CHAPTER ONE

THE BIRTHDAY WHERE IT ALL STARTED TO GO WRONG

Bianca chatted to me childishly from the backseat as I drove her in front of daycare. I held her hand as I walked her inside and signed her in. I greeted Leah at the desk but she looked distracted. So I asked, "Is something wrong, Leah?"

She gave a huge sigh as the new worker, Cindy, cheerfully walked Bianca into her class room. "Sam has been MIA for weeks now. Sometimes he's stops by or calls. But then he's gone again for days at a time and I don't hear from him. And we've been fighting. He won't tell me what's going on and he gets so angry when I push it. I just – I don't know what to do."

My brow crinkled, "Just give it time, I guess. Don't push. Everything will work out the way it's supposed to."

Leah gave me a little smile, "Have a good day at school... Senior."

I smiled and left.

Alice grinned, "They're coming." She flitted over the stairs. She climbed over the railing and greeted Bella happily, "Happy-"

"Shh!" Bella shushed her desperately.

Alice whispered, "Birthday!" as she hugged Bella. Jasper kept his distance and I stayed at his side. He offered her a nod as she tried to hide the present Alice had given her. "Alice, didn't I say no gifts?"

"You did," Alice agreed, "But I didn't. I've already seen you open it and guess what? You love it." She grinned, impressed.

"You had a vision about my birthday," Bella said.

"And about the dress you'll be wearing to your party tonight. Great color on you," Alice grinned, proud of herself.

"My party?" Bella asked, horrified.

"Please?" Alice pleaded, "It'll be fun."

There was a pause as Bella considered, "I... guess I can deal-"

Alice hugged her again and raced off before Bella could change her mind. Then Bella groaned, "Jasper! No fair with the mood control."

Jasper grinned sheepishly as he wrapped his arm around me, "Sorry." He then walked me away as I heard Edward tell Bella, "Vampires. Can't trust them. Trust me."

Rosalie reluctantly helped Alice with the last minute decorations while Edward and Bella took a moment alone upstairs.

I idly asked Jasper as I sat on the piano bench, "What's taking them so long?"

Jasper sat beside me, "From what I hear... He's telling her about the Volturi."

I looked up at him confused, "Volturi? What's that?"

Jasper looked down at me, "They're like... vampire royalty. They enforce the laws of our kind."

"You have laws?"

Jasper nodded, "It's simple really. Keep the secret. Don't make a spectacle of yourself."

I pressed a key on the piano, "But both Bella and I know... Won't you get in trouble?"

Jasper kissed my forehead, "Don't worry about that. It's nothing we can't handle if it comes up."

Alice suddenly disappeared. Only to quickly reappear tugging Bella and Edward to the top of the landing. She skipped down the stairs as Edward led a reluctant Bella down them.

Esme and Carlisle hugged Bella warmly, "Sorry about all this. We tried to rein Alice in."

"Like that's even possible," Esme laughed, "Happy Birthday Bella."

There was a sudden flash. Alice had snapped a picture of Bella and them. She sheepishly held up Bella's new camera, "Found it in your bag. Mind?"

Emmett stood by Edward's side and nudged him, "Dating an older woman. Hot." Bella heard that and looked uncomfortable. Edward elbowed Emmett sharply and Emmett looked lost, "What?"

Rosalie stepped forward and shoved a sliver package into Bella's hands, "It's a necklace. Alice picked it out." She walked away with boredom and Bella fought a small smile. She caught mine and Jasper's eyes across the room and we gave her little waves.

Alice aimed the camera, "Show me the love!" Edward pulled Bella into his arms and there was a flash. Alice grinned, "For your scrapbook. Now open your presents." She dragged Bella over to a table piled with gifts and a huge cake.

Bella laughed, "Alice, you guys don't even eat. That thing could feed fifty."

"Hope you're hungry," was Alice's answer, "Here, this one's from Emmett."

Bella took the gift as everyone crowded her. Bella awkwardly opened the present to see that it was an empty box, "Um... thanks?"

Emmett grinned, "Already installed it in your truck."

Edward pointed out the title on the box, "Finally, a decent sound system in that piece of-"

"No hating the truck," Bella interrupted him, "Thank you, Emmett."

"Open mine," Alice demanded. She handed her a box.

Bella started to open it, but then I heard her say, "Ouch – paper cut."

A drop of blood fell from her finger and onto the carpet. I felt Jasper freeze and tense behind me. I looked over and saw that his eyes were growing rapidly pitch black. He was thirsty. I stood up from the bench and pressed myself against the wall behind us. He had long ago told me that if I was around and he was thirsty that I was to get out of his way. So I did.

Jasper snarled, getting everyone' attention. Before anyone could do anything, Jasper lunged towards her, teeth bared and eyes beyond reason. I shouted, "Jasper!" just as Edward flung Bella behind him. She crashed into a glass table, causing it to shatter.

Jasper slammed into Edward. Edward shoved him hard. Jasper sailed towards me and the piano. I wasn't fast enough as Jasper crashed into the piano and a piece flew out and smacked into my face. I fell heavily to the floor. Rosalie was there in an instant helping me up. Her hand pressed into my face and came back with blood on her finger.

Jasper ricocheted off the wall and back at Bella. Emmett and Carlisle tackled him from both sides, dragging him away. Alice came to him and held his face in her hands, trying to soothe him, "Jaz... shhh... it's just a little blood."

But she stopped, her head suddenly jerking towards Bella. We all looked towards her, I could tell the vampires could smell her. Bella was on the floor surrounded by broken pieces of china. She looked fearfully at her arm, now cut up by plate shards, bright red blood oozing out.

Carlisle jumped to Bella's side. Edward stood between us and them. Carlise looked at us, "Emmett, get Jasper out of here." Emmett elbowed Rosalie and they dragged a snarling Jasper out. Esme had exited, holding her nose and Alice looked at Bella, apologetic, "I'm sorry, I – I can't..." She slipped out.

I ran out of the room after her.

I found myself in the Cullen's backyard and it was dark outside. "Jasper!"

Suddenly Rosalie was in front of me, "Heather, don't go near Jasper right now. He's out of control."

"Where is he?" I demanded.

Rosalie hesitated, "By the pond. Alice and Emmett are trying to calm him down."

I didn't listen to her when she called at me to stop running the second she finished 'by the pond', I just ran. Soon enough I got to the pond and saw Jasper and Alice on the other side. Rosalie and Emmett were behind me. "Jasper..."

Edward appeared besides, "Jasper. How could you be-"

I smacked Edward in the face, yelping in pain and holding my hand to my chest, "Shut up, Edward. It's not his fault. Not only is he the newest vegetarian but he's also an empath. And Bella's your singer. He can feel all of your blood lust."

Edward looked down guiltily.

I turned towards Jasper, "Jasper. Come here."

He was at my side in an instant. I put my hand on his face, "You're fine. You're my Jasper."

He shook his head, "No I'm not." And then he was gone.

I felt my breath leave me and I struggled to catch it, "JASPER!"

I know it seems similar. Don't stop reading. It will be similar but there will be changes and there is a good reason for how this story goes.

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RegalGirl94