|: Cigarettes and Candy :| Carlisle... - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Declan's POV
I spent about fifteen minutes trying to decide what to wear. What do you wear when you visit a vampire house? Do I need a cloak? Now that'd be funny.
I settled with my usual all black outfit with many layers in an attempt to keep warm. Hopefully Carlisle wasn't lying about getting me a better coat, I definitely need one.
I can't stop thinking about what the Cullen's house could possibly look like. I know logically it's not a castle with coffins and bathtubs filled with the blood of virgins.
Every time I see the Cullens they are dressed in luxury clothes, and they only drive expensive cars. They're old, of course they have lots of money, but what about their house?
The fanciest house I've even been too was Renee's, which was a two floor home that was perfect for a middle class family. The Cullens probably do live in a castle, they could be that rich and dramatic. I wouldn't be surprised if they owned two castles.
After I had called Carlisle and he told me that Jasper would pick me up, I decided it'd be best to work on my history homework. I'm procrastinating telling Charlie about me going to the Cullens house.
In general, I don't think he knows my new friends are the Cullens. The way he talks about them sometimes shows that he think they're good people but I still have that anxiety that he's just saying that. Maybe he likes them from a distance but is just as confused and intimidated as everyone else.
Mainly, I don't want him asking any questions. Questions like the ones Bella has. I don't think I can handle two people asking me about a family with a larger then life secret. I can lie endlessly but that doesn't mean I know the right things to say.
I hardly know the right cover story, I feel like when I met the Cullens they didn't tell me the whole story. The whole fake story or the whole real story. They should probably let me know what their cover story is.
I know that Carlisle and Esme, who I haven't met yet, play a married couple. The rest of the Cullens are currently pretending to be their adopted kids, and they play high school students. That's it, that's all I know.
I don't know, where they apparently moved from or why the car to Forks. Hell, I don't even know how old everyone is pretending to be! The only ones who even look like teenagers are Alice and Edward. Carlisle looks eleven and a half yet he's convinced people he's old enough to have adopted teens.
Jeez, how did these vampires pull this off?! Their cover is ridiculous and they all look the same age like what the fuck?
I huffed a frustrated sigh at the kitchen table, alerting Charlie when he entered the room.
"G'morning Declan, you okay?" He asked, grabbing two mugs from the cabinet.
I ran a hand through my hair. "I'm just sick of homework, that's all." I explained.
Charlie placed a mug of coffee in front of me and took the seat across from me. "Got any plans today? Other then homework?"
I sighed again, "actually, Charlie, yeah I do." I took a few quick sips of the hot coffee. "I'm going over to a friends house for the day."
"Oh!" I tried to ignore his shock. "I didn't know that. Who are they? Are they picking you up?"
I cleared my throat and put my mug down. "Jasper. He's one of the Cullen kids. The blond boy."
He nodded in thought for a moment, "isn't he a bit older then you?"
"Kinda." I looked back at my history notes. "I met him in my history class."
"Well," Charlie's near empty mug echoed as it hit the table. "It's nice to see you wanting to see friends, rather then sit in your room all day." He teased.
I mocked gasped. "Charlie! I'm not sitting around! I am working!" I hissed, keeping my amusement out of my voice. "I'm making art and that's going to be in my college application."
Charlie laughed, his eyes squinting. "You need a real mans job, not art." He made a disgusted face.
My serious face broke and I giggled, "Charlie! I'll be a lumberjack, or maybe a fishermen."
Bella came down the stairs and into the kitchen, "do you two want eggs?
I had a quick breakfast with Bella and Charlie before I went upstairs to put my books away. I climbed down the attic latter when I got a text from Jasper that he was on his way to get me.
As I was brushing my teeth I heard a horn from outside. I quickly finished what I needed to do and ran down the stairs.
"See you later, Charlie!" I called out to him.
"Be home by midnight." His gruff voice called back.
I went out the front door and saw Jasper's car stopped by Charlie's cruiser. I walked down the driveway and climbed into the passenger seat.
"Hey Jasper." I greeted the blond as he pulled away. "Hell, at least let me get my seatbelt on, Cowboy."
"Oh, I'm Cowboy now?" He smirked. "I thought I was Farmboy?" He said referencing his old nickname.
"Not anymore, get over it." I teased, wearing a smirk of my own.
"Why can't I just be Jasper?" He asked.
I adjusted my hoodie strings. "If I have to be Yankee, you can't just be Jasper. Your either Cowboy or Farmboy, and no you don't get to pick."
His laughed echoed throughout the car, mine joining in soon after. Jasper drove incredibly fast to a hidden dirt road, his speed not really slowing as we rode over bumpy rocks and tree roots.
"Uh, could you at least slow down on the bumpy road, I don't feel like vomiting." I said, holding tightly onto the passenger door. "Thanks" I mumbled when he slowed.
"Why are you so nervous? I don't understand, It's just us." He asked, his blond eyebrows furrowed,
"Well, I've never been to your house, there's a lady there I've never met, and I bet Carlisle told you everything about me. So, all that has me bit on edge." I explained.
