A/N: Don't own anything Twilight….yadda, yadda, yadda…Thank you for all your support and Reviews…New Goal is 35….Enjoy the first day….
Unexpected Family
'First Day of school….god give me strength' Sara thinks to herself as she is squeezed and pushed through the mass of student body to get from her locker to her first class which is Earth Science with Uncle Jasper, then it's Algebra with Edward, Economics with Alice, Rosalie and Emmett, then English Lit on her own, lunch, P.E. with everyone, World History with Emmett and Jasper and finally Music with Jasper and Edward. It's a full load of classes but P.E. and Music will be easy enough with no homework and honestly the Math class is the only one worth worrying about and Edward did promise to help with the homework so hopefully she can at least pass the class.
Sara takes a deep breath and walks into the classroom to find Jasper already there and waiting for her with a big cheeky smile causing Sara to giggle and shake her head at him as she walks over to the desk and sits down next to him.
The rest of the students file in before the bell rings and the teacher stands to introduced herself as she hands out the syllabus for the year going over homework, tests, mid-terms, the class project and finals. This routine was repeated three more times before lunch and Sara was exhausted and a little overwhelmed.
The last class before lunch was English Lit, the one class without any of the Cullen family with her, but by the time she reached this class she was feeling a little more comfortable with what to expect and started recognizing some of the other students and begins to place the name with the face.
In this class Sara is partnered up with Angela Weber, quiet and shy from what she has seen in her other classes but nice enough, her colors are a bit muted but no less intriguing telling Sara she could be a possible friend.
"I love your bracelet" Angela says quietly when the teacher's back is turn to the class as she writes something on the white board.
Sara looks down at the gift Emmett had given to her; a beautiful butterfly designed with Amber stones that match his eyes and is outlined with black and white stones. Sara refuses to believe that they are diamonds but wouldn't put it past Emmett. It's a bolo style so she can wear it tightly against her skin and there are two little enamel colored butterflies at the end of the chain. Emmett explained that he was able to coat it with his venom so she will carry his scent on her at all times and it will help keep his vampire under control while she is still unclaimed and surrounded by so many males, puny humans as they are.
"Thank you, it was a gift from Emmett, I kind of have a thing for butterflies" Sara tells Angela with a bright smile.
"Are you and he together?" Angela asks.
Sara just hums, "Yeah but we are taking things slow"
Angela can tell Sara did not want to discuss her personal life any more so tells her a little bit about herself. That she has twin brothers and her Dad is the Minister at the local church and her Mom is an accountant. At the end of class Sara and Angela walk out together and are met by Emmett waiting to take Sara to meet up with the rest of the family for lunch.
Sara smiles and Angela notices how Sara's whole face lights up when she sees Emmett, "Hey big guy"
"Hey" Emmett smiles back as he walks over to were Sara and Angela are standing in the hallway.
"Angela this is Emmett, Emmett this is Angela we sit together in English Lit" Sara introduces them.
"Hello Angela. How was your summer?" Emmett asks.
"Um…good how was yours?" Angela asks nervously, not believing that Emmett Cullen is actually standing here talking to her.
"It was good, thanks" Emmett replies "You ready for lunch?"
"Sure…Bye" Sara says.
"Oh….I was going to invite Sara to eat with me…but…yeah okay" Angela says quietly.
Sara looks over to Angela seen her shoulders drop with disappointment then looks up at Emmett.
"Well I was going to sit with my family today, you know first day jitters and all, but maybe tomorrow I can sit with you and your friends, how does that sound?" Sara asks.
Emmett just shrugs his shoulders but they both watch as Angela brightens up considerably and Sara sees that her colors brighten a bit as well, "Okay…I'll see you later"
"Okay" Sara replies as she and Emmett head off to the lunch room as Angela heads to her locker then to lunch as well, "Emmett I like her, so don't eat her okay" Sara tells Emmett causing him to let out a bark of laughter as he lifts her wrist up to kiss her bracelet delivering another quick coating of venom.
Emmett and Sara enter the cafeteria and head over to the table where the rest of the siblings are already seated, picking at their food and looking rather miserable.
