Chapter 10:

Alice and Rosalie insisted they help Allison get ready for the date, so they ended up bringing a closet full of clothes, makeup, and hair products in order to get her ready. The outfits were in a garment bag, so they would not let her sees the finished product they decided on.

"You know, Jasper is quite the romantic but I blame him for the hours of work we put into this outfit." Allison groaned. She knew this was going to be over the top. Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Oh shush, you'll love it."

"He wasn't supposed to go all out." Allison whined, and both girls laughed. They were used to the extravogent lifestyle Carlisle provided to them, but they all seemed to forget officially Allison wasn't family yet, so she insisted they do not use a cent of their money on her.

"He didn't, he's just thoughtful. It's very sweet."

"You better not be lying." Rosalie sighed. She had never met a human so opposed to affection being shown to her. Other than Bella of course.

"Allison will you answer something honestly for me?"

"Maybe." She said carefully but Rosalie gave her a pointed look. "I give, I give. What's up?"

"Jasper loves you. He cares for you so deeply, and he just wants to show you that. Why are you so opposed to him outwardly showing it?" She knew Rosalie honestly wanted an answer. But she wasn't sure an exact one. It goes in twenty different directions. The word love being used in that statement tripped her up and she wasn't sure how to respond.

"I think…I think there is three reasons. One, I've never had someone do this. So it is new to me. I am not sure how to respond, two, I still believe he can do better, three, I cannot give it back. I don't really have a way to repay him for all he does."

"You repay him by breathing. That's all he wants is you. You don't have to give him anything else."

"Well, hopefully someday I'll be able to someday, even if you say I don't." Allison said sadly, and Rosalie nodded.

"Hopefully." Her words were soft and sad, but they were replaced by a bright smile. "Time to get dressed!"

Allison couldn't help the smile that came to her lips. Finally, the wait would be over. The pulled her up, not even allowing her to dress herself. But the wait was well worth it, because the outfit was flawless. She had on a stripped white and blank long sleeve shirt, a black skater skirt pulled to her belly button, with a dark brown belt. A black crocheted scarf was pulled around her neck and the outfit was paired with black tall riding boots and blank tights.

Her hair was half pulled back and the remainder of it was in waves of curls. Her makeup was subtle but her eyes looked so green she almost gasped. She couldn't deny that she looked beautiful. But would Jasper think so?

"Okay guys, this doesn't help anything about what we are doing!" Allison whined and both girls rolled their eyes.

"You have like thirsty seconds more to wait." As if like clock work, the doorbell rang. She gave Alice a skeptical look. She realized how much they were really hiding by keeping this secret from her. She ran out of the room only to run into her mother. Her eyes opened wide as she took in Allison's appearance.

"Allison, honey, you look beautiful. Is Jesse picking you up?" She hesitantly asked, but Allison held her head up high and shook her head. Her mother was actually asking her about her life?

"We broke up. I have a new boyfriend. He's at the door." Her voice did no justice with hiding her resentment towards her mother.

"A new boyfriend? Can we meet him?" Her mother asked quietly, walking back quickly to grab Alex. "Your father is at work."

"My step father. And I guess so." She ran by and grabbed her light brown leather jacket and ran down the stairs, Rosalie and Alice took the window out, not wanting to have an awkward introduction with her mother.

They opened the door hesitantly, her mother only a foot behind her. And her heart skipped a beat when she saw the beautiful boy Jasper was wearing a gray button up and dark jeans, and a black leather coat. His hair was it's normally messy blonde style that framed his face beautifully.

"Jazz."

"You look beautiful, Darlin." His smile could have actually caused her heart to stop if she didn't hear a throat clear behind her. Jasper smiled softly, raising one eyebrow. "You must be Allison's mother. It is wonderful to meet you. I am Jasper Hale."

"Yes, Karalyn Marks, nice to meet you." Her voice was guarded, she had really come to love Jesse, and something Allison would never understand. "Where is it you will be taking my daughter?"

"Mom, now is not the time to actually try to be a mother. I'll be home later, maybe. See you later!" She said quickly, grabbing Jasper's hand and walking over to the car. He opened the door and politely waved to her mother whose eyes narrowed. He shut the door behind her and ran over to his own.

She sighed in relief when her mother closed the front door and they were finally alone. She took a deep breath and looked over at him, sighing contently when he kissed her softly on the lips. "Are you ready?"

"I don't know ready for what?" She smiled and winked and he rolled his eyes. "Will I finally find out what we are doing?"

"Soon enough, my love. Let's go."

It felt like they were in the car for hours but in all actuality it was only an hour with Jasper's driving. They pulled up to a beach that she had never seen before. "Jazz, I'm stumped."

"Come on." He laughed and grabbed her hand, noticing they were warm for the first time. He saw the questionable look she gave and he smiled. "Hand warmers. I knew you'd need the heat."

She shook her head softly, but stopped short when she saw what was layed out on the beach. A small man, who was brushing them, was holding two horses. They walked to the shore, and he smiled brightly. "Right on time, they're all ready for you. They know the trail by heart so just let them do their thing."

"Wonderful, thank you so much. You'll be back by nine?" Jasper asked, and the man nodded, handing the reigns over to Jasper. Jasper beckoned her forward, and did not hesitate a second before helping her on. She squealed from both the cold and the new height. She saw the guy smile and laugh before walking up the beach to the parking lot.

