Summary

Seventeen year old Bell Swan's parents just left for a quick trip and she's planning the party of the season for when they leave. But when Emmett, a Christmas-obsessed little brother, discovers the North Pole is melting, he and his best friend Jasper, take off on a runaway mission to save Santa.

Bella has to get Emmett home safely before her parents come back on Christmas Eve, but the only person who can help her do the task is Jasper's older brother, Edward- her musician, anti-life ex-boyfriend.

It'll take more than a Christmas miracle for Edward and Bella to get over their differences and find their delinquent brothers. But could a journey destined for disaster help these polar opposites fall in love. . .all over again?

-***-

Characters

Bella Swan-17- older sister of Emmett and Edward's ex-girlfriend.

Emmett Swan-8- Bella's little Christmas-obsessed brother

Edward Masen-18- the musician, anti-life ex-boyfriend of Bella and Jasper's older brother

Jasper Masen-8- Emmett's best friend and Edward's little brother

Jacob Black-19- Bella's new boyfriend and best friend's older brother

Leah Black-17- Jacob's younger sister and Bella's best friend.

-***-

Based off of story: Ex-mas By: Kate Brian

^awesome story, go buy it(:

Characters belong to: Stephenie Meyer

Having the idea to combine the Twilight Characters into this story belongs to: me(:

-***-

Chapter One

North Valley High School

Los Angeles

December 22

2:43 P.M.

Mr. Banner has got to be kidding.

It was literally seconds before the last bell would ring, signaling us to leave this torture chamber for two whole weeks filled with Christmas Cookies and presents, and he was handing out some earth science homework that he expected to be done.

"He's totally insane." Leah Black mumbled to me as she took the packet that was about global warming and polar ice caps.

I sighed in annoyance with her. Winter break was about to begin and there were far more important things than polar ice caps. For example, the biggest party this school has ever seen. Which I happen to be throwing. Tonight.

BBBBRRRRRIIIIIINNNNGGGG!

Finally!

Leah and I sprung from our seats and got caught in the commotion as we ran into the hallway. She linked her arm through mine and we skipped through the crowd of buzzing people. We walked out the doors and were greeted by the bright sun shining and the beautiful smell of sweet, sweet freedom.

All the other kids rushed outside, ignoring the beautiful blue sky and tall palm trees South California had to offer, their only concerns being to get home or come to my party tonight. Leah and I perched on the steps as people crowded around us, mostly girls.

"I hope you're all ready for the party tonight!" Leah smiled, her white teeth gleaming against her dark tanned skin. She flipped her silky black hair over her shoulder, her dark eyes glittering in the sunlight.

Leah is definitely my opposite in looks and personality. While Leah looks like a beautiful Native American, I look like Plain Jane herself, with dark curly brown hair, brown eyes, and very pale skin. The sun does nothing for my skin, I'll burn first and my skin will be red as lobsters for a week, then just fades back into white, I always envied Leah for her beautiful russet color skin. And personality wise, Leah is loud and overly confident, where I'm quieter and not confident at all, though I'd never let anyone else see that.

I smile as everyone cheers and Alice Brandon and Rosalie Hale, two inseparable senior classmates, form around Leah and me.

"I can't believe my parents are finally leaving town." I say with a dramatic eye roll. All of them press closer and I can't help but feel happy my façade is working. I've worked hard to get this far, after all.

"Is J coming?" Leah asked flashing her infectious smile, the same one her brother had, and was just as charming.

"Definitely. He wouldn't miss this!" I explained with a smile. J was Jacob, Leah's older brother and my boyfriend. We've been dating for the past two and a half years and he was coming down from college, where he was a freshman, to my party tonight. We haven't seen each other much since summer, with him packing and getting ready for college and me starting me senior year, I was really excited to see him tonight.

"You're so lucky." Alice gushed and the other girls nodded in agreement.

If only they knew my luck. I've never been lucky, up until two years ago, of course. But before then, my life was a disaster.

I pushed the thoughts aside as the conversation about my party swelled up around me. My party was going to so amazing; people would for sure talk nothing about it for months to come. Everybody would forget to realize that I was a former nobody. No more is that Leah Black's best friend or you mean Jacob Black's girlfriend? No, no. I'd be Bella Swan, on my own.

And I could hardly wait.

My eyes caught a solitary figure heading toward the parking lot. His untidy bronze locks caught the sunlight making the colors shift from gold to reddish-browns. His basic black backpack was slung low on his shoulder.

