The Friday of the gala arrived and Esme found herself looking forward to the evening much more than she'd anticipated.
Apparently this really was Forks' most interesting night and there was a buzz about it all over school. Some of the students had parents working at the hospital and had secured tickets. Others had been invited by friends or family members. And still others listened to descriptions of dresses and shoes and tuxes with rapt attention. Esme regarded her students with a kind of distant fascination, deciding that Alice was probably glowing with happiness right now.
That thought made her grin all the way to the staff room at lunch.
Tammi waved her over to the far side of the table as soon as she entered, making room by shoving the contents of her lunch bag to one side with a quick swipe of her hand.
"If it wasn't already Friday, I'd call in sick tomorrow."
"Bad day?" Esme wondered as she sat down, pulling out leftovers that Bella had sent home with her the other night. She opened the lid and waited for the the microwave to be free.
Tammi chewed on a granola bar, shaking her head and rolling her eyes towards the ceiling. "If I have to listen to one more adolescent girl talk about lipstick or heels, I'm going to lose my mind. Most of these kids aren't even going to the gala. And you know what happens during senior volleyball when no one pays attention? They get hit in the face. You know how many incident reports I've already filled out today? The school nurse is going to start hunting for me soon."
Tammi gave a frustrated groan as she prepped her salad with tomatoes and dressing. She shook it around the container with more vigour than necessary, causing Esme to chuckle. "You going to the gala tonight?"
"If I say yes, is it going to upset you?" Esme teased.
"As long as you don't tell me what shade of lipstick you're wearing, it's fine." Tammi took a swig from her water bottle. "So that was a yes, then?"
Esme nodded.
"And with whom may I ask? Or is this one of those go solo projects? You know, meet the three people in Forks you haven't already been introduced to."
Esme grinned as she stood up to use the microwave, placing her container inside and hitting an assortment of buttons. "I'm going with Carlisle Cullen, actually."
"Cullen?" Tammy almost spit her water across the table. "The hot, blond doctor god that everyone is always talking about?"
She gaped and Esme turned away to pull her container out of the microwave.
"Geezus, woman, how and when did this happen?"
Esme stirred her noodles, watching the steam disappear. She glanced at Tammi, shrugging. "It just sort of . . . did. I don't know."
Tammy pointed her fork at her. "We need to catch up. Somewhere there isn't hundreds of underage ears."
Esme nodded with a shy smile, sitting back down with her lunch.
At that moment, Esme looked up to see Jeremy enter the staff room. He walked towards them and sat down with a tentative grin in her direction. Determined not to make their relationship awkward, Esme returned it without hesitation. "So ladies, what are we discussing?"
Tammy muched on a sprout that jutted off the end of her fork. "Nothing your virgin ears can hear."
"Now that sounds promising."
"Keep wishing, pal."
Tammy gave Esme an exaggerated wink. Sometimes she reminded her of Sarah. They had that same sense of humour. That same quirky way of seeing the world.
"You have tickets to the gala?" Tammi asked Jeremy.
"Yes."
"Hot date going with you?"
Jeremy smirked, but busied himself with his sandwich and Esme made a point of being very interested in what remained of the noodle casserole in her dish.
"Uh huh," Tammi said quietly, looking between them. If she suspected anything, she didn't prod further and she made a point of changing the subject quickly. Apparently Jeremy had plans to go skiing over winter break with his siblings and though Esme hadn't really thought about what she would do, she was just as excited about the prospect of the holidays. It meant no marking (for the most part) and an extended amount of time spent with Carlisle and his family.
"What about you, Esme?"
"What?" she said, being startled out of her thoughts.
"Winter break?" Tammi prompted. "Any plans?"
"Not really," she said. "Just going to enjoy not having to plan lessons for a few weeks."
"Amen," Jeremy said. "I'm not going to look at a lesson plan or a test paper for at least ten days."
They shared a smile, this one less awkward than their previous one, and the three of them fell into an easy rhythm of lunch-time banter.
