I am not putting a DISCLAIMER, it is obvious and known that I am not Stephenie Meyer. Although it is upsetting, I can work through it. Deep breaths. In…out…
Chapter 12.
I whipped my head around to look at Edward. He was a slab of granite, a sculpture. He sat there with the same frozen expression on his face, an expression of shock. I wasn't going to get any information out of him…
I swiveled my head back to Alice. She had melted a little and was becoming more personable. Actually, she looked slightly excited.
"Alice…" I said slowly, almost asking a question. She gazed at me for a few moments before asking, very calmly,
"Bella, do you know anybody named Alexandria?"
I flashed through my dim human memories, receding farther back to my childhood; my mom's best friend's daughter, my childhood friend. Alli was probably my best friend that I ever had, until I met Alice. When I was thirteen, Alli and her mom moved to Buffalo, another city of dreary weather but with much more snow. Alli's named had changed so much over our time as friends; Dri-Dri when we were very little, Alex when we were around eight, and then Alli once we hit ten years old. I was always Bella. We were complete opposites, but we were the best of friends. I smiled when remembering that all my childhood photographs had Alli in them.
"Bella." Jasper stated, bringing me out of my epiphany.
"Oh, sorry." I mumbled, "Yes, my best friend…Alli." I answered. I saw Alice's face drop when I said 'best friend'. "My best friend prior to when…she…moved away when we were thirteen." I amended, watching Alice's face jump up almost instantaneously.
"Okay. Good." She answered, standing up.
"Wait…why?" I asked, getting up. I was prepared to follow Alice if it came down to that.
"No reason." Alice said slyly, rocking back on her heals. "I need to find Esme and Rosalie…Edward." Alice announced, nodding at Edward. He gave a look of understanding, and with that Alice was off. Jasper sat dazed on the couch momentarily before dashing off to find Alice.
I spun to face Edward. He opened his mouth like he was going to apologize, but I interrupted him.
"You can explain…later." I said flatly, realizing the sleeping Renesmee cradled in Edward's arms.
"To our cottage?" Edward asked, standing up. I nodded stiffly once and took off at full speed towards our house. I needed to blow off some steam, figure things out.
Obviously Alice had a vision including Alli. Why would she need to speak to Esme? Well, Esme was the mother figure of the household. She has the final say in everything. She is also the artistic and compassionate one. Esme makes sense…but Rosalie? Rosalie is never the most cordial person. In fact, she is rude most of the time. Why would Alice ever need to consort with Rosalie on a vision?
The one person who could answer all of these questions was about five yards to the right of me, running at my speed.
Renesmee curled up into her bed silently, pulling the covers up around her chin. I turned and stalked into the hallway, heading for our bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed as Edward emerged from the hallway.
"I'm guessing you want to know about-" Edward began.
"Yes." I cut him off. He didn't take slight offence to my interruption.
"Well…your friend Alli may stop by." He stated slowly. My eyes widened, begging him to continue. "She has had some…traumas lately, and she wanted to come see you. Apparently she didn't fare to well without you either." He explained.
My face fell. Alexandria was unhappy, there were traumas in her life. I could feel a dull, throbbing pain, an emotional pain.
"What…what h-happened?" I stuttered. Edward cringed, sensing how upset I was.
"I'm not really sure…" He said sheepishly.
"Oh, really?! Because you can read everyone's minds. How can you not be sure! You're a mind reader god damn it!" I boiled over, standing up to tower over Edward. He tucked his head down, and I realized how cruel I was being. "I am…so sorry." I said, sitting down. Edward turned his head to look at me. I could see the hurt in his eyes. I brushed my hand on the side of his hair, running my fingers down his neck.
"I really didn't mean it. I-I don't know what got into me. Please, please don't be mad at me." I pleaded.
He turned his whole body towards me and smiled. "Sweet, sweet, Bella. I can never stay mad at you." He murmured, wrapping his arms around my waist.
Edward pulled me on to his laps, cradling me against his chest. I twisted myself around in his arms and put my hands on either side of his face. "I am sorry." I whispered. Before Edward replied he pressed his lips to mine.
"Its fine, love." He uttered against my lips
As we ran towards the house the next morning, I was glad I didn't wear a dress.
"Bella," Edward had said while we were getting dressed, "Wear jeans. We're doing some painting today."
"Painting what?" I had asked. Edward only smiled in return.
Now we had reached the lawn, and I saw the lights on in the guest bedroom next to Rosalie's room. I could hear Rose talking,
"Oh. Let's get this frame." I heard Rosalie say while I sped up the stairs. Before anyone could reply Edward, Renesmee, and I were in the room.
Rosalie was sitting on Emmett's lap, a laptop resting on top of Emmett's hand, on her thigh. Esme and Alice were looking over Emmett's shoulders.
