I took the ATV home, with Esme and the white board. I took it easy, Esme isn't to crazy about my ATV in general and is even less crazy about riding it herself, she trusts my driving, she just doesn't trust the quads.

But whenever we go to Rainier field to play baseball, football, etc, I always take the ATV there, to carry equipment mainly, and seriously I'll take any excuse for a chance to ride my ATV.

Of course we didn't beat the others home, fast as my quad is, it's nothing compared to how fast we can run, considering I have to stick to paths and they didn't.

There was no sign of the elusive sleeping human obsessed Edward, 'cept he had written on Emmett's note, 'sorry'.

I looked at it and shook my head and pulled it from the post, I was about to crumble it up but thought better of it instead I reached into my pocket and pulled out the marker Esme had been using on the white board.

I wrote 'don't apologize if you don't mean it'. I brought it up to our floor of the house and with scotch tape from my desk I posted it to his door.

It was immature to say, I know, but I was still focusing on how panicked Edward had gotten when Alice had told us Peter and Charlotte were coming to visit, and remembering that reaction had shown me that he didn't trust our friends and may possibly stop trusting us, choosing Bella Swan over our close friends and our even closer family.

I was on my way back to my room when the phone downstairs rang, my ears perked up for a second just out of habit, but I figured it was either for Carlisle regarding the hospital or Esme regarding her restoration.

Carlisle took a vacation from the hospital due to the sun, normally on these kind of rare times, he just focuses on the night shifts, but because of Peter and Charlotte's visit, he decided to take the few days the sun would be present as his vacation time.

He rarely takes time off, so the hospital gives him whatever time he asks for. But when one of the area hospitals calls, they don't know he's on vacation, so they'll call multiple times.

I was surprised though when Carlisle came up the stairs with the portable phone in hand and a knowing smile on his face.

"Chris, phone for you."

I raised an eyebrow, who could possibly be calling me…

"Who is it?" I asked

"Say hello and find out," he replied handing it to me, his smile growing. I took it giving him a confused look

"Hello?"

"Chris?" I know that voice it was Marie. I could've slapped myself, I forgot she had asked about calling me.

"Hey Marie," I replied,

"Hi, how are you feeling?"

"Much better, fever's down, my dad said I didn't have what my brother had I just had quick case of the flu wasn't contagious."

"That's good, you haven't missed much at school. Janet has been out for a couple of days too."

I rolled my eyes, I could only imagine why, but I found I was kind of curious, if only a bit.

"Why?" I dared to ask

"She sprained her ankle on Friday, Kent had his backpack on the floor in front of his locker, she apparently didn't see it and," face planted? I thought with a grin "and hit the floor hard."

I changed the tone of my voice to sound more sympathetic to Janet's plight, as nasty as she is to me and well to most people in our school, I wasn't on her level, I wasn't cruel. Besides, like it or not, she is one of Marie's friends.

"is she ok?" I asked

"She called me an hour ago, to tell me she'll be back tomorrow." Marie paused "are you going to be back tomorrow too?"

I grinned. ah, so subtle Marie.

"my parents want me to stay one more day home, trust me, I'm ready to come to school, I've been stuck in the house all weekend, my brothers went camping, I was supposed to go with them." I partially lied. "All I've heard since they got back is how much fun they had."

"I'm sorry you had to miss camping, but I'm glad your feeling better. Mrs. Brown asked me to tell you that we're reading what we have of our memoirs on Wednesday." Great I thought my living nightmare is complete. She paused and I could hear a question posed on the edge of her voice, "Chris…um…well, um, Wednesday is the Parent Teacher meeting,"

"Right,"

"Well, do you want to go into…go into Port Angles and catch a movie?"

My eyes went wide, didn't see that one coming.

"Um…I have to ask my parents, but yeah." I paused for a second "um, how are we getting there?" I asked, silently praying that she wouldn't ask if one of my siblings could drive us.

Edward would be out, Jasper I don't think could handle it, Alice and Rosalie would be awing and giggling the whole time, and I'd never hear the end of it from Emmett.

"Actually my grandmother is visiting for a week, and she offered to take me and a friend to dinner and then to the movies and well, I thought you'd like to go. Since you've probably been stuck inside all weekend."

Movie yeah, dinner, not so much I made a face thinking about having to choke down some food.

We got away with it at school, but at a restaurant, it might be a little bit of a problem. It would be obvious I wasn't eating and probably be disrespectful to Marie's grandmother. I'd just have to figure out some way to work it out, even if that meant actually eating whatever was put in front of me and just deal the disgustingness later.

