Chapter 2: Meeting the Marie
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Twilight Saga, all characters, except Marie, belongs to her.
I woke up to the usual grayness of Forks, but Edward wasn't next to me. I almost started to panic until he walked out of his closet, buttoning his shirt. I smiled and calmed down as I climbed out of bed. Suddenly, Alice burst through the bedroom door with a grin, hauling me out to Edward's disliking. She dressed me in another French designer and smiled at me.
"See if Marie knows this designer," Alice smirked as we walked out of her room.
All I could do was shake my head at her antics. I see now how her and Marie are going to be. I could smell something delicious coming from the kitchen as we descended the stairs. Esme had breakfast on the table by the time I made it into the kitchen. Edward was already waiting for me at the table where a plate of strawberry and hazelnut chocolate spread filled crepes sat. For someone who can't eat human food, she sure knows to cook. I began digging into my food as Edward patiently sat with me. My foot bounced as I ate in anticipation of today.
"Excited about bringing your cousin to meet our family?" Edward asked smiling.
"Yes, she'll like everyone. She's a very kind person unless you hurt her family or friends," I told him.
"Does she know about what happened a few months ago?" Edward asked worried.
I dropped my fork and started coughing on my food. I had forgotten Marie knew about those months of my darkest time. Edward was by my side patting my back gently. Marie hates Edward and knows how to hold a grudge until she's able to unleash her anger on the person. I pushed my plate of half-eaten food away and laid my head on the table, no longer hungry. Marie's going to give him a hard time until she believes he has proven he won't hurt me again.
"Yes, she does and she's going to give you a hard time," I warned him.
Edward's face turned into a grimace and he sat down next to me. Silent tears started running down my cheeks as Edward held me close to him.
"I'll do whatever it takes to prove my love for you to her," Edward said smoothing my hair down.
"Maybe Alice should take me to get Marie," I told him.
"No, I'll take you, because I can handle whatever she throws at me," Edward said as he took my plate to the kitchen.
He came back and we went to the garage, but I caught a glimpse of Alice before we got out the door. She looked sympathetic like she knew what was coming. I tried to smile at her, but it probably came out as a grimace. Edward helped me into his Volvo before taking the driver side. We sat in silence while he drove us to Charlie's house.
I saw that Marie and Uncle Carson were already here. Edward parked us next to their car and got my door for me. I was afraid of how Marie would react to Edward. We entered the house and heard talking coming from the kitchen. I took a deep breath to calm down before going into the kitchen. Charlie gave Edward his usual scowl as Marie turned to look at us. Edward was surprised at Marie's scars; they were different than seeing them in Alice's thoughts. Uncle Carson was standing against the counter and tilted his head, as if he were tipping an invisible hat, towards Edward in his own greeting.
"Hey, Bella, Uncle Charlie was just tellin' me 'bout your best friend, Jake. I want to meet this kid," Marie said enthusiastically making Edward stiffen.
"Trust me, Marie, he doesn't look like a kid," Charlie said, smirking at her.
"Sure, Uncle Charlie," Marie said giggling. "By the way, who's he?" Marie added, pointing toward Edward.
She gave him a kind smile, the one she gives to every new person she meets. I better say goodbye to that smile because as soon as I introduce them, it'll be the last time I see it toward him. Edward put his hand out to shake Marie's. Marie took it as Edward opened his mouth to speak.
"Hi, Marie, I've heard so much about you. I'm Edward, Bella's boyfriend," he introduced.
Marie's smile disappeared and was replaced by a disgusted look making her scars contort hideously on her face. She snatched her hand away from Edward's as if his touch had burned her and turned on me.
"I can't believe you, Isabella!" she started hollering at me. When she used my full name, I knew she was angry, and I was about to get an earful. "After everything he put you through, you took him back! It took me forever to get you to leave your room and it took your friend, Jake, a while to get you semi-human again. I was worried 'bout you for months," by now Marie was red in the face and was shaking like the wolves do before the shift. I became concerned, but as she continued raising her voice, I started to become defensive. "I thought I might lose my favorite and only cousin because of how depressed you were, and you take him back! I hope you gave him hell to get you back. I always said you were too forgiving." Marie huffed after she finished hollering.
