Just remove the spaces.