Chapter twenty seven
January 6th
Jasper parked the car at school and appeared next to me to open the door.
"Watch it speedy, someone might notice," I muttered with a crooked smile as i stepped out. Lord was it cold, i swear it was never this cold before. Texas was so lovely and warm, even in December.
"LIZZIE!" I heard my hyperactive friend yell.
"Mini," I squeaked, turning just in time to stop myself from being tackled to the floor. She was buzzing, her crazy bobble hat dancing manically.
"Jasmine...sleepover...mine...tonight. We'll talk then, right now...history..." I said with a smile shooing her towards a waiting connor who simply waved.
"I'm not staying tonight then?" Jasper sulked playfully on the way to class.
"Aww...can you not survive one night without me holding your hand?" I cooed leaning up to pinch his cheek softly, not that i could hurt him even if i tried.
They day flew past quickly, jasper and i had agreed wearing my engagement ring to school was not a good idea. I had that bombshell to drop on Jasmine when she got to mine.
"What time do you want picking up?" I said to Jasmine, she didn't have a car; she was a menace to society on two legs let alone wheels.
"Urm...fiveish?" She said slowly with a hopeful smile.
"An hour...sure...i'll send my chauffer sound to get you," I said winking at Jasper who just grimaced. Jasmine laughed and went to climb into Connors car.
Jasper drove me home and i prepared the junk food for the onslaught this evening. I had arranged for Bella and Rosalie to come round at seven for a girls night in, sure it's a Monday but who cares? Definitely not my dad, he was at work and would never know! Well as long as i clear up. So after sorting the food i got changed into something comfy, baggy boyfriend jeans, a vest top and one of Jasper's hoodies which i stole, he didn't care he had a wardrobe full at home.
"Whats Jasmine's address?" Jasper said as i hopped down the stairs.
"225 maple drive," I sang chucking four sleeping bags onto the couches.
"Ok, i'll go collect the wined up toy," Jasper said sighing before grabbing his car keys off the dresser and heading out the door. The cullen boys referred to jasmine as a wined up toy because she reminded them of one of those monkeys with symbols. Always hopping about and noisy. I couldn't help but agree they did have a point.
I heard the car pull up so went and stood in the doorway.
"LIZZIE YOUR MAN DRIVES LIKE A MANIAC!" Jasmine complained as she clambered out the passenger seat with her bag. Jasper was grinning evilly as he walked towards me, i rolled my eyes.
"He doesn't just drive like a maniac," I muttered as they both reached the door.
"Bella and Rose are taking us tomorrow so i'll meet you at school," I said to Jasper who nodded and leaned down and kissed me once.
"I'll see you then," He said and turned waving to us as he went.
"A man of few words is your Jasper," Jasmine said heading inside.
"So...how was your holiday!" She said plopping down onto a couch. I handed her a scrap book.
"You and your scrap book," She said laughing. I ignored the comment.
"It was nice, we lazed around the first week, Jasper's house was huge and it came with like half the continent as it's garden. He was so sweet taking me on picnics and we decorated the tree. He took me round the historical bits and we went shopping,"
"Aw!" She said flicking through the scrap book, "The house...if thats even the right word, does look...large,"
"There was a couple of Jasper's friends from when he lived in Texas, there they are, Peter and Charlotte," I said pointing them out in a picture.
"They've got freaky eyes," She said frowning.
"Contacts...they're...quirky characters..." I lied quickly, "But yeah, they stayed with us in the run up to Christmas so lots of singing and messing about," She raised her eyebrows at the last bit. I scoffed at her.
"Not like that!" I grumbled, "But anyway, Christmas Eve the Cullens appeared as a surprise," I flicked the book onto the next page to point out a group shot.
"Who's the kid?" She said pointing at Nessie.
"That's Renesmee, it's Mrs Cullen's niece who lives with them,"
I went onto explained about Christmas day and my promise ring, about boxing day.
"It was after they all left that things got interesting," I said with a smirk as she flicked onto the next page. Her jaw dropped.
