AN: I stated first chapter that there weren't Breaking Dawn Spoilers...I may've made a mistake. There are no Midnight Sun spoilers, mainly because my knowledge is nearly nonexistant on it.


Nothing much happened throughout the rest of the school day and if one asked me, I'd say I rathered it that way. Things could easily have gone south if Alex decided to be a pain at any point.

"Thank you for returning the papers," the secretary told us. We never bothered to remember or check for her name and immediately began the debate on it the moment we were at the front doors to the school.

"It's Cope."

"Copper."

"I don't think anyone has the last name of Copper Alex."

Alex pat the seat of my pants as we walked. "Michael Copper. We met him at that small store in Texas."

Thinking it over once more, I do remember the man with blond hair, blue eyes, and a voice that could loosen a rusted deadbolt. "Oh yeah. He had such a yummy voice. If he had been my mate, I wouldn't have complained a single bit." Honestly his blond hair looked a little weird to me considering how tanned he was. It was really just that deep voice that I nearly drooled over.

"Yeah? Too bad. He was an asshole too from what I saw when stalking him out."

We continued walking toward our car, which I now saw as being the second nicest thing in the lot. The first nicest vehicle belonged to the Cullens of course. Three cars away from our vehicle was a decrepid-looking truck that looked like it'd win a match against any vehicle in the lot. If I'm right about who it belongs to, it actually could win against any of the vehicles. "Just something about that voice, you know? It's why I keep you around."

"I've got a yummy voice?"

He did. "And a nice ass. I'm single, but I at least don't have to suffer. I'd say I'm jealous of Alice, but I know you so I'm not." He had prepared to make a comment-I know he did-but when I finished speaking he couldn't say a word. The only thing he did was huff. "I know all your dirty little secrets that I'm perfectly alright with spilling to her so she has leverage on you...Both literally and figuratively."

"Rude." Alex actually crossed his arms over his chest in a huff.

"I'll make sure she knows you like being spanked too...Oh wait." I grinned as my eyes found the little pixie in the parking lot who was giggling with one of her brothers. Knowing the personalities of the Cullens, it's probably Emmett. "I said nothing."

"I hate you." Fun fact is that he actually does like being spanked. He's admitted it to me one evening when I was busy dealing with an issue. It was definitely a good distraction.

My eyes took in the rest of the family, already having expected the slightly put-off looks from the two blonds and their brooding brother. "Yeah I know." My gaze returned to my idiot best friend. "They can leave before us and you'll just catch up to them in a bit. You already have her scent, right?"

He nodded and answered an affirmative.

"Glad to know you've been sniffing her out all day. Very comforting really." Pretty sure Alex is probably wondering how sarcastic I can be today. "I suppose I'll start working on my homework in the car in case I can't finish it at their place. Just do me a favor and bump into one another soon so that I don't have to get you to translate what they say...Or what Alice or Emmett say. Pretty sure the others don't like me."

"I wouldn't say that."

"I would. I put their precious family at a risk. If someone put you at risk I wouldn't like them either."

The conversation made Alex uncomfortable enough to uncross his arms and pull me closer. "They'll deal with it. We're a package deal." Alex tilted his head slightly to glance at the vampires. I'm beginning to think he does that when he's listening to him so that I'll know he's listening to their conversation. "And I don't think you have much to worry about regardless."

"Yeah, not needing a translator would help tremendously. Now move." I nudged him in the direction of the driver's seat while I moved to sit in the passenger's seat. Alex tossed his bag in the backseat, probably planning on working on his homework while I slept. My bag went to my lap so I could dig through it.

We need to waste just a little bit of time for the Cullens to leave and for us not leave immediately after, so we made small talk while he fumbled with his keys. It made him look just a little more human.

"Three hundred fifty-two," Alex told me while I started on my math homework. "And after that is thirteen."

"That cuts out at least five minutes, thank you." My eyes left the notebook on my lap to look at Alex.

While I can do the math well enough, it did take much longer than it does for Alex. Many days were spent with me complaining about having to take longer than my vampire companion on any type of math.

