On Cold Desert:

This fic is rated T for violence, language, and scenes of an intimate nature. It may be changed for future chapter content.

The POV alternates between the main characters, Bella and Jasper.

The setting is vast and varied; from Forks all the way down the west coast, mainly in Arizona.

The antagonists are, of course, the Volturi, but also a certain member of the Cullen family, to be revealed at a later date.

This is a story concentrating not only on a relationship between the most unlikely of people, but also on personal changes occurring in the nature of those people.

Music will play a large role in influencing the characters.

Cold Desert ignores the love between Bella and Jacob, though it is in the timeline after New Moon.

In Cold Desert there is no threat from Victoria or the newborns.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

COLD DESERT

Preface

BELLA'S POV

I gazed into the perfect marble face I once knew so well and allowed the pain to run through me unchecked.

Its flawless features were twisted in disbelief and yet carried familiarly tense, protecting lines. My heart swelled with emotion. Behind me, a cool hand circled the nape of my neck.

Terrified, though not for myself, I wondered whether it would be safer to move forward or backward. I never seemed to make any progress- hadn't I already formed a decision? Perhaps that was precisely the problem.

Bending under the heavy pressure of broken bonds, I listened to them growl.

Breathing deeply, I straightened. Concentrating on the remembered sounds of the desert and the careful plucking of an aged guitar, I offered them each a small smile.

My whole body shook as I took a step, making my choice.

Chapter 1.

"I don't see why I should submit to Alice's torture. I'd honestly prefer forty lashes, or…some other lesser version of punishment." I harrumphed loudly, sinking deeper into the peeling soft surface of my Chevy's passenger seat.

Edward laughed, taking a moment to brush the hair off my forehead, causing me unnecessary worry as he removed both his eyes from the road and hands from the wheel. "It's not really that bad. And it makes her happy. Maybe," he continued, lifting his shapely brows skeptically, "she'll be so thrilled I can finally hear what she's been hiding from me."

I looked at him. "Alice is keeping a secret? And I don't know about it? Some best friend." I pondered what she was using to block him. I voiced the question to him aloud.

"She's rather enthusiastically repeating the songs to 'High School Musical'."

I giggled. It was so Alice.

His handsome face grew dark, sullen. "Some sister," he muttered.

I grinned, nudging him in the arm. "Come on, I bet it's nothing serious. She probably wants you to buy her a car. Or maybe she's bought me a gift and doesn't want you to tell me. It is close to my birthday. Sort of."

Edward shook his head, exasperated. "Bella, summer's not even here yet. Your birthday is in September. No, it's something else. But you're right," he conceded, "it's probably nothing."

We rode along the winding lane leading to the Cullen mansion, and as soon as we parked I shifted in my seat. I eagerly reached for Edward's face, but he captured my hands before they even met the smooth surface of his skin.

"Bella," he gently admonished me.

I hesitantly positioned myself closer to him, ignoring the steel cage clasping my hands together. My lips clung to his for a moment, and I closed my eyes, smiling around the kiss. Too soon, he pulled back, dazzling me with a flash of bright white teeth.

"They're waiting for us," he reminded me.

Frustrated, I blurted out the first thing that crossed my mind. "No, they're listening at the door, hoping to God you'll finally stop treating me like a child and give me what I want." I bit my tongue, instantly regretting my harsh words. He released my hands and they flew instinctively to my mouth.

I hastily apologized, watching his features contort with shock and sorrow. "Edward, I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean it," I said, despite the fact that I did. "Please forgive me."

He pouted for a second, and then settled for touching my cheek. He shrugged lightly, gauging my expression. I could almost hear the words hidden in the gesture. His body was saying, "This is all you're going to get." His sad smile tried to justify the movement and its meaning.

I could sense my eyebrows pulling together as I studied him. Pale, ocher eyes gleaming, lips a straight-up siren call…

I knew instinctively something wasn't right with our relationship. Granted, Edward was the only boyfriend I'd ever had. And he wasn't exactly normal, per se. But it only stood to reason that the male shouldn't be the one denying the female intimacy- wasn't it supposed to happen the other way around? He claimed it was only because he thirsted for my blood, and that he could kill me if we got too carried away. But on the other hand, he often said he'd become desensitized, and that everything was simply 'mind over matter'.

I loved Edward, but sometimes I hated how he made me feel- helpless and unwanted. And then there was the left-over hurt and sense of abandonment from those long months and his betrayal…

Still, ignoring my sudden negative feelings, I touched his nose and whispered, "Let's get the torture over and done with."

When we opened the door to the manor, Alice immediately sprang toward me, throwing her skinny arms around my neck.

"Bella!" she exclaimed happily.

I laughed, patting her back; she was always so exuberant. I envied her for that.

Alice pulled me close and whispered in my ear. "I see great things for us today."

