I do not nor do I make compensation from Twilight. All rights belong to it's author Stephanie Meyer
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! At least it is when I'm writing this, 11:35 is still Halloween. Anyway, I'm so sorry this is once again late. In August I had some life altering changes that were hard to not only understand, but also get use too. Then at the end of September I Had a week long trip to Canada that left me with a lot of stress and October it was back to life and learning to adapt to some changes so overall, it's been a little difficult on me but here I am! I cant promise quick updates as November is NaNoWriMo and I'll be putting a lot of effort into my own personal ideas and writing, but I do promise I'm not giving up on this story, theirs just a lot going on right now, anyway if any of you are also participating in NaNo this year hope on over and we can be buddies /dashboard. Anyway on to the Story. Also if their are some mistakes I apologize, I wanted to get this up ASAP, So I will go over this again tomorrow and fix whatever needs fixing :)
livvixxx- Thank you so much for the review! So sorry to make you wait but I'm very glad you found your way back to my story and missed it. It really mad me happy and smile! Once again sorry it's late but I hope you do like it. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to leave such a nice little review! :)
time-twilight- Hello! I've always liked the idea of Edward being more of a protective brother than a lover and I always decided if i were to post my own version I would show off a more sibling love than a physical one and this chapter is definitely the jumping off part. Don't you worry though, I do have plans for Mare in the future ;) She will find love but not within the Cullen family and before anything else, no it's also not Jacob ;) Thank you so much for the interactive review, it really made me happy to read it! I'm so sorry for the month long hiadus but hopefully the paragraph up top explains it all. Thank you again for taking the time out of your busy life to read and review my little old story.
Guest- Thank you! your review is so kind and more than I deserve, thank you so much for taking the time to leave it, it really made me happy!
daisy2daizy- SORRY! but here go, I hope it was worth the wait, and if not, i am soooo sorry! I hope my little update uptop can explain my absents a little!
Ooshnish- I'M SO SORRY I MADE YOU WAIT! Life has been hard and busy and I hope my update on top can explain my situation a little better! I do so appreciate you sticking around and it means the world to me that you like my story and I can't stop smiling every time I see you name. Since i made you wait so long I dedicate this chapter to you and hope it can answer all of your questions. I promise she'll start trusting both Carlisle and Esme soon, and where am I taking the characters? Well you'll have to find out because I promise I'm not going to abandon this story! Thank you so much for leaving your review it was actually just the push I needed to finish this chapter! You played a huge part here and I appreciate you more than you know. Thank you so much for always being the push I need and continuing to read my little story!
I Like Sister Better
I'm so lost in my thoughts that I don't even notice when Edward slows down and eventually stops in fact it takes him reaching over and gently touching my shoulders for me to even realized we're stopped and parked. I turn away to look out the window and turn back to him,
"A bookshop?" He smirks,
"Figured you might want to fill some of those bookshelves in your room." it's easy to picture the bookshelves Esme built in my room, it's the first thing I see every morning and although I don't want to admit it, I have been thinking about how much better it would look with books. How funny is it that I'm still not used to the fact that my thoughts aren't private anymore.
"I don't have any money."
"Okay." Edward shrugs,
"I can't buy anything."
"Okay." I look back and forth between the bookstore and Edward,
"We can go to the library."
"You can't keep library books." I blink once, twice.
"Their free." Edward shakes his head before reaching over to unbuckle my seat belt.
"Let's go Mare." I watch him open the door and step out. He waits exactly one second before striding over to my side of the car and throwing open the door, "Need me to help you."
