EPOV.
I couldn't stop grinning. That wasn't a full-blown declaration of love, but it was at list something. Normally, I could read people like an open book, but sometimes Bella's emotions were so difficult for me to grasp. Good insight had made my life easier. I'd always known what other people. thought of me. It helped me in my friendships, relationships, and even my studies. But when it came to Isabella Cullen, I was like a blind kitten. Perhaps it was because she was a vampire, and she froze at times like a motionless marble statue. Perhaps it was just a special power that only Bella had.
She said she was attracted to me. Well, more precisely, she said that my unique perspective on life attracted her. But these are just details. The most crucial aspect was that something in me already fascinated her. And I could work with it, it was better than nothing. The best part - she hadn't denied it! The greatest day ever, no matter what.
I'm not sure if they were specifically waiting for our return or if they simply came back when they heard us, but when we got downstairs, all the Cullens were already there. Bella and I sat down in our previous seats, and Emmett grinned at us.
"Look good together."
Bella gave him a murderous look, but he just chuckled. I wanted to smile, but I held it back. Carlisle shook his head, looking at his family. Apparently, this behavior was normal. At times like these, I found myself feeling a little jealous of everyone with a big, loving families.
"Edward, we decided that we discussed all that is important before. Jasper wrote to Mr. Jenks, they agreed to meet soon, so we just have to wait." Carlisle gave me a reassuring smile. "But since we're all sitting here anyway, maybe you want to know more about us. I'm sure that you may have a few questions."
Yeah, give or take a few hundred.
"Of course, I have them, but I don't want to offend you with my excessive curiosity. If I break some kind of unspoken vampire etiquette, please don't take offense."
"No worries, fire away, ask your questions." Emmett settled into a relaxed pose next to Rosalie, who looked a little more at ease than before.
I thought about all our past conversations and tried to choose some most harmless question to start with.
"Not that it's not enough, but are there other characteristics of vampires that I don't know about?"
"I think I mentioned almost everything." Bella thought for a couple of seconds, probably also recalling our previous discussions. "We are stronger than humans, we are also faster and smarter."
"Bella, you're missing out on the fun staff!" Emmett smiled again and twitched his eyebrows. "We can't sleep. I don't even remember what it's like to be tired. So, the whole night is free for your favorite activities." Emmett's smile seemed to widen even more and he looked at Rosalie suggestively.
Yeah Emmett. I understand what activities you are talking about. Now stop embarrassing me.
Rosalie saved me from an uncomfortable situation when she hit Emmett on the head, effectively distracting him from me.
"Also, we'd better stay out of the sun." Alice spoke in her high voice.
"Now, that could remain as a forgotten fact." Emmett, still looking displeased, sent an even more displeased glance towards Alice.
"Emmett, what is it? Are you afraid of looking less manly?" Bella laughed next to me.
"There is nothing about me that diminishes my masculinity and sexuality."
"If you say so." Bella shook her head and looked at me. "You may have noticed, but on sunny days, we always avoid school. It's not a coincidence."
"Of course. Jessica said you go hiking. I was surprised because not many people go hiking this time of year, but on the other hand, I don't know much about it. I grew up in downtown Chicago." Nobody in my family was fond of spending time in nature, my mother was much more fond of the entertainment that could be found in the city border. Yet, even I could see that it was suspicious. "So, you just sit at home and avoid the sun? Wait, you don't burn in the sun like the myths? You can't really hide from the sun with those windows."
"No, the sun can't hurt us, but in the sun, it becomes too obvious that we're not human. So, we either stay here or actually go into the woods, but to hunt, not for fun."
"What exactly happens in the sun? And wait, you said you were out hunting? Is that how you eat?" I tried to imagine their family in funny hats, on horseback and with a rifle in their hands. The image in my head was extremely comical, but the very idea of hunting for the sake of getting food for me remained somewhere in the deep past. Apparently, my amusement showed on my face.
"I don't even know what exactly surprised you so much. We need fresh blood, and this is a product that you can't buy in a store. That's why we go hunting in the forest several times a month. Our house is almost in the forest for a reason." Bella almost rolled her eyes. "I don't know what exactly you imagined, but it was hardly close to the truth. As for the question about the sun, you are right. The sun doesn't harm us physically, but due to the fact that our skin changes after transformation, under direct rays of the sun we begin to sparkle. The light is refracted and we start to look like walking disco balls. Perhaps this was the reason for the myth that we burn in the sun."
Sparkle in the sun? This was not the answer I was expecting. I shifted my gaze to Emmett and laughed at his expression.
"This is not funny! We are the most dangerous predators on this planet, and nature decided that in addition to all the cool features, it needed to add this. Unbelievable!"
I agreed with him, not the manliest trait, but not the worst either.
"At least you don't burn in the sun, this is the best alternative." I shrugged, not knowing what else to add.
