Chapter 10 – Mom, Meet My Vampire Boyfriend… He Sparkles
I woke up the next day in my bed, still in my dress without my shoes. I was a little confused about what happened then figured I must have dozed off on the ride home. Then a thought hit me like a tidal wave… Where did Jonathan go? Is he still downstairs? Oh my. So I got outta bed, pulled my hair up into a pony tail and slipped my feet into some slippers before walking downstairs.
The sound of the TV and smells coming from the kitchen told me that he had stayed. I was only creeped out for a moment before deciding to walk into the kitchen. He was in there, hard at work making pancakes and eggs with bacon. He looked like he really knew what he was doing, before I turned to see on the TV screen Jasper's face talking to him.
"OK, now crack two eggs and put them in the pan where you just put butter," the Jasper head said.
"Like this," Jonathan replied and held the pan to a camera just above the TV.
"Yes, that's perfect," Jasper's head said. And I cleared my throat. Jonathan turned around and smiled at me and the Jasper head greeted me, "Hello, Leah."
"Ugh, hi Jasper, how are you? And what's going on in here?"
Jonathan laughed, "OK, I'll admit, I haven't cooked human food in so long… Jasper was helping me make something that wouldn't kill you."
"And that?" I gestured to the TV; atop the TV there was a camera facing the stove and Jonathan and next to it an antenna to transmit and receive Jasper's transmission. "You know you could've just ordered out."
"Yeah, I know, but I wanted to make it personal," he smiled.
Just then Alice's face was next to Jasper's in the TV and she was talking completely frustrated at me, "Leah, he just wanted to do something nice for you… give the boy some credit. Now from there just serve and enjoy… we'll get out of your way now." And with those last words the TV screen went blank.
Jonathan turned around and handed me a plate with a fork. "Would you like orange juice or apple juice?"
"Orange, please."
I turned and walked to sit at the table in the dining room. Seconds later, Jonathan joined me and set the orange juice down in front of my plate. We were quiet for a moment and he broke the silence first.
"You fell asleep in the car and you looked so adorable, I just decided to let you slumber and dropped you off in bed," he said. "I was going to leave, but then Alice called and told me to stay so I could make you breakfast. It's creepy how she sees things."
He finished his thought and I spoke next, "I'm glad you did… stay. I like having you around. I just hope you weren't too bored." I said with a smile and I took another bite of pancakes.
"Oh no, I wasn't," I just took some time and looked at your photo albums, and he gestured to the open albums I had left on the table from the previous weekend after looking for a photo of Jake for the wedding slideshow. "Oh geez, then you were really bored and a really weird guy." I said with a laugh.
"I'm sorry, they were there and I didn't want to watch TV, I thought it would be OK," he stumbled through his words and I let him before I burst out laughing.
"It's OK. That's what family albums are for, silly," I said with a huge Cheshire cat grin. "I promise every time someone's over those books are out… everyone knows my most embarrassing moments and my accomplishments from them, ha."
We were silent for a bit and then he spoke. "I had a good time last night and was wondering if you had any plans today? Jake and Renesmee are coming home tomorrow, so we were planning on having a barbecue with everyone one last time before they get back home. Kind of like one last celebration without the newlyweds."
I smiled. "That would be fun. Why, might I ask, without them?"
"Well Emmett and Jasper, along with a little bit of Alice, have predicted them to come home and be a little unbearable for the next few weeks… being all 'we're married and we can touch and feel each other whenever we want'-ish, so we're going to enjoy our last day without all the goo. Interested?"
My smile widened as I said, "Definitely."
Then I hesitated, "Wait? A barbecue, really? I mean vamps don't eat…"
"Yeah, I know, but you wolves do and your human parents do and we've invited them all…" his voice trailed off. "What is it, Leah?" He must've looked into my face and seen panic, cause I know it was there on my face, plain and sure.
"Parents?" I said. "As in, my mom and Billy?" And he nodded.
"That's OK, right?" he said slightly worried.
"Yeah, it's just, you're going to meet my mom today," I said in a huff. "As in, boyfriend meeting the parents kind of thing… that is if you are my boyfriend…" and then I thought for a moment when I looked at his face in shock. "You are my boyfriend, right?" I bit my lip and turned my face. "Ugh, never mind."
"No, no… boyfriend, yes. Meeting the parents, weird," he said and he came over to sit with me and grabbed my hand. "I would be honored to be your boyfriend, but I'm just freaked out about meeting the parents is all." He smiled, "But for you… anything."
