Jasper

Morning came quickly, as it always did. It's funny, how time begins to mean less and less, the longer you're alive. If you could even call me alive anymore. My heart had stopped beating long ago, yet my body refused to die. I tried not to linger on such thoughts, and most days I was successful in doing so. This particular morning, however, I found myself in a rather dark mindset. I suppose it was because today was my first day of senior year. Again. I lost count how many times I had graduated by this point. Too many.

Normally, I kept myself emotionally neutral, keeping a tight reign on my ability to influence emotions of those around me. The constant barrage of other people's emotion often made that difficult, but over the years I'd learned to control myself. I'd had 140 or so years of practice at it, after all.

Trying my best to clear my head, in the back seat of Edward's silver Volvo, I watched the green and gray scenery of Forks, Washington whiz by the windows. Of course, I had no trouble keeping up with the verdant blur. It was nothing my keen vampire eyesight couldn't keep up with. Hell, I could have ran to school faster, but I supposed that might seem a bit odd to the other students. They'd probably wonder why one of the wealthiest families in all of Washington couldn't afford transportation for their adoptive children. Keeping up appearances was crucial to our survival. If we slipped up, we had to move again. If we were found out, The Volturi would have us executed. So, of course we had to play the part.

I turned my gaze briefly toward Edward, and Alice. Their hands were entwined as they always were, Alice's thumb running over Edward's wrist lovingly. I could feel their love permeating the air in the car, surrounding and suffocating me. I really didn't mind much, though. I was entirely used to it. Between Emmett and Rosalie, Alice and Edward, and my adoptive parents, I was constantly surrounded by the sticky-sweet emotion of love. An odd feeling to be presented with, when you'd never fully experienced it yourself.

When I was a newborn, I thought I had known what love was. I had foolishly thought the woman who turned me, Maria, had loved me. I thought that I had loved her in return. It wasn't until Alice had found me in that little diner in Philadelphia, and told me that I had love waiting for me elsewhere one day, with a new life and family, that I had realized I had been so horribly wrong. Alice couldn't show me what she saw in her visions, like she could with Edward, but she could relay to me how she felt. How I felt. She could show me the emotions of anyone in her visions, because she would experience them herself. When she showed me how I had felt with the family we would find, and the love I would eventually have, I knew she was trustworthy. The good part about feeling everything people could feel, was that I could feel if they were being deceitful.

Briefly, I thought Alice and I might have been together, but she soon told me of the mate she had foreseen for herself, squashing that thought in it's infancy. It hadn't been awkward, thankfully. Alice and I had wandered for two years, in search of the family she saw for us, and in that time I grew to think of her as nothing more than a best friend, and sister. Still, as I watched her and Edward's affections, I felt a small pang of jealousy in my chest. It wasn't so much directed toward them, but rather inward at myself. Part of me, however small, wanted nothing more than to find someone to live out the rest of my unnaturally long life with. I was surrounded by family, and yet still somehow alone.

I heard Alice giggle softly, as she gingerly tucked a short lock of her raven hair behind her pointed ears, and watched Edward's lips curl into a smile. They hadn't spoken out loud, but they hadn't needed to. They were communicating in that special way only they could. Edward would make a decision, and Alice would see it, and reply with only her thoughts. Another small pang of jealousy twinged inside my chest, and I looked back out the window, as we pulled into the parking lot of Forks High. At least here I would be surrounded by many different emotions, and not have to bask in the saccharine love of my adoptive siblings.

Making my way at a dreadfully human pace, I headed toward the entrance. The plus side of time meaning very little, meant that today would be over shortly. I relished in that small victory, as I stepped inside.


Edward had just returned from dropping Alice off at her first class of the day, when he joined my side. He and I shared American History first period. We had been laughing about the irony of the two of us taking such a class, when by all rights we could teach it, when I turned the corner, and felt something bounce off of my chest. Turning, I looked down to see a small girl, dressed in all black smash her elbow off of a locker. Usually my reflexes are unmatched, but we had collided at just the right angle, that I had no time to correct myself before she slammed into me. I watched curiously, as her hand went up to soothe the pain in her elbow.

