Trigger Warning: Underage use of alcohol consumption is contained within this chapter.


CHAPTER EIGHT: THE SLUMBER PARTY!

JESSICA, MICHELLE AND ANGELA WERE NOT SET TO JOIN US FOR ANOTHER THREE HOURS. I parked Gertrude, as Edward had named his—now my Volvo just across the front door in the gravel drive. Seth and Edward had exited the car before I'd even unbuckled my seatbelt. Seth torn himself from the car and up the stairs where Esme was already waiting.

She wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embracing, coiling a slim, stone-white hand through the back of his hair.

"You must stop growing," she ordered him, clutching his body tighter into her own, so that even with his impressive height, he curled into her.

"Nahh, I still gotta couple inches left to go," Seth answered with a smile. I watched as Esme laughed, shaking her head. She motioned for Seth to enter. He tore through the doors and up the large staircase towards what I was sure to be the game room. Esme laughed again, shaking her head. Her eyes found mine, and then her favorite son's. She smiled back at us, beyond content, as Edward wrapped his arms around my waist.

His thoughts were clear, and I laughed.

"Go," I ordered, slapping his right shoulder. "You and Seth go defeat the Lord of all Evil or whatever it is that game is about."

Edward smiled up at me, stretching on the tips of his toes to place a gentle kiss over my lips.

"We'll be down once the girls get here."

"Oh you'd better," I said warningly. "I'm not going to be able to protect you if Alice comes at either of you."

Edward laughed, and kissed me again. "Oh I think you could. And it would be entertaining to watch."

It was my turn to laugh. I kissed him one last time before throwing him off me. "Go—have fun. I'll just be in the kitchen slaving away," I responded jokingly. He chuckled again, pressing his lips once more to mine, before rushing away. He paused for a moment to hug his mother, before vanishing off to where Seth waited.

I sighed. Esme descended the stairs and joined me by the car. She held her arms open, letting me fall into her comforting embrace. Her gentle fingers danced into my hair as she clung me to herself.

"Beau," she cooed. I could feel her worry pulsating off her body. Esme was the only Cullen, other than Edward, who feared what Victoria's escape could mean. While unlike her psychic daughter and I, who had seen my death play out within our own minds, the mere idea of such an event ate away at her. Not that the rest of my vampiric family were not upset, or concerned for my well being; they just did not believe that such an occurrence were possible. But Esme couldn't help but worry, even with Jasper's influence.

She'd taken me as one of her sons. In some ways, I'd caught that I reminded her of the biological child she had lost. She could still remember the soft tuff of mahogany hair upon his head, could recall how fragile and soft his body had been in her arms. Forever remembering how she'd lost him, unable to save him from the frailties and horrors of this world. She saw him in me—soft and vulnerable—so easy to lose.

The idea haunted her. The thought of losing another child, unbearable. Once I'd realize this, I'd recognized that the same dread had encompassed my own mother. A parent's worst fear—a feeling that I was grateful to know that I'd never understand.

I let her hold onto me for as long as she wanted, not caring when her hold began to ache.

"You sure you're up for this? I mean—human teenagers! Far more terrifying than the vampire ones." I joked as I tugged against her back, pressing her closer into me.

She laughed, a welcoming, loving sound. "I'm thrilled! I've always wanted to play host like this. Tonight will be like nothing I've ever gotten to experience. My children together, happy and celebrating with their friends! It's all a mother could hope for."

I pressed my lips into the top of her head, gentling kissing into her thick, caramel hair. Her trubilent ecstasy was intoxicating. I'd never felt such a rush of maternal emotion. The joy of having each of her children together (Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper having also fallen victim to Alice's insistence—a surprise to be saved for after my friends arrived) along with those they considered friends under one roof was bewildering. She relished in every moment of it.

She was a mother, through and through.

We pulled away from one another, and Esme moved to grab mine and Seth's bags from the truck.

"Esme, let me get those," I insisted.

She turned to me, the left side of her lips twirled high across her face, her eyes accusing.

"Like you, my mother raised her son to be a gentleman," I conquered as she let me force the bags from her hands.

Her smile evened. "She raised a fine young man," she cooed as she pressed a hand against my cheek. My head fell into her palm as I smiled down at her.

I could hear Edward, Seth, Jasper and Emmett screaming from the game room, even though it had been designed to be sound proof. Alice was busied in the living room, checking over each inch of it with a clipboard resting in her arms.

I dropped Seth's bag in what was the "guest room," of the house. The only official guest that I'd known of, hadn't been the ones that required a bed to sleep in. I climbed the last landing of stairs, lugging my suitcase as I made my way to Edward's room.

I yanked on the handle and threw my shoulder against the door.

"Oh," I whispered to myself aloud. Had I gone into the wrong room?

My mind began to process the scene before me. I knew this room. I knew it well. It was the correct room—but it had changed. The large sofa was now pushed back against the western wall. More furniture and decor had been shifted or removed entirely to accustom the new piece.

A bed.

A very, very large beg. My bag slipped from my fingers as my gaze contiuned to take in what it saw.

It was an enormous four poster canopy bed. A King—California King? The mattress appeared to be thick, made from material that caressed the body like a soft cloud resting upon the gentlest of seas. It was coated in shimmering, silvery-golden sheets, covered by a thick comforter of rich emerald fabric, with roses intricacy embroiled all about.

Curtains of the same emerald material adorned the tops of the post, encircling the frame in a thick cloud of shadow.

The frame itself was just as majestic and unique. It was made of some kind of dark, ebony wood. Throughout the frame were carvings, each a concoughpany of nonsense, but perfectly poetic. Vines, roses, coral and fins. Clock gears, feathers, a lamppost, a broom and conical hat, a lion's head and circling serpents. Each carefully carved, placed perfectly to flow seamlessly into a never-ending story.

"Do you like it?" a voice called from behind me.

With my mouth hanging open, I turned. Edward was leaning against the doorframe. His mouth hung in his crooked-smile. His amber eyes gleaming up at me, exposed and uncertain.

I felt my brows furrow, and the corners of my lips pucker upwards and I stared down at my feet. "It's breathtaking," I admitted.

Edward laughed once, his eyes casting down to the floor. "You talk the most—after you've gotten caught up in one of your stories. It's like you're dreaming that you're in them," he explained, licking his lips. "And—and with how things have played out, I thought you may be staying here more often."

He glanced up at me, his eyes still so unsure. He closed the distance between us, wrapping my hands into his.

"I just—I thought maybe getting to sleep in your favorite stories would help? Maybe…maybe even after, when you don't sleep…we can still dream together?"

I felt myself laughing, and then felt the trickles of water fall onto my cheeks. I tore my hands free and wrapped Edward into my arms, hurling him into me with as much force as I could muster.

"I love it," I assured him over his head.

"Really?" he asked excitedly.

"Yes," I cried out, laughing at his absurdity.

I felt him puff up his chest, proudly. "I built it myself, you know," he added boastfully.

I shook my head; my beaming smile reflecting out from his eyes. "You spoil me."

"That's my job," he gleamed, reaching his head upwards. I met his eager lips with my own. The kiss was tampered by our bemused smiles, but the passion ran through.

"This was entirely unnecessary," I cooed at him. "A quality air mattress would have sufficed."

"Since when have I done anything other than the utterly unnecessary," he challenged kissing me again.

He laughed at me, when I had to break away for air.

I groaned, battling the selfish part of me that desired to yank him onto the bed. "Go finish your game. I've got cooking to do."

"Are you sure I can't help you?"

I raised a brow up at him. "And when do I let anyone else in any kitchen when I'm cooking?"

Edward jeered at me as he rolled his eyes, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Sorry," he moaned sarcastically, lowering himself into a bow. "Just asking."

Emmett's thundering roar echoed from out the hall, rattling a painting of mine that Edward cherished—him in our meadow, glowing lights all around.

"Go," I ordered, "save my brother from your brother."

Edward stood stoic, raising his right hand to his forehead. "Sir, yes sir," he barked before vanishing back towards the game.

I heard myself laugh as I picked my suitcase from off the floor. I carried it over towards my side of the bed, then made my way back down towards the kitchen.

Alice and Esme were still frantically busying themselves over ever detail of one of the designated "hang-out," spaces. I scurried around in the kitchen—kitchen wasn't the right word, cooking at the Cullen house was like cooking at some prestige French institution. I had triple the things happening all at once than I would have at my mother's house.

I half listened to my favorite murder podcast as I began placing and setting the trays of finished snacks. I'd been so focused on the task ahead of me, that I'd not noticed Rosalie enter from the garage.

I nearly dropped the platter of pretzels as I found her sitting across from me on one of the barstools.

Her eyes fluttered wide, but her lips curled upward in a victorious smile.

Oops, she mouthed.

I chuckled.

"Didn't mean to frighten you," she purred, resting her chin under her palm.

