Author's Note: Hey everyone, Amber here. Therefore I am not Stephanie Meyer, so I dont own Twilight or its characters. I do however own Ana and Jade and ICFY! Sorry it took me so long to update it has been a very busy week, so hopefully you all will forgive me and enjoy this chapter! I wont be posting more probably until Monday because I am going out of twon for the weekend. Okay enough chatter, here is the newest installment of ICFY :D Read, Review, and ENJOY :D
Chapter 29: Now That It's All Said And Done
A peaceful week has passed since the almost wedding. A whole seven days of nothing dramatic. Jade and Edward have been inseparable, spending almost every night together. As happy as I am for my best friend, I cant lie and say that I'm not jealous. Because I am. Jealous, and a little lonely. I tap my pen against my palm as I look out of my office window, thinking deeply. Someone clearing their throat politely catches me off guard and I look up to see Veronica standing in the doorway smiling at me.
" You look like you're a million miles away," Veronica says, gracefully gliding into my office sitting in front of me. I smile sheepishly putting my pen down on the desk.
" Might as well have been," I say, smiling back.
" I came in here to offer you another opportunity, to find another amazing band," she says, crossing her slim legs looking at me seriously.
" Are you serious?" I ask, enthusiasm coursing through my veins. She simply nods. It had been by sheer luck that I found the other band, and it was with nervousness that I had come to Veronica with them in the first place. It didn't surprise me any when I played their newly recorded single for her, and she was impressed. I knew they had the potential to be amazing the moment I heard them, and I was proud that I was right. I never thought that, that one chance meeting would open the door to me being sent to find bands on my own, so soon.
" Quite serious. You have an inane ability Ana, to find something good that has the potential to be great," she says looking at me, " Now that I am going to be sending you to more and more shows, you have to understand. Your time is going to be stretched even thinner." I nod along. So I may not have much free time, but this is what I want. It's not like I have anything else to spend my time on.
" I understand. Thank you Veronica, seriously, you have no idea how good it makes me feel to know you have this much faith in me," I say, standing up to follow her to the door. She turns to look at me and a small smile forms on her face.
" You don't have to thank me Ana, you did this on your own I assure you," she says, wrapping me in a warm hug. " Now get out of here. It's the Friday before Thanksgiving, go have fun, do something crazy, when we are back from Thanksgiving break you will get started."
" Okay," I say, watching her as she walks down the hall. I spin around and let out a small shout of happiness. I dance to my desk, picking up my phone dialing Jade's number.
" Hello best friend of mine," I sing into the phone beaming as I start picking my stuff up from my desk.
" Well your in an awfully cheery mood," Jade says easily.
" Well that's because I just got awesome news. Veronica is wanting me to look for bands for now on. So I'm thinking that we should celebrate tonight," I say, shutting off the light to the room, walking down the hall.
" That's awesome Ana, congratulations," she says her voice lightening up. " Your right we so have to celebrate tonight."
" Cool. So I am heading home now, I will see you in a bit," I say clicking my phone off.
I sit on my bedroom floor concentrating on applying my eyeliner.
" Where are we going again?" Jade asks, popping her head out of the closet.
" Some place called Tiki Joe's Wet Bar," I say, looking in the mirror deciding that I am happy with my appearance. I get to my feet, straightening out my skirt and shirt.
" Hmm. Sounds, promising," she says, disappearing back into the closet, her voice slightly sarcastic.
" Hey, I think it sounds like fun," I say, pulling my hair over my shoulder.
" Yeah your right, besides this is your night to celebrate, sorry. I will stop being sarcastic and we will go and have fun," she says, walking out of the closet. I smile at her as she slings an arm carelessly over my shoulder.
" See that's what I like to hear," I say, walking from the room smiling happily as we go.
I stand shivering in the long line of people, my enthusiasm for the night slowly wearing off.
" Seriously you guys, lets just go somewhere else," I whine, shaking as I wrap my arms around myself.
" No," five voices call back to me in unison.
" Hey, this is my night of celebration and I get to decide where we go, and I say we should go somewhere else," I say, stamping my foot.
Rosalie looks over her shoulder at me smiling brightly.
" I thought you wanted to come here," Rosalie says, looking at me.
" I did, but its cold and the line is long, and who knows if we are going to make it in," I say, my lips quivering.
" Oh we're going to get in, even if it's the last thing that I do" she says, turning walking away from the group.
" Hey, where's Rose going?" Jade asks, walking back to stand next to me.
" I don't know, she said we were going to make it in if it's the last thing she does," I say, linking my arm through Jade's. We stand watching Rosalie talk to the people at the door, smiling and pointing back to our group. Before too long she comes walking back to us all but bouncing along the way.
" We're in," she says, grabbing Emmett's hand. Jade and I exchange a shocked look.
" How in the world does she do that?" I ask, and Jade just laughs and smiles.
" I have no idea," she says, walking to the front of the line with me in tow.
" She seriously has to teach me how she does that," I say, walking into the club smiling happily with every step I take.
Two hours and three drinks later I smile as I watch Jade and Edward, standing by the bar I look on as my best friend and the man that she is in love with dance as if they are the only two people in the room, and I smile. I cant help it, and I am almost certain that the alcohol has something to do with the giddiness that I am feeling.
