A/N: Sorry I've been a little lazy to update. Been really exhausted for the past couple of days and I'm leaving to US in a day. Oh, and does anybody here live in LA? Cause I heard it's flooding and I'll be going there so your feedback would be nice. Also, as always, thanks for everybody who's been reviewing this story! I love you guys, even though I only seem to get reviews when I beg for it :P So, yknow, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE (with a cherry on top) review this! Shorter than my last chapter, but this one has good bits ;)
The expression Jasper wore on his face puzzled me. There was no disgust, or anger, or shock. Instead, his eyes were filled with worry.
Was he worried… for me? The thought refused to sink in. Nobody had ever worried for me before. I was fussed around constantly by my mother, sure, but I had never seen genuine worry that was for me. I was probably just deluding myself anyway. Even though I felt like a completely different person around him, there was no way that he could feel the same way for me. He shouldn't be worrying for me, doctor or not. I was useless anyway.
I lowered my gaze, embarrassed, and another tear silently rolled down my cheeks. Why on Earth was I crying anyway?! People usually only cried when they were sad. I wasn't sad. Angry, yes. Furious? At myself maybe. But definitely not sad.
"Hey. Don't cry." Jasper whispered gently.
Then, like a dream, he leaned across the table and brushed my tears away lightly with the back of his palm. His touch was electric, sending a million volts rippling through me. All the while, his eyes were locked on mine, pulling me back into his spell. He was so close that I could see every little feature on his face perfectly.
There was a faint scar on his forehead; it was several shades lighter than the rest of his skin. I had a sudden urge to run my fingers over it. His golden eyes had flecks of silver in them, only making them seem even more ethereal, more inhuman somehow. My gaze unthinkingly lowered down to his lips, and my breath hitched in my throat as I realized how little space there was in between us.
All I had to do was lean forward… and we would be kissing.
Did I want to kiss him? I didn't know. But at that moment, in that situation, it was all I could think of. I had never been kissed before, and I constantly wondered how it would feel like. Would it be 'like you were in a fairytale' as my friend Brea had described it? Or would it be a complete let down?
Then the connection was broken. Jasper had eased back into his seat, his expression evolving abruptly. I was sure that he could feel what I felt before-- the tension in the room was thick enough to be sliced by a knife! Now I wasn't so sure. The hatred he wore on his face frightened me. I felt like he wanted to skin me alive or something.
Did he... hate me? Hate was a strong word, but there was no other way to describe whatever he wore on his face. I had definitely deluded myself thinking that he had been worrying for me. He had probably just wiped away my tears because he couldn't stand seeing a girl cry.
"Are you… um… alright?" I asked slowly, trying in vain to dismiss that thought from my head.
"Oh, yes, I must have drifted away for a second there. I'm fine." He smiled brightly, perturbing me. Why was he being so unbelievably skittish?
I arched an eyebrow. "Are you mad at me or something? I would understand if you are… I'm actually quite surprised that you didn't blow a gasket over my confession."
"Mad? I'm not mad at you. I could never be... It's not like you can control the visions you get." He said firmly. This piece of information relieved me. At least now he knew I wasn't a crazed stalker or anything. I was aware that I couldn't stalk him anyway, even if I wanted to, because I was stuck in this mad house.
"Oh shut up Alice." I grumbled under my breath.
"Excuse me?" Jasper replied, sounding confused. Oops. He had heard that? Don't tell me he had super hearing too, because people that perfect shouldn't exist! Then again, he didn't really seem human. He seemed more like an angel if anything. I was going to keep that theory in mind until I really figured him out. So, as an angel, he couldn't really be categorized as a 'person.'
"Nothing," I mumbled, mimicking his bright smile. He rolled his eyes, causing a giggle to escape my lips. Again, something I would have never done before meeting Jasper. I couldn't help it anymore-- his prescence itself could make me smile now.
