Chapter 4
Jasper volunteers to help me get my power. He insists that it just be the two of us and we start with inanimate objects.
"See that dandelion? Pick it," he instructs.
I stare at the flower and imagine it coming towards me. That's what he told me to do. Imagine what I wanted and it would happen.
It does.
I extend my hand and it lands in my palm.
"Good. Now, try and make that rock crumble."
I imagine it crumbling and it does. I do what Jasper tells me for what seems like forever.
Jasper looks at my eyes and asks "When was the last time you went hunting?"
"Two weeks ago."
"Want to come with me? I could keep you away from humans."
"Benjamin, Kebi, and Amun will need to hunt soon, too. Could they come?"
"Of course."
Suddenly, I get the feeling that it would be better if just the two of us go.
"Jasper, stop it. They need to feed, too." The feeling gets stronger. "They can feed later."
He tugs on my arm and we take off running. When we get to the top of the mountains, Jasper drops the feeling.
"Sorry. We'll get more to drink now," he explains.
"It's fine. Any humans?"
He looks around and says "If there are, the just got the feeling that they forgot something important."
I look around for something to eat and find a group of deer to my left at the base of the mountains.
"There's about twelve deer over there. How many do you think we can get?"
Jasper finds the deer and seems to calculate speed and distance.
"Four a piece."
"Is it worth it?"
"Let's go," he says. He grabs my hand and we bolt.
When we get to the deer, he tells me to go to the left. We go in opposite directions. I'm finished with my first before the deer even know we're here. We force the deer into a tight group and attack. Within five minutes, the whole group is gone. I'm full but I don't want to stop.
"Come on, we should be getting back," Jasper says. He takes my hand and he run back to the house. When we near the house, the stench is back.
"Jasper, what is that stench?" I snarl.
"Jacob."
We stop dead in our tracks.
"Why is he back?"
"I don't know. I guess he thought we would be out longer and he and Nessie would hang out at the house."
I hear multiple heavy foot falls and breathing on the back of my neck. I turn around and see a giant white wolf.
I snarl and back into a crouch.
"Leah! Run!" Jasper yells. He grabs me around my waist and floods me with different emotions. I couldn't have run or make him let me go even if I wanted to.
"Nanu, Jasper, she and Jacob are gone," Benjamin says.
Jasper drops the emotions and pulls me out of my crouch. Benjamin pulls me to his side and we walk back to the house.
"Was it necessary to use twenty emotions?" Edward asks.
"Really? I only meant to use five," Jasper explains. "Sorry, ma'am."
"How's mind control going?" Bella asks.
"Really good." I glance at Jasper and he nods in agreement.
"Still on inanimate objects?" Renesmee asks.
"Yep."
"But tomorrow Jasper will let you use us," Alice tells me.
"You just can't keep quiet, can you, love?" Jasper laughs. He picks her up so that they're eye to eye and kisses her.
"Ugh, you're turning into Emmett," Edward says.
"I wasn't that bad," Emmett defends himself.
"Your thoughts were awful!"
"And yours aren't?"
"No one hears me."
Renesmee looks questioningly at her father and places her palm on his cheek.
"No way in hell I'm telling you!" Edward laughs.
"What about me?" Bella asks.
"I'll show you," he whispers in her ear.
"Gross," everyone says.
"I got blackmail for every single one of you," his eyes scan the room as he talks and his eyes linger on me. He smirks and I change my thoughts by singing the alphabet, "Just like Emmett," he mutters.
We talk the rest of the night. Renesmee and Jacob leave a few hours before sunrise to go get some sleep. Alice and Rosalie force me to go try on their clothes.
Alice sets me down on the bed and I cross my arms and legs. Rosalie and Alice disappear into the closet. They come out with their arms loaded down with all kinds of clothes in all kinds of colors.
"Strip," Rosalie demands.
I shake my head in protest.
"Jasper!" Alice calls.
He shows up a moment later and eases the door open. He knows what she wants and I feel waves of calm and obedience wash over me. I slide out of my jeans and unbutton my shirt. Jasper's eyes scan over me and he drops the emotions. I don't mind him seeing me basically naked. It doesn't feel right, though. Jasper feels it, and goes to leave. I shake my head and he stays.
Rosalie hands me a mini skirt and a pink tank top. I pull them on and look in the mirror. I don't like how it looks like with my hair. I hold it up off my neck and it looks better that way.
"Do you have a hair tie?" I ask.
Alice pulls open a drawer full of hair ties.
"We lose them as much as humans do," Rosalie says.
"And break them more often," Alice adds.
I pull my hair up and get their approval.
"You can keep it; I never wear it," Alive says.
We go through all the clothes my size and I keep around half.
Then Alice pulls out the dresses.
"I thought we were done!" I exclaim.
"With pants, skirts, and shirts," Alice says.
I don't like dresses. Never have, never will. Alice knows that, but she still makes me try them on.
Benjamin shows up as try to get out of a too small sleeveless dress without ripping it. He looks at me and smiles and then at Jasper. Jasper turns his back to me and leans his forehead against the wall, like a kid the corner. I smile and mouth to Benjamin that Jasper was fine and that he was just standing there messing with my emotions.
I get the dress off and give it back to Alice.
"It doesn't fit," I say and we all start laughing.
Alice hands me a knee length, purple, frilly dress.
"This is the dress I wore at Bella's wedding," Alice says.
I step into it and try to zip it up. Benjamin comes up behind me and zips it for me.
"You really are beautiful," Benjamin whispers in my ear. He kisses my cheek and stands back by the door.
I look in the mirror and I like what I see. I spin in a circle and watch the dress swirl around.
"I knew you would love it!" Alice says.
Rosalie takes my hair out of its pony tail and fish braids it to the side.
A wave of love washes over me and I look at Jasper. He winks, I feel the heat of an invisible blush, and I smile.
"Come on! They have to see you!" Alice nearly squeals.
Jasper opens the door and Benjamin puts his arm around my waist. We go downstairs and into the living room. When I get where everyone can see me, they stare.
"Nanu, you're…" Amun gawks.
"Beautiful?" Benjamin supplies.
"More than that," Kebi says.
"Spin for them," Benjamin whispers.
I do and Emmett wolf whistles.
"I have to buy you one!" Alice exclaims.
I shake my head.
"I'd be too worried I'd mess it up," I say.
"Just don't hunt in it," she says.
"Don't hunt in any kind of dress. It doesn't work. Trust me," Bella adds.
"We'll have to build you a bigger closet," Alice says.
"Why? Are we staying here?" I ask.
"I was talking to Carlisle about it before you came down," Amun says.
"And?"
"I'm fine with it," Carlisle answers.
I hold back a squeal and glance over at Jasper. He's already looking at me and smiles.