"This is your house?!" I remarked with an awestruck tone, my mind still processing the giant, mansion-like house I was staring at.
I stood in the driveway facing this colossal abode that Emmett, Jasper and Rose called theirs as they watched my reaction in amusement nearby.
"Yep, this is home," Emmett chortled, humorously.
"How long have you lived here?" I inquired, still in deep shock.
"Three or four years," Jasper remarked, shrugging nonchalantly.
"Alright, enough staring at the house," Rose finally ordered as she strutted up to me, snatching my wrist (her hand was really cold by the way), and then she towed me up to the front steps and through the large wooden and glass French doors.
"Wow, this is…beautiful," I awed as I admired the perfected interior of the Cullen and Hale home.
"Thank you," an unfamiliar voice arose in gratitude.
I scanned around the room until I spotted a woman in her mid-twenties with pale features like my new-found friends and curly mahogany hair. She was holding a bundle of violets.
"Oh, hello," I greeted, slightly surprised by her presence.
"Hello, I'm Esme Cullen," she introduced herself, adding, "I'm the mother of the house."
"I'm Ivy Swan," I returned, smiling.
"Oh, one of Chief Swan's daughters!" Esme recollected, a motherly grin of kindness across her face.
I've never had someone smile like that at me. It made me feel wonderful.
"Yes, his older daughter."
"Ivy's doing a Biology project with us," Jasper mentioned.
"Well, if you need me, I'll be out in the garden," Esme stated, and then inserting to me with another maternal grin, "It was nice to meet you, Ivy."
"It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Cullen," I returned, politely.
"Call me, Esme," she ordered as she was walking out the nearby patio doors.
Noticing that Esme looked quite young still, I tried to do the math of what their age difference was. It was a very small number.
"We're adopted," Rose explained, probably noticing my facial expression in a processing mode.
"Okay, that makes a little more sense," I remarked.
I followed the three teens into the next room, which I guessed was the living room.
"So…any ideas for a project?" Rose asked, as Emmett sprawled himself on one of the couches, Rose sitting by his feet and Jasper situating himself in one of the chairs. I sat in an armchair next to Jasper.
"How about-?" Emmett started.
"No," Rose interrupted.
"You didn't even hear my idea!"
"I didn't need to! I know you, and this idea would end up being some wacky, over-the-top project."
"Well…yeah it is."
They continued to bicker back and forth.
I glanced to my left towards a bouquet of flowers as I tried not to laugh at Rose's and Emmett's love bickering.
The bouquet next to me were white flowers that were shaped like violets. The aroma was sweet like violets, too.
"Ivy, do you have any ideas?" Jasper queried over Rose and Emmett's escalated fighting, drawing my attention back.
I saw all three watching me, waiting.
"Um…" I looked back at the bouquet, and suddenly, an idea hit me.
"How about…we test the effect of a chemical on a plant?" I offered, switching my gaze back to my three friends.
"What, like an insecticide?" Rose clarified, her eyebrows narrowing a tad.
"Yeah," I stated, nodding.
"On fruits and vegetables?" Jasper suggested, setting his elbows on his knees.
"I was actually thinking on flowers," I changed. "It's something most students wouldn't think to do. We could test the rate of growth, leaf size, life and death, the color, and the ability for it to flower. We can do different types of flowers so there is some variety."
A few seconds of pondering silence overtook the room as they thought about my idea. Jasper's butterscotch eyes flickered over to Rose and Emmett, and he remarked, "I think we've got ourselves a project."
"Yeah, it's a great idea, Ivy," Rose agreed.
I smiled shyly, and uttered, "You really think it'll work? As a project I mean?"
"Why not?" Rose questioned rhetorically. "We can start tomorrow."
CRASH!
I'm sorry I haven't published in eons! I had an AP exam and just a bunch of projects that just got unloaded on me in this last month. I also went to a version of Romeo and Juliet that a few of my friends were acting in. It was amazing! So, how did you like this chapter? I know it's kind of short, but I have a plan for how this is going to carry out. The crash does have meaning, and you'll find out next chapter. Was the project good? Or no? How was the introduction of Esme? Please comment on what you think! I love comments! I am so happy that so many of you enjoy this story. It really makes me happy to read what you want. This story will stray slightly from the original story line to fit with this tale, but hopefully it's still good. Happy reading everyone!