(Thomas POV)
Edythe's reaction to her phone call and the comment about another person finding trouble made me worry for a time. But I assured myself that she would have told me right away if it was serious. Still, I had to admit I am a little anxious for Bella to get home so I know she is ok.
I went to my room and spent some time staring at my blank canvas yet again. I was trying to think of a way to put the music of Edythe's voice on the canvas. The sound of her moving through the forest, her laughter, everything about her. But I just couldn't make it go from my head and heart to the canvas. About 45 minutes later, my thoughts were interrupted by the closing of a car door and shortly after that the opening and closing of the front door.
"Bella, is that you?" I yelled from my room.
"No, I'm a random burglar using the door to break into the Chief of Police's house." Came the reply.
"In that case, all the valuable stuff is in the room across from mine." I shouted back.
Our playful banter was interrupted by the phone ringing in the kitchen. I heard Bella answer it as I stood up and started down the stairs. When I got to the kitchen, I saw Bella talking on the phone in a low tone as if she didn't want to be overheard.
"Hey sis, how was the girl's night out?" I said loudly.
Turning to look at me, she replied to the voice on the phone, "Yeah, got to go. See you tomorrow in class." Then she hung up the phone.
"What?" It was a question and a challenge at the same time.
I smirked at her, "Soo, was that Jessica on the phone? Because if it was, then she got home awful fast for just dropping you off seconds ago. Also, didn't you have a jacket today?"
She gave me what I'm sure she thought was a fierce glare, "Shut Up."
I just laughed at her, "So, how was your evening of dress shopping?"
"It was fine, I got a little lost after the bookstore. But I ran into Edward, well he found me. But I had a good talk with him. He even drove me home after dinner. My jacket is in Jessica's car, and she will bring it to school in the morning. Umm, let me get settled and then can we… maybe talk?"
"Sure, I'll make us some hot cocoa while you get comfortable. We can sit in the living room and talk."
"That sounds great." Bella said and started for her room as I made my way to the cabinet.
I filled the kettle and put it on the stove to get the water hot, as I heard Bella start the shower. We both had chosen our favorite coffee cups in the house, and when I opened the cocoa packages, I took all the marshmallows out of mine and added them to hers. I found them flavorless, but she loved seeing them in her cup. Not long after that, the kettle started to whistle, and I took it off the burner and filled the coffee cups.
At almost the same time, Bella came down the stairs and into the kitchen. I took both cups in my hand and said, "Why don't you let me carry these to the front room? You have your brush in one hand, and you aren't the most stable at carrying hot things in one hand. I don't want to have to start over after cleaning the floor."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, but I'm not that bad." As if the gods of irony were listening, when she turned to leave the kitchen, she stubbed her toe on the entryway and dropped her hairbrush as she started to hop around in pain. After steadying herself, she shot me a glare, "Not a WORD!"
I tried to keep my mouth closed, but a snort of amusement made it through anyway. She reached down and grabbed her brush and limped her way to the couch. I waited until she was sitting and gave her the hot chocolate and took Charlie's chair. Once seated, I took a sip and sighed with enjoyment. Bella tried hers, but it was still too hot for her, so she started to blow on it.
"So, what's up, sis?"
Bella took a moment and then asked, "Do you believe in the supernatural?"
I knew where this was going and could give her the answers she was looking for, or I could help her work it out on her own. Being a firm believer in the knowledge you work out yourself is better than answers given to you, I replied with, "You mean Ghost's and Bigfoot type stuff or Aliens?"
She hesitated, "Just…not human. Others, I guess. Do you believe in them?"
"Without a doubt, I do. There is so much of this world that we know nothing about. Most of humanity is so busy looking to the stars when we know almost nothing about the deep ocean or even the deep forests of our own lands. There has to be stuff we don't know about. What brought this up?"
"Would it matter to you, if someone was not normal, but… other?"
