Chapter 18 – Surprises
So, the whole family was changed into Daywalkers. Carlisle was astonished to how it was so different. With the control of a Daywalker, in addition to the control he already developed, human blood was nothing more than a perfumed scent. I wasn't as anxious to fight with Emmett now. If he had enough momentum, he could run through a mountain. Jasper found that he was not as strongly affected by others' emotional climates as he was before. Edward could easily block out the minds of others, until they were just whispers. With more practice, he was able to stop listening to others' minds. It was like he just turned a switch off. Alice had much more control over her visions. She still got glimpses, but they were of more dire things. Such things like the weather and someone calling, she could choose to look when she wanted.
It was clear the Cullens much preferred this life. Rosalie was anxious to have a child. "I don't know when it will happen, Rosalie. Like humans, just relax and it will happen when you least expect it." Emmett was sitting on the couch, eating a bag of chips, "These things are amazing." Together, we found out consuming food on a regular basis helped keep our bodies functioning. Even doing strenuous activities on a daily basis, human food helped maintain our bodies between feedings. When he decided to, Jasper would feel the happiness from everyone. "This is the happiest I've ever felt everyone. They're happy that they can be so human again. I know it's not what we are, but its close enough." Jasper and I were walking on campus, "I'm just glad to have all of you in my life again. It was getting kind of lonely, especially after…..." I didn't complete that sentence and Jasper didn't push to. About 200 yards away, Dr. Perry was looking at us. I smiled and waved. He nodded, smiled and waved. His smile seemed forced, almost like he didn't want to smile, but did so to be kind.
It was apparent that the Cullens changed. All of them had more color in their cheeks and their eyes were different from one another. Esme had emerald green eyes, Alice and Emmett had hazel, Carlisle had sky blue eyes and Jasper had gray eyes. Jasper's eyes were more like cat eyes. They had shades of green and hazel in them. Combined with his smile, girls walked into tables and doors because they were staring at him. "Stop that. She could have hurt herself." A girl bumped her shoulder in a doorframe from staring at Jasper. I was starting to think he could make them do it. Maybe he could? Being Daywalkers ourselves, we were learning more about what we could do.
They all learned to compel people. Esme asked me to teach her how to cook again. "Well, I have three grown boys, who like to eat. I laughed, "Oh, I know. I used to help Emily cook for the pack." I rarely spoke about the pack and Jacob. Jacob had been emailing me, but I didn't answer back. Soon, the emails stopped, too. I had to let Jacob go. I know I was a hypocrite. I was doing the same thing Edward did, but it definitely was for Jacob's own good. I was a vampire and he was a werewolf. A werewolf that couldn't recognize what I was. I was slicing up some tomatoes for dinner, while I thought about Jacob. I missed him very much, but I knew he was moving on. He had to. Someone was coming, about 7 miles away. It was Edward. I could sense when he was near. Shaking my head, I set the table. This was the first time I was making dinner for Edward. He was more excited because he would finally taste my cooking.
Edward was about 2 miles away as I took the steaks out of the broiler. I pulled out the scolding hot tray with my bare hands and placed it on the stove top. I giggled to how I was able to do this. I was glad I didn't lose this in this life, my love of cooking. Normal vampires couldn't eat, so there was no point in knowing how to cook. He was now one mile away. I finished making the salads and set it on the table. He was half a mile away, when I went for the front door. He smiled hugely, "How'd you know?" "I heard you a mile away, literally," I scoffed. He took my hand and guided me into the dinner room, "This looks wonderful. This is the first time I'm eating food in almost a hundred years." I smirked, "No its not. Remember that bit of pizza at school?"