"You're fine," I assumed, removing my earbuds.

Rosalie's hair was tied up in an unusually messy bun. She wore ill-fitted sweats—certainly Emmett's, that were stained in grease. She eyed the food skeptically, her lips curling into a snarl.

"Is that really edible?" she asked, not cruelly, but quizzingly.

"Yes," I assured, nodding my head. "Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I'm a pretty damn good cook."

"It smells…revolting," she gagged, her nose curling upwards over her face. "Almost as bad as that dog," she groaned.

"Rose," Esme chastised sternly.

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "He knows I'm just kidding, Mother. Beau's apart of the family now. He must get used to my particular brand of humor and affection," she finished eyeing me darkly.

I smiled at her, resting my hands over the marble island just in front of her. I leaned down, meeting her gaze.

"I have a feeling we share that very same brand, sis," I sneered before smiling widely at her.

Her lips snarled over her glistening teeth, pointing upwards, lifting her glorious face into a dark smile. "One of the exact reasons I've started warming up to you, Swan."

My smile matched her's. "Really? I thought the first time you started liking me was when I told you off the night James started hunting me."

Rosalie's smile flattered, slightly. A glimpse of recognition, suffering glinting in the far recesses of her eyes.

"No. I wanted to kill you on sight. It was after."

I felt my forehead burrow in on itself. "Hmph? When I was an idiot and rode off to Italy to save Edward?" I was curious now. Rosalie and I had never really talked through anything. The apology and acceptance were enough. I was glad to have another sister, especially one I could toy with.

"No," she repeated. "If you recall, that resulted in you inflicting the wrath of the Volturi upon all of us. That was truly a reason to hate you."

"Rose—," Esme scolded.

Rosalie raised her hand up. "It's true," she jutted out at her mother. "But I already could tolerate you by then. And when the Volturi come, as they will," she added pointedly in Esme's directions, "we will face them together. One big happy family. And while I'm sure with the Wiccan Wonder we'll survive…I may break a nail." Her eyes glared at me. "And that's not something I'm likely to forgive."

I chuckled. My shoulders rose and fell. "So, when was it?"

Rosalie shook her head, and now I could feel the misery. It was cold, like ice—true ice blistering on the skin. It was dark, like fading further down into a hole with no end—the light growing dimmer and dimmer, but still tauntingly there.

"It wasn't long after James. Once he was dead."

A distant memory, forged in a drug-induced fog, something Edward had said rang through my mind.

You and Rosalie…have far more in common than she would care to admit.

Another memory, more clear—more recent, engraved forever in my mind.

One day I'll explain. I hope then, you'll have a better understanding of why I've acted the way I have. But for now, I need you to understand that this life, it was never what I would have wanted for myself. A part of me still wishes that Edward had been there, when Carlisle found me, to vote no.

It was from the night they had accepted me, truly embraced me as one of their own. The night I was a Cullen to all of them…even Rosalie.

I smiled down at her, my head cocking to the side. Without thinking, my hand reached up to grab her's. I held it tightly, my smile now kind.

"Cool. Still took you long enough to come around." I lightly joked.

Rosalie eyed me, skeptically. "Did you get taller?"

"Nope. I don't think so," I told her as I laughed lightly. She'd known if I had.

Rosalie's eyes narrowed as she smiled. She pressed her soft, rose-petal fingers from my hand to under my jaw, and jutted my chin forward.

"Perhaps, it's just that you're carrying yourself higher."

I beamed at her.

Rosalie smiled a moment more before shaking her head. "If it were possible for me to vomit I would be doing so. This house will reek forever, mark my words," she continued as she walked away through the living room. "I can't believe you are degrading me to this, Alice. A night with actual humans." Rosalie began to loudly stomp up the stairs.

"This may actually be the true death of me. Apart of me hopes it is," she continued as she hammered up the steps.

I saw Esme eye the ceiling wearily.

"This is sure to be most dreadful. I may have to kill one of them to survive."

"Rosalie," Esme hissed.

Even I could hear Rosalie groan. "It's sarcasm, Mother. You ought to be well versed in it by now."

Esme marched to the base of the staircase, swatting her hands up the steps towards Rosalie.

"Those kind of remarks are not tolerated in this house, young lady! You know that."

"Yes, Mother," Rosalie placated before continuing on with her march. "Emmett," she screeched like a banshee as she reached the first landing, "enough!"

I watched Esme rejoin Alice in the living room. They eyed one another before shaking their heads.

"She's hopeless. Absolutely hopeless," Alice sang sorrowfully.

I heaved a heavy sigh, before turning my podcast back on. That was a first for me, and her. To connect on a level deeper than siblings who enjoyed to bicker. I'd been offered a glimpse into her soul. The pain ached my muscle, making it difficult to move without effort. It was encompassing—forever there, a dark reminder, even when surrounded by light.

My eyes closed and my head rolled along my neck as I braced myself against the island. The memories and emotions swirled in my head, mixed with memories of before Forks, in a dim theater room, where death awaited in the form of two, terrified boys.

My elbows buckled, but I forced my body to remain erect. I counted to ten. Focusing on each breath, forcing my darkness to leave. I imagined a light, a glittering aquamarine, growing more powerful, more impenetrable with each new wave of air. The shadows were gone, and my body gliding into normalcy.

When I opened my eyes, Esme and Alice were in front of me. Esme held my body in her hands.

"Beau?" she asked worryingly.

There was swift wisp of wind, and Edward was beside me.

Baby, he sung in his head. "What is it? What's wrong?"

I could see him swerving his head to and fro as he looked for any physical sign of distress. His mind raced with horrid possibilities.

What did you see? Beau? Talk to me.

I closed my eyes again, more a moment, squinting as I laughed off my strange demeanor.

"I've just got so much left to do. Everyone will be here soon."

Alice and Edward whisked me away from the kitchen in that moment. I listened as Esme busied about at an impossible speed.

"You rest up now," Alice softly demanded. "I can't have the star of the evening going to bed at a reasonable hour now, can I?"

I rolled my eyes as she and Edward lowered me onto the couch.

"You two are being absurd."

Edward fell next to me, reaching his arm over my shoulder as he settled in. He grabbed to remote with his free hand, turning it towards the obscenely large television before scrolling.

"If I'm doing this, you're doing this," he informed me. "And I'll be up aaallll evening."

I scowled at him, before resting my head over his. He eventually landed on some slasher movie. I watched for a few moments before resting my eyes. I felt the shadows creep in again, engulfing my ocean-colored light. Rosalie's eyes bore into mine. A future, my future, always cold.

"I can't believe you are subjecting me to this," Edward whined as I continued to paint his face with my fingers in Alice's homemade facemark.

"'If I'm doing this, you're doing this,'" I echoed. Edward jerked his head to the side, far too fast for my fingers to catch and follow. His arms crossed tightly against his chest.

My head fell to my side, and I eyed him warningly.

It was difficult to stay cross with him, standing before me as he was. The vision in the cafeteria, that seemed a lifetime ago now, playing out in fruition.

Edward was clad in one of Alice's too large tee-shirts. The sleeves and bottom had been cut off slopingly, leaving jagged, shark-tooth edges all around. He covered his legs with a thin pair of black sweats, formed low to expose the band of his brand underwear. I quite liked the look, on him at least.

It had been difficult to persuade him into this. Alice had known to resort me to a similar outfit to coax him into it. I was irritated at her for this. Because though we were dressed the same, we looked so drastically different. The dark hair around my navel obviously stood out against the ivory skin, not as aloof and hinted as Edward's.

What sheer, faint attempts for abs adorned my stomach, vanished against the perfect, marbled chiseled perfection, of Edward's.

The imagine was altered in Edward's mind. He saw what I saw, though his images of me were far more intricately detailed than mine. It made me uncomfortable, to seem myself that way. In a way that was me, but drastically not. I didn't like it. It made my comparisons all the more evident.

Edward's tongue rolled against his closed lips, before tilting his head back towards me.

"See," I soothed as I contiuned to rub the mask over his cheek. "It's not so bad."

He hmphed loudly, looking away.

My eyes darted towards the living room instinctive. To say that my friends had been…alarmed at seeing the entirety of my vampiric family would be a travesty of an understatement. I was sure Jessica and Michelle were going to faint when they saw Rosalie, gracefully gilded across her portion of the couch. She eyed them, the menace evident under the smile.

"Welcome to the Cullen Manor," she'd greeted darkly. "We are ever so welcome to have you." She dramatically gestured, her body curved into a deep bow, one arm held out while the other clutched over her chest.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes at her flamboyant dramatics.

Esme had appeared in the room then, eyeing Rosalie warningly. Her face shifted before she'd even turned towards my friends. Her eyes were welcoming, her smile comforting. I watched as Jessica, Angela and Michelle fell instinctively towards her. Esme raised her arms, and rested a hand over Jessica and Michelle's shoulders, trapping them all in an embrace.