"What are we deciding on?" I asked, leaning onto Edward, who was resting against the doorframe.
"Alexandria's bed frame!" Exclaimed Alice, "We are going to get everything later, but we just wanted to pick it all out first."
I nodded slowly. "How long will she be staying?" I asked Alice.
"I'm not sure. It is still undecided." She explained. Rosalie shut the laptop with a click.
"Well, let's go." Rosalie said, pulling Emmett up with her. Rosalie was being unnaturally...pleasant. It was enjoyable though. I smiled at her.
"Which two cars are we taking?" I asked.
Rosalie looked to Emmett, who looked to Esme, who looked to Alice, who looked to Edward. Edward sighed. "They aren't taking a car, we are." He explained.
"But why not?" I asked.
This time Alice answered, "None of our cars are big enough to fit the things we need to buy. We decided it would be best just to carry the big things and send the bags in a car with you."
"And Edward." I interrupted.
"Sure." Rosalie said slowly.
Edward was driving while I gazed out the window. We had been sent to the Seattle mall by Alice. Alice, Esme, Rosalie and Emmett were supposedly meeting us there.
"Where is Jasper going?" I asked when we were back at the house. Nobody had answered me, they merely gave me a you-should-know-this look.
"Edward," I said, turning my body to face his, "Where is Jasper?" I asked nonchalantly, stretching my legs onto his lap. Edward placed his hand on my jeaned calf and stroked my leg with his thumb.
"He had to go hunting." Edward explained. I should have known that. With a human coming to the house, Jasper needed to hunt as much as possible. I looked down, ashamed. I knew how that made Jasper and Alice feel.
"Its fine, love." Edward said, craning his neck to meet my eyes, "It takes a while to get used to."
We pulled into the large parking lot. It was bizarre. There were only a few cars scattered here and there. "Did Alice rent out the mall or something ridiculous?" I asked sarcastically.
Edward shook his head, smiling. "No, it's only seven in the morning on a Sunday. Most people aren't even awake."
I was so disoriented. I had forgotten that we all 'woke up' at the first streaks of light filtering through the clouds.
"Oh." I said, laughing at my foolishness.
We got out of the silver Volvo in the parking garage and walked into the mall holding hands. Entering through the Macy's entrance, I was overwhelmed by all the scents that hit me. The perfumes, smell of leather, cleaning supplies, and humans all mixed together in a strange aroma.
"They're in pottery barn." Edward murmured quietly.
I was pulled to the elevator. Once stepping on it, I was quickly irritated. It was moving so slow. I could scale up the column to my left, using only my fingers and get up faster than this was moving. Edward could sense my frustration. He chuckled under his breath.
"Inconspicuous." He muttered.
I giggled but was cut short by the massive store that opened in front of us as we neared the top of the escalator. It had white paneling and big open windows. I saw the back of a blonde's head considering a bed frame, and a petite frame with black spiky hair dash past the window. I looked up at the sign and sure enough it said 'Pottery Barn' in black letters.
Emmett ambled past the window and gazed out across the open space. He caught sight of Edward and I, and he began to wave. Edward made a little wave back and ducked to give me a peck on the cheek.
As the new scents overwhelmed me again, I was also overwhelmed by the content packed into the little space.
"Bella!" Alice's chiming voice called to me. I followed the sound of her voice to the bedding section.
She was holding three different comforters. They were both pale, shallow colors. The one in her left hand was sky blue and the other two were baby pink and light lavender. "Which one?" She questioned.
"I don't know, Alice." I said, I was exhausted already and I had only been in the mall for ten minutes.
"Fine, Bella." Alice replied, turning around and debating between the three comforters. I shrugged and turned the opposite way.
On my way to find Edward, I saw Rosalie. She was gazing at a bed frame. It was a white, simple, low to the ground, boxy frame.
"Do you like it, Bella." She asked without looking up.
"Uh…sure." I answered, surprised she had asked.
"Yeah…me neither." She concluded, stepping away from the bed and moving on to the next.
After shopping for five hours, Rosalie had convinced the various teen boy employees that they would just use the flat, trolley to transfer the assorted, large boxes to the car. She had used the vampire charm, and in five minutes after check out we were all headed out of the mall.
Emmett pushed the rolling cart out onto the parking garage. Rosalie, Esme, Alice, and Emmett all reached down to pick up one of the massive boxes. Alice looked especially awkward carrying a box that could fit a small arm chair.
"See you at home." Edward said.
We watched as they took off at full vampire speed into the forest down the road. Even though they had to take a round-about way, they would get home far before us.
"We need to make a stop." Edward broke the silence, pulling into a parking lot. I gave him his hand back and reached for my door handle. I looked out the wind shield, we were in front of a hardware store. I tilted my head to the side. "Alice." He explained, stepping out of the car.
We headed into the store and an employee approached us hesitantly. "Can I help you with anything?" He asked directly to Edward.
