A look into the other's homelife! Relatively mundane, and why not?
Rosalie's father couldn't make it to parent-teacher night. Well, when could he? She should probably just walk herself down the aisle, the way things were going. It was as though as soon as she sprouted breasts and started bleeding from her privates, he had no clue how to talk to her anymore. If he ever really did. She wasn't even going to let it bother her; her mother had come, and she got to show Kenneth her classrooms.
The sweet boy was just discovering hair gel but still liked mom. Ken was also too cool to hold her hand through the halls, though he let her put a hand on his back.
"Mi amor, don't take him too far! Mama will go and listen to all the lovely compliments about her baby girl!" Their mother gave them both air kisses, before trotting off. Rosalie smiles at Kenneth.
"You wanna come hang out with my friends?" She asked him. He nodded amicably enough, and she took him towards the venue hall.
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Emmett had his parents and three of his siblings with him. They were loud, and Sonny had already been whining about something, Sarah ignored everyone with her phone, and Mariam Jr was asleep on dad's shoulder. He wasn't happy to be here; his grades were average, like always. It'd just be a bunch of teachers telling his parents he needed to apply himself more. Until Coach would come up and congratulate Silas McCarty on his son's talent; Silas, who, while always supportive, was not a big football fan. That would be Emmett's mother, Mariam Sr.
At least he could hang out with Rob and his two moms, they were really cool, his birth mom rode a motorcycle. For half the year that Emmett was fourteen his facebook profile picture was him making a dorky pose on that bike, his dad printed the picture out and framed it.
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Jasper was supremely embarrassed over even coming to parent-teacher night. It was stupid, he was his own parent-slash-legal-guardian. But Alice had already told him that she'd see him there, so he went. Plus, Carlisle always made a point of going to Jasper's teachers and asking how he was going. It was kind of nice.
But he hated the stares. It wasn't as though he kept his living situation top secret; he was honest if anyone asked, and honestly shot down any suggestion to have a house party. People thought because he made his own rules that he had none, which was kind of rude. He had bills to pay and had to clean up after himself. He certainly wasn't going to clean up after a bunch of brats from his high school.
It was why he never let anyone actually know where he lived. The only people he'd had over were Alice, Rosalie, Emmett and Edward, in order of frequency. Maybe he was being too guarded, but he'd had enough of sharing his space in the foster homes; he was going to set boundaries for as long as he enjoyed it. At this rate, he might get tired of setting his own rules in about … never.
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Edward had mildly bullied Alice into arranging it so he had all his parent-teacher conferences done first. He mostly succeeded because Alice didn't really mind, but also because their father seemed not so bothered by it either, though he usually made it a point to go to one of Edward's teachers, followed by one of Alice's, and so on, so forth. But not this time. Edward wasn't sure why, but he wasn't going to be investigating when things went his way.
Their father, as always, embarrassed them both with the notes he jotted down in his awful handwriting; about their weak points in the academia, where they needed to improve, when office hours were. It was easier to get through as the years went on, though, and with Edward's very good grades, there was nothing really to tell.
It left Edward with plenty of free time to tromp around to the back of the hall, where Emmett was sitting with two of his siblings. Edward had never bothered to learn their names, a motion returned in kind. They called him 'Emmy's sad friend' or 'that nerdy guy' when they ever interacted, which was rare.
He was never good with kids; he wasn't even so good at being a kid. He remembered feeling much older than a few months on Alice up until they were at least thirteen.
Jacob seemed like he'd be great with kids. Edward wouldn't mind seeing him interact with any; the very idea made his heart feel wobbly, like barely-set jello.
For now, Edward shoved himself into a corner, grunting at Emmett's blaze greeting and pulling out his phone. He had a boy to text.
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This was the first time Carlisle was seeing Alice's art teacher, Ms Platt, after he told her how attracted to her he was. It was going to be awful, he even put it off as long as possible, by scheduling their meeting last. Alice usually kept him there for at least forty minutes, and Carlisle knew his little smarty-pants was probably catching on to something going on between him and her favorite teacher. Edward muttered about going to annoy Emmett and walked outside, while Alice skipped forward, eager to give Ms Platt a hug.
"Carlisle!" Esme smiled brightly as they sat at the little tables set out. It was one teacher to a table opposite two chairs. "Good to see you again." She added warmly, and waved her hand. "Sorry about the air conditioning."
Carlisle shook his head, trying to gauge how polite she was being with any awkwardness he felt. "No need, it's quite temperate." He assured her.
Esme looked him up and down for a moment, and Carlisle hoped she didn't dislike what she saw. "Oh … I see," her smile took a turn for the amused, "scarves must be a fashion choice, then." She said, almost giggling.
Carlisle cleared his throat, and touched the scarf at his throat. He did have a fondness for keeping his neck covered. Alice nods cheerfully. "Yep! Dad loves Burberry!" She piped up.
"Alice!" He hissed at her. He didn't want Ms Platt thinking he was an anti-American snob when it came to brands or something.
