Sorry for the delay in uploading. I had a bit of a family emergency this week. But thank you everyone for your early support of this story! I'm so happy people seem to be enjoying it so far.
Episode 2: September
Bella was peering out the window of their Ford Ranger from the parking lot of Forks High School apprehensively, ducking down any time she thought someone might be looking their way.
"Kid, I gotta tell you, I don't think stealth is your forte," Esme said, suppressing a chuckle from the driver's seat as she took a drink from her coffee.
"Get down, Mom," Bella hissed. "If I wait until the bell rings, I might be able to make it to class without Mike following me again. But it definitely won't work if he sees you."
"There's the charm."
Bella yanked her mom by the arm until she was ducking down too.
"Bells, babe, this is overkill. Just tell the poor kid you don't need an escort. Preferably soon. You know I bruise like a peach."
"Look here, Mrs. Robinson, Mike following me around is your fault, you can suffer a little with me."
"I think you are underestimating your natural charm and magnetism. Plus that skin. You look like a damn Glossier ad."
Bella rolled her eyes at her mom but was saved from needing to come up with a retort as the bell rang. She gave a heavy sigh of relief and grabbed her bag.
"Bye, Mom. Try not to enthrall anymore men while I'm gone," Bella said.
Esme grinned mischievously.
"I never make promises I can't keep, Bells," she said, handing Bella her coffee cup to take with her. "Don't forget. When you come home today we will have been reverse robbed."
"I'm just happy I'll have a real bed."
"But you'll miss camping out with mother dearest," Esme said with a grin. Bella grinned back and hopped out of the truck, rushing into the building to avoid being late. "I really need to teach her some confrontation skills," Esme muttered to herself, before driving away.
you make me so happy it turns back to sad
"So," Esme said to Carlisle that day when they were in between checking on patients, "you didn't tell me your kids were in high school. Bella met them yesterday."
Carlisle had the decency to shoot her an apologetic look.
"What are the chances the next sentence you are about to say is that they were on their very best behavior?" He asked ruefully.
Esme grinned. "In my defense, I wasn't going to say anything about their behavior, but now that you mention it…"
"I'm sorry, Esme. The kids can be a little… intense sometimes. I'll talk to them before Friday."
"Oh, you don't need to do that. It's fine. Bella's a tough girl."
"If she's anything like her mother, I'm sure that's true. I just want to make sure you and Bella feel welcome here."
Esme smiled at him. It would not do for her to be flirting with a man who was essentially her boss, but she had a hard time restraining herself. He was too damn good looking for his own good.
"I am curious though," she said, trying to sound casual and not too forward, "two kids in high school. How did that happen? You can't be much older than me. You and your wife must have started early."
He didn't wear a wedding ring. That might not mean anything.
Carlisle smiled a bit obscurely.
"No wife. It's just me and the kids. All three of them are actually in high school. Bella must have had the bad luck to run into my oldest. Rosalie and Jasper are twins. They can be a little harsh."
"Three kids in high school?" Esme asked in shock, unable to stop her eyes from going wide.
Carlisle laughed, realizing his mistake. "Oh, no, they aren't my biological children. Please don't picture me as some high school Lothario. Jasper, Rosalie, and Edward are foster children."
Esme blanched backward, before catching herself. Carlisle was a nice man. She couldn't assume every foster parent was like the ones she had known. She still couldn't help her unease, however.
Carlisle looked at her concerned. "Have I said something to upset you, Esme? I didn't mean to imply that there was anything wrong with being a teen mother. I realize that you were. I just didn't want to give you the impression I had made multiple women teen mothers…"
He was rambling, trying to recover.
"No, no," Esme said shaking her head and putting a smile on her face, "you just caught me off guard. I just- I was a foster kid myself. I suppose I can see why Jasper and Rosalie might be a little rough around the edges. I certainly was."
Carlisle smiled back at her. "Sorry to have brought up any unkind memories."
"Don't be. You did nothing wrong. I think it's incredible you took in three kids. They are lucky to have you. How long has your family been together?"
"Oh, years. It feels like forever."
"Well, I can't wait to meet them at the carnival," Esme said brightly. "Be warned though, I am unrivaled at ring toss."
Carlisle laughed. "Well, I've never been good at it myself, but I'm always up for a challenge."
I'm so furious at you for making me feel this way, but what can I say
Bella only managed to avoid Mike until her second class of the day, gym, because he was in it with her. Luckily, he hadn't been given permission today to leave his classes early to escort her, so she wasn't stuck with him showing up outside of her other classes. He did cling to her side in gym, though. When she got to Government later, Jessica waved her over to sit next to her and Lauren.
"We missed you at lunch yesterday, Bella," Jessica said. Bella doubted that was true. She had been thoroughly distracted with Mike. "Where did you run off to?"
Bella caught Lauren's eye and fought back a grin.
"Oh, I had to grab something from my locker, and then I must have just lost you guys, sorry."
