Finally, another chapter! I hope this one was worth the wait for y'all! I'm so sorry it took so long, but as you can see this was a super long chapter and honestly I was burnt out for months. Hopefully I can be more consistent in the future. Don't forget to check out the tumblr for this story! I have it on my profile page. I'll be posting some new content on there relating to this chapter, if you want to see my inspo and other fun things it's all over there. Also...who else has heard the news about the animated Twilight tv show? I'm actually pretty excited about the idea of that, but we'll see. Let me know what you think about it in the comments, too! Finally, I do not own Twilight, SMeyer does. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Four
As I made my way to English the next day, I twisted my ring around my index finger nervously, thinking about the conversation I needed to have with Edward. After having an evening to cool down, my temper was no longer boiling. Instead, I just felt worried.
My sister's life was at stake now, and I was nearly positive it had to do with how she smelled to Edward. I knew my scent was diluted to vampires – what if it was the opposite for Bella? What if she smelled extra potent? Questions like these whirled around in my head as I entered Building 3 and hung my coat on the rack. I noted Edward's seat was empty, but took the seat next to it, anyway, waiting for him to arrive.
He never did. Class started, and he remained absent for the rest of it. I waited and waited for him to walk in, late for some reason, to no avail. I became concerned again, this time for him.
Obviously I didn't know him well, but he seemed nice enough. Yesterday, I would have even said we were on our way to becoming friends. But now, I didn't know what to think.
When class was over, I headed to Spanish. I was both hopeful and trepidatious. What if I walked in and Jasper wasn't there either? That thought hurt for some reason, leaving me confused by my own reaction. Yes, he was gorgeous and we seemed to get along well, but that didn't warrant the feeling of abandonment I felt at the thought of him being absent. Besides, nothing would ever happen between us anyway, so I should be grateful friendship was on the table in the first place.
But when I walked into Spanish and saw him sitting in the same seat as yesterday, I couldn't help the way my heart fluttered in my chest. And he probably heard it, too, if that damn smirk was anything to go by. I scowled. He seemed to chuckle as I made my way to my seat next to him.
"Not a word," I demanded. He raised both his hands in surrender, but his smirk was still intact. But quickly I became serious, and he seemed to sense the change in my mood. I leaned forward and lowered my voice so no one would hear.
"What happened yesterday between Edward and my sister?" His face turned solemn.
"I'm going to be honest with you – if it was anyone less controlled than Edward, she wouldn't be alive." A shiver ran up my spine.
"Tell me everything," I demanded, grabbing his forearm without thinking. His cool, marble skin was familiar to me in the way that all vampires' skin was, but different as well. I felt that spark again, like an electric current where I touched him. He stared at me, looking surprised. I guess humans didn't really voluntarily touch him very often. And here I was, doing it without even thinking. I awkwardly pulled away.
"Sorry," I apologized softly. His face softened significantly.
"Don't be," he replied. He cleared his throat, getting back on topic.
"Carlisle had to explain, he left so quickly. But apparently your sister's blood smells better than any other human's he's ever encountered. By a lot. It was an extremely close call." I shivered again.
"He almost ate my sister," I stated in horror. I paused, thinking, before continuing. "And not in the pleasant way!" Jasper practically choked on his venom at my words, and I couldn't help but smile a little.
"It's not funny," I insisted. His facial features straightened, turning serious.
"I know," he agreed.
I sighed heavily, before asking, "So, where is he now?"
"Alaska. I assume he's visiting our cousins, the Denali Clan," he shrugged. I gazed at him curiously.
"You have 'cousins'?" I asked. He smiled.
"They're a coven we found that follows the same lifestyle," he explained. I nodded in understanding. We were quiet for a moment, each lost in our own thoughts. Finally, I spoke again.
"Is he coming back?" I asked, concerned for both my sister's well-being and Edward's state of mind.
"Probably," Jasper said simply, leaning back in his seat casually, but I could tell from his furrowed brow he was worried, too. I wanted to reach out and comfort him, but instead I kept my hands firmly locked in my lap.
Class was called to attention, and our conversation ceased. But at least I now had an idea of what was going on.
When the bell rang, Jasper walked by my side to the cafeteria. We couldn't talk about anything serious for fear of being overheard, so we kept to light subjects, just getting to know each other. Several eyes followed us, and I wondered how long it would take for the gossip to reach Jessica. Or Bella.
When we reached the lunch room, we went through the line together before parting ways. I made my way to the table I'd sat at yesterday, taking a seat next to Angela. Her nose was buried in a book and every so often she paused to take a bite of food, but she looked up and smiled at me in greeting when I sat down.
Bella and Jessica entered at that moment, Jessica chattering away once again it seemed. I kept an eye on Bella as they made their way through the lunch line, but they were intercepted by that blonde boy I had seen Bella talking to outside Gym and he started to lead them to a different table. Bella's eyes found mine and she mouthed 'help'.
"Should we save her?" I asked Angela playfully. Angela's eyes twinkled as she laughed.
"She is your sister," she reminded me. I sighed dramatically as we rose from our seats and made our way to the other table.
"I suppose you're right," I agreed. We giggled together.
When we reached the table I took a seat across from Bella, Anglea at my side once more. The blonde boy introduced himself as Mike Newton and eyed me appraisingly, but ultimately turned his attentions back to Bella. I sighed in relief. I had my hands full with Tyler.
Throughout lunch I talked with Angela, who I could already see myself growing close to. I studiously ignored Jessica, who was so busy fawning over an oblivious Mike it didn't matter anyway. I worried about Bella, though. She kept quiet for the most part, and I could tell she was extremely anxious – her eyes kept flitting to the Cullen table, and every time they did, she would tense up more and more. I figured she was worried about Edward. I thought about reassuring her that he wasn't here, but held back for some reason. But by the time lunch had ended, Bella seemed to relax.
I met Alice outside of Trig and, again, we sat together. When we were settled, she turned to me, her pixie face alight with excitement.
"You're coming to my house on Saturday," she said confidently. I wondered if this was something she had seen in a vision, or if she was just demanding. Either way, I was apprehensive.
"Alice, are you sure it's not too soon? I mean…" I hesitated. Alice made an exaggerated pout.
"But I want to talk with you!" she moaned. I understood what she meant. It was hard to have a real conversation around a bunch of humans. I relented, and sighed.
"Okay, fine. I'll come." I smiled. She squealed loud enough to draw attention.
"Yay! Oh, we're going to have so much fun!" she gushed. I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm.
Gym was fine. I covered for Bella, as I usually did. There was one incident where she spiked me accidently on the back of the head, but I was so used to it that I didn't complain despite her constant apologies. I knew she didn't do it on purpose. I hugged her in comfort as I subtly rubbed the back of my head.
When school was over, Bella and I headed to our truck. I saw Alice wave from over near the Volvo and I automatically waved back. Jasper quickly ushered her into the car after I had acknowledged her, but he nodded in my direction with a smile nonetheless. I blushed, and he seemed to laugh.
Bella watched me curiously, then followed my line of sight. By then, all of the Cullens had piled in and were driving away. My sister glanced back at me suspiciously before climbing into the cab of the truck.
