SM owns Twilight
PT II Chapter Eleven: Learning
Song: Never Thought I Could Love by Dan Hill
Edward POV
Since Alice and Jasper's old room was disused so we placed Leah there. I lay beside her, waiting for my own legs to heal. Carlisle had injected her with some heavy tranquilizers. The longer she stayed in wolf form, the quicker she would heal.
For hours I stayed watching the rise and fall of her chest, praying that she would live. There was so much yet I wanted to show her, to do with her. Even in her wolf form with her gray fur I loved her, and couldn't wait to see the gray of her wolf's eyes again. I loved her this way as much as I loved her human.
Slowly I picked up her left paw and held it in my hand, needing any contact with her that I could get. Making love with her before had been wondrous, exciting and felt so natural. Sighing, I laid my head down beside hers, wanting to pull her safely into my arms, but I was too afraid of hurting her more. I felt horrible at waiting as long as I did before going to her. I could have prevented so much of her pain if I hadn't been a coward.
Downstairs I could hear Carlisle on the phone with Esme. She was heading to Texas to be with Jasper and Bella. Carlisle was hoping that Leah would be well soon to make the trip, he wanted all of us out of Forks for a while, I didn't blame him. Soon I had to tell him that I caught Victoria's scent. The longer we stayed here, the more trouble she was going to cause, and now with the werewolf pack down by two, our time here was becoming shorter.
Seeing Jasper and Bella together was going to be hard. I would always hate him for doing what I couldn't for her, but having Leah by my side would make it bearable. Living without Bella had been hard, but I'd done it. I couldn't live without Leah, she was the other part of me that I never knew I was lacking. Leah whimpered slightly in her sleep and again I prayed that she would be all right.
Carlisle had just hung up from Esme when another call came through, he answered it, worries eating at his brain. It was Alice. I broke my thoughts from Leah to listen into the conversation playing in Carlisle's head.
"He's going through with it and nothing I said could stop him. Have you heard anything from him yet? He would have called you first, to let you know. I know him, he would have called."
"Alice, what are you talking about? Where are you, isn't it time you came home?"
"Jasper and Bella, Carlisle. She's a virgin, and oh God! I told him the change might not work if he had to, but I don't think he was listening. I saw there would be blood and that he'd lose control. I've tried to call him back, but he's not answering. What if she's dying Carlisle? If she dies, it's my fault!"
I heard Alice's anguish and her tears through Carlisle's mind. He hadn't heard from Jasper and now sat in worry. What did Alice mean that it was her fault? I tried to block the images of Bella and Jasper making love from my mind, but it was too hard, and too painful. Now, he was giving or had given Bella, the one piece I swore I would not, all of himself.
"I'm sure she's fine Alice, Jasper is capable in controlling himself, especially with Bella. I would not have let him take her, if I were not positive that he could control his bloodlust. He plans on changing her anyway the moment I give him the okay. If he hasn't called you back, it may be because they are too occupied at the moment."
Carlisle sighed at Alice in his head as she hung up, without telling him where she was. Despite his faith in Jasper, he was worried anyway, worried about all of us, and if Jasper would be willing to allow Leah and I to accompany them to Texas.
Just what in the hell was so important about Texas the whole family was going. Carlisle's mind didn't show me, did neither Emmett's nor Rosalie's. Both of them were too busy debating on Leah being in the family. Rosalie hated it, of course, she hated anything that changed the family dynamics. Emmett was debating between Leah being cool and wondering if she liked to fetch sticks.
"Emmett!" I growled just low enough for him to hear.
"Sorry man, I can't help it.' He snickered and again thought of Leah in wolf form. She was chasing after a branch the size of a baseball bat. 'Hey. Ed, I wonder what she's like at baseball, or she could be the team mascot."
I was going to kill him slowly and painfully, again I growled dangerously low at him. All Emmett laughed and then left to hunt, Rosalie on his tail.
Carlisle came to the door, knocking lightly before opening the door. Slowly he walked to Leah. For the first moment I noticed she was waking up. Her heartbeat sped up a little faster, then she opened her eyes, whimpering slightly.
