Chapter 4: Awkward
When I got home I parked my new black Volvo in the garage next to my favorite car - my Vanquish. Our large garage was unusually empty. Only Emmett's Jeep and Jasper's Ducati were there, all other vehicles were absent. I knew Carlisle was working late at the Hospital tonight, though I wasn't sure where my sister's and Esme were.
Making the short walk from the garage to my house. I felt very light on my feet as I thought back to the alchemy of becoming one with Bella. Lost in the memories, I almost didn't hear my brother's thoughts. From their thoughts I could tell they were in the front room playing their very complex game of chess. That consists of ten chess boards and their own set of extremely complicated and illogical rules. My brother's never allow me to play, they say I cheat because I can anticipate their moves.
I walked in the front door and saw Emmett and Jasper sitting on the floor, playing the world's most complicated game of chess. They were both looking over at me like they had been waiting for me. Both of them were thinking about their game and nothing more. I gave them a simple greeting and in a blink of an eye both of them stood before me.
It was the strangest sight. Emmett began a weird light clapping symphony and bowing his head like a Chinese man. Jasper, who was high on all the good vibes, followed Emmett's goofy lead. Both of them were repeating in Chinese, "Well done, my son."
I stood their speeches staring at them. What was the matter with them?
It took a minute but the unessential clapping finally came to an end.
"Damn kid!" Emmett said in English more loudly than necessary, with a goofy grin on his face. "I can smell you and that sex smell from a mile away!" He hollered. 'Way to go! You finally popped her cherry.'
I rolled my eyes.
"Finally got your whistle wet after all these decades huh, little bro?" Jasper asked as he patted my back. 'You do have that odor.'
This was embarrassing. But I was glad that it was only my brothers and not our entire family that was home. I just wanted to go up to my room to get away from their teasing but I knew if I did that, they wouldn't leave me alone. So I decided right there and then to bite the bullet and get it over with.
"So this is what I have to come home to?" I questioned. A sour edge to my voice.
Emmett playfully punched my left arm. "The world's oldest virgin finally got laid! About damn time!" He's never tactful with his words so his thoughts did not surprise me. 'I knew you loved her. I knew eventually you would have to grind her.'
I let out a groan in irritation.
"Watch it, Em." Jasper said in a teasing tone, sending a wave clam my way. "He's getting all emotional."
I scoffed as both of my brothers laughed. They get a kick out of pulling my chain about my childish rapid mood swings. I can't stand when they do that. It's not my fault that I've been going through puberty for the last eighty seven years and my moods will never mature.
"Can't believe you're not a virgin anymore. Congratulations, kid." Emmett's loud booming voice echoed through the house.
His thoughts made me roll my eyes. Evidently he had been waiting for my introduction into manhood since 1937. Two years after Carlisle created him.
"Yeah well, believe it." I said with confidence.
"Memorable moment." Jasper declared, nodding his head. Between my bliss and Emmett's celebratory mood, as well as Jazz's own festive vibe, his mind was a very cheery place to be at the moment.
It was a memorable moment until I got home. Now it's just weird. I looked at my brothers who were enjoying this all too much in my opinion. Both of them looked proud, amazed and amused and those were the feelings that were radiating off of Jasper.
"Are we done here?" I wondered dryly. I took a step forward, Emmett put a hand on my shoulder to stop me.
"Not so fast, kid. We need to celebrate! How about some mountain lions? Your first hunting trip as a man!" Emmett cheerfully announced. 'But shower first. I don't want to smell the stench of hot sex and dry blood, it'll scare our prey.' He thought, wrinkling his nose.
I rolled my eyes. Emmett's appalled by the smell that lingers on me. Of course our sense of smell is much greater than a humans so I understand what he means. I smelled similar orders on them before, minus the aroma of dry blood. But honestly, he thinks the order alone is horrible, he should try having to deal with the unwanted thoughts and images that flood my mind when he and Rosalie have their 'fun times'. Now that really is unpleasant.
"I don't know, Em." I began slowly. "I went hunting a few days ago."
We try to limit the amount we hunt. In an attempt to not bring the wildlife population down.
"Smashing pussy makes you thirsty!" Emmet boldly replied, thrusting his hips.
Jasper shook his head in disgust by our brother's choice of words.
"Well, Edward," Jazz said looking into my eyes. I saw from the reflection of his eyes that mine were as black as coals. "Your new found, er, activity takes up a lot of energy. Even though we don't physically get tired, we do get quite thirsty." He spoke seriously, trying to be tactful with his words. The total opposite of Emmett.
