This is my twenty-first story. WOOT! Hope you enjoy the hilarity of 'Truth or Dare.'
Disclaimer: These are Stephenie Meyer's characters. I have my ideas.
Round one. Edward's POV.
"Truth," Nessie said, barely being able to contain the excitement in her voice. I knew one of the rules forbid me from listening in on the others' thoughts, but I couldn't help but find out how Jasper was doing.
"Have you ever lied to Mommy or Daddy?" Bella asked. I smiled at Jasper's newfound excitement towards the game – he had never really been one for these things. Good thing I had the perfect cover up – Bella's question. I thanked fate everyday for putting her into my life. She seemed to be able to do everything at just the right time. She was perfect in every way.
"No, Mommy," Nessie stated happily. Looking into her thoughts, I found that she was telling the truth and smiled again. Just another perfect thing fate had given me – a daughter. Against all odds, I had a biological daughter.
"Uncle Emmy! Truth or Dare?" Renesmee hadn't missed a beat and had doubled in excitement at getting to pick her Uncle 'Emmy'.
She certainly doesn't waste time. Emmett's 'voice' was full of frustration. He didn't want Nessie to pick him – he wanted his wife to do so. I rolled my eyes at the obvious.
"Dare." Emmett's voice was full of challenge. If it was going to be like this, he was taking the opportunity to prove to his niece just how great he was. Of course, there really wasn't much to prove. Both Jasper and I paled in comparison to how cool Nessie thought he was. They had played numerous games together. She always relied on Jacob and Emmett for entertainment.
"I dare you to eat an apple."
Emmett leapt up to get the apple, and settled back down into his seat in just seconds. He took his first bite achingly slowly, even for humans. The disgust on his face was obvious, but he was working hard to hide it.
Alice, who was remembering the time in the cafeteria when Bella had asked me to eat food, started laughing. I had taken a bite of the slimy human delicacy that was pizza. I remembered my own personal disgust. It was like dirt – yet worse.
Emmett shot Alice a glare and swallowed, clearly relieved to be done. The apple was tossed aside and forgotten.
Already looking for payback, my brother went after Alice. "Truth or Dare?" he said, staring at her.
"Truth," she whispered. Unlike me, she was following the rules and staying out of the visions. Unsure about what would happen, she went for the supposedly safer choice.
Of course, nothing was safe when it came to Emmett. "Have you ever dated anyone other than Jasper?" We all knew that she couldn't answer for her human life, but her vampire life before she came to us was as much of a mystery to us. Not everything was kept secret, but we didn't always share all of our life with each other.
"Of course not," Alice responded, sticking her tongue out.
Only now did I realize how tense Jasper had been. The waves of relief were slamming into all of us at a hard, fast pace.
Done with his turn, Emmett excused himself to the bathroom. He would be relieving his body of the small apple bite he took – but Nessie didn't need to know that.
"So, Jacob. Truth or Dare?" Alice's chirpy voice rang out again.
Jacob's eyes narrowed, trying to figure out what Alice was doing. He was constantly suspicious of us despite our openness toward him. Perhaps the dogs weren't as easy going. Then again, my family had Bella continuously trying to keep the peace. She was our personal peacekeeper. That certainly had some effect on our resolve.
"Truth," he said, still cautious.
"Have you and Nessie ever kissed?"
"No," Jacob responded easily.
I stared at him through narrowed eyes. It wasn't my fault that his thoughts were practically screaming at me with the memory. Just because it was a rule meant for my personal restraint, didn't mean they could break it for me. I was innocent – this time.
Jacob had caught me staring and figured out his mental mistake quickly, bowing his head. I managed to ignore his 'voice' as he focused on other things, but his action had not escaped Bella's attention.
She's furious. Jasper's thoughts were almost afraid. Was that really how bad it was?
I looked at my wife and she started growling. Emmett chose this very opportune moment to return. He took her in his arms, holding her back. I couldn't lay a finger on my angel.
Jacob took up a protective stance in front of Renesmee, making sure she would be hidden from Bella's rage. Thanks to Jasper, Bella calmed down within a few seconds. The glaring continued, but Jacob felt it was safe enough to step aside and sit again. I was thankful for both of them. When it came to my legal and biological family, I was pathetically useless in holding them back.