"Edward is right, Emmett. Stop complaining." Alice folded her hand across her chest. "Besides, I think Jasper looks great in the sun. Very sexy."
Jasper chuckled and pulled Alice closer to him.
"I think they all know that, dear. I still can't forget their faces when they ran into you and me in the woods."
"Egibitionists." Emmett rolled his eyes.
"I hear envy in your voice?" Jasper grinned at his brother.
"Me? Envious? You must have me confused with someone else. I know you know that you and Alice are no match for Rosie and me. We just know how to go unnoticed."
After that, all the Cullens laughed. Emmett looked positively insulted.
"Emmett, no one bumps into you just because we all know better than that. We're all traumatized for the rest of our lives, and I'd hate to see you naked any more than we all already have." Jasper raised his eyebrows, provoking Emmett to react.
"Guys, stop it. We have a guest!" Esme glared at her family. "Edward, I'm sorry, sometime they act like children. If I didn't know their real age, I would easily confuse them with real teenagers. They can argue like that until they're blue in the face, and then it's all escalates into a fight. Last week they smashed my antique china vase and damaged the parquet. I had such a hard time finding similar boards!"
My eyes widened in surprise. It looked like a normal brotherly relationship, not the start of a serious fight. I couldn't even imagine how it was possible to disagree so much to break the parquet. Cullens seemed like such a loving and exemplary family and such aggressive antics didn't fit in with their image.
"Esme, I'm afraid your words didn't make things any better." Bella looked at me questioningly. After a few seconds, understanding appeared on her face. "I forget this is all so new to you! Emmett and Jasper love to have friendly sparring like this from time to time. This is such a peculiar form of entertainment for them. They are only looking for a reason to measure their strength once again. They even keep track of who has won how many times, but besides them, no one is following this."
"Bella, don't act so innocent." Emmett smiled provocatively. "Our Bella here occasionally joins in on our sparring sessions."
My eyes must have widened at that moment. My fragile and delicate Bella fought with her muscular brothers? Bella saw my shocked face and rolled her eyes.
"For your information, I occasionally kick their ass. I'm not as frail as I might look. Right, Emmett?" Bella sent a dirty look to her brother, provoking him.
Emmett's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent. Interesting.
"May I ask a couple more questions?" Receiving a nod, I continued. "This question has plagued me ever since I learned the truth. If I understand correctly, you are all over seventeen, then why do you go to school?"
Carlisle smiled at my question.
"We try to live among people, and not separate from them, unlike some nomads. The younger we introduce ourselves, the longer we can stay in one place. Otherwise, people notice that we don't age. Outwardly, students and high school students don't differ much, if you don't put any special effort in it. So, when people don't notice changes in appearance, they attribute it all to young age."
I nodded thoughtfully.
"But don't you attract too much attention to yourself that way? High school students only talk about your family sometimes. You're probably the most interesting thing in their life. I don't know if Bella mentioned it or not, but from the first seconds I understood that something was seriously wrong with your family. The number of rumors about you is staggering. Wouldn't it be so much easier to pretend at a university? And you might as well look 20-something. The school in this town is so small that I can hardly blame the locals for all the attention you get. Even I sometimes couldn't find better entertainment than just watching you. You stand out so much, it is so unlikely that any of them will forget about your existence for the rest of their lives."
Carlisle looked unusually thoughtful. In the short time I've known him, the doctor has always looked so collected and confident. Maybe I was out of line with my curiosity, but I sincerely wanted to understand why they changed school after school if they didn't like it so much.
"Sometimes we forget what it's like to be human, especially a young one. We've always assumed that human memory isn't perfect and that they'll forget us as soon as we leave, especially if we don't make any friends. But maybe I'm wrong or my kids do a poor job of covering up."
"No." I hurried to protect the younger Cullens. "I really don't think you could hide your uniqueness even if you tried hard. Your appearance, mannerisms, even the atmosphere around you is so unusual."
"Perhaps you're right. We also sometimes think about the effectiveness of our cover stories. I think it's clearer from your point of view. I'll think about the next move."
Rosalie straightened up on the couch and looked at Carlisle in disbelief.
"I can't believe it, Carlisle, we've said so many times before that it's not effective, but it turns out all this time you were missing the opinion of some teenager?" The irritable Rosalie was back in full force, but at least this time her anger wasn't directed at me. "Maybe there's some use in your new crush, Bella. For the first time."
Bella made a sound like a growl, and Esme looked at the blonde disapprovingly. None of the Cullens reacted approvingly to Rosalie's remark. I just sat there, unsure of what Rosalie meant by her words.
"Ignore her. That's the only correct strategy for dealing with her." Bella saw my tense posture.
Rosalie chuckled and folded her arms across her chest, leaning back on the couch.
"Ignore me, Edward. Not all people are ready to hear the truth."
