Chapter 18
Later that night Bella came over to the Cullen's house. She wanted all of us to vote on whether or not she should be a vampire or human.
I was over at the house because I told my parents that I was still helping a friend with a breakup. It's a little bit of a lie. They didn't really ask any questions though. I'm kind of glad my mom didn't care too much about me. I could be with Jasper more.
Jasper stood the farthest away from Bella. He hasn't fed as much as the others have and she was very tempting. He had no complete reason to not drink from her. He was trying his best and would always look down at me when the temptation was too much.
"You all know what I want." Ella said as she looked down at her hands, fiddling with them. "And I know how much I'm asking for. The only thing I can think of for…" She looked over at me and I gave her an encouraging smile. "…it to be fair is to just vote." She looked at Alice. "Alice?"
"I already consider you as my sister." Alice said as she walked up to Bella, taking her hands in hers. "Yes." She walked away so Jasper could vote next.
"I vote yes. It would be nice to not want to kill you all the time." Jasper voted.
Is it weird how I found that adorable? I've been hanging with vampires too much.
"Lori?" She asked. "I would like your vote too."
I bit my bottom lip. "Personally, Bella. I say yes. But…just wait?" I suggested. "It's what I'm going to do. I'm giving myself until I graduated high school and get married…" I turned to Jasper and he gave me a shy smile. I turned back to Bella. "I want to live my human life until I'm twenty or twenty one. I'm sure if we tell the Volturi that there is a set date then they should be fine with it." I swallowed before I began speaking again. "I do hope that everyone wants me to be one as well. Honestly, you're all more of a family to me than my own. Carlisle and Esme, you two are the parents I never had." Tears started to prick at the corners of my eyes. "Emmet, you're the older brother who I want to punch in the face out of love."
"That's my sis!" Emmet roared out with a fist in the air. "I'm looking forward to races and fights with you."
I wiped away a stray tear. "Rose, I know we don't get along…but I do love you like my sister. I hope you could forgive whatever I did to make you dislike me."
"It's nothing you did." Rose said and sighed. "I'll explain it to you later. I don't hate you or dislike you."
"Alice, I've already told you what I think of you…but I feel like I need to add more. Without you I wouldn't be as confident as I am now. You've helped me with a lot of problems, even past ones that should have been buried long ago."
Alice gave me a smile that made me think she was going to cry. "Thank you."
"And Edward." I said and he looked up at me. "I know you can read what I have to say, but I'm going to say it anyways. You're an amazing brother to me and I couldn't love you any more than what I do. You take care of my best friend and I. You've protected me a lot and I can't thank you enough for that. I owe you a lot." I felt more tears come to my eyes. "I'm sorry. Ignore my rambling. I just want everyone to know how much I appreciate them."
Esme walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Thank you, Lori. Don't be afraid to be open with us. I'd love to have you as a daughter." She turned to Bella. "I vote yes."
"I'm really sorry, both of you, for the way I acted." Rose began to speak. "And I'm really grateful that you saved my brother and that you," She turned to me, "make my other brother happy. But this isn't a life I would have chosen for myself. I wish there has been someone to vote no for me. So, no." Rosalie looked down at the ground, feeling sorry.
"I vote hell yeah!" Emmet said loudly and picked Bella up.
Yeah, Bella. Now it's your turn to feel the wrath of Emmet's bear hugs.
Everyone looked over to Carlisle, who still has to vote.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Edward asked.
"You've chosen not to live without her. It leaves me no choice. I won't lose my son." Carlisle said as he looked up at Edward with a sad look.
Edward walked off to be by himself. Bella was talking with Emmet, Jasper and Alice. I knew he wanted to be alone, but I couldn't help but feel like I needed to talk to him.
"Edward? Can I have a moment with you?" I asked when I walked outside.
He was leaning against the railing on the balcony. "What is it?" He asked, slightly turning his head towards me.
"I know you must hate me for saying yes." I began to say, but he shook his head.
"No, I don't hate you. Your vote was the only one, besides Rose's vote, that made sense to me. I like that idea on Bella waiting. I want her to…" He turned to face me while he spoke, trying to find a suitable word. "Experience human life." His hands waved in front of him.
"You do understand why she wants this, right?" I mentioned. "Why live a human life with a vampire when you could live as a vampire and live together forever? Carlisle is right. You won't want to live when Bella is gone. I don't want to lose a brother, Edward."
