CHAPTER TEN

~Meet Again~

"Oh my god, Katie!" I heard Alec say.

"Alec? Is it really you?" I asked, shocked. It seemed like an eternity since the last time we had spoken.

"Are you ok? Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice worried. I shook my head, then remembering that he couldn't see me. But Alec thought it had been a paus, a paus that showed that I didn't want to say anything. "You are hurt. I am going to kill them!" He growled.

"No. No!" I quickly said. "I'm just fine! I am safe... take Jane and go to Volterra with Corin, Alec."

"Why? Why can't you come with us?" he asked. A question even I had touble with answering.

"Because I'm fine with being here, Alec I'm safe here - isn't that important to you?" I said, trying to hide my feelings. That I really wanted them to stay...

"It is," he agreed. "But Katie, we can't just leave you there!"

"I will be just fine and-" I glanced at Edward wondering if he would allow it - wondering if Jasper would allow it, "-you can always call."

"Are you sure they'll let you speak to us?" he asked, sounding mad.

"Nope. But they let us speak now..." my voice grew thin. "I hope so," I said lowly with a faint laugh. "I think they want my best only."

"Talking to us is for your best!" Alec said, almost rudely.

"How is it? Are you ok? Jane?" I asked him, trying to think of something less frustrating.

"I'm fine... Jane is okay too. She's out hunting now but she'll come back, and when she does - she will call you!" Alec said. As he said the word hunting, I thought of the poor human out there who was getting murdered by my sister - I shivered, disgusted. Those thoughts would never disappear, I knew that.

"... Alec, I think it's best if you just leave as soon as Jane get home." I said quietly.

"Katie?"

"Jasper, the blond one -" I glanced at the others once again. "-Well he has grown quite fond of me."

"He has shown... preference to you? My little sister?" he hissed, he growled so loudly that I was sure both Edward and Rosalie heard it. I blushed deeply as I saw Edward shaking his head.

"Alec - use your head. He thinks I am fascinating and feels the need of protecting me but nothing more!" I said and hoped that I had hidden my disappointment well. "It's not like with Eleazar." I cursed my big mouth at once. "I mean..." I grew quiet as I heard Rosalie and Edward laugh. I turned around and glared at them, "Stop it!"

"What?" Alec asked at once.

"They are laughing at me," I said sulky.

"No - I mean the thing with Eleazar. You said 'It's not like with Eleazar'" he said slowly. If only vampires wouldn't have so good hearing.

"Well... Jasper doesn't want to kill me," I said to him - hoping that he would not get the message. Who knows what stupid things he could do.

"And Eleazar does?" he asked and I wished that I would die and come to heaven.

"He... tried," I said carefully but then decided to turn it for Jasper's winning. "But then Jasper saved me so I'm completely fine, thanks to Jasper."

"And where is he now?" Alec asked.

"Jasper or Eleazar?" I asked confused.

"Eleazar," he sighted but he probably wanted to know where both of them were.

I looked at Edward who shook his head. "Um... I... don't know actually."

"You don't know?" he asked and I felt the urge to defend myself.

"No - and I don't care as long as he is not here. Now I think you should find Jane and go to Volterra before Aro actually does decide to 'remove' you!" I shouted into the phone. Tears I didn't want to come, streaming down my cheek - Jasper wasn't the only one with mood swings, it seemed.

"Katie..." he started, his voice pleeding - he lowered his voice so they would not be able to hear him. "Come with us, escape and come with us!" he begged. "Please, come with us!" I thought about it. To come with them to Italy, sitting inside of that old room. Now it only seemed to be a prison, and this... my freedom. I didn't want to go back. I wanted to stay with my new friends, the friends I could easily love with all of my heart.

"Alec. I can't." I whispered, I could bearly speak. "I love you, and I love Jane, but I can't."

"Why not?" he asked, his voice faint.

"Because... there is no reason for me there. Alec, please let me stay. I will be safe, if you love me - let me stay," I said softly. I could not believe I actually asked him this. That I asked my brother to leave me behind. To ask my brother to let me leave him.

"Katie... I- we don't want to go without you!" he said, his voice broke and it was quiet in the phone.

"I know... I don't want to go without you either," I sobbed. "I will miss you Alec, please tell Jane that I love her too."

"I will miss you," he said weakly. I hang up and gave the phone to Edward, I raced out of the room without looking at any of them. Tears running down from my eyes. I found the toilet and locked the door. Privacy, such a beautiful thing.