"Son of a bit-" she stopped short. As her face tilted up toward mine, my jaw fell slack, just slightly. For a moment, I had forgotten to pretend to breathe. I'd seen a great many faces in my time on this Earth, but none had quite struck me as hers did. Pale blue eyes flickered over my face, fanned by long dark lashes. Her skin was pale, even for a human's standards, and hair, dark as pitch, framed her heart shaped face gracefully. Her small, rounded nose twitched slightly, as her rose-petal lips opened to take a shaky breath.

It was then that I was hit with her emotions, like a wrecking ball. Anxiousness. Doubt. Self loathing. Inadequacy. Loneliness. Sadness. Such profound sorrow, layered deeply, woven into her very soul. Pain. Mistrust. Panic. Panic. Panic. My entire being was assaulted by all of her innermost emotions, so loud inside my head. If I were human, I would have had the wind knocked out of me. Usually feeling other's emotions was second nature to me, so much so that I barely registered that I was feeling it. I had become so keenly aware of who was feeling what, that I was usually a passenger to their moods, but this girl's emotion were bleeding into every corner of my being.

I pulled my eyebrows together, fighting to regain composure, and sent tendrils of warm calmness toward her. Watching her relax, I too felt relief. When I was certain we were both good, I finally spoke. "I'm sorry miss." I noticed the twitch of her ears upon hearing me. "I had just rounded the corner, and didn't have time to move before you walked into me."

I crouched before her, picking up the papers she'd dropped on the floor, and offering them to her. Once she had taken them, I offered her my hand, intent on helping her up. After a moment, she slid her hand into mine, warmth radiating into my palm as she did. "T-thanks." she spoke softly, her smooth alto voice dancing into my ears. Once she was on her feet, eyes never leaving mine, she returned her hand to her side, and I felt a tug of longing as the warmth of her skin disappeared.

When was the last time I touched a human, without intent to kill them? I wondered idly. I watched as she broke her gaze from mine, and tucked the hair around her face behind her ears. I could take in the full scope of her beauty now, willing myself to keep my eyes on her face, and not the ivory skin of her neckline she had so innocently just exposed to me. "And I-I believe you walked into me." she faltered slightly, small bubbles of anxiousness rippling throughout her.

I chuckled to myself at her remark, making sure to send another wave of calm toward her, before her panic rose again. "I do apologize ma'am." I replied, feeling my lips curve into a smirk of their own volition, cocking a playful eyebrow back at her. Normally I wasn't so candid with humans, but this one had somehow managed to drop part of the iron wall I kept around me. I heard, and felt her heart bubble slightly in her chest. In the pit of my stomach, I felt tiny, wispy butterflies that I knew belonged to her. If I had been able to blush, I would have. My palm twitched slightly, reminding me of the heat she had provided when we had touched. I found myself aching for the warmth of life once more, not wanting, but needing to feel it again. Without much thought, I held out my hand to this strange human for the second time. "I'm Jasper, by the way. Jasper Hale." I offered her my name, something I very rarely did to anyone, human or otherwise.

"Nova Winter." she replied, sliding her palm against mine. I relished in the feeling, drinking in the comfort it provided my frigid form. "Pleasure to crash into you." she quipped, earning another honest smile from me. Her spunkiness was infectious, and would have convinced me of confidence, had I not seen her correct her imbalance, as her knees bowed slightly. It wasn't entirely her fault, a vampire is naturally alluring to a human. That's what made us such dangerous predators for them.

"Sorry about my brother, Miss Winter. He's not usually so clumsy." I turned to face Edward, having momentarily forgotten he had been with me. "I'm Edward Cullen." Watching, as he took Nova's hand, introducing himself, I noticed his lips twitch slightly as he snickered to himself. She must have thought something amusing. I made a mental note to ask him about it later.

As soon as she had dropped his hand, and returned her attention to me, Edward darted off, entirely unregistered by Nova's human eyes. Finally, I spoke again. "Are you lost?" I tilted my head slightly, though she likely wouldn't notice the tiny readjustment.

"Hopelessly so." she replied, letting out a small, frustrated giggle. The sound was like music to my trained ears, and I found myself griping the strap of my messenger bag a tad tighter, smiling unwillingly for the second time in as many minutes. What is happening here? I wondered, as she looked down at her map, chewing idly on the corner of her lip. I felt my own lips twitch in response. Get a hold of yourself, Jasper.

