chapter 1: The Big News

Yet again Alice had forced me into another uncomfortable dress. And yet again she did my hair and make-up. And what did Carlisle do to help me? Nothing! When it comes to Alice and my fashion sense, she always seems to win the fights.

I was sat in the back seat of the porche, as usual. Carlisle and Alice were sat in the front. We were heading for the posh Italian down-town. For what though, I did not know.

Carlisle had told us this morning that we were going out to dinner this evening. We were to dress up like humans would do and discuss some big news which Carlisle had to tell us. There was one bad thing about this though, the Masens were joining us. I liked the Masens. All except one. Edward. It wasn't really that I didn't like him, but he didn't like me. Ever since my first day at Forks High School he seemed to try and avoid me and ignore me. I had barely said anything to him.

The Masens were another coven of vampires that lived in Forks. We all didn't drink the blood of humans. We called ourselves vegetarians. Sometimes Carlisle, Alice and I would go hunting with the Masens. But there was always someone missing. Edward.

Alice had already skipped round the car and opened my door for me before I realised we had stopped moving. I was sat there thinking deeply about what the news might be. It must have been something important if the Masen's were joining us.

She grabbed me by the hand, pulled me out the car and ran (at human pace) across the road towards the restuarant. I could hear Carlisle chuckling from behind us as I was being dragged along. As much as I loved Alice, she didn't half know how to drive me insane!

Esme, Emmett and Rosalie were already sat at the table, waiting patiently for us. Emmett was holding on to Rosalie's hand, because they were mates. Esme got up as she saw me and Alice walk in. Her nice, beaming smile gave as a warm welcome. She couldn't stop smiling even as alice and I sat down. Carlisle was taking a long time to show his face. He must have been outside thinking about something. He was always thinking.

Now that I think of it, Carlisle had had a constant smile on his face too. Something was going on which me, Emmett and Rosalie didn't know about. I assumed Alice knew because of her sence. She could see visions of the future when decisions were made. How she kept it a secret so long will always be a mystery to me.

Carlisle came in and took a seat next to Esme and gave her a smile. 'Edward not coming then?' he asked her.

'Yes he's just outside, he needed some fresh air.'

That was when he came in. It was as if he could read the thoughts of Esme and Carlisle and know that he was wanted. I smiled at him as he walked towards the table, he just looked down and pretended not to notice it. He took the only available seat left, next to me.

Carlisle was ready to begin his speech, I could tell by his body language. He'd always been the most predictable out of the people I knew, I think that was due to how much I trusted him and felt like I knew him. I'd only known him for a few months, but he already seemed like my dad. 'Well I'm sure some of us already know why we are here, but Bella, Rose and Emmett don't.'

That meant that Edward knew, but how? If he knew about it why couldn't I?

'Esme and I have got some great news to tell you. News I hope you'll find as great as me and Esme do. After a couple of decades of knowing eachother, we really have hit it off. We became good friends and then we began to date eachother. We didn't tell you I know but that was due to some personal problems of me, Alice and Bella. I didn't want Bella getting upset, and at her stage it isn't the best time to upset a vampire.'

He looked at me and gave me a smile. Tears were welling up in my eyes again just thinking about him. It had been a couple of months since the accident and I still couldn't accept the fact that he had gone.

'But now we think the time is right. We want to move in together. We want all of us to be a family. I know it won't be easy as we have a lot to learn about eachother. But I am truly in love with Esme and I want to be with her.'

'And I truly love Carlisle. It seems like the right thing to do.'

In the corner of my eye I could see Alice's beaming grin. Emmett and Rosalie seemed quite happy about it. Emmett jumped up and shook Carlisle's hard over the table and said 'Consider yourself part of the family!'

I was perfectly happy with this decision. I really liked the Masen's and I really wanted to get to know them better. But there was one person who didn't seem so happy.

Edward's head was facing down towards the table. He looked up, glanced at me, and when he saw I was looking, turned away again. Suddenly out-of-the-blue he said to Carlisle ' I'm pleased to call you my family. I hope that you are ok with this Bella.' There was something very strange about the way he said it. It seemed...formal.

'Of course I'm fine with it! I can't wai to be a big family! It will be great to get to know you four!'

At that Edward began to, once again look down on the floor.

'Because our house can accomodate all of us, you, Alice and Carlisle will be moving in with us.' Esme directed at me. 'Ok sounds great.' I smiled.

The food we ordered came. It smelt disgusting. The thought of me eating that food only a few months ago seemed, unbelevable. How I found pizza and ravioli and garlic bread appealing is a total mystery. But then again if I were human and thought about drinking such gorgeus, delcious (my mouth's watering just thinking about it!) blood, I would probably have been considered mentally unstable!

It suddenly dawned on me. I was going to have to leave the only place that ever truly felt like home. I never fit in anywhere else. With Charlie. Or Mum and Phil. Or anyone in my old school. But now I felt 'normal'. I had to leave that behind. Go back into the unknown. And live with someone who hated me. For what I didn't know.