Leap
Lily Tomlin ~ Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it
Rated T/M
Chapter 1
{Following; Jasper}
It was one of those days. The days were everything and everyone strikes a nerve. If it wasn't the buzz of cars, the screech of trams or the happy, loving families it was something else that succeeded to stress Jasper.
Jasper Hale wasn't in the mood for the heart warming generosity of the busy population in San Francisco. He couldn't stand the happy and lovable aura of the place today when he was in such a deficient mood.
He surveyed his surroundings, the happy smiles passing from one person to another, seemed to sicken him this morning.
He ran an unsteady hand through his blond/brown wavy hair in impatience. Not one cab had stopped in the mere minutes of his calling. He watched in puerile envy as an old couple wheeled their cases to a nearby cab.
Many perceived Jasper to be a calm and mellow man yet lately his delightful demeanour had been crumbling. This was due to his job, Jasper had forever adored his job as a Psychologist. He always loved to assist and mend others but recently lacked the compassion.
It was hard for Jasper, juggling his job, his daughter plus being only twenty-six and inexperienced in parenting. Jasper learned parenthood from his own loving parents but he, himself could never execute the particular loving care they did. He was distant from his daughter, he just didn't know this himself.
It had been beyond a shock when the social worker had turned up at his door two years ago with seven year old Lucy holding her hand. He remembered the day well, the woman Diane gradually explaining that Jasper indeed was Lucy's father. Lucy had been a consequence of a one night stand when seventeen, but Jasper wasn't ashamed he loved his daughter, he just wasn't sure how to take care of her. How was a man supposed to know what to do or say when he had missed a whole seven years of his daughter's life?
It hadn't been easy that was for sure, but he somehow coped. Just. This had been from the help his sister Rosalie and her husband Emmett offered. Without their help he wouldn't even know the basics.
Though to many it seemed his job came first, Jasper just felt unable to commit to anything other. He had ruined every relationship he had. Destroyed every dream and aspiration he ever made, all accept being a shrink which he undoubtedly achieved. It almost looked as though the only thing of importance to Jasper was his job. Jasper knew this wasn't true yet it still worried him. Lately it plagued his mind, was he not a good enough father? A good enough friend, brother, son, colleague?
Lucy was his little angel, but he couldn't handle the strain of parenthood, definitely not alone and he didn't trust a nanny. Lucy spent most of her time in the reception area of Jasper's work and did not complain. Even though most ten year old girls would protest in whines, Lucy used this time to try bond with her father as much as she possibly could, before being pushed aside.
Jasper groaned in frustration as the heavens opened and rain fell heavily. He held his briefcase over his head to prevent getting wet.
He turned to see a woman drenched with a suitcase in hand. She was petite and fragile. Her short black hair was matted against her forehead exenterating her green eyes.
Her dress contradicted the weather, as she stood there in a yellow sundress and sandals. Her face twisted into a smile as she looked up to the sky. Jasper watched in curiosity at the clearly –so he thought- insane woman.
She brought her fingers to her mouth and whistled loudly. Mockingly to Jasper a cab drew up next to the curb.
Jasper watched as the woman fiddled with the handle of her case as the driver rolled his eyes.
Jasper wasn't sure what came over him as he rushed to the cab door, he flung his body in along with his briefcase then relaxed in the seat. The cold yet comforting leather seats drawing him in. He gave the driver the address to the office.
Just as they pulled away, the woman cried out in annoyance, curse words polluting the air. The anger reached her green eyes and scowl.
Jasper watched in minimalistic guilt and amusement of the woman's vocabulary as the cab drove along the street. She glowered after him, indignantly.
He wasn't always callous and brooding, but stress affected him as it did anyone else. Life hit him hard like a smack in the face. Even painless affected him emotionally.
Although he did feel a smidgen of guilt for stealing the soaking woman's cab he sought past it. It wasn't as if it really mattered to Jasper, it was only a cab but Jasper couldn't help but remember the chagrin in her jade coloured eyes.
When the cab halted he paid the driver and entered the small building. Passing the calming sea images of the corridor towards reception, Jasper was hit with the familiar smell of lemon disinfectant, coffee and fresh print newspapers. He breathed in air along with peace and comfort before nodding to the receptionist Rochelle. She looked up, she was a beautiful woman. Mid thirties, smooth mocha skin framed with brownish red hair and deep brown eyes.
