So yeah, I was trying to hurry and get the last chapter up, so I forgot to put an author's note. So, here is one if you even read these. I hoped that you liked reading some more from Jasper, and since I wanted to make sure to write from at least every Cullen's point of view, I had to stop and start writing someone else. And with that as a nice little transition, here is Alice!!! She was very fun to write also--all of these have been interesting in different ways. Alice is much perkier than I usually am, so it was different trying to write as someone who is so energetic. But it came out, though some parts gave me a little difficulty. I hope that you enjoy this one, too!
Unable to contain my excitement, I squeezed Jasper's hand. He looked down at me and smiled, obviously feeling the effects of my joy. I just grinned brighter.
Edward was outside helping Bella get out of her car, and then I heard his laughter.
I loved the sound. I was happier than ever knowing that Edward had finally found someone who could make him happy, someone he could be with forever.
And he and Bella would be together forever—whether it was him that made it so or not, it would happen. I had seen it in multiple visions, and knew that it was only a matter of time before Bella officially joined our family.
Edward then opened the door, and Bella stepped through. We all cheered a chorus of 'Happy Birthday!' and she flushed from embarrassment.
I knew that she hadn't wanted to celebrate her birthday, but this would probably be her last chance to do so as a human—vampire birthdays were kind of a joke—and I wouldn't let her miss it. I was really doing this for her own good.
Okay, so maybe I just loved the decorating and throwing a great party, but still. She deserved to be shown some kind of appreciation for making Edward as happy as he was.
Carlisle and Esme greeted her first, followed by Emmett, who then exited through the front door to begin installation of Bella's new truck stereo. Knowing her like I did, I suspected that she would attempt to return it if at all possible.
Not a chance, I thought, my smile growing.
"Time to open presents," I proclaimed, pulling Bella by the arm to the table that held her cake and presents. I picked up Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper's present first. The box was empty, and I smiled at the puzzled expression on Bella's face—obviously suspicious of the feel of it.
She then ripped off the wrapping paper and stared at the lid for a moment, trying to decipher what it said. The mix of numbers and letters confused her further, and she decided to open it.
She said a hesitant thanks.
Rosalie actually smiled, and Jasper laughed, explaining what it was. She smiled then, and said a real thanks to everyone, calling louder to Emmett, who was still in her truck.
I imagined Bella's truck was giving him a hard time—I had hoped that the stereo would work for it, but one never knew what to expect when dealing with a truck that old.
Emmett laughed, and I picked up my and Edward's present next. I thought that Carlisle and Esme's would be a better one to end with.
"Open mine and Edward's next," I said, handing her the small silver-wrapped square.
I could barely contain my excitement now, the combination of Bella's fun with Edward's complete happiness along with the joy of having someone human that I could live through—to feel what it's like to be human.
She turned to glare at Edward, and reminded him of his promise to not spend any money. I laughed, and after Edward reassured her, she turned and held out her hand.
The rest of my family had drifted in for a closer look—while both Edward and I knew what the other presents were, we hadn't told anyone what we were planning to give Bella.
I handed her the package, rolling her eyes for show, and pushed her finger under the edge of the paper. She jerked it out, and when she did, a single drop of blood pooled on her finger.
I froze.
Then Jasper leapt at Bella, and Edward pushed Bella backwards into the table to block her from the attack.
Everything fell onto the floor underneath Bella—cake and now shattered plates included. Blood poured from the gash in her left arm, and the aroma of her blood thickened the air.
I stopped breathing, trying to contain the monster that roiled within me. Venom was burning my throat, and though I tried to swallow the burning liquid, it was to no avail.
Jasper crashed into Edward, and snapped just past Edward's head toward Bella, who was staring at the display with pure terror in her eyes.
Emmett tried to restrain Jasper, but couldn't contain him alone—Jasper continued to struggle to get past Edward and to Bella, his prey.
Why had I not seen this coming? I thought, consumed with guilt that I hadn't been able to prevent this from happening. I should have seen this coming.
"Emmett, Rose, get Jasper outside," Carlisle commanded. Rosalie somewhat reluctantly stepped in front of Jasper.
Even as Rosalie and Emmett were pulling against him, making their way to the back door that Esme was now holding open, Jasper struggled in a blind fury. He twisted and fought, but finally was out the door and in clear air.
As Edward reluctantly gave Carlisle room to attend to Bella, I ran and got a towel. I offered it to Carlisle, but he shook his head, saying that there was too much glass in the wound.
He tore off a strip of the tablecloth and wound it around Bella's arm, just above the elbow—a makeshift tourniquet. When Bella told him that she preferred that he treated it here, rather than the hospital, Edward picked her up and carried her to the kitchen table.
He hadn't been breathing since she had given herself the paper cut.
I ran to get Carlisle's black medical bag, needing to catch another breath of fresh air, and also grabbed a desk light.
Edward was still hovering over Bella, overly protective. And he still wasn't breathing.
Bella asked Edward to go, and he refused—I could have seen that coming without any extra senses. She insisted, and then Carlisle told him to go find Jasper.
"You might as well do something useful," I agreed, knowing that Carlisle was correct in saying that Jasper wouldn't listen to anyone but Edward right now.
Edward, I directed my thoughts at him. Bella will be fine with Carlisle. There's no need to stay here when you could be of more help elsewhere, I urged.
He glared at the three of us, then silently sprinted out the back door.
I watched as Carlisle carefully and efficiently pull out piece after piece of glass from Bella's arm. The pile of shards by her elbow grew, and I wondered how much more could possibly be in the wound.
I might as well take my own advice, I thought, thinking of Jasper and Edward. They both were no doubt wallowing in self-guilt.
I worried about what Edward would do soon. I wasn't getting any visions about what his reaction would be—but he did have a tendency to over-react to anything that put Bella in any sort of danger.
I snuck silently out the door Edward had left through, throwing a small smile Bella's way.
As soon as I was out of her sight, I sped into the night, begging a vision to come.
Disclaimer: I still do not own Twilight. If I did, I would be at the Cullen house, making Edward play me ballads he wrote for me on the piano, having Jasper cook me a romantic Italian dinner, having Emmett pick up the wedding ring that Edward ordered for me, and be sitting in Carlisle's lap having him feed me chocolate covered strawberries. Yes, sadly I have way too much time on my hands for fantasizing about the Cullen boys. Oh well. I'm not complaining!
Please review!!! I love reading any that I can get! You guys rock! I love all my readers (and I especially love my reviewers!)
Also, sorry it took so long to get up. I have been banned from the computer lately. There have just been some...circumstances...involving that, but I'm back and good as new! Look for an update soon!