Hey Everyone,

We're going to the Cullens! First, we get to see the parade. Thank you all for reading, and I would love to know what you think of the story. I am soooo sorry for the radio silence and inconsistencies in my posting. I'm trying to get everything back under control. Thank you for hopefully staying with me and reading my story. Hopefully, we are back in business. Happy Reading!

I don't own any of the Twilight characters and materials. I only have Esme make them themed snacks.

Chapter 22: Casa De Cullen

The parade was one of the most adorable things I had ever witnessed. Each of the classes was led around the perimeter of the gym to wave at the audience. When each student reached the front, they bowed or curtsied one at a time. The whole thing lasted just under the rest of the period. We sat next to my parents and Nana and Papa, and I could feel my mother and Nan watching Edward and me. Whether they were waiting for him to touch my hand or to kiss me in the center of the gym, I wasn't quite sure. They looked happy about whatever it was. When Nesmee was upfront, she curtsied and waved to all of us.

After we gave Jazz and Em their handkerchiefs, we made our way to the bus. Alice sat with me across the aisle from the boys. She laughed at the fact that I actually had three checks next to everything.

When the bus pulled up to Edward's house, Esme was waiting on the step to greet us. The Cullens lived in a two-story farmhouse across the road from their family's cow barn. The house had off-white, wooden paneling and wonderfully large front windows on either side of the door. Esme's pet project was landscaping and design. The lawn and backyard were meticulously maintained as was the interior. Nothing was out of place, but she also managed to make it feel perfectly lived-in, a beautiful home instead a perfect house. Edward and Lizzy's rooms were at the end of the second story hallway. Edward's older brothers, Garrett and Peter, had rooms in the hallway off for the living room on the main floor. Esme and Carlisle's room was at the other end of the upstairs hallway. Lizzy was off at U-Dub as a freshman in their Marine Biology program, Peter was in Law School at Northwestern, and Garrett was at Johns Hopkins in his 6th year of Med School focusing on Pediatric Cardiology. As you can see, all of the Cullens are freakishly smart, and Edward was no exception – other than my helping him in English. Yeah, never going to let him live that done.

As Edward and Jake have been friends forever, Edward had the biggest bunk bed I had ever seen, easily able to fit four comfortably. Dark hardwood frame and pillow-top mattresses with dark navy bedding sets on both tiers. It almost made it seem like a dorm room. His desk was along the far wall under the window with a view of the backyard. The room was navy blue with a steel grey trim. He had a closet and a dresser, and the room was tidier than you would expect. At first, I thought that it was Esme, but knowing Edward the way I did now, I knew that it was because he couldn't concentrate with a mess.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite gaggle of kiddos! Snacks are in the kitchen. Towels are in both bathrooms if you want to wash up. I'm cooking dinner and then you kids can get ready," Esme opened the door and hugged each of us as we passed, kissing Edward and Jacob on the cheek, and Alice and I on the forehead. Having showered this morning, Alice and I both decided to wash our faces and arms, while the boys needed one after recess.

After we were done, Alice and I went down to the kitchen to see what was for snack tonight. Like my mother, Esme always went overboard. Blood punch, spiderweb cupcakes, and a cookie shaped like a vampire's mouth, fangs and all. She had nine sets of snacks, having made one for everyone, even Seth, Nessie, and Mystery Rowena. My parents and the Whitlocks were taking Seth and Nessie to Port Angles to trick-or-treat. More people, more candy. They were coming here first to take pictures with everyone. Jazz, Em, and Mystery Rowena were coming here to go to the dance, the parents had insisted.

"Heya, girlies. How are you doing today?" Esme asked as she stirred the noodles on the stovetop

"Really good. We had our class meeting today, and Edward got president, Bella got vice, and I got treasurer. Although Bella ran the meeting. Maybe you and Edward should switch places, Bells," Alice laughed.

"Oh, really. The newest 7th-grade power couple is in charge, huh?" Esme asked with a wink, and she and Alice laughed at my expense as I went scarlet.

"MOM!" Edward yelled, coming around the corner a few shades lighter than me. Yep, I could definitely see our moms as friends.

"What, am I wrong?" She challenged, pulling the noodles off the stove and walking them over to the sink to drain them.

"You're making Bella feel uncomfortable, Mom."

"That wasn't a no." And she wasn't the only one to notice. Edward blushed, matching my color more now, and he and Jake sat down to eat their goodies.

We sat down for dinner after we helped Esme set the table, spaghetti, and meatballs, and dug in. Carlisle had just come back from washing up after he'd helped Edward Sr. on the farm. After Edward and Elizabeth retired from the city and the firm, they started farming of all things. Edward Sr.'s grandfather had been a farmer, and he had fallen in love with it in his summers as a boy. Though Carlisle worked a nearly full load at the hospital, the older Grandpa Ed got, the more help he needed on the farm. Garrett and Peter used to help, but they were across the country now. Grandpa Ed didn't let just anyone work on the farm, so finding farmhands was…difficult. All of our dads helped, but it was starting to be too much.

"Edward, Jacob, you have your shit together for 10 o'clock practice tomorrow morning…" he came to a stop with his wife's glare. "Oops, forgot the ladies were here. Sorry girls."

"No problem, Dr. C. You know our dads," Alice said, and I nodded, though Esme's glare was familiar too.

"Yeah, dad, we do. It's over by the door like always."

"Well, kids, you need to eat so you can go get ready," Esme said, and so we did.

End Note: Next up… the girls are getting ready for the dance. Soon we get to meet Mystery Rowena… Let me know what you think. See you soon.