"Well, today you must eat with us," Jessica said.
Bella was sure she wouldn't be able to avoid it again. Jessica needed her there to attract Mike. At least Jessica seemed to be pretty good at distracting Mike so that he left Bella alone.
"Yeah, of course," Bella said smiling.
When class let out she followed the girls to the lunchroom, standing next to them in the lunch line. She saw Mike come through the door. He smiled when he saw Bella. Jessica saw him too and waved him over to them in line.
"Mike," she said brightly, "are you going to join us for lunch again?"
"I thought I might," he said hesitantly. "You hanging around this time, Bella?"
Bella forced a smile. "Of course," she said with false cheeriness, "Jessica here was just about to tell us about her exciting summer vacation. I wouldn't want to miss it."
Jessica gave her a confused look for a moment, but Bella just darted her eyes over to Mike pointedly. Jessica's face lit up seeming to get it.
"Oh, right, of course. Mike, you'll love this story," she said, linking her arm through his and pulling him to the front away from the group again.
"If you keep doing that, you might just have yourself a new best friend," Lauren said with a laugh.
"Honestly, if she can keep distracting Mike, it's fine by me," Bella said. They filled their trays with food and followed where Jessica was now leading Mike over to a table. Bella noticed that they sat in the very center of the lunchroom. It seemed fitting. She sat next to Lauren, putting as many seats between her and Mike as she could without being rude.
To Jessica's credit, whatever story she had come up with on the spot seemed to have enthralled the other kids at the table as well, and Bella was able to pick at her food in relative peace. She did notice kids from other tables staring over at her, though. Only one table wasn't.
At a table in the corner, Jasper and Rosalie sat, neither of them had food in front of them. Sitting with them were two other students, both equally as pale and nearly as beautiful as Jasper and Rosalie. A petite little pixie of a girl with a short black bob, and a boy with messy auburn hair, who sat with his arm around her.
"Lauren," Bella said quietly, leaning over to the girl, "who are those kids sitting with the Cullen's?"
Lauren looked over at the table confused.
"Alice is the short one," she said. "Alice McCarty. She's Edward's girlfriend. The rest are all Dr. Cullen's kids."
Bella was startled. Edward, that must be the boy with his arm around the short girl, Alice, looked nothing like Jasper and Rosalie. Well, that wasn't true. They were all pale and obnoxiously good-looking, but they shared no similar features. Lauren must have noticed her confusion.
"Jasper and Rosalie are the blond ones who always look like they are up to no good. They're seniors. Don't even bother trying to talk to them. I saw a girl ask Rosalie if she could move out of the way of her locker once, the girl left school in tears. Rosalie didn't even say anything. They are the worst. Edward is the younger one. He's quiet, but a lot nicer. None of them really talk to anyone else though. They are all foster kids. I guess that's what happens when you grow up in the system," she said shrugging.
Bella tried to contain her annoyance at the girl. After all, her mom had grown up in the system and turned out just fine. She supposed the argument probably wouldn't go over well since her mom got pregnant in high school.
The bell rang, and Bella quickly jumped up from the table, eager to flee the lunchroom before Mike could get free of Jessica.
if you've got a girlfriend, I'm jealous of her, but if you're single that's honestly worse
"I was thinking about ordering in from the café for lunch," Esme said, as she and Carlisle took a moment to lounge in the break room later, "want anything?"
Carlisle smiled warmly at her. "I'm okay, thank you, Esme."
"Are you sure?" Esme asked with a grin. "They make one of the best burgers I have ever eaten. And I have to confess, I've eaten a lot of burgers."
Carlisle laughed. The sound thrilled Esme. "Unfortunately, I'll have to take your word for it. I'm on a bit of a diet."
Esme looked at him incredulously. "You're on a diet?" she asked, unable to stop her eyes from running over his perfect physique. Carlisle suppressed a smile.
"Yes, well, not all of us can eat like you and look so good. I have to be able to keep up with three teenagers after all."
Esme had to turn away to dial the number for the café on her phone to hide her blush. When had she started acting like a high school girl?
you're so cool it makes me hate you so much, I hate you so much
Bella wasn't quite as early to her English class today, but she did beat most of the other students. She gave Mr. Mason a small smile and made her way to her empty table. She watched as the rest of the students filed in. Jenny never came. Once again, Jasper and Rosalie arrive only seconds before the bell, swooping gracefully into their seats. The other students in the class all seemed to nervously avert their eyes as they walked by. This irritated Bella. She couldn't stand bullies.
"Bella," Jasper said in an amused greeting as he sat. She narrowed her eyes at him and ignored his greeting. Rosalie seemed to have shifted from glaring at Bella to looking her over coldly and judgmentally. Bella really wasn't certain that was an improvement. The class seemed to drag on.
When the bell finally rang, Bella rushed up to Mr. Mason's desk.