I finished my breakfast and told him thank you. He sent me upstairs to shower and get ready for the day while he washed the dishes. I took my time, relishing in the thought that I was so happy. He made me breakfast and he's downstairs washing dishes… he's so perfect.
After my shower, I got dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and put my Converse on. It had been the first time in a long time that I wore pants. But I am so happy right now, that I don't think I'll be changing into my other self anytime soon. I walked down the stairs and was greeted by Jonathan putting away the TV that he had moved into the kitchen earlier.
"There," he said placing it back on the stand. "Everything's back where it should be."
I looked at him for a moment and walked over to him. My feet compelled me forward and I hugged him, pulled back and looked into his eyes. I let my hands trace his face; across his eyes, over his nose and graze his lips. I went to move to kiss him, but he pulled back.
"Leah, I can't," he said and I stood there dejectedly. He pulled my face up to look at him in the eyes.
"Oh," I said in a small voice. "OK." And I tried to pull away from his embrace, but he held me firmly.
"I can't because, I don't want to hurt you," he said plainly. "Alice warned me that our venom can be potentially hazardous to you all and I couldn't take the chance of ever hurting you. Not until I know, for a fact, that I can control myself. Losing you, well, it would be devastating."
I breathed in deeply and released it before I could speak again. "That makes sense… I'm glad that's the reason and there's nothing else…"
"Nope," he interrupted me. "Nothing at all. You're perfect." He smiled at me and I back at him.
"So now, it's time for you to meet my mother…" Joy.
We arrived at the Cullen's house only minutes later (thanks to him being a psycho behind the wheel, also helping me decide that he's no longer allowed to drive) and everyone was already there.
Colin was grilling some burgers and the Cullens were playing catch in the backyard. Everyone seemed relaxed and seemingly getting along. Seth came over and gave me a hug, then a high-five to Jonathan, "Hey sis. What up, man? Glad to see you two could make it, we're gonna play some wicked baseball in a bit… wolves vs vamps. You in Leah?" Then he looked down at my attire. "That's not very wolf friendly. Guess you're out. You can be ref."
Brady brought me a burger and some fries, "Carlisle makes some awesome fries. Eat up, Flea-uh." And he ran off to join in the game.
"You playin'?" I turned to Jonathan.
"Of course, it's the great American pastime," and he gave me a hug and ran off to the outfield.
They played for a while and three innings later, the sun broke through the clouds and the field lit up. Everyone stopped the game and the wolves all ran into the trees. I turned to look and see Edward and Jonathan in mid-tussle for the ball. When the boys came back through the trees they were all human and Seth yelled first.
"Hey! That's not fair, they sparkle!" everyone laughed. "It's blinding and a complete unfair advantage!"
I laughed as everyone else did.
"What, afraid of a little heavier competition, kid?" Emmett said as he walked over to Seth. The sparkles given off from his body danced along Seth's skin as he stood thinking a moment.
"Not at all… bring it on vamp," and the wolves retreated to shape shift again.
Just then I heard someone clear their throat behind me and Billy rolled up with my mom pushing him from behind. "Hey mom!" I said and walked over to give her a hug.
She pointed out to the field and I shook my head, "Yeah, that's vampires for you. So how are you two?"
She still seemed mystified by the skin of the vampires, but turned to say, "Good. We got hungry so we came over to get some food and say 'hi'."
I reached down and gave Billy a hug. He whispered in my ear, "Hello, Leah." And I pulled back giving him a smile.
"Well here's the food," I motioned to the already cooked burgers and fries. "And drinks are in that ice chest. Just get what you want and then sit and enjoy the game. The vampires are up by two."
We sat in silence as the game continued, by the fifth inning, the wolves were beating the vampires by six and the vampires cried out for the mercy rule, so the game ended.
Everyone came in from the outfield and Seth ran up to mom and Billy to give them both hugs. "Hey guys! Glad y'all could make it. Now you can meet Leah's boyfriend."
Just then all eyes were on me as my mom turned and said, "Boyfriend? When were you planning on telling me this, Leah?"
"Ugh, right now," I said. "It just happened really this morning…" I broke off with her stare.
"Well, where is this boyfriend?" she said with a bit of attitude. Jonathan came up behind me and put his arm around my waste while extending his hand to my mother.
"Hi, my name is Jonathan," he said coolly as she took his hand in hers. Her mouth dropped open.
"But Leah," she said. "He sparkles. A man shouldn't sparkle."
And everyone began laughing. At least she doesn't hate him, right? And I turned to Edward who shook his head in agreement. Good. Cause I like him a lot, despite if he sparkles. And he smiled.
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