Acceptance of Fate
Chapter 7
Marcus stood, his smile not faltering until I grimaced and stepped back through the door. When the air in the hallway filled my senses, I turned and walked through the crowded halls, not bumping into anyone. I found the exit to the building and when outside I quickened my pace to the main road. I was suddenly angry that I hadn't driven myself to school. It wasn't something I normally did though; it was normal for us to arrive together, and not in our own cars. It would look weird seeing all the ostentatious cars surrounded by the cars people drove in Forks.
When I was hidden behind the tree line I put my bag over my shoulder, it was a single strap bag. Then I started running for home. I never looked behind me, but I knew I wasn't being followed on foot. I would've been able to smell him, but part of me wanted him to be in the woods. We would be alone and I would finally be rid of the torment, it had to be easier than trying to accept Marcus.
"What's the matter Sterling?" Esme asked as soon as I walked through the door. I could faintly smell him in the house, so I knew he had been here.
"He was in my art room," I hissed, "this is getting crazy."
"I agree," Esme responded crossing her arms, looking me over. When I met her eyes, she didn't hide her discomfort. "Go change, you're soaked."
"Oh?" I said looking myself over. I hadn't noticed, but I stepped up the stairs, closing the door behind me, knowing Esme would follow me up the stairs.
"Do you think he'll come looking for you?" Esme asked from behind the door. The door itself had a glass center, but I had a window shade pulled down.
"Yes," I answered pulling a pair of jeans up over my waist and fastening the buttons. Then I pulled on a t-shirt and opened the door letting her into the room.
"You have to decide something Sterling," Esme whispered cocking her left eyebrow. "When do you want to get to know him?"
"What do you mean get to know him?" I asked crossing my pale arms. "I don't want to get to know him, Esme."
"I see what not knowing him is doing to you," Esme countered, "it's not going to end well for you if you ignore him."
"Why can't it?" I inquired, my voice weakened by the burning I felt in the back of my throat. The mere mention of him made it grow intense and I knew she was right. I didn't want to admit that I was weak. That I couldn't some how just get over the feelings, like we did when we switched from human to animal blood. It would all just take time.
"It's different than any other person," Esme answered and I was about to argue, but she put her hand up stopping me. "It will only get worse, Alice sees what you're struggling with, now with Edward back he'll be able to know as well."
"So what do I do?" I pleaded finally letting my guard down. She walked up to me and wrapped me in a hug and it did make me feel better.
"We'll think about that when everyone else gets home," Esme whispered in a soothing voice. She patted me on the back then led me out of my bedroom back down the stairs. In the living room we both heard a car park outside of the garage. We both knew who it was, everyone else parked in the garage. I looked over to Esme who pointed to the kitchen. She held up a finger telling me to be quiet and I stepped into the kitchen and hid behind the wall. She opened the door before he was on the front steps.
"Hello again Ma'am," Marcus greeted uneasily.
"Nice to see you again, so soon," Esme replied, "please come in."
"Thanks," he said, "but I can't stay long, I was just wondering if your son was here?"
"Which one?" Esme asked and I smiled knowing she was stalling.
"Sterling, I think is his name," Marcus answered and I noted the slight southern accent when he said my name. It caused a sharp, but brief surge through me and I wanted to step out from behind the wall.
"Oh, he's currently unavailable," Esme answered, "after lunch he became ill, his father picked him up from school."
"Oh," Marcus stammered not sounding convinced by Esme's story, but accepting it for now. "I was just wanting to discuss what he found in the attic of my house, but I have to return to Maine this afternoon."
"Sorry about that, they shouldn't have broken in like that," Esme apologized in a tone that I thought was pointed towards me. It seemed to scare Marcus as well, I could feel his heart quicken.
"They didn't do any damage," Marcus said, "but I guess I can just call, sorry to intrude."
"Not a problem," Esme said back to her endearing self. "You caught me leaving to do some errands though, so walk me to the garage?"
"Sure," he stammered and I heard her walk through the door, onto the deck. She closed the locked door behind her and I waited in the kitchen until I heard his car leave the driveway before I stepped back into the living room. I only waited twenty minutes for Esme to return, I unlocked the door for her and she offered me a smile.
