From The Inside
Bella walked into the school cafeteria, her eyes automatically finding her regular lunch table. A group of 3 guys and 2 girls sat around; crowding the table. Balancing her tray on one hand, she glided over to the table placing herself in between both girls. Her waist-length dark mahogany hair and deep chestnut eyes stood out amongst her creamy pale skin. Her lips were full and a pale pink, and her teeth straight and white.
(Long descriptions of everyone. So just skip down to the quotation marks if you want.)
Her attire consisted of a tight white tank top with wide shoulder straps, and black and white army camouflage pants tied to her knees. Her black Phat Farms padded silently against the linoleum floor. Stephanie sat to her right, long blonde hair with natural brown streaks running down to her hips. Her body was slender and lithe, built like a cats'. Her skin was tanned a dark honey caramel color and her sparkling amethyst eyes peeked at the world through a thin pair of spectacles. Her lips were full and colored a similar pink to Bella's.
She wore a thin, gray knit sweater with the sleeves pushed up to her elbows, and her hair hidden in her hood; faded midnight blue cargo pants and gray and blue diamond pattern Converse. Riley had short, chin length black hair with bright neon purple streaks running through her hair; midnight blue eyes glaring up at the world. Her skin was pale, and stood out with the black sweatshirt and dark denim jeans.
Randy had short, floppy black hair the tips dyed in an array of blue, purple, and slate gray. His piercing blue silver eyes shining mischievously. His semi tanned body shown in a black muscle shirt and long, baggy jeans. Elliot was muscular, and his black hair was styled into a short Mohawk, random red streaks shining through. His eyes were a deep cocoa brown. Tyler's brown hair was untouched and natural, chopped off slightly below his eyebrows; partially hiding his deep blue eyes.
"What's everyone whispering and conspiring about this time?" Bella asked jokingly.
Stephanie waved a hand freely, gesturing towards a table far off to the right.
"The new kids. I think they're the Cullens. Damn, Bella. If you didn't know that, where have you been these past couple of days?" Stephanie retorted, before grabbing Randy's Coke, and chugging down its remains.
Randy let out a sound of protest.
"Trying to pull your head out from your ass," Bella smirked.
Elliot spit the milk he had been drinking out, and laughed. Tyler took one look at his soaked arm, and glared at Bella.
"Gee, thanks Bells. I just got Hepatitis B," Tyler scowled.
Elliot looked at him incredulously.
"Isn't that the disease you get from gay sex?" he asked. Tyler nodded and laughed.
Bella shook her head, before turning her head towards the table Stephanie had gestured towards to.
A big, muscular boy sat off to the right, looking past her at Elliot, smiling. Next to him was a tall, gorgeous blonde glaring down at the table. A black haired, pixie like girl sat to the left, bouncing in place; and a blonde boy sat in front of her. In the middle of them all, sat a bronze haired boy staring directly at Bella.
Bella stared right back at him, and he arched an eyebrow.
"Uh-oh. New kid got into a staring showdown with Bella-kins here," muttered Riley.
Tyler and Elliot looked up at her, startled; at Bella, the boy, and at each other. They spit out their drinks, and started to laugh hysterically. Randy snickered, and looked over at the table.
"Do they have a death wish? Bella let it go."
"Randy. I thought you'd know by now. She never lets it go," said Stephanie as she leaned back into her chair, and popped her last tater tot in her mouth.
Suddenly, she jerked back up and cursed.
"Bella. Come on, we have to go."
She didn't even look away.
"Bella. We have to go! Dammit, the principal's coming."
"Damn you to hell and back, Swan. Do you want to be sentenced to detention the rest of our freshmen year?"
Bella reluctantly broke off the contest, and dipped under the table to get her discarded Jansport. She pushed the chair back, and as she turned she came face to face with Lauren.
She pretended to be looking for something.
"Steph, where's the trash? I forgot where it was," she looked Lauren in the eyes, "oh. There it is."
She dumped her tray of half eaten food on top of her. Stephanie snickered, and then shot a look to the cafeteria doors. She grasped Bella's elbow, and together they broke out in a run.
She bit her lip, and muttered curses under her breath.
Bella jumped, over the Cullens' table, and slammed into the exit. Stephanie followed afterwards, and together they ran into their next class.