"You are all so welcomed. I cannot tell you what it means to have you here," she cooed up at them all. It felt like a ray of pure sunshine bash over me as I watched her welcoming my friends.

Esme's happiness was radiant.

Angela's eyes were quickly distracted by Emmett, who had perched himself on the couch, resting his tree-trunk legs over a matching ottoman. A bowl of popcorn rested in his lap. Just another prop.

"College is out for the summer," he commented, as he attempted a comforting smile towards Angela, though I could see her eyes widen in fear. "We thought it would be fun to join you kids. Make sure you don't get into too much trouble." He winked.

Jessica and Michelle had finally joined Angela in gawking at him. Emmett chuckled, a deep, thunder sound—oddly to me, it was comforting. The kind of hearty rumble of an uncle who relished in being a horrible influence.

Esme eyed her eldest son, her brows raising high on her forehead.

"Play nice," she mouthed to Rosalie and Emmett.

Emmett smiled innocently, holding his hands up with his large palms facing forward.

Next to me Rosalie jeered, before returning her focus on the television.

"I have truly, finally, discovered Hell," she murmured so low in my ear.

Edward and I glanced at one another before our gaze fell over Rosalie's face.

The sound of Seth bounding down the stairs caught my attention. Jessica tore her eyes away from Emmett; they now sparkled as Seth approached her in an embrace.

I turned my head away, gagging silently. In my left ear I heard Rosalie laugh so low, that I'd be the only human who could hear. One of her hands glided towards the top of my head where her fingers began to dance in my hair.

"Mmm…now you know how I felt," she said teasingly.

Edward rolled his eyes as I playfully swatted her hand away.

"Bite me," I jeered as I lifted myself from off the couch. Rosalie's neck groaned upward as she snapped her jaws together before smiling.

I ignored her and approached my friends—keeping my smile bright even as Seth hugged Jessica closer to her side. My eyes widened with my smile.

"Welcome," I sang, pulling Angela and Michelle further inside.

The horror movie I constructed played in my head again. My character, far more wicked than he appeared, with a knack to befriend and ensnare prey without arising any suspicion. He drew his victims further inside the lions' den, the monsters who had taken him in, needing fresh blood to survive.

My laughter at the image was assumed as laughter from my friends' faces. Angela and Michelle gawked all around, their eyes darting feverishly inside their skulls as the sought everything in sight.

"Beau," Michelle purred, "you never told us amazing this place was."

Angela's mouth fell as she struggled to speak. "It's…it's like from a movie set or something. I've never seen anything like…" Angela's eyes turned to saucers as she gazed over my shoulder. I turned my head and instantly knew what had charmed her.

The original Monte painting that hung proudly over dinning room table.

"Is..is that?" Angela stuttered as her trembling hand rose to point.

Emmett pretend to look to see what she was talking about."

"Ohhh…yeah, that thing," he said leaning his head back as threw three pieces of popcorn over his waiting mouth. Even I wasn't sure how he'd done it. I could've sworn that they had fallen down his gullet, but I recognized the soft, fake chew that Edward and Alice used in public. I heard Edward laughing behind me.

"Pops got it at some auction."

I heard Esme laugh. "My husband fancies himself a collector. He has such a fondness for old things." Alice and Esme waltzed into the room. Those of us in the know all laughed at Esme's joke. Alice bounded onto Michelle and Angela, stealing their hands from mine. Her smile and wide eyes made her already miraculous youth appear younger. Like a child, overly excited for her very first sleepover.

"This is going to be so—much—fun," Alice squealed, jumping and dancing in unison. "We are going to do everything. Scary movies, games, pedicures, manicures, face-masks, the works!" she sang too high and far too fast. "Beau's got anything we could ever need, and there's ice-cream and cookie dough, and—"

"They get it, Alice," Rosalie hissed. "It's going to be a real-life-movie hoedown."

Alice eyed her sister sincerely. "Ignore Rosalie. She'll never admit it, but she'll enjoy herself. Trust me," she said raising her brows as if daring Rosalie to challenge her.

Rosalie sprang to her feet; almost too fast. She threw her body against my side and leaned up into my ear.

"If I enjoy a moment of this ordeal, it will be from watching how uncomfortable I make your little friends feel."

That still counts, Alice shouted into Edward's head and thus into mine.

"That still counts," I informed her with a sly smile, looking at Alice. I felt Rosalie's icy breath pierce against my skin as she silently hissed. Esme approached her, eyes warning.

"Go; tell your brother that I expect him to make at least one appearance," she ordered.

I shuddered. Jasper's one appearance. None of us had been comfortable with that situation—had been Edward's one, unbreakable condition.

"Jasper deserves this human experience as much as any of us do."

Seth threw out a hand, as if begging her. "Alice, no. Come on, man. No. Not with Jess here. I know he's cool with Beau now, and I smell like straight ass to you all so no worries there."

"As crassly put," Edward groaned disappointingly, pinching at the bridge of his nose. "Seth has a point, Alice. It's too dangerous. Even with what you saw."

I opened my mouth to agree, but Alice's voice sliced off my breath.

"No!" she said decidedly. "We will all be in the living room. Jazz will come down the stairs, straight into the kitchen from the other side, turn, wave, and go out the garage. He'll be in Tacoma by the time we've finished playing off his aloof demeanor."

"Alice," I groaned, stomping my feet. "Na-uh, no. It's too risky. Since when has there been more than one person in this house."

Alice lowered her head, raising her brows high and challenging up at me. Edward groaned at my side.

"Damnit," he hissed.

"Why isn't 'crass' when you cuss?" Seth demanded.

I heard Edward's hand hit Seth in the chest. "Do as I say, not as I do."

Alice shook her head, disparagingly at me. "Since your mother," she clarified, pointing a tiny finger at me, "got our mother to host bookclub here ever Wednesday."

Ahh. Right. That was still a thing. Huh.

"Damnit," I echoed.

"Him too?" Seth cried.

Another smack.

"Ow," Seth whined.

Alice's eyes softened, and her head tiled, ever so slightly, to one side. "Beau," she pleaded in a put.

"Noo," I moaned, my face crumbling in defeat.

"Jasper deserves this, Beau. This isn't the kind of sleep-over you have while at war. It will be too quick for your friends, but just enough for him. Please, Beau," she cried, clutching at my arms.

My head fell back as I stared into the sky.

"You'll be my favorite brother," she added sweetly.

"Hey!" Edward gasp, offend.

She ignored him, still staring up at me with wide, pleading eyes. "You know it's true," Alice whisper.

"I'll blast him through the walls, Alice," I vowed.

This did not deter Alice in the slightest. She squealed in delight, jumping up and down.

"There will be no need for such dramatics—everything will be fine. See."

She showed Edward the vision again, and so I saw it as well. Jasper would be heard barging down the steps, would appear, seemingly out of thin air in the kitchen, open the fridge, take a Gatorade, awkwardly wave, and then leave through the mudroom door as quick as he came. All-in-all, less than five seconds. His breath would be held for hours before.

So all would be fine. Alice had escorted Michelle and Angela up the stairs, leading them as they clumsily stumbled with their bags as they followed.

"You two will be sharing my room," Alice explained at the first landing. "I've got everything. Beds, pillows, any face cream you can think of. Ohh! And snacks for when it gets really late but we're still up talking…" Alice's thrilled voice drifted off into the distance as she touted my two friends behind her.

It was at that precise moment Seth and Jessica walked up to me. Their arms were ensnared at each other's waist. Jessica leaned into Seth's side, resting either hand on his chest, her smile giddy.

Seth's smile was smug. And I didn't particularly care for it a bit.

"I would have assumed that Jess would be sleeping with the girls," I said through a smile.

Seth raised a brow at me, daring. "Uhh and where will you be sleeping tonight, big bro?"

My smile widened as I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'll be sleeping in Edward's room. He'll be sleeping down here on the couch, of course," I finished, lying so smoothly I almost even believed it.

Seth chortled.

Uhh—Shall I remind Beau that I've found you in his bed on multiple occasions? I'm sure Jess would just love to know that. Seth threatened.

My smile widened as far as it were possible to grow. My eyes were but dark slits across my face. I chuckled, several times before groaning, licking and bitting down on my lips, head bobbing as I controlled myself.

My spine had somehow bent, almost as if my own body had admitted defeat before my mind could process it.

"Come on, Beau," Jess laughed nervously. She gently shoved her fingers over my chest.

My eyes flew to her, wide, warningly even as I kept my smile.

"Be cool," she almost ordered. "It's not like anything is gonna happen…" she had tried to play that off as a joke, almost laughing as she said it. But it was too awkward and clumsy to have been genuine.

I felt myself blink several times. The smile faltered but then regained its composure.

I hadn't really thought of that.

