Hey! Thanks in advance to Can't Decode Me for co-writing this with me, and all of you who favorite/alert/review. It means so much to me (us)! We hope you all enjoy and please take the time to review, and read the A/N I have written at the bottom!
We don't own twilight. :( (but we wish we did!)
APOV (SCC)
I sat back on the couch, watching TV casually, and Rose walked in the room.
"I can't wait to see him, it's been a while." Rose said with a smile on her face, sitting down next to me.
"I can't wait to meet him too, honey." I replied, smiling back at her.
"We seriously need to catch up, it has been way too long since we have actually spent some real time together."
"Yeah, that sounds cool." I agreed.
"I feel bad for him, I mean with all the problems he has had at home, I just want to help him and make him feel welcome and all that, you know?" She said, looking directly at me,.
"Yeah I getcha. I feel the same way. I am glad you are excited he is coming." I said genuinely, leaning over to kiss her. I felt her smile against my lips before she pulled away.
I was excited to meet Jasper, it seemed like Rose was really close to him, and to see how her face lit up when she talked about him coming to visit, it made me happy for her. I have wondered what he was like, and to see Rose that happy about it just made me happy too, for her. I hadn't seen Rose this happy about something in a while, which made me wonder why they were so close. Since I never met him I was curious. It wasn't a bad thing, I was so glad that Rose had someone like Jasper to talk to and be happy about when he came to visit, and I was just trying to understand their relationship. Not that I was jealous. Obviously because they are cousins.
I got up off the couch, and walked to the foyer, grabbing my shoes to put on. I sat back down and started lacing up my light blue brass studded Aldo high tops and as soon as Rose saw me getting ready she shot up off the couch as well.
"You ready to leave honey?" she said, grinning. She wasn't paying much attention to her black stilettos, tripping over one of them on the floor before picking them up and sitting down to put them on.
"Yes, we do have to pick up Jasper at 3:30 at Port Angeles airport, correct?" I asked, confirming.
"Yes, baby." Rose stove up and walked to the door, grabbing a light jacket and her black leopard coach purse. When I grabbed my wallet off the coffee table, we headed out the door.
At the car, I opened the door for Rosie and shut it when she got in, and then jumped in the driver's seat. I started the car and we were off to the airport.
When we arrived there, Rose found a parking spot for me, and we both got out and cleared the backseat off of junk. Rosie came up and kissed me deeply, wrapping her hands around my waist. She was much taller than me in her heels so she had to lean down.
"Are you ready baby? I know how excited you are." I asked her.
"Of course, I can't wait." She replied. We walked hand in hand through the airport to the luggage pick up where we were allowed to be.
"Do you know from what direction he is supposed to be coming from?" I questioned.
"No idea. But there is a board over there." She pointed to the right wall, and we walked over there. "Terminal K, so… I think that way, since flight 2193 is in terminal K." Rose thought aloud. We walked back to the conveyer belts, and soon enough Jasper was walking from the left, a black backpack slung over his right shoulder. Rose walked over to him, and he swallowed her in a huge embrace. I stood next to her, taking in Jasper's muscular form. He was stronger than I thought he would be.
"I missed you Jasper," I heard, muffled in his shoulder.
"Me too Rose, it's great to see you." She pulled back. "You look great, by the way." It was true, Rose did. She always looked gorgeous, but she was rocking it today wearing a gray cardigan with a black cami underneath, faded light blue jeans, and black stilettos. She also had an owl ring on her middle finger and a pocket watch around her neck. She looked absolutely adorable.
She took my hand in hers. "Jasper, I'd like you to meet Alice, my amazing girlfriend." I smiled, and was wondering if he wanted to shake my hand, but instead he quickly pulled me into a hug.
"It's so nice to finally meet you, I've heard a lot about you." Jasper said. I turned and gave Rosie a skeptical look. "All good things, of course." Jasper laughed, and Rose and I chuckled with him.
"Are your bags supposed to be coming soon?" Rose asked Jasper.
"Uh, yeah. I think they should be here any minute now." He said, smiling slightly. Rose and Jasper didn't look much alike with his blue eyes and hers green and his hair was a dirtier blond than Rosalie's strawberry color, but I could tell that there was a little bit of resemblance somewhere down the line.
We waited for Jasper's two duffles to come in, and then we left the airport. Jasper grabbed a duffel and set it in the trunk, while I grabbed the second one and did the same.
"Thanks Alice." He smiled.
"No problem, you can call me Ali if you want." I smiled back. Jasper hopped in the backseat, and Rose and I sat in the front. On the short way home back to Forks we talked mainly about Jasper's family, and what he did normally during the day.
"So Rose tells me you are in the choir at school." Jasper asked me, making conversation.
"Yeah I am, I love singing," I responded.
"That's cool, I play a little keys but that's about it" he commented. I told him that was awesome, I had always wanted to play piano since I was little, and was fascinated by people who could.
We pulled into the driveway and we all got out of the car. Jasper grabbed his stuff from the trunk, he said he could handle it, and went for the front door. As we entered Rose and I watched him set them on the hallway floor gently.
