Chapter 10: Creativity
Every muscle in my body locked in place. The air around us was thick with fear. Mine and Bella's breathing became more uneven and her heartbeat became louder, with each dreaded step Charlie took. Bella and I stood there out of breath, side by side in the bathroom. Our rapid breathing was both from the passionate love making we had just shared and from fright. Both of us were frightened beyond reason. There was no getting around this, we were going to get caught. We knew that.
Charlie took another loud step. I saw the images in his mind that if his gut-wrenching feeling was right and I was in the bathroom with Bella, he was going to do everything in his power to keep me away from her. He would deem me a bad influence on her. Since we were supposed to be watching the small child instead of engaging in an act of sex at his girlfriend's house.
Seeing that from his mind, my dead hard sank. I feared not being able to be free to see her, more than him hollering at me, or even him calling my father. For that's the one thing that would do real damage to me - being apart from Bella. Given the current situation, even Alice and Jasper wouldn't be able to help me like they did earlier in the week, when Charlie wanted to put distance between Bella and I.
Charlie's loud heartbeat boomed in my ears. Suddenly his footsteps fell silent as he stood in the hallway.
Time stood still and everything was quiet. Bella and I looked at each other. The petrified expression on her face mirrored my own.
"Hey, kids! Where are you guys? Are you in the bathroom? I can see the light on in there." Charlie called from where he stood a few feet into the hallway, keeping his distance from the bathroom door. His tone was unhappy, to say the least.
His thoughts that I was able to make out told me I that he didn't want to get any closer to the door, just in case Bella and I we're in here having sex. He was afraid he would hear something that would traumatize him. At least, that's what I thought.
Unsure of what to say or do Bella looked at me for help.
"Lie." I whispered in her ear. "Say you are in here. If he asks about me, you don't know where I am."
Bella took a deep breath. "Yeah Dad? I'm in here alone, I'm on the toilet. I don't know where Edward is." Bella was talking in a nervous rush and her voice sounded off.
I covered my face with my left hand. Why did she have to mention all that? Volunteering unnecessary information only made her look more suspicious.
"Um… Okay…" Charlie could sense what Bella said was a lie, but didn't want to press any further.
Bella and I nervously waited for Charlie to speak again. I could tell he was debating if he should question where I was, he knew I couldn't have gone far since my car was still out front. Though, he wasn't too sure if he really wanted to know the answer.
Once more everything was quiet. Waiting in terror and anticipation of the horrible outcome, time seemed to stand still. Suddenly the doorbell started to ring non-stop accompanied by frantic knocking. Thankfully that distracted Charlie from thinking about me. With all the racket that was going on Bella and I looked at each other wondering what that could be about.
"Sophia, are you expecting company?" Charlie wondered.
"No. Not at this hour. I wonder who that could be." Sophia replied. I saw from her mind that she just checked on Caleb who was still fast asleep. She was now standing in the hallway next to Charlie.
The endless knocking that was growing louder and the relentless doorbell ringing continued.
Bella and I stood there hand and hand, frozen as I watched from Sophia's mind. She and Charlie, who didn't want her answering the door alone this late, walked out of the hallway and through the living room and to the front door. Both of them were wondering who could be at the door and why someone would be ringing the doorbell and knocking loudly like they were in a panic. Both of them were questioning if the person outside needed help.
For some reason I couldn't hear the thoughts belonging to the person on the porch. Though, I didn't care who was at the door, it could have been Santa Claus, or the Easter Bunny for all I cared. I was just glad Sophia and especially Charlie, we're distracted so I could make my great escape and neither Bella or I would get in trouble. I stopped following Charlie's and Sophia's minds when they neared the door.
While Sophia and Charlie stood at the front door questioning who was there, before they opened it. I didn't pay attention to the muffled voice behind the door, though I did hear Sophia wonder out loud who Rosanne and Justin were and what they wanted. Whatever response the muffled voices gave Charlie, was now going into full cop mode. It sounded more like an interrogation than answering the door.
"No. No. No. You just said your names were Roseanne and Justin. How are you going to change them to Reba and Jeremiah? What is going on? Who are you people and what do you need?" Charlie demanded, his voice was loud. It was clear he was scared and confused.
"What is happening out there?" Bella quietly wondered.
I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it buys us time."
I honestly could not explain what was happening in the other room. Charlie and Sophia, who now sounded fearful and bewildered beyond reason, while the people on the porch who now had the strangest accents, changed their names three more times and we're now claiming to be Rhonda and Jude. At least that's what I heard Charlie say when a few seconds passed. I was just glad for this odd disorienting distraction that bought Bella and I time and allowed us to quickly strategize our plan. I began to come up with an idea and whispered it to Bella.
I looked deep into Bella's chocolate brown eyes. "While they are occupied with trying to figure out who the people are that are at the door. I'm going to sneak out of here, run real fast, go to the kitchen and pretend I was there all along." My voice was low as I went over our plan with her once more. "Just play along."
"I got it." Bella whispered back. "It sounds like a good plan."
I placed a gentle kiss on her lips which she returned before putting my plan in motion. We quickly parted and I walked over to the door. My fingers made contact with the doorknob. Before I could unlock it and turn the knob, an all too familiar "voice" popped into my head...
'Edward Anthony Cullen!' The wind chime like "voice" yelled a warning in my head. 'Don't you dare run out of that bathroom. Charlie will catch you as soon as you step out into the hallway and shut the door. You won't even be able to run. It will result with Carlisle putting you on restriction until the year 2020, only because that's an unusual year and there won't be anything for him to ground you from.'
