Samba!
(Carlisle POV)
"Come on, Carlisle!"
"Esme-"
"All the kids are doing it!"
"All the kids are also trying to get Emmett to buy more bottle rockets."
"Please?"
"I'm very busy at the moment, Esme."
"It'll be fun, though!"
"Maybe to you."
"I'll go with someone else!"
"Give him my apologies."
"Carlisle!"
I was sitting at my desk, trying to fill out paperwork for the hospital. Esme was sitting on my desk, trying to get me to go to Samba class with her, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper. Just as I was going to argue further, Alice skipped into my office. We turned to her.
"He'll give in soon, Esme," she chirped, and Esme beamed at Alice. I frowned. Oh dear. I sighed.
"Fine!" I said crossly and Esme clapped her hands in delight, smiling brightly. I sighed and stood from my desk and Esme leapt off my desk.
"You won't regret this!" Esme sang, and twirled around me. I sighed.
"I already am," I replied as she dragged me downstairs, with Alice skipping behind us.
Downstairs, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper were waiting. Alice bounced over to Jasper and Emmett gave a booming laugh.
"She got you, Carlisle?" he chuckled, and I raised my eyebrows.
"How'd Rosalie get you to keep coming back?" I inquired. Emmett gave another laugh.
"It's pretty hot," he shrugged and gave his boyish grin. I rolled my eyes and looked to Jasper who also shrugged modestly.
"Where's Edward?" I asked. This made everyone look somewhat awkward, aside from Emmett of course. He was comfortable with pretty much everything, and had been in far more embarrassing situations than this many times over.
"Well…" Esme began, and her voice trailed off as she looked helplessly at the others. Emmett gladly picked up for her.
"We don't take Edward with us, 'cause he doesn't have a girl, and refused to dance with someone he hasn't know for like- a million years," Emmett clearly exaggerated, but I got the general feel of it.
"What does he think of being left out?" I asked. This caused more discomfort from those capable of it. Emmett was the only one willing to explain, and did so with great glee.
"We didn't tell him! He's off at classes, and we go off and don't tell him!" Emmett half-sang, and Rosalie giggled. I looked questioningly at the idea of not letting Edward find out, especially with everyone involved and his mind reading, but posed no comments. The logical way of thinking was not always correct around here. Esme lead me out to Rosalie's convertible and pushed me into the backseat, climbing in after me and shutting the door.
"Rosalie's driving, and Emmett called shotgun," she explained, as I looked confused. Alice sat down next to me, and Jasper climbed in after her.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Esme gushed and Alice agreed, bouncing around the car. I looked over to Jasper who smiled sympathetically. As Esme and Alice chattered about the joys of dancing, Jasper and I held a whispered conversation.
"Is it really awful, Jasper?"
"No. It's okay."
"Seriously? ' Okay'?"
"Yeah. You'll see."
As soon as he said that, Emmett and Rosalie climbed in, and the car speed off to Seattle.
"You'll love this, Carlisle," Esme soothed and I sighed. Rosalie turned a sharp corner, and I reminded myself to make her reapply for her licence. Soon. Before long, we arrived at the studio. Esme pulled me out, all the time praising the class, and I followed the kids up the stairs into a large, mirrored room, where a few other people already were. The class soon started, and I winced to myself. This was going to be horribly painful. The teacher had a thick Spanish accent, worse than Jasper's American accent. He demonstrated the sequence with his silent partner. He then clapped his hands for us to start. I looked around. Emmett and Rosalie were the further away, and Rosalie seemed to be demonstrating how to do the sequence repeatedly to the overexcited Emmett, who was watching her with hungry eyes. Jasper and Alice seemed to be doing the dance very well, much better than the other couples were. I turned expectantly to Esme.
"Don't be like that, Carlisle," she sighed, and I grimaced. We danced reasonably slower than the others did, as Esme whispered in my ear what to do, until the teacher came over.
"Esme, darling! You brought a partner! What is his name?" the teacher asked excitedly. Esme grinned and we turned to face him.
"This is my husband, Carlisle," she explained over the music.
"How do you do?" I said, and inclined my head. He laughed loudly. I raised my eyebrows, and he laughed harder.
"Is something funny?" I asked, and he continued laughing.
"Funny man!" he exclaimed, as his laughter eased. I turned to Esme questioningly. She shook her head, as if to say there was a long explanation for why the teacher was insane.
"Now, Carlisle, you must lead, Esme, yeah? Lead," he repeated, "And faster, yeah?"
"I suppose," I said dubiously, and he laughed. I finally understood.
"Do you think my accent is funny?" I asked incredulously. He nodded, laughing harder. Alice whispered something into Jasper's ear, and he chuckled, and they turned slightly, so they could see us. I noticed Rosalie and Emmett do the same.
"You funny man, Carlisle Cullen," he snorted, and turned away, "Remember, Carlisle, lead, yeah? You a man, yeah?"
He laughed, and I stiffened, turning to Esme. She merely raised her eyebrows at my infuriated expression. The teacher moved onto Jasper and Alice. I glowered, and Esme and I started dancing again.
"Carlisle…" she said, as I growled angrily.
"Mocking my accent… not enough good grace to show some respect…" I muttered as I danced Esme around the room.
"Carlisle, chill," Esme said firmly, as the teacher moved onto Rosalie and Emmett.
"But-" I started, her expression silencing me. I sighed and looked away. He was demonstrating how to do one of the steps for Emmett, who seemed incapable of anything but staring at Rosalie and laughing.
"Carlisle, he's only human, after all," Esme murmured.
"All right," I allowed, and smiled at her, "You're very good at this."
"Thank you," she beamed, clearly the comment she'd wanted. Esme had a way of manipulating me to do her bidding.
"How long have you been doing this?" I asked.
"A few weeks," she said sheepishly. I laughed.
"You managed to keep a secret that long?" I teased. She giggled.
"It wasn't easy," she admitted. I smiled.
"Very good, Carlisle and Esme!" the teacher called and I turned to Esme enquiringly. She beamed at me.
"See? Are you having fun?" she said, and I sighed.
"I guess I am. Emmett was right, this is hot," I teased her.
"Seriously!" she exclaimed and I laughed.
"Yes! Yes, I am, surprisingly," I said. She nodded in satisfaction.
"I told you so," she said firmly, before I even had the chance to stop her.
"It's nice to see you so happy," I said, and she giggled, "And it is hot! So there."
The music finally stopped, and we left the studio, after saying goodbye to the teacher. As we drove home, Rosalie was driving faster than usual.
"Remember, don't let Edward in on the secret, okay?" said Emmett, and the others laughed, nodding in agreement.
"How do you stop Edward from finding out?" I asked, curious as ever.
"Think graphically," Emmett smirked, and I need not ask about what. When were arrived home, the first thing we saw was Edward in the curled up on the piano seat, rocking himself backwards and forwards, looking sickened and frightened. His eyes were wide and distraught, as he looked at us, jumping from one face to another, wincing.
"Edward?" I asked, still concentrating on my Esme. His eyes rolled to me.
"I'll never see you and Esme in the same light ever again," he moaned. Esme giggled and Edward winced.
"Jasper! Leave Alice alone!" Edward pleaded, but Jasper just turned to Alice and grinned. Alice laughed and Edward cringed. Shakily, he stood and went to the door, before turning back. He looked a little bit more composed.
"I have already seen too much of all of you. I will be hunting until I can see you all as somewhat good people again, and forget what I have seen of you," he said, and ran out the door. We waited until he was out of hearing distance, and started laughing.