As the period drew to a close, Esme gathered her things, waved goodbye to Tammi, and followed Jeremy up to the second floor. He slowed to match her pace, silent, with his hands in his pockets. As they rounded the hallway he pulled up short by her door.
"We're okay, right?"
"Of course," Esme said immediately, desperate to push whatever awkward romantic feelings he harboured for her into the past.
"Right. Great." He nodded, staring at his feet. "So, you excited about tonight?"
Esme hugged her elbows. "Yes. More than I thought I would be."
Students started to shuffle in between them as they spoke, filtering into the classroom.
"It's a pretty good time, as far as Forks goes."
Edward and Bella slipped by them. Edward worked hard to hide his smirk and Esme, more familiar with the subtle changes in his expression now, deliberately looked away from him. Alice was harder to ignore as she stared at Mr. Daniels, her brow quirked in an expression that made her look decidedly unimpressed. She lingered for just a moment too long, unnerving Jeremy.
He mumbled a hasty goodbye, becoming engrossed with the students amassing outside his locked door. "Well, maybe I'll see you there tonight?"
"Sure," Esme said, waving before turning to enter the classroom. Alice was waiting for her just inside the door.
"He doesn't exactly know how to take a hint," she murmured.
"Alice, please," Esme whispered, glancing around the classroom. The students were still rowdy from lunch and no one, besides the Cullen's, had paid the exchange between her and Mr. Daniels any mind. Even now, the students were more than happy to carry on their conversations so long as it meant they didn't actually have to do any work.
Alice hummed thoughtfully. "You might have to be more direct in your approach."
"I think Carlisle in the parking lot was direct enough. Jeremy understands. We're okay now."
"I'll think of something," Alice said, shaking her head.
"How about you take your seat and not worry about Mr. Daniels right now?"
Alice sighed. "Yes, Ms. Platt." She dropped her voice to a whisper. "But just so you know, he's going to have a few drinks and try to kiss you tonight. So I don't think he really got the message after all."
Esme stared at Alice as she danced away, mouth open.
Edward looked at Alice sternly, whispering too quickly for Esme to make out what was going on, although she could tell that the exchange was heated. Bella smiled encouragingly at her and lifted her copy of Macbeth, startling Esme back to the present.
She was so out of sorts after Alice's confession that she struggled to pull her thoughts together for several minutes and opted to just start the movie she'd been saving for Monday.
In the darkness, the class murmured quietly while the movie flickered; most of them weren't paying attention or filling out the worksheet that she'd handed out, but Esme couldn't really blame them. She stared at the same test paper written by her senior class for fifteen minutes before realizing that she'd already finished marking it. Flipping it over, she wondered if she should have been firmer with Jeremy. She remembered the strange look he'd given Carlisle from across the parking lot that day he'd asked her to go to the gala.
Maybe she should have made more of an effort to talk about Carlisle. To emphasize their relationship. She'd been deliberately vague about it, in an effort not to draw attention. But maybe Jeremy had mistaken that for indifference on her part. Which was utterly ridiculous.
No . . . this was on him. She'd already told him no. She shouldn't have to do it again.
But at least now that she knew it might happen, she could avoid it.
She could stop it before Alice's vision came true. Isn't that what Alice's visions were all about anyway? Choices. Decisions. At some point tonight, Jeremy would make up his mind to do something that they would both regret, but she had a choice to make, too. And that was already made.
Esme rolled her red pen between her fingers. Then what exactly was bothering her so much about this? She couldn't control what other people did and if Jeremy chose to try and kiss her, then it would be a mistake on his part. Certainly their relationship would suffer after it. It was one thing to turn down an invitation out, but it was another thing to get over a stolen kiss. She'd be sad to lose the friendship that was developing there, but that wasn't really what made her anxious.
She was afraid of what Carlisle would think—of her. Of Jeremy.
His jealousy hadn't bothered her at the time, but now something about it struck her. Charles had been like that. Not jealous, per say, but possessive. Controlling. He'd always curtailed the people she was with; the friends she had. After all the years, Sarah was one of the only people who refused to be pushed away by Charles' bullying.