"Elizabeth Sophia Daxon is that a photo of you dry humping Jasper!" She said cackling.
"Well we went to a carnival and things got a bit heated in the tunnel of love...three times," I said sheepishly. It took five minutes to stop her laughing, which was surprising as it usually took longer. Jasper must be on watch outside until the girlies get here, i thought as she flicked to the next page.
"Jasper took me to a friend of his family's ranch and taught me to horse ride,"
"Is he any good?" She said cheekily.
"At horse riding...yes,"
"And at...?"
"I wouldn't know...i haven't found out," She would insist on talking about sex, hormone crazed teenager. Well...i couldn't really talk.
"So how was new year,"
"Well he took me to this old house on a hill, we sat on blankets outside and talked and cuddled until about 11:45. It was beautiful, clear night sky, full shining moon and my Jasper," I took a moment to reminisce.
"And then what happened..." She was on the edge of her seat. I bit my lip and sighed happily.
"He asked me to marry him..." I said softly. She was silent...well...for a moment.
"OH MY GOSH!" She squealed hugging me, "What did you say!"
"Well...Yes obviously...you have met Jasper right?" I said laughing. I pulled my ring box from the hoodie pocket and flicked it open causing her to squeal again.
We chatted and ate, yes i do feed my guests, well the human ones anyway, until Rosalie and Bella walked in the living room. I narrowed my eyes at them as the front door had been locked and all the windows shut.
"Uh...i took Jasper's key," Rosalie said with a smile collapsing gracefully onto the other sofa. I heard shuffling in the doorway and turned to see Alice standing there. I went bug eyed.
"Ah...she's come to visit...Carlisle said she should come to...as they're all going out tonight," Bella said as my eye twitched psychotically.
"Hello Alice," I said slowly trying to kill my urge to scream get out.
"Hello Elizabeth," She said in her squeaky voice. How on earth Jasper had put up with her i shall never know.
"Please sit down and make yourself welcome, this is my friend Jasmine. Jasmine this is Rosalie and Bella's other sister Alice who has been in Italy at an exchange school," I said as if thats what i truly believed.
I was surprised to find Alice was being genuinely nice tonight, Carlisle must have threatened her he's the only one she's likely to listen too. Then again maybe i had over reacted and taken her the wrong way, i was coming at the whole thing from a biased prospective.
"Lizzie i want more soda!" Jasmine said as we switched off the movie. I laughed and rolled my eyes.
"Be right back," I said and hopped off of the sofa and went to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and grabbed another can.
"Elizabeth," I heard Alice say. I pulled my head out of the fridge and turned to her.
"Yeah?" I said tilting my head to one side.
"I want to apologise for how i behaved on my last visit," She said slowly and then sighed, "I was being very selfish...i...i didn't want to accept that Jasper had moved on even though i had. Alec...he told me i was being silly...that he would never love someone so self centred. It really opened my eyes...i just hope you can forgive me..." I blinked a few times and put the can on the work top and folded my arms.
"Alice...i understand why you did what you did, even though i didn't like it and even though i feel like i should just stalk off like a normal teenager i know i have to forgive you...because honestly is something like that happened between me and Jasper i would get jealous too..." I said with a lop sided smile. Her face lit up.
"So i'm forgiven?" She said excitedly. I chuckled and held up one finger.
"On one condition," I said slowly. She nodded feverishly.
"You help with my wedding...HELP...not do everything," I said with a smile. She squealed and jumped up and down before grabbing my hand and tugging me into the living room. I managed to just grab the soda can in time.
"We're going to need lots of flowers and silk and..." Alice was rambling as we entered the living room.
"WOAH THERE!" I said digging my heels into the carpet. She stopped and turn to look at me. Rosalie and Bella where on edge, we were being friendly, me and Alice...it's like asking Hitler and Churchill to have a picnic together in their view.
"I'm getting married in over a year...we're only seventeen...we have plenty of time and anyway...there is mine and Jasper's eighteenth birthday, graduation, my dad's wedding and Jasper's nineteenth birthday between now and then," I said with a smile. Her eyes began to sparkle. I chuckled nervously.
