A/N: Ok, so…. I have a system for updating this now… and ironic things in the first few chapters make me smile… ok little story... my sister just made me go on a bike ride with her... in the dark.. and long story short I was afraid of... my own shadow(Literally)... hope that made you smile at least...Read. Enjoy. Review…

Trip Around the Sun

Chapter Three: The Wooden Cross

"Bella! Jazz!" Alice called from the parking lot below as Jasper and I came out of last period biology and headed over to her.

"Yes Darlin'," Jasper said showing her she had our attention as we approached and he took Alice's hand right into his own.

"Bella, you can just follow us home, ok?" Alice said and I nodded as I headed over to the driver's side door to my truck.

I was very thankful for Jasper and Alice, they had almost instantly become good friends. They did a good job of helping me find my niche in Forks High School, I actually felt as though I'd known them forever. Jasper didn't seem as shy as Alice had said, but Alice had confided in me during gym that Jasper never talked during school. The fact that he had chosen to talk to me on my first day made me feel special.

"Sure," I said as I leaned on the side of my truck, and they came around to stand in front of me, "I should just call dad, let him know."

"Ok," said Alice as a small group of fellow students passed, mumbling amongst themselves and glaring at us, "Sorry, that tends to happen a lot to us, and it's probably going to happen to you if you keep hanging around with us…"

"It's fine," I said, rolling my eyes, "I like you guys, you're good people."

Alice beamed at the compliment, and a little crooked smile cracked across Jasper's pale and stoic face. I pulled out my phone to call Charlie and they hopped into their little yellow Porsche, which I hadn't realized was parked right next to the truck, to wait for me. I got off the phone with Charlie, who had mumbled something about having to stay late at work, but wanting me home at a reasonable hour, then hopped into the truck to follow Alice and Jasper.

Honestly, it was a good thing I was following them because their house was hidden really deep in the woods. When Alice put her blinker on I seriously thought she was planning on turning into a tree, but it ended up being a really long, thin, winding driveway. My mouth dropped open as they led me down it, and the house came into view.

The house was beautiful, mostly glass, and right on the river. I knew they must've been well off simply from their car and their father's occupation, but I had to wonder about the salaries up at the hospital. This place was amazing.

"You haven't even seen the inside yet," said Jasper mischievously as I opened my door and hopped out, leaving my school bag inside the truck.

"C'mon," said Alice, taking Jasper's hand and motioning for me to follow them into the house, "We'll give you a tour."

"Ok," I said, swallowing my drool as I followed them into the house.

The first thing that caught my eye was a large wooden cross over by the wall in the entrance room. It was old, ancient, but not rotted or damaged at all. It looked strong and like it meant a lot to someone, it wasn't shining with polish, but the way it was displayed in the house showed its importance. I couldn't take my eyes off of it as Jasper and Alice put their school bags on hooks by the door.

"Are you guys religious or something?" I asked curiously, careful to keep my tone kind and simply curious.

"Not really," said Jasper with a little chuckle as he threw his coat onto another set of hooks as he and Alice appeared on either side of me.

"Our dad is," said Alice and I nodded understandingly.

I immediately got a picture of a middle aged man with gray hair and reading glasses. He was slightly overweight and a little hunched over. He was lonely and had soft eyes, a kind smile, and a professor like style.

"So do you want a tour, or would you rather just go up and play wii-"

"Jasper!" Alice hissed hitting him upside the head lightly, "She probably doesn't want to play Wii with you, let's just give her the tour."

"How about a speed tour, then Wii?" I offered, trying to find a compromise, "I warn you though, I'm not so good with the whole coordination thing."

"It's ok," said Jasper giving Alice a triumphant little smile, "They make those wrist things on them for a reason."

I laughed a little as Alice started giving me the tour. The whole house was magnificent, just as I had expected. Though, their dad's study was the thing that caught the majority of my attention, they had also left it to last. It was filled with more books than I could even think of reading, medical journals and Shakespeare alike. I saw Jasper and Alice exchange knowing looks out of the corner of my eye as I started to browse the closest book shelf.

It was like Christmas morning to me, even though they weren't my books, they just made me unreasonably happy. Most of the books in this shelf were really old editions, and I had to admire their father's book collecting skills. This was where the tour was done, and they let me read all the "A" titles before Jasper cleared his throat.