"Leah, can you phase?" She nodded, but barely. I pulled the bed's sheet over her to give her some modesty. I knew that Carlisle could look at anybody objectively as a doctor, I was just feeling too protective of my mate.
With a whimper followed by groan, I watched in fascination as she shifted beside me. I didn't hesitate to reach out and touch her beautiful face, cupping her now healed jaw tenderly. Her lips kissed inside my palm and I could not suppress the shiver that went down my spine.
"How are you feeling?" Carlisle began checking her vitals and the various parts on her that had sustained damage.
I growled, snarling, when he began pressing lightly on her stomach and she cried slightly in pain, grabbing my hand. Carlisle looked at me in shock, as did Leah. I pulled her to me, breathing in deep her scent and nuzzling her neck. I knew my eyes were dark, but after tonight, my only thoughts were to protect Leah. As long as I was alive, no one would ever hurt her again.
"It's okay, Edward, he didn't do it on purpose." Her hand stroked my face until I let my grip slack around her.
"Do you feel up to traveling?" Carlisle wrote something on his chart and looked at me. His mind telling me that if Leah was up to traveling, we were all going, whether I liked it or not.
"Still sore in some spots, but if I can shift again before too long, I should be fine. Thank you both, for saving my life." I could feel hot tears on my neck as she buried her face into me.
Her voice whispered in my ear."The only thing I could think about was just wanting to see and touch you one more time before I died, to tell you that I loved you, and that I was sorry."
Leah's hands clutched at my shirt as she cried, her mind finally coming to terms with the earlier events. Her words mirrored my thoughts. After almost watching her die before my eyes, I knew I was never letting her go again. I didn't think I could bear watching her hurt again.
Later that night, as Leah slept, I found my legs healed enough to hunt. Running felt good and as I crisscrossed paths to the house, I ran again into Victoria's scent, she was not alone. It was to close to the house for it to mean anything but trouble, and I wondered why Alice had not said anything to Carlisle when she called.
Emmett, Rosalie, and Carlisle were in the living room, discussing moving plans. "We need to leave soon."
"God, not again. Edward we can't keep picking up and moving based on your whims."
Rose in a huff sat on the couch, looking tired. In her mind I could see that I had put my family through so much in the last month's, especially Rose and Emmett as they searched for me.
"It's a good reason this time. Three times I ran into another vampire's scent in the woods. All of you remember Victoria, well she's been watching not only this house, but Jasper's. She's planning something, and she's not alone."
"Damn it, you would have thought after we killed James, and Laurent went to Alaska that she's just disappear." Emmett's hands clenched, remembering the hell James and his coven had put our family through.
"She did disappear, I tried to find her after I left. That's the reason you went all over chasing me, I was chasing her. I lost her scent in New Mexico and headed north and stayed there until you found me. If she's out there, you can guarantee it's not because she wants to talk, it's because she wants to destroy us for destroying her life.'
"Emmett, you and Edward, circle until you catch a scent, and be on guard. Rose, pack for Leah. We'll leave within the hour. Rose and Emmett can ride with me, and Edward, take the Vanquish with Leah. I was planning on flying, but we might be driving to Texas. Go now!" Carlisle voice was commanding and I remembered fiercely the night Bella, Alice and Jasper had run south, while we tried to keep James off their scent.
Forty minutes later we were piling into the two cars. Leah was in my arms, her head leaning on my shoulder as I carried her down the stairs, making sure to go easy so as not to jostle her, too much. Somewhere Rose had found her a pair of black stretchy pants and I recognized the button down shirts as one of my own. Even with her bare feet and mussed hair, I had never seen anyone more beautiful and I knew somehow I'd never be able to look at my shirts again without seeing her in them.
In my focused gaze on her, I missed the last step, coming down with a falter that made Leah wince and slightly groan. Emmett, standing by the front door, chuckled and I growled.
"Hey it's nice to know that someone around here can distract you long enough to let you look like an ass, or at least human." He held the door open and I moved past him, without a word.
