Virtue is something learned through constant practice that begins at a young age.


They were laughing as Carlisle retold the story. "I had to sneak around behind," he laughed a little here, "and hoist myself into a tree to scare it enough to get it out of the tree." Big smile here. Alice and Edward were cackling already. "When it fell out, it landed on her, hahaha, right on the head!" Emmett had the loudest bawling deep laugh. I chuckled at his expense, not mine. "You should have seen the violent surprise plastered on her face as a screaming, thrashing cat plopped right on top!"

I scowled. It was hardly MY fault!

Edward was sniggering as he turned to where I stood at the door. "We're not blaming you, we're laughing at you."

"Edward!" Esme disapproved, but still had a cheeky grin.

I would have pretended to be offended, but I was preoccupied. Edward heard me. What I said in my head.

"Yes I did."

I jumped as if I had been burnt. "Oh. My. God." My mind was reeling. "This whole time…" I couldn't even think straight. "You mean to say…you can…" You can read minds? I ended the sentence as a thought, just to, you know; make sure I was not mistaken.

"Yes." he said meekly.

I gawked at everyone for a moment, and then started cracking up. "Of course! Yes! Of course this would happen! Not only are you all vampires, but he, "I gestured madly at Edward, "can read MINDS! YES! It all makes PERFECT sense!" I felt I was about to explode. Rosalie's eyebrows were raised in a tell-tail sign of me acting like an idiot. But…it just wasn't fair. "It's not fair! You know? I can't take it all! I can't be a vampire AND believe that he can READ MINDS! It's ridiculous, and- and STUPID! You know? It's just not fair. You guys are all so…cool and calm and collected and beautiful and-and, AAAND you," again I pointed wildly at Edward, "can READ minds!"

"Yes." Edward said again, looking away.

"I can see the future." Alice chipped in cheerfully as if she was telling me that she could do a kart wheel.

I blinked. No one said anything for a minute.