A stream of images popped in my head. Starting with me out in the hallway. Charlie and Sophia turning around as I moved forward and stepped on a toy robot that started singing a loud alphabet song, alerting them of my whereabouts. The images changed at lighting speed to an angry Charlie yanking me by the collar of my shirt. Me being scared shitless - looking more like a teenage boy than a vampire - making myself fall into his movements, so he wouldn't suspect that I am a lot heavier than I look as he pushed me up against the nearest wall and hollered at me, to put fear in me. The images changed once more to a very disappointed Carlisle grounding me for not thinking clearly and disrespecting someone's house, while I was supposed to be helping Bella babysit. The ending images flashed to my parents lifting my punishment. Though, there was nowhere to go because all the business establishments were shut down and everyone was wearing medical masks.
Weird. The future reminded me of my father's past memories of the Spanish Flu pandemic, though I went through it I have no memories of my own. What the hell happens fifteen years from now to make the future look so grim?
'Now you see.' The "voice" blared in my head. 'It'll be a mistake to go forth with your half thought out plan.'
In an instant I turned around, gently moving Bella with me. Both of us were now facing the small window which I was staring at. "Alice!" I exclaimed in a low voice.
"Alice?" Bella questioned, a little too loudly. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand as she looked up at the window.
Even though Bella's voice was loud, Charlie and Sophia were too occupied to pay attention to our current situation in the bathroom. They had their own peculiar circumstances going on at the front door.
Instantly Alice appeared at the window, she popped off the screen. "From my understanding, you two are in a bit of a bind and need help. Have no fear. We are here to assist you guys." She spoke in a hushed voice, just loud enough for Bella to hear.
All the panic and anxiety that had once invaded my mind was now gone as Alice jumped through the window, landing gracefully without a sound in the bathtub. I could not recall a time that I felt more happy and relieved to see my sister, then I did at that very moment.
I took quick notice that for whatever reason my sister had on red knee high rain boots. She also held the plastic bag with the child's foul smelling clothes that I had discarded on the back porch earlier.
Alice quickly explained her well-thought-out plan (that Emmett and Rosalie had the pleasure of choreographing) to us, giving us the rundown of the lines we would need to say, at the moment we would say them as she walked over to the toilet. She told Bella to stand next to her and roll up her jeans as high as she could and to take off her socks and one shoe and place them in the sink, for safekeeping. She then instructed me to stand in the tub. Bella and I did as Alice insisted. My sister then opened the toilet seat, held up the bag with the soil clothes and dumped the small soiled underwear and socks in the toilet, grabbed the plunger and told Bella to begin flushing while she would begin plunging the clothes into the toilet. All while she went over the lines that Bella would need to say.
"Omniscient?" I asked Alice, once she was done explaining Bella's role to her. I was wondering how my sister could have known that we were in need of help since she hadn't been able to "see" Bella in her visions for this past week.
"Alice, you keep mentioning "we." Who exactly is "we" in this situation?" Bella wondered as she flushed the toilet and Alice used the plunger yet again and water came up, spilling on the floor. Their goal was to get the small clothes stuck in the toilet, causing it to flood. Part two of my siblings four part distraction plan.
'No not omniscient. But I'm the closest you got.' Alice thought then whispered the rest for Bella's benefit as she looked at her. "Don't ask how, Bella. But this evening you appeared back in my visions as clear as a crystal!" My sister was more than excited about that. "Unfortunately, for the time being I can only "see" you when Edward has you in compromising positions. Don't ask why. Becuse I don't understand why it has to be sex, it's not something I wish to "see." But I'll say, you two sure put up one hell of a performance tonight." Alice shook her head and went back to plunging the toilet.
Simultaneously I stared at my small sister, Bella blushed from that information and Emmett's loud mental booming laughter was now blaring through my head. Of course he found that part hilarious.
"As soon as I had my vision of your guys's unlikely circumstances we - as in all of our siblings. Knew we had to act fast." Alcie continued. "We came up with a plan. Well really, Em and Rose did. They were so excited they finally would get to participate in an emergency rescue that they came up with all the ideas. I've "seen" that their plan works. So that's what we're going with." She quickly explained. 'It's so crazy but it will work.'
"Rosalie is helping us?" Bella was shocked.
"Of course." Alice answered.
I didn't say a word. I was more startled from Emmett and Rosalie coming up with a plan than the fact that Rose was lending a hand.
Alcie informed Bella to flush while she plunged the toilet once more. "Emmett is right outside waiting for Edward." She explained. "Jazz and Rose are at the front door. He's controlling Charlie and his girlfriend with fear, keeping them scared, confused and really unable to think coherently. While she's saying things that don't make sense and keeps changing their names, arguing that she never said those names to begin with. All to keep them as confused as they can get." She thought back to her vision of that strange chaos. 'That'll give us enough time to get this bathroom flooded and do what we need to keep Charlie and Sophia engaged. Right now, Jasper's doing an excellent job at making them feel perplexed. And you know how determined Rose can be. She could continue to maintain an argument as long as we need her too.'
I nodded my head. I knew first hand how long Rosalie's pigheadedness could cause her disagreements to last. Years ago, when she was my only sibling we had an argument that lasted four and a half hours straight about an abstract painting that our father had purchased. We each saw something different in the painting and she assumed I was wrong and she was right and tried to convince me of that. Our argument was only put to rest when our parents returned home and intervened.
