Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Thanks to my lovely Beta Biddy429 !!!

Chapter 19

Dinner

I don't know when I got home no more than I remember going to my bed. I'm not sure how long I was asleep before waking up and seeing Charlie sitting in the rocking chair across the room. Smiling I got out of bed and went to him, I took his hand in mine as I sat on the floor in front of him. He cared for me so much and I totally forgot about him while I was at Carlisle's home surrounded by happier things even though I told them my past. I can only imagine the worry he felt when he found out I had left school early.

"Don't give me the sad face Bells, I'm glad you're okay." He told me as I looked up into his now open eyes. I smiled but it felt wrong so I let it slip.

"You do so much for me and I forget you so quickly" I told him explaining how I couldn't make myself smile. He chuckled and rubbed his hand over my already mussed up hair.

"Your young and forgetful, I'm glad. For a while I thought you had aged too much to enjoy the simple things here. Bells, I'm just glad that you're beginning to heal. I don't mind being forgotten every once in a while as long as your happy and have a good time being young" Charlie said completely heartfelt and sincere. It was the sweetest thing Charlie had ever said and I smiled up at him as he grinned back.

"I told them about Clara and mom" I told him frowning, "I managed to smile through some parts, they're really nice people Charlie" He smiled and nodded, as if I had said it many times before. We sat in silence just letting the time pass for a while.

"I figured, Carlisle and Edward looked a little worn but happy." Charlie commented and I looked up at him wondering what he meant. "When they brought you home since you had fallen asleep we had a chat. Edward seems like a good kid." I blushed when he said that. "We've been invited to dinner tomorrow" Oh my god, how embarrassing to have to be brought home asleep, by Edward too!

"Cool" I said wondering if the Cullen's ate food. Oh well Charlie told me there was a game tomorrow and I'm sure if they plant him in front of the TV he won't notice their lack of an appetite.

As I thought this the phone rang and I got up to run into Charlie's room to answer it. "Who on earth is calling at this time of the night – its nearly midnight!" I thought to myself

"Hello?" I answered as I picked up the phone.

"Thanks!" Alice's voice sang through the phone, I arched an eyebrow and wonder what she meant. "It will work too!" now I was just confused.

"Alice I have no idea..." I started to say then realised I what had just plotted. "How did you know?" I asked getting a giggle from Alice as the phone changed hands.

"Don't mind Alice, thank you for saving us from human food that was very nice of you." Edward said and I smiled, his velvety voice still sounded wonderful through the phone line. "Sorry for calling so late Bella."

"Ah, no worries, but how did......?" I started to ask as I heard a sigh "Alice can see the future?" I asked to which came the reply

"Yes, but her visions are subjective" Edward stated almost over powered by the giggles obviously coming from his sister.

"Cool." It kind of suited the hyperactive pixie.

"Yes, well I'll see you tomorrow at 5:30pm, sleep well Bella and goodnight" he said and I was startled that that was the only thing they had called to say to me.

"Ah, Bye" I echoed and hung up the phone and returned to find Charlie still sitting in the rocking chair.

"That was the Cullen's, they wanted to say that the game will be on so they hope we don't mind watching with them" I rambled on and Charlie smiled.

Nodding as he said "Sounds good to me." He rose from the chair and said "Get some more sleep, you look like you could use some more rest" he kissed the top of my head and closed the door softly as he left my room.

Sitting on my bed I felt too awake to go back to sleep so I sat there staring out the window not really seeing anything. My mind was too busy thinking about the Cullens. Did they all do special things or was it only Alice? I noticed that sometimes Edward responds to people as though he can hear what they are thinking or feeling. I wonder if he can, maybe its my imagination or maybe its just the age thing or living so long that does that to them, I mean Jasper is the same way.

****

I stood in front of my closet frowning, what the hell did you wear to dinner at a friend's house whose entire family just happened to be vampires. Not only that but what do you wear to watch the football on the TV at said friend's house! Do I go all out and wear a dress, nah that is just being overdressed despite the fact that I only own one dress anyway. Were jeans just too casual? "mmmmmm, I wonder......" I mused to myself. I poked my head out of my bedroom door and listened to Charlie in the front room. "Hey, Charlie what are you wearing tonight?" I called and heard muffled laughter and rolled my eyes.

