Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight series… yet. –Grins evilly-

Chapter Nine

"It's so nice to see you again. Bella," Carlisle smiled from the table.

My back was turned as I walked over to the sink wash my hands. I knew it wasn't necessary but I needed something to do other than sit at the table and fidget like there was no tomorrow. Zach took a position leaning against the kitchen counter while Casper had pulled up a chair as close as possible to Esme. The only one who actually ate here was Casper, and if wanted to eat he could just warm something up.

"Oh?" I mused, wiping my hands on my jeans after searching several minutes for a dry towel. What a stupid thing to say, Bella! "I, um, I missed you guys a lot too… But, you know, I got used to it. I was thinking of going to college with Casper after I graduate from here."

Esme smiled warmly and patted Casper o the knee. Not a I'm-coming-on-to-you pat, but Esme's signature motherly pat. "That's great! Have you begun looking at colleges yet? I think Alice and Jasper wanted to go some place a little less tough than an Ivy League, like William and Mary in Virginia? I heard it's a really nice university right next to Williamsburg and they have the biggest bookstore with two floors. You'd like it there Bella, maybe you should go."

I fidgeted uncomfortably in my seat and forced a smile. Esme recognized her mistake as soon as everyone else did and corrected it with ease, like she had meant to that the whole time. "Edward was planning on going with Rosalie and Emmett to some place out of the country. Where was it again, dear?" She asked looking over at Carlisle expectantly.

He laughed and shook his head. "Esme, Bella didn't invite us over to talk about colleges, correct?" He asked.

Wait one second. Suddenly this was my idea? "I don't mind," I assured him playing with the bracelet on my wrist.

Carlisle turned to Casper. "You know Bella, Casper insisted on volunteering at the hospital. I'm actually pretty glad, we're always so short-handed."

"Oh? Well, it is a small town people must think you don't need much staff."

Carlisle nodded patiently. "Bella, would now be an appropriate time to ask about your diets?"

I cleared my throat and wiggled around in the chair some more. Zach nodded as I stole a glance toward him. "Anytime is great for you Carlisle. I still owe you my life a few times over." I rubbed my head sheepishly thinking of how he and… another person of the family brought the rest of them together to save me from James.

"Your eyes are purple. You don't drink animals do you?" Carlisle asked resting his chin in his hands.

I looked at Carlisle's golden eyes to Zach's purple ones, knowing they resembled the same as mine. "It's kind of disgusting." I admitted.

Carlisle chuckled. "Sucking blood out of anything is disgusting, and it's our way of life. We need to survive."

I forced a grin. That little explanation actually helped a little. "In the morgue, we drink dead people's blood."

A/N: Next chapter is coming up ASAP. I was going to make it long but this is such and awesome ending! So I'll make TWO chapters. Yay! And to answer RLD Flame-point Callie-co: It's an annulment. You made me do research on that one.