I'm so glad that you guys all liked my last chapter! This one is a continuation of that one, just to tell you...
And I'd like to-again-thank brankl1 for your reviews. You're so devoted to my story, I wanna' cry tears of happiness! You're the one that always sends me great feedback after every one of my chapters!
I'd also like to thank my new reviewer, ILOVEJADE. Welcome to the ever-growing family of You Promised!
This chapter switches a lot, just to say.
Without further ado, here's Chapter 37!
~SashaFierce12.0
Chapter 37
Jazmyn's P.o.V.
I sat on the front stairs of the Kidds' burned house. I started to lean on the door, but jumped when it fell down on top of the other rubble. The frame still stood, but looked like it could collapse at any minute.
Teasha had her face buried in her hands and she sobbed next to me. I pulled her close, and waited until her cries turned to soft hiccups.
"You're living with me," I announced. Teasha sat up and shook her head.
"I couldn't do that to you guys!"
"Teasha, you practically live there, anyway. Half of your clothing material is hung up inside my closet. Plus, my parents treat you like another daughter. They love you. I'm positive that they'll understand and let you stay with us. Plus, we needed something to do with that extra room, anyway." I grinned at her and stood up. "If your family really loved you, they would've stayed with you...Even if you are in love with Collin and like hanging out with us. Teasha, we're your family now. And we'll stay by your side no matter what." Teasha looked at me and smiled.
"Even if I tell you...Even if I tell you that I'm pregnant?" My eyes widened.
"Umm...Yeah. We'll...We'll get through this. Everyone will be with you. We'll-" I was cut off by Teasha's wide grin.
"I'm just kidding, Jazz. I wanted to see what you'd do. But thanks. I already know you would."
"Dang, Teasha...You really do know how to pick a moment to joke," I chuckled and punched her shoulder lightly. "I'll call my parents. They can pick us up. I'll explain everything to them later." I took my cell phone out of my pocket and started dialing my dad's number...But then remembered that he and mom had gone out tonight.
And they'd gone all the way to Seattle.
"Oh, man..." I kicked the ground. "I just remembered that Mom and Dad went out to Seattle today. They're not getting back 'till late tonight...And I was actually supposed to sleep over at your house..." I looked at the weak frame above the stairs. "But I'm still positive that they'll say 'yes' to you living with us, don't worry! I'll...We can go to Aunty Em's house! It's not that far!" I tugged on Teasha's hand and started pulling her with me. She picked up the small suitcase as I dragged her away.
Teasha's house was in a secluded area in the forest. Trees surrounded it, and it was a little ways out on a path until you got to the rest of the houses. We walked quietly down the path, the only sound was the rustling of the trees in the late October wind. I hadn't realized how cold it was, and apparently Teasha didn't, too. I smirked at her.
"Out of all the cool stuff you can do...You don't have a raised body heat like the others?" I chuckled.
"Shut up, Jazz," she muttered, but I could hear the amusement in her voice. We shivered our way out of the forest, and started walking down the streets of the Reservation neighborhoods. I looked around at all the houses, some of them had lights on and I could practically feel the warmth and love radiating out of it. We passed a house just as a chorus of laughter erupted from inside. I smiled a little. That's when we walked by a small home with a dimly lit porch. I could hear a soft jazz music, and a couple swayed closely together to the soft tune. Then they looked at each other and kissed.
I glanced at Teasha and noticed her looking at the couple with a small smile on her face. I rubbed her cold arm and looked down, then recognized where we were heading.
"Aunty Em's right down there," I announced, pointing to Sam and Aunt Emily's cottage. It wasn't a part of the neighborhood, just outside of it. A couple of trees stood around it, and was surrounded by autumn plants and leaves. Sam's truck was parked right in front, Aunt Emily's small Toyota next to it. I pulled Teasha and we walked up to the house. Instead of just walking in, I knocked.
"Jazz...Teasha...What're you two doing here?" Sam asked when he opened the door. He stood to the side and let us walk in. I noticed the way he looked at Teasha's suitcase and put my hand on my friend's shoulder.
"Mom and Dad are out tonight. I was supposed to stay with Teasha, but..." I bit my lip and looked at her. She looked down and wiped her eyes. "...Her family left. They burned down the house, left her a suitcase full of clothes, and..." I blew my bangs out of my eyes. "...Left." Sam's eyes softened and he looked at Teasha.
"Look, if you need a place to stay-"
"It's okay. She's gonna' stay with me," I answered. "It's just...We need a place to stay tonight because my parents are in Seattle, and I don't have a spare key. I would climb through the window, but I locked it. So..." I dropped to my knees and clapped my hands together. "Please, please, please, please, please, please, please can we stay here tonight? Look at me, I'm begging!" Sam smirked and shook his head.
