Read and Review (you'll get a snippet of chap 12)
Previously on Memories of Me:
The silence that hung in the air like a picture on a nail was only broken by the thunderous rain and Carlisle's voice.
"We won't fight them." His whisper was soft, almost inaudible but Jasper heard him anyway.
"You're right." Jasper pushed himself up off the wall he had been leaning on. "Because ya'll aren't coming."
~M~
"We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls."
― Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 7: 1966-1974
"And just what do you mean by that?" Esme's voice had risen in pitch as her hands found her hips. Beside her, Carlisle cringed. It was rare that Esme took that tone with anyone and by the way she was staring down Jasper, he knew he was lucky not to be in his son's shoes.
However, Jasper stood his ground, unflinching. His eyes met Esme's with a look of sympathy but his heart knew that by causing her pain now, he would save her so much more in the long run.
"Only the two of us are going to Italy." He moved his hand in Isabella's direction, his eyes still connected with Esme's, seeing her open her mouth to argue against his words. "And that's final."
"Come now, Jasper." Carlisle rested a soft hand on his wife's shoulder. "I can help you talk to Aro, I have ties in Volterra. Ties that can help us, be reasonable, son."
Emmett nodded and brought his fist to the palm of his other hand. "There's no way I'm not going with you guys."
Jasper sighed, he knew the look that Emmett had in his eyes; that look of pure stubbornness.
"You can't possibly know what to expect when we get there." Jasper tightened his grasp on the letter in his hand; his patience running thin.
"Exactly." Emmett exclaimed. "Which is why it would be better if you had the extra back up."
"Son, any help is better than no help." Carlisle backed Emmett's statement with a knowing nod.
The whole conversation was a waste of time to someone like Isabella. After spending the majority of her life in a war zone type of environment, she was used to having people follow her directions without question. Perhaps it was just her background but Isabella couldn't be bothered with this go over that Jasper was bowing down to.
"That's just it though; we do not need help." Isabella stood beside Jasper, putting the convincing to an effective end.
Carlisle sighed and looked at Jasper, knowing that if one of them were to cave, it would be him. But Jasper wasn't having it either. The respect and patience he was showing towards the vampires before him was solely because they were like his family, no other reason.
In the south, Jasper was even stricter than his counterpart, he didn't take anything out of the ordinary, and the ordinary was others following his orders without questioning him.
"We will be leaving for Volterra when we will and we expect you to respect that." Isabella took the letter from Jasper's hand and held it up. "Only our two names are on his God forsaken letter." She shook it a little in the air. "If Aro wants us there, and only us, then it would be best if only we show up." She dropped her arm to her side, focusing on the golden eyes watching her. "I'd rather not rouse Aro if he is willing to play nice."
It wasn't surprising that she received nods of understanding in return and it certainly didn't surprise her when Esme spoke up again.
"Alright then, but know this," She stepped forward, in Isabella's direction. Her expression uncharacteristically fierce. "We will be on the very next flight after you."
Grimacing, Isabella looked at Jasper. "We wouldn't expect anything less from you."
~M~
Rosalie had kept quite during everything that had happened. She kept her opinion to herself about the letter and she kept her opinion to herself when Jasper and Isabella said that they wanted to leave everyone behind and go to Italy by themselves.
But Rosalie couldn't help herself when she saw Isabella in the tree in front of the house. From the window by the piano room, Rosalie's sharp eyes caught Isabella's legs swinging from a high branch.
Rosalie tiled her head slightly as she watched the girl as she was with no eyes watching her.
Her dark clothes stood out against the rich brown of the trunk of the tree, her pale cream skin making the contrast even more definite.
Isabella's legs continued to swing but it was her hands that made Rosalie interested.
In Isabella's hands was Edward's Cullen Crest. Turning the cuff in her hands, she looked over it again and again.
Moving away from the window, Rosalie headed outside.
