Disclaimer: Ember is my own creation I own no one else
Author's Note: Thank you guys for the adds and reviews, super sweet :) Here is your reward Chapter Two!
Chapter Two
****Jasper's POV****
Turns out that Edward really couldn't tell me much of anything that I hadn't already been aware of. The same reactions and almost the same scenario, the only thing we didn't understand is what it all meant. I went over the conversation again trying to catch anything of use, that he may have left slip.
"Edward, we have a problem" I said.
"Oh?" he stated waiting for me to elaborate.
"There's this girl that lives next door to me, Edward she smells unlike anything I have experienced." I said my voice wavering.
"Jasper, you didn't?" he asked suddenly very alarmed.
"No I didn't but I wanted to, more than anything, all I had to do was reach out…" my voice faded away as I tried to regain some sense of composure.
Edward began talking again but I had already started tuning him out my mind was anywhere but in the current place of my body. "…singer" came Edward's voice again in what seemed like fake surprise. Suddenly my body went rigid.
"Is that possible?" I questioned, "I have to go then, I can't possibly stay here" I added already doubting my control when it came to this girl.
"Woah Jazz hang on, don't give yourself such little credit, if she is your singer…" he paused and sighed into the phone as if deciding to change the direction of his sentence "…you won't hurt her" he finished.
I hung up the phone right after that without even so much as a goodbye, just because Edward didn't kill Bella didn't mean that I had that kind of control. I felt that if I tried to go back home now I would be turned away and there was nowhere else I would want to go. If I was going to stay here and try to be civil to this…this...creature, then I needed to go hunt.
I closed my eyes and laid my head against the wall behind my headboard, the walls here were very thin but even if they weren't my vampire hearing was enough. I listened intently to the apartment next to me, I had already discovered that her bed backed up right to mine from the fitful sleep she had the night before. Her tossing and turning intrigued me, maybe it was because even in sleep she could not escape what went on when she was awake.
Wow I was a stalker I thought to myself.
She was home right now and had seemingly just woken up; hm it was almost eleven in the morning. I tried to read her emotions; it was still hard sometimes with people who were not my family because I had become so numb for so long. She was happy despite the restless sleep and happiness was all I felt coming from her.
Humans were so easy to please sometimes.
I heard her front door slam a few minutes later followed by the quick padding of feet, she had gone running. I guess I had been away from human population for a long time, I forgot some people do that for fun. I shook my head and decided it was time for me to go out.
I walked out the back door of my apartment and looked up at the grey sky; yes the sun would not be making an appearance today at all.
The forest that lined the complex was only about twenty yards away, that was a big reason I choose to move in here. That and what seemed to be the constant rain which was also good for discretion. The rain had started suddenly but only a drizzle and it made me miss Forks, this place was so much like that. Thinking of Forks made me think of the family and Alaska and I felt myself growing sad again
I looked around quickly to make sure that I was alone and leaped into the tree line. I walked slowly at first deeper into the forest, was there another reason I stopped here? Was this a test to punish me for something I had done wrong? What did this girl mean to what I was to become? The wind blew in my direction and I caught the smell of elk nearby, I let the monster take over as I ran towards them.
****Ember's POV****
I didn't see my mysterious neighbor for a week, not that I was trying to see him or anything, I think.
Well how wonderful I couldn't even trust my thoughts anymore, what had that man done to me?
And now I was having arguments with myself. Yea I was making a good argument for being sane.
I walked out to the parking lot off to work yet again; I had finally been moved to actually serving drinks instead of being trained to do so. His Audi was still parked in the same place it had been the first time I saw it.
At least at this point I think it was his Audi, it was the only car that hadn't moved and since I hadn't seen him I just assumed.
There goes my mind again, jeez Ember get a grip.
He must be a hermit though because if I owned that car I would be driving it all the time. I grew up being one of the guys and while I loved my vintage car I could appreciate a beautiful car when I saw it. Tossing my bag into my car I allowed myself to get closer to inspect it. It was a sleek little black car, the perfect color because it's even sleeker lines made it perfect for racing.
I checked the plates and noticed they were from Oregon, hm maybe it wasn't his car, I swear I heard an accent on him. I shrugged and turned back to my car opening the door.
"You can touch it ya know" came a smooth voice from behind me.
I had to have jumped at least a foot off the ground; I know he hadn't been there before. I turned around meeting his gaze. "I'm sorry, I just" oh great I was stuttering now? "It's a beautiful car" I managed to get out.
He chuckled deeply "I know" he said smiling widely.
There went my mind again except this time it just went blank, like I couldn't register anything but me him and that stupid car. Was I seriously nervous?
"I'm sorry I really have to get going" I said getting in my car and driving out of there as fast as humanly possible.
What the hell was wrong with me? I acted like a complete fool not to mention I treated him like I was some snotty girl and the worst part is I don't even know why I acted that way. I was never like that.
I simply kept telling myself that he had caught me off guard and that was that.
At least now I knew that was his car, he did exist even if sometimes late at night I thought I had imagined him, and he did have an accent which meant he could be as new here as I was.
I don't exactly remember getting to work, or working, or even getting home that night. I kept thinking of his eyes and his voice, it was so melodic I felt the need to hold hours of conversation with him so I could memorize the way he said every word. Okay this was ridiculous, was I serious? That night when I finally crawled into bed, no matter how restless that sleep ended up being, I dreamt deeply of the man with the golden eyes.
Around eight in the morning I gave up trying to get a decent sleep no matter how small.
