~Jackson P.O.V.~
As the next few weeks came and went, normality resumes in this newly stressful life I was living.
First off, the weird dreams stopped.
Secondly, I was all settled into my new room, making it look almost exactly like it had in New York.
Thirdly, school. Yes, it sucked. Yes, it was seven hours of my day that I really wish I could spend doing something fun. But hey, it was something I was used too and it wasn't long before I knew and was sort of acquainted with most of the students at Forks High.
Even Britt was adjusting nicely to the move. She was back having a new "boyfriend" every other day. I use the term "boyfriend" lightly, seeing as she's like twelve.
Oh, wait. I lied.
She had a birthday last month. She's thirteen.
Me on the other hand, well:
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Jackson! Happy birthday to you!"
"Huh?" I opened my eyes and saw Aiden's face, centimeters from mine. "Whoa." I jumped back, stunned, getting a chuckle from the baby. I pulled him into my lap, looking up and seeing my family circled around my bed, big smiles on my mom and dad's faces while Britt's permanent frown hung on hers.
"Ew. Why doesn't he sleep in shirts?" She spat.
"It's comfy. You should try it some time." I snapped right back.
"Now, now, you two. Let's not fight this early in the morning. Let alone on my baby's eighteenth birthday!" Mom squealed, engulfing me in a huge hug with Aiden in the middle of us.
"Please, mom. Don't drop the baby card thing. You have an actual baby. See?" I said holding Aiden up when she finally pulled back. "He's even cuter than me."
"But still! I remember when you were his age. You had the cutest little but-"
"MOM." I snapped.
"No, please. I want to hear about his cute, little butt." Britt laughed, sitting on the edge of my bed.
"Oh, no you don't." I hissed, giving her an ever so gentle push with my foot, just enough to send her off of my bed and onto the floor with a thud. "My butt is my business." I grumbled.
"And Tanya's?" Britt scoffed, a mischievous grin on her face. Okay, it was no secret I liked Tanya now. Well, amongst my family. She didn't know. Or at least, I hoped she didn't…
"Yeah, we're not having this conversation." I said, simply.
"Would you two just stop bickering for five seconds?" Our dad shook his head at us.
"Um, no." Brittney and I said at the same time.
"Just get ready. I have a fun day planned." My mom beamed at us.
"Oh, no." Britt and I groaned at the same time again.
God help us all.
~Bella P.O.V.~
"He's totally in love with you." Kate beamed at Tanya as she told us about her date with him last night.
"I know. It's adorable." Tanya's face lit up.
"Did he kiss you yet?" Kate pried.
"Kate." Tanya warned, glancing at me.
"Do tell." I snickered with an amused smile plastered on my face.
"Not yet. He goes for it then chickens out. It's actually really cute." Tanya explained, a hint of laughter in her voice. My phone went off in my pocket. I pulled it out.
"He's not cute, he's manly as hell." Kate laughed, mocking Jackson's voice.
"Surprise party time." I grinned from ear to ear as I read the text from Aunt Karen.
I mean, it wasn't everyday your little cousin turned eighteen.
Which was technically the same age as me.
~Jackson P.O.V.~
"That movie was lame." Brittney whined.
"You're lame." I replied, sliding into the driver's side of my car.
"Why did mom and dad want us out of the house?" Brittney asked as I started the car.
"Your guess is as good as mine." I shrugged, giving the car a minute to warm up as snow dusted my windshield.
"Where to next?" She asked.
"The store. Mom just texted me a list." I replied, putting the car in gear and backing out of the parking lot.
"Jackson," Brittney muttered a few minutes into our drive.
"Hm?" I stared out the windshield.
"Do you like it here?" She asked, her voice almost a whisper.
"For the most part, yeah. I miss my friends though. Why?" I glanced at her.
"Because I hate it here." She peeped, her voice just above a whisper.
"Why?" I asked.
"Daddy's never home, mom's always with Aiden, you're always at Bella's… I just… ever since we moved here, it's like no one has time for me." She explained.
"Hey," I said, pulling over so I could look at her. "Just because we're in a new place, doesn't mean we're not a family. Yeah, dad's always working, and yeah, we don't have the nanny we had in New York, and yeah, I, uh-"
"Fell in love for the first time?" She answered for me with a quiet chuckle.
"For the most part." I snickered. "Doesn't mean we're still not here for each other." I told her.
"I'm going to tell you something so don't go running to mom and telling her, okay?" She warned. I nodded. "When mom told us that we had to spend the day together, I was actually really happy. Because…I miss you sometimes…okay?" She explained in a rush. I smiled at her.
"Come here." I said, holding my arms open. She slid over as far as she could and wrapped her arms around my torso. "I love you, goober." I whispered into her hair.
