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Twilight A.U (Story #7/Pt. 2) |
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(Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it.)
Twilight A.U Pt. 2
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"Hello boys", Jade said, smirking evilly, leaning against the doorframe. "What's hap'nin'?"
"Nothing", Jacob replied, looking like he was fighting the urge to run very fast in the opposite direction. "We were just leaving. Let's go."
They backtracked to the woods by the house and left.
"Dogs", Jade said, still smirking. "They go for the fake throw every time." She brought her fist up and Matt touched it with his. "Let's go." They went back inside to finish dancing and having fun before they all had to call it quits.
The party ended shortly after eleven that same night, with Angela and Ben, being the last to go. When they were away and out of sight, they all changed into regular clothes, not robes and caps.
"So, what's our next move?", Jasper asked. "Maine?"
"We were there before we went to Alaska", Esme said. "We haven't been gone long enough."
"What are we discussing?", Jade asked, coming in with Matt, fanning herself with her hand.
"We are trying to find out were to go next", Edward said. "After we graduate from high school in a certain place, we move on to another one."
"Well, you- um...", his voice trailed, looking down at Jade. "Do you think they would like it there?"
"You mean-?", she began, then stopped, realizing what he meant. "Oh. If they want to. I got no problem." She picked up an empty plastic food tray and began to fan it at herself.
"Go where?", Emmett asked, looking puzzled at Jade.
"Well, we think of you guys as our family, now", Matt said. "And, you may think it won't work, but, since she doesn't have a problem.... you all could come and stay with us, at our home."
Jade then put the tray down and used the refrigerator door to fan herself with, using the cool air.
"Jade?", Bella asked. "Are you ok?"
"Not really", she replied. "I'm gonna go into heat stroke in, like, five minutes."
"Honey", Matt said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Go take a cool bath."
"Ok", she said. "Thanks." She shut the door, and left the room.
"What's going on with her?", Edward asked.
"She's a Cat", he said simply. "She's in heat. She's not as bad as she used to be, but, still. Single Cats and mated Cats react very differently when they go into heat. She goes into heat like human girls have their periods. She'll be fine."
"That must be fun to deal with", Emmett joked, chuckling.
"Where is your house?", Rosalie asked, changing the subject.
"In Spain", Matt replied, getting back to what they were talking about. "It's actually really perfect. It's a long ways away from the nearest town and no one ever comes to the house, unless they were invited. Jade designed the security system."
They all looked at each other. Spain was sunnier than in most places they stayed. If they were seen in the day time. they would be found out. But, then again, they grew to trust Jade and her vast intellect. After everyone looked around and gave an all around collective answer, they agreed.
"Ok", Carlisle said. "We'll come and stay with you."
"Great", Matt said, then went on. "She should have everything arranged and ready by day after tomorrow. That should give Bella enough time to say goodbye. PADIK?"
Around fifteen minutes later, PADIK, who was still a bird, flew down the stairs and changed into her 'computer' form in mid-air. Jade, who was done with her cool bath, caught her without hesitation and began touching and tapping away at the screen.
"There's only one person I need to say, and I really don't want to say goodbye to", Bella said, looking sad.
"If you want, I'll take you in the morning", Alice said. "We don't need Edward and Jacob getting into a fight."
"Thanks, Alice", she said.
"I'll go too", Jade said, stepping up to stand beside her. "I'm not human, but I'm not a vampire, so I can go over the border. Besides, Edward'll want someone with you, that can protect you."
"Can you read minds too?", Edward asked, semi-mockingly.
"Alice can take us to the border and I'll take you the rest of the way", Jade said. "Matt, you'll have to deal with PADIK while I'm gone."
"No problem", he said. "I'm pretty sure I'll be able to figure it out."
The next morning, as planned, Alice drove Jade and Bella to the border. They got out in the wiping wind and Jade pulled Bella onto her back to run her to Jacob's house. They reached the porch and Bella knocked. Jacob answered the door. He opened it and a strong wind blew in, sending Jacob into defense at the smell of Jade. He growled at her, and she growled back.
"You brought a cat here?!", he asked Bella, enraged.
"She's with me, Jake", she said, stepping in between them. "She's my friend."
Jacob straightened up and so did Jade. He moved aside and let them enter. Billy was sitting at the kitchen table. He looked a bit on edge when Jade entered, but that was it. Bella and Jacob sat down at the table, with Jade, leaning against the doorway.
"So, why have you come to see me?", Jacob asked.
"I don't want to prolong this. It's just gonna make it that much harder", Bella said, a hint of sorrow in her voice.
"What?", he asked.
"I'm leaving", she replied, simply. "Edward, me, and the Cullen's, are leaving. We're going to live with Jade."
Jacob looked from Jade to Bella and back, a few times before speaking.
"What? You- you're leaving? I- why?", he stammered.
"Because I'm marrying Edward soon, and it's time for them to move on, so it's also time for me to, as well", Bella said.
He was silent for a moment, thinking deeply. "Is there anyway you'll stay?"
"I don't want to go", Bella said. "But... I feel- I know that my future and my life, is with Edward. So, wherever he goes, I go."
"And where do you fit into all this, feline?", Jacob asked, looking over at Jade.
"I'm giving them a place to stay, where they'll be safe", Jade said, picking up the butter knife from the counter and twirling it in her fingers. "And I'm gaining, a family, so to speak."
"What, are you gonna brainwash them and send them out to kill innocent people?", he asked, trying to get a raise out of her.
"Oh, and you'd like that, wouldn't you, pup?", Jade fired back. "Give you a reason to try and take me out."
"Enough! Stop it!", Bella shouted, standing. "The point is I'm leaving and I wanted you to know that you're one of the best friends, I've ever had. Thank you."
She rounded the table, gave him a hug, went to the other side, hugged Billy, then went over to Jade.
"Let's go, Jade", she said.
"Alright", Jade replied, guiding her towards the door. The winds hadn't died, but that wouldn't stop them. As Jade opened the door, Jacob came up behind them.
"Will I ever see you again?", he asked, as they stepped out onto the porch.
Bella turned and looked at him. "Perhaps."
Then, with a gust of wind, they were gone. They got back to the car, and went home. Edward was waiting at the door, anxious, with Matt.
"You ok?", Matt asked, as they came in.
"Ah, you know. Dogs are dogs", Jade replied.
"Bella?", Edward asked.