"Sir, can I ask, where Jenny is?" she asked.
Mr. Mason looked up from the papers on his desk that he was reading over.
"Oh, Bella. Jenny switched classes. It seems there was a conflict in her schedule," he said.
"If only some people could take the hint," came a low voice from behind Bella. It was Rosalie as she headed out of the classroom. She'd said it so quietly, Mr. Mason must not have heard. She made sure to ram Bella's shoulder as she walked past. It hurt more than Bella would have expected. Rosalie must work out. Her shoulder was hard as a rock.
Bella left the classroom upset and rubbing her shoulder.
"Ready for Chemistry, lab partner?" A voice asked her as she stepped into the hallway.
"What do you want, Jasper?" Bella asked, rounding on him, the annoyance in her voice clear. "Did you come to make snotty comments like your sister?"
Jasper gave her a cocky grin. He really did remind her of James Dean. If James Dean was blond and looked like he had been given the super soldier serum from the Marvel movies.
"I told you Rosalie wouldn't stop trying," he said simply. Bella rolled her eyes at him and started to stomp off to Chemistry class. He easily matched her pace. "I have to admit, I'm impressed. People are usually scared of us."
"Look, I'm sure you two are used to being tough stuff out here in small-town life, but you really aren't that scary. Just some Patrick Verona want to be."
Jasper grinned again.
"I'm pretty sure people were scared of him in that movie."
"That's because people in that movie were stupid," Bella grumbled, annoyed.
Jasper just laughed. It only annoyed her more.
They made it to class and took their seats, Jasper was still grinning infuriatingly next to Bella. She wondered how much trouble she would get in if she slapped him. Though, that was probably not the kind of trouble her mom would be proud of. Jasper was her boss's son after all. Damn.
you should think about the consequence of your magnetic field being a little too strong
"All right, kid, are you ready for this?" Esme asked Bella, wrapping her arm around her shoulder and pulling her in close as they walked down the street Friday night.
The back-to-school carnival was set up all up and down Main Street, so the whole thing was blocked off to cars. The girls had to walk there. It wasn't a long way though, and they were lucky that the weather had actually been fairly decent. Well, decent for Forks, so not rainy. They were still bundled in sweaters and jackets as they headed to the festivities.
"If I said I wasn't, would it make a difference?" Bella asked.
"Not even a little bit," Esme said cheerfully.
"Wait until you meet them. You'll understand."
"Honestly, I'm looking forward to it. After the picture you've been painting, I wouldn't be surprised if we happened upon a ragtag group of monsters ready to devour the innocent townspeople."
Bella rolled her eyes.
"No, just a bunch of absurdly perfect kids who despise me for no reason."
"Well, luckily you'll have me there tonight. I have been told I'm extremely charming." Esme grinned at her daughter.
"Among other things," Bella said, grinning at her mom teasingly.
Esme gasped in indignation. "Okay, kid, just for that. I'm going to tell embarrassing stories. I think I'll start with the fact that you were too nervous to take the training wheels off of your bike until the fourth grade." She grinned evilly.
"Mom, no. Please don't. I take it back."
"Say I'm the most charming lady in all the land," Esme said, grinning at her daughter as they arrived at the carnival.
Bella groaned.
"You're the most charming lady in all the land," she deadpanned. Esme looked pleased. "And the most childish," Bella added under her breath.
"I heard that," Esme sing-songed.
"Esme," Carlisle called from ahead of them, "and you must be Bella." He smiled at Bella.
Bella could instantly see what it was her mom found so charming about the doctor. He was as attractive as his children were. They were foster children though. She couldn't understand how this group of impossibly good-looking people found each other. She looked over at her mom who was looking at Carlisle with a star-struck gaze. That couldn't be a good sign.
"I am," Bella said, stepping forward and holding out her hand. The doctor shook it. His hands were freezing. It wasn't that cold out, but he certainly seemed like he needed a pair of gloves. "It was nice of you to invite us to join you guys, Dr. Cullen."
He smiled. "Bella, call me Carlisle, please. Dr. Cullen makes me feel as though I'm still at work."
Bella smiled at him. "Okay, Carlisle."
"The kids are over this way," he said, turning to lead them through the crowd. The carnival was small, but it seemed to transform the town. Everything was lights, and carnival games, and sounds, and music, and children laughing. It was the most alive Bella had seen Forks look since their arrival.
Somewhere around the middle of the carnival, the Cullen children stood off to the side, leaning against the side of one of the booths and looking entirely bored.
"Bella, I believe you've already met my kids. Esme, this is Jasper, Rosalie, and Edward," Carlisle said, gesturing to each of them in turn. Esme's eyebrows raised a little clearly as surprised by their looks as Bella had been, but she covered her shock well.
Edward smirked.
"It's nice to meet you, Esme," he said, "Bella."
Bella gave him a weak smile. Rosalie was glaring at her again. She thought she might be sick.
