High low,
That's how my little cousin spells it. So we get to finally start Halloween. We get to see Rose for the first time and a rivalry between Bella and Edward? Let's see…Thanks again to Helen, and all of you reading my little tale. Let me know what you think and happy reading.
I don't own any of the Twilight characters or materials, I just make them root for my sports teams, lovable losers included.
Chapter 18: All Hallows Eve
Friday morning, I was waiting for the bus with a duffle bag stuffed with all of my costume pieces, including an ace bandage and my post-op boot from when I sprained my middle toe last summer to make a fake cast. A long, embarrassing story involving me babysitting, Nessie screaming bloody murder, and the kitchen step. Bianca, remember.
Alice was kind enough to give me a page and a half long checklist with a note at the top:
I know that you think that I am going overboard with everything, but my nickname gives me that right! Pleaseee double (triple?) check that you have EVERYTHING before you pack it. LOVE YOU! This is going to be so much fun!
Xoxo
Alice ;)
So I double - and triple - check everything, not realizing I still had the boys' handkerchiefs – even one for Emmett since Allie couldn't resist – with me.
The whole school can wear costumes today, so Nessie is standing next to me in her Tinkerbell costume, complete with wand, white tights, my old black ballet slippers, and lime green pajama shorts under her tutu so that she didn't have to worry about playing or gym.
"Sisi, they have a parade at the end of the day where we walk around the school and trick-or-treat. Then we meet in the gym where all the parents are invited to come and see us. Momma and Daddy said they were going to come and then we are meeting at Edward's house, right?" Nessie explained as she jumps up and down with excitement. We could dress at our old school, but there were too many kids to have any kind of a parade or anything like that. Nesmee had been excited for weeks. We high schoolers could dress up too but not wanting to ruin the surprise – Alice – or be dressed up all day – moi – we opted for wearing our original costumes to school. I hadn't had one, so I ended up in my Clara costume from The Nutcracker that my dance school put on last Christmas.
This costume always made me feel beautiful and graceful, with its long lavender, tulle skirt that flowed when I spun, fake corseted front, and long sleeves with triangles on the with loops for my middle finger to keep them from riding up while I danced. Not thinking anyone would know who I was, Nesmee insisted that I carry her stuffed mouse, Squeaks, around with me. She's lucky she's cute.
"You look really pretty, Belly," Ness said, looking at me like she wished that she could compare. Nonsense.
"So do you, Squirt. I think that we get dismissed to watch the parade after class meetings, so I'll make sure to wave."
Nana Swan came up behind us. "You both look just adorable. Nesmee, sweetie, you forgot your Nana cookies for your lunch. You both forgot your Nana hugs." We both turned back around and ran at her. "Papa and I are going to be there, too."
"Yay! Oh Bella, is Alice going to come, too?" Nessie asked. She loved Alice – like I did – as another sister, and I think Alice felt the same way.
"All four of us," I promised.
"Woohoo," she yelled. Nana and I started to giggle as Nessie jumped up and down and hugged me. I felt that I was right about her and Seth.
"Nesmee," I said, pausing until she looked at me. "I know you don't like that I'm not in elementary school with you anymore but that's why this school is perfect. We are always in the same building here. I'm only ever a few classrooms away. You will always be my baby sis, though. Always."
"Even when you graduate?"
"Even then."
"Promise?"
"I double sister pinky promise," I said, crossing my arms and holding out both my pinkies to her. She wrapped her smaller ones around mine and squeezed with all her might. After, I pulled her into a hug until we hear the bus coming.
"Bye-bye, my pearls," Nana said as the bus came to a stop in front of us. "Hey ya, Chip," Nana greeted our bus driver.
"Morning, Girlies," Chipper said once she opened the door of the bus. Chipper had gone to school with our nana – and Gramma Higginbottom – and they had been friends ever since. "What do we have here? Let's see, hmm…Tinkerbell," she said, pointing at Nessie, who curtsies and accepted the fun-sized Hersey bar with a huge grin. "Hmm…let's see…mouse friends, ballet slippers…Clara, right?"
"Yep," I answered, curtsying also and accepting my candy bar. Chipper winked at me and we turned to take our seats.
"Told you the mouse would help," Nessie said, sticking her tongue out.
"Yeah, yeah, window seat for you today, Tink," I said, chuckling as I playfully shoved her into the seat. We crowded the window and waved to Nana out the window.
Our next pick up was Jake, and then Edward, then Rosalie Hale. Rosalie was in our class, and she was sure to be valedictorian. She was nice – albeit shy – and very focused. Rose usually sat with us in the back of the bus and talked a little, but she was more often studying. Though we weren't supposed to be figuring out who Emmett's date was, Rose was my guess. Though I hadn't seen her with the books or anything, the P.O.P.S situation made a lot of sense. Even though, Rose was friendly with them, she also seemed to be their favorite topic of conversation. Emmett was pretty popular around the school, but he hung out with us. They would definitely jump on anyone that was with him. Edward, Jasper, and Jake for that matter. We pulled up to Jacob's house, and I had to snort-laugh. He was wearing a black tank top under a light spring jacket, home-made jean shorts, and running sneakers. He got on the bus with a hop and had to tell Chipper who he was. After receiving his candy bar, he made his way to the back where we sat.
