Twilight
Chapter four, greenhouse drama

When Persephone Cullen woke up the next morning instead of Edward lying next to her, it was Emmett and he was holding her signed first edition copy of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. The girl's eyes widened and she was fully awake now.

She quickly got up and yanked the valuable book away from him, "Goodness Emmett! Do you want to give me a heart attack? Do you realize how valuable this is, don't touch my things." the blonde complained hugging the book to her chest.

The book had been gifted to her by Edward over 80 years ago and she didn't move anywhere without it. It had been a birthday gift from the mindreader and he spent that whole year looking for it. It being a first edition wasn't a huge deal back then, it was the signature that made it impossible to find. Nowadays it's both the signature and the fact that it's a perfect first edition that made it so rare. But that wasn't what made it special to Persephone, the reason she treasured it was because it was the first gift Edward ever got her. None of her siblings were allowed to even look at it, much less touch it.

"I'd kill you if I wasn't so attached to you." She whispers but the whole house has heard the young girl's words.

"Kill him anyway." They heard Edward say from his room next door.

"Ha Ha, Edward. Hilarious," Emmett says sarcastically but looks at Steph with apologetic eyes.

"Sorry, baby sis. I just wanted to see it." The blonde could see he meant the words he said so she gave a small smile. Out of all her brothers, Emmett was the more sensitive and kind one.

"It's okay Em." She replies pulling the soft blanket over her legs.

"I-I came to apologize." He stopped when he noticed the confused look on her face unsure of what he meant, "For what I said yesterday about you being the only-"

Steph stopped him and raised an eyebrow, "Did Rose make you apologize?" Everyone in the family knew Rose wore the pants in the relationship and Emmett followed her like a lost puppy. Literally from the moment he woke up as a vampire, he called Rose his angel. But that's what made them so cute in Steph's mind. They had a cute love story, the type you would see in movies or read in books. Emmett would do anything for Rosalie and protect her at all costs. Just like Jasper with Alice. I mean Jazz wanted to kill Bella to protect Alice but didn't; only because Alice told him not to. If that's not love, what is?

"Yes, she did. but I was going to apologize before she told me to. I didn't mean what I said in a mean way or to hurt you." Emmett says softly reaching out to grab her hand. "I know how much you want to find your mate and you will. You just need to be patient because it'll be worth it in the end."

The truth was Rose and Edward were both very upset with him when he said those words and when the blue eye Cullen fell asleep Edward especially gave him shit for making Steph sad.

Steph nods understanding his words, it was no secret to anyone in the family that Persephone wasn't a very patient person. It was also known that she'd been waiting for her mate since she turned and watched Carlisle & Esme fall in love. Everyone in the house was nosy and heard what Edward told her the night before and they all felt sad for the blonde. She was now the only one who hadn't found her mate or blood-singer.

"Wow, who knew Emmett was so emotional and sweet." Steph teased but overall appreciated his kind words. However he was right, maybe the time wasn't right for her yet. Maybe she wasn't ready for a serious relationship.

"Only for you baby sis," he replies and Steph wraps her arms around his neck pulling him into a hug. Emmett smiled and hugged her back. Emmett was glad she had forgiven him because he truly didn't say those words in a hurtful way, he simply made a joke at the wrong time. Emmett just has a habit of saying the wrong things at the wrong times. But it was never an issue because everyone knew that's how Emmett's personality was.

"You know, I can't believe you still have this." Emmett laughs as he holds out a white teddy bear. Steph pouts and takes the teddy bear from him. "You won it for me at that carnival in 1965 remember? I also have the one Jasper got me."

"Yeah like over 30 years ago." He chuckles as she hugs both bears.

"They have sentimental value to me, I can't just get rid of them." Persephone's room was filled with many sentimental ideas. Pictures from years back were hung up on the wall, and presents her siblings have gotten her over the years are scattered around her room.

Forks was also their favorite place to stay because of the weather and how small & private it was. So they had a lot of things from years ago in this house. For example, the graduation caps display.

Both siblings turn to face the door when they hear it open and see Alice walk in not even looking at them. Walking straight to Persephone's large closet. "Uh, good morning?"

Alice ignores them and begins to take pull-out clothes from the closet not even paying them any attention. Emmett laughs seeing what Alice is doing and stands up. "Good luck with her." He teases and walks away laughing when he hears Steph groan.

"Alice, I'm not a child. I can pick my own clothes." The blonde groans knowing that Alice probably wanted them to match.

"Don't even bother arguing, you end up losing," Edward says leaning against the door with a smirk already seeing Alice's vision earlier.

Steph rolls her eyes at both of them, laying down and pulling the blankets over her head. "Tell Dad to write me a note to get me out of school. I feel sick."

