Edward's POV
Wind whipping at my face and blowing through my hair as my feet barely touch the ground. Making me feel like I'm soaring through the air as I sprint through the forest. Flying high and feeling free the way running allows me to be, I run faster, not holding back my speed as I run past trees without a care in the world.
It's very exhilarating. Very freeing.
The sensations of being untied to anything jolts through me like a lightning bolt. It's truly a feeling like no other.
The faint afternoon sunlight glows from above but doesn't make me sparkle while I continue to enjoy my post hunting run.
It's Friday afternoon, the one day of the week we are released from school early, allowed to begin our weekend as soon as the bell rings after lunch. Free of teachers, classrooms, and tiresome work that I already know. Free do as we please.
It's also the perfect time to be outdoors, do a little hunting, and explore old mining shafts with my brothers. Which is exactly what we decided to do after we went home to drop off our backpacks.
Well, I'm the only one of the three of us that actually needed to hunt. Emmett and Jasper went hunting last night when I was at Bella's house. So, while I caught my meal, they occupied themselves, going somewhere in the woods to explore and have fun while they waited for me, and now I'm trying to catch up to them.
Running further away from where I buried the mountain lion's carcass, my mind drifts off to my mother. For one reason or another, she was apprehensive to let the three of us out of the house when we announced we were going out in the forest for a while. However, she had no problems when my sisters left to go out to buy earrings at a shop in Port Angeles.
But Alice 'saw' that, of course.
Just as she 'saw' how my brothers and I would have to almost beg to be let out of the house since our mother was worried more about my brothers and me being out of her sight. The way our mother was more concerned about us guys being out of the house for a few hours, than she was with my sisters being gone for a while, was definitely puzzling.
It was very weird.
Not really understanding what that was about because my mother's thoughts were not clear and Alice didn't share any of her old visions with me. I decided not to give it a second thought. No need to dwell on something I may never understand.
Breathing in deeply and letting my senses guide my way. I zig-zag through a cluster of trees and bushes.
Rushing past a mature pine tree, getting closer to the stream that separates me from a large mountain, I take another deep breath. I immediately catch the scent of my brothers and hear their verbal and mental voices. I now realize that's my destination; the mountain top.
"Writing is very strange," Emmett says in a light tone.
'Writing?' Jazz's mental voice is very confused. "Really, how so?"
"Writing a story is a lot like stealing an elderly relative's Pomeranian and holding it for ransom inside a bagel shop. While attempting to do a flawless pirouette at gunpoint when you have no training in ballet." Emmett speaks seriously though his statement is so odd.
'What on Earth is that supposed to mean?' Jasper wonders to himself. "Well, if there's anyone who needs a small furry, yappy companion, it would be you, bro." He says in a snarky tone. "You could even tote around your new pet in one of Esme's old purses. It would suit you."
Jasper laughs while Emmett's mentally processing everything. Suddenly an assortment of our mothers purses runs though his mind, though I don't know why.
"I wasn't talking about getting a dog. Didn't even mean that." Emmett sighs, still thinking about purses. 'What would give him the idea I wanted a dog?'
"Then what were you talking about?" Jasper asks, sounding confused.
"Writing fanfiction." Em simply answers. "One minute I'm helping Rose research pizza toppings and what they taste like. Then next thing I know we're looking up how fast a News van can go down a New York city street, while on a high speed chase with a donut truck attached to it." He chuckles, picturing it all in my mind. "A second later everything changes. Then we're trying to figure out the perfect temperature to cook a rotisserie chicken, while a stranger knocks on the door at midnight with a seagull. There's a lot to research."
The tone Emmett speaks in makes it sound like writing the way him and Rose do, is perfectly normal. Little does he know, most people don't make writing as complicated as they are. But it's not my place to point out they are doing it wrong.
'So much is going on, too much to keep track of. Sounds like a very difficult read.' Jasper thinks to himself. "Pizza toppings, News vans, rotisserie chicken, and strangers knocking on doors with birds. Is that everything? Or am I missing something?" He questions, sounding bewildered.