They merely exchanged acknowledgments before Rochelle inclined her head to the waiting area. Jasper's head snapped in the direction of the couches to see his daughter reading a novel. As usual it was a Sci-Fi book. Lucy only read Sci-Fi and Romance novels.
He cleared his throat and smiled at Lucy. "Hey"
"Hi, Jasper" his daughter smiled meekly before standing up and following him into his office.
Jasper relaxed into his leather chair and watched curiously as Lucy slumped into the sofa opposite.
Lucy fiddled nervously "Jasper?"
A nod of the head from Jasper was a clear indication to pursue. Jasper watched as Lucy fiddled with her long corn-silk hair that was pulled into a side plait, courtesy of Rose. Her timid blue eyes met his and she sighed.
"I wanted to ask you something..." she cut off, nervous of his answer.
"Go on" he urged.
Lucy sat crossed legged and slouched, which Jasper noticed. He could sense her discomfort.
"Well, baseball season will be soon and I was wondering if you would come for my teams opening game?"
Jasper glanced back up at Lucy and pushed away Mrs. Reads psychological file. He smiled as Lucy glanced nervously at him. Jasper himself had been in the baseball team during middle school, high school and college meaning he knew the thrill and love for the game. It was miraculous how smart Lucy was, though she was only put into middle school a year early, she was smarter than most of the seniors. This is why Jasper had sent her to a private school which unfortunately didn't offer baseball spots for females so Lucy had joined the local team.
"Sure, when is it?"
Lucy exhaled in relief, usually a conversation like this would end with Lucy feeling hurt and rejected because in her eyes Jasper's job came first. Lucy was part of the baseball team and being the only female member was significant but she never failed to count the games Jasper missed. He never came for one.
"Thank you" Lucy danced out of the room.
Jasper shook his head, chuckling.
At that very moment Mrs. Read his new client as of that day walked through the room. She was in her mid forties, her greyish eyes blending with her greying hair due to stress. Kids. Kids always seemed to push a woman to the brink of insanity. Her children weren't the reason Mrs. Read was here it was actually because she wouldn't step foot near any car. It was specific too, she was only terrified of yellow cars. Mrs. Read was one of his minor cases but important none the less.
Jasper inclined his head to smile kindly while gesturing to the couch.
Mrs. Read sat down on the couch and laid back.
"Mrs. Read" Jasper smiled.
She cleared her throat. "Please, Mary" she corrected.
Jasper ignored her preference, he liked to keep things professional. Lately he was a strict man and his job was not to be tampered with.
"Hmm" Jasper hummed "Why don't you tell me about your home town, let's start there, Mrs. Read."
Mary sighed, irked that Jasper chose to call her by her late husband's name. She cringed everytime anyone spoke of the man who had countless affairs. Mary only kept his name out of respect and gratitude of his family.
She made herself comfortable before dwelling into information on her home town. By the end of the hour, Jasper had jotted many reasons as to why she developed towards this fear, but none indicative enough.
After a few more appointments with more regular clients Jasper noticed the time; nine o'clock at night. The drive to and from home was over an hour.
Jasper knew that Lucy would be asleep so phoned his brother-in-law and sister.
Rosalie answered the phone in one ring.
"Hello?" her voice was chipper.
"Hey Rose..." Jasper started.
Rose grunted, pacing her foyer. "You have got to be kidding me Jasper?" she growled. "You can't keep Lucy at the office this late... doing nothing. This is fucking ridiculous, she's your daughter."
Jasper stood from his chair in anger. "Rose..." but he was cut off by Rose's abrupt enraged statement.
"Emmett and I will be there in twenty minutes."
Jasper came out from his office to see Lucy curled up in the light blue couch in the waiting area. He sighed, sitting opposite and watching as she slept. He found it intriguing how his daughter mumbled in her sleep, even though she barely made coherent sounds.
True to her word Emmett and Rosalie arrived twenty minutes later.
Rose pulled angrily at her blonde hair, her blue eyes pierced sharply into her brothers.
Emmett was his usual happy self and smiled at Jasper before cowering under his wife's maddening gaze.
Jasper didn't risk returning the smile to Emmett as Emmett pulled Lucy into his arms. Jasper turned to his sister and waited for the lashing.
"You're a fucking tool, you know that?" she whisper yelled, careful to not wake Lucy.
"Fuck, Rose. I lost track of time, alright!" his voice matched hers.
She snorted. "Fucking grow up, third time this week and it's only Thursday night." she followed Emmett who carried Lucy before turning back to her brother "We'll take Lucy to school tomorrow"
Jasper groaned baffled by his sister's word choice.