"I don't want to leave", she said, same as when she told Jacob earlier. "But, my life is with you. So, it's time to move on."
"You're sure?", he asked again.
"Absolutely", she replied, determined,
"Alright", he said, pulling her closer.
That night, instead of waiting for the morning, everyone packed up all of their things in their cars and headed off to the airport. They drove onto the tarmac, headed towards the farthest end of the field. A plane was waiting there, with a ramp. They stopped in front of the ramp and got out to converse.
"So, how are we doing this?", Carlisle asked.
"I had a rack installed so that we can fit all of the cars in the cargo", Jade said. "Rosalie, you'll go first. Emmett, Alice and Carlisle will go after you. The upper ramp will come down and I will go in first. Edward, you'll follow me, and Matt, you'll bring up the end."
"Are you sure this plane can handle it?", Jasper asked, looking at the plane.
"It can handle more than you think", she replied. "Come on. Let's get goin'"
They all drove their cars into the plane, as Jade had instructed. Once everyone was in, the ramp door closed and the engines roared to life. They all went up to the cabin and the plane lifted up from the runway.
An astonishing three hours later, they arrived in Spain, at Madrid International Airport. They got into their cars, backed out of the plane, then proceeded to follow Jade's, very fast, now convertible Mustang, to her house, not far from the Spanish cliffs. They whipped by the closest town of La Coruna, and headed into a very dense forest, with very winding roads that all merged into one.
Bella, who was in Jade's car, looked around, like an excited two year old at all of the new things around her. Jade pushed a button on her visor and a very big, ornate gate opened in the road ahead of them, which closed when Carlisle, who was last, went through.
The dense forest went on for a few more seconds, before opening up into an extravagant open circle, with a large old style mansion sitting in the middle. The driveway led up to a wide staircase, which in turn, led to the magnificent front doors.
"Wow", Bella whispered, in complete awe of the house. "You actually live here?"
"And this is just the outside", Jade said, smirking, closing her car door. "Just wait until you go inside. Hey, honey?"
"Yes?", Matt asked, rolling his suitcase over to Jade.
"I see you finally fixed the railing", she said, looking back at him with an annoyed expression.
"Hey, do you know how long it took me to find a 1682 hand-made, silver plated, iron rail that would fit?", he inquired, following Jade up the stairs.
"Come on, guys", she called over Matt head. "We'll get everything in a bit. First, you might want to get a look at your new digs."
She turned the handle on the door and pushed them open. They could see that she was right. The inside was indescribably better than the outside. A grand staircase lay across from the front door, splitting in opposite directions halfway up. To the left of the doors, through a wide arch, was a front room, exquisitely decorated. To the right was another room, equally as big, with a small liquor bar, glasses, along with sofas and chairs. There were also, art pieces almost everywhere. Some paintings, some statues and some just weird bits that made you just stop and think.
"All of the bedrooms are upstairs", Jade said, pointing up the stairs. "Seven in total, not that you guys mind sharing, I'm guessing. Each with its own bathroom, not that they are really necessary. The attic and basement are all full, so you those are pretty much the only places you can't put anything."
"That's because those are your places", Matt said softly, a bit perturbed.
"I told you, honey", she whispered, leaning back. "'My place, my space.'"
"Right", he said in the same tone.
"Let's continue, shall we?", Jade said, louder.
"Yes, please", Alice said, wanting to see more of the house.
Jade and Matt took them on a tour of the entire house. Including the massive top-end, commercial grade kitchen, the formal living room, the big sunroom, which looked out over the back portion of the yard, that held an Olympic sized pool, a tennis court and a mini track for either running, or car racing. They also saw the extensive library, the den, and the music room, complete with grand piano. To end the tour they saw the garage, that held a brand new H3 custom Hummer, an ATV and a Jaguar, plus room for all of their cars.
"Well, that's it for the tour", Matt said. "Um, you can get your things, or pick your rooms, or whatever, I guess. You live here now."
There was a collective chuckle, before Bella's stomach gave a very pronounced growl. At this, everyone out right laughed, even her.
"You have to tell me what you like, so that I know what to get for you", Jade said, still slightly chuckling. "There's still some stuff in the fridge, like milk and fruit and stuff."
"Thanks", Bella said.
"You- do you want me to make you something?", she asked, pointing behind her in the general direction of the kitchen. "I could, if y-"
"Oh, that's ok", Bella replied quickly. "I, um, I'll get it, myself, if you don't mind."
"That's ok", Jade said. "That's alright. Just- if you need any help, let me know, I'll be around here somewhere."
"Thank you", she said.
With that, Jade tugged on Matt's shirt arm and motioned for him to come with her, into the sunroom. Everyone looked around at each other for a few moments. before going outside to get their things and find their rooms. They found Jade and Matt's room, with the double doors, locked, along with one of the other rooms. towards the other end. Once they had all unpacked and were somewhat settled, Bella went down to the kitchen, where, funnily enough, Jade was, making a small snack.
"You really didn't have to make me anything", Bella said, pulling an apple from the drawer of the fridge.
"This?", Jade asked, pointing to the cut up fruit in front of her. "This is just a little something for me and Matt."
"Oh, that's right", she said. "I keep forgetting that you and Matt actually eat regular food, and you don't drink blood."
"Eh, it happens", Jade added.
Just then, PADIK, who was opened on the upper part of the counter in front of Jade, gave a beep.
"A secure message, mistress", she announced.
"She is starting to get on my nerves", Jade said, tapping on the screens. "Little miss missy is gonna get a talkin' to."
"Who?", Bella asked.
"Oh, just n- you'll meet her eventually", she replied, picking up the bowl of mixed fruit. "If she ever gets out of Cambodia."
Bella watched Jade go into the sunroom, where Matt was reading a magazine. She took another bite of her apple and went to go find Edward. She didn't have to look very far, because he was at the top of the stairs, waiting for her.
"Eating again?", he mock teased.
She bit into the apple again, making a loud crunch, "Yup."
"You ok?", he asked. "Are you gonna be, ok, with all of this, I mean?"
"It's a lot to take in, right now, Edward", she replied, honestly. "I mean, of course I'm gonna miss Charlie and my mom, and Jacob. But, it's not like I'm never going to see them again. I'll just, be a little different, when I do."
"So, you still want to go through with it", he said.
"Yes, I do", she said, then gave a smirk. "And you couldn't stop me if you tried."
