Chapter Ten - Brother Run Fast
Disclaimer - I don't own anything Twilight-related, that all belongs to one Stephanie Meyer
Authors Note - Hey everyone! Hope you're doing well! Really sorry for a long time between updates but thanks for sticking with me, and to any new followers welcome! A bit of a shorter chapter this time, but I hope you all enjoy it nonetheless!
One by one, one by one, we all fall
One by one, oh, one by one, we will all fall
Open your arms wide
Open your eyes wide
Brother, run fast
They're coming your way
Oh, brother, run fast
They're headin' your way
Kaleo - Brother Run Fast
Jasper waited for me to exit the car before disappearing. I presumed he had entered the house, not that I could keep up with his speed. I shut the door hard behind me and stared at the house. I felt a tremble run through me. The last time I was here I had climbed in through the kitchen window.
Oh my God.
Another tremble.
What the hell had I done. I BROKE into their home. And now I'm going to enter once again, on my own insistence. And they were all waiting for me this time.
Black eyes flashed through my memory and I felt my stomach turn. I didn't realise I had taken a step back until I hit the car behind me.
What if Alice being nice was all a ruse? What if Jasper talking to me today was just a way for them to lure me to the house? And I've just happily obliged. It wouldn't be surprising if they wanted to get rid of me after I ran so far across the line of acceptable normal behaviour. Am I going to die?
They were irrational thoughts, but then again, nothing about this situation was rational.
I took a breath, trying to ignore the pounding in my head. Taking my time I got the flowers from the car, then, almost automatic, I let my feet guide me to the house. Every noise beneath my shoes seemed to echo throughout my surroundings, but I kept moving, the journey from the car to the open front door, a blur.
I was cautious, worried as I entered the threshold of their perfect home that I would somehow break something, or leave a trail of dirt in my wake. It was somehow a lot more terrifying coming in through the front door than it did through the kitchen window. All too quickly my destination arrived and my shoes shuffled against the floor.
I stood in the familiar area of the living room. My grip tightened on the flowers as I took in the Cullen family in front of me, some with smiles, some with… well the opposite really.
My first instinct lead me to scope out the most threatening, the gazes which had the hairs on my arms standing tall. Rosalie sat on the plush sofa, looking perfect as always, expression stony. I couldn't tell whether or not the golden colour of her eyes (as all the Cullen's currently had) was more comforting than the dark pits that haunted me.
I couldn't help but laugh slightly inside my head. Rosalie not pleased to see me? Truly shocking stuff, I would never have guessed.
The tiniest shift made me aware of Edward standing the furthest away, almost as though he was trying to hide in the corner. And I suppose up until this moment he had been succeeding. He must have heard me. And as though to confirm my thoughts, his eyes flicked up and for a moment we looked directly at each other. His expression was blank, giving nothing away. I unconsciously turned more toward him as though to prepare for any sudden movement.
"If your intention is to squeeze the life from those things, you're succeeding."
I jumped about a metre in the air, heat rushing to my cheeks. I hated the feeling of being watched like something on a nature show. I only now noticed Emmett who stood behind Rosalie, though he was far more casual, leaning comfortably on the back of the sofa. He was relaxed, nodding toward the bundle in my hands. If I wasn't paying an excruciating amount of attention I wouldn't have noticed the slight shift of annoyance from the pretty blonde at Emmett's non-hostile tone.
I looked down at the flowers, the crunch of the plastic seeming endlessly loud as I loosened my grip.
Emmett's comment seemed to cut through the suffocating tension, and whilst my body was still rigid, I seemed to have the ability to speak again. How I didn't notice Alice bouncing on her toes in front of me until now I don't know. It seemed as though this was the less threatening corner of the room. Esme and Carlise stood side by side, comforting smiles aimed at me. And there in the back was Jasper. He was watching me carefully eyes narrowed; but it wasn't in the suspicious, or dare I say it, a scary way, but rather… curious?
I bet he's excited to see whether I can use my amazing charisma to talk my way out of the consequences for my little breaking and entering escapade…. Or if I'm gonna die. Who really knows with Mr Hale.
Speaking of my amazing charisma, time to break out the charm.
"Um…" My arm flew out straight ahead, the flowers limply swaying toward Esme, who couldn't hide her amused surprise. "There are for you."
"They're to say sorry…" Jasper piped up, walking forward slowly, "for dirtying your kitchen counters when she climbed through the window."
I flinched, glaring at Jasper. And at that moment I wished he was the one who could read my thoughts.
NOT HELPING YOU GOLDEN-HAIRED DEMON.
Jasper's eyebrow rose in what I could only guess was amusement, and I averted my gaze to the flowers in front of me, desperately avoiding everyone's eyes.
Without thinking, I squeezed my eyes shut, If I can't see them, they can't see me.
I suppressed a groan, regret seeping through my veins. Oh my God, I want to DIE
My eyes flew open, and I turned toward Edward, brandishing my flowers which shook slightly in rhythm with my hands.
"No I don't!" I squeaked out, eyes wide with alarm, petals falling from the flowers as they shook, "No I don't! That wasn't an offer!"
Edward gave nothing away, but everyone else looked at me as though I had two heads.
"Don't what?" Alice asked me, concern laced in her voice, moving forward to comfort me. The cold of her hands on my skin made me jump, but I didn't pull away.
"...to die." It was a whisper, barely there, but I knew they heard.
