"You look adorable!" Bella and Alice looked at each other and grinned before dissolving into a giggling pile of pale limbs. Angela watched them with a grin but didn't laugh at my expense. I rolled my eyes behind my glasses and switched my sight to Angela's since she was actually looking at me without rolling about in hysterics. Of course she probably felt just as self conscious as I did in her heavy red jacket, fake facial hair and giant tricorn hat.
"I look like a Christmas Tree is what I look like." My comment just made the girls giggle harder. I was wearing my Tinkerbell costume, a near exact replica of Disney's version, but Alice had gotten creative with fiber optics. I glowed, blinked and sparkled. Literally. There were times I really wished vampires could sleep. Alice had entirely too much time on her hands. Maybe I should have a long talk with Jasper about keeping his wife occupied.
"It won't work. And you do look adorable...and appropriately sparkly." Edward's voice was probably too quiet for anyone but me to hear, so I grinned and moved across the hall. Angela followed me and I tilted my head as if looking at Edward. Through her eyes, I saw Edward perched on the top of the banister looking every bit his part in a dark green tunic, cutoff green shorts and tights. The hat perched atop his unruly auburn hair was the perfect touch. He was lucky he wasn't as muscular as Emmett or quite as tall as Jasper. He wouldn't have pulled it off.
"Well, Peter, I could say the same for you but I think I forgot my fairy dust. No flying for you tonight, my everlastingly youthful companion." I winked at him and twirled a bit. I expected Angela to giggle but she wasn't making any noise. She was still a bit shy around Edward. Or perhaps it was the scowl on his face that kept her quiet. She probably didn't recognize the twinkle in his eyes as amusement.
"I feel like a fool." His comment came out as a snarl and I laughed.
"That's the point, I think. Alice is overdoing the costumes so no one will take this seriously. Its all about having fun, not about winning a Tony for Best Costume." At best everyone will think we rented them from a Costume shop. At worst, the Drama club will attack Alice for her seamstressing skills. I thought the last at him and saw him handsign in agreement.
"Oh, Edward. You look nice." Bella's voice was breathless, not with amusement but with actual admiration. Angela turned to look at Bella and Alice. Bella had a silly smile on her face, obviously enjoying the sight of Edward in his costume. She was the least outlandishly dressed of all of us in a white, long sleeved nightdress with a blue sash to match the ribbon in her hair. Alice was looking proud of herself.
"Okay, enough chatter about the clothes. Let's get some blocking done and maybe a rehearsal or two before..." Alice trailed off, her eyes going glazed as she obviously tried to see when our future came to an abrupt halt. I tried to contain my excitement, but I ended up bouncing on my toes anyway.
"Before what?" Bella asked, turning to look at Alice. I saw my best friend stiffen, knew she knew that something was definitely up. I moved over and wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her down the stairs.
"Before Charlie gets home. Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise." I could almost see Bella's eyes narrow in suspicion but I didn't give her a chance to question me. I motioned Angela down and grinned at her.
"Well, Captain Hook. You and I are up first, then Wendy and Ed...Peter arguing, she leaves then I get to stop Peter from drinking his medicine." For the next few minutes we were actually serious about our little production. Angela and I got into the blocking and were throwing about ideas. Soon Edward was begging his imaginary audience to clap if they believed in fairies, with me hanging limply in his arms giggling. At that point he dropped me, surprising me enough that I thudded loudly to the floor, and ran to the front of our 'stage', overacting his part. Angela and Bella all laughed when I propped myself up on my elbow and glared towards his back.
"Ten minutes," Alice intoned this quietly and I jumped up from the floor, hoping to distract Angela from the way Edward stopped mid sentence and growled under his breath.
"Ten minute break! Let's get out of these costumes so we don't ruin them." I grabbed Bella by the hand and tugged her up the stairs fast enough that she stumbled slightly. I caught her easily and would have lifted her and ran if Angela hadn't been climbing the stairs after us.
"Leia, what's going on?" Bella hissed this at me as I began stripping out of my clothes, trying to be careful of the battery pack and network of fiber optic filaments. Alice would kill me if I accidently ripped all her carefully stitched work.
"Um, Sarah's coming for a visit." I whispered to her. I figured it was true, but I didn't mention that Alice couldn't actually see the Quileute girl showing up because Bella knew that Alice had trouble seeing the wolves.
"Oh. Oh! Is that...could that be bad? I know you aren't supposed to be in the same...place. At the same time," Bella murmured, sounding extremely distraught by the whole idea. I patted her shoulder with a smile.
