"Everyone smile!", Jasper said as he set the timer on the digital camera once again and quickly hurried back to the group.
"Alice! Don't even think about it!" Snarled Edward without looking back at his younger sister who was attempting rabbit ear's on him.
"Ah, since when are you clairvoyant?", Alice pouted as she put her hand back down at her side.
"Hah! It doesn't take a clairvoyant to know how you think." Bellowed Emmett as he gave loud laugh.
"You are getting kind of predictable there, Alli…" Rosalie said as she fixed her hair a little before the next picture.
"It's always embarrassing watching a tapped out performer doing the same old tricks." Emmett said ruffling Alice's spiky black hair.
"You should talk, Em, you never had any!" Alice retorted frowning, "What is this pick on the short kid day."
"Every day is pick on the short kid day" Edward Replied if his trade mark half smile.
"Guys! Can we please have one photo that includes no glaring, blinking, grimaces or unfunny gestures? Esme will kill us if we can't at least get one!" Jasper exclaimed pointing at the camera which was currently ticking down toward zero.
"She's got one! She's got hundreds…" Emmett whined, he was never one to stand still for too long so the past twenty minutes of picture taking was torture for him.
"Not including the half-a-dozen we've been standing here for. Why do we need copies anyway?" Alice asked.
"We have to be sure one comes out." Edward said calmly looking straight at the camera ready for the picture.
"At least three will. Come on, I want to go down to the vintage book exhibit." Bella spoke up for the first time from her spot in the front.
"One more." Jasper promised as the countdown reached the teens
"Uhg, I can't take this! This is so boring." Emmett complained.
"That's it. I don't have to take this. Company! Eyes Forward! One more then you can all scram and do what you want." Jasper shouted in his gruff military voice.
"Can we get a hallelujah!" Alice shouted throwing her hands up in joy.
"Alice! Hands down, eyes forward! And I want smiles or no dessert tonight." Edward said yet again not turning around.
"Geez, you're no fun when….well ever." Alice said before putting a quick smile on her face.
"Bella, Eyes..." Rosalie started to whisper.
"Forward, got it." Bella said quickly lifting her head up to face the camera.
CLICK
"Finally!" Freed from his prison of posture, oversized Emmett Swan bounced out of the family pose to turn and look at the back drop of their portrait. "You know they've overblown a picture when you can see the nose hairs." His face wrinkled with distaste. His own adoptive father's enormous head looked down on him with a trademark quiet smile.
"They certainly made the display eye-catching I must say," Jasper commented as he began to pack up the camera that had been perched rather precariously on the flat surface of a modern sculpture.
The other Cullen children had to agree – giant faces stared at them from the walls and hung like tapestries from the ceiling, making the whole room look like a bizarre trophy room, peppered with glass cases, models and flickering screens filled with real life footage and interactive menus. Across the far wall, lit up with studio lighting, a raised sign proclaimed the hall a TRIBUTE TO THE HEROES OF THE MODERN AGE.
It had been a source tremendous amusement to the Cullen children when they had learned of the exhibit at the metropolitan museum. Bella had appeared one morning snickering uncontrollably over the morning paper, where the others had been stunned (and then in fits) to see their father, Carlisle Cullen, looking back at them as one of the main selling points of the museum's latest exhibit.
They had questioned their father about it, and Carlisle had shrugged uncomfortably and mumbled about some charity work and art patronage that the museum seemed to feel the need to pay him back for. By the time the usually reclusive doctor had learned of the tribute, the plans were well in the works and there was no polite way to refuse the museum curators starry-eyed vision. Edward, Carlisle only real son, had suspected that his father hoped the museum would escape the notice of his associates and his real and adopted children– it was the way his face had frozen up and gone blank when wife Esme called and loudly proclaimed her pride to everyone within earshot, and had promptly demanded that the children go to the museum and 'take lots of photos' since she couldn't get away from work long enough to take them herself. Edward also suspected that Esme was well aware of this fact – she might be old compared to the house of teenagers she manages but, the woman's sense of humor was still firmly intact. She always allowed herself the odd rare moment to wind her husband up.
It made Edward smile too. Being the son of such a brilliant doctor was both daunting and brilliant, and the Cullen children rarely ever got the opportunity to make the great man squirm. In the end, he had sighed, dragged out their most expensive camera with the air of a man going to the gallows, and told them to have fun, be careful and look out for one another.
14 year old Bella Swan looked around, and Carlisle Cullen looked back from all directions. She sniggered over a photo of a young Carlisle Cullen in the early days of his career as a ER doctor before he started his psychic specific medical practice . "I can't believe Carlisle used to have a goatee." She mumbled
17 year old Edward grinned over her small shoulders. "That's nothing. Right before Jasper and Rose joined the family he tried to grow an Errol Flynn moustache."