Last night, Bella found that Charlie wasn't much of a cook at all. When I visited, we mostly ate out, since I wasn't either. Bella was the chef in the family. So she had decided to take over kitchen detail for the duration of our stay here in Forks.
Unfortunately, due to our lack of skill in the kitchen, we didn't have any groceries, so Bella needed to head to the Thriftway after school. I had decided to tag along to help.
Bella seemed to relax a bit as we walked through the glass doors of the grocery store. I assumed it was due to the semi-familiar setting that you could find back in Arizona. I felt a pang in my chest for my sister. How much must she miss Phoenix? I probably couldn't fathom.
We walked through the aisles without talking, Bella occasionally asking me to fetch items for her to make the shopping quicker. On one such errand, as my hand reached for a jar of spaghetti sauce, a delicate cold, pale hand bumped against mine. I looked up, surprised.
Standing slightly behind me was a woman in her mid-twenties. Clearly a vampire, she had caramel brown hair styled in waves, and she had the soft, graceful facial feature of a bygone era. She was small and slender, yet curvy at the same time. Truly lovely, her maternal smile only made her moreso.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized in a soft melodic voice. She reached once again for the jar and then handed it to me.
"Here you go, dear," she offered. I took it, realizing this must be the Cullen matriarch.
"Thank you. You must be Mrs. Cullen," I said. She looked a bit bashful as she confirmed my suspicions.
"Yes, I am," she agreed, but she smiled nonetheless at the title. I couldn't help but smile back.
"I'm Estelle Swan. I go to school with Jasper and Alice," I introduced myself. Her beautiful face brightened in recognition, and she beamed.
"Oh! The children speak so fondly of you!" Her smile turned a bit sly for some reason. "Jasper wasn't exaggerating," she stated. I was confused. Exaggerating about what? But I had a feeling from the look on her face she wouldn't elaborate.
"That's nice to know," I smiled. Then I realized exactly where we were.
"I wouldn't have expected to see you here," I told her, after making sure the aisle was empty. She laughed.
"It keeps up pretenses. We donate the food afterwards. And anyway, I had to pick up a few things for your visit this weekend," she explained, her eyes sparkling with excitement. I raised an eyebrow.
"How did you know–?" Then it occurred to me. I slowly smiled. "Alice." Mrs. Cullen laughed.
"Yes, you get used to it," she promised. I laughed along with her.
I wanted to keep talking to her, but I knew Bella was probably waiting on me.
"I'd love to stay and talk longer, but my sister is probably wondering where I am," I explained. She nodded in understanding.
"Of course. I look forward to getting to know you better on Saturday, Estelle," she told me earnestly. I smiled shyly.
"You too, Mrs. Cullen." She waved a hand dismissively.
"Oh, please. It's Esme."
"Esme," I smiled. She beamed back.
"Have a good evening, dear." I waved goodbye to her and quickly went to find Bella.
"Where were you?" Bella asked suspiciously as I put the jar of spaghetti sauce in the cart. I shrugged casually.
"Ran into someone from school. They wanted to talk." Bella made a face, but accepted that easily.
When we got home, Bella and I unpacked the groceries, stuffing them wherever we could find an open spot. When everything was unloaded, Bella began on dinner. Instead of lingering to watch, I decided to get a head start on my homework. I took the stairs up two at a time, in a hurry to get it over with.
A few minutes later I heard footsteps on the stairs and Bella's door snap closed. I was immersed in Spanish homework, though, barely hearing the "Mom says 'hi'" that Bella called through the closed doors. I absently wished Peter or Charlotte were here to help me practice. Or better yet, Jasper. I was trying to deny it, but there was something about him that was magnetic, and I couldn't get him out of my head.
With homework done, I decided to practice guitar for a while. Letting my fingers strum across the tightly strung wires was soothing for my mind after a long, stressful day. I'd been playing since I was thirteen, and had gotten quite good. Good enough to start writing my own pieces.
After half an hour of trying out different chords with different sounds, I decided I was done for the day. I was sure Bella was done with homework as well, and I was curious to see what she was up to now. I walked across the hall and knocked on the door, opening it without waiting for an answer.
Bella's nose was buried in a book, and I could see the cover title read 'Wuthering Heights'. I made a face. We had started reading it for English and I couldn't imagine why she liked it. I had never liked petty drama, or love triangles in books for that matter. I preferred Classic Gothic Novels. After reading Dracula, I was hooked.
"Again?" I teased, as she looked up to see me in the doorway. She stuck out her tongue childishly, and I laughed. I shook my head.
"I don't get why you like it, now that I'm reading it," I admitted. She shrugged, not really answering. Then her eyes widened and she threw down her book without marking her page. She jumped off the bed and dashed past me, rushing down the steps as fast as she dared without falling.
"I forgot about the food!" she called.
Just then, I heard the front door open.
"Bella? Ellie?" Dad called as he hung up his jacket and gun. I grinned and raced down the stairs after Bella to greet him.
"Welcome home, Dad!" I said as I hugged him around the waist. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head as Bella called her greeting from somewhere in the kitchen.
"Thanks, girls." He sniffed the air warily.
"What's for dinner?" he asked hesitantly as we both entered the kitchen. I chuckled.
"Don't worry, Dad. Bella's a great cook," I reassured him, causing my sister to blush. She answered nonetheless.
"Steak and potatoes." My mouth salivated at the thought of it.
Dad then made his way back into the living room to watch football, and I followed. I liked watching sports with my father, even if I wasn't an avid fan. It was all about quality time for me.
"Dinner's ready," I heard Bella call a while after, and I hopped up from my seat on the couch. Dad slowly followed, his joints cracking. He inhaled deeply.
"Smells good, Bell."
She blushed. "Thanks."
We sat in silence for a while, absorbed in our food as we were. Finally, Dad broke the quiet.
"So, girls, how do you like school? Have you made friends?" he asked as he took a second scoop of potatoes onto his plate. I nodded cheerfully.
"I've become pretty good friends with Anglea Weber. Thanks for introducing us, Dad," I said. He smiled warmly at me and nodded gruffly. He always had trouble being thanked, like Bella. I hesitated, thinking about Alice. I knew I should say something, but before I could, Bella spoke.
"Well, I have a few classes with a girl named Jessica. We sit with her friends at lunch. And there's this boy, Mike, who's very friendly."
"More than friendly," I smirked. She kicked me under the table. Dad didn't notice. She continued.
"Everybody seems pretty nice," she said, but looked a bit troubled. I had a feeling she was thinking about Edward.
Realization dawned in Dad's eyes. "That must be Mike Newton. Nice kid – nice family. His dad owns the sporting goods store just outside of town. He makes a good living off all the backpackers who come through here," Dad explained. We were quiet for another moment, the only sound the clinking of silverware.
"Do you know the Cullen family?" Bella finally asked hesitantly. My heart picked up double time. I would have to say something soon.
"Dr. Cullen's family? Sure. Dr. Cullen's a great man."
"They…the kids…are a little different. They don't seem to fit in very well at school," she said carefully. Dad looked furious at this information.
