(Twilight theme by Stephanie Meyer)
Alice was the first one to bounce through the door. I think half the town showed up in small bursts through the day. Bella and Alice were working as baristas all day and I stuck close to Emmett and Jasper when they showed up. We stayed for about an hour and then went off to do something else. I immediately regretted leaving when I got into Emmett's jeep and I realized what they were thinking.
"Jasper, your wife has the biggest mouth!"
"C'mon Edward we have been waiting for this for over 70 years! I was beginning to wonder about your . . . preference." Emmett teased.
I knew I would have to get this out in the open eventually.
"Okay, I give! I Edward Anthony Masen Cullen am in like with Isabella Swan."
My brothers high fived and congratulated as they drove us out to the cliffs.
We got to the cliffs and it was deserted as usual. We got a soccer ball from Emmett's trunk and started kicking it around the rock face. The goal in our game was not to break the ball. It made the game look almost human.
"So if she doesn't date what is your master plan Romeo?" Jasper asked.
"I really have no clue. I have never courted a girl before."
"People don't court anymore Eddy. It is casual." Emmett said trying to sound modern.
"Yeah well that is my only reference."
"Well I think you should work on getting those other guys out of the way first." Emmett said
"Yeah, when they stop paying attention to her there will be more attention for you." Jasper added
"Oh I have plenty of ideas on how to get Mike out of the way. They are all quite messy though so I will have those as plans b- z."
"Newton? He's your competition?"
"He is definitely trying the hardest, plus he is planning a traditional prom night for the two of them."
"Need help teaching him not to mess with your girl?"
Jasper and I laughed at the idea of Emmett and Mike left alone in a room together. The boy would piss himself. Jasper's phone buzzed and he looked at the screen as a smile broke over his face.
"Newton is at the store and he has been talking to Bella for an hour no interruption . . ."
Emmett and Jasper were looking at me expectantly.
"We should go pick up Alice. She has been there for quite a while . . ." I said trying to sound convincing.
"Yeah, sure, Alice." They said.
It was full dark when we piled back into the jeep and pulled up to the little bookstore. Parked right in front was Mike's suburban. We walked in and there were a lot of kids from school in the back area. We walked back to Alice and she was having so much fun. "This stuff smells horrible, but I apparently whip up an excellent latte." She was beaming with pride. "I think Bella needs saving Edward." She pointed to Mike and Bella on one of the sofas with her eyes. She had her legs crossed pointing straight ahead where his body was facing hers. Her body language made it clear she needed to be saved.
"Hi Bella. Hi Mike."
"Edward, you came back." I was so happy when I realized she was excited to see me.
"Hey Cullen." You can leave now!
I smiled at the strain that was taking over Mike's face. I sat down between the two of them and she turned her body to face me.
"So where did you run off to?"
"My brother's and I went to the Quileute reservation. Have you been there yet?"
"No, we actually haven't done much sightseeing yet."
"You know Bella; some of us are going there for a bon fire tonight do you want to join us?" Mike snuck in quickly.
"Actually I have plans with Alice tonight Mike."
"You could bring Alice if you want and I am sure Jessica would be happy if you showed up."
Mike emphasized Alice's name in an attempt to let me know I was most certainly not invited.
"Are you joining them Edward?"
"Not sure, I am going out with Emmett and Jasper tonight." I said trying to get a rise out of Mike.
"Well, I will talk to Alice and if she wants to go I will see you there ok Mike?"
Note to self: Get Alice to insist on going elsewhere this evening.
It was annoying that she gave Mike a maybe and I got a flat out no when I asked her to go somewhere with me. Then again Mike was asking her to a group outing and she would have Alice tagging along. Still annoying.
"Great Bella, it will be nice to see you outside of school.
Well it is time to put some distance between Mike and Bella.
"Do you have time to help me find that book I was looking for?"
I gave her a look and it must have intrigued her because she went with my little ruse.
"Sure, I think I know exactly where it is. Would you excuse us Mike?"
"Yeah sure, I was going to grab a soda anyway."
Damn Cullen, he's dormant the whole year and when we finally get some decent talent he has to wake up.
"So, remind me about this book Edward." She said with a smirk.