"Oh, really?", he asked, advancing on her.
"Uh-huh", she said, standing her ground.
He bent down to kiss her neck, just as Matt came up the stairs, still reading his paper.
"I wouldn't advise that", he said, stepping onto the landing. "You get blood on Jade's floor, she'll tear you to shreds."
"Who's in Cambodia?", Bella asked, as Matt went down the hall.
He turned and looked at her, dropping his paper to his side. "Where did you hear that?"
"Jade, mentioned something about someone she knew in Cambodia, when we were in the kitchen", she stated.
"I see", he said, looking down at the paper in his hand and her. "Well, I don't think I'm the best person to give out that kind of info. Mostly, because my opinion of her, is, somewhat biased."
"She'll be here sooner than you think", Alice interjected, coming out of her and Jasper's new room.
"You saw it?", Edward asked.
"Yes", she said. "And it's gonna take a 'really funky-bo-dunky turn', to quote Jade", she said.
"What do you mean?", Matt asked.
Alice got her normal 'I know but I'm not telling' look, and proceeded down the stairs. "You'll see."
"Alright, when she does that, it never ends well", Edward said, pointing after Alice.
It also turned out to be true. That following weekend, whilst everyone was out in the back, enjoying a warm, yet slightly cloudy day, playing in the pool, everyone, minus Bella heard a ruckus in the woods nearby.
"What is it?", Bella asked, looking in the direction where everyone else was.
"Bella, I want you to stay here, ok?", Edward instructed. "I'm gonna go with Jade and Carlisle to check it out."
All three of them ran in the direction of the sounds, while Alice, Esme and the others kept close to Bella.
In the forest, Jade and Edward were in for a major surprise. They advanced on the ongoing struggle of sounds and, when they had a clear view, paused.
"What, in all the circles of hell are you doing here?!", Edward roared at Jacob, who was laying on his back, on the ground.
"You honestly expected me to just let Bella go, with out a fight?", Jacob said, mildly strained. "You really are just a walking skeleton with skin."
"And aren't you supposed to be in Peru right now?", Jade asked.
The girl, no more than 17, who had Jacob pinned to the ground and was gripping his neck, making it hard to talk, stood up and dusted herself off.
"Peru fell through", the girl said. "And here I thought you'd seem a bit more pleased to see your sister after so long?"
"I am, but that doesn't mean you get to jump around out here like Tarzan", she scolded.
"I'm not Tarzan", the girl rebutted. "Does it look like I'm wearing a loin cloth to you?"
"She's your sister?", Carlisle asked, looking from Jade to the girl and back.
"Yeah. Carlisle, Edward, this is my sister, Kagumi", she said.
"You never told us you had a sister", Edward said.
"I also never told you that I'm the foremost female car collector in all of Europe either", she shot back. "Speaking of which, where's the Lam.?"
Kagumi grimaced. "At the airport. At least it's not scratched up or anything. I just, lost the ticket that says I can take it with me."
Jade brought her hand up and pinched the bridge of her nose, in frustration. "Which airport?", she asked, trying to keep her calm.
"Almeria", Kagumi said, bracing herself from Jade to explode. "Look, sis-"
"Kagumi, zip it", Jade said, sternly. "I'm gonna send Matt to get the car, and until I say, you get the Nissan, the Miata, the Eclipse or the JCP. That's it."
"Good to know I've come up in that conversation", Jacob said sarcastically, showing that he had been standing behind them during the argument.
"What?!", Kagumi shouted. "Just the town cars?! That is so unfair! I forget just once-!"
"Don't think you're off the hook, mongrel!", Edward yelled at Jacob. "If I weren't so-!"
"Oh, here we go!", Jade fired back. "I'm just so mean, right?! I don't let-!"
Carlisle whistled loudly, making them all stop shouting. "Thank you", he said. "Now, as much as you would like to continue this scream-fest. May I suggest that we take it back to the house, where we are far less apt to run into humans, wondering about out here?"
They all said nothing, but nodded. They departed from the forest and followed Carlisle back to the house, where everyone had gone back into the house and were gathered in the sunroom. When they walked in, the room was eerily quiet, but the mood was light, as if they had just stopped laughing about something.
"Jake", Bella said, getting up from her seat to hug him. "What are you doing here? And how, did you get here?"
"I overheard, uh, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen talking when they were in town before you left", Jacob admitted. "Come on, Bella, honestly, did you really think I was just gonna let you go, no questions asked?"
"The thought had crossed my mind", she replied.
Jade cleared her throat, to fill the lull in the conversation. "Matt? Can you do me a favor?"
"Sure", he said, getting up from his chair. "What do you need?"
"I need you to go to Almeria and pick up the Lam. from the airport", she said, throwing an aggravated glance at her sister. "Then, on your way back, and you pick up my new stuff in Madrid?"
"Ok", he said, kissing her on her cheek. "I'll try to get back as soon as I can. Hi, Gum."
He tossed a grape from the kitchen fruit bowl in his mouth before darting out of the front door.
"Everyone, this is my sister, Kagumi", Jade said, gesturing to her sister, who was leaning against the wall next to her. "Sis, these are, well, our family, for most intents and proposes. Edward and Carlisle you met already. Then, we have Alice, her husband Jasper, Emmett, his wife Rosalie, Carlisle's wife Esme and Edward's soon-to-be wife, Bella."
They either nodded and/or waved at Kagumi when they were named and Kagumi either waved or nodded back. After the introductions, she made an excuse to go upstairs.
"She doesn't like vampires, does she?", Esme asked, looking at Jade.
"It's not that she doesn't like vampires, it's that", she paused and gave a sigh. "She's still, conflicted."
She sat down in Matt's chair.
"See, Kagumi is just like me and Matt", she began. "A 'cat', and made to 'work' like we did. But, the thing is, she wasn't able to get away from it, like we did. I mean, yes, she did try, and almost succeeded, but she was caught and brought back. It wasn't until she was 'after a mark', as we used to say, that we found her. Of course she resisted, but, in end, thankfully, we won. I took out her tracker and burned it. That was almost 130 years ago. But, she- she still has these, feelings, like- almost as if she was meant to do that, you see? To be honest, I was that way too, for a while, but I'm not now. I think, in some ways, she still is."
There was a long silence, before Jade started again.
