Chapter 8:
you guys truly are amazing and I cannot thank you enough for your support with this story so far and I love hearing your thoughts as always :)
*also please note this chapter mentions abuse or being mistreated. Only mentioned no details but please be wear.
Maddie:
I got dressed and met EJ outside who was throwing the ball back and forth with Mason. When I saw it was only them I relaxed knowing anyone else wasn't watching us, I was uncomfortable when I knew I was being watched.
"Are you two ready or not?" Emalie called out as she closed the back door and came down the steps to where we were.
I smiled at EJ. "Do you want to play two on two first or one on one?"
"Just put him in his place first Mad." Mason told me before EJ could get a word out and argue.
EJ passed me the ball and I bounced it a few times stepping up to the middle mark, I got ready to drive around him as he got ready to hold his arms out to stop me. I was quick but EJ was taller than me and it was easy for him to get the ball off me, all I had was speed and a good shot. That's how I won most of the time, I was quick to get around the boys and quick to take a shot.
"Sudden death?" I grinned at EJ infront of me and Emalie let out a sharp gasp as if this was the most interesting game ever, most likely only to make it dramatic for EJ's behalf.
I could tell EJ wanted to say yes but was holding back.
"Do it EJ!" Emalie encouraged knowing I was a better shooter than him.
"Fine." He slowly glared and I knew he was going to do everything to hold me back from making any move.
"Ready?" Mason call out to us both and we nodded. "Play!"
I managed to step around EJ and I only took two steps before I jumped up and took the shot, throwing the ball into the hoop. It all happened in less then ten seconds, the ball went through the hoop and Emalie and Mason cheered out.
I went and retrieved the ball and threw it back at EJ. "I want a rematch!" He yelled.
"What for? Maddie already won." Mason pattered EJ on the back and took the ball from his hands.
"Yeah and we're playing now." Emalie laughed at EJ's pouting face.
I went over and placed my hand on his shoulder putting on a sympathetic face for him. "Sorry EJ, you were the one who agreed to sudden death."
"Okay fine." He groaned.
Something moved out of the corner of my eye and I looked up to see Edward standing on the balcony where I was yesterday watching us. I didn't want to think about him watching so I push it from my mind as soon as I saw him and put all my attention into the game.
"Okay me and Maddie versus EJ and Emalie." Mason declared before anyone, or more like EJ, started arguing.
We played a few games and the score was pretty even and I could see we were all getting tired of the game so I suggested this was the last one before we took a break. I was starting with the ball as EJ stood infront of me arms out to block while Emalie was holding Mason's arms by his side as she hugged him from behind. It was funny to watch as he was taller than her and stronger, and he could easily throw her over his shoulder but didn't and only laughed back at her.
EJ was watching me carefully waiting for me to make a move but I knew I wouldn't be able to get around him. With that thought I took a step to go around his left side but just as he moved to block me I changed direction and with his arms out of the way I threw the ball up and aimed it towards the hoop.
It was silent as we all froze and watched the ball fly across the square that was our court and hit the rim of the hoop and finally fell through it. I threw both my hands up in the air and yelled out, I couldn't believe I got it in.
Mason cheered out and ran over to me hugging me and spinning me around as EJ didn't take his eyes off the hoop.
"What a shot Mad." Emalie came up to me and then punched EJ to get his focus.
EJ's eyes flicked from the hoop to me. "Geez Maddie you show off." He made his voice sound annoyed but we could all see it in his face that he wasn't actually. He held up his hand and I smacked my hand against his, he was proud.
EJ ran off and retrieved the forgotten ball that had rolled away. "Mason!" He called taking a few steps back and signaling for Mason to get ready to catch the ball.
Mason ran back a few meters further away from the direction of the house so EJ wouldn't break a window. It wouldn't be the first time he has kicked a ball through a window.
EJ kicked the ball except he kicked it harder than he should have and it flew over Mason's head as he didn't even bother to try and jump for it, and it landed somewhere in one of the big pine trees.
All three of us turned to EJ and glared at him.
"I'll get it. I'll get it." He assured us as he went over and studied the tree the ball had landed in.
He pulled himself up onto the lowest branch and began climbing further up the tree. He was half way up the tree where the ball was and he reached over but we could see he was out of reach then we watched as EJ shook one of the branches making the ball rock and fall to the ground.
That's when it all happened it slow motion, the branch that was holding EJ let out a loud crack under his weight and before anyone could move EJ slipped from the tree.
"EJ!" We screamed out together in fear.
