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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

    "𝐒𝐎 𝐈 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐎 your physical therapist last night and he says you are making excellent progress. Soon you won't have to use the brace anymore. That's amazing news, Lizzie-bear!"

    Liz couldn't help but scoff on her end of the call. Her grandmother had called her about twenty minutes ago and they have been catching up since. When Liz first got to Forks, Vivian would call almost every night, to the point where Liz wanted to cut the phone line and smash her cell phone out of pure annoyance. Thankfully, Vivian calmed down after two weeks before it got that far.

    Liz missed her dearly and wished she didn't live so far away. Her Nana had become her anchor after the accident, the person who consoled her during the horrible night terrors in the beginning nights after the accident. Who went with her to every doctor appointment, who took time off work when she was having a bad day and did not want to be left home with the nurse who was hired to watch out for her, seeing as it was hard for her to move around in crutches and recovering bruised ribs. She even went to therapy with her when it was recommended by the doctors in the beginning before Liz felt comfortable enough to go on her own.

    Liz had only been there for a couple months, but it felt longer. She may not have liked California all that much but she sure as hell misses her Nana. So she was willing to listen to her ramble on the phone for hours to try to fill the void of not being near her if that's what it took.

    "That's not what he said," Liz corrected, remembering last week when she went to her PT appointment and talked with her trainer. "He said that I'll be able to move around without it when I'm home but highly recommends I wear it whenever I go out."

    "I know it's not ideal but it's a start," Vivian says with a soothing tone. "You have to appreciate the little things, Lizzie-bear. Especially when the big things start to weigh you down."

    Liz sighed and leaned back in her chair by her desk, having heard this plenty of times. "I guess you're right. It's just hard sometimes... especially being back here and not being able to run."

   "Speaking of, have you been to any of the practices since the last time we spoke?"

    Liz had told Vivian in the beginning that she used to secretly watch the girls on the team practice and would get very upset and be very critical. Vivian had advised her granddaughter against doing that and it had taken a little bit before Liz finally listened. It was actually the encounter with Hailey that made her stop going, not wanting to risk another run in with her or any of the other members of the team. By now they have learned her dodging them in the halls was a sign to keep their distance.

    "No, and I'm not going too." Liz told the truth. "You were right, Nana. It wasn't healthy to keep longing for something I can never have again."

    "Oh sweetie, I know it's hard. But things will start to look up."

    Liz smiled softly to herself. "They actually have been lately. Well, sort of. I've made new friends and I managed a C on my last math quiz."

    Vivian let out a surprised gasp. "Well all be damned, that's a miracle if I ever heard one!"

    The curly haired blonde chuckled and rolled her eyes. She didn't bother getting offended because it really was a miracle. "I know. I actually have a tutor who refuses to let me give up. He's pretty cool."

    "Oh, so this miracle man is cool, huh?" Vivian teased, the taunting tone obvious to the young teenager.

    "Did you just casually quote something from the Mighty Ducks movie?"

    There was a long pause on the other end for several seconds. "Damn you, you little brat. That's what I get for watching all those movies with you."

    Liz couldn't resist her chuckle, remembering how she had gotten her grandmother to watch a bunch of her favorites, which did include non horror films as well. Her friends think all she wants to watch is Chucky or Nightmare on Elm Street, which is all true. But sometimes they forget that her favorite movies of all time are any Disney movie created or Dirty Dancing. Vivian appreciated watching Patrick Swayze on screen in his prime. Liz couldn't blame her there.

    "It's not funny, I'm still terrified I'll have a nightmare of a crazy man with a burned off face wielding knives for fingers is gonna come kill me in my dreams."

    This only made Liz laugh harder, knowing how much her grandmother hated her after making her watch that movie. It took a couple seconds for Liz to sober up before speaking again. "It's a very accurate fear, Nana."