There was a number of snickers that reached my ears. The scary vampire corner was LAUGHING at me. I could physically feel myself pout and I couldn't help it. I turned to Alice to see her trying very hard to suppress a smile.
"Oh stop, leave her be." Esme was firm but gentle, her voice a comfort. I nodded along in agreement with her, allowing Alice to pat my back comfortingly.
"I'm sure those flowers didn't want to die either," Jasper piping up AGAIN. My pout deepened into a scowl as he continued, "and yet you've decimated them."
This time he definitely did smirk as he took the flowers from my hands.
"I hate you."
"Feelings mutual, Darlin."
My cheeks flushed at the southern twang. His words indicated a mutual hatred, yet I hadn't seen him seem so comfortable, I almost didn't believe his words. Almost.
Guess the house and his family are his comfort zone? I suppose I can relate.
I sobbed in my head, wish I was home too.
Jasper handed the pathetic looking flowers to Esme, who gave him a light smack on the arm.
"Be nice." I tensed as Esme moved slowly toward me. She placed a hand softly on my arm, her perfect teeth showing as she smiled widely. (Nice Fangs). "Thank you, Clara. They're lovely."
I cringed as I once again heard a round of snickers. They weren't lovely, but I warmed knowing Esme was genuinely trying to comfort me.
"It is nice to see you again Clara, though of course, under very different circumstances." Carlisle stepped forward beside Esme, reaching hands out. I returned the gesture, letting him clasp my hands in greeting.
"You could say that again." I shuffled, "Your home is really lovely'"
"You should know," Rosalie piped up not even looking my way, "You had a full tour of the place."
Could this family please stop tormenting me? God, please let me get through one conversation.
"Uh…" I decided to focus on the nice vampires, "Yeah, about that. Look, I'm very sorry about all that. Um… I wasn't really thinking…"
Alice rolled her eyes, shooting Rosalie a dirty look, before turning back to me reassuringly. She hugged me from the side, not a worry in the world.
"I've already been through this with them all, MULTIPLE times."
"Alice told us that she knew you were coming." Esme said, "Though it would have been nice to know beforehand."
I almost giggled at Alice being scolded.
"While I would prefer you refrain from breaking in anytime in the future, I can understand your motivations." Carlisle added, "Fear makes us do unreasonable things."
I nodded furiously, eager to agree, praying I was out of trouble.
"Is that it?" Rosalie's voice cut through me like ice. I wished she went back to laughing at me. She stood, and I shrunk back behind Alice, not that I could hide behind her tiny frame.
"Rose," Emmett's voice was cautious but quiet. He didn't want to disagree with her and I suppose I couldn't blame her.
Carlisle was calm and collected as he faced Rosalie's cold, furious face.
"As long as she promises not to do it again, I see no reason why we can't put it behind us. I think we have more important things to think about at present."
"I promise I won't do it again." I agreed in a squeak, peaking around Alice.
"Well of course you won't." Rosalie answered sarcastically, "Why would you need to, Alice seems eager to just let you wander in through the front door whenever you like."
Alice… hissed at her sister. (I was going to have to ask her about the hissing later)
"Don't start Rosalie, We've already been through this."
"I agree with Rosalie. This whole situation is bad."
"Oh well, there's a surprise." Alice laughed humorlessly, "I think after the stunt you pulled with Bella, you don't get to say anything Edward!"
More hissing and growling. Fear had momentarily left me as I watched curiously at the almost animalistic movements of the group. I was so engrossed that I almost didn't notice Jasper had moved to shield Alice, and now I really did have to lean around to see what was happening in the scary vampire corner.
"You're endangering us all!" Rosalie's voice was rising, as was the tension in the room. "The both of you, so stupid! Over some… some... blood bags!"
My nose wrinkled, "Rude", I muttered.
"Ha! That's rich coming from you-!"
"Aren't you the one who desperately wishes she was one of those blood bags-"
"Shut your mouth, Edward!-"
Voices flew back and forth, moving too quickly for me to keep up. Growls, hisses and insults were hurled back and forth. I was shocked and somewhat moved by how siblings like they really were.
How… human it was.
"Enough." The voice of a leader, cool and firm. Carlisle. He cut through the fighting.
I jumped as something cold touched my arm once more. Esme was beside me, a strained smile on her face. I felt bad at that moment. I caused this. This familial fighting. This pain a mother clearly felt at the sight of her children acting as they were.
My brows furrowed, but I didn't know what to say.
The room felt icy. I was an intruder once again, disturbing a place that wasn't mine. It was suffocating and I felt the need to flee.
Esme pulled on my arm gently, "Why don't we go to the kitchen. Get you a snack or something hm?"
If the situation wasn't as it was, I would have questioned the fact that they even had snacks in the house, but I was happy with any excuse to get out of here. I nodded, allowing Esme to lead me away.
The rest of the family was obviously waiting for my departure before an inevitable argument was to start up again. Everyone was glaring at one another, fiery words on the tips of their tongues. I looked over my shoulder as we reached the doorway.
Jasper's head turned slightly toward me and for a few seconds our eyes met, and then he turned away again, standing tall, protectively in front of the pixie bouncing on her toes, clearly ready to fight.
Funny, I thought.
As I followed Esme from the room, my heart felt at ease, and a sense of calm flowed through my veins, as though someone was reassuring me, whispering to me.
It will be okay.
Right?