EJ tried to grab another branch but he fell too fast and landed with a thud on the ground. We all ran over to his non moving figure by the trunk of the tree.
"EJ!" I screamed again as I fell to my knees at his side.
Just as quick as I got to EJ, Edward was also at EJ's side as he just appeared out of nowhere probably from hearing us all scream. "What happened?" He asked trying to keep his voice from panicking.
Mason and Emalie also dropped to the floor around EJ. "EJ?" Mason called and touched his shoulder to get a response.
I held my breath as I watched EJ's eyes slowly flutter open then I released it when he let out a huge moan. "Ouch." He mumbled looking at us all.
"EJ what hurts?" Edward asked trying to check him over for broken bones and cuts.
"Just my back." EJ started to sit up and we all helped him to his feet. "But only a little bit."
"Can you walk?"
We let go of EJ and let him get his balance while me and Emalie moved out of the way, Edward and Mason stayed close to him ready to catch him if he fell. "Yeah I'm fine."
Edward didn't look even the slightest bit convinced. "I'll get Carlisle to check you over." EJ went to argue with him but Edward already took a few steps ahead and called out for Carlisle.
Within seconds Carlisle appeared at the back door as he held it open for us all. "What happened?" He asked taking all our faces in but most likely Edwards still stressed face.
"He fell out of the tree." Mason simply explained with a shrug of the shoulders.
"What tree?"
"That one." Emalie pointed across the yard to the one EJ climbed.
"And you didn't break anything?"
"Doesn't feel like it." Was EJ's smart remark to Carlisle as he wore his goofy grin.
"Carlisle can you check him and see if he hurt anything?" Carlisle gave Edward a nod before leading EJ off into one of the rooms.
…...
Edward was pacing the room back and forth while Carlisle was checking over EJ, he calmed down after ten minutes of walking around but still stood by the door and waited for EJ to come out. Me, Mason and Emalie were quietly sitting on the couch watching Edward. Emalie had told him that EJ had fallen out of a few tress before and never gotten hurt but he didn't listen and instead gave us a weird pained expression before continuing his pacing so we decided to not say anymore and just wait.
Fifteen minutes passed and EJ opened the door and walked out with his hands up in the air and his stupid goofy grin on his face. "I'm in the all clear!" He cheered.
We all gave him a smile in relief but Edward didn't seem convinced as such and he turned to Carlisle who was coming out of the room as well. "Carlisle?"
Carlisle must have known what Edward was asking but instead of confirming what EJ had just told everyone, Carlisle said something that made even EJ lose his goofy grin. "I think we should all talk."
Edward nodded and Carlisle went ahead into the living room and called everyone's name to come down. We all stared at Edward with a little bit of fear of not knowing whats going on but he ushered us into the other room. "How about you four go take a seat."
In silence we all stood up and walked into the living room, everyone was already there and I wondered if they were already in the room before Carlisle even called them. They were all standing around the room leaving the couch obviously for us to sit on and so we all sat down together in the middle of the big couch.
Carlisle stood infront of the television so it was clear they wanted to talk to us and ask us questions. Once Edward walked over just next to the side of the couch Carlisle started talking.
"Okay firstly you kids know what we are." He started saying.
"Yeah vampires." EJ blurted out and since he was sitting in between Mason ans Emalie they both elbowed him in the ribs to shut him up. If I wasn't sitting on the other side of Emalie on the end then I would have punched him as well.
I saw just about everyone in the room crack a smile at us but they all hid it quickly when Carlisle continued.
"Yes we are, and you also know that Edward is your father." He spoke slowly and waited for us to respond and I flinched at the word father but hoped no one noticed. "As that is the fact here I am led to believe that you four must have inherited both your mothers genes and your fathers genes." I couldn't help but look up in confusion on where he was going with this but then it hit me. "When EJ fell out of that tree this morning, he should have easily broken a few bones from hitting the ground but he didn't. I'm not sure if you kids are aware but I am almost positive that EJ if not all of you carry some sort of your fathers vampire genes. Is that how you knew we were vampires when you first got here because you knew what your father was?" Carlisle kept his voice soft so we would answer and not scare off.
I looked over to Mason along with Emalie waiting for him to answer for us all. "We didn't know Edward was our father at the start when we first got here." Mason spoke with his voice waving. "When we figured it out we remembered what our grandpa Charlie once told us about him, that he was a vampire who had to leave our mother because he thought he was too dangerous to be around her. That's all we were told."
"How did you find out I was your father then?"
