Alice finished getting dressed in her baseball uniform and gave herself a once over. She loved it when the family took some quality time together and Bella would be joining them as well. Alice did have visions of Bella learning to pitch and Alice couldn't wait to help Bella learn. It was interesting since she was such a klutz, but she was trying to be involved. Bella was continuing to surprise her, but that only made Alice grow more connected to her. She did see a future with Bella, but to how deep an extent was still foggy even for the clairvoyant vampire.
Alice There was a knock on her door and it was Edward. He glanced at Alice and he couldn't help but chuckle. Alice scoffed since she was wearing a baseball outfit as well and most of the family would be too. It was strange that Edward wasn't as close to her as he usually is and Alice couldn't understand the shift in Edward.
"You look like a real sports star." He complimented.
"So do you. Hope the family doesn't mind that I give Bella a lesson before we have our game. If I were to be fair, though fun, with you and me on the same team it isn't much of a game."
He chuckled and asked,
"You saw that I wanted us on the same team?"
"Yes, since you cheat good sir. You read my mind so you know where the ball is going after my pitches. How no one objects to you playing is beyond me. Least with me, I can decide to do things differently to give others a sporting chance. You on the other hand play to win."
Edward grinned and playfully put a hand on his heart.
"I'm appalled you think that's all I care about."
"You also care about Bella and you want to show off to her." Alice teased.
Edward's smile tightened a bit. On the one hand, he liked that most of the family was warming up to his Bella. Then again, Alice was way more engaged than he had thought. He didn't think there was another vampire that would connect so deeply with Bella and yet Alice was that vampire. He had to be silly Edward thought, Bella was his mate and his concerns about Alice weren't warranted. Although, why Alice suggested Bella learn to pitch seemed a bit absurd. She would not be playing at all, but merely watching. Bella would be a dangerous handicap for either team and he wanted to preserve his Bella, not causing her harm as the monsters they were.
"You're not wrong since she will be watching. Any real reason you want to teach her to pitch?"
Alice laughed softly and expressed,
"It would be good for her to learn. If I do see her being one of us someday, it will be good for her to learn a position with some activity. I thought you would be amused with Bella doing something out of her comfort zone."
Quite contrary he thought since he wanted Bella not to change. He liked that Bella was shy, meek, almost submissive, and most of all, human. Alice continuing to humor her visions of Bella being a vampire annoyed him. He did want a life with her, but a life with her being human and he would follow after her in death by any means. Alice was taking Bella being a vampire much too playful to his tastes. He envied Alice though since she didn't have memories of her transformation but by extension lead to her ignorance of vampire turning.
Alice saw Edward's pout and shook her head.
"Don't lie and say you wouldn't be at least curious to see Bella attempt to pitch. You do find pleasure in Bella's ineptness but I do see her taking it a bit well."
Edward sighed and asked,
"You see the absolute best while I see reality. Besides, you seem very taken with her."
As friends Alice thought strongly. Edward read her thoughts and he was somewhat annoyed with Alice. She had plans to sleep over with Bella, watching her sleep like he does, and in some ways with the same enamor in the gold eyes. It all seemed harmless to him at a glance, but he couldn't help feeling threatened by Alice wanting to be closer to Bella.
"Were you going to tell me about your sleepover plans Alice?"
Alice glared at him. She was used to Edward reading her mind but now it was becoming too much. It seems like he was trying to get intel on her and trying to change plans she wants. It was welcome since Edward could read her mind and understand the future. However, he's been more and more invasive that it was suffocating to Alice now.
Look Edward, you watch her sleep all the time to the point of creep factors before you got together with her. My intentions are nothing but pure friendship. Get your old-fashioned mind out of the twisted gutters it's in. By the way, Jasper is through using her powers to dull my feelings that you told him to do to me.
This didn't surprise Edward since he knew Jasper betrayed him. Jasper assured Edward this was normal for Alice and he should be happy Alice cares so much for Bella unlike Rosalie. He had hoped they would be good friends but it seemed like it was skirting a line between innocence and lust. He knew Bella was straight and he thought Alice was too. However, his instincts boiled that Alice was luring her away from him.
"You seem much more bubbly than usual."
"I might be since it's been decades since I actually had a new friend. It can be boring being to ourselves and you brought her into our lives. Be thankful we're not trying to feast on her."
