Chapter 12- Maddie

"So, are you like a genius or something?" The boy across from me, Seth, said through a mouthful of garlic bread. I was quickly learning the trend of these supernaturals, the first being that Hollywood really had gotten everything wrong. Whereas the Cullen's came in all shapes and sizes, ranging from massive Emmett and petite Alice, the wolves tended to have a single size: big.

"No." I laughed, smiling at my hands. "I'm not a genius, I just like math. My old school had higher level classes." I nibbled on the bread and looked around the table, thankful that everyone wasn't sitting with us. It would have been weird to have a handful of vampires staring at me as I ate.

"Hear that, Embry, you've got yourself a genius." He laughed up until Embry kicked him from underneath the table.

I could feel his heat next to me. And when I looked over, I found him blushing. "Again, not a genius." I cleared my throat. "And I'm sorry, I'm still new to all this, but I thought you were a vampire?"

Renesmee, Nessie, shook her head and shoved another forkful of pasta into her mouth to prove her point. "Props to being the freak of the gang." She giggled with a wink. "Since Mom was human, I'm both-ish. Point is that I love carbs."

Setting my fork down, I pressed my hand against the oak table and looked to Embry, nodding toward the rest of my food. Esme had made a mountain full of food, but the boys had gone through it like it was oxygen. So naturally, the moment I offered my food Embry was on it.

"I'll be back." I said, feeling lightheaded as I left the room and started wandering out into the hallway. The home was gorgeous, but not overwhelming. Dark wooden floors covered the floor, accenting the red hue of the walls. I scanned the artwork, the swirl of flowers adding the exact splash of color that left you feeling satisfied.

Arms wrapped around myself, I found myself in a study. Books lined the walls, ranging from classic novels to medical texts. Dr. Cullen's office then. I quietly left myself out.

I may be surrounded by people, but it felt too quiet. Dean was taking a leave, and I suspected that it had something to do with jealousy.

"You doing okay?"

I turned and nodded at Nessie. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just weird."

She laughed and joined me by the window. "Being surrounded by a grim fairytail?"

I stared out into the thick of the trees, the one part of Pine Grove that I really did love. It was peaceful in this town, especially from spirits. Whereas in the city it was a good day if I didn't find three ghosts chatting my ear off, here it was rare. And I liked that, if only because then I didn't feel so guilty when I had to ignore their cries.

"No. That I don't necessarily have to hide. That I'm here. My father moved us from place to place in fear that people like your family would find me. Find us."

"Yeah, what is up with that?"

I shook my head. They are coming. "Not important." I smiled to prove my point, "He was wrong, and that's all that matters. Should we go back in there?"

Renesmee cast a fearful eye toward the livingroom. "I don't know…sounds like Emmett is breaking out the board games. Are you sure you are ready for that?"

And I smiled. "Bring it on."

#

Embry

For all the shyness that she had displayed, Maddie was fitting in with the Cullens nicely.

"Oh come on!" Emmett boomed again, clenching his fist as though reminding himself that punching the table would result in its destruction. A game of monopoly was spread out in front of them, and Maddie was quickly conquering the board.

My heart warmed at the sight of her small smile, her eyes glittering with self-satisfaction as she gathered yet another one of Emmett's properties. I looked across the room and to where Edward and Bella were huddled close, whispering to one another. He felt my gaze though, or my thoughts, and glanced my way.

Is she doing alright?

Edward pursed his lips, because I knew that he didn't like focusing in on someone's mind unless it was necessary. But a moment later he gave me a small nod. I released a breath. I didn't realize just how nervous I was toward her well-being until now. Her overdose terrified me, and I still wasn't sure whether or not it had been accidental—and she wasn't being very forthcoming with that information.

"Hey Ness, how're you liking highschool?" I said, trying to keep the room exploding.

"It's amazing!" She squealed, suddenly hopping on the couch.

"Let's see if you like it after your eighth graduation." Rosalie grumbled, but the irritation didn't meet her eyes. Everyone was watching Maddie, and I think it had less to do with her ability as it did her relation to Alice. And it appeared as though the only person that didn't know about it was Maddie.

"I'm sorry—" Maddie choked on her water. "Did you say eighth graduation? Just how old are you people?"

"Well, I'm boring." Bella said, laying her hand on Nessie's shoulder. "I'm only twenty, in years."

"And the rest of you?" Maddie met my eyes suddenly, searching. "If that isn't rude for me to ask."

Esme smiled and placed a plate of cookies onto the table. Seth was on them in that next second. "Oh, not at all honey. But I'm afraid that our ages aren't nearly as impressive as Carlisle's."

"Speak for yourself." Jasper smirked and looked up from his book.

"Okay, grandpa." Emmett roared.

"But a very cute grandpa." Alice kissed Jasper's cheek.

