Okay, so I was going to split this into two chapters, but it would have been super short, so I just left it as one. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight
I just stared at Alice for a few moments as that soaked in. I almost laughed, but then I remembered what Jake had told me about the Cullens on my first day there- they were rumored to be vampires. But vampires weren't real, right?
"That's not funny," I said, trying to stop my thoughts from the track they were going down, but it was too late; they were already going full speed. The Cullens hung out by themselves, never allowing anyone else into their group. Their skin was really pale. They had golden eyes, which could be contacts, of course, but maybe it was some weird vampire thing. Stop, Bella! They aren't vampires. They can't be.
"Why would I joke about something like this?" she asked and the look in her eyes told me that she wasn't lying- they were vampires. But how could it be possible? "Think about it, Bella. Why do you think Rosalie got so mad earlier?"
"I don't know!" I shouted back, losing control of myself again. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Okay. So if they were vampires, why would Rosalie be mad that I was wearing contacts and made them cookies? I was about to voice the question, but Alice was already answering.
"Rosalie is jealous of you- you're a human. You're leading the life she wishes she could have and you're just trying to go join us like you want to give up your humanity so easily. You weren't doing it on purpose, of course, but they think you were. They think you're something different, something that wants to rub our condition in our faces. And we don't eat normal food like you guys do, so we didn't exactly want the cookies, but thanks anyway."
"Wait, what do you mean I'm something different? You think I'm not… human? And did you just read my mind or something?" I wasn't sure why I had asked the question, but I could tell there was something weird about how she had known what I was going to ask before I said it.
"I'll let Edward explain," she said as she bit her lip. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was trying to hide a smile. "And no, I don't read minds, and I would explain, but I think this is a bit too much for you to take in today. I'll explain the rest later."
"No," I told her firmly. "You started this conversation- I want answers now."
Alice sighed. "I don't see any point in arguing- it's going to last for a long time and you'll find out eventually, anyways. Why don't we just go over to my place? I think it will be easier if I let my family do some of the explaining. That is, if they don't kill me first."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"We aren't exactly supposed to tell the world what we are. It's kind of against the rules."
"You have rules? Huh, okay, I guess I can accept that. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
"I know you won't," Alice said with a smile as she stood up. "Now come on. Don't worry, they won't eat you. We're vegetarians."
"Vegetarian vampires. Interesting," I joked.
"I'm being serious," she said in a quieter voice as she opened the door and started down the stairs so Charlie wouldn't hear. "You'll understand later."
"Okay," I said as if I understood. I wasn't sure if Alice was just pulling my leg or not. But nothing made sense at the moment, so why should the fact that they're 'vegetarians' be any different? I felt as if my head was about to explode, and it didn't help that I had the nagging feeling that I had forgotten something important from my conversation with Jacob.
"I'm surprised you're not scared," Alice mused as she drove down the street to her house. Charlie had been perfectly happy with letting me go over to the Cullens' for dinner. I had to hold back my laugh when Alice said that- I sure hope there won't be dinner. Despite what Alice had said, I still wasn't so sure about the vegetarian thing, and if they were going to be angry, who's to say that I won't be the main course? Focus, Bella.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, you're going to a house full of angry vampires who don't like you to begin with. If I were you, I would be running home right now."
"Thanks, Alice," I said sarcastically. "You're really helping."
"Sorry," she apologized as we drove down a drive way and up to a huge house that I'm guessing was theirs.
"Wow," I muttered as I opened the door.
"Just wait here," she told me as she got out. "Actually, scratch that. Come inside. If you're with me, they can't do anything too bad."
"Um, okay," I said uncertainly as I followed her up to the door. Before she touched the knob, it opened to reveal Edward glaring at Alice like she had just killed someone.
"What were you thinking?" Edward asked Alice calmly, but not in a good way- more like in a "I'm about to explode" way.
"I think you know the answer to that," Alice said in a joking tone as she walked past him and entered the house. Edward was staring at me in a strange way- both curious and like he was deciding whether or not to kill me. His glare had freaked me out before, but now that I knew what he was, I was a bit more scared. Let's just say that if I could have made my legs move, I would have jumped in Alice's car and driven as far away from there as I could.
"That is not going to happen," Edward said as he shook his head.
"Um," I found my voice. "What's not going to happen?"
"Nothing," he said before giving me a fake smile. "Everything is just dandy. Now come on inside. Would you like some cookies?"
My jaw dropped open. He was making fun of me. My hands were shaking again like they had when Alice showed up, only much worse this time. Anger came over me out of nowhere. "Well, excuse me for not knowing you were a vampire! I was trying to be nice to you guys by bringing cookies and- ugh! I'm tired of giving this same speech over and over again! First Charlie, then Alice…" I trailed off as I realized that he was looking at me with an amused expression.
"What?" I asked. "What's so funny?"
"Esme made you cookies," he said as he stepped back, gesturing for me to come in. "We had planned for you to come over tonight, and since we knew you liked cookies, we decided to finally use our kitchen to make some for you."