"Not going to happen, young lady, school is important," Carliuse says popping in beside Edward. Steph fake coughs still under the blanket.

"Nice try, you can't trick a doctor, honey." He says walking away to help Esme finish the food.

"Ugh! I hate high school." She groans as Alice pulls the blanket away from her.

"At least you can sleep in class," Edward chuckles as she flips him off. "Hurry up, we leave in 15 minutes. Also, Esme is done with your breakfast."

Steph smiles smelling the pancakes and bacon. Despite being the only one that eats, Esme always makes too much food. Her mother figure is also an amazing cook even if she can't actually taste the food.

Alice lays the clothes on the bed, "Don't argue, let's just save us both time and change."

Steph was about to argue when she felt a wave of calmness and excitement flow through her. She nods knowing Jasper was using his gift on her trying to please his wife.

Yes, Persephone could have just used her gift but she made a promise to herself to never use her power on her family. It felt awful to use on someone she loved because it was taking away their choice.

The blonde put on the outfit and it was cute. I guess Alice wanted the girls to use their Uggs today because she also picked out Rose's outfit. She put on the boots and walked downstairs.

Esme greeted her with her hug and plated all the food in front of her. Pancakes, fruit, and beacon. When Steoh finishes eating, Esme hands her children the permission slips for the field trip today. Persephone hugs her parents goodbye before getting in Edwards's car and heading to school.

——

When the Cullen's arrived at Forks High School, two large yellow buses were parked in the parking lot. Steph takes out her signed permission slip and takes Edward's, Alice's, and Jasper's slips as well to give to Mr. Molina.

Steph hands Mr. Molina the permission slips with a smile, "Thank you, Miss Cullen."

As Steph begins to walk back to her place next to Edward, a body softly bumps into her from the side. She turns to see Bella staring at her with wide eyes. "uh, sorry. I didn't see you there,"

Steph looks behind Bella to see her siblings staring, she smiles and says. "Don't about it. Bella right?"

The blonde asks even though she already knows the human girl's name, "Uh yeah. You're Persephone Cullen."

The blonde Cullen smiles and nods, "I am, it's nice to meet you." She says honestly.

Bella's eyes widen and nods a bit surprised, "You too. You're really pretty." The words just came out without even meaning to say them. Bella mentally cursed herself but let out a sigh of relief when she saw Steph smile.

Persephone gives the human a real smile and blushes, "Awe, Bella you're too sweet. you're pretty too."

The brunette looks down at her hand and blushes, shocked that Persephone is not only talking to her but complimenting her. "Thank you."

"You're in my English class, right?" the blonde hadn't really noticed Bella in that class until Edward started liking her. Mainly because the Cullen's kept to themselves and didn't make human friends.

"We do. I sit in the back." Bella says shyly. Steph nods, "Cool, we can work on the upcoming English project together. if you don't already have a partner."

Bella shakes her head and smiles, "I don't, I would love to work with you." Secretly really excited to get to know the blonde. Maybe even be friends with her.

The blonde looks at her siblings who were already staring at her, "Sounds good, I'll see you around."

"See you," Bella whispers and watches as the beautiful blue-eyed girl walks away. Supermodel, Bella thinks to herself before Mike snaps her out of her thoughts.

"Look at you, you're alive!" Mike yells throwing his arms up.

Persephone reaches her siblings and Jasper gives her a look still feeling unsure of the human. Steph shrugs, not really caring about his thoughts. If this was Edward's mate, Steph was going to make it her mission to befriend her.

Edward stops walking for a moment and looks at the humans listening to their conversation, Steph also stops walking and starts listening in to tease Edward because she knows what Mike is about to do.

Bella awkwardly chuckles, "I know, yeah. False alarm, I guess."

"yeah, uh, now I wanted to ask you. you know if you-- I know it's like a month away but do you wanna go to prom with me?" Mike asks awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. But Bella was not paying attention instead she was looking at Edward. and Edward had a concerned look on his face. A part of him hoped that Bella would reject the boy. Because the mindreader did not like Mike one bit.

"So what do you think?" Mike asks moving his head to get her attention.

Bella finally looked at him and she realized she hadn't heard a word of what he said. "About what?"

"Do you want to go? To prom? With me?" He asks again awkwardly chucking making the conversation more dreadful.

Persephone winced at the secondhand embarrassment and nudged Edward grabbing his arm.

That's so awkward, I got secondhand embarrassment just by watching. She thought which made Edward smile.

"Oh! I Uh- prom, dancing." Bella shakes her head, "Not such a good idea for me." She keeps her eyes down thinking of a good excuse to let the boy down gently. "I have something that weekend anyway. I'm going to Jacksonville that weekend."

Mike's smile fades, "You can't go another weekend?"

