A/N: Alright, I'm really sorry for the long wait, I know it's been quite a while since the last time I updated this story. Because crazy English teacher decided to strike a second and third time! I did an enormous poetry project and I have a big Shakespeare one coming up rather soon too. I swear, she will be the death of me.

And, like many of you already know, I've been having a great amount of writer's block every time it comes to writing about Esme at the Walling's house. I don't know if we'll ever get to find out what's wrong with Andy . . .

Disclaimer: Nothing but the fictional Walling family is mine.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter Nine: The Walling's Home

Esme sat in the newly redecorated living room. There was less furniture, but more storage space. There was no more clutter or old books begging for space. Everything had its own spot now. She took a deep breath. She was really missing her family. This separation reminded her of the time when Edward left. Of course, it was not even close to how painful that separation had been, but it was comparable. She hadn't seen them, or been in contact with them in almost a week. She took comfort in the idea that she would be seeing them soon.

Thinking of her family reminded her of one very crucial detail about herself that she had been neglecting the last few weeks. She hadn't hunted since she left Forks, which was four days ago. Her eyes would be quite a bit darker than when she arrived and that burning in her throat was much more prominent. Lucky for her it was 3:47 am. No one was awake, not the family or the camera people. It would be easy for her to silently slip out and in before anyone even knew she was gone.

As she strolled silently down the pathway in front of the Walling's house she mused at how much more she loved the small, mountainous place she called home than this large busy city. For one, it was quite a bit more convenient to live in a place where there were large deer and elk just feet away. She knew it was the story they told everyone, the doctor's wife wanted to live in a small town, not the city. The story turned out to have some truth in it, the small rainy town was so much more private. Jasper and Emmett could fight in the backyard and no one would hear. Rosalie and Alice could lie out in the sun on warm, sunny days and no one would see. That small town gave them the lives they had always wanted. It was a blessing, and she missed the comforting cloud cover, and the large walls the trees and mountains made around her home. She missed her family.

It was quite a bit harder than she thought it would be to find suitable animals to hunt. She found plenty of squirrels and pigeons, but she couldn't hunt those. She wandered around Atlanta for about an hour before she stumbled upon a large open field. She presumed it was on the edge of the city because it spanned for miles, but she couldn't be sure because she didn't actually know where she was. But this large field looked very promising. It took her a while, but not long after she discovered a few small coyotes. It wasn't much, but they would be enough to satire her thirst until she returned home to Forks.

It was nearing six o'clock in the morning when she could see the small house in view. The house still looked like everyone inside was sleeping soundly. It was dark and quiet. She had made it out and back in time. She took a relieved breath that got caught in her throat when she heard someone puttering around the house. Someone was awake. She didn't know who it was, but she could very distinctly hear footsteps quickly, but quietly moving around. She slowed her steps, she needed time to think of a suitable excuse. The easy one would be that she couldn't sleep and went for a walk, but who goes for walks during the night in a not so safe neighborhood? Whoever was awake inside the house was obviously in a rush. The person was practically running around the house. Esme heard the person bump into something, a desk or table, and something fell off and smashed on the floor. She heard the person curse. The voice was obviously male. She didn't think it could be Jim, he was much to calm and laid back to be running around the house in this fashion, but Andy seemed like the kind of boy to sleep in until one o'clock in the afternoon. She thought it must have been a thief. No one else would be awake this early. Jim was an early riser, but wouldn't be running around the house like this. She started to walk faster, not so fast that she looked unnatural though. She would defend this family she had come to love!

She was about to step onto the front lawn when the old white door swung open. She quickly darted behind the neighbor's hedges to avoid being seen by the intruder. But it was not an intruder who stepped through the door frame. It was Andy. The seventeen year old boy stepped out from the house, and turned around to lock the door again. He looked suspiciously to the right, then the left before jogging down the front steps and quickly walking away from the house. Esme cocked her head to the side in confusion. Why was Andy leaving the house at 6 am? Because he was walking it would be easy for her to follow his scent. She ran up the stairs and into the house, quickly writing a note to Jim saying she was sorry she didn't make breakfast, but she wanted to see the city a little bit more and would pick up groceries on her way home. Satisfied with what she had written, she ran into her room to grab a jacket, it was not that warm out today, before leaving the house. Following Andy's trail.

Esme had been following Andy for quite a while. She could not see him, but his trail was still strong. They were starting to get into neighborhoods that had more money, the houses were bigger and the lawns were neater. Obviously Andy wasn't up to no good. If he were, wouldn't he be heading into the 'bad part of town'? Esme had no experience with children getting into drugs or alcohol. She wouldn't know what to do if he was. And how would she even make herself known to stop his bad behavior? What would she say to him when he asked how he found him? 'I was just stalking you by following you scent to see what you were up to?' That would not go over so well.

