Trees and white lines all flew past the window as Edward drove. Faster and faster as the purr of the engine did not mind the ridiculous speed despite Kate's reservations Edward assured her that his driving skills were well practiced. Kate sat with her eyes focused on the back of a leather seat looking for the faint lines and patters in the leather amusing herself with ideas for her next drawing. The car was pristine like everything else the Cullen's had. Carlisle and Esme had suggested the outing as a way of introducing the two again with Alice as a chaperone for obvious reasons. Alice would see if Edward was about to do something and was easily able to stop it.
With a certain grace that she had never seen before, Edward parked the silver Volvo outside a small dinner. Kate's stomach gave an assured rumble as she blushed. The faint red colour that now took its place on her cheeks made a small difference in her appearance. One that Edward found alluring as the two vampires swiftly began their human activities. Edward held the door while Alice helped manoeuvre Kate out of the car and towards the dinner.
Esme had spent the entire day before explaining what had happened and why the Cullen's had kept away from her. Kate in the beginning didnt believe a word until the two families came face to face again. Kate saw the awkwardness written on their faces and felt it within herself too. She even managed to flinch as Edward reached out a hand toward her which then caused a whole other drama. She remembered the horrified looks and the cautious movement that became slow even by her standard. Now however she was at Forks dinner for something to each with vampires. Yes the world was a strange place.
The dinner was like most others she had seen. Several of the tables she saw were taken as Alice skipped over to a small table in the corner. Her happy little figure plucking the menu from its holder as she scanned the meals that were offered. Kate smiled as the familiar neon lights and bright colours seemed to comfort her as she cautiously moved towards Alice. Before she had left Esme had warned her about pulling her stitches and so had Carlisle followed by every other family member. Meanwhile Edward simply hovered at a distance until they both had sat down accident free. A point which she quickly made to Alice who only seemed to grin.
"You saw it didn't you?" She asked as the pixie like girl nodded and chuckled and endearing sound, that seemed to have a few people staring at her already.
'I should give up' Kate thought as Edward just smirked. Between them she had no chance of doing anything though at least it would save her from any immediate embarrassing moments that might occur for her as it was often the case. Unless one or both of them chose to kill her as Edward had previously done. She realised the moment that thought entered her head she shouldn't have thought it. She saw Edward wince and look out of the window.
"I'm sorry." Kate suddenly blurted as she reached out her hand and placed it on the table. "Friends still?"
Edward looked toward Alice who simply smirked and shrugged her shoulders. He reached out his hand and shook Kate's quickly before he smiled. Even sitting across a table was uncomfortable he thought as her scent hit him right at the back of his throat. Still he had promised to be on best behaviour and the minute he saw Kate smile back and relax it was worth any amount of uncomfortable he had to endure just to see that.
"What do you want to eat; you can have anything you like." Edward said as Kate took the menu.
She looked through the many options as she finally decided on a burger and chips. Kate smiled as she decided and Alice waved for a tall boy to come over. Kate's eyes widened at the sight of him. He was easily 6'7, possibly taller. His long black hair and dark russet skin seemed almost unreal. Alice and Edward looked in disgust around the dinner as it seemed there had been a pong of something foul shoved under their noses. Carefully Kate sniffed at her hair smelling nothing but pine soap. Alice just smiled warmly as Edward could not hide his face as well as Alice.
"Hello, I'm Jacob I will be your server for tonight. What can I get for you all?" Jacob asked as Kate could not stop herself staring at him.
Alice gave her good leg a small kick under the table before Edward spoke. She was glad that someone else had as she had no clue why she was staring. Honestly maybe Esme should have been more worried about letting her out into the world than Edward.
"Thank you Jacob. My sister and I have already eaten but Kate has not. I believe a hamburger and chips has preference. Can we also have a chocolate shake for the lady?" Jacob smiled again as he nodded.
"Certainly. Burger, fries and a shake coming up for the beautiful lady." Jacob answered as he grinned towards Kate.
Again the deep blush that she wore so well appeared as Jacob went about his business. Edward felt a sudden jealousy rise with in him as he gripped the edge of the table causing it to groan a little under the strain. Kate pushed herself quickly into the back of the curved seats wincing as she did so while Alice placed her hand over Edward. The pair became deep in conversation, one that obviously Kate was not to hear. As even trying would be pointless as she decided to amuse herself with reading over the menu again.
Her eyes lifted from Edward and Alice and settled on Jacob watching as he filled the order. 'He seems like a nice guy' she thought as Edward jumped up. Frozen in horror Kate stole a quick glance towards him. His face seething with a newfound sense of anger as Alice shot her stare at the table.
"I have to go. Emmett and Jasper want me home. They are outside." Edward said though clenched teeth.
He fished in his pocket as he dropped the car keys on the table and nodded curtly before he strode out the door. His walked filled with purpose as Kate looked bewildered. At least he didnt kill me she thought though once again her thoughts seemed to cause Edward pain as he visibly hunched over his shoulders as he walked to the edge of the car park.
"Alice what's wrong?" She asked as Alice began to stare at Jacob who was catching quick glimpses of the pair as they sat.
"I saw Jasper and Emmett get into it at the house. Edward stops Emmett from running. He is a key part of the future." Alice told her after a long pause as her happy little face lit up again. It was as if a light switch has just been flicked as Kate shook her head not believing a word of it.
"Don't lie to me Alice. No one takes that long to answer unless he or she is hiding something. Did I upset Edward? Should I go and apologise?" She asked as Alice giggled.
"Kate no, you did not upset Edward. Your friend Jacob did." Alice said as Kate caught Jacob looking at them again.
