New chappy chapter! A bit more Esme and Carlisle in this one! Even Eddywart makes a momentary appearance! Enjoy!
~Chapter Nine~
Standing on my front porch, I look back at Jasper, who is on my steps, waiting for me to go inside. "Are you sure you don't want to just come inside, and wait with me?" I ask.
"No, Lily. I have to go get ready for tonight's ball game, and so do you." He takes my hand in his, pressing a kiss to the knuckle, causing me to fluster, heat streaks across my cheeks, and I smile at him, biting my lip momentarily. "Well... It won't take long for me to get ready," He pulls me close, pressing his lips to my own, causing me to hum as we pull apart. "so, leave your balcony doors open. I'll be back in about fifteen minutes." I nod as I head inside, watching him ride off on his back, before I turn, closing the door while biting my lip, leaning against the door.
"Where did you go?" Jason suddenly asks as I jump, pressing my hand to my chest, looking at him.
"No where." I lie, crossing to the stairs, when he snatches up my wrist, turning me against my will.
"You were with Hale, weren't you!?" He demands, causing me to yank my arm back, glaring at him.
"So, what if I was!" I snap.
"Just, be careful- you know what he is!" He hisses as I pull back, staring in surprise.
"Are you... worried about me?" My eyes widen as he steps back, crossing his arms over his chest.
"No!" It sounds as though I accused him of something as he looks away, an embarrassed expression on his face. "Fine, yes!" He says, looking over at me. "We're family." He states.
"Thank you, Jason..." I wrap him in a loving hug, he freezes at first, before hugging me back, he rests his forehead on top of my head. "I mean it."
"Got big plans today?" He asks after I start upstairs.
"I'm going to watch Jasper and his family play baseball." I answer, causing Jason to chuckle.
"Oh wait... you were serious?" He smirks. "Okay. Go ahead then, you were going upstairs?" I give a nervous grin, before turning, rushing up the stairs as fast as I can, and into my room. Hurrying to grab a change of clothes, I jump in my shower, washing my body and hair, I climb out, toweling off as fast as I can, dressing in tight black jeans, a long sleeve gray shirt with a light blue baseball jersey buttoned over top, and black sneakers, my blonde hair is pulled back into two pigtails, and I replace my piercings with stud earrings.
Entering my room once more, I nearly jump out of my skin, seeing Jasper sitting on my ottoman at the foot of my bed, a rigidly straight back as I calm my rapidly beating heart. "What is it with everyone, and scaring me today?" I teasingly accuse.
"My apologies, darlin." He stands as I step over to him, he stands, wrapping his arms around my waist, kissing me chastely on the lips, before grinning. "If it's any consolation, your scared face is adorable." He jokes, causing me to scowl up at him.
"I don't think I want to go anymore." I state, hiding my playful tone with the fake scowl, his face drops as I cross my arms, turning away.
"Darlin, I'm sorry. Forgive me, please!" He begs, hugging me from behind, I pretend to ignore him as he peppers kisses across the back of my neck, causing me to squirm, finally escaping with a squeal, turning to him with a huge smile.
"Fine!" I sigh, he grins as he steps up, wrapping his arms around my waist once more, and I blush as I step on my tiptoes, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his lips, being only able to reach the corner, even on my toes. He starts to chuckle, which shifts into a roar as soon as I cross my arms in a pout, he throws his head back, vibrating with laughter as I reach up, tugging at his collar once he calms down a bit, and he leans over to kiss me. "Don't make fun of this short girl, she don't like it." I teasingly state, causing him to nod.
"Yes ma'am." He grins, taking my hand in his. "So... you gonna introduce me to your parents?"
"You've already met them." I state.
"How about I rephrase that? You gonna introduce me to your folks as your boyfriend?" He asks, a sideways grin on his perfect lips, causing me to blush as I look down.
"Do you suppose that's wise?" I ask, pointedly staring at my feet, he suddenly lifts my head, my chin caught between his thumb and index finger, his golden eyes are staring into my iridescent blue ones, causing my cheeks to heat up once more.
"You wanna tell me what's wrong, darlin?" He asks, his southern accent peeks out for a moment.
"It's just," I pull away, raking my fingers through my bangs as I think ove my words carefully. "is that was we are? Boyfriend and girlfriend? I mean, I was under the impression that we're... more than that," I look over at him. "I've never been in a relationship before, so I dunno... besides that-" He steps up, capturing my lips to silence my ramblings.
