A/N: Welcome back! Sorry I'm posting late, I was having some difficulties with the site. But all is well now, so please enjoy!
"What if they don't like me?"
Edward shifts the gear into park and turns his whole body in his seat to look at me. "You mean to tell me that you're not worried about being in a house full of vampires, but that they may not like you?"
I ignore his dubious expression, too preoccupied with the nervous fluttering in my stomach. Staring up the driveway at this glass castle is both alluring and horrifying.
Edward's home is large and graceful. It's painted a faded white with a wrap around porch and made almost entirely of glass. There's nowhere to hide in this place. It feels as if everything was meant to be out on display before it became hidden behind the shrubbery that grew high at the foot of the winding driveway. How had I missed this before? Was this place always here?
"Do you think they can hear us from here?" I ask quietly, as if that will help.
He leans across the console and tucks some hair behind my ear, making my face flush. His lips hover close to the skin there and I feel the hairs stick up on the back of my neck. I'm fighting a shiver when he whispers, "Yes."
I smack his shoulder and roll my eyes as he laughs. "Oh, God. This is so embarrassing!"
"Bella, love, you have nothing to be embarrassed about." Edward's out of his seat and opening the passenger door in an instant. "You've met Alice already, so the worst is over."
"She'll kill you for that, you know." I step out of the Volvo, relaxing when his fingers interlock with mine.
Edward matches my pace easily as we make our way up the front steps towards the door. It had been a week since our first kiss in my bedroom. It hadn't taken long for us to fall into a rhythm. He'd picked me up for school every morning and held my hand whenever he could to block out the noise. He'd match my steps to be always beside me. By now, it's turned from a need to a desire to be connected that doesn't require an explanation. It's natural.
Edward opens the door for me and I step inside, letting my eyes wander. The first floor is lacking in internal walls, leaving the level looking very open and bright. On the raised area ahead sits a gorgeous grand piano just off to the right. It's so spotless, I have to wonder if it's ever been touched.
"Do you play?" I ask, indicating the instrument. I can already see his slender fingers running up and down the keys in my head and smile.
"I do," he answers with a small nod. "My mother and sister play as well, but it's usually me."
"What, they're not as good as you?"
"No, it's not that." Edward pulls me gently into his side and places a gentle kiss against my temple. "I'm not very good at sharing."
I don't get to ponder his words for long as I'm distracted by a group of vampires emerging from a barely-used kitchen.
Alice, of course, is first in line. She's literally a blur until she crashes into me with a hug. Ignoring my yelp, she squeezes me tightly. "Hi, Bella! I've missed you."
Laughing quietly, I say, "You saw me at lunch today."
"I know." She giggles and releases me before turning and glaring at Edward. There's a loud thwack that sounds next to me. I later realize it is from her smacking the back of his head. "That was for trash talking me."
Edward rubs the back of his head tenderly, but it must be for show because he's grinning and takes my hand again. "I guess I deserved that."
"Alright, you two." A slender woman with the same pale and beautiful features as the rest of them steps down from the small platform and stands before the three of us. "Let's behave in front of our guest."
"Bella, this is my mother, Esme," Edward introduces to me. He must feel my nerves and begins to trace his thumb over my knuckles.
"Hello, sweetheart. It's very nice to meet you." She wears a warm, compassionate look on her heart-shaped face with wavy caramel-colored hair to match her eyes.
"And I believe you've met my father already," Edward goes on as the tall doctor rounds the corner.
"Hello, Bella." Carlisle wraps an arm lazily around his wife and interlocks fingers with her over her shoulder. His height makes Esme look small. He'd be almost intimidating if it weren't for those gentle eyes. "It's nice to see you again. We're making dinner for you. I hope you're hungry."
"Thank you, Dr. Cullen," I say. "You didn't need to put yourself out."
"It's no trouble at all," he assures me, "and please, call me Carlisle."
"Okay," I respond with a nod, "sure."
Two others gather around and I balk at the rather large one who stands even taller than Carlisle waving at me with a butcher knife. "Hiya, Bella!"
"Damnit, Emmett, put that thing down before you kill her," Edward hisses.