"How long are you in the country for again," I said slowly.
"For the foreseeable future," She sang before skipping over to her bag.
"What are you doing," I said slowly.
"You need a make over," She said turning her head exorcist style towards me with a creepy grin whilst holding up mascara in one hand and eyeliner in the other.
"Oh good lord..." I whispered backing away as Bella, Rosalie and Alice walked towards me.
After Rosalie and Bella had released me and Alice had moved onto Jasmine i looked in the mirror. She'd done a pretty good job although i wouldn't admit it. I now knew what Bella meant when she said Alice liked to play 'Bella Barbie' except now it was 'Lizzie Barbie'. I heard chuckling from the door way.
"Jasper laugh all you want...you didn't exactly warn me did you..." I said prodding my powdered cheek.
"Aw come now sweetie you look lovely..." He said perching on the arm of the sofa.
"I told you i'd see you tomorrow..." I said with a crooked smile.
"It's half twelve...so technically it is the next day," He said with a sheepish smile.
"And anyway i thought you were busy tonight," I said raising an eyebrow at him.
"I sneaked off," He said as i noticed the others watching us. I groaned.
"Emmett and Edward will know where you've gone and as i don't want Emmett breaking down the front door you should get back to them now," I said flicking him on the nose. He whimpered slightly and i scoffed.
"Since when are you so needy," I said rolling my eyes. He shifted slightly under my gaze. Then it clicked, he was here because of Alice.
"I assure you that I and Alice are playing nice...you don't need to baby sit..." I said and Rosalie broke down laughing.
"Hey he might be worried the two of you will run off together...a bit of girl on girl action..." Emmett said from the door way. I growled and glared at him.
"You Emmett Cullen are foul and disgusting, " I said wishing i could hit him without damaging my hand but Alice beat me to it and punched him on the arm. Hard.
"OW! That hurt!" He complained.
"You deserved it," Alice said with an evil grin.
The boys ended up staying, but they would leave because it was meant to be a girls night for girl talk. No boys. Jasmine was a bit overwhelmed, she knew Emmett, Rose and Jaz but she didn't really know Ed and Bells because they were in the grade below us.
"Lets play truth or dare!" Emmett boomed bored. I could feel my nervous twitch returning.
"Yeah!" Alice agreed followed by Bella, Rosalie and Jasmine. I shot Edward a look and he shrugged. Damn we were out numbered. I felt a wave of calmness wash over me and i raised an eye at Jasper who just smiled to me.
"Ok...Edward truth or dare..." Emmett said with a grin, waggling his eye brows at him.
"Dare," Edward said grinning, his pearly white teeth showing.
"I dare you to confess your undying love for Jasmine and make it convincing," He said crossing his arms over his chest. Edward turned to Bella who just looked amused, so he took a deep breath and walked over to kneel in front of Jasmine who was sat on a sofa.
"Jasmine..." He said with a face that said he was searching her mind. I on the other hand was watching her face turn red.
"You are as radiant as the sun, your eyes are aqua pools of glory and your hair flows like the most beautiful of waterfalls. I have been enamoured by you since the first day you danced across my vision and must declare my love for you before my heart bursts," He said looking her straight in the eyes. I made a mistake then, i made eye contact with Rosalie and we both burst in to howling laughter to the amusement of the rest of the group, apart from Jasmine who was unable to breath.
Once we all had regained our composure Edward sat back in his place and fixed his eyes on me. Ah crap i thought which earned me an evil sneer from Edward.
"I dare you to kiss Emmett," He said laughing. I gave him a blank stare and then looked at Emmett.
"Whats the forfeit?" i said flatly.
"Phone Carlisle and tell him your pregnant,"
"Pucker up Emmett," I said leaping to my feet, "Sorry Jasper, Rose but I think Carlisle might just keel over and die if i phoned up out of the blue and said that," I skipped over and sat next to Emmett. He leant over and placed his lips on mine for a second then pulled away.
"Ok! Now i need to go disinfect my face," I said childishly wiping my mouth with my sleeve dive bombing into Jasper's arms.
