"Carlisle!" I felt so relieved to see him again. I realized I had missed him a great deal. I couldn't help myself, I ran up and hugged him. He seemed quite shocked, but he rubbed his hand against my back soothingly.
"Bella...it's good to see you..." I pulled away and he was starring at Alice, who was standing several feet behind me. We had just arrived, after what was supposed to be a twenty four hour drive but was only eleven. Alice had gone over twice the posted speed limit the entire way. Rosalie and Emmett-thank goodness-weren't there at the moment. Esme, and Jasper stood in the room behind Carlisle, looking just as shocked as he did.
"Bella?" Esme breathed, appearing next to me. I released Carlisle, and she squeazed my hand.
"It's wonderful to see you,"
"Thank you. It's wonderful to see you, too," I squeazed her hand in return.
"Bella," Jasper greeted me, staying put.
"Hi, Jasper," I said to him in return. They all turned to look at Alice in unison.
"Jasper, could you help Bella get her things from the car?" Alice said, turning to look at Jasper.
His eyes narrowed in confusion, but he nodded and headed towards the car. I sensed that ALice wanted me out of the room to explain, so I followed Jasper out. I heard their hushed and urgent voices behind me, but nothing I could understand. She would explain to them. And to Jasper later, I assumed. What if the didn't want her to? What if they talked her out of it? What if they sent me home, told me I wasn't welcome? That didn't seem in their character, but I had been suprised before... I reached the car then, and Jasper was getting my bags out, more slowly than he needed to.
"I can take that," I said quietly, reaching for one of my bags. I didn't have many, and I knew he could handle a thousand bags, but it felt silly to do nothing.
"I can take it," He said politely.
"No, tha's fine," I insisted, reaching and taking the bag from him. He could easily have taken it from me, but he knew how I felt. That I would feel foolish without it, and had no intention of letting him take it.
I heard a gasp near the front of the car, and I looked up to see Emmett, a wide smile breaking accross his face. His was to me in a second, breaking my ribs in a bear hug. Now it was my turn to gasp-for air.
"Can't-breathe!" I gasped, and he set me down.
"What are you doing here, shorty?" he seemed so happy to see me. I was happy to see him, too. But that was a question better left for Alice.
"Uh...Alice will explain later." He turned his head towards the house, and was gone in a flash. Patient as always. When he was gone, I could see Rosalie where he had been standing previously, glaring at me. I froze with fear. This would really not be a good time to die. And she looked like she might kill me.
"Let's get these inside," Jasper said quickly, confirming my fears. I nearly ran to the house, and so of course he was still ahead of me. He led me to, what I assumed was the extra room. "I thought you were staying with Tanya and her family?" I asked Jasper.
"We are. Sort of. Not in the same house, just nearby. There are a lot of us." he explained. He set my thing down and headed for the door. I stayed put, but as he could feel, I wanted to go downstairs.
"It's probably best to stay here, Bella. Until we all discuss what has happened. I doubt Carlisle and Esme would want you to see us argue. Rosalie is here after all." he explained again.
"Oh. Yes, of course." I said as convincingly as I could, though of course it was moot point. I couldn't hide my feelings from Jasper. I was diappointed. I wanted to know what would happen when Alice told them what was going on. But it was definately best that I didn't see Rosalie's reaction. I'm sure she would be over-joyed to have me around more often. Jasper smiled and left the room. I stood there for a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed. I could already hear raised voices downstairs. No doubt they were giving her the reasons I should not be a vampire that she had given me originally. Hopefully she was giving the answers I had given her. I didn't want to unpack yet. I still felt too awkward. Like I was going to be kicked out at any moment. I imaged what each of them would think, after the conversation was over. Esme, I think, would approve. As far as I could tell, she had never thought I shouldn't become a vampire. It was amazing to think the words to myself, no matter how many times I did so. I had no idea what Carlisle would think. Rosalie would be furious. Like always. Emmett seemed to like having me around, but he also liked watching me be clumsy, so I wasn't sure about him either. Jasper would probably say no. He didn't seem to mind me overly, but he didn't think of me as part of the family either. I already knew what Alice thought. She would be doing it, after all. Of course there was one Cullen who would care even less then the rest. The one Cullen that I wished more than anything would care. Edward. What would he do when he found out? When he saw me for the first time? Would he care? Just leave again? Ask Alice what was wrong with her for bringing an immortal annoyance upon him? There were really a million possibilties, none of which were the one I wanted. I wished he would see he and want me the way he used to. When he used to say he would rather die than be without me. Back when he cared.
I imagined the impossible. Edward wrapping his cold hands around me, brushing my cheek with his finger tips, pressing his lips softly to mind...I drifted to sleep with the loud voices rising from downstairs.