Life ✶ Jasper Hale

Epilogue: Prom

Svetlana

Jasper and I just picked up Carlisle, Edward, and Bella from the airport. She is finally well enough to travel from Phoenix back the Port Angeles. Carlisle was on the flight with them—parental supervision and all. It was reassuring to have him fly back with them—knowing that if Bella experienced pain during the trip, he could help her immediately.

Charlie couldn't argue with that logic when Carlisle had suggested he fly down and escort them home. He also didn't mind that we were picking them up. He still blames this whole incident on Edward, no matter how much I tried convincing him it wasn't his fault over these last few days.

One good thing is that in the past four days, I went over every night to bring him some of Nan's cooking—that way he wouldn't eat steak every night at the diner—and Jasper came with me each time. I find out that he actually, really likes Jasper.

Those two have bonded over sports, fishing, and, well, me. Half the time they would talk about me like I was invisible. Even Sebastian joined in when he came with us Friday night. I think Jasper likes coming with me to spend time with Charlie, as well as with me. Charlie is almost always has a happy undercurrent in his emotions when I come over, even while he is worrying about Bells.

When we arrive at Charlie's house, he has a jumble of mixed emotions. He's happy and relieved to have Bella back, after almost a week away. He's happy that Jasper and I are over for the second time today. He is entirely grateful to Carlisle for having been on the spot to save Bella after the accident. Lastly, he is furious at Edward for being the cause of Bella leaving and only slightly less angry at her for going.

Edward escorts Bella into the living room and when she asks him to help her up to her bedroom, Charlie ends up moving between the two of them and takes Bella's hand from his arm and places it on his own. She protests, but Edward didn't want to make a fuss. I follow the two upstairs.

After telling Bella I'm glad to have her back, I told her and Charlie that we had to bring the others home and that I'd be back first thing tomorrow. I gave her a hug before heading back downstairs with Charlie right behind me. He expresses his thanks to Carlisle again before pulling me into a hug and shaking Jasper's hand, before seeing us out. I could tell that he wanted to be alone with Bella.

Since we picked them up in the Volvo, Carlisle takes the wheel as Edward gets in the passenger seat, Jasper and I sit in the back. We travel to the Cullens house in silence but Edward's troubled mood worsens the whole drive there.

Just as we pull into the garage, I can't take it anymore. "Edward, what's wrong? I thought you'd be happy to be back?"

His distress heightens and a flood of emotions hit him. "She's going to die," he blurts out. "If I stay with her, she will die."

"Yes, she will to die sometime. But I will make damn sure it's a long-ass time from now." I say confidently.

No way in hell, will I let her die before me.

Carlisle's looks over at him calmly. "Why would you think that you're any more responsible for that than fate itself?"

"I doubt being tortured to death by a sadistic vampire is an ordinary human death." Edward retorts, aggravated.

"No, it's not... but did you forget that if you hadn't been near when Bella was almost hit by the van, she would already be... gone?" I ask, remembering that terrible day. When he doesn't reply, I continue. "What I mean is, that as a human, Bella lives by the rules of human existence, that she will die—at any moment. You will have to accept that as long as she remains human."