"That's why she's a bit, flighty, as it were", she went on. "She knows that I'll always be her sister, and that there's always a place for her here. But, I think she doesn't really know where she belongs. She's been trekking across the globe for the past 115 years. Which makes it a bit difficult to get her to stay in one spot. I've just grown to except that that's who she is."
"And what about Matt?", Bella asked. "From earlier, I already know that those two don't get along."
"It's not that they don't get along, it's just that, in some ways, I think she blames him for me", she said. "Before, me and Kagumi used to go everywhere together, with Matt staying here. One night, in Bucharest, he slipped and told me that he didn't really like me traveling everywhere. He didn't like having to worry about me all the time, and that it was Kagumi's fault. Of course, she heard him, and took off."
There was a short pause in which Jade took a drink of water.
"And since then, she tried to get me to get back out into the world", she continued. "And she kinda blames him, for the fact that I would rather stay here, than go to Cambodia, or Tokyo, or Singapore with her. Sometimes, I do go, but I don't stay as long as I used to."
"And I thought this family was dysfunctional", Rosalie said.
"Well, in her defense, she is getting better and she is trying", she said. "She's home, here, a lot more and she's started getting along with Matt more. I also, like to think that's she's trying to understand why I don't travel as much as I used to. She still has doubts now and then, but it's normal."
"What's normal?", Kagumi said, popping up in the entryway. "I'm kiddin'. I heard everything you said, sis. And.... it's all true, well, ninety-five percent of it was, at any rate."
"So, which parts were not right?", Emmett asked.
"That I don't really hold Matt responsible for Jade", she answered. "If I had a hot guy to spend eternity with, I would want to spend time with him. I mean, come on. It's only logical."
"I know exactly what you mean", Edward said, pulling Bella closer to his side and smiling down at her.
"See?", she inquired, pointing to Bella and Edward. "That's what I mean. You all have someone to spend eternity with. Someone who loves you and will care for you. Me? All I have is my passion, for destruction."
"Say what?", the Cullen's chorused.
"She's our munitions expert", Jade said. "We have a triple going: Matt's the medical guy, I'm the tech girl, and Gumi blows stuff up and kills things."
"Is that so?", Emmett asked.
"Put it this way: in under five seconds, she can think of fifteen different ways to kill you, with a paperclip", she stated.
"Whoa", Jasper whispered. "She's like Chuck Norris... with boobs."
At that moment, Matt came into the sunroom, flipping a set of car keys in his hand. He went over, kissed Jade and stood behind her chair.
"So, what did I miss?", he asked, looking at everybody.
"Not a whole lot", Gumi said. "But, then again, I did get compared to Chuck Norris, again."
"Hmm, well, that tends to happen when your forte is destroying things", he replied, then looked down at Jade. "By the way, your stuff from Madrid is up in our room."
"Thanks, honey", she said, getting up. "I might want to get started on that if I'm gonna do a dry run by morning."
With a small nod of goodbye to everyone, including Jacob, who was sitting on the floor, stunned by all of the information that was put out in the open, she left. Everyone took that as a cue and dispersed up to their rooms, except Jacob, who opted to sleep outside.
The next morning, Bella had awoken early, trying to catch Edward out hunting, but failed. He was laying on his side next to her, smiling.
"What are you smiling at?", she asked, turning on her side, to face him better.
"You", he answered simply. "I've told you before: I like watching you sleep. It fascinates me."
"You're weird", she said with a slight chuckle.
He decided not to answer, but change the subject. "You hungry?"
"A little", she replied.
"Ok, I'll go get you something", he said, all but jumping off the bed.
"I'm going with you", she said, grabbing her slippers, because the stone floors were too cold for her.
Edward had already opened the door and was out in the hallway, where Alice was stretching.
"Going for a run?", he asked.
"Yep", she said. "I need to get a good look at the landscape, in case other weird things go on."
"True", he agreed and they both went down to the kitchen, with Bella lagging a bit.
When they got down there, they heard the stereo playing and Jade singing along to it, but didn't see her.
"Jade?", Alice asked.
"Up here", she sang loudly, waving down at them.
They looked up and all three became wide-eyed. Jade was walking, barefoot, on the kitchen ceiling. She looked as she would if she were on the floor, but she was upside down. She was spinning and twirling back and forth across the ceiling.
"How are you up there?", Bella asked.
In response, Jade brought her leg up so that her foot was level with her face. They looked at it, and saw that there were four silver dots, looking like magnets, on the bottom of her foot.
"I got nothing", she said, shrugging.
"Did you miss the Q and A at the Cullen's house in Forks?", Jade asked, looking down at her, crossing her arms.
"Uh... I- erm.. well, I- I- I was dead at the time", Bella said, trying to keep a straight face.
Alice turned and looked at Bella and said, "That's Eddie Izzard."
"Well done indeed", Jade said, clapping as Alice gave a small curtsy in appreciation.
Then, Matt came in and looked up at Jade.
"So, are they working?", he asked, watching her as she resumed her dancing on the ceiling.
"I think they work great", she replied. "Once and a while they do stick, but, I think that's because they are still new yet and they haven't been broken in."
"That could be", he said, watching her with an evaluating look on his face. "But they aren't heavy or anything like that?"
"Nope. Light as a feather", she said, pulling a pirouette. "Ok, so not a feather. More like.... cotton. That works better"
"One quick question", he said, leaning against the wall, still watching her. "Why isn't your thing done?"
"It's not done, my dear Matthew, due to a missing part", she stated. "One that I had to order, and won't be in, until tonight."
"Why do you need, whatever it is, when I just looked in, and it was moving by itself?", he asked, thumbing behind him.
"Oh, shniz-fits", she said, and jumped off from the ceiling, twisted like a cat in mid-air and landed with a 'thunk' on the kitchen counter, on her hands and feet. She hopped down to the floor and took off for her room, her feet clicking all the way, due to the magnets.
Things went on, as normal as they could be, with house of vampires, cats and a human. Fights were made and resolved. Things were said and taken back. Typical undead family life. Once, Matt even leveled Edward because he called Jade, "a pesky pussycat from the deepest circle of hell".
Not a week after that incident, early one morning, around four in the morning, a loud bang came on the front doors. Emmett went to the door and opened it.
"Yes?", he asked, very confused, knowing that unless a person was invited, they couldn't get through the gate.
