Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I claim any rights to Twilight and the universe therein.

A/N: Add to my survival kit of Mika and Girl Talk the 'Shroom Burger from Shake Shack in NYC. Mmm. So delicious on so many levels. Again: the weekend commences tomorrow and impedes my ability to update. I will try to get something to you on Monday. If my muse isn't cooperating, I will gladly beat him (he looks like Colin Firth) into submission. Perhaps with a feather duster...

.

Chapter 13: The Party (Part 2)

Bella:

I sneaked a look at Jasper's face as I walked down the stairs. His expression almost matched the one he had in my daydream and I thanked whatever delusion had made me pick this ridiculous dress. The short, short skirt was making me really uncomfortable, but the look on Jasper's face had been totally worth it. Joy bubbled up inside me, but when I looked back at him, he was looking at Rosalie and the same expression still marked his features. I wasn't sure what to think. His expression was exactly what I had imagined when I pictured my perfect descent earlier that evening. But then to turn and give the same look to his sister…

Is that what he thought of me as? Was I just his littlest sister? I didn't know why it bothered me so much--the thought of Jasper being a big brother to me. Emmett fit perfectly into that role like he had always been my brother and we had just been separated for 17 years. Why was Jasper different?

My cheeks flushed as I realized the truth. I was attracted to Jasper. Besides the icky creep factor of being attracted to my potential brother, it made me seriously depressed to realize that Jasper would never think of me in the same manner I was thinking of him. He was married.

I had a feeling I would need to keep telling myself that all night.

It's just…

He looked so absolutely adorable in his tux, and it emphasized his broad shoulders and tapered to his hips where the pants clung to him like the fabric didn't want to leave him alone…

Oh, my god.

I am SO attracted to Jasper.

I had to look at my feet to stop myself from tripping the rest of the way down the stairs. I didn't notice until I stepped onto the floor that Edward was waiting for me with his hand out to take mine, his head bowed and his eyes averted.

As I hesitated to put my hand in his, a million thoughts flew through my head. Was I comfortable around Edward yet? Honestly, no. Though I could forgive him his slip—a slip I had come so close to making—every time I saw him I remembered his thirsty eyes as he latched onto my throat and the creeping pull of my blood inching the wrong way up my veins.

I was still a little afraid of him, but I was trying as much as I could not to let it show. I could see that the rest of the family was happiest when I pretended to be fully adjusted to this lifestyle. I could almost see how the next twenty years would go: I would never want to mention my human life in case the family got upset, but I would wonder about Charlie and Renee constantly. I would allow my self to be shuffled into whatever role the Cullens decided I would portray, because it was easier to allow myself to be controlled than to assert my wants and needs. I would completely subvert myself in order to be more fully a member of this group that had existed together decades before I had even been born. And I would hate myself for it.

"You look lovely." Edward said.

My hand stopped for a half of a split second on its path to Edward's.

Rose had said that Edward was… interested in me? That made me…

Even more uncomfortable. I hadn't said five words to him since he had killed me. Can't forget that he did, in fact, kill me. And now because of some romanticized notion of fate he thought he was falling for me? It was a little bizarre.

It didn't help that my desire to simply blend into the Cullen household seamlessly pushed me together with the only other unattached vampire in the household. As my hand touched Edward's I couldn't help but look over at Jasper. I had to know what he was seeing. Could he see that I wanted to have my hand held by him instead of Edward? Could he feel my attraction?

My eyes flicked over toward him and for one searing moment our eyes locked. Then nervousness overcame me and I had to look away. When I looked back at Edward, his eyebrows were raised. I gave him an embarrassed smile and he began to lead me more fully into the room.

I wished I could see Jasper's reaction to the back of my dress, or lack of back. I heard his cell phone buzz, and I wanted to see who was texting him and what his response was. Who was I trying to kid? I pretty much wanted any excuse to look at Jasper.

I looked over at Edward who was staring at me with an oddly intense expression on his face. I think I had been caught trying to sneak a peek at Jasper. I immediately looked away and caught my first glimpse of the room.