"What does he mean?" Leah looked up at me, dark circles burned into her copper skin and I groaned in my head.
"It's going to be a long drive, I'm sure Eddie would love to tell you about Bella." That what Emmett's mouth said. His brain said something different. His mind reminded me that I had been so focused on saving Bella that I'd lost her to the one person I'd been trying to protect her from, and not to screw this one up.
Somehow I had a feeling that this was going to be a long drive. As gently as possible I placed a wide mouth and eyed Leah into the passenger seat of the Vanquish. Stooping, I slid the seat all the way back to give her more legroom and then buckled her in. She let me do everything for her without a word of complaint. Bella had always hated it when I did things for her and it had always been awkward and frustrating.
During the time of my youth, human as well as vampire, the little things had meant being a gentleman and gallant. It was courtesy to help a woman in and out of a carriage and to see to her comforts before a man's own. Holding hands back then would have been considered second base now. For me, it wasn't just about propriety, I genuinely enjoyed doing the little things, that Bella often scoffed at. At one time, just holding, Bella's warm hand had been the greatest moments in life.
Now as I pulled the blanket, someone, probably Rose, had placed in the backseat over Leah, and placed the matching pillow in her lap, I realized how precious to me those little items of consideration were. That she allowed me these simple gestures meant more than I dared imagine. They were small gestures of my love, my appreciation for her, something Bella, never understood. Tucking a strand of dark hair, behind her right ear, I closed the door and in a blink was in the driver's seat and turning over the car's powerful engine.
Leah tensed for a brief second as she turned to her left side. She stared at me with her dark eyes, so incredibly full of love that it was all I could do to put the car into drive instead of kissing her the way I wanted to.
Before too long we were on the highway and both cars were eating the miles. Leah had fallen asleep, her warm right hand placed on my upper thigh. She curled into the pillow as it rested on the console. I wrapped my left arm around her shoulders.
I don't know why I again thought of Bella. She never would have been this comfortable with me driving. The high rate of speed had always scared her. There were times I knew she didn't want to be in any car with me except for her decrepit truck. Knowing that Leah felt safe and secure enough to fall asleep while I was driving was a boon.
She was so fierce when standing up to her pack, as well as stubborn and feisty, it warmed me to know that she felt she didn't have to be that way with me. Like now she was content to let me lead her, knowing that I would keep her safe.
It was six hours later that Carlisle pulled into a gas station and I followed, both of us running low on fuel. Gently I patted Leah's shoulder. I knew that she would need to use the bathroom and might like to get something to eat, if there was anything edible in the deli counter inside.
"Where are we?" Slowly she rose, wincing, still in pain. For the next leg of the journey, I was going to make her lay in back. There she could phase and be more comfortable.
"A gas station just outside Idaho. Do you need to go to the bathroom?'
"Yeah." Her body still betrayed grogginess probably from the heavy tranquilizers Carlisle had given her and her body's natural healing.
"Do you want some help?" I was around the car in an instant and pulling her door open for her. My sister feeling more charitable than I'd known her to, was behind me just as I bent to help Leah out of the car.
"I'll help her."
Rosalie's mind was playing over and over how Sam had hurt Leah. Considering her own past, it meant a lot to me that Rose was willing to help Leah. I had never seen this side to her regarding Bella and that did rankle.
"See if you can get her something to eat. She's going to need all of her strength." I lifted Leah out of the car, putting the flip-flops Rose handed me on her feet. Leah's eyes smiled at me, all the thanks I needed.
As Rose helped Leah inside, I pumped gas and like Carlisle and Emmett, leaned against the car and waited for the women to come out. The wait took forever, breathing a sigh of relief when they emerged, Leah's taller frame leaning on Rose for every step. Rose carried a bag of food in the opposite hand.
It would have been easier if Rose would have just carried Leah to the car, but the station was beginning to fill with cars as the early morning hours approached and people were heading to work. With any luck we would be close to Jasper's before dawn tomorrow and Leah could rest in a real bed. Without incidents and stops for Leah the thirty-five-hour drive would take us a little over twenty-five.