Nope. Nope. Nope Nope. Nu-uh. No sir, no-o-o- freaking way we're they going to share the same room, much less the same bed.

I felt myself laugh again, the sound broken and nervous.

Edward's gentle grasp clutched my arm. My ears registered a familiar and wretched tune. I saw the glow of the screen on my skin, before I saw Edward raising his phone up at me, as the pang of the timer drummed.

"Help me take the food out?" he asked.

Not now, he told me. Let it go.

"Sure," I said too cheerfully, "happy to help you in the kitchen," I clarified.

His neck snapped back. Ugh, he groaned as he dragged me into the other room.

I heard Seth and Jessica giggling as they walked out of the living room.

"Let me, malady," Seth assured dropping his voice. I assumed he was picking up her things.

"Ohh. What a fine gentleman," she complimented in a mock southern accent.

My eyes flared. My body jerked towards the living room, arms held out as if to display a clearly signal ahead. I turned to where Edward had sat himself on one of the barstools across the marble island; his bemused smile did not amuse me.

"They are not sharing a room together," I stated, startled by the strange tone of authority that was years beyond what I should have sounded like.

Edward laughed. "Love, don't you think you're being just a tad over dramatic?" He raised one hand with his thumb and pointer finger barely just hovering together.

"No," I said with a level of finality. "Absolutely not. He's sixteen. He does not need to be sleeping in the same bed as his girlfriend."

Edward laughed once. "Umm…we were seventeen when we started sleeping in the same bed," he countered.

I scoffed. I rested one hand over my hips, then pointed a finger at him with the other. "You," I said sternly, "are only, very, very technically seventeen. And I'm not a normal teenager, okay?"

Edward laughed. "Oh and Seth is?"

I glared at him, my eyes growing wide. "More so than I ever was, thank you."

Edward's head lolled to one side. "Babe," he urged, still smiling.

"Do not 'babe' me, Edward Cullen," I warned him, finger still jutting at him. "He is too young, okay. And—and he has had far too much happen to him recently for him to go and rush into things and get his heart broken."

I'd always been worried about that, since he and Jessica had started to become an item. There was already so much hurt, so much loss and suffering. And Jessica was going off to college in just a few months. They way they were together—it concerned me. They were inseparable. I didn't like they way they looked at each other, because I recognized it. It was the way Edward and I looked at each other. And that I couldn't happen. No—she would be gone in a few months. I couldn't…I didn't want him to get hurt again, I just wanted him to safe, rational…

I felt my own anxiety creeping over the annoyance. I turned my head away from Edward's watchful gaze, crossing my arms over my chest.

"He's just…he's just so innocent," I whispered. "He always has been. He…I…I just don't want to see him get anymore hurt than he's already been. He's had enough for a lifetime." My eyes watered with guilt-ridden tears that refused to fall. Edward pushed himself up from the stool; he slowly approached me. I felt his strong, comforting arms wrap around me, could feel him staring up at me.

"Love," he cooed. I shook my head, stubbornly fighting from looking down at him. One of his hands reached up to my cheek, guiding my face so that I had to meet his eyes. The warm, safe amber pools melted into me.

Hey, he sang cheerfully. Nothing is going to happen.

"You can't know that," I mumbled.

He laughed, far louder and longer this time. His smile pealed so high, that his cheeks resembled perfectly formed pearls.

"Alice would see, and interfere in a heartbeat," Edward assured. "And I don't believe Seth would be as foolish to try anything with all of us here. Surely, you know him better than that."

"I do," I said immediately. "But I also know Jessica. I love her—but she's older and has more…experience."

Edward furrowed his brows and cocked his head towards one side. "And that…bother's you?" he asked uncertainly.

"No," I stammered, almost offensively. "But—but just because she may be ready for that, doesn't mean that Seth is." I was starting to feel more awkward now, the further Edward and I discussed this. Apart of me wondered why I was so bothered by the idea that Seth and Jessica could potentially be…intimate. As his older brother, shouldn't I be cool about that kind of thing. Maybe just jokingly remind him to…be safe? I couldn't understand why it troubled me. I began to chew the inside of my cheek.

The only thing that I could ration, was that I did not see Seth as anything other than the kid brother I had always wanted. He was sixteen—not a child anymore. No. He stopped being a child months ago. He was grown, perhaps even more so than I was. And he didn't need me to treat him as a younger brother. Just a brother. Equals.

I exhaled heavily as I wrapped my arms over Edward's waist, pulling him into me. "I just want him to be ready," I finally admitted. "But because he's actually ready, not because he wants to be or thinks he has to be. Just ready…"

Edward's thumbs danced over my cheeks. His smile was soft and comforting.

"I know," he assured gently.

I sighed and rested my forehead against his. He laughed, craning his head up to press his lips towards the top of my head.

"For a moment there, I thought you'd suddenly developed a strong conviction that one must wait until marriage."

"Ugh," I groaned, pulling myself out from his grasp. I waltzed over to where the platter of pretzels sat. I yanked the largest one I could find, tearing apart a bite sized piece before hurling it into my mouth. Edward was staring at me, humored. I rolled my eyes.

"That is an archaic belief systems that only the Amish and religiously extreme still put any merit in," I stated as I chewed. "Which, I am neither. Gotta test ride the car before you buy it, right?" I added absent mindedly as I contiuned shoving pieces of bread into my mouth.

Edward laughed, shaking his head.

"What?" I demanded.

He shook his head, still smiling. "Nothing?"

"Oh really?" I challenged. As soon as I said that, the thoughts inside his head shifted to a foreign language. His smile grew triumphant as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I hate when you do that."

Still smiling, he simply shrugged. "Mmm-hmm, I'm well aware."

I was still glowering at him when Alice sprang into the kitchen, Michelle and Angela still welded to Alice's hands. Well, they'd been freed long enough to change into their nightwear. Michelle's eyes were wide, her mouth a gaping smile.

"This. House. Is. Everything," she astonished.

Alice's smile perked up. "Tonight is going to be perfect! SETH! Down—now," she ordered; a child demanding the obedience of a wily pet, when she saw him and Jessica lingering in the darkened landing.

I listened as Seth defiant steps trotted down the steps. Jessica's steps were mismatched, Edward caught that she was…skipping.

They appeared in the light; Jessica's face bubbly and pink-kissed, Seth's annoyed—though the corners of his lips were perked.

A flash of a recent memory.

Edward's hand flew to mine, gripping it, popping the knuckles.

"Mmmhmmm," I awkwardly giggled. Alice, Michelle and Angela's head all turned slowly towards me; their faces were almost each the same, masked, disturbed grimace.

Jessica's head fell to her chest, her giggled snicker barely concealable. Seth wrapped his arm around her, tightly, protectively. He stared at me, and smiled.

What? he asked.

I moved a fraction forward.

He's gotta leave the nest, he's gotta leave the nest, Edward sang, his tone distinctively alarmed.

I gripped Edward's hand, and turned to Alice. I smiled, making sure it was soft and excited.

"So!" I said with drastically wide eyes and flare. "What's first on the docket?"

Alice was instantly in supervisor mode. She turned to face the rest of the party, clapping her hands, a general at the helm of her men.

"First!" she cried, voice loud and thrilled. "Beau has made every—single—super slumber-party food we could want. We each make our plates, and gossip for a bit. Then! We make our way towards the living room for our first scary movie of the night! Beau," she sang my name, smiling and eyeing me, "has selected quite a first feature."

Edward audibly groaned. I flashed him a quick glance and crooked smile.

"It is a horror staple," I confirmed.

Seth and my friends moaned.

"Nooo!" Angela cried. "Not The Descent, you ruined camping for me."

Seth pointed an accusing finger at me. "I swear—if it's one of those haunted doll movies…"

Michelle glared at me. "Swan, you make me watch Harry Potter messin' with that creepy bitch and those dead children—"

"Oh relax," I stage shouted, scowling at them. "It's practically a romance."

I watched from the corner of my eyes as Edward, dramatically, swooned and rolled his eyes. "Ahh. Yes—the ever endearing romance between moral and vampire. How perfectly cliche."

I thrusted my elbow into his side. He pretended to flinch, and I pretended that the act didn't hurt.

"Huh?" Angela asked.

I lolled my head to one side, glaring eyes disappointed. "Dracula," I examined.

"Dracula isn't a romance," Seth accused.

My glare turned to him, the disappointment greater. "The Gary Oldman one," I clarified.

Turned out—none of them had ever seen it—hadn't know it existed. Rosalie had been correct, this was some level of Hell.

In actuality, Alice had never seen it—none of the Cullens had (save Edward, burgrudingly on a Friday night last summer). Vampire movies, especially in recent decades had grown a little too close to home. I was the only one who now found them endearing. The romance had always been there, hinted at, teased, the story of star-crossed-lovers, a timeless tale—imprinted forever in time and space. Edward had learned to tolerate my renewed love for such films, but until that night, none of the other Cullens had ever sat with humans—blindly watching their reality unfold on an impossibly large screen.

