Era POV
I woke up in an unfamiliar room. I rolled onto my side, searching out a clock. This was Jaspers room, i thought mildly surprised. I felt my body jolt and shoot forward as i remembered the kiss. Oh god, i thought in horror, oh no, oh crap.
I took a small deep breath and then exhaled before sitting up. It was going on six, and it looked like it would be sunny. That was a nice change, i pushed open the window. and then climbed out of the window, sitting on the ledge.
I bit my lip thoughtfully, i looked to both my left and right. "Perfect," i mumbled, and then stood up a little unsteadily.
I turned to my left, holding the open window from the inside with my left arm. I reached over for the pipe, and it was just out of reach. "Mother-," i lost my balance for a moment and then sighed.
I reached again, moving over a little more, pressing my body to the ledge of the window tightly. "What are you doing?" Bella asked from below me. She startled me though and as i fell, i reached out, catching the pipe, practically falling into it.
"Damn you Bella!" i shouted, holding the pipe with one arm as i shook out my throbbing hand. I glanced down, seeing her and Edward holding hands on the ground level. Both of them wearing identical expressions.
"I wanted to watch the sunrise," i said climbing up the pole a little slowly.
"Want some help?" she asked amused.
"That would be great," i said dryly.
"Drop," she said and i did, pushing away from the ledge slightly.
I pushed my feet together flatly and they met her intertwined hands. She pushed upwards, and then i was flying straight up. I caught the ledge of the roof and while i still had no central core of gravity i pushed off of the pipe i had been trying to climb. My body reeled backwards, flipping and i angled my body over the ledge ungracefully.
I let out a huff of air, rolling and then pulling myself up. I felt a little nauseous now, but i figured that was the cancer. If i was lucky, it would be faded out by the end of the week. It was making me feel off in all kinds of ways.
Bella appeared a moment later, landing much more professionally then i had. "You dont look so good," she pointed out.
"Way to boost my confidence Bell," i said rolling my eyes. Then Edward appeared behind us, i didn't bother trying to track the moves, my senses were too off.
We all sat down side by side, Bella in the middle and i leaned back on my elbows, crossing my outstretched legs. We were silent, watching the slow start as the sky began to turn a dark purple color.
Jasper's head poked up over the ledge and i quirked an eyebrow at him. "What are you guys doing up here?" he asked, climbing up effortlessly. Man, i was starting to feel really inadequate. Everyone could move like they walked on air and i needed my sisters help in the process of getting to roof with jerky movements.
"Sunrise," was all i said, as he sat down next to me.
Then the sky was a light pink, becoming a brilliant blue and sun cascaded around us. We were soaked in warmth as it reached the sky wholly. After a few moments i had to look away, the rays too strong, but it made me happy nevertheless. Felt like home. Then something caught my attention, i turned to stare at Jasper.
"See! Fairies!" i said turning to Bella, "vampires are not supposed to sparkle!"
"I'll notify hollywood," Jasper said sarcastically, grinning at me amused.
"You dont think that's a little embarassing? I mean, you preach to us about being big and bad, but you sparkle for christ sakes! Now you guys just seemed cute and cuddly like some kind of weird my little pony hybrid," everyone seemed to find that funny, as they all laughed at me.
"It's just what we are, not much we can do about it," Edward said shrugging, taking Bella's hand and intertwining them together.
"I guess that's why they invented make up," i said thoughtfully. I took Jaspers hand, intertwining them mostly just to observe the contrasting skin. Both of us had pale skin, but mine looked kind of grey, it usually just looked ivory, again, the cancer.
He did sparkle, like diamonds, i turned our hands slightly kind of in awe. I turned his palm over, and then let go, holding his hand open in mine. "Your going to see your friends soon," i said smiling at him.
He looked taken aback for a moment, then his eyebrows furrowed, "what?"
"You said you haven't seen your friends in a while, this says you'll see them soon, well more like re-united," i said tilting my head slightly.
"You can see the future too?" Edward asked confused.
My head shot to him, "who else can?"
"Alice," he said as if i should know that. I suppose if i could read minds i would've known that.
"No, we can read palms, it's kind of jumbled up sometimes, especially with Normals," Bella said distinctly, sharing a look with me. "It wasn't much of an art we cared for."
"What does mine say?" Edward said curiously, raising his own open hand.
I glanced at Jasper, "did Alice see?" i asked uneasily.
It was finally catching up to me what exactly what i was doing. I think i had been in shock this morning when i remembered the kiss. The swell of happiness soon followed and at the time i had thought it would make my day, even my week. But now? It had ruined my entire morning, probably the rest of our stay here.
"She can't see you," he said quietly, "why are you so angry?"
Bella turned to me and i stood up. "I'm going home Bella."
"What's wrong?" she asked bewildered.
