A/N: I...AM...BACK! WOO-HOO! I finally got some free time, and I'm hoping to get the next 3-4 chapters up by Monday. Then I will disappear again, this time into the scary world of...EXAMS! *blood-curdling scream* So make me feel loved by reviewing!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Jasper let me run up the stairs unquestioned; he could feel the emotional whirlwind I was in. It wasn't hard to find Edward's room- it was the only door that was open. I rushed inside, finding Bella laying on a black leather couch. Tasha was in her lap; she looked at me, her green eyes knowing. Bella smiled timidly at me.
"Tasha followed Alice up here. She's really sweet," she said, as she scooted over on the sofa.
"Yeah." I patted Tasha's head, and she stretched herself out so that half of her was on Bella's lap and the other half was on mine.
"Alice had a vision," Bella said after a few seconds of silence. "What's wrong?"
"Bella, how did you break up with Jacob?" I sighed.
Her face turned pale. "Why do you want to know?"
"Because I'm going to have to do the same." A tear slid down my face.
"Oh, no," Bella said, and I could tell she was starting to panic. "I hurt him so badly before. I mean, he ran away to Canada! And now you…"
"Jake is one of the sweetest people I've ever met," I admitted. "But he's not what I want, though any girl would be lucky to have him."
"You want Jasper, just like I want Edward." She took my hand in hers. "You have to be honest with him."
"I know. But he's so convinced I'm supposed to be his. Did he ever think you were his imprint?"
"I was the only girl he ever loved. It felt real to him."
"But he was mistaken," I said. "You married Edward, and then Jacob found me-"
"And supposedly imprinted on you-"
"Which couldn't have truly happened, since I'm not returning the same feelings. I feel affection for him, but he's not the one for me."
"You have to tell him," Bella whispered. "It will hurt him, but you have to do it."
Suddenly the tears started for both of us. I was upset at the thought of causing poor Jacob more pain, and Bella started crying because she empathized with me. Tasha jumped away from us; our sudden outburst had startled her. Suddenly we heard a loud crash come from downstairs, and then Jasper and Edward were in the doorway, concern written on their faces.
"Out of my way!" a high-pitched voice shouted, and suddenly the guys were thrown away from the door, and Alice walked into the room. "You two are in desperate need of some happiness. Not to say I don't feel your pain," she said, addressing me, "but the future is clear: Jasper and you will be together."
I nodded, my throat tight from crying.
"Alice, what fell downstairs?" Bella finally asked.
She smirked. "Jasper and Edward knocked Emmett into a wall."
"Boys," I muttered, a smile threatening to surface. Bella giggled next to me, drying the tears on her face.
"How about I take you girls shopping with me?" Alice suggested. "It will be fun!"
I shook my head. "Not that that doesn't interest me, but I need to take it easy for a couple days."
"Same here," Bella put in quickly. "I still need to get some rest from my honeymoon."
Alice pouted. "Fine. But we will go shopping soon."
"Whatever you say, Alice," I laughed, and Bella joined me.
Suddenly my phone buzzed in my pocket, and I quickly answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Gwen!"
"Mel! You sound a lot better."
"I feel a lot better. Seth cooked for me. He never told me he could cook!"
"That bastard," I said playfully. "Making you do all the work."
"I know, right? But I called because you need to see something. In my hangover-induced daze, I discovered something…"
"Can't you tell me now?" I asked.
"Just come back to the apartment," she sighed.
"Okay," I said. "See you soon."
I hung up and looked at Alice. "Any ideas?"
"She was with Seth. I couldn't see anything."
"Damn it," I sighed. "Well, Bella, I have to go."
"Bye," she said, and I noticed her eyes were still a little red.
"Come on, Tasha," I called as I walked out of the room.
The little cat darted out from underneath Edward's bed, and quickly ran down the stairs. By the time I got to the front door, Tasha was impatiently flicking her tail.
"You know what Melody discovered, don't you?" I asked.
She blinked at me.
"Yep. Let's go."
I walked out towards my car and saw a figure standing by it, holding the door open for me.
"Hi, Jasper," I greeted, smiling.
"Hey, Gwen. Are you okay?" he asked, stepping closer to me.
"I will be. Too much has happened these past few days. I need some rest."
"Okay, Darlin'," he said, but still sounded worried.
"I'll be fine," I reassured him.
His hand lightly caressed my cheek. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I'm a big girl, Jasper," I said, smiling. "I can take care of myself."
"And you're a gifted witch," he added, his golden eyes shining in the dim light.
"Very true, but I don't like to brag." On that note, I flicked my wrist and the car roared to life.
"Absolutely no bragging from you…Right," Jasper said, chuckling.
"I'll see you later," I said as I turned to get in my car.
"Bye, Gwendolyn."
As I drove away, his beautiful voice echoed through my head.
***
"My darling cousin, where are you?" I called as I entered the apartment. Tasha quickly curled up on the sofa.
"In your room!" Melody's voice answered. "And Seth went back to La Push for the night, so no awkward morning moments tomorrow!"
"Good!" I walked into my room and found Mel sitting on my bed, my quilt in her lap. "Why do you have my quilt?"
"Well, Seth needed something to cover me with when I was on the couch, so he used this. Then I discovered this line," she ran her fingertip over the stitches, "And things suddenly made sense."
"Which line?" I took the quilt from her and quickly translated the Latin. "Oh…My…God."
"It explains everything."
"Not exactly everything, but-"
"The big thing," Mel said.
I was speechless. How could I be so ignorant when it was spelled out right in front of me?
"Beware the mistaken heart of the wolf," I whispered. "So he isn't in love with me after all."
"Nope. Continue reading," Mel instructed. "It gets weird."
"Duos velieris secundum suum contemno , non expers profiteor verum."
"The two hide behind their hate, not wanting to acknowledge the truth," I translated. "What is that referring to?"
"I was hoping you'd know."
I shook my head.
"Huh. Well, I guess we could try scrying to find out," Melody suggested.
"Good idea. Where is it?" I asked, wanting to know where her obsidian orb was.
"Uh…It kind of…broke…" She bit her lip.
"What? How did it br- You know, I don't want to know," I decided, having seen the light blush on Mel's face. "I guess this means it's back to my house."
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I know it's a long ride." Her voice was apologetic.
"It's okay. I need some time away from here."
"So you're leaving in the morning?" Mel asked as she got up and walked towards my door.
"No," I replied. "Right now."
A/N: All right! That chapter gave me a hard time! Reviews are awesome! Oh, and if the Latin isn't correct, don't blame me- it's the quick-text on-line translator I used.