It was almost comedically to watch my friends, Seth included, eyes' reflectively turn to Edward and me whenever Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder on screen. Each time, Edward would smirk and pull me closer. And I would smile.

Edward's voice had sent a violent thrill up my spine as the enchanted dinner scene played out. It brushed against my ear, across my neck. His ensnaring scent brutalizing my olfactory senses.

"I have crossed oceans of time to find you."

I felt my body melt into the cushions of the couch, slouching inward into his body. His laugh was as bewildered as it was endearing. His arms coiled tightly around me, his lips caressing my neck.

I watched Michelle, Angela and Jessica's head's turn in my direction when Lucy's final form appeared on screen. They were not staring at me, but at the vampire resting on my other side. Rosalie, who had been lured down by a jubilant Emmett, turned to meet my friends' gazes. I watched from the corner of my eye as she smiled and waved her fingers at them.

They all flinched.

I stifled a smirk. Seth's arm tightened over Jessica's body, almost if by command.

Tell her to knock it off, Seth barked.

I rolled my eyes, but turned my head towards Rosalie. She was still glaring at them, smiling, lightly cackling.

Edward, please tell your sister to behave, Carlisle commanded.

Edward's head turned to me. Beau, please tell Rosalie to—

"Knock it off," I hissed into Rosalie's ear.

Her head turned to me, eyes glaringly shocked. I flicked my head towards Esme and Carlisle.

"Mom and Dad are mad," I said with a shrug. Rosalie turned towards her parents, her bottom lip curling over the top. She crossed her arms, flamboyantly, over her chest, huffing as she contiuned pouting.

From the light of the screen, I watched Esme, perched over Carlisle's lap, rub a hand over her face.

Carlisle laughed silently. He rubbed her arms comfortingly, as he pulled her closer, kissing her temple.

The movie contiuned. And I watched intently, as a slight reflection of my future unfolded.

After that first movie had ended, Alice had allotted a twenty minute break before the official slumber parties were to commence. Seth had taken Jessica out onto the remodeled deck. Angela and Michelle were still curled around Alice, gossip and giggling constantly.

"Shut up—no he does not," Alice laughed, playing along to whatever Michelle had whispered to her.

Michelle grabbed Alice's arm excitingly—huh, she didn't flinch. Strange.

"I am telling you," Michelle confirmed, louder. "Jeremy Stanley is into you."

Alice laughed, as did Edward. I was surprised to learn that Jessica's twin brother had had an infatuation for Alice.

"No way," Alice giggly dismissed. "Why would he be into me?"

Angela gawked at her. "Are you serious?" she questioned, almost disappointed.

"You're the prettiest girl in school—in town." Michelle's answer followed up.

The sanding noise that had pierced the air since the movie ended—Rosalie, pretending to file her nails, while her nails ate away at the metal, ceased. Her head rose slowly, and ever more slowly, turned. Michelle and Alice shrunk closer to Alice.

Alice's tongue blipped out at Rosalie.

Rosalie's head bobbled before falling back towards her hands. Her nails began to tear away at the filer.

"Babe," Emmett cooed, shoving his enormous foot closer to her head. Rosalie swung her ruined filer on top of Emmet's ankled. He yanked his leg back, holding it in his hands.

"Chill," he pleaded.

Rosalie huffed, and contiuned with her nails.

I'd taken this time to begin the face painting process. I had adorned my face first. The aroma from the homemade mask filled into my brain, transcending me to a tropical beach, a garden, a land of peace. So I couldn't understand why Edward was being such a baby about it.

"This is humiliating."

"Oh, shut up. I'm wearing it too," I reminded.

"But you're human. This slop is good for your skin. It's just an irritant on mine."

I pulled my fingers from his face, I cocked my head at him, and narrowed my eyes. "Oh, so—you're saying my face needs this? Right?" I chided playfully, my fingers gesturing to my green-painted face. Edward smirked at me He wrapped me in his arms. There was an audible splack when he our heads together. He began rubbing his face up and down against mine.

"Gross—stop," I ordered. "You're gonna get it in my hair."

I felt Edward's chest rumble with laughter. His hands gripped either side of my face, certainly thrusting face-mask in my hair. He yanked my head downward and pressed his lips against mine.

I felt my lips shoot upward as I laughed at him. Our kiss broke when he began laughing.

"You're such a jerk," I laughed.

Edward smiled up at me, pushing himself up to kiss me again.

"Comes with the job," he explained.

My eyes caught Alice, Ang and Michelle staring on, adoringly. I felt my cheeks flush red underneath the smeared mask.

"I can't believe you're actually wearing this," Jessica admired as her fingers traced along Seth's jaw once they'd returned and settled back in the living room with the rest of us.

Seth smiled, jutting his chin forward. "Gotta polish and shine the copper," he explained jokingly.

"My man," Emmett encouraged. He had since donned a lavish white rob, had too spread the green mask over his face. Rosalie had watched on with distain, settling herself on the furthest side of the room as she could.

Emmett open his wide hand down over his leg.

Seth rammed his hand into Emmett's the sound echoed against the walls.

Michelle and Angela flinched.

I rolled my eyes then directed them toward's Alice's direction—answering her order she shot Edward's way.

"So what's next, Alice?" Carlisle and Esme had made their public departure; stating that they were off to bed, telling us to have fun before bidding us all a good night. I assumed that they'd run off somewhere once they could no longer be seen. A date night, like Edward and I, where they could be utterly themselves alone. This meant the "real fun," as Alice had put it, could begin.

Alice squealed, clapping her hands frantically. "Mani-pedies," she sang.

"I'll take care of you, Beau," I heard Rosalie muse from across the room. My eyes were dark, cold, dark menace clouding over warm mocha. Rosalie smiled as brightly as she could before setting herself down next to her sister.

My friends had all instinctively thrown themselves further away from as Rosalie set herself down on the floor. She brushed a stray lock of gold behind her ear. Her hands started shifting through the large, ornate boxes that held dozens, if not hundreds, of different nail polishes.

"Now, let's see. Which color would look good on you?" Rosalie purred, her fingers brushing aside jar after jar.

I listened as Edward laughed, uncurling himself from my side as Rosalie smiled.

With wide eyes Rosalie turned to me. She held up a tiny vial of bright, sparkling, shimmering, pink nail polish. "Oh this color will simply look lovely on you, Beau," Rosalie sang while thrusting the bottle higher into the air for all to see. "Really will bring out that…vivid scarlet blush you seem to get whenever Edward's around."

Chuckles from everyone filled the room. My dark eyes narrowed at Rosalie as she contiuned to smile up at me.

Emmett's pounding chuckle sprang into a full laugh. I tore my gaze from Rosalie as I watched her many-times over husband nearly having a conniption beside Seth and Jessica. The reason for his sudden laughing fit roared into Edward's mind. Beside me, Edward laughed along his favorite brother at the memory.

Indeed. The mere thought of it had caused my face to scarlet in horrified embarrassment.

Emmett leaned closer to Seth. "Hey, did I ever tell you the time I caught Beau and Edward—"

"Emmett," I warned, clutching my fists together.

Seth's eyes twirled to my blushing face, glare intent on Emmett as he and Edward continued to laugh. "What?" Seth demanded, smiling. "I wanna know."

I didn't even get a chance to claim my rebuff before the other's started talking.

"Oh, it's quite funny," Rosalie agreed, twirling the vial of polish in-between her fingers.

"You've got to tell us," Jessica announced, clasping her hands over one of Seth's arms.

"Yes, please!" Michelle encouraged.

"Don't," I warned through my teeth. Even Angela looked intrigued.

Edward wrapped me in his embrace, still laughing against the back of my neck.

Emmett gave me a long, corrupted smile before turning his head back to face Seth and the others.

"Emmett," I warned, "I will put you in the ground."

He waved a hand, lazily in my direction. Pshh. You wish. He taunted.

His eyes grew more excited, and he positioned himself to tell the tale.

Edward yanked me further into him. No longer laughing, but smiling crookedly as he watched his brother.

"So," Emmett began, shooting his hands out in front of him. "This happened not long after we got back. The rest of us had gone out for the weekend on a little camping trip," he continued, setting the stage. "And these guys had the house all to themselves." I could see a wider smile spreading over his face. The points of his lips created a deep divot of a dimple. From the other corner of my eye, I noticed Rosalie watching as Emmett went on, seemingly thrilled by the slight notion of innocence in his face.

"Well, I just happened to get home before the others."

I groaned, audibly, placing my face in my hands as the other's listened on intently.

"Naturally," Emmett explain, gesturing his titanic hands towards his chest. "As Edward's big brother I thought it would be funny to sneak on in, and see what was going on."