"Now, all the booths here take tickets, so I thought I would go get us all some," Carlisle said brightly, as though he couldn't sense the tension amongst the teenagers at all.
"Oh no, Carlisle, you really don't need to-" Esme started, but Carlisle cut her off.
"Nonsense," he said with a smile, "you and Bella are our guests tonight."
Their large group started walking toward the ticket booth, and Esme pulled Bella to the back to walk next to her.
"Wow," she whispered to Bella looking over at Rosalie as soon as the Cullen's were out of earshot, "who let Serena Van Der Woodsen go through her Jenny Humphrey phase?"
Bella rolled her eyes.
"Mom, have you been watching Gossip Girl again? I thought you promised to stop doing that. It makes you act all bitchy."
"That's because Blair Waldorf is my spirit animal, you wouldn't understand. Besides, I've only made it through the first few seasons. I can't help myself. Chace Crawford can get it. And by it, I mean-"
"Trust me, Mom, I know what you mean. Everyone in earshot knows. The therapist I am going to make you pay for someday is going to know."
"Well of course the therapist is going to know, Bells. They make everything dirty."
Up ahead of them Carlisle was talking to Rosalie too quietly for them to hear. She seemed annoyed, rolling her eyes, but nodding. When he stepped up to the ticket booth to buy tickets, Rosalie meandered back to where Esme and Bella were standing.
"So, Esme," she said in a casual tone, "what brings you two to Forks?"
Esme smiled warmly, giving Bella a look that said see, I can make friends with anyone.
"I just got my nursing degree, actually. My job at the hospital is my first nursing position. They were kind enough to offer me hours that let me be home with Bella when I need to," Esme said, smiling at the tough-looking girl.
Rosalie's eyes glinted. It seemed Esme had already steered the conversation exactly where she wanted it to go.
"Right," she said, smiling falsely, "Bella. She's very lucky to have a mom she's so close with."
"I think so," Bella piped in a little harshly. She didn't trust Rosalie or where this conversation was headed.
"Aw, thanks babe," Esme said, smiling at her daughter. Jasper and Edward, who had been having a conversation of their own, had paused to turn and watch the exchange. The worried look in Edward's eye did not soothe Bella's own concern.
"Of course, I'm sure it doesn't hurt that you guys are so close in age. You must have been awfully young when you had her, Esme," Rosalie continued with the same false smile.
At the ticket counter, Carlisle stiffened.
Bella finally realized what it was Rosalie was trying to do. She could have laughed, but she just grinned over at Esme. Rosalie probably should have tried picking on a woman with some shame. She had clearly never met the unstoppable force that was Esme Swan.
Esme smiled widely, "Sixteen years old. I'm a regular after-school special."
"Wow, pregnant at sixteen. You must have been scared," Rosalie said, still trying to barrel down that path.
Esme looked shocked. "Scared?" She looked over at Bella. "Never. I think it may have been the first time in my life I wasn't scared at all. From the moment I found out, I was thrilled. Me and my best girl, to the ends of the earth. Don't get me wrong, I certainly wasn't trying to get pregnant. I'd never even thought about it, but something about it was just… right? You know?"
Bella was shocked to see something in Rosalie's face soften for the first time since she had met her. She smiled a sad, soft smile at Esme.
"I'm sorry," Esme said with a laugh, "I'm sure Carlisle would be less than thrilled at me talking like this to you kids. I've never exactly been a good influence. I got lucky that Bella came out good. I couldn't mess her up if I tried."
"On the contrary," Carlisle said, appearing back by her side with a handful of tickets, "in our house, we never shy away from real conversations. It does no good to simply hide the truth."
Esme beamed at him.
"Emmett!" Rosalie squealed suddenly. In that moment she went from being tough and intimidating, to looking like one of the girliest people Bella had ever seen. She went flying from where she was standing and threw herself in the arms of a man who had just arrived next to the pixie girl, Alice, from school. Emmett was huge. He looked like he could have been a linebacker in the NFL or maybe a professional wrestler. He had dark curly hair, and the same pale skin, and absurdly perfect looks as the rest of the group. He broke into a grin when he saw Rosalie, catching her in his arms and spinning her around.
"Hey, Rosie," he said, giving her a soft kiss.
Rosie? Esme mouthed at Bella. Bella just shrugged. She certainly wasn't about to make sense of the blond girl's odd behavior.
Alice glided over to Edward's side, smiling at Esme and Bella.
"I'm sorry. You'll have to forgive us for intruding on a family affair. I'm Alice," she said brightly.
Carlisle laughed softly, smiling at Alice before turning to Esme and Bella.
"Alice is Edward's girlfriend. She lives with Emmett, her older brother over there. As you can see, Rose is quite taken with Emmett. At this point, the McCarty's have become a bit like family themselves," he said. "I hope you don't mind if our party grows a little? You know how kids can be when they are in love."
Esme grinned at him. "You know, most parents don't believe teenagers can be in love."
