Chapter 14- Bad Luck

Who doesn't know that Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight? o

After Edward and Bella left, Rosalie and Emmett finally came downstairs. Rosalie was in a fairly bad mood, but Emmett was grinning. He loved to play baseball.

Carlisle had grabbed the bases and Esme had retrieved a few baseballs and two bats (in case we broke them). Esme wasn't going to play; she was going to referee, as usual. She didn't like it when we argued.

I chose some baseball t-shirts for all of us. We couldn't all match, it would be too childish. And since we were far past the age of children, I discarded that idea. Instead, I just got everyone to wear different colored collar t-shirts. I let them choose what pants to wear.

It was a rather loud, noisy trip to the clearing. Everyone was discussing who would be on whose team. Carlisle and I didn't join in on the banter, because we didn't really care. What I cared about was being able to play. Esme had to keep reminding us that we had to try harder to play fair, because we had a spectator. She didn't know that she was testing Rosalie's control.

When we arrived, we all stood very still, waiting. Everyone was looking at me, waiting for the vision that told us when Edward and Bella would be coming. I was waiting too.

Then I had it. "Soon," I promised them. "They're on their way now." Emmett beamed. He loved playing baseball as an entire family.

Rosalie huffed.

So while we waited, we split into teams. I was with Carlisle and Edward while Rosalie was with Emmett and Jasper. Then, I had a vision. Soon, from the forest, we would hear a very peculiar noise that Emmett would describe as a "bear choking." It was probably Edward. They were coming.

My vision turned out to be true.

"What is that?" Emmett asked in disbelief. "A bear choking, or what?"

I grinned and danced away from the others to grab a ball. "Come on, Jasper; let's play catch while we wait for them."

We stood a quarter of a mile apart and tossed the baseball as fast as we could between us. While we were doing so, I had another vision. Edward and Bella were going to arrive in forty seven seconds.

Exactly forty seven seconds afterwards, Edward and Bella emerged from the forest. Esme started towards them and Emmett followed suit, after a long look at Rosalie's back; she had risen and strode off towards our general direction without a backward glance at Bella. Bella frowned, nervous.

After I had the vision ascertaining when we could start, I ran towards Bella, hurtling to a stop in front of her, like last time. "It's time," I announced dramatically. As I spoke, a deep rumble of thunder crashed into town.

"Eerie, isn't it?" Emmett winked at Bella with easy familiarity.

"Let's go," I said and reached for Emmett's hand. We darted towards the field.

As we ran, Bella and Esme were already having a lengthy conversation about Esme's human life. My eyes suddenly turned downcast, and my shoulders hunched. I wished I could talk about my human life, too.

I waited for the peal of thunder that was yet to come. When it came, Esme turned from her conversation with Bella and called in a clear voice. "All right," Esme said."Batter up."

I stood straight and held the ball in both hands at my waist, and then my right hand flicked out and the ball smacked into Jasper's hand.

"Was that a strike?" Bella whispered.

Did she ever watch baseball?

"If they don't hit it, it's a strike," Esme replied, her eyes on the game.

Jasper hurled the ball back at my waiting hands. I permitted myself a brief grin. Once again, my right hand flicked out, but this time, Emmett swung the aluminum bat and hit the ball full on with a mighty "whack." I saw Bella jump in shock out of the corner of my eye.

The ball flew deep into the surrounding forest as Emmett flitted around the bases. Edward disappeared, and I knew that it would be another out.

"Home run," Bella muttered.

Nope, I thought wryly, as Edward appeared, waving the ball around, and grinning at Bella. Bella's eyes grew wide in amazement.

The inning continued, and the fun increased notch by notch. After a wild scene of Carlisle racing Jasper to first base, Bella jumped up in concern. She should have known by know that vampires didn't get hurt during baseball.

"Safe," Esme said calmly.

Emmett's team was up by one, because Rosalie managed to get around the bases after tagging up on one of Emmett's long flies. But, with the aid of my ability to see the future, I knew that the score would be constantly changing as both teams took turns with the lead.

Carlisle was up to bat, and Edward was catching, when I had a frightening vision. I gasped out loud. Bella was in grave danger. How could I have been so careless? Why didn't I see that another coven of vampires would be passing by? I didn't know they would hear us playing baseball and want to join!

Edward! I shrieked at the top of my mental lungs. Edward!

After he read through my mind what had happened, he was at Bella's side before anyone could even ask me why I gasped.

"Alice?" Esme asked tensely.

"I didn't see— I couldn't tell," I whispered in shame.

All the others were gathered by now.

"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle asked, keeping his calm. I was on the verge of panicking, so I was glad that he was here.

"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before," I said, my voice contrite. This was extremely dangerous for Bella. Why didn't I consider it?

Jasper leaned over me, his posture protective. "What changed?"

"They heard us playing, and it changed their path," I murmured grimly. We all glanced quickly at Bella before looking away.

"How soon?" Carlisle asked Edward.

A look of utmost concentration passed over his face before he said, "Less than five minutes. They're running— they want to play," he scowled.

"Can you make it?" Carlisle asked urgently.

"No, not carrying—" He cut short. "Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting."

"How many?" Emmett asked me.

"Three," I said tersely.

"Three! Let them come," he scoffed, not worried in the least. I rolled my eyes inwardly. Was that all he could think of?
Carlisle deliberated before telling us, "Let's just continue the game. Alice said they were merely curious."

Esme asked Edward if they were thirsty, and he shook his head.

"You catch, Esme," he said wearily, planting himself in front of Bella. "I'll call it now." And we continued to play, but the fun was all sucked out of it. No one dared to hit harder than a bunt.

"I'm so sorry, Bella. It was careless of me to expose you like this," Edward muttered, taking a half step and angling himself between me and what was coming. I shuddered.

After a little while, everyone except for Bella turned towards the right field, hearing sounds of passage too soft for Bella to catch.

A/N: Thanks to lolafalana.