"Do you think he'll be back?" I asked and I saw her eyes light up briefly. She ignored the question at first and stepped past me to sit on the couch.
"I would think so," Esme answered patting the couch with her hand. "I hope so anyway."
"You're taken with him aren't you?" I asked crossing my arms. "You want me to steal him away and…"
"Love him," Esme interrupted, but we were both thinking similar things. "I want to see my sons happy, well the two that are currently smitten with mortals."
"So you think Edward is as well?" I asked, but she ignored me again seeming to be in thought. I wondered how many times she worried about us, her children, throughout the day. Here lately, I assume she would be constantly, Edward running away to Canada for a few days and I fighting the urges to kill some man from Maine.
Two hours later Forks High school dismissed for the day, I had skipped my last two classes out of fear. I hoped it was over between Marcus and I, I didn't think I could stand anymore surprise appearances from him. Esme had went back to the table to clean up what she had been working on. It was yet another scrap book, but this time of the time when we remodeled the house we're currently staying at. Moving around a lot, Esme liked to take pictures of her work, she was really good at it. She never wanted to do it professionally though, and she never put the homes we had up for sale either. They just sat neglected and she absently hoped that they would decline in structure over the years. So that when she returns she can start new on it with a different vision all together.
"They're home," Esme said, entering the living room where I was watching sports bloopers. It didn't take them long to enter the living room, they all looked at me with studied expressions. Only Alice knew what had happened so she walked over to me and patted me on the shoulder. Edward was missing, but we wouldn't be discussing anything until Carlisle left the hospital and that would be in an hour still.
"Where's Edward?" I asked looking at Alice who was about to take a walk with Jasper. They liked to spend their time alone in the treetops, over looking the forest. It also let her be more in tune with the people around us, over reaching so no surprises could happen.
"Talking to Bella, but he'll be in shortly they keep having disagreements," Alice answered, "I'll be in when Carlisle gets in so we can have the talks."
"Right," Esme said sliding her scrap booking into the cabinet under the sink that we never used.
"I don't see why a talk is necessary," Rose countered crossing her arms. "Nothing can go forward with the two of them and it not be a bad idea."
"That's for a later discussion Rose, when Edward is here," Esme breathed in a soothing tone. Emmett had already started prodding Rose to go up stairs with him, but she hesitated glaring at Esme – who pretended not to notice.
"Emmett," I said stopping them at the bottom of the stairs. "Do you two want to go hunting?"
"Again Sterling?" Emmett asked patting his stomach. "I'm still well fed from the last time."
"I'll go with you Sterling," Esme said shooting a glare at Emmett who shrugged his shoulders and kept walking with Rose up the stairs. Esme turned to me then and rolled her eyes, taking my hand and leading me out of the front door. We didn't go far, knowing Carlisle and Edward was due back shortly. "Is it getting any easier?"
"It actually is," I stated looking over the corpse of a small white tail deer. Esme hadn't hunted, and wasn't going to. She was just there for the company, and to keep me out of any trouble that may arise in my heightened state of agitation. "I've become a problem for you guys though, I think."
"How so?" She asked putting her arm around me and dusting my shirt. I looked down and saw that it was covered in deer hair and dirt. I sighed and helped her clean myself up. I was getting a bit sloppy in my hunting practices as well. I was afraid that if a human ventured into the woods around me, I would slip. Then it would take a few months or even years to get those urges worked back into some sort of control. Human blood was so intoxicating.
"The worrying I know you do," I explained shortly. She was already trying to disagree with me, but she didn't say anything aloud, which didn't help. She wasn't going to lie to me.
"Sterling I worry about a lot of things," Esme countered smiling. "I worry about Edward and Bella, Carlisle working in the hospital, the treaty, I can't help it, I'm a worrier."
"The treaty?" I asked my eyes narrowing at the word. It wasn't much of a treaty, but it kept everyone alive and settled. "Has Emmett and Jasper done something again?"
"No, no," She said rolling her eyes and walking with me back to the house. We both heard Carlisle's Mercedes pull into the garage followed by Edward's Volvo. The talks would be beginning as soon as we were in the living room. "Just old fears coming around here and there."
