Storming Sky

BELLA

BELLA

Edward was bringing Bella to our house today.

Our sacred building where vampires were the normal and humans had to adjust was being attacked by outsiders – more humans.

"I don't know why you're worried, you're a human too, you know," Jasper said, appearing in my doorway. He was worried. Alice had been assuring him all morning that he wouldn't hurt Bella, but he had gone hunting when we got back from the dance just to be sure. He didn't want to take any risks.

"I'm not worried, I'm just..."

"Jealous?" Jasper suggested. "And now you're frustrated with me," he said. I gave him another look. "Okay, I'll stop now," he said, grinning.

"You're getting on my nerves," I told him. He went to say something else, but I stared him down until he got the hint and walked away. I threw my hair up in a messy bun and went downstairs. It was already 11:00, Bella and Edward would be here soon.

"They're here!" I heard Alice yell excitedly from downstairs. She grimaced when she saw what I was wearing. Even Mom made a face.

"What?" I said. "She already knows me, and I got like, five hours of sleep last night," I defended.

"And whose fault is that?" Rosalie remarked. Andrew's, I thought, but they still didn't know about our...disagreement, and I wanted to keep it that way.

Edward let Bella into the house, and I saw her breath catch as she took it all in.

"Carlisle, Esme, this is Bella," Edward said, introducing his girlfriend.

"You're very welcome, Bella," Dad told her. He was cautious as he approached her.

"It's nice to see you again, Dr. Cullen," Bella said. Dad chuckled.

"Please, call me Carlisle," he said. Mom stepped forward.

"It's very nice to know you," she said.

"Thank you. I'm glad to meet you, too," Bella said.

"Hey Bella," I said from the couch and both my parents and Edward looked at me like I had ten heads. Bella just laughed.

"Hi Danielle," she said, comforted a little by the familiar face. Edward shook his head.

"Where are Alice and Jasper?" He asked, right before Alice made her grand entrance.

"Hey Edward!" She said before running down the stairs. "Hey, Bella!" She bent forward and kissed Bella on the cheek. Everyone was on edge now, good job, Alice.

"Wow, you do smell nice. I never noticed before," she said, as if to make things worse. My eyes widened.

"You can't say that to humans, Alice!" I groaned from my seat. She shrugged.

"Hello, Bella," Jasper said, finally introducing himself. He looked even more uncomfortable than she did.

"Hello, Jasper," Bella said shyly, and retreated into Edward. "It's nice to meet you all, you have a very beautiful home," she said, lightening the mood. She was so nice when she wasn't being nosy. Edward glared at that thought.

"Thank you," Mom said, "We're so glad that you came. Rosalie and Emmett are upstairs in the kitchen finishing lunch, I hope you're hungry," she added.

"She already ate," Edward groaned. A crash came from the kitchen. Mom's eyes flickered. Rosalie would be in trouble for that later.

"Does she really not like me that much?" Bella whispered to Edward, but of course we all hear it.

"Don't worry about Rosalie," I told her. "She'll warm up to you. She's just worried about the implications of you knowing who they all are."

"Danielle!" Mom hissed.

"What? It's true," I said, looking at Edward. "Did you even tell her what happens if this ends badly?" I didn't mean it in a bad way, but she needed to know.

"Badly as in...I become the meal," Bella said. Everyone chuckled nervously.

"If they can live with me for twelve years, they can learn to live with you. You'll be fine, just don't tell anyone anything," I said, trying to loosen everyone up again. Edward still looked pissed that I said that to Bella.

"Do you play?" Mom asked, seeing that Bella's attention had moved towards the piano.

"Not at all," Bella said, "but it's beautiful. Is it yours?"

"No," Mom laughed. "Edward didn't tell you he was musical?"

"No," Bella shook her head, "I should have known though. Edward can do everything, right?" I laughed at this one.

"I hope you haven't been showing off," Mom chastised, "It's rude."

"It's not just for me," Edward amended. "Dani plays too."

"Rarely," I said. "And I'm not surprised Edward has been showing off to you, Bella. He likes to be superior."

"Just a bit," Edward joked back.

"He's far too modest, actually," Bella defended him. Don't turn on me now, Bella, I thought.

"Edward, you should play for her," Mom encouraged. Alice nodded.

"You just said showing off was rude," Edward objected. Aw, Edward's being shy. He turned and glared at me.

"There are exceptions for every rule," Mom told him, giving him the "mom look."

"I'd like to hear you play," Bella said. There it is.

"It's settled then," Mom said, pushing Edward towards the piano. I sat back down on the couch with Alice, Jasper, Mom and Dad. Bella sat with Edward at the piano. As he played, people started leaving. Finally, Mom came back and got me and told me to give them some privacy. I rolled my eyes. Edward doesn't give us privacy, I thought.

I went back upstairs to my room and considered calling Andrew. Maybe he had cooled off from last night. Then again, I thought against it. If it did turn into a fight, I didn't want my family hearing it. I would wait and talk to him at school tomorrow.

Alice knocked on my door. "Can I come in?" I heard her ask.

"You've never asked before," I said to her.

"We've never had guests before," she said, coming in and sitting on my bed.

"What do you want, Alice?" I asked her. I was still holding my phone in my hand.

"I don't know what is going on between you and Andrew, but you know you can talk to me, right?" She said.

"I just...don't really know a lot of things right now, and would rather figure it out myself," I told her. It wasn't a lie.

"Okay, well, you can always talk to us and remember, I'm keeping my eye on you," she warned. "Anyways, the real reason I wanted to come talk to you is to tell you that there's going to be a thunderstorm later, and Emmett wants to play baseball. I already talked to Dad and he said you could come if you want. We're going to invite Bella too."

"It's a Sunday night, Alice," I told her.

"You don't have to come," she shrugged. This was cruel.

"You know I want to go," I told her. She looked into the future for a moment.

"Do the rest of your homework now and you'll be ready by the time we leave. Edward is going to take Bella in Emmett's jeep, you can go with them," she said.

"He'll end up carrying her. Who is going to come get me?" I asked her. I had been to their games before.

"Good point," she said, thinking. "Emmett or Jasper will give you a piggy back ride from the house instead. Rosalie, Carlisle, and I can handle the equipment."

"Jasper. Emmett will make me throw up," I told her. She agreed.

Baseball it is, then.