"The Quileutes have declared your house neutral territory so..." I trailed off with a shrug. I honesty wanted to see Adam, even if it was only for five seconds before the growling and snarling started. Sometimes aggressive instincts overrode a creatures good sense. I was vampire enough to know that and to a certain point even expected it. I could only hope this wouldn't be one of those times.
As I escorted Bella back downstairs, I pushed my senses out and listened. After about a minute, I picked up the particular cadence of Adam's voice, mingled with a low growling. Jacob, I thought. And then there was Sarah's voice. Oh, she was doing some growling of her own.
"I'm not asking you to make friends, Jake. But if you really want to stay friends with Bella, you're going to have to learn to tolerate them. Smell and all." I could tell by her tone that she was frustrated. I sighed softly and then listened intently as Adam spoke.
"Guys, can we have this discussion elsewhere? We're probably well within Leia's range." His voice was resigned, but I heard an undercurrent of anger in it. Anger at who, I wondered. I heard Jacob snort softly.
"Why would I care what your bloodsucker girlfriend thinks about our conversation?" Jacob's snarled response caused an eruption of snarls from Adam. Sarah started yelling.
"I swear, if either one of you phases in this car I'll freaking move in with the Cullens, treaty or no treaty. At least they have manners!" The snarling stopped and I fought off a combination of despair and hope. Despair because Jacob obviously hated me now. Hope because, also obviously, Adam didn't hate me. In fact, Jacob seemed to think Adam harbored a romantic affection for me. I heard Edward's low growl and knew that he'd heard the conversation playing out in my mind.
"Sorry Leia." Adam's quiet apology warmed my heart, but I worried about my brother's response. Jasper and I had talked about the affection I felt for Adam, but we had both agreed that nothing could come of it unless the situation changed drastically. I had been careful when thinking about it around Edward, until now of course.
Don't worry Edward. I'm not encouraging anything but friendship. But I will not treat him like an enemy, extreme wolfy smell or no, so get used to it. I gave my brother a mental glare. I watched in Bella's vision as he visibly relaxed, probably because Bella was watching, and wrapped his arm around her waist. He drew her close and whispered in her ear.
"Stay close to me."
Bella looked up at him in confusion and I sighed, moving outside to wait for the Quileutes while Alice distracted Angela with chatter about graduation invitations. I perched on the hood of Bella's truck and tapped my heels against the side of the truck anxiously. I knew I was probably making a pair of matching dents, but I would pop them out later.
When the car was about a quarter mile from the house, I reached out and borrowed Sarah's eyes. She was, of course, watching the road. I slid my awareness to passenger seat and saw Sarah. Jacob was watching his girlfriend. I saw his eyes shift every few seconds to the backseat though, looking at Adam. My heels stopped thumping when I saw his face. It was hard to believe it had only been a week and a half since I'd seen him. He looked exhausted, hopeful and...beautiful.
"Leia." My brother's frustrated growl made me push that last thought away, though I felt no shame in thinking it. I heard Edward explain to Bella that Jacob and Adam were coming with Sarah. Bella asked him in a quiet whisper what they would do about Angela. Edward grimaced.
Think quick, big brother. I don't they came for a social call and I doubt anything Jake has to say needs fall on Angela's uninitiated ears.
When Edward finally whispered his plan to Bella, she looked momentarily horrified but then determined. She turned to Angela and smiled brightly, suggesting they go into the kitchen and make some sandwiches. As they moved into the kitchen, Edward stood guard at the kitchen door and Alice took up a position on the porch. I rolled my eyes.
"They didn't come to start a fight, guys. Not with Sarah along," I said this about the time Sarah pulled her father's car in behind Bella's truck. I didn't move, but Adam was out of the car before it even stopped fully and he dashed towards the truck. He pulled up abruptly when Alice flashed in front of me, her lips pulled back into a snarl. Jacob was suddenly there, behind Adam growling. Adam grimaced, stepping back with his hands held out, as if holding Jacob back.
"Sorry, sorry. I wasn't...I just wanted to see her." The snarling and growling stopped but I doubted anyone was actually relaxed. I slid off the truck and moved to my sister's side, putting my hand against her arm. And for the first time, I saw Adam through vampire eyes. I held back a sigh. Even being able to see the slight imperfections in his skin, the faint scar tissue on his cheek from what I assumed was an old childhood injury and the deep shadows under his eyes, he was still beautiful.
