CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
°⋆∴☽°:۵≼

i. how did you sleep ?

— AS ANTHONY DUCKED INTO ROSALIE'S CHERRY RED CONVERTIBLE, he situated his oxygen tank and backpack at his feet before pulling the purple rock out of his sweater pocket.

"D'you have any idea what this is?" He asked Rosalie before she had the chance to shift gears and start driving.

Rosalie's eyebrows furrowed as she examined the crystal.

"It's an amethyst." She stated, not knowing the purpose of the conversation as she turned her eyes to the road and started to move.

"That doesn't really answer my question." Anthony sighed as he fell back into his seat and buckled his seatbelt, still looking at the rock in his hand. "Have they ever been known to glow?"

Rosalie looked at him oddly.

"Yeah, I figured." He sighed. "It was lighting up like the Fourth of July about fifteen minutes ago."

Rosalie glanced at the side view mirror before answering.

"Maybe you should talk to Carlisle about it." She suggested.

Tony looked up confusedly.

"Why would I talk to Carlisle about it?" He asked, shoving the stone back into his pocket.

"He used to be part of the Volturi. If anyone were to know anything about glowing rocks, it'd be them." The blonde explained.

"Volturi is the vampire government and law, right?" Anthony checked.

Rosalie smiled proudly, "you remembered."

"Of course I did." Tony shrugged.

It was quiet for a moment before Anthony spoke up again.

"I realize I also didn't say hello, that was rude of me. Hello." He smiled and put his elbow against the car door, leaning his head into his hand.

Rosalie chuckled slightly.

"Hello, Tony."

"You are, as always, absolutely radiant today." Tony complimented.

"Was that a compliment or a pun about the glowing rock?" Rosalie side eyed him.

Anthony looked out the window as he laughed.

"A compliment."

"Well in that case, thank you."

Anthony just nodded in response.

The car continued on down the wet road.

"Why do you always do that?" Rosalie asked.

Tony cast a confused glance in the woman's direction.

"Do what?"

"You- compliment women, even though you're gay. What's the point?" Rosalie had seen the worst of what the male population had to offer, and in her eyes compliments were just masked attempts at bedding the female population.

It was like a switch was flipped, and Anthony turned in his seat to face her.

"I do it because my compliments are truth, not just ways to get you to sleep with me. Some people need and deserve to be told they're beautiful, without the attachments. I'm not looking for a phone number or directions to a hotel, I just tell you that you're beautiful because quite plainly: you are. I don't have or need any other reason." He stated before turning to look out the window again.

He had always supported female rights and ways but Liv Marigold turned him into a raging feminist.

Rosalie went quiet for a second, collecting her thoughts.

"It's different with you. Quite a few male feminists just do it to appeal as a sensitive person. You don't just sell the tickets, you put on the show." She said.

Anthony turned a tilted head and smiled at her.

"If I didn't, there'd be a damned disappointed crowd." He laughed.

Rosalie smiled, "You aren't wrong." She said as they pulled into the Forks high school parking lot, directly into the space next to Emmett's Jeep.

Rosalie reached into the back to grab her bag as Anthony gathered his things.

"Hey Rosie?" Tony asked.

She'd never let anyone call her Rosie. Maybe Rose, if they were respectful enough, but for some reason now she let it slide and actually found herself smiling at the nickname.

"Yeah?" The blonde grabbed her keys and put her hand on the door handle.

"We may not hang out that much but I'm really glad you exist." He gave her a grin before getting out of the vehicle, leaving the woman in a state of welcomed shock.

Once Anthony was out of the car with his oxygen tank's wheels on the ground and his backpack over his shoulder, he spotted Jasper leaning against the back of Emmet's Jeep.

"There you are." The Hale boy said as a greeting, seeing Tony approach him.

"You were waiting for me?" Anthony asked, not realizing that he was supposed to meet Jasper in the morning.

Jasper nodded, "I wanted to give you something."

Tony's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"What's that?"

Jasper then leaned forward to place a kiss on Anthony's cheek in a similar way the brunet had done the night before.

Tony's lips pulled up into a lovesick smile that he tried to hide in his balled up sweater sleeve, looking down at the pavement.

Clearing his throat he looked back up at Jasper.

"Ah, that."

Jasper chuckled at the boy's reaction and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, leading him away from the parking lot.

"I'll walk you to your class."

— ALICE SHOWED UP THREE MINUTES LATE TO ART CLASS, but neither Anthony nor anyone else seemed to mind. Just like he had with Rosalie and Jasper earlier in the morning, Tony tried to ask Alice if she knew anything about glowing amethyst.

The Cullens seemed to have the same response, they had no idea what it was that caused the stone to illuminate.

Eventually, the boy was sitting in the seat next to Jasper's in history, his left hand taking notes and his right hand stayed preoccupied with Jasper's.

Anthony would have made a comment about Jasper not taking notes, but then he reminded himself that Jasper probably lived through all the stuff they were being taught and didn't need the notes.

"So you're sure you have no experience with rocks that turn into radioactive looking light bulbs?" Tony asked, his voice a low whisper.

Jasper absentmindedly shook his head 'no', still playing with Anthony's hand.

"Unless you count kryptonite but that's green, not purple." The blond stated with a shrug.

Tony nodded while looking at the clock, seeing a few minutes to go before the bell would ring. Then, Jasper's comment registered in Anthony's mind and he was shot with surprise.

"Wait," Tony tried to keep his tone at a whisper. "Since when are you making Superman references?"

"Since we read those comics about Spider-Man, Thor and... Captain.." Jasper trailed off, obviously forgetting the last name.

Though Tony remembered the other day when they read a comic about one of his favourite female heroes, which they found hidden away in the library.

