Chapter 25
BPOV
I bounced slightly in my seat as Edward drove down the bumpy, dirt road. More like trail.
Edward's family was playing baseball today, since Alice said there was a thunderstorm coming. I was a little confused as to why the Cullens only played during a thunderstorm, until Edward explained it to me. I was a little excited to see it.
Once we reached the huge field, Edward shut off the car and was at my door the same second. He undid the harness and grabbed my waist, setting me on my feet.
Charlie graciously watched Sophie for me, telling me to go have fun with Alice, who he believed I was here with.
Alice was in the middle of the field, on what seemed to be a pitcher's mound. She was tossing the ball to Esme, at lightening fast speed, who caught it with her bare hand. Rose was marking off bases, but the weird thing was that they were further apart than a regular baseball field. Jasper was taking practice swings, and Emmett was throwing a ball back and forth with Carlisle.
When she saw me, Alice danced over to us and pulled me into a hug.
"Glad you made it," she said.
I smiled at her and she danced back over to the mound. Edward took my hand and we walked over to Esme.
"Glad you could make it, dear. Just stand behind me. The game gets pretty heated," she said, laughing.
"I bet it does with Edward here," I teased, smirking up at him. He stuck his tongue out childishly at me.
Emmett had come over and was walking onto the field, when he heard our conversation. He stopped and smirked.
"Mom thinks we cheat," Emmett said. I noticed the way Esme's eyes sparkled as Emmett called her, 'Mom.' Any mother could detect it from another mom's eyes.
"Oh, I know you cheat," she said, playfully glaring up at Emmett, who was six feet taller than her.
Esme took my hand and showed me where to stand as the rest of the Cullens took their places. Edward came over to me and kissed my forehead.
"Love you," he whispered.
"Love you, too," I said, smiling up at him.
"Edward! Get your ass over here so we can start the game!" Emmett yelled from across the field impatiently.
Edward and I laughed.
"Good luck kiss?" he asked. I smiled at our old tradition.
I reached up and kissed him chastely before he was a white blur. I watched the blur as best as I could, and Edward was suddenly on the other side of the field.
A clap of thunder sounded and Alice stood up straight.
"It's time," she said.
Rose was up to bat first. Alice was a blur and I could barely see the ball. Before I could blink, there was a loud clap that sounded like thunder and Rose was already on first base, rounding to second. I looked out into the field to notice Edward missing.
Suddenly, something came flying at Esme, who had reached down and was already tagging Rose's foot that had stopped an inch short of the base.
"Out!" Esme called.
My brain was still trying to catch up on the last play as Carlisle went up to bat.
It went on like this for a few more minutes, until there were three outs and Edward, Alice, and Emmett were trading with Rose, Carlisle, and Jasper.
Edward came over to me, smiling.
"Interesting, isn't it?" he asked, putting an arm around my shoulders. I nodded, dumbstruck.
"I'll never be able to sit through one of Phil's games ever again," I said.
Edward chuckled, before turning as if his name had been called.
"My turn," he said.
I watched Edward do a few practice swings, my eyes training on the muscles in his back, before he stepped up to the plate.
Rose was a blur as she threw the ball, much like Alice had been, and like before, I heard a loud snap, one louder than the rest. Edward was already rounding second base when I started catching up.
As Edward slid into home, the ball came flying out of the woods, Carlisle coming out after it.
"Safe!" Esme shouted.
Edward got up and bounced over to me. He dusted his back as much as he could. I giggled as I saw him miss a spot on his butt. I reached behind him and dusted it off for him. He raised and eyebrow, in a very Edward fashion, when I met his eyes again. I blushed a deep red.
"You missed a spot," I muttered. He chuckled.
"You were a lot faster than the others," I commented trying to change the subject. It worked.
"It's because I still have some of my newborn strength. But even Carlisle said I'm faster than an average newborn. He thinks I'll be the fastest in the family. We tend to carry things from our human lives, and if you remember, I did track all through Junior High and High School. He thinks that's why," Edward said.
I smiled and nodded. We turned back to the game. Edward went two more times before he had to go back out on the field.
Carlisle and Rose had already batted, Rose on third and Carlisle on second. Jasper was up to bat, when Alice and Edward froze. Jasper was at her side immediately, bat and game forgotten.
"They're coming," Alice said.
"Who, who's coming?" Carlisle asked.
"The nomads," Alice said, barely loud enough for me to hear.
I thought about stopping it there, but that would be cruel :D
Before I could blink, Edward was at my side, pushing me towards Emmett's Jeep.
"There's no time, Edward. They'll smell the scent and track it down. It's best if you just stay put. We don't need her scent over anything else," Carlisle said.
All the Cullens were surrounding home plate. Edward stopped and swore under his breath.
"How much time, Alice?" Edward asked.
"Three minutes," she answered.
"Bella, put your hair down," Edward ordered.
"It won't help. I could smell her across the field," Jasper said, but Edward ignored him.
I did what he said and took out the ponytail. Edward's hands beat me to my hair, and he arranged it around my shoulders, mostly covering my neck.
"Give her your shirt, Edward. It would help mask the smell," Carlisle said.
