Chapter 14 – The Set Up
Esme and Alice went hunting together that rainy night. Once both women were far enough away from Edward's gift, that seemingly works its best at the most inopportune times, they stopped and started a woman-to-woman conversation.
Under a dripping canopy, Esme said, "Alice, I know I am overstepping my bounds as a mother-figure here, but I really want Kayce and Edward to be a couple. They would be so cute together."
"I know, Esme; I think it is because we are so comfortable with Kayce. Bella seems like a nice girl and I believe we would all come to love her, if Edward chose her, but I want Kayce to be my sister...well officially anyway. And they obviously like each other...they simply hold themselves back because of their own insecurities and stubbornness," she laughed. "In that respect, they are actually a lot more alike than they realize." Esme nodded in response.
"Okay, so how are we going to get those two to become a couple? We need to come up with a way to keep putting those two together, make both of them see the light," Esme said.
Alice stood motionless for a moment and let a vague vision come into play. A huge grin spread across her face when she saw the unknowing couple together and extremely dirty. "How about we set Kayce up to do some sort of chore, nothing dangerous mind you, that she will eventually need some help with and only Edward will bet there to give it to her?" Alice said.
Esme's eyes lit up like twinkling Christmas lights. "Alice, you are so deviously brilliant...I love you." Esme threw her arms around the tiny vampire. "I have the perfect idea; it is going to involve the hose, wood from the wood pile and my nagging motherly perfectionism."
Alice's face froze again and she involuntarily closed her eyes, a vision was playing in her head like a movie. "You are brilliant Esme, just brilliant."
Both women spoke of the plan a little more and then caught the scent of a herd of deer not too far off. They both turned off their human side and amplified their inner predator. Their faces turned dangerously grim and their body movements turned animalistic. They both crouched down low and used their heightened sense of smell before the attack.
Esme jumped with lightning speed on top of a large beautiful buck and snapped his neck as they splashed in the puddles on the forest floor. The light faded from his eyes as Esme's eyes glowed from her kill and they grew lighter butterscotch in the process.
Alice, who was not too far away, mirrored her mother-figure in stance and in her excitement. Her buck was three times her size and she took him down with relative ease.
Beginning their walk back to the house, they finished their discussion. "Okay," said Alice, "How are we going to keep Edward from snooping and unraveling our devious plans?"
They both thought for a moment before Esme burst out in laughter. "Nothing could be easier, Alice."
Alice looked at Esme, a bit surprised by her instant solution. Esme continued hinting. "What is it that Edward abhors and cringes over hearing in any of our minds?" Alice thought for a moment before her brilliant answering smile appeared.
"Are you feeling up to some smutty thoughts about 'father', Esme? I know I can definitely feel some coming up for Jasper."
Esme laughed, linking her arm with Alice's. "Edward won't come near my mind with the kind of imagery I've got going on," Esme answered.
With more tinkling laughter, they raced each other back home. After Esme changed her clothes, she walked to Kayce's bedroom and stood in the doorway watching the human girl sleep. Before she walked out of the room, she waved into the darkness and then smiled at herself as she walked to Carlisle's office. Edward waved back and then sighed heavily.
Kayce woke the next morning and was left behind by Rosalie, again. Edward was waiting impatiently for her to hurry to the car, so they could make it to school on time. He even called Bella and asked her if she could drive herself to school that day, because he would be running late.
Kayce couldn't help it; she was starving since she didn't eat the night before. She sat at the dining table shoving her mouth full of a whole bagel, cream cheese and strawberry jam on top of the cheese. Edward sat and waited. He dramatically kept looking over at the clock to give her the hint that they would be late. If she didn't feel so pressured, she would laugh at the faces he made.
Kayce then blushed, "Sorry Edward, I have to pee now. I will be just a minute." Kayce ran upstairs and locked the bathroom door. When she was finished, she washed her hands and then walked into her bedroom. Edward had gone out to the car and waited for her, his music playing loudly, echoing throughout the yard.
She stood in front of her full length mirror and looked at her outfit one last time, peering at her pair of black pinstripe slacks, long-sleeved red silk shirt and matching pinstripe vest. She put on her sling back shoes again and ran out the door with her book bag.
Edward smiled at her when she had finally made her way to the car. He began a conversation with her, which wasn't his usual behavior. "What is your favorite type of flowers?" Edward asked.
"Um...for the scent stargazer lilies and for beauty roses or peonies; color is irrelevant," Kayce said.
"What do you miss the most about your parents?" he asked matter of factly.
"I miss talking to my mom about our day while we go outside and tend to the garden and I miss hearing my dad complain about our flea-bitten cat and then seeing him babying the cat when nobody is looking." Edward chuckled when she mentioned her dad's love-hate relationship with her cat.
"What is your favorite color?" he asked again.
"Charcoal gray-ish/silver-ish. Almost the same shade of color as your car, actually. What is up with the 20 questions?"
"Kayce, those are hardly 20 questions and I am merely trying to get to know you better." He smiled his crooked smile at her, flashing his brilliant white teeth.
Kayce smiled in return and decided to ask her own questions.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Kayce asked.
"What do you want to be?" Edward responded, raising his eyebrow at her and smirking.
"You aren't evading me, Edward Cullen, but I am not afraid to go first; I want three things not in any particular order; to marry the love of my life, to keep learning new things and to never take anything for granted.
"I like those goals. They are all attainable and very admirable. As for myself, I have everything that a guy could ever want, except for one thing, true love."
"Well you just made it that much harder to shop for you since you have everything! Thanks a lot, Edward," Kayce laughed. "As for true love, who would have thought that finding that right someone was so difficult?"
