My eyelids felt so heavy as I blink against the blinding light peeking through the curtains of my room. I became aware of a heavyweight resting on one leg and hot breath being exhaled onto the nape of my neck, a constant heat source against my back. For the first time since moving to Forks, it felt near stifling underneath the bedspread.

Bella startled me when mumbling, "Edward," then beings making an incoherent noise, but I distinctly understand the word wolf tacked on at the end.

I shoot an incredulous glance over my shoulder. What the hell? Suppressing a giggle as my cousin snuggles closer, obviously mistaking me for her boyfriend. A quick look at the clock confirms my suspicion of it being past lunch. Then the familiar sound of Uncle Charlie's voice as he spoke to someone; I suppose on the phone, drifts through the air. With a sigh, I settle back into my pillow and toss one bare leg out from underneath the blanket to cool off. It had been a great night and I had no intention of getting up from this bed at least not for a while longer. Just as I am starting to doze, I hear the unmistakable timbre of my newly acquired muse. Aro's smooth as melted butter tone, ringing clear as a bell through the walls. My heart took off like a horse released from its gate in the Kentucky Derby, eyes nearly falling out of my head when hearing Esme's higher, feminine voice.

I didn't think they would talk so soon! My whole body tensed with the want to get up and see what was being said, yet I stayed rooted to the bed with apprehension. Aro never really gave me an exact date for asking my Uncle, I just thought it might be closer to Bella's graduation. You idiot, he probably must leave the country before then. I roll my eyes, biting my lip in anxiety, I hate planned confrontation. I suppose I can thank Allison for that, most talks with her usually ended up being less than pleasant. Even though I know Uncle Charlie is a reasonable, sober man, yet the nagging fear remained. That was the real reason why I had been so keen on Aro handling it. I just didn't think I could muster up the nerve to confront him about moving, especially after all he's done for me. But, the reality of knowing it was all going down now, left my stomach in knots and me glued to the bed. I fully intend to wait for the verdict in the peace of my darkened room.

Bella slept on as I stared up at the ceiling, my lower abdomen cramping due to me putting off the need to pee for a painstaking thirty minutes. All the while listening to Bella dreamily sigh in my ear about Edward and the three adults in the room over discuss me. Sometimes the words were clear and other times everything seemed muffled beyond understanding. But, from what I could hear Carlisle appeared to have major sway with Uncle Charlie.

The knot in my stomach uncoiled when the conversation seemed to end with Aro's melodic chuckle. "There is no need to wake Jordan and Isabella, the good news will still be here when they decide to start their day."

With that I eased myself out from underneath Bella, who blearily opened heavy eyes, grumbling, confused as to why her pillow had moved. "Sorry, Aro's here," my loud whisper came out breathless and giddy.

I hastily throw my hair into a messy bun and snagged a sweatshirt from the back of my desk chair. In such a hurry to leave the room, I forgot I keep one of the French doors locked and turned both handles. when the one on the right gave way, I nearly hit my face on the unmoving left. Aro stood facing my room, from his place in front of the television. His stick-straight raven hair pulled away from his face, dressed in a smart navy suit. That intense gaze locked onto me the instant I all but swung into the living room. Aro boasted a triumphant grin and I got the vibe that he totally knew I had been awake and was just avoiding the showdown. Carlisle and Esme both smiled kindly as Uncle Charlie turned around to see what caused all the commotion.

"Well," my Uncle puffed out his flannel clad chest with an upturned mouth, "Jordi, you better start planning on packing."

"I can go?" I ask, excitedly, even though I already knew the answer.

"Yes, but you have to call me at least twice a week." He held out his hand in a hold on gesture, "Aro promised to keep an eye on you and his sister in law will be nearby. You will have to check in with them before leaving your apartment. No wandering alone." Uncle Charlie said that last part with such a pointed glare that it made me think that he might be aware of my little adventure to Ruby Beach… I glanced at Aro, but he seemed completely at ease—and stared in an almost adoringly manner. "Now when school rolls around, you will be doing a lot of work on your own. Aro will be monitoring your progress, and if you start falling behind, you're coming home. This isn't just a fun vacation, remember this is all educational. Understand?"

I forced my eyes to go back to Uncle Charlie, swallowing hard and biting back a huge grin, it wouldn't have been well received. "I'll be there to learn, I know, and I appreciate you letting me pursue this."

"Well," Uncle Charlie averted his eyes as he rubbed his neck. "You're a good kid."

My eyes burned with the sting of unshed tears, God between Bella and now Uncle Charlie it became clear that they were trying to kill me with all the sentiment.