"People in this town," he spat. "Dr. Cullen is a brilliant surgeon who could probably work in any hospital in the world, make ten times the salary he gets here," he ranted, getting louder and louder with each word. "We're lucky to have him – lucky that his wife wanted to live in a small town. He's an asset to the community, and all those kids are well behaved and polite. I had my doubts, when they first moved in, with all those adopted teenagers. I thought we might have some problems with them. But they're all very mature – I haven't had one speck of trouble from any of them. That's more than I can say for the children of some folks who have lived in this town for generations. And they stick together the way a family should – camping trips every other weekend…Just because they're newcomers, people have to talk," he finished passionately.
Bella and I stared at him, dumbstruck. I think that was the most my father had ever said in one sitting. I don't think Dad noticed our shock, as riled up as he was. Bella tried to recover the conversation.
"They seemed nice enough to me. I just noticed they kept to themselves. They're all very attractive," she added. What an understatement. Especially a certain blonde Texan.
Dad started laughing, seeming to agree with my train of thought. "You should see the doctor! It's a good thing he's happily married. A lot of the nurses at the hospital have a hard time concentrating on their work with him around," he chuckled.
I realized this was the perfect opening, and took a deep breath to prepare myself.
"Actually," I started, and Bella and Dad turned to look at me again, "Alice Cullen invited me over on Saturday." I heard a soft clang, and looked over at Bella. She had dropped her fork on her plate, and was staring at me with wide eyes. She quickly recovered, though, and picked the utensil back up, hiding her face behind her hair.
"Really?" Dad sounded surprised, yet pleased. I nodded.
"Yeah, we have Trig together and sit next to each other. She's really nice. I think we could be good friends," I confided. I tried to downplay how close we already were for Bella's sake.
"Well, I hope you have a good time, sweetie. Be home by eleven," he reminded me. I smiled and nodded. Bella said nothing.
The rest of the night was calm and quiet. I watched more sports with Dad, but my mind was occupied with Bella's reaction to my reveal of Saturday's plans. She seemed to avoid me for the rest of the night, and that worried me.
The rest of the week passed quickly for me. Bella seemed to get over the fact that I was going to Alice's house fast enough. I continued to grow close to the pixie-like vampire, and tried to ignore the feelings bubbling up in me every time I talked to Jasper. I knew it wouldn't do me any good to foster them.
Speaking of Jasper, he seemed to be annoyed with Alice at the moment. Every time I brought her up, he made a strange face before smoothing out his features. I wondered what was up with that, but didn't ask. I figured if he wanted to vent, he would tell me.
Saturday came faster than I expected it would. At the moment, my room resembled the aftermath of a tornado. I was desperate to find something appropriate to wear to formally meet the Cullens. I was eyeing a grey henley when I heard a voice from my doorway.
"You should wear the cream turtleneck," Bella said, leaning against the doorframe. I slapped a hand against my forehead.
"I can't believe I forgot about it! You're brilliant, Bella!" Bella gave me a tiny smile as I dashed across the room to my dresser and rifled through it until I found what I was looking for.
"Aha!" I exclaimed with relief, holding the item of clothing in the air like a trophy. Bella chuckled at my erratic behavior. After I had shooed her out of the room so I could change, I paired the top with dark wash jeans and my regular worn brown boots. I slipped on my ring and checked the mirror, arranging my hair to my liking. The turtleneck hugged my body like a second skin, but was still appropriate for meeting the parents. It was classy, and paired with the dark jeans felt sophisticated yet casual.
"Going to the Library!" Bella called from downstairs. I heard the front door open and close, and the truck's engine roar. Five minutes later, I heard a honk come from outside. After one more glance in the mirror, I dashed down the steps of the stairs and out the door.
Alice waved from the driver's seat of the Volvo, and I returned it. I slid into the passenger side, and Alice leaned over to squeeze me gently in a hug. I was surprised, but returned it gratefully.
When she was satisfied, she leaned back and put the car in reverse, taking off down the road at a breakneck speed.
"What's the rush?" I asked nervously. I knew I was in safe hands, but still, the sight of the trees speeding past my window made me a tad anxious.
Alice laughed. "Oh, we always drive like this. Edward's the worst. You're lucky it's not him you're driving with!" I laughed along with her, although I couldn't imagine. I relaxed into my seat and decided to just enjoy the ride.
"They're really excited to meet you, you know," Alice said suddenly. I looked over at her, suddenly nervous.
"Really?" I asked shyly. Alice bobbed her head in a quick nod.
"Yes, Esme especially," she told me, a suspiciously mischievous twinkle in her eye. I went to tell her that we'd already met briefly, but she pulled off the road abruptly onto a hidden driveway.
My heart started to pound in my chest as we drove in silence for a time. Soon enough, we pulled into an open clearing that beheld the most stunning house I'd ever seen.
The beautiful homes you see on renovation shows could not hold a candle to this one. The three story colonial-style house was astonishingly elegant. It was pure white, with a dark charcoal roof. Mostly square in design, the wrap-around porch added a touch of southern charm right in the middle of the utmost north of the United States. I adored it on sight.
Alice parked out front, rather than in the garage I could see peeking out from the back of the house. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and opened the car door, stepping out of the car and smoothing out the wrinkles on my clothes so I was presentable.
Alice was suddenly next to me, taking my hand and dragging me up the steps of the porch. I admired the hanging swing and rocking chairs and the charm they added. But my friend opened the ornate front door and ushered me inside before I could even say anything about them.
The large room was decorated in shades of white, cream, and ivory. It had light wood floors and a grand staircase with wrought-iron railing that greeted me when I entered. The entire back wall was glass, and the dull light it let in lit up the room in a friendly way. There was a raised platform that had a gorgeous chestnut grand piano opposite of the staircase. It was modern, yet classic and timeless.
Standing at the bottom of the staircase was a couple. I recognized Esme and her beautiful smile, but I didn't know the man at her side, though he could only be Dr. Carlisle Cullen. He had tousled blonde hair, and gold eyes like the rest of his family. His smile was warm and compassionate. I thought they suited each other.
"Welcome." Dr. Cullen said simply in a honeyed voice. I felt the need to blink hard for some reason, like I was looking into the sun. Esme stepped forward.
"It's so nice to see you again, dear," she told me earnestly as she took my hands in hers. I smiled shyly.
"It's good to see you, too. Your home is amazing!" I praised as I looked around in awe. She beamed, her teeth glinting in the dim light.
"Thank you. I wasn't so sure about the designs on paper, but it really did turn out lovely," she agreed. My jaw dropped a bit, and I heard Alice giggle from behind me.
"You designed this? You really have a gift for it," I praised. She ducked her head shyly, murmuring a 'thank you'. Dr. Cullen stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her waist, kissing her hair. I smiled at the love in the gesture.
"I have to agree," he smiled down at her. Then, he turned to me.
"I'm Carlisle Cullen. It is a pleasure to meet you, Estelle. I feel like I know you already, I've heard so much about you," he told me kindly. I took his outstretched hand to shake, smiling.