Edward gave me a caring and thoughtful smile. "I appreciate that you care so much about me, Lori. I'm happy you have accepted us as a family. However, I'm against you becoming one too. You and Bella deserve a better life. A life where you can keep your soul."
"Is that what it's about?" He nodded. "I'd rather lose my soul and be with Jasper forever. A reality without him is one I do not want or cannot see." I turned my head to gaze into the house, seeing Jasper smiling at something Emmet said. "Even now as I am speaking to you, he's not right by my side, I feel lost without him." My gaze was brought back to Edward. "It's lame, I know."
Edward walked closer to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I know how you feel about him. I hear it in your thoughts all the time. Truth be told, it's not lame at all. I find it appealing and…nice." He frowned at the word. "That's not really the word I want to use, but it'll do. I've known Jasper for almost sixty years. I have never seen him as happy as he is now." I felt myself walking with Edward to a nearby bench, sitting down on it.
"Does he think about me?" I asked shyly.
"Besides blood, you're all he ever thinks about. Did you know that he wishes he could have kids with you? He knows you enjoy children and wants to see you with his children." Edward smirked slightly. "Of course, it's impossible."
"I'd adopt a child if I want a kid. I don't want him to feel like I need one."
Edward examined my face for a bit before looking up past me. I turned to see what he was staring at and it was Jasper. He was watching me intently.
Turning back to Edward, I spoke softly. "What is he thinking right now?"
Edward looked down at me, his teeth were showing in his smile "You'll know soon enough."
The next morning I woke up with a gasp. My body felt cold and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
"Lori?" Jasper called out to me, slowly taking me into his arms. "What's wrong?"
I melted into his touch, slowly feeling calmer than I was a second ago. I gripped tighter to him, feeling a small warm feeling where we were touching.
Jasper ran his hand over my free arm. "Please tell me what's wrong?"
"I don't know." I answered honestly. "I woke up feeling frightened and alone, but you were here."
"I just came back from your house. I grabbed a few outfits for you. I didn't know if you'd want to have some clothes here, instead of wearing Alice's clothing." I felt him relax a bit. "I guess your body thought I was leaving you again."
"I guess." I mumbled and looked up at him. "After we graduate, I want to celebrate. Do you think Alice would throw a graduation party?"
"Think?" Jasper let out a small laugh. "I know she will."
I looked around the room for a clock, but there wasn't one. "What time is it?"
"Nine in the morning." He answered. "By the way, your mom called. She left you a voicemail."
I sighed and sat up in our bed. I patted the blanket, feeling the soft fabric under my skin. I smiled when I remembered watching Jasper and Emmett put together the bedframe. It had been years since they needed a bed and watching them build it was kind of funny.
Emmet threw the instructions away, saying that vampires don't need instructions. Needless to say, I had to dig it out of the trash pile and help them.
I got up from our bed and walked over to the table where my phone was on. I put the phone to my ear and listened to my mom's voicemail.
"Hey Lori, it's your mom. I know you're probably still sleeping, but I have news about your dad." I felt my heart pound in my chest when I heard her mention my dad. "He's out on parole and wants to see you as soon as possible. I have his number. I'll text you his number so you can call him if you want. I don't care. I need to remind you that he is to not come in one hundred feet from me. Take care."
I turned my body so I was looking at Jasper. "My dad is out." I said in a monotone.
"I heard…" He furrowed his brows. "Do you want him in your life?"
I slowly shook my head. "I wouldn't mind talking to him, but I don't want to see him."
"Then you won't see him." Jasper stood up from our bed and walked over to me. "He'll never lay a hand on you. Not while I'm around."
His hands slowly cupped my hands. Jasper brought them up to his lips, kissing them.
"I don't want him knowing about you or any of my new family." I muttered. "He'll be pissed and tell me to let you go." I swallowed hard. "I'm scared of him, Jasper…" Could my voice be anymore quiet?
"Like I said…" He took my chin in his hand, tilting my face up to look up at him. "Not while I'm around."
A/N: Dun, dun, dun! :P It's the end of New Moon! :D I hope this chapter kind of took away from the book/movie a little bit more than my other chapters. I wanted there to be a moment with Edward and the rest of the family. :)