Alice did have a point; Bella's blood was the most alluring blood he had ever had pleasure in taking in. It was hard for him to resist and he couldn't imagine how hard it was for others other than Carlisle. Jasper in particular was his greatest worry since he's new to their diet and Bella's blood was a struggle for him.
"I know Alice and thank you for keeping Jasper at bay. The last thing I want is any bloodshed."
"Right so, you're going to pick up Bella and you'll meet us there?" Alice asked.
Least Alice wasn't offering to go with him, which showed some boundaries. Maybe he was overthinking Alice wanting Bella as anything more and he smiled slightly.
"Any foresight on how meeting Charlie goes? I don't expect problems but it would be nice to maybe at least hear what might come up."
Alice giggled and told him,
"Nothing I tell you will stop Charlie from giving you the third degree. Bella is his only daughter so tread carefully."
With that, Alice left with Emmett, Rose, and Jasper in Emmett's jeep to a clearing in the woods. Alice was doing some stretches as loud thunder could be heard from where they were playing. A soft smile came to Alice's face since the thunder will add a nice clapping sound to balls colliding with her bat. Esme and Carlisle arrived in another car and saw Alice was getting very limber for their game. Carlisle approached Alice with a smile and asked,
"Excited that Bella's coming?"
Alice nodded as she finished her leg stretches.
"Yes, and I can see her having fun learning how to pitch. She's very open with me which is good for learning."
Esme smiled softly at Alice's newfound excitement. Alice had always been this way, but Bella just brought out more in her. The golden in Alice's eyes even shimmered with a renewed life and Esme was curious on how strong their friendship could be.
"Just be careful Alice. From what Edward tells us, she's not athletic." Esme expressed.
"Or graceful or coordinated. I'll be surprised if she knows how to hold a ball." Rosalie scoffed in a low voice.
Alice shot a warning glare at Rosalie and that only made her scoff more.
"You would pick her over me Alice? She just entered our lives and we've been sisters for a few decades now." Rosalie spoke with malice.
Alice wondered if her sister, Cynthia, were alive that if she would be supportive of Bella. She hated that she couldn't recall anything from her human life about Cynthia since they looked to close in that one photo she had. Rosalie being unsisterly to Alice made her think of the one she's lost and if maybe she is a vampire or had a long human life. For what seemed like a lifetime, Edward's Volvo finally made it to the clearing and he opened the passenger door. Bella locked eyes with Alice and smiled brightly. She trudged carefully as to not trip on the grass while Alice almost skipped towards her with excitement.
"How did the meeting with Charlie go, Edward?" Alice asked.
"As well as it could be. Edward was very calm." Bella told her.
Edward chuckled and wrapped his arm tighter around Bella's waist.
"I told you there would be nothing to worry about. The most interesting thing was that you were going to play baseball. He seemed amused that you would learn to pitch and so am I." Edward softly spoke.
Bella rolled her eyes at him and squirmed a bit so Edward would let go of her. She crossed her arms and stated,
"I might be decent Edward; I don't know since I haven't tried yet. Alice might be a great teacher."
"Slow steps Bella, but yes I am an excellent pitcher. I can at least guide you through the motions and make sure you have a good stance."
Edward noticed the slight smirk to Alice's lips and slight shimmer in Bella's eyes. He gritted his teeth but both women ignored him as they went on the pitch. Emmett went beside his side. Edward glared at his girlfriend and sister but Emmett couldn't help but laugh.
"Why the sourpuss brother?"
Edward leered at him and Emmett just chuckled.
"Let Alice have her fun with Bella. I haven't seen her this excited since making Rose a wedding dress. You have to admit, those two are so adorable."
Edward looked at them and saw Alice throwing the ball to Esme while Bella watched. Always graceful but no way Bella would be able to do the long leg motions Alice did. True to form, when Alice gave her the ball, she just threw it with her arm and did not use her whole body. Alice was trying so hard not to laugh at the pathetic throw as it only went a few inches away from her.
"I knew you weren't an athlete, but I wasn't expecting that Bells." Alice teased.
"Not everyone can be a star, Alice." Bella retorted.
Alice smiled and got behind Bella.
"You really need to put your whole body into the throw. Here let me show you what I mean."
