A/N: DON'T HIT ME FOR THE VOLTERRA THING. You'll see what I'm planning in the next chapter or two :] As always, please read and review! xo Ana
Alayna was afraid to tell Jasper about her decision to go to Volterra. Part of her didn't want him to go if they were as dangerous as he made them sound, and yet a larger part of her wanted him to go with her, to shelter her, to protect her. She shook the last thought away. Carlisle was going with her and he would ensure her safety. When she had brought up money Carlisle had generously waved away her concerns, telling her that in the name of research (he told them she had a rare, incurable disease he didn't understand), the hospital was paying for everything.
She couldn't help but think of her aunt. She had been told that the tests Carlisle wanted to run couldn't be conducted here (truth) and the only place to do it was Italy (more truth). When they arrived back at Amy's house after Alayna's release from the hospital, they parked and opted for pizza and movies before Alayna finally began drifting to sleep. Amy helped her up the stairs and into her bed, setting her alarm for school the next day.
Alayna woke the next morning, comfortably sleepy and not wanting to wake up. She skipped her morning run, stretched her limbs instead and going about her normal routine, throwing on a pair of jeans, sneakers, and a plain white fitted tee. She looped a brown, leather belt through her belt loops, wrapped a scarf loosely around her neck, and curled her hair. She hurried down the stairs, already knowing not to expect to see Amy in the mornings. Grabbing a Pop-Tart and her car keys, she raced for the door, knowing Emmett would probably kill her if she was late again. She made it to school, parking her car and bolting for her first class. She met Emmett and Alice inside, pushing her desk between theirs. Each laid their arm against hers and she gasped. All three minds were instantly linked.
Emmett? Alice's musical voice tinkled in Alayna's mind.
Yep, Emmett responded.
So weird, Alayna chimed in. All three laughed together quietly, Alayna burying her head in her arm.
So what's up with you and Jasper? Alice asked with a smirk. Alayna's eyes grew wide, although neither Cullen could see it.
Nothing, Alayna replied hesitantly. But there is something I have to tell you guys. Alayna let her mind wander over her memories of the Italy conversation with Carlisle and both of her friends were quiet, though each for separate reasons. Alice was thoughtful, carefully going over everything Alayna had shown her again and again and searching the future for how the Volturi would react to their visit while Emmett was silently fuming.
No, Alayna, he said stiffly. Absolutely not. You don't know what they're capable of. Alayna sighed, finally raising her head and turning her eyes on Emmett.
You don't know what it means for me to do this, Em, she said, her eyes sad. This could be the answer to every question I've been asking myself since we discovered this talent of mine. Emmett moved his arm from hers and moved his desk away stubbornly, crossing his arms over his broad chest and refusing to look at either of the two girls to his right. Alayna laid her head on Alice's arm and Alice used her other hand to smooth Alayna's hair. The hour passed slowly, Alice soothing Alayna the whole time. Alayna wasn't looking forward to her next class, where she only had Emmett. She hated that he was angry with her, and wasn't sure how she would survive the coming hour. The bell sounded for class to end and Alice shot her an apologetic smile before disappearing into the crowd in the opposite direction as Emmett and Alayna.
They walked in silence, neither knowing what to say and neither willing to apologize. The hour passed miserably for Alayna, who kept unsuccessfully trying to catch Emmett's attention. Eventually, she gave up and just laid her chin on her folded arms. Class ended and Alayna barely noticed. Numbly, she made her way to Bio and Alice immediately questioned Alayna on the class she had without her. Alayna simply shook her head and refused to let Alice touch her. She bolted from her seat the second the bell rang and nearly raced to French, desperate to see Jasper and even more desperate for him to change her emotions. She plopped into her seat next to him and buried her face in her arms as tears coursed down her face.
"Alayna?" Jasper's voice was perplexed and she knew he was having a hard time understanding her waves of depression, anxiousness and regret. His cold fingers brushed her hand, trying to make her look at him, his mind begging hers to help him understand. She let one sentence float through her mind before moving away from Jasper's hand, I got in a fight with Emmett, but I can't tell you why. Jasper moved to sit back against his chair.
"If I ask Emmett or Alice, will they tell me why you're so upset?" Alayna picked up her head, her blue eyes looking straight at him, her face streaked with tears. She felt a lurch of pain course through her that she was sure came from Jasper, not herself. After the pain, she felt calm float over her and she visibly relaxed.
"Please don't ask them," she whispered. Jasper leaned back over to her and wiped the tears from her face with his thumbs, and at the contact, Alayna heard the indecision in Jasper's mind. How can I listen to her wishes when I would do anything to make her stop crying? He seemed to have forgotten she could hear him, but at her realization of this, he pulled away. He must have felt her hurt pang at him like it did her because he smiled at her. The smile didn't reach his eyes, though, and that hurt Alayna more. She pulled her face further from his hands, wiping it on her sleeve and staring ahead, pretending to pay attention to the lecture that had just begun while being very aware that Jasper's eyes never left her slouched form. Calculus passed at an almost painfully slow pace, and when it ended, Alayna bolted from the room. She intended to make it to the lunch room and to Bella before Jasper could find Emmett or Alice and ask them why she was so upset.
She reached her destination quickly, sliding into the seat beside Bella. Bella immediately turned her attention from whatever Jessica was telling her to Alayna.
