*Jasper’s POV

  The moment I stood up and helped Ao her feet, without another word she rushed to leave. I could do nothing but watch as she literally ran away from me. It ainful sight and my hands felt cold as her warmth left them. “I’ll be waiting for you…” She whispered, pausing at the door. As if of its own, my hand reached out towards Annabell but before I could make myself take a siep or find words to try and stop her, she closed the door behind herself and I let my hand fall again.

  By the time I snapped out of it and walked out of the house, all I could see were the tail lights of Rosalie’s Aucra. She didn’t say yes… Ran through my mind as I motionlessly stood there until the sound of the car faded away. “But she didn’t say her…” I attempted to yself with that fabsp;I screwed up.

  *

  “Yo! I fot to thank you for distrag Annie. I swear she’d let me search for her all day!” Shouted Peter from the living room the sed I opehe door to our house.

  “What?” Right, the game in the m. “Oh… yeah you’re wele.” I answered and tio my room.

  “Hey, aren’t you two going on a date tonight?” He asked, when he came closer.

  “Maybe…?” I said, uain. The se as she ran from me, kept repying itself in my mind. But she said she’ll be waiting for me so… maybe we were still going out tonight?

  “What do you mean ‘maybe’? Did you not–” He abruptly paused mid sentend I turo look at him to see what happened. He was looking at my hand. Following his gaze I realized what he saw. I pletely fot I was still holding the small box with a dark gree cover. Peter’s fusion deepened. “Didn’t you want to propose to her tonight?”

  I turned away and started walking again. “You’re not the only one who fucked up today.” I muttered.

  Peter’s fusion turo shock. “Wait… don’t tell me she refused?”

  So even he be surprised. “No.” I uttered and didn’t pay any more attention to him. She didn’t give me her answer yet… but it still could be no, in the end. I thought, feeling lost as I closed the door to my silent room. The light of a setting sun from across the room coloured everything in shades e, making it look like I stepped into a bzing fire. However, I felt cold as if I yed in the snow. Not that snow could actually make me cold.

  The cold and pain I felt were caused by the partial reje from my mate. And I undoubtedly deserved all of it. Now I could naught but only wish for Ao not reject me pletely. “I’ll be waiting for you…” I reminded myself of her st words and got ready to go pick her up at Cullen’s with a tad more resolve.

  *

  Peter didn’t ask anymore questions and I ignored his quizzical g me as I drove my new Dodge RAM to Cullen's house. When we walked inside, I was greeted by Carlisle’s and Esme’s encing smiles while Emmett, knowing I didn’t e to py with him, busied himself with a videogame.

  Faint Rosalie’s voice could be heard from somewhere further in the house. “I’m telling you, you look beautiful. If you’re ready, let’s go downstairs. He’s here.”

  It sounded like Rose o vinhat she looked good. To me, she was always beautiful, no matter what. No other woman could pare. At the sound of an opening door and approag footsteps everyone, includit, turheir attention to the staircase leading upstairs.

  The moment Annabell appeared oop of the stairs, safely led down by Rose, stunned, I nearly dropped the rose I was holding. Luckily, I did not have a need for oxygen, because when I saw my geous mate, I fot how to breathe. Absolutely mesmerized, I walked up to the bottom of the stairs. Rose was grinning at me but I hardly noticed her.

  Annabell was carefully walking towards me and her dress gently swayed around her long legs with each step. Occasionally revealing a little bit of her creamy white thigh through the split on the side. Those legs looked even longer as she wore medium high heels which I never saw her in. Her crimson red velvet dress was long, all the way to the ground in the back. Off shoulder and perfectly hugged every beautiful curve of her body. Her hair was in a loose yet intricate updo, revealing her white shoulders and slim neck.

  Uo take my eyes off of her, a sliver of hope and satisfa rose inside of me seeing that she kept my ring on. With each step closer to me, her heart beat a little faster. She was nervous, getting almost anxious but I knew she wouldn't currently take kindly to my attempt to calm her. Nervous smile on her cherry red lips gradually faded and she lightly bit on her lower lip as was her habit. Finally notig that Rosalie was talking to me I turned my attention to her but my eyes stayed on Annabell. “Jazz, don’t just stare. Man, don’t you have anything to say?” She scolded me with a frown.

  ing to my senses again, I struggled to find my voice. “I… errr, sorry… You look amazing, Ann.” I somehow got out of myself in the end and Annabell’s auro relief. Ah, did she think I don’t like what I see? Realizing what she might have been thinking because I didn’t say anything the eime, I reached for her hand to reassure her. “You’re breathtaking, my love.” I plimented her holy and she blushed, returning the light squeeze of my hand.

