Disclaimer: I do not own nor make profit off of Twilight. It belongs to Stephenie Meyer and Summit Entertainment, etc.
A/N: This is an insert-an-OC story that will veer from canon timeline, but the actual canon events will retain great similarities.
pendora59: I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for reviewing!
cheyyanne: I can't remember if I PM'd you about your question, but here we are anyway... I definitely don't have a schedule. Whenever I feel the chapter is truly finished, I read it through at least two or three more times. Then I make sure I have a good head start on the next chapter, just to make sure there are no huge continuity errors. Sometimes there are, even when I look for it, but I do try. I also do my best to get all my inspirations posted for the chapter. Thank you for the review!
Basker: Jasper and Mir's fluffy sibling bond will have its moments, don't worry! :D Mir's ability going all weird last chapter definitely pertained to the boys clamoring for a date. As to the reaction of Jessica and the boys, you will see that in this chapter. You will also get an answer (somewhat) to your suspicions, but I'll leave that for you to read. Thank you so much for reviewing!
Anna: I've probably said this before, but I just loved Jasper from the start and I hate when stories treat him like a puppet or Alice's lapdog. Aha, you're right about Mir's fashion love being a little less… crazy. ;) There are notes after the replies – about your vision question and also about the image inspirations. Of course when I'm speeding through, suddenly I hit a construction zone! Lol, but at least I had a good reason, as you will see after the replies. Thank you for reviewing!
shurfine: I'm glad to reply! :) Ah, it was a lovely moment laying this part of Mir's gift out so clearly. I love how you've described Jasper's relationship with Mireille! It's exactly what I was aiming for. Hm… enlightening word choice? Care to comment in a PM? :D You know, I'm actually quite nervous about bringing Bella into everything. Just like the 'disrupting' effect (if that makes sense) on the lives of everyone in Forks, Bella will disrupt the entire flow I've created in this first story. The manner in which I've written it will be a totally different animal with her involved. I know that probably sounds a little dramatic, but it's true. :P Oh, don't worry about jumping over different things, I love that there's so much to keep your mind working. Thank you for your review!
xenocanaan: In many cases, it appears that Mary-Sue is a crutch for simple dislike or disagreement. I feel that Mary-Sue was never truly a positive tool in the first place. The mindset behind it seems to be a form of conditioning rather than a guideline for making realistic characters. This is just my opinion, mind you, but I have come to believe Mary-Sue is based on the unrealistic view society offers women in the real world. If a woman is emotional, she's clingy. If she doesn't show emotion, she's unlovable. If she feels angry, she's out of control. If she walks with confidence, she's arrogant. If she laughs too oddly or loudly, she's abnormal. If she wants to get married and have kids, she's too dependent. If she focuses on a career, she's self-important. Women are expected to be perfect in our society and it negatively affects how women are portrayed – and expected to be portrayed – in works of fiction.
But I digress… on to your review! Haha, shopping sprees terrify me, too. And books… booooks. Yes, I agree on those and on the teasing of Carlisle and Esme. I adore them! And Jasper, of course. :) Thank you so much for your review!
cassiefusion: Shipping can be immensely fun, no matter what. :) Oh, I agree so much with your comments on the boys, especially Crowley. You'll have a field day with a small section of this chapter, I think. ;) I agree about copying the exact events also. I don't understand that at all. Where's the fun in simply reprinting the same thing over and over? Thanks for reviewing!
Georgie: I think I forget how big it has become myself! Whenever I go through my folder of chapters, I keep scrolling longer and longer each time, haha. Thank you for your review!
Kate1243: I love their growing closeness, too! Thanks for reviewing!
ColdOnePaul: Nah, I've never watched Project Runway. Mostly I like fictional shows rather than reality shows. Except for some HGTV shows, lol! That's an interesting thought about traditional vampires, but I agree about the unlikelihood of a vampire intertwining in such a high profile event from that perspective. Plus, even if one would risk it, Mireille was always with at least Esme in NYC. I imagine the presence of another vampire would make most hunters think Mir to be Esme's 'territory' so to speak. Without knowing the Cullens' views on human life, I expect a traditional vampire would believe Esme to be 'luring her prey,' so to speak. Mir is definitely growing in confidence; I'm glad that stands out. Hm, I'm not sure Esme is as calm as all that about Bella's future appearance, but we'll see how it plays out. Thanks for your review!
Chapter Numbering: Because FFnet doesn't allow for Prologues/Epilogues/Intermissions (which are usually not meant to be labeled "Chapter #") my numbering within the actual chapter will be different than the link FFnet displays.
Notes:
I've gone through the story and fixed some formatting inconsistencies, changed a few phrasings to more functional form, and overall did a correctional sweep. Let me know if you notice formatting that seems out of place. All of these corrections are surface changes and they don't alter the plot in any way; they just enhance the reading experience so it flows (I hope) more smoothly. One thing to note is the house description in the first few chapters. I never fleshed it out as much as I wanted to, so I've added/edited that, but it's mostly the same thing. :)
Remember those visions Alice initially had of Mireille – the ones she withheld from Edward at first? Well as of last chapter, they've all been fulfilled. :D Jasper's protectiveness of Mir last chapter was the final vision Alice showed Edward way back in Chapter 18 (and referenced way back in Chapter 7).
