Beth tentatively opened the front door. Seeing no one she slipped in and closed it quietly behind her. Pausing Beth listened for anyone, and then she made a mad dash for the stairs.
"STOP right there, young lady." Emmett's voice came from the couch.
Beth sighed and walked over to her father. Emmett sat up and gave her a good long stare "So what happened that has you trying to sneak into a house full of vampires?"
Beth hung her head and grudgingly handed him an envelope. 'At least it wasn't mom.' The nice thing about having vampires for parents they read notes very quickly.
"YOU DID WHAT!" Emmett roared.
"I punched a kid in the face" Beth mumbled. Emmett put his head in his hands. "At least it wasn't Jacob" Beth tried to lighten the mood she heard someone laugh outside, probably Jacob who had been kissing Renesme when Beth had gotten off the bus.
Emmett chuckled weakly then mumbled "What is Rose going to say?"
"About what?" Rose asked coming down the stairs. Emmett and Beth shared a look, Beth attempted to plead with her eyes, but Rose was already beside Emmett. Sighing he handed the letter to Rose. "Elizabeth Raine Cullen what were you thinking?"
Beth flinched at her full name but defended her case "He was saying rude stuff to Amy and then he turned on you…so I shut him up."
"I don't need you defending me in these situations. You should have…"
"Just walked away no way, he was saying that he ravished your body with Papa Bear filming."
"Whoa! Hold on, he said I let him ravish my wife?!" Emmett interrupted. Beth nodded. "That little punk I'm going to…"
"Emmett!" Rose gave him a look that said not now this is about Beth.
"Right Beth it was wrong and unlady like. You're grounded for two days." Beth nodded accepting her fate; at least it was only two days.
Rose looked uncertain; thinking the punishment a little light, when something caught her eye. "Em we have a meeting with the principal, in an hour!" Emmett's head snapped up to Rose.
"It's not that bad. Amy said her parents had a good time. Then again they meet to talk about Amy getting student of the month, but she said her parents came back happy" Beth shrugged.
"Honey that's not what were worried about" Rose smiled at her child.
"Then what?" Beth asked looking confused.
"We don't age Beth" Emmett explained "were going to look like a teenage couple who have a fourteen year old daughter."
"So say you adopted me."
"We already did and we said it was nine years ago. And we said you we were twenty-five when we adopted you."
"Oh."
"Let's go talk to Carlisle. Maybe him and Esme will go for us" Rose started for the stairs "OH and Beth go to your room and don't come out till supper." With that Rose disappeared, Beth snapped her fingers and turned away from the window she was about to crawl out of.
Rose and Emmett found Carlisle reading a book on physiology in his office. "Carlisle we need your help." Rose busted in.
"With what?" Carlisle put his book down so that he gave his children his undivided attention.
"Well you see…" Emmett explained the situation, while Rose intervened every other word.
When they finished Carlisle gave a small smile "Sorry kids but your just going to have to go. It's part of being a parent."
"But what do we do or say or look like. What if they think she's pulling a fast one, were teenagers for goodness sakes!" Rose screeched pacing back and forth.
Carlisle chuckled at his daughter; she was finally realizing how hard it was to be a parent. He was lucky to get them all as mature…semi mature young adults. "Rose this is the joy of parenting learning what to do."
Rose growled, Emmett just shook his head "Rose we have to go get ready. Were supposed to be there in half and hour."
"BELLA!" Rose yelled running to her room.
Emmett followed "What do you want Bella for?"
"She was fourteen once, and during this era. She'll know what parents wear better than I would. I mean my mom wore dresses with hoops for goodness sakes your mom wore skirts. I don't want to appear old fashion."
"What Rose are you ok?" Bell came in looking slightly panicked.
"Beth got in trouble at school, we have to meet the principal and I don't know what a late thirty year old woman should wear." Rose yelled from somewhere in her closet. "Would she wear this?" Rose walked out holding a v cut shirt and mini skirt.
Bella's eyes go huge "NO!" Running out she returned with some more conservative clothes. It was a loose brown knitted sweater with straight leg jeans.
Rose picked up the sweater with her thumb and forefinger "Are you sure?"