Everyone in the room looked at us but neither one of us answered the question. I knew they wouldn't say because I was the one who found the photo and put it all together so in their eyes it was my story to tell, when I was ready and they respected that. It didn't stop the seven pair of golden eyes that stared back at us though.
Carlisle interrupted the awkward silence that had settled throughout the room and spoke again. "Vampires have a number of skills like incredible speed, hearing, sight, smell, strength basically all your human sense just dramatically advanced. Our bodies are almost like stone, rock solid and hard to break." He took a step closer to us but looked at EJ. "EJ, you should have hurt yourself when you fell from that tree but you didn't even end up with a bruise that makes me think your body is a lot stronger than the normal human body. Have you ever broken a bone?"
"Yes, a few." EJ said reluctantly.
"What did you break?" EJ didn't answer and I knew he didn't want to.
Edward moved from his spot next to the couch and came and knelt down infront of us. "I know it might be hard for you four to talk about it but Carlisle really needs to figure this out, to help you guys. We all just want to help you but you have to trust us and let us in so we can. Please let me in." He begged and it almost sounded like he was crying but no tears were in his eyes so I wasn't sure.
"A few ribs. My wrist once." EJ whispered only loud enough for Edward to hear but everyone in the room seemed to hear.
"What happened?" I could tell Carlisle didn't want to ask us.
I looked to EJ wondering if he would tell or not. We had never even said this much to our social worker before so it was different speaking out our secrets but if we were going to tell anyone the secrets that haunt us then why shouldn't it be to the man who claims to be our father.
"A baseball bat." EJ mumbled not wanting to really answer. "Or being pushed down the stairs."
Everyone in the room was shocked and I heard Esme and someone else gasp but only lightly before covering their mouth with their hands. I didn't want to see Esme's shocked face or Alice's pitied face or even Emmett's sickened face. I wanted to block them out so I turned to Emalie but found she was having trouble holding herself together as she used all her power to hide the tear that I could see threatening or the endless memories that I knew were running through her head. I took her hand in mine and immediately her hand held mine back in a death grip I was so use to it that it also comforted me as well.
"That was when we were younger though." Mason's voice spoke. I knew he was stepping up and being the big brother as he usually does when feeling the need to protect us. He kept his voice strong and even while also looking up and speaking directly to Carlisle.
Carlisle could tell we were all getting really uncomfortable and he didn't seem like he wanted to push us into giving him an answer so he moved on. "How about anything else? Do either one of you four have what seems to be advanced hearing or sight, or maybe anything that you noticed might not be so human like." We all shook our heads never noticing anything 'vampire' like between us. It felt crazy to think like that. "How about any special gifts?"
Special gifts. What was he going on about. This confused us all.
"What do you mean special gifts?" I heard EJ ask.
"Some vampires have extra skills or extra gifts. Maybe like a superpower." I felt like Carlisle was talking to us like we were five years old.
"Do any of you have a superpower or a gift or whatever." I could tell in EJ's voice he had a good joke and wanted to laugh about it but he was sitting next to Mason and knew Mason would hit him for being stupid.
"Well Alice can see the future, Jasper can control someones emotions and Edward can hear people's thoughts."
I felt all the colour in my face drain away at that last bit. He could read minds. Our mind. My mind. I felt like I was going to be sick and I rested my elbows on my knees and used my hands to hold up my head that just felt like it got a thousand times heavier.
"I can't read any of your thoughts." Edward was looking at all of us.
"Our thoughts?"
"Yes. I can read all of their minds." Edward indicated to everyone standing around. "But you four I get nothing."
I let out a shaky breath knowing he can't read our minds and figure out all our deep dark secrets. It was too much a times for us to know and if anyone else knew them I'm sure it would haunt them as well.
"I can't see your future either." Alice chimed in. "Although I think I saw a glimpse of you three when Maddie was out in the forest."
I flinched at my name. What was that supposed to mean.
"How-"
"Do we have to keep answering questions?" Emalie interrupted Carlisle from going on.
"No you don't." Edward's voice was genuine which made Emalie relax a little and look up at him thankful.
"How about before lunch you and Maddie help me and Rosalie go through some of our old clothes." Alice jumped in asking Emalie and trying intsently to lighten the mood in the room. "We might find some stuff you two can keep."
Emalie got up not letting go of my hand and dragging me to my feet to follow her and the pixie. If it was up to me I would have said no but Emalie didn't want to be alone without me or Mason or EJ so I kept my mouth shut and allowed Emalie to guide me to Alice's room.
…...