"Yes," Edward answered. "We need paint and a lamp." Edward had stressed the 'we' to the man standing in front of us. His shaved head turned to me, almost as if he was seeing me for the first time.
"Alright. Well, why don't we get paint first." The man said motioning for us to follow him.
"Oh, if you could just direct us towards the paint, that would be fine. Thank you, though." Edward said politely, as soon as the man had finished his sentence.
He directed us towards the paint isle. We walked swiftly down the long aisles to number seven. The aisle was more of a square open space. In between the walls with paint samples, there was a desk. Behind the long desk sat a boy, probably seventeen or eighteen, with shaggy brown hair. It swooped across his face. He looked up at the approaching footsteps. His green eyes were piercing.
I smiled at him, and his eyes got wide and then refocused. I guessed I had just dazzled him. I heard a muffled laugh from Edward that would be unintelligible to humans.
"Um, hi…uh, my name is Travis…er…can I help you?" He asked, standing up and tossing his phone onto the chair. He smiled flirtatiously at me, and Edward stiffened at my side. The boy must have been thinking something. I reached for Edward's hand and curled into his side. Edward wrapped his arm around my waist.
I saw the look of disappointment shadow Travis' face. "We need two gallons of paint number 1276d." Edward stated, staring at Travis' eyes that were directed at me. His eyes flickered to Edward and then back to me. Nodding, he turned and went into the back of the store.
Edward leaned down and gave me a peck on the cheek just as the boy turned the corner.
"Here you go." The boy said handing Edward the two paint buckets in one hand. He was trying to impress me by his 'strength'. Little did he know, that Edward could probably lift up that whole aisle.
"I'll take them." I said, intercepting the hand off with my left hand. Travis looked down and saw the large diamond on my ring finger. A look of fear went past his eyes as he took in Edward, smiling gloatingly. He quickly shoved them towards me and looked down at a pad of paper.
"Anything else?" He asked Edward, avoiding our eyes.
"Yes, we need a chandelier. But I can find it." Edward answered warmly.
"Thank you." I said, while turning away to follow Edward towards the light fixtures.
Again, Edward merely asked a sales person for a certain numbered item, they went to retrieve it, and then handed the box to us.
We pulled into the driveway and were met by a jumping Alice and, a less than excited, Jasper. He retrieved the boxes from the back seat then was rushed upstairs by Alice.
Renesmee and Jacob came speeding into the garage just as we were getting out of the car. "Daddy! Come play hide and go seek with Jacob and I." Renesmee squealed.
"Okay. Just one second, sweetheart." Edward obliged. He placed a delicate kiss on my cheek and then scooped up Renesmee.
"No offense, Mommy." Renesmee apologized, "This is just another game that Daddy would be better at."
"Its fine." I replied, "We can have another game soon, and you can decide whose team you will be on that time."
I wandered into the house in search of someone to talk to. I could hear Alice barking orders at people upstairs, no way I was going up to her kingdom. I wandered into the living room and saw Carlisle on the couch. I plopped down on the other side. He continued to read his book. I sighed quietly. No response. I sighed louder. Still, no response. Finally I cleared my throat.
"Yes, Bella." Carlisle acknowledged, without looking away from his book.
"I was wondering if I could talk to you about something." I whispered. My whisper couldn't be heard by any human, and was probably almost indecipherable to the other vampires in the house.
He looked up at me, waiting for me to continue.
"After I had Renesmee…" I began slowly, "I was turned into a vampire." I stated.
"Yes…" Carlisle said, confused.
"And you gave me morphine." I stated.
"Yes…" Carlisle replied again.
"Well…"
"Please share, Bella." My father figure dictated.
"Well, it didn't really work. It didn't numb the pain, it only made me immobile." I whispered very quickly, and almost silently.
Carlisle was now engaged in the conversation. "Really?" He asked, because I assumed that it would dull the pain."
I shook my head. "Well, trial and error is the only way to figure out if something fits." He replied. I nodded but stopped when I heard the sound of a tiny heart beat fluttering in the distance, but getting closer.
Renesmee burst through the back door and hopped right onto my lap. Edward was close behind her. Thankfully, Edward sat on the arm rest behind me.
Jacob came in last. "Fine, you win." He said.
"Okay!" Renesmee shrieked, "Let's play another round. Mommy, would you like to play this time?" She asked.
"I would love to." I said. Jacob smiled and leaned down to whisper in Renesmee's ear. I only heard 'be' and 'mom's team'. Jacob had gotten better at whispering.
"I'm on your team." Renesmee pointed to me.
Jacob ran with us through the underbrush all the way to the line at the reservation. He dropped us at the beach and then doubled back to hide himself. I was glad the treaty lines had disintegrated, finding new hiding spots every game had gotten difficult.
