Happy Birthday- Time passes, Bella’s birthday finally comes. Which means that Nicole gets to meet the boyfriend of her older sister. And she quickly learns that his family isn’t as normal as she thought.
mood board here . chapter one ‘pilot’ here
September 13th
After weeks pass by it feels somewhat normal. Me and Bella don't interact besides the occasional "morning" when we see each other in the shared bathroom upstairs.
I don't see her during school, it's only during lunch when I see her. Normally she sits with a group of friends—but recently things have been different, she's been talking to one of the Cullens.
Edward Cullen.
I had heard gossip in the bathroom stalls. Some girls called the family "weirdly incest but not at the same time"
As all of the 'siblings' were weirdly related but all dating. But not actually related.
Not to mention he'd weirdly pale..
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Bella's birthday finally approached, though she didn't seem too happy about it. As when I went to her bedroom to say "happy birthday" she stared at me awkwardly. And almost offended.
Like I had called her something vile.
"don't Nicole, I don't want to make a huge deal out of it" she says looking at me from her bed. I only tilt my head. "not doing anything for your birthday?" I ask as I play with my fingers, my nails painted a clear glitter.
It was awkward when we talked, we acted as strangers and not sisters.
"Well no, if I do would you like to um.. come with?" She acts nervously. I look up from my hands. I blink in surprise—her inviting me out with her? It made me feel closer to her. "sure" I nod before leaving her doorway.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Later on in the day she stops by me. I sat on the couch, wearing a lousy hoodie with shorts. Curled into blankets, watching tacky tv shows and redecorating homes. "Nicole?" her voices wavers.
"Yeah?" I ask turning my head from the tv. "I'm going to Edward's place for my birthday, want to come?" she asks playing with her hands. "Edward?" I ask tilting my head. The weird pale guy she hangs around during lunch sometime.
She nods before saying "yeah, my boyfriend"
I blink before answering back. "yeah i'll come"
She smiles at this "okay, we should get ready now"
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
I look around once we arrive to Edward's family home. It was deep in the woods, almost off the town. It was all windows, more of a modern look.
Once we step inside I make sure to stay a few steps away from the two. "it's so light, so open y'know?" Bella says as Edward helps her take off her jacket. Cute—I cringe.
"What'd you expect coffins and dungeons and moats?" He smirks slightly as he takes off his own jacket.
Why would she expect that?..
I think to myself.
"This is the one place we don't have to hide." he says as the two walk up the stairs with me behind them. He pauses before we continue upstairs.
"I told them not to do this" he says like a warning as we walk upstairs. The sound of old fashioned italian music and a man explained how to make a certain dish can be heard up the stairs.
The sight is.. odd?
For what I assume is his adopted parents and siblings. "is she even italian?" the blond girl asks, clearly irritated. The guy with a buzz cut responds "her name is Bella" as a defense. "i'm sure she'll love it no matter what" the calm blond guy who've i've seen at the hospital earlier this year when Bella got into a car crash.
"ooph.. get a whiff of that" the blond girl huffs. I glance between them and my sister. Did we stink?.. What did she smell?
"here comes the human" the shorter girl with honey brown hair who cooks. 'Human'?.. Why did they act as if they were a different species?
Something really weird is going on here..
"Bella were making Italiano for you" the shorter girl—who I assume is the adoptive mom. Her eyes land on me. "and for your sister" she smiles.
"Bella.. and Nicole" Edward looks back at me "this is Esme. My mother for all intents and purposes"
"Given us an excuse to use the kitchen for the first time" the blunt guy smiles before continuing to cook. "Hope you both are hungry" Esme says, still smiling. "Yeah! Absolutely!" Bella reassures softly though we both ate before we came here. In fact she insisted on it. "They already ate" Edward sighs as if annoyed.
Almost on que the blond girl breaks the glass bowl that held the salad. I blink in surprise. How did that not hurt?—How did she?.. what is going on here?
"Perfect" The blond girl says. "Y-Yeah it's just, because I know you guys don't eat so I made me and my sister ate before coming" Bella explains nervously. They don't eat? What?
"Of course" Esme says. "It's very considerate of you" she finishes.
I glance at my sister and Edward as I stood behind them. "Just ignore Rosalie I do" Edward's says to the both of us. "Yeah, let's just keep pretending like this isn't dangerous for all of us" Rosalie says with attitude, the guy with the buzz cut, who I assume is her boyfriend as he leans his arm on her shoulder.
"I would never tell anybody anything" Bella almost pleads. She looks at me as if begging me to say something too. "I wouldn't, I don't talk much anyway" I reply.
"She knows that" Carlisle reassures. "Yeah well the problem is that you two have gone public—not to mention now your sister knows" The guy with the buzz cut says. "Emet—" Esme interrupts, trying to stop him. "No, she should know. The entire family will be implicated if this ends badly" Rosalie says glaring at me and Bella.
Implicated?.. what is with this weird family.
I step closer to Bella, holding onto her belt loop for comfort. "Badly as in.. w-we would become the meal" Bella says but the parents laugh.
What the hell?..
"Bella?" I whisper worriedly but she doesn't turn around.
"Hi Bella.. I'm Alice" A girl with very short brown hair appears with a guy behind her. She hugs Bella and then me. "Oh you do smell good.." She smiles pulling away. "You too—you smell sweeter" Alice says once she hugs me. I awkwardly hug back.
"Alice what are you?—" Edward's says clearly irritates before Alice interrupts "it's okay Bella and I are going to be great friends—and Nicole.. eventually"
I look around, desperately wanting to leave.
This is all too much
The guy behind Alice looks at me and Bella with wide eyes. "Sorry, Jasper's our newest vegetarian it's a little difficult for him" Carlisle explains. And I have a feeling he doesn't mean vegetarian like no meat—more human meat.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both" Jasper says with a hint of a texan accent. "It's okay Jasper you won't hurt them" Alice smiles as she holds his arm.
Edward cringes before speaking "okay i'll give you both a tour of the rest of the house."
"I'll see you later" Alice says smiling. "okay" Bella replies nodding awkwardly. I give Alice a small smile before we walk off.
"Was that as weird for you as it was for me?" Edward asks with a small chuckle. Bella replies "I dunno, Nicole you okay?" she asks looking back at me.
"i dunno, this is too much" I whisper. My voice feeling small.
Bella blinks before she lets go of Edward's hand, she steps closer to me with concern. "Do you want to go home?" she asks. "yeah" I nod looking up at her.
I wasn't best with new people, especially not ones that seemed like cannibals?.. or people who weren't human.
"i'll call a friend for you" She reassures. I give a soft nod.