The game slowly became sillier and sillier until i had to stop it before Emmett agreed to streak down my street.
"Ok...game over...it's school tomorrow and some of us should be asleep," I said firmly giving Emmett a disapproving look as he reached for the buttons on his shirt.
"Lizzie's right, we should get going...Esme will be expecting us home soon," Edward said, leaning down to kiss bella before standing up and followed by Emmett. Jasper sighed and nuzzled his face into my hair before kissing me and standing up.
"I'll see you in the morning," He said grabbing his jacket from the back of the sofa.
"Yes see you in the morning at SCHOOL," I said flashing him a grin. So with that the boys left and i turned to look at the other four.
"I'll go grab another sleeping bag," I said standing up and heading upstairs.
Once i reached the top of the stairs i opened the airing cupboard door and reached in to grab another sleeping bag. A pair of icy cold hands grabbed me from behind i glanced up long enough to see the crimson eyes of someone.
"ROSALIE!" Was all i managed to scream before i fell into blackness. I couldn't hear, i couldn't see and i couldn't feel yet i knew i was awake, this wasn't like feinting, this wasn't like anything i had felt before. It was horrible and all i could do was wish Rosalie had heard me scream.
Rosalie's p.o.v
I heard my name being screamed. I glanced up towards the stairs, it was Lizzie and she sounded...panicked? I sniffed and hissed. I recognised that smell Demitri, Felix and Alec.
"LIZZIE!" I shouted hopping to my feet and was instantly on an empty landing. I sniffed again, ignoring the sounds of Bella trying to calm down Jasmine. I didn't care about our cover at the moment, Lizzie had been taken. I turned and ran into her room and straight out of her now open window. I could hear quiet footsteps beside me and turned to see Alice.
"Did you bring them?" I growled fiercely. She looked terrified.
"I promise you i have nothing to do with this!" She squeaked
"Alice where are they going?" I demanded scanning for any trace of their scent.
"I don't know! I cannot see Lizzie. It's like the wolves all over again!" She cried as we reached the edge of town. Snow covered ground stretched before us as far as the eye could see but there where now tracks, snow plummeted from the sky covering anything in an instant.
I didn't want to give up, i couldn't bear to face Jasper and tell her we had lost Lizzie. He'd kill me in an instant.
"Alice go get the others, i'm going to keep looking," I said before darting forward, i strained for a scent and followed what little of it remained.
Bella's point of view
Jasmine was going psycho.
"ROSALIE DISAPPEARED!" She had screamed, pointing at the spot moments ago Rose had sat. Seconds after i had heard a growl and Alice dashed off to go see what was wrong. I had never heard a more terrified scream in all my life, it had shook me to the core to hear Lizzie so terrified.
After five minutes my phone rang.
"Hello?" I said answering it, silencing Jasmine's ranting with a single look.
"Lizzie was taken by the volturi, Alice came to get us but Rosalie is tracking them. Esme is coming to get Jasmine so you can come help us look," I heard my husband say. My unbeating heart sank.
"Ok, i'll be ready to go. How's Jasper," I said slowly standing up.
"He didn't even bother to open the door as he left," Edward said, "I'll meet you on the road out of town in five minutes,"
"Ok," The line went dead.
"Lizzie had been kidnapped. My adoptive mother is coming to take you whilst we go look for her," Jasmine looked at me, a single tear streaked down her face.
"I...i want to look too," She whispered.
"No...it's...it's too dangerous," I said carefully. She shook her head slowly.
"I want to ask what you are...but i don't think i want to know," She said quietly shakily standing up. I sighed and looked at her.
"No you don't want to know..."
"Lizzie knew didn't she...that's why they took her right?" She said through gritted teeth. I couldn't answer her; i didn't want to think that.
As soon as Esme stepped in the door and vanished, arriving at the edge of town with in minutes. Edward and Carlisle where waiting for me.
"Emmett went after Jasper, the two have met up with Rosalie and Alice. They've managed to find a scent," Carlisle explained as we started to run.