When she neared the tree, Isabella looked down at her and offered her a small smile. Rosalie nodded in her direction and begun climbing the tree, heels and all.
Using her legs to swing up further along the same branch as Isabella, Rosalie adjusted herself to sit comfortably.
For a while, the two women sat in silence, content without words.
In Isabella's hands, Edward's cuff turned relentlessly.
Without even meaning to, Rosalie moved her hand up to her throat where her own crest was, resting on her necklace.
"You're really going to go without us, aren't you?"
Isabella looked up from the cuff and at the blonde before her. She saw her hand touch her necklace and Isabella couldn't help that unwanted feeling that curled in her when she saw her movements.
Lifting the crest up slightly, Isabella hurried to explain why she had it. "I found it in his room."
Rosalie smiled slightly and shook her head. "It's okay." She gestured to her hands. "I didn't ask."
Biting her lip, Isabella chuckled softly at her. "Sorry, I just needed something to motivate me."
"Motivate you more than you already are?" Rosalie lifted an eyebrow.
Sighing, Isabella nodded, turning her hands again. "I need to go to Italy without worrying about anyone else getting in the way. I need to stop focusing on anything but what I have to do." She shrugged. "I can't afford to worry about your actions when I have Edward to worry about. He was the entire reason that I went back to the wars and now that I've put that behind me, it seems like there's a completely different problem that wants to keep him away from me." Her eyes looked over the Fork's forest. "Jas and I have to go because we know what to expect."
Rosalie didn't move and she didn't speak either. Taking in her words, she tried to see the situation from a different perspective.
Imagining what a life like Isabella's would require just to keep going, especially after being knocked down so many times impressed her. The longer she thought about what was going inside of her head, the most respect manifested.
Rosalie reached over and took the cuff from Isabella's fingers. Without acknowledging the shocked look on her friend's face, she popped the small button and held it open in her direction.
"Here, give me your hand." She moved the crest forward a little, encouraging her.
With a look of hesitance, Isabella complied, lifting her wrist up.
Rosalie wrapped Edward's Cullen Crest around his mate's small wrist and clicked it closed with a small pop.
"You should keep that on while you're in Volterra." Said Rosalie, standing up. Balancing on the thick branch was easy enough for her. "Take Jasper and get out of here, I'll do what I can here."
She landed swiftly on the ground and turned to walk back to the house without another word; affection was not one of her strong points. But a voice stopped her.
At the base of the trunk, Isabella called out. "Rosalie." When she had the attention of the vampire, she continued. "Thank you. For allowing me to wear his cuff and for helping us out."
Rosalie shrugged and made her way back. "I'm only doing a little, Isabella. You guys are doing the hard part." She paused for effect. "Bring them back home."
Isabella didn't need to nod. "Or I'll die trying."
Wrapping her arms around the brunette, Rosalie pulled her tightly towards her, not knowing if her words were literal or not. "Be careful, I'm trusting you with all three of them. That includes Jasper." She joked half-heartedly.
Isabella was the first one to pull back from the embrace, a forced smile playing on her features. "We're leaving tonight, then."
Rosalie nodded, stepping towards the house once more. "Then I will start distracting them right now." A note of finality in her voice.
The smile that began to show itself this time on her face, was genuine. "You know, I can see why Edward likes you, Rosalie. He'd just never admit it of course."
Golden hair tilted back as Rosalie laughed. "No, he never would." She shook her head slowly. "When you get back, we'll have to spend more time together." She placed her hands on her own thighs.
"I'd like that." Isabella kicked the grass softly.
"Me too." She smiled and took another step, before calling over her shoulder. "Call me Rose."
~M~
Isabella couldn't help herself when her fingers once against brushed against the cuff that was on her wrist. Jasper didn't comment on the new addition to her wardrobe but he felt rather proud that she now wore the same crest that he did. If anything, it fuelled his determination.