It was quiet except for my deep breaths. Alec and Jane is fine, that is the most important thing. They will be fine when they get to Volterra. They will be happy, you will be happy! I suddenly wished for someone to hug, someone to wrap my arms around.

I missed dad as I sat there in the toilet. If only he was here, and if I only knew the national dialling code to California. I walked to the window, looking out at the beautiful trees. I slipped down on the floor, crumbling into a ball.

"Katie!" I suddenly heard, and I jumped slightly - but I was greatful to the one waking me up. There was a knocking. "Katie, open this door now!" It was Rosalie. "Edward thought I should let you stay in there but you better come out now, or I'll bang the door in!"

I jumped up and unlocked the door. "I am so sorry, I-I fell asleep."

"You fell asleep," she snorted - she was irritated. "It's not like you have slept today already."

"It's late, and I'm tired." I simply said, glaring at her. "I think I'm going to sleep now, you can go if you want to. Tell Jasper that I'm in his room, when he comes home."

"That's the problem, he won't be coming home in a while - Carlisle, Edward and Jacob went there. Jane went to attack, Alice and Bella is already there. Thank god, Alice was clever enough to take Bella with them!"

"What?" I asked, my mouth falling open. "Jane attacked Jasper?"

"Yes," she wouldn't say more.

"Rosalie, you have to take me there!" I shouted. At once I felt awake.

"As if Jasper will ever forgive me for doing that!"

"It is me they want? Do you want your family to be safe and not harmed, take me there!" I begged and then added; "If there is a big fight, if more of them come - do you think Emmett would step aside and wait for Bella's shield? Jane would crush him."

Her eyes grew big in anger and I was afraid that I might had crossed the line. "Fine," she snapped. "He's going to kill me for this... and I can just forget about that favor," she muttered and walked quickly out of the room down the hall with me running after her.

We got out into the garage and jumped into Rosalie's BMW. As I sat there in her car, I felt confused. I did not know who to be worried for. Jasper or Jane? The Cullens or my siblings? She drove out to somewhere I believe was quite near the baseball field. We sat there in silence, she wouldn't say anything. Then finally, she drove off the road.

In the next second she was not in the driverseat but outside on my side, opening the door. She pulled me out and pointed at the woods just next to the road. "There," she said. "Jasper is coming now - he has heard us." I didn't know if I wanted to meet him now.

"Where is Jane?" I asked her and Rosalie looked the other way. Out over the foggy field.

"She's coming."

"Rosalie!" As soon as I heard his voice I couldn't be anything but happy, though I knew it would lead to a huge argument. "What have you done? This is what I asked you?"

I turned around and faced Jasper. "Stop that. Right now. You're going to cut it. Do you know how worried I was when I got to know that Jane had attacked? Do you know how scared I was. I feared something I had happened to you! Do you know how sad I would be if something happened to you? Because of me!" I said, keeping my voice steady and my face blank. Even I could hear on my own voice that I sounded determined. "I am going to be here as long as you are! I won't leave you."

His face changed. I could not see if he either way looked sad or happy. It was something in between. "Katie. Go. Now." He roared, but both of us already knew that I was going to stay. I didn't flinch away as he stepped closer and looked at me with black eyes. I stood where I stood, looking him right into the eyes without any fear.

"I won't leave you."

He sighted. "Katie, it is dangerous for you to stay here!" he murmured, but he took my hand and his eyes shimmered golden once again. I smiled to him and pressed his hand. Suddenly I couldn't stop myself from trying to press it as hard as my strength would allow it. He laughed, amused by me trying as hard as he could. "You are truly weak!"

I hit him playfully. "I cannot help it! I am only human!" I chuckled. Glad to be with Jasper one more time, having a moment of happiness.

"You said you was going to be here as long as I am," Jasper said suddenly. "So if I leave, would you come with me then?" he asked. A hard choice. To meet my siblings again or stay with Jasper. Slowly, so slowly I nodded and he smiled looking happier than I had seen him be.

"I won't leave you." I repeated dumbly. There was a pause when we just looked at each other. "I thought there was going to be a big fight, and that you were going to be mad at me," I said, grinning.

"You are far too cute to be mad at and how am I going to win a fight against you ever? It's time I give up." He chuckled, grinning back.

I warmed up. Jasper think I am cute, I shivered pleasantly. "Rosalie said that Jane attacked you!"

