Thank you to SheikahLover, the greatest beta reader!

(Small side note, if for some reason any of the italicized words are ran together that is the Doc Manager's fault as each time I've saved the doc I've needed to put spaces in every single one of Erica's dialogue again. Very sorry if I, and Microsoft, didn't catch them all.)

Also, I've been thinking of settling this once and for all, who will Amy end up with. There will be a poll* set up and for those without an account or simply don't want to vote, I'll be taking opinions in reviews as votes as well.

**The set up of the poll is a bit confusing so I'll explain it somewhat here. As I told someone over PM, who thankfully brought this to my attention: if someone chooses that they don't like Bella and would love Amy more, then they can have a bit more customization in her fate. I know that a lot of people have mixed emotions on Renesmee, so (given that majority wins) a Renesmee like baby would either become Amy's, Erica's, or not exist entirely making Breaking Dawn disappear. But that only applies really if they decide "bleh I hate Bella" or maybe "I'd just like a refreshing Edward OC sprinkled in" with the option "Amy takes the place of Bella" and an added vote on how Breaking Dawn goes as you can vote two.

If confusion persists just shoot me a PM and I'll try to help y'all specifically. :)

Chapter 25:

Goodnight Erica, those words replayed several times in her mind. She knew that they belonged to him, it was impossible to misplace the low southern tone. It would have been heartwarming, to know he replied to her silent goodbye, had it not been ridiculously creepy.

"Repeat after me: I will not enter Erica's room without her permission again." Erica signed precisely, narrowing her eyes up at the tall vampire.

He sighed loudly, making it clear to those around them that he was humoring her.

"I will not enter your room without permission again." He placed a heavy amount of elegance and dramatics to his actions, even placing a hand on his heart for added emphasis.

Erica didn't find it as funny as the other Cullen's around them. "I will hit you with a bat."

"You're gonna need something a lot stronger than that, darling." Jasper said easily, dropping his arm.

As his arm fell it brushed up against her arm, her long sleeve did nothing to hide the constant chill of his body temperature. While they had not discussed their embrace yet, things were noticeably different between them. The week before, Jasper would never have stood so close to her, let alone arm-to-arm. He wouldn't have even spoken as many words, or humor and tease her.

She wondered if other people noticed, if their newfound states were any indication. As she stood in the elusive circle of vampires, people skirted past them in the school parking lot. Their eyes met hers each time she looked away from the group, full of envy and disbelief as their resident mute was officially making her association with the Cullen's clear. For the past month, her accidental rumor of her dating Jasper spread lightly, a simple spark to the fire she just started.

"Then I'll just ask Emmett to hit you with a bat." Erica snarled, jerking her chin towards the bulky vampire across from her.

They laughed, not sounding anywhere near condescending as they would have sounded to her ears before.

"I might not look like much but," Alice swung her hands in a mock bat motion, pretending to point it at Jasper. "I've got a mean left hook."

"Why would you even go in my room, Jasper? That's super creepy." Erica continued from before, craning her neck to look into his eyes.

She didn't have her hair pulled back this time, the jaw length strands covering half of her right eye. As they neared mid-October, it was becoming too cold for her to adventure with her hair. That choice resulted in several long minutes of Alice ignoring her, and Amy threatening to throw away her new headbands and decorative pins.

"Yeah Jasper, old men like you shouldn't be in there." Emmett nearly howled at his brother, dodging the hand Rosalie tried to whack him with. "Even I know that's weird."

Erica rolled her eyes, looking at Edward who leaned against his silver Volvo, watching them all with silent eyes. "Would you do something that creepy?"

Edward snorted, grinning crookedly. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Erica barely caught Alice's mischievous and fleeting smirk.

"I doubt Rose would find me being in her room creepy. In fact she'd..." Emmett followed that by several other words involving roleplay that made Erica cringe.

"You know what, I think I heard the bell ring."She announced, crinkling her nose.

"So did I," Alice agreed, her own face wrinkled.

Along with them, Jasper and Edward voiced similar sentiments. As the four separated, Rosalie and Emmett hardly noticed as they were too preoccupied with each other.

As they walked away, the slightest touch of a hand against Erica's back had her beaming wider than she'd ever entering the school.

"You do realize we need to talk about it at some point." Erica was finally taking charge.

By that, she asked Alice which class Jasper had before lunch and left hers five minutes early to stand outside the economics class. It was almost funny to see the exasperated expression on his face, as he no doubt knew she was coming the moment she left her own classroom. It was most likely why he waited until every other student left the room to exit, it wasn't the first time she had bombarded a Cullen, but this time he knew what it was she wanted to talk about.

She knew he was mostly humoring her, following behind her as she pulled his wrist. Jasper's arm was ridiculously long compared to hers, and with his towering height, she had to grab him by the elbow so she would be able to sign as well as lead.

