Here is another chapter for Tides of Change, thank you for reading. I own nothing about Twilight.
Saturday morning…
Vampire sleepovers are overrated, they left to hunt while we slept, or the very least Bella slept. I was under the impression being home would relax me enough to sleep but knowing my already hard plans are in ruins have me up trying to devise another plan. Rose was pretty cool, she has earned degrees in engineering, business, and astrophysics, and studied medicine she was not as dumb as people thought of her.
Alice was chill, a little too hyper but when she loved you that was it you were her family, and she would die to protect you. She used Bella as some human barbie doll for a good two hours last night, I just tinkered with a random car part while Rose just watched.
But now here I am wide awake, dark washed jeans with black heeled boots, a white tee paired with a long black hooded cardigan. My black hair was tied up in some messy bun not wanting to deal with it any further, Bella was awake and looking at the clothes Alice left out for her. Smiling, "Could be worse, those will look good on you and plus side we are the same size," my eyes bright as she smiled.
"Oh yeah, my lucky day," but in the end the jeans looked good paired with the tee and sweater, last I tossed some Vans at her. "These will be okay with that outfit," after we just make our way down to the kitchen, but when we walked in Drew was there cooking in her work clothes.
I knew she was a good person.
"Drew, what are you doing here?"
Snorting, "Who is going to cook for you? I am leaving to the office but here is your food, wasn't there two other girls?" her hazel eyes scanning behind us for Rose and Alice.
I yawned, "Should be down right about now,"
A small slip, just a small one.
Rose was the first to speak, "Sorry to have kept you waiting," her voice like birds chirping a melody. But they sit looking perfect, it was a hit to my ego sitting with them but they played the part well looking as if they were actually eating. I was the bacon was not floppy but not to crisp, a hint of maple, the eggs just the way we liked them.
"Tell my dad I am going to Seattle to get the parts," I yelled to her as she was leaving to his office, with her hand waving in the air she was gone.
I gave Bella a look, "Let me fix your truck, like do an overhaul on it. I mean it is a great beast of a truck, but it needs work. The engine, body, paint everything," her eyes grew wide but not like I was asking her for her damn kidney.
Rosalie turned to look at Alice let out a peal of giggles. "I guess," was all she mumbled.
Jumping up, "Great, bring it over before dinner at the Cullens. I can go over it tomorrow and start the plans on what should be done and what needs to be done," she wasn't thrilled but in the end, she has a good running truck that could flatten the shiny Volvo of doom. The sky is consumed in numerous shades of grey and white and black. It looks like the sun has given up on trying to break through this iron curtain of clouds that it has become content to lounging out behind them.
I started the engine, gazing straight ahead, only half-aware of a world outside the claustrophobic comfort of the car, my hands stroking the wheel, the almost soundless changing of the gears synced with the pattern of traffic lights...
"What's the weather in Seattle?"
Alice chimed in, "Much the same, gloomy," but they smiled better gloomy and overcast than sunny.
I was doing over a hundred up into Seattle, to me, Seattle was a bookworm's dream. Alice sighed, "We have limited time, the sun will come through. Let's get our shopping done,"
"Have fun Alice, Bella you want to tag along with me to the local pick up?" trying to help her out of being dragged through a department store.
Alice had other ideas.
Her voice was like a melody, alluring calling pray to her, but that wasn't her deal. "Not fair, you and Rose are going to get your package, only fair if Bella comes with me," she pouted but Bella just let out a groan following Alice into the gloom. Alice smirked, "Try not to trip. We don't have time for a concussion today."
We are limited on time with the sun threating to poke its way out, men gawked at Rosalie as we passed at least this diverted their attention from me. A wide variety of shops lined the nearby streets: antique and art stalls, jewelry and accessory shops, luxury boutiques, souvenir kiosks and stores selling leather goods, all showcasing an array of the finest Italian wares. Tourists flocked to them like fireflies to a lamp, enthusiasm accentuating their features. The silvery melody of Rose's voice chimed in, "I could help you with her truck,"
Smirking, "Sure you want to hang with a smelly human," it was low but to her, it was as if I was yelling.
Her smile nearly caused two grown men to walk into a moving truck, Emmett was a lucky vampire to have her, not like he didn't know it though. "You are not like Bella, not like any human," she was right there, but would she still like me after learning of my past?
The shop was more like a warehouse than anything else, unlike most had ever seen before. There was row upon row of stainless-steel shelving chocked with a vast array of tinned and boxed goods. They had everything you could want, and with everything being imported, mine was here somewhere.
