𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 | carlisle cullen (2)

(𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞) the world is spinning too fast

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THE LIVING ROOM WAS ALMOST SILENT despite the crowd sat within it. Este was in the corner, her back against the wall as she sat poised over a footrest. Her book was in hand. Dorian Grey. She flicked through the pages easily, words skimming her mind like stones on water.

The television was playing for background noise more than anything else. Carlisle had chosen the news as he always did. Although his eyes were glued to the screen it was clear he was not paying much attention. The weather forecast dripped through all their ears, seeming pointless to think about.

Alice was sat cross legged on the arm chair, crochet needles in hand. She was surrounded by a sea of purple and blue yarn, twisting the strands together as she went. The noise was barely audible over the news. The clicking of her needles didn't distract anyone from their wandering minds.

Rosalie was playing Jasper in chess even though she'd never managed to be successful in beating him. They both sat on the floor with the board between them, Rosalie lain elegantly on her stomach as Jasper sat straight as a statue. Both their gazes were full of concentration, waiting minutes before playing their turns. It was too early in the game to predict who would win.

Emmett sat on the other side of the sofa to Carlisle. He was looking between the tv screen and his phone. He'd found a new hobby in betting on football teams. Este didn't understand it and if it wasn't for the ridiculous hoards of money the Cullens seemed to have she'd probably actively speak against it. Often Alice would tell him the verdict just to annoy Emmett, yet she wasn't always right.

Pure silence had cursed them all and Este wouldn't deny that her mind was very far away from the words of Oscar Wilde. She was still thinking about it all. Carlisle and his lack of calmness, clarity and understanding. This had never happened before and new territory was something Este no longer wished to delve into. She wanted normality back, the feeling of love around every corner. Of course love never vanished but it seemed shadowed by the melodrama they'd managed to throw themselves into.

This was of course the reason why everyone was so tense. As though scared they'd have to deal with Carlisle and Este arguing again. They were wrong. Este could get angry, her words could spiral but she knew that Carlisle wouldn't show his anger again. Maybe in another few decades they'd remember he had the same emotional process as everyone else but for now he'd returned to his mellow attitude which didn't include sour words and snapped fighting.

Este had been thinking about the words she wanted to say to Carlisle when a car sped into the driveway outside. She was closest to the window, her head almost leant against the glass. She saw the bright headlights of the silver Volvo as they engulfed the glass.

Alice was on her feet like flash, looking down to watch Bella and Edward jump out the car. It was clear she didn't know what was about to happen. Edward looked flustered, Bella scared and slightly annoyed. Edward slammed the door of his car as he took Bella's arm and led her carefully towards the house.