Jasper:
Be there in 10
Scarlett:
Mind the speed limit
Jasper:
Anything for you
Scarlett:
🥰
Scarlett was ready before she got Jasper's ETA text. She had some dark jeans tucked into her boots. A black lace cami under a green and black plaid shirt she had left unbuttoned. Her hair was in soft waves that bounced as she took the stairs down from her bedroom. "He's almost here." She said, walking into the living room.
Brian looked up from the couch with a boyish grin on his face. "Seriously Brian?" She said looking over all the cleaning tools laid out on the coffee table for the shotgun in his hand. "What? I clean her every week." She blanched and crossed her arms over her chest. "You're not fooling me Sir." He at least had the decency to look sheepishly at his step-daughter but he would not apologize for making sure this boy knew exactly what he was getting himself into.
The doorbell rang and Scarlett moved to open it. She couldn't remember not seeing him look perfect, this time was no different. "Hi." She said softly. He smiled down at her, "Hello darlin'." She moved to the side to let him in and he kissed her quickly on the side of the head as he passed. "Brian is in the living room. This way." She closed the door and led him toward the left. The moment they entered there was a snap of the barrel going back into place and Scarlett rolled her eyes. This man.
"Hello Mr. Hartigan. I'm Jasper." He stuck out his hand and Scarlett smirked at the look on her stepfather's face when Jazz introduced himself. There was a moment of hesitation before he reached forward and shook his hand. "Jasper as in the Jasper who saved Dee from that van?"
Jasper glanced at Scarlett unsure exactly how to navigate through this conversation and so she took the lead. "The one and only." She beamed a smile and Jasper's shoulders relaxed some. "Well I guess I should be thanking you then." The older man started rubbing the back of his neck, a habit he always had when he was caught off guard.
"I was happy to do it and I'd do it again. In a heartbeat." Apparently it was getting very hot in the damn living room. Scarlett could feel her cheeks start to flush. "I better not keep you two." Brian walked around the table and kissed his stepdaughter's cheek. "Have fun and be safe." He said giving Jasper another once over. "Always." She said before she headed back to the mud room with Jazz on her trail. She grabbed her leather jacket and bag before they walked out the door.
"Wow." She said walking up to the hunter green chevy impala. She walked completely around the car to get a good look at it. "You like?" He asked, leaning against the passenger side as she inspected. "It's a 1967. Shit, it's a classic." She stopped when she went full circle and was back in front of Jasper who had a look of surprise on his face.
"You want it?" He asked while he opened the door so she could get inside. "Pft, Yea okay." Two blinks and he was opening the drivers side and getting in. "If you want it it's yours." He repeated as he turned on the car. After the click of her seatbelt he pulled onto the road. "I'm not taking a car from you."
"Why not?" Scarlett was dumb struck when she realized he was not joking in the slightest. Her eyes narrowed a bit. "Because it's too much, that's why." How was she supposed to explain to Brian that the guy she sort of started dating gave her an entire car. "Where are we going?" She asked, trying to change the subject but also because she didn't recognize where they were heading. "My house." He answered and she turned her gaze from the window.
"I'd like you to formally meet my family."
"I've already met your family." She wasn't against the idea but she wouldn't be human if she wasn't a little nervous about it all. Most because while she had met his family this time she was meeting them with the knowledge of what they really were. "You haven't met my mother yet."
"Oh." His mom. Scarlett looked down at her outfit, was this appropriate to meet someone's vampire mom? What if his mom took one look at her and didn't think she was good enough? Her panic drained from her body and her blue eyes flickered over to Jasper. "Thanks." She said softly, knowing that it was all him.
"She's going to love you. I know it." He reached over and grabbed her hand with his free one and she gave it a small squeeze. "Okay. Let's go." She offered a reassuring smile.
¤¤¤¤
Scarlett, for the first time, absolutely felt like Bella as she looked up at the house. Her mouth agape, fish syndrome. "It's gorgeous." Suddenly it made sense why he offered to just give her the car. It was the same thing as a bouquet of flowers. She still didn't feel right taking it but it made more sense. With Jasper's hand on the small of her back he led her up the stairs and toward the front door. She didn't think that she would be more in shock but she was as she walked it. "Lovely." She muttered. "Absolutely lovely."