Not even two minutes had passed since Alice and my siblings showed up. While the love of my life and my spiky haired sister began to turn the bathroom floor into a pound, I used my extra hearing to check on Charlie and Sophia. Perfect. Jasper and Rose still had them distracted.
'Kid,' Emmett thought directly at me. 'What are you waiting for? Jump through the window, we got work to do.'
Ah! The window. Why didn't I think of that?
I glanced up at the small window. It was too small for a full grown adult to climb out of. Though it was the perfect size for a lanky, yet muscular teenager, such as myself, to go through. No doubt I would most likely have to go sideways, unlike Alice. But still, I could make it out.
"Edward," Alice urged. "It's time to put the rest of our plan in motion. Time for you to blot."
I nodded my head. Quickly Bella and I shared a look, we both hoped nothing would interfere with my siblings plan. Without a word I jumped through the small window. I was outside and beside my brother who was holding a plastic blue animal crate. The odor told me there was a live animal in it.
No words were exchanged between Emmett and I, only a look of understanding as we ran to the back gate. We both knew our roles in this situation. Over the last seventy odd years we've had countless practices of similar drills like this. Even though this was truly a first for us. Normally I'm the one helping him and Rose not get caught, not the other way around, and never before have we had to distract someone's father. We've also never used animals in our diversions before.
We came to a holt at the cream colored rod iron gate that was locked. I waited for my brother to get the next part of the plan set up.
'About time you finally found the time to shoot your load.' His "voice" was amused as he opened the animal crate placing a white rabbit with brown spots in my arms.
I looked at the scared little rabbit in my arms. "Really, Em, a rabbit?" I rolled my eyes. "You went to a pet store but you didn't think of going to the market and purchasing a bag of chips and dip or something? I could have walked through the front door, making the excuse I walked to the grocery store. That would have been more practical."
Sometimes the term "playing human" is really lost on my siblings. They try but really think out of the box. None of us really know how to be human.
Emmett shook his head, trying not to laugh too loud. "It's a bunny." He chuckled. 'It's symbolic.' He thought to me. 'Rose and I figured we should get a bunny for this task. After all, you and Bella almost got caught while humping like a couple of bunnies.'
I had nothing to say to that. In an instant I jumped over the rod iron fence that stood five feet tall. The rabbit that I held securely in my arms did not move a muscle other than his nose as he sniffed the air when I landed gracefully on my feet. The rabbit was frightened by my scent. He knew I was a predator and he could be prey, though I wasn't going to hurt him. I gently stroked his soft fur, letting him know I wouldn't harm him. I whispered calming words to the sacred little creature.
"Hey, Edward," Emmett spoke in a low fast past. I turned around to face him. "Remember. Good luck and don't ever bring up the bunny to Rose." He warned. Images of memories of him grabbing the rabbit from a fuming Rosalie ran though his mind. Apparently while Rosalie and Emmett were sitting in his Jeep she took out the rabbit that she thought was cute from the crate and it pooped on her. Even though the rabbit's poop came out in round solid pellets, she no longer found the rabbit adorable and was furious with it.
"I won't." I promised my brother.
He looked relieved.
With the rabbit securely in my arms I ran out through the back patio that was all cement. I stood by a green turtle shaped sandbox that was next to the kitchen. With my back pressed up against the back of the house I stood real still, stroking the petrified rabbits silky soft fur and whispering comforting words to him while I waited for my cue.
Everything happened simultaneously. Charlie threatened Jalen and Roberta that he was the Chief of Police, and he would not hesitate to call the station for backup if they didn't leave. For reasons he could not explain, he was feeling unsafe with feisty "Roberta," who kept yelling through the closed door. At that moment I heard Alice jump out the window leaving Bella alone in the bathroom. Alice and Emmett ran to the front door with Rosalie and Jasper. Bella shouted 'Oh no' as water poured out of the toilet, gushing out of the bathroom door and into the hallway. Charlie's phone rang but he didn't answer it as Jasper used his calming effect to calm down Charlie and Sophia as Rosalie announced it was just them and Emmett and Alice explained that it was all a prank. That was my cue. I ran to the locked sliding glass door that led into the kitchen and began knocking.
Though Jasper was now using his calming effect, Charlie and Sophia were rather perplexed by what was going on and where they should turn their attention to first. This situation would have been quite comical had I not been worried that everything wouldn't go as planned.
From outside on the patio I had a pretty good view from the open sliding glass door of what was going on inside. Charlie appeared calmer, letting my siblings in while they all excitedly chatted away about their reason for being there. Sophia then turned around to answer the sliding glass door that I was still knocking on. She was shocked when she saw the river of water and the soaked carpet in the hallway.
"What is going on in the bathroom?" Sophia wondered as she walked from the living room to the kitchen.
"Bells, everything okay?" Charlie was so confused. He couldn't figure out what was going on with Bella, or my siblings, or even why I was outside knocking on the sliding glass door.
"The toilet is clogged! With tiny… Underwear and socks?" Bella yelled the lines Alcie had told her to say.
Charlie's face was frozen and both of the brothers chuckled. Rosalie was well composed while Alice checked the misty possibilities of the future.
The look on Sophia's face was priceless as she took in Bella's words. The expression on her face was even more comical as she saw me standing outside with a rabbit. She slowly walked over to the kitchen and opened the sliding glass door.
"Why are you outside?" Sophia questioned. "Where did that rabbit come from?"
I stepped inside just as Bella stepped out of the bathroom, holding her dry socks and shoe. She quickly went into the living room to locate her other shoe and put them on. Charlie ran into the bathroom, turning off the toilet and quickly returned to the living room.
