When I woke up, Edward wasn't next to me. I almost started to panic until he walked out of his closet, buttoning his shirt. I smiled and calmed down. I got out of bed and Alice burst through the bedroom door, hauling me out to Edward's disliking. She dressed me in another French designer and smiled at me.
"See if Marie knows this designer," Alice smirked as we walked out of her closet and room.
Esme had breakfast on the table by the time I was down the stairs. Edward was already in the living room and joined me in the dining room, at the table. We sat in a comfortable silence as he watched me eat and scrunched nose at the smell. I giggled at his expressions.
"Excited about bringing your cousin to meet our family?" Edward asked smiling.
"Yes, she'll like everyone. She's a very kind person unless you hurt her family or friends," I told him.
"Does she know about what happened a few months ago?" Edward asked worried.
I dropped my fork and started coughing on my food. I had forgotten Marie knew about thoughs months of my darkest time. Edward was by my side patting my back gently. Marie hates Edward and knows how to hold a grudge until she's able to unleash her anger on the person. I pushed my plate of half eaten food away and laid my head on the table, no longer hungry. Marie's going to give him a hard time until she believes he has proven he won't hurt me again.
"Yes, she does and she's going to give you a hard time," I warned him.
Edward's face turned into a grimace and he sat down next to me. Silent tears started running down my cheeks as Edward held me close to him.
"I'll do whatever it takes to prove my love for you to her," Edward said smoothing my hair down.
"Maybe Alice should take me to get Marie," I told him.
"No, I'll take you because I can handle whatever she throws at me," Edward said as he took my plate to the kitchen.
He came back and we went to the garage but I caught a glimpse of Alice before we got out the door. She looked sympathetic like she knew what was coming. I tried to smile at her but it probably came out as a grimace. Edward helped me into his Volvo before taking the driver side. We sat in silence while he drove us to Charlie's house.
I saw that Marie and Uncle Carson were already here. Edward parked us next to their car and got my door for me. I was afraid of how Marie would react to Edward. We entered the house and heard tslking coming from the kitchen. I took a deep breath to calm down before going into the kitchen. Charlie gave Edward his usual scowl as Marie turned to look at us. Edward was surprised at Marie's scars; they were different than seeing them in Alice's thoughts. Uncle Carson was standing against the counter and tilted his head towards Edward in his southern greeting.
"Hey, Bella, Uncle Charlie was just tellin' me 'bout your bff, Jake. I want to meet this kid," Marie said making Edward stiffen.
"Trust me, Marie, he doesn't look like a kid," Charlie said, smirking at her.
"Sure, Uncle Charlie," Marie said giggling. "By the way, who's he?" Marie added, pointing toward Edward.
She gave him a kind smile, the one she gives to every new person she meets. I better say goodbye to that smile because as soon as I introduce them. Edward put his hand out to shake Marie's. Marie took it as Edward opened his mouth to speak.
"Hi, Marie, I've heard so much about you. I'm Edward, Bella's boyfriend," he introduced.
Marie's smile disappeared and was replaced by a disgusted look making her scarred face look awful. She snatched her hand away from Edward's, to Charlie's liking, and turned on me.
"I can't believe you, Bella!" she started hollering at me. "After everything he put you through, you took him back! It took me forever to get you to leave your room and it took Jake a while to get you semi-human again. I was worried 'bout you for months. I thought I might lose my favorite and only cousin because of how depressed you were, and you take him back! I hope you gave him hell to get you back. I always told you, you were to forgiving." Marie huffed after she finished hollering.
Her face was red and I could see Charlie trying to grab Marie's shoulder but Uncle Carson shook his head, and Charlie backed off. Marie turned on Edward next and pointed her finger at him. She started screaming at him in another language. I didn't think she was that fluent in another language. By the time she finished, Edward looked fearful which was odd considering Marie was human. Charlie was trying to hold back laughter now. I was curious of what she yelled at Edward.
"How's Alice, anyways, Bella?" she asked me putting her nice and sweet act on.
That was it for Charlie and Uncle Carson. They both bent over in a fit of laughter. I scowled at them as Edward composed himself.
"Are you girls ready to go, Alice is waiting back at home?" Edward asked us.
"I guess so,"'Marie huffed.
This is going to be a long day. As we were leaving Charlie and Uncle Carson started whispering, but I couldn't understand anything. I felt Edward go rigid again probably not liking what they were saying. I looked into Edward's eyes and gave him a small smile; it was the best I could do right now.
(Edward's POV)
Marie really hates me but I don't blame her. I did hurt Bella in the worst way possible and can never forgive myself for it. I was surprised when Bella took me back so easily. I thought I would have to earn her trust back and in some ways, I am. Marie has every right to be mad at me. As we were leaving, Charlie and Carson started whispering to low for Bella and Marie to hear. I heard every word they said.
"That was very mild for Marie. I'm surprised she didn't kill him right then and there. I've seen her kill many nomad vampires to protect Bella," Charlie said.
"She knows Bella loves him and willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. Edward will just have to pass the many tests Marie will set for him," Carson said.
