-Wife Swap: Cullen vs. Wickers-
-Chapter XIV-
Malcolm
It'd been one day since rules change. My father seems to be going along with it, for the most part. He'd pulled me aside this morning, and told me to watch how I talked to him. I suppose I said something to anger him last night.
Kathy looks totally different. She looks very pretty, yes, and she seems different too. Happier. I just worry that people will start bothering her. People as in boys. Not my little sister.
I'm sitting in the kitchen, eating the marvelous French toast Esme made. As soon as she made it she'd disappeared out the front door, not even taking a car. Just walking off. Dad had given us all funny looks, like what-the-hell-was-that? We had been sitting here talking and eating for the past ten minutes, waiting for Esme to return.
I suspected that if he was going to break any rules, now would be the time. Maybe that's why Esme left? To see whether or not he'd do what she said. Oh God. He's opening his mouth.
"If Esme does not come back when you are finished eating, I want you to do the dishes. And Malcolm - shut up, I don't want to hear it – you need to go to your baseball game tonight."
Frowning, I got up and dumped my food. I wasn't hungry anymore. I've always hated baseball, watching it, playing it, and even thinking about it. But of course, my father thinks I need to play the stupid sport.
After school Esme picked me up, frowning. She was distressed over something. Kathy was in the backseat, looking as confused as I felt. "Are you okay, Esme?" I asked. Her hands were covering the steering wheel loosely, and every few seconds her eyes would flick over to her purse.
"Oh yes, yes," she said absentmindedly.
She was speeding along again, and we made it home in record time. As soon as we parked, she pulled out her cell phone and punched in some numbers, frowning. When the mystery person picked up she said quickly, "Are you okay?"
The person on the other end said something, and Esme replied: "That's terrible! You talk to Carlisle about it, okay sweetie?"
Seconds later she said, "Tell him I said so. It is insane."
"Okay, sweetheart, have a nice evening." She hung up and placed her phone in her purse and smiled sweetly at us. Esme's smiled dropped when she caught sight of me, and she placed a hand on my shoulder. "Is something distressing you, Malcolm?"
I frowned and shook my head. Esme already looked sad enough, and didn't need to be trouble to my worries. Kathy looked from me to her, and sighed.
"Dad wants him to go to the baseball game tonight," Kathy smiled at me and toyed with her silver necklace. She tore inside when I glared at her, screeching like a cat. Kathy knew she shouldn't have said that, and she knew I'd be mad, but she said it anyway.
Esme hissed something and walked inside. I followed after her, holding my breath. She was going to call my father.Just as I feared, she picked the phone off the receiver and dialed his number, still talking to herself.
"Benjamin," she said in a low, calm voice. I felt pity then, at what her children must go through when she is angry. She didn't howl and rant like my mother, but was far scarier. "It is week two of this television show. I do not want to be rude, but I must remind you that it is my rules, not yours."
She was quiet for a minute and smiled softly, her voice sweet and happy once more. "Thank you for understanding… No, no. It is fine."
I left her alone to talk, as I felt it rude to stand there eavesdropping. Barging into Kathy's room, I dropped my bag on her floor and took a seat on her bed. She was already on the cell phone Esme had given her this morning, talking to Angelica.
"And he goes, you took my breath away," she giggled.
Angelica laughed and said something stupid. I had met that girl before. She was tall and skinny, with long black hair and large, doe-like blue eyes. She dressed like a fool and had the intelligence of one. She talked in chat-speak and giggled at the most air-headed of things. I'd always been able to feel my IQ dropping when near her. I hated every moment my sister spent talking to Angelica, because I know she deserves better friends.
"I don't know. He could be nicer. I mean… he's kind of stupid," Kathy replied, noticing me for the first time. She looked at me shocked, "What are you doing in here?"
"Can we talk?" I asked, poking her in the foot. She'd talked to Angelica all day in school. Would it do that difficult for her to shut the phone and talk to me?
She rolled her eyes. "I got to go. Call you later?" Kathy shut her phone and placed it next to her and rolled onto her stomach.
"What's up?"
I inched away from her, uncomfortable with being so close. "What do you want to do for the party?"
