ASPEN ➵ Paul Lahote [1]

fourteen

Aspen had never thought about what it would be like to live an immortal life. She had always found such beauty in growing old. Experiencing the gift of wrinkles by her mouth because she smiled oh so much, or creases by her eyes because of boisterous laughter. She wanted to see if she would be anything like her parents, falling in love and having a family. To think that someone could simply live forever had never crossed her mind. Until she learned of vampires.

Aspen stood unsure and slightly nervous looking up at the house in front of her. "House" being a modest term for the very large and very modern building before her. Tall, crystal clear, glass windows built the exterior wall framed in a dark oak wood. Built to appear as if it is coming out of the slope on the mountain it is perched upon, Aspen could not believe people got to live here. She could only imagine the view of the lush forest from the inside through the expanse of glass bordering the structure.

Soon, however, she would. Because standing beside her was Bella, with a look of nervousness on her own face for a reason Aspen had yet to know.

Bella was completely intact after jetting off to Italy to find Edward, standing in the driveway of the Cullen's house as if she hadn't spent the better half of the last year mourning their departure. Cluster of question after question rolled through Aspen's mind from the moment she first heard from her friend a couple hours after she landed back in Forks. She held them in, waiting for the situation to lay itself at her feet because right now, she was about to walk into a room full of vampires, formally meeting them for the first time.

Then again, she wasn't worried, per say. She knew they had gone to her school for some time, regardless of her own obliviousness to knowing they were there. She was pretty sure Jasper was in her history class, when he deigned to be in attendance.

"I had the same look on my face the first time Edward brought me here," Bella spoke with a small chuckle. "They are very eager to meet you."

Aspen's deep breath was audible, but a smile plastered itself on her face regardless. "I am excited to meet them too. I, unfortunately, cannot help but think of the cliches even after knowing I went to school with them for years!" Aspen remarked. Her hands made a wide gesture sweeping in front of her at the house. "I know less about this world than I care to admit but I thought they would at least, like, live in the dark or something."

"No moats. No coffins, either," a deep, sleek voice spoke up from behind the two girls huddled in the driveway. The noise apprehending Aspen's attention as her head snapped to the sound, gazing over at the man who appeared while her heart sped up. Where had he come from?

Taking a slow calculated step forward, the man stood with hands in his pants pockets. His slender frame was tall and his auburn hair perfectly styled. Golden eyes flitted between Bella and Aspen as if he was assessing the two in mere seconds. He wore a black blazer over a t-shirt which rested haphazardly cuffed on his strong forearms. He appeared so effortlessly put together. Aspen immediately knew she had caught glimpses of him through her time at school, his towering figure a beacon through the crowds.

"I'm Edward Cullen," he introduced. He made no effort to extend his hand, but nodded his head down in greeting. "You must be Aspen."

"Yeah, that's me. It's nice to meet you. Well, formally meet you, I guess. I think we had a class together last year," Aspen said, her hands finding themselves twisting before her in a nervous habit. She offered him a warm smile, easing her own mind and attempting to ease him.

"My family has heard about you from Bella. They are awaiting introductions inside, if you are alright with that," he said.

Aspen eased a little at the mere idea that he was giving her a choice. Although there was a reason Bella had gathered them here today in such a way, he still offered an out if she needed it.