"What?" Alice blinked up at him innocently. "She didn't say you looked bad. Where do you think I got my style from?" She added, waving to her own very nice outfit; a Loro Piana cable-knit sweater dress.
Esme laughed and tapped the table, getting Alice's attention from her showing off the pockets. "Enough, we need to talk about your progress." She reminded her, and Alice obediently quietened down. "Carlisle, there's a contest I wanted Alice to enter," Esme said to him, her tone very serious, while Alice groaned and flopped back in her chair. Esme eyed her as she added; "but she's ambivalent, at best."
"It's in Chicago." Alice protested with a little whine, sitting up again. "As in, if I get into the finals, I have to go there." She said heavily, disgust evident in her voice.
Carlisle raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh? You're so sure you'll reach the finals?" Her asked lightly, referring to his daughter's uncanny predictions. Not that he himself didn't think she would; she was an extremely talented young woman.
Alice, though, gave a firm shake of her head. "I don't want to risk it." She told them stoutly. Usually, forcing his children into anything was not his style; but Esme sighed, obviously disappointed, and Carlisle would hate for Alice to pass up a chance to showcase her work.
"Alice, it looks like a good opportunity." Carlisle cajoled her gently. "Why don't you want to try?" He asked. Alice gave him an angry glare, no doubt not used to him pushing a matter ever, and stood up suddenly, flouncing off to the exit. Carlisle was a little stunned at her behavior, and glanced at an equally shocked-looking Esme.
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Emmett was hanging out with his siblings just outside the venue hall. Well, little Mary was tucked in his arms, sleeping, Sarah was blasting music through her headphones crouched next to him, and Sonny was still with their parents. Edward had joined them all, but he was texting his boy and didn't want to talk.
"Hey," Rosalie said, coming with her little brother, Kenny. He gave her a nod, but shrugged his shoulders to mention his sister sleeping. Ken gave him a big grin though, and Emmett grinned back. He liked Ken; Sonny was his only younger brother, and at two and a half he wasn't very fun. He liked it when younger boys looked up to him; like he did with his brothers, before they all moved away.
"Found y'all. Damn." Jasper trudged up to them, his usually impeccable posture slumped slightly. No doubt seeing all these parents made him feel weird, but he didn't seem to want to show it.
"No swearing," Kenneth told him sternly. Jasper blinked, looking down at the boy and finally smirked at him.
"Nice hair," He replied, and Ken petted his spiked 'do self-consciously, leaning slightly more into Rosalie's side.
"Don't," Rosalie cautioned to Jasper, "he's working on it." She told him sharply. She was quite protective of her little brother.
Jasper inclines his head and glanced over at Emmett's sisters. It was no secret that Jasper wasn't overly fond of children; that is, well-loved well-brought up ones. There wasn't reprimands for swearing at younger kids in the foster homes, and while he never raised his voice, or even touched them without express permission; he could still be quite blunt and stand-offish. It frightened Emmett's siblings for sure, and made Ken sort of nervous.
Alice appeared then, scowling heavily and wrapping her arms around Jasper, burying her face into his chest. He put an arm around her and shushed her a little as she gave a groan. Rosalie asked her what was wrong, but she only shook her head.
"Gang's all here, huh?" Jasper asked, and Emmett gave a nod.
"Doc doing your interviews?" Emmett asked him instead, though Edward had already told him. Jasper nods once, but gives him a hard look. Emmett knew Jasper really liked that Carlisle made the time to see his teachers, even if the boy got solid grades and didn't act up in class. But he was kind of embarrassed about it, so he didn't like the subjects dwelled upon.
"Everyone at mine tonight." Edward said, not looking up from his phone. Even if he hadn't asked nicely, Emmett and Jasper agreed.
Rosalie only shrugged, looking out to where the parking lot was. Her eyes seemed to be searching, and Emmett could guess why. Rosalie mother had driven her and her brother, but Emmett hadn't spotted her father in the crowded hall.
Emmett was tugged out of looking at Rosalie by Sarah, who usually daren't speak in front of strangers. She leaned into Emmett's side and asked him to drive her to her friend's house for a sleep-over, since he was going to one. He told her he was surprised that she could hear what they were saying over her own music.
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Carlisle was left with Esme, on his own, and didn't really know what to do. He didn't really want to excuse himself, and he knew he had to give Alice some space to calm down. He runs a hand through his hair and grimaces. "I'm sorry about her," he said, "you know she respects you so much …." He added.
Esme gave him the look that she had before, when asking about Alice's progress. It was a look that said 'obviously'. "I do know. It's not a problem, we'll work it out." Esme told him, and Carlisle was again reminded that in some ways, Esme might have more contact with his children than he did. He didn't know how he felt about that. "Listen, I wanted to talk about the recital …." She started.
Carlisle had to stop himself from groaning. He cleared his throat instead, "Oh, it was so rude of me to leave like that, I'm sorry." He said quickly. He hoped if he took to this like he ripped off plasters, perhaps Esme wouldn't dwell on it.