I nodded my head in agreement. Of course I had noticed my throat burning, though it was tolerable. I had chalked it up to it being from the scent of Bella's blood that had spilled when I entered her for the first time.
"Disappearing for an hour - or my case - days. Will do that to you." Emmett bragged.
Emmett found it entertaining that I was only in my car with Bella for a little over an hour. When his and Rosalie's record is 11 days straight. I did not need to know that. Besides, it's different for me. Bell is a mortal. From his thoughts it was clear how he had a time frame for what I was doing. Alice, of course, "saw" my decision to ditch after lunch and told Emmett that I left school when he questioned where I was once school let out. He was curious about my whereabouts since I didn't show up for Spanish class.
"All right. Let's go hunting." I said, I knew I needed to take care of my thirst.
"Shower first then hunt." Emmett said matter-of-factly. 'Seriously kid, you reek of sex.'
"I smell like a man now." I answered Emmett's mental voice with humor, heading up the stairs.
"True." Jasper chuckled, then silently added. 'If you don't want Esme to know about your after-school activities. My advice to you, is put your clothes in the washer before we leave.'
"Will do." I called back as I reached the third floor.
I'm definitely taking Jasper's advice. At this point I have had all the embarrassment that I can take for one day. I wouldn't want to have some sort of awkward talk with my mother about this.
With fresh clothes on and my hair still wet from my shower. Jasper, Emmett and I all jumped off the balcony on the second floor. Each of us landing gracefully on our feet. We raced each other through our backyard, across the river and through the forest miles from our home.
My wet hair dried as I ran at full speed to a spot where a cluster of boulders conveniently sat between two mountains. Even though Emmett tried to cheat by knocking me down a couple of times by throwing a few logs at me, I still won. I may physically be the youngest but I am the fastest.
We went our separate ways. All agreeing to meet up afterwards at the spot we stopped at with the boulders.
In no time at all I caught the scent of a mountain lion and went after it. After draining two mountain lions I was full. The burning in my throat was now a faraway memory. I was back to focusing on the blissful memory of my beautiful Bella and the feeling of having no barriers of clothes between us, as I made my way back to our meeting place. I sat down on a boulder next to Jasper while we waited for Emmett.
Jazz and I talked and joked around. All the while in the distance we could hear our jovial brother enjoying his fight with a bear. I will never fully understand why Em has to play with his food. It's been seventy years since he lost that fight to a bear and he still hasn't gotten over it.
"So Bella's okay? You managed not to harm her?" Jasper asked on a serious note.
I nodded my head. "Well...she's better than okay, actually." I said rather smugly.
'Feeling proud of yourself, buddy?' Jasper thought sarcastically as he sampled my emotions.
Rolling his eyes he attempted to push me off the boulder I was sitting on. I saw his intent. I caught my balance and playfully pushed him back.
In that moment Emmett jogged over to us. He resembled something of a caveman. He was now shirtless (the bear no doubt destroyed his shirt). His jeans looked like torn uneven cut off shorts with mud and blood stains and fur all over them. His black curly hair was covered in mud and tree sap, with small twigs and leaves sticking out every which way.
Just by looking at all three of us you can tell our hunting styles are totally different. My clothes are still intact and clean. Jasper's clothes are intact as well, though he has a few blood splatters on the front of his shirt and the knees of his pants are dirty. Emmett is just a savage.
"I'm quite surprised you didn't poke any holes in her." Emmett joked as he sat down on a boulder across from Jasper and I.
I paid no attention to Emmett's tasteless joke. Though I couldn't help letting out a low snarl when he started to imagine Bella looking like Swiss cheese.
'Easy, kid. I'm only joking.' Emmett held up both hands as if surrendering, as Jasper sent a wave of peace and calm my way.
"Not a funny joke, Em." I said rather rudely. Again, I felt peace radiating off of Jasper. I'm driving him nuts with my emotions.
Emmett gave me a curious look. "Did you break a lot of stuff?" He questioned enthusiastically.
Shaking my head, I chuckled.
"Well?" Jasper prompted.
My chuckling turned into full-on laughter with the memory of my destroyed Volvo.
Jasper and Emmett both looked at each other. Simultaneously they wondered out loud, what I was laughing like a maniac at.
"My car!" I choked out between laughter. "I totally wrecked the inside of it."
'That's surprising.' Jasper who couldn't help but laugh thought. He knows how much I love cars and didn't think I would ever ruin one.
Emmett snorted. "No shit, dude!"
Between my contagious laughter and the good vibes that were radiating off of Jasper. The three of us fell into a laughing fit. After a few minutes our laughter died out and Emmett was the first to speak.