"Captain Marvel?" He offered.

"Yeah."

"None of those were Superman?" Anthony said, hinting to the fact that Jasper shouldn't know Superman.

"Yeah I read one just last night. Emmett has a bunch of DC comic books and so I stole a few." Jasper shrugged.

Tony's eyebrows raised.

"And how was it?" He asked.

"Not bad, I guess. I think I prefer the Marvel comics though. Not sure how I feel about Superman either... I mean, he has so many powers but he gets weakened by rocks? Why don't his enemies just slingshot pieces of kryptonite at him, it'd probably work the same as a bullet." The blond went on a slight rant while Anthony watched him in awe and disbelief.

"Hold on- you're choosing sides now?" Tony asked.

"I'm just saying Marvel seems cooler than DC."

"But what about Dick Grayson? All the Robins? The freakin beauty that is Jason Todd? All of Batdad's kids?"

Jasper chuckled under his breath, "Batman is not cut out to be a father."

"Yeah, but his kids are fuckin' awesome." Anthony grinned just as the bell rung and they began to put away their stuff.

"I haven't seen much of the kids yet."

"Well, we have to change that."

Jasper laughed and waited till Tony was situated before he grabbed the Swan's hand and led him out the door of the history classroom.

As if on autopilot, the two made their way to the medical building without much thought. It had become part of their daily pattern.

Upon entry, Reyes Jaylin greeted them as they sat down, avoiding eye contact with Jasper.

"Hello Anthony, did you sleep well last night?" He asked politely, knowing Tony had told him about his sleep deprivation issues.

"I did, actually. First time in days." Tony replied, a blissful smile on his face.

Jasper was happy to hear Anthony was feeling better, but was also curious about how Reyes asked instantly. As if the Englishman knew that the Swan's answer was going to differentiate from before.

Tony said it himself, he hadn't slept properly in days. Well, how could Reyes possibly know that this day would change?

Reyes was quick about changing out the oxygen tank and setting everything up for Tony, much quicker than usual at least. It was strange to see him in such a rush.

As Reyes was helping to fix Anthony's tubing, Jasper decided to test something.

"So are you going to ask Carlisle about that amethyst?" The Hale asked Tony, and watched for Reyes' reaction.

He wasn't disappointed, as Reyes' heartbeat sped up and he fumbled for a second.

"I don't know. Rosalie said Emmett knew a bit about crystals. Maybe I should talk to him first."

Jasper hummed in agreement and examined Reyes suspiciously.

"Have you got any form of pain medication or a pain reliever?" Reyes asked as he pulled away and stood in front of the two.

Anthony nervously looked down at the floor.

"I- uh- I do, but I don't ever use it anymore. I ran out just the other day and never bothered to get it refilled." He said.

Reyes sighed.

"Get it refilled."

— LUNCH ROLLED AROUND RATHER QUICKLY WHICH ANTHONY WAS SOMEWHAT GRATEFUL FOR. As much as he liked to spend time with Jasper, he also needed to talk to Emmett. Tony also noticed that Jasper seemed to be eyeing down Reyes like he was some sort of science fair project, which was particularly odd.

"Hey there, Emily." Anthony greeted as he and Jasper sat down. Emmett just nodded in response while Rosalie, Alice and Jasper looked confused at the nickname.

Anthony noticed that Edward and Bella were no where to be found. So either they skipped school or they're spending the lunch outside.

And if Tony finds out Bella skipped school there's gonna be a whole new problem on her hands.

Tony grabbed the rock out of his pocket and handed it to the Cullen.

"Aha, I heard that you'd had one of these. Before you ask; no they've never been known to glow." Emmett said.

"Are you absolutely certain that it was glowing?" Rosalie asked.

"Both Swan siblings as witness. It was bright purple for about three minutes before it flickered and was gone." Anthony shrugged and leaned back into Jasper's arm.

"Aren't certain stones believed to have healing abilities? What kind of abilities is an amethyst meant to have?" Alice asked, after the small smirk she sent to Jasper and subtle glance at Tony. Jasper chose to ignore it, even when Rosalie joined her foster sister, practically mocking the position of the two boys.

Emmett seemed to search his mind for a minute, still examining the rock.

"Well... I can't remember.. there are so many crystals and minerals and stuff, I can't be expected to remember them all." Emmett finally said with a sigh.

Tony let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and held his hand out for the stone again.

"Wait- no... amethyst is believed to have certain healing abilities with physical and mental ailments- amethyst therapy is meant to help the nervous system along with curing nightmares and insomnia... I think." It was as if Emmett was reciting it directly from a book.

"So some physical pains and sleeping?" Rosalie reiterated.

Emmett nodded and tossed Anthony the rock, which Jasper caught and handed it to the boy.

"We have to have a talk with Reyes." Jasper stated, glancing around the table at his sibling's confused eyes.

"The nurse guy?" Alice asked.

Anthony turned against Jasper's arm to look him in the face.

"Why would we have to talk to Reyes?" Tony questioned.

"Because he's the only one who knew to ask how you slept today."

author's note

I'm home alone so every noise is scaryyy

I re read chapter seven because my best friend said she remembered some typos that I had to fix yikes

sO people kinda guessed that Reyes was going to be this new species, and I didn't wanna give away anything but they were rIGHT, though I haven't got a lot of people guessing what he is 🤔😂

So, please let me know what you think of this species so far? Do you think it fits? Is it interesting enough? I've only added it in for the character and the moments that are gonna be relatively hard hitting sorry in advance 😂♥️

On another note, this chapter is probably a bit more messy and late than usual. I kept having to find times to work on it through developing neck pains from laying wrong and that baby shower I had to go to but I hope you enjoyed!! They will get better I promise 😂