Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
21. PHONE CALL
I woke with a start, darting upright in the bed like I'd only ever seen in those drama movies, the vision I'd seen in my sleep fresh in my mind as I groped blindly for the paper and pencil I knew were available on the side table. The material met my wandering fingers, along with the comfortingly familiar feel of solid, cool skin, but I couldn't turn my attention away from my task.
Jasper watched silently, eyes intent on the image I sketched out, tight-lipped, on the page. He could see a square room with dark beams across its low ceiling coming into being. The walls were paneled in wood, a little too dark, out of date. The floor had a dark carpet with a pattern on it. There was a large window against the south wall, and an opening through the west wall led to the living room. One side of that entrance was stone - a large tan stone fireplace that was open to both rooms. The focus of this room from this perspective, the TV and VCR, balanced on a too-small wooden stand, were in the southwest corner of the room. An aged sectional sofa curved around in front of the TV, a round coffee table in front of it.
All these details were irrelevant in the face of the familiarity Jasper no doubt saw on my face, of the growing dread he could likely feel from me.
"This is my mother's house," I finally confessed to him in a whisper as I traced the lines with a finger, not caring of the minor smudging I was causing.
Jasper had dialed and was already speaking to someone on the other end of the phone before I'd finished the last word, his free hand sliding comfortingly, protectively over my lower back and sending small waves of safety and calm over me, something I greatly appreciated.
"Maddy," I woodenly shifted from my blank gaze at the familiar sketch. "Rosalie and Emmett are coming to Seattle."
"For what?" I asked, baffled.
"To help protect you and hunt down James," Jasper answered slowly, as if it should have been obvious. "We'll meet them at the airport, relocate to your mother's house, head him off, keep you safe."
"And Dad? Bella?" I questioned.
"Carlisle and Esme are still there...and Edward." The way he hissed out the last name showed just how unhappy Jasper seemed to be with him. I wondered momentarily on that, curious, before returning my attention to the present.
It was a good plan, I privately admitted. I was rather amazed Jasper was willing to have me in the same general vicinity as James in his plan, working as a lure, bait, in case James caught on or otherwise might have chickened out at four vampires being around me. Jasper was obviously confident in their ability to protect me and take out James at the same time... too bad it wouldn't work.
"Would you like to take a nap before we leave?" Jasper offered.
"A few hours of oblivion? Yes, please." I readily accepted. I couldn't give myself time to think too deeply of what was going to happen soon. I knew if I did, I'd probably break down from fear and anxiety. I'd take Jasper induced sleep any day, not fighting the heavy fog of lethargy that washed over me, making my lids heavy and close without my help.
I woke naturally at around five thirty in the morning to Jasper's phone ringing as he reentered the room.
"Awake already?" Jasper asked after rapidly speaking and ending his call. "They're just boarding their plane," he informed. "They'll land at nine-forty-five. I just checked us out."
The phone rang again before anything further could be said, catching us both by surprise though for very different reasons.
"Hello?" Jasper paused. "She's right here." He readily handed the phone over to me. "Your mother, I believe," he muttered softly.
"Uh, hello?"
"Bella? Maddy?" Yep, the panicky calls weren't difficult to identify. I'd only heard it dozens of time in my childhood. I sighed in exasperation more at the memories than the call since I knew who was on the other end.
"Mom, relax," I said patiently, firmly, putting a bit of distance between Jasper and I, his proximity more than anything making me nervous of what I was about to do. "Bella's fine. I'm fine. Take a deep breath and I'll explain everything, alright?"
I paused, knowing the silence on the other line was expected, but still unsettling.
"Mom?"
"Be very careful not to say anything until I tell you to." Huh. Bella was right about that. His voice did sound like it belonged in a luxury car commercial.
He continued quickly enough when I scoffed at his words.
"Now, I don't need to hurt your mother, so please do exactly as I say, and she'll be fine." He paused for a minute and chuckled when I made a sound of derision. "That's very good," he congratulated. "Now repeat after me and do try to sound natural. Please say, 'No, Mom, stay where you are.' "
"No, Mom, stay where you are," I exhaled, sounding beyond done with the conversation.
