All Characters and Stuff Belong to Stephenie Meyer

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Chapter 14 - The Game

I knocked on Edward's door, there was a lot of commotion coming from inside. I had seen a thunder storm for tonight and I was excited, we loved to play baseball in the storms. It was our only choice, the game we played was so loud it would be obvious that something was going on, even to the most unobservant of humans.

"Can we come in?" I asked through the door, I wasn't sure they had heard my knocking, Jasper was stood close behind me. The look in his eye told me exactly what was going on in Edward's room.

I stepped into the room and noticed Bella on Edward's lap, the light pink hue in her cheeks told me she was embarrassed to be found in such a compromising position.

"Go ahead." Edward was chuckling happily away. I walked lightly into the middle of the room and sat on the floor, I could feel Jasper still behind me, he didn't move from the door. I knew that the closeness of Bella and Edward had shocked him, he had felt some of the sensation through my visions but feeling it first hand, amazed him.

"It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch, and we came to see if you would share," I said jokingly. I knew Edward, and I knew his limitations, I was just testing Bella's sense of humor, I knew she was relaxed with us being vampires but I was wondering how much so.

Bella stiffened a little but relaxed once she had read Edward's expression, he knew I was joking and he was grinning playfully.

"Sorry, I don't believe I have enough to spare," He answered pulling Bella infinitesimally closer.

"Actually," Jasper relaxed I could feel that without having to look at him, I could also hear him stepping further into the room, his amazement was beginning to subside. "Alice says there's going to be a real storm tonight, and Emmett wants to play ball. Are you game?"

I could hear the challenge in Jasper's voice. Each of us had become very competitive when it came to sports, we had a twenty year tally going, we had kept the same teams throughout the years and we always seemed to keep within an inning of one another, so it would carry on, this was now all part of the game. Jasper's favorite thing to do was psych out the other players before the game, he knew it would have us all playing our best.

Edward's attention was, for a brief second ours, then he hesitated. I knew why.

"Of course you should bring Bella," I said happily, I was looking forward to getting to know her a little bit better. I could feel Jasper's eyes on me, I concentrated on feeling relaxed, and he did the same.

"Do you want to go?" Edward asked Bella, he was definitely game now, another chance to show off, and a chance to one up his team.

"Sure... Um, where are we going?" Bella didn't like sports and you didn't have to be a genius to figure that one out. There was a girl in my English class that I overheard complaining about almost being knocked out by a ball Bella had sent her way, and the kicker was she was on the same team. I also knew that she wanted to make Edward happy, and the look on his face made it obvious that he wanted to include her in our family activity. I was getting used to the idea of having Bella around.

My thoughts drifted momentarily to Rosalie, I wondered how she would react to having Bella there. I knew she wouldn't miss the game, but I was hoping she would ruin the evening by being horribly rude to Bella. I guess we would cross that bridge when we came to it

"We have to wait for thunder to play ball - you'll see why," Edward was reeling in excitement now.

"Will I need an umbrella?" Bella asked innocently. Jasper, Edward and I laughed, it was such a human response we couldn't help ourselves. We had never needed umbrella's because we didn't get cold so being wet didn't particularly bother us, except Rosalie, she hated her hair being wet but she was always able to work with it until it looked perfect.

"Will she?" Jasper asked me winking, I smiled.

"No. The storm will hit over town. It should be dry enough in the clearing." I had already seen this, I always tried to look because as much as I loved playing ball, I hated the mud that became caked in my hair, it was impossible.

"Good then." Jasper sang out enthused, unfortunately he couldn't capture that feeling quickly enough and I found my self getting almost over excited, I could tell by the look on Bella's warm face that it had reached her too.

I hopped up off the floor, "Let's go and see if Carlisle will come." I danced towards the door, Jasper's enthusiasm was still intoxicating me.

"Like you don't know," Jasper grinned and followed me out of the door, pulling the door closed behind him, I carried on down the hall to the stairs. Jasper was close behind me, I could still feel the excitement.

"Will you stop!" I giggled as I skipped down the stairs.

"What am I doing?" He asked keeping pace with me.

"Your making me positively giddy with excitement. It's rather disconcerting."