Edward chuckled darkly and then redirected the conversation away from the topic of love. "Well, I am not hard to shop for! I am sure that I could find something that I don't already have." He then steered the conversation into another topic once more. "So what is your favorite book?"
"I would have to say that my favorite book would be The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins."
Edward smiled. He was shocked that she had actually read it. Most people he encounters have never read it. "I really enjoyed that book, too. "Do you feel the characters are contrived?" he asked.
"No, I don't. But, I think that this mystery, in today's terms, would be considered that way. Back in 1859 when it was first published, it was so unique, thrilling and captivating. It has forgery, kidnapping, identity theft, murder and it was all done without today's technology. How amazing is that? I can appreciate it for what it is, even by today's standards. I especially love the mustache twirling villainy and its labyrinthine twists to the plot and characters. Does that make sense?"
"It makes perfect sense," he said.
Soon, they were pulling up to the school. Edward got out and actually went to her side and helped her out. Kayce took his chilly hand and smiled at him. She took in a breath of the cold, crisp morning air and thought what a beautiful day it is.
Bella was dutifully waiting by her truck for Edward. Since Kayce and Bella both were going to the same class, Edward graciously walked her there, too.
While the kids were in school, Esme had made her way outdoors and first walked to the wood pile and deposited the wood that was already sitting inside the house back onto the pile. She then walked, at a human pace, to the potting shed and disappeared inside. On a table lay an extra 100 foot-long hose and some connectors. She carried the hose to the one already hooked to the faucet and connected both ends together creating one gigantic 200 foot train-like hose.
She turned the faucet on high and started humming a cheerful tune, as she walked out toward the wood pile about 66 yards away. Carlisle stood in the open doorway of the house, knowing where his wife was, and stood watching her hosing down the dirt pathway, creating a muddy mess.
"I know you are watching me. Are you going to even ask what I am up to?" Esme said in a hushed, but cheerful, tone.
Carlisle had just left his shift at work. He was still dressed in his slacks and button down shirt with his lab coat on. His arms were folded on his broad chest, and he was watching his beautiful wife hosing down the pathway.
"Do I really want to know what you are up to?" he responded.
"No probably not, but I will still tell you if you would like."
"Is this some plot that you and Alice came up with?" he asked wearily. Carlisle pinched the bridge of his nose, like Edward, and he looked eerily similar.
"What makes you think that Alice and I have a plot?" she asked innocently, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
"Well, because you two went off hunting alone and you both had that look of satisfaction written all over your faces when you returned."
"Okay, we are planning on getting Kayce and Edward together as a couple, and are nudging the both of them in the right direction."
Carlisle was beside his wife in the blink of an eye. His face resembled a stone. He showed absolutely no emotion whatsoever. After about two minutes of just standing there looking into Esme's eyes, he spoke. "You missed a spot over there." He pointed to a dry area and he took the hose from her and slid his other hand around his wife's tiny waist.
"Thank you, Carlisle, for your understanding. We don't want Edward to know what is going on, so you have to go along with our train of thought. Are you up for thoughts about romance?"
Carlisle's eyes took on a knowing and playful quality. "I think I can think of something to keep him off track, dear," he started looking at the mud and handed Esme the hose. "I am going to grab the pick and dig the mud a little deeper."
Esme kept watering down the pathway until Carlisle returned wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. He started picking at the dirt and creating more mud and making the ground unsteady. Esme's eyes lit up as she watched him work, his muscles rippling with every stroke of the pick. He was working very hard in order for her perfect plan to come to fruition. They carefully placed leaves and pine needles that they gathered in order to camouflage the mud pit.
"You don't think I have overdone it, do you?" Carlisle asked.
"No, I think the mud will be just right. It is the perfect consistency to make sure Kayce has a difficult time and will need some special help," Esme said delightfully.
To really keep Edward unaware, when the two were finished, they cleaned up the pick, took the extra hose and connector back to the shed, and made sure any trace of their presence was eradicated. They ran hand-in-hand back inside the house and peeled out of their wet, muddy clothing. Esme put it all in the wash and they climbed upstairs to shower together, hoping that little visual will keep Edward away from any of their thoughts for a couple of days.
The rest of Kayce's day has gone pretty smoothly. On her way to the student parking lot, she saw Edward talking on his cell phone. He was speaking quietly and when he spotted her he waved enthusiastically.
Kayce isn't sure what exactly has caused this change in Edward's behavior, but she sure isn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She didn't want to press her luck, so she ran over to Rosalie's BMW and got a ride with her and the others.
When Kayce got home, Esme was standing in the doorway and she looked stunning. She was a tall woman comparatively and she was dressed in a pair of slacks and a cashmere sweater. Her kind smile radiated the warmth of a mother.
"Kayce would you do me a favor?" Esme asked.
"Anything, Esme. What would you like me to do?"
"We ran out of firewood and I would like you to go out to the wood pile and bring some back, just in case it gets any colder late tonight."
"Sure, I can do that for you. Let me put my books away and I will go and do that." Kayce ran upstairs and she placed her books down on her bed. As she turned to leave the room, she heard a car's tires crackling on the gravel. She peeked out the window seeing Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, and Jasper all leaving. She then saw Esme and Carlisle driving away, too. She was alone, at least until Edward came home, that is, if he came home.
Kayce took her vest off, hanging it up in her closet. She then headed downstairs and grabbed a few strawberries to eat. She threw the stems away and headed out the back door. It was a fairly warm, dry day considering it was overcast. Kayce walked outside and spotted the wood pile. The door swung closed and she heard an ominous clicking sound.