For story images/inspirations, I'll be doing things differently now. Photobucket is full of ads and it doesn't work right anymore, so I'm going to use Tumblr instead. I've been keeping a running board on Pinterest so I can keep track of everything in the interim. Tumblr is a breeze for me, it's free, there are no ads in the way of viewing, and I can do a lot more with the blog than with an image site. Plus, my readers don't have to have an account to view it! I made a blog strictly for this story, called "For A Reason: Inspirations", which will include any and all inspirations I've had. Not only images, but also songs, movies, books, poems, characters, etc. Most recent posts are at the top of the blog.
The link is farinspirations(d)tumblr(d)com, so go ahead and check it out! The girl's picture on the page is my inspiration for Mireille, so you now know exactly how she looks. There's a welcome post (click 'archives' at the top, then it's all the way at the bottom of that page) and a post for character inspirations (this is still in-progress). If you find anything confusing or oddly formatted, drop me a message!
Thank to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, and followed!
Previously – Mireille was in awe of New York City. The ladies viewed Emma Cook's fashion line. Next morning, they viewed Luella Bartley, Proenza Schouler, and Ralph Lauren. Afterward, Esme took Mireille sightseeing throughout New York City. Esme and Mireille discussed Edward's rebellious years and did more sightseeing. The Cullen men met the ladies at Sea-Tac. Back in school, Mireille began to feel wary of something about to happen. Mike and Tyler became even more annoying. Mireille realized it was Valentine's Day. Mireille told Jessica off for forcing the issue with Edward. Conner, Lee, Tyler, Mike, and Eric all tried to ask Mireille to the Girl's Choice dance. Mireille realized her wariness was about the boys and Jasper scared the boys away. Next day, Mireille felt free and happy. Jasper gave Mireille a book to write words that inspire her. Jasper used "Mir" for the first time and allowed Mireille to use "Jazz". Jasper let Mireille hug him and the couples left to spend Valentine's Day together. Edward played guitar for Mireille until Carlisle and Esme returned home.
Chapter 42: Influence
"Happy birthday, Alice!"
The simple phrase left much to be desired, perhaps, in the wake of all the grand parties we'd been having since my arrival in Forks. However, on the very normal, average Wednesday night after Valentine's Day, it made the point directly and succinctly for Alice's chosen date of birth.
"Thanks, Mir," Alice responded, a grin trying to break free on her angelic features as she read a handmade card boasting the same trio of colors she had tried to use for Carlisle and Esme's anniversary party three months earlier. Toned down only marginally by black and white as the supporting colors, the palette of emerald, amethyst, and cerise nonetheless broke doors down in its efforts to be seen.
"I should have known you'd try something like this," the pixielike vampire gazed at me sardonically from the corner of her dark eye, touting the ironic card in the air between us.
"What do you mean, Alice?" Esme wondered interestedly from her seat in the conservatory.
"Alice tried to use that… lovely… color scheme for your anniversary party," Edward explained wryly, fingers dancing quietly along ebony and ivory.
"Oh," Esme remarked in surprised understanding, warily eyeing the brashly colored birthday card.
Laughing easily, Alice shook her head, "Mir was right, of course. This definitely wouldn't have matched your relationship."
"I would have to agree," Esme nodded, clearly trying not to smile.
Tucking the card I'd given into her nearby purse, Alice remarked to me with a devious shadow in her eyes, "You should consider painting the emerald color on Jessica's hair tomorrow morning."
"Alice," I returned crisply, the single word full of scolding.
"I'm just saying…" Alice faked an innocent shrug. "Maybe if she looks as green as she acts, she'll stop gossiping so much."
"Alice, I mean it," I offered again, now with a wry smile as the others laughed out loud.
"Oh, fine," the small woman backed off with a roll of her eyes. "If you want to let the little gossip keep cawing, who am I to stop you?"
Fighting back a laugh at the tiny vampire's sarcasm, I shook my head and turned to head upstairs and drop off my school gear.
We had all arrived home from school in varying stages of annoyance after realizing the sophomore in question had apparently spun an even deeper tale about my remarks to her on Friday.
It seemed I was now trying to sabotage Edward's supposed 'deep interest' in Jessica, a heinous crime Lauren Mallory couldn't stop talking about while we all walked out of the locker room to start gym class. The fact Lauren's voice carried itself clear across the gymnasium didn't seem to make her feel any better about Jessica's apparent torment and I actually wanted to laugh for minute, but Emmett's tight features had stopped me.
The Cullens had begun to feel a lot more intense about my relationship with the other sophomores since Valentine's Day. After returning home from self defense that Friday night, I had been surprised to find Carlisle and Esme looking quite furious over the audacity of the boys – Mike and Tyler especially.
By contrast, when I walked into school the following week, I suddenly felt freer. Standing up to Jessica and the fanboys made me realize just how much influence I held with plain words. Granted, Jessica refrained from speaking to me and most of the boys kept a wary distance thanks to Jasper. Conner was the exception; he had actually apologized for what happened, braving even Jasper's presence to do so. Ironically he had also been the most respectful of the boys that day, but I accepted the apology and Conner's renewed presence in my 'circle' of friends.
When Katie and Angela took time at lunch on Tuesday to corner me for an explanation of the stories floating through the high school, Conner even added two surprising anecdotes… The first was that Mike Newton still held some distant hope for a dance date. From Mike's own words, it seemed I was just afraid of what my brother would think about dating the blond-haired local. Guessing the 'brother' Mike referred to was Jasper, I had lifted an eyebrow in disbelief. It still made no sense how anyone could miss the relief I had felt when Jasper arrived on the scene Friday afternoon, but I decided it didn't matter. Mike would probably always see himself as in-demand with the female population.
