Artemis' POV

I was chopping vegetables for dinner when the door bell rang. I knew who it would be. I was surprised that they had waited until four thirty in the afternoon to come here. Oh well. No use worrying about things as trivial as vampire timing.

"Door's open guys!" I called not bothering to go and answer it. I heard the door open and listened to the noise that they made as they entered the house. It seemed like a lot more noise than necessary for a group of vampires. "I'm in the kitchen!" They all started filing in. I rinsed the knife I was using off under the faucet, shook it a couple of times to get rid of some of the water on it, and put it on the counter. "I'll be right back."

I came back a few minutes later with a few extra chairs. I had to put Emmett in the corner with how big he was. "Sorry 'bout this Emmett. I'm not trying to make you feel like you're in timeout or anything, not that you don't deserve one. It's just that your kinda big and don't really fit well in this already small kitchen."

"It's alright Artemis. Though I don't appreciate the timeout crack-" "She's right, you do need one." Edward interrupted. "-you're right about the whole size thing." Emmett finished with a glare at Edward.

"When am I not right, Emmett." It wasn't a question so much as a statement. Emmett just stuck his tongue out at me, making me laugh.

"You know, Artemis, you really shouldn't leave your door unlocked like you do." Carlisle said, playing the part of concerned father well.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Carlisle, I'm not worried about anyone breaking in here. There's nothing worth any actual value other then sentimental. Besides, I've been expecting you guys."

Going back to the counter, I picked up the knife and continued to make dinner. As I started cutting up the sweet peppers for shish-ca-bobs, I said "To be honest, I'm surprised you guys waited as long as you did to show up at my door. I thought that you would have been here at the crack of dawn." I put the cut peppers in a strainer and stuck them under the faucet, rinsing them off.

"How did you know that we were coming, Artemis?" Jasper had to ask the question we were all dying to know the answer to.

I snorted as I put a bowl of peppers, a bowl of onions, a bowl of marinated beef cubes, a plate, and a pack of chopsticks on the table. Grabbing one of the spare chairs, I sat down and started to put the kabobs together. "Come on, Jasper. Do you honestly think that I'm that stupid?"

"Uuummmmm… no?"

"Wrong answer." Emmett muttered under his breath. Although with Emmett it wasn't really muttering since the whole room heard.

I was pissed. What fucking right did this vampire have to question my intelligence?! None! That's how much!

No one in the room needed Jasper's gift to know that I was livid. "What fucking right do you have to question my intelligence?! Just because you're some fucking two hundred year old vampire doesn't mean that I'm too stupid to figure anything out and you'd do well to realize that real quick Jasper Hale." By now I was on my feet towering over him. I could feel my blood pumping furiously through my body. I knew that if I didn't calm myself soon we would have problem, but I couldn't get control of my anger. My body was shaking and I could tell my eyes were flashing with the rage that coursed through me.

The others were shocked that I had challenged and threatened Jasper so openly, that I wasn't afraid that he would hurt me for my actions. I think what shocked them even more was that Jasper actually looked scared. It wasn't long before I heard Emmett start to laugh.

I felt a wave of calm roll over me and I actually growled at Jasper. I'm not sure if that shocked them or not, but Emmett started to laugh even harder. "Don't you even thinking about calming me, Hale. You brought my anger on you all by yourself and there is no way that I'm going to let you try and smooth it over with that stupid fuzzy feeling gift of yours." I knew that I was probably over reacting, but I didn't care. I was not going to let these vampires walk all over me. I could hear the tinkling laughter of Alice and I knew that even she found the situation funny.

I was about to snap at Jasper again, and probably the others as well, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I swung around about to take off the head (figuratively) of the person who tried to calm me. But when I turned to find Ryan looking at me, I stopped.

"Artemis, please calm down. We only want to talk and your blood racing like that is not helping at all." The others were shocked that Ryan would be so honest with me and were expecting me to become frightened and to start running around screaming. But they were even more shocked when they visibly saw me relax and smile at him.

"You're right. I'm sorry if I've made this difficult for you." Turning to Jasper, I said "I'm sorry I yelled at you Jasper. Just next time, refrain from assuming that I'm not as smart as the rest of you just because I'm human. Ok?" I could tell Jasper's head was spinning at my change of emotion. He (as well as the others) quickly realized that it was because of Ryan. I could also tell that he wasn't about to argue, fearing another outburst. He just nodded his head so I sat down and continued to make the kabobs.

"Artemis," Carlisle started tentatively. I smile at him to let it know it was ok to continue. "How did you know that Jasper was over two hundred years old?" I thought about all that I had said so far and I realized that that was the easiest question that they could have had.

"Easy. Jasper's obsessed with the Civil war and seems to know more about it then the teachers or any other book I've read on it." The others chuckled a bit and Jasper perked up at the mention of books on the Civil war.

"You have books on the Civil War?" I could clearly see the hope in his eyes and I had to laugh.

"Yea, I'll get them for you once I'm done with these kabobs. Emmett, could you do me a favor and go start the grill? It's out back." Emmett nodded and went to start the grill. We all heard a shout as Edward and Ryan laughed.

Emmett came running back in. "Holy shit, Artemis! You have got to let me ride one of them sometime!"

I ignore his statement and asked "Did you start the grill?"

