Chapter 10: Meeting the Cullens
I woke up in a bed the next morning. 'Huh. I don't remember walking here… I guess Embry carried me in.' I sighed. 'Oh Embry. The kiss. I have, finally, found my true love.' I let out an excited squeal. After changing into a summer dress, I went downstairs for breakfast.
"Mmm! It smells good, Emily!" I beamed, staring at the food on the counter.
"Well, then, you better get some before it's too late. The boys should be coming back from patrol anytime now." She winked, handing me a plate of bacon and eggs. I, happily, took them and began munching away.
"Emily?" She turned, from washing the dishes. "Do we have anything planned today?"
"I don't think so. Just staying home and all. Why?"
"Do you mind if I go out for a while? I'd like to take a tour around Washington."
"Sure! Do you need me to give you a ride?"
"Yes, please. I should be back in a few hours." I jumped off the kitchen stool, putting my plate in the sink, and following Emily out to the car.
"Where are you planning on going?" She asked. 'Hm. I don't really know the places around here much. Wait, what was that city called?' I started to think of my car ride with the man, what did he say it was? Oh yes! Forks!
"I'd like to see Forks." I smiled.
Emily looked at me, warily. "Uhm, are you sure? Maybe you can look more around La Push?"
"No, it's quite alright. I have seen most of La Push. I'd like to adventure out through more of Washington."
"I don't really think it's a good idea, Gabby. We, normally, don't go there as much. Only for shopping for groceries or clothing."
"I'm sure it's not that dreadful." I joked. "I won't stay there for the whole day, just a little bit. Please?"
Emily sighed, putting the keys in the ignition. "Okay. But be back around 5:00, okay?" I nodded and looked out the window; enjoying the scenery of nature. I liked this place, it was so much more different that back at my kingdom. Here, it seemed more… free. After a few minutes of driving around, we got to a sign that said, 'Welcome to Forks'. I smiled; thanking Emily, who look worried, and took off.
'Let's see… where to begin.' I took in my surroundings, remembering my first day here; in my tattered evening dress. I walked towards a shop that sold adorable little key chains. They had a whole aisle of mini bears, flowers and… crowns. I sighed, I do miss home, but I would rather stay here. I felt a pang of guilt rise up in me. 'I still haven't told anyone about my… condition. Oh, but I just can't find the words to say it!' Frustrated, I turned back to the key chains; taking a crown and a wolf off the hook. Taking my money that Emily had given me; I walked up to the man at the counter and paid for them. 'A little reminder of home and Embry. Perfect.'
I hopped, merrily, out of the shop and into the fresh air. 'Where to, now?' I trailed off, looking for another store. I came to a stop when I saw a building that indicated it was a mall. 'Oh! I think this is the mall I went to with Kim and Emily! Maybe I can find more dresses!' I fast-walked into a store that displayed elegant gowns in its window. They were all so beautiful, not as fancy as the ones back home, but still so breathtaking. I picked out one that had ruffles going down the front of it, and then another one that was simple but poufy. I strolled down the aisle of dresses. This was, definitely, one of the things I missed the most. I didn't have my usual wardrobe full of them.
As I tried to walk to the dressing room, my pile of dresses covering most of my vision; I bumped into someone. "Oh! I am so sorry! I should have been watching where I was going." I apologized, bending down to pick up the fallen dresses. The girl had helped as well as a boy, who was walking with her. They were both beautiful; pale skin, golden eyes, and both very graceful.
"It's fine, really! I love your taste, though. These are absolutely gorgeous! My name is Alice." She said, very cheerfully. She had a cute, short, spiky hairstyle. "And this is my brother, Edward." She pointed to a man with bronze-colored hair. I smiled and shook his hand. 'Wow. He's ice cold. They look, exactly, like how Embry described vampires… but they couldn't be. Vampires had red eyes.'
"I'm Gabriella Taylor. And thank you, I love to wear dresses. I had a favorite, custom-made one but it got ruined. So, I wanted to find a replacement." I explained. Alice's eyes seem to light up; and before I even had time to react, she had grabbed my hand and pulled me down more aisles of dresses. Edward just laughed and followed us.
"Alice, don't go too overboard. You just met her." Edward teased.
"Hey! I, finally, found someone who enjoys shopping as much as I do! Don't ruin it for me." She snapped. I spent hours with Alice and Edward; who just stood there watching his sister. Alice picked out many dresses for her and me. We came in and out of the dressing rooms; dancing and twirling around with each new gown. Edward grinned and clapped for us.
Once we finished, we paid for the dresses and walked out of the store; our hands full of bags. "Hey, Gabriella! Do you want to come over to my house? I can show you my closet!" She jumped up and down. I had to laugh. 'She was like an over-excited bunny.' I saw Edward smile to himself.
"Sure! I would love to." She squealed in delight and led us to their car. Edward drove while Alice rambled on and on about the latest styles. I didn't mind, though, I enjoyed this. I used to talk about dresses with my mother. I frowned, internally. 'I wonder if she misses me.' After a while; we came through a forest, filled with trees. Soon; a nicely structured, white house came into view.
"Wow. Your house is wonderful." I said to Edward and Alice. Edward smiled and Alice pulled me inside.
"Mom, dad! Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, we're home! And we brought a friend over!" Alice called out. Edward retrieved our shopping bags from the car and set them on the couches. I stood there, admiring their house. It was all white with many windows, providing tons of sun light to enter. Five people came floating down the stairs.
"Oh, Alice, dear. What did you do, now?" A woman smiled. "Hello, sweetie. My name is Esme." She stepped forward and enveloped me in a hug. She pulled away and held another man's hand. He put out his free hand and I shook it. "My name is Carlisle. And these," he gestured to the 3 people behind him, "are my adoptive children. Of course you have already met Alice and Edward."