The other story Conner relayed didn't precisely surprise me, but it irritated nevertheless. Tyler felt an even stronger belief than Mike that I was 'definitely into him' and just playing hard to get. Despite knowing Tyler's arrogant stupidity from the epilogue prom scene in Twilight, that one had still made me angry. Thankfully Jasper had kept my temper under wraps while he led me through the lunch line.
Austin and Ben went so far as to quietly cheer Tyler's absence in the usual lunch group across the way from my table with the Cullens. Angela scolded them, but I laughed so genuinely as we walked that the tall girl let it go immediately.
I just felt good for not letting the others keep pushing me around. While I still hesitated over the thought of another confrontation with my senior nemesis, there was something in my approach towards other students that changed. Although I could hardly name it, I welcomed it wholeheartedly as I continued through the week.
Given Alice's reaction to her loudly colored card on Wednesday, I felt exponentially excited and nervous about what I had planned for that color scheme.
Before Alice and Jasper left for their Milan weekend, I was throwing Alice a birthday party.
Edward assured me his tiny sister had no idea of my plans, but I still zealously guarded every step twice as strongly as the evening approached. Planning a party for a psychic stood first in the line of impossible things to accomplish in my lifetime. Given my lessons in Olympia, I had to leave much of the actual decorating that night to the speed and stealth of one of the vampires. Seeing as no one could block Alice's gift like her mind-reading brother, Edward was that vampire.
To make up for the lack of Edward in my lesson after school, Rosalie had taken me to training instead. Luckily it was a last minute decision or else Alice definitely would have seen it. While Rosalie couldn't read minds, the blonde drove just as rapidly as Edward to get me to the lesson on time. A part of me really wanted to know how she hadn't run into a cop at any point, but I shelved it for a later date as we headed inside the gym.
"Mireille, how are you doing?" Daniel greeted me as he exited his office.
"I'm doing okay," I answered genuinely. "Ready to get moving."
Tall and confident, Rosalie easily caught Daniel's curious gaze. I didn't see too much ogling going on thankfully, but my instructor was just as struck by the blonde vampire's beauty as anyone would be under the circumstances.
"Edward not able to make it today?" Daniel wondered concernedly.
"Food poisoning," I lied with shocking speed.
"I'm sorry to hear that," he offered, wincing slightly. "Hope he's up on his feet soon."
"Our father's taking good care of him," Rosalie put in, subdued glee glimmering across her golden gaze.
"Your Edward's sister?" Daniel smiled pleasantly as he reached out to shake Rosalie's hand.
"In spirit," Rosalie remarked simply, accepting the handshake congenially enough.
"This is Rosalie," I introduced the blonde. "She's technically Carlisle's niece, too."
"Carlisle married my aunt," Rosalie expounded simply.
"All right," Daniel smiled at the qualification, taking note of the athletic outfit Rosalie wore. "Looks like you're here to train, too. Do you have any experience with self defense, Rosalie?"
"Of course," she answered immediately. "I trained the same as Edward."
"Let's get started then," Daniel announced, all-business, and waved us both forward.
After a few practice runs to keep me fresh, we moved into what promised to be a continual part of my training – learning to rely on my instincts.
For reasons beyond my understanding, I couldn't seem to bring the same clarity to Daniel and Rosalie's surprise 'attacks' as I had when Lee Kirkland tried to reach for my arm on the thirteenth.
"I don't know what happened," I commented through a frustrated exhale after the eleventh failure to anticipate incoming movement. "Last Friday, I felt really good about my instincts. I even sidestepped before one of the boys could touch my hand."
"Are any guys at school giving you trouble?" Daniel asked sharply.
"It's because of the spring dance coming up," I sighed, wishing I hadn't told him so much about the situation. "Some of the guys at school were trying to ask me out. One of them tried to grab my arm. He wasn't trying to hold me there, it was just to get my attention before I walked away. I felt really clear-headed about it and stepped away before he could reach me."
"I'm glad to hear that," Daniel agreed, nodding. "Maybe when you're not in lessons you sense the atmosphere more clearly. That wouldn't be a bad thing… Still, I'm not sold completely on that idea. I'd like to keep working on this."
"So would I," I agreed empathically in spite of my disappointment.
"I think that's all for today," Daniel decided. "When you practice at home, try not to think so deeply on it. It's no good if you're too engrossed in your own mind to notice what's right beside you."
"I'll do my best," I agreed and headed to the locker room with Rosalie to change into normal clothes.
When we finally sat down to pull our shoes on, I asked out of the blue, "Do you think he's right about my senses?"
"What do you mean?" Rosalie inquired with a slight frown.
"What Daniel said about my instincts being stronger when it's not in a lesson," I clarified. "Do you think he's right?"
Frowning still as she considered the question, Rosalie eventually tilted her head noncommittally. "He might be, I suppose…"
"…but you don't think he is," I completed the sentence for her, a frown taking up residence on my face also.
"I believe that – sometimes – your instincts may be relative to your gift," Rosalie slowly replied. "When the boys were clamoring over you last Friday, you sensed some sort of impending event, didn't you?"
Releasing a sigh of resignation, I confirmed plainly, "Yes, I did… but how does that change my natural instincts?"
