Disclaimer: STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS THE TWILIGHT SERIES
The Cullen Car Curse - Chapter Two
EMPOV
"Trust me Bella; I've got the vehicle for you." We were on the highway into Anchorage. I was practically bouncing in my seat from excitement. Bella was going to love it!
"Emmett, I am just glad to be going over 80mph right now." Bella relaxed in her seat.
I chuckled. Bella had gotten over her aversion to speed in a nanosecond. She was always up for a race when we were out hunting. She had even beat Edward a couple of times, but of course he said he let her win. Liar.
Bella started fiddling with my iPod, checking out different tunes. Suddenly she giggled.
"I didn't know you liked Heart, Em." She smiled wickedly at me as Never began to play.
"W-what? Uh-uh, not me. I must have picked up Rosalie's iPod by mistake." I swallowed hard, trying to contain the diva in me.
"Right, whatever," Bella said knowingly. She began to sing the chorus.
We can't go on
Just running away
If we stay any longer
We will surely never get away
Anything you want…we can make it happen
I couldn't stand it anymore. So what if Bella knew my secret passion for girl bands? I had to belt it out!
Stand up and turn around
Never let them shoot us down
Bella and I sang in perfect harmony.
Never, Never
Never, Never run away
We continued singing all the way into Anchorage; Pat Benetar, Blondie, The Bangles, The Go-Go's. We sang them all. We were in the middle of We Got the Beat when I pulled into the dealership.
Bella's eyes got huge as she read the sign out loud.
"Hummer of Alaska." Bella looked a little faint.
"C'mon Bella, I promise you're going to like it." I turned my puppy dog eyes on her full force.
"Okay," she laughed. "But I just don't think a Hummer is very practical."
I cast a sweeping glance around the interior of the huge Jeep.
"Since when do Cullens go for practicality in cars, Bella?"
"Other than Edward and Carlisle, you're right Em," Bella agreed.
"Edward and Carlisle aren't practical either," I contradicted her. "The Volvo is just the 'low-profile' family car. Edward's real car is the Vanquish. You haven't even seen Carlisle's real car."
Bella pondered that for a minute. She took a deep breath and unhooked her harness. I came around to her side as she leapt gracefully to the ground.
"Promise to be my footstool if you talk me into buying this thing?"
"Of course, Bella, but you won't need me; we'll get you some side 'U' steps. Shorty." I ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Just because you are a humongous giant doesn't mean you get to make fun of me." Bella raced me at human speed into the dealership. I let her win.
A salesman walked right up to us the second we opened the door. Of course. Have you ever been in a car dealership where it took a salesman more than five seconds to get to you?
"How can I help you folks today?"
And that's always their opening line. So predictable.
"We'd like to look at the H2 Luxury, please." I didn't want Bella thinking she was getting out of here in anything less than a luxury vehicle. She was always protesting about how much money we spent on her. Sooner or later she'd figure out how much fun it was to carry around a Titanium AmEx.
"Yes sir. Right this way." The guy led us over to a gorgeous glossy black H2 with creamy russet leather seats. He opened the door and Bella peered in quickly before hopping up in the driver's seat.
"Oh, is the vehicle for your wife, sir?" I gaped at the sleazy salesman.
"Bella is not my wife." The guy gave me a knowing look.
"No, NO! Not like that. She's my little sister." I gave him a disgusted stare.
"Of course, sir. Anything you say. I'll let you and your little sister look over the vehicle for a few minutes while I get the keys." The creep walked away with a leer on Bella's direction. I wanted to squeeze his neck until his head popped like a pimple. I looked in on Bella laughing her ass off in the H2.
"He thought we were married?" She asked through her giggles.
"Actually he thought we were having a torrid affair."
That remark only made Bella laugh harder. I instantly felt my manly ego deflate.
"I know I'm not as handsome as your precious Eddie, but do you really think it's so far-fetched that we could be a couple?"
"Oh Emmett," Bella gave me a soft smile. "Of course you are handsome. It's just that Rosalie would kill me if she had heard what that guy said. And Edward would have killed him just for his thoughts. Plus, you're my big bro! He's just a perv."
"I was seriously considering it myself," I muttered darkly. "No one looks at my little sis like that."
"Good, now let's go test drive this baby!"
"You really like it?" I was sort of surprised Bella was taking to the H2 so quickly.
"What's not to like?" She shrugged. "I'm way up high, so I can see over everything. It's got new car smell instead of gross werewolf smell. What more do I want?"
Just then wet-blanket Eddie walked in. Dammit. Now we probably wouldn't even get to take the test drive. What a Debbie Downer he was. He walked over to me and Bella. She had turned away from him when she saw him coming and had her arms crossed in front of her chest. She looked seriously pissed.
"What do you want now, Edward?" Bella hissed.
"Bella please let me talk to you." He opened the passenger door and crawled in next to her. She wouldn't even look at him; her face a stony mask. I laughed to myself. I knew that face. Rosalie made the same one whenever I did something stupid.
"Bella, I am sorry. I just didn't want you to be embarrassed by Emmett. He can be a bit much to take when he goes car shopping." That was rude. I never tried to embarrass Bella.
"Emmett has been a perfect gentleman. I like having his input on my new car. In fact," Bella looked devious. "I'm going to let each member of the family take me car shopping and then I'll decide which one I like best."
"Hah!" I laughed. "In your face Eddie!" I knew he hated when I called him that.
"If that's what you want," Edward sighed, smiling crookedly at his wife.
"Yes," Bella smiled back. I could tell all was forgiven.
"Sooo, does that mean we still get to go for a test drive?" I asked excitedly.
"Yes Emmett, we get to go for a test drive." Bella grinned at my enthusiasm. I turned and whistled loudly to get the salesman's attention. His head whipped in my direction and he came running over with the keys.
"I see we have a new addition." The guy peered at Edward. "I never did get everyone's names." He looked at me first and held out his hand.
"Emmett," I said menacingly, gripping his hand a little harder than I knew I should. Wincing, he pulled his hand from mine.
"And this is the lovely Bella," he said leering at her again. Bella frowned and Edward growled too low for the idiot to hear him.
"Who might you be?" He asked Edward icily.
"I'm the 'lovely Bella's' husband," Edward snapped. The salesman straightened up and put on his most professional demeanor. He handed Bella the keys without a word and opened up the huge doors in front of us so she could drive it out. I got in the backseat and he climbed in next to me, shrinking away to the furthest point from my bulging muscles. He began to point out all the features to Bella as she drove around the lot of the dealership. Bella was enjoying herself; turning on the heated seats, messing with the temperature control, checking out the navigation screen. She took a few corners at high speed and I felt the sway in the top-heavy H2. Bella seemed rattled and turned back into the building shortly after. We all got out of the SUV and Bella turned to the salesman.
"Thank you for your help," she said politely. "Would it be possible to get a brochure and your card?"
The guy grabbed a brochure and clipped his card to it. I took it from him a little too quickly and he backed up. We walked out of the dealership before I burst out laughing.
"What's so funny Emmett?" Bella asked. I couldn't stop laughing, so I just handed her and Edward the sleazebag's card.They both cracked up as they read it.
Michael Newton – Hummer Specialist
A/N: If you don't know why that's funny, PM me and I'll tell you why as long as you can prove to me you're of age. Remember, links to pictures of all the cars are on my profile and the poll to choose Bella's new car will be up once all chapters are posted.