Chapter 4

Playing Pickle

I stared straight at him. "That would be awesome, I would love to meet her. Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

"I do think we are under control!" He laughed. "I don't think the Volturi will be a problem." He looked surprised at my fear.

"I am not putting it down." I spoke before I thought so I could get a word in. "You should ask Carlisle, he should be home in a little while!"

I changed my clothing to meet Bella. I grabbed a gray tee shirt with Woodstock from the Peanuts on the front wearing antlers. I put it with a corduroy yellow short skirt. I put on my yellow high-tops on. I had traded my Red's hat for a yellow knit headband. I still kept the braids. I looked nice, like a normal teenager. I would just have to sneak past Alice in this. She would throw a fit and have me change in a heartbeat. I jumped at the sound of her voice behind me. She had climbed in the window, damn it.

"I can't wait for you to meet Bella officially. I just know we are all going to be great friends." She looked me over. "You are wearing that?"

"I like this outfit! You bought it."

"It isn't nice enough." She dug in my closet for a pair of nice straight leg, acid wash jeans. A taupe colored blouse with heart shaped dots all over it with a scarf around the neck and was synched at the bottom. She threw me a pair of hot pink ballet flats and a black head band. It was cute. I just wouldn't have chose it for myself. She took my braids out before I went into the other room to change.

While I was changing I could hear Carlisle's voice with Alice. "Alice, Esme needs you downstairs to help out with the food!" He was calm in his voice inflection.

"Bella makes Edward so happy, I haven't seen him this happy ever before. He has always been so lonely." She seemed excited. Esme's dainty footsteps were heard in a hurry.

"I do worry about the vision you have seen Alice!" Esme said with anxiety. Why was my room now the hub of activity? "I don't know what to think about it."

I started brushing through my now kinky hair. It was pretty long, half way down my back. I liked my hair. It was the only thing I liked about myself. Compared to others I was beautiful, but to me, I was still an awkward teenager who hadn't developed in anything. I listened to the conversation as it changed.

"I am also curious about the one vision you had of Tabitha." Carlisle said with intrigue. "Have you ever seen who it is in the vision with her?"

Alice replied. "No, it just goes blurry."

I wished that everyone would just forget this whole vision. That stupid vision was driving me mad.

"We are sorry to get at you with all of these visions. We just want everyone happy." Esme said with traces of love in her voice.

Why would they worry about that. I am perfectly happy. I have a family, friends, plenty of hunting. Something then clicked in my brain, what if they wanted me in love so that my entirety would be taken up so they wouldn't have to take care of me. They didn't want me. I tried hard not to break down. I needed to get through the rest of the day for Ed's sake.

I slipped down the stairs. I brought my book with me to try to pass the time. I sat in one of the sitting rooms. The tan couch was longer than I was and I always felt small on it. Everyone else was working on something, other than Rosie and Emmet. Rosie wanted nothing to do with Bella. She was so jealous that Bella had a life and Rosie never would have a life again. I understood. I wouldn't have chosen this for myself. Still, I had a better life now than when I was alive. I have love in this family, or so I believe. I don't know whether or not to trust anyone. Suddenly through my contemplation, I smelled what must have been Bella. It was sweet, almost floral. I liked it. Good thing I had hunted on Friday. I heard footsteps followed by what must have been Bella's voice.

I ran behind the doorway to the front room. I wasn't sure what to do so I just sort of hid in the doorway. I watched as Carlisle and Esme were introduced. Carlisle knew her, but Esme had never met her. Esme and I were the only ones who had never met her. "Carlisle, Esme," Ed said breaking a small moment of silence. "This is Bella!"

"You're very welcome Bella!" Carlisle said shaking her hand cautiously.

"It is nice to see you again Dr. Cullen." Bella said politely.

"Please call me Carlisle!"

"Carlisle!" Bella replied smiling.

Esme stepped forward and took Bella's hand. "It's very nice to know you!"

"Thanks it is glad to know you!" Bella said almost in awe.

Ed asked where the rest of us were. Alice ran in from the door on the other side to Bella. Alice kissed Bella on the cheek and everyone in the room stiffened. "You do smell nice, I never noticed before."

We knew Alice would never let anything happen but still, you never know. Jasper stayed back at a distance behind her. Jasper said hello. His backward shy act was only to protect Bella. He had only been a Veggie Vampire for a little while. I had been a vampire for less, but I had been a vegetarian for my whole vampire life. I slipped up once during my first year, I regret it. I have vowed never to do it again.

"Ok Little Tabitha, You can come out. You won't bite!" Ed said laughing.

I figured if Jasper could do it, so could I. I had just made the entire night with a bunch of good smelling teens without a hitch. I could make it now! I awkwardly walked in. I wished I had my braids in. I played with my Red's hat in my hands behind my back.

"Hello, nice to meet you Bella!" I held my breath as I spoke.

She smiled. "Nice to meet you Tabitha. You are the one who likes the rock music?" We shook hands while I laughed and nodded my head. I stood back and Esme put her hands on my shoulders. "It's so nice to meet you all. You have such a beautiful home."