"I already told you I don't have any money." Edward rolls his eyes
"I will drag you out if I have to." In one last defiant move I stare hard at Edward with a glare that hopefully fills him with fear and get out of the car, by the sound of his chuckle it seems like the only thing my glare has done is fill him with laughter. Damnit. Edward drapes his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close before slamming the car door and pulling us closer to the bookstore. I try not to show it but I can't help the excitement, then I remember Edward can read my mind and he confirms it with another chuckle,
"You like?" I sigh,
"Whenever Alice talks about shopping this is the kind of shopping I'm hoping for." Edward squeezes my shoulder,
"Good." He smiles reaching forward to open the door. A small bell above the door chimes as I walk in and immediately the smell of fresh paper and coffee beans hit my senses,
"It's been a while since I think I saw you smiling." Edward comments. I frown not even realizing I was smiling.
"Hi, is there anything I can't help you look for?" A woman in a green crochet top and orange bell bottom overalls asks...actually she more or so asks Edward who smiles in her direction and plunges his fist into his pockets,
"We're good, but thank you very much." She smiles back before twisting a strand of her long blonde hair between two fingers. To finish it off she bites her lips and looks down,
"Ohh a lip bite." I whisper only to have Edward push me forward into the store, "You don't know it yet but that's you ki-"
"Shhh" Edward hisses turning me around to face him once were heavily camouflaged in the biography section, "Okay, take your time, if you need me I'll be in the history section," He turns and quickly I grab his elbow,
"You're just going to leave me here?"
"I'm not leaving the building, I'll be right here." I look around, hearing the sound of an espresso machine going off in the back corner. Slowly I let go of Edward and take a closer look around. Straight ahead of us is the door and register. I'm a little creeped out at the fact that the blonde woman is leaning over the counter to stare at us, she busies herself when she notices I'm staring. I turn to look the other way only to notice the floor-to-ceiling books shelves with a sign asking people, not to clime.
"There's more books that way and a section downstairs with the children and young adult books, the escalators are next to the coffee bar over there in the corner, do you think you'll be okay." I open my mouth but nothing comes out so instead, I nod. Edward reaches forward and places his hand on my chin to shut my mouth.
"Remember history section." He gives my shoulder one last squeeze before turning around and leaving me alone in the biography section. I take a small spin around before biting my lip hard to keep from smiling. I can't, I feel the large smile on my face and turn running for the escalators.
…
"Are you sure I can't help you or anything?"
"No, Thank you," I tell the blonde women employee again. Ever since Edward and I entered the store she's been circling around, presumable looking for Edward but she keeps passing me every 20 minutes. I've tried to keep myself hidden by stealing a small dark corner in the large YA section, but she still finds me every time. I've pulled different genres off every shelve and have them laid out in front of me. All of them I've never heard of before but all have caught my interest either based on the cover or the description. My only hope is I can read as much as I possibly can before it's time to go. I don't know how much time has passed or what time it even is, but it feels like at least an hour has gone by, but then again I tend to be a slow reader so I don't know.
"Have you seen Bree?" I lift my head from my page to find Edward strolling down towards me,
"Who?"
"Bree, she's the blonde girl who works here?" I snort looking back down toward my page,
"How am I supposed to know her name...wait how do you know her name?"
"Her thoughts have been reverberating in my head, she keeps imagining a scenario where we run into each other and I fall in love with her." He almost shutters coming to a stop in front of me
"Romantic" I comment,
"She's introduced herself over ten times in different plot points." I snort while flipping my page,
"The life of a gorgeous man, how tragic for you." Sarcasm drips off my lips and flys into the air waiting for Edward to catch it, instead, he leans against one of the shelves and smiles,
"You think I'm gorgeous?"
"I think you're annoying, I'm reading." For the first time, Edward looks down at my book pile,
"I think you're the only one that can be in a bookstore longer than me." I feel my cheeks turn red and I swallow my shame,
"I've never really got to feel a new book." I look up embarrassed. All my books came from second-hand shops and the library, and I'm internally grateful for them, but sitting here reading and holding a book with crisp pages and a spin that hasn't been cracked yet...it's a different feeling. I notice Edward stare, he's trying to look sad for me. I close the book and set it down, "I have books, I'm not illiterate or anything, but you know, the library's free, and my mom works at a university and their Library has sales...I just don't have new books." I wait for Edward to respond or give in to his stone features and look sad but instead he just stares at my face. I release a breath and bend down picking up each book one by one, there are too many to carry by myself so I'll have to make two trips to put them back on the shelves,
"So these are the ones you like?" Edward finally speaks. I look up from the ground and nod,
"Oh..Ya, I haven't heard of these before so they kinda piqued my interest."
