Chapter 5 – Take a Number

The next morning was chilly, and so I found my way to the thermostat and turned on the heat. It felt like fall was officially here, not to mention a bit early. Alice was late getting up, so I made good use of the time and got my bathroom stuff done, taking a few minutes to clean it while I was at it. Sharing a bathroom with her meant having to clean it constantly to stay atop the buildup of cosmetic spills and hair product residue all over the place. She really was a slob, and it was irritating to say the least.

I decided I felt "up" today, so I pulled my mass of curls up into a high ponytail, leaving tendrils curling down around my face. "No hair over the shoulders today for you," I muttered at myself in the mirror. I was inspired by the morning coolness to pick rich fall colors, so I chose a deep green peasant blouse that was smocked from under the bust to the hem that ended just above my jeans. I slipped on my brown leather boots and then straightened my room before heading for the kitchen. As I passed Esryl's room, I could hear her chattering happily to her ragdoll, Molly, that I had made for her. I peeked in, and she flashed me a huge smile.

"Morning, Essie, you hungry?" She squealed and leaped off her bed in a streak of pink princess pajamas and wrapped herself around my leg. "I'll take that as a yes. Me, too. What do you say you and I make some breakfast?"

We straightened up her room quickly, and then I hoisted her tiny body up onto my hip and pushed her reddish-brown curls out of her big hazel eyes, kissing her cheek noisily, as we made our way to the kitchen. Esryl was an adorable combination of mom and Elliott, which made her favor Edward and I very much as well, since we both looked uncannily like our respective parents. She was extremely small for her age, looking more like a one-year-old than a two-and-a-half-year-old, but she was incredibly intelligent, and if last night was any indication, highly resourceful.

Esryl chattered all the way to the kitchen, deciding pancakes and sausages were a must this morning. So, I grabbed our matching aprons I had made for us, and I sat her in her highchair and pulled her up to the island. She loved to "help" me cook, so I gave her a small bowl with a little flour and water, so she could mix along with me. I stirred intently, and she did the same, copying my every move, while we sang the theme song to Sponge Bob.

She truly was my little shadow, and over the course of the past two and a half years, basically since mom had gone back to work when Esryl was only a month old, I realized I'd probably spent more time with her than even mom or Elliott. Except for school, I took her everywhere with me, even bowling nights with the SHAGNICs. Since mom and Elliott worked so much and so late, I fed her and bathed her at night, read her to sleep while I rocked her, and I got up with her if she woke up at night. I was the one she always wanted when she was sick or in trouble, and she would allow no one else to comb her hair or brush her teeth. I was also the only one she would behave for consistently. To anyone who didn't know better, it would appear that she was mine.

As I watched her stirring her bowl of floury goop, I was hit with a sudden wave of anxiety at the thought of leaving her next fall to go away to college. I didn't think either of us would survive the separation. An Ivy League education was a wonderful dream I could very easily make come true with my grades and situation, but she meant too much to me to just walk away from her like that. I decided in that moment to make sure and choose a college close by, so I could still be with her and see her grow up. I was certain nothing else would make me any happier.

From the sounds overhead, I expected the rest of the family to come wandering into the kitchen at any time, so I put on some water to heat for hot cocoa and set the table, while the griddles heated on the stove. The doorbell rang, and I heard what sounded like Emmett plodding down the stairs. A few seconds later, I was surrounded by eleven boys looking over my shoulders with begging puppy dog eyes and practically drooling on me. Emmett and ten of his teammates, including James again, were obviously starving, and the idea of homemade-from-scratch pancakes and sausages had them swarming. It was a good thing I had enough ingredients for more batches of pancake batter, several more packages of sausages in the freezer, and we had two more huge bottles of syrup in the pantry.

Everyone finally sat down, and I got started on the pancakes. Edward came in then and looked at the table full of guests, shaking his head. I was very grateful when he jumped in and started helping me cook and serve everyone.

"Don't you shmucks start complaining!" Edward yelled when the guys began arguing about the first two dozen pancakes being snagged before the platter had even made it all the way around the table. "This isn't freaking IHOP, you know. And you're all going to owe Bella big time after this." I looked up at him, completely surprised, and smiled. I could get used to this Edward and wondered where the heck he had been all these years. He grinned back at me and winked, and for the first time, I noticed just how handsome he really was. My cheeks flushed hotly at the thought.

