Okay guys, sorry about the terribly long wait, I've been ridiculously busy :( But the next chapter is here! Thanks for all your feedback. Keep reviewing and I'll keep updating! Without further ado, here's chapter three! WEEEEEE!
EPOV
I stayed rooted to the spot after Jasper fell asleep. I could've left, but then again I couldn't. I promised him that I would stay here to make sure nothing happened to him.
"He won't know." I tried to rationalize with myself.
"But he trusts you." Another part of me says.
I don't know why. He pulls away from everyone else; he panics when they touch him. So why does he calm down when I touch him?
It seemed I was the first person he'd trusted in a long time. So, even though he wouldn't know whether or not I stayed with him now, I found myself unable to leave.
The surgery was routine; there were no complications. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the scars and bruises on his chest.
Now, as I sit in a room waiting for him to wake up, I can't help but wonder what could have caused them. There's really only one conclusion I can come to, and just as I'm considering it, Jasper starts to stir.
"Jasper?" I say gently. "Jasper, can you hear me?" He answers with a groan and a nod. "Jasper, it's me, Edward. Everything went great. Just rest until the medication wears off. I promise I won't leave you. I'll be right here when you wake up."
The hand that I'm holding gives a gentle squeeze, and his face smoothes as he stops fighting against the sleepy haze. My thumb moves comfortingly across the back of his hand of its own accord as I wait patiently for this blue-eyed mystery to wake up.
JPOV
Waking up is strange. I feel heavy, like something is pulling me down. I can't even summon the strength to open my eyes. I tried fighting this weight, whatever it was, but it wouldn't budge. I was relieved to hear Edward's voice. It's the first time in years that someone has lived up to their word, and it means more than he could ever know. Edward tells me to rest; he tells me that he won't leave, and for the first time in a long time, I can say that I completely believe him.
Though I still don't understand why, something about him makes me hopeful for a future unlike the dark world I used to know. As I let sleep overcome me, I smile. Apparently Gabriel hasn't taken everything from me. For the first time in what feels like forever, I feel hope. It isn't much, but at least that is still mine.
When I wake up again, a beeping sound fills the room, coming from somewhere above my head. I try to twitch a finger, a toe, anything, but I can't seem to remember how. I still hear Edward. He's rubbing his thumb across my hand and mumbling comforting words, though I'm not completely sure he's talking to me. Summoning all my strength I open my eyes.
I find his concerned green eyes staring at me, but I'm sure he's not seeing me. It takes a lot of effort, but I manage to squeeze his hand gently. He jumps in surprise, but when he sees me he smiles. "Hey, how're you feeling?"
It takes me a minute to find my voice. "Okay," I reply, "A little weak."
"Well, you've been through a lot in the past couple of hours, and you lost a lot of blood, so that's to be expected."
I nod, deciding which of my questions to ask first. "So, what happened?"
Edward pauses for a moment before answering. "The surgery went great; we stopped the bleeding pretty quickly. You're going to be fine."
Relief washes through me, and I ask my next question. "How long will I be here?"
"Well," he replies, "we have to watch out for any infections, but if there are no complications you can go home when the wounds are healed. It shouldn't be long."
Edward stares at me for a moment with hesitation in his eyes. Then he says the words I've been dreading:
"Jasper?" He pauses. "Can I ask you a question?"
Okay, you all probably hate me, sorry for the cliff. Please keep reviewing. Let me know what you like what you hate, what you want to see. Comments, criticism, and suggestions are all welcome. I'm working on the next chapter as we speak, so it should be up soon. Thanks for reading!
~TheSongSmith