"Where have you been?" she hissed. "I nearly had a heart attack when Emmett told me that you were in the hospital." Alayna groaned and made a mental note to kill Emmett later for his inability to keep his mouth shut. She looked up at him to find him watching them, trying unsuccessfully to make it look like he wasn't. Alayna shook her fist menacingly at him and both he and Bella burst into laughter at the shorter girl's empty threat.
"I had a seizure," she said, keeping her voice low to try and keep others out of their conversation.
"A seizure?!" Bella blurted. Alayna glared at her icily as everyone at their table turned to stare.
"Way to tell the world!" Alayna exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air. Everyone seated near them started bombarding her with questions and she growled angrily.
"I don't want to fucking talk about it!" she yelled as the seventh person asked her what happened. She turned her attention back to Bella, who looked sincerely apologetic.
"I'm not angry with you, Bella," she promised. "I just hate people who pretend to care just for a story." Bella nodded and raised an eyebrow.
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" she asked her friend. Alayna couldn't help but crack a small smile despite her irritation.
"Not right now," she said, "but later when everyone is preoccupied, sure." Both girls laughed and the conversation turned, despite the fact that she desperately wanted to know what Bella knew. Bella and Alayna pulled Angela and Jessica into a conversation about odd-tasting cafeteria food that kept them laughing. Looking back up at Edward, Alayna let a question of whether or not Bella knew about his mind reading float through her mind. His eyes locked with hers and he shook his head hesitantly.
And you don't want me to tell her, she guessed. He nodded again, looking relieved she understood him. The corners of her mouth twitched in a smile.
Your secret's safe with me, she promised. Am I allowed to tell her about me? Can I test it on her? Edward let frustration and over-concentration fill his features and Alayna tried to guess his meaning again.
You don't want me to push it? You don't want me to hurt her? Edward shook his head almost too quickly for her to see.
You don't think it will work? Edward's face changed into one of praise at her excellence in their guessing game.
Why not? Edward simply pointed to himself subtly and shook his head at the same speed as before.
You can't hear her?! Alayna's guess was dead on and Edward smiled wryly.
Is she the only one? Alayna asked. Edward smiled that same smile and nodded a little.
"Woah," Alayna muttered, looking away from Edward with a slight headache. She squeezed her eyes shut and popped them open again while pinching the bridge of her nose, hoping to relieve the pain. Serenity flowed over at her, and for the first time that lunch, Alayna looked over at Jasper. It couldn't have come from him, she realized. Not with the immense anger she saw written on his face. She looked down, unsurprised that his anger seemed to be directed at her. Bella, having seen the entire interaction with Jasper, was staring openly at Alayna. She elbowed her friend sharply and Alayna turned to her.
"What was that?" she whispered. Alayna smiled unhappily and the bell rang not five seconds later.
"Just more of what I have to tell you later. Come to my place after school?" Bella nodded quickly before both girls got up to leave. Heading to her history class alone, Alayna was caught off guard when something- or someone, she supposed- hard and cold pressed her against the wall. She looked up to find Jasper glaring angrily at her.
"Are you insane?" His voice was low, dangerous, and angry. Alayna sighed, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose again. It was a stressed habit she couldn't seem to break. When she opened her eyes, she looked right into Jasper's. They were darker in that moment, bordering on black.
"That depends on why you're asking me that question," she said, bringing her hands to rest on her hips. Jasper's hands rested on the wall on either side of her head and his tall frame rested heavily on hers.
"Why are you going to Italy?" he demanded. Alayna sighed and let her head fall forward, resting her forehead on his chest. She hated the feeling of not knowing how to make him understand.
"I need to know why this is happening," she told him softly. "I need to know how to control it; how to use it in a good way. And if Aro can help me, I'm all for Italy." Jasper's anger, which Alayna was starting to see as a cover for his fear, heightened.
"Don't you know what they could do to you?" his voice was growing louder and they were gaining spectators.
"Jasper," she said soothingly, placing her hand on his arm, rubbing it gently. Jasper's mood was shifting so suddenly that Alayna could barely keep up with him.
"Please, Alayna," he said, turning his tortured eyes on hers. "I'll beg if that's what it takes to make you stay." She knew he was serious, but no amount of begging- even from Jasper, who Alayna was pretty sure she'd die to please- could convince her to change her mind. Alayna stared into Jasper's eyes and stood straight up, just tall enough to let the fingers of the hand that wasn't resting on his arm brush across his forehead and down the side of his face, tracing his cheek and jawbone with her fingertips. She held his cheek in her hand as she spoke to him.
"Carlisle is going with me," she said, hoping her voice sounded as soothing as she meant it to. She could feel his anger dissipate completely and his fear take over, nearly drowning them both.
"No," he whispered.
"I'm sorry," she said, her face serious, "but I'm going to Italy."
"They'll persuade you into becoming one of them. Alayna, they'll keep you forever and I'll never see you again." Alayna rolled her eyes at him and tried to lighten the mood.
"They can't keep me forever. I've got to die sometime, haven't I?" Jasper shook his head before letting it fall to her shoulder. She ran her fingers through his curly blonde hair and felt his fear begin to fade. He sighed quietly and Alayna listened carefully to Jasper's next words.
"Not if they turn you into one of us." Alayna jerked her head up as Jasper lifted his from her shoulder and disappeared down the hall. One of them? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Alayna wondered as she made her way to History. She sat beside him like always, but he didn't look at her, speak to her or even manipulate her emotions all hour, no matter how hard she tried to catch his eye.