Sara sits down and opens up her lunch bag pulling out a sandwich, chips and a bottle of water, "What's with the long faces guys?"
"Lunch is not exactly easy for us" Edward says quietly.
Sara cocks her head, takes a bite of her sandwich and then looks over to Emmett for an explanation.
"The smell of human food is rather disgusting to us, plus the thoughts and emotions" Emmett tells Sara who looks down at her food not sure if she should continue eating or put it away then realizes that her and the kids have been eating in the house all weekend, 'oh god'.
"Eat…little sister" Edward tells her as he picked up her thoughts causing Sara to bite her lip still unsure. Emmett leans down and whispers in her ear, "You need to be strong and healthy for what's to come and to protect the kids, eat….we are used to this and don't worry about the house we air it out after you all go to bed at night"
Sara looks around the table as the siblings nod in agreement with Emmett.
Sara takes a deep breath, "Okay…maybe I can help with this a little bit"
Sara takes out a hair scrunchy out of her back pack and holds it between her two hands and blows across it like she had done with the butterfly, then lays it down in the middle of the table causing the entire family to gasp and stare at Sara as she continues to eat her lunch.
"What did you do?" Rosalie asks a little panicked.
Sara shrugs her shoulders as she tosses a chip in her mouth, "Just turned down the volume a bit around the table, it will slowly dissipate at the end of the lunch period so you can get used to the noise and smell again before class so it doesn't shock your system….is that okay…did it help?" Sara asks.
"It's strange, I can still hear their thoughts but it's like you said the volume has been turned down….Jasper" Edward asks.
Jaspers eyes are closed, enjoying the feeling of not being so over whelmed with everything, "Yeah same here" he says before opening his eyes back up to look over at his Alice leaning down and give her a peck on the lips, her giggle ringing out like chimes.
The table of now calm and relaxed vampires are enjoying lunch period for the first time till they start to pick up the comments coming a group five tables over, Bella's table and the family begins to let out little growls.
"Now what wrong?" Sara asks trying to enjoy the homemade cookies Esme snuck in her lunch with a note, 'Hope you have a good day dear, I know how you feel about cookies'
"Bella" Alice spits the name out causing Sara to just raise an eye brow at her.
"What?"
"She's talking trash about Emmett and you" Rosalie states.
"And I hate that I can't hear her" Edward comments surprising Sara considering who strong Edward is.
"Ah, well we did put on a bit of a show this morning" Sara says with a shy smile as she closes her eyes and begins tapping her index finger on the table when suddenly she releases her breath and opens her eyes with a flash of blue, when they all see Bella look like she's in pain and hisses about a sudden headache.
"She is strong, I could crack that nut but it would probably put her into a coma" Sara says nonchalantly knowing what that little girl did to her mate; she takes another bite of her cookie letting it melt on her tongue.
Bell continues spewing her venom at her table, now more than ever Sara is looking forward to sitting with Angela tomorrow Sara smirks to herself when suddenly there is the sound of multiple soda cans cracking open and exploding drenching the gossipy girls with their sticky contents, their squeals and screams of surprise were like music to Sara's ears.
Jasper is frowns at Sara, "Seraphina Katherine"
"What I didn't do that…obviously it was a weak spot in the makeup of the cans and was violently shook during transport from the factory to the school and the pressure of the carbonation could no longer be held by the weak seal" Sara says with an innocent smile on her face.
"Obviously" Edward says trying to hold back his laughter till he hears Emmett snigger, then Alice's tinkling laugh then Rosalie's breathy chuckle and finally Jasper rolls his eyes at the entire table and leans down to hide his proud smile in Alice's hair. The table continues to sit and enjoy the chaos around them till they feel Sara's shield start to slowly fade letting more and more of the surrounding thoughts, smells and emotions begin to bleed in.
Jasper sighs, "I guess lunch is almost done"
"Yeah sorry uncle Jasper, I can't hold it all day without some kind of focus point and even then you would be so over whelmed when it does come down it may cause an even worse side effects after" Sara says sadly wishing she could do more for her new family.
