Disclaimer: … Must I be reminded every time I come here the awful fact that… I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT, OR NEW MOON, OR ANYTHING ELSE CREATED BY THE FABULOUS STEPHENIE MEYER!!! (this includes my favorite quote ever… 'unconditionally, and irrevocably in love with him…' sigh)
'Mom?' I yelled, closing the door behind me. 'I'll be right back…' I said to Alice, heading towards my mother's room. She was sitting at the computer, headphones over her ears. 'Mom!' I said loudly enough for her to hear over the music. She turned away from the computer, removing the headphones from her ears. 'Hey sweetie, what's wrong?' She said. 'Nothing… I just wanted to tell you that Alice and I have a project to work on for school, so I'll be staying at her house for the night… and probably tomorrow. If that's alright?' I explained. Alice appeared behind me, and smiled politely at my mom. 'Hi Ms. Hargitay' she said. 'Hey Alice, is it ok with your parents that Elise stays over?' She asked. 'Yes Ms. Hargitay. They're perfectly fine with it.' She assured mom, smiling. My mom smiled and said it would be ok. I hugged her, and went to my room to get some stuff.
Alice sat on my bed, while I threw clothes into an overnight bag. I zipped it up and slung it over my shoulder heading towards the bathroom. Alice followed. I put my toothbrush and some other toiletries I might need in a small, clear case, and stuffed in the side of the bag. Alice smirked from where she was leaning against the door frame. 'What?' I asked, confused. 'I just find it funny that you have to do so much… Like brush your teeth, and wash your face and your hair...' I looked at her quizzically. 'Umm… Alice?' She smiled again. 'Vampires don't do that…' She said in a matter of fact tone. I mouthed an 'Oh' before following her back to the kitchen. My mom was in the living room watching television when we came in. 'Bye mom…' I said solemnly, and leaned down on the couch to hug her again. She stood up and walked us to the door.
'Mom… I want you to promise me that you'll be safe. Lock all the doors, don't leave the house at night, and don't answer the door for anyone… ok?' I said. She smiled, confusion playing across her face. 'Ok honey, I promise, but why the sudden interest in my well being? Its not like you're going to a foreign country for 6 months…' she said. I sighed… 'I know mom… I'm just; worried.' I smiled, and shook my head, hugging again. I stepped out the door, and started toward the car with Alice. 'Just promise me, ok mom?' I yelled back at the door where she stood. 'Ok, I promise!' She said back, laughing. If only she knew the danger she was
in…
Back at Edward's, Alice showed me to my room. I put my stuff down on the floor, and hugged her. 'Thank you…' I said softly. 'Your welcome, Elise…' she said back. I pulled away and walked to my stuff. I unpacked my toiletries and put them in the bathroom. 'I'm going to go let Carlisle and Edward know that we're back' Alice said, leaving the room. I put my bag in the closet, and laid down on the bed. I stared at the ceiling, thinking about all of this… First; Vampires were real… Second; I was being hunted by one… and third; I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Edward. I suddenly felt the wetness on my cheeks. I lifted my hand to my face, and wiped them away. None of this was fair… Why did this have to happen to me? I groaned miserably, and rolled over onto my stomach. I laid there for I don't know how long. After a while, I felt strong arms enveloping me. I turned over, and looked up at Edward. I closed my eyes, attempting to blink away the tears, but I only made them fall more willingly. Slowly, he brushed them away, and pulled me closer to him. I sobbed into his chest while he held me. Eventually, I stopped crying, and fell asleep. But not before I heard Edward whisper that he would never let anyone or anything hurt me.
Sunday afternoon, I sat at the unnecessary kitchen table with Edward and Carlisle. We still hadn't heard anything about Lucian, and neither Carlisle nor Edward wanted to let me return home again. 'I have to Edward! I can't just move in with you all of a sudden!' I said frowning at him. 'Why not?' he demanded. 'Hello? My mother! How would I ever explain any of this to her?!?' I said exasperatedly. Edward sighed, and looked at Carlisle for help. 'Elise, I agree with Edward… Its not safe to let you go home alone right now…' He explained. I groaned and laid my head on the table. 'You don't understand… what am I supposed to tell my mom?' I mumbled from beneath my folded arms. 'The truth…' Edward said softly. I looked up. Carlisle nodded slowly. 'The truth? I'm supposed to go home, tell my mother that vampires exist, I'm being hunted by one, and- and I'm moving in with a family of them??' I said in disbelief. 'Are you both mental or something? Because I don't see how this is going to work…' I leaned back in my seat, waiting impatiently for an answer. 'You believed me… I barely had to convince you, and you believed me. Every word…' Edward said looking into my eyes. I bit my lip nervously. 'Alright, so who's going with me to explain that I'm moving in with vampires?' I said. 'Edward, of course; and I'll go, and Alice too…' Carlisle said. I rolled my eyes, but nodded anyway.
