This chapter is for chiahead for giving great advice and her honest opinion of my story. =)
Also, if anyone wants some REALLY good Bella/Jasper stuff go check out As Long As You're Mine by ColourPearl and Someone Else's Memoirs by a certain slant of light. Both are very sad, but SOOOO GOOD! GO read them RIGHT NOW!(They're in my Fav Stories section on my profile). I mean, after you read and review this chapter =)
Sail away, it's time to leave
Rainy days, are yours to keep
Fade away, the night is calling my name
You will stay, I'll sail away
I left my bedroom, new nightdress in hand. I changed in the bathroom, still in shock from seeing Jasper. As I looked up, I noticed my reflection in the mirror. He was right; I looked like crap. There were dark, dark circles etched under my eyes, and my skin was so sickeningly pale, I almost looked like a corpse. My cheekbones were much too gaunt, and my shoulders stuck out from under my nightdress like a skeleton. I didn't just look like a corpse; I looked like the corpse of someone who had starved to death.
I walked back to my room to find Jasper crouched on my bedroom floor. I moved around him, staring curiously at the floorboard he had torn up. Inside, I noticed, gasping, was the collection of items I thought Edward had taken from my room when he left.
"Oh my…" I crouched down next to him, pulling out the CD he made me for my birthday. Next to it was the two photos I had of Edward, and by those, a heart charm I had never seen before. I pulled them out, staring at the beautiful heart. I couldn't bear to look at his face just yet.
Jasper picked up the CD, staring at it curiously. I felt a lump form in my throat as I thought of his brother, my wonderful, beautiful, crazy-overprotective, romantic, brooding, all-around perfect Edward.
"He made you a CD? Of himself? Wow…" Jasper chuckled, setting it back down. "That boy always fancied himself a romantic."
"I think it's very romantic, thank you very much." I defended, pouting a little. It had been such a sweet gift, but I had never gotten to appreciate it. "What's wrong with that?"
Jasper smiled coyly. "Oh, nothing."
I scowled at him, gathering up the items and piling them into a small purse of mine. I rarely used it, so I would never need to empty it. I then yawned, the excitement of the night wearing on my nerves.
"Go to bed, Bella. We'll leave in the morning." My skipped a beat, terrified of my father's response.
"Oh, what am I going to tell Charlie?" I asked, biting my lip. He produced a pad of paper and a pen from seemingly nowhere, handing them to me. I took them, frowning.
"Here, I'll dictate it, you write it," Jasper said, leaning back in the rocking chair in the corner. I tried to keep my mind away from thoughts of when Edward did the same. Pen in hand, I wrote my last farewell to my father.
"Dear Dad," he began, staring out the window. "I will begin and end with the words 'I love you', in hopes that you truly grasp the concept that I really do love you, and only want the best for you."
I scribbled furiously, trying to make my handwriting legible. He continued. "I am leaving you today, in hopes of truly finding myself. Edward's departure changed my view on things…"He paused, letting me catch up. "…So, I have decided to go on a trip. I will be back eventually, if you are still willing to talk to me. My dear, dear Father. All I can say is this: I'm sorry. Please, if you can find it in your heart, forgive me for running off like this, and I will see you again. I love you." I signed my name at the bottom, holding back tears.
"Th-this is…going t-to…break his heart…" My voice cracked, and the tears I had been desperately trying to disperse fell down my face, onto the letter in my hands. I sat there and cried, completely forgetting about Jasper until he was in front of me, face panicked.
I wiped away the tears on my cheeks, staring at his terror. In a flash the letter was gone from my hands, on my desk, and I was in Jasper's arms, jumping from the window. The only thing I had time to grab was my purse from my bed, before the world blurred around me and I was no longer in my bedroom. As my vision stopped spinning, I realized I was in Jasper's car, and we were speeding down the highway, well above the speed limit.
I looked at him, confusion clear on my face. He turned to me, uttering a single word, sending my already-fast-beating heart into a frenzy. "Victoria."
I leaned back against the seat, dread and a sense of déjà vu flooding through me. How long ago had I been running from another crazed vampire with Jasper? It seemed like a lifetime ago, but to him, it must have felt like days.
"Why is she here?" I asked, lips trembling. Jasper shook his head, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"I don't know. But it can't be good. I think I've lost her, but I have a hunch this isn't the last we'll see of her. And her friends." He spit out the last word like poison on his tongue, teeth clenching together.
"There were more of them?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes. Five more. No one else I recognized, though." He said, eyes focused on the road. He seemed to calm down a bit, and I assumed he was certain we had lost the others. "Don't worry, Bella. They'll never hurt you. Now get some sleep. We have a long drive ahead of us."
I settled into my seat, turning so I was facing Jasper. "Where are we headed?" I asked sleepily, my heavy eyelids closing. He sent a wave of calm over me, then answered, voice quiet.
"Denali. That's where our family is right now." I smiled, falling deeper and deeper into sleep. I would never admit it, but nothing meant more to me that night than hearing Jasper call them "our" family, even if he didn't really mean it.
I woke to hushed voices in an unfamiliar room. The smell of a fire reached my nose, along with the smell of hot chocolate and cookies. I sat up, running a hand through my hair. Listening closely, I could make out parts of their conversation.
"Oh, come on! She's been asleep forever! How long does she need?" A booming voice resonated through the house.
"Good job, dumbshit. You just woke her up." Jasper's voice carried into my room, sounding irritated.
"I can't believe you brought her here, Jasper. I can't believe you two are going to go search for them. Where are you even going to start?" Rosalie's silky voice dripped with venom, and I could practically see the infamous scowl through the wall.
I stood up, moving towards the voices. They silenced as they heard me walk into the room, and I bit my lip, feeling a bit awkward.
"So this is the human…" A tall, strawberry-blonde woman mused. "I'm Tanya, Bella. Nice to meet you." I nodded in response, still a bit in shock. I was surrounded by tall, beautiful, pale people. Jasper sent some calm my way, smiling apologetically at me.
Esme rushed forward, hugging me gently. "It's so good to see you Bella." Carlisle came up behind her, placing a hand on my head. He nodded in agreement, smiling sadly.
"It's great to see you two, also." I muttered, my voice catching. The backed away, letting Emmett butt in.
"Bella! How's my favorite human?" He pulled me into a tight hug, ruffling my hair.
"Okay, I guess. How's my favorite grizzly-bear wrestler?" He laughed.
"I'm doing okay, myself." He went to stand next to Rosalie, who refused to look at me.
"Bella, this is the rest of my coven. Kate, Irina," she motioned to two blonde vampires, who both waved. "Carmen, Eleazer," A dark haired man and woman, who nodded in approval at me. "And, I've been told you've already met Laurent." My skipped a beat as I saw the dark-haired vampire, who smiled at me, white teeth flashing. Memories of James flooded my mind, but I forced a smile back, reminding myself that he was one of the good guys.
"It's very nice to meet everyone. Um, thank you for letting me stay here." I directed the last part at Tanya, who nodded kindly.
"Of course, Bella. Anything for a Cullen." The words had just slipped from her mouth, and she froze in terror. Everyone watched me, expecting the waterworks to begin, but my eyes remarkably remained dry. Instead, a feeling of pride filled me. I was considered one of them. Some of the nicest-not to mention bad-ass- people I had ever met. I was honored that she would make that mistake.
"Thank you, Tanya. Thank you."
K. It's kinda short. Sawwy. =) Jasper hugs for everyone who reviews!!!