Chapter 16: Bad News

"Edward come on," I heard a whiny voice say.

"No, Alice." Edward's familiar voice said. "Let Bella sleep."

"She's practically awake any ways. And if you don't want to be late for school I need her to wake up now." I'm pretty sure I heard Alice stamp her foot.

I groaned and snuggled closer to the back of the couch, wrapping the blanket tighter around me. "No school," I mumbled into the leather, but I'm pretty sure they could hear me. "More sleep."

"But Bella," Alice's high pitched voice could brake glasses, "if you wake up now I can do your make up for today."

Now I was clinging to the couch for dear life. "No, no make over."

I could hear the irresistible laugh of my meleth close to my ear. Even through the blanket I could feel the coolness of his hand as he ran it along my back.

"Please, Bella." I opened my eyes to look over my shoulder. Alice stood in my line of view looking pitiful. Her bottom lip was quivering and her eyes looked bigger than normal. It broke my heart.

I flopped my head back on the couch. "Fine," I groaned in defeat.

Alice gave a triumphant laugh. "Edward, remove the bracelet," she ordered. I could hear the excitement in her voice. I felt Edward's cool touch at my wrist as one hand stroked up my arm while the other unclasped the bracelet.

The moment the metal left my skin I was air born, thankfully the blanket was still around me. When I came to a stand still Alice placed me on my feet. I recognized I was in Alice's bathroom.

"Now take a shower," Alice ordered as she left me alone.

To tired to argue I turned on the water, twisting the hot and cold taps till it was just right. I felt as if I was Goldie Locks. The shampoo smelled like white tea, a very soothing sent, much more subtle than my usual strawberry shampoo.

The minute I was out and draped in a towel Alice entered. Without a word she placed me back in the chair in front of the mirror. With no hesitation she began her magic. I just closed my eyes and let her do her work, I surprisingly wasn't as worried about what she would do as I was yesterday. Maybe she put something in the shampoo.

"I'm not going to put to much make up on," Alice explained conversationally. I could picture her working at a salon. "I'm going to make it all look natural. I'll straighten your hair too." I smiled as she gabbed on.

When she was satisfied Alice left only to return a second later. I opened my eyes to see the outfit she brought with her. It was a pair of blue jeans and a navy blue V neck sweater.

"Very simple," I nodded to her and smiled. Even if I hardly knew her she felt like a sister to me.

Alice talked about what she planned to do today from outside the bathroom door as I got dress. She spoke so fast that I nearly didn't hear her mention a shopping trip. Nearly.

"No, Alice," I told her sternly as I made my way into the hallway, not looking back at her.

"Come on, Bella." Not this again. "You can't tell me you don't like shopping -"

"I don't like shopping," I cut her off. I made my way down the stairs to where Edward was standing smiling at me.

"Alice if she doesn't want to don't make her," Edward told his sister as he placed his arm around my waist.

Alice stared at Edward sternly as he grinned back at her smiling smugly. They stayed like that for at least a minute before Alice turned the puppy eyes on me.

"Oh, Alice." I buried my face into Edward's shoulder to escape the pitiful sight.

"Please, Bella," she begged. "Just one shopping trip."

I sighed in defeat. Before I even verbally consented Alice started cheery and went off about what she wanted to get, which stores had the best deals on now. I swear she could talk anyone to the ground.

I was surprised to find food to make breakfast, but didn't question why it was here with a house full of vampires. I ate quickly, Edward watching me the whole time. It made me self conscious.

Once fed I walked with Edward to the Volvo.

"So what do you think of my family?" Edward asked as we made our way to school.

"Alice is a hyper pain," I laughed. "Carlisle is very kind. Emmett is insane. Jasper is…" I searched for the right word. "Emotional I guess. Rosalie's...interesting. Esme makes me a bit sad." I confessed.

"Why is that?" Edward looked at me curiously obviously wondering what Esme must have done.

"She just reminds me of the mother I don't have," I told him softly.

Edward stared at me with mournful eyes. He brushed his fingers across my cheek as if hoping to brush away my pain.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked.

"Of course."

"Why does Rosalie hate me?" I remembered the glares she gave me last night and the fact that she stayed as far away from me as possible.

"She doesn't hate you." I gave him an exasperated look. Edward sighed. "She's jealous. And angry," he confessed.

"Jealous?" I asked in shock. "Of who? Me?"

"She's jealous that you know of our life. Angry about your story and how our kind was treated. Angry that you've found a way to live with me forever without going through all the pain. She's jealous that you're 'getting off easy' as she put it."

That struck me dumb for a moment. "Wow," was all I could muster for a reply.

The car stopped and I noticed that we had arrived at school. Edward cupped my face in between his hands and looked me in the eye. "Don't worry about Rose. She'll come around eventually." How could I not agree with him when his stare made my bones turn to jelly. I nodded weakly, which earned me a quick kiss before we exited the car.

