Ch 2: Meeting of an old friend
Edward smiled slightly. His newly made friends, Nikki, Mika, and Korum were bustling around his family's huge kitchen. Esme was helping them make a small dinner for their sister, apparently she was human of sorts. He wondered if sending Jasper had been the best idea, but Nikki had insisted.
Edward sensed Jasper's mind just before he heard the car. Jasper was completely comfortable, relaxed, and frighteningly contented. He could hear it in his thoughts. 'She's an interesting young thing,' his brother was thinking, 'Her emotions are so warm and so strong.' Jasper must have sensed his confusion because he thought, 'Hello Edward. Do me a favor, look into Miss Kallie's mind for me.'
He let his mind find the mental pattern of his usually quiet brother's companion. Her mind made him feel warm, like he was sitting beside a fire. 'He's absolutely lovely. Bloody hell that accent, that southern lilt. Could he smell that it aroused me? How embarrassing… Stupid vampires and their stupid amazing sense of smell. Speaking of smell, he smells amazing, better than my brothers anyway. Good lord I'm about to spend the evening with a bunch of vampires, it's ok Kallie, it's ok. Just keep breathing. Vampires or no your brother's are good men, they wouldn't let you be harmed. And as odd and this man is I almost trust him too.' They were now walking up to the front door, he could see from her eyes Jasper open the door for her. 'Great Mother Goddess, he's such a gentleman… Men aren't like that anymore, he's got to be as old as me, if not older…'
He heard his father introduce himself. "Hello Miss Kallie. We've heard so much about you. I'm Carlisle, Dr. Carlisle Cullen."
'Cullen… Dr. CULLEN!' He felt her mind become a haze of anger and her thought became a mess.
He switched to Jasper's mind, 'She's almost angry… why is she angry at meeting Carlisle…' Edward blinked and walked swiftly into the room as he heard her voice for the first time.
"Dr. Cullen, how nice to meet you again." Her voice met his ears like a hammer hitting a bell, ringing and reverberating in his mind, bringing back memories and emotions long dead. "You probably don't remember me, or my best friend who died in your care. It was after all over 90 years ago." The hate in her voice made it sharp as a knife, he knew Carlisle was confused.
"Kallie!" he called, suddenly his body reacted without thought. He pulled himself from Bella's gentle grasp, rushing into the other room and pulling the young woman into his arms. He spun her around, laughing. "Little Kallie!"
Jasper stared as his brother spun the small woman in his arms, laughing. His joy was almost overwhelming. Edward set Kallie on the ground and stepped back, smiling. Jasper felt her confusion, and Bella's annoyance, and Carlisle's bemusement. And suddenly a sudden rush of joy and love overwhelmed him.
"EDWARD!" Kallie launched herself into his brother's arms and then suddenly broke down into tears. "I thought you were dead. I thought I'd lost my best friend so long ago."
Edward laughed, "Kallie, I am dead." Ad the woman in his brother's arms gave a choked little laugh. "But, no, you didn't lose me. I just…"
The woman straightened and wiped her eyes, blushing, "went on walk about for a while?" She finished for him, smiling. She turned to Carlisle. "You saved him?" his father nodded. Edward stepped out of her way as she flung herself at Carlisle, laughing. "Thank you so much. Can you ever forgive me for hating you all these years?"
He felt Edward's amusement and wondered what she had left unsaid. Nikki laughed, "I KNEW I remembered that name from somewhere. Isn't He the man you've been planning to bring back to life just so you can kill him for letting your best friend die?"
He felt Kallie's embarrassment as her cheeks flushed. Slowly she released Carlisle. Edward choked on a laugh then pulled Kallie toward Bella.
"Kallie, this is my mate, Bella." Kallie looked Bella over, her eyes clearly showing her distrust. Jasper felt her run through a list of emotion, finally settling on wary friendship.