"Wow, this place is beautiful. I haven't seen it in years." Jasper commented, admiring the artwork framed precisely on the walls.
"Esme?" Rose called, her voice echoing throughout the silent house.
JPOV (CDM)
Esme came rushing into the foyer of the house with a warm smile as she looked at me. "Jasper!" she exclaimed.
"Esme," I greeted her, hugging her tightly to my chest while lifting her off the ground. I felt like a tower standing next to all three the girls at my 6'5" height. Setting her down, she wiped her her eyes quickly and smiled softly at me.
"Well Carlisle will be home in about an hour, " she started, looking at Alice, Rose and I. Then she directed her attention to Ali. "Will you be staying for dinner, honey?"
"If the offer is open, of course." Alice replied with a smile.
"If the offer is open," Esme scoffed with a smile before turning to Rose. "Rosalie, take Jasper up to his room and Alice you can come with me and get to work."
"Sure thing," Alice smiled before pulling Rose down to give her a quick kiss.
"Oh and Jasper," Esme said as I picked up my bags. "Take off that big jacket, you won't need it in this house."
"Yes ma'am," I drawled, my Texan roots coming out. I followed Rose up the winding staircase silently and paused when we stood outside the door at the end of the hall.
"Ready?" Rose giggled.
"Jesus, Rose what have you done?" I asked staring at the door, now worrying about what was behind it.
"Nothing," she smiled. "You're up in the attic, so there's more stairs."
"Better than the basement," I muttered as I followed her up.
I let out a low whistle as I dropped my bags by the black desk. "Shit Rosalie. You guys didn't have to do this."
She smiled and shrugged. "We wanted to, most of it we had Peter and your Dad send over so you can make it feel a little more home-y, there are still a couple boxes in the closet over there."
I stepped over to her and hugged her again. After that she left to go help with dinner and told me to settle in. I slipped off my worn black leather jacket and hung it off the desk chair before starting to unload my two bags. It's sad that only two bags could contain my whole life. The stuff Peter and Tom sent over were small things that I don't even give much thought to. A couple pictures, posters and bedding-that I forgot to pick up at Peter's.
Peter was my best friend, he has been since I met in him in seventh grade after moving to Seattle. He wasn't my usual crowd either but at that point I didn't know what my "crowd" was. I guess I still don't. I've always been pinned as a punk by most adults since then though. I picked up the only picture I own of my mother and I, and stared at it taking a seat on my new bed. I gazed down at my beautiful mother with her soft flowing locks of gold and hollywood blue eyes, she was an angel and Rosalie reminded me so much of her.
With a sigh I placed the picture on my bedside table and looked around the room. It was massive, and I wasn't used to so much space. Even at home with Tom I just had room for a queen bed and a dresser and of course that left no room for walking. And at Peter's I slept on the couch in the living room, having to pack up my stuff every day before going to work. Peter's mother, Sandra, was the sweetest woman you would ever meet (besides Esme) but when she had Peter at sixteen, his dad didn't want to really stick around, she had to drop out of high school and work her ass off to provide for him. She still works two jobs full time to this day and some days it's even not enough.
That was one reason I hated leaving Seattle. When I left Tom's, I brought in a third income to the house for her. Peter told me not to worry about it, but we both knew that he would need to get a job when I left even though Sandra refused to make him work. All she wanted was him to do well in school, and he did. We both did, at least I did when I attended. I guess the desk in this room was for homework. I know Carlisle and Es are very adamant about that stuff.
Looking around I then noticed something I should've a long time ago by the window. Facing out to the backyard sat a Yamaha full keyboard with ha perfect black leather bench. I sat down calmly and turned it on, my fingers pressing the keys lightly. I looked at my watch, and I figured I had time to play a quick piece. My fingers caressed each key legato and staccato forming the music, filling the empty room.
As I finished off the piece, I just sat on the bench and stared out window until my phone started ringing. Looking down at the caller ID I sighed with a smile.
"Hey Pete," I answered.
"So how's silverware treating you?" he joked.
"Forks is good, I've missed Rose. You know that, and Esme."
"Yeah, yeah," he chuckled. "So basically I called because I walked in the fucking house and didn't find your lazy ass sleeping on my couch before your night shift. So now I'm stuck here by myself on an empty fucking couch."
I rolled my eyes at his complaining and sweet talk. "You poor fucking thing," I chuckled. "Why don't you call that girlfriend of yours over? What's her name again?" I joked.
"Oh her," he goes along. "Damn it, I forgot again."
"How's she doing?" I asked seriously.
"Charlotte's good. She's coming over a little later after her old man leaves for work."
"What's she doing back at home?" I asked, standing up. "You should know better."
"Why the fuck do you think she's coming here? Since you moved out, she might as well move in here." Peter explained.
I nodded on the phone, and then said "Good," realizing that he couldn't see me. "Please, have her call me tonight?"
"Don't worry about it. We'll be fine," Peter said. "Anyway, any hot chicks? How's your cousin's girlfriend?"