"Marie's one witch I've learned not to anger, and I'm her uncle. I know how angry she can get," Charlie shuddered.
So he knew this entire time that I was a vampire. That explained why she wasn't scared of me and threatned me so harshly. Hearing her threaten me in fluent Portguese both amazed and scared me. I wonder how many vampires she had killed.
I looked over at Bella as I got the door for her. She gave me a small smile and got in the car. Is Bella a witch, too? Has she been hiding something from me? Marie was already in the backseat with her arms crossed and looking away from me.
"Does Bella know you're a witch?" I asked Marie in Portguese.
"No and I plan to keep it that way until the time is right. You breathe a word of it to her, I'll burn your ass so bad that you won't be able to sit for a month," she respond acidicly in Portuguese.
We stayed quiet the rest of the ride. Marie was planning something, some form of payback. I would take it and earn her respect and show her how much I love Bella. I will pass the tests that Marie's dad mentioned. I pulled into the garage and saw Alice leaning against her Porsche. She smiled at me and ran to get Marie's door. Marie squealed and pulled Alice into a hug.
"Did you guess what Bella's wearing?" Alice asked her.
"Not yet, I was busy venting my anger on your brother," Marie told her then looked at Bella's dress. "Jean Pierre's spring collection from last year."
"Correct. How do you know all this?" Alice asked pouting.
"I took an all year course in fashion design at my previous school," Marie told her, pride showing in her body language.
"Let's get inside before anyone gets cold," I told the girls.
Alice and Marie talked about French fashion compared to American and both agree that they prefer French. Bella and I listened as they conversed in French all the way into the house. That's when Alice started introducing everyone.
"This is my mother and father, Esme and Carlisle," Alice started.
Esme covered her mouth and held on to Carlisle when she saw the scars across Marie's face. Marie played it off and smiled at them.
"Hello, Mr. And Mrs. Cullen," Marie greeted politely.
"Call me Esme, sweetie," Esme said.
"Don't worry about being formal, you can call me Carlisle," carlisle told her.
Marie had her sweet smile on. I smirked remembering that smile just minutes ago.
"Is it alright if I call you Ms. Esme? Where I come from, I was rsised to show respect," Marie told Esme.
Esme nodded, smiling, before Alice dragged her away to meet Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett. Esme left soon after to buy some gardening supplies and Carlisle left for work. Marie and Emmett started joking around, and she told him about her older brothers; one in college and the other a graphic designer in New York. She told about how she would mud wrestle them sometimes used their strength against them. Marie told Emmett that would be his biggest weakness as well as his strong point. She allowed Emmett to contemplate that for a while as she took her jacket off to show the frilly dark blue tank top she had on.
Everyone saw across the back of her shoulders written in cursive letters 'Southern Rebel' and bellow it, a rebel flag banner. Alice and Jasper were talking to Marie so they didn't notice it. Emmett, Rosalie, and I started snickering as Carlisle and Esme hid theirs with a few coughs. Marie turned around to see if they were alright and ended up showing Alice and Jasper her tatoo. Jasper was surprised at first then started laughing with Alice.
"What's so funny?" Marie asked, her southern accent coming out.
"Well, nothin' unless you count you showing off your heritage on your shoulder blades," Jasper replied showing off his accent.
Marie was surprised at first then smiled at Jasper.
"Where are you from 'cause with that accent, I can tell you're not from the north?" Marie asked.
"Houston, Texas; how 'bout ya?" Jasper replied.
"Awesome, dude. I'm from Houston, too," Marie told him excitedly, putting her fist out for a knuckle pound which Jasper gave back, softly.
"Oooh, I have to show you my closet, since you're such a fashionista like moi!" Alice exclaimed.
"Okay, sure," Marie replied unsrue.
"It's alright, Marie, I won't be hard on you," Alice promised pulling her upstairs.
"I'm hanging with Marie next. She said she'd play Burnout Revenge with me," Emmett shouted to Alice.
"Yeah, yeah, wait your turn," Alice yelled.
"I feel like a toy," Marie whispered.
Everyone down here snickered. I took Bella to the piano and started playing her lulaby. That's when we heard an 'oooh' and a groan. I knew what was goin on and snickered. Marie had found one of Jasper's history books on Alice and Jasper's bed. I snickered as Jasper looked at me curiously. I shook my head and put a hand up signalling for him to hold on.
Marie came out of the room and to the edge of the banister. She held a book in her hands, already opened. Jasper recognised it as his history of the Civil War and started laughimg with me. Alice came out of the and glared at Jasper for a second.
"Can I borrow it Jasper, please? I'll take good care of it," Marie begged, with big brown puppy dog eyes that I recognised as the same Bella sometimes gave me.
They both looked alike, mainly getting it from their dads apparently. Alice huffed when Jasper nodded his head and Marie's face lit up even though the scars caused half her face to grimace. Marie opened the book and started walking downstairs as she read. Everyone got worried but I knew she wouldn't miss a step.
Once she was down the steps, she walked to the living room and sat in an armchair. Alice came downstair after a while and huffed as she sat down. Emmett went to ask Marie to play video games and she shook her head, already sucked into the book.
