Disclaimer: Not Mine

Chapter 6

BPOV

So Edward's brother, Jasper tried to attack me. His wife, Alice must be able to see the future or something because she was always showing up right when something happened. And dear old Edward could hear people's thoughts. Yeah, nothing strange around here.

Edward was still crouching next to me while I lay on the ground. As if suddenly comprehending how rude it was, he grasped my good arm to try and help me up. I realized that this was the first time he had touched me. I could feel his cold fingers on my upper arm, and was surprised how gentle he was. I had experienced first hand how much strength his kind possessed, I had no idea how he could curtail his power as to not crush the fragile bones under my skin. Unaware that I had been staring at his fingers, Edward cleared his throat to get my attention. Flushing crimson, I looked up into his face to try and apologize, but the words got stuck in my throat. Never before had I seen such a look of longing and desire. Was he having a hard time resisting the scent of my blood as well? Was that what he was yearning for? I was hoping there might be another reason.

Relieved again that he could not hear my thoughts, I quickly got to my feet. My poor cast had dirt and grass wedged under it, and my dress was filthy and rumpled. I was definitely going to need a change of clothes if they were planning to keep me here for any length of time. Those pain pills Carlisle had spoken of might be a good idea as well. I knew it was time to discuss exactly what their long term plans for me were.

Alice and Jasper were still standing huddled together. Jasper at least had the good graces to look embarrassed by his little outburst. I stepped towards them with my right hand extended.

"Well Jasper, my friends call me Bella, and since you nearly killed me, I guess we could be considered friends."

Alice started her excited vibrating again as Jasper stepped forward to grasp my outstretched hand. I was sure that Edward and Alice would protect me if Jasper could not keep his bloodlust under control.

"Pleasure to meet ya darlin'. Sorry for that little scene. The wind changed and blew your delectable scent my way. Promise it shall not happen again." Jasper drawled in a swoon-worthy Southern accent. Phew, good thing he was taken, cause the way he spoke could have had my panties on the ground in a second! "Are ya feeling ok?"

"Well I would not turn down some narcotics and something to eat. Possibly a change of clothes as well. This dress has seen better days!" I laughed, trying for nonchalance.

"Oh Bella, where are my manners. Let's get you inside and see if we can snag something from Esme's closet for you." Alice said, taking charge like a pint sized dictator. Who the hell was Esme? "Jasper, will you run into town and get something for Bella to eat?"

"No problem sweets. What can I get for you sugar? Anything you have a hankering for?" Jasper questioned. I think I could get used to this kind of treatment.

"No Jasper, no hankering for anything specific." I giggled. "Just grab me anything that looks good."

They looked at me like I had three heads. I replayed my response in my head, wondering what I said wrong. Then it hit me. If he got something that looked good to him, I would most likely end up eating a panther or something. Stupid Bella!

"Oh, right sorry. Guess you need specifics. Maybe I could make you a list." I was having a terrible time forming a coherent thought today. Must be all the excitement.

Edward had been distracted through the entire conversation, so Alice took charge and led the way back to the house. She disappeared after she got me settled in the kitchen with a pen and paper. I gave my list to Jasper with a grateful smile. I was the kind of girl who was adamant about paying my own way, but my purse had mysteriously gone missing after I had been abducted.

As if he could sense my reluctance, Jasper just snickered. "Don't worry Bella, we have plenty of cash lying around. I'll be right back with this stuff."

Alice rushed back into the room, her arms overflowing with clothes and a small medication bottle in her hand. "Here Bella, take these pills and then let's get you changed. There should be something here that will fit."

Edward was quick to open a cabinet and find a glass, filling it with water and bringing it over to me. His casual approach was killing me. Although Dr. Sexy and the southern stud were both outrageously attractive, there was something about Edward's brooding attitude that was intriguing. I was still wondering why he had been at the auction to begin with, let alone dropped a quarter of a million to win me.

Alice noticed my lack of enthusiasm at the prospect of trying on all of those clothes, but she must not have cared about what I wanted. She grabbed my hand and all but dragged me out of the room. I waved bye to Edward, hoping that the little sprite would not keep me hostage for long.

We went back up the stairs, and this time went through a door farther down the hall. "This is mine and Jasper's room. You were in Edward's room earlier. Esme and Carlisle have their room on the third floor and the fourth floor is Rosalie and Emmett's. You will meet everyone else soon. They are all out hunting."

Hunting huh? Something tells me that they don't use the usual weapons when they do that. That must be interesting to watch. With their brute strength, I could imagine they had no problems taking down an animal three or four times their size. I was not listening to what Alice was saying at all as I imagined Edward taking down a bear. He was so graceful doing mundane things, like walking down stairs. I am sure in full battle mode, he was breathtaking.

"Bella, what do you think of this?" Alice asked, shoving a brown sweater in my face.

