Chapter Fourteen

Yes, I know it's short and a little dramatic. I'm sorry!

Disclaimer – I don't own Twilight. I do own Alessandria 'Sandy' Mitchell and anyone else unrecognisable.

Carlisle didn't let me leave until two weeks later. In that time, I moved in with the Cullen's, not that I particularly cared. Esme, after asking my permission, had completely renovated my house (thrilling Rose no end as Esme had been lacking for projects) and then sold it. How she managed that all while I was in the hospital, I never found out. She insisted (by insisted, I mean Nessie nicked my bank card and the money was paid directly into my savings) that I keep the large profit. I couldn't argue for many reasons. One, Esme wouldn't listen. Two, the money was in my account and I had no way of getting to the bank so I couldn't get it out again. Three, the Cullens insisted that they had more than enough money (which was very obviously true) so they didn't need it. I didn't have the energy to argue, so I let it happen. So that's how I found myself sitting on the very comfortable Cullen couch, nice and relaxed. My legs were carefully stretched out in front of me with a large bag of ice on my right knee which was slightly numb. Rose was carefully painting my fingernails a fiery red, her tongue sticking out in concentration whilst Alice attacked my toenails with black and silver polish and Nessie plaited my hair. Emmett was watching (as my disabled self had control of the television) Gnomeo and Juliet and was very into it, despite the fact that he had argued for about ten minutes not to watch it. Jasper had gone out somewhere mysterious that rather intrigued me but I didn't ask about it, knowing I would find out in due course.

"So . . . who are the Volturi?" I finally asked, something that had been bothering me for a while. Rose jerked so violently that the nail varnish went all over my fingers (yet she managed to save the couch), Alice froze in the middle of a small silver swirl and Nessie stopped plaiting. Even Carlisle glanced up from where he was studying my medical files. Emmett, naturally, just continued to watch the film he had been so against. When Carlisle looked back down at his papers, Rose sighed and began cleaning up the mess that was my hand.

"The Volturi are basically the royal family of the vampire world. They make sure the one real rule we have is adhered to . . . no exceptions," she explained and I raised an eyebrow expectantly.

"Which is . . . ?" I urged.

"To keep our world a secret from humans." I felt cold dread pass through me. That wasn't funny.

"But you told me! Oh God, they know I know, don't they?" Rose swallowed nervously.

"Yes, they're going to arrive within a week."

"I am so sorry!" I exclaimed guiltily and I was shushed abruptly by everyone except Emmett who was gazing intently at the red gnomes on screen. I giggled at him.

"It is not your fault. End of." Rose finished tidying her mess after that insistence along with Alice and Nessie finishing their work. Rosalie started finishing her painting.

"Hello Sandy," I heard Jasper's voice say before a kiss landed on top of my head then sat on my left side as Rose completed my fingernails with a flourish. Jasper took my hand in his cool one and rubbed circles on the back of it.

"Hey Jazz," I replied, watching everyone carefully to see if my cover would be blown.

"And what were you discussing that you shouldn't have been?" he asked curiously, watching Rose's all too close analysis of her handiwork. Alice looked like she was going to start whistling a tune aimlessly any second. I thought vampires were good actors.

"The Volturi," I answered, knowing he'd effectively catch us soon anyway. Jasper froze instantly.

"Why?" he asked in a deadly calm voice. I cleared my throat awkwardly, sensing a potentially dangerous reaction.

"I heard someone say it earlier and you're all acting weird – so I asked about them. Personally, I think you should have told me."

"It wasn't for you to know." Anger was crewing just below the surface of his voice, his slightly dark topaz eyes swirling slightly with held back emotion.

"Jasper, this concerns me too! I want to know these things. It's my life on the line!" I protested and I felt Jasper's hand tighten on mine. Clearly feeling awkward, Rose got up off the couch and removed the ice from my knee.

"Time to give your knee a break," she said to herself and began walking away.

"No, this concerns me and my family. And you're not a part of that – nor will you ever be!" he yelled and I swear time stopped moving. Rose halted on her way to the kitchen, Carlisle's eyes didn't move, Alice froze mid-sentence and even Emmett stopped yelling at the lawnmower race on the television. I nodded once.

"Rose, could you help? I think I need to go and lie down." My tone was clipped and carefully blank. The blonde nodded and quickly blurred into the kitchen to dispose of my ice before coming back and gently lifting me into her arms. She carried me up the stairs at vampire speed and carefully placed me on the thick, purple covered duvet with black floral designs.

"Are you-?" she began once I was lying flat.

"I'm fine. Can you close the curtains please?" I asked and she moved to close the thick velvet curtains on the wall sized window opposite my bed. I glanced around slowly. The walls were a dark violet colour and the Cullen crest was painted in black on the wall to the left of my bed. Surrounding it were various pictures of me, my parents and friends all linked together with glittering silver lines painstakingly drawn by Nessie. Rose silently left the room and that's when the tears came. From a developed habit, I attempted to quiet the sobs growing in my chest even though it was useless in a house full of people with super hearing. When my ribs thoroughly ached from the restraint, I let them out although there wasn't much difference in the pain. Even my hip throbbed with the force of my cries. The door opened softly but I didn't attempt to keep quiet as I knew everyone had already heard. I didn't have a clue who it was until the person sat down on the small amount of space I had left on the side of the bed. Given that my right side was virtually useless, I was lying on my left side, facing away from the door. Jasper's hand started slowly stroking my hair and I didn't have the energy to push him away.

"Sandy, I'm sorry. I'm just so protective over you and scared about what they could possibly do to you. I just meant that I was hoping there would be time before you became a vampire. It's my fault you are in this mess but I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you," he told me in a pained voice. "I'm sorry baby, I'm so sorry." His hand stroking my hair caused me to relax and the sobbing stopped, much to the relief of my ribs. But my sorrow did not disappear so easily.

"We're supposed to be the perfect pair: me, with my vicious temper and you with the only way to calm me down effectively. But if we argue, who calms me down then? Who's going to be there for me?" I whispered, staring at my right wrist encased in the brace.

"Is that what you are afraid of? Being left alone?" Jasper asked quietly. I nodded weakly and Jasper slowly helped me to sit up, raising my eyes to his.

"We're going to be fine, ok? I will never leave you," he assured me quietly. I sighed, eyes still watering and he brought his thumb under my eyes, softly caressing my cheek.

"Stop blaming yourself," I ordered, knowing he was doing exactly that.

"I love you too much to not feel guilty."

"If it makes you feel any better, I love you too. But you must be more careful with wording your thoughts from now on."

"I promise." With that, his cool lips pressed mine softly and I kissed back eagerly.

Sorry if there are any mistakes in this, I'm a little out of it today. Love Bianca :) x