A/N: Reviewers get teasers. Leave me some love.
Chapter 11: Questions and Explanations
On its own volition, my lips turned upwards into a smile. This pathetic situation I was in right now was very paradoxical; at one point, I can see why I avoided the Cullens all these years but on the other hand, it boggles my mind how I managed to do so.
One look at his face makes me wonder the latter. "Hi, Carlisle. Your home is just as beautiful as ever," I breathe.
Carlisle's mouth hung agape for a couple seconds. It would've been awkward had it not been cute how calm and collected Carlisle was stunned into speechlessness.
I clear my throat and pray that he starts saying something soon before I lose my courage and curtail the hell outta here.
He gathers his wits before replying, "I apologize for my lack of manners. Please come in, come in," he ushers me through the threshold before apologizing sheepishly, "Alice said that you agreed to stop by here tonight but we weren't sure if you were going to come. Thank you so much. Esme and the kids are going to be over the moon," he smiles crookedly - I could definitely see where Edward got his heart-wrenchingly handsome smile from - before leading me to their vast living room.
I just hope that by "kids", he only meant Emmett and Alice.
Nodding, I quietly follow him, scanning the room along the way. The foyer was tastefully decorated with sparse furniture, making it look nice and open. Family pictures adorned the walls - artistically assimilated throughout - that led to the living room. They were there, undoubtedly, because of Alice and Esme's love of photography and Emmett's photogenicness.
I snort to myself. This whole family was the epitome of "photogenic" in an 12 by 16 frame.
Passing by the dimly lit hallway, my cursory eyes involuntarily glued to a Christmas family portrait, I'm guessing last year's, at the corner. The women - Alice, Esme and Rosalie, obviously as Emmett's wife - were seated in a tan couch, wearing elegant dresses while the men Carlisle, Edward, Emmett and the Alice's Southern gentleman who I remembered was Jasper stood behind them, their hands on their respective partners.
My stomachs turned as I realized that there were only seven people in the picture.
What happened to Kate?
My heart missed a beat.
Even though Kate wasn't in the frame, that doesn't mean that there isn't anyone else in Edward's picture.
Was there someone?
Unfortunately - or fortunately - I didn't have time to dwell on anything because the hallway finally opened up into the living room; and suddenly, five pair of bright eyes were all blinking at me expectantly.
.
.
.
"So you mean to tell me that my son said he only saw you as a friend? " Esme screeched, rubbing her temples.
I bite my lip and nod as I reply as nonchalantly as I could, "Yep. But it's been 10 years. It's fine," I lie through my teeth.
I don't tell them that Edward's rejection did a lot to me. I keep the fact to myself that because of that incident, my self-esteemed suffered, that because of that, it took me a while to realize that someone was capable of seeing me beyond the friend zone.
It wasn't like Edward was some stranger I booty called in the bar. He was my old bestfriend's brother and someone who I considered one of my closest friends. It's not easy to forget when an Edward Cullen tells you that he doesn't see you in a non-platonic way.
But one look at Esme's face which was close to tears, and I find myself comforting her. "Esme, honestly, it doesn't matter anymore. It's been nearly a decade. I'm sure we've all moved on and have become better because of it. It's no one's fault but mine for overstepping and forcing my feelings on Edward. I should've acted less impetuously or been less presumptuous for that matter!" I soothe, exhaling a small laugh to alleviate the tension around the room.
Though I was addressing Esme, I could feel everyone's eyes on me and I wanted to pick my words aptly so I don't offend anyone or raise anymore doubts. It's better to keep sleeping dogs lie where they were. And they most definitely belong in the past.
I certainly didn't want news to travel around the Cullen family grapevine that I still had the hots for Edward.
I scan Esme's face and see that she's still unconvinced. "I was a kid then. I'm sure I convinced myself that my petty feelings were true love. It was merely puppy love. It's not Edward's fault that he didn't reciprocate my feelings. Realistically, if Edward did somehow return my feelings, we wouldn't have worked out anyways. We were barely adults then and had no clue about the real world outside of Forks. Let's just not rehash the past. I'm here for another 2 weeks and it'd be foolish to squander time dwelling on what needs to be forgotten."
And as the words left my mouth, I knew they were true. How hypocritical of me would it be to advise everyone to get over the past if I can't even do so myself?