"When Lee and Conner approached you in the hallway," the blonde took her time explaining, choosing the right words as she went along, "you were already hyperaware of your environment. Not because of a natural instinct, necessarily, but because you expected something to happen. Perhaps not a specific event, but something."
"So, it might not be my natural senses," I tried to clear up the difference, "but the increased… awareness… I feel whenever I absolutely know something is about to happen?"
"That's my speculation, at least," Rosalie stepped back from the situation slightly, putting her hands up as a caution. "It doesn't mean I'm right, but… I think it makes more sense that way."
As we headed back to Forks, I couldn't help agreeing with the assessment Rosalie made. Thankfully, the worrisome knowledge didn't stay in my head for very long, Alice's impending party taking up more concentration the closer we came to the house. No matter how worn out I felt once Rosalie and I returned home, I pushed myself to get ready as I'd planned for the night.
I had to appreciate Jasper and the rest of the family corralling Alice into earlier hunting as preparation for her trip. None of them had given even the slightest hint that something was going to happen later in the evening and Alice remained out of Edward's hair while he set up the party according to my design and laid out the outfits I'd chosen for everyone to wear.
Jasper kept Alice away long enough that Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Rosalie could return first and change into their party attire. Once I came downstairs, Edward kept me away from the party space down in the wide hallway off the foyer, all so he could finish up.
Edward suddenly appeared next to my seat on the piano bench, hurriedly lifting me and then dropping me back in front of the black marbled curtains that cordoned off the hallway.
"I've never made so many last minute decisions all at once," Edward muttered as he pulled me through the curtains and into the precise party space I had envisioned.
"Perfect," I murmured through a smile up the bronze-haired vampire beside me. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Edward smiled slightly in return, distracted as he glanced towards the ceiling. Returning his gaze to me, the seventeen-year-old murmured low, "Jasper and Alice just arrived. She suspects something, but no details."
"Wonderful!" I exclaimed with muted excitement, grinning widely. Edward laughed at my excitement and disappeared to change into his own party clothes.
Esme, Carlisle, Rosalie, and Emmett walked down the staircase in their new outfits a few moments later, all looking fantastic as usual. Edward appeared in seconds and we all waited for Jasper and Alice to join us.
"I'm intrigued to see what you've done with this theme," Rosalie confessed, hinting vaguely towards the colors of our dresses beneath our coats and the matching heels we would only change into once Alice saw the party space.
"I'm excited to see it myself," Esme admitted ruefully, tugging at the collar of her coat to make it lay straight.
Chuckling overcame Edward just as his tiny sister stepped down the staircase at Jasper's gentle prodding.
"Wow!" I exclaimed with utmost glee as the two stood before me.
Topped off in pin curls for the occasion, Alice looked stunning in an off-shoulder black cocktail dress with ostrich feather trimmings at her shoulders and strappy black heels with feathers across the toe. Beside her, Jasper stood tall and attractive in black slacks and a well-fitted black dress shirt with small pearl cuff links.
Alice took a good long look at everyone's black ensembles with steadily narrowing eyes. Carlisle, Emmett, and Edward's white dress shirts and black slacks gave nothing away, nor did the long black coats and black flats Esme, Rosalie, and I wore.
"Mireille Whitlock, you had better start talking," Alice demanded, arms crossed with fierce impatience at being blockaded so effectively. Risking a glance at Edward, I noticed him grinning slightly.
"Hmm…. Maybe I don't feel like it," I shrugged nonchalantly, rousing a grin from Jasper as well.
For a moment Alice struggled to restrain words I doubted would be very polite. Finally she succeeded with great reluctance and eyed me keenly until I grinned along with Jasper and Edward.
"You're evil," Alice remarked with a roll of her eyes.
"Pah!" I scoffed at her accusation. "You don't know evil until you've had you doing this every day. Come on, hypocrite, we're going partying."
Still withholding an actual decision to show Alice the decorations, I grasped her hand and walked casually over to the wall of marbled black fabric. Everyone followed hesitantly, not wanting to decide anything before the reveal.
Before we could step through, Jasper suddenly slipped something around Alice's throat and clasped it at the back, bending forward to warmly kiss her neck. Looking down, Alice breathed in happy surprise at the many strands of pearls now hanging at varying lengths from her throat.
"Thank you," she turned back to kiss her husband in return. Heaving a sigh at last, the small vampire turned to me expectantly.
"Well, go on inside," I retorted to the psychic, playfully pushing her ahead of me.
Eyes more peaceable now that she was actually going to see the display, Alice repressed a large grin and slipped through the curtains. Her loud gasp of shock caught my ears before Jasper and I could even follow her through the makeshift entryway, the two of us sharing a knowing expression.
"Oh my God!" Alice squealed, to the great amusement of her family and me. As we walked through the black curtains, I looked as Alice did at the party scheme all around.
Gray marble fabric spread the distance from one end of the hall to the other, lined with clear twinkle lights to act as a runway that stemmed from the black marble curtains hanging in crossed drapes to create an elegant entryway. At the far end of the hall, sheer white marble drapes hung across the width of the windows, flanked on either side by black and white curtains with broad horizontal stripes.
