-Emmaline's Point of View-

. . .

I sat with the Cullen's and fell into an easy conversation with them.

Of course the topic of their family came up and Mrs Cullen (who insisted I call her Esme) informed me that she and her husband had adopted their children. In fact she told me Jasper and Rosalie are her husbands siblings, and that they also adopted her siblings Edward, Emmett, and Alice. The two beautiful brunettes Bella and Renesme are biological sisters and are also her husbands step brothers daughters, their parents died in a car crash. They also adopted a Native American kid who they met in their last home, his name is Jacob.

I told her how noble I thought it was and she thanked me and said "family is important to my husband I."

Apparently her husband is in fact a very renowned doctor and because of his job they move quite often.

"It can be a bit of a pain, especially for the children but I don't mind seeing all of the different places." She admitted.

The conversation switched to much lighter topics and we all found ourselves laughing, for a moment they didn't seem like strangers and I was quite comfortable with them all. Then Mrs Cullen invited me to have dinner with them.

"Thank you Mrs Cullen but I am going to have to decline," I informed her. "My father is having a bar-b-que tonight for some of his clients and in his words 'it's imperative that I'm there.' But I honestly would much rather take you up on your offer."

"Some other time then," Mrs Cullen smiled, "oh Alice dear, you're home."

Jasper jumped up from his seat and I stood as well to greet the newest Cullen child.

I smiled upon seeing the small girl named Alice. She wore a smart black dress and had an amazing pixie cut. I wish I could pull off her style, I mean she is wearing super high heels and I'm looking very hum-drum in basic flats. Her outfit and the very way she carried herself gave her the essence of being much older than myself.

"Alice," Mrs Cullen sounded, pulling me from my silent staring. "This is Emmaline Harper."

"Hello, please don't let me interrupt anything." She spoke as a brilliant smile filled up her face.

"Oh I should be going," I insisted. "Thank y'all for having me over, and thank you for the beverage it really was delicious."

"Anytime dear, and thank you for the beautiful cake, it really was a kind and thoughtful gesture." Mrs Cullen countered.

"I'll walk you out Emmaline." Jasper kindly offered as he held his hand out as if to say 'after you.'

Together we walked out of the house and to my car.

"Wow, that is quite a car." I commented as I laid my eyes on the exotic yellow vehicle parked behind me.

"Yeah Alice has a soft spot for expensive things." He said as he rubbed the back of his neck a little.

"It looks expensive." I agreed. "Well thanks again for having me this whole time."

"Oh let me get that." He said as he stepped forward and opened my car door for me. "It was no problem, my mother surely seems taken with you."

I smiled, "your momma is too kind." I said as I got into the car, I noticed my welcome note on my seat and quickly rolled my window down. "It seems I've forgotten to take this inside earlier." I said as I held the note out to him.

He took the little card into his hands, "it's just a quick welcome to the town note, I went ahead and put my number in there as well, y'all don't be hesitant to call if you need anything."

"I'll keep that in mind." He smirked.

With a final glance in his direction I couldn't help but giggle as I drove away.

. . . . .

"Miss Emmaline please hurry, your daddy says the guests will be arriving soon."

"Yes Marta." I shout from my bathroom.

My mother had asked me to wear my hair up, as I have to wear it up in a ponytail for cheerleading I tend to like my hair down, but what my mother wants, my mother gets.

I was in another dress, this one was a little fancier, a dark green cocktail dress and heeled sandals. My hair was up in a low chignon, and I wore a lot more makeup than I normally do.

Makeup makes me feel much older, and as I am going to be surrounded by adults I figured I would play the part.

I made my way downstairs and my mother complimented me on my outfit of choice and my father hugged me, guests started arriving and my mother and I entertained while my dad tried to close deals.

Now this is a bar-b-que but not your typical potluck, everybody stands around the pit and drinks beers sorta bar-b-que. No this was a wine, business conversations, experts cooking the food bar-b-que.

Boring.

I sat at a table and picked at the food on my plate.

While everything smelt delicious I just couldn't seem to focus on eating at the moment.

And I knew why.

It was the Cullen's. I couldn't help but fall in love with the family of obvious do-gooders. They are all so welcoming and very attractive, especially Jasper. But to be fair I didn't see any of the other males, although i'm sure they are just as handsome.

But I wonder if they would be as charming and quirky as Jasper. There was something mysterious about him too. One minute he looks at you as if he's trying to figure you out, then the next moment he's smiling that very adorable half smile of his. Although there was a few times this afternoon that I actually saw him laugh and display a genuine ear to ear smile.

"Hey pretty lady, food not to your liking?"

I looked up surprised, "Leander?"

"Well hello to you too."

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I looked around to see if my parents had spotted him, I didn't want to be blamed for his party-crashing.

"Your mom though you would like a friend here tonight." He informed me as he unbuttoned his suit jacket, he leaned down and hugged my shoulders before he took a seat at the table with me. "How was your day?"

Of course my mother would go and invite him. My parents love Leander, or rather they love the prospect of Leander going pro one day and they hoped that I would be his girlfriend (if not more) when that happened.

"My day was good," I admitted in an attempt to be civil for the sake of my fathers clients. "I spent a good chunk of the day getting to know the Cullens."

"Who?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes, "the new family in town, their family name is Cullen." I answered, "anyways they are amazing people, and you should see what they did to 'the big house' on the edge of town." I gloated. "It pretty much unrecognizable."

He nodded his head as he picked up my fork and helped himself to my potato salad. "So tell me about em."

"Well the husband and wife have..." I paused, I literally had to count on my fingers how many 'children' the Cullen's had. "They have eight adopted kids and they're all around our age."

"Eight?!"

I nodded, "yep, eight, and I met five of them as well as their mother. Oh and they are all extremely good looking too."

"Maybe they're aliens."

I smacked his hand and moved my plate away from him, "don't do that," I scolded. "Don't start ugly rumors, that's the last thing those poor people need, isn't it enough that they're pretty much outcasts in a town where everyone's grown up together."

"You're right, I'm sorry."

Leander is always full of sorrys, I gave him back the plate of food and we switched topics.

As the night went on I had laughed along with so many unfunny jokes, and uncomfortably danced with Leander as well as some of my dad's clients before it was time to tell everyone good bye.

"Last free day before the new school year starts." Leander sounded as I politely hugged him, "wanna hang out tomorrow?"

"Thanks but I kinda just wanna be lazy ya know?"

He nodded his understanding before he left for the night.