Leap
Rated T
Grace McGarvie ~ Tradition is an explanation of acting without thinking
Chapter 3
{Following; Lucy}
Lucy woke to the sound of Jasper's alarm clock, yet again. It was a recurring thing, every morning Jasper would wake up at 4 am. Lucy would also awake at this time, getting out of bed half an hour later. Jasper just assumed Lucy was an early riser, since not once did she complain to Jasper.
She was just happy to have a home, with her father. Her mother Nettie, died of drug abuse when Lucy was merely seven. This resulting in Lucy being relocated to her father who knew nothing about her. Lucy knew part of the reason her and Jasper didn't bond was that the first two months of living with him, Lucy had only spoken three words.
She sighed, trotting into the living room. Jasper smiled up at her, to see her already washed and dressed.
Jasper nodded, sitting up from the table and gulping down his black coffee. He tossed Lucy her bag from the doorway and ushered her out. She skipped out and sang her way down the apartment stairs, refusing to ever use the elevator. After watching a horror movie in which a woman's head was chopped off by an elevator she refused to step foot in one. Jasper hadn't known the consequences of letting Lucy watch that movie until the next morning.
Jasper had no idea of how parenting works, Lucy had no bed time and was permitted to do whatever she liked, anything that didn't involve sharp blades, drugs or boys was fine in Jasper's book.
Although, Jasper's pushover ways did not affect Lucy at all, she was responsible going to bed early, doing homework and no longer watching scary movies unless Jasper was in the same room. Which hardly ever happened since he would come home and retire to his office to work, yet again.
Lucy knew he loved her, he just had a hard time showing it. She knew he cared.
Jasper –like every morning- opened the back of his 1970's gold Chevrolet Camaro and Lucy hopped in.
They would have minimal conversation, but things were ok in silence, right? Things started awkwardly but they would soon adapted to the silence. It was normal for them not to bond, perfectly natural.
Jasper pulled up to Emmett and Rosalie's house, a cute house with a wraparound porch, light blue trim and flowers dotting near the entrance. He cut the engine and opened the door for Lucy.
As the door opened, her uncle's booming voice echoed down the hall.
"Lucy-Loo!" he yelled, running childishly into the hall and taking Lucy into his arms.
She giggled, happily yet somewhat disappointed that Jasper wasn't like this with her. Emmett slung Lucy onto his back while playfully clapping Jasper between his shoulder blades.
Jasper glowered, finding no humour in the situation. Lucy had realised since that morning that Jasper's mood had darkened. Emmett too noticed this and rolled his eyes before charging down the hall with Lucy on his back. Her aunt Rosalie's tinkling laughter could be heard from the kitchen.
They entered, Jasper reluctantly trudging behind, to see Rose's adoring smile. Lucy caught glimpse of the scowl set towards her father. She –like every morning- ignored it.
Jasper sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck before handing his daughter lunch money, Rosalie scoffed and rolled her eyes before saying a bitter goodbye to her brother.
Lucy had a hatred for the school cafeteria food, you'd think a private school would offer a luxurious lunch, but yet like every other school they sold sludge. Jasper, oblivious that Rosalie made Lucy her lunch everyday, gave his daughter money. Rose hated this, seeing it as though he was paying his daughter instead of caring for her.
Jasper nodded at them before stepping outside and into his car.
Lucy watched her father drive of, this she did every morning, even on weekends. She would put her hand on the window and whisper goodbye.
Lucy danced sombrely into the kitchen. She headed for the bar stool affront the breakfast bar and hopped onto it. She loved the bar stool, she liked being able to look people in the eyes and not up to them.
Emmett stood poured her some Trix and orange juice. Emmett and Rosalie never fully understood why Lucy did it, but every morning she would pour her orange juice into her cereal and eat it, instead of milk. They would just watch amused.
