Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Please take the time to review. Every time I look at my phone and see a new review notification, it's like a rainbow in my heart. Keep the rainbow alive.
Author's note: I apologize for not updating yesterday. I sat down with the laptop and started to write...then woke up 5 hours later :(
"Emmett! Put me DOWN or so help me God I will super glue your balls to your ASS!"
Bella heard a chorus of chuckles downstairs, and unfortunately, from the person making her mouth off.
Emmett ignored Bella's protests and continued hauling her around like a potato sack. Until 10 seconds ago she was very happy to see him-he had just rescued her from Alice's clutches after all. Alice had stuck to her promise of 10 outfits to try, but Bella had failed to stipulate the number of shoes and accessories. So the combinations increased exponentially when, with every pair of pants and shirt, she also had to model shoes, belts, scarves, jewelry, hats, and things she didn't even have names for.
"Bella Bear, you spent hours with Alice!" Emmett pouted, which would've been pretty funny to see on a ripped guy like him...except the only thing Bella could see at the moment was his behind. "It's my turn! You promised!"
He plopped her beside Rosalie on the couch, where he had already laid out her controller, snacks, and glass of water. Bella was touched, and though she wanted to continue to glare daggers at him, rolled her eyes and smiled to herself a little.
"You can say it," Rosalie said with a smile. "My Emmett's a toddler."
Bella had to laugh at the mental picture of Emmett in diapers. She wondered if she could see any of their baby pictures, but just as quickly as the thought had come she dismissed it. She didn't know a lot of the details behind their adoptions-they might not have any such childhood mementos. She certainly didn't.
"Don't let him monopolize your time," said Rosalie. "You probably have a ton of school work to catch up on. Oh, and I could use your help with a few calc problems if you don't mind. You seemed to have it down in class."
Bella nodded, still unsure how to behave with a friendly Rosalie. She supposed she'd get used to it, but part of her worried that as soon as she did, Rosalie would change her behavior again. Bella also thought she shouldn't mention that her work was already completed. Completed, and of course, perfect. She knew she should be a teensy bit careful and not draw too much attention to herself at school. But great academics weren't the end of the world. Surely there were plenty of whiz kids out there. Bella only had two years and change to build herself a way to to move on. Perfect grades and glowing recommendations should help secure college and, hopefully, a scholarship.
Bella didn't have time to ponder anymore, because she now had to keep her character alive through the assault Emmett had them walk into. Bella really did enjoy hanging out with Emmett. No matter what they did together, Emmett had a way of making her constantly laugh-like when he started whistling the Jaws theme as they prepared for an ambush. She couldn't help but be envious a little-if only she could be carefree like that. Emmett shouted instructions to her ("Bang Bang, Bella Bear!"), prompting her to laugh again. It was then that she realized she was carefree and happy...when she was with this family. Emmett and Alice, Rosalie and Jasper, Esme and even Carlisle when she got to see him...they made it hard to linger in her usual depression. It was easy, so easy to smile and laugh and joke around in the company of these slightly odd golden-eyed bunch. They made her feel like a part of their family. Bella thought back to her earlier fears and vowed that she would do everything in her power to keep them from harm. Even though she had "superpowers" Bella had never felt like a superhero. If anything, her years in exile were a desperate attempt to avoid becoming a villain. Now though, she thought as she looked at each member of her surrogate family, now she has something to protect.
Later, after a few more rounds with Emmett, he, Rosalie and Bella worked together on their calculus homework. Bella of course had no way of knowing that Rosalie and Emmett had done these particular problems dozens of times before...Nonetheless, Rosalie and Emmett were secretly impressed with Bella's rapid understanding of the subject, and the effectiveness of her "tutoring."
After calculus, Emmett tried to get Bella into a new game.
"Really, Emmett," Carlisle said, giving his son a look. "I'm sure Bella has a mountain of homework to catch up on."
"Actually I'm all caught up," said Bella without thinking. Oh crap, she thought.
Rosalie gave her a funny look. "You're done? Bella, the physics assignments alone would take anyone hours."
If you look guilty, they'll know something's up. If you look guilty, they'll know something's up, Bella thought to herself over and over as she tried to think of a way out of this one.
She shrugged. "I've seen all of it before," she said, hoping her voice contained nothing more than nonchalance. "And, I don't know if you've noticed," she added with a wide grin, "I'm pretty brilliant."
"Awesome!" Exclaimed Emmett as he started to drag her to the TV.
"Actually, Bella," Esme started. "How would you like to help me pick out the colors for this new house I'm working on?"
"Really?" Asked Bella, digging her heels to turn around, much to Emmett's disappointment.
"Really," said Esme, smiling at Bella's obvious enthusiasm.
Bella hoped the little jig her body couldn't help but do went unnoticed by the others. It didn't. With a laugh, Esme pulled the excited girl up to her office.
Emmett whined that his mom was stealing his BFF, but Rosalie wasn't listening.