-- ---------- --
if looks could kill
-- ---------- --
I glanced over at Stephanie and smirked. Her lips twisted into a similar expression, and we snagged two seats at the back of the room. I swung my bag on top of my desk, reaching inside the front pocket for my iPod. I leaned my head back onto the wall, and closed my eyes. Until my phone vibrated, jerking me out of my semi conscious trance. I reached into my back pocket, sliding my phone up. Riley's text:
Where are you guys?
Erm, class. Where else?
You ran, jumped a table, to get to class?
No. We ran, jumped a table to get away from the manic dude we call our principal.
… Second semester and you all ready know the
principal?! Damn, you people work fast.
Shush it, Riley. Grr.
She shut her phone, and kids started to file in. She closed her eyes, and started to jam out to Violent Fetish by Disturbed. Until the teacher pulled an earphone roughly out of her ear, causing Bella, to glare, and look out the window.
Her breath hitched, and then completely stopped. The sound in the room muted, and time froze. Topaz eyes looked back at her. Stephanie slammed a book into her desk, causing her to jump up; startled.
"What's up with you?" Stephanie asked weirdly, scrunching up her nose.
Bella just shook her head, and glanced back at the window.
Nothing.
-- ---------- --
math terror
-- ---------- --
Bella slipped into her sixth period, not even glancing at anyone. She grabbed the only available seat, (she was late). Her math teacher shot her a scalding look and turned back to the board. Bella swung her bag onto the desk, reached inside for her homework, and handed it to the person in front. She pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a silent breath through her nose. A headache had developed in her temples, and she felt like killing someone would give her the slightest satisfaction.
She clicked her tongue against her teeth, and settled back into her chair. Deaf fingers took out a math book, and numbly followed the lesson plan; but her mind was elsewhere. She reached into one of her many pockets, and slipped out her phone. She pondered the small screen quietly. Do I really want to get involved in this high school drama? I mean, my own personal problems are enough, right?
She felt a renewed wave of frustration sweep over her, and she wanted to scream. She wanted so bad to punch someone, let it all out. But she couldn't. They depended on her, if she lost it; who knows what chaos would ensue? Her. She let out a low grim laugh at the thought. Who would be insane enough to depend on her? Didn't they see that she was already messed up in the head? Yet they added to responsibility, added salt to injury. Unconsciously, her eyes grew dark with anger.
Her childhood was not the best. In fact, as much as she hated it; she'd never be caught saying, "Why me?" As much as she hated it, she knew it had to be her. Because if it wasn't her, it would have been someone else. She'd never wish it on anyone else; she could barely handle it herself. Who knows to what insane extent it would drive another? Her eyes looked black, and the emotion changed to wistfulness. She longed for the purity and happiness childhood was supposed to bring. She sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Miss Swan, number 13?"
Bella glanced briefly at the problem, before averting her gaze back onto doodles; uninterested, and uncaring.
"Radius is 17.3 in, multiplied by two, and added with the area of the rectangle which is 64 equals 1107.20 in."
The math teacher's mouth sagged open and snapped close. Looking at Bella in angered disbelief, he moved on with the lesson.
Bella's lips lifted into a slight smirk, and for the first time, glanced up.
Alice Cullen, (you knew this was coming, peered at her with curious eyes. Her short black hair was set in stylish spikes, black and amber contrasting sharply with alabaster skin. She smiled brightly at Bella. Startled and dazed, Bella looked at her curiously, and hesitantly smiled back; eyes unsure. Alice turned back around in her seat, once again facing the board. Bella looked at the back of her head for a few moments, and began doodling again.
Talk to me after class.
A piece of paper fluttered in front of her, from Alice. She raised an eyebrow.
What makes you think I wanted to?
Stretching her index and middle fingers, she slipped the note in between and waved it in the side of her face.
What makes you think I care?
Bella scoffed.
Considering you're the one who started it, try not to contradict yourself.
The math teacher glared at Bella. She merely smiled up at him before wiggling the note in his sight, and handing it to Alice. Alice laughed quietly.
Bella returned to her doodling. A pale hand flashed in the corner of her eyes. She looked up slightly to see another piece of paper. She looked at the bronze-haired boy closely. She leaned forward next to Alice's ear.
"What's your brother's name again?"
