AJ sighed happily as she took in all the warm light hitting her tan skin from the sun. It was finally a sunny day in Forks and surprise, surprise, the Cullens were not at school.
AJ took a bite out of her apple as she sat on one of the lunch tables outside with Bella and Jessica. Jessica and AJ watched as Bella began to look around for something. Or someone.
"They're not here." Jessica informed. "Whenever the weather's nice the Cullens disappear."
Bella looked confused. "What? They just ditch?"
"No, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen yank them out for hiking and camping and stuff. I tried that on my parents... not even close." Jessica said as Angela came over to the table and sat next to AJ.
"Guys! I'm going to the dance with Eric! I just asked and took control!" Angela smiled happily and looked relieved that Eric said yes.
"Good for you, Angela. We told you that would happen." AJ bumped shoulders with the girl.
Angela's smile widened and she pulled Bella and AJ into a hug. Both girls hugged her back before pulling away.
"Are you sure you can't go, Bella?" Angela asked.
"Oh, yeah. It's a weird family thing."
"Okay, we should go shopping at Port Angeles before all the good dresses get cleaned out." Jessica suggested while the bell ring, saying that lunch was over and that they needed to get to class.
"Port Angeles? Mind if I come?" Bella asked.
"Can I come too? I already have my dress but it would be fun to come." AJ asked.
"Yeah! We need both of your opinions!"
X.X.X.X.X.X
After school, the four girls went to Port Angeles. They went in Jessica's car and left their's at the high school. While they were at a boutique, Jessica and Angela were picking out and trying dresses on.
"I like this one. But I don't know about the one shoulder thing." Jessica said, looking unsure.
"I like this one." Angela said, holding up a blue dress with beading.
"Ooh! I like the beading!" Jessica said and AJ nodded her head in agreement.
"Jess? What do you think? Lavender? Is that good? Is that my color?" Angela asked as Jessica walked out of the changing room in a pink dress.
"I like it. I like that dust-rose one too." Jessica said as she looked at herself in the mirror. "Okay, I like this one. It makes my boobs look good."
After she said that, a few boys walked up to the window and knocked on it. "Hey! Nice!"
"That's disgusting." AJ frowned at their behavior.
"That is uncomfortable." Jessica said, smiling slightly.
"Bella, AJ, what do you think?" Jessica asked.
"Looks great." Bella complimented.
"You've said that about the last five dresses." Jessica pointed out.
"You do look great though, the colors bring out your eyes." AJ complimented.
"Not really into this, are you Bella?" Angela asked, grinning.
"Actually, I really want to go to this bookstore. Meet you guys at the restaurant?" Bella asked, grabbing her bag.
"Are you sure?"
AJ looked at Bella. "Can I come too?"
Bella nodded. "Sure. We'll see you guys in a bit."
X.X.X.X.X.X
It was dark by the time the girls had gotten out of the bookshop. Bella put the book she bought into her bag. As they began to walk to the restaurant, AJ and Bella were walking down an alley way and were spotting by a couple drunk looking men.
They walked back up the stairs and took a left, trying to get away from the men. As they walked into a parking lot, a few other drunk men were hanging out there.
"We saw you two at the dress shop."
"Hey, where are you two going?"
"There you are!"
"How you guys doing?"
The men began to huddle around them, making it hard for either girl to escape. AJ watched each of them carefully, knowing that she could use her powers, but not wanting to expose her secret.
"Whoa! Where you two going?" One asked as he reached out to touch them.
"Yeah, hang out with us."
Bella smacked his hand away as another hand reached to pet their hair. "Don't touch us!"
One man grabbed AJ, pulling her too his chest sharply. "Hello darlin'."
AJ glared at the man before elbowing him off of her. "You can't call me that!"
He grabbed her wrist again just as the sound of tires screeching on the parking lot's concrete made them look to see a car coming towards them. The car stopped and Edward and Jasper walked out.
"Get in the car." They said in unison, glaring daggers at the group of boys.
The two girls exchanged glances and AJ ripped her wrist out of his grip. Turning to walk away, AJ decided to do something a little rash. She quickly turned around on her heel and right hooked the man in the face that was holding her wirst earlier. The man fell to the ground and held his bleeding nose. Unfortunately, she didn't break it, but it was worth it to see the pain he was in. She saw Jasper and Edward smirk when she turned around.