    "Anyway, we are changing the subject now," Vivian insisted, ignoring the fact that her granddaughter was making fun of her. It was her own fault, she pressured Liz into putting on her favorite horror films, where the teenager wanted to leave it knowing her grandmother couldn't handle them. Vivian wanted to prove her wrong... but she only ended up proving her right. "Tell me more about this tutor boy. Is he the special someone who you may or may not be going out with tonight?"

    The young blonde's bubbly laughter and smile faltered and her cheeks burned bright, sitting up straight in her chair. "How did you know about that?"

    Vivian giggled in a playful sinister way on the other end of the phone. "I have eyes and ears everywhere, my darling."

    "Mhmm," Liz hummed, moving the phone from one ear to the other. "When did Ester call you?"

    "Last night, after you three got back from Daniel's father's house," Vivian gave in, causing the bushy hair blonde to nod to herself, feeling her stomach twist at the memory of a certain confrontation that happened last night.

    After storming back into the house with unwanted tears streaking down her cheeks and a heavy heart from the weight that was lifted because of the bracelet that has held a place on her left wrist for almost seven years, she didn't feel like interacting after that. As it turned out, everyone had heard their argument from inside, she wasn't exactly quiet. All Liz did was excuse herself in the bathroom where she washed her face before forcing herself to sit back down at dinner, asking everyone not to talk about it as they finished their meals.

    She feared that Ester might have told Vivian what happened, but Liz was trying to forget it ever happened in the first place. She didn't want to talk about it and hoped and prayed that if Vivian does know, that she would not force her into talking about it.

    "Um, yeah. It's not with Emmett, it's with his brother actually." Liz decided to keep the conversation on this path to avoid bringing up last night, which worked because her Nana became ecstatic on the other end and encouraged for all the details.

    So that is what she spent the rest of the phone call doing. She told her about Jasper, leaving out a lot of details of what really brought them together and Vivian listened carefully, inputting here and there. With the promise to call her tomorrow and let her know how it went, the two ended the call only for her to receive a text from Angela not even ten minutes later, claiming she, Jessica and even Bella were coming over in five minutes.

    She wasn't surprised, both girls practically had heart attacks when she told them about the date yesterday at the end of the school day. Both Ester and Danny were at work right now, but both swore they were going to be here to meet Jasper in person. Danny practically insisted after learning who the date was with. He became very weird and skittish, but he kept his mouth shut and only gave a look of disapproval.

    Liz wasn't at all surprised, seeing as Danny was very against her hanging around Jasper before and now she was going on a date with him. She was confused as to why Danny was so nervous about her dating someone in the Cullen family but it only made her wonder how much of his tribe legends he truly believed. They are how she discovered the truth about the Cullen's in the first place. Liz tries not to dwell on it too much and just prays Danny doesn't do anything to embarrass her.

    The girls arrived almost twenty minutes after they texted with Bella in toe but she seemed to have driven herself. Liz was surprised she had come at all, but she was really glad she was here. Only Bella knew the truth about the Cullen's, so it was nice having her here. Neither Angela nor Jessica could believe Liz was actually going on a date with a Cullen, but it was clear Bella was already dating one of them.

    "Seriously Liz, I've seen you wear everything in this closet twenty times over," Jessica complained by her closet as the others sat in her bedroom. Liz was resting against the headboard and Bella was on the end of the bed. Angela was going through Jessica's makeup bag sitting at Liz's vanity and the blonde was trying not to throw a pillow at the strawberry blonde.

    "Why are we worrying about this now? The date's not till seven, anyway." Liz complained, not understanding why she needed to worry about what she was going to wear to a date that was six hours away.

    "Because this is your first date since freshman year and I refuse to let you dress in jeans and a sweatshirt." The strawberry blonde stated firmly, tossing another blouse to the floor. Clothes were piling up on the floor and Liz grunted in her seat, hugging the pillow to her chest.

    Angela turned in her chair to look at her blonde friend. "It's only because we care that we want to make sure this date goes well for you tonight. So if we have to be unbearable, we're gonna be unbearable. It's the rule of friendship, get used to it."

