ElizabethPOV:
You had to give Esme credit, she had fabulous taste. My room was so perfect from the ice blue fainting sofa to the framed photograph of the Eiffel Tower. There were even some of my favourite novels in the shelves lining the walls; first editions too! Carlisle's doing, no doubt. After all, how many times had I cracked open my old worn copies of Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Vanity Fair, and The Scarlett Letter while I waited for the hours to pass before my next shift at the hospital? I smiled as I picked a novel from the shelf and ran my finger down it's binding; I was home.
I replaced the book on the shelf and decided to look in the closet. Alice apparently had a hand in this; however she knew me well enough not to stock the wardrobe. There were just a few pieces: two pairs of jeans, a handful of white and off-white cashmere sweaters, a deep purple pencil skirt and a beige trench coat. Surely, this meant a shopping trip in the near future. I unpacked the few clothes I had brought with me: a grey sweater dress, a emerald green satin cocktail dress, a few cashmere scarves, a pair of white shorts and of course my extensive jewellery collection. If there was one thing about pre-Republic France that was still ingrained in me it was my need for accessories of every kind… well, that and how to cheat at cards with skill.
"We better get to play baseball tomorrow. I can't believe Carlisle said we had to visit with Lizzy instead tonight! Look at that storm! Really, Lizzy would want to play anyway," Emmett thought from somewhere else in the house, presumably his and Rosalie's room.
Sometimes the power of my was really irksome. Especially when it picked up on Edward's skill. I would gladly leave this thought-reading to him. As if I had a choice! Ha! Maybe Carlisle's extreme compassion was already being absorbed into my system, because I walked out of my room (where I would have been perfectly comfortable to stay while the couples had time together) and stood in the hallway.
"Anyone up for a game of baseball?" I called, just loud enough that I knew they would all hear, even Bella and Edward in the barricaded room.
Emmett was at my side in a flash, already in his baseball uniform, grinning from ear to ear.
"I thought you'd never ask, Liz," he said. "About damn time, too. I was getting bored."
Rosalie was there right on Emmett's heels, pulling her long blonde locks back into a high ponytail.
"Thank goodness. If I had to listen to him whine about wasting a perfectly good storm for another millisecond… well he'd be owing me another VERY expensive wedding and honeymoon," Rosalie quipped.
Alice bounded right into me with an extra uniform in her hands. Jasper stayed a few paces behind but grinned almost as wildly as Emmett. Trust those two to be excited about any chance to show off!
"Here you are. Go and change quickly!" Alice called, but I already had the uniform in my hand and I was gone. "Oh, it's good that I always come prepared."
I changed in a matter of seconds and ran back out. Carlisle and Esme were just joining the group.
"Up for a little game, are we?" Carlisle asked, clutching onto two bats. "It's good to see Elizabeth is a little more cheerful than the last time she was with us."
"It's good we have Elizabeth to even up our numbers, now that Bella can play," Esme added with a smile. No doubt she would be keeping us all in check.
"What's taking Edward so long?" Emmett asked. He paused, then I look of realisation crossed his face and he laughed so loudly that it echoed . "They must be… Oh, God… that's too funny."
"Emmett, be nice," I warned just as I caught drift that he meant to barge into Edward and Bella's room.
"They'll be out in one minute. They just need to find their baseball outfits," Alice said confidently.
"Will Jacob Black and Reneseme be joining us?" I asked.
"Reneseme is asleep and I suppose we can send Jacob into the house while we go out and play. He hates for Reneseme to be left alone, even when she wouldn't notice it," Esme commented.
"I'll go speak with him, and let him know what's up. I think there's a clearing about the right size to the Northwest that we can set up in," Carlisle said, as he handed Emmett the bats and exited the house.
"Yes, 4 miles Northwest, in the mountain basin. I noticed it when I was surveying the property," Esme added.
Then, Edward and Bella emerged. They came towards us hand in hand and Emmett laughed his booming slap-your-knees-and-cry-it's-so-funny laugh. So, I thought, why not get in a laugh of my own. I reached over so quickly that he couldn't react, grabbing the bats from his massive hand. Then I threw one to Alice for safe-keeping and using the other to hit Emmett over the head. Bella fell forward with laughter and Edward had to put his first in front of his mouth to control himself. Emmett turned to me with a blank look. Comically, he rubbed his head where I hit him, although I knew he had barely felt it; the bat didn't even have a dent. Rosalie strutted up to him and kissed him on the cheek before she slapped him across the back of the head and laughed.
"I've actually wanted to do that myself, lately," she laughed.
And so, we set out for the clearing. Esme led the way. The storm was really strong now. Sheet lightning flashed, lighting up the whole basin as the crashed of thunder echoed against the mountains. I made sure to stand close to Emmett so that I could get a good handle on his strength. It would be nice to have that advantage before we played. Now, if only he and Edward would stand close together I'd have speed and strength on my side. Oh well, soon enough I told myself. At least I was reading thoughts… except Bella's. What was up with that girl?
JasperPOV:
Elizabeth was a good player, but I could guarantee that she was reading thoughts to her advantage. Still, she had nothing on my Alice when it came to predicting plays. Emmett growled in frustration. Every time he hit the ball, one of those three were all over it. Same with Rosalie, but she was having more fun laughing at Emmett's distress to notice all that much. I decided that if they were all going to use their abilities to their advantage, then so was I. I sent out some nice calming lethargic emotions as I came up to bat and easily accomplished a home run. Hah, take that.
Then, Bella was up to bat for the first time. Man, these guys had a kind of sick sense of humour, putting her on the opposite team as Edward. There was no way he…or Elizabeth… could read her thoughts. Emmett and I had a little side wager going. He bet that she would strike out at least twice in the first game. I had to admit, my Alice had a wicked curve ball, but I bet that she'd only get one strike. I had my beautiful little future-predicting lover to thank for that insider. Never bet against Jasper Cullen… after he's talked to Alice.
Just as predicted, Bella missed the first pitch and I could feel her disappointment. I sent a little courage her way and she hit the next one far out. Edward raced to catch it, and good on him, he did.
"Nice one, Bella love!" he called as he ran infield with the ball in hand.
******
Final score 59 to 47 for Bella's team. Money earned by Jasper from Emmett: two hundred dollars and a voucher for Rosalie to fix up my motorcycle. A victory for everyone I would say.
