"I'm going to miss you this weekend." I sighed, running my hand down Edward's chest, playing with the buttons on his shirt. He was leaving for four days to go on a hunting trip with his siblings, as it was clear that Monday would be plenty sunny and not suitable for the Cullens to be at school. Alice and Emmett said multiple times that they would bring me if I wasn't human, but I didn't feel any less left out, especially when Edward nearly ripped off their head every time they mentioned it.
"I know, love." I felt him press a cold kiss to my forehead, "I don't like to leave you, but you know how convincing Alice can be. I'll be back before you know it." Before I even had the chance to respond, he was gone. I looked around Edward's room, wondering what I was going to do during the next four days staying with Carlisle and Esme.
I really wish Edward would have just let me stay at home or with Jacob. Even with Victoria on the loose, the pack has enough members to keep an eye on me at Charlie's. They have to stick close anyway to make sure that my dad doesn't get caught up in the mess, so of course I thought staying at his house for precautionary reasons was unnecessary. I had a feeling, though, that it had more to do with my best friend than with the potential danger Victoria presented.
It wasn't that I didn't want to spend time with Edward's parents. I loved Carlisle and Esme, they were my family, but I knew that they didn't often get alone time together and the last thing I wanted was to intrude. I stayed in Edward's room, browsing through the CDs and thinking about what I was going to do about dinner when I heard a soft knock at the door.
"Come in." I said at a normal volume. I was getting more used to the fact that even whispers could be heard throughout the house with my vampire family. Emmett so kindly reminded me of it every time Edward and I were shut in his room for any period of time.
"Hi, Bella." Esme walked into the room smiling. Her caramel hair was tied back into a low bun – something that was rare for her. Finding Esme in a casual, relaxed setting was not a common occurrence, especially because she had recently started a design business and was out and about much more often meeting with clients.
"Hi, Esme," I turned to face her from my position in front of Edward's CD collection. "Thanks again for letting me stay here. I know Edward feels much better about leaving knowing that I'm with you and Carlisle." I played with the end of my black long-sleeved shirt. The lace peeking out of the ends was definitely not my normal style, but I had put it on with no complaints this morning knowing that I would have four blissful days of not having to wear what Alice had picked out for me. She, of course, saw that none of her purchases would be touched over the long weekend and had given me the cold shoulder all morning.
"Of course, Bella!" She walked closer to me, her expression becoming even more motherly, if that was possible. "You know that I consider you my daughter and this is your home. I hope that you can soon feel that way, too." Esme put her arm around my shoulders at her last confession. I was not used to having a mother figure in my life that genuinely knew how to calm me down as much as Esme. My mother was great, and I loved her very much, but our relationship was more sibling-like than anything else.
I leaned into her embrace and smiled. Somehow, this small interaction had made me feel a million times better about staying at the Cullen house without my boyfriend. Or…fiancé? Ugh. That was definitely something I should think through while I didn't have Edward by my side at all times. Esme began speaking, which quickly brought me out of my spiraling thoughts about her son. "I was thinking that while you're here I could teach you about painting or interior design if you'd like. We could spend some time together and it would keep your mind off of things," she finished with a wink and a squeeze to my shoulders.
I smiled and let out an airy laugh. I was a fool to think I could hide my discomfort from my second mother. "I would love that, Esme. Thank you." I knew she could tell that I was thanking her for more than the offer to teach me about her hobbies.
"Why don't you come with me to my art room? It's right across the hall from Carlisle's office." Carlisle was at work, but Edward had taken me to his study before to explain his family's history. It was one of the best stories I had ever heard, but also occurred during one of the worst nights of my life. I shuddered slightly, trying to put my 18th birthday far out of my mind.
Following Esme out of Edward's room, I remembered that I should probably change out of the nice shirt I was wearing. My track record for not spilling things definitely was not giving me any more confidence when it came to putting paint on the canvas instead of my clothes. "Esme, I'm going to run out to my truck and grab my bag. I don't think I should wear this outfit if I'm going to paint. Alice might kill me," I chuckled.
Her beautiful laugh filled the hallway. "Sounds like a good idea, sweetheart. I'll get everything set up." It would only take her seconds to get the materials ready, but it was nice to think that she wouldn't just sit around and wait for my slow, human body to complete the simple task of walking out to my car and back.
I don't know if I was just too distracted to notice where I was walking. God knows that happens regularly. Maybe it was my subconscious self, frustrated that Edward refused to change me until I had all of the right "human" experiences. Or maybe it was fate. In the long run it really doesn't matter why it happened. What matters is that in the split second that Esme was distracted with something, I tripped. I tripped just inches from the top of the stairs, and I fell.