I didn't know what to say to her again. Was I simply some kind of Bella's latest interest? Does this mean that before me there were already some other boyfriends and I'm just one of them? I quickly regained consciousness. Bella said that I know a lot about her past, including two stories about her past boyfriends. And, to tell the truth, they truly did nothing good for her. Although I really didn't know anything about the second one, except that he got her into bad company. I reached out my hand to Bella and squeezed her hand. What Rosalie was hinting at was just downright rude. This was definitely not a topic for jokes or ridicule, especially in relation to her sister. I sent a highly judgmental look at the blonde, but then turned my full attention to Bella. There was no trace of the past light and friendly atmosphere.
"I think it was my clue to go home. Thanks again to everyone who decided to help my family. I don't know what we would have done without your help." I got up from my seat and looked first at Emmett and then at Bella, wondering who would take me home.
"I'm going to drive the jeep out of the garage for now, and then I'll drive you home, Edward." Emmett ran out of the room at lightning speed, and I stared after him in shock.
It was the first time any of the Cullens had shown their abilities so openly. A second later, Bella was already standing next to me.
"He did it absolutely on purpose. We decided to give you some time to get used to our unusualness, but Emmett, on the other hand, favours shock therapy." Bella smiled and rolled her eyes. "Come one, I'll walk you out."
Bella and I went slowly towards the driveway after saying our goodbyes to the rest of the Cullens. The day turned out to be so emotionally intense that I didn't even know what to say to her, although a million thoughts were spinning in my head.
"Thank you for inviting me over. I know I wasn't much of a help, and you could manage without me, but I'm a lot calmer now that I roughly understand your plans."
"That's why I decided to invite you. Blind trust is good, but we'll all be better off if you keep abreast of our plans." Bella placed her plump lip between her pearly white teeth. "I'm sorry about Rose's behavior, she often talks first, then thinks."
"Bella, you have nothing to apologize for. She wanted to offend you. I don't know what you did to her, but I hardly doubt you deserve such an attitude in your address."
Bella smiled weakly at me, then unexpectedly wrapped her arms around me. At first, I froze in surprise, but then my hands seemed to wrap themselves around her thin waist. I was in paradise. All parts of our body that were in contact seemed to be was electrified. I nuzzled the top of her head with my nose, inhaling the unusual floral scent. Perhaps I should have been embarrassed by the reaction of my body to an ordinary hug, but I couldn't find in myself an ounce of embarrassment. It all felt so natural, like we'd hugged countless times before.
Then, to my regret, just as unexpectedly, Bella freed herself from the embrace.
"Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
"No, I just have a few homework assignments to finish, but I think I'll get them done before bed tonight."
"Do you want to take a walk with me tomorrow?"
"With pleasure. I usually go for a run around lunchtime, can you join me? Of course, it will not be so interesting for you, and I can reschedule my run."
"Don't. I'd like to see how fast you are. Sure, you're no match for us, but I'm still curious. We Cullens respect running." Bella smiled sweetly.
"Well, of course, Miss Super Sonic. Maybe I can at least entertain you."
"I think laughter will be the last thing on my mind." Bella turned to the sound of an approaching car. "Text me when you wake up and we'll plan our day."
I was about to turn around in the direction of the Jeep, when suddenly I felt a kiss on my cheek. Before I could process the whole situation, Bella was already gone. I stood there like a fool and smiled for a while. If at some point I hadn't noticed with my peripheral vision laughing Emmett, I probably could have stood there for a long time. I felt myself starting to blush. My reaction amused my temporary driver even more. To his loud laughter, I reluctantly got into his car. Emmett continued to smile for a few more minutes, but I decided not to pay any more attention to him. It was much more interesting to think about that almost ghostly kiss that I kind of still felt on my cheek. It was so strange, such a small touch had such a strong effect on me. My ex-girlfriend definitely didn't have that kind of influence on me. I didn't even understand why Bella caused such vivid reactions in me. It was just a normal kiss on the cheek. As we pulled onto the main Forks road, Emmett finally stopped laughing at me.
"I won't apologize for my reaction. I'm still amused by your pleased face. But I want to apologize for my wife."
"You are married?"
"I don't even know what surprised you so much. We're all married, well, except for Bella."
"I, uh, sometimes forget that you're not normal teenagers. You don't need to apologize, and certainly not to me. I don't know why she wanted to hurt Bella."
Emmett looked at the road sadly.
"Rosalie is not the easiest person. She is truly concerned about the safety of our family. Due to some of Bella's actions, our safety has come into question. Rosalie may be a little angry with her now because of this, but this doesn't mean that she doesn't love her or doesn't care about her. I won't justify her or her words, I do understand that her behavior is irrational, but I don't think that she wishes her harm."
I was skeptical about Emmett's words, but didn't argue with him about his wife's behavior.
"Now Edward, I want to know your intentions regarding my sister."
I apologize for such a long pause :)