I do not own nor do I make profit off of Twilight. All rights belong to it's author Stephanie Meyer
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Reviews:
Guest- Hey! My favorite thing when I'm reading is to see the villain as a little more human, with their own problems and emotions. Villains didn't start as Villains, something always happened to pull them in that direction and so I wanted to show Tandy as a little more human and a little less a bully. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving just an interactive and awesome review! I loved seeing and reading it and can't thank you enough!
Magicbobagirl- Hello! First I just wanted to say I LOVE you user name! Second OMG GIRL! Thank you so much! You review really made me smile and I can't thank you enough for taking the time out of your day to leave just a kind review. I'm so sorry to disappoint you if your a big Bella fan but she wont appear for a few more chapters. When Mare enters the story, the others are sophomores and Juniors while Mare is a freshman so technically we still have about a year before the actual Twilight timeline starts, but I'm going to bump it up a little for time sacks here soon, so it's not too too far away. Thanky you SOOOOO much for leaving just a kind review! I can't tell you how much they make my day and I HOPE this chapter makes yours! Thank you again!
Cullen123-HEY FRIEND! I'm beginning to recognize your name and am so happy to see you back! Thank you for leaving these reviews, they always make me so happy and I find that I just smile throughout my day! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter and hope this one is just as good! I actually really loved writing this one! Characters healing for the win! Once again, thank you for stopping by and reviewing and thank you for being so kind! 3
Ooshnish-THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH! I hope your 2024 is even better than 2023 qn wish you all the happiness and JOY! I'm glad you found my on Archiveofourown! I'm going to keep posting both on here and over there, although it seems like fanfic is actually starting to fix itself (I was able to see my stats again!) so hopefully they'll be completely back to normal and I won't leave! I am SOOOO amazed how quickly you were able to catch on to the emotions and situations going on in the last chapter, you were completely right and you'll see that in this chapter! Than again I'm not really THAT surprised as you are SUPER smart and always catch on easy! It makes me so happy to see you write these amazing reviews that just channel everything I am trying to show! Reading your review I wanted to showoff just how much Mare has begun to heal with these people around her and so I hope you enjoy the all the cuteness that comes with the love and affection their about to shower on her. characters healing for the WIN! Thank you so much for always leaving a review when you can and being just the best reader honestly I couldn't keep writing these chapters without you! YOU ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST!
BellamioneForever2022-:D I wish there was a way I could wave to you but I haven't figured it out yet lol!
I Saw You As Human
We drive in silence, I peek over at Esme every few minutes, her jaw is tight and once again her fists grip the steering wheel so tightly you can see the creases in her usually flawless hands. She speeds the whole way home, which is something neither she nor Carlisle do when I'm in the car. We turn into the driveway and similarly to Edward, she navigates quickly all the way to the house and then pulls into the garage effortlessly. We sit in silence for a second until the sound of the garage door opening catches both of our attention. Carlisle stands in the doorway, he must be home from work. He had the night shift last night, leaving just after I finished my homework and went upstairs. There's a smile on his face, but it falls gently when Esme and I step out of the car. I think he can see it on her face, she's not okay.
"Emmett, come here and get the groceries please." He steps into the garage and I head to the trunk giving Esme, Carlisle's full attention. She doesn't say anything, but when Emmett enters the garage with a huff, Carlisle's eyes meet mine, I nod and, quickly with speed that shouldn't be possible both are out of the garage and down the property with ease.
"What's going on?" Emmett questions grabbing the bags from my hands and then the rest in the trunk. Two trips really are for losers when you have Emmett around.
"Something happened at the grocery store." I say it carefully watching Emmett close the trunk with ease even with ten grocery bags in each hand,
"What?" I sigh and head for the door, "Mare!" Emmett follows close behind. I take the stairs up to the main floor stopping at the top when only Rose is there to greet me,
"Where are the others?"
"Hunting," She says carefully looking behind me only to find Emmett and no one else, "Where are Carlisle and Esme?"
"Why didn't you go?"
"We went last night, don't change the subject." Rose grabs my arm gently pulling me into the kitchen, she steers me towards a barstool and points Emmett to place the bags on the counter.
"Mare said there was an incident at the store." He jumps up on the counter to face me, allowing Rose to go through and put the groceries away alone, I go to help when she stops me and gestures for me to stay seated,
"What kind of incident?" She asks reaching into the first bag and setting things aside,
"A guy dropped a glass bottle," I say carefully, Emmett leans forward,
"O..K" He waves his hand in a keep going motion. I sigh,
"He cut his hand." Rose stops emptying the bags and Emmett leans back, both look at each other,
"How bad was he bleeding?" Rose asks, I shrug,
"I don't know, but I told Esme to leave...I think she's upset with me." Rose turns abandoning the bags and leans forward placing her elbow on the kitchen island right across from me,
"No Mare," She sounds out carefully, "Esme is upset with herself." I scrunch my brows,
"What do you mean?"