At the counter was an old woman, not the kind you pity with their old bones and feeble limbs, but the kind who could still run an army kitchen given half a chance. She stood quite tall and slim, her short grey hair neat and likely styled with old fashioned rollers, the kind women used to sleep in. Her face is made up of discrete make-up except for her lips that are cherry red. "How can I help you, ladies?"
I gave her a look, my tone flat. "I ordered a package, here is the code. My names Capric Swan," her eyes grew bright as she moved along the long aisle only to come back five minutes later with a large package in hand.
"Here you go, Miss. Swan," she was being overly polite, but when your father has money and you order parts like panties you get a little more respect. Rosalie finally came back with a new mount in hand, "I want this," the lady looked ready to tell her no, it might have killed the older lady but she was going to.
"Is it possible to get this, I know this is a pickup, but this dude didn't come to get it. The date was a month ago," I was in no way stupid enough to use my gift with her right next to me, but humans are gullible.
"Just take it, you girls have a good day," like that we leave.
Our time is nearly up as I grab Bella lunch, Rosalie gave me a look and like clockwork, my brain knew what her amber eyes are pleading for. "Fine you can drive, I have to eat my bagel with blackberry marmalade anyhow," playing off the fake hurt now her laugh was like siren laughing, alluring and a song like.
"See, not like the rest,"
Alice and Bella arrive minutes later as the sun started to shine brightly, "Here Bella, doubt she fed you,"
"No,"
Alice spoke in a stunning sing-song voice, "Just go home, Rose. They're coming to dinner and a sleepover," I snorted adding, "I never agreed to a sleepover, I have a Mustang to work on,"
"I'm sorry, Caprice," Bella offered that brat signed me up for a sleepover in the vampire house, my eyes turn to her. "You little snot," but like I was mad, Rosalie and Alice are great.
The location of the Cullen house is out beyond Forks itself, over the bridge at the Calawah River, from which point the road winds northwards. There is an "unpaved road. It was unmarked, barely visible amongst the ferns. From the outside, there is a lawn or meadow, with six primordial cedars that shaded an entire acre with their vast sweep of branches that ensure that shade stretches right up to the house.
The house itself is painted a soft, faded white, three stories tall, rectangular and well-proportioned and it has a deep porch that wrapped around the first story. Bella told me it estimates at around a hundred years old and describes it as timeless, graceful. My car is parked and we walk in, knowing they have all heard us coming for the last ten minutes.
A river can be heard close by.
The front door of the house opens onto a huge space which must have originally been several rooms before walls were removed to make it all one large room. The south-facing wall is entirely replaced with glass, from which you can see down to the river. This also accounts for the bright airiness of the room, as does the color of the decoration: The walls, the high beamed ceiling, the wooden floors, and the thick carpets were all varying shades of white. However, as a security measure, there is an inconspicuous keypad on the wall that activates huge metal shutters to seal up the glass wall which is pretty awesome.
Just to the left of the door is a raised portion of the floor with a spectacular grand piano on it. Behind the platform with the piano on it is the door into the kitchen, which in turn opens onto the dining room. The dining room actually isn't a separate room: it is separated from the living room by a long wall that curves around it, a little like a screen. On this wall are a large flat-screen television and a couple of computers nearby. A seating area is grouped near the television as you walk in through the door, you can see this diagonally to your left rather than the piano which is immediate to your left. Other groups of chairs fill the rest of the enormous space in the living room.
A soft voice chimed in, "Welcome to our home, Caprice. I am glad to finally meet you. I apologize for my son Edward and his recent behavior towards you," she had a heart-shaped face, small, slender but round.
Rosalie smiled, "This is our mother, Esme,"
I held my hand out, "Pleasure to meet you as well, Esme. Than you for taking care of Bella while I was overseas," she just radiated kindness, love, and a mothering nature. Bella was very lucky to be in this family, they would protect her after I was gone.
Esme was the glue in this coven, her voice with its own melody. "We love her very much, she has told us you're a kindred spirit and we clearly see that you are," soft classical music was playing in the background when a man who looked like a Greek God walked in, he was smiling with his honeyed colored hair with him are Jasper and Emmett.
His voice was even godlike, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Caprice. This is Emmett and Jasper," his hand was ice cold but with a steady hand, I placed mine into his. "The pleasure is all mine, Dr. Cullen. As well as ya'll," shaking Emmett's hand first than Jasper, his amber eyes lock with mine. I do not flinch or move my eyes from his he was reading my emotions, he looked familiar in a sense.