So, maybe that was it. Some repressed part of her was afraid of how Carlisle would react, because in another lifetime, she'd be in trouble for this. In another lifetime, she'd never let a friendship with another man develop to the point of feelings. She'd been so much more guarded in her personal life when she was with Charles. Here, in Forks, she'd been free to engage with whomever she wanted, and Carlisle had never once put restrictions on that.
Even when he'd heard Jeremy ask her to the gala, he hadn't reacted the way Charles ever had. And they'd talked about it after.
So that's how she would deal with this. She would talk to him . . . right now. Yes. Esme straightened up in her seat, already feeling better about her decision. It was the only way she'd be able to settle her mind. If not she'd be anxious about it until tonight and their evening would be ruined.
Esme dug through her bag for her phone and tucked it into her pocket.
She made her way to the door, slipping out of the classroom and into the hall. She tucked herself into a vacant alcove, close enough to hear if her class became too rowdy in her absence.
Once the hallway was clear, she hit Carlisle's number.
He answered on the first ring.
"Esme? Is everything alright?"
She frowned at his concern. "Yes."
He paused, waiting, then: "You're calling me in the middle of your class. Not that I do not appreciate hearing the sound of your voice, it's just unusual."
She shook her head. Of course this was weird for her. "I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you at work."
"Esme, you're never a bother," he promised. "Ever."
She smiled for a moment, listening to him breathe on the other end of the phone.
"Love, is something wrong?"
She sighed. "Alice told me something. And it's . . . it's been bothering me."
"It must have been, if it made you call me in the middle of the day."
"It's about tonight. She said something might happen . . . something that I don't want to happen and I'll try very hard to avoid, only—"
"Does this have anything to do with the infatuated Mr. Daniels and a kiss?"
Esme paused. "You knew?"
"There is very little Alice does not tell me when it comes to you, Esme."
She stayed silent.
"Have I upset you?"
"No . . ." she answered. "No."
"You sound off, sweetheart."
"It's just . . ." she frowned into the phone, "it didn't bother you?"
Carlisle chuckled. "I wasn't exactly thrilled," he said. Then more seriously, "Though his advances at that point would be less than gentlemanly, I would never hold it against you."
"Oh . . . okay." Relief bubbled up inside her.
"Is that what worried you?" he asked. "That I would be angry?"
"I'm sorry, it was ridiculous. I know."
"It's not ridiculous, Esme. And I'm glad you called. That you talked to me about it."
To be honest, so was she. This had always been something that was missing from her relationship with Charles—that ability to talk, to communicate. So much of their interaction was filtered and practiced. She knew exactly what would set him off and went out of her way to avoid it. As unhealthy as that was, it had been how she coped. Now she was relearning how to interact in a relationship without those same safety nets.
Somewhere in the distance, Esme could hear Carlisle being paged on the overhead system.
"I love you very much," he murmured into the phone.
"I love you, too. Now get back to work, Dr. Cullen."
His laugh was clear and tenor. "I'll see you later."
When she hung up the phone, she was far less anxious and returned to class just in time to stop the movie and flick on the lights. A few of the students sat up, blinking wearily as they squinted against the light. Others started packing their bags, racing the clock to beat the bell. When it rang moments later, Esme wished everyone a good weekend and watched them hurry out the door.
After most of the students had left, Alice skipped towards her desk. "I didn't mean to upset you, Esme."
"I know, dear. It wasn't you," she promised.
"Well, either way. Everything is going to be exactly perfect tonight, so don't you worry."
"Edward has told me to never bet against you, so I'll take your word for it." They shared a warm smile as Edward and Bella lingered by their desks.
Esme began packing up and after several minutes of tidying her things, Alice tapped her heel impatiently and Edward turned his head away from the sight to grin.
"Esme, would you like some help?" Alice wondered, eyeing all the files that she still had to pack away.
Esme could tell she was itching to get home and the decidedly human pace was working to frustrate her. "You know, Alice, I can meet you at the house. I needed to stop by my place for a few things anyway."
"No need," she tapped her forehead. "I've got it all."