    "I still can't believe you are going out with Jasper Hale," Jessica murmured in disbelief, holding up Liz's favorite blue tank top before tossing it over her shoulder. The annoyed blonde squinted her eyes up at her friend.

    "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

    Jessica's eyes widened when she realized how badly her words sounded and turned to the blonde. "Oh, I didn't mean anything against you, Lizzie. You're amazing and stunning, any guy would be lucky to go out with you, despite your sarcasm and aggression."

     Angela rolled her eyes and sighed. "I think what Jess is trying to say is, Jasper asking you out just seems out of character. You told me yourself that he was a real jerk to you when they first moved here and he is the most distant out of the rest of his family."

     "Yeah, I don't think I ever heard him speak," Jessica added, Angela nodding in agreement. "He broods more than Edward does... oh, no offense Bella."

    The quiet girl looked up from her lap and frowned in confusion. "Why would I take offense to that?"

    "I just assumed you were dating him, right? He did buy you dinner-"

    "And he drove you to school yesterday," Angela added with a smirk. "Even did that whole arm over the shoulder thing, like he was marking his territory on you."

     Bella went to protest but decided against it, her cheeks burning up as Angela turned her attention back to Liz. "Also, Jasper always looks like he is in pain."

    Liz could feel her patience was running thin. "It's called being a loner forced to go to a public school where the students have nothing better to do than gossip and make up rumors and judgment about him and his family."

     Jessica and Angela shared an amused look, before Jessica clawed out like a cat. "Meowww. Haven't even been on a first date yet and she's already defending him."

    "I think it's sweet," Angela smiled, turning to look at the youngest Chambers female and grinning. "Are you nervous?"

    "No," she lied.

    "She's so lying!" teased Jessica.

     Angela giggles. "She's definitely lying. Look at her face, it's so red."

    Liz just rolled her eyes, her face definitely warming up as she couldn't stop thinking about everything that could go wrong tonight. No, she wasn't talking about being on a date with a vampire and how every movie or book would indicate that it could end very badly.

    More like she was terrified she was going to make a fool of herself. She is inexperienced. Her last boyfriend would only take her to the theaters and they hardly kissed. It had taken them four months of dating before they realized that they were better off as friends and he went off to college by the end of the year.

    This was different, because it was Jasper... someone she was falling fast for and she was scared she might do something to mess it up or scare him off. The idea that she was worried about scaring off a vampire was ridiculous, but she couldn't help it. She remembers her mom telling her the story of the first time she met her dad, how she had a crush on him when her parents had hired him to build a deck in the backyard at the end of her senior year of high school.

    He was recommended to Vivian through friends, claiming he was young but knew what he was doing. He was only a year older than Lori, but Robert tried not to let his attraction to her distract him because he needed the money and did not want to get fired for flirting with their daughter.

    It wasn't until about two months after the job was finished and Lori recently graduated, they ran into each other after Lori escaped from a horrible date her parents had set her up with. It was raining and he offered her a ride home, which was the beginning of something wonderful but she did the clique thing and left her jacket in his truck on purpose, knowing he would have to return it. He asked her on a date the very next day and the rest was history.

    Liz remembers telling her mother that it sounded like a bad romance movie encounter, which Lori did not deny that it wasn't. She told Liz she always felt nervous around her father and fluttered and even after being married for over twenty-three years, she still felt that way.

    This is exactly how Liz was feeling right now and even though she loved Jessica and Angela, they weren't exactly helping this situation. Which is why she needed to leave before the thought of throwing the pillow at Jessica becomes the hardcover textbook on her nightstand. "I'm going to get a drink."

    Bella, who has been silently watching the interaction, jumps to her feet with the blonde. "I'll go with you."

    Liz did not protest. Both girls descended down the stairs as Angela went to go help Jessica with digging through her closet. Liz opened the fridge and grabbed two water bottles, handing one to Bella who muttered a thanks and neither girl made their way back up. Liz leaned against the counter and took a big gulp of her water before finally speaking. "I love them... but sometimes I want to kill them. More specifically, Jessica."

