The Kindness of Semi-Strangers
By Freddie Stardust
Disclaimer: I own nothing – Stephenie Meyer is the genius behind the Twilight series. I make no money from writing this story.
Chapter Four – Tanked
Vampire. Vampire. Vampire.
I paced the length of my room, trying to keep from panicking. Carlisle was a vampire. His family? Vampires. Edward?
Oh God. Edward. He was probably trying not to eat me that day in biology. That's why the Cullens were avoiding me – not only was I a potentially delicious meal, I was also getting too close to their little secret…
"Little secret? Ha!" I scoffed, stopping in the middle of my room. I wasn't sure how I felt. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit terrified. After all, blood-sucking, red-eyed monsters were only supposed to exist in Craven movies and nightmares, not in real life. I was also curious – could it really be true? Was I among mythical creatures?
And finally, surprising me the most, I was angry. I was pissed that they had kept the secret from me. Sure, it was unusual, to say the least, but didn't I have the right to know that I was in the presence of creatures that could end me in three seconds flat?
I was also angry at Carlisle for doing his stupid vampire magic to make me forget what I had been through with Edward in the parking lot. How presumptuous! How insulting!
"Stupid fucking vampires!" I spat, kicking a stuffed bunny across the room. I looked at it for a moment, and then dashed over to it to pick it up, apologize, and toss it on the bed.
"Cute rabbit."
I spun around, grasping my chest and squeaking at Edward's sudden appearance in my bedroom.
"My heart can't take another surprise, Edward," I wheezed, running a hand through my hair nervously.
"I heard you've figured us out," he said, leaning on the windowsill.
"How'd you know? And how did you get in here?"
Edward grinned at me. "I told you. I heard. You're up here practically shouting about us being vampires." He gestured to the open window. "And that's how I got in."
I stood my ground as he stalked toward me, doing his best to look both alluring and menacing – and he was succeeding.
"What are you doing?"
He lost the lopsided smirk I was growing so fond of and stood just inches from me. "The question, Bella, is more what are you doing."
Huh?
"Huh?"
Edward started sauntering closer, and I inched backward reflexively until I was, tritely enough, against my bedroom door.
"You're hanging out with a dangerous group of people, Bella." His eyes flashed black. "People who find the smell of your blood more tantalizing than most blood. People who could kill you before you could bat an eyelash." He stepped back suddenly, and before I could even take a breath, he was across the room.
"We're no good for you, Bella. You should stay away."
I was suddenly incredibly indignant. "What the hell is your problem, Edward Cullen?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"
"Are you always so controlling?" I spat, waving my arms wildly in a gesture of irritation. Or craziness. "I will be friends with whomever I so choose, and there's really nothing you can do about it!"
"But your blood, Bella, it practically sings to me." Edward closed his eyes, still as stone. "I've never wanted anyone so badly."
I felt a bit of shame layering over the anger. "Is it that bad?"
"Only for me. The others certainly notice its… fragrance, if you will, but it's only overwhelming for me."
I thought for a moment, truly feeling bad for snapping at him. It wasn't his fault that Carlisle had lied to me, and it certainly wasn't his fault for being a vampire, as far as I knew.
"If it's that bad, you don't have to be around me. I'll understand." I shrugged, playing with the end of a lock of hair. "I just hadn't made any real friends yet, and you seemed…"
"Deadly? Terrifying? A monster?"
"Nice," I finished, rolling my eyes at his dramatic tendencies. "You seemed, and still seem, really nice." I walked over to him, laying a hand on his arm. "I'll understand," I repeated.
Edward gave me a small smile. "It's actually a relief to have a friend. The Cullens don't usually get to make friends outside the family – we can't exactly be open about what we are."
"I appreciate you trusting me," I told him.
"I appreciate you not screaming your head off when you figured it out," Edward said with a smirk. He patted my hand, still trying not to inhale deeply. "I'd really still like to be friends. But it's going to take some getting used to for me. You might not want to touch me too much, for one thing."