"You need to stop worrying, I would say it will make you wrinkle, but that's not the case," I stammered and she laughed elbowing me in the side.
"If I could get wrinkles and gray hairs I would most certainly blame some on you," Esme joked. "So you're off the hook."
"Thanks," I said holding the door open for Esme to enter. She walked straight to Carlisle and wrapped him into a hug. They greeted as if they hadn't seen one another in such a long time, although it was only a few hours. We had no scope of time and I was starting to understand the feelings we felt now.
"So you guys want to talk about me," Edward said defensively. He was sitting in the chair, making him the center of attention in the room.
Rosalie was sitting on the couch beside Emmett. Jasper and Alice sat on the floor in front of the television, which was turned down really low. We barely watched it as it was, but we hardly ever turned it off. Esme took a seat next to Emmett and I sat on the arm beside her, looking over Edward's expression. He seemed pretty hostile about the ambush, but he had to know it was coming as well. Carlisle stood in the middle of the circle we made, looking over his family one at a time.
"Please talk about your concerns," Carlisle stated then he walked over to stand behind the couch. He placed both his hands on Esme's shoulder, massaging them, but he was looking at Edward still. We hadn't had many of these discussions, and none of them were about loving humans. Most, but not all of them had been about where to move next, where to go to school.
"I think we should stay clear of the two humans," Rosalie said breaking the silence. She shot me a look and I crossed my arms, now sharing similar expressions that Edward had just a few seconds ago. I was all prepared to ignore my feelings, no matter the cost and I hated being linked into Edward's problem although it was the same.
"She thinks it's too dangerous to get involved," Emmett added when Rosalie shot him a glare. It wasn't enough to satisfy her, so she turned to Edward ready to argue more.
"I'm not out of control Rosalie," Edward hissed reading her thoughts. "I'm trying to stay away from her."
"Trying is too much to ask," Carlisle countered gently. Rosalie was about to say something, but he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not practical, being around them like that," Jasper stammered. Alice shot him a glare, which he shied away from.
"I don't see either of them being in any danger," Alice offered smiling. "At least neither Edward nor Sterling have decided to harm them, its actually the opposite."
"I feel very protective of Bella," Edward whispered sounding ashamed.
"And that will lead to trouble," Rosalie grunted shaking her head. "We can't do this right now, we're so close to being completely settled here. Don't mess this up over a dumb girl."
"Rosalie," Esme groaned leaning over Emmett to look at her. "Bella isn't a dumb girl, she's probably a nice girl."
"Edward can keep his distance," Carlisle said with a hint of finality. "I trust his judgment, he has the family's interest first. Sterling as well."
"Thanks Carlisle," Edward offered standing. Rosalie wasn't satisfied, but we all knew the discussions were over at that point. "I will do my best."
"We know," Carlisle said patting Edward on the shoulder when he walked by and out the front door. It was getting dark outside and I wasn't sure where he was going. I looked at Alice, she looked amused so I didn't worry.
"So brother," she said turning back to me. "Get a surprise in Art class?"
"Yeah," I said, "were you aware of it?"
"No, he didn't make up his mind until after I was in class," Alice said shrugging. "I knew he was in the school though, I really thought Miss Carver would've kept your schedule secret."
"Right," I rolled my eyes. "He's going back to Maine though, so we won't be bothered."
"Pity," Alice sighed. Rosalie hissed as she walked up the stairs with Emmett following behind her. Emmett let out a laugh, but it was muffled when Rosalie punched him in the gut. It sent him flailing backwards down the stairs.
"Oh come on!" Emmett bellowed, "Don't worry about them Rose."
"Contrary to her actions Brother, she does want you happy," Alice whispered leaning towards me. I smiled mentally thanking Rosalie for her opinions; they kept me thinking about the family. If they had all been accepting of these new feelings it would most definitely be difficult to keep from slipping.
"I know," I sighed. "Its nice hearing the voice of reason though."
"If you say that's what she is," Alice countered offering me a sly smile. We both heard a groan followed by another muffled laugh from Rosalie and Emmett's room.
"He'll be on the couch before long," I joked.
"Definitely," Alice added looking thoughtful. "Of course it will never last, the monsters will destroy another bedroom."
