Rain: And I am back with a brand new chapter! I'm so thankful for the warm welcome and I hope that this chapter is just as great as the last. Also, if you guys have any suggestions or some criticism, let me know in a review or PM. So sit back, relax and enjoy!

Mario: Here we go!

The Crimson Eyed Drifter: Distance between Hearts
Chapter Two

Cullen Clan
 Jasper Hale

Wow…

I don't think it's ever been this quiet in this house before. But, it seems my little announcement stunned everyone.

I walked down the final three steps before I walked towards my family as I said "I know it's quite the shock but I realized that after everything that happened last night, I knew that I couldn't stay here any longer."

"You can't be serious right now," Emmett growled, his shock and anger hitting me like a freight train although I understand why he would be pissed off at me like this.

They were just talking about Bella being abandoned and here I was, getting ready to walk away from it all.

"I know…The entrance was a bit much but I thought that was the perfect time to milk the drama," I responded with a small grin, trying to bring some levity to the room but from the silence, I don't think it worked too well.

"Obviously," Edward replied as he looked my way, which made a chuckle to leave my lips but that soon changed due to the sadness becoming thick in the air.

"Jasper," Rosalie said as she faced my direction, her eyes showing sadness within them. "I agree with Emmett…Are you serious right now? We can't have you leave us. Not while Edward is trying to get us to leave here."

"You belong here, man!" Emmett shouted at me as he stood up from his chair before he added "You're our brother. We've been together forever, why would you want to leave now?"

"Does it truly matter?" Edward suddenly spoke up, which caused everyone, myself included, to look at him. "Jasper, you're right on time, to be honest. We were all just discussi-"

"I know exactly what you guys were talking about. We're all vampires here. Superior hearing is part of the deal," I interrupted with a smile on my face as I leaned against his piano slightly.

"And I get it where you're coming from. She is a rabbit in the house full of lions but you need to realize that out of all the lions, only one is dangerous and you're looking at him," I stated with a soft laugh.

I let a wry grin appear on my face as I slipped my right hand in my pocket and said "In fact, I'm worse than a lion. I'm an uncontrollable monster and Bella will be a lot safer with the monster of the Cullen family gone."

I could feel sadness flow from everyone due to referring to myself as a monster and despite my teasing tone, I couldn't help but think of myself as one.

"You aren't a monster Jasper. You are our son," Carlisle said softly, the subtle tone of sadness in his voice.

"I feel like one," I admitted to the patriarch of the Cullen family softly. "I attacked Bella and would have killed her had you guys not stopped me…"

I bit back the self-loathing that briefly came to the service and told them, "I tried so hard to stick to the diet. I tried…But in the end, I failed…I failed you all time and again but this time…I managed to fail someone else as well…"

I let out a bitter laugh and said, "I failed Bella…The very same Bella who put her faith not only all of you to keep her safe…But in me as well…and I failed her…I'm such a wretched creature…"

I shut my eyes briefly to keep my emotions in check but I could feel the self-loathing build up within me as I said, "I have made so many mistakes in my life but the one thing I will not allow to happen is for you guys to sacrifice your relationship with Bella because of a monster like me and if I have to leave this place to keep you all in her life then so be it!"

Despite saying the words, I knew in my heart that I couldn't leave them. I love my family dearly but I couldn't stay here as long as my control was so poor.

Also…I couldn't allow them to see the pain that I held within my undead heart.

After getting some semblance of control of my emotions, I opened my eyes and looked to Edward, who was staring at me sadly and murmured, "You said that your bloodlust was what set me off and I won't say that it didn't play a part in it but you guys were able to control yourselves regardless while I couldn't...I am truly weak compared to all of you."

I felt anger building up from Esme from behind me due to my words and I knew that my words were hurting her but I needed to get it through Edward's head that his place, along with the family, is in Forks and If I had to play the big bad monster, I will.