She kept following him. They slowly started to leave the residential areas and now were walking in more of a small, but sophisticated shopping area. Not a strip mall, but a row of shops and cafes that lined the streets. Most were still closed, some coffee shops were opening to welcome early rising guests. It was about 6:45 am when Andy's scent lead her to the door of one of the buildings. Esme looked up at the sign of the top of the small, white store. She expected to see a sign for a skateboard shop or punk rock store. She was completely shocked when she read the feminine, blue print. Completely shocked, she went inside and saw something she thought she would never see. Even if she lived forever.

She walked inside the tasteful front room. There was a large window to her right that covered most of the wall. There was a small strip of baby blue wall circling the window. And through the window was a dance studio. And in said dance studio was Andy. Performing a salsa dance. With a partner. In a dance class.

Esme stood in front of the window completely shocked. Andy did not seem to the kind of boy that would do ballroom dance. His distance seemed to make a little more sense now. He probably didn't want anyone to know. That was understandable. Esme just kept standing there in amazement. Andy was really good. He was a very fluid dancer, his hips moved in an expert way to the upbeat music that played. He looked like he had been dancing for years.

The music was nearing an end, and on the final beat, Andy expertly dipped is partner and looked up at the window. His eyes bulged open when he saw Esme standing there watching him. Needless to say, he was shocked. He blushed bright red, dropped his partner and walked into the dressing room.

Esme felt horrible, not just for causing his partner physical harm, but for blowing his secret, This was obviously something he did not want anyone else to know. She debated leaving right then and there, she would pretend that she had never seen him. She was leaving fairly soon, it wouldn't be hard. No one else would ever know. But just as she turned to the door she heard him speak.

"How did you find me here?"

She turned around, an apologetic look on her face. She was trying to convey the message that she really wished she never found out.

"I was window shopping down here and I saw you come in here. I decided to see what you were doing. Now I wish I hadn't come in here."

He nodded silent. But almost in acceptance. He didn't say anything else, but Esme felt like she shouldn't leave now.

"You're a wonderful dancer, Andy. How long have you been coming here?"

"I started coming when I was fourteen. It started as a way to meet hot girls, but then I found that I was good, and I actually enjoyed it."

Esme smiled one of her motherly smiles.

"That's nice. How often do you come here?"

"Three times a week. I sneak out early those days. No one ever notices. They all think I just sleep in really late. I come in through my window so no one ever catches me."

"You're pretty cunning. If I wasn't in the right place at the right time I never would have caught you."

He gave a halfhearted smile. Andy was sort of relieved to talk to someone who was accepting of what he wanted to do. Esme didn't seem to care that he was dancing, she just smiled a kind way at him and gave out compliments. It was nice not having to keep the secret for just once. Esme really was a great person to have come to their home. She didn't judge anyone, and she was always very supportive.

They didn't talk for much longer. Esme told Andy to 'get back in there and show those girls how it's done' and promised to stay and wait for him until he was done. He agreed and walked back into the studio, apologized to the girl he dropped (who was holding some ice to her head) and continued on dancing.

When Andy came out of the studio dressed in his usual attire of a hoodie and 'low rider' jeans he walked straight to Esme and gave her an awkward, but kind hug.

"Thanks for accepting me."

"Don't think anything of it, dear." Esme replied smiling.

Andy really was a very sweet boy, which she especially found out when she took him out for breakfast at a cafe next door. He really opened up to her during that time. She found out so many things about him that he had never told anyone else.

They walked home together and parted ways at the lawn. Esme went to the front door, while Andy circled around to his window. Esme smiled before opening the door and announcing her arrival.

"I thought you were getting groceries." Jim said in a perplexed tone.

"Oh, sorry I got sidetracked and then forgot about them. Would you like me to go out now?"

"Oh, no. Don't worry about it, we can get some later. What were you up to that sidetracked you so much?" Jim asked.

Esme looked at Andy, who had just 'woken up', and answered.

"Just a little bit of window shopping."

He gave her a small smile and she nodded back at him. It was a smile of comradeship. She liked that she had a special bond with Andy.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Alright, now who was expecting that Andy was such a sweetie? I sure didn't. He did that all on his own, I swear.

I really hope you liked this chapter, it was a little bit more sentimental than the other ones. Drop me a line, I love hearing from you guys!

Until next time,

-- tanis ann