Jasper chuckled as she removed her coat and he hung it up on a rack by the door. "Esme is thrilled to hear it." Right they can hear everything, especially how much she was gawking at the house. "They're this way." He said, grabbing her hand and pulling her along to the kitchen.
Garlic, it was the first thing she smelled and her stomach grumbled because of course it would. "Glad you could join us Scarlett." Carlisle said from his spot against the counter. "Good to see you again Dr. Cullen." It was strange seeing the man out of his uniform. It was like seeing your teacher shopping at the grocery store. It was happening right there but it was still unbelievable. "Please, it's Carlisle. You're practically family. "
A woman she didn't recognize was wiping her hands on her apron. "This is my mother, Esme." Jasper said as Esme rounded the island where she had been rolling dough and took Scarlett in her arms, squeezing her tight. "It is so good to finally meet you Scarlett. Jasper does nothing but talk about you. Day and night." She hugged like a mother did. Too tight, just right and never being the one to pull away first. Scarlett did not want to for a moment. It had been too long since she felt the love that accompanied a hug from a mother and her fragile little heart squeezed in her chest.
After a few more seconds she pulled away, shaking the fluttering feels that came with things that reminded her of her Momma. "I'm really happy to be here." She said and as though Esme knew she needed it, she reached forward and brushed a few curls of hair behind Scarlett's ear and patted her cheek. It had to be mother's intuition. "We're making homemade pizza for you. I hear it's your favorite." Esme said moving back around to start laying sauce on the dough.
"You're welcome!" Emmett yelled before speeding down the stairs. He was behind Scarlett before she realized he was even in the room. Grabbing her off the floor in a bear hug and spinning her around. When her feet were finally back on the ground she swayed for a moment before swatting him in his chest which just ended up hurting her hand. She wondered if he even felt it. "I tell Esme to make you pizza and this is how you thank me?" He asked, rubbing his chest where her hand made contact. "I almost puked all over your mom's kitchen." She said, her stomach a bit queasy from how fast he had been swinging her.
Jasper just watched, amazed how easily she interacted with his family. He already knew that Em and she got along great but even with Esme. It was as though she were meant to be there and if she let him he would keep her, always.
"Hope you like salad." Rose grumbled as she went into the fridge to pull out lettuce and cucumbers. "I'm starving so I will eat everything." This got a chuckle out of the group and even Rose gave a small smile. "Sit, sit." Esme said motioning to the stool across the island from her. Scarlett didn't hesitate. "Is there anything I can help with?" Esme simply waved her off, "Please I barely ever get to cook. This is a treat. So tell me what are your plans after High school?"
Rose scoffed as she dropped the greens in a bowl knife clattering on the granite. "Can we not pretend to be the Partridge family with their new human?"
"Come on Rose." Emmet said putting an arm around her shoulder, but she shrugged it off.
"No, it was different when she didn't know, and you were her friend but what happens to us? To all of us if this goes badly?" Scarlett frowned, not because of what Rose was saying. Her feelings were valid. "Rosalie enough." Carlisle said shooting Scarlett an apologetic look and Scarlett spoke up before anyone else could.
"She's right, it's not just Jasper. It affects you all and if she wants to talk about it, then let's talk about it." Rosalie looked at Scarlett, eyes narrowed like it was the first time she was seeing her. This human who was now in their life. A wild card that threatened to ruin everything. "I'll take it to my grave, you know?" Scarlett couldn't help but fiddle with her fingers. "Even if –" God she didn't even want to think about her and Jasper not working out but tomorrow was a mystery for a reason. Nothing was guaranteed, nothing.
"Removing Jasper from the situation Em is still my best friend and when you aren't looking at me like I'm moldy cheese you're alright." Em laughed and Esme couldn't help but chuckle under her breath. Jasper had moved close behind her, his presence giving her strength. "Look –" she said, leaning over the table pink outstretched toward Rosalie. "My momma taught me that you could never break a pinky promise. It was one that was made with the soul. The most powerful of swears. I would never dishonor her memory by breaking one, ever." No one moved, no one budged as Rose eyed her for a moment.
With a deep sigh she lifted her hand and looped her finger around Scarlett's. "To the grave then?" She asked and Scarlett nodded, "And beyond."