"I was outside chasing Caleb's rabbit." I explained confidently, closing the sliding glass door behind me. "Somehow I locked myself outside." I handed her the rabbit.
'What is going on with these nutty kids?' Sophia questioned to herself as she held the rabbit in her hands and looked at it. "But we don't have a rabbit."
Jasper snickered at Sophia's confusion. He then used his calming effect.
"Oh. Well, it was on the back porch in a box when we brought Caleb home this afternoon. He said it was his." I said the lines from the scripped that Alice had told me to say as I made my way further into the house. "We brought it in and somehow it got loose and wandered outside. It ran around on the patio, putting up a real fight. But I finally got it."
Since I spoke with confidence Sophia didn't question me any further. She began to think that her next door neighbor who breeds and sells rabbits, probably gifted one to Caleb like she had promised. Only gave it to him as a surprise instead.
I walked over to where Charlie stood talking to my brothers and sisters. Though I already knew, I asked my siblings why they were here. Before any of them could answer me, Charlie turned to me.
"And just where have you been all this time?" Charlie questioned me with a hard look.
"Outside. Chasing the rabbit." I casually explained my odd answer.
The words I spoke with confidence made no sense to Charlie. He became even more confused when he saw Sophia holding her new rabbit. Charlie and Sophia were still very disorientated though, with Jasper's help they were also very calm and going with the flow. They accepted to believe that I had cluelessly tried to flush Caleb's soiled socks and underwear down the toilet, causing an accidental flooding. As well as being occupied out on the back patio with a runaway rabbit while Bella was having trouble with the toilet, when they returned home. Charlie also easily accepted that with all the commotion Bella's one shoe slipped off, leaving it in the living room and her ring got caught on the pillow tearing it to shreds. He also easily accepted that my siblings were trying to pull a prank on Bella and I. He didn't question Bella or I any feather. His mind became preoccupied with needing to call a 24-hour plumbing service for Sophia.
Before Rosalie or any of my siblings could conveniently make up a believable excuse for why we needed to leave right away. Like they were planning on. Charlie's phone began to ring again. It was the Police Station letting him know that there were two sets of emergencies and he needed to be at work as soon as possible. The first emergency was unusual; there were goats and pigs roaming around outside the market and an angry goat on the loose inside the store. No one knew where the farm animals came from. The other emergency was more urgent. It made Charlie worry about Bella being home alone tonight. There was a dangerous escaped convict loose in the area.
Sensing that Sophia just wanted a quiet night to herself after all the senseless commotion and that Bella wouldn't feel comfortable to stay there. Charlie didn't ask. Instead Alice asked Charlie if Bella could spend the night at our house and have a sleepover with her and Rosalie. Jasper controlled Charlie's mood, putting him at ease as he agreed. Charlie then called a plumber and apologized to Sophia for everything before he made a quick exit to head to the station.
Bella and I grabbed our jackets and were quickly out the door while Emmett insisted that all of us pay a visit to our father since the hospital was so close to our current location. He had something he needed to inform our father about. Alice thought that was an excellent idea and instructed everyone to head over to the hospital. Since there's rarely a point in arguing with Alice, we all complied and got in our vehicles.
As Bella and I got into my car. I felt like I was on cloud nine while I turned the ignition on. Just moments ago we were up schitt's creek without a paddle and now she was going to spend the night at my house! It was astonishing on how the events of the night were quickly turning around.
"I can't believe that worked." Bella was stund. "We're off the hook with Charlie and I get to sleep over with you." She smiled ear to ear.
I grinded my crooked smile. It was truly unreal that I had gotten away with acting like a stupid teenage boy and thinking with the wrong head.
"Always place your bets with Alice." I grabbed her warm hand, bringing it to my lips and kissed it. Letting go of her hand for a moment, I threw my car in drive and we were off.
"I see." She giggled and so did I. "It also helps that Charlie doesn't hovor and is married to his job. As you saw how he was so quick to leave once the station called."
I nodded my head in agreement.
The night sky was dark with the full moon illuminating our path as we drove to the hospital and parked in the parking lot. My siblings were already there, standing in between Emmett's Jeep and Alice's Porsche, waiting for Bella and I to arrive. We quickly got out of my car and joined my siblings.
"Alice," Bella said, slipping her hand in mine. "I just have to know. Are you guys responsible for that phony call from the Police Station?"
"Oh. That wasn't fake. We are only responsible for half of it though." Alice explained as all of us began walking away from our cars.
Bella's eyes got big. "How did you manage to release a convict?"
Emmett and Jasper howled with laughter. My sisters giggled and I chuckled. Bella just stared at us.
"Of course we didn't do that." Rosalie, who was in front of us, looked over her shoulder and smiled at Bella. A real genuine smile. "We may get a little theatrical when we put our ideas together to create a diversion. But we would never go as far as helping a prisoner escape."
I was glad that Rosalie was being pleasant. With my extra hearing I understood why that was. When Alice had her vision earlier tonight of the outcome of Bella and I getting caught and what that would do to me, if Charlie attempted to keep Bella and I apart. Rosalie put her differences aside and decided to be nice because she rather see me be happy then depressed and emo, as she calls it.
"Emmett and I gathered up the farm animals and left them at the market. We figured it would keep Charlie busy for a while so he wouldn't have time to question you guys any further." Jasper explained in his quiet voice. His mind was on the memory of him and Em completing their strange diversion. 'Leave it to Em to come up with that idea.' He chuckled.