    Bella huffs softly in amusement. "It's better than the bitter reaction I got when she found out about Edward. I think she took his many rejections to heart."

    "Yeah, Jess thought he was just playing hard to get. She mostly was focused on him to make Mike jealous, but she doesn't handle rejection well." Liz informs the Swan girl, remembering when the Cullen's first moved here and how Jessica swore she was going to get Edward to go out with her by the end of the year.

    Jessica was very prideful and she took his rejections to heart. She could handle no one in the school being good enough for him, but now he was suddenly all over Bella, just like everyone else. It wasn't hard to see the envy in Jessica's eyes, Liz has had to deal with it for years with the whole Mike situation.

    Bella took another sip, looking up nervously at the blonde. "So your date tonight... you don't know where Jasper is taking you?"

    Liz let out a loud sigh, before shaking her head. "No, though a part of me wished I'd asked. Why?"

    The brunette shrugged nonchalantly. "No reason. Edward kind of invited me over to meet his family today and a part of me was hoping you might be there."

    Liz found Bella's nervousness adorable and almost comforting. Made her realize she wasn't the only one falling for an immortal being.

    That sounds so weird.

    "I don't think so, but I'm sure you'll be fine. You basically know all of them from school besides Esme and she is the most welcoming out of all of them."

    "Yeah, Edward said the same thing."

    "Besides," Liz added, brushing her bushy curls behind her ear but they just fell back in front of her face like usual. Damn hair. "At least you aren't going there to find out the truth of how you survived one of the biggest accidents to happen in the state of Washington in five years. That kind of adds on to the nerves and stress of meeting a vampire family."

    Bella couldn't help but chuckle at her bluntness, Liz joining in as the two decided to make their way back upstairs where Jessica practically destroyed her bedroom. Her blue eyes narrowed into a hard glare at the strawberry blonde who looked up at her innocently.

     "Before you freak out, I found you the perfect outfit to wear tonight."

     Liz's eyes scanned her entire wardrobe spread across her room before slowly taking a step towards the Stanley girl who retreated back, her blue eyes widening in fear. "Jess, if you don't start cleaning up in the next five seconds, I can promise you Mike will not be able to recognize you at prom. Do you understand?"

    Jessica nodded fearfully and immediately started gathering all the clothes. Liz shifted her glare to Angela who squealed and went to help. The blonde let out an annoyed huff and looked over at Bella who had a hand over her mouth, trying to hide her laughter during this situation. When she noticed Liz's heated glare directed to her, Bella nervously cleared her throat before going to help the other girls despite not being the one to make the mess.

    Liz went back to sit on her bed, trying to calm her nerves and mentally prepare herself for tonight.

     It did not help at all.

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  𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓, all Liz wanted to do was crawl into a hole and die. After spending the rest of the afternoon arguing with Jessica about straightening her hair, having to go on a rampage yet again about how her hair was never to be touched with any heat source of any kind because not only did heat damaged her hair but Liz never had the energy to sit still for so long and do it, especially because she had so much hair.

    Plus it never came out right and it was always exhausting because it normally took about an hour to finish. Poor Bella had to listen to her go on and on about how she will never straighten her hair and despite the fact that her wild and bushy curls are a nuisance most of the time, she prefers them over damaged hair any day.

    She knows there are heat protecting sprays and all that, but Liz has never dyed her hair. Not once. She has what hair stylist calls 'virgin hair' and she plans on keeping it that way.

    The girls left a little over an hour ago, Bella needing to go get ready for her own date though she refused to call it that as she was just meeting the family. Angela and Jessica were a lot harder to get rid of but after promising to use Jessica's makeup she had let her borrow and agreed to the outfit she had destroyed her room trying to pick out, which ironically happened to be the outfit Alice had bought her for her birthday, they finally left.