He began to feel a slither of failure and so he conjured ways on how to mend this. The solitary way was to visit Jacob. Jacob Black had been the one who recommended Jasper for his job. He was merely a kind stranger Jasper met at a coffee shop in Marin City. They had bonded over their home towns, Jake who came from La Push with his wife Leah and Jasper who came from La Push's neighbouring town Forks. Both originalities of Washington.
It was his older sister Rose who had made the big step of moving first, Jasper the latter. Jasper made the jump from Forks to San Francisco upon hearing the news of Rosalie's fiancé of the time Emmett and her success in the mechanical division.
Jake had been Jasper's first friend since moving to San Francisco followed by Emmett.
Jaspers closet friend however still lived in Forks, Edward Cullen and Jasper had been friends since the early age of two. Jasper was somewhat proud of his best friend, Edward had a successful marriage with none other than Jaspers high school girlfriend –not that this mattered to anyone, since they only lasted a few unsuccessful months- Bella Marie Swan Cullen, they were achieving parents with thirteen year old daughter Renesmee and eleven year old son Edward Jr. They also had aspiring careers, Bella a novelist and Edward a composer for movie soundtracks.
Jasper let his mind wander back from the tangent he created to phone Jake.
He let the phone ring before an unmistakable voice answered the phone.
"Jazz!" Jake hollered down the line.
Jasper chuckled. "How did you know, Jake?"
Jake bellowed. "The wonders of caller ID, man"
Rolling his eyes Jasper smiled. "I thought you said that stuff was unethical?"
Leah's delicate laugh could be heard from the receiver.
"Naw, I was just too fucking cheap, s'all but the wife turned me around"
Jasper shook his head, Jake was the kind of guy who instead of spending money tried to invent things. Let's just say it didn't go sown to well with his wife, Leah.
"Anyway what is the reason behind this un-scheduled call?" Jake asked.
He paused. "Well I was wondering if I could visit for a little relaxation..."
"Yeah but you drink all my whisky again, your banned." Jake jokingly warned.
Jasper laughed light-heartedly "Yeah, whatever man, I'll be there."
Jake eagerly replied before hanging up. Jasper walked into reception to see Rochelle nodding off. He told her to go home and get a good sleep before her shift tomorrow. Rochelle agreed, happily phoning her boyfriend to pick her up.
Jasper locked up the building glancing at the sign Volturi Psychology this was one of the many buildings the Volturi brother's owned.
Jasper knew they had a couple set up in New York, Italy Volterra, Spain, Britain and many other countries but over twenty busy branches in the US alone.
He ran a hand through his hair, -a habit he inherited from Edward- before making his way over to his 1970's gold Chevrolet Camaro he left in the parking lot before he went to lunch earlier that day.
He started his car, relaxing into the leather chair, unlike the cabs his Camaro portrayedhome.
He drove down the deserted San Francisco streets, it was after twelve but Jake knew to expect Jasper in early morning. Jasper didn't usually visit like this at this time and Jake knew that when Jasper accepted the invitation of Jake and Leah's hospitality something was eating away at him.
He wasn't the kind of man who would just show up, he had manners –even though he was losing touch with them slightly- he still had manners.
Jasper was the personification of a kind, sweet man from Texas who always showed a fair share of chivalry.
Jasper's parents, Annabelle and Jose Hale moved to Forks with five year old Rose and two year old Jasper. Forks and Texas were so contradictorily to each other, but Jasper loved both. He loved Forks how everything seemed to start anew when the rain washed the leaves greener than before, or thickened the mud, even gave the grass a glistening coat. He loved Texas, the simmering heat and the accent he seemed to partly inherit. The southern Texas twang. The same Texas twang that made the women swoon around Jasper.
Back-tracking from his wandering reverie Jasper drove the car forward, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on his way to Marin City. He hummed an old Guns N' Roses songs, expertly his fingers beating at the steering wheel.
That's when it happened his world drowned him, the car halted and he watched in horror as a woman, who he couldn't see well stood upon the ledge of the Golden Gate Bridge.
~oOo~
Okay so what do you think. Of course I'll try make chapters longer. Also the inspiration for the chapter names are going to be the people who said the quotes of each chapter.
This is my first FF and I do hope you enjoy it. Plus it's going to be long because I'm following Jasper, Alice and Lucy for each chapter so basically next chapter will be about the same day but following what Alice did and I might just add Lucy's to the end of Alice's depending on length.
Thanks and please review.