After she finished the first chapter, she marked the page and put the book on the table. Emmett jumped at her first.
"I heard you like vampire movies and book," Emmett comments with a suspicious look on his face.
I smiled because everyone forgot about his stash of vampire movies. He found them hilarious and I became curious of how Marie would react.
Esme didn't allow those movies but Emmett was able to find a hiding place for them. He would watch them when both Carlisle and Esme were gone. Alice or I would warn him when they were about to be home. Since carlisle was at work and Esme went to look for gardening supplies, Emmett thought it would be great to watch the movies. Alice smiled and whispered to Jasper what was happening. They started laughing as Emmett went upstairs to go get the movies.
Marie looked at us confused but Emmett was already down the stairs as Marie opened to her mouth to ask. Everyone gathered in the living room, around the TV, while Emmett put the DVD in. He fastforward through the previews and played the movie. Bella pulled Marie down next to us and Marie didn't like being near me. She moved to sit on the couch with Rosalie amd Emmett.
"What are we watchin', Emmett?" Marie asked, gazing at him and Rosalie curiously.
I noticed then how she never looks us in the eyes but averted her eyes to other spaces. I wondered why that was but I couldn't ask her. She would ignore me and talk to someone else.
"Your such a vampire fan, how about you tell me?" Emmett replied, smirking.
"Fine, bet I can guess it," Marie smiled back.
"You're on, fifty bucks?" he asked.
"You're on," Marie replied, grinning widely.
The movie started and a woman was on top of a building, watching for something. Marie watched intently, trying to remember the movie; it was familiar to her. Emmett thought he had her and would win. I looked at Bella and she was watching Marie. She turned her attention back to the screen and she looked as if she recognized it.
"Do you the movie, love?" I asked Bella.
"It seems familiar but I can't put my finger on it," Bella replied.
Everyone glanced at Bella, surprised except Marie. She gazed at Bella with a suspicious expression but decided to change the subject when she saw my eyes on her.
"Underworld!" Marie exclaimed and everyone turned to her confused. "Pay up, Emmett. You lost."
"Damn it!" Emmett exclaimed as he grabbed is wallet. "I don't have it," he lied.
Marie looked at his back pocket. She smirked and looked at Emmett.
"Well, that must be a second dick in ya butt then, dude," she told him pointing at his back pocket as everyone cracked up at her joke.
Emmett cursed again as he dug his wallet and handed the money over to Marie who folded it up and put it in her pocket. Everyone calmed down and turned back to the movie. Bella's previous comment forgotten.
Towards the end of the movie, where the half-breed guy and werewolf were fighting, Bella hid into my side when the half-breed ripped the top half of the werewolf's head off. Emmett laughed loudly.
"Cool but ewww," Marie said,
laughing.
"Figures she won't be scared, she's seen it before," Emmet huffed.
"I wasn't scared the first time I saw, either," Marie told him, sticking her tongue at him.
The movie ended and Bella relaxed. Marie turned to Emmett, expectently.
"Got anymore?" she asked excited.
"Yes but we don't have time," Alice replied for him.
Esme walked in as Emmett was putting the DVDs in his hiding place. Esme smiled at us as she brought the bags in. Marie saw her arms were full and hopped off the couch and went to her.
"Can I help ya, Ms. Esme?" Marie asked kindly.
"No, thank you, hun. I got it. I'm going to put some of these away and plant some new flowers in my garden," Esme tild her.
"Oooh, can I help you? Back home and I won the best garden contest," Marie told her, smiling, full of pride.
"Sure, Marie. Come on," Esme said smiling and handing some bags to Marie.
Marie and Esme go outside after putting the supplies away. I listen as Marie guesses the different types and tells Esme about her mother and father. If only they knew her secret. Bella put her hand on my shoulder and I look at her.
"I need to get home and make dinner for Charlie and help Marie get ready for school tomorrow," Bella told me with a small smile.
"Alright, I'll take you and Marie back to Charlie's," I told her standing up.
"I'll go let Marie know and take her Jazz's book," Alice says as she grabs Jasper's book and his hand and they both go outside.
Bella and I go to the garage and get in my Volvo. I toss Bella's over night bag in the backseat and pull into the front driceway. Marie was dusting her hands on her pants after she hugged Esme.
'Maybe I should put some dirt in his shiney Volvo. He would really love that,' Marie thought sarcastically.
I fought to hold in a growl. It's just one of her tests. I can beat her at her own game. Alice put Jasper's book in Marie's over sized purse. Marie climbed into my car and sprinkled dirt on Bella's head.
"Hey, Marie, I'm going to smell like garden soil now," Bella whined.
'Good, that might keep him off for a little,' Marie thought.
"Come on, Bella, we used to play in the mud when we were younger. Now, you complain?" Marie told her laughing.
Bella was so cute when she whined but she was always beautiful. I pulled into the driveway and Marie hurriedly jumped out as I got Bella's door for her. I kissed Bella and said bye to her at the door and went home. Marie wasn't going to win this game. I'm going to prove that I love Bella more than anything. I'll take whatever she puts in my way.