A Concerned Sister

Edythe pulled her head back from my chest to look up at me, "Are we?"

 I smiled, "Yes, at the very least I need a shower and change of clothes if I am meeting your parents."

 Looking down at Edythe as she looked up at me was a sight that made my heart race. Her pale face with her plump lips slightly pressed together and her butterscotch eyes looking at me questioningly. It was a sight I stored away in my brain right next to the mental picture of her in math class.

 Edythe smiled and placed her ear over my heart, "My, what has your heart racing dear?"

 My face went red, but I plucked up my courage, "That would be you, sunshine. Only you can make it race that way."

 To make my point I leaned down and placed a kiss on the crown of her head. I really wanted to take her chin and lift her face up so I could kiss her lips, but my courage only took me so far this time.

 Her whole body seemed to turn to stone, and I worried that I had done something wrong. But after a moment she seemed to come back to life and keeping one arm around my waist, she turned toward the front door of the house. We walked together until we reached the steps, and I nudged her to go first. Once we stepped inside, I closed the door.

 Bella called from the kitchen, "I will keep Edythe company while you get ready, Thomas, if she is okay with it, that is." When she finished talking, Bella was standing in the kitchen entryway.

 I looked at Edythe, "I will try and be quick."

 (Edythe POV)

 I watched Thomas disappear up the stairs to his room and spent a moment wishing I was going up there so I could see his room. See what his space looked like, would it be clean and organized? Or would it be messy and have his often-used things just scattered around? My thoughts were interrupted by Bella, who was still standing in the kitchen doorway.

 "Can I get you something to drink?"

 "I would love a glass of water, if that's okay."

 When she turned to head to the sink, I followed her into the kitchen. Being mindful that normal people were more relaxed when sitting, I pulled a chair from the kitchen table and sat down. Looking around, I could see that though it was small, the kitchen was well cared for. The cupboards looked like they had been painted by someone with questionable taste years ago. These colors belonged in a warmer climate, the lack of light in the kitchen made them seem muted and out of place.

 When Bella placed the glass of water in front of me, she took the chair closest to me and noticed I was looking around.

 "They were painted when my mom and dad were newlyweds. She loved vibrant colors, and they were at that point where Charlie did anything she wanted. I don't think he even changed the curtains in here after she left. I don't think he changed anything in the beginning because he hoped we would come back eventually. Then after the divorce was final, he just avoided coming in here and ate out. He is a very stubborn man, my father."

 I smiled, "Is that where you get it from, you think?"

 Bella blushed a bit, "What makes you think I am stubborn?"

 "Thomas told me that he would have better luck convincing a bear to hibernate in the summer than get you to change your mind once you're set on something. Or someone." I said the last with a bit of a point.

 Her blush took on a deeper shade, "I don't know what you're talking about."

 A silence fell and the sound of the shower running upstairs intruded on my mind. {How I would love to be up there with him.} I was again drawn out of my thoughts by Bella.

 "Are... Are you serious about him? Thomas, I mean?"

 I took a deep breath, {Damn this girl smells good, how can Edward handle it smelling so much more to him.} Getting my mind back on track, "I am Bella. He is so much more than anyone I have ever met. The little bit that I know tells me that there is so much more to learn. I also think he feels the same way about me, I can see he is more... Natural when talking to me. Unlike the forced way he acts towards some of the girls in your group."

 Bella nodded her head, "Yeah, you and Alice are the only girls he has ever spoken to me about with any emotion. Jessica and Lauren don't even register in his mind other than the fact that they are around him sometimes. I am pretty sure they have already asked him to the dance, after I refused to help them ask anyway."

 "Are you not going to ask anyone to the dance? I am pretty sure no one I know would turn you down."

 Bella looked down at her hands. "No, I don't dance. Besides, I gave so many excuses it would look bad if I changed my mind now. I would just make a fool out of myself anyway."

 The room lapsed into silence for a few moments until Bella spoke again. "I wasn't trying to be nosey or interfering with you and Thomas, it's just... Well, Thomas has a lot of hurt in him, and the next few weeks are going to be rough for him. He... had his mother taken from him a few years ago and the anniversary for that is coming up soon. It's not made any better that it's the day after his birthday either. It really isn't my place to get into more detail, I just want you to know. He seems to really like you, and I don't want his erratic emotions over the next few weeks to mess that up for him. He deserves to be happy, and hopefully you can help lessen that pain for him. Listen to me ramble on, I am sorry."

 "All I hear, is a sister worried for her brother. I think I am understanding you a bit more, Bella, and I hope we can be friends. You are a genuinely good person, and you would be surprised how few of those there are out there."

 The two girls then just sat and talked about little things like school and clothes, Edythe asked more about Bella's mom. She could easily tell by the way Bella talked about Rene, that the parenting roles had been messed up from a young age. Rene had been lucky that Bella didn't resent her for that. Not many kids could handle it as well as Bella apparently had. 

 Before there silent pauses could turn into award silences, Thomas came down the stairs. He was wearing dark blue jeans with a tucked-in white V-neck t-shirt with a white button up that was open and untucked, a pair of grey vans completed his look. His slightly damp hair and flushed skin drove all of my thoughts to a halt.

 The simple boyish smile on his face told me that he noticed my pause and it amused him that he could do that to me the way I did to him on occasion. I was glad yet again that I couldn't blush and make things worse for myself.

 "Are you ready then?" I asked.

 Thomas looked over at Bella, "I don't plan to be out too late, don't want to push Charlie too far on a school night. So, no later than 10:30... Ish?"

 His last comment was more of a question towards me than anything. "That won't be a problem. I can have you back by then easily."

 Before I left the kitchen I paused and turned to Bella, "Do you mind if I get your phone number? We could hang out and talk more if you want."

 Looking baffled that I would ask, Bella nodded her head and gave me her number. I called it until her phone rang and then ended the call and pocketed mine. "Now you have mine too, if you have questions about anything. It was great talking to you Bella, I look forward to it more in the future."

 Thomas followed me out the door and made his way to the passenger door. We both opened the door at the same time and sat down. I started the vehicle and placed my hand on the shifter that was next to my knee. I noticed Thomas taking in the interior of the car and was happy with his pleased expression. About the time I pushed the thumb button and slid the gear back on into reverse, the burned CD I had in the new age stereo kicked in.

 House of Pain by Faster Pussycat started coming out of the speakers at a moderate volume. It hit me then and there that I had no idea what music he liked to listen to.

 "We can change the CD if you would like, I don't know what music you like though."

 Thomas smiled and shook his head, "Don't laugh too much, but I love these old power ballads. Today's music is ok, but the older stuff feels more genuine, you know what I mean? The 70's and 80's with their big hair and showmanship were way better than today's singers who are only good on CD or MTV/BET. I don't know much about the industry, but back in the day I understand the money was made off live shows. Now it's a CD popularity contest and how good your video looks."

 The next song was I'm Alright from the Caddyshack movie by Kenny Loggins and I was astounded when Thomas started singing along. When he saw my amused look, he defended himself, "This was one of my mom's favorites. I grew up watching that movie with her."

 I took the long way home so I could see more of his reactions to the mixed CD, but even though I didn't drive as fast as I could like Edward does, it was eventually time to turn down the drive to home.