He could feel Bella's instant distrust and jealousy. But Kallie threw herself at Bella as well and laughed, hugging her. "I'm so happy he found someone!" She pulled away from the stunned Bella and smiled. "Next time you get married I want to be a bride's maid, no if's and's or but's. Ok?"
Bella finally laughed, startled. "Sure." She eyes the small girl before asking, "You don't mind?" Kallie looked confused. "You're not… jealous?"
Kallie suddenly burst out laughing, her amusement making Jasper smile as he leaned back and watched the situation unfold. "Me… jealous? Gods NO! Edward was years older than me when he was changed. And I loved him like a brother, always have… I mean… EW he's like FAMILY." She gave a little shudder and then smiled playfully back at Edward, "No offense and all, Ed."
Edward smiled, "None taken, I know exactly how you feel."
And then Kallie's stomach growled and everyone laughed.
Emmett watched as the young woman, Kallie, played Guitar Hero against her brother, Mika. Surprisingly enough she was winning the battle. She was lovely, in his eyes she was prettier than even Rose, not that he'd ever tell Rose that. Her hair glittered and flowed down her back in waves, she'd let it out after eating her small dinner. The rain had finally ceased and night had fallen quickly, but the moon remained hidden behind the clouds. Kallie laughed and danced around after she beat her brother.
"I am the Guitar Hero champ, no one can beat me." She said, laughing.
Finally Emmett too her up on her challenge, smiling. "I'll bet you anything I can beat you."
She smiled evilly and met his eyes with her bright green ones. "Anything?" He nodded. "Fine, what do you want if you win?"
It was his turn to smile evilly. "I'll take…" he glanced at his brothers. Jasper had kept his eyes on her all night, and while Edward was enraptured with Bella he knew he'd do anything to protect his long lost friend, Ed was just like that. He figured he'd just go ahead and risk it, it wasn't like her blood called to him… "I'll take a kiss,"… just her lush lips. He wondered if she was as soft and warm as she looked.
He watched her think about it, eyeing him slowly. "Well you're good looking enough. Sure, if you win you can have a kiss. If I win…" she grinned, "if I win I get to … paint you're jeep."
He bit his cheek, not sure if he dared. Jasper laughed, and spoke quietly to the room, "He's not sure he wants to anymore. He absolutely loves his jeep." Jasper met Kallie's eyes, smiling. "What color did you have in mind?"
Edward began cackling, even as she answered, "Oh… I don't know yet." That was enough for him, Emmett smiled and offered her his large hand.
"Sure, we've got a deal."
"Deal," she repeated as she placed her small hand in his. He allowed her to shake his hand but his entire being was focused on the searing but pleasurable heat of her small hand in his, on the extremely fragile feel of her, of how her small, soft little hand molded perfectly with his large, hard hand. He knew Jasper was glaring at him, but he ignored his brother. If Jasper didn't want to feel his lust then Jazz could just leave.
She pulled her hand away and he almost pouted, wanting nothing more than to take her hand back. Instead he focused on winning the battle so he could kiss her. He wondered if her lips were even softer and more yielding than her hands…
Jasper wanted to growl when Emmett shook her hand. Kallie ignited in his brother lust so strong it nearly knocked him over. Then a sudden realization shook him, preventing his reaction. 'Typical,' he thought, 'it's LUST. I feel LUST for her…'
He watched as Kallie settled down and chose the song. He watched as she half danced while she played, shifting from side to side, her hips constantly in motion. She licked her lips or nibbled on them while she played. And she played well.
Emmett, however, seemed to be focusing more on the little red-head than he was the game. Jasper could feel the lust rolling off his brother, adding to his own. He knew Edward was glaring at them, but he couldn't help it, she was… exquisite.
Obviously Kallie won. She laughed and danced around, smiling evilly. "So…" she said, playfully, and Jasper could feel her joy and her mischievousness, "I was thinking… maybe… hot pink?" Emmett roared and Kallie laughed.