Similarly, the table had been clothed in white marble fabric capped with two broad black stripes at the bottom; not having found anything like it in stores, I had made the tablecloth myself. While I had worried endlessly if it looked right at the time, seeing them now left me quite satisfied with the result and – more importantly – with my continual ability to work around Alice's gift when I really set my mind to it. I loved pleasant surprises, so surprising my psychic friend was all the more a challenge and a delight every time I did it.
Far above the handmade tablecloth, black balloons floated with black strings and diamond weights holding them in place. Brash, bold color burst to life ahead of the balloons – in the form of ostrich feathers in a color palette of emerald, cerise, and amethyst. The vivid feathers topped off a tall, narrow glass centerpiece full of pearl necklaces that draped down from the top of the glass and nearly dusted the mirrored base of the structure.
To the left of the focal center stood a large wooden 'A', the large capital letter representing Alice's first initial painted solid black and drenched with pearls. On the opposite side of the centerpiece, a small cerise pink dress form also dripped with pearls, black ostrich feathers attached at the top of the form.
Silk flowers petals in the main three colors were strewn far and wide across the surface of the table. Amidst the flowery confetti sat two Chanel perfume bottles, one of which Rosalie loaned for the occasion. One bottle from Esme still contained the actual perfume, while Rosalie had emptied her perfume into a vintage red glass perfume container on her vanity. Surprised at the time by her willingness to part with one of her possessions, I had nonetheless accepted the empty Chanel bottle to fill it with loose pearls.
Aside from various small gifts wrapped in the trio of green, pink, and purple and topped with black bows, the only other item on the table was a white cake stand. On these were placed a glamorous treat of marbled Oreos. The black and white cookies were one of my favorites. Given I was the only one eating, Edward had decided if I was going to have some kind of dessert, I may as well make what I liked. It hadn't taken much to convince me, so while Alice had left with Jasper for a run, I had set about dipping Oreos in two white chocolate mixes – one with green and purple, one with pink and purple. The effect was quite lovely combined with the marbled fabrics all around.
Alice continued gazing in amazement at her birthday celebration, leading Esme, Rosalie and I to remove our coats and slip into the heels sitting to the side of the entry curtains. Edward had to slip my heels on more rapidly as his sister began to turn back.
Edward had just set my heeled foot down when Alice finally did turn to us; The fashionista caught sight of our cocktail dresses with the same surprise mixed with a long-suffering air. With Esme in emerald, Rosalie in cerise, and me in amethyst, the color palette I teased in her card and now used in the party took a step up from what it had been. Add in the feathers attached to the ankle strap of our colorful shoes and it really came together for the party design.
"You little snake!" Alice turned to me with a light but playful shove. "Those colors will haunt me for the rest of eternity!"
"Well, they had to be used for someone's anniversary, after all," Carlisle teased, making Esme and me laugh.
"It's not like I tried to kill you," I pestered Alice mercilessly.
"Apparently you don't understand what happens to me when Jazz wears fitted black."
Laughter erupted from all of us that time, leaving Jasper to gaze at his tiny wife with gleaming half-black eyes.
"Thank you, Mir," Alice squealed despite her apparent lack of restraint with black-clothed Jasper, lifting me up and twirling us in a tight circle before finally setting me on the ground again. I couldn't stop laughing at her excitement.
Swinging around with sudden fierceness, Alice jabbed a finger in her bronze-haired brother's chest. "And you, brother mine, are going to stop giving away my secrets!"
"I haven't said a word since Emmett at Christmas," Edward grinned in all truthfulness, lifting his hands is submission.
"Then how did Mir…" Alice exhaled irritably, hands slipping onto her hips before realization crossed her features. "…Edward, you dork! You set all this up for her!"
So saying, Alice grabbed her favorite brother in a bear hug amidst further laughter.
"There are gifts on the table, however you want to handle those," Edward nodded amusedly at the wrapped parcels along the back of the tabletop as his sister pulled away.
"What a send off," Alice sighed happily, dancing over to kiss Jasper again just because she could.
"Come on, short stuff, open your presents before you leave," Emmett called out the psychic with a grin that meant trouble.
"If you're pushing it, Emmett," Alice remarked with an exasperated sigh, "then I know your gift is something questionable."
Laughing at the truth in that, Emmett didn't seem perturbed at all.
"I want it known right now," Rosalie cut in wryly, "I had nothing to do with Emmett's gift."
"Should I hide my eyes?" I wondered dryly. Esme appeared to agree with me.
"I doubt it would help," Edward muttered, a certain level of embarrassment on his face.
"Uh oh," I muttered just as uncomfortably when Alice sought out Emmett's tagged gift and rushed through it as though it would go away more quickly.
I wasn't exactly sure what the gift looked like or even what it actually was, since Alice kept it turned away from us, but I did know that above the sounds of crumpling paper arose a deep, gravelly, computerized voice that called out fiercely, "Ride 'em, cowgirl!"
No one said a word, the air so still we could have heard pin drop to the hardwood.
Finally, out of the quiet, Esme could be heard mumbling, "Oh my Lord, Emmett."
Alice eyed the biggest Cullen like a hawk about to dive for its prey and I knew whatever came next would be just as bad as the gift Emmett bought.
"But Emmett," the tiny vampire replied all too sweetly, smiling with saccharine intent, "why would I ride this, when I have a cowboy?"
Breaking from my frozen shell, I found myself bursting into such hard laughter that I didn't even make any sound. Edward chuckled at me awkwardly, helping me stay upright while I leaned forward clutching my aching stomach. Carlisle tried very hard not to laugh, burying his face against Esme's caramel waves. Esme had resorted to covering her face with both hands and Rosalie simply looked long-suffering at both her husband and her sister, the former whistling low and impressed at the implications presented.
