Sleepover

"No man is a failure who has friends." - Clarence, "It's a Wonderful Life"

"Do you really have to go?"

"I really do."

Jacob and I stood together at the spot where Jade would be picking me up. The two of us had been talking and laughing for hours, enjoying each other's company. It was like we had known one another forever. Like we were really good friends. Best friends even. I had no desire whatsoever to leave La Push, but the sky was turning a dark blue color indicating that it was nearly night time and that I should get going back home. Jake wasn't thrilled that I had to leave him. He slouched as he walked with me past the tall trees in the old forest. Jacob did not make much eye contact with me either, as if he didn't want me to see the disappointment in his native eyes.

"I'll come back to visit you, Jacob. Don't worry," I told Jacob, quietly with reassurance. "I'll sneak out again."

Jacob grinned a little. He finally looked down upon me fully for the first time since we left his house, his eyes full of mourn and sorrow. It was pitiful, a little pathetic even. The color that returned to Jacob's face earlier that day slowly disappeared. Odd. How strange. I didn't know what to make of this.

"When?" Jacob choked.

"As soon as I can. I promise you, Jake."

"Emmett!" Harper shrieked, her voice shrill and her eyes wide with excitement. "Come give me a big bear hug!"

Rosalie scrowled at Harper from the living room, not bothering to come greet my friends. Alice and I were hosting a sleepover, like we did nearly every weekend. Esme and Mother set up four beds in my room, one for every girl. I always felt bad for Alice during the actual sleeping part of the party. She just had to lay on her provided bed and close her eyes, pretending to sleep.

Emmett rolled his eyes at Harper. In an instant, she was tossed up by Emmett and then was caught in his giant arms. Harper let out a dog like yelp while giggling like a maniac. Rosalie turned her head away from our crowd. I heard her let out a low hiss. I laughed. Emmett was surely going to get it.

"Emmett, try not to break Harper, honey," said Esme in a stern motherly tone. She walked out from what looked to be the kitchen, a gardening magazine clutched in her hands.

Emmett looked down to the floor, acting like a little kid getting caught doing something he wasn't supposed to do. He literally dropped Harper to her feet, making Esme give him a look of disbelief and somewhat terror. Emmett grabbed her before Harper's feet landed on the floor, holding her still in front of his large torso.

"Sorry, Mom," Emmett said, giving me a wink. I rolled my eyes at my fake big brother. "Harper is just fun to play with," he added, sheepishly.

I bet Rose loved hearing that. Ha.

"Hey, Mrs. Cullen!" greeted Harper. She held her head straight, wobbling a little from dizziness.

"Is Dr. Cullen home?" asked Jade, a purple bag hanging limply over her boney shoulders. Audrey stood next to her, looking like a mini version of Jade. You could really tell that they were sisters when they were near one another, but it was so obvious that Jade was older. She was a Senior like Emmett and Dan while the rest of us were young Sophmores.

"Yes, for once he is," laughed Esme, a smile dancing across her lips.

"We'll be sure to say hello," Audrey said, politely. Alice was plopped on top of Audrey's back, smiling into her striaght black hair.

Us girls were chilling out in my room. I had my stereo blasting some bubble gum pop music (much to my father's distaste) while we all read gossip and fashion magazines, eating take-out from La Bella Italia that Esme and Mom picked up for us. We all waited patiently for Alice to do our hair, thinking about how we wanted it for the evening. I was relaxing and lounging on the rugged covered floor next to Jade, flipping through a new copy of Vogue while stuffing my mouth with delish pasta. Harper sat on her individaul bed, eating her take-out from a stirofoam box while it was her turn for Alice to do her hair. She was putting Harper's auburn locks into two french braids. Audrey painted Jade's nails a dark purple color that Alice had found somewhere stashed away in one of her many cosmetic cabinets here at home.

"So," began Jade, turning her head to me. "Where's your boyfriend tonight?"

"I bet you can guess," I told her.

"Clubbing? Dancing at the disco?" suggested Harper while pasta was stuffed in her mouth. The rest of us made grossed out noises, turning our glances away from Harp.

"Ah, Harper, come on. Chew with your mouth closed," Audrey mildly scolded at her. She gave her a disgusted look as the rest of us started to laugh at Harp's childish act. We all thought of Audrey as the mother in our clique, while Harper was titled the teenage girl that got kicked out by Peter Pan from Neverland.