"Darlin, you need to breathe. You're working yourself up, and it'll end in a panic attack." He caresses my cheek as I take a deep breath, his scent, the scent of honey, spiced apples, and a bit like the smell of Fall, fills my nose, causing me to physically relax. "Alright, now explain."
"I just believe, that the usage of boyfriend and girlfriend, don't exactly apply here," I pause for a breathe, his scent hits me once more. "it just seems too... juvenile." I explain, causing him to look at me in slight surprise.
"Juvenile? Well... what would you prefer?" He inquires, causing my face to erupt with heat as I press my hands to my face, looking away.
"I don't know!" I exclaim, looking at him for a moment to see that sexy side smirk on his face. "Mates? Lovers? Soulmates? Significant others?" I provide, causing him to chuckle as he pulls me to him, resting his chin on my shoulder, before he presses a kiss to the side of my exposed neck, inhaling my scent deeply.
"I enjoy the idea of calling you my soulmate," He purrs. "I also enjoy the idea of calling you my lover." He voice is heavy, he presses a kiss to the underside of my ear, causing me to blush once more.
"My parents... you wanted to meet them?" I remind him, causing him to sigh as he pulls away, lacing his fingers through my own, and he leads me to the balcony, where he kisses me.
"I better come in through the front door, like a relatively normal person." He explains, before jumping down, my breath hitches in my throat as he lands gracefully, on his feet, jogging around the side of the house towards the porch, and I step into my room, taking as deep breathe as I close the balcony doors.
"Jasper Hale is here!" I jolt, flipping around to find Jennifer peeking her head in, her nose crinkling at what I am wearing. "He's asking for you." She states.
"I know." I start down stairs. "We have a date tonight." I explain, rounding the banister, where my eyes land on Jason, Zeke, and Max in the foyer, each staring at Jasper with a glare, while Mary and Melody are looking at him in curiosity, as I beam. "Enough, guard dogs. Down you go." My brothers leave the foyer, while Mary skips out the door, and Melody goes back to her reading, Jennifer is following me as I step down, grabbing Jasper's hand with my left one, which he brings to his lips, kissing my knuckle as I blush, leading him into the living room.
"He's back." I hear Matthew mutter, causing me to look over at Jasper, who's brow is drawn.
"Be nice." Sheryl states as we stop before my parents, on the couch, who stare up at us.
"Um... Sheryl, Matthew, this is Jasper Hale, he wanted to formally meet you." I explain as Jasper reaches a hand towards Matthew, who takes it in a tight grip, shaking it.
"Nice to meet you, sir." He turns to Sheryl, shaking her hand softly. "You as well, ma'am." He smiles, and instantly the air feels lighter, the tension is replaced with acceptance, and I know it's currently Jasper, who's turning it into his favor for me.
"Well, that is a civil greeting!" Matthew suddenly booms, Sheryl beams at the two of us, as Jasper smiles, wrapping an arm around my waist. "Well met, Jasper. I hear you have a date tonight," I growl Jason's name under my breath. "what exactly is it, that you are doing?" He asks, causing me to smile.
"We're playing baseball, with his family." I provide.
"Baseball? Alrighty then!" Sheryl laughs, causing me to blush.
"We need to go now." I state, causing Jasper to chuckle as we leave the room, starting outside to round to the backyard, before I can inquire as to where we're going, he pulls me onto his back.
"I'm going to show you how I travel." He states. "You might want to close your eyes, otherwise you might get sick." I clench my eyes shut, burying my face in his neck, before long I heard him speak again. "We're here." I look up to see that we're at the edge of a huge field, the other members of his family are already there, preparing to play, when Jasper gently drops me on my feet, causing me to sway a bit, before I clutch his arm, righting myself.
"That was fast." I state, causing him to chuckle as Alice looks up, twirling over to me at lightning speed, she stumbles to a stop, wrapping me into a hug, causing me to let out a laugh as she pulls back.
"You came! My vision I had was switching back and forth between you coming to the field, or you staying home, watching movies. I'm so glad you came!" She smiles at me, suddenly Esme is by my side, hugging me with that motherly smile of hers. I notice that Alice has a far off look in her eyes, causing me to become concerned, reaching out a hand to rest on her shoulder, she blinks rapidly with a frown. "Guys!" Everyone looks at her. "It's going to rain. If we play tonight, with Lily here, she's going to get really sick, and die." I blink in surprise, Jasper's arm stiffens around my waist, and I look up at him, as suddenly the entire family is over beside us.
"Let's go back to the house," Esme suggests.