I think the only reason he's smarter than me is because when he drinks a person's blood, he gains their intelligence. Pretty sure if anyone bothered to ask him, he'd tell them that he's naturally gifted with a brain that doesn't let him forget anything, no matter how useless it may be to him.

"She smells pleasant," Alex spoke after some time of silence. "Like fir or something close to it."

"I don't know how most trees smell to you." I wrote down another answer. "All I can identify is pine. Just know if she smells like leather, I'm judging you harshly. She's a fashionista, not a punk biker girlfriend of yours."

A pleasant hum escaped Alex. "Punk biker girlfriend...Think I could get her to wear some?"

"Maybe for a bit, but otherwise not on a daily basis. If you asked nicely she might even pose on a motorbike."

"Oh please tell me I'd be that lucky."

"Don't have sex on a motorbike. It's weird."

"As you often call me."

We continued in this manner until we reached the Cullen's home. Alex's attention was on the house while mine was finishing my last math problem.

"I'm sure if you ask even nicer the blonde one might even help out her sister in looking hotter for you."

Red eyes looked back at me. "She could be stark naked and I wouldn't care."

Since the homework was finished, I snapped that book closed and put it back into my bag. "Oh no, you definitely would care if she wore nothing. Grovel to Rosalie so you can get both school teacher and teen rebel from the pixie." In only a blink of an eye the seat beside me was empty and door to my right opened. "Don't be a kiss-up now. I'm not helping you with that."

"Oh flower why must you wound me so?" One hand was held to his heart but the other was currently holding my bag.

"I so wish Rosalie's nickname wasn't Rose, otherwise I could've made a joke about thorns and honestly I don't know of any flowers offhand that have thorns."

"Someone just said cactus from inside."

"I like that that one." A grin crossed my lips. My foot nudged the vampire away before I unbuckled myself to get out of the car. "A bit prickly and yet needed in desperate times for sustenance."

"Well you're certainly a tall drink of water."

"I'm not tall and that's more to be used on men I feel." I glanced back at the house before us. "No offence but I really hate this house."

"That's rude, but understandable with you. I find it pleasing to be able to see the outside world."

My light footsteps led the way to the front door while I left Alex to close the car door and follow after me. "I don't like the outside world. It sucks."

"Even when I'm out there?"

"Even more so. You suck too." The knocking wasn't necessary at all since the Cullens heard us arrive, but my manners wouldn't let me walk into someone else's house without permission.

"Hello!" Alice Cullen greeted at the door, nearly bouncing in excitement. She has such bouncy hair too. "Please come in. Esme has treats waiting for you Ellie!"

I made sure to look over at Alex. "You're a guest in their home. Please don't go for a boob grab immediately like I know you really want to do simply to see her reaction. Don't instigate a fight. Don't ask Rosalie if anything on her is fake or I'm sticking your hand over the stovetop. Don't tell Esme her food sucks or I'm going to make you eat all of it. Don't ask Carlisle anything stupid I know you'll come up with."

"Yes ma'am," Alex replied with a cheeky grin before reaching down and lightly smacking my ass. "You said I couldn't go for a boob grab on my mate, nothing about ass on you."

"I swear I'll take the car home and leave you to explain everything."

Alice giggled before grabbing my wrist. "I like you two."

"Thanks, I like me too." Alex was nicely left out of my sentence. This was probably for the best of the pride he didn't care much about anyway.

While being dragged through the house, I glanced around to admire the inside of the home.

It was very light during the day, which did honestly make me happy though I know the brightness would leave in the evening. The furniture and decorations were all very pretty, but I still don't like the house at all. The day light features just couldn't beat the darkness that would come each night.

"Oh hello dear," a calm and sweet voice greeted me in the kitchen. "You must be Ellie?" I can see why she was described as having caramel hair in the book. It really does remind me of caramel for some strange reason. It also makes me want some caramel as well.

"Yeah. You have a lovely home...Even if I'm not overly fond of it."

"That's just rude flower," Alex stated from behind me. "You don't just say that to a person's face."

"It's not rude. Those windows are huge Alex." I turned my head to look over my shoulder at him while Alice dragged me over to the food on the island in the middle of the kitchen. "When night comes it would be an absolute hassle to cover everything." In the moment I turned my head back around, Alice and Esme had plated quite a few food items and nearly pushed the plate into my arms.