Jasper snorted sharply, holding back his humor more for his own sake than anyone else's, I suspected, and purposefully guided his wife back to the remaining gifts without a word.
With Alice and Jasper both on vacation in Milan for the weekend, the house seemed a little lonely sometimes, just as it had when Rosalie and Emmett spent a weekend at the car show three weeks earlier.
Mostly I spent time practicing piano and self-defense, but I would also branch out and cook with Esme or play cards with Emmett, Rosalie, and Edward. I even helped Esme with her greenhouse designs for a while on Sunday, something we both enjoyed immensely.
Monday morning dawned brighter than I was used to and I frowned at the windows bombarding me with extensive pale light. I had awoken much earlier than my standard time for some unclear reason and it made me frown.
"Oh, no," I groaned in sudden comprehension, bringing Edward to my side.
"I don't think we'll be at school today," the vampire explained apologetically, "but I'll check with Alice."
Edward sent a prompting text to his sister, not daring to interrupt the 'honeymooners' – as he put it – with an actual phone call. Confused, I preempted an explanation from the seventeen-year-old.
According to Edward, over the years Alice tended to answer the phone even while involved in… well, activities. She was always hyperaware of things going askew in their lives and more often than not she couldn't seem to resist, often stopping right in the middle of things to make sure nothing was wrong. The caller always had a very clear idea what they had interrupted, leaving the situation incredibly awkward.
Apparently it drove Jasper insane, although Edward's humiliated face spoke his distaste at having to know that in the first place. Personally, I didn't quite understand how Alice could focus that clearly while engaged in something as intensely overwhelming as what had been described in Breaking Dawn.
All in all, texting was really a boon for the Cullens sometimes, Edward gratefully recounted to me while we waited.
After a few seconds, Alice called rather than texted, immediately speaking before Edward could do so. For a minute it sounded as though she were chewing him out and I guessed why, but didn't comment on it.
"Not today, then," Edward concluded after a minute or two, rolling his eyes. A grin crossed my face in response. "All right. Thank you, Alice."
"No school?" I repeated in equal part relief and dismay. I hated missing class, even if I didn't necessarily have to do as well this time around; it was just the way I worked.
"No, I'm sorry," Edward smiled at my mixed feelings on the subject. "We're all 'out camping' today."
"I've never been camping before," I commented with a thoughtful frown.
That single comment was about all it took for Carlisle and Esme to pack up camping supplies and take us out into the woods deep behind the house.
We spent all day out in the woods, not even making a campsite at first. During those glorious sunlight hours we examined various plants and trees thanks to the Cullens' extensive knowledge. I avoided poison ivy and ticks like the plague and we all enjoyed the novelty of fresh pools of water where we found them.
At one point Emmett and Edward made a competition out of who could climb the most trees, bottom to top, in two minutes, leaving me laughing out loud at their brotherly antics. Emmett lost – with bad grace, it could be said – by virtue of Edward's maddening speed. My teasing him about being a sore loser wasn't appreciated at all. Emmett had the nerve to suggest I was just afraid to climb a tree myself. Being a moderately proud and stubborn individual, I responded to the suggestion with a glare and proceeded to find what I hoped was a climbing tree.
While Emmett, Rosalie, and Edward stood observing in various states of high humor, Esme and Carlisle at least tried not to laugh as I made a bad attempt at climbing said tree, failing to even make the third branch up. Pink cheeked from a mixture of exertion and embarrassment, I tried to climb back down, but looking towards the ground was a scary prospect and I found myself caught between the ground below and unreachable tree limbs above.
With a splash of kindness sparkling in her golden eyes, Esme took pity on me and breezed up onto the branch beside me. The others became quieter in the face of my upset, even Emmett restraining humor for a moment.
"Here, Mir," Esme sighed fondly, taking my left hand away from the too-high branch I'd tried to grasp and instead placing it on the tree trunk. Her warm, gentle features eased some of my anxiety, although none of my embarrassment. "Whenever you can't reach above you, do your best to look around each side of the tree. There might be a branch to your left or right that can get you in a better position; sometimes you have to move around the tree before you can move up the tree."
I tried, with a lot of careful hand support from Esme, to look to the left and right around the tree trunk, but none of the branches were close enough to reach or climb onto.
Disappointed, I turned back to Esme with a frown and admitted, "I think I chose a bad tree to try climbing."
"Everyone picks a terrible tree sometimes," Esme consoled me kindly, rapidly returning us both to the ground.
Suddenly the lovely vampire laughed brightly, hugging me to her side. "Look at me! I was a grand tree-climber as a girl, but I finally picked a terrible one and my leg ended up broken."
Releasing me from her grasp, Esme smiled comfortingly and turned under her husband's gentle hand when it landed on her shoulder.
Staring into each other's eyes consumed the couple's attention for several long moments. Reaching up to lovingly stroke Carlisle's smooth cheek, Esme finally murmured softly, "Then again… underneath it all, it was a wonderful thing I picked a bad tree. If I hadn't fallen from it, I might never have found what I was really looking for."
The warmth in Esme's soulful gaze turned Carlisle's own golden eyes soft and deep, their first fateful meeting holding sway over their hearts. In the ensuing quiet as we at last made a campsite, I allowed all of my sentimental admiration to have its moment and Edward never said a word.