"I don't think it would, to be honest. I like to think that I treat people the same way they treat me. I hope I would be understanding of someone different. I guess, it's like people with different skin color in a way. I don't think I treat anyone differently because of their race, but I treat them the way they act towards me. If they are respectful, I am the same, but if not, then I will try and avoid them and stay away from them."
She thought for a moment and took a sip from her cup, "What if someone was a Va…Werewolf? Would you be okay with that?"
"Well, let's go hypothetical here. If the Werewolf killed randomly or for amusement when transformed, I would say it was a danger to be contained or put down. But if they could control themselves, then I don't think it would matter to me. What about you, would you leave me because you found out I was a Weretiger or something?"
She laughed, "I think I am the same as you. So long as the 'Other' wasn't out to hurt me or mine, I wouldn't care. So long as they were good. I guess. But what if other Weretigers…I don't know, hunted people for food, would that be okay with you?"
I gave a deep sigh, "Now we are getting philosophical sis. You could break it down to the Vegetarian's and hunter's argument here, and I just don't have a blanket answer. A hunter who kills for the enjoyment of taking a life and leaves it to rot is very different than the hunter who kills to provide for himself and his family. But if humans can survive without meat, then is killing truly necessary?"
I paused as I took a sip from my cup, "There are many animals in the world that are omnivores like humans, and they have no qualms about killing to fill their bellies. Cats are a prime example of a pure carnivore that humans raise with no issues. While dogs are omnivores like humans, you don't see them packing up to take down a field of corn to eat. But now I feel like I am starting to preach, so let's move on from that side of the subject and let people's own morals take them in the direction they want to go."
Bella laughed at me, "Yeah, you did go a little soapbox there. But, back to the main point, I think the Cullen's may be 'Other'. There are just so many little things that added together make me think they are …More."
I chuckled, "Well, as I am dating Edythe Cullen, I can guarantee she is 'More'. As you put it. I have found changes in myself too, Bella. But I need to work through a few more things before I am ready to tell you and Charlie about it. Just know that I will always love you no matter what, sis."
She looked like she wanted to ask more on that subject, but thought better of it and let it slide for now. Though knowing her, she was filing it under her 'To be addressed again at a later date' folder in her memory.
"So, I take it you know Edward is 'Other'. Was it from running into him today?"
"Not really, I have always thought he stood out more than would be considered normal, but the other day at the beach, I heard some Reservation boys talking and then got Jacob off to the side and asked about it. They have a legend they call 'The Cold Ones', but after hearing that the Quileute think they are descended from Wolves, I took it with a grain of salt. When I brought it up to Edward on the drive back from Port Angeles, we talked about it. I don't know, but he feels dangerous but not bad to me, and I really do like him, maybe more."
Downing the last of my hot chocolate, I put my cup on the end table and looked directly at Bella. "So, what are your plans then?"
"I want to keep seeing him and see where it goes. I don't think he will hurt me, he is too worried about it. But I also know a part of him wants to. Wow, I sound like a borderline masochist who gets off on being in danger, hearing it out loud like that."
I gave a deep sigh, "I can't say I am thrilled that you are in danger, but you know I will stand by any decision you make until I see it's hurting you more than you will admit. And even if he is Edythe's brother, I will return any pain he causes to you with interest, even if you hate me for it. Don't act like you wouldn't try the same if Edythe hurt me." I added when I saw her back get all stiff when I threatened Edward.
"Fine, but don't take things too far. I don't want to be in a position where I have to choose between the two of you." She drank the last of her cup and stood up, "Well, my hair is dry now, so I'm going to get some sleep, we still have school tomorrow." She grabbed my coffee cup and went to the kitchen.
I knew she was probably looking through the freezer and cupboards to plan tomorrow's dinner. She liked to do that the night before, so she knew if she needed to stop at the store on the way home. I walked up to my room and gathered my bathroom supplies, and then took my own shower. I had to smell good for my late-night visitor.