"Not everything, but some." Jasper laughed again. "He was just really excited about your wings, he couldn't help it."
I chuckled and rolled my eyes at the thought of Carlisle prancing around his house excitedly yelling about my wings. I doubt that's how it went but still, that'd be pretty amusing.
"I didn't tell him to keep everything a secret, and I'm not surprised he told everyone about my wings." I picked at the paint that was forever under my fingernails. "But, the fact that everyone knows now, it's pretty scary."
"Listen," he said, his tone taking a more serious note. "We know, and we don't care. If anything, we're happy. We don't get to have friends, we can't risk it. You're my first friend in decades, maybe centuries."
I pursed my lips in thought and continued to try and scrap the dried paint off my hands.
"Alice, she tries to make friends, but she can never get that close to them. Then we leave and she can never talk to them again." He continued.
"Shit, that's sad." I couldn't think of anything else to say. "I guess if you ever leave, you can still talk to me."
"I'm sure you will leave before we do, we try to stay in the same place for as long as possible. You'll probably leave for college before we leave the area."
I looked out the window at the passing trees. "Maybe I'll take you guys with me, I'm sure I could find big enough boxes."
He snickered, "you'll need to ask everyone what they think of that, I don't think I should be deciding everyone's fate."
We pulled up to a huge modern house and I narrowed my eyes. "You don't live in a real castle."
"You thought-" he was cut off by a chuckle.
The house looks like it came right out of a home design magazine with its large windows and perfect landscape. I could only imagine what the inside looks like.
Jasper parked next to a sleek black Mercedes and got out of the car. I took a deep breath and followed. My boots made a satisfying sound against the gravel as I walked to Jasper's side. I followed him up the stairs to a large glass door.
He let me inside and offered to take one of my jackets, but I was distracted by the huge wooden cross I saw at the bottom of a set of stairs.
"Declan! You're here! I'm so glad!" Carlisle's voice made me jump and I watched him walk down the stairs.
His smile was wide as he placed a hand in my shoulder and squeezed. It had only been a few hours since I'd seen Carlisle last but I still missed seeing him all happy. His lively attitude making me feel energized and ready to go.
"Carlisle, long time no see." I couldn't help but smile back at the man.
His arm wrapped around my shoulders and he began to lead me to the staircase. "Esme is upstairs, she's been talking about you all day."
"She's been talking about me all day or you've been talking about me all day." I joked.
He scoffed and rolled his eyes and my small smiled widened. I feel like the Cullens always act like themselves around me. Rosalie loses her attitude, Jasper looks more calm, and Carlisle seems like he's lost his professionalism.
He had the same serious attitude for a few short minutes last night, I feel like he isn't trying to impress me or seem a certain way. Now he's just being himself, a nerdy and maybe a bit sassy young but not really young man.
We made it to the top of the two sets of stairs and he led me down a short hallway. I could see a fancy couch and table from the doorway where we stood and I felt Carlisle move away from me.
He placed both hand on my shoulders and that's when I looked forward and saw the woman I assume is Esme.
Her smile was bright and I couldn't help but feel like I was meeting a real life princess. Her caramel colored hair and skirt were perfectly placed and her face was so soft and kind. She doesn't look real.
"You must be Declan, I've heard so much about you." She smiled at Carlisle then.
I turned my head to peak at the man holding my shoulders. He was smiling a proud smile at his sister and she smiled back sweetly.
"Why do I feel like I'm being shown off?" I questioned, a teasing tone lacing my voice.
Esme smiled and lightly pushed Carlisles hands away, she wrapped her own arm around my shoulders and started leading me out of the room.
"That's because you are." She shot a teasing glare towards Carlisle. "Let me give you a tour, maybe that will give Carlisle some time to get a grip." She joked.
"I'm fine!" I heard echoing from the room we just left.
Esme and I laughed and made our way back down the stairs. She led me through the first floor she asked me very kindly if it was okay to ask me about my wings.
Of course, I told her everything she wanted to know. How big they are, what they look like, what it's like to fly with them. I don't mind talking about my wings, in fact I'm glad she's comfortable enough to ask. To these people wings is a new concept, it's odd for me to think about vampires without wings but we are different kinds after all.
"Does it hurt, having your wings in your back all day?" She questioned as we walked up the staircase back to the room we met in.
"Sometimes. It only gets really painful if I haven't stretched them in days." I explained. "Lucky now I can let them out every night, I didn't feel comfortable enough to do that before."
I could see her trying to figure out what I meant and I hoped she wouldn't ask. I really don't want to think about my mom right now. I've been doing so good, I haven't had any flashbacks or nightmares.
Please keep your head straight, Declan. I thought to myself.
Esme's art room was beautiful, the natural light made the yellow walls pop and her desk was large and clearly used. The room looks so different compared to the rest of the house. It looks more homey rather than out of a magazine.
She clearly enjoys all mediums based on what I can see. She has a set of pastels and some charcoal on her desk right now and I wanted to ask more questions but we were already moving on to the next room.