  “Told you.” Sang Rose teasingly while leaning to her ear and Annabell’s cheeks turned a darker shade of pink than before.

  Everyone in the room was somewhat excited at first. Now they were happy and relieved while ing closer. First eter. He had the o bump into my shoulder and take Annabell’s hand from me. I instinctively growled and wao grab him but Emmett jumped on my back, keeping me just out of reach. “Easy, bro.” He chuckled.

  “Happy birthday, babygirl!” Excimed Peter, kissing Annabell’s cheek. “I know you ain’t big on jewels but I think this matches y nicely.” He grinned and put a silver bracelet with emeralds on her right wrist.

  “Thank you.” Smiled Annabell at him, iing the bracelet with her fingers. “Wait, you knew? …I guess I’ll have to wear it from now on then.” She giggled.

  “And this…” tinued Peter, pulling out a golden neckce with a heart shaped pendant. But that’s… I reized it. Peter usually brought presents for Charlotte whenever he came from his travels. Once, I found him in his room looking at this very neckce. For some reason he was sad but I dismissed it thinking it was one of these presents as he quickly hid it when I walked into the room. However, I never saw it again and it slipped my mind. “This is dy Michae’s neckce. It was a gift from her mate and then it assed down through geions. Jane might not agree with it, since she gave it to me to get rid of it but I think you should have it. Now it’s yours, Annie.”

  He pced the neck Annabell’s hand. “Oh, Peter!” Her eyes shoh uears as she hugged him. I was just about to shake Emmett off of me, overtaken by the urge to go and take her in my arms when suddenly he let go of me.

  Instead, he ruffled my hair and pushed his robust form in front of me, closer to Annabell as Peter stepped aside. “Wele to adulthood, sis!” He beamed, kissing her cheek. “Did you sleep enough these eighteen years?” He asked her and I sighed. There he goes again.

  “I guess so… why?” Replied Annabell. Tilting her head in fusion at his question.

  “Cause’ you won’t be getting much sleep anymore!” Laughed Emmett. Everyone chuckled at his usual antics. Aook a moment to realize what he’s getting at and then nervous again, blushed deeply. I suppressed anh. Oh great. That’s the st thing I need her to worry about now.

  “If we don’t leave soon, we’ll be te.” I remihem. Everyone except for Annabell knew where we were going so Emmett stepped aside to make space for Esme to hug Annabell and then Carlisle as they wished her happy birthday. Carlisle turo me and I shook my head. He knew I didn’t celebrate my birthday. Today was for Annabell, not me. Slightly disappointed he smiled and squeezed my shoulder in a fatherly manner.

  Returning his smile I finally made my way bay mate. “Shall we?” I asked. Guiding her gently to the car. I opehe door for her but instead of letting me help her get in, she turo me.

  “Jasper…” She started. Annabell looked like there was a lot on her mind but after a moment of silence she raised her hand. “Would you, please?” She asked instead, revealing the gold neckce Peter gave her.

  “Of course.” When I took the delicate gold with the intricately decorated pendant from her, she gave me a small appreciative smile, turned her bae and waited. Stepping closer and reag arouo pce the neckce around her neck, I resisted the urge to pull her to me, feeling the inviting warmth of her body. Annabell made it clear that she needs spad I o respect her wish if I didn’t want to make her run away from me again.

  When I was done, I allowed my fio gently stroke her soft skin on the nape of her neck. I didn’t miss how her heartbeat quied and she held her breath before stepping away from me, searg for a way into the car. “Wait, allow me.” I reached under her knees and carefully seated her inside.

  “Oh, that’s high.” She mumbled, surprised and ied her surroundings for a moment before fastening her seatbelt. “Is this RAM?” Slightly shocked but excited, Annabell asked me when I sat in the driver’s seat and made the car’s engine roar to life.

  “Yes, it is.” I couldn’t help but grin to myself as I pulled out and headed to the highway. “I wasn’t sure you’d reize it.”

  “No way. How did you know?” She inquired incredulously.

  I had to chuckle. “I saicture of you and your mom in your house. You were sitting on the hood of the same car with a huge smile aer told me that you loved big cars.”

  A nostalgic expression appeared on her fad she rested in her seat. “Yes.” Spoke Annabell quietly. “Mom had a retively small but fast Volvo for her business purposes. She used it mainly to ute to work but sometimes she took me with her to various pces. Something like vacation. Even though it was never for more than a day.” She pursed her lips, pausing for a sed. If I recalled correctly, that was the car Jane Bck was killed in. I covered her hand with mine, hoping she wouldn't push me away.

