Chapter 13- Finally Surfaced
A/N: I'm sorry I don't really have a schedule for posting for you guys… I just can't write when I don't have motivation to. Thanks for reading this far! Again, reviews will be appreciated.
On Sunday morning, I leapt out of my bed. I wasn't sleeping, of course; just closing my eyes, sifting through my visions, and waiting for the sun to rise. As I was going to bid Jasper "good morning" as a joke, I had a vision that made me stop in my tracks.
Jasper was at my side immediately. He watched my expression anxiously until a brilliant smile lit up my face. He laughed, relieved, and sat back down. "Well, what is it this time, Alice?"
My face suddenly fell. I couldn't tell Jasper—this was good news to me, but Jasper would get angry. However, he was going to end up knowing sooner or later, so I sighed, resigned, and told him. Even though I knew his reaction was going to be negative, I still grinned.
"Edward's going to bring Bella over here to meet us!" I exclaimed.
To my complete surprise, Jasper just shrugged. "I knew that already. Edward told me when he got back from Bella's house to change."
What? I didn't see that . . . Oh, it must have been because I was focusing on something and didn't pay attention. Still, it was really embarrassing.
"Oh," I said. I would have blushed if I could have.
He laughed. "It's all right. While you were sleeping"—he grinned—"he explained it all to us. We're going to take bets on whether Edward's going to bring her back or not. Emmett suggested we do it behind his back, but that's stupid, what with Edward's abilities. So what do you think, Alice? Is he going to or not?"
"Of course he is," I said certainly.
He beamed. "Great. Rosalie won't be showing up—Esme wants Emmett to make sure she's not going to ruin it all for Bella."
I knew that.
"Edward also warned me to keep my distance," Jasper continued.
That I didn't know. I chose not to reply.
"Thanks, Jasper," I said. "I didn't see all of that."
"You're welcome." He smiled. "So what do you want to do now?"
"What do you think about a brisk morning run?" I asked. I sorely needed to inhale some fresh air, and Edward wasn't going to come back with Bella until some time later.
He didn't answer. He just grabbed my hand and ran out of the house. I laughed, as I half-ran and half-flew in the air.
It was going to be a delightful morning.
We were running back to the house when I suddenly stopped in my tracks. I had seen that Bella and Edward were going to arrive very, very soon. My eyes widened; Jasper said later. I grabbed his hand and we started to sprint. What if we were too late?
After a few seconds, Jasper and I arrived at the house. Somehow we managed to make it with a few minutes to spare. I warned Carlisle and Esme before I took the stairs two at a time. I hid behind the staircase to wait for them to arrive. Jasper did the same.
Carlisle and Esme waited by the grand piano.
I heard Edward's and Bella's conversation as they arrived. "Ready?" Edward asked Bella, laughter clearly in his voice as he opened her door for her.
"Not even a little bit—let's go," Bella muttered as she got out of the car. She tried to laugh, but it got stuck in her throat. She was definitely scared. Was she scared of disapproval or was she scared of a houseful of vampires? If she was scared of vampires, then she wouldn't have come with Edward, so I ruled out that option.
"You look lovely," Edward said to her.
Jasper shifted uneasily beside me. "Maybe we shouldn't listen in . . ." he muttered under his breath. I shook my head at him. They were going to come in and Edward wouldn't have liked it if he heard Jasper.
They entered. Bella looked around in awe, and then her gaze fell on Carlisle and Esme. There was a short silence.
"Carlisle, Esme," Edward said to break the short silence, "this is Bella."
"You're very welcome, Bella," said Carlisle as he measured his steps carefully when he stepped forward to shake hands with Bella.
"It's nice to see you again, Dr. Cullen," Bella said shyly.
"Please, call me Carlisle."
Suddenly, Bella beamed. "Carlisle."
Esme smiled and stepped forward as well to shake hands with her. "It's very nice to meet you," she said very sincerely. Was this a presidential meeting, or what? What was with all the handshakes?
"Thank you. It's very nice to meet you too."
"Where are Alice and Jasper?" Edward asked. That was our cue.
We walked out of our hiding place.
"Hey, Edward!" I called enthusiastically. I ran down the stairs and came to a sudden stop in front of her. It was too late to regret my actions. I just hoped she wasn't scared. Carlisle and Esme shot warning glances at me.
"Hi, Bella!" I beamed as I bounced forward to kiss her cheek. Carlisle and Esme looked staggered, and I saw Edward stiffen. I winked at him. His facial expression was unreadable.
No one seemed to know what to say. Jasper came to my rescue. He filled everyone with ease, and it was impossible to feel awkward near him. Bella smiled. Edward raised one eyebrow.
