After a moment Jed brought in our neighbors up the hill. Because of my luck it turned out to be Esme, Jasper and Alice, Edward with some new girl on his arm, another new girl and guy, and Emmett and Rose. They introduced themselves to us. The new girl, Bella, with Edward was obviously a vampire too, but the other couples weren't. The girl, Nessie, looked mostly human if pale but the guy, Jake, was tan with huge muscles.
The boy returned the favor warmly but I did so coolly, focusing on keeping my mind away from memories and tried to cover my feelings of hurt, betrayal, and anger. The looks I got from Jasper told me I wasn't doing very well and Edward looked suspicious.
The Cullen's asked where we are from and what brought us here. Rick answered them with our cover story of taking a vacation from college classes. I saw Edwards surprise when one of the boys thought about why we are really here.
Bella asked about Todd's leg and my head and I snapped at her. "You should ask Carlisle he's the one who treated us last night." The boys were confused by my remark and attitude.
"How did you know about our father?" Rose asked sharply, immediately suspicious glancing at Edward to see if he knew.
Looking right at Edward I answered mentally 'Wouldn't you like to know' and lied aloud "I can see the family resemblance and he mentioned a few of your names."
I knew the boys would give away my lie mentally to Edward but he wouldn't be able to call me on it. Angered at their continued presence I excused myself to upstairs for a shower to calm down.
I waited until after I heard them leave to get in and waited a few extra before I allowed myself to lower my shield and feel everything fully. I curled up in the corner under the spray hugging my legs and broke down crying as memories were dragged forward.
Emmett teaching me football at age seven then chasing me and lifting me up and spinning me when he caught me with Rose and Esme laughing on the sidelines
Carlisle reading me a bedtime story and checking for monsters, then pretending to find one and eat it, making me feel safe
Alice and Rose taking me shopping and dressing me up as a doll, dragging me back when I tried to sneak off
Jasper teaching me guitar and Edward teaching me piano
Jasper's eyes changing and him leaping at me, Emmett tackling him while Esme rushed me out
Getting on a plane alone with all of my stuff headed for boarding school
Being so excited at their first call, talking to them all individually about my new school
Getting an apology letter from Jasper
Trying again and again, number after number to reach them getting nothing
Learning I might have to go to an orphanage because they missed a school payment
Relief but fear when I made a deal for school funds
A year passing, then two and three without a word
A knock from the door brought me out of the past. It was the boys asking if I was okay because I had been in there a while. I responded I was fine and almost done. I realized the water had gone cold and figured it had been that way for a while and got out shutting it off. I cleaned my face in the sink then wrapped a towel around me and stepped out to be confronted by the boys.
Jed took one look at my face and grabbed me in a hug. I started crying again and the other two joined the hug. After a moment Jed scooped me up and we moved to my room and we sat on the bed. I stayed curled up in Jed's lap with the other two on either side.
None of them said anything but I explained by simply saying "those were the Cullen's who adopted then abandoned me." They knew parts of the story, obviously not the vampire part.
We stayed like that until an alarm went off letting us know we have to leave in an hour for the venue. After a final hug from each they left to get ready and I did the same. I cleaned my face again while Jed stripped and got in the shower behind me. I left my towel in the bath to dry and walked back to my room to get dressed.