Harper swallowed her Italian food in one gulp just to annoy Audrey, a sly smile spreading across her fat lips. This made us all stare at her in horror and shocked astonishment. Alice even stopped braiding her hair, her pixie-like face priceless. If I had my camera handy, I would have surely taken a picture of my posed cousin to back on at laugh at.

Audrey simply shook her head.

"Only you could do that without choking."

I gave out a booming snort, throwing my head into my lap. I heard Alice's small giggles that I overshadowed my way too loud laughter. If it were possible, I would probably be giving my father and Esme headaches. Jade and Audrey soon after joined in on laughing, their nearly identical faces shinning with braod grins.

"Nice," I laughed, gaining back control as I was turning to the next page of Vogue magazine clutched in my palms.

"Are some of your family going camping with your friends again, Cecilia? Ryan's bound to be with them if that is the case," said Audrey, who recovered from the bad case of the giggles. She was beginning to touch up one of Jade's purple nails with clear gloss.

"Yes," Alice answered for me, finishing up Harper's french braids. "They all are, except for my Aunt Esme and Edward."

Harper let out a sigh. I groaned with chagrin.

"Ah, Edward," cooed Harper, sounding exhilarated and out of breath.

Alice and I all rolled our eyes at one another. Harper was the only one of my friends who freely admitted that she had a huge crush on all of the men in my family. I felt uncomfortable whenever she would croon over them. This was mainly because I knew that they could hear Harp's gooey lovesick comments with their super sensitive ears. I knew that Jade and Audrey thought that they were very attractive, but they never really said anything about them. Well, in front of me and Alice, anyway.

"You know it's never going to work between you two," sighed Jade, dramatically.

"If only, if only," Harp crooned, placing one of her hands underneath her round chin.

I tried to restrain myself from making sick choking noises. I was positively sure that Alice was doing the same.

Just then, three sharp raps came from the door.

"Come in."

Father pulled the door open, a dazzling smile planted on his lips. Harper nearly passed out once she saw my handsome father. I even noticed that Jade and Audrey looked slightly in awe at my dad's presence.

"Hey, Edward," I greeted, playing along that he was my future uncle.

"Bored?" Alice asked, smiling. "You could stay with us, you know."

"Hello," my father said, velvetly. "I will have to pass on that invitation. Tempting, though, Alice. I don't really think that I need my face done tonight."

Just then Father gave me a smirk, knowing how I love when Alice's gives me facials. I shrugged at him, pushing my top and bottom lips into my mouth.

"How are you ladies this evening?" questioned Father, in a way that would probably make any girl croon and sigh at with total love sickness.

"Perfectly wonderful," Harper sighed, her eyes wide while her face looked to be melting.

Dad chuckled a little, making my friends look like they were on the verge of swooning. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Alice was tutting to herself. Jade composed herself quickly, probably remembering that she was already taken by Dan.

"I just came up to tell you girls that I made some, err...desserts." Father bit his lip near the end of his sentence. I could not help but blush.

"Really?" questioned Audrey, sounding a little surprised in her meek voice.

"Yes," answered Dad, uneasy, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Food Network?" asked Jade, shyly giving Father a hesitant smile.

My dad nodded at her, grinning back, his face glowing with admiration. Jade was doing a pretty good job of controling herself I thought.

"Of course."

Alice laughed in her soprano like voice. Father ignored her.

"You're a really excellent cook," complimented Audrey, happily.

Father gave her an appraising glance.

"Thank you, Audrey. They are downstairs in the kitchen sitting on the bar. Might I suggest that you girls eat them now before they all go cold."

With that, my father gave us one more smile (which would most likely put my besties into daze). He then turned to me, giving me a look that read "What's with them?" as he closed the door gently. Harper let out a huge laugh, covering her face with her hands.

"Edward is so maninine!" Harper screeched, loudly. "I love it!"

The rest of us stared at each other blankly as Harper howled like a dog with uncontrolable laughter. Alice giggled to herself, knowing the answer right away. Harp must have made up the word on the spot, we had never heard it before. This was a norm for her.

"'Maninine'...?" asked Alice, cocking her head to the side. "What does that mean?"

Once Harper was able to get herself together (it took a about two and a half minutes, that is my guesstimation, anyway), she took a deep breath and started to explain what this new vocabulary word meant.

"It means that Edward is very manly, but can be feminine at times!" answered Harper.

I bet Father loved hearing that one.