"Nope. Writing is a mystery that sends me down an endless rabbit hole. It also makes her horny, which is a plus." Emmett brags in a matter-of-fact tone. His thoughts are deplorable.
"What the hell are you guys writing?" Jasper asks.
From Jasper's mind I can tell they hadn't been talking about this topic in the first place. That they were conversing about something totally different than writing, and this was just something random Emmett brought up.
I wonder why.
"Ninja Turtle porn for the human female population." Emmett explains, his tone adding the of course.
"Of course." Jasper says dryly.
If I didn't know any better and couldn't read minds, I would probably believe Emmett is crazy. Or possibly r on the verge of losing his mind. But since I am able to read minds and know Emmett as well as I do, I know there's never any telling what he will do or say. He does as he pleases, not caring how strange a conversation - like the one I'm overhearing - will make him seem.
Their talking goes on but I'm not really listening. I'm thinking of my Bella and how I can't wait to be reunited with her. In just six hours I will be reunited with her for our date. I'm very anxious and excited to hold her in my arms again.
I can't explain why but I feel whole when I'm with her. Everything feels right and my school days are no longer endless hours of boredom. But a joyful blessing since it means more time to spend with her.
With Bella on my mind, I leap over the river, never touching the water beneath me. Feeling an accomplishment, a selfish achievement, of sorts for not disturbing any aquatic life, as I gracefully land on my feet.
Standing on the other side of the river, I don't waste another minute. I scale up the mountain, climbing this rocky cliff better than any skilled mountain climber could.
At the top where my brothers stand talking, I jump up, and am by their side in a flash. Both of them acknowledge my presence with a nod.
"I thought our plan was to explore abandoned mining shafts, not go rock climbing." I say, wondering what happened to our original agenda.
"Things change." Jasper replies, sampling my emotions. "We got bored waiting for you and decided to come up here."
"Yup. So, weren't you able to catch an after-school snack?" Emmett grins, eyeing my clean long sleeve Spiderman shirt.
"Of course, I did." I roll my eyes. "I just don't eat like a wild animal on a warpath like you do."
'Oh really?' Emmett's eyebrows shoot up. "And here I thought you didn't want to get Spidey dirty." He points at the character on my chest.
"Yeah, Alice wouldn't want you to mess up your new shirt." Jasper laughs.
My only response is to scoff and roll my eyes.
Emmett makes an off-putting comment about my clothes, which has Jasper laughing like a crazy hyena. It's irritating that they find humor in what I'm wearing. But I know it's all in good fun, for them.
However, I ignore them.
I really can't figure out what Emmett's more amused with, the fact that Alice gave me a Spiderman shirt this morning to change into. Or that I'm actually wearing it.
I really don't see the amusement in it. From my socks to my shirt, none of it's what I would have chosen to wear. At least not as a conscious decision. This was Alice's ridiculous choice in clothes, not mine. But I wasn't about to be spoiled and reject the clothes she generously brought me this morning.
At least Bella liked my odd outfit of a Spiderman shirt and dark blue skinny jeans, when I emerged from her bathroom this morning. She commented on my clothes at the exact same moment I began to wonder if Alice lost her mind. Or if it was a prank Rosalie was trying to pull, since both of my sisters picked Bella and I up for school at her house after her father left for work.
But it wasn't a joke. Alice had happily explained she updated my wardrobe to make me resemble a fifteen-year-old. Just because I'm playing the role doesn't mean I have to go all out to look the part. But obviously, she thinks it does.
It's ridiculous.
"In my first life I used to drink till I got drunk," Emmett announces out of nowhere. His voice is louder than necessary.
His booming voice echos off the mountains, pulling me out of my thoughts. I look at him waiting for him to add something else to his odd statement that makes perfect sense to him. But to me, it leaves me feeling like I'm missing something.