It's time to get my head out of my ass and move on. No matter how hard it is, no matter what kind of obstacles come my way during my stay here - whether it's seeing Edward around again or something less pivotal - I won't let it affect me because 10 years is too long to hold a grudge.
I'm 28 and I can't keep waiting for something that will never come.
Wow, Swan, I do believe that you've finally grown up. Now this vacation can officially start.
.
.
.
A yawn escapes without my notice, eliciting a quiet chuckle from Carlisle.
A blush suffuses my cheeks before glancing at my wristwatch. My eyes widen when I see that it's a little bit past 11:30 p.m. I didn't realize that I've been here for nearly three hours.
Alice glanced at the grandfather clock on top of the fireplace. "Oh gosh, it's almost midnight. We're so sorry for keeping you, Bella. Hopefully you didn't have anywhere to go," she stresses while biting her lip.
I giggle before replying, "It's not a big deal, really. I didn't have any plans and Charlie told me that he and Sue were spending the night at her house before he has to work tomorrow. I honestly had a good time!"
And I did. These last three hours were spent catching up and chatting about what each of us has been up to. I found out that Alice and Jasper met during a school holiday here. Turns out that Jasper went to University of Washington while Alice was studying in the West Coast. While Alice was visiting home, Jasper decided to take a weekend get-a-way to explore Forks and then they hit it from there. They moved to Seattle soon after getting married.
Em and Rosalie met when he went on a short road trip with a couple of his football buddies to Maine to apparently get some "smackin' lobster rolls".
His words, not mine.
After an unfortunate flat tire, they stopped by a mechanic shop and that's where Em met Rose. And the rest is history, as they'd say.
Esme was now into interior designing and dabbles in some projects when she has time while Carlisle continued to work at Forks Residential Hospital.
It doesn't escape my notice that they gloss over what Edward's been up to all these years.
I was only told a scant amount of information about him. After finishing his medical degree at Dartmouth, Edward started his residency at Seattle's Northwest Hospital and Medical Center. He has an apartment in Seattle and works around the Emergency Room, similar to what Carlisle used to do before he retired as Chief of Staff and supplanted as a general doctor to gain steadier hours.
As an editor, curiosity was something I was used to. However, I bit my tongue when I almost found myself wanting to ask whether Edward was single or not.
My musings were interrupted by Esme. "We had a great time, as well, catching up with you, honey. But it's half till midnight and no matter how quaint this small town is, it's still dangerous for you to travel alone at this hour!" she says beseechingly, her perfectly elegant eyebrows furrowing in concern.
I will never know how this woman, twenty plus years my senior, had better eyebrows than me. With Esme's timeless beauty and Carlisle's DILF-worthy handsomeness, I'm starting to believe that Cullens age like cheese and wine. The older, the better.
Pay attention, Swan, and stop daydreaming! Maybe you shouldn't have downed those three glasses of wine this late….it's messing up with your brain capacity.
I bite my lip when I remember that Esme's waiting for my answer. "Only if you guys are sure. I don't want to impose."
Alice brushes off my meek protest before saying, "Are you kidding me? You're more than welcome to stay at the guest room that's been vacant for years! Mom's right. It'll be like old times again! You coming over and spending the night We can even paint each other's nails while watching TV!" she rushes excitedly.
I chuckle before rebuffing her, "Woah there, first of all, Alice it's almost 12 am! I don't think it'd be felicitous to paint our nails right now and dance to sonorous music. Maybe tomorrow or next time though?" I offer once she unleashes her pout.
"Fine, but only if you stay for breakfast as well."
After I nod my ascent, she squeals then forces me to say goodnight to everyone before dragging me to the third floor at my guest room.
As Alice said, "I chose a good day to come over" as everyone was staying for the night except Jasper who drove to Seattle midway through the dinner to support a friend's concert.
Rosalie and Emmett were sleeping in his room, though Rose was knocked out shortly after returning home, being pregnant and all.
Alice bids me a quiet "goodnight" before expressing her excitement about the prospect of me joining her family for breakfast the next day.
After putting on the shorts and a tank top - which were a bit on the small side - that Alice lent me, I get ready for bed.
Burrowing under the heavenly soft sheets, I breathe in their lavender detergent which brought back some very good memories, for a change.
With dreams of a bronze-hair Adonis, I manage to sleep.
A/N: Sorry no Edward; but hopefully we got more answers in this one.
Up next: meeting Edward!
Reviewers get teasers.