" Hey Ana-banana," Emmett's drunken voice slurs one of my many nicknames and I smile turning to look at him. His face is flushed and his eyes are half closed as he smiles.
" Hey Emmy," I say, laughing as the name slips out of my mouth.
" Emmy?" he asks, his voice trying to sound disgruntled. " That's a girl name."
" No its an Ana-banana name for one of her bestest friends in the world," I say, throwing my arms around him. His whole body shakes with laughter and I laugh along too.
" Your plowed aren't you half-pint?" he asks, looking down at me.
" Maybe, just a little," I say on a laugh as I take his cup from his hand.
" What are you drinking?" I ask looking at the pretty blue drink swirling in the glass.
" Uhm, I don't remember," he says, smiling at me. I impulsively take a drink and nearly choke at the strength of the alcohol. I blow out a breath and smile at Emmett.
" This is definitely your kind of drink," I say pushing the cup back into Emmett's hands. I turn around to someone tapping on my shoulders and I beam up at Jasper.
" Hi stranger," I say, hugging him tightly.
" Hi," he says, and I look at him. Realizing that he isn't drunk at all. Who was on designated driving duty tonight. Jasper and someone else, but I cant remember who.
" You going to be ready to go soon?" Jasper asks, wrapping an arm around my waist to stop me from swaying.
" Oh sure, is everyone leaving?" I ask, looking at him.
" Not yet, but Edward and Jade rode together, same thing with Em and Rose, so they are set to go whenever they want, he says leaning down to talk into my ear. A part of me feels like I should ask him why he is in such a hurry to leave, but another part of me decides not to ask.
" Well lets go. I just have to say good bye to Jade," I say, walking as carefully as I can to where Jade and Edward are still dancing. I tap on Jade's shoulder until she turns to look at me.
" Hey. Jasper and I are leaving," I say hugging her tightly.
" Okay see you soon," Jade says hugging me back.
" Well I will probably be asleep by the time you get in, so I will see you in the morning," I say pulling away beaming at her.
" Kay," she says, turning back to Edward. I smile as I walk back to Jasper.
" All right lets go," I say, letting Jasper take my hand so that he can lead me through the club safely. I take a deep breath of the cold night air and smile as I climb into Jasper's car.
" Did you have fun?" Jasper asks a half an hour later as we sit in the living room. My legs lay over his lap as I sip at the cup of coffee in my hands. As much fun as being drunk is, I never like the after math. So I try and head off the potential hangover ahead of time.
" Yeah I did. It's always nice to get out and have fun, even more so when there is no drama," I say, setting the cup down on the table.
" I couldn't agree more," he says, smiling at me. " I didn't get the chance to tell you congratulations. I have never known anyone in my Mom's company to move up so quickly," he says, his eyes light with happiness.
" Thanks. I'm nervous that I wont do a good job, but I am happy that I get the chance to try," I say, laying my head against the couch. I close my eyes and smile as my head swims only slightly. With enough prayer and coffee hopefully I wont end up spending my morning praying to the porcelain god.
" What are you thinking about right now?" Jasper asks, and I open my eyes to look him in his eyes.
" Nothing in particular," I say, smiling easily. " What about you?" I ask.
" Honestly? I'm thinking about how we haven't had the chance to talk about things," he says nervously, and I can tell by the dark look in his eyes that he is trying to gauge how I am going to react to what he said. I sigh before taking a deep breath.
" Yeah, well lets talk about it then," I say, sitting up pulling my knees to my chest.
" Look Ana. I know that what I did was wrong. I should have never used what I could do against you. I know better than that. It's just sometimes, Alice, she knows exactly how to get under my skin. You were right at first when you said that I wasn't over her, but only partially right. I am well over Alice, but I wasn't over what she did," he says, running his hand through his hair. " And I brought you into the middle of it unfairly, and there are not enough words for me to use to apologize to you for that. All that I can tell you is that if I could I would take it all back."
" I know that your sorry Jasper, I do. It's just, hard," I say, hesitating with my words trying to decide what to say. I take a deep breath lifting my face to look at him. " It's hard because I am in love with you Jasper, and I cant help that. There is no worse feeling in the world than to love someone who wont love you back," I say, my eyes clouding with tears.
" Ana," he says, leaning forward catching my face between his hands. He stares at me for a long time before he does something unexpected. He crashes his lips to mine and I tense up before sliding into the kiss. Something always stirs in me when he kisses me like this. Something unexplainable, something beautiful. Its like whatever pain that I feel from dealing with the knowledge that Jasper will never want to be with me, melts away and for this one moment he opens up and takes me, accepts me. For the few moments that we are this close, I feel like I am good enough for him. I continue the kiss pushing him backwards so that I am straddling his lap, my hands buried in his hair. I pull away looking down at him and he knows what I am wanting. I watch as his eyes light up, and darken all at the same time, as if he is fighting an internal battle.
" Ana," he whispers my name, his voice strained and I know he is fighting for control.