I removed my hand from his arm as if I had been electrocuted. "I'm so sorry! I'm such an idiot sometimes, I…"
"Hey now," he interrupted, laughing. "Don't worry about it. It's not exactly like there's a code of etiquette for human-vampire interaction."
Damned blush. Now that I knew my blood was to him what the smell of fresh cookies was to me, I cursed the blush even more. It's not like he needed the extra reminder of what he was missing out on.
"Do you want me to tell you about us?"
"The Cullens? Or vampires in general?" I asked, flopping down on the edge of my bed.
"Vampires. You can ask the Cullens themselves," he said. "I'd like for you to meet them."
"I'd like that," I said genuinely with a smile. "All right. Let me have it."
Edward flopped down next to me, and I laughed as I was launched a foot in the air upon his landing.
I'll bet he doesn't get to have "normal" moments like this very much, I thought sadly as I watched him laugh. He was beautiful when he smiled; from what I had seen in school, he didn't do it very often. People seemed to avoid the Cullens. Whether it was because they were ridiculously good-looking to the point of being intimidating or because they purposely avoided people to keep from eating them, I didn't know, but it was still heartbreaking.
I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice Edward studiously observing me.
"What?" I asked, suddenly self-conscious under his topaz gaze.
"You looked sad," he remarked, rolling onto his side and propping up on his elbow to watch me.
I mirrored his action. "Honestly? I was just thinking how… well, you just don't seem…"
"It'll be nice to have a friend," Edward said softly, so soft that I almost didn't hear him. "It's been a long time since I could be myself."
I wanted to squeeze his hand in reassurance, but at the same time I didn't want to cause him discomfort. He made the decision for me and took my hand.
"Thank you," he said.
I bit my lip, feeling a bit out of sorts. "You're, um, welcome?"
Edward laughed again and released my hand. "So where should I start?" he wondered aloud.
"The beginning is usually a good place," I said with a laugh.
"The beginning it is, then."
Several hours later, Edward and I were still lying on my bed, chatting about anything and everything. My childhood, his childhood, vampire habits, Forks in the summer, his frustration over not being able to read my mind…
"I'm glad you finally got a cell phone," Edward said, plucking it off my nightstand and punching in his number. "Decided to join the twenty-first century, eh?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Your father insisted."
"And so do I," Edward agreed, replacing my phone on the table. "With that relic you call a vehicle, you're going to need it to call a tow truck one day."
"I love my truck!" I whined. "Why does everyone give me crap about it?"
"It's old."
"So are you," I retorted.
"Touché!" Edward grinned.
"Speaking of your father," I began, letting the irritation bubble up in me, "He and I need to have a little chat."
"And why is that?"
"He dazzled me into forgetting about you saving my life," I said, pursing my lips. "How rude was that?"
"He was just trying to protect you from us," Edward started.
"Oh please. I'm all grown up and wearing big girl panties now. I can decide who I want to be friends with." I crossed my arms and fell back against my pillow in a huff.
"Want to go see him?"
"Now?" That was unexpected. I hadn't had time to prepare a proper rant yet, but the prospect of an improvised tirade was rather appealing.
"I can assure you he'll be awake," Edward drawled.
I rolled my eyes. "Sure. I'll get my keys."
Edward shook his head violently, gesturing back and forth as he did so. "Over my undead body. We'll run."
I stared at him blankly, hand still outstretched toward my dresser where my keys lay. "I'm sure that somewhere in our little heart-to-heart I mentioned the fact that a mere step forward for me is life-threatening. I don't run."
He laughed, and I tried my damndest not to be dazzled. "I mean I'll run and you'll hang on tight."
Before I could protest, I was on his back and we were jumping right out the window. I suppressed a scream for fear of waking Charlie and wrapped my legs as tightly around Edward's waist as I could, knowing it was impossible for me to hurt him, mere mortal that I was.