Is it possible that I did miss something in their conversation?
Automatically my mind tunes into Jasper's. He's just as confused as I am by Em's random words.
Guess I didn't miss anything after all.
"And?" I say when Em doesn't continue.
'Where's he going with this?' Jasper silently wonders to me.
My only response is to shrug. His guess is as good as mine.
"Bro," Jasper says to Emmett. "Are you going to add more to that? Or are you just going to leave us guessing what you're getting at?"
Emmett grins, giving Jasper a knowing look. I can't possibly guess what he might say since he's blocking his thoughts from me.
"Dudes," Emmett practically shouts. "I did some crazy shit when I was human. Like when I was sixteen, I once drank so much I didn't remember getting a tattoo of a shot glass on my ass." He laughs, silently wishing the ink would have remained after his transformation. "Another time a buddy of mine had me try coke for the first time, I woke up in a ditch in Nebraska. Buck ass naked! Still have no idea how I left Tennessee." He laughs. "But I sure had a hell of a time getting back home."
"Yeah, you were a wild one." Jazz chuckles.
"You know it, brother man." Em grins.
"As great as your old stories of odd things happening to you, when you indulged in drugs and booze are." I say dryly. These types of stories aren't my cup of tea at all. I just can't relate. "What does this have to do with anything?"
"Raccoons." Emmett gives a one-word answer.
"Ah!" Jasper's eyes light up. But he doesn't add or think anything more.
"What?" I ask.
"Nothing I ever did in my human teenage years could have ever prepared me for last night." He slaps Jaspers back. The sound carries far and wide, making birds fly out of the trees in fear. "Those intoxicated raccoons were out of this world."
"Fun times." Jasper agrees, nodding his head.
"Raccoons?" I wonder.
"Yeah." Both of them speak in unison, but neither elaborate.
I blink, not understanding.
Again, I feel like I'm missing something. I look from Emmett to Jasper, both of them sure have an odd joyfulness on this topic. But neither go into detail.
They go on talking with minimal words like they are speaking in some kind of code. It's weird, confusing, and very difficult to follow. I don't understand half of what they are saying.
Luckily, I can read their minds. Which hopefully will give me a clue about what they are talking about.
From my mind's eye I see through Emmett's mind. There are weird psychedelic images of rolling hills in the forest with him and Jasper laughing and pointing at absolutely nothing. The mental images quickly change. Now odd-looking people who look like characters from the Claymation movie Chicken Run, chase him and Jasper with toilet brushes, plungers, and a hotdog through a restaurant.
Wait. What's that about?
Immediately I stop following Em's mind and jump to Jazz's.
The images I see from his mind are odd, very colorful, and a bit blurry. Nothing really makes sense, other than them coming across a group of six raccoons who were stumbling around.
Ah! Now I think I have a piece to put to this odd puzzle.
Clearly the raccoons got into a substance they shouldn't have. Became impaired, stumbling around the forests like a group of drunk individuals. Which ultimately led them to becoming a delicacy for two vegetarian vampires who enjoy seeking out impaired wildlife, all to enjoy the effects of being intoxicated.
Those poor unsuspecting raccoons. I feel bad for them.
"You guys drunk raccoons that ate some weed?" I guess, interrupting their cryptic conversation.
Immediately both of them stop talking and look at me.
"Those critters weren't high on weed. Even though they were liquid edibles to us." Emmett says with a menacing smile.
"Liquor?" I guess.
"Definitely not." Jasper agrees with a laugh.
"Some other substance then?" I raise one eyebrow.
"Yeah." Jasper nods his head. 'Acid.'
"An acid trip?" I wonder, trying to use their lingo.
Even though my brothers indulge in intoxicated animals and enjoy it. I have no experience and little knowledge of what each substance does.
"Yeah, son!" Emmett takes a step forward and slaps me on the back. "It was fun. But I still can't figure out how I ended up at the store over at the deli counter."
