A/n: I'm really sorry that I didn't put this up last Saturday but I have been busy (final exams) and I couldn't quite squeeze this into my schedule. But don't fret! I'm officially over with the school year and I have a few weeks to write more chapters for AIA until I have to go back to college for summer classes.

However, in order to make it up for it, I made this chapter extra long. So long in fact, I had to cut into two parts! You have here the first part and on Saturday, you'll have the rest of it. Hope you enjoy the chapter and please review! :)

oOoOo

Chapter 14: Meet the Cullens (Part 1)

Harrie, upon entering the Cullen abode, unexpectedly felt overwhelmingly small and insignificant. She felt dirty and poor in this outrageously and expensively furnished room but at the same time she was like a little girl in a candy store. She wanted to stop and look at everything. However, Jasper was not having any of that. He took her by the arm and hurried her along and made their way up a grand spiraling staircase. Upon reaching the top, they stopped and Jasper allowed her to take a breather. But no sooner had she registered where she was, they were off again. They had not gotten that far when they stopped at a simple white door.

Jasper turned to Harrie. She was somewhat alarmed at the intensity written all over his face and he looked like he was about to say something that could mean life or death. "Harrie, I will leave you out here. I'll go inside the room to see if the coast is clear and then come back for you. You yell if something happens."

Harrie's heart started to thump in her chest. She didn't like the sound of that. It sounded dangerous. What the hell was going on? She was torn away from her thoughts when Jasper shook her violently. "Do you understand, Harrie? Do you?" he hissed. He kept looking from one dark end of hallway to the other end that was only slightly lit from the light coming from the living room down below.

"Yes," she whispered and at the same moment, Jasper disappeared, leaving her quite alone.

oOoOo

"Damnit," Jasper cursed as he flipped on the switch, the light overhead flickering once before bathing the whole room with a soft, yellowish hue. He began inspecting the room he shared with Alice and found no one inside. He barged into his private study, almost expecting to see Alice or Edward waiting inside but no one was there either. Immediately, he turned around and bounded for the door, not wanting to leave Harrie vulnerable for another second. It was bad enough he had brought her here in the first place. It was like delivering a slab of steak to the front door.

He opened the door and pulled Harrie inside before locking it behind them. Harrie's eyes were huge as she looked up at him. She was silent but clearly bewildered. He wasn't sure how to explain his actions to her and he had half a mind to just keep silent and not tell her at all. But that was not important at the moment. What was important was for her to call her grandfather and then get her safely home. Until seeing Alice, he hadn't realized the severe error he had made by bringing Harrie here. But they had no other option.

In all honesty, Jasper wasn't sure what the others planned to do to Harrie should they meet. But always trying to be on the side of caution, he felt the need to get her out of the house and quickly.

"Jasper?" she said, her voice quivering. The hard expression on his face quickly vanished and he looked down at her with his trademark puppy dog grin.

"It's alright," he tried to soothe her. "I just don't want the others to see you."

Harrie looked at him, startled for a split second and then she frowned, clearly offended. He couldn't help but snigger. She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted even more. "Hey, I know I don't look all that respectable at the moment but surely your family won't faint at the sight of a little dirt!"

"Actually, I think Rosalie would. She's a bit of germaphobe," he answered, straight-faced. The only thing that gave him away was the small, cheeky grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Exasperated, Harrie stamped her foot. "I'm not kidding, Jasper! What the hell is going on here?"

At that moment, Jasper panicked. What was he supposed to do now? He couldn't tell her the truth obviously and he couldn't think up a lie good enough. There was only one thing he could do. He turned his head away from her, ashamed at what he was about to do next.

Harrie watched him curiously and was about to say something when he closed the gap between them. "Hush now," he said as if pacifying a child. Shocked stone still, Harrie felt herself being enveloped in his arms. A warm, light feeling grew inside of her and she suddenly felt calm. She let herself lean into him, enjoying the way his arms were wrapped tightly around her frame. Although her brain was screaming for answers, she pushed them all to the back of her mind, only relishing in the way Jasper was holding her and making her feel. It was euphoric.

When he knew that she was okay, Jasper took a small step back, breaking their embrace. He couldn't look at her. He never thought he'd have to use his powers. It felt like he was violating her. He gently took her by the arm. She was silent but allowed him to guide her into the other room.

"This is my study," he murmured softly. "The phone's right there." He motioned to a simple, black cordless phone on the edge of a large mahogany desk. Harrie glanced at it for a second but turned back towards Jasper. He was gone.

oOoOo

Jasper was there to greet her when she came out. "Done," Harrie said, managing a weak smile up at the blond as she emerged from his study. He nodded quietly and motioned for her to follow him out again. He did not touch her this time and she felt surprisingly distressed about it. It was an odd feeling for her and even more curious at a time like this with Jasper acting like a man on a secret mission.

The calm feeling that had enveloped her awhile ago was slowly growing fainter and fainter and she felt like she was awaking from a glorious dream. She felt groggy but good without exactly knowing why. But what didn't leave her at all was the ache in her chest the moment Jasper released her from their embrace. She wanted it again so badly.

She blindly let him drag her down the spiraling staircase and then down another flight of steps. It looked like they were making for the Cullens' garage but there was something blocking their way. Or rather someone.

Harrie let out a gasp upon seeing Emmett standing at the side entrance to the garage. His huge, hulking frame was casually leaning against the close door. He waved at them nonchalantly and smiled. "Hey, there."

Immediately, Jasper stood in front of her, shielding her from the other Cullen as if he were dangerous. "Let us go, Emmett," she heard Jasper growl. Harrie couldn't exactly see Emmett's reaction but she was too scared to look. In the end, it seemed like Emmett won and Jasper guided her back into the main part of the house with Emmett walking closely behind them.

Upon re-entering, not only was Alice standing in the middle of the large, white room but so were the rest of the Cullen family. It was shocking to see them altogether. They looked almost identical. For one thing, they were all amazingly beautiful and for another, they were all dressed in obviously expensive (not to mention matching) clothes. But there was something else. It was what made them so odd to her.

'Why are they all so damn pale?' she wondered silently, not noticing the red-head's sudden shift in demeanor. He gazed her intently, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Before she could analyze the situation any further, a tall brunette woman made her way forward. She smiled at both Jasper and her. She looked reminiscent of those 50's housewives on TV. "Jasper," she admonished lightly, still smiling. "You should have said you'd be bringing a friend home. We would've postponed dinner."

Harrie noticed Jasper looking visibly startled. He didn't say anything, merely cocked his head to the side, his brows knitted in confusion. So, Harrie decided to speak up for once. "I'm sorry. We didn't want to disturb you. It's very late and as you can see," motioning to her grimy apparel. "I'm not exactly dinner appropriate."

The woman merely laughed and replied, "Not a problem dear. I think we're about the same height. While you bathe and get dressed, we'll set up something for you and Jasper to eat."

Harrie looked to Jasper for some sort of confirmation but he was at a loss for words. There was nothing she could do but let herself be dragged off to who-knows-where, being led by the arm like an invalid while Jasper watched them mutely until they disappeared up the stairs.

TO BE CONTINUED (really soon)…