The one that got away

2. Meeting

"Um, is there a reason you asked us to stay?" The bronze haired girl finally asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"Well, we just had a feeling that you weren't normal and wanted to make sure you were you know," I shrugged.

"Human or not."

"Yes." I felt an instant liking towards her. She seemed friendly. "I'm Edward Cullen,"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Vanessa Stevens." She told us. "This is Elise Tanner," she pointed to the blonde haired girl. "And this is my brother Edmund." She said to the boy who was wasn't looking at us.

"I'm Alice Cullen and this is my partner, Jasper Hale."

Jasper smiled. "Nice to meet you."

"Same here."

"Is that it for you guys or is there someone else too?" Jasper asked.

"Well, there's one more of us." Elise said, ignoring the glares Edmund was giving her. "She works at the hospital. She got bored of coming to school again and again." She laughed quietly.

"That makes sense," I told her.

"Sure it does," Edmund said for the first time. "We have to go to class now. C'mon." Elise smiled apologetically as she started walking with him.

What's with him? Alice thought.

And as though he had heard her say that, he glared at her. Alice cringed. Jasper growled at him. He shrugged and walked away.

It turned out that Vanessa happened to be in mine and Alice's Trig and gym class. She was bubbling about how she was planning to ditch gym class since she hated it. She asked me if we'd like to join and we agreed. I wasn't in the mood for gym anyway.

And there we stood by my Volvo, chatting away. She was very easy to talk to although I could see her hesitating when I asked her about her past. I didn't want to bother her to much so I didn't pry.

We were talking about different kinds of bands when Vanessa's phone vibrated. She smiled at us apologetically before she looked at the message.

"Well it seems Elise is on duty today," she murmured. "Izzy's got a night shift."

"Would you like to come over to our house? You could stay there till she comes and I know Esme would love to meet you guys." Alice chirped.

Her brow ceased. "I don't know, I'll have to ask."

"Please, please, please!"

She sighed and dialled a number. It was taken by the second ring.

I couldn't make out all the words and didn't try to since I knew she'd want to talk to her caller privately. But I heard a few words in between.

"Hi Izzy . . . No, nothing like that, well . . . I know, I know . . . Yes Izzy, we'll be fine . . . Elise, um, I guess, maybe . . . True, but what about . . ."

The murmuring continued.

"Edmund?" That had gotten Vanessa of guard. "I guess so . . . Well I'll tell him . . . Hmm, okay . . . Okay, got it. Call you later." And with that she snapped her phone.

"Well?" I asked.

She grinned. "She said that's a good idea. She said she'll come over as soon as her shift gets over."

"That's great!!!" Alice exclaimed. "When can you come over?"

Vanessa grinned impishly. "I don't know about Elise or Edmund, but if you don't mind, I'll come with you guys right after school."

"Really?" Alice beamed. Vanessa nodded.

"Vanessa, I have to warn you, our family isn't quite that normal." I told her. "I hope you'll be able to stand the craziness."

"That's fine." She grinned. "Our family isn't very normal either."

Alice turned to face her. "Well then, I look forward to see you at the house."

"Same here."