"Don't know." Jasper picks up a rock and tosses it off the mountain. "Crazy things happened after we were separated once we left the diner."
"Like what?" Against my better judgment, I ask.
"I walked to the gas station at the edge of town," Jasper begins to explain. An unknown emotion I have no name for, radiates off of him. "I ended up having a long conversation with a sweet elderly woman. Our whole talk was about the benefits of drinking Kombucha to stay regular."
"That must have been some chat." I laugh.
"Strange." Jasper makes a face and shakes his head. "The old dear even bought me a Kombucha, a box of Ex-Lax, and two bags of prunes. I'm not sure what I might have said to make her buy all that for me."
My only response is to laugh.
"You think that's bad?" Emmett's tone is loud and competitive. "I was talking to the butcher for over an hour. Our entire talk was about different types of screws!"
"Screws?" I raise an eyebrow.
In the sixty-eight years I have known Emmett, never once has he shown interest in anything you can buy at a hardware store. I really did not know he would be able to talk about different types of screws for more than three minutes.
Images of screws dance from his mind to mine, at lightning speed. So does his talk with the butcher which was actually very intellectual.
Feeling very amazed with this knowledge, I stare at my oldest brother. Apparently he has a secret wisdom about tools.
"Yes, screws!" Emmett says louder than necessary. "What the hell was that about?"
"Who knows." Jasper shrugs his shoulders.
"One of life's greatest mysteries." I tease.
Since neither Jazz nor I have a valid answer, Emmett sees this as his opportunity to retell us everything he can remember happening. His recount of events is hilarious.
Jasper and I don't try to hide our laughter. Unphased by our chuckling, Emmett keeps talking, egging us on.
Between his animated storytelling and the joyful vibe that is coming off of Jasper, it's so easy to fall into a fit of childish laughter. It doesn't take long for all three of us to fall on the ground, laughing our asses off.
Minutes pass and soon our hysterical laughter fizzles out.
With thoughts of Bella running through my mind and the longing I feel, of wanting to be by her side. I'm the first to stand on my feet.
"Going somewhere, Edward?" Jasper asks. He feels the chance in my emotions as he sits up.
"Leaving us so soon, spider boy?" Emmett asks, still teasing me about my shirt. He too notices the change in my expression.
"I'm going home to take a shower." I reply with a shrug of my shoulders. "Then going to meet Bella for mini golf."
In an instant Emmett is standing next to me with his right arm around my shoulders. Preventing me from making a quick getaway.
"Ah! Your second date!" Emmett happily shouts. 'Second dates are made for going fast.'
"First date." I correct him.
"Nope. This is your second date. First date was last night, or did you forget?" Em says matter-of-factly. 'Gotta count the sleepover.'
I roll my eyes. "It wasn't the type of sleepover that you are thinking about."
"Wasn't it though?" Jazz wonders.
Both of my brothers' thoughts are on the same page. They think I did more than I actually did with Bella. It's disturbing.
I shake my head no.
"What did you do all night at her house, hu?" Emmett wonders in a menacing tone. 'Did she make you a man?'
I roll my eyes.
"Yeah, what did you do?" Jasper wonders, standing to his feet. 'I'm just curious and not trying to pry.'
I ignore his silent comment. As well as the fact that he can read my emotions and can feel my anxiety.
"So, did she help you get your rocks off?" Emmett is too eager for my answer.
"None of your business." I say, trying to move away from him. But he won't let me.
"C'mon, brother mine. Don't be like that." Emmett laughs, keeping his hold on me.
Hearing his thoughts for his next question, I brace myself.
"Have you guys played with each other?" Emmett wiggles his eyebrows, in a less than stubble way.
Though Jasper is silent, he is curious too.
I know I could lie, tell my brothers what they want to hear. Or say nothing at all. Both of which would leave a bitter taste in my mouth because neither would be very honest.
With a sigh, I chose to go with the truth. The truth shall set me free, as the saying goes.