I looked Edward straight in the eyes and told him "I know that you want to protect Bella but Alice is right. She loves this family. She loves you. If you all were to leave, it would destroy her, and deep down, you know that…"

Edward looked down at the ground and he whispered "Bella isn't safe here with us. We are dangerous creatures and we will be the death of her and I will not risk it!"

"You and the others have protected her more than you have endangered her. But if you leave, you will be destroying her and there is no telling what will happen," I warned him sternly.

"I'd rather hurt her now than to be the death of her later!" Edward shouted angrily but that was when I grabbed the sides of his head and roared his name within my head.

Edward looked up at me in confusion and with a hint of fear.

Good…Because if you won't listen to reason, I will make him listen to his fear.

I narrowed my eyes and gave him brief images of some of the darkest things I have done to both humans and my fellow brethren and I could see his eyes widening in horror.

'You will stay here! If I leave and I hear that you forced them to leave and left Bella all alone here…I will come back and burn you on a funeral pyre. Got it?' I asked ominously, a scowl on my face.

Edward nodded, fear reflecting in his golden eyes.

I smirked and took three steps back and said out loud "You will stay here and be with her…Don't let what happened yesterday hinder anything…Got it?"

Edward didn't respond to my question and it only served to make me frown. "Edward, did you hear what I said?" I asked him firmly while narrowing my eyes at him.

"I understand," Edward whispered softly but I could still feel his determination for his choice but as I glared at him, that determination faltered quite a bit.

I know it wasn't right to use fear to get what I want but I didn't want him to mess everything up for my family and Bella by trying to force them to leave.

With a grin, I turned to everyone else and said "Well, it sounds like you guys are staying. Good…Then it's time for me to hit the road."

I slung the bag around my shoulder and said, "Before I go…I want you all to know that Bella loves each and everyone one of you with every beat of her heart. She wouldn't let you all down as I have. When she is changed, she will make a perfect Cullen. Better than I could ever be."

"Stop talking down about yourself!" Esme suddenly snapped from behind me, which caused me to look into her furious gold eyes with surprise.

It takes a lot for Esme to shout like that with actual anger but apparently, I managed to press that very elusive angry button.

Esme marched up to me and grabbed me by the cheeks and said, "You aren't a monster! You aren't a failure! You aren't a disappointment! You made it so far after everything that happened in your life. Yes, you made mistakes but we all do! We are not perfect…"

I could see the venom in Esme's eyes as she took an unneeded shaky breath and shouted, "You are my son! gold eyed or crimson-eyed, you are my son and I love you with every bit of my heart! I wouldn't love you if I thought you were a monster!"

It was then her arms wrapped around me as tight as possible as her body shook against mine. I slowly slide my arms around her and felt her honesty and love for me and it made me smile. Esme then moved back and kissed my cheek and whispered, "We will stay here with our daughter, and when you are ready…We'll be waiting for you." Esme then walked back to Carlisle, who wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

It was then that I saw Rosalie coming towards us and when she stood by my side, she said, "She's right. The minute we met, you and I clicked instantly. We loved the same things, we challenged each other and as much as I love him, if not for you, I would have been driven insane by Emmett long ago,"

"Hey!" I heard Emmett shout but there was a strong amount of love from the two of them, which made me smile. Rosalie then surprised me when she bought me into a tight hug.

And that was when she whispered "I've been with monsters, Hell, my life was pretty much ended by monsters and you are not one. So stop talking that shit twin and belief in yourself more." Rosalie quickly moved away and said "I'll watch after the human girl and I'll be nice," she said with a wink before she walked back to her seat.

Emmett walked by my side and said "As Mom said, gold or crimson, you're still my bro and you will be missed as hell around here," and then he held out his right hand. I grabbed his right hand in a firm handshake before he pulled me into a hug as he said, "J&E baby, don't forget that."

I laughed at the name he gave and returned his one-armed hug with one of my own before we pulled back and smiled as I replied "Not in this or any lifetime."

"Better not. We want you back soon man," Emmett responded before he walked back to Rosalie with a smile.

Carlisle was the next one that came up and for a moment, we stared at each other. I could feel a myriad of emotions coming from him but the main ones were understanding, sadness, and love.