"You're disgusting. Peter you better shut the fu-" I stopped short when I noticed Esme standing in the doorway. "fudge up. Pete I have to go. Have her call me later. Bye."
"Bye Bro."
I hung up and gave Esme a wary look. "Sorry Es."
She gave me a stern look before smiling, "Don't use it in the presence of a lady and I won't say a word."
I nodded and followed her down stairs to the kitchen where Carlisle was now present. We exchanged a brief hug before Rose came over and hugged me again. She remained by my side with her arm around my torso until dinner. Esme smiled at us lovingly before rubbing Ali's shoulder.
"I'm afraid you don't get Rosalie all to yourself tonight," she told her.
"I guess I can share tonight," Alice smiled in response.
"Love you babe!" Rose sang and Alice rolled her eyes.
"Of course you do," she laughed.
While Ali and Esme plated the table, Rose reached up and ran her fingers over the tattoo on my shoulder. A black blooming rose took up my upper bicep in tribute to my mother and Rose. When Esme announced dinner was ready, I pulled Rosalie to the table with me. "Come on Stinker," I teased.
Once we were all served and eating, Esme looking across the table to Rose, who was sitting next to me, with a serious face. "Where is Bella tonight? Didn't you invite her for dinner?"
The mood of the room went cold between all of us, and I could tell by that, that it wasn't my place to ask who that was or what was going on. Rose nodded next to me, "I did invite her but she told me she just wanted to stay home tonight. She said she wasn't feeling well, but we're taking her out to lunch tomorrow."
I watched Esme nod before she took another bite of salad. "I don't like her home alone when Charlie has to work night shifts. I never have liked it and I especially don't like it now."
"I'm going over there tonight when Rose and I finish up some stuff to stay the night Esme. She's actually with my mom though," Alice explained. "Bella needed music session."
Rose smiled at me, "Ali's best friend, well our best friend, Bella plays the piano for the choir at school but she also has a crazy set of pipes."
"My mom's the music teach at Forks High School and she gives additional music lessons to whoever asks in town. Bella landed a solo this year for the Christmas concert." Alice smiled.
"That's great," I forced a smile. I could tell they were trying to lighten it up on the current topic, and I hated not knowing what to say. Hopefully Rose would tell me about it later. "My friend Peter's girlfriend Charlotte has quite the voice, but she doesn't sing at school or anything."
"How is Peter? I mean we went out for lunch with him back when we came to visit two months ago but that was it." Esme asked.
"He's doing good, he's looking for some work at the moment but other than that he's taking good care of Sandra."
"Bless that woman's heart for taking good care of you," Esme said. "If I had known any sooner…" she trailed with a frustrated look.
I looked between Rose and Esme and then at Alice, wondering how much they told her but when I saw how confused Alice was I thanked God. "Esme, it's fine. Besides I felt better helping out Sandra when she practically took in me and Charlotte."
"Is Charlotte the one with red tips in her hair?" Rose asked.
I nodded, "Well, was. Yes. She went a little more dramatic now." I pulled my wallet out of my black jean pocket and handed it to Rose. She set her fork and knife down to look at the picture I had in there. She whistled and got up to show Alice. They both smiled and giggled at the picture.
"Okay, no offense Rosie, but she's hot," Alice commented with a smile.
"I love her blue hair!" Rose exclaimed. "So this is recent then?"
I nodded, "Yeah her, Peter and I took um last month I think at the mall."
"That's great!" Rose smiled.
After dinner, and when the plated were all cleaned up I retreated to the front porch to have a quick smoke, hoping no one would notice. Of course to my luck Alice wasn't staying any longer so as Rosalie stepped out I took one last drag and put it out. She glared at me before saying her good byes to Alice, which when of course I turned my back to them to give them a bit of privacy. Rose and I watched Alice drive off and I put my cigarette back in my mouth even though I had no intention of smoking any more.
"You told me you quit Jasper Casey Whitlock!" Rose glared with her arms crossed over her chest.
"I have… slowly am. I just needed to let off a little steam. That's all," I told her.
"How are you out here in a tank top?" she asked, gesturing to my grey and white thin striped top.
I shrugged. "I feel fine."
"Sorry about dinner," Rose said. "Mom is normally pretty good about that stuff."
"Don't worry, it's not my place." I replied, then sighed. "Thank you for not telling Alice about me."
"Don't worry, it's not my place," she smiled before linking her arm through mine. "Come on, play me something on the piano before I leave you alone for the rest of the night."
"Leave me alone?" I asked with a smile. "You're supposed to help me unpack two bag life content."
Thanks for reading! Please let me (us) know what is going on in your head...it is very discouraging when people don't review when I know they have read it, because reviews are what keep us writing, and without inspiration, there is not really a point in posting, if I can just write for myself. I try to get stuff done and posted for you guys and end up pushing to get it done so as to not disappoint... and I could just write for myself and not have the stress of trying to make a deadline. I know it sounds rude but it's how I feel and I don't know how else to put it. So please, review. You don't know how much it means to me :)