Edward looked at her incredulously, and burst out laughing. Alice just looked at him surprised, and a satisfied smile spread on her lips. Why would she be satisfied? She shook her head, clearing her thoughts; and stretched out to get the note he offered. She glanced at it briefly, and debated whether to reply. She chewed the inside of her cheek, eyes flickering between the note and her watch. She threw an exasperated look at the watch, and opened the note.
You dropped your Debussy cd.
Bella's eyes widened and she looked down at the floor in growing horror. It lay on the floor, untouched, face up. She let out a breath, relieved. She dipped down to retrieve it, and met Edward's questioning gaze. She quickly looked away, no matter how hard that was, and viciously opened her book bag slipping her disc inside. She searched on her desk for her pencil, forgetting where she had placed it. She grabbed it hurriedly, and scribbled on the note before handing it back to Edward.
Thanks.
Gratitude washed over her as the bell rung. But as she drifted the opposite direction from both Cullens, she couldn't help the pang of sorrow with his departure.
-- ---------- --
midnight scream
-- ---------- --
I trudged up the stairs to my room, exhausted. My homework had been done in detention, naturally. I spent the remainder of my afternoon hanging out with my usual group of friends by the Oceanside Cliffs. At around seven, I came home and made dinner for Charlie and I. I took my showers in the morning. I collapsed onto my queen sized bed, and my gaze fell on a red splotch near the door. My mind wondered briefly on the bitter, dark memories I had in that certain spot.
The screaming, I reasoned, was the worst. Watching as Reené whimpered in pain, and begged me to run and hide in my room. Or maybe it was the fear and dread that only hearing the deliberately slow footsteps on the polished hardwood floors brought. No. The screaming was the worst. My head would be a lot less fucked up if my mom had endured it in silence. Like me. Nothing tortured me more than those screams echoing through the halls in the dead of night.
A rock techno remix ring tone tore me from my thoughts, and I stared at the mobile for a few minutes before I realized it was mine. I glanced at the caller ID. Stephanie. I rolled my eyes. Who else?
"'Lo."
"Where the hell are you?"
"Erm. Home. Sleeping. Like a human."
Silence.
"Were you actually quiet for a minute? Damn."
"Bella shut the hell up and take one good look at you calendar."
"I don't have one."
"Then take a look out your window."
I glanced at the phone, wondering if she had gone insane.
"Stop looking at the phone as if I'm insane and look out your window."
"That's creepy. How did you know?"
"Bella!"
"Alright, alright. Chill, damn."
I clambered out of bed, and stumbled towards my window.
It wasn't late yet, but the sky was dark. Stars twinkled faintly in the distance, light against pitch black. I scanned the horizon, for any telltale signs of anything different. Nothing. I gritted my teeth together, (let Lauren fuck the dentist, I'll grind my teeth all I want), and glared down at the black device. I moved to turn away from the window, when I saw it. Ribbons of colors formed, spreading, and intertwining across the western side of the night sky. Purple, green, and a faint streak of midnight blue. I watched; fascinated as the aurora borealis shone brighter and brighter. Then I heard Stephanie screaming voice, and suddenly remembered why I was looking at this through my damn window and not at the cliffs with my fellow hikers. Predictably, I cursed.
"I'll be there as fast as I can."
"Don't get caught."
I slid my phone shut, (black Samsung D820), and hurriedly walked to my closet.
I tugged on a pair of dark washed denim jeans, a dark gray Guess shirt, with sleeves that went down to her elbows. While doing that, I tried to simultaneously put my black Reeboks on. Not. Easy. I ended up twisting at an awkward angle and landing on my head, rolling onto back. I groaned soundlessly, and hopped lightly to my feet, jogging to my door. I stepped cautiously out in the hall. Testing every movement to see if it made noise, I slowly made my way to the stairs. I wasted no time in throwing myself over the banister, catapulting down a story, and landing with a soft thud. I grabbed my bow and arrows from a closet cupboard, and stepped out into the warm night air.
I turned, locking the door behind me. I broke out into a run, savoring the wind breezing in my face. Alice's face in math suddenly flashed in my mind. The Cullens are new. Maybe they'd like to come and see the aurora? Should I call? I thought about it, chewing the inside of my cheek. Will they even be awake? A sudden impulse drove my hand to dive into my pocket, and whip out my phone; dialing Alice's cell number. I slowed down to a stop, and leaned against the tree as the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Alice? Is it you?"