"Heya, Tink. Who are you, Bells?" He asked. Nessie was always happy when one of my friends talked to her, but Jake was her favorite.
"She's Clara from The Nutcracker. We did it for dance class last Christmas, and Bella was the lead. I was a sugarplum fairy," She finished proudly.
"Well, of course, you were. They only let the cutest ballerinas be sugarplum fairies," he said with a wink, and I rolled my eyes. Nesmee was bright pink under her pre-blushed cheeks. Yep. Someone definitely had a crush.
"Alice is just going to kill you. We weren't supposed to be our characters in school. We all agreed." I told him, smirking at my friend's impending demise.
"She's gonna have to deal with it. Mom wouldn't let me use my jersey because I might spill something on it," Jake said. He looked like he didn't get the big deal. I have to say that the costume almost made the nickname too real. It was uncanny. He sat in the seat across the aisle from us like always.
We made our way up to Edward's house. As we crested the hill, Edward came down off the porch in a baseball uniform. A Cliff Lee Indians uniform!
"Oh, you're taking all my fun away, Mr. Cullen!" Chipper said, handing out the candy with a smirk. Edward shrugged and proceeded down the bus aisle towards us.
"Get off my bus with that jersey on, Cullen!" I yelled at him with a smirk.
"Why are you hating on the Indians, Swan?" Edward questioned, holding his hands up in surrender
"Because the Cubbies rule all!" Nessie and I yelled at the same time.
When I was little, my father took Nessie and me to The Hall of Fame in Cooperstown while we were there for a trip with my baseball team. We went to a game at Doubleday Field and walked around the museum. After, dad took us to the gift shop to pick out a hat and something for mom. Nessie being 3 and a half and me being 6, we gravitated toward the one with the cute cub mascot. Daddy's a Mariners fan. He was slightly disappointed that we weren't Mariners fans too, but he said that we should pick our favorite team so that we enjoy baseball. Over the years, baseball had become the bonding thing that Nessie and I did with dad, watching every game that we could and of course if they weren't playing my cubbies, I rooted for daddy's Mariners.
"Eww! Not the Cubs! Come on! Why on earth would you like them? They haven't won a series in what? 100 years?"
"I believe that I already answered that question. You're one to talk. The Indians haven't won in like 60!
"They are my Grandpa Cullen's team. Why do you like the Cubs? Cute mascot or Sean Marshall!" He smirked down at me, calling my bluff.
"Sean Marshall is a beast on the mound. What, Cullen? Did you think that a girl couldn't like anything about baseball but a cute mascot and a pretty face? Besides, I bet the Cubbies win again before the Indians!" I finished, stabbing at his chest with my finger to make my point. Nesmee was nodding along behind me. Edward was sitting on the bench seat with Jake, who was laughing. They didn't need to know that Edward's assumptions were right. We stare each other down for another moment, but Edward broke first.
"To each their own, I guess," he said, smiling crookedly at me. "I still think it's the darkest kind of blasphemy, but I have to admit that he is a pretty good pitcher…for the Cubs." Edward said as he winked at me. What just happened was lost on Jake and Nessie.
"Was that part of a quote, Mr. Cullen?" I whispered. I smiled because I knew the answer.
"Surely is. I read them, sue me." He grinned at me because he knows that I'm shocked. "Do me a favor and don't tell Emmett. I'd hate to have to has to hit him over the head with them."
I crossed my heart and started to blush as the realization hit me. That meant that he knew exactly what was behind the nicknames, and he was still playing along. I only had a few moments to ponder this as we pulled up to Rosalie's driveway.
As Chipper opened the bus door, Rosalie's little brother, Henry, bonded up the stairs first. Henry was a year younger than Renesmee. The fourth grade was supposed to dress up as their idol as a class. He was wearing the khaki uniform of a zookeeper under a light, navy blue jacket.
"Who do we have here?" Chipper asked.
"I'm Steve Irwin, because I want to be a zoologist," Henry exclaimed, rocking the cutest fake Aussie accent ever. He really was just adorable. He sat down in the second seat from the front, as the back of the bus was 5th grade and up.
Rose walked on the bus then, hiking up her flowing dress. It was a beautiful muslin dress, and Rose looked as if she was stepping off the streets of early 19th century England. The skirt and bodice were a few shades deeper than a sky blue with soft lavender accents. Her yellow blonde hair was in an elegant twisted bun at the base of her neck and a bonnet was in place above it. Rose straightened her skirt at the top of the stairs. She filled out the dress perfectly in size and length. Her grandmother must have made it for her. She smiled at Chipper.
"Well, hello Miss Hale. May I convey you to school?" Chipper said, smiling.
"Yes, I do believe that you may. Thank you," Rose answered and curtsied as she received her candy. She stood back up and starts moving down the aisle, the spitting image of Rosemond Pike.
"Miss Jane Bennet or Miss Emma Woodhouse?" I asked her with a grin. She smiled back.
"Miss Jane Bennet, of course, Miss Clara. Miss Woodhouse would have a personal carriage to convey her to school," she answered, and we both laughed. I hope to God I was right about her being Emmett's date. Rose sat delicately in the seat behind me, we the four of us talked about the dance and the looming class meeting.
End Note: Next up, we get to see some big brother back-up and the return of the asshat, Mike Newton