"I saw that you'd like these best. Now come on. I'll help you work on your homework while we all talk in the living room." She even put caramel on the plate. That's so thoughtful of her.

I tilted my head but shrugged and plucked a strawberry from the plate. Alex gestured in the direction we need to go so I followed after him. "Not sure why we had to go to the kitchen if that's the case."

"She didn't want your ass to get larger Ellie," Alex said with a grin. "If it jiggles when it's smacked, its just a sign of a bit too much laziness."

I stared at the vampire for a second before grabbing a little cake dessert I don't know the name of. "I have vampires that can help me out. Three are women and I'm sure are just as curious as to what can and cannot grow back."

"You wound me so."

"Eh, I'm alright with that. Better you than me and all that."

It was silent when we reached the living room, but only long enough for me to settle. I wasn't sure why Emmett wished to know about my eyes first thing though.

"It's called Heterochromia Emmett," Carlisle told the burly vampire, taking over since he's the resident doctor and I'm working on homework. "It's not extremely common, but it does exist naturally in humans." Alice was telling me some of the answers that she said I would take longer on. I was fine with it since I've taken the class various times before. Sometime after grabbing my homework I had leaned into Alex's left side while Alice was on his right side. Alex was being a nice best friend and holding my plate of snacks so I didn't have to reach far. She was just saying the answers across him.

"Helps me figure out my left from my right at any rate," Alex joked. "Left is blue and right is green."

"He favors blue if that helps any Alice," I pointed out to the seer on the other side of Alex. "So make sure he doesn't get any good grabs in."

"Alright," she answered brightly.

"How old are you?" Edward asked.

"The age I'm pretending to be, the age I am, or the age I feel?" I glanced up to look straight into Edward's eyes across the room from me. I just noticed that he stood beside Jasper, who had remained quiet while I've been around.

Not that I blame him much. I know how things could get.

"All three if you don't mind," he replied softly.

"Eighteen, twenty-two, and fourty-four." Alex mumbled the answer to the next English question I was working on. "Thank you."

"Why do you feel so old?" Emmett questioned, tilting his head almost like a puppy. "I know people feel old sometimes, but..."

"I don't belong in this world, not really." Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the hand holding the plate clench slightly. If he wasn't careful he might break Esme's plate and waste the food on it. "In my world, you're all a series that was quite enjoyable for many to read. I honestly liked reading it myself, though I have seemingly altered it with my own presence and the fact that Alice is mated with Alex."

"Who was she mates with previously?" Carlisle asked.

I nodded my head in Jasper's direction. "Major Whitlock over there. Honestly it was my favorite couple from the book as the two were just so lovely together."

"That's why you were aware that I could read your mind," Edward finally put together. His brows were furrowed slightly, probably frustrated that he hadn't picked up the reason immediately. It's not as though it was something I thought of constantly, so he can't really be blamed.

Also there's another reason for him not knowing. They only met us today.

I hummed a reply while plucking a blueberry off the plate. "I died at the age of twenty-two." Without looking up, I finished up the English homework on my lap. "I was walking back from the store not even a block away and was shot between the eyes." The memory continues to haunt me to this day and often I've woken to Alex holding me tightly.

"Who's the little girl in your mind, if you don't mind me asking?" Edward asked. "You thought of her when you spoke of being shot."

Alex put the plate down on his lap and ran his hand through my hair.

"Her name was Alice." My lowered eyes watered. "Named after her mother's favorite Twilight character."

Esme, who until this point had stayed by Carlisle's side, took a step forward. "Were you close to her?"

"Yeah." It was quiet and during that time, I could feel my sadness begin to go away. "Ah, thank you Jasper." He didn't respond verbally. He just nodded his head toward me when I looked up at him.

"What was she like dear?"

I leaned my head back to look up at the ceiling. "Messy. Always getting into anything and everything she could. Her nickname was Alley Cat because she was so reminiscent of one."

Rosalie finally spoke for the first time. "Do you miss her?"

