In Dire Need of Cessation

One

2016: Edward Cullen

Staunton Plantation House sat boldly in the quiet grounds, standing tall and proud as if the house deserved a medal for the survival of being derelict for over two hundred years. If it wasn't for the six cars, two of them admittedly mine, outside of the building, then it would have looked like an appropriate setting for a horror movie set.

The house had a name for itself with the locals, ghost stories were normally told with the house as a starting line (the Staunton House was eerily silent on the night of Halloween. A full moon above was the only source of light for the poor frat boys with their hands groped around bottles of Budweiser that the ring leader illegally bought. The four boys stumbled up the porch, laughing and joking with no weight on their shoulders. Little did they know they were making the worst mistake of their lives. Yes, son, even worse than going to a tattoo parlor at two am after a night out...) I silently chuckled as I imagined the stories being told around a bonfire. It was one way for the parents to make sure their children did not step on the strange territory. (That strange 'ouse up 'ere is trouble, son. Bad people are up 'ere. You don't want to be caught up in 'at do yah?) It was only normal for someone to think this place would be perfect for parties with underage drinking and sniffing the 'goods', as it was miles out from any neighbors meaning no complaints about loud music and a strange smell. I wouldn't have been surprised if we found a derelict drug farm inside.

Using my sharp eyesight, I spotted the smashed weathered windows, presumably broken by either vandalism or natural weather. The faded green shutters were mostly lying on the ground, fallen from wherever they were hooked. The white plaster was chipping off like old nail varnish, showing the crumbling brick underneath. The slate roof was more of a cover of the surrounding ground than covering the house, and the four pillars in front of the house, standing like guard dogs to the white wooden front door, were dangerous, for a human, cracked and chipped.

This house was a mess.

But my maternal figure, Esme, adored the challenge of trying to make a neglected house a home. It was her idea of an adoption process, loving and caring. Everyone in the family had their passions, my music, Carlisle's hospital, Rosalie's reflection, Alice's fashion, Emmett's PlayStation, Jasper's war books, and Esme's designing. Each passion showed the type of personality one had from competitiveness to care to self-righteousness. It was rather evident who was who in my brief explanation.

Oooh! There's a pool! Maybe we should make it slightly bigger, with diving boards, heating, rapids, lights, and bubbles! Hell yeah! I can see myself in that with Rosie! Emmett's thoughts boomed out loudly. His 'voice' nearly made me wince at the volume, as his excitable manner controlled him. Quickly, as if it was a basic procedure with Emmett now, I switched out of his head, not wanting to see any graphic scenes that he was imagining in a hot tub. I wouldn't doubt those thoughts becoming a reality in the near future, Rose and Em always found a way it seemed.

"So, what's the plan?" Emmett asked, sounding completely normal as if he wasn't thinking something off-puttingly disgusting. I tuned my mind to Esme's thoughtful one that was thinking about the blueprints.

I despised my gift at times.

Esme, standing with Carlisle's arm around her waist, as we were all huddled together outside the house, smiled, showing her enthusiasm.

"The plan's quite simple," she started, looking at each of us individually. Everyone had their arm around their mate while my hands were stuffed firmly in my jean pockets. (Unless, if I collected my CDs from the car, I could at least claim that I was holding my mate).
Sounded romantic...
(Or sad).

"Edward, how would you feel about decluttering the house?" she asked first. I trust you to have a level head about what to keep and not. Some things would look lovely in this place. I smiled encouragingly and nodded, completely undisturbed by knowing I would be alone in the house while the others went off to buy furniture. I relished in the idea of being alone, just me with my earphones in while I sort through the mansion. I could see myself enjoying the inspection of different pieces of furniture while listening to one of my seven thousand songs.