"Sure. You can use the room that you used to sleep in," he walked towards the kitchen, and I heard him mutter, "How dramatic can this chick get...?" I hopped to my feet and pulled Teasha up the stairs.
"Some of my old clothes are still in here for emergencies like this one. We can change into those," I explained, going to one of the drawers and throwing stuff out. A couple of tank tops, a pair of sweats, and Seth's basketball shorts that I never gave back to him.
Dang...How much stuff did I leave here?
Later, when Teasha and I were all changed and snug in our beds, I started to drift off to sleep.
"Jazz?"
"Mhm...?"
"You still awake?" she asked.
"Well, gee. If I answered you then I must be," I said back sarcastically.
"Oh..." she giggled softly. "Sorry."
"S'okay. What's on your mind?"
"So much...It's making me a little dizzy."
"You can still talk about it if you want to..."
"...It's just...Do you think...That they were thinking of me when they left? ...That they were thinking of what I was feeling, and not just themselves?" I was quiet for a few minutes, because I truthfully didn't know how to answer that. "...Jazz? You still awake?"
"Yeah...I just...I don't know how to answer it. What they did...It was uncalled for, and I truthfully don't agree with them one bit. If they were really thinking of you, then they would've stayed and loved you no matter what." Teasha was quiet, and I heard her sniff a couple of times.
"Mhm. You're right. It's just..."
"'It's just' what?
"It's just...The things I said to my dad...Even though he was yelling at me, too, I wish I could take it all back. I...I didn't even get to say 'goodbye.'" Her voice got quiet at the end, and we were quiet again. I stared up at the dark ceiling for a while, before turning towards Teasha's bed.
"Teasha?"
She didn't answer. I guess she was already asleep.
00000000000000000000000000000
Seth's P.o.V.
I sniffed and wiped my nose with the back of my arm. It was at times like this when I was thankful that no one was around to see me.
To see me cry.
I pulled my legs up to my chest and stared at the dark shadows of the trees in the grass. I don't know why I cry. Maybe it was out of sadness...Or misery...Frustration...Anger...
Or maybe just because.
The one thing I did know was that it made me feel better...At least for a little while.
I sniffed again, and didn't bother to wipe away the hot, salty tears that ran down my cheeks.
This was something that I'd been doing for the past couple of days. When Mom thought I was upstairs sleeping in my room, I'd take the chance to sneak out the window. I'd close it, so then she wouldn't get any ideas and try to go outside to look for me.
I'd walk quietly to this place; the clearing where we saw Evangeline for the first time. I'd make sure to be careful and step over twigs and leaves and branches, just in case any of the guys were on patrol.
I could stay out here for hours; crying until I had no more energy to shed anymore tears. Then I'd creep back up to my room and climb into bed like nothing happened.
No one knew about this...Not even Jazz. And I told her everything. I love her...But sometimes, I just want to keep things to myself, y'know?
Plus...I didn't want to risk the embarrassment.
I buried my face into my knees and sniffed again. It was at times like this when I felt so vulnerable...Like a five year old crying for his mom.
How long have I been out here...? I looked up and saw a pink streak across the sky, and realized that it was pretty much sunrise. I let a few more tears fall and then quickly wiped them away. I sniffed one more time and stood up, making my way quietly back towards my house.
Climbing up the tree by my window, I looked into my room to make sure that no one was there. Perfect; my door's still closed and everything's just how I left it. I opened the window and climbed in, shutting it quietly behind me. Then I got into bed, not bothering to pull up the blankets. I closed my eyes, wincing a little at the sting. Why did that happen? Y'know, that sting in your eyes when you close them...After you've cried.
I didn't realize how long I'd been asleep until I felt daylight behind my closed eyelids. I opened them and groaned a little. My eyes still stung from the salt of my tears. And it was hard not to keep my eyes squinted. I stood and walked out of my room, stopping when I heard voices downstairs.
"...I'm afraid he's sleeping right now, Jazmyn," Mom was saying.
"Aww...Well, I don't wanna' wake him up. He almost had my head for that yesterday!" Jazmyn said back. I smirked.
How dramatic can this chick get?
I heard a few footsteps, but then Mom talked again.
"Girls?" Oh. Teasha or one of the other imprints must've been down there, too. "Was Seth with you two last night after the bonfire?"
"No...Just me and Teasha. Right?" Jazmyn answered.
"Yeah. Unless there was a whole other part to yesterday that I mysteriously forgot..." Teasha answered. "Why?"
"I went up to check on him after he went to bed. He wasn't there," she answered. "It's the fourth time this week that this has happened. He'll disappear and then show back up out of the blue like nothing happened. He's been acting kind of weird for a while now."
"Has he been at Leah's?" Jazmyn asked, sounding a little worried. "He hasn't talked to me about it at all."
