Pain shot up my leg as I crashed over a loose root, causing me to fall to the ground. I crawled over to a tall tree, curling in on myself and let loose all of the emotions that I had been holding in for a while now. For several hours that day, I had been running, much like I have been doing for the last 100-odd years. All in search for a man who was probably dead in the first place, but I still wouldn't stop searching. Another sob raked my small body as tears gushed down my cheeks, leaving streaks of dirt on my face.
This is crazy, I kept repeating to myself, you should just stop now.
I lifted my head from where it was perched on my knees and wiped the trailing tears away. Standing up slowly, I took a deep breath and froze.
"That smell," I murmured to myself. "Tha- That smell. It couldn't be…"
Before I could process what that smell could possibly mean, I took off in the direction that the smell was the strongest. After a few short minutes of running over uneven trails and crushed logs, I found myself standing in a wide, open clearing leading to a large, beautiful house. I found myself drawn to the house that seemed to be made out of windows, though I had never seen it before in all my years.
Fear and shyness began to take control of me as I stepped cautiously up the steps and to the door. Before I had time to knock, the door was pulled open by a beautiful, blonde man, no older than 30. With just one look, I could tell he was like me, different.
Well, not completely like you, I thought bitterly.
Before the man spoke I controlled my breathing to a more regular pattern and made my heart stop beating, so the man wouldn't become suspicious.
"Good evening," the man said in a calming voice, "is there anything I can help you with?"
As he spoke I found myself drawn to his eyes, which were a weird shade of caramel. In all of my years, I had never seen a vampire with eyes other than red. Well, besides myself of course.
The man looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to speak. I took a deep, unnecessary breath before talking to the man. This was the first time I had talked to anyone, besides myself, in over 30 years.
"I thought… I thought I smelled something," I squeaked out.
The man's expression hardened just the slightest of a fraction, but I saw it clear as day. I tapped into his thoughts for just a moment, wondering why I had worried him.
I do hope this young girl is not another nomad attracted to Nessie. Bella and Edward always get so angry when stragglers stop by, but this young one seems different. Her eyes are not red. They are not even gold for that matter! Interesting… they are more greenish, with gold flecks.
Edward? Bella? Nessie?
I had no idea who these people were, but I had no further time to ponder when a musical voice started shouting from within the house.
"Carlisle! Carlisle," a woman's voice shouted, "let her in!"
I saw a quick flash of black, somewhere behind the half open door, and then suddenly a small woman was standing at the man's side. She was much shorter than the man, Carlisle, even shorter than me! Her hair was sticking out in random directions around her face, but seemed to fit her personality perfectly. The black of her hair, and the short, black dress she wore contrasted splendidly with her pale skin.
"Alice," the man said softly, not sure what to make of the situation.
"Trust me," the girl said, smiling to the man. Then she suddenly turned to me with a huge smile, grabbing for my hand. I flinched slightly at the contact and the girl's expression softened.
"It's okay, sweetie," she murmured to me, "you're safe here."
She pulled me inside and then suddenly enveloped me in a crushing hug. I gasped and froze at her sudden gesture, not sure as to how I should react. I hadn't talked to anyone in over 30 years, but I hadn't had physical contact even longer.
"I'm so glad you're finally here! This is perfect! I have been waiting months and months to finally meet you," the girl gushed as she pulled back to look at me. "You're so much more beautiful in person, and you look just like him. This is just going to be so, so great! He will be so surprised!"
I was frozen to where I stood as the girl bounced happily on her feet, holding my hands in her small ones. In all of my years, I had never been more confused, not even after I woke up for the first time, all alone.
"Alice, what is going on in here? You're shaking the floor with your bouncing," another woman's voice chuckled.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could make out the new addition to our trio- a very slender, beautiful woman. Her hair bounced around her heart-shaped face as she waltzed over to where the hyper girl and I were. I noticed her eyes were the same color as the man's and the other girl's.
Three vampires in one house, I thought to myself, very unusual.
"Oh my, Alice! Look," the new woman said scolding, "you're scaring the poor girl."
Alice stopped bouncing momentarily and peered into my face, which I'm sure, was a mask of confusion. She looked like she was holding back laughter as the other woman continued to scold her.
Suddenly Alice gasped and screamed, breaking into a breath-taking grin.
"It's time, its time," she squealed in delight, as the other man and woman in the room looked just as confused as I felt.
Alice gently nudged me back a few feet, patted my hand, and winked at me. I was too confused and frightened to make sense of what was happening so I stayed still as Alice went over to the other man and woman and arranged them on the tan love seat.
"Everyone, get down here," Alice called out, "I have a surprise!"