"I already apologized for being in your room uninvited." Jasper drawled, he sounded as if it were possible for a vampire to be exhausted.

"Ha, you say that as if I'll be extending an invitation." Erica snorted, patting his arm with mock condescension.

His smirk said what he was thinking.

"I thought soldiers were gentlemen." Erica accused, teasingly swatting his arm and holding her nose up.

She didn't let go of him yet, still leading him through the halls.

"You've never been around an army of men then."

She scoffed at that. "Please Jasper, you were from the south, in 1860 no less."

Just the idea of him sitting around with other men being crude made her disbelieve him. Even if he was a soldier in modern time, Erica couldn't picture him being less of the charming if not slightly frustrating young man.

"I see you still remember the history paper." She had stopped dragging him and now they strolled together arm and arm through the thick of the students.

Erica could almost imagine them taking a proper stroll, her in a dainty cotton dress while he showed her off to the townsfolk. After hearing more about their personal stories, in not very much detail, mind you, it was easier for her to lose herself in such thoughts. All night she dreamt of being a horrible southern belle, shielded away from society until her soldier swooped in to rescue her.

"How could I forget?"She smiled up at Jasper, raising an eyebrow under her hair as she did. "Whitlock suits you much better than Hale."

"Hale comes from Rose." Jasper told her as they rounded the corner. "Why are you taking me to the library?"

"Because my mom tried a new mushroom recipe that I really don't want to touch, and you don't eat."Her nose wrinkled as she let him go slightly ahead of them to open the door.

The library was one of Erica's favorite places on earth, a beautiful room that eased her transition into public school. It only felt like yesterday that she was fourteen years old, and was stumbling into the large room, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of her current setting. At first, the white walls and metal shelves felt clinical, harsh and cold to her. But after a week straight of shuffling her feet across the dingy gray blue carpet, it became a familiarity. As time passed she didn't go near her comfort zone as much, only occasionally popping in for some quiet reading time. For Erica to bring Jasper there was close enough to inviting him into her heart. She felt safe there, safe enough to speak some of her mind.

"Have you ever considered just not being vegan?" Jasper asked her, the corners of his lips twitching.

"Do I look like I hate my mom?"Erica asked him incredulously, gesturing to her face.

It wasn't her smartest move, inviting him to look at her. Especially when she wanted to talk to him about what happened. She didn't really know what type of air shifted between them, but the look in his eyes made her nervous. As if a thousand little pinpricks erupted over her skin; the feeling amplified as his arm grasped onto hers tighter. There were no words to be said, as Erica was afraid of letting her thoughts spill away. As if she would confess that she didn't want to forget what happened, that maybe she wanted to do it again.

"You should be running for the hills." Jasper spoke so lowly, nudging her closer to a book shelf.

"Yet, I'm still here." Erica pulled her arm away, letting both of theirs fall to their sides.

"If you wanted me to run, kissing me wasn't the best idea."If Erica could speak, she hoped she would sound brave.

She didn't feel brave, but if she had to put it into words, she felt stupider than usual. "I don't really know what's happening. It's like you pulled the rug out from under me, but I'm still falling to the ground and can't land… And I'm not sure if I want to land yet." With the end of her words, she didn't know how her hand ended up in his.

As a petite in height girl, she was well aware that he was significantly taller. As she held Jasper's hand, his almost completely drowned hers.

Erica wanted to do something more, like maybe lean forward and brush her face against his. But she didn't make a move, especially when his hand slowly reached out to brush her hair away from her face. They didn't need to say anything about his vampirism, even when the air desperately begged to be cleared. She was content with blindly free falling, as she knew he was somewhere at the bottom.

"I thought I knew what reality was." Her fingers brushed against his open palms as she signed. "Now, nothing but what I know makes sense."

"What do you know?" Jasper looked ready to start calling himself a monster, plastering an almost bitter smirk across his forever youthful face.

"I know that something very important happened yesterday."

Jasper scoffed, ready to jump in. Her hand squeezing his halted whatever tangent he was mentally preparing.

"Something I don't completely understand, but that's okay."Erica's finger shook as she signed the last few words. "I could never regret any moment as long as you're there."

The next thing she knew was his lips slowly brushes against her cheek, cold and fleeting. Despite it being so quick, she had never felt something as overwhelmingly filled with affection.

"If only you knew how long you've kept me waiting." Long gone was the self-loathing, replaced by well-kept desperation.

"Well, I'm here now."

Erica had no intention of letting this go, letting Jasper go.

"For the past few decades Alice told me you were coming, but I always assumed you were turned." His confession had her picturing a red eyed Erica who was unearthly beautiful. "When you started digging around she finally told me you were her."

She felt like she was breathing too loudly, the noise rushing around her ears louder each time he spoke.