She paused, closing her eyes. She took a deep breath and turned around. She grabbed the knob and turned it, it never opened. The wood pile momentarily forgotten, she made her way around the wooden porch of the old house and went to the front door, but that was locked, too. She wished at that moment, that she would have been diabolical enough to learn to pick the lock and get inside, but she wasn't raised that way.
Kayce walked slowly back to the backyard and decided to go gather the wood and maybe by the time she finished her task someone would arrive home and let her inside. She marched out toward the wood pile and stopped at the edge of the lush green lawn, turning to look back at the empty house. She could tell it was somewhat muddy, but she figured that she could traverse the path carefully enough. It surely couldn't be as bad as it looks, she thought.
She sort of tip-toed the first couple of steps, her sling back shoes were still intact. Kayce breathed a sigh of relief until the mud soon started to make squishing and slurping sounds as she progressed. When she made it halfway, she started to sink with each step. She knew she was already muddy and so she figured that she had nothing to lose. She would definitely have to do her own laundry, so she kept going until her shoes were completely covered.
"Oh no! Not the shoes. Ohh, Alice is going to kill me," she wailed.
With her next step, her foot sunk down in the mud to about mid-calf. Her other foot was already sunken down in. Kayce couldn't move. She was stuck. She pulled and yanked her leg a few times and finally with a schwick-like sound, her leg dislodged. Her foot came up ever so slightly and she stepped forward. Her shoe was missing causing her to become even more unbalanced. She was able to pull her other foot out and when she stepped back down in the mud, she did a magnificent face plant. Her whole body was covered in mud. It squished its way into her mouth and her hearing was diminished, so it was inside her ears, too.
Kayce was bordering on bursting into tears because of her extreme disappointment with her ruined clothing and laughing hysterically because of how ridiculous she must appear. She felt preposterous lying there in the viscous sludge unable to get herself out. Her attempts were digging her further down in the quicksand-like mud.
She pulled with all of her might and her arms dislodged with a wet slapping noise. Finally, she made it to her knees and then with great effort stood up. Moving her legs slightly she toppled over backwards. Her entire back was thickly coated now. She got the mental picture that her hair must look like a macabre frosted cake. The mud exposed to the air had begun to dry, making her face immobile in a frozen state of shock.
Edward's velvety voice broke the silence in the yard and a jolt of humiliation wound its way through her entire body. "Kayce, why are all of the doors to the house locked?" Edward called out. He never noticed the predicament Kayce had gotten herself into. His attention was on the back door.
Kayce's face was so caked in hardened mud she couldn't really speak. Lying in the mud, all she could do was look up to the leaden colored sky. She lifted her hand out of the muddy mess and started to wave about as wildly as one can while wrapped in a mud cocoon.
A pathetic moan escaped her lips as she tried to gain his attention. "Kayce?"
She tried to speak, but only a muffled squeak escaped her lips once more. Edward stuffed his keys into his pants pocket and his eyes rested on a human shaped mud blob quite a few yards away. He ran over to Kayce, seeming to not even be touching the ground, until he froze. His eyes were shocked and his lips were upturning into his beautiful crooked smile. His masculine hands reached down and grabbed Kayce's exposed mud slicked hand.
"How on earth did you get into this mess? It's a good thing Esme poured the guilt on a little thick for me to get home to do my chores or you may have become an adobe monument in the yard." His eyes searched her for any trace of humor, pain or even annoyance. Nothing. But he eventually saw a twinkle in her eye as he helped her up.
Before he could crack another joke, a piece of mud went flying, landing right on Edward's pristine face. It landed with a thwack. A piece of it had entered his mouth and he was making a disgusted face while spitting it out. Kayce laughed as best she could with her face and mouth covered in mud. Suddenly, a chunk of mud was thrust in an upward movement up her nose. Edward was making sure she was uninjured, but making a point that he will not go down without a fight. They both were laughing and smiling.
A mud war had ensued, with Kayce getting the brunt of the mud. "Edward, you won't win, I am as covered in mud as one can get, you can't make it any worse," Kayce said, her hand was in mid-throw, as she spoke.
Kayce was still being supported by Edward's strong, muscled arm. She decided to snuggle closer to him in order to wipe off some of her mud off onto him. He rolled his eyes and then reached down, knocking her off balance when his arm scooped under her knees.
"Put your arms around my neck," he said softly. Edward lifted her out of the mud and started moving slowly toward the house. With her added weight, he was sticking in the mud, just like she did, although he was doing a much better job traversing the pathway than she had done. His jeans and sweater were now covered in mud, too. The part of his face that she hit with a chunk of mud was now drying quickly. He was so handsome, even with mud all over him. He just looked like he was modeling a facial mask or something.
Kayce started inspecting the damage and noticed that her shoe was missing. "Oh my god, my shoe is gone," Kayce cried out. "Oh no, Alice is going to kill me," Kayce whimpered.
"Where is your shoe?" Edward asked with a knowing kind of look on his face.
Kayce sheepishly pointed back behind them. He turned to the right and craned his neck in order to see where she had pointed. That movement was enough to send chills down Kayce's spine. He was so gorgeous when his jaw clenched. It made his jaw more angular and defined. As Kayce was mesmerized by his jawline, she didn't notice him attempt to turn back to retrieve her shoe.
With the added extra weight, his legs stuck in the thick mud and they both toppled over. Kayce thickly splashed in the mud first. Edward had landed in the mud too, but he had tried to keep his grip on Kayce, trying not to lose her. His hand still was gripping hers, but he was now stuck in the chocolaty-appearing, gooey mess with his head lying on her thigh.
