Work of Art

Chapter 52

"Welcome!" Alice exclaimed as she opened the door, revealing Maggie. As Alice stepped back, the friends all entered, Nick taking up the rear.

Alice had spent the majority of the afternoon before the humans arrived listening to the complaints of her siblings. While everyone was a bit skeptical, it was Edward and Rosalie who led the attack against inviting the humans over. They vehemently argued their position that any interaction with humans was a danger to all involved and that it was not a risk worth taking. But Alice held firm. Looking back, she felt a bit guilty for it, but she ended up winning the debate by playing the "I have no human memories and just want to make some friends" card. Plus, it helped that most of the group would be graduating and on their way elsewhere soon, so it wasn't as if any long-term connections could form that would jeopardize their secrecy.

Esme actually seemed quite excited when she learned that the humans were coming over. She had taken many cooking courses years prior out of boredom with the eternal life. She had never really been able to put them to use up until now. Giddily, she headed out to the grocery store before the supposed high schoolers' argument was even settled. After all, Alice did see it, so it wasn't as if she had to hear the resolution of their decision.

Alice happily led them all into the house and into the living room. She had piled up a bunch of blankets and pillows next to the couches and had a stack of DVDs sitting on the coffee table. She even had some fairy lights strung up along the wall to set the movie mood.

Nick giggled as she looked around, feeling like a kid walking into a sleepover. "You really know how to throw a movie night," Nick told Alice with a smile. "How did you manage to get this all done in the time between school and now?"

"I have my ways," Alice spoke with a grin and a slight twinkle in her eye. "Plus, I got Jasper to help."

As if cued by his name, the southern vampire stepped into the room. He tipped his head to them all in greeting.

"Hey, man!" Jonah waved over.

Before anyone else could say a greeting, he walked past them all and out the front door. The group shared puzzled looks and then glanced at Alice.

"Sorry," she said with a sheepish grin, "he's not very good with hu- people," she corrected herself.

"No worries," Nora told the vampire, bumping her shoulder affectionately. "We're here to hang out with you, so as long as you're not bothered, I'm not either."

The rest of the group mumbled their agreeances as they settled into the couch and pillows.

They had finally decided on a movie and popped it into the DVD player when another Cullen walked by.

Rosalie noisily walked through the living room, Emmett trailing behind her, practically having to jog to keep up. "Babe," he called out. But his words were met with the slamming front door.

Alice winced at the sharp noise and Emmett turned to face her with a sigh.

"Rose is pissed," he told his covenmate bluntly.

Alice sighed with a small frown. "I'm sorry," she told Emmett, upset that her actions were the reasons behind the mates' quarrel.

Emmett shrugged it off. "It's chill. Mind if I join you all?"

Before anyone could even respond to his question, he was plopping onto a pile of pillows on the floor with a heavy thud.

After a bit of laughter, everyone fell into silence as the movie began.

As much as she tried to focus on the movie, Nick couldn't help but worry. She wasn't sure if any of the others felt the same way, but she couldn't help but get the impression that the rest of the Cullen family didn't want them there. Jasper had always been a bit strange, so she brushed off his uncomfortable hello and quick escape, but Rosalie and Emmett's interaction made the thoughts reemerge. Two of the high schoolers had left, very obviously avoiding most interaction with the group of friends. And, even though Emmett was sitting with them all, he didn't look particularly comfortable. He was sitting so still and stiff it was almost as if he were a statue. And hell, if it hadn't been for the fact that he was sitting upright, Nick would have questioned if he was even breathing. She stared at him for longer than she should have to try and see the slight rise and fall of his shoulders.

None of the other Cullens even made an appearance until about halfway through the movie.

"I have snacks!" Esme's voice interrupted, breaking everyone's attention away from the screen.

She was walking into the room from the open arch that connected it to the kitchen. In one hand was a giant bowl of popcorn and in the other was a fruit tray that she had just finished cutting up.

"Eat up!" she said pleasantly. "I'll bring out some homemade pizza when it's done too." The woman left the room with a smile.

Everyone immediately began to dig into the food, although the five friends more so than the two Cullens. With the addition of the food, they began to talk more as they watched. Soon enough, they got onto the topic of graduation.

"I can't believe it's only two weeks away," Maggie exclaimed.

"Yeah, I can't decide if I'm happy or not," Jonah said as he reached to grab more popcorn.

"Oh!" Maggie suddenly exclaimed. "We're having our grad party the week after, you should totally come," she told Alice and by extension Emmett who was also sitting there.

"We still have to send out the formal invitations," Nick admitted with a laugh. "We'll be sure to send you one."

Nick couldn't help but smile to herself at the thought of a picture of her being in the Cullen house- for multiple reasons.

It was at that moment that Esme walked back into the room with a pizza that smelled absolutely delectable.

"You too Miss Platt!" Nick exclaimed. "You should all come."

Esme shook her head with a smile. "You all can call me Esme. All these kids do," she said as she gestured her chin towards Alice and Emmett who smiled back at her.

Nick had never really seen the way Esme interacted with her adopted children before, it made her stomach tighten for a moment as she thought about the time she had spent in their father's office. She knew their relationship was purely platonic, but it stirred her nonetheless. Nick couldn't tell if she felt guilty or jealous, or both. Definitely both, she thought to herself.

"We'll be there," Esme replied as she stepped further into the room with the pizza.

Nick's eyes found Alice as she began to speak. Alice frowned briefly then placed the smile back on her face. "At least the three of us will be there."

Nick couldn't help but feel once again that the rest of the family was not very accepting of her and her friends' presence.

"Carlisle's not sure when he'll be back, but I'll pass along the invite," Esme said with a kind smile.

"He's not here?" Maggie asked quickly, shooting a glance over towards Nick who was trying to avoid her eye. Just like she had been doing every time she brought up the doctor recently.

"He's at another hospital, referring on a case they have," Alice answered.

Maggie nodded in response, shooting another glance over at Nick, who was still avoiding her eye.

Nick could feel her face heating up as everyone discussed the doctor. She prayed to God that no one seemed to notice. To occupy herself, she shoved some of the fruit that was on her plate into her mouth. At least, she thought, he was telling the truth that he was on a work trip. He wasn't simply lying yesterday as some sort of escape.

Nick quickly pushed the thoughts out of her mind, too aware that if she kept down that train of thought she'd be reimaging making out with the father of some of the friends who sat around her.

She grimaced and shoved another piece of fruit into her mouth.

"You're a wonderful cook Esme," Jonah practically moaned as he bit into a slice of the pizza. He took another bite. "Like, you could be a professional."

Esme shook her head, but she was unable to hide the smile that was blossoming on her face. "You're too kind."

"It's well deserved," Nora piped up and Nick turned to see that she was also holding a half-eaten slice of pizza.

Wanting to try it for herself, Nick reached towards the serving plate on the coffee table and took a slice as well. It really was delicious.