"At least it gives Esme something to do," I shrugged looking towards the kitchen where Carlisle and Esme were holding one another again. It was a deep love that I had always been slightly jealous of, but now with Marcus on my mind it didn't seem that far out of reach.
"So you're going to see him this weekend?" Alice asked and I caught her shying away after she asked. The expression on my face must have been fierce, so I forced a smirk shaking my head.
"It was so much more private reciting things all the time," I prodded raising an eyebrow.
"But a lot less fun, you have an amusing mind Sterling," Alice whispered her eyes twinkling. "Even Edward thinks so."
"Right, a freak for you both to study," I hissed rolling my eyes. "Yes, this weekend I was planning to go watch over him."
"But not meet him, baby steps," she said smiling. "That's intelligent of you, do you want me to come with?"
"No," I stammered. "I think I'll be ok watching him from the outside."
"I can see that it's good so far," she shrugged knowing anything could change my mind once I arrive at his house. I felt that she was apprehensive about letting me go by myself, but she had faith in me to behave. I knew I wanted to keep a distance and I knew that it was easier if I did.
The next morning we all let out a sigh. Even though the ice and sleet didn't bother us, it just had an ominous look about it as we went to school. Ice on the road slowed us down, even with our reflexes rubber and ice just didn't mix all that well. Forks was also known for these types of storms, even though it was only mere weeks away from Spring break. It wasn't uncommon to get all four seasons in one day. Right now it looked like the middle of winter and the accumulated ice wasn't going to disappear any time soon.
"Watch out for Gym, Sterling, flag football," Alice shuttered and I rolled my eyes as we sat down at our table this morning. Edward was late to the table, but walked in a few yards behind Bella, after she had arrived at school. Rosalie let growl escape her soft lips and we all looked at her. She didn't apologize for the tiny outburst, but we were thankful that no one else seemed to hear it.
"Try to keep the growls to a minimum sis," Jasper instructed with an amused expression. "Can't have people thinking you're the bitch of the family."
"Let them," she hissed crossing her arms. It didn't take a mind reader to know that the thought amused her. She liked making people speechless with her beauty, but if she could scare them with her attitude as well it made it better.
"They think I'm weird," Alice sighed shaking her head. "I'm not weird am I?"
"No," Jasper and I answered in unison, but Emmett only stifled a laugh and Rosalie rolled her eyes.
"Don't lie to her we all know she's weird," Rosalie stated, but her tone was light, although the look she gave Alice made me wonder if she was sincerely joking.
"But you guys still love me," she said smiling unapologetically after reading all of our thoughts.
We all became quiet when Edward joined us at the table. Like yesterday he turned and let his stare fall upon Bella at her table. Bella always seemed to flush when she caught Edward staring at her. He seemed to enjoy the fact that her heart fluttered, we all sensed it, each of us feeling differently about the situation he was falling quickly into. I didn't like it, but I wasn't going to push him, knowing in my own mind I was about to do the same thing. Alice seemed the most at ease about Edward's fascination with Bella, but she had that right, knowing what he was deciding. Emmett of course, didn't care about it, until Rosalie stated her opinions and Jasper kept looking at the situation as a strict observer, not wanting to express too many opinions. He was afraid that he would offend Edward with his brutal, but logical honesty. We all knew he looked at things strategically, dripping with absolute logic. He only let that guard down around Alice, when she helped him. Logic told him that nothing good could come with being close to a mortal, a beating heart. We all shared that opinion in various degrees, even Edward.
"Edward at least let her sit through the morning with out breaking a sweat," Rose hissed snapping her delicate fingers. He shot her a look then looked around the table at the rest of us. When we all diverted our eyes he let out a sigh.
"She fascinates me," he stammered in a tight smile. "I know its all wrong, I'll do my very best to stay away."
"Rose is just cautious," Alice soothed, but didn't push Edward toward Bella no more than the rest of us.
"Well time for class," Edward said then stood and walked away from the table. We all looked at Bella, who watched him leave. I rolled my eyes and readied myself for the biggest illness to date, to get out of flag football. None of us knew what was going to happen later though, and it inevitably changed our world forever.