Esme shook her head, zipping up her bag. After another moment of stacking files, Esme felt the faint brush of wind against her arm and in the next moment all her things were neatly assorted on her desk, packed exactly where she would have packed them, and Alice looked at her with a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, but there's just so much to do before tonight. Hair. Makeup. Your nails . . . if I had known the state of them I would have made you an appointment. But too late now. A coat or two of polish will have to do."
Alice promptly marched her from the room then, leading them all towards the now empty parking lot.
"Don't worry," Bella whispered. "This Alice is relatively tame. You should have seen her trying to plan mine and Edward's wedding. I thought about eloping."
Alice sent Bella a heated glare that made Edward snicker.
"It was lovely, though," Bella admitted. "You'll have a wonderful time tonight. Just don't fight it."
"Oh honestly, Bella, you'll give her nightmares." Alice steered Esme towards her car. After letting her load her bags into the trunk, Alice held out her hand with a look of determination. "I am not patient enough to let you drive. So please don't make me wrestle the keys from you."
Esme handed over her keys. "You could just drive with, Edward. I'm more than capable of getting to your place in one piece."
Alice laughed, a sound that sent a tinkling soprano around the car as Esme got into the passenger seat. "Edward still drives slow," Alice said. "I think it's leftover from Bella's human days."
Alice turned the ignition and stepped on the gas, beating Edward to the exit.
"You know my car is like a senior citizen." Esme clutched the door handle as they cruised around a turn far too quickly. "It can't handle your insane driving."
"It's fine." Esme gave her a look and Alice shrugged. "Rose has been tinkering while you've been over. She may not be anything to look at on the outside, but inside she purrs. Rose's words, not mine."
"I don't want to drive a sports car, Alice."
"It's not because of that. Carlisle asked her to have a look, just to make sure everything looked safe. But Rose can't always help herself. She likes a project."
Esme blushed at his concern.
"You know Edward bought Bella a bulletproof car before they got married."
"That seems excessive."
"Exactly. As sweet as it was, we all thought he was crazy. Did Bella have clumsy tendencies? Yes. Should he have wrapped her in bubble wrap? Perhaps. But bulletproof glass? That was a bit much. So when you consider the little things Carlisle does to keep you safe, just remember, Edward once paid me off with a yellow Porsche for babysitting Bella while he went hunting."
"That's a car right?"
"Oh my—" Alice glanced at her, shaking her head. "Very funny."
Esme grinned with all her teeth. "So that's the god awful yellow thing in the garage?"
"You won't be saying that after I take you for a ride. It's so fast and smooth, it's like you're flying." Alice sighed dreamily.
"No thank you. Not while I'm human." Esme blinked, looking at Alice quickly, then away again. She hadn't meant it like that. She didn't even really know how she had meant it. The part about being human had just slipped out.
Alice offered her a sympathetic look. "You know, it would be strange if you didn't think about it sometimes. I mean, who wouldn't?"
"I just . . . I'm not sure."
"What's stopping you?"
"I don't quite know. Nothing, I suppose. It just feels like a big step. Very permanent. And that seems daunting in a way."
Alice pulled down the long winding driveway to the house. "I suppose it is, when the choice is there. That wasn't an option for most of us, knowing exactly what you were walking into beforehand. I guess having that knowledge could make the choice overwhelming."
"Yes."
"Do you love him?"
Esme's brow furrowed. "Of course I do. More than anything."
"He loves you, too, in a way that defies everything there is to earn in a human love. Immortal love is hard to understand from the outside. It takes a great deal to change an immortal. To shift their spirit. You've changed Carlisle and I know he sees a future with you, in whatever capacity you choose."
"I want a future with him, too."
Alice thumbed the steering wheel gently as she parked the car outside he garage. "I know. I guess now you just have to decide if that future is forever, or one to last a human lifetime." She sighed dramatically, and in an instant the tension in the car melted away. "But those are decisions that you have time to make. Your hair and makeup on the other hand needs to be started right now. Under no circumstances are you to leave this house tonight looking anything less than divine. Now come, Rose should have everything set up by now."