Chapter 6: Procrastination

Edward's POV

Authors notes: Italics means a person's thoughts.

...

"She blew up the house!" Alice exclaimed.

She was being overdramatic. The house was essentially fine but for some reason all the windows shattered. The human flew through the kitchen door and it had not looked as if the girl even moved her arms an inch to throw him. Either she was strong enough to flick him away, which would make her capable of overpowering Emmett, or she possessed a unique gift. One that made her more powerful than Emmett? It was interesting; not that I showed that interest to anyone. Alice was of course excited to meet someone new, not being as wary as she should be. I knew Jasper would watch over her.

It was two in the morning as we passed through Great Falls, Montana. Rosalie was driving Emmett's Jeep with Esme in the passenger seat, and Alice and myself in the back seats. We towed a U-Haul trailer with some furnishments for the house and behind the U-Haul was another trailer with my car, a Maserati GranTurismo. Rosalie had put quite of bit of power into the Jeep for it to tow the weight it was. Emmett and Jasper were behind us in Rosalie's Audi RS5 Coupe, and they were having too much fun; Rosalie would not take her eyes off of them swerving in and out of the oncoming lanes and mentally throwing insults at her husband. They were not as bad of insults as they would have been should they have been directed at me.

I saw the newcomers face in Alice's mind. She was beautiful, not quite rivalling Tanya or Rosalie, but above average for our kind. Her brown hair dropped just past her shoulder blades and she was slim, looking extremely breakable. Her red eyes shone bright with the fresh blood of one of the humans. Her voice was melodic. Overall, just another one of our kind passing through.

"What do you mean she blew up the house? Wait… Does that mean I get to build a whole new house?" Esme was concerned at first, that concern turning into excitement at the idea of planning a new build. She loved the house, but she could always make it better.

"The house is fine." I stated, "You'll have to replace every single window in the place but otherwise, it's fine." I gave Alice a stern look.

"I guess I should do that now. We are getting close, and it'll take awhile for hurricane proof glass to arrive." Esme pulled out her cellphone, dialing the number of a retailer. Oh, and tarp. If the back of the house is out, then everyone's room will get wet!

"Hurricane proof?" Rosalie questioned, turning her eyes from her car for a moment, "How strong is this one? Should we be worried?"

"No, no. I don't see her being hostile to any of us." Alice chimed, jubilation pouring from her mind. Be a gentleman, would you? I have a good feeling about this one.

I smirked, looking out of my window. Just like my family to be concerned for me. Esme's fear was a valid concern; there was no one out there who matched me. Through all the years I had met many of our kind and none held a candle for me. I could read their intentions, their vanity, in Rosalie's case, or their lust, in Tanya's case. I shook my head. Alice had a good feeling. It did not mean that much. I watched her vision shape into different versions as the girl changed her mind. Alice pulled out her own phone and dialed. I heard my father's voice on the other end.

"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle asked, calm and serene as always.

"There's another vampire in Forks. Thought I should let you know. She's going to be coming into the hospital later tonight carrying a man with a bullet wound. The man is her biological father. She won't stick around; she's going to hunt down the men who did it and exact vengeance." Alice's voice contained a little too much excitement. "Also, she's going to destroy all of the windows in the house."

"Should I stop her?" Carlisle's concern was not for the house but for the men.

"I wouldn't. She seems to have a gift. And do not forget to erase the security footage when she comes in, okay?" Why do I do all the work in this family?

I let out an exasperated sigh at her melodramatics. Carlisle would be ready to assist with the girl's father in surgery and make sure he lived. Compassionate as ever. I admired him for that, for his control. He truly was the best of us.

We drove for hours more, only stopping to refuel the vehicles. Rosalie made Jasper swap her so she could drive her car, finally snapping after Emmett raced passed us and started doing donuts in the middle of the highway. The guys were enjoying themselves immensely until they heard Rosalie's shouts through her rolled down window. We arrived in Forks, Washington with the sun in the middle of the sky, the clouds light grey with little moisture. Alice had seen the newcomer walking through the forest and intended to cut her off and bring her to the house. For one, she wanted to show the girl that she did not have to fear us, and for two, to set me up.

Oh, come on, Edward! You can't avoid her forever. Just give her a chance. Alice thought loudly.

I had decided I would not be present at the time they arrived, which really ticked Alice off. I did not need their sympathy dates. If there was no one for me then so be it. I would live alone with only the company of my family until the end of time. It wasn't so bad, at least until Rosalie and Emmett started getting too rambunctious again.

"Look, Esme and I will drop you four off at the school to register. I will head to the house with her to clean up. After we get the vehicles settled, I will go and register myself. I can meet her after, okay?" Strike a deal with the little devil, she would fall for it.

Alice's lower lip jutted out as she pouted, but she nodded her head in affirmation. We were going to spend enough time here that should anyone see us around we needed a good reason to be. High school was not something new to us, but it was exceedingly tedious. Alice and I would start off as Sophomores on account of us looking the youngest while Rosalie, Jasper, and Emmett would be Juniors. Of course, we would not change in our time here, but humans did not often pay enough attention to us once their subconscious told them to stay away.