"Yes - it not for long and then Bella came and covered me with her shield, keeping me safe," He told me. "Don't be worried, ok?" he said when he saw my worried face. Suddenly he stiffened and his head flew up in the air. It was completely quiet, too quiet.

"She's coming?" I whispered.

"She's here," he hissed back. At once he stepped closer lying his arms around as if to protect me from something terrifying and awful rather than my own older sister.

I was thrilled to see her walking through the fog. She looked at me first, her eyes hard and cold. She eyed me quickly, trying to see if I was hurt and then turned to Jasper who was standing next to me... with his arms around me. Her eyes were coal black, she glared at Jasper.

The others seemed to come from nowhere. "Leave, this is no place for you." Carlisle said softly, as if concerned about offending her.

"My sister," she just hissed, keeping her eyes at Jasper.

"Jane, I..." I started, looked up at Jasper's face and was in the next second certain. "I need to stay here. It's best if you leave, you should leave. Go without me, I'm just a burden anyway. I've talked to Alec-" Crap. I realized that was not a part of what I had told Jasper. I swiftly looked up at his face. He was looking down at me, then sighted and shook his head. You are far too cute to be mad at and how am I going to win a fight against you ever? It's time I give up. His words echoed in my head and I continued;"- and I want to stay here. I'll be safe here, and you'll be safe in Volterra." I hope.

"Katie?" Jane's voice was weak, she sounded more like the thirteen year old girl she once was, and still was... sort of.

"I'm trying to do the right thing. It's better this way, trust me." I answered, looking up at Jasper - but this time it was because I didn't want to see her face as she understood that I was serious about this. That I had made up my mind on this.

Jasper eyes were filled with worry, he looked unsertain.

"But Katie... I am your sister."

"Do you really want me to be a part of the Volturi? You know that the day will come when Aro will simply force you into changing me into a vampire and then I would be exactly like you. Would you want that?" I didn't dare looking at her.

"No. Katie, step away from that filthy bloodsucker - he is fooling you. He has changed you into thinking you would want to be apart of them, but you are not! You are a part of us. A part of our real family. Just... step away from him," Jane hissed.

For the first time on what could be four or five moths I looked her into the eyes. "Jane, I'll stay."

"Your mind is clouded by those- those..." I interrupted her.

"I can think of my own," I hissed back. "You said I was always very brave when I was little, but I guess that has changed because I don't want to go back. I am afraid. I am scared. I am terrified. Half a year ago, I knew nothing about this, maybe I was lucky. Maybe those who doesn't know are lucky. But I haven't been happier than this on a long while. I have nightmares about you getting killed, about them getting killed," I glanced swiftly at Edward, Bella, Esme, Carlisle, Emmett, Rosalie and at last Jasper. "-and I... love them, Jane. I love you and Alec. I can't. I don't want that to happen. I don't want you to die!"

"It won't happen. Nobody will die. Dreams. It's just dreams. They will disappear."

"Just like you did eleven years ago?" I retorted. I knew I couldn't blame them for it. They had only been twelve and I should know how impossible it is to fight a vampire away. But yet, I had some anger inside of me. Trapped.

"Katie - please, come with me home," Jane begged, her eyes filled with pain.

"Jane, it is not my home," I said. Tears were running down my cheeks. How could it be so hard. How could I choose. Either way I could stay here and probably never see my siblings again, or I could stay with my friends who had done so much for me. I could help Jasper with his human problem. But then I could go to Volterra, be in the same castle as Aro. I would never speak to the Cullens again. I would be changed into a vampire and have nothing to say about it. Sure, I would have my siblings there. But at the same time... was it worth it?

Jane knew that she was defeted. "Will I ever see you again?" she whispered.

"I don't know," I whispered back and then tried smiling. "I hope so."

"I will miss you," Jane said, before she turned around and started walking the same way she came.

"I will miss you too," I said when she was long gone - yet I knew she could hear me.

"I thought that little bitch was going to fight," Emmett said, sounding disappointed. He turned to me and as he saw my anger he quickly change it to; "I mean... girl!"

"She was outnumbered, there was no way she was going to win. She never meant to fight, she just wanted to speak to you. " Carlisle concluded.

"Now - Rosalie, why did you bring Katie here?" Edward asked, grinning. He could read her mind. "I didn't know you were such a softy," Edward chuckled and met Rosalie's glare without looking away. She growled at him, but that only made him laugh.