"We are expected", the small Spanish man said gruffly, walking past Emmett into the house, followed by a large group of varied aged men in black trench coats.
Matt came down the stairs just as the last one came through the door.
"Buenos dias, caballeros", he said. "Ellas estarán con usted momentáneamente. Esta manera, por favor."
They crowd of men bowed their heads and followed Matt down the hall to the dinning room. Once everyone was seated, he left and went to find Jade, who was in Gumi's room, tinkering with a new remote controlled hyper-explosive nutshell.
"Is the husk intact?", Gumi asked.
"Yes, it is", Jade replied. "I'm just attaching the micro-reciever."
"Uh, honey?", Matt asked, peeking around the door.
"How many decibels was it last time?", she asked. "What, sweetie?"
"Four", Gumi replied, looking at the piece of paper on the work desk.
"They're all here", he said, knowing they knew what he meant.
"Ok, we'll be right down. Thanks, babe", Jade replied. "Let's see if we can't get it down to two or less."
"Alrighty then", Gumi said, scribbling on the piece of paper. "Shall we?"
Jade carefully soldered the receiver in place, and got up. "We shall."
They changed quickly and went downstairs to the dinning room. As soon as they entered, all of the men in the room went quiet and stood up.
"Good morning, gentlemen", Gumi said, walking next to Jade to the head of the table.
"Please be seated", Jade said, in a tone that booked no argument. The men sank into their chairs, looking somewhat apprehensive. "Now, to business. Montrillo?"
From outside the door, everyone, minus Matt was trying to figure out what was going on, as the door was made to be soundproof.
"What is going on?", Jasper asked, looking from Matt to the dining room door and back.
"Head bi-monthly meeting", Matt stated, leaning against the doorframe.
"What's that?", Edward asked, keeping Bella close, just in case.
"The leaders of all of Jade and Gumi's gangs in Spain update them on the current status of what's been going on", he replied. "They update them on killings, pay offs, robberies, stakeouts and the like."
"Is that what you do?", Rosalie asked, looking sideways at the door. "Lead gangs.... and....."
"Oh, that's just them", Matt said, pointing at the door. "I do the medical thing at a few of the nearby hospitals. I also, help at some of the collages and schools, with Biology and Chemistry."
"And-", Carlisle began but didn't continue, due to the door opening.
Everyone stepped back and the group of men filed out of the door, with Gumi leading them and Jade bringing up the back. They stood just outside the door and watched the four limos fill and drive away. Once the gate was heard close, they came in.
"How is everything?", Matt asked. "Anything serious?"
"Nothing seriously monstrous", Jade said, stretching a bit, from sitting. "But we will have to meet with Juanique, due to an upcoming deal."
"When?", he asked again.
"A week or so", she shrugged.
"I thought he said two weeks", Gumi said.
"He said, 'semana', sis", Jade said. "Not 'semanas'. Montez has an unfortunate lisp."
"I thought he was getting help with that", Gumi said.
"You and me both", Jade said. "But, you know, like I do-"
"He's stubborn", they both said together, nodding.
Nearly everyone had a severely confused look on their face. Bella was just about to ask a question, when a pronounced 'crash!', came from upstairs.
"Oh, for the love of cheddar cheese!", Jade exclaimed, then bolted upstairs. They stood and listened to the bedroom door fling open, slam shut, and a succession of many bangs, thuds and curse words. She returned a few seconds later, with a crescent wrench in her hand, panting a bit. "Remind me to get more tie-down straps tonight."
"Uh.... why?", Gumi asked. Jade just held up the crescent wrench, which looked like it had battery fluid dripping down it. "Never mind. I get it. I thought-"
"So did I", Jade finished. She looked at her watch, heaved a sigh and headed towards the door, handing the wrench to Matt on her way. "I'm goin' for a drive."
She jumped in her Mustang and squealed away.
"Is she...... like that, normally?", Esme asked, indicating where Jade was.
"Since when has sis ever been, 'normal'?", Gumi asked, putting her hands on her hips. "That would be.... never. She just gets a bit wonky sometimes and needs to cool off. She'll be ok."
"You sure?", Bella asked. "She didn't look to well when she left."
"She'll be alright, as soon as she comes back from..... well, wherever the heck on Earth she's going", she said.
"Where do you think she went?", Alice asked.
"I don't know", she and Matt said at the same time, then he went on. "She could just be going to Madrid. She may go all the way to Japan. We never really know until she gets back."
"Or, she calls. One or the other", Gumi finished.
"What's the longest she's been gone?", Jasper asked.
"The longest?", she asked again.
"Uh-huh", he replied, nodding.
"Three years", she replied, starting to pick at her nails.
His eyes became wide and his lower jaw dropped a half an inch. "Do you think she'll be gone that long, this time?", he asked, concerned.
"Well, speaking from a logical point of view", she started again, still picking her nails. "There are eight new people in the house, Jade has a maternal over-drive and, she just plain loves being here. Calculating all of the into effect, I'd say the longest she'll be gone is..... a day, at absolute maximum."
She took one last pick at her thumb nail, and went upstairs. Three hours later, Jade's car roared up in front of the garage and she came inside.
"Where'd you-?", Matt started, seeing Jade close the front door, then stopped when he saw knife marks and gashes on her arms, legs and back. "What happened to you?"
She turned from the door and glared at him with orange colored eyes. "I'm fine, Matt", she said with a voice that could kill a corpse.
She said nothing else, but slowly walked upstairs to their room. Matt was about to go up too, when Alice stopped him.
"She went to Italy", she said, from the entrance to the front sitting room. "To Volterra."
"Why would she do that?", he asked, looking up at the closed bedroom door. "She knows they don't want us in Italy at all, so we don't go there, really."
"She was just having a moment of poor judgement", she said. "She did it because she knew she would lose."
"She did?", he asked, astonished. "She never does anything that she doesn't think she can win."
"Well, that's what she was thinking at the time", she said, putting her hand sympathetically on his shoulder. "I saw it."
"What else did you see?", he asked, half-dreading.
"That she pulls through this just fine, with a bit of help and a field trip", she said.
"Field trip?", he asked after a pause.
She just gave a knowing smirk and went off to find Jasper. He stood, confused for a moment, then went out back, where Gumi, was fiddling with a large paper clip by the pool, with Jacob, on the porch, watching her, in case he had to run. She was twisting and bending it, muttering to herself, trying to think of new things to do with it, most likely.