"Shield us." Renesmee whispered. I saluted her and pulled her onto my lap. I had leaped up, into a crevice on the side of the cliff.
We sat in complete silence besides the waves washing onto the beach, the flap of gull's wings, and Renesmee's fluttering heart beat. After ten minutes later, Edward swung over the top ledge of the cave.
"You won." He stated half heartedly.
"Did you already find Jacob?" Renesmee asked sweetly.
I heard a huff from below, on the beach.
"Yes." Edward answered, smiling proudly. He took Renesmee out of my arms and cradled her against him. Leaping off the cliff, I heard the muffled thud from below of Edward landing on the sand. Another muted thump as I reached the sand.
"Come on, Nessie. I'll race you." Jacob said, trotting towards the trees.
"Okay, see you later!" She called, darting in front of me. Edward shook his head, laughing.
"Come on, Edward." I said.
"Do you want to race?" He asked teasingly.
"I think we know who would win that one…" I trailed off, reaching for Edward's hand. He smiled and brushed my hair out of my face, lightly kissing me on the nose.
I found myself being tugged by Edward as we neared the house.
"Is normal, vampire speed not good enough for you now?" I asked, laughing. He shook his head playfully, but he didn't slow down.
The house came into context, and I saw Alice bouncing on the steps of the porch. She rushed out to meet us and pulled me into her arms.
"Bella. I am so glad you're back." She greeted me exasperatedly. Had I been gone that long? I looked up to see the sun beginning to set behind the tree line. It couldn't have been more than half an hour.
I laughed as Alice pulled Edward and I up the stairs, down the hallway, and paused at the door to the guest bedroom. I heard movements from the other side of the door. Alice reached and turned the door handle at an excruciatingly slow pace. When the door did open, I was amazed.
The room had been painted a sky blue, with full length mirrors lining the two walls that didn't hold the closet or massive window. The mirrors had white molding around the edges that matched the white, four post king sized bed. White sheets, a blue comforter, and patterned throw blanket adorned the bed. Along with the multiple blankets, there were also many plush pillows in assorted shades of blue, silver, and white.
The last beams of sunlight, filtering through the skylight, gave a heavenly glow to the room. It made you feel as if you were in the sky.
I walked around the room, gazing into the room sized closet containing the dresser and vanity. It was amazing, I felt like I was dreaming.
"I don't know if I like it." Emmett said. All heads whipped around to stare at him. I could feel the toxic glares, rolling off Rosalie. I shuddered, and they weren't even directed to me.
"What." She hissed.
"I just don't like it, and I don't think she will either." Emmett replied, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, I think I know better than you." Rosalie shot back, receiving a questioning glance from Emmett. "I am a girl, she is a girl. You are not."
"That's what you think…" Emmett said, chuckling to himself. Rosalie's jaw dropped at Emmett's insult. I didn't know whether he had meant it to say that he was a girl or that Rosalie wasn't, but either one would be insulting to Rosalie.
She began stalking over towards him, her muscles contracting in her arms. Edward muffled a laugh as Emmett began backing out of the room. Rosalie continued forward, only to pause as soon as Emmett was in the hallway.
Quicker than a lighting flash, Rosalie had slapped Emmett across the face, using all of her vampire strength. Emmett flew down the long hallway. Sending a quiver through the whole house, Emmett crashed into the wall.
Rosalie flew down the stairs and out the door. I saw her running into the forest. Alice has sat down delicately on the edge of the bed. Esme was standing in her original place, still in shock from her children fighting. Edward had gone into the hallway to get Emmett. I was gazing out the window, to the exact spot in the forest that Rosalie had entered.
Okay. Long chapter! I owe you guys though, making you wait all week. It was kind of cruel. Not to mention that it was just a bad idea. I lost the next four chapters I had written…*cry, cry* No, really… I started crying. Also my emotions are all haywire lately. My grandma is dying and things just aren't good. But I still got this extremely long chapter out! Now, please review. Reviews are love, and after my terrible week…I think I deserve some love. Review, review, review!
Review=Love, love=happy people. Spread some love!! Leave a review!!
P.S. I can see how many people read this, and how many leave a review...trust me, the numbers arent the same!!
P.P.S. New idea! If i get 15 reviews on this chapter, I'll post the next one. As soon as I get to 54 reviews, I'll post the next one. ALSO, my anonymous reviewer Ben; you havent reviewed! As for everyone else, keep reviewing! You guys are the reason I continue writing. Without reviews, maybe I'll just not write anymore...
Just kidding, just kidding. But seriously, I NEED REVIEWS. Otherwise, I'll just be selfish and write the story for myself. But, I do really want to put this out there for you guys to read, so review! Even you who dont belong on fanfiction can write a review! Dont know how? Press the button directly below this, type in your comment, press the "submit comment/review" button, and check back soon for the next chapter!