I felt like I had been stuck in this room for hours but I was sure it had only been one. Alice and Rosalie were going through their wardrobes and cleaning out what clothes they don't wear. Emalie had gotten attached in a matter of minutes and started helping them go through draws even trying on a few outfits herself. Alice and Rosalie tried multiple times to get me to try some stuff on but I shook my head having no interest in dressing up.
"Hey Mad?" Emalie came and sat on the couch next to me since there was no bed. Who knew vampires never slept. "You can go if you want, you don't have to stay and hang out if you don't want to."
I scrunched my eyes at her to see if she really did want me to stay or not. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." She smiled back at me. "Go hang with the boys or something."
I gave her a quick hug. She knew me so well, I'd rather be with the boys listening to them muck around then stuck in a room sorting through clothes and trying them on. "Thanks."
"I'll grab a few shirts for you to wear." I was about to open my moth and argue back but she chuckled and cut me off before I had a chance to speak. "I know, plain shirts, nothing fancy or girly. I know what you'll wear."
I left Emalie and wondered around the house and it occurred to me I still had that photo in my bag up in my room. I knew I had to give it back to Edward and that it wasn't mine but I didn't want to let go of it. I argued with myself for awhile and finally the better half of me won out, I had to give it back to Edward.
I had the photo in a death grip in my hands not wanting to approach his room. The door was open and I could just see him sitting on the leather couch with a laptop open on his lap. I took a deep breath and lifted my hand to knock on the door frame.
As soon as my hand connected with the white painted wood of door frame Edward looked up from his laptop and smiled at me. "Maddie hey, come in." I slowly took a few steps into the room, he must have seen how hesitant I was being or knew how I didn't want to really talk. "What can I do for?"
I looked down at the photo in my hands not wanting to look directly at him and before I could chicken out I extended my hand out to him, holding the photo out for him to take. Edward took the photo from me and unfolded it noticing it was his.
"I wanted to give it back to you. I'm sorry I took it I knew I shouldn't have." I quickly told him in a rush.
His eyes scanned over the small photo and I could see his thumb delicately run over part of the image that was my mother. I had never see so much pain carried on someones face as I looked back at Edward, he seemed lost in another life or another time. The love I saw on his face in the photo as he gazed down at my mother was the same look I could see in his eyes now.
I was about to turn and leave the room but he spoke. "This was taken on her birthday, just before I left." He mumbled the last part. "You and Emalie look so much like her."
I kept silent and let him ramble on not sure if it's because I wanted to know about my mother or because I was scared to move incase Edward turned all his attention back to me.
"Is this how you found out I'm your father?" He wondered.
"Yeah." Edward waited for me to continue and I wasn't going to say anymore but the way he was staring at me with his full attention, waiting on my every word didn't make me feel uncomfortable like it usually would. I felt like I could almost tell him anything. "We were never told much about you only little details that grandpa Charlie knew before mom died although he never gave us your name."
"I'm sorry." Edward sighed making me scrunch my face up at him in confusion. "For not being there for the four of yous and for everything yous have had to go through."
I shrugged his comment off and unknowingly pulled my sleeves covering my wrists. A habit I found myself doing multiple times a day.
"Hearing some of the pain you all must have gone through kills me and I regret everyday not going back and looking for Bella."
"I'm sorry."
Edward's head shot up at my words. "Maddie why are you sorry?"
"For being such a burden. It's not everyday you find out you have four kids."
I saw his grip on the photo tighten and I knew he was holding himself back, to stay in his seat. "You, Mason, EJ and Emalie are not burdens." He said each word slowly. "I would give anything to have know you four earlier. It's not everyday you find out you have four kids but I'm glade I found you now and that your here."
I was still trying to understand him and how he felt about us intruding in on his life but he never seemed to be affected by that and only wanting to know us more. I knew living here was going to be a challenge but now the real challenge is keeping everyone at a safe distance and not letting anyone get close when all they seemed to want to do is get close to us.
"Anyway." I said wanting to get away from him and find my own space. "I'm sorry I took the photo."
"Maddie." He called as I turned to the door and he stood from his seat. "You keep the photo. Bella would want you to have it."
"Oh no, that's okay." I politely declined it. "I can see you loved her and that's your memory of her. I couldn't take that away from you. Besides I never knew her it would mean more to you than me."
"Maddie..." He started to say but changed his mind on what he was going to say. "How about I keep it right here in this draw." He reached over and open the top draw to the table by the couch he was sitting on before and placed the photo in it. "That way if you ever feel like you need it then you can just come in and get it, whenever." He assured.
"Okay." I slowly said each syllable before giving him one quick glance and leaving the room again.