Lucy didn't see the point in having them separate, she didn't like to waste time so she would devour them in one. After which she would give them a toothy grin and say; "silly rabbit, Trix is for kids..."
They would chuckle at the morning tradition that seemed to fit whatever cereal she ate. Be it any other sugary coated cereal.
Most parents wouldn't allow their children such things, but one; Rosalie and Emmett were not her parents, but her awesome aunt and uncle, two; Lucy was a healthy child, bar the cereals and three; they thought she deserved it, since she got up so early every morning. Plus they couldn't help but give in to her bright blue eyes and cheesy grin, well Emmett couldn't anyway.
Emmett saw Lucy as what his daughter would be like, he loved her so much and relished in the fact that he got to be her uncle. It was heartbreaking really, the day Emmett and Rosalie found out that Rosalie wouldn't be able to mother children after having two miscarriages in a month. In a way, Lucy had become their daughter over the past three years. They weren't possessive over her, knowing full well they weren't her parents, but loved her all the same.
Lucy hopped from the barstool with her bowl and plopped it into the sink, letting the water run over it for a minute before Rosalie took over. She thanked her aunt before dragging Emmett into the living room so they could watch their daily dose of cartoons. Emmett, childlike and immature as he was loved this moment of the day, because he adored cartoons but also he loved the tradition in which he would bond with his niece.
"Emm!" Lucy all but screamed when he flicked through the channels. "Go back one, please"
Emmett flicked back a channel, smiling when he saw last night's baseball replay. Personally, Emmett thought it was freaking awesome his niece had such a high interest in baseball.
Her eyes widened in that irresistible way and a small pout formed her lips. "Can we watch this, please Emmy?"
He weakened the moment she called him 'Emmy', that had always been his weak spot. He chuckled putting the controller down; it wasn't as if he was going to deny her baseball, hell he wouldn't deny his niece anything.
They spent the next hour watching television before Rosalie interrupted to hand Lucy her bag along with a paper brown bag.
"Your favourite, turkey, jelly, mustard and peanut butter sandwiches" Rose laughed.
Lucy thanked her with a wide grin, before Emmett scuffed the hair on her head.
"Your such an odd child" he teased, not fully realising how the comment got to her. To her odd was another word for freak and to her fellow classmates that was exactly what she was. Lucy didn't quite fit in with the preppy private school, she was sporty; a tomboy and in her school that lead to relentless bulling. So she was a little different, but who said normal was a good thing? Lucy never held back from a fight, she was a brutal warrior when someone overstepped the boundaries of name calling. Like the time little Victoria Nomad called Emmett the terminator, to an adult it was a harmless comment but Lucy didn't take well to kids name calling her family. Wendy ended up getting stitches and Lucy suspension for a week, it was surprising she still had a place in the school.
Lucy was her own person just like everyone else in the world, she's unique.
She flung the backpack over her shoulders and followed her aunt and uncle out the door, Emmett kissed her forehead goodbye before giving his wife a loving kiss, effectively making Lucy blanch, before he left in his car.
Rose and Lucy got into her red BMW before they drove down the road to Lucy personal hell.
As the reared the 'gateways of hell' Lucy groaned, Rose sent her an apologetic look, knowing about the bulling to which Jasper was oblivious to. Jasper only wanted Lucy to have a top notch education, he wanted his daughter to get straight A's and go on to be whatever she desired.
She hopped out the car, but not without a goodbye peck to her aunt and an un-awkward one armed hug.
Walking through the gates was always the worst part, all chatter would cease, all eyes would be on her, setting her cheeks ablaze. She would chuckle nervously letting her corn-silk blond hair cover her crimson stained cheeks.
Without fail, every morning Lucy would be stopped by someone, wanting to harass her. The usual suspects were; Victoria, James, Irina and Laurent. Lucy merely rolled her eyes in annoyance and awaited the onslaught of insults.
"Hey, loner" Victoria sneered.
"Hello, g-afro" Lucy said in mock kindness.