Alice first modeled the pitch again and Bella was studying her carefully. She might not be able to get her legs as high as Alice's but she did study the hip and arm movements. Alice felt Bella's gaze on her and smiled to see she was taking in her positions. She got behind Bella and gently put her dainty hands on Bella's hips to have her feel the hip movement needed for a pitch. After Bella got the picture, Alice moved on to Bella's arm to have her arm go through the motions. Bella wasn't bothered at all by Alice's touch and in some ways, she liked the way it felt. Alice let go so Bella could throw a few pitches to Esme and she did much better.
Throughout the whole training, Edward was glaring and Emmett playfully punched him.
"Lighten up Edward. Alice is just having fun with her and looks like Bella liked it too."
Edward sighed and looked at Bella's face. She looked happy and so did Alice. It was harmless Edward had to tell himself since he was told that Bella and him would have a future together. Everyone heard the lightning and Alice smiled softly.
"I guess it's time for us to play the game now Bella. Esme will take you by the catcher's mound so you can watch. We will be making teams before we start."
"Whichever team you're on, I will root for you." Bella whispered.
Edward's eyebrow raised when he heard Bella said that and that settled it for him, Alice needed to be on his team. Alice chuckled and asked,
"What if I am against Edward?"
"He won't go against you. It would be foolish to go against you." Bella softly spoke.
Fair Edward thought and the family went to Edward to decide teams.
"I know who I want; I want Jasper and Emmett." Rosalie stated.
Emmett was pleased while Jasper didn't want to be against Alice. He hoped Carlisle would switch with him but to no avail. No one else complained and Carlisle got out a coin to decide who will bat first. Alice saw in her mind that it would be heads and Rosalie called it correctly.
"We'll bat." Rosalie said.
Fair Edward thought and he was listening to Esme talking to Bella. They talked about how I made Bella happy but something Bella said made me curious.
"How did you know Carlisle was the one for you?"
Esme smiled softly and replied,
"It was this connection that transcended everything else. We had met before when I broke my leg as a teenager. Many years later I tried to kill myself after losing my child and Carlisle found me. I felt the connection when I looked him in those golden eyes and welcomed my vampire fate to be at his side for eternity."
Bella smiled nervously and said,
"You don't mind that I might be wrong for him? I've never been in love before so the fact I might have found it in one shot just seems too good to be true, almost like a dream."
Why would she be wrong for me Edward thought. He read Esme's thoughts and she wasn't helping,
'Poor child. This must be so overwhelming for her. I do wonder what her heart longs for since young love is always so pure but also so confusing at this age."
Edward's focus on Esme and Bella's talk almost distracted Edward from what he was doing. He heard a loud crack of the bat and realized he needed to get the ball before Emmett ran to home. I swiftly grabbed the ball and with all my might threw it to home and got out Emmett. I noticed Bella was clapping a bit for me but soon her focus shifted to Alice as she was able to strike out Jasper with a smirk clearly on her face.
Someone wants to impress Bella. Jasper thought coyly.
Edward rolled his eyes as the game continued. Bella seemed to enjoy the game and was amazed with the speed at which the vampires played the game. The game was dying down but a look of horror came across Alice's face. The future was changing and the nomads she had in her visions were traveling at a much quicker pace and heard them. There was no way they would be able to get out and get Bella to safety. Alice cursed herself internally.
Dammit! Why did they change course! They weren't supposed to be here, I saw it! This is bad, really bad! Alice thought,
Edward read her thoughts and came to Alice and got more details. The Cullens looked nervous as Alice told them her vision.
"How many?" Emmett asked.
"Three." Alice answered.
"We can take em." Emmett boasted proudly.
Edward went to Bella and quickly got her hair out of a ponytail. He tried so hard to make Bella camouflaged by moving her hair to cover her cheeks.
"That won't help. We can smell her across the field." Alice told her.
"I know!" Edward snapped.
Hey don't snap at me! I don't want Bella to be hurt either! We will try getting them away from here so we can get Bella away, but I do see that eventually Jasper and I will have to take her away from Forks if things go ugly. Alice thought,
Alice would probably like that Edward thought, but he and his family had big problems, especially Bella. He just hoped the nomads were not hungry and that they could protect her. Alice and Edward did not want Bella in harm's way and they will do anything to protect her.