    Now as she was showered, dressed and all dolled up with a little bit of blush and light eye makeup, all the nerves she had been feeling intensified profusely and she felt like she might be sick. She wanted to bash her head against the wall at how ridiculous she was being. She has hung around Jasper plenty of times, and sure he made her nervous before, this feeling was different.

    Dating was out of her element, she had gotten used to turning boys down because she was never interested in any of them, not like she was with Jasper. She grew up with most of the boys in this town and her last relationship ended with a mutual agreement on both sides.

    To make matters worse, as Jasper arrived at seven o'clock on the dot, she finally forced herself down stairs only to find Danny sizing him up at the door, not even bothering to let him pass the threshold. If any of the myths about vampires were true, she might have found that kind of hilarious. Danny had his arms crossed over his chest and stood protectively next to Ester who seemed to be talking the poor boy's ear off.

    "That actually sounds like a nice time, I know Liz is going to love it," Ester said with a bright smile. Liz thought Jasper most likely told Ester of his plans for the evening. Ester, dressed in her work clothes for her night shift at the movie theater, turned to her little sister and her face turned to awe. "Lizzie, you look amazing! Where did you get this outfit?"

    Liz awkwardly walked into Jasper's view and the vampire couldn't help but admire her. She was always beautiful in his eyes and just when he thought she couldn't get more stunning, Liz finds a way to prove him wrong.

    The blonde blushed when meeting his gaze, an anxious smile spreading on her face as she tried to shake away her nerves. "Uh... it was a birthday present."

    Ester nodded, deciding not to question further and pushed Danny back, who hadn't moved from his stiff stance in several minutes, arms crossed and large broad chest puffed out. He had a stern glare settled on Jasper, but said male did not seem fazed by it at all, his gaze never lingering away from the beautiful female in front of him.

    Finally Jasper found his voice. "You look stunning."

     "You don't look so bad yourself," she commented, gesturing to his very nice attire. The Cullen family have always had a keen sense of fashion, which Liz always knew had something to do with Alice and Rosalie, but right now Jasper wore a nice pair black dress pants fitted with a brown belt and a navy blue button up shirt that hugged his arms tightly, the sleeve slightly rolled up to the elbows and the hem of his shift tucked neatly into the pants. His hair was combed back out of his face instead of left wildly, but nothing else was different about him.

    He was still ungodly stunning as normal. Totally not fair.

    "Shall we?" He asked. Liz only nodded, bidding Ester and Danny goodbye and grabbing Jasper's hand.

    "Be back by nine o'clock sharp!" Danny called out to the two. Liz looked over her shoulder with disbelief, giving a knowing look to Ester who just rolled her eyes, holding up all ten fingers and mouthing 'ten o'clock'. Liz just rolled her eyes and allowed Jasper to open the passenger side door. Once they were in, Liz gave Jasper a nervous look.

    "We're not going far, are we?" She asked nervously, hating the fact that her body tensed the moment getting into the car and now she was nervous for a completely different reason.

    Jasper gave her a calm smile. "Don't worry, the car is only a decoy. Don't need to raise suspicion from your sister and brother-in-law if I were to throw you on my back and take off into the woods."

    A bright smile replaced her nervous one, looking at Jasper as he pulled out onto the road. "Well, that's one way to start a date off right. But what are we going to do about the car?"

    "Don't worry, I brought an assistant." He said, causing Liz to frown as she watched Jasper drive a little farther before turning into one of the dirted paths that marked the start of a long hike trail. He drove a little further than we're normal hikers park, until suddenly the view of a small, pixie-like girl standing patiently in front of the vehicle as it came to a slow halt.

    Liz shared a look with Jasper who just winked at her before getting out of the vehicle and going to the passengers side so swiftly, Liz couldn't even reach the handle before he was opening her door. She only smiled and took his hand as he offered it, trying hard to hide her blush as Alice came up with a pep in her step and basically squealed as she pulled the blonde into her arms. "I was hoping you'd choose this outfit. It looks even better on you now then it did in the fitting room."