Jasper laughed and pulled me up into his arms, I loved him carrying me, it was so unnecessary but I loved being so close to him.

"I know what we could do with that excitement!" he whispered in my ear.

"Don't you two have a room you can do that in?" Rosalie asked as she hit the top stair, she was holding a baseball in her hands throwing it back and forth quickly. Jasper set me down on the ground and reached out grabbing the ball.

"And what are you doing with this Rose, think you can rig the game?"

"No, Emmett and I were throwing it outside, there's no law against that is there?"

"We could make one!" Jasper grinned.

Rose snatched the ball from Jasper's hand and continued to her room, "Don't be so paranoid!" she called over her shoulder. "Remember we're on the same team!"

Edward took Bella home but returned soon after, he looked annoyed and angry and I wasn't sure why. His new mood had taken me off guard, he had ben so happy when he had headed out.

"What's wrong Edward?" I asked as he pushed the front door closed behind him.

"The Black's. At Bella's"

"Really I didn't see anything!" I added, it wasn't as if I'd been watching out for them, but if they were destined to cross paths with Bella I was sure I should have seen them.

"Billy and his son were there. You know what adds insult to injury?" he asked plopping down on the piano bench.

"What's that?" I asked perching on the arm of the sofa.

"His son has quite a crush on Bella, and it's a little uncomfortable. Newton only stopped thinking like that since I've been sitting at lunch with Bella and Tyler and Eric gave up too. Alice, if you could hear some of the thoughts..." He cut himself off and started playing Bella's lullaby, he was playing faster than normal and I knew that this was a sure sign of frustration.

"Edward, listen this is something you have to deal with, it's part of sharing your life with someone. I guarantee that if I could hear thoughts some of the girls had about Jasper I would probably be under house arrest from Esme."

Edward stopped playing and laughed,"I could tell you if you wanted to know!"

I shook my head and laughed, "No not really, I think I'm better off not knowing. You have the thoughts in peoples heads to deal with, I know it's a little bit harder dealing with that but you have something they don't"

"Which is?"

"Bella, and you also know she loves you and only you! In turn it shouldn't matter what other people think. She chose you!"

Edward smiled thoughtfully and stood up, "Do you see Charlie angry?"

"No, he's on his way home still, but I see Bella again, she getting ready for the game and to tell Charlie about you!"

Edward grinned, "Well I guess I'd better get ready and head on over there!"

I smiled and nodded, I knew that this was a weight off of his shoulders, but I had to figure out why I couldn't see Bella at times. I guess that was part of her humanity. I headed back upstairs, I was going to practice with Jasper we were on opposing teams but we were married! Even so, I wanted to win this game and get up another game over the others.

Edward had taken the Jeep to get Bella, the rest of us were running. I was trying to keep Jasper focused, I knew it would be a distraction having Bella there, but he had assured me he was fine and that his head was in the game.

We arrived at the clearing and I could see the thunder clouds rolling around in the sky, I was hoping that Edward and Bella would get here before it started making noise. I sprinted to the mound and waved at Esme, she had the ball. She threw it to me and I threw it at Jasper, we were going to warm up.

The noise in the woods caught my immediate attention, it was the sound of laughter. Edward was laughing harder than I had ever heard him. I turned my attention to the direction it was coming from, but Jasper threw a fast ball at me which I immediately saw coming.

"Nice try Jasper!" I laughed throwing the ball back at him. The throwing began to get faster. It turned into a little competition, just another one of the many qualities I loved about Jasper.

The smell of Bella hit me before she and Edward finally emerged from the trees, I threw the ball back at Jasper and ran towards them, the thunder was about to start. I stopped directly in front of them. "It's time,"

The sound of thunder rolled across the sky like a stampede, I grinned I liked having the chance to be dramatic. No one else really appreciated it anymore.

"Eerie, isn't it?" Emmett's casual tone chimed in, he winked at Bella friendly. It was time to play.

"Let's go." I reached for Emmett's hand and we headed across the clearing toward the field. We had to get as much of the game in as possible before the storm disappeared.

Edward was more interested in what Bella was doing, 'Edward get your head in the game, we're a game up I want to see if I can make it two.'