"Um, sure, sounds like fun, I'll ask my parents and call you back in say an hour?"

"Ok, bye Chris,"

"Bye," I pressed the disconnect button and fell into my window seat with a sigh. It was now time, I had put this off long enough, I had to talk to Esme and Carlisle 'bout this.

Finding my parents wasn't difficult. Alice, Jasper, Peter, Rosalie, Emmett and Charlotte had taken over the family room with the TV and were playing some deranged version of Couples Jeopardy/ Trivial Pursuit/ Scene It,

So I had a feeling Esme and Carlisle were down in their room watching TV there; where it was not only quieter, but probably safer.

Things tended to get thrown when Emmett and Jasper play games like that…y'know, furniture, books, controllers, Me.

Yes, I have been thrown over the couch during an Emmett and me vs. Jasper and Edward game of Scene It.

Actually it was an accident.

The game turned into a wrestle match because Esme and Carlisle were off celebrating their anniversary down on Isle Esme and Rosalie and Alice had taken off to Paris for the weekend 'cause it was fashion week over there or something to that nature, so therefore no one was around to tell us to knock it off.

You know, no one with a sense of maturity to put an end to our horsing around, before it escalated into…well the insanity that it did escalate into.

Emmett answered a question wrong, I got it right he tried to tackle me apparently forgetting that we were teammates and therefore the point went to us anyways.

I saw it coming and dodged him, he was just kidding apparently but my reaction was enough to send me flying over the back of the couch, taking out a lamp on my way down. That was just the start of the insanity that lasted all night long.

The end result of that free-for-all was two more broken lamps, a torn carpet, a Emmett size indent in the wall, a broken coffee table, Edward's piano seeing it's long life flash before it's owners eyes (Emmett tripped over Jasper's feet and nearly fell into it, but managed to jump out of the way thanks to Edward tackling him), and a shattered glass sliding door (which I take full reasonability for since it was me who went through it), there was much more damage done to the house, but you get the picture.

It took us two straight days to clean it up so no one would know. Not that it worked in the end. Esme knew we were guilty, she knew we had done something destructive she just couldn't be sure what IT was.

So she interrogated us, one at a time, really applying the guilt until one of us finally caved, my bets are on Emmett, since I know it wasn't me, I know it couldn't have been Jasper he's too military minded to fall into her guilt, and Edward has known her the longest he wouldn't fall into that either.

Anyways, long story short she wasn't overly mad at us, mainly because we did clean up, she was just mad that we had wrestled in the house which she has forbade and the fact that we had tried to hide it.

Anyways…you add Peter into the mix and it's best to avoid the family room all together. He can be just as bad as Emmett and Jasper.

I gently knocked on the door first before pushing it open. The two of them were cuddled on their loveseat, enjoying the quiet time.

Esme was reading curled up against Carlisle who was partially watching the news and partially reading over Esme's shoulder. They both looked up when I slowly walked in and Esme moved closer to Carlisle to make room for me next to her.

I grinned and shook my head, silently telling her not to worry about that, as I made myself comfortable on the floor.

"So," Carlisle started, shutting off the TV, "who was it?"

"Friend from school," The two of the exchanged a knowing look as smiles appeared on their faces "it's not like that," I replied answering their look. "She wanted to know if I was sick and that's why I haven't been in school."

"Oh?" Esme asked, no one usually questions when we don't come to school on sunny days. Most people are under the impression that Carlisle and Esme take us out of classes to do family activities on rare nice days.

I lowered my head for a second, I hadn't told anyone about Marie catching me off guard and feeling my unnaturally cold hand.

Edward's the only one who probably knows, though my brother hasn't exactly been home to read my mind so what he knows and what he doesn't is up in the air.

"She kinda grabbed my hand on Thursday after class. I told her I was coming down with something. It was the only thing that I could think of."

My parents exchanged another look, before Carlisle shrugged

"Chris, it does happen, nothing to be ashamed of," he said with a smile "I've lost count of how many times I've made a patient shiver."

"Anyways, she was just calling to see how I was feeling." I took a deep breath "and to ask me a question."

"What was that?" Esme asked. I had done it now, her curiosity was ignited, and the mention of a girl, even a human girl sparked it.

"Well, y'know how that Parent Teacher thing is Wednesday, well Marie wanted to know if I wanted to go see a movie in Port Angeles that night, with her and her grandmother."

