Chapter Nine-Road trip and meeting Esme

I was driving, I didn't care where, and for how long. Emmett didn't say anything, or give any directions, so I did what I thought was natural, I followed the roads. It felt so good to get out of there, I thought I was going to suffocate with Mike breathing down my neck like that, and I had to get Angela away from him. I was too scared of the things he could do to her without protection, I trusted Eric with her, even though they've known each other longer than I'd been here, I didn't care. When I befriend someone, their safety is my highest priority.

Peeking out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emmett staring-glaring-out the passenger side window. I could see his reflection and I just stared out at the road, a little shocked to see that we were surrounded by the thick forests and not the town. Did I just drive us out of town? I wondered. Hearing him sigh I almost jumped, I hadn't expected him to talk or make any sounds for some time from the amount of anger I caught on his face.

"Feeling any better?" I asked, he sighed again and I peeked to see him nod, his eyes staring into mine. Looking back to the road, I found it a little difficult driving while he stared so openly.

"Yeah, a little, I wish I could pound him though" I laughed a little at that,

"You and me both pal. I swear if he comes anywhere near me again, I'm punching his lights out" this time he chuckled,

"I can't really see you as a fighter" his voice was teasing, I raised an eyebrow,

"I tried to hit you today didn't I?" I asked,

"Yeah, 'tried' being the key word here" he countered,

"Maybe I would've been able to do it if you hadn't stopped me in time" I smiled, thinking of myself as actually injuring the bigger guy. It was silent after that, minus the radio playing, which I hadn't even realized was on, usually my mp3 was playing, so I never felt the need to use the radio. Good to know it works.

"Is there anywhere I should drop you off?" I asked, slowing down and turned around, off a forest path,

"Yeah, my house isn't too far from here" I nodded and continued driving back to town for a while. When we were about to pass a long dirt path road, Emmett told me to pull in there, turning left I drove down the little path for a half mile before we pulled up to a beautiful Victorian styled house.

"Wow, it's beautiful" I said, blinking in awe, Emmett chuckled,

"Thanks, Esme designed it" I turned to him, leaning back,

"Who's Esme?" I asked, he smiled, then turned to look back at the house,

"My mom, want to come in and meet her?" he asked suddenly. I blinked and looked to him, I smiled and nodded,

"Sure, beats going to an empty house any day" I told him. I left my back pack in the truck and climbed out, following Emmett to the front house. When the door opened, my jaw dropped. Emmett, seeing my reaction, chuckled,

"Surprised much?" he joked, I scoffed,

"More like awed and amazed, your home is beautiful, Mrs. Cullen is an amazing designer" I told him,

"Thank you dear, please, call me Esme" then, when I looked away from the beautiful room, with the high vaulted ceilings, and crystal chandelier hanging above us, and the polished wood flooring with soft rugs placed strategically around the living room and a gentle fire crackling in the fire place…it suddenly paled in comparison to the woman standing before me.

"Hi, I'm Izzy Swan, it's nice to meet you" I said to the woman, she giggled softly, and her voice sounded like soft bells tinkling in the wind.

"Oh, you're Izzy, Emmett has told me so much about you" she gushed, I turned to Emmett, an eyebrow raised and a smirk on my face,

"Really now? What else has Emmett told you about me?" I grinned, seeing him fake an angry glare, at least, I think it's fake.

"Oh, that your very entertaining to watch when you get upset, and that you have this cute way of-"

"Okay, I think that's enough mom. I'm going to get Izzy something to eat" he said, then, he grabbed my hand and dragged me to the kitchen, if he thought that moving me to a separate room was going to work, he was dead wrong.

"So, Esme, Emmett told me you designed the house, it's beautiful. I love the Victorian look to it, it's also got this nice regal feel to it" I told her, gesturing with my hands at the different pieces of art and objects in the rooms. Esme beamed and gave me a gentle hug,

"I like you already" we laughed and sat at the table as Emmett rummaged around the cabinets to feed me with. While we talked, I couldn't help but feel a pang of want. Sure Renee and I got along pretty well, but I felt more welcome with Esme than I did with my own mother, tell me how that's possible?


We ended up talking for a long while, and when she asked about my own parents, I suddenly felt somewhat angry at Renee, which is weird, because I'm never angry with her, just exasperated.

"Oh, Renee-err, mom-is pretty…how do I say this without insulting her? Spacey, and a bit…hmm…childish…I mean, I care for my mother, I do, it's just that when it was just me and her for awhile, I had to be the one who took care of her. Happily, Ash and Gramps came along too, as well as Phil a few years later. Since I'm not there I don't feel as worried knowing Ash, Gramps and now Phil are watching after her" she gave me a confused look,

"Who is Phil and Ash?" she asked, I grinned at Ash's name.