We did as I said, dropping the others off at the entrance to the school. Alice was sulking but I was cheerful enough. Esme and I headed to the house with the Jeep and trailers, leaving the Audi for the others. I wished I had stayed to see them cram into the small car. When we arrived, I heard Esme gasp at the sight of the open house. Glass was scattered everywhere. I drove around to the garage side to drop off the trailers.

"At least, with the windows gone, it'll be easier to move the furniture inside." I told Esme, sounding nonchalant.

I am glad you are looking at the bright side of this, son. Esme thought, offering a loving smile.

I stepped out of the Jeep and unhooked my cars trailer, lifting the front end of it to back it up on its wheels. I untied the straps on the wheels, lowered the ramp, and hopped in my Maserati. The exhaust roared on the cold start, purring more as the engine gained heat. My grin made me feel like a child. Running was more freeing, but driving was more intoxicating. Unfortunately, I had to turn off the car once it was housed in the garage. Esme already had the furniture trailer open and was hoisting an armchair into the house through the gigantic living room window hole.

Right you were, Edward. Much easier than maneuvering it through a door. Esme thought.

We carried the rest of the furniture inside, only taking us a few minutes. An hour or so had passed when the growl of Rosalie's car could be heard from the street a few miles out. Esme was deciding where she wanted to hang some of her older paintings.

Hey, butthead. I could hear Alice's thoughts. Why don't you just come with us? Jasper is probably going to get too close and get thrown like a skipping rock. He won't be hurt and I'm sure you'd enjoy it. You men are so violent.

Alice and Jasper were on foot, running in the forest alongside the car. I guess they didn't feel like being crammed in the back. They appeared first, taking a shortcut through the trees. Rosalie and Emmett appeared not too long after, Rose still upset at the treatment of her car. Emmett got out quickly.

"Hey, I thought you said you were going to clean up?" Emmett called to me.

"Well, we did all of the heavy lifting. I didn't want you to be bored when you got back." I grinned, knowing how much he hated cleaning. He was more of the destructive type.

"So thoughtful…" Emmett skulked inside the house to grab a broom.

"Edward, did you hear me or not?" Alice appeared in front of me, looking up, hands on her hips.

"It's impossible to ignore you. Your mind is louder than your physical voice. The answer is no, you go have your fun, make your new friend. I'm going to the high school now." I put my hand in Alice's face and pushed her playfully away.

"Fine. They're expecting you; I already have most of the forms filled out. Much faster." Alice smirked. "Jasper and I are heading out. We'll be back soon!"

"Stay safe you two!" Esme called from somewhere in the house.

I will see you later, Edward. Mark my words. Alice stuck her tongue out and took off with Jasper, heading towards the police station.

I let out a low groan. She really was not going to let this go. I would have to meet the new vampire sooner or later. If it was all the same, I preferred later. I took the Jeeps keys from my pocket and unhooked the empty U-Haul from the hitch. Had to seem normal, meaning I had to drive into town. I took off with a second glance at the house. Emmett was sweeping the entryway, Esme had found a spot for some paintings, and Rosalie was meticulously wiping her rims down to get off the brake dust and road grime from the others spinning her tires.

The day was getting older, the sun slowly crossing the sky. It didn't look like it would rain tonight. The high school was located just off the freeway. An old building built from bricks and plaster. I could hear the thoughts of the administrative team cleaning up for the end of day. I supposed it was lucky of me to have Alice fill out the forms. I parked the Jeep and headed inside the main office. There were plants in pots and wire baskets full of papers. A young woman with curly black hair, looking in her mid-twenties, looked up as the door swung shut. Her name tag read Emily, office assistant. There's always a straggler. She mentally sighed.

"How can I help you?" If it had to be anyone though, I'm glad its him! She sucked in a sharp breath.

"Hello, I'm Edward Cullen. My family was here earlier to register. I just needed to finish up my paperwork." I spoke confidently, humans liked that.

"O-of course." He's a student? He could be a model. What're kids eating these days? She ruffled through some papers on her desk, handing them to me with shaky hands. "If you'll just sign here, here, and here. I'll get your schedule."

I grabbed a pen from a cup on the counter and signed. Emily stood up, looking rather tipsy, and stumbled over to a filing cabinet. She pulled out two sheets of paper and made her way steadily back to the desk. She looked into my eyes, her own fluttering.

"Um, this is your schedule-" She handed me the first piece of paper with the classes, room numbers, and times on it, "-and this is a map of the school. Is there anything else I can help you with? A tour?" She sounded hopeful. I could show him his classes, the gym, the locker room…

"I appreciate it, but I have plans to meet my father. Thank you so much for your help, Emily." I smiled widely, letting my teeth show. Emily involuntarily took a step back.

