Chapter 7

Today is the day Bella and I get to go over to the Cullen's house. I tore through my closet, not being able to decide on what to wear. I tossed my blue shirt on the bed and decided I'd go put on my makeup and do my hair first, then come back and decide.

I stood in front of the mirror, light blue eyes staring back at me. I tilted my head and examined my face.

I was pale with a tiny scar on the top of my lip. I noticed it every day, but everyone says they can't see it unless I point it out. My lips were average looking to me. My bottom lip was slightly fuller than my top lip. My nose had a slight turn up at the tip.

I took out my hairbrush and started brushing my dark brown hair. I turned around so I could see the back. I noticed that my hair has gotten long. It went down to the middle of my back.

I also noticed the waves my hair made. I hated it. I wished that I had straight hair.

Taking out my straightener, I turned it on and decided to do my makeup while waiting for it to heat up and beep at me when it was done.

I didn't want to have over the top makeup, so I decided on skin colored eye shadow for the lid and a light brown for the crease. I put on eyeliner, just to my top eyelid. After I put on mascara, my straightener beeped at me.

I parted my hair on the side I always part it on, which is the right side. After about ten or fifteen minutes I was done. Now off to pick out my clothes.

After deciding on my outfit, I gazed at myself in my floor length mirror. I was in a light gray sweatshirt and dark blue jeans that had a fading look to them around the knees, thighs, and shin areas.

Bella and I walked into the Cullen's house with Edward and Jasper. My mouth was slightly open as I looked at the inside of the house. It was huge and gorgeous. It had a lot of windows, very open to the outside. It surprised me by how open it was.

"What did you expect? Coffins, dungeons, and moats?" Edward asked Bella and I.

"No, not the moats." Bella answered when she took off her coat.

Jasper took mine off and hung it up before he took his coat off too.

"Not the moats..." Edward trailed off with amusement.

"I was expecting very few windows." I said as I looked around. "This place is amazing."

"You like it?" Jasper asked and I turned to look at him.

"I do." I answered with a smile on my face. "It's beautiful here."

"Esme will love you even more if you tell her that." Edward said as we walked to the kitchen.

I sniffed the air. It smelt like food. Lucky me that I had a small breakfast. I had no idea we were going to eat.

I walked into the kitchen and found myself in awe of the kitchen too. Holy shit, it's beautiful.

I smiled at Carlisle and, I think, Esme. They were all cooking, and by all I mean Esme and Carlisle. Emmet was helping a bit and Rosalie was standing there glaring at us with salad in her hand.

"Bella, Lori this is Esme. You've met my dad and siblings." Edward greeted us to them.

"Hi." I smiled with a small, shy wave.

"Don't be so nervous." Jasper whispered in my ear, enjoying my reaction to meeting his adoptive parents.

"I can't help it. I have anxiety issues so shush." I whispered back with a pout.

"I hope you're hungry." Esme said with a lovely smile.

"Yeah, I am." Bella said.

"She already ate..." Edward added.

"I'm hungry." I shrugged, trying to make everything better.

It didn't work.

Rosalie dropped the glass bowl with the salad in it. I bit my bottom lip, trying not to show how awkward I was being and that I felt guilty.

I started to feel a tug at my emotions. Was he trying to make me happy? I allowed it and accepted the calm and happy feeling he was giving me. Jasper put his hand around me and I returned the gesture.

"Perfect." Rosalie said with a glare.

"It's just I know you guys don't eat so..." Bella trailed off.

"That was very considerate of you, Bella." Esme said with a smile.

"If it's alright, I'll take leftovers if Bella doesn't want them. My parents are out of town anyways." Will this make everything better?

"You're parents are gone? They left without you?" Esme sounded so concerned for me.

"Yeah, it's fine though. My mom left me some money in case I need anything. I'm used to being home alone." I smiled to reassure her that I am fine.

"Just ignore Rosalie. I do." Edward said with a roll of his eyes.

"Yeah! Let's just keep pretending like this isn't dangerous for all of us." Rosalie continued.

I tightened my grip on Jasper's shirt. I felt his hand start to rub my back. I turned my head to see if he was okay, but he looked just as annoyed as Edward.

"We would never tell anybody anything." Bella promised.

"She knows that." Dr. Cullen said with a small nod.

"Yeah, well the problem is that you two and you two," Emmet pointed at the four of us. "Have one public now."

"Emmet!" Esme scolded.

"No, they should know. The entire family will be implicated if this ends badly." Rosalie rose her voice a bit.

"Badly as in...We would become the meal." Bella said as she swallowed.

I looked at her with confusion on my face. Aren't they against the whole human blood thing?

The Cullen's laughed softly, even Jasper.

"Hi, Lori and Bella!" Alice said as she climbed into the window by a tree branch. She skipped over to me first and hugged me tightly.

What?

She then moved over to Bella and hugged her as well. After letting her go she looked slightly shocked.

"Wow you both do smell good."

"Alice...what are you..." Edward began to say.

"It's okay. Bella, Lori and I are going to be great friends." Alice answered with a skip in her step as she walked off.

What?

I looked over at Jasper who was trying hard to not smile, but it made me want to pinch his cheeks. He was adorable in his blue buttoned up shirt and dark pants.

"Let me show you around, Lori." Jasper said as he led me out of the kitchen.