Edward realized where he was lying by feel, but turned and saw Kayce's muddied thigh for visual confirmation. He was internally beating himself up for being so clumsy, so human, but that is what happens when you act human. He was relieved that his siblings weren't home to see this caricature of himself. He sat there still stunned, thinking about what made him so vulnerable to lose his control, especially of his body and fine motor skills. Kayce only laughed.
"Uh...I...I'm so sorry, Kayce. Uh...here let me help you up." Edward gracefully stood up and he held his hand out to her. He took Kayce's hand and he placed his other hand at her elbow plucking her from the muddy depths. "I promise I will go back for your shoe, but let us go in the house and clean ourselves up." He picked her up again as if she were a bride. "Shall we?"
"We shall. Onward, Jeeves." Edward snorted along with Kayce and then he trudged his way through the copious mud toward the back door. Even though the couple made their way onto the back lawn, Edward didn't put Kayce down until they reached the doorway.
The back door had swung open and there stood Esme and Carlisle. Both parental figures had huge smiles spread across their faces. Edward suddenly looked uncomfortable and he was skittish while Carlisle and Esme were beaming.
"You two are filthy. What happened?" Esme asked.
"I was on my way to pick up the wood from the pile and there was mud. I managed to get stuck and Edward saved me," Kayce said.
"I don't want my perfect floors to be caked in mud, so you two will have to go down to the river and clean yourselves up there first," Esme said sternly pointing toward the river.
"Sorry kids," Carlisle said as he snaked his arm around Esme's waist giving her a flirtatious wink. Edward kept shuffling his feet uncomfortably not wanting to look Esme and Carlisle in the eye. Their overtly sexual thoughts made him want to run.
Esme disappeared inside the house and returned handing Kayce and Edward each a bar of soap. Kayce recognized the soap to be really expensive. She had seen an unopened bar in her bathroom once. It was called Place des Lices Matin d'Ete. She looked up the bar soap on the internet and found that it was almost $24.00 a bar. It smelled really heavenly like a fresh, crisp summer morning.
Esme pointed in the direction of the Calawah River. She set warm, comfy towels down on the porch railing, so they could dry off when they were relatively clean.
Edward took Kayce's free hand and they walked toward the back of the yard and disappeared into the trees. When the ground became rough and uneven, he picked Kayce up and carried her the rest of the way. The canopy of branches kept them rather shaded and Kayce had begun to shiver.
"How far do we have to go?" Kayce asked.
"Not far," Edward responded.
The two teens walked deeper in the woods. The mud was making loud squishing sounds as he hiked. Eventually, Kayce saw a bright spot not too far ahead. They broke through the trees and there was the river. It sparkled beautifully in spite of the gloomy atmosphere surrounding it. Edward set her down carefully. They both were so focused on getting clean that they didn't feel self-conscious about disrobing.
Edward grabbed the bottom of his grimy sweater and lifted it over his head and he then pulled his shoes and socks off. He was so quick, he had time to just stand and peer at Kayce.
Kayce, in a hurry to get clean, stooped down and unbuckled her remaining shoe and slid it off. She unbuttoned her silk blouse. It took forever to remove, as her muddy fingers kept slipping away from the buttons. Finally, she stood in a red spaghetti strap tank and then began to unbutton her pants. Edward had begun to stare at her, not in an old-geezery, lecherous kind of way, but with a deep fascination and admiration for her womanliness.
Kayce stopped before her hands could reach the zipper, and she eyed Edward, raising an eyebrow. "Are you going to turn around or are you hoping to get a free show?"
Edward looked abashed, but then he regained his cool demeanor, smirking and held his hands up in surrender, saying, "I apologize, M'lady. My mother didn't raise a scoundrel."
Edward, like a gentleman, turned his back so Kayce could take her pants off. He could hear the zipper and then the fabric peeling away from her skin slowly. Edward caught sight of her red lacy underwear, as she went into the water.
She waded into the icy water and began to dunk her clothes. As long as her head was dry, she wouldn't complain about the cold water. The brown mud-caked clothing was finally showing some color, as the mud was bleeding away downstream. She finally saw Edward standing at the river's edge half dressed. Her mouth was agape and she dropped her bar of soap in the water. Edward's eyes glued themselves to the bar of soap that had started floating away, instead of at the partially dressed woman standing before him.
"Oh no," Kayce said. She reached over to grab the soap and slipped on a mossy rock, tumbling completely into the water. The soap started floating down stream.
"Ahh...cold...the water is so cold." Kayce shivered harder as her head emerged from the watery depths.
Edward splashed in the river to make sure Kayce was alright. He pulled her up by her water slicked arm.
"Are you alright? You aren't hurt?" Edward was searching her arms, chest and legs for any injuries.
"No, just my pride," she answered. Kayce's eyes roamed over Edward's bare chest and her cheeks began to flush.
"Good. You scared me for a moment. Here use my soap." Edward stuck his hand out to Kayce and she took his bar of soap. She started to lather up, scrubbing her face, arms and legs. She bubbled up her hair and started to strip the mud from her locks. Edward would steal glances at her when she closed her eyes, guarding against the soap dripping into and stinging her eyes.
Kayce handed the bar of soap back to Edward so he could start scrubbing down. She spotted an area where the river water snaked down, cascading over some large rocks, creating a large pool and approached it. She stepped in and lay back rinsing her hair. Goose bumps erupted all over Kayce's body, but washing away all of that dirt felt really good.