My head whipped around to the large staircase in the middle of the house, wondering who 'everyone' else entailed. I didn't have to wait more than 30 seconds before more vampires began making their way down the stairs, all of them taking notice of my presence.
The first to walk down was a couple consisting of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and a very large man with a goofy grin. The beautiful blonde looked at me skeptically as she made her way to her seat on one of the couches, while her mate just looked amused.
Suddenly I froze as a much unexpected noise filled my ears- a heartbeat. I turned in time to see a beautiful bronze-haired boy, a dazzling brunette, and a small, gorgeous child make their way down the stairs. The brunette looked very confused as she held onto the small child, but her mate was smiling very kindly at me.
Once everyone was seated, Alice came over and grabbed my right hand, towing me over to the living room furniture where the rest of her coven sat.
"I have a huge surprise for you all," Alice gushed, squeezing my hand. "Don't be mad at me, but I had a vision several months ago, about this very special girl coming to us."
Several voices erupted from the new men and woman, all complaining to Alice about her not sharing her news with the rest.
The bronze-haired boy held up his hand and everyone went silent as he spoke, though they didn't look happy.
"If Alice told you all, it wouldn't be that much of a surprise now would it?"
"You knew what was going on all along, Edward," the blonde woman said angrily, "so don't try to make the rest of us feel better."
Edward chuckled, "I actually just found out what's going on a few moments ago. Alice has been hiding this secret from me as well, but believe me; you do not want this spoiled."
Everyone went silent, most likely thinking about what the boy had just said. Slowly I felt all eyes on me, which made me feel squeamish. Pulling her hand away from mine, Alice snaked her skinny arm around my small waist.
"Well," the woman with the heart-shaped face laughed, "aren't you going to introduce everyone?"
Alice's musical laugh filled the room as she pulled me closer to her side, "Everyone, this is Hayley Whitlock."
I heard small gasps come from a few members of the coven as what Alice said registered with everyone.
"Hayley," Alice said, "this is our family- Emmett, his wife Rosalie, Carlisle, his wife Esme, Edward, his wife Bella, and their daughter Renesmee."
Everyone's face was a different expression, all ranging from pure joy to confusion. I was one of the confused. My skin was itching from all the physical contact, though I didn't want to push it away. My body was starting to feel exhausted, due to all the running and strength it took me to stop my heart from beating.
I felt Alice stiffen beside me, but by the time I had turned to her, she was relaxed and bouncing on the balls of her feet again.
"He will be here in exactly 52 seconds," Alice said happily, "just stay where you are Hayley."
I felt myself stiffen as Alice pulled away from me and sat beside the huge man, Emmett. She sent me an encouraging smile as I gripped the back of the chair closest to me. When I heard the tearing of fabrics beneath me, I gasped and pulled away, instantly embarrassed for what I had done. I knew that if I wasn't holding my heart back, a deep red blush would have covered my cheeks. Somewhere to my left I heard a deep chuckle coming from what I guessed was Emmett, but I was too distracted by the new scent entering the house.
My eyes began playing tricks on me as I stared at the doorway, which now held a lean and beautiful man; the same man who I had been searching for the for the last 100-odd years. The same man who was my savior and protector during my youth. This man, Jasper Whitlock, was the only reason I was still sane. Keeping him in mind was the only reason I was still alive. My brother, even when he left for war and never returned, was still saving my life.
Jasper looked at me with a mixture of horrification, confusion, and awe. I could only imagine what was going through his head right now. I thought about tapping into his thoughts, but I was already exhausted from everything that I just couldn't muster the energy.
"Hay- Hayley," Jasper whispered, and that was when I lost it.
Tears poured from my eyes and streamed down my filthy cheeks as a sob escaped my lips. I lost my hold on my heart and it started speeding at a very high rhythm, but I didn't care, I was too focused on the man in front of me. Somewhere in the back of my head, I was aware of confused and frightened whispers, but I lost all care as I raced to where my brother stood, still frozen.
I crashed into his stone body, not even caring that I had probably bruised my entire body; I knew I would just heal it all later. I scrambled to get a good hold on him as I sobbed and gasped with so much force, my body ached. I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck, while his body seemed to unfreeze beneath me. His arms circled around my waist and hoisted me off the ground as he crushed me to him. I felt his face find shelter in the crook of my neck where my shoulder connected, breathing in the deep scents of my dirt-coated hair, as his body shook with tear-less sobs. Somehow I became aware of a voice whispering, thick with tears, and was surprised to realize it was mine.
"I found you, Jazz. I never gave up, and I finally, finally found you."