" Jasper, please, just this once show me that I am not the only one who feels this way, please just love me, even if its only for one night," I whisper back, my voice pleading with him and his heart as I lower my head against his forehead. Wordlessly he gets up carrying me up the stairs and into his room, closing the door softly behind us. I know even before he lays me on his bed that I wont leave this room the same person that I am now, and I look up at Jasper my fingers shaking slightly as he slips his shirt over his head, but for him its worth whatever bad may come of this.
I roll over groaning as I slide my eyes open to look at the clock. It tells me that its twelve thirty in the afternoon and my eyes widen as I sit up quickly. I look around Jasper's room clutching the sheet to my body. There is no sign of Jasper and I sigh, thankful that there wasn't going to be any awkward morning after, forced conversation. I reach down for my clothes and get dressed quickly before heading for the door. I open it slowly checking the hall way for any sign of life. No one is around as I tip toe across the hall to my bedroom. I slide open the door and slip in shutting the door softly behind me.
" Well, well, good morning sleeping beauty," Jade's voice calls out, and I spin around staring at her amused face. I blush deeply afraid that there is going to be a huge neon light hanging over my head, that is going to switch on at any moment proclaiming that I had given myself to Jasper last night.
" Morning," I say looking away from her. I walk as nonchalantly as I can to my bed before Jade grabs my arm turning me to look at her. She searches my face slowly a knowing and smug smile forming on her face.
" You had sex last night," Jade proclaims shoving me lightly towards my bed.
" Shh," I say, looking around nervous that someone walking upstairs might hear her.
" Chill, we're the only one's here," she says flopping down on my bed. " With that said, I want all the details."
" I don't know, what is there to tell?" I ask, looking at her seriously.
" Come on Ana, seriously? You just lost your virginity and your going to tell me there is nothing to tell," she says, looking annoyed. " Are you okay?"
" I'm fine," I answer easily, because in truth I am. It wasn't as nightmarish a first time as some of the stories I heard when I was in high school.
" Okay, so, what was it like?" she ask nudging me.
" I don't know, it was, beautiful," I say smiling like an idiot. " It was just so, natural. I was nervous as hell and then I was calm, and I don't know how much Jasper had to do with the calming effect, but I wasn't as scared as I thought I would be," I say, looking at her. She smiles slowly and laughs slightly.
" Tell me just one thing? Did he initiate it? You were pretty drunk last night," she says her voice turning serious.
" No. Well he kissed me, but I asked him to, well you know," I answer, embarrassed slightly. " And I wasn't as drunk when it happened as I was when I left."
" Okay, well, its about damn time. I honestly thought that you would never give up your v-card," she says, laughing loudly. I pick up my pillow and smack her in the face laughing loudly along with her.
" Hey mom," I say into the phone smiling at the excitement in her voice.
" Hello my girl," my mom says, her voice bubbly.
" How are you doing?" I ask, sitting on the bottom stair smiling as she begins rambling about all of the activities she has been involved in to keep busy.
" So are you excited?" she asks after a while of rambling and I blink my eyes in surprise wondering what she was referring to.
" Excited for what?" I ask, laying back to stare at the ceiling.
" Thanksgiving silly girl. Please tell me that you are planning on coming home for Thanksgiving," she says, her voice growing anxious.
" Oh yeah, of course," I say, smiling as I reassure her. Twenty minutes later I snap my phone closed walking into the kitchen where everyone is sitting around talking.
" Was that Momma B?" Jade asks, looking over at me. I smile and nod, sliding onto the counter.
" Yep, she was double checking with me, making sure I was still coming home for thanksgiving," I say, smiling.
" Oh," Jade says, " About that. I wont be going back to California for the holiday." I stare at her blankly while that sinks in.
" Why?" I ask, looking at her, wondering what she was talking about.
" Well the thing is, Edward asked if I would come spend the holiday with him and his family and I said yes. Please don't hate me," Jade says standing up walking over to me. I shake my head smiling.
" Of course I don't hate you. Have fun with the Cullen's, wish that I could be there," I say hugging her tightly.
" Yeah, so do we," Emmett says sulkily from his seat.
" Aww, Em, its only going to be a few days, and you will be eating the whole time you wont even notice that I am gone," I say, sliding from the counter hugging him tightly. I leave the kitchen and everyone to their conversation and walk slowly up the stairs.
" Ana," Jaspers voice comes from behind me.
" Hey," I say, turning to look at him.
" Do you really have to go to California for the holiday?" he asks, his voice strained. I smile slightly at the idea of him missing me.
" Yeah, I do. I'm the only family my mom has," I say, turning to finish the walk, " Besides, everyone will be so busy having fun it will be like I never even left."
" I wont be having fun, and I will miss you," he says, and I turn again to see him standing right behind me.
" Will you?" I ask, smiling flirtatiously at him.
" You know that I will," he says, leaning down kissing me slightly.
" Good," I say, sliding open my bedroom door and closing it in his face. I smile smugly as I lay on my bed. I'm happy. It seems that things with Jasper seem to be looking up, but I'm also hurting. As much as I miss home, I am going to miss Washington, Jade, and my new family so much more, and I am only going to be gone for three days. I slide my eyes shut, trying to shake the onset of loneliness.