"Alice is planning a shopping trip to Port Angeles tomorrow," Esme took a step forward to grab my hand in her cool palms. "Rosalie is home for the weekend and with you going to Italy and Bella's graduation, it seemed like a great time to all get-together and celebrate, just us girls." Alice, I seethe in my mind, I already told her, and Esme heard it, that I couldn't shop. I glance quickly at my Uncle and back at Esme ready to turn her down. "Don't worry about money, dear, it's our gift to both you and Bella."

Uncle Charlie nods slowly, "that's very kind Esme, Jordi and Bells rarely get to have— girl time."

"Oh, it's our pleasure, Charlie, the girls have brought such joy into our lives; they are part of our family."

I raised a brow at that, I'm sure Bella is apart of their family, I on the other hand, just became acquainted with them a few months ago. But, I'm grateful for the gift. Carlisle cell phone began to ring, he smiled apologetically as he exited out the house with the explanation that it was the hospital. Uncle Charlie followed his example and left the room to call in a pizza order.

"Thank you, Esme," I grip her hand a tad tighter not only thanking her for the clothing but for talking to my Uncle. She kissed my cheek, then told me the time they would be here tomorrow before going to check on her husband.

At last… I turn my eyes back onto Aro and launch myself onto him so suddenly, I surprised myself. Aro chuckled, catching me with ease and pulling me into the solid planes of his chest. That's when it hit me… Oh my God. I didn't put on a bra. Nothing wrong with that it's not as if it's outright obvious in a baggy sweatshirt, but it is when getting up close and personal. The girls were smashed against his chest and it was cool in the room, not to mention Aro's usual chilly body temperature. I froze, giving a nervous laugh as I quickly stepped out of the circle of his arms. Trying to be subtle I cross my arms over my too much chest. Aro's bright smile fell into a devilish smirk that told me that he noticed.

"I'll be back in a minute," I mumble, as I try to walk past him with the intention of going to relieve my aching bladder and to escape the awkwardness.

Aro snatched up my hand as I passed and slowly brought it up to his lips to bestow a kiss, "i eutuchia soy eimai na echo toso fos na labei sti zoi moy. i agapi moy me veltioneis poly."

I felt my brows draw together; my mouth fell slightly open at the sound of the foreign language. It lacked the lilt of Italian, but I couldn't place the accent. "What?"

"Two pepperonis and bacon pizza coming up and one with pineapples, for the weirdo." Uncle Charlie said with playful seriousness as he walked into the living room, twirling his keys. Thankfully Aro had just seconds ago dropped my hand, I don't think my Uncle would have approved. "What?" He parroted my question, looking between the two us with slight confusion.

Aro's lips turned up in a disarming grin as he stepped forward, away from me. "I was just telling Jordan that languages would be a must on her curriculum, such as Italian, French, Greek."

Ah, it had been Greek. I had never in my life heard someone speak Greek, it was just as beautiful as Italian. It had also been memorizing to watch his lips form unfamiliar words. I would be a captivated audience for any language class as long as Aro is the teacher.

Uncle Charlie's cheeks puffed as he blew out a heavy breath, his eyes looking slightly unfocused. "Yeah, yeah… Guess Jordi better learn if she's in Europe…" With a shake of his head, Uncle Charlie clapped his hands together and rubbed them. "So, how about we go get that pizza?"

….

That Sunday night I sat at my desk, surrounded by bags upon bags filled with clothing, shoes, and accessories. I have never owned so much in my entire life! Rosalie and Esme had been assigned to me whereas Alice had accompanied Bella. At first, I had been a little worried, I had never hung around the gorgeous blonde and my cousin really didn't seem to get along with her. But she had been nice, both of us are tall and busty, it became apparent early on that she liked to showcase those features more than I did. Thankfully Esme helped to keep Rosalie from bulldozing over my comfort zone, although even Esme managed to talk me into quite a few adventurous pieces.

While in the middle of moving all the clothing bags off my bed in order to lay down for the night, I notice a dark magenta one, that looked more like a gift what with its white tissue paper sticking out. When I pull it open the first thing, I see is a note, taped to the front package of an adapter for a cell phone charger.

For the practical Jordan and for the not so practical.

-Alice.

My cheeks burned at the sheer and lacy scraps of fabric, I lay the adapter aside and with an embarrassed laugh, shove the bag underneath my bed. Just as I had gotten comfortable, laying on my side and beginning to drift off, my cell phone dinged. With a groan, I roll over, cursing whoever decided that two o'clock in the morning would be an appropriate time to text me. I blink rapidly for a moment, blinded from the bright light of the screen, my eyebrows nearly hit my hairline while reading.

Come outside.