After finishing the meal, I started to clear the table. I was taking up Edward's plate, when he held my waist and his arm whirled me around to sit in his lap, "That was delicious." His lips pressed lightly to mine. I giggled under his lips, "I have to clean the kitchen." Edward's hands wouldn't release me, "I'll do it. Besides, everyone wants you to come over. There's something important they want to discuss with you." My new eyes watched him as he whirled around the kitchen and dining room. When he was done, he dashed to where I was sitting, lifted me out of my seat and carried me out of the house. "Edward, I can run on my own." He chuckled, "I want to carry you. I've missed it so much." He had me cradled to his chest. Breaking his hold, I climbed on his back. Doing this did not break his stride, "Let's do it the traditional way." While running, the tickling sensation in my spine was growing. It was worse when they were all together. It almost made me laugh. Arriving at the house, I leapt off Edward's back and ran with him, hand in hand. Emmett had the door open for us. Entering the house, he held me in a headlock. "Emmett, let go!" He chuckled darkly, "Bite me." My eyes glinted as my teeth sank into his arm.
Emmett pushed me away, but Edward caught me. "I can't believe you bit me," he sound astonished as he looked over his wound. Blood was pooling out of it for a few seconds before it healed up. My lips smacked together, "That's interesting." Edward chuckled, "What?" I smiled, "Yum." Emmett's blood was interesting to taste. It wasn't as satisfying as animal blood, but it was… interesting. Emmett was getting angry, but Jasper must have calmed him down. Carlisle and Esme came into the living room, "You asked her to do it, Emmett." Carlisle chuckled, "Well, Bella, we wanted you here, because we need you opinion." I looked at him, "On what?" Carlisle smile and Edward chuckled. Looking around, everyone had smiles on their faces. It was almost summer vacation and everyone had ideas for their family vacation. Carlisle wanted me to be included in the conversation because I was considered family and soon, I was going to be a Cullen. Since they weren't restricted from sunny places anymore, the whole world was an option. Rosalie wanted to go to Paris, Emmett wanted to go down south and Jasper wanted to go to Asia. Esme and Carlisle were happy to go wherever it was decided, so was Edward. Alice beamed, "I have the perfect idea." She glared at Edward, "Turn it off." She pointed at him, "I want it to be a surprise for everyone." Edward tussled her hair, "Of course, Alice." She danced off to make the arrangements.
Finishing up my classes, I noticed Dr. Perry was maintaining a distance from me. Its been happening since I introduced him to Alice. When I would greet him, he was smile timidly and hurries off in another direction and in class, he even wouldn't look at me. Maybe I'm overreacting. But there was something there, something I couldn't place me finger on. Dr. Perry was hiding something. Maybe its time he met Edward. I was looking down at my engagement ring, which was an antique. It belonged to Edward's human mother and it was very beautiful. Like in Forks, Edward was there after all my classes, waiting for me. "Do me a favor and read his mind? I think he's hiding something." Edward and I stood by the door, "Here he comes," he stated. "Dr. Perry," I patted his arm as he came out. His skin flushed when he saw me, "Oh, Bella. Good work today, as usual." I smiled, "Thank you. You remember Edward Cullen? Dr. Cullen's son?" He nodded, "Of course. Hello Edward." Edward smiled, "Hello. Bella wanted to let you know that we were engaged." He smiled, "That's wonderful. If you'll excuse me?" Dr. Perry rushed down the hall and out of the building. Edward and I watched after him, "You're right. He is hiding something. His mind was so confused and scared." My eyes narrowed, "I could get more out of him." Edward hugged my shoulders, "Probably. But not today. We have to get going, or we'll miss our flight." Our destination was a well kept secret. Alice went as far as doing the shopping and packing for everyone, not that she complained.
Touching down, we were in Tahiti. Several cars were waiting for us. They drove us to a private beach house. The house's foundation was in the ocean. The house was literally on the water. The house was made of faded wooden planks and bamboo sticks. Inside, the living room was huge, with several doors to the bedrooms. All the doors were to the bedrooms, that were open and all the rooms had large white beds. The kitchen was off to the left. The center door opened up to a terrace, that was over the ocean. The sun was shining in every window. Everyone, including myself, was smiling and talking about the house. Emmett took Rosalie's hand and walked out to the terrace. "Guys, we have jet skis out here!" Edward guided me to one of the bedrooms, "This place is beautiful." My fingers brushed along the billowy bed, "I've never been to anyplace like this." In the floor of our bedroom, there was a small window, looking down into the water below the house. Each room had this feature. I was looking out the window, looking out at the ocean. Edward's hand held my waist, "And its thanks to you we can all be here." "You wouldn't believe how tired you can get of nighttime in eighty-odd years," I quoted him from our first time in the meadow. He chuckled, "What are we doing inside, when there's an ocean right outside."