"Era?" Jasper asked, standing as well. I backed up a step, "why are you getting so worked up?"
"You know damn well why," i said heatedly. "I'm not having this conversation, you should know better. I should know better."
I shook my head, and then went to front of the house. What had i done? How could i be so foolish? Everything had been so weird yesterday that i hadn't really thought about what a mistake i was making.
Cold hands wrapped around me as i reached the ledge and Jasper turned me to face him. "What is wrong?" he asked almost scared.
"This, us, you and me," i said as if it should be obvious. I pulled free, and Edward and Bella entered my line of sight unsure of what was happening.
"I dont understand," i gave him a look.
"Look Jasper, i like you, i really do," i said sighing heavily, "i wont deny my attraction to you. But were not going to do this. For one, your married, and two, everything is far too messed up for this continue in any way. So just let it go."
"No," he said appalled, "i'm not going to let anything go, certainly not because your having second thoughts."
"You should be too!" i said in disbelief, "just leave me alone, and whatever it is about me, get over it, because i'm not interested in what you want to have with me."
"Era!" Bella said suddenly, pushing past Jasper and stepping in front of me. It didn't look like Jasper minded, he seemed at a total loss for words. "What's wrong?"
"Leave it alone Bella, i'll see you at home," i cast a glance at Jasper, "i'm sorry, but it's for the best."
I dropped down to the ground, landing much more expertly, and a car pulled up. I stared at Chris, relief flooding through me. He got out and i ran at him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. "I'm glad your okay," he said quietly.
"I want to go home," i said shaking my head as my gut twisted painfully.
"What's wrong beautiful?" he asked warily, and then glanced over at everyone standing on the roof totally lost and confused, keeping his arms around me.
"Nothing, just get me out of here," i said going to the other side of the car.
Chris looked over at Bella as i slipped into the car and Bella just shook her head, baffled with my sudden change of heart. But it had to be done. Jasper was a weakness and one that David would readily exploit. I needed to get over him.
Chris got into the car, and pulled out, glancing at me, "your sister get a new boyfriend or what?"
"Yeah, the bronze haired one," i said tensely.
"And you, what? Shot down the blonde?" he guessed, noticing my guarded expression.
"Sort of, there vampires by the way, and Jasper is married, i dont know why he decided to make a move, it's just not going to end well. it's already starting fights with his wife, i just-," i broke off, voice catching in my throat and i took in a shaky breath. "I just can't."
"He made a move on you?" he asked, eye brows raised. I didn't answer, and just looked out the car window and shivered a little. I was starting to feel kind of cold. Which was odd, because it wasn't cold out. Another thing i could chalk up to being sick i guess.
We drove in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, getting out onto the highway, "where are we going?" We had driven the opposite direction out of Forks rather then to the house.
"You look like you could use a break," he said giving me a small smile.
"Yeah, no kidding, i dont know if i'm really up for much though," i said as my stomach churned once again.
"We could get something to eat, take a walk on pier," he suggested, "the fresh air might help and it's nice in Port Angelus right now."
I thought about it for a moment, and then grinned when my stomach didn't flip at the idea. "Okay, sounds good."
We parked at an italian restaurant right off the beach and Chris led me inside. "I think we need a reservation for this place," i said quietly.
"And?" he asked bemused. I rolling my eyes, it was Chris after all. He could charm his way into getting just about anything.
The waiter approached us, "do you have a reservation?"
"Well no," he said wryly, "but i should've planned out my proposal a little more thoroughly then just working up the courage on the pier, but what's a man to do?"
I tried not to look surprised with his con, and he simply, took my hand intertwining them. The waiter looked surprised for a moment and then grinned widely, "well congratulations, you must be thrilled."
"I've been waiting ages," i said smiling at Chris in a loving way, "but i suppose i wouldn't love him without his spontaneity."
He leaned forward, a bright smile and kissed me on the cheek, then turned the waiter, a little bashfully. "There isn't a single table open? This is just the perfect restaurant for a celebration."
I gave the waiter a hopeful sweet smile, leaning into Chris and he draped his arm over my shoulder. The waiter just smiled at us, "let me see what we can do for you."
I stayed under Chris's arm, i suppose i shouldn't have been so comfortable like this, but oddly enough it just felt natural. It was a rouse sure, but it didn't make the embrace any less intimate, to me anyways.
And it wasn't like he'd never held me this way before, but it never seemed to feel this way until now. Or was it and i was just noticing now? Chris was always just perfectly comforting, always warm and understanding, even when he disapproved of something i did. He was always there for me, a smile on his face.
I changed my thoughts, figuring i was just being weird because of Jasper. A pang went through my chest and i was relieved when the waiter returned. "Thankfully, my supervisor isn't here or he would kill me for what i'm about to do, but if you'll follow me, we have a private room you can take."