"I love you too, cute butt." She told me.
"Hey. My butt is-"
"Your business. I know." She winked as she pulled back.
"Brat." I said as I put the car back in drive.
"You love me."
"Whatever." I said, pulling back onto the road.
I have to admit though: she was right.
~Bella P.O.V.~
"They should be here any second!" Aunt Karen squealed excitedly as she tied balloons to the railing of the stairs. "There. Everything's perfect." She beamed. I looked around the living room. All the vampires were on one side, protecting each other's mates from the hormonal teenagers Jackson went to school with. Tanya had Aiden in her arms; he'd taken a liking to her.
A second or two later, we heard two car doors slam.
"They're here! Everyone hide!" Aunt Karen called. Everyone was out of sight within the next minute, just as Jackson and Brittney came inside. "Hi, you two." She exclaimed.
"Hey." They said at the same time.
"Did you have fun?" She asked.
"Eh, it was alright." Jackson replied, a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Yeah," Brittney chuckled, sarcastically.
"You two aren't screaming at each other, so I'll take it. Come inside." She ordered.
"I'll be in my room." Jackson said, I heard him start up the stairs.
"No, come here." She said as Brittney sat down on the couch.
"Why?" Jackson asked.
"I want to see you." Aunt Karen told him.
"You can see me from here." He replied.
"Jackson,"
"What?"
"Oh, just come here, already!" I yelled at him.
"Bella?" Jackson questioned, coming into the room.
"SURPRISE." Everyone screamed at once, jumping out of their hiding places.
"HOLY SHIT." Jackson exclaimed, jumping literally ten feet in the air.
"Jackson." Aunt Karen scolded.
"Sorry, you guys really surprised me." He laughed as he wrapped her into his embrace.
"Yeah, me too. Thanks for the heads up, mom." Britt said from where she had fallen onto the floor from getting scared. Edward was helping her up as she spoke.
"I guess that was the point." Aunt Karen snickered, hugging Jackson.
"Happy birthday, Jacky." I said a few minutes later, coiling my arms around his torso.
"Thanks, Belly." He replied, wrapping his arms up my back. "Um, you can let go now…" He mumbled a few seconds later.
I just really hoped this wasn't his last actual birthday.
~Jackson P.O.V.~
"Jackson, seriously. Is that your girlfriend?" Tanner, my sort of new best friend, asked, asked me, looking at Tanya as her, her sisters Kate and Carmen, my mom, and Bella all talked around the kitchen table.
"Um, I don't know." I replied, blushing and hoping he didn't notice.
"Dude. Make a move on her." He snapped, his blond hair flopping in his face.
"Uh,"
"Jack, grow some balls." Tanner mocked.
"Tanner." I warned.
"I'm serious. It's not everyday someone that hot comes into your life." He told me.
"Don't call her hot, okay? And keep your voice down. Seriously." I said protectively.
"Someone's getting defensive. You must really like her." Tanner said, a playful grin plastered on his mouth.
"Stop." I growled.
"Op, sister alert." Tanner said, spinning on his heels and dashing away. I turned around and saw Kate beside me.
"Hey, Kate." I said carefully.
"Hi, Jackson." She replied, a huge smile on her face.
"What's, uh, up?" I asked her, running my fingers through my hair.
"I just wanted to tell you, you had the cutest little butt I've ever seen." She said mockingly, her smile never leaving her face. My eyes widened.
"MOOOOOOM." I screamed and stormed off, leaving Kate laughing in my wake.
"Hi, baby." My mom said innocently.
"Yeah, hi. I'm taking this." I grumbled, snatching my baby album from the ladies and dashing from the kitchen and up the stairs.
"That was rude." Her perfect voice scolded as I flopped on my bed.
"You're rude." I said playfully, sitting up and setting the album next to me.
"How am I rude?" Tanya chuckled, crossing her arms, as she stood perched in my doorway.
"I don't know." I shrugged. "Why wouldn't you be?"
"I came to your party." She told me, walking closer to me; or more like strutting toward me.
"And I appreciate that." I smiled at her, standing up and wrapping my arms around her waist.
"Happy birthday." She whispered, wrapping her arms around my neck and resting her chin on my shoulder.
"So." I said awkwardly, after she pulled away a few minutes later. "What did my mom show you?" I asked regretfully.
"You-"
"Let me guess, had the cutest little butt you've ever seen." I groaned.
"I was going to say, you were an adorable baby." She snickered, sitting down on the edge of my bed. "But that too." She winked.
"Oh, my god. Has everyone seen my butt?" I sighed and slumped down next to her, burring my head in a pillow.
"Since your mom is obsessing over that picture, I'd bet yes." Bella's voice came out of nowhere, just as Tanya started running her hand up and down my back, sending tingles up my spine.