By the time she finished, I was at my boiling point. I saw Charlie's smirk fade and concern in Uncle Carson's eyes. I tried to remain calm and let Marie get it off her chest, but I couldn't hold it in much longer. I felt Edward release quickly but paid no mind to him. I felt hot with anger as I stared Marie down.
I pointed my finger at my cousin, "First off Marie, I'm not some ignorant child! Second, I'm 18 and can make my own decisions on what to do with my life! You're not my mother or my guardian! My dad has already dealt the punishment and I've fulfilled it; now get off my back!"
Her face was red, and I bet mine was at this point as well. I could see Charlie trying to grab Marie's shoulder, but Uncle Carson shook his head, and Charlie backed off. Marie turned on Edward next and pointed her finger at him. She started screaming at him in another language. I didn't know she was that fluent in another language besides French. By the time she finished, Edward looked fearful which was odd considering Marie was human. Seeing Edward actually scared of my cousin made something snap in and the next thing I know Marie is laying on the floor of the kitchen holding her chin. I looked at my curled-up fist still in the air and began to cry as all the rage drains from me.
I just punched her, I thought in shock. Edward wrapped his arms around me quickly and lowers my arm as my dad helps Marie stand up. I saw a red mark on her chin where my fist had connected as Uncle Carson steps around to examine her. Marie looked at me with a scowl, but under it, I could see a slight smirk. Why is she smirking? I just punched her, she should be even angrier and ready to attack me like she has done with her brothers. But why did I punch her…I've never harmed her physically before, that I could remember at least.
Marie waved her dad from her after a moment and gave me a soft smile. "It's alright, Bella. I had it coming," she said gently putting her hands up as though she was trying to fan me. "How's Alice, anyways, Bella?" she asked me as she turned her nice and sweet act on.
That was it for Charlie and Uncle Carson. They both bent over in a fit of laughter as I scowled at them and Edward composed himself. And instantly, it was like nothing ever happened. I just shook my head as I turned in Edward's arms and hugged him. He gently lifted my chin up and mouthed, it's alright. I gave him a small smile and pulled away and went over to hug Marie. She gave me a tight hug and left her arm resting on my shoulder.
"Are you ladies ready to go? Alice is waiting back at home to meet her best friend's favorite cousin," Edward asked us as he tried to recover his composure.
"I guess so," Marie huffed as she started to lead me out the door.
This is going to be a long ride. We waved our dads as we walked out the door with Edward behind us. As we were leaving Charlie and Uncle Carson started whispering, but I couldn't understand anything. Edward walked up beside me and wrapped my hand around his arm, trying to avoid breaking contact between me and Marie. Suddenly, I felt Edward go rigid again probably not liking what they were saying. I gazed up into Edward's eyes and gave him a small smile; it was the best I could do right now. It didn't seem to help though.
(Edward's POV)
Marie really hates me, but I don't blame her. I did hurt Bella in the worst way possible and can never forgive myself for it. I was surprised when Bella took me back so easily. I thought I would have to earn her trust back and, in some ways, I am. Marie has every right to be mad at me. What really surprised me though was when Bella punched Marie in my defense. I can't get over the heat I felt coming off her though when her cousin berated her. It was like the angrier she got, the more heat her body gave off. I couldn't even touch her to help calm her. That worries me because she gave off more heat than the wolves and it felt like she could actually burn me or worse, set me on fire. When Charlie and Carson started whispering inside, I couldn't help but eavesdrop.
"That was very mild for Marie. I'm surprised she didn't kill him right then and there. I've seen her kill many nomadic vampires to protect Bella," Carson told Charlie surprised.
I stopped abruptly as we walked down the driveway to my car. Marie has killed vampires. But how? She's only human…isn't she?
"Has Bella not regained any memories since returning here with you?"
"No, and it's beginning to worry me," Charlie responded. "But when Bella snapped just now and punched Marie, I saw a bit of her old self there for a minute. I mean you could see how Edward couldn't even her."