'Mom? I need to talk to you. It's really important.' I said at my house. 'Ok, what about?' she asked. 'Umm… well come in the living room. I have some people I want you too meet.' She nodded, and followed me. Carlisle, Edward, and Alice all stood very formally in the doorway of my kitchen. 'Mom, this is Dr. Carlisle Cullen… He's Alice and Edward's dad…' I said calmly. 'Nice to meet you Dr. Cullen' my mother said, extending her hand. 'Please, call me Carlisle' he said smiling, as he shook her hand. I could tell my mother was dazzled by him. Too bad for her… He has Esme. 'Mom, I think you'd better sit down…' I mumbled nervously. She frowned and sat down, hesitantly. 'What's going on? Did something happen? Are you pregnant?! Did he do it!??' my mom yelled, frantically, pointing at Edward. 'No! Mom no, it's nothing like that at all!' I said, trying to calm her down. Her expression softened, and she sat down again, lowering her arm. 'Ok… then what's wrong?' She asked. I glanced at Edward nervously. 'I'll explain it to her Elise…' He said. 'May I?' he asked, gesturing to the couch my mother was sitting on. She nodded slowly.
'Ms. Hargitay' - 'Lindsey…' She interrupted. 'Lindsey, before I explain what I'm about to explain, I need you to promise not to scream, or freak out… and you cannot, under any circumstances, breathe a word of this to anyone…' he said seriously. She nodded again, slowly. 'I promise…' She said. 'I am a vampire. My entire family is.' I winced, at the look of horror on her face. 'Mom, calm down please…' I said, before she had a chance to flip. 'Don't worry… We won't hurt you, or your daughter. We're not that kind of vampires. We only drink from animals. We'd never harm a human.' He explained calmly.
'Why are you telling me this?' she mumbled in a terrified whisper. 'Because Elise is in danger… She is being hunted by Lucian Gabrieli. Another vampire… only he isn't as civilized as we are. He drinks, only from humans…' he said. My mom almost fainted. 'And he's after my daughter?' she said, horrified. I nodded solemnly. 'But, why?' she asked. 'We don't know mom… Carlisle said it's because of my blood… he said it 'calls to him' or something.' Carlisle nodded. 'Lindsey, what is your favorite scent in the whole world?' he asked. 'G-gardenias…' she mumbled. 'Well, when Lucian smells Elise's blood, it's like you smelling Gardenias. It's euphoric…' he explained. 'So, you're telling me, this vampire guy, Lucian, gets turned on from smelling my daughter's blood??' My mom looked disgusted. 'Not turned on… He just gets… excited I guess you could say. It's like dad coming home from a long day of work, and you've got a huge plate of barbecued buffalo wings and a Miller Lite waiting on him…' I said, hoping this comparison would be clearer to her. Understanding came over her… 'Ok, so what are you going to do?' She asked…
'Well, that's what we wanted to talk to you about, Ms. Hargitay…' Edward said, speaking for the first time since we'd been there. 'I think it would be safest if she stayed at my house.' My mom nodded. 'Ok…' I looked at Edward frantically. It had been my understanding that my mom would be staying at the Cullens' too. He shook his head. I glared, menacingly. 'Mom… we have to go now, but please, remember what I said Friday… Be safe.' She smiled, and nodded, cupping my face in her hands. Tears sprung to her eyes, the same time as mine. I hugged her tightly, never wanting to let go. 'I'll be ok…' I whispered. 'Ok… I love you honey.' She said, kissing my forehead. I smiled softly, and turned to go.
In the car, I cried into Edward's shoulder while he stroked my hair and whispered that everything would be ok… that I was safe. But that wasn't the problem with me. I wasn't worried about my safety; I was worried about my mom. If anything ever… happened to her I don't know what I'd do. She was my best friend… my everything. My mother. And I would always love her more than life… Always.