"Regretfully yes." To Emmett Bella gave him some worn out jeans and polo.
"Lucky" Rose muttered darkly. Looking in the mirror Rose grimaced "I look ugly."
"I'd still eat you" Emmett nuzzled her neck "I'll even rip them off you later."
"I want to rip them off now" Rose whined. Emmett laughed and went to the mirror. Picking up some crystal ice cover up stick he began drawling lines on his face.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Rose looked appalled; he didn't know how to use cover up at all.
Emmett turned around looking ridicules "Putting worried lines on my face."
Rose's jaw dropped, ok to the human eye it would look good, he would look at least forty or so, but Rose was not ageing. "No way they can think what they want I am not getting any uglier."
Emmett chuckled and dusted baby powder in his hair. Then before Rose could react he tossed some into hers. "EEKK!" Rose screeched.
"What the H.."
"Beth, watch your langue." Rose and Emmett turned to the door to find Beth and Jasper staring at them.
"What are you doing?" Beth asked staring skeptically at her parents.
"Ageing so we look more like your parents than your siblings" Emmett Chuckled dodging a pillow sent his way.
"Yah my grandparents" Beth replied.
Jasper coughed trying to hide his laugh. Rose glared at him, smiling he nodded, "Well you better get going it starts in fifteen minutes."
Grumbling Rose headed to the car. After the roar of the engine and Rose's occasional profanity couldn't be hear anymore Beth jumped the back of the couch and reached for the TV remote.
"Aren't you grounded?" Jasper asked playfully grabbing the remote before she could.
"Awe come on Jazz, they're not here. Bell went home and Carlisle and Esme never say anything. What Mom and Papa Bear don't know can't hurt me."
Jasper chuckled and jumped the back of the couch turning the TV on, "What's on?"
At the school Mr. and Mrs. Cullen waited for the principal, Mr. Nelohr, to start talking. He was a middle-aged man who didn't like funny business, especially when it came to the students. They were here to learn and achieve greatness not goof off or disturb the peace.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, I'm sorry about the events that brought you here. I wish it could have been under different circumstances."
"As do we." Mrs. Cullen smiled tightly. Mr. Nelohr eyebrows shot up at the young voice and was mystified by this beautiful woman who looked like she should be seventeen rather than thirty-four.
Trying to control himself he turned to Mr. Cullen, but that didn't help much. Mr. Cullen was also strangely beautiful and he was so huge it was intimidating. Actually for some reason they both were extreme intimidating.
Clearing his throat Mr. Nelohr attempt to regain the upper hand in the intimidation area. "As you know your daughter, unmercifully punch a boy today. Naturally we may have to suspend her." Yes a threat of suspension should start them quivering.
"If that's what has to happen then so be it" Mr. Cullen said. Looking at Mr. Cullen, Mr. Nelohr couldn't help but stare he could swear that those wrinkles on his face had been drawn on. "Is something wrong?" Mr. Cullen asked politely.
Mr. Nelorh shook himself and grunted "Nothing Mr. Cullen now what have you done at home to reprimand your daughter?"
"That is up to us, and entirely none of you business." Mrs. Cullen tartly replied, if he squinted the principal could almost swear the white in her hair was baby powder.
"Excuse me" Mrs. Cullen voice turned to ice "Though I appreciate your stares, this is not the time Mr. Nelohr."
Mr. Nelohr jumped in his chair surprised at the venom and coldness in Mrs. Cullen's voice. Mr. Cullen grinned and Mr. Nelohr could see his teeth. Mr. Nelohr could have sworn they were pointy and a growl emitted from Mr. Cullen throat.
'You forgot to take you medication again didn't you, Bob.' "You seem to have everything in hand. Nothing will be done here at school save three detentions. Thank you for coming in Mr. and Mrs. Cullen. Good Day." With that Mr. Nelohr ushered the Cullen's out the door.
Then sitting in his chair he pulled a bottle of his desk and poured an ugly brown liquid into a glass. Looking at the glass to the bottle to the door the Cullens just left from, Mr. Nelohr poured some more into the glass and began to drink it.