"I haven't talked to Leah yet, but I'll ask her and the others about it later when I go over. I won't bring it up when Seth's around, though. You know boys," Mom said, and I could tell that she was rolling her eyes.
"Okay...Well, tell him to meet us at my house then. See you later!" Jazmyn said brightly, and I heard the door open and shut. I took the moment to make my presence known and walked slowly down the stairs, scratching the back of my head and yawning a bit as if I'd just woken up. Mom grinned when she saw me.
"Good morning, Sleepy Head! You're up kind of late; it's, like, 11:30! Late night?" she laughed. "Jazmyn and Teasha stopped over. They said to meet them at Jazmyn's when you're ready."
"'Kay," I replied with. I walked into the kitchen and made my way to the cabinet for some Cheerios. Then I took out a bowl and spoon, then the milk. Mom walked in with a box, headed for the storage room by the refrigerator. I stopped mid-chew and looked at her. "What's that?"
"Oh, this...Nothing, nothing. I'm just doing a little spring cleaning," she answered, opening the door with her vampy powers.
"Spring cleaning...In the fall?" I cocked my head and stood up. "What's in here, anyway?"
"Just some stuff from my room," she answered coolly. I took the box from her, set it on the table, and opened it. I stared at the contents inside. "Seth..."
"What are you doing?" I asked quietly.
"Seth-"
"You're putting Dad into storage like he was some old couch, or something!" I pulled out his favorite plaid button-up shirt and held it in front of me. He used to wear it whenever he went fishing with Charlie and Billy. Jake and I had gone with him a couple of times. I remembered how I had felt so grown up hanging out with the 'big guys.' They didn't treat me like a little kid. "This was his favorite shirt, Mom," I whispered.
"I know..." she said back.
"Then how come you wanna' put it away?" I asked, my voice quivering.
"Because I hate being reminded of something that I lost! Every time I walk into that room, I'm reminded of him! His clothes were still laid on the bed...Still hanging in the closet...In the drawers! They still smell like him! And..." she huffed a breath. "I just hate it, Seth."
"But..." I gripped the shirt tightly in my hands. Mom placed her hand on my shoulder.
"We have to learn to move on, Honey. We had so many happy years with your father. It was God's will-"
"'God's will...'" I shot a look at her. "'God's will.' You say that all the time, Mom. If it was God's will, he'd still be here!"
"But it's in His will that we're still here! Be thankful that we're still here, Seth! Me and Leah, Jazmyn and her family...The Cullens and Evangeline...Billy and Charlie...The Pack and their Imprints...You." She added the last part quietly. I gripped the shirt tighter and yanked my shoulder out of her grasp. I walked upstairs, ignoring her tearless sobs.
I slammed the door to my room and headed for my drawers. I changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt...Then remembered Dad's shirt on my bed. I stared at it for a few moments, then put it on. Mom was right; it still smelled so much like him. I opened my window and jumped out, headed towards Jazmyn's house. I sighed. I just wanted to hug her and never let go...
The closer I got to her house, the more mad I got. By now, I was trying hard not to phase. I needed Jazmyn...
000000000000000000000000
Jazmyn's P.o.V.
Seth opened my door and looked around. I stood up, noticing how antsy he looked.
"Seth-" I started to say. He pulled me into a tight hug, and I hugged me back after a few seconds. "...Missed you, too...?" I pushed him away and he stared at her. I looked at Teasha behind him, then back up at Seth. "What's wrong?" I could see tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, and he shook a little.
"S...Sh...She's putting D-Dad away. She's putting him into storage like a piece of old furniture!" he managed to choke out. When he explained it to me, he only started to shake more.
"Calm down!" I gripped my shoulders, but he still shook. I cupped my cheeks with my hands. "It's gonna' be okay. It'll be okay. Just stay calm, please."
"I-I-I can't..." The shaking had lessened a little, but the tremors were still racking through his body.
"Sing with me. C'mon," I held his hands in mine. "How do you expect me...C'mon, your favorite song! You know the words." I pulled him to the couch and sat down, pulling him with me. I laid his head on my lap, he stared at me. He shivered a little. "Don't make me move your mouth for you, 'cause you know I'll do it! To live alone with just me...Please, Seth? It'll make you feel better, I promise. 'Cause my world revolves around you...Big finish?" Seth sighed and took a deep breath. I grinned.
"It's so hard for me to breathe!" we finished together. I rubbed his hair.
"See? Doesn't singing make everything better?" I asked.
"But she's still gonna' do it, though," Seth whispered. He looked up at the ceiling. "I knew that it was coming...I just didn't know that it'd be this hard."
"'This hard' to do what?"
"...To let go," he answered quietly. I stroked his hair, then leaned down and kissed him.
