To Love and To Be Loved (A Jasper Hale/ Whitlock Love Story)

Looming

"Just thought it'd be bigger," I heard Jess say snootily as I walked up with Jasper, Alice, and Patrick. "Hi!" she exclaimed when she saw us.

"Hi, guys," Alice greeted sweetly, and I couldn't help but have an amused grin on my face.

"We were just saying how pretty everything is, we were all just saying." I shared an amused glance with Jasper.

"Well, thanks so much. You don't think it's too much?"

"No."

"Not at all."

"No."

"No."

"Yes," I cut in, pretending to be shocked when Alice looked at me. "What-you mean-you weren't-sorry, I thought you were asking me."

"Elle!" she scolded, hitting my arm, and I hid my snickers, sending the others-including Jessica-a cheeky wink. I saw them relax, likely realizing I wasn't upset anymore for Jess' assumption, and I grinned when Jasper pulled me to him by my waist.

"Are you enjoying yourselves?" I asked them, and they nodded, agreeing awkwardly. I forgot how awkward teenagers could be.

Luckily, I saw my escape when I saw Eleazar with the rest of the Denali coven I'd had the opportunity to meet earlier. I hadn't seen him in a long time.

"Oh," I began, shifting slightly. "If you'll excuse me." I didn't really wait for their reply before I walked to Bella and Edward as Eleazar and Carmen greeted them with the rest of the Denali coven. I saw Irina march off, and I winced, knowing full well what that was about.

That was when Eleazar turned and saw me. He grinned.

"Eleanor!" he exclaimed happily, coming forward and pulling me in for a hug. "It's been years!"

"It's good to see you too, Eleazar," I agreed, before I turned to Carmen and embraced her. I had only gotten to meet her once or twice, but she was a lovely woman. "It's good to see you, Carmen."

"And you, sweetheart."

"How have you been?" Eleazar asked me, and I grinned.

"I'm wonderful."

"So you've finally found where you belong, then?"

"You could say that," I agreed with a grin. "Carlisle is my father."

"Father?" Carmen asked.

"My real father," I nodded. "I found him, after all this time."

"Well that's amazing!" Carmen exclaimed happily, and I grinned.

"I've finally found my family," I told them, turning and looking at Bella and Edward as they spoke, and Jasper came up beside me with Alice and Patrick. They grinned at that and Eleazar opened his mouth to say something when-

"Excuse me. Is this on? Hello?" I couldn't help but snicker at Emmett as someone wolf-whistled at him. "Umm, I'd like to propose a toast. To my new sister." He rose his glass. "Bella, I hope you've gotten enough sleep these last eighteen years. 'Cause you won't be getting any more for a while." I covered my mouth with my hand and turned, snickering at the way that sounded.

"Idiot," I muttered through my sniggers, and Jasper shook with laughter.

Then, it was Jess' turn, and I took my seat near the bride and groom's table with Jasper.

"Well, Bella was just like everybody else, totally mesmerized by Edward," she began. "Or 'The Hair,' as I call him." I pretended to itch my nose, knowing full well that my vampire friends and family would know I was faking. "And then, suddenly, Edward is all about Bella. Even though... she's not the captain of the volleyball team. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding... Or the president of the student council." Oh, Jessica.