Chapter 3

static noise & waiting

• This chapter has no revision or editing. Sorry if there are any mistakes. •

Static was all she heard, or rather it was all she allowed herself to hear. Alina was never the type of girl to enjoy gossip or casual chatting. In general retrospect, she could be considered a mute for she barely speaks. The choice of keeping silent, however, is a choice; selective mutism. There was no damage done to her vocal cords, there was nothing physically or mentally blocking her speech. It was just a choice to maintain silence. And in accordance with this, her vocal cords have sustained minimal damage but nothing severe. A lower toner, a hush, is now her new voice. Fatigue comes from talking at length, anxiety sweeps through her at the thought and endeavor of speaking. But, that isn't much different from before as she has been like this her whole life.

A shrilling bell broke through the static noise, blue orbs moved over the contents of her locker before she shut the metal door closed. On her person, she merely kept her bag and a current read. Before she moved away, Alina felt that creeping feeling again. Opticals flickered up and met golden ones staring her down. The female felt all her muscles clench, her breath still in her lungs and her fingers grip at her book. It was only a moment that their gaze remained locked before she averted her eyes and forced her limbs to move, the male still remaining staring her down. As the female made her way down the hall and towards the cafeteria, a pale hand landed on a bicep. The golden-haired Texan didn't break his stare on the female's back but he knew the other female knew he was listening.

"Jasper."

The way the small female addressed him was a warning. He knew that what he felt was similar to how she felt, especially every time they were near each other or locked eyes. The male sighed, before finally losing sight of the raven-haired female and look down to his brethren.

"Sorry, Alice."

The pixie merely gave him her usual smile before she lopped her arm through his and dragged him down the hallway, the rest of their coven already walking slightly ahead. Jasper felt himself form into his habitual stance rigid, proper, and courteous as he escorted the female down the hall. Old habits die hard, or sometimes never at all. The bubbly female to his right merely kept pace with him, her usual expression of mirth on display. Silence consumed them for a moment before Alice finally broke it.

"When are you going to talk to her?"

This query made the male tense up, as his gaze was forward he watched as the rest of the clan tensed too, as they were listening. The female waited patiently for her 'brother' to reply to her inquiry, her smiling never dropping but her eyes shifting to a glint of all-knowing. Finally gold matched gold, jaw clenched before a sigh puffed passed lips.

"I don't know."

The female merely looked away, her smile still intact despite the reply. Before them, the rest of the 'siblings' were tense from awaiting an answer. At the retort from the male they merely kept tense, unknowing whether the answer was good or bad. But, just before any of them could think more on it Alice spoke.

"We'll sit next to her in history."

Golden hues flickered to the female at the statement, a blonde eyebrow rasing. The female merely tilted her head, flashing a deeper smile. Unknown to anyone but her family knew it to be a hidden simper of mischief. Another puff left the male as he merely averted his gaze away from the pixie beside him. It wasn't much longer till they all passed the threshold of the Fork's Highschool canteen. The male felt his biceps muscles twitch, opticals flickering over to where he was being pulled. The object of said pull sitting down at a table, alone and engrossed in her book. Heighten eyes attempted to read the cover but it was obstructed as she had covered said book with brown paper. The male withheld a smile but it passed and his lips turned up into a small simper. He internally wondered if it was to hide the book or to protect, or perchance both. He couldn't help but find amusement by this new discovery of the female. There was a tug at his arm, he turned to look down at his 'sister' who was giving him a warning look. He felt himself wilt as he remained looking down at her and not turning back to the object of his interest.

Lunch period was going to lengthy.

On the other side of the cafeteria, the raven beauty had felt herself tense up as he entered. She had grown fidelity, but withheld it, as his gaze landed directly on her. Degas blues didn't look up from her books texts throughout all this. Alina had thought that if she had gone to her normal table, placed in the corner right under a window, that she could remain hidden amongst the chaotic pool of teens. It was a good plan but unforeseen as he seemed to be persistent and excellent at sourcing her out. The female felt a shiver corrupt her rigid posture, it was a venture but eyes lifted from the black text, glancing over book's edge. Golden opticals captured her, sending her into a fidgety mess. Finger clenched the brown-clad publication, she tried to avert her gaze but an unseen pull kept her staring. It wasn't until the scream of the ending bell that she broke the staring contest and flew from her seat, effectively fleeing. There had been no need for cleanup as all she had was fruit packed from home. This made her escape quicker and cleaner. She was halfway down the empty hall before she turned and made way to her locker. Digits were shaking as she attempted to spin the dial and input her combination. The female shakily drew in a breath, she swung the metal door open. Hands were quick to grab what she needed before shutting it and making her way to her next class.

Walking past the classroom's threshold, she noted how early she really was. The class was barren, even the teacher was no where in sight. Taking her normal spot, she gently seated herself in the plastic chair and open her book once again, determined to lose herself until class started. Perchance, she would even keep going into class time. Once more, Alina was consumed with static. It didn't register in hearing as two people entered the classroom. Fatedly being said male, and his 'sister', that had been causing all the new turmoil within her. Alina didn't hear the cheerful greeting from Alice or the coughing, a covered chuckle, by Jasper. No, Alina wasn't broken from her concentration until Alice gently touched her forearm. The biting chill of her flesh caused Alina's blue orbs to flash up. She felt her entire body shut down as she looked at them, as she looked at him. Alina, retaining her normal apathy, merely gave them a mute blink, a silent urge to continue with what they needed. She could only hope they could understand. Shockingly, it seemed as they did. The female who Alina didn't know, Alice, started speaking.

"Hi! My name is Alice Cullen and this is Jasper Cullen. We're new to Forks. We, just wanted to introduce ourselves and we were wondering if we could sit with you today?"

Alina watched as the pixie-like female smiled brightly at her and tilted her head when she inquired about the seating arrangements. Alina let her gaze flicker over to the male who she now knew as Jasper. Jasper gave her a small smile before he gave a small greeting. Alina couldn't help but take note of the southern twang he had. Blinking at the two, she merely gave a positive gesture to the chair beside her. Alice's smile grew as she exclaimed her thanks and seated herself on the end, leaving Jasper to sit right next to her.

Silence consumed all three of them, it took everything Alina had to not fidget. It was out of character for her to ever fidget this much, to ever be this anxious around others. She could only surmise that it was the looming feeling about today from this morning and the feeling that the male next to her invoked. Lost in her thoughts, the black and white were lost to her, so she easily heard the Texan next to her speak.

"Do you cover it to protect it or hide it?"

Jasper couldn't help himself as he spoke also fighting down a smirk that was fighting to make way onto his lips. He watched as the petite female beside him slowly turned to look up at him, his breath caught in his throat as the blue eyes landed on his own. Pearly whites poked out to bite at cherry red lips. The male felt himself shift, as he was fighting down more movement. Then he felt like his inattentive heart had revived at the soft voice sounded.

"Both."

Alina had shocked herself as she spoke. Jasper was enthralled, his gaze was heavy and intense, but he restrained himself with a nod of approval. Alice, watching this all, had the brightest smile on her own lips.

It had started. May the journey begin.