Chapter 5:
The three Cullen girls had certain ways about each of them. Rosalie was busy doing Allison's hair, trying several different styles and having several different irons on to give her the best look. Alice was hurriedly grabbing different outfits and putting them in front of her in order to see whether she liked it, and Bella talked and debated with her about the classic stylebooks. They had been in a heated argument about Withering Heights for ten minutes when Alice groaned.
"You both are like fifty year old women with these books. Come on, we need to get you out of your shell. I want shopping trips and style comments, not wondering about what Emily Bronte thought over two hundred years ago."
"Alice, you know some of us have refined tastes." Bella turned to Allison as Alice pouted, "You know, when I was first adopted, Alice forced me to go on shopping trips with her. She would treat me like Bella Barbie."
"That's precisely what we did." Alice shouted as she threw a sweater dress in her direction. Allison caught it with ease, nodding approvingly at the dress. "We also have to make a trip to your closet this week. I need to approve of all your styling ideas, then we will fill your closet on our next trip! I cannot have you date Jasper without an appropriate style sense."
The room was quiet. It was like no person in this family held a secret to themselves. "What makes you think I am going to date Jasper? We're just friends."
Alice sighed as the other two threw her furious glances. "It's just a hunch."
"Jasper's a great guy, Ally. He's wonderful. He would always treat you well." Rosalie boasted as Bella got a strange look on her face. Bella smirked and turned to Rosalie as Allison eyed her with confusion.
"Rosalie hated me when I first started dating Edward. She felt he could do better. Now she cannot stop talking about planning your outfit for the first date."
"And now we are sister's and good friends, don't penalize me forever." Rosalie laughed as she threw a shirt at Bella's head. Bella retaliated with a pair of pants. Allison smiled sadly. She wished she had a sister to do stuff like this with. But that thought made her think of her precious happy brother Alex, who was residing at home with a babysitter. Usually, Allison watched the little boy since her mother was barely around.
"Renesmee can attest to that!" Bella laughed even harder and Allison's eyebrows raised. Renesmee? That was a unique name.
"Who's Renesmee?" Allison asked softly, seeing Bella's eyes look sadly at a picture on the side table. A beautiful girl who you would think was Bella's daughter from the resemblance sat on the table, along with a huge muscular man with tan skin and dark hair. He looked like the boys from the res she used to hang out with as a kid.
"My real sister. We had been adopted together. But she is older, so when she turned 18, her boyfriend and her decided to go and travel for a while." Bella sighed as she stood. "I'm going to get you something to eat. We ate while you were with Jasper."
As Bella walked away, Allison couldn't help but notice the aura of sadness surrounding her. Bella was different than the rest of the Cullens. You could see the emotional baggage she held inside her at all times. You could see it in her eyes that she had something missing from her life.
"She misses her, doesn't she?" Allison asked the two softly. They nodded sadly and continued on their hunt, but she could now see the unease in the room. They were acting differently around her than before. "So, when do I get to try the clothes on?"
The girl's excitement returned as they threw the dark red sweater dress over her head. They paired it with a pair of black tights and black flats. Her hair fell to her butt in dark wavy curls and she smiled brightly at the reflection in the mirror. They had even done her makeup. She smiled affectionately in the mirror, surprised how good she felt about herself. Jasper will love this.
She couldn't stop the thought before in went into her mind, and she sighed sadly as she looked away, Jesse should love this. Something was wrong, she had only met this mysterious boy a few days ago but yet she was slowly losing touch with her life. She was putting his approval above her boyfriends, and that was not right.
"Can I ask you something, it may be inappropriate so you do not have to answer?" Allison said quickly as she turned to Alice. Alice smiled, already knowing the question, but nodded anyways. "What made you chose Caleb over Jasper?"
"It wasn't really a choice. Jasper and I had been together a long time. And I appreciate everything we had shared. But we met Caleb a few years back. He was in a bad situation and I was the first one to know. We…we got close when I helped him through the change of things, adjusting to the new family and everything. And I knew Jasper needed someone who wouldn't do that. He understood, we all want each other to be happy."
Allison nodded sadly and smiled. She hated the gossip that was all over town about her and Caleb because of what happened with Jasper. While Jasper didn't deserve the heartbreak, he also would have no problem finding a girl who would help mend the pain. Instantly, she felt a large wave of jealousy wash over her at the idea of another girl going near him. The girls sensed the discomfort and changed the subject.
"Now, you have to wear this at school Monday, okay? We expect you to. Then on your next shopping trip, we are filling your closet." Rosalie held up a hand as Allison tried to fight, "I won't hear an argument. You see the house we live in. I can tell you we are all going to be great friends, so don't worry."
Allison left it alone for now, sighing and gratefully taking the small salad and water Bella brought in to her. She hadn't realized how hungry she was. The girls lead her to a big couch as they all started to pick out more outfits for her as she ate. Seeing the girl up close she couldn't help but see the red flags.
They all walked with such grace and poise, it was like they were dancing. They moved much faster than normal human, sometimes she couldn't even follow their movements. If you looked close enough, they would sometimes sit so still they weren't even breathing. And the physical traits were hard to miss, the pale skin, golden eyes, the coldness of their skin. They're smell, voice, and looks were inhuman to say the least.
