*Update Note

This chapter has been fixed by the most amazing beta: SheikahLover

A gigantic thank you to her, by the way. The changes have made a world of difference. Seriously, I cannot express how grateful I am for the changes. *


Chapter 7:

It was a simple word. Two syllables, five letters, and two vowels.

Frankly, it was a word with enough power to render Erica stunned. Or maybe it was the way it was uttered. Either way, she was frozen in shock with the way it was said, unlike any other way she had heard it before. As she thought about deeply it, such as the way that they all spoke, had her frightened. Their tone possessed a quality Erica had never heard in her entire life. Erica knew she had no right to pass judgement, as she didn't even have a voice to announce her views and beliefs. Her belief was strong, forceful enough to convince her that the Cullens were wrong. And them speaking to her only solidified her opinion.

"Hello?"

That shocking word was repeated. Erica, strangely, felt the urge to shove the pale figure away and slam the expensive looking glass door shut with all her might.


"This isn't fair." Erica stressed, her fingers straining from the speed she signed at.

Sitting next to her, on the time worn dining chair pulled up to the computer, was Amy. The girl had clipped her dark bangs back with a bright purple elastic band, the shine of it reflected into Erica's eyes each time Amy turned away from the computer.

"Yeah, I'm not seeing that." Amy told her, swinging around a spoon. When she opened her mouth, Erica could see peanut butter stuck on her lower molars.

Erica shook her head, the tuffs of blonde hair narrowly missing Amy's projectile. "Well, you're not the one who has to see the Cullen house later."

There would have been silence in the air, while Erica signed, had Amy not been tapping away at the faded keyboard. Upon Erica's insistent pleas, they were going to pull up more information on Jasper Whitlock. Amy, though, didn't need much to sway her, her dear friend revealing that she wanted more information as well. However, Erica didn't let on that she found Amy's theories ridiculous. There was a certain limit to hearing how much Jasper could be reincarnated, or even more ridiculous: immortal.

"Well boo hoo, sorry you have to see several attractive teenagers in their most vulnerable state." The sarcasm was fatal; Erica might have felt the verbal blow more if Amy didn't speak with a muffled mouth full.

"Ha ha, you're so—"

Erica didn't have the chance to finish, her hands being slapped away. The silver spoon was covered in a sludgy mix of saliva and peanut butter, the paste ending up smeared on the back of Erica's hand, much to her annoyance.

"Shh!" Amy hissed, her hunched figure straining over so far that Erica couldn't even see the screen. Amy was so immersed into whatever was on the screen that she didn't move even when Erica rubbed her hand clean on the girl's purple shirt sleeve.

After a long minute of patiently waiting, Erica moved to get up. She wondered what gossip article had gathered her friend's attention. The long sharp scrape of wood against wood briefly filled the air, which surprisingly caught Amy's eye. With the sudden shift of her body, Erica was able to see the screen. In black and white grainy quality, was a picture of a soldier: A Confederate soldier. A soldier ranking as a major. A soldier named Jasper Whitlock.

Amy, Erica saw, had blown the picture up onto a word document page, pasting down a rough over look on him below it. What was written wasn't new to Erica, however the picture was.

"God, even his nose is the same." Amy sighed, dropping herself upright in her seat.

"How do you even know that?" Erica crinkled her own nose up, seating herself as well.

Amy scoffed in response. "Uh, how do you not?"

Not waiting for a reply, she suddenly squealed. "Look how cute it is!"

Amy, looking back with a wide smile and pinched eyes, noticed the flat look on Erica's face. "Right, right, I put together what you asked for."

Erica nodded in thanks, watching as Amy pushed a few keys. Soon enough, the printer lit up and a paper was spat out.

"It's perfect, thanks." Erica told her, skimming her eyes over the content.

Across the room, placed on top of her dining room, was a small pile of after schoolwork. With quick hands, Erica easily slipped the paper between the instructions for a lab report.

She didn't know what she expected exactly, only that it may give her answers.


Erica regretted asking Amy's mother for a ride. Dealing with Amy and her coos was bad enough, but coupled with her mother was terrifying.

"You know if I wasn't a married woman I would definitely—"

"Mom!" Amy's giggles covered up the rest of Mrs. Clears' statement, much to Erica's relief, which quickly dispersed as soon as Amy began speaking again.

"How illegal is it to get married at eighteen to a seventeen-year old?"