"Hey… I've got an idea. Do you want to get of here for a little while? Go out to see the gardens or something." He started, the excitement bringing out the southern accent in his voice.
Was he absolutely psycho? The gardens? The owner's wife had made it for God's sake. She was sure to be there now, pruning the leaves or watering the flowers. Plus, I was sure that he knew the consequences if we got caught. No food for a week would kill me—however horrible the food here was. It was at least better than nothing.
"Don't know about you… but starving isn't really my way of losing weight." I said nonchalantly. Indubitably, I wanted very much to follow him. I hadn't seen real daylight for what felt like forever, and the thought itself made me want to abandon all fears and just take the risk.
On the other hand, I knew it wouldn't end well, given my bad luck. And because of selfishness, Jasper would be punished too. Then again, I had a strong feeling that he didn't really care much for consequences.
"Come on, we won't get caught. Most of the guards are having their lunch break, and the owner and their wife are on vacation. They only pretend that they're this disciplinary, strict hospital—but like everything else, it's just so they get more money." Jasper explained a small smile on his face.
I didn't ask how he knew all this. I did, after all, trust him with all my heart now so his explanation was enough for me. Plus, there was that vision I had about seeing us in the gardens... if I had seen it, then it should be safe right?
"Let's go." I objected, excitement already building up in me. I would finally get a few minutes of freedom.
JASPER'S POV.
I watched her squeal in delight as she twirled around in the lush green grass, a flower tucked behind her ear. She hadn't had a clue that I had sent all the guards to sleep, and she didn't need to ever know. She had believed my lie that all of them were in the cafeteria eating. Really, what were the odds of all 60 guards in this place eating? But it had all been worth it as she danced towards me, graceful as always, a grin curving up on her lips.
"Thank you for all this. I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay you." she trilled, her emerald green eyes sparkling playfully. I had never seen her so... happy. Her happiness, it was addictive. It was like... it was like a smell you never wanted to stop smelling. Or a drug that always kept you coming back for more.
Seeing her that happy-- It made me want to be happy too.
"You don't have to repay me. You're happy." I simply said, smiling at her. She liked me, I knew she did. I could feel the lust practically oozing off her when I had been brushing away her tears. Had it been any other girl, I would have been appalled. But with Alice... she was different. She was clean, innocent, pure, intelligent. Everything I wasn't. Why hadn't I just closed in the space between us and just kissed her? Tell her that I felt the same way about her?
The answer was inevitable, but I also wanted to believe that it wouldn't affect anything. But no matter what I wanted to think, it did.
It affected everything.
"Jasper? I'm sorry." Alice said, and I looked at her questioningly.
She threw her arms around my waist, pulling me closer to her fragile frame.
That was all it took. She had me, all of me, whether I wanted it or not. I returned her embrace, wrapping my arms securely around her shoulders. Her face was buried in my chest. We fit, and she must have noticed to because she glanced at me in joy. Her scent hit me harder then ever, but I didn't care. I didn't care about anything but the girl that was wrapped in my arms. I didn't care that I was a vampire, because I knew I could never hurt her.
Alice brought out the best in me.
She let go first, her arms slowly loosening its grip from my waist. I looked down at her, her beauty still captivating me. Human or vampire, she was undoubtly the prettiest girl I had ever set my eyes on. If I wanted to kiss her, this was the perfect place. It was so much better than that room in the asylum. Not perfect, but still beautiful. Beautiful just like Alice.
It was now or never.
I tentatively lowered my head, my gaze meeting hers. I heard her catch her breath, and then my lips lightly brushed hers. It was quick, but I had never felt so right in my life. I opened my eyes, and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You... kissed me." She finally choked out, sounding bewildered. That didn't sound good.
"I've been wanting to do that since the first time we met." I confessed softly, never taking my gaze off hers. I scrutinized her curiously, trying to read her expression. The only emotion she was giving off was shock. That didn't help me one bit.
Then a slow smile spread on her face and I knew everything was alright.
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