AJ and Bella walked into the car. Bella in the passenger seat and AJ in the back. Jasper and Edward stared at the men in disgust and rage before getting into the car. Jasper got in the back next to AJ, looking rigid. Edward quickly drove forward, making it look as if he was going to run the men over, but stopped at the last second. Edward then sped out of the parking lot, not slowing down when they got onto the highway.
"We should go back there and rip their heads off." Edward hissed, gripping the sterring wheel tightly.
"No, you shouldn't." Bella disagreed.
"You really shouldn't." AJ agreed with Bella.
"You don't know the vile, repulsive things they were thinking." Edward sneered.
"And you do?" Bella challenged.
AJ felt Jasper tense even more next to her and she put a hand on his own clenched one. He looked at her with a hard gaze before it soften. His hand unclenched and her warm fingers slide into his cold ones.
"It's not hard to guess. Can you talk about something else? Distract me so I won't turn around." Edward asked the girls.
"Can you put your seat belt on?" Bella asked.
Edward shakingly laughed. "You put your seat belt on."
X.X.X.X.X.X
After ten minutes or so of driving, they finally reached the restaurant that the two girls were supposed to meet Angela and Jessica at. Jasper reluctantly let go of AJ's hand as they all got out of the car.
Two frantic girls, them being Jessica and Angela, walked up to them, looking distressed. "Where were you two? We left you messages."
"Sorry guys, we umm..." Bella stopped, not knowing what to say.
"Yeah, we were getting worried." Jessica added. "We waited but we were starving, so we..."
Jessica stopped talking when Edward and Jasper walked up to them. Jasper immediately wrapped his hand around AJ's and this did not go unnoticed by either girls. Jessica discreetly sent the girl a wink, causing AJ to blush slightly and hope Jasper didn't see it.
"We're sorry we kept Bella and AJ from dinner." Jasper said to the girls.
"We just ran into each other and began talking. We lost track of time." Edward added.
"No, we totally understand. I mean, that happens, yeah?" Jessica asked, not being able to hide her smile. "We were just leaving, so, Bella... AJ..."
"We think we should make sure they both get something to eat. If you two like, we'll drive you home ourselves." Edward suggested.
"That's so... thoughtful."
"Yeah, really thoughtful."
"Okay, so we'll see you two tomorrow?" Jessica asked, before the two nodded, and she and Angela left.
The four of them went into the restaurant and got a table. Jasper and Edward on one side, and the two girls on the other. They quickly ordered dinner and waited on it to be served.
"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat or drink?" The waitress asked, eyeballing the two boys like a starving jaguar.
"No, thank you." Edward said, keeping his eyes on Bella and the waitress walked away.
"How did you guys know where we were?" Bella asked.
"We were just driving by?" Edward tried.
"Try again." AJ demanded.
"Okay, we followed you." Jasper said.
"What? Why?" Bella asked, confused.
"We.. feel very protective of you." Jasper worded carefully. These words made AJ's stomach bubble up in happiness.
"So you decided to follow us?" Bella asked.
"We were trying to keep our distance, unless you needed us. But then I heard what those low lives were thinking." Edward hissed.
"And what they felt." Jasper added, sneering.
"Wait, you said you heard and felt what they were thinking? How?" Bella asked curiously.
"I can read everyone's minds right now in this room. Except for both of your's. All I hear is static in AJ's head and nothing in Bella's. Sex. Sex. Money. Sex again. Cat. And then you two... nothing. It's very frustrating." Edward explained.
"Is that a compliment or an insult? I'm thinking it's more of an insult." AJ whispered, mostly to herself. Edward smiled at her.
"And I can feel and control all the emotions in this room. Hunger. Impatience. Hunger again. Love. Annoyance. And you two, confusion and curiosity." Jasper said.
Bella stared at him. "Is there something wrong with us?"
Edward smiled. "We tell you that we can read people's minds and feel and control emotions and you think something is wrong with you?"
They both chuckled, but they turned serious quickly.
"What is it?" AJ asked concerned.
"We, I, don't have the strength to stay away from you any longer." Jasper stated, warming AJ from her head to her toes.
"Then don't."
X.X.X.X.X.X
After dinner, they walked back to the car. Jasper, being the polite man he is, opened AJ's door open for her. She thanked him and slid in before he shut the door and got in at the other side. Bella noticed that it was getting really hot in the car and decided that she should turn it off.