"I don't see why not Chris," Esme replied looking at Carlisle who nodded

"Marie Burke, yes? Her father is the football and basketball coach at the high school right?" Carlisle asked and I nodded

"Yeah"

I remembered Marie telling her friends that it was Carlisle who had reset her broken arm, but I was surprised to find out that he knew her father, even in a town this size.

"I see Coach Burke often, when one of his players comes into the emergency room."

"Oh yea," I chuckled.

The Spartans aren't exactly a world class football team, basketball yes, football, uh no not so much.

Marie wasn't kidding when she had brought up the point of the team doing better next year and actually score some touchdowns, with some new players.

"Chris, do you want to go?" Carlisle asked, his light tone replaced with a more serious one.

I shrugged

"I suppose" I sighed. "you guys don't find this odd at all?"

They chuckled

"Why would this be odd?" Esme said "it sounds to me she has a little crush on you. There's nothing wrong with that. And I for one am happy about this, there's nothing wrong with having a friend."

I was cautious with my next question

"You're not afraid this is going turn into what's going on with Edward?"

Both of my parents seemed surprised by that,

"Christian, come here." Esme said sternly. I stood up and slid into the seat next to her, sitting Indian style, facing my parents. "What is going on with Edward is completely different then having a friend." She gave me a look "have you profiled Marie?"

"Of course," I replied

"And?"

"And she fancies me, she's just to shy to say anything so she hints…"

"I believe it's called flirting," Esme corrected with a smile

"Ok, flirting, but the point is-"

"The point is this little girl obviously cares for you and wants to be friends." Esme interrupted

"Chris, as long as you are careful there is nothing wrong with having a human friend. There is no law saying that we can only associate with others of our kind." Carlisle finished "I have many friends at the hospitals and around the town."

"As do I."

"I don't think friend is what she has in mind. We're talking dating, holding hands… couple stuff." I retorted "stuff that isn't exactly gonna work out, especially the holding hands thing?"

"It was bound to happen," Esme started slowly "you are very handsome, and you are a very sweet and caring person, despite the persona that you insist on showing to the world. You are not the cold and loner kind of person that you make yourself out to be Christian. Perhaps Marie is just the first you actually noticed had those feelings for you. Considering we all know you try to tune your peers out."

I rolled my eyes

Carlisle cleared his throat before nodding his agreement with Esme.

"Just take it one step at a time." He said "It's just a movie right? And it's with her grandmother yes?" I nodded "just go and enjoy yourself, you haven't been to a movie in a while. And since you have been stuck inside sick all weekend" he gave me a smile "you need to get out."

"And this isn't like I'm, whatcha call it…leading her on?"

"Do you think you are?" Carlisle asked

"Yes." I replied, but the looks on their faces made me doubt that for a second "aren't I? Am I not technically doing that? I may not know the exact definition of the word, but I'm pretty sure that's what it's called."

Both my parents rolled their eyes, but not in a mean sarcastic kind of way, more of a sympathetic parental sense.

"No, we don't and I don't believe you truly do either." Esme concluded,

"And think about it Chris, in a few years we are going to have to move on, after Alice and Edward graduate we might stay one more year, allow you to enjoy your sophomore year, but moving is going to be a necessity. It's always inevitable." Carlisle reminded and I nodded, that was certainly true…already my classmates were starting to look older than me and this is just in eighth grade, I had a feeling I might be leaving Forks High School when my brother and sister do. "So all I am saying is enjoy the time you have with your friends here in Forks and when we do move on-."

"We will cross that bridge when it comes," Esme said to the both of us sternly "my concern is for right now and right now I am ordering you to go with Marie and her grandmother understood?" she finished a happy, but still stern look on her face.

"Yes, mum." I said with a sigh. "One other thing," I added, remembering that it wasn't just a movie Marie had planned "her grandmother wants to take us to dinner first." Carlisle and Esme exchanged a look. I made a face "I'm going to have to choke down food aren't I?"

They both thought this over, obviously trying to come up with a solution that was appropriate not to mention wasn't so ghastly.

"I'll take care of it," Carlisle promised. I nodded, complete trust in my parents to come up with something.

"Are you going to go down to the family room?" Esme asked fixing my bangs so they were pushed back, not falling across my eyes like usual. I always try to hide my eyes they incur to many questions and to much looking deeper into me something I really like to avoid.

Esme, Rosalie, Alice and the Denali girls all insist on letting my eyes show, I'll never understand them, any of 'em.

Carlisle and I exchanged a look of horror before giving the same look to her, she rolled her eyes at the two of us

"I think it's better for my health to remain far away from that insanity. Though, Peter promised me a game of chess 'fore he and Charlotte leave tomorrow."

