Elastic Heart

-chapter twenty six-

I really don't know why I expected this Christmas to be any different from the past. 

I arrive in Phoenix, Arizona on a Saturday with two suitcases full of clothes, courtesy of Alice. It was hot out with a sticky humid. 

Izzy and Mom were waiting for me in the baggage claim and I was surprised for a few moments that my mom actually bothered to show up. 

"Joey!" Izzy clumsily darts to my side and throws her arms around my neck, nuzzling her face into my neck to inhale my scent. "I've missed you." 

"Jolene." Renee didn't do more than nod at me. 

I pull away from Izzy and looks her over. She hadn't grown much and her hair got longer. She had small bags under her eyes from what I presume is staying up late, reading. 

We get my luggage and follow Renee to the car. I had one and Izzy had the other, our hands connected. 

She rests her head on my arm as we make our way outside to the parking garage. 

"You smell different." Izzy quietly comments. "Did you stop smoking?" 

I was proud to tell her that I did stop smoking and was weaning myself off of nicotine patches. 

I tried to go cold turkey after my meeting with Nico when he mentioned how nicotine affects the taste of blood but I got too ill and Carlisle lectured me about my health. 

"How's Jack?" I whisper to Izzy in the backseat from where we sat. 

Renee didn't like Jack. Said that she never wanted a son. It was partially why Jack had his own nickname for me.

 "I haven't seem him in a while." Izzy admits. "But last I did see, he was doing well. He missed you." 

I had decided to go and see Jack before I went back. I did splurge a little and buy gifts for Izzy and Jack. 

We stop at the house that had been my prison for a long time. 

We exit the car and Izzy helps me take my suitcase up to our room. We used to share because the house was so small. 

My bed was still in there, stripped of sheets, on the wall opposite of Izzy's. 

I slide my suitcases under the bed, moving to flop onto the bed. I was tired. 

"Joey?" Izzy's timid voice questioned from her bed. 

"Hm?" I hum in acknowledgement. 

"Can we snuggle?" Izzy mumbles. 

A smile graces my face and I roll over to face her, giving her a nod. 

Izzy doesn't hesitate to cross the room, moving to cuddle up to me. Her warm body was a difference from cuddling with the Cullen's but it was one that I didn't mind. 

Her back presses against my front and I can hear her content sigh as she curls up. 

"I've missed you, little sister." I wrap my arms around her. 

Izzy wiggles in my arms until she's facing me now, looking up at my face. 

"You have a new scar." She comments, fingers reaching up to brush against my eyebrow. 

"I do. And you still look the same." I grin. "How's mom treating you?" 

"Fine." Izzy shrugs. "She's still gone a lot." 

"How are you sleeping?" I question. "Still staying up late?" 

She pulls a face, eye flickering to look away from my face. "Mom is gone a lot and sometimes, I stay up in hopes to see her because I need something."