Earlier I'd plucked our destination from Carlisle's head. I couldn't say that anxiety did not eat at my gut. I hope I could convince Jasper to tear me apart later, once Leah was safe. Even if he ripped me to shreds the moment I got from the car, it was nothing less than I'd deserved. I'd seen what I'd done to Bella in Carlisle's mind. If Jasper let me survive the next twenty-four hours, it was going to be a miracle. I knew his past better than anyone, had relived it in his mind. Saying that his memories of his former persona scared the shit out of me, was nothing when faced with the Angel of Death in reality. Not even Jasper, was aware that I knew his secret. It was a memory here and there over the years that let me piece together the truth.
Jasper was almost as fast as I was, almost as strong as Emmett, and his tactical skills and intelligence had beaten us all. Even Carlisle's intelligence at times pushed to its limits against Jasper. He was the best of all of us and could destroy us all if he so inclined. I was not foolish enough to believe that it had been Alice holding him back all this time, even if the others thought so. I'd seen into Jasper's mind on enough occasions to know that no one ruled him. He fought a never-ending battle with his control and his past. I had also learned that at times what I heard and saw what he wanted - just like the morning I left.
Jasper had wanted me to think Bella a vampire, forcing the images and the possibilities into my brain, playing not only with my power but my emotions. I had seen a glimpse of the Angel of Death that morning and understood why even the Volturi were afraid of Jasper. His powers of persuasion mentally and physically held no bounds. There was no doubt in my mind that if he wanted to, Jasper could have me trying to pluck my own brain from my head. He was dangerous, lethal, and soon I would be walking right into his lion's den.
Reaching out for Leah, I helped her into the car, needing her calming scent to surround me. Like Bella, her brain left me refreshed. Rosalie was sorry for her and I saw a kindred friendship growing in her head toward Leah. Only Rose would know what it was like to be the victim of men and how to rise above it. I had no doubt the two of them would become an unstoppable force.
Once Leah was settled and buckled, I leaned forward and kissed my sister quickly on the cheek, leaving her stunned before getting into the car and pulling out. In the rearview mirror I saw her standing there briefly before walking to Carlisle's car.
"I tried to get some stuff that wouldn't make a mess or leave a smell in the car." Leah twisted the bottle of juice opened and her thoughtfulness to the Vanquish made my insides happy.
"Were you able to find some items, then?" I smiled over at her, loving the way her neck elongated as she took a drink. It was one of the sexiest sights I'd ever seen.
"A few, some stuff for now and for later. I figured we wouldn't be stopping much. Rose, grabbed magazines, and novels as well. Your family is so wonderful to me, Edward. I hope someday I will be able to repay the favor." Tears glistened in her eyes and I watched as she quickly brushed them away.
Taking her left hand, I brought it to my lips and kissed her the back of it, holding it to me. Someday I hoped to be able to repay their kindness toward her as well. "I love you." Briefly I turned looking at her, loving her dark eyes as they stared back at me, glistening.
"I love you too.' Her fingers entwined with mine. 'I would have fallen in love with you, Edward, even without the imprinting, but I'm thankful that it happened, that it was you." Leah's dark head and skin looked perfect and delicious, leaning against the leather seat, but her words hit my heart hard.
Looking at her, knowing what I already knew about her, I knew the truth. Without question, I would have fallen in love with her as well, without the imprinting. Which made me wonder just how much I had loved Bella? Had I loved Bella, or just the thought and feeling of having someone to love? If I were honest, Bella and I were never anything more than volatile.
"Tell me about Bella." Her question shook me to the core and I swerved on the road before quickly regaining control. It was as if she could see into my mind. How did she do that?
"What would you like to know?" I decided to be perspicuous, wondering just how much she wanted to know.
"What's the story? All Sam talked about was getting her away from your family, and how much he hated Jasper. He feigned liking him to get close, I think Jasper knew."
