Shifting Moon

 I quickly raddled off my number and Edythe called it to make sure I had hers. I immediately added her to my contact list and took this opportunity to ask for a picture to add to her contact page. {Finally, you do something smooth, stupid brain.}

 "I am asleep from 11 pm to 4:30 am, but you can feel free to wake me if you want to talk. Um, I am going to shut up now, so I don't keep talking like a fool."

 "You are fine Thomas, I find it... Reassuring that you are stumbling over things the same as me. I have never felt this way with anyone, so I am nervous but seeing you nervous as well is calming. You can call me any time of the day or night and I will answer if I am in cell range."

 "You spend lots of time out of cell range?"

 "My family likes to go to the woods rather often and just about any time it's sunny we skip school to be together." Edythe was trying very hard not to lie to Thomas, she felt that a bald-faced lie would be disrespectful to Thomas. But a lie of omission didn't sit well either. {I really need to get this settled soon.} She told herself.

 "Where I usually go isn't always out of range though, so you should be able to reach me most of the time. If not, just leave a message and I will call as soon as I get it."

 As we approached the lunchroom doors, I saw Bella and was looking forward to introducing her to Edythe.

"Hey Thomas, I am going to split off here and find my family. I really look forward to talking after school though" Edythe said.

 I couldn't react or say much before she was gone. I swallowed my disappointment as I walked to where Bella was waiting. "Hey sis, ready for lunch."

 "Was that Edythe you were just walking with?"

 "It was, did you see how stunning she looked today?"

 "I did. I also saw the lost puppy look you had when she left you. What's up with that?"

 "Ohh, you got jokes. Should I then bring up the permanent blush you have any time you are within sight of Edward?"

 We both smiled at each other, agreed on a truce, and headed to the lunch line. When I noticed who was in front of us, I leaned down to whisper to Bella, "You mind if I bring someone to our table today?"

 Bella just shrugged so I reached over her and tapped on Ben's shoulder. "Yo, what's up man?"

 Ben looked over his shoulder and saw it was me. "Hey man, I heard you were walking around with Edythe Cullen. You are my hero man. That takes Batman-level courage."

 "What, talking to a girl isn't even as courageous as Superman being shot with a revolver. A girl can just tell you no, but the bullet could be Kryptonite encased in lead." I joked with him using terms that would hit home.

 Ben smiled at my words, "Well us mere mortals who don't have the body shape of a god, can lose all our self-confidence under a pretty girl's eyes." 

 "How about you sit with us today, it should even out the numbers so everyone has someone to talk to."

 "Sure, I am good with that. Who all do you sit with?"

 "You will see, just a group of us," I told him offhandedly.

 After we all paid, I found a moment to lean down and whisper to Bella, "Angela"

 She had a surprised and somewhat disbelieving look in her eyes, so I just winked at her and motioned towards the table. I saw that Angela was sitting at the edge of the group, so I angled myself around Ben to force him to sit next to her. Poor guy didn't realize who he was sitting next to until he was halfway sitting, and he just hovered there awkwardly.

 I patted his shoulder, forcing him all the way down in the seat. "You're blocking my view of a pretty girl dummy, sit down." I winked at Angela, and she blushed. After that, I ruthlessly ignored Ben so he would be forced to talk to Angela or be rude to her. Halfway through lunch Bella caught my eye and smiled at me nodding her head after subtly pointing at Ben and Angela talking.

 It looked like I had a conspirator in getting the two together. Now it was my time to gaze longingly at Edythe as she talked animatedly to her family.

-(Edythe)-

 Edythe wanted to keep her involvement with Bella to a minimum until she could talk with her brother. So, she made an excuse to escape the situation. The first member of her family she runs into is her brother Edward, followed shortly by Alice and Jasper.

 Edythe is trying to work her thoughts out but realizes for her brother there is a better way. She tapped Edward pointed to her head, and focused on all her thoughts from today.

 As Edward absorbed her thoughts, he staggered back a few steps. He looks at Edythe, "This complicates things. I am... Happy you found someone who touches you so deeply without the trials I find myself facing. I am actually a bit jealous."

 Alice speaks up, "So you finally realized it did you?" Jasper smiled at Edythe at the same time. 

 Emmett walked up with his arm around Rosalie, "Realize what?"

 Rosalie looked on with a lack of interest.

 "It looks like there is another meeting at the table tonight, Emmett. Moving to this town has been good for the twins." Jasper said. He then looked at Edward apologetically, "I am sorry Edward that was thoughtless of me."

 "It's ok Jasper, I think I have it handled for now."

 Edythe looked at everyone, "We should get to our table and talk a bit there."

 "Good idea, you should always try and find a way to be in the area of someone you like, so they can admire you. You are finally using your looks, Edythe; I am so proud of you." Rosalie showed a glimmer of interest in something finally.

 After going through the line and collecting their props, they all head to their usual table. Edythe immediately looked for Thomas and saw him at his table. She looked on enviously as he interacted with everyone there. While she was focused on him, he turned in her direction and smiled at her with so much warmth that Edythe wanted desperately to go sit with him. But that would not be comfortable for the rest of his friends.

 As she looked at him, she saw Lauren giving Thomas googly eyes and trying to recapture his attention. She felt a bit of anger, a bit of fear, and a lot of worry all at once, and suddenly Jasper was beside her and the feelings bled away.

 "Careful Edythe, those feelings lead to nothing but pain, for everyone."

 "What was that feeling Jasper? I have never felt something like that before. It was almost like seeing Edward in the driver's seat of my car, but much more intense. I want to hurt that girl Lauren, but every instinct is telling me not to look in her head to see why."

 Jasper chuckled, "That my dear moody teenager, was Jealousy. I have seen that emotion be the ruin of relationships and Cities alike." Jasper directed Edythe to the table, and everyone sat down.

 Edward looked at Thomas's table, being careful not to look at Bella. "You really don't want to investigate her head sister, it's the same as all the boys looking at you in college but from a different perspective."

 Edythe thought for a moment and then her eyes went sharp, "I think I should have a conversation with the little girl and tell her to shut her hormones off for a couple of years. Maybe she will be a better student then." Hmm... she put her hand to her chin in thought. "I could have that conversation with every girl in school, minus Bella." She looked at Edward with a smile. "I bet the average test score would rise quickly."

 Edward saw the plan unfold completely in Edythe's mind. "Remember what we talked about concerning your compulsions. Only in serious cases sis."

 Edythe looked at her brother, "But I am very serious, he is mine. No one should be thinking about him like that."

 "Trust me, I know. You should hear the way every boy in school thinks about Bella. I have envisioned putting the Newton kid through a wall more times than I have ever thought possible. At least you can turn your gift off."

 "So, how do I stop that from happening?" Edythe asked the table.

 "You make sure he thinks only of you in that way and claim ownership by rubbing their nose in you being next to him. Then these sheep will keep their distance." Rosalie said.

 Edythe looked at her siblings and wondered who the best person was to go to for advice on how to make Thomas hers. Alice and Jasper? {No that was destined from when Alice woke up.} Rosalie and Emmett? {No, what worked for them wouldn't for me and Thomas. We were just too different from them.} She then looked at her brother who was looking at Bella through someone else's mind and sighed. {Esme and Carlisle it is!}