Carlisle then held out his hand towards me as he said "As Esme, Rosalie and Emmett said, you are no monster and while I won't deny, I am disappointed…Not because of your diet choice but because this is where our path separates for now."

Carlisle then smiled and said "But no matter what happens and what diet you choose…You will always be our son and you will be missed here."

I smiled at Carlisle and my hand soon clasped his before the two of us embraced and it was then that he whispered in my left ear "You will always be welcome here. Stay safe, my son."

We then separated and Carlisle then walked back to Esme and bought her into his arms and then it was Alice that was in front of me.

"I want to say goodbye in private," Alice told me softly before she smiled and whispered "Come on. I'll walk you out."

I nodded at this and followed Alice out of the front door but that's when I stopped and turned my head to look at the family I was leaving behind and smiled.

"See you all again one day," I announced to them before I shut the door behind me and once I did, I sent the family inside my gratitude and love to them before I walked away from the porch and followed Alice.

It was strange having Alice be so quiet despite knowing I was leaving and may very well never returning. Just then, she stopped, which caused me to stop as well.

"Remember when we met?" Alice asked softly, her back still against me.

I smiled as I remembered that event.

"Sitting in a diner where you suddenly walk into my life, telling me these wild stories? How could I forget?" I replied with a laugh.

Alice laughed as well before she turned around and stated, "Wild they were but they all came true."

"That it did," I said softly with a smile.

"But we both knew that when you were ready, we would need to separate after decades of being together…" Alice then turned around let a smile appear on her face but I could sense a hint of sadness flowing around her.

"You've made me so happy Jazz. These last few decades have been filled with nothing but fun and happiness but this…We both knew that this was never meant to be forever…But no matter what, you will always be my best friend and my wonderful Jasper," Alice said gently, love pouring out towards me and I returned it tenfold, which made Alice smile brightly.

Alice knew me well enough that I didn't have to say a single word. I could just have her feel my affection for her and she would know that I will always be there for her and that despite us being best friends and companions, I would miss her dearly.

Alice then tossed a pair of keys out to me and without thinking twice; I caught it before looking down at them. "2006 Suzuki Hayabusa 1300, Black and Crimson colored," Alice said with a grin. "I knew that this was coming to pass and figured you needed a ride.

I looked back up at her and that was when she pointed to the brand new Suzuki motorcycle and a few feet away and I had to admit, it was stunning as hell.

Alice then walked up towards me and slipped her arms around my waist and placed a gentle kiss on my chest, where my heart would have been. "I love you Jazz and when you come back, I'll keep her waiting for you," Alice whispered but before I could ask her what she meant, Alie pulled away and said "Be careful, stay smart and keep in touch with all of us. You will need it for a while."

I laughed and placed a simple kiss on her forehead and said "I love you too and thank you so much for everything...I owe you more than you will ever know."

"I know," Alice winked before she walked off and as she walked back towards the house, Alice shouted back at me "Tell Peter and Charlotte I said hello!"

I smiled and gave a nod before I ran towards the nice new bike that Alice had gotten me and after straddling the back, I put in the key and revved up my back before I slipped on the black and crimson full head helmet but when I reached into my leather coat, I felt something inside of it.

I pulled out the item from my pocket and found a black string hanging from my hand and when I opened my palm and saw a crystal-made bunny and a small note that said…

"You nearly forgot your present to Bella…Take this to her after school ends before you leave. Don't forget to get this to her or else I'll come after you!

-Love,

Alice."

A smiled at this and saw that the sun was just rising and that was when I nodded and said to myself "Alright…Time to go say goodbye to one more person," before I revved up my bike and drove away as from the Cullen home as fast as possible.

I wanted to break this in before my final goodbye.

Rain: And that is the end of the second chapter. I wanted to get past the Goodbyes between Jasper and the Cullen Clan but the next chapter will deal with Jasper's goodbye to Bella along with some other things Bella will be going through and that is going to be a doozy so until the next chapter…

Mario: See you next time!