A look of confusion fluttered across Victoria's face as she raised an eyebrow. James growled while Laurent merely smiled sweetly at Lucy. Laurent had the largest crush on Lucy but grudgingly was out with Irina, the school's assistant sadist, Victoria being the head of course. It was rather sickening, everyone picked on her since she was moved up quicker, therefore being the youngest in the whole school.
Lucy rolled her eyes but her smirk never disappeared "its short for ginger afro"
Victoria's expression turned into one of anger, hate and shock. "Shut it, base ball player" she shouted, lacking creativity. Of course Victoria would turn to Lucy's lack of feminism, the fact that she murdered every Barbie she got but cherished every baseball.
Lucy held back her giggles before walking towards the school entrance. She shook her head, dancing her way through the halls to her first class. Home Skills with Mrs. Lament. Lucy intently loathed these classes, she tried getting out of it but since the school was sexist on many accounts she had been –like every other female student- to take Home Skills. She was also outraged that they refused to let her join the baseball team, saying it was 'a boys only team' yet no girls teams where available; probably since Lucy was the only girl begging for one.
She sighed sinking into her seat, -heated leather seat- she didn't understand what kind of school would actually supply chairs like these, next they would have back massagers and making the teens fruit cocktails from the arm rest. It was unfair that the school would invest on un-purposeful things such as luxury chairs but not equipment for a girl sports team. Which could benefit the school, if they entered the girl's middle school baseball championships, they would in some shape or form advertising their school. Advertising to charitable investors no doubt, yeah, so the school could get the special massage chairs.
She chewed on her pencil, a bad habit inherited from Jasper, while staring into space. Students began to fill the classroom after the warning bell, and sat in their chairs. The teacher began her lesson in her surprisingly nasally high voice, surprising since Mrs. Lament looked slightly male, so to say.
All the while Lucy thought about her father. Jasper was distanced, mostly in fear of screwing everything up. He didn't take the proposal of failure to well.
The day began to slowly blur, her class experience could be excused by voluntary amnesia.
As she left the school gates. She ignored the hurtful comments from the students and headed for the bus stop, leading into town.
The first bus to arrive was luckily hers, the driver waited impatiently for her to stumble into a seat before driving forward.
Lucy sat emotionless, staring out the window, blurred images calling out to her.
She shook her head and sighed, before playing with her plaited her hair. She gazed at the people in the streets, scurrying, smiling, frowning, all emotions found in one little glance.
When arriving upon the office, she smiled sweetly at Rochelle, the receptionist.
"Hey honey" Rochelle greeted.
Lucy walked towards her desk. "Hello Rochelle. Is my d-Is Jasper here yet?" she corrected herself, it almost hurt to call Jasper her father.
Rochelle's eyes shone in sympathy as she shook her head.
"How was school?"
Lucy shrugged. "Same old, same old" not feeling the need to elaborate, Rochelle knew about the bullying since the school contacted the office whenever something happened but Rochelle promised Lucy she would keep this from her father.
"The spiteful red head still bothering you?"
Lucy nodded whilst shrugging indifferently.
Rochelle sighed, twirling her chocolate -almost black- hair into an awkward, restraint bun. She dropped her hair back into its natural form.
"Why don't you tell him, honey?"
Lucy groaned "Why would he care?" she walked toward the reception sofa and lay down, relishing the silence.
Rochelle frowned sadly, glancing at Lucy every now and again.
When Jasper finally did arrive, Lucy watched him and Rochelle talk, not missing the knowing head movements towards Lucy. She sighed looking back down to her current interest, a Sci-Fi book Emmett had bought her, under strict rules from Rosalie that he was not to buy Lucy horror books.
Jasper cleared his throat, smiling at Lucy. "Hey"
"Hi, Jasper" Lucy smiled back, dropping her book and following him into his office.
Lucy slumped into the sofa opposite Jasper's conservative leather chair.