But even as she questioned their true identities, she couldn't help but know and realize, she would never ask them what was wrong. She didn't care. She was curious, but if the Cullen family felt comfortable enough to tell her their secret, only then would she know.
She did not want the Cullen's to think she was nosy, and she could tell Rosalie was right. She felt comfortable, happy, with this family, and she didn't want to do anything to ruin that. But that also brought up her situation with Jasper.
Why was the family so open to her dating their brother after such a short time of knowing him? They acted as if they knew every aspect of her life, which scared her even more. She didn't want her new friends to know any secret she had, because she was keeping them secrets for a reason. She didn't know whether to ask, whether it would make it uncomfortable or not, but the pity glances the girls kept throwing her she had to throw it in the open.
"He told you guys, didn't he?" She asked softly, knowing that they must have strained to hear her. Rosalie was almost instantly remorseful in her gaze. She opened and closed her mouth several times before just nodding. Bella sighed as she walked over and sat beside her.
"He only told us what happened after class." She said softly, placing a hand on top of Allison's. But Allison jumped up, the same as she had with Jasper. She sighed, almost going to run her fingers through her hair but she remembered the beautiful job Rosalie had just done.
"I need you all to know something. I have had a lot of fun tonight, and I do believe you when you say we are going to be great friends. But I also need you to understand something. I am not fragile, and I am not a very open person. I don't need you guys to feel bad for me. But I would like to have you guys as friends. Just…stop worrying and watching me as if I am going to break. I will be fine." She spoke with conviction and strength in her voice, and the sureness she said surprised herself.
The girls smiled sadly, as Rosalie came up and hugged her. She could see the shocked looks the other two gave, so she assumed Rosalie didn't normally act like this to people. She hugged her back softly, and she could Rosalie sigh. She couldn't tell why, but she felt that Rosalie had some experience of her own similar to this. And she knew her secret would only be secret for so long before she opened up to her.
"We understand." Alice smiled sadly as she hugged her as well. Bella following right after. "Now! Let's go see Jasper's face when he sees you in this!"
Alice's excitement was hard to miss. She wondered how Alice could be so excited but yet she had dated the boy. She pushed away the curiosity as they pushed her into the living room and into the den where the boys were watching a football game. All eyes turned to her and she could feel the blush rise on her cheeks. Jasper's eyes looked like they may pop out of his head if he stared any harder. "Do you guys like it?"
"You look gorgeous." Jasper whispered as she stood up and places a soft hand on her cheek. The family all smiled brightly as they saw the two. He kissed her forehead softly before turning to his brothers with a wink.
"You look wonderful, Allison. It's almost like you could be a Cullen." Edward smiled a knowing smile and she turned to Jasper with curiosity.
"Jasper, your girl looks hot." Emmett's laugh boomed throughout the house, and Rosalie slapped him on the back of the head. He gave her a questionable look as Allison couldn't help the unease she felt. Everyone referred to her as "Jasper's girl" But what if she chooses Jesse? "Oh, right. That kid."
"You look wonderful darling. Alice has not stopped talking about our next shopping trip. We all hope you will join us. It's always a nice girl's weekend." Esme smiled warmly, hugging her softly, in which she has realized she should return. She felt no unease when Esme hugged her, she felt safe if anything. She craved that feeling.
"I wouldn't want to intrude." She said with her unease returning but all the girls smiled brightly.
"Nonsense! You are coming!" "Alice smiled brightly. The clock chimed and her eyes opened widely as she saw the time.
"I didn't think it was that late. I really must be going." She said sadly as Jasper nodded and helped her with her coat. The family hugged her one by one, all saying how happy they were she came. "I had a wonderful time, thank you for having me."
"We will see you soon!" Alice said brightly, and Allison smiled back. She let Jasper lead her into the dark night. She noticed his firm hand on the small of her back, a place it has taken a seemingly permanent residence every time they are together. They stopped at her car, he went to open the door for her, but she stopped him.
She had so many questions swirling in her head. She had no idea how she truly felt for this boy. Did she like him? She wasn't sure, but she knew she cared for him. How had his entire family know of the spark, had he been talking to them about her? That seemed to be the first question she needed to ask. "Your entire family seemed to already think we're dating."
Jasper's grin was sheepish and it almost seemed like he was embarrassed. He nodded softly, "Yes, I think I talk about you too much."
"You talk about me?" She smiled brightly, she couldn't help it.
"Maybe a little too much."
"And what do you say?" Her answer was soft as he grabbed her hand in his, and placed the other on the curve of her hip.
"How beautiful you are. And how I want to show you how special you truly are. If you'll let me, of course."
"Jasper, what would happen between us if I were to break up with Jesse?" The question slipped out, but he made no show of his happiness. He knew it was a tough decision for her.
"I would be here, waiting until you are ready. And I will protect you until you feel comfortable enough, and I will show you that no one will ever hurt you again." His tone was serious and his thumb was making comforting circles on the top of her hand. She sighed, and wrapped her arms around his neck, laying her head of his shoulder. She wasn't sure how long she stayed there.
But she knew one thing. Jasper was touching a part of her that had never been touched, her heart. She looked up, to see his eyes closed with a smile on his face. She stood on her tippy toes and placed her lips upon his. It was when he gave her a soft kiss back, and pulled back to place one on her forehead, that her mind was made up. She stepped from his arms, and allowed him to open the door to her car.
She said no words as she drove off. She had a destination in mind.