"Perfect," Chris said grinning lopsidedly at me, and i just gave the waiter another bright smile. He faltered, an odd look on his face and then just turned and led us through the main room.
We entered a dimly lit room, a single table in the center and soft music in the background. He seated us, "your wife is very beautiful, your a lucky man," the waiter said, a slightly heavy tone in his voice.
"That i am," Chris said in agreement.
The waiter gave us a complimentary champagne and Chris ordered for both of us, not even having to look to know exactly what i would want. An Israeli salad with celery, carrots and just the smallest amount of peppers.
We sat quietly for a moment and i drew little symbols on the table. "Why did you save the girl?" he asked finally.
I cast a quick glance at him, meeting his worried gaze and then looked back down. I sat back, folding my hands in my lap, "i met her right away. She was my age Chris. She seemed to have no one except for her boyfriend, and vice versa. I just couldn't help but think about how horrible it would be to watch him fall apart into nothing when she died. And she would die, i knew she would. God didn't even give her a fighting chance. She's jut a child, she was so good. She had a White Soul, i just could let her die and leave him alone. She didn't want to leave him. When i went to see her it was all she worried about, him."
He was silent, "you were in no condition to heal a broken soul Era, you could've lost control."
I snorted slightly, looking back up. "I knew i wouldn't. I dont regret my decision, i gave her a gift and she knows that. I was fine when i did it, more then fine. I had total control."
"You had no one to coach you through it Era, what if you had given in, you could've killed everyone in that hospital. You shouldn't have gone alone, and you should never do that in such a weakened state. It's far too dangerous."
"But i was fine Chris," i said in a pleading tone. "It wasn't like with Matt. Why aren't you proud of me? That was far more difficult and i was alone, i did great."
"I am proud of you," he objected, "but the thought of watching you live in guilt and self hate like you had with Matthew all over again is just too much. I couldn't stand seeing you like that and you wouldn't let anyone help, not your sister, or Renee, and certainly not me."
"I'm strong now, i know what's at risk, i knew what the consequences would be and that just made all the more determined to do the right thing," he regarded me for a moment and sighed.
"Just promise me you want do anything like that again, and if you wont tell your sister, can you at least tell me?"
I nodded, glad to have the conversation over with. "So tell me about the blonde vampire."
I groaned aloud, and he raised his eyebrows. "Was it really that bad?"
"No, it was great, but i dont need that kind of drama. He's Cullen, so people in Forks will point or gossip and i hate that. He's a vampire, and he's got a White Soul, so it's stressful being around him. And David's more then happy to use my feelings for him against me, so i just want to forget about him right now," i vented, letting out a long breath at the end.
Chris was tense in the seat across from me, an unreadable look in his eyes. "How strongly do you feel for him?"
"I dont know, i'm trying not to think about it," i said hesitantly. He nodded slowly, accepting the answer. I watched him reach some sort of internal decision and he dropped the subject after that.
We left the restaurant, discussing our training schedule. Which was going to be an every day thing for both Bella and i. But Chris was bringing in a trusted associate to train Bella, so he could train me. It worked our pretty well, now that Bella had gotten me into the home schooling program with Port Angelus. I just had to meet a consultant and they'd direct me to one of the three tutors in the Forks area.
"Era?" a voice asked, as Chris and i moved towards the car. I didn't have a coat, but he said he could give me his.
"Jared?" i asked surprised. I smiled at his own smile of adroation. Jared had been the boy i'd met at the cafe.
"How have you been?" he asked, suddenly unsure. I'd never texted him back after he'd sent me the time for the party and asked if i still wanted to go.
"I'm sorry about never messaging you back that night. I was in an accident, and i was out of town, it's been so hectic," i said in a rush, blushing a little.
"Oh, i just assumed you weren't interested," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Well, did you still want to go out?" i asked hesitantly. Maybe this would help me get over Jasper. And i had to, there wasn't much of an option.
He glanced over my shoulder at Chris, who was suddenly at my right side staring him down darkly. "Um, yeah, if your free," he said frowning a little.
"This is Chris, he's my step father," i said for his benefit, glancing at Chris accusingly. He said nothing and just glowered at Jared.
"Oh, okay, yeah, were having another bonfire this weekend, saturday this time, are you free?"
"Yep," i said grinning. "I could use a night of fun."
"Great, can't wait," he said smiling widely. He gave me a wave, before re-joining his friends, who were watching down the boardwalk.
"I dont like him," Chris said dismissively.
"Yeah, you dont like anyone i go out with," i said rolling my eyes. But i was looking forward to a bonfire and some drinks, and getting over Jasper. Meet some new friends, get over Jasper. Have a good time. Get over Jasper.
Yeah, it was going to be a long week.