Kayce had opened her eyes again and noticed that Edward had stripped off his jeans and was wearing black Armani square cut briefs. She blushed at seeing his bare chiseled legs. Edward looked over at her and she smiled at him, feeling empowered and a little embarrassed that she had been caught. He just laughed and showed off his crooked smile at her in response. He waded into the deep pool and he used the bar of soap to cleanse his jeans. He dunked the jeans again and again, splashing them harder in the water, which squirted on Kayce and she squealed.
Kayce started splashing back and soon the both of them were in a water war. Edward grabbed her clothing and he laid their clothes on top of a rock. He had the bar of soap in one hand and was using the other to shovel water all over Kayce.
They both were laughing and enjoying this simple exercise. His face was lit with an inner glow. Edward was actually enjoying being a normal teenage boy. He was extremely comfortable with Kayce, even in their state of undress. He wasn't worried about being a vampire. He wasn't worried about being lonely and he most certainly wasn't worried about keeping his thirst in check.
Kayce stepped closer to Edward and she spoke softly. "Edward, turn around. I see some dirt still on you." She took the soap from his hand and started to rub it in hers, creating a nice lather. She handed the soap back to Edward and then she placed both of her hands on his broad, well muscled back. She was unusually quiet as she brushed her hands across his skin. Her hands moved slowly down from his shoulders to his lats and around his sides to his rock-solid abs. Kayce's brain shut down and her hands had taken on a life of their own, wandering, touching, and caressing him.
Edward shivered and Kayce immediately stopped, letting her hands linger on his abs momentarily. She suddenly became aware of what she was really doing and became utterly ineffectual. She couldn't continue what she was doing, but she couldn't take her hands away either. It was becoming physically painful for her to remove her hands from his skin, but somehow, she eventually did it.
"Um...yeah, I...I think you are all clean," Kayce said hoarsely.
Edward turned around and his golden eyes met her deep brown ones, enveloping her in a web of undeniable yearning. "Thank you. That felt...nice," he answered back throatily.
Kayce just stood there in the icy water, staring at Edward, watching the water drip from his hair down onto his bare chest, her eyes lingering on his abs. Her mouth started to water. She wet her bottom lip with her tongue and then bit into it. She was now looking at Edward as if he were something to eat. That look upon her face was not lost on Edward either. He was taken aback and then he smirked at her.
"Kayce?" He said with a longing in his voice.
"Yes, Edward?" she asked hopefully.
"Uh...you still have some dirt on your cheek." Kayce wiped at her cheek, but missed the spot. Edward reached down and he splashed some water on his palm and he gently stroked the dirt away with his thumb. He kept stroking at her cheek, until he ceased all movement, and just rested his hand there.
Kayce locked her gaze on Edward's. He involuntarily stroked her hair back away from her face, brushing his fingers on her cheek one last time, when she saw that he was looking at her, too. They were drinking each other in. This moment was full of tension and promise. Neither wanted to leave, but her shivering made it quite clear it was time to go home.
Edward reached for their clothes and he helped her out of the river. He set her down gently and he grabbed his jeans and he started to don them.
"Edward, that's going to take..." Edward pulled his drenched jeans up over his briefs and he buttoned them quickly.
"You were saying?" Edward laughed heartily at her.
"Forever...How did you get your soaked jeans on so easily?"
"Magic," he said with a sly grin. "Here leave your clothes behind on this rock, so they can dry and I will come back for them." Edward had stretched out her clothes on a large rock and then did the same with his sweater. "Here climb on," Edward said.
He reached out his hand and grasped Kayce's firmly. He hoisted her up on his back and she wrapped her arms around his neck as tightly as she could. His arms wrapped around her bare legs. She rested her cheek on his and he breathed out a contended sigh.
The two hiked slowly through the trees.
"So what are we going to do to Esme for inadvertently getting us in this mess?" he asked.
Kayce whispered in his ear because of their close proximity. "Maybe we should draw and quarter her or lock her up in the dungeon with no food or water and her only company would be mice!" Kayce added in that last part about the mice for shock value.
Edward boomed out a laugh that nearly shook the trees. "That sounds great. I will let you do the dirty work and I will be there for moral support!"
"Goodness, Edward, I'm the one who got stuck in the mud. It wasn't Esme's fault and besides, I don't want a partner in crime if he is only willing to be my buddy. I want someone who can get down and dirty with me, if need be!" Kayce said and then laughed when Edward snorted.
As Edward and Kayce were laughing on their way home, the both of them were relaxed and calm. Kayce was stretching her arms out yelling, "I'm queen of the world!"
Edward laughed again saying, "Whatever you say, Kayce."
"It's a nice feeling; do you want me to carry you so you can be 'king of the world'?"
"Ah...no, I am way too heavy for you, besides, I know, I am king of the world!" Edward said assuredly.
"I'm pretty strong, Edward, I think I could handle it," Kayce said.
"I am sure you are very strong, Kayce, but I assure you I'm way too heavy. Besides..." he smirked and then chuckled, "If you were successful in carrying me, you are so vertically challenged, my feet would be dragging on the ground and so I might as well just walk and carry you anyway."
Kayce pretended to choke him with her arms around his neck and he sweetly played along. "I resent that, Edward Cullen. I bet you would never tell Alice she is vertically challenged!"
"You're right. She would definitely kick my butt if I did. She scares me, that one." He laughed and Kayce shook with his laughter.
"I...well I guess I am deficient in the height category," Kayce replied.
"That is the only category I find you to be deficient in," Edward said sweetly. The house loomed brightly ahead as Edward carried Kayce onward.
"You know, Edward; I am rather enjoying this particular mode of transportation. You should really think of making this a career!" Kayce said.
"So, let me get this straight. You want me to carry you everywhere you go, instead of riding in my Volvo? Is that correct?" he asked.
