Chapter Four

Jasper POV

"This isn't going to end well," Emmett says angry once Nessie's van was completely out of sight.

I scoff loudly. "You think I don't know that?"

"Then why are you delaying the inevitable? We can't not take her home forever," he continues, getting more flustered and edgy with each second.

In an attempt to keep myself rational and calm, I block out most of his words so it's all just white noise like the sounds of the suburban life around us.

I hadn't been in Texas since I was a newborn with Maria, and being back here wasn't one of my most pleasant experiences.

Renesmee had learnt enough from my survival training to know that by coming here—somewhere so hot and bright—that she would have the upper hand for the twelve or so hours of daylight that restricted our movements to the shadows each day, while she was free to roam about with nothing more than a shimmer from her skin.

". . . and then I think it would be best if we demolished every house we own," Emmett said, looking at me expectantly when he was done talking.

"What?!" I blanch.

His expression was tight within a moment. "I knew you weren't listening to me."

I let my eyes drop to the ground and sigh heavily. "Sorry."

"You said that if you found her, that you'd let me go get her. Then when we get the chance, you tell me no, that it's too risky in the sun and that we can do it later. I don't know about you, Jasper, but I'm getting fairly sick of this country-wide game of tag." As soon as he was done speaking, Emmett began walking away, not allowing for me to reply.

Not that I really wanted to or had anything to say . . .

I'm sorry, I thought again.

As bad as I felt for the poor girl and as much as I agree with her that she was better off out here for the time being, I still didn't want to keep it going for the sake of Emmett and Alice and Rose.

"Call Alice!" Emmett says over his shoulder. "Let her know about the van so they've got some chance of catching her too."

This shit is ridiculous, I think as I pull out my cell and dial in Alice's number.

It rings for just one second before she's on the other end.

"Hi, Jasper," she says pleasantly.

"Hi. Ness has a white van now that she picked up at some stage last night. The license plate's 697 HZX. Just figured you should know."

"If you were that close that you saw the license plate, why didn't you just grab her?" Alice asks immediately.

"She was in the sun and there were too many people. We're at a mall parking lot," I explain, knowing that she'll accept it.

"Bad luck. She knows what she's doing, that's for sure."

I laugh wryly. "Yeah, I trained her to be able to escape from other vampires. I didn't ever think that she'd want to escape us."

"Well done," Alice laughs too. "So where are you? We'll head over that way and try to cut her off when she's leaving."

"Houston," I answer quickly, trying to keep the reluctance out of my tone.

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