"I could say the same, Dr. Cullen. My father thinks very highly of you," I laughed, thinking of my dad's rant earlier this week. Carlisle chuckled along with me.
"I'm very flattered. He's a good man. And, please, call me Carlisle." I nodded in acceptance.
Just then, Jasper entered the room, and I couldn't help the way my heart rate increased at his beauty. Esme glanced between the two of us, a slightly smug smirk touching her lips.
"Hey Jasper," I greeted with a smile, trying for casual. He smiled at me, seeming to be a bit more relaxed in this familiar environment without so many humans, and nodded to me.
"It's nice to see you, Estelle." I fought to keep my blush down as I turned back to Carlisle.
"I have to admit, I have a lot of questions. Peter and Charlotte didn't say much," I admitted. Carlisle smiled warmly.
"We would be glad to answer anything you're curious about," he promised, gesturing for us to enter deeper into the house.
As I passed Jasper while following Carlisle and Esme into the house, I felt a light hand on the small of my back guiding me. I had to crane my neck a bit to look up into his face curiously, but Jasper kept his hand there as we walked. I ducked my head down, a small smile blooming across my face.
We made our way into the living area, where Emmett and Rosalie were sitting. Rosalie was flipping through some sort of car magazine when we came upon them, and looked up when she saw us. She gave me a small, timid smile when I caught her eye.
Emmett looked to be playing a video game on the flat-screen television mounted to the wall. He threw down his controller, though, when we entered, and bounded over to greet us.
"Hey, I'm Emmett," he said with a wave on his way over. He eyed Jasper mischievously as he did, and out of the corner of my eye I saw the blonde subtly shake his head. Emmett seemed to ignore him.
"You know, you really got that stick out of Jasper's ass since turning up. Unless you find he likes that sort of thin–" he was cut off by Jasper abruptly tackling him to the floor. Emmett laughed gleefully as they wrestled, even though he was clearly losing. My face was as red as a ripe tomato, but I couldn't help but laugh out loud at the brotherly scene. Esme simply sighed, as though this happened often.
"Take it outside, boys," she ordered. They gradually made their way back out the front door, still wrestling all the while. My blush slowly started to fade.
Alice seemed to be growing impatient, if the tapping of her tiny foot on the wood floors was any indication. I turned to look at her.
"Your family is awesome," I smiled. She waved a hand dismissively
"Yes, yes, they're wonderful. Let's go up to my room!" she said enthusiastically. She took my hand and dragged me up the grand staircase, I barely had time to wave goodbye to Carlisle and Esme, who were laughing at her.
"Bye, Rosalie!" I called, not wanting to leave her out. I thought I saw her smile into her reading material.
We stopped on the first floor, and after passing several doors Alice opened one to reveal what was clearly her bedroom. Funky and modern, the room had duck-egg blue walls and animal print accents on the bed and rug. It was very Alice, I thought, with her fashionista style.
She let go of my hand and bounded across the room to jump on the bed. When settled to her liking, she crossed her legs and patted the spot across from her, inviting me to join her.
I smiled and made my way across the room, clambering up onto the bed with a lot less grace than Alice had. I faced her, crossing my legs as well. Alice beamed, her teeth glinting.
"So, what do you want to know," she asked, referring to my comment from back downstairs.
"I have so many questions. But honestly, anything you're willing to share I'm grateful for," I said, not wanting to push. Alice thought for a moment.
"Do you know how my visions work?" she asked me, already knowing the answer. I shook my head.
"No, that was one on my list." Alice grinned.
"It's all about decisions. My visions are subjective, and I can only see the future once someone makes a decision affecting it. Some are more solid than others. You being a vampire, for example, is as solid as a rock," she confirmed. She continued. "If people change their minds, the vision changes. It has to do with a lot of variables, really," she finished. I looked at her, impressed.
"Have you always had this gift, even as a human?" I asked innocently. Her smile dimmed a tad.
"I don't remember my human life, at all. My first memory was waking up all alone, and I had my first vision. It was of our family, on a hunting trip. We were so happy. And then I saw Jasper, and I knew we would complete that picture. I went waiting for him, and found him in a cafe in Philadelphia. I had to wait a few years – the timing wasn't right. So when he showed up and felt all the sisterly love I had for him, he was quite surprised," she laughed at the happy memory. I smiled along with her. Then something occurred to me.
"Wait, felt?" I said nervously. Alice nodded.
"Jasper's an empath. He can feel and manipulate emotions," she explained. My jaw dropped in horror.
"Oh no!" Alice was curiously concerned.
"What's wrong?" she questioned. I groaned in mortification.
"He's totally felt how attracted I am to him, then! Like, I knew you could hear my heart and everything, but this is just ten times worse!" I moaned. Alice's face cleared and she laughed gleefully.
"Don't worry about it," Alice dismissed, a knowing twinkle in her eye for some reason. I held my head in my hands.
"How could I not?" I whined. Alice winked.
"Trust me." I sighed, resigned.
There was a knock on the door, and it opened to reveal Rosalie. She seemed hesitant, like she wasn't sure her presence would be welcome.
"May I join you?" she asked quietly, playing with her fingers. I thought it was an odd quirk, considering she was a vampire. But I glanced at Alice for confirmation before smiling at the beautiful blonde.
"I would love that," I said, eager to get to know her. She smiled a little and entered the room, taking a seat gracefully on a spare chair in the corner of the room. I tried to think of a topic to get her to open up.
"So, how did you meet Emmett?" I asked, figuring that was safe.
"I saved him from dying of a bear attack. I carried him over a hundred miles to get to Carlisle," she said softly. I was touched by the story, and impressed.
"That was very brave of you," I complimented, and she smiled at me – wider this time. "You must have had to use so much restraint to get him home," I wondered. Rosalie preened.
"I've never tasted human blood," she bragged, and I thought it was warranted.
"That's really amazing," I told her, and she beamed, seeming to warm up to me even more. I sighed longingly.
"I hope I can have half that much control as a newborn," I said wistfully. Rosalie's face instantly hardened.
"But do you want to be like one of us?" she asked harshly. I looked at her, curious at her abrupt change in mood. I answered honestly.
"Want? Not necessarily. But what choice do I have? The Volturi will find out eventually, one way or another. And I have things to live for – people to live for. I'm still struggling with a lot of the future repercussions that my choice will have, but I know I'll be fine in the long run," I told her. Rosalie scrutinized me carefully for a moment before speaking.
"You mean children," she concluded. I nodded, and elaborated.
"I'd always imagined a future with kids, but I'm coming to terms with it. And I've realized that if I can live in society, like you guys do, then I don't see why I can't spend eternity babysitting to get my fill of socialization," I told her.
Rosalie looked surprised, like the thought had never occurred to her before.
"I…have never thought of that before," she admitted softly. I smiled gently at the stunning vampire, hoping that maybe my idea could bring her some amount of peace.
Alice suddenly squealed happily, reaching out to grab one of each of our hands.
"Friends!" she sang, and Rosalie and I couldn't help but giggle at her enthusiasm over our bonding.
Just then, Jasper and Emmett came waltzing in through the half-open door, shoving each other playfully after their completed wrestling match. Seeing Jasper happy and relaxed warmed my heart. Alice sniffed delicately at the sight of them in her room.