"Um, yeah, that pretty much sums it up. It's a little drafty at times, but very comfortable," Kayce replied.
Edward snorted, yet again, and laughed with Kayce as they reached the back door. He opened it dramatically, groaning with his non-existent effort with Kayce still in his arms. Kayce laughed so hard that she snorted, which made them both get hysterical. He walked with her slowly into the living room.
She ruffled his hair and pressed her cheek onto his. He sighed contentedly. "That feels...wonderful..." Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks, the last word in his sentence dragging out, sounding strangely like a kid being caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Bella heard their voices and stood up dramatically. When she saw them so happy, carefree and barely dressed, her mouth dropped open and her eyes narrowed furiously.
Kayce and Edward both looked as if they had been shocked with a cattle prod. Neither of them moved. Kayce was still being held on Edward's back and her arms were tightly clasped around his neck and they were nuzzling cheek-to-cheek.
"Bella, what are you doing here?" Edward asked his confusion prevalent.
"I was invited to dinner. Don't you remember inviting me?" Bella responded. Her hand clenched into a fist and she had fire burning in her eyes that radiated toward Kayce and Edward.
Kayce looked around and saw the entire family surrounding them. Emmett and Jasper looked as thunderstruck as Bella. Rosalie was clapping silently and smiling as widely as Alice, who waved. Carlisle and Esme both looked slightly amused with the awkward situation.
She still had her legs wrapped around Edward's waist and her arms around his neck. Kayce loosened her grip on him and then, Edward, with one hand, grabbed Kayce's arm and swung her around his front. As he set her down, she slid her hands down his bare chest. They made eye contact for a moment, but it wasn't as romantically charged as it had been before.
"That's right; Esme called me just after school and told me to invite you to a family dinner. I'm sorry, we lost track of time and I completely forgot," Edward said.
"Dinner is cooking, you two. Why don't you get cleaned up and during dinner, you can explain your odd entrance and lack of clothing," Esme said with a smirk.
Rosalie looked at Kayce, "Come on, you can get cleaned up in my bathroom." She reached her hand out to Kayce and walked with her upstairs.
Alice stayed behind and kept Bella company. Carlisle and Esme both headed into the kitchen. Emmett and Jasper clapped Edward on the shoulder following him up the stairs, looking like school boys wanting to know if he went all the way.
Rosalie ran inside her bathroom and turned the shower water on for Kayce. Edward was right behind her and he smiled as he passed on by, going up one more floor.
After she stepped in the shower, Kayce was warming up with the hot water; it was completely welcome, as compared to the icy river water. Kayce washed her hair in Rosalie's sweet pea scented shampoo, not her usual, but it smelled nice. Kayce never quite got to stay in the shower long because she didn't want to miss dinner and quickly stepped out and dried off.
Rosalie had a sapphire blue cashmere cable knit sweater and a pair of jeans waiting for her to slip into. The jeans were Kayce's and the sweater was Rosalie's. Rosalie always wears her clothes extremely form fitting, so when Kayce slipped into the sweater, it was extremely snug against her body, but it was very long. It managed to drop down to below mid-thigh almost to her knees.
Kayce was leaving Rosalie's room and started for the third floor to her bedroom. She ran into Edward. He was taking her in, as if she was breath, but his eyes were a tad withdrawn. He was struggling with how Bella found him in such a compromising situation, which wasn't compromising at all, at least to Kayce it wasn't.
She entered her room and Rosalie was sitting on her bed, a pair of peep-toe oxfords were sitting on the floor. Kayce tilted her head to the side. She had never seen this pair of shoes before. "Alice and I went shoe shopping this afternoon and this pair screamed out your name!" Rosalie said.
"Thank you Rosalie. I don't know what to say."
"Please call me Rose and thank you is enough Kayce," she smiled at Kayce and stood up.
Kayce smiled back at Rose and they both made their way downstairs. Kayce received a frosty reception from Bella. "What was that with Edward?" Bella asked.
Kayce looked Bella in the eye and said, "I don't have to explain myself to you, Bella."
Kayce walked right past Bella and headed for the kitchen. Carlisle and Esme were preparing dinner. The aroma wafting around the room was delicious. They were making pasta with a parmesan cream sauce. Carlisle was tossing a salad. They looked so at home doing this chore together.
"Do you need any help, Mrs. Cullen?" Bella pushed past Kayce, bumping her arm. Rosalie hissed angrily in response. Kayce turned and walked away and went to check on the dining table, making sure it was set. Her trip was unnecessary, so she went back to the living room. It was practically empty. Jasper and Rosalie were waiting for her. The others had entered the kitchen and begun a conversation.
Jasper and Rosalie has made it apparent that Bella wasn't their best friend. Jasper waved Kayce on over and he gestured for her mimic his movements. He wanted her to eavesdrop on the Bella/Cullen interaction.
"Mrs. Cullen..." Bella said.
"Please, Bella, Mrs. Cullen sounds so formal, please, call me Esme."
"Esme...dinner looks wonderful. Charlie would love this...although, he would eat just about anything," Bella quipped.
Rosalie made a vomiting gesture and Jasper gave a heart wrenching, gorgeous smile.
"Dinner is ready," Esme called out loudly.
Rosalie and Jasper both looked as if they were being sent to the gallows. Kayce sort of felt sorry for them. It must be difficult for them to have to eat a human diet, but then, to have to sit at a table with someone they dislike makes matters even worse.
Jasper escorted Kayce to the dining room. He pulled out her usual chair and pushed it in for her. The others quickly took their seats, leaving Edward to sit next to Bella and across from Kayce.