Edward Masen. All alone. What a surprise.

Not that I felt bad for him in any way, shape or form. He chose to be that way: he didn't want friends. Not that people would want to be friends with him either, I mean witness his outfit: dark hoodie, plain dark colored t-shirt and ripped jeans , some including paint or grease stains and his trademark up yours, world stance. I had to admit it added, to his messy hair and brooding, lazy emerald eyes that were always filled with way to much attitude. He was everything infuriating wrapped in one tall, lean package.

I can't believe I dated him…

But it is what it is or really was what it was; besides it was all ancient history. Edward was my ex-boyfriend, something thankfully only a few people remembered with my new popular status and legendary boyfriend. Edward and I only dated through middle school and halfway through ninth grade when I started hanging with Leah and he acted like Leah was manager of 'Mega-Bitches-R-Us'. In the end we broke up and haven't talked to each other since, other than maybe a few words. Not that I wanted too, not after what he said.

My cell phone buzzed in my hand, the screen flashing Jacob. I excused myself from the crew before answering, as if they hadn't heard the Jacob ring tone: Love Story by Taylor Swift.

"Hey Jacob, please tell me you're on you way here." I answered still watching Edward as he threw his so-uncool-it-was-cool backpack into his old, rusted, red Chevy truck.

"Hey babe," Jacob spoke from the other line, his voice so low and husky; they way it'd always been. I could just picture him: dark cropped hair, russet-tan skin, broad football shoulders, huge biceps and the most gorgeous dark eyes, dark brown with a hint of golden-green around the pupil, in the state. Dating Jake was like a dream, except for the part where it was completely and utterly true.

"I miss you." I whispered.

"I miss you too," He replied a little too quickly for my comfort,"but babe- I won't be able to make it down tonight, I'm really sorry."

"What?" My voice squeaked, like Minnie Mouse, in shock

"One of my professors sprang a take home final out of nowhere. I've already been sitting in the library for hours and there's no way I'll be able to finish this and make it down in time. It's gotta be in by 8 a.m. tomorrow, I'm really sorry Bella." I could almost see him frowning, his forehead creasing, drawing his thick brows together and scrunching his eyes.

"Ohh, it's okay. I totally understand." Leah raised one perfectly arched eyebrow at me in a question.

"But, I'll be home before Christmas, only a couple more days, babe."

"You just work on that final, I'd hate to be the reason if you did poorly. I'll see you soon." I said in my best Your-Amazingly-Understanding-Girlfriend voice and clicked my phone off.

"Uh-oh, Jake not coming?" Rose asked, her face looking fakely concerned. I wasn't as naïve as the others, I could spot a faker from miles. Maybe because I knew fake like that back of my hand…since I was it.

"Don't tell me my brother is too hung over too drive!" Leah laughed.

I grinned as breezily as I could. "No, he just bombed with an unexpected final. You should have heard how upset he was." I wrinkled my nose and smiled at her. "Your brother is so adorable!"

"I think I just barfed a little." Leah grimaced while everyone around us laughed. She threw her arm around me as we walked to her car. I leaned one her, glad I had a friend as good as her. SO maybe my boyfriend wouldn't be there on the night of the biggest party ever. I would never cancel, the North Pole might be melting but hell would freeze over before I committed social suicide.

-***-

I was checking over my to-do list on my laptop about my party, lots needed to be done but couldn't be. It would have been easier though if my parents would just leave!

"Emmett!" Renee Swan, my mother called, her voice reaching the whole house. "Can you please come get your football from the table?"

I could hear my little brother's thudding footsteps as he came racing down the stairs.

"Bella," Renee called to me this time, "you should see your brother throw this football, I think we have a little future star quarterback in our home!" She sing-songed.

"Mhmm, he is very special." I called back, even though I wasn't as impressed with Emmett's eight year old throw as my mother was.

"So what are you up too?" Renee appeared in the archway in front of me. Renee had pale blue eyes and light brown hair that was always pin straight and cut at her shoulders. She was small and slender but soft somehow. Kinda like me, or so that's what my father said.

I smiled as innocently as I could, while minimizing the IM box in case she suddenly developed x-ray vision and could read through the laptop screen and see me IMing my secret booze hook-up for tonight.

"Oh, you know, just talking to friends." I shrugged dismissively, trying to hide my guilt of almost lying to her. "So you all packed and ready to hit the road?" I asked enthusiastically, changing the subject.

"Yes, we're leaving in half an hour… Are you sure you're okay with babysitting Emmett till Christmas Eve?"