Emmett, who was walking in front of us with his hand on Rosalie's waist, quickly looked back at Bella and I. "Thanks to you two doing the bathroom rodeo. I finally got to complete my lifelong dream and break into a petting zoo!" His cheerful voice was louder than necessary.
From the corner of my eye I saw Bella blush at Emmett's slang term for sex. I chuckled to myself. That's one of Emmett's more stubble phrases that she's embarrassed by.
My two brothers, two sisters, along with Bella and I all walked through the automatic double doors and into the lobby of the hospital like we owned the place. Emmett and Rosalie were leading the way. Jasper was in the back, being sheltered in the middle by Alice and myself, who were monitoring his every breath. Bella was next to me. We strolled right past the reception desk where Jenny Austin sat, who politely greeted us as we passed by.
I could hear the familiar mind of my father. It was a slow night at the hospital, he was in the hallway talking with a middle-aged female nurse about a patient of theirs that had just been released. He had already registered the sound of our footsteps - unaccompanied by heartbeats, except for Bella's - and followed by our senses and Bella's flavoursome aroma. But he was keeping up the conversation, pretending that he didn't notice we were there until Alice and Rosalie announced our presence when we came into his view.
"Ah! My children. What a pleasant surprise." Carlisle said with a smile, when we were a few feet from him. He generally looked surprised that all six of us were there. It was an unusual occurrence, especially for Jasper. But he was well fed, otherwise he wouldn't have set foot in our father's place of work.
All of us greeted our father as well as the nurse.
"Dad, you know what I did?" Emmett excitedly questioned. His loud booming voice echoed through the hallway as the pleasantries came to an end.
"Oh god! What happened?" Carlisle was fearing the worst. He quickly turned to the nurse, excusing himself. He then ushered all six of us down the hall in the direction of his office. 'What part of the house did he and Rosalie break this time?'
I found my father's thoughts amusing since I already saw what my brother was going to say.
"I dusted the foyer, vacuumed every room and did all the laundry!" Emmett proudly announced, not waiting until we were in our father's office to inform him of his accomplishments. 'And helped Edward and Bella not get caught doing the forbidden polka in the bathroom.'
I rolled my eyes at Emmett as we entered Carlisle's office. Of course my brother would have to think that last part for my benefit.
Carlisle was astonished. That was not what he was expecting Emmett to say.
"He started with dusting and just kept going." Rosalie said with a giggle. She was thinking about how Jasper had been pretending to be a Jedi master and train Emmett who was pretending he was a Jedi in training, as he used a blue feather duster as his lightsaber while he dusted.
"It was actually very entertaining to witness." Alice clarified. 'He would have cleaned the entire house if I hadn't had my vision while he was finishing up folding the laundry.'
"It's a wild Friday night!" Jasper said jokingly, doing his best to sound like Darth Vader.
"Wild it, sure is." Emmett agreed, doing his best Yoda impression.
"I see." Carlisle chuckled. He was very relieved that the house was still in tack.
Bella blushed and giggles erupted from my siblings, Belle and I. Though Emmett had really cleaned the house earlier in the evening. We all shared the real knowledge of our actual "Wild Friday Night" that we all participated in. The inside joke was lost on our father who assumed we were laughing at Emmett and Jasper silliness. Our parents have no idea that we go through unusual lanthss to keep each other out of trouble.
I glanced at Alice. She and I shared a look, she already knew my intention to thank her for her helpfulness. She silently told me I was welcome. For I had always made sure my siblings did not get caught in an intimate moment in an inconvenient place. Now it was their turn to look after me.
"That's great Emmett. I'm very proud of you." Carlisle patted Emmett's shoulder. "Did all of you come down here to share this good news?" His thoughts were on how there's never a dull moment with having five teenagers.
"Pretty much." Rosalie answered.
Emmet grinned. "How else would you know I finally dusted?"
"Yup." Jasper said. "That and we were kinda bored and thought it would be fun to see you."
"Emmett cleaned house and Bella is spending the night! Can this night get any better?" Alice was so excited she was bouncing up and down. Her good mood had Jasper in high spirits.
"That's always nice." Carlisle gave Bella a warm fatherly smile. He then glanced at Emmett. 'Peculiar that they would all come here just to tell me one of them completed a set of chores. Nevertheless, it's nice to visit with them for a bit.' He thought to himself then looked at Bella and I. "How was babysitting?"
I didn't need time to think about my answer. I just blurted it out. "It was a very hazardous job."
Bella nodded her head in agreement. "I doubt we'll be asked to watch Caleb again." Bella spoke truthfully.
Both of my brothers snickered.
"I'm totally fine with that." I replied. "I can now mark babysitting off my list of tasks I never want to do again."
Roaslie rolled her eyes. She couldn't understand why Bella and I would not enjoy babysitting. She believes the task to be easy and enjoyable. If she only knew what it was like to take care of an energetic, unpredictable, demanding five year old.
Mine and Bella's response through Carlisle for a loop. He wondered what on Earth happened that would make me never want to babysit again and why the mother of the child wouldn't be asking us to care for her child after one time.
Besides almost getting caught in the bathroom, taking care of a small child was far too much work. But of course, Bella or I couldn't mention the first part to my father. Instead I began to explain our misadventures in babysitting to him. All the bodily functions I had to deal with, the countless games we played. Bella chimed in here and there, even mentioning the disgusting booger she had to clean off of the child's finger. Of course my siblings found my misfortunes hilarious and had a good laugh.