I felt embarrassed as I realized that I had just gotten angry over nothing. What was with me these days? "But if you knew that Alice was going to tell me, then why did you get so mad at her?"
"Look," he told me. "We agreed for Alice to apologize and to have you come over to hang out, but she wasn't supposed to tell you the truth."
"But I thought you hated me," I said.
"Are you going to come inside or not?" he asked as he opened the door wider. "I could stand here all day, but you probably will be more comfortable sitting down." I nodded as I stepped inside, surprised by what I saw. The house was beautiful. There were no coffins, or dead bodies lying around. No bats or containers of blood sitting around.
"Bella!" a beautiful woman smiled as she made her way over to me with a tray of cookies. "It's so great to meet you."
"Hi," I said self-consciously as the rest of the family walked into the room. Rosalie and Jasper stayed back a bit, but the rest crowded around me.
"Hey, Bells!" Emmett said as he wrapped me in a big bear hug. "Welcome to the family! I hear you're dating Eddie now."
"What?" I asked, my eyes widening in shock as he released me and took a step back.
"Emmett," Edward growled. "You know that's not true. And don't call me Eddie."
Emmett shrugged. "Whatever, but let me know when it happens, okay?" Edward growled and stepped toward his brother, but a blond man stepped in between them before anything happened.
"It's nice to meet you, Bella," he told me as he extended his hand. I tried to hide my shock at how cold it was. "I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen, but you can call me Carlisle. This is my wonderful wife, Esme, and you already know the kids."
I nodded, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. Why had I agreed to go to a house full of vampires?
"Please, sit down," Esme said, gesturing to the couch behind me. I complied and waited for the explanation that was surely about to come.
"Cookie?" Alice asked, gesturing to the tray that Esme had set down.
"No, thanks," I said. "I'm not really hungry."
Rosalie snatched a cookie from the tray and I watched as she crumbled it in her hand. "This is what we get for being nice?" she yelled. I didn't have time to duck as she threw the crumbs at my face.
"Rosalie!" Carlisle scolded. "Don't be so rude. If she's not hungry, then she doesn't have to eat."
"Oh, I think she can make room for a few." I cringed and put my hands up to cover my face as she picked up the entire tray and aimed for my face. Carlisle grabbed her wrist before she could throw and shook his head at her.
"Ugh! You know what? Fine. Let the human know everything, but this is going to backfire," she said as she dropped the tray and left the room.
"Please excuse Rosalie," Carlisle apologized as he started picking up the crumbled cookies from the ground. "She doesn't really like… well, anyone outside of the family."
"It's okay," I said as I pulled cookie crumbs off of my lap. "So, um, Alice said you guys would… explain."
"Oh, yes," Carlisle said. He explained how they didn't ever want to be vampires, but since they were, they had become "vegetarians".
"So Alice was serious about that?" I asked. "You guys, like, eat vegetables instead of drinking…?" I trailed off, not being able to bring myself to say the word 'blood'. Everyone laughed.
"No, it's not like that," Alice said.
"You made a good choice," Emmett said as he patted his brother's back. "Feisty and a sense of humor." Edward glared at him, but let it go.
"Well, what other kind of vegetarian is there?" I asked, not liking the feeling of everyone laughing at me.
"We drink animal blood, sweetie," Esme said. "It's not as good as human blood, but we don't want to be monsters."
"Oh," I said. Carlisle continued explaining about how Jasper was their newest member and that it was a bit hard for him to come near humans since he wasn't completely in control of himself yet.
"I think this is enough for one day," he said as he took one glance at the clock on the wall. It was already almost eight. "Why don't you come back tomorrow? I'm sure everyone would like to see you again later."
I nodded and stood up. "Thanks," I said, then stopped. Why was I thanking them? For telling me what they were and messing with my mind?
"Bella needs a ride home," Alice said. "Edward, why don't you take her?"
Edward grumbled. "Why can't you do it?"
"I'm going to take Jasper hunting." She took Jasper's hand in hers and stood by the backdoor, as if waiting for me to leave before going.
"Emmett," Edward said.
"I'm going to go check on Rosalie," he said with a wink as he headed upstairs.
` "Carlisle," Edward said in a pleading tone.
"I need to go check up on a patient at the hospital. I would drop her off on the way, but I don't have time," he said as he went out the front door.
"Esme?" Edward asked.
"Sorry, honey," she said as she yawned. "I need to go take a nap."
"Liar," Edward muttered as she walked upstairs with a grin on her face.
"Maybe she's tired?" I offered uncertainly.
Edward snorted as he looked at me. "We're vampires, Bella. We don't sleep."
"Oh," I said, feeling stupid.
"Come on. I guess I'm taking you home."
Ooh Edward is taking her home! That means they're going to start getting closer and pretty soon it will be love :D And what could that important thing from her conversation with Jacob have been? And why does Emmett keep teasing Edward? You'll find out if you keep reading :) Review! Please and thanks!