My new camping experience was not at all asinine, as I had first worried it might be. To be sure, the Cullens had actually taken me 'glamping' more than camping, but I wasn't going to argue the ease of the whole situation and the beautiful lessons I learned without even realizing it.
Edward took time out of our camping trip to run me back for my training, but I refused point blank to hang from his back. The idea of having the world behind me while Edward ran like a blur through the trees didn't sound the least bit appealing. Laughing at my command, the vampire had picked me up without argument and sped to the house and my Acura to make our way into Olympia. Daniel was glad to see Edward 'healthy' again and dove right back into lessons.
Upon our return to the woods that night, I felt remarkably safe in the grasp of my vampire friends. Near the fire, Esme and Rosalie sat discussing the house plans Esme had given her daughter for Christmas. Meanwhile, I resignedly accepted Carlisle's suggestion of a chess match while Emmett and Edward expectantly watched the game.
I lost even more soundly and rapidly than I ever had with Jasper, something that had me glaring slightly at Carlisle as Edward took my place for a game with his father and Emmett laughed over my discontent.
"I'm sorry," Carlisle chuckled deeply, pulling me into a one-armed embrace as I passed his seat.
Sighing, I put my arm around Carlisle the same as he did me, moving to sit beside him on the log he'd acquisitioned. I watched the game progress with greater attention than usual. After several moments of my confused frown, Edward and Carlisle mutually smiled in good humor and changed tactics. In-between toasting smores with a fascinated Emmett, I let father and son show me more intricate strategies for chess, the two of them trying to teach me each idea with surprising patience on Edward's part.
I'd gained moderate comprehension of three different techniques by the time two figures burst from the dense trees to the East.
"Hi, everyone!" Alice smiled broadly at all of us, dancing into our small clearing hand in hand with Jasper.
"Welcome back," Carlisle greeted them with a smile.
"Hi guys," I waved at the two with a smile of my own. "How was Milan?"
"It was superb!" Alice groaned as though she couldn't get enough of the place. "The fashions were absolutely remarkable. I even bought you a couple of outfits."
"That's a scary thought," I joked with her.
"They're Versace, so it shouldn't be," the tiny vampire sniffed.
Jasper and Edward just shook their heads at Alice's absurd reasoning, and I couldn't resist laughing.
"We even spent a few hours celebrating Mardi Gras," Alice continued, ignoring her brother's and husband's mutual exasperation. "Since we couldn't be in school today, I figured it was a great time to be spontaneous."
"You? Spontaneous?" I affected a stunned expression, causing Alice to glare playfully at me and wordlessly join her mother and sister amid laughter from her brothers.
To my great surprise when we returned to school on Tuesday, beyond general inquiries of where we'd been, none of my human friends commented about the oddity of missing school for a supposed camping trip. At lunch, Angela only inquired if I liked the bonding time Carlisle and Esme created for us.
"I think it's a great idea," she added once I'd shrugged noncommittally. "A way for adopted family to feel unified."
Surprised by her assumption or perhaps by the matter-of-fact tone in which she said it, I had merely explained the experience was fun and left it at that.
The next surprise waiting for me seemed even more unbelievable, but judging Edward's contemplative expression, there was more than met the eye to our interruption as we headed to the Volvo after school.
"Um, Mireille…" Jessica Stanley hesitantly approached halfway across the parking lot, eyes roaming the lot a little skittishly. Belatedly the teen greeted Edward with a slightly humiliated expression; the look caught me off guard, but I didn't allow my face to show it.
"Jessica," I responded coolly, remembering all too well her foolish rumors currently floating around the Cullens and myself.
The black-haired girl seemed to steel herself, breathing in with sudden boldness as she blurted out rapid – albeit quiet – words in some mixture of apology and determination, "Look, I know it's not easy to believe, but I didn't spread that rumor about sabotage. All I told Angela was how you told me to stop pushing about… well, you know."
With Edward standing right beside me, Jessica clearly didn't have enough courage to say precisely what I was supposed to 'know' and instead let her eyes drop for a moment.
"Anyway," the girl made herself press onward, looking back up through sheer willpower I reluctantly admired, "I thought maybe Lauren overheard us at lunch and said something over the top to get attention, but it wasn't her either. Somebody else definitely started that rumor… I don't know who did, but whoever they are, they're also the one who told Lauren all those things she kept yelling about in gym with you."
Having said her piece, the short girl hurriedly walked away, not evening saying goodbye as she hurried to her car further down the way and practically leaped inside. Despite her rapid departure, it was almost as if Jessica hadn't wanted to leave our presence… and yet it also felt as though she couldn't wait to get away from us.
A hundred different questions buzzed in my mind, all climbing over each other and nearly giving me a headache… Why would Jessica be so eager to clarify all of that with me? Could I really believe her? Who would do what she had described? Why was she in such a hurry to get away? And why on earth did she keep peeking around the parking lot so nervously?
The whole exchange was just plain odd, but I kept silent until Edward and I slipped into the Acura.
"Edward?" I prompted the mind-reader with questions and worries flooding my brain.
Taking a breath, the vampire eyed the cars all around us as I backed out of my spot and headed towards the exit, eventually speaking low and concerned, "Jessica was telling the truth."
My jaw dropped slightly and I had to shake myself to even reply, "But… Why would she… I don't understand, Edward."