"Thank you!" Esme said with her hands still on my shoulders. "Were so glad that you came."

They talked about the piano and how Ed could play. She was thrilled. We left to give the two some privacy. They seemed so in love, weird for only meeting only a little while ago.

I went in the other room to read. I loved the sound of the piano mixed with the smell of Bella. My reading was interrupted by the most wonderful sound. Thunder shook the house. I impulsively yelled loud enough for the entire house to hear, the first thing that came to my mind, "Baseball!"

I changed into my Cullen Baseball Uniform. Alice had put them together for fun. She customized them to each member of the family. Mine was a regular blue baseball shirt with the number 8 on the back. I was the eighth Cullen to join the family, so obviously that was my number. I had a blue skirt that had a white line in the front in the shape of a z. Underneath the skirt was a pair of tighter blue sweat pants. I grabbed some blue converse and my Red's hat. I braided my hair so it would stay out of the way. I love baseball. When I was alive with my dad, I was a complete tomboy and would play baseball with the boys on my street. My dad had taken me to many games.

We made it to the field we always used. We started setting up. Ed came last carrying Bella. She looked a little sick from the ride. He set her down gently and lovingly made sure she was ok. They were so in love.

Bella stuck close to Esme who was the umpire. She had to because of the one day we may have cheated. Ok, maybe we did cheat. Once or maybe twice.

I got ready to play. I was on Emmet, Rosie, and Jasper's team. Jasper was catching for now. When it was his turn to hit, I would be catcher if I wasn't on a base. It wasn't my best position, I actually played first, like Ted Clezusky. Alice was pitching for the other team consisting of Alice, Ed, and Carlisle. Emmet was up first to bat. After one strike Emmet hit it into the trees. Bella thought it was a homerun, but Ed of course got it. I started warming up, I was up next.

I made it up to the plate. Alice threw the ball. It was a little fast. Everyone knows I don't go for the homeruns. I just try to get on base. I bunted the ball, it went past Ed and I made it to first. I tried to round to second but I got caught in a pickle. I went back and forth as Carlisle threw the ball to Ed and vise versa. It went faster and faster. I finally took my chance to get past Ed by somersaulting over him in mid air over him onto the base. I didn't try outrunning Ed to third. He is the fastest in our family. The rest of the game was awesome. Ed and Jasper hit each other in mid air. I got Carlisle out on first. I even did several back handsprings onto home plate when Emmet got a home run and I was the first one home.

The game went on until while Ed was catching, and Carlisle was hitting. Alice had stopped what she was doing and her face went blank. She had a vision, we knew it.

Ed called out to her.

"I didn't see-I couldn't tell!" Alice stammered shaking.

She explained that the visitors she had seen weeks ago were coming now. Bella was here, this was not good. Carlisle suggested that Ed carry her back. That was put down as it would only entice them more. Emmet reassured us that if they threatened us, we could take them. There were only three. We made Bella take her hair down, she still smelled amazing.

We played a little more quietly acting like nothing had ever happened. Everyone came in, playing in the infield. I had caught the ball mid air after Carlisle hit it right to me, when everyone in my family, stared at the clearing.

Then they emerged.

They came forward. The first one, who was large, blonde, fairly buff, stepped out in front, but let the next out in front. The apparent leader was dark skinned with disgusting dread locks hanging from his head. The last to emerge was a beautiful woman, she had long red wavy hair with leaves stuck in it. They were ruggedly dressed and barefoot. They walked almost in slow motion. They kept aware of our coven. I went with the rest of my family into an almost defensive position. I played around with the baseball in my hands throwing it from hand to hand.

Carlisle greeted them. Jasper and Emmet flanking him. Rosie stood behind them I stood with her in front of Esme and Alice. Ed with his hands holding Bella's at the end. Rosie looked at me noticing my tough act and almost laughed as the one with the dreads spoke. Esme put one of her hands on my shoulder almost telling me to relax, but I felt the tension in her hand.

"We thought we heard a game!" He said with an accent that I thought was French. "I am Laurent, these are Victoria and James. He referenced to the woman and the man.

"I am Carlisle, this is my family, Emmet and Jasper, Rosalie and Little Tabitha, Esme and Alice, Edward and Bella." I had gotten used to the fact Carlisle would never call me by anything but, Little Tabitha. Ed and Esme had caught on to the habit. It drove me nuts. I was surprised he mentioned Bella, but if he didn't, wouldn't that draw more attention.

Carlisle and Laurent had some small talk about being veggie vampires. I kept my eye on the other two who were eyeing us, almost sizing us up. The one called James had looked over to me laughing. Laurent had promised that they wouldn't hunt on our territory. I smelt the floral smell that I desired for badly. I looked over to Bella, her hair had been caressed by the wind.

James sniffed the air. He crouched in hunger. Ed stiffened and let out his frightening defensive growl.

"What is this?" Laurent asked clearly surprised.

Neither Ed nor James left their positions. It felt like a blur of anger flushed through my body as James spoke the words with sarcastic appetency. "You brought a snack!"