Now their conversation really caught my attention causing me to pause as I held the doors open for Bella and her cousin to get situated in my car. So maybe Charlie knows more than he led me to believe.
"But on the subject of Marie, she knows Bella loves him and is willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. Edward will just have to pass the many tests Marie will set for him," Carson said.
"Marie's one witch I've learned not to anger, and I'm her uncle. I know how angry she can get," Charlie shuddered as some memories flashed through his mind.
Many of the memories, were blurred since I have issues reading Charlie's mind to start with. He knew this entire time that I was a vampire. That explained why she wasn't scared of me and threatened me so harshly. Hearing her threaten me in fluent Portuguese both amazed and scared me. I wonder how many vampires she has killed.
"I think Bella's anger could actually rival my daughter's. You remember how she was when she lost her temper a couple of times?" Carson questioned his brother.
I looked over at Bella as I shut the door for her. She gave me a small smile and got in the car. Is Bella a witch, too? Has she been hiding something from me? She seems perfectly normal though. Has Bella not regained any memories since returning here? Carson's words ran through my head. Marie was already in the backseat with her arms crossed and looking away from me.
"Does Bella know you're a witch?" I asked Marie in Portuguese in a low whisper in hopes that she could hear.
"No and I plan to keep it that way until the time is right," she responds, shooting daggers at me through the rearview mirror. "You breathe a word of it to her, I'll burn your ass so bad that you won't be able to sit for a month," she responds with acidity in Portuguese.
"Is she a witch as well?" I asked her as I tried to not shudder from her threat with the fear of what she was actually capable of now.
She ignored my question and gazed out the window. Bella observed the trees passing by oblivious to our conversation. We stayed quiet the rest of the ride. Marie was planning something, some form of payback. I would take it and earn her respect and show her how much I love Bella. I will pass the tests that Marie's dad mentioned. I pulled into the garage and saw Alice leaning against her Porsche. She must've retrieved it from Marie's father at some point. She smiled at me and ran to get Marie's door. Marie squealed and pulled Alice into a hug. The way her attitude and emotions change would give me whiplash if I were human.
"Did you guess what Bella's wearing?" Alice asked her.
"Not yet, I was busy venting my anger on your brother," Marie told her then looked at Bella's dress. "Jean Pierre's spring collection from last year."
"Correct. How do you know all this?" Alice asked pouting.
"I took an all-year course in fashion design at my previous school," Marie told her, pride showing in her body language.
"Let's get inside before anyone gets cold," I told the girls.
I kept my distance as from Marie as her and Alice talked about French fashion compared to American, both discussing their pros and cons. Bella and I listened as they conversed in French all the way into the house. That's when Alice started introducing everyone.
"This is my mother and father, Esme and Carlisle," Alice started with a wave of her hand.
Esme covered her mouth and held on to Carlisle when she saw the scars across Marie's face. Marie played it off and smiled at them.
"Hello, Mr. And Mrs. Cullen," Marie greeted politely.
"Call me Esme, sweetie," Esme said with a smile. "You and Bella look so similar, almost like twins," she giggled.
"Well, our fathers are twins, and it seems we do favor them," Marie laughed.
It had surprised me when I walked through the door and I saw the men standing next to each other. I wasn't expecting them to be twins, let alone identical twins. I thought Alice would've warned me.
"Don't worry about being formal; you can call me Carlisle," Carlisle told her.
Marie had her sweet smile on. I smirked remembering that smile just minutes ago.
"Alright, Ms. Esme," Marie smiled.
Esme smiled with a small headshake, before Alice drug her away to meet Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett. Esme left soon after to buy some gardening supplies and Carlisle left for work. Marie and my bothers started joking around, though Jasper kept his distance, and she told him about her older brothers; one in college and the other a graphic designer in New York. She told them about how she would wrestle them sometimes. Jasper had a perplexed look on his face as he observed Marie. Something in his mind flickered, like an old memory, but it was too blurry to tell. Marie told my brothers how their strength would be their biggest weakness as well as well as their forte. She and Jasper allowed Emmett to contemplate that for a while as she took her jacket off to show the frilly dark blue tank top she had on.