"I won't lie, I hated to idea of condemning another person to my lifestyle."

"So you tried to hate me as well?"She filled in, stepping closer if it were possible.

"Then I brought you to the attic and realized you could become my everything." His soft voice got louder. "It's funny how fate delivered someone so fragile, who couldn't even scream for help if I lost control."

Jasper made her feel everything from adoration to fear, a compound she wasn't sure she liked yet. But she hardly had any plans to leave.

"You won't lose control Jasper. I trust you."She professed, slipping her fingers further away to prevent accidentally angering him.

He dropped his hands to his side. "Only one of my family members has had that high of faith in me."

"Alice?" She guessed, not surprised.

When the Cullen's had first moved to town, Erica honestly believed that Alice and Jasper were together. Though they never touched, they held such a great adoration between them that it seemed like they shared some feelings. Maybe once upon a time ago she would have been jealous, but now she knew better. Alice saved Jasper and helped him hold on until Erica arrived. If it weren't for her, then she doubted Jasper would even be a Cullen.

Jasper finally smiled slightly, the tenseness in his body softening. "She told me it was very important that I'd stopped feeding on humans after each slip up and helped me stop throughout the years… I thought she had meant for my own sake. Now I know better."

Alice told him that so he wouldn't drain her once they eventually met, she realized.

"I really like you Jasper." The confession had been stifling her mind, needing to come out.

Once it finally did, it was like all the weight on her shoulders had suddenly dissipated. She was afraid it would come crashing back down once he didn't return the same feelings towards a simple human. She wasn't nearly as pretty as other humans, maybe at best she was cute. But the mutism took any attraction away, at least it did at her school. Even Amy was more beautiful with freckle splotches when standing beside Erica. Erica knew she was no Rosalie, and as a human she didn't compare to the unearthing beauty. But when Jasper was with her, she felt beautiful. Even when they butted heads—admittedly she caused it—there was always that look in his eyes she now knew as adoration.

"I believe we share similar feelings, darling."

With him, she had always felt beautiful.

That morning, Erica woke up, feeling both irritated and swooning at Jasper's actions. During the middle of the day, she found herself entering a sort of relationship with him. An actual, non-rumor created relationship. After school, he so charmingly left her to face Amy all alone. Getting a head start on the weekend was his excuse. She knew it was because Amy scared him too.

"Why are you blushing?" Amy was like a greyhound, instantly sniffing out her suspicions.

To say Erica waned to toss herself out of the window was an understatement. "I have a sort of boyfriend."

It was like ripping a Band-Aid off when delivering news to Amy, sudden and quick enough so you hope she didn't catch it. Even if it might have been reading too much into what happened, she felt right to say she was involved with Jasper.

When Amy squealed, a noise shrill and pitchy, Erica knew she was settling for a long night at the Clear house.

"I'm going to call your mom and say we have an art project because you are not leaving tonight!" Amy looked happier than Erica felt, her eyes shining and cheekbones flushed.

Erica wondered if she looked as star struck and happy, if not even more than Amy did. Because she was so unfathomably happy and out of her depth.

"I don't have anything besides my bag."Erica pointed out, already sprawling out on her "side" of Amy's bed.

Amy held up one finger, speeding out of the room to call Heather. Through the thin walls, Erica could hear Amy's animated voice convincingly selling the art project story, promising to not eat any junk food as well. After Amy's farewell, she heard Amy ask her mom to pick up Chinese takeout for dinner, making sure Erica's was the vegetarian option.

It was a good thing that Erica had short hair, as she liked to push it up onto the pillow and off her neck, something that drove Amy crazy before she cut her hair. Each morning of their sleepovers, they would wake up with each other's ponytail in their mouths. Much to Amy's typical aversion, she was covered by the yellow hairs.

Amy's room was like an extension of herself, chaotically ambitious and messy. It was fairly bigger than Erica's room, including the bed, which was a solid oak queen sized smashed up against the furthest wall. There was a large predominantly purple patchwork quilt tossed on the bed, with many matching pillows on top. Leaning against her dresser drawers was two pairs of shoes, one being Amy's brown moccasins and the other was Erica's yellow rain boots.

There was a large dresser opposite it, an old hand-me-down from her grandmother with clunky brass knobs. On the surface was a framed photo of Erica and Amy, both girls raising their arms up with a tiny blue science fair ribbon in between. Erica couldn't hold back a smile at that, it was the project that led to Amy's ambition to be a marine biologist. It was on the tidal cycle and the chart they made still hung up on the wall above her bed. Next to their photo were five more of them, commemorating shared events such as the disastrous time when they tried out for the badminton team. Erica was holding an ice pack to her eye beside a sheepish looking Amy. It wasn't hard to figure out what exactly happened that day.