Edward moved fast. And by fast, I mean approximately 3.279 light years per second. I felt my hours-old dinner coming back to life in my stomach and swallowed hard, closing my eyes to avoid seeing the blur of Forks as we ripped through.
"We're here." Edward slowed down and then deposited me on the ground.
"That took, like, fifteen seconds," I mumbled, placing my hands on my knees and hunching over to make the world stop spinning.
"And that was a lot slower than I usually go," he said, smirking at my obvious discomfort.
Sadistic bastard. And I loved it. Lord knows if I could zing him back somehow, I would.
Once I felt like I was no longer in danger of heaving, I looked at my surroundings. His house was insane. All I could really gather from my first dazed impression was that it was huge and it was mostly made of glass.
"I don't think anyone's home right now," Edward remarked, leading me to the front door.
"How can you tell?"
He tapped his head. "Can't hear anyone's thoughts."
I blushed, chastising myself silently for forgetting so quickly.
"Hey," Edward said softly, giving me a reassuring smile. "It's a lot to absorb in only a few hours. Don't worry if it takes a while to remember everything."
Before I could get my foot any further in my mouth, Edward opened the door for me and I stepped inside.
"Wow."
It was the only fitting word for this place. The foyer alone looked like it was out of a page from Home & Garden. I could have fit my entire house in the entryway.
"Is this another vampire superpower?"
Edward furrowed his perfect brow. "Is what a superpower?"
"Interior design." I spun around slowly, trying not to trip on anything, including my feet. There were far too many vases in here for my own good.
Edward chuckled, surveying the room for himself. "No. That's just Esme's hobby."
"Esme?" I inquired. I hadn't seen her in school or around town yet. Please don't let her be Carlisle's wife. Please don't let her be Carlisle's wife.
"She's our mother," Edward informed me.
My heart dropped faster than the Tower of Terror ride I went on at Disney World three summers ago. "I didn't realize Carlisle was married."
"He's not."
Edward was being infuriatingly vague, and from the smirk on his face, I had a feeling it was intentional.
"So she's…"
"Carlisle turned her to become his mate, but there was nothing there. No chemistry, I guess you would say. So they're more like a brother and sister to each other, and a mother and father to the rest of us." He gestured for me to follow him further into the house. "You'll find out more once you've been around longer."
I grinned at him. "So I'm allowed to hang out with the big, bad vampire family?"
Edward sighed dramatically. "Since you're bound and determined… Yes, I think it would be nice to have some fresh blood in the house."
"Ha."
After a quick tour of the house, which left me feeling sufficiently overwhelmed, we settled down in the kitchen. Edward offered me a drink, which I gratefully accepted.
But I wasn't expecting a glass of Chianti.
"Um, you know I'm only seventeen, right?" I asked, looking warily at the expensive crystal goblet in front of me.
Edward raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me you've never had a drink."
I bit my lip lightly. "Phil and I would always share beers when there was a game on, but I've never had much of a taste for alcohol."
"No pressure. If you drink it, fine. If not, I'd expect nothing less from the police chief's daughter." He gave me a quick wink before turning to put the cork back in the bottle.
I reached out and grasped the glass with both hands, nearly knocking it over in the process.
"You should have given me a kid's cup," I muttered, sniffing the wine delicately. "Do you guys even drink this?"
"It's for company's sake. We try to maintain a normal, human appearance."
I took a sip and was surprised to find I didn't hate it. "This is really good. Thanks."
"You're welcome."
After that glass, I had another. And after that, a half of yet another. By the time Edward picked me up and carried me into the living room, I was giggling inanely.
"What's so funny?" Edward asked with a barely-concealed grin. Bastard thought liquoring me up was hilarious.
I giggled again. "You."
"Me?"
"You," I affirmed with an overly enthusiastic nod. "You carried me."
"You were a bit too light on your feet, I'm afraid."
"Trying to get me drunk and have your way with me?" I asked as he set me gently on the couch. He was out of the room and then back with a glass of water before I could blink.