"Every day, but she's safe and that's all that matters." They'd be able to smell the tears, but I still attempted to wipe them away. "Ever since I was shot I've suffered from nyctophobia. That's why I hate your beautiful home. The darkness brings me into a panic attack, as I had been shot at night." Subconsciously I think I always fear that someone will come from the dark and kill me, pulling me away from what I care about once again.

It was quiet for a few minutes after that, during which I got more comfortable against Alex and plucked the plate from his hands.

"So you said you call her flower because it's her name, right?" Alice asked. She already knew the answer more than likely and was probably asking it for the family's benefit.

"Yeah, Lily." Alex grinned down at me, while I stared blankly back at him, chewing another delicious little cake. This one was chocolate and was absolutely heavenly. Alex's widened grin at my little noise was met with a glare. "Much shorter of a name than Elizabeth. And don't think I won't mess with you later about how you make little noises of pleasure over food."

"I'm cliff diving and you can't stop me."

"I'll be there to catch you," he replied sweetly, causing me to snort. I turned my attention away from him to glance around the room.

"Not to be nosy, but since Jasper and Alice aren't mates, who's Jasper's mate?" At the lack of answer, I glanced up at Alex. "You know who his mate is."

"I do, but he's not sure if he should pursue her." He shrugged before glancing over at the completely silent blond across the room. "I think he should. I've seen her and she has a nice ass."

"Stop checking everyone out you dumbass. You've finally found your mate so you can stop groping me." At the words, I slapped his hand away. I glanced toward Jasper with a sympathetic gaze. "You're stronger than you think you are. In my world there's a controversy on why you struggle so much and many agree that it's because you suffer not only your own hunger, but the hunger of those around you. If that were to happen it'd be amplified and you would of course struggle more than the others. Alice can see the struggle happen and Edward can hear it, but you feel it. And you feel the hunger of the humans around you, which I feel would possibly amplify it just as well."

Jasper stared silently at me for a moment, during which his family didn't say a word either. "It's you."

Oh hot damn that voice.

"Something wrong there trooper?" Alex asked. I could just hear that smug grin. "Nervous cause your mate's a vampire? Come on. You're all for vampire rights, aren't you? That wasn't all talk was it?"

"Oh you are an absolute asshole!" I turned and smacked my hand against his chest, only to hurt myself. The asshole just laughed.

"I'm so glad I got to watch you for that."

Ugh, asshole.

"I hope you fall into a pit of fire."

"You'll probably be the one who put me there anyways. That voice give you chills huh? So wanna help me with that biker issue? I can help you out. Ride 'em cowboy and all that."

"I'm not gonna be embarrassed and you know it." I tilted my head backwards to glance up at the idiot. "You're more likely to be embarrassed than I am."

"That's debatable. You would be embarrassed wearing just a cowboy hat."

My eyes narrowed at him. "I'm embarrassed being seen with you. A hat won't do anything. You've seen me naked more than Emmett's seen Rosalie naked. Don't think anyone else seeing me bothers me."

"Eddie boy's only seventeen."

"That's not embarrassment, that's harassment. Also he's been alive longer than that so shut it." A huff left me and I turned my gaze back to Jasper, who was silent and watching me. Now that I think about it, he's been watching me while I've been around Alex.

He wasn't hating me, just watching me apparently.

"Edward's behavior toward his mate isn't normal since she's a singer, so I'm unsure as to what to expect from you really. The series was from her point of view." My eyes shifted from him to Edward, who was tilting his head just slightly.

"You know what I'm doing."

"Yeah. Sneaking into her room to get use to her scent I think. The reasoning is a bit iffy to me, but what you're doing I do know for sure."

Carlisle asked the questions that needed to be asked however. "Singer?"

"Yeah." I turned my attention to the doctor. "It means that her blood sings. I know it appeals to Edward quite a bit, but I believe it also is a bit stronger in smell than others' blood in general."

"Do you by chance know why this is?"

I shook my head as I responded. "I'm afraid I don't."

"She knows there's a name the Volturi call it but can't remember the name of it."

"Yeah it's something in Latin I think. Seems like something those guys would use anyway."

Esme stepped closer to her husband to grip his shoulder. "You know of the Volturi as well then."