"Hello, Bella," Jasper said slowly. He kept his distance and didn't offer to shake her hand.
"Hello, Jasper," Bella smiled at him shyly. She then turned toward the rest of us. "It's very nice to meet you all—you have a very beautiful home."
"Thank you," Esme said kindly. "We're so glad you came."
Bella's eyes wandered towards the grand piano and a wave of nostalgia passed over her, as Jasper told me afterwards.
Esme noticed. "Do you play?" she asked as she inclined her head towards the piano.
Bella shook her head. "Not at all. But it's so beautiful. Is it yours?"
"No," she laughed. "Edward didn't tell you he was musical?"
"No." Bella glared at Edward. "I should have known, I guess."
Esme raised her eyebrows in confusion.
"Edward can do everything, right?" Bella explained.
Jasper snickered. I snickered too, but mentally. I didn't want Bella too uncomfortable in her first visit.
"I hope you haven't been showing off," Esme scolded Edward. "It's very rude," she gave him a reproving look.
"Just a bit," he laughed freely as he and Esme shared a brief look.
"He's been too modest, actually," Bella corrected hastily.
"Well, play for her," Esme said.
"You just said that showing off was rude," Edward objected.
"There are exceptions to every rule."
"I'd like to hear you play," Bella inserted.
"It's settled, then," Esme said and pushed Edward in the general direction of the grand piano.
Edward gave Bella a long, exasperated look before he sat down and turned to the piano keys. When he started to play, Bella's mouth hung open. Jasper, Carlisle, and I chuckled at her reaction.
Esme told us to give them some privacy, so we went upstairs again, but I couldn't help listening to a few snippets of their conversation.
Jasper eventually found out, because of my guilty feelings. He then distracted my eavesdropping sense by kissing me. It worked just fine. I closed my eyes and tried not to think of the curiosity burning inside of me.
By the time we stopped kissing, Bella and Edward were already in Carlisle's study. Edward was probably showing her Carlisle's interesting history.
They stayed there for a while. I heard their footsteps. They were going to Edward's room. I couldn't stand it, so I listened in. Or at least, I tried to. I struggled with my conscience for a while.
In the end, as usual, I listened. I waited in the hallway. Jasper came, too. Emmett wanted us to ask Edward if he was going to play baseball today. There was going to be a big storm, but the weather would be dry. I was certain of it.
". . . I hate to burst your bubble, but you're not as scary as you think. I don't find you scary at all, actually," Bella was saying, confidently. Bella was either delusional, or she was lying.
He chuckled darkly. "You really shouldn't have said that," he said. I detected a hint of laughter in his voice.
Edward growled, and Bella backed away from him. "You wouldn't," she declared.
He leapt at her, knocking her to the ground. He was very careful. I heard him scoop her up in midair and then they crashed into the leather sofa, knocking it to the wall with a loud noise.
"You were saying?" Edward growled playfully.
"That you are a very, very terrifying monster." Bella was trying to be sarcastic, but her breathless voice didn't help.
"Much better."
"Um, can I get up now?" Bella asked tentatively.
He laughed.
It was time. "Can we come in?" I asked softly. The door was open, so Bella saw me. Her cheeks were flaming red, and Edward was laughing quietly.
"Go ahead," Edward chuckled.
I walked past them to the center of the room, where I sat on the floor. "It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch, and we came to see if you would share," I joked.
Bella stiffened.
"Sorry, I don't believe I have enough to share," Edward grinned, holding her recklessly close. You could have fried an egg on Bella's face then; her face was burning so brightly.
"Actually," said Jasper, smiling despite himself as he walked into the room, "Alice says there's going to be a real storm tonight, and Emmett wants to play ball. Are you game?"
Edward's eyes lit up, but he hesitated.
"Of course you should bring Bella," I chirped immediately.
Jasper threw a quick, questioning glance at me. There was no way she could play ball.
"Do you want to go?" Edward asked her, his expression vivid.
"Sure. Um, where are we going?"
"We have to wait for thunder to play ball," Edward explained. "You'll see why."
"Will I need an umbrella?" Bella asked.
I laughed with Edward and Jasper.
"Will she?" Jasper asked me, just to be sure.
"No. The storm will hit over town. It should be dry enough in the clearing," I promised him.
"Good then," Bella said.
"Let's go see if Carlisle will come." I bounded up and danced out the door.
"Like you don't know," Jasper teased me. He was right. Carlisle would come. I was just anxious to give them a little more privacy. He managed to inconspicuously close the door behind us.
I was so excited. We didn't get to play ball often. I could barely wait!
A/N: And… You know what happens! XP. Thanks to all the people who reviewed, and thanks to my beta, who managed to find time to edit my careless mistakes when she was extremely busy herself.