When Edward hears Sara call them her family he can't help but feel a little proud, "Don't worry little sister, this was a wonderful treat for us and we are thankful"
Before Sara can say anything else the bell rings and they are all off to P.E. (Physical Education) not much was done on the first day except walking laps around the gym but tomorrow gym clothes will be required as they will be starting volley ball, after that is World History with Emmett and Jasper which is nice as the desks are set up in threes so Sara sits between the two of them, but finally had to tell them to pay attention and stop writing jokes and rude comments in the margins of her note book or she'll tell Mom, of course that stopped them but not for the reasons Sara believes.
Finally Sara comes to the last class of the day, Music with Jasper and Edward the two musicians in the family even though they all have beautiful voices as one of the vampire traits, only these two have any real interest in the subject.
Jasper's phone vibrates and after looking at the message he shows it to Edward, both agree and go to speak with the music teacher. When the bell rings and everyone settles the teacher takes attendance and announces that they have a new student that she would like to introduce and perform something for them.
Sara stands up, "Um hi…I have most of you all in my other classes so, yeah….um what would you like to hear? Sara asks the teacher.
"Whatever you're comfortable with dear" the teacher replies already knowing what the two Cullen boy have planned.
"Can I" Sara asks as she gestures towards the piano surprising Jasper and especially Edward since they have only seen her play the guitar and assumed that's what she would do again and now understanding why Alice sent the text.
"Absolutely"
Sara sits down on the piano bench her back to the class but Edward and Jasper are sitting to her right in her peripheral vision which calms her nerves a bit.
Sara lays her hands on the keys, unaware that Edward has his phone in his hand recording, when Sara begins to play the familiar tune of 'chop-sticks' and looks up at the teacher who arches her eye brow at her.
"NO?...fine…how about this then" Sara says as she straighten up and begins to play and sing, silence falls across the room, Jasper and Edward's mouths drop open again in surprise and just a whole lot of pride.
Well, you almost had me fooled
Told me that I was nothing without you
Oh, but after everything you've done
I can thank you for how strong I've become.
'Cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell
I had to learn how to fight for myself
And we both know all the truth I can tell
I'll just say this is I wish you well
I hope you're somewhere praying, praying
I hope your soul is changing, changing
I hope you find your peace
Falling on your knees, praying
I'm proud of who I am
No more monsters I can breathe again
And you said that I was done
Well, you were wrong and now the best is yet to come
'Cause I can make it on my own, oh
And I don't need you
I found the strength I've never known
I've been thrown out I've been burned, oh
When I'm finished, they won't even know your name
You brought the flames and you put me through hell
I had to learn how to fight for myself
And we both know all the truth I can tell
I'll just say this is I wish you farewell
I hope you're somewhere praying, praying
I hope your soul is changing, changing
I hope you find your peace
Falling on your knees, praying
Oh, sometimes I pray for you at night
Someday, maybe you'll see the light
Oh, some say in life you're gonna get what you give
But somethings only God can forgive
Yeah (Sara belts out a really high note) Edward almost drops the phone.
I hope you're somewhere praying, praying
I hope your soul is changing, changing
I hope you find your peace falling on your knees, praying.
(Ends with a few chords on the piano)
Sara breathes out to a very silent room before looking up at the teacher who has tears pooling in her eyes, "Better?"
"Much" the teacher replies as she wipes her cheeks as she gets the class back on track and begins handing out folders of music for the songs they will be learning and the concert dates this year causing the class to groan.
When the final bell rings the class room empties out leaving only the teacher, Jasper, Edward and Sara.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Edward asks the sound of his voice is hard.
Sara keeps her head down as it seems Edward is mad at her about something and just shrugs, but when Edward come closer to her she takes several steps back stopping Edward in his tracks.
"Sara….little sister I'm not going to hurt you….just breath" Edward says softly as he feels Sara's walls starting to go up.
"Don't….don't shut me out….please"
"Mad" Sara says quietly as Jasper stands guard and the teacher can only watch when she notices the remaining siblings have rushed into the room. Emmett starts to make his way over but Jasper stops him with a hand on his arm, shaking his head to wait.