"Well, I think we both know that's nonsense. Don't you remember being a teenager?" he asked with a smile.
Esme smiled at him a little sadly. Carlisle seemed to sense he had said something wrong again. Bella jumped in, ready to save the good doctor from trying to figure out the enigma that was her mother.
"So," she asked with forced brightness, "what exactly does one do at a back-to-school carnival?"
"Well, I for one was promised a glimpse of your mom's ring toss skills," Carlisle said with a smile.
"Oh God, you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into," Bella said, rolling her eyes.
Carlisle handed out some tickets for the booths to everyone. Rosalie and Emmett took off as soon as they had theirs, Rosalie still transformed into the smitten school girl gazing lovingly up at him.
"Bella," Alice said in her cheery voice, "I hear there is a fortune-telling booth here. We were going to go have our palms read, see how cheesy it is. Want to come?"
Bella wanted to say no, but Esme looked so thrilled that the kids were including her, that she couldn't bear to let her mom down.
"Yeah," she said, "that sounds great."
Alice came up, looping a cold arm through Bella's, and led her off into the carnival. Bella was immensely annoyed to notice that not only did Edward join them, but Jasper followed as well. Great. Just peachy.
ocean blue eyes looking in mine, I feel like I might sink and down and die
Esme's eyes narrowed as she felt the weight of the ring the booth operator had given her, judging the distance of the bottles in front of her. It wasn't that she had a competitive streak… Okay. Yes, it was. She had a competitive streak a mile wide. She gently lofted the first ring through the air and it landed, settling around the necks of one of the bottles. She turned to Carlisle with a triumphant grin on her face.
"Are you ready to give up yet?" she asked him in a teasing voice.
Carlisle just laughed. "You have four more rings to go, Esme."
She shook her head at him, laughing a little, and turned back to the game. In the end, she got four out of the five rings around one of the bottles. She turned to him, smiling with her tongue poking out between her teeth.
"Okay, okay," Carlisle said ruefully as the booth operator pulled down a stuffed bear that was wearing a Forks High Spartan's jersey and handed it to Esme, "I concede. You were right. You are definitely unrivaled at ring toss."
"Oh no," Esme said with a grin, handing another ticket to the booth operator, "now it's your turn." She handed the rings the boy in the booth gave her to Carlisle.
"I'd only embarrass myself," Carlisle protested.
Esme grinned. "Therein lies the fun."
Carlisle shook his head, chuckling softly, and took the rings from Esme's hands.
"So long as you promise not to think less of me after this," he said, gently tossing the first ring. It missed. Esme laughed lightly, but when he turned to look at her, she feigned a look of innocence. "Just remember," Carlisle said, "I can perform surgery. I don't need to be good at a carnival game."
"Of course, Doctor. Whatever you have to tell yourself," Esme said, holding back her laugh as Carlisle threw the second ring. This one actually knocked the bottle down.
In the end, Carlisle only managed to hook one ring around a bottle.
"You did better than Bella ever has," Esme said cheerily.
"That seems like a pity compliment," Carlisle said with a laugh.
"Yes, well, not all of us can be good enough to win prizes," Esme said in a teasing voice, grinning widely.
"How did you manage to get so good at this? Did you guys go to a lot of carnivals back in Phoenix?"
"Oh no. We went to the fair a few years when it wasn't too hot, but this is all natural talent, baby. Okay, and maybe a little bit of beer pong back in high school."
She smiled at him sheepishly.
"Beer pong?" Carlisle asked, a little confused.
Esme stared at the doctor in shock.
"Wow. You were the good kid who never disappointed your parents, weren't you?"
Carlisle laughed.
"Well, I would hardly say that."
Esme smiled at him. "All right, I'm going to go grab us a couple of drinks, and then I will regale you with tales of my beer pong days."
"Oh, no, Esme, you don't-"
"No. Nice try, Carlisle. You bought the tickets. I'll buy the drinks. Here, hold this," Esme said, handing him the bear she had won, and heading off to buy them a couple of beers.
you are so gorgeous it makes me so mad
"So, Bella, how are you liking Forks?" Alice asked her as she led Bella through the crowd, Edward and Jasper walking behind them.
"I don't know. It's okay I guess. I miss my friend. I miss the sun. I miss civilization," Bella said. She realized she sounded like she was whining. "I'm sure I'll adjust. My mom's here. That's all that really matters. Together we'll make due."
Alice beamed at her. "That's sweet. I wish I had a mom I was that close with."
It felt like an awkward comment to make. Bella wasn't sure what to say to that.
"You, uh, live with your brother?" she asked, stumbling over her words a bit.
Alice laughed lightly. "Oh, Emmett? Yeah. Our parents died so he took me in."
Her tone felt too bright for the subject matter. Bella didn't know how to react to the girl.
"So, Bella, tell me more about you," Alice said just as brightly.