"You got horses?" He climbed on his own horse and smiled softly at his girl. She reveled at the beautiful creature, she stroked its main as it walked and she heard that weird purr that they do.

"I may of overheard you talking to Rosalie about how you used to ride as a kid. I thought maybe you would enjoy doing to again." Such love and adoration rang through his words as he smiled at her and she nodded vigorously. It was the most thoughtful thing anyone had ever done for her. "There's more waiting."

"Jazz-"

"I know, Ally. But I wanted to and I don't get to do it often. It's our first date. I promise after today I'll reign it in." You could see in his eyes he was pleading for her to allow it.

"Jazz, it's not that I don't appreciate and love everything you've done. I just want you to know I'm happy with you, just you. I don't need all the extras."

"I know that, Darlin. And that's one reason I love you. It's just not about this stuff. I just like being able to surprise you." Jasper smiled and grabbed her hand from the short distance away. "With the way my family is, and how inclusive we are, we don't get to share in the pleasures of life we enjoy with others.

So the few moments we get to show people our world is a good moment. It's why the girls love using you as their Barbie, and why Esme loves cooking for you, why Carlisle will forget that you are not his own child, we love having you in our family. We don't get to share the love we have with many people."

"So your family really does like me?" She asked nervously. She knew some people will just be nice when it comes to their sibling/child's significant other.

"Are you kidding? They already consider you family. They want me to just make it official already." He laughed out loud but she couldn't hold back the shutter.

"Yeah, your family has a weird concept of love huh?" She scoffed and kept her gaze forward. She didn't know why she felt so uncomfortable with the idea of a future with Jasper, maybe it's because she couldn't see a future for herself, and she didn't want to drag him into that.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No, it's just something to get used to." She suddenly craved to know their secret, what they were hiding from her. But she also knew they hadn't pried when it came to her life, so she shouldn't also. But she reminded herself to look later.

"There is a lot you have to get used to with my family." Jasper sighed and his face turned serious. She squeezed his hand, sending as much reassurance as she could. His eyes opened widely, suddenly realizing something she didn't know. "Can I ask you something, and be honest?"

She nodded.

"Do my feelings for you…make you uncomfortable?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not shy in how I feel. I can see myself, with you, for a long time. Does that make you uneasy?" She knew she couldn't lie to him, but she wasn't sure if she could lie to herself either.

"No. It should, I feel like it should. But it doesn't. That scares me."

"Scares you?"

"Yeah, it scares me that after two weeks, a boy can make me feel the way I do. It scares me that I can love you when I barely know you." She realized her words after they already came out and she turned her eyes away. Does she love Jasper?

She knew that he made her feel differently than anyone else. And that every second she wanted to be with him, and when they weren't together she felt like a piece of her was missing. "Let me ask you something."

"Yes Darling?"

"Does the way we feel, why we feel so strongly so fast, have to do with the secret you and your family have?" Her words took him by surprise, but he knew he could not lie to this beautiful creature.

"Yes." Was the only answer he provided, and she didn't ask any more, for that he was truly thankful. He watched her eyebrows furrow as she bit her lip. He could see the thoughts brewing in her head. "I love you, too, by the way."

She made no move other than her breathing taking smile going onto her lips. They rode in silence for only a minute, but they felt no need to fill it. They were happy to just be with each other.

After a short while, they arrived at the next part of the date. There was a small fire already going on the beach, with a blanket laid out. Jasper jumped down effortlessly from the horse and offered a hand to her. The horses walked over to the side and made themselves comfy by the shore. Jasper sat her down on the blanket, pulling her into his arms and draping a blanket over them.

He had a small amount of snacks piled into a picnic basket along with a boom box and flowers all over.

"I just wanted something where we could talk." He whispered in her ear, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her heart skipped a beat at their closeness and she reveled in the feeling of their skin touching. It was the first time she was fully able to be comfortable with a male touching her. But it was Jasper, and she knew he would never do anything to hurt her.

"Jasper, tell me something no one knows about you." Allison whispered after a few minutes of enjoying their contact. She could feel him kiss her hair and trace circles on her hips. She let her eyes close in content.

"I used to love riding horses." He whispered with a laugh, and she smiled softly. Another thing they had in common.

"Used to?" She could feel the circles stop for only a small moment before he resumed. "Ahh, part of the big secret."

"Ally, please understand I want nothing more than to be honest with you. But I need the time to be right."

"There's no better time than the present." She whispered sadly, but she knew he would not give up that easy.

"All in due time, Darlin. I promise. Just give me time. It's….not something you'll take lightly." He sighed sadly, and she turned to look him straight in the eyes.

"But how do you know that?" She demanded more with the desperate look in her eyes than by her tone. "How do you know I won't completely accept you and your family?"

"Because it's a natural human quality."

"You say human as if you are not one." She said with accusation in her voice, and he kept silent. She couldn't help the panic for only one second before understanding took it's place. "Okay, I will not push. But soon?"

"Soon, I promise." She nodded and accepted this answer. He stood from his position and held a hand out to her, which she took. He turned the boom box up before smiling at the beautiful slow song that came on. He held out his hand once more. "May I have this dance?"

"Well of course, kind sir." She giggled as he placed his hands on her waist. Their bodies were so close she could feel his breathing. She nuzzled into his neck, reveling in the smell of sweet honey and vanilla he provided. She wished that the way his family spoke of time was true. She wished she could have forever with this boy. Little did she know, it was truly possible.