"Alice wouldn't have brought them here," I said more to myself than them.
"No...she wouldn't have," Carlisle reassured me. It took us ten minutes to catch up to the others, they had a good head start on us.
Lizzie
I came too to find myself surrounded by three people who i recognised. I was so cold, my body shook violently.
"You're those magicians..."I said trying not to stutter, "Why...why did you take me," Alec smirked childishly.
"Don't play coy with me...we know you know what we really are...you're engaged to Jasper so you must know. And we can't have that...no no no...the Cullen's shouldn't have crossed us twice," I heard a voice say as a tall cloaked figure with shoulder length black hair, snow white skin and blazing red eyes, "I'm Aro," I took a shaky breath.
"I have no clue what you're talking about...i don't know who you people are, please...let me go home," I whispered my eyes watering, "It's so cold," He chuckled and out stretched a hand to me.
"Take my hand child," He ordered. I gritted my teeth and focused hard on every second i spent with the cullen's that where most human. He could not know i knew, i would die very painfully if he knew. I took his hand, his eyes glazed for a moment before he frowned at me. I held my breath for a moment.
"You...you IDIOTS!" He yelled furiously, "You bring me to America for NOTHING! This girl hasn't got a clue...you could have revealed us!" The three men cringed.
"Sir we truly thought she knew..." They said before Aro silenced them. He took his cloak from his shoulders and wrapped it around me gently.
"My girl i am so sorry for the trouble we caused you...we are not like this normally..."He said taking my hand between his before pressing his lips against it locking his crimson eyes onto mine before he was gone. They were all gone and i was left alone in the snow.
I shivered violently as i pulled the cloak closer to me as i fell forwards. I just wanted to go to sleep.
"LIZZIE!" I heard my name being called.
"C...carlisle," I whispered fighting to keep my eyes open, "Carlisle," I forced myself to say more clearly, louder. My vision started to blur as i felt myself being lifted up.
"I'VE GOT HER!" I heard Carlisle say before my head slumped against his chest and darkness claimed my mind.
I awoke to warmth and a surprising painful jab in the arm.
"OW!" I squealed my eyes shooting open to see Carlisle standing over me injecting me with something. A pair of hands where firm on my shoulders.
"Hold still..." I looked up to see Rosalie smiling weakly down at me. Carlisle removed the needle from my arm.
"Whats going on...where did Aro and the others go," I muttered. SNAP. Carlisle had crushed the syringe in his hand as he looked to me.
"Aro..." He whispered, "Aro was here? What did he say... what did he do? Did he touch you?" He was frantic spurting out a long ream of questions at me.
"He touched me...he thinks i don't know anything," I said.
"H...how?"
"I focused on every moment where you all seemed perfectly human. I don't think he was looking that hard, i think he thought that if i knew i would be thinking about it hard because i would be afraid of them,"
"Where you?" He said smiling crookedly.
"Honestly i was more shocked; i didn't really have time to be frightened...I did not expect Demitri to be on my landing," I said in exasperation, i slowly sat up feeling slightly dizzy from the head rush.
Jasper walked in looking deathly pale and sick with worry, he rushed over and sat next to me, taking my face between his hands and inspecting me for damage.
"How is she?" He said to Carlisle who just chuckled. I pouted childishly.
"She can speak and she is fine," I said before falling forwards to snuggle into his chest. Jasper grumbled slightly.
"She has also been unconscious for twelve hours," Jasper pointed out. I cringed slightly.
"What excuse did you use at school?" I said sighing.
"We've all come down with sickness bugs whilst having a sleep over here, Including Jasmine," He said whilst Rosalie and Carlisle walked out leaving us alone.
"She really cares about you you know," Jasper said with a small smile.
"Jasmine and i have been best friends since we where three, we've been through a lot together. I honestly think of her more as a sister than as a friend..." I whispered as he pulled us into a more comfortable position, "Does she know..." He frowned slightly and looked me straight in the eyes and then nodded once. I buried my face into his chest and sighed.
