A/N: Another collaborative chapter brought to you by Ismira Daugene & Queenoftheslayers. Please view chapter 1 for more detail on the purpose of these short stories.
o O o O o O o
"Elise, I don't want to go down to Forks. I want to visit Seattle," Marie whined. "You know that the only reason I can stand those books is that they are a bad romance novel… They don't even have a real sex scene."
"Only you would say that aloud on a train filled with people…" Elise muttered, her head falling into her hands. "Really, there are children around."
Marie looked around the train, and looked ashamed for a few seconds before shrugging and looking back at the map in her hands.
"My mom's cousin is thankfully letting us borrow her car while we are here, but I am not sure she wants her car driving 3 hours away…. And bringing it on a ferry ride."
Elise smiled, "You know, you have done some extensive research for this trip that you don't want to go on…."
"Yeah, well, I knew that you were going to make me any way…. Plus, I know that my mom's cousin will say yes…"
Elise leaned over and placed her head on Marie's shoulder, "You are the best. I love you!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Get off me," Marie shrugged Elise off her shoulder, with a chuckle. "But if we run into anyone that sparkles, I am going to slap someone. You might be that someone…"
"Just a warning?"
"Everyone deserves a warning. Plus, what if he can hear what I am thinking? He will know that I think that he is so… Silly."
"Please, you know that you wont be thinking that he is silly, you have called him other choice words that I will not say in front of little children."
Marie smiled at the memory of calling Edward Cullen names.
"Good times, good times. Pompous as…. As he is, he deserves it. I mean, really, twenty first century, he shouldn't be a creeper and all patriarchal on the ditsy girl. She should also have died by the van… really, thinking you need a man or anyone in your life that bad, nothing good comes from it."
"It's true, but having ambition is a good thing too!"
Marie scoffed, "Hopeless romantic," she muttered.
"I'd like to think that I'm a hopeful romantic," Elise insisted.
Marie simply rolled her eyes and went back to looking at the map spread out across her thighs. "So… where exactly are we going to start when we get to Forks?"
"Well," Elise leaned over and pointed at a spot on the map. "I was thinking we'd travel along this road here and see if there were any long drive-ways off of it."
"And what, just hope that it leads to a large house in a clearing with huge glass windows?"
Elise shrugged. "It could happen…"
"Yeah," Marie snorted. "And I could make out with Rosalie."
Elise laughed. "I doubt it, she'd probably break your face."
Marie tilted her head slightly to the side and thought for a moment. "Yeah, it's true… I'd settle for Alice though."
Elise slowly shook her head.
The conversation continued to float along from there, touching on who else they'd like to make-out with to where else they should visit to who else might show up at the dorms. It was a few hours later when the train pulled into the station and Marie and Elise disembarked to find Marie's aunt waiting cheerfully, despite the drizzle, for them by her car.
The first few days in Washington state were spent in Seattle with Marie's aunt, seeing the sights, and doing the touristy things. It was on day four that Elise finally won the battle and they headed south towards Forks and what Marie was convinced would be a total waste of time. However, three hours and twenty-seven minutes later found them driving down a highway tightly lined with overly green trees on either side except for the single opening where a drive-way was desperately trying not to be seen.
"Look, look! I told you we'd find it!" Elise shouted excitedly.
Marie continued to just stare at the drive, not quite willing to acknowledge its existence. "Come on, let's go!" Elise cranked the steering wheel and turned down the drive. The thought of what they'd do when they reached their destination hadn't yet crossed their mind, but they were soon about to find out.
A minute later, they pulled up in front of a large two-story house that looked distinctly modern and nothing like what a vampire crypt should look like. Elise and Marie stayed seated in the car for a long minute before Marie let out a huff and turned to her companion. "Well? It was your idea… go on." She waved her hand in the direction of the front door.
"Well if it is them, they'll already know we're here," Elise muttered not moving from her seat.
As though her comment had been heard in the house, the front door suddenly opened. A man of medium build and height with golden blond hair stepped out. He was dressed elegantly, but casually. It was obvious that his clothing was very expensive. Elise's eyes widened as she recognized the father of the Cullen household. "That's Carlisle," she whispered.
The man swiftly made his way to the driver's side window and leaned down. "Is there something I can help you with?" he asked with a slight accent through the glass.