Alice quipped, "See she's made of steal not a shy bone in her body. Now let's put our things away and have some fun,"
I turned to Rose, "You going to show me these cars you talked about? Alice go easy on Bella she's fragile," leaving my cousin to the mercy of Alice.
Alice gave us a look, "You are so bizarre, even for a human,"
"Thanks," taking to the garage with Rose and Emmett, he gave her hand small strokes as they walked, I wanted that and, in the end, never was going to get.
She waved her hand inside was a cherry red, Mercedes CLK350 Convertible, a deep silver Jeep Rubicon, a silver Volvo C30, and last was a jet-black Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. "Impressive, guessing the flashy cherry red Mercedes CLK350 Convertible is yours?"
"Indeed it is, she's my baby," her fingers trailed over the perfect paint.
I sit back looking under the cloth seeing a shiny silver Harley-Davidson VRSCA V-ROD. "That's Jasper's," Emmett finally spoke, he somehow didn't seem like the silent type.
I gave him a look as Rosalie was putting her part up, "You don't seem the strong silent type, but here this is the first you've spoken,"
Grinning, " I'm so glad Edward didn't kill you. Things are going to be a lot more fun with you and Bella around."
"I'm not as clumsy, sorry to disappoint you," knowing full well he was the type to be entertained by her falling down so often.
His face pulled into a frown, "I'm sure you'll be fun somehow,"
Esme walked in with Alice and Bella in tow, Alice was giddy but says nothing. "I got you girls pizza, Bella could use you as a buffer,"
"I know how to dress and do make-up, Alice would have no fun. How about a movie? And might I ask where Bella and I will be sleeping?"
Bella answered, "Movie sounds great, and please don't freak but I will be in Theo's room and you can sleep in Edwards room on his lounge sofa thing,"
I smiled, "Yes, let me get my insanely great smelling self all over his room. Sure, he can refrain from snacking on my ass," my words rushed until the last word, I corrected myself. "My apologies, saying ass was in bad taste," Esme smiled patting my cheek.
"Told you it be funnier with her and Bella,"
The house was warm as we curled on the sofa, Theo joined us with the box of pizza in hand, "Here you ladies go," it was an ex-large, to big for two people. Some random movie Bella liked played on the massive television as Alice used a laptop and Rose showed me custom parts for Bella's truck. I turned to Emmett, "Dare you to eat the rest of this pizza," it was still half a pie, the revulsion covered his face, but his pride wouldn't let him say no as Rose smirked.
He gave in, "Fine," but it looked rough, the chewing and swallowing but this had everyone smiling and laughing, he gaged twice but in the end, he finished. "Impressive, too bad you have that pizza churning in your belly. Guess you'll have to go vomit soon enough," my words more taunting now.
I gave Alice a look and she skipped off only to return with some night clothes for Bella and myself. I was given something of Rosalie's it was a pale purple sleep short's and a black tank top nothing flashy, but once on it was showing more skin than needed. Bella was in sweats and a tee, "Yes, this seems very fair she gets comfy clothes,"
Theo smiled, "These are her's, she leaves some here,"
"I will too,"
I glanced up after watching Jasper and Emmett fight, it was very entertaining. "Bella you need sleep, I rather see Alice whoop on Jasper but you need sleep,"
Hugs and kisses and Theo walked her off as Rosalie showed me to his room. "Sleep well, Caprice. We can work on your Mustang tomorrow,"
I winked, "Don't break Emmett, he seems rather fragile," you could hear him laughing and this made her smile brighter. "I'll try not to,"
The room is neutral, with white walls and floor, metal and wood accents and varied textures. It is a very personal sanctuary; all about books, music, clippings, and photos. The room is light and bright – one wall is all windows, and another has large, wide open french doors looking out over the trees. The room is a bit timeless, with some nods to current technology, but plenty of antique items and classics from through the past century mixed together. Edward doesn't sleep, so he unlike myself, can make do with a stylish white Barcelona couch instead of a bed, which sits on a grey toned shaggy rug.
A small Platner table, in chrome and glass, is to the side. A flat-screen is wall mounted, above a desk, which has a walnut Eames DCM as the desk chair. White free-floating bookshelves holding books and decorative items sit above an antique record player/jukebox. The other wall is taken over completely with wall mounted shelving, containing books and a HUGE music collection and audio equipment.