"She didn't want to know...she said to Bella she didn't but when we brought you home Emmett had forgotten in the chaos that she was here and started ranting about evil Vampires...after everything that happened there was no point in denying it. Esme has been talking with her most of the night. She won't say anything..." He said slowly.
"I know she won't say anything but i fear for her safety...i'm willing to die to keep your secret, i'd do anything for you i just don't want to see her get hurt by the volturi," I said slowly.
"She wont be hurt...we care about Jasmine a lot...she's made us feel very welcome and has truly been a good friend to us. We will protect her," He said stroking my hair softly.
"Thank you kitty cat," I whispered reaching up to run my fingers through his hair.
SMACK. I saw a box of condoms tumble onto Jasper's lap after ricocheting off of his head. He growled slightly and we turned to see a giggling Jasmine and Emmett in the door way.
"Hey hey hey...don't look at me! Jasmine here is the one with the awesome aim!" Emmett said as i felt Jasper tense ready to pounce on his brother. He wouldn't attack Jasmine. He wouldn't, but i would.
"JASMINE YOU ARE A DEAD GIRL," I said jumping off the bed and running after her squealing form.
"ALICE GRAB HER!" I shouted as Jasmine went whizzing towards the pixie girl. Alice whirled around on the spot before suddenly having Jasmine locked in her arms.
"DAMN YOU ALICE!" She squealed fighting to get free. I stood in front of her victoriously.
"Jasmine...i think you have an apology to make...throwing things at people's heads is not a good thing to do," I said slowly.
"It's not like it hurt him!" She said pouting, "It would take a lot to hurt a vampire!" I winced as she said it, it would take a lot of getting used to to not have to pretend around Jasmine anymore.
"Whether it hurt him or not is beside the point...it's rude!" She struggled in Alice's grip.
"Come on Alice let me go! Surely you don't mind me pranking your brother!" She moaned.
"Jasper's not my brother," Alice said. Jasmine stopped struggling then and looked thoughtful.
"What is he to you then?"
"Her ex-husband," I said. Jasmine was still then and looked from Alice to me, to Jasper who was now stood behind me.
"Oh...OH," She said and then looked sheepish, "Sorry for throwing the box at your head Jasper," She had realized she was not going to win any time soon, well ever. Jasper chuckled softly.
"It's ok Jasmine...but it would be nice if someone would knock on our door before entering," He said wrapping an arm around me. Our door...i liked the sound of that.
It was now three pm and Jasmine, Jasper, Rosalie and i where sat in the living room. The others had gone hunting which creeped Jasmine out slightly. Jasmine wanted to ask something, i could tell by the way she was fidgeting.
"Just ask...you're starting to annoy me," I said sighing and looking to her seriously.
"Urm...who is Renesmee...really?"
"She's Bella and Edward's daughter, Bella had her when she was Human," Jasmine nodded slowly.
"So she's half and half?" I nodded to her.
"Urm...i don't mean to sound rude but how old are you Rosalie?" Rosalie chuckled slightly.
"99...well i was born 1915 and Carlisle turned me 18 years later and 1933," She said.
"How about the others?"
"Carlisle was born in 1643 in London England and was turned in 1666," Jasper said.
"Edward was born Edward Masen in 1901 and was turned in 1918 in Chicago Illinois," Rosalie said.
"Esme was born Esme Platt in 1895 and was turned in 1921," I said thinking slightly to remember.
"Emmett was born Emmett McCarty in 1915 and was turned in 1935," Rosalie said.
"Bella is a lot younger she was born in 1988 and was changed in 2007,"
"Renesmee was born in 2007,"
"And you Jasper?" Jasmine said absorbing this all. Jasper chuckled softly.
"I was born in 1843 as Jasper Whitlock...i was changed in 1863," He said slowly. Jasmine blinked a few times.
"YOU where the person you did your history project on..." She said shocked. Jasper nodded slowly.
"You actually read it?" I said impressed to which she just nodded.
"That uniform you wore to my birthday...it was real wasn't it..."
"Yes it was," Jasper said with a smirk.
"No fair! Why can't i have a guy in uniform!" She complained. We just laughed.