"No way!" 20 year old Emmett said making his way over to his baby sister and younger adoptive brother.
"I don't remember that," 15 year old Alice looked up from the large picture of her parents on their wedding day
"It didn't last very long," Edward chuckled as he slung the camera over his shoulder. "He had it for all of two months before mom cornered him with great-grandpa's straight razor and a calculating expression…"
18 year old Jasper hooted with laughter. "No wonder she never watches Errol Flynn."
"She hated that moustache," Edward remembered reflectively.
"Hey, we're in here," 18 year old Rosalie pointed out a family portrait.
"Awww look, it's Bells when she was actually shorter than me," Alice's face turned into a slight pout. Bella and Alice had been relatively the same height, with Bella a little short, since the Swan moved in the Cullen house. But shortly before the start of her freshmen year of high school Bella had a growth spurt putting her 3/4th an inch taller than Alice.
"At least my hair looks normal," Bella retorted, annoyed. This was true what you could she of Bella's curly was perfectly in place, while the rest of her stood tucked mostly behind Emmett so you couldn't tell. Alice on the other hand had recently gotten tired of being the red-head in class and attempted to dye it blonde. This would have worked if the product she had used hadn't also been a primmer leaving Alice with a pale blonde afro. Shortly after the picture was taken Esme took pity on Alice and took her to a salon where they managed to fix and hair and since then Alice has keep it at a short spiky black to avoid afros.
"Yeah, well, neither of you had pimples," Edward grimaced at himself in all his young teenaged glory.
"Not your best side," Jasper agreed, grinning.
"Mom looks pretty," Alice said softly.
Yes, she surely did.
"Alright," Edward broke into the moment. "We had a deal. You can all go wherever for a couple of hours. Alice, you stay with Bella."
"I have to go with her?"
"I have to go with her?"
"Yes," Edward rolled his eyes at the near-stereo outrage. "You do. No arguments, compromises, deals or contracts," he added before either could open their mouths again. "Dad gave me specific instructions not to let either of you wander around alone, and I'm willing to let you go off without an adult chaperone, but that's as far as I'll bend. You can both go together wherever you like inside the museum," Edward had learned not be ambiguous in his orders when it came to his mischievous younger sister. "Without Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie or I, but you will be together all the time. And that's as good as it gets, so live with it."
"I'm 15 Edward!" Alice glared irritably. "15."
"Consider it a safety measure, Alli," Jasper smirked. "This way when you get into trouble, we won't have to run to two different places. Efficient, see?" He sniggered as he got a double "Shut up Jasper!" and an added "What do you mean when?" from an indignant Bella, who knew from experience that this was a losing fight but was determined to see it through to the bitter end.
"Oh, come on you two," Rosalie consoled philosophically. "The Vintage book hall and the Old Time Fashion display are right next to each other. You'd be going there together anyway."
Alice glared at Rosalie for her annoyingly inescapable logic, and huffed. "Fine. Fine! Come on Bella, we're going to Forties style dress for the next school dance."
"Hey, how come you get to pick!" Bella asked as Alice started to pull her away.
"Because I'm older, taller and wiser." Bella gave her a look. "Oh you know what I mean."
"Two out of three, anyway." Bella smirked as she dodged Alice's fist aimed for her arm
"Have fun!" Emmett called after their retreating backs as they bickered back and forth.
"Hey, hold on," Edward called after them. "Remember…"
"Don't split up, don't talk to strangers, don't draw attention, don't stray from the crowds," Bella answered him with the air of one reading off a checklist. Edward opened his mouth to try again. "And we'll meet in the food court in two hours, no more, no less." Bella finished for him.
"Not bad!" Alice said admiringly as they rounded the corner out of the display hall.
"Not really," Bella shrugged. "Edward's as predictable as a metronome."
Edward was left standing with his finger raised and his mouth open. Without even turning to look he growled "Shut up Emmett!"
Emmett was shaking with suppressed, silent laughter. Jasper was a lost cause, nearly prostrate on the floor, his face red as he guffawed.
"You might want to try…" Jasper suggested innocently as he straightened, his face twitching. "To be just a little more…surprising?"
Emmett went double again at the look on Edward's face.
"Surprising, he says," Edward rolled his eyes. "As if anyone would have any trouble guessing where you want to go, Civil War boy."
"I'm the academic," Jasper replied with dignity. "I'm supposed to be reliable."