"Alice. Its fine," I murmured to my sister. She relaxed just a little bit under my hand. I knew not being able to *see* the wolves put her on edge. Well, that and the smell. My family wondered how I could stand the smell that made their noses wrinkle in disgust. What they didn't understand was that I had been dealing with overblown aromas for my entire vampire existence. I rarely ever breathed through my nose unless I was hunting or tracking something. That and I had learned to separate the layers of smell. The wolves scent was a blend of damp earth, musk and dog - sharp when taken together but not altogether unpleasant taken separately. Well, the dog scent was a bit sour, but I had smelled worse running through woods on a daily basis.
"Hello, Adam, Jacob." I gave them a closed lipped smile and Adam returned it with a lazy smile of his own. Jacob just grunted and started muttering about the futility of talking to filthy bloodsuckers and Alice's eyes narrowed at him.
"Save it, Black. We've got uninitiated company." Alice's voice was about as deep as I'd ever heard it, actually sounding threatening. About that time, I heard Angela exclaim loudly inside. Bella began apologizing profusely and I borrowed her eyes. Angela was covered in dripping lines of ketchup, from her chin to her knees. If the situation outside weren't so serious, I would have laughed.
"She'll be going home in just a moment and we can go inside to catch up," I said quietly. Sarah moved up behind Jacob and put a hand on his back. He visibly relaxed, but he put out his hand to keep Sarah behind him. She rolled her eyes, but she didn't move around him. Instead she laid her head against the back of his arm.
"Hi, Leia." Her quiet greeting, only slightly muffled by the fabric of Jacob's t-shirt, earned her a bright "Hello!" from me, but my attention was on the scene unfolding in the house.
"No, no, I'll just run home. Aren't we practicing after school tomorrow anyway?" Angela reassured Bella that everything was okay and a few moments later Edward came out the door in front of Bella and Angela. Jacob and Adam's expressions turned to shock when they saw the red sauce smeared across the human girl's shirt. Adam recovered quickly and quirked an eyebrow in my direction. I shrugged with a grin. Jacob just blinked in confusion. No doubt he could smell the vinegary sweetness of the ketchup, even if he entertained the idea that one of us had ripped out Angela's throat.
Angela's shy tendencies made her hurry towards her car, telling Bella and Edward that she'd see us at school tomorrow. When Angela pulled away, Bella walked over. Or she tried to. Before she had taken three steps, Edward wrapped his arms around her waist and she slumped back against him without a struggle. She knew it was futile to try to get away, but she glared up at him.
"They are my friends. They wouldn't hurt me," she hissed at him. Then she turned her face towards Sarah with a warm smile. "Please, come in the house."
To say the atmosphere inside the dining room was tense was an understatement. There were only four chairs at the Swan table, in which sat all the females. Edward was, of course, behind Bella, Jacob had his hands on Sarah's shoulders and Adam stood behind me, his hand resting on the back of the chair. I could feel the warmth of his fingers through the thin fabric of my shirt. Alice's hand was on my knee under the table so I could see everything. It was Bella that broke the ice.
"It's good to see you both, Adam, Jacob." Her voice was quiet, but firm.
"It's good to see you, too, Bella. I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit, but..." Adam trailed off and his glance flickered over to Jacob, who was glowering as his gaze flickered from Edward to Alice and back to Edward.
"I understand, to a point, Adam. Edward explained some things and Sarah explained a few more. Let's just be plain when I say I agree with Sarah. I think this whole vampire versus werewolf crap is childish, especially when we have a common enemy." She let a little bit of irritation leak into her voice. I agreed with Bella and Sarah about the common enemy, but I didn't think it was childish. Everything about our two species was designed to set the other off.
"We are natural enemies, Bella." Jacob echoed my thoughts but he continued in anger. "How you can stand being so close to a bloodsucking monster, I don't..."
"Jacob!" Sarah's sharp reprimand caught Jacob up short and he grumbled. Bella sighed.
"Trust me when I say I have a certain fondness for unnatural things. I'm in love with a vampire and for some unfathomable, unnatural reason, he loves me back. Every moment we are together, he has to fight his natural urge to suck me dry. Each of the Cullen's has struggled for decades to overcome the part of them that craves human blood, and they have won. But that is only a small part of the reason I love them, all of them. They are true and loyal friends and they have always put my safety ahead of their own."
I looked at the shocked expressions on Jacob and Edward's faces. Bella didn't often turn ferocious, but when she did it was explosive to watch. But like most explosions, it was over in a flash. Her eyes widened and she ducked her head, blushing like crazy. Edward's expression softened a little and Alice watched him brush his fingers over the skin of her neck gently. He was no doubt touched by her words and her reaction, as was I. Monsters or not, Bella loved us with her whole heart. Sarah reached over and touched Bella's hand with her fingers.
