Bree's Story

4. Acceptance

Bree's POV

As I followed Carlisle through the large glass doors and glanced around wearily, I noticed that all of the Cullen's were watching me with inquisitive gazes. I took a few more steps before stopping in the precise centre of the light, open room. I slowly spun around in a circle, taking in the vast expanse – the expression on my face probably something of awe, curiosity and amazement all mixed into one.

I was interrupted by Carlisle clearing his throat loudly. "Everyone, this is Bree," he announced.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Bree," said Carlisle's caramel haired mate. "I'm Esme," she introduced herself kindly. She quickly walked over to where I stood and hugged me gently, before returning to stand at Carlisle's side.

"Hello," was the only reply I could manage to get out. I was crushed in a vice-tight bear hug. The big, muscular Cullen lifted me about three feet off the ground and wrapped his freakishly huge arms around me. If I was still human his grapple hold would be suffocating me, but besides the fact that I couldn't move an inch, it really wasn't that bad.

"Hey Bree," he shouted enthusiastically. "What's up? I'm Emmett." He put me down carefully so I could speak.

"Hey Emmett," I said, craning my neck to look up at his face. He smiled and patted me on the head.

"You're almost smaller than the pixie," he laughed.

I was about to tell him to shut up and pick on somebody his own size, but Alice was quicker than I was. "Just because you're freakishly huge, Emmett, it doesn't mean we all are," she said smirking. She pushed passed him to give me a quick hug and a peck on the check. She took one graceful step back, but held onto my hands, a dazzling smile lighting up her face.

"I can't wait until we go shopping!" she spoke so fast with excitement that it was difficult to understand her. "Alice + Olivia is my favourite store too. Oh, and thank you so much for the dress you're going to get me. I love it! You have such great fashion sense."

"That's… okay…" I replied slowly.

"Alice, I think you're scaring her," said the blonde male who had been my guard in the clearing. "You can be one frightening little monster once you get started on clothes," he continued. "I'm Jasper, by the way," he added, speaking only to me. I was abruptly delighted to see him. A wave of enthusiasm spread throughout my body and I forgot all about my nerves.

Everyone in the room stared at him questioningly. It was a look that I did not understand. They looked just as delighted to see Jasper as I did; only their expressions were all also annoyed. The mind reader, Edward, raised his eyebrows and gave him another strange look.

"Sorry," Jasper said as he looked down at his shoes embarrassed.

"Jasper has the ability to manipulate the emotions of the people around him," Edward explained to me. "And welcome to the family, Bree."

"Thank you," I replied earnestly. I was astounded by the Cullen's overall acceptance for me. I thought that they might have seen me as an intruder into their lives and into their family, but I was receiving only kind welcoming smiles from all of the Cullen's who had greeted me. I could tell that they didn't feel any aversion towards me and this knowledge had me feeling all bubbly inside. I had a loving new family who all cared about and approved of me.

"May I leave now?" asked the outrageously beautiful blonde, Rosalie, in a bitter voice. She was intentionally avoiding looking in my direction – giving the impression of 'unwelcome' in every aspect of her body language.

"Aren't you going to welcome Bree to our family, Rosalie?" replied Carlisle. He was obviously trying to give her some subtle hints to polite social behaviour, but Rosalie wasn't cooperating.

"Welcome, Bree," she said in a sugar-sweet voice, but the vicious glare she gave me quite evidently displayed that I was not welcome in her eyes. She gave Carlisle a swift evil stare for making her do something she didn't wish to do and then stormed off upstairs without a backward glance. All of the Cullens' eyes followed after her, but they stayed quiet.

Emmett was the first to break the long silence. "Sorry, Bree," he apologized as he followed after Rosalie.

"Please forgive Rosalie's rude behaviour," Carlisle pleaded. "She does not take to new people very well. It takes her quite a while to accept any changes. Especially those to her family."

"It's okay," I replied. After all, I hadn't expected them all to adore me as much as they had. Besides Rosalie, they had all been extremely courteous toward me. So Rosalie didn't like me. Well, 'didn't like' was a bit of an understatement. She

absolutely hated me… but I hadn't expected her to like me. And if Rosalie was the only person who disliked me, I could handle that.

"She doesn't hate you, Bree," Edward told me. He'd been listening to my thoughts. "Rosalie just has a different view on life than the rest of us do. She's only just starting to get over her aversion towards Bella."

The mentioning of the human girl set my throat on fire. I remembered her sweet smelling aroma and the already burning fire in my throat scorched hotter. The whole of my neck was now ablaze and I couldn't think properly.

Edward – hearing the direction in which my thoughts were heading – let out a low hiss. The other Cullen's in the room looked confused and concerned, having no idea what was going on between the two of us.

Jasper intervened, using his mood influencing talent to calm everybody. I was happy – just this once – to feel him taking over and controlling my emotions. The calm aurora he was releasing into the room helped me to think straight again. I regained my focus and control in half of a second. I hadn't actually lost control; I'd just had a little lapse. But I was fine. I really wasn't thirsty. I just needed some time to regain my self-control.

"Sorry," I apologized to Edward.

"It's okay, Bree," he replied. "I overreacted."

"Yes. It's fine, Bree. You're doing so well," Carlisle reassured me. "Your reactions are quite natural for a newborn. Don't be disturbed by them."

"Everything's just so new. All my emotions overwhelm me," I explained.

"We all understand. We remember for ourselves what it was like in the early days. Being disorientated and confused all the time," said Carlisle. "Alice, why don't you show Bree around? Give her a tour of the house."

Alice's face lit up. It was like she had just been given the most exciting Christmas present on Earth. "Sure," she replied with an enormous grin.

She grasped my hand and danced her way upstairs, dragging me behind her. I was eager to see the rest of the Cullen house, so I followed her lithe steps and danced – just as gracefully – up the stairs after her.