"Go away. It's girl time," she demanded. Emmett ignored her. He picked up a little trinket from the dresser and started turning it over in his hands. Alice made a whining noise.
"So, Estelle, how'd you get caught up with a bunch of vampires?" he asked casually, like he was commenting on the weather.
I was surprised. Peter and Charlotte didn't tell them how we met? But I answered nonetheless.
"Oh, um, you can call me Elle. I was attacked by a nomad. It was a pretty close call, too," I admitted.
Suddenly, the room was filled with vicious snarls vibrating through the room. Everyone turned to Jasper, whose face was twisted and teeth were bared. I was shocked. I had never seen him react this way, to anything. But I wasn't scared, just concerned for him.
I rose from my place on Alice's bed and approached him slowly. He was still snarling.
"I'm okay, Jasper. Everything turned out fine. Peter killed him. He won't be bothering me again," I reassured him in a soothing voice.
"Good," Jasper said savagely. Rosalie seemed horrified.
"How did you avoid the change?" she asked. I sighed.
"Because of how diluted the taste of my blood is, Peter was able to suck out the venom." Emmett chuckled.
"Ah, so you know about that, huh?" he asked playfully. I rolled my eyes.
"Yes, it's been commented on a time or two." Alice looked thoughtful.
"I like your scent. It's earthy, like petrichor," she told me. I smiled at her. That was new information to me. But apparently Jasper wasn't going to be sidetracked.
"Show me." he demanded. I knew what he was talking about. I hesitated, but shifted my hair over to one side of my neck. Jasper stepped closer, examining the raised crescent mark on my neck carefully. Then, very slowly, he raised his hand and cupped the side of my neck, gently tracing the scar with his thumb. I couldn't help the way I shivered in pleasure. He quickly dropped his hand, but his eyes were burning with something I couldn't identify.
Emmett whistled lowly. "You're a tough one to survive that," he praised. I shrugged.
"I had my family to fight for." I couldn't help the deep sigh I let out as I thought of them.
"I'm going to miss them. But I'll always be grateful to Peter and Charlotte for the extra time they gave me," I said softly. It was quiet for a moment, and I had a feeling the vampires were lost deep in the past.
Suddenly I heard a clap, and the vampires froze in surprise. I, on the other hand, nearly jumped out of my skin. But it was only Alice, clapping her hands together abruptly.
"We should go watch a movie," she suggested cheerfully, then added more seriously, "and more importantly, get out of my room." We all laughed, and stood from our places to move downstairs.
When we were settled in front of the flatscreen, the great debate of what we would watch began. Alice and Rosalie firmly agreed with me that The Princess Diaries was a wonderful option, but the boys groaned and complained so much that we eventually settled on the new Van Helsing movie that came out last year.
"It didn't do well at the Box Office," Rosalie cautioned. I shrugged.
"But the boys won't complain, and it's fun to laugh at how ridiculous it is." She eventually agreed.
When we got to the part where it was revealed that Dracula was trying to bring to life his undead offspring, Rosalie spoke up.
"I think I understand, though. If it was me, I'd do just about anything to bring my children into the world," she said wistfully. I took her hand and squeezed it, trying to silently offer support. But I smiled at her, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Even if they were goo-sack babies?" I teased. She laughed, and Emmett tucked her deeper into his side as the movie played on.
As we watched the mutant vampire newborns swarm the villagers to feed, I shuddered.
"They seem like hundreds of the Immortal Children Peter and Charlotte told me about," I commented, and I got some hums of agreement.
And, yes, I'll admit I cried at the end. I felt Jasper, who sat on my other side, squeeze my hand briefly before letting go.
As the credits rolled and I wiped a few stray tears, Emmett spoke.
"You know, in the end the most unrealistic thing was that the wolf could get a one-up on a vampire," he laughed. Rosalie hit him on his chest, but didn't argue. Many chuckles circulated the room. I looked around, confused.
"You're acting like there is such a thing," I said warily.
"Oh, there are. Or, rather were," Carlisle said as he walked into the room with Esme. She was carrying a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, and I eagerly grabbed at one, thanking her earnestly as I did. I took a bite as Carlisle spoke, and nearly moaned out loud at the taste. I could feel Jasper chuckling at my reaction next to me.
"It was before Alice and Jasper joined us. We had settled in Hoquiam when we found them – or rather, they found us." Carlisle chuckled. "We outnumbered them five to three, but I explained our lifestyle, and offered a treaty so it wouldn't come to a fight. The alpha of the pack, Ephraim Black, accepted. Slowly, distrust turned to respect, and respect turned to friendship between the two of us." He sighed longingly, and I could tell he missed his old friend. But then something occurred to me.
"Wait, Black?" I asked him, surprised. He nodded looking at me curiously.
"Yes, why?" I hesitated.
"My dad's best friends with Billy Black. I grew up with that family," I explained. Carlisle's eyes widened, and then a small smile touched his lips.
"Really? What a small world," he commented absently, obviously deep in thought.
"Does Billy know about you? The truth about you, I mean?" I asked, not hesitating to grab another cookie. Carlisle started to frown.
"Oh, yes. He knows all about us," he chuckled bitterly. It was an odd sound to hear out of the clearly compassionate man. "He doesn't trust me at all. He's been discouraging his people to go to the hospital because I'm there."
I was shocked. Billy had always seemed so calm and rational to me. I frowned.
"I'll talk with him," I promised. Carlisle chuckled sadly.
"Thank you, Estelle, but it's really not for you to fix. Besides, I would hate for you to lose a treasured relationship because of me." I sighed, but nodded.
I glanced outside – it was already dark out. I looked over at Esme, who was perched on the edge of the couch.
"Esme, do you know what time it is?" She glanced at a delicate silver watch on her wrist briefly.
"It's only 7:30, dear," she smiled. I sighed. I should probably head out, even though my curfew was eleven. I felt bad for Bella, like I was abandoning her. I stood up from my seat.
"I should probably get going," I announced. Rosalie stood elegantly and wrapped me in a gentle hug. I was surprised, but returned it gratefully.
"It was lovely getting to know you, Estelle," she whispered into my hair. I smiled into hers.
"Same." She released me, and tucked herself back into Emmett's side. He winked at me, his dimples showing with his boyish grin.
Alice hopped up from her place on the floor. She sighed dramatically.
"I'll drive you home," she pouted. I laughed, and looked around the room at my new favorite family.
"I'll come back soon," I promised. Esme reached out and squeezed my hand.
"You're always welcome, dear." I couldn't help but smile.
And with a wave on my way out, I let Alice drag me to the car.
…
Sunday passed quickly. After my conversation with Carlisle about the Quileute wolves, the Blacks were on my mind. I decided to call both Rachel and Rebecca, since I hadn't talked to them in ages.
Rebecca was settling into her new home in Hawaii with her husband well enough. She said it was a huge adjustment, but a welcome one, and she was enjoying the sand and sun. I apologized again for missing the wedding, but she brushed me off, of course. I told her to say hello to her husband, Solomon, and we said our goodbyes.