We walked to my first class with Edward's arm draped over my shoulder holding me close to his side. I couldn't help but notice the stares we were getting. Sheesh, take a picture already! I wanted to yell at them.

When we reached my English room Edward kissed me before leaving, making a few girls stop at the door and glare at me with envy. I couldn't help but feel a wee bit smug. I've got Edward Cullen, I sang silently to myself.

For the first time since I've arrived at Forks Mike didn't sit by me. Could this day get any better? Jessica bombarded me with questions during my next few periods. I answered as best as I could, but I practically ran out of the room when the lunch bell rang.

Edward smiled at me when I emerged in the hall. "Making a quick escape?" he teased.

Feeling childish I stuck my tongue out at him and made my way to the cafeteria. He caught up to me laughing. I didn't complain when he took my hand, but that didn't mean I was going to talk to him.

We made our way to an empty table with a tray of food Edward unnecessarily bought me.

"Why are you giving me the silent treatment?" Edward asked after we sat down. He gave me a confused look. I merely smiled at him. There really wasn't a reason, I just wanted to watch him squirm.

His eyes looked over at the table where the rest of his family sat, as if he'd find the answer to his question there.

He sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry for whatever it was that I did." He looked at me so sincerely that it made me melt.

"It's alright," I sighed dramatically.

"Bella, what did I do?" He was getting really anxious now.

I pouted at him. "You'd didn't give me a kiss when you met me in the hall." I spoke in such a pathetic voice that I almost felt like vomiting.

Edward laughed at me, but leaned over the table to graze my lips with his. I placed my hand on his cheek to keep him in place as I deepened the kiss, my tongue trailing alone his bottom lip. Edward quickly pulled back and gave me a glare. I could see the passion in his eyes.

"You are dangerous," he whispered. I chuckled.

I sensed them before I saw them. Living with my brothers for so long I knew when they were around. I turned to see Simon and Mitch staring at me by the cafeteria entrance. I jumped out of my seat and pulled Edward along with me towards them. Something was wrong, I could see it in there faces.

"What's the matter?" I asked when I reached them. Beside me Edward watched my brothers, no doubt reading what their minds had to say.

"We have a problem," Simon whispered urgently.

"Marleen is coming," Mitch said before I could ask. With that we all started walking towards the exit.

"Who's Marleen?" Edward asked. He kept his face blank.

"She's the leader of the Goras," I explained. "The one who really hates vampires."

We reached the parking lot. Edward quickly raced to his car and put his keys in, before running back to us as we got into Simon's car.

"Yes, and I wouldn't want to see her reaction if she finds out about you two," Simon said as he raced towards home.

"Why would that be bad?"

"Because it's unnatural," Mitch explained. "No Goras has ever had a vampire for a meleth. I'm sure Marleen will take that very badly."

"Why's she coming?" I asked desperately. What happened to my good day?

Simon shot me a guilty look. "It's because of us, sis. She's coming to visit since me and Mitch got suspended."

"Ya," Mitch snorted. "Apparently she's coming to check up on us."

My anger flared. I smack both of my brothers. "Why did you get suspended any ways? And don't tell me you were innocent bystander." I was so made I could punch something. I blamed all that was going to happen on them.

"We weren't the ones who vandalized," Mitch argued.

"No," Edward nodded. "But it was you guys who put the idea it the peoples' heads." Both Simon and Mitch glared at him.

I sighed. "So what do we do?"

"The guy who brought us the message said she'd be arriving today. There's not much we can do except endure this hell." Simon sighed.

"But what about the Cullen's and Edward's sent around our place. How will we explain that?" I was coming close to hysteria.

"That could work." I turned to see Edward looking thoughtfully at something Mitch had thought.

"It'd put her in a better mood at least," Mitch shrugged.

"What?" Both me and Simon yelled.

"Edward pretends to be our servant," Mitch states as if it's nothing.

"What?" Simon asks again in disbelief.

"No!" I yell. There was no way Edward was going to do this.

"Think about it, Bella." Edward turned to me. "If she thinks that you're family is going back to the Goras' normal ways she might not be to hard on your brothers."

"That might actually make her forget about us and focus on him," Simon nodded.

"No," I said with authority. "You are not going to be a servant to anyone." I'm not sure why this idea made my so mad. Maybe it was the thought of Edward having to do someone's bidding. He shouldn't have to do that.

Edward just stared at me. "If this makes her leave sooner I'm willing to do it."

"No," I repeated, but he wasn't listening. He was concentrating on the instructions my brothers were mentally giving him on how a servant behaves.

Dun dun dun. Can any one else picture Edward as a servant…or a stable boy…or a pool boy? Am I the only one with these fantasies? ;) Review please :)