"Well lets see, jeans and a shirt Bella, it's really not that hard" He replied and I shrugged, "oh well I thought, at least we would match, jeans it is then!" I closed my door again and went back to my hands on waist pose in front of the closet. I dragged a pair of jeans out of my closet and pulled them on. Now what shirt would I wear, thinking about the football game I rummaged and managed to find a black and white baseball style shirt and pulled it on.

Once I had finished dressing I looked in the mirror I decided that I didn't look dressed enough so I stood there and contemplated what I could add without looking like I was trying too hard. I grabbed a bunch of bracelets I had sitting on my cupboard and pulled them on and as I once again looked through my closet I noticed my Emily the strange hoodie and pulled it on, I rolled the sleeves back over my forearms. Quickly I pulled my hair into a ponytail and figured I was good, well as good as I was ever going to get anyway! Just as I was about to turn and leave my room I noticed my open jewellery box and lying on the top was my apple pendant so I quickly picked it up and put it on too.

"Bella we've got 20 minutes to get there" Charlie called and I cursed under my breath, looking around my room I saw one of the baseball hats I had brought with me, it was a cute one from Phoenix with a funky heart and red and white checkers. I pushed the hat onto my head and pulled my ponytail through the back. It looked fine; I just hope they don't mind me wearing a hat during dinner!

Charlie raised an eyebrow at me as I made my way down stairs and I immaturely stuck my tongue out at him. He chuckled and grabbed my coat throwing it at me as he walked out the front door. I quickly pulled on my skate shoes and slammed the door behind me.

****

Even though I had seen the house before I was still in awe of it as we approached. Charlie muttered something about size not meaning it was better than his and I chuckled at him. He parked the cruiser and we walked up to the door just as Carlisle opened it and beckoned us inside.

"Welcome to our home, come on in, we are all very pleased you could make it" Carlisle said smiling and we both smiled back.

"It was very nice of you to invite us over" Charlie responded and I smiled again. We removed our coats and Carlisle took them from us and must have hung them somewhere, we then entered the front room which had various finger foods, chips and dips scattered about the tables. It was a different table from yesterday but I made no comment. "Looks great, the game starts soon right?" Emmet nodded at him smiling broadly. The TV was already on and a basketball game was showing, and Emmett looked as though he was already glued to the seat watching it.

I watched Charlie's succumb to the world of television and food as he eyed first the TV and then what was on offer for eating. He simply walked over to Emmett and plopped himself down beside him – he was lost in his own little world now! Shaking my head I chuckled at how happy and oblivious he was.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" Edward asked and I nodded following him into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and looked back at me. "We have coke, root beer, sprite, orange, cream soda?" he asked and I looked at him like he was nuts, "Well we do have to keep up appearances" I rolled my eyes and asked for a can of orange pop.

Edward handed me the can of orange pop and I said "thanks and you guys really don't eat?" he nodded walking back to the front room I heard Charlie and Emmet yell about something.

"Nope" He stated and made a face, "Smells nasty too." He was looking down at my can and I shrugged.

"Oh well, more for the humans then eh? Maybe I'll drink enough orange pop to turn myself orange" I said thinking about how much pop that would be and how my tongue would fall off if I tried that. Edward laughed and I smirked at him. Suddenly I gasped as a pair of thin arms wrapped around my waist, I knew it just had to be Alice but I was confused as to why.

"Bella Bella Bella Please can we go shopping soon?!" she begged and I laughed at her randomness.

"Er, sure, why not!" I said not knowing why this was suddenly on her mind. Perhaps she had been watching me try and pick out clothing. "I choose and buy my own clothes" I told her getting the idea she might want to buy things for me. She frowned but nodded and she all but bounced where she stood. Hyper wasn't an adjective that described it but she could have been the poster child for the whole definition.

"Tomorrow?" she asked eagerly and I shrugged, why not, what else am I going to do with a Thursday afternoon?

"Don't worry you don't have any homework Mrs. Talbot said that you only had to get working on the final copy of the mural" Alice told me.

I moved to looked at Charlie and Emmet bonding over the game. Rosalie sat there chatting with Esme and Carlisle. It seemed so much a normal family that it was almost surreal. The strangest among us can play out the most normal and everyday scenes with ease.