Chapter 10: Chanciness & Sanctuary

The car stopped, it had taken a while to arrive at the Cullen house. Bella reached for the door but before she could, fully open the door, Carlisle was already pulling open the door.

"You're pretty spry for an old guy." Bella said as she stepped out of the car, laughing Carlisle said, "You're only as old as you feel kiddo."

Alice gripped her free arm, leaning in she whispered in to Bella's ear, "Sometime's he's so old fashioned, I wonder what century he was born in."

Smiling, Bella couldn't resist Alice's happy attitude, "I know what you mean. My mom is a hippy at heart." She said softly in her raspy voice.

"Come on let's get inside, so I can show you around."She took Bella's bag from her, "Carlisle?"

Releasing Bella's arm she said, "I know you'll absolutely love mom!"

Alice lead Bella in to the home, She paced herself allowing Bella to count the number of steps it took to get from the Mercedes on to the front porch, then described everything to her like it was routine for her to have a visually impaired person visit their home. "First of all this is a huge house, well some would call it a mansion. But we call it home."

She led Bella up the few steps, "we're on the front porch, there's a chair swing some chairs, and it wraps around the house and is covered for shade." Bella heard the front door open, "Girls I'll set your things in the living room." Carlisle said.

"Well come on, Let me give you a tour of the first floor." Bella gasped, "Just how big is your home?" she asked.

"Oh well it's about three stories, without the basement. Four if you count that." Alice leaned over and in a stage whisper "we really don't count the basement." She laughed.

"Ok Well let's get this show on the road, we're in the foyer, it has a staircase that is straight ahead about twenty feet, and a little to the left, to the right is the passage way that leads to the dining room, and then straight in to the kitchen. There are other rooms here but they're mostly the utilities room and a couple of bedrooms and mom and dad's offices. If you head straight you'll walk straight through to the back yard"

"Both the kitchen and the living room have another exit or rather they opens up to this hallway on the other side of the stairs, there was a door and a couple of walls but Esme really wanted an open floor plan. So she remodeled."

Alice chirped, "If you turn to the left." She felt Alice's cold little hands turn her around. She led her to a room just off to the right of the front door, "This is the living room, it's kind of big… I'd say around fifty feet by sixty with vaulted ceilings and a large glass wall on the southern side."

"Wow it sounds amazing, what are the colors?" Bella asked, "Well let's see mostly light colors, pale like tans, beige taupe, and cocoa type colors, with color accents on the pillow's curtains chairs."

Alice led her in to the large living room, "We have an entertainment center here and also in the family room. Perks of having siblings who don't like to share and who love to play against each other online."

Bella found herself in front of a large sofa, she settled down on the edge but was tempted to lean back and make herself comfortable. "Make yourself comfy, we'll be here all day." Alice said, "Hi Esme!" Bella didn't hear the entrance of who she guessed was Carlisle's wife.

"Come meet Isabella Swan, she just moved here. I kidnapped her from her first day from school." Alice said cheerfully, "I knew she wouldn't have a great day without meeting me so I dragged Carlisle over to make a daring rescue." Esme's melodic laughter immediately calmed her.

She started to stand but was halted by the melodic voice. "Hello Isabella, I'm Esme Carlisle's wife and mom to Alice and the rest of the crew."

Bella felt the space next to her sink as Esme sat next to her and gave her a quick hug. Esme's perfume filled the space; it was sweet and had a small bit of spice. Bella felt herself relaxing in her presence. Usually when meeting new people her nerves would send her in to an anxiety attack. But with the Cullen's she immediately felt at ease. "Don't mind Alice, she has Carlisle wrapped around her tiny fingers, it drives her brothers crazy." She heard Alice murmur something to someone else in the room.

"You can call me Bella. I think the only people who call me Isabella are mom and dad and only when I'm in trouble." Bella laughed lightly, "I don't mind hanging out with Alice, and I'm happy to have a made a new friend here."

"Bella, I really do wish I could stay and get to know you better but the rest of the kids are expecting us. I'm really glad that you could keep stay with Alice while we're out for the day." Esme gently grasped Bella's hand and squeezed it.

"Alright girls, there are sandwiches and drinks in the fridge if you get hungry. We should be home around four thirty; the kids are planning to stay out a little longer." Esme gave her another quick hug, before standing,

"It was nice to meet you, Bella." She leaned down and in a whisper, "don't let Alice force you to do anything you don't feel comfortable with. At least her power pout doesn't work on you." Bella smirked, "Carlisle told you right?"

Laughing, "I can see why Carlisle was so eager to introduce you to Alice. You're very perceptive."

Bella heard the soft confident footsteps of Carlisle, "Are you ready dear?" he asked, with another gentle touch on her shoulder she said, "I'll see you later." With a light breeze and a whisper of fabric Esme left the room.

"So Bella, what do you want to do." Alice asked hesitantly, "We could watch movies or we could continue with the rest of the tour..." Her voice trailed off.

Bella smiled at the girl in front of her. "Well first of all let's get to know each other a little more." She laughed lightly, "I only know you as Dr. Cullen's daughter who loves to shop."

"Yep that's me and he spoils me rotten." She chirped, laughing Bella just said "I don't shop often I hate malls and I refuse to stay in a store longer than thirty minutes." Bella sensed the frown from across the couch. "I think", she said softly, "Maybe we can work out a compromise."

Bella found herself holding a bundle of energy, "I knew we'd be the best of friends" said the small figure in her arms. "uh… Alice can't...breathe." with a gasp she felt the strong arms of her new friend withdraw. "Oops." Alice said sheepishly.

"How about we figure out something to do?" Bella offered Alice clapped her hands together with glee. "No we're not making me over, I like how I'm dressed." Bella stated calmly. Alice calmly took her hand, "We'll get to that eventually, but for now let's break out the nail polish, some popcorn and a movie." she said confidently.

Bella felt the slight breeze as Alice slipped from the room, presumable to grab the items. She only hoped that what ever color Alice had in mind wasn't too wild.