"Did my mother send you up here to babysit us?" I asked; my voice muffled by the pillow.
"No. She sent me up here to coax you and your adorable butt back downstairs. She doesn't know she's up here." Bella laughed.
"I like it up here." I murmured, lifting my head a little and glaring up at Bella through my hair.
"I do too." Tanya giggled.
"C'mon. You still have to open presents." She prompted.
"Okay, whatever." I sighed, reluctantly sitting up, causing to stop Tanya from rubbing my back.
"Be downstairs in five?" She asked, walking out of the room.
"You got it."
"Jackson?" Tanya asked.
"Yeah?" I looked at her. She had the photo album in her lap
"Who is this man?" I peeked over her shoulder. Sure enough, there was a picture of a man, not my father, holding me at the hospital the day I was born.
"Oh, shit…" My eyes widened.
It was the same man from my dream the night I was in the hospital.
"Do you know him?" She asked.
"N-No. I, uh, had a dream about him though." I explained.
"What was the dream about?" She asked.
Lie.
"What?" I asked, I swear that voice came from in my head.
"I said, what was your dream about?" She repeated.
"Oh, wel-"
Jackson, lie.
"Did you hear that?" I asked.
"Hear what?" She asked, her eyes narrowing.
She can't hear me, Jackson. Only you can.
"Nothing. Uh, let's just go downstairs." I told her, getting up.
"Hey," Tanya snapped, catching my hand. "Are you okay?" She pulled me back and made me look her in the eye, keeping my fingers locked with hers.
No. I'm totally hearing things. I thought, but replied with: "Yeah, I'm good. I'm just, uh, a little tired."
"Okay, well, get to bed early tonight then." She replied skeptically. I could tell she didn't believe me by her tone.
"I'm fine, really." I insisted quietly, picking up her other hand and squeezing them both gently.
"I believe you." She said with a small smile.
"Alright." I grinned at her. "Let's go downstairs. Someone's probably missing us." I added; letting one of her hands go and keeping the other one intertwined in mine.
I loved how perfect our fingers fit together, like puzzle pieces.
We reached the bottom of the stairs unnoticed. Or so I thought.
"What were you two doing up there?" Kate's tantalizing voice came out of literal nowhere.
"None of your business, dear sister." Tanya snapped with an amused grin as my face reddened. Tanya must have felt my body heat up because she squeezed my hand a bit tighter, providing comfort.
"I don't know if I even want to know." Kate replied with a wink. "Now, Jackson," She turned to me. "Your mom's been looking for you. She's in the living room."
"Thanks." I smiled at her and gently slid my hand from Tanya's to go see what she wanted as the sisters started talking. "Hey, mom." I said, rounding the corner of the living room.
"There you are, Jackson!" She screeched. "Time for presents!"
Uh, oh.
"Oh, hey. Socks…" I murmured, opening a present my grandma sent me. I was almost done with the pile, only having one thing left: a small box without a name of it.
"Last one. Make it count!" My mom laughed, handing the box to me. I untied the neatly tied ribbon and opened the silver package. It was a lighter; and not just any lighter: a freaking fancy lighter fit for like, the president or something…
It was all a deep bronze color with gold edges, an engraving carved along the sides in another language. I watched as the letters rearranged and shifted themselves in my head.
Damn dyslexia.
Wait, when they stopped moving, a new sentence was formed, in English; one I could actually read:
He who holds this blade holds the key to the Underworld…
There was a note in the bottom of the box. I pulled it out:
Happy birthday, Jackson.
-Dad
"Jackson, what is that?" My mom asked, pulling me from my daze.
"Huh?" I replied, looking up at her.
"What is that?" She repeated, worry in her tone.
"A lighter." I told her, looking up at me.
"Let me see the note." She peeped, her voice sounding hoarse. I gave it to her without hesitation. As she read it, her eyes widened; a single tear even rolling down her cheek. "Oh, my God." She whispered.
"Mom?" I asked.
"Excuse me." She said and then her and my dad fled the room. Brittney and I locked eyes.
'What was that?' She mouthed. I just shrugged, not knowing how to respond.
"That was weird." I said a minute later. Shouldn't she have known my dad was getting me a lighter or something? "Who wants more food?" I asked, totally removing the awkward blanket that was thrown upon us.
About an hour later, my parents were still talking in their room. Everyone had started to leave, Bella, Edward, and Tanya being the only ones left; helping Britt and I clean up.
I was currently putting Aiden to bed, struggling to get the squirming boy into his pajamas.
"Want some help?" Tanya asked. "Brittney got worried and sent me to check on you." She added with a chuckle.
"I'd love help, actually." I replied, looking over my shoulder at her with a smile. Let me say, this was so much easier with two people. Within minutes, Aiden was put down and sleeping while Tanya and I watched. "You're really good with kids." I told her a few minutes later.