"I don't mean to be a jackass. And I certainly don't want details." Emmett was trying to choose his words very carefully.
'Here we go.' Jasper thought, then turned to me. "That's already enough to raise a red flag or two."
I smirked. "Go on, Em. I can already see the question forming in your mind, just go ahead and ask."
By no means is Emmett ever considerate with his words. Sometimes he surprises me when he tries to choose what he's going to say very carefully, like right now. He was trying very hard not to be offensive.
I waited patiently for Emmett to compose himself. Jasper was waiting too. To see what Emmett would say and if he would need to use his calming effect on me, or restrain me if Emmett upset me too much and I let my temper get the best of me. Which has happened before when Emmett was unconsciously being a jerk and made a comment about Bella that did not sit well with me.
"Okay." Emmett said after a minute. "There was blood when you dive into her. Right?"
"Yes." It was easy to answer him honestly, since I knew he wasn't trying to be a jerk. He was honestly intrigued by how I - a vampire - dealt with the blood. Jasper's curiosity was spiked too.
"A lot or a little bit?" Was Emmett's next question.
I Shrugged. "Quite a bit." There was certainly a lot more than I had imagined.
"Wasn't her fresh blood tempting at all to you?" Jasper wondered.
"I had other temptations." I smirked, avoiding the question.
In truth, I was tempted when the blood started to spill and venom filled my mouth. I came very close to asking her permission to go down on her and lick up the blood. Though before I did, I realized that with the first taste of human blood - especially her sweet blood - how it appeals to me. I would have gone into a frenzy and that blood between her legs would not have been enough to satisfy my thirst. I would have needed it all. I would have ended up scaring her before I did the unthinkable and turned a divine moment into a tragedy. So I pushed that thought out of my mind, swallowed the venom and focused on how good it felt to be intertwined with my love.
Emmett and Jasper simultaneously wondered how I didn't fall off the wagon. With her fresh blood calling out to me.
Emmett raised one eyebrow. 'Seriously.' He thought, then added out loud in a teasing tone. "I'm glad Bella is still alive. But how can you be so tamed? Maybe you're losing your edge."
"Sure you're still a vampire? Or should we go get you a cheeseburger? Since blood no longer appeals to you." Jasper teased. 'How could he have that much self-control?'
My self-control often bothers Jasper. He out of all of us struggles the most with bloodlust. I remember last spring when Bella moved to Forks, in the middle of the semester. She ended up in my science class, sitting in the assigned seat next to me no less. For the first time in seven decades I was beyond tempted to hunt and drink from a human. In a weird way that was satisfying to Jasper to know he wasn't alone in the struggle with bloodlust.
With each passing moment as I went from completely ignoring Bella, to not being able to stay away from her. To being her friend and quickly her boyfriend. I found that the sight of her and her responses to me awoke something inside me. Something other than the need for her blood began to develop. I began to possess more human responses and instincts that were new and unfamiliar to me. I doubt I have ever experienced those even when I was human. Thanks to those new instincts I am able to be gentle with Bella and feel less like a monster and more like a man.
Of course, I couldn't tell my brothers all that. Not unless I wanted them to relentlessly tease me for the next century, that I'm a tender vampire and no humans are fearful of me.
Instead I grinned, balled up both of my hands into fists and flipped them off. Emmett laughed and threw a rock at me. I dodged it as Jasper simultaneously shoved me off the boulder that I was sitting on. Laughing I crashed landed on the ground, causing it to crack beneath me.
I swiftly grabbed a couple of large rocks and tossed them at my brothers. Jasper managed to bypass the rock but Emmett did not. I watched the rock hit his bare chest and fall to the ground with a loud thump.
"So you wanna play?" Emmett stood up, playfully pounding his right fist into his left hand, grinning mischievously. He's always up for the challenge of a fight, even if it's all in good fun.
Hearing Emmett and Jasper's thoughts I snickered and ran in the direction of our house.
"After him!" Jasper playfully hollered as I heard him and Emmett run after me.
Playful laughter and shouting was heard throughout the forest as my brothers and I continued to run. The wind in my hair felt good as I ran at full speed, my feet barely touching the ground. Leaving both of my brothers in the dust. It didn't take me long at all until I entered our backyard. With Emmett and Jasper still hot on my trail, I made a very poor attempt to slow down as I entered our house.
"Edward, no running in the house!" Esme scolded me as I ran in the living room, passing the couch that she sat on, reading her Garden Magazine. 'Oh lawd! I hear the other two. I hope nothing gets broken.'
