Jasmine's Point of View
I woke with a warm feeling on my mouth. It was comforting and it felt a lot better than having that stupid Thomas kiss me involuntarily. I had no clue why the feeling comforted me. Hell wasn't supposed to be comforting. Yes, of course I was in hell. I was obviously dead and who knows what might've happened when I died. Were the Cullens killed? Did Seth stick to his word and kill himself? If either of these things happened, I would surely be sentenced to hell. I sighed internally. If there was a reasonable reason for going there, then it would be having been the death of such wonderful, loving people. As if to contradict my guess of my location, I felt cold hands on my back. The warmth came slowly away from my mouth and I slowly opened my eyes.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," a voice chuckled. It was the one voice I needed to hear the most.
"Seth!" I exclaimed, almost jumping up. The only thing that held me back was a tugging sensation on my unnaturally numb back.
"What the…?" I started, bemused.
"Sorry," Carlisle said. "I didn't think the anesthesia would wear off so soon. I'm almost done."
"Done with what?"
"You needed stitches, Jasmine. That stab was pretty bad. I'm surprised you weren't hurt much worse than you were."
"Stitches? Stab?" I was extremely confused. "What did I miss?" I murmured.
"That Thomas Henderson guy stabbed you in the back."
The name sent shivers down my spine and made the bile rise in my throat. "I remember…"
"I hate him," Seth murmured.
"You're not the only one," I assured him.
I felt a bit more tugging at my back. Carlisle wiped something rancid smelling over the stitches.
"There," he announced. "You're fine now."
"Thanks, Carlisle," I said, turning around and giving my grandfather a hug.
"No problem," he said, carefully patting my back. I stood up and immediately wrapped my arms around myself.
"Why is it so freezing in here?" I asked.
Seth shrugged as he led me out of the cold room and into the living room. "Not sure."
"Jazzy!" Alice exclaimed, getting up from her seat on the sofa. She walked over with her arms extended and preceded to putting them around me. "I'm glad to see you up!"
"Hey, Alice," I said, hugging her tightly. I looked around myself. I only then noticed that I had no clue where the heck we were
"Er…where are we?" I asked.
"In a hotel room," Jasper answered. He looked wary and stiff. His eyes darted between Seth and I. What had I missed? "We're leaving back to Washington tonight."
I smiled in relief. I really didn't want to be in Volterra anymore.
"Jazzy," Rosalie said, "why don't you come and sit down? Relax a bit." She patted the seat next to her and Emmett. His arm was around her, as usual, and her legs were crossed. I guess the events that day hadn't ruffled them much.
Seth sat down next to me and put his left arm around my shoulders. I scooted as close as I could to him and put both my arms around his neck and laid my head on his chest. Jasper sat in the armchair closest to me and eyed Seth and me warily. I rolled my eyes. Of course Jasper would be the protective one in this situation.
"So, Seth," Jasper started, "what's this about imprinting?"
So Jasper knew. Poor Seth. I hated to have him in this situation. I imagined he might be a bit uncomfortable in telling Jasper how it happened, but his words showed no sign at all of nervousness.
"We were on a cliff back in La Push," he said. "I'd just told her I loved her. She looked up at me and I saw straight into her eyes. Then, I knew she was the one."
"Is that so?" Jasper asked. "And, Jasmine, what did you say?"
Despite the fact that loving Seth was the easiest thing I'd ever done, my heart pounded as I said the words to Jasper. I imagined this must be any girl's reaction when telling their father anything boy related.
"I told him how I felt," I said, looking Jasper straight in the eye. As the words came out, my heart slowed as I remembered the best moment of my life. "I told him I loved him."
Jasper's expression was not what I'd expected. His eyes had warmth I'd never seen. They mirrored Alice's eyes perfectly. They both seemed like they were extremely happy for me. I was glad. I really didn't want to go through fights with Alice and Jasper over something like this.
"Welcome to the family, Seth," he said with a smile.
"Very subtle, Jasper," Alice said, rolling her eyes.
"What?" he said, looking up at her. "I'm happy for our little Jasmine."
"Enough, enough!" Emmett protested. "I'd rather go through Jane's torture again then have this get any mushier!"
Rosalie rolled her eyes and smacked Emmett in the shoulder. "Stop it, Emmett! Be happy for Jazzy. Even Edward isn't being this immature."
It was the first time I looked over at Edward. I hadn't noticed him standing next to Seth.
"Glad to see things work out for you, man," Edward said.
Seth snickered. "You stole my line."
Edward shrugged. "It fit the moment and I'm not exactly feeling so creative."
"Where's Jacob?" Nessie asked. I started wondering too. I hadn't seen him in the room with the Volturi today.
"The mutt is probably back in Forks by now," Rosalie murmured.
"He went back?" Nessie asked.
"When we got back here, he went on his way to the airport. The mongrel tried to stay but I really didn't want him here," Rosalie snorted.
"Rosalie!" Renesmee whined.
"Oh hush," she said sharply. "You'll see your puppy soon enough."
Renesmee stuck her tongue out at Rosalie. Bella took out her cell phone, flipped it open, and glanced at the time.
"We better get going," she said. "Our flight leaves in an hour."
Each of the Cullens grabbed their only suitcase and headed out the door. Seth put his arm around my waist and we walked out behind them.
The moments between the time we left the hotel and the time we boarded the plane went by uneventfully. Renesmee spent almost the entire time talking to Jacob on the phone and her words had eventually become a buzzing sound in the background. Seth didn't leave my side the entire way.
Our seats on the plane were, unsurprisingly, first class. Rosalie and Emmett sat in the front, then Carlisle and Esme, Bella, Edward, and Nessie, Seth and me, and Alice and Jasper in the row right across from us. Alice protested when Jasper wanted her to take the window seat so he could take the isle seat, but eventually lost the argument. He probably wanted to be as close as possible to Seth and me. I rolled my eyes. Typical dad.
"All right, I have to go now… I miss you too! … Our flight's taking off in a few minutes… See you soon! … Love you, too… Bye." Renesmee finally hung up her phone and nestled into her seat. I stared out the window as the plane lifted into the sky.
"Seth?" I asked.
"Yeah?" he answered, turning his back to a very nosey Jasper and faced me.
"I told you to stay in La Push."
"And I didn't listen."
"But why?!" I groaned. "Do you realize that if you were dead because of me, I would've gone to hell?"
"I highly doubt that. No one like you belongs there." He sighed heavily. "What would I have done without you? I can't live without you in my life, Jasmine. Please, see that."
"I see it," I said. "I just don't see the sense in it. I'm just me."
"Yes," he agreed. "You are just Jasmine. And I couldn't ask for anything better. You're the sweetest, prettiest, most thoughtful person I've ever met. Just Jasmine isn't as bad as you think it is."
I rested my head on his shoulder. "Thanks, Seth," I whispered.
"Of course, Jasmine," he whispered. I yawned.
"Tired?" he chuckled.
"I haven't a clue why. I've done nothing but sleep lately."
"Not exactly true," he disagreed. "You've been having some pretty long days. Sleep, my angel. Sleep."
I put my arms around his neck again and closed my eyes. Minutes later, I fell into a much wanted, peaceful sleep.