Author's Note: I do not own Twilight. Twilight and all of the characters are the creation of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
I just wanted to say thank you to all of the people that have reviewed! I got a lot of reviews for the las chapter, and it made me really happy! Let me give a shout-out to all the people who reviewed last chapter- emmettlover4everandalways, Vampire-WolfGirl13, alli, DareBare13, and immortalroxtar. I love you guys to bits! By the way, if YOU haven't reviewed yet but are still reading the story, please review! I would love to get even more feedback!
Enjoy!
Chapter 22: Travel
-oOo-
Our suitcases rolled behind us as Esme, Carlisle, Alice, Jasper, and I headed to the ticket desk.
On the way here, Rosalie drove her convertible and Alice, Esme, Bella, and I rode with her. Alice, Esme, and I had sat in the back of the convertible while Bella sat in the passenger seat. Carlisle and Jasper rode with Edward, Emmett, and Parker in Edward's Volvo. Jacob had come to stay at the house with Nessie. We had all said goodbye to her before we had left, but we all knew she would be in good hands with Jacob.
My goodbyes with Parker, Rosalie, Emmett, Bella, and Edward were tough. Who knows if I would see them again? If I did see them again, would I have ALL of my loved ones around me?
I couldn't seem to let go of Rosalie. She was as close to a mother as Esme, and I felt safe with her. Having to see her drive away in the convertible, I felt a small sense of venerability. Saying goodbye to Parker was extremely difficult.
"You understand why I chose Alice and Jasper to come with Esme, Carlisle, and I on the trip, right?" I asked him.
"Yes, I understand," he replied. "They have powers that can benefit you while you are there."
I sighed. "If Jane would have let me pick three people, you know I would have picked you."
"I have a feeling that's why she only let you pick two," he said.
Esme walked over to me and gently gave my now cast-free left wrist a squeeze. I kissed Parker long and hard on the lips.
"Goodbye my angel," he said, then I followed behind my family into the airport.
We got our tickets and made our way through security with time before we could start boarding the plane. I sat with Alice and Esme in chairs while Carlisle and Jasper chatted by one of the windows. It was overcast, but there was no rain. Alice had her eyes closed, obviously trying to see the future.
"What do you think Carlisle and Jasper are talking about?" I asked Esme.
She was staring at her hands, which were folded in her lap, so she glanced up to look at them.
"I cannot hear them because of all this chatter in the airport. I wish I knew what they were talking about," she said.
After a few seconds I said, "Carlisle doesn't seem to be scared by all of this."
Esme chuckled. "He does not seem scared. Alex, I have known Carlisle for many, many years, and I can say without exaggeration that Carlisle is the bravest man I have ever met. Although, when it comes to situations that involve his family being in danger, the Volturi, or both, then he sometimes puts on a brave face. I can tell you now that he is a bit frightened by all of this. Whether it is hidden or whether it shows, he is scared."
I looked back over at him. "I envy him. Right now he's brave, while I know for a fact that I'm not."
-oOo-
Our carry-on bags were stored away in the compartments above our heads as we took our seats. This particular airplane, for first class, had one side with a row of three seats and the other side has a row of two seats. We had gotten our tickets so we all sat in the same row. Carlisle, Esme, and I sat in the three seat row, while Alice and Jasper sat in the two seat row. I sat on the aisle seat while Carlisle sat against the window and Esme sat between us. There were only about seven other people on the flight with us and they were all sitting in the back.
We buckled our seat belts as the plane began to lift into the air. Alice had bought me some packs of gum to help with the flying.
After we had made it to 30,000 feet, it had been about a half an hour. Since the flight was first class, there were movies I could watch. I didn't want to watch any movies though. I wanted to spend as much time with my family as possible.
"Why don't you take a nap?" Esme asked quietly. "It will help with the time change."
"I... I don't want to sleep," I said.
"Why not?" she asked.
"The more time I sleep, the less time I have with everyone."
"Oh, Alex-" Esme began, but was interrupted by the flight attendant.
"Can I get you all something to drink?" she asked sweetly.
"Can I have a regular soda, please?" I asked.
"Of course. Anything for you two?" she asked Carlisle and Esme.
"I am good, thank you," Carlisle said.
"I will have a soda as well," Esme said. The flight attendant nodded and walked away to get the drinks.
"Why did you order a drink?" I asked Esme quietly when the flight attendant was out of earshot.
"As a charade," she replied. "It will also be for you if you need another drink.
"Oh," I said, leaning back into my seat. "That's a good idea."
"I should have thought of that," Alice muttered.
The flight attendant came back minutes later with our sodas. We opened our trays and placed the sodas on them.
"Are you sure I can't get you anything, sir?" she asked Carlisle, batting her eyelashes.
"He's fine," Esme said quickly, obviously wanting the flight attendant to leave. That and get away from Carlisle.
The flight attendant frowned and walked away.
I was trying to hold in the laughter, but it was difficult.
"Laugh all you want, missy," Esme said jokingly.
"No need to get defensive against the woman, Esme," Carlisle said, giving Esme a kiss on the cheek. "You know I don't find her attractive."
Time passed, and I had managed to go through my soda and half of Esme's.
"Are you sure you do not want to sleep, dear?" Esme asked. "Please do not worry, you still have time with us before the plane lands."
I sighed. "I guess I can sleep for a little bit."
I laid back in my seat and closed my eyes.
"Do you want me to ask for a blanket?" Carlisle asked me.
"That would be nice," I said.
"Excuse me, miss," I heard Carlisle say. "Can we get a blanket for her?"
"Of course, sir," the flight attendant replied.
Minutes later, I felt a blanket laid on top of me.
"Go ahead and get some sleep now," Esme whispered in my ear.
I nodded once and in minutes I managed to drift off into sleep.
-oOo-
I snapped open my eyes and sat up. I had been laying against Esme's shoulder. Alice was laying in her seat, eyes closed. She really could pass for sleeping when she was looking into the future.
"Hey, sleepyhead," Esme said quietly.
"How long did I sleep for?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"About three hours," she said.
"Wow, and I really feel asleep fast! I didn't think I was that tired..."
It was as if a light bulb came on. I look over at Jasper and he was grinning.
"Did you just so happen to make me fall asleep faster?" I asked him, crossing my arms and trying to hold in my big grin.
He held up his hands in surrender. "Guilty as charged."
I just silently laid in my seat for a while. The plane was quiet, and nobody spoke.
"About how long is the flight going to be, Carlisle?" I asked.
"It will take approximately thirteen hours to get there, so we will arrive in Rome at about 4:45 am, their time on the twenty-fifth," he said.
"And we've been flying for..."
"Four hours," Esme said.
"So, nine more hours to go..." I said.
"Yes, that would be correct," Carlisle said.
This could be the longest, or maybe even shortest, nine hours of my life.
-oOo-
Yikes, what will go down in Italy when the Cullens arrive? Will there be a throw down in the throne room?