Bella shakes her head, "Nonrefundable ticket. You should ask Jessica. I know she wants to go with you."

Mike looks to the side to see Jessica already looking at them with a concerned look on her face. Mike gives Bella a fake smile trying to hide his disappointment.

"Yo, yo, yo. Hey, guys, come on. We gotta go. We gotta go. Green is what? Good. Let's go. Guys, come on." Mr. Molina yells urging everyone to get on the bus and ending the conversation between Bella and Mike.

Alice and Jasper walk on the bus and Steph can't help but chuckle at Edward's smile. It looked like he was pleased that Bella rejected Mike.

Edward put his arm around Persephone as they walked behind their siblings.

"So, she rejected Mike with what looked to be fake plans," Persephone says nudging Edward playfully. Trying to hint that the reason Bella rejected Mike was because she likes him.

"Why do you think they're fake plans?" He asks his sister still looking at the human.

"It's obvious. She took a minute to reply and kept mumbling like she was unsure of her own plans." Persephone says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "So are you going to ask her to prom?"

Edward gives her a look that makes Persephone laugh, "I'm just asking." 

Steph looks at Alice, "Are they?"

Alice shrugs, "Not sure yet. We'll see how things play out."

Although Steph had a feeling they would end up going to prom together. It was obvious that her brother was developing some kind of feelings for the brunette especially because she was something unknown to him. Since Edward was so used to knowing everything about everyone. Bella was like a challenge to him.

——

Alice Cullen and Jasper Hale walk in front of the students and Steph watches as her adopted brother hands Alice a flower. Awe, that's so cute. Now I want a flower. She thinks to herself forgetting that Edward could read her thoughts.

Edward looked at the slide, picked up a pretty rose, and handed it to her. Persephone looks at the flower and smiles leaning into Edward.

"Thank you, It's like you read my mind." She teases and they both laugh. Bella walked behind them and couldn't help but notice how perfect Edward and Steph looked together.

Bella also noticed that she couldn't hate Persephone because she was so nice to her earlier. It's hard to hate someone so nice and sweet. I don't think there's a mean bone in Persephone Cullen. Bella thinks to herself watching as the blonde plays with the flower Edward just gave her.

"Eggshells, carrot tops. Compost is cool. Now, stuff that in there Eric." They hear Mr. Molina say.

"Now I am going to make a steaming cup of compost tea." The biology teacher says lifting a cup of gross liquid.

Tyler looks at it weirdly and grabs it, "Give me that."

"Yeah, this is recycling in its most basic form guys. Don't drink it! It's for the plants." Mr. Molina yells as Tyler brings the cup to his lips.

Persephone makes a disgusted face and turns to look at Edward but notices how he stopped. Behind them, stood Bella before she started walking around them.

"What's in Jacksonville?" Edward asks and the blonde vampire smiles slipping away from her brother and quickly walks over to Alice and Jasper. Wanting to give Edward a chance to talk to Bella alone.

After the walk-through in the greenhouse was over, Alice, Jasper, and Persephone were leading on the bus waiting for Edward.

Persephone sighed when she heard Edward's words to Bella, "Bella, we shouldn't be friends."

Bella looks at him in confusion and annoyance, "You really should've figured that out a little earlier. I mean, why didn't you just let the van crash me And save yourself all this regret."

Persephone sighed again rubbing her forehead, Edward and Bella were going to give her a headache. Wrong words Bella. Wrong words Edward. you both disappoint me.

"What, you think I regret saving you?"

"I can see that you do. I just... I don't know why."

"You don't know anything," Edward says annoyance written on his face.

Persephone grabs his arm leading him towards the bus, when Alice asks. "Hi, are you gonna be riding with us?"

"No our bus is full" Edward snaps sharing another look with Bella. He hits the bus door carefully letting the bus driver know it's time to open it.

Bella looks at him in anger but simply walks away. She was getting sick of his constant mood swings.

"You want to talk about it?" Stephs asks her brother but Edward shakes his head, "Maybe later."

Persephone wanted Edward to be happy but he was making it very difficult. Both were making it difficult but Alice and Steph were going to be sure they got along.

——

Author notes: hi everyone! Two or three more chapters until a wolf gets picked because I want them to meet before New Moon starts and they phase. So continue to vote! So far Sam and Embry are in the lead and are the top two votes!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and as promised, I am sticking to the movies! Also, Steph will not be going to La Push, I think it would be weird if she went because as one of the guys says, "The Cullen's don't come here."

But she will be meeting someone in a bookstore or flower shop! I haven't decided, it depends on who the love interest is.

Also! Here's how I picture Steph's room, just add the bookshelves.

This beautiful picture for this chapter by -novxscomet

Word count: 2989