"Uh, I'm really not sure what to say," Bella said.
"What do you do for fun? What are your hopes and dreams?"
"You're laying it on a bit thick, Alice," Jasper said in a sarcastic tone.
"I'm just trying to get to know her, Jasper. Not all of us have to be moody assholes all the time," Alice said, turning to him in annoyance. Edward grinned at her outburst. Bella found herself smiling as well.
"I'm not sure if Jasper knows how to do anything other than be a moody asshole, Alice," she said, turning to give Jasper an overly sweet smile.
Alice and Edward both laughed out loud at this. Bella saw the corners of Jasper's mouth twitch up ever so slightly, but he bit back the smile. They had arrived at the fortune-telling booth anyway.
The booth was one of the only ones on the street that was a fully enclosed tent. Faux velvet draping covered the outside along with ornate golden symbols that looked as though they had been copied from tarot cards. Alice and Edward shared a private grin looking at it, before ducking through the entrance together. Bella followed quickly behind them, Jasper close behind her.
Bella had expected the woman inside to be wearing some sort of costume or get up, but she wasn't. She was dressed in plain clothes, an older woman from the local Quileute reservation. Her eyes narrowed when the group walked into the tent.
"You know as well as I do that there is nothing I can tell your family," she practically snarled to Alice. She looked afraid.
Alice smiled at her reassuringly. "I apologize. We thought this would be a booth ran by a kid from the high school. Just looking for some fun."
The woman's eyes shot open wide in panic.
"A little silly fortune-telling," Edward said quietly, as though to clarify. Bella couldn't imagine what had the woman so scared.
"Our friend here, Bella, she'd still like her fortune told," Alice said. "She's new in town."
The woman looked past Alice and Edward to eye Bella warily. Bella felt there was something to the entire interaction that she was missing.
"She doesn't know?" the woman finally asked Alice quietly, leaning back.
"No," Alice said.
"Know what?" Bella asked, growing annoyed by the whole group of people talking about her directly in front of her.
"Why, what the future holds, my dear," the woman said, her demeanor changing instantly. Alice and Edward stepped back, ushering Bella up to sit at the table in front of the woman.
Bella sat on the stool, and the woman looked at her appraisingly. The woman was older, probably in her sixties with a long graying braid and dark brown eyes. After a moment, she held out her hands. Bella just stared at her, confused.
"Your palm," the woman said in explanation.
"Oh," Bella said, embarrassed, holding one of her hands out palm up. The lady eagerly took it in her hands and tracing the lines in her palm with one of her fingers. She looked up suddenly, sharply, at the other three kids in the tent.
"You three, out. This is a private reading," she snapped at them.
Jasper huffed a laugh, looking unwilling to move. Edward placed a hand on his arm, whispering something to him. Jasper finally nodded, and the three of them left the tent.
"Your name is Bella?" the woman asked Bella when they were alone.
Bella just nodded, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. It was odd. It wasn't even like she found the presence of the Cullen's that comforting, but this woman's insistence on getting her alone made her anxious.
"You should find better friends, Bella," the woman said, staring intently into Bella's eyes.
"I-I'm sorry?" Bella asked, a little frightened now. This woman was being weird.
"You should find better friends," the woman repeated. Her voice was thick with meaning, as though she was trying to convey something vitally important.
"That really isn't a fortune, is it?" Bella asked with a nervous laugh.
"Fortune telling is a silly carnival game for gullible white people. No one can tell the future. But if you don't change the path you're on, you might find you don't have a future."
Bella ripped her hand from the woman's, standing up forcefully.
"Look, if you think you're being funny, you aren't," she said.
"Bella?" Jasper's voice called from outside the tent.
Bella was fairly certain it was the first time she had been happy to hear him. She pushed her way quickly out of the tent.
there's nothing I hate more than what I can't have
"Two Long Hammers," Esme ordered, handing some money to Tasha who was running the booth.
"I'll have those right out, Esme," Tasha said with a smile.
Esme moved to stand to the side and wait.
"Esme? It's nice to see you here, and managing to stay dry."
Esme looked over. It was Dr. Viotto from the hospital. She hadn't seen her since that first day. Their shifts hadn't overlapped again. Esme smiled at her.
"Hi Dr. Viotto," she said.
"Please, call me Paula when we aren't at work. No need to be unnecessarily formal."
Esme grinned.
"So I take it any saluting or bowing is also out of the question?"
Paula laughed. "Oh God, please don't. People already think doctors have giant egos. No need to add fuel to the fire."
Esme grinned. "I have to ask though, if you and Carlisle are both here, who's at the hospital?"
"We have doctors with privileges who come fill in or help from time to time when we both need a night off. Is Carlisle here? I hadn't seen him."
"Yeah, I was actually just grabbing us a couple of beers."
Paula raised an eyebrow at her. "You're here together?"
"No. Well yes, but not really. We brought all of our kids together. He just wanted to make sure Bella and I felt welcome."
