An Interesting Sleepover

¨So, that's how Jacob and I became vampires,¨ Rosalie said one final time. ¨He pissed off the wrong people and got involved in some shady business, I guess. He has always been quite the little troublemaker, so of course he would find a way to befriend a shady vampire and have us both killed.¨ She rolled her eyes.

¨What happened after that?¨ I asked.

¨Do I need to spell it out for you?¨

¨Rose,¨ Edward warned her.

She sighed. ¨Fine. Just as I told you before, we followed Aro around for a few years until I met Emmett and ran away. Jake is still with him, but I have a feeling he can't leave. It´s a long shot, but do you know more about it? Please?¨

She must have already seen it written on my face, because she answered her question before I could.

¨I was afraid of that. Well, it didn't hurt to try, right?¨

She hid her head in her hands and shook her face, over and over again. Before I could blink, Rosalie had suddenly dashed off, leaving me and Edward alone in the forest. I had so much to think about so I turned to Edward.

¨What do you know about Jacob?¨

He shrugged. ¨Nothing. Exactly what you´ve seen on Halloween. He comes from time to time, annoys Rose for a while and leaves again. She is upset after, but she hides it pretty well.¨

I nodded and turned on my heel to walk back towards the house. I noticed Edward wasn´t following me so I turned around.

¨Aren't you coming?¨

¨Aren't you… I don´t know, scared of Rosalie now?¨

I rolled my eyes at him. ¨Don´t look so surprised, Edward! I know that some vampires drink human blood and I know that I don't smell that good to her anyway. So no, I'm not scared.¨

He slowly walked towards me. ¨Even with her red eyes?¨

¨Even with her red eyes. In fact, I think it makes her look even more beautiful,¨ I lied. Rosalie did look scary, but I wouldn't say that to Edward. And I did know that some vampires drank human blood, but I prefer to ignore that part of my life now.

Especially if Rosalie would be the one to drink humans. I mean, Rosalie? Humans? I shivered.

Edward grabbed my hand. ¨She rarely relapses, Bella. And I know she isn't responsible for what is happening in Seattle right now. Her eyes were red, because she's hungry, so please don't be scared of her,¨ he whispered.

I shook my head. Damn, why must my face be this easy to read? At least Rosalie wasn't relapsing regularly, so that was something…

Edward nudged me out of the forest and walked beside me. We walked at a human pace, so my mind had all the time to race in overdrive.

For some reason, I couldn't see Jacob as someone bad. I just couldn´t and I didn´t know why. And even though everyone warned me about him, I didn't feel warned enough.

Edward squeezed my hand and I squeezed his in return. I think I had a clue what Edward was thinking right now, but I couldn't explain this to him.

I just had a feeling, in the pit of my stomach, that I could trust Jacob.

When we arrived at their house, it was surprisingly quiet. Edward nodded towards the staircase, so I guess the Cullens had planned this beforehand.

I walked upstairs and ran straight into Alice. I turned around to look at Edward, but that stupid vampire had already vanished into thin air.

¨Please don't be mad at him,¨ Alice said, as if she was the one who could read minds.

¨I´m not,¨ I said harshly and truth to be told, I really didn't mean to sound so cruel.

I looked around her. ¨Where´s Jasper?¨

¨He's away with the rest. Didn't want to alter your emotions.¨

¨That´s a first,¨ I mumbled, but Alice had already heard it.

¨Please, Bella. Tell me what I can do to make it up to you!¨

I frowned. ¨Alice, you could have stood up for me. I mean, you could see the future, damn it! But you left as well, why?¨

She took a step in my direction. ¨Because I could see it would all work out in the end. And I saw a blank spot when we were away, so I hoped that Jacob would find you.¨

¨Find me?¨

¨Yes, because I can't see him, you know. But I saw you in my visions, so I knew he wouldn't hurt you. And I knew he would come and find you, since I couldn't see him.¨

I frowned. ¨You´re not making any sense, Alice.¨

She waved her arms around her, trying to explain it to me and moving her entire body in the process. ¨Bella! I can't see Jacob. So I can't see him when he's with you. I only see blank spots. But I saw you, and I saw we would come back to Forks, so I knew he didn't hurt you. I hoped that, when we were away, Jacob would find you and maybe, you would gain back some memory about him. But clearly, I was wrong.¨

My mouth dropped open. ¨So you did it on purpose?¨

She looked sheepishly and I knew I was right. ¨Fuck Alice. I was afraid I would never see you again!¨

¨I´m sorry,¨ she whispered. ¨I wasn't thinking.¨

Alice nodded at the hall behind her. ¨Carlisle put me on cleaning duty for the rest of the school year. Everything that needs to be done in the house, is on me. He was maybe even more pissed than you are.¨

For some reason, I couldn't picture an angry Carlisle, so I laughed a little bit. Alice looked shocked and that amused me even more, so I busted out laughing.

I opened my arms. ¨Come here.¨

She didn't need to be told twice, so she rushed over and we hugged.

¨If I can forgive Edward, I can forgive you,¨ I whispered into her hair.

We stood there for a few minutes, until I heard the familiar soft steps of my boyfriend who approached us.

I let go of Alice and noted that it was already getting dark. I frowned, time really flew by with the Cullens.

¨Aren't you hungry?¨ he asked, just when my stomach started growling.

¨I guess there's your answer.¨

We walked downstairs where I watched Edward prepare a meal for me. I watched in awe how someone who never eats human food can produce such tasty dishes. Just as Edward put down my plate in front of me, my phone rang.

¨Hi mom!¨

¨Hey sweetie. Listen, your father needs to work tonight.¨

¨Tonight?¨

¨With everything that's going on in Seattle, the police here are working their butts of.¨

¨Yes…?¨

¨And that's why I'm calling. Could you please come home right now? I'm a bit worried, actually.¨

¨Sure. I´ll eat dinner and then I´m on my way.¨

¨Oh, you still need to eat? Maybe you should stay there, then. I mean, no-one messes with seven vampires, right?¨

She laughed and I started blushing. Edward raised his eyebrows and I felt even more awkward.

¨I don't want to overstay my welcome,¨ I mumbled, totally embarrassed. I would run home if that meant this conversation would finally stop.

¨Nonsense, Bella. You´re always welcome here!¨ Emmett shouted.

Where the hell did he come from? I glanced in his direction to give him the evil eye, but he almost couldn't hold in his laughter.

¨I could always come pick you up, Bella. But maybe you would like that, like a little sleepover? Maybe Alice likes that as well? You could do face masks and such, or paint each other´s nails,¨ Renee continued.

Alice grinned and nodded ¨yes¨ in my direction, so I sighed and realised I had lost the battle.

¨Fine, fine. I´ll stay here for tonight.¨