"What's it gonna' take to make my Sethy-poo feel better?" I cooed in a baby voice. Seth smirked.
"Jazz..."
"Ha! I got a smile! And a 'Jazz...'" I made my voice lower on that part, doing my best to make myself sound like him. Seth chuckled lightly, and I cupped my ear like I didn't hear him. "I got a laugh, too! Today must be my lucky day!"
"Sorry to ruin the moment here, but..." Teasha started. "Leah's on the phone wondering where Seth is. She said that Sue called her, 'crying and sobbing.'"
"Tell her that he's here," I answered, then stroked Seth's hair again. "He's okay now." Teasha did what I said and hung up. She sat down next to me.
"Sorry about your dad, Seth. I didn't know him, but he must be pretty cool guy to get you on the verge of phasing." She crossed her eyes at him and Seth smiled a little.
"He was," he simply said. I pushed him off my lap and stood up.
"Let's not worry your fams anymore," I said.
"You guys go ahead. I'll meet you there," Seth replied, standing up and heading for the door. I looked at Teasha then back at him with a frown.
"You...Sure?" I asked. He had almost phased, and then I'd calmed him down. Now he was heading off to someplace that he wouldn't tell me about?
Seth turned back to me and gave me a reassuring smile.
"Yeah. I'll see you later, I promise," he said. Then he came back and kissed me. "Love you."
"You, too," I said back. He walked out the door.
"Sue was right; he's acting weird," Teasha said. I pulled on my shoes then grabbed my cell phone.
"I know. It's not like him...But I'm not gonna' worry about it. Knowing Seth, he'll be back to normal soon. I'm sure of it."
But to be honest...I wasn't so sure.
000000000000000000000000000
Seth's P.o.V.
Here I am again...In the same clearing...Same position...
Crying...
And this time, I knew what I was crying about.
Sadness and Anger.
Yeah. That's definitely it.
How could Mom do that? She can't just...She can't just throw him away...
But she's not throwing him away. She's only putting him in a safe place.
It's kind of like throwing him away...Right?
No. And you know it's not. You just don't want to let go and move on.
But I do! So. Freaking. Bad.
Then why aren't you letting Mom help you?
...
I dunno...
I sniffed again and pulled my knees tighter to my chest, burying my face into them.
"Seth...!"
My head snapped up and I listened again. Did someone just call my name?
"Seth...!"
I was probably just going crazy. I did just have an argument with myself, after all. I put my face into my knees again, ignoring the pouring rain. This was just what I needed. The water would wash away my scent and keep anyone from finding me.
Sobs racked my body; I didn't know where these tears were coming from. I jumped with little hiccups, and kept having to sniff to keep snot from falling down my face.
It seemed like forever until I stopped crying. I didn't bother wiping my face, I was already soaking wet, anyway. Out of habit, I stepped over twigs and leaves to avoid the sounds that they made. I was on alert the whole time, making sure that there was no one around to see where I was coming from. On the way, I practiced faces. Weird, I know. But I'd become a good actor after all these months. I knew how to pretend to be happy. And I was damn good at it, too.
Walking into Leah's house, I shook out my hair.
"Ugh...I just mopped in here!" Leah said. "Thanks, Baby Bro."
"Anytime, Lee," I replied.
"So...Where'd you go?" Alice asked, coming up to me. "When Jazmyn walked in here alone, I got kinda worried."
I was quiet.
What was I gonna' tell them?
I shrugged my shoulders and walked to the breakfast nook.
Jazz came up beside me, and I grinned. Apparently it was contagious, because she grinned, too.
"Why are we grinning...?" she asked. I put my fingers to my lips, then took her hand. I pulled her outside and into the rain. She screamed and ran back to the protection of the covered porch. "No! Seth! No!" But she giggled when I threw her over my shoulder and took her back into the rain again. I set her down and watched her twirl happily on her toes. Then she leaned her head back and tried to catch raindrops on her tongue. "Standin' outside with my mouth open wide! Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!" I grinned as I watched her sing and dance happily. She took my hands and continued, "I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain! C'mon, Seth! Sing with me!"
"Just singin' in the rain!" we sang together. I threw my head back and laughed, then looked at Jazmyn again.
"May I have this dance?" I held my hand out and bowed elaborately. Jazmyn took my hand.
"Why, of course you may!" she giggled as we started to twirl and dance around.
I loved this.
I loved her.
With Jazz, I never needed to 'put on a face.' There was no pretending. I didn't feel mad or miserable...Or sad.
There were no tears. Just smiles.
I was gonna' add more, but I didn't know what else to write about. I hope that you guys were satisfied with this chapter, though. Not one of my best ones...But, I think I still did pretty good.
~SashaFierce12.0