"Okay, I think we're warm enough now." Bella said as she reached to turn the heat off. Edward reached to turn it off at the same time, resulting in both of their hands touching at the same time.
Bella gasped and retracted her hand from his touch. "You're hands are so cold!"
While this was happening, Jasper and AJ sat in the back seat. AJ was twiddling her fingers and biting her lip nervously. Jasper felt this and sent a wave of calmness to her and she stopped instantly. She gave him a soft smile and slowly laid her head on his shoulder. He tensed, afraid he would hurt her at first, but gave in. They held each others hands and Jasper rubbed circles on the back of her hand. She shivered slightly, the relaxing motion causing goosebumps on her skin.
"Are you cold, darlin'?" Jasper asked, moving away immediately.
"Of course not! I don't mind the cold." AJ whispered. "But I can move if you-"
"Of course not! I don't mind the warmth." Jasper mocked and smirked.
AJ opened her mouth to make a remark but stopped when she winced. Jasper immediately let go of her hand and moved away from her, looking like he was the one that was in pain.
"Jasper, don't worry. That wasn't you. When I punched that man in the face it left a bruise." AJ reassured, rubbing her aching knuckles.
"But I have to worry. You got hurt because I didn't do anything to protect you." Jasper whispered, whining slightly at the end.
"Jasper, look at me." Jasper hesitantly looked at his mate. She grabbed his hand and held it in her own. "I'm perfectly fine. It's just a bruise. It's not your fault I punched a guy in the face, got it?"
Jasper nodded. "I suppose not. But I will say that that was not the most well thought out thing you've done."
AJ opened her mouth to retort but stopped when she saw red and blue flashing ahead of them.
"What's going on?" AJ asked.
"My dad's still here. Can you pull in?" Bella asked.
"Is that my uncle's car?" AJ asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.
"That's our father's car at the end. What's he doing here?" Jasper asked as Edward pulled in. They all got out and walked to Dr. Cullen who was walking outnof the building.
"Carlisle," Edward began, "What's going on?"
"Waylon Forge was found in a boat out near his place. I just examined the body." Carlisle explained.
"He died? How?" Bella asked.
Carlisle shared a look with his sons. "Animal attack."
The three looked grim and Jasper pulled AJ closer to him protectively.
"Was it the same one that got that security guard down at Madison?" AJ asked Carlisle.
"Most likely." He answered.
"Must be getting closer to town then..." Bella drifted off.
"Bella, you should go inside. Waylon was a dear friend of your father's." Carlisle said. "Your uncle is in there too, AJ. He and his wife are worried sick about you." Carlisle informed.
Both girls nodded and said goodbye to the Cullens. Then they walked into the police station together. While Bella went to her father, AJ went to find her uncle.
AJ found him with his face in his hands while sitting in the waiting room. AJ shamefully tapped his shoulder, getting his attention. Max jumped up and looked around, like he was getting ready to attack.
"Uncle Max, it's just me." AJ told him.
"AJ? Oh thank goodness! Your aunt and I have been worried sick!" Max pulled his niece into a hug, embracing her tightly.
"I'm perfectly fine. My phone just died and-" Max cut her off.
"It's okay, AJ. But we need to talk." Max said as they began to walk out of the station.
"What happened?" AJ asked carefully as they got outside. The Cullens two cars were still there and it seemed the boys were helping Carlisle finish loading up.
"Uncle Max, what happened?" She asked again when he didn't answer.
Jasper froze when he heard this. He didn't mean to eavesdrop, but when it came to his mate, he couldn't help it.
"It's Laura-" Max stopped when he caught sight of the vampires. He squinted his eyes at Cullens for a second. "We can't talk about it here. Get in the car."
Wow, déjà vu moment, AJ thought to herself as they got into Max's car and took off.
"What was that about?" Edward asked Jasper once they finished.
"I don't know." Jasper said, his eyebrow furrowing in worry.
X.X.X.X.X.X
Hey everyone,
Um, I don't know for sure whose car the girls took to Port Angeles so I just stuck with Jessica's. You guys are going to love the next chapter. Trust me. Ooh, I just can't wait! *squeals loudly*
Oh, and what is happening with Laura? Has she found Marianne and is coming after her or is she finally dead? *shrugs shoulders mysteriously*
Xoxo,
Rock0bye