    Liz returned the embrace and chuckled. "I wasn't given much of a choice in the outfit, but I'm glad Jessica picked it."

    "So am I," Alice beamed as Jasper tossed her the keys for which she caught with grace. "Well, I am not going to waste anymore of your lovebirds time. Liz, I will be calling you later for all the details since I know Jasper will refuse to tell me anything."

    "Don't you already know how tonight's gonna go?"

    "Normally, but are you forgetting you kind of mess with my visions so I can never see clearly?" Alice gently points out though it was clear she found it quite annoying. Liz couldn't help but find her annoyance amusing.

    Liz gave the small vampire an innocent shrug. "Sorry?"

    "Mhmm, I'm sure you are," Alice hums before opening the driver's side door and jumping in. "Have fun kids. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

    "There is nothing you wouldn't do," Jasper teased and Alice didn't deny it, just pressed a kiss to her fingers and blew it at the couple before driving away. Liz shook her head, realizing they were now alone and her nerves hit her once again. "She had to fight Emmett from being the one to be here."

    Liz tilted her head to the side. "Why?"

    "He feels very protective of you, wanted to make himself look intimidating and that I treat you right tonight."

    Liz couldn't stop the smile spreading on her lips. "Yeah, he's like-" But she paused mid-sentence, realizing what she was about to say and stopped herself. Jasper noticed and titled his head.

    "Like what?"

    A part of Liz wondered if Jasper was able to feel what she was feeling right now. She was not all sure if she really understood how his empathy abilities work, even more so on how she was able to affect them so strongly, but she prayed this wasn't one of those times he was able to. Because she was feeling so many different things that she wouldn't know how to explain herself.

    "He's like an overprotective brother." Liz decided to say instead, though that wasn't exactly what was about to fall from her lips, but it was close enough.

    She was going to say Emmett was just like Paul in that way. Paul had always played the overprotective brother status in her life, but she was trying so damn hard to stop comparing things and other people to him. Because he was no longer that person in her life anymore and she did not want to spend the evening wasting another moment thinking about him.

    Jasper noticed the little hesitation in her tone but decided not to press her on it. "I don't think Emmett would want it any other way." Liz smiled as Jasper held out his hand again. "Ready?"

    "Do I get the slightest hint on where we are going?"

    "Not a chance." He teased with a wink and before Liz got the chance to reply, he lifted her by her arm and swung her on his back. Liz barely had her legs wrapped around his waist before he took off into the woods, but soon she was gripping him with all the strength she could muster. An embarrassing squeal escaped her lips which quickly turned into loud chuckles, her arms tightening around his neck. Jasper looked back at her with one of the brightest smiles she has ever seen on him and it was pure bliss from there.

    Adrenaline has always been something Liz chased, it was the reason she ran. She needed an outlet of her temper and stress and self doubt. The accident had taken that escape from her, and it wasn't until just now that Liz realized that she might not have lost it all that much. And being with Jasper was definitely an added bonus.

    It didn't take long for them to reach their destination. Liz had to take a second to come off the high she was feeling to really register where they were at and her brows rose in surprise, immediately recognizing where he had taken her. It was the fire house that he had taken her to when he told her he was a vampire.

    She turned towards him in confusion, tilting her head to the side. "You know, last time you brought me here, everything I knew about the world changed. Are you about to tell me there are aliens too?"

    Jasper chuckled, his hands tucked into his pockets and shook his head with a wide grin. "No."

    "Goblins?" The Chambers girl took another guess, and the vampire just rolled his eyes and started moving towards the front doors that used to be chained shut but no longer were. "Witches? Wizards? Oh my gosh, Harry Potter was based on real events, wasn't it?"

    "Yes, and I have a wizard hiding in the trees waiting to turn you into any wild creature of my choosing if you don't get inside."

    Liz straightened her back and saluted. "Yes, sir, Mr. Hale!"