Peter is like Jasper when it comes to chess, he's a formidable opponent, not to mention, he knows I profile, but he doesn't see it as cheating, he sees it as strategizing and tries to counter my profiling. He knows that chess is a military game and when in battle it's important to profile your enemy as it is important to profile your chess opponent.

It's something I wish Emmett would do, 'stead of just saying I cheat and leaving it at that, it's part of the reason Jasper will always play against me and Emmett won't.

I called Marie back, arranging to meet her and her family at the middle school with my parents on Wednesday. It just made it easier to leave for Port Angeles from the school.

Before we hung up, she excitedly told me the three movies that were playing that we could choose from, one had just opened, the other two had been there for a while.

I tried to match Marie's excitement with all of them, but none really stood out to me, I mean, my kind of movie is either horror, sci-fi, and depending on the subject matter historical action flicks, but none of them really sounded like my kind of movie, and that was just by the title.

The first two, kind of did, but just because who the actor was, the first was the Pacifier with Vin Diesel and the other was Hitch with Will Smith, both did decent action flicks, but the first didn't sound like any kind of action flick, unless it was a war movie and Vin Diesel's character was trying to diffuse a military conflict and I wondered what was going to try and kill Will Smith in Hitch; aliens or robots.

But the third, I winced when she mentioned the title and could only imagine what to expect with Phantom of the Opera and sitting through all that…well opera.

After I finally convinced Marie that any of the movies she had listed sounded fine to me and I would leave it up to her and her grandmother, we said good bye and finally hung up.

I took a calculated risk and made my way downstairs to the family room. Emmett's shouts made me pause on the stairs as I stifled a snicker

"Chevy Corvette! I know it was!" my brother continued to shout.

I grinned, as I ducked around the corner to see what they were doing, they were still playing the deranged scene it/trivial pursuit/jeopardy. Though as far as points go, I'm not entirely sure who was winning, I'm not even sure how they were scoring.

The question was up on the screen and whoever was controlling the remote had paused it so one of the couples could answer the question, whoever answered it correctly first got the point. The question made me laugh and shake my head that Emmett was getting it wrong, the question was: 'what kind of car was the original KITT from the show Knight Rider.'

"Emmett it wa-" Rosalie tried to tell him, but once Emmett gets going, he doesn't listen to reason.

Peter must have had controller because I saw him raise his hand and the game un-paused preparing to give the correct answer.

"It was a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans-am." I answered just as the answer I gave popped up on the screen.

"DR. DOOLITTLE!" Emmett shouted

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself!" I replied

"So wait, how do we score that?" Peter asked, "does the kid get his own separate point?"

"I'd say bonus point," I grinned, "whoever gets it gets both points," they all exchanged a look and nodded

"Sounds reasonable" Peter said thoughtfully, glancing over at the others who all seemed to agree with that.

"Who voiced the original KITT?" I said, my family should know the answer. When it was on back in the early 80s, Knight Rider was one of those really cheesy, but kinda amusing shows.

The whole family knew that Chris had complete control over the TV for the hour Knight Rider was on; it was my show, everyone was welcome to join me and usually everyone did.

But I knew this would be a good tie breaker, 'cause anyone could get it, even Peter and Charlotte had a shot at it, because the actor has done a lot of other shows and movies before and after Knight Rider, his voice is really distinguishable. But it was still just tricky enough because the actor who plays KITT goes unaccredited throughout the series.

There was a few moments of silence as they all thought it through, I could see the wheels turning as they all tried to think of actors who could have voiced the car, with a grin on my face I scooted over to Edward's piano.

I only know a few notes here and there, but I knew enough to play the jeopardy song as they tried to come up with an answer. The girls glared at me, but Jasper, Peter and Emmett tried not to laugh.

"William Daniels." Alice finally spoke up, we all stared at her in shock. She crossed her arms and grinned smugly as the others looked at me to verify the answer.

I nodded

"She got it. Bloody hell," I replied still shaking my head in amazement, "both points to Jasper and Alice." I started walking towards the door to head out to the garage,

"Chris, are you sure you don't want to play? You can be on our team." Charlotte asked.

I grinned

"Thanks for the offer, but I think couple's night needs to stay as such. I've got my own date anyways…with a couple of tires and a shock mount."

Emmett had a huge grin on his face

"Keep it PG out there,"

I grabbed one of the decorative pillows from one of the chairs and heaved it at him, missing Rosalie by a mere inch and smacking him right in the face.

"Victory!" I shouted and bolted out of the house, before he could recover and therefore retaliate.