Rachel was loving college at Washington State University. She was studying computer engineering, and was enjoying her classes, despite the pressure to maintain her scholarship. When I asked her when she would be coming back home next, she hesitated before admitting that she probably wouldn't be for a while. I knew why. After their mother died, Rachel and Rebecca couldn't wait to get out of La Push. It held too many memories for them. So I just told her I'd have to visit her, then. I could hear her smile on the other line when she answered with an 'awesome'.
Then, Monday came. I could tell Bella felt more comfortable this week, probably more comfortable than she ever expected to feel in Forks. I smiled at my sister as we exited the truck and people waved at us. She actually waved back, seeming to at least know them by face. But that wasn't hard. Forks was just that small.
After Biology, as Ben and I walked out of Building 2 chatting about the previous class, I noticed flurries of white tufts floating around our heads, slowly drifting in the cold wind. I laughed gleefully.
"It's snowing!" Ben smiled but then looked beyond me, his gaze becoming a bit dazed. I followed his line of sight to see Angela, nose in a book, on her way to her next class. His eyes followed her dreamily.
Oh, I thought slyly. I grinned a Cheshire Cat smile, and nudged him with my shoulder.
"You should ask her out," I suggested. He nearly jumped out of his skin.
"W-what?" he tried to play dumb. I smiled gently this time.
"Don't 'what' me! You should ask Angela out! You'd make such a cute couple!" He blushed bright red, and started shaking his head vigorously.
"No. No way. I'm not going to ruin our friendship over a crush, and besides," he lowered his voice morosely, "I'm too short for her."
I turned him by his shoulders to face me, his face downcast. He wouldn't look me in the eye. When I couldn't help but scoff, he looked up.
"That's silly, Ben. If you know Angela at all, you would know she could care less about something like your height. You're kind and sweet and caring, and any girl would be lucky to have you as a boyfriend, especially Angela. You guys would be great together." By the end of my little speech, Ben looked a bit more uplifted. He hesitated before answering, though.
"I'll think about it," he finally said. I smiled, satisfied, before heading off for my Government class.
Throughout Government, I caught Bella scowling at the window, where snowflakes were drifting down. I couldn't help but snicker. Unfortunately she heard me, and shot daggers in my direction. I could barely hold in my laughter.
But the biggest surprise of the day wasn't the snow at all. It came when I walked into English to find Edward Cullen sitting at his previously vacated seat, next to mine. My eyes widened when I caught sight of his penny-red hair, before I slowly let a smile stretch across my lips. Even though I was still wary about what his presence could mean for my sister, it was good to see him.
As I sat down, Edward eyed me, clearly waiting for me to speak first. He seemed unsure about what I would say.
"Hi, Edward," I greeted softly. He nodded back in greeting, eyes guarded. I smiled at him in reassurance, letting him know I wasn't upset.
"I'm not going to yell at you, you know." He seemed to relax a bit, but scowled.
"You should," he said, self-deprecating. I rolled my eyes.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You did a really hard thing, and I'm really, really grateful for it," I thanked him. He seemed to soften at my words.
"You helped. In the office. I almost…well." It seemed he couldn't make himself say the words. I smiled gently.
"But you didn't. That's all that matters," I assured him. The corner of his mouth lifted in a small smile, but I could tell he didn't really believe me. We were quiet for a second or two before I spoke again.
"So what brought you back?" I asked, genuinely curious. He ran a hand through his wild hair.
"I talked to Tanya. She convinced me." The name was unfamiliar to me, but I could guess who it was.
"Your cousin?" I asked. He seemed surprised that I knew who he was talking about.
"Jasper told me," I explained. A strange light entered his eyes when I mentioned his brother, but he nodded in understanding. Suddenly, my worries surfaced.
"Are you sure you can handle it though?" I asked, anxious. He rolled his eyes.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could," he scoffed, but I sensed the doubt deep down underneath. I frowned.
"It's a valid question. My sister's life is on the line." Edward softened.
"I understand," he said gently. I nodded in thanks. We were quiet for a moment before he changed the subject.
"You know, it was quite the surprise to come home and find my family so enamored with you. Especially Jasper," he told me mischievously. I sputtered incoherently and he laughed.
"Jasper and I are just friends!" I protested, my face heating up. He smirked.
"Keep telling yourself that." Class began then, and we had to turn our attention to the front, but his words echoed in my mind.
Especially Jasper. I shook my head to rid myself of the ridiculous idea, and focused on Mr. Mason. I couldn't get distracted by Edward's teasing.
Edward didn't linger after class, and I didn't really expect him to. He had a lot on his mind today. But his words from earlier came rushing back as I walked to Spanish where I knew I would see Jasper. I tried to push them to the back of my mind.
When I walked into the warm room where I was safe from the chill and snow, I quickly found Jasper. It seemed like the joyful emotional climate due to the snow had gotten to him, because he was openly smiling at me when he caught my eye. He was so beautiful my breath hitched.
I composed myself and smiled back, making my way towards him. As I sat down, I turned to face him, still smiling.
"So, Edward's back." Jasper suddenly frowned, as if this disturbed him.
"Yes," he agreed, "he got home yesterday." I nodded in understanding, looking at him curiously.
"You don't seem too happy about that," I observed. He sighed heavily before answering.
"It's not that I'm not happy he's home, it's just that I'm concerned about how this will affect our family if this ends badly," he explained. I understood.
"You mean exposure," I clarified. He hesitated, then nodded. There was something in his eyes, though, that told me there was more to it. However, as curious as I was, I didn't push. I reached out and patted his forearm. We were used to little touches like this by now.
"It'll all work out. I have faith in Edward," I told him. Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"You barely know him," he observed. I shrugged.
"I just have a feeling," I admitted. I grimaced. "Great, now I sound like Peter," I groaned playfully. Jasper laughed. I relished in the sound before changing the subject.
"I had a really great time at your house on Saturday," I told him. His face turned thoughtful.
"I'll admit, I didn't expect you to get along with Rose so quickly," he told me. I shrugged.
"I understand Rosalie's longing for children. It gave us something to bond over." Jasper was silent for a long moment, his face unreadable. I took a deep breath and continued.
"Did you ever want children?" I asked gently. His face seemed to soften a little.
"No. My life was one war after another. I couldn't imagine myself as a father," he told me quietly. I smiled sadly at him, thinking about the destruction and carnage he must have seen in his time to not feel worthy of that. Nevertheless, I understood.
"I respect that," I told him gently. He finally seemed to defrost and looked at me with gratitude. I knew he could feel how genuine my words were.
After class, Jasper and I hurried to the cafeteria to catch up to the rest of the Cullens before Bella entered. I knew how worried they were about Edward's control, and despite my faith that this would work out okay, I couldn't help but be nervous, too. We found them convening outside the cafeteria entrance. Jasper and I quickly joined them.
Alice had a faraway look on her face. I had never seen her in the midst of a vision, but I undoubtedly knew this must be what it looked like. I linked our arms together and she gave a bit of a jump, not expecting the sudden human touch, but must have quickly caught my scent and relaxed. She was still caught up in future events, so I gently guided her into the lunch room slowly. Jasper once again placed his hand on the small of my back as I walked with Alice. I guessed this was a new thing, and tried not to read into it.