    Jasper shook his head as Liz entered the room, the blonde stopping a few steps in when she noticed the place was lit up in a bunch of candles spread out everywhere, some on the edges of the window sills that were boarded up with cardboard. The inside wasn't entirely cleaned up, you could still see the spray paint on the far walls, but they were hardly visible compared to the bright light of the candles and white curtains displaying so elegantly, hung up by two of the old fire poles that were next to one another. Another white sheet was spread out on the floor with a small two person table in the middle, draped with a cream cloth. A beautiful centerpiece was displayed, and the type of flowers nearly melted her heart when she realized them.

    Daffodils. Beautiful, freshly picked daffodils, a mixture of the brightest yellow and white. Pick me a flower, will you? Preferably a daffodil. Those are my favorite.

    Liz was in too much of a shock, she barely noticed as Jasper grabbed her hand and moved towards the table, the Chambers female could barely form words as he went to pull out a chair, offering her the seat. Liz could barely keep the blush that exploded on her face and neck, watching as Jasper reached down behind the tablet and lifted a large, brown picnic basket.

    "Sorry if this is all a bit too much, I wanted to take you to an actual restaurant but Alice and Esme advised that since I wouldn't be eating anything that it might seem a bit strange," he explains softly. If he could blush, he would be bright red right now. "The food is actually from earlier. Esme and Carlisle insisted on making Bella dinner for when she came over but she already had eaten and instead of buying food like Emmett suggested because he knows you prefer pizza and anything sweet, I figured I'd try to make this fancy for you."

    Jasper revealed the plate under the tray and Liz had to do everything in her power not to drool from the smell. She inhaled deeply and sighed in pleasure before looking back up at her date. "Jasper Hale, there is one thing you never have to worry about, and that is if there is too much food. Everything looks wonderful."

    Jasper grinned. "Good. Because I even went to a local bakery and got you brownies. Bella casually let it slip that you loved sweets."

    Liz eyed the box placed on the table hungrily, her nerves replaced with hunger. "You messed up, Jasper Hale."

    He frowned. "I did?"

     "Yes," Liz nodded. "Because I am about to become very unlady-like as I devour all this food and then attack those brownies and I can't promise you it will be pretty."

     A genuine laugh came from him. "Have at it, Liz Chambers. I promise not to think less of you."

    "I sure hope not. If I can get over the fact that you drink blood, you can get past this," she says, pausing to take a large bit out of the garlic bread in front of her. She moaned in joy, before attacking the pasta. "You know for vampires, you sure know how to cook."

    Jasper was trying not to laugh. "Esme and Carlisle are very good at following instructions in a cookbook."

    Despite her warnings, Liz tried to not make a total fool of herself throughout the meal, the two talking about sweet nothings the entire time. Jasper had a bad habit of dodging questions she would ask about his past, which Liz tried not to take too personally, remembering how he said he doesn't have a good one and did not want to push.

    So Liz basically told him all about how she got into running track, she told him about her struggle with school since she was a kid and how much she appreciated Emmett's help and patience. She even spoke a little about her parents, which she didn't find to be too hard because he was just really easy to talk to.

    Soon, they moved up to the roof with Jasper's suggestion and they were currently laying flat on their backs on top of one of the sheets he had taken from downstairs, staring up at the bright stars.

    Everything was going fine and dandy until he said something that basically sent her into a state of shock. "You mean to tell me you've never seen Dirty Dancing?"

    "I have not." He says calmly, like it was no big deal.

    "How is that possible? That movie is iconic! Patrick Swayze?"

    "I've just never felt the need to watch it."

    Liz leaned turned her head to stare at the side of his face, frowning. "You know Jasper, I don't think this is going to work between us."

    Jasper, who was still staring up at the stars, smirked amusingly. "Is that so?"

    "Yes. I don't think I can be with someone who is so uncultured."

    "I'm uncultured? Because I haven't seen one Swayze movie?" He asked, though Liz knew he was trying so hard not to laugh.

    "Have you seen any Swayze movie?"

     Jasper hesitated. "Not exactly."