"We kissed, talked and laid down together." I say, feeling like I should explain more. But I don't.
"Sure, sure." Emmett's tone is sarcastic. 'I doubt that's all you did.'
"Really? Nothing more than kissing?" Jasper asks, looking at me. 'No wonder the lust between them was so overwhelming today.'
In his mind he's remembering morning recess when he and Alice met up with Bella and I at the school Library. Apparently, the lust was heavy in the air after our little make out session before they met up with us.
I hadn't noticed how forceful our feelings were at the time. Though now, thanks to his memories, I do and apparently it hit him like a tidal wave.
"Yeah, that's all." I answer his question honestly.
"Don't tell me she hasn't made you nut. No action for the pubescent python?" Emmett jokes in a less than tactful manner.
Shrugging out of his hold, I don't answer. Why should I? His vulgar slang is horrible.
"You really haven't had your meat puppet played with by baby sis?" Emmett presses for more information. 'Tell me it's not so.'
"No, I haven't." I roll my eyes.
I'm not sure what I'm more irritated with. The idiotic name he chooses to use, when 'manhood' would have been just fine. Or the fact that I can read his thoughts and see where this is going. He's not about to quit any time soon.
Both are equally annoying.
As quick as the wind changes directions, so does my mood. I now feel very peaceful.
"Have you got your fingers wet at least?" Jasper wonders. Thankfully, his choice of words is more tactful than how Emmett would have asked.
"No." I admit, feeling very calm.
I'm perfectly aware Jasper is the cause of my peaceful mood. I'm also sure nothing can bring me down. Not even the foray of questions they want to ask.
Their odd interrogation goes on. With each question they ask, my answer is the same, no.
No: I have not seen Bella without clothes.
No: I have not dropped my pants to let her see my pickle.
No: I have not taken my shirt off in front of her.
No: I have not seen her shirtless.
No: I have not asked to see her in her bra and panties.
No: She has not asked to touch my disco stick.
No: I have not tried to touch her badonkadonk, bongos, or fiddle with her banjo.
I roll my eyes. Only Emmett would come up with those strange words, just because he believes they are fun to say.
"It's like a kindergarten relationship." Emmett mutters, as their odd questioning comes to an end.
"Wow." Jasper says in disbelief. "You and Bella don't do much."
"I'm being a gentleman." I defend myself.
"What the hell, man?" Emmett shouts, putting his hands on my shoulders and positioning me to face me. "If there's no sex or foreplay," He pauses, shaking his head. "What did you do in her room all night?"
"We talked and cuddled till she fell asleep." I sigh. When will he understand not everything is about sex?
"So let me get this straight," Emmett lets go of me. "You snuck into her room, just to watch your girlfriend sleep?"
I shrug my shoulders. "I stayed there because I didn't want to go home."
"Brother mine! What the hell are you doing?" His words are loud but serious. "You didn't seriously stay in her room for eight hours. Just to watch the poor girl sleep after you guys gossiped like schoolgirls?"
"Not exactly." I nervously chock out the words.
"Do you realize watching her sleep makes you sound like some nightmarish vampire stalker?" He points out. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"That's creepy." Jasper puts his two cents in. "And you're planning on going to her room again tonight?"
"Yes." I answer truthfully, not seeing what the problem is.
"What you're doing in her room at night reminds me of the Night Stalker that was terrorizing women in California, back in the 1980s." Emmett's words are a far exaggeration from the truth. 'Creepy shit.'
"Whatever, man." I scoff.
"Very unsettling." Jasper says, shaking his head.
I hear their thoughts that match their spoken words. It makes me feel bad in ways I can't explain. Up until this moment I never thought watching Bella sleep - even with her permission - was terrifying.
A chill of embarrassment runs up my spine.
More than anything, I want the mountain to break apart and swallow me whole. But I know that's not possible.