"I know it's not exactly the same, but I can relate. The pack is my family now, and I love Jacob with all my heart, in spite of the fact that he turns into a very large, furry animal. And also in spite his tendancy to be a stubborn, hotheaded fool." She flashed a disapproving frown at her significant other during the second part of her speech and Jacob actually looked ashamed.
"Sorry." Jacob's mumbled apology might not have been completely sincere, but the tense look on Edward's face relaxed. I wondered what Jacob was thinking to set him more at ease. I didn't have to wait long for the answer.
"Sorry," he repeated. "The reason we came was to invite Bella to our wedding. Sarah and I, we're getting married in May," Jacob said the last with just a bit of awe in his voice. Evidently he still couldn't believe she'd accepted his proposal. Adam had mentioned the pending event to me in the same email that he'd explained about imprinting. I had been surprised because Sarah and Jacob had only been dating for a few weeks. But they'd known each other since they were children and with the imprint Sarah never had to worry that Jacob would be unfaithful. Not to mention he would do almost anything to make Sarah happy. Perhaps it wasn't completely insane.
"I heard. Congratulations." Bella's quiet response was subdued and Alice glanced at her again. She was gazing up at Edward, her expression pleading. Edward had a pained expression on his face and I knew him well enough to know he was fighting with himself. Did he let Bella go to the wedding or did he put his foot down and seem more of a tyrant than a boyfriend. Finally he sighed and nodded at Bella. She grinned happily and turned back to Sarah and Jacob.
"I'd love to come."
Sarah's eyes lit up and Jacob grinned, just a little. His expression turned somber quickly, however.
"We also came to...well...to see if you'd seen anymore of the little redheaded bloodsu...um...vampire." Jacob was looking straight at me. Edward handsigned that I should answer him, probably hoping that he would be more comfortable talking to me. I sighed mentally but followed his advice.
"We haven't gotten close to her, but we've caught her scent a time or two. She seems incredibly adept at hiding, but we think she's still in the area," I answered truthfully and saw Bella tense up. Not that any of this was a surprise to her. Edward wanted nothing more than to keep her wrapped in a safe cocoon, clueless, but he knew that if he didn't communicate with Bella, I would. So he kept her in the loop for the most part.
"We've been scouting a little, too, and we think the same thing." Jacob nodded and he shifted behind Sarah's chair, gaze flickering between Edward and Alice before he looked at me again, obviously uncomfortable. "We've all agreed that we need to coordinate our resources a little. They've asked me to ask you, um, Leia, if you'll be...kind of an ambassador."
"An ambassador?" I was confused and wondering exactly what Jacob was asking. Edward what does he mean? Edward just smirked and tilted his head at Jacob.
"Yeah, someone we can call if we find something and, um...vice versa. Since you and Adam already keep in touch so frequently, he can be your official contact." Alice finally looked behind me at Adam and I saw him raise an eyebrow at Jacob and grin.
"More like they can't force him to stop talking to you so instead of trying to punish him for it, they've decided to give him an excuse." Edward spoke too low and fast for the humans or the wolves to pick up and I couldn't help reaching back to put my cold hand on the top of Adam's where it rested on the back of my chair. Adam blinked in surprise. I hadn't bothered to move at a human speed. Then he smiled. Not a lazy grin or a smirk of amusement, but a smile of contentment. I fought back an answering smile when I heard Edward sigh.
"I'm happy to be of help. Don't hesitate to call me if anything comes up, even if it seems insignificant." I tilted my head back so that I was 'looking' at Adam. Since I was touching him, I switched to his view and saw his face reflected in my glasses. He frowned slightly and reached down to tap the side of my glasses with his finger. I shook my head a bit, knowing that it made both Sarah and Jacob uncomfortable when I went without my glasses. He actually sighed in frustration and I tilted my head back forward. Sarah was grinning and Jacob was glowering again. Edward was tense and Alice was muttering under her breath, mostly curses about 'stupid wolves' and 'infuriating blank spots'.
"So...since you've invited me to your wedding, its only fair that I invite you to the talent show," Bella said in an overly bright voice, obviously trying to lighten the mood. It worked to a certain extent. Jacob stopped glowering and Sarah clapped her hands in delight.
"That sounds like fun! What are you doing?"
Adam's hand moved under mine so our palms were resting together. I closed my eyes and just let his warmth spread across my skin as Sarah and Bella talked about the talent show. I knew Sarah would try to come, but would Jacob and Adam be able to convince the pack that the school was as neutral a territory as Bella's home? It seemed such a trivial thing, but I knew that every little concession went a long way towards a better relationship with the Quileutes. Which would come in handy when we broke the news that Bella was destined to become one of the dreaded bloodsuckers herself.