Disclaimer: I do not own any rights whatsoever to these characters, they are the property of Stephenie Meyer. Well, I will claim the geese.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews on the previous chapter, I decided to add another one! I hope you find it as enjoyable – I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I've gone through a few drafts of this, mostly during Ethics class as the Prof is dead boring. As always, let me know what you think and what can be done to make it better. Thanks!
"What are they doing here?" Bella asked pointing across the large parking lot to three figures.
Edward frowned. "They seem to be here to help."
Before Edward had even fully parked, Bella jumped out of her car and repeated her previous question to the group. Emmett simply laughed.
"Well, Carlisle is here for when you bang yourself up. Alice thought it would be beneficial if Jasper came along to keep you calm. And I'm here - "
"Emmett!" Edward growled, but Emmett only smiled.
"I was just going to say that I am here for moral support!"
Considering Edward didn't let up his glare, Bella figured that Emmett must have been thinking something else entirely. Then she saw Edward's face go into shock.
"They are only geese!"
"They're evil! They deserve what's coming," Emmett said, crossing his arms like a petulant child and looking away. Bella followed his gaze and noticed a lower parking lot surrounded by green space that was littered with Canadian geese. They didn't look perturbed in the least which Bella found interesting considering vampires were close by. Maybe they don't have any sense of self preservation either. She was startled from her musings when Edward started to laugh. Everyone but Emmett seemed curious over the change in attitude.
"Can we please get to my driving lesson? At this rate, I will never learn to drive my own car."
Edward simply smiled and went over to open the driver's side door. When Bella reached him, he handed her the keys and was situated in the passenger seat before she had her seatbelt buckled.
"What was that about?" Bella asked, starting the car. Edward had already walked her through everything on the way to the lot, now she just had to actually do it.
"It seems Emmett has a human memory that has not faded. Apparently getting attacked by a goose was the worst experience he has ever had," Edward smirked at the thought before turning serious again. "You remember what I explained on our way here, right? Press the clutch down, shift into first, then gently let up on the clutch while pressing down the accelerator."
Bella nodded and did as told. Concentrating on being slow, the car started to rev.
"OK, when you hear the revs you can let the clutch go slowly, but don't press the accelerator any farther."
As Bella's foot came off the clutch, the car screeched before popping forward. Startling her, her other foot slipped off the accelerator. The car suddenly bucked back before stopping and turning off. It took Bella a minute to collect herself before she asked Edward what had happened.
"You let the clutch go too fast and then took your foot off the accelerator. Try again and keep things slow, okay?"
So Bella tried again. And again. The car jumped forward, bucked back, burned rubber, and screeched but after a half hour the car had only made it a few feet from its starting point. With every try, Bella saw Emmett in the distance laugh even harder. Even Edward was trying to keep from smiling and laughing at points. If Jasper wasn't there to keep her calm, she was sure she would have jumped out of the car and at least kicked it, or better yet, get a hammer and beat it to death. She was positive the car had its own agenda and she missed her old truck more than ever.
"Edward, I really don't think I'm going to get the hang of this," she said with a sigh.
"You'll get it, love. It's just a bit tricky at the beginning but once you can get the car into first gear, the rest is easy, I promise.
Bella took a few calming breaths before preparing herself and trying again. She didn't expect the car to actually go forward this time. A grin broke across her face as she looked at Edward. "I did it!"
Edward joined in her excitement, laughing slightly. "See the tachometer and how you're nearing 3? Shift into second – same as before, push the clutch in, shift, and lightly let go while pressing the accelerator down." A slight shudder ran through the car as Bella shifted to second. "It's okay, you just shifted a little late and let the clutch go too fast. You're fine, keep going."
The break through seemed to be just what Bella needed. She started catching on quickly after that. They made it there way to the lower parking lot. When she seemed to be confident in her abilities to get into first, Edward suggested they try starting from a hill.
"It's the same as what you have been doing, it will just be startling when you roll backward. Just concentrate on getting into first and don't worry about the rolling."
Once on the hill, Bella felt a wave of calm wash over her and was grateful that Jasper had tagged along. Despite being warned, Bella was a bit startled to start rolling back. After not getting into first immediately, she slammed onto the brakes.
"It's okay, try again," Edward assured. On her next try though, Jasper's thoughts broke into Edward's head.
Watch for the goose!
"Bella, stop!" Edward looked behind to see a Canadian goose a bit too close. A thud was heard as Bella stopped. She stared wide eyed at him.
"I didn't just -"
"I think so," Edward said grimly.
Bella gulped. Having rolled down the hill, she was able to move the car forward before getting out and surveying the damage. By then, Carlisle, Emmett and Jasper had joined them.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention and when I looked up I saw the goose," Jasper apologized to Edward and Bella.
"Is it dead?" Bella asked. She had never hit anything before. Edward placed a comforting arm around her.
"Well, I'm not a veterinarian, but I think he's okay, just stunned," Carlisle explained to Bella. Next to her, she felt Edward stiffen.
"Emmett, don't poke the goose with a stick!"
Everyone turned back to Emmett and the goose, but it was too late. The goose started to stir before suddenly jumping up. Emmett froze as the goose turned to him. Honking indigently, the goose began flapping its wings and lunged toward Emmett. A shriek emitted before he dropped the stick and ran. Despite the powers of vampire speed, the goose went off into the direction Bella assumed Emmett went, honking all the way. Another goose joined and followed.
"I don't think he's going to be back anytime soon," Edward informed the group.
"I wouldn't imagine so. He managed to upset not only that goose, but its mate as well. They won't let up on the chase anytime soon, especially since it is nesting season and they have perceived him as a threat," Carlisle mused.
Bella looked a little uncomfortable before turning to Edward. "Um...why doesn't he just, you know, attack the goose?" She was surprised when Edward laughed considering he normally didn't like Bella asking such questions.
"There are some creatures not even we will go after. Geese are more trouble than they are worth," Jasper explained, chuckling.
"I think it's time we head home," Edward said, giving Bella's shoulder a light squeeze.
"Can I drive home?" Bella asked excitedly. She felt like a new driver who had just passed their driving test.
"I think you can manage, it's mostly flat."
"OK, let's go! I don't want to be here when the geese returned," Jasper added. A collective shudder went through the group before they turned to go their separate ways.