I also want to run away from them, to end this madness. Though that's impossible as well. We live in the same house and considering they are my older brothers; they won't just let this go. If I don't get this over with now, they will tease me well into the next century. I'm sure of it.
"I'm not being eerie. Bella thinks it's romantic." I explain curtly.
Emmett snorts. "Dude! You and baby sis are some twisted psychos." He teases. 'Watching someone sleep is not romantic. But shaking the sheets is.'
A growl rumbles in my chest. My hands ball into fist. Emmett's making me very angry, socking him in the face sounds very good right now. Before I even get a chance to raise my hand and punch Emmett's face. Jasper has his hand on the back of my neck, numbing me with his Novacane power.
'Easy, little bro.' Jasper thinks in a soothing tone. "I guess if Bella's cool with it, then it's not a problem."
His words are as much for Emmett as they are for me. Obviously, he's trying to be the peacemaker.
Instantly Jasper changes the vibes. What was once tense is now the opposite. With my mood being more relaxed, he drops his hand from my neck.
"Kid," Emmett says to me. "Next time you have the opportunity to make a move. Do it!"
'Don't be scared.' Jasper gently urges, feeling my emotions. "Remember, she wants it just as much as you do."
"I'm trying to take it slow and be a gentleman!" I throw my hands up in the air.
Clearly, I'm exasperated. Not to mention very apprehensive with being physical with the love of my existence. The last thing I want is to do something wrong.
"Don't worry so much." Jasper speaks kindly, sampling my emotions. "Just let it be and go with the flow. You have needs and so does she."
"Oh!" Emmett shouts with glee. His mind is on the story Rose is writing. "Have Bella read some fanfiction to get in the mood. Or cliterature, as I like to call it. You might learn a thing or two."
Expressionless, I stare at him.
"You think fanfiction stories would help these two inexperience kids?" Jasper asks doubtfully.
"Hell yeah!" Emmett pumps up his fist in the air.
"I don't know, Em," I say in a tone that makes me sound younger. "I'm unfamiliar with reading erotica and everything else."
Emmett and Jasper share a look. Instead of them being in teasing mode, from my mind's eye I see both of them are about to change the tune they have been singing. All teasing aside, they are on the same page about me being in desperate need of advice from them to help me out.
"You gotta tap that ass." Emmett says, in a very enthusiastic tone. He begins making a spanking motion in the air with his right hand, while his lower half grinds air. "Tap that ass, boy! Ride that pony!"
In an odd way he looks like he's riding a horse. An invisible horse. While his mind is full of odd "helpful" tips to guide me through the unknown.
He looks ridiculous.
"Make your move and tap that ass, kid." Emmett says, stopping his hip jerking. "You're already the world's oldest virgin. Why wait any longer?"
"He's right." Jasper agrees. "It wouldn't kill you to make a move when you're in her room alone with her."
Crossing my arms over my chest, I glared at them. Oblivious to my irritation, Em keeps going on while Jazz - once again - manipulates my mood.
"I'm not trying to have sex with Bella any time soon." I quickly explain.
The hesitation I feel is clear on my face. As well as in my tone.
"No one's saying you have to." Jasper points out. 'Just act your age and fool around a bit.'
"You know," Emmett says in a faraway tone. "It's all sex and blow jobs these days anyways. No one bothers with fingering anymore." He sadly shakes his head. "It's time to bring back a good 'ol fashioned fingering."
"What?" Jasper and I ask in unison.
Jazz's tone is amused. Mine is full of questions.
Emmett playfully punches my arm. "Brother mine, it's up to you to bring back the finger banging!" He says half joking. "It's literally in your hands."
Thanks to my mind reading ability, I know exactly what he's talking about. That act - as crude as it may be - seems very appealing.
I wonder if Bella would want that.
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Thanks for reading. :)
Please leave a pleasant review.
Also, if there's anything at all you would like to see in future chapters, let me know. Your suggestions might inspire a scene in the remaining chapters as we come closer to the ending.