"Jasper would know, he has a gift of empathy. He can read your feelings, even the ones you don't even know you have. He's also extremely perceptive, persuasive and exceptionally deadly. How much do you know about vampires?" The rest of Jasper's story was not for me to tell.
"You mean the facts besides the basics they show in every movie, which I know is a load of crap. So if I throw out all of that, virtually nothing. They never tell you in the movies that you sparkle like some trumped-up Barbie dolls. Seriously, though, what's up with the sparkle, it makes you guys look like glam rockers who bathe in glitter. I could see the possibilities though, an Edward Barbie." Her grin was pure evil and I longed to kiss her lips. The smile on her face was radiant and for an instant I forgot everything but her. Parts of me cringed though at her thinking I looked like a Barbie in the sun, she could have given me at least G I Joe.
"Since you have now reduced me to Barbie status, I'm not even going to answer your question. You'll have to ask Carlisle why we sparkle' Feeling giddy, I did something so uncharacteristically of me that even me stunned myself. Turning quickly, I stuck out my tongue at her, sneering. She laughed and I couldn't help but join in. 'There is some of my kind that has special powers.'
"Like X-Men." Leah's brows were up and I could tell she was teasing me again.
"Better stated, yes. I told you about Jasper's. Carlisle can resist all human blood, he's never even tasted it. Alice, who you haven't met, can see the future. There are those among us that have other gifts and senses. You are not far in your guess of mutations.'
"So if I were to ask which X-man you would most resemble, which one would it be?"
What was it with the girl and comic book super heroes?
"Why do you ask, and how do you know about them anyway, aren't they more of a boy thing?" I knew I was stalling while trying to figure out how and what to tell Leah about Bella.
"My father is a huge comic book collector. I guess you could say we came by the love of supernatural heroes honestly.' The hand that I had been holding, now lay on my right thigh. She patted me affectionately and the look in her eyes made me almost pull the car over. With her hand on my thigh and rubbing slowly, my libido was starting to go crazy and all I could think about was the next rest stop. 'So, answer my question, which one of the X-Men would you most be like?"
Luckily for me, Emmett had gone through any early 80's phase with cartoons and had voraciously watched the live action movies when they came out. "Professor Xavier." I mumbled.
"Can you read my mind?" The sound that came from her was almost as gasp. Having gotten used to the temperature of her body, I was able to tell when the blood rushed to her cheeks as she blushed.
"I can read minds, yes, but unlike the character I cannot place my thoughts into another's mind. To answer your last question, no, I can't read your mind. I don't know if it has something to do with your being a werewolf or not. I couldn't read Bella's mind either." Crap I'd just brought myself back to the topic I did and did not want to discuss.
Leah was perceptive to my mistake and for long moments she was silent. Her hand had stopped rubbing on my leg, though to my relief she didn't remove it.
"Was that why you were with her?" Her voice was small, worried.
"To begin with, yes, but Bella was also my singer. A singer is the one person whose blood smells the sweetest and the strongest. More often than not, they wind up dead. During the first days of her coming to Forks, I had to leave. I was too close to killing her." I recalled those first days after smelling Bella as if they were yesterday instead last year.
"But you didn't. What stopped you?"
"I was more fascinated with her than thirsty, I suppose and had never met someone who's mind I could not read. Shortly after meeting her, I saved her life, twice. It didn't take her long to figure out what I was. Once she knew what I was, we started seeing each other more. I couldn't stay away from her, and called her my drug. Over time feelings began to grow for both of us, especially after some nomad's showed up and Bella became the leader's obsession. Emmett and Jasper killed him as I was attending to Bella. She'd almost died, James had bit her and she was starting to change. It was by sheer luck that I was able to stop myself when I sucked James' venom from her.' It was hard trying to concentrate on the road and the swirl of visions and feelings erupting in me. I wondered if I always would look back on that night and battling with James without the overwhelming fear and anger.'
'After that it became more difficult. I wanted to protect her, not only from anything happening to her, but from me and my family. In her defense I started coddling her and pushing her away at the same time. She loved me and I broke her.' My hands were starting to shake as the memories from Carlisle's head pounded into me.
