Tomorrow was the first day of school. Alice had returned home the second she saw my decision. She had been worried but also glad. If tomorrow wasn't a problem she wouldn't be worried anymore. Alice wouldn't have any problems though; Carlisle and the others had taught her anything she would need to know for the upcoming year. She and Edward would be freshmen and Emmett and Rosalie would be sophomores. I didn't like Edward much but he would take care of her, they had developed a close bond in the few months we had been here. I would be the problem. Everyone except Esme would leave tomorrow and I was grateful for not being completely alone, but she was still fearful. It wasn't much but it was enough and she tried to hide it but I could still feel it. I spent most of my time in the room Alice and I shared, and Esme and I hadn't interacted since we had shown up. Alice suggested that tomorrow would be a good time to get to know her better; the fear would disappear if we got to know each other. She would be gone in ten hours and after that I wouldn't see her for another nine hours or so.
"Jasper? Earth to Jasper, come in. Can you hear me? I don't have to go tomorrow if you're worried. I can stay here with you."
Alice had been picking out clothes for tomorrow while I was thinking and I had started projecting.
"I wasn't worrying about tomorrow, Alice, don't worry"
She gave me a knowing look but dropped the subject and picked up the two outfits she had narrowed the selection down to. "Should I go simple and sophisticated or daring and colorful?"
The simple and sophisticated option consisted of black jeans with a white shirt. Daring and colorful was a short, sleeveless dress that mixed shades of red and orange. Both were designer labels I couldn't tell you the names of but she would look stunning in either.
"You're right, I don't want to attract too much attention, simple and sophisticated it is." She disappeared into the closet to return the rejected outfit and returned with a pair of black heels. "I know everyone said I shouldn't put any effort into impressing anyone but it's my first day of school ever and I can't help but be excited. I'll be in a new environment with new people. I might even make some friends."
Her excitement was contagious, as she neatly placed her outfit next to her backpack. I missed the nomadic days when it was just the two of us, but she was happier living like a human with a family. Alice had made friends with everyone here except for Rosalie, she was still furious.
Once she was satisfied with the placement of everything she returned to the closet and emerged wearing a black nightgown. She yawned and turned off the light before lying on the bed next to me and pulling a blanket over the both of us.
"I don't want to be tired tomorrow." She joked before snuggling in and closing her eyes.
Vampires can't sleep but they can get to a state that's almost like sleeping. There's no dreaming it's just nothing. She must want this to be as close to a human experience as possible. She had set an alarm several hours ago, one she insisted she needed but would probably never use after tomorrow. I wrapped my arms around her, pulled her close, and buried my nose in her hair. I could get through tomorrow. I had to.