I sighed, trying hard not to roll my eyes. "Yes, Mom. You know some people actually hire seventeen year olds to watch children and I'm not even asking to be paid." I did understand her concern, it being the first time leaving Emmett alone with me for a couple days, but c'mon.

Renee didn't answer as she walked back into the kitchen, no doubt to give Emmett more unneeded attention. They, my mother and father, treated him like a baby; therefore, he acted like one, always trying to absorb attention he already fully had.

Emmett was a premature baby and born with complications. My parents freaked about the surgery he needed, as did I, but here we are eight years later, and he's perfectly healthy, mischievous, and extremely annoying as a younger brother should be and yet they still treat him like he could break at any moment. While they treated me like I was a hair away from becoming a juvenile delinquent when the truth was I got good grades (straight A's? check.), ate all my fruits and vegetables (and got milk? Check.), and went to a gym twice a week to keep myself strong and healthy (sculpted caves and biceps? Check mate.)

Oh well, some things will never change. I pulled up the IM box and typed:

PARENTS LEAVING SOON, PARTY NEEDS TO START ASAP!

A hand grabbed my shoulder my behind and I yelped.

"AH!"

"Ha-ha! Made you flinch!" Emmett crowed as he danced around from behind the couch. Little Brat.

"You're such a troll." I muttered, trying to calm my racing heart. That was a close one.

"So, I just broke my football by accident. Do you think Santa will bring me a new one?" Emmett asked excitedly, his blue eyes sparkling in excitement. Emmett was bigger boned than most children surprisingly since he was a preemie, and had a round face, rosy cheeks and dimples plus the same curly dark brown hair as my father in me. Although he got lucky and inherited my mother's pretty pale blue eyes.

I was careful on what to say, knowing my mom was probably monitoring our conversation. My parents loved how enthusiastic Emmett got over anything related to Santa.

"Sure. Just make you sure you won't act naughty or there will be nothing but coal under the Christmas tree."

"No new football?" He said worriedly.

"Nope." I let the 'p' pop.

"So always tell the truth Em, liars go on the naughty list." My mother called from the kitchen.

Emmett nodded and smiled before scrambling up the steps, to his room. I hoped he would grow up soon and not end up being mature deprived for as long as I was. Growing up, I had one best friend… A boy named… Edward Masen. We rolled into the boyfriend/girlfriend phase around seventh grade, sharing firs kisses and the hope and dreams of becoming rock stars. We were both into the same music, both played guitar, both sang, both knew each other, more than anyone else. Why he ever liked me was a mystery. I was the girl with frizzy hair and Ugly Betty fashion sense.

In high school, I finally woke up and smelled the no frizz Tresemme hair spray and met Leah. How? We got falsely accused of cheating in tests, were proved not guilty because of no hard evidence but still got two weeks worth detention. She actually talked to me and we grew closer, as Edward and I grew farther apart. He told I'd turned into one of 'them' and betrayed him. I ended up going to a party newly single and leaving newly coupled with Jacob. And just like that, I'd grown up.

I sighed, yeah fat chance of Emmett ever growing up with my parents.

-***-

I was standing here in the entry room listening to my mother's last minute to-do list for Emmett. Ya know, the "make sure Emmett goes to bed on time" or "make sure Emmett doesn't eat too many sweets" and my favorite, "make sure Emmett puts on clean underwear".

"Mom, Dad everything will be okay. It'll work out fine. Don't you trust me?"

"Of course Bells! You know how much of a worrier your mother is." My dad, Charlie Swan, stage-whispered to me, winking when my mother play scowled at him. My dad was a good guy, usually quiet and gruff, not really good at showing his emotions, but knew when to smile. He was very protective and stern with Emmett and I, he was head chief of the LA Police Department, so I guess he had a reason to be. I smiled back at him, taking in the way his brown eyes, same as mine, crinkled at the edges making him look ten years younger, even though he was losing some of his brown curls, also the same as mine.

"Bella, Emmett is not to bike over to Jasper's alone. I'm leaving my car here so you can drive him there whenever he likes, is that clear?" My mother added, in a tone that implied, "And only to go to Jasper's house". Actually for once, I didn't mind that I'd have to tow Emmett around to play dates, it worked perfectly for tonight. He gets a sleepover and I get to throw a party without my annoying family.

