XIV. Vienna

''During James Buchanan's presidency, in winter of 1860 Russell, Majors, and Waddell organized and put together the Pony Express, which was basically like today's email, just on horses.''

''That's so cute.'' Blair whispered to Luke, but somehow Mr Harrison heard her.

''Interrupting my class, nothing new from you Blair.'' Mr Harrison stopped with the lesson to look at Blair. ''What is so cute in my class?''

''Horses? I mean, imagine your job is riding horses all day, every day and delivering letters.'' Blair said, biting ignoring the embarrassment she felt.

Few of her classmates laughed at her comment, few of them agreeing with her. Blair turned around to face specific boy who was sitting at the back. She sent Jasper a big smile on which he replied with a wink and smiling back at her.

''Oh, but it was everything but cute Blair.'' Mr Harrison said, making Blair to face the teacher again. Mr Harrison clicked on little remote and the slide of his presentation turned, showing picture of what looked like a map.

''The route of Pony Express was 1 900 miles long and there were 184 stations-''

☆ ☆ ☆

''Are you hundred percent sure I'm welcomed to your house today?'' Blair asked Jasper as they were leaving school's building with his arm around her. Jasper half smiled at the human girl when he felt the feeling of uneasiness coming from her.

''Are you afraid of being in the same house with seven vampires? Being a second away from dying and looking death in the eyes, don't you like living on edge?'' Jasper smirked and they stopped walking. He heard her heart started beating faster, but it wasn't because of her excitement.

''Stop that.'' Blair said, locking her blue eyes with his golden ones. Her jaw tightened as her hold on Jasper's hand did too. ''If anything happens tonight-''

''Blair...'' Jasper started, putting his both palms on both of her warm cheeks. He was looking straight in her eyes and talking with full honesty ''Nothing will happen to you tonight or any other day.''

''I know...'' Blair mumbled, looking at the ground.

''Look at me Blair.'' Jasper said making Blair's eyes to look into his ''I will protect you, not a single bad thing will happen to you. I love you.''

Blair's eyes widened at his words. She wasn't sure, but this might be the first time Jasper said he loves her. Her heart started beating much more faster and this time it was from happiness.

''I love you too, Jasper Hale.'' Blair said and kissed him. In second Jasper kissed her back, kiss was sweet and passionate but short. It would lasted far more if the sound of screeching tires against the road didn't interrupt following the loud sound of impact and screaming.

Blair and Jasper immediately looked towards the noise and saw Tyler's green van crashed with Bella's orange truck. Blair's heart stopped, she hoped Bella was not in or nowhere near her truck. But when she saw Edward walking away from the truck and Bella's brown hair showing from between the van and the truck, Blair's palm flew to her mouth.

''Oh, my God Bella!''

''This can't be good.'' Jasper mumbled, thinking of his brother as Blair ran towards Bella like the rest of students that were on school's parking lot.

☆ ☆ ☆

''Wow that's pretty.'' Blair commented on beautiful big house that is located not too far from town of Forks. Blair expected something to sweep her off her feet, but she never expected a mansion with so many windows.

Coming into the house, Blair was greeted with light and warm atmosphere and feeling of home. Cullen's house was beautifully decorated in very modern style, something Blair didn't expect from couple of hundred-year-olds.

''You like it?'' Asked Jasper the moment he noticed big smile over Blair's features. Blair turned around herself few more times before she finally faced Jasper and nodded with loss of words.

Taking her hand, Jasper pulled Blair in the way of kitchen. On the way there Blair tried to look at any corner of beautifully designed space, her eyes lingered more on paintings of scenery and architecture that hanged on the walls as they were making their way towards the kitchen.

''Blair!'' Blair heard her name being called by the female voice she didn't recognise. Her head turned towards left where, from the kitchen came woman looking no older than Carlisle. She had greyish apron hugging her body.

The woman, Esme opened her arms wide and with kind smile went to hug the human girl. At first, Blair was hesitant but then she remembered how Jasper talked about Esme and how nice she is. Two women stayed in embrace for half a minute before Esme let her go.

''It is so nice to finally meet you.'' She said to Blair who copied her smile and nodded.

''Likewise.'' Said Blair, who all of sudden felt shy ''I want to thank you for making me soup when I was sick. It was delicious.''

''Oh, truly it was no problem for me. I'm glad you are fine now.'' Blair nodded with smile and looked back at Jasper who just starred at the two meeting each other.

''I hope you're hungry now, I've made risotto just for you.'' Blair nodded once again making Esme smile. She gently grabbed Blair's shoulders leading her to take a seat while giving Jasper wink and smile of approval.

