Crimson Gold

Part 1: Chapter 7: Cullens and Baseball

3rd Person POV

Cullen House, Two Weeks Later

"Can someone please remind me why we're doing this?" Ryan asked as he helped the Cullens prepare food.

"Well, if Edward's bringing a girl over, I want her to have a good first impression," Esme replied as she cut up the cheese.

Carlisle was manning the stove while Emmet and Ryan cut the meat into strips, Ryan using his claws for efficiency.

"Is she even Italian?" Rosalie asked as Emmet dumped some of the cut-up meat into the salad bowl that she was holding.

"Her name is Bella," Emmet pointed out.

"That doesn't mean she's Italian," Ryan commented, dumping his contents into the bowl as well before snagging another strip of meat with a tendril and starting to cut it. "She could just have an Italian name."

"I'm sure she'll love it, no matter what," Carlisle assured.

Ryan's sonar sense flared, and he quickly put away his claws as Rosalie commented in a singsong, "Here comes the human."

Edward and Bella rounded the corner as Esme walked over to them.

"Bella," she greeted. "We're making Italiano for you."

"Oh."

"Bella, this is Esme," Edward said, gesturing to her. "My mother for all intents and purposes."

Behind Esme, Emmet waved with a knife, and Ryan did as well.

"Hello," Bella greeted. Then she noticed the Prototype. "Ryan?"

"Salve!" he said, waving.

"What are you doing here?" Bella asked cautiously.

Ryan shrugged. "You're not the only one who knows of the Cullens' secret. Figured I might help out since Italian food is one of my specialties."

"Besides," Carlisle added. "You've given us an excuse to use the kitchen for the first time."

"I hope you're hungry," Esme said as Ryan started tossing the lettuce with a spoon while Rosalie held the bowl.

"Yeah, absolutely—" Bella started, but Edward cut in.

"She already ate."

The bowl in Rosalie's hand shattered, and the spoon that Ryan was holding snapped as the Prototype's eye twitched.

"Perfect," Rosalie growled.

"Yeah, it's just because I know that you guys don't eat..." Bella started, trying to do damage control.

"Of course. It's very considerate of you," Esme assured.

"Just ignore Rosalie," Edward advised. "I do."

"You know we can all hear you, right?" Ryan asked as he bent down and started cleaning up the remains of the bowl and salad, cursing violently in Italian under his breath. She's lucky my Aunt isn't here, the Prototype thought as he cleaned up the fragments of glass. Dana would probably feed her to the Brawlers.

"Yeah," Rosalie snapped. "Let's just keep pretending like this isn't dangerous for all of us."

"I would never tell anybody anything," Bella assured.