"My, you are quite the little actress, aren't you?" The voice was amused, still light and friendly. "Perhaps we shouldn't push your luck, though, so walk into another room in case your little act slips, hm? There's no reason for your mother to suffer. As you're walking, please say, 'Mom, please listen to me.' Say it now."
"No, Mom, listen to me already," I scowled into the phone as I made my way stiffly to the bedroom, avoiding Jasper's eyes but feeling his support even as I closed the door behind me.
"Ad-libbing? I'll assume it's for the sake of sounding natural as you have yet to give yourself away. Are you alone now? Just answer yes or no."
"Uh-huh," I replied flatly, like one does when they're hardly paying attention.
"Cute," the voice chuckled. "But they can still hear you, yes?"
"Uh-huh," I repeated just as flatly, staring unblinking at the wall.
"All right, then," the agreeable voice chuckled, "say, 'Mom, trust me,' or something similar."
"Mom, just trust me already," I ground out in forced calm, obviously frustrated.
"Very good," he purred. "This worked out rather better than I expected. I was prepared to wait, but your mother arrived ahead of schedule. It's easier this way, isn't it? Less suspense, less anxiety for you."
I let out a classic, angsty teenage grunt. "Ugh." Another chuckle.
"Now I want you to listen very carefully. I'm going to need you to get away from your friends; do you think you can do that? Answer me yes or no."
"Seriously?" I asked in disbelief instead, telling him clearly how stupid I thought he was.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I was hoping someone with your gift would be a little more confident than that. Do you think you could get away from them if your mother's life depended on it? Answer yes or no."
Not wanting to drag this out, I answered promptly. "Okay, yes, already!" I scowled, sounding properly exasperated.
"Much better. I'm sure it won't be easy, but if I get the slightest hint that you have any company, well, that would be very bad for your mother," the friendly voice promised. "You must know enough about us by now to realize how quickly I would know if you tried to bring anyone along with you. And how little time I would need to deal with your mother if that was the case. Do you understand? Answer yes or no."
"Yes," I muttered, this time sounding utterly exhausted.
"Very good, Maddy. Now this is what you have to do. I want you to go to your mother's house. Next to the phone there will be a number. Call it, and I'll tell you where to go from there." Unnecessary as I already knew where I would be going, but he didn't know that did he? "Can you do that? Answer yes or no."
"Got it."
"Before noon, please, Maddy. I haven't got all day," he said politely.
I only rolled my eyes. "Whatever," I scoffed.
"Ah, be careful now, Maddy. Wait until I ask you to speak, please."
Guess he didn't like too much attitude. Hm.
"It's important, now, that you don't make your friends suspicious when you go back to them. Tell them that your mother called, and that you talked her out of coming home for the time being. Now repeat after me, 'Thank you, Mom.' Say it now."
"Thanks, Mom," I sighed, tired.
"Say 'I love you, Mom, I'll see you soon.' Say it now."
"Love you too, Mom, see you soon," I altered, exasperated. James laughed outright this time.
"Goodbye, Maddy. I very much look forward to seeing you again." He hung up.
Holy fuck. That was far more irritating and exasperating than it was terrifying. Then again, I was well versed in making anything terrifying into something funny to me in order to not freeze in terror or break down hysterically. I was going to keep doing so until this all blew over and I had a proper opportunity to absorb all the stupidity I'd committed and reflect back on it properly.
For now, I had a letter to write on the very small chance that things would go bad. Obviously, I was neither hoping for nor banking on it going bad, quite the opposite, but I believed in being prepared for any eventuality and refused to potentially die without some form of farewell to Jasper, who I knew would utterly shatter if the worst were indeed to happen.
Jasper, I started in my nice, loopy handwriting.
AN: Alrighty! Third chapter of close updates finished! One of the shortest I've written but whatever. As long as it's never less than 1k words I'm good. I'm sorry to say that updates will more or less return to being sporadic now though so no promises on the next update whether sooner or later so...you know, sorry again. I will say that I have at least started the next chapter so it shouldn't take me, like, a year to update. I think that happened before so I guess I'm assuring you it won't happen again?
Anyway, sorry if it was too short and don't worry about not reading her letter. It'll pop up later. Thanks for reading and please feel free to give reviews long or short!,(=u=)/