On the drive back, Jasper and I try to explain to Bella why concerts are a bad idea. All those sweaty adrenaline junkies packed into one space, even if it's outside, is tough. Even on Carlisle's psyche. Blood pumping, music blaring, and most likely being sardined together with them, would only equal trouble. Bella does not take this well. I think this devastates her more than anything else she's learned or been through so far.
"No more live shows… ever?" she asks.
"Nope," I reply, popping the p to emphasize the travesty.
She is still sulking in the back seat as we pull up.
Edward, Rosalie, and Emmett beat us home. Carlisle and Esme are standing with the three stooges. Edward's face lights up when we exit the car. I have no idea why the sudden mood change until I see his new plan of attack. He must have read Jasper's thoughts regarding Bella's concert heartbreak. Oh, that sneaky, suave bastard. Of course my music loving brother would find a way to still enjoy such luxuries. He smirks as he reads my thoughts and I wink at him.
Edward makes his way over to us. I turn to Bella.
"I'm sorry," I say to her. I grab some luggage, relieving Jasper of the whole burden, and then hightail it inside. I know she's going to be pissed at me for leaving her unprepared.
I'm mid-sprint and half way up the stairs when Esme calls my name. The soft mothering tone is gone and replaced with a different mothering tone - one no daughter likes to hear. I stop, but don't acknowledge her presence. She's standing at the bottom of the staircase. Carlisle is with her.
"When you are finished unpacking we would like to have a word with you. Meet us in Carlisle's study." I hear her enter the kitchen. I sense that Carlisle is still standing there and without looking, I know he is shooting daggers at me. I just continue my sprint up the stairs and quickly hide in the room I share with Jasper. My stuff is put away in two seconds flat. Now I am just buying time. I never understand why we have our meetings in his study. There is no privacy in a house of vampires. We might as well hold it in the living room with everyone present.
I make my way into the study. They have the room set up to match their mood. Curtains are drawn shut. The lights are dimmed low. Carlisle is sitting behind his huge, insanely overpriced lacquered desk. Esme is standing rigid next to him with her arms crossed. I feel like I'm in one of those cheesy dramatic novels, where you find out your adopted parents have some dark secret and you're about to be locked in the attic or something.
I scan through my visions to find a very long, very boring lecture ahead of me. I sigh and let them begin. I sit obediently and let them go over why my actions were drastic, risky, and wrong. How I upset Edward. How I went against the family's wishes. Yadda. Yadda. I know that if I pretend to look remorseful they will let me go eventually.
They do.
I mean, what else are they going to do? Spank me?
They do ground me. I know! They take away my car privileges, and I'm only allowed to leave the house to hunt twice a week.
I say some weak apologies and go to exit the room.
"Oh, and you aren't allowed to correspond with Jasper without supervision while under your restrictions," adds Esme as I make my leave.
"What!" I yell the same time as Jasper. We can all hear him shout from downstairs. "You can't be serious?" I argue. I can hear Emmett and Rosalie snickering.
"Deadly. You lost your boyfriend privileges until your probation is over," Carlisle says sternly.
"So, I'm in prison now?" I snarl.
"And why am I being punished?" Jasper protests. He's standing in the doorway now looking furious. "Shouldn't I get prison visitation rights?"
"We all know that Alice isn't really being punished if she spends the next two weeks holed up in her room with you," Esme says, pointing in Jasper's direction.
"Aren't you taking this parenting thing a bit too seriously? I mean, for one thing, Jasper and I are married… a few times over. It's not like he's a boyfriend. I'm not really a teenager."
"You actions speak otherwise," Carlisle bites back.
"Harsh," I murmur.
"We aren't budging on this. You are bunking with Bella for the next two weeks. She is under your care for now anyway," states Esme.
I know that no matter what Edward says to Bella, she wouldn't be comfortable sharing a room with him yet. I guess this isn't so bad. We could have slumber parties, just without the sleep part. At least neither of us will end up with a bra in the freezer or a hand in a bowl of warm water.
"Let's go, Jasper," I grumble. I grab his hand and drag him out of the room.
"But, Alice!" he whines, allowing me to drag him downstairs to the living room. We find Emmett and Rosalie watching some dinosaur show on the Discovery channel. They are both giggling and I know it's not because of the show.
"Shut up!" Jasper and I say at the same time. We flop down on the couch.
About a half hour later, Edward walks in the front door. None of us say anything. He just takes a seat and acts like whatever is on the television is the most intriguing thing ever. Bella enters a few minutes later looking dazed. I know their talk went well, but they are both so stubborn that they really didn't accomplish much.
They made a date for tomorrow night though. So, there is that.
"Alice, can I talk to you alone?" Bella asks.
"She's grounded. She can't leave the house," Esme explains. I roll my eyes.
Emmett shuts off the TV and stands up. "Well, since Alice can't leave, maybe we could all go hunt and let them have some privacy." He's the best big brother.
"Hey!" whines Edward.
"What? He is. Plus, you tried to kill me a few days ago!" I dispute.
"You turned my girl into a vampire!" he shouts.
Bella puts her hands on her hips and growls, "I'm not your girl."
We both ignore her. "Oh, please. Like you aren't thrilled that you can finally touch her without breaking her."
Edward clenches his teeth and snarls.
Emmett slaps Edward on the back. "OK, fellas. Time to leave the little ladies to their girl talk."
Everyone files out of the house. Edward doesn't stop glaring at me until we have to break eye contact.
When Bella and I know they are out of earshot, we relax and sit down on the couch.
"I think I am in trouble," Bella says. Well, this is interesting.
"Why is that?" I ask.
"Well, I was outside thinking, right? I needed to clear my head. I'm still insanely pissed at Edward for all that shit he pulled, but what is freaking me out is… that I really want to fuck him."
Thank God I wasn't drinking anything, because I would have just spit it out all over everything in front of me. I so wasn't expecting her to say that.
"What!" I can't help but shriek.
"I know!" Bella whines, while throwing her hands up.
Huh, well, I guess it makes sense. Oh, this does suck for her. I lean over and pat her hand.
"Bella, he's your mate. Your instincts are kicking in. Especially being a newborn - it's hard to control them. I don't know why I didn't think of this before."
"Thank God he can't read my mind," she sighs.
I can't help but laugh. Bella just rubs her face with both hands.
"You are so fucked! No pun intended," I say while laughing some more.
Jess has a parasite growing inside her, so I have been pushed to the side. She no longer cares about me or my chapters. Stupid Parasilla.
Ok, she did help out a lot with this… but still.