Paula seemed to debate something for a moment and then pulled Esme aside.
"Esme, I don't mean to be too forward or presumptuous, but can I give you some advice?" she asked quietly.
Esme looked at her confused. "Sure?"
"We haven't been able to keep many female nurses on staff. They all tend to end up with feelings for the good doctor. Now, I've never seen him spend time with, well, anyone outside of work, but Carlisle doesn't date. At all. He's had to make that clear to many nurses who then quit. I like you. I'd like to not have to worry about filling your position."
Esme couldn't help feeling a little offended and defensive. Sure, Carlisle was certainly the most attractive man she had ever met, but she doubted that would ever stop her ability to do her job. Her defensive reaction wasn't helped by the fact that she also felt the tiniest bit of hurt growing at the words. He doesn't date. That couldn't possibly be true. Everyone dated.
"I'm more than capable of doing my job without turning into a lovesick teenager," Esme retorted, a little annoyed. Paula gave her a look that clearly said she doubted that. "And what about you? If every woman who comes through simply can't help but fall under his charm, and you must give me this warning, how have you managed to be the only evolved woman in the world?" Esme's tone was rife with annoyance now.
Paula just laughed.
"I'm certainly not the only woman immune from his charms, but I might be the only one in Forks."
Esme just glared at her, feeling a little belittled and put down.
"Esme, I'm gay. I date women. I'm sure Carlisle is a lovely man worthy of all the women who have fallen for his charm, but I will simply never be interested. I promise I'm not insulting you. I like you. I don't want you to get your heartbroken. Sometimes I don't think Carlisle is quite aware of the effect he has on women."
Esme softened. "I'm sorry, Paula. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I appreciate the warning. But really, you don't have to worry about me. I'm more than capable of handling myself."
"Good. I hope so."
"Esme, you're drinks are ready," Tasha called from the booth. Esme and Paula looked up. "Oh, Paula, I didn't see you there. You want your usual?"
Esme grabbed the two beers and hurried off, not wanting to continue the odd conversation any longer.
you've ruined my life by not being mine
"Look, it wasn't my fault Connor didn't respect the sanctity of balls back. In my defense I was very drunk at the time," Esme said.
Carlisle was laughing. "So you declared yourself king of the party?"
"Yes. Look, drunk high school students go along with a lot of stupid things. And my loyal serfs booted him from the kingdom for not obeying the laws of the land. So, I may have lost the battle of beer pong, but I won the war in the long run."
"I wish I could have known you then. You sound like you would have been a lot of fun. I was a very boring teenager. I had strict religious parents."
"Yeah, well, I don't know if I would have signed up for strict religious parents, but I think I was more of a nightmare than I was a lot of fun. Having Bella showed me just how irresponsible I really was."
"You were just a kid," Carlisle said softly.
"I stopped being a kid the day the pregnancy test came back positive."
The two of them fell into a complacent silence.
"So," Esme said after a moment, taking the final sip of her beer. She had tried to drink hers as slowly as Carlisle, but he still had half of his left. "I ran into Paula earlier."
"Oh? I'm glad she's here. She doesn't get out as much as she should."
"Yeah. She was warning me. She seems to think I'm going to fall madly in love with you and then quit my job. Apparently, it's happened before?"
Carlisle looked sheepish. "I'm not sure I would put it quite that way. We've had some turnover in staff…"
"In female staff?"
"I suppose," he said evasively.
Esme laughed brightly and Carlisle looked up at her surprised.
"What, you can fix everything but a broken heart?" she asked with a grin.
Carlisle grinned back. "I sincerely doubt I broke anyone's heart."
"Don't sell yourself short, Doctor. But you don't need to worry about me. You guys are stuck with me for the long haul. There is no way I'm moving Bella again."
"Good. You're a great nurse. You'd be hard to replace."
"I have to ask though if it's not too personal, why didn't you date any of those women? Or any other women for that matter? I'm sure you have ladies lining up for a chance with the single doctor."
Carlisle suppressed a smile.
"I just don't have the time. I try to spend all my free time with the kids since work already keeps me so busy. Family always comes first for me. I'm sure you understand, being a mom."
Esme did understand. It didn't mean she wasn't disappointed though.
you should think about the consequence of you touching my hand in a darkened room
Bella was eating cotton candy and watching Alice excel at every carnival game she tried. The cotton candy had also been at Alice's insistence. When Bella had left the fortune-telling tent, she had been shaken. Alice had said some sugar would help. None of the others got a snack. That was fine. Bella didn't care one bit if they were too stuck up to enjoy a little junk food.
Jasper had been hovering near her ever since her encounter with the fortune teller though. He had a cross expression on his face. It was making Bella more annoyed by the moment. She knew he didn't want to be here spending his Friday evening with her, but honestly, she didn't like it any more than he did. Suck it up, asshole.
"Could you stop it?" she snapped finally, turning to him.