"Hello." I smiled, brightly at each one of them. A very muscular boy with short, black hair stepped up.
"Cool! Fresh meat! I'm Emmett!" He picked me up, effortlessly, into a hug and swung me around. I screamed in surprise. He set be down and ruffled my hair. I laughed and looked to the other boy, who had slightly longer golden hair.
"I'm Jasper, pleasure to meet you." He shook my hand. I grinned in return.
I turned to the girl; she was beautiful. She had light, blonde hair and pale skin. "Rosalie." She, simply, said; turning away. I blinked; and turned away to face everyone.
"My name is Gabriella Taylor. It's nice to meet you all." They nodded and let us sit on the couch.
"So, Gabriella, what did Alice do to you?" Emmett asked, smirking.
Alice pouted and I giggled. "Oh, she did nothing wrong. I met her and Edward while I was buying a few dresses." I replied, pointing towards the bags next to me.
"I'm guessing shopping was a success with you two. Right, Alice?" Jasper questioned, turning towards Alice.
She beamed and started looking through her bags. "Oh yes! I got a gorgeous teal one and one with layers under it and…" She babbled on. Her family just laughed at her enthusiasm.
"That's Alice for you." Rosalie grinned. I smiled. Then I realized something, I don't know their last name.
"Uhm, excuse me? But I didn't catch your last names?"
"Cullen." Edward said. My eyes widened. 'So, these were the famous Cullens. They don't seem so bad. I don't understand why Sam and the boys didn't like them. Embry said they only drank animal blood.'
"Is there something wrong, dear?" Esme said, worried by my sudden quietness.
I shook my head, coming back to reality. "Oh, no! No, of course not. It's just I've heard about your family before."
"Really? Well, I hope they're good things." Carlisle said. I bit my lip. 'I shouldn't tell them about the things Sam and the boys had said. I don't want to be rude. Oh, what am I supposed to tell them?'
"She's with the pack." Edward smirked. "It's okay. She knows what we are." I turned towards him. 'How did he…?' "I'm a mind reader."
'The boys never mentioned any special abilities.' "O-oh." I was shocked. The others still looked confused. 'I guess they weren't all mind readers.'
Edward laughed. "Yes, I'm the only mind reader. There are only 3 of us who have special powers. Jasper can control emotions and Alice can see the future." He explained. Then he turned towards his family, seeing their bewilderment. "She's Embry's imprint." They all made signs of realization.
Rosalie scoffed. "No wonder she smells like dog." She mumbled.
"Rosalie." Esme warned. "I'm sorry. It's just that we all have a certain scent. Since you are living with the boys, we can smell them on you." She explained, turning towards me. I nodded then remembered something.
I, quickly, stood up; taking them all by surprise. "Sorry. It's just… what time is it?"
"6:30." Emmett answered. My mouth dropped. 'Oh great!'
"Why?" Alice asked.
I started looking through the shopping bags, finding which ones were mine. "Emily expected me to be home by 5."
"Oh. Come on, I'll drive you back." Edward offered, I smiled and turned to the rest of the family.
"Thank you for inviting me into your house. I hope to see all again soon!" They all said goodbye, except for Alice and Esme who came to give me a hug.
"Have a safe trip! Let's go shopping again sometime!" Alice beamed. I heard Emmett and Jasper chuckle in the background but silenced once they saw Alice's glare. I nodded and headed out to Edward's car. He drove us through the forest, once again, but stopped next to a river.
"I can't go past here. But don't worry. Just keep walking straight ahead and you'll see the house. I'm sure there is someone on patrol as well." Edward waved and hopped back into his Volvo; driving away.
I followed his instructions and walked forward, only to be stopped by four werewolves. I recognized them as Embry, Paul, Sam, and Jared. They walked behind the trees and shifted back into humans.
"Gabriella! Where have you been? We have been looking everywhere for you!" Sam yelled. He sniffed the air. "Why do you smell like vampire?"
I shrugged. "I'm sorry. I went shopping and lost track of time." I said, holding up my bags. "And I kind of met two of the Cullens there." I whispered the last part.
"WHAT?" They all screamed, simultaneously; causing me to take a step back. Paul started shaking with anger until Sam calmed him.
"Gabby, they're bad news." Embry put his hands on my shoulders.
I shook it off. "Embry, that isn't very polite. They're, actually, not bad. I had fun shopping with Alice, especially." I smiled.
"You went shopping with the leech?" Paul said.
I scowled. "That's not a nice thing to call them, Paul."
Jared sniffed the air and his face made a somewhat disgusted emotion. "You need to take a shower and burn those clothes. You have a heavy scent of them."
"Gabs, I don't think you should be hanging out with them. They may seem nice but you could be put in great danger if you're around them too much." Embry tried to persuade me.
"You don't have a right to tell me what I can and can't do!" I yelled, offended. 'He does not own me.'
"Gabriella, Embry is right. You are to stay away from them." Sam, sternly, stated. I made a frustrated noise and pushed past them; heading towards the house.
"Gabby, there you are! The boys have been looking for you everywhere." Emily said, as I came in.
"Yes. I know, sorry." I apologized, as I headed up the stairs. I got to my room and put my bags down, then lay on the bed. 'I don't think the Cullens are bad people. The boys are just overreacting. I can't believe they think they have the right to tell me what to do.' I thought, furious. Then, I felt a little guilty. 'I always got what I wanted back at the castle. But that was because I was the princess and no one ever was brave enough to question me. Maybe I shouldn't have been so harsh with them; they only said those things because they cared about me.' This is the first time that someone has, genuinely, cared for me.