MY FELLOW SQUID MATES...

Welcome. Sorry about the delay, time-wise. I am super bad at managing my hectic schedule and scribbled this up. Hope you like it!

PS... For anyone that is interested, I was wondering if you would like to ask me questions on anything, story-related, real-life related, or even food related! Feel free to ask anything, and I will answer it! Enjoy!

Bella POV

The car ride wasn't long, and it was pleasant. Edward turned on the radio and hummed along to a soft melody. I strained my ears to listen… I liked the sound of his voice. It was soft, and mellifluous.

"Do you sing a lot?" I asked suddenly. Edward blushed.

"No, I usually never sing." I nodded and he carried on, humming to the music. When Edward abruptly stopped, I turned to him.

"We're almost here." I'd been so engrossed in Edward's almost-singing that I hadn't realized we'd turned into a gated neighborhood, with castle-like homes, and lush, green gardens. It screamed one thing. Rich.

"Is everything alright?" Edward asked, seeing my mouth gaped open in disbelief.

"You live here?" He nodded as he parked in a large and spacious garage.

"Don't be intimidated," He mentioned with a playful wink. Despite what he said though, I found the front door to be extremely large and intimidating. Once Edward pushed it open, I realized that the entire neighbor and the door was nothing compared to the interior of the Cullen's home.

The parlor had white tiles that gleamed against the sunshine streaming in through large, glass windows. I heard a cheery voice call out from somewhere within the house, I strained my ears to listen, but I couldn't tell where it came from, the house echoed too much.
"Welcome home, Edward!" I bit my lip at the thought of meeting Edward's mother. He tilted his head towards the doorway, in the "go on," gesture, as he guided me into a large kitchen, where a pretty woman was flipping through a cooking book. She appeared to be in her mid thirties, but could have been younger. Her posture was straight as she sat on one of the tall barstools; her cup of tea was pinched between delicate fingers.

"I was getting worried, you are late." She mused, as she sipped at her tea. She hadn't noticed me yet… Maybe I could just turn away and…
"Mom," Edward pulled me from the wall I'd been hiding behind and I mentally kicked myself. "I brought a friend over."
"A guest? How exciting!" She hopped gracefully off of the barstool, in a childlike fashion to greet me. "I'm Esme," She rushed up to shake my hand warmly, and I couldn't help but smile timidly back at her.
"I'm Bella," I said cautiously, making sure my American accent was perfectly intact. "It's nice to meet you." I added conventionally. Esme turned to Edward.

"Will Bella be staying with us for dinner?" He nodded. Esme flashed a smile in my direction. "I hope you like spaghetti fettuccine and meatballs," I nodded eagerly and my mouth watered. Spaghetti. Edward thankfully broke the soft silence.
"Mom, where is Claire?"
"She's watching the rerun of that old show, Barney." Esme smiled with a playful roll of her eyes. Edward grinned.
"I think we're going to go play with Claire for a while."

"That's fine. Get her away from the TV a while, would you?" Edward grinned.

"That's the idea." He motioned for me to follow him, and I murmured a soft 'thank you,' towards Esme.

"It's nice to meet you, Bella." She called out cheerfully. Edward chuckled, and leaned down to murmur,

"How do you like my mom?"

"She's…" I searched for the right word; only one could come to mind. "She's…Beautiful." I said softly. With her flowing brown hair and soft figure, she was in every essence of what a mother should look like. I wondered if my mother looked like Esme, and enjoyed cooking and tending to her family... And making spaghetti…

"You know," Edward mused, breaking me from my own thoughts. "She seemed to really like you." I raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"What makes you say that?"

"She's never been so delighted to have me bring a girl to the home before." I scowled at him. Surely she didn't think…

"Be sure that your mother knows that I'm just a friend, okay? I don't want her to get the wrong impression of me…"

"Of course," He murmured sincerely, however, a mischievous smile twisted his lips and I was seriously concerned. We continued walking in a comfortable silence through the impossibly large hallway, until we reached a light, spacious room, with a wide sofa and a TV set. In front of the TV set, sat the cutest girl I'd ever seen in my life.

She had honey-blonde hair, almost like Edward's, and somehow had his brown eyes, despite the lack of blood-related connection. Her rosy cheeks and chubby hands only added to her charming demeanor, and I wondered why she wasn't casted in a baby food commercial.
"Hey, Claire-Bear!" Edward chimed. Her eyes snapped open wide, and a genuine smile stretched across her face as he opened his arms invitingly.

"Edward-Pedward!" She greeted him enthusiastically, rushing to give his leg a hug. Edward chuckled and gently disengaged himself from Claire. He knelt before her, and spoke in a calming tone.
"Claire, I brought a friend over today. Will you be nice to her?" She nodded eagerly, her tiny head bobbed up and down furiously. He chuckled.