I left Emily feeling mixed emotions. She was attracted to me yet scared at the same time. I was happy to know that I had not lost my touch. My new plan to avoid the new girl was to visit Carlisle at the hospital. I was sure Alice would see it once she was done being distracted. The hospital wasn't much farther from the school. I parked next to Carlisle's Jaguar and headed inside the main entrance. I held two medical degrees, purely for the purpose of not wanting to be bored at night and medical school allowed night classes, but I didn't much care for hospitals. So many thoughts of despair, pain, anguish coming from the patients. And the blood. Carlisle's insurmountable control was astonishing. Being around humans burned my throat, flowing blood was a different monster entirely.

I picked up on Carlisle's thoughts and headed in that direction. He was in the emergency care unit, checking on a patient's charts. The patient was Charlie Swan. I knocked on the door to announce my arrival. Carlisle had his fingers on Charlie's wrist, timing his pulse, not that he needed to. His ears would do simply fine. The human charade was deeply ingrained in him.

"Hello, son." Carlisle gave me a warm smile. "What brings you here?"

"Alice is trying to set me up with this man's daughter." I spoke under my breath. "I figured this would be an optimal place to hide out for a bit."

"She is something else." Carlisle reminisced.

I watched his experience play out in his head. From the security camera footage he erased, he could see her barging into the ICU, holding her bloody father. The audio was muted but it looked as if she was screaming out. When the doctors received Charlie, she disappeared. Later, Carlisle had met her outside of the hospital. She looked stressed, strung out. Worried. A brief exchange led to her retreating into the forest. From there, the scene evolved into Carlisle's office, where he offered her a temporary home.

"Oh, you too!" I watched in disbelief.

I'm sorry, son. But her compassion is not normal for our kind. I felt she could use someone with her in this time, while her father's fate is uncertain. And I thought there was no better person than you.

I shook my head. My family of matchmakers was getting on my nerves. There was no doubt in the sincerity of Carlisle's thoughts. Alice had more to her motivation, wanting a new friend. I felt that if something would happen in my love life, it would be naturally occurring. This felt staged.

"What do you mean, that this man's fate is uncertain?" I looked at the sleeping old man.

Now that it was medical talk, Carlisle spoke aloud, quietly. "I'm doing what I can, but his body is frail. The bullet pierced his liver. I was confident that he would make a full recovery, which is what I told Bella, but his vitals are slowly weakening. Tell me, can you discern his mind?"

It took me a moment to realize that I couldn't. Not well, at least. It was as if I was swimming in extremely murky water. Many people in comas, medically induced or otherwise, still dreamt. I couldn't tell if that's what I was seeing.

"I'm not sure. Not really. Is that medically relevant?" I asked.

Carlisle deliberated. "I'm not sure. Has there ever been a case in which you could not see someone's mind as clearly as your own?"

His question caught me off guard. I shook my head. No, there was never a time like that. What was wrong with this man that his thoughts were so muddled? Was there something wrong with me?

"I'm going to go to your office for a bit." I said, mulling over this new discovery.

Carlisle handed me the key to his office, and I left quietly. I followed his scent through the hospital, tracing the most logical path to an office area from prior knowledge and his thoughts. His office was smaller than usual, probably at his request. Save the bigger offices for staff that used them. I entered his office and sat in his leather chair, placing my elbows on the desk and my chin on my knuckles. If this man had a strange mind, and there was nothing wrong with me, would the newcomer have something similar, being his offspring? For the exceedingly rare occasion that two vampires were biologically related, both turned, they usually had remarkably similar traits or gifts. I had never met such a group, but Carlisle had. This train of thought had me more interested than I should have been. I was stalling to meet this newcomer and now I wanted nothing more than to solve a mystery. I hated being stumped. And as if on que, that is when I heard it.

I know you're in there, jerk. Alice's thoughts rang like a bell. Just her thoughts. At least she didn't bring the new girl here to meet me. I'm coming in after you.

I could hear the purr of Rosalie's car and couldn't help but smile. She stole Rose's car and that was absolutely driving Rose wild. I was surprised to not hear her thoughts in the vicinity hunting Alice. Emmett must have held her back. My phone buzzed in my pocket, Alice calling.

"Hello, sister of mine." I said menacingly.

"I know you're in Carlisle's office. I'll be there in a second. You told me you would be back after you registered!" She was put out.

"There's no sense in me hiding now. Come get me, officer." I hung up on her before she could whine any more.

It took no more than a few minutes for her to arrive, arms crossed and chin up like an angry child. I slowly rose and stepped out into the hallway, locking the door behind me. I didn't need to speak and neither did Alice. Her thoughts on my betrayal of trust were enough. I held up the office key, signaling that I needed to give it back to Carlisle before we left. Alice took the lead, not letting her arms fall to her sides.

Alice led me back to the ICU, the same direction as I had left. Carlisle must have still been running tests on Charlie Swan. The door was halfway open, and I could see Carlisle standing inside. However, he wasn't facing the comatose man. Alice walked in and I after her. I saw what Carlisle was looking at. The new vampire was sitting in the only chair in the room, stationed in a corner, sunglasses pushed up to the top of her scalp with her head in her hands. My first thought was to glare at Alice, her face smug with victory, before my mind finally caught on. I only heard three minds in the room, and one of them was not this vampire.