"Done that.... too short.... that won't work", she mumbled to herself. She straightened the clip and pressed it flat, before shaping it to a triangle shape. "Oh, even sharper."
Matt, who was now directly behind her spoke, "Gumi?"
She gave a jump as she whirled around and stuck the sharp paperclip through his index finger when he brought his hands up to protect himself.
"Oops", she said. "Sorry. You shocked me."
"It's alright", he replied, looking at the piece of metal sticking out from his finger. "It's probably a good thing that things like this, don't hurt like they should."
He pulled the the clip from his finger and handed back to her.
"Thank you", she said. "Was there something you needed?"
"No. Not really", he said, looking down at the ground. "Jade just got home and she-"
"She what?", Gumi interjected.
"She-....... she's covered in cuts, Gumi", he said, finally looking up at her. "She went to Volterra."
"What?", she asked, shock and anger thick in her voice. "Why would she do that? She knows-"
"I know, Gumi", he said, putting his hands on her shoulders to keep her where she was. "But, Alice saw it, and she said, she did it because she knew would lose."
"No way", she said, starting to shake with anger. "She doesn't do anything that she can't win. I know her."
"I know that, but, we both know what happens to her when she gets down", he said. "She does things that she wouldn't do ever, on occasion."
"Well, that's gonna get fixed", she said, determined, shrugging his hands from her shoulders and turning towards the house. "Right now."
"You can't, Gumi", he said. looking down into the pool.
"Why not?", she asked, turning back to him.
"It's the 13th", he stated. "It's her sleeping day today."
"Aw, for the love of-!", she exclaimed and unknowingly, threw the paperclip behind her, which hit Jacob, sticking into his forearm.
"YEE-OOOOW!!!!", Jacob yelled, jumping high into the air, flailing his arms around. "Get it out! Get it out! Get it oooout!!"
"Yeah, that's what she said", Gumi said, thumbing backwards to Jacob. She walked over to the still jumping Jacob. "Bud.... stop, being, a, pouty puppy!", she said, sternly then grabbed his arm and yanked the clip from his arm.
"WOW-CHA!", he shouted, then looked at his arm. A small trickle of blood came from the wound.
Just as it dawned on him that there were seven vampires in the house, Emmett came into the backyard. He opened his mouth to say something, but, the smell of Jacob's blood hit his nose and he went bonkers. He darted for Jacob, but Gumi, just shook her head, stuck her hand out and held him back. He snarled and raked his hands through the air between him and Jacob. Matt came over quickly and pulled him backwards. He held him back and let out a whistle. A small, iPod looking device came out of his pocket and perched on his shoulder.
"PIEDO", he said, and the device gave a chirp. "Find PADIK. Blood drawn."
PIEDO gave another chirp and zipped into the house. Three seconds later, Carlisle and Alice jumped down from their bedroom windows. They both grabbed Emmett and dragged him back into the house. Matt brought Jacob in behind them and fixed his wound, so that it didn't bleed.
"Thanks", he said. "Not bad.... for a feline."
Matt snapped the first-aid kit shut. "You're welcome."
Gumi had taken to pacing. For the past two days, all she'd done was pace, and snap at any male who came too close. First it had been Carlisle, as he offered to examine her for medical anomalies.
“Carlisle, really, I AM A MEDICAL ANOMALY!” she shouted, vibrating the floor as she stomped away.
Jade tsked and went back to her book, which was a Swiss engineering manual. Next it was Emmett who got the brunt end of her temper. He was setting up to tackle her and she turned just in time, grabbing his outstretched hand and flipping him angrily over she shoulder.
“I'd back off, bear boy!” she growled, throwing his hand down in disgust.
Bella cautioned Edward to stay away from Gumi, that she had a theory.
“Well, it only took you a few tries to get our lives down,” he teased, ducking her pillow before it shattered on his marble skin.
Jade looked up interestedly at this, but Matt then stole her attention with a well-timed kiss. Being that her mouth was otherwise engaged, and without complaint, satisfying her curiosity of Bella's thoughts was far down on her to-do list.
One day, as Gumi walked by Alice and Jasper, he stiffened. “Talk about extreme sexual frustration,” he whispered to his wife, who smiled mysteriously.
Gumi's spine straightened as she deliberately sat right by Jasper, not even two inches from him, waiting for another attack.
“I'm rather surprised,” Esme offered later that night, before the family parted ways.
“About what?” Jade asked, refilling Bella's glass of milk.
“Well, Matt hasn't been yelled at yet. And Jasper is nowhere to be seen”, she finished.
“I,” Matt said, as he wrapped his arms around Jade's waist, “happen to be of the same species. Which means,” he snickered knowingly, “she's not interested in my flesh.”
“Good thing too. I'd hate to kill my sister.” Jade stretched. “And the reason nobody's seen Jasper lately is that well... Gumi's moods got to him a bit. So he and Alice disappeared for a while, to work on it...” she smiled evilly, obviously amused by whatever that meant.
The next day, Edward and Jasper, who was convinced by Edward, left to go hunting to together. As soon as they left, Jade and Bella, found Alice and Gumi, then left on a girl's day out to.... well, wherever they were going. On the way, they dropped Jacob off at the Madrid airport, where Jade, physically put Jacob on a plane for JFK, before wishing him a safe trip.
Jasper and Edward came back a few hours later, to find Alice, Bella, Jade and Gumi, gone. Esme was going over print plans upstairs. Carlisle and Matt were discussing micro-viruses in the library, and Rosalie, in the garage, working on the cars. They looked around the two front rooms, then saw Emmett, going down to the garage.
"Hey. You're back", he said, stopping in between them.
"Where's my wife?", Jasper asked.
"Where's my fiancee?", Edward asked also.
"Uh... I don't know", he said, trying to look innocent.
He tried to sneak away, but, Jasper and Edward grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back to them.
"Emmett?", Jasper asked, in a luring tone, putting his arm on Emmett's shoulder. "Now, we know, that you know something-"
"And if you don't tell us willingly-", Edward interjected, in the same tone, also, putting his arm on Emmett's shoulder
"We're just gonna have to beat it out of you", Jasper finished as he and Edward gave him an evil-ish grin. "So what's it gonna be?"
Emmett peeled himself out of their claws and began to back away. "Now, I know you don't want to hurt your brother....", he said, chuckling nervously. "I really don't know where they are. They got in the car and left."
