Chapter 19 （An Invitation）
"It's nice to meet you all." Pearl directed her words towards the large group.
Before focusing back on the pixie haired vampire, now known as Alice.
"But seriously, you think I could borrow some other clothes that are slightly smaller?
Holding them up is annoying." Whilst speaking Pearl pulled the trousers further up her body to prove her point.
"Sure!" Alice voiced excitedly. "I'll be right back!" With that she sped off back inside the house.
"How about we go inside and sit down." Carlisle suggested. "It would seem that we've got a lot to talk about."
Agreements were heard all around, so the rather large group made their way inside the Cullen residence and situated themselves in the living room.
Rosalie and Emmet sat next to each other on a couch, with Jasper resting against the arm rest. Esme and Carlisle took the opposite couch with Bella and Edward standing beside them.
Pearl chose to lean up against a wall, a fair distance away from the coven, but not enough to show a clear dislike for any of them.
Bree chose to stand next to Pearl, with about a metre of distance between them.
Before the first conversation could get underway, Alice raced back into the room holding what looked to be, a smaller set of clothes.
"Here you go!" She stated cheerily whilst handing them over to Pearl.
Hesitating slightly, before accepting them, Pearl mumbled a quick "thanks" and used her ability to disappear, so that she could get changed away from the prying eyes.
Alice placed herself by Jaspers side before starting to talk animatedly about her newest vision that she just had.
"They're gonna be apart of our family!" She exclaimed happily to her family, whilst gesturing to where the new born and hybrid stood, before said hybrid disappeared with some clothes.
"Are you sure Alice?" Edward being the first to voice his doubt and confusion about the topic.
"See for yourself Eddie." Alice quickly responded, before thinking over the new vision she just had, so that Edward could see it.
Edward sighs after looking over it. "Fine. Can't argue with that. But, Alice?"
"Yeah?" She responds innocently.
"Don't call me that." Edward grumbles.
"Call you what?" She asks cheekily.
"You know exactly what." Edward glares at her.
"Okay!" Esme says, choosing to interrupt the siblings before the disagreement escalates. "That's enough." She scolds the two.
Carlisle choosing to speak up "What did you see Alice? Edward?"
Before either could answer, Pearl deactivates her ability, reappearing inside the living room. This time wearing clothes that fit her rather well.
"Where did you get these? They fit perfectly. And looking at all of you, I'm pretty sure none of us are the same size." Pearl asked, confusion evident in her tone.
"Secret!" Alice giggled.
Pearl stared at the pixie dumbfounded. "... what?"
"She does this a lot. You'll get used to it." Emmet stated, grinning widely.
"... Okay then?" Pearl responded questionably.
Emmet smirked at the hybrid. Then Rosalie spoke up.
"So what now?" She asked.
The room was encased by an awkward silence, as no one knew what to say.
Pearl wanted to ask the human about what she said before but, didn't think that it would be the best idea to do so in front of all these vampires, so she remained silent.
Eventually the silence was broken by an excited Alice, who jumped away from Jasper and skipped up to the two new girls.
"We are gonna be great friends!" She exclaimed, grabbing the two girls by their hands and pulling them in for an excited hug.
Bree leaned into the hug, having been the first hug she has received since she was turned.
She gratefully accepted it and wrapped her arms around Alice whilst smiling softly at her.
Although she was a little perplexed by her certainty that they would be friends, she didn't want to question it and hoped that it was true.
Meanwhile Pearl, who was also entrapped by the arms of the pixie, stiffened at the contact and couldn't relax at all.
Her instincts were on overdrive. The smell of the vampire that was so close to her, slightly burned her nose.
The scent was manageable. It wasn't overpowering or anything, but it was bringing up some unpleasant memories.
As well as a memory that she hadn't recalled before.
The very first time she shifted into a wolf.
And a certain red headed vampire being at the forefront.
In her inner turmoil and recollection of her first shift, Pearls mental shield that was hiding her mind, came down unintentionally.
Allowing Edward to witness exactly how she was turned, and how Pearl ripped Victoria apart as a newly shifted wolf, he also witnessed her lack of control over herself during that moment and how she left Victoria on the ground in pieces without setting her alight, when she ran off in anger and confusion, driven by pure instinct.
When the memory came to an end, Pearl started to recollect her thoughts and tried to make sense of what she had just remembered.
"Alice" Edward called out in a warning tone. Wanting to get her away from Pearl so that she had a chance to properly calm down. So that they could avoid the possibility of a giant wolf suddenly appearing in their living room.
"Hmm" Alice hummed out a response.
"You're scaring her." He gestured to Pearls stiff form.
Alice looked at the frozen teen. Realised her mistake and backed away from her. Giving her space to breath. "Sorry." She apologised quietly, whilst gazing at Pearl. Slightly confused at her reaction.
Once Pearl brought herself back to reality and calmed her racing heart. She regained her composure, Pearl hesitated for a moment before replying, "Its fine. You just caught me off guard." She smiled slightly at Alice, hoping to reassure her.
"Alright. How about we talk about things and get to know each other a bit." Carlisle stated, taking control of the situation.
Everyone nodded at his words and settled down to start getting to know the new comers.
The large group spoke for hours. Telling each other stories, explaining things about their pasts, talking about the rules that they live by, and just overall, getting along really well.
The dynamic was quite surprising for most. Rosalie and Pearl seemed to share similar views and were interacting like old friends.
Although they did seem to take the occasional jab at each other though.
By the third hour mark, everyone felt at ease inside that living room.
Regardless of species or circumstance, everyone was able to freely converse with each other.
It was going so well that the group lost track of time.
It was already nightfall, by the time someone spoke up about it.
"It's getting late." Edward stated. "I should take Bella home."
Carlisle, who looked at the clock, responded in surprise. "You're right. Best you head home Bella. Your dad must be worried."
"Right" Bella said meekly. "See you tomorrow everyone." She said as Edward led her out of the living room and out of the house to his car, in order to take her home.
Everyone said their respective goodbyes to the human.
With Rosalie and Pearl choosing to remain silent.
Rosalie still harbouring a dislike for the girl and Pearl, too tired to answer.
The constant use of her ability throughout the day had taken its toll, and combining that with containing her bloodlust around the mouth watering human, she felt completely drained.
Having forgotten about what she was supposed to ask the human, Pearl focused on what she should do right now.
"Speaking of home" Pearl interrupted. "I should get going to mine. I've got a twenty minute run at full speed to do, before I can finally get some rest." She stated tiredly.
"Oh. Of course dear." Esme responded softly.
"Wait your leaving!" Alice cried out in surprise.
Pearl nodded. "Need to head home."
"The reservation ain't a twenty minute vampire run though." Rosalie raised her eyebrow, somewhat accusingly, voicing her thoughts.
Pearl grimaced at the reminder of her old home. "No. I'm talking about my cave that I have called home for the last three months." She answered. Yawning after she finished speaking.
"You shouldn't stay in a cave!" Alice screeched in protest. Esme and Bree nodded at her words, agreeing with Alice.
"Doesn't bother me." Pearl stated confidently. Before she could turn around to leave the house, she was interrupted by Carlisle.
"Why not live with us?" He voiced out calmly.