Esme smiled and pushed her perfectly curled hair away from her face. "You must be excited about all the exploring you have to do now, I know if I had wings I'd go everywhere."
I excitedly told her about the few cool places I've found in the woods around Charlie's house, and she told me about a few waterfalls and meadows she's found in this area. Forks is a beautiful town with lots of dense forests perfect for hiking but even more perfect for flying.
"La push is really pretty too, you should go there sometime." I told her as we walked to the kitchen.
It's a very fancy kitchen for people who can't eat. Although it did look pretty empty, it was still impressive with fresh flowers and lots of natural light.
"We can't go to la push actually, I'm shocked that Jasper or Alice haven't told you that. The people there-" she cut herself off. "I don't think I'm allowed to say."
"It's probably be best if you didn't." Carlisles voice came from the other side of the kitchen. He stood at the sink cutting the stems off of more flowers.
"Oh cmon, you can't do that! You can't be all mysterious again." I scolded, sending a smile in Carlisles direction.
He smirked and placed the flowers in a glass vase. "It's not our secret to tell."
"Carlisle? Why don't you give Declan a tour of the rest of the house? I'll take care of the flowers." Esme went over to him and took the blue flowers from his hands.
"Alright, come Declan, I'll show you the third floor." He moved to my side and put his arm around my shoulder again, giving me another short squeeze.
He walked back to the staircase and I tried to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. "Is anyone gonna explain some of this odd art to me?" I asked as we past a frame full of graduation caps.
"It's creative." Carlisle said giving my shoulder another squeeze.
"I mean, I guess." I looked down at my old boots. "What about that huge cross downstairs?"
He stopped us in front of a door and he reached for the handle. "It was my fathers, he was a pastor. He carved that cross for his church himself."
He pulled away from me and pushed the door open. "Oh, y'know, I feel like I need more information about you."
He smiled and stood in the open doorway. "Why don't I tell you my story? You can ask all the questions you need. After all, you told me plenty about you, I feel you do not know much about me."
I nodded, "there's a lot I want to know."
He welcomed me into the room and I looked around. This is a much better office then the one he has at the hospital.
There must be over a thousand books on the high and long shelves. Two of the walls were completely covered with old looking books, and what looks like encyclopedias. A large antique desk and leather chair sat in the center of the room, and a leather couch was placed in the corner. There was another area of the room obstructed by a wall, my imagination ran wild at what could be in the other side.
The view out the large windows was breath taking. The office looks over a medium sized garden with tons of colorful flowers and plants.
Flowers in all the colors of the rainbow surrounded a wooden bench and in the distance I saw two trees holding up a hammock.
"I love the garden. It's surely the best one I've ever seen." I turned back to the man. "Who takes care of it?"
He smiled proudly, "I do, sometimes Esme helps, but mostly it's my garden." He moved to my side and looked out at the flowers. "If I ask, Rose or Jasper will water my flowers while I'm at the hospital."
His nose scrunched up in disgust. "Everyone else tends to over water them. We get lots of rain, my flowers don't need much water."
I smiled, "so your a doctor who takes care of flowers", I looked around at the shelves around me, "and likes books."
I nudged his arm with my elbow, "like I said, you're a nerd."
He smiled shyly and looked down, "I noticed you didn't have any plants in your bedroom. So," he paused and his jaw clenched for a moment, "I picked some daisies for you and put them in a vase that Esme made."
I felt my face heat up within seconds. "Y'know, no ones ever given me flowers before."
"It's about time someone did." I could see him studying my blush. "Esme and I thought you would like them, Emmett thought it was amusing that we were putting together a flower arrangement for you."
He walked over to the couch and took a seat and I decided to check out his bookshelves. I ran my fingers across the spines and read a few titles as I passed.
I'm not much of a reader so I'm not surprised that I haven't heard of most of these books. I recognize the some of the authors but not the titles. There's so many, how does he read all of these?
Adam would be losing his mind right now, he's always been a book nerd. He'd read anything and everything.
I moved to Carlisle's desk, pulling out the large chair and taking a seat. "This is where the magic happens, isn't it? Also, if I don't here more about that cross soon I'm going to explode."
"I'll tell you everything you wish to know. All you need to do is ask." He said with a face of promise.
The endless questions all filled my mind at once. Where do I start? I should probably start at the beginning, his beginning.
"I want to hear it all, but let's begin at the start. When were you born? Where were you born? Who raised you? I want to know it all." I explained.
He stood, "why don't I show you?"
I slowly stood from the large chair and walked around his desk. What does he mean? I followed him to the other side of the room, the smaller divot had a table that had even larger and older looking books scattered around. From where I stood I all I could see was some disturbing vampire imagery.
It was then when I noticed the paintings on the walls. Some of the most disturbing and hellish imagery is attached to the walls of the office belonging to Carlisle Cullen. The man I thought was all innocence, y'know, sugar and spice and everything nice.
Clearly, I was wrong. There's more to this man then I thought.