Once again I'm dragged into this kind of thing- gatherings of old friends so old I don't even know them. Well, it was a way to forget about Mr. Court, I suppose.
It was Saturday morning, but I was awakened rudely- no, I don't care if it was a gentle kiss from mom! - to dress up and meet possibly unpleasant vampires. My form of retaliation? Sulking around on the couch in Carlisle's living room, glaring at nothing in particular.
"You're such a teenager." Edward told me fondly, ruffling my head as he came to sit by me. Disadvantage number 234: Vampire parents are hardly ever bothered by anything.
"Yes, dad. Did you notice that I'm also one of those when I'm not sulky?" To my irritation, he just laughed. He probably thinks it's adorable…. Gah!
"Broken heart, eh?" Emmett called, descending the staircase with Rosalie and Kat. I colored, immediately thinking of Drew. This is precisely what I was trying to avoid.
"Nah, I think it was more like 'broken ego'." Alice said, appearing from the kitchen carrying a few shopping bags. I stared in horror as she winked. That usually meant that she saw more than I would've allowed her to see.
"Tell us all about it, Ness." Kat said, rubbing her hands together gleefully. She was looking very pretty today in a blood red ruffled dress with a neckline meant to tease the male onlooker. Of course, it was a strikingly different kind of beauty next to Rosalie who was in white.
In fact, I realized, all the females in the room were taking effort to look exceedingly gorgeous. Mom and I were the only ones in jeans.
As if on cue, Esme appeared as a vision in emerald green. Behind her came Carlisle and a dark-haired male who looked uncannily like Kat. Who is this-
"Hey dad!" Kat greeted, walking over to give him a kiss on the cheek. I guess that answered my question.
"Hey there Kitty-kat. Is everything in order?" His twinkling eyes told me where Kat got her disposition. On site, I liked the guy. Though he looked to be in his thirties, I could tell he was centuries older by the way Carlisle stared at him- there was so much respect in his gaze; I've never known him to do that… people usually glance at him like that.
What surprised me even more was this guy's fondness for his daughter. A long time ago the world was extremely sexist. But here was a guy, centuries old, calling his daughter 'Kitty-kat'.
"Of course, our stuff is ready for immediate use."
"That's wonderful!"
"Yes, and I've just been introduced to the most delightful people!" She gestured to me and my folks. "You remember Edward and the rest, I'm sure." She waited for her father to nod. "Well, I'd like you to meet my new friends- Edward's wife and daughter."
At once, Kat's dad's eyes met mine. He came forward and offered his hand to pull me gently to my feet. I felt my cheeks burn as he scrutinized my face, not searchingly but curiously.
He was beaming when I finally met his warm golden eyes. I had to look up at him. "So it is true. What a beautiful hybrid you are."
"Thank you." I replied shyly, before turning to Carlisle accusingly. "You were talking about me weren't you?"
The strange vampire laughed. "You're their pride and joy, Renesmee, let them be grandparents. If you'll allow, I'll probably boast about just having seen you."
I pretended to be distraught. "Then you'll just have to tell them I'm the ugliest thing you've ever seen so they won't come looking for me."
He laughed again, the sound was definitely growing on me. "My name is George, by the way. I may be four hundred fifty-nine, but I'll allow you to call me Georgie."
"Nice to meet you, Georgie." If I didn't know better, a guy with a name like that would seem kind of… well… gay. But then I saw the look in his eyes when he saw mom and changed my mind about the whole gay thing.
"Bella, is it?" He smiled admiringly as both my parents stood up to greet him. "My, my, Edward. Who knew you had such good taste?"
"Nobody. Not even I did." Dad replied grinning. At the sight of his ease, mom seemed to relax.
"I still don't know." Bella added almost as an afterthought. That got us laughing. Georgie's laugh, it seemed, grew extremely contagious. And it was definitely hard when Emmett was telling all these jokes and Georgie found almost everything funny.
For once, I was actually enjoying by self without any of the self-consciousness teenagers got when with new people. Kat and Georgie could do that, I suppose.
Soon, I got to meet Georgie's wife, Vivian. She was petite but seemed even smaller next to her giant of a husband. She was the only one who fulfilled my expectations. She was simply (not extravagantly) pretty, quiet, graceful and unbelievably polite; like a woman of her time. Even being a vampire, she seemed so soft- so motherly, I guess. Still, she made such a contrast to her husband and daughter.
Then something very strange happened. I mean, strange even for me. In the middle of a very fascinating conversation-possible one of Georgie's travels in ancient history- and I got completely distracted. By what? An apparition on the top of the stairs.
I could've sworn I saw an angel: He had Kat's glossy jet black hair. Only his was in short layers emphasizing thickness from the top of his head to slightly longer strands at the back of his neck. His skin, though probably as pale as mine, seemed even paler in comparison. The gold of his eyes shone lazily under long dark lashes, keeping me captivated before appreciating his aristocratic nose, curving lips-
"Nice of you to finally drop by, William." I stared on as a smile slowly arranged itself on the angel's features at the sight of my father.
He came down in a flash to give Edward a very firm handshake. "Good to see you, Edward. Why, you're looking happier than I've ever seen you!"
For some reason, dad looked almost like he was guilty and/or uneasy. "You see, about that, I-"
"Edward got married!" There was something in Kat's voice, almost as though she was taunting the angel. "Maybe it's time you did too. Want to meet her?"
"Funny, Katherine, I don't see you rushing to the altar." He replied spitefully; Kat looked away. "And as for you…" He said turning to my dad. "I just expected… more restraint, at least."
"Restraint?!" I stood abruptly. The famous temper flared. What could I do? I couldn't help myself. "What are you, chauvinistic?"
He smiled wryly. "That would be a mild way of putting it."
"Ah… you know what they say about people like you?" I said, taking a few steps forward involuntarily.
"Renesmee." Edward warned.
"No, no, Edward. Let her say her piece." 'William' said, amused. "Enlighten me."
"You're probably scared of us, or…" I paused, feeling my eyes glint menacingly. "you're gay."
I heard a gasp. "Because the only way you can't be happy about my father's awesome marriage is when you want him for yourself."
I turned suddenly when I heard clapping. Vivian was the culprit- she was beaming at me. The woman was beaming at me for calling her son gay. Old fashioned people hated gays… Is this family weird or what?