Everyone had the same idea. We spent the day in the sun, swimming, racing on the jet skis, exploring the reefs and taking in all the wildlife. As Daywalkers, animals didn't avoid the Cullens like before. Animals couldn't tell what we were. The first few days were paradise. I was cooking the majority of the meals. Esme helped as much as she could, considering she hadn't cooked in more than seventy years. One afternoon, I was going to go swimming. "Bella?" Alice called me, "Could you come here?" In the living room, Esme and Rosalie was with her, "Yes Alice?" Alice held out her hand, "You're not swimming today. I have a big surprise for you." "Alice," I groaned, "no more surprises. This trip was enough." Alice scowled, "No! I've been planning this for a while. Don't be difficult." She took my hand and pulled me into her bedroom. She made me sit at her vanity, "Just trust me." I always trusted Alice, but I was concerned when she blindfolded me. I sat at her vanity for hours as she washed, brushed and styled my hair. She took my hand to make me stand up. I felt awkward as she took off my swimsuit and put on a smooth material on me. My hands grazed along the garment she had me wear. Was this silk? It smelled similar to my blue dress from the gala. "Stay here and do not remove the blindfold," she threatened. Air whooshed across my face. Suddenly, someone took my hands, "Come on." This was Rosalie. Knowing Alice was near, I didn't ask what was going on.
I was being guided out of the house. I could smell the open air, hear the calls of the nocturnal animals and feel the sand beneath my feet. We were walking at a human pace and it was getting boring. I could tell we were walking down hill. The wind shifted and brought with it new scents. There were flowers, smoke, ocean water, more sand, citrus, silk, linen and other familiar scents. Alice was giggling. It sounded like she was trying to get it under control. "Is everything ready?" My brow furrowed, what is going on? I was getting impatient. Alice finally took off the blindfold and we were on a secluded beach. I was standing between two borders made of flower petals and sliced carambola that looked like stars. "Alice, what is all this?" She was beamed, with one of her hands hidden behind her back. "This is my surprise."
Esme and Rosalie took my hands and guided me through several palm trees. I noticed Alice and Rosalie were wearing matching dresses. We were now standing in front of two huge palm fronds. Each frond was taller than me and they were obscuring the view from behind them. From behind the giant fronds, the smell of smoke was stronger, as was the smells of linen, silk and the two familiar scents. With these scents, there was two beatings. One was rhythmic and further away, but the other was frantic, skipping beats and much closer. Were there humans here? Rosalie released my arm, "See you in a moment." She dashed back the way we came. Alice took out her hidden object from behind her back. She held out a bouquet of exotic flowers. The arrangement was made of hanging Tahitian vanilla orchids that draped over my hands. There were Tahitian gardenias, with several hibiscuses. Alice had more of the gardenias in her hand. Esme took them and pinned them in my hair. "Alice?" She smiled, "I'm shocked you haven't figured it out yet. This is your wedding." "My wedding?" My mind shied away from that idea, but it couldn't be ignored. My dress was made of white silk and most of the flowers were white too. Alice and Rosalie were wearing matching dresses; bridesmaids. Esme was beaming. She hugged me and went off in the direction Rosalie went. "Alice, I can't get married without my..." The frantic beating was behind me now, with one of the familiar scents. "Hello honey." I whirled, "Mom!" My voice was thick with emotion as she hugged me, "Alice flew us out to surprise you. Why didn't you tell me you were getting married?" I couldn't answer. This was all too much.
The palm fronds were pulled back by two slightly darkened natives. Alice marched ahead of me and Renee held my hand. "This is so beautiful, Bella. I'm so happy for you." She kissed my cheek. Looking down the aisle, at the altar, Edward was waiting for me. His smile was exuberant when his eyes fell on me. Emmett stood by Edward, with a blindfold in his hands. His eyes motioned to Edward. He was being surprised too. This was all Alice's doing. Renee marched with me down the aisle to tribal music. When we finally reached the altar, Edward took my hand and we listened to the preacher.