"So where are you from by the way?" Jasper asked with a bit of his accent leaking through.
"Oh, I thought Bella would've already told y'all, but I'm from San Antonio," she said with a smirk. "Where are you from 'cause with that accent, I can tell you're not from the north?" Marie asked with a raised brow.
"Houston, Texas," Jasper replied as Marie raised her fist up for him to bump it.
Jasper gently bumped her fist before Alice bounced up and grinned widely at Marie.
"Oooh, I have to show you my closet, since you're such a fashionista like moi!" Alice sang with excitement.
"Okay, sure," Marie replied hesitantly.
"It's alright, Marie, I won't be hard on you," Alice promised pulling her upstairs.
"I'm hanging with Marie next. She said she'd play Burnout Revenge with me," Emmett shouted to Alice.
Bella giggled and then whispered to me, "Yeah, that's probably the only video game he has that she'll willingly play with him." I gave a small laugh, happy to see Bella smiling again.
"Yeah, yeah, wait your turn," Alice yelled.
"I feel like a toy," Marie whispered with an eyeroll.
"Join the club," Rosalie stated as she flipped a page in her magazine.
Everyone down here snickered. I took Bella to the piano and started playing her lullaby. That's when we heard an 'oooh' and a groan. I knew what was going on and chuckled. Marie had found one of Jasper's history books on their bed. I snickered as Jasper looked at me curiously. I shook my head and put a hand up signaling for him to hold on.
Marie came out of the room holding a brown, synthetic leather-bound book with gold letters on it. She stood close to the edge of the banister as she held the book in her hands, already opened. Jasper recognized it as his history of the Civil War and started laughing with me. Alice came out of the room and glared at Jasper for a second.
"Can I borrow it Jasper, please? I'll take good care of it," Marie begged, with big brown puppy dog eyes that I recognized as the same Bella sometimes gave me.
Alice huffed when Jasper nodded his head with an awkward smile and Marie's face lit up even though the scars caused half her face to still grimace. Marie closed the book and jumped on the banister and slid down in excitement. Everyone got worried until her feet hit the floor.
"Esme would kill us if we did that," Emmett whispered to me with fear in his eyes as he imagined the scolding he would receive from our adopted mother.
I laughed at Emmett as Marie walked to the living room and sat in an armchair. Alice came downstair after a while and huffed as she sat down. Emmett went to ask Marie to play video games and she shook her head, already sucked into the book. After she finished the first chapter, she marked the page and put the book on the table. Emmett jumped at her first.
"I heard you like vampire movies and book," Emmett comments with a suspicious look on his face.
I smiled because everyone forgot about his stash of vampire movies. He found them hilarious, and I became curious of how Marie would react.
Esme didn't allow those movies, but Emmett was able to find a hiding place for them. He would watch them when both Carlisle and Esme were gone. Alice or I would warn him when they were about to be home. Since Carlisle was at work and Esme went to look for gardening supplies, Emmett thought it would be great to watch the movies. Alice smiled and whispered to Jasper what was happening. They started laughing as Emmett went upstairs to go get the movies.
Marie looked at us confused but Emmett was already down the stairs as Marie opened her mouth to ask. Everyone gathered in the living room, around the TV, while Emmett put the DVD in. He fast forward through the previews and played the movie. Bella pulled Marie down next to us though she didn't like being near me. I felt a sharp shock to my arm as her hand barely grazed it causing me to pull my arm from Bella's shoulder quickly. Bella looked up at me with worry as I gave her a reassuring smile but glared over at her cousin. Marie simply stuck her tongue at me as she turned towards Rosalie and Emmett.
"What are we watchin', Emmett?" Marie asked him.
I noticed then how she never looked us in the eyes but averted her eyes to other spaces.
I wondered why that was, but I couldn't ask her. She would ignore me and talk to someone else.
"You're such a vampire fan, how about you tell me?" Emmett replied, smirking.
"Fine, bet I can guess it," Marie smiled back.
"You're on, fifty bucks?" he asked.
"You're on," Marie replied, grinning widely.