"Yes. What are you thinking calling me at this time?"
"I was going to see the aurora borealis. Wondering if your family would like to see it too."
"Oh, okay. Let me ask. Hold on."
"Erm, okay. But hurry. I'm late as it is."
"My parents can come too?"
"I meant it when I said family."
"Okay. When can you be here?"
"Um, give me a couple of minutes."
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light of the souls
-- ---------- --
A couple of minutes later, Bella, (sweating and panting), stood at the Cullens' door. She hesitantly raised her fist and knocked very lightly on the hard wood. The door swung open immediately, and in the doorway was who she assumed the mother. She had caramel waves to her hips, pale, and her features were soft, and rounded. Not nearly as angular as her children wee. But she looked so young. Like a twenty four year old. Far too young to have six, (at which point Bella mentally added that Mr. Cullen had to be hot), children. The woman smiled, and Bella felt awful for not smiling back immediately.
"Hello, I'm Esme. Alice's mother. You must be Bella."
"Hi. Sorry for waking you up for this. I just thought since you were new to town, I'd show you the aurora."
"Not at all. We don't mind. How nice of you, honestly dear. Where are your parents?"
Bella's eyes darkened; but for Esme's sake she quickly hid the emotion and faked cheeriness.
Not that it escaped her notice, anyways.
"My parents are divorced. My mother's doing God knows what in Phoenix and my father is in his bed sleeping. Is everyone ready?"
"I believe they are. Where are we going?"
"The Oceanside Cliffs."
"How?"
Bella gave Esme a slightly incredulous look.
"Hiking of course."
A tall, lean and blonde man stepped beside Esme, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Mr. Cullen?" Bella prompted.
The man smiled fondly at her.
"Please, Carlisle. Shall we leave?"
Bella smiled and nodded.
Alice bounded out, and happily bounced next to Bella; clearly excited.
She grabbed her hand, but quickly withdrew and gave Bella a long look. The icy cold of Alice's hand didn't seem to affect her, and Bella held her hand out for Alice.
"Come on."
A shocked Alice placed her hand in Bella's, exchanging curious looks with the rest of her family.
Bella led them to a path in the forest, and dropped Alice's hand. She reached into her back pocket and tugged out her leather gloves, slipping them on and clipping them around her wrists. She secured her bow and arrows diagonally over one shoulder, and strode over to the far right; completely ignoring the path. She jumped up and caught one branch, then heaved herself up and started climbing the tree. She gazed over the vague shapes of the forest, and threw herself down. She turned back towards the Cullens.
"Let's go," she said, greening cheekily.
She swung between branches, running through the forest clearly enjoying herself. The Cullens moved fast, almost impatient for her. She merely set a fast pace for them to keep up, and they seemed little more than satisfied with it. After traveling about fifteen or so miles in the forest, she paused. She reached deep inside the bag that held the arrows, and took out a set of fireworks. She set them up on the ground, and crouched low to make sure they weren't any animals nearby. She took out a matchbox, and quickly lit the fireworks, before stumbling away. A loud crack! resounded in the air, and the sky above them exploded in the lights.
"That's to let the others know where I am."
They nodded, knowing cell phones didn't get reception this deep into the forest.
They continued until they came across an old, Victorian mansion; looking at least centuries old. Bella crossed the lawn towards it, and pushed the worn, broken door lightly; stepping inside. The house was empty, furniture covered in sheets with dust heavily covering every inch of the fabric. She turned and made her way out, and back outside with the Cullens. Then she lead them to the backyard and stepped into the forest there.
"You're fast than most," Emmett said.
Bella glanced up at him, startled.
"Thanks, I guess."
The woods spread out, and stopped. And at the edge of a long range of cliffs, stood a group of teenagers looking at them expectantly. Or rather, at Bella expectantly. As the Cullens stepped behind her and appeared in their view, they shot them curious looks, and gave hostile glares at Bella. Stephanie stepped out from the little crowd, and glared at Bella condescendingly. She had on a pair of black soft, silk shorts, and a dark green sweatshirt.
"I thought I told you to not get caught. I mean, honestly, can't you even sneak out of your house the right way?" she asked sarcastically.