I asked why, even as I got up and made damn sure to put a bra on underneath my sweater, some part of me might not have minded that Aro got a good feel. But Jacob Black was a totally different story. I couldn't fathom what that boy could want this late. He's probably still torn up about Bella and wants to talk because we weren't exactly friends. Jake has never been unkind to me, but I had just been a third wheel to him and for Bella a buffer between his mooning. Poor guy. I slid into my tennis shoes, shaking my head at his stubbornness. Jake had known this entire time that Bella's heart still belonged with her past boyfriend, and he hung on until the bitter end and from what my cousin told me is still clinging to hope. My phone dinged; I check the message with a huff.

Hurry up.

I bite my lip at the loud creak emitting from the front door, looking fearfully up at the ceiling, when I didn't hear any stomping, I slipped out into the porch. It's a surprisingly clear night for Forks, with only slight clouds, it allowed the moonlight to cast a glow onto the yard. With some hesitancy that I believe all people feel in the dark, I make my way down the steps all the while softly calling for Jake. Yet my soul still left my body when I spot something move in the woods. I breathe a sigh of relief when Jake's hulking form emerged at the tree line. I powerwalk across the wet grass which squishes noisily under my feet. I'm sure I painted the perfect picture of an irate mother, complete with the arms crossed tightly over my chest, right down to the disapproving glare.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Sorry," that deep voice rumbled with a grin that looked more like a grimace. Nothing like the bright, cheerful smiles that use to come so easily to him. He changed, after his massive growth spurt, I thought perhaps steroids, but Bella shot down my theory on his moodiness. "We really need to talk but I had to find a way around the BlooCullen."

I tried to control my facial expression by looking off to the side, "Edward leaves every night by nine."

"That's only what you think," Jacob's nose twitched up in disgust.

"How would you know?" My eyes widen, no way. Does he mean Edward has been spending the night in the house? My mind flashed to a few nights ago when Bella and I stayed up together, the way she had carried on about being alone. I had wondered then, but I never cared enough to investigate. But, I know for certain that Bella hasn't been in contact with Jacob, she's been pretty down about it for weeks. "…. Are— have you been spying on Bella?"

"What?" The whites of Jake's eyes gleamed in the darkness; he shook his head vehemently. "NO! NO! God, Jordan. No." He fisted his short hair, black brows knit tightly together, while sighing heavily. "This isn't going as I planned. Look, we heard about you going off to Italy with Dr. Cullen's friend and I just need to tell you to be careful. You don't know him at all and pay attention to the abnormalities you've noticed in him. That— guy, is not a regular everyday man, he's a monst— none of Cullen's are normal." Aro most certainly is not normal, he's been amazing. I tried to cut in but, Jake talked over me. "Cold skin, never eating, eye color changes, beauty, don't be taken in by it. This Aro guy is bad news, a kil—."

"Jake? What the hell? Are you on something?" I take a few steps back, taking in the feverish gleam to his dark eyes. "You aren't making any sense."

"No, unfortunately," he rolled his eyes heavenward, "I am completely sober. And I can't just let you walk off with this guy without knowing your future." Jake pulled out a beaten-up small leather-bound book from the pocket of his cut off knee-length jeans. "Read this and pay attention to the story about the cold—" He broke off mid-sentence with a pained wince, that had me leaning toward him worriedly. "I've marked the pages you need, you're a smart cookie; figure it out. I can't tell you." I swallow hard as Jake's warm hands grabbed both of mine. I could feel the heat radiant from his naked chest like a heater. "Please. Jordan, I'm not on drugs, I'm speaking nothing but the truth, I'm trying to protect you. Please, please, promise me you will read it. Please." Jake bent down so that I could fully take in the pleading look on his face and the anguish. He didn't really seem strung out and honestly, I would have known right from the start. I've had too much experience dealing with Allison on a wild high. Jake didn't smell like a brewery either, all I could pick up on was the strong scent of cedar and pine. He's just not making any sense; I feel a slither of fear creep up my spine. My mind unwillingly drudged up all those abnormalities he mentioned. As if Jake knew I had been teetering right on the edge of the fence, gazing out at the unknown and trying to decide if I should explore it, he hit me with his next words. "Let go of all your logical thinking and when you do that the truth will be obvious, I promise."

Translation: Your happiness is mine. How lucky I am to have such light shine in my life. My love is very much improving me.

Author's Note: Sorry guys for this long delay! I hope you are all well with this Covid-19 going around. Thank you for all the follow, favorites, and of course reviews. For having to wait so long, I hope you enjoy this long chapter. I will be back to my regular schedule, fingers crossed. Don't be afraid to drop a review or even a private message, I would be happy to answer any questions. ?