Seth's brows raised high, and his neck twisted so he could face me in full. "Ohh, and what did you find, Emmett?" His was ecstatic.

My eyes narrowed at him. Discreetly as possible, with my hands mostly clawed inward over my chest, I flicked my middle finger against my thumb. Seth's right shoulder flinched back behind him. Jessica eyed him.

"You okay?" she asked.

Seth glared at me. "Yeah. Just a weird spasm or something," he assured her.

Hey! No magic! He yelled at me. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.

"So anyway," Emmett carried on, having already noticed everything that had transpired. "I sneak in from the mudroom, and notice all the lights off…"

Jessica, Ang and Michelle each giggled. Jessica stared at me with some knowing face I couldn't quite place—somewhere along proud, envious and slightly impressed.

"I hear some movie playing in the living room, and decide to just pop my head in. And there they are. Sucking face like they're each other's oxygen tanks. Beau's even got Edward's hands pinned over his head and everything."

The color of my face, I was sure, had to be a bright glowing red. I let my head fall back into my hands, listening to the other other's smirks and "ohh really."

Emmett began to laugh. "I wasn't trying to scare them or anything. I just said 'howdy,'" Emmett could barely continue, constantly flighting back howls of laughter. "And Beau shrieks, throws himself off Edward, falls and bangs his head against the coffee table in the process."

I listened balefully as rolls of laughter rang out around me. Edward has started chuckling again. He pulled me further into his chest, yanking us deeper into the soft cushions of the sofa. I felt his gentle lips caress the side of my face.

"That's not even the best part," Emmett shouted over the laughter. "I got it on film."

My head shot up from my hands. Emmett was looking over at a jubilant Seth. He reached inside one of the robe's pockets and flung his iPhone up. Seth caught it in his waiting hands.

"Figured you'd wanna see," Emmett declared in Seth's direction, his golden eyes peeking over at my enraged snarl.

"Ohhhoho," Seth nearly sang. "I think we all want to see this."

I lunged towards him, ready to wrangle the phone out of his hands. Edward caught my waist, and pulled me back.

"Don't you dare play that," I shouted.

Seth ignored me. Smiling as he twisted the phone to hold in both hands. Everyone, Alice included, jammed over Jessica and Seth as he pressed against the screen.

"Turn. It. Off." I commanded. Over my voice, I heard the sounds of Insidious playing over the phone's speakers. Behind it, another noise. Sloppy, delirious giggles.

My hand flew just in front of my face. I was poised to hurl the phone when Edward's hands grabbed onto my wrist.

That one won't be so easily explainable. He warned. I snarled in frustration.

Now a mask of terror, my head turned hesitantly towards the others as Emmett pointed towards the screen.

"Here it comes, here it comes."

Everyone's eyes were wide, and their heads inched closer and closer.

I could hear my recording laughing at the growl that had purred from Edward's throat as I harshly pinned his hands at the wrist over his head. I felt my stomach pulling and ensnaring itself in vicious coils.

"Beau!" Michelle exclaimed, pushing her head over Jessica's shoulder.

Seth nodded his head, almost approvingly. "Who woulda thought you had it in you?"

My hungered-laughter belted out from the phone.

"Well, Howdy," Emmett's booming voice echoed in the recording.

I dropped the lower part of my body as deep as I could into the cushions, just as my ear shattering scream played out.

I listened as everyone cackled. A harsh thud panged, and then a soft crash.

My "ow," was drowned out by roaring laughter.

"Flailing like a fish outa water," Emmett boomed.

Even Edward was laughing as his voice suddenly blared over the recording. "Emmett!" he'd hurled. "Turn the blasted phone off!"

The thunderous laughter continued. Only when I was sure I could move without toppling back onto the sofa, did I rise. I turned my head quickly, and kept a neutral expression. I threw myself out of Edward's arms. With the same indignancy I'd inherited from my mother, I made my way to the kitchen. Naturally, being Fate's personal sideshow attraction, I slipped as one foot dared to make the transition from rug to hardwood.

The laughing now surpassed what it had been.

Not turning, I straightened my body, and slithered into the kitchen.

I'd busied myself to cleaning up as the laughter faded—to return as Rosalie's bitterly-gloating voice called out.

"Play that again, would you." I imagined her lifting a finger towards my traitorous brother, before waltzing over to see my embarrassment play out again.

I made it a point to drop the dishes into the filled sink.

"Someone's mad," Seth's voice mockingly warned.

There was a pause, and then a choired chanting of "ooooohhhhhs".

"Hey, I can give you some pointers, Lil' Brother," Emmett called.

"Listen to him, Edward," Seth shouted.

"The stray has a point," Rosalie encouraged.

My eyes rose just as Edward's head peered in from the other room. I had to bite, hard, on the inside of my cheek to keep the corners of my right lip from rise. Edward's face, playfully weary, coated in the smeared green mask, hair held back with a black-silk band, railed unfairly into my eyes.

"'Vont you 'velcome me in?" he asked; his voice a painfully-hysterical rendition of the original Dracula.

Casting my eyes back down towards the sink, I nodded my head.

I busied my hands with scrubbing.

Edward walked behind me. He pressed his body against my back, resting his head on top of my shoulder. His soothing hands ran up and down the tops of arms.

It was kinda funny.

"Was not."

He laughed in his head, reaching up and pressing his lips against my jaw.

Come on! You were adorable—that face you made as you were screaming. How could anyone not love that face! Against my will, Edward forced the very image in my head. I cringed as I saw my face, screaming perfectly into the camera. I looked like every ditzy, dumbass, first kill character that had ever existed in cinema.

Watching my reaction, Edward laughed, aloud this time. He jammed his lips over the side of my face, further smearing us both.

"Well, I love that face. Each of your faces," he assured. His lips drew back, but returned just next to my ear. "It is your face, after all, that I still am able to dream of."

His grip around my arms tightened as I smiled, laughing at his absurdity.

He laughed again, church bells on a the first summer Sunday.

He pressed a kiss to my cheek again. "What if I told you, how you could get back at them?"

I spun, spirals of water and soap soaring from each finger. "I'm listening," I whispered. Edward's smile turned sinister as he relayed the plan in my thoughts.

The plan was soon to be set into motion. I swiveled my head towards the imposing grandfather clock that stood against a corner of one of the walls. It was nearing midnight. The witching hour.

Emmett had reveled his contraband bottle of cheap liquor towards us all little over an hour ago.

"Just a taste of what's to come," he'd announced boastfully. "College is a wild ride."

Almost everyone's eyes had fallen to me. Seth and Jessica had eyed me suspiciously, a hint of a glare underneath.

Michelle, who still was getting adjusted to Emmett's presence, kept turning her head slightly between us.

Angela had shaken her head, vehemently. "No. I really don't think we should—"

I'd reached over Edward, yanking the bottle from Emmett's hand. Over dramatically, I flicked the lid off. I turned the bottled in my hand, letting it fall into my glass of soda that was held in the other. After a hefty pour, I swigged the drink carefully, before bringing it to my lips. I craned my head, exposing my throat. After a bit, I lifted the glass from my lips and gulped.

"Ahh," I said blissfully. "Refreshing."

I pulled the drink closer into my chest, dropping my head. I smiled at the roomful of stunned and bemused stares.

"This ain't my first rodeo," I assured, tipping the bottle over again, filling the glass. Another swirl, another sip, another victorious smile. A show was coming, and I had every intention of enjoying it to the fullest.

The grandfather clock pang.

Chang.

Chang.

Chang.

Alice's gleeful demeanor vanished, as she dramatically twisted her head in the direction of the clock. Her eyes widened as her mouth dropped.

"I didn't realize—" her voice moaned. "The time got away from me," she added, opening and closing her mouth.

We all turned to her. Edward and I each playing along. Edward's expression was somewhere along alarmed and annoyed.

"Let it go, Alice," he urged. "Nothing's gonna happen."

"What?" Angela asked, head frantically swirling between the two.

"What's going on?" Seth demanded, eyeing the three of us. I pouted and shrugged. My eyes darting to Edward. He scuttled deeper into the sofa, pulling me tighter into his side. Alice's fearful eyes gazed over my friend's shoulders, looking out at a window that overlooked the vast front yard.

The girls followed her gaze. Seth looked on for a moment, before turning his head back in my direction.

You guys can cut it out, he added plainly. I know you're just trying to scare us.

More gleeful than I should have been, due in part to the illicit alcoholic consumption, I made it a point to scrunch up my face.

"We're not doing anything," I mouthed. I looked over at Edward as he pretended to watch Alice, then back to Seth. "I don't know what's going on."

"What? What's going on?" Jessica whimpered, looking from Alice towards the window. She glued herself to Seth's side, wrapping her arms tightly over his.

"Nothing is going on," I assured, rolling my eyes. "Alice is just trying to scare you, that's all." My tone was uninterested, and I began picking at the black nail polish Rosalie had coated my fingers in.