"Jessica was…" the seventeen-year-old began, but searched for words he couldn't seem to find. After a minute, he sighed frustratedly and went on to say, "It's as if she was afraid of something… hunting her. That sounds melodramatic, I suppose, but I can't explain it any other way."
"Why would she tell me all this?" I wondered, even more confused. "I mean, how does that benefit her?"
"I'm not sure it does, precisely," Edward answered with a helpless shrug.
"That doesn't make any sense," I exhaled irritably. "Jessica is all about herself. The guide even said outright that she isn't loyal to anyone, ever."
"I don't yet know exactly what influence you have on Jessica Stanley," the bronze-haired vampire considered pensively, "but being around you seems to have quite a neutralizing effect on her. There's just something about you she's drawn to. Lately I've been noticing it more and more."
"Don't tell me this is another of your speeches about my charismatic nature?" I grumbled, looking away from him with a roll of my eyes as we came to a stop in the Cullens' driveway.
"It's not your charisma, per se," Edward spoke as though I hadn't even said anything. "I can't tell if she simply likes you as a person or if she wants to become more like you."
"Okay, Edward, you just took charisma to a whole other level," I remarked worriedly.
"Is the idea of such admiration so strange to you?" the pianist wondered with furrowed brows. "You don't create stories and lies to make others like you. You're very honest about who you are inside. Despite your moments of personal doubt, overall you have a strong sense of self. Most people can only wish for that kind of personal satisfaction, unable to move beyond their own petty mentality to reach it. It's not so unusual for that kind of person to want what you have."
Frozen in startled contemplation of Edward's surprisingly deep, sympathetic view, I didn't quite know how to respond.
"Underneath her self-importance and denial, I think Jessica just wants to be liked," Edward murmured, leaving the topic at an end when he got out of the car, hurrying inside to grab his gym clothes and run back out to the car.
Still struck speechless by the depth and complexity of Edward's sudden analysis, I remained silent and contemplative as he sped to Body Balance for training. I only half focused in my lessons that evening, leaving Dan worried something happened at school that disturbed me. Edward fielded the question admirably, allowing us to change and leave without any more questions asked.
When we reached the house at last, I tried to remember what had jumpstarted our conversation about Jessica in the first place.
Recalling the way Edward described Jessica's skittish behavior in the parking lot, I suddenly frowned. There was a lot more than my 'influence' on Jessica to consider from the day's – indeed, the past two weeks' – events.
Following the lean vampire into the house, I continued thinking over the situation with deepening concern not only for Jessica, but for us, as well. Based on the darkened features of the vampires around me, I knew I didn't have to explain myself when I questioned, "Who would have spread that rumor?"
"Can't you guess?" Rosalie sneered angrily over the situation.
"You really think this was Vanessa Travis?" I grimaced at the very idea, but couldn't dispel it.
"It does seem a little pointless for her," Emmett considered, brows dipping low on his forehead as he frowned.
"What would this accomplish?" Esme asked of the room at large.
"Control? Dominance? Leverage, even?" Jasper shrugged casually. "Sometimes it's not direct aggression, but indirect influence that gains the most power over another being."
"Like convincing someone you love them, in order to keep them under your authority," Alice said quietly, eyes apologetic as she looked upon her husband leaning so comfortably on the sofa with her. Jasper's reaction held no pain or distaste at the gentle analogy, only acceptance and a mild pride for his wife's logical comparison.
"This isn't what I was expecting," I confessed nervously. "A direct confrontation is one thing, but this…"
"This is something else," Carlisle agreed, his lips tipping lower than I had seen in weeks. "I still have to agree with Esme, however… What would this accomplish? Not simply for momentary power, but in the long run."
"We don't really know," Edward said grimly. "It may not have any long-term implications in her plans yet. I still haven't heard anything particularly significant in her thoughts up to this point and whenever she sees Rosalie, it still takes the wind out of her sails. Something, though, must be knocking around in her head. The fact it was Lauren who started spouting these rumors makes me think Vanessa overheard the situation somehow and made up some sob story about Jessica being railroaded by Mireille."
"Knowing that it would set Lauren off gossiping," Alice added, nodding along with the theory.
"Exactly," Edward nodded in confirmation.
"Do you think Jessica knows what Vanessa does in her spare time?" I found the questioned tumbling from my mouth.
"No," Edward negated, shaking his head forcefully. "She has only a vague fear that someone is eavesdropping on her conversations. I'm not certain she even knows Vanessa all that well."
"They are two years apart," Esme reminded everyone.
"So are Lauren and Vanessa," Carlisle pointed out.
"Yes, but the only reason Lauren spends time with Vanessa is because of her superiority complex," Alice countered.
"Actually, Lauren doesn't generally spend time with Vanessa," Edward shook his head. "I think Homecoming was a chance encounter."
"And of course Vanessa would know what Lauren is like," Rosalie speculated, still having a hard time taming her anger. Emmett reached over to grasp his wife's hand comfortingly.
"It's not difficult, really," Alice rolled her eyes.
"That still leaves us with absolutely nothing to go on," I sighed.
"Sadly, no," Carlisle sighed as well. "All it boils down to is being cautious, as you have already been."
All well and good to say, I supposed, but my anxiety notched itself up regardless and I doubted it would ever really fade – not unless Vanessa Travis disappeared from the face of the earth.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed Chapter 41: Illuminating!