I shivered. Her tone of voice was undeniably eerie, and when she backed away, her hands remained clutching my own forearms, and her eyes were pitch-black and strained.

Puzzled, I glanced around, trying to get someone's attention. Had they noticed the change in my best friend?

But no one was paying us any mind. Edward had drifted over to his piano, Rosalie was rather…preoccupied with Emmett on the cream-colored couch, Esme and Carlisle were discussing the weather in the kitchen, and Jasper sat perched upon the high bookshelf, reading, golden hair scraping the tall ceiling.

"Alice," I began worriedly, but she pressed two white fingers into my lips and beckoned me upstairs.

Ignoring the twinge of panic, I followed her up the grand staircase and into her bedroom.

We played dress-up for hours. Her strange behavior seemed to disappear, and I was able to complain freely. Occasionally, Edward or Jasper would poke their heads in to check up on us, and once, struggling with a lacy Guchi dress, I found myself asking Alice why she and Jasper had separate bedrooms.

She smiled gently, tugged the sheer material over my head, and said, "Jasper and I don't have that sort of relationship. A while ago, we tried. But it never worked out. You see, he's really very shy. And to be honest," Alice continued as she braided my long hair, "his scars bother me. I can't bear to look at him."

Flabbergasted, I turned and looked at her. "Alice…that seems sort of mean."

She nodded. "Yes, I'm sure that it does. But Jazz understands. Now, put on these shoes," she told me, tossing a pair of brown Manolos into my lap.

Sometime later, I noticed that her movements grew tenser; she accidentally ripped two designer shirts with obvious French tags. She became rough; I would surely have bruises from the force of her zipping and buttoning.

Finally, clad in Alice's version of 'pier de resistance', I staggered back into the living room and performed my obligatory twirl. Edward clapped politely, Rosalie smirked, Emmett howled with laughter, Esme sighed and clasped her hands to her chest, Carlisle appraised me with a doctor's keen eye, and Jasper merely smiled softly.

Feeling vaguely ridiculous, and with every intention of hiding in the bathroom for a couple of days, I made a quick run for the steps.

Unexpectedly, the sound of ferocious snarling met my ears. Whirling around, I saw that Edward was standing by the front door in an animalistic pose. Jasper dropped down from the bookcase instantly, growling deep in his chest.

"Is something wrong, son?" Carlisle asked calmly.

Then, the rest of the vampires struck up a defensive posture.

"What's going on?" I demanded. Were they hearing someone coming? I hated my humanity in that instant; I was frail, deaf, unable to defend myself from what was nearing…

"They reek of Volturi!" Rosalie shrieked.

Jasper quickly threw a glance at Alice and me where we stood frozen in place.

"Alice," he hissed, "What do you see?"

But she simply shook her spiky head and said, "Nothing."

Frightened out of my wits, I leaned into Alice, knowing she would protect me. Her small arms circled my shoulders. But it was strange, it was-

Changed. The room shifted. It was Jasper holding me, his muscular arms shielding me from the danger. I pushed my face into his chest. He smelled like-

Edward tore threw the room, overturning the sofa and the ottoman, glancing toward me. "What should we do? Run? Hide?"

Carlisle said, "No. There's no use. They'd find us regardless."

My head was spinning; what was that vision about? It had seemed so real. I could almost taste the elusive scent off his skin...

I shook myself out of my reverie. Were the Volturi coming after me? I was still human. Maybe they were here to check? But Edward had assured me they would give us more time…

"Get ready," Emmett snarled.

The door broke in half, crumbling, and through the wreckage I could clearly see the forms of two vampires.

One had long black hair, almost to her waist. She wore long dark robes. And the other was similar, though his hair was shorn close to his skull. Their eyes were blood red and shining. They bared their teeth in a shocking grimace.

Before Carlisle could speak, I felt Alice's hands become claws, digging into my flesh to the point where it almost broke the skin.

Trembling, I looked at her just in time to watch her fall to her knees and begin to scream.

Across the room, Jasper threw his golden head back and collapsed.


A/N:

This is my first fic with a non-canon pairing.

I got the name Cold Desert from a Kings of Leon song…which just so happens to fit the theme and feeling of this story to a T.

I owe a big shout out to omigiluffbleachvampires, and twilifecrisis for being great sounding boards for my fic ideas. Thanks!

Also, please remember to review. I can't update if I don't have any feedback. Even if you hate my fic, please take the time to tell me what you disliked about it; there's a good chance I'll take your criticism and use it to better the story. I've never done a first-person POV fic before, but I've worked hard to try and capture the unique (not to mention very different) voices of both Bella and Jasper.

Feel free to ask me any questions about where the story is headed, either in a rev or a PM.

Send me songs that you think would be perfect for Bella/Jasper bonding…or just songs you'd like to hear Jazz play for you on his guitar under a full moon! I might use them in the story.

REVIEW!