"We had to read him a ton of books before he fell asleep." Bella sighed. "It was exhausting."
'Couldn't have been that exhausting.' Emmett mentally chuckled. 'There was still plenty of energy to get to knocking those boots right, kid?'
I silently chuckled at my brother's thoughts. That was really the only fun part about babysitting; getting time alone.
"Everything was very repetitive." I complained. "He wanted us to play the same games and read the same books a million times."
My siblings all had the look of triumph on their faces. They finally found the one thing that I am not good at. Babysitting.
Carlisle smiled at me. "Young ones certainly enjoyed repetition, don't they?" He was speaking about the small child. Though his thoughts were now on me, memories of me during my newborn days flashed through his mind. "Now, I remember a certain young vampire who wanted me to run around the forest with him for hours on end. Or that same young vampire who wanted to play chess from sunup to sundown when he realized he could read my mind, anticipating my moves and win."
Bella appeared very interested with Carlisle's trip down memory lane. My siblings were less engrossed, they all heard these stories before.
"Dad," I groaned, using the title I reserve when I really want or need something. "I wasn't a child though." I didn't want him to compare me to a tiny child. Nor did I want him to reminisce about my early days.
'You act like a little child.' Came Rosalie's synced thoughts.
"No of course not." Carlisle clarified running his hand through my unruly hair, messing it up even more and making me feel childlike. "Though you were very young."
"Carlisle, what other things did Edward like to do when he was younger?" Bella questioned. She was really interested.
"Well, now. Let's see." Carlisle said. He was going over in his mind of all the memories of the last eighty-seven odd years with me. Trying to find the perfect one to share with Bella.
His thoughts that were endearing and full of love, made me feel childlike and self-conscious. Maybe that was because Bella was there and eager to hear more stories from my younger days, some that might be a little embarrassing to me. I also was aware that my siblings would eventually join in and my brothers would tell the most embarrassing stories, just because they could.
While Carlisle was getting ready to tell Bella another story from my newborn days. I turned to her. "Love, it's getting late. We should be leaving since you need some sleep."
"Looks like someone's anxious to go dancing in the sheets." Emmett snorted and Jasper chucked.
Bella blushed. Both of us didn't respond to Emmett's comment.
"Emmett." Carlisle scolded. 'When will he learn? Some things are not appropriate to say out loud.'
"What?" Emmett innocently looked at our father.
"It's only ten." Bella rolled her eyes at me. "Why don't you want me to hear stories from when you were young?"
I didn't respond. I was hoping she would just decide to see things my way and leave.
"Because he's embarrassed." Jasper said with a laugh. He was sampling my mood.
Bella let out an exasperated sigh. "I tried not to interrupt when Charlie was telling you about the time I was seven and a flock of seagulls chased me at the Santa Monica Pier for my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, that I ended up dropping and slipping on. That was embarrassing to me, but you still got to hear it."
Laughter erupted from everyone in the room. The information of Bella being clumsy as a child was of course funny to my siblings and entertaining to me, since I knew she didn't get seriously injured. Carlisle though, wondered how Bella managed to survive childhood without ending up in a full body cast at some point.
While everyone was preoccupied with thinking about Bella's strange encounter with seagulls. I was thinking of going home and showing Bella all the food we have for her in the kitchen. Suddenly new found fantasies began to come into my mind at the time Alice's eyes became unfocused and glazed over. I watched from her mind as a tsunami of images began to fall into place. Starting two very familiar figures. All of the images that were vibrant in color and not in sequential order, left me speechless. Unfortunately, all of the images took place in our kitchen. I knew the events seen in my sister's vision would not make my parents happy, especially my mother.
"Whoe!" Alice gasped, the room fell silent. The noise she made sounded like she got the wind knocked out of her.
Jasper immediately put his arm around Alice and everyone stared at her in anticipation.
"Alice?" Carlisle asked.
"What did you see?" Bella and Rosalie asked in unison. While Emmett quietly looked at our sister.
"What's wrong?" Jasper wondered. He was worried that Alice saw something bad.
Without a word Alice turned to me, a bewildered expression upon her face. Clearly she was bothered by her vision, but not for reasons Jasper assumed.
"But why?" I questioned Alice about her vision. I was stunned with what I saw.
Alice's golden eyes met mine. "Do you really have to ask?" She said dryly.
Jasper gently turned Alice's face to meet his and intently looked into her eyes. Even though no words were exchanged between them he understood what she saw in her vision and found it hysterical. Which made everyone else question what she saw when he doubled over laughing.
Alice and I ignored everyone's questions.
"When?" Was my next question. I couldn't let her vision become a reality.
Alice shrugged her shoulders. "Possibly tonight."
Emmett groaned in frustration. "Don't you two start with the secret conversations." He said to Alice and I. He always becomes so exasperated when Alice and I communicate like this.
I felt Bella squeeze my hand that she was still holding. "Edward," She spoke, snapping me out of thinking about Alice's odd vision. I looked at her. "Emmett is right, this is annoying. Just say what's going on."
I looked up at the ceiling for a moment, gazing at the fluorescent lights. The aftermath of what I saw from Alice's vision wasn't necessarily something I wanted to share with my father or siblings.
"Esme will be needing to remodel the kitchen." Alice said the least embarrassing thing about her vision. Though, it was minimum information it did give Carlisle a clue of what she saw.
Carlisle ran his right hand over his face. "Oh god." He then looked at Emmett and Rosalie. "Hasn't your mother already done enough remodeling for one week with repairing the damages you guys made in the library?"