"Not at you little sister, I have a love of music especially piano and this is something we can share together" Edward tries to explain.
"Share?" Sara asks confused and then sees the rest of the family standing behind him and shakes her head, "Not good enough" Sara whispers.
"Oh little sister….sweet heart….then we learn together" Edward tries again to sooth Sara's fears as Jasper notices Emmett rubbing his chest.
The teacher finally recovers from her shock of what she is seeing and joins the little group, "Is she alright, to I need to call your parents?"
"She's had a rough home life and then the sudden death of her mother, then having to move with her brother and sister to live with our family, it's been a bit of an adjustment" Rosalie explains.
Jasper feels that Sara has calmed enough and releases Emmett's arm, making his way towards her and Edward.
"Hey spitfire, you ready to head home, I bet the kids are waiting to tell you all about their day" Emmett mentions hoping to bring Sara back around and out of this fight or flight vibe she's putting out.
Sara nods he head and begins to walk towards Emmett but stops in front of Edward, reaching out to touch his cheek with her finger tips, 'Sorry…I know you would never hurt me' Sara whispers into Edwards mind as he gives her a nod and a sad smile.
Emmett and Sara walk out followed by the rest of the family leaving the teacher standing in a now empty class room wonder what the hell just happened.
By the time the teenagers arrive back at the house Sara's smiling mask is back in place when she walks in the front door and is tackled by two very excited and happy five year old twins.
"Sister…sister…sister….sister…guess what….guess….we got to color, and play game and had story time and Ms. B said that we are ahead of most of the other kids so we can help them as long as we don't fall behind and we both got gold stars today for being so well behaved" Sam and Emma both ramble on at the same time causing everyone to laugh at the kids.
Sara stands there listening with her hands on her hips, "Woah there crazy people, let me ask you this, how many cookies did you have when you got home…hmm"
"Um 2" Sam says holding four fingers up when Emma quickly pushes two down, causing everyone to laugh including Carlisle and Esme.
"Uh huh" Sara says smiling at their antics as both kids take her hands and pull her to the couch to finish telling her about their first day of school, their joy and excitement infectious. Jasper is over whelmed by it and begins to project out to the family; a group sigh is heard as the emotions are like a balm on an open wound.
Carlisle and Esme come over to the teenagers as they all continue to watch the little family.
"How'd she do?" Esme asks.
"She did pretty well until music class" Edwards states sadly.
"Lunch was entertaining and interesting to say the least" Rosalie replies as they fill Carlisle and Esme on what happened at lunch, music class, Sara stating she was going to tattle on them to 'Mom' if they didn't behave in class.
Later that evening after humans had dinner, lunches were packed and homework was reviewed and worked on did Sara give the kids a bath and get them to bed as they had finally worn themselves down from all the excitement of the day and realizing they get to do it all over again tomorrow.
Sara new she needed to talk with Edward before she went to bed or she would never get to sleep. She made her way downstairs following the sound of piano till she entered an open room; the acoustics of the room make the piano echo beautifully and of course surrounded by a wall of windows with a grand piano in the center. Edward continues to play as she walks towards him coming to stop next to the bench.
"I never meant to scare you today" Edwards says as his fingers move lightly over the keys.
"I know Edward, besides Emmett would have your head and Uncle Jasper would get what's left" Sara says trying to lighten the conversation.
Edward snorts knowing she's probably right.
"The acoustics in here are fabulous by the way" Sara comments
"Esme" Edward says looking up to Sara with a wide smile.
"Can I show you something…it's something I use to do to sooth the kids when they were really little and would not stop crying?" Sara asks.
"Sure" Edward replies as he lifts his hands from the piano thinking Sara is going to play.
"Um…I haven't done this in a while so you may have to feed me some sugar after, some cookies would be great" Sara says with a giggling as she wiggles her eye brows and smiles at Edward as it's no secret about her love of cookies, I mean really where do you think the kids get it from.
