Oracle {Book 1}

Mission

Chapter 14

Bella unexpectedly came over the next day. I was coming from a run when I entered the house, only to hear Bella talking to Carlisle.

"It's nice to see you again, Dr. Cullen." I heard from the kitchen.

"Please, call me Carlisle."

"Carlisle." I rolled my eyes. Why was she here? Are they buttering her up to keep her under their spell? I don't think so.

I walked to the kitchen where Carlisle, Esme, Edward, and Bella were. "Hello everyone." I greeted.

"Good morning Ella." Carlisle said. Esme smiled and nodded at me.

"So, what's going on?"

"Your sister is paying us a visit."

"Oh, well that's nice."

I looked at the ground for a couple of moments until Edward asked, "Where are Alice and Jasper?"

They suddenly appeared at the too of the stair case. "Hey Edward!" Alice called. She ran down the stairs and then stopped in front of Bella.

"Hi Bella!" She said, and then kissed her on the cheek.

She backed away. "You do smell nice, I've never noticed before," she commented. Bella looked embarrassed.

The room suddenly went calm for a second. "Hello Bella," Jasper said to her. He didn't even put up his hand for a handshake or nothing. Just kept some distance away from her like she was a disease.

"Hello, Jasper." She smiled at him. "It's nice to meet you all - and you have a very beautiful home."

"Thank you," Esme said. "We're so glad that you came."

I began to wonder where Rosalie and Emmett were, until I realized that maybe they weren't too fond of Bella. Hell, they weren't too fond of me. I stopped thinking when I noticed Carlisle staring intently at Edward. Edward nodded at him.

"Do you play?" Esme asked. I was about to answer when I realized she was talking to Bella, who was looking at the piano a few feet away.

"Not at all. But it's so beautiful. Is it yours?" She asked.

Esme laughed. "No. Edward didn't tell you that he was musical?"

"No," She glared at Edward, "I should have known I guess."

Esme gave Bella a look.

"Edward can do everything, right?" Jasper laughed and Esme gave Edward a look.

"I hope you haven't been showing off - it's rude."

"Just a bit." He laughed. Esme looked smug.

"He's been too modest, actually." Bella said.

The awkward conversation and the in and out tension was making me uncomfortable. Why did I even come down here? There's nothing for me to do or say. Ella felt strangely left out.

The Cullens were a family, and they acted like it, and now Bella seemed to be apart of it. It seemed no matter where Ella went, she was always gonna be the outsider. The thought made her upset.

Jasper looked at me for a moment, and then I felt happier suddenly. All the tension seemed to drift away. I looked up at him, confused, but he had already turned his back on me.

The music interrupted my thoughts. Edward was sitting at the bench with Bella next to him. Her jaw dropped, and I snickered at her expression. Apparently I wasn't alone.