"I'm supposed to be heading to English 12, with Mr. Brighton." When her eyes met mine again, she finally realized Edward's absence. "Woah, I didn't even hear him leave." she said softly. Had I not had supernatural hearing, I doubt I would have picked it up. I laughed to myself, looking down the hall in the direction she should have been going.

Ignoring her comment about my brother, I readjusted my bag. "I'm headin' that way myself. I can walk you, if you like?" I wasn't heading that way at all. Hell, our classes weren't even on the same floor, but I found myself desperate to extend my interaction with this human. As my eyes found hers again, another wave of butterflies washed over me. The soft skin of her face deepened, as blood crept forward in her cheeks. A light pink blush had swept over her, and I felt my throat burn as the scent of her slammed into me. Patchouli, sandalwood, sweet smoke, pomegranate, and the slightest hint of lilacs in full bloom. I felt my eyes glaze over as hunger ripped through me, just for a moment. I corrected myself quickly, but could not unsmell her. The perfume of her blood was heady and intoxicating. I prayed inwardly that I was far away, should she ever be injured. I scarce was sure I could hold myself back.

"Oh, really? Yes, please. I'm horrible with maps." Her voiced pulled me back to reality, as I swalled a mouthful of venom, throat sticking together with a dull ache.

As Nova waved the map in irritation, I was able to ground myself. I took a step forward, shaking my head in amusement. "C'mon, it's this way." I began to push myself forward, walking at what I deemed was an appropriate pace for a human of her size. I never could tell though, and was entirely unsurprised when I found she was struggling to keep up. Hanging back a bit, I adjusted my pace to meet hers, as any good gentleman would do. I was dead, but I wasn't a deadbeat.

We fell into a comfortable silence, and in no time, I had successfully guided her to her classroom. I turned to face her, finding that her piercing blue gaze was already upon me. "Well, Miss Winter, here you are." I said lightly, trying not to waver. Deep within me, I felt I slow spinning web, little strings of desire weaving in and out of my veins. I tried my very best to ignore them.

She bit the corner of her lip once more, and my already curled lips twitched slightly at the sight. She really had to stop doing that, or I was likely to come unglued. "Just Nova, if you would Mr. Hale." Her eyes narrowed, a dazzling grin spreading across her delicate, full lips. Lips she liked to bite. Lips I had the urge to bite too. No, Jasper! I berated myself inwardly.

"Understood." I nodded, trying to return the playfulness she'd just shown me. It was difficult to focus, difficult to pry myself away, when her eyes were so full of life. I felt a sadness seep into my chest, unsure exactly if it were completely hers, or partly my own. As it lingered, and licked at the place where my heart lay dormant, I pulled it away from her. I took it with me, tugging the dull threads of sorrow that ate away at her as tightly as I could, balling it up and placing it in my own chest.

Reluctantly, I turned myself away from her, and her azure eyes. Away from her blooming lips, and silken hair. Away from the scent of patchouli, and lilac, and sweet smoke. I looked back, just for a moment to wave, before I forced my legs to push me away from her. As I neared the end of the hall, I heard her speak my name, feeling something pulse throughout my being. Something I hadn't felt in a very, very long time.

I pushed the door to the stairwell at the end of the hallway open, and let it close behind me. I stood, for a moment, before letting myself slide down the wall, to sit. Deep, down in the void of my stomach, I could feel a small ember of what had overwhelmed me a moment before. What had exploded throughout me as she had spoken my name. The softest, gleaming flicker of hope.

I vowed, with every ounce of conviction I had, to protect this human. To do whatever it took to keep her safe. To ensure she was guarded, and happy, and so brilliantly alive as she was. I promised myself that I would never hurt her, nor would I let anyone else. Nova Winter, at all costs, would be spared the cruelties of this world.

In that stairwell, I swore to the stars above, and the Earth below, and by the soul I no longer had, that she would live a good life, even if that meant I could not be in it.


Hello again, and thanks for reading! I found myself struggling to write Jasper's POV, but I think I did a semi-decent job. Let me know what you think of it. :)

I know a large part of this chapter was just Jasper's take on the events of the last chapter, but I really wanted to give insight to what he was feeling. The next chapter will be through Riya's eyes, so keep an eye out for it.

Thanks again!