It didn't take long for my brother's to catch up to me. Soon the three of us were running all over the house, against our mother's dismay. As much joy as it brings to our mother to see us enjoying ourselves and acting like well, kids. I kept hearing her thoughts that she was afraid that we were going to break the furniture or worse, the house. Or that Emmett and Jasper would end up taking the rough playing too far and get into an actual fight like they have in the past.
It wasn't ideal to run and goof around in the house. For the third time that day I didn't think about my actions, I just acted in the moment.
Quickly our rowdiness was put to an end as Esme stood before us as the three of us wrestled in the dining room. Well, it was more of a dogpile than wrestling. I had Emmett pinned on the floor and Jasper who was on top of the dogpile had me pinned. To get our attention she clapped her hands like the school teacher she once was her back in her human life, to get a classroom full of little children to behave.
The three of us stopped what we were doing and looked up at our mother. She stood before us with her hands on her hips, giving us that fierce icy withering stare she gives when we're in trouble, or about to be. I suppose that look had originated from me - her first child in this life. But she sure has perfected it over the years with Emmett.
"Emmet, Jasper, and Edward! That is enough horsing around. If you three wish to act like barbarians take it outside." Our mother scolded. "If my dining room table gets broken there will be punishments to follow." She warned. 'I swear. These boys will be the death of me. They have the whole open forest to play in and yet they run in here like madmen.'
My brothers and I knew she meant business. We immediately got up off the floor and stood far away from the dining room table, apologizing for our behavior. Our dining room table is an antique, it's been with us since 1955. It rarely gets used other than for family meetings. Even so Esme really takes pride in it. My siblings don't have to be mind readers to know that there would be a huge punishment in store for us if the dining room table broke, or any other furniture for that matter.
Taking one look at both of my brothers, Esme informed Jasper to put his now sold clothes in the laundry room, and for Emmett to throw out the remains of his tattered filthy jeans. Sending both of them upstairs to take what she considered to be much needed showers. I heard her thoughts. She was wondering how her two oldest sons get so filthy when they hunt. She's grateful that I am more like Carlisle in that way. I do try to emulate him as much as I can.
I had the compelling urge to go venture off to my piano to compose a song. But before I could step out of the dining room my mother grabbed my arm. I looked back at her.
"So Edward, how were your afternoon classes?" Esme questioned. Her thoughts were all on the blueprints of an elaborate Greenhouse she plans to build out back. It was obvious by her facial expression she was aware I left school early.
One would assume after repeating and graduating high school as many times as I have. That my parents would give me some slack and wouldn't care if I ditched school for a couple hours. However, my parents do care, a little too much sometimes. They expect my siblings and I to attend school everyday - when the weather permits. Do our school and homework, get good grades and not draw unnecessary attention to ourselves.
Being an eternal teenager is a very vicious cycle.
The only time my parents are understanding when my siblings or I ditch, is if we have a valid reason. Like dissecting frogs in science, experiencing bloodlust with a person at school, or blood typing in biology. (Really, anything that involves blood.) Unfortunately, I have been the subject in sequential order for all three of those reasons, since we moved here two years ago. Lucky me.
I let out a sigh. I knew I could have lied. I also knew it was better to come clean. I have been in this situation before, back when it was just Carlisle and I. It was just before Esme joined our family.
In 1921 we were living in Ashland, Wisconsin. When Carlisle became possessed with the insane idea to enroll me in school for the first time since my transformation.
Since I wasn't able to graduate High School in my first life, due to falling ill to the Spanish Flu, he felt guilty and wanted me to have that experience in this life. (Little did I know then just how many times I would repeat High School).
Using forged documents to make me younger so we would be able to stay in the town longer. My father enrolled me in the small school that accommodated grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. How I pulled it off as an eighth grader I will never understand. I was the tallest one in the class. After my first week of purgatory that year, with the constant youthful mental chatter it was all too much to bear. I decided it wasn't worth it.
Instead of letting Carlisle know that I was having a hard time with being in a school full of children all day. And hearing all the idle mental chatter and not sure how to tune it out. I decided to take matters into my own hands and skip school.
It didn't take Carlisle long to discover that I was spending my days at the quiet library rather than School. My father gave me a chance to come clean but I lied through my razor-sharp teeth. The punishment he dealt out was more than enough to make me realize that it was a very good idea to go to school regularly and not to lie.
Even knowing that I didn't have a valid excuse for skipping my afternoon classes. I wasn't about to lie to my mother.
"I left school after lunch." I admitted. My words did not surprise her.