"You mean boring," Rosalie ribbed, grinning.
"Says the girl who is about to make a bee line straight for the Vintage Car Exhibit. Edward's not the only one getting predictable around here." Emmett prodded Jasper's shoulder. "And you know what they say about girls who like big cars…"
"Yeah." Jasper punched Emmett's arm playfully. "That they happen to be my twin sister."
Jasper and Rosalie then linked arms and started to walk off, "Food Court two hours we know" they said in perfectly together.
Edward lowered his hand again," Wild animal exhibit?"
"History of Music," Emmett countered, and Edward chuckled. "When did we hit predictable-Ville anyway?"
"We aren't predictable," Emmett argued unconvincingly. "We're just too busy to be impulsive."
"Uh-huh," Edward looked idly out of the exit arch.
"Stop worrying, Edward, it'll be fine."
Edward snorted and his normally brother's outrageously loud adoptive brother advice. "I wouldn't if I wasn't totally convinced by now that if they aren't looking for trouble, it's only because its trouble's turn to look for them. And Jasper and Rose can attract their own brand when they want to; they just choose not to\, usually."
"Edward, they may be young but they certainly aren't stupid. They know they can't attract attention here, the know it. They don't ever get the chance to do things like this either. They won't do anything to blow it, not on purpose."
"They don't need to…" Edward stopped himself, because Emmett was right. Whatever notable dangers there were in letting the Cullen children out on their own, they did hardly ever get the chance to do something so…so normal. Edward certainly didn't want his siblings growing up living in fear of the outside world. "Never mind, I'll see you in a few." He said before walking off.
Besides, Edward admitted to himself later as he critiqued the history of violins up in the promenade level, it was kind of nice to get away and have the chance to quietly indulge in all their own interests for a while. Anyone who spent any time with the Cullen's for any length of time knew that they were the center of each other's universes, but it could get very exhausting at times.
It was just the way it had always been. From the time Edward was born to that frightening night that Carlisle lend in the two silent Swan siblings in to the house and told Esme that the two scared children needed a place to stay. They had always been there for each other.
So, the clan of Tracy boys had pretty much come to depend on one another for friendship and support. They bickered, fought, ribbed, pranked, teased, competed and argued relentlessly and endlessly, all day, any day, every day, unless of course some foolish outsider made an ill chosen remark about one of them, in which case the Cullen's would lock together in an impenetrable Cullen fortress and bulldozer over anyone else like a siege engine. Otherwise, strong willed and responsible Edward would guide the mature and outgoing Emmett, quiet and scholarly Jasper would keep the boisterous and mischievous Alice in line, and confident and proud Rosalie would turn to young shy Bella and protect her/
It was a good family, Edward knew. He'd known others in school, and some of Dad's business associates too, that dreaded the Christmas holidays, the family reunions, the weekend visiting with grandparents. It had always confounded Edward. His siblings crowded him certainly, annoyed him sporadically and even angered him occasionally – but there had never been a single day where he'd thought about leaving it forever and actually meant it. None of them had. They were the Cullen's'.
And at their head? Carlisle, brilliant doctor and humanitarian advocate for Psychic rights. Small wonder he had ended up immortalized in a museum long before death got a say in it. And always by his side Esme the teacher. Mother, cook, house keeper, secret keeper everything the family could every need and so much more
Edward sighed – their lives weren't perfect, far from it. But surely alone it would be far worse.
He checked his watch – thirty minutes to go. Maybe he'd take them out to dinner, since they were living normally. His parents both wouldn't be home until late and, Edward smirked wickedly, they could get the photos processed.
Around him, there was a rising murmur. He looked up, and was all the screens and lights start to flicker and crackle.
Then he felt it – like a cold wind across the bare matter of his brain, a tingling, ticklish sensation. And then words, stamped across the inside of his mind in white hot light, cutting through thought, memory and perception.
Edward, get to the vehicle hall right now!
End of Chapter 1 and a letter to my English teacher. You spend all week telling students that they have to write longer papers and use as many words as they can think of and as many sentence and paragraphs as it takes to get your point across. You tell us about a 54 paged paper you gave to one of your college professors and use it as an example for what we should strive for. But when you give use a paper on our favorite place in the world, a topic everyone was excited for, you tell use only two pages. And when I had the nerve to type into the third in class you went on a rant about class sizes and if every student in every class wrote more than two pages you would have too much work. And then you had the nerve to delete my paper and tell me to write less. Well SCREW YOU I don't want to write less I like writing more than is expected you shouldn't give us an assignment if you don't want us to actually try on it. GRRRRRR.
-Stormi Raine