Erica wondered if slamming her head against the glass window would excuse her from both the conversation and the reason for the car ride to the Cullen house.

As they spoke, a growing fear developed in her. A deep pit that seemed to only be filled with panic. Her heart even seemed to ache with nerves.

With each passing tree, the pit in her became bigger and bigger.

"Alright, girls, we're here."

The home was impressive. The long drive way they took was framed with immaculately and casual landscaping, as was the surrounding grounds. Each tree and stone was done to blend in with Fork's own nature. The dark and orange toned wood was what framed level upon level of multiple glass walls. There were several visible decks and balcony points. The shine against the windows hid any prying eyes from seeing inside. Honestly, Erica was acutely stunned. Amy was worse; she was so impressed that she couldn't stop swooning to her mother.

"Let's go!" Amy jumped out of the van, pausing for Erica to gather Jasper Hale's schoolwork.

As Erica walked up the dirt driveway, she wondered if any other students had been by to deliver work. She would have thought that to be her own unique punishment, had she not seen a random junior driving in the opposite direction on their way through the private property.

As Erica walked up the steps, she kept chanting her hopes of no one being home in her mind. She knew Amy would complain at missing her only chance of speaking to them, but it would be a thousand times worth it.

Sadly, Erica knew that one needed to take their cars with them to go camping, as the Cullens often did. They must have come back home, much to Erica's disappointment, as she saw two cars parked perfectly right before the garage.

The front porch was just as amazing as the rest of the house. Several cement steps provided relief to Erica's canvas shoes, Erica embarrassingly almost stepping in the potted greenery built in the steps. She held back, walking even slower on the leveled ground leading to the door. Amy didn't share her sentiments, instead bursting forward and easily ringing the doorbell. Erica thought that the chime even sounded graceful.

Looking back, Amy flashed a wide smile, bouncing on her toes. Erica wished the ground would eat her up.

From her stare on the ground, Erica could barely hear voices drifting closer to the door. Curious enough, she didn't hear footsteps. However, almost instantly after her thought, several loud thumps of shoes against wood made their way closer to them.

"Oh my, I saw Edward!" Amy whispered back to her friend. The loudness startled her.

Shaking in her simple dress and shoes, Erica heard the door swing open quietly.

"Hello?"

Erica froze in her shoes, in front of her she could hear Amy do the same.


"Hello?" The female voice repeated.

Erica recovered faster than Amy, lifting her head up. The tall figure of Mrs. Cullen smiled, shifting her attention over to Erica. Pinching the paper between her fingers, she jabbed Amy in the back.

"I'm here to give Jasper his work—homework." Erica stumbled through her signing, something that hadn't happened since she first began signing all those years ago.

A crease developed between Mrs. Cullen's eyebrows, though it did nothing to mar her perfect face. Erica blushed, waiting for Amy to do her job.

"Oh!" Amy burst out suddenly , startling Erica. "She said she, well we, are here because we have Jasper's homework."

"It wasn't exactly my choice. I might be mute, but I have things to do on Mondays. Like not being here." Erica felt free enough to sign her thoughts, knowing that only Amy could translate. Erica maintained a small smile as she moved her hands, almost slipping up and laughing at Amy's jab.

"What did she say there?" Mrs. Cullen questioned her voice incomparable to anything Erica had ever heard.

Amy even blushed, "Just agreeing with what I said!" She spoke loudly, as if her verbal tone could cover up Erica's ramble of honest nerves.

Mrs. Cullen nodded slowly. "Alright, well, thank you."

When the woman smiled, Erica briefly wondered if she would consider adopting her as well. After all, a mute might help balance out the family of gorgeous people.

From behind Mrs. Cullen, a snort of laughter echoed within the large house. Erica almost wanted to know what caused someone's amusement.

She shook her thoughts away, handing Amy the papers. Amy happily passed the papers to Mrs. Cullen.

"Well, bye."

"She says have a great night!" Amy pulled on Erica, almost reluctantly leaving the porch.

Behind them, the door quietly shut. Erica couldn't hear the door shut; maybe the dead air was just that silent.

"I think that went well."

"... Sure it did Amy."


A/N: No Jasper yet... yet.

No reviews at all for the last chapter either. :(

On another note, what do you think of Erica so far? Is she pessimistic, realistic, or optimistic? What's your opinion of the plot?