He glanced at the seat next to him, occupied by Rosalie. She looked alert but he could feel the boredom. He knew she would rather have aligned her schedule with Emmett's.
He and his family had decided that he should always have one of them with him in his classes. It was just safer.
He did sometimes feel like a babysat child though.
The bell rang. He slowly reached for his books, dragged them back, and piled them into his bag. The movement was still quick by human standards.
He felt Rosalie's impatience as they meandered towards the door.
The crowds were thick, all headed for the cafeteria. Yet somehow Jasper found he had plenty of room. People usually didn't bump into him. Their subconscious steered them away.
Like some wierd human wave, the writhing, chattering mass of students flowed toward the double doors. It was a pulsing rave. He didn't want to wait in line with all that warm blood.
"No props today." He muttered to Rosalie as he headed to the far corner of the cafeteria. Alice and Emmett were already seated at their usual table. Jasper joined them.
"How'rya holding up?" Emmett asked him. Alice peered at him anxiously. "I'll be fine." Jasper answered.
"He'll make it." Alice reconfirmed.
They were soon joined by Rosalie, followed by Edward.
He could feel Edward's curiousity as he glanced at him, noticing the lack of human food usually in front of him. Edward looked quickly at Alice, scanning her mind. He was apparently releived at what he saw, because he relaxed and sat down.
The minutes passed. Suddenly Edward looked up and over toward the students. He said something about the new girl, Isabella Swan. But Jasper wasn't really listening. He ws looking out the window. The wind had picked up. The green leaves danced and swayed.
Someone opened the door at the far corner of the building. They left it open for several seconds, letting a group of students pass through. The breeze from outside swept in, circling back towards him.
The scents twisted and mingled with each other: damp earth and crisp grass and dozens of different students.
Suddenly one yanked sharply, almost painfully, on his memory. He was on his feet before he knew it. He was back in Jackson, Mississippi on a darkened street, watching a strange girl walk away.
He felt two pairs of hands on him. Emmett and Edward. He tensed and looked down, expecting to see a hat in his hands.
He relaxed slightly and let them guide him back to his chair. He could feel Edward scrutinizing him.
"How is this possible?" Edward asked him.
Jasper just shook his head. He had no idea what was happening. He only knew that somewhere in this room was the woman who had intoxicated him 150 years previously.