"We should all head upstairs," Alice suggested. As she stood, she dragged Angela and Michelle up with her.

"Alice, you're being asinine," Edward hurled from the couch. He picked up the remote and resumed the paused movie. I could feel the mood shifting throughout the room. It was Alice's faux panic that had diminished the cheerful atmosphere, ensnaring it now in dread.

This was going to be good.

Alice's head shot towards Edward. "I'm not kidding, Edward. We should get upstairs. We can continue in my room as long as we like, though—we ought to get some sleep soon. Tomorrow is a big day."

"Seriously," Seth scoffed. "I've been here at night before, Alice. Nothing has ever happened." He sounded as if he were annoyed, but I caught him glancing over his shoulder at the window.

Alice spoke to him without looking away from the dark, lifeless stained-glass. A dim ray of moonlight pierced through the clouds above, casting that part of the room in a dim, eerie-blue haze. "You've never been here after midnight," she answered him, her voice a whisper, timid, terrified.

"What happen's at midnight?" Michelle asked reluctantly.

Edward answered before Alice could. "Alice thinks the house is haunted." The words had flowed from his mouth humorously, but I felt the last work pierce into the others. Their heads all turned to the window, and the atmosphere grew colder.

"Nope," Michelle proclaimed. "Nope, nope. I've seen this movie, and I'm not staying down here for the sequel." She tore her hand free from Alice's and moved forward towards the stairs.

"It's not real," Edward called, laughing.

"Edward!" Alice challenged. "You know what happened here. I swear, I've seen her."

"Who?" Angela whimpered.

Jessica eyed me darkly before looking over at Alice. "What happened here?"

"Nothing happened here," I assured again, glaring at Alice.

"Then what's Alice talking about?" Angela demanded.

Edward dramatically sighed and rolled his eyes. "A woman died here, a very long time ago," he explained. "Ever since Alice found out, she's convinced her vengeful spirit still stalks the grounds."

"Someone died here!" Michelle gasped.

I shook my head, hands outstretched to her. "A very long time ago, long before our grandparents were even born."

"That's supposed to help?" Jessica spat.

"Her name was Isabella Marie. She was the original owner," Alice whisper ominously.

Edward and I rolled our eyes, like we'd heard the name a million times over.

"Yes. A happy old woman who died peacefully in her sleep is haunting this house and the land, Alice," Edward added annoyed.

"You know that's not what happened," Alice scoffed.

Edward flung his body into the back of the couch, groaning.

"What happened?" Angela asked, a morbid sense of curiosity breaking through her terror.

"She died alone," Alice finally spoke. "Heartbroken."

Seth's head spun in my direction. Again, I shrugged.

"You're being dramatic, Sis," Edward hissed, rising to his feet.

Alice stomped her foot. "No! I am not," she amended. She spun her head behind her shoulder, her horrified expression plastered for the others to see.

"They say this land is cursed," she whispered, almost too low to hear. "But Charles Marie would hear none of it. He built this house for his daughter, Isabella, and her betrothed. This house," she said, turning her head slowly up and around to look over as much of the home as she could. "Is all a father's love for his daughter. A home that she could cherish, could raise a family in—could be safe in. A home that could look out for her after he no longer could."

Other than Alice's hushed voice, and the near-inaudible movie, there was no other sound.

"But Edmund was called off to war, not a year into their marriage."

Slowly, everyone's eyes turned in their heads towards Edward and I. He stifled a laugh ducking his head down. My eyes narrowed at Alice. I hadn't thought she'd be using Edward and I as her inspiration for this conjured tale. Why was I always the girl in traditional heterosexual romantic relationship scenarios?

"Edmund left, vowing to return to her and their unborn child—a vow," she shuddered mournfully, "that was unkept."

Angela shivered as she became utterly enthralled in Alice's story.

"There were many a widow made during War-World-One," Edward conjectured.

Alice had never turned her head away from the others, her horrified mask permanent. I felt my toes and fingers twitch reactively as I realized that she hadn't ever moved. An animated statue. It was too uncanny. For one of the first times, I saw Alice as something other than normal—something that was mimicking a human, but wasn't.

Edward's arm coiled over my shoulders, his hand guiding me into him.

"When Isabella received word of Edmund's demise. She broke. She was a zombie, entombed in memories, promises and dreams that would never be. But she refused to be freed of her prison. She would violently attack anyone who dare try and remove her. They say she would grow the strength of a hundred men. Clawing and tearing away the flesh of those who touched her.

"She hadn't cared when her son, who was only a bitter reminder of what once was, was taken in by relatives. Charles Marie moved in with his daughter, and sought to her needs. He died in Chicago while traveling for business. After that, Isabelle never uttered another word."

I listened to the heavy breathing that emanated the four other humans in the room.

Edward's mind was a blur as they all envisioned the story to life. I thought it strange that they very nearly all imaged the same characters and scenes. Images of a fair-skinned woman, with dark-umber eyes and thick, curly mahogany hair. Her face, first, soft and warm, eyes adoring. Edmund, painfully reminisced as Edward, though with darker hair, bewitched as he ogled down at her. A rain soaked depart, tear depart. Fingers lingering until the very last moment.

A black car, approaching tentatively. Isabella, now heavily pregnant appearing in the doorway. Her once immaculate face, tattered and worn. Deep purple bruises coated all around her eyes. As a uniformed officer approached, she fell to her knees. A wretched, mournful cry that went unheard, hands clutching at her swollen torso.

A crazed woman, a mad woman. A woman no more, but an animal. Feral. Her hands tearing and breaking the bodies of men far beyond her frail size. An older, finely dressed gentleman somberly approaching. He extends his hat and coat to a servant, tipping his head. He looks like the girl—or who she had once been. Older, jaw bulkier and sharper, a thick brown mustache coating over his top lip.

The girl again, older, hair already shockingly-white far too soon. Rocking herself in a ball in the corner of her room.

Edward sighed. "That's just a rumor, Alice," Edward scoffed.

"I looked it up, Edward," Alice snarled. "After Edmund Masen's death Isabella become an infamous recluse. She bared herself inside this house, until she—"

"Died of old-age-a-crazy-lady," Edward exhasberated, throwing his hands out in front of him. "Just that. Like you," he exclaimed, dramatically pointing a middle finger at her, "are. If, you don't knock it off with the ghost bullshit."

Alice made it a point to look offended by his teasing. "She's real, Edward," she insisted. "I saw her."

"When?" Edward challenged.

Alice turned her focus back on the window, not bothering to answer.

Angela and Michelle's eyes frantically wafted between Alice and the window, their dread growing by the second.

Alice moved her head back in mine and Edward's direction. "I'm serious you two. Let's get upstairs. Now!"

Michelle was already walking back towards the stairs. I waited for Alice's final look—the slight smile puckering at the corners of her lips. Without anyone's attention on me, I waved my hand.

The lights downstairs flickered, before dying out all together.

"What the hell!" Seth shouted. The girls screamed. From the light of the television I watched Angela and Michelle clasped onto Alice like a life-raft in the night see. Jessica forged her body into Seth's as she looked around.

I stifled my laugh in the gasps and whimpers.

"Okay!" Michelle cried, "if this is some jacky-ass Cullen stunt, it's not funny."

"Seriously, you guys!" Jessica whined loudly.

"This isn't funny, Beau," Seth snarled.

"I'm not—I'm…I'm not doing this," I whimpered, raising my trembling body up over the couch. I caught's Seth's eyes. They were wide. A chill went up my spine.

I hadn't considered this, none of us had. Seth. He—he was very under controlled. He hadn't phased once within the vicinity of the Cullen house, not with Jasper's influence choking at him.

But Jasper was very far away, if truly worried enough for Jessica's safety, that he may let his emotions get the better of him…

The horror movie played out again in my mind. I was the villain now. Not a human pawn or ploy, but the master of the monsters. A monster on- of-his-own, who sought the destruction of all those who foolishly love him. Seth, the-final-girl—guy, a helpless victim in my monstrous wrath.

In a heinous act, I would force the werewolf to emerge, knowing all that it would bring. The blood that would need to be shed. The carnage that would follow after…

It was one of those increasingly growing moments that Edward and I were thinking the exact same thing. Riddled with guilt at not considering… His eyes were already fixated on me when I went to turn my gaze towards him.

"We have to stop this," Edward decreed.

I nodded my head. "Yes!"

"What was that!" Michelle screeched.

Too late.

Heads twisted and yanked towards the window. It was only a flash, a glimpse of a glance. But they had seen her.

Rosalie.

It had been her one stipulation in taking on this spectacle upon herself. That'd she'd be allowed to be an active part of the traditional slumber-party-ghost-story.

Seth's head wrenched towards me.

BEAU! He screamed.