"It's hard to explain," she starts, "but just like the rest of us, Esme tries to stay in constant control, the fact that you most likely saw a bit through her cracks is going to bother her." I bite my lip. I understand what Rose is saying, but I also don't agree with it,
"No one's perfect all the time."
"Esme likes to try." She whispers it as if Esme can hear it. "She's going to be fine Mare, but give her time, this is going to bother her." I nod watching as she turns, going back to emptying the remaining bags,
"There something else," I say slowly, Rose finishes the last bag before turning to look at Emmett and then me,
"Go on." I take a breath,
"I think the guy that broke the bottle and hurt his hand was Tandy's brother." Emmett hops on the counter and leans closer. Rose follows him,
"Why do you think that?" He asks,
"Tandy was with him." Emmett and Rose turn to look at each other, "Please don't" I say quickly, knowing what they're both thinking. Yesterday Rose told me we weren't done talking about Tandy, I'll never forget the anger in her eyes because it's back,
"Did she say anything to you?" She almost growls,
"No, but Rose...she looked scared."
"She should be." She hisses,
"No...she looked scared because...I think he was...on something." I say very slowly, I know both Rose and Emmett know what I'm talking about, "I think Tandy loves her brother very much, and having people see him like that...she doesn't want people to know how bad it is."
"That's his problem, he shouldn't be doing those things," Rose states tossing a lock of blonde hair over her shoulder. I look down at my hands to pick at a hangnail,
"When people do those things it's because they hate who they are...it's easy to ruin yourself like that when you don't like who you are to begin with," I whisper, my mother's face almost materializes in front of me. She hates her life, she hates her past, she hates herself... I blink quickly before tears can even begin to cloud my vision. Rose reaches for my hand but I pull away,
"Mare-"
"I think she's going to leave me alone for a while." I say quickly cutting Rose off, "We saw each other...she's not going to want to risk me saying anything about what happened."
"You don't know that." Rose's voice is gentle yet encouraging. I take a breath,
"I do." I know because that's how I would feel. If someone from school witnessed my mom being drunk in public...I would avoid them at all costs. Were silent for a minute...I'm really beginning to hate the silence. Thankfully their someone in the kitchen who hates it more than I do,
"Why don't we let Rose finish this." Emmett smiles coyly, "Race you to the living room, whoever wins gets to prank Eddie tomorrow."
…
I don't know why I even bother, Emmett not only has decades of video game experience on me, but he's also a huge cheat. Bumping me and covering my eyes whenever I get close to catching up to him in Mario Cart. Finally, after the eighth game I chucked the controller at his head and went upstairs, grabbed Nancy Drew, and stomped back down and settled myself on the other couch and started to read. Emmett chuckled the whole time...ass. The others haven't come back yet and neither has Carlisle or Esme and because of this, I couldn't really focus too hard on the words in front of me. I start to just listen to the music coming from the TV and after about twenty minutes I found myself drifting into a weird state of limbo, where I felt like I was asleep but still aware of Emmett playing his game across from me and Rose bustling around, but when she stops and speaks, it's not to Emmett,
"How is she?"
"She's upset." Carlisle's strong voice pierces the air,
"Mare told us." Emmett pauses his game,
"Nothing happened, to Mare, Esme is still controlled," Rose whispers. If my eyes were open I'd imagine she would be looking at where I lay on the couch,
"That's not why Esme's upset."What?
"Then what's wrong?" Emmett questions confused,
"Apparently Mare told Esme to go to the car and she would pay for the groceries." There's a long pause and I feel the couch I'm lying on dip a bit as someone sits down,
"Why would she be upset about that?" Emmett asks
"Esme thinks Mare's too young to be so in control," Carlisle whispers next to me. I feel his cold hand rest on my forehead just as Esme's had this morning. I groan as if just waking up and bat Carlisle's hand away,
"I'm not sick," I mumble,
"You seem a little lethargic, I heard you slept in till 11 this morning."
"The holidays are a very tiring time." Carlisle smirks,
"Nice try." I stretch my arms scooting back in the process to sit up,
"Is Esme okay?"
"She wants to talk to you if you're feeling up to it!" I nod, letting Carlisle stand first and pull me to my feet, I take the opportunity to stand up and look around,
"Are the others not back yet?" Carlisle tucks me under his arm, a habit he takes advantage of when he can,
"They're coming back later tonight." He says directing me up the stairs and into his and Esme's room. I haven't been in their room since Esme gave me my own room. Nothing about it has changed except the bedding where Esme sits, her legs tucked delicately under her. She's pulled her hair into a low pony tale and smiles gently when she sees me,
"Hi sweetheart," She holds out her arms gesturing for me to sit next to her. I hesitate for a second before crawling in next to her.