Emmett and Rosalie were leading the way. With Emmett's uncharacteristically serious face and crossed arms, he looked a bit like a bodyguard. Rosalie seemed less protective, yet still wary, no doubt sharing Jasper's view on Edward's presence at school. Edward just seemed annoyed at their overbearing nature, but I thought it was valid. He kept glancing at me, and I wondered if he was hoping I would talk some sense into them.
"It's going to be okay," Alice uttered from beside me, but I knew everyone in our little huddle heard. Edward was still disgruntled, though.
"Of course it is," he muttered, grumpy. The corner of my mouth lifted into a smile at his attitude.
As we went through the lunch line – them for their props, me for actual sustenance – Alice continued.
"She's not here yet, but the way she's going to come in…she won't be down-wind if we sit in our regular spot," she told the group. Edward continued to scowl.
"Of course we'll sit in our regular spot. Stop it, Alice. You're getting on my nerves. I'll be absolutely fine," he lightly complained. We had reached their table by now and I helped Alice sit down in her typical seat. She blinked, and her eyes focused gratefully on me, and scrutinizingly on Edward.
"Hmm. I think you're right." Edward grumbled something I couldn't hear clearly. Then he looked over at Jasper, who grinned at him, and Edward scowled. They seemed to be having a silent conversation, but I couldn't figure out about what. I sighed.
"I better get to my table and be ready when Bella gets here. Keep me posted," I entreated. Alice's face fell.
"You're not sitting with us?" she pouted. I smiled at my friend.
"Not today. Soon, though. Bella will need my support today," I admitted. For some reason, Edward looked troubled. I was quick to reassure him.
"She didn't say anything to anyone. The only person she would have is me, and I saw your behavior with my own eyes, so she never felt the need," I explained. They all seemed to relax. Rosalie reached out and touched my arm.
"Thank you, Estelle." I smiled at her.
"Of course." And I headed to my table.
The only one there so far was Angela, but despite her curious glances, she said nothing. I was grateful for that. As the cafeteria slowly filled with students, I waited anxiously for Bella. Every so often I would glance at the Cullens' table, only to find them relatively relaxed looking. Only I noticed the tightness in their eyes, Edward's slightly fixed smile. I followed their lead, and tried to be alert yet look calm. I pulled my copy of Carmilla out of my bag and scanned the page without reading it, keeping my eyes on the door.
When Bella finally entered the cafeteria, I carefully placed my book down and took a bite of my food, keeping my eyes trained on my sister. I knew any moment things could go downhill, for Bella or Edward. But really, wasn't that the same thing? I chanced a glance at Edward to see how he was doing, and while he seemed to be conversing happily with his family, there was a small frown line on his forehead indicating that he was concentrating on something. I looked back at Bella to find her in the lunch line – she was looking at her feet, and I could see her ears were red. I knew immediately that she had spotted Edward.
I watched my sister carefully as she started moving through the line again and frowned when she only paid for a soda at the end. She, Jessica, and Mike slowly made their way to our table, Bella's eyes never leaving her shoes. I could hear Mike's incessant worrying over her and I nearly rolled my eyes. Bella may look delicate, but she was stronger than people gave her credit for.
When they reached our table, Bella slid into a seat next to me and shuffled the chair as close to mine as possible, our knees touching. I gently touched her forearm once in silent askance. Are you ok? She looked over at me, automatically understanding. She shook her head once and started to slowly sip her soda, turning her attention to the table's collective conversation. I sighed internally. I didn't realize that Edward's behavior had affected her this badly.
Twice again Mike asked Bella if she was alright, which annoyed me. Bella was a big girl and could take care of herself. She wasn't some damsel in distress looking for a knight in shining armor, as Mike seemed to believe. As far as I knew, Bella wasn't looking for any kind of partner – armored or otherwise. I doubted that would change with all the new attention she was getting from our classmates.
Since I was watching my sister with hawk-like precision today, only I noticed when she glanced at the vampires' table from under her lashes. I followed her gaze to see the Cullens looking picture perfect, like they had not a care in the world and were enjoying the snow just like the rest of the school's population. Emmett was shaking his sopping curls in Rosalie and Alice's direction, saturating them with icy debris. They were all laughing as Alice held up her lunch tray to use as a shield. To the casual observer it would seem completely natural, but I knew it was most likely carefully orchestrated.
"Bella, what are you staring at?" Jessica asked. She had been ignoring my presence since I called her out last week, which worked fine for me. Soon enough I wouldn't have to associate with her all.
As Jessica spoke, Edward's eyes immediately flashed from his family to Bella's, his golden eyes boring into hers with curiosity and frustration. My sister dropped her gaze almost instantly, hiding her face behind her long, dark hair. Edward's eyes turned to me, almost looking impatient. I arched an eyebrow in his direction, wondering what could possibly cause him to look at Bella like that. He shook his head minutely before turning his attention back to her, a frown of concentration on the corners of his lips.
I was pulled from my analysis by Jessica, who had started giggling in Bella's ear.
"Edward Cullen is staring at you," she divulged to my sister, causing her to tense.
"He doesn't look angry, does he?" Bella asked timidly. For the first time in a week, Jessica looked at me curiously, as if I had her answers. I did, but I wouldn't tell her that.
"No," Jessica and I answered at the same time, my voice comforting, Jessica's confused.
"Should he be?" my sister's friend continued. Bella laid her head down in the crook of her arm, which was flush with the table.
"I don't think he likes me," Bella downplayed. I rubbed her shoulder soothingly as Jessica spoke.
"The Cullens don't like anybody…" a brief flash of jealousy crossed her face, "well, they don't notice anybody enough to like them. But he's still staring at you." Bella peeked up from her arm to glare at Jessica.
"Stop looking at him," she hissed. Jessica snickered and I gave her a warning glance. She sobered up real quick after that and did as Bella asked.
Mike interjected after that, gushing about a major snowball fight he had planned after school. Jessica, of course, was completely gung-ho for just about anything he suggested. I imagined that if he told her to jump off a bridge with him, she would. I already knew Bella would be waiting it out in the gym, and I nearly snickered under my breath. I decided to opt out, knowing Bella might need me as emotional support after school.
The rest of lunch passed, and I continued to subtly comfort Bella throughout it. Her eyes didn't stray to the Cullens table again. I could tell, though, every so often her body would seemingly unconsciously twist in their direction before she caught herself. It almost seemed magnetic, which confused me a bit.
When the bell rang signaling the end of lunch hour, I quickly pulled Bella to the side and swept her into a hug. I hated to admit it, but I was scared. What if this was the last time I saw her? I unconsciously squeezed her tighter.
"It'll be okay," I told her, but really, I said it to reassure myself. She tried to put on a brave face that I saw through clearly and nodded, before I heard Mike calling for Bella so they could walk to class together. I squeezed her hand once and watched her walk away until she exited the cafeteria doors.
I sighed and then felt a light touch on my shoulder. I turned to see Alice Cullen looking at me sympathetically.