"That's okay!" Esme said quickly, and laughed a little, though it seemed to be aimed at herself. "… I left pretty soon after," she admitted quietly, "I figured if I did you might feel more confident leaving the men's room." She added. Carlisle couldn't articulate how ashamed he was that she noticed where he'd fled to.
He shook his head, "I'm sorry about what I said, as well." He said, almost wincing at how strained his own voice sounded to him. "It was very inappropriate." He clarified.
Esme blinked, and looked down at the table. "Well, it's a shame you're sorry about it." She told him. "Because I really liked what you had to say."
Carlisle was shocked, watching her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear self-consciously. She didn't say it was a mutual attraction, but right now he focused on how relieving it was that she didn't resent him, or that he hadn't made her uncomfortable. He had had stress nightmares about Alice retreating into her shell after her art teacher asked for some space. In the light of this new information, though, he was ashamed to have assumed that Esme would be unprofessional, even in his subconscious. "Really?" He asked.
Esme nodded, looking pleased but shy. She mentioned to the notebook in his hands. "If I could …" he passed it to her, and she took her pen and flipped to a new page. He watched as she wrote her phone number clearly, and slid the paper back to him. "If you'd like it." She added softly.
He smiled and ripped the page out, quickly tucking it into his jacket pocket. She smiled at him, and they only parted because a Ms Dowling tapped Carlisle on the shoulder and politely asked if she could please have a consultation about her daughter.
Carlisle was more than a little grateful to her, despite Ms Dowling's string of apologies for interrupting, because he was certain if she hadn't, he may never have stopped looking at Esme.
He ended the night speaking to Mariam McCarty, assuring her that her son was not eating him out of house and home. Sometimes, he thought that with so many children, surely the kindly woman didn't mind letting him keep her son for a time. He also spoke with Gloria Hale, peppering their conversations with enough compliments about her daughter to leave the willowy woman pleased.
In the end, he knew he left these people the same way he always did; with a trust in him to take care of their children.
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Rose had said goodbye to her mother, Emmett had helped herd his siblings into his parent's van, and Jasper even drove Emmett with his little sister to her own slumber party. Emmett mentioned that one of his sisters had a crush on Jasper, who muttered about how he hoped he was talking about Mary Jr.
Now, Alice was complaining to Edward and Emmett about how dad kept shooting her disapproving looks in the car about that stupid art contest, and couldn't Edward defend her? But, Edward was quick to remind her that he didn't care enough to do that.
Jasper and Rosalie sat on the couch, waiting for Edward to leave the room long enough to them to be strategically caught messing with his piano. They weren't going to do anything; but he'd be so paranoid it'd bug him for at least a week.
"Hey, sorry your dad didn't show." Jasper added as they snuck over to the baby grand as Edward sailed out of the room.
Rosalie kicked off her shoes and crept on her tip-toes. "Sorry you don't have one." She muttered. Jasper gave a short exhale of amusement, and shook his head. Always playing offence, she was.
"What are you two doing to my piano!?" Edward roared, marching over and shoving them away. Jasper and Rosalie ran out to the kitchen, and after giving his baby grand a frantic once-over and finding nothing, Edward charged after them. "What did you do!?" He demanded.
Rosalie was leaning against the counter, where Alice and Emmett were eating cookie dough. "Wait – so why do you not want to go to that art thing?" She asked her, completely ignoring Edward's spluttering.
Alice shrugged, and looked dourly at Edward until he stopped muttering. He huffed, and grabbed a large portion of dough to munch in silence. "… It's on Jasper's birthday." Alice admitted to them. Even Emmett groaned at her reasoning. Jasper felt a little embarrassed, and then pleased, and then slightly guilty. "I want to celebrate it with him!" She argued, Edward scoffed, and wasn't able to duck the cookie dough she flicked at his head because he was texting.
Jasper smiles, and hops up to hug her from behind. "Well, then I'll have a Chicago birthday." He tells her fondly. Emmett groaned again. "What? I saved up some money, I can go with you." Jasper said.
Edward looked up from his phone. "Everyone! I am inviting Jacob over." He declared, shoving Jasper in the face for good measure as he walks out of the kitchen. "I don't want any funny business." He added up the stairs.
"Edward!" Emmett yelled at him. "Tell him we're all going to Chicago for Jasper's birthday!"
"Urg, of course we are, disgusting." Edward's disembodied voice floated down from the second floor, before his bedroom door slammed.
"I like Chicago, it's my favorite musical." Rosalie said, smirking as Jasper rolled his eyes at her. Rosalie detested theatre and musicals and anything remotely related to the annoying drama kids.
Emmett groaned. "It's sport teams suck!" He argued, "But I'll go for the art contest." He added gallantly. Alice blew him a kiss, except Jasper snatched it immediately out of the air and tossed it onto the floor. "Way harsh," Emmett told him.
Carlisle found three other children eating potato chips on his couch so often, he just decided they were all his now.