NOW! Edward hissed, sharing the idea behind his command. I soar my wrist upward. The lights blasted brightly on, just as Rosalie posted to make her strike.

TRAITORS!

She was adorned in a vintage nightgown. Her hair was horrifically disheveled, her face crazed and menacing. Her amber eyes glowered at Edward and I for ruining her joyous moment. She unleashed a tsunami of insults and vulgarity at our way. Edward did what he could to block it out.

I winced as certain choice words and phrases still managed to break through.

Seth and Jessica clung together, their chest heaving. Seth scanned the room, taking in each detail meticulously; scanning for any notion of a threat. His eyes narrowed once they fell down toward Edward and I.

"We are so sorry," I whisper just low enough for him to head.

Edward's hand shot out warningly. "We weren't thinking. We got caught up in the idea," he nearly stammered.

Seth's eyes shrank to slits as his chest heaved. I listened as Edward monitored his decreasing heart-rate.

His choice words and insults and threats were as challenging to block out as Rosalie's. Edward and I turned towards Alice's direction. I watched along as he analyzed her every vision.

She'd seen Edward and I piece together the consequence we'd hadn't considered, her vision then clouding over as Michelle screamed. The fog grew denser, flashes of dizzy, migraine inducing images of possibilities.

Blood.

Fire.

Smoke.

Howling.

Pain.

Jessica. Face broken and enraged.

The fog faded once the lights flashed on. As the rest of the party took in Rosalie, accessed that there was no real harm, that it were all a clever rouse. It drifted back into the foreground, only barely just there.

The mood was tampered, but not fully sullied. Alice would get her full three-hours with Michelle and Angela, getting to experience a true slumber-party for the first time in her life.

Jessica would be more than content. Seth—a dizzying daze, just as enthralled.

She saw Edward and Emmett returning to another game, but purposely concealed my future from us each. I felt my stomach twist into knots.

That…couldn't be good…

But stranger still, Edward was almost, completely unconcerned. There was an annoyance. A promise to attempt to refrain from any mind wondering or even impossibly-immaculate hearing, to drown out what could be heard.

I turned at him, worried and perplexed. He sighed and shrugged.

A promise is a promise, he told me. That's all I can say.

I huffed at him. My eyes were wild with worry.

"Don't be alarmed," he assured me, pressing his forehead to mine. "I suspect, knowing you as best as I have ever known anyone, will find some knowledge or solace—maybe even peace of what is to come.

I gulped. Even more petrified.

I could feel his resolved to his earlier promise fading. I heard the beginnings of an expiation form in his mind, when Alice's voice rang out.

"Okay, okay," she sighed apologetically, her face angelic. "I'm sorry we scared you." Rosalie huffed. She spun on her heels and made her way out through the two back French-doors that lead out to the deck.

"Alice!" Michelle winced distraughtly. "How could you?"

Alice shook her pixie head apologetically. "I'm sorry," she pleaded—over theatrically.

"Seriously, Alice," Angela accused. "That wasn't cool."

I saw Alice's wide, guilt-ridden puppy dog eyes turn to Angela desperately.

It was Di Vinci at his best. The articulate, and masterfully way she puppeteer herself as a fragile, terrified child.

"I know," she crowed weakly. "I'm sorry! It's just—it's just," she stammered, blinking theatrically. "It's just that I was so excited to have my first-ever-slumber-party," she sang, her eyes somehow appearing moist? "I admit, I got a little carried away. But I'd seen online that scaring each other was supposed to be one of the highlights of the evening! And I was just so excited," she bleated.

All of their heads fell to one side, even Seth, as the listened and watch Alice's immaculate portrayal.

Angela's hand soared over her chest when Alice finished with the filthy, unapologetically low-blow that was:

"I never really considered the foster homes as slumber-parties," she croaked. "No one ever wanted to really be there."

Michelle whimpered and pulled Alice into her chest.

Angela soon joined in. Jessica, freeing herself from Seth's side for the first time the entire evening, followed suit.

I scowled at Alice, shaking my head disapprovingly. "That was wrong," I chided audibly. Alice waved her hand in my direction from underneath the swamp of bodies and arms that encompassed her.

Even Seth sighed and joined in. Towering over all of them, nearly lifting each off of the floor as he hurled his large arms around them.

The night continued to play out as Alice had seen. Alice had excused herself, Michelle and Angela off for the evening on each of their behalves.

"We will see you all, bright and early tomorrow," she cried, her voice echoing over the walls. "We have a big day! Mother has planned the most perfect brunch, and we'll have anything imaginable to get ready. I've got the hair dryers and station all set up, make-up station right across…" Alice dribbled on and on as she guided the my two transfixed friends follow behind her.

With a warning gaze, Seth stared at both Edward and I.

"We're gonna be heading to bed now," he announced for the both of them.

Jessica smiled at me, waving her fingers. "Goodnight."

Forcefully, I smiled back. "Sweet dreams," I called out as the ascend the stairs.

Full. Privacy! He commanded. Swear it."

Edward coughed loudly, banging his hand over his chest. He mimicked logging up a large lump of phlegm.

"Gross," I moaned.

Thanks, Seth responded.

I listened all the while they made their way up the staircase. The thumping sound of their feet growing dimmer and dimmer. I listened stilled through Edward when I could not longer head. There was a laugh. A kiss.

"After you," Seth purred in a British accent.

And then nothing.

We swore, Edward warned.

"I didn't swear anything," I countered.

He gave me a pointed look.

I sighed, letting my shoulder fall dramatically. "Fine," I caved.

Edward pressed his lips to my cheek, smiling.

"Good boy," he commended, rubbing the palm of his hand over the top of my head.

I snarled, and shoved his hand away.

"Jerk," I hurled at him.

He laughed. Pressing a kiss to my cheek again, faster than I could react. "I do love it when you get rough," he growled. My eyes slowly rolled downward to meet his gaze.

He was looking up at me, his face endearing and innocent.

I squinted at him.

His eyes grew wider.

The corners of my lips perked up. He grinned, and fell into my side as I opened my arm to invite him in. He fastened his comforting body against mine, resting perfectly along my chest. The tips of his hair tantalizing tickling under my chin. He resumed the paused movie, increasing the volume. We settled into the couch and watched the third act of Jaws 2 unfold.

It wasn't long after the movie had concluded that Emmett had demanded that Edward come and resume their earlier game.

And no cheating this time. Let's make that the rule of the night.

Edward groaned, and the purposefully concealed event that I would find myself in returned to my mind.

As did the fear.

Edward turned to me, and pecked the tip of my nose.

"It's going to be fine, Love," he assured me. He picked up the remnants of the liquor and poured it into my half-way filled glass. "But that may assist," he added.

I glared at him, accusingly. "That's not helping." My eyes shot to the glass, then back at him. "And, I think you just like it when I'm a little tipsy."

Edward laughed, nodding his head guiltily. He leaned up to kiss me, before shooting himself off the couch. He saluted at me, before darting off towards his brother.

Dread crept through my muscles and into my mind. I could feel the fragile tendrils of smoke flaring underneath my palms. I breathed, shutting my eyes. I imagined the ocean's light again. Letting the swirling orb to grow, shining brightly over everything.

The smoke seeped reluctantly back into my skin. I shivered as I felt their icy force rear into my veins.

I picked up the glass and brought it to my lips. I nearly inhaled the entire mixture in one gulp. I let the same icy-blaze feeling of the smoke fall down my throat. It grew warmer the deeper it went. Fading into comforting warmth.

I sighed, resting my head against the top cushion. I closed my eyes again, focusing on the light, letting my body physically sense its aura. And suddenly I craved the night air. I need the cold wine to wisp and caress my face, dance through my hair. I yearned for the aroma of the night. The crispness of how it would taste.

I picked up my what was left of my drink, and carefully made my way to the back French-doors. I struggled with the intricate knob for a bit, before I was able to throw my weight against the frame. The door opened, and I was immediately sated as the dark wind encompassed my face.

I smiled as I inhaled the air deep into my lungs.

With my eyes closed, I stepped on top of the icy deck. I felt my smile grow wider, and I began to hum. I turned to shut the doors, opening my eyes as I turned to bask in the awe that was the night.

I gasped, and fell against the door. Contents of my drink splattered up into my face as I hurled my arm over my chest.

I heaved, as I stared ahead of me.

"Oh," I gasped again.

Rosalie.

Her goddess face glowing, enchantingly, in the moonlight. Spectrums of colors glistened off her teeth as she smiled.

"Would you mind if we had a little chat?" she asked, uncertainly.

I stared at her, my mouth hanging open.

"Sure," I finally managed to mutter.

"Would you like to hear my story, Beau? It doesn't have a happy ending — but which of ours does?" she asked, somberly. "If we had happy endings, we'd all be under gravestones now."

I nodded, though I was frightened by the edge in her voice.