Swiftly I pulled the car over, I slammed the gears into park. Getting out, my hands convulsing as while being furled and unfurled. Would I cause Leah the same hurt I had Bella? Was I even worthy of her love, of any love? Maybe there was a reason I had been alone for so long, perhaps that was my destiny, to have and hurt the ones I loved, leaving me without a mate and partner. It would be justifiable for the hurt I had done to Bella. She deserved so much more than I had ever given her.
Trees - one after another met destruction by my hands before I was able to stop. Sitting on a newly desiccated trunk, I leaned forward, placing my head in my hands. I didn't want to lose Leah, not now, not after just finding her, not ever. I would pay whatever price deemed worthy as long as I didn't lose her. She was the balm my soul had been searching for.
I smelled her. The smell of roses, lavender and mint. It came behind me, wrapping me in its embrace and soothing the beast within. Leah was my salvation. Her warmth embraced me and I wrapped my arms around hers, leaning back into her.
The need to kiss her, to taste her was inconsolable. Turning I gathered her into my lap, my right thumb brushing along her jaw. Leaning forward I nibbled on her bottom lip with my own, loving the taste of her. It didn't take long for her legs to wrap around my waist. Feeling her heat so close was almost my undoing. Soon I would have her again, but not until she healed. Leaning my head against hers, I broke our kiss before wrapping my arms around her and pulling her as close as I could without hurting her.
"What happened, Edward, you can tell me?" Her head lay against my shoulder and I fought for the words. I wanted to tell her the truth, without making her lose faith in the feelings I had for her. I knew without a doubt in my heart that I loved Leah and I wanted to spend the rest of existence with her.
"It was the night of her eighteenth birthday. My sister Alice had surprised her with a party at the house. Bella hated surprises and presents. They made her uncomfortable because she felt she needed to reciprocate the gesture. She was opening a present, the paper slipped, cutting her skin. Just one drop fell to the floor. Jasper lost control and attacked. It took Carlisle, Emmett and I to keep him from killing her. During the fracas I pushed Bella back behind me. She flew into a stack of glasses, cutting her forearm badly. She could have been killed and it would have been my fault. I took her home and spent the night holding her in my arms and knowing the truth. Being with me was going to get her killed.'
"Didn't she want to be a vampire then as well? The pack talked after the meeting with all of them. Sam hated it and thought Jasper was brainwashing her.'
"Yes, and I denied her request. I never wanted this life for anyone, Leah, especially not Bella. I had no plans for changing her and hoped that one day she would see it my way.'
"What happened after that?" Leah's voice was steady as well as her heartbeat. The staccato was soothing and allowed me to continue.
"When I got home from, Bella's I'd told everyone we were leaving. Jasper was repentant and using his gifts he got me to see the truth. That night, Bella's blood had called to me just as much as it did Jasper, that I was a real danger to her. He also got me to admit the truth that I would never change her. I feel and will always feel that it is best for Bella to live out a human life away from us, even lonely, than to live our existence.'
"That next afternoon, after everyone left, or so I thought, I broke up with Bella. When you left me in the rain, you used the exact words I said to her. It will be like I never existed. In that moment I knew how much pain I caused her, how much I hurt her. If Jasper is the one that makes her happy and takes that pain away, then I could not stop it. Her happiness is all I ever wanted for her."
"Do you still love her?" The words were so small, so light that I almost missed them.
"In a way, I suppose I always will. It's not the same love, I feel for you. I could never walk away from you, Leah. I would rather die with you than ever live without you. You're the other half of me, I felt it the moment you tackled me and I looked into the eyes of your wolf. I believe I always took my protectiveness of Bella as love, when it wasn't, it was more about possession because she was my singer. I'm not sorry for knowing her, or for loving her, just like I'm not sorry for saving her life, but I am sorry for bringing her into the dangerousness of our world. If anyone can keep her safe, it's Jasper."
I rubbed my cheek against the top of her head and wished I knew what she was thinking. I didn't want her to be jealous of Bella, the same as I fought not to be jealous of Jasper. Bella would always be a part of me, a part of my family, but the truth remained. She would never be my mate, and now only a friend.