"Phil is my step-dad. He and Renee married not too long ago, and Ash is like my soul sister. My soul mate, without the romance involved, we're like two peas in a pod, tight like PB&J, like Calvin and Hobbs, I'm rambling, sorry. I think you get the picture" I giggled nervously, afraid she'd be mad or upset at least. Instead she just laughed lightly and looked back to me,

"I can tell, the way you talk about her, shows a lot of love for her. This Ash, must feel very happy knowing that she has you as a friend" I nodded,

"Yeah, she's a bit crazy, but, what can I do? It's either her and all her faults, or it's none of her and me being a pitiful state of my former self" I told her somewhat sadly. Then, her head snapped to Emmett and her eyes narrowed,

"I just realized something, young man, shouldn't you be in school? Why are you ditching?" she scolded, I snickered, that is, until she turned her head to me,

"You too missy, just because I like you doesn't mean that gives you permission to ditch school as you please. Education is very important in society, no matter how much you get sick of it" a look was passed between the two Cullen's and I suddenly felt as if I were missing out on something.

"Sorry mom/Esme" we said in unison. Then a plate was passed to me and I grinned, seeing a PB&J.

"Thanks" I said, then, as I reached for the sandwich, a small bowl of BBQ chips were passed to me as well as a can of Dr. Pepper, grinning, I began eating, glad I skipped out on lunch at school.

"Well, something kind of happened at school and I needed to get out of there, plus Emmett looked like he was going to kill Mike" I vaguely explained, her eyebrows knitted together, even being worried, she was still graceful,

"What happened exactly?" she asked, Emmett and I shared a look before I nodded to him, telling him to take the lead, only he raised his eyebrows, I raised mine and gave him a pointed look, he rolled his eyes and I shrugged before going back to eating. Neither of us wanted to talk about what happened.

"Well?" there was an undertone in her voice, and I was starting to get nervous,

"Well, there's this guy at school, Mike Newton, whose become a creepy stalker to me" I started, she nodded,

"I've told him, politely, each time to leave me alone, that I'm not interested, but he keeps coming back. Today at lunch though…he just…had this look in his eyes that scared the hell out of me…he kept wanting to talk but I kept telling him no, that I wanted him to leave me alone. I finally got fed up and was about to leave, but the look on his face" I said, nodding to Emmett, who leaned against the sink, arms and legs crossed, head bowed, and trying to control his breathing, at least, what I can tell.

"Screamed murder, so, I just indicated we should get out of there and here we are" I finished, Esme looked very concerned, and that look was directed towards me.

"Oh honey, are you okay? Maybe you should be telling this to your dad" she suggested, I nodded,

"I've been thinking about it, but he hasn't done anything physical yet. Even if he had, who would believe it unless there were witnesses? Mike is considered the epitome of perfect among his friends, and all the teachers like him, even if I am the chief's daughter, unless I had evidence to support my claims, there's nothing my dad could do about it except for talking to Mike. We all know how well that goes over" I explained. Then, we just sat/stood in silence as I ate my sandwich and chips and occasionally sipping my soda.


When I was finished, I looked to my wristwatch, it was nearly time for school to get out. Wow, time really flew, I thought. Emmett took my dishes away and tossed my can in the recycling,

"Well, looks like everyone will be coming home soon, so I better get out of your way" I said, smiling lightly, Esme looked to me,

"Oh, you don't have to leave if you don't want to Izzy" I shook my head politely,

"No, it's fine, besides, I have to cook Charlie dinner as well. He can't cook much to save his life" I smirked, Esme smiled sweetly as she stood as well and pulled me to a hug, I hugged back, so, this is a mothers hug, I thought wistfully. When I pulled away, Emmett walked me to the door.

"See you later shortie" my eye twitched and I rounded on him, and stuck my finger in his chest,

"Don't call me short" I told him, jabbing my finger as hard as I could, though it didn't seem to affect him, actually, he seemed amused by this. Then, like that day in the hospital, he grabbed my finger, leaned in and instead of nibbling on my ear, he kissed the right side of my neck, I involuntarily shivered, again, it felt too good for him to do that. He was grinning as he pulled back,

"So, looks like that's your weak spot huh?" I felt the blood drain from my face, shit, he figured it out!

"So what?" I asked, he just kept grinning, then leaned in again, nuzzling my neck almost, earning another shiver of pleasure, he smirked in triumph.

"So, guess what? I just found a new way to irritate you" my face fell even more as I realized the implications to his tone, feeling my cheeks heat up I jerked away and stormed to my truck, and, when he waved goodbye, I gave him the finger, only for him to wiggle his eyebrows. Rolling my eyes, I turned the truck and drove off and out of the dirt path. Nearly halfway back to Forks, I passed the Volvo, catching Edo and Jasper smirking at me. Driving back to town, I pulled up to the house, grabbed my bag, ran inside, up the stairs to my room, flung myself on my bed and screamed in my pillow, letting out my frustrations and wanting of the elder Cullen boy. I don't think I was going to hold out much longer, and, from the way Emmett's been acting, I don't think he can hold out much longer as well.