Edward looked at his watch, debating. "Which car did they take?"
Before he could answer, Rosalie came up from the garage, with a rag in her hands that she was using. "Well, they didn't take the hummer. Slight oil leak."
"Why... is there an oil leak?", Jasper asked.
She stopped a bit past them and cringed. "Well, that's half my fault. I got a little too careless with the screwdriver."
Edward looked down at his watch again, still thinking. The expression on his face clearly showed that he was debating whether or not to try and find Bella.
"Edward", Jasper said, putting his hand over Edward's watch, looking at him. "She'll be fine. Alice is with her. She won't let anything happen to her that isn't suppose to."
"And Jade loves her like a sister", Carlisle said, walking over with Matt, who had both come out from the library. "She'll protect her."
"Also, Gumi doesn't want you, Alice and Jade mad at her for the rest of eternity, so... she's more than safe", Matt stated.
Edward took all of this into account, as he looked down at his watch again. He was silent for a moment before heaving a sigh. "Alright", he said. "I'm gonna trust them to keep her safe."
At that exact moment, the girls walked out of a small chocolate shop in Barcelona.
"I think he'll like those", Bella said, indicating the small red and gold bag Jade had just tucked into one of her other shopping bags.
"I think so too", Jade replied. "Ok. Where now?"
"We went the arcade already", Gumi said. "The spy shop is closed for the next two hours."
Alice looked at Bella with an evil grin on her face. She saw this and knew now would be a good time to be scared.
"What?", she asked, terrified.
"Jade?", Alice asked, turning her head to look at Jade. "How far to Plaza Del Romani?"
"It's two streets over that way", Jade said, pointing to her left. "Why?"
She stepped back and whispered low and fast in her ear. When she was done, Jade also, had the same evil grin on her face, looking at Bella.
"You know what?", she said, looking at Alice. "I think I'll keep you."
Before another word was said, they guided Bella down the street, with Gumi following behind. They steered her directly into Usa Excotica, a lingerie shop that Alice remembered from last time she was in Spain. Alice pushed Bella into one of the dressing rooms with three 'outfits' to try on.
"So, how are things?", Jade asked, waiting for Bella to come out.
"Oh, very well, so far", Alice replied. "Jasper has been... a bit off, lately. But, I think it might be that he's still dealing with the move. Having to learn Spanish...."
"Yeah, I know what that's like", she said, then looked over at Gumi, who was holding up a black negligee set in front of her, standing in front of the mirror.
"I don't even know why I'm looking at this", she said. "I don't have anybody to wear it for."
"Oh, honey", Jade said, putting her arm around her shoulder. "What happened to.... what's-his-name, from Japan?" Gumi just shook her head and mimicked a plane crash with her hands. "Ohh, sweetie. I'm sorry."
"Eh, I'll live", she said. "I didn't put all of myself into it anyways. At least, I didn't sleep with him before he dumped me. You know? I have found that the type of guy I need is one, who doesn't get scared at the fact that I can jam his nose through his brain with a flick of my pinkie finger."
Bella came out from behind the curtain, in a leopard print negligee, with matching sheer stockings and high-heel pumps.
"Well?", she asked, dreading, her face as red as an apple.
Jade and Alice looked her over, before having her go back in and change into the next one, which was black and deep purple. They nodded their heads a bit more at this one, but had her show the last one: a tannish and very light brown colored one, that was fake fur, and made her look a bit like a mountain lion. Well, she is Edward's favorite. They conferred for a moment, then decided to get the deep purple and black one, along with the fur one.
"But, I can't even afford one stitch of this", Bella said, looking at the 2,000 euro tag on the fur one.
"We never said, you'd be paying for these", Alice said.
"Ok, you get her the black one, and I'll get her the fur one", Jade said, as they headed up to the counter.
"Alright", Alice agreed, not listening to Bella's protests.
"I think I'll get this anyways", Gumi said, next to Jade, holding the same black item she was holding earlier. "It fit like a silk glove, so why not?"
Jade let Alice and Gumi get their things first, before she did. As the guy behind the counter rung up her things, he kept blushing at things going through his mind and at Jade as he hit on her, not bothering to notice the silver sapphire wedding ring on her finger. As they left the shop, Alice and Bella couldn't help but laugh.
"What?", Jade asked.
"Oh, come on, now, you couldn't not know that that guy was totally hitting on you", Bella said, taking the bag with her things in it.
"He was not hitting on me", she replied, looking at both of them.
"How do you figure?", Alice asked again.
"Because, of the absolute obvious: a guy working in a lingerie store. That guy was so flaming, I'm surprised he didn't catch on fire", she said and they all burst into hysterical laughter.
They stopped at a few more shops before going back to the car, which, as they drew closer could tell, was going to get interesting. A group of six, not savory looking guys, were standing around Jade's car. They all got fiendish looks on their faces as the girls came closer. Bella, having had something bad happen before, stuck close to the middle of Jade, Gumi and Alice.
"Hey, there they are", one of the guys said, chuckling.
"I'm glad it was a girl car", another said, licking his lips. "Ooh, yummy."
"Lunch time", one more stated.
"Hey, baby. Wanna have fun?", the one that seemed to be the leader asked, walking up to Jade as the others encircled them.
"With you? I don't think so", Jade said, with a scoff.
"Aww, c'mon, don't be like that", he said, stopping really close to her. She could smell the bourbon on his breath. "You and me. We can have a wild time."
He ran a finger down her arm, which she jerked away.
"Don't, touch me", she snapped, yet still calm. Gumi and Alice moved in closer, sealing off Bella from the predators.
"Ooh hoo hoo hoo", the leader said again. "Feisty."
He reached over to grab her breast, but she pushed him away, not hard enough to give away what she was.
"Don't touch me!", she growled.
"Don't worry, chica", one of the other guys said, chuckling. "We aren't gonna hurt you."
"Yeah", the one next to that one said. "We just gonna have a little party."
"Sis?", Gumi asked, not looking back, but keeping her eyes on the guys around her.
"Jade?", Alice asked, also not looking backwards, and holding onto Bella.
"Alright", Jade said. "I give up." The leader walked over to Jade and went to touch her, but was dropped to his knees, for visually no reason. "Chicas?", she asked, eying the leader, who was now standing and one of the others. "Pateamos."