"What, this?" The innocent look he wears nearly makes me laugh. Out of all of the boys, he's definitely the biggest. His huge muscles resemble those of a weight lifter's. But seeing him smiling so cheerfully, totally unaware of his own capability, I know he is nothing more than a gentle giant.
Emmett hands the knife over to Esme who brings it back to the kitchen.
"Don't mind him," Alice comments. "He's harmless."
"Says who, pipsqueak?" Emmett squares his shoulders, making Alice and myself giggle. The blonde boy next to him, Jasper, nudges him in his side.
Jasper's sleeves are pushed up to his elbows, leaving the skin bare. I find myself frozen, taking him in. He is completely covered in scars, most thickly together on his neck and jaw. He had been in more fights than I could have ever imagined, and he'd never lost. His tawny eyes blaze and his stance exudes the barely contained violence of an angry lion.
Meeting his eyes, I realize he's caught me staring and I mentally chastise myself. In an attempt to salvage the moment, I wave timidly. "Hi, Jasper."
His head cocks slightly to the side and I see the shadow of a smile creep up on his face. "How did you—?"
"You share a class with my best friend," I explain. "I sort of picked her brain."
"That's right!" Emmett laughs loudly and points the same way a child does when he sees something funny. Somehow, I find it endearing. "Edward told us about that!"
"Right." I clear my throat awkwardly and find a sudden interest in my feet.
"Jasper's newest to our diet," Carlisle adds and I'm glad to have the spotlight off me for the moment. "It's a bit difficult for him."
I catch Jasper avoiding my gaze. Although his stiff posture is vaguely alarming, I recognize the look of shame. I offer him a small smile when he looks up and hope he understands my attempt to reassure him.
"Where is Rose?" Edward asks.
"Out hunting," Emmett responds. "She um…"
Edward nods quickly, ending the short conversation. Before I can ask him about the abrupt change in atmosphere, he says, "We'll head to the dining room. Give you all a chance to finish cooking."
I put together that Rose must be the other blonde girl I saw before as I follow him away from his family and sit into a chair he pulls out for me. I remember her glaring at me the very first time I saw her and think it must be connected to why she isn't here now. The only question is how can she already hate me when she's never met me?
"Is it because I'm human?" The words come out before I can stop them.
Edward takes a seat next to me and takes my hand in his. "Rosalie is just…" His words trail off as he sighs. "She has good intentions, but it's nothing you need to worry about. She'll come around, she always does."
Slumping into my seat, I drop the subject, but make sure to ask him again when his family isn't in earshot. I don't need Rose to like me, but it'd be easier if I didn't make her feel like she can't be in her own home while I'm around.
"Is this going to be weird?" I ask to break the silence.
"What?"
"Weird for me, I mean," I elaborate. "I'll be the only one eating."
He chuckles quietly. "Don't worry, we'll keep ourselves busy."
Edward makes good on his promise. A few minutes later, after Esme serves me dinner, we all sit around the dining room table utterly entranced by the intense game happening before us.
Alice and Edward sat head to head over a chessboard. Neither had moved at all since setting the pieces up five minutes ago. Both lean ever so slightly on their elbows in concentration. Edward focused on reading Alice's mind and Alice watching her brother's decisions to determine the outcome.
"They're not even going to touch the board, are they?" I ask quietly to Esme who sits next to me.
"Nope."
Shaking my head in wonder, I bite into my last piece of food on the plate.
"Ha!" Alice jumps from her seat triumphantly. "I win!"
Edward knocks the pieces over, feigning frustration. "Damnit."
Jasper kisses her chastely and I'm reminded of Angela and Ben. "Never bet against Alice."
"Are you all finished, Bella?" Alice motions toward my plate and I nod as she takes it away.
"Yes, thank you." I smile toward Esme who squeezes my shoulder softly. "It was wonderful."
"Great!" Alice is back in the dining room within a fraction of a second and pulls me out of my chair. "We've got plans, so let's get a move on!"
"Oh?" I let her drag me towards the back door and look for Edward who I find chuckling under his breath. "Do I get to know what these plans are?"
She sighs dramatically as if I'd thoroughly inconvenienced her. "If you must. But know that I've already seen it, so there's no use in changing my mind."