They're horrible vampires who rule with iron fists instead of talking things out. "Yes."

Edward chuckled more than likely to my thoughts.

"So can someone please explain the mating?"

"I suppose we should ask you what you know to start with," Carlisle, ever the diplomat, stated. "We can work from there."

"I know that there's an urge of longing between the two parties. They can be separated but it puts both parties into a bit of turmoil."

"Such as?"

"Well nearly physical pain, I suppose it would be heartache. I understand how that feels and I think that might match it. Nightmares will be frequent if the party is human and depression will happen in both parties. Either party can become suicidal and they will go through anything to be together again. That ties in with the suicidal by the way...Don't go to the Volturi if you haven't seen the body." I tilted my head as I watched Edward. "Choose now before you connect with her. If I'm right you have to have the emotional attachment before the bond can hurt the human."

"Hurt Bella you mean."

"Isabella...becomes a thrill seeker because you both formed a bond. You two being apart did neither of you any good and just ruined your lives. You can't jump willy nilly into a relationship. You choose now to either live with her or to feel only your own pain and not cause her to suffer if you get cold feet."

He remained quiet for a moment. "What if I can't choose?"

"Don't get close until you do. No matter what I do, I'm in this life. Alex is my world here and the only thing I hold onto. I'll always be around even if Jasper wishes to leave my human self to age and leave."

Alex snorted. "Like hell that's gonna happen. I'm a vampire. My mate's a vampire. Your mate's a vampire. You're gonna be a vampire eventually. You just gotta pick a time." He tucked me deeper into his side, taking my empty plate from me. "Hell if you want I'll even bite your ass to change you. No one's gonna be able to have you beat on that one."

I ignored him. "The only reason I'll leave is if I'm making anyone suffer."

"You're not," Jasper spoke once more. His eyes were still firmly locked onto me. "No one is bothered more than any other human."

"Jasper less so."

"Probably because of the bond," Alex pipped in.

If I want to lose my mind every time he speaks, I'm really going to have to invest in duct tape or invent something to keep a vampire's mouth shut. That voice is so nice I could damn near fall asleep to it. Hell I'm wondering if it'd chase away the demons in the dark. Alex's ugly mug sure as hell never scared anything away, outside of that one stray cat we saw. Even roaches just look at him and wonder what he is.

"Imagining yourself in bed with the cowboy already?" Alex asked.

"I'm wearing the hat in my head," I replied easily enough. "Seriously though. I do wonder if a human mate does make it more beareable. That means Edward got dealt a shit hand."

"She won't be fun to tease," Emmett complained quietly near Rosalie. "She has comebacks and everything."

"I've never seen any vampires with human mates," Carlisle admitted. "If they were found they were almost always immediately changed. I can't tell you how they act, but as vampires..."

"I know they're very amorous," I told the kind man. I didn't want him to have to explain such a thing with Emmett around to be able to mess with him. "I also am currently leaning against my best friend who has hardly released his mate since we sat down."

"They want physical touch," Edward mentioned, though his mouth was in a grimace. "Even if not romantic, it's in everyone's minds. When Rosalie first met Emmett, Carlisle with Esme, and even Alexander with Alice, they all immediately craved their mate's touch. It's an unconscious thought in their minds."

My mouth twisted slightly at that. "I do hope that's not what you're dealing with." Jasper nodded his head and I sighed. He felt this from more than one person on the daily and is craving it himself, making it even worse than the others. "I'd ask how you're feeling but I know you can let me feel it. I don't hate you but I'm a human and while I don't mind people touching me-don't you dare say something dirty Alex-I don't exactly like people touching me with the intention of romance. I've only met you today technically, even though I know who you are and how you act from reading about you. I don't have that bond you do yet."

"I understand."

Oh sweet mama I'm going to have a complex or something with this man. Would more talking help me or hurt me? Cause I'm really considering him reading me something to sleep or-someone help me-singing me to sleep. Oh dear, I think I'm turning into a whore for a voice.

"Also don't hate me for always groping her. I have my reasons." Alex tilted his head slightly as he regarded Jasper. "Don't think I don't notice it. You've been sending out anger every time I've touched her like a lover."