Kayce looked at Edward with wide eyes. He was wearing a gray cable knit sweater and jeans, so it appeared that they had planned their outfits to somewhat match. Of course, Bella noticed that, too.
"Shall we say grace? Kayce, would you do the honors?" Carlisle asked.
Kayce folded her hands, bowed her head down and closed her eyes. "Great God, thou giver of all good, accept our praise and bless our food. Grace, health, and strength to us afford, through Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord. Amen,"
Bella looked at Kayce as if she were insane. "We don't have organized religion at home," Bella said. "My parents are more free spirits, as am I."
Kayce, not knowing what to say, served herself salad, pasta and garlic bread and then passed the dishes down to her right. All of the Cullens took very small portions of food.
"Bella did you know that Carlisle's father was a pastor?" Esme answered in kind.
Bella stopped mid-bite and froze. "Well, to each his own, I guess," she stumbled out. "Esme, this dinner is delicious. I couldn't have made a better meal. You must be a master in the kitchen." Bella was being obsequious, with Esme especially. She practically ignored Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper, although, Kayce is sure that they are grateful for that. Bella's hand had slid over to Edward's arm and she started to rub it.
"Well, actually, Bella, this dinner is a recipe from Kayce. She has cooked this dish before and kindly gave it to me," Esme shared.
"Oh, yes, well it is very good. Kayce you should come over one of these days and show me how to make it. I am sure Scott would love that." Edward raised an eyebrow in disgust at the mention of his name.
Kayce was quiet, but smiled when Esme complimented her. Kayce rubbed her foot on Edward's and she smirked at him, then shoveling a bite of food in her mouth before she started to laugh.
"Oh, sure. I can do that," Kayce said, finally when Bella looked annoyed that she hadn't answered.
"Edward?" Bella said. She placed her hand on his face to gain his full attention. "Why don't you explain what it was you were doing this afternoon?" she said coldly, giving Kayce the evil eye.
Edward set his fork down and wiped his mouth with the linen napkin. "It was no big deal. Esme asked Kayce to bring some wood indoors for the fireplace and it was really muddy out. Kayce ended up getting stuck." He smirked at the memory and the other family members were chuckling.
"I came home to start my chores and I found Kayce outside lying in a veritable mud bath. I went over to help her and when I lifted her out of the mud, her shoe was missing. When I turned back to retrieve it, we both fell in the mud," Edward said.
"The rest is my fault. I didn't want mud tracked in my house. I have OCD when it comes to dirt in the house, so I asked them to clean up as best they could in the river," Esme said.
"My clothes are actually back at the river, drying on a boulder, and because I was without both my shoes Edward graciously gave me a piggyback ride to the house and that is when you saw us," Kayce said.
Bella appeared as if she didn't believe a word of what they were saying. "Edward, why was it you who had to 'rescue' Kayce?" Bella said making air quotes on the word rescue.
Rosalie coughed out really loudly. "Rose, are you alright?" Kayce asked. Rosalie's eyes flashed over Kayce in a playful way. "I am fine, Kayce," she answered. Kayce nudged Edward's foot again giving another smirk, which Bella noticed. Her head whipped over to look at Edward, who was looking at Kayce. He nudged her back.
"No one was home, Bella. I would have felt terribly if just left her there and I didn't help her."
"I bet," Bella whispered. Kayce, not knowing what to say, ate another bite of her salad and she turned to smile at Jasper.
"Edward wasn't in on the joke. See, I was trying out for a one of those humiliating reality programs, it is named, 'How Much Money is Worth Your Self-Respect?' and I think my humiliating display this afternoon may have won me a spot," Kayce joked. "It was a shame that the rest of you didn't see it, it was spectacular, especially my face plant."
The whole family either laughed or smiled. Bella remained unmoved. Edward had stretched his leg out a little and brushed his calf against Kayce's. She sat straighter and blush painted her cheeks just a little, so she bumped his leg under the table again.
Bella looked pointedly at Kayce and then said, "Here, Edward, let me help you, you have some food on the corner of your mouth." She reached over with her napkin and dabbed at the corner of his mouth. Kayce couldn't help, but to choke on her food just a little. Emmett had risen from his chair and grabbed her arms, raising them up. Kayce coughed and spluttered while Emmett was waving her arms around. She only choked more at how funny Emmett was being.
Edward kicked his leg under the table to stretch out and Kayce screamed, jumping up and pushing herself backward. She was holding onto her shin, in agony.
"Kayce are you okay?" Bella smirked.
"I'm okay." Kayce replied, sitting back down, trying to regain some of her dignity. Kayce with all of her might, knowing that Edward is a vampire, and can't be hurt, kicked back at his shin with as much strength as she could muster.
Bella yelped out in pain and made a face. Rosalie laughed out loud and snorted. Somehow, even though it wasn't lady-like, she appeared fabulously super model-like and not geeky looking.
"That was the dog!" Kayce yelled out. The whole family laughed, but Edward made an apologetic face and mouthed, "Sorry" to her. Kayce nodded and his foot snaked around hers playfully.
"I didn't know you had a dog?" Bella said. She peered under the table and saw Kayce and Edward's feet curled around each other's.
"We don't have a...Hey, what was that for, Esme?" Emmett yelled out.
"Sorry, did I hit you son?" she said nonchalantly.
"Oh doggy, he just ran out of the room. He is extremely shy around new people. He wouldn't come out for Kayce for days. Most of the time, it's like he doesn't even exist." Rosalie smirked.
Bella's hand disappeared under the table and she squeezed Edward's leg seductively. "Ahhh." Edward, this time, shot up out of his chair and stuttered out, "Uh...dog...I better let him out...and go get a drink." He quickly escaped out of the room and Jasper followed right behind.