"Okay." Edward bends picking up nearly every book and turning around to end down the aisle,
"Wait! What are you doing?" Edward turns his face almost hidden by the stack,
"I thought you said you liked these."
"I do, but they go back here." Edwards's brows furrow,
"For what?"
"To put back, I got them from these shelves down here." Edwards's eyes widen and he nods,
"Oh, okay," he turns and keeps walking, fast now.
"Edward!" I grab the small stack he's left behind and run after him, he's already up the escalators when I spot him, "Edward yet!" I run up the moving stairs just reaching Edward at the top. "Stop!" I breathe out bending down to catch my breath really quick
"You caught up, very nice." I swallow and stand up
"Don't patronize me! Where are you going?"
"My apologizes if was I not clear enough, I'm heading to the register." I reach out to grab at least the top book off of Edwards's pile, but he steps away from me,
"Those are brand new."
"Correct."
"This is an independent bookstore,"
"Good observation."
"That means their full price,"
"Correct again." I can't believe he's being so non-nonchalant about this.
"That's like over two hundred dollars in books," I hold out my small pile next to his
"Your point?" I have no words, instead, random throaty sounds come out, Edward lifts an eyebrow, "You done?"
"I...I guess."
"Great let's get these paid for and then we can stop and have a late lunch." I reach for his sleeve before he can turn,
"Edward, please no."
"You don't like these books?" I swallow,
"I do, but...I can't let you buy those, it's too much."
"If you think I'll allow Alice and Esme can spend thousands on clothes and decor but I can't spend a couple hundred on reading material, you're going to be very disappointed."
"That's different...wait thousands!" I shout into the small bookstore, "I didn't know it was thousands." That's too much, they don't even know me well enough!
"And you know what?" Edward's questions snap me out of my internal monologue of self-guilt,
"What?"
"It didn't make a dent in their bank account and spending a couple hundred on something you've never had that will give you hours of entertainment won't make a dent in mine either." I sigh wanting to do nothing more than collapse on the floor and breathe,
"I just.."
"You aren't used to it, and that's okay Mare it will take time for you to understand the Cullen love language." I look up at him, "Now are you done being pathetic? Can I go pay for these?" Pathetic? I click my tongue to the roof of my mouth and pass Edward pushing my shoulder into Edwards's arm,
"I wanna happy meal from McDonald's for lunch." I hear Edward chuckle and follow after me,
"Whatever you want."
"And a Mcflurry." The register and Bree come into site,
"A large?"
"Yes."
"Boy or girl?"
"Boy"
"Really?" I stop and turn towards Edward,
"I hope it's hot wheels." He shakes his head and pushes me forward towards the register where he deposits the large stack of books and then turns towards me grabbing the smaller stack from my hands and setting that down with a large thump,
"Wow, you like to read," Bree smiles, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear,
"Actually they're for my sister," My heart jumps into my throat, sister?! He called me his sister. Bree smiles,
"You're a really good brother, for taking your sister and buying all these books." She turns to me, a large smile plastered on her face, I don't know if it's because she's actually happy at the prospect of sibling love or if she's just happy at the fact that we're not dating. Edward looks down at me and smirks, he's thinking the same thing.