Elise continued to stare at the man while Marie muttered under her breath, "Yeah, just let Elise here boink one of your sons and we'll be gone."
The man's golden eyes darted to Marie and Elise had the distinct impression that if he could blush, Carlisle's cheeks would have been flaming. Elise cleared her throat and tried not to let her own blush overpower her cheeks. "Um, we just need to use your telephone. We're having a bit of car trouble and need to call for a mechanic."
Carlisle looked back and forth between the girls for a moment before nodding once and standing back, allowing Elise to open her door and exit the car. "Follow me," Carlisle gestured and started to make his way back to the grand house.
Elise started to follow then turned to find Marie still sitting in the car. She gestured angrily for her to follow. Marie rolled her eyes and groaned as she opened the car door and stomped to Elise's side.
The house was open and airy and there was an abundance of natural lighting from the large windows along the back wall. Elise gaped at the refined splendor as she followed Carlisle into a gleaming kitchen. He stopped when he reached the landline on the counter. "Forgive me for the lack in my manners," he said as he looked back at them. "My name is Carlisle Cullen. You're welcome to use the phone, but my daughter, Rose, is actually quite good with engines. Perhaps you'd agree to her taking a look?"
"I'm Elise and this is Marie," the elder of the two girls introduced. "And um… that would be great," she gave a hesitant smile. What would they say when Rosalie didn't find anything wrong?
"Rose?" Carlisle called softly through the door.
A minute later, a tall blond ethereal being in stilettos stepped into the kitchen. Marie gaped at the woman until an equally tall and much more muscular man blocked her view. "This is my daughter, Rosalie, and her fiancé, Emmett," Carlisle made the introductions the proceeded to tell Rose the situation. As he was doing so, five other people crept into the kitchen. One, an auburn haired woman, made her way to stand beside Carlisle. The blond vampire unconsciously seemed to relax slightly as she pressed a hand to his back. The other four stood near the sliding door that led to a porch outside. They were younger and Elise was able to recognize them immediately. The bronze haired boy, Edward, was standing slightly in front of his mate, Bella, as they watched us cautiously. Jasper and Alice stood hand-in-hand next to them, though Jasper seemed to tense as Elise looked over at him.
"Father," Edward suddenly interrupted Carlisle. The elder turned to look at his son. "We don't need to pretend. They know who we are." Carlisle looked back at Elise and Marie with alarm. "They know what we are, who we are…. Even down to our names." Edward explained. "Though…" he hesitated. "I don't believe they mean us any harm."
Marie suddenly smirked and Edward's face blanched. Elise saw the expression and smacked Marie on the arm. "What!"
"Stop it! You're scaring the nice vampire!"
"I can't control my thoughts, Elise!"
"Well try to tone down the ménage a trois going on in that head of yours at least!"
Marie simply smiled again, and Elise rolled her eyes. "Okay, look, there's nothing wrong with the car, we just wanted to meet you." Marie elbowed Elise sharply in the ribs and Elise grunted at the sudden pain. "Sorry… I wanted to meet you… Marie wanted to explore Seattle."
"But how…?" Carlisle began.
"They read a book," Edward answered the unspoken question.
The other vampires still wore bewildered expressions, except for Edward who was frowning at Marie who was still smiling widely.
Silence filled the room for a long period of time until Carlisle spoke again. "I think you should leave perhaps."
Elise nodded once and clutched her coat tighter around her before grabbing hold of Marie's arm to steer her towards the door. Just as they were going to leave though, a tall man in a dark World War II trench coat walked in the sliding door. He pointed at everyone in the room, making eye contact he said, "I out-gay you all," then he walked out as though nothing had happened.
Everyone stared at the spot where he'd been for a moment before Marie shouted, "JACK! WAIT!" and ran from the room, past the slightly sparkling vampires and into the woods behind the house.
Elise groaned and face palmed. "Great…" she muttered. "Would you mind helping me retrieve her?"
Edward shook his head and walked away, taking Bella with him. The rest of the vampires looked confused as Elise jogged out the door into the drizzle.
o O o O o O o
Twilight (c) Stephenie Meyer
Jack Harkness (c) BBC
The sole purpose of these is for gits and shiggles... no harms is intended.