"Please, please, please, Artemis!"

"Did you start the grill?"

"Please!"

"Did you start the grill?"

"Please!"

"DID YOU START THE DAMN GRILL?!" I practically roared, startling Emmett and making him jump. I didn't mean to yell, but he was really starting to annoy me.

Emmett nodded his head. "Ok, then you can ride it later." Emmett whooped and jumped up in the air. I knew that wasn't a good idea. "Emmett no-!" but it was too late. Emmett had already put a whole in the ceiling. I groaned. "Damn it Emmett, could you act your age for once in your life." I sighed as I went out back. I put the kabobs on the grill and went inside, muttering about how my parents would kill me when they saw the hole later. I would have to come up with an excuse. Maybe I could tell them that I had a clumsy moment and accidently sent the broom handle through the ceiling.

"It will work, Artemis. Your parents will be mad, but they will believe you." Alice said in reassurance. She looked please over something. I was about to ask what when Esme offered to fix the ceiling for me.

"No, no, Esme. It's not the first time I've put a whole in something. I've already got everything I'll need in the garage." I really didn't want to put them out. It seemed to me that I was causing enough problems for them.

Esme turned to Emmett. "You will fix the hole before we leave." Esme growled out her demand. I knew that Esme was only trying to help, but I couldn't help but start to get angry. I've barely known these vampires and they were trying to control my life. I felt Ryan move near me and put his hand on my shoulder. I knew I had to calm down, so I took a few deep breaths.

"Esme, really, it's alright. I'll fix it later."

"No, Artemis. Emmett made the hole, he'll fix."

I knew that Esme meant well, but my independent and defiant nature wouldn't let Emmett fix the whole. Turning to him, I said "If you touch that hole, I'll make you regret the day you met me." I knew I was being hostile, but I couldn't help it. It was just my temper flaring up, coupled with my defiant nature. I turned to Esme. "I'm sorry if it seems like I'm offending you, Esme. I'd just really prefer to fix the hole myself." I really didn't want to hurt her feelings; I just didn't want them to have to fix the house for me. Searching her face for understanding, I found it in her warm smile and her knowing eyes. I smiled back at her and, shocking the others (including her), I hugged her tight. She stood still for a moment, still quite shocked, before she hugged me back. I slowly pulled back, smiling at her. She smiled back and I knew that she wasn't mad at me.

Turning away from her, I faced Jasper. "Do you want me to get those Civil War books now? It might take me awhile to find them. There are multiple piles of books all over the house, except in my parents' and sister's bedrooms. Bella, you're more than welcome to look through my books and find any that you like."

"Thanks, Artemis." Jasper said.

"Do you mind staying here and letting us look at them?" I knew what Bella was getting at. She wanted me to stay in the kitchen to talk to the others.

I just rolled my eyes and nodded. Emmett decided to follow them. "Emmett, stay out of my draws!" I called after him. Hearing him laugh, I knew he wouldn't listen. "I'll have to remember to have that boy empty his pockets before he leaves." I was muttering to myself, but the others laughed at me.

I went to join them at the table. Sitting quietly, I waited for them to start with the questions. I was starting to get a little impatient. I could tell the others noticed but didn't know why. "Would you just get on with the questioning already!" I blurted it out before I could stop it. No surprise. The others exchange looks that they thought I didn't notice, but I did.

"Ok, Artemis. Could you answer the question Jasper asked you earlier." Carlisle was using a diplomatic tone that I didn't like. I frowned at his tone, but answered anyway.

"Common sense. I knew what you guys are, you know that I know. The only logical explanation is for you guys to show up at my door with question for me as to how I found out, why I didn't tell anyone, and if I was planning on telling anyone. You also came with answers to a few of the many questions I have because you know that there really is no way to avoid my questions and still get answers out of me." They sat there in stunned silence, so I continued. "The only one that I am shocked to see is Ryan." Turning to him, I said. "After the way you ran from me last night, I was shocked to see you walk in the kitchen with the others." He looked down, slightly ashamed of his behavior. I couldn't help but chuckle at him as I got up. "Going to check the kabobs." I said, answering there unasked question.

Carlisle's POV

I couldn't believe that one human child could be so perceptive. When Bella was a human, she too, had been observant. But the observation skills of this girl put even Bella's observantness to shame. I was very curious to what the others thought.

-Edward. Are the others as shocked as I am at Artemis' observant tendencies?- I watched as Edward gave me a slight nod. My word! This girl seemed to be shocking us all.

We all watched as Artemis came back into the kitchen.

My ears caught the sound of a draw closing upstairs. It was very quiet. I had only heard it because of my enhanced hearing. The shock I felt was almost over powering when Artemis suddenly shouted "EMMETT YOU PUT WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU TOOK FROM MY DRAW BACK RIGHT NOW OR YOU AREN'T ALLOWED WITHIN A TEN FEET RADIUS OF MY DIRT BIKE!!" Needless to say we all heard the draw open and then slam shut. "THANK YOU!" I had to chuckle. This girl really was something else. I knew as well as anyone else that she would end up as a vampire (one of the few clear visions Alice had had concerning Artemis). I would definitely have to think some things through in my study later. The qualities of this unique girl could have a number of outcomes after her change.