"Oh, and Bella, don't let-"

"Emmett play with matches without my supervision. Got it." My mother glared at me and I sighed. I got the sarcasm from Charlie obviously. "Mom, take a deep breath. Everything is going to be fine. We're going to be perfectly safe and sound. I've got it all control. I promise, okay?" I amended while shooing her to the door, where my father was patiently waiting.

"Okay, I'm sorry Bella. Be safe. Don't do anything you wouldn't do if we were here." She smiled at me. "Emmett come give Mommy a goodbye kiss!"

Emmett bounded down through the hallway and into my mother's arms, hugging her as my dad ruffled his hair affectionately.

Oh Gosh, c'mon, c'mon! So close now… just a few more steps…almost out there door…

I expected him to pull away and run upstairs but instead he stood on his tippy-toes and whispered something into my mother's ear.

I felt my stomach sink as my mother's face paled and she turned her now cold blue eyes accusingly at me.

"A party?!" My mother demanded, her voice screeching though the silence. "Oh, Bella, tell me it isn't so!"

My stomach flipped and my heart pounded in my chest. Horror raced through my body, starting at my roots going all the way down to my toes.

"What?" I said weakly, cursing the shake in my voice. I've never been a good liar, only if I'd have a couple days before to rehearse it, but I was never, ever good on the spot like this. "I have no idea what he's talking about."

"She was IMing her friends." Emmett chirped in as if it helped. "She said you guys were leaving soon and the party needed to start ASAP." His voice was angelic, just like his chubby red cheeks and sparkling eyes. Hmm, is it possible to kill an angel? Okay, okay. How about Satan's child disguised as an Angel? Eh?

"Bella!" My mother cried. "How could you?!"

"You can forget about going anywhere until Spring Break, young lady! God, Bella, how can we go to Phoenix now, huh? We obviously can't trust you enough to go now." My yelled, his face turning a purplish color from his fury. "We expected better from you than this, Isabella Marie." Oh crap, the full name AND middle name, I was in deep horse poop now.

"Well Aunt Jackie is expecting us to be there, it's her thirtieth anniversary, she's had it planned for a year. We have to go, but don't think you're getting away with this, Bella. You better not dare blame Emmett for this, he did the right thing! We'll discuss your punishment when we get home." My mother picked up her bags and walked to the door with my father.

They said goodbye again, showering Emmett in hugs and kisses, and giving me threats and glares. Before out the door, my mother promised to call me once she got on the road and slammed the door shut.

Along with my hopes and dreams of ever having my huge party. And the reason for ruining this party was standing nine feet away from me, smirking a way that made me want to slap him into next year.

My rage practically turned my vision red as I stared him down. If looks could kill, this boy would be burning alive. My mouth tasted of acid as I ground my teeth together and clenched my already white knuckles harder.

Emmett's smirk vanished, once he saw my face, and was replaced with wide eyes and a mouth shaped in terror.

"You can't take it out on me! I'll tell Mom and you'll get in so much more trouble!" Emmett cried immediately.

I could feel the anger, burning like dire, searing my gut. I didn't care if my brother was a preemie or that my parents thought he needed special treatment to make up for it. I wanted- no needed to retaliate.

Suddenly, I had an idea.

I started to walk down the hall, away from him and into the kitchen where my school bag was.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Emmett asked nervously as he trailed behind me. Good. The little troll should be nervous. If it wasn't for my parents, I'd be kicking his ass right about now.

I rummaged through my bag and came up with the science homework I was given.

Thank-you Mr. Banner. I thought for the first and last time of my life.

I scanned the heading. Yep, all about the North Pole melting. Perfect. And I knew the one thought that would race through his tiny, unused brain when he read this: Who will save Santa?

I dropped it onto the breakfast bar in front of him, so I couldn't be accused of handing it to him. I'd simply say I was doing my homework, like the smart mature daughter I was, and Emmett, being the nosy little creep he is, read it and it wasn't my fault at all. How can I stop him from reading things he shouldn't?

Always thinking ahead.

Emmett cautiously picked up the article and read the title, then looked up at me warily.

I crossed my arms, daring him.

He continued reading and after a few moments Emmett's face fell in horror, true horror.

Yes!

I felt triumph soar through my body as I stormed out of the room.

Merry Christmas, you little brat.

-***-

Hey guys! Hope you liked the first chapter, next chapter is where the real story starts, I'll be updating sometime this week so check it out. Tellme whatcha think, love it, hate it? I just wanna point out, I know Bella seems like such a snobby stuck up girl but don't worry, that'll change. This is just how the story has to start out, anyways, don't forget to review and seeya next update!