Her closet door was thrown open, revealing messily hung up dresses and shirts, and a large blue parka was on the floor holding it open. There was a trail of clothes leading away from the closet and into a pink hamper. If Erica hadn't known her best friend's habits as well as she did, she would've been tempted to clean up the mess.

The room's walls were white, but she could hardly see the paint underneath all of the multiple science show tickets and pamphlets, art class drawings, photos, and a few tryout posters taped on the walls. It was almost like a map of who Amy was throughout her current life, traits, interests, and skills progressing and changing.

Amy ran back into the room, picking up the conversation and halting Erica's sentimental trip.

"You can wear my long shirts as dresses." Erica didn't have any warning before she was hit with a face full of cotton as she sat up.

Falling into her lap was an old shirt from Amy's attempt at playing soccer during ninth grade, the Spartans mascot winking back at Erica. There was also the matching blue shorts, both given to Amy after tryouts. She wasn't completely sure the set was clean, but it was probably for the best that she didn't question it. While it didn't fit Amy anymore after her growth spurt in sophomore year, it still managed to be comfortable on Erica.

"Turn around." Erica signed, throwing a pillow at Amy.

It was ritual for them; while one got changed the other got a face full of pillow. Because Erica couldn't speak, she would nudge Amy with her foot when done. Once both girls were done, they settled into bed, discussing nonessential things before Mrs. Clear arrived.

Amy suddenly looked up at Erica with wide eyes. "Do you love him?"

Did she? Last year Erica never envisioned herself ever even having a relationship. She always thought she would be like her mother, having children and a love life later on. Maybe even including the divorce once she gave her husband children with her condition. Any potential husband would hate her. Just like she knew her father did to her mother.

So she spoke honestly."I think one day I'll just wake up irrevocably in love with him."

"But are you even the slightest bit in love?" Amy shifted so her head was on Erica's pillow, her ponytail hitting her face.

Erica shrugged, shifting her face away from the brown strands. "I'm falling, slowly but surely I'm getting there every time I see him."

Amy nodded her head, smiling widely and dimpled. "Those Cullen boys."

She said it so wistfully that Erica jerked her head off the pillow in realization. "Do you like Edward? Like seriously, not playing the flirt like him?"

Erica had only seen Amy embarrassed a handful of times, so seeing her blush now was more confirmation than she could ever say.

"What?" She drew out nervously. "I don't likehim, ha, I definitely do not."

"You do!"Erica taunted, her smile as big as possible and a tiny bit crooked. "Forget my fan club, I'm petitioning for the Amy and Edward movement!"

"Erica!" Amy groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Oh god he's gonna know, I won't be able to stop thinking about—"

"The hair? That crooked smile?"Erica interrupted with flamboyance. "Is it the Volvo?"

"What makes you so attracted to Jasper?" Amy countered, slapping Erica's arm.

She didn't have to hesitate to answer."Initially, he was just as misunderstood as me. Now, it's because I currently can't picture right now without him."

"Damn, you've got it bad."

Amy was right, she really did. With all her heart she knew one day she would confess a growing love for him. Maybe even become a vampire for him. But she wasn't Alice, she couldn't know to some degree of certainty of what would happen. No matter what life threw at her, Erica knew that her attraction wouldn't waver and neither would his.

AN: Aw bless, I just love romance.

GhostlySights: I feel like a yoyo when it comes to Amy and Edward, as I just ship them so hard but as you (amazingly) suggested she just might end up with a werewolf. Seriously, that it just an amazing idea that I didn't consider! :D Ahh thank you! :)

Breakfast at Amelia's: Thank you soooo much for remidning me to add that section, as it was written but on a separate doc. I'm forever grateful!

Wolff Howl: Haha thanks! :D

SheikahLover: I'm so happy to know that it hasn't gotten boring, because I'm just constantly worried I'm not writing but more lazing about. Haha, it's so tempting just to give them a big love confession, like musical style with synchronized song and dancing. Ahh I just had to throw him in there, it was hard to resist! ;P Haha, I feel like with Jasper it's more of a "whoops I've screwed up and gotta appease the gf" rather than a "I need to watch every intake of her lungs." xP As Carlisle if one of my favorite characters it's been hard to just leave him in the shadows, so I hope to get a bit of him and his vast knowledge.

TaTa B-P: Ahhh thank you! ^-^

Guest and Miniluce (I'm hoping you are the same as it might be the same review but it was posted on separate days) : Thank you so much! :D I'm so happy to hear! ^-^

Guest (2): Thank you! I hope you enjoy the update! :D

MissMaria4: Haha thank you! Hmmm, I think I'd go with sweetly creepy in the best way ;P

Guest(3): Haha I hope you enjoy this one! Sorry for the wait! :)

rissbenzo: Here it is! :D