Taking Alice's advice I got dressed. I had to remember to complement her on her choice of clothes, but also to remind her I wasn't going to a cocktail party. She gave me a light beige semi-form fitting dress that ended a little above my knees and a respectably low-cut neckline to be worn with a thin black belt that buckled with a bow. A black headband with a small bow held my dark auburn wavy hair back and I wore cute little black bow flats. Looking in the mirror I couldn't help but feel like a little girl again on my way to synagogue. Feeling pretty, if not a little ridiculous, for the first time in months, I descended the stairs to where everybody was gathered.
As I walked down the stairs to the living room I was relieved to see that nobody was staring at me. As I walked by, people would look up and nod and smile but besides that I was glad to see everybody just going about their daily route. I was instantly drawn to intense game of chess being played on the floor between Alice and Edward. I watched for a couple games while Alice and Edward made a total of two moves over five minutes on a board made up of six boards before Alice flicked her own king over. I was about to ask for somebody to explain to me what was going on when-
"Oh!" Alice exclaimed, turning to me with wide eyes. "I'm sorry I must have forgotten. No need to worry about asking me politely. I can see the future."
Wow, I thought. A mind reader and a physic. Is that usual?
"It's not unusual for our kind to have gifts." Edward responded cutting off my train of thought. "It is unusual for so many of us to be living together, though. Most can't stand it. "
"I can imagine why." I said dryly. Lack of privacy for starters, I thought pointedly. Edward looked up from the chess board then and threw me a small dazzling smile.
"Sorry. I didn't mean offense. I just wanted to answer some of your questions," he said sincerely. I sighed.
"Just wait for me to ask them, okay?" He opened his mouth to respond to that. "Out loud," I amended before he could respond. He smiled and turned back to his game.
"Are you sure you're not the mind reader here?" He moved his pawn forward. "Okay. I'll behave. I promise." At that moment Bella and Reneesme walked down the stairs. Reneesme ran towards me and hugged me.
"Yes! Somebody finally my age!" she squealed. She pulled back and I saw her fully now. She was of an average height and had a slightly curvy figure. She looked lean and at that point where she could pass for either a kid or a young woman. But, guessing from her round face and bouncy personality, I would say she was in her pre-teens. "We are going to be such great friends, I can feel it!" She smiled warmly and I couldn't help but instantly love this little bundle of excited energy before me. I laughed at her practically jumping up and down on the couch I was sitting on.
"I'm sure we will be. First though tell me about you and your family. I mean why-"
"You mean why I have blood pumping through my veins?" she asked cutting me off.
Wow, I thought. She's as bad as Edward. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him smirk. "Well yes." I stated bluntly.
"Does it bother you?" She asked quietly, looking down. "Do you find it too distracting?"
"No!" I said quickly to reassure her. "No not at all. I mean you smell nice, really, but in a non-food sort of way. Kind of like a bouquet of flowers." Bella's snorted a laugh from her spot behind Edward.
"Edward said the same about me," she chuckled. Discreetly I leaned forward and took a whiff.
Definitely floral. Must be heretical, I thought.
"Anyway," Reneesme said. "You asked me a question." She got a thoughtful expression on her face. "Well I'll tell you everything about me and as much about my family as I can but if you want to know everybody's story you'll have to ask them."
"Fair enough."
"I have two conditions though." I raised an eyebrow. "You have to tell me your story." I must have made a face because she quickly added, "Not tonight but eventually. Okay?" I nodded.
"And the second request?" I asked. She smiled.
"Don't freak out." And without further ado, she cupped my cheek with her hand and everything disappeared.