Edward leaned against the kitchen counter taking deep breaths. Jasper hopped up on the island and sat on the granite countertop folding his arms across his chest.
"What is going on in there?" Edward blurted.
Jasper raised an eyebrow and smirked at his extremely dense little brother. "It seems like a covert chick fight over you, to me,"
Edward just looked at Jasper like he was out of his mind. "What, over me? Kayce doesn't even like me that way!"
Jasper shrugged his shoulder and hopped off the counter. "I don't know dude, I am just telling you what I see and feel! I need to go get some air. All of that sexual tension between the three of you is about to drive me insane. Plus, it would be bad manners to attack Alice at the dinner table." Jasper then gave Edward a knowing smirk. "I don't want to ruin your date, so I am just going to go."
Jasper was out of the back door in the blink of an eye, the back door swinging from the disturbed air of his hasty retreat. Edward returned with a cold soda in his hand. He looked like a rabbit about to bolt from the room again.
Kayce smirked at Edward upon his return and she finished eating her dinner. Bella just kept up where she left off and was holding Edward's hand now.
"This is a wonderful dinner, thank you Esme. I am so pleased that you all sit together as a family. At my house, my mom usually would go to one of her hair brained classes or on a date with the guy of the month, before Phil, that is," Bella said, she still had Edward's arm stuck in her claws. Kayce thought that poor Edward's arm looked like it was a piece of meat being dangled in front of more lowly predators down the food chain. "Charlie just sits with me, but I ignore him. Usually, he just wants to watch the game on TV."
"Why would you ignore him? At least you have a parent to sit with! If I had my parents with me, I would be so happy to sit with them and talk while we ate. What is wrong with you?" Kayce lashed out. She then wished she had kicked Bella even harder.
"What's your problem Kayce? You have no idea how lucky you are," Bella said petulantly.
"Yeah, I am really lucky that my parents are missing. I'm really lucky to be sitting here being challenged by you at dinner because you think I am moving in on your man! The only two things about my situation that I am eternally grateful for are these wonderful people who have so graciously taken me in and for the fact that I have absolutely no qualms with telling you I feel sorry for you. You are so negative. I almost can't stand to be around you." Kayce had a look of fury in her eyes. "I'm sorry everyone. Edward, I am so sorry, for everything," Kayce said sincerely and then she started feeling guilty and stood up to go to her room.
"Kayce, please don't leave," Esme said sympathetically.
She sat back down in her seat and took a deep breath. "So...anyone ready for dessert?" Kayce said while looking at Edward. "I am so hungry, I could eat a mountain lion," she purred out giving Edward and quick glance from the corner of her eye.
Edward had just taken a bite of pasta and he spit it out and started to choke and cough. "Seriously, you could?" Edward asked, intrigued. His eyes started to smolder when she mentioned a mountain lion. Emmett kicked him under the table and it shuddered. Kayce thought she heard him hiss something like "snap out of it" and she thought for sure the table would collapse from the impact.
"Was that an earthquake?" Bella asked. Kayce snorted into her milk glass and then rolled her eyes, but stayed silent. Alice laughed like a tinkling bell while the others just hovered between amusement and shock.
Bella huffed out an exasperated sigh. She stood up and looked at Esme. "Thank you for having me, but I better go home now."
She dramatically swept from the room and headed for the door. Edward was right behind her walking quickly. He put his arm around her waist and she leaned into him.
Kayce stood up and started to gather the plates, but Alice put her hand on Kayce's and shook her head no. "Go say goodbye."
She smiled at Alice and headed for the living room. Bella was there with Edward and he walked her to the door. Their hands were entwined as they headed out into the darkness.
Kayce saw Bella's coat sitting on the sofa and she picked it up and ran for the door. Bella was readying to kiss Edward's lips. She was puckered up and everything. "Bella, wait!" Kayce ran out the front door with Bella's coat in her hands not noticing the intimate moment between the two.
"You forgot your coat," Kayce said. She handed the coat over to Bella and she yanked it out of Kayce's hands, as if she were contaminating it. She hopped in her truck and circled around to face in the right direction and sped off angrily. Kayce even thinks she may have seen a rude hand gesture.
"I'm sorry I ruined your night," Kayce said. Edward squeezed her hand gently and gazed into her eyes.
"You most certainly didn't ruin my night...things are just...complicated now," he said somewhat grimly.
Kayce looked at Edward, shrugs her shoulders, placed her hands on her hips and stared him down. Eventually, she stuck her tongue out at him. Edward smiled his crooked smile at her and asked, "What was that for?"
"I just wanted to see you smile again. Thank you for the most wonderful day. It was the best I have had in a really long time." Kayce stood on her tip-toes and leaned in to kiss his cheek. She squeezed his arm playfully and ran back inside.
Kayce went into the kitchen and sitting in a bowl was two scoops of mint-chip ice cream. She smiled at Carlisle and took the dish upstairs. She ate her dessert while finishing her homework.
Edward sat on the front porch wondering what the hell happened. Rosalie came outside and took Edward's hand softly. "Do you want my advice?"
"Do I have any choice?" Edward asked with a smile playing at his lips.
"No. So here is my two cents worth; you don't get to choose who you love. Your heart will steer you in the right direction. Don't think about what you want; just see where your heart takes you. You may be surprised with who you find waiting for you at the end of your journey."
"I have no idea what that means!" he said.
"Don't worry, when the time is right, you will!" Rosalie answered. She squeezed his hand and left Edward there to mull over his whole day and how Kayce makes him feel and how Bella makes him feel. Both girls were quite different and they made him feel different things.