"I can't believe you talked me into this."
"I didn't talk you into anything," she chirps sinlessly. "It was simply written in the stars."
Crossing my arms in front of the rushing river, I groan audibly. "This is so stupid."
"Don't knock it 'til you try it!" She shoves me playfully and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. "Besides, you'll get better if you practice."
"I don't want to get better, Alice. I want to be normal. I just want to turn it off."
She's wearing an expression I can't quite read and find the same look on Edward and Jasper. Before I can ask about it, she says, "Either way, this is the first step. Try moving some of these rocks."
Kicking the collection of river rocks, I frown when one splashes and wets my sock. Without warning, I'm overcome with embarrassment and duck my face behind my hair. It was different when it was only me and Edward. Now, standing out here in front of all three of them, I feel like I'm being studied.
"I can't do it on command."
"Just try," she encourages. "How did you do it for Angela?"
"That was a fight or flight thing," I answer gruffly. "No offense, but you don't exactly scare me."
"Really?" Alice's amber eyes twinkle mischievously and in the back of my mind I ask myself if I've spoken too soon. "Okay, I'll remember that. But know that your racing heart tells another story."
"Ah, she's just got pregame jitters." Jasper steps towards Alice, smiling wide. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he drawls, "Sorry, darlin', but she's telling the truth."
Alice seems annoyed at first, but she leans into his touch and her roguish expression dissipates. "That's okay. I'm not scary, but at least I'm cute."
"That's right." He kisses her nose with a quiet peck before turning back to me. "No need to fret, Bella. It's not a test. We only want to help."
His words are simple, but something about his tone puts me at ease. "Okay, I'll try."
Edward appears next to me and takes my hand. He's wearing his famously crooked grin and I can't help but smile back. "Do you feel better now?"
"Yeah, actually." I lift a brow when he chuckles. "Why do you ask?"
"Jasper can manipulate emotions."
I remember him telling me his brother was gifted, but I'd been too distracted by Alice's to ask about it. Turning to face him, I find Jasper gazing at me with a knowing expression. "That was you?"
Jasper shrugs, playing dumb. "I don't know, was it?"
"Okay, people!" Alice claps her hands together and motions toward the rocks in front of me. "Focus! Go on, Bella, you can do it."
Sighing, I take my hand back from Edward and concentrate. I'd done it many times before and twice were on purpose. I can do it once more. Focus, Bella.
I recognize the tugging sensation in my abdomen and push it harder. I hear the blood pumping in my ears and cringe at the thought that my audience may be able to hear it too. What else can they pick up on? Do they hear me picking at the hangnail that's forming on my thumb? My heavy breathing?
"Relax."
I'm startled out of my thoughts by Jasper. He hasn't moved, but he now stands with his arms crossed and what I can only interpret as the look of pain on his face. Was it the blood? "Sorry."
"No need to apologize," he says softly. "Try again."
Edward's returns his hand to rub soothing circles in between my shoulder blades. "You don't have to."
Taking a thoughtful breath, I push him away as politely as I can. "I want to."
Edward steps back and nods while I face the river again.
This time I decide to pick one instead of moving all of them. I concentrate on a small rock that sits just barely out of the water. Closing my eyes, I imagine the way it would feel in my hands. It'd be as light as my cell phone. Cold to the touch, much like Edward's hands. It'd be wet from the river and hard. But also smooth.
I feel the tug in the pit of my stomach and breathe into it. I feel the pressure move through me and towards the river.
I hear someone gasp and open my eyes.
There it is. The rock I'd pictured now floats between all of us. I pull it towards me and let it drop in my hand. It feels exactly as I imagined.
Alice and Jasper are totally silent, staring at me with wide eyes. Any other time I'd probably be blushing, but I'm so stupidly excited at this very moment, I can't do anything else but squeal like a girl and show off my rock as if it's a prize.
"I did it!"
Edward offers me a smile and kisses my forehead. He happily tosses the rock away as his other hand takes its place in mine.
"That's incredible," Jasper whispers.
"Isn't it?" Alice giggles next to him. "And just wait until you see what else she can do."