"Ha," he scoffed. "Sorry, but I don't generally take advantage of someone who's… er, incapable of… um…"
"You're cute when you're flustered," I said before I could stop myself. I took a sip of water. "Do vampires even have sex?"
"Well," Edward blubbered, "I… we can… but I… Good heavens… um…"
I burst into laughter at his obvious discomfort. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew this would be much less funny when I was sober, but for now, the big, bad vampire's stammering was better than an episode of Robot Chicken.
"Perhaps I should take you home."
"At two in the morning? Drunk? Charlie will kill you. Or try. And then your cover's blown," I pointed out, complete with an explosion gesture and sound effects.
"Drink your water," Edward muttered, flopping beside me and turning on the television.
We watched Scrubs until my Drunkometer had gone from "Spangled Off My Tits" to "Slightly Inappropriate."
Just as Edward was turning off the television to take me home, the front door opened quietly, and before the sound of it closing reached my ears, Carlisle Cullen was standing in the living room.
"Morning Carlisle," Edward greeted. He nodded in my direction. "Bella has something she'd like to say to you." He turned to me with a smirk, and I wished twelve kinds of evil on him.
Carlisle turned to me with a polite and expectant look.
I took a gulp, relying on my lingering buzz to provide me with the words with just the right combination of resentment and spite to hit him in his cold, unbeating heart.
"Um… hi."
A/N: I've had a request for a sestina for this chapter's "Katie Begs For Reviews" poem. That's a bit lengthy, but kudos for creativity, Tetiani! Let's try a limerick:
Doc Carlisle came to my bed
To get a good rest for his head
It was such a drag
'Til we started to shag
The noise could've woken the dead
Yeah. So review. :-)
Just a little reminder: Bella is still 17. Underage drinking is so not cool, but it happens. Nearly everyone does it at some point, even if it's just a sip of beer or wine. But I'm not endorsing it. Before I hit 21, I had a lot of friends who would do some heavy drinking, and they're not in great places in their life right now. Not saying it's a matter of causation, but seriously – there are better ways to have fun. Go go-karting. Mini golf. Sports of any type. Go draw on your driveway with chalk (I totally still do it). Read. Write. Get a pet. Join clubs. DON'T DRINK. Frankly, once you're of legal age in whatever country you live in, drinking isn't a big deal anymore. It's the concept of the forbidden fruit that makes it so much fun.
Okay, spiel over. Let me step down from my soapbox… *thud* Or fall. That's cool too.
Now, on to my next order of business. Once again, Bella is still 17. Carlisle's not going to tap anything underage. I mean, come on, he's a couple hundred years old with morals that are also a couple hundred years old. He can wait a couple more months to hit it. I'm not going to dilly-dally with the story though – Bella's going to be 18 and raring to go in another chapter or two.
Oops. That might've been a spoiler. But honestly, the pairing for the summary listing is Bella & Carlisle, and that's spoiler enough.
Glad you're all enjoying this so far! Many thanks to everyone adding me or my story as a Favorite or Alert. I cherish each and every email from telling me someone else thought my story wasn't absolute rubbish.
Without further ado, my thanks to my lovely reviewers: Kookie-chan, jamielynn25, Scorp112, weird-and-strange, aerobee82, acw1, heartless13, Nevaehell, B-RizzleDizzle, Emma-girl, Leah (your poems are better than mine… hehe), MissJessica92, Jasper'sBaltimoreBabe, Nissa-Cullen (thanks for all your feedback!), PrincessGBRS, xxbabyxox, Dist12, yueyuuko, Kathy Hiester, brighteyes343, twilightz-vampire, notashamedtobesoilyfan, Tetiani, and Surgery-Girl. You guys made me alternately laugh, cry (with joy, of course), and grin like a madwoman. Many thanks to you all!
The next update won't take two weeks. I was on a trip last Thursday through Monday, and then work took up all my free time. Should have an update by this Thursday. Woot woot!
Next: Bella has more words for Carlisle. Hopefully they're a bit more dignified than "um" and "hi." Also, some much-needed romance…