"Ohhh! I don't know. I've already invited some people. Not so good with parties, you know. Maybe we can do something simple… say a movie? Oh! Angelica can sleepover. You can invite Pete and Jeremy. Esme is an amazing cook – do you think she'd mind making snacks?"
I shook my head. "Not at all. But is that the best you got?"
"Do you have anything better?" she challenged. I bowed my head and she giggled. "'Thought so. Now get out. I have things to do and people to talk to."
As I left I told her, "It is nice to see that you haven't changed, little sister." I had grabbed my bag on the way out.
When I made it go my room, I noticed that the clouds had parted and the sunny had come out. It had been cloudy the whole time Esme had been visiting. I was glad she could finally enjoy the weather. I decided to go downstairs, so I could ask her if she wanted to do something outside with me.
In the living room, Esme had the shades drawn, and was sitting on the couch with her hands tucked into her jacket pockets. She was curled away from the window, like she was hiding from the sun.
"Esme?" I asked. "Do you want to go outside with me?" I had a feeling that she didn't like the sun. She was pale and all; maybe she liked it that way.
She smiled. "I would prefer to stay inside. I'm sorry. Would you like to do something indoors?"
I sat next to her and nodded.
Kathy
It was all settled. Angelica would be sleeping over on the last day of the swap, and I had called Malcolm's friends and invited them. All in all, we had ten people coming over. I was hoping for double that. I was doodling in my notebook, trying to think of something that would be interesting for both my friends and Malcolm's friends.
Just as I was giving up, I had an idea. Esme was beautiful and rich. She must know something about parties. I crawled downstairs with my notebook and looked over for Esme.
She was sitting in the dark with my brother, and they were playing some board game. Malcolm seemed to be enjoying himself, and that was new. "Hey, Esme, when you are done there, can you help me plan the party?"
Esme smiled and nodded. "Would you like to join… or watch?" She asked, gesturing toward the board game.
"I'll watch," I allowed, plopping next to Esme.
They were playing Life,my brothers' favorite game. Esme was in the red car and had twins, two girls. Malcolm was in the yellow car and had one boy, and tons of cash. Esme was in the lead.
"I'm going to win," Malcolm gloated.
Esme snorted daintily. "You may have the most money, but I have the most children."
"Aww!" I cooed. "That is so sweet!"
Malcolm looked between us, confused. "Huh?"
"Esme says she'll win in the end because she has the most children," I explained.
"I wish my mother felt that way," Malcolm grumbled, flicking the spinner. It landed on seven. Esme had the job of teacher and Malcolm an athlete. Esme lived in a large house, while Malcolm owned a small apartment.
Esme placed her hand on his forearm and smiled. "She does."
"You'd have to meet her," Malcolm smirked, moving his pawn.
"Honestly, I was talking to my daughter, Alice today. She told me all about Jasmine and the things she had planned for them. She seems… odd, I suppose. But trust me; no matter how she treats you, she adores you." Esme admitted, smiling like a child who'd been caught doing something bad.
"What has she planned?" I asked.
Esme giggled, "We really shouldn't talk about this with the cameras here. Who knows what they'll say to me later?" She sighed and smiled, turning the spinner and landing on nine. "Alice tells me they are booked full with clubs and chores. I'm quoting here, 'She took away everything! All of our electronics and threw away the food! We can't even wear our clothes anymore… and she won't let me go shopping! I'm going to die!"
"Alice said that?" I asked in disbelief. I couldn't believe our mother did that – but maybe I could. She was a very proud woman and was not afraid to shove her beliefs down a person's throat.
Esme nodded, grinning as she collected money from Malcolm. "Alice loves fashion. It terrifies her not to buy anything for a week. I believe it is the thrill of purchasing lunch at school that keeps her from going overboard."
We laughed at the mental pictures we got of her daughter. It saddened me that I would never get to meet her. "I would love to meet her," I admitted.
Esme smiled at me and said, "I have a feeling she would love you."
When the game ended – Esme won – Esme sat next to me on the couch and helped me plan the party.
Two people (whose names I don't remember) gave me ideas for the last chapter. Thank you. : )
I'll have one more chapter with the Cullens and one more with the Wickers, and then everyone will go to their own home.