"Will it be hard to see them together?" Her voice was a little brighter and I hoped I convinced her of my love and that I was letting Bella go.
"Yes. There was a time, when we first met Bella, that Jasper was not above killing her to protect the family. I'm always going to want to protect her, especially from him. He used to be a blood drinker, Leah, one of the most feared out there. How could I not protect her from that? As long as she is human, I will watch for him to slip. Jasper's control at the best of times is hanging on by a thread, I don't care what Carlisle says. It's not just about him killing someone, it's what he used to do to people that has me the most afraid for her. The atrocities I've seen in his memories would make serial killers run and hide. His name was the Angel of Death among my kind. He would take humans and turn them, once they were done with their usefulness as newborns, he would destroy them. His own people thought he was the devil and called him Lucifer. How could I not protect her from that?" I knew I'd spoken too much about Jasper, and I felt a shiver run down Leah's body.
"Does Bella know?" Her voice held a conviction, the wolf in her needing to protect.
"I don't know, she might. If she's been with him, this long, he might have told her. Would you? . If you had a secret so horrible that it could cost you the one person you loved, could you tell them?' I had told Leah how I'd hurt Bella, and now felt best for it.
"I guess it would depend on the secret. If she knows and still loves him, will you be able to walk away?" Leah slowly climbed off my lap and stood. I knew that look in her eye, she was not above telling Bella to protect her. Protecting humans was ingrained in her wolf, and it was now seeing Bella as someone to protect.
"Yes, if she knows and still loves him, then I will not stand in their way. Just as long as she knows what she's getting into with him. I won't see her hurt again, she's been through too much. I want her to feel love, the kind that I feel for you. If Bella has that with Jasper, then that's all I could ever wish for her." She held her hand out to me and together we walked back to the car. I opened her door for her and she slid her long legs in. Legs that I couldn't wait to be around me again, only the next time, they would be bare.
My phone began ringing incessantly as I got in. Pulling it from my pocket I hit the button to receive the call.
"Where are you, man? Dad's worried, so is Rose."
"I'll catch up soon. Pull over at the next rest stop and wait for me. We'll meet you soon. We had a little detour." Leaning over the console, I kissed Leah on the lips before ending the call. Smoothly I started the engine and put the powerful car in gear, loving the sound of Leah's laugh as I took off like a bat out of hell as the dawning light of day crept into the sky.
AN: I know that for many of you this chapter will not be enough - especially after my being gone so long. This past year has been filled with trial, tribulations, hard work and joy. I started returned to college after a 15 year absence last fall with a very large goal in mind - two degrees (English and History). The experience is frustrating, exhausting, exhilarating and the best time of my life. It has opened a world full of richness, vibrancy, and joy that I have been missing in life for many years, because of this unique experience I have decided to go all the way to PhD. With maintaining my near Dean's List g.p.a, unfortunately I had to place fandom in the recesses of my mind and pursuits during this past year.
As I have now become acclimated to student life I am now ready to jump back into a story and fandom that I have missed so dearly. All of the reviews during the past year kept my spirits up when I wondered if I was traveling in the right direction.
I am incredibly blessed to have the most wonderful reviewers that a writer can ask for. Because of you I walked into my creative writing class with a feeling of accomplishment and confidence in knowing that I can write a story worth reading. My goal was to gain powerful insight into writing publishable original material that would have a place outside of our dear fanfiction world. This fall my goal will be one step closer to full accomplishment. This spring I submitted a short story for my university (Ohio State) annual Literary Journal. This fall my first original story will be published, giving me my first professional fiction writing credit. I owe it all to every reviewer who has left a comment or review.
Without further ado, I bring you the first chapter of still a long road ahead. Please forgive me that it is not Jasper and Bella related. Fear not my fantastic reviewers and readers there is plenty of Jasper/Bella goodness to come. Not to mention some yummy Peter thrown into the mix.
Hugs and Much Appreciation
Aerialla