Elliott and mom were leaving later this morning than usual because they were meeting with their lawyer and financial planner. They breezed through the kitchen, quickly grabbing their lunches and telling everyone goodbye on their way out the door. "Bella, would you mind dropping Esryl off at daycare? We have a meeting…" mom glanced at her watch, "…five minutes ago," she groaned, as they scrambled for the door. They were gone before I could even answer, but I didn't mind. I preferred to take Esryl myself, anyway. Even though she was my sister, she was much more attached to me in some ways than mom and Elliott. It was harder to get her to let go of me, and it was during these episodes she would often start crying, calling me mommy. I hated that she cried, but part of me loved how she clung to me and called me that. Maybe that was wrong of me, but I felt like I had rightfully earned the title in so many ways, so I'd never corrected her.

Almost six dozen pancakes later, the kitchen was a mess, the syrup and butter containers were empty, and the boys stood up to leave. "Stop right there!" Edward barked. "Some of you start clearing the table, two more of you start rinsing and loading the dishwasher, and the rest of you, put everything else away and clean up the counters, highchair and anything on the floor. Bella and I are going to get Esryl ready and straighten up the rest of the house. Remember, you all owe Bella a huge thank you. Now, move!"

I had never seen Edward act so in charge or look so mature before. One by one, the guys filed by, praising me for breakfast and kissing my hands. When it was James's turn, he pulled me into his arms and placed an open-mouthed kiss on my neck just under my ear, causing me to shiver, as he whispered, "You're just as delicious as your cooking, girl. It makes me want more."

When he pulled away, his smile was breathtaking. His eyes met Edward's icy glare, however, and it immediately died. He turned and started rinsing dishes, while Emmett loaded the dishwasher. Edward wiped Esryl's hands and face and pulled her from her highchair. "Come on, Bella, I'll help you get her dressed."

I took Esryl into the bathroom to brush her teeth and comb through her curls, while Edward found clothes for her. We sat on the floor of her room, and I got her dressed, while Edward put her socks and shoes on her tiny feet, making sure to tickle her with every move. Once we had her ready, we moved through the house, straightening up and making all the beds. It was so nice having help for a change.

We were just finishing when Edward looked at me thoughtfully. "Bella, you need to stay away from James. He's trouble." His comment caught me by surprise, and I looked up, confused. "You've heard about his reputation with pretty much every easy girl at school. I'd hate to see you be counted amongst his sexual wreckage. Besides, he's only been interested in you since you changed how you look, so you know he's just being a shallow jerk."

For some reason, his comment struck a nerve…a very familiar, sore nerve. Suddenly, I was furious.

"This coming from the guy with a similar reputation who's never home because he's always out on a date. Not to mention that, even though we've lived in the same house for five years, you've never helped me do anything until today. You've barely spoken to me, mostly just stared at me like I'm some kind of science experiment gone wrong, yet suddenly, you just happen to notice I exist as a real girl, too, also just after my looks changed. What does that say about you, then, Edward? Huh?"

I turned in a huff and grabbed Esryl, leaving him standing there stunned. The nerve of him, trying to tell me who I should and shouldn't be around because of something he was guilty of himself! All the guys were leaving, as I came out with Esryl, ready to head out, too. James saw me trying to hold onto her while struggling with my bags and came to my rescue, taking my bag and Esryl's on his own shoulder. Edward walked out behind me, and for spite, I leaned up and planted a quick kiss on James's cheek in thanks. He smiled and wrapped an arm around my waist, helping me out to my truck.

I got Esryl situated into her car seat and closed the door. James pulled me to him for another hug and tried to get a better kiss, just as Edward's tires squealed loudly, as he shot out of the driveway and down the street behind us. I had never actually kissed anyone on the lips before, so I only let James kiss my cheek, even though he wanted more. I just couldn't kiss him. I felt nothing when he touched me, and it just seemed wrong.

I reminded myself that Edward was my brother, and it was inappropriate for us to be anything else, either. But the little voice in the back of my mind that liked to start trouble reminded me he was only my stepbrother and of no blood relation, so no foul. I couldn't deny how it felt when he touched me, and it worried me. I had always heard that a soul would know when it found its other half, because they would literally reconnect when they touched, and the sensation would be undeniable. Had that happened with Edward and me? Surely, that wasn't possible. But I was certain of one thing. When Edward touched me, I felt something more, something so strong it had to be beyond just teenage hormonal chemistry, but what? It was almost like a magnet to steel. The idea of that left me feeling completely unsettled.