    "Oh my poor ears, they can't believe what they are hearing!" Liz covered both her ears with her palms. Despite her covered ears, she could still hear Jasper's hysterical laughter like this was the most amusing thing he has ever heard.

    After a few seconds she removed her hands and let them fall to the side. "Okay, well you know what, next time we do this, we are having a major movie night. I'm talking about the full Swayze experience. Ghost, Outsiders, and the legendary Dirty Dancing. And we are doing it in that mansion you call a house. I saw that plasma when I was there the other day. Perfect size for Swayze."

    Jasper turned his head, the two were now face to face with a small space between them. A part of Jasper wanted to move closer, but he didn't push it. This is the closest he's allowed himself to be with her all night. He was struggling but he knew he would rather be torn to shreds than to ever harm this girl.

    But her words did something strange to him. He isn't sure what, but he felt warm and genuinely happy about what she said. "So there's going to be a next time, huh?"

    Liz's pale cheeks darkened, even in the night she was sure they were visible with the moon as he bit her lips. "Pass me those brownies and there just might be." Jasper grabbed the box they had brought up to the roof with them and Liz took a bit into the sweetness gooey desert. "Mmm, you know, you're lucky you don't eat, cause I wouldn't share these with you even if you did."

    "Duly noted. A way to Liz Chambers' heart is with sweets."

    Liz giggled. "You got that right." Silence fell over them as she finished her sweet desert, both went back to admiring the stars. Liz has never been one for stargazing, and she regrets never doing it until now. It was beautiful. She didn't want to ruin the quiet peace but a question has been nagging at her for a little bit now. "Jasper?"

    "Yes, m'lady?"

    His southern drawl always made her stomach do butterflies, forcing herself to clear her throat. "Is there a reason you don't want to talk about your past?" Jasper didn't say anything right away, didn't even move. Liz immediately shook her head. "I'm sorry. Please forget I asked."

    "No. It's alright." He mumbled his reassurance, staying silent for another couple seconds before turning her head to face her once again. Liz met his stare. "I am not proud of my past. I try really hard to forget that part of myself, the life I had before Alice found me and we came to the Cullen's together. She saved me from myself. And because she's Alice, she saw me coming. Walked right up to me and said we were going to be the best of friends. I thought she was insane. She only proved that to be a little true."

    "So you and Alice never-" Liz paused, not sure how to ask but Jasper understood what she was trying to say.

    "No. It has never been like that for us."

    A strange sense of relief lifted from Liz's chest as she lifted her eyes back to meet his. He reached out and tucked her curly hair behind her ear gently, his fingers grazing her cheeks and she shuttered slightly.

    Jasper let out another sigh before continuing to speak. "My past is not a happy one. I don't want to ruin this moment by talking about that. Because right now- right now I am the happiest I've been in over five decades. I promise to tell you soon. But right now, I just want to be close to you."

    Liz's heart was hammering in her chest, not being able to find the words to respond. Instead, she forced a nod, before grabbing Jasper's hand that was still stroking her cheek and intertwining their fingers, shifting her body a little bit closer to him. Jasper didn't protest, but Liz knew she was taking a risk, but at the moment she didn't care. She just needed to be closer to him. Even if it was just an inch or two, she wanted this closeness with him.

    "Is this okay?" She whispered softly.

    Jasper never moved his gaze from hers. "More than okay."

    It was the most intimacy she will indicate, not daring to go for a kiss. She wants him to have full control, to ease both of their minds.

    So for right now, this was absolutely perfect.

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Surprise! I'm alive!

So sorry I have been MIA. Honestly just haven't had the motivation to write. But I missed my bby's and needed to get back to them.

I love this chapter. Filled my heart with joy so I hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter we get back into the Twilight plot so you know what that means... the baseball scene and James. Can't wait to finish Twilight and get to New Moon, so many plans.

I'll try not to disappear for so long but not gonna make any promises. Stress has a way of messing with my head.

Thanks for reading!

(Liz's outfit)