Carlisle had booked tickets to Italy for the following evening but Jasper knew that the two of them would be long gone before then. They would be out of the Washington is approximately one hour and with any luck, in Italy by the time the sun sets where the rest of the Cullens will be.
Isabella had informed him of Rosalie's new attitude towards their plan and a big part of the getaway plan depended on her really meaning what she had said.
"I haven't hunted in two days." Isabella stood up from the couch. "I'm not getting on that plane without a good hunt below my belt."
No one missed the look that crossed Esme's face as Isabella stood.
"Esme, I'll go with her; its okay." Jasper knew that his words wouldn't help how Esme felt but he was well aware of what would happen if he didn't follow through with what had been discussed prior.
Carlisle cleared his throat before standing. "No offence, son, but that doesn't really do anything to ensure us that the two of you won't do anything stupid."
"Yeah, man." Emmett spoke up, his hand grasping the couch cushion tightly. "Our flight's tomorrow night, so don't do anything stupid. It's less than 48 hours away."
Jasper nodded slowly, he turned his head towards Isabella. "We're just going hunting."
"Son…" Carlisle begun. The room stilled for a moment.
"Oh, for the love of God!" Rosalie threw her arms up and moved away from Emmett's arm. "Honestly, I'll go hunting with them, if it'll make you feel better about them going."
It was remarkable how quickly her words effected the other three vampires around them. Almost instantly, their guards seemed to soften.
Rosalie didn't wait for permission from anyone, instead she just headed towards the door, opening it with force.
"Let's go." She turned her body and moved out of the house.
No one dared tell her otherwise.
~M~
The treaty line was non-existent to human eyes but it was clear as day to the three vampires that stood along it. Jasper was well aware of the consequences for what he was about to do but he knew that it was only way to get to Volterra without the rest of his family on their tail. Through La Push's waters was the only way to give them a big enough head start.
Surprisingly, Rosalie wasn't against the plan and Jasper couldn't help but think that that had something to do with the new crest on Isabella and the flawless support that Rosalie was providing.
"If we run straight through and jump off the cliffs we could push off further into the water than if we start at the shore." Isabella had her hands on hips and a thoughtful look on her face.
Rosalie looked out into the direction that she was looking. "What if the dogs catch you?"
Jasper stepped closer to the invisible line that held so much merit. "Then we have to take them all on out."
His southern accent lingered in the air until it fell flat. There was no need for good byes; a silent yet mutual agreement that Rosalie seemed to understand.
Without another word, the blonde turned and ran towards town, following the plan. Her departure created a certain silence that was needed but didn't last for too long.
Lightly slapping Jasper on the shoulder, Isabella smiled a cheeky grin. "You ready, major?"
The smile on her face couldn't hide the nothingness that Jasper felt come off her. Needless to say, he played along with her own game. "You bet, Isa."
Before his words had even hit the air, the both of them shot off into the beach town. Following the hidden paths that lay within the tree line, they raced each other towards the cliffs.
The scent of dog clouded the oxygen, causing Isabella to crinkle her nose. Cutting off her breathing, she pushed on, hoping that they couldn't get through this without the guard dogs catching on to their trail.
Jasper had never been on this side of the treaty line before but the pulse of the ocean had him knowing which direction he was going. When the land began to climb slightly, Jasper let his hand brush past the trees as he sprinted. Lush, green leaves filled his hands as he broke them away from the branch, leaving a sort of trail of bread crumbs in his wake. Without even meaning to, he was allowing himself a way back home.
At vampire speed they arrived at the cliffs in no time. For their luck, the wolves hadn't caught their scent causing Jasper to scoff internally at the efforts of the so called protectors of the land. Isabella jumped head first into the rushing water with a perfect dive. Jasper didn't even need another second before he plunged off the rough rock after her.
The cold water wasn't enough to slow them down, without another word, both fighters dove deeper in the direction of Europe.
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brittney x
inception: noun
the establishment or starting point of an institution or activity.