Thick sickly-sweet fog rested a foot deep in the living room and was slowly oozing down the halls and over to the dining room. Spooky black lights illuminated the room making all of our vampire skin glow a light blue. Fake creatures were planted on almost every surface and the ceiling hung heavy with spider webs replete with insects. Coffins filled with dirt and fake skeletons adorned every corner, the couches had been covered with red velvet, and ornate goblets and candlesticks rested on every flat surface.

I was so touched.

"You guys did this for me?" I could feel tears well up in my eyes and I looked at Rose. "I refuse to cry." She just shrugged at me.

"Waterproof." She said. The laughter that bubbled up inside me kept the tears down.

"Thank you every…" I couldn't finish my sentence. I had just seen Carlisle, Esme, and Emmett. Emmett looked like a zombie gangster. He had on a large blue suit and had drizzled blood out of his mouth and down his chin. Esme was wearing what I hoped was a wig. Her hair was almost Bride of Frankenstein-y, lacking only the white streaks. Her gown was pure Elvira and had a huge stiff collar. Carlisle was complete Dracula, head to toe; he had the hair, the cape, and when he spoke he affected a poor Transylvanian accent.

"Ve vanted to leyt you know how lah-ky ve feel to haff you vith ahs. So," he threw his arms and cloak wide, "a leetle party for you!"

Emmett was quick to point out which decorations he'd chosen and couldn't wait to start the activities.

"We have pin the fangs on the vampire, a rubber rat toss, and bobbing for apples although…" He looked thoughtful, "I'm not sure how difficult that's going to be since we don't actually have to breathe."

I stage whispered back, "Probably not very."

"Here," Edward said, "Come and look at—"

He planted his hand on the small of my back in order to guide me and I lost rational thought. I whirred and crouched and I could feel myself losing control.

"Don't touch me!" My voice was completely unrecognizable. It was harsh and vicious. I felt the same way I had chasing the human. I bared my teeth, and didn't feel in control of the action. I clenched my hands against my will.

His hand had pushed against the small of my back—his hand had been there on the day he… the day I was turned. And his skin on my skin…

I was freaking out and I couldn't stop it. Adrenaline surged through me and released a feral snarl as I pounced at Edward, throwing myself across the empty space, hands curled into claws ready to attack. Before I was even halfway across the space dividing us, I saw Edward get shoved out of the way by Jasper. I wouldn't have stopped even if momentum hadn't been pulling me forward. I was scared and vicious and I felt like I was watching my actions from a distance.

Jasper held his arms out to me as I slammed into him. He bore the brunt of my weight as we hit the floor. My fists and arms were flying, scratching, pulling, pounding. Jasper never hit back. He tried to gently wrap his arms around me and pull me into him. I kept struggling for freedom until my strength and fury waned. I collapsed into him and he gently rubbed the base of my neck and made cooing sounds.

Once my rationality had returned, I pulled back from Jasper's chest and noticed I had smudged makeup all along his shirt. I began to rub at it, murmuring apologies under my breath, but Jasper stopped me.

"Bella." He smiled at me, "Don't apologize for things you can't control." I weakly returned the smile and Jasper helped me to my feet.

"I—Edward." I saw that Edward was hovering halfway out of the room and seemed hesitant to reenter.

"I'm sorry for my reaction. I must still be more skittish than I realized and I honestly didn't mean to react so violently. I was…overcome." I hung my head in shame.

Carlisle popped out his fake teeth and dropped the accent. This saddened me. I felt like I had brought the party to a spectacular conclusion before it had even started.

"Bella, you have shown remarkable control and presence of mind. I suppose we all forgot that you are still a very new vampire and prone to—emotionality. I want you to realize that you have been doing a phenomenal job of transitioning. Most newborns would still be completely incoherent and dominated by thirst. Never doubt yourself, Bella."

Rose stepped forward to support Carlisle's statements. "Yeah, Bells. Just think of how well you did this afternoon with the delivery boy. You—" She must have caught the look on my face because her eyes darted toward Carlisle and panic overtook her features before she schooled them back into submission. I was fairly certain the rest of the family shouldn't know about that particular.. slip on Rose's part.