She watched as his stare quickly averted towards a drinks machine. Honestly this making friends diner was going so well so far she mumbled as Alice chose to simply laugh.
"Friend? How do you know... never mind. So what did Jacob do? He took a food order." She said as Alice began to amuse herself with spinning a small salt pot on the table.
Her smiled grew as Alice fought to contain her laugh. It was contagious but Kate still wanted to know what happened. Maybe Jacob stole his precious Volvo as a prank she thought though she was pretty sure he wouldn't still be breathing if he had.
"It's not so much what he did... more about what he thought. Specifically what he thought about you." Alice watched as Kate again blushed.
Alice had wondered for a while just how red a human could get before they died of embarrassment and she wondered if she was about to find out. She watched Kate's face added another shade of red to her already pink face as she chuckled.
"Sorry. Maybe we should go after him. I do not feel so hungry; honestly I can wait until morning." She almost pleaded as Alice shook her head.
"Not a chance, give him time to cool off. He is only outside now. In the forest of course but he will meet us back at the house I'm sure." Kate smiled as Alice chuckled seeing Jacob walking towards them.
His tall figure was not graceful as he crossed the floor a tray in hand as he placed it in front of Kate.
"Fries, burger and shake for the lady. Anything else I can get you?" He asked as Alice nodded.
'Oh god please nooo' Kate nearly screamed as Alice beckoned Jacob to sit down. What was she doing, things with Edward were awkward enough without adding some mysterious enemy to the mix too. One bridge to fix at a time she thought.
"Company please. My brother had to leave so we are one person short in this conversation. Care to join us?" Alice asked as Jacob smiled eagerly taking Edwards place as Kate began to take a small bite from her food.
"So I haven't seen you guys around here much... are you new here or just visiting?" Jacob asked as Kate coughed a little, taking a drink from her shake.
She was certain that she could not say why she was there. Yes she had just moved to Forks but the Cullen's had been there a few years. Kate was unfamiliar with the stories they had running though how did he not know the Cullen's.
"Oh well I'm Alice and yes Kate is a cousin of ours. Her mother Esme and my father are old flames. They met at the hospital recently and so we decided to get away for a while. Kate decided she was hungry so this is where we are now." Alice said convincingly as Kate nodded in agreement.
Jacob seemed to be satisfied with the explanation. Jacobs's eyes wondered towards Kate as Alice pretended to look on. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Kate immersed herself in the fries that she ate as Jacob spoke again.
"Ah well if you need anyone to show you around Kate. Then you know where to find me." He said as Kate smiled upon hearing a low howl from outside.
Jacob's eyes shot to the window to see nothing but darkness though both Alice and Kate knew Edward was around there somewhere.
"Would you both like to come to a beach party on Saturday? You can invite your family Alice; it is just a group of friend's story telling over a fire. Nothing spectacular, but it would be a good way to meet the local people. I can pick you up if you like?" He suggested as Kate shook her head.
Alice seemed apprehensive about it as she did her best to smile.
"Or not... sorry." Jake said as Alice laughed and clapped her hands together.
"No, no that sounds nice but I'm sorry I have a trip planned on Saturday. Though Kate is free, in fact I shall drop her off at the school if that is ok. Can you pick her up from there?" She asked as between them Alice and Jacob arranged the logistics of things.
Kate stayed seated as Jacob was called away. As he left he took the finished tray of food to a bin as Kate simply stared at Alice before she decided to voice about every reservation she had about the entire thing.
"Alice... I cannot go to a party. Not now, I won't know anyone... and what about Edward. Jacob sitting here seemed to do something to him." She said as Alice shrugged standing up.
"Kate, he will get over it he usually does. Jacob seems a nice person though I cannot see his future. It's hazy like a fuzzy screen. Kate you should go and make friends. Normal friends. You are normal, so go and act like them; anyway we shall all be hunting so go for your own sake!" She urged as Kate nodded.
Alice knew what Jake was and the stories but Kate was a human and even wolf humans were better to stick around with than vampires. Actual human friends and she felt it would give Edward the time to get over the awkwardness of it all.
Kate liked Alice of all the family she was the most friendly. Kate now considered Edward a small control freak. She knew it was not easy to hear everyone in his head but there was no need to throw a wobble because he heard something that he most likely should not have been privy to. Even if it was bad she could look after herself well enough. Kate stood and followed Alice to the Volvo. The walking was easy especially with Alice only inches away her body tensed for any fall trip or scuffle that might happen during the last few meters. Luckily, there was to be no such happening.
Kate sat herself in the passenger seat as the back door suddenly flew open. The force behind the door closing shook the car as Edward pushed himself between the seats. He waited for Alice to get in as she started the car and all gave a happy wave to Jacob. I was mere seconds before Alice and Edward began another unheard conversation. Kate folded her arms across her chest as she sighed.
"LOOK... I am right here. What is it you want to say just say it?" She told them as Alice nodded and began to speak towards her.
"Edward does not agree with this party. I cannot see what happens though I know you are with Jacob as everything is fuzzy." Edward nodded as his fingers tightened around Alice's seat.
"I heard what he thought... Certainly not something he can ever have and not so with us around. So no you cannot go to the party. You did not hear his thoughts I did and so I am making an informed decision." He told her as Kate shook her head.
What the hell was wrong with him. First of all, he could not stop her and second who did he think he was? The trip back to the house Kate found swift. Something for which she was thankful. Edward sat fuming in the back seat as Alice turned the radio on. Breaking the silence she thought as Edward huffed. It was only five more minutes before Alice stopped the car as Edward stormed into their house. Alice walked with Kate into the house which lay in silence.