"Well then, Claire, I'd like you to meet Bella. Bella, this is my little sister, Claire." Before I could draw in a breath for a 'hello,' she rushed over and clamped onto my leg with a fiercely affectionate hug.

"Bella." She sang as tested my name on her lips. "Bella!" She seemed contented with the sound of my name, and continued. "You can watch TV with me and Edward-Pedward!" I laughed lightly, she was cute.

"Only if you show us the good channels." She nodded solemnly. Edward and I leaned against the couch as Claire played with her dolls in front of the neglected TV. Silence wasn't an option with Claire; she joyfully chattered on about her day until Edward's mother called out for dinner. Edward guided me through the long halls again, and brought me to the table. My mouth gaped open stupidly.

The dining table itself was large and elegant enough to serve a king, and spread out on the table cloth before us was a feast. The fresh bread scented the air with a heady fragrance, and a heaping bowl of spaghetti was beside it. My mouth watered in vain; I could've kicked myself for being so needy.

As I seated myself across from Edward, a blur of motion caught the corner of my eye, and I turned to see a thin girl dancing down the stairs. Her hazel eyes widened in surprise as she locked eyes with me. Edward cleared his throat.

"Oh, Alice, this is Bella. Bella, this is my sister, Alice."

"Hello," I offered. She looked suspicious as she apprehended me, before muttering an unenthusiastic 'hi.' I turned to Edward, cocking my eyebrow. He shook his head, as if telling me to disregard her. Esme came into the room, with a high-chair for Claire, who wailed impatiently, with her arms open.
"Dig in, kids!" I didn't need to be told twice, I helped myself happily, making sure I chewed before I swallowed. Though my body was no longer emaciated, it had been a while since I had tasted food, (this afternoon being an exception, of course.) I was surprised I didn't hear a thud as the food hit my empty stomach.
"So, Bella," Xavier's mom started conversationally. "How did you meet Edward?" I struggled to keep a truthful façade between the lies I knew I was going to tell.
"I'm... New to this town." Liar. "Edward is in my history class." Esme nodded understandingly.
"Where did you come from?"
"Seattle." I said automatically. That was where Dawn's mother had lived. Thank the heavens I had already created a profile for myself, based off of the life of Dawn's deceased mother.
"That must've been a difficult change," Esme murmured empathetically. "Do your parents work here, in Forks?"
"Oh, no... Um..." I looked down, for the first time unsure of what to say. "I... I am not very close with my parents anymore." That wasn't a lie. I'd never met them, after all.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Esme said sympathetically. I could tell in the way that her eyebrows rose that she was genuinely concerned, just as Edward had been. That must've been where Edward received his manners from… I chewed on my spaghetti thoughtfully. Soon, I had finished my plate, and Edward and I spoke of small things together until Esme interrupted.
"I'm sorry Bella, can you excuse us for a moment?"
"Yes, of course," I immediately complied. Edward gave me an apologetic smile as he followed his mother to the kitchen. I stayed seated obediently at the dinner table, but strained my ears to hear what they were saying in the kitchen. I heard them softly arguing.
"Mom, she has no where to go." Edward's voice was passionate, and guilt burned in the pit of my stomach. He didn't know he was taking in a criminal. I heard Esme sigh.
"I know, and I truly am concerned, Edward, but where do you propose she stays?" His answer was swift; he'd already thought this through.
"She can stay in my bedroom." She sighed.
"Edward, young man, I have raised you to be respectful to women. I am not doubting you, but a 17 year old girl sleeping in your bed will certainly change the... Circumstances. Especially with your teenage hormones raging and whatnot-"
"Mom..." He groaned, until she cut him off.
"I expect you to be gentlemanly with her." A blush blazed my cheekbones when I realized that Esme's main worry was that Edward would take advantage of me. I rarely ever thought about sex... hearing it in a conversation I was eavesdropping on made the forbidden subject even more awkward and unappealing.
"It's a deal." Edward agreed without hesitation. "Bella will sleep on my bed. I'll take the couch." I heard his soft footsteps pad across the wooden floor, until I heard them stop abruptly. Esme muttered something about stubbornness until she cleared her throat.
"Young man, you will be most courteous to her, do you hear? She's obviously been through a lot, and I'm not going to have you put her through anymore pain." It warmed my heart to know that Esme truly cared about me.
"That's all I want for her." Edward said simply. She exhaled.
"You'll do the dishes for the rest of the month. And anything Bella may need, you will pay for." It wasn't a question, but I could practically hear Edward nodding feverishly. Esme sighed, as if letting go of him.
Edward returned to the dining room looking triumphed.
"My mom is fine with you staying overnight. I have to do the dishes first, but do you want me to run a bath?" I nodded before I could stop myself. He grinned crookedly.

"Let's go then."