Jasper looked startled, as though he had just remembered she was there.
"Stop what?" he asked.
"Looking all broody and grumpy. I get it. You're a troubled youth. Pierce something and get it over with, but stop taking it out on me. I'm not any happier about being here than you are."
Jasper took on that annoying amused expression he got whenever Bella was annoyed with him.
"I'm a troubled youth?"
"Clearly that's the aesthetic you're trying to achieve. Kudos to you for nailing it. Danny Zuko would be thrilled, but I just want to make it through the evening and get back to my mom, okay?"
Jasper's amused expression grew to a full on grin.
"If you keep comparing me to movie characters, I'm going to have to start coming up with comparisons of my own."
"And I'm sure every single one of them will be just kind and peachy," Bella said, annoyed.
"You two ready to go?" Edward asked suddenly appearing beside them with Alice. "The carnival closes soon."
"More than ready," Bella said, happy to follow the couple back to the parents. Jasper caught her arm before she could walk after them though. His hand was freezing, just like Carlisle's had been.
"And Bella," he said quietly, looking down at her, "I was very happy to be here."
Then he just walked away, following his brother and Alice. Leaving Bella there, a little stunned and confused.
but what can I say? you're gorgeous
"You're going to regret drinking that beer," Edward said to Carlisle later that night as they sat in their kitchen.
"I think you know better than anyone that I already regret it, but what was I supposed to do? Esme would have gotten suspicious eventually."
People had been suspicious about the food thing before. Carlisle had never been worried about it. This time was different though. Edward could tell. He could hear the mess of thoughts dancing through Carlisle's mind. He hadn't heard Carlisle this confused since… well, ever.
"Perhaps it would be best for us to move," Edward said delicately, not sure how to broach the topic at hand.
"I'm more than capable of behaving properly, Edward. I've been doing it for centuries."
The two of them lapsed into silence for a while. It was impossible to tell how long. They could sit without moving, lost in their thoughts for ages, but it was still night when Edward spoke again, changing the subject.
"The girl, Bella, there is something odd about her."
Carlisle looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't hear her thoughts."
This surprised Carlisle. Edward could tell. Could hear it in his thoughts. The confusion. The wonder. Was she gifted? It didn't matter. The two of them would never turn another soul, especially if it was only to find out if they were gifted. Not after Rosalie.
"And Esme's?"
Edward grinned, unable to stop himself.
"Oh, I can hear all of Esme's thoughts. That woman is like a ray of sunshine. If a ray of sunshine were also an unstoppable avalanche. She's a good person, Carlisle."
"I know she is."
"We should stay far away from the Swan family."
"I'm not so certain I can."
Edward had been worried about this. For all of Carlisle's talk of self-control, it was significantly harder in practice.
"Can I ask-" Carlisle started unsure of himself, "can I ask what she thinks of us? Of me?"
"She's quite taken with you, in spite of the fact that you are a foster parent."
"In spite of?"
Edward shrugged. He only knew what people thought about, and Esme had specifically avoided thinking about why she distrusted foster parents. It was easy enough to imagine. He had unfortunately seen inside the heads of many kids in the system.
I guess I'll just stumble on home to my cats alone
"See, kid? I told you that you were worried about nothing. Did you have a good time?" Esme asked Bella as they walked through their front door.
Bella had seen how happy her mom had been talking to Carlisle when she walked up. She didn't want to take that away from her.
"Yeah," she said with false cheeriness.
Esme knew her too well. She saw right through it.
"Okay. What happened? Edward and Alice seemed nice at least."
"They were fine. We just- we went to this fortune teller, and she was weird. A little intense."
"Intense how?" Esme asked worriedly. The speed at which she switched into defensive mom mode could have given Bella whiplash if she hadn't been prepared for it.
Bella flopped herself down on the couch.
"I don't know. She wouldn't give a reading for Alice, Edward, or Jasper. And then she insisted on giving me my palm reading alone."
Esme walked over to sit next to Bella on the couch.
"Do I need to go whoop some fortune-telling ass?"
"No. She just told me I needed to find new friends."
Esme laughed out loud at this. "That's not really a fortune."
"That's what I said."
"I hope you didn't pay much."
"I actually don't think we paid her anything… I don't know. Something just felt off about it. You know?" Bella said.
"Well, maybe you should call Angela and tell her about it. I'm sure she'll have lots of thoughts on the subject."
"I'm sure, but I'm not sure that's the kind of advice I need."
"Hey, I'm not the one who picked a best friend who's obsessed with the paranormal, kid."
"But you are the one who had her Google how to perform a séance when you wanted to commune with the spirit of Kurt Cobain."
"Trust me, Bells, someday you will understand why, and I promise to support you."
"You promise to support me trying to flirt with the spirits of dead celebrities?" Bella asked with a laugh.
"Exactly. And that's love," Esme said, throwing her arm around her on the couch.