"Mare, I'm so sorry." She pulls me close into a hug, her hands run down my hair, and even though I'm enjoying the hug I pull away,
"Esme, you don't have to be sorry,"
"Please listen-"
"No" Both Esme and Carlisle's face falls, I don't think I've ever said no to any of them before.
"You did nothing wrong," her surprise turns to sympathy, she still thinks she did something wrong, she's just going to give me the benefit of the doubt. I'm not having it. "I know your upset and I know you're upset with no one but yourself, but it's silly don't you think?"
"Silly?" Carlisle asks sitting down on the bed, I nod looking between the two,
"Yes, you're upset because you were tempted and that's it. You didn't do anything, you stood your ground until you felt well enough to leave...so why are you upset with yourself? You haven't seen me in my best light, maybe I should be mad too." Carlisle releases a breathy chuckle but Esme's frown is still there and she takes a small breath while Carlisle pats her knees,
"You never should have to be the parent in any situation Mare. I never wanted you to see me like that,"
"Like what?"
"Out of control." She answers quickly,
"Actually I saw you as human." Esme's head whips to mine, her eyes wide, "It's human to make mistakes, it's human to lose control, and it's human to feel these emotions. Up until today, you've always been perfect and while perfect is...perfect, I like this side of you even more, and I'm sorry not being perfect might upset you." I barely finish before Esme has me in such a bone-crushing hug I lose my breath for a second and she loosens immediately,
"Thank you, Mare." She breathes into my hair, "Thank you, sweetheart." I reach my arms around her and hug her back. It's tight, it's warm and it's safe... I never want to let go.
…
Esme recovers quickly after that and almost immediately the house goes back to normal. Esme rushes downstairs to fix the groceries Rosalie put away and start preparations for tomorrow. Rose who just seems relieved that Esme is up and about again, heads to the living room and turns off Emmett's game console. I can hear his angry whine as I walk down the stairs,
"Hush, Mare come watch a movie with us!" Rose calls just as I hit the main floor. I grabbed the spare blanket Esme put on my bed and wrap it around my shoulders before heading to the couch,
"Horror?" I hear Emmett ask hopefully.
"Mare picks," Rose motions in my direction when I enter the living room,
"Horror?!" Emmett's eyes are wide and I sigh pulling the blanket closer around me and roll onto the couch,
"How about action?" Emmett smiles at that and tosses his controller to the side before creating extra room for Rose to slide into,
"I could always go for a good action movie, you ever heard of Brenden Fraiser?"
"Who?"
"What?!"
"I'm Kidding." Emmett doesn't find this funny, but his mood quickly changes as soon as Rose turns on The Mummy. She drops down next to Emmett who drapes one arm around her shoulders and places a blanket across her lap with the other. Theirs a smile on my face before I realize it and quickly I bury my mouth in my nose into the soft fabric of the fleece blanket.
...
The movie's only 10 minutes in when I start to find myself drifting again, in all fairness I would be completely asleep if it weren't for the fact that Emmett loves to talk. I've learned more fun facts in the first few minutes of the movie than IMBD has on their site, he even loves to quote his favorite lines. It's during one of these monologues that Carlisle appears in front of me. He's changed since the last time I saw him. Switching his dress pants and button-up for jeans and a soft sweater,
"Mind if I watch with you?" He asks just a hint of a smile on his lips, I shake my head, expecting him to take the other side of the couch, leaving a little room for Esme if she joins later but instead, he scoots in right next to me, his arm coming to rest around my shoulders. I know he feels my stiff movements as he brings me to rest at his side, but he doesn't show it. This feels weird...this feels right. It takes a few minutes but I finally get my body to relax little by little until I'm just as comfortable as I was alone.
It's around the time Rick O'Connell is telling Benny he's on the wrong side of the river when the others come home shuffling in quietly after Emmett shushed them with a
"This is the best part ya heard of Elephants!"
Tanya winks at me in passing, while Kate's owl-like eyes study me while Irina doesn't even glance in my direction. They along with Alice and Carmen head into the kitchen, Rose pats Emmett's leg and gets up to follow. For a second I feel like I should get up too, but Edward and Jasper plop down and those thoughts disappear until I get a weird feeling that I'm being watched. I turn to find Eleazar standing in the corner his bright eyes staring hard into mine. Carlisle gives me a hardy squeeze and I turn my eyes back to the TV while Carlisle glances behind me before I feel him press a quick kiss to the top of my head,
"Everything's fine." He whispers into my hair and I relax once more. With everyone now home and Carlisle's arm around my shoulders, I find myself drifting once more and find my head lulling on Carlisle's shoulder, if he minds this he doesn't say anything and by the time the mummy is completely pulled back together I'm asleep.