The Forgotten Twin

Chapter 2

Rhea's POV

Jasper had managed to convince me to attend Bella's party. Due to the fact that I 'accidentally' left Alice's gift at school, I was able to wear one of my favorite dresses. It was a short little black number with a small train. A small zipper went down the front but it was purely for decoration. I paired it with my black heels. Jas waited patiently for me in the car as I kissed Dad goodbye on the cheek and told him not to wait up. He told me I looked beautiful and I felt my cheeks growing red, not used to the compliments.

Along the drive, I asked Jas how he got changed. He told me what he did for Maria during the civil war. How he trained newborn armies and what he was forced to do when they outlived their usefulness. With one hand still on the wheel, he rested the other on my lap and told me to roll up his sleeve. I did as instructed and it was covered in bite marks like Bella's.

"Oh, Jas," I whispered in awe of his strength and courage.

He stayed silent after that. Eyes pitch black and focused on the road. I continued to play with his fingers with the hope of calming him down. Gold slowly seeped back into his eyes and his tense posture relaxed. He pulled in to their garage and we got out of the car.

"Is Rhea even coming?" I heard Rose ask as I walked inside. "Great the human's here."

"I'm touched, Rose. And here I thought we were better friends than that," I said in a teasing manner knowing that she thought I was Bella.

"Thank god you're here," Rose muttered as she sped over to me and wrapped me in a big hug. "I thought that I was going to have to endure this alone."

"Well, I couldn't let you suffer."

Together we walked arm in arm up to their main living room to find it completely decorated for Bella. It stung a bit but one look at Jas and a reassuring squeeze from Rose told me that I wasn't truly forgotten. Alice twirled around the room going from decoration to decoration making sure everything was perfect.

Another car pulled into the driveway and Alice said, "It's time."

Bella and Edward joined in the festivities and Alice began taking pictures. Rose and I retreated to our respective mates but still stood near each other. Jas wrapped his arm around my waist and held me close. I put on the fake smile I do every year around this time and just waited for it to be over.

Bella walked over to Carlisle and Esme where she received a hug from each of them. "Sorry about all this. We tried to rein Alice in," Carlisle said moving back to wrap his arm around Esme.

"Like that's even possible. Happy Birthday, Bella!" Esme exclaimed.

A flash went off in their general direction. I looked across the room to spot Alice with a camera. "Found it in your bag. Mind?" Alice asked. Bella softly shook her head.

Edward and Emmett had a not so private conversation about age which I definitely knew Bella heard. Alice shoved a small silver package in Rose's hands and gives her a shove towards Bella.

"It's a necklace. Alice picked it out," Rose huffed, shoving the package in Bella's hands before walking back to my side. I gave her a gentle squeeze in thanks for trying.

Bella gives a small wave to Ryan who has moved to stand on the other side of Jas. Alice takes another picture of just Bella and Edward claiming it is for the scrapbook Renee apparently gave to Bella for her birthday. Alice demanded that Bella open her presents. We all moved closer to a large table with multiple presents on it as well as a three-tiered cake.

"Alice, I'm the only one who even eats cake. That thing could feed fifty," Bella said in disbelief.

"Hope you're hungry," Alice said before picking up a fairly large present off of the table. "Here, this one's from Emmett."

Bella carefully takes it from Alice and gives it a shake.

"Already installed it in your truck," Emmett said before she could open it. "Finally, a decent sound system in that piece of-"

"Don't hate on the truck," Bella interrupted. "Thank you, Emmett."

"Here," Alice said handing her an envelope, "from Carlisle and Esme."

"Just a little something to brighten your day," Esme said kindly. "You've been looking a little pale lately."

Bella opened the envelope but her accident-prone self got a paper cut. I looked at Jas to find him staring intensely at me not even paying attention to Bella. Ryan however, wasn't so lucky. His eyes turned pitch black and he charged at Bella. Edward knocked Bella back to attempt at taking on Ryan. They both slam together and I have to cover my ears from the sound they make. Emmett and Carlisle make an attempt to hold Ryan back while Alice tries to calm him down. I look over at Bella to see her bleeding even worse than before.

AN* Pretend that is Ryan and not Jasper

Jas calmly walks over to Ryan and said, "Enough, Colonel."

Ryan immediately stops and ... salutes Jasper.

"Major," Carlisle said, giving a slight head nod.

"What's going on?" I asked walking closer to the scene.

"Hello ma'am," Jas said gently taking my hand in his, gave a little bow, and kissed the top of my hand.

"You're not Jasper."

"Rhea, this is Major. Jasper's alter ego," Carlisle said.

A small smile made its way upon my face as I saw Jas-Major twitch nervously in front of me. "Hello, Major. I'm Rhea."

The attention was turned back on Bella as Edward helped her walk upstairs somewhere. Carlisle rushed off to help her. Esme and Rose worked with Emmett to clean up the broken glass. I tried to help handle the bloody parts so they wouldn't strain themselves but Major pulled me back to his side.

"I just want to help," I said looking into his charcoal eyes. He gave the smallest of nods and I stood up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. I grabbed what I could before we threw it in a fire pit outside and watched it burn. "This would be the perfect night for a s'more," I said to myself as I watched the flames get higher.

"Darlin'," Jas said. I could tell he switched back because he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back from the growing fire. "We should get you back. Charlie will be suspicious as to why Bella's back and you aren't."

"It's because you like me better," I teased.

"That I do Darlin', that I do."

We walked through the house towards the car when a voice from behind stopped us. "Wait! We still have one more birthday to celebrate." I turned around to find Rose with a gift in her hand slightly bigger than the one she handed Bella and it was wrapped in blue wrapping paper.

We walked back to the living room to see a small array of chocolate cupcakes with blue frosting and double the number of presents on the table. "You guys," I gushed. "You didn't have to do this."

"Yes, we did," Emmett insisted.

"After we heard what you said to Jasper we knew we had to do something," Esme said walking over to give me a big hug. "You're family and we take care of our own."

I felt a few tears leak out of my eyes and I was speechless. I finally felt like I belonged. I opened present after present and laughter could be heard throughout the house. Everyone had a great time and soon enough I fell asleep listening to the quiet rumble of Jas's laughter.