It was Sunday and I didn't have to work, until classes started I worked every night but Sunday. When classes started I would only be working the weekends, I was lucky to find somewhere so flexible.
I looked in my bathroom mirror; yep I definitely looked like I hadn't slept at all.
This whole thing was becoming completely absurd; I didn't even know this guy's name. In fact besides his eyes I didn't even register any other physical feature.
I groaned out loud, ugh those eyes.
I literally had to shake my head of the fogginess that seemed to be settling over my thoughts. I jumped in the shower and went about getting ready for the day, when I was finished I stepped out onto my back balcony to check the weather. The air was decent and for once it wasn't raining but the cloud cover also meant there would not be any sun coming out. I got dressed in some pants and a sweater thinking that would be safe for the day. Grabbing a much needed cup of coffee I decided to go waste my time in Portland doing some window shopping. It was nice being close enough to a big city to go there every day but far enough away to avoid it. I grabbed my bag and headed out the door.
I finally dug my keys out of my bag and walked to my car. There he was leaning against his car and staring over at mine.
"Enjoying the view?" I asked walking to the driver's door.
"Very vintage" he responded smirking.
"I like things with character" I smiled back, "it's my baby." I took the time to finally get a good look at the man with the eyes appearing in my nightly sleep.
He was very pale and had dark circles under his eyes as if he hadn't slept in days. His body was lean but the muscles were evident under the layers of clothes he was wearing. His hair was honey blond, wavy and long enough to brush the collar of his jacket and of course those eyes, which seemed to have become darker.
I looked over his clothing next; a maroon button-down that looked like it was silk under a black leather jacket, dark wash jeans and …cowboy boots? Well at least he had amazing fashion sense. I looked into his face and he was smiling knowingly, he knew I had been checking him out. I smiled back and took a step forward holding out my hand.
"I'm Ember Rainer" I said waiting for him to respond. After what seemed like forever he took my hand, his skin was hard and cold.
"Jasper Whitlock Hale" he responded with his cute southern twang.
"From the south? Mr. Hale." I asked as he laughed.
"Something like that" he said back, "Why?"
"No reason just I'm a Texas girl born and raised, would be nice to know I'm not the only new person here" I said back.
"You're not" he responded. We slipped into a comfortable silence before he spoke again. "Were you going somewhere?" he asked.
"No where important" I answered him. Then out of nowhere I felt a surge of confidence. "Would you like to come in, I don't really have any plans today and I mean two new people, might as well suffer together. Plus you're all mysterious and I'd like to see if I can figure you out" I asked, stated, said I don't even know I was rambling…again.
****Jasper's POV****
She was rambling and I have to admit I found the entire act almost endearing. The emotions that had been coming off of her had gone from curiosity to embarrassment to confidence; she was sending me all over the place. I had to laugh when I caught her checking me out, this was so typical.
Well no it wasn't because the entire time I was trying not to inhale and talk as little as possible but I had to or she would notice.
Her scent was killing me or in a better way killing her, at least leading to that scenario I don't know how I held back.
I looked over at her, if she was allowed to check me out then I could at least see what the creature of my downfall looked like. She had long wavy black hair that fell down to her mid back, it looked soft and billowy. Her eyes were bright green with small specks of brown all through them. Her body was curvy and she had to be around 5'7''. I noticed she was biting her lip and I realized I hadn't answered her question yet.
"Sorry, yes I'd love to come in" my smooth voice said.
Wait I did not agree to that, damn it my body was betraying my mind.
When she smiled though I no longer cared what I had said and I decided to follow her inside.
As she walked to the door, no that was wrong, she literally danced inside her apartment. At least I wouldn't have to worry about any Bella like accidents with this human, she was too graceful.
If she didn't smell so tantalizing and her body so warm I could have mistaken her for a vampire. Stepping over the threshold her scent assaulted my senses even more, it was everywhere and the warmth was making it even more tempting. I shut the door as she walked over and flipped the television on.
Our apartments were set up opposite of each other but yet her one bedroom was more open and airy. The walls of the rooms were cream everywhere and every piece of furniture was sleek and black. She made everything pop with random pieces of arts in orange and red all throughout. Her decorating sense was outstanding, Esme would love to have her around whenever she was renovating. There's one family member who would approve
I walked further inside and stood next to a bookshelf filled with classics and new books, they were loved because the spines were faded and some were falling apart. Bella and Carlisle would love to speak to her about all this.
I glanced over at her, I hadn't taken her for the reading type and I realized she was completely wrapped up in what was on the television…college football. Emmett I almost groaned.
I glanced down on the right side of the bookshelf to see a large collection of music, of all kinds. I almost think she could put Edward to shame. This was getting pretty sad.
I looked to the left of the bookshelf where there was a stack of thick and much worn books all leather bound. I crouched down and began to look over the titles, all of them were history books, half of them politically related and the other half related to every war possible. I smiled, yep she finally had me there and I was more that intrigued.
I looked her over once more she was biting her lip in a way she probably didn't even know was seductive.
A cream sweater clung to her fair skinned body ending just below the waist of a pair of dark wash skinny jeans. It was all topped off with a pair of black leather boots with a thin and decent sized heel, the jeans were tucked in to them. The outfit screamed of Alice. That was everyone except for Rosalie but of course everyone knew how she was and Nessie who would accept everyone and Jake who would do anything Nessie asked. There was no way that anyone like this should exist but here she was standing in front of me and for once I had no idea what to do.