Rosalie and Emmett perplexed and were trying to figure out which of them was planning on having a little fun in the kitchen.
"They won't be the cause of the destruction. Not this time" Alcie spoke meekly.
Carlisle, Emmett, Rosalie and Bella all looked to Alice for more information.
Jasper was trying to regain control of himself and end his laughter. "And Alcie and I won't be responsible for Esme refurbishing the kitchen either." Joyful feelings were radiating off of him.
"Edward is going to sock the monkey in the kitchen!" Emmett could not resist saying.
Carlisle looked at me with wide eyes. He was shocked to learn which couple would be the cause of the destruction. Having known Alice hadn't been able to see Bella in her visions, wondered what changed. Alice began to excitedly explain to him about Bella being back in her visions as of tonight, but only at random moments. She didn't specify what Bella and I are doing when Bella shows up in her visions and thankfully Carlisle did not ask.
"Alice can only see Bella when Edward and her are ripping-'n'-dipping!" Emmett announced in his best British accent.
Carlisle shook his head.
Immediately six pairs of eyes fell on my face. I saw the senseless expression on my face from five different viewpoints.
"It was a passing thought." I said emphasizing each word.
'Oh dear lord. This family only needs one Emmett.' Carlisle thought to himself, just as his name was called on the PA system. "Everyone, keep your intimate activities to your bedrooms." He said in a stirn fatherly voice. We all reassured him we would.
We then departed as our father headed to the emergency ward. My siblings, along with Bella and I made our way out of the hospital and headed home.
Once We arrived home and all of us checked in with Esme. Bella and I avoided the kitchen like the plague, we did not want to be responsible for any damages. Luckily, she wasn't hungry. I lead her straight up to my room.
"Here we are." I pushed my bedroom door open.
Of course I had told her that Alice bought me a bedroom set but she hadn't gotten to see it for herself, yet. I was anxious to see her reaction as we walked inside. She examined every inch of my room, her eyes stopping at the bed as I went over to the electric space heater and clicked it on. I wanted my room to be warm for her.
"Wow!" Bella said walking into my room. "Your room looks so different with a bed and furniture."
I smiled and nodded my head.
"Somehow your room looks bigger and cozier."
"Bigger? Really?" That surprised me. I thought my room looked smaller since my bed took up a good portion of my room.
"Yup. It looks nice. But what's with the lava lamp?" She questioned as she went over to it.
I heard Alice bouncing up the stairs. She wanted to set us straight on her choice of interior decorations.
"I honestly don't know." I admitted.
In a second I was at her side and I turned on the lava lamp in question. We stared at it in silence. It really did look out of place with everything else. For whatever reason Alice insisted I keep it, so I did. More to make my sister happy than anything else.
"It really doesn't suit your personality." Bella looked at me.
"I agree." I sat on the bed and she came to sit with me.
As quick and as quiet as a ninja Alice appeared inside my room as Bella closed the space between us and sat on my lap.
'Seriously. You two have no scene of fashion or the concept of accessories.' Alice thought. "The lamp gives this room character. It stays." She informed me.
"Got it." I rolled my eyes.
Back in the 1970's when lava lamps were a big thing as well as pet rocks. I didn't jump on board with either fad though all my siblings did. Now, years later I get stuck with a senseless lava lamp. I can only wonder if Alice will find a pet rock for me on Ebay and saddle me with that too. I sure hope not.
Alice smiled a satisfied toothy grin. "Bella, you haven't seen the best part of Edward's room yet!" She squealed in delight. "I stocked his closet with clothes for you!"
"New clothes?" Bella stiffen in my embrace from Alice's words.
Within seconds Alice took Bella's hand, and she was out of my arms and off my lap all too soon. My spiky haired sister led Bella to my closet. She was more than eager to give her a fashion editorial, making sure Bella knew exactly which blouses and shoes went with which jeans. Alice chatted away like they were the only two in the room.
I didn't fault my sister for forgetting I was still there. I understand Bella is her best and she wanted some time with her. Since clothes and fashion aren't really fun topics for me, I decided to give them some girl time and go take a shower. I wanted to wash the scent of rabbit off me. I got up and headed to my closest to pick out fresh clothes, having already predicted my intent, Alice handed me a pair of dark blue sweatpants and a gray long sleeve shirt, warm comfortable clothes for Bella to cuddle against me and keep warm. I took my clothes from my sister and headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower.
With wet hair and fresh clothes on I returned to my room. Alice and Bella both sat cross legged on my bed. Alice was still excitedly chitter-chatter away, no longer about clothes but the dreaded water-wedding. For some reason she plans on the decorated boats sailing down the Wayside. Bella, who was clearly being polite and not interested at all, was giving her all the appropriate responses.
"Alice, that sort of wedding is not going to happen for us." I cut in, as she added more strange details to her already bizarre vision of a wedding.
Alice and Bella both looked at me. Bella was clearly relieved where Alice looked a bit annoyed that I wasn't going along with her zany wedding plans.
"When are you going to accept that the water-wedding is happening?" Alice wondered. 'Why must you be so stubborn?'
Alice and I looked at eachother. She briskly ran through a few hundred images of the feasible future. All of them were of the water-wedding that she keeps adding more strange details too. Now for some unknown reason there's a boat full of people dressed like a pirate crew complete with a real cannon and a live parrot. Her ideas are really getting ridiculous.
"Never," Was my only response.
'It's going to happen. I've "seen" it. Why fight it?'
"Nope." I said willfully.