"Jasper," He looks at Carlisle. "take the Jeep, we brought it in case something happened." My blonde Adonis nods, lifting me up in his arms, and runs over to a big, hulking, off road, yellow Jeep, where he places me softly in the passenger seat, and I quickly buckle up, before struggling with my harness, which Jasper takes his time setting up, before he starts the Jeep, starting towards his home.
"I'm sorry." I state.
"Don't be sorry," Jasper takes my hand.
"Well, I am! You were all so excited to play tonight, and because of me, the game is rained out. You all still would have been able to play, if not for me being so frail." I sigh, looking out the window in mental exhaustion, but Jasper isn't having any of that.
"Look at me." I reluctantly look over at him. "You are my first priority, alright? My family loves you, they love spending time with you, and they think of you as family."
"But, Edward-"
"Will come around. He just needs to settle things with Bella." Jasper assures me, a comfortable silence settles over us. "Alice had a vision," I look at him in confusion. "she saw you and Bella, you were... like us."
"You mean, a vampire?" I ask softly.
"Exactly," He rubs his neck with a hand, then looks at the road.
"But, I'm already immortal... what could happen that I needed to be changed?" I ask softly, my gaze falls to my lap, which my hands rest in.
"I'm not sure, but I have been asking her to keep an eye on your future, for any dangers. My family and I are worried, for you." He stops on the garage of the house, and he leans over to undo the harness and I unclip my seatbelt, opening my door as I attempt to shimmy down to the garage floor, but Jasper is there, lifting me from the Jeep, and setting me on the floor. Taking his hand, he directs me inside as I follow meekly, the rest of his family is there already, Alice is beside Emmett of the couch, laying upside down with her feet over the back of it, game controller in hand as she stares at the TV, she's playing a race car game with Emmett, and beating him from the looks of it.
Rosalie is on Emmett's other side, alternating from watching the video game, to reading the fashion magazine in her hands, while Esme and Carlisle are locked in a chess game, holding each other's hands on the side of the board, and Edward is at the piano, playing a beautiful melody. Jasper moves us past all of them without a sound, leading me downstairs, to the basement, which, honestly, to no surprise, is his bedroom.
The room is large, with navy blue walls, snow white carpet, a large bookshelf lines the right wall, a collection of CDs, books, and old leather bound journals line the shelf, each shelf is labeled, and an old stereo system is in the middle of the bottom shelf. There is a flat screen against the back wall, with a bathroom on the right of it, a white couch sits before the TV, with dark wooden end tables on either end of it, a closet sits on the left wall, just past a queen size, four post bed, which has white satin sheets, a blue comforter, and blue and white striped pillows.
"Wow!" I state, looking around in shock.
"Not what you expected?" He teases.
"Not what I expected, from you." I turn to him. "Alice?"
"Alice." He confirms, my eyes are drawn to the shelf, which I step over to, trailing my gaze over each of the books, I pause at the journals, my eyes widen as I see my name. Bringing a hand up, I you a finger to to the spine of the first one, dragging it across to the fourth one, causing him to clear his throat, obviously nervous. "I-" He places his hand over my own, squeezing it as he brings it away from the shelf, turning me to him. "At first, I wasn't sure if I should be writing about you, you aren't exactly obvious with your feelings. Then the accident happened, and I couldn't get you out of my mind, I mean... you weren't scared, you were worried. About Bella. About Tyler, it's like your mind didn't process that you'd been hurt, and when I looked into your eyes, I couldn't smell your blood, I could only smell you." He explains.
"I seem to be an anomaly." I joke as I look up at him.
"You were. I felt like... I had to figure you out, I couldn't push you away like Edward does Bella, I had to protect you. Do you know how hard it is, watching you every day? Every night?" He asks.
"Night? Wait!" I stare up at him. "You really were in my room the night of the accident!?" My eyes widen as he looks sheepish. "The night after that?" I ask.
"Yeah." He rubs his neck.
"How long have you been watching me sleep at night?" I demand, my anger is slowly simmering.
"Since the first day we met?" His answer turns into a question at the end, causing me to pull away.
"Are you serious, right now?!" I demand, pressing my hands to my forehead. "You cannot be serious!"
"Are you mad?" He asks.
"Of course I am mad! I know that I talk in my sleep, I can't imagine what embarrassing things I might have said!" I sigh as I hug my arms to my chest.
"Hey! Hey, hey hey." He grabs me by the shoulders, turning to face him, he caresses my cheek. "You didn't say anything embarrassing."
"What DID I say? What did you hear?!" I cry.
