AN: I know it's been a while but I've been spinning new ideas and trying to work with time. I hope you like this new chapter, and please let me know what you think.
Aurora: Charlie's house, living room.
I sat down on the couch to collect my thoughts and make a to-do list. Then got back up, grabbed a peace of stationary from my backpack, and a pencil from the kitchen drawer (don't ask why there was a pencil in a kitchen drawer) and again sat down. I started my list but decided it was too vague so, starting over I tried to be more thorough. When I was finished it turned out like this:
To-Do
Check wards.
Make new alarms and walls
Talk to Andy and get him a protective necklace
Talk to the Cullens and Charlie
Prepare for Jasen
As I worked on my list I was aware that Alice and Eve were in the kitchen talking to each other quietly. I knew they knew about Jasen because when I was heading to the bathroom to splash some water on my face after my panic attack, they read his note. But currently they were not asking me questions, and letting me collect my thoughts. I appreciated that but I knew I wouldn't last long. I could sense their impatience for answers and a strategy and I was just as eager to get this problem behind me.
I started by calling Bella and telling her some of the sketchy details, and then to ask if she would get the others to meet at the house tonight to talk about a strategy. Then I called Andy and asked if he would come over as soon as possible. He didn't ask questions, and told me he was already in his car. I decided to skip numbers one and two on my list until we had some kind of plan, and that left number five on the list.
I took out my MP3 player that I had bought recently with some of my secret stash of money, and turned it onto my play list. Then went out onto the tiny porch and sat on top of the railing crossed legged, Indian style. Balancing, I turned up the music and closed my eyes. The music worked, soon enough I was singing and relaxing. The outside world was left behind and I was able to ground (release my excess energy) out all of the stress and frustration I had been feeling for the last few weeks.
Suddenly, warm, strong arms were around me and my eyes shot open. But before my brain registered who it was that was hugging me my powers reacted and, like when I had met Jacob, a small dose of electricity sprung form my fingertips. The shock was not very strong, but it was enough to get the figure to wobble and tip backwards before they regained their balance.
"Hey what was that for, I'm sorry if you didn't want to be hugged but you just sounded so sad on the phone?" I jumped up and gave him a big hug that stopped his questions. And I was very happy that I had grounded or I could have really hurt him. It was never good when I was surprised and stressed at the same time, the shock would have been much larger. Andy stared down at me confused and I gave him a small smile.
"I'm sorry I shocked you, I was surprised and I didn't know who it was. Are you ok, did I hurt you?" I asked him worried. He just smiled at me for the longest moment, and then he leaned down and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips.
"It's ok, I'm fine, don't worry. Are you ok, you seem stressed? What happened?"
"Let's go inside," I said. And then I took his hand and we went inside to the living room.
After we got comfortable on the couch I started explaining what had happened. Including the note and the threat Jasen had subtly made. He sat, listening intently with a concerned look on his face wile I talked, and only asked a few questions here and there to elaborate. When I finally stopped talking he was quiet. I was worried that he wouldn't want to be around me now that I was a target, and the silence was making me anxious.
I resolved that I wouldn't be the first to break the silence though. Instead I concentrated on him. It seemed like weeks ago that we were sharing our first kiss, when really it was earlier that morning. I was amazed that he was mine and I took my time to look at him.
I have never been the girl to judge just on looks, so when I fell in love with him it wasn't because he was handsome. But when I looked now I could see what I had overlooked. Andy had charm, and he was perfect. He had dark soft hair that was a bit unruly. Long arms and legs with strong tawny muscle surrounding them. His shoulders were square and sitting this close I could feel how warm and strong his chest was. But these things were not what really stole me away.
It was his face that made me breathless. His face, like the rest of his body, was strong with bold features and his dark honey-smooth skin was stretched over those features now in a thoughtful expression. But I could clearly see the soft gentleness that was inside him, and he seemed to have a calming nature in his face. The next thing I noticed was his eyes. Though it was common to have dark hair and dark eyes, his eyes were special. The gleamed with a light I had never seen, and where the most fascinating thing.
He noticed me studying him and shifted self-consciously. And then he moved a bit closer and wrapped his arms around me. I smiled up at him and he frowned. "What are you thinking love?" he asked quietly. I liked the way he said love, it made me happy to here him call me that, even though everything was so messed up.
"I was thinking about you, and us, and wondering what you were thinking." I told him. He smiled just the tiniest smile at me. Then bent down and gave me a long scorching kiss. Our lips seemed to fit together perfectly, and I deepened the kiss. Reaching up, I wrapped my arms around his neck while his arms tightened around my waist, pulling me even closer. He pressed down on me and I laid back on the couch, letting him hover above me. His hands moved to either side of my head to support his weight as he looked down at me.
I couldn't read his expression, but I was having a hard time concentrating on anything other than how close we were to each other. I started to lean up to pull him down to me when he stopped me.
"What's wrong?" I asked, falling back onto the couch.
"Aurora, I'm not going to let him take you away. And I'm not going to let him hurt you. I swear, no matter what. I won't lose you." My breath caught in my throat, and I tried to breathe steadily. I didn't know what to say to him. I didn't want to leave him, but I was scared what would happen if Jasen showed up. I wanted Andy, and I knew now that I would do anything to protect him from Jasen. Even with all the power I had I was still human. The only thing stopping Jasen from killing me was his emotions, but if I attacked him he would attack me. I couldn't beat a vampire; he was too strong and fast. This means there was only one way to win, but it would come with a heavy price.
It would mean I would have to give up everything. I couldn't ask the Cullens to help because Jasen new some magick and, although he was not exceptional, he could hold them off. I wouldn't endanger them anyway, and I would never put Eve in his line of fire. And then there was Andy. I couldn't let him get hurt. And the only way to save him was to die.
It's ironic. I finally find someone I truly love and I have to leave them. No! I refused to see it like that. I would not give in to Jasen and let him hurt Andy and take me away. Jasen would have to go first. And I was the only one who could kill him. But I would die too. I had always thought and feared how I would die. But, sitting here in Andy's arms I knew that dieing in the place of someone I love isn't such a bad way to go.
AN: I hope you like this chapter. Please let me know what you think (if you can). And if any of you like poetry, feel free to look at my other story. Or to check out my first chapter to my first story on . I have the same name as here so it wont be hard to find me. I'll update soon with my next chapter. :)
-B.T.-