"Shall we?" she asked, gesturing to the doors leading outside. I nodded as she linked our arms and let her guide me out of them.
We walked together to Trig, garnering many looks along the way. It wouldn't be long now until our friendship was completely out in the open and the gossip would start up. But today, I had other, more serious problems.
We sat in our back corner seats, and immediately I turned to Alice.
"Keep an eye on them," I practically pleaded. I knew she would anyway, but the words came out nonetheless. She looked back at me, compassion saturating her expression.
"Yes," she agreed, before her gaze turned far away, lost in future possibilities. But something occurred to me then.
"Hey, why was Edward staring at my sister like that at lunch? I would have thought he'd avoid looking at her…" I trailed off. Alice blinked, coming back to the present.
"Huh? Oh, it's because he can't read her mind. Or yours, for that matter," she giggled. I choked on my tongue.
"He can't what?" I squawked a tad too loud. A few heads turned in our direction and I ducked my head towards Alice's and lowered my voice.
"Since when can Edward read minds?" I asked rhetorically. The inky-haired pixie looked at me curiously.
"You didn't know? I would have thought someone would have mentioned it at some point…" she mumbled to herself. I shook my head, still slightly mystified. But then the entirety of her sentence hit me.
"Wait, he can't read mine or Bella's minds? Why not?" I asked curiously. Alice shrugged.
"He doesn't know. This has never happened to him before. But he said that it's different for each of you. With your sister, it's just nothing. Like no one's even there. But if he tries to read your mind, well…he described it as a headache. A sharp or dull pain depending how hard he's trying. Interesting, right?"
"Interesting." I echoed, slightly dazed. The bell rang then, and Alice settled into her seat, ready to keep watch. I turned forward as well, my leg bouncing anxiously as class began.
The seconds ticked on with agonizing slowness. I spent most of class fidgeting in my seat and glancing at Alice for any indication things were going wrong. She remained still and staring forward for what felt like ages. That is, until about three quarters of the way through the lesson.
Suddenly, I heard Alice mutter a low, "Oh no". Her hand shot in the air to catch the teacher's attention, who seemed startled at the sudden interruption, but called on her nonetheless. Alice clutched her stomach and pinched up her tiny face.
"Mr. Varner, my stomach hurts. Girl issues. Can I go to the restroom?" she pleaded. Mr. Varner turned slightly pink and quickly gave her permission, telling her to take all the time she needed. Alice reached over and squeezed my clenched fist – an automatic reaction to my anxiety – before sweeping out of the room.
From the moments she exited the room, my eyes never left the clock on the wall. I waited tensely for her to return, counting the seconds as they passed and growing ever more tense as they did. Finally, after the second hand had rounded the clock nine hundred times, Alice returned, looking picture perfect and cool as a cucumber. She smiled apologetically at Mr. Varner before gracefully retaking her seat next to me.
When everyone's attention had turned back to the board, I leaned in toward Alice, lowering my voice to a whisper.
"Well?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. She patted my hand in comfort.
"It's fine. I didn't even have to interrupt. Just a brief bump in the road," she reassured me. I had a feeling she was downplaying how close of a call it had been, but I let myself be soothed. I heaved a relieved sigh and faced forward while the psychic settled back into her visions beside me.
The rest of class passed without incident, thank God. When the bell rang, I watched as Alice blinked a few times before coming back to the present. Then, she smiled. I sagged in my seat, emotionally drained from the hour, but beyond relieved.
"There. Tomorrow won't be as hard," my friend said decisively. We started to gather our materials and stand to leave the room. I turned to Alice.
"You think it'll work out?" I asked her. She looked thoughtful. "I think so, somehow. It seems as if his life is at a crossroads, but I can't tell why. I'll talk to him later. But I'll help keep your sister safe, Elle. I promise," she swore.
I couldn't help it, I teared up. When we reached the door, I shifted my books to one arm and pulled her into a hug with the other. I didn't care that I was blocking other people's way or about the stares we were getting, either. Alice gratefully returned the gesture.
"Thank you." I whispered, my voice wobbly in her ear. She simply smiled as she pulled back, and we parted ways.
When I caught sight of Bella outside of the gym, all the tension left my body in relief. Just the sight of my sister alive was enough to bring tears to my eyes again. I quickly sucked in a calming breath and willed away the moisture in my eyes. I plastered on a pleasant smile and walked into the girls' locker rooms after her.
Bella was tying up her tennis shoes with a contemplative look on her face when I entered. I grabbed my things from my locker and made my way over to my sister's side. When I approached, she looked up and smiled slightly in greeting. I sat down on the bench next to her and started to unlace my boots.
"How did it go?" I asked in a low voice, briefly looking up from my task to see her expression. She was clearly confused.
"He was…nice. We talked. But it was weird," she paused and then looked at me. "Remember when I said his eyes were black last week? Today they were like this butterscotch color. And he knew to call me Bella. Everyone called me Isabella on the first day." Her face was contemplative now.
I withheld a wince. Damn Bella for being so observant. And damn Edward for not being more careful. I composed my face into a slightly perplexed expression.
"Huh. Maybe he heard it through his siblings. I've called you Bella around Alice and Jasper, of course. And as for the eyes, I don't know…maybe it was the lighting? You know, the fluorescents? I'll ask, if you want." I tagged on the last part, desperate to curb her curiosity. She looked unsatisfied, but nodded nonetheless.
"Maybe," she conceded. I didn't believe for a second I had convinced her, though. I finished getting changed and together we walked into Gym.
During volleyball, Mike and I silently agreed to team up to cover Bella's position. I had to admit, though he annoyed me, he came in useful sometimes. Bella seemed extra distracted during the game, and I knew exactly why. The only time she seemed to focus was when she had to serve. I was dreading all the questions from her I knew would come later.
It was only misting when Bella and I exited the gym after class. I couldn't help but smile at the perfect weather. I loved the rain, but mist was even better. It meant I could go on nature walks. I would have to take one soon. My sister, however, seemed much happier in the warm, dry cab of our truck, which didn't surprise me. She lowered the hood of her rain jacket once she got the heater running, and shook her damp hair out to let the warm air saturate it on the way home. I thought she had the right idea, and copied her actions.
"Ready?" I asked after a moment taken to secure my seatbelt. She nodded and checked her rear and side-view mirrors as I fiddled with the radio. But something suddenly distracted her, causing her to throw the old truck in reverse, almost hitting another car in the process. I was jerked in my seat.
"Bella!" I complained. She flushed brilliantly and muttered a 'sorry', taking a deep breath and regaining focus. I looked in the direction of her apparent distraction, hoping to find the reason behind it, only to find Edward Cullen laughing uproariously. I scowled. I didn't see what was so funny about us almost getting into an accident.
"Asshole," I muttered quietly under my breath, knowing he would hear. He only laughed harder.
Bella was finished double checking her blind spots for the second time now, and was slowly pulling out. As we passed him, I turned in my seat, making sure he saw I was now childishly sticking out my tongue at him. A wide smirk crossed his face, and I rolled my eyes. Teenage vampire boys were ridiculous.