Truth Doesn't Make a Noise

[Jasmine Anderson]

((This is a closed post for only Jasmine. Vanessa Baer posts are written by Dixie. This post is also set six years into the future after school has ended.))

Jasmine stared out of the car window, her hazel eyes watching the green country side blur past her. Various barns popped up with horses grazing in the pastures. The sight brought a smile to the young woman’s face. She hadn’t been riding in weeks. Work consumed her time, and the only extra time she could get was spent with her fiancé, Lex. It was still strange that Jasmine was going to get married, like the news hadn’t sunk in yet. Most women would be filled with bliss and constantly making wedding plans in their head. Jasmine wasn’t. She did think of the occasional where to get married, or what dress she and the bridesmaids would wear. Jasmine had pictured herself in a simple wedding gown. Just a long ivory, white dress that flowed out behind her, with short lace sleeves. All her friends back at home would exact nothing more than an extravagant, princess-like gown. Jasmine would have to surprise them. All she wanted to do was marry Lex so they could finally seal the deal. It had been three long years since they met. Jasmine was still getting over Brantley when Lex came along. They had met in the streets of Madrid, Spain, the journey that Jasmine would embark. She had left England after being offered a teaching job as a Healer. It was a great way of learning different techniques, but Jasmine had to leave behind the one thing she loved most in the world: Brantley Chapman and his sister, Ellie. Jasmine still thought of them, but they weren’t her everything anymore. They disappeared when her heart was scattered by the one person who she least expected it. Lex was there to pick up the pieces, but Jasmine couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if Brantley hadn’t broken up with her.

Why was she thinking about him? Jasmine had worked so hard to get him out of her head over the years, but this visit to Vanessa was reawakening those thoughts. She was taking a vacation from work to spend it with her best friend and goddaughter. It had been a long time since she left visited and Jasmine felt horrible for it. Vanessa wouldn’t be happy with her for not keeping in touch to well. Jasmine had to try harder. Plus, Vanessa was going to help with the wedding plans. Once she heard there wasn’t a budget, her best friend went crazy with different ideas. There were too many things that she suggested that Jasmine couldn’t remember them all. Jasmine really couldn’t believe that she had found such a man like Lex. People thought she was only with him because of his money, but that wasn’t true. There were so many things that Jasmine loved abut the man who was sitting next to her. Looking over her shoulder at him, she smiled softly feeling his thumb brush over her hand. His blue eyes were staring out the window his hands moving against the wheel to keep the car align. The sun’s ray shined through the window, glistening on top of his bald head. Jasmine never really cared if Lex was bald, and he didn’t seem to either. He wasn’t old. No. Lex was only in his thirties, but lost his hair as a child growing up. “What’s wrong, Jazz?” his soft voice broke through her thoughts, causing Jasmine to blink them away. “Nothing. Why do you always think there’s something wrong when I look at you?” she asked playfully watching a smile tug on his lips. He let out a small laugh making a tight turn into a neighbor hood. “Because I can’t read your thoughts.” Jasmine shook her head, sliding her fingers between the spaces of his. “I was only thinking how truly amazing you were….and all the different wedding ideas Vanessa threw my way.”

They talked the rest of the way, stopping as Lex pulled into the driveway of Vanessa’s house. “I have a meeting to get too, but I’ll pick you up later on tonight,” Lex stated putting the car in park before turning his body in Jasmine’s direction. “Alright…I’ll see you later.” Leaning in to kiss him briefly on the lips, Jasmine unbuckled her seat belt pushing open the door to the car making her way to the front door. Lex pulled out of the drive way, making his way back onto the main street. Jasmine looked around for the hidden key before finding it and opening the door. “Nessa?” she called locking the door behind her and setting out into the house. She made her way into the living room setting her purse down on the table before heading to other parts of the house. Hearing Vanessa’s voice from upstairs, Jasmine smiled to herself before hearing the excited squeals of a little girl. “Jasmine!” Turning around to the sound of her voice, Jasmine noticed a little girl flying past her mother toward her to jump into a hug. “I want to show you my new, bunny! Daddy got it for me! Mommy can I take Chester out now?” Jasmine looked over toward Vanessa laughing. “Jeremiah got her a rabbit?”

[Jasmine Anderson]

((Vanessa's POV))

Vanessa usually didn't have time to write music, but that was okay with her. If her life had been filled with things she hated doing, she might have been slightly more upset – but the fact that her days were spent with Callie and Jeremiah, after work; well, that just made her feel…content. Like she was stuck in a nice, warm bath that she didn't want to get out of it; and the water never got cold. Her days weren't too fast, nor were they too slow. They were just the right speed. When she and Jeremiah had found this small town in Manchester, they had decided to get a moderately sized house – just in case. They were right to. Because not two years after they were married, Callie popped into their life and…well, the guest room became a nursery and then was transformed into Callie's pink princess room. Callie was everything that Vanessa could have asked for. She was a bundle of sunlight, joy, and happiness in a small little package. Her brown hair was a shade lighter than Vanessa's, but it fell down her back in curls as Vanessa's did. Her eyes she got from Jeremiah – a blue so serene that Vanessa couldn't ever see the end of them. Callie was small, even for a four year old, but she was healthy – and Vanessa couldn't ask for anything more.

Today was just like any other day. Vanessa had woken up, dragged Jeremiah out of bed to get him up and showering for work, went downstairs and started breakfast, and then kissed her husband goodbye before setting out on cleaning the downstairs. Then around ten she woke Callie up, got her bathed and dressed, and then they went to the park and to the store to get some groceries. Callie had insisted on grabbing the food off the shelves, and by the end of the trip she felt extremely grown up and even refused her favourite candy 'baby bottle pop' because she felt it made her seem 'like a baby.' Vanessa hadn't said anything, but when her daughter's back was turned, she put one on the conveyor belt anyway for later. After their errands, they arrived back home, put away the groceries and then Callie settled down to watch some television while Vanessa finished cleaning. Normally, she would have played some on the piano but she was expecting company and had decided to get the cleaning finished before she allowed herself any free time to do that. She did miss her music from time to time, but she was really, sincerely, happy with how her life was.

She was upstairs when Jasmine arrived, letting herself in with the spare key that was hidden above the doorjamb. When Vanessa and Jeremiah had first moved in, Vanessa had told Jasmine that she was always welcome and had told her where the spare key would always be hidden. And although she hadn't seen Jasmine in nearly 4 years, she knew that Jasmine would let herself in like she belonged there – because, in a way, she did. Vanessa set the stuffed animal she was holding of Callie's in the toy-box as Jasmine's voice rang through the house. She pushed herself off the ground and left Callie's bedroom, making her way down the stairs. Jasmine was standing in the main entry way, and Vanessa was tempted to run over to her and throw her arms around her in a hug but she controlled herself, besides…Callie beat her to it. Vanessa laughed at Callie's excitement and then shrugged at Jasmine's question; "You know Jeremiah. He's absolutely smitten with this young girl here." Vanessa reached down and snatched up her daughter, holding her tight to her as she dipped her upside. A peal of laughter tumbled out of Callie's lips and she wiggled for a bit before squealing, "Mummy! Lemme down, I wanna show Auntie Jazz my bunny."

Vanessa smiled and set Callie down, upright, "Alright, sweetheart, you go get Chester out and bring him into the living room for us." Callie squeaked and raced off upstairs to her room, leaving Vanessa and Jasmine standing in the foyer. Finally, after a moment, Vanessa led the way to the living room like she had every day that week; "So, I haven't had much time to look at the wedding stuff… but I figured we could at least try to get some work done today." It was always hard to get anything done with Jasmine, they tended to wander down memory lane.