"Sure Alice, whatever. I don't care what I wear at this point as long as it is not covered with dirt and leaves." I said, brushing at the bits of grass that were still stuck under my cast. It was already starting to itch and I was going to have to find a coat hanger to stick down there soon.

Alice had found a pair of jeans that were not too long and decided on the brown sweater for me to wear. Thankfully someone in the house wore the same size bra as I did, so the girls were now decked out in some extravagant lace concoction with matching panties. I had no idea what the label said, it was all in French.

"Alice, are you sure no one is going to be upset that I am borrowing their clothes?"

"Oh Bella, for the most part we wear something once, and then give it to Good Will. Just relax, you look great!"

I did look great if I do say so myself. I had to admit Alice had great taste, even if the bra was super itchy and the jeans were way tighter than I usually wore. Alice grabbed a brush and turned me to face the mirror while she worked on getting the twigs out of my hair. I looked at my reflection, wondering what Edward's favorite color was. Ok girl settle down. With a face like that he has to have a little vamp chicky around here somewhere.

Alice interrupted my pity party. "Jasper should be back any second. Let's get you downstairs so you can get something to eat. Your stomach is growling so loudly I can barely hear myself think!"

Well shit Alice, sorry about that. I was blushing something awful, even though I knew she was kidding. We walked back down the stairs and into the kitchen just as Jasper came bounding through the back door. He was carrying no less than 15 bags of groceries.

"Sorry Bella, I think I might have gone a little overboard. Did you know they have like 30 different types of pop? It is amazing and yet still disgusting." Jasper muttered. I guess I would feel the same way if the store had been stocked with live animals instead.

I moved to the counter to start routing through the bags, one handed. I had been cooking for myself and whatever parental unit I was living with at the time since I was 10, so I fancied myself as somewhat of a foodie. Jasper had outdone himself with his choices. I picked up a nice firm eggplant and grabbed everything I would need for eggplant parmigiana.

I must have looked lost, because Edward came over and opened a cupboard full of high end kitchen tools. I had no idea why they would have a need for a food processor or a blender, but I was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I got out a cutting board, stock pot, skillet and baking pan. There was a knife block next to the stove, so I made my way over to get one so I could slice the eggplant. Edward was next to me instantly and took the cutting implement out of my hand.

"I would prefer if I handled the sharp objects from now on." He said with a frown. All I could think about was how his eyebrows came together when he frowned, making little creases in the middle. He could do whatever he wanted as long as I could use my tongue to smooth out those creases. Whoa kinky Momma, settle down!

I shrugged and went to the sink to wash the eggplant and tomatoes. It was going to be easier to have Edward slice and dice. One handed cooking is tough! I stacked the eggplant, tomatoes and onion for the sauce and the....

"Wait, everyone get out!" I screamed.

They were all next to me before I could take another breath.

"No, you don't understand. I have garlic here, it could kill you!" I yelled.

They all three doubled over in hysterics. I was still at a loss as to what was so funny. I was just trying to look out for them.

Alice was the first to recover. "Thanks for being cautious Bella, but that is just a myth. Besides, if we did have a problem with it, Jasper would never have been able to buy it"

My cheeks were blazing and I tucked my chin to my chest, trying to hide my embarrassment. Edward came over to me and placed one long, elegant finger under my chin, tipping my face to him. He looked so angelic, smiling down at me.

"Thank you so much for trying to save us Bella." My heart was racing at the way he said my name. He smirked and I wondered if he was lying when he said he could not hear my thoughts.

"I guess we should have explained the differences between "Hollywood vampires" and ourselves," he continued.

He resumed cutting the eggplant, onion, tomatoes and the dreaded garlic, and explained that 'no they did not sleep in coffins.' Garlic and crosses were no problem. They could see their reflection in a mirror and have their pictures taken. Their hearts did not beat, and their body temperature was much lower then a humans. And the whole burning in the sun thing, yeah it was false. Edward said they avoided sunlight, which is why they were living in the Pacific Northwest, but he would not tell me why.

I was having a hard time getting stuff done so I ditched the sling. The pain was not too bad after taking the pain medication. I started sweating the onions and garlic and added the tomatoes to get the sauce going. The three vampires just lounged around watching me work. I wondered if this was the first meal that had been cooked in this kitchen. I felt bad for popping its cherry, but a girl has to eat.

I breaded the eggplant and started it frying in the skillet. I was so hungry, but it was almost done. Alice had not stopped talking about what they were doing here in the Seattle area and where else they had lived. Edward and Jasper were just watching me flit around the kitchen, stirring the sauce and flipping over the frying eggplant slices. Edward was sliding it into the oven when Alice finally stopped talking to take a breath.

"What is that amazing smell?" A roaring voice sounded from somewhere in the house.

"It's eggplant parmigiana," I shouted back.

I heard the sarcastic, sugary-sweet voice before I saw the blonde amazon it belonged to. "No dearie, I think he was talking about you, not the horrible smell from your cooking."

Oh yeah, I keep forgetting about that.