I turned away from them. "Are they going?" I asked Alice quietly. She nodded without looking at me, instead she looked at Jasper,. He pulled me closer, hugging me and I was just about to hug him back as I was swept away by Esme.

"So, so - everything will feel better tomorrow," Esme put her arms around me, hugging me gently. I burst into tears and hugged her back. "Now darling, what do you say about going home and I'll make you some hot chocolate."

"That would be nice," I sobbed, nodding.

"Oh, sweetheart. It will feel better soon, I promise you!" Esme mumbled and hugged me.

"It feels like I've betrayed them!" I sobbed. "B-but I made the right choice. R-right Esme?"

Esme pushed me into the pessenger seat. "Rosalie keys," I heard her call and just before she jumped in she called; "See you at home." They others would be running home. "Katie, I think you made the right choice, but I do not know," Esme said sadly as soon as we got out on the road.

Tears still ran down my face. As I looked out into the woods - I could see Jasper run in the same speed as the car.

----------------------------

I heard a faint knock on the door and someone stepped in. "Are you feeling better now?" It was Alice.

I nodded once, knowing she would notice it.

She sat down on the bed and sighted. "This is all my fault!" she told me. "I was the one who told Jasper that he should be around you so that he could have it easier around humans - I was the one who told Edward to give Alec your number!"

I looked up at her and saw her miserable face. She had all this time, without my knowing, been a great friend. "Really?" I whispered.

She nodded sadly and touched the Kechup spot on the cover with her long slim fingers. "And now Jasper won't ever let you go... he won't make you a vampire and he won't let you die and I don't really know what I will do. I just don't want Jasper to be sad... he's my best friend."

"Oh Alice!" I said and put my arms around her, hugging her. "Oh thank you so much! Thank you!" She looked surprised. "You don't know how much you have helped me! How happy I am for what you have done!"

"So you are not mad?" she asked me, and glanced at my face. "After all I've done to you."

"You've only done what is the best for me!" I said with a faint smile. "I never thought I would speak to any of them, the less see them again. I'm sad, sure. But I'm happy I got to see them at least one more time!"

"Jasper is blaming himself. He thinks it's his fault that you are like this."

"Like what?"

"Moping."

"I'm not moping."

She raised her eyebrow.

"Ok, maybe I was moping. But I'm not moping anymore!"

"Good."

She turned around and left me. I jumped off the bed and hurried out of the room. She was out of sight, of course. "Jasper?" my voice was low, trembling. In the next second he stood in front of me, with a pained face.

"What did Alice force you to do?" he asked. "Did she ask you pretend as if nothing has happened?"

"Nothing has happened."

"Thought so."

"Jasper - stop it!" I snapped. I wouldn't take him moping too.

He brushed his hand over my cheek, pushing my black hair behind me ear. "Katie, you can be so stubborn some times!" he muttered. "I thought I was doing the best for you... but I'm just making you sad!" he said, looking as if tortured.

"No! You are doing the best for me!" I disagreed.

"I keep you away from your own family - I won't let you out to get air. I-I... I'm not sure how to deal with you," he mumbled. "You are just so human."

"Jasper, I will stay with you as I said. I will stay with you- so if forever! So you'll just have to learn how to deal with your sorrow instead, because I'll be hanging around you quite often!" I said and put my arms around him, hugging him.

"Forever is no option!"

"You all make it sound like I'm dying tomorrow - I'm not that old!" I mouthed weakly.

"Katie, you can't live forever - you will have to die some day!" he said, keeping his face blank - but I could see what he really was feeling in the corner of his eye.

"Jasper," I said slowly and pressed his hand one last time. "Forever is the only option." And then I left, walking into his room and as soon as I fell down on the bed and closed my eyelids. I fell asleep, without any nightmares or dreams. Just quietly sleeping.

What do you think about this chapter?

I'm sorry it took such a long time before I could update. I've been sick and stuff, and yes there have been lots of homeworks and more tests (I'm actually having a test tomorrow but I couldn't keep my hands away from writing.) I hope you accept my apology.

What do you think about my ending of this chapter? I'm quite a fond of it. -- okay, four months until my birthday, but I already know what my sister is giving me; Robert Pattinson eternally yours. The best book ever! All about Robert Pattinson.

My sister's birthday is the first of september - and I'm going to buy her a necklace with a Jasper stone pendant. //Jasper is her favorite as I said.

Review or I'll bite :D