An Introduction to the Cullens

By: Lab7417

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of The Twilight Saga. It all belongs to Stephanie Meyers. Lord of the Rings movies belong to their respective owners, writers and producers.

Chapter 4: Alice's Non-Slumber Party

I stared at the new face and body I was still adjusting to in the mirror. If anyone had asked I would have sworn that I would never wear frilly, conventional teenage girl pajamas. I was actually smiling as I surveyed myself in the mirror adorned in pajamas striped in various shades of pink. I had drawn the line at putting my hair up in pigtails and instead had gone for my typical sloppy ponytail.

I walked down to Alice's room and it felt like I had stepped onto a teen flick movie set. The cd player was spouting some kind of rock romance ballad, there was a giant bowl of popcorn on the floor though no one was going to touch it and sleeping bags though no one was going to sleep.

"Alice," I groaned looking around.

"What?!" Alice questioned innocently in her voice that sounded like its own symphony. Her pixie smile turned to a plaintive pout in an instant, "oh come on Bella…I never got to have a slumber party as a human…at least if I did I don't remember it."

"Oh I'm sorry," I said sincerely as I took a seat on the blue sleeping bag. They were incredibly comfy down-filled sleeping bags and I mentally appraised that Alice had spent a small fortune anticipating this sleepover. It was kind of sweet in a way. I liked Alice more and more each day.

"Don't be," Alice said with her usual casual delight, "I don't remember a single thing about my time as a human."

"You don't?! Did…did you just forget them all?" I began to panic about my own memories.

"Oh no…I never remembered anything. I just remember sitting in the dark for what felt like forever and then I was a vampire. Then I began getting visions of Jasper and Carlisle and I knew everything was going to be okay," She shrugged having confessed her story as nonchalantly as if she were giving her phone number.

"Yeah I hope you don't -," I began about to confess what Jasper had told me when she cut me off.

"Oh no, I don't mind at all. I had already seen it. Not to mention I was more excited about picking out a new car at Edward's expense," her face as she spoke lit up like a child's at Christmas.

"Yeah Jasper mentioned that. What's the deal?"

"So what was with you and Edward at the car earlier," Alice asked.

"I asked you first," I said feeling childish for doing so.

"I asked you second," Alice replied and I didn't feel so foolish anymore.

"I started feeling overwhelmed in the bookstore so Edward took me outside," I shrugged, "I don't think anyone was ever in any real danger."

"So Edward took care of you. That was sweet," Alice smiled, "he can be really sweet like that sometimes."

"Yeah I…Alice can I tell you something?"

"Sure, you're going to be my sister after all," she smiled, giddy. Then she frowned, "you are staying aren't you? You like us don't you?"

"Of course I'm staying. I like you all a lot. You've been more like family to me…I mean I always wanted a family like this," I smiled.

"Now what were you going to say," Alice asked although I had the sneaky suspicion that she was already ahead of me.

"Has Edward ever dated anyone?"

"No, in all this time Edward has never found anyone he wanted to be with. He's a great guy though. Of course I love him like a brother. Why?"

"Oh just curious," I shrugged it off. I suddenly realized I was more than just curious. That electricity that had been coursing through me earlier hadn't been fear, as Jasper had pointed out to me, it was attraction. I was rapidly developing feelings for Edward Cullen. The short breaths returned again and Alice was at my side.

"It's okay Bella. I know," Alice said softly giving me a gentle hug.

"I….I didn't," I said in a breathy tone, "I mean I've never felt that way about any boy."

"Well Edward's not just any boy. I can tell you that," Alice replied.

"I don't know what happened…" I floundered. "I'm sure he doesn't even think of me the same way…"

"I wouldn't count that one out," Alice smiled. "Oh stop worrying," she said when she saw my face crease again. She popped me with a pillow and the pillow fight was on. Ten minutes later with a room full of feathers and two laughing vampires we settled in to spend the rest of our non-slumber party watching the whole 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy back-to-back, something I had always wanted to do as a human but could never stay awake long enough for. I found that I had plenty of thought power left over to both thoroughly enjoy the movies and think about my new revelation.

I was undeniably attracted to Edward Cullen. Those chocolate hazel eyes and that voice – they made my knees turn to water. The way he had whispered in my ear. Just remembering it sent thrills down my spine. I couldn't believe I was falling for him. Did he feel the same way? Was I going to get my heart broken even though it no longer beat?

"What do you think about a yellow Ferrari?" Alice asked out of the blue.

"Umm…I was never really in to the whole car thing," I fumbled.

"I think that's what I'm going to go with," Alice smiled.

Downstairs I heard the door open and close as the guys returned home. Jasper entered Alice's room only seconds later. She curled up in his arms and we all watched the second half of the last movie that way. When I sat up as the credits began rolling I noticed that Edward stood in the doorway. How long had he been there? This time I took a long look at him. He was handsome from head to toe. He reminded me of one of those marble statues that the Greeks and Romans had carved of their gods representing them in the epitome of the human form. He was far too beautiful to be human – they all were and I had joined them. I was sweeping back up Edward's profile when I reached his eyes and noticed he was just as focused on me. I knew he wasn't reading my thoughts because he could not. At least, I heaved a sigh of relief, he did not know of my ever growing feelings for him. He smiled at me when he realized that we were, for all intents staring at one another. I hoped I smiled back, my whole body felt like putty.

"Thanks for the party Alice it was great," I said rising from my spot on the floor.

"Yeah, I'm going to have to clean up all these feathers," Alice said and we all surveyed the room again.

"That can wait," Jasper said before he tickled Alice. I quickly retreated to the door and pulled it to as I slipped out to give them some privacy. I was feeling a little restless so I made my way downstairs and out onto the balcony. The night sky was beautiful from here. I took in all of the millions of stars that my new vision allowed me to see. I listened to the crickets and other wildlife nearby and further in the forest I could hear a heard of Elk stirring slightly. All the while I had this sixth sense that I was being observed. It was confirmed when, after a half hour, the door opened again and I turned to see Edward joining me.

"Restless?" he asked.

"A little," I confided, "I've had a lot on my mind."

"Such as - ?" he enquired gently. He had this tone to his voice that felt like a blanket to the senses – serving to wrap them up and making the recipient feel almost entranced.

"Trying to take it all in," I answered with a partial truth, "getting to know my new family and learning to be a vampire…"

"It is a lot to cope with," Edward sighed. Suddenly he seemed very closed off. "It is not something I would have ever wished for you and I am more sorry than you will ever know that it happened. I will never forgive myself."

"I have," I said softly looking at him. His head snapped up and his eyes met mine. They were that beautiful chocolate brown and swirling with a million emotions.

"Come let me show you something," he said suddenly blinking for a moment and his eyes filled with pleasure. They almost sparkled. I couldn't help but smile back. He reached down and took my hand. He seemed to hesitate for a moment and when I didn't remove my hand he led me into an area of the house I had not noticed before. It was a platform under the stairs and there sat a beautiful black baby grand piano.