I had never thought that Carlisle could be intimidating; he was so inherently warm and caring. But the look on his face now was proving me wrong. He was staring intently at Rosalie who was trying her hardest to avoid her gaze. His jaw was clenched and a vein in his neck was thrumming with effort.

His words were glacial and overflowing with suppressed anger. "What human, Rose." It wasn't a question. Carlisle had heard enough to draw his own conclusions.

Rose seemed to think very deliberately about her next sentence. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head—how much should she reveal? What could she get away with?

"She had their dresses delivered by an express courier. He rang the bell and entered the house but Bella stayed in Rose's room and remained unaffected by his presence." Edward stated plainly.

Rose stuck her tongue out at him.

"Traitor." She hissed.

Edward shrugged and looked at me briefly before looking away.

Carlisle's anger had faded away.

"Is this true, Bella?" I wasn't sure what he was referring to.

"About the messenger? Yeah."

He shook his head.

"About his blood. Were you, as Edward said, unaffected?"

I couldn't lie.

"I wouldn't say unaffected. I wanted to attack him more than anything in the world. I was aware of his every exhalation and every beat of his heart. I didn't trust myself until I heard his car pull out of the driveway and speed down the road."

I hung my head in shame. Carlisle was right there, though, and he refused to let me get down on myself.

"Bella, for a less-than-a-week-old vampire that kind of control is unheard of. Human blood should be absolutely irresistible to you. The pull should be like gravity itself. That's what you've overcome, Bella. You've overcome gravity."

He smiled warmly at me and I could see what a great father he would be for me in the years to come. I was overwhelmed for the love I felt for my new family; people who were almost strangers to me in so many ways.

I felt the need to savor this moment with them. I wanted the past five minutes erased. I wanted to go back to the lighthearted excitement.

I spread my arms out wide.

"For my first trick, I will demonstrate remarkable vampire control. And for my second trick…" I raced over to the large poster of a toothless Dracula and snatched up a sticker set of fangs.

"For my second trick I will whoop you guys at pin the teeth on the vampire."

I closed my eyes and spun around like a dervish, but even so: when I stopped I was completely oriented. I turned ninety degrees to the right and took two steps forward. I had a vivid mental image of the poster and I could picture exactly where the teeth should be. I stuck my hand out and smoothed the sticker into place.

"How'd I do?" I asked before I opened my eyes. I expected to have nailed it. I could tell.

The Cullens burst out laughing. The teeth were smack on top of Dracula's left eyeball.

"Well done, Bell." Emmett clapped mockingly. "You sure showed us."

"Oh, yeah? Why don't you try and do better?"

"A challenge!" Emmett sprang to his feet and bowed to me. "I accept."

He grabbed a set of teeth and spun until he was a blur. He sprinted over to the poster and deliberately, methodically placed the teeth so that they dangled off Dracula's right ear like an earring. He opened his eyes.

He shrugged. "Mine's still closer." He plopped back onto the couch.

One by one each Cullen took their turn. Esme came the closest and was unanimously declared the winner. As Carlisle, Emmett and Edward went to set up the apple-bobbing equipment, bickering about the enhanced 'vampire rules' (Emmett thought we should have to retrieve two dozen apples in under a minute to compensate for our lack of breathing), Jasper spoke from right behind me.

"You are extraordinary, you know."

I turned around, startled, and was struck anew by his beauty and how close together we were.

"Yeah, well…" I mumbled, embarrassed.

Jasper looked at me for a moment and slowly pulled me into a hug. His hand pressed into my back, exactly as Edward's had, but my reaction couldn't be more different. My skin heated and my breathing shallowed. I became very aware of every single nerve ending of mine that was in contact with any part of Jasper.

His breath grazed my ear a moment before he spoke,

"Welcome to the family."

He released me and went outside to join his father and brothers. I swayed slightly and had to brace myself against the wall to maintain my balance.

I swallowed unnecessarily.

Oh god.

I was in trouble.

____________________________________________

A/N: :D