Bella rolled her eyes.
"For your information, Your Royal Haughtiness, I invited them. I'm not a complete ditz at everything."
Stephanie's nostrils flared angrily, before turning to the Cullens.
"Hi. You're the new family, right?"
Carlisle nodded.
"I'm Stephanie. (Smile.) Is this your first time seeing the aurora?" she asked curiously.
He laughed lightly.
"No. Definitely not my first."
"That's right. You guys came from Alaska."
Carlisle shot her a look.
"Small town gossips, you know."
He shook his head knowingly.
At this point, Bella turned away from them, and ran into Elliot's awaiting arms. He laughed as he lifted her up. And tightly embraced her.
"Missed me?" he asked playfully.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I miss my big brother?" she said, smacking him playfully; laughing with him. She looked up at him through her lashes.
"Elliot. Do you love me?"
"'Course I do, darlin'," he drawled, peering down at her weirdly.
She thrust her arms out for him. His eyes widened, and then rolled with realization.
He grabbed her arms, and lifted her onto his shoulders. She giggled happily, and bent down to kiss his forehead. Elliot flicked her nose, and drew her attention towards the sky. She looked serenely at the aurora borealis, feeling a sense of clam and longing. She sighed, and shook it off. She reached inside the bag again, and pulled out her camera. The click of the shutters echoed as they silently watched the light grow, and glow bright. Rena, in her yellow tank and long shorts, pointed down below them on a cliff across the river about 5 miles or so away.
"Look! The Quilete wolves!" she yelled.
A pack of wolves sat there hunched on their hind legs, arching their backs and howling up at the aurora. Bella redirected her film towards them and took several photos. Elliot slowly placed her back on her feet, muscles flexing in a white wife beater and gray sweats. She narrowed her eyes at him, huffing angrily. Emmett jogged slightly up to her. She peered at him as he held out his arms towards her. He let out a low chuckle.
"You need to take pictures, right?" he asked.
"Really? Would you?" she replied. He nodded.
A small frown twisted her lips.
"I'm a little heavier than your average backpack. Ask Elliot," she warned. He snorted, and swung her on his shoulders. She looked down at him, eyes wide.
"Wow. You sure are strong, mister," she said in her most babyish voice possible. A roar of laughter burst out of him, and she felt content hearing him laugh.
She lifted her camera to the sky again, and continued her picture taking frenzy. Edward stepped in next to them, focused on the view. He tilted his head towards her, watching Bella's childlike enthusiasm as she took in the beauty of it. The wind breezed by, playing with a few stray locks of hair. A light from deep within shone brightly in her eyes and she looked beautiful. Edward surprised himself by having the sudden urge to yank her away from Emmett and kiss her. To ravage her…. Among other things. He glanced quickly at Jasper, who shot him a look.
"Jasper, what the hell are you feeling right now?" he said, his voice too fast and high to hear, melting into a hum.
"Brother dear, you're feeling that all on your own," he shrugged.
"So, Bella. What kind of teenage rebel listens to classical music?" intrigue taking the better of him. She looked down at him darkly, and snorted.
"The kind that isn't a rebel," she snapped, and lowered her camera back into her bag.
"Then why were you running from the principal today?" he retorted. She glared.
"Oh, well me being as rebellious as I am; I had illegal substances in my pocket just waiting to be used. Satisfied, Cullen?" She bit out, voice dripping with heavy sarcasm. He flexed his jaw.
"Perfectly."
She sneered, and attempted to hop off of Emmett's shoulders. She looked down at him incredulously.
"Damn, Ice Man. Can you let go, Almighty Bodybuilder?" she joked. Emmett let go, and clutched his sides, howling with laughter. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He looked at Alice.
"I like her, Alice. You have a way of picking all the good friends. Keep doing it," he chirped happily, and poked Bella's ribs. She jerked away, laughing. He lunged for her, and she screamed; running towards Randy and Tyler. They spent the whole night playing around, and watching the sky.
Eventually, the group wandered over to her, as the aurora began to fade again. They formed a circle, and Bella struggled a little to start a bonfire. Randy, Tyler, Elliott, Stephanie, and Riley leaned towards her, and Jasper winced at the amount of anticipation radiating off of them. Bella looked at them smugly, and threw in a few more pieces of driftwood, watching the fire blaze brilliantly.
