Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Schoolwork. Horrible excuse, I know, but still, I'm sorry. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Chapter 5
After changing out of our dressy clothes, we gathered around the second floor living room of the Cullen mansion.
I was really reluctant about this sleepover, but I had no choice. Jasper was supposed to baby-sit me, and he was willing to spend the whole week with the Cullens.
Everyone was waiting for me on the two sofas when I arrived in my pajamas.
"Come on, Bella," Emmett said. "You're holding up the game."
Making a face, I sat next to Alice.
"Alright," Alice said briskly. "Truth or Dare. Edward, you go first."
Edward looked thoughtful. His eyes flickered back and forth between Jasper and me. Finally, he seemed to make up his mind.
"Bella," he said, and I sighed in resignation. "Truth or Dare?"
I pursed my lips. "Tru… Dare."
Edward frowned. He had been counting on me to say Truth like I usually did. Then, he shrugged and said, "Kiss Jasper."
I grimaced in horror. "You're kidding! I haven't kissed him in years!"
Jasper grinned. "Aw, dude, I've got to get that kiss. I miss it."
I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Do you want to change to Truth?" Edward asked slyly.
I narrowed my eyes. I knew exactly what he was going to ask me if I changed my decision.
"No," I snapped. I got off the sofa and went around the coffee table to Jasper on the other couch. I kissed him quickly on the cheek before stomping back.
The boys all hooted with laughter.
"I should have taken a picture," Emmett said fervently. "That's blackmail right there." He caught a cushion I'd thrown at him, laughing.
"Your turn, Bella," Alice said.
Edward was avoiding my gaze now. He didn't want to get picked.
Grinning, I said, "Alice. Truth or Dare?"
Edward looked relieved.
"Truth, of course," Alice said, rolling her eyes.
"Do you have someone you like?" I asked at once. Edward and Emmett leaned forward immediately while Jasper glared at me.
"Uh…no?" Alice said, blushing.
"You're lying," Emmett complained. "You have to tell the truth. Come on, Alice."
Alice looked embarrassed as her eyes flickered once towards Jasper. "I really don't have anyone I like."
Emmett, Edward, and I exchanged knowing looks.
"Fine," I said coolly, letting it go. "Your turn, Alice."
Alice looked immensely relieved. "Good. Jasper, Truth or Dare?"
Jasper looked apprehensive as he chose something foreign to him. "Truth?"
"Do you like someone?" she asked expectantly.
Emmett looked up, a huge grin spreading across his face, and Edward was laughing silently, looking back and forth between the couple.
My eyes widened. This was the perfect chance for him to confess.
Thankfully, Alice was leaning forward, covering me from the others' view. I waved at him to catch Jasper's attention. His eyes flickered to me unwillingly.
"Tell her!" I mouthed frantically. "Now! Right now! Tell her now!"
Jasper looked terrified. "Not really."
I exhaled sharply, incredulous. He was such an idiot. He'd blown his chance.
Alice looked disappointed. "Okay. Your turn, Jazz."
Emmett and Edward looked amused, yet sympathetic. I was rolling my eyes at my brother's stupidity. He was definitely going to regret it later.
"Um…" It took Jasper a second to refocus. "Emmett. Dare?"
"Duh," Emmett said, leaning forward eagerly.
My thoughts drifted as we kept playing the game. Maybe I was getting older too. Although the adults in this room seemed to be enjoying themselves, going back to their childhood days as they teased each other back and forth, I wasn't having much fun. I was growing out of the things that we used to do. Maybe, after I got into college, I would enjoy these things more.
I smiled reluctantly when the other three started laughing hysterically. Pretending was harder than I realized.
The week flew by quickly. I ended up playing Bella Barbie for Alice, who wanted to try her new skill from her fashion and make-up classes. She made me parade through the entire house for the boys, who couldn't stop laughing at my disgruntled expression.
Carlisle and Esme had invited Charlie and Renee for dinner on Sunday. They had been surprised when a huge, homemade feast was waiting for them when they arrived.
Esme, intending on cooking herself, had scolded me for ruining her plans. But she smiled gratefully right afterwards and thanked me before joining the others in tasting the food.
Too quickly, the summer vacation came to an end. Soon, it was time for school to start again, and Emmett, Alice, Jasper, and Edward were getting ready to depart to their own respective colleges.
I was extremely cranky on the last day of summer vacation. While I was stuck in school tomorrow, the others were leaving to go back to their colleges.
All through dinner, I was silent, merely picking at my food. I was trying not to think about being alone for who knew how long. Once they left, I didn't know when they were coming back to see me again.
Our parents all seemed to feel the same way as I did, though they did their best not to show it.
"So, Edward," Charlie said conversationally. "Harvard, eh? Congratulations!"
Edward smiled. "Thank you, Charlie."
"You must be so proud, Carlisle, Esme," Renee chimed in. "First, Emmett, and now, even Edward's going to Harvard. That's great!"
"Yes, well," Carlisle said. "I wish one of them would have followed my footsteps and chosen medicine as their future, but, of course, they chose law instead." But he was grinning. He and Esme were in a good mood tonight, despite the fact that all of their children were going to be gone now.
"I still don't know how you can manage being a gynecologist and a businessman," Renee said. "Of course, being brilliant, I bet it's not so hard, eh, Carlisle?"
"I'm flattered," Carlisle said, laughing. All the adults started laughing while I grimaced, not finding anything funny.
Alice glanced at me suddenly as if she'd just remembered that I was there. She smiled sympathetically.
From the corner of my eye, I saw her nudging Edward and Jasper, who were sitting on either side of her, and nodding towards me. I ignored her.