Alice pushed Bella to the ground, where she stayed, motionless, until the sound of yelling, punching and thuds were done. She looked up and saw all six of the men, tied up, in a large ball, around one of the pillars in the garage. Gumi, Alice and Jade were picking up their bags and walking back to her.
"Are we going home or what?", Gumi asked, opening the trunk of the car.
Bella just got a smirk on her face, and knew, that even when Edward wasn't around, as long as she had one of them, she was alright. They all got in the car and drove, happily back to the house.
They pulled up in front of the garage, with the top down and all four of them singing loudly to If You Want Blood, by AC/DC, which was blaring through the speakers.
"Blood on streets, blood on the rocks, blood in the gutter, every last drop, you want blood, you got it!", they screamed loudly, before Jade turned off the car.
They grabbed their bags from the trunk and started up to the door. When they reached the doors, they saw-
"Jacob?!", Jade shouted. "What are you still doing here?! You're suppose to be on a plane to New York, right now!"
"I know", he replied, leaning against the doorframe. "But I like the scenery here."
Jade got a very skeptical look on her face, then looked down at her watch before bringing her hands up to cover her head.
"What's that for?", he asked, pointing at her.
She looked up at her hands, still over her head. "I'm waiting for it to start raining bullshit."
Bella, Alice and Gumi giggled as they followed Jade into the house.
The next day, Jade took Jacob back to the airport, and send him home. A few days later, he was back, standing out on the front steps, in the pouring rain. Jade, just tried to drown him in the pool. Two days later, Edward took him to the airport, and came back after Jacob was on the plane in the air. A week later, he came back, and was playing, by himself, on the tennis court. Both Jade and Edward, broke a racket over his head. It repeated for the next three weeks, and when he finally came back, and Emmett found him huddled by the back door during a wind storm, Jade gave up and said, "Fine! If you want to stay, stay. But, don't get in my way and don't come whimpering to me or anybody else when somebody comes after you!"
A couple days later, Gumi crept into the room that currently smelled of Jacob. She'd heard him and Jade arguing earlier, but hadn't really paid it much attention; the beast inside was too restless to let her relax. Up the stairs, she found him sitting against the wall, spinning a quarter round and round between his fingertips.
“What do you want?” he asked sullenly. The room smelled of Bella, and Jacob, and instinctively Gumi knew that he's tried to pry her from Edward again. For some unknown reason, that made her mad.
“You should just leave them alone, you know,” she said shortly, throwing him a dirty look.
“And why's that? So he can bite her and ruin whatever life she's got left?” he snapped right back, throwing the quarter hard enough to embed it in the wall next to Gumi's head. Calmly, she reached and plucked from the wood, right before aiming a skull-splitting shot right at his feet.
“No. Because they have each other, and technically, he had a prior claim. The two of you built mudpies together. The two of them found love together.” He glared at her, and dropped his eyes back to the floor as another powerful wave of hormones flooded through her. “At least they're together,” she muttered to herself, once again berating her maker for not finishing his project.
He looked chastened for a moment, before noticing the white bag in her hand. “What's that,” he asked warily.
“Well, I thought that - -” Gumi jumped about a foot off the floor as the door, which had been propped open, suddenly slammed shut; she could hear Jade's laughter echoing from the hallway. Running to the small servant window (where the eyehole would be on a normal door) she saw one blue eyes looking at her.
“Please not like this. Don't take my choice away”, she begged.
“Sorry, but the rest of us can't stand it anymore,” came Matt's voice. “Poor Jasper hasn't let Alice out of bed for over two days, not that she minds terribly.”
“I'll get you for this. The mutt?”, she asked.
“Not me, Gums, it was Jade's idea. Revenge on him and solve your problem for you.” The eye moved and she could tell that he'd shrugged.
“I can solve it on my own, Matthew, now let me out before something terrible happens,” usually Gumi's threats were listened to. Today he just rolled his eyes and shut the little sliding door.
“So long as something happens, I don't really care”, he said.
Angrily, Gumi slammed her back against the door and slid to the floor, obviously upset. Jacob eyed her strangely, and she quickly moved to the other side of the room, lest her pheromones affect him.
“What the hell's going on?” he asked.
“Well, I'm a cat. A female cat. A single female cat,” she snarled, extending her nails. “What do single female cats tend to do?”
“Oh, god,” he paled dramatically. “You're in heat, aren't you?”
“Good dog... Fetch, Fido, fetch.” She threw an imaginary treat at him. He grinned for a moment, then gulped as he realized what being locked in a room with her in this condition would more than likely lead to. At least she's attractive, in a weird sort of way... he thought.
Outside the door, the Cullen clan was gathered, waiting for something to happen. Edward cocked his head for a moment, then smiled wryly.
“So, shall you try to answer my question again?” he asked.
“What, mutt?” Oh, definitely not any happier than me about this.
“What is in the bag?” he asked, pointing at the bag now lying on the floor. Without looking, she threw it to him. “What's this for?”
"Thought I'd buy something to say that I'm sorry for accidentally stabbing you”, she said, unenthusiastically gesturing to the bag.
When he opened it, he looked at her in surprise. “How'd you know that I like Licorice?”
She shrugged. “Most dogs like chew toys.”
He opened the bag, munching happily, until he yelped and pulled a paperclip out of the roof of his mouth.
“Wha' the hell?” he asked, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth.
“Eh. Figured a little rough pranking wouldn't hurt. You heal fast.” she smiled for the first time in days before another wave of chemistry overran her body.
Being locked in a room didn't give her a choice about what happened, only a matter of when. Raising his nose, Jacob sniffed.
“Do you smell...I swear...I know there's...” He got up from his little camp over in the furthest corner away from Gumi, he reached one of the little hidey-holes in the wall. Swinging a panel aside, he found a small wine rack. Holding a bottle triumphantly, he looked at the shivering girl. “I knew I smelled wine.”
Gumi snorted. “Maybe there's enough to drown me.”
Jacob looked at her, then uncorked the bottle. “Want some?” he asked, letting the fumes waft over towards her.
Her mouth began watering, and it wasn't just because of the wine. Firmly shaking her head, she stayed planted right where she was. He shrugged, pouring it into two flutes anyway. Over the rim of his flute, on the third refill, he saw her stand up and turn her green eyes to the ceiling.
 Aquajade · Mon Jun 22, 2009 @ 11:23pm · 0 Comments |
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