Edward looked at me and grinned, he headed out further to left field and waited as Emmett headed to the plate, I grinned as he swung the bat, Jasper was stood behind him. I threw the ball, it landed where I wanted it to, Jasper's hand. Jasper threw the ball back to me and I grinned. I refused to be over confident so I dropped the grin and focused again, I threw the ball but Emmett already had the bat in it's line the loud thud of the bat connecting with the ball imitated the roll of thunder and flew towards the forest. Edward was gone in a shot, I saw him catch it and relaxed. He emerged from the trees victorious, he held the ball up for everyone to see, a big grin spread across his face he threw the ball at me and the inning continued. Every now and again I would look towards Bella and laugh, no matter how far we got into the game the look of utter disbelief never went away. The funniest moment was when Carlisle and Jasper collided, the complete look of fear and shock made me laugh. This was the best game we had played in a while.

When we changed out Edward and Carlisle played smart, Edward kept his ball away from Rose, she could be very quick when she needed to, but Carlisle hit a home run, he and Edward both made it home, I stood on the sideline and gave them high fives as they came in.

Carlisle came up to bat and Edward was catching when I saw what I had missed. They were coming, now. The look everyone gave me made me realize I had made a noise.

The nomads were passing through and they had heard us playing, they were heading in this direction, they wanted to play. I looked directly at Edward and shared what I had seen it was important for him to know what was coming.

"Alice?" I heard Esme call her voice was strained.

"I didn't see - I couldn't tell," was all I could say, I hadn't known it was today, if I've known I would never have suggested the game, I would never have invited Bella, Bella!

The others were gathering around me. Each face held a level of concern.

"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle's voice was calm and controlled.

"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before," and I did, I had no idea how I had missed the thunderstorm as they passed through, I had no idea that they would be so close.

"What changed?" Jasper asked crouched over me protectively.

"They heard us playing, and it changed their path." This was all my fault, if Bella wasn't here we could have just sent them on their way but she was here and we had to find a solution fast. They were getting closer. We all looked at Bella, we knew what this meant.

"How soon?" Carlisle asked, he was looking at Edward, I knew how concerned he was.

"Less than five minutes. They're running - they want to play." Edward answered, I couldn't see his face, Jasper was still crouched over me. I nudged him out of the way lovingly, I tried to show my appreciation for his concern, but I didn't have time for that.

"Can you make it?" Carlisle asked he looked at Bella for a brief second.

"No not carrying..." he stopped his talking cutting himself off "Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting."

"How many?" Emmett asked turning to me.

"Three,"

"Three!" Emmett's voice boomed "Let them come." I saw him flex his muscles, I shook my head in disbelief, Emmett was always up for a fight and it didn't matter with who. We all turned to Carlisle, he was the only one who would have an idea to get us out of this situation.

"Let's just continue the game," Carlisle said after a little deliberation, there was no emotion whatsoever in his voice and it scared me, we had no idea what was going to happen, not until they got here and made a decision. "Alice said they were simply curious."

I heard Esme's whisper to Edward and it sent me into a panic "Are they hungry?" If I could, I probably would have thrown up about now. Edward shook his head, I felt myself breathe again. I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath.

"You catch Esme," Edward said planting himself protectively in front of Bella. "I'll call it now."

Esme and I stood close to where Bella and Edward were, I felt this was all my fault and I was prepared to protect her, if it came down to it. I scanned the trees slowly looking for any sign of movement in the tree line.

"Take your hair down," I heard Edward say quietly to Bella. I looked across and watched her obey pulling the band from her hair.

"The others are coming now." Bella said, it wasn't a question. She knew. It surprised me that Edward had told her we were expecting them. Even though it shouldn't have, considering.

"Yes stay very still, keep quiet, and don't move from my side, please." Edward was worried, I could see it on his face, he spun and pulled Bella's hair around her face gently.

"That won't help," I said quietly, the guilt was horrible. "I could smell her across the field."

"I know." Edward snapped at me.

I turned to watch the game that was proceeding with no excitement or meaning. We were waiting for them. We were on alert and listened to every movement in the trees. Anxious for the arrival of our guests. My head automatically zeroed in on the right field, from the corner of my eye I saw Edward position himself between Bella and the direction they were coming from. I was hoping that the wind would stay away, just until we got rid of them.