  Aurned her hand underh mine and our fingers naturally entwined. “I hated that car.” She spoke again while I was enjoyioud warmth. “No. I didn’t. I DO hate it.” She corrected herself and I gently squeezed her hand in reassurance. “I told her that I didn’t like her car, that I preferred the big pickup Chris used to have and she bought us a Dodge RAM. I really love that car. It’s big and fortable. It feels more safe. And I like the sound of the engine.” She admitted, smiling.

  It was warming, seeing her like that again. “I didn’t see any cars around your house. What happeo it?” I asked, perplexed. Instantly regretting my question.

  I felt Aense up. Her smile vanished and she pulled her hand from mine. fused, I turo her but she made as much distaween us as her seatbelt allowed her to, while fag the window, away from me. When I opened my mouth to ask what happeo make her feel this angry and hurt, still fag the other way, Annabell finally replied. “Catelyn happened.” I saw her ch her hands in fists and yearo sooth her. However, I k was also my fault, she felt this way and that she didn’t want help from me.

  “When mom died… there was nobody left to give me rides in that car.” tinued Annabell eventually, nearly whisperi I could hear her clearly. “Obviously, I ’t drive anything and aunt Mary doesn’t like big cars so… we agreed to give it to that bitch.” She shook her head, almost growling with anger as she talked about Catelyn. I lifted my hand but decided against it and pced it ba the wheel. My touch was the st thing she wanted right now.

  Annabell rested ba her seat, fag ahead. Her fad voice void of the emotions that were raging inside of her. “Wheold her about it, she was sooo happy and promised she’ll give me a ride whenever I’d like… I didn’t want to bother her, but on a while I wao ride in it again because I missed it. I asked her for it only a few times but every siime she had an excuse ready and when I asked her why she is still driving that stupid Toyota, she cimed that the RAM’s maintenance is too expensive for her to be driving it to work all the time. Now I wonder if she ever drove it at all before selling it…”

  Annabell’s voialler and as her anger slowly disappeared, it was repced by the feeling of betrayal, sadness and loneliness. Something caught my eye. There were tears glistening in her eyes. It hurt to know that I artially responsible for them. “Please, don’t cry…” I whispered.

  We were already near our destination but I couldn’t take it anymore and pulled up on a side road. “Are we-?” Started Annabell, reag for her seatbelt. I stopped her.

  Turning to her I took a ge firm hold of her hands. “It’s killihat, even though uionally, I helped to cause the pain you feel… I always wanted and asked you to put your trust in me, yet I repeatedly failed to do the same iurn.” Annabell was slightly shocked and fused. “I tried to hide my identity from you, hesitated to tell you about my feelings and that you are my mate because I didn’t believe you could accept who I am or the world I e from. All the while you kly who I was and trusted me with your very life while being around me…”

  “Of course I reized my hero.” Whispered Annabell.

  “I couldn’t bring myself to trust you with the information about your kind when I lear from Carlisle.” She still didn’t know everything but I knew she was aware of that a she was reasonable enough to not act rashly. “I was so scared that you’d throw your life away, seeking vengeahat I kept it from you. But you are wise and an incredibly strong person.” A little smile graced her lips.

  Although, her face clouded ain when I tinued. “But most of all, I failed to trust you to handle knowing Catelyn’s true colours and hurt you. If I told you about her advances from the start, she wouldn’t have a ce to get so bold and drug you. I know I don’t deserve it but I wish you five me someday. For you’ll be the only woman I love until my st day oh.” I lifted her hand with the ring I gave her and pced a gentle kiss on the back of her hand before I released her hands and resumed driving.

  It was silent for a while. Annabell seemed deep in thought but quite calm. “If you told me from the beginning, we wouldn’t know that she was ready to go so far as to kill me…” She whispered.

  Just then we arrived. When I parked, I went around the car, opehe door for Annabell and took her hand to help her get out of the car. “I…” She started, only turning towards me, still in her seat. “I believe you.” Those words came from her heart and overe with surprise and indescribable happiness I just kept on holding her hand as she carefully stepped out of the car and down on the parking lot crete. “It seems we both still o learn.” A little guilty smile tugged at the ers of her mouth. “You o learn to trust me more-”

  “And you, to rely on me.” I finished, caressing her cheek and she leaned her cheek against my hand. “Happy birthday, my love.” I whispered, remembering I didn’t get a ce to wish her yet and lightly kissed her cherry red lips before I could think otherwise. When I gave her the rose which atched her dress, she brought it to her nose and took a deep breath.

  “Thank you.” She rewarded me with a bright smile.