"319.43" I feel my jaw drop and reach forward to grab the books,
"Wha-"
"Put it on the card," Edward says nonchalantly holding out a small metal card with one hand and pulling me back with the other, Bree reaches forward her fingers just grazing Edwards's hand as she takes out the card,
"Ohh, your hands are freezing," She runs the card through her register, "You know what they say, cold hands warm heart." She winks at Edward,
"More like a dead heart," I mumble
"What?" Bree leans forward. Edward tucks me under his arm and places his hand across my mouth,
"She says she can't wait to start." He grabs the receipt Bree's holding out, "The books, she can't wait to start the books. Edward smiles as he lets me go and grabs the larger pile of books, "Grab the other books and meet me out in the car Mare" I frown watching him head to the door and hold it opening waiting for me,
"Your brother is very good-looking," Bree whispers to me when I grab the two books Edward left behind.
"Now if only we could get rid of that horrible itching problem down there," I whisper back. Bree's smile disappears
"Marceline!" I smile at her and scurry to catch up with Edward who lets the door close as soon as we're outside, "That wasn't funny."
"Then why am I laughing." I chuckle hurrying to the car. Edward places the pile of books in the trunk and holds out his hand waiting for the others in my hand. I pass them over and wait for Edward to close the trunk, when he does he turns to me. Were both silent for a second,
"Lunch?"
…
"I wanted McDonald's."
"And?"
"You said I could choose."
"That went out the door with that awful hygiene joke."
"Excuse you it was brilliant." Edward rolls his eyes and brings his water glass to his lips and pretends to slip before placing it down. After passing two Mcdonald's Edward pulled into La Bella Italia. Apparently being funny means my right to pick lunch was revoked.
"Eat your salad." I stick my tongue out at him and spear a tomato before sticking it into my mouth. I didn't want a salad but my entree came with soup or salad and today's soup was navy bean so salad it was.
"Can I ask you a question?" Edward moves his own salad around and looks up,
"I'd rather you not."
"Ha ha" I say slowly moving the extra cucumber to the side, I forgot to ask to take them off, "Why did you want to take me out today...buy me all those books...why did you call me your sister." Edward cuts a tomato in half and squishes it into the plate making it look half-eaten and then places his fork down,
"Is there a problem being out with me?"
"You know that's not what I asked." Edward moves his salad plate closer to the edge, silently letting on that he's done playing with it,
"You're here." He says simply.
"Stop dancing around the question."
"I'm not, that's the answer. You are here." I want to reach across the table and strangle him, but right as I'm thinking about it the waitress comes back and places the plates of spaghetti bolognese down in front of both Edward and I. He ordered the same thing, "leftovers" he said.
"Enjoy" The waitress who has a pin on her shirt that says"Hi my name is Samantha"smiles before turning away, unlike Bree, it seems she has something on her mind other than Edward, I like her.
"Mare, no matter what happens in the future, you're here now and that means the only thing we can do is live and learn. You learn about us and we learn about you and we live." I move my pasta around putting together the perfect bite,
"And what have you learned about me." I look up just in time to see Edward smirk down at his plate. Once again he's pushing his pasta around. Living for almost 100 years has allowed Edward to perfect his "eating" look.
"You like documentaries specifically the ones of 18th-century crime, you're terrible at video games, you never fall asleep without socks on, you sleep with your windows slightly cracked which worry's Esme because she's afraid you're going to get sick-"
"Wait is she the one closing them every night?" That has been bugging me every morning.
"She waits till you're asleep, you're favorite color is green, English is your favorite subject, you like to read, and don't like to owe anyone anything. You value your sleep, you like to keep secrets, and so far in the house I would say Carlisle is your favorite person." I take a bite and chew my food slowly, all that from a few weeks, I still feel like I barely know Edward,
"That's creepy."
"You asked," Edward smiles a laugh just playing on the edge of his lips. I twirl my spaghetti around my fork before asking Edward the big question,
"And the sister part?" I ask slowly keeping my eyes on my plate,
"That's what you are in this world," Edward says without skipping a beat,
"Technically I think it's cousin, Carlisle is supposed to be my uncle," Edward shrugs moving his pasta around,
"I like sister better." Heat flares on my cheeks and I reach for one of the breadsticks in the center of the table,
"I do too."
