EPOV:

For the entire day, Esme fussed over the robot as if it were her own child. It was hers in a way. She had turned into a vampire as a mother and that motherly instinct was very strong in her. This doll was a perfect 'child' for Esme. It was unbreakable and would last longer than a normal human.

The only problem was that the robot couldn't talk.

It was capable of speech but had never been taught it. Esme fretted over this insistently and worried about who should teach the robot.

"Carlisle, I still think that you would be better at teaching her." Esme said for the third time this day. "You work with people who are modern. You could teach her how to speak like everyone else."

"Esme, dear, I am the oldest person in this family. My vocabulary is slightly old fashioned." Carlisle said. "You should ask Alice or Emmett. They are the youngest."

"No way!" Emmett shouted from the other room.

Me teach that thing to…oh yes! High score! I win! Move over Xbox champion, there is a new…

What? I so can not teach that thing to talk…no way. I thought I was the fashion expert, not the English teacher…

"English is my worst class, Esme." Alice's light voice drifted into the room from somewhere upstairs. "I can't understand any of the chat linguistics of the modern age. Sorry!"

"You're just saying that because you don't want to do it." I said while reading her mind. "You just want to be the person in charge of 'the thing's' fashion."

"Please don't call Bella 'the Thing'." Esme said.

She is a person. She has emotions and thoughts of her own.

I didn't try to correct her by telling her that the thing couldn't think. If it could I would know better than anyone else.

"Sorry."

If Edward can read minds, then he must know a lot about…

"Carlisle!" I shot him a glare. "Don't you even think about telling her that. I won't be pulled into this."

It's true though. You know the most about how an average human's mind works. It would be simple to…

"Carlisle" I growled.

"What? What!?" Esme looked between the two of us. "What aren't you telling me?"

"I think that Edward should teach the robot, I mean, Bella, how to speak like a normal person. He does have experience with minds and learning…"

"What a lovely idea! You really are a genius, Carly!" Esme gushed.

"Wait one second here." I frowned. "I never asked to be chosen for this. Don't I get a say in it?"

Six voices in my head all said no. I groaned in frustration. Esme's voice came into my head.

It's a really good idea you know, dear. You are always so alone. You need some company, especially of the female variety.

"I'm not lonely." I grumbled. "I like to be alone."

Yes, yes, you've told us hundred times again, but is it true? Please, Edward?

"Fine."

I sulked off and went to my room like any teenager would once they lost an argument with their parents. Most of the time Esme and I get along, but when she brings up the topic of my romantic life, or my lack of one, I become bothered.

I turned on some Linkin Park and closed my eyes. The music became loud and violent quickly, which suited my mood. I focused on each word that the singer said and listened to the CD again when it finished. On the second time around I would stop and replay the songs that I liked.

On my fourth time listening the last track, Alice barged into my room.

"Thanks for knocking, go ahead and make yourself at home. I don't mind." I said sarcastically.

Someone's in a grumpy mood. She thought loudly.

"What do you want Alice?" I leaned back against the sofa and didn't turn of the stereo. She could live with the music.

You have disgusting taste in music. Alice began to leaf through my collection. Really bad. One day you are going to realize that this band is seriously…

"Stop insulting my tastes in music and just say what you wanted to." I growled.

Well, we know who the moody teenager is in the house. She thought to herself before conversing with me again through her mind. So, what's up with you today? You started off the day so…I don't know…what's the word?

"Normal?" I sighed.

Exactly, you were normal for a while and then you got all grumpy and morose the second someone thinks about having you watch over a robot and teach it how to speak. What's up?

I sighed. "You didn't want to teach it either, if I remember correctly."

Just because you are the only one who is alone doesn't mean you are less of a part in the family. Edward, just try to be good.

She left and the song ended a second later. As the music quieted, the thoughts of my family poured into my head.

Maybe I shouldn't have pushed that onto Edward. He seems…

Press A, up… down…I have to press it fast. I will win…aw crap, I broke another controller! Quick plug the other one in…I'm going to lose…

Look at how cute her eyes are! I could teach her how to clean the house. She would make a beautiful maid. This was exactly my image of a maid when I was a young girl fantasizing about my perfect house. Bella is so…

Edward is so arrogant. He acts like he is the only one in this family that…

That last one was Alice. I hurriedly pressed the play button on the stereo and turned up the volume to block out their voices. As the music came screaming through the room, the voices became dulled until they were hovering just at the back of my head. It wasn't peace, but it was better than before.

I was doing pretty well with ignoring their thoughts until Esme started thinking about me and the 'thing' in the same sentence.

I wonder if Edward might like Bella's company. When she can talk I am sure that they…

"Esme!" I growled and ran into the sitting room where she was at. "What are you trying to do? I know that I might not be involved with someone, but is it so bad that you need to set me up with a freaking robot?!"

He heard me. "I am so sorry, Edward. I just…oh…"

"Esme," I said in a more calm voice. "I know that my lack of a mate bothers you immensely, trust me…I know, but I am not going to fall in love with a piece of metal."

Don't say that when Bella is right there. Esme looked at the robot who was biting her hair very unaware that I had called her anything at all. She has emotions, you know.

"Yeah, but she can't understand if I call her anything, can she?"

"Edward, go to your room." Esme sighed. "I don't know why you have been…well, you just aren't normally like this…"

I turned and headed off towards my room.

Tomorrow, though, you will be teaching Bella.

I groaned lightly at Esme's comment. This was going to be real fun.