"Nothing bad, I promise. The first night, you were restless, you talked about wanting to go home. The second night, you talked about your new family, how you hoped it'd be better this time. The third night, you talked about your biological parents, how you missed them. It's been like that, pretty much the whole time. You said my name a few times, cried for Bella after the accident, I think that you were reliving the accident." He presses his forehead to mine, my face flames. "Nothing to be embarrassed of. I promise." He says as I sigh, nodding gently.
"Alright." I feel myself calm down as I reach down, grabbing his hand as he gives me a soft kiss, before leading me to the couch. I now see a cabinet under the TV, full of DVDs, a videogame console sits on top of it, beside a DVD player, and a couple white candles, which Jasper lights, making the room smell of vanilla almost instantly. He turns on the TV, as I plop down on the floor, opening the large cabinet, to find about a gazillion DVDs, causing me to reach in, picking out Beauty and the Beast, putting it on as Jasper chuckles. "What?"
"I didn't say nothin, darlin." He states as I drop on the couch beside him.
"You laughed." I state.
"I did not." He states, his sweet southern accent causing me to grin, biting my bottom lip.
"Did too!" I poke him in the face, causing him to playfully snarl, nipping at my finger, which I snatch back, playfully sticking my tongue out at him.
"Alright, I just find it funny that you picked out a Disney movie, and such a little kid one at that." I scoff at him, slapping him on the arm, and cross my arms over my chest.
"This is my favorite Disney movie!" I pout, causing him to sigh as he pulls me against him, arm around my waist.
"Alright, darlin. I apologize." He gives me that sweet sideways grin, causing me to forgive him instantly, stealing quick kiss as I do so, causing him to chuckle as I snuggle against his side, his arm around my shoulders, our fingers interlaced as my head rests on his shoulder, and my legs are across the couch, resting comfortably as we watch the movie. I don't remember when I fell asleep, the last thing that I remember was, after Beauty and the Beast, Jasper turned on Bad News Bears, and I started to nod off at the opening.
Waking up late, the next day, I realize that one: I am still in my clothes from yesterday, two: I am at home, in bed, and three: my arm is around someone's torso, a hand trails up and down my spine, sending tingles down my back, causing me to grin, happily. Blinking open my eyes, the stroking stops as I stretch my legs and arms, giving a soft yawn as I look up, seeing Jasper propped up against my headboard. He's dressed differently from yesterday, grey denim jeans, a green long sleeve, button up, shirt, and black boots. "Good morning." I murmur, causing him to beam as I slowly sit up, looking around as I rake a hand through my hair.
"Good mornin, darlin." He slowly gets out of the bed.
"How did I get home?" I ask.
"I brought you home in Carlisle's Mercedes, then I took it back to the house, and brought my bike back, it's out on the forest path, outback. Didn't want your folks getting suspicious." He states, causing me to nod, looking at the clock to see is 7:39, telling me that I missed my ride with Bella, and my parents already left.
"I'm late!" I cry, rushing into my closet, I grab the first thing that I touch, racing out towards the bathroom, when Jasper stops me.
"I'm taking you to school today, so don't worry about it- I even texted Bella from your phone, telling her you have a ride today." His words instantly calm me, causing me to let out a relieved sigh, and he nods. "So, continue with your daily routine, I'll get you some breakfast." I listen to him, disappearing into the bathroom, where I shower, change, brush my teeth, and fix my hair, then hurry downstairs in my combat boots with my bag of school supplies. Rounding into the kitchen, Jasper looks up from putting a plate in my spot at the table, before he lets out a loud laugh.
"W-What?" I ask.
"We match." He says, eyes twinkling with mirth as I look down. I am dressed in a forest green Blank Cut Shredded Shirt with a black tank top under it, a pair of grey denim skinny jeans, and my black combat boots.
"Oh... I guess we do." He chuckles at my realization as I sit down, staring at the scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, and hashbrowns on my plate, looking up at him in surprise as he sits across from me.
"Something wrong?" I shake my head, grabbing my fork, and start to eat, once I've finished, I rinse my plate looking over at him. Grabbing my bag from my chair, along with my windbreaker from the mud hutch, I shrug them both on, following him out the door, over to the bike. He plops the helmet on my head, slipping his on as I tighten the strap around my chin, climbing on the bike behind him, I hold onto him as we start down the drive, racing off towards the school with a compatible silence between us.
This is around 3,500 words, so I hope this will tide you all over until I get the next chapter published! I don't need to repeat the rules, but I am gonna, cause I wanna! 2 reviews equals a new chapter! Read, review, and enjoy!