"Edward. Truth or Dare?" Great! Now it was my turn.
"Truth." There were hundreds of questions buzzing around in Jacob's mind, and I figured it'd be best to help him out a bit rather than frustrate him further.
"Do you regret changing Bella?" he whispered.
This had been the one question that he had wanted to know the answer of for the last three years. He hadn't cared too much for a while – his entire world was my daughter. Eventually, living with us had taken its toll. The least I could do was answering him honestly.
I held Bella closer. "All the time. Yet never." How could I – how could anyone be okay with taking away Bella's humanity? She was so fragile, so beautiful, and so perfect as a human. It was like taking your most cherished item and cutting it in half. On the other hand, we had both wanted her to live for eternity so that we could be together forever, and that was a good thing added to the mess that we sifted through when her change was imminent.
The room sat in silence for a few moments as I listened to Jacob thinking this through. He mulled it over, finally understanding the response I had meant. A simple nod of his head continued the game.
"Rosalie! Truth or Dare?" Her head snapped up and turned into my direction. She was still painting her nails, but her thoughts immediately went to Nessie. Rosalie was all for keeping the baby, and cared for her just as much as Jacob. She would take the time for my daughter's sake.
"Dare," she smirked. It was all the push I needed.
"Paint your nails lemon yellow."
Eyes wide, mouth open, she stared at me as if I was crazy. I rather was; a freak among freaks….
Alice ran upstairs to fetch the color I had described and came back carrying two bottles. I couldn't understand why at first. She kept her thoughts hidden and I hadn't figured to listen in on Rosalie.
After closing the bottle of her current bright red polish, she picked up one of the new bottles, twisting it in her hand. A second later, it was flying at me. I turned my head just enough to let it skim my nose and smash into the wall behind me. I was glad Alice hadn't stayed completely out of her visions. Rosalie was furious at my escape, but finally managed her dare with the second bottle. Once one of her hands was painted yellow and the other red, she continued the game.
That's fine Edward. I'll just get back at your precious wife.
I clutched Bella closer to me, aware of just how bad this could get. Sure, the two had become closer in the years spent together, but they could still get hostile.
"Truth or Dare?" The venom in her voice was menacing and caused me to pull Bella even closer.
"Truth," she muttered. Thankfully she didn't pull away despite the uncomfortable position I was putting her in. She understood my need to have her closer right now.
"Bella, have you ever crushed on someone before you met Edward?"
That one word: before. It made all the difference. She had admitted to me once, when she was human, that she had a thing for Romeo at some point. However, I don't think she had ever told the rest of the family.
I let her go, silently telling her how much better I felt with the question. She sat upright and answered, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"When I was human, I crushed on Romeo. You know, from the play."
Five jaws dropped both physically and mentally. They were all stunned. Except Nessie and myself. She didn't know who Romeo was, nor did she care.
Of course, only Emmett could take the moment and turn it into a joke.
"Bella and Romeo sittin' in a tree. K-I-S-S-"
A soft growl ripped through my throat, warning him to shut his mouth before I permanently removed it from his face for him. He took the hint and sat back. I looked over at Jacob and Nessie to see if I had scared them. My daughter was in the dog's arms, a little frightened but not enough to end the game early. Jacob was staring wide-eyed. He had witnessed the ferocity of vampires on many occasions and didn't mind much anymore.
"Jasper. Truth or Dare?" Bella asked, trying to move on and lighten the mood, I guess.
Snapping back from the shock, he prepared himself for whatever would be thrown his way.
"Dare." The strength and confidence radiating off him was almost as intense as the excitement he was exhibiting when we started. Since then, Nessie had calmed down a bit and was now intensely focused on the game.
"I dare you to dress in a different outfit of Alice's clothes for every round of this game."
Jasper ran upstairs and changed quickly. The only thing he could find on short notice was a pair of short shorts and a low cut tank top in bright orange. He came back down looking silly and feeling uncomfortable.
"Nice legs, Jasper!" Emmett whistled and winked. Jasper smirked at him and blew him a kiss as we all burst into laughter.
And here ends Round 1 of 'Truth or Dare.'