"I've had lots of practice. He's adorable." Tanya whispered, not looking up from his sleeping face.
"Eh, he's alright. I mean, what do you expect? He's related to me." I laughed, my voice hushed. "I'm kidding. He's perfect." I smiled down at my little brother.
"I can see the resemblance." Tanya giggled. I turned to her, meeting her amused gaze.
"C'mon, don't lie. I wish I was that cute." I said with a smile.
"I thought you were manly as hell." She winked flirtatiously at me.
"I'm both." I retorted quickly.
"You're ridiculous." She laughed.
"Oh, really? I'm ridiculous?" I replied, pretending to be offended.
"Yeah, you are." She snickered.
"I am insulted. I mean, I knew I was obnoxious, but ridiculous?" I gasped. She wrapped her arms around my torso in reply, making me immediately forget what we were talking about. I wrapped my arms up her back, pulling her closer.
"Did you get everything you wanted for your birthday?" She asked, running her hands up and down my sides.
"Almost." I said, my eyes were already on her as she lifted her head out from under my chin to look up at me, confused. I gave her one last smile before leaning down and pressing my lips to hers gently. Her hands stopped massaging my sides and gripped my shirt for leverage as she tilted her head, deepening the kiss.
There's no other word to describe this moment other than perfect. Like, there's literally no other word in the entire dictionary. Our lips molded together perfectly, like they were made for each other.
Like we were made for each other.
This moment caused every relationship I've ever been in seem like nothing. Every kiss, every touch, nothing. Every I love you, a lie. There was truly only one person I could see myself with.
And she was in my arms…
I pulled back a few minutes later, gasping for air, resting my forehead against hers; a relaxed smile on my mouth.
"I don't know how you made me fall in love in three weeks, but you did. I love you, Tanya." I said quietly, still trying to catch my breath.
"I love you too, Jackson. So much." She replied, the tone of her voice alone sending chills down my spine. I leaned in again, loving the feeling of my lips on hers. This time, she pulled back, unwinding her arms from around me. "The others will be wondering what happened to us." She whispered. I sighed, she was right. I smiled at her, planting a kiss against her forehead as I picked up her had, interlocking our fingers, and lead her out of the room.
"We should get going. It's getting late." Edward said, meeting us at the bottom of the stairs.
"You're right." She nodded, turning to me. "Bye, Jackson." She grinned up at me, stepping on her tiptoes and pecking my lips quickly, but lovingly.
"Bye. Love you." I replied, my hand on her waist. After a hug from Bella and a handshake from Edward, they were gone, leaving just my family home for the night.
"Jackson, can we talk for a second?" My mom almost whispered, me almost not hearing her.
"Uh, yeah." I said, looking up from my laptop. "What's up?" I asked, closing the screen and sitting up on my bed.
"It's about your father." She told me, as she sat next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"What about him?" My eyes narrowed.
"He's not…who you think he is…" She muttered.
"So he's not a business man? What is he? A spy? Because that would actually be really cool." I snickered.
"No, I mean," She took a deep breath. "He's not who you think he is."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Jackson, Peter isn't your father. He adopted you when we got married, but biologically he's not your dad." She explained. My eyes widened.
"W-What?" I stammered, my body going limp.
"He' not your-"
"Don't say it again!" I interrupted, jumping off of the bed and pacing around my room. My mom sighed, tears forming in her eyes.
"Jackson-"
"W-Who's my dad, then?" I snapped, whirling around to face her. "Huh?" I coaxed when she didn't reply. "Or better yet, why am I just finding out about this now, on my freaking 18th birthday?"
"I-I couldn't find myself to tell you before. You and Pete were so close, and didn't want to ruin that." She peeped, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I guess that's a good enough reason." I sighed, my body was trembling; I had to calm down. "Who's my dad? Did he leave us, or something?" I breathed, sitting down on the corner of my bed.
"I don't really know who he is, Jackson. I mean, his name is Hayden, but I didn't really know who he was; not until after he left." She explained.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"He wasn't normal, by far." She told me, squeezing my hand.
"I don't understand…" I muttered, my hand unmoving in my mom's.
"Neither do I, Jackson. Not 100% anyway. He loved you, though. Never think he didn't." She explained.
"Then why did he leave us, mom?" I asked, finally meeting her eyes.
"He had too, Jackson; for both or our safeties." She said.
"Was he a felon or something?" My eyebrow rose.
"Worse. He's a God."
Wait, what?
Hey, Thanks for reading! :D If you want too, tell me what you thought, I'd really appreciate it. Like seriously. Tell me if there's anything you want to see happen, I'd love to hear your ideas! Thanks again!