Jasper glanced at me briefly before looking away, but Edward's gaze lingered on me for a long time.
"So, Alice," Renee said. "Esme told me that you're thinking of going abroad to study?"
"Oh, yes," Alice said, perking up. "I was thinking maybe Paris. After all, all the famous designers were French!" She sighed dreamily. "Someday, I'm going to succeed in making my own brand. People from all over the world will know who I am."
Emmett sniggered. "Yeah, Alice. Good luck."
Alice frowned at him. "Wanna put your money where your big mouth is, Em?"
Emmett looked up from his plate. "You're on. Fifty?"
"Well, let me see now," Charlie said mischievously, jumping into the bet eagerly. "It'll be a few years before you succeed, Alice. If you truly think you're going to be successful, why don't you bet higher?"
"Oh, Charlie," Renee chided. "Stop encouraging the young folks. You're trying to live through them."
"Well, I might as well," Charlie said, chuckling.
Carlisle smiled. "That's a good idea. Since this is for a good purpose, I'm sure Esme will approve as well. What do you think, dear?"
"Go ahead," Esme said easily. "If it regards your futures, I have no problem with that."
"Fine," Emmett said. "One hundred thousand?"
Alice was smug. "What's wrong with a million?"
Emmett looked surprised. "You're quite sure of yourself, sis."
"I just know I'm going to succeed," Alice insisted. "I can't explain it. It's like…I feel like I can see my own future."
Edward choked on his sip of water.
Alice looked cross. "If you don't believe me, bet one million. You, too, Edward. I'll show you guys."
"Fine," Emmett said. "You're on. You in, Edward?"
Edward shrugged, smiling good-naturedly. "Why not?"
"Where do you guys see yourself in ten years?" Carlisle asked suddenly.
The room became silent as everyone thought.
"I…see myself as the most successful businessman in the whole wide world," Charlie said.
"But you already are," Jasper said, laughing.
He shrugged. "Maintaining the position will be the challenge, son."
"What about you, Renee?" Esme asked.
Renee looked dreamy. "I really want to live in Europe. Maybe that'll happen someday."
Esme grinned. "Maybe I'll go with you. I've always dreamed of going to Italy."
"Just the two of us?" Renee asked excitedly.
"Deal."
Carlisle and Charlie shook their heads amusedly.
"What about you, Dad?" Emmett asked.
"I don't know," Carlisle said thoughtfully. "I never thought about it. One thing I really want is to do the things I love for a very long time. Even if I quit as a businessman, I still want to continue being a doctor. Helping mothers give birth to newborns makes me happy."
"That's reasonable," Charlie agreed. He turned to us. "What about you guys? You're younger than we are; I'm sure you guys have some big dreams."
"I want to be the most famous fashion designer in the whole world," Alice said immediately. "I'll succeed and do what I love most. Fashion."
Her brothers made a face, but Jasper looked at her affectionately.
"I'm going to become a personal injury lawyer," Emmett said proudly. "I'm already majoring in it. I'm halfway there. I know I'm going to succeed."
"A bit arrogant, aren't you, Em?" Edward teased.
"Oh, yeah?" Emmett asked, raising his eyebrows. "Well, what about you? You never told any of us what you were going to be majoring in."
"I told you," Edward said. "I'm going to become a lawyer."
"What kind of a lawyer?"
"Criminal lawyer," he answered readily. "I'll help victims win against the criminals that hurt or offended them."
"Oh, that's a wonderful dream, Edward," Esme enthused. "I'm sure you'll be just great at it."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"What about you, Jasper, dear?" Renee asked.
Jasper grinned, embarrassed. "You know I'm going to Johns Hopkins, Mom."
"So you're still set on becoming a cardiologist?" Carlisle asked. "It's not too hard for you?"
Jasper looked thoughtful. "It's difficult, of course. But that's the beauty of it. The challenge that's always going to be there."
The parents all nodded. "Very wise."
I stabbed my fork at my steak, bored. I didn't realize that everyone was looking at me until I looked up to take a sip of water.
"What?" I asked, looking around at them blankly.
"Your dream, Bella," Alice said. "Where do you think you'll be in ten years?"
I blinked. "Oh. Um. I…don't know."
"I thought you wanted to become a teacher," Renee said.
"That was when I was nine, Mom," I muttered, embarrassed.
"Well," Renee said. "It might have stuck with you over the years."
"Is there something you'd like to do, Bella?" Carlisle asked, smiling at me pleasantly.
I studied his features carefully. Carlisle had always been like a second father to me. He was always there to answer my questions. He had never shown impatience towards me once, and he constantly encouraged me to do the best in everything. His mere presence calmed me. And looking at his warm smile right now, the fact that everyone was leaving didn't seem so bad.
"I haven't really thought about it yet," I admitted, looking back down at my food. "I don't know what I want to be."
"That's okay," Esme said soothingly. "There's still time for you to choose. I'm sure you'll find out the thing you want to do most when the time comes." She smiled at me maternally.
I smiled hesitantly. "Right."
Emmett finally let go of his eating utensils and stretched. "Ah, jeez. I think I ate too much."
"You certainly did, brother," Alice said, leaning over Edward to pat Emmett's belly.
As they all laughed, I excused myself quietly to go to the bathroom. I couldn't stand the joyful atmosphere any longer.
As I left the room, I could feel one pair of eyes on my back. The same pair of beautiful green eyes that had been staring at me these past few years for no reason that I could see.
AN: A time skip will be happening soon. Look forward to it! Thanks, and remember, review!
