Rush to Italy

○●○ Rush to Italy ○●○

It took me all of two minutes to change clothes and leave a note for Charlie with a brief explanation of why I was leaving. Of course I couldn't tell him that I was going on a trip to Italy to save my suicidal ex, so instead I told him me and Jasper were visiting the the Cullens for the weekend. As soon as I stepped out of my house I was rushed to the backseat of the black Mercedes. The sun was just setting as we sped towards Sea-Tac airport.

"So what exactly is happening?" I asked. We had been in such a rush that I hadn't heard the full story.

"Rose called Edward and told him that you jumped off a cliff, and now he's going to go request that the Volturi kill him." Alice said quickly.

"That kid is a god damn idiot. Of course he's going to Volterra first. Why would he check to see if you were actually dead? No reason to double check your facts, it's only life and death. Fucking drama queen." Jasper ranted. He was staring out the window, his fist clenched in his lap. His eyes were onyx. I missed the soft butterscotch color.

"Jasper, you are not helping." Alice scolded.

"I'm just-" He began to say, but Alice held up her hand silencing him.

"I know, but it's not helpful. Maybe you should focus on keeping us calm." She said lowly. Her voice implied that she needed Jasper to calm her down before she did something regrettable.

"I'm sorry." Jasper whispered.

Alice didn't respond, and the car fell into silence. The scenery flashed by as our speed climbed over 100 miles per hour. Almost the moment the car was parked I was dragged into the airport. Jasper rushed off to get us tickets for the next flight. I was feeling an odd sense of deja vu. Just last year me, Alice, and Jasper had set off for Phoenix, Arizona to avoid James. It was shocking as I recalled how much had changed. How much I had changed.

As soon as Jasper had returned with three tickets Alice dragged me deeper into the airport. Jasper and Alice hadn't spoken a word to each other since the car ride. The tension between the two was so thick, you might be able to cut it with a knife.

We were stood in the back of the metal detector line. We were all getting restless. Alice was keeping us updated on what was happening with Edward, he was nearly to Volterra already. We had, at most, until tomorrow at noon to save him. We were cutting it extremely close.

Jasper glanced in my direction, and I felt his fingers brush mine. His touch sent shivers up my spine and a warm feeling to the pit of my stomach. I smiled at him and a sad look spread across his face. He turned away and hung his head slightly. He was blaming himself for this disaster, that was the type of person he was. He would take any amount of blame if it made someone else's life easier. And while he wasn't exactly innocent in this, he wasn't the only one responsible.

We boarded the plane in awkward silence. The sun was just setting as the plane took off. Alice was getting increasingly nervous as more visions came to her. I could only assume that it was likely things would go wrong; Edward would die or we would run into trouble with the Volturi.

As the sky grew darker my eyelids grew heavier. I was in a state between sleep, not quite awake but still somewhat aware of my surroundings, when Jasper spoke for the first time in hours.

"Alice, I kissed her." He whispered. I could barely make out the words. Jasper hung his head in shame.

"Don't." Alice warned.

"No, you need to hear this." Jasper said in a more determined tone. I expected Alice to argue, but she remained silent. Jasper took in a small breath, probably trying to minimize the scent of blood he took in. "I'm in love with her."

Alice inhaled a shakey breath. "Why are you telling me this? Why here?"

"I'm going to die Alice. And I want... I need you to hear this."

"Jasper you aren't-" Alice began to interrupt, but Jasper put a stop to it.

"Please let me finish." He requested softly. They went quiet for a moment before he continued. "I'm really sorry Alice. I love you, I really do, but she sparks something in me that I've never felt before. She turns me into something much more human than I thought possible. She's brought me closer to the man I want to be... You have every right to despise me, to kill me yourself even, and I won't complain. I know it's no consolation, but I really do wish you the best, and I hope you find someone who deserves you. I'm sorry that I couldn't be that someone." He spoke, his voice was becoming brittle by the end, like the words were painful to say.

Silence.

"Jasper, I... we never had an easy relationship. I think deep down we both knew this was going to happen. Our love has changed, and I think it would be best if we... split." She sighed. She sounded like she was close to tears, even if she could never really cry. "You're my best friend, and I want the best for you. Of course I don't hate you. If you make each other happy, then you should be with her." She paused again; choosing her words. "I'm happy for you."

"Alice, I-I-" Jasper began to say, but he never finished. I lifted one eyelid a fraction of an inch. Jasper and Alice were hugging. I'm was glad at least one mess was cleared up.

I felt myself drift off into the darkness of sleep. The smallest sliver of hope reignited inside me. Maybe, just maybe, me and Jasper could work after all. That is if we made it out of this alive.

I was awoken with someone calling my name and my body being lightly shaken. I blinked my eyes open and was met with Jasper's attractive face. I admired his perfectly angular features of his nose, jaw, cheekbones, and of course his beautiful eyes. I stared at him for slightly too long before getting out of my seat. We made our way down the aisle and into the airport. The tension between Alice and Jasper still existed, but it had diminished a great amount.

We rushed as quickly as we could through the building, dodging people as we ran. I nearly fell down on more than one occasions. We had to visit a gift shop to buy some clothes and sunglasses so Jasper and Alice could go into the sun without sparkling. They both bought sunglasses. Alice wrapped her head in a scarf, and Jasper wore an oversized hoodie.

As soon as we had our things paid for, we were rushing outside. Alice sped off, only offering a vague explanation that she was getting a ride. Me and Jasper stood under the shade of a large pillar.

"You said you were going to die, last night, I overheard." I said quietly. In truth that had been weighing on me all day. Jasper nodded his head in response, so I continued. "What do you mean? Why would you die?" I asked. Jasper sighed as he slipped his hand in mine.

"The Volturi, the leader specifically, Aro, he can read every thought you've ever had. I was the second in command in the largest newborn army in history. That illegal act alone can get me killed. And if they don't kill me first, Maria will for giving away her position. If we meet the Volturi today, I'm not going to return home."

"But that's not who you are. They have to understand that!" I said passionately.

I couldn't live in a world without Jasper. The pain of that was too immense to comprehend. He had to live through this.

"Do they reprieve a murderer's sentence just because they've claimed to have changed their ways?" He asked rhetorically.

"Jasper you can't leave me. You can stay here. Me and Alice will go and get Edward."

"No, I won't leave you alone. I promised you I would never leave you again." Jasper stated, his eyes burrowed into mine.

"What do you think dying will do? Just stay here, please." I begged. He shook his head and brushed the hair from my face.

"Even in death I wouldn't leave you. You are my heart." Jasper whispered. "Isabella Swan I love you, more than anything. I swear to you I will never leave you." He said seriously. Tears welled up in my eyes and I quickly blinked them away.

"I love you too." I whispered. He smiled widely at me, taking my breath away. I pulled him down by the front of his shirt and our lips met in a sweet, tender kiss. I prayed to whatever deity there might be, that it wouldn't be the last.