Chapter 44

Emmett took Masen under his wing while Carlisle and Esme were gone. He had taken him hunting several times, which Masen appeared to enjoy more and more. They challenged each other, seeing who could take down their prey faster and began to make a little game out of it. He taught him other little tricks, similar to that of the back flip and after a day or two Masen was easily leaping from tree to tree.

Today, Edward and Jasper had joined them, making a "boys day" out of it. Their new little brother was beginning to adapt to his superhuman powers and, like any child would, he had a ton of fun doing it.

They all stood on one side of a tall rock cliff that overlooked some rushing water. On the other side was a parallel cliff.

"We're going to jump from here to there," Emmett told him.

Masen looked timid, "That's pretty far."

"Trust me," Jasper jumped in, "The second your feet leave the ground, it'll be a piece of cake."

Edward could read that Masen's thoughts were filled with doubt, and he was far more worried than he let on. He pulled him aside for a second, "Mase, you don't have to if you don't want to."

Masen looked to Edward and then to Emmett and Jasper, who both stood with smiles on their face. He peeked around them to where the other cliff stood. "I can do it."

"Yeah!" Emmett shouted and high fived him, "You'll be fine."

"And you miss, you'll still be fine," Jasper laughed.

"He's not going to miss," Edward told them.

"I'll go first," Emmett offered, "You'll see how easy it is."

Masen watched as Emmett got a running start and left his feet, seeming to float over the gap that stood between the two pieces of land. He landed well over the edge on the other side and put his hands up in victory.

Jasper smiled, "Who's next?"

Masen smiled and pointed at him, "You go."

He nodded, "Wish me luck."

"Good luck."

Jasper took a few steps back before taking on the leap, completing a front flip on the way over. He smiled as he landed in front of Emmett.

"Show off," Emmett said.

They both stood waving their hands for Edward and Masen to join them.

"Can we go at the same time?" Masen asked him.

Edward nodded, "Yeah. You sure you want to go for it?"

He nodded back at him, "Yeah," then added to reassure himself, "What's the worst that'll happen?"

"Your dad will kill me," he laughed.

"That's okay," Masen said, "I'll bring you back to life."

They both laughed for a second, before staring across the way. Jasper and Emmett called to them with encouragement.

Masen looked up with worried, but ready eyes at Edward before he gave his brother a little nod, grabbing his hand. On the count of three, they both took off running and leapt.

The jump seemed to happen in slow motion for Masen. He looked down, studying the ripples in the water below. He saw Edward's casual smile and felt the breeze against his face from the speed they were traveling at. The sounds of rushing water and his brothers' voices blended together in the background. He looked around at all the beautiful colors that seemed to merge around them. Before he had any more time to soak it in, he and Edward landed safely on the other side and everything suddenly became normal speed again.

"See, you're a natural," Jasper told him.

Emmett gave him another high five, "See, no problem. Right?"

Masen smiled, "Right!" Excitement was written all over his face.

"Going to tell Carlisle about this one?" Jasper asked with a slick smile.

Edward smiled back, "No."

"Mom would freak," Emmett laughed, getting Masen into a headlock. He let him go after completely messing up his hair.

Masen laughed and tried to smooth his hair back to normal, "This is a boys day," he told him, "Mom's not suppose to know."

They all laughed at his witty comment.

"Emmett, you're going to be in a lot of trouble if he keeps saying those things," Jasper said, still smiling, "At least if he says them in front of the girls."

"Or Carlisle and Esme," Edward said.

"How's it my fault?" Emmett asked.

Jasper and Edward looked at each other and laughed again, "It sure isn't us," Edward told him.

Emmett looked at Masen, "You can only say stuff like that on boys days."

"Unless your dad comes with us," Jasper said, "Then you can't."

"We're corrupting him and they've only been gone for three days," Edward said, shaking his head.

"What's corrupting mean?" Masen asked.

Edward kept it simple, "It's means we're getting you into trouble."

"Alice said boys always cause trouble," he said smiling.

"Alice is always causing trouble," Jasper laughed, "Don't let her fool you."

Emmett put his hand out strait in front of him, "Let's a get cheer in here," he said enthusiastically, "Boys day on three."

Masen seemed to love the idea and threw his hand over Emmett's waiting for Edward and Jasper, who did the same right after.

"Ready?" Emmett asked.

"Can we do this all the time?" Masen asked.

"At least once a month."

"Once a month?" Disappointment lingered in his voice.

"Once a week?"

Masen thought for a second and agreed.

"Boys day on three," Emmett repeated, "One, two, three."

They all screamed together, "Boys day!"