She was staring long and hard at the table where the three of them were doing their homework. Her perfect memory was recounting the day, picking up on things she hadn't the first time. School was easy for Bella. Too easy. The advanced classes she shared with her weren't easy even for the vampires. Well, no, they were pretty easy. But that was only because they'd repeated the same material year after year after year. Rosalie had come across some exceptionally smart humans over the decades who excelled at everything, but even they had to spend a few minutes working through a complex differential equation. During class today, Bella barely paused to think, and she never made a mistake.
What was more disturbing was that Bella periodically slowed down, and Rosalie could see that it was a conscious effort on her part...as if Bella knew what she was doing was unnatural and was trying to hide it...
Rosalie shook her head. She had to make herself stop wondering if Bella was human. She was, absolutely 100% human. And Carlisle sensed nothing amiss. His medical experience combined with his superior senses allow him to sense abnormalities in the human body. If there was something off he would have said so by now.
Still, Rosalie decided to keep a close eye on Bella. She'd need Alice's and Jasper's help, and even Emmett's if she could get him to keep his mouth shut. Alice appeared in front of the stairs and nodded to Rosalie, who realized that she must have seen her decision. One down, Rosalie thought.
Bella was quietly perusing a thick book of fabric samples when Esme cleared her throat to get her attention.
"Sweetheart," Esme began. "Alice told me about your...home. I'm a bit concerned."
That was the understatement of the century, Esme thought. Bella's presence in the house was the only thing that kept her from screaming bloody murder. Alice had come to her while Bella was with Rosalie and Emmett, and explained Bella's situation. Esme was fuming, and Carlisle had to remind her that Bella probably wouldn't appreciate it if she killed her only living relative that night. How could a parent treat their only child with such callousness? And Bella of all people! The girl was warm and considerate, bright and so kind. Just the fact that she didn't shy away from a large group of vampires like the Cullens made her special. That night in the supermarket...the pull the girl seemed to have on Esme had shocked her. The way Bella looked at her that night...Esme didn't know how Bella was able to look at her with such depth and love without knowing her, but she did, and Esme had felt herself immediately drawn to the girl. When she found out later that Bella and Edward's singer were one and the same, Esme felt a powerful sense of protectiveness for her. She could not, would not allow her to come to harm. She felt a little guilty with her behavior towards Edward since she'd met Bella. She did sympathize with the pain their proximity to her was bringing him. But Bella was a drug they all needed. Sometimes...sometimes, it felt like Bella made them forget they were less than human. And so she slowly but surely fell in love with her, as did the rest of her family aside from Edward. Now, the thought of anyone causing Bella in pain, especially someone who was supposed to care for her and protect her, made her see red.
Bella froze holding the heavy book. Esme sighed and took the book from her, then sat her down on the desk chair.
"Bella," Esme said, gently. "I just want to make sure you're ok. If that man is hurting you, if he's hurting you in any way I swear I'll make-"
"He's not!" Bella blurted out. "It's not like that, I swear. He hasn't laid a finger on me."
"Then...if I may ask, what's going on?" Esme asked.
Bella didn't say anything for a minute. She looked down, at the desk, in every direction but Esme's.
"Please," she begged. "Can't it be enough that he's not hurting me? I'm ok with where I'm staying. It's nice to have some privacy. I have everything I need there. Please, please can you let this go?"
She could see that it was no use trying tonight. Bella wasn't ready to talk about what was clearly a loaded subject.
"Bella, can I have your word that you'll come to me if he does anything, anything to hurt you? I'll let it go, but can you promise me that?" Esme asked.
"I promise," said Bella.
"All right," Esme said. This was not the end of that, she knew. But eventually, Bella would talk.
Bella and Esme got so carried away in her office that it was past midnight before either of them noticed the time. Esme then insisted Bella stay the night, and she was so exhausted she didn't give much of a protest. She stayed in Alice's room. Alice was, of course, ecstatic ("I get to dress you in the morning!").
The next morning, Bella was pulled reluctantly out of a restful sleep by a much too hyper Alice, who couldn't wait to see Bella in the clothes she'd picked out for her. Too tired to argue or notice anything beyond her hooded eyelids, Bella complied without a word. The Cullens were early risers so it would seem. They had all eaten breakfast already, but Esme saved her a place at the table and Bella enjoyed a sumptuous meal.
Emmett loaded her bike into his Jeep and after Esme gave everyone, including an embarrassed Bella, a bagged lunch and waved them away, they all headed out.
Before Bella got into the car though, she thought of something she wanted to do and turned around before she could change her mind.
"Forgot something!" She explained to her friends. "Be right back."
She walked back through the front door of the house and looked around till she found Esme cleaning up in the kitchen.
Without a word, Bella reached the woman and hugged her tightly. Surprised, Esme stood still at first, then gingerly hugged her back. After a minute, Bella pulled back and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you," Bella said softly, and before Esme could respond, she was out the door.