Alice locked eyes with me. We both knew each other well enough to know just how stubborn the other could be when we have our minds set.
Bella slid off the bed and gazed at us. "As much fun as this one way conversation is." She said with sarcasm. "I'm going to go shower." She then gathered up her stuff that Alice had out for her and left my room.
From the second floor came Emmett's laughter. 'Finally! Someone hates their secret conversations as much as I do.'
Alice and I remained deadlocked for a few more seconds until Jasper and the peaceful feeling he brought with him entered my room. He wanted to retrieve Alice, who he wanted to spend time with. I was glad for my brother because Alice had no plans on backing down. What is it with her and her odd obsession with a water-wedding? I can't explain.
Alone in my room I sat on my giant bean bag chair listening to my iPod as I waited for Bella to return. By the time the eleventh song ended another sound caught my attention which was the wonderful sound of Bella's steady heartbeat, along with her soft footsteps. She was out of the bathroom!
I turned off my music and removed the EarPods from my ears. I listened to each footfall as she entered my room, closing the door behind her. I took in the sight of my Bella. She looked tired but so very beautiful in her lavender silk pajamas with her wet hair draping over her shoulders. I rocketed to Bella's side and took her in my arms and kissed the top of her head.
"Beautiful." I whispered. Her beauty overwhelmed me. "Are you ready for bed?"
"I'm ready to lay down." Bella corrected me.
I ended our embrace. She climbed into bed and so did I. I welcomed her warmth as we cuddled each other, leaving no space between us, her back pressed against my chest, my arms around her, and her hands over mine. As much as I would have loved to, I didn't pursue anything. She was exhausted and needed rest. I would behave myself.
"I'm sorry about today." I spoke softly, even though we didn't have to. "We almost got caught. I should have been keeping better surveillance."
Even though everything worked out fine in the end, with the help of my siblings and their very over the top plan. I was a bit mad at myself for acting like a typical seventeen year old boy and being ruled by my hormones. After all, I am a hundred and eight year old vampire. I should not have been so reckless.
"Don't start your worrying or overthinking." Bella insisted, rubbing the back of my hand. She spoke in the same quiet tone as I had.
She knows me so well. I had already begun overthinking.
"Difficult not too." I grumbled.
"Why? Everything worked out." She spoke soberly. "Besides. It was understandable you weren't paying attention. You were focusing on me." Her words had a smug edge at the end.
"That's true. You are a very dangerous creature. You will definitely be the death of me. " I noted and she giggled.
Before today I had always wondered how Emmett and Rosalie were able to manage getting caught by every member of the family at one time or another, at every single house we have lived at. I once believed it to be carelessness. Now I realize it wasn't that at all. It's so easy to lose yourself in pleasure and forget your surroundings. Being a vampire I never thought that would be possible with having heightened scents and a talent, but now I know it is.
"This is nice." Bella said, changing the subject.
I wasn't sure what she was talking about. "What's that?" I questioned.
"Spending the night with you in your room. I wish we could do this every night."
"Silly girl," I teased. "We always spend the night together in your room."
"Yeah, but we have to sneak around. I like this, where there's no need to pretend." She explained. "Your family knows I'm sleeping over and they are fine with that."
I understood how that was. I enjoyed being able to openly spend the night with her too. It was nice knowing that I wouldn't have to get up and leave in the early hours of the morning. The more I thought about it the more I began to feel that each word she spoke was a hint. A peace of a puzzle that I was supposed to put together.
I held her a little tighter. "So you're saying you want it to be like this all the time? Me and you forever?" I wondered.
"Yes. Forever, Edward. That's exactly what I'm saying." She spoke softly.
"You want to get married?" I wondered.
"Yes. The sooner the better." There was a smile in her voice.
My dead heart swelled and I smiled from hearing her words. She had no idea how happy she made me by her saying that. We had talked about marriage since we made our compromise back in August, but she never seemed to be sure about it until now. I had a feeling why that was but I wanted to be sure.
"Last week when I asked if you wanted to get married you wanted to hold off on getting married. As much as you wanting to get married sooner, I'm just wondering, what changed?" I didn't want to wait, I waited my entire existence for her. I was just curious about her answer.
Bella was quiet for a moment. "Well," She spoke slowly. "Charlie has a girlfriend now. They seem happy together. He now has someone to take care of him, it's really a big weight lifted off my shoulders that he'll be taken care of. So, I want to start living my life with you."
I grinned at the last part. I figured her answer would have something to do with Charlie having a girlfriend.
"Before or after graduation?" I wondered.
"Before." She simply answered. She was starting to sound drowsy. "Maybe in June. Just as long as you change me afterward."
"I will." I promised.
"Yay! The June water-wedding is going to happen!" Alice excitedly shouted from her and Jasper's bedroom on the second floor. She was so thrilled that her exhilarated emotions were intoxicating Jasper. Pretty soon the whole house was feeling as excited as Alcie.
Bella and I groand.
Of course, in a house with six other vampires our conversation wasn't exactly private. Though, everyone but Alice tried not to eavesdrop.
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Now Alice is able to "see" Bella in her visions. But only at certain times. Hahaha!
The Cullen kids really do get creativite when helping out their siblings and making sure they don't get caught. Especially when the plan is left up to Emmett and Rosalie.
Any thoughts or questions on this chapter are welcome. As always I will make sure to respond to everyone.
Thanks for reading this chapter. My apologies if words are misspelled. I suffer from dyslexia and as much as I try to correct every single mistake, there's still a few that I don't notice. It's very annoying to me.
Happy New! :)