"Wii?" He reminded me, and Alice hit him playfully on the shoulder and he smiled.

"Yeah, right," I said as Jasper ran from the room and I walked slower behind him with Alice back towards Japer's game room, "Do you think your dad would let me borrow some of those books?"

"I'm sure he'd love to," said Alice, "He hardly reads any of them anymore, he's tried to get Jasper and I to read them through, but we're not exactly book people so much as we are movie and well I already read the romantic ones. You'd have to ask him though, he should be home in like twenty minutes."

"Ok," I said as we walked into the game room and Jasper handed us each a Wii remote with a huge grin on his face.

They took my word on my claim of uncoordinated style, and we skipped the Wii Sports Pack for the Mario Kart. Jasper kicked both our butts the first two rounds, and Alice complained that he played way too much. Jasper was about to beat us a third time when Alice abruptly paused it, just as Jasper was about to pass the finish line. Jasper started to complain as Alice looked over to the door and I heard someone knocking on the wooden door frame, and I looked over to see who it was.

There, casually leaning in the door frame was a tall, pale, blonde, god. His eyes were sweet honey like Alice and Jasper's, though purer somehow. His face was perfectly proportioned and it fit his well toned, and subtly muscular body. There was power there, you could tell by just looking at him. His hair was brushed back neatly, and he was wearing a white dress shirt that fit him perfectly, and it was without wrinkle, except those that hinted at his buff torso. This shirt was tucked into gray trousers held up by a belt. He looked like he had just stepped out of a movie or clothing add. He was completely gorgeous.

I blinked after a few seconds and tried to regain composure. I made extra care to make sure that I wasn't physically drooling, which thankfully I wasn't. This had to be their older brother that they had forgotten to mention home from school for the weekend. Then, as if his mere presence wasn't enough, I almost died.

"Hey dad!" said Alice happily and I could have crawled into a hole and died, but I still couldn't look away from him.

"Easy, it's just a game, Jasper," He said with a smile, and I had to thank my blessings I was already sitting, because I would have collapsed, my heart was racing, "Hey, Alice. Who's your friend?"

"This is Bella," said Alice as Jasper shut the TV off, "She's new in school."

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Bella," the angel said as he walked across the room and shook my hand, "I'm Dr. Cullen, but you can just call me Carlisle, it's not very often Alice and Jasper bring friends home."

"Oh," I said stupidly as he let go of my hand, but his eyes lingered on mine.

"I'm going to go start dinner, will you be joining us, Bella?" He asked.

"Yes," said Alice for me and I nodded.

"I guess," I said and he smiled again, before taking his eyes off mine to look amusedly over at his daughter.

"Ok," He said as he started to walk out of the room.

"Bella and I'll help you," said Alice, setting her controller down on top of the TV and looking back at me, "You don't mind do you?"

What was I supposed to say, 'Yes, actually I would because your dad's going to cause my heart to beat out of my chest and fall right onto the floor? Then, I have a feeling my tongue is going to roll out of my head and act as stairs for flies like in an old cartoon. My eyes may even bulge out of my head too.'

"Sure," I said as I stood up and Carlisle gave Alice a calculating, almost fearful look before leading us out of the room.

The minute we stepped out into the hall we heard the TV turning back on and Carlisle chuckled as Alice rolled her eyes. I couldn't react at all because I was trying too hard to slow my heart beat down because it was pounding in my ears, and I was a little fearful that they would begin to hear. Though that was ridiculous, it wasn't like they were going to put their heads to my chest to try and hear it. Oh, I didn't need that mental picture and I had to grab the railing as we were descending the stairs, and Alice just looked at me like she was worried I was going to fall down the stairs.

"You ok?" She asked me and I nodded.

Not two seconds after that Carlisle reached the bottom of the stairs and looked up at us. I was caught slightly off guard. I tripped over my own two feet and fell down the remaining steps. Carlisle caught me at the bottom, his face not inches from mine. I swallowed and he smiled as he set me back on my feet.

"Are you ok?" He asked, his eyes blazing with concern, "You're not bleeding, did you hurt anything?"

"No," I said, though my tailbone was throbbing dully, that would go away.

"Alright," He said with a charming smile, then again all his smiles had been charming, "Let's go get dinner started."