'I'm glad he didn't lie.' My mother thought to herself as she let go of my arm. "This afternoon," She spoke out loud. "Principal Green called me. He informed me that a teacher saw you and Bella leaving the school parking lot in your car after lunch."
I shamefully nodded my head. So Mr. Green called her. That's how she knows. Damn teacher who ratted us out. I sure hope Bella doesn't get into trouble.
"Was there a reason why you left school early? Esme inquired. She sounded very concerned. 'Is everything okay?'
Hearing Esme's words Emmett started laughing, whooping and loudly saying bow chicka wow-wow from upstairs.
'What in the world?' Esme looked up at the ceiling. She was silently wondering what would make Emmett act up like that.
When her eyes landed back on my. I put on my best innocent expression and shrugged my shoulders.
Esme just shook her head. She chalked up his joyful behavior from having a good day at school.
I was grateful that my mother is not the mind-reader in the family. I'm sure if Emmett's explicit thoughts on the matter at hand would have been known to my mother, I would have been in more trouble. From Emmett's thoughts it was obvious he assumed my decisions to skip school and have sex with Bella were premeditated.
"Well Edward, are you going to answer my question?" Esme asked sternly, pulling me away from my brother's thoughts. Her arms were crossed against her chest. 'Or should I just start assuming the worst?'
Images flashed through my mother's mind. She was worried that I might be going through another phase of teenage rebellion. Similar to what I went through a decade after she married Carlisle and I ran away for four years.
"No it's nothing like that." I said honestly and she seemed to relax a little. "I just had a couple quizzes that I felt unnecessary to take." Was the best excuse that I could come up with.
My mother intently looked at me. She wasn't quite buying my story. I watched as she went over to the dining room table and pulled out a chair. She took a seat and ordered me to do the same. I did.
Her golden eyes stared at me for a long moment before she spoke. "This isn't just about today, Edward Anthony," she spoke in her firm motherly voice.
I , she was using my middle name. I knew this was getting serious.
"Your principal informed me that several of your teachers have had some complaints. As well as concerns regarding you." Esme explained.
"What complaints?" I said a bit shocked, tracing invisible circles with my finger on the table. "I'm a delight."
From upstairs I heard Jasper snicker at my words.
I couldn't really think of anything that would make my teachers complain about me. I showed up to class, completed the work, got excellent grades and didn't interrupt them. What was there to complain about?
Esme placed her hand on mine. "Within the last month since school started. I've been told you've been caught passing notes. Not concentrating on assignments, laughing during inappropriate moments, have looked ill and ran out of a few classes. Also, your Spanish and History teachers are convinced from your odd behavior that you're on drugs. Your father and I have a meeting next Wednesday with your teachers and principal."
I stared at my mother, deadpan.
I was not expecting that. In all the years I have been in high school my parents have never had to meet with a school principal because of me before. Usually, they're called to the school for Emmett and Rosalie, for their unusual display of inappropriate affection.
'I didn't need to be Alice to see that coming.' Emmett's mental "voice" was full of laughter. 'Kid, you've been so erratic lately. It's been hilarious.'
"Is everything okay?" My mother was clearly concerned. 'My sweet boy. Please tell me what is going on, this behavior is not like you.'
I felt bad that my mother was worried. But what was I supposed to say? The truth? That I've been distracted lately because all I had on my mind for the past several weeks, has been sex since my nightly activities with Bella have been so exciting? Yeah...no. Definitely not something I wanted to share with my mother. That would not be proper.
"Mom, nothings wrong. Really. Everything is exceptional." I wasn't lying either. I never felt better.
My mother gave me a suspicious look but didn't question me any further. For the next ten minutes she droned on me about my behavior at school.
To say the least, I wasn't happy about her decision for my week-long punishment. When my mother was done with her lecture I went up to my room and got what she asked for. Coming back down the stairs I caught her thoughts - her mother's intuition. She could tell there was something different about me. That I seemed more confident with how I talked and carried myself. She had her suspicions or why but tried not to make them known to me.
Reluctantly placing both of my car keys in her hand, I was thankful that vampires can't blush. Just from hearing her thoughts that weren't meant for me to hear, but we're right on the money. My face would have been crimson. I wasn't quite sure how my mother was able to tell that I was a man now, but she did.
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Thank you for reading this chapter, I hoped you enjoyed it.
The brother bantering (which was a mixture of ideas between my husband and I. As well as the talk between mother and son) was really fun to write.
As much as I love E&B fluff. I also love seeing Edward at home in his element with his family, especially with his brothers.