Finally, Edward seems to be a book lover. They are on nearly every surface, with a selection displayed vertically on a Sapien bookshelf. I turned on Clair De Lune by Claire Debussy, it was a classic and I had the very same CD. I took a book a laid on his Barcelona couch, just relaxing when I noted out loud. "Can I get a blanket?" like that it was Jasper who walked in with one, it was gray and fleece.
I stood, "Thank you, Jasper. Sorry, I know me hiding emotions must annoy you, you'll get used to me being annoying. I just think you look familiar,"
"I feel the same about you, Caprice. I am still having a hard time embracing this lifestyle, so forgive me not talking as much as the rest. I have never met another human who could hide them so well,"
I sighed, "Well now you have,"
After I was alone again, listening to music and reading through the night seeing them all leave at certain points to hunt. Finally falling asleep after three in the morning, it was not the best sleep but when I woke due to the wall being a window that was it, I was fully awake as I walked to the shower seeing my oil-stained work jeans, my tank and work boots on the bathroom marbled counters. "Thanks," not needing to talk any louder.
A deep, luxurious tub is tucked into a niche in this master bath a window in front. Shelving around the rub ensures that there's a good book close at hand during a long soak with candles, he seems very relaxed. The countertops are a grayish white marble, I loved it, Esme did a great job in this room. I used the shower which was very nice, I even used Edwards soaps since nothing I would have was here. I calmed sensing another, it was harder to hide at times but I finish and dress when Rosalie walked in looking similar to me. "Here I can braid that right up," she offered and I just let her, hell if I didn't have to fuss with it than great.
"He arrived home a few hours ago and can smell you," but her face was colder, not as happy.
I grinned, "You don't say, well let's go since my fragrance blankets his room. Bring Bella's truck to my garage so we can go over it and find out what needs to be done first,"
"You would make me drive her junky truck,"
But together we leave his room making our way downstairs, Bella was nestled into Theo eating when a hot plate was placed in front of me. "Here you go my dear," Esme smiled at me with this glimmer in her eyes. I ate like a lady but it was so good the best I have ever tasted, I don't know how she does it.
"Bella you nearly ready, I mean he can come to. Rose and I are going to work on the beast,"
"You want to join us?" her voice low and breathy.
Like that, I walked into the kitchen to wash my plate when Alice danced in all smiles, "Take it you don't see him trying to snack on me," like that she let out a peal of laughter while doing the dish.
"I see something, and it isn't that,"
I groaned, "Shorty, what you see. Tell me," I wished right then that my own gift could be used but in no way could it. She frowned walking away as I just tag along seeing Theo helping Bella with her coat before I even can grab it Jasper has it in his hands.
He spoke in a southern accent, "Let me help you,"
"Thank you, Jasper," smiling, the coat was warm as he made sure his cold hands and fingers didn't touch my skin in any way.
He was a good ole southern boy deep down.
"Where in the South are you from before you became one?"
His brow quaked, "Houston, Texas,"
I cocked my head, "My mothers' family is from there, all of them," trying to smile as Alice beamed.
"Small world," but now Edward walks into the room looking pained but not as hostile.
His face was calm. "Hello," said a quiet, musical voice.
I was shocked he spoke, more shocked his voice drew me in. "Hello," more confused. His hair was dripping wet, disheveled — even so, he looked like he'd just finished shooting a commercial for hair gel. His dazzling face was friendly, open, a slight smile on his flawless lips. But his eyes were careful.
Hot damn his voice, "My name is Edward Cullen," he continued. "I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week. You must be Caprice, we have all heard much about you from Isabella,"
"Bella, please stop calling me Isabella," she whined. He laughed a soft, enchanting laugh. "My apologies, Bella,"
I finally spoke again, my brain just in a whirlwind. "Sorry about your room, air it out for a month and maybe my smell will vanish. I used your bathroom too,"
"I am sure I will manage to deal with it," I looked away awkwardly, and that was out of character for me.
I gave Alice a look, holding my hand out for him to shake. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Edward," making my own voice more pleasurable.
His hand was ice cold but mine never flinched, his hand was soft and like he held it under a snow drift. Our eyes locking, "The pleasure is mine," but right than his head snapped to Alice a look between elation and hostile crossed his face.
Rosalie smirked, "Can she have her hand back, we have cars to work on and you're not invited," he released my hand with a half-smile.
The rest of the damn day he was in every thought, this was not doable.
I touched my face with a groan, "now your face is fully covered in oil, after class tomorrow we can order the parts," Rosalie chimed in before she left. Theo and Bella right after since Bella was on cooking duty.