¤¤¤¤
"This is the best pizza I have ever had." Scarlett took another bit. How the heck was she ever supposed to eat anything else? "I learned how to make it right in Italy." Esme said with pride. Rose and Em hung out for a little longer but apparently Bella was coming for dinner tonight and Rose needed to prepare for that. Poor Bella.
It was strange at first being the only one eating but after Jasper had explained food tasted like dirt, she quickly got over the feeling. "I've always wanted to go to Italy." She hummed, reaching for another slice. "It's beautiful. I was there for many years." Carlisle said.
"Scarlett!" Turning slightly, she jumped when Alice wrapped her arms around her and squeezed. "Oh, you are lucky Jazz because she smells divine."
"Thanks, I think." Scarlett was taking everything in stride, it was all a learning experience after all. "Can I help clean up?"
"Absolutely not. Go explore the house." Esme patted Carlisle's chest, watching with fondness in her eyes. "If you're sure ... Thank you for the pizza. Truly it was phenomenal." She hopped off the stool waiting for Jasper to take the lead on the house tour.
"Oh, you're going to love Jazz's room. The view will remind you of the cliff." Alice said before bouncing off. Scarlett scrunched her nose and turned to Jasper; a questioning look on her face on how Alice would even know about the cliff. "Alice has a gift like me and Edward. She gets snips of the future." Scarlett's mouth made the shape of an O.
"Now I really want to see your room." She added, Alice's comment revving up the mystery of the view. "Sure, come on." He said, leading her up the stairs and down one of the halls. There was art everywhere, the place was so open, and Scarlett appreciated it with the lovely forests that surrounded them.
Alice was right. There was something ethereal about Jasper's room. There were no exposed walls because the only two he had were covered in shelves, lined with books. "I could spend forever here." Scarlett said, walking to the closest shelf. These weren't books she would find at Paper & Cup. She could tell some were very old and all had character. They held history.
Turning she took in where the other two walls should have been but instead there were windows. "No bed?" She asked when she saw the couch with a throw blanket that had to have been just for show and some pillows. "We don't sleep." He answered.
Scarlett took her eyes off the scenery to look at him, "Never?" He nodded his head and walked across the room toward her, grabbing her hand and spinning before pulling her close. "Not to be anti-romantic but there's no music." She could help but laugh as he swayed. "So sing to me."
"No way." She instantly thought of the others in the house and the little issue of their super hearing, she was too polite for that. "Please? You look so celestial when you sing. I'd like to feel what you do." She swallowed hard. How the heck was she supposed to say no to that.
"Very unfair Hale."
"All's fair in love and war sweetheart." She smiled, swaying tentatively because there was no beat to follow. Not yet. She started to hum a tune and it didn't take long for Jasper to move their bodies to the building rhythm.
"Boys working on empty
Is that the kinda way to face the burning heat?
I just think about my baby
I'm so full of love I could barely eat"
He couldn't help but pull her flush against him. So her words vibrated against his body as he shut his eyes. Glee sprouted in the center of her emotions. Pure gaiety.
"When my time comes around
Lay me gently in the cold dark earth
No grave can hold my body down
I'll crawl home to him"
He tucked her head under his chin, waves of honeysuckle invading his senses.Her heartbeat, bumping like a metronome and he wondered if she timed herself with it as she sang.
"My baby never fret none
About what my hands and my body done
If the Lord don't forgive me
I'd still have my baby and my babe would have me
When I was kissing on my baby
And he put his love down soft and sweet
In the low lamp light I was free
Heaven and hell were words to me."
And there it was, the moment he witnessed the first time he saw her but wasn't close enough to feel. Her serenity when words meshed and blurred the lines of herself. A spiritual awakening. Jasper felt like he was reaching enlightenment.
"When my time comes around
Lay me gently in the cold dark earth
No grave can hold my body down
I'll crawl home to him"
Scarlett hummed after the last lyrics but stopped when they were still, no longer swaying together. He cradled her face into the palms of his hands, so carefully like she was something delicate. "You are a once in an eternity."
She could barely breathe with the way he looked at her. His amber eyes practically glowing, seeing all of her and wanting her just the same. "Kiss me?" She whispered and he did.