Lucy fiddled nervously "Jasper?"
He nodded his head, waiting for her to talk. Jasper watched as Lucy fiddled with her long corn-silk hair that was pulled into a side plait, courtesy of Rose. She gazed nervously at Jasper meeting his cold yet homely blue eyes.
"I wanted to ask you something..." she cut off, nervous of his answer.
"Go on" he urged.
Lucy sat crossed legged and slouched, which Jasper noticed. He could sense her discomfort that was rolling of her in waves.
"Well, baseball season will be soon and I was wondering if you would come for my teams opening game?"
Lucy watched as Jasper pushed some manila file away from him to look at his daughter. She looked up, warily to see Jasper smile. She knew her father had played baseball for his school in Forks and she knew that the mention of baseball made Jasper happy. She also knew she could never compare since she played for a local street team since her school refused to have a female baseball team.
Jasper shrugged "Sure, when is it?"
She breathed out, grinning, happy that her father agreed. He had never been to one game, not realising how significant it was, Lucy being the only female in her team, luckily though she had persuaded Tanya and Kate who lived down the street to join and they would be next week.
"Thank you" Lucy rejoiced, jumping up leaving the room.
She returned to the couch, picking up her book and travelling through the minds of characters. It wasn't long before she drifted of into sleep.
Jasper didn't depart his office, knowing his mistake, losing track of time. Lucy would be asleep and he would have to make that same phone call that he does so often. Jasper pressed speed-dial two, ringing straight to Rosalie's phone.
"Hello?" her voice was kind and happy.
Jasper wrung his hand through his hair before breathing out "Hey Rose..."
A angry grunt came from the receiver, Rosalie growling. "You have got to be kidding me Jasper?"
"You can't keep Lucy at the office this late... doing nothing. This is fucking ridiculous, she's your daughter."
Jasper stood from his chair in rage. "Rose..." but he was cut off by Rose's abrupt words.
"Emmett and I will be there in twenty minutes."
Jasper slipped out from his office to see Lucy curled up in the light blue couch in the waiting area. He sighed, sitting opposite and watching as she slept. He smiled amused by her hazy mumbles as e=he brushed her hair behind her ear. He liked this time, no awkwardness, unsure what to say, he just sat with his daughter, in silence the way he liked it.
He hated how quickly the twenty minutes passed before Rose and Emmett walked in.
Rose glared at Jasper, tugging at her corn-silk hair that resembled her nieces. Lucy got her appearances from her father's side, looking more like her aunt than her father.
Emmett grinned at Jasper. In the beginning they had been close until Rose started to hate her brother for not treating Lucy right.
Pulling sleeping Lucy into his arms, Emmett sent him a apologetic look. Jasper just waited for Rose to blow and that she did.
"You're a fucking tool, you know that?" she whisper yelled, careful to not wake Lucy.
"Fuck, Rose. I lost track of time, alright!" Jaspers voice cloned Rosalie's.
She snorted. "Fucking grow up, third time this week and it's only Thursday night." she followed Emmett who carried Lucy before turning back to her brother "We'll take Lucy to school tomorrow"
Tomorrow was a Friday meaning it was a half day, Lucy loved Fridays since she went to Emmett ad Rosalie's after and stayed over the weekend, whilst Jasper drowned his sorrows in bourbon.
Emmett carefully set Lucy down in the back, buckling her up.
"Sleep good m little one" he whispered before kissing her temple and climbing into the car with his wife.
Rosalie held his hand, trying to keep herself together, she hated arguing with her brother. She loved him she just couldn't understand him.
Rosalie had been trying for children with Emmett since before she could remember and yet her brother conceived a child without even trying then unowingly neglecting her. This is what enraged Rosalie.
~oOo~
So what do you think, it wasn't to rushed was it? Lucy's parts are harder but crucial for later in the story.
Please review it makes my day and also motivates me into thinking that people read my story so I must update.