"Well, as you all know, this week is aurora week. For the next six days, the aurora will grow longer, stronger, and brighter. Those scientists can explain it all in clear, logical equations why that is. But we all know it's not true.
"Raise your hand if you haven't heard the vampire tales of the Quiletes. (No one raised their hands.) Good, makes this so much easier. We shouldn't believe what we see in those fiction bullshit Hollywood movies. Vampires don't burn in the sun, aren't allergic to garlic, or sleep ion coffins. Hell, I doubt they can even sleep. But they do drink blood.
"A long time ago, a minister's son back in the fifteen hundreds or so, before Cromwell's rule, went on a hunt. A hunt for the nightly creatures of the damned. Witnesses have said they saw him get attacked, others say he disappeared. The vampire hadn't fed in months, thirsty and desperate he had attacked the son. And left him to a fate worse than those in hell on the cobblestone street. "
Carlisle flinched; this story sounded startlingly similar to his own.
Bella continued.
"No one knows how the transition cam about, but after three days; he came out of the dark alley he had condemned himself too, and fled. He was horrified and what he had become; at the very thought of drinking blood from the very species he had once been grouped with. He ran to the countryside, where few people were; with fewer risk of thirst. But it burned him, engulfed him in such a way that he couldn't think straight. No one's sure whether he attacked anyone, but it's said he fed on animals. And that's how he got by
"Years passed, and he went Italy. Met up with the equivalent of royalty of the vampires. The Volturri coven. They tried to sway him to their side; to their natural food source. (Bella scoffed.) They tried all means of persuasion, even resorting to the darkest, most desperate attempts. But the former preacher's son was like stone, strong and determined. But a century passed, and he grew lonely.
"He went to the New World, after acquiring a few medical degrees. He couldn't make friends, for his kind, familiarity was dangerous. Too treacherous to keep without being found out. Chicago, late eighteen nineties. The Spanish influenza hit, along with a plunging rate of funerals and dead bodies. They say he changed a boy of seventeen; whose parents had died and had no chance of being remembered in the hectic buzz of the hospital. The boy was dying, and he was lonely. For centuries he had toyed with the idea of changing someone. Now was his chance.
"He didn't exactly know how it'd work, so he just recreated the same wounds that had been inflicted on him when he was…changed, for lack of a better word. After hearing about his unusual way of hunting, other covens began to follow his lead. After that, he practically disappeared from the legends. Until that is some years ago, in this very town. They say that the Quilete wolves, or the La Push Pack, didn't like them at all. It's a well known fact vampires and werewolves just don't mix. But Elijah Black struck a treaty with them. They didn't step in the La Push territory, and they didn't tell anybody about their existence, or even step in Forks.
"But that's irrelevant. They say that since vampires are damned, that their souls were destroyed during the transition. But certain people; (at this point, Tyler coughed out the word 'Bella', Elliott smacked his head, and Bella glared),believe that it isn't true. The souls of the vampires who try so hard to resist our blood, like the preacher's son, are rewarded for their abstinence. There are vampires who spent their whole existence trying to redeem themselves, and there, my friends, lies the true wonder. For in the strands of color and light of the aurora borealis, shines those poor souls. Shining with virtue, innocence, and compassion. To give them hope, that if they truly want to be salvaged, they must do as much good as they can in their time here."
"And so, that's why the aurora is also known as 'The Light of Souls'."
Bella sighed, and smiled; obviously exhausted from the story.
Riley handed her a water bottle, which she downed in one gulp.
The Cullens, somewhat confused at her accuracy, spoke up.
"What makes you believe that vampires exist?" he asked, his voice flat. Bella looked at him blankly.
"The La Push wolves are real. I'm just about open to anything."
"And if you ever met those vampires you talked about, what would you do?" he replied, clinical as ever.
"I'd probably have a heart attack from being happy and all, keep it a secret, and try to act normal," she admitted sheepishly.
"Keep it a secret? You wouldn't tell anyone?" disbelief colored Edward's tone.
"Never. I'd sooner throw myself off this cliff and down into those jagged rocks at the bottom," she half whispered.
The Cullens could easily read the sincerity in her voice and her eyes. Even without Jasper there.
They didn't know what to make of this.