…
"Are you sleeping?"
"Nope," I turn my head away, because my eyes are in fact starting to droop,
"Remember you said if you fall asleep, I get to tell Alice you like the clothes I pick out more than her."
"I remember." After lunch, Edward drove to Olympic National Park. I thought the air in Forks was fresh but it was nothing compared to the air in the park, fresh and crisp with the scent of rain and cold in the air. I could have just sat on the trunk of Edward's car and spent an hour breathing in the air. Instead, we explored, well I explored it was clear Edwards had been here before. He told me this is Emmett's favorite place to hunt, apparently being killed by a bear gives you a revenge vendetta according to Edward. I make it a point to bring this subject up with Emmett in the future. We spent an hour hiking and walking around on the trails or at least that's what it felt like, instead it quickly became three, and Edward speed us back to the car before I could even ask how we would get back once I saw the sun start to set. I've grown to hate that Edward never waits for my consent on things like this but all was forgiven when after an hour of driving Edward pulled into a McDonald's drive threw. Now worn out and feed along with the light lulling of the car, it's hard to keep awake. Edward proposed a bet and like an idiot, I took him up on it, and unfortunately, it seems like he might win although I'm giving it my best bet.
"I'm also going to tell her you have more fun with me than with her." I can hear the smirk in his voice and turn back a disgusted look on my face,
"You're awful, I don't want to be your sister anymore." Edward laughs,
"Don't be ridiculous, I can read your mind remember." Oh, I hate him,
"Sometimes you can't." I sneer. Were silent for a minute, "Has that happened yet?" His hands clench the steering wheel before relaxing
"Twice." I wait for him to continue, but it's clear he's not going to. I quickly decide to drop the subject when the humming of the vehicle becomes soothing. I blink, once twice, three times, and then I'm gone.
…
The car stops but I'm too tired to care, I'm even too tired to care that Edward might tell Alice I prefer the way he does things to her. I'm even too tired to care that I'll probably spend the night sleeping in Edwards's car, that is until I feel the door open and cool air rush in banishing the heat Edward turned on halfway home. I groan and snuggle closer into the seat. I'm not getting up, I'm much too comfortable but when a hand snakes its way under my knees and upper back it's clear I don't have much of a choice. Edward lifts me with so much ease it's like I'm a simple bag of powdered sugar, he doesn't even grunt under my weight. I hear him slam the car door and then start walking. I hear the door from the garage to the house open and skinny fingers brush the back of my head,
"She's all right just asleep." Edward clarifies and I hear someone sigh,
"It seems you tired her out," Esme's soft voice whispers, "Did you two have fun?" Edward waits for a beat before answering,
"We did."
"Good, bring her upstairs, I lit the fire in her room. It should be nice and warm." We're moving again and theirs two things I'm having a hard time believing. Number one is that Edward didn't just leave me in the car or shake me awake, and number two is Esme waited and even lit the fireplace in my room, even I haven't done that. Theirs not many apartments in New York that come with fireplaces so it's something I never really knew how to work.
Edward's steps are so light that when I feel him place me on the soft mattress of my bed, I'm surprised and roll over digging my face into the soft hotel-like pillows. I didn't even feel him walking up the stairs, it was almost like we were floating. Someone grabs my ankles and begins to untie my boots before gently slipping them off and then moving on to the other shoe,
"Marceline, sweetheart you need to change," Esme says gently, her fingers caressing my hair,
"Where is Carlisle?" Edward asks, he sounds farther away so I can only imagine he's standing at the door that connects these two rooms,
"He was called in." I feel Esme pull the comforter up and tuck it around my shoulders, "One night shouldn't hurt, goodnight Mare." she whispers. I feel a soft kiss on my temple and the retreating footsteps before the door softly close. She kissed me, she kissed me like my mother kissed my forehead the night I was brought here...but she's not like my mother...She's better.