We finally made it upstairs and I smiled when I saw the trees from the big window. This place was so amazing and magical.

"What I would give to know what you are thinking about…" Jasper admitted as he came up from behind me, putting his hands on either side of my hips.

"Your place, it's so open and friendly. It's different from my house. I love it here, with you." I spoke the truth. Yes, I know how fast I'm going in with this relationship, but it feels right. This thing between Jasper and I is nothing I have ever experienced.

"You are more than welcome to stay over tonight if you want. I know my family cares for you. Especially Esme, she wants to care for you like a mother should." He paused for a moment. "Did your mom or step dad ask you about the accident with the vehicle swerving?"

I thought for a moment on whether or not to tell him the truth. I know my mom knew about it, because she words at my school. She never said anything to me though.

"No, they didn't. I didn't want to mention it either. My step dad is one of them 'Oh that happened? Well did you die?' people." I looked down at the ground. I'm just glad Edward was there.

"I wanted to be next to you, but my family was holding me back. I was angry and I wanted to kill that kid who almost killed you." He hissed out.

I turned my head, leaning on his chest so I could look up at him. Our mouths were close and I felt at ease with everything.

"Don't stress over it. I'm here and alive. I'm with you." I took his hands and wrapped them around my chest instead of them being on my hips.

He held me snuggly and spoke in a soft tone. "Do you want to see my bedroom?"

"Sure. Question, is there a no closed or locked doors when there is a male or female friend over?" I giggled out as we walked to his bedroom.

Jasper chuckled. "No, but my parents did tell me to be careful if we ever go further than kissing. I could seriously hurt you without knowing it."

"Oh, you'll know because I'll be screaming and trying to punch you." I joked and he picked me up.

"I love it when you threaten to beat me up. It's cute, because you're so tiny." I do admit, he is a good foot taller than I am. I'm only five foot three inches.

He spun me around and sat me on my feet when he entered his bedroom.

I looked around in amazement. There were so many books. He had a guitar in the corner and I pointed at it. "You play?"

"Yes." He answered me with a look of awe or love, I can't decide, on his face.

"I'd love to hear you play sometime." I smiled at him. "A friend of my mom's played a guitar. He and I would sing together while he played. It was mostly slow songs."

"You sing?" He went over to his guitar and picked it up with one hand, after he rolled up his sleeves.

Oh, his forearms. My weakness!

"A bit. I'm not good at all, but I like to sing."

"How about this…I'll play if you sing?" He asked me and I shrugged.

"Okay, deal." I held out my pinky for a pinky promise.

"How old are you again?" He teased and took my pinky in his pinky.

"Way too young for you, Old Man." I teased playfully.

"Old Man, huh?" He sat his guitar down swiftly.

A blur came from his spot and easily picked me up. He held me bridal style and carried me to the window.

"I want to show you how fast I can go. I want to show you amazing things." He looked excited about this.

Jasper opened the window.

"Okay, show me." I said and held onto him tightly. I knew he wouldn't drop me, ever.

"Lay your head on my chest. I don't want you to get whiplash."

I did as I was told and he darted out of the house, landing on his feet from the second story floor. We took off, speeding down the forest. It was exhilarating.

Everything went by as a blur. The wind blew my hair back and I felt like I was in some fantasy dream.

My heart sank when I thought about it. What if it was a dream? What if I would wake up and he was all in my head?

He slowed down to a stop when we made it to a river. I looked up at him and he was confused.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"It's nothing, Jasper." I lied and he knew it.

"Lori…" Jasper furrowed his eyebrows.

I wasn't going to win this. "Please don't be a dream. Please don't ever leave me. Please don't abandon me like everyone else." This is it. This is the feeling I have been trying to avoid. Love.

"What are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here with you." He brought me up so I was touching foreheads with him. "I know what you are feeling. You don't have to say it, just know I feel the exact same for you. I have waited so long for you…"

"I don't deserve you. You are such an amazing man." My eyesight started to get blurry from tears. "I'm scared, Jazz. I'm scared you're not going to be real."

"I am real. How can I prove it?" He asked and tightened his hold on me.

"I'm messed up. I'm broken. I have abandonment issues along with anxiety. You make everything go away, but I fear you'll be gone one day. That day will be the end of my everything."

"Where is this coming from, Lori?" He placed a firm kiss on my forehead.

"You don't get it. In my world vampires aren't real, yet here you are. Here I am loving you to the point where if I'm not at least touching you I feel alone. Maybe it's unhealthy. Maybe I am crazy. But I do lo….ve you." My voice trailed off when I saw a look in his eyes. What was this look?

"Say it again…" He whispered and sat me on my feet, but didn't let go of me.

"I love you." I said softly.

He let out a steading breath. "Again."

I took his face in my hands, making him look right at me. "I. Love. You." The fear of that emotion started to slowly disappear. Now I accepted it. I am in love with Jasper Whitlock, a vampire.

A/N: I've decided to update again for the third time tonight. I'm an idiot for doing this but I really just want to get my story out there. Yay! Lori finally admitted it! :) I hope I didn't make it seem like she was a crybaby… :/ Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! It's a long one. :) Tell me what you think. Thank you for all the lovely reviews! I read them all and I reply to them as a PM, if you have it on. Have a nice day or night!