The movie started and a woman was on top of a building, watching for something. Marie watched intently, trying to remember the movie; it was familiar to her. Emmett thought he had her and would win. I looked at Bella and she was watching Marie. She turned her attention back to the screen and she looked as if she recognized it.
"Do you know the movie, love?" I asked Bella.
"It seems familiar, but I can't put my finger on it," Bella replied.
Everyone glanced at Bella, surprised except Marie. She gazed at Bella with a suspicious expression but decided to change the subject when she saw my eyes on her.
"Underworld!" Marie exclaimed and everyone turned to her confused. "Pay up, Emmett. You lost."
"Damn it!" Emmett exclaimed as he reached for his back pocket. "I don't have it," he lied feigning shock.
I saw Rosalie put her hand under Emmett's butt, before he suddenly flew up and everyone saw the lump in his back pocket. Everyone laughed at his expense as he gave Rose his sad eyes.
"Well then that must be a second dick in ya butt, dude," she told him pointing at his back pocket as everyone cracked up at her joke.
Emmett cursed again as he dug his wallet out and handed the money over to Marie who folded it up and put it in her pocket. Everyone calmed down and turned back to the movie. Bella's previous comment overlooked for the time being.
Towards the end of the movie, where the half-breed guy and werewolf were fighting, Bella hid into my side when the half-breed ripped the top half of the werewolf's head off. Emmett laughed loudly.
"Cool but ewww," Marie said, laughing.
"Figures she won't be scared, she's seen it before," Emmet huffed.
"I wasn't scared the first time I saw it, either" Marie told him, sticking her tongue at him.
The movie ended and Bella relaxed. Marie turned to Emmett, expectantly.
"Got anymore?" she asked excited.
"Yes, but we don't have time," Alice replied for him.
Esme walked in as Emmett was putting the DVDs in his hiding place. Esme smiled at us as she brought the bags in. Marie saw her arms were full and hopped off the couch and went to her.
"Can I help ya, Ms. Esme?" Marie asked kindly.
"No but thank you, sweetie. I got it. I'm going to put some of these away and plant some new flowers in my garden," Esme told her.
"Oooh, can I help you? Back home and I won the best garden contest," Marie told her, smiling, full of pride.
"Sure, Marie. Come on," Esme said smiling and handing some bags to Marie after she insisted with her open hands.
Marie and Esme went outside after putting the supplies away. I listen as Marie guesses the different types of flowers Esme had purchased and tells Esme about her mother and father. If only they knew her secret. Bella put her hand on my shoulder, and I look at her.
"I need to get home and make dinner for Charlie and help Marie get ready for school tomorrow," Bella told me with a small smile.
"Alright, I'll take you and Marie back to Charlie's," I told her standing up.
"I'll go let Marie know and take her Jazz's book," Alice says as she grabs Jasper's book and his hand and they both go outside.
Bella and I go to the garage and get in my Volvo. I toss Bella's overnight bag in the backseat and pull into the front driveway. Marie was dusting her hands on her pants after she hugged Esme.
'Maybe I should put some dirt in his shiny Volvo. He would really love that,' Marie thought sarcastically as she scowled at me.
I fought to hold in a growl at her thought, but then it hit me. I wasn't able to clearly read her mind until now, which means she allowed me to hear that to rile me up. I shook my head; it's just one of her tests. I can beat her at her own game. Alice put Jasper's book in Marie's oversized purse as she climbed into my car and sprinkled dirt on Bella's head.
"Marie, I'm going to smell like garden soil now," Bella whined trying to shake it off outside.
Marie only giggled as she wrapped her hands around the headrest and rubbed her hands on Bella's cheeks. Bella cringed and began to swat at her cousin.
"Come on, Bella, we used to play in the mud when we were younger. Now, you complain?" Marie told her laughing.
Bella was so endearing when she whined, but she was always beautiful. I pulled into the driveway and Marie hurriedly jumped out as I got Bella's door for her. I kissed Bella and said bye to her at the door and went home. Marie wasn't going to win this game. I'm going to prove that I love Bella more than anything. I'll take whatever she puts in my way.