''I'm sorry for the rest of us, but only two of us will keep you company today.'' Esme said to Blair as she put a plate of risotto in front of her. Esme patted Jasper's shoulder before she walked to take a seat in front of Blair. ''But they are all in hospital right now.''

''No, it's alright.'' Blair said ''Is Bella okay?''

''Carlisle called to inform that human girl is alright.'' Esme said making Blair nod.

''Is everything fine between all of you? I mean Edward saved Bella in front of the whole school.'' Blair asked not being sure if the family of vampires is endangered.

''Nobody saw Edward running towards Bella, I don't believe there is a need to worry.'' Said Jasper. He put his hand on top of Blair's to show her everything will be alright. He knew two girls have gotten quite closer for the last few days since Blair met Bella.

Blair nodded, trusting his words. She doesn't know a lot about Jasper's world, but she is smart enough to know that if humans knew about Jasper and his family, they'd leave Forks forever.

Trying not to think about scary thoughts like those, Blair finally took a hold on the fork and tried the dish Esme prepared only for her.

''Jesus, this is amazing.''

☆ ☆ ☆

''This is your room?'' Blair asked while looking around Jasper's stuff. The room was neat, instead of walls there were only wide windows making it look like they are on balcony.

''Disappointed?'' Jasper smirked making Blair almost burst out laughing. She turned around to face him with her eyebrows raised.

''Disappointed, no. Jealous? Very.'' She said, coming closer to one window ''I mean, look at that view.''

''I don't like to think about I'm trapped somewhere.'' Jasper said, now standing right behind Blair with his arms wrapped around her. All of sudden Blair gasped as she felt herself turn around and Jasper's body pressed against her's. ''Although, I wouldn't complain being trapped somewhere with you.''

Blair said nothing, she just kept starring at his beautiful golden eyes that were inspecting every inch of her face. Feeling her blood pumping faster, Jasper took one step backwards. He turned around and walked towards his gramophone.

From where he left, Blair stood and watched him with interest.

Suddenly, slow music could be heard coming from gramophone. Blair's face broke from wonder to genuine smile. Soft tune made her to close her eyes and think of something that makes her heart smile.

Jasper turned back to her and noticed the smile on her face. He walked closer, putting his one hand on her waist and the other took a hold of Blair's. Blair's blue eyes opened and immediately looked into Jasper's golden ones.

''May I have this dance, ma'am?'' Jasper asked, corners of his mouth tugging upwards. Blair flashed him a bright smile and without saying anything she put her hand on his shoulder.

Slow down, you crazy child

You're so ambitious for a juvenile

But then if you're so smart, then tell me, Why are you still so afraid?

The two appeared in the middle of the room and quietly, while holding each onto other swayed to the rhythm.

''I never imagined you as a Billy Joel fan?'' Blair said, her smile never leaving her face. Jasper never, not even for a mili-second took his eyes of hers. He almost didn't hear her from all the feelings he was swimming in currently.

Never in his long life Jasper thought he will be dancing with the girl he feels so much for. The moment his eyes met with her's the day they met, he knew he got it bad, but he thought it would be easy for him to ignore it, or just change his feeling.

But the moment he felt it coming from her, Jasper could not control himself. Not anymore. He even started to worry about him hurting her, that couldn't happen even if he wanted to. His body would just freeze.

''Are you surprised?'' He smiled at her, letting of of her waist and spinning her while still holding Blair's hand. The girl let few giggles and Jasper could swore he felt his heart beat again.

''Absolutely.''

But you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

The lyric got stuck in Blair's head and she got over it few more times before silently agreeing with it. The moment she find about vampires and their immortality all she could think about was her own mortality.

She is human after all, and her life is just a blink of an eye in Jasper's. She knows there are only two solutions to that; living her perfect life with the one she loves and then happily dying, satisfied and selfishly leaving Jasper in this world knowing he could never follow her to another.

Or just simply becoming like him, leaving her mother and others to their human life.

Shaking those thoughts away, Blair refused to fill her head with information she didn't need to focus on for now.

''Blair.'' Jasper's voice broke her chain of thoughts, bringing her back to reality. ''I love you.''

''I love you, too.'' She whispered back, meeting him halfway in passionate kiss. They stopped dancing and Jasper's hands strongly gripped her hips, kissing her deeply.

From this moment Jasper knew, he want's to spend his eternity with Blair.

You've got your passion, you've got your pride

But don't you know that only fools are satisfied?

Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true