I dropped Esryl off at daycare and then made my way to school. As I closed my locker and headed for class, James fell into step next to me, his arm casually wrapping around my shoulder. "Thanks again for breakfast this morning. I'm going to have to make mornings a habit at your house. My days just start out so much better that way." Before he could lean in for a kiss, Edward excused himself between us, grabbing hold of James's arm, as he continued down the hallway. James jerked his arm out of Edward's grip, and the two of them stood there nose to nose, glaring hotly at each other, the animosity thick enough to cut. The bell rang just then, and we all had to scramble to get to our classrooms.

I spent the rest of the morning avoiding James. I was too confused to deal with him right now, and I needed time to work things out in my head. I really liked him, but there was the matter of his reputation, and the fact that he had never acknowledged my existence before yesterday, as Edward had reminded me. We had been in the same classes many times over the last five years, and I had always been invisible to him, just like I had been to everyone else. Even in my own house, he had never acknowledged my presence there. That had been the case with most of the guys who now pestered me for my attention, including Edward…except, of course, for his weird staring. The only guys who had always seemed to care about me, no matter what I'd looked like, were Jake and the rest of the SHAGNICs.

But like with James, I'd never felt anything with Jake or any of them, either. It was all very confusing, and distracting. So much so that I didn't realize first period was over until the bell rang, and the class emptied out around me. I couldn't recall one thing that had been discussed in the lecture. Thank goodness Angela was also in the class, so I could get her notes later.

The rest of the morning passed in pretty much the same fashion. I did manage to at least pay enough attention to avoid getting called on without an answer to whatever question was being posed, but that was about it. By lunchtime, my brain was scrambled and ready for a break. I made my way through the line and got my food, and then I headed for my usual table to sit with the SHAGNICs. I didn't quite make it, though, because I found myself suddenly being carried around the waist toward the jock's table. All the guys I had served breakfast to this morning, plus the rest of the jocks, were standing around the table applauding. I looked behind me to find Emmett delivering me to their table, a cheeky grin on his face.

"What the heck, Emmett? Put me down!" I screeched. James took my tray and set it down at their table, while Emmett unceremoniously plopped me into the chair between him and Edward. Preston, one of the guys who had come for breakfast this morning, sat a large, beautifully wrapped box on the table in front of me.

"This is from all of us. Your cooking was well worth cutting second and third period to sneak off to the mall. Thank you again for this morning, and we hope to be welcomed to your table again soon, Miss Bella."

His face and voice were very sweet and sincere, as were the rest of the guys. The ones who hadn't been at the house this morning were also in on the gift as well, hoping their turn would come soon. I opened the wrappings slowly, as my nerves at all the eyes watching me had my hands shaking. I peered inside the box and gasped. They had all gone in on a premium collection of gourmet cooking gadgets that I had been wanting for the kitchen. Mom didn't cook, but I cooked every day, and our kitchen was sadly lacking in decent equipment.

"Guys, this is incredible! You didn't have to…how did you know…?" I was stammering and blushing, big tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. I was so touched that they would do something so meaningful. James spoke up softly, as Emmett brushed away a tear that finally escaped.

"We were all going to go in on some roses for you, but Edward said you were the practical type and would enjoy something more useful. He said you've done all the cooking, cleaning and laundry for the family for the past three years, plus you take almost total care of your little sister, so you deserved something worthy of all that. He's right, you know. You're absolutely amazing, Bella."

I gave all the guys big hugs and tearful thanks, ending with Edward. He was sitting next to me, his head down and staring at his hands. I moved closer to him, so I could lean in where only he could hear me. "I knew you stared at me, but I never knew you actually noticed what I did around the house," I said quietly, as all the other guys sat and began scarfing down their lunches.

"I notice more than you think, Bella. I have for a long time." He looked up at me, and his intense hazel eyes told me he was speaking the truth. "I may not have said much to you worth hearing these past five years, but very little you did went unnoticed, just unappreciated and unacknowledged…until now." He pulled me into his firm embrace and buried his face in my hair. He held me there for several long breaths, while heightened emotions coursed through me, my pulse rising at an alarming level. It left me breathless and clinging to Edward for dear life, every nerve in my body pulling me towards him. "Thank you for taking such amazing care of us, Bella, you're something else, you know that? You're a really good sister."

The last sentence he spoke built me up and tore me apart, all in the same breath.