Sara closes her eyes and exhales letting her gift and love of music flow through her and into the room, not realizing it would reverberate throughout the house calling to the rest of the family like a sirens song and gather just inside the door way behind her, this time Carlisle has his phone out recording.
Sara begins to sing as her gift creates more voices to harmonize with hers, strong and powerful creating beautiful acapella harmony. The family can feel the power moving across their skin as they begin to see colored mists dance in the air above the piano as the song builds.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you.
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand,
Take my whole life, too
But I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand,
Take my whole life, too
For I can't help falling in love with you..
For I can't help falling in love…with…you.
As Sara finishes the last note and the room is left in silence, Sara takes a gasp of breath and leans heavily onto Edwards's shoulder almost tipping off the back of the bench.
"Cookie" Sara whispers.
Emmett rushes over to the bench with a bag of cookies that Esme brought with her; he grabs one breaking off a small piece and gently feeds it to Sara still leaning on Edward.
"Mmm….cookie"
Edward and Emmett chuckle at her, "I think I'm going start calling you cookie monster from now on" Edward comments as she takes another bite from Emmett's fingers, nipping at them.
Sara looks up at Edward and shakes her head, "little sister better"
Edward smiles and drops a kiss on top of her head as Emmett continues to feed Sara another cookie.
As Sara regains her strength she lets them know she's tired and wants to head for bed. Emmett leans down to pick Sara up and walks her up the stairs and takes her to her bedroom so she can change into her pajamas and crawl into bed were after changing himself into an A-shirt and lounge pants crawls into bed with her curling up around her keeping her safe.
Back in the music room the family still stands frozen.
"Damn" Jasper whispers as he can still feel the harmonies echoing down in his bones as the rest of family shake their heads and agree with the assessment as Carlisle looks down at his phone making sure that was all saved.
"I was hoping to have a family meeting to talk to Sara about her file and if she wants up to inform Chief Swan and get our lawyer on board, but I guess it can wait a few more days" Carlisle comments to no one in particular.
"Wait" Edward says still sitting on the piano bench.
"Let her have a week of school, she made a friend today and seemed to handle things pretty well. Let her have this bit of normalcy if only for brief moment" Edward tells Carlisle
"I agree, her world with crash back on her head soon enough" Alice comments as well.
"Alice?" Everyone looks towards her.
"Clocks ticking" Is Alice's only response before she turns and walks out of the room and up to her and Jasper's shared bedroom to bury herself in their closet, were Jasper finds her sitting in a corner with her knees pulled up to her chest and her head buried in them.
"Oh Darlin'" Jasper coos as she sits down next to her, Alice buries her head in his chest and wraps her arms around his lean waist.
"Why does she have to hurt so much….why won't this woman just leave her alone" Alice cries.
"What do you mean love?" Jasper asks.
"She's….she's been getting voice mails and text messages constantly….evil nasty things" Alice spits out.
"Okay darlin', okay we will address this with her" Jasper tells Alice as she looks up into his golden eyes.
"Take me to bed husband" Alice purrs needing to feel his love and reassurance right now.
"With pleasure wife" Jasper purrs back as he picks Alice up from the floor and caries her into their bedroom where they slowly begin to remove each other's clothes, both now panting aching for the other. There love making is slow and deliberate, leaving them both gasping for un-needed breath. Much later after their needs were repeatedly met Alice lays on her side with Jasper wrapped around her from behind, his arm slung around her waist.
"I love you husband" Alice whispers.
"I love you wife for better or worse" Jasper whispers back
"For richer or poorer" Alice replies
"In good times and bad" Jasper continues
"To love and cherish" Alice smiles pulling up Jaspers hand kissing his palm.
"Till death takes us from this world" Jasper finishes kissing the back of Alice's hand as they snuggle down into the bedding wrapped in each other and their love.
A/N: Okay….comments? Good….bad….to much? Next chapter will be more school but Sara will sit with Angela and will have her run in with Bella and the gossip table….(que evil laugh here), REVIEWS WELCOME…new Goal is 35….
Songs: 'Praying' by Kesha and 'Can't help falling in love' covered by Pentatonix….both powerful songs and can find both on Youtube.