Sometimes even I found it weird when I thought about the span of ages. Sam claimed that we stopped really aging the moment we started shifting. Sure, we looked all hot and twenty and whatever, but did that mean that we'd never look like a normal middle aged man? I didn't like the idea of watching Maddie age when I could not.

"So you guys were all bitten, right? How does that even work?" Maddie had laid her cards down, abandoning the game in exchange.

Jasper had caught on that the conversation had been directed toward him, given that he had claimed to be the oldest aside from Carlisle. "Depends. Most everyone here was turned by Carlisle when they were in danger. But I was turned during the Civil War, Alice was turned in the 1920s, and Bella turned only a few years ago when she had Nessie."

"Yes, I'm a demon child—we've been through this." Renesmee rolled her eyes.

"Oh no, honey, you aren't a demon child. You only tried to kill your mother, that's all." Edward winked and everyone erupted into laughter. Even Maddie smiled at the uproar in the room.

Just barely, I could hear the garage door open, signaling that Carlisle was home. It wasn't uncommon for him to pull long shifts, especially night shifts, so I was surprised when he walked through the door and looked proudly at the family he had created.

"Welcome home darling, we were just playing some games."

Carlisle set down his medical bag and crossed his arms over his chest. "I can see that. And that makes me feel terribly guilty to pull her away, but would it be alright if I stole Maddie for a few minutes?"

I felt her still beside me, but she nodded and rose from the seat.

"We should get going." Jake said, stretching until his arm had wrapped back around Nessie's waist. He only kissed the top of her head though, knowing that if he did anything else there was a good chance that Edward would tear his head off. To them, she was still a toddler. I smirked at that.

"Will you be okay if we go?" I whispered to Maddie, and she nodded silently, but the moment I met Jake's eyes I knew that I was going to stick around. I'd sleep on the couch if I had to, but I wasn't going to abandon her now. "Hey Emmett, you up for a race?"

"Hell yes I am." He said, already going out the door. I laughed and patted Maddie's hand before heading out, leaving my heart behind on Maddie's sleeve.

#

Maddie

"How are you feeling?" Dr. Cullen said the moment he closed the door behind him. I had a feeling that it was purely to make me feel better, because there was no way that it'd keep a family of vampires from hearing.

"I am alright. Thank you for letting me stay here, especially when you owe me nothing." Of all the Cullens, Carlisle was the one I'd been around the least, thus he had become the most mysterious. They all spoke highly of him, and his essence was comforting, like spring rain.

"We are happy to have you Maddie. But I do think that you should call your mother and check in with her often, so that she knows that you are doing alright." Carlisle crossed the room in three large steps and swooped into a leather arm chair. I took a seat across from him, not wanting to comment on the mother thing. I couldn't help but feel like me leaving home made her life easier. "But that isn't what I wanted to talk to you about. I understand that your late father was fearful of our kind, and that is what made you skeptic of us."

I hesitated but nodded, feeling weird about repeating the words that my father had spoken. I didn't like suggesting that Carlisle's family were monsters, especially when they were anything but. "Yes, Sir."

"Carlisle, please." He smiled kindly for me to continue.

"I already told you how I can sense…people, I guess. I don't want to call it an aura, because it isn't that at all. It's more like I get bits and pieces of the living, the essence of who they are. My father was like me, but a little stronger in ability. He couldn't see spirits, only hear them. But he knew things." I shook my head, casting away the questions that had been left unanswered. "He told me that there were people out there, supernaturals, who wanted our ability. People that would hurt us if they knew what we could do."

I twiddled with my hands, and my eyes drifted away from him. "Personally, I never understood what he was trying to say. But he kept us on the move, always on the move."

"Interesting." Carlisle leaned back, drawing my attention back to him. "I can say that for me and my family, we did not know that people like you even existed."

"I don't know if there is anyone aside from my family like me." I said honestly. "And if there is, then they hide better than I do."

Carlisle nodded slowly, obviously thinking. I couldn't help but stare at him, absolutely amazed by the life that he must have had; and he didn't look older than 30.

"Carlisle…," I swallowed thickly, "The night that I—you know—I had spoken with my father. He hadn't visited me until then, and he'd been gone for a year. But he told me that people were coming for me, that I was never safe."

He frowned and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "Did he say anything else about that? Tell you who was coming?"

"No, sir. Nothing."

"I will look into it right away. I have sources throughout the country that might have heard something, and I will be discreet." He placed a hand on my arm. "We will keep you safe, Maddie. Don't you worry about that."

Alright everyone! Thank you so much for tuning in, and your review mean so much to me. I have a lot planned for the following chapters, and you guys are in for a wild ride. So be sure to let me know how you all are faring, what you think, and if there is something more you guys want to see!

Vos omnes amo!

-Kelsey