"I just thought you needed some saving. If you would rather sit with Mike though you can go."
"No. [She said quickly] I do have a book you might enjoy."
She grabbed my hand and we walked to the occult section. She didn't cringe away at the temperature of my touch. Her skin was so soft and very warm. I was careful to be gentle as I held her. She walked straight to a book with a leather bound spine. She pulled it. It fell open to a page held by a red satin ribbon.
The Cold Ones / Vampires / Fact or Fiction
I froze as she scanned the page. She looked up at me and smiled.
"This book has a bunch of legends and a few of them originate right here in Washington. There are quite a few from the Quileute reservation. When you asked if I had been there yet it reminded me of this book."
She handed me the book and I flipped through the pages and came across Alexandria's Genesis. She sat down on the floor in the aisle reading another book and I sat next to her with our legs touching and I quickly read it.
The
"symptoms" of those who have Alexandria's genesis are
shimmering, white skin that resists tanning or burning; no body hair
other than that which they are born with; purple-colored eyes; a
slowing down and even stopping of the aging process
. . . their
bodies are well-developed; their immune systems are incredibly
strong, and resist every disease known to man; they have perfect
vision; and they never gain weight. In other words, they're really
"super-human".
The
legend behind this genetic variation is that, a thousand of years ago
in Egypt, a mysterious light flashed over the sky, and the people in
the village under which this light flashed all developed the pale
white skin and purple eyes, and they were called "spirit people"
because of their appearance. These mysterious people eventually moved
north and disappeared.
(A/N:
Full article posted on my profile)
I
looked over at her then back to the page.
"Why are you staring at me Edward?" she said without tearing her eyes from the page.
"I found a story that sounds an awful lot like you."
I pointed to the page and she skimmed it. "That fable is so full of holes. I think it is a cover up."
"So you are an occult conspiracy theorist?" I laughed mocking her.
She gave me a stern look and her tone became as academic as she could muster without laughing.
"Well, I think a lot of things are based on truth, but I doubt if there were a race of super humans that they would not be a dominant species by now. They have had time to evolve; ancient Egypt was a long time ago. If this genetic 'disorder' exists it is just misdirection. The real show is stage left in plain sight, but no one is paying attention because science has the answer."
"What is the real show?"
"I don't know Edward. I am distracted by stage right just like everybody else."
"Well that is quite an interesting theory. Anything else interesting in here?"
"There are a few myths in here that have traits that are similar to modern day genetics."
"Anything like me in here?" I said very hesitantly. Had she put two and two together yet?
She looked at me as if she were reading under my skin.
"A story about a boy with aesthetically pleasant features, deathly pale, with amber eyes . . . No, not that I can recall."
I felt some relief wash over me and elation at the compliment.
"All this flattery is making it hard for me to believe you just want to be my friend." I mocked
She didn't respond with a witty retort she just smiled at me. It had easily become the most wonderful smile I had ever seen. I felt her hand on my knee as she stood up to put the book back. I watched as she walked back to the barista area.
Edward, she is smiling! Whatever you are doing keep it up. Oh and don't worry I will keep her far away from Mike tonight.
"Thanks" I said out loud but only low enough for Alice to hear.
Emmett and Jasper picked me up and we walked out." Alice and Rose are taking Bella out tonight. We have a boys night situation gentlemen." Emmett said smiling. We drove down the highway towards the national forest.
"What do you have planned Emmett?"
"Glad you asked. I was able to manage an invitation to a certain bon fire on the res tonight."
"Why would we go to that?" Jasper said obviously not pleased with Emmett's choice.
My phone buzzed and I flipped it open and read a text from Alice:
Going to 1st beach Jessica & Lauren kidnapped us. Sorry. C U there?
I sent her a reply:
We are already on our way.
"Sorry Jasper it looks like we are going to the beach."
"Good thing I drank this morning." He sunk into the backseat like a sullen teenager.
(A/N: Thanks for reading! I am loving the reviews I get. Oh and BTW yes my stories do get their names from music. I am a huge music person and I tend to use lyrics in my every day speech so it seemed natural to incorporate it in my FF. I received a PM about the playlists in the second chapter and I actually do have each of those playlists in my library if you want me to post them let me know.)