Edward helped me out of my jacket and handed me the baseball shirt he had on. It was huge on me, but not big enough to reach my knees. Edward was left in a grey t-shirt that defined his muscles well.
He helped me back in my jacket as the others turned towards the woods.
"Listen to me," Edward said urgently and quietly.
He grabbed my hand and slowly followed his family.
"Don't say anything and don't move a muscle. Stay behind me at all times. These vampires aren't like us. They kill humans. I don't need you to be their next victim. Keep your breathing even and your heart rate down. I won't let anything happed to you, so don't worry," he said. I nodded as we stood next to his family.
They slowly emerged from the trees, seeming almost cautious. There was a dark, yet, paled skinned vampire in the middle. A fiery red head female to his left, who was almost cat-like in a way as she stalked forward. A blonde male, whose hair was tied back that went down to the middle of his back, on his right. They were all barefoot and looked as though they threw on random clothes. But the thing I noticed most, was their blood red eyes.
I took deep breaths in, trying to keep them even and my heart rate down like Edward said. Edward, sensing my small panic attack, squeezed my hand in reassurance.
The red eyes were nothing like the golden ones of the Cullens. These red eyes reminded me of evil and death. The blood of innocent humans that these nomads killed.
I shivered as they came to a stop. I stood behind Edward, peeking around his shoulder, watching the exchange closely.
The middle vampire spoke first.
"Hello, I'm Laurent. And this is Victoria," he pointed to the woman, "and James," he said, pointing to the other male.
Edward had his eyes locked on James, measuring his every move, who seemed kind of out of it. Something about James gave me the ba-jeevies. (A/N: hehe I like saying that word :D)
"I'm Carlisle. This is my mate, Esme. My coven, Emmett and Rosalie, Alice and Jasper, and Edward and Bella," he said, pointing to each of us.
"How nice. I hope you aren't to angry with us hunting on you land. We were just passing through," Laurent said.
"Not at all. But I do wish you would not hunt within a hundred mile radius. We have a permanent residence not too far from here. We don't need things to become too suspicious. We tend to keep a low profile," Carlisle said.
Laurent raised his eyebrows.
"Oh. Yes, we will refrain from hunting in your area. But, we heard a game going on. We didn't know there were others around here. Mind if we play?" he asked.
Everyone seemed to freeze, holding their breath, waiting for Carlisle's answer.
"Sure. A few of us were leaving. You can take their spot," he said.
Laurent smiled. "Great."
"We'll bat first," Carlisle said, tossing the ball at Laurent.
Before Laurent caught it, Victoria's hand shot out and caught the ball. She spoke for the first time.
"I'm the one with the wicked curve ball," she said. Her voice was child-like, but deep and luring.
"Well, I think we can handle that," Jasper said.
Everyone chuckled except me and Edward. I was doing what Edward said, and I think Edward was focusing on James too much to hear what was going on.
"Well, let's play then," Laurent said.
Laurent and Victoria turned around, so the Cullens did, too. Except me and Edward. Edward kept his eyes on James, until finally, James turned away and started to retreat towards Laurent and Victoria.
Before I could move, the wind shifted, blowing towards James, that made my hair fly all around me. James stopped and turned around, inhaling deeply.
"You brought a snack," he smirked, coming closer.
I was pushed behind Edward even further as he crouched in front of me. The others Cullens did the same, almost like they were hiding me behind them.
Laurent and Victoria backed up James. Hissing was flying around the clearing. James' teeth were bared, staring at me.
"She's with us. I suggest you leave," Carlisle said.
Laurent nodded.
"Very well. We will leave. James," Laurent said, retreating towards the woods.
James took one last glance at me, then stood up straight and out of the crouch. He was a blur, then was standing next to Victoria, his arm around her shoulders.
He took one last glance at me, before they were gone through the trees.
Edward slowly stood up. He turned to me and took my hand.
"He's going to hunt her down. We need to leave. Now," Edward said to Carlisle.
"Wait, son. She just can't disappear. Charlie will ask questions. We need to think this through," Carlisle said.
"There's no time! We have to get her away and destroy him or he won't stop," Edward growled.
"I have an idea," I said, speaking up.
Everyone turned to look at me. Alice smiled, nodding.
"It'll work," she confirmed.
"We have this week off from school. I could tell Charlie that Alice is making me go on a shopping trip. Then you can hide me anywhere you need Will it give you enough time to get rid of James? ," I asked.
Alice nodded, again.
"It'll be enough time," she answered.
Six shocked vampires stared at me.
"Damn, that girl is smart!" Emmett boomed.
"It'll work?" Edward asked, turning to Alice, wanting it to be confirmed one more time.
She nodded again.
"Then it's settled. We leave tonight," Edward said.
So these past weeks have been crazy. I'd figured with marching season over, I would have more time, but I don't. There's football STILL going on. Hopefully, this Friday will be our last (Playoff Week number 2)….then onto basketball season. I HATE BASKETBALL SEASON! But whatever! So, I'll try to get everything up as fast as I can. I'd say I'm about halfway through with this story. But don't worry, there's TONS more chapters coming! Some twists and turns that NO ONE will expect! So be ready guys! Please review! I'll try and update on Thanksgiving break! Love you guys!
~Taylor~