𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔

Chapter Six

I was scrubbing away at Bella's old truck, the sun peeking through the clouds and casting a soft light over us. The soapy water dripped from the sponge, making little puddles on the driveway.

"Thanks for helping me with this," Bella said, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. She looked a bit worn out, but there was a determined glint in her eyes.

I smiled. "No problem. It's kind of fun, actually. So, how did it go with meeting Edward's family?"

Bella sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "It was okay, I guess. But Rosalie doesn't like me."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, you are a human getting involved with vampires. It's not exactly a recipe for peace and quiet. She probably thinks you'll get them caught."

Bella frowned, her brow furrowing. "I told them I would never do that. I would never put them in danger."

"I know," I said, squeezing out the sponge and watching the water trickle down. "But that doesn't stop Rosalie from worrying about it. She's just being protective, in her own way."

Bella looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "I guess I can understand that. It's just... frustrating."

Before I could respond, I saw Edward walking up the driveway. His presence always seemed to bring a certain tension with it. I gave him a small smile. "Hey, Edward."

Edward nodded in return, his eyes flicking between Bella and me. "Hey, Ishkhan."

"I should get going," I said, glancing at my watch. "I told my moms I'd be back before 1."

Bella's eyes widened a bit. "Oh, right. You don't want to be late."

I gave her a quick hug. "See you later, Bella."

"See you, Ishkhan," Bella replied, her voice soft. I could tell she was still thinking about our conversation.

I got into my car, the engine rumbling to life. As I drove away, I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Edward stepping closer to Bella.

"What were you two talking about?" I heard Edward ask as I pulled out of the driveway.

"Just catching up," Bella said, turning back to her truck. "And cleaning."

Edward smiled, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes. "Good to know."

Bella’s POV

"Is everything okay?" I asked, glancing up at him.

He smiled down at me, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Actually, there's something I wanted to ask you."

"What's that?" I asked, curious.

"My family and I are going to play baseball tonight," he said. "I was wondering if you'd like to come and watch."

"Baseball?" I repeated, surprised. "You all play baseball?"

He chuckled. "It's a bit of a tradition. We only play during thunderstorms, though. It's the only time we can really let loose without worrying about being seen."

I thought about it for a moment. Spending time with Edward's family sounded both exciting and a little intimidating. But the idea of seeing them in a more relaxed, playful setting was intriguing.

"I'd love to," I said, smiling up at him. "But I have to warn you, I'm not very good at sports."

"Don't worry," he said, taking my hand. "You won't have to play if you don't want to. But I think you'll enjoy watching."

"Alright," I agreed. 

Ishkhan” POV 

I pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Home always had that effect on me. As I walked up to the front door, I could already smell the delicious aroma of food cooking inside.

I opened the door and stepped inside. "I'm home!" I called out.

"In the kitchen, honey!" Mom's voice rang out cheerfully.

I walked into the kitchen to find both of my moms bustling around, preparing dinner. Mom was chopping vegetables while Mama stirred something on the stove. They both looked up and smiled when they saw me.

"Hey, Ishkhan," Mom said, setting down the knife to give me a quick hug. "How was your day?"

"It was good," I replied, returning the hug. "How about yours?"

"Busy, but good," Mama said with a warm smile. "We decided to try a new recipe tonight. Hope you're hungry!"

"Always," I said with a grin. "I'm just going to change real quick, then I'll come help."

I headed to my room, quickly changing out of my clothes and into something more comfortable. As I pulled on a fresh shirt, I thought about the day and the conversation I had with Bella. It had been a good day, but it was nice to be home.

I returned to the kitchen, rolling up my sleeves. "Alright, what can I do to help?"

Mom handed me a bowl of potatoes. "You can start by mashing these."

I took the bowl and got to work, enjoying the familiar routine. "So, what new recipe are we trying?"

"It's a surprise," Mama said with a wink. "You'll just have to wait and see."

I laughed. "Fair enough. I'm sure it'll be great."

As we worked together, the kitchen filled with laughter and conversation. It was moments like these that made everything else fade away, leaving only the warmth and love of home.